HI!

I am playing along with the "banner challenge" today on SCS....haven't had a chance to play in a challenge for quite some time so today was really fun!
Here I used the adorable Pure Innocence girl from MFT called "Being Cute is What I Do".
I made a fun little banner using a couple of letters that come in the Vintage Posy paper set from Melissa Frances.
I fabric pieced her denim jeans and paper pieced her little top. I popped the top up on a foamie for dimension. The rest of her I colored with my copics.
I had a little strip of jean material that I just rolled into a rosette to go on the glitter heart. A very quick card that I did in about 15 minutes.
Here are all the deets:
Stamps:
Being Cute is what I do (My Favorite Things)
Paper:
Patterned paper (Melissa Frances)
Ink:
Espresso Adirondack, Old Paper Distress Ink (Ranger)
Accessories:
Banner letters (Melissa Frances)
Glittered heart (Melissa Frances)
Twine
Jean material
Copic Markers
Sewing

See you tomorrow for Taylor's sketch challenge!

Hospitality

Home again....how sweet it is!
When I need some quick cards I reach for my patterned paper collections. Early Bird from Cosmo Cricket has got to be one of my favorites...I love the vintage spin on it! So here are a couple of cards that I pieced together with this collection along with sentiments from My Favorite Things. This is from the "Thanks a Bunch" set in the clearly sentimental line.
Here is the vertical version that I made. Very quick as it went together in mere minutes....

I wanted to post hospitality cards today as I say THANK-YOU again to the wonderful ladies in Calgary. I had a fabulous weekend doing a card class at Scrapbooker's Paradise, a copic certification and a store visit to Kensington's Art Supply.
Also, a special thank-you goes out to Jeanne....who is my friend and valuable helper when I am out in Calgary! Hugs to you Jeanne!

Need a Squeeze?

Don't we all need one from time to time? Here is your virtual squeeze from me today....
This is one of the newly released Jolinne's from My Favorite Things called "Friends Forever". I paired her up with some JillyBean Soup paper I picked up the other day. Love these colors together...they are "fallish" but still look fresh.
I gathered up my paper on the side making uneven pleats, then stitched in on my card base and trimmed off the excess....really quick and easy. To add a little definition to the pleats I went over it with my sanding block.
See the three elements of black? I do this on purpose to add balance to the card. The button, stitching and sentiment.....even the sentiment is 3 words.
Ah, my favorite part, the coloring! Done all with my copics on the new X-press it Blending Card paper....LOOOVE this stuff. Did you know that you can purchase this paper in smaller packs at Ellen's store? You have got to try it out if you are a Neenah paper lover (I will convert you.....BWHAHAHAH).

I was able to get nice smooth shading even with colors that don't belong together. Her hair, for instance, is a combo of E13, 25, 59.....

Tip: When doing paper piecing (like her dress)....don't forget to do shading on it as well. You have worked so hard to develop light and shadow in your image that you don't want to leave out the paper pieced item or it will look "off".
The teddy bear is E71,74,77 and the shadowing is done with E40,43,44. The skin is E50, 21, 13.
Here is the sketch so you can play along in TAYLOR'S challenge.
Don't forget to see what the rest of the sketch crew came up with:
Jami Sibley: More is More
Monika Davis: M.A.D. Stamper
Melissa Sauls: In Stamping Mode
Lori Craig: Making a Difference
Lisa Hjulberg: The Craft's Meow
Rachel Sztonyk: Gingerbread Gallery
Alice Lihsuan-Wertz: Alice's Little Wonderland
Rosie Hughes: Love my Craft Room

Well, I am off to Calgary to have a coloring weekend....hope you have as much fun as I will this weekend! Thanks for visiting!

Coming to Calgary

Want to join me in some coloring fun in Calgary? I am doing a copic/card class at the North store of Scrapbookers Paradise this weekend (Sat Sept 25th 6-8pm)....the picture is a tiny peek....
I will cover basic shading and shadows (monster card), fading away to white to leave a highlight (the coffee pot card) and coloring skin/hair (a pure innocence card)....if you are in the area, come and join us! I think there are a few spots left. HERE is the link.

ETA: Just found out that this class is full! See you all there!!!!

VIP Blog Hop and Shop

Welcome to the VIP blog hop and shop for My Favorite Things!
What is VIP? It is a ONE DAY ONLY product that gives you the opportunity to purchase the WTG set TWO WEEKS early. Here are the details about the VIP Kit:
Winter in the City VIP $39.85
Winter in the City WTG
Glitter
Let is Snowflake Die-namics die
Pleated Ribbon 4 yards of luxurious, satin pleated ribbon. (2 yards white, 2 yards silver)
Noel sentiments mini set FREE - $9 value (EXCLUSIVE to VIP. Will not be offered again!)
Click HERE for the direct link to the VIP Kit!

Additional release on VIP night:

à la modes:

Candy Cane Kisses

Miss You a Latte

Here is my card with the new "Winter in the City" stamp set....I love the cozy feeling of winter so I pulled out my gray felt.
I am actually looking for a nice winter gray pea coat so there was my inspiration. I felt pieced her coat and created the frame with my spellbinder dies from the gray felt. Still on the felt kick I added this large felt sticker to my background as well.
The fur on her cuffs and the snow on the ground was liquid applique and see that darling little snowflake in the corner......
Who says snowflakes need to be white? I think these black ones are ultra chic!
This is a new die from the Die-namics line at MFT! You get three different shapes and sizes of snowflakes in one die.
Want to see some more VIP projects?....Keep hoppin'! Next on the hop is BARBARA! I have seen a peek of her project already......CAUUUUTE! Check it out!

A La Modes Teaser

Today the MFT design team is giving you a peek at the newest a la modes....this one is called "Miss you a latte". You know I was ALL OVER this girl! I love it that she is carrying 2 cups...one for me and one for my friend!
I just kept one of the cup rings from my last Starbucks latte to use on my card. My Jenni Bowlin button was perfect for the center. My card base is Core'dinations paper sanded a little to reveal the circle pattern.
Here is a close up of this cutie. I colored her with my copics..the whites of the cup being shaded with my W series of gray markers.
Ready to see more of this beauty? Make sure you visit Kim's blog by 11am EST to see the full list of designers participating.

What are the à la modes? If you missed the info on them last month:
* à la modes will be available only in rubber
* Each set is produced in the USA using the higest quality rubber, with the deepest etch possible.
* Each image and sentiment is backed on cling foam and scroll cut, making it ready for stamping right out of the bag!
* Packaged in a clear hang bag, we've also provided the ideal storage solution by including a thick laminated header card in each set that can be used to store the stamp set, in its entirety after purchase.
* $10.95 for the 3 x 4" set

VIP is coming....and I have a cute card to put you in a festive mood...see you soon!

Flowers and more Flowers!

Awww, don't they look purrrdy all grouped together? I had a lot of fun this week playing with some cling sets from Hero Arts. The flowers are so beautiful! I kept in the same color scheme...red, black, cream, yellow and green. What a fun set this is to give away....
Here is my card today specifically for Taylor's sketch challenge. The fall rains are about to start here and when they get going they do not stop for a while....enjoying the last bits of summer.
I used my Jumbo scallop die-namic die from MFT for bottom detail and sanded the edges of the core'dinations cardstock.
My base panel WAS white to begin with. I did some airbrushing in Y21,38 and R02 to achieve the fall sunset look.
I used these butterflies to mimic the three brads going up the side of Taylor's sketch.
I colored these butterflies from Hero with my copics. Can you see the feather blending on the middle butterfly? A combo of Y21, R02. Then I took my spica pens to them so they would shimmer.

Here is the sketch so you can play along in TAYLOR'S challenge.
Don't forget to see what the rest of the sketch crew came up with:
Jami Sibley: More is More
Monika Davis: M.A.D. Stamper
Melissa Sauls: In Stamping Mode
Rachel Sztonyk: Gingerbread Gallery
Alice Lihsuan-Wertz: Alice's Little Wonderland
Lisa Hjulberg: The Craft's Meow
Rosie Hughes: Love my Craft Room

Thanks for visiting and enjoy your weekend!

Bloom

Playing with some flowers today in my studio (paper ones that is). This bloom is one of the many in the pretty cling set from Hero Arts called "Antique Flower Engravings". I stamped it and then using my MASK IT product by X-press it and then stamped the background twigs from another Hero Arts set called "earth flowers". I wanted to give it a fall look so I did some airbrushing with my Y21 (at half strength).
The flower was colored with my copics directly on this Jenni Bowlin patterned paper. I thought this label was so pretty that I made it a stand alone card. I just mounted it to a white card base.
I did add some red and butter spica colors to give a little shimmer. Sooooo pretty.
The sentiment is a rub-on by Melissa Frances. I actually made a set of 4 cards with this floral theme...maybe I will have to photograph them all together and show you that tomorrow!

Have a great day! (Don't forget to scroll down to read the little certification update)

Certification news

Just a little update letting you know that the Calgary Certification is now open to the public....a few spots left! That is taking place September 26th.

Also, Halifax,NS will be opening applications today for Store Owners and Designers! I know a lot of you have been waiting for someone to come there....I will be coming November 14TH!

The rest of the certification news you can get by clicking on the tab "COPIC CERTIFICATIONS" just under my blog header....

Thinking of you

The girls from the Melissa Frances team are displaying "thinking of you" themed cards today over on the Melissa Frances Blog.
Here is mine....Using the vintage posy line paper and labels, rub-ons and some fabulous MF embellishments. I love these pretty sparkly hearts....
Wanna see what the other talented girls made? Visit HERE to see!

Happy Monday!

What's Cooking?.....

sweetie pie....

Oh how I have missed Taylor's friday sketch challenges! Being away on holidays for a couple of weeks will do that! Today's card is ALL stampin'....no patterned paper to be seen (a rarity for me as I LOOOOOVE patterned paper).
I used some new HERO arts images for this design. First I created the background using the Kitchen Silhouette stamp. I inked it up in versamark and clear embossed it on kraft cardstock.
I then used my shabby shutters and walnut inks over top giving the resist technique. I thought it gave this card a nice well worn charm.

Here I grabbed the "What's Cooking?" set and stamped my row of utensils and most importantly the pie. I colored them all with my copics and the background is even airbrushed.....
Did you know this strip was originally white!
I am LOOOVING the new X-press it Blending Card paper for my copic work! I picked up a stack while in Oregon on vacation...so I can tell you store owners copic has it in stock! Yeah!
I added a lot of copic ink to this paper and not a speck of bleeding and beautiful blendability!

Thanks go to Lori Craig this week for coming up with the awesome sketch! You can visit Taylor's blog HERE to see it!

Don't forget to visit the rest of the sketch girls....
Melissa Sauls: In Stamping Mode
Alice Lihsuan-Wertz: Alice's Little Wonderland
Lisa Hjulberg: The Craft's Meow
Lori Craig: Making a Difference

Have a fabulous weekend!

MFT's Greatest Hits

This month we (as DT members) are celebrating Jolinne....Jolinne is a fairly new character to My Favorite Things and has found her way into our hearts. She is so sweet and I love her to color! I chose Birthday Balloon. I paired her up with some other goodies from MFT...the Die-namics.
This Jolinne goes perfectly with my papers from Melissa Frances, the die cut sentiment is also MF from the vintage posey line. When the card is closed you also see the pretty patterned paper from the inside as well.
See that perfect bracket edge.....this is a new die as well as the wonderful rolled flower. Here are the photos of these dies:



Here is a close up of the coloring with my copics. Notice how the balloons look 3D. My intention is that the green balloon is in the foreground, the clear balloon in the middle and the rose balloon in the back. All the "around the image shading" was done with one of my favorite copic combos....E40, 43,44. Love that warm shadow it gives to go with my vintage papers.

Want to see some more Jolinne goodness....if you go to Kim's Blog by 11am EST the list of designers will be there.
Want to know the best part.....If you enter the code "JOLINNE" in your shopping cart at MFT you will receive $5 off any Jolinne set!
Have a good one!

Prepping for School

Have you noticed the new tabs across the top of my blog? There you will find updated copic certification info.....I will try to keep this really current for you!

Something a little crafty today....
Do any of your kids have trouble with their binders falling apart? In my attempt to make some durable (yet previously ugly) binders a little more funky I covered them with fabric.

My huge helper in this project....my XYRON CREATOPIA! I ran large sheets of fabric that were 12" wide through my machine and added adhesive to the backside of my fabric.
Then to finish the edges I put my polka dot ribbon through the xyron as well....

I chose this nice dark fabric by Michael Miller for this project....hopefully they will last a few months....if not, they will have looked fun and very original in the process!

Back to Reality

Ah routine....anyone else feel this way today? I am happy to have enjoyed our family summer holidays but it is so sweet to hear the quiet of the house as the kids return to school today and I can return to my studio!
Since Summer is rolling to a close and Halloween is just around the bend I thought I would post this card for the occasion. This is using a Stephanie Fizer set from My Favorite Things called "Thinking of Hoo". It is an oldie set...but a goodie! I love this little owl!

The top half of the card is completely airbrushed. I used a spellbinder die to cut a hole (moon) from a piece of 4.25"x5.5" paper, strategically cutting the hole where I wanted the moon to be.
First I placed the cut out circle on my paper and airbrushed the background using various deep BV shades (keeping my color the lightest by the moon). Then I used the sheet of paper that I cut the circle from and used it as my mask to add the yellow hues to the inside of my moon. I couldn't believe how quick and easy this went (no inky fingers) and much faster than sponging.

Lastly I stamped the owl and his branch and colored him in with my copics. I also used the bat from some grungeboard and colored him black with my marker and added some purple microbrads for his eyes.
All the paper and ribbon is doodlebug design. And that cute little bat by my moon....that is a rub-on from Melissa Frances.
Here are my kids this morning....off for their first day of school this year. Marie in grade 10 and Daniel in grade 7.......when did that happen?!?!

I'd Pick You

I had this card posted on the Melissa Frances blog the other day....you can see it there if you click HERE! You can go there to see the photos larger as well.

This was such a fun card to create. I decided that I wasn't going to color the little girl at all (like I typically do) but just add shading to the outside of her image with my copics, therefore drawing you eye to her.
This is a cute little Pure Innocence girl from My Favorite Things.
I also used the fabulous papers from Melissa Frances for the butterflies and background. The Melissa Frances jewels also adorn the butterflies.

Last but not least was the sentiment. I wanted to be able to see it from both the inside and the outside so I used MFT's Frame Die-namic to cut it out of the front and adhere the patterned paper to the inside of the card.....cool!
Thanks for stopping by!

MFT Blog Hop and Shop!

Yeah.....It is release day at My Favorite Things! SOOOO many sweet things this month and I am really pleased with the little treat bag I get to show you today using "HONEY BEE"!
First off, blog hop info...
If you have come here from Joanne's blog you are hopping along just fine...If you are a regular visitor of my blog you might want to start at the beginning of the hop which is Kim's blog.

I just LOVE how super easy felt is to sew with, mainly because there is little to deal with when it comes to raw edges.

This little bag is basically felt folded in half and sewn up the sides then turned right side out. I cut the top with my pinking sheers and then folded over the little flap. I cut a strip of yellow felt for the handle and stitched it in place, this also secured the top flap as well.

I think this would make a darling little treat bag for a toddler to carry and also something to keep.
This little bag wouldn't be nearly as sweet if it didn't have this darling image!
This is "honey bee" from the pure innocence collection at My Favorite Things! I stamped this image with versacraft black ink on white cotton fabric and then colored it with my copic markers.
I added a little bit of butter colored spica pen to the wings for some shimmer. I then applied adhesive to the back of my cotton piece using my creatopia by xyron. Last step was cutting it out with my spellbinder die and airbrushing before removing the die. I then simply stuck it on my bag like a sticker!
Here is a close little shot of the sweet tag. There are some itty bitty sentiments in this set that were perfect for my itty bitty tag. I used the smallest of my nestie dies for this sentiment and then mounted it on some leftover felt.

Time to hop along! Go and see what JODY has in store for you....always something inspiring!