Storms of Life

This is one of the first card I made with my new Chameleon pens.  They are alcohol markers like Copics or Spectrum Noirs but the difference is that you can get several different tones of a color from one marker.  Like all alcohol markers, there is a learning curve to these but its not that difficult to get a beautiful shading effect.  Chameleon pens can be used with other brands of alcohol markers.

I dug out one of my MFT Flopsey stamps to practice coloring with the Chameleon pens.  The background paper is something I made several years ago with my sister's Tim Holtz re-inkers, alcohol drops, and metallic pens.  This piece does look like a heavy rain storm.

The sketch is from is from Split Coast Stampers SC597 and SC600.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Rainfall Flopsey - MFT
Paper:  WW, Glossy Paper, Island Indigo, Pool Party, Summer Starfruit, Handmade DP
Ink:  Color Box Wicked Black archival dye, Tim Holtz re-inkers
Accessories:  Chameleon Pens, Nestabilities, Metallic Butterfly embellishment, Stick on Gems, Ribbon, Corner Rounder Punch, Embossing Folder

Just Because You're You

My Water Lilyz table has been very blessed to meet at the same restaurant since we started almost 3 years ago.  The managers and the wait staff have always been so kind and attentive to us.  The staff always have our favorite table ready and waiting for us each Wednesday evening.  They even bring us our favorite beverages when they see us come in.  We regularly pray for the staff and ask them if they have any needs that we can help with or pray with them about.  So the sad news we got last week is that one of the managers is moving on to another job.  We are all so happy for her but we will definately miss her and her warm smile and greeting. 

This card is made for the manager whom we will dearly miss.  I used this stamp because of the waterlily and chose the DPs for the purple which is the Water Lilyz official color.  I used SCS Sketch Challenge 244 which was originally posted about 3 years ago.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Waterlily - My Favorite Things, Circular Sayings - Verve
Paper:  WW, Early Espresso, DP
Ink Memento Tuxedo Black, Calypso Coral
Accessories:  Spectrum Noir Markers, Nestabilities

A Snowy Hello

In my part of the world, this summer has been a real scorcher.  I originally colored this image in early July when the temps were over 100 degrees Fahrenheit and many people had power outages from a record breaking electrical storm.  I was fortunate enough that I never lost power but I empathized with all those that had.

I had been searching for a sketch for this image and I found this weeks Freshly Made Sketches 48.   I die cut the image to make it a little more interesting than a plain rectangle.  The image is colored with alcohol markers and I used long retired SU DP for accent.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Snow Much Fun, Elementary Elegance
Paper:  Real Red, WW, SU DP
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Tempting Turquoise
Accessories:  Spectrum Noir Markers, Nestabilities, Ribbon, Buttons

Scripted Poppies

I played with my new SU Pleasant Poppies stamp and this is what resulted from it.

It is a very large stamp so I used my Nestabilities to cut out a portion of the image.  I colored the image with my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers.  In the center of the poppies I used a little Perfect Pearls.  To get the image to stand out better from the DP, I used the same Nestabilities to cut pieces in Daffodil Delight and poppy DP then spritzed them with Perfect Pearls mist.  On the Gumball Green cardstock I stamped French Script in Versamark then used a border punch on the edge.  I left the sentiment of to keep it generic for what ever occasion I may need to send out a card in a hurry.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Pleasant Poppies, French Script
Paper:  Crumb Cake, WW, Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight, Gumball Green, DP - SU & DCVW
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark
Accessories:  Nestabilities, Ribbon, Perfect Pearls, Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers, MS Punch, Button

Potted Daffodils

I have many great retired and non-retired stamp sets that I have collected but have not played with much or even at all.  (Yes, I am a stamp hoarder.  There, I admitted it!)  This is one that I have used once, maybe twice before.  I colored the image with my Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers and picked the paper colors from that, which are colors in the current ColourQ Challenge #145.  I used last weeks SCS Sketch Challenge 392.  The doily in the background is a Cricut cut out.  The frame for the image was dry embossed and then sponged with matching ink.  I left the sentiment off to keep it generic for whenever I may need a card for any given occasion.  The last generic card I made I used for a sympathy card a few days later.  I hope that will not be this one's fate.

Below is a picture of the SN colors I used.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Always in My Thoughts
Paper:  WW, Chocolate Chip, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade, DP
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Daffodil Delight
Accessories:  Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers, Cricut Ornamental Iron II, Cuttlebug, Nestabilites

No Coffee = Sleep

I love coffee so I am happy to have finally played with this SU stamp set called Morning Cup!  I have posted about my love (okay its an addiction!) of coffee previously.  The sentiment could easily be my motto!

I colored the image with my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers.  The SU DP in the background is partially distressed so I went a little crazy and distressed the rest of it and all the other papers.  I did something whimsical by wrapping bakers twine around the ribbon in an X pattern.  I used Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #104.  I don't have any WM stamps so I hope that my card will not be disqualified.  It's not that I care if I win the challenge or not, but I love the sketch and it fit well with my image that I had stamped and colored.

Recipe:

Stamps:  Morning Cup

Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, WW, DP

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Walnut Stain and Tea Dye Distress Inks, Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories:  Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers, Sizzix Embossing Folder, Corner Rounder Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch, Ribbon, Nestabilities, Bakers Twine, Stick on Gem

Cake and a Nap

I'm slowly replacing my stash of birthday cards that is almost empty.  This card features a House Mouse stamp and is colored with my new Spectrum Noir alcohol markers.  I so looove these markers!   The colors are deeper and brighter tones of the pink, aqua and neutral shades from the CR84FN52 color challenge.  The sketch is from Merry Monday Challenge 1 that was posted in January.  I turned it on it's side to fit the stamped image.  This is another card that I made the background from DP scraps that I cut in 1/2 inch strips.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Eat Your Cake and Nap Too - House Mouse
Paper:  WW, Bermuda Bay, Regal Rose, DP
Ink:  Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories:  Spectrum Noir Markers, Hodge Podge Hardware, Ribbons, Cuttlebug, MS Ribbon Punch, Nestabilities

Christmas Snow

The background of the main image was made using Tim Holtz's alcohol inks, metallic ink, and mixative on glossy paper. I dripped all the inks and mixative on a craft sheet and then smooshed and swirled glossy paper on top of it. The scarf is from a cuttlebug Disney die and folder

Mon Amie

This card was really a lot of work! I saw a sketch challenge that that looked interesting and I combined it with another challenge from SCS. Since it may be posted on a very talented person's blog with other phenomenal artist cards I had to make this one look really good! Here is the link for the sketch challenge.