Treasured Friend

Just a quickie today.  Still playing with the Daily Marker 30 day coloring challenge.  I've been able to keep up and find it quite relaxing to take at least 5 minutes out of my day for me!

I did some water coloring the other day with this sunflower from Close to My Heart's Friendship Bouquet stamp set.  The stamp set is retired, but I did find it on eBay.  I stamped the image with Close to My Heart Archival Black Ink and embossed it with WOW clear embossing powder.  Then I colored the image with water color pencils I had in my stash.  I have no idea who makes them, or where I got them.  I think I probably got them close to 10 years ago when I first started to scrapbook! I used Tim Holtz distress inks (Salty Ocean and Stormy Sky) to color the background and added some water droplets for textured.  So pretty!

Warm Thoughts

Shhh....don't want to say it too loudly, but I think winter may be losing it's grip.  The sun is starting to feel a little warmer and the glaciers that have occupied my driveway for the last few months are starting to melt.   Life is good.

So let's think warm thoughts, warm tropical thoughts.  At least that's what I did when I colored this cute little image from Hero Arts.  Ain't he cute?

Quick tip for ya'.  I didn't have just the right color twine in my stash to go with this card.  So what's a girl to do?  I simply colored some white twine with the same color marker I used for this guy's beak. So easy!  

Daily Marker Color Challenge

So to kick my butt in gear a little, I decided to participate in the 30 Day Color Challenge over at The Daily Marker.  I thought it would be a fun way to usher in spring (if it EVER stops snowing).

Day 1 was today so I got my red Spectrum Noir markers out and colored this lovely rose image from Newton's Nook Designs "Love Grows" stamp set.  Reds are always so challenging to color with, but I was happy with the way it turned out.

Now since I had the lovely rose, I had to make a card with it, so I decided on a 4 1/2 inch square card using the the other images in the stamp set.  Of course I added some shimmer with my trusty Wink of Stella.  I think I may have to get a new one soon!  Don't want to be left "Stella-less"!

Layer Challenge

I've been on a roll lately.  Got three cards done in a matter of two days!  GO ME!

This card is for Newton's Nook Designs Inky Paw Challenge #18 which was to make a one layer card.  I figured this would be an easy one...boy was I wrong!!

I really struggled with this challenge.  I had a couple different ideas floating in my head, but had a hard time getting any of them to work.  I was about to give up completely, but while crafting with my friend Lynda, she pulled out her embossing folders and among them was this gorgeous tree folder by Darice.  I was inspired again!

It took me two more tries and some coaxing by Lynda but I was finally able to complete the challenge.  I used three Newton's Nook stamp sets, Winged Wishes , Wild Child and Versatile Vases.  I colored the images with my Spectrum Noir Markers and used some Tim Holtz distress inks on the tree and grass.  Not sure how I feel about the outcome, but I certainly was challenged!!

I'm "Hog Wild" over Art Impressions

Part of my birthday haul last month included a gift certificate to Art Impressions.  I got them last week  and they  sat neglected until I got a chance to play with them yesterday.

For inspiration, I decided to play along with Art Impressions "Tie it Up" challenge.  I knew I wanted to play with the Hog Wild  stamp set, but wasn't sure how I was going to do it.  Then yesterday, I spent some time with a friend trying to help her figure out how to use the Cricut Explore she got for Christmas.  We were happily cutting out an Easter Chick when I happened upon a balloon in the gallery!  That's when inspiration hit!  The card base needed to be a balloon!  So I cut out the balloon (twice because I knew somehow I'd mess it up, which I did) and started  coloring away with my Spectrum Noir markers!  Of course this pretty hog had to have some sparkle, so I added Wink of Stella and Stickles on the image (see close up photo), as well as Close to My Heart's Liquid Glass on her lips and glasses. For added shimmer, I masked off the image and then sprayed some Tattered Angels Yellow Daisy Shimmer Mist all over the balloon. I tied some baker twine around the balloon as the "string" and popped up this pretty girl with some foam tape to the base.  I lined the card base with some hot pink cardstock I had in my stash, stamped the greeting with Close to My Heart Archival black ink and embossed it with Hero Arts clear embossing powder.  

She is just as pretty as a princess! 

Birthday haul and a card!

My  birthday was a couple weeks ago.  I turned 50.  I was, and am still not, happy about it. But I guess the alternative is worse.

My friends and family threw me a surprise party.  The kind of party every respectable 50 year old woman should have!

Spongebob Squarepants!

There was Spongebob as far as they eye could see!  Even a Spongebob cake and Spongebob pinata!  I was in my glory.  Best party I ever had!!

Besides the awesome party, my friends blessed me with some great gifts, namely gift certificates to my favorite online stamp and craft stores!  So I wasted no time using my certificates, and the first one I spent was Tiddly Inks!  I am ashamed to say it really didn't take long to pick out everything I wanted, but I didn't have enough to buy everything in the store...so I narrowed it down to these!

In no particular order, the ones I picked were:

Hang in there

Friends are Flowers

Flying High

Celebrate Joyfully

Sweet Tooth - Let us Eat Cake

Of course I had to start playing with them immediately.  Luckily, Tiddly Inks posted a new challenge at their blog - a cute Sketch Challenge.  

I decided on this card to play with my Spectrum Noir colored pencils.  I love this little image from the Hang in There set.  The birds make me smile!  Of course after coloring the image I masked it off and then sponged the background with Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Faded Jeans).  Such a cute card if I must say so myself.

Friday the 13th!

Ugh...it's Friday the 13th.  But tomorrow is Valentine's Day so let's focus on that.

I'm again participating in the challenge at Case(e) this Sketch.  I love their sketches and I always get inspired.  The simplicity of this week's sketch (sketch #110) really got my creativity flowing and after only a few moments, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

So first thing I did was grab this awesome stencil from Simon Says Stamp.  I positioned the stencil in the lower left hand corner of the card and used three different shades of red ink to create a subtle ombre effect.  Then I stamped the sentiment in Versafine black ink..and it didn't look right.  So I tried it again.....and it didn't turn out right.  So I finally wised up, stamped the sentiment first with the Versafine ink, embossed it with clear embossing powder, then used the stencil and ink.  Much easier and I was thrilled with the simplistic and elegant outcome! Happy Valentine's Day!