Flower Power

 I've got a beautiful thank you card today. I used this amazing flower image from the Vintage Floral Papercrafting CD-ROM and colored it up with my Spectrum Noir Markers (CG1, CG2, CG4, GB9, GB10, CR3, CR10, CR6, CR7, IB1, Blender and True Black) and added some highlights with my Spectrum Noir Blendable Colored Pencils (046, 059, 060, 023, 044). I blended them in with the Spectrum Noir Blending Solution and Paper Stumps.

For the outline around my flower image, I took the True Black marker and a ruler and made that border. It's a simple way to add a frame to your image, especially when you have just a large, single image like this gorgeous flower.

I just pulled some patterned paper from my stash for behind the floral image and used a "thanks" sentiment from my stash as well. Who wouldn't love getting this thank you in the mail?

Check out all Crafter's Companion has to offer!

PHOTOGRAPHY TIP: Everyone always wants to know how to take photos for
your projects. I wanted to show you that even though I'm a photographer,
I don't use fancy set ups for my projects. As you can see I have a simple
 tray table against my children's bedroom wall faced towards the window
(it wasn't as bright as normal because a storm was coming in). That's it!

Scruffy Little Cat: Cowgirl

Howdy there! I've got a fun card today for you using the new Scruffy Little Cat EZMount Stamp Set, Jessica. She's fun!!! I think we all have a little cowgirl in us, don't y'all think?

Here's my little breakdown for this card:

1. Card base is a simple white card stock cut, scored and folded to 4.2x5.5.

2. I stamped my Jessica image onto my trusty Ultra Smooth White Cardstock and started coloring with my Spectrum Noir Markers (FS4, TN2, TN3, TN4, Blender, PP5, LG5, JG5, EB2, BT1, EB3, EB5, EB7, EB6, TB5, EB1, TN9, CR9, GT1, GT3, CG2, CG4, DG4, GB9, GB11, DR6, DR7) and my Spectrum Noir Blendable Colored Pencils (009, 073, 003, 091, 116, 118, 114, 120, 047). I blended the pencil in with the Spectrum Noir Blending Solution and the Paper Stumps.

3. After all my coloring was done, I took my little distressing tool and distressed all the edges around the image. I think it lends to the rugged look I was going for!

4. The sentiment "Strut Your Stuff" is also from the Scruffy Little Cat EZMount Stamp Set, Jessica. I simply stamped it onto white card stock, cut it out freehand into the pennant shape at the bottom and used my Distress Ink in Vintage Photo and rubbed it onto it for a woodgrain type look. I used a grey pearl at the top to anchor it to the image.

5. For the background, I used 3 strips of paper and glued them down on an angle and then glued down my cowgirl with the sentiment to that on a slight angle as well.

Yeehaw! I hope you liked my project today. Be sure to check out all Crafter's Companion has to offer. So many different styles, products and inspiration!

Lawnscaping Challenge: Stars & Stripes

Hi there! I decided to play around with my new Lawn Fawn stamps and dies and enter the challenge over at the Lawnscaping blog!! The theme for the challenge is Stars & Stripes.

I got to work with my new set Beep Boop Birthday from Lawn Fawn along with the Beep Boop Birthday Lawn Cuts dies. I have a thing for robots...they're just too cute. I used Memento ink in Tuxedo Black for the robot and colored him in with my Spectrum Noir Markers. I pulled some striped navy and white paper from my stash and used a die cut/embossed piece from a package of Heidi Swapp I just bought on clearance. I rubbed on some yellow ink over it and cut out small stars with a punch I have had forever in my stash. I used some glue dots to stick them randomly all over the striped paper. I used some Memento Luxe ink for the balloon and colored around it and the little highlight in the balloon with a Spectrum Noir marker in a complimenting color. I used foam to adhere the balloon and robot and stamped the balloon string right on the lighter blue striped paper to connect.

I had a blast creating this little card for the Lawnscaping challenge. You can see the challenge details HERE! Thanks for stopping by.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

Happy Saturday! I've got an adorable card for you today using the Angelica & Adam PaperCrafting Range, Male Set, Pirate's Ahoy! Perfect for a little boy. Who doesn't love pirates?? I for one am a huge fan of Captain Jack Sparrow ;)

I stamped my little boy onto the Ultra Smooth Premium White Cardstock from Crafter's Companion and started coloring using the Spectrum Noir Blendable Colored Pencils. I used the following colors for this image: 113, 090, 021, 084, 020, 015, 024, 025, 028, 032, 027, 009, 004, 007, 034, 035, 090, 103, 114, 116, 118, 120, 087, 014, 018, 108, 096, 107, 087, 084, 058, 065, 067, 070, 077, 001, 067, 061, and 063.

I also used the Ultra Smooth Premium White Cardstock for the sentiments at the bottom. They are from the Angelica & Adam EZMount Stamp Set - Ben. I chose to cut them apart for added interest on the bottom of the card.

For the base, I used a plain kraft card stock, scored and folded to 4.25x5.5. The black and white card stock is from my stash and I loved that it was darker yet subtle to bring out the black hat/eye patch he's wearing. The red I pulled in from the flag and the arrows strip I glued down on a slight angle to enhance the tilted explore, dream and discover sentiments at the bottom. I just cut out around the pirate boy and distressed the edges.

Hope you enjoyed my simple card suitable for any little pirate! Argh!

Shopping in Style

Hi there! I have a very feminine card that would be great for a close friend or a girly birthday for an aunt, niece, or sister. Present them with a gift card to compliment this card.

For the main image, I used the Scruffy Little Cat-Ashleigh set. I stamped her onto my Ultra Smooth Premium White Cardstock since I was going to be coloring her. To color her in, I used both my Spectrum Noir Markers and Blending Pencils. They work FABULOUSLY together. And the pencils are beyond perfect for these types of images with small details that are easier to color in with the pencils. I used the markers in FS2, FS3, CR2, JG1, JG3, OR1, CR10, PL3, IG4, IG8, IG10, True Black, EB7, TB1, TB3, IG2, BT6, HB1, HB2, HB3, IG1, CT1, CT4, BGR4, DR6, DR7, BT2, TB5 and the Blender. For the pencils, I used 038, 083, 096, 104, 020, 021, 033, 009, 070, 109, 111 and 079.

To add interest to the image and some depth, I added a couple little pearl accents to her belt and the toe of her shoe. I also colored in her eyeliner and shoes with a black glitter pen. You can't see it in the photo, but it's there and adds just a little punch to it!

The sentiment next to her image is from the Scruffy Little Cat-Autumn set that reads "Happy Girls are the Prettiest." - Audrey Hepburn. How true is this?! It just went perfect for this card since I'd be using it to give a gift card for a birthday or something special like that.

For the purple piece behind my image, I used the Flowers & Vines Embossing Folder and Memento Luxe ink in Sweet Plum swirled on with a sponge.