Pretty Woman

Good morning from Wisconsin.  Micki and I arrived here yesterday to bring her mother home.  On Sunday we will be leaving for Chicago to attend CHA, and in case you don't know what CHA is, it stands for Craft and Hobby Association and on Monday 3 days of fun begin. It is the summer trade show and the showing of all the new products. Hope my feet hold up....I understand it is HUGE and overwhelming for the novice....
Now..to my posting.  Micki took the picture...didn't she do a great job!  Don't tell her but I think I will have her take pictures of all my cards in the future.  And btw, when she gets her shop opened, she will be doing that photography for anyone! www.easyascatsoup.com 
This card will be submitted on the Art Impressions blog next Wednesday for the next challenge...stitching. The first layer of paper was stitched to the base card.  I used Spellbinders label One behind the Lady.  The image(Art Impressions "Lady" P-2147 was colored with Copics (E000, E02, R02, E25, E19, BG0000, BG02, BG04).  The ribbon is Hug Snug seem binding from Zipperstop and colored with a spritz combo of distress ink refill and pearl ex.  Tim Holtz used this as ribbon and colored it with distress ink and it works great.  It is also CHEAP! 100 yards on a spool and I think it costs about $12.  I called them to order it and they were very friendly and very quick on delivery.  I also used a Martha Steward punch.  Sorry but all those exact items I used are at home and I am not.  Leave a comment if you would like more details on how I did this card.  Hope you like it and everyone have a great day!

LaLa

Lala

I've got a bonus posting for you today.  This is a stamp that I worked on at our workshop at Powdersville Community church.  I came home tonight and made it into a card.  This image is a Loralie Designs stamp.

When "Easy as Cat Soup" opens in August she will be carrying stamps from this company. www.LoralieDesigns.com  I have a couple more images I will be posting in the future.  This coming Saturday I will be leaving for Chicago to attend CHA.  I am taking my laptop so hope to post from there each day... filling you in with the new products I see and celeb's I hope to meet.  Later....

Recipe:

Stamp:  Loralie “Lala” 701030

             Stampabilities "A Smile" ER1095

Copic Markers:

Skin: E000

          E01

          R02

          B01

          BV11

          BV04

Hair:  Y00

          Y04

          YR04

          YR07

          E18

Suit:  R22

          R24

          R29

Spellbinders Label 1

Paper:  Lemonade  (Strawberry Patch) by Basic Gray

Ribbon was a solid red and I used BV04 to color dots on the ribbon to match the one in Lala's hair.

Water color Barn

Water Color Barn

It was learning how to water color using Art Impression stamps that took my card making to a new level.  I discovered that I could use these stamps to create not just cards but small pieces that looked like art….and so easily. I love using the individual stamps to create multiple scenes.  We all need value for our purchases.

If you have not tried this technique I encourage you to do so.  The stamps are now available in sets and Bonnie has produced a DVD that actually works with each of the 3 sets allowing you to create so many different scenes….and that is just the beginning. If you have watched her water color on utube you know how easy she makes it to follow step by step.  Whether you purchase the DVD or not I would advise you to buy the water color pamphlets that are available.  There you will find easy step by step instruction giving you everything you need to know to make your own scenes.  So what are you waiting for….…

I appreciate any comments or questions. Happy Stamping!

Mary

Recipe:

Art Impressions Water Color Barn Q-2311                              Marvy Markers:
                                                                                                #40, 86, 45, 93, 28, 15, 43, 8

Art Impressions Leaves A-893                                                 Paint Brush Round #5 or #6

Art Impressions Small Grass Clump AAA-1378                       Palette

Art Impressions Water Color Wagon J-2418                        

Art Impressions Water Color Planter C-2454

Art Impressions Tiny Grass AA-1374

Art Impressions Tall Grass AA-1370

Art Impressions Salvia B-2432

Art Impressions Stalks BB-2055

Art Impressions Tiny Flowers AA-1368

Strut your Stuff

 Well guess you figured I had given up posting on this blog!  Just was way too busy.  We moved out of the RV we had lived in for the past 5 years and I got to get all our possessions out of storage.Five years is a long time and it was like Christmas around here, every box I opened I was saying, "Wow, I forgot I had THAT!"
We got most everything moved in a week thanks to some good friends and a grandson, Nick, who all put up with monstrous heat temperatures to get everything loaded, unloaded and even had help unpacking. My good friend Micki even helped get my kitchen together. The worst part was that at the end of that week my husband left for 2 weeks for a job in Montana. Everything is beginning to get settled and I am sure enjoying our new home.
Today I took a break from boxes and made this card. It is a card that will be posted for the upcoming challenge on the Art Impressions blog.  It was nice to get back to creating and playing once more. I love my new stamp room and when it's finished I will post some pictures.

Recipe:

Strut Your Stuff

Stamps:

Art Impressions “Strut Your Stuff” F1861

Art Impressions “Rhode Island Rockettes” U1832

Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black

         Tim Holtz Distress Ink Peeled Paint

Copic Markers:

R35, R39, YR02, YR09, W1, BG000, G20, G21, G24

Punch:  Fiskers Grass border punch

Copic Altered Art/Mixed Media class in Indianapolis

All I can say is I am plum worn out to a frazzel!  But, it was the most fun, awesome day, and fab classes! Love the Hilton Hotel here. Super nice. We got a suite, large rooms, and we are on the 16th floor. Great view of the city.  I've been very impressed with this place, people friendly and the streets are very clean.  We have felt safe and the accommodations are exceptional.
But, back to the classes...oh my gosh! We did so much my head was spinning.  Covered a lot of different techniques

• Layered Backgrounds:  Monoprinting, Drop and Spread, Painted Inks
• Found Object Resist
• Colorizing Transfers: Magazine transfer, Laser Printer transfer
• Working with Heat and Photos (Hot Photos):Photo 1-burned look, Photo 2 - How heat effects patterns
• Bleaching Photos
• Magic Textures Image
• Ink, Paper, Paint - A colorful story (collage on canvas)
• Copic Ink & Art Dying Fabrics

All this was accomplished from 9am until 5:30pm with an hour for lunch. It was a busy day but so creative and fun.  Can't wait to get home and sort out everything we did and continue to saok it in.
Pictures to come once we get home on Monday.

Copic markers - working with Reds

Good morning bloggers! I am up early ...like Christmas when I was young....as my bags are packed and will be leaving in a couple hours for Indianapolis, Indiana to attend another Copic class.  This one is Altered Art/Mixed Media with Copic Markers taught by Colleen Schaan and Biance Mandity, Regional Art Instructors with Copic Markers..  I love altered art for various reasons but now I can't wait to see how to use my markers in this venue.  I will report back here at the end of the day as I am taking my lap top with me.  In the meantime.....
Here is another image from the Copic Intermediate Certification class....working with reds. I don't know about you but  I love coloring with reds but sometimes reds don't love me so much.  Maybe I try too hard but of all the colors, I have the hardest time blending red.  Here are some of the ideas that Colleen Schann, Regional instructor with Copics, shared with us:

• Work on an absorbent surface.  Try using something other than scratch paper under your work...For example...paper towel or tissue paper.
• Try a different paper.  Neenah is a softer side of the card stock papers.. Bazzil Simply Smooth won't bleed as much but then it might be harder to blend. Experiment with different papers and see if this will help.
• Use less ink.  Don't soak thru the paper as much when blending.  Stay on the surface and if it looks good then that's good enough.  Ignore the back of the paper. Red is such a strong, vibrant color and it soaks into the paper quicker and completely fills it up.
• Try feather blending ....instead of circles.  Coloring in circles really lays a lot of ink on the paper.  Feather blending uses less ink and thus may cure the bleed problem
• Let the base layer dry.....before adding blending colors.....slow down.
• When working on an image...color the reds first.  That way if it does bleed out you haven't wasted a lot of time/work and energy....not to mention ink.
• Finally...avoid working right up to the edge of an image.  Often an ink will bleed after you have completed it.  Coloring up close to but not touching the edge of an image might work.

Here is an image I worked on that was included in our manual.  This image was drawn by Marianne Walker.

I know I gained a lot of good information at the Intermediate certification.  If you already have your basic Copic Certification...don't hesitate to go for the Intermediate level.  You will love it!

Copic Skin Tones

At the recent Copic Intermediate certification we did a lot of coloring and challenged on many levels.  Skin tones was one of those challenges.  This is an image from the student manual for practicing skin tones...specifically using more than 3 colors. In this facial image I used the 9 colors suggested in the manual: E000, E00, E01, E11, E13, E15, E04, E93 and BV00.  When all you have ever used is the basic 3 this really was a leap for me.....but I really like the look.  I must tell you this was my first attempt so don't look too close.  My blending and shading is not perfect but I wanted to post this to challenge you, too. One thing, when you are using this many colors you want a larger image to work on.  When you do, don't be afraid...it's only paper!  And practice, practice, practice!

Copic Intermediate Certification

We made it! My friend Micki and I drove to Columbus, Ohio this past Thursday to attend the Copic Intermediate Certification class being taught by Colleen Schaan, Copic Regional Instructor.  What a Blast!! It was an awesome class, on pace, power point instructions, lots of goodies from Copic and a fun, empowering, and educational class.  You might notice the new Copic blinkie now on this blog.  I am posting this image of Lilacs so you can see how we were challenged.  I highly recommend this class, worth the cost, and do not be afraid of the coloring form needed as part of the application.  They only need to see that you have been practicing and learning how to use the markers and have knowledge of the basic skills.  If I got in anyone can.....so go for it!You won't regret it.  I heard that an intermediate class might be coming to the Atlanta area this fall.  Just go to the Copic website, click on instructors and certification and fill out the form to be notified when a class opens up near you.  You must of completed the basic certification to be considered for this next level.
This image is not a stamp but drawn by Marianne Walker, Copic product specialist/product director.  We learned Shading, Shadows and Cast Shadows, Shadow color theory, and properties of light and shadow.  All that was just one part of a 5 part program.

Heartfelt Thanks

Good morning.  I am having a lazy day but last night I made this card for The Mercantile and I wanted to share it here on the blog.  This is made using a fold I found in a book "Fabulous Folds for Card Making" published by House of White Birches.

Front folded and tied with ribbon

Inside

Heartfelt Thanks             

Stamps:
Art Impressions  single flower

Hero Arts C4462 A Little Kindnes
Hero Arts F3914 Wavy Heartfelt Thanks

Penny Black Transparent set Enjoy 30-024

Ink:
Momento Tuxedo Black

Marvy Matchables  #96 Jungle Green

Copic Markers:

R02, R05, R08

YG21

Paper:
K & Co. "Sweet Nectar"

             

                

One of those days....!

I taught at The Mercantile Store in Pendleton, SC this morning.  It was another Art Impressions water color class and we focused on sky, ocean and sand and then they picked how they wanted to finish the picture using different stamps. Everyone did something different and it was a lot of fun to see the variety and creativity and also talent at work.  We had a good time together.  A big thank you to Cindy and Terry for making it so.  Love this store. Also I need to state here that this coming Saturday I will be at The Mercantile doing Copic make and take.  If you missed this during the Spring Fling the first of April here is your chance.  If you were there for the first event...then come on back and you can have a second go!
While at The Mercantile they got in May's shipment and board of the stamp of the month by Great Impressions. It won't show up on Great Impressions website until after the 1st of May but let me tell you these are CUTE! They let me purchase two of the stamps early and I had to make them up into a card right away...besides tomorrow is the workshop at Powdersville Community church from 10:00-3:00 and there are some cat lovers there who will love this stamp(s). Enjoy! And if you can, stop by the church or come play and stamp some images. By the way inside the card it says, "Sorry, I haven't been in touch. I've really been in it up to my neck!"

One of those days!

Stamps:  Great Impressions D420 One of those days

               Great Impressions E715 Cat bath

               Art Impressions H-1920 To My Neck

Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black

        Ranger Distress Faded Jeans

        Ranger Distress Spiced Marmalade

Spellbinder Curved rectangles

Punch Martha Stewart Ribbon Loop 42-60053

Paper:  KC&Co Sweet Necter

Copic Markers:

B21, B23, B24

E07, E09, E11

C00, C1, C3

R01, R11, R14