Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Snowboardin’ Billy


Happy Thanksgiving!!! (well I'm about an hour early but hopefully you won't read this right away and I'll be right on!).

Billy is so much fun! I'm glad I finally own him! Billy Plate 1 was one of the first sets I layed awake dreaming about all night....ahhhh.... Ok, I've been trying to use more DP and also decrease the time it takes me to make a card (3 hours is too much!!!). This is about 90 minutes including posting! I colored Billy and his dog my usual way with Copics and Prismacolor pencils and cut them out. The two center panels are lined up using my Cut then Ink Technique. I masked off the "snow" and sponged Bashful Blue into the sky areas. It's kinda rough but I like the little bit of white peaking thru. I let it dry a bit and embossed with Snowflakes EF. I used a punch and my Cricut to cutout some snowflakes. It needed a bit more up in that corner so I also added some white gel pen dots. Ran the glitter pen across the snowflakes and also the snow on the ground and smeared it with my finger to soften the line.

PSSST: The snowboard is the skateboard with the wheels cut off.

This was created for Pink Cat Studio 1-2-3 Challenge and SCS Sketch Challenge #204.

Stamps: Pink Cat Studio Dress Up Billy, Pink Cat Studio Lilly & Billy Accessories
Paper: Real Red, Whisper White, SU DP
Ink: Bashful Blue
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils and baby oil, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Snowflakes , Cricut Christmas Cheer, Marvy snowflake punch, glitter pen, white gel pen, ribbon from unknown source


Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

A Sneak Peak & 4 in one day


Look at these cute frogs!! This is from another set called "Hoppy Kisses" being released from Treehouse stamps at 12:01 am on 11/29/08. This is Treehouses 1 year anniversary so be sure to check out there newly redesigned website where you'll find DP (like I've used in this card), alterables, ribbon, etc.

I'm going to be brief because I MADE 4 CARDS TODAY (Yes, me!)!!!! I started with the sketch from Mojo62. The DP was cut with some really old decorative scissors. The Baja Blue panel that the frogs were on were sponged all around with Blue Bayou and then I masked an area of Blue Bayou for water below. I added some white gel pen ripples to the water and then ran just the water area thru the Spots and Dots embossing folder. I also sponged and embossed the sentiment area.

Now, the next 3 cards were all done the same way. I downloaded this fab template from Mel. I cutout the shape and then used the outside piece where there was a hole (not the actual shape piece). I placed that on my card base as a reverse mask and got to work. First I stamped the trees, then snow, and then I sponged all around the edges to make sure there was a crisp line. The snowman on the one was colored and cut out. I stamped him onto the main panel (so the tiny parts like fringe would be there without me cutting them) and placed the cutout piece onto the base. Finally I added a sentiment. Most of these took about 20 minutes each.







(ok, ok, I cheated on this one and had to cut that blue panel out and place it on another white cardstock because some red ink appeared from nowhere on my first base!).

All images on these three were from Treehouse Stamps or Stampin Up.

Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Foxy Loxy


First, the personal stuff....WOWZA what a weekend! We had DS's soccer party, a birthday party for DS to attend, Girl Scout Craft Day (I'm a leader), 4 soccer games, DD's Dance lessons (of course, most of this happened at the same time on Saturday!). DD's soccer team won the first 3 games of the weekend and then....the final game....ends in a tie. They did double over time and still tied. So finally, they go to a 5 man penalty kick....and we lost. What a tearjerker!!!!! It was especially painful because we lost the 4th game of playoffs last year too. Ug.

Alrightly, this card was made for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #67. This fabulous image is one of my favorites from Treehouse Stamps. I fondly refer to him as "Foxy Loxy". Treehouse stamps has some new releases for their one year anniversary at 12:01 am on November 29. Be sure to check their newly re-designed web site for alterables, DP, and other new items!

I colored the fox my usual way with Copics and Prismacolor pencils and cut him out (cutting off the snow). I used my usual cut then ink technique to prep the background and ensure the layers line up. I masked off the snow area, sponged Baja Breeze in the sky area, added Not Quite Navy to the upper corners, and stamped the snow in Whisper White. I didn't want the snow under the fox to be black so I stamped the fox in Baja Breeze onto the scene. I then attached my cutout fox to the panel. Glitter pen is added to the snowy areas, of course! I was dying to use red cardstock again but I forced myself to use Kiwi Kiss (although I really think red would have looked great!).

Stamps: Treehouse Stamps Sledding fun
Paper: Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss
Ink: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils & baby oil, glitter pen, circle punches


Here's a pic of one of the projects my Girl Scouts did this weekend - Christmas Tree boxes that we stuffed with peppermint patties. The instructions can be found here.



Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Sweet Sneaky Peak


Here's a little sneak peak (Yippee! My first time to do a peak!) at some new stamps coming out from Treehouse Stamps at 12:01 am on 11/29/08. If you haven't shopped there lately, be sure to check in as they have added ribbon, DP, and alterable items to the selection. This was also created for Treehouse's color challenge CCNOV2208 to use Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Cameo Coral, and Very Vanilla (a new favorite color for me!).

I colored the sack of sugar my usual way with Copics and Prismacolor pencils and cut it out. The tulip was stamped and I couldn't leave well enough alone so I added some Copic colors to darken the left sides and white gel pen to add highlights on the right. The tulip was also cut out. The vase is an oval (cut out from my Cricut) with the top and bottom cut off. This is a trick I learned from Michelle Zindorf. The instructions on making that table can be found here.

Stamps: Treehouse Stamps Sweet as Sugar, Treehouse Stamps Tulip
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Cameo Coral, Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red
Ink: Old Olive, Riding Hood REd
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils & baby oil, white gel pen, Cricut


Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

Friday, November 21, 2008

6 Soccer Cards



Well the good news is that I FINALLY was able to get Dress Up Billy and Billy & Lilly's Accessories stamps (because I had the cash on the same day my favorite store had both stamp sets in stock). The bad news is that I had to make 6 soccer cards and I hate to mass produce - Blech! 3 Billy cards were made for my DS's soccer coaches and 3 Lilly cards were made for my DD's soccer coaches.

I brayered the sky in Baja Breeze and added a little Blue Bayou in the upper corners. The ground was sponged in Wild Wasabi with a little Old Olive to the lower corners. Of course, I used a mask to mark off the areas where I didn't want ink (see below for more on that). Then I removed the mask and just free hand sponged Old Olive in a circular motion to get that greenery where the sky meets the ground. I like how it created a shadow under the bushes when I ran into the Wild Wasabi areas. It needed a little texture so I stamped some leafy shapes with my Kittie Kit. I drew a white line for the bounds of the soccer fields with a white gel pen.

The kid's uniforms were colored to match what their team's wore. I had to "frankenstein" Lilly a bit (I mean I used body parts from different stamps). I thought Lilly's body needed to be toughened up a bit so I used Billy's body with Lilly's head. I also removed Lilly's earrings - we are always reminding our girls to remove their earrings before the game.

The main panel was cut into 3 pieces, a layer of Summer Sun was inserted. I drew in the little marks for the foot kicking and the ball flying, and finally stamped the sentiment in Night of Navy to finish. Shew.

Now whenever I have to mass produce something, I create a "jig" (I guess I've watched too much Norm Abram & This Old House on TV!). I mark on a scrap of paper where my main panel (or item to be stamped) goes. Then I mark the position of my mask for the ground in this case. Other times, I mark where the borders of the stamp block go. This helps me quickly line the image up each time without having to rethink. Here's a messy pic of what I'm talking about (I use scrap paper until it dies!).













Stamps: Pink Cat Studio Dress Up Billy, Pink Cat Studio Lilly & Billy Accessories, Kittie Kit Cause a Scene Outdoor Master
Paper: Night of Navy, Summer Sun, Whisper White
Ink: Baja Breeze, Blue Bayou, Wild Wasabi, Old Olive, Night of Navy
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils & baby oil, white gel pen, ½” circle punch



Enjoy!
Michelle B.
"Queen of the Scene"

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Rudolph Backdrop


Well, I mentioned to you the other day that I was working on this huge Reindeer painting and I promised to share it. So, here it is. Be sure you click on the picture to make it bigger so you can get a good look.

This measures about 4 foot x 4 foot. I'm only 5'2" so you can imagine me crawling around on the basement floor to reach all the areas of this painting. At one point I felt something wet on my knees and realized I was in the middle kneeling on wet paint! Eek! It took about 3 hours to complete (so why does a tiny card take me 2 hours?). The large areas are all painted with a sponge so it goes pretty quick!

Here's a closeup of the eyes. I love to paint eyes! I spent a lot of time doing the colored part of the eye. I was having fun and just kinda lost myself in it!


What's it for? In my spare time (Ha!) I'm a co-leader for my DD's 4th grade Girl Scout troop. Each year the troops at our school do a fund raiser called the Santa Sale. For sale are very inexpensive items for children to purchase as gifts for their family. This was painted to be used as a backdrop for photos to "get your picture taken with Rudolph". Another troop is making frames to go with this. Imagine a child standing just to the right of Rudolph's head. How cute it's going to be!

I did use one stamp: Snowfall

Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Santa Sky


The OCCC challenge to use silhouette’s inspired this creation. I don’t use a lot of DP but have been trying to get better at that. I often find, as in this case, that I just couldn’t leave this DP alone and had to stamp on it too!

For the main image: I first punched a circle out of a post it. I used the outside piece as a mask to sponge my moon in Soft Sky. Then I used the inside of piece of the punch (the actual circle) to mask the moon while I sponged Blue Bayou around. I kind of kept an angle from the upper left to the lower right and sponged Night of Navy down from there. I used Blue Bayou to again to blend in the line between those two colors. A little black in the lower left corner and a little more Blue Bayou in the upper right and I was done with the basics. I stamped the trees in Night of Navy and then Basic Black. I added a little white Prismacolor pencil to the right side of each tree to help them “pop”. I stamped Santa in black and added a little white gel pen to the right sides of this image as well. Finally the sentiment was stamped in Whisper White.

Oh, how I wish I could take a great picture! This card is so cool IRL (in real life!).

Stamps: Amuse Santa Silhouette, Snowfall, Lovely as a Tree
Paper: Blue Bayou, Whisper White, SU DP
Ink: Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, Night of Navy, Basic Black, Whisper White, circle punch
Accessories: white Prismacolor Pencil, white gel pen


Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Volleyball Anyone?


This is post #2 today so be sure to read down.

So I'm cruising along this morning, making some cards and working on a huge painting of a reindeer (more on that when its done). And then it hits me.....The volleyball dinner is TONIGHT and I don't have the cards done. EEK! (are you seeing a trend here with me lately?) So, I hurried to change gears and start this project. I made two of these for DD's volleyball team to give to their coaches tonight at the end of season dinner. These are not colors of my choosing - I had to "take one for the team" and use the team colors of Navy and Yellow.

The main image was a PIF from Anemone (Thanks Kelly!).

The crowd was made by stamping faces from All In The Family in rows and coloring it all in with Copics (even the background).

How I Color

Stamps: High Hopes Settin Sara, All In The Family, Hanna Stamps Things Hanna Would Say
Paper: Night of Navy, Summer Sun, Close to Cocoa
Ink: Night of Navy, Distress Ink Aged Linen, Brilliance Black Graphite
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor Pencils and baby oil


Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

Shiny Reindeer


This was just made because I had an idea in my head (no challenge for this one). Lots of shine here with embossed snowflakes and gold glitter pen on various parts of the Reindeer image. This fabulous image is a PIF from Turtlescrapper (Thanks Jaclyn!).

First, I made a mask (see illustration below) for a hill. I held that in place to mark off where the sky would end. I stamped snowflakes using my Virsamark pad and embossed in clear. I then sponged Soft Sky into the sky area. When I was done, I used a paper towel to clean any ink off the snowflakes. Then I started moving that mask down into the snow area and sponged a soft line of Soft Sky along the top of the mask (see illustration below again). This is another painting trick: You want the peak of the snow drift to be white and the blue is used to create a shadow behind your snow drift. When I paint snowdrifts, I even turn my painting upside down to make this easier. Where’s the Blue Bayou? On the outer edge of the bottom most white layer….it needed just a little more kick!



How I Color

How I Get my Layers to Line Up - Cut then Ink technique

Stamps: Whipper Snapper Rodney Reindeer, Merry & Bright
Paper: Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Soft Sky, Blue Bayou
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor Pencils and baby oil, gold glitter pen, Virsamark pad, clear detail embossing powder, heat gun


Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

Friday, November 14, 2008

Masculine Snowman


This was created for the Beate’s Weekend Sketch Challenge # 66. I thought this would make a great masculine Christmas card so I actually made 2 of them!

I first heard about using Kraft as a background for a white snowman from Denise aka Peanutbee. It looked pretty cool and I’ve been wanting to experiment with different color skies so…. I thought I’d give it a try. The snowflakes & sentiment are stamped in Whisper White. The snow mounds and snowman are colored in using Prismacolor pencils and baby oil. It was fun so give it a try!

Stamps: Merry & Bright
Paper: Soft Sky, Kraft, SU DP
Ink: Whisper White
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils and baby oil, Always Artichoke brads, ¼” circle punch


Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

Thursday, November 13, 2008

To the North Pole



This was created for the All That Scraps DT Challenge #26 to make an easily reproducible Christmas card. I made this in 25 minutes and for a 2-hour-a-card-kinda-girl, that was FAST!

Now, I didn't have a North pole stamp but I didn't let that stop me. I just simply got out my CC Designs Sugarplums Halloween set and made a North pole from one of the signs, the sign post, and a 1/2" circle punch. I hand wrote "North Pole", colored with copics, and added some icicles by "drawing" them in with Stickles. Here's a close up:









I dry embossed the center panel with my Snowflakes embossing folder. I ran my Virsamark pad over the top and covered with Winter Wonderland embossing powder from Mike's. This layer was finished with a shot from the heat gun. Assemble the layers and I'm done.

Stamps: CC_Designs Sugarplums Halloween
Paper: Real Red, Whisper White
Accessories: Copics, Snowflakes Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Virsamark Pad, Winter Wonderland embossing powder from Mike’s , ½ inch circle punch, White gel pen


Enjoy!
Michelle B.
"Queen of the Scene"

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Yummy!


Can ya taste a snowflake? This was made for the Paper Craft Planet sketch challenge and the High Hopes Sparklemania Challenge.

I love this image as it can easily be either a boy or a girl – very versatile! This image was a PIF from my friend CWILVIE (Hiya Cyndee!)

To make:
I colored this image my usual way with Copics and Prismacolor pencils. I embossed the “fur” of coat and boots with Winter Wonderland embossing powder for some sparkle and cut the image out.

I masked off the “snow” area of some Whisper White cardstock. I sponged Soft Sky 2/3’s of the way up the cardstock. Then I sponged Baja Breeze down into the Soft Sky. To remove any lines between the two colors, I sponged Soft Sky again up into the Baja Breeze area. When I sponge, I dab to get the color on and swirl to blend it in. Next I randomly dotted my Virsamark pen all over the sky area and embossed with Winter Wonderland embossing powder. Finally, I ran only the sky area thru the Snowflakes embossing folder. The red circle is just a ring I cut out using my Cricut and attached to the top of the finished scene. Simple! Assembly and I’m done!

Stamps: High Hopes Catching Flakes, MFT Home for the Holidays
Paper: Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Soft Sky, Baja Breeze
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils and baby oil, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Snowflakes , Versamark pen, Winter Wonderland embossing powder from Mike’s , Cricut


Enjoy!
Michelle B.
"Queen of the Scene”

FS92 Chilly



This is my 2nd post today so be sure you read down. As soon as I saw this card by Wendy Bell, I immediately thought “ornament” and I ran with this from there.

This was created for Featured Stamper challenge FS92. The three things I changed are:

1. Theme from Summer to Winter
2. Black ribbon and layered DP to silver
3. Sketch

I made icicles with the Stickles by using a toothpick to pull them down. Here is a closeup.



Colored my usual way with Copics and Prismacolor pencils and cut the houses out for attaching later. The landscape was created by masking off the white snow area, sponging Soft Sky 2/3 of the way up and then sponging Baja Breeze down into the Soft Sky. If there is any line showing, I go back with the Soft Sky and blend up into the Baja Breeze area again. Next I stamped that cold North wind swirling around in Whisper White ink. I let it dry a bit and then ran only the blue sky part of the cardstock thru the Snowflake embossing folder.

Stamps: Neighborhood Wheel, MFT Home for the Holidays, Autumn Leaves Swirls VI
Paper: Real Red, Whisper White, Silver from Mike’s
Ink: Whisper White, Soft Sky, Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils and baby oil, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Snowflakes , Crystal Stickles, Versamark pad, silver embossing powder, circle punch, tag and silver cording sources unknown


Enjoy!
Michelle B. aka “Queen of the Scene”

Christmas at the Cabin


Can’t you just see yourself walking up to the cabin? Snow on the ground, frost in the windows, and the Christmas tree glowing in the light of the fire inside?

This was created for today’s color challenge CC192. I think I’m getting this color challenge thing – this one wasn’t so painful for me! Ha! I saw someone else use the Distressed Stripes EF the other day for siding and I thought it was fabulous! Now I can't remember who (really need to start writing those down!) Sorry!

To Make: I cut the center out of a piece of grey cardstock for the window. I embossed with the Distressed Stripes embossing folder. I sponged Whisper White across the stripes and a bunch across the bottom for snow. I also added glitter pen to the top of the snow mounds. I stamped the tree, colored my usual way with Copics and Prismacolor pencils. I masked the tree off and sponged Summer Sun darker close to the tree and let it fade as I moved away from the tree. I placed the tree behind the "cabin" so it was "inside". I added a couple of strips of grey for the window panes. I added "frost" to the window in the lower left corners with some light Whisper White sponging and glitter pen. Mount it all on Pacific Point cardstock to finish.

Stamps: CC_Designs Sugarplums Christmas Scene
Paper: Pacific Point, Mike’s dark grey similar to Going Grey
Ink: Whisper White, Summer Sun
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils and baby oil, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Distressed Stripes, glitter pen


Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Christmas Trees


While its great to have a specific style, its good to be versatile too. I didn’t do a lot of my usual things (break up the scene into pieces and make the sky blue) but I still like it. I’ve learned by trying and that’s what it’s all about!

This was created for Beate’s Weekend Sketch Challenge #65.

To make: I cut a mask from scrap paper using my wavy ruler as a guide. I used the mask to mark off the “ground” area. I stamped the snowflakes in the sky area using my Versamark pad. I embossed with clear detail embossing powder and my heat gun. Next sponged River Rock near the “ground” and roughly 1/3 the way up the “sky”. Kiwi Kiss was sponged in the middle of the “sky”. Finally, Old Olive was sponged at the top 1/3 of the “sky”. I then wiped the embossed areas off with a sponge. I also embossed and sponged a scrap of Very Vanilla to use in the snowflake. Next I stamped the trees. I colored in the stars and stems of the trees using Copics.

On a scrap of GP 110 white cardstock I stamped some extra trees. I colored them my usual way with Copics and Prismacolor pencils and cut them out.

The large circle was embossed using my snowflake embossing folder and then sponged with River Rock.

I sponged all the edges of the card base, the circle, and the DP with Old Olive. And it was on to final assembly to finish.

Stamps: Punch Pals
Paper: River Rock, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Bazzill Red, SU designer paper, GP 110
Ink: Old Olive, Kiwi Kiss, River Rock
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils and baby oil, snowflake punch, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder snowflakes, white gel pen, wavy ruler from Plaid, Virsamark pad, heat gun, clear detail embossing powder


Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

Friday, November 7, 2008

View from the Bakery


Can you believe I used DP, embossing, a punch, and a Nestabilities in one card? Not just a cute character and a tree with plain cardstock and ink today! Ha!

I’ve had this idea in my head for a while just waiting for Taylor to post the right sketch. Today is the day to see the view from my bakery! This was created for Taylors Cupcake Challenge # 41 and WT191 Cutting Corners Challenge to use corner punches. My camera seems to hate to photograph brown! This is much cuter in real life!

To make: I stamped the two buildings. Before coloring them in, I stamped the cupcakes over the top of the buildings. I figured “Why color where I didn’t need to!” Then I filled in the cupcakes and colored the buildings with Copics. I used a gray Copic for the ground and I used my Aqua pen and some soft sky ink to make the sky. I also sponged some Soft Sky around the top and sides of this image.

Next I cut a piece of Pink Pirouette cardstock to size and run only one edge thru my Sizzix with a Nestabilities die to make the scalloped edge. I sponged a little Pink Pirouette across the window ledge that would be flush from the wall so it would look different from the ledge that led to outside.

I used a strip of SU DP and a strip of embossed cardstock (received as a PIF). I used my slot punch to cut the 4 corners out. Finally, I assembled.

Stamps: MFT What’s Up Cupcake?, Lizzie Anne Designs Holiday Lane
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Pink Pirouette, SU designer paper
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Soft Sky
Accessories: Copics, white Prismacolor pencil, Nestabilities, slit punch, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Textile Texture, aqua pen



Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Fall Picnic


Ah, we just had a few beautiful days of 70 degree weather here in St. Louis, Missouri. This is unusual for us but much appreciated. The warm weather with leaves on the ground inspired this card. The main image is a PIF from sbs81 (Thanks Stephanie!).

I've been busy the last couple of days doing some custom painting work for a friend so I am finally finding time to do a few challenges. This was created for the OCCC Challenge for coloring and also Sketch Challenge 201.

I colored this lovely lady my usual way with Copics and Prismacolor pencils and cut her out.

I used my usual cut then ink technique to prep the background. The sky is sponged in Soft Sky with Baja Breeze shading (yep, the brayer is upstairs again and I’m too lazy to go get it). The grass is sponged in Kiwi Kiss with Old Olive shading. I used a torn piece of paper to mask the two areas.

I stamped a little wind swirl with Baja Breeze and then stamped leaves in various places around the background, mostly moving from top left to bottom right. Assemble with the layers of Tangerine Tango cardstock and I’m done! This is one of those cards I just stared at for a while when it was done….that means I really like it!

Stamps: Sarah Kay Picnic of Daisies, PTI Out on a Limb Revised, Autumn Leaves Swirls VI
Paper: Tangerine Tango
Ink: Baja Breeze, Soft Sky, Old Olive, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, Tangerine Tango, More Mustard
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils & baby oil, white gel pen, blender pen


Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Go and enter

Amy has some High Hopes blog candy here. Go enter and check out her fabulous coloring!!!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Oops, forgot to post that winner......

[drumroll please] And the winner is........












Leigh Anne (aka LeiBetty)!!!! Hooray! I have your addy Leigh Anne so I'll get this on the way to you!! Thanks for playing everyone!

This is my 2nd post today so be sure to scroll down!

Michelle B.

A message for you & a winner:


I think my message to you today is clear….

I colored Olivia and the branch my usual way with Copics and Prismacolor pencils and cut them out. Yep, I cut all those leaves on that branch! I left a little piece of white paper to keep the leaves attached to the branch and colored the white in with my blender pen and Bashful Blue ink.

The sky is Bashful Blue paper with Whisper White clouds made like this. Baja Breeze is sponged around all the edges and more heavily in the top corners. The grass was stamped with the grass stamp and cut out. Then I put a few random springs of grass here and there. Finally, I sponged all the edges of the grass area, going more heavily on the lower corners and under Olivia. I used a blender pen and Old Olive ink to add some color to the grass sprigs. The vote sign and Olivia's smile were hand drawn. All that was left was assembly (oops, wished I would have put that branch up a little higher!).

Stamps: CC Designs Olivia’s Birdies, Sugarplums Scenery
Paper: Bashful Blue, Real Red, Bazzill Leapfrog
Ink: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Old Olive, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils & baby oil, fine black marker, blender pen


Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

Sunday, November 2, 2008

BIL's Bday


How come if birthday's come every year and I make cards all the time, I can't get the two things in synch?!?! Here I find myself in a rush to make a card that absolutely must go in the mail tomorrow.

I made this in about 30 minutes which is SUPER fast for me. And I'm working on only 4 hours of sleep after DD's slumber party last night (Thanks Chat Chicks for helping me stay awake last night!). I love to use regular images and turn them into silhouettes. This deer image is a PIF from Mawood. Thanks!

I colored the deer image in with a black Copic marker and added a few white hightlights. I cut the deer out and set it aside.

Next I took my Whisper White cardstock and used the Easy Sunset Technique to brayer on Baja Breeze and Pacific Point at an angle. I next sponged Night of Navy in the upper right corner (I would have liked to brayer this but I only have a spot - not a full sized ink pad). Finally, I sponged Basic Black in the very top right corner, along all the edges, and heavily across the bottom. I also "smeared" the Basic Black upward along the bottom to give the illusion of grass. Finally I stamped the pine tree from Lovely as a Tree a couple of times in Basic Black. I would have liked to have worked on the transitions between colors a bit more but I have to get this done!

I glued the deer onto my main panel and attached it to a Pacific Point card back and hurried that baby into the mail!

Don't forget, there is still time to enter for my blog candy here.

PS: I found Glideabella's missing ponytail from the other day....stuck to a pair of scissors! Ha!

Stamps: Noble Deer, Lovely as a Tree
Paper: Pacific Point, Whisper White
Ink: Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, Night of Navy, Basic Black
Accessories: Black Copic, White Prismacolor pencil


Enjoy!
Michelle B.
"Queen of the Scene"