Sunday Feb 21st.

 Happy Sunday! I have been anxious to share these cards, but now I am not sure I am ready or qualified.  I was waiting for the 'glare' to go away so I could photograph the cards, but I got anxious and did some 'teaser' photos! Hope you enjoy.

               So, notice the Pinkfresh studio 'floral notes' stamp and yes, layering stencils. Awesome!

                Looks pretty straightforward. Stamping, stenciling or coloring. I used copics for the coloring the yellow flower.

 

 

 

               The stamp is easy to use as that slimline card or split into two cards. The Verse is from Rubbernecker. Nice one layer card. 

             'you are the sweetest'sentiment is in the stamp set.

                   Showing the Pinkfresh studio stamp, and stencil set. Notice the nice sentiments with the pretty script. There is a die for the flower & stencil set. 

The two cards were stamped as one stamp, cut apart and I used the stencils and pinkfresh ink for color. The grid die is from Ali express. Just extra pieces from the turquoise flowers.

                          

                    

            Now the next ones are colored with the Underpainting technique from Vanilla arts. Please go to the site and watch Amy Schultes tips and classes. This is new to me, because of that, I am dying to share with you. Remember I am a REAL beginer!! Thats like buying a box of copics and only taking one class/ or no class and thinking you can teach it. Actually I did get certified to teach copics with one class, and a teacher that talked about her boyfriend. it was  probably10 years ago, but no one in that class deserved to be certified, as she didn't look at anyone's work. Collected her $120.00. There are fabulous teachers online and Amy Schulte has a unique view of color.

Lots to explain here! So I did the underpainting with a copic marker. I followed the Vanilla Arts Combo for the Dawn gold. I picked the combos which I was certain I had all the markers. Then I underpainted with Blue violet!! Who would guess. Then the shading was applied in 3 yellows. Again I loved it, BUT Amy Schulte says to look at each petal of a flower and  how its color affects the next color. I am sure I was just jazzed to watch the results!

       This flower is pretty open with very little accented petals, so it was too easy to just apply a base overall. That is not what Amy intended! The moisture is what allows the ink to blend, not the color. So doing one area at a time slowly would have been nicer. 

    Love the colors, but honestly can't remember what I used. Again, I am still working to fast, not enough detail. Scan what you do! I hate a notebook ...lots of kid images and flowers. Really nicely copic colored. If you scan and write the colors used, you can make another card real fast. My cards go to different places so I repeat sometimes. Sun was on it, but I copied some of the combos from Vanilla Arts.

                               

 This one turned out to be a favorite, but I still can't believe it started with the YG06! I had a hard time with that and pink. Yes, in the flower. I added white colored pencil on top & didn't like that, so see, I really need a class! Called Peony Punch..

 Next one is Rose Sorbet with a B41 base & E's! 

                  This is all for now, there is more I promise. Amy Schulte uses her  prismacolor pencils for a push/pull effect. Yes, over the copics. So much to learn... Go to vanillaarts.com and enjoy!

                                      Thanks for looking!

                                           Mary
 

Thursday Feb. 18th

 Pretty day here. Almost feel guilty as a good part of the United States is gripped in a winter storm. Lots of places without electricity which almost always means no heat. I remember what that is like, I really do. Shelby was born in Iowa in January and it was 56 below zero with the wind chill factor. No cars were moving. It was winter in the midwest. Las Vegas certainly is nicer at this time of year.  So moving right along to show you some 'flowery' cards today.

These are the Scalloped Flourish Gateway dies from Heartfelt Creations. Love the fussy look. I have been obsessed with the kiddie cards, so haven't made this type for awhile. And I forgot to take a picture die and also the sentiment I used on the inside. The sentiment is a big stamp that could be used as a focal point. Here are the links for Heartfelt Creations  https://www.heartfeltcreations.us/scalloped-flourish-gateway-die   

            This one is top loading and a 4x6. The others are 5 x7.

     Have a stash of Prima or various silk flowers and was so happy to use them! I think on this red card I will add some branches & berries.
                                           

                                         Thanks for looking & stay warm!

                                       Mary

Monday

 Flowers in February!! Love the Pinkfresh studio little vase and the Tim Holtz Pot. The flowers from Pinkfresh that we use so often are called 'Layered Bouquet'. And the other flowers are Tim Holtz wildflowers #1. So easy to use and the daisy makes the best focal point.  Both backgrounds are oxide inks blended.

                                      The lavendar (lilac) plaid is a Pinkfresh stencil.

                               The Thinking of you sentiments are from The Ton. The 'don't forget to fly is a Tim Holtz verse. You are the sweetest if from the Pinkfresh Floral notes stamps. 

                                Thanks for looking!

                                      Mary

Feb 14th!

 Happy Valentines Day!! Good Morning to everyone, hope this will be a special day for you! I made a new recipe last night. Chorizo is not a staple here, but these were easy and good. https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/?s=chorizo 

 So on to the Valentines cards. The heart die is one of the most versatile ever. It could be a birthday, anniversary or just a 'hello' I am thinking about you. I saw this on another site and tried my own colors.

              Pinkfresh 'stitched' die, doesn't cut, but is a real metal die. Just impresses into the paper.

          Easy designer paper background. Some have twine or ribbon All are 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 and top folded.

                    This swirl background is also a metal die that embosses. Forgot where I got it. 

                         Thanks for looking & Happy Valentines Day!

                                                   Mary

Thursday

 I debated over showing you these "winter" images, but it is still winter right? Really, just wanted to share these because they are so cute! They are stamps and dies from Hello Bluebird stamps named 'Snow Play'.

               The slimline dies are perfect for these busy little critters!

                                            

                                              

          Had to include the little shadowbox from Heffy Doodle.

       The characters are from a set from ali express'. Might be mixed sets, because they were on my table waiting for a home!    

                                 Hope you enjoy!

                                Thanks for looking!

                                       Mary