Floral Time...

Penny Black retired image again... this one is sooo much fun to color!  The details of the layers of her clothes and then the stylized quilted flower in the background made this a little more time consuming.  First, the base CS is covered with "Newsprint" in a very light brown Distress Ink.

Gold details were added to the clock with glue and foil and a ribbon was added for texture.  The camera is not picking up the colors consistently - the ribbon actually matches the roses in her skirt.

CHALLENGES:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge...Week 186: Floral Frenzy

IMAGES:  The focal image is from Penny Black – retired image; background is stamped with “Newsprint” from Impression Obsession

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel; DP Basic Grey scraps, base CS is from my endless stash.

INKS: The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black & colored with Copics: 

Sassy Swirls...

TECHNIQUE:

This top fold base card was stamped with "Fancy Swirls" by Hero Arts .  The Sassy Cheryl Digi called "The Forgotten Gift" is a fun birthday image and easily colored with Copics.  Swirls were added to the corners of the image panel in a light blue ink to mimic the dark blue swirls of the background.  The image was then layered on dark blue and ribbon & pearls added for embellishments.

CHALLENGES: 

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge #99: "Brown & Lt. Blue"

The Paper Shelter Challenge: "Pearls and Swirls"

IMAGES:  The focal image is from Sassy Cheryl's Digi Stamps; "Fancy Swirls" are from Hero Arts.

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel;  base CS is from my endless stash.

EMBELLISHMENTS: Ribbon from my stash, pearls are from Hero Arts.

INKS: Edges are inked with Distress Ink, the image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black & colored with Copics:

Frosty greeting...

This card starts with the base A-2 card with a left side fold.  The front is then folded back to the left to meet the first fold/crease. DP has been punched with a lattice design along the edge and mounted on the inside and the 1/4 front of the base card.

The close-up here shows the background DP with lattice punch, the wonderful "Frosty Wind" image from Mo Manning and the detail of the snow and faux brads covered with shiny foil..  It's a really wonderfully detailed image that is fun to color and embellish.  The relationship with her little bird friend and her seed offering suggests a New Beginning.  The edges of the panels are distressed with Distress Inks.

The image panel is mounted on a background and then attached to that 1/4 portion of the front of the card. You can see the fold details in this next picture.

CHALLENGES: 

Simon Says: "Anything Goes"

Color Me Creative Copic Challenge #35: "Frosty, icy, cold projects"

Digital Tuesday Challenge #144:"A New Beginning"

IMAGES:  The focal image is from Mo Manning

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel; DP is Basic Grey, base CS is from my endless stash.
PUNCHES:  Martha Stewart's lattice punch and a ticket stub punch from "Making Memories" punch(?)

INKS: The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black & colored with Copics: E50, 51, 53, R20, BG70, 72, 75, 78, G20, 21, 24, 29, E00, 01, 02, 13, 15, 18, C3

Winner! Playing Dress-up...

So Cool... I won the iCopic Weekly Challenge with this one!

Talk about some of my favorite things!  Love this retired Penny Black image I was able to locate, Copics, Distress Inks and using Duo Glue and foils with my Calligrapher Fine Liner to embellish!

 Using the Blue-Violets with moss green is pleasing to me.  I picked up the colors from the Basic Grey background.

The embellishments of the pearl jewelry and the heart pin on the bow don't show even in the close-up - but they are delightfully shiny with coordinating foils.  And finally the swirls on the corners of the image panel to frame the image.

CHALLENGES: 

Basic Grey Challenge #61: "Favorite Things"

iCopic Weekly Challenge #66: "BV Color Family" WINNER!
Everybody Art Challenge #177: "Swirls"
Penny Black Saturday Challenge: "Crafty Bargains"

IMAGES:  The focal image is retired from Penny Black

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel; DP Basic Grey’s “Oliver”, base CS is from my endless stash.

INKS: The edges of the image panel and the background paper are distressed with Distress Inks, the focal image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black  & colored with Copics:

WINNER! Queen of Hearts...

Two challenges caught my eye this week and inspired me to print out my Mo Manning "Queen of Hearts". 

First was a "Monochromatic" Sir Stampalot challenge (see details of challenges below) and I chose to color the Queen with reds, of course! Even her skin tones are shades from the same red color.(also detailed below) 

Second, Quietfire does a yearly "Queen of Hearts" Challenge... I think this works!

The background of the base card was stamped with one of my favorite heart stamps using clear ink and clear embossing powder to create shiny red on red texture.  The same heart stamped three times with red ink, clear embossed, cut out and then mounted on foam tape for dimension were added to the lower corner. The sentiment "Who Loves Ya?" was stamped and punched with a "File Tab" punch.  A red metallic ribbon and red studs were also added at this stage to reflect some of the focal image reds.

CHALLENGES: 

Quietfire - "Queen of Hearts" Challenge  WINNER! 

Sir Stampalot Challenge: "Monochromatic"

IMAGES:  The focal image is from Mo Manning; heart is from Stamp in the Hand; "Who Loves Ya" sentiment is from Stamp Mania 1998; inside sentiment is from Inkadinkadoo - "Happy Valentine's Day" 

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel;  base CS is from my endless stash.
EMBELLISHMENTS: Hero Hues gems from Hero Arts; "File Tab" punch by McGill

INKS: The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black & colored with Copics: 

Monkey Heart...

I love Mo Manning's images... have you guessed that yet??  This monkey is so versatile - I can add a heart, a sentiment, another image of any kind in his hand and it is easy and fun to to color with Copics.  I added the faux stitching (for the current challenge) which is a Tim Holtz stamp that might be staples(?) or even looks like Xs as in kisses in this context.  Specific sources are listed below.

A little bit of a close-up to show the Copic coloring for the fur, fabric, shading and the heart.

CHALLENGES: Mo's Challenge Blog: Challenge #118 - "Faux Stitching"

IMAGES:  The monkey focal image is from Mo Manning, the heart is a 1992 Stamp in the Hand and the faux stitches are from Stampers Anonymous.

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel; base CS is from my endless stash.

INKS: The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black & colored with Copics:

Train full of love...

Train stamped & colored with Copics, mounted on DP and a red panel - red brads holding the set together.  Top of the 2nd car was cut open with a craft knife and the bottom of the heart image was inserted & the top mounted on foam tape. Layered panels and a red ribbon with yellow polka dots adds a little texture and dimension.  Just a fun little Valentines Day card good for kids or men who are kids at heart!

CHALLENGES: Simon Says Stamping Challenge: "Spots &/or Stripes"

IMAGES:  The focal image is from ??

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel; DP Basic Grey;  base CS is from my endless stash.

INKS: The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black & colored with Copics; Tim Holtz Distress Inks for distressing the panels.

On a simple Note...

A fast, clean and simple note card for whatever reason...  using scraps off the corner of my desk (where I shove all the left overs)!  The striped background is on CS that is smaller than an A2 size - but is perfect for a regular letter envelope.  The oval tag was stamped on a background made with Distress Ink refills dropped on a craft sheet.  Placing a scrap in the ink and moving it around a bit allows for some beautiful and colorful backgrounds.  "Just Saying Hello" is a separate stamp.  Finishing touches include Duo Glue & foil in the leaves of the flourish, a ribbon on the tag & distressing the edges of the card with some of the left over ink on the craft sheet.  Ever so frugal, eh?

CHALLENGES: Simon Says Stamp Challenge: "Spots &/or Stripes"

IMAGES:  The  background is "Large Canvas Stripes" by Hero Arts; the oval "Journaling Tag" by Stampology; the sentiment is "Saying Hello" by Hero Arts.

PAPER:   CS is from my endless stash.

INKS: Ranger / Tim Holtz Distress Inks: Mustard Seed, Peeled Paint & Tumbled Glass.  Images are stamped with Versamark black ink.

New Puppy...

Playing with scraps left on my desk again... 

TTT: Top Tip - I keep using the pieces till they are so small I don't freak at throwing them away. I use larger pieces for backgrounds either on the front or for a panel behind the message panel on the inside.  Smaller pieces are great for pennants, layers behind the sentiment, or even as texture pieces... see the long slender piece at the top of the front?  I mounted it on foam tape and layered it in a space that needed filler when the pennants were mounted too low.  Now it looks like the pennants are supported by this "beam".

The background and the pennants are from Basic Grey and the newsprint is a new stamp from Impression Obsession stamped on white scraps.  The pennants are floated on foam tape and attached to Baker's twine.  The focal image, "Bronte's Kisses" is from Mo Manning.  It has been printed on Neenah, colored with Copics, cut out, sculpted and floated on foam tape.

CHALLENGES:  
Mo's Challenge Blog #116: "Anything Goes"; 
Simon Says Challenge: "New Something";
Top Tip Tuesday Challenge #67 - "Anything Goes" and a TTT: Top Tip;
Bearly Mine Challange #26: anything Goes
Basic Grey Challenge #60: "Something New"

IMAGES:  The focal image is "Bronte's Kisses" from Mo Manning;  "Newsprint" is a new background stamp from Impression Obsession

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel; DP for background and the pennants are from Basic Grey, base CS is from my endless stash.

INKS: The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black & colored with Copics:

Cream and Gold...

This is a a favorite Irish dancer from Mo Manning that I have colored to meet the gold, cream and white requirements for the CMC Challenge #33 and the Paper Shelter Chalenge #45.  Embellishments included details on the headband and dress done with Duo glue & gold foil, gold and cream ribbon threaded thru a strip punched with a Martha Stewart punch, and a punched flower from the same gold CS layered behind the image panel.  

A close up of the dress detail shows the sparkly gold foil. 

CHALLENGES: CMC Copic Challenge #33: "Holiday Joy - in golds, creams and white";  and The Paper Shelter Challenge #45: "Anything Goes"

IMAGES:  The focal image of the Little Irish Dancer is from Mo Manning

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel;  base CS is from my endless stash.

INKS: The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black & colored with Copics: 

Squirrel's Winter gift...

Love the colors in this card - traditional Christmas colors, but with a twist.  Clean and simple - with only the Basic Grey DP background, a simple plaid ribbon and the focal image panel layered on red.

CHALLENGES:
Everybody Art Challenge # 174: “Snow”
Bearly Mine Challenge #26: "Anything Goes"

IMAGES:  The focal image is from Mo Manning

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel; DP is from Basic Grey, base CS is from my endless stash.

INKS: The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black & colored with Copics: C1 & 3; R20, 24, 27 & 29; YG91, 93, 95 & 97; E35, 37, & 39; B0000.