Running With Scissors...

Lilies Soft, Lilies Bold

 

Hello!  Today I have a number of pictures to share from my latest coloring experience.  I’ve been wanting to color the Joyful Lilies digital stamp from Power Poppy ever since it was released last month.  However, it didn’t print well the first time, which has nothing to do with the digi and everything to do with my printer needing a cleaning cycle.  So I left it lay for a while and then finally printed it again, this time in a very light bluish-gray so I could practice again with no-line coloring.  It’s a lot of coloring and there are certain things I might try differently with the smaller details next time, but this is how it turned out:

 

 

Below is the print in the early stages of coloring, and the Copics I used.  The black wasn’t used in the image at all, but I’ll explain in a moment.

 

       

 

The brown Tombow marker was used to make a tiny dot in the center of each Forget-Me-Not (blue flowers).  I’m thinking I should have used a Tombow for the skinny green Forget-Me-Not foliage.  I will generally use the fine tip of a water-based marker to do tendrils when the image is finished, but I didn’t here and wishing I had.  Alternatively, I could have used a sharpened Prismacolor pencil for the fine details.  The flower stamens and pistols would have been a good place for that, but it doesn’t look too bad, I guess.  The white dots on the Forget-Me-Nots were done with a Signo Uni-ball white gel pen.  Other details:

• Printed on Neenah Classic Crest Solar White.  Hand cut frame made with Prima Fairy Flora designer paper.
• Petaloo flowers.  Removed the hard, bumpy centers and replaced with dark green Flower Soft in an effort to keep the card lump-free and mail-able with one postage stamp.
• Cheery Lynn Small Exotic Butterflies #1 w/Angel Wings.  Cut from the Prima Fairy Flora paper.

 

 

The black-printed image served as a helpful guide when doing the no-line coloring, but I didn’t want to waste it and thought it would be interesting to color it at the same time using the exact same colors.  See the bold difference:

 

 

I used BasicGrey Eva designer paper for this one.  When I’m no longer crazy about one of my old designer paper collections I’ll still use it whenever possible, but cover up most of it.  I cut the Memory Box Estate Fence (retired) in white, but that’s where the black Copic marker comes in – the white was swallowed up by the image.  Easy enough to change it.

 

I made a background of sorts for the bold lilies, and while it shows up nicely in real life, it barely shows in the photo above.  You can see it better in the photo below.  I scribbled Copics in the colors shown on an acrylic block – one color at a time – then spritzed with 90% alcohol and smooshed my paper into it.  Where I felt the color was too dark I simply spritzed the alcohol onto my paper.  Doesn’t hurt the digi image.  The green speckles are courtesy of a retired Stampin’ Up! Itty Bitty Backgrounds stamp and were added after the coloring was completed.

 

 

Well, that’s enough from me for one day.  I need to hurry out to the garden to finish a job before the rain starts this afternoon.  Wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, I hope it’s a pleasant day for you.  Thanks so much for visiting!

 

Monday Stella

 

I made this card for a former coworker/current friend.  Not trying to rub it in that I’m retired and she’s not, but. . .  This Bugaboo Stella was a Friday Freebie a while back.  She’s called Stella Work Monday.  In February I won ten FREE Bugaboo digis, and they’re all so cute!  Among my selections I made sure to include a couple more Stellas for coworker cards.  Anyhoo, it’s Monday, so here’s the card:

 

 

It actually arrived at its destination on a Monday.  I sent it to her at work, tee hee.  She loves me.  Just having a little fun.  Hope your Monday is better than Stella’s!

 

Purple Oxalis

 

Well, here it is, Friday, and I have a Power Poppy card to share even though I’m no longer wearing my Bloom Brigade hat.  I guess old habits are hard to break.  Really, it’s just a coincidence that I finished coloring up this Wish You Luck digi and I cleared off my table long enough to photograph it.  Gosh, my stamp room is a mess right now.  I’m in the middle of a seemingly endless purging and organizing task and the weather has been so beautiful I can’t stay inside long enough to get anything done.  But I digress…

 

I wasn’t sure if this would turn out okay, but wanted to give it a try.  I have three varieties of oxalis growing in my garden, one of which has dark reddish purple leaves and pale pink flowers.  I thought if I left lots of highlights and used black for contrast I could perhaps color these without it turning into a dark, undefined blob.

 

 

The sentiment is from the Lavender clear stamp set, and the tiny hearts are from Small But Mighty Affirmations.  Copics used:

• Purple leaves:  V95, RV99, 100 (black), Colorless Blender
• Flowers:  RV00, RV02
• Band:  E81, YG93

The digi floral bunch was cut out very closely and glued to the vanilla panel.  This is a bit more vintage-ish than I normally do these days.  Amazing how the paper and a length of ecru lace can do that to a card.

 

Well, I’m off and running.  I have a lifetime supply of not-yet-colored stamps and digis to fill up my spare time, so I hope to pop in again soon.  Have a beautiful day!

 

Stamps:  Wish You Luck digi (image), Lavender clear stamp set (sentiment), Small But Might Affirmations (hearts)  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Bazzill ivory, SU! Very Vanilla, retired Webster’s Pages designer paper  Ink:  Printer, Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Blackberry Bliss, Adirondack Sand for sponging image panel, Copics as listed above  Accessories:  Blackberry Bliss satin ribbon, copper cord, Candy Dots, lace, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Spring Meadow Bouquet

 

It’s Power Poppy Friday and I’m feeling happy that I found the time to color Marcella’s latest digital release – Spring Meadow Bouquet.  I’m a little behind on getting my Power Poppy digis colored, but I aim to catch up.  They’re printed and waiting for me.  Isn’t this a pretty gathering of blooms?

 

 

I printed on Neenah Classic White and colored with a bazillion Copic markers.  There were too many to fit in my little tub and I gave up trying to arrange them for a photograph.  I think there might have been about 23 markers.  Maybe more.  This image wasn’t difficult to color, but the nice variety of flowers and foliage, plus the bee and butterfly did require a few markers.  I enjoy being able to print the digis large so it makes coloring easier.  I’m rather loving large stamps lately.  So nice to fill up the whole card front with such a thing of beauty, too.  It’s plain to see I kept it simple – just a narrow border of blue, wrapped in silver cord, and then popped up on a Bazzill white card base.  I wasn’t even going to add a sentiment, but then remembered I have need of this one.  The “thinking of you” is from the Dynamic Duos:  Peonies and Tulips clear stamp set.

 

So there you have it, a fresh spring bouquet ready to send cheer to a friend in need.  Please drop in on my Bloomie sisters who have pretty things to show you:

• Julie
• Stacy
• Christine
• Cindy

Thanks for your time, and have a beautiful day!

 

Eek! There’s a Mouse in my Cupcake!

 

Just a heads up – I have two posts today, so please scroll down for my Double D Challenge post.  I did mention it was a busy week on the blog!

 

First up, I’m sharing the card I made for this week’s Color Throwdown.  I was determined to do something other than flowers today, but I’ll tell you, the colors – lavender, red, and green – sure said “flowers” to me.  Nevertheless, I persevered, sorting through my printed up Bugaboo images until I found one I thought would work.  How about that impossibly green frosting?

 

 

This digi is called Mouse Cupcake.  The sentiment is Impression Obsession.  I colored with Copics and cut some flags to design the card.  Gee, I guess I do have flowers after all.  I punch some funky daisies from glitter paper and added resin dot centers.  Have a look at this week’s inspiration board below.  You’ll see why I was so tempted to color flowers:

 

 

And now have a look at the rest of the team:

• Barbara Anders
• Broni Holcombe
• Jodi Collins
• Lisa Henke
• Amy Rysavy
• Lori Tecler
• Lynn Put
• Vickie Zimmer
• Wanda Cullen

Thanks for joining me today, and don’t forget to scroll down for Double D!

 

Electric Daisies

 

I didn’t mean for these daisies to come out so bright!  It’s what so often happens when I use Copics.  I keep blending in color and the next thing you know I’ve gone to extremes.  Ah, well, it does at least fit the Color Throwdown Challenge for which I made it.

 

 

Our colors this week are orange, yellow, green, and white.

 

 

Naturally, I saw flowers again.  I see flowers in everything.  Next week I’m going to try, try, try to do something other than flowers.  I do love them, though.  My daisies are a digital stamp from Power Poppy called Gerbera Daisies.  As you can see I printed them quite large.  This will wake up the recipient when she opens it!  The sentiment is from Power Poppy’s digi Gladioli set.  I didn’t photograph or keep track of the Copics, sorry.  I was in a sick, feverish fog when I made this.  Check out what the rest of the Color Throwdown gals made:

 

• Barbara Anders
• Broni Holcombe
• Joan Ervin
• Jodi Collins
• Lisa Henke
• Amy Rysavy
• Lori Tecler
• Lynn Put
• Vickie Zimmer
• Wanda Cullen

 

Hop on over to the Color Throwdown blog and join our challenge!  I thought these colors were so sweet and fresh.  Bet you can make something not quite so electrified.  Have a good day!

 

Ladybug Hello

 

Hello, friends, and welcome to Monday!  Today I’m sharing a quick and fun card made for the Dies R Us challenge which starts today.  Our theme for the next two weeks is “Red”.  During the Valentine season we saw lots of red, but it happens to be one of my favorite colors, so I’m pleased to keep right on using it.  I’m also sharing today’s post on the Dies R Us Inspiration Blog.

 

 

I’ve used Ladybug Hello digital stamp from Bugaboo with a die cut Poppystamps Petal Ribbon.  This die is such a pretty swoosh of floral fun which can be turned every which way, colored or left plain.  I like the way it suggests a rolling landscape with this image.  I colored the die cut with Copic markers.  Inside I accented the corner with a die cut ladybug from the Frantic Stamper Ladybug & Bee set.

 

 

Head over to the DRU Challenge Blog and play along for a chance to win some Dies R Us dollars.  All you need to do is follow the “Red” theme, use a die cut and then link it up.  Take a peek at the Inspiration Blog, too, and keep an eye on Dies R Us for new arrivals and special offers.  When you sign up for the newsletter you won’t miss a thing.  It’s worth it if you’re a die-loving kind of crafter.  Start a wish list.  A girl can dream, can’t she?  Have a happy day!

 

Is it Spring Yet?

 

This past Sunday and Monday our temperatures here were 80+ degrees.  We were the warmest spot in the state of Oregon.  Needless to say I spent some time outside enjoying the middle of winter summer sunshine!  It sure made me think of spring, but I have to remind myself we have a way to go yet.  However, daffodils will be along any time now, and some trees are already flowering.  Such a pretty and welcoming sight!  Today, wherever you are, I’m sending you some Magnolia Sunshine.

 

 

This pretty floral image is a recent Power Poppy digital release.  I popped up a circle-cut frame and gave it a butterfly border and a narrow designer paper edge.  Just a bit of glitter makes it sparkle in the glorious sunshine.  The sentiment is from Power Poppy’s Sunny Harvest set.  I printed the Magnolia Sunshine image in gray scale on X-Press It Blending Card and colored with the Copic markers pictured below:

 

 

Let’s have a look at more pretty Power Poppy here:

• Christine 
• Stacy
• Allison

Just a heads up:  The Power Poppy team has been busy designing behind the scenes for the upcoming release, so next week will be a busy one.  I’ll be here everyday, mostly with new Power Poppy, but a couple of other things, too.  I highly recommend checking the Power Poppy Blog daily to see what Marcella is sharing and to find a link list to who’s sharing peeks each day.  Monday the Instant Gardeners will kick things off with a brand new digital set, and the rest of the week you’ll see the new clear stamp set previews.  Thanks so much for your time today.  Wishing you a beautiful weekend!

 

Stamps:  Power Poppy Magnolia Sunshine digital stamp, Sunny Harvest clear stamp set (sentiment)  Paper:  X-Press It Blending Card (white for colored image), Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, blue Bazzill, designer paper scrap  Ink:  Printer, Memento Tuxedo Black (sentiment), Copics as pictured above  Accessories:  Stickles Stardust glitter glue, Spellbinders Standard Circles (both large and small), Joy Crafts butterfly border die, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

One for the Hubby, One for the Son

 

It looks like I’ve made all the Valentines I’m going to have time for.  I finished these two with brand new-to-me Bugaboo digis.  The first is called Roses Poem and it’s for my darling hubby.

 

 

The next is Pup Hearts 01 and was made for my son.

 

 

Both were printed on X-Press It Blending Card and colored with Copics.  The second card was designed to go along with the current Bugaboo “Stella Says Sketch Challenge” which is good until Feb. 14.  Here’s the sketch:

 

 

It’s a quick post today.  Will wonders never cease?  Have a happy day!

 

Another Birthday

 

I’ve made another very bright birthday card, but, believe me, it’s not as bright as it would have been if I’d followed my original plan.  You see, I colored this to match some designer paper I was hoping to use up, but it was just too much, so I went the opposite route – all white.  I piled on the glitter because glitter is a girl’s best friend, isn’t it?  Oh, wait… that’s diamonds… Well, they’re both sparkly.

 

 

This is for a forty-something former coworker who doesn’t go for flowery cards, so I was happy to use one of my Bugaboo digis:  “Make it Snappy – Happy Birthday”.  I recently printed all the Bugaboos I haven’t used yet so I’d be sure and get to them soon.  This one has been waiting quite a while.  I was also happy to use an embossing folder and ribbon, which are two things I’ve been neglecting somewhat lately.  Not much else going on with this one.  It was thrown together rather quickly, tsk tsk, because I’ve gotten caught without a spare birthday card again.  I really need to get my birthday list organized and then remember to actually check it ahead of time.  I hope you’re better about that than I am!

 

Better run.  Dinner’s cooking as I write this.  Even retired I always seem to be flying.  Have a happy day!