Happy Easter!

HI everyone- I just wanted to pop on in and wish everyone a very Happy Easter (and a belated Happy Passover)! We are getting ready to go to my Aunt's and see the whole family.
Check back tomorrow for a special announcement about CTMH's new promotion called Tickled Pink!! It's got some great paper (think glitter!), stamp set and die cuts (which perfectly match the stamp set!) plus some instructions for a layout! It is a wonderful way to celebrate National Scrapbooking Month (May)!
Have a great day!
Jean

My elephant and alligator

So, I've been itching to get back to practicing with the Copics and the shading. I did go and buy the Memento ink. So here are the two I worked on today- no cards, just the images.

Both of these cuties are from the stamp set called Life's a Jungle from CTMH. I stuck with same color families but may have to branch out a little when I try the monkeys!

Thanks for looking-

Jean :)

Copic Class- what I learned!

Good morning! I had a great time at the Copic class and learned a number of things I didn't know before!

Here's what I learned:

1. Color in circles, not straight lines.

2. The color should saturate the paper so when you turn it over, it looks like it bled through. Use a few sheets of scrap paper under to protect your surface.

3. The main purpose of the Copics is for creating shading and light and dark spaces. You can use two or three colrs in the same family to create shadows and shading.

4. The blender is NOT a blender. It actually acts like a bleach, taking out color instead of blending together two colors.

5. The best ink to use to stamp your image in Memento ink. Not only was this the one recommended in the class but also on SCS. You should also use a very "tight" paper. PTI is the one recommended on SCS. I tried to use my CTMH ink but - well- you'll see. Do NOT use Staz-On or Archival ink, they will bleed and run.

I'm sure there was more but then I had fun practicing my shading with this cute little mouse. We made this project last night. It's actually a 4X4 small box, perfect for putting in gift cards for teachers- hmmm- a class maybe????

I think he came out pretty cute. We used the warm grays to color and shade and actually used pink for the ears and feet and then colored over the pink with the lightest gray to achieve that soft look.

So, then I came home and thought I would try it out with some flowers. However, I didn't realize that there really IS a difference in the inks and this is what happened with CTMH black ink-

The pink one came out OK but the blue one ran and the orange started to run when I played with it too long. So you know where I'm going today right? To buy the Memento ink and play some more!!

Thanks for looking everyone- as of this post I am up to 999 views!!! Hopefully I'll make 1,000 today!!

Jean:)

Quick hello!!

Hi all- I am having so much fun reading everyone's comments! Thanks for taking the time to leave them! I am so excited because I am almost up to 1,000 views!! Yeah!

So, with the kids on vacation, I haven't had too much time to create this week but I have some ideas that I'm working on. I'm also very excited to be taking my first Copics class tonight. I really like these markers and can't wait to learn all the creative ways to use them!

Anyone who is interested in participating in my Challenge should have their layout done by Saturday. I realize people are busy and may not find the time so if it seems like I'm the only one making the layouts, then I'll try something different! I have found a bunch of very inspriring pics that I'll be creating some layouts for!

I'll bbl to tell you all about a new Color Challenge sponsered by a fellow CTMH consulant- it looks like a lot of fun and I'll post all the links for you!
Off to the gym and then to get Emily and David hamsters- heaven help us!!!
Jean

Inspiration Sunday! #1

Hi all- hope you are having a great weekend! It's time to introduce a new feature called Inspiration Sunday. If you are anything like me, it can be difficult to come up with ideas for layouts, color combinations and titles. One of the things I started doing was to start looking around in magazines and pictures for ideas. It's amazing how differently you look at ads and pics when you are looking through a scrapbooker's eye.

So here's the deal: Every Sunday (early this week so I can tell you all about it!) , I will post a picture from a magazine that I found inspiring for some reason. Then I will post a sample layout that I made using the picture as a starting point.

So, what's in it for you? Well, every person who creates a layout based loosely on the picture will be entered to win that week's Challenge. Prizes will vary from a "B" sized stamp set to the SOTM to some great tools or inks/markers. All you have to do to enter is to leave a post in the comments section directing me to your blog where you have posted your picture with the title: Jean's Sunday Inspiration Challenge. If you don't have a blog, simply e-mail me your picture to jabe6126@optonline.net.

Every person who submits a layout is entered to win. As an extra opportunity to be entered, if you send someone to my blog either by telling them about it or through your own blog, and they leave me a comment telling me you sent them, your name will be entered again!

So, this week's inspiration is from the Living Magazine by Martha Stewart-

Here is the layout I came up with:
Here they are side by side:
Remember, your layout doesn't have to be the same as the picture, it is really just a starting point. I liked this picture because I liked the color blocking. You can always change the color scheme or the layout to make it your own!

I'd love some feedback about this Challenge, the magazine picture or my layout!!

Thanks for taking the time to read and peek at my blog!

Jean

Card Contest Winner!!

So I put everyone's name in a hat and let Emily pick out the paper. The winner is... drum roll please... Denise R. Congratulations Denise and thanks for participating in my Card Contest and voting! I'll get in touch with you about sending the cards to you!
Thanks to everyone who voted and keeps peeking at my blog!
Jean

Zindorf inspired Lily card

So, I love, love, love the cards that Michelle Zindorf makes using the brayer. If you check out my bloglist on the side, you'll see the link to her blog where you can view her amazing cards.

I decided that I needed to try this technique out (again- since I've tried it a few times and the results were pretty dismal! LOL!)

So- here is my first attempt:

AHHH! What happened to this? Well, I didn't realize that I had to Versamark the entire image and heat embooss, so some of the ink from the brayer seeped into the image itself. It just didn't go well!

Here is my second attempt:

So, I think the second one is better than the first but I still need to work on choosing the colors and blending them better. Any suggestions or comments would be more than welcome!
Check back tomorrow for the winner of our Card Contest!
Thanks for checking in-
Jean