Thinking Inking

Floral Congratulations

Welcome! I hope you've had a great weekend. I'm counting down the days until my son is finished with school (nine days now) so that we can all spend time taking family bike rides and long walks. As far as I know, we are sticking close to home this Summer, and I'm planning to make every day count! 

One need that early Summer always brings is the need for graduation cards. I know that this card doesn't look like a typical graduation card, but it was for a sweet Mom of two teens who just finished her college degree, and I thought she'd like flowers better than something formal and black and gray. I used a sentiment from JustRite's Sentimental Damask Vintage Labels Eight clear stamp set and hand-cut my banner so that it would be the right length for the sentiment.

Most of my time was spent on those little flowers, for which I used a Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms die set, along with leaves from the Foliage die set (they were slightly smaller than the ones in the Bitty Blossoms set). I had a secret weapon for rolling those little roses though--first time I've used it, and I loved it: it was a fabulous little Petal Roller that jumped into my cart last time I ordered from MFTStamps. . . ;-) The largest rose is actually the smallest rose in the die set, and the smaller two are one rose, cut into two lengths to get smaller roses--I hope that makes sense.

Patterned papers are from an an older Authentique Renew 6 x 6 paper pad, and rustic twine is from Papertrey Ink. Well, that's it for today's card--I think my graduate-friend will like it! Thanks for visiting,

Tropical Mae Friends Card

Welcome! How about a cute little friendship card today? Meet Tropical Mae by Some Odd Girl stamps: I was looking for an image that I could draw a clothing pattern on--yes, more Copic Workshop portfolio coloring--and Mae filled the bill. (Her dress is plain on the digi-stamp; I added the hibiscus blossoms with a Copic 0.3 black Multiliner, then colored them.)

These are the Copic markers that I used to color Tropical Mae.

She's a cutie! I used a Spellbinders Standard Circles Small die template to create my sentiment tag, and then a Reverence Embossing Folder for the background. (Unfortunately, I just saw that this embossing folder is a retired one--sorry!) Cardstock that I used was X-Press It for my image panel, PTI Blueberry Sky for the mat layer, and PTI Hibiscus Burst for the background layer.

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I'm finished teaching Copic classes until this Fall, but several of the other girls still have a class or two left before Summer vacation. 

If you are in the Philadelphia area, Cindy Lawrence is teaching Copic Standard and Intermediate Certification classes on June 5-6.

Lori Craig has Copic Color & Ink Workshops in the San Francisco area on June 5-6 as well.

Michelle Houghton is teaching Copic Color & Ink Workshops classes in Dallas on June 12-13.

Finally, Cindy Lawrence has Copic Color & Ink Workshops classes in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on June 19-20. That will finish all of our Copic classes until Fall!

With Sympathy

I've needed two sympathy cards in the last week--not the most enjoyable cards to make, granted, but at least people know that you are thinking of them and that you care. This one's pretty simple; I used a JustRite Sentimental Damask Vintage Labels Eight clear stamp set, stamped with both a light gray and a darker gray ink, and cut out with a Spellbinders Fleur de Elegance die template.

In addition to the Spellbinders Fleur de Elegance die, I also used a  5 x 7 Matting Basics B die template to cut and emboss my pale gray cardstock. I dyed white seam binding with Copic T2 Various Inks/reinker. Quick Tip: when I want a dyed color to look solid, I keep squeezing/scrunching the ribbon until it dries completely. When I want some variegation, I pull my wet ribbon out of my plastic bag and leave it sitting on top to dry naturally. That lets the ink creep toward the outside edges and be darker in some areas and lighter in others. I added a few rhinestones to dress my card up a bit and decided that it was finished--simple and low-key. That's it for today's card. Thanks for stopping by,

Ruff Day?

Welcome! We've recently returned from spending several days with my family in South Carolina. I've got some card-making to catch up on!  A couple of weeks ago I purchased the You Make My Tail Wag stamp set from MFT Stamps; I knew that I'd get several uses from it, and it was so stinkin' cute to boot! I wanted to use this an an encouragement card, and since this dog had such a dolorous look on his face, I thought he would make the perfect focal image. I fussy-cut around him because I didn't order the coordinating dies at the same time, but they DO have them--just letting you know about that. ;-)

Shown above are the Copic Markers that I used to color the images.

For the background, I used MFT's Die-namics Pegboard Cover-Up. I used a banner from Die-namics Blueprints 20 for the sentiment. Well, that's pretty much the whole story on this little card. Here's hoping it will be an encouragement! Thank you for visiting,

Vintage Violet Birthday Card

Welcome! How about a sweet little Saturated Canary card today? I had colored this Vintage Violet digital image as an extra sample for one of my Copic Workshop portfolios, and I thought that she needed to be made into a card. 

Shown above are the Copic markers that I used to color Violet.

Here's a close-up of little Vintage Violet. I love her! I used a Spellbinders 5 x 7 Matting Basics A to cut and emboss my focal image, Pierced Rectangles to add the pierced edge to the patterned card front, and a partial Fleur De Elegance cut for the little decorative shape on the lower portion of the card. Patterned papers are from Papertrey Ink's Lavender Moon Pattern Pack. I dyed white seam binding with my Copic V12 and R81 reinkers to coordinate with Violet, and that button is a PTI Plum Pudding Vintage Button.

Well, that's it for today--I hope that you are having a great one!

On Your Special Day

Welcome! I'm spending time with family right now, so this will be a quick post; but I had an anniversary card to share using Papertrey Ink's Half & Half stamp set, a couple of my Spellbinders dies, and some pretty patterned paper from an older Authentique Renew 6 x 6 paper pad.

I stamped the Half & Half sentiment in PTI Ocean Tides ink on Stampers Select White cardstock, then cut and embossed the sentiment panel with a Spellbinders Baby Buntings die template. I wanted a little lacy edge and couldn't find just the right die in my edgers collection, so I used just the edge of my 5 x 7 Detailed Scallops die. I did a tiny bit of hand-trimming on both ends to make the lace edge end just past the striped panel, then stitched a decorative edge with my sewing machine. Buttons are PTI Aqua Mist and Harvest Gold Vintage Buttons. It was a quickie, but I was happy with how it turned out. Hope you're having a great Monday!

Bees in Foxglove

Welcome! You know how much I love flowers, and flowers that can be pink? That's icing on the cake! Today I have a card to share using Power Poppy's beautiful May digital stamp release, Bees in Foxglove. As you can see if you compare it to the full image below, I cropped the Foxglove a bit to fit on my card front, but still keep it large enough to be able to color it easily.

 

Here is the full image, with three stems of foxglove and three chubby bumblebees--aren't they sweet? You can find all of the Power Poppy digital stamp HERE. 

Here is my Copic Color Map for you; as always, just click on it for a larger version.

To enhance my Bees in Foxglove image, I used a Spellbinders 5 x 7 Matting Basics A die template. That little decorative piece at the bottom is cut with Fleur de Elegance, and trimmed a bit on each end to extend just barely past my 5 x 7 card edges. Patterned paper are from PTI's Raspberry Fizz Pattern Pack.

Would you like to see what several other Power Poppy ladies have done with this beautiful Bees in Foxglove image? You're in for a treat! Enjoy, and thanks for visiting today,

Jennifer Dove
Broni Holcombe
Cheryl Scrivens
Danielle Kennedy
Debbie Olson <<You are HERE!>>
Allison Cope
Cindy Lawrence
Julie Koerber
Kathy Jones
Katie Sims
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan
Tosha Leyendekker

Like Gnome One Else

Welcome! Today I have another gnome card to share, made with MFT's You Gnome Me stamp set. I love this set! That boot was just begging to be colored. . . 

Shown above are the Copic markers that I used to color the boot image. 

In addition to the You Gnome Me stamp set, I also used a BG Grid Background stamp. To cut and emboss my focal image, I used a Spellbinders Standard Circles SM die template, as well as an A-2 Matting Basics A to cut and emboss my red background layer. I cut out a strip for my sentiment to show through from the background rather than putting the sentiment on a banner--mostly because I didn't have a banner die that was quite the right size. ;-) Well, that's it for today's card! Thanks so much for visiting,

Friends Make Life Blossom: Choose Joy

Good morning! Today I have a sweet little stamp set--or two--to share with you, JustRite's Choose Joy and the A-2 Garden View Cling Background. (I used a sentiment from Choose Joy on yesterday's Lilacs card as well.)

Shown above is Choose Joy, and the A-2 Garden View Cling Background is linked here.

I had to do a little finagling to make an A-2 background stamp fill a 5-1/4" square card background! First I stamped the background image in the center of my 5-1/4" square piece of cardstock. Next I lightly marked pencil lines on the edges of the cardstock where the stamped images stopped; I then re-inked the stamp (which was lying face up), and carefully laid my cardstock on the stamp using those pencilled lines for placement so that I could stamp the parts that I hadn't been able to stamp originally.

Those little flowers are die-cut with one of my older Spellbinders dies, Cherry Blossoms. I had a scrap of cardstock on which I had created a pink/melon/orange watercolored background with Distress inks, and I used that to cut little flowers from, adding Stickles for the centers. 

A full supply list is below, and then a list of blogs at which you can see some fabulous Choose Joy projects! Thank you for visiting,

Supply List

Stamps: Choose Joy and A-2 Garden View Cling Background (JustRite PaperCraft)
Cardstock: Insulation Pink (MFTStamps); Stampers Select White (PTI)
Ink: Spring Moss, Sweet Blush, Chamomile Distress Ink (PTI); various  pink and orange distress inks on white cardstock for the little flowers
Tools: Spellbinders Cherry Blossoms dies, Standard Circles Large dies, and Circle Delight die
Accessories: 1/4" May Arts silk ribbon, Copic R21 reinker to die the ribbon, and Crystal Stickles for the flower centers

Choose Joy Link List

JustRite Inspiration
Becca Feeken
Debbie Olson <<You're Here!>>
Eva Dobilas
Heidi Blankenship
Marisa Job
Darsie Bruno
Kristi Schurr
Kathy Jones
Sheri Holt 

Multi-Step Lilac Stamping: Friends

Welcome! Today I have a floral card to share--no coloring involved! (Okay, so I did use my markers to airbrush just a hint of sky, but everything else is just stamped.) I used two of JustRite's May Release stamp sets, Multi-Step Lilac Bouquet clear stamps and a sentiment from a set I'll be using in tomorrow's post, Choose Joy clear stamps.

Shown above is the Multi-Step Lilac Bouquet clear stamps. It has a LOT of potential for variety. I'm not the best multi-step stamp aligner, but I didn't have a problem with this one (and I didn't even have to pull of my MISTI tool! :-}) I'll include my supply list below. By the way, you can download a PDF of Amy's Multi-Step Lilac Bouquet Stamping Tip Sheet here.

Supply List

Stamps: Multi-Step Lilac Bouquet clear stamps and Choose Joy clear stamps (JustRite PaperCraft)
Cardstock: Stampers Select White, Royal Velvet (PTI)
Inks: Grapesicle and Grape Jelly (MFTStamps); Winter Wisteria, Royal Velvet, Lavender Moon, Autumn Rose, and Spring Moss (PTI)
Accessories: Crystal and Yellow Stickles Glitter Glue (for flower centers), white seam binding dyed with Copic reinkers
Tools: Spellbinders Pierced Rectangles; Copic B41 and Copic Airbrush System (to add a hint of blue sky behind the lilacs)

Would you like to see what the other JustRite designers have come up with using the Multi-Step Lilac Bouquet clear stamps? Enjoy, and thanks for visiting!

JustRite Inspiration
Becca Feeken
Debbie Olson <<You're Here!>>
Darsie Bruno
Eva Dobilas
Marisa Job
Kristi Schurr
Kathy Jones
Sheri Holt
Heidi Blankenship
Michele Kovack

Wishing You a Happy Birthday

Welcome! So, I've needed TWO guy cards in the last week--it's a record! I don't know about you, but I generally don't have an abundance of guy cards in my stash. It seems like 90% of my stash has flowers, cute images, or is pink. So any time I need a guy-appropriate card, I need to make one. 

For this one, I used a Papertrey Ink stamp set, Through the Trees, for both the focal image and sentiment. I stamped the trees image in dark gray ink, then used four Post-It notes to mask the focal image square so that I could airbrush a sky behind the trees. To do that, I used my Copic Airbrush System and Copic Sketch markers B63, B02, YR15 (from the top down). I used two of my Spellbinders Pierced Rectangles die templates to set off my focal image--love all of the Pierced dies!

I'm headed home from Minneapolis classes today--waving to you fabulous Minneapolis Copic group! Thank you for visiting,