A Denmark Happy Birthday - Paper Shelter Valkyrie

I wish, as well as everybody else, to be perfectly happy, but,

 like everybody else, it must be in my own way.  

Jane Austin - Pride and Prejudice

Paper Shelter digi, copic markers, Spellbinders frame die, grass die, gold card stock,
green cardstock, yellow Nuvo drops, white gel pen, butterfly die, gold adhesive beads,

Hey friends, 

I never would have imagined I would have a family member celebrating her birthday in dazzling Denmark, but my daughter is now a very contented Copenhagen habitant.  I visited there even before she fell in love with this magical city and I can see why the peaceful, relaxed lifestyle appeals to her.  My personality needs a bit more drama,  so I'm very happy with wild and colorful California, but I look forward to visiting her new home often. 

Imagine my delight when I found this cute little Valkyrie image in the Paper Shelter digi shop. She's a little cutsy to be an imposing viking, but that's what makes her so charming, even for my adult recipient. What's not to love about a darling little Norse lady all ready to kick some butt on the battlefield.  Don't google Valkyrie. It's very troubling.  However, my daughter is all about women's rights and this girlfriend looks pretty self assured to me.

One of the reasons I love Paper Shelter images is they provide background options with their images.  I printed this background on my printer and added some die cut grass to ground my image.  I adorned the centers of my flowers with Nuvo drops and white gel pen dots.  My copic-colored image is popped up on my background with mounting tape.  I created the gold frame by combining two nesting frame dies to fit my 5 x 7 card.

My daughter celebrated her birthday in August and will be visiting me this month for another celebration.  I can't wait to present to her this very custom-themed tribute to Denmark.  

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and live the life you've imagined. 

Nancy

Playing along with:

        Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge - Anything Goes

        Digi Choosday Craft Challenge - Week 36

        Through the Craft Room Door - Week of September 3

        Colour Crazy Challenge - Week 34

        Colourific Challenge Corner - Challenge #4    

        Creative Fingers Challenge #169

        Try it on Tuesday - All Things Children

        DL.Art September 2019 Challenge

  

Deep Love Mermaid and Seahorse - Normal Burnell Digi

The highest love of all finds its fulfillment not in what it keeps, but in what it gives.

Father Andrew

Copic markers, Spellbinders frame dies, gold leafing pen, white gel pen

Hey friends, 

Sometimes these gorgeously detailed Norma Burnell images are a little intimidating when I sit down to color them, but once I get started, I find myself immersed in a happy copic trance. I'm fascinated with mermaids...aren't we all?...and this gorgeous creature was a dream to color in ocean hues.

I used a fancy white Spellbinders die for her frame because I thought it mimicked swirly ocean white caps and  I gold-leafed my panels because, of course,  that's what I do.  I just like the look.  I used a white gel pen to highlight some of the small details.

I'm crazy about coloring these incredible fantasy images.  They take me to my happy place!

Thanks for visiting.
Go forth and hug a sea horse.
Nancy

Playing along with:
        A Place to Start Challenge - July 2019
        Challenge Up Your Life Challenge #113
        The Fairy and the Unicorn July Challenge
        Color Crazy Challenge - Week 27
        QKR Stampede Challenge 356
        Archi-scraps July Challenge
        Crafts Galore Encore Challenge #65
        Creative Craft Cottage Challenge #120
        Fabrika Fantasy Challenge #32
     

A Dress For All Occasions - Dreaming Tree Darling Dress SVG

Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.

Guillaume Apollinaire

Dreaming Tree SVG, Circuit, Sizzix layered sentiments and dies, DP paper pad, rhinestones, satin bow,
 gold and silver leafing pen

Hey friends,

I've seen this darling dress card everywhere on the Dreaming Tree Face Book page and now I know what all the fuss is about. This design is so clever and fun to cut and assemble, it seems no one can make just one card. I couldn't wait to download the SVG from the Dreaming Tree Website, dust off an older 12 x 12 scrapbook paper pad and go to town cutting bright bold prints for this super snazzy dress on my Cricut Explore Air 2.  Before I knew it, I had whipped up  nine cards in a flash.

These fancy frocks were delightful to embellish with satin bows, pearls and rhinestone jewelry. I was congratulating myself for creating such a hefty stockpile of  generic cards when I realized I would be mailing at least five of them right away...three to friends I haven't checked in with for a while, one to my dear friend who has just finished radiation treatment for cancer and another young lady who is undergoing surgery for thyroid cancer as I write this post. I'm so glad my creative outlet affords me such a personal way to express my love and concern to my friends.  

I'll still have a few left for thank you's, and birthdays, but I'll have get busy designing more of these chic dresses using different patterns and embellies. SO MUCH FUN!

I have this pattern all set up in Cricut Design Space so I can whip up a batch in no time, just  like baking cookies...only much more fun  (and kinder to the hips.) 

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

Playing along with:

        Crafty Catz Challenge #468
        Daring Cardmakers - Cut It Up
        Aud Sentiments Challenge #230
        CardZ 4 Galz - Challenge #99 - Favorite Color Combo
        Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #194
        The Sisterhood of Crafters - Any Occasion
        Paper Craft Crew Challenge #342
     

Coloriscious Hummingbird in Copics- Kit and Clowder May Class

Slow down and everything you are chasing will come around and catch you.

John De Paola

Copics, white gel pen, gold leafing pen, corner dies, Power Poppy Hummingbird digi, 

I chose to color the lined version of this beautiful Power Poppy digi in Alyce Keegan's copic coloring class this month, even though she suggested we go for the no-line image.  I've experienced some problems with no-line coloring in the past, and I think I'm just afraid to take off my training wheels.  Alyce goes through the coloring step-by-step in her classes and once I got started, I was sorry I didn't go for no lines. It was actually less forgiving shading with the black lines but I kept with it and in the end I liked how it turned out.  I'll be braver coloring sans lines next time because I got some good practice shading this one.

I decided to make a card for one of my friends who would appreciate the gorgeous hummingbird and  flowers on this image.  I wanted my image to take center stage, but I also wanted it to have some texture and depth.  In the middle of the night, I got the idea to raise the focal images with mounting tape.  I had to fussy cut very carefully but  I really like the result.  (It shows up much better in person.)  I lined the front panel with a gold leafing pen  and tucked  a couple of gold fancy corners underneath the raised main panel.  I really love the colors Alyce picked for this image.  Bright and vibrant and just my style!

Thanks for visiting,
Go forth and create something fabulous.
Nancy
        Crafts Galore Encore Challenge #64
        Color It! Create it! Show it Off! June Challenge
        Creative Craft Cottage Challenge #119
        CCC Digi Creations Challenge #104
        Alphabet Challenge - F is for Flowers
        Creative Fingers Challenge # 65
        Crafting With An Attitude - Challenge #52
        Time Out Challenges - Nature
        Moo-Mania & More
        Rainbow Card Challenge #6

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:

        Digi Choosday Challenge - Wk 17

        Try it on Tuesday Challenge - Springtime

        Crafters Cafe Challenge #217

        Crafts Galore Encore Challenge #62

        Creative Sketchy Girls Challenge #35

        Daisy Chain Challenge #29

        Digi Doodles Studios Challenge #15

        Morgans Art World Open Challenge #04

        Pearly Sparkles Challenge #39

        A Place to Start Challenge - April ATG

Julie Nutting Doll - Tag Shaped Card

“A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.” – William Arthur Ward

I just can't help it! Some of my Julie Nutting dolls are born with faces.  I guess it's because I color so many pretty lady faces with my copics, my dolls don't seem finished without a pretty smile.  I know most people, including Julie, don't draw faces on these sweeties and they still look adorable.  In my defense, Prima did come out with some face stamps for them but according to some YouTube videos I watched recently, they didn't work well.  I've been using these Peachy Keen face stamps and they stamp out so cute.

This is the first Prima doll I made several years ago and I think she looks very pretty without her face.  I still really love this cute image.  I think I'll give her a smile and a wink next time around.

I was honored to create these tags in a Julie Nutting class taught by Julie herself a few years ago.  I admire her artistic skills so much...I was agog during the whole class and I hung on her every word because she is a celebrity to me  I have two of her collage couture books in which she shows how to actually draw fashion dolls (and add faces if you want).  I think I'll just stick to the stamps for now, though.  Dressing them up and creating a place for them to live is enough fun for me.

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and creative something fabulous.

Nancy 

Playing along with:

       Allsorts Challenge #513 - Use Yellow

       A Vintage Journey Friday Tag Spectacular  

       Creative Fingers Challenge #160

       Aloha Friday Challenge #139

       QKR Stampede Challenge #341

       Crafting With an Attitude Challenge #49

       Crafty Creations Challenge #387 

       The House That Stamps Built Challenge #M2719

       The Crafty Addicts Challenge #58

Spring is in the Hair - Prima Princess in Copics

Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.

When it comes to copic coloring, flowers and lovely ladies are definitely my faves.  Coloring the image is the fun part for me but turning it into a card with a frame and embellishments gets tricky. I  always want my hand colored image to be the star of the show. For this card I took a cue from my quilts and decided bright against white always looks clean and pretty.  This lacy white frame is fancy enough for my girly tastes, yet subtle enough to let my image shine  I chose my Spellbinders frame before I colored this Prima Princess stamp because the size couldn't be manipulated on the computer like a digi. Some of my lady had to be cut away to fit my 5 x 7 card but I think the frame suits her  well.

It's a little amusing that every time I start to color a face image with my copics, I feel like I've never colored one before. Even with all my practice, the skin and hair still intimidate me.  Things usually turn out okay, but I always feel like it's magic and a bit of luck.  I'll just keep practicing until it seems more natural to me.

I used a gold pen to line the image panel and the frame. I added some pearls to the corners and sat on my hands so I wouldn't add any more bling.  This enchanting princess steals the show on her own and she asked me to please let her shine. I told her she needed her lace shawl because she's sleeveless.  Yes, occasionally my art work speaks to me...and yes, I always answer back.  

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and create something fabulous.

Nancy 

Playing along with:

        Addicted to Stamps Challenge #331

        Crafty Creations Challenge #385

        Scrapyland Challenge #109

        Lemon Shortbread Challenge #88

        Crafting From the Heart Challenge #238

        My Time to Craft Challenge #391

        QKR Stampede Challenge #337

        Jo's Scrap Shack Challenge #271

        

Molly Harrison Moonlight Solstice - Fairy, Polar Beat and Copics

"The color of springtime is in the flowers; the color of winter is in the imagination.”

I admit, I'm a wimpy Californian who never sees snow unless I seek it out in some distant nether region,  but I still remember how mounds of soft white snow look and feel.  I spent many delightful wintry days growing up in Utah and I reminisce about how beautiful the mountains and fields around me looked with a fresh new layer of untouched, sparkling snow. I wouldn't want to go back to the icy roads, slippery sidewalks and freezing extremities now, but as I colored this image, I could imagine being this lovely fairy on a still winter night with the beautifully sparkling northern lights  around her and I drew a peaceful breath. 

The magical fairy image is this digi art featured in the January 2017 Kit and Clowder online coloring class.  I followed along with the video and I'm pretty happy with my results but, as usual, I made plenty of mistakes so I think I'll practice on this image a few more times.  I enjoyed learning how to do the Northern Lights sky and I'm excited to use this technique again on some other mystical night scenes.  It's really not difficult to accomplish, although it takes a little time and concentration.  This card is 5 x 7 but some parts of the image are small and I struggled to get the contrast I wanted on the fairy. However, I got some much needed practice using a light  touch with my copics.  Alyce Keegan is such a genius at this and I really enjoy learning from her. 

When I spend time and effort coloring an image, I always want it to be the focal point of my card, but I still couldn't resist framing it with something glitzy. That vivid sky just begged for it.  I used a Spellbinder frame die to cut this glossy gold frame and added some magenta rhinestones for a little bling.  It's my thing. 

I feel like I've paid my yearly homage to the joys of winter...now I'm going to dream of a sweet early  California spring.  

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and create something beautiful.

Nancy

Playing along with:

        

        Your Next Stamp Challenge 108

        CCEE Challenge #1909

        Krafty Chicks Challenge #444

        Little Red Wagon Challenge # 486 - Love It (Northern Lights Technique)

        Die Cuttin' Divas Challenge #409

        Aurora Wings Challenge # 75

        Double Trouble Challenge #22 (diagonal tic tac toe and magic)

        Dream Valley Challenge #196

        Use Your Stuff Challenge #348

Sloth Birthday Card for Josie - Lori Whilock Flip Flap Card

As long as you don't stop, it doesn't matter how slow you go. 

A dear, sweet childhood friend of mine who loved my punny animal valentine cards asked if I would create a birthday card for her granddaughter, Josie, who is having a sloth-themed birthday party next month. I knew I had very limited time because our tax business is at full tilt right now so I was excited when I quickly found this cute sloth svg in Etsy.  Happily, I have always been able to find just the right image there for die cutting or embroidery. Those Etsy artists are amazing!. 

     

I used this Lori Whitlock Flip Flap card base on my Cricut to make my card. This is one of my favorite folds because there is tons of great real-estate to decorate and the inside looks just as fancy as the outside. The writing feature in Design Space made it simple to personalize my message to little Josie.  I also found the party hat and the tree in Design Space and sized them to fit my card perfectly. Normally a sloth wouldn't be my first choice for a cute animal image, but now I can think of several of ways to use it in the future..."let's hang out", "hang in there", "relax"...you get the picture.

I'm super pleased with the way this card turned out.  I sure hope Josie likes it. Sometimes the best ideas are born of  necessity, love and service.

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

Playing along with:
        Scrapbook Stamps Society Challenge #158
        Unstampabelles Challenge #86
        613 Avenue Create Challenge #218
        2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge #23
        As You Like It Challenge - Fave Shape or Fold
        Cute Card Thursday #568
        Crafting With Friends Challenge #79

My Punny Valentines - Lori Whitlock Pop Up Box Cards

I know I am in love with you because my reality is finally better than my dreams.

Dr. Seuss 

Do you remember how fun Valentine's Day was when you were a child in elementary school? In the "olden days" we used to decorate shoe boxes with stickers, crate paper and construction paper, and  on Valentine's Day everyone excitedly delivered a personalized card to each student's "mail" box. The small cards usually came in packages from the Drug Store and most of them had pictures with silly  puns on them. Some of them even had conversation hearts attached!  I remember spending the evening before our class Valentine party making sure to address each card with the recipient in mind. What fun it was opening the cards and  reading a message from each classmate...even the boys who at the time, I imagined,  had cooties.

I'm so happy Lori Whitlock has carried on the "punny" tradition with her Pop Up Box Card Valentine SVG's. I usually send several Valentines to friends and family because I love telling my favorite people how much I love them and this is the time to shamelessly lay it all out there.  The cute puns on these cards are just silly enough for me to get away with some seriously "mushy" declarations.

My talented crafty girlfriends love to exchange handmade cards for holidays and I always end up with a panoply of gorgeous creations.  When I saw Lori's darling designs, my first thought was to make each one of my friends a different card, but when I realized how many cards I would be making for both friends and family,  I decided to make multiples of three different ones, with a special, more clean and simple one for my sweetie. The others I'll save for next year. I had a blast adding some special personality to them with embellishments and patterned paper. I used the writing feature in Cricut Design Studio to write some personalized messages.  I think Valentines are fast becoming my faves.

I chose this little s'more guy for my hubby because he reminds me of romantic nights around the campfire on our many camping trips.  I left off some of the schmancy embellies to  make it less blingy.   I admit, the pink is a little girly, but it IS Valentine's Day, after all.  Hope you have a happy one!

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

Playing along with:
     
           Double D Challenge - Hearts
           Ellibelles Crafty Wednesday - February Challenge
           Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Interactive card
           Water Cooler Challenge #207
           Unstampabelles Challenge #86
           Avenue 613 Challenge #218
           Sunday Stamps Challenge #197
           Dragonfly Journeys Challenge #133
         

Stampendous Christmas Card - Laurel Burch and Copics

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.  

Hey there,

Laurel Burch and Copic markers go together like Christmas cookies and hot chocolate, don't you think?  It was a delight coloring this sweet little cat and dog duo from Stampendous in vivid colors (ala Laurel Burch) for the focal point of a Christmas card I recently created for my besties. I thought this cute, cuddly image fit well  with my message of "peace on earth."  I used a Lori Whitlock svg for my side step base, cut coordinating mats for the card front and stairs, and sized it to my favorite 5 x 7.  

The "PEACE ON EARTH" letters were a snap to weld to the separate card mats in Cricut Design Space and provided stability and precision when I glued the glossy red letters on top. I cut a few pine sprigs for embellishments to fit the steps and added Christmas Red Stickles for berries. My  handy go-to Nuvo drops worked perfectly on the  spots and fringe to add a little texture and shine. 

One note of caution, though. Glue and glossy card stock don't make the best marriage.  Even the smallest amount of  glue shows on the card stock and it's hard to clean up or disguise.  I used a small alcholol wipe for clean ups, but it removed some of the color on the cardstock in some areas.  A little glossy card stock goes a long way...something to remember in the future!

Side step cards leave a lot of  fabulous "real estate" for imagining and creating.  I definitely need to design cards with this versatile base more often.

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and create something fabulous.

Nancy

Playing along with:

        Through the Craft Room Door - December 4

        Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #420

        Crafting From the Heart - Challenge #231

        Cupcake Inspirations - Challenge #459

        Pammies Inky Pinkies - Challenge #1848

        Path of Positivity - Challenge #64

        The Paper Girls - Challenge #165

        Moving Along With the Times - Challenge #85

Jeremiah Ketner Dragonfly Beauty - Copics and Cricut...Again

Do not wish to be anything but what you are and do it perfectly.

Jeremiah Ketner digital image, Copic markers, Anna Griffin frame, glitter card stock, blue iridescent pears, rhinestone corner stickers, Elizabeth Crafts peel off glitter dots, white gel pen 

I never saw a dragonfly I didn't like and this sweet Jeremiah Ketner digi,  aptly called "Dragonfly," caught my eye immediately among all his amazing artwork.  I loved coloring her in my favorite Copic combo for the focal point on my sweet friend's birthday card .  The loopy layered Anna Griffin frame  from my Cricut image library  perfectly mimics the flight of the very energetic dragonfly  that landed on my card to embellish it.  The frame originally extended beyond the left side of the card, but I took some creative license and trimmed it even with the card.  I added some rhinestone corner stickers to balance out the design.

I find adding small details with my white gel pen really pulls it all  together when I'm finished coloring.  I used dots on the flowers and the dragonfly body, as well as my usual eye and lip sparkle. The centers of the background stars are brightened with Elizabeth Crafts  peel off glitter dots and iridescent blue pearls gussy up the dragonfly embellishment.

This is the last of my three October birthday cards.  Now on to Thanksgiving and Christmas.  The frenzied fun never ends!!!

Thanks for stopping by.
Go forth and create something fabulous.
Nancy

Playing along with:
        Creative Fingers Challenge #153
        Fussy and Fancy Challenge #223
        QKR Stampede
        Cardz 4 Galz
        Crafty Creations Challenge #377
        Word Art Wednesday
        Lemon Shortbread Challenge #79
        Through the Craft Room Door

Prima Carina Sugar Skull - Copic Markers and Spellbinders

"Our family is the focus of our greatest work and joy in this life; so will it be throughout all eternity."  Russell M. Nelson

When I saw this beautiful Sugar Skull stamp from Prima Marketing, I knew I had to have it.  My fascination with sugar skulls has been growing exponentially for the past few years.  I'm pretty sure it started with  the  dazzling young ladies dressed up in full sugar skull regalia at the Lahaina Halloween party a few years ago. I was memorized by the beauty of  their vivid traditional costumes.  Some of my friends suggested  I watch the sweet movie "Coco" and I was charmed and bewitched. I'm a family history and genealogy enthusiast and volunteer weekly at our local Family History Library helping others learn about their ancestors. I love the heartwarming Day of the Dead tradition of gathering with family and friends to pray for and remember loved ones who have died  and  help support their spiritual journey.

This very large 5 x 7 inch stamp leaves little room for embellishments on a card but when colored with bright copic hues it doesn't need much else.  I wanted Carina to have a backdrop as glamorous as she is so I chose this intricate Spellbinders frame as her backdrop.  Photography never does the gold card stock justice, but I love the elegant shine in real life. The sentiment that comes with this image is so perfect, I just had to squish it somehow on the front of my card.  Somehow everything seemed to come together in the end.

Don't you just love coloring images that speak to your heart?

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


Playing along with:
        Time Out Challenge #120
        Aud Sentiments Challenge #214
        Patties Creation Challenge #151
        Addicted to Stamps Challenge #313
        Scrapy Land Challenge #99
        Papercraft Challenge #22
        Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #413
        Stinkin Inkers Challenge - The Eyes Have it






 

Mo Manning Anne of Green Gables - Copics and Cricut

👉  “Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It’s splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.”  Anne Shirley

Hello everyone, 

Have you ever dreamed of visiting the exquisitely idyllic setting of Green Gables in Canada where the vivacious redheaded orphan Anne lived. Recently I was privileged to do just that for what I now lovingly call my 50th 'Anne'-iversary celebration.  I have loved reading about the Lake of Shining Waters, Lovers Lane and the Haunted Forest from the moment I read the first book in Lucy Maud Montgomery's delightful Anne series. I've read the books umpteen times over the years and practically memorized the movies.  Before our recent trip to the Canadian Maritimes,  I listened to the books on Audible in my car once again and enjoyed them as much as ever  So it's little wonder I had whipped myself into a frenzy by the time we arrived at Prince Edward Island,  the amazingly beautiful scene of the fictional Avonlea where Anne grew into a lovely young woman.  It took three plane rides in one day to get to the Maritime Provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI from California but it was well worth the trouble 😏.

The Anne of Green Gables Museum is located on the farm of Lucy Maud Montgomery's cherished aunt where she spent many hours penning her delightful prose. Her ancestors still live there and have preserved many lovely antiques and artifacts from Lucy's life.  She patterned Green Gables after this gorgeous, pristine setting where the Lake of Shining Waters sits serenely in the background and stunning tree line paths lead the way to Anne's neighbors' homes.  Prince Edward Island is even more amazingly splendid than I expected and the fictional Avonea and it's occupants have  come alive for me as never before. 

I couldn't wait to color this darling Mo Manning Anne of Green Gables digi when I returned home.   I knew she needed to be nestled under one of her beloved cherry blossom trees, so I kept it simple with a tree I sized and cut in Cricut Design Space.  I added  a few pretty pink  blossoms to make it bloom. I also cut the frame in  Design Space and lined it with a gold leafing pen. Although Anne's orphan clothes were obviously not as bright and cheerful as the ones I colored for her, I couldn't resist making her sparkle like she does in  her books. 

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and create something fabulous.

Nancy 

Playing along with:

        Mod Squad Challenge

        Creates and Makes - Challenge 24

        Die Cuttin Divas - Challenge 384  

        Retarte Challenge 126

        Digi Choosday - Week 35

        Lemon Shortbread - Challenge #75

        Through the Craft Room Door Challenge

        Pammies Inky Pinkies - Challenge 1834

        Coloring in Scrapland

Prima Princess Sydney - Copics and Prismacolors

👉    “I’ve done my best, and I begin to understand what is meant by ‘the joy of strife’. Next to trying and winning, the best thing is trying and failing.” Anne of Green Gables

Hi Everyone,

Celebrating  my birthday with my darling family last week was such a pleasure and I feel truly privileged and blessed.  Now I'm  eager for another year of creative fun.  Coloring has been my obsession since I was a very little girl so "adult coloring" is absolutely blissful for me. These gorgeous lady images call to me from my craft room, begging to be beautified with colorific brilliance and adorned with dazzling, glittery accents.  

I colored lovely Sydney with copics in bright primary shades and then added some detail touches with my Prismacolor pencils.  I've been watching some YouTube videos while on my treadmill lately and have learned some really good coloring tips from some of my favorite paper crafters.  I would highly recommend the YouTube/treadmill thing!  It's a very delightful twofer.

As a birthday gift from my husband, I ordered several Spellbinder frames in sizes that would fit these larger images.  If you don't already buy your own birthday gifts, why not???  I'd much rather have die cuts than jewelry or new shoes.  

So... Copics, Prismacolor pencils, silver Spellbinder frame, glittery bow and rhinestone...that's it!  This Prima Princess steals the show. 

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and create something fabulous.

Nancy

Playing along with:

        Double "D" Challenge - Teal and Red

        Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #167 - Summer Colors

        The Crafty Addicts Challenge #49 - Anything Goes/Flowers

        Watercooler Wedmesday Challenge #173 - Anything Goes/Feminine

        Inspire. Create. Challenge #19 - Colour Challenge

        Try Stampin" on Tuesday

        Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - All Things Bright and Beautiful

        Little Red Wagon Challenge #449 - A Rose by Any Other Name

        

        

        

Stamping Bella "Charlotte Loves to Shop" - Anna Griffin Fantastic Flips Cricut Cartridge

👉 When you can't find the sunshine, be the sunshine.

Hey there,

I just can't resist choosing sweet, stylish Stamping Bella images for my birthday cards.  I was excited when I realized the size of this darling shopping Uptown Girl fit perfectly on the front panel of my flip card.  I used my Cricut Explore Air to cut out the Anna Griffin Fantastic Flips card base in Design Space.

The pretty bright colors on this patterned paper guided my choice of Copics for coloring Bella.  It's always a challenge for me to limit the number of colors I use because I'm often tempted to use "every crayon in the box."  For this image, I kept it to red, blue and green to keep my image from looking too busy.  

There are so many ways to use Anna Griffin Fantastic Flip cards.  Several different elements come with the Cricut cut so it's fun to mix and match. I cut an extra card base with the designer paper so I could layer some of my panels.  I kept the front panel of my card solid for my stamped image.  I  cut this tag shape in Xpressit Copic Coloring paper on my Cricut and then stamped and colored it before attaching it to my card.   Voila, perfect fit!

 I like these flips so much because there is plenty of room for creativity!  I embellished my die cut flowers and the flowers on the dp with Elizabeth Crafts Peel and Stick gems.  And, as is my habit lately, I used gold shiny metallic card stock for a couple of my frames and my sentiment.  No card is fully decked out without some sparkly accessories! 

Here's what I used:
        Stamping Bella "Charlotte Loves to Shop" stamp
        Anna Griffin Fantastic Flips cartridge in Cricut Design Space
        Copic Markers
        Gold Metallic, white and designer cardstock
        Happy Birthday to you die
        Elizabeth Crafts Peel off Gems
        Die cut flower embellishment 

Thanks for dropping by.

Go forth and create something fabulous.

Nancy

Playing along with:

        Simply Create Too - 137 Die Cuts

        Creative Craft Cottage - 106 Anything Goes
        The Rubber Buggy Challenge - April/Flowers
        Scrapyland Challenge - #88 - Anything Goes
        Let's Craft and Create - #136 Anything Goes
        Artistic Inspiration Challenge - #198 Anything Goes
        HeARTful Stamping - Anything Goes
        Stamping Sensations Challenge - April/One for the Girls

Birthday Cards Part Two - Copic Markers, Cricut and Stamping Bella

👉  Cherish all your happy moments; they make a fine cushion for old age.  Booth Tarkington

It's raining birthdays for my friends lately and I have been having such fun creating cards for these amazingly talented crafty ladies.  We are celebrating two birthdays in my card crafting group this week and I wanted my cards to coordinate a little because I'm that obsessive.  This is the card I made earlier for one of my friends.  Not to be outdone (by myself😀),  I chose another darling Stamping Bella stamp for this card and stuck with a pink and blue color palette.  I've really enjoyed adding shiny gold card stock accents to my cards lately because I think they add a dressy look, kind of like  a touch of jewelry.

I think a pop up is always a delightful surprise in any card and, since some colorful birthday gifts leap out of my first card,  I just had to add a festive cake pop up to this card.  Both images came from the Anna Griffin pop up cartridge in Cricut Design Space.  They were a little labor intensive but actually very simple to make using my Score Pal to crease  the pop ups and I think they add  a lot of "bang for the buck." 

Here's what I used:

1. Cricut Design Studio card base and frame
2. This Uptown Girl Stamping Bella stamp
3. This Anna Griffin Cricut Cartridge pop up in Design Studio
4. Metallic gold card stock
5. Happy Birthday die cut sentiment
6. Flower die cuts
7. Copic markers
8. Gem stones
9. Score Pal

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and create something fabulous.

Nancy

Playing along with:
       Always Fun Challenges 

       Stamping Sensations

       A Bit More Time to Craft

       Crafty Girls Creations
       Creative Craft Cottage
       Love to Craft Challenge
       Score Pal More Than One Score Challenge
       Fashionable Stamping Challenge