Archive for the ‘’ Category

Grandmas don't just say "that's nice" —
They reel back and roll their eyes and throw up their hands and smile.
You get your money's worth out of grandmas.           

                                         Author Unknown

Grandma's are so special aren't they. I have such sweet, sweet memories of my Grandma Ethel Heaton (Mom's Mom) and Grandma Flora Black (Dad's Mom). Grandma Black made dresses for my doll babies and taught me how to darn socks on her sleepy porch. I can still see her strong fingers crafting a beautiful edge on her pie crusts. Grandma Heaton would navigate us around the country roads to her homestead in search of mushrooms and pussy willows talking the whole way about the days when she called the square dances. I can still see the homemade egg noodles drying on her kitchen table. My Grandmas always made me feel like they'd been waiting to see just me all day and I made their days complete.

 

I love how this image by Mo's Digital Pencil captures the pure bliss in the Grandmother's face – she's just lost in the joy of a dance with her grandchild. Ah . . . Grandma's are so special!

I used the Sketch for Mo's Dream Team February Guest Spot and, for inspiration, the soft colors and buttons from the Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #47. You KNoW I love Cupcakes! I don't know how Rachel Hope finds all these incredible cupcakes – check out the ones that inspired this challenge:

In honor of her sewing-themed cupcakes, I sewed the edges of my background paper and plaid strip. And, lastly, I followed Lauren Meader's tutorial over at Copic Creations Challenge #22 to color my lavender and gold ribbon to match my paper.

Here are the Copic markers I used.

The sheet music is from an old Baptist Hymnal I found at the Goodwill for 25 cents (what a find!). I sponged it with Stampin' Up!'s So Saffron Ink, and Stamped it with Stampin' Up! background stamp, Sanded, again using So Saffron Classic ink.

 

Most of this image is paper pieced – yes I did a Lot of cutting! If you've never tried the paper piecing technique, here's tutorial I wrote a while back.

 

• Embellishments – EK Success Jolee's Jewels Crystallized Swarovski Elements Heart Lock and Key charm (what a mouthful). Chatterbox* Junkitz buttons.
• Fibers – Stampin' Up! 5/8" Satin Ribbon in Whisper White. Chatterbox satin ribbon colored with Copic Markers Y21 and BV02. Wrights Classics Lace (from JoAnn Fabrics).
• Ink – Copic Markers (see above). Stampin' Up! So Saffron Classic Ink.
• Paper – Neenah Solar White Ultrasmooth Classic Crest 80 pound cardstock. Chatterbox Parlor Scrapbook Walls*
• Stamps – Mo's Digital Image Mummu and Me. Stampin Up! Sanded
• Tools – Martha Stewart border punch, Creative Memories corner rounder punch, Nestabilities Classic Ovals Large.

*I bought these Chatterbox papers and embellishments years ago. I love them – the papers have this lovely linen look. Unfortunately, I honestly don't know if they're still available anywhere.

Hugs . . .

Shew, I have so much to tell you, so grab a seat and get comfy.

Have you figured out yet that I'm obsessed with Mo's Digital Pencil images? I can't seem to get enough. They're whimsical, poignant, funny . . . well, you can find an image for just about any mood you want to set. This one makes me just want to pinch those delicious chubby cheeks.

When I was a little girl I was constantly pulling at the corner of my eyes trying to convince my eyes to look like pretty China doll eyes. Don't laugh. I was convinced it would work, and, hey, I wasn't much older than this little baby girl. When I saw the Copic Creations Challenge this week was to create Ethnic Skin Tones(Challenge No. 20), I knew I wanted to take a stab at creating Asian skin tones. Well, okay, I'm not sure I succeeded, because my China doll doesn't look much different from my baby girl. Oh well, at least I gave it a stab. 

Here are the markers I used for the China doll (YR0000, YR00 and YR61 for her skin).

And here are the markers I used for the baby girl (E0000, E00 and E21 for her skin).

If you want a better idea of markers to use on Asian and other ethnic skin tones, be sure to check out the challenge; there are links for some great ideas and tutorials.

Once again, I really went to town mixing up challenges. They're just so much fun and they're such a great jumping off point for designing. I used the sketch from the Card Patterns Challenge #48.

And, I got my color theme from Mo herself, at Mo's Bronte and Belle Challenge Blog, Challenge #15.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot . . . here's the card!

• Fibers: Stampin' Up! Satin Ribbon
• Ink – Copic Markers (see above)
• Paper – Stampin' Up! cardstock: Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Almost Amethyst, and elegant Eggplant. Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper in Almost Amethyst. Neenah Classic Crest Solar White.
• Stamps: Mo's Digital Image I Love It CG
• Tools: Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

Before I leave you, I have some very exciting, Stop-the-Presses news to share. One, is just a hint to stay tuned next week for a big ole' fun announcement. Oooo, that's just a tease, but that's all you get for now. 

The other news I have for you is that the Catty Cruise Line has weighed anchor again. The Catty Cruise is a blog hop of some of the most amazing paper craft artists highlighting the latest Stampin' Up! catalogs (aka Catty's). You will not want to miss seeing their beautiful creations – they're stunning. They're also very sweet and dear friends of mine, so be sure to leave them some love (comments), and tell them Linda sent ya.

You can jump on to the Catty Cruise at their home port, here, or just click on the icon below.

Anchors Away!

                                All you need is love.
                                All you need is love.
                                All you need is love, love.
                                Love is all you need.
                                         – John Lennon, 1967

As promised here's my answer to the next Copic Creations Challenge (CCC), Challenge #19, Fur. What a fun challenge.

If you click on the image, you'll see I added a little Crystal Effects on the puppy's nose, and a tiny bit of Flower Soft on the bird's nest.

I used the sketch from the Mojo Monday 120 challenge to make this early Valentine's card.

Okay, admittedly, I may have tried to accomplishment too much with this card. I'm afraid it may have come out a little on the busy side. When I showed it to my daughter she said, " Wow, my eyes don't know where to go." – not a good sign. Oh well – it was still good practice and the tutorials on the CCC site were, as always, great.

Such a busy card takes a lot of ingredients . . .

• Embellishments: Stampin' up! Sweet Pea Stitched Felt, Nut Brown Flower Soft

• Fibers: Stampin' Up! Ribbon Original Flirty (retired)

• Ink, Copic Markers –
  • Dog: E00, E29, E31, E37;
  • Eggs/Dog Collar: BG45;
  • Cat: W00, W1, E5, W7;
  • Bird: R85 & Y21;
  • Sky/Grass: B20, G24, BG10

• Paper: Stampin' Up! cardstock: Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip and Tempting Turquoise; Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper Love Me (retired) Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

• Stamp: Mo's Digital Image, Coexist

• Tools: Stampin' Up! Circle Cutter and Coluzzle system, Martha Stewart Picket Fence Edge Punch, Nestabilities Classic Scallop Circle, Cuttlebug embossing folder.

I created the sentiment on my computer using Quigley Wiggly font and RGB code R68, G28 and B28 to match the Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip paper.

I'm loving these challenges. Hmmm . . . which one shall I tackle next?

One of my "Vigor and Vim in 2010" goals for the new year is to participate in all the Copic Creations Challenges. I love, love this digital stamp from Mo's Digital Pencil, Boughs for the Wreath, so I knew immediately what I wanted to do for Challenge #18 – Pine Trees/Branches. I took my color inspiration from this amazing card by Linda Heavens. Linda used colored pencils, but, of course, I wanted to tackle it with my Copic markers and the Copic air system Santa brought me (thanks Tom!). 

• Copic Markers: I used BG10 and B00 colors with the air system to get the blue sky. Hats and scarf: E04, E09, E0000 with E00, E3, E31. Face: E0000, E00, R81. Boots: W0, W3, W7. Jackets: G99, YG63. Boughs: G28, G24, G21, and a little B29.
• Paper: Basic Grey Fruitcake Marachino Cherry, Archivers ANW Crestwood Bright White Cover, Stampin' Up! Almost Artichoke and Soft Suede cardstock.
• Glitter: Stampendous Crystal Snow, Twinklets Diamond Dust
• Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities

  

I followed the instructions in Susan Tierney Cockburn's book, Paper Bouquet to make the pinecone and boughs with the following ingredients:

• Paper Bunch tool kit
• Paper Bunch punhes: small pear, mega fern, and pine bough.
• I air sprayed the punched out branches with G28 and the pinecones with E29.

Onward and forward to the Copic Creations Challenge #19 – Fur!

Oooo, tomorrow we're supposed to get about an inch of SNOW here in Central Texas. I'm so excited. I know, I'm easily entertained, but we don't see much snow here in the Austin area. So, it's a perfect time to jump into the fun of the Copic Creations Challenge #17 to color snow/snowpeople. This is only my second card using Copic markers – I Love! – so I'm learning a lot as I go. These Copic Creation Challenges are great for a newbie like me because the site offers tutorials for the challenge and beautiful inspiration.

The stamp sets are two of Anna Wight's stamps at Whipper Snapper Designs: Spirit of Christmas and Winter Quilt. Oh, I love Anna Wight – I've been stalking following her photography, gorgeous paper craft art and stories about farm life at Sweet & Sassy Notes for years.

Here are the Copic markers I used from my small collection:

I followed the instructions in Susan Tierney Cockburn's book, Paper Bouquet to make the pinecone and boughs. The pinecone and boughs used the following ingredients:

• Paper Bunch tool kit
• Paper Bunch punches: small peaer, mega fern, and pine bough,
• modeling paste,
• Pearl Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist,
• Ivory Flower Soft, and
• Stampin' Up! cardstock: Old Olive, Garden Green and Chocolate Chip

You can purchase Susan's books, the punches, tool kit, and Flower Soft at Scrappily Ever After in Temple, Texas. (Of course, she offers mail order – watch for her monthly sales.)

The rest of the recipe is:

• Paper: Stampin Up! Very Vanilla and Chocolate Chip. Stampin' Up! Holiday Treasures Designer Series Paper (retired).
• Ink: White Signo gel pen. Ranger Walnut Stain Distress Ink. Stampin' Up! Close to Cocoa and Creamy Caramel Classic Ink for sponged distressing. And, I spritzed on Walnut Ink.
• Fibers: Celebrate It Basic Ribbon from Michaels (until I can get my hands on the new Stampin' Up! 5/8" satin ribbon – yum).
• Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Scalloped Ovals Large and Classic Ovals Large. Stampin' Up! 1" square punch.
• My Mom's sewing machine with some basic beige thread. (Yes, I need to improve my sewing skills).

Bundle up everyone, and stay warm . . . hugs,