Category: Cards

So I color A LOT! Like really A LOT! I create a video and photo tutorial each week, I travel and teach a weekend full of classes most months as well as teach classes locally about once a month. To tip it off I am creating new manuals and then of course I just like to color so I try to squeeze in some fun coloring just for me every once and a while!

Then I end up with a mountain of images just sitting. So I finally break down and mass produce cards. I have a process and thought you might get a giggle to see how I do it. My cards are not always the stunning works of arts that I would like them to be, but I get’er done and besides they have pretty art work on them right? That counts right?

1 – I start by pairing a large group of images with a card base color and then at least one or two coordinating papers to go with it.

2 – I run my images through my Brother Scan and Cut if I want them fussy cut. Some will just get trimmed down, but lots will get fussy cut and the Brother scan and cut can do a whole group all in one pass!

3 – Then I am ready to start assembling cards, I try to find a couple trims and patterned paper sometimes to go with images.

4 – I fold all the card bases and attach all the patterned paper or card front layers. I often will use the X-Press It broad tip glue marker because it is easy, fast and a great adhesive.

5 – Then comes the fun part I add the images and just one or two little details to add a little life to the card. I often find myself reaching for both the broad and fine tip X-Press It Glue markers since they are quick and easy and can get into all those small little details. Again I keep my cards SIMPLE. But then I have a stack of cards for any occasion and can pull them out for happy mail at any time! If you are interested in the X-Press glue pens they come in 3 sizes and can be found right HERE on the Imagination International, Inc. web page.

Hope you have had time recently to be crafty no matter what you created!

Have a Happy Colorful week!

I will admit I am slightly addicted to tape runners. I have tried the best and the worst, the biggest and the smallest, permanent and movable, reusable and disposable. Some have been very successful others have been disasters. Many of my scrapbooking friends know that pinching pennies for about 6 years during med-school and residency I created hundreds of pages with a double sided tape that after about 5 years had started to loose it’s tack. Yes I have HUNDREDS of pages that are literally falling apart! I have not yet braved the process of going through and trying to re-attach EVERYTHING. I know it will all eventually fall off the page, but I just can’t bring myself to do it.

So I have settled into some better brands and was thrilled this past January, while working at CHA to discover that X-Press It has come out with a tape runner. I love their glue pens and their foam tape so I was very excited to see what they had come up with. (I like their double sided tape as well, I just prefer a dispenser.) Lucky me Imagination International, Inc. is carrying them so I get to play!

So here is what they thought about AND why I am loving it!

• Extra-strong permanent adhesive – so far so good, adhering paper, ribbon twine…
• Acid and Solvent Free – a must have for crafting
• Heat Resistant – added bonus if embossing or ironing is needed
• Smooth application that doesn’t “gum up” – no gummy lumps, yes please!
• 1/3″ wide x 13 yards – for a tape addict gotta love the longer length
• cover for runner is attached, swings and locks out of the way – no loosing it on my desktop or in my bag
• lift and break tape – no stopping and pulling, no holding a trigger, just happy where you want it and lift away, no brainer
• solid strip of tape – no dots or dashes and still breaks away when you int away from the paper

Today I was busy making cards for a local class and the new X-Press It the runner came through with flying colors all 4 cards are ready to go. Nothing fancy but all together and check off the to-do list. Thank you X-Press IT!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are interested in the tape runner check it out HERE. If you are interested in my local class check it out HERE.

Have a Happy Colorful Day!

Hippy Hopping today with Hero Arts!

Hero arts asked if the Copic team would like to play along for this month’s My Monthly Hero March 2016 kit and I said “Yes Please!”

The kit is FULL of fun stuff: 12 coloring cards on XPressIt paper, coordinating stamps and dies, an Intense Black ink cube (alcohol marker-friendly), extra XPressIt paper, assorted notecards, and a package of gems.

 

There are even add ons to make your kit go further!

DC184 Ribbon Messages Stamp & Cut: https://heroarts.com/shop-sidebar/dc184-ribbon-messages-stamp-cut/

CL964 Marianne’s Flowers: https://heroarts.com/shop-sidebar/cl964-mariannes-flowers/

PS755 Coloring Foundation Book – Flowers: https://heroarts.com/shop-sidebar/ps755-coloring-f…ion-book-flowers/

I played with two of the coloring cards that came in the kit. Here is the first:

I added a sentiment right onto the card with one of the optional Ribbon messages and because the ink that came in the kit works with my Copics I colored the whole image up and got it on a card base wa-la! I used a lot of coloring tips that Marianne Walker shares in her Coloring Flowers Book.

Here is a close up, I added a little bling to the letters and dragonfly wings with a atyou Spica pen but it is hard to see 🙂 Copic Colors Used: B41, V12, V04, V17, G20, G21, G24, G28, YG09, B99, BV20, C0, C1

My next card I created with another coloring card and this time added not only a sentiment but stamped some of the matching flowers on one of the blank sheets of paper as well.

I fussy cut and popped everything up and yay, another quick and easy card! Copic Colors Used: YG01, YG03, YG07, YG09, BV00, BV02, V12, V14, Y21, Y35, Y28, YR14, YR18

But I am not the only one playing along today make sure you stop by the other fun stops along the Hero Arts hop today!

https://heroarts.com/my-monthly-hero-is-here-5/ The Hero Arts Blog
http://ilikemarkers.blogspot.com/ Marianne Walker
http://paperfections.typepad.com/paperfections/ Sharon Harnist
http://onehappystamper.typepad.com/ Cindy Lawrence
http://loricraig.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/ Lori Craig
http://debbiedesigns.typepad.com/ Debbie Olson
https://scrapweaver.com/ Michelle Houghton
https://marianagrigsby.wordpress.com Mariana Grigsby
http://stampinlibby.blogspot.com/ Libby Hickson

Make SURE to check the Hero Arts Blog for the details on some prizes as well! Yay Prizes!

Have a Happy Colorful Day!

I have one more fun product from X-Press to share this week. Check out this fun glittery tape!

I have been adding it to my 2016 planner as a fun glittery highlight for important events. (Here you see a BIG trip to CHA highlighted for lots of Copic fun!) The tape is acid free, so great for all sorts of crafting projects, can be cut or torn by hand, and comes in all these crazy fun colors! More details can be found at Imagination International, Inc. HERE

I added it to two of my recent cards that I created for Copic In The Craft Room as well. These cards will be featured in video tutorials in the month of December.

The rolls have plenty of tape to really enjoy and I know they will become a staple on my scrapbook pages, cards and especially in my planner to add a little bling with very little effort!

Don’t forget to check out all the classes that have opened up for Anaheim, CA in January 2016!

Have a Happy Colorful week!