Take a Walk on the Wild Side!

It is that time again! Time for the Sweet & Sassy Stamps July Blog Hop! We have some beautiful creations from our amazingly talented design team for you to enjoy. If you did not come here from another SNSS DT members blog, then hop on back to SNSS and start from the beginning! You don't want to miss the eye candy (and maybe some BLOG candy too!)



This set is called "Doodle Birds" and it is just so much fun!


I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers. The CS is all from my stash (trying to use up some of what I have) and the DP is from the DCWV Green Stack.


I added branches punched with an MS punch and Basic Grey Urban Prairie buttons with ribbon from StuffMart. I trimmed the birdy and popped her up, along with the nest. This sentiment makes it perfect for a housewarming card!




Now, the next stop on your "hop" is the incredibly talented Courtney. Hop on over there and see what creative things she has for you! And don't forget today is the LAST DAY for the Blow Out Sale 40-50% off and Christmas in July Sale over at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps

Blessings!

Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge #13...and again!

This is the sketch for Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge #13:

And here is my (first) take on this sketch.....

This is a brand new SNSS Digi release called "Showers of Blessing," by Courtney Fowler. Courtney has her own blog and challenge team called the, "Created by Courtney Challenge Chicks." Her work is lovely and her love for the Lord is evident in all that she does. Initally I wanted to color her dress in blue, but it made me think of the Morton Salt girl, so I tried to pick a color that I don't use much as a focal. Green, which I love, is usually what I use for leaves, etc. Here her dress and umbrella are colored with Copics using marker in the G and YG ranges. The background is done with C1-C7. Notice how I "grounded" her with a darker shadow below? When you do this, it makes the image look like it is actually on something, instead of floating in mid-air. Her hair is done with red-toned E range markers. CS is SU! Mellow Moss, DP and brads are Basic Grey - Mellow (I JUST realized that they both say mellow! hehehe), ribbon is Martha Stewart, bling is K&Co. Anytime I put gemstone brads or crystal bling on my cards, by DH says, "You Bedazzled it! LOL (Inside joke from The Game Plan, if you have seen it.) I used my MS Lace Border punch on some of the DP.

This is a close up showing the colorful paper and the sentiment. The digi comes with several sentiments to choose from, so you have something for inside and outside. After I finished this card and submitted it for the sketch blog, I realized that it was SUPPOSED to be a Christmas-themed card...doh! So, accordingly, here is my second take on this sketch:

If you have not noticed yet, very rarely do I stick exactly to the sketch. I always change something, even if I just rotate or switch sides. Not sure why, I just always do! CS is a DCWV card blank and some SU! Chocolate Chip, DP is Basic Grey - Mellow (Again...I just love this paper!) and a Christmas sentiment DP from a DCWV Holidays stack, ribbon and buttons are from StuffMart. Again, I used the MS Lace Border punch. I chose to go a little simpler with the card so that the image would really stand out. I just love this guy! It is another SNSS digi called, "You Light Up My Life!" This one you can only get by participating in the Christmas in July Celebration going on at SNSS this month. Hurry! After this month, you cannot get this one or the other two Christmas digis. (Do Not Open Till Christmas and Stanley the Penguin)

Since he is supposed to be made of snow, I used a C1 marker and B00 marker to line the edges and softened with colorless blender. I also *try* to keep in mind where I want the light to come from, so I know where to put my highlights, as you can see on his hat.

Blessings!

Interestingly enough...

Ever had one of those days when you just aren't sure where an image is going? I was coloring in this image from Whiff of Joy Stamps:

and it just wasn't going where I wanted it to go. In fact, I tossed it aside several times, annoyed that I had "wasted" the image, but felt compelled to pick it back up and continue. I just love the attitude of this image and toyed around with using it as a congratulations card for a woman getting married ("maid marion=maid marrying") but I could not come up with a sentiment. I did not like the outcome of the coloring and kept messing with it, sure that I would eventually jack it up beyond repair!

Then, all of a sudden, it really started to take on a life of its own! and I was off and running without even a sketch to use. It all just sort of "happened," you know? So, without further ado, here she is! TADA!!!

Just outlining did not seem like enough, so I started coloring a background. The background sort of looks like it is her that is shining.

I looked at her and thought, "I know just what paper to use..." The CS is SU! Chocolate Chip, the DP is Basic Grey "Mellow", the bling is K&Co., the ribbon is Joann and I doodled with a Bronze Sakura Gelly Roll pen on the edges.


I had the idea to look for a scripture that could be used as a sentiment so off I went to the online reference to search for "Arrow." You can imagine what most of what I found was about...arrows piercing this or that...but Isaiah 49:1-3 really just jumped out at me. It seemed to fit and the translation from The Message was perfect.

You can really see the doodling on this picture, I drew little vines and leaves.

Sorry the pics are not the greatest, but the lighting is bad here today...anyway, just wanted to share. Hope you are all having a great day!

Blessings!

Christmas In July!!! And an Important Request....

Hey Guys! Here are a couple of things I have been working on lately...

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is having a Christmas In July promotion right now where they are giving away these awesome Christmas Digis by Korin Sutherland.

This one is called, "You Light Up My Life," and it has the snowman image with two sentiments. Isn't that little bird just adorable? I think this one is my favorite. You can only get these digis by participating in the CIJC sale at Sweet 'n Sassy during the month of July. After that, they will no longer be available. I used Basic Grey Mellow paper and Urban Prairie brads, Neenah Solar Crest CS, Copic markers and Glossy Accents on this card, along with bling from K&Co., ribbon and silk flowers from Joann and my MS Lace Border Punch. I also added some antiquing on the CS using an SU! Close to Cocoa inkpad. After I colored him, I trimmed him and popped him up on foam dots.

Here is a closeup of the ink-antiquing. I went over the sentiment with Copics as well, just to add a little dimension.

The next digi is called, "Do Not Open Until Christmas!" and he is adorable! Most people color him as a Polar Bear, but I wanted to do something different, so my image is a night time scene with a brown bear. I used SU! Not Quite Navy and Real Red CS, along with some more Basic Grey Mellow DP, bling from K&Co., Glossy Accents and, of course, Copic Markers. Red Grosgrain 5/8" ribbon and some doodling with a Bronze Sakura Gelly Roll pen finish it off.

I wanted the tree to look more like a fir than a pine, so I used markers in the BG range. I like the look of this for a fir tree. After I colored the the decorations, I used Glossy Accents to make them stand out a bit. I added some stars to the sky with a White Sakura Gelly Roll pen and topped with Glossy Accents.

Now, onto my Important Request:

My precious birth-mother, Mama Kathryn, has been diagnosed with cancer. I am going to spend a week with her in Idaho starting the 2oth of July. She is a believer and is holding fast to God's promises but it would really bless her to get some cards from all of you talented people out there. If you can and you want to, please send her a card of encouragement, especially ones with scripture, to remind her of God's love and faithfulness. I know it would just mean so much to her. If you have a blog of your own, feel free to pass on this request. My other request is that you pray for her, add her to your church prayer list, etc.

Here is her info:

Kathryn McGinnis, P.O. Box 193, Hope, Idaho, 83836

Thank you in advance for doing this for me and Kathryn.

Blessings!

Sweet & Sassy DT Blog Hop!

Well, here it is... my very first Blog Hop! I am honored that I was chosen to represent Sweet & Sassy Stamps as a Junior DT member from July '09 to Dec '09. You probably came to my blog from Lisa's blog. If not, go back to the SNSS Blog and start there! You don't want to miss ANY of the "eye candy!"

Here is another card that I made using the "Birthday Buddies" stamp set that was a new release for the month of June.


This set is incredibly versatile, it has several cuddly little critters and some great sentiments to go with them. This one is my current fave, because I think he is looking at that slice of cake like he really wants to keep it for himself! hehehe! I used SU Not Quite Navy CS, YoYo Yellow CS and the DP is from the Fun In The Sun Summer Stack from DCWV. I cut the Scalloped Circle and Embossed Circle Nesties with my Cuttlebug and popped that little guy on there with some foam dots. He is, of course, colored with Copic markers and highlighted with Sakura Gelly Roll White Gel pen. Some white ribbon, a multi-color flower and some "bling" were all that was needed to complete this card.

The next stop on your hop is Nancy.

Blessings!