Christmas in February

One of my goals this year is to have all my

 Christmas cards ready by December 1st.

(A few days late as I was to celebrate on the 25th

 of each month....don't tell Santa!)

As February is the month to celebrate Love and Kisses.

What is better than to kiss under the Mistletoe!

Copic Sketch Markers; G40, G43, G46 and R24, R27,R29

Meet me under the Mistletoe!

(This card is meant for my husband, Ed!)

Imagination!

-Elaine

Supplies:

Cardstock: Kraft; Speckletone, Shades of Green: Bazzill

Ink: Adirondack - Espresso stamped on Classic White  - Flourishes, Distress Ink - Barn Door

Stamps: Flousishes: Meet me Under the Mistletoe

Coloring: Copic Sketch Markers: G40, G43.G46,R24,R26,R29,E0000,Y28

Embellishment: Red Twine - Baker's Twine, Uni-ball Signo Pen - White Ink

Tools: Adhesive: Tomboy,  We R Keepers - Corner Chomper

Third Thursday Tools!

 Blogs! 

It is true story time!

Almost 2 years ago I had a terrible cough. The cough was so severe my Doctor treated it as whooping cough. For 4 weeks I was held captive in my home for fear of infecting small children, which I would never want. 

Laying in bed I had my Ipad and was just searching and playing. Somehow I came across a blog page with beautiful flowers colored on it. That webpage was Out to Impress by Julie Koerber. Then I started linking the blog pages for Flourishes designers. While viewing the blogs, I felt better by all the flowers stamped and colored with Copic Sketch Markers.


Next I started searching more blog sites; Card Creme, Madison Avenue, Thinking Inking, I Like Markers, Think Fast, Inspired By and Paper Trufflez. The blog list kept growing!

Then it started! My craft days were back!

First I had 10 Copic Markers and a few stamps. Now, my office is turning into a craft coloring studio. Filled with stamps, many more Copics, inks, colored pencils, chalk, cardstock, dies, embossing tools, ribbons, embellishments. The list is so long.

One of my favorite parts of stamping, coloring and creating cards are the Blogs! Yes, I sit with my coffee early in the morning and look at the blogs. I enjoy viewing the crafting of amazing women. The color selection, placements, layering and the different ways stamps are presented. Also, the blog friendships that are beginnning!

So... enjoy a cup of coffee and link on a few of my favorite blogs!

Please share your favorite blogs!

Imagination!

-Elaine

Gift of Time!

February is the month of Love.

 There is one day in February that is special to me.

February 14th - Valentine's Day!

This Valentine's Day I am going to give my husband Ed, a gift that represents time.

A pocket watch that was his Grandfather's which I had restored and cleaned.

(He doesn't even know that I have it).

I am hoping that it represents the time that we have shared.

The time that we have today, tomorrow and year's to come.

This stamp from Hero Arts was perfect for his Valentine's card!

Stamped only one of the hearts from the Heart Trio stamp.

Spend some time with the someone you love!

Imagination!

-Elaine

Supplies:

Cardstock: Kraft - Speckletone

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Color Box Warm Red

Stamps: Hero Arts Watch Gears, Northwoods Rubber Stamps Heart Trio, Inkadinkado Love

Coloring: Copic Sketch Markers - RV25, RV29, R37, G82. G85

Tools: Thermo O Web Foam Squares

Butterfly Times Three

 A magazine and a On-Line Card Class provided me

 with the idea to re-use a stamp!

Paper Crafts Magazine - Stamp It! 3 ways

It was fun to sit with my cup of coffee and

 look at different ways to use a stamp or stamp set!

While reading this magazine I thought what stamp would I enjoy stamping 3 times?

And how would I create it to look different from the first 2 times I stamped it?

At the same time I was enrolled in the Clean & Simple On-Line Class.

This was my 4th on-line class which was a fun way to start the new year!

So... are you wondering which stamp I choose?

Hero Arts - Artist Butterfly Stamp!

First time I stamped and colored in July 2011!
For our Granddaughter, Hailey!

Second time was using a color combination from  Summer Card Camp!
On-Line Classes taught by Jennifer McGuire  and Kristina Werner.

 For the third time using the Hero Arts Artist Butterfly stamp
I choose to go Clean & Simple.

Just colored the butterfly, one layering cardstock and one sentiment.
The fun was what colors I choose and the layering cardstock.

All new colors of Copic markers for 2012.

Of course blended!

Layering Cardstock is Embossed Resist.

This technique was taught in the Inspiration Showcase - On Line Class!

The Butterfly stamp is one my favorites to color!

Maybe you will see it a 4th, 5th or 6th time!

Imagination!

-Elaine

Supplies:

Cardstock: Kraft - Speckletone, Flourishes White Basic Cardstock

Ink: Adirondack Espresso 

Stamps: Hero Arts Artist Butterfly, Amuse Happy Birthday

Coloring: YR21, YR23, YR24, YR27, BG53, BG57, RV55, RV56, V22, V25,V26, E84,E89, G43, G46, BV31,BV34, RV32, RV52

Embossing: VersaMark,Stampendous Embossing Powder Pearl White, Distress Ink -Vintage Photo

Embellishments: Sakura Gelly Roll Marker

Tools: We R Memory Keepers Crop-a-Dile, Adhesive - Tomboy, Fiskars Paper Cutter

Swirls and Flourishes

Flourishes is releasing new stamp sets for Spring!

One of their challenges was a to create a card that is

Black and White with a pop of color!

Flourishes Primrose stamp -  A Year of Flowers was perfect for this color scheme.

The stamp has the image shaded on it, when stamped with ink gives a dark effect.

I choose Memento Tuxedo Black for a rich and dark shade of black.

The swirl paper was perfect for Flourishes!

My pop of color was a soft shades of pink! One of my favorite colors for Primroses.

What color do you like to add to Black and White?

Imagination!

-Elaine

Supplies:

Cardstock: Kraft - Speckletone, Soft Pink and Black - Bazzill, Swirl -  Elegance by Creative Imaginations  

Ink: Memento Black Tuxedo

Stamps: Flourishes - A Year in Flowers 1 Stamp Set

Coloring: Copic Sketch Markers: RV00, RV32, RV34, YR31, YG63, YG67

Embellishments: Ribbon - Offray, Pearls - EK Success

Tools: Adhesive - Tomboy, Fiskars Paper Cutter        

             

Copic Colors for 2012!

Beautiful shades of Violets, Reds, Yellow-Red, Blue-Greens, Greens and Browns.

When ever I get a new color I play with it.

 Compare it to other shades and blend with the new color.

Look at each colors intensity.

New Copic Colors

BV34, V22, V28, RV52, R56,YR27, BG57, BG90, G43, G46, E84, E89

Now, it is time to color!

Imagination!

-Elaine

Calendars!

For years I had a pretty calendar on my desk, until "technology" came into my life. 

 All my appointments, dates to remember and schedule are electronic.

I love looking at a pretty calendar each morning when I sit down at my desk.

Why not have both! Now on my desk is a calendar...a pretty one!

February is the month of Flowers and Love!

January is the month filled with Celebration of Life!

Why the number 6?

The sixth anniversary of surviving a serious life threatening health crisis.

Miracles do happen!

I enjoy tying holidays and special occasions on the calendar! 

Imagination!

-Elaine

Supplies:

Calendar: Paper Source

Cardstock: Kraft - Speckletone, Red and Periwinkle - Bazzill

Ink: Adirondack - Espresso, Distress Ink - Barn Door. Color Box - Bronze

Stamps: Heart Vase and Sentiment - Peddler's Pack, Number 6 - Paper Source, Borders - Making Memories

Coloring: Copic Sketch Markers - February: R24, R27,R29, G43, G46, E43, E42, E44, E47

              January: B60, B63, B66, R12, R14, R22, R24, R27, R39, R59, YG61, YG63, YG67

Tools: Fiskars Paper Cutter, Adhesive Tom Boy