Sketchy Fish

Hello! I played along with the sketch challenge at SCS today using images from Gone Fishing. 

I stamped the fish, using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then colored with Copics, starting with YG93. 

Filled in the rest with C1.

Then added a band of pink with R20.

 Added some shading with C3.

Then some deeper shading with C5. 

For the background scene, I sponged Memento Desert Sand.

Then sponged Memento Rich Cocoa. 

Stamped the trees, off the edge on either side, using Memento Rich Cocoa. 

I used a sticky note to mask the top and then sponged a bit of Rich Cocoa to make a horizon line. 

I colored in the trees with YG93. I didn't fill them in completely, instead I just made them kinda splotchy. 

Added E35 to the tree trunks and the ground.

 Then I used W1 to add more shading to the ground and fill in the trees, blending a bit.

I used E35 (too dark) and E33 to add ripples to the water, then used the white gel pen to add highlights. 

I sponged another piece of cardstock with Memento Desert Sand and Rich Cocoa. 

Then stamped the fishing fly repeatedly, in a random pattern, using Rich Cocoa, stamped off for a lighter image. 

The little silhouette fisherman was stamped in Rich Cocoa and the fish was cut out and adhered with Pop Dots. I layered with Pure Luxury Chocolate Brown and used an Ivory card base.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a great day!

Wonderful Pink Birthday

Hello! I had a chance to make a card today so I am back a little sooner than I had planned. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I use Friends Are Forever for this card.

I stamped the flower image using Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and colored with Copics, starting with RV19. 

I added RV23. 

Then RV21. 

I used colored the other two flowers the same way and used my blender pen to soften the highlights on the petals. I used Y17 in the centers and YG95 on the stems. 

Cut using Spellbinders Circle Nestabilities and sponged Memento Cantaloupe ink, while still in the die. 

I stamped the sentiment, from The Giving Tree, and cut it with another Spellbinders circle die. Then I sponged Memento Cantaloupe ink. 

I layered with Pure Luxury Sweet Corn cardstock and SU Pretty In Pink. I used more Spellbinders dies, this time Scallop Circle Nestabilities, to cut my layers. For the larger background, I sponged Memento Cantaloupe ink and embossed with my Swiss Dots CB folder.

Christmas Train

Hi there! Wow, just a few more days 'til Christmas. This will probably be my last post until later next week, so if I don't get back on here before then, I hope you all have a safe and wonderful Christmas!

Today I played along with the sketch challenge at SCS, using images from Life is Good.  I kept mine pretty clean and simple, using score lines to take the place of the horizontal panel in the back.

I made this card with a pouch on the inside for holding a gift card or other small item. It's hard to tell from this photo, but there are tabs on the side that I folded under to adhere the bottom flap up into the pouch. 

I started with a piece of Pure Luxury Heavy Base Weight White, cut to 11 by 5 inches.  I scored at 2 and 6.5 inches.

On the long side, I scored at .25 inches, then rotated the cardstock and scored at .25 on the other side as well. 

 I folded and creased, then used my scissors to trim away the long .25 inch strip from each side, leaving it in place only on the 2 inch flap. The I folded over the .25 inch tabs and adhered the flap to the inside of the card base, using Scor-tape.

Oops, almost forgot to say, I also stamped the mountain scene, from Happy Camper, on the inside before adhering the flap, so that the scene is peeking out from the pouch. (see inside photo above)

On the front of the cardbase, made score lines every .25 inches near the top. I used my Scor-Buddy and scored on the inside, so the lines would be raised on the front of the card. 

For the background panel, I cut a rectangle using Nestabilities, then sponged while still in the die, using Memento Summer Sky. I masked the bottom with a torn sticky note. 

Then I sponged Memento Danube Blue. 

And sponged just a tiny bit of Memento Paris Dusk. 

 I moved the sticky note, to sponge some snow drifts, using Weathered Wood Distress Ink.

 I moved it once more, sponging another drift, then sponged a bit more after removing the mask.

I inked up the top of one of the snowy banks, from Life is Good, leaving the reflection un-inked, then stamped along the horizon, using Memento Tuxedo Black.

Used N1 and N3 Copic markers to add shadows beneath the trees.

Stamped the train on a separate piece of cardstock and colored starting with N5 in the darkest areas. 

Added N5. 

Filled in with N1. 

I used N7 and E57 on the tracks. I lost the picture of the next step, but I used W1 on the smoke and Y21 on the light at the front of the engine. 

After coloring, I cut out the train. Then I used Pop Dots, triple thick at the front of the train, single thick in the middle, and none at all at the back (I just used a bit of glue at the back). 

I layered the background with Pure Luxury Black Onyx and adhered it to the card base using Pop Dots. Then I added the train. Using the trippled up Pop Dots at the front, gave the train even more dimension.

That's all for now. Stay safe and happy. Very Merry!!!

Guest Designer - Lori McAree

Hello! Today I'd like to introduce you to my guest design this month, Lori McAree. As soon as I drew The Giving Tree, I knew I wanted to invite Lori to design with it. Lori has a beautiful Clean and Simple style that shows up on most of her projects, that I knew would be perfect for showcasing The Giving Tree.

On this card, Lori enhanced her usual style with a bit of sponging and all that fabulous stitching, giving this card a vintage feel! Just perfect for a grandparents birthday!

I asked Lori a few questions to get to know her better...

How long have you been stamping and how did you get started?
I started stamping about 7 years ago. A former co-worker would bring the cards she had made into the office, I fell in love with her work and wanted to give it a try!


What are your favorite kinds of projects/techniques?
Over the last few months I have been more into CAS (clean and simple), it started out as a challenge to make myself comfortable with that style, and I'm really loving it!

How do you overcome loss of mojo?
Challenges help me the most. If a challenge really grabs me and I immediately think of a specific set or embellishment I want to use

Do you enjoy challenges and, if so, what are your favorites and why?
I love challenges!! I don't have a specific favorite, though I tend to participate more in sketch challenges, I think they inspire me the most! I've been trying to participate in more color challenges lately, those are usually a true challenge to me!

What are your "go to" tools?
My Scor-Buddy and Nestabilites are used on almost every single card I make! I couldn't live without my Scor-Tape, I love that stuff!!!

What or who inspires you in your crafting?
Everyone! I love looking at other peoples work, I get something from everyone!!

Thanks, Lori! Those are some of my favorite tools, too! 

Hershey Bar Snowman

 Happy Monday. Just five more days until Christmas. Are you ready? I saw these cut little snowmen wrappers in the gallery at SCS and decided to try my hand at them, using some stamps I have at hand. I used the snowman face from Hip To Be Square, the little button from Fun Year Round and the little heart from Tech Talk. This project uses a quarter sheet of cardstock, for a regular size Hershey with Almonds bar, so it is a really great size to cut quickly with no scraps.

To start, I cut a piece of Gina K Pure Luxury White card stock to 4.25 by 5.5 inches (one quarter sheet of an 8.5 by 11 sheet). I stamped the snowman mouth/eyes, using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I stamped it in the center, horizontally, and about 1.5 inches below the top. I used a light pencil mark to help stamp in the correct position. Then I stamped the nose, using Memento Tangelo.  

 After stamping, I used a white gel pen to add highlights to the eyes and mouth. Then I used my YR07 to shade the nose and E00 to add rosy cheeks.

Stamped the buttons, using Memento Tuxedo Black, about an inch down from the nose. 

Then I added the heart, just to the right of the top button, using Memento Lady Bug. 

I turned the cardstock over, so the image was facing my work surface, then added Scor-tape along one side. I positioned the Hershey with Almonds bar in the center and removed the backing for the tape. 

I folded the sides over and adhered. 

I found an old scrap of flannel about 4 by 5.5 inches to use for the hat. I used Scor-tape along the bottom edge. 

Removed the tape backing and rolled the edge over to adhere, so that I would have a finished edge for the bottom of the hat. Then I added another piece of Scor-tape over the hem, so I could adhere it to the snowman. 

I placed the fabric on the snowman, Scor-tape down, to adhere. 

Turned it over and adhered the sides, using more Scor-tape. 

I gathered the top above the candy bar and used some jute twine to tie it off. Then I added the button, adhered with more Scor-tape.

Using a narrow strip of another scrap, about 10 inches long, I used Scor-tape to roll the edges. You could use the raw edges for a more rustic look. 

I knotted the strip of fabric about his neck as a scarf and then snipped the ends. I also snipped the top of the hat.

I saw these done with Lifesavers, too, and the hats were made with using cut off tips of knit mittens.How fun is that!

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a wonderful start to your week!