Thursday, December 31, 2009

The Other Two

Happy last day of 2009! I hope that everyone has a healthy and happy 2010. Was it really ten years ago that we were waiting for all the computers to crash?! It seems like yesterday.

I am currently working on a few things for CHA that I can't show quite yet. So, in the meantime, I thought I would post the other two cards from my redesigned Copics class. When I saw the new Hero Arts "What's Perking" set, I knew I had to have it. I think I am on a personal quest to be the person who accumulates the most coffee stamps before they die. Anyone out there my competition?

Be safe tonight wherever your New Years celebration takes you and be sure to check out the blue moon. A blue moon on New Year's is really rare, and only happens.....well, once in a blue moon.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

New/Old Class and More

Well, I said that I was reworking my Crazy for Copics class, and it is finally done! I had to redesign the class for a couple of reasons. First, several of the stamps I used in the original class have become discontinued, so I don't want to use them anymore. Nothing frustrates people more than using supplies that are no longer available! Second, I didn't really plan ahead when designing the first class in that I used stamps from 6 or 7 companies. That meant that Angela would have to place 6 or 7 separate orders just to get the stamps. Yikes!

I want to be clear to people who took the first class that the new class is exactly the same in terms of what markers are used, what information is covered, and what techniques we will practice. The only difference is that we will make new cards primarily using Hero Arts stamps with an Impression Obsession stamp thrown into the mix. Basically, the class is meant for new Copic students or people in need of a Copic refresher course.

On an unrelated note, mom and I went to Williamsburg for the day to see the Christmas decorations. They decorate using natural materials such as leaves, twigs, dried flowers, fruit, grasses, and shells. Aren't they beautiful?!


Really love the magnolia leaves!

Okay, MOSTLY natural elements with the occasional musical instrument added:

Love the non-traditional wreath base!

Here is a close up:


Wednesday, December 16, 2009

IO DT Challenge- Valentines/Love

Are you ready for some Valentines yet? Today the Impression Obsession design team is all about Valentines and cards that express love. I couldn't decide between my stamps, so I actually ended up making two cards.

The first card features one of the Cover a Card backgrounds instead of a heart image. I stamped the Tapestry background (CC025) twice onto white cardstock using Colorbox Chalk Warm Red ink. One stamping was used for the background and the other I used to punch out a heart using a craft punch. To finish the card, I added a saying from the Heartlines cling set (3107-XL) and used some red rhinestones to "color" the heart.

For the second card, I broke out one of my Leigh Hannan heart stamps that is a little different from traditional Valentine hearts. I stamped the Moon and Stars heart onto white cardstock using black Memento ink. I then colored the heart with Copic markers and added some silver Stardust pen to the stars and the moon. To finish the card, I added some blue and purple cardstock and layered everything onto a metallic silver card.
Want to see other all white cards? Check out what Daniela, Dina, Jeanne, Jenny, Julie, Kathy, and Rosemary created.

Want to make your own Valentine card? You have until December 20th at midnight to enter, and you could win a $25 gift certificate to IO! All the information can be found here.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Greenery

For the first time in a while, I made a card just "because." It wasn't for a class, a deadline, a contest, or a birthday. I just wanted to play with some of my stamps. I have to say, it was fun!

I know I am associated with Impression Obsession, but I really love their Cover a Card backgrounds. Doesn't the green leafy background look like paper? Love it! I stamped the background using Colorbox Chalk Warm green ink onto green paper. I added a flower by Wordsworth, a chartreuse button and some green twine to finish the card. Pretty darn simple.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Impression Obsession DT challenge- white!

The latest Impression Obsession Design Team challenge is.....all white. I think the first thing you will notice about my card is that I didn't exactly follow the challenge. I couldn't help myself. I had to add a little color so that the snowmen (Let it Snow CL195) would stand out from the background. Plus, it was a chance for me to break out my super pale Copic markers to add a hint of color. To coordinate with the white color scheme, I added a little color to the edges of my scarves and hats rather than color every part of the snowmen.

To make the shaker part, I used an IO large circle shaker, a pre-cut layover by Paper Cut, and Polar White Flower Soft as a filler. I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but I repeatedly stamped the white paper with the IO Medium Snowflake (E6266) using Versamark ink. I then embossed the flakes with opaque white embossing powder. Here is the same card with a black background. Can you see the snowflakes better?

To finish the card, I added a Nestabilities snowflake. The snowflake comes with 5 possible layers, but I chose to only use 3. I used foam mount to separate the layers, added some Diamond Stickles, and added a white pearl to the center. Another thing that is hard to see from the picture is that I used a white pearlized metallic paper as my background card.

I thought the challenge was hard to get started, but once I got going, it was a lot of fun!

Want to see other all white cards? Check out what Daniela, Deborah, Dina, Jeanne, Jenny, Julie, Kathy, and Shirley created.

Want to make your own white card? You have until December 5th at midnight to enter, and you could win a $25 gift certificate to IO! All the information can be found here.