Happy Summer -- for Coloring Without Boundaries

Hello, fellow crafters.  This weekend is Memorial Day weekend here in the U.S., and the unofficial start of summer.  What could be more perfect than featuring this happy summertime image from Lacy Sunshine artist, Heather Valentin? 

Today, I'm featuring Eleanor & Pickles Digging Clams....

I'll talk you through the process of how I colored this, starting with skin:

I used the lightest skin tones behind the glasses, so it would look different there -- E000 & E00.  

The rest of the skin tones are: E00, E21, E34 Lips - R21, R22 blush - R12

Eyes - BV000, BV02, BV04

Hair - YR24, Y21, E50

Glasses - B32, B34, B37, C00

Frog - G00, G20, G21, G24
Tummy - YG00, YG11, YG13, YG17
Eyes - W1, W3, W5, W7

Snorkel & Fins - BG000, B00, B02, B05
Water - BG000, BG11, C01
Sand - E30, E31, E34, E35, E37

Sundress, Hat, and Hair Ribbons -- BG000, BG01, BG05, V000, V01, V04

Pail - YR12, YR14, YR18.  The pail wasn't bright enough, so I added YR02
Clams - YG91, YG97, YR20, YR24
Pearl - C01, C00

Here are Eleanor & Pickles Digging Clams, made into a card  -

I cut the card base out on my Silhouette Cameo, with a file I found in the Silhouette Design Store.  The puffy sentiment and sun are from October Afternoon.  The designer paper is from Carta Bella.  The Kraft paper is from Close To My Heart.

You'll find this tutorial and other wonderful tutorials on the Coloring Without Boundaries blog.  There's  opportunities to improve your coloring with Heather Valentin's online coloring classes.  They are available for purchase in the Lacy Sunshine Store.  Check out the Lacy Sunshine Color N Craft Community on Facebook and the Coloring Without Boundaries Facebook Group for inspiration and information.

Tis the Season for New Releases -- for Oddball Art

It's December 1, which means there are new releases in the Oddball Art's Etsy Store. I'm also part of the newly formed Oddball Art New Release design team, so you'll see creations from me every 1st and 15th of the month.  

Today, there are 8 (yes eight!) new releases found in the Etsy Store.  You'll see fantastic creations of all 8 digis over on the Oddball Art blog. 

Here's what I created for today's new release:

This first card uses image #271 -- Mr Sweets, the Fox.  It is one stamp, that I chose to separate into 2 distinct images.  I used Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor Pencils on the fox image, and fuzzy cut him.  The ornaments were colored with Copic markers.  The sentiment, papers, and fibers are from Close To My Heart.  The step card was cut out using a Sizzix die.   The shape behind the fox was cut with a Spellbinders die and embossed with a Close To My Heart embossing folder.

This second card, image #274 -- Tilly and Sprite - LOVE to be Reindeer, was mostly colored with Copic markers.   For the moon, I found a circle die (Spellbinders) the same size as the circle to use for a mask.  I then covered my colored Tilly and Sprite with a piece of scrap paper so I didn't get ink on them.  Using Tim Holtz Distress inks, I sponged the inside of the circle (the moon), until I got the color and shading I wanted.

The sentiment is from Unity Stamp Company.  

The rest of the card was created using Lifestyle Crafts circle dies in various sizes.  Designer paper is from October Afternoon.  Sequins are from JilliBean Soup. 

If you need (and you know you do!) any of today's new releases (or anything else in the Oddball Art Co. Store, please use discount code DTJULIE10 for 10% off of anything!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Artistic Inspirations -- ATG with a Twist of Christmas
Crafting from the Heart -- ATG
Word Art Wednesday -- ATG
D.L. Art -- Dec Linky Party 
Craft it Up and Link It up (Craftin' Desert Divas) -- Christmas
Craft Your Passion -- ATG
The Pencil Case -- 'G' is for Green 

Happy Holidays, Happy Day!

Happy Hump Day, everyone! I've been looking forward to this day for a long time! Beckie, of Just B Creative Crazy, owner of the wonderful online store, Sparkly Sweet Craft Notions, has asked me to be a guest designer for her blog. Woohoo!  I am super excited and very honored to be chosen.  She sent me some wonderful supplies to work with and I'm having FUN!  You'll see my creations today, and the next 2 Wednesdays.

For my first project, I immediately fell in love with the 1.5" striped grosgrain ribbon. It spoke of Christmas to me, so I went with a Christmas themed project.

 

 

I made this wall hanging using one of the sweet coasters from the Sparkly Sweet Craft Notions store as my base. I covered it with some designer paper from Close To My Heart, then sanded the edges.  The adorable bird image is a Unity Stamp set, "Birdies, Hugs, and Mistletoe".  I colored it with Copic markers and used some Crystal Stickles on the hat rim and pom poms, plus a little Christmas Red on the bow of the present.  The sentiment is a Close To My Heart stamp, stamped with StazOn ink on to a wood flag piece from Unity Stamp Company.

Right now, I have this piece hanging on a wall between our kitchen and laundry room.  I plan to give it to my in-laws for Christmas, but it sure does look cute where it is.  Hmmm.  Do I have time to make another one?



Fall Colors -- for Joy's Life

November already?  Where is Fall going?  We've already had snow here in NW Wisconsin.  I love Fall, with the brilliant colors of the leaves, but it's the season the follows that seems to last waaaaay to long!  This week, the Joy's Life design team is featuring projects using Fall colors. I love the Fall color palette.  They are some of my favorite colors -- I seem to gravitate towards earth tones and blues. I found some Close to My Heart papers that had blues and earth tones in them, a leaf shaped card from The Cutting Café, and got busy cutting it out on my Silhouette:

 

 

The sentiment is from the Joy's Life stamp set, "It's All Fall Puns".  Visit the Joy's Life store to see all the wonderful stamp set -- and the great bundle prices!  A white gel pen to add some faux stitching, and a little crinkle ribbon from 3 Girl JAM, and this card is a wrap.  Now, it's time to rake the thousands of leaves in my yard -- if only they were all this pretty!



Wart's Up?

Hello, crafty friends! There's a new challenge starting today on the 3 Girl JAM challenge blog.  Use anything Halloween, plus ribbon.  I've been enjoying the witches hat shaped card file from The Cutting Café, so I decided to make another one of those for the challenge.

 

 

Isn't it just the cutest? I love that sentiment! It's from the Joy's Life Halloween Puns Stamp Set, found in her store.  The papers are some retired ones from Close To My Heart.

The ribbon, is, of course, from 3 Girl JAM.  I used both Harvest Orange (Harvest Bundle) and Tuxedo (Celebrations Bundle).  The spider and bats are found in the Silhouette Online Store.

I hope you enjoyed today's shaped card.  Make your own Halloween project, add some ribbon, and join the challenge at 3 Girl JAM Challenges.



It's Friday, and it's Friends With Flair!

If you're looking for my 3 Girl JAM post, please click HERE.

It's Friday, and I'm ready for the weekend! It sounds like it's going to be a rainy one here in NW Wisconsin, so that means I should get some good crafty time getting inky in my craft room.  Yeah!

I have one card to share with you today.  It has a bit of a story with it.  My husband got a new Harley this summer -- his second.  He's had a few minor issues with it.  The most recent was not being able to get the gas cap off.  It broke on the bike and just went round and round.  Could be a problem! Fortunately, he still had enough gas to motor to the Harley shop, get it repaired and make it to a gas station. After they so quickly fixed his bike for him, he asked me to make a thank you card for the awesome Harley mechanics.  So I did:

 

 

This was a free (!) stamp set I got from Unity a few weeks ago during one of their sales called Tribal Trend.  I stamped the border stamped several times with 2 different, yet blending inks (Close To My Heart Sunset and Sorbet).  I cut up some 1 inch squares and glued them on the face of the card, alternating the border pattern of arrows.  I thought the arrows worked well for a bunch of motor heads. The sentiment is stamped in CTMH Barn Red ink -- the same color as the panel behind the squares.

My husband said.  "No bling!".  I told him, "those mechanics probably have studs in places we haven't even thought of!"  So, I had to add just a little, subtle bling.  they didn't seem to mind.

Make sure you check out all the awesome inspiration from the Friends With Flair linky party.  I love spending time visiting all the blogs during some point in my weekend.  There is SOOO much talent in this Unity community!

 

 



Every girl needs shoes for the party!

It's Thursday, crafty friends, and we're already more than 1/2 way through September.  How did that happen?  3 Girl JAM is celebrating all month long! It's the 2 year anniversary of this wonderful company.  There have been many giveaways and even a sale or two.  It's been a great month so far, and there's more to come!

You may remember early in the month when I made a purse shaped card, perfect to take to a party?  It looked like this: 

 

Well, today, I have a high-heel shoe card to match!

 

 

Wouldn't they rock any party outfit! I used 3 Girl JAM tuxedo ribbon from the Celebrations bundle. The high heel shoe is a cutting file from The Cutting Café, one of the many great sponsors this month of prizes for 3 Girl JAM.

Papers for both the purse and the shoe card are from the DCWV, The Black Currant Stack.  All the bling is from Close To My Heart.  When I enlarged this picture, I see there is a dog hair on the shoe.  That is courtesy of either Sammy or Sophie!



Sunflowers Make Me Happy on Tuesday, Too!

Happy Tuesday, my loyal blog followers! I'm filling in today on the 3 Girl JAM blog.  Since yesterday's post that I had on the Pinque Peacock blog works so well for the 3 Girl JAM blog, I'm posting it again. It might look familiar! Besides, I really DO love sunflowers! And 3 Girl JAM ribbon! And Pinque Peacock beaded stick pins!

 

The ribbon is from the Royal collection.  I placed two layers of the Gold Crown crinkle ribbon on the center of the card, tied it with a double bow, and placed a Pinque Peacock beaded stick pin in the bow.

The papers are from Close To My Heart. It is the Stella collection (retired).  I used a Spellbinders die in two sizes.  The Sunflower and sentiment are also retired CTMH stamps.  I painted the sunflower with Creative Inspirations Paints.  I love those paints!  They make me feel like a real artist! (really, it's the paint)

I have another post up today, my The Cutting Café "Back To School" project.  Check it out!

 

 



Sunflowers Make Me Smile -- plus W-I-N-N-E-R-S-!

Happy Monday, blog friends!  I'm filling in today on the Pinque Peacock blog.  I thought I might as well do something I love, and got out my Creative Inspirations Paints yesterday to do some water coloring. I love it when I can get ink and paint on my fingers all with the same project!

Creative Inspirations Paints is having a design team call.  Yes!  I've been stalking their blog, bugging their DT for info, waiting for this to happen!  Happy dance! So, this card will be submitted for the call.

 

 

Sunflowers are blooming right now here in NW Wisconsin, so they inspired me to paint this card. The sunflower is a Close To My Heart stamp, as is the sentiment.  I used 3 colors of Creative Inspirations Paints on the flower (Mocha Latte, Sunshine, and Mellow Yellow) and 2 on  the leaves (Emerald & Evergreen). I used a Spellbinders die in 2 sizes, and the designer papers are retired papers from Close To My Heart called Stella. There's some scrumptious 3 Girl JAM ribbon tied around the card. And, of course, a FAB Pinque Peacock beaded stick pin. Oh MY!

 

If you hopped with the 3 Girl JAM design team over the weekend, you know I promised blog candy.  And, here are the winners, as promised:

Winning the School Days Flair buttons, generously donated by 3 Girl JAM -- Diana Larson!

Winning the blog candy from my blog -- Beckie Creative Crazy.

I'll be in touch with both of you to get your winnings to you.

Stop and smell the sunflowers!

 

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

 

Raisin Boat blog -- Hurray for Summer Challenge

Creative Inspirations Paints -- Inspired By: Autumn Colors

 







Every Girl Needs a Pretty Purse - for Pinque Peacock

Happy Labor Day, everyone! Have you hit the stores for any good sales? How about the Pinque Peacock Store? There's lots of pretties to be found at great prices!

And, here's the perfect purse to carry with you on your next shopping spree!

 

 

It is a purse shaped treat box from The Cutting Café.  You can find the file HERE. It comes with a matching purse shaped card that just might show up on this blog later this week (hint, hint,)

I used a Pinque Peacock Chevy Metal cloth covered button to really make that ribbon flower pop.  The ribbon is 3 Girl JAM crinkle ribbon from the Celebrations bundle and the Spooky bundle.

And, here's the other side of this fabulous purse.

 

Don't you just love that sentiment? Who knew Bo Derek was so full of wisdom?

All the stamped sentiments are from Unity Stamp Company and Close To My Heart.  The paper is from DCWV.

That's all for me today, now use your purses and go SHOP at the Pinque Peacock store!



It's a SWEET! Post for Joy's Life design team!

Hello, and Happy Saturday, my friends.  I'm scheduling this post ahead of time because I'm taking a couple Copic certification courses yesterday and today. Yeah! Sooo excited! I'm going to learn so much!

The theme this week on the Joy's Life design team blog is "Sweet!" -- certainly a theme many of us can get excited about!

I made this shaped card:

 

I cut out this canning jar pattern on my Silhouette, used the super cute Joy's Life set, "That Tastes Punny".

 

  

The jar shaped file is by My Scrap Chick, and can be found HERE. I used Fancy Pants Summer's End 6x6 papers on this card, with Close To My Heart cocoa cardstock used for the base. Enjoy!

Everybody likes BLING!

I'm guest designing again today at Sweet Stamps blog. The challenge theme this week is 'bling'.  Yeah.  I LIKE this theme! I had a great time designing a card and blinging it up!

 

 

I used my new favorite, "go-to" butterfly stamp set on this card. It is the Sweet Stamps set, "Fanciful Butterflies" (S600).  There are 4 separate butterflies in this set, and they are beautiful. The sentiment is Sweet Stamps set #9099, "Fancy Birthday 2-line". I used My Mind's Eye Indie Chic:Nutmeg paper on this card, found in the Sweet Stamps store.  I used a Lifestyle Crafts doily die, some 3 Girl Jam ribbon, and bling from my stash.

I stamped the butterflies in 2 different shades of Close To My Heart blue ink (Indian Corn Blue, Crystal Blue) then used CTMH Crème Brulee, Crystal Blue, and Indian Corn Blue inks and a water pen to give them more color. The sentiment is stamped in CTMH cocoa ink.



Kraft, ribbon, butterflies -- it's gotta be good!

Happy Thursday, Friends!  I have a post today on the 3 Girl JAM Challenge blog, where the current challenge is Kraft with ribbon.

I thought you might need a little inspiration, and I love working with Kraft paper.  My favorite way to use it is against white.  And, I always find 3 Girl JAM ribbon inspirational ;), so this was an easy one for me!  I grabbed a favorite Unity stamp, "You Give Me Butterflies" and set to creating.  Here's what I came up with:

 

 

I splattered some Studio Calico Mister Huey's on the white cardstock, stamped on the butterfly using Close to My Heart Gypsy ink, rounded the corners, and attached it to the Kraft base (the card is 5x5 inches).  3 Girl JAM Ribbons from the Royal Bundle matched perfectly with the butterfly and the stamped sentiment, so I wove the two together, and tied them in a double bow. Two stick pins from The Pinque Peacock add some elegance to the card, and a wood butterfly from Close To My Heart adds the finishing touch.
Here's a close up of the ribbon and pins:

 

Now it's your turn!  Grab your Kraft cardstock and create your own beauty, then link it up at the current 3 Girl JAM challenge.  We LOVE to see what you're making!

 



I'm entering this in the following challenges:

 

Reasonable Ribbon -- things with wings

Sister Act Card Challenge -- anything goes

D. L. Art Thankful Thursday linky party -- anything goes

Crafty Creations Challenges -- texture
Just Be Creative linky party -- anything goes
Creative Inspirations Paints -- anything goes

Turquoise -- some words are hard to spell!

If you are looking for the Get Inky! Stamps hop, please click here.
If you are looking for the Craft Lovin' Challenge Blog Post, click here!

Happy Saturday All That Stickles fans!  We're in the middle of the turquoise linky party and it's my day to share a little inspiration over on the All That Stickles blog.  I had so much fun making this card featuring turquoise Stickles.

 

 

I used turquoise Stickles on the big flower and on the ribbon, there's Star Dust Stickles on the smaller flower.  The silk ribbon started out white and so did the largest flower. I dyed them to match with Tim Holtz Peacock Feathers distress ink and turquoise Stickles.  Pretty cool, hunh?!? Love how they match the one girl's dress.

 

And, speaking of girls, they are a Unity/Phyllis Harris stamp, "The Heart of a BFF".  The sentiment is from Mama Elephant Stamps.  I stamped the girls on Cryogen paper with Memento black ink and colored them with Copic markers. I used some Creative Inspirations paints in Fairy Dust on the girls' dresses to make them shimmer.

 

The card is 6 1/2 x 5 inches.  I used Fancy Pants Park Bench 12x12 papers.  The flowers are Close To My Heart.  The brad is a My Mind's Eye Indie Chic.

 

 

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Sister Act Card Challenge -- Anything Goes

Creative Inspirations Paints -- Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp -- Anything Goes



It's a Watercolor Friday for Friends With Flair

Happy, happy Friday, everyone!  I'm going with the assumption that FWF is up and running this week.  I went through withdrawal last week, checking the Unity blog about 20 times to see if the link was up and ready yet.  My new year's resolution to link up every Friday in 2013 has now been broken.  Or has it?  My post can be found here from last Friday, if you missed it.  It was a farewell post to my favorite online retailer that closed their doors that day, and to design team members I had worked with for nearly a year.  Sad day -- company closing, no FWF.

But, it's a new Friday, and I have Unity to share.  I used the April Sentiment Kit from Unity for both the roses and the sentiment on both these card.  I made this card first:

I used distress inks on the flowers, rolling a second color on the outside of the blossoms, then a spritzed them with water to get the watercolor effect and stamped on watercolor paper. I used Amy Tangerine Sketchbook 6x6 papers, and some 3 Girl Jam crinkle ribbon.  I got the card done, stepped back, and decided I didn't like it.  Do you ever do that? So, I started over.  Here's the second card.

I based it on this sketch by Sunday Sketch and Stamp:

And, with a little tweaking, here is what I created:

I used the same watercolor technique, but just layered things up a little differently.  I used the same Amy Tangerine Sketchbook 6x6 papers, some Timeless Twine, bling by CTMH, and some heart sequins I found in my stash.  But, for some reason, I like this card much better.  Funny how that happens.

I'm sending the first card to my 93 year old friend who loves everything I make for him.  He thinks I'm a card making super star.  The second one will most likely be this week's card to my BFF.

I'm entering these cards in the following challenges:

Sunday Sketch and Stamp -- challenge #156, Francesca's sketch
Ribbon Carousel -- Celebrations (spring)
Simon Says Stamp -- flower power
Crafty Creations Challenges -- KISS (keep it sweet and simple)
Sister Act Card Challenge -- anything goes
Marker Pop -- May flowers
D.L.Art Thankful Thursday -- #109 Flowers

Snail Mail

A sad, sad thing has happened.  My favorite place to buy scrapbooking supplies, and one of my favorite places to hang out on the internet, cropchocolate.com, is closing their online business at the end of May.  I just found out yesterday.  I feel like a piece of me is being left behind as well.  I have been a part of the CC community since the company began in 2009 and have made many friends on the site.  We're brainstorming ways to keep the friendships going. When their online business ends, so does my design team assignment.  I spent Saturday working on my next assignment for them.  It's no longer needed.  So it goes.  With that in mind, I'm hoping to get on a new team or two, to fill the gap, and mend this slightly broken scrappy heart of mine.  I've put out some feelers, and I'm hoping for results.  One of the possibilities that I'm very excited about is with a Challenge blog!  I love challenges!  Everyone at Crop Chocolate can tell you that I've entered every single week of challenges there.  I've never won one (it's why I don't gamble.  The winner is chosen from a hat -- literally), but I've entered every week of their 60 challenges ever offered.  Stuck On Us Sketches Challenges is adding some team members, including members for a new die cut challenge.  YES!  I would SO LOVE to be on that TEAM!  With my Silhouette, my 3 Cricuts, more cartridges than I can admit to, a Bigshot and a Grand Calibur and lots and lots of cutting dies, I'm set!  I rushed home from work today and whipped up this card, just to enter it in the challenge and let the powers that be see my style.  Here it is.  I hope you like it!

The challenge theme this time is crustaceans.  My scientist husband says, "yes, a snail qualifies as a crustacean."  I cleared it with him before I launched into the card.  I used a Lifestyle Crafts cutting die to make the window in the front of the card, and then a smaller one to stamp the snail on.  I mounted the snail on an adhesive spring (CTMH), to make it even more fun for the recipient when they open the envelope. The cardstock is Close To My Heart.  DP is Authentique Fresh 6x6 Collection.  The Snail stamp and sentiment are from the Unity Feb, 2009 Kit of the Month. I colored the snail with Copic markers, then used a little Creative Inspirations paints in Fairy Dust to give it a little lustre.  It shows up better IRL.

I have some blog candy I'm giving away this week in celebration of a very busy week of blogging for me.  I have a tutorial and post on The Crop Tuesday, April 30, and a post here on my blog, a blog hop with my 3 Girl Jam DT sisters on Wednesday celebrating the release of some gorgeous new ribbon colors and a SALE!, a blog post on the 3 Girl Jam challenge blog on Thursday, and a post here on this blog,  another blog hop on Friday with some art journal peeps.  We're the Mixed Media Mix Up, or the Mixed Up Media Girls, or something like that.  It's Friday-Sunday -- tons of fun, and I have a post here on Saturday for All That Stickles using Icicle Stickles.  So, to celebrate all this inspiration, I'm giving away a 6x6 paper pad, some Pincque Peacock stick pins, some twine, Stickles, miscellaneous bling, and some ribbon.  To be eligible to win, follow my blog and comment on this post, then come back each day this week and comment again to increase your chances of winning.  I'll announce the winner early next week when I've recovered from all this scrappy mojo.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Stuck on You Sketches -- die cut crustaceans
Simon Says Stamp -- anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenges -- anything goes
Creative Inspirations Paints -- anything goes
Great Impressions Stamps -- Pastel Colors &/or Polka Dots
D.L. Art -- anything goes

Thanks you so much for visiting my blog! I love your comments.