Serendipity Stamping

Moxie Fab Inspiration!

2012-02-24T19:53:00.000-08:00

Hello Stampers!

Today I found my inspiration from two sources:

2. My BFF just moved!

I don't know why, but "congratulations on your new home" stamps are virtually non-existant! There are lots of "we've moved" and some houses, but they are pretty rare.

This house is from the Stamps of Life. I've paper pieced it with some SU! Kraft and MME Sweet Caroline. The sentiment is from Unity. The twine is from the Twinery.

I just LOVE the Moxie Fab World blog! I always get great inspiration there. And Cath is so on top of the paper crafting trends!

Happy stamping!

colouring with distress inks

2012-02-17T19:05:00.000-08:00

Hello Stampers!

This is my very first image coloured with Tim Holtz distress inks! I'm pretty happy that I've finally given it a try - although I certainly need some more practice!

This is one of my favourite Magnolias, Tilda with Hawaii Flower, who was actually quite hard to find. I think that Magnolias always look so pretty coloured in distress inks, but I could never get it quite right.

I've used SU! Watercolor Paper and a Zig water brush to finally get a somewhat decent effect. I made this for my friend Julie's birthday last week.

The flowers are from Wild Orchid, and the gorgeous little chiffon badge I found on Etsy (LOVE Etsy for cute little elements).

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

The Official Magnolia Challenge (3 patterned papers, 2 (or more) different types of embellishments, 1 image)

Wild Orchid Crafts (love)

Sarah

Valentine's Smooches

2012-02-13T18:25:00.001-08:00

Hello Stampers!

Here are a couple of Valentine's Day cards I made with the Paper Smooches Hot Concoctions Clear Stamp Set! On this first one, I've also used a cute sentiment from the Chit Chat set. (Paper Smooches make adorable and really unique sentiments - fabulous fonts).

What first led me to Paper Smooches stamps, was trying to find stamps to colour with my Copics that were not little people for a change.

What I've discovered that I love - is the ability to paper piece or colour the Paper Smooches stamps!

This second card also uses a sentiment from the Sugar Rush set. I've masked off the cups to create a little scene - and I've coloured with my Copics. I added some distress stickles to the tops of the drinks - and used a Copper Viva Decor Pearl Pen to add the little accents.

I hope you enjoy these cards - and that you'll try out the Paper Smooches stamps as well!

Happy Stamping!

Sarah

Paper Smooches Toast

2012-02-09T19:03:00.000-08:00

Hello Stampers!

I'm carrying on my roll of Paper Smooches cards! This is a new style for me and I'm having lots of fun. I've used the Wake Up set to make this card - which I loved when I first saw the beautiful inspiration cards from the design team last fall! It was the little toast - that really sold me.

I've used some more of the beautiful new My Mind's Eye release - they've got some beautiful new 6x6 pads out! This is the Miss Caroline "Dilly Dally" which I think is just fabulous. I've paper pieced all except for the coffee cup - which I've coloured with Copic E25 and a heavy coating of glaze. I've popped up the middle Toast for fun.

I used some of my beloved twine from the Twinery - a perfect accessory to the fun Paper Smooches stamps!

Happy Stamping!

Sarah

Paper Smooches Scooter

2012-02-09T18:56:00.000-08:00

Hello Stampers!

Here is one of my first attempts at my 2012 stamping goal - to try new styles! I have been a fan from afar of the super cute and whimsical Paper Smooches for a little while, slowly gathering a pile of gorgeous stamps, but not quite confident enough to work with them. After some online inspiration, an online class, and some practice with paper piecing - I have a first attempt!

This is from the Spiffy Scooters stamp set - and I've used the gorgeous new My Mind's Eye Miss Caroline "Dolled Up" 6x6 paper pad. I've also used some Mister Huey's colour mist in Heirloom Blue (I used Post-its to mask off the card area) and some twine from The Twinery.

I've added some glaze to the fenders & seat.

Happy Stamping!

Sarah

Old ladies at the beach

2012-02-07T08:33:00.000-08:00

Hello stampers!

This is my idea of the PERFECT winter scene!!! I really hope to be one of these old ladies one day - I truly do! I aspire to spend my old age sat on a beach drinking cocktails, gossiping happily with my girlfriends! We should all be so lucky.

This stamp just make me smile - I love it! Thank you Sheila for pointing it out to me.

I've stamped my ladies on Copix XPress It with Memento ink in tuxedo black. I've coloured with Copics (see colours below) and accented glasses & drinks with a glaze pen. I FINALLY unpacked my fabulous brand new Copic colours - hurray!!! LOVE!!

The card stock is an old orange-y colour from SU! and the paper is from the brand new My Mind's Eye Fiddlesticks. I found it just a little too bold to stamp the sentiment (which came with a Unity snowman), so I inked it up with Ranger acrylic paint dabber in snowcap - just along the bottom right. Then I stamped the sentiment with Versafine.

I distressed all the edges with my distress tool - then with some distress ink in Old Paper - and then rubbed some Stickles in Platinum along the top edges and corner.

The ladies have been punched out with a Spellbinder Nestability - and inked around the edges with distress ink in Old Paper. Then I rubbed some Distress Stickles in Rock Candy around the edges. I've used a Copper Viva Decor Pearl Pen to add a finishing touch.

I'll add this to the following challenges:

Happy Winter!

Sarah

Copics: V28, V25, V22, V20; YR27, YR24, YR23, YR21, YR20; RV19, RV17, RV14; E13, E11, E02, E01, E00, E000; R20, R22; BG13, BG11, BG10, BG0000; C4, C1, C0; B60.

Copic card class

2012-02-04T19:06:00.001-08:00

Hello Stampers!

I'm back with some more Copic creations for you - for my February cards class.

I had an AWESOME class with six lovely ladies on Saturday morning making teapot cards with My Favorite Things stamps & dies. As I mentioned to them - please share your suggestions for other classes! I'm always open to ideas. Next Saturday Kim P & I are teaming up to teach you some fabulous Tim Holtz techniques in a Valentine's Day card class.

These little cuties are from the Inky Impressions range of stamps - and I can tell you they are a JOY to colour!

I've stamped all three in brown Memento ink for a change from black. You'll see that it gives a slightly softer look, which seemed to suit these little kiddies.

I've used a beautiful new line of paper, designed by London's own very talented crafter, Julia Stainton, for lilybee design. There is a coordinating stamp set which I've used as well.

All my sentiments here are from the Paper Smooches line. Check out these stamps - BRAND NEW to SGD - if you haven't already. GORGEOUS sentiments in fabulous fonts - and super cute whimsical stamps. I love them!! Thanks to Sheila for agreeing to bring them in for us!! I'll be teaching classes with these stamps in March for sure.

If you're into following trends in the paper crafting world, you'll note a few that I've used here:

clean and simple style
Kraft cardstock
Baker's twine
Faux stitching (I've used the brand new to SGD tool)
Banners
Music notes
Teal & brown colours
lace
doilies

Happy stamping!

Sarah

xxx

Inky Impressions Mischievous Christopher Rubber Stamp

B97, B95, B93, B91

C5, C3, C1, C0

YG67, YG17

E57, E33, E31

E11, E01, E00, R20

BG000

BG10

Inky Impressions Lili Cake Rubber Stamp

BG09, BG07, BG05

C3, C1, C0, C00

BG000

E57, E33, E31

E11, E01, E00, R20

R85, R83, R81

Inky Impressions Lili's Egg Hunt Stamp

YG67, YG17, YG25, YG03

Y17, Y15, Y13

B04, B02, B01

RV25, RV23, RV21

E37, E35, E31, YR20

E11, E01, E00, R20

Tim Holtz Valentines

2012-01-29T18:23:00.000-08:00

Hello stampers!

I wanted to share two cards I made for an upcoming class that I'm teaching at Scrappin' Great Deals. Kim & I are huge fans of Tim Holtz and are collaborating to teach as many techniques as we can fit into three hours, while making four Valentine's Day cards.

I'm pretty happy with how this first card turned out. I used Tim's videos and Christmas tags as reference. The butterfly is Kraft glassine, that I've sponged with alcohol inks, stamped with archival ink, then die cut, crumpled, distressed with Walnut, and adhered with the mini stapler. The background is from the Paper Stash pad. I've inked with Picket Fences stain, heat set, then added some pink stains, heat set again, then stamped with archival ink. The bottom border is made with Kraft core. I've embossed it with a folder, then sanded it, distressed it with several inks, sprayed with two colours of Glimmer Mist and added the long fasteners. I've distressed them with the texture hammer.

Here's the second card:

Here I've used some Perfect Pearls, as well as tissue tape, and the rosette die (I LOVE this die!).

Happy Stamping!

Sarah

MFT Tea Set Cards

2012-01-25T07:52:00.000-08:00

Hello Stampers!

Here are a few of my favourite things:

- Tim Holtz distress inks

- MFT stamps & dies

- Kraft paper

- twine

This is a class I'm teaching at Scrappin' Great Deals on Feb. 4 using the My Favorite Things Always Time for Tea stamp & die set. I love stamps with matching dies and this set has a fabulously versatile array!

I've also used one of my favourite 6x6 paper pads, Little Black Dress, by Basic Grey. This is one of those sets that I hoard preciously in preparation for when I can no longer buy it! It has the most beautiful leopard print paper in it. Too delicious for words!

Those of you in the know can probably tell that I took the "Clean & Simple Card Making" online class. What a fanastic class! I so enjoyed it.

Happy Stamping!

Sarah

Inky Valentine's

2012-01-23T00:01:00.000-08:00

Welcome our new little stamp friends at SGD from Inky Impressions! This little guy is Mischievous Christopher.

I thought he seemed just right for a Valentine's Day card to a Daddy (bless!). I used my new favorite 6x6 paper pad from My Mind's Eye called "Love Me".

I love that it has cute banners in it - and isn't all pink & white. PERFECT for a child's card too! Little Christopher is stamped on XPress It with Memento Tuxedo Black and coloured with Copics (see colours below).

In fact, my 7 year old, Samuel, loved it so much that he sat down beside me to create one too! Here is the card that he created, with a little cutting help from Mummy of course.

Copics: E01, E00, E000; E35, E31, YR20; R27, R24, R22, R20; BG09, BG07, BG05, BG02; B00; G05, G02, G00; BG10; C1, C0, C000.

Clean & Simple Card Making - Day 9, part 2

2012-01-22T18:04:00.000-08:00

Hello Stampers!

I can't tell you how much I am enjoying this online class "Clean & Simple Card Making"! The instructors are fantastic, the videos are so helpful, and the projects are stunning! Very helpful to get the stamping mojo working, that's for sure.

This class has been one of my favourite to date, and challenges us to use one stamp in three different ways. I LOVE this technique we learned - which uses Primsmacolors over white ink on black cardstock. Talk about a wow factor!

I've used a whimsical Hero Arts wood block stamp I found at Michaels. The button is one of my treasures found on Etsy.

Happy Stamping!

Sarah

Clean & Simple Card Making - Day 9, part 1

2012-01-22T16:45:00.000-08:00

Another great online lesson on day 2! You can still sign up to the Clean & Simple Card Making class online, it isn't too late.

I've used SU! kraft & SU! wild wasabi paper & ink. The sentiment is from Paper Smooches (LOVE!) and the main image is a sweet little Hero Arts wood block stamp from Michael's. The great tip in this class was to run a black marker around the edges of your cut out piece - genius!

Happy stamping!
Sarah
xx

Clean & Simple Card Making - Day One

2012-01-22T16:32:00.000-08:00

Hello stampers!

I have absolutely fallen in love with this online class called "Clean & Simple Card Making"! My goal this year was to embrace this style of paper crafting and learn some new techniques. This class couldn't have come along at a better time for me!

This is my version of one of the sketches given to us as inspiration by Kristina, one of the awesome instructors.

I've used a beautiful Hero Arts wood block stamp, inked with SU! sage shadow onto SU! sage shadow. The card is 4 1/4" square. I've punched the flowers with an SU! punch out of SU! turquoise and pop dotted them. The sentiment is from a clear Hero Arts set which I've heat embossed with white embossing powder. I've used a ruler with a white gel pen to draw the border.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping

Sarah

xxx

Hello Birdie

2012-01-18T08:41:00.000-08:00

Hello stampers!

It's a cold, snowy day here in London so I thought this card was just right to brighten up the mood! I'm trying to move more towards a CAS style in my cards this year, at least that's my 2012 goal, we'll see how it goes! At the same time, I want to continue to include my beloved Copics!

This card is in my absolute favourite colour, and some of my new favourite things. I am in LOVE with Paper Smooches stamps! They are cute as can be.

I love the whimsy of these little "chubby chums" and I love the fun little dies!

Happy Stamping!

Hello Birdie

Size: 4 ¼” x 5 ½”

Stamps: Paper Smooches Paper: Stampin’ Up (Turquoise), Copic Xpress It. Paper: Jillibean
Soup (Apple Cheddar Soup). Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black. Markers: Copics (Various). Twine: The Twinerie. Adhesives: 3M Scotch ATG, Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue. Dies: My Favorite Things (Branch and clouds).

Tip: Use a permanent pigment ink on a coated cardstock, and allow to dry, before coloring with Copics to avoid smudging.

Mother's Day Cameo

2012-01-12T13:13:00.000-08:00

Hello stampers!

Here's a card I put together to get my Spring style started! I think I've stamped enough snowmen to last me a lifetime - and I'm happy to pull out my brightly coloured cardstock & papers!

I've also created this for one of my new fave challenge sites, Moxie Fab World. They have a great new challenge on right now for die-cutting - which I LOVE to do - especially on my new Vagabond that I got for Christmas (thank you Santa!).

I love this new paper I picked up from My Mind's Eye. And it just called out for some MFT dies I thought! I have finally (I think) started to get the hang of my rolled flowers dies so I've put them to use here on a Mother's Day card.

I really like the touch of a little green paper flourish behind the flowers. And I always put a pearl in the centre. I've jazzed up the cameo a little too - by stamping a pattern, then spritzing with Perfect Pearls. The MFT stamp & die set comes with the crackle effect. I've added that in pink. Then I used a Unity Doily stamp to spruce up the cameo frame.

Happy Stamping!
Sarah
xx

Cardstock: SU! Pumpkin Pie. Paper: My Mind’s Eye Happier. Dies: My Favorite Things Flourish, Cameo, Rolled Rose, Edge. Stamps: My Favorite Things (Cameo & Sentiment). Unity (Doily). Adhesive: 3M Scotch ATG, Imaginisce I-Bond Cordless Hot Glue Gun, Ranger Glossy Accents. Pearls: SU!. Other: Ranger Perfect Pearls Mist (Heirloom Gold), Tsukineko Goosebumps Shimmer Texture Spray.

Maps are cool!

2012-01-05T17:14:00.000-08:00

Hello Stampers,

I'm trying to keep up with the trends in the paper crafting world this year. The first one I'm onto is maps! I've created this card for a challenge over at "Moxie Fab World" because I couldn't resist a good challenge! Especially one that's on trend.

I've used all things Tim Holtz (or Lord Tim as he's affectionately known in my circle). The papers are from his 12x12 collection. The map was too dark to stamp on, so I've inked it up with Picket Fences stain and then heat-set it (twice). Then I've used one of his fab edge dies (Bless) and stamped it with one of my new fave stamps by Unity. Have you seen their Smash Kits? Wow. I adore them! Then I spritzed it all with some Glimmer Mist in Heirloom Gold and further distressed the paper a little.

I used the car & arrow die set in the base tray to punch out with the same Tim Holtz designer paper. I've inked the edges with some distress ink (antique photo) and sprited with the Glimmer Mist in Heirloom Gold again.

Et voila! An homage to maps.

Happy stamping!

Sarah

xxx

Happy New Year!

2012-01-03T09:18:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Stampers!

Wishing you a year of health, love, and happiness!

Here is one of my first creations for the year, for a class I'll be teaching at SGD Feb. 4.

I'm a big fan of MFT stamps and dies, and this uses a set from their last release, "Time for Tea", as well as the oval doily die. I LOVE this Time for Tea set! Not only are all the teapot and cups cute as can be, but I love the sentiments too.

I love all things British (including my husband, hee hee!), and I think this card is very English. By the way, if you're looking for a tv series to get into on dvd, check out "Downton Abbey". I am OBSESSED and watched 5 episodes in a row yesterday! I love it! I definitely think I lived that experience in a past life.

I've used one of my favorite new designer papers, Basic Grey "Little Black Dress" 6x6 paper pad. It has a leopard print design in it, Bless! LOVE! I've coordinated some Bazzill in Ivory and Ash. And I used the Viva Decor Pearl Pen to create the little pearls.

My favorite way to create - coordinating stamps & dies - and a perfect paper pad! Match made in Heaven.

Happy Stamping!
Sarah
xxx

another blog candy winner!

2011-12-19T05:27:00.000-08:00

Thank you for joining in the fun on the Craft Your Passion Blog Hop this weekend!

Just in time for Christmas, the winner of my blog candy is:

Emily Leiphart said...

Great card, Sarah! I love that little snowman with the birds.

Congratulations Emily! Please e-mail (sarahkipling@sympatico.ca) me your address and I'll be happy to mail this out before Christmas!

Happy Stamping!
Sarah
xx

Blog Candy Winner!

2011-12-19T05:20:00.000-08:00

Just in time for Christmas!

Thank you all for following my blog and posting such wonderful comments. It means the world to me! Congratulations to:

Jenn Zeeb said...

Funny, I like you. I tend to buy things to use to organize with, then I send them out to the garage for Hubby. I started with CD cases for clear stamps and I had to hide them in the attic because I changed my mind and I KNEW hubby would LOOSE IT!! We call then the DOA's (Dead on Arrival, or soon after)

I am a new follower and am posting a link on my blog. Thanks for making my night

Hugs
Jenn Zeeb

Please e-mail me your address Jenn and I'll get your package sent before Christmas (sarahkipling@sympatico.ca)! Enjoy - and Happy Crafting with your treasures from the "DOA"!

CYP Holiday Havoc Blog Hop (BLOG CANDY)!

2011-12-17T01:01:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Craft Your Passion Challenges "Holiday Havoc 2011" Blog Hop!!

We are very excited about holidays and wanted to add to the chaos and havoc. What better way to do that, than to have a BLOG HOP!!!

If you have hopped over from Zahreen, then you are in the right place. If you just happened to stop by and would like to join our hop from the beginning, please go to Craft Your Passion Challenges and follow along for a chance to win some AMAZING blog candy along the way and PRIZES at the end.

All Craft Your Passion DT members are going to be playing along in the hop with some very special guest designers. Each designer along the way is featuring a project that showcases a digital image from at least one of our amazing Blog Hop Sponsors.

What’s more exciting is you can participate too by creating a project and linking it up over at Craft Your Passion Challenges for a chance to win one of several prizes. But, there’s a twist. Be sure to visit all the stops and leave a comment (we will be checking).

Once you have finished the hop, we would like you to create a HOLIDAY project using at least one digital stamp and enter it with our Linky tool.

While you are hopping, be sure to check out the blog candy the designer's have to offer you. You don't want to miss out on any of it!

Here is my creation for this super fun hop today! This cute little digi snowman is from Stretch n Bubbles!

He's printed on Copic XPress It paper and coloured with Copics. He's framed with a Spellbinders Nestabilities and inked with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in "Iced Spruce" (Winter 2011 set - I LOVE it!). I've used one of my fave 6x6 paper pads from this season by Jillibean Soup along with SU! cardstock. I used an MFT die to cut the sentiment and an SU! stamp to ink up the background.

I have some delicious blog candy to give away! Just leave a comment on this post and become a follower! I'll draw the winner on Dec. 19!

Next go stop by Sue's blog to see what she has in store for you today.

Remember, once you have hopped to all the stops and left your comments (we will be checking), it's your turn to show us your "Holiday Havoc" project.

Make sure to include a digital stamp somewhere on your project, and link up your project over at Craft Your Passion Challenges by Midnight CST December 23 to be eligible for the prizes.

Winners will be announced on our Monday, December 26th Challenge post.

In case you lose your way - go back to the beginning at:

Craft Your Passion Challenges

Nellie Snellen stamp

2011-12-16T11:06:00.000-08:00

This stamp is from Nellie Snellen, and I thought it was a refreshing break from Christmas images! I've also been having lots of fun with some new dies. This flourish is by Cheery Lynn dies.

I've coloured this little cutie with Copics and distressed the frame with Distress Ink in Tumbled Glass

I'm entering my card in the following challenges:

CLP Challenge Blog
Simon Says Stamp
Heartsong Inspirations
Fairy Fun Fridays
Frosted Designs

Happy Stamping!
Sarah

Stamp: Nellie Snellen

Card:      Stampin’ Up Kraft
Paper:    Copic Xpress It & My Mind’s Eye Vanity Fair
Ribbon: Scrappin’ Great Deals
Flourish: Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish Die
Frame: Spellbinders Nestabilities – Petite Scalloped Ovals Large
Flowers:                 Prima “Avon Rose Londenerry”
Jewels: Prima
Ink:         Memento Tuxedo Black and Tumbled Glass Distress Ink
Copics: YG25, YG03, YG00, YG0000; G82, G24, G21, G20; C1, C0; YR24, YR23, YR21, YR20; E31; E01, E00, E000; R20; BG000

Guest Designer at CMC Challenge Group!

2011-12-13T06:26:00.000-08:00

Hello Stampers!

I am THRILLED this month to be chosen as a guest designer for Suzanne Dean's CMC Challenge Group! I am equally a fan of my Copics and of Suzanne's classes. She's taught me what little I know after all!

And what a month it is!

NEW CHALLENGE #33 will run until January 5th!

SO THIS RUNS FOR 1 MONTH!

Your challenge this time is all about

** HOLIDAY JOY--in Golds. Creams & Whites**

Show your holiday joy with sparkling colors of GOLD, CREAM & WHITE!

(yes you can use some other colors like hair/skin/etc but the majority of colors should be Gold, Cream & Whites)

We want to see you use YOUR COPICS, COPIC REFILLS OR COPIC AIRBRUSH SYSTEM (Or ProMarkers if you have them)

Use Inspiration Pictures Below as well!

CHALLENGE RULES

-Use any image you want BUT MAKE SURE YOU LINK BACK TO THE CMC CHALLENGE in your blog post!!
-ALL PROJECTS MUST BE NEW & NOT BACK-LINKED!!
-Image MUST be colored with Copics or ProMarkers or Colored Pencils!

For this Challenge we have LOTS OF PRIZES!!

AND A WAY TO DONATE TO A WONDERFUL CHARITY!!

WHAT YOU CAN WIN:

-1 person will win a NEW Provocraft CRICUT MINI machine

-1 person will win a NEW KINDLE E-READER

-1 person will win a $50 Gift Cert. to SCACD

-1 person will win a $25 Gift Cert. to the Paper Temptress

-1 person will win 5 digis from Tiffany Doodles and a $15 Gift Cert to 7 Kids College Fund and a Gilli Gift Bag

HOW TO PLAY:

4 different ways to enter

-Enter up to (2) TWO projects into the link system below by Jan. 5th

-Enter (1) one project into the BookEndz Challenge

-Donate a $3-5 donation to the Charity below for 1 entry

-Donate anything over $10 to the Charity and get 2 entries

Happy Stamping!

Sarah

I'm also entering my card into the following challenges:
Pink Sketch Challenge
Magnolia Down Under Challenge (I lost the other half of the doily? tee hee!)
Just Magnolia
Simply Magnolia

Chubby Chums!

2011-12-12T08:57:00.000-08:00

My stamping BFF Andrea introduced me to these Paper Smooches stamps and I am in LOVE with them! I think these little "Chubby Chums" are hysterical. And they happen to be fun to colour too! Always a bonus for a Copic fanatic like myself.

I thought these whimsical little characters deserved a CAS card for background.

I'm entering them into:

Paper Smooches

Touch Twin markers

Happy Stamping!

Sarah

WIN MY BLOG CANDY!

2011-12-10T09:21:00.000-08:00

Sarah's blog candy

1. Comment on my original post

2. Share my photo and link on your blog

3. Help me get to 100 followers!

Thank you!
xx

Multi-coloured hair

2011-12-09T14:58:00.000-08:00

Hello stampers!

This card is certainly different to my usual style, but I had so much fun making it! I've used a Simply Betty digi called Romance Grace. Simply Betty is sponsoring this month's challenge at CMC Copic Classroom. The challenge is multi-coloured hair.

My real crafting passion is for Copics, and I've never done multi-coloured or non-traditional hair colours, so this was a lot of fun for me! And it was a pretty challenging image too, so I enjoyed it. She seemed an appropriate choice for kind of "goth" looking hair!

This was also a nice break from Christmas images!

Happy stamping!

Sarah

Tag #5

2011-12-07T13:07:00.000-08:00

Here is my tag for Day 5. I'm not super thrilled with how it turned out. I think my gluing ruined the background. I thought the inking technique was cool, but I definitely need better plastic than the packaging I used. The wreath was SO messy, but it turned out ok I think?

Happy stamping!

Sarah

Tag #4

2011-12-07T13:04:00.000-08:00

Here is my version of Tag #4. It took me a while with all the periods of drying. I quite like how it turned out - even if it's a little "imperfect" and crooked. I think I still have blue stain under my nails!

I really liked the tulle tying technique for the buttons.

When crafting goes bad - part three

2011-12-05T10:57:00.000-08:00

Hello stampers!

Yes, I do know that it is DAY FIVE on the wonderful journey that is an homage to all things Lord Holtz... and yes, I do know that is only my third (and pitiful) tag. But I do feel a certain pride that I am amongst the women around the world who are dedicated to this task of creating a beautiful item each and every single day! Take a look at the entries - they are from countless countries! I've seen some from Russia, Australia, Finland, the Netherlands. It is amazing. And inspiring!

So, despite the fact that I'm behind a few, I will continue! I'm also amazed at how much I've learned along the way! Half of these products I had laying in various drawers of my craft room, completely frustrated after being unable to figure them out. Now onto my third creation, I'm actually half pleased with what I've turned out! I really DID need those "limited edition" inks after all! And that die I bought two years ago actually DOES produce a beautiful flower! Who knew? I think it does help that I finally found the special paper, after all it must be very special if it is so hard to find! I think the stores purposely hide it to keep it's goodness all to themselves. That must be it, right? And the sanding block (sorry Lord Holtz - Sanding GRIP, goodness, I haven't been raised right. That would be like calling a "Texture Fade" an "Embossing Folder", what was I thinking??). I never knew I would so desperately desire one of these! And no, silly husband, the sanding paper you have in the basement is NOT AT ALL the same and will definitely not reproduce the lovely flower I need!!

So I must share a little of the adventures along the way - that led to the creation of this lovely (or semi-lovely tag 3). My dear friend Andrea, who is in my opinion, MUCH more addicted/ obsessed/ enamoured than I (don't tell her I said that, she might withold my share of the fabulous miniature flowers we just ordered from England - you can't tell the real size online - and now we might have to start a specialty business of creating greeting cards for leprechauns).

The day started with me showing up at Andrea's in my pyjama's, which is quite normal as she lives down the street, to have coffee (and maybe watch an episode of Celebrity Ghost Stories, shhhh). The fact that I had two Michaels coupons tucked in my purse was PURELY coincidental and had nothing at all to do with the dozens of Tim Holtz videos I'd been watching on YouTube on my iPad in bed, when supposedly "resting".

Well, yadda yadda yadda, we're in the truck, en route to Michael's, in a mad panic for some crafting parephenalia. And yes, I do think that my $400 Coach purse matches my $10 Old Navy pyjama pants perfectly - after all, they are colour coordinated. And the pink Uggs add just the right touch of colour.

So, in our moment of (~~glory~~) shame we discover they do NOT have the magical product we so desperately require in order to make the tag we have not even looked at yet, but know we want to make it... But we had to use the coupon, and found some close substitutes.

So here we are in all our (~~glory~~) shame, only to discover the longest lineup in Michael's history (of course) with the most stylish ladies in high-heeled boots behind us. Of course.

Well, back to it....

Happy Stamping!
Sarah
xx

When crafting goes bad, part two

2011-12-05T09:50:00.000-08:00

Hello stampers!

Here is my attempt at a submission for Tag #2. No, I did not have the beautiful reindeer die that was called for, but I was pretty pleased with my substitution of three trees from Tim's Movers and Shapers line (phew... I had one of the things at least!)

Please do not dwell on the fact that my designer paper is upside down, because by that point, I had an hour and three layers of splodge and die and resin and other goodies invested in this blessed tag and was not about to go back to the drawing board! Oh no, I think it adds a certain "aloofness" don't you think? A certain "je ne sais quoi". Ooooh where is my beret and jaunty scarf?

So I at least had the design ruler (which I NEVER knew had a metal edge, or a zero point) although I still think my brads are crooked. But I never knew that I NEEDED/ LUSTED/ desperately required the Tim Holtz hammer until now! And (horror-of-horrors) it is DISCONTINUED! Can you believe it? That is like sacriledge to a crafter! Especially after having watched the strangely transfixing video showing it's magical properties! I may have the sweats until I can find one. Although, I did just pay the lovely postman (please read my previous post for further details on the postman) $16 in duties after importing some beautiful rubber stamps from England, so I'm not sure what the duties would be on the magical hammer, even if I could find one!

I did discover how I can transform the grunge paper (previously at the bottom of my "drawer-of-good-intentions") into something pretty cool. And I now definitely love my "Picket Fences" stain (which I previously hated and couldn't figure out).

Happy stamping!
Sarah
xxx

When crafting goes bad...

2011-12-05T09:41:00.000-08:00

Hello stampers!
- or rather - Happy Day Five! If you do not know what this refers to, clearly you do not suffer from the same condition as I do - henceforth known as Love of all things Holtz (or addiction - but not in polite company).

The above is my pitiful attempt at Tag #1. After watching the fabulous video multiple times, I managed a sad little pinecone. This was after my frantic hunt for the right paper, which of course I did not have. And if you can't sand the edges - it just doesn't look right. Nor did I have the right Noel die, which of course is now sold out everywhere. But I did improvise and manage something at least in the same realm.

Along the way, I absolutely fell in love with the Rock Candy! Who knew of this marvalous product? Certainly not me, despite the two jars sitting in my craft room. Well, they are very decorative aren't they? And I've owned the grunge paper for well over a year, and never managed anything decent with it. But NOW! I'm in love! And I need more! This stuff is genius!

I am really enjoying watching all of the videos - but seriously having to curb my desire to run out and buy (not like I could find them anyway) every single magical die and ink that Lord Tim demonstrates!

The sad note today was when the mailman actually brought a package to my door, and said "oh! you're not usually home!" (so this is concerning in a few ways really - first of all, does he really come that frequently? and if so, he actually takes note that I'm not home?) Hmmm.. And then he says "don't worry, I've put all EIGHT of your other parcels in one box so you just have one key this time" (note the comment "this time" because "last time" I had two - ok three - keys). And before he left, he mentioned AGAIN "I've never caught you at home before!" (again, concerning in so many ways...) And OF COURSE, he came right as I was crawling out of bed, pj's, bed head, and no bra. OF COURSE. And of course my cat chooses this moment to make a run for it, so I'm out (remember, pj's and bra-less) chasing my stupid cat down the road IN THE RAIN no less - in front of the mailman - who appears to already know me far too well. Good times.

So, yes, I know, this is my tag #1 - and it is indeed DAY FIVE. Point taken. Back to the dungeon (otherwise known as the gluey, glittery mess that was once my craftroom)

Sarah
xx

High Hopes Numbers Challenge!

2011-11-28T13:30:00.000-08:00

Hello all!

Welcome to the last High Hopes stamp challenge of the year! I've had such a great time this fall as Guest Designer for High Hopes. What an awesome group of ladies - and beautiful stamps!

This is my creation for the "Numbers Challenge"

I've used this adorable little baby monkey (love her diaper and soother!) to create a 1st birthday card for a little girl!

I've chosen this pretty Prima paper "Jack and Jill" and coloured the little monkey in coordinating colours. I've used MFT oval lace doily and lace edge dies as well as the number die and stamp set.

I hope you come over and join us in this super fun challenge - for a chance to win some AMAZING High Hopes stamps! FABULOUS prizes!

High Hopes Stamps

Happy Stamping!

Sarah

Stamps: High Hopes, MFT

Paper: Copic XPress It, Prima Jack & Jill, SU! cardstock

Dies: MFT

Punch: SU! oval

Copics:

E37, E35, E33, E31, E0

E55, E53, E50

E15, E13, E11

R22, R20

R01, R000, R0000

R85, R83, R81

G29, G24, G21, G20

C5, C2, C1, C0

E43, E41, E40

Parisian Winter Magnolia

2011-11-28T07:38:00.000-08:00

Hello stampers!

I have to confess to a slight obsession/ addiction/ LOVE of all things Magnolia lately! And along with this I'm trying to develop my style a little and make it more European with the flourishes, muted tones, dimensional flowers, lace, etc. My friend Andrea and I have been researching this for a while!

I've coloured Tilda for the first time with Prismacolors on top of my Copics - and I am loving this technique!

This is one of the new Christmas Magnolias I ordered and I think she is absolutely gorgeous and a JOY to colour. And I think she just calls out to be made vintage. We've discovered these fabulous Cheery Lynn dies - which are so detailed - and stunning! So the butterflies just had to go on this card. The beautiful pink roses are from Wild Orchid crafts - who offer such a gorgeous selection. We found the pearl swirls and the spray at Michaels.

Tilda here has just been waiting for the right moment to appear online - and of course today was released the TOMIC Vintage and Lace challenge! How perfect!

These STUNNING papers are from Websters Pages by the way - that Andrea gave me (THANK YOU) and fit the theme perfectly.

Challenges:

CPS 246

TOMIC #26 - Vintage and lace

Just Magnolia

It's a Magnoia Challenge

Happy Stamping!

Sarah

Paper: Webster's Pages, Copic XPress It
Cardstock: Stampin' Up!
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress ink in Antique Linen
Copics:
C7, C5, C3, C1, C0, C00
E79, E77, E74, E71
R89, R85, R83, R81
E37, E35, E31, YR20
E11, E01, E00, E000, R20
Prismacolor pencils, Gamsol, blending stub
Accessories: Self-adhesive pearls, lace
Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts
Butterfly dies: Cheery Lynn Dies
Spellbinders Nestabilities

Sugar Nellie and some snow

2011-11-27T11:43:00.000-08:00

Hello Stampers,

Here is my latest Sugar Nellie card I've created for the Sugar Bowl challenge. I've had this little cutie in my pile for quite some time and she needed some ink! I've used some gorgeous new Bo Bunny paper I just got. Don't know about you, but I've been loving this year's holiday collections. So many blues and browns. My favourites!

I've stamped her on Copic XPress It with Memento ink and coloured with Copics. I've accented with Tim Holtz snowflake die, clock die, snowflake embossing folder, and tag. I've used an MFT edge die and added some twine from The Twinery. I ran the snowflakes through my Xyron and added some flocking to them, and then used my Viva Decor pearl pen to add a centre. I've accented the embossed snowflakes with Tim Holtz picket fence die, and I've sprayed the tag with Goosebumps spray. I used several colours of Smooch pen to add accents here and there, and give the illusion of snow on the little girl and dog. I've also added Platinum Stickles to the edge.

Have a great weekend! Happy Stamping!

Paper: Bo Bunny Flurries, Copic XPress It, SU! Cardstock

Copics:

E49, E29, E25, E31

E11, E01, E00, R20

E79, E77, E74, E71, E70

C7, C5, C3

B99, B97, B95, B93, B91

E37, E35, E33, E31

Sarah

Also entering the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps

Fashionable Stamping Challenges

Gingerloft

Penny Black and more

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge

Teddy bear for baby

2011-11-26T18:20:00.000-08:00

Hello stampers,

I don't know about you, but I seem to make a LOT of baby cards. Maybe it's just the age bracket I'm in? Or the fact that everyone at work (and Chris's work) knows I make cards and asks me for them. Either way. I am always on the hunt for baby stamps and paper. I don't know why, but they seem very hard to find. I'm super excited to get the ones I just ordered from Lily of the Valley which are GORGEOUS.

Until now, this Popcorn bear stamp has been my absolute favourite. I'm not even sure if it's still available as I bought it quite a few months ago. And I normally avoid animals, because I am "fur-challenged" shall we say, in the Copic department. I did get some great learning in Suzanne Dean's class this summer - and hopefully I've put it to good use on this card. This one is for one of Chris's colleagues (I made three in the same night).

But I was SUPER excited to find this paper! Most paper is gender-specific and it's hard to find gender-neutral paper. This is the new Kaiser Craft Bonjour paper which I think is gorgeous - and available in my favourite 6x6" pad. In the back it even has punch out tags! How perfect is that!

On this card, I've also used twine from The Twinery & a Tim Holtz tag. And - for the first time - I've added Prismacolor pencils to my Copic colouring! SO excited about this. And I'm slowly getting better at it (I think).

Happy stamping!

Sarah

Copics:

E37, E35, E33, E31

E29, E27, E25, E23

E43, E42, E41, E40

G85, G82, G40

Lily of the Valley Christmas

2011-11-23T13:56:00.000-08:00

This is another one of the gorgeous Lily of the Valley Christmas stamps! I love Lily of the Valley and these Christmas scenes are adorable - and irresitable to colour up with Copics!

I've tried to use the deepest reds I could - and added some C7 to the shadows as well. I've added more shadow than usual under the greenery. I coloured up the kitty to look like my own Kingston. I thought it only fair! And you may spot the diamond Stickles on her fur trim. I've added red Stickles to the holly berries. And you may not see clearly on the photo, but I've added a thick layer of glaze to the window.

I've actually had this little cutie for a while, so decided she needed to see the light of day! I've decorated her with some Prima flowers and leaves.

I'm entering her in the following challenges:
Wags & Whiskers - Challenge 67 - Christmas Themed
Crafts and Me - #62 Shabby Chic or Vintage
Gingersnap Creations - Yellow, Red, and Brown
The House that Stamps Built - Christmas with Snowflake
The Little Red Wagon - Challenge 108 Christmas Theme

Happy Stamping!

Sarah
xx

a digi and a mermaid....

2011-11-22T06:27:00.000-08:00

Hello Stampers!

Two firsts for me: a digi and a mermaid! And both went pretty well I think! I guess another first - red hair! I took this combo from the Magnolia Ink Chocolate Dreams magazine which gave a great tutorial.

I've created this for the following challenges:

CMC Copic Challenge Group: #31 Colors of the Sea

Alphabet Challenge Blog: U is for Under the Sea

Magical Monday Challenge

Handmade Flower Power

Supplies:

Digi: Michelle Perkett Studio (sponsor of the CMC Copic Challenge)

Paper: XPress, Echo Park Victoria Garden, SU! cardstock

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Antique Linen

Embellies: Crocheted flowers from etsy, Prima Printery paper flowers, Diamond stickles, SU! rhinestones

Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities, Tim Holtz edge die

Copics: BG78, BG32, BG18, BG15, BG13, BG11, BG10, YG67, YG63, C7, C3, C1, E19, E08, E02, R59, R46, R22, R20, E11, E01, E00, E70.

Stamping Bella Girlies

2011-11-20T22:04:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had a brand or style of stamp that just doesn't seem to suit you? One that no matter how many tries, you just can't get the hang of? Well, for me it was the Stamping Bellas for the longest time! I don't know why, but I just getting get the knack of them. After one particularly disasterous attempt at colouring a plump woman with large hair, I swore off these stamps completely.

Until now! Anyone who knows me well knows how much I treasure and appreciate my girlfriends! They are true gifts in life and should be appreciated because they can really make the difference between happiness and despair.

Unfortunately I've been really sick lately and am off work for a while, and to someone who is constantly on the go - this has been a tough blow for me. Always an obsessively high achiever, I'm having to take life slowly and rest a lot. Not an easy pill to swallow.

Thank you God for my wonderful friends who surround me! But especially thank you to my beloved Andrea who despite her own physical pains, spent an entire night in the hospital watching over me, and has listened to my worries and stresses without complaint or judgement.

So this card with the girls having some wine is who we SHOULD be - and will be again I'm sure. But for now, we'll be these girls with the coffee and taking it a little slower.

So I've given my Stamping Bellas another chance, and am now LOVING them! I seem to have found a groove, helped by their gorgeous new designs. And these sentiments just call out to me! They are so real life!

For both cards, I've used this brand new 6x6 paper pad "Gathering" from Authentique. I love, love, love the weight, feel, and design of this paper. It is fabulous and I'll be looking for more from this brand.

I'm also trying a more "European" flair to my cards with the dimensional flowers. These are all from Prima who've had some gorgeous new things this fall. If you follow my blog, you'll know of my obsessive love for the Prima Printery line! All of these jewels are also from the Prima line. I LOVE the colours of them.

Of course, I've used some Nesties. Not sure I could make a card without a Spellbinders Nestabilities die quite honestly!

I've stamped my girls on Copic XPress It in Memento, even though I've been experimenting with the Cryogen (still on the fence) and back to some Neenah again. I always come back to my XPress It.

I'll list my Copic colours below. Make sure you stock up now if you are a Copic girl like myself! And don't forget about the refills! Rumour has it prices will be going up in the New Year. Great reason to add to your collection, don't you think?

Happy stamping!

Sarah

Wine stamp:

E79, E77, E74, E71, E70

G85, YG63, G24, G40

W7, W5

YR18, YR16, YR15, YR12

E55, E53, E51, E50

BG72

E11, E01, E00, E000, R20

E35, E55, E31, YR20

E37, E27

BG10

B0000

Cofee stamp:

E35, E33, E31, E23

YR24, YR23, YR21, YR20

E11, E01, E00, R20

RV14, RV13, RV11, RV10

V17, V15, V12

YG17, YG13, YG11

BG10

C5, C4, C2, C1, C0

I'd like to enter the following challenges:
Frosted Designs - Die Cuts
Inspire Me Fridays - Anything Goes
CR84FN - Brown, Tan, & Green
Crafty Cardmakers - Recycle (I used cut off scraps for the edge strips)
Craft Your Passion - Photo Inspiration
Our Creative Corner - Photo Inspiration
Stamping Bella

Lily of the Valley Little Bears Snowmen

2011-11-17T13:18:00.000-08:00

Hello stampers,

I'm thrilled to finally finish one of my new beautiful Lily of the Valley stamps! I love all of the LOTV images - they are so sweet. The Christmas release is no exception - and the little critters are adorable!

I've tried to use as much deep shadowing as I could fit into the small areas, and I've picked up traditional Christmas colours from the My Mind's Eye "Lost & Found Christmas" 6x6. Here I've used some Prima Printery flowers (one of my favourite releases from this fall - I have a drawer full - so I don't run out)

This was my first time (aside from Suzanne Dean's class) that I've used my Copics on Cryogen paper. It was definitely different, and I had to be very careful, as you can't use the colourless blender to fix mistakes. But I do like the result. I LOVE the shimmer of the paper and the heavier weight of it.

I've combined my love of Distress inks - and inked all the edges in Antique Linen (which I use for almost everything). I think it suits the look nicely.

I've added a few rhinestones and a little bit of diamond Stickles on the snow.

Very handy for me, the sentiment was already on the paper! I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Jellypark Challenges: Make it Sparkle

Lily of the Valley: A Christmas Card for Someone Special

Wags & Whiskers: Challenge 67 - Christmas Themed

Heart Song Inspirations: Challenge 25 - Gold or Glitter

2 Sisters Challenge Blog - Anything Goes

Moving along with the times - Challenge 125 - Let it Snow

Stamp: Lily of the Valley Little Bears Snowmen

Paper: My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Christmas, Copic XPress It, Stampin' Up cardstock

Accessories: Spellbinders Nestabilities, Prima flowers, jewels

Ink: Memento, Distress ink antique linen

Copics: R59, R46, R24, R22, R20, E15, E1, E11, E57, E55, E53, E51, E50, YG99, YG97, YG95, YG93, YG91, C7, C2, C1, C0, YR24, BG000, BG10

Don't forget - my blog candy is still open! Become a follower and leave a comment here!

Happy stamping!

Sarah

High Hopes Snowflake Challenge

2011-11-15T05:36:00.000-08:00

Hello stampers!

With snowflakes teasing us almost every day here in London, High Hopes is challenging you all to get our your paper snowflakes!

My gorgeous Tim Holtz snowflakes were anxious to escape their drawer and come out to play.

They've joined this gorgeous little High Hopes Santa (Santa's List) from the fabulous new 2011 Christmas release in my attempt to merge "cutesy Santa" with "antiquey distress".

I've stamped Santa on Copic XPress It with Memento ink and coloured him with Copics. I've punched him with an oval Nestie and mounted him on another oval paper. I've used the gorgeous new Christmas paper 6x6 from My Mind's Eye. Tim Holtz has a great choice of snowflakes out this year and I've used his edge die and his snowflake dies. I used my Xyron to adhere the snowflakes. I've distressed everything within an inch of it's life here. I've used Glimmer mist, distress inks, and glitter. He took a while to dry!

Come and join in the fun - create with snowflakes & High Hopes and enter to win some GORGEOUS new stamps!

Challenge # 122 is open for two weeks starting today!

Come on over and see what the other designers have created this week.

If you are in need of a High Hopes stamp, check out our Diva stores:

Lacey Stephens - Stamp and Create based out of the US

Nikki Fairbairn - Bunny Zoe's Crafts based out of the UK/Europe

Amy Wegener - Stampin' Stuff based out of Australia

High Hopes Website

Stamp: High Hopes Santa's List
Paper: My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Christmas
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Antique Linen distress ink, Picket Fence distress stain, Versa magic chalk ink (aquatic splash)
Accessories: Glass effect gel, Deco Art glamor dust, Inkssentials opaque white pen, Gelly roll pen, Glaze pen
Dies: Spellbinders petite ovals large, Tim Holtz Movers & Shapers mini snowflakes set, Tim Holtz On the Edge Snow Flurries
Copics: R59, R46, R27, C7, C5,C3, C1, C0, C00, E01, E00, R20, BG10, E42, E41, E40, W1, W00, W000

Tilda in Vriksha Asana pose

2011-11-12T19:02:00.000-08:00

Go here to win my blog candy!

I have been dying to ink up this gorgeous stamp. I love yoga (when I manage to get myself there) and I ordered this image from Magnolia as soon as it came out. But it did sit in my "drawer of good intentions (see here for BLOG CANDY)" for quite a while sadly.

Be sad no more little Tilda!

I have lovingly coloured her in some of my favourite Copic tones of RV90's and C's. I could have coloured her all day. These colours just blend so beautifully!

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
CPS Card Sketches #244
Crazy 4 Challenges
Just Magnolia
Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog

Namaste

Sarah
xx

Stamp: Magnolia
Paper: My Mind's Eye "Out of the Blue" & Copic XPress It & SU! Not quite navy
Ink: Memento & Tim Holtz distress ink in "iced spruce"
Accessories: Doodle twine in beetle black, Prima Printery rhinestones & flowers, Spellbinders Nestabilities Petite Ovals Large
Copics: RV99, RV95, RV93, RV91, C9, C7, C5, C3, C1, C0, E37, E35, E31, YR20, E11, E01, E00, E000, R20, BG10.

Christmas Copics

2011-11-12T14:43:00.000-08:00

Go here to win my blog candy!

Hello stampers!

I just have to say that I am so enjoying teaching these classes at SGD. Thank you to all of you who I've met so far - and I sincerely apologize if I do not remember names - I have a memory like a sieve! It has been such a pleasure and I'm loving every minute. It really is a different way to craft and makes me think quite differently when I create my cards. What I love the most though is having a purpose (and ok, deadline) to craft.

Obviously, my latest classes have been done with a Christmas theme. My personal challenge every year is to find a way to update the old staid Christmas colours and themes. And when I find something that helps me in this quest, it is a thrill!

This month I discovered two great things
Jillybean Soup Christmas Eve Chowder 6x6 paper pad - and the
new releases by Impression Obsession stamps.

I love the paper with the little penguins - and had to find a way to use them by themselves as a key component of the card.

This image is so cute - and when you have so much white space (i.e. snow and snowman) it is really pretty quick to colour. I've accented with some Stickles of course. And I have used my beloved Nesties as I almost always do. Note the pearls done with the Viva Decor Pearl Pen in ice white - one of my favourite discoveries this year. I love self-adhesive pearls, but quite honestly my gel nails are a liability when it comes to crafting, and this makes life SO much easier!

Here's a close-up of the stamped image so you can see the colouring. Not easy to get much dimension in small spaces, but I've given it a try - on his hat and scarf.

This image I also fell in love with. I love the REAL Christmas and the fact that it is about the real meaning of Christmas, not just Santa Claus and the Disney stuff. Did you know that the image of Santa as we know was actually a creation of Coca Cola? No kidding!

Anyway - I tried to bring in some "non-traditional" Christmas colours here and some of my faves - browns and blues. I've also used some red Stickles to add a bit of punch. And the pearl pen again as above (those darned gel nails). It's hard to see here, but I've used another super cool product to give my penguins little googlie eyes! It's the Viva Decor Glass effects, which I normally use to put dew drops on flowers.

Here's a close-up of the colouring. A little tip for you - don't be intimidated by what looks like a very detailed stamp. You can definitely always colour right over the details. It is much easier than you think. You don't have to colour every tiny little detail separately for it to look great.

If I haven't seen you at a class yet, I hope to see you soon!

Happy Stamping!

Sarah

Stamps: Impression Obsession

Paper: Jillybean Soup Christmas Ev Chowder 6x6 and Copic XPress It

Card: Bazzill

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Tumbled glass distress ink

Accessories: Viva pearl pen in ice white, Viva decor glass effects gel, Silver ice stickles, Xmas red stickles, Spellbinders Curved Rectangles Nestabilities and Lables Seventeen Nestabilities

Copics:

Snowman:

RV25, RV23, RV21

B06, B04, B02, B00

YG17, YG13, YG11

YR18, YR12

E35, E31, YR20

C1, C0

Bethlehem:

E79, E77, E74, E71, E70

Y17, Y15, Y13, Y11

R29, R27, R24, R22

B06, B04, B00

E31, Y17, Y15

I'm also entering into the following challenges:

Jellypark Friends Friday Challenges, "non-traditional colors"

Papertake Weekly Christmas

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge #59

There She Goes Holiday Projects

ABC Christmas: W is for Winter

BLOG CANDY & The drawer of good intentions

2011-11-12T08:19:00.000-08:00

Raise your hand if you can relate.

- You are catching up on your blog reader and you see a gorgeous new release of images that you just HAVE to have (all of them - right now - immediately). Never mind that Halloween is over and you'll never look at that pumpkin again until next year - at which time you'lll probably have completely forgotten it or no longer care....

- You are desperately waiting for that exact time of 11:04 pm when your favourite stamp company has it's new release so that you can race into the store and quickly buy up every image or die you can get your hands on - because it is an INVESTMENT really and how can you not? And you will really and truly use all of these gorgeous versatile stamps every day! Because I use the term "abundance" in every single card I make!

- There is a limited edition ink colour that you HAVE TO HAVE. After all - it is LIMITED EDITION! Seriously! How can you not have it? Who cares if it's a garish shade of fluorescent gray? It is a NEW NEUTRAL ladies - come on! And it is an INVESTMENT piece because it is designer - and did I mention LIMITED EDITION? Actually, I'd better get three - because really - they might dry out and then what will I do?

- omg - you are KIDDING - I can "click now" to add all 74 stunning new images into my shopping basket! And this will save me not only $0.34 (never mind an extra $45 of shipping - it is an INVESTMENT). Not to mention save my hand of the additional 73 clicks. And - even if there are only 3 images I want - the other 71 gorgeous flying unicorn with pixie wings and no faces because they are too perfect for noses - are really (need I say it? LIMITED EDITION!). And yes, you got it - an INVESTMENT. For sure.

OK - I could go on - really I could. But I'm sure you've been there (or are there, like right this minute - stop, do not click!) Right?

So - on with my story. This - (drumroll please) - is the craft space formerly known as the drawer of good intentions:

This started out as the place where I emptied all those gorgeous brown packages that came in the mail (or my friend Andrea's mail) because really - we need TWO of everything. It would be so silly to have to walk 5 minutes to actually get one of these investment pieces because there might be a midnight stamping emergency! And then what would I do?

Well, I'm sure you can all see what the result is. I no longer have any idea what is in there. And my grand plans of specific cards for specific events and friend's graduating from Masters in Wound Care and my neighbor's cat's hysterectomy - and not to mention Great Uncle Fester - who (praise the Lord) finally passed gas and will not be needing that surgery. I had these PLANS to stamp - really they were well intentioned....

Anyway - I've been inspired by my friend Sheila - who is one of the most generous and lovely (although slightly potty mouthed - you have to watch out for that one, really) crafting friends I know. She was written up in our local paper this week - you have to read this - it truly is a wonderful article about a wonderful woman truly Paying it Forward and not just making the motions.

Sheila Mankulich shows crafts her customers have made in exchange for donating food items for the London Food Bank at her scrapbooking store, Scrappin Great Deals, in Kilworth on Tuesday November 8th, 2011. Mankulich has collected food in lieu of fees for crafting sessions, and has collected over 300 pounds so far. (CRAIG GLOVER, The London Free Press"
For the full article click here!

So I'm going to share with you some of my treasures - and offer up some BLOG CANDY - once I hit 100 followers to my blog! Here is an array of goodies from my "formerly known as the drawer of good intentions" (Scor-Pal not included).

Here's what I'd love you to do:

1. Please follow my blog (I'm lonely and I need friends, truly, or at least fellow addicts)
2. Please share with me your story of crazy and rash crafty purchase gone wrong
3. Suggest a new name for my "formerly known as the drawer of good intentions"
4. Please - share my story!

Thanks girlies!
Happy stamping - and more importantly - INVESTING!
Sarah
xx

MFT, Copics, and Smooch Spritz

2011-11-06T18:05:00.000-08:00

Go here to win my blog candy!

Happy November everyone!

I just got home today from a Wound Care conference in Ottawa, so sadly I've had no crafty time this week. So sad :-( I hope to get back into the groove this week as I think that was my last work trip for the year (fingers crossed).

This is a card I made for a colleague last week. I picked one of my yet uninked MFT stamps (I LOVE these cute little Innocence girls!) - and by the way - you HAVE to check out this month's release if you are an MFT fan. Oh Em Gee!!!!

I've stamped her with Memento on Xpress It. Now, I have been a faithful fan of the XPress It since it's release, however, thanks to a great lesson with Melanie Holtz the other week, I have discovered that Neeneh does in fact have some great advantages, especially for the really deep shadows that I like, and dark reds, in that it doesn't get so sticky. Great to learn! Also, my stampin' BFF Andrea, who's now on Susanne Dean's design team (so super proud of her!!!) has introduced me to the Cryogen paper which I had the chance to try at Susanne's workshop this summer - and I do really like it's shimmer effect for certain things. So I guess I will be stocking multiple papers in my supply!

I've used this really cute 6x6 paper pad "Happy Go Lucky" which has some of my favourite colours in it. And so I got to use my RV90's which I've been playing with recently. I just coloured my fave Yoga Magnolia Tilda at Andrea's house the other weekend in the RV90's and I'm so pleased with how that came out - I'll be sharing soon! And I just love anything at all with some turquoise or teal in it.

For once, a very rare thing for me, I've even decorated the interior of the card! I have discovered that I like using a softly patterned coordinating paper from my 6x6 pad to do the inside and then stamping a sentiment on it. Although more and more, I use my own sentiment (I bought a great book last month) and I just print it on my printer. Sometimes you need something pretty specific. i.e. There aren't a lot of "Congratulations on Graduating with your Masters in Wound Care" stamps.

I even used some of my very precious Prima Printery series flowers on this card! I fell so much in love with that particular line, that I now have a drawer full of all the accessories, so I won't run out. Slightly obsessive, I know - but I'm sure all of you fellow crafters can relate??

As I almost always do, I've used a Nestie to punch out my image. And then I inked the edges while still in the die. If you take one of my Copic classes at SGD you're virtually guaranteed to learn this technique, as it is one of my trademarks for sure!

I also picked up some of the new Smooch Spritz sprays the last time I was at SGD, and I've used it here. I really like the effect! I was in the store and saw women buying one of each colour - so OF COURSE - I had to have some! I do like the bottle a lot - it's glass and it's skinny. I stand it right in between my pens. SO handy.

In case you saw the photos of my new Copic case disaster by the way, I'm happy to share that I am now fully in love with it!! It's such a great traveler. I spent a whole evening happily colouring on Andrea's couch the other week, Ott light perched beside me, wine in hand, enjoying an awesome show she's introduced me to (Bedlam - it's British and it's spooky - check it out!). And clean up is so quick. No more careful slotting of markers into tiny holes. FANTASTIC!

Happy week and Happy stamping!

Sarah

Stamp: My Favorite Things

Paper: My Mind's Eye Lime Twist "Happy Go Lucky. Copic XPress It

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Cool Carribean

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Copics: RV99, RV95, RV93, RV91; E35, E34, E33, E31, YR24, YR23, YR21, YR20; BG75, C7, C6, C5, C4, E11, E02, E01, E00, E000, R20, BG10

Accessories: Spellbinders Nestabilities, Prima Flowers, My Favorite Things Die, Smooch Spritz, Tim Holtz for Ranger Distress Ink in Antique Linen

Christmas card with Copics and Nestabilities

2011-10-30T18:13:00.000-07:00

Go here to win my blog candy!

Hello all - and Happy Halloween!

As I'm getting my little guy ready to be a Ninja for Halloween, I'm starting (slowly but surely) my Christmas cards! I have my ideas in my head, but haven't actually started mass production yet. I know, I know. It's time to get moving - after all, I do make 50 per year.

This card might just get me inspired to start my work finally!

I really love a Christmas card that is all about Christmas, but I don't particularly love the old fashioned colours of deep red and pine green. So when I saw this colour scheme by My Mind's Eye (12 Days of Christmas) it was love at first sight (or stamp)! And anything that incorporates my beloved teal & turquoise colours is a bonus!

I spent at least a couple of hours colouring this scene, and really enjoyed it. I had lots of fun adding layers to the different sections and trying to really get some contrast in the colour shading. I always start with choosing my image, then the paper, and then I match my copics to my paper. These colours just make me happy!

I didn't use any unusual colour pairings here. I stuck with natural blending partners. But if you're like me, and always looking for colour inspiration (or if you have this particular paper and want some guidance) here are my colours:

BG18, BG15, BG13, BG11, BG10
YG17, YG13, YG11
R29, R27, R24, R22
E35, E33, E31
YR20
BG07, BG05, BG02
E29, E27 E25
YR24, YR23, YR21

I have used my beloved Nestabilities by Spellbinders to accent the focal image. I'm not sure I ever make a card that doesn't use at least one die! I've punched out the Nativity scene with an oval, and then I used my new lattice die to punch out the accent paper.

For once, I've even decorated the interior of my card! This almost never happens, but there was the most perfect paper in the My Mind's Eye 6x6. And I used it to add the sentiment as well.

Happy stamping!

Sarah

snowmen and Kimmie day

2011-10-16T18:13:00.000-07:00

Hello all!

First of all, I just have to say what an AWESOME day at Kraftin' Kimmie Day! If you didn't have the chance to attend this second annual event, be sure and check it out next year! I'll include a few photos here. I sat with craftin' buddy and SGD co-worker Cheri - and we had a BLAST. We even managed the most yummy buffet brunch (omg - who doesn't love brunch?). But now I am POOPED out! Phew, time for a hot bath and BED....

While I was there - we made 4 make and takes - and they were GORGEOUS! Finally I managed to get my shadow technique Copic lesson with Melanie Holtz - I've been wanting to do this for over two years - what a treat!

And I managed to finish my design team High Hopes creation for this week (be sure and check out our challenge on Tuesday - what a fantastic way to win some beautiful stamps of your choice). If you haven't seen the new High Hopes release - you have to see them. They are honestly my favourite ever. And some of my favourite Christmas stamps. Sheila JUST got them in (I was snooping on the weekend - shhh - don't tell her!) so make sure you drop in or online and grab them before they're GONE!

So here is my High Hopes creation.

I LOVE this new Christmas paper in non-traditional bright colours. It's My Mind's Eye 12 Days of Christmas. It has some of my favourite colours in it, and those who know me well know how I will take any opportunity to use my BG's! I've also used some brand new Spellbinders I picked up today - can you ever have too many of these?? And the gorgeous gems are brand new as well from Prima. So many beautiful new things in the store - it's a good job I work here to pay for my habit! Good grief!

Tuesday's challenge at High Hopes will be "ribbon, lace, or twine" so I've used some twine from the Twinery that we got at Kimmie Day today (thanks Kim!)

Copics: G16, G14, G12; R29, R27, R24, R22; YR24, YR21; Y00; E41, E40; C4, C2; YR18.

Paper: Copic XPress It, My Mind's Eye 12 Day's of Christmas, Bazzill

Adhesive: Sticky thumb.

Gems: Prima

Dies: Spellbinders

Happy Stamping!

Sarah

easy Christmas cards

2011-10-10T19:05:00.001-07:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
I hope you all had as wonderful a holiday as I did! My husband is the most wonderful chef and cooked us a gourmet dinner. And my parents were here from Quebec to spoil the one and only grandchild. We had a great time. But it passes so fast....

Tomorrow night I have the pleasure of teaching a private class for a lovely group of ladies who have requested "easy Christmas cards". So I put together an assortment here that I hope they will enjoy.

This first stamp is from a new Inkadinkadoo series that Sheila just brought in - and they just make me smile! I couldn't resist them. And they are a nice small size for colouring a "quickie" card.

This second stamp is from the same Inkadinkadoo series - and I also just laugh looking at it! I think it's super cute and a perfect card for friends. I've used my scallop circles Spellbinders Nestabilities to cut them out.

Next I went to the fabulous Tim Holtz - and picked up his new Christmas series of stamps to create the next two cards. I just love the simplicity of this - and the "old style" of it. I've added stickles to the snowflake if you can't see it in the photo. I used a Sizzix embossing folder to emboss the gold card. And I stamped part of the large Tim Holtz image to get the word "joy". I used Versafine ink to get a more crisp image.

For this fourth card, I've embossed a shiny red card with a Sizzix embossing folder, and I've used the tree stamp from the Tim Holtz set.

Happy stamping!

Sarah

October MFT Guest Designer Contest

2011-10-04T08:57:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to create this project as my entry to the My Favorite Things October Guest Designer Contest! This month's challenge is to "create a perfect package". I have often created special giftwrapping, especially for wedding gifts, so this was a fun one for me!

I had no problem using all MFT designs in my project as I'm a huge fan. I adore the dies and the coordinating clear stamps. As a designer and instructor at Scrappin' Great Deals - I use MFT products in my classes all the time. In fact, my intermediate Copics class later this month will be featuring two MFT Pure Innocence Stamps.

As a guest designer, I would be continue to be the embassador for MFT that I have already become through incorporation of the fabulous dies and stamps in unique and creative ways! I share my work through teaching and designing. I blog for SGD as well as my own personal blog, to which I am proud to have many followers.

I am truly passionate about this wonderful hobby as it's allowed me to meet so many wonderful women who share my enthusiasm for crafting. I am having a fantastic time teaching workshops now and am so proud when people recognize my work. It's such an honour to be able to share this with other people.

Thanks so much to My Favorite Things for this wonderful opportunity to submit my work!

Happy Stamping!
Sarah
xx

High Hopes Challenge: #119 - Party Favor and HIGH HOPES OCTOBER SALE

2011-10-03T19:44:00.000-07:00

Hello all!

Well fall is DEFINITELY in the air here in London, ON. Fall jackets are out of storage and shorts are put away officially. Ahhh, so sad. BUT - that means Halloween is nearly here! I always said I would never be one of "those" mothers for my child. You know the type - who make the beautiful "Martha Stewart" type cupcakes for every class event. And the ones who send home the gorgeous hand-made gifts. Well, unfortunately for me, my competitive nature has started to get the better of me! And I fear I am becoming one of "those" mothers.

I've also created this little treat box for High Hopes Challenge #119 - Party Favor. Be sure and go over there and check it out! What a fun challenge to join - and a great chance to win some awesome, awesome High Hopes stamps of your choice (did you see the STUNNING snowmen just released? GORGEOUS!)!

Also - be sure to check out the October special to save 20% off!! Who doesn't love a sale!! This fantastic deal runs October 1 through 7 - so be sure to check it out!

Here is our Halloween treat basket we're making for Sam's classmates this year! I love an opportunity to make any kind of box or basket. It's a nice change from cards and always looks so cute. This one I found on splitcoast and is called "Maria's treatbox". Very nice and quick to make. Thanks Maria! I think I'll be using this one again.

I've used High Hopes angel bear pumpkin (seriously - how cute? all my favourite things in one - bear, angel AND pumpkin!). I've stamped him on Copic XPress It and coloured in Copics. And I've finally used this gorgeous paper I bought last month: The Apothecary Emporium Collection 6X6 Paper Pad by Echo Park.

After making a few of these, I must admit - I think it's time to upgrade to a Scor-Pal finally!!

Happy Halloween (almost)!
and Happy Stamping!
Sarah
xx

Prima Printery

2011-09-25T17:40:00.000-07:00

ENABLER ALERT!

I have to warn you - that with this new line - it was Love at First Sight!

Welcome to the stunningly gorgeous world of Prima Printery! I feel like these designers must have gone into my head somehow and designed my perfect line of products. Please note that before I wrote this blog - I first went into the store and bought as many pieces as I could carry so as not to run out!

This was a commissioned card I made this weekend and quickly snapped a few photos before it went out the door.

This is my perfect style. Old, European, French, Antiquey. I adore it! I've used several My Favorite Things (MFT) dies, as well as a favourite Spellbinders Nestabilities set. Aside from the adhesive and some Glimmermist (you can see the shimmer on the frame), the rest is 100% Prima Printery!

I've used the paper (I admit - full addiction to 6 x 6 paper pads), the jewels, and the stunning little tiles. About the only thing I didn't use (and that's because I forgot) is the gorgeous flowers!

Happy stamping!
Sarah
xx

High Hopes new release blog hop!

2011-09-21T23:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome to stop # 8 of 11 on the High Hopes Christmas Release Blog Hop!

You should have come here from the talented Kristine (if not, feel free to go back and see her gorgeous creation!).

And your next visit will be to the lovely Alex!

This is the lovely new "Christmas Joy" snowman from High Hopes that will be available to purchase on Thursday! Don't miss out on your order for one of these GORGEOUS new stamps! I must admit that I really dragged my heels on getting out the Christmas crafting supplies this month. Especially since I'm still wearing shorts and I HATE saying goodbye to summer every year :-( BUT these cute little snowmen have helped "ease" me into the spirit!

If you've been following my posts this week leading up to the official release date, I am continuing with my colour scheme for my cards with the GORGEOUS new Bo Bunny Blitzen paper. DEFINITELY my fave of the new Christmas papers so far! A perfect match with Stampin' Up kraft paper. I've added the coordinating cardstock stickers, and accented with a beautiful Prima flower I had left from last year, and some self-adhesive pearls. Those who follow me know my love with the Spellbinders nestability dies, and this is one of my favourite, labels ten.

I've stamped my little snowman on Copic XPress It with Memento ink in Tuxedo black and coloured him with my Copics. I always look for an opportunity to use some BG's!

Copic colours: BG18, BG15, BG13, BG11, BG10, E55, E53, E51, R39, R37, R35, R32, W3, W1, W0, W00, YG17, YG25, YG03, YR12.

I am a proud member of the Scrappin' Great Deals design team, and I'll certainly be featuring these High Hopes stamps on my blog posts over there as they become available for sale. Maybe I'll even teach with them this fall! By the way - there is an AWESOME sale on over there right now.....

go to Scrappin' Great Deals to

Save 25% on Spellbinders & Cuttlebug!!

This includes Grand Calibur, Cuttlebug Machine & sooo much more!!

Click here for our extensive Spellbinders Gallery!

Click here for amazing selection of Cuttlebug Products!

(pre-orders & clearance are excluded from this offer)

plus ...

With every $25 purchase (pre-tax) you will receive a FREE bottle of Stickles!

No coupons necessary - discounts will automatically be applied

These special offers end Friday, September 23rd @ midnight

Offers cannot be combined with other discounts/coupons

Tell them Sarah sent you!

Carrying on to your next visit along the High Hopes new release blog hop - please visit Alex! And when you get back to the High Hopes blog, don't forget to enter this week's challenge "Home for the Holidays". You have another week to enter your submission - and win some awesome new stamps!!

Happy stamping!

Sarah
xx

High Hopes sneak peek - day 2!

2011-09-21T01:00:00.000-07:00

Here's my creation for Day Two of the High Hopes Christmas release!

I am loving working with these stamps! They are the prettiest Christmas stamps I've seen in a while, and so much more versatile than the usual ones I see.

I've continued my theme with the beautiful new Bo Bunny Blitzen paper. I admit that I do have an addiction to 6x6 paper stacks - but this one is different - really!

I've stamped High Hopes Snowman with Bird on Copic XPress It with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. And (of course) I've coloured him with Copics!

I punched him out with my Nesties Ovals and the background paper with the Nesties scalloped ovals - and pop dotted them. I printed the sentiment myself on SU! Kraft paper, and punched it with my Nesties also.

I've added some gorgeous handmade crochet flowers that I found on Etsy, and added some accents with my Viva Decor pearl pen.

I'm also entering this card to the challenge for the brand new Touch Twin Markers by ShinHan!

Copic Colours:

R39, R37, R35, R32; YR12; E79, E77, E74; YG17, YG25, YG03; B97, B95, B91; E55, E53, E51; W5, W3, W1, W0, W00; BG10.

I am having such a great time as a Guest Designer for High Hopes - only wish I could do this full time - now that would be a fun career!

DO NOT miss our awesome Blog Hop - tomorrow - Thursday, Sept. 22 - and also to see the full release of these beautiful stamps!

Hope you enjoyed this little sneak peek!

Happy Stamping
Sarah
xx

High Hopes new release and "Home for the Holidays" challenge!

2011-09-20T09:23:00.000-07:00

Hello stampers!

I'm absolutely thrilled to be a guest designer for High Hopes stamps this fall! And I think I got the BEST release ever to work with! Just wait till you see these images - they are awesome. It was really hard to choose which ones to work on for the release this week!

This week - please join us for two special events - our "Home for the Holidays" challenge as well as our brand new Christmas release and blog hop!

This little snowman is absolutely one of my new faves for the holidays. With his string of hearts, he is SO PERFECT for Christmas! He just shouts old fashioned family Christmas to me. And as soon as I found these beautiful Bo Bunny Blitzen papers at Scrappin' Great Deals, I KNEW they would be a perfect match! I love these old fashioned colours, and muted combinations for Christmas, compared to the very traditional, staid red & green.

I had a great time colouring this guy with my beloved Copics. I am 100% a Copic girl, and so High Hopes stamps are ideal for me! They have nice open spaces to get some really good blending & shading and to really build up that colour.

Be sure to go to the High Hopes blog and see some more of these gorgeous new images! They are guaranteed to put you in the Christmas spirit!

Stamp: High Hopes Snowman with Heart String
Paper: Bo Bunny Blitzen, Copic XPress It
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz for Ranger Antique Linen Distress Ink
Cardstock: SU! Kraft
Dies: MFT sentiment die, Spellbinders Nestabilities Lacey Hearts, Tim Holtz Alterations Brackets Edge Punch
Accessories: SU! ribbon, Diamond Stickles, Sticky Thumb Adhesive, Tim Holtz blending tool
Copics: E79, E77, E74, E71, R29, R27, R24, B97, B95, B93, B91, E15, E13, E02

Happy Stamping!
Sarah
xx

MFT Pure Innocence and Copics

2011-09-19T07:12:00.000-07:00

Hello all!

VERY pleased to share this awesome deal with you! If you sign up this month at SGD, you can get 50% off any class of your choice in the month of October! What a great way to get back into the winter crafting season again! I'll be teaching two classes in October - Copic 101 on Oct. 12 and Intermediate Copics on Oct. 27.

I wanted to share with you the cards we'll be making at my October 27 Copic cardmaking class. These are the FIRST fall/ winter cards I've made this year. Phew, what a shock to the system! After such a beautiful summer, it was hard to say goodbye to my peach-coloured toes and my summer themed stamps!

These stamps are both from My Favourite Things Pure Innocence Line. I think they're cute as a button! They're very versatile images and come with several sentiments. AND, best of all, they are IDEAL for Copic colouring!

When starting with Copics, you want to choose images that aren't too "intricate" and have lots of nice open spaces so that you can get some nice blending and have room to work. Personally, I really like colouring little people as opposed to animals and scenes. So these stamps are some of my faves!

I also love High Hopes stamps - and I'm thrilled to be a guest designer for them this fall! We are just getting ready for the September release THIS WEEK! So be sure to check out my blog as well as the High Hopes blog to get a glimpse of the GORGEOUS new images which are happily on my craft table right now!

Copic Class - Oct. 27 - Card 1:

Stamp: My Favorite Things Pure Innocence You Color My World

Paper: Bo Bunny Back to Basics Forever Fall

Cardstock: Bazzill

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Tim Holtz for Ranger Distress Ink in Antique Linen

Dies: Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 8 and Sizzix Tags Scallop Combo #2

Copics: BG78, BG75, BG72, RV69, RV66, RV06, YR23, YR21, YR20, E01, E00, E000, R20, E33, E31, YR20, C4, C5, C1, BG10.

Copic Class - Oct. 27 - Card 2:

Stamp: My Favorite Things Pure Innocence Flurry of Love

Paper: Bo Bunny Back to Basics Blitzen Dot

Cardstock: Bazzill

Accessories: Bo Bunny Blitzen Dot Cardstock Stickers, Adhesive Pearls

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Copics: R37, R35, R32, E01, E00, E000, R20, E33, E31, YR20, B97, B95, B93, G85, G82, G40, BG10, BG000.

If you are coming to a Copic cardmaking class at SGD, please bring your own Copics if you have them! We do not have all the colours and will only have full sets for the 101 class. Please also remember to bring your adhesive, scissors, and paper trimmer. THANK YOU!!

I would LOVE to hear from you about any suggestions for future classes! I'm thinking of running some special Copic technique classes including monochromatic, black & white, "look no lines", etc. Let me know what you'd like to see from us!

I'm submitting these cards to the challenge for the brand new Touch Twin Markers! Check it out here

Happy Stamping!
Sarah
xx

fave Copic colour combos

2011-09-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

I’ve had lots of questions lately about favourite or best Copic colour combos, so I thought I’d write something about my suggestions this week.

First of all, if you don’t already have it, I would suggest that you get the Copic colour swatch book. Because it is printed on Copic friendly paper, you can try out colour combos right beside your chart. I get my ideas mostly from reading blogs. When I see a card that I like, I’ll write down the colour combo and try it out myself. I always write down my Copic colours in my blog entries and I know many other crafters do as well. Sometimes I just experiment and find colours that blend nicely together, and I’ll add them to my swatch book.

In no particular order, here are some of my favourites with examples of where I’ve used them.

Pinks:

My favourite pinky pinks are R81, R83, R85. Here you can see them on the little girl’s shorts. These blend into a nice pink, not too peachy and not too red.

If you want to "spice it up" a bit, you can use the combination of R89, R85, R83, and RV02. The R89 brings in some nice deep shadows which I like, and the RV02 brings a brightness. I like the contrast which you can see in this image in the skirt:

Greens:

This image also shows one of my favourite green combos: YG67, G24, G21, YG06. Same as with the pinks, the YG06 brings a nice "brightness" to the combination, making it not as flat or dull a green as it would be otherwise.

Blues:

I love deep, rich blues with deep, rich shadows. This is a card I made a long time ago, and I might do it a little differently now, as my style has certainly evolved. But I still like the combination of these blues. I used B99, B97, B95, and B93. The B99 is a beautifully dark, rich blue which gives some great shadows.

Skin:

Skin is always a tough one, and always a personal prefernce. Some people like a dark skin tone, while others prefer a pale look. Personally, I like a nice contrast with some deep shadows and I use E11, E02, E01, E00, R20. You can see how the skin under her bangs is shadowed and a deeper tone, with her cheek which is out in the sun, is much "brighter".

Hair:

Another popular topic in Copic classes and always a personal preference as well. Real hair comes in an infinite array of colours, so the sky is the limit when colouring hair! There are some great manga artists out there who colour in blues, pinks, and purples too. My "go-to" choice for hair is E35, E31, YR20. Depending on how many times you layer, and how deeply you colour, they can look quite different each time. Here are two images where I've used the exact same colours for the hair and you can see how much darker the second one is.

I hope this gives you a few tips and ideas for your Copic colouring!

Happy stamping!

Sarah

now designing for High Hopes stamps!

2011-09-06T04:54:00.000-07:00

Happy Tuesday and Happy Back to School Day!

My baby is starting GRADE TWO today – I can hardly believe it! Where did the last 7 years go? Seriously!

I’m THRILLED to bits to be a new Guest Designer for High Hopes stamps! I’ve loved this line of stamps for a long time, especially because they are perfect for Copic markers (my favourite medium). So I’m looking forward to inking up many of their beautiful new release images once they arrive! YAY!

I stamped this little guy for the “Back to School” theme over at High Hopes. Be sure and enter the challenge for your chance to win 3 High Hopes stamps of your choice!! What a great prize!!

Also come and check us out at our new page on Facebook for lots more creative ideas!

I’ve stamped my little mouse on Copic Xpress It – and coloured him in Copics. I’ve used Nestabilities Labels Eight in two of the sizes to create a frame as well as the Shapeabilities Butterflies die to create a two-layered dimensional butterfly. This BEAUTIFUL paper was a perfect way to ease me into the fall mood, even though I hate to give up the summer. I really am a summer girl – I have such a hard time with winter – ugh. I’ve spritzed all my paper with Glimmer Mist in Dazzling Diamonds. I just love the shimmery effect it gives. I’ve added some gold Smooch to add extra oomph to the flower and some other flowers in the pattern. I’ve used My Favorite Things rolled daisy die (I LOVE this) and found a coordinating brad in my stash to finish it off.

My background is on SU! Kraft - and I've used two SU! stamps in Tim Holtz for Ranger distress inks to create the setting for my little mouse. Of course, I've added a little extra bling here and there with some Stickles and some 3D glaze on my little mouse. I've typed my own sentiment which I found in this awesome book InspirationStation Book of Quotes/ Titles.

And if you're in the mood for a little enabling - check out my post on the Scrappin' Great Deals blog..

Happy stamping!

Sarah

Cardstock: SU! Kraft & Early Espresso
Paper: Copic Xpress It, Basic Grey pyrus
Spellbinders: Labels Eight, Shapeabilities Butterflies
Other dies: My Favourite Things Rolled Daisy die
Stamps: High Hopes mouse under mushroom, Stampin’ Up Linen Background, Inspired by Nature.
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress inks, Walnut stain, Frayed burlap, Antique linen
Copics: E59, E57, E55, E53. E13, E11, E02, E01, R22. E44, E43, E2, E41. R29, R27, R24, R22, YR23, BG78, BG75, BG72. BG02. YG99, YG97, YG95, G40. BG10.
Accessories: Glimmer Mist, Crystal Stickles, 3D Crystal Lacquer, Gold Smooch, Sticky thumb adhesive roller & dimensionals, SU! Dimensionals, Tim Holtz blending tool

fun with MFT dies

2011-09-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

This card was just for fun! Not for a challenge, or design team, or custom order, or anything other than for me! What a thrill!

I LOVE MFT dies - they are just some of the best in the business honestly! Now, the rolled flowers did have me stumped for a while, but many YouTube views later, I think I have at least a start at it!

I've used "Own Your Story" stamp set & die combo here which I just ordered last month. I think it's just a beautiful and versatile set. I love it! And how strange for me - a card with no coloring! Imagine!

I wanted to use all muted, neutral tones here to coordinate with this beautiful Bo Bunny et cetera paper, and to show off the dies really. I've also used quite a bit of Tim Holtz for Ranger distress ink with the ink tool, which I don't usually reach for. So this card was quite out of my ordinary style!

I've coordinated with some Stampin' Up cardstock in Kraft and Chocolate Chip, and I've used the Memento ink in both Tuxedo Black and Rich Cocoa. I LOVE stamping on designer paper - think it just looks so nice. And the stamps in this set are really versatile - they went so well with this Bo Bunny paper.

I've been trying to figure out this rolled rose die for a while now, and the right material to use with it. Finally I found some felt that worked just right. I did try with the Tim Holtz grunge paper, but I just found it too thick and rigid to work with. Practice makes perfect I hope!

The distress inks I used were Antique Linen and Victorian Velvet. I've used my beloved Viva Pearl Pen (how did I live without this thing?), some gold smooch, 3D crystal lacquer, and crystal Stickles. Can NEVER have enough bling!

Happy Stamping!

Sarah
xx

Kraftin' Kimmie Kimiko for BookEndz!

2011-08-30T18:13:00.000-07:00

This summer I found this great combination of my two hobbies online - reading and Copics! Check out the "BookEndz" book club on the "Color Me Creative" online classroom!

The book that we read this month was "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" by Lisa See, which I loved! I think I read it in about 3 days, which is a record for me. I absolutely love period stories anyway, and this one was so rich in detail - I loved it. A great read. It is about women in ancient China and their place in society, their relationships with other women and the controversial practice of footbinding. Really interesting.

At the end of the month, we were asked to create a project inspired by the book - and here is mine!

I wasn't sure where to find a Chinese stamp at first, but then found a selection of them from Kraftin' Kimmie! And of course, I chose red and gold as my colours. I've also tried for the first time the trend which is ALL OVER the blog world lately - of colouring Copics with no black lines. So - bear in mind - this is my FIRST attempt! I'm hopeful that I'll get better at it!

I'm not sure why, but I seemed to go with the toughest techniques on this card - coloring with no lines, blending reds, and black hair! Sucker for punishment I guess. I've used Copic XPress It paper with Memento London Fog ink. I've spruced her up a little with some 3D Crystal Lacquer, some Viva decor liquid effect pen on the flowers, and some gold Smooch.

I had fun coloring this image - and LOVED the book! I'm anxiously awaiting the party on Thursday night and the announcement of the next book! Funnily enough that cooincides with my real life book club. Good thing I like reading! I did try to coax it out of Suzanne when she came to teach here earlier in the month - but no luck. She wasn't giving in!

Happy stamping!

Sarah
xx

Stamp: Kraftin’ Kimmie Kimiko

Ink: Memento London Fog. Gold smooch ink.

Cardstock & Paper: Stampin’ Up (Cherry Cobbler)

Accessories: Prima flowers, Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Eight. Gold stickers. SU! Embossing Folder. 3D Crystal Lacquer. Sharpie Poster Paint Pen.

Copics: R29, R27, R24, R22. YR23, Y15, Y11, Y00. C9, C7, C5, C3. E13, E11, E02, E01, E00. C2, C00. C4. BG10. B00. Multi-liner.

a little smooch

2011-08-29T16:07:00.000-07:00

Hello Stampers!

These two cards are my contribution to the September card kit for Scrappin' Great Deals. I LOVE this image – but honestly, tried quite a few ways before deciding on how I wanted to colour her! My first attempt actually, was a see-through orange dress with black undies…. Needless to say, she did NOT make the cut for the card kit – hee hee!

Anyway, this is “a little smooch” by Mo Manning for StampingBella. This series of stamps highlights the “extra lovely” lady as you’ll note! Great cards for your real girlfriends, not your “green salad with dressing on the side” kind of friends, if you know what I mean!

I had a blast picking out papers and accessories with Andrea for the kit this month, really hard not to get carried away when the store had just received a HUGE shipment of beautiful new things! Be sure to drop by and check it out if you haven’t been recently. SO hard to resist!

In both images, I’ve stamped my little “smooch girl” with Memento tuxedo black on Xpress It cardstock (my personal favourite for Copics). I’ve coloured her with two different techniques, one in full colour, and the other one, just for fun, in monochromatic Sepia tones. I thought she had a ‘50’s kind of girl look to her for some reason. In that one I’ve used Spellbinders Nestabilities Deckled Edge Classic Ovals Large to punch her out, and distressed the edges with “Antique Linen” and “Frayed Burlap” distress ink.

Be sure and pick up the card kits this month – SO gorgeous! I had a great time working with them.

Sarah

Stamp: A Little Smooch by Mo Manning for Stamping Bella

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Inks in Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap

Paper: Kaiser Craft Velvet Ensemble and Xpress It for Copic

Accessories: Flowers, Ribbon, Self-adhesive jewels, Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 8 and Deckled Edge Classic Ovals Large

Copics: Colour: C9, C7, C5, C3, C1. YR18. E35, YR23, Y23. E02, E01, E00, E000, R20. B02. BG10. Monochromatic: W9, W7, W5, W3, W1, W0, W00.

La-La Land Roller Skate Marci

2011-08-22T19:11:00.000-07:00

After an awesome class with Suzanne Dean a few weeks ago, I'm still trying to integrate all I learned into my colouring. It is a bit of a change in style, that's for sure! But I've had lots of chance to practice, with my crafty friends at our regular Friday night crop night - so much fun! Although this week, my colouring was a little "off" to say the least, and I was colouring my poor images with see through dresses and black underwear to be funny. (Don't ask). Needless to say - I don't think they'll be making the cut for the monthly card kit! Maybe I've been reading too much of the "Bloggess" lately. That woman's humour just cracks me up!!

Anyway,

This little cutie is Roller Skate Marci from La-La Land Stamps! I’ll be teaching this card at Scrappin’ Great Deals on Sept. 29 in “Beginning and Continuing Copics”.

La-La Land stamps are perfect for learning Copics – with their open spaces and large faces, not to mention they are pretty cute!

I’ve gone with a retro ‘80s look for this card. With the roller skates, it seemed appropriate! She’s also meant to complement the little boy I’ve created for the same class, also with La-La Land.

I’ve coloured her with Copics, focusing on the 3 shade blending technique, and improved a little after my class with Suzanne Dean.

I’ve accented with some flowers, pearls, and stickles – and a cute little sentiment from Kaiser mini sentiments.

Sign up for the class at Scrappin' Great Deals!

Stamps: La-La Land Roller Skate Marci, Kaiser mini sentiment
Paper: Echo Park - Life is Good, X-press It Blending Card by Copic
Cardstock: Bazzill
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Ink Antique Lace
Copics: E02, E01, E00, R20, BG10, C3, E29, E5, E33, R85, R83, R81, G16, G02, G00, E35, E31, YR20
Embellishments: Bazzill flowers, Kaiser self-adhesive pearls, Diamond stickles
Adhesive: Sticky Thumb
Accessories: Sizzex Sizzlets: Flourish & Flourish 1, My Favorite Things die, Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 10

teaching Beginning Copic Class - Sept. 29

2011-08-20T15:09:00.000-07:00

Hello stampers!

This is my first post for the Scrappin' Great Deals blog! I'm thrilled to bits to be an official SGD Diva - and look forward to sharing all my favourite things with you, as well as the little tips and tricks I've picked up along the way. I had the great pleasure of taking Suzanne Dean's workshops last weekend, both the Beginner/ Intermediate and Advanced sessions with Copics. I learned SO much from these - what an absolutely phenomenal day! We hope she'll be back again next summer, and if you didn't attend this time - be sure to sign up for the next one! Not to mention an amazing learning opportunity, Suzanne tells her personal story which is so inspirational. Just fantastic. I'm sure you'll see my style of colouring evolve as I start to apply these new techniques that I've learned!

I'm really excited to teach a class on September 29 - called Beginning and Continuing Copics. This is for anyone who has tried Copics or who uses Copics, as you'll get to not only learn some techniques, but finish two cards! I hope you like my cardmaking style - and hopefully you'll like the two that I've created this month. We will have class markers available for those who do not have their own, but please do bring your own if you have them. And - you will get a 20% discount on all Copic products and products demonstrated in class! How can you beat that?

My first card is a little boy card! This cute little guy is Luka with Truck from the beautiful La-La Land stamps. If you are a Copic user and haven't tried these stamps yet, you really have to see them! They are so perfect for Copics with their open spaces for shading, and their large round faces. And not to mention CUTE AS A BUTTON!

I've used the most beautiful new paper from Simple Stories: 100 Days of Summer. I LOVE the bright colours and how perfect are these for a little boy and back to school? They're reversible and every one is gorgeous.

I've used one of my favourite line of products, the Spellbinders Nestabilities. I honestly struggle to make a card without them now. I have so many sets - and they are all beautiful and versatile. Here I've used the Petite Oval Large and the Petite Scalloped Oval Large. Don't you just love how they are compatible with each other?

Luka is stamped on Copic XPress It paper (my own personal favourite) with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and coloured in Copics (see colours below). I've used the awesome new adhesive from Sticky Thumb (you HAVE to try this one out!) to mount all of my pieces! Et voila - Luka with Truck!

Hope to see you on September 29 - or on my blog anytime at http://sarahsassy468.blogspot.com. My goal is to start incorporating some tutorials, maybe even videos (eeks!).

Sarah
xx

Stamp: Luka with Truck (La-La Land) and clear acrylic sentiment stamp
Paper: Simple Stories (100 Days of Summer), Copic XPress It
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Adhesive: Sticky Thumb Tape Runner and Pop dots
Accessories: Bo Bunny Jewels, Prima Flowers, Spellbinders Nestabilities
Copic Colours: B93, B95, B97, R24, R27, R29, B00, G20, G94, G99, E25, E27, E29, E35, E31, YR20, E11, E01, E00, R20, C0, C2

Sugar Nellie Stamp Challenge

2011-08-10T10:16:00.000-07:00

A cute little Sugar Nellie girl with her matching teddy!

Created for the Sugar Nellie stamp challenge

and for the Wild Orchid Challenge

High Hopes Stamp Challenge

2011-08-10T08:03:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone and happy August!

We are having a beautiful summer here in London - absolutely fantastic! And for some reason it is motivating me to craft! Well, that along with the fact that I had my crafty Mother-in-Law here for two weeks, AND I've been making time to get together with my stamping and crafting friends lately! We had an awesome time at Friday night crop at Scrappin' Great Deals last week - if you live in the area - definitely come and hang out with us some time! It's a blast!

I am also LOVING this weather and spending so much time outside - enjoying my backyard and deck. Even sharing my son's little pool with him! It fits my bum, so it works for me! And I happen to really like taking photos of my cards outside - instead of inside. I just like the look of the outside shots personally.

I'm especially motivated lately because I'm beyond excited to go to a full day workshop with Suzanne Dean this Sunday! HURRAY! I've been looking forward to this for MONTHS! If you don't know of her, and you're a Copic fan, you really need to check out her blog - and her FABULOUS YouTube tutorials! I really love them - they are so helpful.

I've been re-discovering my High Hopes stamps lately, which were buried in my stash. They are beautiful images to colour with Copics. I really love little people, and love colouring skin and hair especially, so these are perfect for me! You can find a full selection of them at Scrappin' Great Deals. Sheila keeps all the latest in stock! And my beloved friend and fellow stamper Andrea happens to be on their design team - so that certainly helps - as she's one of my crafty inspirations! (Definitely check out her beautiful blog for some inspiration - she is so talented).

I stamped this little girl with Memento tuxedo black, on XPress It cardstock. I always pull my Copic colours from my paper, and this one is My Mind's Eye, Lime Twist - Fly a Kite. I coordinated with Stampin' Up Pumpkin Pie and Buckaroo Blue to pull from the papers. I really like working with the 6x6" paper stacks and pulling all my other colours (card, flowers, Copics) from there.

I started by colouring her overalls in blue with B00, B02, B04, B06, B18. I've feathered over with the colourless blender a little to bring in some more highlight. I then coloured her t-shirt, bows, and patches in orange with YR07, YR04, Y38, trying to get a little contrast at least, even in those tiny spaces. Then I picked up the red in the flowers & ladybugs, with R14, R24, R26. I've coloured the little hearts in R14, R12. The skin I used my usual combo of E11, E02, E01, E00, R20. I like having lots of depth in the face and lots of shading. I just like the effect on my little characters faces. Her hair I've used my favourite combo E35, E31, YR20, which can really give different effects depending on how many layers you do, and how much white space you leave. The shoes and buckles are with E29, E27, E25. The grass and leaves are done with G20, G21, G24, G29. I've highlighted her eyes with B00 (I'm not fond of leaving "empty" eyes) and as I usually do, outlined the whole image with BG10 (my favourite colour). I've highlighted the little "dots" in B00, added some diamond glaze to the bugs and the flowers, and some stickles to the dots and lines, just to perk it up a little!

I added some Prima flowers, some rhinestones, and a cute sentiment from My Favorite Things - stamped on some of the Lime Twist paper and punched with a die from My Favorite Things.

I've entered this card into these challenges:
High Hopes: anything goes
Oldie but Goodie: Outdoors
Creative Craft Challenges: summertime
Everybody Art Challenges: summer
Craft Your Passion: favourite season
Have a great week!

Sarah
xx

Explore Tilda for Copc

2011-08-07T15:31:00.000-07:00

Hello again!

Another creation with my new Magnolias!

This is "Explore Tilda" who I've created for the Copic challenge # 55

As always, she's stamped in Memento chocolate brown on XPress it paper.
I've used "My Mind's Eye" tickled pink 6x6 paper pad for my background papers.
I've used Spellbinders Nestabilities die to cut her out.
I've added some dewdrops for accent, but left the layout fairly simple to highlight the scene.
I've added some stickles to the grass for accent and some glaze to the magnifying glass & the hearts.

I've used the following Copics:
Shirt: R00, R01, R02
Pants: BG01, BG03, BG05
Hair: E35, E31, YR20
Hearts: R30, R32, R35
Grass: G40, G82, G94, G99
Skin: E11, E02, E01, E00, E000, R20
Shoes: W0, W00, W1, W3, W5
Magnifying glass lense: BG10
Outline: BG10

Tilda with Butterfly Dress

2011-08-07T14:37:00.000-07:00

Happy Sunday!

I was so thrilled to get my recent shipment of Magnolias! I just LOVE colouring these gorgeous images with my Copics. They are adorable!! So I think I'll be posting quite a few of them this week...

This little girl is "Tilda with Butterfly Dress"

I stamped Tilda with Memento (brown) on Copic XPress it cardstock (my favourite for Copics).
I've punched her out with an oval Spellbinders Nestability.
I've used one of my favourite designer papers - Bo Bunny Gabrielle. One of them I've punched out with scallop oval Spellbinders Nestability die.
I've used my pearl pen to add some embellishments to the corners and included these gorgeous crocheted flowers I found on Etsy!

I've tried to keep Tilda fairly pale - which I don't usually do much with my Copics. I've been inspired lately by Suzanne Dean's YouTube tutorials on how to colour with Copics to look like distressing ink.

I've coloured her dress in BG's (my favourite colours) to coordinate with my Gabrielle paper. And I've used some peach tones from the paper as well.

I've used some stickles to "glitter" up the pebbles and added some glaze to the roses.

Colours used:
Dress & Bow: BG10, BG11, BG13
Roses & Lace Trim: R00, R01, R02
Shoes & Basket: E55, E57, E59, W5
Leaves: BG72, BG75, BG78
Hair: E35, E31, YR20
Skin: E11, E02, E01, E00, E000, R20
Socks: W00, W0, W1
Pebbles: W00, W0, W1, W3, W5, W7, W9
Outline: W1

I've created this card for the following challenge:
Just Magnolia Week 118

Kraftin' Kimmie Abigail Apple in Copic pastels

2011-07-17T07:45:00.000-07:00

Here's my latest Kraftin' Kimmie creation! I LOVE a stamp with a full skirt - so much fun to colour! And these colours are my ABSOLUTE favourite. I have gone through two packs of this beautiful Bo Bunny Gabrielle paper. It just suits me to a t!

I've stamped Abigail on XPress It with Memento tuxedo black. I've antiqued the edges with distressing ink and punched her out with a Nestie. After colouring, I've added a few accents with my Sharpie Poster Paint pen and crystal glaze on the apples. I did have to give her some eyelids and eyelashes. The big eyes seemed too "blank" for me!

Colours:
Dress: R17, R14, R12, R11
Apples, sash, bows: G24, G21, G20
Hair: E49, E29, E25, E33, E31
Basket: E35, E34, E33
Skin: E11, E01, E00, E000, R20, R00
Outline: Bg10
Eyes: B00

As mentioned, this is my fave Bo Bunny Gabrielle paper (6x6 stack). I've used SU! Cameo Coral. I've antiqued all the edges with distressing ink. I've added some cute little plastic flowers I had, and some self-adhesive pearls (I LOVE these patterned ones!). And then I've punched out various Gabrielle papers with my new My Favourite Things dies: Die-namics Dizzy Doily, Die-namics Sweet Stack Labels, and inside I've used Die-namics Dizzy Border.

To abide with Kimmie's challenge, I've decorated the inside for once! I used some more Gabrielle paper, SU! Very Vanilla, antiqued the edges, and stamped with a quote from the SU! Asian Artistry set (I LOVE this set!).

I'm entered this card into the following challenges:
Kraftin' Kimmie
Copic Challenge #54, Pastel Colors

Happy Summer! It's a hot one here today - 33 - phew!

Sarah

High Hopes Bear Hugs Thank You Challenge

2011-07-11T17:15:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful week of crafting with my mother-in-law who's been here visiting from England! Sadly my inlaws went home today, and it's back to work for me tomorrow - boohoo!

Here's a card I finished up this morning, for the High Hopes "Thank You" Challenge!
also for the Crazy 4 Challenges C4C95 Challenge.

I've stamped High Hopes "Bear Hugs" in Memento, rich cocoa, on X-Press it paper. I've coloured her in Copics, punched out with my Nesties ovals and mounted her on My Mind'sEye, Fine and dandy, "tickled pink" paper (punched with Nesties scallop ovals). I used another piece of paper from the same 6x6 paper pad, and mounted all on SU! cardstock. I also used SU! certainly celery (which I've embossed with a Cuttlebug folder) and kraft cardstock, and topped with an SU! taffeta ribbon. The "Thank You" sentiment is a SU! stamp, which I've stamped on the "tickled pink" paper with Memento, tuxedo black, and used my Nesties scallop ovals again, and pop-dotted. I've added some self-adhesive rhinestones, and some paper roses, which I've accented with liquid glaze (thank you Andrea for this great tip!) to look like dew drops.

Copics used:

Bear: E35, E31, E53, E50, R20, RV11

Skirt/ flowers: R89, R85, R83, R81

Shirt/ shoes: YG97, YG67, YG63, YG61

Socks/ t-shirt: C1, C00, C000

Hair: E31, E25, E29, E49

Bandage: E13, E11

Skin: E11, E01, E00, E000, R20, R00

Grass: G21, G24, G29

Outline: BG10

Happy Summer!

Sarah

La-La Land Sweetheart Marci for Copic Challenge

2011-07-07T15:46:00.000-07:00

This is my FIRST La-La Land stamp, and it certainly won't be my last! What a gorgeous image - and PERFECT for Copic colouring!!

I've used SU! Concord Crush and Barely Banana, which I've embossed. I've used the gorgeous Prima Sweet Fairy 6x6 Paper - what pretty colours! Accented with a Prima flower, clear SU! button with twine, and some old SU! ribbon I had.

Copics used:

C00, C0, C1

E11, E01, E00, E000, R20

V25, V20, V93

YR23

Y32, Y35

R85, R83, R81

E49, E29, E25, E33, E31

I've created this card for the following challenges:

Copic Challenge No. 53: White Clothing

Simon Says Stamp Challenge: A Stitch in Time

Papertake Challenge: Anything Goes (bonus buttons)

Card Positioning Systems: No. 225

Happy July everyone!

Sarah

Tim Holtz Movers & Shapers Bird & Cage and Glassine Paper

2011-07-07T08:17:00.000-07:00

Still having an awesome summer vacation this week - with my inlaws visiting from the UK. My Mother-in-law Carol and I have been creating non-stop and spending lots of time at my favourite store, Scrappin' Great Deals and attending lots of craft workshops, including an awesome morning yesterday with my good friend Andrea Murdock. I LOVE any chance to spend time with my crafting friends - and my beloved Copics!

Here's a card we worked on together after Andrea's workshop last week, where I picked up a new fave, Tim Holtz for Sizzix Movers & Shakers!

Here we stamped SU! French Script in Memento Brown on SU! Very Vanilla, then sponged several distress inks and some chalk inks. With Baroque Motifs, we embossed in detail white EP and inked the edges with distressing ink. We punched that out with SU! Top Note Die. We've used SU! Cool Carribean & Chocolate Chip Cardstocks.

My new faves here - Viva Decor Pearl Pens! Can't get enough of these! I also discovered the Tim Holtz Glassine Paper. SO lovely! So we've cut out of this paper with the Tim Holtz for Sizzix Movers & Shapers Bird & Cage. Aren't they adorable?

Happy Summer!!

Sarah