Archway Cookies

Here are the Valentine's cards my friends, Lisa H. and Ashley H., helped me make for Operation Write Home's Archway Cookie Challenge. We made a total of 60 cards to send. I only colored one set of cards, the rest of my contribution were card sketches and assembling parts and pieces.



The Elephant and Kangaroo cards are from an old Stampin' Up! set. They were colored in with Copics. The ricrack die cut is from PapertreyInk. Used misc. cardstock and printed paper.



I love how simple yet elegant the heart card is. I have been wanting to try this style for some time now. Misc. printed paper and punched hearts. Sentiment by CTMH.



The Goldfish and Toucan are also from an old Stampin' Up! set and colored in with Copics. The background is embossed with Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder. I used two heart punches to create the hearts used on these cards.


If you want to send Valentine's for OWH the dealine for shippers to receive them is Jan 7th.


I will be posting some non-card crafty items soon!

CAS Flowers

No matter how hard I tried to add printed paper or more embellishments, I just could not do it. I am a "Clean And Simple" girl at heart. Especially since I fell in love with coloring all over again once I got my Copics. The image is the center of attention, not all the doodads.

This image is from Faith at Designed2delight digital stamps. I received it free for participating in last week's challenge. The first image I printed, my printer was almost out of black ink and I felt like it was bigger than what I wanted to use. So I set the image aside, replaced my ink and printed a smaller, darker image. Because it seemed "faded" I decided to use my Prismacolor pencils on it and Gamsol with a blending stub. I really like the way it turned out. It reminds me of folk art.

The smaller, darker image I used my Copics on. I was trying to find a printed paper with blue and brown designs, but I just couldn't find anything I liked in my stash. So I layered it with my oval Nestabilities. Other supplies for both cards include SU! cs and misc. ribbon/rickrack.

D2D October challenge

Here is my entry for the Designed2delight digital stamps Artists Challenge. The free digi is the two apples together. I printed, colored, and cut 4 sets of apples and cut strips of brown cs to weave a basket to hold them. Sentiment is from PTI.

PapertreyInk Blog Hop!

I am SO excited to be a part of this blog hop. Nichole challenged us to share something that we new we have learned about creating and who is our inspiration. As far as inspiration, Nichole herself and many of the Design team members inspire me everyday.

Being a rubber stamper for over 19 years I was really skeptical about acrylic stamps. When I finally tried them I still wasn't sold. After finding PapertreyInk and their awesome quality of product with Clean and Simple designs that create such a variety of looks, I wish all my stamps were acrylic stamps!

There are so many techniques, tips, sketches etc... I wasn't sure what to share. I was working on this project when I read Nichole's post about the Blog Hop. It is a small thing I am going to share and probably most of you know it already and I don't know where I learned it, but besides being clear to see exactly where you place your stamp, acrylic is also flexible. "i'm batty for you" is actually a straight stamp. Because it is acrylic I was able to curve it on the handle so it would fit just perfect.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: All PTI and Copic markers and spica pens.

Scaredy Cat

I have felt overwhelmed by all of the Card Challenges in honor of Operation Write Home's birthday celebration. Alot of love and inspiration out there. I have been working on some non-card crafty projects (that I will be posting here soon) and decided I would just stick with my Designed2Delight digital stamps challenge for this week.

Supplies: SU! cs, PTI cs, sentiment, ink, & button twine, Nestabilities, MS tag punch, Copic sketch markers and Spica pens, CB embossing folder.

OWH Birthday & Sketch #33

Operation Write Home is celebrating their Birthday this month. Beside this being a sketch challenge they asked the card be birthday themed and PINK! (I added a bit of purple too!)

Supplies: SU! cs, PTI cs and sentiment, Martha Stewart punches, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Washi tape, copic markers, and digi image by MelJen's Designs.

Sketch #11 by Carly

Last week I used the same card for the Designed2delight and Sketches By Carly challenges. This week I did separate cards and I had so much fun making this one! It is my first square card. Now I need to learn to make a square envelope, although this card is so thick with the PTI die cut felt flower, it probably needs a CD mailer type box/envelope. All supplies are PapertreyInk except SU! oval punch and DP, Nestabilities scalloped circle die, and Copic markers.

Sew Beary Kind

When I saw this image from Designed2delight digital stamps, I immediately thought of a Dad with his little vest on. My Dad used to go on business trips when I was young and I remember him sending me cards in the mail. I still have those stashed away in an old shoebox. This card is going to Operation Write Home and I hope some little girl enjoys getting this card from her Daddy as much I did when I was young.

I got to use one of my new tools on this card, Imaginesce I-Top, to make the center brad on my felt flower, which... is made from PapertreyInk die cuts and felt. This felt is SO amazing! It is 100% wool and cuts so nice with the die cuts. I have another card I need to finish that also uses the wool/die cut combo. I used my Copic markers to add a little shading to the petals as well as coloring the image. Other supplies: PTI cardstock and sentiment, SU! ribbon and corner punch.

Back 2 School

MelJen's challenge #24 is a Back 2 School theme. I used some of Meljen's freebies to create this card. I ended up making 4 identical and will probably save them for Teacher Appreciation Day in the spring. I followed Sandy's example to color the apple. I need more practice. I would actually like to take a Copics class one day.. and Im sure even after that I will need more and more practice!

Supplies: SU! cs and ribbon, Nestabilities, Copic markers, Spica pens, PTI impression plate.

Ready for Fall

Here is the weekly challenge for Designed2Delight digital stamps.

I tried to use Carly's Sketch but my image didnt fit quite right and I need practice coloring leaves.. a lot of practice. I had planned on using some leaves cut out of the image but ran out of room so I ended up putting them on the back (right next to where my OWH stamp with be).

Supplies: SU! cs, Copic markers, CTMH leaves, nestabilities, CM square punch, Corner chomper (photo).

Boo to you!

I am SO excited because I just got my PapertreyInk August release stamps this week! Yes it takes me 2 weeks or so before they arrive in the mail because I live at an APO box. By the time I get them and play with them, sneek peek is about to start again. Anywho they fit perfectly for OWH Stars and Stamps Midweek Throwdown challenge of Halloween cards. I'm also excited because my card is almost exclusively PTI products: Cardstock (black is SU!), 2 coordinating image sets. 2 coordinating die cuts. Additional supplies are Copics, Martha Stewart border punch, and misc. ribbon.

P.s. I LOVE candy corn!

Smile!

I bought this Digi by MelJen at Whimsey Stamps to go with this sentiment stamp I already had by Inkadinkado. I also have another sentiment in the same set about chocolate that would go with this image too.

I made this card for MelJen's Designs Challenge #23-STRIPES! Although I almost didnt have room for those stripes but they are right there under the tag.

Other supplies: Copic markers, PTI cs, SU! cs, DCWV printed paper, and misc. ribbon.

D2D challenge

I'm not a big cat person but I though this little guy turned out cute. The image was free from Designed2Delight for participating in last week's challenge. I think I actually did the whole month of challenges! I am definately looking forward to next month.

Additional supplies: PapertreyInk cardstock and sentiment, Copic markers, Corner chomper.

Bear and Snail

Here are two cards that I have made this week that are not for a challenge, I just felt like coloring. I keep putting out CAS cards even when I try to do something a little more fancy. Maybe my images are too big. Maybe my crafty stuff isnt organized to the point where I can sit down and be more creative (i.e. find what I am looking for).

The bear image is from Bugaboo Stamps, Copic markers, PTI cs and sentiment stamp, SU! cs and oval punch, and washi paper tape from The Greeting Farm.

The snail image is from author/illustrator Elizabeth O. Dulemba, SU! cs, PTI cs, die cut, and stamps. I really liked coloring the snail. I wanted to make him a slime trail, but alas there wasn't enough room on the card.

Eskimo kisses

It is time OWH Stars and Stamps midweek throwdown challenge. It is a card recipe to include heat or dry embossing, a die cut or punch, and ribbon. I have collected a bunch of Nestabilities and have been dying to use this particular one on this particular image that I actually colored last fall! These cards bring together some of my most favorite crafting items: Cuttlebug Machine and A2 embossing folders, Nestabilities, Mo's Digital Pencil digi stamps, Copic Markers and PapertreyInk 110lb cardstock. Other accesories are SU! colored cs (slowly depleting my stash) and misc. ribbon. I really like the way the organdy ribbon shimmers like newly fallen snow. I decided to go without a sentiment so these cards can be used for anything wintery.

Mary Margaret, Goldilocks, and Catey!

These wonderful digi images were dontated by Michelle Perkett Studios for OWH Stars and Stamps midweek throwdown. Of course I had to try both images for this card challenge.I know it is too late for back to school for alot of people but my kids dont start for another week. I chose fall colors for Mary Margaret's dress. I tried to make the plaid look like real wool plaid fabric where the colors overlap and blend to create something different. I also glossed up the apple she is holding with Crystal Effects.

Supplies: SU! colored cs, ink, crystal effects & scallop oval punch, PTI sentiment and woodgrain stamp, and Copic markers.

I love Goldilock's hair. It reminds me of my daughter Ashley's hair. I wish my hair was like that! I had wanted to use a PTI stamp set that had a wooden chair in the background and some fun sentiments but decided to my typecast this sweet image. Also it will be easier for troops to sent home with a "love" message instead.

Supplies: SU! colored cs & ink, PTI sentiment and woodgrain stamp, versachalk ink, Copic markers.

My 4 year old, Catey, LOVES to color! When I print digi images, if Im not careful, she will sneak them away and color ALL of them. Her two older sisters complain because she didnt leave them anything to color. Sometimes she requests for me to print her "more to color". I bought some new crayola markers for back to school but she insists on using my Copics. This last Goldilocks image was colored by her. I had already finished mine and she told me "I want to color her just like yours". I left her to color and when I came back she showed me her picture. I was amazed at how well she matched the colors all on her own out of over 150 markers. I'll have to see who she wants to send this to.

Fishin' Around

Here is my card for Designed2Delight digital stamps weekly card challenge. The image is called Fishin' Around.

When I first saw the image I was worried about how I could get it to work on a card. Once I began coloring I was thrilled with how it turned out. I am really happy about how I was able to shade the monkey. I LOVE Copic markers!

Supplies: SU! colored cs, ribbon, ink & oval punch, Copic markers (I got to use my new pastel set on the water!), Scor-pal mini for the decorative score line on the front right and bottom of the card. Its the first time I have used the score lines as embellishments.