Unity - Otterly Devoted Anniversary

Happy Saturday!

Today I have the card I made for Mark for our anniversary.  The stamp set is from Unity, "Otterly Devoted".  I stamped the image on PTI Vintage Cream cardstock.  The notebook edge was created by a die from My Favorite Things. 

The image was colored with Copic Markers.

Copic Colors: E30, E34, E35, R02, R05, R08, BG11, BG43

I inked the edges using PTI Kraft ink and blending brush and matted the image with PTI True Black cardstock.  A strip of vintage old newspaper paper finished the card.

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings,

Deb

Unity Simple Little Wishes

 Happy Saturday!

Today is day 6 of my 2025 Christmas creations.

The postage stamp die cut is from Unity.  I cut PTI White cardstock with the die.  The stamp set is from Unity Stamps - Simple Little Wishes, which I stamped with Black Memento ink on the die cut and colored with Copic markers.  I gave it a vintage look using PTI Kraft ink and a blending brush, inking the edges.  I added a bit of Copic white paint to the red bulb on the tree.  I love this nostalgic image.

The patterned papers were from a Michaels 12x12 Christmas paper pad from 10-15 years ago.  One thing I have been trying to do the last couple years is to use what I have for Christmas cards.  This means creating more designs; last year I believe I had 7 designs, this year 9 card designs!

I ran the Kraft ink pad over the edges of the patterned papers and the PTI White base card too.  I added a few gems from Amazon to finish it off. 

The second version has the reversed patterned papers.

I'm not sure which version I like better.
I know the plaid was easier to line up the image.

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings,

Deb

 

Unity - Emotions Unfolded Birthday 2

 Happy Saturday!

Today I have a birthday card using Unity Emotions Unfolded.  I made a similar card last year, however I wanted to try it with purples.  The distress inks I used were Peeled Paint (green color), Dusty Concord (purple color), Seedless Preserves (pink/purple) and Gather Twigs (used on the edges).

The distress inks were smeared on the silicone pad and spritzed with water.  I used a piece of bunched up cling wrap to pick up the ink and transfer it to the image. The edges were torn and aged with the Gather Twigs ink and a blending brush.  Then I added some mica powders using a paint brush.  

The butterfly was stamped on a separate piece of cardstock and painted with mica powder paint.  Then the wing was cut out and glued to the body and the edge of the wing is "popped" with a pop dot.  

The patterned papers are My Minds Eye Graceful.  The birthday sentiment is from PTI Cutaway Tags - Summer stamp set.

 Card 2 - Blue/Gold Version

The distress inks I used were Peeled Paint (green color), Broken China (blue color) and Gather Twigs (used on the edges).  The patterned papers are My Minds Eye Stella Rose.

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings to you,

Deb

Sketch Saturday Challenge #357

Happy Saturday!

We have a new sketch challenge and new sponsor this week at Sketch Saturday.  Our sponsor this week is Little Claire with a 9 digis going to one lucky winner!

   

This week's sketch was designed by Alex...

My Interpretation:

I rotated the sketch and used a Little Claire digi called Watchface.  I used a pierced square spellbinders die.  The Happy Birthday corner die is a new one I found from Die-Versions. The papers are digital papers from Life Captured Scraps called Family Tree. I used Copic inks to create the aged papers. The watch was painted with metallic mica watercolor paint.

You can see all the DT inspiration and enter our challenge HERE.  Hope you will join us this week.

Challenges:

Fab N Funky Challenges - Masculine #255

Freshly Brewed Designs - Birthday

Sister Act Challenge - Anything Goes 

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings,

Deb

Sketch Saturday Challenge #356

Today, Sketch Challenge #356 starts at Sketch Saturday.  Our sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp with a fabulous $25 gift certificate going to this week's challenge winner.  

Here is Sketch #356

My Interpretation:

The sketch is rotated clockwise 90 degrees.  I used 2 stamps from Fun Stampers Journey, Vintage Chic and Postage Stamps. I distressed the image with ink and added chalk too.

You can see all the DT inspiration and enter our challenge HERE.  Hope you will join us this week.

Challenges:

A Creative Need - Collage it

Brown Sugar - Distress

Fussy and Fancy Friday - Buttons and Bows

Stempelsonnen Challenge - Anything Goes

Sister Act Challenge - Anything Goes 

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings,

Deb

The Angel Company - Music Washes

Happy Monday!

This is a card I made for a friend last week.  I put a care package together for her last week.  As soon as I saw this image "Music Washes" in The Angel Company 2011 catalog, I thought of Sarah.  We grew up together and they had a beautiful baby grand piano.  Her mom played beautifully and Sarah played as well. 

I was looking through my patterned paper specifically for sheet music to go with this image and found Lilybee Designs "Head over Heels", which I thought was perfect.  All 3 patterned papers are from "Head over Heels".         

The image is colored with Copic markers, the background is green-blue chalk and the edges were sponged with Cognac and Burnt Umber Palette ink.

Supplies -- 

Image: TAC "Music Washes"

Inks: Palette Cognac, Burnt Umber

Chalk: Pebbles Pastels 

Patterned Paper: Lilybee designs "Head or Heels"

Cardstock: Bazzill Pomegranate

Sewing Machine with cream thread

Cream lace

May Arts cream crinkle ribbon

Copic Colors: E00, E11, E13, E21, E30, E31, E33, E35, E37, RV20, RV23, RV24, RV29, BG11, NG53, BG57, YR27, YG93, YG95, W4, W5, W9. 

Challenges:

Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Copic Markers Europe - Use Copic Markers
Crafty Ribbons Challenge - Anything Goes with ribbon
Paper Crafting Journey - For a Girl
Totally Gorjuss - Anything Goes with Lace
ATC's and Cards with Attitude - Ribbon/Lace 

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings

Deb 

RRD: Red, White and Blue

Happy Memorial Day!

This week at Red Rubber Designs the theme is Red, White and Blue.  This is "America I Love".  I love this image, perfect for Memorial Day or 4th of July, which will be here before we know it. 

The image was colored with Copic markers, then aged with Cognac and Burnt Umber inks around the edges. 

I create a flag to match the sails with 2 embossing folders, stars and stripes. I went over the blue stars with embossing ink to give more definition.  I used R46 Copic marker to go over the embossed stripes to create the red and white stripe.  I stitched with white thread around the perimeter and down the seam between the stars and stripes. I used a stipple brush and palette inks to knock down the white a bit.

Supplies--

Stamp Set: America I Love

Copic Colors: R46, R59, E00, E09, E11, E13, E21, E33, E35, E37, YG91, YG93, YG95, 9YG7, B91, B95, B99, W1, W3

Challenges:

DL.ART - Anything Goes 
DRS Designs - Masculine
Moving Along with the Times - Celebration other than birthday
SJ Crafts - All about the boy and something old (embossing folder)
The Play Date Cafe - Colors - Cherry Red, Baby blue and Denim
Creative Inspirations - Memorial Day
One Stitch at a Time - Red, White and Blue 
The Crafty Pad - Colors of your countries flag
Make it Monday - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by...

Happy Memorial Day!

Deb

{TAC} Post 2: Lovely Butterfly

Happy {TAC} Wednesday,

Today, I have another post using a TAC image, Lovely Butterfly.  This was my design team swap and the project handout for my presentation at seminar back in June.

The technique presented was using multiple mediums (Copic, Chalk, Ink - in that order) to create a vintage look.  I started with coloring the Copic parts of the image.

Copic Colors: Face E21, R01 (cheek),

Dress RV63, V12, Accents YR21, YR23, V06

Then I added some light blue pastel chalk to the upper half of the image and green chalk to the lower half.  I cut a round sponge in half and used the flat to brush off the excess chalk.  The great thing about chalk is it is erasable!  Don't like it or went into your image get out an eraser and touch things up - love that.

Next, I used the round portion of my sponge to apply Palette Cognac ink to the edges. I dab the sponge in the ink and start off the page and blot inward keeping the darkest ink at the edge and lighter ink farther in. You can also drag or rub the inked sponge on your image.

Lastly, I added Palette Burnt Umber ink over that, not going as far into the image. Sometimes I get heavy handed with the distressing, it is all personal taste.  I also run the 4 edges of the image in the ink pad to get a nice dark edge.

This was my finished swap. 

I cut a piece of cardstock 3.5" x 9.25" and scored at 2.25", 4.5", 4.75". Your average square note pad is 3". I matted the note pad with brown cardstock 3.25" square. The image was matted with brown cardstock also and the bottom half was attached to the front. (Note: the notepads I used were thin less that .25" thick, adjust accordingly for thicker notepads)

Hope enjoyed today's post - check out what the other chicks are up to...

Diana Maldonado

Debra Miller <--- You are Here

Laura Nehring

Carol Norby

Missy Owoc

Christine Pennington (Coordinator)

Donna Thielker

Abundant Blessings,

Deb

{TAC} Post 1: Enjoy the Scenery

Hello All,

Today is the first official post for {TAC} Design Team.  I decided to share part of my presentation from Seminar in June 2011.  I shared how to create a background that is not there or fully drawn.  My example was my 2011 catalog cover submission, using TAC Enjoy the Scenery. 

Copic Colors: Path YR21, YR23, YR24; Lettering YR23, YR24

Greenery YG91, YG93, YG95, YG97, Water B000

First, I examined the image looking for clues from the illustrator.  There are some hints.  There is a little squiggle in the front wheel which I took as the edge of the road or at least to suggest direction.  There looks like a lake behind her with the reflections of trees in the water.  So I used a feathering motion to create the trees, water, golden path and grass. I color from light to dark building depth.

Notice I colored right through the lady on the bike.  I did this to make it easier on myself.  I wanted smooth  transitions and complete coverage. She will be paper pieced in a later step.  

Next, I added some sky (light blue chalk) and distressed the edges with Palette Cognac and Burnt Umber ink and a sponge.  This is one of my favorite aging techniques - creates a great vintage look.  Perfect for this image.   

Lastly, I added the lady to the bike. The trickiest part of this was to decide where her skirt ended.  All the parts of the bike near her skirt, pedal and handle bars are part of this extra piece.  I colored her shoe, skirt, gloves, face and hair.  Her coat is also paperpieced (TAC Maggie SWIC).  I've made several of these and sometimes I paperpieced the hat out of the same Maggie cardstock, sometimes it is colored. 

Copic Colors: Face E21, R02 (cheek), Hair E55, E57, E59, Skirt V06, V09, V15, Handle Bars W3, Wheels E59, Shoe and gloves YR21, YR23, YR24 

Front of card - closed

Close up of the image - you can better see where I paperpieced.  There is a natural place to separate the bike and the ladies skirt near the left knee above the fork of the bike.

Surprise!  There is more to this card.  It is an easel card and I continued the road.  You could add a post it note pad in the paths place and create a fun and functional desk top decoration.   More on that idea on the 26th our next {TAC} post.  Part 2 of my seminar presentation in 2 weeks.

I covered a lot of things in my presentation about design, tips and tricks, layouts, sketching, color selection, Copic techniques and "aha moments" from Copic Intermediate certification class I took the day before.  Drop me a note if there is something specific you would like me to blog about.  

Check out the rest of the chicks...

Diana Maldonado

Debra Miller <--- You are Here

Laura Nehring

Carol Norby

Missy Owoc

Christine Pennington (Coordinator)

Nichole Taylor

Donna Thielker

Until next time!  Thanks for stopping by...

God's Blessings,

Deb

America I Love - New Hostess Set

Happy July 1st!

Today we are featuring the new set "America I Love" on TAC Savvy Projects Blog.  This is a great vintage stamp perfect for The 4th of July weekend.



Supplies -- Stamps: America I Love, Papers: Red, Navy and Kraft cardstock, Mementos Tuxedo Black ink, Palette Cognac and Burnt Umber ink, Pastel chalk, Antique Copper hardware.

Copics:
Shirt, Bow, Stripes: R46, R59
Face: E21, R01
Foliage: YG93, YG95, 9YG7
Water, Pants; Star panel: B91, B95, B99
Hair, Shoes, Boat: E33, E35
Rocks: W3, W3

Hope you enjoy all the samples today!

May God bless America.

Abundant Blesssings to you...

Deb