With Loving Sympathy -- for MHKDesigns

It's time for a new challenge today at MHKDesigns.  The August/September challenge will last a month.  It's Anything Goes if you use MHKDesigns products.  You're welcome to enter the challenge with any products.  If you do, here's some photo/color inspiration for you to use:

I used the MHKDesigns set Beginnings and Endings to create this:

I printed the butterfly from the Beginnings & Endings set on Canson Mi Tints paper then used several colors of Tim Holtz Distress inks to match the color swatch.  The sentiment is also part of the Beginnings & Endings set.  The sequins are from Bella Creationz Etsy Shop.  Card stock & shimmer trim are from Close To My Heart. 

Join in on the challenge at MHKDesigns.  It will run for a month, and I'd love to see what you make!!!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
TTCRD -- ATG
Not Just Cards -- ATG
IDCB -- ATG
D.L. Art -- August Linky Party
Let's Color -- Linky party 11
Critters & Creatures -- Linky Party 6

How Great is His Beauty -- a New Release for MHKDesigns

Today is the final day of new releases at MHKDesigns.   It's been a great first new release for me -- I've so enjoyed the experience!

Today's new release just might be my favorite of the week.  It's called Pansy Corner, and it's so fun to color!

I used the image from Pansy Corner and one of the beautiful sentiments from the set.  I colored the Pansy Corner image with Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor Pencils on Canson Mi-Tientes paper.  The designer paper used to back the card front is from MHKDesigns.   It is part of the Country Farm digi paper pack.

The great part of this Pansy Corner was how quick it was to color.  It is already so shaded that it only took one or 2 colors to make it look really good.

I hope you enjoyed this week's New Releases.  I know I did!  I hope you visited the MHKDesigns blog each day to see what the other designers made because there's lots of inspiration there!

Come back tomorrow for my final MHKDesigns project of the week.  There's a new challenge starting tomorrow -- come back for the fun!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:


The Pencil Case -- ATG
Not Just Cards -- ATG
IDCB -- ATG
D.L. Art -- August LInky Party
Let's Color -- Linky party 11

Steampunk Owl -- for Coloring Without Boundaries

It's Showcase Time on the Lacy Sunshine Blog, and today is going to be a great showcase!  Its also the start of an Anything Goes challenge, so come join the fun!

Heather Valentin, the artist behind the incredible Lacy Sunshine Stamps, has created some wonderful new adult coloring books, available at Amazon.com.   It's also available in the Lacy Sunshine Store.

I'm showcasing Steampunk Owl today, from the Tangled Gems: Birds Coloring Book and I used Faber-Castell Poly Chromos pencils.

Here's Steampunk Owl, from the Tangled Gems Collection:

I started out coloring the green scales.  
I used:
Light Green, Leaf Green, Emerald Green, Pine Green

Next, I colored the parts that looked like metal to me.  The beak look like a shield.  

I used:  Cold Grey II, Cold Grey I, Cold Grey IV, Silver, Black

Clock and other metal parts --

Light Chrome Yellow, Naples Yellow, Green Gold, Gold, Light Flesh, Cinnamon

The, I began finding color combinations I liked, and used them in various places around the owl, trying to keep it balanced and pleasing to my eye.  

Here are the combinations:

Light Magenta, Light Purple Pink, Fuchsia

Violet, Purple Violet, Blue Violet

Light Phthalo Blue, Middle Phthalo Blue, Phthalo Blue

Cadmium Orange, Orange Glaze, Dark Cadmium Orange

Light Cobalt Blue

Cobalt Blue, Deep Cobalt Green

Here's another picture -- more coloring done, working on keeping it balanced.

More color combinations:

Burnt Ochre, Terra-cotta, Indian Red

Naples Yellow, Dark Naples Ochre, Brown Ochre

Light Phthalo Green, Phthalo Green, Dark Phthalo Green,

Crimson, Red-violet, Violet

Here's another picture, colored along a little further.  Both wings are done now, working on tail feathers.  Not much further!

This Steampunk Owl piece was so fun to color!  It challenged me in many ways.  I don't often use colored pencils, and it really made me work on color combinations, blending, and shading.  

I printed this Steampunk Owl on a 81/2 X 11 piece of Canson Mi-Tientes paper.  I have framed it in an 81/2 x11 frame, and it's hanging in my hallway.  I love it!  It is so colorful and unusual.  Just looking at this owl makes me smile!

I hope you check out the rest of the coloring pieces done by this super talented design team over on the Lacy Sunshine blog.  Then, please join in the Anything Goes challenge.  There are 2 incredible Facebook Groups to check out, too -- Coloring Without Boundaries and Lacy Sunshine Color and Craft Community.  Plus, don't forget to shop in the Lacy Sunshine Store!  There's so much to choose from, including some wonderful art classes taught by Heather Valentin herself!

Reindeer Crossing -- for DigiStamps4Joy

It's New Release Sunday at DigiStamps4Joy.  As always, there are some wonderful new releases they you really have to check out in the store!

I used the digi "It's Time" (mp421), and created this:

I colored "It's Time" with Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor pencils, using green on the sled, present, and tag around his neck.  I'm entering this in The Pencil Case's 'G' is for green challenge.

Other ingredients on this card:
Die-namics stitched dies
Really Reasonable Ribbon
Close To My Heart designer paper and card stock
Canson Mi Tientes paper (what I used to color the image on)

I hope you take time to visit the DigiStamps4Joy blog to see the other creations and releases today.  They are well worth a stop!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
The Pencil Case -- 'G' is for Green
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge -- ATG
Hiding in my Craft Room -- Any Holiday

Birthday Wishes -- for IDCB

It's Challenge time at Inspiration Destination Challenge Blog (IDCB).  As always, it's anything goes!  This week, like many weeks, we have incredible sponsors.  I love Gerda Steiner's art, so I chose to work with one of her digis.

Meet Rollerskating Bunny:

I colored the Bunny with Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils, using Canson Mi-Tientes paper.  I used a Lifestyle Crafts circle die in two sizes to cut him out and layer him.  The sentiment is a retired Close To My Heart stamp, punched out with a 1 inch circle punch (also CTMH). The cupcake-shaped card is a cutting file from The Cutting Cafe. Papers are from Pink Paislee -- the Soiree Collection.

I hope you join us this week (and every week) at IDCB.  I'd love to see what you make!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:  

Through the Craftroom Door -- ATG

Flowers Grow -- for Path of Positivity

I'm guest designing again today at Path of Positivity Challenge blog.  I'm thrilled to be guest designing for Lisa Decosse and her talented design team again.  The theme this whole month is "growth".  The sponsor this month is Sparkle N Sprinkle. I used an awesome Sparkle N Sprinkle image and sentiment on this card:

I used Faber Castell Polychromos pencils on this image, printed on Canson Mi-Tientes paper. All other paper is from Close To My Heart.

The large dies on this card are Spellbinders dies.  The stitched label die is from Lawn Fawn.  The pretty tie dye ribbon is from 3 Girl JAM. 

I plan to use this card as either a get well card of a sympathy card.  I think this beautiful sentiment is appropriate for either one, and perfect for the "growth" challenge at Path of Positivity Challenge blog. 

Just Because -- for DigiStamps4Joy

It's April 1, and that means it's time for a new challenge at DigiStamps4Joy.  We have a sketch to work with this month.  Fun!

Here's the sketch:

I used DigiStamps4Joy image, "Daylily" on this card.  I colored it with Prismacolor pencils, using Canson Mi-Tientes paper.   

Papers on this card are from Close To My Heart. The ribbon is from my stash.  

Join us this month at DigiStamps4Joy for our challenge, and use this sketch.  It has lots of possibilities!

I'm Praying for You -- for Eureka Stamps

It's Monday, and time for a new challenge at Eureka Stamps Challenge Blog. This week, the theme is "Think Spring".   It snowed yesterday, and it's in the twenties today, but I'm more than willing to think spring!

I used 2 Eureka Stamps digis on this card -- Flower Basket (digi3601) and Praying for you (digi13107).

I am trying to learn colored pencils.  I colored the Flower Basket image with Prismacolor pencils, having better success in some areas than others.  It's a work in progress!

I used Canson Mi-Tientes drawing paper to print the image on.  I like the texture and tooth to this paper better than others I have tried.

I used several Spellbinders dies on this card and my corner chomper.  Other papers are from Close To My Heart. 

Join us this week for our "Think Spring" challenge at Eureka Stamps!  Think warmth! Think flowers!  Think motorcycle season!