Month: September 2020

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Shutter Card- Happy Halloween

September 30, 2020

A Lawn Fawn Challenge #85 Awesome Autumn

According to Wikipedia, Halloween is part of Autumn. Therefore, I am entering my ‘ Happy Halloween’ card in Lawn Fawn’s challenge #85.

The Shutter card die is a lot of fun to create cards with. I kept thinking of my own childhood and the times I spent trick or treating with friends on Halloween. Each card tells a story, my card’s story unfolds by using Fox Costumes Before n’ After stamp set and die. Foxes dressed up as a skeleton, a cupcake, and bear go trick or treating, along with chickens dressed up as a donut, a ghost and a witch, down a picket fence. Along the way they see a black cat and what appears to be a ghost in the tree. One has to think this can only happen on Halloween, when folks decorate.

I used black cardstock because I wanted to show how creamy Distress Oxide are. I also used Taylor Expression brushes to blend Distress Oxide. You can feel the colors of the night during a Halloween outing, knocking on doors begging for candy. Cracking Campfire, Spiced Marmalade, Blueprint Sketch and Cracked Pistachio were the colors used for the night sky. I also used Hydracolour handmade watercolors to fleck small iridescent specks onto the night sky.

When you think of Halloween, you think of candy. A shaker card would be fitting for card like this. At Michael’s, I found Recollections embellishments called Sprinkles Vermicelles and all I could think of was it looks like the sprinkles from a cupcake. Inside the window, I included stamps of lollipops, candy corns, and candy from the stamp set called Fox Costumes Before n Afters from Lawn Fawn. I found embossable plastic on Amazon called Judi Kins Embossable Window Plastic. This has been a game changer because you can not heat acetate much less emboss something on acetate. With Embossable Window Plastic I was able to emboss the words, ‘Happy Halloween’ on the front of the window.

Below is a list of supplies I used to make the halloween card. Affiliated links used when possible, at no cost to you.

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Autumn Leaves, a LawnFawn Challenge

The color of autumn is stunning especially when you live in the Bay Area like I do. The leaves change into a brilliant color of orange, burgandy and burnt sienna. For Lawn Fawn’s #85 challenge, Awesome Autumn, I decided to use handmade watercolors from Case For Making on Distress watercolor card stock. Case For Making is an art stored located in San Francisco. They have an urban hip vibe which I love. Case For Making has curated specially selected art supplies. In addition, they also have classes which you can take on line. Although I do not work for Case For Making I thought I would share a cool place to visit if you are ever in the city.

The leaves were created by using Lawn Fawn’s Stitched Leaves dies. I ran the stitched leaves through die cut machine thus creating watercolor leaves. By using Tomboy Mono Dots Adhesive I was able to glue the leaves to the camera.

In the photo, two Gnomes are featured from the stamp set called Oh Gnome by Lawn Fawn. I used a stencil called Grassy Hillside to anchor the figures so they would not look like they were floating in the air. Again, I colored the figures with handmade watercolor from Case For Making.

I do not work for Lawn Fawn or Case For Making. I am sharing what I know and love. Although, I have used compensated affiliate links when possible at no cost to you.

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Den Sweet Den- A Lawn Fawn Challenge

What an awesome autumn day! Lawn Fawn Challenge #85 has inspired this card. Using Den Sweet Den stamp set from Lawn Fawn. I have also utilized other stamp sets from the same company like Christmas Dreams which is where the fireplace, rug and clock can be found. The leaf in the shaker window is from the stamp set called Thanks a Latte. In addition, I used Lawn Fawn’s brick stencil to give the card a room like feel. I remember when I was a little kid I used to love to read in front of the fireplace on a cool autumn evening.

In addition, to using Lawn Fawn products I have also used other products to make this card look like a room in your home. I used Hero Arts Infinity Dies, specifically Wood Frame dies and Rectangle dies. The film transparent can be purchased at Michaels. You can also use any acetate. I’ve included the link to Michaels make it easier to find. Just link on the word Michaels.

Coloring this card was fun because I got to used different techniques. First, I colored the bears, books and rug with Copic Markers. Also, I used Distress Oxide Ink , Crackling Campfire, and Distress Ink Vintage Photo to color the Brick Stencil from Lawn Fawn. The floor is a wash from the Hickory Smoke Distress Ink. I like to give texture to cards because you can run your fingers over it and feel that its glazed, so I highlight certain areas with a pen called Glaze black ink by Sakura. It make the eyes and the nose of the bears stand out. With Glossy Accents, I created a glass over the picture that says, ‘Den Sweet Den’. The fire in the fireplace also has glossy accents.

The shaker window was made with a transparent film called Dura-lar. I used Nuvo Luminos Lilypad Hexagons and Honey Bee’s Spring Fling Mint Julep. Both are linked to the company, just click on the company’s name. I am not employee by any company mentioned in this post however I used affiliate links when possible at no cost to you.

I love sharing what I have learned. Hope you enjoy your day and this post.

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Trick or Treat

I wanted to spread some Halloween cheer with this cute little stamp set from Reverse Confetti called Too Cute to Spook. Each month Reverse Confetti has a monthly challenge called Stock your Stash. September’s challenge theme is ‘Halloween/Fall Fun’.

I colored this card with my Copic Markers. Wanting to give my card a sparkling look, I used Wink of Stella clear color to color certain areas. In addition, I love giving my cards texture look so I usually highlighted certain areas with glossy accents.

In my previous post, I talked about how Copic Makers are an alcohol based ink marker. The colors are vibrant and blend easily. Why spend the money on expensive marker, you might ask? There are three different styles of Copic Markers: Classic, Sketch and Ciao. I like Sketch markers the best because it fits my hand better. With Copic Markers you can refill them and maintain your collection by keeping them clean. In addition, you can replace the tips (nibs) of the marker once they have been wore out. My Copic Marker Sketch have dual ends. At one end I have a brush nib and the other end is a chisel nib. Thaneeya Mc Ardle has a website that explains in great detail about Copic Markers. Click on the link and it will take you to her website. I am not employed by Thaneeya Mc Ardle or Reverse Confetti, I’m simply sharing what I love about card making.

Compensated affiliated links when possible, at no cost to you.

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The Professional Art Student

Every summer I try to learn something new by picking a book from an artist that I admire. I have admire Jane Davenport for a long time. Jane has several books to choose from. I have read Beautiful Faces in the past, which was a good foundation to her style for drawing portraits. This summer I picked Jane’s book called Marvelous Mermaids. The focus was building on skills from faces to learning how to do mermaid bodies. I will post later on my attempt to do the mermaid bodies. Hands and bodies are a bit tricky because the figures and hands have to be portioned. I’ve admired how Jane uses perspective to give her mermaid bodies direction and character.

In addition, Jane has art supplies that are feminine and make art fun. They seem to fit my hand better because the art supplies are modeled after cosmetics which makes her line of art supplies unique. I am truly a huge fan of her Layer Cake Paint. Its a cross between gouche and acrylic but that is my own opinion. Its creamy in texture. Once again I am not employed by Jane Davenport. I am sharing what I love. If you are interested in purchasing some of her supplies go to her website or look for them online. I have provided a link to some of the art supplies that I used to draw the portrait above.

Affiliated links used when possible at no cost to you 🙂

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Postive Mermaid Vibes

It is no surprise that I have purchased from Simon Says Stamp, “Be a Mermaid” set. The minute I saw it, I saved up for it. The stamp set reminded me of my girls who love the ocean as much as I do. The message, “I believe in you”, was exactly what I was looking for in designing the card. The background stamp is called Tumbling Shells. I do not work for Simon Says Stamp but if you are interested in purchasing the set or the background stamp, just click on the links.

HydraColour- Someone asked me about the watercolors I have used in this card. To be honest I am a little reluctant to share this because the watercolors are made in limited quantities. I have been going nuts over the hand made watercolor from HydraColour. The owner has not asked me to blog for them. I am sharing what I have found and love. The watercolors are vibrant and creamy. I’ve enjoyed using them ALOT.

I hope you are having a great day!

Affiliated links used when possible at no cost to you:)

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Lawn Fawnatics Challenge #84 “Back to School”

I have really enjoyed Lawn Fawn’s challenge #84, Back to School. My children have been so blessed to have teachers who care and are inspiring. When I was making the card, I could image their teachers online teaching.

The card was made with Neenah Solar White paper. The paper is thick, 100/297gm. While there are many different types of paper, I prefer Neenah Solar White paper for using Copic Makers because the paper has a smooth finish, it displays Copic Makers brilliant colors. Furthermore , the paper lets me blend Copic Makers easily. Copic Markers are double-sided, alcohol-based ink, with low-order and best part is that they are non-toxic. I love, love , love my Copic Markers!!! I would buy two or three at time until I had more of the markers I needed. Side Note: Neenah Solar White paper and Copic Makers are on sale at Amazon.

If you are wondering where I got those cute acrylic hearts, they are from Honey Bee Stamp company. Just click on the words Honey Bee Stamp and it should take you to the company’s website. I can not leave this post without acknowledging the star glitter its from Martha Stewart. I have a ton of Martha Stewart glitter from Michaels Arts and Crafts. Just click on the words Michaels Arts and Crafts and it will take you to their website. The glitter is on sale!

Affiliated Links used when possible at no cost to you. 🙂

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Lawnfawnatics- Challenge 84 “Back to School”

I loved school and still do. I think part of that love was fostered by my teachers who cared and were kind to me. In addition, my teachers were supper supportive and inspired me to do my best. I gave my card a 80’s feel by coloring it in color pencils ( using Prismacolor Premier 150 count color pencils ) and kraft paper. The stamps sets are from Lawn Fawn: Wild for You and Science of Love. The cute letters are Lawn Fawn’s Quinn’s ABCs. You can see the border has sewing pattern because I used Lawn Fawn’s Large Slimline with Sliders however no sliders were used in the card, thats just the name of the die cut. Lastly, to get the heart that glossy look I used Ranger’s Glossy Accents.

Affiliated Links used when possible.

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Firefighters

September 10, 2020

My youngest daughter asked me to make a card for the firefighters who have bravely fought the fires raging in California. While my youngest made posters, I made a card by using Lawn Fawn’s Village Heroes stamp set.

Lawn Fawn Village Heroes
Village Heroes

I used my Copic Markers to color the images. In addition, I also used a die cut called Simple Road Border to make the road. The sentiment is perfect for someone who is risking their lives to keep us safe. Thank you firefighters.

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