Why Rosie's Book?

While growing up, I had a dear friend, Renee, that lived next door and with whom I spent much of my childhood. We grew, in different directions, and went on our merry way. Many years later, I ran into her parents and they kindly reminded me of the laughs they still have over my book. “What book?” I wondered with a puzzled look. "I don't remember a book." Hardy laughter accompanied their response. At some time during our childhood, I tried to convince Renee about something that her parents didn’t agree with. I told her that proof of its truth could be found “in my book.” Naturally she went home and tried to convince her parents of the same thing but they weren’t falling for it. She needed an edge and told them emphatically, “It’s in Rosie’s book!” After they caught their breaths from reborn laughter, they let me know how “Rosie’s book” has been cited for many other things throughout the years. They’ve also mentioned that they’d like to see “Rosie’s book” one day. I can’t remember all of the things that I said were in “my book” but I’m sure my dear friend’s parents can recall much more than I ever knew about – LOL!!! So, here it is . . . my version of things you might find In Rosie’s Book . . .

Monday, October 31, 2011

Window Card with Sara Burrier's Lady of Opal

This lovely Sara Burrier digital stamp named Lady of Opal was recently released at Crafts and Me Stamps.

This view shows my Copic-filled image.  I've painted a thin layer of Diamond Stickles over her wings for some sparkle and added a dot of Goldenrod Stickles to the flowing flowers.



An Accent Depot Music Notes brad, a glimmer brad and a Recollections mulberry paper mini rose is centered in each of my Prima white paper flowers to create this flower cluster.



I used Spellbinders Labels Eight to create a window on the front of my Bazzill olive card and added a matting of My Minds Eye 2010 Holly Jolly "Ornamental" paper.  A Memory Box Delicate Vine borders a side of the frame as well as the other side of the image inside of the card.  The computer-generated quote taken from the 1955 "Let There Be Peace on Earth" lyrics by Jill Jackson Miller and Sy Miller is part of one of my favorite church songs, often associated with Christmas, and seems to be appropriate for use with this image.

Here's how the inside of my window card looks when opened . . .



This view shows the front of my completed window card . . .



I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Stamptacular Sunday "Borders and Frames" (here)
Simon Says Stamp "Anything Goes" (here)
Charisma Cardz "Anything Goes" (here)
PaperCrafting Journey "Use a Digi" (here)
Crafty Purple Frog "Sparkle" (here)
Totally Paper Crafts "Glitter It" (here)
One Stitch At A Time "Christmas" (here)
Dream Valley "Anything Goes" (here)

Copics used:
skin - E000, E01, E11, E93, BV00
hair - E31, E35, E47
dress, wings, flowers - YG61, YG63, YG67, E04, E07, E09
airbrushed background - E07, YG63, YG61

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Simple Card Art with Die Cuts: Spellbinders Labels Two

I've continued working on a previous challenge presented to me to prepare cards to show use of Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Two dies.  I do love using these shaped dies for layering matting with my Copic-filled images.   There's so much that can be done with these 6 graduated dies!

I've used some of the fun birthday patterned papers by TCD Studios with coordinating Bazzill cardstock colors.  I left the cards simple to allow the addition of embellishments and sentiments later.

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

These cards emphasize embossing without cutting, shaped cards, adding layers to a center step card and gatefold card, adding windows to card fronts, embossed frames and more.


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

You can find examples of how I used the Spellbinders Labels One dies here.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Card Art with Copics: Into The Word by Sara Burrier

Crafts and Me Stamps carries a wonderful array of fantasy art images.  I've made some time to play with a recently released digi image by Sara Burrier named Into The Word.  This sweet fairy is sitting atop a mushroom while reading her favorite book.

Here's a view of my Copic-filled image.  I've painted her wings with Diamond Stickles for shimmer.  This image is very long and thin and would make a magnificent image to use for a bookmark.  I've sized her at 4.49" high by 1.46" wide.


I'm always thrilled to be able to make my own handmade flowers to coordinate with my project.  Take a look at these roses I made using All Night Media medium and small blossom punches, and a Punch Bunch leaf.  I punched my blossoms using scraps of My Minds Eye word paper because, after all, my fairy is Into The Word.  A few Anna Griffin Fern punches are appropriate to use with a mushroom image too.  Here's a closeup of one of my handmade flower clusters including My Minds Eye Madison Avenue "Sisters" buttons and embroidery thread bows.



I've layered Bo Bunny's Gabrielle Collection patterned paper and wubieprints lace paper with Bazzill brown.  My Purple Cow's deckle edge cutter and Paper Shapers deckle edge scissors give my paper edges a torn look.  I used a sentiment from My Favorite Things.  This photo shows my completed card front showing Into The Word by Sara Burrier.


I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Sketch Saturday "Sketch by Jo" (here)
Ladybug Crafts Ink "Circles, Pink and Chocolate" (here)
Cupcake Craft "Buttons and Bows" (here)
Everybody Art "Mushrooms" (here)
Fab-n-Funky "Distressed or Torn" (here)
Flutterby Wednesdays "Open" (here)
Moving Along With the Times "Vintage" (here)
Totally Paper Crafts "Layer Upon Layer" (here)
Bunny Zoe's Crafts "Lace it Up!" (here)



 
 
"Top 3" Oct. 28, 2011 Moving Along with the Times
 
 


Copics used:
skin - E000, E01, E11, E93, BV00
hair - E49, E44, E42
wings, gown - R01, R20, R22
mushrooms - E50, E53, E57, R22
airbrushed background - BV02, B12, E55

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Crafts and Me Challenge: Blue, Green and Pink

The Dynamite Digi design team over at the Crafts and Me Challenge blog wants to see your projects using Blue, Green and Pink. The wonderful Trish of the Crafts and Me Stamps Rubbah Team has donated the prize for this challenge and is offering Caron Vinson's Scorpio rubberstamp image by Sweet Pea Stamps as a prize to a randomly selected entry. You can find out more about this challenge and prize here.

I've used one of the lovely newly released images by Sara Burrier called Hope.  Here she is filled with Copic colors . . .



These wonderful handmade Asters are made using Punch Bunch medium ash leaf, Carl Craft medium cosmos and the Punch Bunch mini sun punches.  I love to be able to use scraps of coordinating papers that were leftover from my card to make flowers that match so nicely.  Painting them with Diamond Stickles adds a special bling.  This closeup of my Asters includes a QuicKutz flourish swirl and an Anna Griffin punched Butterfly.




I created this step card using Bazzill teal, yellow-green and pink bling to allow my Spellbinders Large Labels and Grand Labels to mat my image for a lovely display.  Bits of American Crafts I Do Gerber Daisies patterned paper shows the growth of flowers as they grow up the steps of the card.  This photo shows my completed Step Card using Sara Burrier's Hope angel image . . .




Hop on over to the Crafts and Me Challenge blog to see how the Dynamite Digi design team has used some of the newly released images by Crafts and Me on their Blue, Green and Pink projects.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Emerald Faerie Garden "Flowers, Flowers, Flowers" (here)
Totally Gorjuss "BINGO" (flowers, swirls, bling) (here)
Stamptacular Sunday "You Choose!" (here)
Flutterby Wednesdays "Open" (here)

Copics used:
skin - E000, E01, E11, E93, BV00
hair - E31, E35, E47
dress - RV11, RV32, RV34
wings - YG91, YG93, YG95
balloon, stockings, sash - BG70, BG72, BG75
bird on hair - W1, W3, W5, YR23, R14, E07
airbrushed torn paper clouds - B21
atyou Spica Blossom over words on balloon

Monday, October 17, 2011

Card Art with Copics: Crafts and Me Christmas Eve Mermaid

I made some time to play with this wonderful holiday rubberstamped image by Hannah Lynn called Christmas Eve Mermaid.  This lovely mermaid waits patiently for Santa to arrive with his reindeer pulling his sled.

This photo shows my Copic-filled image . . .




I used a well-worn torn paper from my trash bin with one marker to make my clouds.  In order not to airbrush over my Copic-filled image, I first use temporary adhesive to apply a mask of the image to protect everything underneath the mask from overspray.

I layered My Mind's Eye  I Believe "Reindeer" patterned paper with Bazzill Bling in brown to create my card.  A ribbon border, a couple of gold mini brads and some handmade punched flowers adorn my card.  This older QuicKutz basic die cut scalloped corner is one of my favorite accents.  Prickley Pear's "Believe" sentiment seems to be a perfect addition for this image.



I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Crafting When We Can "Christmas" (here)
Stamptacular Sunday "You Choose!" (here)


Copics used:
skin - E000, E01, E11, E93, BV00
hair - E31, E35, E47
rock - W1, W3, W5
water - B91, B95, B97
flowers/top/tail band- R22, R29, R59
leaves/top/tail - YG91, YG95, YG97
baubles - C1, C3, C5
shells - E53, E55, E57
moon - Y0000, Y000, Y00
fin - BG71, BG72, BG75
stars - Y13, Y26, Y28
tail - BG11, BG13, BG15
airbrushed torn paper sky - B97

Friday, October 14, 2011

Card Art With Copics: Sweet Pea Stamps Puppet Angel

I'm happy that I was able to make some time to play with another of the Sweet Pea Stamps that I received as a three-count grab bag prize for participating in a past Sweet Pea Stampers challenge.

I believe this is the first stamped image that I've worked with that caused me to feel such sorrow.  When I gaze deeply into this image, I can't help thinking of sad times that I believe I was much like this puppet angel looks, drifting through some days as though someone else was in control of my thoughtless motions.

Here's a view of Ching-Chou Kuik's Puppet Angel in the Circus image that I've filled using Copic colors.



A bit of faux stitching borders my layers of scraps of My Mind's Eye and Graphic 45 papers.  Bazzill brown forms the base of my card.  A single My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Union Square "Moments" button accents my Stampin' Up! Simply Said sentiment.  A few Recollections Mulberry Paper Mini Roses adorn the upper corner of my image.



This image could easily be paired with a "hang in there" sentiment for someone you know who seems down in the dumps.  Perhaps a "thanks for being there" for someone who has helped you through a rough time.  When you want to tell someone that you're sorry for not quite being yourself, this image will help convey that message too.  Hmmm.  Maybe it's a good image to surprise someone who doesn't like Monday mornings.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Sweet Pea Stampers "Thank Full" (here)
In A Sweet Pea Dream "Anything Goes" (here)
Sketch Saturday "Sketch by Jo" (here)
Crafty Creations "3 designer papers, 2 embellishments, 1 image" (here)
Divas by Design "Button Up" (here)
Charisma Cardz "In Stitches" (here)
Crafty Purple Frog "Thank You" (here)
Flutterby Wednesdays "Use Your Scraps" (here)




"Top 3" Oct. 20, 2011 Charisma Cardz
 
 
 

"Top 3" Oct. 19, 2011 Divas by Design 
 
 




 
 


Nov. 1, 2011
 


Copics used:
skin - E000, E01, E11, E93
hair - YR23, R14, E07
wings - Y13, Y26, Y28
top - BV000, BV02
cage skirt - E33, E37, E39, E02
springs - C1, C3, C5
clown - E0000, E000, E00, E93
bird - G82, G85, G99
bunny - B91, B95, B97
ropes - E31, E35, E47
background checks - E55, E47

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Card Art with Copics: Crafts and Me Creekside Magic

Ooo . . . I made some time to play with this magnificent image by Molly Harrison called Creekside Magic.  The scene around this lovely mermaid, who gently holds a grasshopper in her hands while butterflies flutter lightly around her, seems to represent an incredibly peaceful state that just draws me in.  Can you get more relaxed than that?

This photo shows my Copic-filled image . . .


Yes, I grabbed that torn paper from my trash bin and used it again with one marker to make my clouds - love it!!!  I  didn't return it to the trash bin this time, you know, just in case . . . LOL!!!  In order not to airbrush over my Copic-filled image, I have to first apply a mask of the image to protect everything underneath the mask from overspray.

I layered Bo Bunny's Gabrielle Collection butterfly patterned paper with Bazzill Bling in brown to create my card.  A ribbon border, a couple of gold mini brads and some handmade punched flowers adorn my card.  This basic QuicKutz die cut scalloped corner is still one of my favorite accents.  Prickley Pear's "Believe" sentiment seems to be a perfect addition for this image.


You can find another Copic-filled example of this wonderful Creekside Magic image here.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
One Stitch At A Time "Anything Goes" (here)
Craft Your Passion "All Occasion" (here)
iCopic "Masking" (here)
Anything Goes "Punches/DieCuts" (here)
One Stop Craft "Anything Goes" (here)
The ABC "Anything Goes" (here)



Copics used:
skin - E000, E01, E11, E93, BV00
hair - E31, E35, E47
rocks - W1, W3, W5
water - B91, B95, B97, W1, W3
reeds/grasshopper - YG41, YG45, YG67
flowers - YR61, YR65, YR68
fin - R000, R01, R02
butterfly - R000, R01, R02, V01, YG41, YG45
tail - BG11, BG13, BG15
airbrushed torn paper sky - B21

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Zentangle at Princeton Public Library

Early this month, I had the pleasure of meeting a wonderful group of Zentangle enthusiasts at the Princeton Public Library.  Some were learning about this fabulous abstract art form for the first time.  Others were happy to further develop their tangling skills.

This photo shows unique Zentangle tiles created at our October 2011 workshop . . .


This view demonstrates how wonderful these tiles look no matter which way they're positioned since there is no right-side up or upside down to a true Zentangle tile.


Same products. Same instruction. Same guidance. Different outcome.  Gotta love it!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Crafts and Me Challenge: Use a Digi

The Dynamite Digi design team over at the Crafts and Me Challenge blog wants to see your use of a Digi stamp.  Crafts and Me Stamps is sponsoring this challenge and offering a whopping SIX digi images as a prize to a randomly selected entry.  You can find out more about this challenge and sponsor here.

While I do enjoy inking up and stamping great rubberstamp images, I've grown to love the convenience of digital stamps.  They're easy to store on my pc, don't take up any space in my craft room, and I can print them using the archival ink of my Canon or Epson photo printer.  Digi images are wonderful to work with in their digi form before printing too!  I can resize them to accommodate my needs.  They can also be flipped and added to background images easily.

I've sized this recently released Crafts and Me image, Priscilla the witch by Hannah Lynn, to about 3.5" width.  That's generally the size I use for the tallest or longest measurement of my digis when printing an image for adding to a card.  Here's a closer view of my Copic-filled Priscilla after I've die cut the image using a Spellbinders Scalloped Circle.



I've layered Little Yellow Bicycle Frightful papers with Bazzill cardstock to create my side open card.  A velvet ribbon strip layered over lace creates a border on the left.  Martha Stewart's bat border punch adds a decorative layer to a matted accent below the image.  A crinkled netting, fringed with Martha Stewart's fringe scissors, lies behind my image.  A few Making Memories bat brads adorn my Crafty Secrets sentiment from their Costume Cuties large set.  This photo shows my completed card showcasing this seasonal Priscilla the witch image by Hannah Lynn.



Hop on over to the Crafts and Me Challenge blog to see how the Dynamite Digi design team has used some of the newly released images by Crafts and Me.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Moving Along With the Times "Spooky Halloween" (here)
PaperCrafting Journey "DieCuts/Punches" (here)
Emerald Faerie Garden "Punches/Dies" (here)
Crafty Purple Frog "Lots of Layers" (here)
Secret Crafter "Halloween" (here)
One Stitch At a Time "Use a Digi" (here)
Paper Sundaes "Lots of Layers" (here)
Craft Your Passion "Anything Goes + Ribbon" (here)
Stamp with Fun "Halloween" (here)
Anything Goes "Punches/Diecuts" (here)

Copics used:
skin - E000, E01, E11, E93
hair - E31, E35, E47
broom - E53, E55, E59
clothing - T0, T6, T9
eyes - G24, G21

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Copic Creations Challenge: Saturated Colors

The design team over at the Copic Creations Challenge blog wants to see your Copic saturated colors.  Belles 'n Whistles is sponsoring this challenge and offering a very generous $25 gift certificate for use in their store to a randomly selected entry.  You can find out more about this challenge and its sponsor here.

As saturated colors are the truest form of those colors, I think it's fair to suggest that you consider your first box of 8 crayons:  blue, purple, orange, red, yellow, green, brown and black.  They're the very basic set and would likely be considered the purest, most true form of that color.

With that in mind, I began to fill my Elisabeth Bell Story Time image that Belles 'n Whistles so graciously provided.  I used my Copic multiliner 0.2 to extend the trunk of the tree a bit further than the stamped image.  Here's my version of Story Time all decked out in what I consider to be saturated colors . . .


I've mentioned here before that I'm not a big pastel kind of person, but these truer colors are right up my alley.  I love using my Copic colors to fill an image in a realistic fashion.  Having so many great Copic shades helps me to achieve a more realistic image that I enjoy looking at.  Gotta love it!

I've layered both sides of Basic Grey's Jovial flannel pajamas with Bazzill cardstock to form my side open card.  A Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Square shapes my image.  I've added simple embellishments by using several 3/4" and 7/8" circle punches, Bo Bunny Timepiece Jewels and Hero Arts' Buttons.  I get alot of use out of this every day Outlines Rubberstamp Company sentiment.

Here's a full view of my card front . . .


I feel the need to dance about how easily my background clouds came together.  Just one marker, a torn piece of paper and about 90 seconds is all it took!  I sure hope that I can do that again - LOL!!!  I could hardly believe that I did it myself!

Hop on over to the Copic Creations Challenge blog to see what the design team has done with more of the brilliant Elisabeth Bell Belles 'n Whistles images and enter for your chance to win!

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Creative Craft "Sketch by Sandra" (here)
Fab-n-Funky "Recipe - 1 ribbon, 2 patterned paper, 3 buttons, brads or gems" (here)
Flutterby Wednesdays "Open" (here)
Paper Crafting Journey "Diecuts/Punches" (here)
Simon Says Stamp! "Anything Goes" (here)
Anything Goes "Anything Goes" (here)
Paper Sundaes "Anything Goes" (here)
Elisabeth Bell's "Photo Inspiration" (here)
Totally Paper Crafts "Autumn" (here)
Emerald Faerie Garden "Punches/Dies" (here)

Copics used:
skin - E000, E01, E11, E93
hair, tree - E31, E35, E47
grass - YG11, YG13, YG17
hat - E50, E53, E57
top - YR12, YR15, YR18
coveralls - B63, B66, B69
book - E02, E04, E07, pages E41, E43
flowers, butterfly, hairbow - V04, V06, V09



Oct. 25, 2011 Elisabeth Bell's World