Fun and Mental Changes

I LOVE it when I get sneak peeks and get to use new stuff that has just come out!  Today I got to hang out and watch Donna Salazar teach a class using the Zutter corrugated board, the Zutter Distrezz It All and her new Spellbinders dies (they totally freakin rock!!!).... here's the notebook I got to make with everything.  Now, I will say that making the dimensional flower on this project was a bit lengthy with more than a few layers, but I will give it to Donna, she definitely put some thought into the new die shapes and this project that she showed how to make today.  It turned out AWESOME!  Check out all this dimension!!!!  EVERYTHING is popping right off the cover!  And I am head over heals in love with the gear and butterfly dies!!!  I walked out of that class with more corrugated board to play with as well as an issue of Donna's Crafty Chronicals (photographed in the background as well as used to make the flower).  NICE!!! I am ...

Ok... quick backstory here:  I was in a discussion with a few wonderful ladies the other day regarding my memories of childhood, one of which was my LOVE for the color purple because the object of my affection at the ripe old age of 5 years old was Donny Osmond (well, until he got married...hahahahahha).  So thanks ladies... this one is for you!  Copics used to color this one:  BV000, B41, C0, C1, C2, C4, E41, E42, R20, V01, V04, V09 and YG05.  I also went in at the end and added some glitter highlights using the purple Spica pen.... LOVE THAT!!!  Both stamps used for this one are digi stamps.  The gorgeous fairy princess is Tiddly Inks, Cast Your Spell  and the sentiment is from Create With TLC . *** Sorry about the lighting on this one folks!  I was trying to get a good angle on this so that the sparkle of the Spica pen showed in the pic.  Unfortunately, I lost some of the brightness on the page that I usually look for...

Ok you guys.... I've told you all that I've labelled myself as an alcoholic because of my OBSESSION with the alcohol inks and the Copic Markers; I've also shared that I am starting a club for us alcoholics, well..... it's official.  Alcohol Inks Anonymous is underway, set to begin next month with a 12 step program to take you from beginner, to novice, to master in 12 easy steps.  While this is geared for Copic marker lovers... we will delve into EVERYTHING alcohol inks!   I'm perfecting the curriculum now and have already set up our "meetings" to take place (ironically) Fridays at Happy Hour!  DON'T LAUGH!!!  Ok, you can laugh... since our meetings will be held at a vineyard... Paper Vineyard that is!  I think it's hysterical that there is a whole "alcohol" theme that is just sort of happening all on it's own!  LOL!  But we are making the distinction that this meeting is Alcohol Inks Anonymous as we don't want anyone to mistaken...

Oh yah... it's been a while folks.  Ever since my niece went into the hospital, I relapsed into a nail biter.  Something I haven't done for MANY years.  Thankfully, a new friend was so wonderful enough to take me to get my nails done.  "Hi there nail art... I missed you old friend!"  And thank you Corrine, I appreciate you new friend!!! So, a while ago I discovered (on my beloved polish blogs) the AWESOME Shatter polish by OPI and immediately snagged me some.  But my nails were in such atrocious condition, I didn't really have the palette to show you how great this is.  NOW I do!  DRUMROLL PLEASE..... Is this AMAZING?!?!  I simply did a Color Club Laser Pink base and allowed to dry completely.  After it was dry, I did ONE COAT of the OPI Shatter about an hour before I went to bed.  It turned out GREAT!!!  I can't wait to do this one again with a yellow base!  I might have to just break down and buy me another...

For those of you who know me, you know that I got a new Copic Airbrush system about two weeks ago.  I really HAVE been playing a lot with it, so just about every project I've been turning out over the past two weeks has included me "practicing" with this airbrush!!!  This project that I submitted yesterday for the Burtonesque Dolls is no different.  Since the challenge this week is a red and black color challenge with no theme or sponsor requirements, I decided to pull out my Cricut to create a stencil... and the Indie Art solutions cartridge worked out just nicely!  I then went back through and line-drew the interior of the dragon with my Copic liner pen and finished this awesome dragon off with red Glitter Ritz for the eyes.  Breathe Fire baby!!!  I LOVE the Airbrush system... I can't imagine it without and ability for continuous use that I get from having the Windstorm air compressor.  So, I guess an honorable mention goes out to my wonder...

Ok, so I've been up all night working on this!  How sick am I???  I just didn't want to leave this one unfinished.  As a matter of a fact, I think this album is going to be devoted to just all my favorite images.  So I'm thinking that I will simply color my favorites and devote a page in this book of "stuff".  I've even got this INSANE picture in my head of covering one of the pages collage style with Snapple labels (i.e. The Good Stuff... you're welcome for the free advertising Snapple) as a backdrop to one of my favies and then altering one of the caps "Tim Holtz" style.  heeheehee!  We'll see.  This one is going to be a work in progress since there's five pages to complete front and back.  Anyway, it's going on 1 AM, time to hit the hay!

Ok, so today over at Paper Vineyard we are featuring projects using metal/charms.... well, I MADE a metal charm/tag to use on future projects using Elizabeth Craft Peel Off stickers with gel pens (water color brush to blend) and the Bow Easy to tie the UBER TINY bow.  But as SUPER CUTE as this tag is, my favorite part of this project isn't the project at all.  Instead, it's the Tonic Studio Glass Cutting Mat that is behind this fun project!!!!  In case you can't tell, the part on the mat that I'm showing in this pic is actually a degree grid... how freakin handy is that?!?  I've found that the glass surface is PERFECT for stamping (thanx to the rubber feet on the bottom), cleaning up alcohol ink and glue after completing a project and just a great solid surface for just about anything that I'm working on (Copic Markers are "inferred" here... hahahhahahaha).  Yep... I'm loving this new little toy fo sho!  Click HERE to check out what the rest of...

So, I am COMPLETELY GAGA for these Sugar Nellie Stamps!  This particular stamp is my favorite from the bunch!  It's called Fairytale and I just keep staring at it.  I haven't quite figured out what to do with this just yet, or even decided if it is done or not... I'm thinking not.... but I wanted to share it with a link to where you can find these INCREDIBLE stamps!!!  Click HERE to get your hands on my new favorites!!! I'm thinkin this one needs stitching... LOTS of stitching... perhaps on a card?  Before I go though (just for you Krista... cuz I love ya!), let me include the colors I used to color this so you can play on your own: B26, B41, B45, BG01, E00, E02, E19, E21, E41, E57, E59, R83, R85, W1, W3, Y13, Y26.  For my U.S. friends who want to order these stamps, I just bought two a couple of days ago and paid about $23 (with shipping) for two stamps.... worth EVERY penny!!!  I can't wait till they arrive!!!

So I've decided to start up a little Copic club to support all my fellow alcohol ink addicts!!!  I'm calling it Alcoholics Anonymous... perfect huh???  Welp, I have developed a 12-step program to support your habits, walking you through learning the basics all the way to perfecting your Copic techniques and creating WONDERFUL Copic projects. Preliminary sign up is open all through March, and our schedule will be set up based on interest... so be sure to call right away to sign up to let the healing begin!  hahahahahhahaha!  To sign up, call 480-656-2058.  All we need is your name, contact information and the day that works best for you.  Once we've compiled the list, we will schedule accordingly.  Also, during the March Copic Palooza at Paper Vineyard, a sign up sheet will also be available, so if you are planning on attending the Copic Palooza in March, you can just sign up then! :)  Speaking of the March Copic Palooza.... check out March'...

Ok, so this week's challenge over at Make It Colourful is to create an original project featuring smooth gradients.  Guess what...... I just discovered that I see the world in ultra high contrast, so this one was oh-so-tough for me. I worked VERY hard on this project to really blend and keep lines smooth.... yah, REALLY tough!  But overall, I'm pretty proud of this one!!!!  I used WAY MORE Copic markers than I'm used to and in more consecutive sequencing than I typically do... no jumping four and five shades, well, not too much... OK, I DID A LOT OF JUMPING, hahahahahhaha!   WHAT!?!  I told you it was tough!!! So here we go:  Stamps I used were Summer Fairy from The Greeting Farm and Make It Crafty's Forest Flower .  The Copic markers I used were:  E35, E40, E41, E42, E43, E44, E49, E50, E51, R46, Y0000, Y26, YG03, YG63, YG93, YG97, YR12, YR14, YR15, W00, W0,W3, W5 Welp, that about does it fo...

Ok, so this past weekend, Els with Elizabeth Craft Designs paid Paper Vineyard a visit and her visit SURPASSED EVERYTHING I expected.  Not only did we play with the tape/sticker/glitter/Copics, but we also learned how to apply masks to the tape and burnish glitter to it to create patterns..... LIKE THE AWESOME-NESS ABOVE!!!!  Yes, it's worth all caps!  That's how incredible this weekend with Els was.  Aside from her unbelievably charming accent and her ENDLESS compliments to all her students, this woman knew her products rocked and knew just how to demo them.  I spent her entire visit transfixed by the glitter, the stickers and the gel pens (usually with a shocked expression, my mouth gaping open and my eyes bulging out of my head)... I was beyond "wow'd"!  Needless to say, I bought  A LOT!  So guess what you all can expect over the next week or two - LIKE I REALLY NEEDED ANOTHER OBSESSION!!!   The fact that it also included ...

So sorry about missing the mark on this one gang!  I was supposed to post my project for Make It Colourful yesterday, but I'm getting over being sick on top of a HECTIC and EXCITING work week and then was invited to breakfast yesterday to find out that MY SON GOT ENGAGED!!!!  Yeah, it's been quite the eventful couple of weeks!  So I'm posting my project this morning since.... I start the Master Cleanse today and quite frankly could use a little diversion!  LOL! So this project features this week's sponsor over at Make It Colourful , Whimsy Stamps.  The stamps I used are Whimsy stamp, Girl With Kitty and Make It Crafty's Crooked Picket Fence .  The background coloring is actually from a "doodle" page that I was doing while practicing with my new Copic airbrush system.  I ended up printing out the Crooked Fence over top of it and coloring in the fence to finalize it.  I think the background really turned out great and created it's ow...

So this weekend at Paper Vineyard in Chandler, AZ the craft world is getting together to hang out with Els of Elizabeth Crafts!!!  There are some pretty awesome projects planned THIS WHOLE WEEKEND!!!  Projects featuring Gel Pens and Glitter.... ah, the beloved glitter.  But it's ALSO rumored that a particular (and oh-so-popular) demonstration is going to take place: Els will be demoing the special outline stickers on tape WITH the glitter and.... wait for it, wait for it..... Copics!!!!  To see more of what I'm talking about, click HERE !!!  A special thanx to Inspiration Blooms for displaying all the pics from Elizabeth Crafts booth at CHA this year ( the pic posted above included ) on her blog!!!  So yah, I'm an alcohol ink addict.  I don't need to remind all of you about my alcoholism.  I might just go ahead and form a support group for my addiction.  Anyone interested in joining me?  Please know, that when I say "sup...

This is my second post of the day.  Scroll down to see Alcoholic . So after missing the last two challenges over at The Burtonesque Dolls, I jumped back in with a REALLY fun challenge!  So this week's challenge is to create an original project inspired by or featuring Pee Wee's Big Adventure.   This one was SOOOO up my alley!!!  So, it has been a while since I've seen Pee Wee's Big Adventure, but there were two things that INSTANTLY came to mind when I read the title of this challenge:  1) "I know you are, but what am I?"  2) Color, color and more color!  I also VAGUELY remembered the design on Pee Wee's bike, so I had to double check before committing entirely to this totally crazy project.  Yep, I gotta say I love it!  To see what the other Dolls turned out for this incredible challenge, and to get the deets to enter this week's challenge, click HERE . That's it for this quick post.  I'll have to make up for it later this ...

The Paper Vineyard's design team is featuring Valentine's Day themed projects and since I just got my Copic Airbrush system (including the AC101 Air Compressor... YEE!), OF COURSE I had to pull it out for this one.  So I used a Cuttlebug and a Cuttlebug embossing folder to create the heart emboss on both the Coredinations paper AND the tin foil I snagged from my kitchen.  I then sanded the Coredinations paper to reveal the pink core of the paper and make the hearts pop.  I also applied Ranger Alcohol inks to the foil... What is it about the alcohol inks???  I'm thinking I might be becoming an alcoholic!  Anyway, I finally pulled out my Copic pens (yes, more alcohol) and my airbrush system to make my flowers match the other elements of my project.  I've been going sooooo crazy with this new toy, I was half tempted to graffiti my living room wall before my husband got home the day I got it.  I can't wait for Paper Vineyard's airbrush system to fina...

WHOOPS!  Can't forget the winner of the Birthday/Bloggerversary Blog Hop blog candy... say THAT three times fast!  LOL!  So the winner, chosen by random.org is.... Ashley!!! Ashley said... I love this cute bouquet. I love all the red!! Ashley ScrappinAsh at gmail dot com Congrats Ashley!!!  I will kick you off an email in the morning.  Thank you to EVERYONE who participated in our blog hop and thank you for all the wonderful comments you all left.

WOO HOO!!!  Another blog hop!  I love these blog hops... filled with prizes, fun projects to see and a TON to learn.  This one is NO exception!  By now you should be arriving from Holly's AWESOME creation.  If you are just joining us, you will want to start our hop from the beginning ( HERE ) so you don't miss any of the blog hop goodness.  The blog candy up for grabs on this blog is TWO of the Skull Flower suckers like the one's pictured in Nicole's arrangement.  Just leave a comment on this post between now and the 7th for your chance to win.  I will pick the winner the evening of the 7th when the hop is over and post it on my blog.  Good luck everyone. So my holiday themed birthday project is... you guessed it... Valentines.  And I made this for our birthday girl/co-blog organizer Nicole, The Canadian Nickel.  Happy Birthday Nicole!!!  And thank you to my friend Barb for inspiring this blog hop project.  I used lots of...

Well, over at Paper Vineyard today I posted a tutorial about creating a leather look on your cardstock.  I featured a card that I made quite some time ago and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to revisit this one.  It features a chalk colored Stampin Up stamp from the Provencal stamp set (retired, sorry) and yes, I colored it with chalks.  Believe it or not, there ARE other mediums besides Copic markers although if you've kept up with my blog for the past year, you wouldn't think so.... me being addicted to Copics and all... hahahahahaha!  But I ADORE this stamp set, so if there is a way you can get your hands on this one, you will thank me!!!   Anyway, the spotlight today is on creating that super fun leather-like background. Ok, so the background of this card started out as just a plain piece of off-white cardstock. I then dabbed a few drops of three different colors of Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Inks in warm colors mixed with a few drops o...