Penny Black Circular Design Background

I've been working on some cards for our church recently.  They are in need of birthday cards for all ages and Anniversary cards right now.  

I've also been taking an online Clean & Simple Card Making class working my way through it in my own time.  I've been longing to be able to do the online card classes like this but have just been too busy, it feels so good to have the time now for fresh inspiration.

My first birthday card is inspired by the Clean & Simple Card Making class.  It has one layer, I used my Penny Black Circular Design background stamp, masked off the center to leave it blank and added a box with my white gel pen.  The gift packages are an old Quickkutz die and the sentiment is from Papertrey Ink.  I heat embossed the sentiment, something I haven't done for a long time because I'm not wild about how the card stock warps when you do it.  

My second card is also inspired by the Clean & Simple card making class using more Quickkutz dies.

I'm not sure I like all the white space but I'm experimenting and learning as I go.

Thanks for visiting my blog I need to get busy making more birthday cards!

Operation Write Home Design Bootcamp

I have fun news from Operation Write Home to share with you!

There's a new free online class starting today called Design Bootcamp at our Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps blog by Paula!  The class that starts today is all about color, I can't wait to dive in and expand my card making skills!  

Paula also chose one of my cards to use as an example:

 

it is just one of many cards from Operation Write Home card makers she used for examples of what she's teaching.  You'll have to click the Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps link to see how it applies!

The stamp on this card is from Penny Black, she's called Mimi In Paris.  My original blog post is here.

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Penny Black Paint The Town

My card today is just for fun practicing clean & simple designs.

I used the Penny Black Paint The Town acrylic stamp set that I won in a Penny Black challenge!

This cute image is colored with Copic markers:

Hedgie - E50, E30, E31, E17, E25, RV10

Grass - YG01, YG13, YG25, YG67

Flowers - RV52, RV63, C8

Bee - Y11, Y13, Y15, BG70

The sentiment is one of the stamps in this set, there's more to it than I stamped.  I punched a couple of holes under it with my Crop-o-dile and threaded some apple green organdy ribbon through and tied a bow to finish it off.  Oh...  maybe I shouldn't mention this but - sorry about the post it note you can see on the left side of the picture.  That's where my Copic color numbers and other info is about my card.  

I keep losing the other scraps of paper I write all that on!

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp - Animal Antics
Mad For Markers - Anything Goes with Copic Markers
Pile It On - Cuddly Critters 
Paper Crafting Journey - Birthday Celebration
Papelitos Stamps - Celebrations

Penny Black Anniversary Hedgie

I found another cute image to color for an anniversary card today, this one has been waiting patiently for quite some time.  It's been so long I don't know what the official name of the stamp is, one of my stamping friends must have stamped it off for me.  

I colored the cute Hedgie with Copic markers:

Hedgie - E50, E30, E31, E17, E25, RV10

Flowers - R35, R46, R59, W7

Leaves - YG01, YG13, YG25, YG67

Background - BG0000, BG000, BG01

I added some of the Earth tones back into the background because I hadn't picked papers I was going to use the image with before I colored it.  I decided on the Basic Grey Bittersweet designer paper pad for a quick easy card.  I used Papertrey Ink's Double Ended Banner Die and Small Ric Rac as well as a sentiment from their Fillable Frames acrylic stamp set.

One more anniversary card for my growing stash!

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:
ATC's & Cards With Attitude - Anything Goes
Dream Valley Challenges - Die Cuts & Punches 
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes 
Love To Create - Punches & Dies 
Make It Monday - Anything Goes 

Penny Black Mimi In Paris

I have a fun card to share today that I made last summer...

I used the acrylic stamp set by Penny Black called Mimi In Paris, she's colored with copic markers and I made a frame to go around her using Spellbinders dies.

Thanks for visiting my blog today - 

Challenges:
Crafty Boots - Anything Goes

Penny Black Wish You Were Near

I decided to make a second card for my Rolodex Art File using the Penny Black stamped image we used in the Copic shading class I went to with my friend Dagmar earlier this month.

I have no supply list because I was in a class and the papers are from the class too.  I think the name of this Slapstick cling stamp is "Wish You Were Near".  

Here's a look at my file before I started filling it.

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Challenges:

Copic Shading Class

It was fun to go out of town for a three day crafty weekend to Phoenix but it's really good to be home again!

My crafty girl friend Dagmar and I went to Phoenix this last weekend for a Copic advanced shading class taught by Jennie Black at one of their local scrapbook stores.  We decided to make it a three day weekend so we could relax and do some shopping too.  Above is the card that we made for the shading class.  

Saturday we also met up with my online friend Cathy who lives in Phoenix & got acquainted in person at the scrapbook store.  We'd met on a blog hop and corresponded through e mails and blog comments, it was really fun to meet Cathy and spend the day crafting with her.

This was an all day Copic event so there were also make 'n takes that we did.  The above card is from the first one, she was showing us how to make a quick Copic card.  We missed out on one really cute one for lack of materials that we were really disappointed about.

I learned more about air brushing while we were there so hopefully I can apply that to my crafting more and more.  The above card is also from a make 'n take by Kelly.  I'd met Kelly at the Copic certification class two years earlier so it was a fun surprise to see her again and get to visit as well as see how she's been using her Copic skills teaching and doing stuff with her local stamping and scrapbook stores.  Very fun and my favorite make 'n take of the day!

I also did a little shopping at the scrapbook store and can't wait to play with these new stamps.  

lol, do you recognize this?  I think the highlight of our shopping part of the trip was our visit to Kelly Paper.  You're looking at eight reams of different colored cardstocks.  Now... where to put it all...  

So if it's a few days before I get to do a blog post don't worry I'm just trying to catch up on stuff, I'll get back in the swing of things as quick as I can :) 

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:
Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Masculine

Penny Black Listening To Stars

Hi crafty friends!

I have a fun card to share with you today using a Penny Black stamp that I acquired and haven't had time to use yet.

I colored the hedgies with Copic markers E50, E30, E31, E17, E25, RV10, G29, G24, R59, R46, R35, R32, Y17, Y15, Y13, Y11, B21, Goooo, B23.  This is a large wood mounted stamp and I wanted to make a scene so I kept my layout simple.  The sentiment stamp is from a Papertrey Ink stamp set called Holiday Wishes.  I did use Stickles Ice on my star, after it dried I went back over it with 3D Crystal Lacquer to seal and smooth the Stickles.

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Crafty Boots - Zoo or Animal theme
Crafty Cardmakers - Anything Goes
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Lollipop Crafts - Critters
One Stitch At A Time - Anything Goes
Sentimental Sunday's - Anything Goes
Stampin' Sister's In Christ - Anything Goes
One Stop Craft Challenge - Anything Goes

Penny Black Christmas Hedgie

My card today is for the Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps Midweek Throwdown challenge.  The challenge is to make an Any Hero Christmas card.  I love Penny Black Hedgehogs and had this cutie colored so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to use it.   

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Challenges:

Operation Write Home Star & Stamps - Any Hero Christmas Card
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Stamps & Fun - Anything Goes

Penny Black Bubbly Stamp Set

Our Midweek Throwdown challenge this week at Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps theme is "Thinking of You"!

For my card I used one of the cute Hedgies from the Penny Black acrylic set called Bubbly.  I colored my Hedgie with Copic markers E25, E17, E50, E31, RV10, R27, R24, R22 and touched up the eye and nose with a Copic 0.5 black Multiliner.

This was a fun card to make, I used a Spellbinders Labels 18 die along with my Classic Ovals.  The black panel is Cuttlebugged with an embossing folder.  The "thinking of you" stamp is from a Papertrey Ink stamp set and my cardstock colors are Via Vellum Scarlet & Black, Neenah Solar White and the tan panel is of unknown origin.  I finished my card with a little May Arts dotted organdy ribbon.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Thinking Of You theme
Penny Black Saturday - Anything Goes

Penny Black Mimi

Hello blog friends I have a just for fun card to share with you today!  At our last crafty get together one of my friends brought this cute Penny Black Mimi stamp and asked if I'd like to use it and of course I said YES! 

I've been playing with fancy folds and decided I'd like to make a "Joy fold" card with Mimi.  She's colored with Copic markers R0000, R59, R39, R37, R21, R81, RV10, BG0000, YF24, YR21, Y21, E74, E71, E42, E41, E00, E000, E0000.

The patterned papers I used are from My Time Made Easy, the Fresh Flowers collection and are digital.  The cardstock is Cranberry by thepapermill.com and Neenah Solar White.  I stamped the Mimi image with Tuxedo Black Memento ink, used some of my Spellbinders dies to help create a fun card. 

Hey!  I have some news for you about the cloud tutorial some of you have asked me to do using Copic markers.  I've ordered myself a neat little video camera so after it arrives and I practice a bit I'll be making that "Coloring Clouds Background With Copic Markers" tutorial for you!  I'll be sure to practice with the video camera first on Maxine...

 she's usually into some kind of mischief!

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:
Happleigh Scrappin' - Shaped or Special Fold
Stamp With Fun - Friends

  Top Tip Tuesday - Make It Girlie
Amber's Crafts & Stuff - Use Patterned Paper 
Little Darlings - Girlie

Papercraft Star - Anything Goes
Inspire Me Friday's - Anything Goes

Penny Black Dressed Up Dog

I have a couple of fun cards to share with you that we made in a class recently.  This first one uses the Penny Black stamp Dressed Up Dog and my second card uses Penny Black's Garden Gossip wood mounted rubber stamp.  Most of the supplies we used to make our cards are available at our local craft store the Sugar Shack in Lake Havasu City, AZ.  

Tell Linda I sent you!

Both cards are colored with Copic markers, I have a supply list below and the red polka dotted and stripped papers are digital.  

PENNY BLACK   GARDEN GOSSIP CARD

Supply List –

Spellbinders Dies – Circles, Scalloped Circles

Flourishes Tag Lines Clear Set

Penny Black Garden Gossip wood mounted rubber stamp

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Crochet thread

Copic markers – E50, E31, E17, E25, RV10, R29, R27, R24

Cardstock –  Via Vellum Tan & Black, Neenah Solar White & Red Linen (printed with digital paper files). 

Penny Black DRESSED UP DOG 

Supply List –

Spellbinders Dies – square

Spellbinders Dies – labels, tags???

EK Success Edger Punch  

Sizzix Embossing Folder

Stampendous Birthday Assortment Clear Set

Penny Black Dressed Up Dog wood mounted rubber stamp

Kaiser Craft Black Half Pearls

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Copic markers – E50, E31, E17, RV10, E04, BG72, BG75

Cardstock – Color Mates Mist, Via Vellum Tan & Black, Neenah Solar White, Georgia Pacific White for the inside of the card. 

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:
Digi's With Attitude - Anything Goes
Divas By Design - Die Cuts and/or Punches
Cardmadfairy's - Use An Animal On Your Card
The Fuzzy Wuzzy - Get Punchy
It's A Colourful World Blogaversary Celebrations - Masculine/Unisex Cards

Penny Black Christmas Hedgie

We have a new Midweek Throwdown challenge starting today at Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps, the theme is Christmas In July!  This was a pretty easy challenge for me because I bought a bunch of Penny Black Christmas Hedgehog stamps last month.  They were on sale but the truth is I'm hopelessly addicted to Penny Black Hedgies right now.  

I almost tried coloring this one with greys but couldn't decide which ones, you know... Cool Grey, Warm Grey, Toner Grey, etc. so I went for my safe Hedgie colors in Copics R37, R24, R22, YR21, Y21, RV10, C00, C1, G0000, YG67, YG63, YG61, E25, E17, E50, E30.

I also added some stickles to the star on top of the tree, let it dry a little and added more Glossy Accents to seal any glitter that might flake off.  I used Spellbinders Octagon and Scalloped Octagon dies as well as a Tags Trio die and that what seems to be my "signature button" on the tag with crochet thread.  For a little texture on the white panel I used a Sizzix snowflake embossing folder.  The cardstock colors I've used are Stampin' Up! Garden Green, Neenah Solar White & Red Linen.

I hope you'll join us for our Christmas In July challenge at Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps this week.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Christmas In July

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - All Time Favorite Penny Black Stamp (ah just one?! The entire Hedgie collection please!)
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
ABC Christmas Challenge - No Designer Paper
Little Red Wagon - Christmas In July
The Paper Variety - Christmas In July

Penny Black Garden Gossip

I love Penny Black stamps and the Hedgehogs are my favorites!

This cute Hedgie is from the Bubbly set by Penny Black and also comes as an individual wood mounted rubber stamp called Garden Gossip.  I colored this sweet Hedgie with Copic markers E25, E17, E50, E31, RV10, R27, R24, R22 and did some touch ups to my stamping with a 0.5 Copic multiliner.

My layout was C.A.S.E.d from my friend Sandy at A Colourful World, she also used a Penny Black Hedgie and I was inspired by her card.  I used the Copic colorless blender technique for the red panel with the swirls.  The swirls are a Hero Arts background stamp.  My other cardstock colors are Via Vellum Scarlet, Neenah Solar White, Via Vellum Black and I'm not sure who the neutral tan is made by, it was in my scrap drawer.  To finish my card I used three black half pearls and black organdy ribbon.  Oh... the border punch is made by Martha Stewart.  

We have a new Midweek Throwdown challenge starting today at Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps, the theme is "Love You".  I didn't stamp Love You anywhere but I think my card would qualify.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Love You Theme
Ladybug Crafts - Use Red

Penny Black Easy Rider/Circular Design

I've been playing with the Penny Black stamps again...  what fun!  There was a challenge last week at the Penny Black blog to use a Slapstick cling stamp and make a background.  I have this wonderful Circular Design background stamp that I wanted to use and do some experimenting with so the challenge was a great reason to get it out again.

Hey!  I won the Penny Black background challenge I found out this morning - I won a clear Penny Black stamp set of my choice and a package of their coordinating cardstock - I'm excited!!!

I used Copic makers and my Copic air brush system to color a piece of Neenah Solar White cardstock.  I then spritzed my background stamp with Copic blending solution and stamped.  Cool huh?!  

The little girl on the bike is a Penny Black stamp called Easy Rider, I colored her with my Copic markers to match the background I'd made.  Here are the Copic marker numbers I used N9, YG67, YG63, YG61, YR24, YR21, Y21, B21, B23, R85, R83, R81, R20, E000, E00, E11, E41, E42 - background paper colors BG10, YG61, B28, BV08. 

I followed a very simple sketch from last year to try to show off as much of my background as possible and added my sentiment using a Spellbinder Tags Trio die, matching button and a little crochet thread.  I can't tell you where the sentiment came from, it was in my box of leftovers.  

The other cardstock colors I used are Stampin' Up! Brocade Blue & Garden Green.  I also used a new to me product by Ranger called Enamel Accents for her eyes, flower centers and dots on her dress.  They aren't real forgiving as you can see on her dress.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges: 
Speedy The Cat & Friends - Buttons

Penny Black Garden Visit

Happy Saturday!  Summer is here in Arizona, our high temperatures are reaching 110 and above now.  It's a good time to stay in the cool air conditioning and do some crafting!

I have a fun card to share with you today, it's a pop up card.  It folds flat for mailing and has a little extra flap on the back to write a message on.  It's a card for Operation Write Home so I needed to figure out how to make a place to write a letter home and I did, I just forgot about taking a picture of that part.

The image is a cling mount rubber stamp by Penny Black called Garden Visit.  I stamped it with Memento Tuxedo Black ink & used Copic markers to color W3, W1, W0, E07, E08, E09, E31, E50, E25, E17, RV10, Y38, Y35.  My cardstock colors are Kraft, Neenah Solar White, Via Leaf Green & Brick Red.  I also used Spellbinders rectangle & scalloped rectangle dies and a 1" circle punch by Stampin' Up!  

I hope you have a nice relaxing weekend and come back tomorrow for our Clear Dollar Stamps blog hop.  Can't wait!!

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:

Inspire Me Fridays - Anything Goes

Just Add Ink - Color It In

The Poodles Parlour - Anything Goes

Sew Many Cards - Punch It

Stampin' With The Dragon - Friendship

Totally Paper Crafts - Die Cuts & Punches

Penny Black Bubbly Stamp Set

I'm still playing with the Penny Black Bubbly stamp set and have used this cute Hedgie from the set for my card today.  

I found a Penny Black challenge...

I colored this cutie with Copic markers E50, E31, E25, E17, R27, R24, R22, RV10, YG67, YG63, YG61 and touched up my stamping with a 0.5 Copic Multiliner.  I gave "her" eyelashes too.

I made a frame for my Hedgie using Spellbinders Labels 14, the two largest dies and embossed my frame with a Sizzix Lattice embossing folder.  I learned something new about paper piercing today and wanted to try it, wow what a difference - you are going to laugh when I tell you...  

I have this neat Tim Holtz ruler (I bought at Michaels) that I use all the time and bought it because it has holes for paper piercing.  I haven't had a tool that would fit in the holes for piercing though.  I was watching a video and the lady used a push pin, yikes why hadn't I thought of that months ago!  I also used a small piece of double sided tape on my ruler to hold it in place as I pierced.  When I was done with a section I could pick it up and see if I'd hit every hole & when I didn't I could go back and fix it.  I just might paper pierce more often now that I know this, maybe you'll find it helpful too.

The "happy mail" sentiment I made on my computer and the cardstock colors I used are Neenah Solar White, Via Vellum Black & Scarlet.  I'm not sure who the tan cardstock is made by it was a scrap.  To finish my card I added some little black half pearls.  

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:

Penny Black - Frames
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Crafts & Me - Punch It Out

Penny Black Bubbly Stamp Set

Did you enjoy the Operation Write Home Memorial Day Weekend blog hop as much as I did?  I hope so!

I made this card using the Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps sketch #71 from Sunday, May 29, 2011.  I used a cute Penny Black pup from the "Bubbly" acrylic stamp set I have.  

He's colored with Copic markers E50, E31, E17, RV10, C3, B21, B23.  The blue panel was colored and air brushed with Copic makers B21 & B23.  The footprints are from the Canine Capers Stampin' Up! set.  The "thinking of You" sentiment is from a Papertrey Ink stamp set and I used their ric rac die too.  

I'm not sure who the Khaki colored cardstock is made by, it was in my scrap drawer that I've been working on cleaning out.  The other cardstock colors are Via Vellum Black & Neenah Solar White.

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Sketch Challenge #71
Digital Tuesday - Animal Friends