Thursday, March 27, 2014

K is for . . . "Kissy"

Happy Thursday!! I feel like it's been ages since our last challenge at Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog!! But . . . I've been keeping busy, busy, busy hanging out over at Bronte & Bella's Clubhouse. Mo calls it "BBC" . . . while I call it "The Clubhouse"! Whatever we call it, it's FUN!! If you haven't stopped by to check it out, please do!!

So . . . on to this fortnight's challenge!! The very talented and super sweet Miz Anja is our hostess!! And she's chosen an Alphabet themed challenge . . .

K is for . . . !
(Kisses, kick, kite, Kansas, Kady, etc.)

And here's my little creation . . .
Hehe! This image just tickles me!! This cutie is called "Kissy" and is available HERE in Mo's online store. Here's a close-up . . .
I wanted to go for a softer look . . . so, instead of printing this digi image with black ink, I used sort of a sepia ink color. I love how it turned out!! Here's another view . . .
I made a little "Crossover" card . . . some people call it "Criss Cross" . . . other's call it a "Pocket Card" . . . I just call it FUN! I love making these! Here's a peek at the card insert . . .
My Card "Recipe" . . .
Image printed on Cryogen White Cardstock
So Saffron & Melon Mambo cardstock: Stampin' Up
DPs: "Sidewalk" by October Afternoon
Lace & butterfly punches: Martha Stewart
So Saffron ribbon: Stampin' Up
 Pearls & flower stamp: My stash
Shin Han & Copic markers; colored pencils

Here is a full list of mediums/colors used on this image:
Skin:
 ShinHan YR133 & 132
Copic E000, 0000, and a little E13 for darkest shadows
Faber Castell pencils - Sanguine, Cinnamon, Med. Flesh, & Light Flesh
Caran d'Ache pencil - Apricot
Cheeks:
ShinHan R139
Copic R00
Faber Castell pencil - Med. Flesh
Hair:
ShinHan BR107, 97, 95
Copic E07, 15, & 18
Caran d'Ache pencils - Brown & Orangish Yellow
Aquas:
Copic BG 10, 000, 00, 32, & 72
Caran d'Ache pencil -Turquoise
Pinks:
Copic RV14, 10, 00
Caran d'Ache pencil - Raspberry
Yellows:
Copic Y18, 13, 11
Caran d'Ache pencil - Orangish Yellow
Greens:
Copic G46, 43, 40
Caran d'Ache pencil - Green Ochre
Shadow around image:
Copic BG 10 & 0000

And . . . finally, my "artsy" angled view . . . 
I hope you've been able to survive this lonnnnnng post!! Be sure to pop on over to Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog to check out the fabulous projects created by Anja and the rest of my clever DT sisters! Then, please join us for this fortnight's "K is for . . . " challenge!

Oh,  and don't forget, Mo is awarding (selected at random) one $5.00 shopping spree at her online store for every 25 challenge participants! What an easy and fun way to get some new Mo images, right?!

See you soon!! Hugs . . .

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Layers & Layers of "Sassy"!

Happy Tuesday!! It's time for another fun challenge over at Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog! And this fortnight's challenge "hostess with the mostess" is my sweet friend and DT sister, Joann (a.k.a. Sassy Raggedy!) and she's chosen the theme . . .

"Lots of Layers"

No problemo!! I am very comfortable with lots of layers . . . so this one was an easy one for me! Although, I will admit . . . I increased the degree of difficulty by pulling out my colored pencils!! And here's what I came up with . . .
This little image is called "Patience Secret" and is available HERE in Sassy Cheryl's online store. Here's side view . . .
A look at the inside . . . clean & simple . . . 
  My card "recipe" . . .
Image printed on Strathmore Bristol paper
Black Cardstock: Stampin' Up
Digi DPs: "Ladies & Gentleman Too" by Mary Fran for Nitwits
Rectangle & square dies: Nestabilities by Spellbinders
Flower die: Cheery Lynn
Sentiment stamps: Stampin' Up
White seam binding, brad, charm, & pearls: my stash
Faber Castell, Caran d'Ache, & Prismacolor pencils

And one last photo . . .
OK . . . full disclosure . . . coloring with pencils is definitely me stepping far out of my "Copic" comfort zone!! Copics give me deeper, richer colors . . . and pencils are softer!! I love them both!! Now . . . please pop on over to Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog and take a look at all the fabulous creations by my fellow Design Teamies! Then, we'd love for you to pull out some of your own craft supplies and at least one Sassy Cheryl image and join! Oh, and remember . . .

At least one lucky participant (but maybe more), selected at random, will win . . .
TWO Sassy Cheryl Digi Images!

Thanks so much for visiting . . . and, as always, for your kind comments! Stay warm! See you soon! Hugs . . .

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Ribbon Rosettes - Tutorial

Ribbon Rosettes

Hello everyone!! Hope you're having a great day!! This is my first "crafting" tutorial! I've written educational manuals for families of babies in the hospital . . . and for nurses and doctors! But, never one for my fellow crafters!! So . . . be kind! hehe! Ready? Here we go!

I've always loved these little Ribbon Rosettes (they have other names, I'm sure . . . but that's what I call them!!) So . . . you'll need just a couple of items to get started:
  1. Card stock (white or a complimentary color)
  2. Double sided tape (I use Sookwang for all my cards . . . also known as Score-Tape)
  3. Ribbon
  4. Scissors
  5. Die (I used a round Nestabilities die . . . although I'll bet a square die would make a fun variation!)
  6. Machine to cut your paper shape (e.g., Cuttlebug, Big Shot, etc.) *Even a scissors will do!
  7. Embellishment for center (I used a button . . . but a paper flower, jewels, etc. will work beautifully too!)
Step 1:
Place several pieces of double-sided tape side-by-side on your cardstock:
Step 2:
Cut out your desired shape:
Step 3:
Remove paper backing from your "taped shape" and place end of ribbon at the center of the sticky side:
Step 4:
Begin twisting ribbon, laying it down on top of the sticky taped side of your shape . . . taking care to press ribbon into the tape so it stays secure:
Step 5:
Continue in this fashion, pressing ribbon down as you go:
Step 6:
Once your entire die-cut shape is covered, it's time to cut your ribbon . . . leaving a little bit of a tail:
Step 7:
Bring ribbon tail around to the back side of your die-cut shape, securing it with double-sided tape:
Step 8:
Now it's time to embellish your Ribbon Rosette! Let your imagination run wild!! Here I used a big button . . . which I simply glued to the center (using my trusty hot glue gun!):
And voila! Your beautiful Ribbon Rosette is ready to be secured onto your card, scrapbook page, or other paper project! (I generally use double-sided tape to secure my rosettes to my cards!)

And that's that! Easy peasy! I hope you enjoyed this simple little tutorial!! Keep checking back . . . I plan on creating a few more!! Until next time . . . 


Thursday, March 6, 2014

We're doing "Anything Goes" this week at Mo's!

Happy Thursday, my lovlies!! I'm back with a card for this week's challenge over at Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog!! This week's theme is:

Anything Goes!

So . . . I went with Clean & Simple . . .
This adorable image is called "Big Girl Pants" and is available HERE in Mo's online store. Here's a close-up . . . 
That clever sentiment is a digi . . . and I think I may have gotten it from TLC. It's hilarious, don't you agree? And goes perfectly with this Mo Manning image!! Here's a side view . . . 
My Card "Recipe" . . .
Image printed on "Aquabee" White Cardstock
Pistachio Pudding & Bashful Blue cardstock: Stampin' Up
Digi DPs: "Petal Fresh Too" by Mary Fran for Nitwits
Trellis punch: Martha Stewart
Ribbon & pearls: My stash
Inside sentiment:Hero Arts
Shin Han & Copic markers; colored pencils

A quick peek at the CAS inside . . . 
And . . . last, but not least, the "artsy fartsy" angle . . .  
So, besides shoveling snow and recovering from oral surgery . . . that's what I've been up to! hehe!! OK . . . now it's your turn . . . but before you get craftin', you'll want to head on over to Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog to check out the fabulous projects created by my clever DT sisters! Then, please join us for this week's "Anything Goes" challenge!

Oh,  and don't forget, Mo is awarding (selected at random) one $5.00 shopping spree at her online store for every 25 challenge participants! What an easy and fun way to get some new Mo images, right?!

Have a great week! Hugs . . .

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Spring . . . Reality or Wishful Thinking?!

Hey there, sweet friends!! It's time for another fun challenge over at Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog! And this fortnight's challenge theme is . . .

"Anything Goes"

Hooray!!! I love "Anything Goes" challenges!! OK . . . so, here's the deal . . . it was sunny and 74 degrees (F) on Sunday!! And yesterday, we had another snowstorm . . . which is pretty common this time of year in some parts of the world (like in Minnesota where grew up! Brrrr!) But here in Richmond, VA, this is rather unusual!! Anyway . . . there must be about  3-4 inches of snow on the ground right now . . . and well . . . I have one thing to say . . . I WANT SPRING!!! So . . . with that in mind . . . here's what I came up with . . .
I used one of my fave Sassy Cheryl cuties, Maddie!! This particular image is called "What'cha Growin' - Maddie" and is available HERE in Sassy Cheryl's online store. Here's a close-up . . .
And a side view . . .
  My card "recipe" . . .
Image printed on Cryogen Metallic Cardstock
Apricot Appeal & Chocolate Chip Cardstock: Stampin' Up
DPs: "Sun Kiss" by Prima
Rectangle dies: Nestabilities by Spellbinders
Apricot Appeal ribbon: Stampin' Up
Flowers, sentiment stamp, & pearls: my stash
Copic and Shin Han markers & color pencils

And one more pic . . . for good measure!
I feel warmer already! haha! Now . . . please pop on over to Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog and take a look at all the amazing cards created by my fellow Design Teamies! Then, we'd love for you to pull out some of your own craft supplies and at least one Sassy Cheryl image and join! Oh, and remember . . .

At least one lucky participant (but maybe more), selected at random, will win . . .
TWO Sassy Cheryl Digi Images!

Thanks so much for visiting . . . and, as always, for your kind comments! Stay warm! See you soon!