Asian Inspired Bird Card

Hello there! If you tiptoe quietly down the page you'll see a pretty little bird on a painted branch. Go ahead. I don't think you'll disturb him.

Isn't he sweet? He's from a K & Co. die cut and vellum pack - I think it's a Brenda Walton branded one that I know is still available at Hobby Lobby.

The branch is Dusty Attic's Cherry Blossom but the shape was too perfect for this gorgeous blue and green Basic Grey Kioshi paper. I painted the flowers and branch with Adirondack Paint Dabbers then touched them all up with Gathered Twigs Distress ink. (My favorite brown EVER.) Funny that I hardly ever use the dabbers and these 4 colors just happen to be almost all I have... how's that for serendipity? The centers are this funky liquid embossing stuff I bought last year and never used. I like the 3D aspect of the centers, so the liquid embossing stuff gets a reprieve.

Thanks for stopping in today to see my Asian-inspired card. It makes me feel calm and happy...

Cheers,
Susan

DZ Doodles DT - Tweet! Tweet!

Hello! It's Tuesday, and that means it's DZ Doodles Day! This week is our first sketch challenge and Gini, our Challenge Chicky Coordinator said, "Find your own darn sketch!" *verybiggrin* So I did! I really liked the sketch over at Sketch Girl, and this is what I created:

This DZ digi is called Sparrow, and I flipped it in Photoshop before printing. This little birdie is perched on a digi stick, but I edited it so I could use a twig of my own. Oh, and I made him into a Robin in honor of all the little birdies in my yard these days. He's layered for dimension (of course!), and colored with Prismacolor pencils. 

I had a little difficulty with the three horizontal elements on the sketch. I originally wanted to do a small branch or three twigs, but it just didn't fly. You know how frustrating it is when what you've created in your mind doesn't translate to real life, right? (Oh man, that's applicable for wayyy more than paper crafts!) I settled on the little crocheted ribbon elements to keep in the spirit of the sketch.

The flowers are a combination of Prima and stash roses. It's a very simple "bouquet" and I'm proud of myself for leaving the Stickles in their jar. The big orange flower came that way - I swear!

So now it's YOUR turn to challenge yourself with a sketch of your choice! Here's how:

• Make any kind of project using a DZ DOODLES image
• Link it up at our DZ Doodles Design Team blog
• Deadline to enter is Monday, April 19th @ 12 midnight

The lucky winner will be announced on Wednesday, April 21st, and will win 2 DZ doodles of their choice! Good Luck :)

Challenges

• Sketch Girl #15 - Sketch
• Creative Inspirations #55 - Green, Brown Blue
• Order of the Opus Gluei #59 - For the Birds

 Card Recipe

• Stamp: Sparrow
• Paper: K&Co/Amy Butler; Bazzill; Neenah
• Medium: Prismacolor pencils; chalk ink
• Embellishments: Prima flower; roses, leaves lace, and pearls from stash; twig from back yard

Thanks for your visit today - I really appreciate it!

Cheers,
Susan

Happy Happy and CLP 11

Happy Thanksgiving!

My "show" is tomorrow and Saturday. I'm exhausted beyond belief and really proud of what I've accomplished. I've missed reading your blogs! I did manage to kick out a killer Thanksgiving dinner (if I do say so myself!) - I refused to let this show get in the way, especially it would just be the two of us this year. Loads of last-minute things to do tonight.

I have a card to share, made for Chelsea's Crafting Life's Pieces Sketch Challenge #11. I'm determined to win for the month of November, plus she makes cool sketches. *grin*

 

This is a Sassy Studio Designs digital stamp colored with Prismacolor pencils and Stickles; Cricut Storybook die cut swirly things, Prima flowers, Bazzill shimmer card stock and K & Co Peppermint Twist and Christmas Cheer patterned card stock. Oh, and venise lace, pearls and charms I put together.

Cheers!

Susan

Home for the Holidays

Hello! Today's card is -once again- inspired by a Crafting Life's Pieces sketch challenge. This is for challenge #10, and here's the sketch:

Here is my card:

 

 

 

 

The image is a Mo Manning stunner. (Check out Digital Pencil Too for more of her great art!)

Another challenge blog entered is the Cupcake Craft Challenge 66, which was to "Go Digital."

I also entered this card into The Color Throwdown #69 challenge:

Papers: Waussau White, Bazzill, MME, Recollections Brown Shimmer

Medium: Prismacolor pencils

Embellishments: K&Co (border adhesive), grosgrain ribbon, MS punch branches, MM metals

Thanks for stopping by!

Susan

CLP Challenge #9 - Winter Fairy (Updated!)

Hello! This lovely Winter Fairy card is modeled after the CLP Sketch Challenge #9. I'm also entering it over at this week's Totally Gorjuss Bling Bling challenge - she's all bling'd out! And -believe it or not- I am entering it at Quixotic Paperie's 2nd Challenge (Stitching). Yay!

I had a lot of fun with this card. The Gorjuss Girl stamp was colored weeks ago, waiting in the wings for her moment to shine. And shine she does! If you look carefully, you'll notice I masked out her hair on the 3D wings. I knew I wanted the raised effect, but those few tendrils of hair over the wings looked weird and disconnected. Much better now!

Now, the deets:
Paper: K&Co DP, Bazzill, Co'ordinations, Wassau
Medium: Stickles, Ranger GA, Prismacolor pencils
Embellishments: MS Punch, brads, MM pins, my own beadwork, metal disc from my stash, ribbon

Thanks for taking a look!

Cheers,
Susan