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

Flying Air ship

Good evening bloggers,
I received this Hero Arts stamp set in the mail yesterday and couldn't wait to make something out of it. This is a card I plan to put in the box for Operation Write Home.  So here is my  rendition of "Flying Air ship".

Stamp:  Hero Arts Flying Air ship CG427
Inks:     Archival Black
            Distress Ink Faded Jeans
Paper:  Paper Studio Patriotic Circles 352526
            October Afternoon 5 & Dime
            Tim Holtz Ideology Paper Stash

  

Three Whoots

This is the card I made for the Art Impression's blog for the introduction of the Whoots line of stamps today.  To texture the owls, instead of using my Copic markers to blend, I used the markers to dab with to give the illusion of feathers.  I still used 3 markers per color, a light, medium and dark. (I know I went out on a limb here using the dotted method of coloring these owls. I would love to know your honest opinion on whether you like this "feathered approach" vs. a solid blended technique)  Glossy Accents were added to the eyes after coloring the center with Y02.
The branch was die cut from chipboard and the Sizzix Tim Holtz Tree Branch and then distressed with Distress Ink Gathered Twigs, trimmed to fit.

Stamp:  Art Impressions Whoots  Owl wearing a hat
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
        Tim Holtz Distress Ink Gathered Twigs
Copic Markers:
E31, E34, E37 (feathers)
Y17, Y02 (beak, eyes)
RV55, RV52, RV21 (hat #1)
BV000, BV02, BV04 (hat #2)
BG11, BG15, BG18 (hat #3)

Glossy Accents (eyes)

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/

UK Blogger Neil Walker

This evening I want to share a blog that I discovered and knew you, well most of you would love.  I happen to have the Tim Holtz Sizzix Reindeer die and I am anxious to try this.  So thank you Neil for sharing "Olly the Ostrich" with us here on the other side of the pond.  BTW, I did email Neil and he gave me permission to share this.  One request...go visit his blog and tell him thank you!

http://neelzexpressionz.blogspot.com

Drum roll please............I present

Neil Walker from the UK

Die cuts with a difference....

Good morning everyone
Hope you are all well. Today it's my turn over at the Craft Barn where this week we are looking at die cuts but looking at them differently; trying to see the possibilities...........
So without further ado I'd like to introduce you to Olly the Ostrich.

He is descended from a long line of distinguished reindeer; also known as Sir Tim of Holtz, fanciful flight die! Isn't he cute? Then of course there is his little brother; now he's a little bit eccentric, and his fashion sense, hmmmmmmm

The details of the "how" are on the Craft Barn blog too but I've decided to add them here too.
The process is pretty straightforward as you will see from the next photo!

You can see by this picture what to do next. In the middle I've shaded in black the areas you need to cut away from the original shape on the left to leave you with the shape on the right.
(tip; keep one cut shape as a template so you can easily make more!)

For the first tag I kept it more realistic by using natural colours and a feather before mounting it onto a tag which I'd stamped onto with Katzelkraft stamps and then mounting that tag onto a second tag cut from corrugated card

For the second, smaller one cut out from the mini reindeer I had much more fun, using brighter colours and playing around with pens I created my "Zebritch" which worked together nicely with the sentiment for a fun and quirky tag which I popped into my journal because I liked it so much!
He (or she) is standing on a shape cut out of the Artful dwellings die and the tag has been inked and stamped with distress inks and a bit of masking added too.
Have some fun today!

(End of Neil's post)

Now wasn't that fun!  I am going to get my die cut out asap and will post my creativity.  Send me yours and I will add it with mine. Let's create!

Jump In

Today's post is a card I made for Operation Write Home challenge that Art Impressions is doing on Saturday. The challenge is "Make Them Laugh".  I hope I accomplished that....

Stamps:  Jump In (Sku#T3468)

               Goofy Things (Sku#F2637)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Copic Markers:

BG10 (outline)

BG01, BG05 (lady’s bathing suit)

R81, R85 (man’s suit, ladies hat)

YG07, YG01, Y02, Y08, YR18, YR12 (ducky tube)

E0000, E01 R02 (skin)

G00, G07, (goggles)

YR18, YR15, YR12, YR01 (arm floaties, flippers)

Altered Book "Caribbean"

Today was spent working on a 2 page spread for Altered Book Club that meets this Saturday. Don't you love deadlines! Sure gets you motivated!!  This was my only day this week when I had the time to be creative and time to finish the project.  Since it is still daylight and not the midnight hour (my usual time to work) I thought I would share today's accomplishments.  Something different from the usual fare found here on my blog.

Operation Write Home

I made my first card for Operation Write Home tonight.  The stamps I had ordered from StampersBest came in the mail this afternoon and I couldn't wait to make the card. I couldn't help but think about the soldier who will receive my card, what will he/she think of it and who will he/she send it to?
We have family in the military.  My grandson was a Marine MP and did a tour in Afghanistan.  Our daughter went to Kuwait during desert storm, she was a Lt. in the Army and a nurse.  She recently reenlisted but into the Air Force and is now a Lt. Colonel and a nurse practitioner.  Her youngest son just signed up with the Navy.
So here is my first attempt at "Giving Back".....

Front

Inside

Back with OWH stamp
"Thank you for your service"

Recipe:
Stamps:  Stampers Best "Band of Brothers"
              Stampers Best "True Soldier"
              OPWH Logos Set
Ink:  Tim Holtz Distress Ink Forest Moss

Eclipse certification

I heard from Ellison Corporation this evening about being certified with the Eclipse.  What an opportunity! I will have to send them a resume but I don't see a problem.  I can fly to California for the class or more likely wait until July and make plans to go to CHA in Chicago.  They will be offering the certification class then. The Mercantile will  help me get application for CHA as that is the store where I will be teaching and demo'ing the Eclipse. Terri or Cindy owners of the Mercantile will go with me and get their certification. Looks like a fun and exciting summer ahead!

Sizzix Eclipse

Happy Easter from Kate

This is a new Easter stamp from Art Impressions.  Her name is Kate.  She is carrying eggs in her apron but this stamp could easily be used for spring or summer by adding floral embellishments in her apron (or any other item that might suit the occasion). This weekend was Spring Jubilee in Pendleton, SC and I colored Kate with Copic markers and did a 8 step flip book on how to color her for a make and take that I did at The Mercantile.  I will add that information later this week as I left it at The Mercantile and they won't be open again until Tuesday. I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter and was able to celebrate our Risen Savior in your own way.

Joyful Kate (Sku#T4112)

Thanks a Bunch

It's a sunny day here in South Carolina and I am enjoying it working and creating here in my stamping room.  I have had this stamp for awhile so I dusted off the cobwebs :-) and stamped.  I started with the mailbox, completed it and then added the papers to go with it.  So here is a taste of Spring...from my house to yours!

Recipe:

Thanks a Bunch

Stamp:  Art Impressions Card Keepers “Mailbox Keeper” CKSET4070

             Art Impressions “Mouthfuls” Frog set, Thanks a Bunch Sku#CS3282

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Distress Ink Dusty Concord

Punches;  Martha Stewart PAP “Bird Branch” 42-50019

                 Corner rounder

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, October Afternoon PP5433 Homemaker Paper Pad

Copic Markers:

E13, E17 (bird nest)

Y02, Y08, YR24 (baby birds)

YR24, YR61 (flower center)

B91, B93, B95, R85, E17, E13(Mailbox & flag)

R81, R83, R85 (flowers)

YG21, YG61 (leaves)

Flowers were stamps 2 times and popped up.

Mailbox stamped 2 times, once on Neenah, and once on pattern paper. Cut out inside and tape to first stamping.

Cardbase (pink) was edged with Dusty Concord ink using Tim Holtz Ink Applicator

Bookmarks

This evening I wanted to share something I have been doing at The Mercantile.  Whether you like Copics or Watercolor...my two passions, this is a way to share your art in a quick and simple way.  The watercolor bookmarks are on 140# watercolor paper, using Marvy markers, Art Impression stamps, water and a brush.
The frog bookmark is colored using Copic markers and I use Neenah solar white card stock..

Also you might of read some of the comments left on the previous post.  Today it was announced that I was chosen to be the first one picked for the first Design Team for Oozak.(blog)  If you don't know this company you should.  If you shop on line and don't have a local stamp store, Oozak (shop) is the next best thing.  Check them out. Best prices on the internet and #1 in customer service.  Tell Rusty I sent you....

I appreciate any comments or questions.  If you would like anymore information on the stamps or markers I used you can leave a comment or email me at www.maryfwitter@gmail.com  Thanks for visiting..