Christmas is coming!

It's barely Thanksgiving and yet everywhere I look I see Christmas! The local stores have all the decorations out and are playing Christmas tunes. The towns around our area have decorations up, although not lite yet. I even put a wreath up on our door this past weekend (a gift from my daughter's boyfriend that was just too pretty to not hang on the door right away). Yes, I have to admit, the other day at work I was streaming Christmas music on my laptop because I was in the mood.

With Christmas comes SO many beautiful papercraft project ideas. I was at the local Archivers (actually it's about 100 miles from my home but as local as I can get when it comes to Archivers) and was in bliss. The Christmas paper this year is beyond words.

I've also been impressed with the stamps available...digital....clear...rubber...they are endless and they are just itching to be used to create something Christmasy and beautiful!  So without further ado, I will share some of my Christmas creations with you!

This card was created with Stampendous! perfectly clear stamps. The name of the set is Angel Glass. When I saw it was certain I could come up with tons of cards with it, to my surprise it ended up challenging me! However, once I found the right paper to couple it with I ended up with this. I colored this images with Copics. I used BG15 for the dress and BG10 for the wings. I did not apply the BG10 directly to the wings though, I used my Copic Colorless Blender to apply it a layer at a time, adding a few more layers and blending it out in the the area nearest the angels back. I cut and layered the angel image as well as the sentiment (verse) and then tied it all up with a pretty gold organza ribbon. I think it turned out great. I'm not sure who will I'll send this one to.

Red and Green

Red and Green is a color combination that can be used in every season. In the spring I picture bright red tulips with vivid green leaves against a backdrop of melting white snow, fresh from a spring snowstorm. In the summer I see Dahlias, Hollyhocks and Petunias all surrounded by foliage in beautiful shades of green. Fall brings beautiful crisp red apples wrapped up in the green leaves of the apple trees and the blazing red of turning hardwood leaves. Then there is winter and Christmas and what Christmas has gone past without stunning poinsettias’ and green Christmas trees...

When I saw the Inspiration Challenge this week over at The Pink Elephant TPE Challenge 113, I couldn't resist the urge to create something using the colors involved...green and red.

The the girl with her balloons is an image from By Lori Designs - and you can have her for your own by clicking here - Bugs and Roo Hazel. She's a sweetie. The paper I used all came from my scrap bin. I paper pieced her dress and balloons. I colored Hazel's hair, tights and shoes with Copics and shaded around her with prismas. Added a bit of ribbon, glitter and gems. It is simple and sweet. I think it will make a wonderful Birthday card for my sister from Colorado who is coming to visit over Labor Day. I can't wait to see her!

This card went together really quickly. I tend to get caught up in coloring and shading and with paper piecing, there was very little coloring to do. The shapes were easy to cut out and it all came together in a snap. In the end...I love the color combo and the whole card.

Thanks for blogging by!

The Pink Elephant - TPE112

I haven't entered a challenge in a while so thought I'd get in on The Pink Elephant's challenge 112. The challenge calls for stitching and the hostess is Christy Croll of TiddlyInks. I love Christy's images. I've already taken a look at the other entries and WOW!! So many cute ideas! I used Christy's "tiny dancer" image on my card. The outside sentiment "Dance" is finished off on the inside where it says "like no one is watching".

I colored the little dancer with Copics and layered her with paper from Bazzill, The Angel Company and Lasting Impressions.  I did  some shadowing and grounding with prismas and Gamsol. Then layered the ribbon and added some faux glass baubles. I shrunk the digital image down for this card so she is only about 2" tall. The "Dance" stamp is from The Angel Company. It's hard to see but I also added a bit of glitter to her crown, tutu and shoes! She was fun and quick!

Let's Go Fishing!

I haven't gone fishing in years but I love to use fisherman of all kinds on cards. It makes for a great masculine card. Here I'm posting 3 different cards, made with 3 different fisherman images that were created by 3 different artist. Each portrays a different feeling...serenity...fun...silliness...just a few of the feelings  that are stirred when I looked at these cards I made. Take a look and see which one is your favorite.

The first little fisherman is an image from The Angel Company. I love this little guy and Mischelle Smith and the folks at TAC have a series of these little sweeties both boys and girls. All the images were colored with Copics and the shading was done with Prismas and Gamsol. The sign, fish and baitcan are from Claire Keay's Gone Fishing digital set.

This happy fellow is another wonderful image from Mo Manning. I love Mo's images and if you look through my past posts you will find several images from Mo. I used Copics and Prismas on this images also. The sentiment is from The Angel Company. 

 

The last fisherman with his catch is also from Claire Keay's Gone fishing set. I love this image. He's happy and reminds me of fisherman I know and how pleased they are when they catch a good fish.The sentiment was created on my computer and printed. It didn't turn out as well as I would have liked but I still love the image and the card. I used Copics and Primas on this card also.

So there you have the same theme created in different ways for a different feel. What's your style?

Want to add these images to your collection? Go to these sights...

http://digitalpenciltoo.com/  - for Mo Mannings wonderful images

http://www.etsy.com/shop/clairekeay - To find Gone Fishing by Claire Keay .

http://www.theangelcompany.net/ - The Angel Company to find all those cute kid stamps.

Birdie Brown by Torico

I recently discovered Birdie Brown images on Etsy. Holy Cow, do I love these images. They are clean, crisp and what I would call very traditional. I love that! Here are a few examples of what I've done so far. All of these were created with Copics and shaded with Prismas and Gamsol.

The above and below card were made with decorative paper from The Angel Company.

Do you just love them? Get these images for yourself at http://www.etsy.com/shop/BirdieBrown

Jack + Ginger = Love

Another Mo Manning image!! Woot, Woot.

The photo of this one didn't turn out the greatest and taking if from an angle lets you see the gold paper and embellishment better than taking it straight on! Photographer I'm not - ha! I colored this happy couple with Copics and a little bit of prisma here and there to get a bit more detail.  I love them and the adoration they have for one another. Hopefully we can all be so lucky in love!

To add this image to your collection go to http://mosdigitalpencil.com/

Thanks for stopping by!

A summer full of "Mo"

Well, I've been away for a while...work, summer, vacation, family...so much to do and so little time and I'm afraid that I've neglected this blog for several months! I've had several friends ask me why I stopped posting and encouraged me to get back at it...so here I am.

I've spent sometime on Mo Manning images lately. Like I've mentioned many times before...I love Mo's stuff!

So...here's Mumu dancing like no one is watching...if this isn't a "feel good" card, I don't know what is! I want to be Mumu when I grow older. She seems like such a care free old gal.

I colored this image a few months ago when I first purchased it and finally found what I thought was the perfect paper to user with her. A little ribbon, thread and bedazzling baubles and darn, I LOVE this card!

I colored Mumu with Copics and shaded the area around her with a light tan Prisma and gamsol.

If you can't live with out this image you can purchase it at http://mosdigitalpencil.com/

I have more Mo's to post, but I've got to run for now!