A Cinderella Story!!

Happy Saturday to you all!  It's supposed to be a beautiful weekend here in VA and I can't wait--we've had lots of thunderstorms and rain here this week so the sun will be very welcome!  My daughter is off to Hershey Park (amusement park) with her school's chorus today--she had to be at school at 4:30 am and won't be home until 11 pm.  Always a fun time but she's exhausted--her school's chorus has won the honors at the competition each year and of course the rides are fun too!  My hubby and son are off to Andrews Air Force Base in MD today to see the big Air Show they have once a year--the weather will be perfect for it.  I haven't been since the kids were very small and they were pretty scared so we never got back, but growing up I went a lot since we lived pretty close and school field trips were always there.  Nothing like seeing the Blue Angels fly up close and personal--awesome!  I have a private copics class today and then I'm off to go jogging and walk the dogs then CRASH in bed.  I've been pulling all nighters getting ready Class 4 for my Color Me Creative Classroom and tons of projects that were due--the 15th of the month can be a real killer KWIM, LOL!  Anywho, I hope you all have a wonderful and fun weekend!

NewsBitz:

-The Color Me Creative Classroom's Class 4 invitations will be sent out later this evening and into tomorrow for those that pre-paid & registered.  Please, Please do not email me that you haven't received your invite until Monday--it will take me awhile to go through all the receipts and get the invites out manually--I appreciate your patience!  And I hope you enjoy Class 4--there are a lot of FUN techniques and ideas for you to learn in that class!  If you have not signed up yet, but would like to--that's fine too--the class is ongoing so you can sign up anytime HERE!

-This is a SUPER-LONG Blog Post so please make it thru to the end---the Copic Creations Challenge project is at the end of this post and it has some special meaning to me so I'd like you to see!  There might be some BLOG CANDY sprinkled in along the way too!


-I also have a FUN COPIC Contest going on at my Color Me Creative Site HERE---all are welcome to participate.  Details are on the main site, scroll down to the "NEWS" section to see!

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A Cinderella Story!

One of my all time Disney Fairytales is Cinderella--I have loved that story and movie for the longest time.  I guess it's good triumphs over evil is what I like best, but also that you can accomplish so many things if you have goals and dreams.  And yes, the romance is pretty good too--we all need a Prince Charming sometimes (I married mine), lol!!  So I've created a fun Cinderella themed Celebration of Dreams Explosion Box for the Magnolia-licious DT's Blog Hop!  We're celebrating the Magnolia-licious Yahoo Group's 2nd Birthday with 8 weeks of FUN Challenges, Prizes and Contests--you can find out more on the special Birthday Blog HERE!  If you're coming to me from Cathia's Blog then you're on the right track--if you want to start at the beginning then head to Cheryl's Blog!

This is the top of my Explosion Box (tutorial link and re-sized measurements at end of this post).  I used "Kitchen Tilda" from Magnolia-licious for my Cinderella BEFORE the Fairy-Godmother visits her and colored her monochromatically in sepia tones with my Copics (E44 thru E40).  In my Copic Classroom Class 4 I'll teach you how to create images like this in sepia and black & white! The sentiment is from the Disney "Cinderella" movie--you can find Disney Quotes HERE!  I typed the quote on Word and printed it out on my cream cardstock and inked up the edges after cutting it out with a SB's nestability die.  Some layered Prima flowers/roses, some die-cut scrolls and embossing finish off the top--and she has just a little bit of bling on her dress with stickles (I couldn't help myself)!!

This is the box from the side--I used GCD Studios "Ella Bleu" papers on the outside along with cream and choc. brown cs and inked all the edges.  The box top has a trim border around it made with a MS border punch.

SURPRISE---CINDERELLA AT THE BALL

When you pull off the lid out springs the sides of the box--SURPRISE!!  These are such fun boxes to make and to give---what recipient wouldn't love to open one of these!  (I will say this box was a long labor of love but worth every minute, hee hee)  Now Cinderella has been transformed into a Princess and is ready for the ball or celebration to come!  I left off a sentiment on the inside, but this could be for a birthday, graduation or any celebration you might dream of!  The dp on the inside is from Basic Grey's "Euphoria" pack--like little mini wild-flower fields surrounding her.  The crown like purple cut-outs were made with a Spellbinders border die.

And here is the beautiful Princess---I used "Dancing Tilda" from the Magnolia-licious Store (she's from the new Fairytale Collection).  Instead of a Prince next to her holding her hand (hey, he wouldn't fit, hee hee) I gave her a bouquet of beautiful mini rosebuds to hold instead!  I re-purposed a ribbon spool by adding decorative paper to the sides and top to give her a stage to stand on (to make her stand up she has a cs easel like contraption I made with scor-tape to keep her sturdy).  She's colored with Copics (V17,V15,V12,V000, V0000) and I added some stickles to her dress apron and tiara---diamond glaze coats her shoes.  Around the base of the stage I've added some Prima leaves and mini roses and rosebuds.

I like to use transparency sheets to create clear swirls inside my boxes.  I cut a circle from my transparency with my circle nestabilities and then cut that into a round spiral with my scissors by hand.  I attach one side of each end of my spiral to an opposite end of the box with scor-tape or glue dots.  This creates clear swirls around your box--I embellished them with stardust stickles and small butterfly punch outs coated in glitter.  It gives the effect of swirling magic and joy surrounding Cinderella--as if the Fairy Godmother has just waved her magic dust on her!

And this is what the inside looks like before you put the top on--everything folds up neatly inside ready to spring open and SURPRISE someone!!  Make sure when you are making these boxes that everything fits folded up and with the top on---that's really important!

A link to a tutorial for these Explosion Boxes is HERE!  I resized mine to be larger---I used a 12x12" pc of cs for my box base scored at 4" & 8" on 2 sides (creating 9 boxes).  I cut out my corner boxes but you can leave them in like on the tutorial if you want--I like my boxes to lay flat when opened so that's why I cut them out.  For the top you need a 6.25" x 6.25" square of cardstock scored at 1" on each side to fit this box.
***BLOG CANDY ALERT---want to win these two beautiful Magnolia stamps?  Then leave a comment on this post only telling me what your favorite Fairytale Story is--along with whether you liked my box today too, hee hee!!  You have until Tuesday to leave a comment!!**

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Hope you enjoyed my Celebration Cinderella Box---Now NEXT ON THE BLOG HOP is PATTI JO HERE!  And don't forget to end the hop at the Magnolia-licious Birthday Blog to join in on the fun!!  Hop, Hop!!

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Copic Creations Challenge Blog--Monochromatic!

This time the Copic Creations Challenge Blog is doing monochromatic coloring for you---a fun technique to use with your copics!!  This challenge is sponsored by the fabulous Katie Cotton's "Paper Makeup Stamps" and she supplied all of the DT with a digi stamp of their choice to use!  I chose this image called "Baylee"--not only because that's my doggie's name & spelled the same too (lol), but also because I have two nephews that suffer (my one nephew passed away many years ago) from a chromosone defect and use wheelchairs to get about in life. I, myself spent some time in a wheelchair as well and it can be rough and hard on that person, I know.  But I also like the joy in this image and hop--you could use this for anyone that's sick or not feeling so good and cheer them up a bit.  There are a ton of stamps in stamp-land but few that feature handicapped images and I'm so proud to present this one to you today.

For some reason I had the hardest time getting the lighting right on this card so please forgive me--but I used all Cool Grays (from C00 thru C9) on this image.  I added just a touch of R20 pink to her cheeks and sunglasses for a little fun!  Her wheelchair got a nice coat of diamond glaze and I added some fun stickles to her shoes and hairband.  Hope you like her as much as I do!!

Now hop on over to the Copic Creations Challenge Blog to see the rest of the DT's lovely projects and to join in on the fun as well!

Have a great weekend everyone!


Copic Class 2--Video #1 from Suzanne J Dean on Vimeo.
Advanced Shadowing/Light Source/Folds of Clothing

Some Buggy Loves Ya!

Hi Friends!  This is an early post since I have 2 POSTS on my blog today--ack!  So much to do, so little, little time, LOL!  If you're visiting here make sure and scroll up to see the other post for Mo's Digital Pencil Blog Hop as well (it will post at 3:30 am EST)!

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Pink Cat Studio Digi Release!!

If you're a regular reader of my blog, then you've seen me do another Explosion Box HERE!  They are super fun to make but they ARE a Labor of Love I tell ya.  Not hard to do, just time consuming and for this Explosion Box below I had to change all the dimensions so that took me awhileto figure out :o)  You can find directions to make an Explosion Box HERE on SCS! (I cut the corner squares out, cuz I like it to pop all the way open)

Today Pink Cat Studio has a fabulously fun Digi Stamp Release for you all--they are all Super Cute (well, yes they really ALL are)!  I used this cute "Luv Bug-Ladybug" and matching sentiment for my project today.  My dp is a mix of PTI and Doodlebug--kept to the black, white & red theme :o)  This explosion box I designed so it would hold a gift card in the center panel--what a fun way to give a gift don'tcha think?!  The empty white scalloped circle is so someone can put a note or fun sentiment on for the recipient!

 I colored my image with Copics (R29,R27,R24,R22/C9,C7,C5,C3), cut her out and added her and the sentiment to the gift card holder with dimensionals!  The gift card holder is made to stand up by flaps I folded on the bottom of the holder, cut a slit in my red cs and attached the flaps underneath with Scor-Tape.

This closer-up pic shows the flowers swirling around on acetate--to do this I cut a circle out of a transparency and then cut it into a spiral, attaching both ends to either side of the box.  Then I added these fun Petaloo Dazzler Flowers (super sparkly, love 'em and guess what--they're 25% off HERE) flowers to the acetate swirl--this will bend up when the box is closed and then spring ALIVE when open, hee hee!

 

This is the lid & outsidde of the box--I colored and cut another "Luv Bug-Ladybug" image and added it to some nestabilitie cut-outs with dimensionals.  Some more Petaloo Flowers and pearls and then I coated the Ladybug's wings & antennae with some diamond glaze for a nice shine!  If you are interested in a pic tutorial and/or directions & dimensions on how I did this, email me and let me know---if enuff of you want it I will do it after I get back from CHA!!

Now hop on over to the Pink Cat Studio Blog HERE to see the rest of the fab DT projects and as always you can shop for your new Digi's right HERE!  (those cute ROBOTS are perfect for Valentine projects--stop by tomorrow to see mine)!!

Blog Hop--Star, Starry Night!!

Hello everyone & Happy December 17th!!  Christmas spirit is in the air, can you see it, can you smell it--is it putting a smile on your face today!?  I sit every evening and enjoy the glow from the Christmas trees, the smell of potpurri on the stove, have a cup of cocoa (with lots of whipped cream on top) and just breathe a little---helps me calm down from the craziness that can appear in the season ya know.  So I hope you take a small 'breather' to enjoy the season as well--it only comes once a year and it goes by so very fast!

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Mo's Dream Team Blog Hop

Today I have a special New Year's project to share with you as part of Mo's Digital Pencil Dream Team Blog Hop!  This month I'm the hostess and I chose pop-up cards as our theme and Mo so kindly made us a special image to use called "Reach for the Stars".  It's a little New Years baby but the image is so very versatile--for celebrations, new babies, Christmas, etc.!!  So I'm the start of the Blog Hop & at the bottom of this post you'll find the Blog Hop List and who to go visit next!

I decided instead of just a pop-up card that I would create an Explosion or Magic Box that has pop-ups inside for a special New Years treat!  You can find instructions for this HERE (mine is different as I cut out the corner triangles & made it a 9" square)--really easy to make and the inside is up to you, so many beautiful ways you can decorate it!

And this is what happens when you pull the lid off!! SURPRISE!! hee hee  The beautiful "Reach for the Stars" image takes center stage and stars pop-out all around him!  The stars spring with lil' acetate springs-- I used  (overhead) transparencies as my acetate & die-cut a circle out of it, cut it in a spiral and then attached each end to a side of the box.  Then I attached punched-out stars (with stickles on top of course) and lil gem stars--the springing stars use acetate as well but hang freely like shooting stars!

I added a star to his hand as well and glittered it up (the image includes stars but I had cut them off)--I cut a slit thru the dp to attach the main image so it looks nice and clean.  All the dp is from K&Co's "Blue Awning" paired with SU cs and the image was colored with Copics!

My kids just loved this lil' box when I showed it to them---not much wows them nowadays, so that was kind of a cool response from them :o)  I think anyone getting this would just love it and they're not hard to do at all (I will definitely be making more)!

This is the top of the box---I added some more stickled stars and some swirls with my Swirl punch (buy here).  The entire project got a nice spritzing of Smooch Spritz in Gold--a nice & soft shimmer, perfect for a starry night!

I created the sentiment on my computer (yes, I came up with it myself, hee hee)--stamped around it with my "Vintage Labels" set from PTI and then cut out with my Labels 1 Nestabilities.  You can see the soft shimmer of the Gold Smooch Spritz on this realy well.  I hope you liked my project today & hope it inspires you to try out one of these fun boxes for yourself!  And don't forget to stop by the store to check out all of Mo's fabulous digi images HERE!!   Now next on the HOP is LORI!!

Blog Hop Order:

-Suzanne (me, duh, hee hee)
-Lori
-Shell
-Elaine
-Cheryl
-Mina
-Mel
-Kerttu

Enjoy the hop!  And if you have time make sure and stop by Mo's Challenge Team blog to see their Challenge projects for the month and join in on the fun HERE!
See ya back here tomorrow!!