Happy Birthday Akemi

My friend Jenny's daughter had her 6th birthday party yesterday and I've been saving this image for her card.  As soon as I saw this digi from Spesch months ago, I thought of her because she has a favorite stuffed bunny she's had since she was a baby.  I colored her up with my Copic markers and thanks to my class, I finally have a staple of pink shades I like (see below for more details).  All the designer paper I used is from Pebbles and I love everything about these papers.  OMG such delicious colors and the fronts and backs all coordinate so beautifully.  Also, each has one strip of border like the hearts I used in the middle of the card.

 I saw an idea from McKenzie Bruckler's blog where she colored a Pink Cat Studio image, enlarged it and copied it on T-shirt transfer paper and ironed it onto a shirt.  I thought I'd give it a whirl and make one for Akemi.  I embellished the neckline by sewing on some fun buttons and this was so much fun to do.  I can't wait to try it again.

Copic Tips:
Did you know you can tell the brush side of your marker by the gray marking/ring that's right below the cap?  (Duh, I didn't know this until now)


My favorite new Copic pink combination is R81, R83, R85


Supplies for Card:

• Stamps:  Spesch "Bonnie" digi, Verve Sentiment "Big Wish"
• DP: Pebbles
• Copics, rhinestones, cardstock

Supplies for T-shirt:

• Stamp: Pink Cat Studio "Tweet on Branch" digi
• Copics, t-shirt, buttons, Iron on transfer

Hello Kitty Thank You

My friend Kelli L-O-V-E-S Hello Kitty.  She did a nice favor for me and went to Juicy Couture on Oahu to look for a pair of slippers I wanted since we don't have that store here.  She did an even nicer thing for me and treated me to the slippers because she said they happened to be on sale.  She got herself a couple pairs, too while she was at it.  I was grateful for her generosity so I got her some Hello Kitty gifts and made this card to match.  Thanks again Kelli!

Supplies:

• Sizzix:  Hello Kitty Sitting w/ Bow Sizzlits, Decorative Flourishes set
• Punches: MS Valentine Edge Punch - Looped Hearts (border and corner)
• Stamp: Hero Arts sentiment
• Paper flowers, cardstock

Delicate Blooms

This card came together as a fluke.  I was playing around with the Hero Arts "Designer Woodgrain" stamp in white ink and stamped it back-to-back making it look like it was one continuous image.  Then to test out the new floral stamp from Hero Arts "Delicate Blooms", I stamped it directly on the woodgrain.  Now this is where it started to get fun.  I stamped the flowers on white cardstock and colored some of the blooms to cut out and pop up here.  The other blooms were colored directly on the red cardstock with the same Copics and they took on a beautifully darker tone.  Then I stamped the sentiment  and used linen thread and a button to embellish the top of the card.  I finished it off with some Stickles to add some sparkle to the flowers.

Supplies:

• Stamps: Hero Arts "Delicate Blooms", Sentiment from Hero Arts (not sure what set), Hero Arts "Delicate Woodgrain"
• Cardstock: Bazzil
• Copics, linen thread, Stickles

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there.  I thought I'd share the cards I made for the various men in my life who are wonderful father's and grandfathers.  This first card was made for my husband who is an amazing dad to our son.  I designed it from the perspective of a child using the kinds of colors and prints I thought they might choose.  My son is lucky to have a daddy that makes up fun games, takes him to the park swing and gives him piggy back rides.  I'm lucky to have a true partner who equally shares in the responsibility of raising a child.

This card was made for my mother-in-law's partner who my son calls grandpa.  We appreciate all he does for us.  I love this card for it's simplicity and rustic feel.  I used Papertrey's Matstack 1 die and sewed on the buttons so I could pull the linen tread taught.

This card was made for my dad who is also my son's grandfather.  It's bolder and has a modern feel to it. I am grateful for everything my dad has done for me.  When I was growing up, he was a very involved father.  He took us to the beach every Sunday, drove my brother and I to all of our lessons and sports activities and he taught and coached me in tennis.  As a parent myself now, I realize even more how much he sacrificed for us and I truly appreciate and love him.

Supplies Trucks Card:

• DP: Best Creation Inc. Transportation
• Punches: SU Modern Label, SU Word Window, SU Scallop Edge
• Stamp: SU Teeny Tiny Wishes
• Spellbinders: Scalloped Rectangle
• Font: Curlz MT

Supplies Special Grandpa Card:

• Stamps: Hero Arts Designer Woodgrain, PTI For the Graduate,
• Ink: Distress Vintage Photo, Memento Desert Sand, Memento Rich Cocoa
• Die: PTI Matstack 1
• Font: Snell Roundhand
• Buttons, Linen Thread

Supplies DAD card:

• Letters: Sizzix Round-a-bout alphabet
• DP: Reminisce Graduation Argyle 
• Cardstock: Bazzil, Mirror
• Punch: SU Ticket Corner

Notepad with Style

I've been experimenting with these notepads and stamped this floral image from SU's "Elements of Style" set on every page of the notepad.  Sound daunting?  Well it really isn't if you do it while watching reruns of "Glee" or perhaps like me, you've been sucked into "America's Got Talent."  I just stamped the image from different angles of the notepad sometimes using very little of the image and other times more of it.  Then I created a band around the notepad and added the sentiment which is also part of the stamp set.  I put it in a cellophane bag, stapled it shut and created a band for the top using a MS border punch to hide the staples.  Then I personalized it, added some rhinestones and....viola!

Supplies:

• Stamps: SU Elements of Style set
• Punches: SU scalloped circle, SU's 1-1/4" circle punch, MS daisy edger border punch, SU modern label
• Ink: SU's Melon Mambo
• Cardstock: Bazzil kraft and black, SU melon mambo
• Notepad: 4" x 6" (pack of 10 from Office Max)
• Cellophane bag, rhinestones

Like a Vintage Photo

This was my attempt at creating a card to look like a vintage black and white photo.  I took a Hero Arts image and embossed it in black on cream colored cardstock.  Then I cut it out using a Spellbinders oval die and distressed the edges using Antique Linen ink.  I backed the oval with a scalloped oval cut from black cardstock.  I also distressed the lace embellishments with Antique Linen and then added pearls.  The DP from Making Memories worked nicely with this and I distressed the edges with Vintage Photo ink.  It was a challenge not adding any color to this.

Supplies:
Stamp: Hero Arts "Sending Smiles"
Inks: Ranger Distress Antique Linen, Ranger Distress Vintage Photo, Versamark Watermark
DP: Making Memories "Fifth Ave. E-Foiled"
Spellbinders: Petite Ovals Large, Petite Scalloped Ovals Large
Lace, Black Embossing Powder, Cardstock

You Make My World Happy

I enjoy playing with mermaids and this Sweet November "Pearl Tidepool" digi is no exception!  She's one of the new releases this month and her big eyes and lips make her different to color compared to most images.  I tried the Gina K 120 lb. Pure White paper for the first time here and so far I like it.  I have more papers to try and I'll give you my final opinion later.  But in the meantime, here's what I can tell you about the Gina K paper.

Copic tip for today:  Because the Gina K 120lb. heavy cardstock is thick, it doesn't bleed through when you're blending with your Copics.  And when the ink doesn't bleed through, it stays closer to the surface and allows you to blend better.  You also use less ink and you can flip it over and use the back if you make a mistake.


Supplies:
Stamps: Sweet November "Pearl Tidepool" digi, Hero Arts "Woodland Creatures" sentiment
Punch: Fiskars Wave Border
Cardstock, Pearls, Stickles, Copics

Simple Little Thank You

This little card is a 3" x 3" simple square.  I did a distress resist on textbook paper using clear embossing powder and Hero Arts' Antique Brocade cling.  The background color is Fired Brick Distress ink and the edges were darkened just a tiny bit with Vintage Photo Distress ink.   Then I cut out a tree from designer paper and finished it off with a sentiment.  An image of a beautiful tree is always calming and serene -  I love the way this all came together.

Supplies:

• Stamps: Hero Arts "Antique Brocade" and Thank You sentiment
• Inks: Ranger Distress Inks: Fired Brick, Vintage Photo
• DP: Reminisce Through the Woods
• Punch: SU Word Window
• Textbook Paper, Cardstock

See the Flowers Smiling

Sorry I've been MIA.  I've been taking a Copic class and I actually have homework.  Yikes!  It's been a while since I've had homework.

Anyway, here's a card that uses Martha Stewart's great flower punches.  I found they look great with punched contrasting circles for the centers or fun brads like I used here.  I've also been experimenting more with very subtle designer papers and stamping my sentiments right on them. I'm usually attracted to the bright, bold, fun papers, but realized that the "more quiet" papers can be great to play with as well.

I'm learning some fun tips from my Copic class so as I progress through the class, I'll share some of them with you.  Today's tip:  Did you know that you can remove Copic marker ink stains using Purell hand sanitizer?  The Purell with 60% or higher alcohol will do the trick.  If you have the Colorless Blender refill that will work well, too.

Have a great week!

Supplies:

• Stamps:  Hero Arts "Girl Holding Flowers", Hero Arts "Thoughtful Messages"
• Punches:  Martha Stewart
• Brads: Gemstone Brads, SU Corduroy Button Brad
• Cardstock, Stickles, Ribbon

Vintage Butterfly

Can you tell I love butterflies?  Well here's a Hero Arts butterfly that I've discovered looks beautiful no matter how you color it.  The background papers are from My Minds Eye and these coordinating papers are a card maker's dream come true!  Beautiful designs and colors!  The sentiments in the circle are from a stamp I found at a garage sale (practically new).  Once I stamped it, cut it out and distressed the edges with Distress Ink color Vintage Photo, it took on a life of it's own.  I added flourishes from Sizzix's Decorative Flourishes Set and also added some rhinestones for sparkle.

Mermaid in Distress

 Well not really... this mermaid isn't really in distress, but I used Distress Inks for the background paper.  Got a used book and distressed a page with Broken China, Scattered Straw and Peeled Paint.  Then I used a blow dryer to dry the ink.  I cut out a Labels One Spellbinder shape and distressed the edges with Vintage Photo and stamped Hero Arts' "Friend" sentiment.  It was fairly simple and fast to do.  I love the way these inks blend and trying different combinations is great fun!

It's All About Distress Inks

I recently started experimenting and learning more about Ranger Distress Inks and I've discovered that they are exciting and dangerously addicting!  LOL!   Blending colors with the foam applicator tool is a blast and heat embossing with clear embossing powder to create a "resist" is just too much fun.  Here I used the colors Broken China, Scattered Straw and Peeled Paint.  I also Stickled the flourish punch and MS butterfly and I'm not sure if this picture really shows it, but it added a nice "bling" to them.  I'll be back with more cards using these great inks.