Halloween Door Hanger

I started with an inspiration from the Sept/Oct issue of PaperCrafts Magazine (from page 60 if you have it).  I loved the idea of a holiday door or wall hanger.  My project ended up being 12" tall by 4" wide if you want to make one of your own. 

I took the cardboard from some empty cereal boxes and double layered for extra thickness.  I than cut some black paper from the Bazzill Dotted Swiss Pack and filed it down to make the dots pop.  Using my Spellbinders Labels 18, I cut out the largest shape on a sheet of orange paper from my Echo Park Apothecary paper pack.  I trimmed off the edges and added it to the top and bottom of my hanger.

I took a cream piece of paper from my stash and traced the edges of it with my copic YR18 for some added pop and added 3 squares of paper from the Echo Park Apothecary pack.  I added holes and eyelets with my big bite as the thickness of the cardboard and paper made it a little difficult with my cropadile. 

I added buttons from my stash and colored some white ribbon with my Copic 110 to add some black.  I printed the sentiment for free from here, trimmed and lined it with some left over black paper and used Kool Tak to make the sentiment pop up.

Then for extra, I went over the sentiment with my Spicas and the birds in the trees.

Hope you like it!! 

Image:  PaperCrafts Magazine Trick or Treat

Paper:  Bazzill Dotted Swiss, Echo Park Apothecary

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, Spicas

Embellishments: Spellbinders Labels 18,
Other: ATG, Big Shot, File Set, Kool TAC, Big Bite, Scor-Tape
Stash: buttons, ribbon, eyelets, cardboard, cream paper

Echo Park Blog Hop!

Hello and Welcome to the Cutters Creek Design Team Blog Hop! Today's hop features one of our favorite paper companies, Echo Park Paper! Each member of the Cutters Creek Design Team has created special projects using some of our favorite collections from Echo Park! When you are done checking here you will hop on over to Kim's Blog and there you will find the link to the next blog in the chain!



The first card is 3 1/2" square in size.  I used the the more basics designs from the Echo Park -Country Drive pack.  

Image:  none
Paper:  Echo Park -Country Drive

Ink: none
Embellishments: Pearls, Martha Stewart Punch
Other: ATG,  Copic R35, Big Shot, 3D Foam

This second card is 4"x4 3/4"

Image:  Stampin' Up -retired
Paper:  Echo Park -Country Drive, stash

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Embellishments: Ribbon from stash
Other: ATG, Big Shot, 3D Foam, Labels 18

thanks so much for looking!!  And if you got lost along the way, here is the hop order:

Cutters Creek Blog (Chris)

Mandie's Blog
Lori's Blog
Deanna's Blog
Mindy's Blog
Laura's Blog
Melissa's Blog
Kim's Blog

Congrats Card

So I made a really simple congrats card for a bride and groom.  The total card size is 3 1/2x 4 1/2.  So it's great to slip in with a gift.

I started coloring this adorable image from InStyle Stamps; the Wedding Couple.  I colored in all grays to make it classic looking.  Once done, I used my Labels Three to cut out the area around their faces.

I sanded my base paper which came from the Cosmo Cricket Core'dinations pack.  I than used my Big Shot again on leaves from the Foliage set.  I used some paper flowers from my stash and used some Gold Liquid Pearls for added effect.

What do you think?

thanks for looking!!

Image: Wedding Couple -InStyle Stamps 

Paper: Bazzill Simply Smooth, Core'dinations
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics,
Embellishments: Liquid Pearls
Other: ATG, Glue Pen, Spellbinders: Foliage and Labels Three, Big Shot
Stash: Kaisercraft paper flowers: cream

Groom Hair: T1, T3, T4, T6
Skin: T0, T1
Dress: C1, C2
Veil: C00, C1
Flowers: R83, R85, E04, YG91, YG93, YG95

Christmas In July

So I decided to revamp a Christmas card idea I have had for quite awhile.  I started with a snowflake border on my computer for a 5x5 card and cut it out using my Cricut.

After I cut the image, I ran the paper through my Big Shot with the Cuttlebug Snowflakes folder and again with my Lace Tree folder to soften the snowflake impressions slightly.

I used some red glitter from my stash to bring out the snowflake design.  I wouldn't recommend glitter for an area this large as it gets messy!  For future cards, I will use the American Crafts glitter card-stock.  It cuts cleanly and there is no glitter residue to be found weeks later on another project :o)

After the glitter was added I glued my embossed/cut image to the card.  It was still missing something, so I sprayed some Lily Pad glimmer mist on a tissue and ran the tissue over the raised image of my tree.  Once it was dry, I sprayed the front of the card with Dazzling Diamonds glimmer mist to add overall shimmer.  Doesn't it look pretty?

For the next step, make sure your card is completely dry!  I didn't check and noticed after the fact and had some ink running.  I used 3 different Perfect Pearls to accent "ornaments" on the tree.  What do you think??  Definitely a lot of work for a Christmas card, but you are waiting for the card to dry so much in between that it is actually pretty easy to reproduce like a production line.

thanks for looking!

Image: n/a 

Paper: Bazzill Simply Smooth 
Ink: Glimmer Mist: Lily Pad, Dazzling Diamonds
Embellishments: Perfect Pearls: Emerald Green, Ruby Red, White Opal
Other: ATG, Big Shot, Cuttlebug -Lace Tree (retired), Snowflakes, Cricut
Stash: red glitter

Copic Organization

So I just got the best thing EVER!!!  I was able to order 2 Copic Wallets from Cutterscreek and they came in this weekend!  I love how much more accessible my markers are now.  I have 2 completely full and am working on filling a third one.  Bytheway, I have the 72 count wallets.  Don't they look cool?  Plus I found out it holds sketch, ciao and original markers so I have them all in one place now!  I am so excited!!!

Summer Birthday Cards

 So I was looking through my Color Inspiration Magazine that came out earlier this year and I got an idea.  Not so much the colors but the layout.  If you have it, it's on page 46 - Spread Sunshine.  I just love this simplicity of it, so here are some simple birthday cards I came up with.


I really like the look of white ink on black paper, so I wanted the white to look a little messy on the embossed images.  The first card I used Flourished Frame and added the white ink and flowers after stamping my words on some Kraft paper from my scrap paper.  Who says brown and black don't go together :o)  I topped it with someCuttersCreek branded and Prima flowers.

This card I also embossed, but with one of the images from the Organic Flourish Collection.  I also used white to enhance the embossed image but no where else.  I just really like the simple feel to it.  Both cards took maybe 10 minutes total so this was perfect for a card in a hurry or  making some for your stash of birthday cards.  And they look completely different!

thanks for looking! 

Image:  Stampin' Up -retired
Paper:  stash

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, white ink from stash
Embellishments:  Prima Flowers: Dimmet, Aurora. CC Flowers: Aqua Marine, B, W, G.  Organic Flourishes, Flourished Frame.
Other: ATG,  Glue Dots, Big Shot

Copic Portfolio

So I decided to update my Copic Portfolio with an image I used quite a bit by *Princess Elemmiriel.  Using my copics I colored my image focusing on lighting.  I have the sun coming from the upper right, so the shadows would be on the right of the body and more specific areas like where her waist is bent, the arm slightly covered by her dress, where her hair covers her face and dress, her nose, and what would not be hit directly by the light.

Definitely one of my favorite images to color.  The main reason I put this image in my portfolio is because of the size.  Usually when I color this image, I tend to use a larger version and the card ends up around 5x7.  This image was printed at 2x3 so it was a challenge to color with the shading at so small a size.  I really like how it turned out.                                                                                                                        Are you working on a portfolio?  It is a good reference tool and it helps you have a comparison of how much your coloring has progressed from when you start.  It is also a good way to keep track of favorite color combos, techniques and samples you have made.  I tend to color two of every image I use as it helps me practice in a way, but also I can get two cards done at once but that also can turn out so differently from one another.

thanks for looking!

 

Image:  *Princess Elemmiriel
Paper: Bazzill Simply Smooth,

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, Copic Multiliner
Embellishments:
Other: ATG,
Stash: green paper

Mother's Day Cards

So I just thought I would share some of the cards I made this year for Mother's Day.

Enjoy!!

thanks for looking!!

New Birthday Card

Hi!  I'm keeping it really simple today since I'm having some technical difficulties with my internet . . . But, I decided for my favorite item this month to use my Graphic 45 Once Upon a Springtime paper - -I have been using this for everything!  I kid you not!! 

I used some scraps of my Cosmo Cricket paper for the background and sanded it.  Over this is one of the images in the back of the paper pack.  I popped out the center image and used pop dots to raise it slightly.  I then added some of the fantastic CuttersCreek and Prima flowers to add some contrast.  It was still missing something, so I used my new love, stickles, on the wings.  I love how it makes them look 3 dimensional too!!

I hope you like it!!!

 


Stamps: none
Paper: Graphic 45, Cosmo Cricket
Ink: none
Embellishments: Stickles, CuttersCreek: Aquamarine; Prima Flowers:Splash
Other: ATG, Scor-Pal
Stash: Pop Dots

Miss Anya Dressy

So, I decided to try again with a purple colored card.  I think this one went a little smoother :o)  I started with one of the images from the Miss Anya Dressy Collection - -I love these images by The Greeting Farm!  I also stamped it on a post it so I could stamp the leaves and flowers without worrying about my image being ruined. 

I colored my image with my copics and used B000 and G0000 to blend in the background as sky and grass - - just very light colors, but enough to show the white edges on the Curved Rectangle where is was embossed.  The background paper is from Prima Reflections and I used different papers in the collection for the butterflies as well.

Hope you like it!!

Image: Miss Anya Dressy- TGF, Flutterby Friend- PTI 

Paper: Bazzill Simply Smooth,  Prima Reflections,
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics,
Embellishments: Martha Stewart Punch (Stash)
Other: ATG, 1/4" Scor-Tape, Glue Pen, Curved Rectangles, Big Shot
Stash: Purple Cardstock, Post-it Notes

Hair: E11, E97, E99, E19
Skin: E50, E00, E21, E11
Dress: BV0000, V93, V95, V99
Flowers: Y000, Y11, Y15
Leaves: YG13, YG17, YG23
Background: G0000, B000
Shadows: N0, N1, N3

Scrappy Frogs Birthday Challenge

So for the Scrappy Frogs Challenge, we needed to go with a birthday theme.  Perfect timing as my niece turned 8 this week.  I have to say too that this card really challenged me.  I don't really color with purple which is one of her favorite colors.  So this was very enlightening for me as to what colors go and don't go together as I tend to use blues and greens in my cards.

Anyways, her mom and dad gave her an iPod shuffle so it was only fitting that we get her an iTunes card to rock out to music with; this PMS image was perfect! The guitar was a little iffy for me as well when coloring as I used colors I tradionally use for hair.  But I think overall it worked.  I didn't really add any embellishments as I figure the fabulous glitter paper speaks for itself!

Hope you enjoy!  And don't forget to check out what the other designers created here.

Image: Moody For Rock -PMS
Paper: PTI, American Crafts Glitter- Silver 
Ink: Epson Printer, Copics, Atyou Spicas
Embellishments: none
Other: ATG, Pop Dots, Label 18, Big Shot
Stash: Black Cardstock


Hair/Strap: T0, T2, T4, T6, T7
Skin: E50, E00, E11
Eyes: Lavendar Spica
Guitar: E31, E33, E97, E99, E37
Accents: V93, V95, V99
Dress/Barrettes: BV01, BV02, BV13

Anime Card

So today, I wanted to show some really simple, lovely cards I made using one of the oriental weave embossing folders from Cuttlebug.  I was trying to think of an image that would compliment the embossing folder.  So I went to my favorite site for anime images; http://www.deviantart.com/

I LOVE this site.  One of my favorite artists is Princess Elemmiriel.  She has the most gorgeous line art to color.  I chose Lady Rose Dragon . . . I can't tell you how many cards and miscellaneous items I have made with this image in particular.  So while I waited for my printer ink to dry - -you can never wait too long - -I embossed a beautiful Jade Green and a Silver Gray paper from Core'dinations Gemstone pack with my oriental weave embossing folder.  I would highly recommend this paper as well!   I centered them on some back cardstock from my stash and started coloring my images.  Bytheway, these cards are the standard A2 size :o)

So I tried to stay with complimentary colors to the papers I chose.  You don't have to use all the colors I did to get the same effect; I just started tossing in colors while I was playing.  I really tried for a dramatic look with the eyes and lined them with a multiliner and with spicas.  What do you think?

Hair: YR000, E50, E21, E11, E97, E99, E37, E29

Skin: E50, E00, E21
Eyes: G20, YG11, YG17
Makeup: R12, R02, R32, Pitch Black Spica, Peach, Clear
Hairband/Trim: Y32, Y35, Y17
Dress: BG10, BG11, BG23, BG13
Flowers: RV02, R12, R02, R32, R35
Shadows: C00, C1

Hair: C00, C1, C2, C4, N4, N6, N9, 0- Blender
Skin: E50, YR000, E00, YR01
Eyes: G20, YG11, YG17
Makeup: R12, RV91, RV93, Pitch Black Spica, Peach, Clear, Silver
Hairband/Trim: N1, N4, N6
Dress: BG10, BG11, BG23, BG13, BG45
Flowers: BV0000, BV00, BV02
Shadows: C00, C1


thanks for looking!!!

Image: Lady Rose Dragon by PrincessElemmiriel

Paper: Bazzill Simply Smooth, Core'dination Gemstone,

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, 0.1 Multiliner, Atyou Spicas

Embellishments: Liquid Pearls

Other: ATG, 1/4" Scor-Tape, Cuttlebug Oriental Weave

Stash: Black Cardstock

Easter Card

So I am trying so new techniques I learned at the Copic Intermediate Certification and decided to use the Miss Anya Dressy Collection as the stamps leave so much open for interpretation as far as shading and placement.  Making an Easter card I decided she should be sitting on the edge of a basket.  There was a lot of stamping and post-it notes involved; just as a reminder or hint, make sure you wash your hands between cutting the image on the post- it note and  placing it on your stamped image.  Ink spreads in case you didn't know :o)

I used the Linear Light template from Marianne Walker's Shadows and Shading Book to determine my light source to create a  more realistic picture; the upper right side.  Now, I colored my images paying attention to shadows and cast shadows in particular.  Cast shadows are shadows created by an object being reflected on another surface.  Does it look like shadows of her legs on the basket and her hair and side on the eggs?

I cut out the stamp using Curved Rectangles, embossed the edges and placed this over some Graphic 45 paper to make it pop!  I than took some Core'dinations paper and sanded it to use as my card base.  I stamped 'happy' on the top right, 'Easter' is on the inside, and used the new Prima Flowers as a corner accent.  What do you think overall? 

Stamps: TGF- Miss Anya Dressy, CTMH Eastertime (Stash)
Paper: Bazzill Simply Smooth, Graphic 45, Cosmo Cricket
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics
Embellishments: Prima Flowers: Aurora. Splash
Other: ATG, Curved Rectangles, Embossing Mat, Scor-Pal

Stash: Post-It Notes, Shadows and Shading Book by Marianne Walker

Basket:  E21, E34, E44
Sky:      G0000
Eggs:     BV0000, BV00, BV11, BV04
             R30, R32, R35
             Y11, Y32, Y35
Grass:   YG23, YG03, YG17
Skin:     E50, E00, E11, E13
Hair:     E11, E13, E17, E19
Dress:   B00, B14, B16, B26
Trim:    BG10, GB11, GB23 

Woohoo!

So I am officially Intermediate Certified for Copics!  The class was fantastic!!  I loved everything about it and it really challenged my coloring skills.  I can now say I am thinking outside the box and trying to give a more realistic/crisp approach to my coloring rather than blending everything to look softer.

Bear with me as this is as new to me as it will be to you.  Please let me know what you think of the new coloring techniques I am using in future!

thanks!

Thank You!!

I just wanted to say "thank you" to everyone who stopped by for the blog hop this last weekend.  Your comments are SOOOOO appreciated!  I cannot say thank you enough or tell you just how uplifting and  motivating they were.  I am so glad I am able to share my cards with you and humbled that so many stopped to look!!

THANK YOU!!!

I'm gonna need to start looking for blog candy to give away soon too . . . . . 

CC DT Spring Blog Hop

Welcome to the Cutters Creek Spring Blog Hop! All of our designers have created some wonderful Spring projects featuring products that you can purchase at the Cutters Creek Store! If you would like to start from the beginning head on over the the Cutters Creek Design Team Blog. Each blog along the way will have a link to the next blog in the chain. Don't forget to make sure you are following each of our personal blogs and leaving comments along the way to enter to win a box full of CHA Swag!!!! 

So I decided to use a favorite stamp of mine, Wishing Well. After stamping I decided to color using my copics, with the sun coming from the top right corner.  For the background, I wanted it to look similar to sunrise; that soft glow in the sky where the light gradually becomes brighter.  So I used my copics again to try and get an airbrushed background with the airbrush!  Used a few more green colors to add random grass as a horizon and some butterflies to add a more spring feel to it.  I also added some clear accents to the well to give it a 3D look for  "water".

Lastly I added my Flower Soft and assembled.  It only took about 5 minutes to dry which was great!  So here it is!

thanks for looking!!  


Next, hop on over to Lori's Blog and check out the awesome project that she has for you! 

Here's the line up of blogs if you get lost :o)  :

Cutters Creek Design Team Blog 
Mandie's Blog
Kim's Blog
Mindy's Blog
Laura's Blog
Melissa's Blog - you're here
Lori's Blog
Vicki's Blog

.

Stamps: FlowerSoft Wishing Well, PTI Butterfly Dreams

Paper: Bazzill Simply Smooth, Graphic 45

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, PTI Hawaiian Shores

Embellishments: FlowerSoft -Heather

Other: FlowerSoft Glue, ATG

Stash: corner rounder, purple background paper, clear accents
Wood: E40, E42, E31, E34, E33, E37, E29
Well: E40, E70, E74, N1, N3, N4 , N6
Grass: G12, YG91, YG93, YG63
Sky:  G0000, B000, BV0000, V0000, YR000

Pinwheel Card

So today I am sharing a super easy card with no stamping involved; took me less than 10 minutes from start to finish!  You absolutely have to try this!  It is simple and quick for mass production or just a quick card on the go.  I got the idea from my good friend KellyRae.  She got it from here (video included).

Here is what I started with:
A base card of 3.5" x 5" -slightly smaller than the standard A2 card already run through my big shot with the Swirls Embossing Folder.
8- 1 1/4" squares in two different patterns
2- 2 5/8" squares as my base
Embellishment -Prima Say It In Pearls
1/4" Scor Tape




Start with putting your adhesive on the papers; make sure the tape goes in the same corner for the 1 1/4" squares on the back side of the paper.  As you can see in my pic, I didn't follow the steps on the first try :o)

Next add tape to one 2 5/8" square and place the other square across it, twisted.





Now add your first square.  The rest is easy!  Just alternate the color or pattern papers aligning it with the corner of the base card stock.  For the last piece, you simply lift the edge of the first piece you laid down and work the last piece in so it is layered.  Very, very easy to do.

And here is the end result of the layering.  Hmm, I think I need to change my trimmer blades . . . . .

I than added an embellishment in the center and used Scor-Tape again to adhere it to the card base.  I chose the smaller card base of 3 1/2" x 5" as I wanted the Pinwheel to dominate the card front so all of my stamping can be on the inside.  Think it worked?

Stamps: none!

Paper: Graphic 45, PTI Aqua Mist & Ocean Tides

Ink: none!

Embellishments: Prima Say it in Pearls, Burlap & Swirls

Other: Scor-Tape, Paper Trimmer