No Line Coloring

I decided to try my hand at no line coloring with the Pretty Lovely stamp set from Mama Elephant. I used a light grey ink with very rough masking knowing that my coloring would cover any overlapping lines. The plan was to use Copic markers on the image but quickly evolved. I was testing a new paper I'd purchased, Strathmore Marker paper. I liked the bright whiteness and smoothness of the paper but wasn't happy with how it performed with copic.

The color was very muted, almost greyish when first applied, though the color did intensify as the area dried. Since I like to work quickly with marker and with nothing to lose, I decided to see how the paper performed with colored pencil. I quickly blocked in the remaining images with copic and then began working the image with colored pencil to add intensity and detail.

I was much happier with the results. This paper would probably not hold up to a lot of layering or scrubbing (not a good artist rendering paper for colored pencil) but for a card with light coloring it performed pretty well. More importantly, since I have 23 sheets remaining, I definitely will be using it again.

Hog Heaven Valentine

Mailed the last of my Valentine greetings yesterday. Cut it a bit close especially since I didn't have many to send, but the essential factor is they got shipped.

This one featuring MFT's Hog Heaven is one of my favorites. I know it will bring a happy smile to the recipient's face. How could it not? The pigs in this set are all adorable.

Valentines

Valentine's Day is right around the corner.  Typically I don't send many valentine cards. Most of my crafting around this holiday tends to center around treat bags or punny valentines for the kids. This year I agreed to assist our youth group with creating cards and gifts for our shut-ins. Still working to come up with some ideas. I'm finding it a bit more challenging as I'll be working with teenagers...punny valentines seem too young and most of the items I've pinned in the past, much too complicated for the time allotment.  I'm sure I'll get there.

In the meantime, here are a few cards I created to send. No stamping, just paper, dies (Concord & 9th, MFT, Mama Elephant) and shimmer pen. Not that you can see the shimmer very well in the images but trust me, it's there. I would not create a valentine without sparkle!

Simon Says Spring Flowers

Happy Monday!

If you're located in the Midwest, we're recovering from last week's arctic freeze with a big thaw. Thankfully everyone in my immediate family survived without any significant issues which can accompany such low temperatures. We hit -24 degrees, coupled with wind chill close to -45 degrees. But no broken pipes, dead car batteries or furnaces giving up. Extremely thankful. And just as grateful the kids are back to a regular schedule and routine. They spent 3 days home last week because of snow and temperatures. By their eagerness to go out to the bus stop this morning I think even they were happy to be going to school again. Or maybe it was just the warm-up. We're supposed to hit close to 50 degrees today...and then drop back down to the 20's. Mother nature in the Chicagoland area is cruel and heartless in February (and March, and April)!

With Spring in mind...I'm sharing a birthday card I created using SS Spring Flowers stamps. Sadly, it will be the only Spring I see for a while.

Flowers are fussy cut, and I used a medallion stamp with VersaMark for the background image. This one will probably be hand given as the wood tag adds some bulk.