My weekend in pictures... Memorial Day Family Time

Hello! How was your holiday weekend? I'm back to reality and wishing I was still relaxing at the cabin. But summer has just begun, and there will be plenty of more opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. Here are a few pictures from my phone to show off from the nice time away...

(clockwise) 1. An afternoon of exploring... came across loons, an adorable porcupine, and some turkeys. 2. A fruit pizza, the first one I've ever made, and was it ever delicious! 3. Good morning! Taken at 5 AM while getting my fish on with pops and my brother. 4. Our nightly bonfires where we reminisced about the day's events and years past. 5. A little trail riding. This pic was taken before we ran into rain and lots of mud puddles... too much fun!

Sketch It Saturday 160 - Hello Lovey

Hello friends! I hope your weekend is off to a great start! I'm popping in today to show off this week's sketch at Unscripted Sketches. You won't want to miss out on this one. 

And here's some inspiration for you:

As you can see, I changed up the original sketch quite a bit. But that's the beauty of Unscripted Sketches. We want you to create a card, layout, or other creation using the sketch as a starting point. Then flip it, change it, make it your own. And don't forget to link up! We want to see what you create and give you a chance to be featured as one of the top three! You have until Thursday, May 31st. 

I did quite a bit of paper piecing for this card. It's a major stress reliever for me to tediously cut a bunch of tiny pieces while watching an episode or two of a show streaming on Netflix. OK! You caught me, a full season ;) I photographed the card before adding the colored pieces to the image to show a more clean and simple version. It's still adorable, but after looking at both I love the pop of color the paper piecing provides. What do you think?

My color inspiration for this card came from Market Street Stamps' Paint the Town Color Challenge. In addition to Sketch It Saturday, join in the fun over at MSS. You have until Monday to post your creation. 

Weekend Update

Hello friends. I'm heading out of town for Memorial Day. The weekend will be full of fishing, family, grilling out, nature walks, and lots of ticks.. eek! But I can't wait. In fact, I'm taking a half day of work today, because we're all so excited to head up to our cabin. We have many military veterans in our family, and I'm positive stories will be shared this weekend as we take a brief moment to recognize the sacrifice of many. It's that sacrifice that has created the freedom and safety I have to enjoy weekends such as these. Here's a little flashback from Memorial Day Weekend a few years ago.

I may be out of town, but please stop by the blog tomorrow for the reveal of last week's Top 3 and the new sketch at Unscripted Sketches. I'll have some inspiration for you... take that extra day in your weekend and join in on the challenge!

Enjoy your holiday friends.

Experimenting With New Paper & Inks

Masculine cards are always the hardest to create. This week I pushed myself to create something a little rugged and manly. How do you think it turned out? 

The new Distress Markers from Ranger and Tim Holtz arrived in our store, Creations Galore. After watching a video of Tim demonstrating the markers, I wanted to give water based markers a try. I grabbed a few Tombow markers and a waterbrush, along with this great stamp from Northwoods, and created this scene. 

I've never used any paper other than watercolor with Tombow markers. But using Tim's direction, I took out a piece of Matte Coat cardstock from Paper Cut. It's a dead ringer for the Specialty Stamping Paper (matte coat) that he uses. I was amazed at the watercolor look this technique gave the stamped image... and quite love it. I'll need to try this again soon!

To try this technique without watching the full video (although you should!) squiggle a bit of each color marker on a craft sheet or acrylic block to create a palette. Dip your waterbrush into the ink you wish to use and paint with it. I mixed a few of the colors on the craft sheet as well to get less intense oranges and reds.

I added Tea Dye and Black Soot Distress Ink around the edges with a foam tool. Due to the coated surface of the paper, the Distress Inks became almost metallic yet still rustic. Manly card officially complete! 

CARD SUPPLIES
Cardstock: Paper Cut
Stamp: Northwoods
Inks: StazOn (Jet Black), Tombow Markers, Distress Inks (Black Soot, Tea Dye)
Brads: Gary Berlin (Copper)

TOMBOW PALETTE
Base Green: 249 Hunter Green
Detail Green: 098 Avocado
Wheel: 899 Redwood, 925 Scarlet
Pheasant: 977 Saddle Brown, 847 Crimson, 098 Avocado

Summer Is Here

On hot summer nights I love to head to the Riverwalk just blocks from my home. It's the perfect way to relax at the end of a long day. Yesterday, however, had a wonderful breeze that cooled us under the warm sun. After grabbing a sub downtown, my dear friend, Anna, and I headed to the Riverwalk to take in the view. It was full of picnicing families, bikers, and fishermen. With Wisconsin's cold winters, you can't help but appreciate summer. I can smell the BBQ already... 

Home Is

I just picked up the Home Swreet Home set from Market Street Stamps and had a great time creating different scenes. I turned one of the many I created into this adorable card... What do you think? Home really is where the heart is.

CARD SUPPLIES
Cardstock: American Crafts, Paper Cut
Patterned Paper: We R Memory Keepers
Stamps: Market Street Stamps
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Tombow Marker Crimson

Time for my close up...

I had the great privilege to be a model for my sister-in-law's hair and beauty portfolio. She is officially in Phase Two at Paul Mitchell and will be graduating soon. What an honor to to have her work her magic on me. Can't wait to see the final outcome of the shoot. Until then, here are a few behind the scenes shots from the day.

A Late Night Post

It's been quite the long weekend at the end of quite a long week. I may feel tired and unrested, but tomorrow's Monday and I'm determined to be ready. Tonight I'm choosing to have a positive outlook. I refuse to dread tomorrow or complain about its happenings. Rather, I'm pressing onward toward a fresh start, the beginning of something grand... Let's make this week exciting. Let's work with diligence and pride. Let us SEIZE THE DAY. 

And just in case my mini-speech and card weren't enough to encourage you to look positively at Monday morning, here's the Newsies to give you that extra push.

Some days...

...I think I'm being really creative. But in reality,

my work's just plain ugly. Go ahead and laugh... I sure did!

Have a wonderful, creative, and humorous weekend.

A little sneak peek...

I've been busy teaching classes this week, and I can't wait to share all the pictures and projects with you. I was invited to teach a few sessions of scrapbooking to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade girls for Course Day at a local school. And today I shared my love of alcohol inks with some young-girls-at-heart at Creations Galore. What fun it is to dig in, get crafty, and witness others expressing their individual styles and creative thoughts. More to come!

Sketch It Saturdays - Sketch 158

Thank you for joining me for Sketch It Saturdays with Unscripted Sketches. I love what the other Design Team members have put together this week, so make sure to head over and see all of the lovely inspiration. Here is today's sketch:

And here's the card I created:

I must admit, I was a bit thrown off by this week's sketch. It took inking up a few stamps before I finally had that 'Ah Ha' moment. I can't get over how adorable these birds are. The image, along with the sentiment, are a part of the Scarecrow Accessories stamp set by Peachy Keen Stamps. I'm still debating what I might use this card for... a new neighbor, new member at church, maybe a cute dinner party invite... Who would you give this card to?

Thanks for stopping by. Head over to Unscripted Sketches to enter your card into the drawing using this week's sketch. We'd love to see what you create!

CARD SUPPLIES

Cardstock: Bazzill, Paper Cut. 

Patterned Paper: We R Memory Keepers
Stamps: Peachy Keen Stamps (Scarecrow Accessories)
Ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black)

Bird Watching

There's a saying here in Wisconsin: "If you don't like the weather, wait ten minutes." That sure is the truth. Quite regularly I've had the heat and air conditioning blasting in the car on the same day! When it's 70 degrees one day and 30 degrees the next, it's hard to tell what season it truly is. But the birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, and thunderstorms are common... all pointing that spring is here! 

With that enthusiasm I created this card showing off a spring scene from Northwoods Stamps. I used this CPS sketch as inspiration and used Copic markers to color the image. I love adding dimension to my projects, and this card was no exception. To bring emphasis to the birds, I stamped the image a second time, colored the birds, and adhered them to the original image using foam risers. It seems like they're ready to fly off the page!

Beyond the card, we've had a momma bird create a nest in the rock bed surrounding the store. Yesterday, the birds broke free from their egg enclosures and said hello. I had the fine privilege of watching the eggs move and the birds poke their way out! How thrilling it was to watch. 

Have you encountered any beautiful signs of spring where you are? Have a blessed weekend.

CARD SUPPLIES

Cardstock: Paper Cut
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey, Bo Bunny, Donna Salazzar
Inks: Copic Markers, Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Stamp: Northwoods
Ribbon: Bazzill
Extras: Spellbinders Die (Labels Nine)

COPIC LIST
Flowers: B32, B34, B37, B39
Leaves: YG91, YG93, YG95, G99
Branches: E44, E47, E49
Birds: W-1, W-3, YG91
Shadows: W-1, YR20

Reach For The Stars

Go ahead. Let's not limit ourselves.

CARD SUPPLIES
Cardstock: American Crafts, Paper Cut
Patterned Paper: BoBunny, We R Memory Keepers
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Ribbon: Gary Berlin Cobalt Grosgrain.

Voice of the Heart - Dimensional Butterflies

Hello friends. Today I'm sharing a card I created using this week's sketch from Unscripted Sketches as inspiration. I changed up the sketch a bit, but stuck with the quote suggestion. And I just couldn't resist the dimensional butterflies. It makes this larger stamp come to life!

The sentiment got a little lost on the card, so I added black pigment ink around the edges and some stitched ribbon.

To recreate the dimensional flowers yourself, gather any butterfly stamp and tacky glue. For this specific card I used the Brown Eyed Susan stamp from Northwoods; however, I've used this technique on multiple other butterfly images. 

Stamp and color the image as you wish. Then stamp the image again, coloring only the butterflies. Cut out the butterflies and fold in half with the colored side inward. Add a little glue to the fold and adhere to the first stamped image. I love using Glossy Accents from Inkssentials. It appears as an epoxy sticker when applied over a sticker, paper, or stamped image and allowed to dry. However, it also is a fast drying, clear, incredibly durable adhesive. It's my go-to-glue for buttons, twine, and metal embellishments. 

Head on over to Unscripted Sketches to view this week's sketch, see what the rest of the Design Team whipped up, and enter a card yourself! I'd love to see what you create.

CARD SUPPLIES

Cardstock: Copic X-Press It Blending Card, Paper Cut

Stamps: Northwoods, Penny Black

Inks: Copic Markers, Memento Dye (Tuxedo Black), ColorBox Pigment (Black)

Ribbon: MayArts 

COPIC LIST

Flowers: Y06, Y08, Y26

Centers: E17, E18

Leaves: G21, YG63, YG67

Blues: B93, B02, B05

Purples: V12, V15, V17

Oranges: YR02, YR04, YR07

Beautiful Blessings

Good morning. Today I'm sharing a card I designed as a Make N Take at Creations Galore. The stamp set from Market Street Stamps contains these stamps, in addition to a pumpkin and a thankful sentiment. Therefore, I had always looked at it with a fall perspective. Staring at it this past week, I challenged myself to try something new. And here it is:

I created it for my dear friend, Amber, who married her best friend this weekend. I'm so happy for her and wish the two of them the best. I joined a few of my blessings at the reception for some tasty food and close dancing.