Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Harry Potter Starring Billy

I needed a Harry Potter card for my nephew's birthday. Now, I could have purchased an appropriate image, however, that would have given me a creativity score of zero today. So I asked Billy to star in my card (and he agreed!). To get Billy into costume, I drew in the glasses and scar on his face and added a magic want. I also used the graduation gown and added a tie and scarf. I sketched these items in with a pencil first, drew over the pencil sketch with a fine marker, and then went back and erased the pencil lines with a white art eraser.

I love stretching my stamps to be something other than the obvious! I hope you'll give it a try too!

Stamps: Pink Cat Studio Dress Up Billy, Pink Cat Studio Lily and Billy Accessories, Pink Cat Studio, Limitless Limbs, SU One of a Kind (sentiment)
Paper: Whisper White, GP 110, Basic Black, More Mustard, Bravo Burgundy
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Baja Breeze, Night of Navy, Close to Cocoa, Early Espresso
Accessories: Copics


Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

I did it!!!!


Not a stamping thing but I just have to say "I DID IT!!!!". I ran the Go St. Louis half marathon (that's 13.1 miles). I finished in 2 hours and 20 minutes (great for me!). It was an AWESOME experience and I'm planning to do at least 1 more this year.

Enjoy! (and get some exercise today)
Michelle B.

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Card Buddies



In just one more week, I'll be running my first half marathon! The training schedule has left me little time for stamping. To make good use of the time I have, I have started a "card buddies" program.

When I look over the list of people I need to make cards for this year, I find that there are many people with similar interested that don't know each other. For example, my husband and I both have someone in our families that like deer hunting. They become card buddies. I just need one deer hunting design, and I make two cards. This saves me time in both the design and production of the card. I also have the 2nd card ready and waiting for the event so saves me a little last minute stress too.

If I don't have an immediate need for a second card, I make it anyway and keep it generic. In this case, I am making this card for my in-laws for Easter. I don't know yet what I'm going to do with the 2nd card so I used a more generic sentiment. Hope you'll give this concept a try.

Now, for this card, I was inspired by THIS piece of artwork. I stamped the flowered branch and colored it in a bit with Copics. I them clear embossed the image TWICE (to make sure no green came thru). Then I sponged Sage Shadow starting at the outside of the image and working to the center so it would be lighter at the center. Finally, I sponged a little Chocolate Chip around the edges.

Stamps: SU Easter Blossoms, SU Clearly for You
Paper: Whisper White, Sage Shadow
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Copics, Versamark pen, clear detail embossing powder, heat gun, ribbon from Mike’s, Stamp-a-majig


Enjoy!
Michelle B.