Copic for Cardmakers Days 7 and 9

This card was inspired by Jennifer's  gorgeous cut out card, which she has done before, but I haven't got around to.  I am still fascinated by shadowing to white and I am sure practice will make a bit more perfect.  

The background is translucent embossing paste which I had a bit of trouble getting smooth.  Very understated effect which is all the card needs.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white, red;  X-press It blending card

Stamp - Clearly Besotted (printed worksheet)

Various Copic markers

This card was practice in creating backgrounds.  This is harder for me as it requires some freehand creativity on my part.  There is a reason I love stamping - I can't draw!  Though I am pleased with the effect the warm greys produce.

Her hair probably took the longest to get right.  Kathy Racoosin did a beautiful job with blonde hair but when I tried it on this image it just went orange yellow.  I need a lighter hand.  

Still in love with this perfect blend of red - it works so well. For the border I tried another of Jennifer's tricks, edging with Versamark then dipping in embossing powder.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white;  X-press it blending card

Stamps - Wiff of Joy Hot Chocolate;  Wplus9 Hand Lettered Hello

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black;  Versamark

Embossing Powder - Ranger Liquid Platinum

Christmas, Copics and Birthdays

Summer is definitely on the way.  After a few mid-week tasters of the summer heat to come, the weekends have been really lovely and great for getting out in the garden.  Unfortunately it is the end of the school holidays, so back to thinking about school lunches and before we know it, it will be Christmas.  Hence the onslaught of Christmas cards.

I took inspiration for the Festive Friday challenge from the wreath here, and a card from the DT (Ardyth I think) for the panelled background.

The wreath is cut from vellum coloured with a few green Copic markers - they were all over my desk as I am in the middle of the Online Card Classes Copic class!  More on that later.  The sentiment is stamped on the inside of the card.

I think using SU Chocolate Chip DSP might qualify me for the latest CAS-ology challenge

What you need
Cardstock - PTI white, vellum
DSP - SU Woodland Walk
Stamps - Wplus9 Silver Bells (sentiment),  Winter Wishes
Ink - SU Real Red
Various Copic markers
Die - MFT wreath
Twine
Gems - Kaisercraft

Yep, here is another one!  I couldn't decide on spots or stripes so went with both.  

Again, the idea of die cut outs but I wanted a border this time.  Note to self, always cut the BIGGER shape first!

What you need
Cardstock - PTI white, red, ripe avocado
Patterned paper - ?? Authentique
Stamps - Wplus9 Silver Bells (and die)
Ink - SU Old Olive, Real Red, Cherry Cobbler; Versamark;  HA Silver
Embossing powder - Zing! Silver
Spellbinders circle dies

Just a quick aside - this was a birthday card I did for one of my daughter's good friends whose birthday celebration was yesterday (and a bit today).  It is a combination of a few different things that Jennifer McGuire has done over the past year and just haven't got around to.  The flowers are stamped in Memento Luxe ink (Jennifer stamped on Kraft card which I hope to get to soon),  and using translucent embossing paste to adhere glitter.

What you need
Cardstock - SU white, Coastal Cabana
Stamps - MFT Tropical Sensatons,  Birthday Sentiments
Ink - Memento Luxe Pear Tart, Rose Bud, Morocco, Love Letter, Dandelion, Angel Pink;  HA Tide Pool;  Versafine Onyx Black
Wendy Vecchi Translucent Embossing paste
Glitter Ritz Ocean Spray
Viva Pearl Pen - Red

Now this is what I have been spending my time on.  I have learnt so much and been challenged to try new colour combinations.  

Some work, some don't - particularly like the purple and green balloon combination.  And it was good to try a few pink and green palettes, they are my favourites together.

Hair was less successful.  I tried Kristina' s technique (middle top), but struggled with the feathering on the fringe.  Really liked the ideas shown for black,  particularly the way Kelly Marie Alvarez tackles the challenge.

For the flower, I followed Sandy Allnock  in colouring the top  2 flowers.  I have always struggled with reds but  it seems to be working now.  I had never had a go at shadowed white flowers but love the was it turned out.

I was trying to get a combination that would work with the new SU Blackberry Bliss in colour - it took a few goes but got there in the end.  Bottom left was my attempt at a pink to white flower, that bright fluoro pink I have trouble with.

Now this was my favourite and I coloured it several times.  I hadn't used the combination for the leaves before but I think it is my new favourite.  I used Jennifer's red trio and Kristina's purply colours.  Then I had another attempt at shaded white then some blues.

Phew,  that's more homework than i probably ever did - and enjoyed!

Friday afternoon fun

This card started out a very different beast.  Let us just say, no glitter was involved.  But a quick trip to one of my favourite bloggers, led me to this Julie Ebersole for Ellen Hutson.  I had to try it.  Love the effect but, man does that ink travel fast!  Had to do a few quick fixes, but it is quite forgiving.

This photo, hopefully gives  a better idea of the  glitter.

But ... maybe not

What you need

Cardstock - PTI black, white

Big Shot Multi purpose adhesive sheets - SU

Stamps - HA Pattern Hearts and Flowers, Year Round Sentiments

Ink - Brilliance Graphite Black

Copics - YG05, YG17, R11, R14, R46,Colourless Blender

Glitter - Glitter Ritz Microfine Opaque white

Gems - Kaisercraft

Nearly missed it ! ...

Really wanted to get this challenge in before expiry.  I have seen these images so many times on Pinterest and am so envious of the wonderful nails, nevermind the polish.

So, that said, I knew I had some graduated papers somewhere, this was the only one I could find, but hopefully you get the effect.  And yes, my polished girl is making another appearance, as I always stamp a couple of images, in case of mistakes.  Now I look at the photo, she doesn't pop quite as much as I thought she would.  But her polish IS glittery.  

What you need

Cardstock - BB white;  PTI black, X-press It blending card

Patterned paper - Cosmo Cricket Coral Bloom

Stamps - MFT Polished to Perfection

Ink - Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black

Copics

Embossing Powder - Zing! Mat Black

Palette Glitter

  

Where does time go .....

We have had quite a restful Easter, which is good as there was alot of running around in the 2 days before with my daughter - a trip to the orthodontist, decided that braces were happening MUCH sooner than anticipated, like in the next 2 weeks.  Before that she has to have 3 baby teeth removed under general anaesthetic.  Apparently, these days braces are a source of great excitement and she really hopes they will be on before she goes back to school in 2 weeks.  Obviously she isn't paying for them and I will remind her of this time when cleaning her teeth becomes a chore.  The hope is that if they go on now, they will be off in 18 months time.

Anyway, enough of our goings on - a card.  I have been doing alot of kit card making recently, hence the silence over here.  The downside of a kit is that sometimes the patterned paper chosen, is one that I would not have picked in 1000 years, yet that is the challenge.  Also I have been doing alot of Copic colouring - something that tends to happen in fits and starts,  but a technique I am always trying to improve on.

    

 So we have my perfectly polished young lady.  For the Paper Players challenge I settled on

Pink and Green - Birthday - Pearls

What you need

Cardstock - SU white, Gumball Green, Primrose Petals

Stamps - MFT Polished to Perfection;  PTI Quilled Elegance (sentiment), Embroidered Blooms

Ink - SU Primrose Petals, Gumball Green; Memento Tuxedo Black

Copics - as above

Pearls - SU

I will also enter this into the latest Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes

****

Another task undertaken this weekend was a complete clean up of my craft room, and believe me, it needed it.  I have had this recent edition of Better Homes and Gardens (Aust. Ed) sitting on my desk, well, since it came out.  It is hard to see but the main picture uses orange and grey as its main theme.  Just crying out as inspiration for a card.  

Unfortunately I was too late for the CASology challenge this week but went ahead with it anyway.  In my cleaning frenzy, there were some new PTI stamp sets to put away.  As they aren't designed to fit CD cases anymore, I find it a chore to make them fit into the cases I have.  But I found this set and had to use it.

I was about to throw the magazine away (minus recipes and DIY stuff), but I think I will keep it for future reference as there are a few more very interesting colour palettes

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white

Stamps - PTI Quilled Elegance, Think Big Favourites

Ink - Memento Grey Flannel, London Fog, Tangelo, Morocco

Gems - Kaisercraft

Right I am off to do some cooking, apart from dinner, there are a couple of biscuit recipes dying to be baked.  Oh and trying some of the baked cheesecake I made earlier.

*****

Thought I would just sneak one more in.  Difficult colours but enjoyed the challenge of pulling it together and very happy with the result.

What you need

Cardstock - SU Always Artichoke, white, Lucky Limeade

Patterned Paper - PTI 2008 Bitty Dot Basics (Ripe Avocado)

Stamps - PTI Birds and Blooms, Think Big Favourites

Ink - SU Lucky Limeade, Pool Party

Die - MFT Retro Squares (?)

Copic - BV25

Gems - Kaisercraft

For Your Inspiration #30

My inspiration for this challenge came from a blog post by Dawn Woleslagle of Wplus9 fame.  This one dealt with graduated colour or Ombre.  Love the effect and so easy to achieve even though at first it really looked amateurish.  Copics are so forgiving.

And I just love that die from Memory Box, so delicate.

This card should also fit nicely into the Simon Says Stamp "Clean and Simple" challenge this week.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white, black;  X-press It blending paper

Stamps - PTI Inside and Out: Birthday

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black

Copics - YR 12,15,18

Die - Memory Box Prim Poppy

Just in time ....I hope

I should be able to get this in just before closing time at Retro Sketches.  The colours for ColourQ are just so cheerful and happy that I had to break out my Hero Arts Poppies.  

I think the design pretty much fits the sketch though there isn't much of an embellishment at the side, just a button.

Another to add to my birthday card collection and probably one my mother will take.

What you need
Cardstock - SU black, Lucky Limeade, X-press It Blending paper
Stamps - Hero Arts Delicate Blossoms;  PTI Inside and Out:  Birthday
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black;  SU Poppy Parade
Copics
Die - SB Tags
Embossing Folder - Sizzix Swiss Dots
Twine - Jillibean Soup
Button - PTI

Spring time Sundays ...

These colours are just so beautiful and restful, wish I had something in that slightly warmer grey, all I could think of was copics but I didn't really want to shade around the flowers. Thanks to the Less is More ladies for highlighting the Design Seeds blog, a definite go to when colour inspiration is low.   I hoped it would suit my first attempt at a Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge, one that I have had on my list for quite a while.  

I wasn't able to find a ribbon or embellishment that worked in the bottom left corner of the flowers so opted for gemstones, a huge departure from the norm for me HA HA!

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white

Patterned paper - Kaisercraft Chanteuse

Copics

Stamps - The Cat's Meow Celebrating You

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black

Gems - MME Lush (grey)

This must be a record ...

3 challenges with 1 card - don't think I have attempted that before.  I originally coloured these tulips for the recent Sweet Stop challenge, but would have had to cut it down to fit on the card, which wasn't going to happen.  So when I saw the colours for Play Date Cafe, I was delighted I would be able to use it.

There maybe afew more posts today as it is a dreary old Sunday in Brisbane - perfect for cardmaking.

What you need
Cardstock - Bazzill Basics Navy; PTI New Leaf;  SU white;  X-press-It Blending Card
Stamps - PTI Friendship Jar Spring Fillers;  Wplus9 Backgrounds 2, Filligreed Frames
Ink - SU Night of Navy;  Versacolor Fresh Green;  Versamark
Copics - YG11, 13, 17;  RV29, 32, 55
Embossing Powder - Superior Filigree white
Ribbon - SU Pretty in Pink satin
Brads - SU

Hope I'm not too late ...

I was going through my challenge blog list at the beginning of the week and picked out afew that appealed.  Fast forward to the end of the week and realised that The Sweet Stop closed VERY soon.  So here is my entry in Colour Throwdown colours.

My sadly neglected Verve and Wplus9 stamps will be getting a run this weekend, if  I manage to get done all that I have set myself.  Let's see how good my management skills are.

What you need

Cardstock - Bazzill Basics white;  SU white, Barely Banana, Early Espresso, Rose Red

DSP - SU Neutrals Pattern Stack (early espresso)

Stamps - Verve Plain Jane Thank You, Dream Big;  PTI Friendship Jar, Spring Fillers

Ink - SU Rose Red, Old Olive;  Memento Rich Cocoa

Copics - YG 11,13,17;RV29, 32,55;  W1

Felt - PTI Harvest Gold

Die - PTI Beautiful Blooms

Button - PTI

Gold Thread

"Fanatical about Botanical" Moxie Fab Challenge

This is the image I selected from the gorgeous collection Kath has on her blog.  It reminded me of the butterflies I saw at the museum as a child, so I have tried to recreate those lovely images.

I have had these beautiful Hero Arts stamps for some time and so glad to finally have had a chance to colour them.  

I will be back later with my Waltzingmouse Blog Waltz entry, though it has me a bit stumped at the moment.

What you need

Cardstock - SU Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, white

Stamps - Hero Arts Antique Engravings;  SU Fresh Cuts (sentiment)

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, Rich Cocoa;  PTI Chai

Copics - YR7,21,20;  B 34,37,41;  Colourless Blender;  E 43, 79

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