Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Grazia Salvo Woman of Flowers 4 in Copics


 “It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”  
The Alchemist

copic markers, Tim Holtz die, clear rhinestones., Grazia Salvo digi from Etsy, green cardstock base, white gel pen. silver leafing pen

Hi friends. 
As promised, I'm posting another spring birthday card with a stunning digi image by Grazia Salvo. I colored this amazing image in blue and green peacock tones for my peacock loving friend. 

I created a subtle partially die cut background panel on a green 5 x 7 inch card base and embellished with clear rhinestone corners.  There are also several rhinestones in the background which you can see if you look very closely. I used a white gel pen to accent the flowers and a silver leafing pen to line the white panel. The image is layered on my background with  mounting tape  for added dimension. 

I just can't get over the wonderful artistry in these Grazia Salvo images.  They have fast become some of my favorites to color!

Thanks for visiting.
Go forth and create something fabulous.
Nancy

Playing along with:

Friday, April 19, 2019

Woman of Flowers 5 - Grazia Salvo Digi Art in Copics

I went looking for my dreams outside of myself and discovered, it’s not what the world holds for you, it’s what you bring to it.”  Anne of Green Gables



copic markers, Prismacolor pencils, Spellbinders die, corner dies, white gel pen, gold leafing pen, pearl accents, Grazia Salvo digi from Etsy

I'm super obsessed lately with an amazing digi artist I recently discovered on Etsy.  Grazia Salvo's  images are absolutely stunning and so delicious to color!  Some of them are lightly pre-shaded, which can be a little challenging for me, but I love the subtle depth that results when colored with copics.

I gave myself permission to go a little wild with some non-traditional shades on this lovely maiden's windswept do.  I created this birthday card for my artist daughter, so I know she'll appreciate my attempt at artistic flair.   Actually, I adore all the beautiful examples of fantasy art on Pinerest and Etsy with hair colored in all the hues of the rainbow.  I'm all about fabulous multi-toned manes.

The image is sized to fit a 5 x 7 card base, which I covered with a die cut background for a little dimension and interest.  I edged the die cut panel with a gold leafing pen and added some gold die cut corners with pearl accents   I used a  white gel pen to add details to my flowers and butterfly.

I'll be posting several of these images, one after another, because many of my favorite people were born in the months of April and May.  I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I loved coloring them!

Thanks for visiting.
Go forth and create something fabulous.
Nancy

Playing along with:
       Crafting with an Attitude Challenge #50
       DL. Art Challenge #242
       Moving Along With the Times Challenge #95
       Through the Purple Haze Challenge #155
       The Crafty Addicts Challenge #59
       A Perfect Time to Craft Challenge For April #2
       Fabrika Fantasy Challenge #29
       Love to Craft Challenge #33
        

Thursday, April 18, 2019

Hippity Hoppity - Easter's on Its Way with Cricut Design Studio and a Dreaming Tree SVG


Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in spring-time.   Martin Luther  


Cricut Design Studio never fails to spark my imagination when I want to personalize a fun svg card design.  There are limitless helpful features to play with, both "tried and true" and new. I used this free svg  from Dreaming Tree to create the base for this whimsical Easter card.  I kept the darling upturned bunny in my layout, sized a wreath from the image library, used the contour feature to remove unwanted cuts and wrote the sentiment with the new curved writing feature to make this card uniquely mine. The flowers were created from small paper punches and embellished with rhinestones and pearls. I sized the card to 5 x 7 and edged the front panel with a gold leafing pen.



The original clever design of this svg has lots of cute die cuts to finish the inside and leaves just enough room for a personal heartfelt message.

Happy Easter, everyone.

Thanks for visiting.
Go forth and create something fabulous.
Nancy




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Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Jeanne's Dragonfly Garden - Another Tag-Shaped Card for a Julie Nutting Doll

The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.    
(R.W. Emerson)


I had such a delightful time coloring my last Julie Nutting Doll, I decided to try another chic little gal with a little different tag design.   I found a card in Cricut Design Studio  that  opens like this tag card I posted earlier but has more of an actual tag shape on the inside with an opening for ribbon embellishments.  I sized it to 4 1/4 x 9 1/4, a little larger than my usual cards, but  I'll have no problem making a custom envelope for it in Design Studio.  I stamped  Jeanne's face with a Peachy Keen stamp and colored her skin and face with copics. I really love her adorable smile!  Her dress is pieced  with designer paper and lightly shaded with copics.  I die cut a flower garland with cream card stock to add dimension to the background and colored the leaves with copics and Prismacolor pencils. I created .3-D flowers with a coordinating die to embellish the garland. and added a vellum and rhinestone dragonfly.  I used Nuvo drops for the flower centers. The collage background and card lining are cut with designer paper.


I love this card design because I was able to add some pretty ribbon and a pearl brad to garnish the tag opening.  The front panel is edged with a gold leafing pen and the edge of the card is sponged with Tim Holtz Tea Dye distress ink. 

It's a tag.  It's a card.  It's happy mail for one of my favorite people.

Thanks for visiting.
Go forth and create something fabulous.
Nancy

Playing along with:
        Always Fun Challenge #105
        Dream Valley Challenge #199
        Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper Challenge - April 2019
        Daisy Chain Challenge #29

Thursday, April 4, 2019

Welcome Spring - Penny Black Easter Cuties

“That is one good thing about this world...there are always sure to be more springs.” L.M. Montgomery,  Anne of Avonlea



Penny Black Stamp, copic markers, Spellbinders border die, Cricut cutting, rhinestones, gold leafing pen

Five birthday cards and an Easter card are waiting anxiously in my craft room  to make their debut on this blog, but, as usual,  they'll have to wait until after I deliver them in person to my recipients. No sneak peaks...it's a Nancy rule. That means I have to wait until almost Easter, two weeks away, and then I can post them all at once!  What should I do in the meantime, I asked my self.  It seems like forever since I  created a card just for the fun of it, with no recipient or occasion in mind.  While my mind was occupied with this delightful, relaxing thought,  I heard these stylish little Penny Black ladies calling to me from some dusty shelves.  Some of my original Penny Black images are very old in stamp years but still remain among my faves  These chic little girls bring back such fond memories of Easter Sundays past when all the ladies I knew dressed for church in brand new frilly spring dresses, hats, shoes and gloves.  Sometimes it was still snowing, but those white sandals and patent leather shoes weathered the storm.

 I chose a pop out oval card base and some bright spring hues to update these ageless beauties a bit.  Originally, I put a yellow panel behind them thinking it would be bright and sunshiny, but it just didn't seem to work.  Then I tried a green embossed panel and I wasn't sold either.  I knew a bright sky blue panel always looks great, so I went with that.  Then I noticed my embossed green panel still sitting on my work space. Don't you love when serendipity happens?  I cut a slice of it for grass!  Instant scenery.  I cut the card base and layers on my Cricut and used the writing feature to create the sentiment.  The pretty lacy Spellbinder border is from my stash and I colored the clear rhinestones blue to match my copic coloring. I used my signature gold leaf pen edging to add the finishing touch.

There.  Now I feel better that I have something bright and springy to post while waiting for my birthday and Easter cards to become relevant.  Spring is in the air on this sunny day here in California. Hope you're day is lovely too.

Thanks for visiting.
Go forth and create something fabulous

Nancy

Playing along with:
        Sunday Stamps Challenge #201 - Easter Hues
        Crafty Creations Challenge #387 - ATG
        Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #188 - Spring is Here
        Scrapy Land Challenge #111
        Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #215 - Feminine
        Avenue 613 Create Challenge #219 - Kinetic Card
        Lemon Shortbread Challenge #90 - ATG
        Crafting From the Heart Challenge #240 - ATG
        The Sisterhood of Crafters - Let's Celebrate Spring
        Penny Black and Friends Saturday March Challenge