Uptown Girl Audrey - Courage

Hello Stampers!

I've been having a blast the last few weeks working in my art journal.  Now I'm trying to take some of those techniques and experiments and add them to my cards.  This is my first attempt - I had so much fun!

Supplies:

Stamps:  uptown girl AUDREY love makeup (StampingBella), Travel Blueprint (Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Collection), Way WithWords (Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Collection)

Paper:  Kraft cardstock, Copic X-Press It, UrbanTraveler 6x6 pad (Simple Stories)

Ink:  Memento Rich Cocoa (Tsukineko), Distress InkAntique Linen (Tim Holtz)

Spray inks:  Mallard & Pink Bubblegum (Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist)

Other:  Self-adhesive pearls (coloured with Copic RV69), Tissue Tape (Tim Holtz)

Copics:  Face; E50, E11, E13.  Cheeks & Lips & Lipstick; R20, R22.  Eyeshadow;  BG11.  Hat & Shoes & Gloves; E30, E31.  Purse; YR20, YR21.  Bows; BG53, BG57.  Purse clasp & lipstick tube; C2.  Ground; W3.  Outline; BG10.  Dress; RV63, RV66, RV69.

Uptown Friends

Hello Stampers!

If you don't already know, I am a huge fan of the Uptown Girls stamps by Stamping Bella.  I love colouring the images, giving the cards to friends, teaching classes with the stamps ... they are so much fun.  I especially like the sentiment that came with this particular stamp!

I've coloured these girls with my Copics as usual - on X-Press It paper.

Supplies:
Stamp:  Uptown girls Belinda and Bernadette the Bench Buddies by Stamping Bella (image & sentiment)
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo black & Rich Cocoa
Paper:  Crate Paper 6x6 in pad Fourteen
Flowers & Gems:  Prima
Dies:  Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Squares Small, My Favorite Things label, Memory Box Whimsical Flourish

Have a great week!

Sarah
xx

pink and Bella

Hello Stampers and Happy Monday!

I cannot believe that we are already so close to Christmas, where does time go?  Blows my mind.

Anyway, this is my way of slowly "easing" myself into the Christmas theme with my cards, because I'm not quite ready!

Here is a card I taught in class recently.  We did three Bellas with Copics and the same colour scheme.  This is "Nutcracker" from Graphic 45.  I hadn't used much from this company in the past.  But after CHA this summer, I am seeking them out!  Their booth was AMAZING - just blew my mind.  Definitely my fave from the show.

The stamp is Uptown Girl has a Present by Stamping Bella.  

Of course she's coloured with my beloved Copics!  I've used R81, 83, 85, 89 for her dress - and accented the corners with some W5 that I sandwiched under the R89 to add extra depth.

Have a great week!

Sarah
xx

Bella Madison

Hello Stampers and Happy Monday!

I cannot believe that we are already so close to Christmas, where does time go?  Blows my mind.

Anyway, this is my way of slowly "easing" myself into the Christmas theme with my cards, because I'm not quite ready!

Here is a card I taught in class last week.  We did three Bellas with Copics and the same colour scheme.  This is "Nutcracker" from Graphic 45.  I hadn't used much from this company in the past.  But after CHA this summer, I am seeking them out!  Their booth was AMAZING - just blew my mind.  Definitely my fave from the show.

The stamp is Uptown Madison has a Margarita by Stamping Bella.  I apologize, the Bellas sold out after my class, but I'm sure she'll be back in stock soon!

The sentiment is from Joyful Greetings by Paper Smooches.  Paper Smooches are definitely my favourite sentiment stamps.  I love the fonts!

Have a great week!

Sarah
xx

Bellas, Copics, and Prismas

Hello stampers!

Happy Easter!  I am thrilled to have a long weekend - to catch up on my time with my boys and my friends, to sleep in, and to craft!  Oh - and a little chocolate in there too, tee hee!  And - possibly - some late night insomniac online shopping!!

I've really been in a Bella mood lately!  Also, I was lucky enough to go to the Bella store in Toronto a couple of weeks ago - so excited!!  I picked up some Flynns and some gorgeous fruit & scenery images that I'd never even seen before.  So much fun!  I'm also spending lots of quality time with my beloved Copics - and have been having a blast incorporating my Prismas & Gamsol.  LOVE!  I'm super psyched to be going to the Copic Basic & Intermediate certification courses in Toronto next month - so I've been trying to practice when I can.

To get back into my stamping groove, I coloured these two lovelies for the pure joy of it.  I didn't write down a THING - wow - talk about unusual!  I just went with my mood - and brought in some  yellows, peaches, and light greys, warm & cool.  That's just what I thought these pretty images called for.  I'm really into the more muted tones lately with just a little pop of colour.  Copics have such a fab range of browns, greys, and greige options.  I'm even opening up to their yellows lately.  I'm still not quite there with the orange & peach tones, but I am happier than I was - I think bringing in the little pop of Prisma really helps perk them up.

I happened to pick up this gorgeous 6x6 pack last week - all my latest happy colours in it - and of course the latest hot commodity - chevrons!  This is Plumeria by Basic Grey, who I'd kind of written off lately, especially as I'd been so distracted with all the scrummy MME from CHA!

Lots to look forward to - with my Copic certification courses coming up - and got my registration to CHA this week as well!!  It's going to be the Spring & Summer of Crafting - hurray!

Happy Sunday!

Sarah

xx

Stamping Bella Girlies

Have you ever had a brand or style of stamp that just doesn't seem to suit you? One that no matter how many tries, you just can't get the hang of? Well, for me it was the Stamping Bellas for the longest time! I don't know why, but I just getting get the knack of them. After one particularly disasterous attempt at colouring a plump woman with large hair, I swore off these stamps completely.

Until now! Anyone who knows me well knows how much I treasure and appreciate my girlfriends! They are true gifts in life and should be appreciated because they can really make the difference between happiness and despair.

Unfortunately I've been really sick lately and am off work for a while, and to someone who is constantly on the go - this has been a tough blow for me. Always an obsessively high achiever, I'm having to take life slowly and rest a lot. Not an easy pill to swallow.

Thank you God for my wonderful friends who surround me! But especially thank you to my beloved Andrea who despite her own physical pains, spent an entire night in the hospital watching over me, and has listened to my worries and stresses without complaint or judgement.

So this card with the girls having some wine is who we SHOULD be - and will be again I'm sure. But for now, we'll be these girls with the coffee and taking it a little slower.

So I've given my Stamping Bellas another chance, and am now LOVING them! I seem to have found a groove, helped by their gorgeous new designs. And these sentiments just call out to me! They are so real life!

For both cards, I've used this brand new 6x6 paper pad "Gathering" from Authentique. I love, love, love the weight, feel, and design of this paper. It is fabulous and I'll be looking for more from this brand.

I'm also trying a more "European" flair to my cards with the dimensional flowers. These are all from Prima who've had some gorgeous new things this fall. If you follow my blog, you'll know of my obsessive love for the Prima Printery line! All of these jewels are also from the Prima line. I LOVE the colours of them.

Of course, I've used some Nesties. Not sure I could make a card without a Spellbinders Nestabilities die quite honestly!

I've stamped my girls on Copic XPress It in Memento, even though I've been experimenting with the Cryogen (still on the fence) and back to some Neenah again. I always come back to my XPress It.

I'll list my Copic colours below. Make sure you stock up now if you are a Copic girl like myself! And don't forget about the refills! Rumour has it prices will be going up in the New Year. Great reason to add to your collection, don't you think?

Happy stamping!

Sarah

xx

Wine stamp:

E79, E77, E74, E71, E70

G85, YG63, G24, G40

W7, W5

YR18, YR16, YR15, YR12

E55, E53, E51, E50

BG72

E11, E01, E00, E000, R20

E35, E55, E31, YR20

E37, E27

BG10

B0000

Cofee stamp:

E35, E33, E31, E23

YR24, YR23, YR21, YR20

E11, E01, E00, R20

RV14, RV13, RV11, RV10

V17, V15, V12

YG17, YG13, YG11

BG10

C5, C4, C2, C1, C0

I'd like to enter the following challenges:
Frosted Designs - Die Cuts
Inspire Me Fridays - Anything Goes
CR84FN - Brown, Tan, & Green
Crafty Cardmakers - Recycle (I used cut off scraps for the edge strips)
Craft Your Passion - Photo Inspiration
Our Creative Corner - Photo Inspiration
Stamping Bella

now designing for High Hopes stamps!

Happy Tuesday and Happy Back to School Day!

My baby is starting GRADE TWO today – I can hardly believe it!  Where did the last 7 years go?  Seriously!

I’m THRILLED to bits to be a new Guest Designer for High Hopes stamps!  I’ve loved this line of stamps for a long time, especially because they are perfect for Copic markers (my favourite medium).  So I’m looking forward to inking up many of their beautiful new release images once they arrive!  YAY!

I stamped this little guy for the “Back to School” theme over at High Hopes.  Be sure and enter the challenge for your chance to win 3 High Hopes stamps of your choice!!  What a great prize!!

 Also come and check us out at our new page on Facebook for lots more creative ideas!

I’ve stamped my little mouse on Copic Xpress It – and coloured him in Copics.  I’ve used Nestabilities Labels Eight in two of the sizes to create a frame as well as the Shapeabilities Butterflies die to create a two-layered dimensional butterfly.  This BEAUTIFUL paper was a perfect way to ease me into the fall mood, even though I hate to give up the summer.  I really am a summer girl – I have such a hard time with winter – ugh.  I’ve spritzed all my paper with Glimmer Mist in Dazzling Diamonds.  I just love the shimmery effect it gives.  I’ve added some gold Smooch to add extra oomph to the flower and some other flowers in the pattern.  I’ve used My Favorite Things rolled daisy die (I LOVE this) and found a coordinating brad in my stash to finish it off.

My background is on SU! Kraft - and I've used two SU! stamps in Tim Holtz for Ranger distress inks to create the setting for my little mouse.  Of course, I've added a little extra bling here and there with some Stickles and some 3D glaze on my little mouse.  I've typed my own sentiment which I found in this awesome book InspirationStation Book of Quotes/ Titles.

And if you're in the mood for a little enabling - check out my post on the Scrappin' Great Deals blog..

 Happy stamping!

Sarah

xx

Cardstock:  SU! Kraft & Early Espresso
Paper:  Copic Xpress It, Basic Grey pyrus
Spellbinders:  Labels Eight, Shapeabilities Butterflies
Other dies:  My Favourite Things Rolled Daisy die
Stamps:  High Hopes mouse under mushroom, Stampin’ Up Linen Background, Inspired by Nature.
Ink:  Tim Holtz Distress inks, Walnut stain, Frayed burlap, Antique linen
Copics:  E59, E57, E55, E53.  E13, E11, E02, E01, R22.  E44, E43, E2, E41.  R29, R27, R24, R22, YR23, BG78, BG75, BG72.  BG02.  YG99, YG97, YG95, G40.  BG10.
Accessories:  Glimmer Mist, Crystal Stickles, 3D Crystal Lacquer, Gold Smooch, Sticky thumb adhesive roller & dimensionals, SU! Dimensionals, Tim Holtz blending tool

a little smooch

Hello Stampers!

These two cards are my contribution to the September card kit for Scrappin' Great Deals.  I LOVE this image – but honestly, tried quite a few ways before deciding on how I wanted to colour her!  My first attempt actually, was a see-through orange dress with black undies….  Needless to say, she did NOT make the cut for the card kit – hee hee!

 

Anyway, this is “a little smooch” by Mo Manning for StampingBella.  This series of stamps highlights the “extra lovely” lady as you’ll note!  Great cards for your real girlfriends, not your “green salad with dressing on the side” kind of friends, if you know what I mean!

I had a blast picking out papers and accessories with Andrea for the kit this month, really hard not to get carried away when the store had just received a HUGE shipment of beautiful new things!  Be sure to drop by and check it out if you haven’t been recently.  SO hard to resist!

In both images, I’ve stamped my little “smooch girl” with Memento tuxedo black on Xpress It cardstock (my personal favourite for Copics).  I’ve coloured her with two different techniques, one in full colour, and the other one, just for fun, in monochromatic Sepia tones.  I thought she had a ‘50’s kind of girl look to her for some reason.  In that one I’ve used Spellbinders Nestabilities Deckled Edge Classic Ovals Large to punch her out, and distressed the edges with “Antique Linen” and “Frayed Burlap” distress ink.

Be sure and pick up the card kits this month – SO gorgeous!  I had a great time working with them.

Sarah

Xx

Stamp:  A Little Smooch by Mo Manning for Stamping Bella

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Inks in Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap

Paper:  Kaiser Craft Velvet Ensemble and Xpress It for Copic

Accessories:  Flowers, Ribbon, Self-adhesive jewels, Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 8 and Deckled Edge Classic Ovals Large

Copics:  Colour:  C9, C7, C5, C3, C1.  YR18.  E35, YR23, Y23.  E02, E01, E00, E000, R20.  B02.  BG10.  Monochromatic:  W9, W7, W5, W3, W1, W0, W00.