For the Love of Gingham

I actually made and photographed this card more than 2 weeks ago and would have posted, but sometimes your life gets pushed in a different direction.  I'm taking few minutes to get this posted so I can enter Power Poppy's power-spark-june-challenge-go-ahead-bug.  For their Junebug Challenge, all you need to do is use a 'bug' on you card and in my case the bug (butterfly) is the the card.

Surprise! I used my Silhouette Cameo for the shape of the card.  If you don't own one these amazing machines, you may not know that you can use it to edit a digi and set it against a digital background
like my new favorite, black gingham.  This butterfly easal card was purchased from The Silhouette Design Store.  The pretty sunflowers are from Power Poppy's Sunshine of My Life digital collection.
I colored the sunflowers on the front with Copics and chose not to color the inside.  On the front I accented the gingham with a black frame. The only other items used are pearls and a pretty black bow from Paper Studio.  The sentiment is My Sentiments Exactly! H162.

The card below follows the basic technique as the butterfly only this time the shape was taken from the digi itself.  Did I tell you this machine is amazing?

The Retro Telephone image  is from Buddly Crafts.  As I was linking back to the store, I noticed they have a bunch of new digi's I need to check out. Love there stuff.

I did post this at Splitcoast Stampers late last month.

Final thought. Have you said "I love you" lately?

Window and Roses

Well it finally warmed up didn't it. Now we can start complaining about the heat. They say we may break 100 deg. mark today.  So I will be enjoying the AC and looking out my window at all the pretty flowers my husband has planted.

I will be entering this in the Inkspirational Challenge136-designers-Choice-Widows.

When I buy a new digi, one of the first things I do is make into a cutting file. Some of them can be very challenging. Although this one may appear to be difficult, it was actually quite easy. The key is having no openings to the inner parts the digital image. The Silhouette  will cut those tiny branches, but they would be very week, so I used the offset tool to leave a little bit of a white edge.

I colored the image with Copics and placed in front of this pretty window, which was also cut with the Silhouette. I used Spellbinder's Exquisite Label's 10 for the card base.

One more thing before I go and I've been thinking about this awhile.  Don't you think it's proper blog etiquette to  leave a comment on at least one or two of the designers cards, when entering a contest?
Just saying...

Shadows and Light

A couple of years ago I took a water coloring class and I failed with a BIG FAT F!  The type of water color the instructor used was masking and precise strokes. I was looking for something more whimsical and less defined. I did learn something regarding shading and determining which direction the light was coming from.  I do like experimenting with my Copics. I think I will try some online classes if I ever again have the desire to use my water colors.

This is Power Poppy's digital stamp Sunshine of My Life.  I wanted to enter this in their challenge this month which calls for no-line coloring, I printed in a +30 brightness, but you can still see the lines.  It does however fit Double "D's" Challenge of "Lavender and Lace".  This is my second entry for their challenge.  I am number 13 on fist entry, and another number may do better for that random draw. 

Stamps:  Power Poppy, Spellbinder (Sentiment)

Dies: Memory Box Stitched Squares - Spellbinder Labels 41 & A2 Bracket Borders One

Paper: Create and Craft Double Sided Gingham Pastel & 120# white card stock.

And just for fun:

            

Grandma's Table Cloth

I wanted to do something for the Double "D" Challenge which is Lavender and Lace  and I remembered these Gladiolas from Power Poppy.

I cut the image with the Silhouette Cameo and proceeded to color it with Copics. My (2) lavender Copics were pretty much dried out, so I went over the peddles with my Prisma pencils. 

The background is a Silhouette design fittingly called "Grandma's Tablecloth". When I placed the image on top of the lace background it was just too busy, so I due cut some vellum with Spellbinder's Floral Ovals and placed the gladiolas on top with some dimensionals. When I cut the vellum, the edges curled upwards, which I considered a plus. As a finishing touch, I added a little white bow from Paper Studio. 

Let's Write a Letter

I am so excited to share with you this wonderful project from The Cutting Cafe.

Please excuse my photography.  I haven't figured out how to take a photo of something laying flat without all kinds of shadows.  take a look at what comes with this cutting file.

WOW!  The possabilites are endless.  This set comes formatted as MTC, PDF, SVG or WPC and is priced at only $4.25.

Watch Regina's video for more inspiration.

Click on the link to get your own "Let's Write a Letter" cutting file. 

Other Products used:
Power Poppy's digital stamp - flowering branches (stationery) 
Die-Versions Spring Pond die (cover die)
s-e-i Bright Blossom 12 x 12 paper pad
Orange organza ribbon
Score tape

May Flowers

This one really tried my patience! If you do any pencil work, you know it's a slower process than with markers.  This I don't mind as I find it rather relaxing.

So I completed my pencil work, cut and embossed the image using Life Style Crafts dies. Then I used some cheep glue to mount it on the card base and it warped a little. Next boo boo was a border die that didn't quite work and I had remove it, leaving bits of paper debris.  I covered the boo boo with this pretty die and ribbon.  (The die and the package got separated and I don't know the name of the company).

This is Power Poppy's Garden Fireworks digital stamp set.  I am entering my card in their latest challenge Power-Spark-challenge-may-flowers.

Hello again!

Did you think I left for good?  You would think a person that hasn't posted for a few months would have a clean craft room.  Not so much.  I can't tell you how many times I started to create and just couldn't bring it to the finish line.  I'm hoping this post will start the creative juices flowing again.

Power Poppy inspired me with their three marker challenge .  This dose not mean that I didn't make a huge mess. 

Stamp:  Power Poppy - sunflower-power

Dies: Memory Box, Marianne Designs, Cheery Lynn, Sue Wilson

Paper:  Craft Smith Wedding Neutrals, White Cardstock & Stripes from my stash 

Precious!

Poppy Power has a new challenge "Stretch Yourself" which is to make a tall card. This was a real challenge for a gal whose cards are 99% square. This is a double challenge to try a new technique using a new product.  I may have "stretched" a little on this part.  My new product is the border die. I saw Leslie Miller turn one at an angle on a card and I borrowed the idea.

One of the benefits of having a Silhouette machine  is I can dismantle a sentiment and arrange everything on the card then print it.  For this card I only used the Silhouette to design and print.

I used my Prisma pencils and odorless mineral spirits to color the pretty bouquet.  

Power Poppy - Winter Pick-Me-Up

Power Poppy - Gerbera Daisies (Sentiment) 

Spellbinder - A2 Scalloped Borders Three

Cheery Lynn - Exotic Butterfly small #2

Pearls 

He's Back

Yup, me and Frosty still chillin.

If you haven't been here in the last 3 weeks, you probably didn't hear about Frosty and me.  I think Hubby may be getting suspicious.  

I colored him up with Copics and framed him in this beautiful Spellbinder Die, The Poinsettia spray is from Memory Box and the small Holly die is from Marianne Dies. This time I chose to enter him in Power Poppy's challenge Power Poppy Challenge - Time to Rewind - Bits & Pieces.

This is for Linda S
Linda S. commented on the Frosty I colored on Kraft paper.  I couldn't follow a link back to a blog, so I hope she stops back. Linda wanted to know if I had any tips on coloring on Kraft paper.  

The paper was some cheap Kraft paper that I bought long ago and it was not very smooth. I used Prisma Scholar pencils.  I have a few Derwent and I think I almost like them better, but only have a few. In large areas I color lightly holding the pencil at an angle and build up the color. In a smaller area like the snow on his harms, I hold the pencil a less of an angle and use more pressure. Frosty was colored with cream an the snow on the arms is done with white. 

Linda also wanted to know why I switched to Tombow makers on the die cuts. I tried the pencils, but didn't like the way they looked with the embossed edges.

I hope this answers everything.  If not, my email address is listed in "About Me".

Merry Christmas!

Melting My Heart

I think I've mentioned I have a crush on Frosty.

 I thought I would try something different and use my Prisma pencils on craft card stock.  I love how this turned our and I'm already rummaging up more craft paper and planning my next card.

When Power Power sent an email previewing this image, I could hardly wait to make him mine.

Frosty was framed with Memory Box Stitched Square Layers.  All the dies used here are from Memory Box: Star of Wonder, Beloved Stars and Small Poinsettia.

I did color the stars and the Poinsettia spray with Tombow makers but everything else was done with Prisma pencils.

Power Poppy has a challenge right now to choose a past challenge.  I chose Time to rewind - Pencil Me In. 

The Affair

I've had a love affair with Frosty for too many years to count.  He comes around every snowfall, but I have to admit I been known to make a Winter card with his image on a hot summer day.

So when in an email from Power Poppy previewed Frosty in a Black Friday sale, I could hardly wait to bring him home in my cart. He just melts my heart.

I chose to place him on a Step Card.  He kind of took up most of the front of the card.

The step card was cut with my Silhouette Cameo.

I did a little stippling with Copic Opaque White to give Frosty a little texture, then I colored him and his little bird with Copic markers. And to give the accumulated snow on his arms and hat a lttle dimension, I used 3D Crystal paint.  I mounted the image with a Spellbinders die.  To the left of Frosty I used a portion of Memory Box's Flowering Christmas Tree and embellished with blue jewels. The flourish at the top is Die-namics die and the embossing on the sides is Cuttlebugs Swiss Dots embossing folder. On the bottom fold is another Memory Box die, Grand Merry Christmas.

I'm in for the Power Poppy's November Challenge and hoping for a win. Oh, how I long to be "Ramdom" and win a Power Poppy stamp set.

Hey Friend

With my silhouette Cameo I am able to bring in any digital image and arrange it on the cut lines, print it then make the cut. 

I really love how this turned out.  The image I used is Power Poppy's Gerbera Daisies.
I colored the daisies with Prisma pencils and added pearls to the centers. I used a portion of a Sizzix embossing folder on the lid and added a white bow from Paper Studio.

This card is for Power Poppy's weve-got-power-weve-got-spark challenge.

For the Love of Sunflowers

I just love sunflowers.  Leave the roses with the florist and bring me a sunflower.

Now I resisted this pretty stamp, until Power Poppy had a 24 hr. sale.  And of course, I fell in love and their pretty cone flower jumped in my cart with the sunflower.

I opened the digi in MS word and used the sepia format to print it.  I then scanned the word document and imported into my Silhouette Cameo to make a perfect cut file.  I know that's a few too many steps for most, but it's now in my library for future use.  And I will definitely use it again!

The sunflower was colored with Copics and Prisma Brush markers. I also cut and colored one petal to fall away from the bloom.  The image is mounted on paper from K&Company which was die cut with Memory Box's Stitched Square Layers. The gingham is from Simple Stories. The card is framed with a Martha Stewart punch.

I am entering this card in Passionate Paper Creations and Friends weekend challenge for a chance to win a $25 Gift Certificate to Power Poppy Shop!! There are going to be 2 lucky winners!!! I just looked and the competition has overwhelming beauties.

Now I leaving to clean up the mess I've made.

Fussy Chic

Those of you that know me, know I rarely use those pretty papers and I don't layer very well.
I hope this (barely) qualifies as "Shabby Chic".  I really wanted to enter the Power Poppy Shabby Chic challenge.  I have the lace, the pearls, the flowers and butterflies.  I don't have the layers of pretty papers or ribbon, but I do really like how this turned out.

My new printer allows me to print on thin watercolor paper and I've rediscover how fun it is to paint.  I fussed over this for a couple of hours and decided I needed to quit before I ruined it.

Challenge:  Power Poppy a-little-shabby-little-chic

Stamps: Power Poppy digi, Verve (Sentiment)
Die:  Sue Wilson
Accessories:  Pearls, Martha Stewart Butterfly punch

Yikes!

I really love the Power Poppy challenges, but this one had me a bit nervous. They want 3 different papers on the card. They don't know how paper challenged I am! The only thing that I fear more is card sketches.  If every thing isn't centered, I start to twitch.

I found (3) papers in my small stash and this is what I came up with.

Inside

I've had this Gladiola for quite some time, but this is the first time I've made a card with it. The Glads were colored with Copics.  I used my Silhouette Cameo to fussy cut the flowers and the "Joy" from the sentiment.  

I will have to be careful not to over-do the use of this Spellbinder die. I just love making cards with it. Same goes for those tiny little bows from The Paper Studio.

This is for Power Poppy's July Challenge Hang Some Paper.

The (3) papers in order inside to outer - My Minds Eye, Authentique,  DCWV.

Have a fabulous week.

I 

Laughing Geraniums

The past week has been so good for the soul.  We've had some glorious sunshine with temperatures hovering around 70 deg.  We've had a couple of days with much needed rain showers. The truth is, I love a good rain almost as much as the sunshine. Throw in a little thunder and I just feel exhilarated! (God's angles bowling, you know.)

 Everything has turned a lush green and the lilacs have bloomed. We should be seeing some Geraniums soon. Life is good.

I am entering my card in the Power Poppy challenge Cut-it-Out.

Stamp:  Power Poppy Geraniums
Corner dies:  Cherry Lynn
Copic Markers

I have to admit I cheated by using my Silhouette Cameo to cut the digi. 

Just a Little more Summer Please.

I just adore anything Poppy Power and this digi set explains why.  You don't even have to be an experienced card maker to make something delightful. The stamp has done most of the work for my card.

 

I have used Poppy Power's digi stamp set Countryside Bouquet and colored it with Prisma pencils and Gamsol. The Dies are Spellbinder's Gold Labels Four and Decorative Labels Eight. The pearls were kind of an after thought, just to fill in the white area a little.

 

This will be going straight over to Poppy Powers Challenge Blog.

 

Cataract Surgery tomorrow.  Wish me well!

 

French Tulips - PPWORLD1.

I got a new sewing machine. My 39.95 Kenmore gave out.  I bought my new XL2600i for under $90.00 and so far I am loving it.

I sewed my first card with it and it works like a dream.  I am still have a little problem with the corners, but that's the operator's skills or lack of.

This is a little experiment I did by printing digi  directly onto pattern paper. I rather like how it turned out, although blending the Copics was a little challenging and I think that was because of the paper weight. I couldn't lay down too much color or the paper would wrinkle.

I am so in love with these French Tulips from Power Poppy. I just checked and you can still purchase them as a digi.  I cannot tell you the name of the paper as I have lost the cover from the pad.  The plaid was stitched to a heaver green patterned paper from DCWV.

Stamps:  Power Poppy & Stampin Up (sentiment)

Copics:  V09,BV02 BV000, YG11, YG63

Pearls & Dimensional Dots

Paper: DCWV & unknown

Dies: Spellbinders decorative Labes One, Marvelous Squares

I am entering this in Power Poppies first blog challenge, Pop Goes the World - key word PPWORLD1.

Mother's Day

My Mother passed away in 1991. I still miss her, but I have been blessed with an amazing sister. She is 11 years older than me, she is a 7 year breast cancer survivor and can run circles around me. She is the sweetest sister anyone could have.  So this card is for you Sis.

I am so in love with these digi's from Power Poppy.  The have for a limited time, Gerber daisies, tulips, gladiolas and peonies to purchase as digis and they each come with a sentiment.  I have all of them!

I used a Marianne die to cut the lattice and the base.  Then I used the outside frame of the die and cut the easel with acetate.  Glue does not look that great on acetate, so I cut a second die and glued it to other side of the acetate and flipped the digi, colored and glued it to the front digi. Now I wonder if the acetate was really necessary. The "Happy Mothers Day" is a Verve stamp which I cut with Spellbinder's Gold Labels 4.

I used a combination of Prisma markers and Copic, greens, orange, pink, red blue and purple. I do a lot of fussy cutting with my images. Between the scissors and dies, Hubby scolds me for tracking bits of paper through the house.  He has issues, but I love him.

All Dressed Up

This image, colors and leafy frame remind me of a pretty dress. 

So I started my dressing my card with these gorgeous Gerber Daisies from Power Poppy. Love, love these flowers. When I took my water color class, the instructor talked about lighting and how to determine where the light comes from and that the objects nearest should fade into the light.  When I printed the digi from my Word document, I used a tool to fade the picture, so that I could achieve the look I wanted.

I colored my daisies with Copics (V09, BV02, BV000, YG63, YG11).  I used a Prisma Jasmine marker for the yellow centers, and Prisma pencil Porcelain Blue with Gamsol to shad the background.

I framed the image with Spellbinders Adorning Squares, and lining it with this pretty lavender scrap.  The leafy border with cut with my Silhouette Cameo.  

As usual, I waited until I had everything colored and put together THEN.. I decided to stamp the sentiment and, well you know what happened.  Will I ever learn?  The sentiment is from Stampin Up.

Maybe I should find a challenge for my flowers, but I would rather spend time coloring and visiting my favorite artists.  

I feel good.