I'm Back!!

....did you miss me??? - my apologies for taking so long to get back to the "world of blogging". The winter plays havoc with my "mo-jo" I find it so hard to get motivated when it is so cold and miserable...but I have managed some creative time. The past few months I have been busy doing some design work for Creative Memories and have been out and about teaching some scrapbooking ideas to consultants...it's been fun, but it is now time to get myself back into the "happy room" and spend some time with my Copics and my Camera!

There is no doubt Spring is my favourite time of the year - I love days filled with warm sunshine and a garden in full bloom. I thought I would share these photos of my cherry blossom - a beautiful sight to behold, when I open my curtains in the morning :)

I spent last weekend with some of my favourite scrapping buddies and this is one of the cards I created.

....when I first saw Mermaid Marci from La-La Land Craft Stamps I knew instantly that I wanted to give her beautiful mermaid tail, a shimmery look and with a bit of experimenting, I am really pleased with the effect I was able to achieve. I started by colouring the tail in with BG11, BG13, BG15 and my usual method of shading. Then over the top of this colouring I applied a thin coat of Tim Holtz Perfect Pearls ( Berry Twist mixed with water ) and finished it all off, by tracing over the tail image (scales) with clear Spica Pen. The effect was a little difficult to photograph, but if you have ever seen the children's book The Rainbow Fish this tail has the same wonderful shiny foil appearance :) I can't wait, to try this technique again, it would be perfect for all my princess & fairy themed stamps!



Copics Used:


Skin - E000, E00, E11 - Cheeks/Lips - R20
Hair - E31, E33, E35
Top & Star - R81, R83, R85
Tail - BG11, BG13, BG15 / Clear Spica Pen

...well now I am a back and the "mo-jo" is returning.... stay tuned for more regular posting :)

Card Sharing Time

....yes!! finally, I have something to share with you - my neglect of this blog has a long story attached to it and I won't bore you with all the details...but my Mojo has simply disappeared this past week - I worked very hard on the weekend to try and colour an image and when I finally did, I found my card making tools had disappeared too!!! After a BIG search I finally tracked them down....it seems my daughter had taken them back to Uni with her last weekend - eeks!!....but without further ado LOL!! Here is the card I eventually made to share with the Mad for Makers girls.

This is Kaylee with Balloon - one of the new photopolymer clear stamps from Some Odd Girl that are now stocked by Mad for Markers -  Each stamp comes with an additional sentiment enclosed and this one is a pretty funky looking Happy Birthday....and don't forget to check out the other Some Odd Girl stamps now available here in the Mad for Markers store....there is a sweet little cow and gorgeous little fella with his dog Toby.

Copics Used:
Skin - E000, E00, E11 - R21 Cheeks
Eyes - B00, B02 - white gel pen
Hair - E74, E77, E79 - it was the first time I have used this brown combo and I rather like it!
Shoes/Skirt/Jacket - W1, W3, W5
Balloon, Headband, Socks - R81, R83, R85

I also had a little play with this Mo Manning digital image called Teacup Fairy and the current sketch challenge at Mo's Digital Challenge to see if I could "kick-start" my mojo again 'cos I am a huge fan of Mo's designs and they always put a smile on my face!

......she is very cute!!

Copics Used:
Skin - E000, E00, E11 - R21 Cheeks
Hair - E31, E33, E35
TeaCup - G00, G03, G05
Pink Roses - R81, R83, R85 - and crimson adhesive pearl centres
Fairy Wings - R83, Spica - Blossom ...and some Crystalina Glitter Gel for that extra Bling LOL!
I created my card using papers and embellishments from the 6 1/2" Paper Pad from Kaisercraft called Chanteuse - lots of my fave pinks and greens to be found in this collection!


Enjoy your week! - and if you find my Mojo or manage to track down my daughter - I would LOVE to hear from you - LOL!

Yay! - it's the Weekend!!

....and I am home alone - my family are all off doing their own thing - and I don't mind a bit!!!.... It means I get to spend it in my "Happy Room" colouring with my trusty copics, scrapbooking and whatever else, my heart desires LOL!!

Just recently the Mad for Markers Challenge Blog had a "Colouring with Gray" challenge and shared a wonderful tutorial from Copic Oz all about "Desaturating Colour with Gray" - it was perfect for this card I created using the digitial image Jack & Ginger by Mo Manning.

I wanted the colouring of my elderly couple to look a little faded and worn and I also needed my colouring to tone in with the muted and distressed look of my papers....( Kaisercraft - Timeless &  Praire Lane Collections ) Therefore, when I finished colouring my image, I waited for it to dry completely... then I coloured over the top of all the clothing areas with the

W1 ( Warm Gray ) Copic Marker and I was able to create the look I wanted.

Copics Used:

Skin - E00, E00, E11
Hair - W1, W3, W5
Pants - E33, E35, E37
Jack's Jacket/Shoes - W1, W3, W5
Skirt - E31, E33, E35
Ginger's Jacket/Hat - BG01, BG02, BG05
Ginger's Shoes/Handbag - E33, E35, E37
Posy of Flowers - YR04, Y21, YG93
....I also used a white gel pen and the Colourless Blender to add highlights to the clothing.

I used my Copic Airbrush System with BG02 to alter the white roses and pearls to co-ordinate with my papers and images... and I gave the edges of the image and the sentiment areas a distressed chalk look by "dragging" the E31 Copic Marker along the edge of the paper. I was rather pleased, with how this card turned out and I am sure I will be using the desaturating colour technique on many more in the future.

Here Comes Summer....

....he he!! - not here in Australia.....we have just entered the months of cold nights and frosty white lawns in the morning...the ideal time to stay indoors and play with paper... the current challenge over at mosdigitalchallenge is all about warm days and sunshine - and this challenge gave me the perfect opportunity to add a little bit of  "warmth" to my  cardmaking "play-time".

I chose the digital images - "Lacie with Ice-Cream" and "Kai in the Sand with Flowered Hat" for my cards....they are both so very,very cute!! I coloured each of the images with Copics and used the same sketch idea for all three cards I completed for this challenge.

Copics Used:
Skin - E000, E00, E11 - Cheeks - R20
Sand - E53, E55, E57
Bucket - R81, R83, R85
Ball - BG11, BG13, BG15, W3, W1
Hat - R81, R83, R85 BG11, BG13, BG15
Nappy - W1 & Colourless Blender

....little Kai is such a sweetie so I couldn't resist making another card.

Copics Used:
Skin - E000, E00, E11 - Cheeks - R20

Sand - E53, E55, E57
Bucket - R32, R35, R37
Ball - B93, B95, B97, R32, R35, R37
Hat - R32, R35, R37, B91, B95, B97
Nappy - W1 & Colourless Blender

....and for little Lacie I reached for my trusty pinks and came up with this card.

Copics Used:
Skin - E000, E00, E11 - Cheeks - R20
Hair - E50, E51, E55
Dress - R81, R83, R85
Stool & Ice-Cream Cone - E31, E33, E35
Ice-Cream - B00 & Colourless Blender
Thongs & Sunglasses - B91, B95, B97 - Flowers - Y15, Y17

Hope for a Brighter Future

I've got exciting news for you....the wonderful Graphic Designers at http://www.fortheluvofart.com/ have joined forces and created a kit as a fundraiser for the New Zealand & Japan Earthquake.... Red Cross Appeals....called "Hope for a Brighter Future" - profits from the sale of this kit will be evenly distributed between the two countries.


It is now available in store, for you to purchase and it is a kit you will mostly certainly want in your collection....it has fantastic papers and embellishments suitable for all forms of scrapbooking - traditional, digital and hybrid - and of course card makers.

Here is a little preview of the embellishments - the papers are equally as beautiful.

and here is a little layout I created with it ....using pics of my gorgeous eldest daughter - this layout was based on the current Digi Challenge over at the forum at For the Luv of Art - these challenges are such fun.... you should check them out...http://fortheluvofart.forumg.biz/t3151-for-the-luv-of-art-digi-challenge-2

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!!