Wishing you and your family a very merry Christmas and a happy holiday season. My last card of the season and one of my new favorite images. Clean, simple, and the heart of our celebration.
This stamp is called the Joy of Jesus by Unity Stamps. I colored in Copics and watercolor and love both results. Same layout, just some sewing and distressing on the watercolor card.
Thank you for another year of kind words and support for my crafty adventures. I’ll be back in the new year and look forward to what 2024 brings. Wishing you peace and joy!
As this holiday season is in full swing, I wanted to share a series of cards I made with the Good Tidings line by Honey Bee Stamps. I started this as a test of stenciling on images. I see lots of people who create beautiful cards with stenciling as their method of coloring. But personally, I have not had a ton of success with it. Still, when I saw the Good Tidings suite, I thought yeah…just get the stencils too. I was already getting the stamps and dies and, knowing the quality of Honey Bee, the stencils were a worthwhile add-on.
First up, I went to my tried and true. Copic coloring! I loved coloring this image! I find it such a brain break and I get lost in the shading and details. But, when it comes to holiday cards, not the most efficient. This one took me about 2 hours to color. So next, I pulled out the stencils. To be honest, my first attempt was not good. I stenciled first and then over-stamped with the image. That did not work for me. So I tried again except that I stamped the image and then used the stencils for shading. Since I already had the Copic image, I looked to mimic those colors and shading with my Distress Inks. Here they are side by side:
I did not use the one stencil that has “highlights” for the leaves but otherwise just worked through the stack. Other than the shading on the pinecones, I was able to approximate the darks and lights using my Bitty Blender Brushes to help get more color in the nooks and crannies. And this one took me…..10 minutes. Yes, TEN. So in mass production, this is manageable and still feels hand colored and special. I’m a convert to the stencils! Obviously, the Copic markers allow for more depth but the stencils give such flexibility on time.
I finished these out in a way to match. On the Copic version, I used the Burlap 3D Embossing folder on the panel behind the image and matted it with Gold Cardstock from Erin Lee Creative. Both images with cut out with the coordinating die and I chose a sentiment from the stamp set for heat embossing (also with a coordinating die). Pearls to match but the layout is exactly the same.
I created one more for those who might not have the stencil but still want a card that is easy to make in multiples. This time, the power of gold! I got rid of the extra layer and just stamped, embossed and cut out the image. Same sentiment and some pretty gold pearls.
I love the versatility of this suite and am so glad I took the chance on the stencils. The beauty of this image is what captured me and I will be using this for years to come.
I’m on call today and hoping the system stays quiet for a couple more days. Cookies to back and a few last presents to wrap. Wishing you a bit of calm in your hustle and bustle!
For those of you who know Michelle Lupton, you know that she is both super talented and one of the nicest people! Over the last years, she has done a series of CASE Me A Christmas Cards where she will CASE (Copy and Share Everything) one of her guests cards and vice versa. You take a non-holiday card and turn it into a holiday card using the inspiration of each other’s work. It is always such fun. This year, Michelle has had some things happen where she was just unable to commit to the project. Soooooo….a whole group of stampers committed to do it together in honor of her!!! This is primarily an Instagram event and all you have to do is go over to IG and search for the hashtag: #casemeachristmascard2023
The hardest part of doing this for me is narrowing down the choice of what to CASE. I generally use the rule of three on a CASE where I change 3 things while keeping some of the main elements of the original. In this case, I chose a floral card with partial die cutting. Her original is posted below. I used the Joyful Poinsettia set from WPlus9 (I know you are super shocked) and found the die for the set worked perfectly in the partial die cutting. I used my Copic Markers to color the image with traditional colors.
I chose Artichoke Card Stock from Concord and 9th as my base once I had finished my coloring. Then I created a mini slimline card using the Sweet Stacks: Mini Slimline Dies. I heat embossed my sentiment in Gilded Embossing Powder on Black Card Stock by Concord and 9th. Oh, and if you have ever had trouble with heat embossing on black (I did and thought it was my powders…and I tried a lot of powders), this card stock changed the game. It is smoother and somehow the heat embossing stays crisper. YAY! I added some splatters with Gold and Irisdescent White and then some red pearls.
So here is Michelle’s gorgeous card. Things I kept: Partial Die Cut, Sentiment Placement, Florals and Gems. Things I changed: Slimline layout, Copic coloring, Raised sentiment, Image panel to edge.
I hope you like my version of her card. Please come over and celebrate with us all. Michelle is just beloved and I’m thrilled to be a part of this ode to her talent.
A fun sketch from the wonderful Jen Brum today at Freshly Made Sketches. I immediately saw a snowman! But others on our team have seen adorable stacks and other fun interpretations. You know that is a great sketch.
I pulled out my favorite snowman, an old retired set from Honey Bee Stamps called Let It Snow. I chose some patterned paper from the Make It Merry Paper Pad (look, the snowflakes are a great match!). I picked a red and green to coordinate with the paper for quick Copic coloring.
I stamped and cut the snowflakes and even had the sentiment already pre-cut from another stamping session in the past. I’m not really ready for snow yet but I am ready for cooler temps!
Thanks so much for stopping in today! I hope you will come over and join us at the challenge. See you soon!
Hi everyone! Happy August to you! I am this week’s sketch designer at Freshly Made Sketches and I hope you will like this one. When I designed it, I had a floral in mind for the corner. I had this gorgeous poinsettia on my table from my last card so I opted to color the single image and go with Copics this time.
I stamped the image from Joyful Poinsettias twice and then colored. Dawn’s images have shading built into the design so I just followed her lead. I enjoyed spending a little time with my Copics! For the base I started with a light blue card stock and added Faded Jeans and Chipped Sapphire Distress Oxide Inks.
I decided to add some splatters with white gouache and some red pearls. The sentiment comes from the same set. I love all the options this set gives and I suspect you will see it in heavy rotation for this holiday season.
I hope you are having a wonderful start to your August. Thanks so much for stopping in today. I’ll see soon!
I had not done much Copic coloring lately and I had a few minutes just to goof around. I pulled out the pretty Spring Joy Bouquet and colored some tulips and daffodils! I love the little wrap die and I used it 00with some tissue paper to create a more realistic wrap for the flowers and then tied it up with some purple twine.
I used a background I already had embossed with the Clover Petals embossing folder on Neenah Desert Storm. I love that floral feel but it doesn’t compete with the colored flowers.
I feel like May is one of the busiest months of the year and I’m guessing you feel the same. Not sure what it is but it happens every year. Wishing you a beautiful week! See you soon.
We have a wonderful new sketch up today at Freshly Made Sketches. This fun design is courtesy of our fabulous Judy Rozema and I love the options for those circles.
Like many of you, crafting is my respite from the craziness of the world. But with that, sometimes the craziness is what inspires what I’m making. The never-ending hate for anything that is different from oneself, the fear-mongering over things that truly cause no harm, the persecution of those who love differently — all of this weighs on my heart. I fear for the LGBTQ+ community. If one truly believes that we are made in God’s image and we understand that God is limitless, then how can we not also believe that there is no limit to the variance in humans? And that each and every person is the image of our transcendent God. We are losing young people (and older people) at alarming rates because we make them feel like there is no place for them. Each of us matters. What we bring to the world matters. Just like a rainbow, the beauty is diminished if colors are missing. We need them all. We need you all. And that is what was on my heart as I made this. Not saying this out loud seems complicit in the hate so today I will say it out loud. Love is love is love. And this world is better with all the love and with you!!
I loved these bird houses and sweet birds from the Little Birdies stamp set. I pulled out all the Copics (ok, I don’t have all the Copics but I pulled out a ton of them) to get the rainbow colors. The Barn Wood Planks dies are behind to match the sketch. The sentiment is from the Inside: Birthday Sentiments set, a beautiful and multipurpose set for birthdays and beyond.
Thank you for stopping by today. Please know that I generally keep this to only crafting but it is my space to share. I respect that there may be those among you that do not agree with my point of view. And that is ok as long as you are respectful that I am entitled to my perspective. Hateful comments will be deleted since this is my space to use as I see fit.
It is my turn to be the sketch designer for Freshly Made Sketches this week and I hope you will enjoy this one. In a disclaimer, I originally designed this as a square and then promptly made my card into an A2. I switched up the sketch but some of our team had already made a square. Either version is great to use and let’s face it, there is a lot about guideline over rule for our challenge after all these years.
What I did know was the set I wanted to use for the sketch. This beautiful Grandma’s Garden set from Honey Bee Stamps is a breath of spring. Not that we have really had much winter here but it is fun to color a little bit of spring. I chose a basic pink version of the fuchsias with the inner part of the flower being a pale pink. I played with blending teals and greens on the hummingbird with my Copics.
For the background, I inked on some Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide Ink to start. Then I splattered with a little water and came back over with a little bit of Broken China Distress Oxide to create the darker splatters. The sentiment is from the On The Line: Fall Florals set and I think these sentiments in the set are ones to use over and over. Finally a few green sequins to finish.
Come over to the challenge to see the amazing work by the team and I hope you will play along with us this week. I do have a few cards to share that I have created over the last couple of weeks. My oldest went back to college on Monday and now the “real” world sets back in. How lucky I have been to have the time with him home!! I hope you have a wonderful week.
I seem to be in a one card per week kind of pattern right now. Trying to work on that but between work and the last days of the college kid home, time seems too short. Thankfully, this fabulous new sketch for Freshly Made Sketches “told” me just what to make. The amazing Jacquie Southas gave us this classic vibe for the week and I pulled an older image that fit it perfectly.
This Pretty Postage set from Honey Bee Stamps has been sitting on my desk for a couple of weeks waiting to be used. When I first got the set, I did not get the dies and I recently remedied that so I was ready to use it again. I pulled some pretty spring colors in my Copic Markers and colored it right up. I love those modern flowers!
To add a little more pop to the card, I reached for the Whimsical Hearts Stencil since the hears are similar in shape to the image. I added some Tim Holtz Distress Matte Texture Paste for some tone on tone detail. The sentiment is from the stamp set and I just put it on a banner from the Sentiment Banners set. The pearls are from the Holiday pack.
I’m not one for a lot of Valentine cards but I like that this could be used for other occasions. I hope your week is going well and that you will have a little time to craft. Thanks so much for stopping in today. I might even be back later in the week with another card. See you soon!
Another week has flown by and I’m back with the latest from Freshly Made Sketches. This week our sketch designer is the wonderful Judy Rozema and I love her sketch. I might have played a little loose and fast with it (in my head it was going to be closer) but I love the card it inspired.
I was looking through my stamps to find some sets that I haven’t used much and came upon this Smitten Kittens set from Honey Bee Stamps. It really is SOOO fun and I love how the variety of cats allow for customization to look like different family kitties. Of course, I use my two hooligans as inspiration. I colored using Copic Markers and this kind of coloring always makes me happy.
I found this gingham color in the Gingham Galore Fall paper pack from Honey Bee Stamps. This is one of the packs that are on sale right now and I love having the color varieties in my repertoire. This one matched the “calico orange” so seemed perfect for this. I pulled a sentiment from the Riding By set. Just a nice basic for any occasion and these are the ones I always seem to need most.
I hope you like the fun little card and will come over to join us for the challenge. As things settle down into more of a routine, I hope to have more to share with you too. Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!
Primary Sidebar
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
