Miss You Already, Maggie

Good morning. I have a special card today that I started for the color challenge this week at Splitcoast Stampers (Early Espresso, So Saffron, Cherry Cobbler).  The "dessert" option was the theme back-to-school.  I no longer have little ones and very few school themed stamps, but I did remember this Stamping Bella stamp with the HUGE pencil.

Perfect for the colors and theme. As I was creating it and looking for an appropriate sentiment, I realized that my youngest daughter started graduate school for her Master's degree this fall, and isn't that back-to-school also?  She just moved last week and I admit that I already miss her.  And that is the story of this card.

Now - how I created it.  First, I made sure to color match and choose my markers.

When I do a color challenge I usually stamp several of the image I'm coloring and block in some color to make sure that I have it in the right place.  I would have hated to spend time coloring and then decided that her shirt should have been yellow instead of red - this method saves a lot of heartache.

Because Stamping Bella images are so fine and detailed, I often use Copics as my underlay and then use Prismacolors on top for the detail.  The image below is Copics alone before any pencil.

The pencil really allows me to get detail.  I learned this technique many, MANY years ago when I took some illustration classes.  At that time, when artwork was reproduced the cameras used to shoot it used a pretty intense flash.  It seemed no matter how solid your pencil work the marks could always be seen in a photograph. But if you used marker, watercolor or dye underneath it hid the white of the paper and the marks.  Today I find that technique gives a richness and depth to the card and also allows for greater detail.

I had a few choices when laying out the card.  I used my color sample to play with the size and punched detail on the top of the card.  Then I used the Scrabble tiles and some buttons.

This part of the card can take me the longest - trying to decide layout and those little extras.  It's one reason I like sketch challenges so much - the layout decision is pretty much made for you.  But there was no help here!  I had to go it alone.

For the Scrabble tiles, I finally decided on the school's initials - Loyola Marymount University.

I miss you already Maggie and I know you'll do great things!

Stamp: Stamping Bella Tiny Townie Penelope has a Pencil

Copic markers: R39, R37, R35, Y23, Y21, Y32, E49, E47, E35, E00, E000, E11, E30, E31, C0, C00, C1, C2, W00, W1

Prismacolor pencils: Warm Gray 10%, 20%, PC 997, 1012, 943, 942, 940, 1034, 140, 947, 925, 944, 947, 946

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Warm Hugs

For today's sketch challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches I feature some adorable Hugging Penguins from Cottage Cutz.  When I saw the sketch I just knew these penguins would be perfect.

Here is the posted sketch:

When assembling the penguins I had to cut off the arm of the little guy on the left to get them close enough to "hug".  A great thing about this die is that these also stand alone - they don't have to hug or wear winter gear making them very versatile.

I used an A2 card base in Mossy Meadow, cut a slightly smaller white panel and embossed that using a cable knit embossing folder.  I thought the combination of the EF and the plaid made a very winter cozy look.

I love these little penguins - they are so adorable!

Dies: Cottage Cutz Hugging Penguins, Hugs Phrase
Accessories:  Stampin' Up! Cable Knit Embossing Folder, Stampin' Up! DSP

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Peaceful Fawns

Happy Friday!  I'm back from vacation in Hawaii and while usually it's quite relaxing not so much this time. So, I have  a serene card using one of the new Cottage Cutz dies - Christmas Fawns.

These deer really caught my eye when I first saw them.  They make a striking pair.  I cut the deer from Soft Suede and all the other pieces from white card stock.

I used sponge daubers to shade the deer in Soft Suede and their white chests and bellies in Smoky Slate.

Then I used Copic markers to color the birds and ornament (R24, R27 and Spectrum Noir Sparkle marker), ribbon (G19) and branch (E44, E47).

I assembled everything and added Glossy Accents to the ornament.

This card is one of those that really "glow."  I love when holiday cards do that - it's just so perfect for the season.

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Blended Seasons Thank You Card

For the color challenge this week at CAS Colours & Sketches, Fiona chose some new colors from Stampin' Up! To be fair, one color is a returning color, but it is actually new to me since it was before I started using Stampin' Up! ink.  They are just perfect fall colors to me so I used the new Blended Seasons stamp set to showcase them.

The colors to be used:

I used my Stamparatus to stamp the image in Mango Melody on watercolor paper.  I did not remove the stamp from the Stamparatus lid.  Then I water colored the leaves with all three colors not really worrying that the outlines were getting lost.  When I was finished I restamped the image in Merry Merlot to get my outline.

I moved that stamp and did the same thing to extend the falling leaves.   After I had colored both images, I actually thought I 'd like the image to look a little looser, so I used my Aqua Painter and colored outside the lines!  This can be difficult for me at times - LOL.

I added a few sequins, a bit of coordinating paper down the side and the sentiment.  Very simple card to create and makes an impact.  I used "Thank You" because I can always use thank you cards, but this could easily be for any occasion.

Stamps and Dies (not used on this card but available):  Blended Seasons Bundle, Blended Seasons stamps only
Ink: Merry Merlot, Mango Melody, Poppy Parade
Paper: Watercolor, Neutrals DSP
Accessories: Stamparatus, Aqua Painters

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Stampin' Up! Favorites

Happy Sunday everyone!  I'm on vacation and haven't posted in awhile, so I thought I'd post a new card that will be featured in an upcoming post (when the stamp set becomes available), some samples of work I've done in the past, and something I've never featured before - a scrapbook page.

If you follow me, you know I LOVE to color.  The cards here feature a couple of different mediums.

This adorable Signs of Santa stamp set and die bundle by Stampin' Up!will be offered starting in September.  My sample is colored using Stampin' Blends alcohol markers with an overlay of the watercolor pencils (used without water, of course!). I'll post the techniques used on this card along with a list of the pencils and Stampin' Blends when they become available on September 5.  New colors are coming with the Holiday catalog!  Very exciting!

These cards were created using watercolor pencils and a blender pen. I describe my techniques in these three posts - Watercolor Techniques Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

This Delightful Daisy card uses watercolor pencils, an Aqua Painter and masking techniques to color  the image.

This scrapbook page is something new for me. It was created for my daughter who was a bridesmaid in the wedding of one of her best friends.  I wanted something soft and used the colors from the bridal party on the page.

The coordinating box uses the Window Box Thinlet die and the retired Succulent framelits set.

And my last fun 3-D item is one of my all time favorite card-in-a-box that I've created.  More details on this little skunk in the box are at this post.

Thanks for stopping by today and revisiting some favorite past posts and seeing a few new creations!

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