Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Cheers!

Cheers! I'm in the top eight of the My Favorite Things Stamping Idol competition.

This week's challenge was to use an unreleased set from My Favorite Things. It is a fun set called "Girls Night Out".

I decided to use the set title as the theme of my card, but ended up using the images in the set in a very different way than is probably the norm. The bar stools and the hanging lights are actually cocktail glasses from the set. I sketched the bar, the floor and the ladies' pants.

All images were stamped using Marvy Dye ink black onto Neenah Solar crest white cardstock, except for the lights which were stamped onto coated paper. All images were colored with Copic markers. The sketching was done with a black Copic multiliner.

Patterned paper and black cardstock were also used to create this card.

I hope you'll get the change to visit this week's competition over on the My Favorite Things forum on Splitcoast. Voting is from 10:00 pm Tuesday, March 31 through 10:00 pm Wednesday, April 1. If you like this card, or if the very least it has you singing the Cheers theme song, please vote for me. My screen name is LittleSeaOtter. Here's the live link

Thanks for all of your encouragement and cheers from the past couple weeks regarding this competition. I so appreciate your kind words.
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Monday, March 30, 2009

American Art Stamp~Easter Girl

This is a Easter card I made using a beautiful image from American Art Stamp. I think that all of all of the stamps I received being Guest Designer this month, this image is my favorite. I just love the ribbon coming off of the hat, and that little bunny rabbit beside her is just adorable.

I stamped the image using Marvy Dye black ink onto Neenah Solar Crest cardstock. I colored the image using Copic Markers.

Patterned paper,colored cardstock, brads, Cuttlebug embossing folder, ribbon, and a paper piercer were also used to create this card.

I can't believe Easter is so very near. I better get hopping on some more Easter cards!
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Tuesday, March 24, 2009

What's Up?


What's Up?
Originally uploaded by Buckeye
A lot! I am in the Top 9 of the My Favorite Things Stamping Idol contest. I'm so honored to be a part of such a talented group.

This week our challenge is to use masking and here is the card that I'm submitting.

As I took a look at my My Favorite Things stamp sets, I was drawn back to my set "It's A Jungle Out There". I did some masking with my audition card so I really couldn't replicate that. So, I decided to stick with just one animal and create a herd, so to speak. Do giraffes hang out in herds?

And, as I thought of giraffes I kept seeing oranges, browns, yellows and sunsets. And, that is how this card was born.

I stamped the giraffe image with Marvy black dye ink and masked it, to stamp another giraffe behind it onto Neenah Solar crest white cardstock. I then thought a third giraffe was needed so I reversed the image. I took the round image from the Build a Bouquet set and made a sun. This was masked too, slightly behind one of the giraffe's head. The sun was stamped using Hero Arts Vanilla shadow ink.

I colored the giraffes using Copic markers. I then covered the giraffes and the sun with my Versamark pen and clear embossed to create a resist.

At that point, I dusted off my brayer and brayered a gradient of colors including Adirondack sunshine yellow, Adirondack sunset orange, and Seashells sandal dye ink. The horizon was created using a mask I made from torn Post-It notes and with sponging.

Brads, computer-generated sentiment, colored cardstock, patterned paper, mesh, and a paper piercer were also used to create this card.

If you like this card, I hope you will vote for me on the My Favorite Things forum on Splitcoast. You are definitely going to want to check out the contest. The entries are guaranteed to "wow" you.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

It's Great to be with Weiners!

Last week I was honored to be named one of the ten finalists for the My Favorite Things Stamping Idol. I was elated to be among such talent.

Our competition for this week was to create something the celebrated our placement into the Top 10. I was inspired by my very own weiner dog, Sloopy....and I thought about how the word weiner sounds so similar to winner. And thus, the idea for this card was born.

I created a scene using various My Favorite Things stamp sets...the dachshund image is from Rain or Shine, the girl image is from By The SeaShore, the grass is from It's a Jungle Out There, and the celebrate sentiment is from the set Let's Go for a Walk. The saying "It's great to be with weiners" is computer generated. The dog collar was graciously donated to my cause by Sloopy, and the dog tag was traced around her dog tag. The sidewalk was sketched by me.

All images were colored with Copic Markers. Patterned paper and black colored cardstock were also used to create this card.

If you like this card, and you'd like to see some other fabulous entries go to Splitcoast. Voting is from 10 pm Tuesday, March 17 through 10 pm Wednesday March 18 in the My Favorite Things Forum. Please vote for me, LittleSeaOtter, if you like this card.

I hope I can be a weiner again next week.
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Wednesday, March 11, 2009

American Art Stamp ~Rooster


American Art Stamp ~Rooster
Originally uploaded by Buckeye
I'm delighted to share this card with you. I started thinking the card was going to go one direction, and it totally ended in another way entirely. I kinda like it when that happens. It wasn't until I saw the warm, bright yellow on the blue when I thought of a creating a sun, and the rest of the card took shape.

The rooster image is from American Art Stamp. It was fun to color because the artist left so many open spaces for many colors. I colored this image with Copic markers onto coated paper. Coated paper really makes the Copic colors pop. I stamped the rooster image with Marvy black dye ink and heat set it. The sun is a circle from Nestabilities. It is actually made from a sun-patterned designer paper scrap that I had. I merely stippled on some Adirondack butterscotch dye ink and some Seashells Seashell Pink dye ink to give the sun a color gradient. Various patterned paper and colored cardstock were also used, as well as a paper piercer and ribbon.

Stay tuned for more of my creations using American Art Stamp.

Sunday, March 08, 2009

The Week Flu By

This past week, I had all intentions of making a few cards and a few blog posts, but I unfortunately came down with the flu. I was so sick, I didn't even feel like stamping. Now that's sick, don't you think!?!

But, last night I did muster up some strength and desire to create an entry for My Favorite Things Stamping Idol Audition, which is a very cool competition that was announced earlier in the week. If my entry is selected among the 10 finalists, then I will get to compete each week in different challenges using MFT stamps. Doesn't that sound like fun? And, trust me...I'm much better at stamping, than singing, so this particular Idol challenge is more my speed.

All images on this card are from My Favorite Things. I used Marvy Dye black ink to stamp them onto Neenah Solar Crest White cardstock. Lots of masking was needed to complete this scene. I then colored all the images with Copic markers. I did do some stamping of the background vines/leaves/grass with Vivid Olive dye ink, Whispers Green Leaf dye ink, and Whispers Savoy Green dye ink. Lots of cutting with Cutter Bee scissors to pop up some of the leaves, and buttons were used to make coconuts on the trees. I tied the buttons with strands of twine. Various patterned paper and colored cardstock from Hollo's were also used to complete this card.

And, as it turns out, My Favorite Things is holding a Guest Designer Challenge, and the challenge was to use buttons. Don't you love it when you can combine challenges? I do believe some things are meant to be. Good luck to all those who audition!
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Sunday, March 01, 2009

American Art Stamp~Angel Gardening

One of the reasons I'm attracted to American Art Stamp is what I call the "long and lean" images that are available. It allows me to have fun creating a gradient of color with my Prismacolor pencils.

And, that is what I did for my very first card of the month. This card was made with this adorable gardening angel. I stamped the image with Stazon Jet Black ink onto Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper. I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils only (no gamsol). Patterned paper and colored cardstock were also used to create this card, along with ribbon, paper piercer, scallop punch, and a circle punch. The sentiment is also from American Art Stamp.

I utilized the layout from Weekend Sketch Challenge #70.

I think this may just end up as a Mother's Day card for mom. CIMG5857

This Month Is Here!


In Over My Head?
Originally uploaded by Buckeye
I've been keeping a little secret from you for a while now. Back in November, I applied to be a designer for American Art Stamp....and GUESS WHAT!!!??? The incredibly talented Flaxychick selected me to be Guest Designer for March 2009! I've been so excited about this and forever grateful to Michelle for giving me this chance.

So, when I received my stamps from American Art Stamp, I thought it would be a good idea to ink them up and see what they looked like on paper. And when I accidentally stamped the sentiments upside down, I thought, "I may be in over my head" if I can't even stamp an image correctly. LOL!

I hope you'll join me and check back on my blog as I make this unchartered journey this month. Their images are absolutely awesome for spring. Stay tuned!