SWALK

Here's a stamp line I haven't used for quite a while, but I have always loved them, SWALK. They are just TOO cute. I added a sweet sentiment to this card, "You are simply perfect to me." How sweet is that?  I just love their little girls and boys. I was very lucky to be on the Crafter's Companion Design Team when they used to sell SWALK images.

Hope you are having a great week, take care

Holley

Prickly Pear

Here's an adorable SWALK image from Crafter's Companion. I just love this adorable Prickly Pear set. Isn't he cute?  If you love the SWALK images, I have heard that Crafter's Companion is discontinueing them so they are on a huge discount in the store and will no longer be carried, so you best get any of them that you like.  I have been a huge SWALK fan, so I already have most of that set.

Wishing you all a great Saturday! Off the neighborhood's little fun.  It's the Brentwood  Violet Crown festival, which is held every year in a park just a few blocks from my home.

Cheers, Holley

Sweet Baby

Sharing this sweet baby stamp from Crafter's Companion's SWALK stamp line.  So adorable. I have two ladies (sisters!) at my church who are both about to have kids, I thought they would like this cutie.  Hope you are having a blessed Sunday.

Cheers, Holley

Project Materials:  Cardstock (Bazzill, Neenah); Diecuts (Spellbinders Nestabilities); Ink (Colorbox Chalk, Memento); Bling (Hobby Lobby, Michaels); Ribbon (Michaels); Adhesives (Pop dots, Glue all, Glue dots, Ribbon Glue); Stamp (Crafter's Companion); Color (Copic Markers);

Crazy Days...

Here's a fun image from SWALK by Crafter's Companion. Is it just weird not to have a contest today? It is to me! Now I am in the midst of getting all those items wrapped up and getting ready for a huge trip to the post office tomorrow morning.  I will post a list to let you all know who's items will get mailed tomorrow.  Usually once I get on a roll I am pretty quick at getting things out the door.

Hope your March is off to a good start.  Did you check the final winner list?  If you see your name in Black, then I don't have your address to mail your prize or your email to send out your digi stamps, so contact me quickly before your prizes gets given away!!  Link on the top right.

Cheers, Holley

Sweetheart

Here's the cutest stamp from Crafter's Companion SWALK stamps.  Isn't she adorable.  Looks like she is looking for her sweetheart.  I know I have already found mine.  He and I are celebrating our anniversary at the end of this week.   Guess I have LOVE on the brain.  Well, think I always have LOVE on the brain for him.

Project Materials:  Cardstock (CC, Neenah);  Rubber Stamp (Crafter's Companion);  Bling (Michaels); DieCut (Spellbinders Nestabilities); Lace (Recollections);  Heart (Recollections); Saying (K&Co);  Flowers (Linda W);  Ink (Memento, Colorbox Chalk); Adhesives (Pop dots, Glue All, Ribbon Glue, Glue dots);

Hooray!

Here's a fun image that was recently released by Crafter's Companion.  A whole new line of SWALK images just came out.  This cute set is called Hooray.  This stamp set has an adorable sentiment too, I used it on the inside of the card it says, "Hop Hop Hooray."  Perfect for those special celebration occasions.  

 

Project Materials:  Cardstock (Crafter's Companion, Bazzill);  Rubber Stamp (SWALK-Crafter's Companion);  Ink (Memento, Colorbox Chalk); Bling (Queen & Co);  Die Cuts (Spellbinders Nestabilities);  Punch (Martha Stewart); Adhesives (Crafter's Companion);  Color (Spectrum Noir Pens-Crafter's Companion);

New SWALK....

Meet the newest addition to the SWALK family from Crafter's Companion.  Isn't she a cutie?  This stamp has just been released.  This cute set is called Paw Prints.  There's twelve new sets of SWALK!  WOW, they are all super adorable.  I colored up this image using their Spectrum Noir Markers.

 
Project Materials from Crafter's Companion
SWALK stamp Set
Acrylic Block
Spectrum Noir Markers
Pop Dots
Adhesive
Memento ink Tuxedo Black

Additional Materials:  DieCut(Memory Box; Spellbinders Nestabilities); Bling(Hobby Lobby); Cardstock(Bazzill, Making Memories); Netting (Hobby Lobby); Ink (Colorbox Chalk);

July Challenge

Well, it's the beginning of the month, so you know what that means!  It's time for the monthly challenge from Crafter's Companion USA Challenge.  This month is anything goes....just as long as you use a stamp set from Crafter's Companion.  Here's a sample that I made, using a fun set from SWALK called "A Little Birdie Told me." 

Go on by the Crafter's Companion USA Challenge Blog and check out this month's contest for your chance to win a huge prize.  The gorgeous ribbon I am using on this card is some that I got last summer while in Istanbul.  YUM.  This card is the first time I have used it.  Believe it or not, I still have wonderful goodies from that trip that I have not used yet!  YEP, I came home with so many wonderful treats from that vacation, that I still have fun stuff to share on many future cards.

Project Materials:  Cardstock (Bazzill, Neenah);  Rubber Stamp (Crafter's Companion SWALK);  Ink (Memento, Colorbox Chalk);  Die Cut (Spellbinders Nestabilities);  Ribbon (Istanbul, Turkiye);  Embellishments (Michaels);  Adhesives (Pop dots, Glue All, Ribbon Glue, Glue dots);  Color (Copic Markers);

Hello! (Blog candy)

Hello!  Here's a wonderful card using a new design from SWALK stamps at Crafter's Companion.  This image is from a set called Rainbow Kisses.  The Hello! stamp comes from a Popcorn Bear set called Thanks a Bunch.  I can just imagine this little girl having a whole conversation with the butterfly on her finger.

As in the previous weeks, this week's blog candy winner will be announced tomorrow, so if you haven't signed up yet, so back to last tuesday's posting and sign up!  Last week's prize is a Boxer and Envelobox Creater with the CD.

The NEW blog candy THIS week from Crafter's Companion is A CleverCut 3-in-1 Mini Paper Trimmer.

As in the previous weeks, to be eligible, you need to be a follower on both the Crafter's Companion USA Challenge Blog and the Crafter's Companion Blog.  Once you are a member (or if you are already signed up as a member), simply leave a comment here on my blog.  Winner will be selected next week on June 1st!    When at the Crafter's Companion blogs, check the column for the other designers and drop by their blogs as each designer will have blog candy available, that will raise your chance of winning.

Crafter's Companion USA Contest: January

Happy New Year everyone!! Welcome 2012! I can't believe another new year is here. Can 2012 possibly be as good as 2011? I hope so. Crafter's Companion USA is starting off the new year with a contest. The theme is open this month, so break out your favorite CC stamp and make a card (or any stamped project) to share!Here's a card I made with one of the newest SWALK sets called "Shop Till You Drop!" Go by the Crafter's Companion USA website and enter your card this month.

Happy New Year everyone! Making some resolutions? I hope it includes to get more crafting done!!

Cheers, Holley

Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas. Here's an adorable card I made with the newest SWALK sets that came out at the end of December from Crafter's Companion. I hope everyone gets gloves to keep their cold hands warm and warm hearts to hug close to them. I know I will.

Here's an enlarged image that shows the wonderful girl. She's super adorable. I stamped her in black memento ink and colored her in alcohol ink markers. Check out the great borders, they are covered with Black Diamond Stickles. Yum.

I hope you all got everything on your wish list this christmas. I already know that my wildest dreams have already come true. Anything more that comes is just a wonderful gift from God. Many blessings everyone.

Holley

A Standing Surprise

Here's an adorable Pop-up card using Crafter's Companions Ultimate tool, their newest SWALK stamps and wonderful papers. In a flat position, when opening their card or when you hand the card to your friend, they will not know what to expect. Here's what they will see when they first get their card:

When they "open" the card by pushing the corners down, it actually forms a wonderful free-standing display which shows the adorable little boy plus a hidden message!

Here's a photo showing the base once the card is standing and the surprise message hidden by the card.

This adorable SWALK set comes with the boy's image, the sayings and the adorable snail stamp. The cute puppy is also a SWALK stamp from the Best Pals set. You can use this image by masking the stamp and taking just the part of the stamp needed on the card. In this case, I just wanted to use the adorable dog because it went perfectly with my card's saying.

Doesn't this adorable image just melt your heart? I know he just makes me wanna put on some rain boots and go jump in some puddles too! I hope this creation makes you want to create something fun using your Ultimate Tool with the adorable new SWALK sets that just came out. Have a great weekend!

Cheers, Holley


Crafter's Companion Products used (CLICK Product name to go to their Website)
The Ultimate Tool
The Ultimate Tool DVD
Pearlescent Paper in green and blues
SWALK Stamp Set Snips and Snails
SWALK Stamp Set Best Pals
Memento Ink - Tuxedo Black
Copic Markers
Double Sided Foam
Tape Runner

Best Pals

Here's another wonderful newly released SWALK set. Today is the 1st of the month, so the Crafter's Companion USA blog is starting a new contest for the month. They give away a great prize every month, so go over and do a project to participate!

This month's theme is friendship, so I thought this SWALK stamp really fit the bill. Who's better friends than a little boy and his dog? Go by the challenge blog to participate and read all about this month's prize!

Also, in case you missed yesterday's posting, there's a great prize going on the regular Crafter's Companion Blog too! Just go there (CLICK HERE) and check the Sept 28th entry, look for my card (see one image below), check it out and you will see that Crafter's Companion is giving away 6 wonderful sets of SWALK stamps! WOO HOO. Sign up as that prize is going to be given out next week.

A Coloring Tutorial with SWALK

Hello everyone! I have something great to share today, it's one of the newest SWALK stamps that is about to be released by Crafter's Companion. Along with it, I am going to do a quick little Copic Coloring tutorial to give you an idea of the work that goes into the coloring in the images that go into my cards. Here's the final card that's being created today.Now, let's show how the coloring happens to create the wonderful SWALK image on this card. This image is one of the newest SWALK images that is about to be released at the Crafter's Companion store.



I started by stamping the image out onto white paper with some Memento ink in Tuxedo Black. I let the image dry throughly before using my Copic markers. The first color that I like to use is the skin tone that I have chosen. In this image it is E00. (For this tutorial, I will use the color codes written on the Copic Markers.)



This image adds two additional copic colors, you can see which colors I am adding by looking at the color chart shown on the left hand side. You will notice that the inital layer of color is not done perfectly. It's mostly complete, but not super neat or even. I am just putting in a light layer of the lightest version of the color I want knowing that I am going to be adding additional layers of coloring throughout each step.





Now I am starting to add in additional colors on top of the layers that I already have. The wonderful thing about Copic Markers versus typical water based markers is that additional coloring with the same color marker will result in a darker tone and coloring ON TOP of a marker with a different color marker will result in the new marker replacing the current marker color. This will be the case until your paper is saturated with color.

Now I keep coloring in additional colors on top of my current colors. The wonderful things about Copic Markers is they are grouped into color families. Copic does this by numbering their markers. For Example, E33 and E35 are markers that will match together perfectly. They are all part of the E30 family and the last digit is the darkness factor with 0 being lightest and 9 being darkest. Always start coloring with the lightest colors then add in touches with the darker colors. In this case I started with E33 for the hair and added in E35.



Next I have continue to add in additional darker colors for each color family. Once adding the additional color, I often take the lighter shade and go back over the edging slightly. For example. Look at the SWALKS hair coloring here...you can see the darker shade BUT you can also see that there is no harsh lines as there was in the previous image. This is because I added darker color using marker E37 and then went over the coloring with the E33 to blend the coloring together.



Here's the final image. I added the final touches to my coloring and just a few more highlights including a bit of extra depth in the facial coloring by adding more shading in the skin tones and on the tiny flowers by adding additional coloring to the flowers. Now this image is ready to be cut out and added to my card!

Once the coloring has been completed, to make my final card, I took the colored image and used a Spellbinders die cut to cut it out. The card is comprised of a 6x12 inch paper folded in half from the Crafter's Companion Fairyopolis paper, some wonderful shimmery purple pearlescent paper from the the package, some great corner punches, and cute buttons. I also used a wonderful saying from the same SWALK set as the image shown that says "Daydream Believer".

Here's the finished card again:

I hope this little tutorial gives you some inspiration for using your copic markers and some ideas behind the work that goes into some of the wonderful cards you see. Have a crafty day!

There's a wonderful drawing going on at the Crafter's Companion Blog!! They are giving away SIX sets of wonderful SWALK stamps. Go to their blog (CLICK HERE) and leave a comment on the Sept 28th posting (look for MY CARD!!) to be eligible. Winner will be announced on Oct 6th.

Happy Fall Y'all

A new challenge has been set up on the Crafter's Companion USA challenge blog. Here's a sample that I did for the Fall theme this month. Be sure to go check out the new prize and make a card.Be sure to stop by the Challenge blog to see this month's prize and make a card to participate. Also, all you SWALK stamp lovers and PopCorn Bear fans...not to mention those of you in need of stamp supplies, there's a weekend sale at the Crafter's Companion Store, when you add an item in cart there, you get 20% off this labor day weekend. No coupon needed (CLICK HERE to go to the store!).

Project Materials: Cardstock (Bazzil, Target, Neenah); Rubber Stamp (SWALK, Crafter's Companion); Ink (Memento, Colorbox Chalk); Bling (Michaels); Leaves (Recollections); DieCut (Spellbinders, Nestabilities); Color (Copic Markers); Adhesives (Pop dots, Glue All, Glue Dots);

SWALK Hugs in a K-card

Hello all! Here's a great project I just made using my Ultimate tool, wonderful SWALK stamps and beautiful papers from Crafter's Companion!

Here's a great and easy to make card technique that uses the Ultimate Tool called a K-fold card. It uses two sheets of paper. The technique is shown on the Ultimate Tool DVD Video Tutorial. In the tutorial, Sara is using sheets of paper that are 8.5x11", but the card I am showing here, I am using paper that is 8.5"x5.5". This size of paper is often typical for cards and works great for this technique!

I used wonderful paper sold by Crafter's Companion. One sheet of white cardstock and one sheet of beautiful shimmery purple cardstock I started by selecting a wonderful SWALK stamp set called "Hugs."

The directions for folding and creating the card are given on the DVD. The photo to the right of the card shows one color of the cardstock used (white) and the main image, as well as a saying on the bottom , "Just to say." I cut out the image using Spellbinder's nestabilities in oval shape.

The image on the left shows the card when it opens up on the inside, you can see the beautiful shimmery pearlescent paper in purple (which goes wonderfully with the orange cardstock. The image on the left shows the fourth panel in which I used an "I {heart} you" stamp and added some wonderful stickles inside it.

Below is a detailed photo of the SWALK stamp that shows the coloring done on the SWALK stamp using Copic Markers.
This image would bring a smile to anyone's face. As you open the card, this image will go from being on the front of the card to being in the inside of the card. The DVD is a wonderful tutorial with lots of great ideas for projects you can do with your Ultimate Tool.

Cheers, Holley

It's a May blog hop day!

Well today is a special day! I am in the midst of Scrapbook Place's May Blog hop and a display project for the Paper Temptress! Here's some beautiful papers from the Paper Temptress that I got to create this wonderful table display. This project is using some Eclipse Black 100 as its base; some stunning Ruche called Sky blue crepe; a sliver of silver glossy paper and a wonderful sheet of Crystal Clear.
First you use hill&valley folding to create the creases in your base paper. Size for the base on the shown image is 6"x9". Here's a great side view of the project to show you how all the pieces have been assembled together.
This project was done using a pattern created by Crafter's Companion and their Ultimate Tool. I used some Stazon ink in white to add floral stamping onto the clear sheet. This paper takes images well and even if you are using stazon ink, if you wipe it off quickly, you can repeat your stamp image if there is a smudge the first time. It's wonderful!! Be sure to let the ink dry for a short period of time before touching it.

Once stamped, I used some clear dots to adhere to clear sheet to my black cardstock. Here's an image of the black cardstock with everything attached to it before I add the clear sheet:
Once I added the clear sheet (which is sized at 6" x 11.5") I wanted to cover the glue dots that I used to adhere it to my card. To do this I used some Sky blue crepe paper. Seems like a tiny piece of paper to need, but I keep ALL scraps from every project. When a project like this comes along, I go through all my scraps by length and found this wonderful ruche paper which fit perfectly! So save all your paper scraps for projects just like this!! I needed a 1.5" size of Ruche and an even tinier sliver of silver! (Sliver of silver...now say that 5 times fast!) Here's a much better image that shows the Sky Blue crepe paper:

This image also shows how wonderfully the clear paper takes the white stazon ink. Finally, here's an image of one of the embellishment butterflies


Hope this project has inspired you today! It sure makes me love paper.

If you are continuing along the Scrapbook Place Blog hop today, then it's time to go to Jinky's blog, CLICK HERE! If you want to go to the beginning of the Scrapbook Place Blog Hop then CLICK HERE to go to Lindsy's Blog!

I also have some wonderful Blog candy going on--sign up by leaving a comment on the May 13th posting (CLICK HERE to go the the May 13th posting). If you see your name as a winner, then email me your address so I can send your prize, htondre@aol.com

I am also going to pick a winner from those people who leave a comment here today, so leave a comment on this posting, winner will be announced tomorrow evening so that everyone has enough time to do the blog hop!

Cheers, Holley

Project Materials: Paper (Paper Temptress-see the list at the beginning of the posting); Rubber Stamps (SWALK-Crafter's Companion); Ultimate Tool (Crafter's Companion); Punch (Fiskars); Butterflies(); Ink (Memento, Stazon); Flowers (); Brads (Making Memories); Die Cuts (Spellbinders, Nestabilities); Puffy Stickers (Recollections); Color (Copic Markers);

SWALK Stepper Card

I recently received some great items from Crafter's Companion-two new boards for my Ultimate tool, a Boxer and Enveloboxer creator boards and a great video called "Advanced Construction Techniques." Here's a quick and easy project I made using these tools with the wonderful instructions, straight from the video. They call this card a "stepper card" here is what the card will look like when the recipient opens it and removes it from the envelope.When it opens up, it's a fold out card that will look like this: This card uses an adorable stamp set from SWALK called Best Friends. I colored the image using copic markers and cut it out to adhere it onto the card. The card directions are given in the video. The paper I used for the card base comes from a beautiful Fairyopolis paper set. I used a large punch to create the background with a grey metallic paper to look like an elegant fence. I added a few purple flowers on the green grass as cute accents.

If you peek inside the card, you will see the message for the recipient:
Be sure to scroll down to the May 13th posting and check the winner list for Blog candy!! If you see your name there email me at htondre@aol.com If you haven't signed up yet, leave a comment!

Project Materials: Cardstock (Crafters Companion, DCWV, Neenah); Rubber Stamps (SWALK-Crafter's Companion); Punch (Martha Stewart); Ink (Memento); Adhesives (Pop dots, Glue All); Color (Copic Markers); Bling (MAMBI); Tools (Ultimate Tool-Crafter's Companion); Border (Doodlebug);

SWALK My sister and me

Here's a card for all of you to enjoy today! This month's theme is to use a wonderful stamp from Crafter's Companion along with some flowers. I chose to make a simple card using a beautiful stamp from SWALK called My Sister (CLICK HERE to see in the store). There's a link on my side bar right for a couple of things....one is for blog candy!! Crafter's Companion has blog candy and I am giving some away. There's a link to it or you can scroll down the the April 1st posting. Note that there is a posting for USA location and one posting for OUTSIDE USA people so everyone is welcome to participate! Also, if you go over to the Crafter's Companion Blog, there's a HUGE contest with a wonderful prize package. You can see a link for this on my sidebar on the left, scroll down a bit and see the wonderful Fairyopolis collection, click that and go to the blog to see that contest and then participate! Project Materials: Cardstock (Bazzill, Neenah); Rubber Stamps (SWALK-Crafter's Companion); Ink (Memento); DieCut (Spellbinders-Nestabilities); Punch (Martha Stewart); Flowers (Prima); Bling (Michaels); Color (Copic Markers); Adhesives (Pop dots, Glue dots, Glue All);

SWALK- Friends Like You

Welcome! Today is my first official day as a Crafter's Companion Design Team stamper. Here's a wonderful card that I made for today using the Ultimate Tool, some beautiful pearlescent paper in purple (bright) and a wonderful set of SWALK stamps called "Friends Like You".

This card is called a three fold gateway card. The Ultimate tool has a great video, all the accessories you need and a handy little booklet to help you make a ton of different types of cards, envelopes and boxes. The card I made opens out into three pages.

The front page uses the adorable girl from SWALK feeding the bunny and the birds. I colored her in Copic Markers and mounted her on a diecut embossed frame.

The center fold in the card uses the first saying included in the set, "Friends like you" and the single bunny rabbit stamp.

For the final panel in the card, I used the remaining saying in the stamp set "are far too few" with two adorable little birds.

Here's another main photo of the card that shows all three panels.

Wonderful Blog candy giveaway has started today! Please scroll down, there are 2 Blog candy postings, one for USA crafters and one for Non-USA locations!! Good Luck!

Project Materials: Cardstock (Crafter's Companion, Neenah, DCWV); Rubber Stamp(SWALK-Crafter's Companion); Ink (Memento); DieCut (Spellbinders-Nestabilities); Flower (Prima); Brad (Basic Grey); Border Punch (Martha Stewart); Adhesives (Pop dots, Glue Dots, Glue All); Color (Copic Markers); Tools (Ultimate Tool-Crafter's Companion);