Snowmen

Hello again!
 I had time to finish up another project that was sitting on my desk, after finding the perfect sketch and perfect technique for this chilly guy. 

I colored this cutie up as soon as I got him, but then the MOJO disappeared. 
Along comes the sketch challenge from Freshly Made Sketches and a technique shared on the Unity Stamps Facebook age~

Love the modern look of this card.  And I love this snowman!  (He is from Unity Stamp Co.)
I am also linking up to Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge- Christmas

Thanks for stopping by and Have a Blessed Christmas if I don't make it back here before then!

Lee Ann  

Winter Time

Hello All! 

Time is such a funny thing.  It can drag like a snail or it can fly by, as it seems to be doing now.  Can you relate?  This is the last week of the semester and a week before Christmas.  I will not be posting much over the next week or so as I am headed out of town to see my parents.
 I had this image from Unity Stamp Co colored up and just needed to turn it into a card. 

This stamp had not seen ink- I was inspired to pull it out when I saw this challenge from
Pinspirational Challenges~

As this card is most likely going to my niece, I gave her black hair instead of blond. 

I am also linking up to Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, Warm Winter Wishes.  This young lady is warm in her hat ans sweater! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Lee Ann 

CAS Thanks

Hello All! 

Are you finding yourself scrambling as Christmas gets closer and closer?  I have really tried to slow down this year and not worry so much about the doing.  I am even getting ahead on my Christmas thank yous.  I used the sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch to jump start my creativity~
 

Please excuse the crummy photo; I have not been able to get photos done with good lighting. 

I used an old Crackerbox  image and a sentiment from Stampendous for this easy peasy card. 

Sketch I used~

I am also linking up to the ABC Christmas Challenge- Z is for 'zero embellishments'. 

Thanks for stopping by~

Lee Ann 

Fall Coffee Lover's Blog Hop

Hello, Hello!

I am a bit late to the Fall Coffee Lover's Blog Hop, but I finally got to craft yesterday evening and played with some new toys.  I really need to stop trying to get fancy with every thing and K.I.S.S!  This card was fraught with errors as I did LOTS of masking, but in the end I think it turned out OK.

I used two W Plus 9 stamp sets, a Christmas set from last year- Holiday Trimmings- and a new set,  Hello and Thanks.  I used the matching die on the sentiment, which I adore!
I created masks for all of the images, then put the mask down where the cup would go and stamped my ornaments masking them as well.  Once the ornaments were stamped, I folded back the cup mask and stamped the floral spray.  Next, I masked the floral spray and lined up the cup image with the cup mask that was still in place.  Once the stamp was ready to go, I removed the cup mask and stamped the cup.  lastly, I masked the cup and flowers and stamped the saucer.
I have all of my oopsies hidden behind various components.  Hopefully next time execution will be better!~
My background was one of those in a pile waiting to be used.  It was the perfect shade of red- made with Ken Oliver Color Bursts.

I am linking up to
Inkspirational- Anything Christmas
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes
52 Christmas Card Throwdown-  Pick a Previous 2017 Challenge.  I used Sept. 2017 Colors.

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Christmas Season!

Lee Ann  

 

Monkeyin' Around

Hello All! 

Today's CAS card is actually a card of encouragement who, after 4 months, continues to stuggle with recovering from a total hip replacement.  This fits his personality.  :D

I used an oldie but goodie image from MFT along with the sketch from CASe This Sketch~

As you can see, I turned the sketch and replaced the circle with a monkey.  The fun little vine detail is from CASual Fridays.  The monkey is colored with Copics and the sentiment is stamped with Gina K Fresh Asparagus ink and the vine is sponged with same ink. 

The colors are from the Color Throwdown~

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed week!

Lee Ann  :D

Poinsettia in Pink

Hello and Happy Thanksgiving!

No Thanksgiving card for me today; I have a Christmas card using a beautiful poinsettia image from Unity Stamp Co.  I just bought this stamp during their 'Brown Sale' and could not wait to ink it up!

So this card turned out nothing like I had originally planned.  I really wanted to do 'loose watercoloring' but I could not let myself just slop it on, lol!  I kept playing with it and kept getting further and further from loose watercoloring, and yet it was not really nice and neat either.  So, I ended up fussy cutting it out and creating a loose background with distress inks and the Wrinkle free distress technique.
I used the sketch from Sunday Stamps~

I am also linking  up to Fab 'n Funky- 'Christmas'

As well as Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge- 'Baby it's Cold Outside'. 

Catching Up on Coloring

Hello! 

I have had a busy few days and have missed out on coloring for Kathy Racoosin's The Daily Marker 30 Day coloring challenge.  So today was a bit of catch up plus playing in a couple of challenges.  I ended up with an extremely CAS card for me. 

I masked an oval as well as my butterfly from Unity Stamps and then sponged in Smoky Slate ink.  Afterwards, with the magic of the MISTI, I stamped my butterfly image in Momento Tuxedo Black ink followed by coloring with Copics.  Added the sentiment and die cut with a MFT die.  Finished it off with sequins. 

The sketch is from this weeks CASE this Sketch Challenge~

Colors are from The Paper Players~

Love these colors! 

Thanks for stopping by,

Lee Ann 

Let Them Eat Cake!

Hello Everyone!

I needed a card for a dear friend who was given a surprise 60th birthday party.
I used an oldie but goodie image from MFT~

She is colored with Copics and fussy cut out.  I used a sketch from Julee Tilman's MOJO Monday Sketch Challenge.

I am also linking up to Seize the Birthday- Anything Goes~

Sentiments are Concord and 9th, scalloped Rectangle Die is MFT, bling is from Studio Katia.

Have a wonderful weekend~!

Lee Ann 

Watercolored Holly

Hello Again!

Have you been participating in Kathy Racoosin's coloring challenge?  I snuck in a couple of projects this weekend.  Coloring is my favorite thing to do and there just is not enough time in the day for it!  I am making a special effort to join in as often as I can this month.  You can find details on the 30 day challenge HERE, on Kathy's blog.

I fell in love with this Ellen Hutson holly as soon as I saw it.  It is just gorgeous!  Love the script sentiments as well. 
I used Arches watercolor paper and started out with Gina K Amalgam black ink, followed by a base of watercolor using Inktense Pencils.  Once I had a few layers of color down, I switched over to Arteza brush pens as I was not getting the deep color that I wanted.  Annnnd now it is a little too deep, lol.  I added details with Prismacolor Pencils.  The background was done with the Arteza brushes.  I used white gel pen and then Crystal Effects on some of the holly berries. 
The sketch I used is from Freshly Made Sketches~

I learned several things in doing this card.  First, if you are watercoloring an image with smooth leaves, do not use cold press paper.  When using colored pencils, avoid cold press paper.  Lastly, do not overwork your image! We keep doing to practice, practice, practice, right?

I still love how this turned out! 

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed week!

Lee Ann 

Thankful

Thankful. 
I love that the month of November focuses on this word and all of the things we can each be thankful for.  Right now as my parents go through some major medical issues, I am very thankful for them.  This card is headed their way (my Mom loves everything fall and fall colors). 

Not only do I love this card because it is for my parents, I love it because it is a mixture of many old things- Old SU dsp, recycled cardstock from cards that were disassembled, a sentiment gifted to me by me friend, Giovana, and an old image the was stamped with a stamp that was shared with me via mail many years back.  Every now and again I LOVE to try to use stuff that is lying around. That is this card.  :D 
I am linking up to
The Paper Players-

And also Cupcake Inspirations-

And Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday Challenge for October- "Give Thanks"

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week!

Lee Ann 

Monochromatic and Neutral

Hello All,

I have been catching up on life lately but made some time to color last night.

I I started by masking off a rectangle on my card front.  Then, using my MISTI, I stamped these birds, one of my favorite Unity images.  I also stamped a mask for the birds.  I applied the mask over my stamped birds and then stamped a textured stamp from Unity over the taped off rectangle.  Lastly, I sponged some Crumb Cake ink around the edges of the masked rectangle.
The mask was removed and the tape that was used to make the rectangle was removed.  I put my card back in the MISTI and stamped the birds again, so they would hang out beyond the sponged rectangle.
Now it was time to color; I used my trusty Copics for this and then stamped a sentiment from a Unity Kit of the Month.  Sequins and some tiny dabs of my white gel pen finish off the card .  I spotted a DT call on FB the other day and thought it looked unique and fun so, I am linking up to the DT call at The Rainbow Challenge.  I love the look of monochromatic cards as well as the challenge of it.  Mynn, my style tends to be clean and elegant,but I will try anything!

I am also linking up to Addicted to CAS which is One Layer Card.
I used the inspiration at CAS-usal Fridays~

I am also linking up to Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge- 'Anything Goes'.

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!

Lee Ann

Altenew Fall Florals

Hello Everyone!

I made some time to stamp today, despite all of the chores staring at me.  I already felt the rustiness of not crafting setting in!  I like my final card, but boy, did it take forever to get here!

I was inspired by some challenges~ Altenew's monthly challenge, as well as the sketch at Sunday Stamps.

My card base and the 'love' die cut are Early Espresso Brown, although it is hard to see it in the photo.  I promise it is not black.  I started with a wood grain textured cardstock and painted a light orange stripe along what would be the right side of my card panel.
Next, I stamped the florals and leaves from Altenew's Focus on You Stamp Set.  I then colored with Copics and fussy cut out. The word 'You' is a part of the set.  I stamped it in Early Espresso.
I die cut a square from vellum and then die cut the Altenew 'Love'- once in Early Espresso and 3 times in white, then stacked and glued them together.  A few brown splatters and sequins finish the card. 

Also linking up to the Cupcake Challenge~

Inkspirational- Use Vellum

And 'Die Cut Divas'~ Halloween or Autumn


Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed week!

Lee Ann 

A Butterfly Tribute

Hello, Everyone.

Today's blog post really starts at Stamplorations. This is a tribute to a fellow crafter, Melissa Lane as well as a celebration of her life.  On October 2, Melissa (https://honeybeelane.wordpress.com) passed away. She was a talented cardmaker/crafter/artist, a mother of 4, wife, and servant of Jesus. Melissa loved to garden and she loved photography. Her favorite color was red, and she loved butterflies -- so much so that many of the cards and other projects she made had butterflies in them.
This special link up is in honor of her; you are welcome to add to her butterfly gallery by linking your card up HERE. 

My card started with a Heidi Swapp butterfly stencil.  I traced it on cardstock and then stamped floral images from Simon Says Stamp, Beautiful Flowers stamp set.  The flowers were colored with Copics.  The stenciled butterfly was hand cut out and then I also hand cut a black background for the butterfly to help everything pop.  The stamped card base uses a leaf image from Altenew's Garden Treasures Stamp Set. The leaves are stamped with Distress Oxide Ink.  The sentiment is from Sweet n Sassy Stamps The Future stamp set. 
I did not know Melissa personally, but I have come to learn how tight knit the crafting/stamping community is and when one of our members is gone, a hole is definitely left behind.  If you would like to link up a card to her butterfly gallery, you are welcome to do so.  You can use any products you want.  Details are on the Stamplorations blog 

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed week!

Lee Ann 

Watercolored Bloom

Hello All,

I have been taking a bit of a break from crafting (but one can never truly leave it).  I was back at it today, finishing up a card  I started a week or so ago.  I used this gorgeous The Ton Stamps stamp, Large Dahlia 2. 

I love the stamp and I love how I colored the flower, but some things just go downhill from there.  The layout did not come together right, the more you try to fix it the worse it gets sometimes!  I ended up pulling it apart and redoing the best that I could. 
I guess it was just an off week, because the photography just didn't go smoothly either, lol! 
Anyway, I watercolored the embossed image with Ken Oliver colorbursts.  That's pretty much it- easy peasy! 
I am linking up to the Addicted to Stamps and More~

Make Your Mark

Also linking up to the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge~

Anything goes with a Feminine Twist

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful, blessed week!  

Lee Ann 

Fall Leaves

Hello Everyone! 

Is it feeling like fall by you?  It finally is here in St Louis.  No fall leaves yet, but that hasn't stopped me from stamping them!

This stamp from Technique Junkies, Autumn Blessings, is super easy to turn into a beautiful card. 

I wanted a very loose water colored look for this image.  Problem is, I am so picky about coloring that it is hard for me to go outside the lines, lol.  My way around that is to lightly pencil in approximately where the image will be and then watercolor BEFORE stamping.  No kidding!  That is the only way I can get a loose look! 
I did go in after I had stamped the image over the water colored card front and add some detail and shadows. 

You can get 10% off of this stamp- actually your whole card minus clearance- with code TJ10LeeAnn.  

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!

Lee Ann 

Final Week with Stamplorations

Hello All! 

This is my final post as a guest colorist with Stamplorations.  It has been wonderful and Shery (the owner) is wonderful to work with.  Thank you, Shery! 

This week was a Copic week. The first card is with a new to me stamp, Oh So Grateful, which comes with a matching die as well.  Anyone smitten with blue pumpkins like me?

The background is watercolored and then stenciled with a lovely Tim Holtz flourish stencil and clear embossing paste.  Which you cannot see in this photo.  This week was bad photo week for me; seems to come in waves...

I can never use 2 or 3 Copic markers for an image; how many blues does it take to color a pumpkin!?

I spattered some rust watercolor paint on the background as well.  The sentiment is from the Best Mom Ever stamp set.  This card, however is going to my Dad, who has been having set back after setback following total hip replacement. 

The next card is made with this gorgeous Oriole from the Framed Oriole stamp. 

I used my MISTI to stamp this image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink so that I could go back when I was all done coloring and stamp the image again, this time with a much darker black ink. 

I love how this turned out, even though I have some practicing to do on how to color in a drop shadow behind a rectangle.  I kept it simple as I thought it could make a nice design for a set of note cards. 
I am linking my oriole card up to Addicted to CAS as this week the challenge is "Tweet'. 

My last card was an experiment from beginning to end.  I wanted to try no line Copic coloring.  I also wanted to have more than one pumpkin.  

The image from the Oh So Grateful stamp and die set was stamped in Memento Desert Sand ink.  Then I masked that and added another pumpkin and some additional leaves. 
Then I had the real challenge of no line coloring.  Oh boy.  This is not easy.  I have waaaaay too much ink on these pumpkins, because I had a hard time deciding where to start and how to have light and dark areas without the black lines.  It really should not be that hard, but it was! 

When it came to actually making the card, I had a hard time settling on a layout.  I added some splatters of watered down grey acrylic paint.  The sentiment is from Fond Expressions stamp set.  It is stamped in grey since there is no black anywhere else on the card.  I thought it would look funny in black.  Not sure I like it in the grey though...  learning, learning...
I am linking my last card up to the 'Just Us Girls' Challenge which has an inspiration photo this week~

Visit all 3 colorists' blogs and leave a comment to be entered to win a gift certificate from Stamplorations.  You can start HERE at the Stamplorations blog.  

Thanks so much for stopping by and happy coloring! 

Lee Ann 

Beautiful in Blues

Hello All!

I have been wanting to use this Unity stamp for forever, but things kept getting in the way of free time crafty time.  I finally pulled out the image and my Ken Oliver Colorbursts last night. My colors were inspired by a gorgeous floral from Tae Eun Yoo.  My sketch is from Sunday Stamps.

  I have to say, this is so much prettier in real life.  But between the overcast day, the embossing and the glitter glue, no amount of editing or photography was going to fix this. 
The Unity image was heat embossed in black ep, then water colored with Ken Olive Colorbursts on water color paper.  I fussy cut the image out and then created my background; first, I die cut a large scalloped rectangle (MFT) in white cs.  Then, with Cracked Pistachio and Evergreen Bough Distress inks using masking, I sponged a rectangle.  I used this sketch~

 The sentiment is heat embossed on vellum.  I added Dazzling Details to the flower centers and finished the card off with sequins.

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed week!

Lee Ann  

Bring on Fall

Hello, Hello!

I took the opportunity to play in a couple of challenges, using this gorgeous Power Poppy image.

I used this week's sketch from Freshly Made Sketches~

And am also playing in Time Out Challenges, which has this gorgeous inspiration photo~

As well as Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge, 'Bling it on'.

The background is stamped in a light warm gray color and then the same image was stamped with Memento ink, colored with Copics, and fussy cut out.

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed weekend!

Lee Ann

Pattern within a Background

Hello! 

I have a quick card to share today, using Prismacolor pencils and gold embossing powder. 

My background stamp is from Technique Junkies, Stained Glass.  The image was stamped with Versamark ink and heat embossed with gold embossing powder.  I used Prismacolor pencils to color in selected areas of the image.  A die cut sentiment and a few sequins finish it off! 

If you want to shop at Technique Junkies, you can get a 10% discount on your entire cart (minus clearance items) using code TJ10LeeAnn. 

Happy Weekend! 

Lee Ann