Ivy Greenleaf

I figured that any image that sports the name green in the name should at least have some green.  We're lucky the dress and hat are the only green color here.  The skin doesn't look so orange/red in real like and I just have not been able to capture it.  I present

 Ivy Greenleaf.

Morgans Art World Ivy Greenleaf.

One Happy Cut Spellbinders Labels 8 and Labels 18

Copics markers and my Cuttlebug

I don't remember what stamp brand "surprise" is.

Blue Pearls

It Must Be Cold!

What a beautiful image and she was a dream to color.  Such a pensive look, the hands close up to the face, it all seems to draw you in to the image.  I so enjoyed coloring her.  Using white for the coat means the coloring seems to fly by, not that you don't have to use color on a white coat.  I wanted to intensify the cold, so I used some BG0000 to give it a fresh chill factor.  The gray colors in the hair also heighten the effect of a cold weather card.

Morgan's Art World Winter Fae

One Happy Cut Spellbinder's Nestabilities Labels 8

I'm sharing this card at Die Cut Divas for the "Shaped Card" challenge.  Please visit and participate, especially with two sponsors like Morgan's Art World and One Happy Cut.

Another image that captivated my imagination was this ballerina.  She is beautiful and one always strives to do justice to art.  I don't often use this color, but couldn't help bug grab my Copic marker and begin.  I hope you like her too.

Morgans ArtWorld Ballerina
One Happy Cut Spellbinder's Nestabilities Labels 8

My First Post as a Member of Morgan's Art World Team

I'm so excited to post my first time for Morgan's Art World.  I couldn't make just one card.  You DO know how it is with images.  They just seem to pull you in.

Be sure to visit Morgan's Art World blog to join in the challenge.

Here we go!  I don't think I would like to see this dude in my crystal ball, but he is.  He has such a gaunt face, so I added more pink to the flesh there to emphasize that thinness.

Morgan's Vampire - Halloween 17

Closeup of the cold hearted dude

I had to create another card.

Here is a woodland nymph to bring the magic of Halloween to life.  The different colors in her skin (green, yellow, light creamy tan) denote the nature of the woodland. 

This is Cameo Fae

 I used this die with Cameo Fae on October 1st and I wanted to use it again, but moved the image off center to capture her fingers in the circle.  She appears totally different with different colors and just a shift of the die.

Close-up

Happy creating!

Easy Tags and Easy Cards

I know I have to start early on my holiday tags and cards.  I give away 12 to 16 bags of cards for the holidays to staff I work with and friends I just want to show I care.  That's a lot of cards, so I save almost everything I make to give away as gifts.  Now I have to make the cards and tags that go with the gifts.  I found a new Hero Arts set, Winter Scene, that makes my tags and cards fun.  I started with patterned papers to see how those turned out.  They were fun and I made about 15 so I have my tags all ready to go for my staff at work.

You can see that you can even use the patterned paper as part of the design.  I also have the matching jar die.  You can see how these would be quick and easy.

Supplies for Tags: Hero Arts Frame Cuts Jar Frame Cut, Hero Arts Winter Scene, Hero Arts Shadow Ink, Wet Cement Mid-Tone, Memento Rich Cocoa, Memento Tuxedo Black Hero Arts Forever Green and Green Hills.  On the patterned tags, I used Memento Tuxedo Black only.  They look more like silhouettes and have a kind of old fashioned feel to them.

WATCH OUT: CARDS BELOW!

Now for some cards.  Where I used black ink on my patterned paper for my elements, on the white paper, you can mix up your colors.  Just stamping the large jar in the set and placing your elements from the set inside creates a fun and easy card.  I used the Hero Arts Shadow Ink, soft sky, for the ground element as well as the snow.  I really like the way these turned out.

Close-up of two cards below. You can see the snow and ground.  I know the grounds blue, but it seems to fit for me.  I used Memento Rich Cocoa to stamp the deer, Memento Tuxedo Black, Hero Arts Shadow Ink, soft sky, for the sentiment, Hero Arts Forever Green and Green Hills for the trees below. 

I used Memento Tuxedo Black to stamp the jar and sentiment, Hero Arts Soft Sky Hero Arts Shadow Ink and Hero Arts Forever Green, Green Hills for the trees and Red Royal for the house

Supplies: Winter Tree Scene, Hero Arts Frame Cuts Jar Frame Cut, Hero Arts Winter Scene, Hero Arts Shadow Ink, Wet Cement Mid-Tone, Memento Rich Cocoa, Memento Tuxedo Black Hero Arts Forever Green and Green Hills.

Hope you’ll join in our October Challenge which is all about All Things Fall. card with your Hero Arts stamps, dies and stencils. And, if you need some new supplies, don’t forget to shop at a2z Scrapbooking..  Don’t forget that we are on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.  Follow us on these different social media outlets so you won’t miss out on any fun promotions!

You can use code Arlene15 at checkout to receive 15% off your purchase of $25 or more (before tax and shipping).  Don’t forget that we are on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.  Follow us on these different social media outlets so you won’t miss out on any fun promotions!

The Bridge

In California, when we think of Fall, we think of the beginning of the rainy season.  Well, we used to, until the drought and now we hope for the rainy season.  But I'm not depending on the weather for this card, I'm taking my wet memories of stormy skies and the most prominent landmark in Northern California, the Golden Gate Bridge.  On a sunny day, it's absolutely glorious, but on those stormy days, it can be a bit ominous.    Here is my rendition of the Golden Gate Bridge under the assault of the Pacific Ocean and skies that don't seem to know whether we'll see the sun or dark rain clouds.

I gave this card to my boss for Boss's Day on Friday.  He grew up in San Francisco and he loved the card.  

Supplies:

a2z Scrapbooking Hero Arts Digital City Adventure

Hero Arts AC031 Travel (I don't think it's available anymore)

Distress Inks Broken China, Spiced Marmelade, Mustard Seed, Shabby Shutters

Elizabeth Craft Designs die - Beach Edges

Visit here at a2z Scrapbooking for our challenge.

Hope you’ll join in our Octoberr\ Challenge and make a "Fall" card with your Hero Arts stamps, dies and stencils. And, if you need some new supplies, don’t forget to shop at a2z Scrapbooking.  You can use code Arlene15 at checkout to receive 15% off your purchase of $25 or more (before tax and shipping).  Don’t forget that we are on Twitter, Instagram and  Facebook.   Follow us on these different social media outlets so you won’t miss out on any fun promotions!

Rowan Last Enchanter

I loved the images from Morgan's Art World.  I had to (HAD TO) have more than my fair share and also print them out in different sizes and color them in different ways.

My first image is smaller and offers less detail than the second.  I'm happy with both.  I had fun making shaped cards, which I haven't done in quite some time.

These are examples for the Die Cut Divas' challenge of  shaped cards for October.  Morgan's Art World is the sponsor for October and I love the images. Be sure to look for Morgan's Art Stamps on her website.or this should get you to the right space to look for her fabulous images.

My second card using the same image, but different Spellbinder's die set.

Morgan's Art Stamps Rowan, Last Enchanter

I hope you're in shape for our challenge, that is, CARD SHAPE. 

 Ok, a bit hokey, but I'm ok with that.

I'm over the Moon This Fall

NO BACKGROUND CREATION ON MY PART.  THIS IS A PURCHASED PAPER PAD I PURCHASED ON SALE 

I went a bit overboard with this stencil, but I have given all these cards away already. I had to make more because everyone who saw these now want at least one card in their Christmas package. Yikes, What have I done? I hope you like these, but I have more on my post at a2z Scrapbooking. See, I did go wild with this technique and stencil.
I gave all of the 8 cards away and have to make a ton more for the holidays because my staff want these in their gift bags for the holidays.

A TIP: I did tape the stencil on top of each card by using REMOVABLE tape all along the inside of the stencil. All the places where it might lift up if you sponged a bit heavier or rougher will stay down. I have a rough sponge pad that helps get the tape off the back in soapy water as removable tape on plastic still likes to stick. I can see sooooooooo many uses for this stencil. Every season of the year could use this stencil.  

This bottom card is my favorite.  In real life, it is haunting.

I posted four more cards on the a2z Scrapbooking blog for you to see. A little more on how I put this this together follows:

The card stock is cut from 12: X 12" card stock I purchased from Michaels a couple months ago  NO SPONGING on the background, but lots of woodsy sponging of white.  I was so lucky to have found these backgrounds.  They look so natural and even a bit handmade.  I don't think I'm that good.

I had to make 27 more tops to go on cards.  I sat one afternoon and sponged  the white unicorn ink onto 27 card tops until I was done.  It's about that time when you don't want to look at another card again.  But the results were well worth it.  I had so many compliments and requests for cards that I needed to start on the rest now.  I totally LOVE this Hero Arts stencil and  Unicorn ink.

• OWH Forest Stencil
• Hero Arts Sentiments from various clear stamp sets.
• Hero Arts Ombre Ink Light Ruby to Royal Red - used the middle section of the ink pad for seniments
• Hero Arts Cup O' Joe Ink and Grape Juice for sentiment
• Hero Arts Hero Hues Pigment Ink - Unicorn (I LOVE this ink)

Hope you’ll join in our October Challenge and make a "Fall" card with your Hero Arts stamps, dies and stencils. And, if you need some new supplies, don’t forget to shop at a2z Scrapbooking.  You can use code Arlene15 at checkout to receive 15% off your purchase of $25 or more (before tax and shipping).  Don’t forget that we are on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.  Follow us on these different social media outlets so you won’t miss out on any fun promotions!

I am also entering my first card (hello) into the Crafting With Dragonflies challenge.

A2Z for you and me

It's the start of a new challenge at a2Z Scrapbooking 

and it's time for a new challenge.  

Yes, I've been having fun making cards.  Today's no exception.  Think of Fall and you think of October orangish skies well, those of us in the Northern part of the world think of an autumn sky.

What's fun about October is Halloween.  I loved it as a child and still do.  Some people dress up at work in costumes and we have a great deal of fun during the day.

I am sharing my Halloween Card as part of the Fall Challenge at a2z Scrapbooking. as well as my CCC card to my partner in the Card Chain Challenge at Society of Stampaholics.   I've sent this card. to Jo in England and since they don't really celebrate like Americans, she loved receiving my Halloween card.

Close-up of the writing as it is embossed in gold.

 a2z Scrapbooking digital Haunted

Hero Arts Baby Animals Stamp and Cut DC148

An old Hero Arts month set for "October"

Tim Holtz Distress Inks Spiced Marmelade, Ripe Persimmon, Mustard Seed, Scattered Straw

I used an old 18 kt. GOLD Leafing pen from Kylon to color the moon. I know it looks strange, but I didn't want  the shine and brightness that heat embossing can have.

Hope you’ll join in our October  Challenge and make a shaker card with your Hero Arts stamps, dies and stencils. And, if you need some new supplies, don’t forget to shop at a2z Scrapbooking.

If you are in need of any items from the a2z Scrapbooking store  you can use code Arlene15 at checkout to receive 15% off your purchase of $25 or more (before tax and shipping).  Don’t forget that we are on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.  Follow us on these different social media outlets so you won’t miss out on any fun promotions!

Haunting and VIbrant

Check out Die Cut Divas for the October 1st challenge of SHAPED CARDS.  Yes, the cat is out of the bag, I said shaped cards.

This image seems to possess freedom and energy.  I found it haunting and vibrant. I loved coloring and matching this image with this exquisite die-cut.  I think they were meant for each other.  I haven't used this die very often and I really think I'm missing out here.

Our two sponsors for Octobre in one package

Morgan's Art World Cameo Fae (only one of the many lovely images you can see and purchase)

One Happy Cut Spellbinders Nestabilities die set Splendid Circles (there are 4 intriguing dies in this 4 die set)

Have a happy stamping and cutting day!