Paper Trufflez

Happy (Fri)Day!

Happy Day:

All images:  ElzybellsNA for A Muse Art Stamps
Paper:  Madeira Green 4 Bar Note Cards (A Muse), Gracen Collection Patterned Paper (Making Memories)
Ink:  Brilliance Graphite Black, Heat Set (Tsukineko)
Coloring Tools:  Koh-I-Noor Colored Pencils, Alcohol Markers in Baby Skin Pink, Cool Grey No. 1, Honey, Brick Beige, Yellow Green, Pea Green, Pale Greyish Blue (Copic)
Ribbon:  Stitched Red & Cabana Blue (A Muse), Green  Gingham (May Arts)
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Yaaaaaaay Friday!  Got an email from the managing editor over at Stampington Take Ten--looks like they're gonna run that article on Copics & colored pencils in the Summer Take Ten issue!  Yippeeeeeeee!!!  Anyway, they needed some "stepped out" examples of the process to accompany it, so I messed around in my studio and got that done.

I never really used to be all that big on coloring, but, there is something about it that is sooooooo therapeutic--remember when you were in Kindergarten, and how happy you felt just coloring?

I have been enjoying talking with the students in my online classes--in the one class I gave a homework assignment, and I'm just amazed at how they've taken it to heart, and the level of participation just, well, makes my heart happy!

So, in honor of a happy day--a happy (FRI)•day here's a happy card featuring this sweet little flower pot!

I bolted straight up in bed this morning, realizing I hadn't set up the automatic coffee maker last night for Dave (he gets up at 6am, and wakes me at 7am with my cuppa and a kiss every day), nor had I set out a work outfit (trust me, after I work my magic, he walks out the door a hunk-a-burnin'-*sharp-dressed* man.  This I know from all the ladies down at the school . . . *wink*  )

But, he had an early morning meeting, and by the time I figured it out, he was already waving a cuppa under my nose, smooching me quickly and headed out the door . . . too late!  He's wearing a Sponge Bob necktie . . . *chuckle* . . .

I heard this song for the first time, while visiting my sister's down in CA--she was featured on Regis & Kelly.  The story of how she was discovered on MySpace is amazing and such a happy, feel good one!  Anyway, I had to buy it today, because, it's *us*!  It's Dave and I . . . and, man, it gets me right here-->

The Way I am, by Ingrid Michaelson

Have a beautiful, and *happy* day . . .

The new ElzybellsNA Friendship Stamps are now available!

Link: Elzybells NA: Friendship.

Happily Ever After?  NOT!!!

Image Credits:  ElzybellsNA and A Muse Artstamps
Paper: Watermelon Tinplate Note Card (A Muse)
Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black (Ranger Industries), Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ice Blue (Clearsnap)
Coloring Tools: Blush, Skin White, Yellow Green, Grass Green, Sand, Pale Porcelain Blue (Copic), Spica Yellow Twinklette Marker (Copic)
Ribbon:  Sheer Olive Piped (A Muse), Narrow Pale Blue Stitched (May Arts)
Other:  1 1/4" and 1 3/8" Circle Punches by EK Success, Olive Eyelet (Stampin' Up!), Heart Twinkle Sticker (A Muse)

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OK, I must admit, sometimes I *really* crack myself!  Bossy Elzy is among my favorite of the new Elzybells Friendship Release.  Tappin' her toe, all feisty-like . . . she makes me grin!

I gave her more voluminous hair by adding more color.  Her rosy cheeks were created by first using the Blush Marker, and then going over the top of that with the Skin White.  Because Blush is a more intense pink, but the two colors are still relatively close, this effectively blends them, to create a more realistic facial color.

I have to give my people skin tones, or to me they are so white, they look ghostly.  OK, to me they look dead!  *snarf*

Here, inside the card, we see that Bossy Elzy is highly disappointed that kissing the frog had no effect!  That's amore!  Hah!

I gave her a little irritated eyebrow over the one eye, and added bangs, so that she looked just like the Elzy featured on the front of the card, but definitely peeved! Heh, heh, heh!

I bobbled the "Happy Valentine's Day" a bit, and just now realized that "any way" should have been anyway, but . . . (hair flip!)  Yes, I am.  Feelin' quite BRILLIANT, that is!!! (arms wrapped around self, serious chortling goin' on . . . )

Happy Friday!

You probably don't need another 5MQ, but . . .

Image credits:  Mistletoe (A Muse Artstamps), "Pucker up" (ElzybellsNA); Paper:  Fabriano Mediovalis Reply Card; Ink:  Celery Craft (SU!), Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko); Coloring Tools:  Watercolor Pencils (Derwent), Spica Silver Glitter Pen (Copic); Other:  Fabric Pearlescent White Paint (Tulip)

Had this in my head for a while, and finally had a few minutes to make it real. *grin*  I didn't think about it until later, but, I could have used seed beeds for the mistletoe berries . . . next time!

We got our tree . . . it's tradition in our family to go to the tree farm, hunt, and cut down the perfect tree.  This was the first year we weren't mucking about in mud everywhere, so it was an extremely pleasant weather day!

The dialogue usually goes sumpin' like this:

Hayley:  I say we get a BIG tree this year!
(we get a "big" tree every year . . . )

Taylor:  YEAH!!!!  At least 10'!!!

Julie:  Are you outta' your mind?  *HOW* do you propose to get the lights on it???

We tramp around for over an hour . . . while I plead, as I always do, to get a Noble Fir just once--they're so lovely for showing off the ornaments . . . *sigh*

But, the children veto the mama. *frown*

Dave:  Geeze.  Is anybody gonna help me cut this thing down???

The "men" take turns sawing . . . and down she comes . . .

We gather around the tree, hold hands . . . tree blessing . . . one by one we offer . . .

Julie mutters:  Bless this tree, even tho it is ginormous and NOT a beautiful, delicate, and reasonably sized Noble Fir . . .

Kids:  Heh, heh, heh!!!  SCORE!!!

Goin' "Ornamental" . . .

Image credits:  ElzybellsNA  Ink:  Brilliance Graphite Black (heat set);  Copic Markers:  Cadmium Red,  Honey, Toner Grey No. 5, Frost Blue;  Ribbons/Fibers:  Black Gingham, Silver Cord by May Arts; Other:  White Poms from craft store, Foam Mounting Tape, Watchmaker Tin (53 mm) from Lee Valley Tools

I just love this li'l guy!  I haven't made a holiday ornament in a loooooooong time, so it was *really* fun to make this for an ornament challenge among all the A Muse/Elzybells chick-lettes, "just for the halibut"! *grin*

I also love making ornaments out of these watchmaker tins!  Golly are these things ever useful!  I need to get more--I have an idea brewing in my head for something else that I could use them for--that would ORGANIZE some of the CHAOS known as:  The Royal VAULT (a.k.a. studio)!  *chortle*

BTW, thank you for the sweet comments that indicate a willingness to overlook the imperfections of the last creation I shared--you guys are so very nice!    I fuzzed. Quite warmly!  *chinkle*  Thank you.

I'm looking forward to this weekend; I've made a holiday shopping date with my daughter.  We haven't spent much time together lately, just mother and daughter, talking . . .  being "girly", and whatnot . . . I can't wait to take in the sights and sounds, hustle and bustle of the season, with her . . . we'll lunch at Panera, of course, shopping bags all around us, sipping mochas out of those ginormous ceramic cups they have . . . if we're lucky, there might be a vacant booth near the fire . . . doesn't that sound lovely?  *happy*

Fab In Five!

Image credits:  A Muse Art Stamps, Elzybells NA; New pencil eraser; Ink:  Versamagic Sea Breeze, Versamark; Silver Detail Embossing Powder; Silver Cord by May Arts

Quickies make me happy--I had to do another one.  Had a devil of a time filming this one--it's very grey and dismal here on the island right now . . . which doesn't ever bother me, cuz I'm not an "outdoorsy" kinda gal anyway . . .  *wink*  But, honestly, it really puts a crimp into things when I'm filming, argh!

The ink color I used on this is a lovely aqua blue/green shade--one of my faves.

We had snow yesterday--beautiful big flakes flurrying and swirling down!  I sat there, with my hubby, snuggling and chatting, and watching it for the entire 20 minutes or so that it fell . . . bliss . . .

But, it had no stickum. and melted all away before there could be any accumulation . . . *despondent sigh*

We're all singing a Winter Song with Jami!

(Jami's Dirty Girl Challenge)

All images:  Elzybells NA
Cuttle Bug Swirl Embossing Folder
Pretty in Pink Craft Ink
Caribbean Transparent Pee Wee Glitter Kit
Brilliance Black Ink (heat set)
Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink in Ice Blue
Copic Markers; Frost Blue, Blush, Skin White, Sand
Sakura Quickie Glue Pen
Prisma Glitter
1 1/4", 1 3/8" Circle Punches
Twinkle Stickers by A Muse

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WOO HOOOOOOOO!!!  I made the challenge deadline!!!

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View more challenge samples HERE.

ElzybellsNA Birdy Post

Birdy Post Recipe:

All images by ElzybellsNA
Sentiment hand-written
Brilliance Pigment Ink, heat set (Graphite Black)
Palette Hybrid (L'Amour Red)
Copic Markers (Light Rouge, Blue Frost, Yellow Green)
Sakura Quickie Glue Pen
Art Glitter Transparent Pee Wee Kit (Caribbean)

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Isn't this little birdy just the cutest?  I love the fact that he's in a postage stamp frame--I have a thing for postage related images.  Dunno why, just do.

Normally, I don't ever stamp/decorate envelopes for my cards--I just figure they're gonna get ripped up and tossed anyway . . . (duckin' and runnin' fer cover!), but I had to use the circular birdy image, too--it's just so irresistible!!!  I also omitted everything but the outer frame on the birdy post image, to make a spot for putting the REAL postage stamp!

Omitting, as a stamping technique, has been around for eons, and means:  inking only certain parts of an image, as opposed to the entire image. But, apparently, it's being given a new name:  "faux masking" . . .

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I guess I just don't understand the purpose of giving something that's been around forever in art-stamping a new name . . .   So . . .  I ain't gonna do it. Nuh uuuh, can't make me! That's right:    Julie refuses! (hair flip!)

Getting back on topic . . . I glittered da' birdy with the Pee Wee Transparent Glitter Kit I picked up down at the A Muse Shop--eeek, waaaay back early summer--I know, I know--shoulda' busted it out long ago, cuz that gliddaaaaah is so dang purrrrrdeeeeee!!! . . . Well, I've drivelled on and on enough, and must get back to work . . .

Ugh.

Well, the ice man cameth yesterday.

. . . and pronounced the not-top-of-the-line-but-still-very-expensive refrigerator we bought 6 years ago for this house *dead*.

The cost of repairing the compressor and other necessary parts would be nearly the cost of replacing it with a brand new refrigerator.

Needless to say, this was not what I wanted to hear, since just prior to it going to the great appliance graveyard in the sky (next to my beloved Speed Queen washer & dryer which departed us in early September, may they rest in peace), I had decided to host Thanksgiving dinner for both my family and my husband's.

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Needless to say, as I've been dealing with this, I've had zero time to stamp.  Which really makes me vewy vewy grouchy.

So, to happy myself up, I'm going to share with you some very pretty Elzybells eye candy, courtesy of Splitcoast Dirty Girl Alumni Jami Sibley and Linda Duke.  Feast your eyes on these beauties:
 
Juggling Penguin
Elzybells Angel

Little Town of Bethlehem
Merry Christmas Mouse

They make me wanna drop everything else--especially that darn refrigerator sitchiation (argh!)--and run for my Elzybells . . . *grin*

Have a fan-stampulous day!

T'was The Night Before Christmas . . .

Recipe:

• All images by ElzybellsNA
• Card Stock:  Red, black, olive
• Copic Markers in Lt. Olive, Pea Green, Light Rouge, Sand, Blush, Cool Grey No. 1,  Tonal Grey No. 5
• Piped Organdy Ribbon (black) by A Muse
• Ink:  Brilliance Graphite Black (heat set)
• Papier Clear Glass Finish by Plaid

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What can I say?  This mouse just CRACKS me!  I'm not even in to mice, but this li'l guy is irresistible!  This was my first bonafide attempt at shading with the grey Copics.  I have a ways to go, but, I'll never learn if I don't practice.

One thing that was very fun to do, was color in the mouse with the Sand marker, and then do the pink of his ears as an after-thought with the Blush marker.  I could never have done this with water-based markers, so I was tickled to death that I didn't have to toss the piece once I realized AFTER I'd colored him in, that I wanted his ears to be tinted! 

Lack of planning (grimace) on my part for this design, ultimately led to having to choose a standard A-2 (4.25 x 5.5") card as the base.  I didn't wanna fuss too much with embellishments, and decided that two bands of knotted ribbon would accent the project perfectly.

The finishing touch?  Papier Clear Glass Finish on the ornament, which *totally* enhances the effect of roundness and reflection!

Anyway, I think it turned out pretty good for a first attempt, and gives the feeling that the mouse is dangling from the tree in the darkness of the house on Christmas Eve--at least, that was the effect I was going for!  LOL!

Along with that sense of progress, I'm experiencing progress on learning the software for My Creative Classroom.  I swear, when it comes to things computer and technical, I often feel like I'm dumber than a box of rocks!  It's slow-going for a chick like me, but, I finally had some major mental light-bulbs last night, and I'm feeling very good, and thankful now, that I didn't give up when I reached an all-time low in self-motivation.

I'm off The Rock for the day, and that is a goodly thing I expect I will enjoy on this grey day! *chuckle*  Have a good one!

Warm Winter Wishes

Warm Winter Wishes Recipe:
All Stamp Images by Elzybells, NA
Brilliance Graphite Black Ink by Tsukineko
Copic Markers (Frost Blue, Africano, Sand, Pea Green, New Leaf, Cadmium Yellow, Light Rouge) 
4 Bar Blue Raspberry Note Card by A Muse Art Stamps
Snowflake Brad by Making Memories
Red Piped Organdy Ribbon by A Muse
Twinkle Star Sticker by A Muse
Prisma Glitter, Ultra-fine Multi
Sakura Red Glaze Pen
Sakura Quickie Glue Pen

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It felt so very WONDERFUL to stamp a card just for fun the other day, that I decided this a.m., no matter how many gazillion things I had on my to-do list, I was gonna stamp just for me, by golly, before "running off to work"!

I'll admit it:  I'm a sucker for igloos!  No clue why, but, I just adore them!  Must be from my childhood years of living in AK (Petersburg and Ketchikan), when my father was stationed at both places while serving in the USCG.  We always built igloos in the front yard in the winter time . . .  *happy sigh*

Of course, here on Whidbey, snow is more of an unusual occurrence, and it's rare that we get enough to build an actual snowman, let alone an igloo. pppppffffffffttttttttt!!!  Accursed Banana Belt! *frown*

I've pretty much come to the conclusion that Brilliance Graphite Black Pigment Ink is my personal favorite for working with Copics; I just love how crisp and deep the Graphite Black is.  I also love that after heat-setting the ink, when I go to color, the image lines do not feather out whatsoever!  While originally, I was annoyed at having to heat set pigment inks to avoid the feathering, I've just come to accept the fact that, for me, it's simply worth this ink, and that heat-setting step, to achieve this kind of result with Copics! 

LOVE IT!!!

Elzybells.  What can I say?  They stamp so crisply and beautifully!  The fine lines on these images are absolutely AWESOME to work with!  FAN-STAMP-MAGORICAL, I TELL YA' !!!

And, I just adore it when such a darling focal image can take such prominence, and all ya' need is a charming sentiment to match, a great pre-fab note card (have I mentioned how in love I am with these 4-bar notes??!!) and SHAZAAAAAM!!!  Easy cheesey, lemon squeezey!

Man, was that *ever* satisfying! *giddy*