Happy Easter

I hope you are all enjoying the Easter break, spending time with your family, eating lots of chocolate eggs and finding time for a little Copic colouring.

I am sharing some of my Easter themed projects with you today... firstly a little pillow gift box (filled with chocolate of course!!) and a card...both created with some sweet Magnolia images from the 2011 Butterfly Dreams Collection..."Tilda holding Egg Basket" and "Tilda & her Bunny" the fence is from a previous Spring collection from Magnolia.

Copics Used:
Happy Easter Pillow
Skin - E00, E11, E000 - Cheeks - R20
Hair & Boots - E31, E33, E35
Basket - E33, E35, E37
Dress - R81, R83, R83 - W3 - Colourless Blender
Easter Eggs - Y21, Y23, R35, R32, G00, G02, B00, B01, YR07 YR00, B91, B93, YG03, YG00

Forever Friends Card
Skin - E00, E11, E000 - Cheeks - R20
Fence & Boots - E31, E33, E35
Hair - E33, E35, E37
Hat - Y21, Y23, Y26
Top & Ribbon - RV91, RV93, RV95
Pants - B91, B93, B95
Daffodils - Y21, Y23, YR07, YG93, YG95, YG97

The sky and grass were airbrushed with B21, YG93 using the Air Brush System Set 1 it is a complete set ready to use. It comes with the Airgrip, Aircan 180 (approx.40mins of air ), the Air Adapter, Airhose and Can Holder and is available to order online in the Mad for Markers store http://www.madformarkers.com.au/....and those gorgeous little paper daffodils were purchased last weekend at http://www.scrap2relax.com.au/ - thanks to my friends there for suggesting them - I already "need" more LOL!! They also mentioned that I "really need" some Liquid Pearls for my card making too...so I came away with 3 different colours of that too!! Miss Tilda here is wearing some Ranger Liquid Pearls in Bisque as earrings in this card - just to add a touch of sophistication - he he!

I also want to share another card I made for Easter using Bonnie from Spesch Designer Stamps - she is so cute and with her precious little bunny  is the perfect image for your Easter friendship cards.

Copics Used:
Skin - E00, E11, E000 - Cheeks - R20
Hair - E13, E15, E17
Dress - V12, V15, V17
Ribbon & Trim - BG11, BG13, BG15
Bunny - R20, W1, W3

I added some texture to the dress by dabbing a scrap piece of fabric with some colourless blender ink and pressing it over the coloured image.....I love all the fun things you can do with the colourless blender... make sure you add one to your next Mad for Markers order, if you don't already have it in your Copic Collection.


..and if you have some inspirational and/or creative ideas using Copic Markers.... submissions are now open for Copicendium ... a mini-magazine/ ideas booklet to be produced by Mad for Markers - devoted solely to the use of Copic Markers...

A "Distressing" Good Time

I did say I would be back today with a few more cards to show you....remember?? I said I was spending the weekend with my BFF... and she was going to introduce me to something new -  well not really "something new" but something I hadn't played with before! I had a lesson in the variety of uses for Distress Inks - it was fun to get my embossing powders and heat gun out again..... and rediscover the huge stash of stamps I have collected over the years - and shhh!! don't tell anyone but I did find some stamps and inks that I had never used - they were still  wrapped in their packaging!!  ;) I did enjoy creating some different looking cards but this form of card making is a lot messier than my beloved Copics and not nearly as theraputic as colouring-in....but it makes for a nice change now & then....and I can see myself playing a bit more with them.

These are two of the cards I made....

and a closer look at "You Amaze Me"

The stamp set I used is For The Luv of Art "La Mode" Stamp set - available here online at http://www.fortheluvofart.com/ForTheLoveofArtLaModeStampSet.aspx The flourish in the corner is from a SU set called "Baroque Motifs" - the pink patterned paper is from Echo Park's Love Letter range - I used some "Old Paper" Distress Ink to tone down the brightness of the pink.....the other ink colours I used were "Victorian Velvet", "Peeled Paint" and "Walnut Stain" all from the Tim Holtz Ranger Ink range.

...and "Thankyou"

....this card was created with a selection of my "Stampin' Up" stash the only name I can remember is the background stamp - "French Script". I embossed the flower and leaves with clear detail embossing powder and used "Antique Lined", "Bundled Sage",  "Walnut Stain" and "Tattered Rose" to create my background. The pink spotted paper is from the "Chicks Rock" collection by "Three Bugs in a Rug" - really cool girly papers in this range!

As we enter into the Easter weekend and the prediction of rain, I expect you will find me in my "happy room" playing with Paper, Ink, Stamps and Copics - stay tuned!!.... to see what I come up with LOL!!

Think Spring

While it may not be Spring here in the land downunder - the days here are starting to get dark and dreary. Therefore I thought it would be the perfect time to  introduce some sunshine and happiness to our days.
This is a new Digital Kit Collaboration - by the "Sugar Girls" over at http://www.sugarhillco.com/  called "Think Spring"

No surprises that I LOVE the colour scheme of this kit!! LOL!....here is a digi layout of my two favourite girls that I created with this scrumptious kit!!

....and a card I created for my friend Jacinta's birthday - combining the kit with my beloved Copic Markers.

Copics Used:

Skin - E00, E21, E51
Cheeks - R20 and White Pen
Dress - R22, R32, R35
Hair - Shoes - E31, E33, E35
Balloon - Y21, Y23, Y26

...for more info on this Digi Kit visit - http://angelhartline.com/blog/ or http://www.sugarhillco.com/ and for all your Copic Marker supplies - http://www.madformarkers.com.au/

I'll be back tomorrow - with some of the goodies I made over the weekend!!

Some Digital Mo-Jo!

I was first introduced to digital stamps about 12 months ago and while there were so many wonderful designers with gorgeous images to choose from....I couldn't quite bring myself to give up the rubber, ink and smudgy mistakes LOL!! However, this week my card making mo-jo has been in full swing and I've been colouring up a storm with the delightful images of illustrator Mo Manning...and having so much FUN!! You can find this fabulous collection of digital stamps here http://www.mosdigitalpencil.com/

I've always been a bit of a fairy fan and these little cuties were hard to resist. Of course I reached for my favourite colour combination of Pink and Green to use with them. I use my Copics R81, R83 and R85 so much that they are in need of a refill ;)

This is "Fairy Kiki " and I used my airbrush system to add some sky -  B21 and grass - YG45 - isn't she adorable?? - I am also entering this in the current challenge over at http://mosdigitalchallenge.blogspot.com/ which is create a project using a image that depicts "something new".

This is "Birthday Fairy Lee" and she is the perfect excuse for splashing around a bit of glitter....I used my "pink" and "blossom" coloured spica pens and some kindy glitz on this card....and that ever favourite colour scheme LOL!!

...the purchase of this image "What's Cooking" was a fund raiser for the Earthquake Disaster in Japan and I so had to add it to my collection - the aqua blue and red colour combo is a little bit of a different look for me but I think I'm ready to experiment with it a bit more after making this card. The blue is from the BG range of Copic colours BG11, BG13, BG15 and the reds are R32, R35, R37

When I discovered the Mo Manning images, I also did some blog hopping of her DT and came across Debbie Pamment a talented Aussie card maker - http://debbiepsplace.blogspot.com/
Her card of Miss "Veronica" was my inspiration for this sassy 50th Birthday card for a friend and I love how it turned out - thanks Debbie!!

...and I do apologise for the quality of my photos in this post - it has been dark, dreary and raining here this week and my natural light has been a bit wanting - time to build me a light box I think!! ;)
 I will be spending this weekend with my BFF who is also a papercraft junkie - so stay tuned.....I'm sure I will have lots of new creations to share with you over the next few days.

A Touch of Pretty

My blog post today includes some of my latest Digi and Card projects -  that all have a touch of "Pretty"

Firstly, I wanted to share with you my "first-time" play with my new Copic Air-Brushing System....I am going to require a little more practise with it and my masking technique....but already I can tell you I LOVE this new addition to the "toys" in my craft room.

I have a few cards to make in the next couple of weeks in time for Easter but this is one, I can cross off my list! I used my new Magnolia images - from the 2011 Butterfly Dreams Collection (Tilda with her Bunny and the Tulip Wheelbarrow) stamped onto X-Press IT Blending Card...along with an assortment of other goodies from the Mad for Markers store.

Air Brush System Set 1

it is a complete set ready to use. It comes with the Airgrip, Aircan 180 (approx.40mins of air ), the Air Adapter, Airhose and Can Holder.

Mask it Sheets
also available in the M4M store - 8 sheets 15" x 10"

Copics:
Sky - B91, W1
Grass - YG93, YG95, YG97
Wheelbarrow - E33, E35, E37
Leaves and Tulips - YG93, YG95, YG97, Y21, Y23, Y26, R81, R83, R85, V12, V15, V17
Skin - E000, E00, E11, R20 (cheeks)
Hair and Boots - E31, E33, E35
Hat - Y21, Y23, Y25
Ribbon and Top - V12, V15, V17
Pants - B93, B95, B97
Bunny - W1, W3, W5

These are Two  Digital Layouts I created using an assortment of Digi Kits over at http://www.fortheluvofart.com/ The little girls in the photos are the daughters of a girlfriend and were taken a couple of weekends ago - a little impromtu photo session just for fun.

List of Digi Kits Used:
Spring Fling - Amy Teets

Snuggle & Happy Sunshine - Dana Miron

Dear Sweet Friend - Janet Carr

Victorian Veranada - Theresa Hernandez
Click - Angel Hartline

...and this layout is based on the sketch from Digi Challenge #1 and made for the 3/24 Thursday Spring Challenge over at http://www.fortheluvofart.com/  too! - the challenges are always a lot of fun and I love seeing everyone else interpretations!!

Digital Kits Used:

Dear Sweet Friend and Olivia's Friend by Janet Carr

Family Affair by Amy Teets

......I haven't entered any of my cards in any online challenges for awhile so I thought I might enter my Easter card into the Magnolia-licious Highlites Challenge - Category One - http://magnolia-licioushighlites.blogspot.com/2011/03/easter-spring-extravaganza-contest.html
but I would also love to have you leave comments with your best Copic Airbrush tips - this beginner can use all the help she can get LOL!!

A Little Bit of Colouring

I have been fighting off some sort of virus for a couple of weeks now - so my "playtime" has been a bit spasmodic...that's to say the least!!  However, it hasn't all been about lazing on the couch, or taking to my sick bed LOL!! I have managed a quick trip to Melbourne to visit Sammi from Mad for Markers at Paperific -  and I did come home with a "air brush system" and a few more copics to add to my collection!! I also got to do a little bit of colouring on the weekend - well I had to! I have had a few requests from friends for wedding & birthday cards....so I thought I would share a few of them with you.

The first is a Wedding Card for a young couple getting married next weekend. The sentiment I made on the computer using the font "Beyond Wonderland" and I have since added their names in the bottom right corner using the same font. The stamp is the "Loving Bridal Couple" from Magnolia's 2010 Wedding Collection. I used B91 for the dress and shirt - B91, B93, B95 for the pants and the roses were coloured in with my new purchases RV91, RV93 and RV95. I used some silver metallic cardstock and lots of silver glitter on the card to make it a little more fancy LOL!

This card is for a cute little 2 year old and one of my new La La Land Stamps - from Mad for Markers, Marci with Rose - she is such a delight to colour - Her hat & rose are  Y21, Y23, Y26, her dress is V12, V15, V17 and the green higlights are Y21, BG01, BG05. I did a bit of "pen stitching" in lilac just to put some finishing touches to the card.

I've been practising my "fur" colouring technique with the gorgeous kitty "Mollie Mittens with Flower" from Tickled Pink Stamps....as you can see I still need more practise!!!!!!! - but hey! a girl has to start somewhere!! The fur is my favourite brown combo E33, E35 and E37 - Mollie's dress is V12, V15, V17 and the yellow highlights are Y23 and Y26 - and as you can see, I got my glitter liner out for this card too!!

I also wanted to share this photo of myself with Sammi the store owner of Mad for Markers - we met just on 12 months ago and this lady has taught me so much - it is such an honour to be on her DT.

This photo was taken on Friday when we got to catch up again at the Paperific event in Melbourne. It was also a pleasure while there to meet Tracey, Annette and Emma - these ladies are also on the M4M Design Team and have been so encouraging and inspiring - imagine the fun we could all get up to!! - you can take a peek at the girls,  the fun and their beautiful colouring creations at the Mad for Markers blog http://www.madformarkers.blogspot.com/