Splitcoast Stampers Challenge

SCS has a challenge running based on Louis Armstrong's Wonderful World song, which I absolutely adore and is part of the reason why I purchased the Belle on a Bike set by Technique Tuesday.

I decided to use the Large Birch Trunks (CM-055P) by Third Coast Rubber Stamps again and make a watercolored scene with it.


I wanted to keep the focus on the scene, so I used the Basic Grey Basics Kraft for patterned papers. The sentiment (from the Belle on a Bike set is in a Spellbinders die cut.

Here are the lyrics!
I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom, for me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world...

I see skies of blue, and clouds of white
Bright blessed days, dark sacred nights
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world...

The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces, of people going by
I see friends shaking hands, say, "How do you do?"
They're really sayin', "I love you."

I hear babies cryin', I watch them grow
They'll learn much more, than I'll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

Yes, I think to myself
What a wonderful world!
*George David Weiss, George Douglas aka Bob Thiele*

I'll leave you with this!

Thanks for visiting today!

Do you believe in Magic?

Now that I've typed that, I have that song in my head. It's a pleasant song, so it's okay for now!

Since I'm trying to mix things up a bit and since I've had this idea percolating in my head for a while and since I need to build up my stash of birthday cards, I decided to go a bit magical and mystical with this card.



I stamped Third Coast's Wizard (ES-201-F), colored him with Copic markers, masked him with Misket Friskit, then overstamped Third Coast's Large Birch Trunks (CM-055 P),. I peeled off the mask, colored the trees, and added a background -- all with Copic markers.

I diecut a scalloped oval from vellum, then stamped the sentiment, which is from the Fairy Fantasy Unmounted Sheet by The Enchanted Gallery.

Since I'm in a "use up the stash" mood, I used some old Making Memories pewter corners on a black cardstock mat, then on a black card base.

Thanks for visiting today!

May is National Bike Month!

Did you know that? I didn't and I'm married to an avid cyclist who rode a "Century" (100 miles) last Sunday! I'm no cyclist and can barely manage five miles on a stationary bike. I get "blissed out" and spacey, so I'd likely have really bad results riding on a road.

Anyway, I created this card in honor of National Bike Month and to complete a challenge at Technique Tuesday's SCS forum. I started the card on time, but did not finish it in a timely fashion. I got sidetracked by other stuff.

Here it is!


I used my new Belle on a Bike set from Technique Tuesday. She was colored with Copic markers, as was the sentiment. I wanted the very old MAMBI patterned paper, but colored the blue spiral flowers to match her skirt. I used red polka dot paper by Color Bok in honor of the talented, sweet, and very kind Teri, who I saw last week. Teri loves polka dots and made me love them too.

BTW, the two-tone effect on the sentiment was intentional.

Plus, I used two shaped eyelets from my huge stash. Shocking I know. *grin* I'm so proud that I've been using older stuff from my stash. Yahoo. Go me.

Hip Hop Hurray!!! Today's the day!

It's the last "Hump Day" (Wednesday) of the month and I'm stoked because the Bombshell Hump Day Hops are back to stay!!!

The lovely and talented Alison is the new Head Hump Day Hop Hottie. She set this month's hop theme, which is "Goth Up Your Bombshells!"

If you followed the hop in order, I'm likely your last stop. If not, the blog list is below!

Here's my take on the challenge.


I decided to "Goth Up" Rose from Rose's Portrait set. I swapped out her crystal earring for a barbed wire, gave her a barbed wire choker, and added a skull tattoo to her shoulder. The barbed wire is from the Retro Cowgirls set. The skull is from the Speed Shop set.

Rose was colored with Copic markers in shades of black, red violet, violet, and a touch of green. I contemplated using shades of teal to pay homage to Alison (who has teal highlights), but changed my mind. Red violet/burgundy/violet are very "goth" to me. I also contemplated going deep red with black roses, but decided that I was not feeling up to that particular Copic challenge (reds and deep gray/black can be very persnickety and like to run).

The patterned paper is old Daisy D that I updated with Tim Holtz's Borderline Ideology Masks and Black Soot Distress Ink. As usual for me, I don't know what I'll use the card for, so I'll add a sentiment when needed. I was going to add some tattered lace and gems and safety pins, but decided "less is more".

Thanks for hopping along with the Bombshell Girls, Pin-ups, and guests today. I know you got to see some awesome eye candy!

Why don't you check the Casino on Bombshell Stamps' Forum in the beginning of next month to find out June's Hump Day Hop theme so you can hop along with us? You can also find Ms. June's challenge and my sketch there!

Here's the list of the hoppers!
Bombshell Blog
Alison
Kelli
Sparkly Engineer
Sugar
Meredith
Jennie
Mary G.
Milo
Cheryl
Stempelientje
Alaine
Emily
Dawn
Kathi

Bombshell's Ms. May's Challenge & SCN VSN Challenge!

Raven, aka Ms. May, is Bombshell Stamps' Guest Designer for May. She challenged us to use Linen & Lace per this discussion on the Bombshell forum.

When I read this challenge, my mind immediately flashed to a Warren Zevon song, Basket Case, which heralds a "Bi-polar mama in Leather and Lace".

So, I substituted leather for linen and created this card.


I used the Bombshell Pin-up from the Bombshell Angel set. I used the Bomber jacket, pants, and boots from the Biker Bombshell Digital set.

Everything was colored with Copic markers. Silver Krylon pen was used to color the flower in her hair, her jacket zipper, her belt buckle, and the pull-on tabs on her boots. The biker outfit was rubbed with a layer of Kraf-T Lustre rub-ons to give it a leathery look. Sadly, you can't see that from my photo, nor can you see the shading on her face real well. I'd take it outside to photograph, but it's raining. Again.

The leather-look paper is old and hoarded FiberMark specialty paper. It actually has a leathery hand-feel and does look like real leather. The lace is from old curtain tie-backs that I kept for a rainy day. Since it rained all freaking week long last week and will rain for the next fortnight, that time is obviously now. :D

Spellbinders dies were used for the frame which was popped up on dimensionals. Boss Kut flower dies were used for the flowers. The sentiment was added with rub-ons by Flair Designs and October Afternoon.

Best of all is that this qualifies for another challenge, the "A Pirate Wench I Be" one, which was to show a tough but girly side. Cool, eh?

Thanks for visiting today!

Taylored Expressions "Make It Masculine" Blog Hop!

Hi! It's my second time participating in Taylored Expressions "Blast from the Past" Blog Hop! The theme for the hop is "Make It Masculine", which is fairly easy since my three sets are all outdoorsy. I just had to remember not to use any ribbon, frills, or bling.

Here's my card!


I used Taylored Expressions Branching Out Coordinates set for this card. I think the owl is really cute and decided that he wanted to go for a swing. I figured that making a punny card, using earthy colors, wood-grain patterned papers, and staples would make the card masculine enough.

I did a bunch of masking to make the scene using Judikins Eclipse tape. I colored the scene with Copic markers (note to self: next time make the owl a bit lighter), then used Grumbacher's Miskit Frisket, which is a liquid mask that you apply with a brush, to cover the images. I got out the airbrush and had a go with it with the usual mixed results. I like the effect, but don't like that airbrushing leaves a sticky film on the piece which attracts dust and my shedding hair. I need to find out if that's normal or something that I'm doing incorrectly. After I airbrushed, I removed the Frisket, which removed cleanly without hurting the paper or the coloring--yahoo! Glaze pen was added to the owl's eyes and beak.

The patterned papers are from Cosmo Cricket. I used my Ideology Tiny Attacher, which is a fabulous tool. I also used Spellbinders dies for the sentiment.

The photo is kind of dark because it was taken at night and because my mad photography skillz are more bad than mad. What's scary is that I've improved. Whoa! I'll try to get a better photo tomorrow if the weather cooperates.

Thanks for visiting today.

Here's the list for the hop! I'm sure there's some serious eye candy out there, so have fun hopping along!

Wanna win some Copic Sketch markers?

I know that I do! Click ---> COPIC MARKERS to be whisked away to Scrapbook Pal's website!

Scrapbook Pal is running a contest.

If you don't know about this store, they have freakin' awesome service, super-speedy shipping, and great prices on a bunch of great things.

In a Grungy Distressed Mood!

Actually, I'm in a good mood, but the All Aboard set by Technique Tuesday makes me want to create vintagey scenes and cards.

This is what I created:


I had seen a variation of this technique in Craft Stamper, an British magazine. Their version took a bunch of different papers, collaged them, stamped on them, then coated them with a layer of gesso.

I took the easy way out and used pre-collaged papers by 7 Gypsies. It's two sided and once side has a grayscale version, the reverse has a colored version. I used both sides.

I stamped the train, plane, and sentiment from the All Aboard set, which I placed into the frame from the Swanky Sentiments set. The images were"fussy cut". I positioned them where I wanted on the grayscale paper, then traced around them with a chalk pencil. Black Soot Distress ink was smudged around the outlines and the stamped images were pasted into position. I still had a place that "needed" something, so I used this flourish from the retired Crown Jewels set, stamped it, colored it, then used a circle punch. I added an Ideology spinner to make it into a quasi-compass.

I edged the piece with more Black Soot, matted it onto black, then onto the colored side of the 7 Gyspies paper, which was sponged with Wild Honey and Tattered Rose Distress ink to match the images a bit better.

When the card was done, I stuck it onto a file box and cleaned up. When I turned around, I noticed that the card was illuminated by a weird lambent light, so I photographed it in situ.

I can blather on, can't I?

Well, thanks for visiting today!

Bombshell Sketch Challenge for May!

Here's the sketch that I created for May!


Here's my take on the sketch.


I stamped the hibiscus square from the Bombshell Patterns set onto punched cardstock squares using Memento inks. The pineapple and cocktail are from the Tiki Party set and were colored with Copic markers. The sentiment is from the Man's Ruin set.

Please feel free to use this sketch and make it your own. If you do use it with Bombshell Stamps, please be sure to share it with us on the Bombshell Stamps Blog or on the Bombshell Stamps forum. Each project you share will give you another chance to win a fabulous prize!

Thanks for visiting today!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there. :D

Here's the card that I actually sent to my mother! She got it on time and loves it!


The image is from Recy #006 unmounted sheet from The Enchanted Gallery and was colored with Copic markers in soft colors to match the patterned papers by The Memory Box. The sentiment is from a often-used Sentiments set by Purple Onion Designs.

I hope you all are having a lovely Mother's Day. I got what I wanted —— potholders to replace the torn, stained ones that I had set on fire (I'm talented like that). They're non-skid, heavy duty, and actually sized to fit my hands (the only "petite" thing about me, other than my lack-of-height). Plus I got champagne. Mmmmmmmm. Best of all, my husband is smoking some chicken wings and thighs for my special feast this evening! *big grin*

Thanks for visiting today!

Birthday card Trifecta!

I had to make a birthday card for a friend, who loves flowers, walking in the park, and spending time out of doors. So I decided to make an outdoors scene for her and do a trifecta of challenges!

Here it is!


The scene was created with Taylored Expressions In the Park set. I did a whole lotta masking using the Masquepen and Eclipse Tape. Of course, after I finished all the masking work and die cutting, I messed up the bird path. :( Oh well. Perfection is overrated.

The scene was colored with Copic markers. I used my airbrush for the second time, this time with an old cloud stencil, to create the sky. I still don't have the hang of airbrushing, but I'll persevere.

The sentiment is from Taylored Expressions Branching Out set because it fit the diecut better. :D

The card uses Taylored Expressions Sketch #137 and also meets the "Sky and Clouds" challenge, #49, over at Copic Creations and the Grass challenge, #28, at iCopic Lover.

The patterned paper is Basic Grey Mellow. I wish they hadn't retired that collection. I love the colors. I love the patterns. I just plain love it. I also used QK scalloped borders and Spellbinders label dies.

I hope my friend likes her card and her present!

Thanks for visiting today!

Just sittin' here worrying! :D

Greetings! Happy May!

True confessions. I'm a ginormous worrier and I'm darned good at it. In fact, when my daughter was ~three years old or so, after watching a Winnie the Pooh video, featuring Tigger, she looked at me and told me that "Worrying was what you do best." Out of the mouth of babes...

So, this image, Betryse Broods (FT-186-H) by Third Coast Rubber Stamps was a "must have" for me. I sat Betryce upon a stone bench, which is part of a set (which I don't have) also by Third Coast Rubber Stamps.



I stamped Beatryce, masked her, then stamped the bench. The scene was colored with Copic markers and qualifies for two challenges! It qualifies for the "Sky and Clouds" challenge, #49, over at Copic Creations and the grass challenge, #28, at iCopic Lover. I'm so efficient. *snort* I added some glitter pen accents to her head piece and bracelets.

I channeled my inner-Cheryl, who is a seriously talented friend, who just made the Copic Creations team, by using a bunch of my Prima flowers. I even colored some of the white ones to match!

The patterned paper is by 7 Gypsies (main layer) and DejaViews (diecuts and the punched strip).

The sentiment is from the Branching Out set by Taylored Expressions.

Thanks for visiting today!