Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Sweet 'n Sassy Challenge #60


Today I have Princess Jenn Latte from The Stamping Boutique all sick in bed. Hopefully she will be up on her feet again soon. :)
She's been colored with ProMarkers and Pebbles chalks. Some stickles to add a touch of sparkle and the sentiment is typed up in MS Word. I used my Fiskar's threading water border punch then ran my ribbon through the holes. DP and cardstock are by DCWV.
The sketch is from the Sweet 'n Sassy Challenge #60. I shall also enter this in The Stamping Boutique's month long challenge.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Christmas is in the air!


It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...And I sure am having fun working on my Christmas cards. Making homemade Christmas cards was the whole reason I got into card making in the first place. Most of my stamps and supplies are geared towards Christmas cards. It's only since I've found these card challenge blogs that I've started making other occasion cards, but Christmas ones will always be my first love!

Today's card was made with three challenges in mind. I've used the sketch and some Penny Black images for the the challenge at Penny Black Saturday Challenge. I've worked in the poinsettia paper and flower embellishment to fit in with the challenge at Winter Wonderland, and lastly I've used the floral poinsettia paper to be eligible for the Floral Delight challenge at A Spoon Full of Sugar.

I've actually used two different Penny Black stamps (Holly Day Critters and The Wonder) to give more of a carolers feeling to the card. And I've pulled out my Bosskut Poinsettia die to make my flower. I simply love that die, I think it makes such lovely poinsettias. I used it last year to make the Christmas cards for my family members; somehow I didn't take a picture of those!

I've used some gold stickles on the halos and some crystal stickles on the hem and sleeves and hats of the hedgies. All the DPs are DCWV Christmas stack, the cardstocks are Strathmore Artist Papers, Core'dinations and the Paper Company.
Colored with Prismacolor pencils and OMS. Ribbon is from Michael's.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

More Cards for Operation Write Home (OWH)


I took a day off from challenges to make some more cards for Operation Write Home (OWH). I had just purchased some new digi stamps from Pollycraft. I've used Cuthbert and Kiki plus a free bird digi given out in the past. My collection to send to OWH is slowly growing, hopefully I will soon have enough to send away.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

I may be addicted...


Addicted to these window recessed cards that is. Yes, just a couple of days after making my first I have found myself making another one. They really are quite fun. I know that one of these days I'm going to get a really good idea for a whole diorama to inside one of these windows.

The initial challenge this was designed for is the #20 Challenge: Snowflakes at Die Cut Dreams Christmas Club. I glittered up some snowflake punch outs and decided to string them up. In hindsight I could have just stuck them on with a foam dot like I did the bottom ones; but I did want them to be dangly. I've also go a leftover snowflake shaped Christmas ornament as a big outside decoration.
Since I've used Snowy, a Penny Black image, I'm also entering this in the Penny Black Saturday Challenge: Swirls. And one more challenge this qualifies for is challenge #94 Dazzle Us over at Cupcake Craft Challenges.

Recipe

Image: Penny Black Stamps - Snowy
Cardstock: GP, DCWV
DP: DCWV Christmas stack 2009
MS Snowflake punch
Sizzix: Let it Snow
Santa's Workbench: Snowflake ornament
Swirl stickers: Stash
Stickles
Colored with ProMarkers
3M Transparency film

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Digital Tuesday Challenge #62 Coloring with Chalk


The stamp I have used was a freebie provided by the Creative Mind of Sylvie. This lovely mermaid inspired me to make a shaped clam shell card. I had some trouble trying to think of things to put on the card besides the image. My Daughter has assured me that it is not illogical for the starfish, conch shell and mini dolphins to be on top of a clam shell. o_O Sometimes I over think things... This card was made for the Digital Tuesday Coloring with Chalk challenge. The mermaid was colored with my Pebbles chalks, some shimmery, which doesn't show up in pictures.

Recipe:

Digi Stamp: Creative Mind of Sylvie - Mermaid
Cardstock: GP, Canson Effects - Morphing Mauve, Recollections
Clam Shape: Cricut and Make the Cut software
Ribbon: Offray
Pearls, doily, shells, dolphins: Stash
Colored with Pebbles chalks

Passion for Promarkers #55 Pink Birthday



This week's challenge at Passion for ProMarkers is to create a Pink Birthday card. I haven't always been a fan of pink, but sometime in the past few years it has wormed its way into my heart. Where I floundered here was not having a concrete layout in mind, hence the rather boring squares on squares. The stamp I have used is a freebie from Sassy Cheryl's Stamps. She's got some very adorable stamps and this one was a blast to color.

I shall also enter this card in the challenge at The Creative Cottage

Recipe:
Digi Stamp: Sassy Cheryl's - All the Frills
Digi Sentiment: Wendy Made - Happy Birthday
Cardstock: GP, Core'dinations - VC Pink Tutu
DP: Paper Pizazz - Love/Happiness, Me & My Big Ideas - Pink Hearts
Ribbon: Stash
Flowers: Homemade
Pearls, Rhinestones: Stash
MS Border Punch
Stickles
Colored with ProMarkers

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Winter Wonderland: Love at Christmas


I've tried something a little different for the Winter Wonderland Love at Christmas challenge. I've made a recessed window card using the tutorial at Splitcoast Stampers. It was really quite simple, and something I should definitely do more of in the future. My biggest challenge for this card was trying to color fire and fire glow. Luckily the mice cover most of that part so you all can't see how badly that went. ;)

Recipe:

Stamp: Gillian Roberts - Mistletoe and Mice
Digi Stamp: Stitchy Bear Stamps - Christmas Warmth Fireplace
Cardstock: GP
DP: DCWV Christmas Stack 2009
Tree and Gifts: Stash from old card making kit
Sentiment: MS Word
Colored with Prismacolor Pencils and ProMarkers
3M Transparency Film
Pop dots
Brads: Recollections

Monday, June 7, 2010

Passion for ProMarkers #54 Books



Today I have a card that I have colored with my new ProMarkers for the Passion for ProMarkers #54 Challenge: Books!
I love reading and I think this Studying Tilda is so adorable, she's got her glasses on and looks very engrossed in what she is reading.


Recipe:
Stamp: Magnolia Study Tilda, Versafine Onyx ink
Cardstock: DCWV, GP
DP: Carolyn Holt - Petite Pink Posies
Cricut/Cricut Mini Monograms: Scallop and regular circles
Martha Stewart: border punch, ribbons
Brads: Joann's
Stickles
Sentiment: DCWV Vellum quote stack
Roses: McMahon Five Design
Pearls: Ebay

Sunday, June 6, 2010

The Sweet Shop's Sketch # 59


I've got another card made for OWH that follows the challenge over at The Sweet Shop Sketch challenge #59. I've used Magnolia's Bubbling Tilda, with hearts substituted for the bubbles. This time I've paper pieced her dress with some polka dotted paper. I've tried to make her a brown skinned girl, which I had to do with my Prisma pencils as all of my markers seemed too dark, her hair and the outline of her wings are done with the ProMarkers and the sentiment is printed from MS Word.

DP: Me & My Big Ideas, Recollections
Cardstock: Recollections and GP
Ribbon: Joann's
Charm: Michael's
Heart pearls: Ebay
MS Border punch

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Yay! My ProMarkers have arrived


When I first started in with making cards I couldn't help but notice how all those beautiful designers kept saying "colored with Copics", and occasionally "colored with Prismacolor pencils". I had no idea what they were talking about, but I knew I would love to achieve the effects that they were getting. Of course, just having the same tools does not mean my cards will look as nice. I am still struggling to learn the coloring techniques that give those pictures such depth.

Part of the problem has been that I don't have the proper tools. I found out that Copics were markers, great! I decided I would buy a few Ciaos and see if I could instantly be transformed into the colorist of my dreams! Without doing any research on how to buy, I picked out 12 colors that I thought I would use the most. All of you out there with experience are no doubt shaking your heads. The colors I picked were all over the place, none could be used with the others to create any type of shading or graduated look. I was despondent. I set them aside and really haven't bothered with them much since. I could, of course, buy more of these markers, but for my budget they are truly cost prohibitive.

Next came the Prismacolor pencils. I bought the 48 piece set, but didn't feel I had enough colors, so I purchased the 120 piece set. I like the colored pencils. I use them with Odorless mineral spirits and stumps. Lots of colors to choose from, and since I have a shaky hand, I don't worry too much about going outside of the lines. The only thing is that I still crave the vibrant look that one gets with the markers.

So, back to the online art supply store. I heard about Letraset Tria markers and how they compared with Copics, at only a fraction of the price. I have about 21 of the Trias and I have been happy enough with them, and with how I picked them out to work together.

Recently I stumbled upon some challenge blogs where they require the use of ProMarkers. Hmm, another contender. They cards these ladies are making with the ProMarkers look just as good as the Copic cards, so I decide to check them out. Promarkers are made by Letraset, too! And, they cost even less than the Trias, I suppose because they only have 2 tips and are not refillable. They only have about 148 colors, but if I combine them with the Tria line then that should be sufficient.

So all this to say that my ProMarkers have arrived today! I only ordered 24 to try them out, and somehow only ordered 1 in the green family, (don't know what I was thinking there), but there is a good possibility I will be going back to the well before long. At only $1.49 per marker, it will be hard to resist.

If anyone is interested, I found these at Carpe Diem Store

Double Dutch and Stamp Something


I've decided to keep this card simple. It's so frustrating at times. I have tons of ribbons, buttons, brads, glitters, doodads and other embellishments, but somehow they never seem to be the ones I need for the particular project I'm working on. I've tasked myself with not buying any more embellies and to try to use what I have, but as you can see on this card, I didn't use a single thing. Not even stickles. :( Oh well, maybe the next one I'll go all out, put everything but the kitchen sink on, yeah, that's the ticket!

This was done for the Double Dutch #44 Challenge, which is a sketch. And, since I've used a Bugaboo Stamp I shall enter it into their first Stamp Something challenge. The turtle is the Bugaboo stamp, while the sentiment that surrounds him comes from MMDesigns.

Recipe:

Digi stamps: Bugaboo Stamps - Happy Birthday Turtle, MMDesigns - HB Sentiment
Cardstock: DCWV, GP
DP: Paper Pizazz- Yellow Daisies, DCWV for all the others.
Spellbinders Nestabilites
Colored with: Bic Mark its, Tria alcohol markers, Sharpies

Thursday, June 3, 2010

The Stamping Boutique's June Challenge


Today's card was designed using the sketch over at The Sugar Bowl. It was made for the Stamping Boutique's new monthly challenge for June and to send to our troops overseas through Operation Write Home. From what I understand they are in need of lots of Miss you and Just Because cards, so I thought I would combine a challenge with some good works.

The image is part of a set that was donated by The Stamping Boutique for use in the making of cards for OWH

Recipe:

Digital Stamp: Patriotic Audrey - The Stamping Boutique
Cardstock: GP - white, Recollections - black, houndstooth - homemade
Sizzix flowers embossing folder, Sizzix
Offray: Ribbons
Darice: Eyelets
MS Word: Sentiment
Colored with Tria alcohol markers
Pop dots
Colorbox liquid chalk

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Is it Daisy or....Sybil!


I think I must be channeling Sybil. For those that haven't seen the movie, Sybil uses a purple crayon to do all of her drawings. I could not tear myself away from the purple with this card.

I made this card for the Birthday Best challenge over at Squiggles and Giggles challenge blog. They are celebrating their 1 year anniversary and the theme for the challenge is simply make a birthday card. They are also having a fab sale of 20% off all stamps in their shop, so go check them out!

The sketch I used to make this card is from the Catch the Bug Challenge Blog.


Recipe:

Digi Stamp: Daisy with Gift Squiggle Stamps
Sentiment: KI Memories
Cardstock: DCWV - Glitter white, Core'dinations - purple majesty, ANW Crestwood - Amethyst Jewel Metallic, GP - white
DP: Making Memories - Purple Gingham
Ribbon/Buttons: Joann's
Pearls: Ebay
Marvy Uchida flower punches
Stickles
Colorbox Heliotrope ink
Sizzix Flower embossing folder, Sizzix machine
Scalloped Oval: Penny Duncan Creations, Cricut
Martha Stewart flower punch
Colored with a combo of Tria Alcohol markers and Sharpies
Pop dots
Inkssentials white opaque pen

Beary Sweet Challenge #3


So, over the past two Christmases I've received all 5 of the Harajuku Lovers perfumes, and being the pack rat that I am, I never trashed the boxes; I figured they would be good for something... Well, I think that something is going to be a set of cards with each of these cute little figures on them. The first one I cut up is "G", a mini Gwen Stefani. I shall probably do the rest in the order that she sings about them in the song, Love, Angel, Music and Baby.

For the G card, I had my heart set on houndstooth since it has been so in fashion lately. Other than that I tried to pick some funky patterns that also matched her outfit, I hope I succeeded!

I've followed the sketch (Get Sketchy with Us!) at Beary Scrap Designs where I shall also enter this card.


Recipe:
Images/text: Harajuku Lovers perfume box
Cardstock: Recollections - black, Core'dinations - Tulip, Bazzil - black dotted
DP: Me & My Big Ideas - Modern Milan, Photoshop - Houndstooth
Letter G: Colorbok Alpha Punch outs
Favorite Findings: Dragonfly
Heart - Stash
Pop dots

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Father's Day Card


Today I have made a card for Father's Day using the sketch at Friday Sketchers. I had just discovered this stamp on another card blog (that I forgot to bookmark!!) and just fell in love with it. Since Father's Day is coming up I this to be a great opportunity to try it out. Bear stamps are just so irresistibly cute!

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

One Stitch at a Time Challenge #15 Use Something New - The digi stamp is new.
Cowgirl's Sunday Stamp Challenge #3 Recipe 1-2-3 - the 3 embellies are the ribbon, the buttons and the stickles.
Quixotic Paperie Challenge #27 Emboss it!


Recipe:

Stamp: Di's Digi Downloads - A Special Note from Bear
Card stock: DCWV, Core'dinations - VC Antigua, GP - White
DP: Printable Heaven Father's Day paper, Recollections Time Line Red
Ribbon: Stash
Stickles
Buttons - Joann's
Cuttlebug Argyle Embossing folder, Sizzix machine
Scalloped Ovals: Penny Duncan Creations, Cricut
Colored with: Zig marker, Sharpies, Bic Mark its