Chief of the Charcoal

I appreciate any kind of a cook, seeing as how I don't cook much, LOL.  So, this card would be appropriate I think for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday.  If you are invited to a picnic, you'd better thank the Chief of the Charcoal and I'm thinking this card would do the job.

I stamped the DRS image of "Grilling Guy" with Memento Tuxedo Black dye onto X-Press It cardstock.  I colored the image with Copic markers.  I used a punch to round two of the corners.  I framed the image panel in black cardstock.

Then I stamped portions of the DRS sentiment "Boss of the BBQ Birthday Greeting" using a Memento Tuxedo Black marker onto red, white and blue pennant flags cut from MFT die-namics.  I arranged them onto a piece of kraft that was framed with black cardstock.  I added a silver star brad for the finishing touches. 

So now I'm armed and ready for any picnic invite I may get in the next few days.  If no invites come my way, then I am sure the the grillmaster at Steak-N-Shake will appreciate my gratitude, LOL. 

B is for Buckeye

There's a fun, new challenge posted on the DRS Designs Blog today called "Things that Start with the letter 'B'". 

This challenge gives me the excuse to get out my very first stamp ever from DRS Designs called "Ohio Buckeye".  Naturally, every Buckeye fan out there needs this stamp.  I was no exception, LOL.

I stamped "Ohio Buckeye" with Marvy black dye in onto X-Press It cardstock.  I colored it with Copic markers and cut around the image with detailed scissors.  I paired the image with red cardstock cut with an emerald cut (die)mond nesting die set from Spellbinders and a jillian vance design.  I paper pierced and faux stitched with a colored pencil around the "Block O" and framed with black cardstock. 

I placed the Block image and Buckeye image onto a piece of gray cardstock that I stamped randomly with DRS Designs "Lines O'Plenty" in Marvy grey dye ink. 

Finishing touches on this card include Buckeye Blend Divine Twine from a jillian vance design and the sentiment (which is a portion of the "Ohio Buckeye" stamp) onto a MFT die-namic flag.

Football season will be here before we know it.  But, let's not rush this.  Ah, sweet summer.   Join us for "Things that Start with the letter 'B'"?

Lobster Bake

Living in Ohio, I didn't even know what a lobster bake was until Googling the phrase and seeing some pictures.   I'm a very picky eater so I doubt if I would want to go to one anyway, LOL.  But, I thought I'd through my name in for the current CAS DT search over on Splitcoast...as a guest designer, because I had such fun doing it for the spring term. 

The challenge was to design a card using the typical colors associated with a lobster bake...red, yellow, and aqua or navy.  I seem to take these challenges so literally,  so I had to find a lobster image.  Believe it or not, I have none.   I did found this lobster image on children's coloring page from twistynoodle.com.  I printed the lobster onto X-Press It cardstock and colored with Copic markers.  I did a little shading with a Prismacolor pencil.  Then, I cut around him with detailed scissors.  On a piece of white cardstock, I stamped a swirl from Stampabilities with Adirondack Sunshine Yellow dye and sponged around the image.  I stamped a wave from Taylored Expressions with Distress Ink Tumbled Glass and sponged as well.  I added some crystal Stickles for the highlights.

The sentiment was cut with black cardstock from a Cuttlebug die.  I just thought it looked good...not sure I will ever need a thank you card with a lobster on it, LOL.   Perhaps I should have made a "thanks, but no thanks" card. 

But, THANKS for visiting my blog today!

Summer Girl Windy

So, how would you like to be where this girl is?  Me?  Yes, please.

"Summer Girl Windy" is a new image from Rubbernecker Stamps.   I stamped her onto coated paper with Marvy grey dye ink for a softer look.  I colored her with Copic markers and created the ocean scene with Copic markers as well.  The beautiful sentiment is also from Rubbernecker and is called "Song of the Sea".  It too was stamped with the Marvy grey dye.

I framed my scene with black cardstock and matted it to a bluish/grey cardstock.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog.  I know this card is a bit different for me, but I wanted to do some Copic work on some coated paper and thought soft pastel colors seemed appropriate.

Bursting with Happiness

I thought I should share that every Saturday I will be posting on the DRS Designs Blog.  I hope you'll go over and check it out.  There's lots of wonderful inspiration over there.

Appropriately named "Best Present Ever Cutie Pie Kid" this DRS Designs image was so fun to color.
I stamped the image with Marvy black dye onto X-Press It cardstock.  I colored him with Copic markers and cut around him with detailed scissors.  Then on a separate piece of white cardstock, I stamped the sentiment "Delightful Surprises Birthday Greeting" with Versafine Onyx Black.  I then cut around the sentiment with a Nestabilities die and framed it with black cardstock.  I made the balloons by stamping a the balloon portion of "Here for the Party Cutie Pie Kid" three times, coloring them with Copics, and cutting them with detailed scissors.  I used Baker's Twine for the balloons' string.  I arranged all of the elements onto a textured light blue piece of cardstock, framed with black cardstock.

Thanks so very much for visiting my blog today.  Have a pleasant weekend!

Hopping Good News

 

I'm very excited to be joining the very talented DRS Designs Design Team!  I am honored they asked me and it should be fun creating cards with all of their wonderful images.  Go have a peek!

Here's my first card.  It is for their weekly challenge that is hosted on the DRS Designs Blog.  This week's challenge is called the "Great Outdoors".

For my card, I stamped the adorable "Frog on a Log" onto X-Press it cardstock.  I colored him with Copic markers.  I then cut around the log and frog with detailed scissors.  I stamped the image again onto an oval piece of X-Press It.  I colored the image again, including the water and the greenery.  I placed the frog and log onto the oval, thus creating a little dimension.  The cloudy blue sky was created with Pan Pastels. Then using Diamond Glaze, I created the shine on the water.  Looks pretty cool, in real life, I must admit.

The rest of the card is quite CAS.  I framed the beige cardstock and oval with black cardstock.  I did a little sponging around the beige with Adirondack Latte dye.  I added some Baker's Twine and a button.  

The sentiment is from DRS Designs and is called "UnFroggetable Birthday Greeting".  I inked a portion of the sentiment with a Memento Tuxedo Black marker.

I rounded the bottom corners with a punch.

Sure hope you can join DRS Designs for this week's challenge! 

Fireman John

Meet "Fireman John".  He's a digital image from Sassy Cheryl's and he's a fun little guy to color.

I printed Fireman John onto X-Press it cardstock.  I colored him with Copic markers.  I added some Diamond Glaze to his hat and the water for a little shine.

I framed the image with black cardstock, and used patterned paper from The Paper Studio and Bo Bunny form the layout of this card.  I added some "soot" around the edges by sponging some Marvy gray dye ink.  The sentiment is computer generated.

I gave Fireman John a gold star as a final embellishment.  

Inspired by this week's challenge #170 at Sassy Cheryl's which is to make a card for a "Guy/Boy". 

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today!  My hero?  My Dad (though not a fireman, LOL).

Every Child

So, I stayed up for the predicted derecho and colored this image.  Thankfully my papers didn't blow away, so I was able to put together this card today.  The storm was all hype.

This card was made with the adorable set called "Every Child" by There She Goes.  I stamped the image with Marvy black dye ink onto X-Press It cardstock.  I colored the image with Copic markers and cut around the image with a Nestabilities oval die.  I paper pierced around the oval and also around the card panel from Doodlebug Designs.  I faux-stitched with a white colored pencil.

The sentiment, also from TSG's "Every Child" set was stamped with Versafine Onyx Black onto a piece of patterned paper also from Doodlebug Designs that was cut with a MFT die-namic die.

A sheer yellow ribbon, button and Baker's Twine put the finishing touches on this card.

This card was inspired by the colors of the following photo for the TSG211 Challenge:

Thank you so much for visiting my blog today!

Dog Day Afternoon

This is the final card I completed for Splitcoast's Virtual Stamp night.  The digital image, which is called "Dog Day Afternoon" from Karen's Doodles, seemed just perfect for JUN13VSNO's challenge, "Beach Bum".  The challenge is to create a card from this photo:

See what I mean?  Perfect image...inspired too by the colors.

I printed the digital image "Dog Day Afternoon" from Karen's Doodles onto X-Press It cardstock.  I colored the image with Copic markers.  I cut around the image with detailed scissors and placed it aside.

Using Pan Pastels, I created a cloudy sky background on a panel of white cardstock.  The sentiment is from Taylored Expressions "Hanging Out At the Beach" and was stamped with Versafine Onyx Black.

I cut some white cardstock with a Nestabilities die and allowed it to frame the clouds. I pop-dotted the frame to give some dimension and depth.  Then I placed my colored image onto the card, and framed the entire card with lime green and bright blue cardstock.  I finished the card with a bright sheer yellow bow.

I had a blast with Virtual Stamp Night.  It is not often I have the time to just create for fun.  I loved every minute of it...and now I am ready to enjoy summer.  I hope you've enjoyed my cards!

Summer Reading

For JUN13VSNB's challenge, "Summer Toys", we were to make a card depicting one of our favorite summer time toys growing up.  Call me a nerd, but I read a lot during the summer.  It was a time to read things that hadn't been "assigned" during the school year.

For my card, I stamped My Favorite Things "Flopsey Reading" onto X-Press It cardstock using Marvy black dye.  I colored the image with Copic markers, and cut using detailed scissors.  I rearranged the image a bit...the books and Flopsey's location.

The background was made using a background stamp from Hero Arts.  I stamped it with Versamark onto white cardstock and dusted with Pan Pastels.

The sentiment is also from MFT's "Flopsey Reading". 

The panels were cut with a Nestabilities die, including the one with the bright blue cardstock.

Ribbon treatment completes this little shaped card.

Wiener Roast

This card happened as a result of me being so excited about this a jillian vance design "Sunburst Swirl" background stamp.  It was late at night...I just wanted to stamp it onto a piece of cardstock before going to bed thinking I will use it at a later time.  When I awoke, I saw Sloopy and remembered the sunburst...and the phrase "wiener roast" came to mind.  And this is the card that resulted.

The a jillian vance design "Sunburst Swirl" was stamped with Adirondack Sunshine Yellow dye onto white cardstock.  I did do a little orange colored pencil work in the center of the swirl.  I added an orange brad in the center.

Then on a piece of X-Press It cardstock I stamped the sunbathing dachshund from Cowtown Stamps with Marvy black dye.  I colored it with Copic markers and cut with detailed scissors.  I placed it onto my sunburst.

The sentiment was stamped with a alphabet set from Fiskers using Versafine Onyx Black.

I framed the sunburst scene with black and turquoise cardstock.

I made this card for JUN13VSNL's Challenge, "Who Let the Dogs Out?".  The challenge asks to use the letters D-O-G in our creation.  Here's mine:

D - Dog
O - Orange
G - Gradient of color

I do believe I have a warped sense of humor.  And, I do believe you will be seeing this awesome background again.  I'm not going to put it away.  ;-)

Surfer Dox!

This just might be my favorite card I made this weekend.  I know I now have a favorite background stamp, that's for sure!

This card was made for JUN13VSNM's "Water, Water, Everywhere!", which was to use a water image or to actually use water in some way to create the card.

I stamped the surfer dachshund from Cowtown Stamps with Marvy black dye ink onto X-Press It cardstock and colored the image with Copic markers.  I added a bit of sparkle with a clear Sakura gelly roll pen on the waves.  I cut around this image with detailed scissors.

For the scene, I drew in the water with Copic markers onto another piece of X-Press It cardstock.  For the sun, I stamped a portion of my new favorite background stamp called Sunburst Swirl from a jillian vance design using Adirondack Sunshine Yellow dye right along the horizon line.  The sentiment is from the Taylored Expressions "Hanging Out at the Beach" and was stamped with Versafine Onyx Black.  I framed my scene with black cardstock and mounted with kraft.

I then pop-dotted my surfer onto the card.

Love the look of this.  I'm wondering if Sloopy would like to try this out, LOL.

Stay tuned...more cards coming from Splitcoast's Virtual Stamp Night.

At the Beach

They had me at "Dog Days of Summer"....I love dogs, and I sure love the summer.  So, I spent some time this past weekend playing during the Virtual Stamp Night challenges on Splitcoast. 

I made this card for the JUN13VSNG challenge "Strip Down Your Card" .  This challenged us to not use many layers, to make it just a one layer card. Bonus points if it is a summer/beach card.  I almost met the challenge because I just had to frame my scene with black cardstock and adhere it to my kraft base.

I stamped the adorable image from the set "Totally Tubular" from Kraftin' Kimmie's with Marvy black dye onto X-Press It cardstock.  I colored the image and the rest of the beach scene with Copic markers. The white highlights on the ocean water were made with a Uniball Signo White pen.

The sentiment is from a Michael's dollar stamp.  Two flip flop brads were added to complete the details of this card.

I envy this girl.  Oh how I want to be on the beach.  Beach cards are my absolute favorite kind of card to make.

Thanks for visiting my blog...more posts to follow!

I Heart Art

I am delighted to be the guest designer for this week's CAS challenge #224 on Splitcoast.  This week, we have been given a color challenge: melon mambo, crumb cake, pear pizzaz, white (hot pink, kraft, lt. yellow-green, white).

For my card, I decided to use a stamp set from Paper Smooches called "I Heart Art".  I stamped the easel image with Marvy black dye ink onto a piece of X-Press It cardstock.  I colored the "wood" on the easel with Copic markers.  I stamped the paint splatter image twice...once with Colorbox Lemon Grass pigment ink and once with Colorbox Pink pigment ink.  I added a pink rhinestone for a little bling.  I then cut around the easel with detailed scissors.

I placed the image onto a piece of kraft cardstock, rounded at the corners with a punch.  I drew with a Memento Tuxedo black marker the floor line.  Then, I stamped the sentiment, also from Paper Smooches, with Versafine Onyx Black onto the kraft base.  I finished the card by tying some Baker's Twine near the top of the card.

I hope you'll find the time to play along in this challenge.  It was a fun combination of colors.

Thanks for visiting my blog!  Lots more cards to share...I have had a great time making cards all weekend!
 

Rockin' Doggie

It was love at first sight when I saw this freebie digital on Birdie Brown's blog.  And today's Splitcoast Ways To Use It #430 challenge (to feature music or musical instruments) gave me the perfect excuse to color this cutie.

I printed the image "Rockin' Doggie" onto X-Press it cardstock and colored the image with Copic markers.  The sentiment is also from Birdie Brown.  I added some slight hints of glitter with a clear Sakura gelly roll pen.  I cut the image with a Nestabilities die, using the out-of-the-box technique.

I framed the image, sentiment and patterned paper with black cardstock.  The patterned paper was a scrap and I can't remember who makes it....sorry about that.  The stars were cut with a punch from black cardstock.

I just might make this my Father's Day card.  My Dad loves Sloopy.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today!

Pinkalicious

Remember Bubblicious Bubble Gum?  I sure loved it as a kid...so, I decided to name this card Pinkalicous because I am confident she is chewing some Bubblicious, lol.

Actually Sassy Cheryl calls this digital image "Bubble Blower".  I printed the image onto X-Press It cardstock and colored the image with Copic markers.  Then, using the out-of-the-box technique with a Nestabilities circle die, I cut the circle panel.  Patterned paper from Bo Bunny, S.E.I, and Darcie forms the layout of this card, which was inspired by today's sketch challenge on Splitcoast, #439. Each layer is framed with black cardstock.  A Button and Baker's Twine help embellish the card, and the sentiment is from Kraftin' Kimmies (from one of Cheryl Grant's sets). 

This card was also inspired by the current challenge (#169) on Sassy Cheryl's, "Perfectly Pinkalicious".

Life is GOOD!  I am loving my crafting time right now.  So fun!

In All The World

I would be embarrassed to tell you how many stamps I own.  Even more embarrassed to let you in on how many of those stamps have never been inked.  I have no problem buying the images I love.  I am just hesitant to use them sometimes because I sometimes feel as though I won't do justice for the image.  I'm trying to break this thinking really...one of the goals I have for myself this summer.

So, on my first official day off for summer break, I decided to go ahead and ink a newly acquired image from There She Goes.  Both the image and the sentiment are from the GORGEOUS set "In All The World".  I stamped the image with Marvy black dye onto X-Press it cardstock.  I colored the image with Copic markers, and using a Nestabilities circle die, used the out-of-the-box technique.  I paper pierced around the circle.

The patterned paper is from Darcie.  It too was paper pierced, and faux-stitched with a colored pencil.  The sentiment was stamped with Versafine Onyx Black ink.  Sheer white ribbon, and a pink brad put the finishing touches on this card.

This card will be going to the lady who watches my Sloopy.  She truly is a blessing.

Whooo Hooo!

Whooo Hooo!   Lots of reasons to celebrate!  A summer off!  A healthy husband and dog! 

I stamped the owl and the fish which are both from Darcie's "Big News Owl" set with Marvy black dye onto X-Press It cardstock.  I colored the images with Copic markers and cut around them with my Cutter-bee scissors. Stickles highlights are on the fish.

This layout for this card was made using Jen's Deconstructed Sketch #103.  The patterned paper is from Cloud 9 and was sponged with Adirondack Latte dye.  It was paper pierced and faux stitched with a colored pencil as well.  The white oval was cut with a Nestabilities die and sponged with Adirondack Latte dye. The fishtail flag was cut from MFT die-namics using a beige cardstock.  On the fishtail flag, I stamped a chevron background stamp from Darcie with Adirondack Latte dye.

The sentiment is also from Darcie's "Big News Owl" set and was stamped with Marvy black dye.

Hemp cord was added as a finishing touch.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!