Where the Love Is for Whimsical Wednesdays

We have another  great sketch from the Diedrich gang this week. Thanks to Jack, I think, for the sketch I worked from but as it was on my iPhone I can’t show it to you. Wonder why? I like to keep my iPhone handy at all times. That includes reading emails while I soak in the tub. I know, it sounds crazy to have my beloved mini computer next to water but it has worked for over 1.5 years. Today, the baby picked it up while standing in the tub. I panicked and tried to grab it from him and I/we/he dropped it. It seems fine but we have it sitting in a container with silica just in case any water seeped in, so hopefully it will be OK. So I’m sorry but I can’t share the sketch with you.

The stamps for this card are actually a set with separate door, windows, clouds etc so you can kind of design a ‘scene’. I airbrushed the background, masking my clouds as needed. The flower stems are a dotted line stamp that I think was designed to be used as smoke from the chimney. The leaves were made with a heart stamp. I coloured the scene with Copics, the colours were on my iPhone too, sorry. I’m listing the ones I can remember: W 1, 3, 5 V95 (it was V9_) R 06, 81, 83 G21, 63, BG 10 B 12, 23,32, 4_, 91, 93, best I can do!

Thanks to The Character Cafe for their sponsorship this month. Visit next Wednesday to find out who the new sponsor is! Please visit the Whimsical Wednesdays blog for the sketch this week; I’m so sorry I can’t show it. I hope you will visit all of the DareDevil’s blogs; I’m sure they have FABULOUS projects to show you! Once you are done your take on the sketch, leave a DIRECT link using Mr Linky on the WW blog so the team can all see your work. Want to upload to a gallery? Please use DDSC29.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: CTMH
Ink: navy-SU!, black-Memento
Paper: blue (not sure which RR blue), navy CS-SU!, white CS-Taylored Expressions, DP-CTMH
Accessories: Copics, Copic Airbrush system, clear Dew Drops

Hollyhocks for Spring!

We got a glimpse of a gorgeous spring a couple weeks ago and it has been kinda poopy ever since! I keep making springy projects to cheer myself up! I’ve loved this stamp wheel for so long but I just recently bought it.

The Copic colours were all saved in my iPhone but if it is after 8 am EST and you read down from the top, you already know why I can’t list them! I have been trying to come up with a good use for this DP for ages but you really ruin it by using it as a mat or by placing too much stuff on top. I finally decided this layout would work for both the stamp and the DP.

If the sky looks kinda uneven, well, it actually is. I started to colour it in using B12, my ‘go-to’ sky marker for airbrushing but it was much too dark full strength. So I ended up trying it with a tip-to-tip technique but I suppose that is better for shading than for a large area. Live and learn right? Next time I will airbrush the sky very lightly, then use the blender pen to push the colour out of the flower areas, at least for yellow, orange, peach or pale pink flowers. The darker flowers or blue or purple ones won’t be harmed by the slight bit of blue in the background if the blender doesn’t push it all out. This stamp just isn't something you can mask. The leaves  could be done before or after the airbrushing.  I need to make myself a half- or third-strength B12 for direct colouring.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Hollyhock wheel, Everyday Flexible Phrases-SU!
Ink: memento black
Paper: DP-Perhaps Basic Grey, white CS-Taylored Expressions, saffron CS-SU!
Accessories: ribbon-stash, green button-stash, white button-SU!, pink button-PTI, silk ribbon (buttons)-May Arts

L Monogram – CAS JustRite Card

I hope this card shows up OK for you on your computers. This on in particular is hard to tell if my editing is OK because it changes drastically on the tilt of my laptop screen. And since I am literally working with it on my lap, it keeps changing!

I was making this card and since it wasn’t for anyone in particular, I naturally thought of using my own monogram but then thought again and made it for my mom. She is really supportive of our family; she is always buying the kids TONS of clothes, we pretty much don’t need to buy the kids anything except shoes and she buys those often too.

Can you believe I have paper and ribbon that match so well? They really do IRL. The background is embossed with the Victorian folder, I made it a wee bit smaller than a standard card because the folder isn’t quite that big. I find that quite annoying! Just another 1/4” each way and it would cover a full card front. They are making larger folders how so that is great.

TIP: In case you are wondering, yes, it did take a lot of twisting to manage to get all of the loops and tails with the print facing up! The trick is to get the twists inside the knot, twisting while pulling tight. If you try to twist them after the knot is tight, you will need adhesive to keep the ribbon from twisting back and it won’t look as good .

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamp: JustRite
Ink: chocolate-SU!
Paper: baja, white CS-SU!,
Accessories: ribbon-Wal-Mart, foam dots-Jody Morrow, Nestabilities Label 4, circles, Kaisercraft pearls, Victoria Embossing Folder

WAHOOO! DT for Clear Dollar Stamps!

I recently got a 3 month DT position with Clear Dollar Stamps as a Sneak Peak Artist. It was officially announced on their blog, Clearly iStamp, yesterday! If you remember, I was their June Guest Designer last year and I have been hoping and waiting to be asked back ever since and it FINALLY happened! I am so excited!

Thanks to Lori, owner of CDS and Laurie, DT coordinator of CDS for choosing me! I will be previewing 4 sets come the end of the month so stay tuned! I am so looking forward to it! Now I just impatiently await the arrival of my preview stamps. YEAH!!!!!

Whoa Nellie, that is Pink! Skipping Stones Sketch

Yep, I got my dose of pink with this card. I really didn’t start it out that way but it just sort of happened, KWIM? I really don’t start with an exact design in mind for most cards and even when I do, it can change so quickly. I started with the Skipping Stones Designs Sketch for this week and went from there.

I kind of wish (and I just thought of this right now) that I had switched the DPs {{SIGH}}. The rose is lightly coloured in with Copic RV10 or 11; just enough to make it stand out. The pearls are supper cheap as they seem the same as Kaisercraft pearls but some from the dollar store (YEAH) so I was generous; especially since I thought it needed more white. For the same reason, I added white corners under the patterned ones. This isn’t my favourite card but I think it is pretty.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamp: SU!
Ink: regal rose, rose red-SU! worn lipstick Distress
Paper: perhaps DP-Basic Grey. pretty in pink, white CS-SU!
Accessories: Copic marker, Spellbinders eyelet die, eyelet corners, foam dots-Jody Morrow, pearls-Dollarama