Hispanic Woman

Have you missed me? lol ;)

I've been busy! I started school on January 16... full 12 hour load... thought I'd be able to keep up with my blog and boy howdy! ... whatever was I drinking when I thought that?!? ;) lol I did drop an hour course but please... ONE HOUR! The courses I kept are chemistry, anatomy and human growth & development. TWO science courses! :(

I can hardly keep up with my swap on FB and the Scrapbook Stamp Society Design Team but I'm committed to both! So here I am! :)

I kinda rushed through this card and I feel awful about it! I have a pile of homework I have got to get to but I need to post something for Sherri Baldy! I love she invited me to join her team and I am not gonna let her down! :) 

So, I received this image, Hispanic Woman from the store. In my haste, I forgot to take a pic of the colored image but here is the finished card:

The embossed background paper is from DCWV Lemon Flower Stack. I used card stock and ribbon from my stash. The flowers are from Michael's dollar bin. I tend to buy most of my embellishments in white because I can always add color to them later. As the flowers dry the color seeps more into the base. I've done this before many times but I cannot wait for the seeping to finish. I have anatomy homework and that will take a good part of this afternoon and I may not get a chance to come back on here and post my card and I. Have. To. Show. Her. To. You! I did the flowers on the top corner first so you can see the seeping has gone further in. I used my HOTP Tool Kit #2 to add shape to the color image and sprinkled the edges with Art Glitter in black. This is how I colored her:

Reds: R46, R37, RV69, RV29

Blacks: N08, N06, N04

Skin tone: E00, E51, E11, R20, R01

I used N00 to outline the image. 

Thanks for stopping by! Please leave a comment so I'll know you were here! :)

Belinda Bubbles in Blue and White!

You are NOT going to believe this... I missed a deadline! Yep... again... I thought I had until the end of the day but instead it ended at 6 PM CST. :-| I completely missed that! 

Fortunately... since I am combining challenges... it did not make me cry as I have in the past... also... I'm in remission so I don't cry as easily... :) ... I have some challenges backed up for me. :) Yay!

This is Belinda Bubbles at Scrapbook Stamp Society. I love bubble baths... who doesn't? Image appeals to me for that reason alone! I made this card to participate in one of the Four Month-long Challenges going on right now at the SSS Challenge Blog. I've already participated in the recipe challenge. This is a card sketch challenge. I'm thinking I might be able to squeeze in the anything goes as well before month end. :) You should go over there! They've got lots of great fun going on this month... also... Sherri Baldy has come out with a new line of digital images called Besties TM AND a WEEKLY challenge blog to go along with these called... Besties Challenge Blog... what else?!?! What fun! She's generously offering a freebie today so you can participate in the challenge too! How wicked awesome is that?!? I'm not sure how long she'll have the freebie on her site so be quick to go over and get it! :)

I'm also participating in Sandy's Crafty Creations. She's got January Anything Goes {With a Twist Challenge}!... doesn't THAT sound like fun too! :-D The twist this time around is the project must have blue and white on it. This is a bath scene... I think I've got THAT covered as well. 

Here's the card sketch for the challenge:

Here is the image in color:

These are the Copic markers I used to color:

Blues: B00, B04

Blacks: N8, N6, N2

Pinks: R01, R20, R43

Skintone and eyes: E00, E11, R20 and E13, E15

Grays: N00

Here is the card:

This is how I put her together... I used feathers, plastic discs, card stock and printed paper from my stash. The sentiment is from a clear stamp set By the Beach at Raisin Boat. If you're taking a bubble bath... it IS almost like being by the beach! ;) lol

Thanks for stopping by! Please leave a comment so I'll know you were here! :)

Celebrate-Dragon Rider

I made this card for my son... did not start out for a challenge... just a birthday card he wanted for one of his friends. 

I did find two challenges! :) One at The Craft Place Challenge. They are having a New Year-New Goodies challenge. I bought the image last night to make this card. :)

Lia Stampz is having Challenge 33 - It's a Celebration! That what the card is for! We want to celebrate Nick's birthday... a little late... but we are expressing this with the card. :)

Before I show you the card... let me explain... :)

My son is a HUGE comic book fanatic. He participates in the annual comic book expo held here in the spring. He's won three years running Best in Show for adults. 

He created his own super hero whom he calls IceWolf and made the costume out of duct tape and cardboard... several types of cardboard... we've collected cardboard for quite a few years! Each year the costume has evolved. 

When we lived in New Hampshire, we made a video and applied for SyFy's Who Wants to be a Superhero? Needless to say... he did not receive the much anticipated call... :(

When we moved here in March 2008, we had to leave the first costume in storage. When people meet Jay, they quickly discover his passion for superheroes. One of his co-workers told him about the comic book expo and Jay went for the first time in the spring of 2009. He came home VERY excited about what he had seen and immediately started working on a costume to replace the one we left in storage. 

He won two years running with that second costume. The second year he made some modifications to improve the look. The costume for the 2012 Comic Book Expo is the third one he's made and the best so far. I have pictures from 2012 Comic Book Expo and the costume looks a lot better than I could possibly describe it to you... here... I'll show you...

Here's another picture to show you he's not the only one who goes all out for this event...

Here's a little girl who asked to have her picture taken with him... he gets quite a few requests from young children and he actually draws a crowd of children interested in watching him pose. 

As the little girl walks away, she tells her mother in a very excited voice, "I got my picture taken with blue Power Ranger!" lol He does get asked that a lot...

Here he is on stage showing off for the judges...

Jay gets recognition for being IceWolf at the comic book expo in our city. He's actually famous! lol He is on a first name basis with someone here who has actually been printed in comic books. lol I remember I was quite awed when introduced because I recognized the name and I am NOT a comic book fan. He's been in the local news because he owns a comic book store here as well. 

After the 2009 Comic Book Expo someone invited him to a Sketch Club that meets every Saturday and Tuesday nights at local restaurants. The first time I dropped him off at the restaurant... we'd only been here a little over a year and he didn't know his way around... he was excited about his evening plans. When he got home that night... he was VERY excited and informed me he was recognized and once they realized who he was, he was eagerly welcomed into the group. :) lol 

Jay has made some very nice friends through this group of young people. For that I am very grateful and I encourage these friendships. Two of these young men have become frequent guests at our home... Nick and Robert. Jay thinks very highly of both of them and they of Jay.

It was recently Nick's birthday and Jay informed me after the fact that he would like to have a late birthday card for Nick but something that he would appreciate in his field of interest. So I did some research based on what he requested and I found an image at Kenny K Downloads that I thought fit the bill. I didn't tell Jay what I worked up... instead... I waited until I completed the card and showed it to him. Jay was very pleased and he believes that Nick will like the card. This is COMPLETELY out of my norm. I was incredibly intimidated attempting to make something per Jay's request. I used Kenny's Dragon Rider image and this is what I came up with...

This is the colored image:

These are the Copic markers I used to color the image:

Blacks: N8, N6

Grays: N4, N2, N00

Red: R37

Yellows: Y02, YR23

Browns: E18, E15

Pink: R20

Greens: YG41, YG45

Skin tone and eyes: E00, E11, R20 and B00, YG41, N0

This is how I put the card together:

I used card stock and Robin's Nest dew drops from my stash and the sentiment comes from You Said It! at Raisin Boat. I made the label using Design Tool 2 from HOTP. I find it incredibly difficult to make a masculine card. I want to add glitter, sparkle or shimmer! :) lol So I guess it did not need to be a challenge... but it was! :)

Thanks for stopping by! Please leave a comment so I'll know you were here! :)

Leopard

I've posted a card to Scrapbook Stamp Society featuring Kim L. Pipkin Gwin's Leopard digital image. You can read all about it here.

This is my card:

Thanks for stopping by!

New White Out for the Love Birds with a Tag

:) What do you think? Am I getting kinda creative with the post titles? lol ;)

Well... I'm trying to make it easy on myself. This is how I can go back and find out if I got anywhere with my card. :)

So... this card is for five challenges... *GASP!*... YES! I'm feeling VERY brave these days... ;) ... and these are the ones I am participating in...

Meljen's Designs Design Team and Challenges is having Challenge #143 - White Out... and it IS indeed a challenge! I kept wanting to add color... then... I didn't know where to stop with the embellishments! I kid you not... I was on the verge of using white flock... but I made myself stop! :) lol I used a Meljen's Designs image... a freebie called Love Strung Birds. 

I am also entering this card at Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenge Blog in Challenge #30 - For the Birds. In order to participate in the challenge, I have to use a bird image. I am using a bird image! :)

Then there's Crafting for All Seasons Challenge Blog Challenge #43 - Something New. I am taking that to mean using something new... the Meljen's image and the Fiskars' corner punch are new. :)

Raisin Boat is having Challenge #7 - Love is in the Air and the card needs to be love themed... I'm thinking the card covers that too. :) 

Finally, Delightful Challenges by Digital Delights is having a Weekly Challenge - Tag You're It. This challenge requires a tag on the project. I did use a tag! :)

Since this was a white out challenge and the image could have used color, I opted to use shading instead. I was pushing the limits for myself... so I don't really have a colored image to show you... kinda... so here's the card:

I added color to the digital and stamped images with Copic markers in N00-Neutral Gray, R20-Blush and Y02-Canary Yellow. I used an embossing folder from The Paper Studio at Hobby Lobby and Robin's Nest dew drops. The card stock, ribbon and tag are from my stash. The stamped heart on the tag is from a clear stamp set Love Letters at Raisin Boat. The corner punch is from Fiskars. 

So... once again... I'm all giddy! lol I hope I got all the bases covered with this card. I'm having a heap of fun doing these... more than I thought I would. I really did think it would be difficult and stressful but instead... as long as I can keep a Window open with the challenge I am wanting to use... it is working out OK... so far!! :) lol

Thanks for stopping by! Please, leave a comment so I'll know you were here. :)

Third Time is a Charm!

I think that's how it goes... right? Third time is a charm? lol I don't know... but this is the third time I am attempting to do more than one challenge with one card... AND... there are three challenges with this card so... :)

This card should fall into place for Some Odd Girl's (SOG) January Challenge... this involves a card sketch and an SOG digi... I've got both covered. :)

The Corrosive Challenge Challenge #165 - Out with the Old calls for using old stuff... well... I think I've written that I am on a hell-bent... excuse the foul language... streak of ridding myself of all my stash... if I have it... I'm using it! Card stock (CS) and printed paper (PP) have been with me since about 2006 - 2007ish... LONG overdue for a card! I KNOW I bought the CS and PP in New Hampshire (NH)! We left NH in the spring of 2008. :-O 

Finally... Artistic Inspiration has Challenge #24 - Anything Goes! Gotta love those! :)

This is the card sketch for SOG's challenge:

I used 70s Kaylee from SOG. I colored the image with both EK Success coloring pencils and Copic marks. I used the coloring pencils for the oranges and purples. The remainder of the image is colored in markers and these are the colors I used:

Browns: E18, E15, E13

Reds: R20, R46, RV69

Yellows: Y13, Y19

Greens: YG41, YG43

Blues: B00, B04

Blacks: N8, N6, N2

Grays: N00

Skin tone and eyes: E00, E11, R20 and E11, E13

Here is the card:

As I wrote earlier, all the CS and PP is from my long-hoarded stash. The sentiment is from a clear stamp set Gals on Flashback Lane from Raisin Boat. I used a Lucky 8 Mini Vine Punch from We R Memory Keepers to make a mat for the side of the card. Aren't these super awesome?!? I love them! These are my newest favorite toys... beats dragging out the Spellbinder and the dies. Love this punch! I'd like to buy all six mini punches but these are $107.94... if you buy these through the Paper Wishes catalog with their special discounted price. I have a thing or two to say about PWs and their discounted prices but I'll tell you about it when I show you my Spectrum Noir markers I recently bought and received yesterday. It's a story that needs telling but not with this post. :-\ 

Winter Themed Challenges

That's right... you read that correctly... challenges! I'm feeling kinda cocky these days. I think I'm starting to get the hang of making one card for more than one challenge... kinda scary when I think about it too much so I try not to... but I think I am starting to figure it out... not to say I can't or won't make a mistake... but for now... it is all good! :)

For the first challenge, I used a The Paper Shelter image called Delicious Cocoa for Challenge #95 - Winter Blues. The name says it all... it calls for a winter themed card... at first... I thought they meant it had to be blue as well but in looking over the DTs examples there's one that is in red... but I made mine blue anyway... blue always makes me think winter and cold... brrrr... :)

The next challenge is with Digi Haven. They are ALSO have a winter themed challenge for their January 18th Winter / Snow Challenge and I'm not 100% positive... I think it needs snowmen and snowflakes... but I also saw some penguins with snowflakes... to be on the safe side... I used ribbon with snowmen and I added snow flakes on one of the corners. Perfect! :)

Paper Makeup Stamps is also having a winter themed challenge. Challenge #71 - Winter requires the use of a digi stamp and I am definitely using that! :)

Finally... Ribbon Carousel is having a winter themed challenge for RCC76 - Winter Spirit Challenge. For this challenge I have to use a new project with ribbon and follow the theme. I'm all over that! :)

Alas... I forgot to take a pic of the colored image but here is my card:

I used card stock, ribbon and brads from my stash. I embossed the background card stock and the frame around the image with two separate embossing folders from Paper Studios at Hobby Lobby. I sprinkled Crystal Snow from Stampendous "in the sky" and "on the ground" around the image. I have a HUGE problem with that... I always want to draw in a background! Sadly... I am not an artist... but this works anyway! :)

These are the Copic marker colors I used for the image:

Reds: RV29

Browns: E13, E15, E33, E35

Blues: B00, B004, B23, B24

Blacks: N8, N6

Grays: N00, N02

White: E41

Skin tone: E00, E11, R01, R20

Thanks so much for stopping by! Please leave a comment so I'll know you were here! :)

Multiple Challenges *GASP!*

You read that right... MULTIPLE challenges... yup! I am feeling kinda big for my britches right about now... earlier this week... I posted a card that covered THREE challenges... I'm thinking this card... will cover... FIVE challenges! *GASP!* Yes! Let me see if I got this right... there's January Challenge at Beccy's Place... I just have to use one of her digis... and I did... this adorable Free Printable 16 - Ballerina Bear. :) That's one. Then there's Digi Galore - Teddy Bear Picnic... I checked... there's no picnic... so I am interpreting that as it only needs a teddy bear. What a coincidence! The image IS a bear! :) Mojo Monday has a card sketch that came in handy for this image. I used Card Sketch #276. Sweet Stampin' has a challenge for using gingham. I looked at all the DT cards used for the inspiration. It was not clear how much gingham was necessary. I used gingham ribbon. Finally, Crafting When We Can has a challenge for Favorite Things. I did use some of my favorite things! :) I used Copic markers to color! These are my latest favorite things! :) I used Stickles! Another favorite! I used a Spellbinder die cut. Another favorite! :) Yippee! I think I covered them all. I hope I did it right! :) So... let's get to it...

These are the Copic markers I used to color:

Browns: E13, E15, E18, E31, E33, E35

Pinks: R01, R20, R32, R43, RV04, RV13

Yellows: Y13, Y21

Greens: YG41, YG45

Here is the card:

I used card stock, ribbon and printed paper from my stash. I did cut out a scalloped circle with a Spellbinders' die cut. The laced border was punched with a Michael's border punch. I used Stickles in Tangerine on the teddy bear's ballerina tutu. :)

I guess I'll find out later if I did this right or not... :) lol I sure hope I did! 

Thanks for stopping by! Please leave a comment so I'll know you stopped by! :)

Challenge 60 - Forever Night Creepy Challenge

*****I AM A WINNER*****

This card was picked a winner for the Forever Night Creepy Challenge #60! 

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I can NOT believe I am doing this... steampunk... I've not ever done anything like this... but... I got this gorgeous image from Simply Betty... so WHAT could I do... but go for it... 

I have to say... I kinda like how it came out! lol I hope it says... steampunk! :)

So anyway... in my bit of a haste... I started classes today and have HOMEWORK! At 51... doing homework... :-\ ... I forgot to take a pic of the colored image... I've written before how I am trying to get into that habit so I can show you what I did...

Also... I found a... challenge... *GASP!* Yes! One of the reasons I kinda rushed through it... challenge ends tomorrow night and I am not sure I will get a chance to get to this again... did I mention I have HOMEWORK?!? :-\ ... The challenge is at Forever Night Creepy Challenge and it is their Challenge #60 - Steampunk Anything Goes.

Here is the card...

All the embellishments, card stock, twine, vellum and feathers are from my stash. I embossed the gray card stock with a Paper Studio embossing folder from Hobby Lobby. The Copic markers I used to color the image are as follows:

Reds: RV69, RV29, R57, R46

Grays: N0, N2, N4

Skin tone and eyes: E00, E11, R01 and E33, E35

Pinks: R43, R32, RV13, RV04

Here is a close up of the embellishments:

I still can NOT believe I am doing this! This is so OUT of my comfort zone... but I guess that is what a challenge is all about huh? ;) 

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you'll leave a comment so I'll know you were here. :)

Friday Sketch for Digi Haven with Flat Friends

*****I'M A WINNER!*****

You can read about it at Digi Haven Grand Re-Opening and First 2013 Challenge!

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HA! Catchy title huh?!? I'm trying to title my posts so I can easily find a post if I have to go back and look for it. Follow me? ;) lol No pun intended! It is just a coincidence I moved my followers to the top! ;) So anyway... I think the title will pretty much cover all bases... but before we get started... run... go get your shades... you're gonna need them! ;) Go ahead... I'll wait here. :)

I've written before how I tend to read guidelines incorrectly and have had SEVERAL fiascos missing deadline dates or using the wrong image for the challenge. lol 'Tis me! :-\ I'm a brave girl though... in remission from leukemia so I very well earned that classification. :) I've... are you sitting down? ... made a card for... ready for this? ... THREE challenges! Yup! I'm sure one of them might could very well be wrong. I've checked, double-checked and triple checked and short of emailing the hosts for clarification I believe my card will pass the mustard with these three challenges... Flat Friends' Challenge 4 - Put a Bling On It, Digi Haven - Sparkles and Bling Challenge and Friday Sketch Challenge #34. I'm almost giddy from the excitement and I really kid you not! If I get these right... OMGee there will be no stopping me now! lol 

Here's the card sketch for the Friday Sketch:

I used a Flat Friends' Digi Image Freebie because Emma Canning is just generous like that. Love it! :) She's a shopper! The digi... I mean... I don't know Ms. Canning well enough to ascertain that but while we are on the subject... who here LOVES to shop? Raise your hand. Oh, come now... I cannot be the ONLY one waving my hand up in the air! Come on! I know there's more of you out there! OK... I see someone WAY in the back timidly raising her hand and smiling... it's not a bad thing! This isn't Shopper's Anonymous... we're among friends! Our little secret is safe. So I love to shop and this image just tugged at my heartstrings. :) lol

Here is the colored image:

These are the Copic markers I used to color the image:

Blacks: N8, N6, N4, N2, N0

Blues: B00, B04

Browns: E13, E15, E18

Greens: YG41, YG45

Pinks: R01, R20

Skin tone: E00, E11, R20

Got your shades handy? Here is the card:

OK... I may have gone a bit over the top but... well... truth be told... I LOVE BLING AND SPARKLE! Sorry! Didn't mean to yell but I just got so gosh darn excited there. lol I used card stock and specialty papers from my stash, all the rhinestones are from Paper Studio at Hobby Lobby... by the way... these were NOT self-adhesive... I thought I was gonna cry!! :'( I've written before how frustration brings on the waterworks for me... I got a little tidbit frustrated! :-| I used some Stickles in Aqua along the outer edges of her shirt. The sentiment... I made that from an alpha set I've had for almost forever and a day so I cannot tell you who it is by since... there's no packaging. :-\ 

I had this sentiment in mind every since I saw "Got green?" on a St. Patrick's Day card and used it on one of my own St. Paddy's cards... ;) ... I figured it was a spin-off from the "Got milk?" commercials. Gave me the giggles something fierce! lol Yes! I DO entertain easily thank you for asking! ;) lol Inside the card I stamped NO! in a large Stampin' Up alpha stamp. lol Anyway... I have a niece who lives one block over and we always talk about getting together for lunch or dinner. She's on disability and I have been laid-off since early November so... cash is super tight for us and will not change anytime soon but I thought I would send her this with a note inviting her to my home for a lunch date. :)

So... I hope I got all three challenges covered with this! I do! More importantly... I hope I can sleep tonight! Just the idea that I was attempting to cover THREE challenges has got me all worked up! I start classes tomorrow and the first one is at 8! Whatever was I thinking when I signed up for that class I have no idea... and get this... it's Anatomy! Ugh! So anyway... super important I be able to go to sleep! :-O

Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you'll leave me a comment so I'll know you did stop by! :)

Try Something New Challenge - Di's Digis

I made this card for Di's Digi Design Challenge Blog. They have a Try Something New Challenge and I decided to use a card-folding technique I've not done before. 

I went to Beccy's Place for a card-folding technique new to me. Great place to learn new tricks... but alas... I did not find what I was looking for. I was looking for something quick and easy... :( ... I think I've mentioned before... quick and easy is my style... ;) ... Beccy's got some GREAT tutes... but these appear overwhelming and complicated to me. :( So instead I went to Pinterest and found this tutorial (eighth down). ;) Didn't work out like the tute... but I tweaked it to fit my image.. and so my "tweaking" is a "new to me" technique as well... lol :) 

I used a Di's Digi Downloads called Gonna Bake a Cake. I love her! I tried going to her store to buy this image and had such issues! :( I emailed her and she helped me out immediately! God bless her! :)

I thought it would make a fabulous birthday card for a sister of mine who is turning... stop... wait... I'm not suppose to tell all how old she is... but I can tell you she's older than me!! ;) lol She's getting to that age where she's hard to shop for! :( I have no idea what to get this OLDER sister of mine. Next month... our OLDEST sister has another birthday as well. I'll have to find a cute image for her special birthday card as well. :)  Ssoooo...

These are the Copic markers I used to color the image:

Reds: R37, R46, RV69

Skin tone: E00, E11

Grays: N00

Blues: B00, B04, B23, B24

Blacks: N8, N6, N2

Browns: E13, E15, E18, E31, E33, E35

Pinks: R43, R32, R20

Yellows: Y21, YR23

The card could not be shown in ONE picture... no! I had to take three angles so you can get the full benefit of the card! lol I took it head on, than from both side views... here is the front view of the card:

Facing the card, this is the view from the left side:

Facing the card, this is the view from the right side:

I used card stock and ribbon from my stash. Rhinestones are from Michael's. This card stock came from StoryTellers. I embossed the powder blue card stock with a Cuttlebug embossing folder. With this fold, the card did not turn out as I had hoped but I think it still makes for an interesting look and this is something I would not ever have tried on my own before so it IS new for me. I hope Di's Digi Challenge thinks so too! :)

Thanks for stopping by! Please leave a comment so I'll know you were here! :)

SNSDC87 - Sweet 'N Sassy Challenge

I've made this card for SNSDC87 at Sweet N' Sassy Challenge using Teacup Cocoa. The challenge is to use an image of tea, coffee or hot chocolate. What a coincidence! I am involved with a swap in a private group on FB and the theme is drinks! Woohoo! Two birds with one stone... gotta love that!!

I've visited blogs where other crafters kill more than two, three, four even five birds with one stone. They'll make a card that will fit into more than one challenge... I should try that sometime... it's better than posting two cards per day for two separate challenges! That's got my attention! ;) lol But... and it's a big but... I have a history of... Reading. Guidelines. Incorrectly. :( ... I cannot tell you how many deadlines I've missed... or used the wrong image... really... I can't... first... it's made me cry more than once... plus... it's embarrassing! :-\

So my earlier mention of killing two birds with one stone... I have to stick with that for awhile... it's just the way it's got to be... for now... ;) ... anyway...

These are the Copic markers I used to color the image:

Reds: RV69, RV29, R37, R46

Grays: N00, N2, N4

Pinks: R20

Browns: E35, E13

Here is the card:

I used card stock and printed paper from my stash. The ribbon and adhesive gems are from Michael's. I cut out a large circle frame with my Spellbinders' scalloped circles die cut and a small heart with the scalloped hearts die cut. The tiny tag and sentiment are from The Angel Company which is now defunct. :'( I loved TAC! :'(

So this happens to be the SECOND time I've killed two birds with one stone. :) The first time... I was SPOTLIGHTED by Sweet 'N Sassy... for my Cookies Tea card. :) Another coincidence... really... it is!! lol I bought several of these cute Cookie and Cocoa images with coffee or tea for that very swap. I thought they were just too adorable! Ssooo... you may see a couple more of these cards with Sweet 'N Sassy images if the theme of the challenge works in my favor! :)

As always... thanks for stopping by and please... leave a comment so I'll know you were here! :)

Anything Goes Challenge - MayzyArt

I've made this card for MayzyArt's Anything Goes Challenge using her Natsuko digi image.

These are the Copic marker colors I used on the image:

Reds: R37, R46, RV29, RV69

Browns: E11, E13, E15, E31, E33, E35

Pinks: R20, R01, R000

Blacks: N8, N6

Skin tone and eyes: E00, E11, R20 and YG41, B00 and N00

Here is the card:

I used card stock and coins from my stash. I embossed the background card stock with a Cuttlebug embossing folder.

I've had years of participating in swaps exchanging doo-dads and what-nots... plus... I LOVE yard sales, tag sales, garage sales... whatever you want to call them... thrift shops and flea markets. Several times I've found a box of trinkets and instead of rifling through the box, I'll ask the seller "How much for the box?" Lots of times I've paid $5 or less for oodles and oodles of buttons, trinkets and interesting little tidbits I can use on a card later. I. Love. It! :) Both of my kids know this as well and when they find bags or boxes of lots of little loose ends they bring them home to mom... they love to see my reaction they tell me. :) I always feel like I've won the lottery! ;) lol

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Challenge #94 Flower Extra Vaganza

:) Before I get into the challenge bit... I want to tell you... I figured out how to add a watermark! :) I am not sure I even need a watermark... I don't feel it's necessary... but I have friends who have suggested it. Better safe than sorry. That's my motto. :) If I were a man... I'd be one of those men who would wear a belt with suspenders... :-| ... Yup! ;) Better safe than sorry. :) So, I'm toying with watermark styles for now. I was using something called PicMarkr. But it didn't offer very many styles... so I wasn't too keen on it... plus I had to upload and download files and I would ALWAYS forget! :( I'm not sure this new way will be any better but I go in there to edit the pic anyway and while in there... I hope I can remember to add the watermark. There are more colors and fonts available... but no fancy schmancy watermark... and I've written already... I'm not even sure I need one. :-\ So anyway...

I am playing in The Paper Shelter's Challenge #94 Flower Extra Vaganza. Hence... the title to this post... rather clever of me... wouldn't you say? ;) lol

I love The Paper Shelter. Love. Love. Love their images. I wish I could afford to buy ALL of them... but I have a mortgage and bills to pay... I'm not working while I go to school... and my son, Jay, is covering the NECESSITIES. I checked... digis are not necessities... :-| ... I keep telling myself I have plenty... at last count I think I remember there were 17 plus a freebie they gave out sometime around the holiday. I am SO GLAD I got in on that! So now I have maybe 18. :) The prize for the challenges is a $30 gift card to The Paper Shelter IF I use one of their digis... DUH! :) I've got that covered! Have I said I love The Paper Shelter. I would LOVE to win! Last challenge they had over 300 participants... :-| ... what are the odds?!? :-\ On the other hand... it would take forever to pick out what I cannot live without... so maybe it IS a good thing I may never win! ;) lol

One of the reasons I won't play the lottery. Were I to win... first... I might could have a heart attack from the excitement! What good would that do? Second... I could go CRAZY with so much money and where would THAT get me? So all is good just as it is... ;) lol

Theme of the challenge is... flowers... and lots of them... there has to be more than three flowers on the project. I think I got that covered! :) I am using the Japanese Cute Doll digi. I... once again... forgot to take a pic of the colored image! :( So here is the card...

See my new watermark? I am probably going to be playing with it for awhile... but I liked this color for this card... makes the red in the digi pop more. :)

So here are the Copic markers I used to color the image:

Golds: YR23, Y19

Blacks: N8, N6, N4

Reds: R37, R46, RV29, RV69

Pinks: R01, R20

Browns: E11, E31, E33

Skintone: E00, E11, R01

This is how I put the card together... all card stock is from my stash, I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder with the Japanese hanging lanterns for the background. The chipboard branch is also from my stash and I painted it with Coffee Bean by Plain FolkArt Acrylic Paint. I punched small flowers with a Michael's punch, colored the center of each flower with Impress Markers By Tsukineko in #5 Carmine and covered this circle with Viva Decor Opal Pearl Pen. You can't quite see it in the picture, but the marker ink seeps through the pearl pen so in real life the flowers' centers are a soft pink. Let me show you a close up... see if you can make out the pink...

Can you make the pink out? I made a card using this technique before... I was going for a cherry blossom tree. When all is said and done... the flowers do have that pink hue. I tend to buy liquid embellishments in shades of white. I can always add color and change the appearance but if I were to buy pink and needed white... I wouldn't be able to change the color. It's called having a budget... know what I mean? :) The first time I did this... it was an accident... :) ... lol ... I cannot remember now the reasoning of coloring in ink before adding the pearl pen but I think I remember I was covering the ink color because it did not look like I "Ema-gined" it originally and so added the pearl ink to cover up my boo boo and instead ended up with pretty pink cherry blossoms. :) Life is good! 

So wish me well! I hope I do win this challenge but I will not hold my breath... are you kidding me! 300 participants! What are the odds?!? :( So anyway... thanks for stopping by! Please leave a comment so I'll know you were here! :) 

Challenge #34 - Saturated Canary

I've decided I am going to start naming my challenges by what they are! lol :-D If I find I have to go back to look for them... I could spend hours trying to find the right one! So... no more! Plain and simple! 

This is Challenge #34 at Saturated Canary. I've used the image Princess Rose Red. The theme of the challenge is song inspiration. Perfect! Since the first time I saw this image I've had the song Spring Affair by Donna Summers running through my head non-stop! Ugh! lol I exaggerate! 

The song came to mind when I saw the image in a FB private group. One of the girls colored it and showed it to the rest of us. When I saw it... pop! Got the song stuck in my head. Finally... the song evaporated. Then one of the other girls did the very same thing and pop! There the song went and got stuck in my head again. So I HAD to get the image... I. Had. To! Now... whenever I look at it... pop! I hear the song and it DOES take some doing to get the song out of my head. It's such a catchy tune! ;) lol 

Alas... my secret is out... I'm from the disco era! *blush* You wouldn't believe it... but my first love was a John Travolta / Saturday Nigh Fever / Stayin' Alive huge fan / wanna be... WHO wasn't? ... ;) We danced and entered a couple of contests and won one. Yes! I was... a... DISCO QUEEN! *blush* lol ;) That was a LONG time ago... well... it seems like it... but in reality it was just a couple of years ago! I'm not THAT old! ;) lol

So here's the song that inspired all these memories starting with Spring Fever...

These are the Copic markers I used to color the image:

Blacks: N8, N6, N4

Pinks: R20, R01, R43

Browns: E18, E15, E13

Greens: YG41, YG45

Yellows: Y13, Y19

Skin tone: E00, E11, R20

Here is the card:

I love doilies... they will be my down fall... I don't know how... but they will be. :-\ All paper, lace, button and card stock are from my stash. Doily and pearl strand are from Michael's. The flower is a dryer sheet flower I made. I used a tutorial to make the flower but... the tute called for round circles. I'm sorry... petals are not circles... and in my "Ema-gination"... all flowers have leaves peeking out from behind. :) So I tweaked it a little bit. :) lol

Now... I don't know about you... I have Stayin' Alive stuck in my head now... but only because I listened to it last otherwise I'd have Spring Affair... pop! Sigh... there it goes! ;)

Thanks for stopping by! Please leave a comment so I'll know you were here! :)

Frostina

I'd decided a couple of weeks ago I didn't want to do any weekly challenges because it was too quick of a turn around for me. I wasn't sure I could keep up with it. Wellllll... here I am on the heels of a win! ;) I won the DTBST #158 Challenge with my Breakfast at Tiffany's card. I was so freaking excited I went and made a card for the DTBST #159 Challenge! lol 

The theme to the current challenge is "Let it Snow"... brrrrr... I don't think so! I lived in Connecticut, Colorado and New Hampshire. It's beautiful to see... breath-taking to experience... but the only way I'd want to live somewhere it snowed again is if I was retired, didn't have to drive anywhere and had a never ending supply of crafting supplies. :) lol I think I can do a card for "Let it Snow" though... so long as it doesn't really...

I did use a Sassy Studio Designs image. It was a freebie a couple of weeks ago, Frostina. She's gonna be discontinued so if you like her, get to getting over there and get her! ;) lol 

I purchased some Copic markers recently from my pal, Bridgette. These are Ciaos and she's hooked on the Sketch. Well, I can see why! lol I didn't think the number and color on the ends would really make a difference... but guess what!?! They do! Either way, I was able to use new colors and I was just so happy about that! :) These are the colors I used for this image:

Blues: BG10, BG15

Hair: E31, E33, E35, E15

Skin tone and eyes: E00, E11, R20 and E31, E35

Here she is put all together:

I added some Stickles in Icicle to her skirt, scarf and band around the hat to give it some shimmer. I cut the frame with a template from HOTP out of card stock... TWICE! I thought I was gonna cry! :( I was terrifed I would cut way too crooked it would be noticeable and I'd have to start all over... but no tears were actually shed and here she is. :) I did maneuver and alter the frame a bit. The larger size was too big for the card and the smaller size was too small for the image... which is probably why it added to the tear potential! :-O lol I used rhinestones from Michael's $1 bins and flocked snow flakes paper from a package of specialty scraps from Hobby Lobby. 

I'm sitting here shivering in my craft room with the thermostat set at 72 degrees Fahrenheit and wish I were brave enough to crank it up some more ssooo... when I look at her, I kinda want to throw a coat on! lol ;) 

Since I made the decision to return to school, my son, Jay... handsome young man to the top right of the blog... who offered and is supporting his mother through nursing school... is responsible for paying all the bills. He did tell me to set it at a temperature I was comfortable at... he didn't want me to be cold... but... I don't want to get scared with an electric bill. It's our first winter in this house... the central heat kicks on A LOT! I want to see what kind of electric bill we are gonna see before I go all crazy! :)

Thanks for stopping by! I hope it's warm where you are! Please leave a comment so I'll know you were here! :)

Early Valentine's Card

I normally do not do requests... I really don't... I am intimidated by them... too much freedom... I make my cards so that I am the only person who has to like it... but when someone else asks for a card... then it becomes too much pressure for me... cause now... I am making it for someone to consider it worthy enough to give as a gift. :( Freak out city for me! lol

My daughter asked for a card... although she said... do whatever will make you happy... I still considered the possibility she might not pay for it if she didn't like it... hahahahahaha... oh, how that gave me the giggles! lol ;) Not that the subject of payment was ever broached... but even if it had been... I couldn't take money from my baby girl. :)

So here's a little card I made... for a girlfriend of hers... I think she's her best friend... they spend a lot of time together dressing up to impress the boys... giggling at their own ideas... making plans for the night out and about... and how it brings back memories of those days for me. :) I had my fun... I've encouraged my daughter to do the same before she settles down. By golly... she took those words to heart! ;) lol

So I completely forgot about taking a pic of the colored image and I have it here all completed...

I used lots and lots of printed paper and card stock from my stash. The doilies and the three pearl beads are from Michael's. The image is a freebie called Love is Sweet I picked up from Meljen's Designs. I was not sure I could color something all one color and it would look right... but I forgot... I was working with Copic markers... :) ... and it looks divine! :) lol These are the Copic markers I used for the bear... E18, E15, E13. R20. The few hearts, sentiment and lines scattered about were filled in or outlined with R20.

Now... I am in the mood for some chocolate! ;) lol Thanks for stopping by! :)

Brooksie Book Nerd

I'm including this card in the Milk Coffee Something New Challenge. The challenge is for new products or cards celebrating new events in our lives. This is a new digi for me. I bought it right before Christmas and this is my first time to use it. :)

I'm going back to school on January 16th. I am sure I am not the only "older" student going back. When I saw this image... that is the first thing I thought about... all of the other men and woman returning to school for one reason or other. I'd been thinking about going back for a very long time... circumstances in my life would just not work out in my favor to do so. Recently, life events forced my hand to make changes and after much pondering and with my son's support, things finally worked out and I am returning to school. I'll be attending one of the local universities to obtain four science courses, a nutrition course and a human development course I require to enter a 2-year nursing program offered at one of the hospitals in our fair city. I'll be honest... I'm a little freaked out about it... I can't remember where my shoes are... and I only took them off a couple of hours ago... but I will attempt to memorize science "stuff" and take exams and hope to pass! I doubt myself a lot... and I often comfort myself with my favorite Bible verse... I can do all things through Him who gives me strength... :)

So when I saw this image, Brooksie Book Nerd from Scrapbook Stamp Society... I thought to myself she looks kinda dreamy reading her book and all the worlds a book can open up for a reader... I am a reader... I know that dreamy world... I've often traveled far sitting in my favorite chair in my home while reading a book. I love to read. After studying the image some more... and remembering my predicament... I got to thinking... maybe she's really thinking she got herself into something way over her head... and wondering how to get out of it... worried she might not be as book smart as she thinks she is... that is when I knew... I needed to quit studying the image and color it... so I did and these are the Copic markers I used to color the image:

Blacks: N8, N6, N4

Reds: R46, RV69

Browns: E18, E15, E13

Skin tone and eyes: E11, E13, R20 and E15

So then I started feeling better about the whole school thing again... :) lol I felt pretty smart after coloring... lol ;)

I added lots of printed paper and card stock from my stash to make the image into a card and here it is...

I love the deep reds and browns I used on Brooksie. Reds always make me feel better about everything... reds are so passionate... like me... I will do good in school... you watch and see. :)

Thanks for stopping by! Please leave a comment so I'll know you were here! :)

Chicken Cute

I've made this card for the Milk Coffee Something New Challenge using the image Chicken Cute. The whole challenge is based on a very simple idea... it's about something new... new technique, new stash, new home, new baby... get the picture? ;) lol

I went with a new baby card. I haven't made one in like forever and a day! It's always good to have one handy too! :) I also colored a new image. I bought this image last month and this is only the second time I've used it... so I consider it new... ;) Finally, I colored it with my Copic markers and these are also fairly new to me. I only started coloring with Copics in early December... I am still on a learning curve so to speak. :) So that could fall under new product... or new technique... depending on how you look at it... but for the sake of simplicity... I'm going with a new baby card. :)

I once again... :( ... forgot to take a picture of the image before making it into a card so I'll just have to show you the damage I've already caused! :) lol

I used the following Copic markers to color the image:

Browns: E18, E15, E13

Yellows: Y13, Y19

Pinks: R20, R43, RV13

Blues: B00, B04

Reds: R46, RV69

Gray: N0

Still on the kick to use all my stash and that's where the printed paper, card stock, brads, buttons and fibers all come from. I used the Spellbinder's lacey square Nestabilities.  The sentiment comes from Raisin Boat's No Loss for Words clear stamp set.

Well... look at that! I didn't think I was gonna get this posted before midnight but I am getting it in just under the gun! :) 

Thanks for stopping by! Good night! :)

Tweet Birthday Gift

I found the most incredible monthly digi club! Sit down so I can tell you all about it! :)

Get this... Designed2Delight has a monthly challenge at their Delightful Inspiration Blog. The challenge itself is called the FREE Stamp of the Month Challenge. Guess what it entails? :) Part of the challenge is that you do have to use her digi. You buy the first one... if you continue to participate in each monthly challenge... you will continue to get the following digis... FREE! Can you believe it!?! I could hardly believe it! I had to read it several times to make sure I was understanding it correctly... we ALL know my history with reading guidelines! :-\ Isn't that the most awesome thing you've ever heard?!? Go read it yourself!

Faith Skrdla started this in September with the first lucky players getting their first digi free. If you missed out on the digi, you now have to buy one which is why I bought in. December's challenge featured digi is Tweet Birthday Gift. I did a terrible thing! In my excitement... I forgot to photograph the image to show you how I colored it... so I have to show you the card right off the bat. 

I used the following Copic markers to color the image:

Blacks: N8, N6, N4

Blues: B00, B04

Browns: E13, E15

Pinks: R20, R43

Greens: YG41, YG45

Yellows: Y19

Skintone: E00, E11, R20

I have had a mission for several months. I can't remember if I have shared it here before but I guess this is as good a time to share it as ever. :) I am determined to use ALL my stash... before I graduate from nursing school in December 2015. I am allowing myself to buy tools and adhesives... but NO MORE paper or rubber stamps. There's a few clear stamp sets I still feel I need... and I might buy a digi image here and there... but NO MORE supplies. I. Mean. It. I! Mean! It! :-\ All I have is sinful! 

When I was in the hospital after being diagnosed with leukemia all I could think was of the mess I left for my young adults to deal with. They both just had birthdays so now they are 25 and 27 but they are still young. I've spent the past 16 months straightening out my finances and leaving clear concise instructions should something unforeseen happen to me... and I have been using my stash... making cards... altering cans and boxes... making mini albums and scrapbooks to gift. I don't want to leave a mess... that cannot be my legacy. :-\

So I am happy to tell you... all the paper and card stock are from my stash. The flowers are made from scraps using a mini heart punch and rhinestones from Michael's $1 bins. The birthday sentiment is from a clear stamp set Talking in Circles from Raisin Boat.

Awesome! lol ;) I am dwindling away at my stash and I am very pleased! lol 

Thanks for stopping by! Please leave a comment so I'll know you were here. :)