You're Too Kind and Another Faboo Sale!

Hello!

I'm sorry for being late with this . . . just had a hard time getting moving this morning for some reason. This weather really makes me feel sluggish. Today's card is made with another beautiful Stamps Happen stamp that I received from JanLynn called Sprinkling Can. Isn't it soooo pretty? It reminds of the gorgeous bouquets that my friend, Joni, used to bring me from her garden. She had the most amazing perennial garden that you've ever seen, and she was always so willing to share the fruits of her labor. Apparently it's alot of work to keep up a perennial garden, because she no longer has one . . . I sure miss those days.

Back to the card . . . I stamped the image using Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and colored it with my Copics. Then I cut it out using my square classic nestabilities. I kind of like how some of the blooms extend beyond the embossed edge of the nestie square, don't you? I first saw this technique on Debbie Olson's blog, and have been working towards perfecting it ever since. This JanLynn image was perfect for more practice. I then used my Quickie Glue Pen and some Dazzling Diamonds to bling up the flowers a bit, giving them a bit of a morning dew glisten. Fun, huh? I have two more similar images (THIS ONE and THIS ONE) that I can't wait to create with.









STAMPS: Sprinkling Can (JanLynn), Mixed Messages (PTI)
INK: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
PAPER: Kraft CS (PTI), White CS (Neenah), Certainly Celery CS, Bashful Blue CS, Melissa Francis DP
ACCESSORIES: Certainly Celery 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Spring Rain Gingham Ribbon (PTI), Stampin Dimensionals, Copic Markers, Quickie Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Square Classic and Scalloped Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Glue Dots, Scrapper's Floss (Karen Foster)

Coincidentally, JanLynn has a Christmas In July Sale going on that you're NOT going to want to miss! They've got holiday rubber stamps, cross-stitch kits, and those darling quilted tote bags that I've had my eye on for a while now. Check it out and get a head-start on your Christmas crafting!! It only lasts until July 14th, so you'd better hurry!!

Thanks for stopping by! Please come back tomorrow for another exciting Shirley's 2 Girls Twisted Thursday sketch challenge - we've got some more Christmas In July yumminess to share with you all!

Bad Friend!!!

I messed up big time!! I forgot my friend Erin's birthday yesterday, and now I'm just so mad at myself!!! I have a history of being bad about birthdays . . . mostly because I just don't care about my own, so I think I project my distaste for birthdays onto everyone else. It took me 50 years to realize that recognizing and remembering someone's birthday is important, if anything but to let your friends know that you're thinking of them. So, I had been doing better about remembering that . . . until yesterday. Ugh!! Of course, Erin was really sweet about it - I would expect nothing less from her. But I mean, what could she say - "Yeah, Karolyn, you SUCK as a friend for forgetting my birthday!!" That's what she should have said . . . but she didn't. So, I'm doing my best to make it up to her. I hope she'll forgive my horrible character flaws when she sees her birthday card.

Isn't she cute?!! This image is one of my new craft stamps from Janlynn Corp. called Floating Softly. She's illustrated by Frances Mahon, whose images I was introduced to by my friend, Terri. They're BIG stamps, which is always a struggle for me. I wanted to showcase the main portion of the image, so I did sort of a modified Spotlight Technique by stamping the entire stamp on the main lavendar panel, then stamping it again on white cardstock, coloring it, and cutting it out with my Rectangle Nestabilities to focus on the main portion of the image. Cute, huh? I just love these darling little fairies - I have three more that I plan to use for more cute fun in the future!

I colored her with my new Lyra pencils and Gamsol. I've recently been studying a couple of designers (Paula Tracy - Paper Possibilities and Linda Heavens - Heavens Created This) that are just amazing with these Lyra pencils. I love the look of the Gamsol/pencil technique, but have always struggled with it myself. Paula and Linda seriously just ROCK this technique, so I figured if I purchased the exact same products that they use, that my coloring would be miraculously transformed!! Uhhhh . . . no. It didn't exactly work out like that. But I really like these Lyra pencils, and plan to continue to work with them. I'll also continue to study Paula and Linda's designs . . . and hope that my coloring begins to improve.

Stamps: Floating Softly (Stamps Happen)
Paper: Grapesicle CS (Poptone), Green Apple CS (Poptone), Blu Raspberry CS (Poptone), White CS (Neenah)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Sweet Plum (Memento)
Accessories: Lyra colored pencils, Gamsol, Stampin Dimensionals, Rectangle Classic Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, 5/8" Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (American Crafts), Button (Doodlebug), Scrapper's Floss (Karen Foster), Quickie Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Shimmery Chalk (Pebbles)

Thanks for stopping by!