My first attempt at ATCs

I started by masking off the lower and upper part of the card, and then embossed in clear a few single flowers.  I then used Ranger distress inks, two shades on each card, the lighter shade to do the square shading and then the darker for the word enjoy and the single flower at the bottom.  It was a lot of fun to make these!

an experiment in coloring

I took a class at Archiver's on coloring techniques.  It really was more about the water color markers than teaching me and real detailed color blending techniques or anything.  It prompted me to do an experiment.  I got this stamp that night.  This is all done on white cardstock from Papertrey Ink.

Since I do not have the tombow coloring markers they were selling I decided to use my water based Tim Holtz markers of which I have many.  The technique is to put a line of color on the image and use a brush with a little bit of water to spread it around.  In class they had us emboss the design. I did the same for this one.  Here is that sample

Not too bad, especially since I had nothing flesh colored and had to blend several on my mat of what, I dont remember, but it did come out with a nice fleshy color.  Using too much water 'pills' the paper, not good.

Next, I thought, well I have a few Copics and a lot of LetraSet Pro alcohol based markers.  I again embossed the stamp design.  Same idea on the technique but instead of using the water and brush, you use the blender pens.

This one I found a little more difficult as I am not very familiar with using the blender pens.  The blending looks splotchy to me, but if I go over it any more then it removes too much of the color.  I have a flesh tone in Copic so this worked out pretty well.  One big difference to note so far, other than I did not think to try to color each one the same, is that the alcohol markers bleed all the way through the paper onto the back, none of the others do.

So the last one is the watercolor pencils and blending with Gamsol.

Now on this one, the first one I tried I also embossed, but whew that does not work with the gamsol, it smears.  So I got out the little pamphlet that came with the Gamsol, and doh, use dye based ink such as Ranger Archival.  Hmm, mine must not be dye based-it doesnt say it is on the label, and, it also smeared.  So I went in search of reading the labels.   Well I happen to have several that clearly say Dye Ink from Papertrey Ink so used that to stamp the image.  THAT worked.  Now I must say doing the pencils took twice as long and turns out much lighter in appearance.  I also did not have any flesh in my pencils, which I have a set from Stampin up and a small set from FaberCastell.  I was able with a little experimentation to blend a decent flesh.

WOYWW 150

Hi All!  Boy have I missed WOYWW the last three weeks, but it has so been worth it.  (I can say that now that it is done)  My wood floor is in, how does it look?  


It actually covers two rooms, here in my office/second craft room and into the family room.  This even motivated me to clean up my area!  I reorganized it and put the Cricut machines on a cart.  Now I just pull them out when I need to use them.


Here is a closeup on what I am doing on my desk.

I am doing an experiment right now, with this Girlfriends stamp.  I went to an Archiver's class on watercolor marker techniques.  So I came home, and thought I would do a comparison- Ranger Distress Ink (my version of watercolor) markers, alcohol based (Letraset Pro) markers, and watercolor pencils with gamsol.  I got have the pencil one there that I am working on.  I should have tried to color all three the same way but its too late now so am just going to see how the colors end up and how I like it.  Right next to it on the desk there is my pile of Thank You cards I am also working on, in hopeful anticipation of the graduation party in a few weeks :)  

Here is the finished experiment http://mykemmacards.blogspot.com/2012/04/experiment-in-coloring.html

Hop you all have a terrific week, see you next week!

Many thanks to Julia at http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/ for starting this wonderful project.     

Cooking with Cricut #81

Today's challenge is near and dear to my heart-Girl/Teen themed thinking of you items!  Cooking with Cricut  is hosting this wonderful challenge and dedicating it to two very special girls.  We are asking that if anyone would like to, they can donate their cards that are being made for this challenge to these girls. It is not mandatory that you make something and send it, but it would be wonderful if you could. It is totally okay to make two projects if you would like....one for each girl. PLEASE consider doing this to brighten to sweet girl's days.


The first girl is Patty, she is a friend's daughter who is currently battling cancer.  She is only 13 years old. Isn't she lovely?

Patty on her 13th birthday Feb 2012

From Patty's Caring Bridge:  A little about Patty: A little over a year ago, Patty had emergency surgery to remove a tumor from her spinal cord that was paralyzing her. She was never supposed to be able to walk again.  


Since then, she has had six rounds of chemotherapy, two more surgeries, three stem cell collections, one round of strong-dose chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, proton radiation therapy, and two rounds of low-dose chemotherapy.


She still has cancer, with one solid tumor in her spinal cord. She is on the waiting list for experimental MIBG radiation therapy. In the meantime, she has low-dose chemotherapy every two weeks out of three. She feels sick and very tired most of the time. Her back and head hurt.


She is not only walking, she can run a little and jump a little. She enjoys playing computer games, doing stuff on the internet, spending time with her friends, going to the mall and library, and playing Sims. She has a home-based teacher and is keeping up with her classmates.


I was thinking of Patty when I created this card.  

Would you like to share your You can send me any cards or crafty made projects, to me and I will collect them and send them to Patty.  She will be so surprised and it makes her feel so nice to get cards!

Send items for Patty to:

Kim Allen

PO Box 6431

Fishers, IN 46038

Please include some hugs or happy thoughts inside (don't send a blank inside card-she wants to hear from you!)

Also Madison's I feel the love April person is a 6 year old girl named Emily who is fighting Leukemia. Here is information about Emily.  You can send cards also to Madison

Madison Womack

(IFTL) Funky Cards

P.O. Box 1203

Atascadero, CA  93423

Supplies for my card
Cricut Imagine Yummy cartridge for the flourish
Cricut Paper Trimmings for the butterfly
Papertrey ink cardstock in Hawaiian Shores
Papretrey ink in Raspberry fizz
Stamp from StampinUp
Viva Decor Pearl Pen
Tim Holtz embossing folder "ticket" for the butterfly
and a corner chomper.

Cooking with Cricut #80

Jump on over to http://www.cookingwithcricut.com/ to play along with me on another great Challenge!

Today's Challenge is Easter

For this card I used Close To My Heart Art Philosophy for the kraft stamp and square shapes.

Supplies
CTMH Art Philosophy Cartridge for the Kraft cardstock stamp shape edged in Papertrey Hawaiian shores ink
CTMH Sentiments stamp for the background stamp with Papertrey Raspberry Fizz ink
Peachy Keen Easter Egg Words and Bunnies for the center design stamped in Archival Sepia
LetraSet Pro Markers to color in the bunny and egg
Papertrey Ink Hawaiian Shores Ribbon and cardstock base
scrap beige cardstock
pop dots
adhesive


When designing this card, I thought about making the kraft stamp shape bigger, but I wanted it just to barely be behind the egg, so that you could see the random stamped background and to not take away from the egg shape.