colorwhimsy

Hoppy Easter

Can you believe that it is already time for Easter?  How did that happen?  I decided I was running out of time to post a card using the Memory Box Spring Fling clear set.  It is loaded with all kinds of cute bunnies and eggs, and I just love it!

I am also continuing with my graph paper card series.  I just can't seem to get enough of it.  I stamped the bunny onto white paper, colored him with Copic markers, and then layered him onto some graph paper.  The butterflies were stamped directly onto some patterned paper from the Butterfield collection so that the lines would show through the Copic markers. 

I really enjoy using this particular background paper from the Butterfield collection.  It is fun to stamp different animals and then place them on the grass in front of the sun rays.  The paper does most of the coloring on the card for you.  Nice!

Happy Spring

I think if you look at my last post, you will notice that I seem to be going through a graph paper phase.  I believe it is my new favorite pattern to use!  For this card, I stamped the eclipse tree onto some paper from the Butterfield collection and cut out the trunk from the graph paper.  For the "leaves" of the tree, I stamped the tree onto the green paper from the same background paper you see on this card.  The only problem with using that green paper was that it blended too well with the hills.  To make the tree stand out better, I colored over the edges of he green paper with an olive colored pencil.  To finish the card, I added a bunch of pistachio colored rhinestones to catch the light.

I would also like to thank everyone for submitting cards for my $100 Memory Box Bucks contest. The cards are wonderful!  I origionally said the winner would be posted on the 6th, but it now looks like it will be the 7th or 8th.  I am sorry for the delay!

Hear the News

I have a horrible feeling that I am becoming whiny about missing my digital camera.  However, I am a little disappointed with the results of my step-by-step coloring examples for this project.  The lines look really harsh and don't seem to show how to blend color pencils very well.  I think you will be able to get the idea though.  For today's card I paired the flutter chick (B1250) and hear the news (B1246) stamps together with paper from the Butterfield collection.  All the coloring was done with Prismacolor pencils.

First I stamped my bird onto some of the "graph" paper of the Butterfield collection using black VersaFine ink.  I thought it would be interesting to have some of the lines showing through the bird.

Second, I colored the center of the bird as well as the tops of the wings with a canary yellow pencil.  Can you tell from the picture that I pressed really hard at the center of the belly with my pencil and lightened my touch as I moved away from the center?  I wanted the middle of my bird to be a dark yellow and the edges to be a lighter shade that would be easier to blend into the surrounding brown.

Next, I added some sandbar brown to my bird.  I pressed really hard at the bottom of the bird and each wing and then lightened my touch as I moved up towards the head.

Finally, I used small circles and colored over the entire image with a peach beige pencil to blend all of the colors together.  I lost some of the details of the bird doing this (such as the eyes), so I went back with a fine-tip black marker and drew them back in.

To finish the card, I punched out the bird image with a 1 1/4" circle punch and layered the bird and saying onto the card using some dill cardstock as a mat.

Sunshine Panda

It has been a while since I posted a panda card, so I thought it was time for another one!  For today's card, I stamped the Sunny Panda (C1212) onto cream cardstock with black Memento ink and colored her with a green and a yellowish orange Copic marker.  The umbrella is only one color of Copic marker.  The places that look darker are simply two layers of color.  I shaded the bottom of the panda with a warm grey Copic marker so that she would look grounded on the page. 

To finish the card, I stamped the saying (You're the sunshine B1213) onto the card, added 24K pearls, and layered everything onto paper from the Butterfield collection.  The Bright Sun (B1209) was stamped onto cream paper with Butterscotch Adirondack ink, punched out with a circle punch, and popped up onto the card with foam mounting tape.

Time for Another Contest!

Before we get to the next contest, I would like to share a card using the new Woodland Springtime release.  Dave said that the boxes of new stamps have left Memory Box headquarters, so be on the lookout at your local stamp stores! 

For today's card, I combined a little paper piecing with some watercoloring.  The background paper and tree leaves feature paper from the Poppyfinch collection, and the tree trunk is from the Butterfield collection.  I love the new Eclipse Tree (C1249) because I can see it used in different ways.  It could be a bare tree with a sun or moon behind it, or it could be a tree trunk with a circular leafy area.  Because I wanted to make a spring tree, I decided to go with the leafy tree option.  The background behind the tree is a simple wash of blue and green watercolor paints.  I then layered some decorative paper on top of the tree to color the branches and leaves.  Here is a close up of the paper piecing:

 

To finish the card, I stamped the Dotty Ring (C1252) multiple times with brown ink, added some punched brown circles, added some punched butterflies, and accented bits and pieces with pistachio green rhinestones. 

And now for the contest!  Do you love Memory Box papers as much as I do?  Here is your chance to show what you can do with them.  If you would like to win a pack of the new 6" x 6" Poppyfinch paper, please submit a card to customerservice@memoryboxco.com   with the subject line of "Laura Contest 2" highlighting your favorite Memory Box papers.  The theme can be anything that inspires you.  Of course, throwing in a Memory Box stamp or two couldn't hurt!  To enter the contest, submit a jpg file of your card to the address above by Thursday, March 5th at 10pm EST.  I really look forward to seeing what you create!

Groovy Baby

Yeah...it's Friday!  Is there a better time to get groovy?  I think not.  I thought the Club Panda (C1222) was a great way to celebrate the upcoming weekend.

For this card, I combined the Panda, Disco Ball (B1207) and "you're groovy" saying (B1218) with pieces of the Butterfield collection I punched with various sizes of circle punches.  The panda was colored with an assortment of Copic markers, and the disco ball was colored with a clear Spica pen as well as a Stardust pen for a little pizazz.  I was inspired by some of Dave's cards where he uses masks to sponge colors onto his cards and decided to try it for myself.  I masked areas around my disco ball and then sponged on some blue ink to make it look as if light was eminating out from the disco ball.  To finish the card, I added a layer of sage cardstock as well as a blue poppy notecard.  Have a great weekend everyone!

Fun to be Around

 

I thought it was time to post another panda card.  They are just too cute!  For today's card, I decided to use the new Playground Panda (C1220), Plane (A1205), and Fun to be Around saying (B1214) in conjunction with the Butterfield papers.  The Butterfield papers are perfect for Spring cards!

To make the panda card, I stamped my panda onto some white cardstock using black Memento ink.  I my panda with Copic markers and then cut him out and glued him onto the patterned paper.  I stamped the plane repeatedly onto the graph paper pattern and colored each plane with colored pencils.  Doesn't the graph paper remind you of school?  Flashback...yikes!  I drew dotted lines between the planes with a purple colored pencil to give them movement and then stamped my saying with black VersaFine ink onto the bottom of the patterned paper.  To finish the card, I stamped the plane onto white cardstock, colored it with a purple pencil, cut it out, and added it to the panda's hand.

Panda Party

 

Today I thought I would post one of the cards from my first Memory Box class at Angela's Happy Stamper in Reston, VA.  The class is called "Panda"mania, and will be held on Sunday, Feb 22 from 12-2 pm. I hope you can make it!

To make this card,  I stamped the Party Panda (C1224) onto white cardstock using black Memento ink.  I colored the hat with various Copic markers and then shaded the base of the panda with Copic marker C-1 for extra definition.  I punched out the image with a circle punch and layered it onto a larger pink circle.  The gorgeous patterned paper is part of the new Butterfield 6" x 6" collection.  To finish the panda, I added some pink Stardust pen to the sparklers as well as the top of the hat.

I am including a close-up of the cupcake (A1210) to show you how great it looks if you use liquid applique for the frosting.  Yum!

 

To make the cupcake embellishment, I stamped the image onto pink cardstock using brown Versafine ink.  I then coated the top with liquid applique and heated it with an embossing gun to make it puffy.  One word of advice...heat the applique from underneath so that you don't scorch it and turn it brown.  As a final touch, I added a cute pink rhinestone to the top of the cupcake and stamped "happy birthday" (B1228) onto my eggshell cardstock with black Versafine ink.

Happy Day

I love the new Memory Box pandas.  They just make me smile! 

For today's card, I stamped the Garden Panda (C1219) onto white cardstock using black Versafine ink and again onto some blue papers from the new Butterfield 6" x 6" collection.  I cut out my panda from the white cardstock and then paper-pieced his outfit from the blue patterned paper.  I colored the flowers with Prismacolor pencils and then layered the panda onto some gorgeous patterned paper with sun rays and hills.  Using detailed patterned paper is a great way to make a quick and easy card because the paper itself does most of the work!  I then stamped my saying (Oh Happy Day B1216) onto white cardstock with black ink and layered it onto the same blue paper as the overalls and hat.  To finish the card, I placed everything onto a layer of Blueberry cardstock and a Meadow notecard.