Some Odd Girl Monthly Challenge

Buonasera!

I'm practicing my Italian (courtesy of Babelfish) because in 7 months and 6 days I'll be leaving on a jet plane to go to Tuscany on vacation. I can hardly wait! I'm all wiggly with excitement. To work off some of that energy I made a card for the Some Odd Girl monthly challenge

I colored Unicorn Mae using a new skin combination   E52, 53, 55, 57.  I wanted a dusky, horsey centaur-esque (even though she is a unicorn) look to the image.  I really like how it turned out

For her hair I used B41 and C3, 5, 7, 9, and 100.  Her clothes were in the BGs (dusky ones again keeping with the theme): 72, 75, 78.

For her legs I used W1, 3, 5, 7 and BG000 to give her a little bluish hint (since that also was an emerging theme :) )

For the paper I used Cosmo Crickets Salt Air designer deck, kraft, and Ocean Tides (PTI). The sentiment was from Fillable Frames #8 stamped in Real Red. The button is from SU! and the banner was cut using the Fishtail Stax and Layers from MFT

Thanks for stopping!

2 year, 2 month and 2 day anniversary

My good friend Rachel got married on 10/10/10.  I made peacock themed invitations and other paper goods for the wedding.  Last year on Rachel and Mike's 1 year, 1 month and 1 day anniversary (11/11/11) I made this card

This year on 12/12/12 they will get this card for their 2 year, 2 month and 2 day anniversary

and then I'm out (Now if there was a 13th month I'd continue this little trend, but 1/13/13 just doesn't have the coolness factor :))

I used the November Sketch For You To Try with vintage damask paper from The Paper Studio (Poetic Postcards pack), Ocean tides and White card stock (PTI) and Peacock Kaylee from SoG

I knew the first time I saw this digi that I wanted to make an anniversary card with it.  I was more than a little intimidated by the coloring but asked for some tips from my Created From Color Basic Coloring class instructor who dazzled me with her release day project.  She sent me the copic list and after completing the class I didn't feel quite so intimidated anymore.

Copics used (via Melissa Andrew)
outfit:  BG70, BG72, BG75, BG78 and E40, E41, E42, E44, E49 and a bit of BG90, BG93, BG96, BG99
skin: E000, E00, E11 
lips and cheeks: R20

For the lace I used a bit of C6 various ink refill and custom dyed some white lace.  I actually got a big stash of lace (some hand-crocheted) from Rachel after her grandmother passed away a few years ago.  I love using that bit of nostalgia on cards for her.  

Thanks for stopping!

OWH - Vintage Celebration

Working on the pile of birthday cards I need to make this time of year.  I thought I'd use one of my new vintage era Some Odd Girl digis to start off the collection

Since its vintage era I thought I'd go black and white (mostly)

I used the Argyle embossing folder to give some texture to the background.  The pattern paper is from a black/white pack I got a couple of weeks ago.  The sentiment is from  Birthday Bash Sentiments stamped in Real Red

I printed  the digi imag at full sized (8.5 " tall) and just colored the headband and feather and placed it in the corner as the sketch embellishment.

For Flapper Kaylee I used all the Cs (C0 through C10) and R24, 27, 29, and 59

Thanks for stopping!

October Means Pink

October means pink - pink ribbons, pink everything if you can handle it.  Pink in support of breast cancer awareness.  Breast cancer has had a small impact in my life (2 cousins) but I know people who have been through hell because if it (or are still going through it).  Even though life's been crazy I didn't want October to end without a pink card specifically for this.  I used my new Support Hope dies and stamps from MFT  and the Flutterby Wednesday sketch for this card

 Of all the sets I see in support of Pink October, the Fight Like A Girl sentiment always stands out to me.  Its a fight alright and you can never give up.  I also used my new bow making die from MFT.  Its super simple and makes such fantastic bows out of paper (I suck at ribbon tying so paper is a much better option for me :))

 To incorporate the butterfly for FBW I replaced the little bow decoration on the Support Hope bra.  Seemed like a good spot for one

Thanks for stopping!

Color scheme: Basic Gray, Pretty In Pink, White

Sketch Saturday

Today is Sketch Saturday and as always they have a fantastic sketch.  I was feeling a little grungy vintage thanks for my score at Hobby Lobby (paper packs 50% off) so here's what I made

The patterned paper is from The Paper Studio (Tattered and Worn and  Poetic Postcards collections).  The focal image is from Precious Butterflies (SU!).  The "friend" sentiment and grunged stamps are from PTI ( Grunge Me and Framed)

That cute embossed edge is from SU! a new product (to me anyway) to emboss edges.

Thanks for stopping!

Flutter By Wednesday

Hi ho - I'm going to make this a quick post tonight because my little sore throat and cough that was almost gone blossomed into a full blown head cold over night ... I hate colds :(

So for this week's FBW we were challenged to use Kraft in our project.  I had a couple of ideas but decided on a kraft backdrop for my fave bold color combo

I used SU!'s crumb Cake for the card base and focal layer base.  The rest is Early Espresso (SU!) and Rasperry Fizz Pattern Pack (PTI).

For the focal layer I used Daring Adventure from SU!.  I loved the sentiment in the set (which is the main reason I bought it) and for various reasons I need to think "daring adventure" right now.  The butterflies are from PTIs Beautiful Butterflies

See - short, sweet!

Thanks for stopping!

Yes Olie this is for Stamp Camp

I usually have a stamp camp once a month for friends at work.  Because of some re organization at work September's camp was non-existent.  October's wasn't looking likely either until one of the gals who stamps stopped by my office and asked "Are we going to have a stampy day?"  How could I resist that?

It might be light on content but we will have stampy day in October :)  Here is one of the cards we'll make (using the bonus sketch from yesterday's OWH  Sunday Sketch)

I used my PTI Tree Tops set to make the tree and colored in the circles with various fall colored Copics.  The sentiment is from Round & Round (PTI anniversary set).  The background is splattered using Itty Bitty Backgrounds form SU!

Color scheme is Cajun Craze, Basic Black, More Mustard, Riding Hood Red, Cherry Cobbler and Bravo Burgundy

Thanks for stopping!

Inspired by ...

The last CPS sketch ever and a gorgeous print I saw at church today.

The actual challenge this time was to use your favorite sketch,  I really liked the one Tami showcased on the CPS blog so I went with it.

One of the ladies at church today had on a beautiful bold graphic print in royal blue, white and black.  The first thing I thought was "Gorgeous" the second was "I can recreate that in paper" :).

After several attempts at inking up my embossing folder I settled for just embossing Divine Swirls on white CS and coloring in the pattern with a black Copic multi-liner.  I colored part of the pattern in using B19.  That's how the dress was - just patches in the pattern were filled in.

I used a butterfly stamp from SU (Butterfly Patterns) on the focal image stamped in Melon Mambo so it would pop off the bright blue.  Added some blingie rhinestones for heads on the little guys for some extra sparkle.

For the sentiment I used Thanks All Ways (PTI) and colored in the outline letters with RV19 - again to make it really pop.

Thanks to Tami for all the sketches you done.  You have truly helped me progress as a card designer and I appreciate all the work you've done over the years.

Thanks to Michelle for your incredible fashion sense.

Thanks to you, the reader, for taking time to stop by and read all the way to the bottom!

Fly Away

Today was chilly and gray ...you can tell fall is here and winter isn't far behind.  Since its WCMD, I decided to make a fallish card using the October SFYTT

 I used Leaf Prints (PTI) and lots of fall colors (Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler  Tangerine Tango, Crumb Cake and Cajun Craze - all SU) for the leaves and splatters

The focal image is Fly Away fairy from SoG.  I glittered up the dandelion fluff for the FBW challenge this week.

Copic deets:
Fluff: Co, C2
Stem: YG95, YG97, YG99
Skin: E000, E00, E11, E13, R81, R83, R85, BV20
Hair: E08, E19, E29, E59, (headband) YR65, YR18
Clothes/Wings: YR18, YR15, YR12,

Thanks for stopping!

I wanna be a Some Odd Girl Guest Designer!!

Hey again ... Kristy over at SoG has made a call for both Design Team members and guest designers   The entrance criteria for the Guest Designer contest ... make a blog saying why you'd make a great Guest Designer and post your 3 most favoritest SoG projects.

I think I'd make a great Guest Designer because I'm already Odd ...

How am I Odd, let me count the ways
- I'm and engineer and a girl ...proof positive right there
- I truly believe dropping Lord Of The Rings quotes into an conversation takes a day from ordinary to awesome
- Ditto Star Trek ( or Stargate, Galactica, or Big Bang Theory)

But seriously, I LOVE Some Odd Girl stamps and would treasure the opportunity to be able to showcase their awesomeness.

Here are my favoritest projects that I've made so far:

First my Nouveau Girl - Fan (original post with all the deets)

I ADORE this card.  The image just made me think all art deco and the background stamps and punch just added to the theme.  The black and white coloring was an experiment for me but I got to practice a lot of what I learned in my Copic Basic Coloring class.

Next up are two of my newest creations

Snowball Tia's Warm Winter Wishes (original post)

This one turned out so bright and fresh.  I just love all the blues!

and finally
Kimono Kaylee Calms The College Girls (original post)

 which will most likely end up in a Mid Term Survival kit heading to one our state universities :)

So those are my projects and my plea.

Thanks for stopping !!

CPS Sketch - Clean and Simple

Hiya -  I've decided I need to spend  more time to crafting and less time worrying about things I have no control over ... thus the many posts already this month :)

I used the CPS sketch and my new Kimono Kaylee for this card ... check it

I used my old stand by Kanji (SU! retired) to execute the basics of the sketch.  I love the sentiments and this card could be used for just about anything - midterm calm down for college girls or maybe something else ;)

  

Then I colored up my new Kaylee digi .  I thought I'd practice some more on blending reds and I really like how the kimono turned out.  I'm trying to focus on really accentuating the folds and pleats like on the sleeve.  Still some work to do there but I like my progress :D

Copic Deets:

Hair: Y21, YR23, YR24, E35, E37, R59(hair tie), E57, E59 (chopsticks)

Skin: E000, E00, E11, E13, R81, R85

Eyes: BG05, BG07

Clothes: C00, C0, C1 (socks), N04, N06, N08, N10 (sandals), R59, R29, R27, R24, R22 RV10, RV13, RV14 (kimono)

Thanks for stopping!!

October SoG Challenge

Some Odd Girl posted their October challenge yesterday - another sketch challenge!  Yay!  I love sketch challenges the best.

Since its starting to cool off here in the Midwest especially at night I thought I'd get a jump on wintry cards.  I used my newly purchased Snowball Tia from SoG and a few other crafty items in my rather messy craft room to come up with this card:

The snowflake is Damask Snowflakes die from PTI.  The hounds tooth is the BB: Hounds Tooth smaller pattern also from PTI.  The color scheme is white and Marina Mist (SU!).  I spritzed the snowflake with Vanilla Shimmer, Silver and Blue smooch spritz (SU!) to give it some sparkle.

The sentiment is from Winter Friends (SoG) and I stamped it on the smaller of the Double Banner die cut (PTI).  I hand cut the banner layer.

Copic Deets:
Hair: E08, E19, E37, E39
Skin: E000, E00, E11, E13, R81
Eyes: G07, G09
Coat/Hat: B95, B97, B99
Scarf: R22, R24, R27, R29, R59

Mittens: E41, E42, E44
Pants: W1, W3, W7, W9, 100
Boots: E51, E53 (trim) and E55, E57, E59

Thanks for stopping!!

A Pirate's Life For Me

The team that I have managed for the last year is breaking up this week.  Our department is reorganizing and as such we are getting "re-aligned".  We've known its been coming for several months and this Friday its finally here.

Our "mascot" is a cardboard golden retriever named Bud - taken by our manager at the time from a grocery store beer display and our M.O. is pirates:)  In honor of the men and women I have been proud to work with I give you ... a pirate card

I used the CPS sketch this week for the layout, my Pirate Kaylee for the focal image and a couple of "not specifically pirate but re purposed" stamps sets to make the rest of the card.

The jolly roger I found on the internet and printed off on white card stock.  I extended the black area of the flag using MS Draw

I also did a super quick coloring job on Ms. Pirate.  I wanted to have some shading and light source but didn't want to spend all day on it (since shhh ... I have to mass produce these)

Thanks for stopping!

Some Odd Girl Facebook Fun Day: Fabric Challenge

Hello everyone.  I find myself today "trapped" in another all day stamping event Darn it all ;)  I probably won;t be able to play all day as I have some monster cookies to make before 5 PM, but I at least get to play along with the first challenge with is stmap (or print digis) on fabric and color them.

I played Russian roulette with my printer for this challenge.  The directions were to use a fabric glue but I didn't have any so I used a glue stick and some vellum and prayed ... a lot!  I got a lot of smudged images but a couple that were good to work with (and my printer survived the game!)

And with Talk Like A Pirate Day 2012 a fading memory I thought Prate Kaylee was the perfect image.

I used the other images I printed to practice before I used one of my good prints.  After working for the last 7 weeks on blending in my Copic class it was hard to work on fabric because the method is SO much different.  I ended up stippling the contrast colors very carefully and watching the spread before doing the next dot.  It turned out OK I think except for the feather (garn!)  I decided I wanted a bluish background to ground the whole image and I got a little too close to the feather with my BG000

Here are the Copic deets:

Clothes/Shadow: C0,C1,C2,C4,C6,C8

Feather/Cheeks: R27, R29, R59, R81

Hair/Treasure Chest: E77, E74, E71

Brass hardware: Y35, Y32, Y38 

Eyes: B34, B97

Sky background: BG000

Thanks for stopping!!!!

Saturated Canary -Bbbbb's

This week's SC challenge is to use your Bs ... you must use at least 2 things in your project that start with B.  My Bs are Brown, Blue (eyes), Blonde (hair), Buttons, Bow and Bajamas (cuz that's how we say it at my house :D )

I paired the SC B challenge with this week's CS sketch (barely in under the wire) and made this:

I used the Pack Lightly image from SC for the focal and Road Trip (PTI) for the sentiment.  TO add some texture I used the lattice embossing folder (SU!).  I tried a new skin color combo.  I like how it turned out ... kind of a healthy tan look (hopefully not TOO Jersey Shore )

Copic Deets:

R27, 29, 30, 32, 35, 37, 81, 83, 85

Y21, 26

YR24

E51, 53, 55, 57

C0, 1, 2

W1, 3, 5, 7

100

B91, 34, 97, 41, 45, 37

Thanks for stopping!

FBW - Favorite Color

Today's Flutter By Wednesday Challenge was to use your favorite color in the project ... hmmmm ... no question there - RED

I used the Pure Poppy pattern pack for the dotted paper and Pure Poppy dotted Swiss ribbon for the embellishment.  The best color combo to pair with red is of course black and white (my high school colors, my oldest daughter's high school colors ... just the best that's all!)

I printed off Giggle Fairy from SoG and colored her all up in red too. I printed the sentiment in red (I really believe I have a stamp set somewhere with this sentiment but could I find it ... NO)

Thanks for stopping!!

Another Some Odd Girl Sketch card

So I had in my head "art deco" .  Why you ask?  No idea would be my response.  I saw a speed coloring B/W image on Kristy Dalman's blog and somehow came up with art deco -  I can't explain it any better than that.

I used the SoG September Sketch again and  made the base and stamped most everything before I left on vacation for the weekend to attend a friend's wedding.  During the down time I while I was gone (most of the weekend) I colored this with N0 through N10

When I got home I finished up the card

The set is called Nouveau Girls -Fan from SoG and its one of the few clear sets I have from that company (most of the images I have are digis).  I also got that awesome new border bunch from Michael's (its from EK Success)

The modern background was stamped using PTIs BB:Rainbows in Basic Gray and Basic Black (SU!).  Card stock is Smokey Shadow (PTI) and Basic Gray (SU) with a little black and white thrown in for good measure.  In all the hullabaloo, I forgot to write down the colors I used for the eyes ... something in the BG family.  So sorry about that!

Thanks for stopping!

A new challenge and a newer challenge

Soooo ... the last few weeks I've been participating in the FBW challenge.  This week I found out about the Saturated Canary challenge blog ... SC being one of my new faves for digi stamps (along with TI and SoG ... so many digis so little time)

And since the dog got me up at 0:dark:30 due to some serious thunderstorms rolling through, I had PLENTY of time to craft (even though I'm on vacation and have plenty of time to craft anyway.  She's a good dog like that - always thinking of her humans :))

So I made a dotty background on the birthday card ,,, I've got your butterflies, your SC image  and pink every where ... this card HAS to go to Katie-bird

The color scheme is Regal Rose (SU!) and Raspberry Fizz (PTI).  I used the Raspberry Fizz pattern pack for the stripes and stamped Polka Dot Basics (PTI) in Raspberry Fizz on white card stock. I die cut a scalloped rectangle and cut out the center with a standard rectangle to make the frame.  I saw a few DT samples on the SC challenge that mounted a frame slightly askew and I liked that look so tried it out here.

The sentiment is from Birthday Basics (PTI) and is stamped in Raspberry Fizz ink on Regal Rose card stock.  I finished the sentiment banner off with some half back pearls.

For my image I used Butterfly Princess from SC.   I tried a new Copic skin combo on this one (E51, E53, E55) I REALLY like how it turned out.  Not all pale and such.  I like the pale look but like this one too.  Took a little practice to get the shading and highlights just right (I practiced on a scrap image from my Copic class first)

Copic Deets:
Hair: W1, W3, W5, W7, E57, E55, E53
Skin: E55, E53, E51
Eyes: BG99, G28, G24
Lips: R59, R29, R24
Dress: RV04, RV10, RV13, RV14, RV17, RV19
Butterflies: V91, V93, V95
Background/Shadow: C1, C4, BG000

Thanks for stopping!

CPS Goth Skull Cupcake

Um - yes ... you read that right.  Its a CPS sketch with Pinky ... who I tried to make Goth but ended up with Pink and Black  But there is a skull cupcake so that should count for something :)

For colors I used Basic Black, Regal Rose (both SU!) and Raspberry Fizz (PTI).  Stamps are Pinky (digi from TI) Fancy Flourishes, BB:Hounds Tooth, BB:Herringbone and Tiny Tags (PTI)

I tried a Black hair tut that I found on The Odd Girl blog

Copic deets:
Hair: B34, C6, C8, 100
Skin: E0000, E000, E00, E11
Cupcake: RV10, RV13, RV14
Dress: RV04, RV17, RV19,

Geeky Mae - Just for fun

So I've been spending A LOT of time in my basement lately ... another one of those pesky 9 day weekends for me :)  I colored Mae last night (in triplicate) and stopped short of a card because while I know who these are going to I was too tired to come up with a layout.

Here's what I ended up with this afternoon:

I used my niece's school colors (Go Hawks)  and colored similar to her hair and eye color.  For the black pearls I colored self-adhesive half back pearls with Copic Sketch 100.

I didn't use a ton of Copics on this one either.  Here are the deets:
Eyes/Hair: E57, E55, E53
Skin: E13, E11, E00, E000, E0000
Shirt: YR23, YR24, Y21
Skirt: C8, C6, 100

For the green version (shown below - for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame) I used BG99, G28, G24

And the blondie girls' hair is Y21,  Y26, YR24

Thanks for stopping!