Frustration with Distressed Inks

My DH bought me a complete set of Distressed inks for either Mother's Day or our anniversary.  I can't recall which.  Either way, it was in May.  I tried many times to paint with them.  No matter what I did it looked awful.  Today Splitcoast came out with a tutorial and a video explaining how to paint with them.  I was really excited.  After I watched the video I was sure I would be able to do it.  Well, it's three images later and I give up.  Looks as crappy as the ones I originally did.  It was definitely not this difficult to learn to use Copics.  I'm sure I will try again after I get over my frustration, maybe in another two months.

Prickly Pear Cactus

 

The challenge this week at My Time to Craft is In Full Bloom.  This wonderful image was a freebie coloring page.  I'm not sure exactly where I got it from.  I have lots of these cactus in my front yard.  Some bloom yellow, but quite a few bloom this beautiful bright pink color.  I wish I had taken some pictures of them while they were in bloom.                                                                                                I colored this with Copics.  I printed off and colored a second set of flowers and popped them up.

Copics:E08, E11, E13, G20, G21, G24, RV00, RV02, RV04, RV06, Y38

I am entering this in the following challenges:
I Did It Creations  Nature
Scrapbook Sisters Flower, Ribbon, Gem
Sisterhood of Crafters Flower Power

Talk to the Animals

  

 I couldn't stay away...just had to do another animal card.  I got this image for free from Stitchy Bear.  I had won a ten dollar gift certificate in a challenge and this is one of the digis I purchased.  Just today I saw this sentiment on the Digi Doodle Shop website and knew I just had to put the two together. I colored this with Copics.  The coloring didn't come out quite as planned.  I don't think that there is quite enough definition between the animals.  The rabbit kind of blends into the tiger.  The rabbit looks a tad angry.                                                    
Copics:  B01, C0, C1, C3E08, E21, E31, E33, E35, G21, R01, R11, R12, W0, W1, W3, W5, YR00, YR12, YR14, YR20

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Stamps R Us Anything Goes
Make It Monday Anything Goes
Craft Us Crazy Anything Goes
Clearly iStamp Scripture
The Poodles Parlour Anything Goes
The Crafting Misfit Anything Goes
Paper Crsfting Journey Anything Goes
Sundays with Crissy  K.I.S.S.
I Did It Creations  Nature
Cards for Men  Anything Goes
Crafty Creations  Animals

Autumn

This card is for Jellypark and Friends Friday Challenge.  This week the challenge is to use a die cut or punch.  I used one of Jellypark's new releases.  She certainly looks like she's having fun.  I colored the card with Copics.  The paper is from my stash.  The buttons I have had for years and years.  I'm glad I found a use for them.

Get Well

This card is for Digi Doodle Shop's Challenge: #73 Anything Goes.  I finally made something other than an animal!  The digi is from Digi Doodle Shop.  I colored it with Copics.  I'm not used to doing scenes so it was quite interesting.  I like the way it turned out. I have a couple more scenes that I will probably work on soon.

I had a request for a get well card so I  decided to combine the commission with the challenge to save myself some work.

I played a little with the photography again.  I used two of my antique jugs in the picture.  My husband and I picked out my next camera this week.  I'm going to get it for Christmas.  It's a Nikon and I really like some of the features on it.  I read the reviews and most people loved it, a few, of course, did not. 

By the way, Digi Doodle Shop's Challenge is running a DT call right now until September 11th.  If you're interested please consider applying.  You'll have lots of amazing images and a wonderful group of people to work with.

Copics:  B0000, B000, B10, E21, E31, E34, E35, G21, W0, W1, W3, Y19, YR04

I am entering this in the following challenges:
Make It Monday Anything Goes
Paper Playtime  Anything Goes
Stamps R Us Anything Goes
Paper Cupcakes Let's Make a Scene
Cards for Men Anything Goes
Craft Us Crazy Anything Goes
The Poodles Parlour Anything Goes

Girls' Night Out

This card is for My Time to Craft Challenge:  Here Come the Girls.  I've had this image for a while, but this is the first chance I've had to use it.  I guess I can say that about most of the images I have.  It's from Squigglefly.

I colored this with Copics and I used Crystal Effects on the headlights.  it gives them a nice glassy look.  The paper is Road Trip from October Afternoon.

I just realized the driver is on the wrong side.  I should have flipped this pic before coloring it.  Oh well!


 

Engagement Card

 I had a request for an engagement card.  I didn't have enough of the very small pearls to complete the card so I had to make the outer most row with slightly larger pearls.  Hopefully, they won't notice.  I need to stock up on lots of the really tiny pearls.

This is the first time I've used my Martha Stewart scoreboard.   I have made quite a few of these cards in the past, but wow did the board make it easier.  Of course, it was trial and error.  I went through six pieces of cardstock before I got it right.  I finally ended up marking the center groove with a magic marker all the way down to make alignment easier.  Now I shouldn't have any problems.

I have more info about this technique and a link to the tutorial on my June Wedding post.

I was  on someone's website the other day and I saw they had used a product called Glamour Dust by DecoArt to paint their flowers.  It doesn't show in the pictures, but the flowers have a beautiful sparkle. 

I am entering this in the following challenges:
Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge Use A Lot
Card Makin' Mamas Pink
Poodles Parlour Anything Goes
Craft Us Crazy Anything Goes

Cock A Doodle Doo

I did not have a good photography day today.  I am starting to have major camera problems.  I think my camera is on it's last legs.  Time for a new one.  Unfortunately, we just had to buy a mattress and box spring, a new transmission, a refrigerator and a  battery for my car.  A new camera is not something I want to buy right now.  Actually, I do want to buy it, but my common sense is telling me to wait a while in case something else major goes.

I photographed this out at the woodpile.  The lighting was not real good because I photographed it at dusk.  I think that's why it's a tad blurry.  At least it didn't blow away this time.

I made this card for Digi Doodle Shop's Challenge #72 which is a recipe challenge.  It requires one ribbon, two papers and three buttons.  The image is from Digi Doodle Shop. I saw a picture of a rooster online with somewhat this coloring.  I wasn't able to duplicate it exactly.  I colored it with Copics.  The papers are from Graphic 45 and October Afternoon.  They happen to be two of my favorite companies for DP.

Copics:  B00, BG0000, BG07, BG10, BG13, E08, E09, E31,E50,E55, R14, R24, R37,W9, Y21,Y23.YR12, YR14, YR31

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Sparkle Forum Challenges  One for the Boys
One Stitch At A Time Anything Goes
Here Come the Boys Critters
Paper Playtime Anything Goes
Make It Monday Anything Goes
Incy Wincy Designs Recipe
Heart Song Inspirations Animals
Digi Design House Recipe
Cards for Men Anything Goes
Really Reasonable Ribbon Keep It Clean
Try It On Tuesday Anything Goes
Digital Tuesday On the Farm
CES Challenges Mix and Match
Clearly iStamp Something with Wings
Delightful Challenges  Things With Wings
PaperCrafting Journey  Anything Goes
Shelley's Images Anything Goes

G is for "Giraffe"

 I really enjoyed this new image from Mo's digital Pencil.  As soon as I saw it posted I knew I wanted to make something with it.  Fortunately, the challenge this week at My Time to Craft is "G is for..."  Perfect!

The paper is "Wanted" by Cosmo Cricket.  My daughter picked out the paper.  I wasn't sure if it would be "too much"  with the giraffe pattern.  I rather like it now.  I colored the image with Copics.  The sentiment, by Stampin' Up, is from my recent candy win.  Thank you again, Audrey.

Copics:  C0, C1, E08, E31, E50, E61, E53, E55, R11, R20, R21, R22, W1, W3, W5, YG03, YR12, YR14

I decided to have a little fun with the camera and do something a little different.  I photographed this on my fireplace hearth.  I used a couple of volumes of my antique cyclopedia set.

 I must relay the story about them.  When I moved to Arizona twenty-one years ago my neighbor and I went out to a couple yard sales one Saturday morning.  I saw this amazing set of  seven Cyclopedias published in 1889 for only three dollars.  They were huge!  I wanted to buy them, but decided not to because of the size.  On the way home I kept saying "Darn, I should have bought them."  I absolutely love antiques.  After I was home about an hour my husband told me to just go buy them.  I hurried back, but they were gone.  The next day my neighbor called and told me she had something for me.  She had gone back to the yardsale before me and bought the books.  What a wonderful neighbor!  They are still a very treasured possession.

I also collect antique jugs and bottles so I put a few of them in the picture also.  It's nice to use props occasionally.  I have quite a bit of antique phone equipment.  Hopefully, I can figure out how I might photo that with a card.  I'll have to start looking for just the right digi.

I am entering this in the following challenges:
One Stitch at a Time Anything Goes
Paper Playtime  Anything Goes
Pattie's Creations Animals or Insects
Crazy 4 Challenges Monochromatic Coloring
Sundays with Crissy Keep it Simple Stamper
Here Come the Boys  Critters

Jellypark New Release

This is one of the new releases for Jellypark.  I made this one just under the wire.  Literally, minutes to spare. 

The paper is from October Afternoon.  He is colored with Copics.  All of the cardstock is scraps.  I freehand cut the lightning bolt.

Copics: B21, B23, B24, C0, C1, E00, E02, E08, N3, R14, R24, Y 15, Y17, YR12, YR14

I am entering in the following challenge:
Pixie Dust Studio Boys Will Be Boys
Order of the Opus Gluei  No Words
I Did It Creations Children

Gone Fishing

This card is for Jellypark Friends Friday Challenge:  Embellishment.  I used two of the three additional digis that come with the main image for my embellishments.  It does look a bit sparse to me, but being a card for a male I prefer it that way.  I have colored it with copics and used papers and cardstock from my stash.  My husband thought the fish should be black and silver...nah.  I don't think so.  It's my card...I win!

Copics:  B21, B23,B24, E00. E02. E31. E33, E57, G20, G21, G24, R11, R14, R24, W0, W1, W9, Y15, Y28, YR14, YR31

I am entering this in the following challenge:

Pixie Dust Studio Boys Will Be Boys
I Did It Creations  Children
Cards for Men CAS
Cute Card Thursday CAS

Howling at the Moon

This card  was created for Digi Doodle Shop's Challenge #71:  Shaped Card.  This is actually the first card that I have made that is not square or rectangle.  I must admit, if it were not for this challenge, I probably would not have made a round card.  I find it's quite difficult.  The image is from Digi Doodle Shop.  It comes in a set of two wolves.  I just love the animal digis on the website.  I recently ordered quite a few more. I colored the sky and the moon with Stampin' Up ink. The wolf is colored with Copics.  I masked the wolf and moon to sponge the sky.  Then I cut the moon off the mask to sponge the moon.  The sentiment came from a huge box of candy I recently won.  Thank you, Audrey.                                                                                                  

I am entering this in the following challenges:

Paper Cupcakes Wild Animals

Crazy 4 Challenges Shaped Card

Jack and the Beanstalk

I have had this image from Mo's Digital Pencil for a very long time.  I thought it was just adorable.  I had no idea what I would do with it.  Well, along comes the Fairy Tales challenge this week at My Time to Craft. Funny, I remembered this image, but didn't remember buying it.  I went to Mo's to buy it and thought for a minute before I hit the button, I'd better check and make sure I don't have it.  Sure enough, it was on my computer.  Old age is  coming fast!

Anyway, I colored him with Copics.  The papers are from Graphic 45.  I machine stitched the rectangles behing the image.   I really wanted the sentiment to be in an Old English font.  I tried several and they were very hard to read so I went with a simpler one.

Copics:  B21, B23, C0, C1, E00, E02, E09, E31, E33, E34, E51, G12, G14, G20, G21, G24, R20, R24, Y11, YR14, YR18

I am entering this in the following challenges:
A Spoonful of Sugar #162 Happy Birthday
Birthday Sundaes Happy Birthday
I Did It Creations Children
Paper Creations Ink Stitching
KB Cute Monday Anything Goes
The Poodle Parlour Round and Round the Garden
Card Makin' Mamas Birthday
Raise the Bar Anything Goes
Stamp Something  Use A Digi
Craft your Days Away Birthday Celebrations
Papertake Weekly Challenge Grow Your Own
Cupcake Craft Challenges  Sewing
The Corrosive Challenge Earth Tones
Tuesday Throwdown Birthday
Stamping Boutique Birthday-Young Male
Die Cutting Divas Garden
Anything goes Challenge Blog Birthdays

Repost for "Stamps R Us"

Stamps R Us challenge this week is an Encore Presentation Challenge.  Here's the way it works - re post one of your favorite cards using any stamp or digital image you please, tell them a little about your card and enter into the challenge.   No back linking.  The winner of the "Encore Presentation" challenge will be asked to be a guest designer for a future challenge!  

 This was the first card I made using a digi.  It definitely hooked me.  After this I have rarely used a stamp. I made this card before I started my blog so I don't believe it is on my site, although, I did post it on Facebook.  The image is from Whimsie Doodles.  I didn't own any markers yet so it is colored with pastels.  I can see that I needed some practice using the punch!

I am entering this card in:  Stamps R US Encore Presentation Challenge 

Another Repost for "Stamps are Us"

This image is from Angels Landing.  It is my favorite card so far.  I made it for my Aunt Joan's birthday.  I think this was one of the first realistic animal card that I made.  The digi actually came with instructions on how to color and shade it.  That was a huge help.  Anyone that knows me, knows that I am hooked on animal cards.

I am entering this card in:  Stamps R US Encore Presentation Challenge

Picking Flowers

I made this card for Digi Doodle Shop's Challenge #70 which is a sketch challenge.  I flipped the sketch so the embellishments would fit better alongside the picture.                                            
 For some reason, I could not get the colors in the skirt to blend at all.  I may have printed the image on the wrong cardstock.  That could cause that problem.  I normally use Neenah Solar White, which is great for Copics.  I also have an inexpensive package of cardstock from Staples that I basically use it for anything that doesn't need to be colored.  I may have used that accidently.  The ink soaks in before it can be blended.

The paper is from Stampin' Up.  The flowers and lace were from my stash.  The greenery was punched with a Martha Stewart punch.

Copics:  B12, B14, C1, E00, E02, E31, E97. E99,  G21, G24, R22, Y17, YR12

Home is Where You Brew Your Coffee and Sip Your Tea

Good Morning Everyone!  It's time for My Time to Craft's new challenge, Espressoley for You.  You have to use a coffee related image or coffee colored image.  I found this cute digi at Paper Pretties.  I thought it would be ideal for this challenge.  I used a rather odd color combination.  I guess I was in a strange mood that day.  I colored the image with Copic markers.