Sing

Hello Again Fellow Paper Craft Lovers!!  I am really excited to share my latest with you!  The birds are part of the Unity Stamp Co KIT OF THE MONTH from the Always Been You 12/16 set.  I just love them & have lots of plans for them :)  Spring & Summer are just the perfect time to share them!

After water coloring the birds I put a soft gray wash behind them.  I had so much fun layering colors and embossing the various pieces. The little banners are made with washi tape layered on cardstock and the tumble of flowers with tiny gem centers were rubbed with a stylus to give them a 3D effct and glued down in the centers only.  For a full supply list see the end of this post :)

It's always fun to make the back a little special!

SUPPLY LIST:

Embossing Folders: Cricut Cuttlebug “Bit of Paisley” & Sizzix Stampin’ Up! Script

Flower Die: Spellbinders Shapeabilities Cherry Blossoms,

Stamped Sentiment: Unity Stamp Co “Devoted”

Be sure to check out the following blogs & challenges where I have entered this card!

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge Blog

Word Art Wednesday

Stamp Ink Paper

The Ribbon Girl

4 Crafty Chicks

Fusion

PIP FANS Unite!! Challenge #1730

Hello Again PIP Fans!!  I'm so glad to be sharing another fun challenge with you :)  Anything goes this week so you have no excuse for not entering!!  Our Sponsor is

BUGABOO STAMPS! 

They have a great prize for the winner, so click over to the PIP Challenge Page and then go check out the huge variety of digital stamps at Bugaboo.

Currently in the midst of their Christmas in July sale - use BUGXMASINJULY coupon code for

 50% off  ALL DIGI STAMPS!!!!!

YES!! ALL DIGI STAMPS!!!

The set I used today is Rose Block Trio.

Bugaboo generously supplied me with this stamp.  I chose it because I was anxious to try digital coloring with it!!  Wow! look at those results! 

I used the sliding scale color adjuster and the selection tool to single out areas.  Then I just saturated the petals one or 2 at a time with color until I had the hombre effect I was looking for!  

 I did the same with the leaves and stem adding the "colored pencil" filter to give them more color dimension. I love the saturated, lip stick effect on the petals, so no additional filter there :)

I also made a second card stretching and squashing each block separately and then stacking them how I wanted on a Word Doc to print.  I love the simple elegance of the black and white.  I think it would be great for a formal occasion, but since I don't have one of those I decided on "hello" so I could use it ASAP!! 

HOT TIP!!

If you're hooked on Nuvo Drops like I am, here's a fun way to Try them out or just to be sure you like the placement, size & color before you commit!! Drop your dots onto the slick plastic that comes with cling stamps!  When I mess up or don't like what I've got I just grab a napkin & wipe them off to start over! No commitment until you've let them dry and then stick them down (I use liquid glue).  The sheets are clear so it looks just like it will once you've peeled & stuck them down :)  Really great if you want to add dots everywhere but don't want to over-do it!!!!

         

After printing them I just fussy cut and added them to a card base I had stamped with my favorite corner flourishes from Hot Off The Press at PaperWishes.com - Decorative Card Flaps

So easy and all stored away in my PC file to quickly size and print any time I'm needing a quick card!!  Technology can be so crazy cool!!!

Thanks for looking and good luck in the PIP Challenge!  I can't wait to see what you come up with :)  Leave a little love, I always read your comments, I also fill special orders so leave them in the comments as well or on my FB page "Hi!" Notes ~ Thanks,



The Art of Crystal Newton

  Good Morning Friends :)  I am doing something a little different today.  I love to color and rubber stamp.  I love the blank pictures that  stamping offers ~ the absolute unlimited possibilities of colors and combinations.


I also am a cheerleader for the small business person ~ I love to support individuals or families who have the gumption to compete with corporate giants! 


So today I am excited to share the art of Crystal Newton.   We live in the same little cow town and until recently I never knew that she was such a great artist! 



Let Your Light Shine  ~ Wow!  How many of us are brushing shoulders with artistic talent like this and never know it? !!   I wanted to be sure lots of you could appreciate her art, so thank you for looking and thank you for sharing with your friends!!


Swallowtail on Lavender



The White Team  When I saw this one on the screen I just fell in love!
Crystal has originals & prints for sale.  I especially love her horses although she has a great variety including still life, wildlife & inspirational. Go check it all out!!!
Links appear in a different color ~ just click for a direct connection !

PIP Challenge # 1728 ~ Enter to Win!!

Hello Loyal PIP Challenge Fans and Newbies alike!!! Welcome to DT inspiration card for the ANYTHING GOES Challenge #1728 sponsored by

 Fabrika Fantasy.

 Follow the link and enter your card for a chance to win a great prize from Fabrika Fantasy who generously provided the digital Fantasy Pet that I used on this fun card.

What a great image! So rich with personality and detail.  I think next time I use it I will make it larger because it was a little difficult coloring the tiny details in.

It's a perfect stamp for a thank you card, with all of that pampering going on!! I used a sentiment from Hot off the Press,  "ThankYou!" I thought this card would make a great party invitation for a little girl too!! 

Simple & straight forward, I just printed, cut & colored, but here are a couple of highlights.  Her stylish shell hat was shimmered up with Iridescent Smooch, Stampin' Dazzle was used for gold accents and I mostly used colored pencils with blender pen for coloring.  Since this image was sprayed with workable fixative, the blender pen performed poorly (I thought) so be aware that there is a difference!! I also used NUVO Crystal Drops for accents like the necklaces, jewels and drawer pulls.

For whatever reason I could not get a great

picture of this card!!!  Her skin and hair always looked washed out!!! I thought the shell turned out really pretty though :)

 

Jar Labels

Recently I've decided to start keeping all of my bulk kitchen items in glass jars, Mostly Ball Jars, but I also keep my eyes out for interesting glass jars, I tend to lean towards the tall skinny types.  I just think that they look neat!!!

I decided to make my own labels for the jars after I got 2 similar spices mixed up!!!  Plus it was just plain fun for me to get out my dies and inks ;) My dear friend, who I can attribute my appreciation for all things rustic, saw them and wanted a set for herself.  I made them to match the colors in her 1950's kitchen.  

I thought it would be fun to share what I did with you and I would love to hear if you have ideas or have done something similar and how you did it :)

   I started with 2 die cut shapes that I liked when layered and stamped them with herbal/classic images that I thought went well in a rustic or traditional flavor!  To further the antique look I used tea stain ink from Stampin' Up! and gently rubbed the edges. 

Extra points if you can figure

what spice will go behind this label!

   Once again, after choosing a font to die cut I aged the letters with the tea stain ink.

   It is important to gently bend and curve the labels to conform to the shape of your jars.  If they dry flat after being glued together it is really difficult to make them stick to a glass or plastic jar - they resist the flexing & want to pop off.

            

                                   
Cris sent me photos of how they looked on her awesome jar collection.  I knew you'd want me to share them with you!!

                         

                                         My kitchen is more browns, burgundy and green. After making Cris hers, I'm thinking I like the beautiful brightness of the turquoise and red. . . .hmmm, maybe I'll be blogging a kitchen color overhaul next!

Products used: Tim Holtz Upon a Time letter die, Framelits dies from Apothecary Accents, Stampin' Up! stamps~ Flora & Fauna, Rue Des Fleurs, Notably Ornate