10/27/2020

Spooky (and a Little Batty!)

Our last challenge for October at CAS Colors & Sketches is a sketch challenge and Julie has given us another great one.  When I saw the sketch I immediately put this together in my mind.

The bats were a bit wider than expected to I rotated the card to be landscape - allowed by the challenge.


Fairly easy card to create as everything was die cut.  But I did have to do some measuring and use light pencil lines to get all my bats to line up.  Once that was done I placed my sentiment.  It was a leftover from last week's card.  It was a trial to see if I like that color combo; I love when I have leftover stuff I can use!

Products used:  Retired Stampin' Up! Bat punch; Simon Says Stamp Spooky die 


I will be having a BEGINNING coloring class in November.  Sign up by October 30.  Click here for more information!

 

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10/26/2020

Autumn Greetings

My post tonight features the main image from Autumn Greetings stamp set in Stampin' Up!'s holiday collection.  I've been wanting to color this image but have had too many other things going on.  So this weekend I colored it while watching the World Series.  And it was the perfect image for this week's color challenge at Splitcoaststampers!


Barbara picked: Mango Melody, Pumpkin Pie, Mossy Meadow and Terracotta Tile with Thanksgiving as the dessert option.  I thought they were perfect for Thanksgiving with the possible exception of the Terracotta Tile, so I planned to use that as just an accent.  However when I planned out coloring this image I decided to use the Terracotta Tile as star of the show - the flowers!

The one area I might change should I make this again, would be the gold heat embossing for the sentiment. Held at an angle it shows quite beautifully but straight on it is very difficult to see. I would either put it on a banner, choose a different color (perhaps a silver embossing and floral in the background)  or move it to the inside.    I would not change the wood as I really like the contrast with the floral image.  Here is the card straight on:

I used Stampin' Blends mixed with a few Copic markers to get contrast and color match the Terracotta Tile.  I also added Merry Merlot, Night of Navy and Crumb Cake (all SU neutrals and allowed by the challenge.) I could have colored this on Very Vanilla, but I like coloring on white for color challenges to get a purer version of the challenge colors.  To tone down the contrast between the white of the die cut image and the wood I used a sponge and Soft Suede ink to edge the die cut.


And of course I had to use two of my favorite embellishments this year - the Gold Hoops and greenery from the Forever Gold Laser-cut Specialty Paper!

 

Products used today:

Place ANY order with me between now and October 30 and use Hostess code ZDR37F4U and I will send you a free PDF of instructions for two cards using Whiskey Business.

If your order is $150 or more DO NOT use the code and YOU will receive the Hostess Benefits!  I will still send the PDF!

 

I'll be offering a beginning coloring class next month using the Stampin' Write markers and acrylic block technique.  For more information click here!  Sign up by October 30.

 

Thanks for visiting today! Click here to sign up for email notifications of future posts (you will be sent an email to verify your address - don't forget this step).  Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Bloglovin'.

 

 



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10/22/2020

A Spooky Cookie Cutter Halloween

It's another Team O challenge at Tic Tac Toe Challenge!  This week's featured designer is Stef and she has given us a fun board to work with!  I chose the middle row down.



As you can see from the squares, this board is perfect for Halloween!

I decided to use an oldie but goodie set - Cookie Cutter Halloween by Stampin' Up!  I'll admit I became inspired to use it by all the chatter about it on a few FB groups and people looking for this set.  Nothing makes one appreciate what they have like other people wanting it!

I decided to update it by making a slimline card.  I used retired brick patterned paper and edged the sides with Basic Gray ink.  The bats are from an old punch and "Spooky" is my newest purchase on this card.

I used Copic markers and Stampin' Blends to color the little Trick-or-Treaters.

Markers used: Copics - N0,N1, N3, C1, E53, E55, TR12,YR16,YR18, BV0000, BV00, YG 21 Stampin' Blends - Granny Apple Green Light and Dark

 

I'll be offering a beginning coloring class next month using the markers and acrylic block technique.  For more information click here!  

 

Thanks for visiting today! Click here to sign up for email notifications of future posts (you will be sent an email to verify your address - don't forget this step).  Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Bloglovin'.

 

 


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10/21/2020

Beginning Coloring Class

I'm so excited to offer an online, interactive beginning coloring class!  If you would like to learn to shade and blend but have been intimidated by all those beautiful cards out there, then this class is for you!

 

By coloring small images and using materials that are comfortable - water based markers and blender pens plus an acrylic block - you'll come away with more confidence in the basics of image coloring.  The control afforded by this method makes it easy and affordable.  You'll learn to shade and color to make your images come alive. 
 

And most importantly, you'll have the opportunity to color along, ask questions and get feedback in real time!

I used just five markers to create the images above.  We'll color these same images and make one card.

Details: 

  • Online class will be November 14 at 11:00 am PST (I anticipate it being 1-2 hours.  I have only taught this in person to small groups so time adjustments may be needed.)
  • Held via Zoom so I can answer questions and see students work.  We will color together! (I plan to record the class and make it available to participants afterwards)
  • Cost: 
  • $85.00 and includes: 
    • the Stampin' Up! Posted for You Bundle (stamp set and punch)
    • one set of Stampin' Write Markers in 2020-2022 In-Colors
    • one set of Blender Pens
    • one acrylic block
    • one sheet of pre-cut cardstock for coloring
    • embellishments for card
    • online coloring instruction
    • a PDF of instructions for three cards using this set (available after the class)
    • price includes sales tax and regular ground shipping
  • Payment: PayPal only.  To make shipping deadlines, I will need payment NO LATER than Friday, October 30! 
    • Please send me an email with your PayPal information, shipping address and best contact email.  I will send you a PayPay invoice, and upon payment I will order the required materials from Stampin' Up! and have them shipped directly to you.

Other material needed:  

Your probably have some or most of the other materials needed to complete the card(s).  If you do not and would prefer that I add items to you order please let me know and I will adjust your PayPal invoice.

Otherwise, please order directly from Stampin' Up! by October 30, using Hostess Code ZDR37F4U!

If you have any questions, please email me or leave a comment below!

 

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10/20/2020

A Boho Birthday

I have to thank Julie this week for the colors she chose at CAS Colours & Sketches.  I've been wanting to use the Boho Indigo Product Medley for a while and the colors she picked are the colors in the suite - perfect!

I made a few versions of this card.  One of them has a Misty Moonlight vase with the branches in Crumb Cake and the other is like this only the branches are full strength Misty Moonlight.  Here they are stamped off once to get them a bit lighter.

The sentiment is Night of Navy and the designer paper and flowers are from the suite.  I was able to make three cards in under 30 minutes (including design time) - a record for me!  Once I had the design down, they went vary fast with the help of my Stamparatus. The two reversable plates meant that I did not have to remove any stamps until I knew I was finished.

My biggest difficulty was reigning myself in.  There are a lot of gorgeous embellishments (ribbons, greenery, banners, etc.) that come with the medley, but in keeping with this challenge I had to stay CAS.  I'm looking forward to making additional cards when I have more time!

 

I'll be offering a beginning coloring class next month using the markers and acrylic block technique.  For more information click here!  

 

Place ANY order with me between now and October 30 and use Hostess code ZDR37F4U and I will send you a free PDF of instructions for two cards using Whiskey Business.

If your order is $150 or more DO NOT use the code and YOU will receive the Hostess Benefits!  I will still send the PDF!

Products used:

Thanks for visiting today! Click here to sign up for email notifications of future posts (you will be sent an email to verify your address - don't forget this step).  Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Bloglovin'.



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10/13/2020

May Your Season Sparkle

Good morning!  It's a sketch this week at CAS Colours & Sketches.  And one that offers so many possibilities that I had a difficult time deciding what to do.


But I just received a pre-order for a brand new stamp set from Stampin' Up! that will be available November 1.  As the name implies - Curvy Christmas - it was perfect for this challenge.  And it was super simple.

I heat embossed the swoosh and sentiment in silver and used blending brushes (AKA make-up brushes) to add the Balmy Blue and Seaside Spray background.  I covered the swoosh area in Wink of Stella and added rhinestones for more sparkle!

Along with this stamp set there is another coordinating non-seasonal set and matching dies.

Follow along and check back - I'll have more cards this month with this fun set!

 

I'll be offering a beginning coloring class next month using the markers and acrylic block technique.  For more information click here! 


Place ANY order with me between now and October 30 and use Hostess code ZDR37F4U and I will send you a free PDF of instructions for two cards using Whiskey Business.

If your order is $150 or more DO NOT use the code and YOU will receive the Hostess Benefits!  I will still send the PDF!


Thanks for visiting today! Click here to sign up for email notifications of future posts (you will be sent an email to verify your address - don't forget this step).  Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Bloglovin'.

 
 



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10/08/2020

Autumn Goodness

It's time a new Team O challenge at Tic Tac Toe Challenge!  My card today uses the left hand column - pumpkins, orange, fall.


I used an image from Autumn Goodness, stamped it in Stazon Ink and then used markers and acrylic blocks to color the image.  I found the sentiment in Country Home set - it fits perfectly under the pumpkin stack although it is a bit off center.  To counter this I centered the sentiment, not the image, on my die cut shape (I used a label from Hippo & Friends).  I added one of the largest Gilded Gems to add some visual "weight" to the right side of the image.

To finish the card, I embossed a panel, added foliage cut using the Autumn Essentials die and taken from the Gold Foil Laser-Cut Specialty Paper, then wrapped linen thread around the card before adhering my image panel.

So many of us will be celebrating Thanksgiving a bit differently this year.  Wouldn't this be lovely to send to your family and friends?

 

I'll be offering a beginning coloring class next month using the markers and acrylic block technique.  For more information click here!

Place ANY order with me between now and October 30 and use Hostess code ZDR37F4U and I will send you a free PDF of instructions for two cards using Whiskey Business.

If your order is $150 or more DO NOT use the code and YOU will receive the Hostess Benefits!  I will still send the PDF!


Products used today:

Thanks for visiting today! Click here to sign up for email notifications of future posts (you will be sent an email to verify your address - don't forget this step).  Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Bloglovin'.



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10/06/2020

A CAS Forever Flourishing Card

It's a new month and new hostess at CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge.  Julie gave me a real challenge this week - three purple/pinks!


I've often said that ANY two colors can go together given the right third color and correct proportions of each.  But this challenge is three colors, and by challenge rules a fourth one isn't allowed except for a neutral!  So it was down to the proportions of each color.

I experimented with different colors of each element and arrived at this combination. It's hard to see in the photo but the Flirty Flamingo berries are touched with the Melon Mambo around the edges.  The strip of Rich Razzleberry adds a nice dark contrast with the silver giving some sparkle.

This actually is a very quick card to put together once you have the colors decided!

 

I'll be offering a beginning coloring class next month using the markers and acrylic block technique.  For more information click here!  

Place ANY order with me between now and October 30 and use Hostess code ZDR37F4U and I will send you a free PDF of instructions for two cards using Whiskey Business.

If your order is $150 or more DO NOT use the code and YOU will receive the Hostess Benefits!  I will still send the PDF!


Products used today:

Thanks for visiting today! Click here to sign up for email notifications of future posts (you will be sent an email to verify your address - don't forget this step).  Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Bloglovin'.



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10/05/2020

Free as a Bird Watercolor Card using a Blender Pen

My card this evening is for this week's color challenge at Splitcoaststampers.  I am the hostess this week and the colors I chose were Calypso Coral, Cinnamon Cider and Crushed Curry with your favorite green for dessert.


I intended to make a fall card with the colors since I thought the coral would be a good substitute for an orange like Pumpkin Pie.  But as I started to think about a design I kept coming back to this stamp set.  Last week was the first time I had used it and I love it. 

This card also uses a die from the Forever Greenery set and two rectangles from the Stitched Rectangle set.  The stamps do not have matching dies - I used a Scan 'n Cut because I'm not one for fussy cutting.  Although I have friends who love that!  The background is embossed with the Tasteful Textile 3D Embossing Folder.

I love to color and this set is wonderful to watercolor.  I used my Stampin' Write Markers in the challenge colors plus, Old Olive (my favorite green) and then Early Espresso, Merry Merlot and Mossy Meadow.  These two are Stampin' Up! neutrals and can be added to the Splitcoaststampers colors.

On this card the neutrals allowed me to add some dark contrast in the leaves, branch and bird bellies.  I actually started to make some of the leaves look like they were changing colors but then realized that in fall the tree would not have flowers on it!

I used a blender pen and the markers on an acrylic block to color.  For this technique, you color the marker on your block and pick up the color with the pen. 

I'll be offering a beginning coloring class next month using this technique.  For more information click here!

Place ANY order with me between now and October 30 and use Hostess code ZDR37F4U and I will send you a free PDF of instructions for two cards using Whiskey Business.

If your order is $150 or more DO NOT use the code and YOU will receive the Hostess Benefits!  I will still send the PDF.


Products used today:

Thanks for visiting today! Click here to sign up for email notifications of future posts (you will be sent an email to verify your address - don't forget this step).  Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Bloglovin'.


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