Surgery Update and Coloring I've Done

Hi Everybody,

It's been a little while since I've posted.  I wanted to update you.... I had knee replacement surgery on 4/9 and feel like I've made a lot of progress since.  I can get up and down with no help and use a walker but I'm starting to actually walk with it taking normal steps, not limping, so soon I'll progress to a cane.  

I believe within a week I should be back to making cards again.  It's getting easier to be able to sit because my knee is now bending a little better.  I'm not going to lie, physical therapy HURTS.  I had to start going two days after surgery but without it I wouldn't be able to bend and straighten my leg and walk normally so it's just something I'll have to deal with.  

In the meantime, I've started coloring again and wanted to share my completed April Pencil Class at Kit and Clowder using Prismacolor Pencils.  How cute is this image??  

I finished the character from the March Pencil Class but didn't get a chance to draw in the sand, water and sky before surgery so I'll work on that too.  These classes are great because they teach you how to draw in detail to your stamps and to draw in scenes.  

I just got my first Daniel Smith Split of Watercolor Paints and have since ordered a second one so I'm excited about using this new medium to paint.  

I can't wait to start making cards again!  Thank you so much for your support!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Regina

Prismacolor Pencils on Kraft Cardstock

Hi Everybody,

I have been taking coloring classes for almost two years, pencil and marker, from Kit and Clowder.  The website is www.kitandclowder.com.  If you would like to take your coloring skills to a new level, I would highly recommend checking these classes out.  Alyce Keegan is an awesome teacher and friend.  

Right now, you can get this cute penguin image and pencil coloring class FREE.  This class is learning how to color on kraft cardstock and dark colored cardstock.  I colored the image and then made a card with it for a friend for Christmas.  I used Prismacolor Pencils to color him. 

I used Thermoweb's Decofoil Transfer Sheets for the frame (red) and the merry die (green) and I used Transfer Gel with a Brutus Monroe Snowflake Stencil and foiled with silver. I embossed the word, Christmas with white embossing powder on a black cardstock strip.  I added Nuvo Drops in various places on the penguin and finished it off with red and silver metallic twine. 

I hope I've piqued your interest in these classes.  Everyone that I have referred has been very happy and has continued on.  There are monthly classes that teach you several techniques in each class for around $15 and there are also specific classes such as Clothing where you learn how to draw in and color pleats, etc., Skin and Hair, Animals, etc.  If you refer a friend, you will receive $10 as a thank you from Alyce.  Be sure to turn in my name if I've inspired you! :) 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Regina

Thinking of You - Slanted Sentiment

Hi Everybody,

I'm on the Strawberry Jude Stamps blog today guest designing for them one more time this month.  I'm really impressed with the quality of their stamps.  HERE'S A LINK to check out the online shop.  

I'm using one of the new release stamp sets called, Grateful Florals.  Last post I used the large bouquet so this time I wanted to use the pine cone and leaf.  When I think of pine cones and leaves, I either picture them laying on the ground in piles on the ground or flying around because it's Fall and windy.  On this card they are flying around. :) 

So, in my head, I have a list of techniques I want to try, ways I want to lay out my card, etc., most of the time I don't use something from the list. This time I am, I have been wanting to do a slanted sentiment so now I can mark it off my head list. 

I am using Gina K Designs Kraft Cardstock and bottom layer Tomato Soup. The sentiment is fairly large so I started by putting it where I wanted it on the card and making lines above and below and then on those lines, I placed the Stitched Border Die by Lawn Fawn.  I really like how you can use these border dies to frame something, section something off, etc.  

Next I used the MISTI and I started stamping using Brutus Monroe Clear Embossing Ink (love!) and Penny Embossing Powder, which looks like copper. I just randomly stamped everything around those slanted lines. I stamped the sentiment in between the slanted lines and embossed with the Penny Embossing Powder.  

I colored the leaves and pine cones with Prismacolor Pencils.  This is another thing I wanted to take off of my head list lol, color on kraft cardstock with colored pencils.  It's very different than coloring on actual pencil paper. I think you can let lose here and not be so perfect on colored cardstock because it is very forgiving. 

I initially thought I would put Glossy Accents over everything but I decided to only use it on the leaves, then I would have a differentiation.  The leaves look like stained glass with the Glossy Accents on them.  Very pretty!

I finished it off by wrapping a piece of natural twine around the card going with the slant and made a bow and then added a few brown glitter enamel dots. 

Did I inspire you to try the slanted sentiment?  I'm not used to it so it makes me feel like my card is not straight lol. 

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!

Regina

Moose Fishing - Masculine Card

Hi Everybody!

I am on the Strawberry Jude Stamps blog today!  I am really excited to be guest designing for them this month.  I am using such an adorable stamp set called Fishing with Moose and Hedgehog.

HERE IS A LINK to the Strawberry Jude Stamps online store - its worth checking out I promise!  

HERE IS A LINK to the stamp set I am using on today's card.  They're other new release is a super cute dragon card and HERE IS A LINK to this stamp set called, Dragons & Jewels. 

This card was so much fun to make!  I love the cute little critters in this set so it was hard to choose which to use so I picked the moose.  I tried to use as many stamps as I could here to create a scene.

First, I stamped the moose and his tacklebox beside him and a fish and hook connected to the fishing pole.  Next, I drew in a dock around the moose and colored with Prismacolor Pencils.  I also colored the fish with Prismacolors and drew in scales.  There were a few scales but I added more.  I cut the fish and dock out.

Then, I used some Canson watercolor paper with some Gansai Tambi watercolor paints.  I used a big, flat paintbrush and painted lightly at the top and gradually made it darker.  I cut out clouds with a stitched die and also the watercolor panel background with a stitched rectangle die, so they would match. 

Finally I stamped the word, Fishing, cut out with a banner die and sponged around it and the clouds with inks. 

This stamp set is PERFECT for masculine cards as you can see and I had a lot of fun using the different stamps on one card.  

I hope I inspired you to draw in scenes and detail around your stamps. Obviously, you're not going to do this on every card because it does take some time, but I know you'll have special occasions for a husband, Dad, etc., where you would want to take more time on the cards. 

This is just one way to make a card with this set, it doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming.  Lay it all out how you want to and make sure you're having FUN with it. 

If you would like to learn more about drawing in scenes around your stamps, adding detail to your stamps, etc., I learned this from taking classes at Kit and Clowder.  Alyce Keegan is the best coloring teacher.  She teaches you how to use the pencils or markers in the classes, why you are shading where you are by teaching lightsource.  There are monthly pencil and marker classes, which I take, and there are Technique classes such as Skin and Hair, Clothing where you learn how to draw in and color pleats, etc., Animal Class and so on.  Check out their website where you will find a couple of free classes.  You can see what they're like and if this is for you. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Regina

Copic and Prismacolor Scenes

Hi Everybody,

I'm working on some cards and I have one that I can't wait to show you but can't post it until after this person gets it Saturday.  I take Copic Marker and Prismacolor Pencil Classes from Kit and Clowder and someone asked why I never post anything I've done and I don't really know why I haven't.  These are the best classes I've taken, I learn so many techniques in each one.  Here are a few that I've done over the past few months.

I just finished this scene with a Mo Manning image using Prismacolor Pencils.  I may blend out the blue in the sky with some gamsol.  I used a colorless blending pencil but not sure that I like the way it looks.  We learn how to draw in detail to our stamps and scenes.

Prismacolor Pencil Class

Copic Class

Prismacolor Pencil Class

Prismacolor Pencil Class

Copic Marker Class

Copic Marker Class

(I drew in these curtains, very challenging but 

look how awesome they are, we learned the 

translucent technique here

Copic Marker Class

Prismacolor Pencil Class

I was so amazed when I saw colored images and scenes and found out they were done using pencils, because it looked like marker to me so I had to find out how to do it.  I had colored pencils but didn't know the proper way to use them.  These classes are a lot of fun, relaxing, and the teacher's Australian accent is nice to listen to as well. :)


I hope you like my colorings.  Just wanted to show that I do this when I'm not making cards.  If you would like more info about these classes go to Kit and Clowder's webpage.

Thank you for stopping by and have a great day!

Regina

I Brake for Vineyards

Hi everybody!

Have you ever been to a winery?  My boyfriend and I wanted to go to Napa Valley but it was going to cost a lot for the plane ticket, rental car, place to stay, etc., so when I lived in St. Louis, I remembered there were wineries in Hermann, Missouri, which is about 5-1/2 drive from where I live in Mississippi.  We fell in love with that place.  We stayed in an Inn called Hermann Hill Inn where you are super pampered.  I won't go into detail here but if anyone wants to know more about this place, I'll be glad to do another blog post.  

I need an anniversary card for my boyfriend.... we will be together 2 years 1/30.  I drew a blank. Then a lightbulb went off to use this stamp called Vineyard for the card since we love the place so much.  We already have rooms booked for this October, it will be out 3rd time going there. 

This stamp is from I Brake For Stamps called Vineyard.  I love coloring scenery stamps!  

Use Coupon Code SAVE10REGINA to receive 10% off of your order. 

I used Prismacolor Pencils to color the image, Memento Rich Cocoa ink so that I could color over the lines, and used baby oil on parts of it to create a smoother look, such as the sky.  You can also use Gamsol for this.  The Love die is from Lawn Fawn.  

I think this will make a great Anniversary Card, don't you?  If you use images that have special meaning to a person on your cards, how can you go wrong?  

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Regina - Design Team Member