Hanging Garden

Aloha!

I'm in love with this stamp set. It has 3 different flower baskets. Hanging baskets of flowers are really miniature yards, aren't they? Long ago we lived in Europe and been back only once. When we saw the hanging baskets on the house corners and balconies, bursting with colors in giant round orbs, the houses looked more fitted for fairy tale books of long ago. And walking through little villages, baskets of flowers hanging everywhere, well, it felt like walking into those books, a dreamland.

A few days ago a neighbor brought up some of her Yellow Jasmine plant, root and all, for us to grow. She knew I admired hers and had trouble locating any for sale on this side of the island. She's very thoughtful and giving! The fragrance of Yellow Ginger is heavenly and stronger at night. We hope to plant it by our bedroom window and dream of even farther-away places! This is a very simple thank you card for her surprise gift.


Stamp Set: Hanging Garden by Stampin Up
Cardstock: GKD & Neenah; Yellow SU
Inks: Versafine Sepia
Colored with Copic Markers, with a sheer, hazy light blue of powdered color pencil around the top layer of the cardfront.
Cross-stitch Gina Marie Rectangle Die
White Foam for layering
Spectrum Noir Sparkle Glitter Pen (on the birds & flowers)
2 wood bird elements by Studio Calico (colored with Blue Copic Markers)
Tonic Clear Blue Drops; Viva Decor Gold Drops; Glossy Accents (on the birds and flowers)
Clear Sparkle Jelly Roll pen for the wiring on the basket


There is a lot of sparkle on the front, and another hanging basket waiting inside. 

Mahalo for stopping by!

Dahlias

Aloha, friends!

I'm in a vellum rut lol!

Using the same technique as yesterday's post, I stamped the image onto vellum. I used a heat tool to dry the dye ink (otherwise it can smear on smooth surfaces). I colored the image in from the back side using color pencils. For this card I used a stylus/embossing tool to create a circle around the flowers. Simply take a round die and hold it carefully over the image. Use the stylus softly to trace the circle inside of the die. Presto - you have a nice, quiet frame.

Use the next largest circle die to cut out the image. If you wish, cut a layer from another circle die to back the vellum with some color and adhere them together.

That was pretty much it. I hope you give coloring pencils onto vellum a try!


Stamp Set: "Beautiful Bouquets, Dahlias" by W+9
Cardstock: Graffix Vellum, Neenah Ivory, MFT Gray, Bazzill Pink
Inks: SSS Cobblestone
Prismacolor Pencils
Dies by Spellbinder (Circles and Scalloped Circles)
Glue Dots Vellum Sheet Adhesive & wet glue
Cropadile Corner Chomper
Embossing Folder by Sizzix "Berry Splash"; Stylus
Tiny little pink rhinestones and eensy pink flowers from my stash

Mahalo for visiting!

Soft Flowers

Aloha, dear friends,

Have you ever used color pencils on vellum? Try it. You get such a gentle look.

I stamped the image in a soft neutral, then colored it with really inexpensive Crayola pencils :D    I used some white pigment ink all over the back of it, as well as over the embossed layer behind it - this pops the layer and the background a bit. Inside the card is the elegant sympathy sentiment from  Thinking of You by Flourishes.

I learned more intricate ways to apply color pencils to various mediums in the Color Pencil Jump Start Class taught by Sandy Allnock. 


Stamp Sets: Flourishes "Bees & Blossoms" and "Thinking of You"
Cardstock: Neenah Ivory 80#, Bazzill Light Blue, and Graffix Vellum
Inks: VersaFine Soft Gray, Memento Sky Blue, GKD White Pigment
Crayola Color Pencils (yes, they work great)
Embossing Folder: "Tea Party" by QuicKutz
SMS Oval Dies
Silk Ribbon; Nuvo Sea Breeze Translucent Drops; Glue Dots Vellum Adhesive Sheets

Mahalo for stopping by!!!

Play In The Leaves

Aloha,

Is there a change in the air where you live? Is it a little crisper than in midsummer? Here's to Fall! I made a little Hispanic girl for today & I know just the right girlfriend to send her to :)

This is a technique using color pencils but to create a more "watercolor" look to it. I didn't even know that was possible. But this girl (me) is almost done with the Color Pencil Jump Start Class taught by Sandy Allnock. I also used one of the Autumn Scenes Class she teaches to create a simple fall-colored scene.

i

Stamp Set: "Jumping For Joy" by My Favorite Things, Pure Innocence
Cardstock: Neenah 110#, Bazzill Grapefruit Bliss Yellow & Watermelon Red, Stampin Up DP 2018-2020 In Color Grapefruit Grove Striped and Dotted
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & marker (outlining)
Prismacolor Pencils & Gamsol
Sharpie White Paint
Simon Says Stamp Postage Rectangle Die; Gina Marie Crosstitch Rectangle Die
Yellow & White Twine; Tomato color satin ribbon

Mahalo for stopping by!

We are praying for those on the east coast

in this monster storm ♥

Hummingbirds

Aloha!

I've been coloring, adhering and cutting with one arm for months (and making a mess of things). It's 3 weeks post op wrist surgery. They had to cut off some of the bone and, meh, too gnarly to discuss.

It took me ten weeks to finish a simple project of 21 cards, moving as fast as a snail on double stick tape.

I stamped all the hummingbirds and then colored them with Copic markers. I fussy cut them out and put those aside (weeks ago).

Using the Spotlighting Technique I colored a circle of the flower image, then ran this layer through an embossing folder, some with embossed corners, and others with debossing. The insides have flowers & the envelopes have autumn-y leaves and sunflowers.

i

Stamp Sets: Hummingbird (Our Daily Bread); Flowers (GKD On My Mind and In My Heart); Leaves and Flowers on envelopes (GKD Heartfelt)
Inks: Versafine Black, GKD (Almagam & autumn set), Distress Inks (autumn colors); Copic Markers
Cardstock: GKD
Embossing Folder: Corners & Damask by Sizzix
Wink of Stella; Adhesive Foam Tape; Clear Rhinestone

PS - Kindly disregard the rhinestone 

that moved when I snapped the picture. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

Mahalo for stopping by-I've missed you 🤗

Summer Dandelion

Aloha ♥

You know how you get an idea and run with it, then wake up in a ditch? That's how I felt when I stepped back and really looked at this card. I put too many wind marks on the dandelion head. So now it looks like 1) there is a hurricane-force gust on top of her head or 2) she is reaching up to catch a comet. Plus, if you look at her fur, there appears to be far too much static electricity in the air. But you know me - it's going on the blog anyway :D Thank you for coming over!

Stamp Set: "Wish" by Purple Onion Designs
Cardstock: GKD
Ink: Brilliance Moonlight White
Prismacolor Pencils
Sharpie White Paint Marker
Sequins & Stickles Diamond Glitter

 Mahalo for stopping by ♥

Just Cruisin'

Aloha!

Here's a cute little hedgehog on his way to work or a vacation, not sure which. I can tell you that he has a BUMPY ride lol! I was going to make a cobblestone road and it ended up being more of a dirt and rock path! Still studying color pencils in an online class by Sandy Allnock. Here is a link to view all of her classes:

Online Art Classes by Sandy Allnock

This is a section "Intensifying Color" using opposite or contrasting colors, Lesson 5.

Stamp Set: Purple Onion Designs, Cruiser
Cardstock: GKD
Ink: Simon Says Stamp "Fossil" (pale gray for no line on the scooter and hedgehog)
Prismacolor Pencils
Gamsol & Paper Stumps
Sharpie White Paint Marker
Scallop Rectangle Dies by Gina Marie

Mahalo for visiting & leaving some love ♥

A Little Humor---

---to lighten up our day :D

Aloha,

Now don't get all your feathers ruffled. The sentiment tickled my funny bone, and it's similar to one of Bob Ross' sayings.

I saw the stamp set and fell in love, yet again. It's a love at first sight kind of thing.

Remember Bob's famous pet squirrel? Peapod! Other Bob Ross'isms -- Happy Cloud, Happy Tree, Beat the Devil Out of it (his paint brush) and No Mistakes -- Only Happy Accidents!

The 30 Day Coloring Challenge by Kathy Racoosin

Stamp Set: "Happy Accidents" by Kindred Stamps
Cardstock: (No need to ask -- GKD and Neenah Solar White)
Inks: Copic Markers; stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black
Die: Gina Marie Stitched Rectangles; Memory Box Squirrels
Wink of Stella
Memento Markers to draw in the floors, wall, wood grain, the easel, the mountain scene, the wallpaper, etc.
Wink of Stella to sparkle up the river and the snow-capped mountain tops
Double Stick Foam Tape

It's a JOKE -- Smile :D

Mahalo nui loa for stopping by! Make your week a great one!

Aloha ♥

Wheek Wheek Wheek!

Aloha,

I had to have this stamp set when I saw some of the images. It made me smile. I gave this to a sweet lady doctor today :D because she takes good care of me. The blue layer is dry embossed but you can't see it.

The 30 Day Coloring Challenge

Stamp Set: "Wheek, Wheek, Wheek" by Gerda Steiner

Cardstock & Envelope: GKD

Cross Stitch Rectangle Die: Gerda Steiner

Copic Markers and Prismacolor Pencils; Black Memento Marker

Pretty Pink Posh Clear Sequins

Adhesive & Layer of Foam, Glossy Accents (a touch of Wink of Stella on his teeth)

Front:

Inside:

Mahalo for visiting!!!

Pomeranian

Aloha,

Have you ever used free online coloring pages? When I need a specific image, that's where I go. I found this Pomeranian for a friend's brother who had to put down his beloved pet, "Lil Tex."

The 30 Day Coloring Challenge

Online Coloring Pages
GKD Cardstock and Sunkissed Autumn pattern paper
Tonic Wood Embossing Folder
Rounded Corner Rectangle Die by Scrapbooking Made Simple
Colored with Copic Markers and a few Prismacolor Pencils
Sponging with Memento Potter's Clay
Nuvo Drops "Ebony Black" and Perfect Pearls "Pearlescent Bisque"
Adhesive Foam Tape
Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Glitter Gloss

Mahalo for Visiting ♥

25th Anniversary

Aloha, friends,

Talk about bated breath while waiting for this anniversary in particular, LOL. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, poisonous air, and our usual rocky health journeys... I woke up and thanked God for our day. I didn't want to celebrate until later in the evening because I felt nervous about this one.

If you enjoy watercolor and watching others paint, you may appreciate watching Maria Raczynska (click on her name) on YTube. I find her tutorials so soothing to watch and you can rewind them as you learn.


Watercolors: Kuratake Gansai Tambi 36 color set
Watercolor Paper Canson XL 140 lb Cold Press, 5" x 7"
Sketched out a Beach Scene
Cardstock: GKD White, Black, In the Navy
Stitched Oval Dies from Gina Marie
Adhesive foam tape; Scor Tape; Delicata Silver Ink (around the oval sentiment)

Inside is a poem I wrote with love and funnies from our lives together.  This is the first time I ever tried a watercolor scene like this. After 3 tries and 2 hours to finish, I could have ruined it more, but called it a day.

Mahalo for visiting!!!

Here Little Fishies

Aloha, fellow fishermen,

Ever watch nature shows? Like the ones that show the sci-fi fish down deep in the oceans? This is card two for the 2 little boys who need some encouragement.

I will learn to like Distress Oxide Inks... They do blend creamy, but they look chalky to me. I splashed water all of this for bubbles or turbulence from the ocean current. Fussy cut the fishes, add a cord and big fishing hook to hold the sentiment, lots of glitter - done.

Stamp Set: "That Bites" by Avery Elle
Cardstock: GKD Black, Turquoise Sea; Neenah White
Distress Oxide Inks
Stickles
Glossy Accents (over all the eyeballs and teeth, fish hook)
Embossing Folder (seriously, it was yesterday, I do not recall)

Mahalo, fellow fishermen.

PS I do not fish. I am a vegetarian. Aloha ♥

Space...

Aloha, earthlings!

In one of the card groups I read there are two little boys who need encouragement. I put on my supercape and lept into action.

Have I ever made a galaxy car before? I don't even remember. So I took distress inks and made one. I did not add water drops, just little white gel pen stars and glitter twinkles. I wrote the beginning sentiment onto the cosmic shooting star, the rest inside will say "Outta This World!" Fussy cut and popped.

Remember There She Goes Again? I have hoarded, I mean kept some of their stamp sets and this is one of them.

Stamps: TSGA Out of this World
Cardstock: GKD Ivory (please help me to use this Ivory goodness stash up); Neenah White; Yellow
Copic Markers
Stickles (all over stuff)
Glossy Accents (all over the astronaut's face shield)
Embossing Folder (I forgot already :/ it was yesterday)
Adhesive Foam Squares

signed, spaced out.

Mahalo for stopping by, Earthlings.

High Tide

Aloha, everyone,

I'm back.

This technique is an easy one. You just put distress ink on a craft mat, or if you can't find yours (mine), use a piece of acetate anything (grin). Spritz water over it until you see tiny water drops all over the inks, then lay the watercolor paper on top. Wait as it soaks up color. Let dry or use a heat tool and repeat the process until you get the depth of color you wish. Let dry again. Then I spritzed water mixed with Perfect Pearl (pearl color) for a top sheen over the scene and let dry again. Stamp your images over.

Then I took a mini stamp cube (brown) and just using the edge of the pad, touch it to the cardstock to make waves, weeds, grass - and then distress the edges. Let dry and create your card.

Stamp Sets: Stampin' Up "High Tide," "Love & Sympathy," and "The Open Sea"
Cardstock: Gina K. Designs
Inks: Peacock Feathers, Barn Door, Vintage Photo (for the smooshed background, the lines for grass and sea, and the Lighthouse). VersaFine Black for the sentiment. Sandy Beach by GKD for the anchors on background.
Perfect Pearls (pearl shimmer & water spray)
1-3/4" Circle and 2" Scallop Circle Hand Punches
Black soft cording; Mini Adhesive Foam Squares

Mahalo for visiting!!!

♥

A Heartfelt Vellum Rose

Aloha, everyone,

Do you enjoy working with vellum? It's a beautiful medium if you have a gentle touch. Most of the time, this rules me out.

Using a sturdy, thicker cut of vellum, use anti-stick powder all over. Stamp the image using embossing ink. Sprinkle embossing powder and heat with a very hot heat gun before bringing it to the paper. I think that helps, maybe not. Hard to tell when I'm doing the heating.

Use dye-based inks (chalks and pigments smear easily) to softly sponge lighter colors BEHIND or on the BACK side of the embossed image. Spread it out a bit beyond the embossed outline for a feathery, lighter look.

For this card, I cut the front layer of vellum 1/2 inch wider than the card. This allowed me to create two, gently-scored crease lines at the left edge of the card. Both lines are about 1/8 inch apart. Roll the crease lines of the vellum back and forth, lightly between your fingers. This creates more of a thin "book spine" to adequately encase the depth of your card. The vellum will fold nicer and the card fits completely inside the vellum.

I added a 1/8 inch strip of double stick tape on the far left part of vellum, sticking the taped portion to the back side of the card. That is all holding the vellum to the card. I added a layering weight sheet in the same color of cardstock to the back, covering the taped vellum part.

Stamp Sets: "Rose Wonder" and "Heartfelt Sympathy" both by Stampin' Up; "Lots of Lavender" by Stampin' Up is used for stamping on the front and back of the envelope
Stampin' Up; "Petal Burst" Embossing Folder (used on back flap of envelope and on pink shimmer layer, behind the front vellum)
Cardstock by GKD, Heavy and lightweight Pure Luxury White; Anna Griffin Shimmer Pale Pink
Envelope by Stampin Up
Vellum by Graffix, "Durable Medium" weight; smaller piece Stampin' Up thin vellum from the vellum pack "Botanical Gardens" (inside the card, covering the sentiment)
VersaMark embossing ink; Multi Matte Medium (for sequin)
Simon Says Stamp White embossing powder
Memento Inks in Angel Pink, Rosebud, New Sprout and Bamboo Shoot (and sponge daubers); Memento Markers for coloring the Envelope
Scor Tape 1/8th inch wide; Vellum adhesive by Glue Dots
One single clear sequin, on the rose petal. (I told Bruce one of my tears fell and turned into the sequin.)

(Glue Dots vellum adhesive comes in clear sheets that you press onto the back of the entire vellum piece. It's a FABulous product and I can't speak more highly of this. You truly cannot see the adhesive through the vellum.)

For My Husband, Bruce's, Son In Law, Art.

Bruce's middle daughter, April, died suddenly last week,

turning 54 years old two weeks
before her untimely death.

Many tears flowed with heaving cries

while trying to create & upload
this card.

Hand delivered to Art by Bruce in Alaska

 Their love was stronger than steel,
♥ Art & April Hackney ♥

front:

inside:

Mahalo for your love,
kindness and visiting this post ♥
with aloha






to comfort grieving hearts
Revelation 21:3, 4   Isaiah 33:24   Psalm 37:10, 11, 29
John 5:28, 29

Envelope Art

Aloha dear friends,

How is your new week? Are you able to create? I hope you can and that all is well for you and your loved ones ♥

I'm going to try and play in a challenge. It's been a very long time since the last one -- not good. Gotta get on the ball.

Cat is having a challenge for envelope art at StampTV.  I often call this simply envy art. I used color pencils on the envelope but markers on the card. The area around the flower on the card is colored in with a very pale Y00 Copic marker, just to set it off from white. It's hard to see it in the picture.

Stamp Sets: "Art from the Heart" and "Scripty Sayings2"
Cardstock and envelope: GKD
Colored with Copic markers (card) and
Prismacolor Pencils (envelope)
Embossing Folder "Petal Burst"
Dies: Circles and Stitched Circles by SMS
Corner Rounder Cropadile
Striped ribbon; adhesive foam; Nuvo Crystal Drops in light blue and light yellow; Nuvo Clear Spark Pen (on the flower petals)

Front of the Envelope

Back of the Envelope

Mahalo for stopping by and leaving your comments!

Make room to color, craft, create, every day ♥

It's Monster Love

Aloha dear ones,

I hope you and your loved ones are getting through this winter as best you can. It's nice here and very windy this past week. It's cold for us (windy and low 60s, don't laugh) and the snow on the mountains behind us turns the wind icy throughout the house. Then the sun warms us into the 70s and no complaints!

This card is for our older grandson, the brother of the younger one that is getting the Ninja card (last post). He is older but I reaaaaaaaaaly wanted to use this stamp set. It's stamped and colored on the inside, too! Aren't monsters cute!!!?

The background scene is colored with markers. The monsters are stamped in solid GKD ink with color pencils over them. I fought to save this sentiment. I stamped in VersaFine Black and swiped it across the sky :(  Yes, I did. It took a lot of work to figure out how to save this baby. If there is a way, I will always mess up towards the end of my card projects lol!

Stamp Set: MFT Monster Love
Cardstock: GKD
Inks: GKD; Versafine Black
Colored with Copic Markers, GKD inks and Prismacolor Pencils; Memento Black marker
Glossy Accents & Perfect Pearls Buttercup

Mahalo for stopping by!

And monster love to each of you ♥

Quiet Forest

Aloha,

How are you? It's Friday! This is also the last segment of the Mini Copic Coloring Course - Autumn. It was a bit terrifying, just like her Drawing 101 course, but sometimes we need a little fear to push us onward.

If you decide to take this course, heads up. Near the end of the video while you are coloring along with Sandy, she will joke about cardmakers. I laughed so hard with my marker in hand, that I boo-boo'd really bad. There is no sentiment or sequin large enough to cover it up so I turned it into a few more trees. And now YOU know, what to expect...

Cardstock: GKD (my fav cardstock)
Layering card from SMS, Maroon
Copic Markers

Mahalo for stopping ~ Enjoy the weekend ♥

Ninja Warrior

Aloha dear ones,

I hope you and your loved ones are as well as can be, especially with the fierce flu bug going all over the place.

This scene was done with several Copic BV (blue violet) markers, one B60 markers and one C5 cool grey marker. When you take the Copic coloring courses online from instructors (this one is from 4th Part Copic Mini Autumn Scenes) you can look at your Copics or Sandy's Hex Chart and find similar colors to what are used in video tutorials. Don't be afraid (of this forest muwahh ah ah).  This will probably go to our youngest grandson ♥

Stamp Set "Ninja Mazing" by My Favorite Things
Cardstock GKD
Inks: Colored by Copic Markers; outlined with Memento Black
Spectrum Noir Clear Glitter Brush Marker (Oh, it's so fun to see all the glitter as you "walk through the tunnel).
Scotch Double Side Adhesive foam; Double Stick tape; Sharpie white paint pen

And the shimmer---

Mahalo for stopping by!

And aloha ♥

Feed the Bears

Aloha ♥

Part 3 of the Mini Copic Art Course: Autumn Scenes by Sandy Allnock. Note to self- color during the daylight, not at night. I had to add a bear to the scene as well as a little sign with a marker glued to his hand LOL! Guilty bear!

Everything is done with Copics plus the Bear stamp. The rest we have to use our imagination. Mine always seem to look like a scary fairy tale forest. What on earth is up with that?

Stamp Set: My Favorite Things "Bear Necessities"
Cardstock: GKD 120# white and Neenah 80# white, SMS Yellow layering
Adhesive Foam Tape
Glossy Accents
Sharpie White Paint maker; Tombow Tux Black marker

Aloha and Mahalo for stopping by :* kisses!

"Ruff" Times

Aloha, everyone!

This card is for our son in law and daughter. They have a cute little French bulldog is what I think it is. Her coloring is just like our bristle coat tortie color kittie cats! It's so funny and loves to run. Then her hip had problems and she has to be carried up and down stairs and no more running :( Can you imagine a dog not running because of a hip problem? I had to make a little card for her and her "parents."


Stamp Set: Avery Elle "Sorry It's Been Rough"
Paint Gansai Tambi Watercolor
Stamping Ink: Staz On black
GKD cardstock and Strathmore watercolor paper
Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle brush pen

Thank you dear ones for stopping by!

With aloha ♥

Hi, there - Drawing 101!

Hi old friends! Where've I been, right? Well, I've missed YOU. And I didn't have the mental energy to blog hop or visit blogs or comment much anywhere. The stress from Bruce's illness was extremely hard for me to get back up from. But he's even back to work now, 2nd week!

I won't go into all the details but will just say my husband is better and so I am - Bruce with his heart and tummy, and me with my back surgery (hey, I can stand up straight and walk upright again - slowly and not far, but a little less pain now)!

Being stuck in bed recovering I searched around online and signed up for some of Sandy Allnock's classes. So I haven't been just laying around watching soap operas (are there any left?) and eating chocolate. In fact, I've lost almost 30 lbs since going on a more careful menu (not diet) since August 4. I have not increased activity because of my back. I have to take it reaaaalllly easy for 6 months (still have 4 more months). My goal is to walk to the mailbox but I can't do it every day because of spasms in the back and (shall I say it? Buttocks).

And I've been sharpening pencils and using a lot of the squishy eraser lol! I hope you will consider taking her course. You will get waaaay more than you thought. It didn't feel like a 101 course!

Here is a link: Sandy Allnock's Online Art Courses!

We simply used pencils (mostly a regular #2 and for me a 5B, 6B and Prismacolor White. The first part of class we used a white paper sketchbook and for second part, I used a tan color paper sketchbook. (We could use gray or tan paper.)

After a few lessons (ok a lot of lessons) about simple shapes and shadows, combining shapes and lighting, and 2 point perspective and vanishing points, we got into some challenging photos to draw. After the first few, I quit using a ruler because I just wanted to wing this and see what happens.

Remember, This is 101 for me. I felt like I was kicked out of the nest too early, but I flapped those wings 'til I only had a feather in each hand but I flew!

You can see the 2 pt perspective in a simple picnic table. (All drawings are based on photos at "Paint My Photo" where we have the drawing group discussion.) These images are not in the order we drew them, but sort of.


1. Picnic Table

2. An old building, "Dorothy Church" in Alberta, Canada. (I could not really locate the right side of the 2 pt perspective, so will need to study up more.)

3. Stack of cups

4. Hellbrunn Castle Grounds

5. Chichester Cathedral Steeple (this is about where I gave up with a ruler).

6. Still Life (um, the crumbled up paper in the foreground is supposed to be some calla lilies lol). This is where we began using a color paper and added white pencil.

7. In the Cottage

8. Locked

9. Garlic Bulb

10. Wormsloe State Historic Site (tunnel of trees sans the moss because there wasn't any moss in the original photo) I added green Prismacolor pencils.

11. Oil Lamp or Lantern

Ok dear ones - hug your loved ones!

Much love to each of you and

thank you for visiting ♥