You're Hot!

Hello! Today I have a fun Mother's Day card to share....fun greeting for a sister or a friend. (Or from a husband to a wife :) I used Sew Pretty (by Gina K Designs) to create this. I stamped right on the recipe patterned paper (October Afternoon) and then just paper pieced the apron and added a bit of lace overlay. I used a Copic marker to add a little pink to her cheek.

Fun!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy 40th!

Hello!! Hope you are enjoying your week. I have been running around this week--enjoying great lunches with friends and spending my birthday gift cards. FUN! Thank you for all the wonderful birthday messages on FB, by email or on my blog. It really warmed my heart and made me feel special.

I am now working to finish up a few publication projects before I can start packing up my stamp room :(

In the meantime...here is a card I created for a friend's 40th birthday using the MFT Build a Birthday Card template I helped to design! Designer paper is by Echo Park!

Have a WONDERFUL weekend!!
Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Bark-day

Hello! Hope you are enjoying your weekend.
Happy Easter--tomorrow! I am sure I won't be blogging (shocking, I know!) but I wanted to wish you a very happy Easter. It is also my birthday. THE first time it has ever fallen on Easter Sunday and the last time it will in my lifetime. Pretty neat-o!

So today I have a cute birthday card to share: Materials used: Stamps- Birthday Buddies (Paper Smooches); Memento tuxedo black ink; soft sky ink (SU!); Designer paper- Little Boy: Rad Plaid; Little Girl: Gingham Gaby (Echo Park Paper); cardstock-ivory, white (Gina k Designs); ribbon-Pumpkin pie (SU!); Copic markers; die- cloud trio (My Favorite Things).

Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful weekend.

Many Thanks...

Hello!!! I am painfully aware that my blogging time is almost over (...for awhile anyway!) The packers will be coming in a few short weeks and I have to start packing up my beloved stamp room soon (especially the things I want to be sure are packed with care!) Sniff.
But....until I have to stop...I will keep sharing a few more creations-- :)

Today I have a thanks card to share...

I did some paper piecing of the leaves using lots of different patterned papers to get the falling leaves design on this card:

I embossed the sentiment in white and then stitched along the edge to coordinate with the sentiment. I finished this card with some walnut seam binding.

Stamps are from Floral Wreath and A Year of Leaves, both from Gina K Designs.

I just love paper piecing!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Make a Splash!

Hello! It's a new week and I am feeling so much better than I did last week. We had a nasty cold circulating around here and it literally knocked me on my tail :0 I am finally getting a chance to ink up some stamps from last month's Gina K Designs release. (Now that the next release is on Thursday!) I was just happy to stamp something :) Here is the little happy card I whipped up: I love this adorable whale and sentiment from--Make a Splash by Asela Hopkins. It went perfectly with some bright and happy Echo Park paper! Hope you are enjoying your week. Thanks for stopping by!

More Toots!

I have a few more publication projects to share today: The first one is a card that is in the June 2011 Crafts 'n Things Magazine: This issue is so fun. I always love Crafts 'n Things for the variety of projects it features. There is something for everyone and even if you strictly paper craft---you can get so much inspiration from the wonderful projects inside! I have another house project in this issue that I love because it features a picture of my family :) (Nepotism!) AND....

The May issue of CardMaker Magazine is now available!!! This issue is fabulous and choc full of lots of my crafty friends :) Their work is amazing! Here is a picture of one of my cards in the issue (page 58):FUN! My amazing friend Melanie has a card in the sketch column (last page) using one of the first stamps I ever illustrated!! Woot! Way to go Melanie!!! (She also has a lot of other fabulous stuff in there as well!) Check it out!

Thanks for stopping by!

Toot!

Happy Friday!!! Did you see the May/June issue of Paper Crafts Magazine??? Here is a tiny picture of the cover: This issue is wonderful---you can find it HERE or in your local craft stores! Here is a peek at my card on page 36:

Supplies and instructions are in the issue!!

Have a WONDERFUL weekend!!

Coloring Mimi: A Copic Marker Tutorial

Hello!! Today I am sharing a tutorial on coloring. After I created the card for my Penny Black guest designer spot, I received several emails asking what colors I used to color Mimi (especially her hair)... and how I created the end result. So...I figured it has been awhile since my last Copic tutorial...so I would just create one to show you how I colored her. (Note: I think I used different purples for her dress on this card than on my previous card. I had already sent the card out and could not remember so I just picked new ones!)

Supplies used: Stamp- Flowers for Mimi (Penny Black); Paper- Pure Luxury by Gina K Designs; Ink- Memento tuxedo black pad; Copic markers-- Cool Shadow BG10; Egg shell E50; Blush R20; Dull Ivory E43; Brick Beige E31; Sepia E37; Dark Brown E47; Chamois E35; Lavender V06; Amethyst V17; Mauve Shadow BV00; Frost Blue B00; Ice Ocean BG72; Chrome Orange YR04; Golden Yellow Y17; Yellow Green YG03; Pea Green YG63

Here we go: I stamped the image on Pure Luxury cardstock with Memento tuxedo black ink: Next, I used Cool Shadow BG10 marker to outline the entire image. This shade gives a nice subtle shadow around the image and adds a lot of definition. It is important to do this step first so you do not smear any other colors you will use later coloring the image:

I used Egg Shell E50 to color the entire face and her hands. Next, I added some Dull Ivory E43 around the edge of her face and along the hair line and two circles of Blush R20 on her cheeks. You can see this on the picture below. (I would normally use some Dull Ivory on the hands where they touch the sleeves but in such small areas, I typically don't bother.) Then I go back to the Egg Shell and move the marker in a circular motion over all the new colors to blend them:

The Hair: The more colors you use, the more realistic and beautiful color you will get for hair. I love blending lots of colors to get a unique look. For Mimi, I used Brick Beige E31 to color the hair. I just put on the color fast, not worrying about hitting every spot since many colors will be layered on top:

I used Sepia E37 to color some strands of hair and esp. the hair underneath that would have natural shadow:

Then, I went back to my Brick Beige marker to blend the darker brown into the lighter areas, again working in a circular motion:

For a big more drama, I used Dark Brown E47 to add a few more darker strands:

Next, I went back to my Brick Beige to blend again and I also added some Chamois E35 for some highlights that I didn't blend (Sorry this picture is a bit blurry...you might be able to see better on the next photo):

To color Mimi's dress, I used Lavender V06:

Then, I added some Amethyst V17 to add some shadows:

Instead of going back to the Lavender to blend the Amethyst in, I chose some Mauve Shadow BV00 to blend the darker color in, using circlular movement:

For the birds: I colored them with Frost Blue B00:

Then, I added some shadow with Ice Ocean BG72:

I went back to Frost Blue to blend:

I colored the bird beak with Golden Yellow Y17 and then added a touch of Chrome Orange YR04:

I colored the rest of the birds the same way.

Then, I colored the stockings with Yellow Green YG03 on every other stripe:

I used Pea Green YG63 to add some shadow (and because the space was so small, I didn't bother to blend it):

I went back to the Golden Yellow and Chrome Orange I used on the birds to color every third flower on the flower strand:

I used the Yellow Green and Pea Green again to color the next flower and then I left the other flowers uncolored:

I used a Spellbinder's die to cut out the shape (sponged the edges with some sky blue ink) and added some metal dots to the flower centers:

Finished!

Instead of creating the same exact card, I changed it up a bit...and came up with this:

Total cutie Pie! Designer paper is by Echo Park.

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial. Feel free to post any questions if anything is unclear.

Have a great day! Thanks for stopping by!

Hooray!!

So much going on here these days.... We had an offer on our house so we are going through the inspection process...etc. now. The night we got the offer was an emotional one for all of us...really finalized our life here. It is hard to say good bye to Texas and our home that we LOVE and our friends we are so blessed to have made here... So many changes. But...we would be silly to not realize how fortunate we are to have an offer with so many houses on the market--- so HOORAY! I created this card using Echo Park Little Boy collection (paper and stickers). I used the My Favorite Things cloud trio die to cut out the clouds and then added the "Hooray!" sticker (SRM stickers) to largest one. I added a few metal accents and some hemp for the plane trail: Although the next few months are going to be tough for my family...we are choosing to focus on all the GREAT things about our move: Closer to family; Down the road from my baby sister (Gasp--haven't had family in my area FOREVER!); Changing of seasons (I have missed Fall so much!); Teaching the kids how to ski and snowboard; Being able to make more family events--weddings, graduations, birthdays; Having my kids be able to grow closer to their cousins.... ....and so much more! I am ready! (I think!) Thanks for stopping by!

Echo Park Summer Days Winner!

Random.Cara picked number 1 as the winner of the Echo Park Summer Days collection. Congratulations to: Jenn, who said... Oh I am loving these cards, Cammie. Awesome job once again. I would love to create a mini album with this awesome paper. Thanks so much for introducing me to Echo Park!!! April 6, 2011 5:04 AM

Jenn...please email me your address so I can send this beautiful collection out to you. Thanks again to Echo Park for sponsoring this giveaway!

Thanks to everyone for playing along!!

Guest Designing for Penny Black Stamps

Happy Friday! So excited to start the weekend... AND so excited to be the guest designer on the Penny Black blog today! You can see all three of the cards I created for the blog HERE.

What fun it was to play with their stamps and create three different styles of cards. Their stamps range from cute and sweet to elegant. I just love the variety.

Here is a peek at one of the cards: I would love it if you checked them out and let me know what you think. Thank you for the honor, Penny Black!!!

Don't Forget---you still have time to enter to win the Echo Park Summer Days collection (post below!)

Have a WONDERFUL weekend. Thanks for stopping by!

Echo Park: Summer Days Giveaway!

Hello!!! Well..for those of you who are LOVING Echo Park paper as much as I am...I have a fun giveaway for you today. The AWESOME AMAZING FABULOUS people at Echo Park have generously given me one of the new Summer Days Collections to give away to one of you. Woohoo!!! This is yet another fabulous collection by them. I just love it and am so ready for some Summer Days to scrap. If you have not tried their paper before---->you are in for a treat! They are fantastic. How to enter:

To be entered to win this entire collection: leave a comment on this post telling me what you would create with this kit......and then head on over to the Echo Park blog to say hello/thanks to the amazing people over there!!! (just leave a comment on any post!) You must do both to be entered to win!

You have until Saturday April 9 at 8 p.m. central time to enter. (Subscribers can enter twice!)Random.Cara will pick the winner who will have three days to email me their address before I pick a new one.

Here a few cards I whipped up using the Summer Days Collection:

Good luck!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Birthday Girl

Hello!! I have no idea where Monday went but apparently it is gone. We had a busy weekend full of football, baseball, a family hike, etc. We also had two showings on our house so we were working hard to keep everything perfect. yuck!

Before I show you my card today...I just had to share a funny Lauren-ism. Lauren is 5 (kindergarten) and is still having some anxiety about school. She still cries some mornings and complains that her belly hurts on most days. On Sunday night, she was complaining that her belly hurt. After I talked to her about it for awhile she said, "I guess I am just tired that is all. I love school, school makes you smart. Remember that time when I got sick in school and had to go home. I was dumb that day." Classic Lauren. Love that girl. Speaking of girls----here is a birthday card I created with Echo Park Paper's Little Girl line: I layered a heart over the cupcake sticker and added some glitter. I added the cupcake to a journaling block and then popped it over some more patterned paper. I love the girl sticker that comes in the kit so I used it on this. (The birthday word is cut from another piece in the collection.) I stitched around the edges to bring a little more white on the purple (gasp! cause I rarely use purple) background.

Materials used: Patterned paper/Element stickers- Little Girl (Echo Park Paper); seam binding- white lyric rose; rhinestones (the Paper Studio); glitter-stickles (Ranger); sewing machine.

Do YOU like Echo Park paper as much as I do? If you answered YES...you might want to pop back tomorrow! (Just sayin') Thanks for stopping by!