Blitsy Feature: Faber-Castell Gelatos Art Journaling

Hi Everyone! 

I am featured on Blitsy this week with my art journal page using Faber-Castell Gelatos. Head over to the Blitsy Blog for more pictures and my process video!

Saturated Canary July Release Hop!

Hi everyone! I am so excited to be joining the Saturated Canary Design Team in this fun July Release Blog Hop! You should have arrived from the talented Regan's Blog. If you just happened to visit during the hop, be sure to go back to the beginning HERE or check out the end of this post for the full list! When Krista asked me there was no hesitation when I said yes. You can check out my art journal using one of the new stamps HERE. Tomorrow she will release five more gorgeous images into her shop and I am lucky enough to share with you some of them (with the help of my girls!)

For my card today, I used the new image called QuickText. I just fell in love with this image as soon as I saw it. I think she looks so sweet and that hair - we all love coloring that hair, right?! I used Copic Markers and fussy cut her out. She comes with two fun sentiment bubbles and I used this one for my card because it is absolutely how I feel about Krista! I also want to enter this card in the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes. :D

Supplies:

Stamps: Saturated Canary Digital Stamp (QuickText), Simon Says Stamp (Grunge Letters Background)

Copics: Skin (E11, E33, V15, E04, R22, R24); Hair (BV31, B63, B66, BV29); Pants (B95, B97, B99); Shirt (Y21, YR23, Y28); Jacket (C5, C7, C9, 100); Purse (N3, N5, N7); Phone (C1, C3)
Ink: Simon Says Stamp Dye Ink (Duckling, Wisteria)
Printer: Brother Laser
Copic Xpress It Blending Card
White Gel Pen
Memento Tuxedo Black Marker
WPlus9 Die (Sunshine)

Krista is also releasing a special set for kids! It includes 3 adorable images and will be available tomorrow for an awesome price just for the kiddos. I just knew I had to ask my girls to play along with me today for this blog hop. They were ecstatic and colored up all three images right away - especially since mom said they could use her Copics which are normally hands off. haha!  I asked them each to pick one of their colored images to create a card. My youngest daughter chose the one little dude of the set. I thought that was so sweet since personally I have a hard time with the boy cards. I absolutely love her coloring and thought it was so cute she wanted to off set the image on the card so it looked like he was skateboarding off!

My oldest did such a great job with this cutie patootie. She didn't ask for any help with the design of her card, cutting the pattern paper all on her own. She said she thought it was perfect for her image because it already had a sentiment on it. Clever, right! I also adore how she added the glitter sticker in the middle of the camera - such a perfect touch.

Now onto the prize...How do you win it you ask?!!! well its super easy. Below is the blog hop order. You will need to hop around the girls blogs and leave a comment on each one for your chance to win a whopping $40 gift certificate for the store!! so get hopping for the chance to get shopping!! he he he!!! Next stop for you is the adorable Alyce! In case you get lost along the way see below for the entire blog hop order.

Blog Hop order...

Lucy.

Lou.

Joni.

Shell.

Jane.

Erin.

Yani.

Regan.

Carisa.  <---you are="" font="" here="">

Alyce.

Lina.

Pauline.

Jane's Doodle July Release Hop!

Hi everyone! I am excited to be joining Jane's Doodles Design Team for the July Release Hop! When I saw the two stamp sets for this release, I thought they were the cutest stamps and I had a blast creating my cards for you today. You should have arrived from Milka's Blog but if you are starting here, I have the full list of hoppers at the end of this post. You'll want to leave comments on each one because Jane is generously giving away a $50 gift certificate to one lucky person!

When I turned 10, it was a birthday never to forget because I got my first puppy, Princess. She was a short haired red dachshund so I knew the first stamp to ink up would be that one in this new set! I did a little masking because I knew I had to use that dog house as well. I love the little dog peeking out - so cute! I am not the greatest at coloring full scenes but this card definitely called for it so I worked out of my comfort zone and I love this cloud stamp by October Afternoon because it makes coloring a sky so much easier!

Supplies:
Stamp: Jane's Doodles (Dogs), October Afternoon (Saturday Morning Background)
Ink: Tsukineko Memento (Tuxedo Black), Tsukineko Versafine (Onyx Black)
Copic Xpress It Blending Card
Copics: Dog (E35, E37, E47); Dog House (YG91, YG93, YG95, YG97, R46, E09, C6, C8, 100); Grass (E42, YG63, YG17, YG67); Sky (B91, BV20, B00, N1)
My Minds Eye 6x6 Paper Pad (On The Brightside)
WPlus9 Dies (Sunshine Layers)
Ranger Glossy Accents
Zig Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush Pen (Black)
3M Scotch Pink ATG Adhesive
Helmar Zap Dots
Simon Says Stamp Foam Adhesive

For my second card, I inked up the cute Cats set. It was SO hard decided which cat to use as they are all so cute. Now, I admit I'm not much of a cat person but this set is hard to resist! I finally broke down and got some new Simon Says Stamp dye inks and I couldn't wait to use a  stencil to do a little ink blending on my background as inspired by watching Laura Bassen's awesome videos - she is next on the hop by the way - pinch me now! This little kitty looks so content and I thought maybe he counts fish instead of sheep to catch his cat nap! haha I couldn't resist adding some Wink of Stella to each little fish either. A strip of pattern paper layered with some glitter tape and sequins finish off this sweet card.

Supplies:
Stamp: Jane's Doodles (Cats)
Ink: Tsukineko Memento (Tuxedo Black), Tsukineko Versafine (Onyx BLack), Simon Says Stamp Dye Ink (Duckling, Sunkist, Hollyhock)
Copics: Cat (E31, E33, E35, YR24, YR27); Fish (C2, BV23, C6)
American Crafts 6x6 Paper Pad (Spring)
Spritz Glitter Tape
My Favorite Things Stencil (Abstract)
My Favorite Things Die-namics (Blueprints 20)
Pretty Pink Posh Sequins (Strawberry Burst, Sunshine Glow)
ThermoWeb Zots Bling
Helmar Zap Dots
3M Scotch Pink ATG Adhesive

Next on the hop is the amazing Laura Bassen! I can't wait to see what she has created using these stamps!! Be sure to leave a comment on each stop of the hop for your chance to win a $50 Gift Certificate to Jane's Doodles and ALL stamps are 20% off today so pick up your favorites along with these two new ones! 

Here is the full list of hoppers in case you get off track: 

Hop

Jane

Marion

Ange

Milka

Carisa (you are here)

Laura (guest designer)

Jane's Doodles

Thanks so much for stopping by today! If you liked my cards, please click on the button below to subscribe to my blog so you don't miss a post! 

Mixed Media with Saturated Canary, Watercolors and Ink!

Hi Everyone! I have a fun page from my art journal to share with you today. When one of my favorite stamp companies was offering this free digital stamp, I couldn't resist. I honestly hadn't planned on doing an art journal but after several failed attempts at printing the image on watercolor paper I thought I would just color her with copics until I saw the inspiration challenge for Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: i scream for.... I love their inspiration challenges because they really make you think outside the box. I mean, using the Letter I, the possibilities are endless! You should check out their blog for gorgeous projects to get you inspired as well. I had just received my first set of Simon Says Stamp inks and that's when I knew I wanted to try some Ink blending techniques in my art journal for the challenge!

After I had colored my image, I used Simon Says Stamp inks to add color to the background. I applied each color with a Ranger Mini Ink Blender tool and I was absolutely smitten with the way they blended so smoothly and beautiful together in my journal. I even blended some of the ink through the checkered stencil.

I added more texture to the background using stencils, stamps and texture paste. Some extra handwritten doodles completed the background.

I mentioned this sweet digital stamp by Saturated Canary. I ended up using the test print on plain copy paper and adhered it to my page using clear gesso. I applied it to the front and back of the paper and over the top to seal it. Once it was dry, the clear gesso provided me the surface to use watercolors!! Yay! I couldn't decide between my Derwent Inktense pencils or my Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens so I used both and since my Zig Gansai Tambi watercolors were out as well, why not?! I am in love with the way she turned out and knowing I can print my favorite images on plain paper and adhere them with clear gesso to art journal pages just opened up a whole new world for me! 

Thanks so much for stopping by today! If you liked my project, please click on the button below to subscribe to my blog so you don't miss a post! 

Blitsy Creative Team: Prima Bloom Girl Mixed Media

Hi everyone! 

Jamie Dougherty's Prima Bloom Girl collection is on sale NOW at Blitsy but hurry because the awesome Daily Deal ends tomorrow! I created this mixed media piece using one of her stamps. 

Head over to the Blitsy Blog to see the full canvas as well as step by step process to make one for yourself! 

Blitsy Creative Team: Mixed Media with Dylusions Paints

Hi everyone! 

I am so excited - my first post as part of the Blitsy Creative Team is now up! Here is a teensy sneak peek of my first ever play with Dylusions Paints. I've been intrigued with these paints ever since they came out and I finally broke down and purchased half the colors. 

Head over to the Blitsy Blog to see the full page as well as a process video for your enjoyment! 

Handmade Gift Exchange - Pocket Letter

Hi everyone!

I have to apologize for my lack of posting lately! I've been super busy with home life as well as creating lots of projects for Blitsy and also focusing on submitting to magazine calls. Super excited about the latter as I will be published in a couple of things this fall/winter 2015 and I will post more about that when they are released! Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of time to make things for my blog and calls so it's one or the other but I am hopeful to start posting a bit more often. I have about 10 cards that are out for submission and if none of those get picked up then I will have a busy blog here for awhile! haha

Today I have a fun project to share with you. Have you seen or heard about Pocket Letters yet? It's the latest craze in the paper crafting community and is a great way to send something fun to a pen pal or send out some happy RAKs mail! After admiring them for months and having a pack of pocket sleeves in my stash, I knew I wanted to try making one and had the perfect opportunity with a handmade gift swap I was participating in hosted by Craftaholics Anonymous. I have a habit of coloring images that just sit in a box never to see the light of day again. LOL This provided me the perfect opportunity to create a gift with a couple of my recent favorites. I want to share a few close ups with you.

First, I used some Prima Marketing Bloom Girl watercolor paper and created a few backgrounds using my new Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolor set. I love how beautiful and easy these watercolors blend into each other. It was so fun just creating these washes of color for backgrounds. Honestly, I was just playing around with the new set and it turned out so pretty and perfect for the background of the images I wanted to use by The Greeting Farm. I cut the watercolor paper down to fit each pocket and my fav TGF images fit perfectly inside the pockets!

The hair on this cutie is seriously my pride and joy! I am not sure I could EVER recreate it. May have been a fluke. LOL As much as I love watercolors, it is fun to play with my first love, Copic Markers, from time to time! As much as I say I am not an arm chair colorer, if I don't have to be at my desk coloring you can find me these nights enjoying Netflix with my hubby as I color the night away.

To fill in the rest of the pockets, I chose some stamps and fun embellishments that have been sitting in my stash for WAY too long. These two pieces are probably 2 years old but I couldn't part with them but didn't know what to do with them and now I have the perfect place for them! In the other pockets are embellishments and twine for my gift exchange partner can enjoy for herself. Another benefit to these pocket letters is sharing your style with others. They get to try new things and get a feel for your unique style!

Along with a couple of handmade cards, I also included this altered journal for my gift exchange partner. I love picking up these 5x7 journals in the Michael's $1 section and adding bits of my favorite collections and again a good way to use those colored images I have laying around! This pretty thing I have had for at least a year because I know I colored her before I sold my markers last year. She was perfect to go along with the Pink Paislee Citrus Bliss collection - one of my all time favorites this season. I love all the bright, summery colors.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! If you liked my project, please click on the button below to subscribe to my blog so you don't miss a post!