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!"

Tell you a secret...

Sweet and fun to color image by Sarah Kay.  I used Copics to color and then added texture with the embossed background, layered Designer Paper and die cut fence.

IMAGES: Sarah Kay’s “Can I tell you a secret”, fence is a Sixxiz die cut

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

INKS:  Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copics: Face – E000, 00, 01, & R02; Dress & Accessories – YG11, 17, 23, 25, Y11, 15, 21, 38, YR21;  Shadows – NO, W3 & C3;  Blue jeans & jacket – B41, 45, E53, 55, 57.

TECHNIQUE:  CuttleBug embossing folder used for the background.

Oldies but Goodies...

Remember these front and back stamps from Art Impressions?  I was wandering thru my older stamps and found this one.  I have a few of these that I haven’t used in years.  What’s cool is that with new punches, die cuts (the fence) and a few new sculpting techniques I can create a new look for her.

Here is the inside view of the window showing the front of the image:

IMAGES:  Front and Back woman is Art Impressions, background stamps from the “Flower Garden” set from Stampendous, fence is a Sissix die cut, window is a McGill punch.

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

INKS: Marvy Markers for the background images, image stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copics: Face – E000, 00, 01, 11 & R02; Dress – B91, 93, 95, & 99; Accessories – R24, 27; Shadows – NO & C1

TECHNIQUE:  Paper sculpting of the body as described in my post:  "Paper Sculpting Tilda..."

Fisher-bear...

This is for the Copic Creations' challenge "Yellow" and for the Simon Says Stamps challenge for a "Male Card".  This card was easy to do with these fun digital images.  All three images were printed out, colored with Copics and then the hat and fish basket (?what do they call that?? Craw?  LOL!) were cut out, sculpted and mounted 3-D.

Tangle-Bird...

This is my latest ZIA (Zentangle Inspired Art)... The stamped image is from Magenta and I have filled it with Zentangles.  Most of these tangles were created by my friend and instructor, Mary Elizabeth Martin,CZT.  She recently created and posted several borders that I love and felt fit beautifully in the tail and wing feathers. You can see more of her creations on her blog.  This card was a thankyou to M.E. for her generous sharing and her confidence inspiring comments regarding my efforts. Thanks again M.E., for getting me into this "tangled world"!

Here Comes Summer...

This is my entry for the "Here comes summer" challenge.  The character of Mummu, as drawn by Mo Manning, is one of my all time favorites.  
Here is a closer shot to pick up on some of the the metallic elements.  You can also see the wonderful texture of the handmade natural paper that comes amazingly as self-adhesive stickers! 

IMAGE:  "Mummu's Bike" is a digital image from Mo Manning. 
PAPER:  image printed in sepia on Georgia-Pacifica White CS;  handmade paper from Mrs. Grossman's Scrapbook Symmetry.
INKS: 
     Copics used: Skin - E000, E00, E01;  Hair & bike - C1, C3;  Dress - YR02, YR07 & YR09;  Background - W1, W3, YG11, E33, E35. 
     Ranger Distress Inks used for distressing the image panel - Old Paper and Vintage Photo. 

Wine Stave Queen...

I LOVE this image from Stampers Anonymous... have no idea why, but it really amuses me!  There is no name on the stamp - so I am nicknaming her my Wine Stave Queen.  I have used this particular image on multiple cards, using multiple techniques, and it still brings out the creativity in me.
Here is an angle shot that picks up the textures...

The polka dot background on the left of the image was heat embossed with "Platinum" EP. 

The detail added to the crown and metal straps was done with Duo Glue and silver and purple foil.

PAPER:  From my "endless stash" - which can be interpreted as "no idea of the source".  Image is stamped on Neenah   Classic Crest Solar White
INKS:  Memento - Tuxedo Black
          Copics - Skin: E000, E00, E01, R02;  Wood: E31, E33, E35;  Silver: C1, C3;  Hair: E53, 55, 57; Shadow: W1;  Torso: BV04, BV08;  Crown: BV20,   BV23, BV25

Apple Zentangling...

 When I  first saw Zentangles I was immediately interested in combining them with stamping. This is my latest ZIA (Zentangle Inspired Art) with an apple image.



A close-up of the specific Zentangles used

Zentangles: Cadent, Mooka, Pretemps, Fescue, Growth, Swarm
Mary Elizabeth: Laced

Happy Mother's Day Muggs!

Clean and Simple!

This was a quick and easy use of an old technique - using a solid  image and applying Marvys directly to the rubber, "huffing" and stamping.  The dragonfly was added as an afterthought to bring a little weight to the right side and to add a little sparkle in it's wings.  The edges of that panel were distressed with ink and mounted with foam tape on top of the  embossed panel.  The ribbon was added with a flat bow for added texture.  Done and done!

CuttleBug Embossing Folder

Images: Orchid Cluster by Stamp in the Hand; Dragonfly by PSX

Inks: Ranger Distress Ink - Antique Linen;

        Marvy Markers - Violet, Eggplant,Brown & Vermillion 

Diamond Stickles

Card Stock and ribbon from my endless stash...         











Lucca with a Truck...

This image is another one that is fun to color... I'm not usually into children with BIGGG heads - but I must admit there is something very satisfying about coloring a large surface and being able to make the transition of shades very smoooooth!  Copics Rule!  I have never had this control before.

Here is a close-up that shows the embossing and layering of the image.  The technique is described in my post "Paper Sculpting Tilda..."

Papers: background papers from my stash, image stamped on Neenah

Image: La-La Land "Lucca with a Truck"

Inks: Tsukineko's Memento "Tuxedo Black"

Copic Markers:  Skin:  E000, E00, E01, E11, R02  Hair: YR18, YR24, E55  Jacket:  E31, E33, E35, E37  Truck: R24, R27, C1, C3  Shoes:  R24, C1  Jeans:  B41, B45



Paper Sculpting Tilda...

Paper Sculpting is one of my favorite techniques - the time and effort of coloring, cutting and layering always results in a people pleaser!   The background for this birthday greeting consists of hand drawn floor boards colored with Copics and a "wall" framed by using Distress inks along the edges.  The chair was a wonderful find in my stash and is JUST the right size for the Magnolia stamps.   Although the chair is stamped directly on the background, I was able to add dimension by dampening and then embossing the back of the cushion. This technique allows the background panel to remain flat but makes the cushion bulge forward.  Tilda was stamped three times and cut out in sections for layering.  Each layer was embossed on the back with a ball tool and then mounted with double-stick-foam tape used to support and maintain the rounded shapes.  The third or top layer is Tilda's head, hands and banner.
Here is a close up that allows a better view of the layers:

Image:  Tilda from Magnolia Stamps.  Chair is by Azadi Earles
Paper:  Neenah
Ink:  Ranger Distress Inks and Copics

White Rabbit...

I was making "Happy Spring" cards and because we were still having rain, sleet, hail and intermittant snow, I made this card instead.  Lighting was not optimal... but I wanted to share my paper sculpting technique here.

This close up makes it a little easier to see. The image was colored, the body and head were cut out separately and turned face down on a pergamano pad.  I used a "ball and cup" tool ( used to emboss metal) - to gently rub in circle motions and emboss the image.  Any ball tool or even the back of a spoon used on a mouse pad or soft surface should work.  The body is mounted with double sided foam tape to ensure the roundness of the body shape is maintained.  Glue was applied only along the neck and shoulder edge to make it lie flat and provide a distinct elevation difference between the shoulders and the head.  The head was mounted on the same foam tape and overlaid above the shoulders and slightly overlapping the image.

Image: by "Mo" Manning http://digitalpenciltoo.blogspot.com/
Copics: body - NO & C3; clothing - B45 & B41; ears, cheeks, nose and foot pads - R00, R11 & R02
Button embellishments:  Inkssentials Enamel Accents - White

If you have questions - or I have made anything unclear - leave a comment and I will respond as soon as possible!

The Mad Hatter loves his tea!

Brother Rod's birthday deserves the wild Mad Hatter's dance!  I love this image - fun to color.  Could not capture the wonderful sparkle and sheen on the Teapot, cup and saucer, but that and the saucy angling of the mats on the base card really set this card off.

Digital image is by "Mo" http://digitalpenciltoo.com/
Copics used:  skin- E50, E51, E53 & R02 / shirt- E41, E43 / hair- YR18 / tea set- R14 / costume-B91, B93, B95, B99 & BG10 / shadow- C1
I used a shimmering watercolor over the Copics on the Tea set.

Zintangle Sails...

Had to do some 'Thank You' cards for FLYC members  helping with the Camellia Cup Regatta; a boat obviously was appropriate - and the sails just begged for Zintangles!  But I'm thinking I will only make the one like this - I'm not convinced sailors will all get the sail decorations!  LOL!

Stamp is from "Whiteworks" (1996), ink is Memento Black Tuxedo  on Neenah paper. Colored with Copics: E55, E57 and E59. Embellished with bronze brads and Zentangles by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas ( Zentangle® art form and method was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas.) and by Mary Elizabeth Martin, CZT.  Many thanks to M.E. for teaching me Zintangles!