Happy Birthday w/chrysanthemums

I've always admired all the talented card makers that use pencils to color images stamped on kraft.  When I saw that Darnell of djkardkreations.com was having a challenge with an option for this technique, I thought I'd give it a try.  A requirement is to use NBUS (Never Before Used Schtfuff).  And who doesn't have not used crafty stuff?!!

You can find the details HERE.

I learned some things in the process of making this card.

• Maybe I shouldn't have used such a detailed stamp on my first try of this technique.
• It took a LONG time (at least it did me) to color this with pencils (3ish hours).
• I think this "spotlight" coloring looks better on a white card.
• Pay attention when adhering the image to the card base.  Yes, it is upside down.  I went with it.
• I still struggle what to do with images that I have ready to go onto a card.  Layer/not layer; where should the sentiment go; what color should said sentiment be; embellish or not, blah, blah, blah.  So many decisions.  Maybe I'm too picky.

Anyway, it is done and I think it turned out okay.  I used (new to me) W Plus 9's Beautiful Bouquets: Mums and was colored with Prismacolor Premier pencils.  I have loved seeing others do this "spotlight style" stamping and coloring and was inspired by Therese Calvird's card (click HERE to see her beautiful card.)  The sentiment is from MFT's Beary Special Birthday.

Thanks so much for taking a look!

Sweet Birds 2

I love this bird die from Concord & 9th and had to make another card with it!

I'll also enter this into these challenges:

Where Creativity Meets C9
Dies R Us Challenge #64 - Anything Goes Using Dies
Flickr LOVE!--Handmade Cards, ATCs January Challenge Anything Goes

This card uses another "never been used, but have had forever" die from TCW 4x6 Chickenwire die.  I used Distress Inks on the chickenwire and then added clear embossing powder for the look.    The sentiment is a die from My Favorite Things.  I really like using stamps and dies I've had for a long time and the flowers and branches from Heartfelt Creations was perfect.  I made the background with Spun Sugar and Worn Lipstick Distress Inks.

I wonder who will get this for their birthday? :)  Thank you so much for taking a look!

Sweet Birds

It's a new year and time for me to use some new products.  Not just newly purchased, but things I bought (who knows when) and have never used!!  I'm also on a mission to use my stash of beautiful patterned paper whenever I can.  I love the pretty paper and buy it, but then don't know what to do with it!

This year, I'm also going to try to enter more challenges.  So here is where I'm entering my card:












Where Creativity Meets C9

Dies R Us Challenge #64 - Anything Goes Using Dies

Flickr LOVE!--Handmade Cards, ATCs January Challenge Anything Goes

This card uses new to me Concord & 9th's By Your Side Bird Die.  I just love these sweet birds!!

This one gets some patterned paper from an Authentique 6x6 paper pad I've had forever!  The sentiment is also Concord & 9th's By Your Side Stamp set.  The frame is My Favorite Things Pierced Rectangle Frames.  I used Squeezed Lemonade Distress Ink to create the yellow background and also on the birds along with Broken China.

 Thank you for taking a look!

Merry Christmas From All

This stamp set from My Favorite Things called Merry Everything is so adorable!  I've been stamping and coloring so many of these cute images!

I had these images colored and wasn't sure how to make them into a card so I looked at MFT's current  Wednesday Sketch Challenge #306 and that helped so much!  So, of course, I'm entering it into the challenge.

I colored these with my Spectrum Noir markers.  I also used the rectangle die from MFT's Blueprints 29 to cut the rectangle (I did some partial cutting with it to get the rectangle to the size I wanted.)   I made the glitter tape with some beautiful Mountain Mint glitter from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  Used my white gel pen to add some dots and a Spectrum Noir clear sparkle pen for some shine.  The clear sequins are from Pretty Pink Posh.

Thank you for stopping by to take a look!  Love your comments too!

Pink Striped Happy Birthday

Was just notified today about this!  What a sweet surprise on the first day of 2017!

Link HERE

Well, again, haven't added much to this blog lately.  I've been participating in The Daily Marker's (Kathy Racoosin) 30 Day Coloring Challenge and posting a lot on my Instagram here.

I had a very kind commenter on this card suggest I submit it for Virginia's View Challenge Stripes and Plaid.  I used Concord & 9th's Stripe Builder stamps for the pink stripes.  The Ton's Happiest of Peonies is the floral which I watercolored with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers.

I did some partial die cutting with Simon Says Stamp stitched oval and fussy cut the rest.  The sentiment is also by SSS.  Finished it with some clear droplets by Pretty Pink Posh.

Thank you so much for taking a look.  Love your comments too!

Autumn Friend Card

I made this card for Splitcoaststampers Falliday Fest.  The assignment Lydia gave us is to make a card with fall colors and with print such as newsprint, book pages, or text.

I used two Justrite stamp sets for this card:  Script Background Stamp and Shabby Chic Autumn Leaves (I've had this one forEVER & I think this is only the 2nd time I've used it!)

I stamped the leaves in Versamark and added brown embossing powder.  After creating masks for the leaves and sentiment, I stamped the script onto white Neenah 110 lb. paper with Cosmic Shimmer Flake & Glitter Glue then added Warm Sunrise Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Flakes.  I just love how this turned out!!

I then used Distress Inks (colors listed below) to create the background and watercolor the leaves.  I added a bit of Walnut Stain Distress Ink around the edges.  I also used Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen in Biscuit on the leaves.

Here is a closeup showing the beautiful shine of the gilding flakes:

I really appreciate you looking and especially if you leave a comment!!


Distress Ink colors:

• Walnut Stain
• Squeezed Lemonade
• Fossilized Amber
• Spiced Marmalade
• Fired Brick

Long time--no post!

Haven't posted anything to this here little blog in quite some time so I thought I'd give it a new look and do some catching up.

We were gone for 2 weeks at the end of August on a trip that started in Rome, cruised down the coast of Italy, crossed the ocean to a few different stops in Greece and finished it with a couple extra nights in Athens.  I was a wonderful, awesome, beautiful trip.  However, it was go, go, go and then major jet lag that took me about 4 days to get over.  Here's a few pics from our trip:

A selfie at Trevi Fountain in Rome

Pizza, of course!!        Our ship, the Royal Clipper

So, after not feeling 100% in September, I'm finally getting some cards made!  Here's one I made for a friend's birthday using Heartfelt Creations stamps and dies.  I used Distress Inks for the coloring.

Thanks for taking some time to look!  I love it when you also take a few seconds to leave a comment!!