Thinking Inking

A Little Thank You

I have a quick post for you tonight--a sweet little Rubber Soul Heart Flower paired with some Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday papers and colored with Copic markers (R11, R32, Y11, Y15, YG23, YG24, and the melon green Spica glitter pen). I used a Marvy scalloping trimmer blade for the teal wavy edge and a Stampin' Up punch for the notebook edge. The "thanks so much" tag is from PaperTrey's Mixed Messages set, and buttons are from my stash (mostly Foof-a-La and Buttons Galore).

When I was looking for the link to the flower stamp, I saw that Rubber Soul has a special going on, a free $14 clear set with every  order, as well as some Valentines specials--nothing like a little enabling. ;-D

Have a wonderful weekend!

Feelin' Blue?

I finally have my new Kim Hughes Ocean Friends set that I've been waiting to pair with my Cosmo Cricket Snorkel Papers--a match made in heaven!

I stamped the fish and bubble images in Black Memento ink (Tsukineko) on PaperTrey Stampers Select White cardstock and colored them with the Copic markers shown below. Next I masked off the fish with some Eclipse Tape and airbrushed the background with a Copic B02.

 

After sponging the edges with Antique Linen Distress ink, I used a Copic YR07 to add an orange edge around the die-cut circle focal image (Spellbinders Plain Circle Nestability). The button is from my button stash, and the ribbon is part of the Cosmo Cricket Snorkel collection. Paper backgrounds are all sanded and then stitched together.

This was a really fun card to make, and I'm sure I'll be playing with both the Snorkel and the Ocean Life set again soon. Thanks for visiting!

My Best Friend: CPS 100

Yikes!  I thought that I had left this post on timed publish when I left for Anaheim, but evidently I didn't. I'm back home and managed to bring a nasty cold with me, but it's still great to be home. I know that a few of you have left questions for me while I've been gone, and I'll try to get to them ASAP. Have a great day!

This week's CPS100 sketch has several sponsors; my stamp set is one of the Asela Hopkins sets from GinaK Designs, Framed Friends. Of all of the cute images in this set, I chose the puppy, or perhaps he chose me: he was perfect for my little guy, who sometimes tells me, "Mom, you're my best friend!"

I started with Tami's Sketch, some Cosmo Cricket Mr. Campy papers, and the doggy stamp, as well as some Gina K Luxury White cardstock. I had read my blogging friend Joan Bardee's review of this cardstock, but I hadn't tried it yet. Joan, of course, was right: this was a great cardstock for Copic-coloring!  It was silky-smooth, allowed for good blending, and didn't bleed (not even through the back when I used it heavily). It gets a "A" from me too, Joan!

If you  haven't been to the CPS site this week, you should really go visit; it's a "happening place" with some great contests and giveaways!

______________________________________________________
Product Details
Stamps: Framed Friends: by Asela Hopkins, Gina K Designs
Cardstock: Pure Luxury Cardstock  (Gina K)
Papers: Mr. Campy (Cosmo Cricket)
Ink: Black Memento
Accessories: Mr. Campy ribbon (Cosmo Cricket), aged copper mini brads (Making Memories)
Tools: Copic Markers, Spellbinders Tags Trio die, Sanding block,

Winter CHA Day 2

I have a few more pictures to share with you today from CHA. Above are some clear albums from Bo Bunny--what's not to like about buttons and bows?

 

Isn't this a darling sample that Lauren Meader made for the Just Rite Booth?

 

I loved this little chest of drawers from Karen Foster Designs. I can see great possibilities here! Edited to add: I just found out that Alice Golden created this--beautiful job, Alice!

 

This scrapbook page was from My Mind's Eye. You can click to enlarge and read the type, if you'd like.

 

Do you recognize these two lovely ladies? (Joy and Cami from Our Craft Lounge)

 

PaperCrafts magazine had a Birthday Party today!

 

I adored this Teresa Collins designs album--fresh and totally fun.

 

This little train made with the Cosmo Cricket Lil' Men line is fabulous!

 

And my funny picture for the night: we were in the Disney Store looking for presents for our kids tonight before the Eclectic Paperie dinner. Meet Marianne from I Like Markers--suave and debonair in the Indiana Jones hat, wouldn't you say?

A Few Tidbits from Winter CHA

Greeting from sunny Southern California!  As much as I love Upper Michigan, short sleeves in January is pretty fun!  I was able to get a bit of wandering time in this afternoon and finally got an internet connection tonight.  I'm sharing some random pictures of things that caught my eye on a quick walk-through, and in no particular order. I've seen maybe a third of the booths--more exploring to come!

 

On the first day, right before the show officially opens, a group of bagpipers walks through. Have you ever heard bagpipes up close and personally? ;-)  It's all part of the adventure!

 

Basic Grey had some new lines, my favorites of which were Wisteria and Porcelain. I'm seeing a lot of purple tones this show. Isn't this pretty? I love the pearls on the intersecting points, as well as the angled squares. Must try. . .

 

I always enjoy the Hero Arts booth--clean, crisp, fresh design.

 

 

H0w about this clear bird from Maya Road?   I love the projects at MR's booth--fresh and lovely!  (The bird came in both chipboard and acrylic.)

   

The Melissa Frances booth--what can I say?  Isn't this just pure sweetness and light? Every ONE of those buttons has thread in it. .  .

 

Look at that hand-stitched circle--I love it!  Hand-stitching is big again this show.

 

Look at this canvas layout, Caludine Helmuth line in the Ranger booth. Isn't that cool?  I am really liking the mingling of the papers arts and textiles.

 

Another cool canvas-y sample by Kim Hughes (whose stamps I love). Again, see that stitching around the birds?  It's a great touch.

 

I caught Wendy Wexler demo'ing a neat new Spellbinders product, Impressabilities. This was done on a white core cardstock and then sanded, and it was a debossed image. They are a thin metal and can be cut apart to put anywhere on a card too.

   

You know I love those Simply Swank soldering ladies, right?

 

The lights were already off when I took this picture, so the color is a bit off. But it was a lovely Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday layout--so sweet!

Finally, I had to get a picture of this framed piece in the Cosmo Cricket booth because it made me laugh. . .

 

I'll be on the lookout tomorrow for more fun stuff. Thanks for visiting!

Lemon Card posted on the CLASSroom

Today I posted on the CLASSroom using my new Cosmo Cricket Everafter papers and a new  Lockhart Lemons and Bay Leaves stamp.

Also, several of you have asked over the last few months if I could create a video to demonstrate watercoloring a soft outer edge. If you haven't already seen it at the CLASSroom, it is posted here. It's my first video and could use some focusing help. Still, it might be helpful if you have struggled with getting softly blended edges.

Have a lovely day!

Leaving on a {Prop} Plane. . .

I'm leaving bright and way too early in the morning for CHA!  Hmmmm. . . minus 12 to about 72--could be a shocker! I should be packing, but I thought I'd toss one more sample out before I go. This little boy's card is made with the new Cosmo Cricket Lil' Man line--complete with coordinating chipboard and rub-ons. I love the colors, the patterns, the sweet shabbiness--everything!   I used a Spellbinders Labels Four Die Template  for the two inner mats, as well as a trimmed Double-Ended tag die for the tag. Some Antique Linen Distress Ink and a bit of sanding finished my certified-boy-card up.

I will try to post from CHA; I'll be working the 9 to 1 shift at the Just Rite booth this time around, and I'll have afternoons free to soak up the inspiration. I'll take pictures where I'm allowed and share with you, assuming I can find a wireless hotspot.  Have a great weekend!

Sustaining Hope

I have a sympathy card to share today; unfortunately I 've needed a couple of these recently. I chose PaperTrey Ink's new With Sympathy set, pairing it with Gold Shimmer and Vintage Cream cardstock. I heat embossed the swirl image and the sentiment with some Filigree Detail Gold embossing powder and outlined the edges with a gold paint pen. The little stick pin is from joann.com, and the bead from my stash. Gold ribbon is PTI's Sheer Gold Metallic ribbon. This card is understated, but I think it serves the purpose.

Thank you for visiting!

Best Friends: More Cosmo Cricket Everafter

I have another Everafter card to share today;  this one is for the Cosmo Cricket booth at CHA--no stamping involved. This sweet vintage image is on the Everafter Elements sheet. All I did was to sew it to a warm gray mat and distress its edges a bit. Remember I told you about my "orange-issues?"  I guess that I may have to recant that stance, because orange is sheer perfection in this line!

The little "Best Friends" tag is cut with a Spellbinders double-ended tags die, and the sentiment is a rub-on from the Everafter rub-ons.  The ribbon is also part of the Everafter line, but the button is one that I had in my vast button collection. (Yes, my button addiction is serious.) A few stitches here and there, and some fierce rubbing of the paper edges with my trust scissor blade, and voila--a sweet card.  I can almost hear these children singing "Ring around the Roses. . ."

Thanks for visiting!

Sweet Bundle of Joy: CPS Sketch of Choice

This week for our CPS Sketch card, we were asked to use any of the past 99 cards sketches. I chose Sketch 97, having enjoyed it so much before. Because Tami, our fearless leader (a.k.a. the Sketchmaker) had a precious Christmas gift a few weeks back, a baby boy, we all decided to use this anything-goes sketch to make a baby card for Tami.  Isn't he just the cutest?

I stamped an outer rim of the Just Rite Baby Stamp Ensemble in a Versamagic Turquoise Gem ink on PaperTrey's Vintage Ivory cardstock, before die-cutting and embossing it with my Spellbinders Classic Oval die. The center hole was cut out with another size of the same die, and the photo cut with the size between those two.  I cut a piece of thin chipboard from the labels four die, as well as two patterned paper pieces. I cut them in half horizontally and use a split negative method for contrast against my two patterns of paper (K & Company Hannah Scrap Pad). The lace punch is a Martha Stewart one. Pearls are from Ellen Hutson, and buttons from ButtonsGalore.com. Ribbon is May Arts Silk, 1/4".

Congratulations on your sweet little Christmas gift, Tami!

__________________
An Announcement

The Fifth Anniversary party for Spellbinders Paper Arts is nearing its end. Spellbinders’staff is  hurrying--scurrying to get all the little details finished for the big “party” in Anaheim at the Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show. You still have until 11:59 CST, January 21, to enter Trudee Sauer’s blog contest. Then Spellbinders will be drawing for the Grand Prize Winner, and will announce the Grand Prize winner on the Spellbinders Blog on January 31.

Today, Stacey Caron, Creative Director and Co-founder of Spellbinders Paper Arts shares a special message for you, so check it out here.

Happy Anniversary Cosmo Cricket Style: Everafter

 

How about another Cosmo Cricket line today--Everafter. Of the four new lines, this one is the "all grown up and dressed up" line. It has sage-y green, warm grays, muted buttercup yellows, and some deep pumpkin-sienna's (okay, muted oranges). It would never have occurred to me to toss that orange into the mix, but I have to admit that I really like it.  (We won't tell my MIL that--she thinks I hate all things orange.)

I needed an anniversary card, so the Everafter line seemed like a good place to start. I combined Something Blue and Something Borrowed with a warm dark gray cardstock for the card base. A Martha Stewart Lattice punch made the perfect edge. (A sweet friend found this one at Michael's; I knew I'd get e-mails on where to get it if I didn't say!)

Next I used some 1/2" Seashell Silk ribbon, a piece of Ready, Set, Chipboard that said "Best Friends," and a PaperTrey Ink Heart Prints stamp set. I stamped the Happy Anniversary in Versamagic ink. Yellow pearls are found here. I used a tiny piece of a rub-on for the flower on the top corner of  "Happy Anniversary," and edged the oval (Spellbinders long oval Nestability) with a silver paint pen. Card base and oval sentiment label are cut from PaperTrey Ink's Vintage Ivory cardstock.

If you will be attending CHA, you'll want to check out this post for a chance to win a dinner with the Cosmo Cricket crew! Thank you for visiting.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Cosmo-Santa!

Last night I had a wonderful surprise on the front porch: Mr. Brown had delivered a box of Cosmo Cricket goodies, including the four new lines! I thought I'd share a picture and a card from each line as I have time to play. My first experiment was with Girl Friday--sheer perfection in paper, I tell you!  I love the soft, sweetly-but-not-overly-vintage colors and patterns in Girl Friday. I can predict that I'll go through a lot of this paper in the months to come. . .

Gorgeousness, eh? Sigh. . . . I'm feeling very blessed.

I chose the light aqua floral as a card background and then noticed the "Hi" formed in the alphabet paper right underneath --it seemed like a great strip element for my card. I cut an alphabet strip and matted it with some Prism Frosted pink, trimming a scalloped edge with a Marvy trimmer. Next I sewed the strip and its mat together to add to the old-fashioned charm of the paper. Initially I had added Stickles to the "H" and "i" in order to make them stand out. As I was photographing the finished card, the glitter wasn't working for me; so I later went back and added the chipboard"Hi" on top of my original glittered letters.

The coordinating chipboard comes already covered now, so you don't have to Mod Podge it on; of course, if you really wanted a different pattern, you could do it the old-fashioned way--tracing, cutting, and gluing paper on.

Next I added the butterflies (self-adhesive) to my layout. The butterflies needed some pierced flight paths. I penciled the paths in and then pierced them free-hand, before erasing the pencil lines.

 A snippet of ribbon and a button later, it was finished--my first Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday card!  If you are attending CHA, be sure to stop by the Cosmo Cricket booth to see all of the fabulous new goodies. Maybe I'll run into you when I'm stalking there. . . ;-D

___________________
Spellbinders Blog Party

Jan. 17   Sally Lynn MacDonald
http://inkyheart.typepad.com

Jan. 18   Donya Schroeder
http://donyas.typepad.com/puckish/

Jan. 19   Linda Duke
http://lindaduke.typepad.com/lindas_works_of_heart/

Jan. 20   Trudee Sauer
http://trudee.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/