Sunday, August 31, 2014

Retro Sketches #130

When I first saw this sketch on the Retro Sketches blog, I thought it would be a little too difficult, since I don't really have much Washi tape... but then I thought of all the multi-striped patterned papers that I have.  So when I pulled out this holiday paper, I already had the sentiment stamped and the two snowflakes embossed - and they just happen to work perfectly with the sketch!
Patterned paper is Winter Fun, Carta Bella; Cardstock is Kraft, Vineyard Berry & Colonial White, CTMH; Ink is Twilight, CTMH; Stamp sets are Glad Tidings and Merry & Bright, Verve;  Verve Snowflake dies;  Enamel Dots, Your Next Embellie.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Laughing Girlfriends cards

Hello everyone!  I'm sneaking in a bonus post this month on the OCS blog... to share a couple of cards made with one of the sets from the popular Art Impressions Girlfriends line: Laughing Set:
I wanted to keep them fairly flat for mailing, and also wanted to use up some scraps!  I had already coloured up the images to match this paper pack, and here's what I had sitting on my craft desk, leftover from previous projects:

Bits and pieces!  I was determined not to cut into any new sheets, so here's what I came up with:
 

Lora has a FABULOUS assortment of Art Impressions stamps in the One Crazy Stamper store... you can see them all hereAnd wait until you see the newest release!  You can preorder them here.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Merry Monday & The Challenge

I've combined a couple of challenges today, and put together two more Christmas cards (both the same!) for my stash.  Merry Monday's challenge was to use a wreath on your card, and I have used both the sketch (loosely!) and the colour combo from The Challenge on Lesley Croghan's blog:
Patterned papers are Frosted; Cardstock is Outdoor Denim; Inks are Whisper and Outdoor Denim; Bitty Sparkles; Stamp set is Merry, Merry - all Close To My Heart. 

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Another In The Tub card

It's my day to post on the Art Impressions blog today!
I wanted a chance to use the fun In The Tub set (Sku# 3570) while we're still enjoying the last few weeks of summer... so I pulled out some pretty polka dot paper and got to work:

This is honestly one of the most enjoyable images to colour!  They're having such a great time, and you need to use just about every marker that you own!

Copics used: Hair - E18, E09, E07, E02, C9, C7, C5, C3, C1, B21, E39, E37, E35
Skin - E13, E11, E00, E000, E37, E34, E31, E53, E51, E50, R20
Tub - W9, W7, W5, W3, W1, W00
Greens - YG05, YG03, YG01
Turquiose - BG07, BG05, BG02, BG01
Pinks - R85, R83, R81
Oranges - YR18, YR16, YR15, YR12
Yellows - Y19, Y17, Y15, Y13, Y11
Purples - BV04, BV02, BV01
Fuchsias - RV19, RV17, RV14



Monday, August 25, 2014

Wearing Pink Today

One of my girlfriends had her first chemo treatment today... so I am proudly wearing pink all day, to help send her some good vibes.  I also made a card that I'm going to pop in the mail to her, and there is no better sentiment stamp set than Verve's Words of Wisdom.  She's got a great attitude, and is facing everything head on, which I greatly admire :o)  I've used this week's Mojo Monday sketch #360 (it's supposed to be tall & skinny, but I just did a plain 'ole 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card):
I used another sentiment on the inside: "Carpe Diem".
Patterned papers are Fabulous, Simple Stories;  Cardstock is Bazzil & CTMH; Stamp set is Words of Wisdom, Verve; Ink is Rich Cocoa, Memento; Spellbinders dies.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Sentiment Only Challenge

I am playing along with the current challenge on the Art Impressions blog today - Sentiments Only!  We want to see your card with only font/sentiments on the front - no other stamped images.  I decided to do a Christmas card using Great Joy (Sku# 4176):
I made a shaped pennant for my sentiment, and used a set of La La Land Crafts Poinsettia dies to jazz things up a little.  The card has a bit of a muted feel to it, so I added some Tim Holtz Distress Glitter which has a dull finish, for a little glimmer.
Be sure to check out the Art Impressions blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has to share, and you can hook up your own creation to the challenge - there are always great prizes to be won!
 
Happy Stamping Everyone!

 

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Chatting Whoots

I have a square card for you today, using Chatting Whoots (Sku #4126) by Art Impressions.  All of the Whoots sets make such sweet birthday cards, and they're fairly quick to colour up!
I went bright!  And yes, I may have used a little artistic license with the fellow on the right... but hey, when you're the cardmaker, you call the shots, right?

Here's the message on the inside:

There is still time to enter our "Show Off Your Sentiment" challenge, you can link up your creation here.
Happy stamping, everyone!



Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Merry, Merry Holiday

Yay!  I've finally got another Christmas card made!  I've had a bit of a break from working on my holiday cards, but want to get back to doing at least one new one a week.  I've combined this week's Merry Monday challenge to use pinecones, greenery & plaid on your card (those are little brown pinecones on the wreath!), and have used the current Seize the Sketch for my layout.  As I was editting my photo just now, I realized that one of my red sparkles has fallen off the wreath - which is why it looks like something is missing in the photo!
Patterned papers are Mistletoe; Cardstock is New England Ivy & Colonial White; Stamp set is Merry, Merry Holiday; Inks are Sweet Leaf, Desert Sand & New England Ivy - all Close To My Heart.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Scratch

I am sharing one of the infamous Art Impressions 'Bird-Brains' today!  How can you not love Scratch (Sku #1833)??  His pose is hilarious, but it's the grin that really gets you...
I stamped Scratch using Staz-On ink on watercolor paper so that I could use my Tombow watercolour markers to colour him, along with a wet paintbrush to soften and blend the colours.

Here's a close-up of my colourful feathered friend.

And finally, I wanted to share my inspiration with you - I found this on Pinterest and immediately knew that I wanted to try something similar with the Bird-Brains!  This is a print of an original watercolour by artist Renee Chastant.  My version is a little tame next to Renee's, but I'm working up to it!  Happy stamping, everyone!



Friday, August 8, 2014

Lucky me.

It's been a busy summer, and I haven't had as many posts as I'd like, but I spent most of July getting ahead on my card making commitments so that I could take a couple of weeks vacation in the Rockies with my husband.  The scenery was breathtaking (I've been there many times, but it never disappoints!)  Here are a few shots of Banff, Lake Louise and our family cottage on Kootenay Lake:




These are all unedited jpegs straight out of the camera... but I shot a lot of scenery in raw format, so I can hardly wait to get into Photoshop & Lightroom to see what I can do with them.  If you've never been to the Canadian Rockies, I highly recommend it.  We honeymooned there, and celebrated our 20th anniversary while we were out west again last week - lucky me :o)

Thursday, August 7, 2014

New Ai People!

It's time for another challenge on the Art Impressions blog - we have an embossing challenge - we would love to see your creations with either wet or dry embossing.  The Design Team is also helping to launch three new Ai People sets that are now available on the Art Impressions website.  I have a card to share using the Giant Cake set:
I chose to do a strip of dry embossing, using a Swiss dot embossing folder from Cuttlebug.  And here is a close up of our rather excited birthday gal:

You can find all of the new Ai People images in the Ai store... and you'll want to head on over to the Art Impressions blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has to share today.
Happy Stamping everyone!

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Watercolouring

I am posting on the Art Impressions blog today.
I've been digging into my watercolour markers again, using several of the Ai Watercolor sets.  I usually do larger scenes, but this time I worked on some smaller vignettes, and loved them!
This is my attempt at an 'artsy' look - LOL!  I bought an old dictionary a while ago, and it has lovely yellowing, aged looking pages, so I cut it up, tore it a little and lightly sponged the edges to give it even more of a worn appearance.  I mounted the watercolour paper squares on some kraft paper and popped them up on pop dots.  Then I tied a knot in some natural coloured hemp to finish them off. 

I use watercolour markers and a wet paintbrush with my stamps.  I love the control that I get by colouring directly onto the stamps with the markers, and then softening/dragging the colour around with the paintbrush. 

I do a little direct-to-paper colouring with the markers to achieve some of the shading, as well.  I still have a lot of learning to do with watercolouring, but I really love the whole process.  I've used mostly stamps from the Watercolor Series 6 Set 2 (Sku #3498) along with the Foliage Set (Sku #4051) and Tall Flower (Sku #1373)

Happy painting everyone!



Sunday, August 3, 2014

Pedal Pushers

I am posting on the One Crazy Stamper blog today...  I am a big fan of the Art Impressions Girlfriends stamps... so I have a card made with Pedal Pushers to share.  I went with some pretty, girly colours:
This is a large image!  So I made a large card: 5" x 6 1/2".  I popped up my image on pop dots so that I could tie twine behind it, and set it on an angle to show off the little piece of grey paper behind them that I zigzagged in a couple of places.

Here's what you can find in the OCS store:

Friday, August 1, 2014

Little Sprout

The One Crazy Stamper Design Team is sharing some August inspiration today on the OCS blog.  I've got a sweet little Art Impressions stamp from their Ai Little People collection today, called Little Sprout (Sku #4317):

 
Forever In Time Pearl Gems, Tropical

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