My little shopping spree and more...

  Today has turned out to be a really fun day.  I was up early and off to have my nails done and then headed off to our little Dollar Store to look for some Easter Themed 'goodies' to use for an upcoming project.  I can't share all the details yet, but I think you'll like it, so please stay tuned.  I also picked up some cute little organizer bins to use in my craft-room.   I love to keep everything organized and the dollar store is the perfect place to find inexpensive storage containers. 

   I came home and put everything away and then was ready to being creating.  My first card is one that was inspired and created fro this week's new Color Combo Challenge being hosted over at 'The Outlawz'.   This is a copy of the inspiration image showing the wonderful colors we have to work with -

Photo Inspiration

from Brenda

   As you can see the colors this week are - light blue, deep purple and creamy white.  The twist is to add a charm to your project too.  For more ideas, please hop on over and check out the cards the design team has created to share with you.  You'll find them all here.

And this is my card!

   I had actually started this card yesterday, but my mojo has been MIA and I have not been very creative at all this week.  Thankfully, I think it's coming back and my inspiration started after I opened up a package of goodies I had ordered from SCACD on Sunday.

    I had picked out my papers yesterday and knew I wanted to use a stamp or sentiment in the center and after browsing through my collection of digital sentiments, I chose this one from Rainbow Echo Designs.      I did not finish it until today and one of my favorite parts of this card is the gorgeous purple fabric flower,  by Petaloo.  It was one of my new goodies that was in my new goodie package from SCACD.   Seeing how well the flower had matched the purple cardstock I had already picked out, I was excited to get back to work to finish this card.  I used my Cuttlebug and two Spellbinder Die sets  to cut out the  sentiment and also the background layer which is a really intricate cute from a brand new set called Parisian Motifs.   It's one of the new CHA releases and there are two more, (Parisian Accents and Floral Doily Motifs), that I have also love and had to have!   All of these goodies are available from Susana's store and are in stock NOW!!
 
     If you are not familiar with this store, I highly recommend you head on over and check it out.   The actual name is Susana's Custom Art and Card Design, or SCACD for short and you can find it here.    If you are a regular follower of my blog, you'll already know that I love Susana's store and shop with her often.  I'm also a fan of her store blog ' Follow your Heart' and even more excited about the brand new challenge blog, called  Friends with Heart Challenge Blog, which officially launches on April 5th.

   Susana had added so many new things to the store, that it was even harder to pick out what I wanted.   There are so many wonderful new paper packs and the 6 X 6 packs are my favorites.   And no matter what anyone says, I don;t think you can every have too much paper!!  LOL!  My latest cravings have been for the new Bo Bunny, Prima and Basic Grey Releases and I know own at least one pack from each.    I am also a big fan of Flowers and Prima pretty much has been my favorite for a long time, especially these new sets!   Love THEM!!  If I could, I would probably buy one of each color and everything I do shop it's always so HARD to pick out which ones I want to add.   This time I bought this set and these too!    I have to again tell you how MUCH I am loving the new 'fabric' flowers from Petaloo!  Awesome!!

  I'm also using my new goodies on both of today's cards and my next card, features some of my new paper from the Moulin Rouge Prima set, along with some older Prima Flowers I had in my stash. This card was created for today's new Sketch Challenge also over at 'The Outlawz' and you are all welcome to come on over and join the FUN!   I have included a copy of the sketch we had as our inspiration -- 

 Sketch Challenge Inspiration

Created by Sandi

  And this is my card

     I'm off now to work on a new idea and I also have a new TOY to try out.  I bought the new Cuttlebug All in One System, along with the Thank You Set  to go with it.  I had remembered it from Marti's Blog back while she was out at CHA and thought I would love it. I bought mine at a great prize from Terri of Stamps Alive and it arrived this week, but I have not tried it out yet.   I'm not good about reading instructions and for some reason Provo Craft never seems to have good instructions with their products?  The same thing happened when I bought my Expression and my Gypsy, they just do NOT send along very much for such complex machines.   This time, I can't even find ANYTHING on this on the Provo Website which is a bummer!!   

    So, if anyone sees or comes across any good video's or demos on this cool new product, please let me know.  I do thank Marti for the info on her blog and know that will be a huge help.  But, I'd also still like to see a video too!   You'd think the PC would have one online, but if they do, I haven't found it?   t I'm a very visual person and would love to see a nice video that I can follow along?  

    Have a great night and if you are now off to Susana's store.....Happy Shopping!!

Think SPRING!!!!

  We have not had many signs of Spring yet here in Massachusetts, it's actually gone back to winter!   Not only is it cold again with below normal temps, but, we also had snow again!   Yes, that's right we had two days last week with snow on the ground, which is terrible for this late in March.  I have a feeling it's going to be one of those years where we go from Winter to Summer...and that will be fine with me, as long as it's soon, hopefully very soon!!

  Today, I am excited to share a really fun new 'Photo Inspiration' Challenge with you and the image will definitely make you 'Think Spring' and think of flowers and happy things.  It's our brand new challenge at StampFairy and I invite you all to hop on over to our Challenge Blog to join the fun.

    This is your 'Inspiration image" for the new challenge!

    You may use the inspiration image in any way, whether it be the colors, the design or even the shapes or patterns, it's all about how you see it and how you can make it work for you.   Please be sure to include a StampFairy  image, so that you be eligible to WIN!!    And speaking of StampFairy images, I also have a brand new release to share with you today.    I'm happy and excited to introduce you to the latest new collection -- Patsy Easter Eggs, which you will find has already been added to the store!

   This is my card, which was created for this week's challenge.  I used the colors and the flowers as my inspiration along with this sweet little 'Toby Spring Fairy'  image from StampFairy.  He's been colored with Copics and layered on a variety of different die cut shapes, all of which I cut in my new Grand Calibur with some of my favorite Nestie sets.  I also used a floral Cuttlebug embossing folder on my pink layer to give it more dimension and texture.  I used some Distress Ink on the top layer to give it a yellow edge.  My flowers and my Butterfly are all from my stash and were picked by color.   I also chose my papers based on the inspiraiton photo and tried to pick patterns like those in the image.

   Please be sure to head on over to the Challenge blog to check out all the fabulous creations the Design Team has designed to share with you.   These gals are all very talented and I enjoy seeing their projects, as much as you do!   It's always fun to see how different all the projects are and how everyone comes up with their own wonderful creations!!  I'll be looking forward to seeing what you make and will be checking your blogs for new ideas too! 

  
   In addition to the StampFairy Challenge, my card is also being submitted to each of the new challenges and you are ALL welcome to play along:

• Hanna & Friends - Challenge #87 - Spring
• Southern Girls Challenge - Add an Animal
• Totally PaperCrafts - Challenge # 59 - Cuddly and Cute
• Teddy Stampers - Challenge # 32- Embossing
• CES Challenge Blog - # 29 - Die Cut Crazy
• Shannon's Sentiments - Spring Colors (Yellow, Pink & Green)
• Craft Your Passion - Challenge # 51 - Include a Bear!

     Wishing everyone a good week and hoping we all have some warm weather and spring days coming very soon!!  

  

Happy Sunday!!

   Today I am finishing up chores and also now working on some cards for new challenges and some for fun!!

   My first card today is for a brand new CAS (Clean & Simple) Challenge being hosted over at 'The Outlawz'.  It's become one of my favorite challenges and has always been a form of card-making that I wanted to learn how to do.  I have more to learn, but taking part in this challenge every week is a big help.

 
    Our challenge this week is based on this sketch, that Amy created for the group.  I copied it over to share with you and your are ALL invited to come on over and play.

     Amy's Sketch

And my card which I created by

Flipping the Sketch!

  It turned out to be very bright and happy card and makes me think of SPRING, which I am still hoping will someday arrive here in Massachusetts. 

   My next project is going to be making a card for this week's Sketch challenge over at 'Operation Write Home' and today is Sunday Sketch day and there are three wonderful sketch's to choose from this week.  I will be making a  Special Birthday Card today in honor of  Sandy Allnock, of OWH ...who is 29!!!  How does she say so young?   I hope you'll join in on the fun!

      This is a copy of the Sketch that I will be using as my inspiration --

And this is my card -
Featuring a sweet little digi image
from 'By Hannah Boyd'
From the Bug & Roo Collection

     I hope everyone has a wonderful day!!  I'm off now to finish up something special for our new challenge tomorrow over at StampFairy and I hope to see you all there!!    Have a wonderful afternoon and may it be fun of fun and happiness!!  

  

Special Wishes!!

  I want to take a moment to send out special Birthday Wishes to two friends who both share the same Birthday, which just happens to be today!

  My first shout out goes to Patty Thibodeau a childhood friend, who I've known over 40 years.   She's my travel buddy and we've also spent hours and hours of time at the beach together.   When I first started card-making, she was also into crafting and scrapping too.  We spend a ton of time together creating, taking classes at our LSS and also shopping for supplies.   She has a very active and busy life and keep very busy.  She works full time and has three grown boys and three sweet Grandchildren, who she loves to spend her time with.   She and I have been on three different vacations together and we always have a great time and travel well together.   We grew up in the same neighborhood and she is also married to another childhood friend, Mike, who grew up just down the street from me.   They are childhood sweethearts and have been happily married for over 30 years!    We celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary with them and went on a fabulous trip to Punta Cana!!   We also were both pregnant with two of our boys, back in 1986 and her son Steve and my son, Brian share birthdays only 4 days apart.  I know I am very lucky to have so many of my childhood friends and that one of the good things about living in the same area all our lives.    Happy Birthday Patty, we had a great time at dinner last night and it was fun, as always to get out!

  My second birthday greeting goes out to an online craft friend, who I was lucky enough to meet through our love of card-making, stamping and coloring with Copics.  Happy Birthday to Colleen Holmes, who I met first in an online Copics class just a little over two years ago.  We've since learned that we share many common interests and have also experienced some of the same life experiences, the good and the bad.   She's now a avid card-maker and designer and most recently created a fabulous new craft group called 'The Outlawz'.

The Outlawz

    We've also love many of the same designers and craft stores and both are fans of Suzanne Dean and her Copics Classes and are active members of the Color Me Creative Classroom.   We also both share the joy (addiction) of shopping for the latest and greatest craft goodies and we love many of the same stores.  A favorite for both of us, is 'Susana's Custom Art &Card Design' which I wrote about earlier.  Colleen and I both love to shop at Susana's store and she is now a very proud and honored member of Susana's Design Team.  Ever since we first met and realized that we both loved Susana's store, she has always dreamed of being of part of the Design Team.   She achieved the fabulous accomplishment shortly after opening 'The Outlawz' and is a very busy and active gal!    Happy Birthday Colleen -- I hope you and Patty both have a fabulous day!

     My day today has been spent working on some new projects and I'm here now to share two cards I created for two fun challenges.   The first is a card I made for the current Color Challenge over at the  Lori Boyd's Challenge Blog.  If you know me, you know that I tend to love whimsical and fun images and have always been a fans of Lori's sweet images.   This digi I used in this card, was actually designed by Hannah, Lori's daughter and is from the Bug N Roo collection, which are equally adorable.

   This is a copy of the Color Combo required to use for this challenge - By LORi Designs Challenges - BLDC10

  And this is the card I created and will be submitting to the Challenge!

  
    My final card today is another card created for a Challenge and this is a brand new Sketch Challenge over at CDAC, which you can find HERE!   The current challenge is being hosted by the Wax Fruit Company, which is a wonderful new digi store created by Arielle Gordon.   I really love her designs and have already added a few to my ever growing digi collection. 

   I have copied over a image of the Sketch that Arielle created for the challenge.  NOTE:  If you are a member of CDAC (Crafter's Digital Arts Center), you'll find a fabulous freebie image to use for your project.  The group is open to all and is free for all to join.   They host a variety of challenges and it's a site devoted to digital artists and those of us who love to create with digital image!

And this is my take of the Sketch including this awesome

image by Arielle!

   I hope I have inspired you to join in on any of these fun new challenges.   If you are a friend of Patty or Colleen, I hope you'll also take time to wish them both a very Happy Birthday!!  

 

Wonderful New Challenge Blog!!

   If you are like most crafters then you probably LOVE challenges and enjoy playing along or browsing the blogs for inspiration.  I love challenges and I'm here today to tell you all about a brand new Challenge Blog that I think we are all going to Love!!

   It's called - SCACD Friends with Heart Challenge Blog and is now open for your preview.  The Grand Opening will be on Tuesday, April 5th and I'm excited.  You can visit now and you can also sign up for email updates and also become a follower and I encourage you do so.

  This is a copy of the wonderful Blog Banner that was created by Marti of Pez-A-Doodle  Designs. 

  It's it gorgeous?  I sure think so!!    Do you recognize the image on the far left?   It's one of Elisabeth Bell's wonderful stamps and part of the Exclusive Line, carried at SCACD.   Marti not only created the new Blog Banner, but she also created the 'Blinkie', which I have already add to my side bar.   I fell in love with them both very first time I saw them and think she did a fabulous job!   Yaay Marti!!    If you would like to add it to your blog, please click on the link (Want this Badge).

SCACD Friends With Heart
Challenge Blog

Want this badge?

   SCACD, also known as  Susana's Custom Art and Card Design a fabulous online craft and art store owned and created by Susana Magenheimer.    It is also one of my absolute favorite places to shop for craft goodies.  I love the store and the wonderful selection of new and innovative products that Susana offers.  I have always been pleased with every order and her personal service is the BEST!!  I can remember once I had made a mistake on my order and Susana took the time to call me to make check on what I was ordering, so that I would not end up with duplicate item.   I was so impressed and will never forget that extra touch and how she took the time to do that for me.  That was one of the very first orders I ever placed and why I'll always continue to go back!   She's also a joy to know and has the be one of the fastest shippers I have ever shopped with.  I am always amazed at how fast my packages arrive, clear across the country in 2-3 days!  And who doesn't LOVE the special little thank you gifts she adds to every order. 

    I was lucky enough to be one of the very first crafters to own the new Sketch Copic Markers and that's because Susana had then in stock a full day or two before many other stores.  I ordered my set the very first day and in two days I was coloring with my new Copics!  Yippee!   Oh,  and speaking of these awesome new Copics, you could actually win this set at the Grand Opening.   Please go HERE for all the details!!

     I hope you'll be sure to hop on over and invite all your friends to do the same.  You can also meet the  fabulous new Design Team.   I have two lucky friends who are part of that team and I'm very excited for them both!   My best wishes to Danni and Reni -- two awesome and very talented crafters.  I'm also looking forward to getting to know the rest of the team and to take part in the monthly challenge!!  Hope to see you there!!

    In the meantime, I hope I have also inspired you to visit and shop at Susana's wonderful store, which re-opens tomorrow!!  Yippee!!

Want this badge?"

Happy Saturday and Happy Shopping!!

It's Freebie Friday .....!!

...Today is a fun day for me!  It's 'Freebie Friday' over at Baby Bud Designs and on top of that we also have a brand new and very FUN challenge.    I invite everyone to hop on over now, so that you'll have a chance to grab a cute little Freebie and also take part in our new challenge.

   We all have SPRING on our minds and I know that for those of us who had a snowy cold winter, we are thrilled with each day it that the sun shines brightly and warms up our temps.  Here in Massachusetts, Spring has started slowly and we even had some 'snow' on Monday and then even MORE on Thursday....Grrrr!  I am soooo sick of winter, cold and snow and HOPE very much that was the END!!   It's time for SPRING and I am dreaming of sunshine, warmer days and flowers starting to bloom in my garden.   And with flowers in mind,  that is the theme we chose for our challenge this month.   We want to see all kinds of wonderful Baby Bud images and lots of Flowers.  You can add flowers to your project, use papers with flowers in the background or even create a project with one of our sweet little Flower themed Baby Buds.   It's all up to you, just be sure to include  Baby Bud Image and Flowers !

  This is the card that I created and I chose to use Baby Bud Chloe, as she is one of my favorites.  I picked out some really cute digital papers with a flower theme, which I used for part of my background and I also used some of the same paper to paper-piece her sweet little outfit.   I have fallen in love with Paper Piecing and bought this cute set from Shery K Designs.

   I also used my new Grand Calibur along with a set of Grand Ovals, to cute my own large oval shaped cards.  I then used a matching sets of Scallops Ovals to create various layers for my image and added a selection of purple, white and lavender flowers to match.  I was very happy with this card and these are my most favorite shades of purple!!

   This is a slightly different view, which shows more of my wonderful digi papers.

   My sweet little card is also being submitted to these new challenges!  All of these challenges are open to all and I found them all over at Feline Playful --

• Crafts & Me - Challenge # 27 - Anything Goes
• Scrapbook Sisters - Challenge # 28 - Anything Goes
• Papertake Weekly - Its' A Mom Thing / Just Be Girlie
• The Crazy Challenge - # 59 - Shaped Cards/No Squares
• Simon Says Stamp - Mother's Day or Girlie Cards

    If you need some fabulous inspiration, please hop on over to the Baby Bud Blog and take a peek at the projects the Lady Buds have created!  I think you'll enjoy them and if you hurry, you'll also have a chance to grab our 'Friday Freebie' !  But, don't wait long - Our Freebie is for One Day ONLY!!

 ***********

    I also wanted wanted to share a brand new release today from 'StampFairy', which is can be found in the store HERE!   This is a preview of the new collection, which is a cute little girl, named Lilly.

   The DT gals have also put together come really cute cards with little Lilly and you can find them over on at the StampFairy Blog.

  And lastly, you still have time to enter our current Sketch Challenge at StampFairy!   To see the sketch and find all the details, please hop on over to the blog  HERE!     I hope everyone has a wonderful day and a nice weekend!!  

Have fun and Happy Creating!!

Today's News!!

...Well I guess the bad news is the we actually have SNOW coming.  I thought it was a joke at first...but it's NOT and this time it may even be a few inches !   GRRRR!  Can you hear me screaming...!! At least I know why my body is so achy, it's because of th storm coming!!  YUK!!

   On a happy note - it will give me lots of time for crafting and that is what's most fun for me!  I have two new cards to share right now and the first one is a cute little birthday card that I created for with some new challenges in mind.  The first is the Midweek Throwdown challenge -- "Cards 4 Kids" which is being hosted over at the Stars and Stamps blog!  I also used a new Sketch from the currently Sketch Challenge over at  'The Outlawz'.

  This is the Sketch - Designed by:

Sandi at 'The Outlawz'  

And this is my card....

  My sweet little Birthday card is also being submitted to this week's - Open Challenge - # 147 at Flutter By Wednesday!     My cute little Fairy digi is 'Fairy Grace' from DigiStamp Boutique.  

  I also have one more Birthday card to share and this one was created for my friend, Patty who's birthday is this coming Saturday.  We are all going out to Dinner on Friday night to celebrate, so I wanted to get her card done early!   It's all about Spring and Flowers and like me, she is longing to see her garden blooming and can't wait for Summer!! 

  

   

  This card is being submitted to these fun challenges:

• The Creative Cottage - Challenge # 35 - Spring has Sprung
• Paper Pretties - Challenge # 146  - SPRING
• Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Spring Has Sprung

   I am off now to work on one more card and this one is for a FUN color combo challenge at StampNation.  The colors for this week's challenge are Basic Black, Melon Mambo and Tempting Turquoise!!  I Love them!!

    Have a great night....and pray that the snow stays away.....maybe we will luck out and it will ALL blow out to sea!!

Lots of new projects....

    This is an updated post to share some of the cards I have created in the past couple of days.  I have been limiting my computer time more, so that I will feel better and allow my neck!  Being online for long periods, does a number of me, so I'm trying to consolidate and share more cards together!!

    All of these cards were made for a variety of challenges, but mostly for fun and to try some new things.  That's the main reason I LOVE challenges, as they kind of focus me to try new things and work on projects, I would not necessarily think of on my own.

    This first card was created for our new Challenge over at the Color Me Creative Classroom and our challenge was to create a celebrations card, colored with Copics (of course) and featured Primary Colors.   This challenge is OPEN to ALL and you can find it HERE!!   Please note:  You do need to sign up for a membership on the site, but it's totally Free!  You do not need to be enrolled in any of Suzanne's Classes to join the challenges, but if you are looking for some fabulous Copic Classes, Distress Ink Coloring and Prisma coloring classes - this is the prefect Classroom for you!  I LOVE the classes and have completed quite a few and will likely be a lifetime student! 

    I decided to create a cute little Birthday Card and started with an image I already owned from Bugaboo Stamps.  I printed it out on my favorite (Cryogen Cardstock) and colored it all in primary colors.  I then picked out some bright papers from my stash, and put it all together to make this fun, happy and vibrant card.

  My next card was created for a new challenge over at 'The Outlawz' and the Greeting Card Challenge for this week was to create 'One for the Boys'.   I created another cute card and this time, I chose a digi from 'By Lori Designs', another of my favorite places to buy stamps. This is one from the Puddle Jumper collection - this handsome little guy is Kyle. 

   My next card was also created for this week's new CAS Card Challenge also hosted at 'The Outlawz' our challenge this week was to create a Monogram Card.  I started with this really cool Letter 'L' that I had bought a while back from 'A Day for Daisies'.  This was a very easy and fun card to make.  Both my papers are also digi papers and the pink ribbon was in my stash.  All I basically did was color a little bit of the digi 'L', punched that out with a scalloped Circle Punch and layered it on a larger scalloped circle in another pinkish paper from my scrap pile.   Super easy and in person, the card is much prettier.  This pic was taken on a dark cloudy day and I'm still waiting for SUN! 

  And I have one more card and this one was created for a 'Catalog Inspiration' Challenge over at StampNation.  The image provided was one from a recent Stampin' Up Catalogs and this is a copy I have to share. 

  This is the card I created and it was based seeing a card in the photo the had a similar cone flowers.  I also used the browns and golds and creams used in the photo to be my colors for my card!!  I only wish I could remember where I found this wonderful Cone flower digi. .  I've had it since I first started collecting and buying digis and I think it may have been a freebie, but I am NOT sure??  If you recognize it, please let me know, as I was to give credit to the artist.

  Oh, and speaking of wonderful flower images, there are also some really pretty Cone Flowers digis over at  The Wax Fruit.  I also used one of Arielle's images this card that I created for the Purple/Yellow and White Challenge on Sunday at CMC.   This is one of three in the set, called 'Study of Tulips'!  Love it!!   It's fast become a favorite and this card is very much all about Spring to me.

   I will also have a really cute new card to share on Friday, along with a brand new challenge over at Baby Bud Designs.  I think you'll all enjoy it and hope you'll join in on the fun!!  I may even a little surprise for you, but you'll have to wait to Friday!!  See you then!!

   Have a nice week and Happy Crafting!!!

Pink Love...

    I am so happy that Spring has arrived and now I will be looking forward to seeing the trees bud and the flowers start to grow.  We had a pretty nice weekend and I am also very excited to say that all that SNOW we had, has finally melted away!  Yippee!!   After a gorgeous day on Friday, the first day I could open the windows in months and it was fabulous.  Unfortunately, it did not last long and by Saturday we were back down in the 40's with lots of wind.  Sunday was sunny, but still chilly and today is NOT at all springlike -- it's already back to feeling like winter and the worst part is that we may even have some SNOW today!!  Argh!  I can only HOPE this will be the last of year!  

    On a much happier note, I am here this morning had I have a brand new StampFairy release to share, along with a brand new challenge.  I am starting with this wonderful new release with is called Lenny Cupcakes.  As soon as I saw this set I feel in love with it and can't to add these new images to my personal collection.  I think each one is adorable and will make some really fun birthday and celebration cards!!  Here is a preview image of the entire new collection.

   I'm also excited and happy to invited your to our new challenge which is a Sketch Challenge, that you can find at the StampFairy Challenge Blog.

  Gerda created another fabulous sketch this week and everyone is welcome and encouraged to play along.  For all the details, please hop on over to the challenge blog.   We have one basic requirement every week - and that is to include a StampFairy image on your project, so that you will be eligible to win!!  You may create a card in ANY theme -- simply follow the sketch as a guideline.  If you are new to StampFairy and have not started your collection, you may feel free to use one of the Freebies which are located in our store.   This is a copy of the sketch for this week:

  And this is the card that I created based on this fun sketch!!  You can also find a wonderful selection of cards that the Design Team has posted on the blog for more inspiration.

   

  I chose to make a sweet little Baby Card, which I named - Pink Love.  It features Dotty and her Snuggle Blanket and you can find the sweet collection in the store HERE!!   I paper-pieced Dotty's little Blanket and created part of my card background with some new digi papers, from the  Baby Girl Digi Papers we now have in the store.  

  My card is also being submitted to these fin challenges, which are also open to all -

• Charisma Cardz Challenges - Challenge # 11 - To 'Die' For 
• Digi Doodle Shop - Challenge # 51 - Anything Goes
• The Rubber Cafe - Challenge # 9 - Monochromatic (Pink)
• Oldie but a Goodie - Challenge # 14 - For a Baby

   I can't wait to see what everyone creates and hope you all have fun with our new challenge at StampFairy.   Just remember to use a StampFairy image, so that you can will be eligible to WIN!!! 
      

  Happy Monday and as always, Happy Crafting!!

Happy Spring....

   Yippee!!!  Spring is finally here, at least according to the calender, and hopefully our weather will catch up very soon.  Today, is chilly and after a fabulous 60+ degree day on Friday, I was really spoiled and want that weather to come back soon.

    I've had a very busy weekend and a lot of time was spent off at my LSS yesterday, doing some shopping and also taking the first of a series of color classes.  The first class for me, ended up being a disappointment and I have learned once again that I do like like coloring with Prismapencils and after my second class, I know this is not a medium I like.   I think the major issue for me is that it's not comfy to color this way, when you have arthritis and Fibro and I was very quickly reminded of that fact within the first few mintutes of coloring.  It's required more hand strength and force to achieve the deep colors and quite honestly, my hand quickly tires and it actually because painful to color.  It's not horrible pain, but not at ALL relaxing like Copic Coloring is for me, and that's why I think I totally LOVE my Copics.

     I really wanted to love it, but I don't and from now on, I plan to stick with coloring mediums that are easy and relaxing.  Does anyone want to buy some Prismacolor pencils....cheap...?  If so, let me know as I have a 24 piece set along with coloring stumps, a Prismacolor sharpener, sanding tools and another 20 or so pencils.  If you love this medium, I'll be happy to give you a great deal and put the money toward Copic Refils!  I'll even trade for refills, if you are interested!!

    Today, I'm sooo sore and I know it's partly just Fibro and partly from having such an busy and active day yesterday.  I did enjoy shopping and always love a trip to my LSS, so that was fun.  I just hope I'll love the other classes and I admit, that I think I'm spoiled and LOVE my online classes so much, that this may not have been a wise choice.  I found out at yesterday's class that this teacher (who is also teaching a Copic Class, next month), still teaches Copic Coloring in the older method, which I have already learned.  I had hoped that this class would concentrate on the newer style of 'flick' coloring, that is more current.  I love my Copic Classes at the Color Me Creative Classroom, and think I likely did waste money on this next class, but since it was part of a package, I am not gong to worry about it.

   If however, you are new to Copics and really want to learn the newest technique and style, I highly recommend you take your classes from Suzanne Dean, either in her online classroom - Color Me Creative, or any of her On the Road Classes.  I keep 'hoping' that in time she'll make it to my area!  I'd sign up in  a heartbeat and know I'd be thrilled with her classes.  I'd also LOVE to meet her, since she has always been one of my favorite designers.  that I've been taught by Suzanne Dean in her fabulous classes!  If you really want to learn Copic Coloring, go with a teacher is current and is teaching the newer style!    I've done all the old stuff and need the new to enhance what I have learned, from now on my money goes to Suzanne and I'm thrilled to be a current student in her Level III and Level IV classes.

  And speaking of Color Me Creative, I have a new card to share today that was colored with Copics and colored as part of one of the Party Celebration Challenges being hosted by Suzanne this week.  This card is for the Color Challenge and our challenge was to create a project using this gorgeous image (copied over from the classroom), and to use the colors -- Purple, Yellow and White (or Cream). 

   And this is the card that I created for the challenge, with a wonderful new digi image from 'Wax Fruit Company', a fabulous new digi store created by Arielle Gordon.

 My 'Purple Tulips' card was also inspired by a new challenge over at 'The Outlawz' and will be submitted to this week's Copic/Promarker Challenge, which is to use a Spring or Mother's Day Theme.  You can find all the details Here!!

For my card, I used the BV (Blue Violet) Copic colors, which are more blue, than in the image, but are the colors I love most.  I also used a vareity of (Y) yellow shades to create my background along with some (G) Green and (YG) Yellow Green shades for my stems and leaves.  I really LOVED this image, as soon as I saw it and I bought the entire collection.

   I'm off now to work on another challenge card and this challenge is also hosted over at Suzanne's Classroom and is also open to all.   It's the bi-weekly Copic Coloring challenge, which you can find HERE!  Our new challenge is to create a project with a Celebration Theme using Only *Primary Colors*.  Everyone is welcome to enter the challenge group and it's free to join.  If you are interested in ANY of her classes, you find a link with all the class info and prices on the main page of the classroom.   Hope to see you there!!