Stop and Smell the Roses

As soon as Sketch Challenge #261 on Splitcoast was posted, I knew I had to use this large rose background stamp by Peddler's Pack. This stamp too is one I've had in my collection, just in case the Buckeyes should find themselves in the Rose Bowl. So, seeing this sketch, I knew this image was the one to use.

The Peddler's Pack image was stamped in Stazon jet black onto Strathmore Bristol smooth paper. I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils and Caran d'Ache pencils. I'm finding the Coloursoft pencils will make Stazon bleed.

I used black and white cardstock to complete this card, along with ribbon and Cuttlebug embossing folders.

Though this card initially began as a "just-for-fun celebrate the Rose Bowl" card, the more I look at it, I think it will serve perfectly as a "congratulations on your engagement" card for a friend of mine who also got engaged over the holidays.

Thanks for visiting my blog, and Go Buckeyes! Only two more days until the Rose Bowl!

Puffin

I absolutely love having the week off after Christmas because it allows me the opportunity to get on a roll with my cardmaking.

This card is made in response to Color Challenge #251 on Splitcoast, which was to use the colors barely banana, dusty durango and basic gray, along with our choice of neutrals. Well, I really have no idea on what those colors are exactly, but I eyeballed them and found some paper in my stash that I think is pretty close.

The puffin image is from Coronado Island Stamping. It is a stamp I bought in Arizona, of all places. The image certainly reminds me of my time in Alaska when traveling to St. Lazaria island, where puffins abound.

The image was stamped with Versafine Onyx black onto a cream colored cardstock. I colored the image with a variety of colored pencils that matched the color challenge, including some from Prismacolor pencils, Caran d'Ache and Coloursoft. I also used colored cardstock to coordinate along with patterned paper. A little bit of paper piercing and ribbon were used to complete this card.

Thanks for visiting today. And, by all means, if you ever get the change to visit southeast Alaska, do so!

Vincent Van Go Buckeyes

As you may realize, my beloved Buckeyes are playing in the Rose Bowl on Friday. Since the beginning of my rubber stamping passion, I started collecting rose images, just in case the Buckeyes ever made their way to Pasadena.

Here's an image from Rubbernecker. I decided it was perfect for the Try A New Technique Challenge (TLC253) on Splitcoast. The challenge was to color an image using markers similar to the style of Vincent Van Gogh. It was rather fun actually. Just simply coloring an image and adding small lines of a darker shade within the image.

The football is from PSX and the sentiment is computer-generated. Colored cardstock and paper piercing were also used to complete this card. The images were stamped with Marvy Dye black ink onto Georgia Pacific cardstock.

What a fun, easy card to make. Hopefully, the Buckeyes will have a fun, easy game against the Ducks.

Merry Kissmas

I don't normally talk about my personal life in this blog, but I wanted to share this special card I made for a very special guy that came into my life in July. This guy is the reason that I'm so happy now, so it is only appropriate he receive a limited edition card, rather than the mass-produced card I posted a couple days ago. Little did I know that when I made this card for my boyfriend, I'd actually be giving it to my fiancé. He proposed to me on Christmas Eve.

The hedgehog image is from Penny Black, and is stamped onto Neenah Solar crest cardstock using Marvy dye black ink. I drew in the snow, and colored the instant scene with Copic markers. I was inspired very much by this awesome card from Jane Wetzel. I added Mica flake glitter glue from Martha Stewart and used a snowflake punch to add to the scene. Patterned paper, vellum and colored cardstock were also used to complete this card, and the sentiment was computer-generated.

Thanks for visiting. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas filled with love.

Peace on Earth

This card happen by accident. I just finished up the official 2009 Christmas card and just needed to color for fun and switch mediums. I decided to take out my very neglected Caran d'Ache colored pencils (the ones I treated myself to last Christmas) and do a little coloring, Medaris-style.

I chose to do a Terry Medaris angel image. It is stamped with black Stazon onto Strathmore Bristol smooth paper. Image is colored with Caran d'Ache pencils. The sentiment of peace is from Hero Arts. This card is very CAS, but I'm a firm believer that Terry's wonderful images truly speak for themselves.

Thanks for visiting. May we all have a happy, peaceful holiday.

The Rose Bowl Strut

I am so sorry I haven't posted in almost a month, but I've been very busy mass-producing times 40. A lot of work, but I'm pleased with the results.

I entered into the month of November without a solid idea for my 2009 Christmas card. However, once my beloved Buckeyes clinched a spot in the Rose Bowl, I knew my holiday card would have a Ohio State feel to it. My personal challenge was to celebrate the Rose Bowl berth, but yet have it still look Christmas like. I think I pulled it off.

This adorable image is from Penny Black. I have had this image for years, in anticipation/hope of perhaps using it one day for the Rose Bowl. I stamped the image onto coated paper with Marvy Dye black ink. I colored the image with Copic markers. Layers of patterned paper and black cardstock were used to create this card (along with almost a whole bottle of Zip Dry Paper Glue and rolls and rolls of doublesided tape). Ribbon was also used to adorn the card. I initially used plaid ribbon, to bring out all of the red in the rose, but then ran out of that ribbon and had to switch to gold. The inside sentiment reads, "Tis the season".

Here's wishing all of you a very happy holiday season. And, a resounding "Go Buckeyes! Beat the Oregon Ducks!"