Tag, your it

Where has the month of August gone?? It's almost time for another digi release at Whimsy stamps and I've never gotten around to showing you my favorite stamp from this months release. I created this digi to use for my badge on Whimsy. Her name is Artist and let's just say I was inspired from real life.. lol! I've always got some sort of coloring tool in my hand. I like her and I hope you do too =o)

 Don't you just love my tech savy photo skills, lol!! All those markers are out on my desk while working on another project while I was waiting for the glossy accents to dry. 
Here's the copic swatches:

And the close up. Her shirt is paper pieced and shaded using of course, copics.

The glossy accents are reflecting but you get the gist, right? Color your world, great words to live by.

 I created the paper for this tag on plain ol' Georgia Pacific white cardstock. Many layers of acrylic paints, spray inks, masks and doodling with white gel pen. 
This is just a close up shot of the micro beads I added around the borders. 

Ooops, no close up of the fibers but they are purple and oh so fun to run through your fingers! Thanks so much for looking and I'll be back in a few days with the first of the September release.

Hugs~

Afternoon Playtime

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend = ) I've been playing in my craftroom/studio and having a ball!! Look how I've been whiling away the day:

I printed out some vintage post cards on watercolor paper and painted each one a little differently.  Gardens, butterflies, flowers, birds, birdcages all seem to be a recurring theme for me. The last birdcage on the left is a little wonky so that's on the agenda for a remake but all in all I am really happy with them.

Originally I was going to collage some images onto the post cards but I just hated the thought of not being able to see that old script handwriting. 

Thanks for looking. Now it's back to the drawing board for me = )

Hugs~

Waiting

I have a card to share today. Have you figured out yet that I have a slight obsession with coloring hair? lol! Here's another version of a Rapunzel -ish girl. I originally created her for a watercolor painting I did so she was much larger and her little toes peeking out under her dress were so cute but that just doesn't translate well to these little images. But here she is:

The stamp is called Waiting available at Whimsy Stamps. I'm sorry I don't have my copic swatches for this one.  When I got my new laptop not all of my files backed up to my external hard drive like they should have. Very frustrating as I've lost 3 videos that were all edited and ready to be uploaded. Urrrggh! Oh well, can't complain too much can I? But I do have a close up of just her:

Lots of stickles on her dress and for once they actually photographed =0)

Thanks so much for looking and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Now to see if I can get her into some challenges. Am I the only one who creates a card then tries to find a challenge to fit her into? 

Challenges:

Charisma Cardz Challenge - Lace

Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes (You poor DT gals! I feel your pain, already over 500 entries!!)

Hugs~

Mixed Media Painting with Copics

Hi guys! No card today but I have been busy creating. This is one of the projects I completed today:

I first drew her on plain cardstock and erased all but the essential lines. Then I scanned her into my computer and turned the opacity way down so the lines were just barely there and printed her out on Neenah cardstock.  The coloring on her face is almost all copics with a few sharper details added with prismacolor pencils. Her hair was first done with copics but once I started adding the deepest shadows with my prisma's I couldn't stop.. lol!  

The background was created on a 9x12 piece of 140 lb. cold pressed watercolor paper. I like working on the watercolor paper because it handles all of the spray inks I use so much. The pic doesn't do justice to the rich colors. Those muddy looking colors are actually yellow ochre that looks very rich and beautiful in real life. Lots of stenciling and spraying through masks to create the background. I also collaged with a piece of paper that I have used under previous paintings to protect my work surface. I misted it and crumbled it up like we do when we make flowers and after it dried it had the most beautiful texture. After all of that was dry I cut out my girl and used gel medium to glue her down to the watercolor paper. I had sprayed the page with a fixative prior to that just in case any of my spray inks reactivated with the gel medium. 

Here's some close ups of my favorite little corners:

Thanks so much for looking =o)

Hugs~

Watering

Happy Wednesday everyone! We are having a busy week in our household. Joshy is turning three and we are gearing up to celebrate his birthday this weekend but Eeeek, he starts school next week!!! I thought I was ok with it until we went to open house last night and they started talking bus schedule. This Gramma got slightly teared up.  He had a ball at open house though playing with all of the other kids. I have to admit, I was having paper envy at their set up for art ; )

So on to carding shall we? Here's another card made with Watering available at Whimsy Stamps:

 I had a ball creating the background papers for this one! I stenciled white flowers onto Kraft cardstock with white acrylic paints and then ran it through my Fiskers paper crimper. 

The sentiment goes so well with this image and is also available at Whimsy stamps.

Here's the copic color swatches:

And just a few other close up shots:

I added Glossy Accents to the geraniums to make them appear a little more 3D.

Thanks so much for looking and I hope you are having a wonderful week!

Challenges:

Flourishes - Use Kraft

Party Time Tuesdays - Garden Delights

Shopping Our Stash - Try something new (creating stenciled and crimped background paper)

Make it Monday  - Always Anything Goes linky party

Hugs~

Rapunzel

Hi guys! I am soooo excited to have finally gotten a new laptop!! A while back I had spilled an entire iced coffee on my laptop and while at the time it seemed the only thing damaged was the keyboard, it just was never the same. Slowly things started failing, most notably, the graphics driver.  I have spent the last day and a half trying to get things how I like it and syncing the two. This girl has waaayyy too many files!  

Today I am sharing a card I made using one of my new releases from Whimsy Stamps called Rapunzel. All digi's are on sale for 1/2 off until Friday!!

I guess it's no big secret that I love to color skin and hair = )

Here's the copic colors I used: 

 And just a close up of those cute little Martha Stewart punched butterflies with some stickles added to their wings. 

 Thanks so much for looking and I hope you get a chance to pop over to the sale ; )

Challenges:

Digitial Tuesday Challenge - Recipe 1 image, 2 papers, 3 flowers and 4 gems

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes 

Try it on Tuesday - Anything Goes    Didn't read the rules, sorry ladies! 5 is the limit ; )

Craft your Passion - Anything Goes

Love to Create - Punches and Dies

The Outlawz Color Challenge - Photo inspiration for colors

Hugs~

Create a background using Mr Clean Eraser

Hi guys! I know I've drug some of you into the mixed media world kicking and screaming... lol! For my cardmaking friends I am hoping you try this technique to create some of your own design papers. Creating papers for backgrounds in some jewelry pieces is actually what got me into cardmaking in the first place ; )

Here's the video of how to create a background using a Mr. Clean eraser:

 Please do as I say and not as I do.. lol. Use rubber gloves and don't touch your face or anything else. I touched my face while I still had it on my hands. It wasn't anything severe, but enough to notice. Thank God I didn't rub my eyes!!

Here's a few pics of the completed page:

Close up of the puff paint on her collar.

Thanks for looking and yahoo!! We are getting some much needed rain. I love the sound of a thunderstorm when it isn't severe and scary. 

Hugs~

Butterfly Fairy

Yoo hoo!! It's August and that means 5 more of my digi's have been released from Whimsy Stamps. 

I've done another mixed media project so get ready for lot's of pics : )

Here's the finished project and then we'll backtrack:

She's just hanging from the box of my antique quill pen for the sake of the pic.

Now for the process. First she was colored with copics:

I knew I wanted to color her wings like a monarch so what goes with orange? For me it had to be purple ; )

Next I covered a box of Crystal Light drink mix with text pages using matte medium. Mod Podge would work as well or any clear drying glue for that matter. I also tape down the top and bottom flaps before I start to collage. 

Then a coat of acrylic paint. You can wipe it back in some areas while it is still wet to let some of the text shine through.

Then I added some collaging images from papers and assorted sources that I wanted to shine through at the end. I have learned the hard way that my first layer (the text pages) tends to get obliterated so now I save the images I want to show through until this step.

Now I like to add a second color of acrylics and some circles by dipping a cap top in orange paint (sorry, I warned you.... lot's of pics). 

I also carried these colors and stamping to the sides since it has a high profile and will show when it is hanging on the wall.

This is one of my favorite ways to add some texture. This was a mesh bag from a purchase of some sort. My other favorite way is bubble wrap. I am using acrylic paint and stenciling through the bag but you could also use your glimmer mist or spray inks for a really cool effect.

Some distressing of the edges is just as awesome on mixed media projects as it is on cards! This pic gives you an idea of how little this box is.

All that is left was to add some words I created and printed. I distressed the edges of those also before glueing down and added some white gel pen highlights after the glue dried.  I also cut out my image and glued her down. If you used products that will react with the glue like distress inks you might want to apply a layer of clear gesso or your clear glue to act as a sealant before gluing down your colored image. 

I also added a beaded hanger out of twine and beads. I would suggest creating your hanger before you seal up your box. It just makes it easier : )

One final look before I added the beaded "hanger". 

I really like creating these little boxes and sitting them on shelves in my craft room/studio. You can give yourself little uplifting reminders and I also refer to them for colors, textures and patterns that I think worked well (or not.. lol)

God Bless you if you've hung out with me to end of this post and I hope you will take a look at my other images released today as well. 

Challenges:

Fab 'n' Funky Challenges - Anything but a card

Nutcrafters - Butterflies and bows

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge - Butterflies and bows

Ruby's Rainbow - Anything but a card

Scrapbook Sisters - Things with wings

Incy Wincy Designs - Anything but a card

Hugs~