a final Inspiration Team project for Crafter's Companion USA

well it has been a FUN year with Crafter's Companion USA!  i tinkered with my very first Spectrum Noir markers and became an Accredited Colorist (woot!), made some awesome new friends and learned some fun new techniques, was introduced to the Ultimate Tool (which has become a HUGE source of inspiration, especially recently!), and was among the first to play with the fab new Spectrum Noir blendable colored pencils.

there is a LOT going on in my life, and it's definitely a time of huge changes, stressful transition, and, currently, a whole bunch of questions as i wait to see what my career will hold.  my bank is closing, and my job (and 58 others' jobs) will cease to exist, and the direction in which i'm heading is totally uncertain.  we have a waiting period, but in a few weeks, i should have some idea of what's ahead.  WHATEVER is ahead, it's going to be a huge change, and could involve looking for a new job, or beginning a career in insurance.  career moves at 40?  why the heck not, right?

regardless, i'm keeping an open mind and i'm certain that things are going to be okay.  the company for whom i work has been amazing so far, and the future is bright!

so with that, folks, i bring you my final Crafter's Companion USA project...

and here's my supply list:

Art-Kure Britain in Bloom EZmount stamp set - "English Rose", stamped on frosted vellum with StazOn Jet Black ink
embossed on Luxury Centura Pearl cardstock using Die'sire 6x6 Embossalicious embossing folder - "Decorative Heart"
on the same panel, i stamped the birthday sentiment from the Sentimentals EZmount stamp set - "Imagine", using my StazOn
i misted on the embossed panel using Memento Fireworks Spray - Angel Pink, then splattered a few random speckles of Spectrum Noir re-inker BP3
colored up some white Thickers using Spectrum Noir markers - PP1, BP2, True Black

i wish i could capture the shimmer, but it was hard enough to photograph with my glitchy camera!  if everything with the job gets sorted soon and i know i'll be employed in a few months, i will be getting a new camera...  in the meantime, i'm being extra frugal.  

so there you have it.  i will be hanging out with my Crafter's Companion products a whole lot, and i can't wait to see what the amazing Inspiration and Education teams create in the next term!  drop by the Crafter's Companion USA blog to see the first introductions for the new term!  thanks to the whole CC crew for everything - it's been a great run!  xo

playing with Spectrum Noir re-inkers!

hey there, chickens!

i've got a card up on the Crafter's Companion USA Facebook page today, and it's super bright and super pink!

i'm not a huge mixed media person, but i have developed a little penchant for alcohol inks via my lovely Spectrum Noir markers...  i may never actually NEED to use the re-inkers to re-ink my markers, but i sure am loving them on their own! 

here's the card i made using one of the gorgeous Britain in Bloom stamps from Art-Kure by Mike Goss - this one's English Rose:

the sentiment is from the Sentimentals set, "Friends and Family" - both are inked with StazOn Jet Black and i sponged around the edges of the main panel with Jet black as well.  i used my Spectrum Noir re-inkers PP4 and BP3 with some of the blending solution to create my very pink background...  zoom for a look:

and an embossed chipboard piece (black, bright and pale
pink embossing powders) with a resin flower to accent:

so.  first of several Mothers' Day cards i need to make for people at work - i'm going to be busy this weekend!  CLICK HERE to visit the Crafter's Companion Facebook page - there's some BIG stuff going on right now and you're not going to want to miss it!  *wink, wink, nudge, nudge*  HAPPY FRIDAY and i hope you have a fantastic weekend!

the new Angelica and Adam series at Crafter's Companion is ADORABLE!

oh my.  there's another new release at Crafter's Companion, and the design team has been keeping busy and having LOTS of fun with the new stamps!  this particular set is perfect for the little chicas and the little dudes in your life (whether they're genuinely little ones or they're big, grown-up ones!). 

i love these new Angelica and Adam EZmount stamp sets, and i couldn't wait to color up the adorable Ben!  

here's my card that's up on the Crafter's Companion Facebook page today!

so where do i begin with this one?
stamped Ben and the sentiment with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on Ultra Smooth Premium White cardstock.
embossed the small side panel with Darice Stars 12" folder (and colored the stars with BGR1)
inked around the edges of my panels with StazOn midi in Cactus Green (they're new and they're FABULOUS!) and Delicata Golden Glitz inks.
and COLORED!  yeah, i spent a bit of time on the details for this one...

i dotted, blended, dotted, blended, dotted, blended and continued until i achieved an effect i really liked.  in hindsight, i wish i had thought of shadows under Ben, but next time, i guess.  :)  

anywho, there you have it!  close-up?

 

here's my Spectrum Noir marker list:

skin - FS5, FS7, FS9
hair - TN2, OR1, OR2, EB4, EB7
shirt - LG1, LG4, GD3
shorts - IG2, IG4, IG5
shoes - BG1, BG4, BG5
tree - TN2, EB6, EB7
leaves - DG2, DG3
rope - GB1, GB8
background - BGR1, BGR2, LY1, DG1, GB1, OR1, TB3, CG2, JG1, Blender

closer?

 
whatcha think?  isn't he a cute little thing?  you can grab Ben and his friends by CLICKING HERE, and i TOTALLY encourage you to take a peek at all the new, amazing inks that are in the shop now!  seriously - the StazOn Midis and the new Radiant Neons are FANTASTIC!

 

in celebration of FRIENDS!

i'm up today on the Crafter's Companion Facebook page, and yesterday was a co-worker's birthday, so natch i whipped something up for the occasion!  see, since i started giving handmade cards to people at work, a store bought card simply WILL NOT DO.  ever.  even if i have no time whatsoever, they refuse to settle.

SO!  Liz turned a darling 24.  SERIOUSLY.  she could nearly be my daughter (i said NEARLY!).  and i grabbed my Mulberry Wood "Friend" set from Crafter's Companion, stamped the little fuzzpaw with Jet Black StazOn, coloured him up with my pencils, and added the sentiment from Sheena's A Little Bit Sketchy "Only Words - Through the Rain".  Liz has a bit of a thing for blue, so i added a few embellies in blue, blinged it up, and VOILA!  this little card was born:

the clouds?  i love this part!  i grabbed a sheet of pale blue vellum and punched them out...  this is a one-layer card (not my forte', but every once in a while i surprise myself!), so i just laid them on top of the image, traced the edges of the image on the vellum and trimmed the clouds down to fit around the pooch.  i'm also slightly obsessed with these shaped cards and i've been making loads of SQUARE cards lately.  watch for them!  :)

here's a close-up of the critter:

fur still isn't one of my strengths, and i wanted to go subtle with an emphasis on that blue flower, so pale worked better for me in this case anyway. 

and that is that!  CLICK HERE to check out the rest of the Mulberry Wood stamp sets (oh my goomie, so cute!), and CLICK HERE for all the gorgeousness from Sheena Douglass.  i should mention that there's also a brand new line of Sheena embossing folders and they're absolutely GORGEOUS.  you'll want to check them out by CLICKING HERE!  :)

hope the day's fab, folks.  i'm crazy swamped with work lately, and putting the pedal to the metal at the gym, so let's hope that 2014 is all it SHOULD be!  see you tomorrow!

playing with Mixed Media (!!) and Crafter's Companion goodies

hey there, crafty chickens!  hope the week has been good to you!  it's been busy, rainy, and COLD here, and i'm glad the weekend is here.  i'm going to round things out with a card i made using my Crafter's Companion goodies (that's on the Crafter's Companion Facebook page today!), and i'm kinda LOVING the mixed media thing i've got goin' on here.

i'm not usually one for flat cards, and i often struggle with mixed media, to be perfectly honest.  but since i wasn't specifically going for the vintage look, and stuck with what makes me happy (bright colours, gold things, punchinella, mists), i found this came much easier than expected.  :)

SO.  here we are!

i busted out my Luxury Centura Pearl Snow White cardstock, misted with Memento Fireworks (Angel Pink) and added some drops of Spectrum Noir Re-inker (BP3), then sponged some Delicata Golden Glitz ink using punchinella as a mask.

i stamped Sheena's A Little Bit Scenic (Silhouette Grasses) using StazOn Jet Black ink, then stamped the sentiment from the same set using a wet chalk ink, embossing with black powder.  i LOVE the effect of the black embossed dots from where the Delicata hadn't yet dried.  love it!

snipped a doily and added pieces for interest, then found some matching gold hexagon confetti, inked my edges and stuck it on down onto my card base. 

i promise you it was SO much easier than it looks!  OH, but check this out:

the Luxury Centura Pearl cardstock is TO. DIE. FOR.  the shimmer is incredible.  and it holds colour so well!  for example:

the embossing with the shimmer makes a pretty fab combination, oui?  

all in all, i'm happy with this little experiment!  you can grab most of my supplies at the Crafter's Companion store, but CLICK HERE to see all the new stuff because there's a ton of it!  and play along with the challenge we've got going on by CLICKING HERE...  this month it's all about Clean and Simple! 

you and me and things by the sea

hey there, crafty chickens...  hope all's well in your respective necks of the woods!  it's still stinkin' COLD here in New Jersey, and each morning i wake up and hope that spring has sprung!  i know it's only nearing the end of January, but it's been an unseasonably cold winter, and darn it, i thought i left all that junk behind when i moved from Canada!

at any rate, the cold weather means lots of opportunities to colour, since nobody wants to go outside in this! 

i coloured.  i busted out my pencils and coloured a couple of the individual shells from the Sheena's A Little Bit Scenic set, Sea Shells, and i'm really enjoying this set!  lookie:

i stamped the shells with Jet Black StazOn, and the sentiment (from the Sentimentals Everyday - "Imagine" set) in Timber Brown StazOn - both are stamped on Ultra Smooth Premium White Cardstock...  added in some gorgeous textured mulberry paper for the back panel, a simple distressy panel on top, inked my edges and added my little bits and bobs to finish it up.

the deets:

for the record, i totally cheat when i colour stuff like this!  i do a Google search for images of shells (or flowers, or lighthouses, or whatever) and mimic the style of an image that catches my eye.  but i've never been one to draw or colour from memory, so it works for me.  :)  Google is handy.  yep.

so that's my Crafter's Companion project for today - i have more shells from this Sheena set stamped out so i have a feeling you'll be getting more beachy projects for a little while yet!

BY THE WAY, did you notice the brand new Bebunni lines available ON SALE?  oh. my. goomie.  CLICK HERE.  enjoy!  

i LOVE this Lily stamp from Sheena Douglass

helloooooooooo chickens!  i'll be at CHA when this post goes live, so hopefully it all goes off without a hitch!

today, i'm sharing a clean and simple project for Crafter's Companion that features the gorgeous "Lily" stamp from Sheena Douglass.  i totally love her realistic but sketch style, and this particular stamp has become a favourite of mine to colour.

i stamped the lily on Ultra Smooth Premium White cardstock, using StazOn jet black ink, and coloured it up with my beloved pencils:

the sentiment comes from the Sentimentals Everyday "Imagine" set...  i cut a piece of a transparency and a little snip of paper from Cosmo Cricket's "Social Club" line, stuck on a few enamel dots, and i was happy with this one.  believe me, i was TEMPTED to add more patterned paper behind the transparency, or some ribbon or washi, but i decided that less was definitely more given the detail of the image.  the cardstock has a super shimmery pearlescent finish, so it's very feminine and elegant, but doesn't photograph worth beans (not to mention it looks more red than pink!)...  STILL!  i like it.  and i need more of these types of birthday cards for those who DON'T prefer the cute.

so there you have it!  i'll be back from CHA in a couple of days, but i hope you're all doing well and gettin' yer craft on and watching all the CHA action!  the internet absolutely blows up with the blog feeds from the show, and you can bet i've been drooling at some of the fab new product!  see you soon!  xo

linking up for the "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" issue at Paper Issues - show us your FLOWERS, or your toes, or whatever might fit the theme!  :)  

More Barkley sweetness from Crafter's Companion!

annnnnd didn't i tell you this little dude was one of my faves from Crafter's Companion?  well not only is Barkley adorbs, but he has a cute little kitty cat friend, and i couldn't help but fall in lurve with this set, from Barkley Everyday, called "Special Friend"...  check 'em out!

these two cuties are stamped on Ultra Smooth Premium White cardstock using StazOn jet black, then coloured up with my pencils...  the sentiment (and frame) comes from the Sentimentals Everyday "Imagine" set; "you & me" is stamped with StazOn timber brown and the frame with Delicata Golden Glitz (can't tell you how much i LOVE this ink - it's so juicy and shimmery and just utterly gorgeous!).  i added some Cosmo Cricket "Creative Girl" papers in behind, some enamel dots, triangle brads (brads - i know!), a few teensy pearls and a little ribbon for texture.

loving Barkley?  he and his friends are too stinkin' cute, and i see myself using them for LOTS of different occasions!

i'll have another Crafter's Companion project to share this time next week, but hey, if you're one of the lucky ones attending CHA, you might catch more glimpses of these cute critters at the Crafter's Companion or Spectrum Noir booths!  :) 

Hopping again with Crafter's Companion and CardMaker Magazine!

if you're here for the Hol-ODD-Day hop, CLICK CLICK and you'll get to my post.  :)

seriously, what a FUN week!  you must be here TODAY for the big Crafter's Companion USA and CardMaker Magazine blog hop!  WELCOME and thanks for coming by!

i am SO excited about this hop - not only do i love my Crafter's Companion products, but i have been subscribing to CardMaker Magazine for many years and i am a HUGE fan!  the content, the projects, the gorgeous spreads and detailed instructions, designer tips, and the DESIGNERS!  so much talent!  such an inspiring magazine!  and speaking of talent, you've probably arrived from Trena's blog - if so, you're well on your way!  if NOT, then you may want to CLICK HERE to start from the beginning!

YOU, dear friend, could win one of two awesome prize packs which include: a 1-year digital subscription to CardMaker Magazine, a stamp set, 2 six-marker sets of Spectrum Noirs (the new generation!) and an embossing folder.  check out this AWESOME prize pack!

i went Nutcracker-themed for my card, combining some holiday with non-holiday products and colours...

LOVE this little girl - so poised and graceful, and trying so hard!  i took dance lessons when i was younger, so i can relate!  :)  here she is, up close and personal:

this image is from the Angelica and Friends EZmount set - "Eleanor"
the sentiment is from the Sentimentals "Christmas Magic" set...
Eleanor is stamped on Ultra Smooth Premium White cardstock
with StazOn Jet Black ink (and I used my Prismacolor Pencils)
and the sentiment  (plus the inking around the scalloped panel) with Distress Ink in Dusty Concord
cut my girlie out with a Nestie, inked and stickered.  :D
i used the 6x6 Die'sire Embossalicious folder in Holiday Holly
inked the raised parts with Memento Luxe ink in Pear Tart (have you TRIED these inks?  WHOA!)
and splattered some Spectrum Noir re-inker in PP4 randomly around, then gave it a nice coating of Heidi Swapp Color Shine in white (of course that doesn't show up in the photos, but the pink paper and embossed panel are SUPER shimmery!)

the pink paper is from issue 3 of the Crafter's Inspiration magazine (yep, it's available now!)

then i added some ribbon and clustered some flowers and bling to finish it all off.  :)  LOVE the added texture.  i just can't do a flat card anymore, no matter how hard i try!

and the REST of the Crafter's Companion team have had some fun for the occasion, too!  BUT, there's more!  we're hopping with the CardMaker crew, too!  LOADS of stunning projects to inspire you from THESE people:

CardMaker

Kendra Wietstock

Mary Dawn Quirindongo

Stacy Morgan

Khristen Foss

Laurel Beard

Chrissie Tobas

Alice Golden

Stacy Harper Watson

Denise Coulter
Christiana Reuling

Michelle Woerner

Roxanne O'Brien

Trena Brannon

Leah Lucescu

Rosemary Dennis

Tenia Nelson

Stephanie Severin

Jennifer Ingle

Latisha Yoast

Taylor Usry

Crafter’s Companion

you'll need to drop by the Crafter's Companion Facebook page to say hello and enter to win one of the two hop prize packs i mentioned.  :)

thank you for dropping by, and i hope you're enjoying the hop so far!  now you're off to visit Rosemary - tell her i said hello!  ;)  happy hopping, and happy CRAFTING, and happy holidays from Crafter's Companion and CardMaker!

Crafter's Companion has GLITTERY GOODNESS!

hiya chickens!

back to share a SUPER FUN card i made that showcases some of the OTHER stuff carried by Crafter's Companion USA.  i love the heck out of the EzMount stamps (and today's project follows suit), but i've also recently discovered my love for Spray & Sparkle GLITTER SPRAY.  i need it in EVERY colour.  :)

here's why...  check out this finish!

OH MY GOOMIE.  this stuff sprays, layers beautifully, dries quickly, and leaves SUCH a pretty shimmer, without dulling the image and destroying the colour behind it.

i used the Multicolour Spray & Sparkle (and will be using it on LOTS of other things!)

sprayed over my Sheena Douglass Silhouette Wildflowers 

stamped in StazOn Black Cherry (and covered the chipboard in ink, too)

Candy Cane Stickles on the chipboard pieces to finish everything off

and i was VERY pleased at the subtle effects.  here's the card in its entirety:

yeah, so shimmery and the texture is FABULOUS.  the Spray & Sparkle is available in gold, silver, pink, iridescent, and the multicoloured can that i used and it gives amazing coverage!  can't wait to get the other colours,

in the meantime, the countdown to my vacation (and cardmaking extravaganza with the lovely Lesley Jackson) has BEGUN!  during my vacation, i shall CERTAINLY be getting my fingers inky (and probably my elbows, too!) and try to keep you folks posted on my shenanigans!  hope you're having a great week so far!

it's simply EMBOSSALICIOUS! i'm making holiday stuff!

evenin', crafty friends!  hope the weekend has treated you well!  i spent mine working and doing a charity walk, so i'm rather exhaustified, but wanted to share a little something with you before i call it a night...

i tend to collect embossing folders, and then conveniently forget i have them.  i don't show my folders NEARLY enough love.  i also collect cardstock.  all colors, textures, sizes.  i have so many pretty things, but my ADHD brain thinks about them for about 6.3 seconds before obsessing over something else!

today, i made another holiday card (that's a big head start for me!), and i used the 6x6 Die'sire Embossalicious "Christmas Ornament" folder:

papers, alphasand teeny gems are from my stash and i went simple with the layout - i wanted the ornament to take center stage.  i rubbed some StazOn in Olive Green over the raised parts, added some yellow Stickles, and loved how the ornament was blingy but still kind of subtle.  check it out up close:

i actually think the stickles are STILL wet!  it's been hours!  but i love the shimmer and the bits of glitter in the actual cardstock.  also not my typical holiday color combo!  i shall be getting lots of use out of this folder and i already have a few other projects planned!  check out the rest of the Christmas goodies by CLICKING HERE and i'll be sharing a ton of holiday projects over the next few weeks!

oh, and we've got some exciting things up our sleeves at Crafter's Companion!  if you are one of our newsletter subscribers, you'll have caught wind of this yesterday, but if not, i'm sure the buzz will be coming your way soon!  :)