New Computer Blues

Like everyone who goes through the process of switching from one computer to another, I’m in that lovely period of LOVE/HATE that goes along with it.  My computer was ‘not functioning properly’ any more—and so the poor thing was replaced.  I say ‘poor thing’ because it had been hit by lightning and rebuilt once, and multiple other things done with it to extend its life—but once it started losing data, that was it.  I was either replacing it while I still had my sanity, or picking up the pieces of it after I had thrown it out the window! 

Thank goodness for online back-up services!   I am not paid to say this, but I sure do love Carbonite!  Once I was up and running, all I had to do was tell it to restore my data, and slowly it’s coming back.  And if there’s a file I need before the process is complete, I can get to it on the server.  No lost data.  No lost pictures.  What can I say—it’s worry-free back-up and restore!

Now, along with other new things on this computer, I have Windows Live Writer.  How it will work now with Blogger, I don’t know, but it’s worth a try because it’s surely quicker to get to.  We shall see. 

"Spring"-ing back into action!

With all the warm weather we've been having in NW Ohio, it sure seems like Spring is here--even though it's the first of February!  It's been in the 50s for 2 days--definitely abnormal for winter here.

But it has given me the itch to be working on some floral images--and this poor hibiscus stamp has been in my collection for quite a while.  So long, in fact, that I have no idea who the manufacturer is.  But it jumped out at me on Monday and demanded to be put to use.  I don't think it had ever been inked before then.  I searched for some pictures of hibiscus, so I'd get the colors right, and while most of them are brighter, this lovely white and pale pink variety was just what I was looking for.



Copic info:  The background is BG0000 and BG000, and the leaves are YG11 overlaid with G82, G94, and G99.  The pale pink in the blossoms is R0000 and R000.  Then out came the greys!  I started with the W series (00 thru 4), then switched to the N series (1 thru 5) to deepen shadows.  I literally walked away from this image three times and then came back, until I had the shadows weaked just to where I wanted them.  I added a touch of the YG11 in the very center of the blossom, and some Y17 to the little balls of pollen.

I'd love to hear what you think of this--add a comment below!

COPIC CLASS INFORMATION

I will be teaching at The Scrapbook Korner (Archbold, Ohio) on February 11:
Copic 101--Beginner Class   9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Copic 102--Intermediate Class   12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

If you would like to sign up for either--or both--of these classes, contact The Scrapbook Korner for more details. 

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!