James and Snowman Copic Colored

Hello everyone!  I hope everyone's holiday was safe and enjoyable.   I have one more James and Snowman card to share and post on the Lili of the Valley Ideas to Inspire Blog  for their monthly challenge.  I have posted the pencil  and the watercolor versions, now here is my Copic colored version.

I tend to stamp my new stamps to color three different ways, to see which one the stamp is best suited.  I can honestly say, that these little fellows work out in all three mediums. 

My other two cards were very simple, so I thought I would add a little more fuss to this one.   The paper is retired from CTMH, called Believe.  I love this paper. The colors are Sweetleaf, Holiday Red, and Sky.   The snowflakes are dies from SSS, as is the banner.  The sentiment is from the SSS card kit of the month stamp set called, Be Joyful.  I added some Lawn Fawn baker's twine and some buttons from my stash.  The white cardstock piece behind my image was embossed with CTMH's new embossing folders.  I really love these new embossing folders. They are 5x7, with a slit at the top you can feed your card fronts through.  Perfect for cardmaking. 

That's it for me today.   Have a wonderful rest of your weekend.  Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  I hope everyone has had a lovely and safe holiday.  I decided to take a break from grazing on the goodies to share with you all another Studio J layout. 

These were some pictures of my daughter we took last weekend while taking pictures for some friends.  Not only did I take the pictures, but had them in a layout all in the same day.  How awesome is that? I just got my second batch of layouts ordered for a total of 37 layouts this month.  I have almost all my books caught up.  I would never have been able to get 37 layouts done in a month's time.   Thank you Studio J!  There is only a few days left to catch this great deal, but there is still time. 

I have one more James and Snowman card to post.  So be sure to check back.  Have a great rest of the holiday!

Thanks for stopping by!

James and Snowman Watercolor

Happy Saturday my blog friends!  I had mentioned that I had stamped the image from the previous card post on three different papers to color with three different mediums.  I finished my watercolor James and Snowman today and thought I would share. 

I colored this one with my distress markers, using them as watercolors.  I totally cased this card design from a Kristina Werner card she did for her Holiday card series this year.  I tried to stick with the same colors I used in my pencil-colored card, just for the sake of comparison.  The image looks bigger on this card, but it's the same stamp.  

I'm going to post this one on the LOTV Ideas to Inspire monthly challenge site, too.  They are going to get tired of me because I have one more to do.  I'll be working on my Copics colored image next.   When I get it finished, I'll be sure to post.

That's it for me tonight.  Thanks for stopping by!

Coloring on Kraft

Evening everyone.  I have one more card to share with you guys from the OCC Holiday Workshop.  On day 6, which was a bonus day, they focused on coloring.  Those who know me, know I love to color.  But what I had not tried yet was coloring on kraft paper.  I absolutely love the look.  Debby Hughes did a lovely card with a poinsettia colored with Prismacolors on kraft.  I had to give it a try. 

I loved this little stamp from Lili of the Valley.  They have such adorably sweet images.  As a matter of fact they have a monthly challenge blog and this month it's a Merry Christmas Challenge.  I'll be posting this card over there, too.

For starters, I stamped my image in Memento Rich Cocoa on Neenah Desert Storm cardstock.  I thought it kept it kind of country/crafty by using the brown ink.   And the Neenah cardstock is perfect for the colored pencils.  The sentiment is from SSS November card kit stamp set called, Be Joyful.  I really wanted to try for a background and maybe some falling snow, but I chickened out at the last minute.  When I got my image colored I was afraid I would totally mess up the card..lol.  So, this is my clean and simple (very simple), one-layered, krafty, pencil-colored Christmas card.  

I did stamp this image on three different papers with the intention of coloring these little guys in three different mediums.   I'll be sure to post them when I get them colored up. 

That's it for me tonight.  Thanks for stopping by!

Watercolor Wreath

Hello everyone!  I'm back with another Christmas card from the OCC Holiday Workshop to share.  On day three they focused on watercolor.  I have never really been good with watercoloring, but I am growing more and more fond of it.  Dawn from WPlus9 did a lovely watercolor wreath card using a stamp.   I didn't have the stamp she used, but I did have Remarkable Wreath from CTMH.   Here's my version of her card.

I loved the way she made her own wooden background simply with a paintbrush and watercolor.  This was my first attempt and I thought it turned out pretty well.  I took my color cues from what she had used.   Everything is done with Distress Markers.  For the wreath I colored right on to the stamp and then used my brush to soften the lines, just as she did.  My ornaments didn't turn out too well.  They look a little more like berries, which is ok, too.   I went back in the end with the fine tip of my marker and added a few more pine needles and then with my white gel pen for some highlights.

I really wanted a red bow, but as you can see I didn't get one.  Out of all the ribbon I have in this house, I don't have any red?  I don't see how, but I couldn't find any so the gold had to do.  I really like the idea Dawn had about creating your watercolor piece and then scanning it and printing it.  If you only had a few to do, this might not be so bad.  But for mass production without printing, I think I would pass..lol.

That's it for me tonight.  Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas Shaker Card

Hello everyone!  I still have a couple of cards that I did for the OCC Holiday Workshop class.  I don't normally do interactive cards, but Chari Moss did one that was so cute I had to give it a try.  She did a shaker card with a little winter scene.  I didn't have the stamp set she used, but I did have several of the same types of stamps.  

 

You may recognize the little fox as one I colored for my Copics for cardmakers class.  I still had some images that I hadn't used yet and thought this would be a perfect opportunity.  The little birds are from the CTMH Perfect Fit Holidays stamp set.  I didn't have any stamps of trees, so I just drew my own with a Memento tuxedo black marker and then colored them in with my copics, too.  I cut all the elements out.  I cut my hills with the Lawn Fawn die set, Stiched Hillside Borders out of Daisy White cardstock.  The frame is from Dutch Blue cardstock.   I didn't have any rectangle dies to cut my window with so I used my classic squares.  I made the first pass and then moved my die down and cut the lower half.  Voila! a rectangle.   I robbed a stamp set of its carrier sheet for my clear acrylic sheet to put over my window to keep my shaky stuff in there.    For the light blue background, I used a dauber and carefully worked  some Sky ink in from the sides  It's hard to tell from the picture, but it worked well for the sky.  Using 3d foam tape I built my little box.  

For the shaker stuff inside, I used the fallout from a Martha Stewart snowflake border punch I had.   I thought it worked out perfectly.  It gave me four different tiny snowflakes and three or four super tiny stars with each punch.  I glued a couple of those snowflakes to my back panel so there would be snow even when everything shook down.  I threw in a couple of sequins in the mix for sparkle.   Here's a side view to show you the shaky stuff. (I'm sure that's a technical name :))

 

I thought it turned out pretty cute.  Now, would I mass produce these, no I would not..lol.  But they are fun for that special someone.  

That's it for me tonight.  Thanks for stopping by!

OCC Holiday Card Workshop

Online Card Class's Holiday Card Workshop is almost over and I have only just begun..lol.  Such is my luck.  It was a great class, as they always are.  These ladies know how to make some cards for sure.

Last Monday was Day 1 of the class.  The focus was on doing sets of cards.  Cards that were easy to replicate for sending to the masses. They had some really great ideas.  Kristina Werner did a clean and simple card.  Here's my version.

 

These were relatively simple to do and could easily be mass produced.  The base is Neenah Desert Storm.  I used Pacifica cardstock for the blue.  Using a dauber, I gently came in from the edges with first Moonstruck (retired) ink followed by Outdoor Denim.  I really liked the effect.  

The sentiment on the card below is from the Be Jolly stamp set from CTMH.  It's heat embossed with Ranger Super Fine Detail white embossing powder.  I have been on a search for a good white embossing powder.  I must say, this has to be my favorite.

 

The snow in the background was the most time consuming part of this card and it still didn't take but a few minutes.  I used the Falling Snow stencil from SSS and embossing paste.  They make a texture paste and I'm not sure if it behaves the same way the embossing paste does.  If you notice my snow looks a little blue.  The embossing paste picked up some of the ink from my paper.  I didn't mind in this project, but it's something to think about if  you want it to be completely white. You would need to sprinkle it with white embossing powder and heat set it for a truly white detail.    I finished it off with some Xmas Red Stickles, baker's twine from Lawn Fawn, and some faux stitching.  Very simple card. 

Both of these cards were made at the same time.  This one doesn't have any heat embossing, but the same embossing paste for falling snow.   The sentiment is from the Merry and Bright stamp set from SSS.  The little stars are cut from the SSS Holiday Shapes die. 

 

The sentiment is stamped on the white cardstock and then I cut a circle for my window.  Easy peasy.

I have a few more cards to post, so be sure to check back.  That's it for me tonight.  Thanks for stopping by!

Lucky 5

Hello everyone!  This month is Studio J's 5th anniversary and I am so very excited because that means they are having a special.  All layouts are only $5.  You already know I am a huge fan of Studio J, but I am always amazed at how quickly layouts come together on there.  I made 20 layouts over the last couple of weeks.  I would never have been able to do that with traditional scrapbooking.  Don't get me wrong, I love the old fashion way, too, but there is room for both in my books. Literally :)

Below is one of my favorite layouts from this last batch.  I knew what I wanted to do with these pictures, sort of.  I knew I wanted wood, since it was kind of country themed. I also knew that we didn't have any paper packs with wood and the color that I wanted.  That is yet another wonderful aspect of Studio J, it is so very customizable.

 

You may not recognize this paper pack right off.  This is Dakota.  The colors were blue, red, and grey-toned wood.  I changed the colors completely.  Because I changed the colors so drastically, none of the My Stickease matched the layout.  I didn't want too much on this page so as not to detract from the pictures, but I did want something.   I created the flowers using photo clips and brads.  I used stitching for their stems and borders.  I really loved the way it turned out.  Very simple. 

There is more than just  a good deal going on this month.  Not only is Close to My Heart celebrating  with discounted  prices, but every fifth order placed in Studio J receives a FREE surprise Close To My Heart accessory in its shipping box! The accessory has a retail value of $5 or more.  And if that wasn't enough, there is a chance to win a golden ticket.  The ticket entitles you to one of our new D-ring albums with ten memory protectors.  AND another way to win is to simply create new, gorgeous layouts in Studio J, select your favorites, and then post pictures of them on Close To My Heart’s Facebook page using the hashtag #ctmhlucky5. After November 30, five lucky winners will be selected from the entries based on their artistry and creativity and each of these winners will receive their own D-ring album loaded with 10 Top Load Memory Protectors!  How awesome is that?

I'm off to see about making some Christmas cards.  I was taking the OCC Holiday Workshop 2014 card class, but I haven't been able to get but two cards done (because I have been playing in Studio J..oops)   I'll be sure to share those with you guys as soon as I get them uploaded. 

That's it for me tonight.  Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Scrapping!