Blogiversary Drawing!

Ok, my 4th Blogiversary was last week and I'm going to now have a drawing to celebrate!  Are you ready?
 There are specific rules so please follow them.

#1 Leave a comment with your email addy so that I can contact you if you are the winner! You may want to space it out, for example: marydoe @ gmail dot com (see extra spaces?).

#2 Share my post on yours for another chance to win. Please let me know in your comment that you did this!

#3 If you're not following my blog become a follower for another chance to win and let me know in your comment!

Easy, peasy!  And remember, comments are moderated so yours will NOT show up until I see it and publish it. 

Now, here's what you can win!

I have a grab box of TAC stamps ( 8 complete sets with a retail value of $100 or so), a Corner Chomper (retail value of about $20), and 2 Copic markers.

Drawing will be Feb. 4 so I'll try to keep this post at the top of my blog (once I figure out how to do that).  This gives you a bit over a week to get your comment in. Thanks so much for reading my blog.  You keep me inspired to keep on keeping on!

Lots of Bling!

I sure enjoy Operation Write Home and I even have a surprise for you in Feb. concerning them.  Anyway, this week they have a challenge of using bling on a card but NO glitter.  No problem!  Take a look!

Can you guess what the metallic piece is make of?  (Is this a dangling participle?)  LOL!  Did you get a coffee can seal?  If so, you're right!  I save them all and have fun using my Spellbinders Nesties then Cuttlebug embossing folders on them.  I LOVE the look!  Then I added more bling with gems from the Clear & Pearl Gem collection.  The stamps are from The Angel Co. 

Did you enter my drawing for the stamps and stuff?  Pa-lease follow the rules.  Happy stamping!

Rockin' and Rollin'

I was working on my TJ 1-1 swap and another swap when I thought of the Rock 'N Roll technique.  I made a card similar to this a couple years ago but had to try it again.  I did learn that a square image just doesn't work that well with this technique as it leaves a distinct line between the colors...

I used sets by The Angel Company and some twine from The Twinery.  Also used a Nestie by Spellbinders.

Here you can see the line on the square images that I don't like.  Definitely need to use round or oval images with this technique, do you agree?

I have emailed Blogger to see if they will take that Stop SOPA off my blog.  Hopefully they'll take care of it and my blog will be clean again.

Negative - Positive.... huh?

Each month I take part in a swap with someone assigned to me on the Technique Junkies 1-1 group.  This month I played with a technique called Negative-Positive.  I got to thinking of a stamp set by Nina Brackett (Crafting in Croatia) called Dotted Dahlias sold by Layers of Color Art Stamps.

I colored the stamp image with my Copic markers and colored my white scrappers floss to match.

I stamped the dahlia twice and cut the center out of one so I could layer.  I added the gem from my Clear & Pearl Gem collection for some added bling!

So, what do you think?  Isn't this just cool?

Still doing the Twist....

I finished a couple more cards for my Twisted Easel class in February.  This card is so much fun to make!

Again I used the same flower set from Stampendous.  I used my Spellbinders Nestie Labels 11 for the focal image.

How do you like the inside?  I would highly recommend you purchase the 3D and Fun Folds CD from the Technique Junkies!  This fun card is on it!  And here's the masculine card I made for the class...

I'm sure hoping this class is a go! I've had so many canceled due to no or just 1 student!  I will not drive 15 miles for 1 student so I end up making her a kit with directions.  Bummer.  I so enjoy teaching.  Oh well. 

Black & White with a Splash of Color

I was on OWH's blog yesterday and got inspired!  They're doing a color challenge of using black, white, and a splash of color.  Usually my "splashes" turn into tsunamis but I finally did just a splash.  The motorcycle is from a cool set of  stamps by Hero Arts called Going 4x4.  The text is from The Angel Co.

Isn't this kinda wild? I purchased this set because of a cool pickup since our youngest son is heavy into 4x4 rock crawling.  I also used my 3" circle punch, 2 3/4" scalloped circle punch, and black Scrappers Floss.

Check out OWH's blog for some great ideas!  Oh, and I'm feeling pretty good!  Cold is almost over and am gaining more strength daily!  Even took a Zumba class Tuesday though I was a bit slow and very uncoordinated.  LOL!

Also, I've just noticed that at the middle of my blog there is a "Stop SOPA" sign.  I did not place it there but I fully agree that SOPA needs to be stopped to protect our 1st Amendment rights. Unfortunately this "highjacks" my blog and prevents you from seeing past posts. I'm sorry about that but it's out of my hands. I cannot get those removed.

It's Twisted....

Didja like my post title?  Are you worried about me?  Actually I'm starting to feel so much better.  Cough is going away.  So now I need to get some classes and cards figured out.  I decided to teach the Twisted Easel card for my 2nd February (on the 15th) class at the AZ Scrapbooking store in Green Valley, AZ.  I'll also be teaching this card next Wednesday at my GVR class, too. So, whatja think??

 I using a stamp set from Stampendous.  The double-sided paper does not have a name on it so I can't give you any info on it.  I colored the images with my Copic markers.

Here you see how it looks open.  Isn't this wild!

I used my Stardust Clear gel pen to give the wings some bling.  Since the bee was rather small I used my 3/4" circle punch and a pop dot to give him size and raise him up.  I still have some more samples to make so I'll head back to my work table.

Now I can show the full cards!

Now that I have the supplies pulled for this Feb. 1 class I can show you the full sized cards!  I used a fun stamp by Stampendous called Cling Bananas.

I colored the images with my Copic markers, using only 4 colors.

Here I white embossed the image then embossed the circle part again and used it as the focal point. 

Isn't this a great masculine birthday (or something) card!  The ribbon with the tie does not come across as feminine since there's no bow.

And this last card I used my white gel pen to set off the background. I did get my inspiration from the Stampendous website for this particular background stamp.

I'm still fighting off this cold.  I get tired easily and am still coughing but every day is a bit better. I'm amazed how it just keeps hanging on!  I've been taking naps almost daily but each day I'm feeling a bit better.  Hopefully my mojo will wake up as I have lots to do!!  I've had a blogiversary (4 years!) and want to do a drawing.  I think I have everything together but need to get pictures. 

More class samples

I finally finished the other 2 cards for my first February class at my LSS in Green Valley, AZ.  Until I pull the supplies off the shelves I cannot show the full cards as I don't want people buying them then not having them available to the "students".  I'm sure you've already figured out I'm playing with a western/country theme.  So, are you ready?

Except for the main background stamp I'm using TAC stamps. I used Copic markers for coloring.

I had fun with these but it took a while (and help from the main image's website) to get ideas.  I almost CASED these but only in the layouts.

I am feeling better.  I'm now taking some cough drops called Fisherman's Friend which is helping much more than Halls. Still tired but each day is better and better!  Thanks for your prayers.

Closeups of an upcoming class

I'm still feeling weak and tired (and still coughing some) but am getting better every day.  My mojo is not wanting to come back and play but hopefully soon...  Anyway, I did get a couple cards done for an upcoming class for AZ Scrapbooking but cannot show the whole cards yet.  I will show you these little snippets:

This card involved white embossing.  I love how the little gem fits so nicely in the center of this image!

This stamp is an old one from The Angel Co.  This card is VERY colorful and I'm sure the "students" will have fun with all the coloring.  All coloring was done with Copic markers. This will be a February class, probably on the 1st.

I did have a class yesterday at Green Valley Recreation in Green Valley, AZ.  It was probably the most difficult of the 5 classes and the gals did great!  They only got 1 card done each but I hope they make more to really learn the design.  We made Tri-Shutter cards.  January 25 we will make Easel Cards and they loved my samples.  I have posted them here, one is the Twisted Easel and the other was posted a couple posts ago. Now, back to resting...  I'm tired of being tired but the good news... I lost 6 lbs. since early December.  Gotta keep it off!