March of the Snowmen Blog Hop Time!!!

Hello and welcome to my entry for the first March of the Snowmen Blog Hop! If you love snowmen as much as I do, this is the place to be for some fabulous inspiration!

You might also want to know that many of the participants are giving away Blog Candy! I'm not telling you who or what, so you'll just have to visit everyone to find out! On Sunday I'll draw a random winner to receive a package of my favorite Kaiser rhinestones so be sure to leave a comment with your email addy. I love these rhinestones because they are self adhesive, come in a large pack of different sizes, and can be colored with Copics to change the look!

So on to the hop......Next up is MONA!!!!

Here is a list of all the participants in case you get lost:

Angella Crockett
Barb Foster
Deb Felts
Jen Carter
JenMarie Taylor
Jodi Heuser
Kelly Landers
Latisha Yoast
Laurie Unger
Laurie Willison
Linda Duke
Melisa Waldorf (our fabulous organizer!)
Michelle Bartnett <-------------You are here!!!
Mona Pendleton
Pam Imholz
Stacy Rogers

Card details: I masked the snow area and used the brayered sky technique to create the sky. Then I stamped the trees on the edge first and worked toward the middle without reinking (this creates depth). I let that dry a minute and then I stamped on the snow. I cut the circle out of the center with Nesties. The outside square was then cut apart. I attached the outside pieces to the card base. I layered a red circle behind the main panel circle and attached it to the card base. The main image was colored with Copics, cut out, embellished with glitter, and pieced into place. I drew in some squiggles for snow drifts. Although you cannot see it in the picture, there are Shimmerz highlights throughout.

Stamps: Unknown snowman I think he's a Whipper Snapper, Flourishes Forest of Trees, Itty Bitty Backgrounds
Paper: Real Red, Whisper White, GP 110
Ink: Bashful Blue, Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Copics, Nesties, Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Shimmerz Angel Wingz, Shimmerz Candlight, Fine Black Marker

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
"Queen of the Scene"

SC257 Kittens from Leslie

My friend Leslie sent me these cute little kitties (Hi Leslie!) and I thought today's sketch was a perfect opportunity to use them! I was thankful for this simple sketch cause I've only had about 3 hours of sleep!

They are colored with Copics. The grass is colored with Copics and then little sprigs of grass were added. The sky is from Mother Mark's sky tutorial here. For the background, I cut a scalloped rectangle in half and put it on each edge. I also cut a circle in half for the top and bottom in the center. Lots of sponging on those pieces! Hmmm....still needed something so I stamped some polkadots on the chocolate base. Ta da!

Stamps: Whipper Snapper Triple Threat Kittens, Papertrey Polka Dot Basics II
Paper: Chocolate Chip, So Safron, Rose Red, GP 110
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Summer Sun, More Mustard, Bashful Blue, Pacific Point, Always Artichoke
Accessories: Copics, 1 ½” circle punch, Nesties

Enjoy!
Michelle B.

FS143 Bright Snowman

Congrats Boo on being the FS today! Hooray!

I need to make some Christmas cards so I appreciated Boo’s gallery have a section just for those. I found this brightly colored snowman for inspiration. I used a snowman image my friend Leslie recently sent to me (Thanks Leslie!) and I colored him brightly to match the DP (not colors I normally use on snowmen!). I knew I needed a CAS sketch as those are Boo’s fav so I went to Fall To Layout #66 for my sketch.

Stamps: Whipper Snapper Latern Snowman, CC Designs AmyR Christmas Sentiments
Paper: GP 110, Real Red, Garden Green, Cosmo Cricket Jolly By Golly DP
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Soft Sky
Accessories: Copics

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene” but keepin' it CAS today

Caribbean Penguin

I created this bright and early this morning for Sketch Challenge 228 and the ongoing Christmas Card Challenge. Wow I was sleepy this morning. I thought I had a Baja Breeze cardbase but later realized it was Cool Caribbean. Hey, I think it worked just fine after all! The only thing I'd change here is to move that large snowflake a little to the right so there was more of the base showing on the left edge (like the sentiment).

Testing out my new Nesties, I used a pencil to trace over where they should be cut out on the back. Next I embossed the snow dots on the front by stamping with Virsamark and then covering with clear detail embossing powder (you must you the "detail" kind!). I masked off the ground area with a torn piece of paper.I sponged Soft Sky all over the sky area, then Baja Breeze (not all the way to the center), and then Pacific Point in just the upper corners and edges. Then I cut out the rectangles with my Nesties, inserted some Pacific Point, and adhered everything down.

Here is how I color.

Here is how I make snow drifts.

Here is how I cut out my scenes.

Stamps: Whipper Snapper Warm Penguin,Itty Bitty Backgrounds,The Cat’s Pajamas Candyland Christmas (sentiment)
Paper: Cool Caribbean, Pacific Point, Whisper White, GP 110
Ink: Soft Sky, Baja Breeze, Pacific Point
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils and Goo Gone, Cuttlebug Snowflake, Nesties, Clear Detail Embossing Powder, Virsamark Pad, Heat Gun, Angel Wingz Shimmerz (on snowflake and ground)

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

I did it!

I completed all 9 of Taylor's Cupcake Challenge Sketches before the deadline! Woo Hoo! This was a big challenge for me because I spend so much time on each card. In order to make the deadline, I had to scale back on some of the designs so they aren't all my usual style but perhaps I'm just showing my versatility, eh? So, I'm going to show you FIVE cards today. In order to be brief, I'll just tell you the supplies used. If anyone has any specific questions about a card, I'll post more details.

Before we begin, I have one item of business. Treehouse Stamps is without power due to a winter storm. If you have placed any orders recently or sent any questions in, they will get back to you ASAP. If you need anything right away, just let me know and I'll get you in contact with someone.

OK, here we go with the cards you haven't seen yet.....


Card # 1 (ok, a story on just this one....)
My sister and I share a love of Asian art so this is going to her for her birthday next week. I jotted this idea in my sketch book last week after watching The Incredibles. There is a scene showing the house of the lady who makes the super hero costumes and she has a wall with a branchy plant similar to this. I used Cupcake Sketch TECC52DB.

Stamps: Whipper Snapper Asian Inspiration (Thanks Alison!), Papertrey Ink Guide Lines, Hanna Stamps Things Hanna Would Say,
Paper: Basic Black, Riding Hood Red, Basic Grey, Going Grey,
Ink: Versamark, Whisper White
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils and goo gone, Angel Wings Shimmerz (on flowers), Glossy Accents (on vase)


Card #2


Sketch: TECC52JP
Stamps: Sugar Nellie Daisy (Thanks Laura!), Short & Sweet
Paper: Soft Sky, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, GP 110
Ink: Riding Hood Red
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils and goo gone, Cricut George, SU Ribbon, Brads from Pink Hedgehog, Spots and Dots Embossing Folder, Cosmo Cricket DP from Treehouse Stamps
Card #3

Sketch: TECC52SS

Stamps: The Greeting Farm Mermaid Anya (Thanks Tammy!) You can get this at Treehouse Stamps
Paper: Pixie Pink, Pink Passion, Whisper White, GP 110
Ink: Pacific Point, Baja Breeze
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils and goo gone, Cricut George, D’Vine Swirls Embossing Folder, Angel Wingz Shimmerz (on her fin and pearls)

Card #4


Sketch: TECC52VC
Stamps: Treehouse Stamps Single Tulip & Sledding Fun (sentiment)
Paper: Basic Black, Almost Amethyst, Lovely Lilac
Ink: Almost Amethyst, Lovely Lilac, Whisper White, Going Grey, Versafine Black
Accessories: Cricut Storybook, slit punch, ¼” circle punch, Copics, white Prismacolor pencil (I made "faux" brads with circle punches and a W1 copic on the left side and a swoosh of white Prismacolor pencil on the right side)

Card #5


Sketch: TECC52MD
Stamps: Treehouse Stamps Jolly Snowman
Paper: Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, Gold from Mike’s
Ink: Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, Garden Green
Accessories: Gold glitter pen, Cricut George & Storybook cartridges, ribbon from Pink Hedgehog

Anybody know how to make the font smaller in blogger?

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
"Queen of the Scene"

Pink Penguin

I'm definately feeling better today. Even after watching my two nieces all day I had enough strength left to make a quick card.

DD still needed a Christmas card. She loves penguins and the colors pink and orange so I created this card and used Taylor's Cupcake Sketch #47. I've been wanting to do a pink winter card so this was my big chance.

This was also my first chance to use my new Angel Wings Shimmerz from my Secret Santa JenMarie (Thanks JenMarie!). Ooh, I love them and will be using them lots more! I haven't figured out how to photograph them yet but they are on the snowflakes, the ground under the penguin, and the clumps of snow on the penguin. I received this image from Blessingsx3 about a year ago (Thanks Janette!). Seems fitting that I use my Shimmerz on this image as Janette is the one who peaked my interest in Shimmerz in the first place!

Stamps: Whipper Snapper Ice Day Penguin, Merry & Bright, My Favorite Things Home for the Holidays
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, SU DP, Whisper White
Ink: Regal Rose, Whisper White
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils & babyoil, Angel Wings Shimmerz, white gel pen, icicle Stickles, Martha Stewart snowflake punch, misc snowflake punch, brad from unknown source, D’Vine Swirls Embossing Folder

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

Trifecta Snowman

Take it easy on me this week...I was up til 2:30 am working on cards and Christmas ornies and had to be AT work at 7. Ug. Unfortunately, I had nothing but trouble and didn't even really like half of what I made. I did LOVE this card and this sketch. I've got another idea brewing for this sketch. Thanks also to Turtlescrapper (Jaclyn) for this fab image!

Wowza – I was able to complete 3 challenges with one card:

OCCC challenge to use snowmen or snowflakes
Mytimess13 sketch challenge
FS95 Featured Stamper

For the Featured Stamper challenge I cased this card.
I changed the sketch, the embellishments, and the main image is similar but not exact.

Stamps: Whipper Snapper Hot Cocoa Snowman, Treehouse Stamps Jolly Snowman
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, SU DP in Riding Hood Red, GP 110
Ink: Whisper White
Accessories: Copics, Marvy snowflake punch, Martha Stewart snowflake punch, glitter pen, SU ribbon

OH, and in case you haven't heard....Treehouse Stamps is having a 10% off sale til the end of the year! Be sure to check out their new items like DP and glitter, oh my!

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

Shiny Reindeer

This was just made because I had an idea in my head (no challenge for this one). Lots of shine here with embossed snowflakes and gold glitter pen on various parts of the Reindeer image. This fabulous image is a PIF from Turtlescrapper (Thanks Jaclyn!).

First, I made a mask (see illustration below) for a hill. I held that in place to mark off where the sky would end. I stamped snowflakes using my Virsamark pad and embossed in clear. I then sponged Soft Sky into the sky area. When I was done, I used a paper towel to clean any ink off the snowflakes. Then I started moving that mask down into the snow area and sponged a soft line of Soft Sky along the top of the mask (see illustration below again). This is another painting trick: You want the peak of the snow drift to be white and the blue is used to create a shadow behind your snow drift. When I paint snowdrifts, I even turn my painting upside down to make this easier. Where’s the Blue Bayou? On the outer edge of the bottom most white layer….it needed just a little more kick!



How I Color

How I Get my Layers to Line Up - Cut then Ink technique

Stamps: Whipper Snapper Rodney Reindeer, Merry & Bright
Paper: Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Soft Sky, Blue Bayou
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor Pencils and baby oil, gold glitter pen, Virsamark pad, clear detail embossing powder, heat gun

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”