Stella Says Sketch Challenge

Sketch challenges sometimes frustrate me -I have my own ideas and having to follow a certain layout makes me have to think harder.  For many they are easier, simply cut your paper to the match the sketch layout and viola!  I usually have my image in mind and then have to decide how I think it will fit into the sketch.  The background of this changed several times, as did the image - and layers were added behind layers as I finally started laying out the image I had colored.  In the end it all turned out well, but it certainly took me longer than I thought (it didn't help that I uploaded the new Silhouette 4.0 recently and there is a whole new learning curve to using it that I am still working to figure out - ugh!) The picture really doesn't do this justice - I love the papers, the solid red and green are out of my stash and pretty old, the plaid is Rustic Noel by Paper Studio. 

This image is a digital from Bugaboo Stamps - I love the whimsical look and fussy cut around him.

  

What you can't see in the picture is that after coloring the scarf, hat and nose with my Copics I used the Clear Wink of Stella on the face to create a nice sparkly look on this happy holiday fella.

Thanks for stopping by.

Materials:
Bugaboo Digi, Silhouette Cameo, The Paper Studio, Copic Markers, Card Stock, Computer

Challenges:
Stella Says Sketch Challenge 514

With Sympathy

     Yes, I needed a Sympathy card for a co-worker.  Her father passed away very unexpectedly the other night.  It was with sadness that I sat to create this for her.  While looking for inspiration I found several card styles that appealed to me.....most cards of this nature seemed to be fairly simple.  There was one card I came across that had used the Lords Prayer in the background - then I looked through some of my old creations and some ideas began to form.  Like most cards, this ended up a little different from how it was intended to look, and that is a good thing - I liked my original ideas, but this turned out even better.
    Not owning a stamp with the words to the prayer I computer generated them, repeating them about nine or ten times.  After choosing a paper color I then coordinated the color of the ink for the words to the paper. Once they printed out I used my circle Spellbinder die to cut out the image and a background layer.  Then I inked up my Penny Black floral stamp with some Brilliance Pearlescent Jade and stamped it over the words of the prayer, Cutting off a small side of the circles I placed them on my card and created a floral design on the opposite side to balance the card with some Prima flowers, and foliage with my Martha Stewart punch, and Cheery Lynn die.  To finish this off I used some ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon and a metal die Cross from Momenta.

  The card dimensions are 5.5 by 5.5 and with the flowers would not fit into a normal envelope, so I made a small box to place it in.  There is a belly band with a fancy punched edge, with another Martha Stewart Punch, and matching ribbon from the card to go around the box, topped with a frame stamp from Our Daily Bread Designs with their matching die.  (Need to place her name on this)
     It is a very peaceful looking card - inside I computer generated the sentiment: Although its difficult today to see beyond the sorrow, May looking back in memory help comfort you tomorrow.  You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

Supplies:  Prima Flowers, RRRibbon, MS punches, Spellbinder Die, Cheery Lynn Die, Our Daily Bread die and stamp, Brilliance Ink, Computer, The Paper Studio CS, Momenta Metal Tag. 

Challenges:  Simon Says - Anything Goes, Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes, Wednesday Creative Inspiration Challenge, A.R.T. Challenge Blog, Anything Goes

Lifes a beach....

     Its been the kind of spring that makes one want to get to the beach and feel the sunshine!  While it has been fairly mild in Georgia, my poor family and friends in the mid-west have been bemoaning the late snow and cold weather.  St. Louis recently broke a 100 year record for 12 plus inches of snow....I am sooo not missing living there and experiencing that.
     However, what really inspired me to make this card was the Design Team call over at Mo's Digital Pencil.  The minute I saw it was open my heart started to pound quicker, and I let out a hopeful SQUEAL!!!!  You are suppose to post something with your favorite Mo's image - LOL - I love them all, how could you possibly pick just one.  This said, if I think too hard about it I'll never get an image colored - they are all too, too sweet and fun.  So.....since I HAD to pick - I chose this lovely curvy lady with the delish umbrella drink.  We will be heading to the beach in a few months so I have visions like this dancing around in my head.  Yes, she is in a a "teeny, weeny, itsy, bitsy, yellow polka dot bikini" (hope your humming along now) with the tropics surrounding her.  There are harder images to color, but she is oh so fun to play with!!!  Of course I used my Copics to color her, my Spellbinders to frame her, a nicely discounted Paper Studio embellishment, and some ribbon, all mounted on some fun two sided Jillibean Coordinating paper. I like the way the chevron on the lower layer mimics the ripples in the sand as the ocean washes up on the beach.

     Yep, this will be me when we finally make it to the sand and sunshine.....an umbrella drink is a must!  I finished of the inside off the card as well - I used two shells that I stamped, colored lightly, spritzed, then bent into a shell like shape.  They are adhered with some Collall glue to give them dimension.  My original thought was to use them on the outside of the card, but this little lady screamed for a palm tree and coconuts.

     I had to laugh when I read the Design Team call requirements....does Mo really think it is a burden to have to color and play with one of her images weekly, or any time for that matter  - I say bring it on  - that is my kind of play.

Supplies:  Copics, Mo's Digital Pencil, Paper Studio Embellishments, Spellbinders Die, Jillibean Paper, Computer Sentiment, Collall glue

Challenges:  Mo's Design Team Call, Stamp and Create, April One Die Cut. Oozak, Pearls, lace, ribbon

Riding 'Big Red'

     It is no secret I enjoy coloring with my Copic Markers......or that I like Mo Mannings images.  This little fella is one of my faves from Mo's Digital Pencil.  I think I chuckled the whole time I colored him as I took a little trip down memory lane.  When the kids were little we lived on a dead end street, and there were a bunch of kids.....ALL of them owned various sizes of three wheeler's that they rode endlessly in circles with each other.  I can still see the rocks and dust kickin up behind them as they laughed and played on them.  Coloring up this fella called 'Giddyup' was great fun.......doesn't he look excited to have all that 'horse power' to ride!! I have been itchin to use my new Die-namics die from My Favorite Things - it made a great little embellishment, and the stars that punched out from the top die were used around the image.  Yeehaw!!!

Supplies:  YeeHaw by the Paper Studio, Mo's Design Digi, Die-namics die, corner punch, Copics, Spellbinders oval die

Challenges:  Challenge 168 at Mo's Challenge Blog, Inky Chicks Anything Goes (1st challenge evuh), Craft Your Passion Challenge145 Gone Country

Wisemen & women still seek Him

    Every now and then when I am shopping, and have one of those 'just must use' 40% off coupons, I see a stamp whose image is so serene and lovely I must have it.  The day I spotted this stamp I probably walked by it four or five times, trying to imagine how I would use it on a card.  I imagined it colored in Copics, and for sure with some gold around it.......THEN I come home and begin to play and just can't get any of my coloring or layouts to work the way I imagined they would.  Ughh!!!  To the drawer it goes.  A few weeks later I find myself perusing the gallery at Splitcoast Stampers and lo and behold I come upon this CARD that gives me inspiration.  I kept her basic layout of the image in the circle and the sentiment in the banner.  It didn't seem appropriate to use snowflakes as she did, because she used a tree image, so I used an embossing folder on my background.  To fill the little corner I added some embellies.  This layout has inspired me to think of one or two more ways to use this lovely stamp....so glad I kept the tones earthy, and very glad I found a way to ink this up.

     There is something about the Wisemen following a star, in faith it would lead them to the King, that greatly appeals to me during the Christmas season.......Inside I will use my favorite sentiment "Little baby, sweet and small, born to be the King of all".

Supplies:  Inkadinkadoo Wisemen, Paper Inspirations Sentiment, SB M-Bossabilities, The Paper Studio DP, Cardstock, Memento Ink

Challenges:  Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Lost my Heart

     I am laughing at myself....a few weeks ago I posted my first Valentine and was sooooo proud that I had actually gotten some of my cards done in advance.  The card for my DH sat on my counter, and in between stamping I was reorganizing my room.  DH kept wandering in and I didn't want him to see his card so I put it away (fully believing I would remember EXACTLY where I put it - LOL) - went looking for it yesterday and don't you know I CAN NOT find it!!!  Willing to bet tomorrow it will magically appear, but I needed a card TODAY, so I took some time this afternoon to make him another one.......actually like this one better!!  Inside is a very nice mushy sentiment with wishes for a fabulous Valentines Day!!
  I titled this "Lost my Heart" - this has two meanings: one I lost the heart card I made - but it also means that I lost my heart to my DH 33 years ago when two became one and I am here to say 'life is good, I am blessed'.

Still laughing at myself as I sign off

Thanks for visiting,

Materials:  Paper Studio Simple Elegance CS, Spellbinders Butterfly Circle, Our Daily Bread Designs Butterfly 2 stamp and die, Ribbon

Challenges:  Stampin Sister is Christ Challenge 126, Simon Says Stamp and Show, Anything Goes

My Refuge

    This is an older stamp from Stampin Up that I have had for quite some time.  I wanted to create a masculine looking card to use and thought that these deer would be perfect.  I used my Prismacolors to shade in the background and the animals.  I used a lovely scripture sentiment from Proverbs that I have from Our Daily Bread Designs and some paper from The Paper Studio.  You can't tell but I sprayed the layer with the stamp on it with some shimmer mist for a very nice effect.  This is a card that will be going to the Church bookstore and I will be entering it in the challenge over at Our Daily Bread Designs.    

Thanks for stopping by - Have a Blessed Day,

Materials: Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture 7, Stampin Up, The Paper Studio paper, CS, Gold CS, Shimmer Mist, Prismacolor Pencils. 

Challenges:  Our Daily Bread Designs SLC 90, Simon Says Anything Goes,  Word Art Wednesday