A Step out of comfort zone

Hi there.

Today I am showing a card so far out of my comfort zone I should probably have a pass port!!

I am drawn to Mandalas and Zen Tangle designs. I have tried with varying success to draw some, but have never been very successful at coloring them. When I saw this on the KLM digital Designs site I instantly thought of my favorite Maine ocean trips and "beachy" colors. 

I only used half of the design because I messed up the other half, naturally. I used some Distress Inks and masking to fill some of the areas and a combination of Copic markers and Sakura Stardust Gelly Roll pens for others. Once colored I fussy cut the good side out and attached to the panels. I played with my new foiling machine for the sentiment and added a few clear gems from Honeybee Designs.

Photo results of foiled and glittery or shiny cards are less than satisfying. The contrast of the dark teal and peach is much better in real life. 

Practice makes better. I need more practice.

Create on!

Susan

Let It Snow for early skiing!

Hi there! 

The ski season has started here in Vermont.  Actually the first opening was here in Killington on the third of November.  A bit earlier than usual.

That news prompted me to use the KLM Digital Design pre-colored Gnome Skier image from the November release.

I had just received an order of new supplies, one being the Ranger Sparkle Texture Paste. The lesson learned here was less is more. This paste has a much looser consistency, so less is necessary. I used a bit of a heavy hand, initially, and the paste moved UNDER the stencil. It dries with a very glossy finish so the result on some of the flakes is a bit blurred. 

Anyway, the background was brushed with Speckled Egg and Blueprint Sketch Distress Ink, the hill was cut with an MFT die. I believe the little trees are Poppy Stamps Dies. Let it Snow is from the SU set Tiny Talk and is embossed in Liquid Platinum. The stitching lines were made with the Wonky Stitched Rectangle dies from MFT stamps. The snowflake stencil is a Tim Holtz product THMM133.

So, if you're not hitting the slopes, grab some supplies and start creating!

Susan

Hang in there Frog

Hello, and welcome to the holiday season!

For all of us hosting family and friends, navigating the grocery aisles, working through a season of makes,    cooking, and cleaning as we go, HANG IN THERE! It's all worth it.

With any luck, I will FINALLY have all five of my grandchildren under one roof for the first time. We all live here in New England but this just hasn't happened yet. The kids range in age from 22 to 7. I can't wait for an actual photo of all of them together.

So... this card just seems to do the trick for the approaching festivities. 

I just love his expression. The image and sentiment are from klmdigitaldesigns.com. He is colored with Copic markers. On the background, I used the Flurry stencil from Lavinia Stamps. I purchase most of my Lavinia collection from DelBello Designs, here in the U.S. The inks are all Distress inks. I stenciled a few extra leaves to cut out and pop up on foam to all a little extra dimension.

Copics used:  E33, 37

                    Y00, 21, YR30

                    YG61, 63, 67

                     G40, 94

Hang in there, friends, and enjoy the holidays!

Gnome rocking motorcycle

Hello there, and welcome!

Boy, time flies! I thought I would take the opportunity to work in the garden while I had a stretch of good weather. The weather and the yard work s-t-r-e-c-h-e-d on for several days. I lost track of time and my endurance level. Getting old is the pits!

Anyway, I finally took photos of the last KLM Designs cards I made. This first one reminds me of my younger days, not that long ago when hubby and I used to ride around our beautiful state on a Gold Wing, leaning into those corners. 

-The background is a smooshed Distress Ink background cut with a Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics Die.

-The cloud in the foreground is a piece of vellum colored with Copic marker and alcohol, cut with a stitched cloud die. (Marker colors B45 and C7)

- I followed the directions from one of the many online videos for interactive swing cards. 

-The sentiment was created on my ScanNCut.

- I printed the pre-colored image onto medium-weight card stock using my Epson Printer and cut it out with ScanNCut.

I hope you are having beautiful weather and find time to enjoy nature as well as create.

Focus on the good gnome

Hello, thanks for visiting.

Todays card is another mixed style card. Backgrounds and gnomes.The background was my first attempt using distress sprays and oxides. I was really happy with this piece. I sprayed Scattered Straw and Shabby Shutters on the mixed media paper. Then I sprayed a bit of Brushed Corduroy and Frayed Burlap on my glass media mat and spritzed lightly with water. I tapped my paper in the ink and dried it between looks. 

Always a surprise........

I cut the panel with a MFTstamps Stitched Rectangle Die and mounted it onto MFT Kraft card stock.

I used Sizzix Thinlits Tim Holtz Alterations Die to cut hello out of SU Soft Suede card stock 4 times.

I layered the words together to give the word more visual weight. I stamped the focus phrase from Stampers Anonymous Tiny Text then used a micro liner to turn the o into music notes.

The Gnome is from klmdigitaldesign.com and is colored and attached to the card with foam tape.

Don't forget that KLM is now carrying polymer stamps. For those who have been asking for them, a little birdie told me there will be a large release of them SOON.

Have a creative day,

Susan

Melding of the styles

Good day! I hope it has been a great one so far and this find you well and feeling creative.

It has been so hot here in Vermont the past few days (93-98) the only thing I've been able to do is watch Tim Holtz demos and play with all the backgrounds I've been hoarding. Too hot to work outside!!!

This first card is a combination of two of my favorite things, backgrounds and gnomes. I always have PLENTY of both around so I didn't even have to break a sweat to make this card.

The background was made with Distress Ink that was left on my glass mat. Sometimes I think these give the best results. I just spritzed the ink and dropped a piece of multimedia paper on it, literally! I then used the Sizzix/Tim Holtz Alterations Swiriling Stars die on it. The star piece was mounted on a smooth glitter paper from a Joann's brand pad (hard to see here).

I cut the layer with a Stitched Rectangle Die-namics Die from MFTStamps, and mounted it onto PTI Royal Velvet Paper. It is such a rich purple!

I finally got the Stampers Anonymous Tiny Text set in the mail and had HAD to use it. Love the positive messages in the set. I stamped the sentiment on the scrap left from the panel and layered it on the same purple.

The colored image is the wizard from KLM Digital Designs which is the first of the gnome series they had. It is now in polymer stamps. Great for all of you who have wanted to work with the gnomes but don't do the digital image thing. He is colored with Copic markers.

Have a creative day and, if in Vermont, stay cool!

Susan

Irish Gnome?

Well now, I've heard of Darby O'Gill and all manner of "little people" in Irish Lore. But, my sweet little Irish grandpa never mentioned a gnome! This little guy just speaks to me. He looks like he's hoisting his glass and saying "Slainte".                                                                                                  

Recipe:

 Gnome Image:KLM Digital Designs

Greeting stamp: MFT- Uncorked Sentiments

Paper: Stampin'UP (retired)

Copic Markers

Ink: Tsukineko Brilliance Dew Drop, Thyme

Other: Hero Arts Sparkle Embossing Powder (on greeting and shamrock)

Valentine Gnome

I must admit, Valentine's Day has always been my least favorite holiday. Not sure why... after all, my favorite color is red. Anyway, I just had to turn this image into a card ... while I wait for the impending 15 inches of snow!  I really do like working with digital images as I can size them any way I want. I print them on my Epson Printer with Epson ink. I think  the next time I use this one I will make him a little smaller.  But, this worked.  He is colored with Copics, my favorite medium to use to color.                 

 Recipe:

Image: Here Valentine Gnome

Stamp: Greeting, SU Colorful Season

Paper: Bazzil Glazed stripe/cranberry

           SU, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink

           Neenah Solar White (Gnome)

Copic Markers

Sign White gel pen

Die: MFT Stitched Dome

Punch: Martha Stewart Border Hearts

Other:Versa Mark ink, Ranger Liquid Platinum embossing      powder, Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear Sequins

Companies: *SU- Stampin' Up ; *MFT- My Favorite Thing Stamps

Magical Day

It has been a dog's age since I have been able to get back to creating. Between teaching responsibilities, family illnesses and deaths and home renovations it all got away from me. Now retired, kitchen reno done and, hopefully, everyone fairy healthy, I feel like I can begin again. Hopefully you are all well and still finding the time to create.

This is my latest card. It is for my preteen granddaughter.

The wizard is a digital stamp from KLM Digital Designs

I used Distress Oxide Inks on the background and colored the wizard with Copic Markers. I LOVE coloring with Copics! The stars were cut with the Sizzix stars die and backed with glitter paper that sheds worse than my golden! If you'd like to see some of the things I've created since being away from blogging you can check out my Pinterest page.

I hope to be back soon with more fun. Stay warm, Spring is coming.

Edit: I have had so many ask where the greeting is from.
Actually it is a combination of three sets. Necessity is the mother of invention, right? "Wishing you a" is from an old PTI set called Wishing You; Magical is from MFT's Magical Dragons; Day is from and old red rubber stamp I found at a yard sale! 

Susan

Sleepy Bear Baby

I haven't made a baby card in forever. Thought I'd use my cute bear from KLM Digital Designs. Lots of Cuttlebug embossing and Nestablities. Image is colored with Copics and sponged with SU inks.

Oh, by the way, did you know that KLM has a line of acrylic stamps now. Check it out.

Multiple challenges

This card is for the CC258 plus kritter challenge at SCS; CPS#154 ; and the Copic Challenge to custom color your embellishments. I'm still not sure about these colors together. I would never have used them, but that's what challenges are all about, right?

The image is from KLM Digital Designs. In the second photo you can see it has been cut and layered three times. It was colored with Copic markers.

Papers: SU Soft Suede, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum; PTI White
Stamps: PTI, Mailbox Greetings; SU Dot background
Digital Image: KLM Digital Designs
Accessories: PTI buttons colored with Copic markers in V99, grosgrain ribbon.

Ahh, a day to create

Hello all,
I hope you all had wonderful holidays. I finally decided to take a day to create. I needed to make an anniversary card for my in-laws for today. We had a big party for them this afternoon. A good time was had by all, and a lot more food on top of the holiday goodies. Diet, here I come.
If I stamp I won't eat!

This first card is a Mo Manning image. Her work is simply incredible. I thought this was perfect for an anniversary. There are several challenges out there addressing "NEW".
I decided to use this card. A new chapter in their lives, from a very long book.
See Mo's Challenge here .
For the No Time to Stamp challenge, here, I used a new technique to me, combining Copics and Prismas. I will be doing this more!

Three Clovers Designs challenge #45 was Celebration! 60 years worth!
Papers: SU Always Artichoke, Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive; GP white CS; DP from Provo Craft Scrap Pad
Image: Mo's Digital Pencil
Color/Ink: Copic markers, Prismacolor Pencils, Opalite Golden Mist
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Sizzix dies, MS fern punch. Primas, dimensionsl tape, Nestabilities


This next card was an attempt at combining challenges. The first is Mojo Monday's 119, and the second is SCS Color challenge CC251.
I used an image from KLM Digital Designs, colored with Copics and Prismacolor pencils.
Papers: SU in challenge colors
Accessories: Cuttlebug folder, Nestabilities, assorted letter stamps, SU hat punch, Hero Arts crystals.


Hope you enjoy. Until next time, create with reckless abandon.

Teddy's Christmas

Here is another image from the Christmas collection at KLM Digital Designs.
Copic markers were used to color the image. Enjoy.

Edit:Thanks to those who notified there was no image in this post! Here is the little fella. Nov.20

Warm winter wishes

Here is one of the new releases at KLM Digital Designs.

Colored with Copics, papers are from the stash!

Fall Wreath

Hello there. Hope all is well with everyone! Sorry to have been absent so long but this is life when school is in session. Everything else is eclipsed now and the system wants more. Blood from a stone . . . it's a good thing technology is taking over, because there won't be any teachers out there.

Decided to play this weekend to relieve a little stress and managed to get 3 cards put together. The first is for Thanksgiving. I used one of my designs at KLM digital designs for the wreath. Layers were cut with Nestibilities and papers are scraps from my growing stash. I colored the wreath with Copics. It also has the colors in the latest challenge at 2Red Bananas . Chec it out! Hope you enjoy. I'll post the others later.

Digital Tuesday's Challenge

Here is my simple card for the Digital Tuesday's challenge.

The digital image is from KLM Digital Designs. I used PTI white paper to print the image twice. It was colored with Copics, cut and the pumpkins were popped up. DSP is SU as is the cardstock.

Friendly Turtle

Sorry, this photo isn't so hot. His squares were drying and I forgot to photograph him with the others when I had daylight.

Just a real simple card I can send to "Sport-o". Image, KLM Digital Designs;

Copic markers; paper, stamped sentiment, ink, Crystal Effects, Stampin'UP.

Carl the Clown

Here it is! Our first Digi Stamp Image! Katy and I have been very busy for the last couple

of Days brainstorming and sketching some images.

To purchase please visit our Digital Shop!