Choppers at Sea

I was able to squeeze a lot into this card: High Hopes Challenge # 19 to use sponging (was that perfect for me or what!), got my beachy/ocean theme from today's inspiration challenge using this piece, the sketch was from Taylor's Cupcake Challenge # 57 and finally, I used this card as my example for the next edition of Tips and Tricks Tuesday (hint, hint).

I used my usual Cut then Ink Technique to ensure all my layers line up. I sponged Baja Breeze over the entire piece of Whisper White cardstock. Then I masked off my ocean line with a torn piece of GP 110 cardstock and sponged Pacific Point in. I went heavier with the Pacific point at the horizon line (where the water meets the sky) and softer as I went down to the bottom of the card so it didn't look flat. I also added some white gel pen "ripples" and also some glitter pen waves which I smear with my fingers to leave a softer line of glitter. The clouds were sponged my usual way. Choppers was colored my usual way and glued on. I also added some glitter pen to the ice cubes. Finally, I cut the red layers, added the brads, assembled, and I'm done!

Stamps: High Hopes Choppers Chilaxin’
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red
Ink: Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, Whisper White
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils and Goo Gone, White gel pen, glitter pen, brads from Pink Hedgehog


Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

Hurry to the Baby Shower

Gotta go to a baby shower today. Hey, why make the card up early? Anyway, I used some inspiration from the various onsies I've seen over at SplitCoastStampers. Not my usual style but it's good to do some quick and simple things sometimes too! Note to self: Need to "stock" some baby and wedding cards in my little stash.

Stamps: H & M Stamps Generation of Stitches
Paper: Certainly Celery, Certainly Celery DP
Ink: Virsamark
Accessories: Circle punch, Scallop circle punch


OK, gotta run to the shower.

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

LSC209 Graffiti Sky

This is for today’s Limited Supplies challenge to make your own DP and my ongoing Christmas Card Challenge. I have some DP with words on it that I thought was pretty cool so I thought I’d go that direction here for my sky. When I was finished and looking at the photos, it reminded me of graffiti!

To make the sky, I stamped the words randomly in just Virsamark ink. I stamped the hats first in Virsamark then in Blue Bayou. The hats were kinda dark so I also stamped some in just Blue Bayou (so they wouldn't be embossed). Then I covered the sheet with clear detail embossing powder (you MUST you detail embossing powder for the best results). A shot from the heat gun and I was ready to ink. I roughly sponged Soft Sky over the entire piece. Then I went back and randomly sponged in some Baja Breeze and Blue Bayou. The “snowy hill” is just some torn Whisper White.

My favorite fox from Treehouse Stamps (I affectionately call him "Foxy"), was colored my usual way, cut out, and glued on.

Stamps: Treehouse Stamps Sledding Fun
Paper: Whisper White, Blue Bayou, Mellow Moss
Ink: Soft Sky, Baja Breeze, Blue Bayou
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils and Goo Gone, Virsamark pad, clear detail embossing powder, heat gun


Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

SC217 Christmas Tree

Well here's another cruddy picture from the expensive camera. Need to take some time to just figure it out (or wake up DH at 5 AM to take a pic.....nah, I don't think he'd like that!). I usually stay up late til the sketch challenge is posted but I was tired last night so I went to bed and got up early....bad idea. I don't wake up very quickly so I made this in a fog. I even put the stickles on BEFORE the adhesive.....no how I am supposed to adhere it? That was a trick! Ran out of time and had to get to work. Met DH at home for lunch and he said I should post it anyway. So here we are.

Stamps: Flourishes Forest of Trees, CC Designs Christmas Scenery, Merry & Bright
Paper: Whisper White, Riding Hood Red
Ink: Soft Sky, Baja Breeze, Whisper White
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils and Goo Gone, glitter pen, candy cane Stickles

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

Tips n Tricks Tuesday # 1 - Sponges

ETA: I forgot to mention that I didn't invent this idea of using makeup sponges but I don't know where I saw it first so I am unable to give proper credit. Sorry!

I promised you something new on my blog and here it is: Tips n Tricks Tuesday. So, I was thinking the other day that I've kinda lost track of this blog and turned it into a "look at me" thing. That's not exactly what I want. I hope that you are able to learn and grow by visiting here. So, I'm going to try to post some tips and tricks here each Tuesday (I've probably have about 20 ideas jotted down already). These are all sorts of miscellaneous things that I do that you may find helpful but I've never managed to fit them in here because they don't relate to just one particular card. So, for our first topic.....my sponge collection.

Now, I am CHEAP so I needed inexpensive sponges that I can reuse many times. I use makeup sponges that are readily available at discount and drug stores. I write the name of the color on the side with a fine black marker so I can reuse them. I store them in a cheap pencil box I "reclaimed" from my kids that was also purchased at a discount store. They are categorized by color in the box (greens together, blues together, etc.) so they are easy to find. I normally only have to throw a sponge away because I accidentally dip it in the wrong color. I think I've only had 1 actually wear out (it started crumbling and falling apart) in the last year. We'll talk about HOW I use this in an upcoming episode.

Hope you enjoy this new feature! Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

FS107 WSC69 Tilda

This was created for today's Featured Stamper 107 challenge. I was inspired by this card from SgtStamper. I changed the color scheme, the main image (but kept the Tilda on tummy w/brown around her), and the sketch. The sketch I used here is from Beate's Weekend Sketch #69. This also qualifies for my ongoing Christmas Card Challenge.

Wow, I just realized I didn't use any sponging or brayering on this card. Rare for me! The floor was hand drawn by me and converted to a digital image so I could just print onto Creamy Caramel CS and add a little Prismacolor pencil shading. The "walls" are DP. I used my usual coloring technique.

Notice my blog looks a little different today? I had a whole list of things I wanted to change or learn how to do and worked thru most of them last night (yep up all night again!). I even converted my blog to 3 columns for a while but didn't like some of the details so I'm going to do some more research into that one.

I wanted to move to a spring banner and I was wanting to learn more about photo editing so instead of just painting a new banner, I used some old pics to make one. A few years ago I was commisioned (aka I GOT PAID! Woo Hoo!) to paint those flowers onto 2 canvases. I used the old pics of those to make this banner. I had to merge the two pics together and fill in the middle space with the same background color. I learned a lot but it would have been faster just to repaint them! Ha!

Stamps: Magnolia Tilda on Tummy, CC Designs Sugarplums Christmas Scene
Paper: Creamy Caramel, Riding Hood Read, Basic Grey Wassail DP
Ink:
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils and Goo Gone

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

I am sooo excited!

Today we went to Costco and my DH surprised me by putting a Canon Rebel camera in the cart. (He kinda chuckled and acted like he was going to take it back out but I said "No Way Buster!"). This camera takes the most amazing pictures (with my husband behind it). I think my pictures were greatly improved. I did NO EDITING to this one at all besides cropping, sizing, and adding the watermark. I usually fuss and fuss trying to get the color to look right. So, I'm gonna need some practice but hopefully you'll get some better shots here.

OK, on to today's card. I managed to make a card that fits today’s inspiration challenge getting my colors from this pillow, a sketch from Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge # 56, and my ongoing Christmas Card Challenge.

When I started this project, I was struggling with what to do in that oval. I decided to simply put a sentiment there and build the scene around it. I sponged Bashful Blue deep into the oval and then just ran a bit of Brilliant Blue around the edges. Instead of sponging the entire blue sky, I just used Bashful Blue cardstock and sponged some Brilliant Blue around the edges. The fence is my horizontal element of the sketch and is just Chocolate Chip ink stamped right onto the Bashful Blue cardstock. The "snow" is Georgia Pacific cardstock torn on the top edge with some Bashful Blue sponged around the corners.

Stamps: Treehouse Stamps Jolly Snowman
Paper: GP 110 (white), Brilliant Blue, Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Brilliant Blue, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Copics, white Prismacolor pencil, Cricut George (for ovals)

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

PS: Stay tuned because I have something new coming to this blog on Tuesday!

Green is Lucky

THIS IS MY 2ND POST TODAY SO BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN!

When I saw today's Limited Supplies challenge for green, this stamp set from Treehouse Stamps immediately came to mind. I'll be getting a bonus point too because I used DP on his jacket and pants! I used a sketch I found over on The Daily Dare from Friday's Sketchers.

My clouds & clover weren't showing up well enough so I used the old trick I often use on silhouettes to add white to the right side and a darker color to the left. When I paperpiece the DP, you know I can't just glue it on there! I had to add some shadows with my copics. This card is only two layers - the card base and the image. The green you see showing around the main image square is the card base.

Stamps: Treehouse Stamps Lucky Charm
Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive, SU Old Olive DP
Ink: Baja Breeze, Soft Sky, Old Olive, Garden Green, Always Artichoke, Blue Bayou, Whisper White
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils, fine black marker, white gel pen

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

Maybe I'll try this......

or this.....or this....or maybe that!

So I started this card last Monday for the High Hopes Challenge #18 to make an Easter Card (but I don't have any High Hopes Easter Images....yet) so I had to revert to Spring. I then combined this with this weeks Mojo Monday #74 sketch challenge. And hey if you wait around long enough, you can mix in another challenge: Today's Ways to Use It Challenge to use Stripes. No seriously, I have been fussing with this card since Monday and just said tonight I have to "get 'er done" no matter what. So, she's done...not my favorite...but she's done. I AM pleased with the coloring and the way my hand drawn grass looks at the bottom.

I took a quick pick of the parts of this card before I assembled so you can see how I did it. I used a full sheet of DP behind the images...guess that's kinda backwards. I've gotta experiment sometimes to ensure I don't miss any great ideas!



Stamps: High Hopes Jolie’s Little Friend (Thanks Anemone!), High Hopes Branch
Paper: Whisper White, Blue Bayou, Stampin’ Up DP in Baja Breeze
Ink: Baja Breeze, Soft Sky, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Rose Red
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils and goo gone, fine black marker, ribbon from unknown source, Brides Confetti (flower) from Mike’s, rhinestone from Limelight (colored purple with Copics), Angel Wingz Shimmerz

Oh, and check out my new watermark! I've been wanting to do this for a while. I always sign my paintings with my initials, MLB, all connected in a logo kinda form. So I finally turned that into a watermark for my photos tonight. Hooray!

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

HHC17 Under the Sea

Catching up on last week’s High Hopes Challenge here. This sketch made me think for a while. The part that was throwing me was those little tiny strips on the left and right. I didn’t want to back those little pieces with another piece of cardstock like I usually do. But if I don’t back them, how will I get them to stand out? I decided to use colored cardstock as part of my scene for contrast (I rarely use solid colors - gotta have that shading!). The only part I sponged onto Whisper White cardstock was the Baja Breeze/Pacific Point panel right across the middle. The verdict - yep, I like it. I'll be using some solid colors more often!

Pay attention to those swirls….if you look, the pattern goes across all three panels! Yep, I’m proud of that. I used a tiny bit of adhesive to tack them down in position before I dry embossed. Then I took them back apart to layer properly on the finished card. I sponged a bit of Whisper White across the Pacific Point layer to help those swirls stand out a bit. I did the same thing for the dots in the sand. The images were colored my usual way and glued on. The little hills in the sand, bubbles, and "Hi" were hand drawn.

With some encouragement from my friend Lisa, I have sent this in for the High Hopes guest designer contest.

Stamps: High Hopes Starla Starfish, High Hopes Coral One, High Hopes Simon (turtle), High Hopes Coral Two, High Hopes Sea Weed
Paper: Whisper White, Pacific Point, River Rock, Gable Galore, Tempting Turquoise
Ink: Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, Whisper White, Creamy Caramel
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils and goo gone, fine black marker, white gel pen, Martha Stewart border punch, D’Vine Swirls embossing folder, Swiss Dots embossing folder

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

SC216 My First Tilda

Woo Hoo! I'm finally feeling like my old self again! I even made two cards overnight (I'll show you the other tomorrow, k?). This was made for Sketch Challenge 216. My friend Christina13 "Double Dog Dared" me to color a Magnolia. Before she even sent me one, I started researching them. I was fascinated with the way the were designed to sit on things. So perfect for me and my scenes. So, not only is this my first Tilda card but I used the first Tilda I own! Bought her direct from Sweden which proves my addiction!

Colored my usual way and cut out the main images. I had to extend the length of the bench to go beyond the main panel so I cut it in half under Tilda. That lower support beam of the bench had to go though. As this sketch was all simple straight cuts, I actually got brave and inked everything up before I cut. I used a circle cut from my Cricut as a mask for the tree tops. I used emboss resist for the tree trunks and flowers. Cut, added my layers, glued on the main images and Ta Da!

Stamps: Magnolia Tilda with Lace Skirt, Magnolia Old Bench, Rubbernecker Kittie Kits, Outdoor Plate 1, CC Designs Sugarplum Scenery
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red
Ink: Soft Sky, Baja Breeze, Old Olive, Wild Wasabi
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils and goo gone, Cricut George, white gel pen

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

Catching up is Groovy Baby!

To answer a couple of questions I recently received about how I do my cards:

* I started out doing 5x7 cards cause I just couldn't fit everything on a smaller card. I now do all 4 1/4 x 5 1/2.

* I either brayer or sponge my backgrounds. Just depends on how I feel (and if I've brought my brayer back downstairs after cleaning it)

* I use Stampin' Up Whisper White cardstock on my scenes now. The slick surface helps me move the ink around and blend easier.

* I cut first because that is where I am most likely to make a mistake. I'd hate to create the whole scene and botch it on the cut job.

* Most of the time, I color and cut out the main images in my scenes. I glue them on with Tombow Multi Purpose adhesive. I squirt a little onto the back of the image and spread it around with a q-tip (so I don't have any big glops that will squirt out the side).

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I've been wanting to do a "hippie chick" card for a while (flashbacks to my childhood) so when I saw this card from this week's Featured Stamper and Taylor's Cupcake Sketch # 55 I knew it was time. I don't use a lot of DP (can't ever seem to get it to work with scenes) but I HAD to use this paper as it kind of reminded me of the psychadelic prints of the hippie days.

I hardly used any of my own supplies here. My friend Deb sent me this DP for Christmas. The van came from JenMarie. The Beatrice Bellbottoms came thru Wish-Rak from Davearmie. Thanks everyone!

I cut the circle first with my Cricut George. Then I used a pencil to draw in the rest of the sketch (I figured I wouldn't botch the straight line cuts). I pieced it back together on an old Cricut mat. I sponged Bashful Blue into the sky with a bit of Brocade Blue in the corner. I sponged Certainly Celery for the grass with Garden Green for shadows. I made the straight cuts and pieced everything together on my Really Rust card base.

Stamps: Stamping Bella Beatrice Bellbottoms, Stamping Bella Peace VW
Paper: Whisper White, Really Rust, Basic Grey DP
Ink: Bashful Blue, Brocade Blue, Certainly Celery, Garden Green
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils and goo gone, Cricut George


Enjoy!
Michelle B.

I'm honored!

Today, I was lucky enough to be the Catchy Name Featured Stamper over on the CCEE blog. This group of awesome stampers picks someone with a catchy name on SCS to feature and then they send the cards to that person (that's right, I am going to get to see these beauties IN PERSON!) Woo Hoo! It was also so nice to see what they had each said about my style on their blogs. So touching!

I'm glad to say that I am finally feeling better today (after 2 weeks of influenza & bronchitus)! For the first time in a while I actually felt like cardmaking today. Tonight I colored a bunch of images so WATCH OUT.....more of my creations will be here starting tomorrow!

Michelle B.

16th Pickup Birthday

I slept all day again yesterday. I just can't seem to get well. So, here I am today doing a last minute birthday card before the party tonight. Our friends son has turned 16 and just got a red pickup truck. The scene you see here is totally what their yard and driveway look like. Cool!

The "16" is hand drawn. I used my usual Cut Then Ink Technique to get the layers to line up. The sketch is loosely based on Taylors TECC54. There is Angel Wingz Shimmerz on the hubcaps and bumpers (I can't seem to stay away from glitter lately - even on a boy's card!)

To get those layers of trees, I first softly sponged a little Old Olive from the gravel driveway up to the sky line (this keeps any white showing thru and also gives the illusion of more trees very far away). Then I stamped trees in Old Olive. Finally I stamped the trees a little lower down in Garden Green. This follows a basic rule for perspective: Things further away are softer color and have less definition. Things closer up are more detailed and have more color.

Stamps: Stampin Up Loads of Love, Stampin Up Loads of Love Accessories, Rubbernecker Kittie Kit The Moose is Loose 1, Rubbernecker Kittie Kit Outdoor Plate 1
Paper: Whisper White, Riding Hood Red
Ink: Soft Sky, Old Olive, Garden Green, Going Grey
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils and goo gone, circle punches, Angel Wingz Shimmerz

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

Farm Birthday

I'm behind on birthday cards from being sick (aw, you know I'd do them at the last minute even if I wasn't sick!). My nephew will be 5 on Saturday so I made him this card. They raise cattle, have a barn and tractor, and grow hay for feed so I thought this would be perfect for him. I used Taylor's Sketch TECC54 from last week.

Don't forget that Treehouse Stamps has a release tomorrow! The release party is tonight from 9-12 (I think that's EST) at the Treehouse Stamps Live Chat area here. Come and chat with me!

ETA: Oh, the usual Cut then Ink Technique, sponging and masking. On the barn, I colored the side with the doors much darker than the side with windows. This really makes it look square rather than flat. On the roof, I added some purple and brown to the gray so that it would look like weathered wood.

Stamps: Treehouse Stamps Fall Y’All
Paper: Whisper White, Riding Hood Red
Ink: Baja Breeze, Soft Sky, Whisper White, Old Olive, Garden Green, Virsamark black
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils and goo gone, ribbon from Mike’s

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

SC215 Another Butterfly Peek

Still keeping it simple today. Am I ever going to get my energy back? This was created for Sketch Challenge 215 and also to give you another peek at the new Butterfly Kisses set from Treehouse Stamps coming this Friday!

How I get my layers to line up: Cut then Ink Technique

The blues were brayered on using Julie's Easy Sunset Technique. I hand drew the branch and then stamped those cute little flowers onto it (I love these little flowers!). I then stamped the butterflies. As I always do with silhouettes, I added a little white gel pen to the right sides of the flowers and butterflies. I added a few smaller, lighter butterflies to the background for depth.

Stamps: Treehouse Stamps Butterfly Kisses
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink: Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Virsamark black
Accessories: white gel pen

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

CC205 Butterfly Peek

I'm feeling a little better. I think the flu is mostly gone but the bronchitus is going to linger a while as bronchitus usually does.

Today I get to share a sneak peak of a new set coming from Treehouse Stamps on Friday at 12:01 am called Butterfly Kisses. I'm also trying out my new Nesties Label 1 also from Treehouse Stamps.

I usually stay away from color challenges as 3 colors are just not enough for me but I was trying to keep things simple and easy today so 3 colors suddenly looks pretty good to me! The little flowers in the grass were stamped with Virsamark and then embossed with clear detail embossing powder and a heat gun before the Kiwi ink was added. The pink sky is just sponged. Whenever I stamp a silhouette like this butterfly, I like to add a little black fine marker on the left side and a little white gel pen on the right to make him appear to pop off the page a bit.

Stamps: Treehouse Stamps Butterfly Kisses
Paper: Whisper White, Perfect Plum
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss
Accessories: Nestabilities Label 1, fine black marker, white gel pen, Virsamark pad, clear detail embossing powder, heat gun

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
"Queen of the Scene"

Hi!

I was feeling a little weird when I was making that last card. Turns out I have influenza and bronchitus. I was in bed for 3 days with a fever. I've been able to get up and move around a bit the last 2 days but I'm no where near back to my regular self. I'm going back to bed now so I can get back here soon!

Snowman’s Cabin

This was created for Sketch Challenge 214 & my ongoing Christmas Card Challenge. Wednesdays are really busy for me with work and kid's activities so I normally stay up late and do the sketch challenge before bed (2 AM!) and post it in the morning (6AM). I was feeling really tired tonight so I set my alarm to get up and do the sketch challenge in the middle of the night! Am I a sick-o or what!?!?

I'm glad to report that the drywall is all hung in my basement stamping space and it is MUCH warmer. Thanks DH! I still need to "move in" completely as I'm kinda living out of boxes.

Just my usual "stuff" here:

Cut then Ink technique - to get my layers to line up.

How I Color

I need to learn how to photograph glitter - there is glitter pen on the snowman's swirls and Angel Wingz Shimmerz on the snowy hills and paths.

Stamps: Whiff of Joy Herb with Teacup (Thank you SammySue1975!), H & M Dad’s Outdoors, Rubbernecker Kittie Kits Cause a Scene The Moose Is Loose #2, Itty Bitty Backgrounds
Paper: Whisper White, Blue Bayou
Ink: Old Olive, Soft Sky, Baja Breeze, Whisper White
Accessories: Copics, Prismacolor pencils and Goo Gone, Angel Wingz Shimmerz (on snowy hills), Glitter pen (on snowman’s swirls)

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
“Queen of the Scene”

DH's Bday Kitchen

DH's Bday is today! He's been really interested in the Food Network on TV lately and trying out some new cooking techniques (yeah me!). He even asked for a kitchen gadget for his bday and of course, I bought it for him. So, I thought this called for a cooking kinda card. I had some huge ideas for this kitchen but was making it soooo complicated. Then while searching for some inspiration in Microsoft clipart (search for kitchens) I came across one that was just perfect and here is my version.

Another apology - my DH decided to hang dry wall over the unfinished walls in our basement to make it nicer for me down there but that means I had to move my light box again. OH NO! Another week of bad pics coming again!

The "counter" was a piece cut from my Cricut and then I trimmed the sides and top off. I also trimmed that point in the middle so it was shorter. The cabinets are hand drawn.

Stamps: Pink Cat Studio Dress Up Billy, Pink Cat Studio Lily and Billy Accessories Plate 1, Flourishes Summer on the Patio,
Paper: Basic Black, Riding Hood Red, Going Grey, GP 110
Ink: Riding Hood Red
Accessories: Copics, white Prismacolor pencil, Cricut Storybook, fine black marker

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
"Queen of the Scene"