Copic class day 4 directional lighting and shading

This is my practice sheet playing around with directional lighting and shading. Used different blending techniques as well.

Copic online class day 3:shading with grey

This one was fun, just challenging because I don't have many grey tones. I have super dark grey and then light ones. Lighter colors worked well with the warm grey W3 but would like some cool grey tones to try as well. The last umbrella  is N7 neutral grey and BV06 which is a dark violet , has more contrast in person. I shaded so the darkest part of umbrella was on the left side.

Day 2 for Copic online class, Blending techniques

I tried my hand at some different blending techniques. The birds are using tip to tip blending. 

The butterflies are a combination of tip to tip and feathering. Definitely need more practice but it is a start. 

Copic Markers for Card Makers Day1

Today was Class 1 for Copic Markers in my Online Card Class. We were instructed on different blending techniques. This is my practice sheet. I definitely need more colors I think, I got bored using the same ones over. Lots of green though. 

Here is the website for the online classes. They are a lot of fun. 

http://www.onlinecardclasses.com/

SAF 2014: Time after time

This challenge was to take one of our first cards and revamp it. I started stamping about 13 years ago after going to a Stampin UP party. I was awestruck by what a few stamps could do. In the beginning I was very clumsy and did not know how to edit. I loved to embellish and putting cards together was more a "winging it" process. Over the years after reading blogs like Nicole Heady and all the designers blogs on various sites I have learned to tone down the card and to edit.

It was fun watching all the card designers in the welcome video talk about that paper crimper, as I have one also and yes it was my first card supply purchase!
We all start somewhere.

I think my second card is much improved. Cleaner lines and easy on the eye.. Way too much going on with the first card.
Stamps used were Papertrey Ink Mat Stack 4 Collection and Chocolate Bliss from Gel a tins

SAF 2014: 80's note folds

Oh the memories of passing notes. Fun note folds that we always thought were super secret, Ha ha. This card is a side fold card of Raspberry Fizz base but I added a fully functioning note fold on the front. That is where a secret message could be stamped. So fun! Love the cassette tape stamp and the sentiments that fit on it, like a handwritten note of what is taped on it. Enjoy!

SAF 2014: the 80's retro rainbow

Aahhh Rainbow Bright, Rainbow stickers, trapper keepers. We all loved the 80's right?
This card was inspired by the above mentioned memories of the 80's. I had so much fun. I used a die from Papertrey ink to make the rainbow and then the dies from the stamp a faire set for the clouds. I added some glitter to the clouds to make them stand out a bit.

In love with the small sentiments in this stamp set. Added Happy Birthday from Birthday Basics stamp set.

SAF 2014: 1960's vintage ad

This challenge for Papertrey Ink's stamp a faire was a ton of fun. I love this stamp set and dies. So many options. I die cut this so that most of the pieces laid down into the panel to create a smooth, sleek look.

Added some fun details with rhinestones and the cool font sentiments.

SAF 2014: 1960's layered stencils

This one was a little difficult. I didn't have the right ink colors to do the way instructed in the video but added a shadow of sorts with chocolate brown ink. Love the shapes in this stamp set. The colors are all inspired by my kitchen and tuppeware colors I had as a kid. Added some green sequins to add some sparkle and fun to the card. Don't you just love the font for that sentiment. The SAF challege can be found here. 

SAF 2014: the 40's vintage patterns

Had a lot of fun building my own background with the 1940's stamp set. I built my background on white cardstock then added a triangle piece in the red plaid paper. Added summer sunset ribbon to break it up a bit.

SAF 2014: 1940's Corsage

I only bought one color felt, so I made it work. I think the plum color actually works with this color scheme. I used a glitter foam for the leaves and was impressed on how flat they came out. Love flipping one to create a shadow and bright leaf. Used the stamps included to make the fun border. I really got inspired by this stamp set.
Enjoy

Papertrey August Blog Hop: Gold and Pink Polka

Love this color combo, wanted to make something fairly clean and simple and have fun with gold accents.

Used Shakers + Sprinkles stamp set for the sentiment "Sunshine"
My polka dots were from Polka dot basics, using versamark ink and gold embossing powder.

SAF 2014: The 20's Sparkle and shine

I added some glitter and turquoise sparkles to the die cut out. I loved the background I made with the large flourish stamp, kind of got covered with the sparkle and shine. Clean, crisp card. 

SAF 2014: The 20's :floating rhinestones

Used the floating rhinestones technique. I incorporated some purplish blue large stones in the center to change it up a bit. Base is a clear cardstock and then layered Spring rain twill ribbon and patterned paper from the Stamp a faire set.

SAF 2014: Regency Era , stitching

This challenge I used embroidery floss and cross stitched the rose and leaves. I added a bow and buttons to add some romantic touches. I used a sentiment from Quilters Sampler stamp set.

SAF 2014: Regency Era , Vintage embossing

This style of card is way out of my comfort zone. I love embellishing , so it really shouldn't be. This challenge was to use a vintage embossing technique. I gold embossed vellum and then sponged Dark Chocolate ink over it to make it look vintage. I then stamped my sentiment in brown and layered vellum tag with stars cut out (notched star banner die) over the Blue and cream striped pattern paper. Added a fun (messy) bow to add to the romantic feel. Enjoy!

SAF 2014: Renaissance , wax seals

Used a candle wax seal to create a fun seal for the focal point of this card. This card was SIMPLE. I used a premade background paper has the face of card and added seal with a sentient to make it look like a ribbon. I loved the patterned paper and that was my inspiration for this card. I bought the wrong kind of velvet(sad face) so my velvet card for Nichole Heady's first challenge did not turn out.

SAF 2014: Ancient Rome - Mosaic

For this Mosaic challenge I used the Friendly Flowers stamp set and stamped it in Ripe Avocado, Summer Sunrise and Berry Sorbet on Vanilla cardstock. I then ran that stamped image through the cuttlebug using the mosaic die plate. I glued that onto Tropical Teal card base and put that on a Summer Sunrise card. Added sentiment and twine bow.

SAF 2014: Ancient Rome

First challenge Ancient Rome: using a medium to create a faux fresco look. I could not find the embossing paste at my craft store so I just used the patterned paper in the kit and distressed the edges a bit more.
I stamped the image on the patterned paper in Smokey Shadow and adhered it on an oval die cut from Terracotta tile, outlined in with a larger oval outline cut from Ripe Avocado. I layered that over kraft cardstock stamped with a repeating Laurel pattern in Ripe Avocado. Sentiment is stamped in Smokey Shadow and is from The A-mazing stamp set.

SAF 2014: morning time challenge

First challenge of the day is the Morning time challenge. 20 minutes , pick a sketch and pick a color scheme. I chose the Color scheme with Smokey Shadow, limeade Ice, Summer sunrise, terracotta tile and soft stone. I don't have soft stone so my cardboard number is representing that color :)

Super simple card, but with 20 minutes I need that. I added some twine just to add a little pizzaz. If I had more time there would be some glitter!

Stamp-A-Faire 2014 with Papertrey Ink ...stamping through the ages

So excited for Stamp-A-Faire this year. I have never been able to participate because I would be working. I have had this day written on my calender for months. My husband and kids know that I will be in my craft room all day!
So to prepare I went through all my supplies I was sent and put the stamps in their permanent home using Jim Holtz clear binder pockets. It makes it so easy to see all the stamps in the set when I am flipping through my stamps.

Well, hope all that are participating have a great stamping day tomorrow!

ColourQ #252 : Christmas in July

This is the color challenge I was inspired by to make my card for this weeks ColourQ challenge.



I substituted Papertrey Ink (PTI) Dark Chocolate for the Early Espresso color.
I was excited to use my new These United States (PTI)  dies and stamp set for this challenge.
I first negative die cut the united states out of the kraft paper and glued what was left over onto the Dark chocolate card base. Next I die cut my two states, OR for my husband and AZ for me :) Used The A-mazing Stamp Set (PTI) and These United States (PTI) for my sentiments. Layered with red cardstock and the states and white paper strip adhered with pop dots.

Here is the front:

and inside - love that sentiment!

 Thanks for stopping by!

Retro sketches 125: Sunshine

This challenge immediately made me think of one of my favorite stamp sets Hello Sunshine from PTI. I wanted my sun rays to really pop with color so I used PTI Harvest Gold ink for my base and then stamped over it in Pumpkin Pie from Stampin Up! The center of the sun I stamped Harvest Gold ink all over and then inked the edges in Pumpkin Pie ink. I really like how it looks like a sun! Added the sentiment and popped up the center circle with pop dots. Needed some bling, so added some ra
ys in gemstones. Put the card front on a 4 1/4" by 4 1/4" square card base in Navy cardstock. Thanks for looking.

Mojo Monday 356 :Tall and Skinny

For this challenge I used a card base cut to 3 3/4" by 5 1/2" in Tropical Teal (PTI) . The stamps and coordinating dies are from the PTI Shakers + Sprinkles Set. I made a shaker piece from nestibilities oval dies and filled with silver stars, tropical teal circles and clear sparkles. I glittered the sprinkles word die for some extra pizzaz. Love how it turned out. Thanks for looking.


Here is my take on the challenge.

Freshly Made Sketches 146 : Amazing

For this challenge I was inspired by my new "The Amazing" stamp set to create this card from Papertrey Ink. The sentiments and stamp images are so fun. I used the coordinating dies to cut out several circle mazes and glued them together to give the main focal point some dimension. Added some fun washi tape and a sentiment from the Amazing set. Such a fun sketch! Thanks for looking.

Make it Monday #174 Diamond wallpaper stamping

For this challenge I used the straight line stamp from Kid Kudos and made a diamond pattern with it in Smokey Shadow ink. I used a ruler to make pencil lines to follow with my line stamp to line it up. I then stamped the medium sized damask image from Damask Designs in every other triangle with New Canvas ink. The other triangles I stamped the small Fleur de lis stamp from Damask designs stamp set. I then brushed perfect pearls in gold irridencent over the Damask Design images, wanted a shimmery subtle damask design to the "wallpaper". Used a gold paint pen to make the dots at the intersection of the lines, kind of gave it a quilted look. I finished with a center panel cut from nestibilities and stamped my sentiment using Fresh Snow ink , image from Stylish Sentiments : Birthday .  Finished with a Smokey Shadow bow.

Thanks for stopping by.

Make it Monday #173 : no Outline Watercolor

I had fun with my new splash inks from Papertrey Ink purchase with this challenge. Those inks allow so many color combos. I used the Father Knows Best stamp set from PTI.  Thanks for looking.

Make it Monday #172 Rainbow Medallions

I have been out of the card making circuit for a while so I thought this would be a great challenge to get my card making feet wet again. It was difficult for me to get my colors coordinated right so I made a little chart, that helped a ton, I used the pea pod stamp from Baby Button Bits stamp set from PTI. I always like rainbow colors paired with dark colors. I used Smokey Shadow PTI paper to pop the background and center of what turned into a flower as the main image. enjoy, and thanks for looking.