Seahorse under the sea colored with copic markers

I made a seahorse card, using the outline combo image from Seahorse habitat, printed onto XpressIt copic paper, and colored with copic markers.
And I made it for the Love to Scrap challenge, which Doodle Pantry is sponsoring today!
I pierced the holes randomly and hand threaded the linen twine through them.  I was trying to keep the general base simpler, since there is so much going on within the image.
This took quite a while to color, but was totally fun. I used mostly the "dot" technique. Well worth the effort.  The inside is blank, I am saving this card for something I may need to send in the future.

 Here's a close up to see coloring detail.

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Supplies:
Digital: Seahorse habitat
Paper: XpressIt copic paper, PTI melon, PTI hawaiian, PTI teal
Accents/Tools: piercer, thread, sewing machine, wavy with dots EK edger punch, white mini brad (for "pearl")
Copic markers in picture below:

Thank you for stopping in and I hope you are inspired to create.

Baby Shower Monster Truck card colored by copic markers

There are several new products released today at Doodle Pantry, and here is a baby shower card I made with KID TOYS.  I used the monster truck and colored with copic markers.  I had fun on this one, especially with the flames and dirt.
The papers are from the new paper pack called Smarty Pants Digi Paper.

Here is a photo of the copic markers used:

Supplies:
Images: KID TOYS
Paper: Smarty Pants Digi Paper, XpressIt copic paper, PTI enchanted evening, white CS
Copic markers: B00, C5, 100, BG09, BG05, B39, B24, B32, YR07, YR04, Y38, Y15, E31, E35, E37, E29
Accents/Tools: sewing machine, PTI black ribbon, silver and black brads, piercer

Thanks for stopping by to visit today!  I hope you are inspired by something and can go bless someone with a handmade card.

Blueberries Thank you card

Today, the Doodle Pantry Blog has a new monthly anything goes challenge up at NOON eastern, just a few hours.  Hope you can play along!
I needed a thank you card and I had this blueberries image printed out, so I wanted to give it copics a shot again.  The image is from the Lemon & Blueberries set.   The Scripture is from Pretty Petite Scriptures.
I printed the image on Xpress-It paper. A list of copic markers is pictured below the card photo.
I wanted to keep the background white but with an embossed pattern. Pretty simple today!

Here's my list of copics used.

Supplies list:
Digital Images: Lemon & Blueberries, Pretty Petite Scriptures
Paper: Xpressit cardstock, white cardstock, PTI kraft, PTI blueberry
Copics: W1, B32, B24, B39, R20, Y38, E35, E29, YG03, YG67, G28
Tools and Accents: sewing machine, glue dots, LR0116 Marianne die, PTI button, PTI ribbon, pewter brad

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Thanks for visiting my blog today!  I hope you have been inspired to create and bless someone with your own creation!

Dahlia in pinks and reds

I made a card for the Through the Craft Room Door challenge.

On my card today, I used Dahlia image recently released at Doodle Pantry.  This image was created as a clear stamp for CDS back in 2012 I think, and then was offered as just an outline digital. When they closed, I took  my design back and sort of forgot about it.  I recently found my illustrating file of it and made it into a full digital set with papers and color images too.

On my card, I colored the image myself.  This is actually the second copic marker attempt I have made, but I posted the third and forth attempts last week using other images.
I didn't have a very good variety of reds in my one set of copics, so I couldn't get them blended too well. But I still like how the card turned out in the dark pinks/reds.

Front of my card:

Here's the copic markers I used.

Here's the list of supplies:
Image:  Dahlia
Papers: XpressIt copic paper, Basic Grey retired Eva paper, PTI scarlet cardstock, PTI blush cardstock (folded card base)
Markers:YG11, G21, YG63, YG67, RV21, RV13, R35, R37, R59
Accents/Tools: sewing machine, PTI scarlet ribbon, SU button, linene thread, white mini brads

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Thank you for stopping in to check my card out!  I really appreciate your visit!
I sure hope you have been inspired by something here and that you are blessed and being a blessing to others! Have a great week!

Ministry cards

I've made several cards for the church ministry with some of the released products from Doodle Pantry today.
Just wanted to share!   I've had a blast getting to get back to card making. I am a little rusty, so have to get back into things.
These first FIVE cards are using the new scripture set called Stand in Faith.

SUPPLIES
Images: Stand in Faith
Paper: Neenah white Solar crest cover, pattern paper from Pelican Dreams, PTI ocean tides, PTI classic kraft, PTI fine linen
Tools/Accents: Silver mini brads, sewing machine, Flower box sprigs & flowers DIE set, Spellbinders Label 20 die, Marianne die LR0151, Marianne Die LR0150

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Supplies
Images: Stand in Faith
Paper: Neenah white Solar crest cover, pattern paper from Stand in Faith, black cardstock, PTI scarlet jewel
Tools/Accents: Silver mini brads, sewing machine, Flower box sprigs & flowers DIE set, SPellbinders Fancy Tags Two, Spellbinders Fancy Tags

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Supplies
Images: Stand in Faith
Paper: Neenah white Solar crest cover, pattern paper from Stand in Faith, PTI summer sunrise, black cardstock
Tools/Accents: Silver mini brads, PTI ribbon, EK Deco scallop edger punch, sewing machine, SPellbinders Fancy Tags Two

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SUPPLIES
Images: Stand in Faith
Paper: Neenah white Solar crest cover, pattern paper from Morning Glory, PTI enchanted evening, SU marina mist
Tools/Accents: Spellbinders circle dies, Silver mini brads, sewing machine, Marianne Die LR0150

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I hand drew and cut the shell out and scored some lines on it, and then punched a 1/8" circle for the "pearl". I used a white gel pen to make the pearl shine.

SUPPLIES
Images: Pelican Dreams (pre-colored digital image)
Paper: Neenah white Solar crest cover, pattern paper from Pelican Dreams, PTI ocean tides, PTI classic kraft, PTI fine linen
Tools/Accents: white gel pen, sewing machine, Flower box sprigs & flowers DIE set, Spellbinders ovals dies, The frame label die and decorative oval frame are discontinued dies from CDS

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Here I used the Snowy Egret pre-colored digital image, and the scripture is from Renewed Faith.

SUPPLIES
Images: Snowy Egret (pre-colored digital image), Renewed Faith
Paper: Neenah white Solar crest cover, pattern paper from Morning Glory, PTI enchanted evening, PTI soft stone, PTI summer sunrise
Tools/Accents:  PTI summer sunrise ink and sponge, Woodware butterfly punch, Black mini brads, sewing machine, Marianne Die LR0150

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Thanks for stopping in today, I appreciate your visit and hope you have a blessed week!

Cute Kid Lizard Card

I've been coloring with my copics and getting more practice. Although I have much still to learn, I do like the coloring process and results. I've got several more cards in the works with copic coloring and hope to share them over the next month.

Here is a card I made for Send a Smile 4 Kids challenge which Doodle Pantry sponsors today.
I used Quirky Lizard image and printed it onto Xpress-It copic cardstock paper.
This is an A2 size card.

Here's the copic colors I used:

Here's the list of supplies I used for the card:
Image: Quirky Lizard
Paper: XPressIt copic paper, PTI new leaf, PTI orange zest, PTI summer sunrise, SU garden green, yellow check paper by ThePaperStudio
Copic Markers: RV34, E35, E37, E29, BG10, YG67, YG03, YG11, Y02, Y15, Y38, YR04, YR07
Accents & Tools: Spellbinders Wonky Rectangles die, sewing machine, SU wasabi seam binding ribbon, glue dots, SU retired mini flower punch, EK success fern punch, white gel pen


Thank you for stopping in for a visit, I hope you have been inspired to create! May you be blessed this week!

My very first COPIC marker experience!

My very first experience with copic markers and I LIKE THEM!

ONE YEAR AGO, I bought the 72 Copic markers set A for Papercrafting.  At the same time that they arrived, my husband got a new job in another town and we had to begin the process of decluttering our home, fixing it up and selling it, then packing up and buying and moving and unpacking.  Once we were moved, there was the whole process of getting kids ready for the school year and then these past several months have just been a whirlwind. So the markers got set on a shelf or packed in a box since then.
When I set up my craft room last September, I got my markers all prettied up in a little wooden holder and they have been in front of me ever since.  I've not been able to sign up for a copic certification or coloring class for the past year, which is part of the reason why I was holding out even trying them.... I was a little skeptical to dive into it, afterall, not knowing what I would be doing.

Then for my birthday this year, my husband planned a surprise party for me, by which I was surprised with, and many of our new friends showed up and even bought me presents from my amazon wishlist... one item of which was the special Xpress Copic blending paper. Yippee!  I said to myself, "I have no reason to put this off any longer!"

So today, I needed to make a birthday card for a soon-to-be 9 year old, my daughters friend.
I immediately decided that I would pull out my copics and TRY to use them on this card.  Might be bad, might be OK, but I was going to try!
I printed 4 of the image out, since I was planning on messing up at least once, LOL.

I used the digital images as follows: Dizzy Dachshund, the hat and balloon from Birthday Accessories, and the sentiment on the inside from Celebration Sentiments.

(Card supplies are listed at the bottom of this post.)

Now I am not going to try to "tutorial", since I of course, really don't know exactly what I am doing with copics yet.  To an experts eye, there is probably much lacking from my copic coloring on this hot-diggity-dog.
But to my untrained eyes, I actually think he turned out kinda cute and not too bad.  I did mess up on the dog's back though, you can see a faint "line" across the side of his back... haha, I tried to use the copic #0 colorless blender to make shiny highlights like I always see on those "professional" cards.... LOL, that was a mistake.  Don't try to use that feller without having done some research first or taken a copic class on the colorless blender.  I messed the doggie up badly and tried to "save" it by using the browns over it again a few times to reblend it brown.... I think I saved him enough for a 9 year old's card. If I was giving the card to someone who I know would "notice" stuff like that, I would have started over.
I was trying to make the fur on the dog look like fur... I didn't much succeed, but hey, this is my first attempt ever, so you know it isn't perfect.
Here's my final card:

For the body, I used the browns E31, E35, E37, E29.
For the tongue I used R20, R32, R02 and E04.
For the cheek E04
For the hat BG10, BG16, BG49
For the balloon, hat fringe and collar V12, V06, V09
Around the body and on the bone on the collar is a little W1 and W3
I used a micro fine liner to draw the string to tie the balloon to the tail

For the balloon, I wasn't even going to try to use the colorless blender again, I just left two spots without any color to make the highlights.
I am not sure if I even used the right groups of colors together... I just played it by eye and picked ones that looked like they were matching in tones.  Afterall, I only have the A set of Papercrafting Copics so the color options for each color group aren't many. But it is enough for a beginner like me.
Here's the copic colors I used:

I have not tried the copics on any other paper yet.... I do have some Neenah Solar Crest smooth cardstock (#04701) which I was told worked ok with copics, but today, I wanted to try the Xpress paper first.
Here's a close up of the image:

I am SO impressed with the Xpress cardstock, that I don't think I even want to try copics on anything else!  The only problem I had was the cardstock seemed to have some watermark type spots in it, even after the copic ink went in there.  You can see if you look at the close up of the dogs body and on the balloon... not sure if that is a defect or if all the paper is like that. My paper has been in it's package since I got it, so I doubt anything was spilled on it.  I might try buying another package to see if there is a difference in the paper lot.

To finish off the card, I did the inside too:

So that's all!  I really LOVE how the copics look, even though I couldn't blend very well and don't know too much about the #0 yet.  I am going to keep at it.  Now I can't wait to color again!

Card Supplies:
Digital Images: Dizzy Dachshund,  Birthday Accessories,  Celebration Sentiments
Papers: PTI plum pudding, PTI wisteria, PTI hawaiin shores, My minds eye Penny Lane Katie Lou
Embellishments: SU mini brads, Linen thread, PTI buttons, PTI ribbon, EK deco scallop edger punch
Tools and adhesive: Piercer, foam Dimensionals, ATG adhesive, Sewing machine, White Gel Pen, ZIG black .35 pen

Some crafty things

Hello!  Here to share my crafty thing this week.
For a recent baby shower, I was tasked with making the name banner and the favor boxes.
I made 68 little Overalls Favor Boxes and they have 3 Hersheys nuggets each in there, although 5 would have fit.  I kept track of my time making these. Over 5 days, I spent a total of 16 hours!  All that time included SVG cutting pieces out (that was 10 hours of the 16, because I could only cut pieces for 3 boxes at a time on the mat I have), scoring, folding, sewing the front panels, gluing together, inserting eyelets and brads. Their baby's room is done up in green and yellow and John Deere, so I found a logo by a google search and saved it and printed it at 3/4" round to punch out and add to the front of the overalls pockets as a personalized touch.

I also printed some labels to wrap over the nuggets.

To make the labels, I used Photoshop.  I opened a new document and set the resolution to 300 and the size to be 1" tall and 2-1/2" wide.
On the first layer, I insert the digi paper. I comes in real small and I have to stretch it out way larger than my opening size so that I could see the pattern well.
Second layer, I then created a rounded rectangle white shape in the center of the opening.
Third layer, I inserted the tractor PNG (from Got Tractor Digi) and then
Forth layer, I insert some text on a curve.
When I "save as" from Photoshop, and select to save as filetype PNG, I make sure it is at 300 ppi resolution. If I save as JPG, I make sure the quality slider is all the way up, at 12.
Finally, I inserted the JPG or PNG file I saved from Photoshop, into the first label space in a Word document label sheet. Word has the premade label template sheets, and I chose the one with 30 labels on it, 3 across and 10 down. If all the labels are the same you just copy the one you inserted and paste it in every other space. OR if you made multiple styles, you copy and paste however many you want in all the spaces. In my case, I made 2 labels with different BG patterns.
Then you print the page and wrap your nuggets!

I also made the baby's name banner. 

Pretty simple, I just printed 3 of each color paper triangles for sticking to the chipboard triangles and alternated every other one. I made some coordinating color for layering and sewed the edges. I SVG cut the letters out and then also cut shadowed layers for the letters to layer over onto some coordinating CS. Found some various embellishments from all over my crafty stash to pretty it up, but not too much since for a boy. Each end piece uses the Got Tractor and I diecut with the circles dies. I put large grommet eyelets in each hole and then it slid nicely on the SU rope I got a couple years ago.
Here's individual photos of the banner triangles.

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Using the Morning Glory Color plus set and the Renewed Faith sentiment set, and the instructions over at Sun and Moon Crafts kits, I created domino size glass magnets. Just inserted the digi paper at about 50% opacity, and a few of the Morning Glory images around and a sentiment in the center and printed them at domino size. Then followed the directions and got all the supplies at Sun and Moon Craft kits.

Very soon, I plan on making some cards using the Morning Glory for the Card Ministry box and hope to share them here!
I hope you have a sweet week!  Thank you for visiting.

Valentine projects and gifts

I've been pretty busy with Valentine's and teacher gifts this past week.  It's been fun to get a little crafty and I hope to do more in the upcoming weeks/months as I do some refocusing on priorities and back off on new digital products.

Here's what I made for the kids to pass out at school. I kept these pretty simple as most kids will just plunder the packaging into the trash can.  I used the 1x8 cellophane bags from Stampin' Up. And the Monkey Peeps. The background digi paper is from the Little Boy Valentines.

My daughter decorated her shoe box that will collect all her Valentine's. I wrapped it with the paper and she added all the stickers and bling.

Teacher Valentine cards using Monkey Barrel and Monkey Peeps. 3 cards the same, the center one is showing the inside.

And for the teachers, along with the cards above, I made some keychain and magnet sets.  I packaged some chocolates and a small trinket gift box with keychain and magnet sets in a cellophane bag and dropped that into cute little tin buckets from Target.

I needed a special way to package the keychain and magnet sets, so I designed up a box template and SVG file and it will be released On Feb 17 next Tuesday at Doodle Pantry, but below is a sneaky peek of all 3 box window opening styles!

Below using Black Eyed Susan and New Butterfly

 Below using What a Hoot

 Below with photos of bluebonnets that I printed out.  I'm addited to bluebonnets!

For the keychain and magnet sets, all the supplies and directions (minus the digital art) on how to put them together can be found at Sun and Moon Crafts.  I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!    I have a lot of their glass pieces, glass glaze, eco magnets and keychain or other setting supplies on hand for when I need to create someone a special gift quick. And people LOVE to get a cool glass magnet or keychain specially made for them. And the best part is that you can put any digi, photo, or even dried flowers behind these glass pieces to make it personalized.

For the teacher aides in the Kindergarten class, I made them a trinket box (and matching cards that I already sealed into envelopes before taking pictures, oops) trinket box from the same template above and put chocolates in there instead. The left box is using Feathery Friends and the right box is using Aussie Critters.

 Yuuummmmyy!

So, wow, that is all I have been up to the last couple weeks.... and now for the next 11 days, I am working on making 75 Overalls Favor boxes, and a Baby Name Banner, as well as a magnet and zipper pull set for the mom-to-be.... busy, but I am having fun getting back to crafty mojo!  I'll be back to share those projects soon!
After the baby shower projects, I'll be getting the Card Ministry Box for the church finished up and filled with cards for church member encouragement.

Until then, may you be safe and blessed and can bless others with your own crafty inspiration.
Many hugs!