Hey Cupcake!

Last Friday's Limited Supply Challenge was to make a CAS (Clean And Simple) card.  This is not a style that I am comfortable with.  It usually involves stamping on the base layer of the card--and I find that nerve racking.  It usually ends up fine, but like many fears, mine is not rational.

Can I just tell you that I love coloring THESE cupcakes and treats!!!  My head is spinning with different *flavors* to try!!  I also love that it is an *all purpose* cupcake, not a birthday cupcake.  Because, lets face it, some days just NEED cupcakes!!

Materials:

• Stamps: Lg Cupcake with Cherry by DoodleFactory, Simple Sweet Sayings by Starving Artistamps
• Paper: DCWV-base card, ki memories dp; white-GP
• Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento
• Accessories: felt flower (THANKS SHELLY!) Fuzzy brad, Nestabilities, Stickles, Prismacolor Markers, Glossy Accents;

Need some calorie-free sweets?  Don't forget my discount button for Starving Artistamps and DoodleFactory Stamps at the right!

I hope your day doesn't REQUIRE cupcakes, but if it does, I've got you covered!

 

Cool Style Twinkx

While I am waiting for my NEW DoodleFactory stamps to arrive, I have pulled out some of my older ones to get some ink time!  Today, Twinkx came out to play!

I used the Our Creative Corner Sketch as a jumping off point.  They have a sketch challenge this week.

Here is my take:

Materials used:

• Stamps: Twinkx by the DoodleFactory for Starving Artistamps;
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black;
• Paper: Dp-Paper Studio and Arctic Frog; Pacific Point, Tempting Turquoise, and Certainly Celery (SU!);  White;
• Accessories: Foam tape, ribbon, charms, stickles, white gel pen, punch, alcohol markers, Nestabilities;

This is quite a bit more funky than my usual style--but sometimes you just have to break out!   YKWIM!?!?

 

Just Bee-Cause

I am really liking these bee stamps!!  I do love to color--but sometimes I want something quick.  With just a little bit of coloring these bees are DONE!

I colored this one with Prismacolor markers--an EASY image for beginners.  I soaked the area with the yellow--added some yellow-orange and orange low lights.  Then I shaded the wings a bit with two VERY light grays--DONE!

The sketch for this card is from the Mojo Monday Blog--Mojo Monday #68.  I am a major fan of the Mojo Monday sketches--but I haven't gotten to them in QUITE a while.  But I made it today!!!

The colors come from the SCS Color Challenge--CC200.  Brilliant Blue is NOT a "Go To" color for me--but the brightness of it works.

Materials Used:

• Stamps: Large Going Bee and sentiment; Weave Background; All from Starving Artistamps;
• Paper: white, Brilliant blue, garden green, pumpkin pie (SU!); lighter blue--Bazzill; DP-Paper Studio
• Ink: Palette Noir, Peeling Paint & Spiced Marmalade (Tim Holtz); Ballet Blue-Craft (SU!) for sponging;
• Accessories: buttons, markers, dies, ribbons, sponge, hole punch

Okay my goal for this week is all 7 weekly Challenges--(I still have to go back and do the Featured Stamper).  I want to start this year off stamping!!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Cornucopia

Arrrr ye mateys, it’s Treasure Hunt Tuesday at Rubbernecker. Hop on over to the Rubbernecker Stamps Blog so you don’t miss those Design Team Members who are offering up Rubbernecker Bucks today. You’ll also find your first link in today’s treasure hunt!
Our Design Team, as always, will have some fabulous creations. Be sure to visit their blogs~

Bev Gerard (Tex)

Broni Holcombe

Joan Ervin

Candy Williams

Kittie Caracciolo

Linda Duke

Pam Hooten

Shelly Kuck

Sherry Cheever

Tami Mayberry

Stamps: Cornucopia
Inks: Rich Cocoa Memento Ink Pad; Tim Holtz Distress inks for sponging;
Paper: white, Olive, Wild Asparagus DP;
Accessories: ribbon, sewing machine, Spellbinder dies, Copic and Prismacolor markers;
Thanks for stopping by!

it is the journey...

Actually, the title of this post should be *it is the EFFORT*!

Today's Technique Lover's Challenge was to do a medallion.  See instructions HERE.  My corner punches are not the *right* ones to use for this challenge.  BUT I do have a picture holder corner punch--so I figured--hey, it is just one piece of cardstock--might as well try it.   I ended up with a cute octagon that POPPED out of the middle of the circle (Note to self: Next time I need a stop sign....).  But that was NOT what I was hoping for...

Then I looked closer at the outer circle...hmmmmm. If I took two squares of paper....and fit them in the slots....ummmmm.  Well, I thought it wasn't half bad.  With the right dp--it might even look cool--but I stuck with good ole' gray.

The images are from Starving Artistamps.   The bee is from the Bees Sheet and the sentiment is from "hogs and kisses" sentiment set.

The image was stamped with Palette Noir ink and colored with Prismacolor markers. 

There are three dew droppy thingies on the lower right, they show up better IRL--as does the Stardust Stickles on the wings.  But as always, you can click on the picture for a larger view.

Thanks for stopping by!  And now, if you were wondering if TLC193 would work with the corner slot punch....um...it kinda does.

 

Autumn Greetings

Autumn is my favorite time of year.  In years past, I have not had much time for fall cards, though.  As you can see, I think I am making up for lost time!

This one was colored with alcohol markers, and accented with a white gel pen.

Materials Used:

Stamps: Autumn Greetings and Scarecrow from RubberNecker;

Paper: white; DP from My Mind's Eye; Dk Olive from Bazzill;

Ink: Rich Cocoa Memento Pad; Old Paper and Tea Dye Tim Holtz Distress Ink;

Accessories: Punches from SU!, Family Treasures, and EK Success, sponges, Prismacolor and Copic markers; white gel pen;

 Just a head's up... the ink I used today--the Memento pads--are on sale right now at RubberNecker.  Also on sale are the StazOn On pads, the Brilliance Dew Drops and Pads, and the Adirondack Pigment ink pads.  AS WELL AS the Spellbinders dies  (individuals  & sets).

  

Arrg, you drive me BATTY!

Arrg, it is Treasure Hunt Tuesday, but first a card.
It was fun to poke around in Card Crazy's Gallery for this week's Featured Stamper's Challenge. Denise has a classy and clean style often with an element *popped* up to increase visual interest.
I chose to try and case this card. I am afraid I changed everything but the layout--and I even changed that a little. SO I don't think it is a good case--but I sure did appreciate the inspiration from Card Crazy's Gallery!! So many beautiful cards!
I did use some foam tape to pop up some of the layers to mimic the popped up elements that Denise uses so wonderfully.

The image and sentiment are from Stamp Oasis at Rubbernecker. I colored the image with Prismacolor and Copic markers. The edges of the bat and sentiment with Tim Holtz Distress Inks and an ink blending tool. First with Tea Dye, then Aged Mahogany, then Vintage Photo, and the very edges with Black Soot.
The designer papers are from Paper Studio and Sonnets. The dp on the strips is a black and cream checked pattern, I cut the paper so that only the white squares show. The edges are inked with the Tea Dye ink. The edges of the houndstooth paper are inked with Black Soot.
NOW FOR TREASURE!!!!
You can find the clue and all the necessary information and other deets on the home page.
Don’t forget to check out the weekly sale product, too! Shelly and Tami have blog candy today, but don’t forget to visit the other designers as well. (hint--look at the list on the right)
On sale now at Rubbernecker:
Spellbinders Nestabilities Individual and Sets ***See the Rubbernecker home page for details!

Thanks for stopping by today!!!

The Elixir of LIFE!

If you have had enough of my coffee cards....you just might want to skip this post.  I was gonna lay off the coffee cards (notice I said coffee CARDS and not coffee).  Really, I was!

BUT...

The Limited Supply Challenge today was to USE coffee themed stamps (and orange). So it is NOT my fault...it is Silvia's fault.  Yeah, that is my story--and I am stickin' to it!!

The creature is Zot by DoodleFactory available from Starving Artistamps. The sentiment is also from Starving Artistamps.

Zot is colored with Orange, Spanish Orange, and Poppy Red Prismacolor markers. His "elixir of life" cup is colored with Green Tea and Sienna Brown and highlighted with a blue glitter gel pen.  (BTW--these pens are WONDERFUL!!)

Materials used:

• Stamps: Zot and unique sentiment from Starving Artistamps;
• Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa (Tsukineko); Prismacolor markers--colors above (Sanford);
• Paper: White (GP); Pumpkin Pie and Close to Cocoa (SU!); DP from ki memories and My Mind's Eye;
• Accessories: Sticker strips (SU!); button; embroidery floss; flower (Prima Marketing);

Thanks for stopping by today!  I would like to promise a NON-Coffee themed card for tomorrow.....but we will have to see what happens!

 

100% Genuine

Well, have you ever had a crafting project that took on a life of it's own?? Well, Yapples (a.k.a. Trouble) has done that for me today!

This started out as a Monochromatic card for Emily's Color Combo Challenge . Is it monochromatic???.......NOPE!

Then it was to formed to fit Rox's Sketch Challenge this week. Does it do that?????...................Nope!

Although I am fairly happy with the result--I wonder WHY I spend any time planning projects at all!! (I am sure there is a benefit--I just can't see it today!)

Materials Used:

• Stamps: Plaque set (Starving Artistamps); Yapples (DoodleFactory);
• Ink: Palette Noir (Stewart); Dried Marigold and Spiced Marmalade Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Ranger); Really Rust (SU!);
• Paper: Whisper White, Kraft, and Really Rust (SU!); DP by Bo Bunny and MME; White (Georgia Pacific);
• Accessories: fuzzy brads (Paper Studio); Nestabilities (Spellbinder); Prismacolor Art Markers--Poppy Red; Orange; Spanish Orange (Sanford); large and small corner rounders (EK Success);

Well, I hope your day is not 100% Genuine Trouble!! Thanks for stopping by...

ETA: Check this out, too! (click here)

Small but Mighty

Have you seen the new Great Outdoors DoodleFactory stamps??!!!??  They crack me up!  And anyone who has spent ANY time in the great outdoors has encountered a mosquito or two. (tee hee)  Stamping them is quite a bit more fun than swatting them!!

This quote by Ms. Starving Artistamps herself just CRACKS me up.  Both "Squito" and the sentiment were stamped with Memento Ink from Tsukineko (Paris Dusk and Rich Cocoa ).  The "Squito" image is colored with Copic and Prismacolor markers.

These papers are from Daisy Bucket--fun stuff!!  And the layout comes from this week's Sketch Challenge over at SplitCoastStampers.

Don't forget about the 10% off offer for Starving Artistamps--just click the button at the right.

Thanks for stopping by!!

 

Smell the Coffee!!

In today's Way to Use It Challenge, Julia challenged us to get our our Copics (or other alcohol markers) and get coloring.  I chose this image from Impression Obsession (Smell the Coffee~ #CL156).

 

Yeah, you could say I have a thing for coffee images!!!...let alone a thing for coffee!  Most parts of this were colored with two markers.  And mostly I used Prismacolor Markers.  I am trying to teach myself to layer colors for shading and build up color, too.

The paper is some SUPER fun paper I picked up at a scrapbook store in Jenison, MI, while shopping with my friend, Shelly.  It is from Daisy Bucket and this line is called Playlist.  I had never heard of this company before, but I am super impressed with these papers.  They are double sided (though the reverse is usually a very subtle mono chromatic pattern) and textured.  PLUS with each line there is a page of 6 x 6 patterns.  As fellow card makers--you know how fun those little 6 x 6 papers are with their reduced size patterns!!!  FUN!!!!

That is it for today.... gotta go get my chocolate zucchini cake out of the oven...Yummo!

 

Smiles from the Sea

The Sketch Challenge (#186) on SplitCoast was a fun one!

I stepped out of my comfort zone and into some VIBRANT colors for this card.  (BTW--the colors of the jellyfish and the felt circles, do match--no matter what my camera says!)

The image is colored with some Prismacolor markers.  Since I only have VIBRANT colors thus far---I am using VIBRANT colors. (LOL!).   The orange handmade paper is a thick felt-like paper with gold embossed dots.  The large felt dots were felt flowers that I used Nestabilities dies to cut into circles.

The stamps are from the Doodle Factory Tropics set and Tropical Sentiments set from Starving Artistamps.

Have a smiling day!!

 

SMILE!

To say that I am not one easily influenced by trends is a bit of an understatement.  The main reason is because I am frugal (yes, you may insert cheap--but I am sticking with frugal).  It was a running  joke with one of my stamping classes--they always knew I would show them the least expensive way to do something if I could.  On the other hand, I do recognize quality, and I am not afraid to spend some extra money for superior products.

Why do I bring this up??  Alcohol markers.  I love the look they give (especially in the hands of experts). But I had a tough time  swallowing the price for them--especially the Copic Sketch markers--which seem to be the top of the line.

So in my frugal-ness, (read: fear of wasting money) I purchased a set of 24 Prismacolor markers to practice with.  I got them off of EBay and the cost was just over the cost of a large stamp set. 

Through this purchase I have determined a few things (some I suspected before--but were confirmed with this purchase):

1. In  using these markers--it is helpful to have several tones of the same color (hue) to achieve shading. 
2. Lighter colors are very important.
3. For coloring stamped images--a brush tip is EXTREMELY helpful (the Prismacolor brand does not have this).
4. Practice--practice, practice.

So (finally) here is my first stamped image colored with alcohol markers.  Well, the first  STAMPED one I have shown you...

I am fairly pleased with the result, and I plan to SLOWLY acquire some Copic (Ciao or Sketch) to fill in the colors started by this set of 24.  I used three colors of blue and the colorless blender.

Materials used:

• Stamps: puck the dolphin from the Doodle Factory Tropics set;
• Ink: Palette Noir (Stewart Superior);
• Paper: dp Basic Grey and Walmart; Old Olive and Brocade Blue (SU); White (GP);
• Accessories: Grungeboard arrows; Prismacolor markers; tag (EK Success); brad (SEI); dew droppy thingies (Michaels); Diamond Glaze (Judikins); circle Nestablilities (Spellbinders); 

Thanks for stopping by and looking.  I would be interested in your opinions and tips concerning alcohol markers.