Birds on a Holly Branch

Here is another card using a newly acquired PSX I bought on Ebay this past week. Bluebirds have a special memory for our family. When I see something like this stamp I immediately think blue birds.  They are so fluffed out....it must be cold and lined up together for warmth.  I hope you and yours are cuddled together and warm this evening.  It's beginning to look like Christmas.....

Recipe:

Birds on a Holly Branch

Stamp:  Birds on a Holly Branch PSX K1884

              Rejoice Inkadinkado 96920MM

Ink Pad: Memento Tuxedo Black

               Distress Ink Peeled Paint

               Distress Ink Festive Berries

               Distress Ink Pine Green

Paper:  Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium Collection 8 x 8

Glossy Accents

Copic Markers:

YG01, YG03, YG63, R22, R29 (Holly and Berries)

B41, B21, B24, R000, R01, R20, R22, Y08, Y17 (Birds)

E21, E23 (branch)

BG10 (outline)

Spellbinders Curved Rectangles

They Who are Best Friends

Yesterday I pulled out two more retired no longer available (except on Ebay) stamps.  These are 2 more stamps that I have had for a number of years and had not used.  I hope you don't mind that I am using these nla stamps.  If you are serious about wanting a particular stamp and are patient, sooner or later it will become available on Ebay.  Stamps that I purchased just a few years ago for $10 are now selling for $30-$50. I believe that in the future all wood stamps will be scarce and hard to find and valuable....especially the good quality ones like PSX (Personal Stamp Exchange). Just go to www.ebay.com and search for psx rubber stamps and you will see what I mean.  There are still good buys out there but you have to hunt for them.
The stamps I used for this card are PSX but are a licensed product by the artist Suzy Toronto. I hope you like what I did. Thanks for looking.

Card Front

Card inside

Girlfriends

PSX Friends G-3460

PSX Friends F-3459

Art Impressions "All together" Picture Perfect Set 4130 Unmounted

Paper “it takes two” Lucy Rigg LLS105

Ink Memento Tuxedo Black

Copic Markers:

E0000, E02

YR01, YR16, YR12, YR18, YR23

Y13, Y17

YG01, YG06, YG07, YG09

BG11, BG45, BG49

R12, R14

E33

0

Perfect Pearls Mists Heirloom Gold

Enamel Accents Black

PSX Royal Rabbit Christmas Card

I'm back on track.  So sorry.  Life just got so busy.  I do apologize.  I hope you will forgive my slackness by enjoying this card I created today.  Our Altered Book Club is meeting tomorrow and we are celebrating Christmas with food and gift exchange.  I wanted to make a special card to go with my gift.  The stamp is a vintage PSX created by Pamela Silin-Palmer and lists Santa Rosa, California as the location which really dates it. I first saw it when doing some volunteer cleaning out at The Mercantile Store in Pendleton, SC.  They no longer had the stamp but the sample caught my eye and it was a "must have" if you know what I mean.  We bonded. ;-) It took me 6 months until one became available on Ebay. The rabbit reminded me of when we would celebrate St. Lucia day with cousins in Texas. They asked our daughter to represent St. Lucia, to wear the crown of candles and pass around the rolls. It was a great memory.....and I just love this stamp.
If you have any questions on how I created, colored, etc....please don't hesitate to ask.  I am more than willing to share any small amount of knowledge I have.  Thanks for looking.

Recipe:
PSX Stamp Royal Rabbit K7104
Memento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad
Copic Markers:
0, C1, C3
YR20, YR23, YR27
R01, R22, R29, R39
G94, YG03
E09
Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium Collection 8 x 8 pad

Circus Clown

I'm challenging myself to enter more "Challenges" that are available to us.  Want to join the fun?  I made this card for the Outlawz Friday Challenge.  This is an old stamp from Art Impressions and is no longer available but he sure is a cute clown. (Art Impressions Clown M-1349)
Stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copic markers.  The papers are from Graphic 45. I used the Spellbinders Framabilities Classic Frame to make the entrance to the tent.
Hope you like it!

Giraffe ZooCrew

Just a quick post this morning to show you a card from Art Impressions just released at CHA. I was privileged to take two classes from Art Impressions that Bonnie Krebs taught where we made 6 cards using new stamps.  We were also able to purchase all the new releases so  eventually I will post them all.  Here is the first one. The giraffe was trimmed along the right side and I edged it with a dark grey copic marker.

Giraffe set 4190
Card front

Copic markers used:  E21, E31, E08 and BV0000

Operation Write Home Blog Hop

Welcome to Memorial Day Sketch BlogHoppers!  This is the first time I have participated in this and I am excited and happy to be part of this event.
About two years ago my oldest grandson, Nick, a Marine MP, returned from duty in Afghanistan. 

After months of anxiety this grandma could hardly wait to get my arms around him and hug his neck! So proud of you Nick!                     

This stamp by Art Impressions reminds me of that time when we all welcomed our sons and daughters, husbands and wives, home. The original image was stamped, colored with Copic markers and then reduced by 30% in order to fit the sketch.  I used sketch #43.
Thank you for bloghopping with OWH.

Recipe:
OWH Welcome Home
Stamp: Art Impressions Uptown Girls Set 4129 (Girlfriends)
             Paper Smooches Circle of Honor M25099
Punch:  Punch Bunch (small flowers)
Memento Ink Tuxedo Black
Paper:  TPC Studio Spring Break Printed Pad P62130
             Bazzil Cardstock Pauly Poo (blue) Grasshopper (green)
Copic Markers:
E000, E02, R02, R14  (skin)
B60, B63, B66
RV000, RV00, RV02, RV06, RV09
BV000, BV00, BV02
BG000, BG02, BG05
YG25, YG11
YR14, YR18, (hair)
Y32, Y38 (hair)
E21, E13, E19 (hair)
CO

Sunshine in the rain

Sunshine in the rain

We have had more than our share this spring but I can't complain because if it didn't rain we wouldn't have such an abundance of flowers and spring green color.  I guess that is why when I saw this stamp from Penny Black I just "had" to have it.  I love these "slapstick" stamps.  They are made so well with deep cuts in the rubber and then since they are unmounted, easy to store.  I picked this stamp to do my first posting on the Oozak blog as a member of the design team.This stamp can be purchased on line at Oozak.com and they have the best prices and super customer service. Just tell Rusty that Mary recommended him.  Remember the sun is ALWAYS shinning....just sometimes it is harder to see.

Front

Inside

Stamps:

Penny Black, Sunshine in the Rain, 40-058

Stampendous, Everyday Messages, SWS027-F

American Art Stamp, Sunshine, KC6062.C

Ink:

Memento Rich Cocoa

Misc:

Glossy Accents

Martha Stewart "Drippy Goo" Edge Punch M284108W

Copic Markers:

Bear Fur:  E39, E19, E15, E11, E50

Rain Hat, Coat, Duck: Y11, Y21, E71

Umbrella, Boots, Water:  B21, B0000

Shadow: C1

Welcome blog hoppers! I purchased several Magnolia stamps a couple of years ago (time flies) colored them up with Copic Markers and never have used them.  I like this group because it motivates me to pull out some of those oldies but goodies and make them into cards.  It's like putting life back into something that has been sitting in storage and waiting for a very long time.

This stamp is "Bubbling Tilda". She was colored with Copic Markers. After cutting her out I distressed the edge of the white paper with TH Distress Ink Victorian Velvet to soften the cut edge.  Then I put her on a piece of Once Upon a Time scrapbook paper. (Tilda is actually covering up a horse that was on the scrapbook paper.)  I thought that the bubbles on the paper could look like she was blowing them. Flowers were added over her head (from a scrapbook paper scrap) and Glossy Accents to the flower petals.  This way it looks like she is blowing dewdrops on the flowers. It was matted on a Bazzil light blue cardstock and another piece of scrapbook paper to pull out the blue violet and the deep purple color.

Recipe:

Stamp:  Bubbling Tilda FT10

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

        Tim Holtz Distress ink Victorian Velvet

Copic Markers:

Skin E000, E00, E11, R20

Hair E02, E11, E29

Dress:  C1-C3

Wings: C1-C3, BV01-BV000, V15

If you are participating in the Blog Hop here is the map:

Blog Links:

1. Vicki Patranc - http://bountifulblessings2u.blogspot.com/   (starting point)

2. Cindy Johnsen Pec http://www.cindysantics.blogspot.com/

3. Mary Witter http://www.marywitter.blogspot.com/      (You are Here)

4. Cindy Grigiski http://www.stampwithmecindyg.com/     (Next stop)

5. Maria Matter http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/

6. Sue Morris http://www.suessentiments.org/

7. Barb Wibel http://madeforkeeps.blogspot.com/

8. Heather Dennis http://joemamainks.blogspot.com/

9. Gina Lindsay http://ginasmakingsandmusings.blogspot.com/

Girlfriend Blend Set

Just a quick post before I collapse into my bed.  I finished this card this evening and couldn't wait to get it posted to share with you all.  This is one of the new 2012 sets just released and now available at www.artimpressions.com   I recently purchased all 4 new sets (Thank you to The Mercantile Store in Pendleton, SC) and my goal is to get all 4 done and posted here asap.  You will love the new girlfriends!
So before my face hits the keyboard.....drum roll.....

Girlfriend Blend Set

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

         Archival Ink Coffee

Stamp:  Art Impressions Girlfriend Blend Set UM-4132

Copic Markers:

            Skin:  E000, E01, R02, R14

            Hair:  Blonde Y32, Y38

                      Red:  YR14, YR18

                      Brown: E21, E13, E19

            Clothes, jewelry:  RV02, RV06, RV09

                       YG11, YG25, BV00, BV02, B00, B02

Spring has Sprung

I am doubling up on a post.  The challenge this week on Art Impressions blog is "Spring has Sprung".  Well I have been thinking on this one for a couple of weeks (like Winnie the Pooh, think, think...think think think!) and it was a true challenge for me. 

 I didn't want to do the typical flowers and stacked Spellbinders (though I do like that look in a card) but with the title "Spring has SPRUNG" I felt it needed more with a feeling of how I feel as spring has blossomed here, and so early, and so many blooms! (Sympathy to those with pollen allergies) So I will delay no longer.  Here is the card, it folds to fit in a standard A2 envelope and I purposely left off any 3D embellishments so that it folds flat.  Also, the bushes were created by using the tree stamp.

I am including the youtube video that demonstrates how to do the fold. Very easy and simple. I hope you like this post....and any questions on how I did this, just leave me a comment and I will respond, I promise.  Also if you would rather email me, or have problems leaving a comment, my email is www.maryfwitter@gmail.com  Thanks for looking!

Spring Has Sprung

Recipe:

Spring has Sprung

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Stamps:Art Impressions Giant Oak Tree (Sku#T1584)

             Art Impressions Evelyn (Sku#T3519)

             Art Impressions Cloud F-2385

             Inky Antics verse  K5-3093-3F 

Punches:Martha Stewart Fence M284101

              M.Stewart Wild Flowers 42-8005

               M.Stewart Tulip Garden 42-40027

Copic Markers:

W2, W4, W5  (camera & binoculars)

E000, E02, R02, R14 (skin)

YR12, YR15, YR24 (hair)

YG93, YG97 (shirt and shoes))

E41, E43, E44 (shorts and socks)

YG21, YG23, YG25, G94

E21, E23, E25 (tree)

R14 (tulips)

BG0000 (glasses, etc.)

B21 (clouds)

R27 (flowers on bushes)

R14, Y19, BG23 (flowers behind fence)

March Tri-Fold Card.wmv

Monochromatic card

Since I was not able to sleep last night (another night of thunderstorms and a dog who goes bonkers when it rains) it was the perfect opportunity to work on my blog assignment for Art Impressions....due on Wednesday. This week the challenge is "monochromatic"...all one color/shade.  I chose this potted daisies Art Impressions stamp (of course) and picked violet as a color I felt would work best. (My favorite is blue/green but I had done that before).   I liked the calmness that violet and blue violet created. I should add that in order to create the background, I used a watercolor trick and created a mask with masking paper, then completed drawing in the "wallpaper" with copic marker and ruler. The masking made it easier for me not to have to worry about making a line in the wrong place. Leave me a comment if you need more information on masking. Be glad to help....

Monochromatic card

Recipe:

Stamp:  Art Impressions TC Pot of Daisies (Sku#M2608)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Punch:  Martha Stewart Eyelet Lace PATP 42-60013

Copic Markers:

V12, V15, V17, BV000, BV02, BV25, BV29, V91

Bazzil Paper: Heidi, Jubilee, Velvet

Happy Birthday with Honey Pop

Grandson #3 who lives in Texas is about to have his birthday, March 31st, so trying not to procrastinate.  I have just finished his card.  Ever since Tim Holtz used HoneyPop paper on his February tag, I have been anxious to try it out on a card.  I purchased the paper and stamps to use with it from Inky Antics.  So here is my first pass at it....

Card Front

         Card Inside

Stamping Tip:

This stamp set is a clear acrylic set and I don't know about you but I hate it when my clear stamps get stained and I can't get them clean.  Well I was watching a YouTube video where the stamp set used was a clear set and I wondered why she was inking it up with a VersaMark Ink when that was not called as being used.  I figured it out....if you stamp FIRST with VersaMark and then with the colored ink it doesn't stain and the stamp is clean as new after a quick cleaning. Who would of ever known.....I sure didn't.

Recipe:

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Stamps:  Inky Antics 11026MC Cupcake Birdy

Spellbinders:  Classic Scalloped Ovals Small

                       Classic Ovals Small

Punch:  Martha Stewart Swirling Lace 42-60051

Paper:  Inky Antics HoneyPop collection

Copic Markers:  R32, R37, R39, R81, R83, R85, B00, B12, B16, G21, Y19

Glitter Ritz with Peel-off stickers and Scor Tape

This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to take a class with some friends learning the technique using Glitter Ritz and Peel-off stickers. I enjoyed learning a new technique (haven't been a fan of glitter) but this was really fun and easy to get good results.
It is a little confusing at first because it involves a sticky transfer paper and then a special double stick tape. Our teacher was very patient and gave clear instructions so we all sailed right through the process.
The first card is colored totally with glitter:

Bowl of Cherries

The second card uses the same process but the image and background is colored using Copic Markers:

Here is a video from Hanko on the process of this technique and the supplies needed:

I really like this process because it doesn't require the tedious removal by hand of all the pieces of the sticker. What do you think? Leave me a comment as to your choice.
Enjoy!

Dots, dots and more dots......

This past week I received my order from Loralie which were from her new release of art stamps.  This one jumped out at me and I just had to color it first.  I used Copic markers of course, (is there any other kind of marker anymore?). Loralie Art Stamps are definitely different and work so well with Copic Markers. Check out the Loralie link above and you can see her new releases.  Don't forget that she does these same designs and more with fabric and embroidery patterns.
Well it is Saturday and there are plenty of other things to do around here beside create cards.  Have a great weekend and I hope you get sometime to play with your Copics, too!

Recipe:

Memento Tuxedo Black
Distress Aged Mahogany (used on background paper)

Loralie Art Stamps "Dots" 701113

Copic Markers:

Skin - E0000, E000, E02, BV0000, BV000, BV08,  R22,R39

Hair - YR16, YR18, YR27

Dress - B21, B24, B26

Gloves - YR01, YR12, YR27, BV08

Hat -  E34, E35, E37

Bow - RV65, RV63, YR000 (apply in this order)

Hat box - YR16, YR18, YR27

Flowers - YR12, YR16, YR18, YR27, E99, R37, R39, G20, YG93

Flower basket - YR27, YR12 

Kisses

This is a Penny Black Slapstick unmounted stamp I was able to get at www.Oozak.com.  Love this website as it has the best prices on Copic Markers and Refills.  Also good prices on everything else they carry along with free shipping when you spend $50 and that is easy to do.  Check them out and tell Rusty I sent you. I have placed multiple orders with Rusty and delivery was quick and efficient.
I loved this stamp because this little girl just has spunk! Maybe even a little sassy, too.  She was fun to color but I did challenge myself on the dress.  I colored the dressed using the BG's and then added in some Greens in different places.  Kind of reminded me of the old taffeta dresses and skirts I wore as a kid. Guess I am dating myself.  Anyhow, I was glad to finally have the time to color this image.  Got a few more waiting in the wings.  Hope to post again soon.....

Kisses

Stamp:  Penny Black Slapstick “Kisses” 40-097

Ink:  Memento Black Tuxedo Ink

         Distress Ink Scattered Straw

Copic Markers:  Skin – E000, E02, R02, R05

                           Hair – E08, E25, E29

                           Dress, socks – BG57, BG53, BG32, BG11

                                        G03, G12

                           Flowers – BG11, G12, G12, R27, R05, BV04

                                            Y19

Extras:  Glossy Accents (shoes & heart)

Spica glitter pen:  Clear 00, Olive 07, Red

Score pad

  

Nora Blowing Kisses

I love shopping on line.  The other night I was actually looking at Penny Black stamps but got side tracked (no surprise there) and found this cute stamp.  Whiff of Joy "Nora Blowing Kisses" I purchased from Scrapbook.com  I couldn't wait to color this up and make it into a card.  So in honor of Valentines day and in memory of a dear friend, Valentine Steele, who was born on Valentine's day in London, England, I hope you like my rendition of this stamp. Any questions or comments will be appreciated and responded to.

 Nora Blowing Kisses

Stamp:  Whiff of Joy “Nora blowing kisses” A259

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
        Distress Ink Wild Honey
        Distress Ink Walnut Stain

Copic Markers:  Skin – E0000, E02, R02

                           Hair- E08, E97, E99

                           Dress – BG70, BG72, BG75, BG78, Y23

                           Shoes – E99, E97, R85

                           Hearts – R81, R85

Atyou Spica – Lipstick Red

Spellbinders  Label Seventeen

Punch – Corner heart punch by Punch Bunch 

Rejoice

We are having a solar day here in South Carolina and I am enjoying the warm sunshine.  So I decided to hang out in my stamp room and create an Easter card (taking breaks to go outside and warm in the sun).  I was at the Michaels store last night after dinner with friends and found this stamp set by Inkadinkado..40% off and one that I didn't have but now I do.  Here is my creations...I hope you like it. Please leave me a comment or just say hi.  Love to hear from my cyber friends!

Rejoice front

Rejoice

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

         Distress Ink Walnut Stain

Paper:  Graphic 45 Renaixxance Faire #4500107

Stamp Set:  Inkadinkado Spiritual Sketches 99548

Spellbinders:  Labels 13 S4248

Punch:  Corner Rounder

             Martha Stewart Scroll Lace 42-40065

Stickles:  Yellow

                Tea Dye (cross)

Embossing Powder Black Fine

Copic Markers:

            B21, B23, B24

            BG0000

            YG01

            Y38

            E11, E13, E15

            V04

Rainy Day

Today I decided to make a card....no surprise you say? Well if you knew everything I should of been doing you would of said, "Are you crazy?"  Yep..guess I am.  One of the things I try to do here is to challenge myself in doing cards that look different.  I sure hope I do that.  I don't want my blogger guests to be bored and I hope I surprise you every once in awhile. So here is another one....Let me know what you think.

I cut this card base 4-1/4" x 11" on a sherbet Bazzil cardstock and folded it to make a tent fold card.  I edged the front using my Ink Applicator and  Distress Ink Stormy Sky.  The image is from Graphic 45 ABC Primer collection "Happy Go Lucky" #4500388.  I trimmed it out and distressed the edge with Walnut Stain and my ink applicator. Then it was attached it to a piece of dark green cardstock and trimmed the green leaving about 1/16" border. The brown crinkled background was created using Tim Holtz' Kraft Glassine paper.  I spritzed it with water, crinkled it up and then opened it up flat and using a craft iron to dry it.  Don't try using double sided tape to attach this glassine paper.  It won't work. I used Crafter's pick glue to attach it to the card base.  Oh, the floral embellishment was colored with my Copic markers so it would coordinate with the image.  Y38, G29 and W9.  Also I used glossy accents to create rain drops on the umbrella.  Thanks for looking! Any questions leave me a comment and I will reply.

Close up of Rainy Day

Showing markers, distress ink and crinkled Glassine paper

Supplies:
Graphic 45 ABC Primer collection "Happy Go Lucky" #4500388
Distress Ink, Walnut Stain, Stormy Sky
Tim Holtz idea-ology Kraft Glassine papers #TH92916
Recollections Floral Embellishments 191319
Copic Markers:  Y38, G29, W9

Art Impressions Chocolate Shoppe

Good evening blogger friends! The Chocolate Shoppe card is finally finished.  This stamp set has an outside/inside stamps so I had to figure out how I was going to engineer this card.  After a couple of failures I finally decided on this keeper.  I used the Swing card which makes it easy to see both the outside and inside. I hope the scans I made will show this card.
This is got to be a record for the number of Copic markers I used for a single card but because of the stamps used, I felt that many was required to get the shading I like. You can reduce the number of markers by using 2 colors instead of 3 for shading. Just make sure that you choose the markers that give you a greater contrast for blending. Also, remember that Copic markers are translucent and you can layer to get a darker shade.  I hope I haven't made this too confusing.  Any questions, pro or con, please leave comments.  I am no expert by any means....Thanks for looking.

Folded front

Opened panels showing inside card

Reverse of inside

Swing Card Pattern

Zentangle flower

Had a wonderful time at our card workshop at the church today.  With the holidays behind us many stampers that we haven't seen for awhile were able to come.  We didn't meet during December so it was so good to be back together again. I had this last Loralie stamp that I hadn't used yet so it was what I took to work on.  I picked colors that I don't normally use.  I used those blues and greens to pick out the papers for this card. The panel of stripped paper was set off using my Scor-pal.  The four smaller petals were popped up with glue dots.
I created consistency by picking papers that had dots and stripes. I also picked a "hello" stamp that had a flourish font to go with the bling.

Zentangle flower

Stamp:  Loralie Art Stamps “First Flower 701073

             Inkadinkado “Hello” 97221MM

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

         Distress Ink Broken China

Copic Markers;

BG01, BG05, BG09, G00, G05, G09, E95, E97, E99