Tropical Monkeys

Hubby is going TDY (temporary duty) to Virginia (not far from Virginia Beach) for a few days so I thought I'd sneak a card into his suitcase. I thought I'd play on the beach (VA) vs. jungle theme of these stamps. Since he is leaving three of us (me, DS and DDog) I thought that the card sketch at CPS would work great. I did flip the sketch to make this work.

I love these stamps from StarvingArtistamps. I used the Tropical Backdrop with Chip the Monkey.

Right now StarvingArtistamps is having some blog candy, the prize is FOUR brand new sets! Check out their blog here!

I also used Artful Sentiments Color Challenge #18 to use V06 (used V05), YG03 and RV25 (used RV14). The RV14 and V05 are hard to spot because they are the flowers, but they are there I promise!

Pink Blooms

I love working with my Copic markers and love Kimm's color challenges. Well this week's color challenge WAS a challenge for me. We were to use R20, R83 and RVOO. I don't own a single one of those colors. I'm really not a pink kinda gal. I own nearly all the purples, many blues. . . . well, you get the idea. So I had to improvise a bit. I ended up using R22 (close to R20), RV02 (close to RVOO) and R02 (I don't know why, it seemed somewhat similar in a sorta' kinda' way.)

I also wanted to use CPS's cark sketch for this week. And to add to the mix I recently bought some DCWV Brights Mat Stack with the white core so I could do the CB sanding technqiue. :) Well, here is what I came up with:

Those blooms are Sunday International, I bought them from OnyxXpressions. I did lots of sponging on the bloom layer (started on white c/s) since I just love the artwork that Michelle and Theresa create. The sentiment is from SweetandSassy Stamps in the Be Still stamp set.

As you can see I need to practice using my VersaMarker to apply my EP. I started heating my blooms and realized I went beyond the vine. I used a nut cracking tool (that ended up in my craft carasol since it was neglected in the kitchen but holds down c/s being heat embossed wonderfully) to scratch off excess powder before heating.

This card will be going to a girlfriend whose DH left last month for a year away (she's an Air Force wife.) She's had a bit of a rough time the last couple weeks.

Stamps: Spring Blooms (Sunday International), Be Still (SweetandSassy); Ink: So Saffron, Appricot Appeal, Creamy Caramel; Paper: Rose Red, White, green (DCWV), Accessories: Clear embossing powder, pink ribbon (SU), CB and folder, sanding block (SU), Butterfly charm (bought at Wal-Mart), VersaMarker, Copic Markers.

ISC Harlequin

I have been working on this card all week-end! I used a sketch challenge, Copic challenge, TJ technique (I can't remember which one it is!), and a SCS tutorial that I saw on someone's blog that has been stuck in my brain for a month or so now! Whew!

I started with the Week-end Sketch challenge (WSC89) and decided to add the Copic Creations Challenge #8, which was to use botanicals with your Copics. I chose to use this stamp from ISC's Harlequin Flowers (I trimmed off the stem & grasses to fit better in my frame.) I colored on shimmery white (SU) cardstock. This close up shows some of the sparkle. I rolled the leaves before I attached it to the frame.

Here is the card:


I found this cardstock I'd used a TJ technique and squirreled away (several pieces actually) and decided to use it up. The sad thing is that I didn't write the name of the technique on the back and now (m-o-n-t-h-s) later I can't remember which one it is. Choosing this piece, then the designer paper (retired SU) pretty much picked my colors for me. :)

The last piece of the "puzzle" was the wooden frame. I used this SCS tutorial for Faux Wood to make this frame. I thought it would be interesting to mix the scallop octogon with the straight edge. I used Tempting Turquoise as the base for the frame. Hindsite: I would do this again, but I wouldn't use the octogon nesties! A square would have been much easier than putting this puzzle piece together! I didn't use brads as the tutorial suggests, I just used a marker to make faux nails. ;)

Stamps: Harlequin Flowers (ISC); Ink: Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Garden Green, Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue, Brillian Blue; Paper: Taken with Teal, Designer paper (SU - retired), Tempting Turgquiose, Shimmery White (SU), Whisper white; Accessories: Copics, Nestabilities: large scallop & octogon, sponges Tim Holtz ruler, hobby blade, blue adhesive backed ribbon (Darice).

Sharing the Love

I recent bought this set from Archiver's with one of their 30% off coupons; Bubbles from Our Craft Lounge (OCL). I fell in love with this set when they did their blog hop.

Pat from Technque Junkies recently had a sell on the TJ CD's and I took her up on it and purchased the 5 I did not already have. I love that I can open the CD and have a year's worth of techniques PLUS 10 bonus techniques and I don't have to have internet connection, (if for some reason that goes down.) Anyway, this technique is a bonus from CD #6 called Metalic Stone.

Remember that blog candy I won from Pat's Technique Trail blog? The silver layers are from that stash and called Vintage Silver Lustre text. I love the swirl design and thought it would work with this underwater card.

I used my Copic markers to color this image. I wasn't able to blend, the ink soaks in pretty quickly, but didn't really blend. That is okay with this card. My color inspiration came Kimm's Copic Color challenge to use YG67, B23, and E47. Well I don't own any of those so I approximated with YG45, B24 and E44. I added B29 and E49 as well.

I used the July sketch challenge at Rubber Stamp Chat for the card's design. The sentiment is stamped onto the vellum layer. I didn't want to cover all that beautiful Metalic Stone technique but was afraid that the sentiment wouldn't stamp well on the texture. Here's my card:


Stamps: Bubbles (OCL); Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento); Paper: Ballet Blue, Garden Green, Whisper White, vellum, Vintage Silver Lustre; Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch (SU), Copic markers.

PMS Challenge #2

PMS just released some new images. Their release this month was all in digi form. I had to have several of the sentiments. This particular one I won from Kim's blog candy. Thanks so much Kim!

When I saw it I immediately knew who I wanted to make this card for. My BFF Dawn! We are soul sisters I'm sure! Love you Dawn!


I made this for the PMS challenge #2, which was to CASE one of Katie's cards from her gallery at SCS. I CASEd this card. I changed the sentiment, instead of designer paper the background is actually the TJ Bandanna technique and I changed the button embellishment to a filligree.

Thanks Katie for wonderful release party and for this great digi sentiment!

Stamps: Baroque Motifs (SU), Like Branches On A Tree (PMS: Digi); Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine), Distress Inks: Broken China, Faded Jeans & Pine Needles, printer ink; Paper: Rose Red, Certainly Celery, White; Accessories: Filligree (TPC Signature Collection), scallop edge punch (SU).

Congrats to. . .

Thank you all so much for leaving comments. So many of you thanked me and my DH for our service; thank YOU for your appreciation. You all made my day! I wish I had a card to send to each and every one of you!

Now, onto the winner of the Pledge of Allegiance card. The winner is. . . .

Jennifer! Jennifer was comment number 45. Number was selected by www.random.org. Here is Jennifer's comment:

Jennifer says:

“Hi Melissa, I love, love, love your card! You used some fabulous techniques with the coloring and vellum. Hope you're having a wonderful 4th of July weekend!!

I have sent Jennifer an email. If I don't hear back from her by Wednesday morning I'll select another number.

Again, thank you all for visiting and making my week-end!

Melissa

"I Pledge Allegiance. . ."

I'm so glad you could join the SNR Card Universe Blog Hop! If you came from Becky Partan's blog you are on the right track! If you didn't you may want to hop to the SNR Card Universe and start at the beginning.

I am totally excited to participate in this blog hop! There are so many incredible artists participating in this blog hop I'm sure you will be inspired!

As an Army wife and Army veteran I have a soft spot for patriotic stamps. I don't seem to use them near enough so when I had to create my card I had to figure out which ones to use! I decide to use two new (to me) stamps from Our Daily Bread Designs.


I have quite a number of flag stamps, but I just love this flag stamp! The flag stamp is from the set God Bless America. This stamp is the perfect size for A2 sized cards! The Pledge of Allegiance stamp is sold separately. I stamped the flag onto vanilla cardstock using Tuxedo Black. I chose vanilla cardstock so I could use a white gel pen to help the stars pop a bit more. I used my Copic markers to color the flag and my white gelly roll pen from Sakura. I cut the image out and layered onto the base layer of Basic Black. I cut some vellum text weight slightly smaller than the base and stamped the Allegiance stamp using Stazon Black. I used Pearl Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist to mist the vellum. TIP: Rather than spray the glimmer mist directly onto the vellum (and leave large spots) spray the mist into the air and immediately wave the vellum through the mist. The heavier drops fall and you get a very nice misting!

I adhered the vellum using silver brads. I kept the design simple, allowing the emotion to carry the card.

Here's a peek at the inside.


I am offering this card as a RAK, just leave a comment and I will use the random generator to pick the winning comment. Open to all! Just leave a way to contact you and I will draw the winning comment Monday morning.

The next blog on the hop is Paula Mangum of The Paper Spa. Enjoy and have a happy and safe 4th of July!