Artistic Outpost's Knight

I wanted to use this knight again from Artistic Outpost and I wanted to do the card sketch at CPS. This is what I came up with.


Yes, it looks like the scanner cut off the left edge but that truly is the sketch design! What I wish you could see better is the embossed white layer. I used a version of the Cuttlebug Highlights (a TJ technique) and used Brilliance Platinum Planet which adds a shimmery white color to the white (almost cream color.) I think it really dresses up the white space.

I really need to replenish my black brads because you can see I had difficulty coloring with my black Copic marker. They kept smudging and I marked up the lower left corner. I am thinking about tearing off this layer and redoing it, however my little sis' probably won't mind! She is deploying in April so I thought this apropriate since I think she deplays courage being a soldier!

Stamps: My Knight (Artistic Outpost), Ink: Craft Basic Black, Platinum Planet (Brilliance), Real Red, Clear Star gelly pen (Sukura); Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Real Red; Accessories: CB & Folder, silver brads, sponge.

Doodle Factory Moki

Well I've had my eye on several of these Doodle Factory stamps for awhile but when Starving Artistamps came out with these Set The Scene stamps I had to finally jump the fence! I had to get two of the Set the Scene stamps and four individual stamps for my scenes. Today I am showing you Tropical backdrop and Moki.

I used my Copic markers to color this. Please don't notice the sky's blotchiness. My B21 dried up on me. I haven't had it very long so I'm not sure what happened. I put a tag on this so it meets OCC's challenge to use a tag. The three flowers are supposed to conjour up a lei. I'm not sure if it works, but that is my story and I'm sticking with it! ;D

I'm giving this to my DH. We are vacationing in Cancun late next month so I'm getting in the mood for a nice warm beach!

Stamps: Tropical Backdrop & Moki (Starving Artistamps), sentiment by Firecracker Designs by Pamela; Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), various Copic Markers; Paper: Basic Black, Pure Luxery #120 (GinaK); Accessories: Prima flowers, twine (SU- retired), tag punch (SU).

ODBD Eagle

I saw the sketch challenge at Our Daily Bread Designs blog and just loved it! It took me a couple of days to have time to work on it, but I really do like it. I don't think I have used this set before. Being military I figured I'd have amble opportunities to use this beautiful eagle. In fact, it would work for any masculine card!

I turned to SCS Color Challenge #201 for the colors Not Quite Navy, Sage Shaddow and Creamy Caramel. I didn't actually use Creamy Caramel but I figured the designer paper and the brown in the eagle would count for the CC.

After I had colored my eagle I knew that the upper left corner of the top layer just had too much white space, even after I sponged the edges so I meandered through my embellishments and came across my Stylized Silver HPH. Check out those stars!

Since this was an ODBD challenge I also wanted the sentiment to be ODBD but the sketch would acommodate either sentiment that came with the set (without making the card huge that is!) so I used my marker to ink up "But they that wait" and stamped it on some Sage Shaddow and added the ". . . .". Then I inked up the rest of the sentiment and stamped it on the inside. I then sponged the edges.


I also used my Ornare paper piercer I received from my MIL for Christmas. This seemed the perfect time to use it. Not much room left for writing! I guess I'll have to use the left side of the inside for a message. :)

Stamps: On Eagles' Wings (ODBD); Ink: Not Quite Navy, Rich Cocoa (Memento) Basic Black Marker (SU), Copic Markers: E09, E31, E37,Y11, YR04, C1, C3, W1, 0; Paper: Not Quite Navy, Sage Shaddow, Pure Luxury #120 (Gina K), Whipser White, Designer Paper (SU), Accessories: Stylized Silver HPH (SU), 1/16" hole punch, sponge dauber, taupe grosgrain ribbon.

TK Monochromatic

Just a quick upload. I made this for the Thomas Kinkade blitz challenge at Cornish Heritage Farms. The blitz begins tomorrow. This also incorporates this week's CPS card sketch. The green is Almost Artichoke and looks so much better IRL (of course!) The sentiment is Love of a Friend by Sweet N Sassy Stamps and I used my Clear Star Sakura gelly roll pen on the "friend" and "Jesus" to help them pop.

Stamps: The Forest Chapel (CHF), Love of a Friend (SNSS); Ink: Almost Artichoke; Paper: Almost Artichoke, Whisper White, DP (DCWV); Accessories: Circle scallop Nestie, 1 3/8" circle punch (SU), Sakura gelly roll pen; distressor (SU), sponge dauber.

One More Valentine

Yesterday David asked me to send a Vday card to his mother. (Yes, yesterday was Valentine's Day, yes he forgot to ask me earlier; oops!) So this is what I came up with:

I used the OCC Challenge for the sketch and SCS CC205 for the colors: Perfect Plum, Pretty in Pink & Old Olive. I sponged Old Olive around the base of Pretty in Pink to tone it down a bit. I'm not a pink kinda girl. :)

The large butterfly is from Provo Craft's Cuttlebug Butterflies. I've had this for awhile but just used it for this card. After the butterfly was die cut and embossed I brayered Perfect Plum over the top to highlight it more. The brayering added soft texture as well. I colored the antennae black. The Pretty in Pink layer is embossed and Old Olive lightly sponged over it to help it pop. The small butterfly is a Martha Stewart punch that is embossed with the Swiss Dots embossing folder and Perfect Plum sponged over the dots. I probably should have added some texture to the Perfect Plum scalloped edge to help it out too or perhaps that would have just been too much??

The flowers are from the Prima Eire Collection 2 that I colored with Celery Shimmerz (link to Shimmerz). The flowers started out olive and cream. The designer paper is from the Old World Stack (DCWV).

The only stamping on this entire card is the sentiment from ISC. I embossed the sentiment to help it stand out more.

Stamps: Flair of Summer (ISC); Ink: Perfect Plum, CRAFT Basic Black, Old Olive; Paper: Pretty in Pink, Perfect Plum, Old World Stack (DCWV); Accessories: Martha Stewart butterfly punch, CB, CB Butterflies, Swiss Dots & Textile folders; sponge daubers, Scallop Edge punch (SU), Pretty in Pink button (SU), Black hemp (SU), Black detail embossing powder (SU).

Valentine for my son

Happy Valentine's Day!

This image is the second one I purchased from Spiral Whisper named Skateboard Kev. (The first image was Wizard Dan.) I really like this one too. My DS dreams he can skateboard like this! LOL! Perhaps one day, he's only 5.5 y/o now. Anyway, I wanted to participate in the Copics Colour Challenge #1, hence the reason for these colors; B28, V06, YR07. (Now I don't actually own these exact colors but I was able to procure close-enough colors with my 40% from Hobby Lobby.) Young boy + bright colors = fun card!

Beate has restarted her Week-end sketch challenges! Yeah Beate! This card is in response to WSC#68. I did change it from a long card to a regular A2 card as I thought with the size of this image it would work better.


I sponged on some gray to give it the feel of street dirt! (Check out those knees.) My DS asked what that "stuff" is on it. I guess it didn't dawn on him. Oh well, maybe next time. The base is Apricot Appeal. The blue stripes is from an old package from SU I think called Sweet. The red circle is from my Basic Grey Scarlet's Letter. (Notice how when embossed with the CB folder it now looks like a basket ball! Oops!)

I used my clear Sakura gelly roll pen on the red top of the skateboard. Looks great IRL, I'm not sure you can really see it in the scan.

Well, now I need to run and make a Vday card for my MIL.

My Knight

I usually approach my projects looking at what challenges are out there to help me in finding a direction to go with my project. I needed a Valentine card for my DH (who brought me home roses yesterday) and I didn't want to wait until Saturday to make it! Yes, I procrastinate but I try not to be that bad! LOL!

Anyway, I have been wanting to use the CPS sketch challenge for this week. I knew I wanted to use My Knight set from Artistic Outpost, so I turned to SCS Color Challenge #193 for the colors Real Red, Basic Black and Kraft. Yes, I actually used Kraft on my card. I think it is from the original package I bought years (and years) ago! LOL!

This card is actually the first version. Just a bit wimpy for a knight, don't you think?

After I was completed and saw the card on the screen I decided to remove the kraft as the base and replace it with the black. I also tucked the red "lace" up under the knight layer. Here is the finished card.


Stamps: My Knight (Artistic Outpost); Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine); Paper: Real Red, Basic Black, Kraft, Old World Stack (DCWV); Accessories: Red brads (SU), Tag was modified from CB die tag, "lace" border uses Wrought Iron corner slot punch (SU-retired).

Copic Junkies Challenge

I recently joined a new Yahoo group called SNSS CopicJunkies. In a nutshell, this group is into Copics and places a Copic order each month. Our fearless leader, Korin of Sweet N Sassy Stamps, issued a challenge of posting some Copic projects this week-end. I was thus challenged to use this new stamp from Spiral Whisper called Wizard Dan. I bought this stamp after I saw Frances' card here.

First thing I want to point out about this card is that after my frustration of trying to blend my Copics on Very Vanilla yesterday I pulled out some of my pure luxury 120 lbs. card stock from GinaK. When I opened it up and pulled out a sheet (from the back) I immediately had to pull out a second sheet because it was sooooo think I thought the sheet was one of those cardboard sheets they put in to help the paper not bend. Well, the second sheet was just as thick!! It was also very smooth so I was a bit aprehensive about the ability to blend my Copics. Let me tell you this card stock was just awesome! I love my SU card stock, but I may never go back to Whisper White if I will be using my Copics! *gasp*

I am a bit disappointed that my scanner didn't catch all the subtle shading I did, but you can see some of it in his hat. If I were to name this card it would have to be something like Zindorf meets Copics! LOL! After I colored Dan I Zindorfed him (used my VersaMarker and clear embossed him). Then I used a couple of post-it notes to mask off the sky and brayered on Gable Green, then Green Galore, then added a bit of Glorious Green. I had an obvious Glorious Green line so I was able to hid it by sponging on the Glorious Green. I then masked the grass and started to brayer the sky Bashful Blue, then Ballet Blue (which also had a horrible line) and finally Night of Navy at the top. I went back and tried to sponge away the line like I had the green, but as you can see it really didn't go away. I toned it down well enough, but it is still there.

Oh, I used Basic Gray to add some shadow under Dan. I'm hoping Michelle (Zindorf) would be proud of me! LOL! You can definately see where I VersaMarked outside my lines. I need to slow down and be more careful. I thought about adding some Faith Dots around the Night of Navy layer but decided to paper pierce instead for a more subtle touch.

After I colored Dan I was scrolling through my 'card sketch' category in my Google Reader and came to MJ's technostamp card sketch #54. I had played along when this was the current sketch and really liked it and thought it would showcase Dan nicely so I used it for this card.

I used my Label One Nestie. The Bashful layer uses the Faux Felt from the latest Technique Junkies newsletter. I love how easy the technique is and adds such wonderful texture to my card. Since I will give this card to my own little Wizard I figured he will like the feel of the card. :) Five year-old boys do notice those types of things whereas 40-something men don't. ;)

Stamps: Wizard Dan (Spiral Whisper) Simple Sayings II (SU); Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento) Gable Green, Green Galore, Glorious Green, Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue, Night of Navy, Basic Gray, various Copic markers; Paper: Gable Green, Bashful Blue, Night of Navy; Pure Luxury (GinaK); Accessories: Label One Nestie, CB, sponge daubers, VersaMarker, Clear Detail Emboss Powder (SU), Crafter's Tool Kit (SU), heatgun, crimper.

CPS Challege

I really do enjoy being challenged. I decided to go for this week's CPS card challenge. I knew that I wanted to use my new Sweet N Sassy Stamp set Be Still. I needed a jumping off point in choosing my colors so I turned to SCS's color challenge: Old Olive, Creamy Caramel & Cameo Coral. Yes, Cameo Coral!! So two challenges in one card. I will share that while I was making this I was thinking about a boy in my DS's Kindergarten class that lost his father this week to an apparent heart attack. How heart breaking for this family.


The Creamy Caramel layer uses the faux felt technique from Technique Junkies. I did distress the edges a bit to also help soften that layer. I thought that it added a nice soft feel overall to the card. I tried to tone down the Cameo Coral by sponging Creamy Caramel around it. I used my new Rich Cocoa (Memento) ink to stamp both the sentiment and the deer. You've got to love 40% Hobby Lobby coupons! ;D

I colored the deer using my Copic markers on Very Vanilla c/s. Boy, I finally understand why Marianne doesn't recommend SU coated cardstock! It really didn't want to blend at all! I really worked on that bly sky. I used my Colorless Blender to make the spots on the deer's back.

Stamps: Be Still (SNSS); Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento), various Copic markers, Creamy Caramel; Paper: Old Olive, Creamy Caramel, Cameo Coral, Very Vanilla; Accessories: Label One Nestie, Oive grosgrain ribbon (SU), antique brass frame (SU), crimper.

Another CPS Submission

When I first uploaded my AI Duck I didn't realize I was entering it into the CPS contest. Well, since you can upload two cards I decided to try my hand at this sketch again. This time I wanted to try a new TJ technique called Background Burst. Only thing is that I didn't do it as a background. Oops! Sorry Pat! ;D The technique is actually the heart itself. Well, it was until I needed it to stand out more and I clear embossed the heart. I actually did a good bit of tinkering with this card. Here is the first rendition.


I used the heart from Gentler Times (SU retired). Now I don't have a fancy scallop heart punch. I actually used a trick to add the scallops around the edge. (I would LOVE to give credit, but now I can't find the source, if you know please let me know so I can include proper credit!) Basically you punch a scallop circle and then punch the inside out so you are left with a thin scallop border. Clip the scallop border and now you can add the scallops around any shape you want. Probably clear as mud! I've got to find that tutorial!

The flowers were painted with Shimmerz! I have seen this done several times and I love the look IRL. In fact, I think I prefer the flowers painted over painting an image! You can visit Shimmerz here. I added little pearl (generic) drew drops to the center of the flowers using my Mono Multi.

The base Old Olive has another stamp from the Gentler Times VersaMarked to add some depth and interest to that layer. The first card also uses VersaMark on the Lavendar Lace layer as it just needed "something". Famous last words, I know! You guessed it, I really wasn't happy with this card so I removed the Lavendar Lace layer and replaced it with Lavendar Lace with Swiss Dots embossed and swiped with Craft White for interest and texture. Please let me know what you think of this new card! This is the final version and what I have uploaded to the CPS contest.
Stamps: Gentler Times (SU, retired); Ink: Craft White, VersaMark; Paper: Old Olive, Lavender Lace, Elegant Eggplant; Accessories: Prima Flowers, Shimmerz: Cleery, Lilac & Opal; Scallop circle punch (SU), Colozzle circle (to cut out the center of scallop punch), Swiss Lace folder, CB, pearl dew drops, chalks (SU).