Thursday, August 26, 2010

Mo's Challenge # 46



The Witching Hour


The challenge Peggy has for us this week is to use an image by Mo and make something for Halloween.
A card I made with this image was the very first card posted on this site, so this little witch has a special place in my heart!
I wasn't entirely happy with my coloring on this and not too sure about how the card would turn out, but it kept evolving, and I love the finished product! 
I've had the black and white polka dot brads for months and have been waiting for a reason to use them. I think they're perfect for the centers of these funky flowers! 
The largest Primas I used weren't the right color, so I used my Copics to customize them to match her dress.


Image: "Trick or Treat" from Mo's Digital Pencil

Papers: SU! Only Orange, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Black, Bazzill textured orchid. PTI white, Black gingham

Tools: Copics, Prismacolor pencils, White gel pen, Martha Stewart Zig-zag border punch, Slice with 'Findings' design card, Glue Dots

Embellishments: Primas, Brads,Rhinestones, Polka Dot gingham ribbon

I'm back at school as of Tuesday and the kids started Wednesday. I enjoyed such a lazy, relaxing summer that I don't know how I'm going to re-adjust to the daily school regimen!
I get up at 5:30 every day anyway, but during the summer I go to bed very late and take a nap when I start to flag during the day....that is no longer possible once school has started. I'll have to keep myself from falling asleep at my desk! They frown on snoring during class!

Have fun with this challenge! Mo has several new images for the holiday...even the new Tin Man and Scarecrow from her Wizard of Oz series would work. In fact, I'm probably going to use them myself for our grandsons' cards this year.

Get busy and have fun! 
Elaine

Monday, August 23, 2010

A Couple for the Guys

  
Hay, There!



I know some people just groan at puns, but my customers seem to like them, and so do I! This will probably be a birthday card for our oldest son or our son-in-law. 
One of the best things about digital images is that you can have them in your hands almost instantly, and the variety that is available is amazing!
The image is from a coloring book site. I can find unusual images that are just perfect for my personal cards on these sites. Check them out!
 Images: Tractor scene from Edupics, Sentiment stamped with Just Right alphabet

Papers: SU! Garden Green, Real Red, Summer Sun, Wild Wasabi, PTI white, Cosmo Cricket DP

Tools: Cuttlebug with Nesties and Embossing folder, Martha Stewart Branch border punch, Corner rounder punch, Mounting tape, Glue Dots

Embellishments: Brads, Natural hemp, Vegetable and tractor buttons


Old Tortoise



I used up a lot of scraps on this card! The old New England Yankee in me loves that, but my pile of scraps never seems to dwindle!
This is another coloring book image. I just love this happy guy with his big head and goofy smile! I also love 'snarky' cards, especially for birthdays.
Inside it says, "I thought only tortoises lived that long! Happy Birthday!"
I sewed the pieces of shell on by hand, securing each of them with a tiny seed bead.

Images: Tortoise from Edupics,  Digital sentiment from TLC, SU! Canvas background stamp

Tools: Copics, SU! River Rock ink pad, Cuttlebug with Nesties and Embossing folder, Needle and thread, Mounting tape

Paper: SU! Garden Green, River Rock,Soft Suede, Gray(?), PTI white, Basic Grey DP

Embellishments: Twill ribbon, Shell pieces, Seed beads

Saturday, August 21, 2010

New cards!



My printer is on the fritz, and I'm waiting for my new one to arrive. In the meantime I'm not able to print off any new images, so I'm using  a few images I had colored some time ago but never made into cards. I also resorted to actually stamping an image, too! 


Beach Babies




I had merged these image weeks ago. Janie in July and Kai in the Sand can both be purchased separately at Mo's store.
This card gave me fits...nothing went together easily! I planned to make a small pinwheel to place in the upper right corner, but after several failed attempts, I gave up and used the buttons instead.

Images: "Janie in July", "Kai in the Sand", PrintWorks sentiment

Tools: Copics, Prismacolor pencils, Cuttlebug with Nesties, SU! oval punches, Martha Stewart Zig-Zag border punch, Tacky Tape, Glue Dots

Papers: SU! Green Galore, Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo, PTI white, Cosmo Cricket DP

Embellishments: Grosgrain ribbon, Buttons, 1/8" Ribbon


An Actual Stamp!



I really do prefer digital images for many reasons. This stamp  from an SU! set was given to me by a friend of a friend who gave up stamping ( I know! Crazy, huh?!) about a year ago. She gave me tons, most of which were not my taste, so I gave them to the staff at school. I kept this and a few others.
My main problem with stamped images is that they are just way to small! I love digital images because they can be any size you want. They really make much more of a statement and are more fun to color.

Images: SU! Fairy, Digital strawberry cluster and individual berries, Digital sentiment from TLC

Tools: Copics, Prismacolor pencil, Cuttlebug with Embossing folder and Nesties, MS Hydrangea and Doily border punches, Hole punch, Mounting tape, Tacky tape

Embellishments: Ribbon, Pink glitter, Pearl cabochons in white and green

Did you notice my pretty new watermark? I ordered it weeks ago from Karen Giron, but just got up the courage to try adding it to my photos using GIMP, a free photo editing program. After a few frustrating attempts, I was finally able to do it successfully. Now I just have to figure out how to make it a bit darker for light-colored cards.

 Thanks for dropping by!
Elaine

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Mo's Challenge #45



Thank Heaven for Little Girls!



Peggy has chosen the theme of "Little Girls" for Mo's Challenge this week. This one should be a snap, because Mo has soooo many sweet little girls to choose from in her store!
 My card uses "Daniele and Muffin". I bought this image months ago and don't know why I  never did anything with it until now. It's probably because I literally have hundreds of Mo's images....I'm addicted! (And I don't want to be cured! LOL!)
Because of the colors I used, this might be a good card to send to a Red Hatter


Image: Daniele and Muffin


Paper: SU Real Red, Rich Razzleberry, PTI White, Basic Grey Green at Heart DP


Tools: Copics, Martha Stewart Border Punch, Creative Memories oval-cutting system, Cuttlebug with embossing folder, Nellie Snellen embossing leaf punch set, Glue dots


Embellishments: Roses from Wild Orchid Crafts and Prima, Satin ribbon, Jewelry finding, Jewel flower, Lace


 
My Little Red Wagon
 


This second card uses Bethy's Wagon  Full Set which has several  images that can be merged in many different ways. It's so much fun to play with! I think this version would make a funny card for a girl who's newly engaged. Inside it could say, "Congratulations! You finally caught your man!"


Papers: SU! Green Galore, Riding Hood Red, Cool Caribbean, Tempting Turquoise, PTI White, Basic Grey DP

Tools: Copics, Martha Stewart, Lattice Border punch, Glue Dots, Circle punch, Cuttlebug with embossing folder

Embellishments: Prima daisies, Ribbon, Wagon charm, Hand-made roses

So head on over to Mo's and adopt one of her little girls or use one you have to create a card or project for this week's challenge. It will be fun and you'll have a chance to win one of her images, too! We'll be waiting!
Elaine





 

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Mo's Callenge # 44

A Color Inspiration





Aren't these colors wonderful?! Peggy has chosen this photo to inspire us this week. Just looking at these colors makes me happy! 
I made two cards for this week's challenge using two different color combinations from the photo.




The first merges two of Mo's wonderful images, the straight-haired version of "To the Beach" and "Jeffy in July".  I knew as soon as I saw them that they'd go together well, but several others had the same idea and beat me to it!
I used mostly yellow and orange on this, real hot summer colors, perfect for a beach scene.
The brown panels are  pieces of cardboard that I colored with Copics.

Images: "To the Beach" and "Jeffy in July" from Mo's Digital Pencil

Tools: Copics, Prismacolor pencils, Flower punch

Papers: SU! Only Orange, Green Galore, and Yo-yo Yellow, PTI white, K & Company Citronella collection DP, Corrugated cardboard,

Embellishments: Real sea shells, Plastic shells, Silk flower petals, Brads


Pretty in Pink



Just pinks and greens for this one, a combination I'm particularly fond of!
Don't you just love Bella and Bronte? This image cracks me up. I love her 'not so tight' tights!


Image: "Bella Carrying the Cake" from Mo's Digital Pencil, Digital sentiment from TLC

Tools: Copics, Prismacolor pencils, Mounting tape, Glue Dots, Martha Stewart Leaf punch.

Papers: SU! Green Galore, Gable Green, Melon Mambo, PTI white, Basic Grey Green at Heart DP

Embellishments: Satin ribbon, Heart charms, Hand made spiral roses

So, use one (or more!) of Mo's images and any of the colors from Peggy's inspiration photo in your creation and enter Mo's Challenge for a chance to win a free image.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Mo's Challenge #43



Things with Wings


Peggy has hostess duties this week, and she has asked us to use any of Mo's images that depict wings. This should be an easy one for everyone, as Mo has so many great images in her store that would work for this challenge! I have three very different cards for you this week.


Water Nymph




I love this image called "Summer Fairy Minna". I've had it for a while and don't know why I've never colored her before! I especially love coloring fairy wings. I use pastel Copics in every color of the rainbow then blend them all with a pale aqua. Trimmed with a silver Spica pen and covered with Stickles they have a very ethereal, gauzy look to them.
I think this DP has a very dreamy feel to it. I love it with this pretty little fairy.

Image: "Summer Fairy Minna from Mo's Digital Pencil

Paper: SU!'s Soft Sage, Wild Wasabi, Mauve Mist, PTI white, Basic Grey's Capella and other assorted Basic Grey DP

Tools: Copics, Spica Pen, Stickles, White gel pen, Nellie Snellen embossing flower punch sets in two sizes, her Embossing leaf punch set, Mounting tape, Glue dots

Embellishments: Brads, Ribbon, Pearl cabochons


Christmas Angel




For this card I used "Sending Peace". It's such a graceful image and, since I'm still in a holiday mood from last week's challenge, I've made it as a Christmas card. It would also be wonderful to express sympathy.

Image: "Sending Peace" from Mo's Digital Pencil, Computer-generated word.

Paper: PTI White, Metallic gold from the California Paper Company
Tools: Copics, Spica gold and silver pens, Cuttlebug with Nesties and embossing folders, Mounting tape

Embellishments: Pearl cabochons


Splashin'



 Get your sunglasses! This is one bright card! When I bought this Cosmo Cricket paper on line I didn't realize just how vivid the colors were.  I do think it works for this image, though. Mo made me this Caucasian version of this image as a special favor.

Image: "Duck Day" by Mo's Digital Pencil

Paper: SU! Tempting Turquoise, Yo-yo Yellow, Pink Passion, Green Galore, PTI white, Cosmo Cricket DP

Tools: Copics, Prismacolor Pencils, Martha Stewart Leaf  Lattice Border, and Hydrangea punches,  Cuttlebug with Embossing folder, Creative Memories circle-cutting system, Mounting tape, Glue dots

Embellishments: Tiny rhinestones, Hand made flowers

This week we'll be doing something special!  The winner of our usual random drawing will win a $20.00 gift certificate from Mo's store! In addition, the Design Team will be voting for the card we like the best out of this week's entries. The winner we choose will have a one month guest spot on the Challenge team!

We'd love to see your winged creations, so get busy!
Thanks for stopping by!
Elaine