Archive for the ‘Copic Markers’ Category

Well, me don't swim too tough so me don't go in the water too deep. 
                 ~Bob Marley

 

 

Hey all . . . welcome to the Paper Garden blog stroll. This month we're getting ready for Fall and Back-to-School. I'm still in denial that summer is passing by so quickly. Honestly, fall has always been my favorite time of the year, but in Texas, well, summer just kind of melts into winter and we're still in the middle of 100+ degree weather.  Please pardon me while I still celebrate the last days of summer . . . with fall colors. (You know, always breaking the trend.) Do be sure to check out the gorgeous, gorgeous new fall stamps, paper, ribbon, etc., over at the Paper Garden Project shop.

While you hop along the garden walk, be sure to take note of each designer's name and their special garden walk word in their blog post. Once you finish your garden tour, you can send an E-mail to custserv@papergardenprojects.com with the list of designers and their garden walk word for a chance to win two cute Kraftin' Kimmie unmounted stamps,.

Mum's the word (terrible pun intended), my secret word is chrysanthemums (or mums for short – which is great for me, cause my daughter calls me "Mumster").

You have until midnight (EST) on Wednesday, August 25 to send your list – good luck and have fun checking out all the other fun Fall inspirations from the Paper Gardeners.

• Cathy
• Amber
• Tangii
• Tricia
• Linda (you are here)
• Andrea
• Alyssa

 

When my Tom and I were looking for a home in Waco, we weren't really looking for a house with a pool. But, we loved this house, and, well, it has a pool. Of course, we have absolutely no idea what we're doing. The prior owners turned off the pump when they left, and we didn't even know how to turn it back on . . .  or how to test the chemicals, sweep the bottom . . . , you get the idea. Thankfully, our new neighbors came to our rescue before we had a chance to do too much damage. The dears spent two hot afternoons teaching Tom pool maintenance 101. This is my long overdue thank-you card to them for helping us stay afloat (sorry, another terrible pun intended).

It's been so long since I created a project with my Copics. I'm glad to know I still got it . . . i just had a hard time finding it. I'm embarrassed to tell you how long it took me to put this little guy together. My groove is definitely rusty. This past week's Sketch Saturday (week #116) kind of oiled the rusty parts (yep, I felt like Dorothy's tin man, needing quite a bit of oil to get limber again.) And, the Pink Elephant challenge TPE80 asked us to use ribbon and sparkles – yum.

Here are the Copic markers I used and the rest of the recipe.

• Fibers: brown grosgrain ribbon, 
• Ink – Memento Tuxedo Black (great with Copics), Copic  markers(see below)
• Paper – Neenah Card Stock, Kraft, Basic Grey Nook and Pantry paper pad
• Stamp: Eat Cake Summer Swim
• Tools: Nestabilities (20% off!)
• Misc.: Crystal glitter (for the water)

 

Enjoy the blog hop (have fun over at Andrea's place next) and stay cool!

Peepsta is one of Caitlin's many nick names for her Dad. The girl has nicknames for all of us. Bebo, Ben-Jamin and Bennies for Ben; Mumster or LMac for me. And her dog, Pillow, becomes Pilsby, Pillow-pup, Piddy . . . We have our own family vocabulary of McClain-isms – it's just crazy fun.

Pillow loves, loves the water, and Tom (a.k.a. Peepsta) loves canoeing (well, we do, really). Caitlin wanted to try out a new water camera before taking it to Costa Rica, so Tom and Pillow were happy to run to the lake with her this last weekend.

 

I used this fun sketch from CardPatterns, Sketch 67.

Crazy for Challenges, C4C40, asked us to use pleates. I've been wanting to try these forever.

I have so much more to tell you about this card – but it's past my bedtime . . . really, late. We've been so busy getting ready for our move to Waco and Caitlin's move to Costa Rica – I'll just have to tell you the rest tomorrow.

Night . . .

 

I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers. 
               ~Claude Monet

 

 

We've been bustling with activity to get ready for our new house in Waco. We're so excited about it. It was built in 1959 but has been updated with a lot of loving care. Even though we can't move in until after June 25, my Tom and Caitlin spent most of Saturday and Sunday picking out pots and configuring them to make a beautiful fountain for the back yard. It was hard to resist buying a truck-load of flowers, but, with my not-so-green thumb, they would die before I even got them planted. So, I did the next best thing – I made a card.

I knew when I saw this sign at our favorite nursery what I would make this weekend – a card with my new Impression Obsession stamp, Zinnias. Hey, they're 25% off (the Zinnias at my nursery, not the stamp). 

 

 

My photography skills don't quite do the image justice. I stamped the image on Neenah paper and colored them with my Copic markers (see below). Then, I used a paint brush to apply Crystal Lacquer. Before the lacquer dried, I sprinkled just a little bit of glitter onto the lacquer. Hopefully, the end result is water glistening in the sun.

I didn't quite make the deadline for the Cupcake Inspiration Challenge this past week (CIC60), but I still loved the inspiration. Don't these look yummy?

I almost didn't make the deadline for the Mojo Monday sketch this week. Just under the wire I used the Mojo140 sketch. What a great sketch.

Here are the Copic Markers and the rest of the recipe.

• Embellishments – Oriental Trader Garden Charms, Button from Mom's button jar
• Fibers: Sorry, this was just a scrap of ribbon – I'm not sure where I got it
• Ink – Memento Rich Cocoa; Copics (currently 25% off at Paper Garden Projects)
• Paper – Basic Grey (Kioshi – yummy!); Neenah, Prism
• Stamp: Impression Obsession Zinia E2313
• Tools: EK Success Punch
• Misc.: Sentiment is from computer font, Crystal Lacquer, Stampendous Glitter

I hope you're all enjoying a three-day weekend and the opportunity to honor our service men and women.

Let them eat cake.
            ~ Marie Antoinette (French Queen Consort of France, wife of Louis XVI. 1755-1793)

 

 

Are you as amazed as I am at how fast May has come and gone? It's already time for the Paper Garden Projects Fourth Friday Fun Challenge. This month we're celebrating our frilly, feminine sides. So, you know me, I sometimes like to go a little overboard, and this Kraftin' Kimmie stamp really calls for unabandoned girliness (even a little crystal jewelry and eye makeup).

I hope you'll play along with our girls-only fun. Just pop over to the Paper Garden Projects blog and add the link for your project by midnight Friday, June 4. One entry will win the Kraftin Kimmie stamp called Clara and the Bird.

The makers of this stamp I used, Kraftin' Kimmie, are running a challenge to add little charm to our projects, "How Charming,' so I added a charm to a Making Memories vintage trinket pin. I used the Get Sketchy Card Challenge #39 sketch for my map.

Here are the Copic markers I used and the rest of the recipe.

 

 

• Embellishments – Prima Flowers, Crystal Stickers, Making Memories Trinket Pins, Charm Me Heart Charm
• Fibers: Stampin' Up! Satin Ribbon (Chocolate Chip), Tulle, Lace colored with Copic Marker Y08
• Ink – Memento Rich Cocoa; Copics (currently 25% off at Paper Garden Projects), Stampin' Up! Summer Sun
• Paper – Basic Grey (Urban Couture); Neenah, Prism
• Stamp: Kraftin' Kimmie Marie Antoinette, EK Success Border Punch

 

I hope you get a chance to play along will our girly fun. I'll be following you.

 

To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden,
where doing nothing was not boring – it was peace. 
                      ~Milan Kundera

If you've followed my blog for long (God Love You!), you know we love our dogs, Mailey, our Irish Setter . . . 

and Pillow, my daughter's Golden Retriever.

Mailey is beautiful, regal and royal, and Pillow is her court jester. Pillow absolutely has to be around people and, most especially, around Caitlin. When Caitlin comes home, Pillow actually whimpers with joy. It's something to watch.

So, of course, when I first saw this stamp from Eat Cake Graphics, I knew I had to have it for our golden Pillow and red-head Caitlin. It almost captures the special friendship they have. I say almost because Pillow would never be sitting this still if there were butterflies to chase and balls to catch.

 The sketch is from this week's Crazy 4 Challenges sketch (C4C38).

Here are the Copic markers I used and the rest of the recipe.

Dear Caitlin, when you leave for Costa Rica in three weeks, you might be one person to that side of the world, but to Pillow and Me (and all of the rest of us) . . .you are our World!

Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys
Don't let 'em pick guitars and drive them old trucks
Make 'em be doctors and lawyers and such . . .
           Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, 1978

Well, pardners – it's that time again – Texas Tuesday with Libby and friends. And, I gotta tell ya, we've been busier than a one-legged man at a butt kickin contest!

About three weeks ago, my husband got a fantastic new job in Waco (about 1-1/2 from where we live now). We've been workin' hard to get our house ready to put on the market so we could bid on a house we fell in love with in Waco. Friday our house went on the market and by noon Sunday, we had an offer! We've countered their counter, and – it's sold – in only three days!  Meanwhile, in the middle of all that, our Caitlin had some pretty major surgery. Thankfully, it went great and she's back to helping us decorate our new home and planning her trip to Costa Rica next month. Oh my! Life is good. 

So . . . back on the ranch . . . We're making Texas themed cards on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, and you Pardners join in, too. Just add your link to your creations here, to be included in the Round Up next week. 

You can follow the links below to sit a spell and howdy to Libby's other Texas Tues-Steppin' gals and guy:

Libby Hickson at Libby's Little Addition
Geeta Suggs at The Crafty Engineer 
Shannan Teubner at Pink Tulle with Feathers and Sequins
Betty Schaub at Scrapped Into a Friendzy
Mark Jetton at Deadbeat Designs

That adorable stamp is from Texana Design's Granny Heifer collection. I love how this little cowboy is trying to fit into his Daddy's boots. Yep, you gotta sing along with the Highwaymen for this one.

 

 

 

 

The sketch is from this week's I {heart}2stamp, SFYTT.

 

Here are the Copic markers and the rest of the recipe.

• Embellishments – Karen Foster Treasure Brads (cowboy), Stampin' Up! Pewter Brads
• Fibers: Stampin' Up! Rope (retired)
• Ink – Tim Holz Distress Inks (Vintage Photos and Walnut Ink); Memento Rich Cocoa; Copics (currently 25% off at Paper Garden Projects)
• Paper – Basic Grey (Mellow); Neenah
• Stamp: Texana Design
• Tools: Nestabilities

I'll see you over at Libby's homestead, meanwhile, don't squat with yer spurs on!

 

 

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
                  ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

 

 

It's one of my favorite times of the month again – time for the Paper Garden Projects blog hop. This month we're celebrating all the Lads, Dads and Grads out there. My blog hop project celebrates a very special graduate, one of my daughter's best friends, Kristi. By the time she reads this, she'll be Texas Tech alumni!

I just have to share one special picture of Kristi and my Caitlin. This was their high school graduation. And, yes, even though they're both college graduates now, for me, these strong, independent women will always be my girls. Congratulations, Kristi Critter! We are so proud of you!!!

 

 

Okay, hankies away (I always cry at graduations), onward toward the hop.

 

While you visit each stop, subscribe to each Gardener's blog and take note of each designer's name and their special garden walk word in their blog post. Once you finish your garden tour, send an E-mail to custserv@papergardenprojects.com with the list of designers and their garden walk word. Once you send  the correct list of designers and words you'll be entered in a random drawing to win a prize. You have until midnight (EST) on Tuesday, May18 to send your list. Good luck!

And the prize? How about these cute little lads form Eat Cake Graphics. If you get lost along the way, here are the garden tour guide list:

• Cathy
  
• Amber
• Tangii
• Tricia
• Linda (You are Here)
• Erin
• Andrea
• Alyssa

 

 

I started out with this sketch from Caardvarks (though, as usual, I altered it a bit).

And, since Texas Tech colors are Scarlet and Black – I let that be my self-imposed color challenge. Here are the Copic markers I used and the rest of the recipe.

 

• Embellishments – Prima Flower 
• Ink – Copic Markers (see above), Memento Tuxedo ink pad
• Paper – Neenah, October Afternoon (Thrift Shop), and Prism cardstock
• Stamp: Impression Obsession Elegant Graduation
  
• Tools: Nestabilities
• Misc.:  Flat back pearls
  

Have you figured out what my garden walk word is? It's "and". And with that said, you're ready to journey over to the next Garden Walk Stop, Erin. Enjoy!

 

I have found men who didn't know how to kiss.
I've always found time to teach them.
                ~ by Mae West

 

I kissed my share of frogs before I found my Prince Tom. Well, okay, maybe not my full share. According to Dr. Joyce Brothers, the average American female will kiss 79 men before she marries. Yikes, some of you better get busy – you gotta make up for me.

 

Here, maybe Louis can give you some good inspiration.

 

Speaking of inspiration. check out this inspiration picture for this month's Paper Garden Projects Fourth (fifth?) Friday challenge. Makes you want to pick up some knitting needles.

You have till midnight (EST) of Friday, May 7, to play along over at Paper Garden Projects. In honor of Mother's Day, the prize is this lovely Rachelle Anne Miller Bundle of Joy stamp – how cute!

 

 

To jump-start my design, I found this now-expired sketch over at Sketch Girl (SG15).

 

Here are the Copic markers I used and the rest of the recipe.

 

• Embellishments – Buttons and Ribbon from the Hearts Bloom Paper Kit (on sale at 20% off), American Craft Felt Flower
• Ink – Copic Markers (see above), Memento Tuxedo ink pad
• Paper – Neenah, Basic Grey Kioshi Paper Pad (so yummy!), Prism cardstock
• Stamp: Eat Cake Graphics Princess for a Day
• Tools: Nestabilities, Fiskars Wavy Paper Crimper Tool
• Misc.: Crystal Lacquer

 

 

I can't wait to see what you all make at the Paper Garden Projects challenge. I'll be following you.

 

 

 

If you just came from Tricia's place, welcome to Catered Crop. (Isn't Tricia amazing?!) If you just joined us, welcome to the Paper Garden Projects Friendly Garden Walk! Take a stroll through the blogs of all the Paper Gardeners, enjoy some friendly inspiration and enter for a chance to win a stamp set from The Greeting Farm.

To play along grab a pencil and follow the links provided throughout the stroll. You may want to start at the beginning, with Cathy's site, but if you get lost somewhere along the way, the links for all the Gardeners are below. Subscribe to each Gardener's blog and take note of each designer's name and their Friendly Word in their blog post. Once you finish your garden tour, you can send an e-mail to custserv@papergardenprojects.com with the list of designers and their Friendly Word (like girlfriend).

Everyone who sends the correct list of designers and words will be entered in a random drawing to win a prize. Remember, you need to send an e-mail to the address above; please don't leave your list as a comment. You will have until midnight (EST) on Tuesday, April 27 to send your list.

And the prize? How about a couple new little buddies from The Greeting Farm)?

So enjoy the garden tour (feel free to bring along a friend!). Here is the Garden Tour guide list:
 

• Cathy
• Amber
• Tangii
• Tricia
• Linda (you are here!)
• Erin
• Andrea
• Alyssa

 

Here is my friendly inspiration in honor of my adorable sister and girlfriend, Sharon. Sharon is the first girlfriend I call when I have news to share, good or bad. She always has my back and she never gets in my way unless I happen to be going down – then she's the first to catch me. Most importantly, she knows I'm half-cracked but she still thinks I'm a good egg. Love ya, sis!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But wait, there's more. There's a box to go with the card.

And, if you open the lid, there's something inside.

It's two little postcards with some of my favorite quotes about friendship.

You know me – besides enjoying the Paper Garden Project theme of Friendship (love my girlfriends) – I lean on fun challenges to help jump start my design. This project was no exception. 

• The Spotted Chick (one of my favorite artists) asked us to get krafty and use Kraft paper (That's Krafty Thursday #23) .
• Double Dutch (DDC#41) asked us to Box it Up using a box template.
• The Sketch and Stash challenge (challenge #33) gave me the perfect sketch, and the perfect opportunity to use up my new stash of Penny Black stamps and Pink Paisley papers.
• Etsy Inspired Challenge (EIC84) asked us to use any of the items sold or for sale in Cose Dolci's Etsy shop. I choose this felt embellished plate. I like the way Cosi Dolci treated the felt flowers – such a sweet, gentle look. So, I only stuck myself with the needle twice re-learning how to make french knots on my American Crafts flowers.

Here are the Copic Markers I used . . .

 

 

 

And, all together now . . .

Here's the rest of the recipe with links to where you can find them at Paper Garden Projects.

• Embellishments – Ribbon, buttons and pearly Champagne Dew Droplets from the Hearts Bloom Paper Kit; American Craft Greenhouse felt flowers
• Fibers –Twill tape, ribbon from the Hearts Bloom Paper Kit, DMC embroidery floss
• Ink – Copic Markers (see above), Memento Tuxedo ink pad
• Paper – Neenah, Prism cardstock, Kraft, Pink Paislee double sided patterned paper from the Hearts Bloom Paper Kit
• Stamps: Penny Black Garden Visit  and  Garden Friends Clear Cling stamp sets.
• Tools: Nestabilities, Coluzzle, and EK Success Scallop Trim Border/Corner punches.
• Misc.: 3D Foam Mounting Adhesive.

So . . . have you figured out what my Friendly Word is for your blog hop prize? It's girlfriend. So, jot down that Linda's word is girlfriend and head over now to

Erin

where's she's giving you step-by-step instructions for a beautiful scrapbook page. Enjoy your garden stroll, and I hope you come back and visit soon.

Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock.
       ~ Will Rogers

Diplomacy is the art of letting someone have your way.
       ~ Daniele Vare

 

 

You know, I always run my cards by my family, who I have trained to oh and ah on queue. My daughter, well trained in critique diplomacy said – she hates it!

I immediately defended my card as my first venture with Magnolia stamps and began educating her on the virtues of Scandinavian style craft. I told Caitlin about how the stamps originate out of Sweden and showed her the Magnolia Ink magazine so she could appreciate the culture of the card. United Nations would be proud of my efforts at bridging the differences between American modern minimalism and Scandinavian ornate vintage, Caitlin, however, could not be convinced. She couldn't even bring herself to look at it! So, being the incredible diplomat that I am, I got my way – and I didn't even have to find a rock!

 

To those of you who love and create beautiful art with the Magnolia images, oh dears, do be gentle. Remember, it's just my first dabble at it. Being more than just a little intimidated, I did what any novice would do – I copied a master: Rachel Jakes. (I want to be like her when I grow up!)

 

I used so many sources for inspiration, I'm not sure I can even take any credit for this card.

First, Jen has this really fun sketch at i{heart}2stamp (I flipped it upside down and all around).

 

 

This week the My Time to Craft Challenge is "Pretty Pearls." Making a Scandinavian card without pearls would be like making German Chocolate Cake without coconut – it's almost a required ingredient. Besides that, they're so pretty.

I'm still keeping up with the Copic Creations challenges. Challenge number 26 is all about coloring black hair. The funny thing about coloring something black is (write this down – it's very important ) don't use the Black marker – it's too black. Suzanne Dean's tutorial, Coloring Images/Objects Black (very helpful) called for cool grays; C3, C5, C7, and C9. I didn't have C9, so I made a C9 with a 100 Black marker. (I know, I just told you not to use the Black marker – and it was very important.)

 

I touched the nib of my C7 marker to the nib of the 100 Black marker to pick up just a little bit of black and then colored the image with my C7 marker that now had just a little black mixed into it. I promise, you can do this without contaminating your markers. It works much like the way you might use a blender pen to pick up color from another marker, chalks, or ink refillers. By the time you finish coloring your image, the color you picked up with be gone from the nib, and you'll be back to your original color.

 

Here is a breakdown of the markers I used. If you're reading this in a reader like Google Reader or Feedblitz, or, if you one of the lucky ones with the new iPad, you may not be able to see this slide show (it's in Flash), so here's another link to it.

 

 

And, all together . . .

• Embellishments – Basic Grey Opaline half pearls, Prima flowers, Charm Me (from Oriental Trader)
• Fibers: Stampin' Up! White Taffeta and Silver cord
• Ink – Copic Markers (see above), Memento Tuxedo ink pad
• Paper – Neenah, American Craft (Letterbox)
• Stamp: Magnolia Tilda with Bike
• Tools: Nestabilities, Stampin' Up!/EK Success border punch

So, in the interest of good, diplomatic relations – where you do weigh in on the vintage Scandinavian vs modern American styles? Are you in Team Caitlin or Team Magnolia. I promise – I won't look for any rocks!