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.

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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!