Mini Clipboard Display Easel and Sweet Pea Stamps Exotic Halloween

The images of Ching-Chou Kuik's art work can be very alluring and captivating and this Exotic Halloween rubber stamped image by Sweet Pea Stamps is no exception.

Here's a closeup view of my Copic-filled image:

These great mini clipboards, distributed by Nicole Crafts, are so much fun to alter. They're made of unfinished wood with an easy to remove metal clip. There is a metal insert on the back that can be used for wall hanging. A dowel is included so it can be used as a standing easel too.  You can find other mini clipboards that I've decorated here.

After painting the mini clipboard with Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Charcoal Black, I adhered a layer of Moxxie's Bump In The Night Dem Bones double-sided patterned paper and bordered the top and bottom with a striped layer.

A border of black lace on the right side of the image lies beneath some QuicKutz skeleton die cut pieces for a row of skull and cross bones.  Silver metal brads on this fun "Happy Haunting" sentiment from Outlines Rubber Stamp Co. help to carry the metal of the clip through to the project.

Here's a view of my completed mini clipboard showcasing my Sweet Pea Stamps Exotic Halloween image:

I'm entering this project into the following challenges:
Sweet Pea Stampers "sexy" (here)
Simon Says Stamp! "Dawny's Sketch" (here)
Crafty Catz "metal and lace" (here)
Totally Gorgeous "As You Like It" (here)
One Stitch At A Time "Halloween/Autumn (Fall)" (here)
Cupcake Crafts "Alter It!" (here)
Hooked on Crafts "Things with Wings!" (here)


Copics used:
skin: E000, E01, E11, E93
hair:  T9, T6, T0
dress:  YG11, YG13, YG17, V12, V15, V17
candle light:  Y00
pumpkins:  YR12, YR15, YR18
crossbones: C1, C00
airbrushed background: Y00, N4, N6

Card Art with Copics: Juniper by Sara Burrier

Early this month, I took some time to play with a newly released Crafts and Me digital image by Sara Burrier called Juniper.  I didn't realize until after I filled that image for a birthday card that Juniper may be a Christmas image.  As I posted the birthday card I thought I spotted a tree in her hair.  I've made some time to girlie her up a bit for a Christmas card.

I attempted to use Copic colors to fill Juniper after I printed her onto Bazzill Simply Smooth Ivory.  My Copic colors didn't behave as they normally do when I use my favorite paper for Copic markers, Bazzill Smooth White.  Instead, the Simply Smooth paper treated my application of Copics much like X-Press It Blending Card and Cryogen paper.  The Copic ink became very splotchy, my Colorless Blender was ineffective and I was disappointed with my finished colored image.  I'm showing it here anyway as her splotchy skin looks scaly like her tail and arms.

This view shows a closeup of my Copic-filled Juniper image:

I've used My Mind's Eye Holly Jolly "Candy Canes" paper with Bazzill Kraft, red and green.  I used grungeboard covered with green cardstock to die cut a Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations Pine Tree to show how Juniper is using the string of pearls wrapped around her hand to trim the tree.  KaiserCraft white pearls and Prima's Say It in Crystals help to bling it up.  The pre-printed My Mind's Eye "i believe" decorated ribbon provides text.

I've added handmade poinsettias layered from Carl Crafts large, medium and small Kikyou punches with a Punch Bunch medium holly and small flowers.  Yellow Stickles adds bling to the flower centers and Stickles Diamond glitter glue is painted over the surface of all of my handmade flowers.  You can find out more about how I make these layered poinsettias here.

This photo shows my completed card front using Juniper by Sara Burrier:

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Christmas-Winter Sketch (here)
Divas by Design Christmas in August (here)
Colour Create Kraft, Red, White/Cream (here)
Winter Wonderland Trim A Tree (here)
Papertake Weekly Dies to Die For (here)
Creative Card Crew Handmade Flowers (here)
One Stitch at a Time Bling It Up (here)
Sparkle Creations Weekly Christmas Card Challenges Glitter! (here)
Creative Inspirations Text Me (here)
Charisma Cards Glitter It (here)


Copics used:
skin - E000, E01, E11, E93
hair, fins - Y13, Y26, Y28
tree in hair - G82, G85, G99
tail, arm scales, breast plate - R22, R27, R59
airbrushed outline - BG99
Copic Opaque White for image's pearls

Crafts and Me Challenge: Lace

The digi design team at the Crafts and Me Challenge blog wants to see lace on your project.  Letraset is sponsoring this challenge and offering a set of five promarkers to a randomly selected entry.  You can find out more about this challenge and their sponsor here.

I've used a newly released digi image from Sara Burrier called Porcini.  I generally size my digis to an average of 3.5".  This photo shows how I've used Copic colors to fill this image after I've used the "beyond the edge" technique with a QuicKutz cookie cutter tag die.

I've kept my embellishments light but found that these flower buttons bring out the flowers of the Bo Bunny Petal Pushers - Garden background paper.  The sentiment is from Hero Arts.

This photo shows a full view of my Porcini easel card . . .

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Paper Sundaes' "Sundae Bar Two Toppings" Green Buttons Twine (here)
Bunny Zoe's Crafts "Easel Cards" (here)
PaperCrafting Journey "Anything Goes" (here)
Stamp Something "Say Thank You" (here)
Sketch Saturday (here)
Sir Stampalot "Whatever You Fancy" (here)

Copics used:
skin - E000, E01, E11, E93
hair - E31, E35, E47
wings - YG01 softened with 0
dress - YG21, YG25, YG67
stockings - YG21, YG25, YG67, RV11, RV14, RV17
airbrushed background - YG01, Y18, RV11
Opaque White

Sizzix Big Shot Pro Candy-Shaped Box and Sweet Pea Stamps Time Flies

The line of dies that Sizzix makes available for use with the Big Shot Pro allows me to easily create a variety of fun projects.

I used the Sizzix Big Shot Pro Candy-Shaped Box to form a great base to adhere my Sweet Pea Stamps Time Flies image by Ching-Chou Kuik.  Here's a view of my very brightly (and red-haired!) Copic-filled image:

I've added a few Spellbinders Floral Flourishes die cuts, some QuicKutz leaves and made some flowers using Carl Crafts Cosmos medium and small with a Punch Bunch mini sun.  This fun birthday sentiment is from the JustRite Elizabeth Dulemba's Adorable Dragon set.

Here's how the completed Candy-Shaped Box looks with the Time Flies image and embellishments attached:

I'm entering this project into the following challenges:
Sweet Pea Stampers "Fly Me Away" challenge (here)
Dream Valley "Lemon, Lime and Orange" challenge (here)
Craft Your Passion "Anything But a Card" challenge (here)
Anything Goes "Happy Birthday/Celebration" challenge (here)
Creative Craft "Anything But a Card" challenge (here)
A Spoon Full of Sugar "Happy Birthday" challenge (here)
Flutter By Wednesdays "Punches or Die Cuts" challenge (here)
Divas by Design "Birthdays" challenge (here)
Emerald Faerie Garden "Birthday" challenge (here)
One Stop Craft "Bold and Bright" challenge (here)

"Top 3" Sept. 4, 2011 Dream Valley

 

 





Copics used:
skin - E000, E01, E11, E93
red hair - E07, R14, YR23
sleeve/btrfly - Y02, Y06, Y08
dress/btrfly/head ornament - YR21, YR04, YR07
waist/dress appliques/btrfly - YG01, YG05, YG09
moon/napsack/btrfly - C1, C3, C5
airbrushed background - YR02, YG01, Y02
Copic Opaque White highlights

Card Art with Copics: Sweet Pea Stamps Dance of Butterfly

The Sweet Pea Stampers challenge blog (here) wants to see your blue crush-themed projects using Sweet Pea Stamps and they're offering a 3 count grab bag of Sweet Pea Stamps as a prize.

This photo shows my Copic filled Sweet Pea Stamps Dance of Butterfly by Ching-Chou Kuik.  Notice that I've given her blonde hair!  Nearly all of my images have brown hair.  I'm trying to go with the Blue Crush theme and my surfer chic, well she would have sun-bleached hair, right?

I think that I've watched a movie called Blue Crush about female surfers so I thought this Best Creations' Surf's Up patterned paper would be appropriate to layer with coordinating Bazzill cardstock.  I've flipped the sketch found at the Saturday Sketch challenge (here) so I could tuck my image behind the Sizzix Tim Holtz On The Edge Scallops in the hopes that my mermaid would appear to be surfing by.  I added a cute saying from the JustRite Elizabeth Dulemba's Adorable Dragon set that meets the Paper Sundaes "Just Saying Hi" challenge (here).

This photo shows the completed card front and my entry into the Sweet Pea Stampers, Saturday Sketch and Paper Sundaes challenges:

Copics used:
skin - E000, E01, E11, E93
hair - Y13, Y26, Y28
tail - B12, B16, B18
butterflies - YR0000, YR12, YR16; YG11, YG13, YG17; Y13, Y15, Y19
airbrushed background - Y13, Y28

Card Art with Copics: The Talisman by Sara Burrier

I'm thrilled to have a chance to add color to this amazing and recently released Sara Burrier image named The Talisman.  This very young mermaid is holding a shell as though it's a magnificent treasure.  Here’s my first attempt at filling this fabulous image using Copic colors.

I've used the brush tip of my Copic marker to add some doodled seaweed to the base of my background.

The photo shows how I've layered Bazzill white cardstock to complete my card front, allowing The Talisman to remain the focal point of this simple and plain card . . .

This wonderful image can easily share the message of "thank you" for the gift, "from me to you," any birthday sentiment or a simple "thinking of you."    Some added sand and/or small shells will really add great detailed support to this image.


Copics used:

Skin – E000, E01, E11, E93

Hair/Shell - E31, E35, E47

Tail - BG11, BG13, BG15, B60, B63, B66, Y13, Y15, Y19
doodled seaweed - YG95

Airbrushed background – Y13, BG13, BG15, BG18, YG97

Copic Creations Challenge: Blue-Greens

The design team at the Copic Creations Challenge blog wants to see your Copic blue-greens.  A Day for Daisies is sponsoring this challenge and offering $12 for digi images at their online store as a prize to a randomly selected entry.  Find out more about this challenge and the sponsor here.

A Day For Daisies provided me with this beautiful Happiness image from their fairytale collection.  This view shows a closer look at my Copic filled image where I have used blue-greens to fill her wonderful and overflowing gown.  I've added an appropriate sentiment from My Favorite Things.

I chose Copic colors to coordinate with the My Mind's Eye Tres Jolie Mademoiselle "Sisters" floral pattern/bleu paper that I layered with Bazzill cardstock.

To allow the image to remain the focal point, I added a few QuicKutz flourishes, light Magnolia Shabby Chic Garland, and a Petaloo Color Me Crazy Wild Rose to lightly embellish a side border.  A 5/8" satin ribbon bow makes a nice addition.  This photo shows the completed card front that includes my Copic blue-green image.

Here's a look at the open easel card that I made using Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities Labels One.

Hop over to the Copic Creations Challenge blog to see more of the sweet A Day for Daisies images filled with Copic blue-greens.

Copics used:
skin - E000, E01, E11, E93
hair/shell - E31, E35, E47
dress/bonnet/shoes - BG70, BG72, BG75, BG78
airbrushed background - RV95, E44

Simple Card Art with Die Cuts: Spellbinders Labels One

I've been presented with a bit of a challenge to prepare cards and projects showcasing use of Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels One dies.  I do love using these wonderfully shaped dies for layering matting with my Copic-filled images.   OH! There's sooooo much more that can be done with these 6 graduated dies!

I've used some of the beautiful patterned papers included in the My Mind's Eye A Beautiful Life 6x6 Paper Pad with wonderful Bazzill cardstock colors.  Smaller Spellbinders flowers dies make coordinating flower embellishments so easy to add.  Tim Holtz Alterations Elegant Flourishes by Sizzix are sprinkled throughout.  May Arts ribbon adds a special touch in places.  Want 2 Scrap's Nestabling Labels One continues the shaped line of these Nestabilities die cuts.

Take a look at the ten different but coordinated cards and projects I've made using the Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels One that we'll be putting together at my September Spellbinders Nestabilities - Let Us Count the Ways - Labels One class at the Scrappers Cove in Milltown, NJ.

I look forward to sharing my love for Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels One by showing just some of the ways this wonderful and versatile product can be used in papercrafting projects.

I've deliberately left areas for greetings, sentiments, and images blank to allow viewers to use their imaginations to place their own sayings.  How do you feel about that?  When you're considering taking a technique class, do you prefer to see a "Thinking of You," "Happy Birthday," "Just Because" or other stamped image instead of a blank area?  Would that change your mind about taking the class?

Crafts and Me Challenge: Make it Count! Add a Number!

The Dynamite Digi team at Crafts and Me Stamps wants to see a number on your project.  Memory Box is sponsoring this challenge and offering three dies to a randomly selected entry.  Find out more about this challenge and sponsor here.

I've used a newly released Christmas digi image by Sara Burrier called The Giving Angel.  The cookie tray she's carrying holds gingerbread men, trees, stars and other scrumptious treats.  This photo shows a closeup of my Copic-filled image.  I used a Tattered Angels Glimmer Screen Fanciful Stencil for airbrushing a background.

I've layered Bazzill green and rust with a touch of green bling to coordinate with My Mind's Eye Holly Jolly "Holly Berries" double-sided patterned paper.

Using Spellbinders Labels One for the "beyond the edge" technique allows those wings to keep their heavenly shape past the edge of the die.

A few QuicKutz holly leaf photo turns and mini gingerbread men add a nice border to enhance the holly in her hair and the cookies on her tray.  The calendar is from the Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Mini Holidays set.

A ticket from a Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Odds and Ends set adds another number to my card.  I've used Tim Holtz idea-ology charm clip and Adornments star charm to match the theme.  A couple of QuicKutz scalloped corners and a bit of 3/16" gold sparkle edged ribbon help to pull it all together.  This photo shows the completed card front showing my use of The Giving Angel and how I've added a number to my project.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Hooked on Crafts "Sweet Treats" Challenge (here)
Ooh La La "Oh Christmas" Challenge (here)
Cupcake Crafts "faux stitching" Challenge (here)
Fab 'n' Funky "It's Christmas" Challenge (here)
Flutterby Wednesday's "Favorite-Open" Challenge (here)
Stamp Something "Use a Digi" Challenge (here)
Stampin' for the Weekend's "Spots and Dots" Challenge (here)

 

 

"Top 3" Aug. 19, 2011 Stampin' for the Weekend

 

 



Copics Used:
skin - E000, E01, E11, E93
hair - E31, E35, E47 (holly G85, G82)
wings - C5, C3, C1, BV000, V000, Y000
gown - R43, R46, R59 (Y13, Y26, Y28)
apron - BG93, BG96, BG99
cookie tray - C00, C1, C3, E99, BG96, R43, BG93, Y13
airbrushed with mask - BG93, BG96, BG99
ticket and calendar airbrushed to make less white - E41

ATC and Card Art with Copics: Sweet Pea Stamps

I made some time to play with this extraordinary image by Ching-Chou Kuik called Fluttering Butterflies.

As the "In A Sweetpea Dream" challenge blogs asks for ATC (Artist Trading Card) art, I completed the image then trimmed it to 3 1/2" x 2 1/2" to match the size of an ATC.  Find out more about their challenge here.

The Sweet Pea Stampers challenge wants to see bright colors.  Find out more about their challenge here.

This photo shows my very brightly Copic-filled, ATC size image . . .

I adhered this Fluttering Butterflies ATC-sized image to layers of Bazzill neutral-toned cardstock and finally adhered those layers to a simple and plain card.

I used a touch of Copic Opaque White in places on this image to add some white back to the dots in the background and to try to add the glint to her eyes.

Note:  There is something particularly odd about this image.  I had some trouble defining her breasts, of all things.  Either she has three or one - LOL!!!  I could not seem to find the correct area using the stamp artists' cleavage line as a clue.  Oh my, another Copic dilemma! - LOL!!!

I'm also entering this card into the following challenge:
Cute Card Thursday No Designer Paper Challenge (here)

Copics used:
skin - E000, E01, E11, E93, BV00
hair - E31, E35, E47
dress/wings/butterflies - BG13, BG15, BG18, V04, V06, V09
lantern - Y13, Y26, Y28, C1, C3, C5
moon - Y13, Y15, Y19
airbrushed background - Y15, BG15, V04

Card Art with Copics: Crafts and Me Juniper by Sara Burrier

When I first saw this newly released Sara Burrier image named Juniper, she seemed a bit spooky to me. I thought she looked more like a dragon or snake then I realized she was a mermaid. She has an unusually-shaped mermaid tail and scales on her arms that make her very interesting to fill with color. Here’s my first attempt at filling her using Copic colors.

Just a narrow frame of Basic Gray’s Jovial Snowball Fight patterned paper peeks through my layered Bazzill cardstock. I’ve kept my embellishments very light but had to add some aquamarine Prima Say It With Pearls in my attempts at creating some underwater swirly movement. This photo shows the completed card front allowing Juniper to remain the focal point of this encouraging birthday card with a computer-generated sentiment . . .

I think I’m going to spend some more time with Juniper to girlie her up a bit and alter the spooky first impression she’s left on me. She appears to be a mature mermaid that may benefit from some added elegance. If she is meant to be a more dark and sinister Lorelei or Siren, both of whom are known to use their beauty and sweet songs to lure sailors to their deaths by crashing their ships on rocks, then perhaps my initial feelings were correct. Hmmm.

9:18pm Edited to add:  I'm getting tired and I think my sight is getting blurred.  I glanced at a black and white image of Juniper and I think I just spotted a Christmas tree in her hair!  Maybe that's why she's called Juniper - LOL!!!  I thought she had an especially long ear!  Now, I've definitely got to color her up again and see what I can make of it.  I think that I've also found her much more proportionately sized ear!  Could it be that she's checking her hand mirror to see how the tree looks in her hair?!?!?!  Am I seeing more clearly now?  Is her tail rounded so she'll look like a Christmas tree ornament?  Oh, yeah . . . she's a tricky one, this Juniper.

I’m entering this card into the following challenges:

Sketch Saturday’s Challenge (here)

Papertake Weekly Anything Goes Challenge (here)

Totally Paper Crafts Bling It Up Challenge (here)

Craft Your Passion Anything Goes Challenge (here)

Copics used:

Skin – E000, E01, E11, E93, BV00

Hair/Tail – BG70, BG72, BG78

Tail/Arm Scales – YG91, YG95, YG99

Breast cover/Arm bands – Y21, Y26, Y28

Airbrushed background – BG72, YG95, Y26, BV00, C3

Copic Creations Challenge: Add Grass and Landscape

The current challenge at the Copic Creations Challenge blog is to add grass and/or landscape to your images.  Lili of the Valley is sponsoring this challenge and offering a generous gift certificate for use at their online store as a prize to a randomly selected entry.  Find out more about this challenge and the sponsor here.

I've used Lili of the Valley's Time for a Cuppa image.  I do love tea and I'm always attracted to tea-related images and sayings.  This view shows a closer look at my Copic filled image where I have used quick, short strokes of the brush tip to flick some blades of grass for ground cover and stipple a few wildflowers throughout the ground . . .

I chose Copic colors to coordinate with the Echo Park's Life Is Good Floral Dress patterned paper that I layered with Bazzill cardstock.

I used flower and birch leaf punches with a mini sun to layer coordinating flowers on one side,

while a Crafty Secrets Tea with Alice sentiment and teapot charm adorn the other side.

This photo shows the completed card front that shows how I've used Copics to add grass and a bit of wildflowers to my image.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Lili of the Valley Domi's Sketch Challenge (here)
Paper Sundaes Clouds and Sky Challenge (here)
Allsorts Free and Easy Challenge (here)

 

"Top 3" Aug. 10, 2011 Paper Sundaes

 

 



Copics used:
skin - E000, E01, E11, E93
hair/table legs - E21, E23, E27
hat/dress/socks/cupcake - RV0000, RV00, RV11, BG11, BG15, BG18
shoes/teapot/teacup - Y21, Y26, Y28
grass - G00, G12, YG11, YG13, YG17, BG18
tablecloth - R20, R22, R27
airbrushed clouds - BG15, BG11/ground G12