So, yeah, I've been a little busy!

I know I've been terribly negligent with my blog, dear friends--but before you throw your markers and paper scraps at me--it's mostly because I became a GRANDMA in July!  Yes, our first, a grandson, was born and we've been over the moon with excitement!  He's a little cuddler, and the best baby I've ever been around.  So between running down to see him and getting some 'baby time', and moving their little family from an apartment to a new house--I've been crazy busy. 

We did manage to sneak in an actual vacation this year--the first in a several years for us--and took in the sights at Gettysburg and Philadelphia and places in between.  VERY nice trip, and the fall colors were amazing on the way home!

I haven't been neglecting my stamps and Copics though--I've taught "A Copic Christmas" class at Scrapbook Korner a few weeks ago, and have a "Copic 103" class coming up this weekend.  For more info or to see what classes are coming up, check the calendar on their website!

I have new cards to post there--just need to photo them and get them uploaded--and lots of new things to share.  So don't give up on me! 

Keep coloring!

Happy 1st Birthday to "Make It Crafty"!!!!!

If you are looking for some of the CUTEST digi stamps around, check out the ones at Make It Crafty! Zoe does an AMAZING job with these images, and they are wonderfully detailed to color! I used one of Zoe's adorable digis on this card a while back: Digi Love.

It's their 1st birthday at Make It Crafty--head on over and check out the fun!

A "Hare" Late on This Card!

OK, yeah, that was a terrible pun! But I should have posted this weeks ago and didn't get a chance. But, better late than never!

The Easter Bunny (Bunny #2) arrived in my mailbox from Inky Antics, and he was just so fun to color! Stickles, Diamond Glaze, and Copics, and this girl is in HEAVEN!

Nestabilities Labels 2 were used for die-cutting this little cutie, and the background paper is from one of the DCWV mat stacks that I've collected over the years. I got the ribbon from Joann's.

I used just a touch of pale green--I think it was G0000 behind Mr. Bunny to set him apart from the white background and tie the image in with the ribbon. I hope it shows up on the screen as well as it does on the card!

Hope you're having a wonderful first part of June! Thanks for stopping!

Because I Care

That's the name of this beautiful hydrangea stamp from Stampin'Up! I loved the vintage feel of the image, and colored it with my Copics--V91, V95, and V99.

The background was made with another SU stamp, En Francaise, which I stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa, then randomly air-brushed with E40, E41, E42, E43, and V91 and V95. It gave such a soft feel to that panel! (Mental note to self--do this kind of background panel more often!) The doilies and pearls added to the vintage feel of the card.

I'm not sure if this will be a birthday, get well, or thinking of you card--but I love having cards that can serve multiple purposes, just by whatever I stamp on the inside!

Thanks for stopping! Leave me a message and let me know you were here!

When Things Come Together

Sometimes cards just seem to make themselves. The image colors quickly or easily, the papers you want to use with it coordinate, and before you realize it, the card is finished. It's not always like that, as we well know! But this card sure made itself!

I colored "Unwrapped Tilda" (Magnolia, Magnolia-licious) while I was doing a demo at the store where I teach Copic classes. She's one of my favorites, both at Christmas-time and for birthdays. I was trying out a new color-way for auburn hair (E11, E13, E17, E19, and E29) that I had read about on the Make It Crafty blog. LOVE IT! Beautiful, rich, deep auburn hair. If only I could get this shade!

At the time I colored her, I didn't know I was going to be using this paper for the background--I didn't even HAVE this paper at the time! I got it in a card swap, and once I saw how perfect it looked, I decided to use it for this instead of the card it was intended for. It's from Hot Off The Press. Such a perfect match!

The backing oval was cut with Nestabilities Classic Oval and Scalloped Oval, and I air-brushed while the die was still in place. A few dots of color, and a few Diamond Dust Stickles dots, were added, and the sentiment from Stamin'Up! (set--Sincere Salutations).

Thanks for stopping by--and may all your cards come together as easily as this one!

Nurse Stephanie

Nurse's Week came and went and my daughter-in-law needed a card for a co-worker, so we picked out this cute clip art image and VOILA`--she loved it!

The paper is from Memory Box--the Brioche collection--and I love it. Great coordinating papers! Nurse Stephanie was colored with Copics, and I used the Air Brush System to add just a hint of color around the outside edge of the diecut (Nestabilities--Labels Eight) while the die was still in place.

Thanks for stopping by!

Digi Love!

Isn't this just the cutest? I had to arm-wrestle it away from hubby just so I could photo it, since it was my Valentine to him this year. (Inside: You still make my knees weak!)

It's a digi image from Make It Crafty, called "Geek Love", and it was the first digi image I ever colored. There was a little learning curve to printing it--I had to use the 'photo' setting on my printer to get it to print right and not smear with my Copics--but it really opened a whole new world of images for me! I'm definitely a coloring fanatic--can you tell? LOL

I don't have all the colors written down that I used, but I can tell you that for the plaid effect on the girl's skirt.

I have quite a few more cards to blog in the next few days--stay tuned!

Inky Antics Blog hop!

Check out these great cards:

Inky Antics: Another HoneyPOP Blog Hop!: "We're excited to present another HoneyPOP Blog Hop! The talented Inky designers have been busily creating projects featureing our five newest..."

Baby's Coming!

If you read the sidebar about me, you saw that I'm going to be a first-time Grammy soon--and sooooooooo excited! Little 'Baby Z' is expected around August 1, so I've been busy getting ideas and making things for the baby shower. It seems like right now, my life is all about 'cute'!

My baby shower invitations are finally done, and thanks to some adorable baby stamps from Stampin'Up!, they were a breeze to make.

The little rompers were a jumbo roller stamp--I rolled out a couple of sheets of these at a time, and colored the ones I wanted to use, then cut them out. The hangers were made with some gold wire I had, which I simply twisted around two dowels, cut off one end and curled the other into a hook. If that's too much work, I saw (after I had these made) that the Tim Holtz line of embellishments now has some paperclips that look like hangers, and also look to be the right size for something like this.

I used a Spellbinders Nestabilities die to cut the back panel the rompers are mounted to, and airbrushed it with my Copic Air Brush System, using first Y11, then YR00 over that, to give it a nice peachy glow.

My background paper is "Sweet Pea" by The Paper Studio, and I used 3 different prints from their mat stack size pad, so not all my backgrounds looked like this one--but this was my favorite!

A friend and I went to the Great Lakes MegaMeet scrapbook expo a few weeks ago at Novi, MI, and got to meet Jackie Wamhoff of Inky Antics, and see all of their wonderful product line! So many vendors were there, and so many ideas for future projects.

Then, last weekend, I was in Columbus, OH, for my Copic Intermediate Certification with Colleen Schaan. If you EVER get a chance to take a class with Colleen, do it! She is an amazingly talented teacher, with a real gift for explaining the techniques.

Thanks for stopping by!

Butterflies and Birthdays

My dear sweet daughter-in-law is having a birthday next week, and I wanted to create something really special for her. I think I succeeded!

The paper I used is 'Minuet' from Memory Box. I LOVE the butterfly background! It was just perfect for what I had in mind. I stitched the background to a piece of dark blue DCWV linen-textured cardstock, then stitched down the dotted strip. The ribbon was a 'thank you' goodie I got in an order from Ellen Hutson LLC--it matched this paper perfectly!

The butterfly (Martha Stewart) was stamped on acetate with black StazOn, then colored on the back side of the acetate with Copic markers. Once I cut it out, I scored the base of the wings so it would 'fly' on the front of the card. Then I coated the backs of the butterfly wings with glue and crystal glitter (also Martha Stewart).

I tried to get a good picture of the sparkle--it's truly a fabulous effect!

Last, I added my sentiment from 'Simple Little Things' (Papertrey Ink), and added more bling with some rhinestones that I colored with a Copic marker to match the card.

This turned out so much prettier than I had expected--and much prettier in real life than in the pictures! I hope you enjoy it!

Next Copic 101 Class

My next beginner Copic Marker class--Copic 101: What? Why? How?--will be on April 16, at the Scrapbook Korner in Archbold, Ohio. If you have gotten Copics and would like to learn more about how to use them, this is a good place to start. We'll cover all the basics--from what makes Copics different, why you want to use them, and how to do the basic blending techniques.

Registration details can be found on the Scrapbook Korner website, along with what to bring to class. Hope to see you there!

More HoneyPOPs!

Just a short post while my computer is in the shop!

This little birthday set--Cupcake Birdy--is another one of Inky Antics line of HoneyPop cards. Isn't it just too cute?

The bird I used on the front was just PERFECT for layering (see photo below), and the dimension gave him (or her!) so much life!

The other bird in the set, along with the HoneyPOP cupcake and sentiment, are inside the card.

SOOOOOO easy to do!

I didn't write down the Copic numbers I used on this card (my bad), but the paper is DCWV (blue) and Memory Box "Pixie" (patterned). The circles on the front were cut with Nestabilities.

Hope you're having a great day! Come back again soon!

WOW

I am jumping for joy and humbled at the same time! Inky Antics has used my card on their blog! It's the first time ever for me to have something published by someone other than myself, and it's an awesome feeling! Check it out the Inky Antics blog!

And watch their blog tomorrow, too--they are having a blog hop featuring those adorable HoneyPOP cards!

Creative Play and Classes Scheduled

I 'needed' some creative play tonight--a break from all the busy-ness of the last couple of days--so I pulled out some new papers I had ordered but hadn't done anything with yet. These are from the "Brioche" line of 6x6 papers from Memory Box, and the picture here really doesn't do them justice. Beautiful patterns and colors!

I challenged myself a bit, though--did some things I hadn't done before, like stamping on twill ribbon, and learned how to use my new Janome SewMini sewing machine for my cards! LOVE LOVE LOVE it! The stamp set is "Country Morning" from Stampin' Up, and also has a great rooster and a chick in the set.

* * * * * NEXT COPIC CLASS * * * * *

I will be teaching a second-level Copic marker class--Copic Markers 102: Beyond the Basics--at The Scrapbook Korner in Archbold, Ohio, on April 2. You must have taken the 101 class to take this class.

The next beginner class--Copic Markers 101: What, Why & How--will be on April 16.

Details and marker list are available on the website for The Scrapbook Korner.

Thanks for stopping by!

Love these HoneyPOPs!

Isn't this little guy just the cutest thing ever? I found him at my local stamp store just after CHA, and had to have him!

He's 'Caterpillar' from Inky Antics' HoneyPOP line of stamps, and is just the most fun to color. I added a little Diamond Glaze (Judikins) on his glasses. The paper is from BoBunny, and the apples, which I paper-pieced, are part of the stamp set.

The HoneyPOP, though, is the delightful Honeycomb Paper that brings the inside of the card to life. Simply stamp the shape stamp (apple, in this case) on the Honeycomb Paper to mark where to cut it out, and stamp it inside the card along the fold to mark where to glue it in. Then add more glue to the other side, fold the card shut--and when you open it--it's the most adorable pop-up! SOOOO very easy!

Next one I do will be the 'Cupcake Birdy' set, which has a Honeycomb 2-color cupcake for the center of the card!

Thanks for stopping by!

Copic 101 Class Scheduled!

Just a quick post to let you know that I will be having another class on Saturday, March 12, at The Scrapbook Korner, in Archbold, Ohio, from 10 to 12 a.m. This is a beginning class--Copic 101--What, Why & How--for those of you who have gotten Copic Markers and haven't quite gotten the hang of them, or for those of you who want to try them. There is a list of markers at the store that you will need for the class, so that you can learn about them, and get help with the basic blending techniques.

Hope to see you then!

A Wonderful Surprise!

I know I've been very derelict in my posting--but what a wonderful surprise it was to find I had been sent an award from Jody at Jody's Creation Station! Thank you so much, Jody! You truly made my day!

This award is for someone to give extra attention to their blog so that more peiople are aware of it. So, the award is not given to people with hundreds of followers.

The rules of this award are to:

Make a reference to the blog of the person from whom you have received the award (with a link). You can choose to pass the award to three to five other blogs, with a link. Leave a comment on your chosen blogs to let them know that they have received an award.

Of course, you do not have to accept the award on your blog or you can specify from whom you have received an award but are not passing it on. Nothing is required.

In the spirit of giving, I have chosen to pass this award on to:

Tracy at Creative Cure

Julie at Stamp with Julie

Leah at The Hoosier Stamper

These ladies are very talented--check out their work on their blogs and share a little love!

A Touch of Spring

It's cold and snowy--but a little bit of spring blew through my craft room today, with this sunny black-eyed susan! What a fun, fun image to color! It took a lot of markers, and I'll have them listed at the end of this post.

After I colored the image, I went in with a B0000 Copic marker and lightly colored the background behind the flower. Then, I die-cut it with my largest Labels One (Nestabilities) die, and left it in the die while I airbrushed a bit more of the B0000 around the outside. When I put it up to my paper (BoBunny), it didn't quite match--so I air-brushed some BG10 in the corners, and VOILA! A great match!

The outside mat around the die-cut was made by holding the die in place and cutting around it with my X-Acto knife--although a pencil and scissors would have worked as well.

The corners are from Spare Parts, and the ribbon is from Michaels. I'm not sure where I got the lace doily.

REMINDER: My Copic Marker class in Archbold at Scrapbook Korner will be this Saturday, 1/29/11, at 10 a.m. There are still a few spots left--join us!

I hope you enjoy this card, and thanks for stopping by!

Copic Markers used: Y13/15/17; YR23/24; E25/27/29/99; G21/24/28/29; B0000; BV00; C9; and BG10.

Copic Class Scheduled!

NEWS NEWS NEWS!

If you're in NW Ohio and are interested in Copic Marker Classes, I will be teaching at The Scrapbook Korner, in Archbold, OH, on January 29! Whether you've had your Copics for a while, or are just getting your first ones, this class, Copic Markers 101--What, Why How, will give you the basics of blending, care and refilling, and answer lots of questions about how to take your skills to the next level! Details can be found here, on The Scrapbook Korner's class schedule. Don't delay--class size is limited!

While I was at the store getting the class set up, I found this GORGEOUS paper called 'Sweet Love', by Best Creation Inc. So beautiful and sparkly! And the little heart stamp was just begging to go home with me--it's by Imaginisce. After playing around with it a bit, coloring it on Candlelight paper (Beckett Expression), a very light ivory, it matched up so nicely to the background paper.

Now, I will admit, I 'might' have gone a teensy bit overboard on the pearls--but I love the look. Other supplies I used: Kraft cardstock (Bazzill), Nestabilities (see below), the pearls by Crystal Stickers, Chantilly 1/2" crochet trim (Stampin' Up!), pop dots to raise the center panel, and Copic Markers (as shown below).

That's all for today. I'd love to know what you think!