Anything Goes!

Hey there friends! It's time to get your craft on with your Spectrum Noir Products! This month our challenge is soooooo easy!

ANYTHING GOES! Color up ANYTHING you want using your Spectrum Noir alcohol markers, blendable colored pencils, or AquaTint inks, put it on a card or project and you can play along with us! No excuses why you can't play along...right ;)

You know how much I LOVE making CAS cards...right? Well...check out this adorable Penny Black stamp that I watercolored!

The balloons are covered with 3D Crystal Lacquer. The hearts on her hair have crystal glitter on them. A few clear sequins and some twine put that little extra happy on the card :)

I really hope you take time to play the challenge with us. Get all the challenge and prize details HERE.

Supplies:
Spectrum Aqua Markers - (available worldwide very soon) Peach, Blossom, Bud Green, Sunflower, Jasmin, Fawn, Charcoal
Spectrum Noir Ulta Smooth Premium White Cardstock
Archival Black Ink
Watercolor Brush
Penny Black Stamps
A Muse Studio Colored Cardstock
A Muse Studio Twine
Clear Sequins
Corner Rounder Punch
Dimensional Foam Adhesive
3D Crystal Lacquer
Crystal Glitter
Glue Pen

A holly jolly Christmas

I love coloring Christmas images. Especially CUTE ones...like this!

Isn't she adorable! I kept the coloring simple and fresh. No shading outside the lines on this one :)

Here's how I colored everything:

Spectrum Noir Blendable Colored Pencil Sets - Floral, Essentials and Primariess; Blending Solution and Paper Stumps

• Skin: 004, 089, 008, 009
• Hair: 120
• Ornament: 015, 084, 087, 107
• Greens: 056, 058, 047, 117
• Reds: 024, 117
• White Shading: 112, 117

 

The stamp is from Penny Black - Little Elf Mim. The sentiment is from A Muse. The Mini Holly Leaves are diecut from a Memory Box die. I added X-Mas Red Stickles on top of the berries and Icicle Stickles on the fur areas.

What are your favorite kind of images to color for the holidays? Leave me a comment - I would love to see what you're creating!

Mahalo

Aloha friends! In case you might have missed it...here's a card I designed that was featured over at Spectrum Noir...

The hibiscus stamp is from Penny Black. I colored with Spectrum Noir Blendable Colored Pencils. I LOVE my pencils!

The sentiment is die-cut from Crafter's Companion Die'sire Decorative Dies - Alphabet Lowercase set. "Mahalo" is a Hawaiian word meaning thanks, gratitude, admiration, praise, esteem, regards, or respects.

 

I've done a step-by-step tutorial on how to color these images -- plus a BONUS TIP! Click HERE to visit the Spectrum Noir Blog page to check it out. 

Have a creative weekend!

Sabrina's Birthday Card

I made this for my daughter Sabrina. I couldn't wait to give it to her! She loves to craft and stamp...so I knew she would notice all the fun little details and how much work (love) I put into it.

The layout is from Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenge 297.



All coloring is done with Copic markers. That beautiful designer paper is new from Sassafras. I colored over the balloons with a Clear Spica Glitter Pen and then added dimensional glaze. One of the balloons is cut out and popped up on foam tape. You probably can't tell in the picture but I used Hot Kiss Art Glitter on the little hearts in her hair. LOVE the color of that glitter!!! I also added Angel Dust on the edge of the scalloped layer. Speaking of Art Institute Glitter...have you seen the new Dazzlers line? THUD!!!
I don't have any...yet.

Stamps: Penny Black Betsy Bluebell; A Muse Artstamps Happy Birthday Retro (retired)
Paper: SU Pink Passion; Bazzill; Sassafras Polka Dot Count Me In; Neenah
Ink: A Muse Artstamps Black Dye
Accessories: Copic Markers, Crystal Effects, Art Glitter Hot Kisses, A Muse Artstamps Twinkle Stickers, A Muse Artstamps Black Sheer Ribbon, Foam Tape

Happy Birthday Sweet Thing

Birthday Wishes for Alisha

I picked up this new Penny Black stamp the other day at my LSS. Isn't Mimi ADORABLE! I used it to make my daughter a card for her birthday.

Happy Birthday Alisha!





I added glitter to some of the stripes on the cardstock and on her wings. Flamingo Ultrafine Pearlescent glitter from Art Glitter on the cupcake sprinkles and cherry. YUMMY! Lots of beautiful pearls from A Muse Artstamps around the cupcake and on the sentiment tag. Card base is embossed with Cuttlebug folder. All coloring done with Copic markers.
I love my Copics



Recipe:
Stamps - Penny Black Sweet Thing; A Muse Artstamps Birthday Wishes
Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Collage Double take 2-sided Heavy-Weight Cardstock Sugar Plum Plum Series Polka Dots Sugar Plum; A Muse Artstamps Juliette Green Cardstock
Ink - A Muse Artstamps Black Dye
Misc. - Copic Markers; Stampendous Ultrafine Crystal Glitter; Art Glitter Flamingo Ultrafine Pearlescent; A Muse Artstamps Pretty Pearls White; Foam Tape; 2-way glue pen; McGill Fancy Label Punch; ribbon from stash; Cuttlebug embossing folder and machine.

Relax...it's your day

My mom loves Penny Black stamps. For Mother's Day I gave her this stamp...and made a card from it as well :)



All coloring is done with Copic Markers. I added some accents of Spica Glitter Pen, clear glaze pen, Flower Soft, Fun Flock (on the edge of the blanket) and of course glitter.





Recipe: Stamps - Penny Black Break for Cake; A Muse Artstamps Relax it's your day
Ink - A Muse Black Dye Ink; Colorbox Chalk Ice Blue
Paper - A Muse Artstamps Red and Grass Petite Gingham; Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Bazzill Green
Misc. - Copic Markers and Spica Glitter Pens; Flower Soft Sweet Pea and Glue; Martha Stewart Tulip Border Punch; SU Scallop Border Punch; Fiskars Corner Rounder Punch; EK Oval Punch; Spellbinders Square Die; Stampendous White Flock and Ultrafine Crystal Glitter; Art Glitter Baby's Breath; Sakura Clear Glaze Pen; Sakura Quickie Glue Pen; ; Hemp Twine; Foam Tape; Foam Dauber

Got Stickers?

Emalie's Birthday Card

I'm probably the ONLY ONE that has collected a binder full of crazy stickers and 3D embellishments.

Time to stop hoarding these wonderful little gems. They're great for making a quick card! I was in a rush to get a birthday card made for my granddaughter. No time to stamp and color...so I used this big sticker. Seriously...this card took less than 10 minutes!



I airbrushed the sky and grass...then put the sticker on. Doodled some blades of grass & colored in...very sloppy. It's good to be sloppy sometimes . I picked up an entire row of pink rhinestones and stuck it on there. git-er-done!!



Flower Soft on the grass -- then some glitter on the cats whiskers, bow & flowers. A quick sentiment banner popped up on foam tape. "funnest birthday" is from A Muse. I love it!

Those 2 flowers (A Muse Astro Flower & Sakura) were sitting on my desk that I stamped from like...ummm...a year ago! Stuck them down and added glitter. Personalized with the Birthday Builder Set from A Muse. EVERYONE needs this set!



Start using those stickers...before they lose their stick!!

Go Hog Wild!

A quick card to share.

I just love this stamp from Penny Black. It makes me smile big.



Paper by American Crafts. Lime Twinkle Stickers by A Muse Artstamps. Die by Sizzix. Black Pigment Ink by A Muse Artstamps. Clear Detail Embossing Powder by Stampendous. Black Spica Glitter pen by Copic. Black ribbon from stash.

SCS Sketch Challenge 194

Cinnamon & Spice and Everything Nice

Cinnamon is the name of the Penny Black Stamp I used on my card. Isn't she just adorable :) I made this card for my daughter Sabrina. She just turned 26. When she was little she used to wear all kinds of fun girlie stuff - as most little girls do! This Penny Black stamp reminds me of that. The dangles of stuff in her hair, the dangles and bangles on her wrist, a fun purse...everything....even the jeans!

The layout is based on Card Sketch Challenge 194 over on Splitcoaststampers. Details HERE.

I colored with Copic & Prismacolor markers. On the Cake, hair accessories, belt, bracelets, purse and flower on sentiment I added Dazzling Diamond glitter. VERY sparkley IRL. The flower in her hair and on the sentiment have a little rhinstone. Doodling around images I did by hand.

Sabrina now has 2 little girls of her own and they both have the "Cinnamon Glam" going on! :)

See all the other creations for Sketch Challenge 194 HERE

Happy Hump Day Everyone!

Recipe:

Stamps: Penny Black Cinnamon, SU Pretty Princess
Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White SU Bliss Blue, Blush Blossom, Petal Patch Designs designer paper
Ink: Palette Noir Black
Misc: Copic Markers B21, B23, B29, G24, R11, E21, E11, E00, E01, Colorless Blender; Prismacolor Markers PM-88, PM-192, PM-202, PM-112, PM-114, PM-98, Colorless Blender, SU Dazzling Diamonds, Sakura Quickie Glue Pen, A Muse Art Stamps Twinkling Stickers, Black Micron 01, SU Scalloped Circle Punch, Circle Punch

Watercolor Crayons & Stickles

Another Beautiful Flower Stamp.

This Hibiscus stamp is new from Penny Black. Since I totally love hibiscus flowers I had to have this stamp. I can totally give a reason for EVERY stamp I have purchased or still want to purchase! Can you relate? LOL There's ALWAYS something that makes that stamp or stamp set a "gotta have it" item. Don't ya love it!! hee hee hee I made this card is for my MIL.




I stamped the card base with StampinUP's Sanded Background stamp using Versamark. The sentiment is stamped using SU Going Gray Classic and I went over the swirls with a Clear Spica Glitter Pen. For the Hibiscus I colored directly on the stamp with SU Watercolor Crayons. Then I spritzed the stamp with a fine mist of water before stamping on SU Naturals White Cardstock. After it was all dry I put Stickles Glitter Glue all over the flower - Star Dust on the yellow, Eucalyptus on the green and Fruit Punch on the rest. How nice to have so many colors of Stickles to choose from...right here in my craftroom! Yep...HAD to have all those different colors of Stickles! LOL

Recipe:
Stamps - Penny Black Hibiscus; SU All Holidays; SU Sanded Background Stamp
Paper - SU Naturals White, Pretty In Pink, Mint Melody, Going Gray Cardstock
Ink - SU Going Gray Classic; Versamark
Misc - SU Watercolor Crayons; Ranger Stickles Stardust, Eucalyptus, Fruit Punch; Copic Spica Clear Glitter Pen; Edge Distresser; Dimensionals; misc ribbon.

If you want to see real Hibiscus Flowers from my yard click here.

Dry Embossing

Where is your light box?

Does anyone ever do dry embossing with brass stencils and a light box anymore? Well I got mine out the other day and made this. I have one of those Merry Glo Round's and really like it.

OK...I admit it...I don't have any embossing folders with a dots background that I could just quickly run through my die-cut machine. I've been seeing lots of cute stuff made with the Cuttlebug swiss dots embossing plate. Since I don't have it, I made due with this. It's still fun to play with the brass templates...but they are time consuming.

Recipe:

Stamps - Penny Black Zoophabet; (eeek! I can't remember where the friends one came from)

Paper - SU Bliss Blue, Very Vanilla and Close To Cocoa CS; Image Stamped on SU Whisper White.

Ink - Ranger Adirondack Pitch Black; Prismacolor markers.

Misc. - Marvy Uchida Punchs; Lasting Impressions Brass Stencil L9351; Copic Spica Glitter Pen (on butterfly); Inkssentials White Opaque Pen (for dots on scallop oval); SU Grossgrain Ribbon; Dimensionals.

Techniques - Hand dry embossing for dots and hand doodling for grass

How much are your cards worth?

Priceless

I'm not gonna tell who this card is for -- cause she might look here and it will spoil the surprise! Isn't this stamp too fun! You could have all kinds of sayings with it. It's from Penny Black and is called "chic chick." The sentiment stamp is from Stamping Bella.



I put Crystal Effects on the nose.....er...umm...beak! LOL It looks cool. Notice I didn't put ANY sparkle or glitter on this one. Do you think it needs some? hummm....not really sure. I also used more of that paper from my HUGE supply that I got at Costco. I think it's like the My Minds Eye series or something?? I wish it was the thicker double-sided stuff. Oh well.



I got the idea for this card from jojot on SCS last year. Finally got around to ordering the Penny Black stamp not too long ago. Now...let me see...if I add up all the supplies needed for this card it would cost....hummm....OH I'm SURE I'm saving money!

Recipe:
Stamps - Penny Black chic chick; Stamping Bella sentiment.
Paper - SU Marigold Morning and Naturals White CS; Bazzill Textured CS; misc patterned paper.
Inks - Ranger Adirondack Pitch Black; SU Marigold Morning Classic; Prismacolor markers; (I forget what brown ink I used.)
Mics. - Bazzill Flower; SU Photo Corners Punch; SU Spiral Punch; Edge Distressing tool; Misc. Rhinestone Brad; Dimensionals.

My First Shadow Box Card

Now THIS is a card I really like.

I've been wanting to make one of these Shadow Box cards for quite some time. Then I ran across a tutorial on Cami's Blog. She has step by step instructions with pictures. Making this card was so much fun! Of course the card Cami made is adorable!

I created this card for the Thursday Weekly Challenge on SCS called Ways to Use It. This time it was to make a card with some pleats or ruffles. I used my crimper and made a little fence. I sponged StampinUP Going Gray classic ink on it to gives it sort of a steel look. Turned out really cool - especially with those screw brads.

If you click on the closeup below you can see the gray on the fence better. I also stamped and colored some grass across the bottom of the inside.

This next pic I took looking down from the outside. You can see the litte grass down there on the bottom. Kind of how grass would grow up next to a fence.

The main image is from Penny Black stamped on SU Naturals White and colored in with SU Watercolor Pencils & Dove Blender Pen. Edges on both scallops are sponged with Charcoal Chalk Ink.

From this next view you can see the chicken wire background on the inside. How CUTE is that!! I stamped the Chicken Wire in SU Going Gray Classic ink. Using my Stamp-a-ma-jig made it easy to lined up.

Card front is SU Naturals White. I stamped chicken wire on the sides and stamped flowers from main image on sides too. The patterned paper on front and inside layer is from one of those huge packs from Costco. Scalloped circle frame on the front is hand cut (poor me - I don't have nestabilities!). Doodling with black Micron and sponged edges. I also sanded the top of the little pewter flower brad for a different look.

Recipe:
Stamps: Penny Black Suprise; Inky Antics Chicken Wire; Hero Arts Hello There; Rubber Stampede Grass
Paper: SU Naturals White, Wild Wasabi; misc patterned paper
Ink: Ranger Adirondack Pitch Black; SU Going Gray; Clearsnap Colorbox Chalk Charcoal & Olive Pastel; SU Watercolor Pencils; Dove Blender Pen; Micron Pen
Misc: SU Word Window Punch; Marvy Uchida Scallop Punchs; Fiskars Circle Cutter; Scalloped Paper Scissors; Stamp-a-ma-jig; Fiskars Crimper; misc brads.

More WT164 -Ways to Use It Challenge cards here.

The Return of Arte Y Pico
The other day I was checking out blog links from a forum on SCS when I landed at Stephanie's Stampin' Spot. (OK that totally sounded like I'm on a space ship or something! ha!) Stephanie's blog header pic is so darn cute! It makes me smile from ear to ear! Stephanie has really cute stuff! :) Not only does she shares her crafts, she shares in a personal way...like she is standing there talking to you.

Stephanie was so sweet to name me on her blog for the Arte Y Pico Award. It always feels good to know others enjoy our creations and appreciate the time we put into sharing through our blog. I'm going to be a little bit of a cheater again. Since I just recently got this award (here) I ask that you visit Stephanie's blog and leave some nice coments. Sound fair enough? Enjoy Stephanie's Stampin' Spot.

Sweet Slumber

A Sweet Treat from Penny Black

I saw this stamp at my favorite Stamp Store - Stamp Works. It's called Sweet Slumber by Penny Black. I wanted to buy it but there was a class that was using this stamp for one of the cards they were making that same day. So....my head hung low....and I had to leave that day without it :( I told Nic (the owner) that if she had one left after the class it was mine! Well, lucky me...cause she had one left and it's mine now! LOL

So here is the first card I made with it. I'm really happy with how it turned out.

Recipe:

• Image stamped on SU Whisper White with Black Stazon


• Colored with Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol.


• Cards Base Bazzill Black and SU Real Red and Whisper White


• Stamped Pattern Stamp from SU Petite Designs with Black Colorbox Pigment Ink on Real Red CS then embossed with clear.


• I also used used a Silver Metalic Marker from American Crafts on the candy wrappers and then colored over that a little with a glitter pen.


• The red on top of the candies is colored with Red Spica Glitter Pen. I also ran the Clear Spica Glitter Pen down the stripes of the candy box and on the bow.


• "Be Mine" on the tag is from a CTMH set called All My Love.

I'm going to make another card...of course! I want to try with more pinks and glitter. :)

(added note 2/14/08 -- I gave this card to Michaela for Valentine's Day. She really loved it!)

Jealous Again!

Cheery Colors & Secret Technique

I made this card a few days ago, but I didn't want to post it until the new owner received it. Happy Birthday Blair!



Well....I did e-mail a picture of the card to my daughter so she could drool. Yep....that's right....I caused another "gotta have that stamp" moment :) Here's what Alisha had to say back to her favorite mom "That turned out soooo cute. I'm jealous:) Did you stitch around the edge or is that a stamp?"

LOL....silly girl....come over and play if you want to know moms secrets! Alisha is always trying to get me to come over to her house and stamp. I'm always trying to get her to come over to my house to stamp. But usually what happens is we go shopping and buy more stamps! We talk about building homes next to each other and having a craft room in the middle so we can keep all our stuff together and share! Now that would be cool!!

Here's the scoop on the card....
The inspiration for this card started with a Splitcoaststampers DTGD '07 Challenge -- which was to use Cheery Colors. The bird stamp is from Penny Black. The saying is from Stamping Bella. Chicken wire stamp is from Inky Antics. I also used stamps from Stampin'UP! Best of Cluck set. Colors I used are from SU - Yoyo Yellow, Only Orange, Glorious Green, Very Vanilla. River Rock ink for the ground using Skinny Oval stamp from A Muse Artstamps and Sahara Sand marker to highlight the sand on the ground. I also used both Tag Punches from SU. Paper Piercing & Faux Stitching with black marker (there's moms secret Alisha!) Edge Distressing and Black ink around the edges of a couple pieces to make them stand out. The tag is on Dimensionals. SU Ribbon, Prima Flowers, Brads & Eyelets, Marvy Uchida Scalloped Circle Punch with hand doodling around the edges.

OK Alisha...come on over and play!

Mommy...Please post this

Another Saturday Make & Take

Michaela was quick to ask if I was going to post this card on the internet like her other ones. "Of course I will!" So here is the beautiful card that Michaela created at Stamps Works on Saturday.

This card was a little more challenging for Michaela, but she pulled it off. Didn't she do a great job!

Recipe:
The flower stamp is from Penny Black. First you ink up the image in a lighter colored yellow/orange (I would tell you the colors of ink used...but I can't remember!) -- then you take a darker yellow/orange color and ink up around the outer edges. Last you take a green and ink up the leaf area -- then you are ready to stamp the image on the paper. The paper used here had flecks in it. She also used an ink pad and swiped it over the edges of paper pieces and over the surface of the rust paper. Edge distressing was also done and a first for Michaela. She picked "thanks a bunch" for the saying. Stickles glitter glue used on the flower for some sparkle.

Fun Flock Fun

Christmas Pilgrims?
Yep...that's what the stamp is called. I haven't quite figured that out?? Anyhow...this Penny Black stamp is SO CUTE!! My mom gave it to me for Christmas last year. Time to have fun!

I made this card for Thursday's SplitcoastStampers DTGD Challenge. The challenge was to use Fun Flock. This stuff is SO COOL! I think I have every color (I have 12!)

Recipe:
The dog stamp is from Penny Black. Snowflake Stamp is from Rubber Stampede, Snow Drifts stamp is from Inky Antics and the saying stamp is from Great Impressions. Dogs and Snow Drift stamped using Black Stazon ink. I put Fun Flock on the hats using a glue pen. I did the red first and then the white. Stamped the snowflakes on blue paper with White Craft ink and then used heat & stick powder to apply white flock. Snow Glitter from Stampendous all over. The saying is stamped in Black Craft and embossed with Clear. I stamped the snowflakes all over the card base in Real Red Classic. Doggies are colored with blue & red markers and shading done with a Cool Grey Prisma pencil & Gamsol. Doggies and sayings are popped up with SU Stampin' Dimensionals. At the last minute, I added a Black spiral clip with some ribbons knotted on it -- just seemed to add that little extra touch.

All inks used on this card are available through Stampin' UP! If you live in the Phoenix area, you can buy all the colors of Stampendous Fun Flock at Stamp Works in Chandler.

My daughter Alisha made this cute Worm Wishes card. She used the Bugs & Kisses stamp set from Stampin' Up! She Fun Flocked the worms & embossed the words and lady bug. Paper and Ink are from Stampin' Up!