My Favorite Things - Being with You Valentine

Happy Saturday!

Today, I have the Valentine I made for Mark.  I used My Favorite Things "Being With You" clear stamp set.  It is really a sweet stamp set with several cute images to choose from bunnies, bears, turtles and birds. 

Close Up: 

I stamped the images on X-Press It cardstock with Mementos black ink.  The birds were stamped on a separate piece and cut out.  I colored the images with Copic Markers and applied light blue chalk to the background.  The birds were added with pop dots.

Copic Colors: E57, Y38, R30, R32, R35, B01, YG05, YG07

Cardstock: PTI Spring Rain & New Leaf

Patterned Paper: Pebbles Seen & Noted

Pebbles Chalks

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings,

Deb

Celebrate The Angel Company

Yay a Hop!

We are celebrating The Angel Company, which closed last week.  This card was my husband's birthday card.  His birthday was Tuesday.  What a great set "Eyes to See".  I love this image. 

I have to admit I was going to do a spotlight on the drake since this was his birthday card. This is one of the subjects discussed in the Copic Intermediate Class that I forgot to mention in my talk at Seminar this year.  {So Sorry - for those wanting to know more about the class and less about the other subjects I touched on.}  How you light your image can change the focal point. This is one of my 'aha moments' from the class when we were shown the same image lit differently.  If the light hits the drake first he is the focal point.  If you move your light source to hit the female duck, she is the focal point, even though she is somewhat behind. 

This is just such an interesting image when you study it.  I love to look at how the illustrator drew it, all the details. There is always intent designed in, so much forethought. This one is drawn in such a way that there is kind of an optical illusion going on.  I love that!

Ended up just coloring the whole thing because Mark doesn't like the "spotlight" put on him.  Truth be told he forgot it was his birthday Tuesday morning.  We celebrated Friday night by going to a Packer game {awesome seats}.   

Copics:

Water - B41, B45

Drake: E30, YR23, YG93, B37

Duck: E30, E55, E57, E59 

Foliage: YG31, YG93, YG95, YG 97

The Angel Company has meant so much to me over the last 7 years.  I have grown SO much.  Believe it or not I did not consider myself a "colorer" or speaker either for that matter.  The images have been so amazing over the years and seemed to be getting better and better. 

I loved that they were a Christian company too, our demonstrator manual emphasized The Golden Rule and it was written from that perspective.  I knew I was in the right place after reading the manual.

I loved that they were so ahead of their time.  I remember when I first looked at the catalog in 2003. They had lovely sets and the EZ-Cling (Creative Cling)mounting system.  I really could not believe that the cling foam came with the rubber for that price!

You see I had been buying rubber one place and the cling at another and paying shipping on both, since there wasn't a one stop shop for the Christian stamps with this mounting system.  I had become a huge fan of this mounting system and had been using it for a couple years already.   

I remember asking if they had any Christian stamps, scripture verses etc...  Donna said this is a Christian based company.  Hook, line and sinker that is all she had to say.  SOLD!

I could go on but there are so many blogs you should visit.  Here is the list:

What a ride, thanks for letting me tag along!

Abundant Blessing to you...

Deb

P.S. - I have a post on my DDH blog too. {I will be merging the 2 eventually} So I have a link below.  Also if you did not hear about this hop and would love to join, feel free to link in and share what you loved about The Angel Company! 

Remember this is not a funeral this is a celebration.  The Angel Company brought so many people together who probably would not have never met otherwise.  What a Blessing.

xx





get the InLinkz code

Julie 

Seleise

Rita W.

Donna

Chan

Mary

Angela K

Laura

Barbara

Trudy

Shirley

Wendy
Carol
Rita K.
Chelsea
Kim
Paula Kay
Ginger
Teresa
Maria
Angie
Deb Miller <--- You are Here

Diana
Betty G.
Christine
Sandy A.
Char
Diane H.
Chris F.
Stacy

Rita H

Peace Be Still

Happy Tuesday!

Today, I thought I would share the story behind this card, using Peace Be Still. It ended up in the catalogue on page 88, but wasn't created specifically for that purpose.

This card was created for my card ministry. Monthly, I send cards to "shut-in" members of my church. People who are in nursing homes now or home bound and unable to get to church like they use to.

It was April when I created it, so I took the liberty of coloring the bird like a robin. {The stamp says snow bird - creative license - right?} After a long winter in Wisconsin, we long to see the first robin of Spring. The robin is a sign of Hope where I live...green grass, flowers blooming - new life is right around the corner.

I try to send hope and encouragement to the men and women on my list every month and Peace Be Still is a perfect set. I used all the sentiments in this set "Peace, Be Still" on the front, "Be still, and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10 inside left and "You're in my thoughts today." inside right. A simple card using just one set.

Supplies -- Stamps: T-3309 Peace Be Still; Papers: Kraft, Birch & Brown Cardstock; Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento ink, Palette Burnt Umber, Copic Markers [B41, E55, YG93, R29, E13]

This card uses one of Heather Scott's sketches we featured here on this blog back in May. The supplies used are simple. Note that this image is stamped on Birch cardstock and I only used a few Copic markers with a feather technique leaving some "white space". When you make multiples of a card - simplicity is a good thing. There is beauty in simplicity. The focal point is my robin and my message is Hope.

The Angel Company started a new program this year called -- "TAC Card Clubs". It is about cardmaking with a purpose or I've heard some Angels at seminar call it "Cards for a Cause". As cardmakers we have the wonderful opportunity to bless others with our handmade creations.

It is the outward giving that is a natural part of cardmaking that attracted me to this particular form of art. There are so many in our immediate community or family who could use a kind word or simply would love to receive a card for a special occasion or out of the blue.

When I started, I did not know any of the men or women on my list, but over the past year I've had the opportunity to meet most of them. Our church goes Christmas caroling at the nursing homes in mid-December and that is when I met Edna, one of the ladies on my list. I found out her sister had been a cardmaker and she sincerely appreciated receiving my handmade cards now that her sister had passed.

You can make a difference.

Mischelle talks about making "Cards for Kids" on page 2 and 3 of the catalogue. There are a number of Angels who make cards for birthdays, anniversaries, veterans, wounded soldiers, female soldiers, families of deployed soldiers, the sick, the lonely and the imprisoned. What is your cause? Who can you celebrate, bless, uplift, encourage?

Abundant Blessings to you...

Deb

Card A Day - Week 2

Hello,

It is week two of the Card A Day in May extravaganza!  Here the sketch of this week...

This card was actually my husband's Valentine's Day Card.  He really liked it, so much so he took it to work and has it on his desk.  Glad I took pictures before I gave it to him.

Really a great sketch layout - clean and simple. The lighter blue cardstock, dark sky, was crimped to give some texture. I added some extra matting and a eyelet.  The color palette is Caboodle Set C - love those coordinating Copic markers and cardstock - makes it SO easy!

Supplies -- Stamps: For My Tweetie, Papers: Caboodle Cardstock Set C; Hardware: Cha Cha; Copics: Caboodles Set C; Tools: Crimper.

Hope you enjoy all the cards today.  Remember there will be a new card idea everyday this month on the TAC Savvy Projects Blog.  

Abundant Blessings!

Deb

get the InLinkz code

A Card A Day in May - Week 1

It’s Sunday, May 1st and “A Card A Day in the Month of May” is now underway! A whole month of new ideas using sketches, plus every day is a blog hop. So we hope you will pull out your favorite TAC stamp sets and play along during May.

Sketch 1 is the featured sketch this week (May 1 – 7). I love sketches – it is really quite amazing to see how each designer “interprets” the basic elements drawn. Feel free to rotate the sketch, the dimensions are a suggestion, layer if you like and squares can be rectangles, circles, oval etc…

My card today follows the sketch quite literally. I used "Hope Perches" a Level B hostess set, papers are Winchester SWIC and cardstock. The image is colored with Copic Markers. I sponged the edges with Cognac and Burnt Umber Palette ink. The center background is pastel blue chalk.

This second card is still quite literal, however I rounded some corners and added a few brads and floss. And of course, the color palette is completely different.

Supplies: Stamp set "Good Things"; Papers Cha Cha SWIC, Bazzill Dark Sky, Beeswax, Berrylicious; Black Scrappers Floss, Silver Brads, Copic Markers.

Hope you enjoy Day 1 of "A Card a Day in the Month of May".  This sketch runs thru this week, next week there will be a new sketch.  Check back at TAC Savvy Projects Blog for lots of cards ideas...a new one EVERY day this month!

Blessings,
Deb

Rise and Shine

Hello!

Today, I have a card to share created by my friend Susan.  A few of us got together a few weeks ago and started coloring these roosters for Susan's quilt/card ministry. 

Susan and an group of ladies make quilts for Veterans and Isreal.  Amazing quilts...beautiful and all supplies are donated.  These quilts have a pocket on the back which is filled with cards and other goodies.  It is an amazing ministry, that I have had the pleasure of making cards for and donate supplies to.  

Susan and Linda finished these cards last weekend and at church today Susan included one of the cards along with the stamps she borrowed and other leftovers.  I just had to share this great card! 

This card was was partially inspired by a card Christine made for her January workshops - check her card out.  We loved the cardboard and twine - great masculine card - great anyone card.

The coloring of the rooster was straight from Mischelle's Caboodle Coloring Class 2.  Mischelle made a similar card also - although I do not know if it has been published anywhere.  We saw it in class - jaw dropping beautiful that is really all I remember. Wow!

Rise and Shine is one of my husband's favorite sets.  Believe it or not, Mark looks through our catalogs and picks out sets he likes....or would like to see me make a card with.  This set moved up on my wish list because Mark picked it.  I think I will keep him....he has great taste.

Hope you enjoyed Susan's card.

Can't believe March is almost here!  The TAC and DDH Dream Design Teams will both be starting up March 1st.  Hope you will check in from time to time to see what we are up to.  

There will be blog candy if you are interested in playing along.  The DDH Dream Blog Hop is offering the chance to win a free DDH digi (I believe there will be 4 lucky winners chosen at random) if you comment at all the stops on the hop March 1st!  How can you go wrong?!?  All you have to do is comment at each stop on the hop!

TAC is kicking off the March 4-Legged Friends and Flowers promotion March 1st with Animal Theme cards.  A Shamrock theme blog hop March 4th.  Flower themed cards are featured March 8th.

The DDH design team will be posting Mondays - I've created a separate blog so I can do both - Cream City Angels - Digi

The TAC design team will post Tuesdays and Fridays.  These posts will be right here on this blog.

All the dream team members for both teams are on my side bar - very talented ladies.  This year is going to be amazing!

Blessings

Deb

So be sure to check in at DDH and TAC on Tuesday, March 1st!

Springtime Garden

Happy Friday!

Today's featured stamp set is "Springtime Garden" and the guest designer on TAC Savvy Projects blog is Kim Sears!

This is another great set today - lots of great images that are really fun to color.

Supplies: Amberley Grace SWIC, cardstock and hardware

Stamps: "Love You" Level B Hostess set

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black (Copic Image); Noir Palette (sentiment)

Copics: BG72, BG75, BG75; E55, E57, E59; YR23, YR24

Only one more day left - Monday, February 28th.  Come back for the conclusion of the You Make February Fabulous promotion.  Michelle McDaniel will be the guest designer and the featured set is "The Joy of Easter".

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Blessings,
Deb

Sunflowers

Another Day...Another stamp set! 

Today's featured set is "Sunflowers" and the guest designer on TAC Savvy Project blog is Maria Van Stratton.

Copics: YG93, YG95, YG97, E55, E57, E59, YR21, YR23, YR24 

Supplies: Penelope SWIC, Palo Verde and Mocha Divine cardstock, Copics, Burnt Umber and Cognac Palette ink, Rich Cocoa Memento ink, 1.5" & 2" punch.



Enjoy the rest of the hop!

Blessings,

Deb

2011 TAC Contributing Artist Dream Team Call

Hello!

This my submission for the 2011 TAC Contributing Artist Dream Team Call.  It features A Little Whimsy papers.

Card 1: Girls Day Out

Supplies: Girls Day Out, A Little Whimsy, Bazzill Raven, Black and White Ribbon, Copic markers.

Card 2: Here For You

Supplies: Here For You, A Little Whimsy, Bazzill Raven and Petunia, Copic markers.

Card 3: Easter Blessings

Supplies: Springtime Garden, Thinking of You, A Little Whimsy, Lavender Floss, Bazzill Raven and Petunia, Copic markers.

Project - Hanging Calendar

This is an easy project for a FUNshop, open house or if you are making items to sell at a craft fair. I created this hanging calendar for a craft fair...only had this one left.  It is sure to brighten up an office.

The DCWV Brights Chipboard Stack is already covered with textured cardstock - doesn't get much easier than that!  You can distress it - I did not on this one.  I used a large glue dot to secure the back of the clip, so it doubles as a mini clipboard for notes and dates to remember during the month.

I used a Crop-a-dile to punch the holes and crimp the eyelets in the corners of the chipboard. The white wire is craft wire which you can find in the floral department of your local craft store. I twisted it around a pencil to make the loops. I made some with beads on the wire between the loops [note to self those were the first to sell at the craft fair].

At each end, I twisted the wire around the shaft of a very small phillips screw driver. Don't forget to turn in the sharp end in or bend it over on itself.

Supplies: Trendy Greetings, A Little Whimsy, Bazzill Raven, Brites Broad Clips, Brights Chipboard Stack, Toodle Loo Hardware and ribbon, Crop-a-dile.

Thanks for stopping by...

Abundant Blessings
Deb

Card Ideas - Birthday & Baby

Happy 2011 Everyone!

This weekend has been a productive one.  With the half price paper sale I've taken inventory and organized.  It is good to have all my paper in one place again.  

It seems like when I go through my papers (or stamps) I see them again and thankfully was inspired.  That is a really good thing because my niece's birthday is coming up.   

This card uses Miss Moxie - SWIC, cardstock and hardware.  The stamp set is "Tail Feathers", such a cute set, especially for a girl who loves to dance.

I used Copic markers from Caboodles sets C and G...

Y32, 35, 38; YG11, 13, 17; YR12, 15, 18; and R29

I used a 1" circle punch to make the cut out for the eyelet.  The background sky and ground are pastel chalk. 

Inside, I used another image and Happy Birthday from the Tail Feathers set.

I have a second card idea for you.  This one for a baby shower next week.  Yay - baby shower!

This was inspired by a card created by Laurie Willison.  Check out her blog for inspiration, she has an amazing simple-elegant-clean style.  I changed a few things...papers, colors (from girl to boy), added the crimped paper (Laurie used patterned paper with a white scallop edge) but overall the layout is the same.

I particularly loved the details on the image, those I copied...the one rounded corner on the image, the button wheels and brads at each end of the pull.  Great detail, which adds so much.

This is a great stamp set - an all season called Everyday Events.  The image is colored with Copic markers B91, YG93, N1 and N4. 

Hope you enjoyed these card ideas.

Abundant Blessings,
Deb