I’m Going Green …

April 29, 2012 By

Hello everyone,

I just realized that I rarely use green in my cards … I only realized that when I was organizing my craftroom and realize that my green papers are overflowing, my bottle of green buttons is so full I can’t close it and I have green ribbon and twine up the wazoo! So in my effort to declutter, I made a green card.

I love how my leaves turned out – courtesy of Suzanne Dean’s bag of tricks from CMC Classroom class 3 that I just completed. She also goes on the road so frequently sharing her wealth of coloring wisdom that if you are ever fortunate to have her come to your area, don’t miss her classes. Here is her On the Road Schedule. My paper is from an old 8×8 paper pack from Making Memories, the die is from Heartfelt Creations and the image from The Pixie Cottage – who is also sponsoring this month’s CMC Classroom challenge. Come play along!

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Celebration at CMC Classroom

April 28, 2012 By

Hello everyone!

It’s time for another challenge at CMC Copic challenge … this week’s theme is “Celebration”.

Yup! I got it right this week … even though I made a Halloween card! It’s mighty early for a Halloween card but it’s my favorite celebration of the year – all the candy, decorating, fun without the hosting and cooking. Sure – you can eat candy for dinner.

My paper is from We R Memory Keeper, Black and white polka dots is washi tape from K & Co. My bat is from Bazzill and my candy is from Martha Stewart. My girl witch image is from The Pixie Cottage stamps.

Please go here to enter in the challenge. You can use any image you want as long as they are colored with any alcohol markers AND fit the theme of course. Your card must also be newly created.

The winner of this challenge will win digi stamps from The Pixie Cottage and when you play along the entire month (just 2 cards), you are also entered into the monthly drawing for the shopping spree at Oozak. How can you beat two prize opportunities – head on over to be inspired and get to coloring.

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Wire Works Kite

April 15, 2012 By

Good morning everyone,

It’s time for Wire Works Wednesday with Flower Soft wires.

I made a kite!

Somehow, it makes me so happy that I made a kite as if it was some kind of adventurous boy scout accomplishment or something. My kite was made from my homemade washi tape adventures – you may have read about it in this post. I have LOTS of them laying around so you will see them pop up again from time to time. The kite “string” was made from Flower Soft wires, colored with Copic Markers. The sentiment is also from Flower Soft! Bet you didn’t know Flower Soft makes stamps too – I didn’t either till now of course … they have a select few very cute stamps you should check out. The “wind” for the kite is also Flower Soft diamond range – Silver.

I also have had several friends recently ask me if you could use floral wire as a substitute for Flower Soft wires so I thought I should address this here in case you were also wondering. Technically, you could since it bends the same way (maybe the floral wires are a bit stiffer).

However, I would still recommend using Flower Soft wires – not because I am on the Flower Soft design team and I feel compelled to steer you towards the product – but because I have used both floral wires and Flower Soft wires and I truly prefer the white matted paper covered Flower Soft wires to the glossy plastic coated floral wires (or even the paper covered green floral wires). I prefer them because of these reasons:

- I could color on the Flower Soft wires while I couldn’t on the green floral wires (plastic or paper) – hence allowing me to use the wires for different projects (such as the kite one above).

- I have also found that glue sticks better on the Flower Soft wires than the floral wires (especially the glossy plastic ones).

So there you have it! Have fun with your wires!

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Happy Birthday CMC classroom!!

March 19, 2012 By

Hello hello!!

This week the Color Me Creative Classroom is celebrating its 2nd Birthday and we are celebrating in a BIG WAY with a week long bash!  There will be fun challenges, games and some awesome prizes to win and EVERYONE is welcome to join in on the fun!

** Grand Prize this year will be a NEW SIZZIX VAGABOND!! **

Everyday there will be a new game/challenge that you can participate in for a chance at some great prizes!  Head over the CMC Classroom and find out more details—the Birthday Bash info can be found in the GROUPS tab, just click on the Birthday Bash Group to join in!

And today the CMC Challenge DT has a fun Birthday Themed Blog Hop to kick off all the fun!

Make sure to hop along and leave a comment, two lucky commenters (picked at random) will each win a $20 Gift Certificate to a crafty online store!!  So have fun and party, party, party!!

Here is my birthday card for CMC Classroom!

 

This little cutie is SWALK from Crafter’s Companion. She is colored using Copic Markers. I’m glad I found this polka dotted papers in my stash that matches one of the presents in the corner. Paper is from Basic Grey.

** Head on over to Anary’s blog to see what creativity she has in store for you! Her card is just the sweetest and her coloring – da’ bomb!! **

and in case you get lost, here is the order of the entire blog hop…

Steph (you’re here)

Anary

Tina

Brook

Shelby

Ruby

Pat

Renkata

Jenn

Marie

Melanie

Andi

Michele

Suzy Q

Sandie

Dana

Have fun hopping!! and don’t forget to head back to the CMC Classroom for more fun and games …

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Anything goes at CMC Copic challenge

March 17, 2012 By

Hello peeps,

You know, the best kind of challenge that I like is the one where you can create ANYTHING! The moon and sky is your limit and this is the challenge this fortnight  at Color Me Creative Copic challenge – “Anything Goes”!

Oh yeah! I made a super duper long card – 4″ x 9″ business note card size! My 1st time working with this size for an anything goes themed challenge – kinda fun actually with that much space to work with and totally different kind of layout!

And to get a card base that size, I actually started with a 12″ x 12″ cardstock and cut out a 8″ x 9″ card base; Score the 8″ size at the halfway point (4″) and form your card base. I used some old Making Memories patterned paper and my Memory Box Die to create the floral wreath. Those pink flowers are actually fabric flowers I made using Glubers (they’re really extra large glue dots) – here is a video tutorial on how to make these flowers. And let’s not forget the cute little girl stamp – she is actually a Sylvia Zet Wee stamp that Tracey from Spesch Designer Stamps sent over for me to work on.

To enter in the challenge, you can use any image you want as long as they are colored with any alcohol markers. Your card must also be newly created.

Spesch Designer stamps is also the prize sponsor for the winner of this challenge And when you play along the entire month (just 2 cards), you are also entered into the monthly drawing for the shopping spree at Oozak. How can you beat two prize opportunities – head on over to be inspired and get to coloring.

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New stamps from Crafter’s Companion

January 10, 2012 By

Anyone want a sneak peak of what’s new from Crafter’s Companion this year …

Yup – for those of you who are not familiar with manufacturers but with the images instead – they are the ones that came out with cute cute images like Popcorn the Bear, S.W.A.L.K., Humpfrey the Elephant just to name a few.

Here are a quick peek at 3 collections coming out in January – there are LOTS more to come … at least a new collection a week! Exciting times!

Here goes:

Strawberry Kisses collection (available right now here):

Art Kure stamps (available this Friday):

Kanji collection (available next week):

These are some of the new stamps you will see at CHA winter 2012 this year. They should be out for sale on the Crafter’s Companion website very soon – I’m so excited to show you these few images – they are super fun to work with. Tune in more new releases from Crafter’s Companion.

Challenges entered:

Moxie Fab World – die cut and punch challenges

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White on white at Wags n Whiskers

January 6, 2012 By

Hi y’all,

The challenge this week at Wags n Whiskers (WnW) is White on White – no, for a moment there I thought white on white was also WnW (it’s WoW – I know, I’m probably making these acronyoms up).

I love how crisp and elegant white on white can look. But gosh, I have a difficult time photographing white on a white background without it looking washed out.

I used the cute Gemma and Bella Spring Fun from Wags n Whiskers. There is one with a dog on it too – Furry Friends. Too cute!

Anyhow, one random participant will win a Free Wags ‘n Whiskers Rubber stamp! You don’t need to use a WnW image on your project to enter the challenge, but if you do, you will be entered into a 2nd drawing for a Free Wags ‘n Whiskers Digital Stamp!! Two chances to win!! If you are in need of a WnW design, click here for Rubber stamps, and here for Digis!

Have fun with your WoW at WnW!! (ha – had to put that somewhere)

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Party Animal Resting …

January 6, 2012 By

Hello everyone,

I’m glad to be posting again for Crafter’s Companion – this time as a member of the Crafter’s Companion 2012 design team. For my new readers, I was guest designer for the month of December and I enjoyed working with this team so much, Denise and Trena invited me back as part of the regular crew!  Thanks for the opportunity ladies.

This week, I get to work with the newest release, Strawberry Kisses. Such stink’in cute little kitten images – no surprise though if you have seen Popcorn the Bear, Humpfrey the elephant and SWALK – those are my favorite Crafter’s Companion images, but how could you go wrong with any Crafter’s Companion’s images if you are after cute images!!

Well here is my card:

That’s how I felt after our New Years Eve party. This Party Animal image is amazing and oh so fun to color. This is such a super easy card to make – I colored her using alcohol based markers with my light source primarily from the front of her shoe and adhere her to the card base. Then I framed her using a popped up negative diecut and embellished her with some twine.

Check out more Strawberry Kisses inspiration from the rest of my design team over the next few days! You can buy them from Crafter’s Companion today!

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A Special Someone?

December 21, 2011 By

Hello peeps!!

This is a week of special celebration for me. My little Shawn is turning 6 today! Happy Birthday Sweetheart!! How time flies – I remember the day I brought him home from the hospital when he was just 2 days old. I am thrilled he is 6 but I’m also reminded that I am also 6 years older since that day – it doesn’t help that my own birthday is in 2 days too. But it’s all good – older but hopefully wiser. (I’m offering a birthday blog candy right now too – don’t forget to sign up)

Anyhow, today is a new challenge at The Pixie Cottage – Make a card for “Somebody Special” and/or make a card using the sketch below:

Here is my card (using both theme and sketch):

I used The Pixie Cottage stamp “To You from Us” from Michelle’s Scrapbooking and More. They are just too adorable these 2 little kittens. DP is from Authentique Papers. Flowers are from Kaiser Craft. So now it’s your turn to go and create and come back and share with us. The randomly picked winner of their choice of two fabulous Pixie Cottage stamps.

Happy Creating and Merry Christmas!

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The Pixie Cottage Blog Hop

December 14, 2011 By

Hello everyone!

It’s a very special challenge at The Pixie Cottage this week as we are celebrating our 100th challenge!

To mark this special occasion we are having an “Anything Goes Christmas” challenge and also a blog hop for some very special prizes!

I made this Christmas card for the hop:

The Pixie Cottage stamps are just so versatile – this “love you a latte stamp set” from Michelle’s Scrapbooking and More is not even a Christmas image per se but look what you can do with a little bit of Christmas paper and some ingenuity?

To get on with the hop, you should have come to me from Wendy Van Heerden’s blog and if not then please go back to The Pixie Cottage so that you don’t miss a spot on the hop.

You’ll need to collect letters from all the blogs on the hop to be in with a chance of winning.

. My letter is U .

Also you must leave a comment at all the blogs as each one is giving away a Pixie Cottage Digital Image so plenty of prizes to be had.

Finally when you get back to the The Pixie Cottage leave your name and link to your blog in the Inlinkz box for a chance to win a $20 Gift Certificate to Michelle’s Scrapbooking. We’d love you to enter with a Christmas card/project but if you are only entering the blog hop please add BH after your name. Only one “Blog Hop Only” entry per person.

So now you just need to leave me a comment and then hop along to Denise Gwalter’s blog to carry on with the fun!

Have a wonderful time looking at all the other beautiful projects.

Thanks for stopping by,  Steph

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Guest Designer for Crafter’s Companion

December 5, 2011 By

Hi all,

I’m so honored to be invited to join the Crafter’s Companion design team as their guest for the month of December. I absolutely love Popcorn the Bear and Souffle the duck and I have recently discovered Humphrey the Elephant. Actually, while I was writing this post and browsing the Crafter’s Companion website at the same time, I also discovered The Ultimate Tool as well – measure, cut, score, emboss, embellish all in 1 tool. I could make cards, gift boxes, envelope, there is even a peg to make bows as well! Wow – what rock have I been hiding under and guess what I will be asking for Christmas this year!

The theme this month is “Sparkles” – not an easy theme for me. I’m more of a die cutting, embossing, stamp and color kinda gal. I do embellish with pearls and twine or ribbon just because I love the clean and neat linear lines. So I’m rolling up my sleeves this month and taking on this challenge of going outside my comfort zone.

Here is my card of the adorable Popcorn the Bear:

I actually had a blast experimenting with all the different mediums to try and create “Sparkle” on my card. I used glossy accent to sparkle up the ribbon around Popcorn’s wreath, the berries on the wreath is “colored” with Stickles, the rest of Popcorn was colored in Copic markers. I then edged the focal image was with Viva Deco Inka-gold paste, ribbon had a touch of sparkle from my stash and my DP had some with metallic accent from Kaisercraft.

Are you all sparkled out yet? I hope you will enter this month’s Sparkle Challenge and don’t forget to check out all the great stamps and products at Crafter’s Companion too.

Wait, there is more – if you want a chance to win the ENTIRE set of Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers, join us for a Christmas blog hop from December 9th to December 11, 2011. Hop starts at the Crafter’s Companion USA information blog.

Be there or be square!

Challenges entered:

Flourishes Bring Back Beautiful

Pile It On

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Flower Power!

November 16, 2011 By

Hello Peeps,

I’m thrilled to announce that I have been invited to do a guest design post for Whimsy Stamps this week! I shop there also, mainly to buy Crissy Armstrong’s images but with this guest post, I chose a stamp from the Moon Cookie Gallery and I’m glad I did because the variety of stamps there is astounding.

Anyhow, today’s challenge topic is Flower Power! Use flowers in your creations! Our prize – $15 worth of stamps of your choice!

 

Here is my flower power creation.

I love how pretty and simply drawn the little fairy is, I thought she went well with a CAS card too. Cloud die and negative cut is from Papertrey Ink.

Come play with us – anyone can join in the fun even if you use other stamps or play in other challenges too.

Have a fun day ahead!

Challenges entered:

Simon Says Stamp Challenge

Fussy and Fancy

Sentimental Sundays

Inspire Me Fridays

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I’m in the spotlight …

November 7, 2011 By

Today is my spotlight post at One Crazy Stamper (OCS). I’m sharing 2 cards for my post.

The 1st card is a card I made for my son, well actually I might give it to my daughter and make him a superhero one – I’ll figure it out later since it’s everybody’s birthday at my house. I mean every single one of them – I am knee deep in birthday celebration at this time of the year. My DH just celebrated his b’day not too long ago, my little Emma’s turning 2 next week, my affectionate Shawn is celebrating his birthday in 3 weeks after that and my own 2 days after Shawn’s.

Imagine the number of cakes we have in the fridge at this time of the year!! For these couple of weeks only, we eat cake for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And let’s not talk about presents!

For some reason, all our friend’s birthdays are around the same time too (5 parties in the last 3 weeks) and I use birthday cards more than any other cards at this time of the year. So I make birthday cards whenever I can. Here is card #1:

The little elephant image (Celebrate Big) is from Whimsy Stamps Crissy Armstrong collection and can be found at OCS. He is colored with Copic Markers. Designer paper is from Fancy Pants design.

Card #2, I’m using it for celebrating another relationship, Grandparent’s Day (which is the day after Labor Day):

Sentiment is from Heartfelt Creations; Designer papers are from Crate Paper and the flower is actually handmade and here is a tutorial. You can also find the stamp from OCS. I really enjoyed making these cards for OCS – they carry the kind of stamps I love and I love designing for a team whose products I actually enjoy using – makes designing very easy.

Have a happy November, even if it’s not your birthday!

Challenges entered:

Simon Says Stamp Challenge

Whimsy Stamps Challenge

Moxie Fab World

Penny Black and More

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My 1st Guest Post …

November 3, 2011 By

Hello friends,

Today is my 1st guest post with One Crazy Stamper (OCS). OCS is a retailer up north in Canada with a large online presence and since September this year, a brick and mortar store too.

I have grown to love the wonderful stamps they carry – stamps from Whimsy, Stampavie, Crafter’s Companion, Stamping Bella, Bells and Whistles, Just Rite, Heartfelt Creations and alot more – all in 1 place (easy to get free shipping). Needless to say, I shop there too. I also hear from my Canadian friends, they have the cheapest Copic Markers in Canada without the custom duties of buying from the US.

They have a wonderful DT with amazing coloring skills and I am pleased to join them this month as their guest designer.

The challenge theme this month is “food and drinks” and you can win a shopping spree to OCS.

Introducing my foodie themed card:

Of course, none other than my favorite BBQ Bart from Whimsy Stamps Crissy Armstrong Collection. You can find BBQ Bart at OCS too. Designer Papers are from Lilybee Designs, Die cut fence and cloud is from Papertrey Ink. Ribbon is from May Arts. My beloved Bart is colored with Copic Markers.

Have a fun day and don’t forget you have 1 whole month to join in the OCS challenge.

Challenges entered:

4 Crafty Chicks

Moving along with the times

My Time Made Easy

Stampavie and more

Papertake Weekly Challenge

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Breast Cancer Awareness month

October 11, 2011 By

Hello everyone,

This month is Breast Cancer Awareness month! Don’t forget to do your monthly checks. It could save your life.

Sweet and Sassy stamps is kind enough to provide the prizes for this week’s USE PINK challenge at Tuesday Throwdown. The image and sentiment I used for my card is also provided by Sweet and Sassy stamps. Thank you so very much Kori and Dan.

Here is my pink and white card:

 

Background was embossed using Spellbinders Impressabilities. Patterened paper frame is from Authentique Paper Collection. Butterfly was colored using Copic Markers RV02 and RV04.

I enjoy making these white on white cards – for some reason, they make me feel very relaxed. Have a relaxing rest of the week.

Challenges entered:

Copic Creations

Link Up for Pink

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CMC Classroom design team!!

October 1, 2011 By

Hey there…

I have happy news to report!! I’ve accepted Suzanne Dean’s invitation to join her on the Color Me Creative Classroom Design Team!!

Yup – Suzanne is the one with all the You-tube videos on Copic Coloring!!! I’ve got my 1st exposure (and my addiction) to Copics markers watching her videos. Thank you Suzanne and the CMC team for being my enabler…hugs!! But in all seriousness, I am so in awe and humbled to be designing alongside these amazingly talented ladies … check out their coloring on their blogs!!! They make it an art form …

Charlene Randall – Team Lead

Brook Guinn – Sr Designer

Anary Baumgarth – Sr Designer

Melanie LaBelle – Sr Designer

Marie Gamber – Sr Designer

Ruby McGuire – Sr Designer

Pat St. Martin – Sr Designer

Jenn Cochran – Sr Designer

Michele Spera – Sr Designer

Sandie Dunne – Sr Designer

Andi Murdock – Jr Designer

Hazel Parr – Jr Designer

Shelby Goolsby – Jr Designer

Suzanne Foard – Jr Designer

Dana Joy – Jr Designer

Renkata Pacheva – Jr Designer

Thank you for giving me the opportunity. I’m looking forward to learning from you all.

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“Punny” Sentiment

August 30, 2011 By

Good morning!

I am so enjoying these challenges at Tuesday Throwdown – In addition, I get to try all these new stamps from our sponsors that I now discover I need.

This week at the Throwdown, our challenge is “Punny” sentiment. Come up with a sentiment that is a pun on the image.

Our sponsor is Digi with Attitude. I used Clipper the Crab image – no points what my play on the word is for this card. Here it is:

Clipper was colored using Copic Markers (r05, r27, yr23, yr24, e13, e15, e17); I used Sakura glazed pen to give Clipper some spots. Ground and sky were also drawn in using Copic Markers (E04, E11, E13, E15, E17, E50, E53, E87, BG000, colorless blender).

A special Thank you to Crissy Armstrong for giving me inspiration for the card.

Challenge entered:

Stamp Something

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Patterned papers = better than sliced bread

August 19, 2011 By

They make everything look pretty and finished. I found these new papers from Authentique Paper and I just cannot get enough of it. I have used it on a present I just wrapped,  on my daughter’s scrapbook layout and now on my I Heart {Ippity} Love card.

Here it is …

Bottom front of card was shaped using Sizzix on-the-edge bracket die. Petaloo Color Me Crazy Flower was airbrushed with Copic markers (R22, R24, R27, R29); Ribbon is from May Arts; stamped label is from Ippity – A Moment In Time set and metal letters from Making Memories (now discontinued).

Thanks for stopping by.

Challenges entered:

Cute Card Thursday

Color Me Creative

Fussy and Fancy Challenge

Unity Challenge

Ippity Linky Party

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Do my own landscape – nah!

August 3, 2011 By

Never would I have imagined that I would be doing my own landscape – on a card of course. (really please – what are you thinking – me and a shovel? Pigs will roll over laughing.)

Have to try it once – I repeat that about half a dozen times with my 5 yr old. So here it is – if you don’t like it, you can spit it out – just not at me.

Patterned papers are from Fancy Pants and I used Copic Markers (ground: E37, E31, E50; grass: G94, G24, G21, G20, sky: B00, C0; Tilda: E31, E25, E29, YR04, E00, E21, B93, B95, B97, RV91, RV95, RV99, YG91, YG93, YG95, E25, R29, Y18, G17). Wow! Didn’t realize how many markers I used. Oh and the colorless blender of course.

Thanks Fluff for indulging my marker addiction and adding 26 more to my collection.

Challenge entered:

Copic Creations

Stamping Scrapping Challenge Central

Tuesday Throwdown

Stamp Something

Pile It On

Magnolia Stamp Lovers

By The Cute And Girly

Magnolia-licious Highlites

One Crazy Stamper

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Book Review: Coloring Techniques for Card Making

August 2, 2011 By

Before I begin this book review, how do you like the new look of my blog? The old pink was just getting too much for me – it was giving me heartburn. So here is a cleaner slate to start a new month and a new post … here goes:

This book is well laid out and it outlines various coloring medium options that opened my eyes beyond my repertoire of watercolor pencils and Copic markers for coloring.

The book is organized by the 3 broad and different coloring techniques:

1) Colored-pencils Techniques

2) Watercolor Techniques

3) Marker Techniques

Within each technique, the author also covers how to use different coloring tools to color. For instance, to achieve watercolor techniques (in section 2), you can use reinkers, ink pads, distress ink, water color pencils, water color crayons, alcohol inks to achieve the water color effect!! It didn’t even occur to me to use more than just water color pencils.

In addition, the author provides step by step instructions on how to used each coloring tool and showcases various projects done of that technique. She also talks about which paper is suitable for each coloring medium.

There could be better photos distinguishing the overall look of the technique used and but I just love how organized the book is laid out and it certainly helps me focus on the technique that I would love to learn more. Great reference for beginners!

And a bonus: I am giving this book away in my blog candy – so put your name in the blue froggy thingy and win this book.

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