Sketch Saturday Challenge #382

Today, Sketch Challenge #382 starts at Sketch Saturday.  Our sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp with a fabulous $25 gift certificate going to this week's challenge winner.  

Sketch #382 designed by Alex...

My Interpretation:

Today I used a Tim Holtz set - Blueprint Assortment.  I have the rubber stamp version but Simon Says Stamp has a clear stamp version.  It makes a great guy card.  The patterned papers are Basic Grey Kraft. 

You can see all the DT inspiration and enter our challenge HERE.  Hope you will join us this week.

Challenges:
Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes
Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes Birthday
Southern Girls - Let's Celebrate

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings,
Deb

Sketch Saturday Challenge #345

Happy Saturday!

We have a new challenge at Sketch Saturday - Sketch #345.  There is a new sponsor this week - Sami Stamps.  The prize is a $12 gift certificate.

Sketch #345 was designed by Alex:

My Interpretation:

I used Sami Stamp - Giraffe Birthday Balloon.  Patterned paper Basic Grey Persimmon.  

Close Up

Copic Colors: YR21, YR23, YR24, YR61, YR65, YR68, E81, E84, B000, B00

You can see all the DT inspiration and enter our challenge HERE.  Hope you will join us this week.


Thanks for stopping by...
Blessings,
Deb

Sketch Saturday Challenge #340

Happy Saturday!

Sketch Saturday has a new sketch challenge and Simon Says Stamp is back as our sponsor.  The prize this week is an awesome $25 gift certificate to Simon Says Stamp!  

This week Sketch #340...

My Interpretation:

This sweet image is from Stamping Sensations, called Snow Birds.  The papers are from Basic Grey Jovial paper pad.  Cardstock is PTI Kraft and Dark Chocolate.  I added some stitching and some gems.  Now to figure out how to replace a broken needle. 

Close Up

Copic Colors: BG70, BG72, T1, T2, E31, E33, E35, E37, E47, E81, R27, R29, R59.

You can see all the DT inspiration and enter our challenge HERE.  Hope you will join us this week.

Challenges:
The Crafters Cafe - Christmas/Holiday Season
Creative Moments - Anything Goes/Winter
Fab 'n' Funky - Christmas
A Creative Need - Playing with snow
A Crafty Mess - Traditional Christmas colors
Crafts 4 Eternity - Christmas

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings,

Deb

Sketch Saturday Challenge #332

Happy Saturday!

We have a new sketch at Sketch Saturday #332.  The sponsor this week is Bunny Zoe's Crafts with a 10 pound gift certificate as the prize.

  

Here is sketch #332:

My Interpretation:

Today, I made a simply stamped masculine card.  The image is by Fun Stampers Journey "Let's Ride".  The papers are Simple Stories Documented and Basic Grey Craft.  A quick card for my brother-in-law's birthday in September.

You can see all the DT inspiration and enter our challenge HERE.  Hope you will join us this week.

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings,

Deb 

Sketch Saturday Challenge #319

Happy Saturday!

We have a new sketch challenge at Sketch Saturday starting today.  Our sponsor this week is A Day for Daisies and the prize is a $12 gift certificate.

 Here is Sketch #319 - a fun one designed by Cathy

 

Today, I used a freebie from several months ago.  This is Hepbern Dress.  A really elegant image and fun to color too.

Close Up

Supplies --

Digital Image: A Day for Daisies Hepbern Dress

Patterned Papers: Basic Grey Little Black Dress

Cardstock: PTI Smokey Shadow

Copic Colors: E00, E11, E13, E21, E35, E37, E47, W5, W7, W9, R02

Grey Pearls

You can see all the DT inspiration and enter our challenge HERE.  Hope you will join us this week.

Challenges:

Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes

Wags 'n Whiskers - Anything Goes

4 Crafty Girls - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings,

Deb

Sketch Saturday Challenge #303

Happy Saturday!

Today at Sketch Saturday the challenge is our version of Anything Goes - YOU choose any sketch from #215-302!  I chose #275.

 

Our sponsor this week is a new one - The Doodle Garden and the prize is 3 digis of the winners choice.  Jennifer Nilsson is the illustrator and owner of The Doodle Garden.  She was kind enough to supply the design team with some of her sweet images to use.  

This is Three Cheers and my version of the sketch.  I made it a 4.25x5.5 cards rather than square.  This will be a birthday card for one of my girlfriends little girls.

 Close Up

Supplies:
Digital Image: The Doodle Garden Three Cheers
Stamp: My Favorite Things Polka Dot Greetings
Patterned Papers: Basic Grey Persimmon
Cardstock: PTI Enchanted Evening, Bazzill Flamingo
Copic Colors: E00, E11, E13, E21, R02, R20, R22, R24, B00, YG91, YG93, YG95, YR21, YR23, YR24, YR27.

Sewing machine and cream thread

You can see all the DT creations and enter challenge #303 HERE!  hope you will join us. 

Challenges:

A Creative Romance - Spring Flowers
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
Pattie's Creations - Anything Goes
4 Crafty Girls - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday - Floral Delights
Doodle Garden - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings,

Deb

Sketch Saturday Challenge #297

Hi All,

There is a new challenge starting today at Sketch Saturday - Challenge #297.  Our sponsor this week is Dilly Beans and the prize is 3 digis of the winners choice.  We were give a digi of our choice to use this week.  I chose Grandpa's Flower. 

The sketch this week was designed by Vannessa:

I layered and popped the center of the flower and match the colors to the Basic Grey papers.

Supplies --
Digital Image: Dilly Beans Grandpa's Flower
Patterned Papers: BasicGrey Picadilly
Cardstock: PTI Ripe Avocado 
Copic Colors: RV21, RV23, R35, R37, R56, R59, YG93, YG95, YG97
Pink ribbon
Dies - Nestabilities circles and scalloped circles, Taylored Expressions Mini Tags

You can see all the DT inspiration and enter challenge #297 HERE.

Challenges:
Brown Sugar - Use die cut or punch
Creative Fingers - Anything Goes with Dilly Beans
Stampin' for the weekend - Flower Power
Cute Card Thursday - Clever Cutting

Thanks for stopping by...
Blessings,
Deb

A Random Fan: Baby On Board

Hi All,

Today, I have a card I made for a new challenge blog - A Random Fan Challenge Blog.  Sherry has a relatively new etsy shop and just LOVE her images.  You can check out all her cute images HERE. 

Last week, Sherry announced her design team and challenge blog.  This is their first challenge!  Challenges start on Tuesday and run 10 days, so there is still time to join.  This first challenge is use a digi.   

I used an A Random Fan image called Baby on Board.  This is a card for my niece who is expecting her first child in July.  Yay!  We haven't had a baby in the family in so long.  I'm looking forward to a baby shower this Spring/Summer.

Here is the cute picture she posted on Facebook for an announcement.  She is a bit of a techie girl as well as her husband. They were married 10.01.10 - because it is binary code...when decoded 100110 = &.  Perhaps a bit techie is an understatement.

The baby is loading.  This is what happens when a math girl marries a computer science guy.

 Here is a close up of the colored image.

Supplies -- 

Image: A Random Fan Baby on Board

Sentiment: Mabelle RO How Swell

Patterned Papers: Basic Grey Persimmon

Cardstock: Bazzill Flamingo

Copic Colors: E00, E11, E13, E21, R02, E33, E35, E37, B000, B91, B95, B99, R22, R24, N1, N2, 0

Challenges:

A Random Fan Challenge - Use a digi

Make it Monday - Anything Goes 

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings,

Deb

Little Miss Muffet: Happy Mail

Hi All,

It is Thursday once again and there is a new Challenge at Little Miss Muffet - "We Wish You a Merry Christmas".  Are you ready to get out your Christmas images??  The challenge runs 2 weeks.

This is an image from Pollycraft called Happy Mail.  I love getting Christmas cards.  I've had this image for awhile, so it was nice to color her up and make a card.  The papers are from my stash - Basic Grey "Jovial".  I found this paper pad on clearance a few years ago.

The image was printed twice.  I colored the girl on one and cut her out.  On the other image I colored the mailbox and background, then add the girl image with pop dots.  The snow was painted with Copic opaque white.

Supplies --

Image: Pollycraft Happy Mail available at Little Miss Muffet

Patterned papers: Basic Grey Jovial

Cardstock: PTI Pure Poppy and Ripe Avocado

PTI twine

Copic Colors: E00, E11, E13, E21, E30, E33, E35, E37, E49, R02, R24, R27, R29, R59, YG93, YG95, YG97, BG10, BG53, BG70, BG72, N1, 0

Copic Opaque white

You can see all the design team inspiration HERE.  

This is my last post from my guest designer spot with Little Miss Muffet.  It has been a fun month. :D

Challenges:

Make it Monday - Anything Goes
LEJ Designs Challenge - Lots of Layers

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings,

Deb

Sketch Saturday Challenge #276

Happy Saturday!

There is a new sketch challenge at Sketch Saturday.  I made 3 cards today all using stamp of the month kits from Taylored Expressions - June, July and August.  They were piling up I admit it. 

The sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp and the prize is a $25 gift certificate to one lucky winner of the challenge.

Here is Sketch #276 (designed by Jen):

For my first card, I used Taylored Expressions: S'More Fun, which was the August stamp of the month.  Love this set.  The papers are We R Memory Keepers "Happy Campers".  The camper top is paper-pieced and I added some twine in-between the papers to hide the seam.  The birthday wishes sentiment was from a different TE set "Posh Posies".

My 2nd card uses Taylored Expressions: Cute Hoot, which was the July stamp of the month.  The papers are Basic Grey "Kneehighs".

For my 3rd card, I used a mirror image of the sketch.  The set is Taylored Expressions: "You make me Happy", which was the June stamp of the month.

The umbrella and boot are paper pieced with Simple Stories "Vintage Bliss" patterned papers.  I colored parts of the boot and the handle with R24 and R43 Copic marker.  I added some shadow to the umbrella with N1 marker. The pinking edges circle was done with a scalloped punch and I double punched it. 

All images are welcome at Sketch Saturday, so give our sketch a try and enter our challenge.  You can see more inspiration from the design team HERE.

Challenges:

Make it Monday - Anything Goes

Scrap-Creations - Polka Dots (camping card)

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes

Inky Chicks - Stitching (showered with love card)

Loves Rubberstamps - Sentiment on the front

Top Tip Tuesday - Paperpiecing (camper)

Thanks for stopping by...
Blessings to you,
Deb

Little Miss Muffet - Tea Party Tutorials

Today, is day 2 of Simply B Stamps (SBS) and Little Miss Muffet Stamps (LMMS) combined "Tea Party Release".  If you missed yesterday's release you will want to check out all new images available at the SBS New Items and LMMS What's New sections of the stores! 

Some of the LMMS design team and several guest designers are sharing tutorials and inspiration posts today.  But before I get to my tutorial -- did mention there are prizes?!?!  Woohoo!  Each day you'll want to check both Simply B Stamps (SBS) and Little Miss Muffet Stamps (LMMS) blog for a list of prizes!

Today, LMMS has two rubber stamps to go to two lucky winners - simply leave a comment at the LMMS blog for your chance to win!  These lucky winners will receive this image below... la Jeune Fille à l'Eventail in a Rubber Stamp! 

As an added bonus with every LMMS purchase, you will receive this exclusive digi stamp for free ... Piccino Mermaid!

Now for my tutorial...
 
I have several "how to's" to share - a coloring technique called spotlighting, a fancy fold {twisted easel} and I also created a few videos if you are interested in learning how to manipulate digital images.   

For the image, I created a party scene using an image of each the LMM artists - Pollycraft (Sonny Hunnycloud For You), Little Miss Muffet (Agent Cupcake), Simply Sophia (Eglantine Faerie) and a new Simply Betty image "Mad Hatter Betty". 

I also used some of the party images from the new LMM Tea Party release.  I printed 2 full images out, plus some cropped images of the same scale. (Video below showing what I printed to create this card)

I colored the image in shades of grey - W1, W2, W3, W4, W5.

I had never colored the rest of the image before.  Traditional spotlighting, that I've done in the past and featured on Splitcoast as a technique is usually an uncolored image with a colored highlight.   

This idea, to color the rest of the image in greys, came from a card made by Faye {LMM's awesome DT coordinator}.  She had a card on her blog in February which I thought was very clever and striking.  You can see her card HERE.  

  I also printed out a cropped image of the Mad Hatter Betty image and punched it out with a 1.5" diameter punch.

 I colored Mad Hatter Betty in full color.

E00, E11, E13, E21, E33, E35, E37, YG03, YG13, YG23, YR02, YR04, YR07, YR12, YR15, YR18, YR31, R01, R22, R24, 0.

Next, creating the fancy fold base card.  This is a twisted easel fold.  It is very simple.  I cut an 8.5x11" sheet of Bazzill Raven cardstock 4.25" x 11", in half length ways.  I scored it at 5.5". 

 

I lined up the top corner and 
the bottom corner at the score line. 

  I scored the front of the card corner to corner.

This is the base card fold.

I added double stick tape to the bottom half of the card, 
away from the edges.

Then, I placed the finished matted image on the front of the base card.  The paterned paper is Basic Grey Piccadilly.

Inside, I matted a couple more sheets of Piccadilly patterned paper, to tie the spotlight colors in and I added a sentiment which acts as a stop for the card.  Welcome to the party Betty!

Lastly, the video tutorials...

Over the last couple years, I've been asked a lot of questions from my TAC stamp customers who wanted to try digis.  TAC actually had a digi store briefly in 2011. I've only been using digis about two years myself, but have learned a lot from design teams and online.  Until now, I really didn't have an effective way to communicate how to do something using software. 

There are lots of ways to do things, lots of programs you could use, but this is one way to manipulate digital images.  Hope you find the videos useful. 

Here are the videos...

Combining digital images using Gimp 2.8  

Combining digital images using Photoshop Elements 9

Printing digital images using Microsoft Word 2010 
Touching up a photo using Photoshop Elements 9

Wondering how I made these videos?  You can too!

The Screencapture software I used is "Screencast-O-Matic".  There is a free version, but I ended up buying a $15/yr subscription to get the audio and caption features of the program.  I really like this software.

The videos were edited using Microsoft Live Movie Maker a Free program.  Very useful, I found this program when my mom asked if I could make a video of the pictures from my nieces wedding.  A very fun program to play with!  This is how I added the opening title page, credits etc... 

I created a Cream City Angels YouTube Channel (button on left sidebar) where you can find all my video creations.  Perhaps there will be more coming :D  I do have a few more ideas.  I'm open to suggestions too. 

Lots going on with this combined release...

Day 1 (April 4th) - Release Blog Hop (click HERE to start)

Day 2 (April 5th) - Inspiration and Tutorials (SBS and LMMS)

Day 3 (April 6th) - Guess Who at SBS and Scavenger Hunt at LMMS 

You have until April 10th to play along and  LMMS Winners will be announced here on April 11th.

Challenges:
Ladybug Crafts - Anything Goes 
Loves Rubberstamps Challenge - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes 
Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes 
Vickie's Challenges - Anything Goes 
A Little Bit Crafty - Anything Goes
Sparkle N Sprinkle - Use a Digi
The Crafting Cafe - Let's Celebrate
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Songbird Challenge - Colored Hair 

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings,
Deb