Day 29...

I can't believe it's the next to last day of the

Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge 

I went crazy for this coloring!

 I did 20 cards. I send out twenty or so cards every month to shut ins, friends and family who need a card. These kitties seemed perfect for one of my monthly send outs!

 The background is what I spoke of in a previous post...

Just when I thought I didn't like chisel end of the marker? 

The cats are from the new Tim Holtz set. Yes, I cut everyone of them out. I even messed up some eyes while I was coloring and decided to cut out new white ones!

Is this why they are called "Crazy Cats"?

All the coloring is done with my Spectrum Noir markers and I stamped all the kitties with StazOn black on regular white card stock.

Have a few left. Odd how some of the colors dried out almost immediately and some of these are lasting forever!

Tomorrow is the last day of the challenge and I have a two hour dentist appointment (UGH) so we'll see what I come up with.

This is my "triedanewtechniqueanddidn'tlikewhatIgotbutmadeacardanyway" posting...

Sorry folks...not all techniques are equal and I tried one and didn't like it. 

However I did manage to cut it up and made some fairly interesting cards.

 This is my submission for 

The Daily Marker 30 Color Challenge

The others are the rest of the piece where I tried the technique and ended by cutting it is three to attach to cards.

The technique required water coloring a piece of water color paper. Dry the paper and rub with anti-static bag.

Emboss a fairly solid image with Versamark and clear embossing powder.

Pull off the color from the card piece with a brush and water.

I ended up cutting mine into three. 

I placed it on the front of the card and with white card stock to match the base card I punched out with Martha Stewart edge punches. 

Before I attached them to the front of the card I stamped the text (sorry I took them off the wood and lost the company) in matching Distress ink.

They are not too bad but they are not the technique.

I may try again...or not!

A little late but here is day 27...

Here is my submission for day 27 of

Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge

 Embossed the Inkadinkadoo floral stamp several times on white card stock with Versamark.

Heat embossed using white embossing powder.

I covered the whole embossed image with yellow Distress ink and pulled it off with water and a brush from the flowers and leaves.

I went back into the flowers and leaves with orange and green Distress ink.

The text is from Stampin' Up and was stamped onto white card stock, die cut with a Spellbinders die and foam taped to the top of the card.

I'm sure this girl looks familiar...

Yes, it's the same Gorjuss Girl as yesterday but I pulled out some older medium that I had from when I used to teach stamping online!

This is my submission for day 26 of the 

Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge 

 I know this isn't the clearest photo but it is the one that shows the glittery effect using the Faerie Myst paints. They are similar to Radiant Pearls. You can blend them as they stay wet for a while.

I really like them for florals normally but this girl needed to shimmer!

The text is from Hero Arts. I lucked out at Tuesday Morning and found a bunch of "Text" stamp sets for $4.99 each!

And "What's Up?" with you?

Gorjuss girl...

The Gorjuss girl stamps I purchased are fantastic.

I really felt I received a good deal as they were inexpensive through WalMart.com and shipped to my local store for free.

I decide to play with chalks and over stamping today for my day 25 submission to

Daily Marker Color Challenge 

 

I stamped her first using StazOn black ink and my Misti tool.

Leaving her on the tool I then colored her in using chalk pastels and nibs.

Once the chalking was done I re-inked the image and stamped her again!

 The text if from a Hero Arts set.

 

So glad I got the sponge dauber cases...

It helped so much in making my submission for day 24 of

Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge 

 I have quite a few of the three layered stencils. They are hard to come by now but whenever I find one at a store or garage sale I pick them up!

This was a rose stencil that I found in the 75% off bin at my local quilt/primitive shop, when they had their sidewalk sale this summer.

It was actually a long rose trellis stencil that I cut into two flowers to use on cards.

Recently I purchased the  sponge daubers and their cases so I had one for each Distress Pad I own. That made this card so fun and easy.

No stencil brush just distress pads and sponge daubers!

 

Water coloring on day 23...

of the Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge

I had a tough day today. I won't bore you with the details but when I finally got home I was at a loss for what to color for this challenge.

 

 Then inspiration hit me!

I have stencils I haven't used yet and a watercolor set from Michael's I have been wanting to play with.

There you have it. I water colored a stencil.

 The text is from a new Hero Arts set I picked up at Tuesday Morning.

Hope tomorrow is better for me and you.

MOJO Monday Challenge 436...

This was a double challenge for me.

MOJO Monday Challenge 436 

The MOJO Challenge as well as needing to get male cards done for the Card Ministry I belong to.

Stroke of luck. 

My friend who runs the ministry gave up a set of stamps from Stampin' Up called Papa's Pockets.

 

I still had some bag from the quilt shop I go to that packs all my fabric in these paper bags. Matched some card stock with it and stamped the text, from a Tim Holtz set, and the timepiece from the Stampin' Up set.

Cut everything to fit and antiqued it with Distress ink before putting it together.

Done...one challenge card and also a card for a male for the Card Ministry. 

 

 

Roger Miller inspired me...

Though most of you won't know who Roger Miller is I have to admit that I had his album growing up and "King of the Road" was one of my favorites off that the album I had.

 

My submission for the

Simon Says Monday Challenge "Inspired by a Song" 

 

 This is a multi medium card.

I stamped, in StazOn black, the van from a set, I sadly don't know who makes it, onto a single fold white card.

I made a mask for the van from a post it note.

Once the mask was in place I used the chisel nib on my Spectrum Noir black marker and a ruler to make the "road".

I used my Distress pads and sponge daubers to apply the ink over the stencil, Pooh Stamp Art Template by All Night Media.

The top of the stencil is clouds and the bottom is for grass. 

I stamped the "title", which is a part of the set, in black StazOn.

I finished by coloring the van in colored pencil and using Gamsol to blend the color with Ranger nibs.

 

Now I'm "On the Road Again" to make more Challenge cards.

Day 22 of the Daily Marker Color Challenge...

Wow the time is flying with this Challenge!

Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge 

I have to thank the Stamping Enablers Group that I belong to on Facebook. Someone posted that she had just bought Prisma Pencils and was on her way to get Gamsol.

I only needed to go to my craft cupboard. So glad it's there.

 The stamp is by Ditto with all open areas.

I took my thinnest Sharpie and Filled in spaces.

Some call it Zentengling. 

I call it Doodling!  

The Text is from Stampin' Up and stamped using StazOn black.

I used my Prisma colors, nibs I found at Michael's by Ranger (they even have a holder) and Gamsol.

Such a smooth look!

A thank you...

Today was a fun morning with friends for breakfast.

Some I see once a month but two I hadn't seen since before Christmas.

They had gone on a trip to New England and brought me back this...

 

I LOVE HER!!!

  She is a solar waving Queen. 

I came across the 

Less is More Week 264 Add Some Texture Challenge

and knew exactly what I wanted to do for a thank you!

  I used my Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations Union Jack embossing folder.

Once I had embossed half of the card, I tried to color it.

I say tried because three different mediums didn't work.

Then I thought of my chalks. I had used white linen card stock to give it the feel of fabric and when I applied the chalks it worked great.

I finished it with a Tim Holtz "Thank You" stamp from Saying Stuff using Distress ink.

Tonight I will write the thank you and send it to these friends who know me so well.

(Every time I look at the Queen I giggle)

Up, up and Away Challenge...

I couldn't wait to find the stamp in my stash that fit this challenge.

Paper Players Clean and Simple Challenge #283 

When I hear "Up, up and away" I can only think of 

The Fifth Dimension 

The balloon is from a set by TPC Studio. I stamped them with StazOn black.

 I made masks for each balloon using post it notes.

I then laid the Pooh Stamp Art Template by All Night Media over the top and starting sponging Distress Ink Stormy Sky.

(If you don't have this or a sky template you can make your own on a sheet of scrap paper cutting a cloudy edge)

Once I finished the front of the card I pulled off the masks.

Using Distress markers in Stormy Sky and Festive Berries, I colored the balloons.

I used Festive Berries Distress pad to stamp the text from TPC Studio, but a different set.

 I have the perfect recipient for this. 

She might even know who the Fifth Dimension are? 

Simon Says Recycle Challenge...

Took me straight to my recycling bin.

We had our son home for Superbowl Weekend and he loves hard root beer.

I lucked out by having the carrier for the bottles in my recycling bin.

The Coney Island Brewing Company Hard Root Beer!

I had to add the Tim Holtz birdie.

 Doesn't he look a little hung over? 

I stamped him with StazOn black and then colored him with Spectrum Noir markers.

This is my submission for the 

Simon Says Recycle/Upcycle Style 

Just when I thought I didn't like the chisel end...

As I have posted before I don't want my Spectrum Noir markers any longer. 

I just feel I need something that has a brush tip. 

Because I already had a full set of the colors you get at A.C. Moore as they are drying out I am tossing them.

For my day 21 submission to

Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge 

I pulled out my Spectrums to use them up coloring Tim Holtz birdies.

I cut them out but couldn't find a background to match the colors.

That's when I took out a cheapy ruler, in case the colors leaked, and started drawing stripes with the chisel end of the marker!

Sure worked for me.

I still want some brush tip markers but am rethinking my Spectrums!

Loving my Misti...

My card for day 20 of the

Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge 

was made using my Misti and a Christmas set from 

Stampendous called Snowy Shirt Stack.

It has different heads, bodies, legs, etc.

The best way for me to get them put together, without overlapping the stamping, was to use the Misti.

 The patterned paper was from a Christmas stack from years ago.

I used my Spectrum Noir, the colors are running low now.

Still thinking about which markers will replace these???

 

Day 19 of the Daily Marker Color Challenge and I finally opened my new stamps...

I have this Granddaughter, have I mentioned that before???

So when I saw the Gorjuss Girl stamps by Santoro I couldn't resist.

Here is my day 19 submission for 

Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge 

 I chose this image and made two girls for friends at the library where I used to work. They are undergoing construction at the moment and probably have days when they feel "wobbly".

 

Though the second card isn't awful but I have to be honest.

The first time I went to stamp the image I used my Misti.

For some reason I cannot explain, the image never stamped at the bottom. (Thus the reason I cut off the books in card two).

It stamped perfectly the next time when I raised it up and to the right about a half inch. Still using the Misti, it makes it so much easier with these larger stamps.

The text is from the Fancy Tags set by Just Rite Stamps.

I inked using black StazOn and colored with colored pencils.

Off to ink up some more of these darling girlies.

This one means so much to me...

I have been so blessed in my life not to have just friends in my own age brackett. As a young woman ladies in their sixties were my friends as well as my teachers.

As a middle aged woman while working in the library system I became friends with many younger people. They have truly blessed my life.

My submission for the Mod Squad Great Outdoors Challenge

is for one of the younger friends I met in middle age.

Thanks to Facebook I think we will stay "Friends Forever" even if we can't see each other that often.

 

This card is another of the Rollograph images that I have been playing with.

 I stamped it using StazOn timber brown, then colored using my colored pencils. I find the card stock makes a difference. If you use a less smooth stock it allows the pencil to look more sketch like.

The text is from Fancy Tags by Just Rite stamps.

 

This will be going out soon to my friend with a note to remind her just how special she is!

Oh no, not pink again...

I'm not sure if it's because I have a Granddaughter or this is just the color for the challenge but yes folks, I'm using PINK again.

(Come to think of it second only to Adele is Pink in my ears!)

Fusion Card Challenge 

 

For my submission I created the above card.

 I love this Magenta stamp and thought it would go very well with this challenge.

I stamped it in grey and colored around the image in pink and grey colored pencils.

I ran the pink card stock through my large dots embossing folder by Paper Studio.

Added sheer pink ribbon for the focal point instead of the star that is in the sketch.

My husband made a huge mistake...

He suggested I buy the sponge daubers and their cases.

 I did.

He suggested I make a chart for the top of the case with the names of all the Distress inks I own.

I did.

He suggested I don't dauber every color so I know what they are on the chart.

Well I did it anyway!!!

Which led to my card for the...

Impression Obsession Happy Birthday to You Challenge 

 

I "daubed", I think that's a verb, with three of the every colored daubers I now have!

Then I die cut the tree and text in coordinating colors.

The tree is DIE036-P and the text is from DIE174-W.

Wishing you all a very Happy Birthday! 

 

 

CAS(E) this Sketch...

My submission for the

CAS(E) This Sketch #160 

is a simple one!

AND I am using my, I believe, Stampin' Up roller (off the roll...see previous post).

The text is Stampin' Up "Greeting Card Phrases".

The inks are Distress with a spritz from my mini mister.

Such a fun card for a child. 

 

Pulling out the Rollograph...

The other day I was on a Facebook group I had just joined called Stamping Enablers.

One of the ladies asked if anyone still used their Stampin' Up wheels, either on or off the roller.

That got me to thinking about the drawer full of Rollograph and Stampin' Up images that I had taken off the rolls.

At the time I pulled them all off and put Aileen's Tack it Over and Over on the backs, let them dry, then put them in food storage bags.

 As you can see there are quite a few. I chose a bunch and started to stamp them up for the 

Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge 

My wonderful hubby had cut me the perfect piece of plexiglass.

The best part of this is that I decided to play with coloring options that were not available to me when I first purchased these or even when I took them off the wheels.

 The above card, which is my submission for day 18 of the Daily Marker 30 day Coloring Challenge, was made with a Magenta Rollograph for the background. I used Tim Holtz Distress markers to color the dragonfly background as well as the text and dragonfly made by Inkadinkadoo.

There will be more in future posts but this gets you started and I would love to thank the lady who brought up the question on Stamping Enablers...but I can't find the post?

Something simple...

Sometimes you just want to do a little simple coloring.

Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge 

Day 16, yesterday, I spent time blending and coloring with my colored pencils.

 Some days that is what you want to do.

Other days all you want is to color simply like this...

 

This is my submission for day 17.

Really felt like all this needed was outlining with marker. 

Then, of course, layering with the colors in the outlining.

The stamp is from a set by Stampin' Up.

Hope everyone is "Hanging in There"!

As the snow continues...

I think of the apple trees out front and hope they are getting the cold they need, finally, to produce a crop this Autumn.

This is my Submission for day 16 of the...

Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge 

 

 The apple image is from Peddlers Pack Rubber Stamps.

The text is Inkadinkadoo "Expressions".

I stamped up a bunch of images today to sit and color with my Prisma pencils, but...

I decided to grab my basket with my very first colored pencils when I got into stamping. I went to the art supply store and got a deal on Design Spectra colors.

 More than half off for a 64 pencil set. 

Don't get me wrong I still love my Prisma but every now and then I use these if I have the correct colors left.

So hold out hope for a good apple crop this year!

In the meantime color, color and color.

Hello, friend...

A new challenge blog...

Impression Obsession...Friends Forever 

I have used Impression Obsession stamps for years but recently have found all their amazing dies.

For this challenge, with Spring on the way?, I pulled out DIE041-A which is a little chick. The other die is DIE174-W a mix of sayings. I chose "Hello" for this card.

After running my white card stock through my Cuttlebug "Chicken Wire" embossing folder, I gently rubbed my Ranger Adirondack slate ink pad over the top of the embossed wire. 

I cut out two chickens and one hello with the dies.

Layered the card and glued on my accents. 

Then, knowing the friend I would send this to, glued on mini google eyes!!! 

How about sending a friend a card out of the blue?

Classic black...

I had always wanted to try coloring on white embossed black card stock.

 This will be my day 15 submission for

Daily Marker 30 day Color Challenge 

It really is simple to do. Get out your black card stock, emboss your image (I used Versamark) using white embossing powder. Heat.

Use your alcohol markers to color. 

(I used my Spectrum Noir, 

trying to use them up and move on to Copics) 

Yep, that's it! 

 My second card using this technique is my submission for the

Stampin Sensations Challenge 

Hope everyone is staying warm and well this winter season.

 

Enough of this snow...

I felt the need to stamp some flowers.

The sun is finally shining here and I hold out hope that the weather people are correct and the cold is almost over.

Found this great challenge using Hero Arts images.

I never have a problem finding those to work with in my stash.

Hero Arts Challenge 

 

The floral image I have had for a while called "Poppy Background"but the text is newer to me.

It comes from a set #CL342 and has just about anything you would ever use to make a card. Birthday, sympathy, thinking of you, congrats...

and this is one set I left together with the company name on it!

I colored the poppies with Spectrum Noir.

 

 Here's hoping this brings on the warmth.

Salty Sunday...

This post is my submission for day 14 of the

Daily Marker Color Challenge 

 

I have looked at many tube videos on how to use salt in your water coloring. Most were long winded.

 I like quick and easy with pictures provided.

Here's my take on water coloring with salt.

 I used Strathmore water color paper and taped it to my extra clip board using painter's tape.

 Apply water liberally to the paper with a wide brush.

 

 Next drop Distress ink from a re-inker.

 

Immediately spread it over the whole paper using the wide brush with more water.

 

I tossed coarse sea salt crystals over the piece and heated it with a heat tool until mostly dry.

I brushed the salt off the piece into the garbage, took off the tape and allowed the piece to air dry until I needed it. 

 

These are the supplies for the fishy card, as well as Stampin' Up Fishy Friends, white card stock, StazOn black for the image and Distress markers to color the fish.

I also added bubbles using "glossy accents" by Ranger. 

 Because we are still getting snow I felt I HAD to add this scene which I did exactly the same but using chipped sapphire Distress stain. The dies are from Penny Black.

Hope you can follow my directions. 

They are simple because it is a simple technique! 

 

This is why I love doing challenges...

Bought a bunch of Mini Spritzers a while back and never used them.

Today I went to check out the...

Simon Says Monday Challenge-Spritz and Spray

Yes, you read it right "Spritz and Spray"!

I had two misters loaded with red and blue Distress ink so I went to town.

 

I wanted to get some cards ready for the troops. 

Went to my Stampin' Up collection for the troops and put together this card.

You know...I like that spritzing thing.

I may have to do more of that.

Thanks to Simon Says. 

 

You knew I'd have to do more hearts before tomorrow...

Mod Squad "From the Heart" Challenge

came along and made me try something with a die I hadn't used before.

 

If you look closely you will see that the entire card is made only of dies cuts.

The heart is called "Vines of Passion" and the "With Love" are both from Spellbinders.

What was really fun was looking through my Christmas pads to find a red and white patterned paper that could be used for Valentine's day!

So Happy Day Before Valentine's Day! 

 

Love chocolate icing...

With a nice white cupcake underneath.

How about you?

 

For my submission to

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge...one layer 

I found one of my newest dies from Paper Smooches, their cupcake.

I have been asked by the lady who runs our Card Ministry to make some cards for men.

What man doesn't like cupcakes?

Have a great rest of your day...I'm off to find more Challenges! 

 

Less is More...

This is one of my favorite challenge groups.

As you can see I go by the keep it simple s****d rule for most of my creations.

I love the elegance of a simple card.

Less is More Week 263 Challenge 

My submission is one most of my friends would not do but I am not a frew frew type.

 

The flowers are a wonderful stamp I bought years ago at Jo Ann's for a dollar. They are by Ditto.

The text I am unable to give you the company.

Here is why...

 

I had the bright idea a year ago to put all my sayings together. 

Major mistake!
I don't know which company is which AND today in this mess I found an Easter saying. 

 Which I needed when I designed my Easter cards.

After doing my challenges today I plan on figuring out what stamps should be where and repackage them.

Please learn from my mistakes.