Time for some coloring...

I spent time doing some organizing today.  There has been so much going on that many things have ended up in piles.  I try to be a fastidious crafter who always works at a clean desk and returns all supplies to the proper place as soon as the project is done but it just doesn't work for me!  I like to have bits and pieces on my table to inspire random thoughts and unusual combinations.  Every so often I am visited by the organizing fairy who tells me that I'd be happier in a neater space - so I try again!

Last month, I received the full set of ProMarkers from Letraset.  I have enjoyed working with the markers and now it is wonderful to have the full range of colors.  There are 148 markers in the set.  It is difficult to keep all of the colors in your mind so I made myself some color charts.

You can download color (or colour) charts from the Letraset website - here is a LINK to the page.  You can download a printed version of the colors or blank charts to color yourself.  I decided to print out the chart on two colors of cardstock, white and ivory, since these are the colors I would use most often.

On white the marker colors are bright and clear.  I used the same cardstock that I am using for my stamped images right now - just basic white cardstock from the office supply store.  I have ordered some "fancier" cardstock to compare the results and when that arrives I will print out another blank chart and have fun filling it in.

On the ivory cardstock the markers appear deeper and more jewel-toned.  The difference is small but the color does change a bit.  I am also doing some experiments with using the markers on different colors of cardstock - I'll share those another day.

 

The image that I colored was a gift from my friend Enfys.  When we were at CHA together in January with the Scrappy-Go-Lucky team, Enfys brought some stamped images to share with each of us.  She marked the backs with initials and this image is from Lili of the Valley (you can see it on their site HERE).  I colored it and then added more color for the background sky and grass.  I was just practicing and did not keep careful notes on the colors I used - I did try to blend the shades and place darker colors in the shadowed areas.  I cut out the image with an oval Nestabilities die from the petite scalloped ovals set.

 

The alcohol ink colors will go through the cardstock so you need to be sure to have a few sheets of scrap paper below the piece you are coloring.

I cut the next larger size scalloped oval to mount the colored image.  I chose the card base to coordinate with the grass colors - it is "spring moss" from Papertrey Ink.  The image alone on the card looked too plain so I looked around on my table and saw some leftover pieces of pink cardstock and added a 3 3/4 x 3 3/4 inch square behind the image.

 

The sentiment stamp is from Hero Arts.  It was part of the class set I received at CHA and it is part of a sympathy set - you can see the set HERE.  While it is from a sympathy set it could also be suitable for other situations and would also work for a get well card.  I stamped it in brown ink to coordinate with the little dog.

This is not at all my usual type of card but it is fun to try something different.  I am continuing to experiment with the ProMarkers and have found them easy to work with.  I do need to more practice but the beauty of working with these markers is that they do a lot of the work for you.  Sometimes the colors have to dry before you can get the full effect and I need to learn to be patient with the process.  It is relaxing to "play" with the colors.

If you'd like to try some of these markers, Enfys is hosting a great giveaway on her blog right now.  You can get all of the details HERE (and I already told you the answer to the question!).  You could win all three of the new blending sets - that's a total of 36 markers!  Good Luck!


The snow stayed away but it is still cold here - here's hoping the weekend weather improves.

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Butterfly Get Well Card

Doesn't this butterfly just make you feel happy? I think it is the perfect thing to cheer someone up.  Felt and stitched embellishments are very popular and this one is part of a set from Creative Charms.

Here is the full view of the card I made.  It is another simple card but there is a bit of a twist with a Design Studio tip involved.

I started with the mat on the shift of the card feature on A Child's Year.  When you cut this at 5 inches it fits nicely on an A2 card.  The very next key to the right has what appears to be a blackout version of the mat but it doesn't fit perfectly when cut at the same size.  (I am not sure if it was intended to be a blackout or just a solid version of the image that was not meant for layering).

By using "hide selected contour" in Design Studio, you can create a perfect blackout.  You need to left click on a line of each of the small cutouts to select it (the line will turn pink and dotted) and then right click and select "Hide Selected Contour" from the bottom of the pop up menu (the line will turn a very pale blue and will not cut).  (Here is a LINK to a video I did about Hide Selected Contour if you would like more help).

Here is the full black out version in preview.  Of course, I had to try a few variations...

You can choose to hide alternating cut outs - in this example, I left the corners open and hid every other opening.

Here is the color preview of  this variation.

You can also do the opposite version, hiding the corners and continuing the alternating pattern.

Here is the color preview of this variation.

I chose this variation to cut my layer.  (Once again, I punched out some flower shapes to save for another card or project).

I added the two mats to the plain white card.  The green layer is a shimmer cardstock and matches the tiny green lines in the design of the top layer.  The pink top layer is from a K & Company "Sweet Talk" paper pad by Brenda Walton from a couple of years ago. (I really like this stack and bought several.  If you remember the mobile I did for Valentine's Day I used a lot of the paper from that group - here is a LINK if you missed that post).

The butterfly is from this set of embellishments from Creative Charms - it also comes in blue.  Here is a LINK to the page on their site where you can get the details.  (There is a lot in this set - you'll see one of those brads on another project soon).

I punched a circle from some glitter cardstock to help set off the butterfly.

The butterfly is adhered directly to the circle but the circle is raised up with foam squares.

I added the "get well soon" sentiment in the same glitter cardstock.  The sentiment is from the Cuttlebug "Everyday Greetings" A2 embossing and die set.

Here is one more view of the completed card.  Pretty paper, a great embellishment and a little design studio magic can help you make a special card to brighten someone's day when they are under the weather.

The file is simple to create but if you are in a hurry or would like to see how I set it up you can download my file from this link.

Card Topper Variations

A Simple Card and Something Fun to Watch...

 

I wanted to make a quick card for someone who suffered a fall and is still in a lot of pain.  This simple card is what I came up with.  

I used paper from the Madeline stack by SEI and a plain white card base.  This stack has many papers with a lovely sheen and there are lots of delicate floral designs.

 

 

I cut the sentiment with the Cuttlebug A2 Combo embossing and die set "Everyday Greetings."   The sentiment says "I'm thinking of you" but since the card was to be from our family I simply trimmed away the "I'm" and rescued the dot for the "i" in "thinking."

 
 

I used this pretty butterfly from Creative Charms. Here is a LINK to the page on their site where you can see these lovely butterflies.

I am busy putting the finishing touches on my projects for next week when I will be the Guest Designer on Everyday Cricut - I have been working with lots of happy Spring colors - and enjoying that very much!


Spring is finally arriving in our neck of the woods!  Today was warm and sunny and I was able to go walking with my friends.  Tonight is the high school musical and we will be attending.  Our sons are both very musical and participated in the program while in high school so it will be fun for our younger son to be back for "alumni night."  He also did barbershop and a capella singing.  Today I received an email with this great You Tube video.  If you love musical theater, barbershop, a capella and good old fashioned entertainment, check out this version of "Seventy-Six Trombones" by the Ambassadors of Harmony from Missouri - the 2009 International Barbershop Chorus Champions.



No Chorus had scored 100 in Barbershop competition since 1938.  This group received three scores of 100 and two of 99 - you'll see why!