Monthly Archives: February 2011

Rest Your Soul. 12 New Copic Colors.

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I’m working through some Virtual Stamp Night challenges today. This one was a beautiful photo inspiration from one of my favorite people, the always smiling, always encouraging, always beautiful…Lori McAree. I ran with the container of something idea, and used my recent Lockhart purchase, Roses in a Teacup. My image is colored with some very special Copics (keep reading). The sentiment is from Taylored Expressions, Rest and Renewal.

If you came by the Copic booth at CHA, there was ONE set of the new 12 Sketch colors in the Copic booth. It was basically under lock and key, all shrink wrapped and center stage, like the Hope Diamond. After the show, Marianne handed them to me, and it was as if I were holding the Declaration of Independence in my arms…a national treasure. LOL.  It was my job to take the new colors to a group of store owners at a rep show in Chicago a few weeks after CHA. The next day, I was stuck in LA due to the great midwest blizzard and trying to figure out how to get a blog hop project completed, so I used the markers one time.

The rep show has come and gone. Aren’t you glad I was more responsible with these markers than I was my camera card and beloved Coco?  These beauties have started shipping to retailers from the Copic sanctuary warehouse, so I think it’s finally safe to take them out of hiding.

Here’s a quick little color comparison project that I put together this afternoon. I’ve used most of the 12 new Sketch colors to blend. I’ve noted the colors used on each sample (ball of yarn – From the Heart – Taylored Expressions). The new colors used are noted with a • next to the reference numbers. Couple of comments: 1) YR30 – drool…for anyone who enjoys adding a faint glow behind their images, usually with YR31 and blender – sometimes mixed in an empty pen, you *need* this color. 2) BG70 – perfect compliment to a favored combo BG72/BG75. 3) Surprisingly, one of the colors I was least excited about became a favorite when I colored these balls of yarn, RV55…a beautiful shade of bright pink. {love}.

Now it’s time for me to print off and update my color chart. I keep two charts, back to back in a clear plastic sleeve – one for the markers I own and one for the refills I own. I know that Sharon has already done the dirty work of creating a new chart for all 346 colors of Sketch marker, plus 24 colors of Spica glitter pen. She has it available for free download here, so if you find it helpful, please leave her a little love note of appreciation. 🙂

I’m going to quit rambling and get back to stamping…There are about 4 other VSN challenges that I want to work on, and I’ve promised myself a short run outside since we are above 40 degrees. Happy weekend!

P.S. I didn’t mean to lie about my use of kraft and white flowers. Completely unintentional. I’ll try to do better next time.

Blast from the Past: Bee Happy

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I was happy to stamp and play today in the Taylored Expressions’ Blast from the Past blog hop. I’ve been a fan of TE since they first opened their doors. I love the whimsical images, quality rubber stamps and great customer service, but one of my very favorite things is the beautiful packaging/storage solution that comes with each set. The stamps are attached to a 5×7 laminated storage panel with a beautiful color index on the front side. I keep mine all lined up in a CD storage box. For this card, I reached back into the archives of last summer…for Garden Party Critters. I love these little bees.

My bees and hive are colored with Y32, Y35, Y38 and accented with glitter. The hive and bees are popped up on Taylored Expressions Take Note Die 3, my very favorite label die. Kraft cardstock was embossed with Sizzix embossing folder from the Dots & Flowers set and then accented with white chalk ink. I love that look.

And, just so I can remind myself that it’s still possible….the next project posted here on this blog will not involve kraft cardstock or white prima flowers! I pinky-swear promise.

I’m excited to see what the other hoppers have planned for today. A great line up of talent starts with:

1. Taylor VanBruggen 26. Tanis Palmer
2. Cindy Coutts 27. Jodi Collins
3. Pattie Goldman 28. Stephanie Hargis
4. Tracy Clemente 29. Candace Mitchell
5. Regina Mangum 30. Laura K
6. Kimberly Stouffer 31. Karen Motz
7. Jenn Koss 32. Barbara Anders
8. Rebecca Ednie 33. Danielle Lounds
9. Nancy Jensen 34. Wanda Guess
10. Bonnie Ratzloff 35. Lori Craig
11. Cassie Trask 36. Lynn Put
12. Carole Chesser 37. Charmaine Ikach
13. Lisa Hjulberg 38. Michelle Lane
14. Sankari Wegman 39. Jessica Willison
15. Karen Giron 40. Michele Klein
16. Kristie Wilson 41. Kristin K Tierney
17. Natalie Houston 42. Colleen Begley
18. Sarabeth Burke 43. Lisa Smeaton
19. Michelle Single 44. Tina Whitted
20. Lea Lawson 45. Donna Baker
21. Kelly Collins 46. Radha Thijm
22. Chris Loritsch 47. Bronwyn Velazquez
23. Monika Davis 48. Jen Tapler
24. Joan Ervin 49. Jami Sibley
25. Terri Trotter Earley 50. Wendy McGaffey

I’m still here…and headed to St. Louis

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I’d say that it’s February’s fault, but really it’s a lost camera card reader. I’m pretty sure it’s in a hotel lost and found along with my beloved Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Parfum. <insert a sad face here> So, not only am I resorting to iPhone photos, I stink, to boot!

I’ve actually been pretty crafty the last few weeks all things considered. This is just the only thing I snapped a photo of before it left the house. I love this little Cuckoo set from Hero Arts. LOVE. I’ve paired it here with Copics and Cosmo.

Speaking of Copic – I’m taking the Copic show on the road for Standard Certification to St. Louis. I’ll be in St. Louis on Saturday, March 19th, and the class is now open to the public with just a few spots left. Information and applications are available here. Other upcoming spots are Edmonton, Alberta, Sacramento and Milwaukee. You can always be ‘in the know’ for Copic classes in your area by signing up here on the Copic site.

I’ll be back tomorrow with another project that is almost finished. Hope you have a fabulous day!

Paper Smooches Co-Hop

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It has been the craziest winter! I’m ‘snowed in’ Southern California after CHA, I’ve been trying to get home since Monday. Even the ‘snow in’  couldn’t keep me from celebrating with my sweet friend, Kim Hughes, today.  I’ve been a fan of Kim’s whimsical images for years, and I was thrilled with the opening of her new stamp company, Paper Smooches, this week!  She’ll be releasing 3 fun, clear stamp sets on the first day of each month.

Kim asked me to create a card using one of her February stamp sets.  I chose  Falling For You!

Kim offers high quality photopolymer clear stamps, shaped card templates, a design center and much more.

There will be a monthly challenge on the Paper Smooches Blog.  There will be free digi stamps involved and a guest designer spot for the next month will be up for grabs. How fun is that?

I’m headed to the airport and hoping to make it home to my sweet family today, but I’ll leave you with an inspirational line-up for today’s Paper Smooches hop (I can’t wait to see what the girls have created!):

Michele Boyer
Alli Miles
Lori Craig – you are here
Julie Campbell
Carole Burrage
Karolyn Loncon
Kim Kesti
Betsy Veldman
Maren Benedict
Debbie Olson
Melissa Phillips
Carly Robertson
Julia Stainton
Becky Olsen
Teri Anderson
Kyrssi Ng
Heidi Van Laar
Heather Pulvirenti
Laurie Schmidlin
Lisa Johnson
Lori Barnett
Jessica Witty
Asela Hopkins
Rae Barthel

Supplies:

  • Stamps: Falling for You – Paper Smooches
  • Cardstock: Choice Snow White – Taylored Expressions, Ocean Blue – Bazzill & patterned paper from Imaginisce’s Apple Cider line.
  • Ink: Black Memento
  • Accessories: buttons, twine, Copic Markers (BG72, E44, E47, E31, E33, E35)