Zombie Finale!

July was a total Zombie invasion over at Copic Marker Scrapbooking!  If you would like to get your hands on some free Zombie digis...get 'em while you can.  It's a very limited time frame.  They are pretty fun and kind of cool too.  Don't you agree?  Follow the Design team over at the blog for more info.  Also, take some time to go and check out all the other Digis available along with all the Copic Marker supplies you need at the Copic Marker Scrapbooking Store.

Here is my last Zombie Card.  I opted for a monochromatic look. This was done with pens C00-C9.  Hope you enjoy!!

Zombie Invasion

Over at Copic Marker Scrapbooking the Zombies have invaded.  Yes, that's right.  The latest line of stamps for sale there are all about the Zombie Invasion.  Today at their blog they are showcasing my preview of that fun digi stamps.

Zombie Dog Walkies:

And this is my version of another that was released last week.  There will be more Zombies popping up here and there in coming weeks.  Kinda fun, huh?

Red, White & Blue Challenges~ Scrapalicious

Hey Folks!!  It's time for another challenge over at Scrapalicious USA.  If you haven't taken the time to check out the low, low prices at the Scrapalicious Store, I recommend you do that!  Why pay retail somewhere else when you can get your craft items 25% off...some things are even lower than that!?  It's pretty awesome!

The challenge this time is Red, White & Blue.  It does not have to be patriotic; just use those 3 colors as your main theme and the sky is the limit.

Here is mine:

Here are some of the items from Scrapalicious USA I used to construct it:

Tim Holtz Distress Inks-Fired Brick  ($3.75)

My Minds Eye Lost & Found Paper Pad ($4.50)

My Minds Eye layered Stickers  ($2.99)

Copic Markers ($5.25)

And did you know that Scrapalicious also carries many Magnolia Stamps!

We hope you will participate in our latest challenge.  You could win a gift certificate to Scrapalicious USA!

Happy Saturday...and another Tutorial!

Good Morning everyone.  Here is part 2 of the video I presented to you last evening.  In this one I tackle the obstacle of coloring black hair.  Black is one of the trickier colors to color with.  It can be very difficult to make the colors look rich and vibrant without them coming out too gray.  I am somewhat pleased with my results, but like anything....I still need to practise a lot more before it's perfected.

I will have another video tutorial for you tomorrow as well!  I have been busy trying to get my blog back and rolling again.  I don't want you to forget about me here.  That video will be a basic informational video on the different Copic markers available, what they are used for and what you can do with them.  I have had the question asked to me many times: "which ones should I buy?" and maybe this video will answer some of those questions.  So please check back!  I would love to make some more Copics videos for you, so drop me a note and let me know what you want to see!

Copics Tutorial Video: Blending with 2 Colors

I had a few requests to show how to blend with 2 colors using Copic markers.  I haven't had a lot of experience with this because I bought my color families in 3's so I would have a light, mid-tone and dark color for blending purposes.  But, with the price of these things running from $4-$6 each, it is understandable to want to find less expensive alternatives to using them.

I played around with the techniques I researched and gave it a whirl.  I want to apologize in advance for some choppy editing.  When I finished it I was nearly 12 minutes long and am only allowed 10 on youtube.  So, here and there I whittled away 2 minutes and it wasn't easy!  LOL...Please let me know if this is helpful and if there are any other tips or ideas you would like to see.

After the video...please come and join me at my facebook page.  Here is a quick link!

And Last But Not Least...

This is actually the first drawing I did, and the last one I colored.  I like the victorian-esque look.  I hope you enjoy it too!
Have a great weekend! 
~Shelley

Copic Colors

Door:  E97, E99, E53

Dress:  BG75, BG72, BG10

(Skin and hair were the same as the last example.)

Wish Upon a Star

I am on a roll tonight.  Here is my second offering.  This one was also hand drawn by me and colored with Copic markers.

Pens used were:

Hair:  YR23, Y23, E34

Skin:  E000, E00, E11, R20

Backround:  B97, B95, B91 Colorless Blender

Busy Beauties Challenge

Good morning!  I found this image for free over at DeviantArt, and decided I wanted to try my hand at coloring it because it reminded me of Alice Cullen from the Twilight books.  While I was at it, I decided to enter it into the Busy Beauties Creation Station Challenge I discovered while following a blog hop with the Burtonesque Dolls. 

I used my favorite patterned paper, K & Company "Life's Journey" and made a matching flower improvising on a previous flower tutorial I posted here.  I cut the brackets that were required as part of the sketch using the Stamped Cricut cartridge.  Let me know what you think!  It was really fun to make and actually went together fairly fast.

Monochrome Challenge

I thought I would take another try at a Copic Marker challenge.  And here is another one!  This time it was all about using monochromatic colors.  I figure, the more times I try to enter, the better practiced I will get.  I would love to hear your comments of how I am coming along. Please be constructive...I can take it!  The stamp was another designed by me...but...I don't think the company is in business anymore because I can't seem to find it online.  (Blazing Star Stamps) I regret losing contact with so many of these great companies..and it makes me sad that this one in particular can no longer be purchased.  But, I wanted to share her with you anyway. :)

I made the flowers using the Forever Young Cricut cartridge and added lots and lots of bling.  The card is a gatefold card.  This one I cut at:

4¼" x 8½" (scored at 2 1/8" and 6 3/8")

The piece adhered to the top I sort of eyeballed to fit my stamp and the embellishments.


I am still taking submissions for the design team.  I received the stamps today from My Heart Stamps for You that will be sent to the people chosen for my team.  I would love to have you join!  I think it will be a fun experience!

Also...there are a few more days left to enter to win my giveaway.  And, yes!  I will ship it to anyone...anywhere.  All are welcome to participate.  I only ask that you please remember to include a way for me to get hold of you should you be chosen. 

As always...I love your comments.  I read them all and appreciate your encouragement!
~Shelley

Copic Creations Challenge

I decided to get very brave and enter a Copics Challenge going on here.  I admit to being a novice with these pens and since I don't know the ins and outs this was definitely thinking outside the box.  As a matter of fact, the theme for this challenge was "coloring on other surfaces"...yes, as in NOT paper.  Of course you can imagine my conversation with myself:

Self: Why would you set yourself up to fail like this?
Self to Self:  Because...it's a challenge!  And, the prize is a set of Copics markers, silly!  It's worth a shot!

So, this is my feeble attempt:

My chosen surface was wood.  I lightly washed a wooden frame with acrylic craft paint and then sanded it down a little bit.  I then stamped on the surface using Memento Black Tuxedo ink with a stamp from My Heart Stamps For You...and yes, of course, it was also one of my designs.  I used my heat gun on the ink to get it to set  (or anyway, I hoped that would work) and it seemed to......until.....I got the bright idea to spritz the entire frame with Tsukienko Sheer Shimmer Spritz and everything started to run!  Argh!  Always test first...apparently there was alcohol in the spritz.  Well, duh...of course there would be.  Live and learn.  As you can see...the lines went a bit blurry and proceeded to break my heart.

But, all in all I am happy enough with it.  The photo is of my parents on their wedding day. 

I thought I would point out the new Page-Link bar I have started across the top of my blog.  It's in the process of being figured out, but I have added a page for some of the amazing blog candy and giveaways I run across on the net.  Please take a peek!  You won't regret it! 

Here are a couple reminders:
Please enter to win my giveaway!  Click this link, become a follower and leave a comment.  If you would be so kind as to refer me on your blog that would be great, but if you don't have a blog...that's okay too.  I will pick a winner on June 1st. (please, please, PLEASE leave a way for me to contact you!  There are a few entries already there with no email address...and if one is not provided, I will have to choose someone else)

Also, I am looking for a few people that might be interested in joining my design team.  I will admit it feels very vain to say my design team, and there is truly nothing all that special about me.  I don't presume to have any more special talent or know-how than any of all you wonderful crafters.  I just happened to have a very kind connection that is willing to sponsor us and help us all grow together as we strengthen and explore our talents.  So, please, follow this link and check it out!  Thank you!!

Have a fantastic day!
~Shelley

Wisdom From a Flower

Here is a quick card I made that utilizes stripes!  I decided to enter it into the Burtonesque Dolls Challenge,even though there isn't that much that is creepy about it.  And, I mean creepy in a very good way.  They have some very talented and fun artists over there.  But, the need to plant my garden keeps "haunting" me in the back of my mind, so I decided instead to make a card.  By now you should have figured out...anything I don't want to do can easily be replaced by making a card!

The inside sports this cute little verse:

It's kind of "ahhhhh"....cute, isn't it?  I was able to create this card this afternoon by convincing my son that all I really wanted for Mother's Day was to be left alone to mess around in my craft room.  Well, that and my kitchen floor mopped.  I am still waiting to see if the floor gets mopped; let's just say I'm not holding my breath!

The paper I used was a paper stack from K & Company, "Wild Raspberry", the stamps are a couple more I designed for My Heart Stamps for You.  And I colored the image with copic markers.  A couple Prima Sprites were added as an embellishment.  Of course, they too had to be striped!

Oh yes, here is my reminder about the give-away!  Please follow this link for a chance to win a set of my cards and some of my handmade flowers!  I will draw randomly on June 1st!

My First Attempt With Copics

I have a new, quickly becoming favorite tool.  Copics markers.  I watched a few tutorials online and that, in conjunction with my own background in art; decided it was time for me to give them a try.  I love them!  They blend so great!  Yes, they are expensive...but a lot can be done with a very few.  You can look forward to many, many more creations using these great markers.

The image is one of my original drawings.  The stamp company that manufactured the image is called, My Heart Stamps For You.  If you follow that link, you will find a complete rubber sheet of my original drawings.  I am very proud of them too.  If you by chance decide to order them, please tell Julie I sent you.

I lightly distressed the paper at the edges and added a little sheer ribbon and a prima rose.  In looking closely at this rose...I predict another flower-making tutorial coming up!  So, stay tuned!

If you would like to enter my drawing, please look at this post!