Cupcake Mouse...

Pinks and line greens... yum!  Seemed very festive to me!  And perfect for the Simon Says Stamp Challenge: "Food and Drink".  This is a Digi from Sassy Cheryl's that I printed out and colored with Copics.  Background papers were scraps left on my desk top - feels good to use those.  Faux brads in the corners, the sprinkles on the frosting, candle and hat designs  and all his teeth(!) were created with an ArtQuest caligraphy fine liner pen filled with Duo Glue and then foiled.  I LOVE that tool for all the fine details that seem to just make a card for me!

CHALLENGES:  Simon Says Stamp Challenge: "Food and Drink". 

IMAGES:  Sassy Cheryl’s Digi – the cupcake Mouse

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

INKS: The images are stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copics:

Tilda's ornament...

For a "Paper only" challenge I used this Magnolia stamp of Tilda and an ornament.  The blue frame was cut with a Sissix die and faux brads were put on the corners with Duo Glue and silver foil.

Tilda was stamped, masked and a Penny Black "Pine Sprig" was stamped to appear behind her head.  Distress Inks were used on the edges to give background color.

CHALLENGES: Magnolia-licious “Paper Only” Challenge

IMAGES: Magnolia’s Tilda and Penny Black’s “Pine Sprig”

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

INKS: The images are stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copics: Skin – E0000, 000, 00, 01 & R20; Hair – YR18, 21, 24;  Outfit – Y13, 15, 17; Pine - G82, 85, 94; Ornament – B95, 97, 99 & W5

Blue and Orange...

Really enjoyed coloring my little red headed girl.  The fact that she would qualify for the iCopic Weekly Challenge #43: Orange and Blue was serendipitous!  The bottom blue panel was Cuddlebugged for added texture, next added DP scraps from Basic Grey including the Rosette in lower left corner. I added orange lace "stuff" used in sewing - (have no idea what for) and called it good.

CHALLENGES: iCopic Weekly Challenge #43: Orange and Blue

IMAGES: Sassy Cheryl’s Digi Serving up Birthday Cake

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

INKS: The images are stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copics: Skin -E50, 51, 53, R20; Shoes & Cake - E33, 35, 37; Hair - YR18, 21, 24; Dress - BG70, 72, 75; Grass - G82, 85; Ground & Shadow - W1

Hats off...

The background for this card was created by "ghosting" the Stampendous Border Hats stamped with clear ink and clear embossing powder on a white panel.  Distress Inks were  applied over the images and the embossed images then wiped clean of the ink.  This close up shows that a little better:

The ribbon was tied around that panel and the Red Hat from the Artful Stamper was cut out, sculpted and then floated with foam tape on top.

 

CHALLENGES: The Quirky Crafts Challenge 17 2011 – Red Hat Society
and for The Ribbon Girl Challenge: a project with ribbon.

IMAGES: Background “Hat Border” by Stampendous; focal stamp is from the “Artful Stamper”
PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel; base CS is from my endless stash.

INKS: The images are stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copics: R27 & R29

Embossed hats are with Versamark clear and clear EP; Distress Inks were “Victorian Velvet” & “Fired Brick”

Hibiscus...

I wanted a white on white background for this - leaving this splash of color in the middle.  That does make it difficult to photograph!  There is a white base card, a white panel embossed with the Tim Holtz folder called ("Distressed" I think) and floated on foam tape.  The third panel with the Stampendous "Hibiscus" is then  floated on the 2nd.  You can see this a little bit better here:

And finally, a close up that reflects the Duo Glue/ Foil embellisments on the stamen.

CHALLENGE: Simon Says Stamp Challenge: "All White"

IMAGES: The Hibiscus  is from Stampendous

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 and colored with Copics:R22, 24, 27, 29; G82; YG61

Birthday Hooray!...

I have never played with Penny Black's Hedgehog before... it was fun!  I do love a sense of humor - and I think grandkids are influencing my stamping style significantly.  After stamping the hedgehog I masked him and stamped the numbers behind him.  My intention is to highlight the number of the current birthday when I send it.  I used Duo Glue and shiny orange foil on the candle, present, centers of the flowers and the faux brads in the corner - but these do not reflect in this photo.  The paper lace was made with a Martha Stewart punch, and the flowers were punched and added to the corners.  Here is a close up of the flowers - you will just have to imagine the shiny foil embellishments!

CHALLENGES:

Penny Black "Anything Goes" Week 163 Saturday Challenge

iCopic Lover Weekly Challenge #42 "Fur"

IMAGES: The Hedgehog is from Penny Black, the numbers are Studio G / Hampton Art.

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

INKS: The images are stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copics: Hedgehog – E0000, E000, E00, E02, E33, E35; Cake – E57,59; Flame – Y15, 19;  Present and candle – YR07

Cupcake Fairy...

 It has always produced anxiety for me to to even attempt  a darker complexion and black hair- but I'm really proud of how this turned out!  Once I finished coloring with Copics, I used an ArtQuest Fine Liner Calligraphy pen to apply Duo Glue and  gold foil to the cupcake stars and silver foil to the shoulder straps.  The landscape, or  "Poke Leaf", was then Zentangled around my image using a Micron 01 pen and Copics.

Challenges:
iCopic Weekly Challenge #41: "Skin Tones"
Copic Creations Challenge #55:  "Landscape Design"
Anything Goes Challenge from Come and Get it Challenges

IMAGES: The Cupcake Fairy is by Mo Manning – the “Poke Leaf” is a hand drawn Zentangle design.

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

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

IMBELLISHMENTS: Lace ribbon, light blue button brad, two wooden star buttons and embroidery floss all from my endless stash.

Birthday Cakes...

Someone made a suggestion recently (it's one of those "duh" moments) -  to choose the colors for your image based on the designer papers you choose to use.  Can't tell you how much time I have spent trying to locate backgrounds for my already colored images!  It is so much against my grain to decide on a background first - then colors for my focal point - but I think this minor correction to my process will save soooo much time in my per card average (which is waaay up there).  I can just see most of you shaking your head ... "can't believe she didn't know that"!

Here I am using two coordinating papers -  the top one has polka dots that I made into balloons by adding strings and teeny bows with a Micron 0.1 pen. The focal images are cut out, sculpted and floated using foam tape.

IMAGES: The Bear/cake image is by Elizabeth Dukemba (spelling? Print is so small!);

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel; base CS is from my endless stash; DP is "Back to Basics" from The Paper Studio.

INKS: The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copics: Bear – E51, 53, 55; Apron – BV00, V01; Cake – R81, 83, 85; Rug - R85.

WINNER: Dancer's Bookmark...

Post script:  WINNER!  This bookmark won the iCopic Challenge "Anything but a card"!  First time to win a challenge - the prize was 4 Copics of my choice.

I made a bookmark for an iCopic Challenge IWC#40: "Anything but a card".  (Hmmmm - still looks like a card to me - I guess I need to challenge myself to stretch even further!  LOL!).  Never the less, the base card is 1/2 the size of an A2 card with a top fold to allow it to fit over a page.  The Designer Paper has a pierced border and the ribbon and twine finish the embellishments.  The image was colored with Copics, cut out, sculpted and mounted with foam tape.

IMAGE:  The little ballerina is from La La Land.

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image, base CS from my endless stash. The designer paper is from Hero Arts “Lauderdale” collection.

INKS:  Image stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copics:

TECHNIQUE:  Paper sculpting of the body as described in post http://ggetty.blogspot.com/2011/04/paper-sculpting-tilda.html

Pastel Colors...

 "Mummu" is a character drawn by Mo Manning - one of my favorite digi artists.  This was indeed a challenge for me to use only pastels... I am addicted to strong colors and I really fought adding them for the contrast I still think it needs!

This is my entry for the following Challenges:

Copic Creations Challenge No. 54 ~ Pastel Colors

iCopic weekly Challenge: Pastel Coloring IWC#39

DP2 #92 "Summer Vacation"

IMAGE:  "Mummu's Bike" is a Digi image by Mo Manning at Digital Pencil Too

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

INKS:  Image stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copics: E0000,00, 02, 33;  Y000, 02;  G0000, 03, 20;  YG61;  R02, 20

EMBELLISHMENTS: Ribbon and brad - yellow heart from my stash

Black and White...

This is my take on the "Black and white with one contrasting color" challenge at Mo's Challenge Blog.  Mo Manning, the very talented artist who created this digi, offered this one for $1.00 for a charity... you can check out this opportunity here:
The Copic inks used to color this image were: C00, 01, 03, 07 & R81, 83, 85

Dollar Donation Digi -- Bronte Kisses. 

In honor of Molly, Bronte, and all our beloved pets -- those here and those departed. 

All proceeds for sales of this stamp (including three "doggie" quotes) while it's $1 will go to Pet Orphans of Southern California: http://www.petorphans.org/

Corn Crop...

This card was made for a challenge... but the more I tried to meet all the required "rules", the more upset I became and finally decided it was not worth my sanity!  So I am posting it anyway - cuz I like how it turned out!!

IMAGES:  stalks are from VIP (Visual Image Printery) 1994 - I don't think they are still in business.  The corn is from Stampa Rosa - also out of business.   The images may have been picked up by another company - but I have no idea where to find them at this point.

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

INKS:  Background images stamped with Versa Mark and the main image stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copics: Y19, 21, 23 & G85, 94.  Distress Inks used Wild Honey and Rusty Hinge.

TECHNIQUE:  I stamped the corn stalks on the background and clear embossed them, distress inks were applied over the images and then the embossed images cleaned off with kleenex.  A strip was cut from DP and glued to the left hand edge.  The main corn image was colored with Copics, cut out and then sculpted from the back.  These were then attached with double stick foam tape.

Danke!

My Niece spent a semester in Germany - and in her explorations she found a rubber stamp for me!  Danke!  This is the card I made for her.  "Danke" is simply clear embossed for the background... and the twice stamped figure is colored with Copics, cut out, sculpted and then mounted with foam stamp .  Detail are listed below.

This side view might let you better see the 3-D affect.

IMAGES: Lady with Hat is Peddler’s Pack & “Danke” is by Butterer from Germany

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 and colored with Copics: Face – E000, 00, 01, & R02; Hair E71, 43; Dress -  YR15, 21; Accessories – YR 18, 21, 24, YG93  White accents with an Inkssentials Pen

Welcome Neighbor!

We have new neighbors who moved here from out of State... so felt a welcome to California was called for! 
Here is a side view that allows you to see the "banner" greeting:

IMAGES: "Poppy Bottles" from Stampendous Clear Stamps; letters are from All Night Media "Jazz" font

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel; Greeting is on Georgia Pacific "white" at 110 # wt. CS; blue base card from my endless stash

INKS:  Image stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copics: Vase – BG0000, 000, 01; Flowers – YR02, 04, 07, 09; GR82, 94; W7  Greeting stamped with Versafine Black, edges distressed with Ranger's Distress Inks - "Tumbled Glass"

TECHNIQUE:  The image was stamped twice and colored and then, using a ruler, I drew a light pencil frame which intersected the image on four points, allowing the image to “escape” the frame.  I used a craft knife then to cut out the frame and the flowers and vase outside the frame.  I used distress ink around the edge and then foam tape to mount the panel up off the base card.  The 2nd copy of poppies is cut out, sculpted and mounted with foam tape on the top of the originals.  The greeting is stamped on a long, narrow piece of paper, the ends are V-cut, scored twice on each end and finally mounted on the front of the card with foam tape to raise the center.  The ends are folded under to complete the 3-D banner.

A Nautical Bleach...

This brown CS is wonderful with bleach... it is fairly cheap and is really nice for bleach "painting".  The image is a collage stamp and was stamped and embossed to give a little ridge that more easily contains the bleach.  My favorite method of application is the "water pen" that has the plastic barrel to hold the Clorox and a synthetic brush.  (Never use a real hair brush... the bleach will literally disolve the hairs!)  Once the design is lightened to my satisfaction, I went back in with Tombows to add a little color.

Made a good Father's Day card for Scott - who is a sailor.

Doodles...

 

This card is my entry in the  Copic Creations challenge: DOODLES . If you have seen some of my earlier posts you know I am interested in Zentangles and I jumped on the concept!  The boot is an older stamp from Penny Black,  who is sponsoring the Copic challange.  Many of the "shingles" and parts of the boot are already decorated... but I enhanced original designs, tangled in the blank shingles and tangled the hills in the background with my version of "Fescue" by Zentangle.  The coloring is with Copic pens, the windows are cut out and the panel is mounted 3D to the background panels.  Here is a close up that displays the tangling and details in a better light:

Once again I have been able to combine my three loves: stamping, tangling and my Copics! 

This was definitely fun!

Scored!

I took a chance last week and posted on Freecycle searching for a light tent or box.  I scored big when someone offered her setup that she used only once!  It includes this tent and the two lights and another larger tent. All free!  Originally she also had a tripod for the camera but had given that away.  I am tickled pink!  You can see tiny easel I use in the tent that will hold my cards.  Wahoo!

Torn edges...

The coloring for the horse involved  rubbing distress inks on a craft sheet, spraying with water and then putting my paper panel face down in the ink puddles a couple of times till I was satisfied with the colors.  Once dry, I stamped the horse image in black on the section of colors I liked and finally, cut out the image.  This was mounted with foam tape on the background panel stamped with the music and distressed with inks.  The layers behind this panel were torn from brown and black papers and all were mounted to a light peach CS that matches the music panel.  This meets the criteria for the Simon Says Stamp Challenge for Diostressed/ Torn Edges.

IMAGE:  Horse is from Kodomo Inc.; Musical background is from Penny Black
INKS:  Versamark and Ranger Distress Inks
PAPERS: From my endless stash!

Paper Sculpting Flowers...

Here are two views of one of my recent sculpted flowers.  Stamped three times on DP and cut out in the 3 layers indicated in the image, I added C3 Copic ink to the edges of the petals and in the very center.  I also embellished the center using Duo Glue and silver foil.  Finally each of the three layers is sculpted and then the centers glued to the layered front of the card.

Here the same stamp is used with colored vellum and twine looped for the leaves. A punch of a snowflake has been added at the center of the flower for it's stamen.   The final version is with a lighter weight vellum mounted on a vellum printed with dragonflies.  A button and twine embellishments are added.

Recipe for Friendship...

For Challenge #86: "Recipe" at Mo's Digital Pencil, I decided to use this wonderful image of the Queen of Hearts.  This image is colored with Copics.  Other than the message, I chose not to embellish it further as it is for my husband - who is not into lotsa "stuff".  He just appreciates the humor!  The inside by the way, simply says: "I got nothin' else for ya!"