Distress Oxide inks!

Hi!  Yes, I'm still making cards and still alive!  I've been posting for my GDT work with Imagine That! Digistamps, but I haven't been posting my own stuff.  Since I have a great deal to share, I will break it up into different posts.  Today, I'm going to share the cards I've made using the Distress Oxide Inks to make the backgrounds!

If you haven't yet used Distress Oxide inks, DO IT!  Find someone who will let you use theirs and just play!  That's how I found out about them.  Some friends got together JUST to play with the Oxides.  I was hooked from that moment!  What beautiful backgrounds they make.  I know there are other ways to use them, but since I am still quite a novice, I don't know their many other uses. . .yet!

Basically, for these backgrounds, I rubbed the ink pad straight onto my crafting mat leaving ink stripes.  I put several colors together.  Then, I spritzed the ink with water before I laid the paper on top.  I moved the paper around in order to pick up more ink and to blend the colors.  I used my heat tool to dry the ink a bit.  Then, I spritzed it with water again (using larger drops- the Tim Holtz spray bottle works great for this!), then I dabbed it with a paper towel as I used the heat tool to dry it.

Also, all the images were colored with Copics!

Without further ado:

These stamps are from Craftin Desert Divas!  They are the Treasure Trolls!  

This is also a stamp from Craftin Desert Divas!  It is a Digital Stamp called Cool Summer!  On the top of this background, I used the Oxide ink to stamp with.  It gives a great tone on tone image that is subtle but still effective!

Another Craftin Desert Divas stamp!  Isn't she adorable?? She is called Aloha!

I LOVE these elephants from My Favorite Things!  They are called BB Adorable Elephants!

On this final example, I used the Oxides a little differently.  Using a blending tool, I blended different bright colors onto Bristol paper.  (It is heavier paper that stands up to the wet media.)  After that, I blended the Black Soot Oxide over top of the colors being sure to leave some of the color visible.  Then, I spritzed the paper with water.  It blended the colors and obscured the lines.  I dried it with my heat tool, spritzed it again, dabbed it with a paper towel and then dried it again.  After the whole thing was dry, I splattered silver acrylic paint over it to look like stars.

This is from Astro Tobie digital stamp from Some Odd Girl!  I love the little alien at his feet!

That is all I have for now!  Try out the Oxide inks if you can!  They are more than just ink!  

Thank you for looking and have a Crafty Day!

Weekend cards

Hello!  I got to spend Saturday afternoon and evening crafting with friends.  I made cards.  I had to have three for the girls in the group with birthdays, so I made them first and shot the best photos I could.

All the cards include a Some Odd Girl image!

After I finished those, I made some other cards.  In the past, I've always colored an image and then just moved on to another image or another color combination.  For this weekend, I tried coloring an image the same way and making two identical cards.  It was quick and easy and I made a few extra cards!  Duh!  Why didn't I think of that before???  

Again, all the cards include a Some Odd Girl image. 

(Can you tell I like them????)

My favorite card of the weekend was one I made with Craftin Desert Diva's Stars and Wishes Trolls!  Aren't they just the cutest???  

This card just makes me so happy!!!  This one is definitely getting saved for someone very special!  (Still. . . .looking at it, I can't get over the cuteness!!!!)

Thanks for looking!  All images were colored with Copic markers.  I'm still doing so much coloring and card making- it is one of my joys at the moment.  

Have a fabulous day!

Birthday cards

I've been coloring up a storm lately.  I am so in love with Copics!  They are such amazing markers!  (I promise, I'm not a paid spokesperson for Copics. . .I like what I like!)

This card I threw together with an image that I colored a while back.  I only make that distinction as my coloring has improved.  However, the image needed to be used and enjoyed!

Meet Bubbles Mermaid from Some Odd Girl!

The next birthday card I made is for a co-worker of mine.  I sell my cards at work, and she fell in love with a dinosaur care I brought one time.  I decided to use the same dinosaur on her birthday card.  (She's not a girly girl, so this is a perfect card for her!)

TRex by Some Odd Girl

That's all I have for now.  I have so many images that are colored and waiting to be put on cards or other projects.  Hmmm... now to find the time!

Thanks for coming to my blog and enjoying my projects!  See you next time!

Hello Again

Hello one and all!  I have returned to resurrect my blog!  It has been a long time, I know!  My hope is to be more faithful to my blog even if I just post once a week.

Recently, my interest in my Copic markers has been rekindled.  I was introduced to a lady who has the entire set!  Yes, you read that right: she has the ENTIRE set of Copic markers.  Aren't they beautiful???

That, in itself, is a tremendous accomplishment!  However, she is an incredible Copic colorist!!  It was her gorgeous coloring and her beautiful set of Copics that has rekindled my love and use of those markers.  (She has also introduced me to a variety of stamp companies I didn't know existed!)  With that said, I just want to share a few of the coloring projects I've done with my Copics. . .er, and maybe some of her markers! 😄

 Stamps by Craftin Desert Divas

Character stamps by Some Odd Girl

Other stamps by Hampton Arts, Stampin' Up, and Studio G

Stamps by My Favorite Things. Isn't he the cutest??

Image by Julia Spiri

Unicorn Girl by Some Odd Girl

Words by Technique Junkie and Stampabilities

Thank you so much for taking a peek at my current obsession!  I will be back soon with more of what inspires and delights me!  Have a fabulous day!

World Card Making Day

Happy World Card Making Day!

Yep, the first Saturday in October is always World Card Making Day!  I so love that there is a 'holiday' devoted to (and, ahem, celebrated by) crazy people like me!  Don't you?

There are tons of challenges and giveaways today and through the week.  I've made a couple cards today for some of those challenges.

I did an ombre card for the Some Odd Girl October challenge and for Studio Calico's WCMD challenges.  I used my Caran D'Arch Neocolor water-soluble crayons to make a background.  Simple.  Once it was dry, I stamped with Stampin' Up's Day of Gratitude.  I used Some Odd Girl's Happy Gwen.  Isn't she adorable?  Just a fun and simple card- aside from the fussy cut of Gwen!

The second card I made was for another of Studio Calico's challenges.  I used Some Odd Girl's Sweater Pup!  I also made a cut file from the Studio Calico sketch!  

Thanks for looking!  I love making cards!  I hope you will try to make some cards for these fun challenges!

Monday Catch-up

Good Morning!  I had great plans to have all kinds of post ready for this week.  Um, yeah, that didn't happen.  I hope to have some big plans for this blog- not only my crafty things, but also more glimpses into my life.  However, for now, let's just catch up!

This past weekend, one of my husband's co-workers got married.  Since my husband is the manager, we, naturally, were invited and had to attend.  I had some reservations: I'm a good wall flower- especially when I don't know anyone.  I was worried it would be uncomfortable.  I ended up having a good time, so it all turned out well.  It was a beautiful wedding, and the reception was nice.  I'm glad I went looking back on it.  So, naturally, I had to make a wedding card.  I wanted something simple but nice since I didn't really know the couple.  I found a card on Pinterest I thought would be simple.  Ha!  I started working on it, and decided to watch Tangled while I was working.  Um, this was only my second time to see Tangled, so the card took me most of the movie to make because I kept getting caught up in the movie.  True Story!  Anyway, without further ado, here is the card:

I was happy with it.  I couldn't get the bow straight, but otherwise, it was very nice. 

Lately, I've been very inspired by Some Odd Girl.  Kristy Dalman is the artist and designer behind SOG.  She is amazing!  I love her work, and I stalk follow her instagram feed for her sketches and coloring.  They are amazing!  Aaaannnyhooo...I've been very inspired by her images and by the Some Odd World.  Most of these talented ladies on Some Odd World use Copics to color their images.  Er, well, honestly, I can't afford Copics.  I briefly looked into it a few years ago, and decided it wasn't for me.  I can't justify the cost.  However, I do experiment with other media!  Right now, my media of choice is Primsacolor pencils.  I've been in love with them since I was young.  My dad used to be a geophysicist.  He would survey land to see where was the best place to drill for oil.  He did a lot of maps, and I remember he gave me some colored pencils one time.  It was a mix of brands, and I was thrilled.  Mixed in with these colored pencils were some Prismacolors.  I was amazed at what they could do.  I started buying more and more.  Now, I'm obsessed.  They are so versatile.  I've been experimenting with them on the SOG images.  Ok, so they aren't Copics, but I get some nice shading and great coloring with them!

Here is my latest card with the SOG Winter Mae image:

I did this card for two challenges: one on Some Odd World where the challenge was to use our dies or cut files.  I made some snowflakes on my Cameo and used them on this card.  I also did the card for a challenge on the SOG blog.  They have a monthly challenge where they give you a sketch and ask you to use it as a springboard for a card.  This month's challenge was a very simple sketch, and I have seen all kinds of interpretations!  This is mine!

Thanks for catching up with me and my crafts! :)  Hopefully, soon, I will come up with many more ideas on how to liven this blog up!  Any ideas are welcomed!

Have a great day, and if you have any questions about my projects or supplies, just leave a comment!  (I love to read comments, anyway and would love to hear from you!!!)

Some Odd Girl Tag

On Some Odd World, there is a challenge called the Tic Tac Toe Challenge.  They give you this board as a prompt. 

You have to use the center sqaure, and you make anything that is in a straight line with the center square.  Fun, right?  The different people images represent a different character of the Some Odd Girl clear and digi stamps.  You can you whichever image of the represented character.  (For more information, go here).

I chose the center line with the brads and the SOG character, Tobie.  I chose Puppy Tobie to use on my tag.  What do you think?

Isn't he just too adorable??  Come join the fun at Some Odd World!