A Fond Farewell

Several weeks ago Lynette McAsh broke the news that Sweet Pea Stamps would be closing, and as any of you who have followed me know that they are my favorite. They will be sorely missed, but I think that the amazing images will live on for a long time on the blogs and in the hearts of many. So the facebook fan group has organized a big "Farewell Blog Hop". If you following along, then you are on your 3rd stop, so I hope I don't disappoint!

I couldn't decide which of the 60 or so Sweet Pea images I own to share with you for this event, but I narrowed it down to a seasonal image and one that I just love to colour... The first is Katerina Koutiotis' "Hope for the Holidays",  I am pretty sure the 2nd one is Rachel Anderson though I don't know the name. Both of my images are coloured with Copics.

This first image utilizes a bunch of the Close to My Heart White Pines scraps that I had out on my workspace (yeah still working on Operation Use Some Scraps)

The 2nd card I have uses some old Prima Firefly paper, some Viva Pearl Pens, a few tulips I  found and a Heartfelt Creations build a flower that I dusted with "Wink of Stella" (which may be the greatest scrapbook creation this year). Obviously I wanted to throw  some glitter ritz on the gorgeous fairy to show things out in style.

I will miss Sweet Pea, and I have been loading up on digis the past few days, so I encourage you to do the same thing! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your trip around the blog world, you are off to see Suzi next  http://suzannebakermckenzie.blogspot.com!!

Here is the complete Blog list!!

1, http://sweetpearubberstamps.blogspot.com  (You already did this)

2. Holley's Blog http://holleybarnhartsblog.blogspot.com (This too)

3. Colleen Dewis http://stressedisjustdessertsbackwards.blogspot.ca/ (you are here now silly)

4. Suzi Baker McKenzie http://suzannebakermckenzie.blogspot.com

5. Cindy van Oorschot http://cmvanoorschot.blogspot.ca

6. Vannessa Hasty http://www.saffiresstamping.blogspot.co.uk/

7. Barb Poole http://www.abarbcardblog.blogspot.ca/

8. Pat Martin http://patacakespages.blogspot.com

9. Debbie Ebat http://debbiesstampingadventures.blogspot.com

10. Olivia Rivera-Marmara http://www.ormcraftynights.blogspot.com

11. Winnie A Ludvigsen http://norwayscrapper.blogspot.no/

12. Tera Thelma Borer- Fujan http://www.stampqueen.blogspot.com

13. Susan Salyer http://lilyandthelotus.blogspot.com

14. Danni Bindel http://dannisdreamscrafts.blogspot.com/

15. Denise Pustelniak http://thruthelookingglass-glassgraffitix2.blogspot.com/

16. Samantha Aguilera http://designsbysammy.blogspot.com/

17. Angelique Engeldesignsscrap http://engeldesignsscrap.blogspot.nl/

18.  Sharon Rogers Http://sharonshowcase.blogspot.com

19. Ann Cutts http://craftworkblog.blogspot.co.uk/

20. Hilde Larsen http://tindaloo.blogspot.com

21.  Jane Bradshaw http://www.craftyanimal.blogspot.com

22.  Jennifer Scull http://justcoffeepleasestampsribbonspaper.blogspot.com/

23. Margaret Ashby http://www.granmargaret.blogspot.com.au/

24. Michele Storms Http://artfromthewell.blogspot.com

25.   Ria ZonneStraaltje http://dragonmagicscrapkaarten.blogspot.nl/

26. Margo Davis http://cardsbymargo.blogspot.com

26. Kathi Rerek http://kathstales.blogspot.com

28. Aletha Jane http://ajsdesigns.blogspot.com

29. Christina Gudgeon http://craftieangel.blogspot.com.au/

The blahs are receeding

Well gang,

I alluded to my being blah and anxiety issues in my last post, but I am getting back on track. School is fixed-ish, we got through Christmas, there was some online stamp shopping... my copic collection grows. So I need to get back to crafting and sharing it with people. So I was inspired by the Sweet Pea One sweet Challenge (what a shock for you I know).

This image is ©Joanne Schempp's White Christmas and I was thrown for a slight loop in colouring because I really thought she had a belly button. I have since realized that is was just part of the dress and that maybe she should be more covered since it's snowing and all. Oh well, I still like how she is done. She is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black, heat set then coloured with copics. The papers are Close to My Heart's Pear and Partridge, with the brads from last year's Christmas line. The poinsettias are from Prima. All of my favorite things!

Mmmwahahahhahahaha... but Cuter

Well fine, I am a big nerd. In case you didn't know... Anyways I got these great new stamps from There She Goes Stamps,http://www.tsgstamps.com/Cutie_Pi_p/cutie-pi.htm the set is called Cutie Pi (I KNOW!!). I bought them because they have a Pi symbol on it but love the rest of them. So I thought I would concoct a little solution with some of the other cool things I have in my stash right now. Just a plain grey cardstock background, but to spice it up a little I did some first and second generation stamping with CTMH's Lagoon ink. The solid turquoise glitter paper (yep,  it exists thanks to American Crafts, it is called AC duotone Glitter paper... in this case Aqua) was surprisingly easy to cut with scissors. I traced around the outside of my spellbinder's die to get a small border. The stripey paper is from my Mind's Eye "My favorite things" paper pad (also contains mustache paper by the way...). This cutie is stamped on CTMH paper with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and heat set because well I have no patience or ability to plan my creative spurts. I also stamped out the beaker set  and the "According to my calculations UR the BOMB" Sentiment. I wanted to carry the glitter forward and add a little something to what she was stamped on, so I used my CTMH ultrafine glue and some Glitter Ritz to make a border. Just put on the glue and leave to dry for 5 minutes, then you can just rub the glitter on with your finger. Almost no mess for the win.

Now for the down and dirty deets for the colours. It is a combination of copics and Sakura Jelly Roll Pens.
Skin E11, E02, E00
Beakers/ Goggles C1, C2, C3
Hair E13, E15, E18
Clothes/Shoes B02, B04, B06
Beaker (in Hand) YR04,YR07, YR09

Other Beaker Fluids, hair bobbles and some details on shoes are with Jelly Rolls (you know for the added depth of glitter without the work)

I then fussy cut the beakers, threw some pop dots on things and then whacked the whole thing together. I tried to group a few beakers together to create some flow from the sentiment across the image. Then for some added depth I added some Liquid Glass (CTMH order #Z679) on all of the beakers and the lenses of her goggles.

Hope you like it.

So This Card Just Happenned

Well so I have finally organized the HUGE pile of layouts around my scrap room, put them in some semblance of order and went to put them in an album. It was at this point that I realized there were some major events that I had sort of forgotten to scrap... so now I have a semi organized all in one pile of layouts on my floor and a semi organized set of pictures to catch up on. I hate that I can't guess how many pages it will tell me to tell a story, I mean I would hate to miss something right?

In other news I just got me some new stamps from Kraftin Kimmie Stamps. Seriously, they have some super cute stuff, and I think that this little one may have just jumped up to the top of my LOVE list. Her name is Angry Ballerina and I think that I may make cards with her for every person I know.

She is coloured with Copics (Look at me getting all awesome at this blending shenanigans!)

Skin E00, E02, E11

Hair E13, E17, E18

Piggy RV32, RV34

Dress B06, B04, B02

I then fussy cut the heck out of her! The background is a plain white 6by6 card, with a random piece of paper from a swap. The small background is the flourishes from CTMH's The Best Things (C1503) stamped and them embossed with clear embossing powder (Z821). Heat set, let cool, then I smudged some Chalk Inks over it. Sharpie for the line, little bit of Stickles around the end, some CTMH Just Blooms Summer Posies (Z822). All put together it was pretty simple to make, but I really like the look of it.

Big Doins! My First Share-worthy Copic project!

Well Friends,

I have been slacking because I have been busy doing workshops on the go with people, sick and of course.... learning how to use Copics! Well it is a steep learning curve and I still have a ton to learn, but I think I finally have a project that is worth sharing with you.

 Well this picture isn't as good as it looked on the screen.... oh well.. hides how much I have to learn! This is a super cute little image from House Mouse Designs. I have stamped in Tuxedo Black Memento ink, and because it is on Close to my Heart cardstock I gave it a zap with the heat gun. Now there is a ton of use of the colourless blender as my copic collection is still pretty spotty, but it will get there. I used the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge from CTMH (probably the best cartridge I have found, over 700 images!!!) To cut both the card bases and the little egg shape for on top. I then ran the top egg through the cuttlebug with a pretty flower embossing folder I have long forgotten the name of. The flowers are from CTMH, and I have stamped at "Happy Easter" Sentiment on it! I love how that looks. Now because my crazy wouldn't let me leave the little hole in the center of the flower I covered it with a little bitty stick on pearl. As you can probably tell from the shadows, the House mouse images are fussy cut, then 3d foam squared for some dimension.

One of these is for my gorgeous grandmother who turned 84 last week (don't worry, she also got a birthday card but she loved it so much I wanted to make her another). Who would like the other one?!? I mean, yeah mail!!

I have joined the Darkside....

Well... I sold a bunch of stuff at a sale my LSS has and ended up with a ton of store credit. So I have done something I never thought I would do... I invested in copics. Colouring with them is most definately a skill (hence my not having anything to post this week!), and there are some nuances such as what ink to stamp with, what paper to use... and apparently how long to let the ink dry. I am currently working out the paper issue as I would  like not to have to buy special paper when I have so much CTMH in stock. I wasn't having any trouble blending or anything, the issue was that the stamped image was bleeding. I did notice though that when I printed out the colour chart to track what I had, the printer ink didn't bleed, so apparently the heat from the printer set it up a little. I am currently about to colour with some images that have been sitting a few days, so we will see what happens... so far so good though. I am using the recomended Memento Tuxedo Black Dye ink for my images by the way.

The other thing that people don't tell you is that you want to be smart about the first markers you buy if you are looking for a good blending. Don't just buy a random assortment of colours, because you won't have anything to shade with! You want to start out with a few basic colours (ie brown) and then pick 2 or 3 that are just a few numbers apart from each other. You can get away with 2, because you can use the colourless blender pen and a tip to tip technique. So much to learn!

So that is my copic story so far. Hopefully I will have some success and gt some projects up for you later this week!