Sketchbook

Who-lloween Cards ...

Isn't this the cutest stamped image?   I just think it is adorable.   I got it over the summer but just now had the time to try it out.   When I was stamping it, I thought "why not use it for Halloween cards"?    I think they ended up making cute holiday cards.

I simply stamped them with black Memories ink and colored them in using the MCP technique.  For those that don't know what the MCP technique is - it is Magic Colored Pencil technique.  It is coloring with Prismacolor pencils and using Gamsol (I use Sansodor) to blend the colors.

Happy Who-lloween! 

Shadow Stamps ...

I dusted off some of my old shadow stamps (remember those?) and made these cards.   They were fun to make once again.

The shadow stamps are by Hero Arts.   The inks are Memories shadow inks. The olive branch stamp is by A Stamp In The Hand.   

 

Autumn Time ...

I was playing in my art room one evening and came up with these Autumn cards.   There isn't much stamping (sentiments only - Hero Arts) involved, but the pumpkins were fun to make.  

The pumpkins were made using a large oval punch.  I punched 3 ovals for each pumpkin.  I trimmed each oval smaller than the previous one.   I chalked the edges of each layer to add depth.   The stacked the layers together with foam tape.   The leaves are actually small punched eggs.

 

This shows the stacked layers of the pumpkin and the chalked edges.

Just Some Cards ...

Just a couple of cards I made one evening.

Two cards made with Hero Arts asian stamps.   I think these little girls are so cute.   They are colored using the MCP technique (colored pencils and solvent).

These two were made with one of my favorite stamps - the chandelier.  I love this stamp and use it for so many occasions.   Both use printed background paper.   The first is overstamped with flourishes.   The second one (shimmery) was embossed with a cb folder.

This card was for my nephew.  Just wanted to say "hi" to him.

Paradise ...

This is a card that I recently sent to a secret sister.  I was pleased with the way it came out. 

The pineapple stamp is from A Stamp In The Hand and was colored using Marvy and Tombow markers.   The background stamp is an image from Stampers Anonymous (I believe).   I just thought the images, colors, and printed paper (Basic Grey) fell together well on this card.

Fish Tails ...

I just finished my "fish tails" art piece.  I was in a mingle entitled "fish tails".   We had to have a fish somewhere on the piece of hanging artwork.

This photo isn't the best, but you can see the basics of my piece.  I used a 4"x6" canvas and painted it with a glaze medium and paint.   I stenciled some random designs on the background using paint.   I gave the background some added texture by randomly applying some distress stickles with a paint brush.   I added an image of a vintage fish company label and used oil pastels around it for shading.    I glazed over the label.  It has almost a crackle finish to it.  I embellished the piece with an "F" game piece, some netting, small sea shells, and a wire/ribbon/bead hanger.

Purple ...

I was in a card mingle recently.   The theme was "purple".    Purple is not my favorite color so this was a bit of a challenge to me.   

I chose an Asian theme. The body of the card was stamped with several stamps -- asian face, ginko leaf, fern, coin, etc.    I used black ink and Versamark clear.  

I made the lantern by punching out two circles of the same size -- one black and one lavender.  I  cut an edge off of the lavender circle and repeated it on the opposite side.   I did the same to the black circle, but making sure the piece cut off was smaller.   After gluing these circles together, I attached some metallic mitzuhiki cord to the back.   Embellished the stamped floral image on the lantern with a glimmer pen.  Attached to card on pop dots.

 

Happy Birthday AJ ...

I made this card for my nephew who is turning 14 in just a few days.   Can't believe he is growing up so fast.   

I find it hard to make cards for teenagers.   I've never had one of my own, so I am never sure of what appeals to them (and at what age).

This is the card I made for AJ's birthday.   I cut the guitar from a piece of printed cardstock.   Stamped the sentiment.   Added "latte" colored pearls to the neck of the guitar.   Hope he likes the card.   If all else fails, I know he'll like his gifts!

Coaster Calendar ...

 

I made this cute little calendar using two medium weight chipboard coasters.  The background coloring on the coaster is a fun technique that I recently created and will explain late in another post.   Hint... it is made using Glimmer Mists.

I cut a slit and made a fold in the back coaster to create a "stand" for the calendar.   The two coasters were glue together and left to dry flat under a heavy book.

Embellished with ribbon and a 3D butterfly from K & Company (I believe).  The butterfly was enhanced with extra bling and glitter pen.

Mother's Day ...

Mother's Day is still a very special day for me, even though it is now full of remembrances and happy memories for me.  This is a day I still celebrate my mom, but also miss her terribly.

I can wish my mother-in-law a happy mother's day though.   She is an exceptional woman.  This is the card that I made her this year.

I stamped this image twice and colored both with prisma color pencils and blended using the MCP technique.   I cut out the two flowers and vase from one of the colored images.   I adhered them to the base image to give the card dimension.

 Hopefully these photos show the dimension and interest you can get  by simply adding a second layer.