Zenn and Sun ... nice combo ... I am in Florida

I am in Florida visiting with my daughter but wanted to have some new postings pop up now and then. So hopefully I have figured out Blogger's scheduling and you will see new things from time to time even though my computer is alone on a table in Michigan while I am enjoying watching the tide.

I have started playing with Zentangles ( Juliet got me hooked. You may remember Juliet from the series of Zindorf tutorials we did a few months back ... HI JULIET .... ) and found a great site.  Plus this notebook is perfect for dragging to the beach.

some Copic links

While I am in Florida, I have some blog entries date marked to pop up.

My friend Elaine sent me these links ...

• The Creative Closet:  Love this video, and especially like that the colors she used are in the written post.
• Zest Blog:  The link goes to the "Marker Monday" posts which have lots and lots of tutorials, remember to click on the previous entries link at the bottom to get all of the posts.  The "Marker Monday" link is also listed on the left sidebar. 
• Heather's Heavinly Stampations:  Lots and lots of tutorials here, from various hair colors to skin types, and all are easy to follow. 
• Thinking Inking:  GREAT tutorial on coloring a car, loved the result, and I hope you do too.
• Icopic:  Lots and lots of tutorials at this link, and I guess you could also consider this a resource (actually all of these links are a type of resource : )
• Debbie Design's YouTube Channel:  A couple of great videos here for you to view and pick up some nice tips.
• Distinctive Touches:  The link takes you to a great tutorial on how to blend colors using a feather type of stroke with your pen, very well done and helpful. 
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  • I Like Markers:  This is the "Cadillac" of resources, here you will find posts like this one, and just about everything you can image related to Copic markers.  In addition you are also exposed to color theory, composition and more are related topics, just a wonderful overall resource. 
  • Copic Creations Blog:  Wow!  Just amazing information here, everything you need to know and more, and there is always something new to discover as well. 
  • PaperFections:  Tons of information here, an amazing resource on all things Copic. 
  • Suzanne Dean:  Amazing videos, tutorials and templates to keep are resources. 

Warm gray cool gray

It's never to early to think Christmas!  I was having a good time playing with warm and cool gray copic markers. The image is from Firecracker -- and is on sale this month as a part of the Christmas in July sale.

I hope this post goes up as scheduled because I am M I A and visiting with my daughter in Florida.

Teapot Tuesday

What a cute teapot. We are making cards this week for kids with cancer. Sigh ... it is bad enough when grown-ups get cancer!

Usually my birds are good for tons of feathers but I just really cleaned them and vacuumed up every feather in sight .... so I could only come up with 3 little feathers which accounts for the one card hiding behind the other 3.

What a nice way to sit on the beach

I got this really peachy notebook and can go sit on the beach and play Zenn ... zentangles that is! My friend Juliet got me going on these and they are very restful and non-demanding. Perfect way to watch the summer go by.

A Round Tuit 3

I have the beach on my mind because tomorrow I am going to Florida-- something tells me it will be even hotter than sultry Michigan, but it is a chance to hang out with my daughter and you gotta grab those chances when they come along.

I have a few things scheduled to pop up on my blog now and then, and I will be back and posting soon.

A Round Tuit 2

Guess I should have used papers with a bit more contrast. But I am liking this technique. The bumps on the outside are 3/4 inch circles, and then I fold a piece of white cardstock in half and cut almost a circle on the fold to make the card. Easy Peasy Pudding and Pie!  Or should I say Pi ... ha ha ... sometimes I laugh at my own jokes!

Inspiration Saturday

Doesn't this rug from the Andes look intriguing! I would love to create a rug like this.. Instead, I made a card

iPad 2

Still playing on my iPad. Where did the morning go! The 2 little blue lines are from me dragging my hand over the screen- I need to learn to have a lighter touch. You'll have to tilt your head to see it, I can't seem to get it to rotate.

My New Ipad

One of the first applications I downloaded onto my new IPad is Sketchbook Pro.  It is a whole new world!   I drew this with my finger, in maybe 30 or 40 minutes.

Not exactly stamping. But sure is fun.

Sketch challenge Wednesday

These digital images are free from Elizabeth Dulemba -- cute, huh. It was a bit challenging to color them with copics because they are quite small, but I had a fun time experimenting with the sky. My scanner seems to see yellow much more than blue; the sky is actually yellow, pink and predominantly blue!  I am trying to figure out what to take to Florida with me next week and am thinking I will take 10 markers instead of the how-ever-many I own. So I am trying to choose digi images and markers for a nice compact project-in-a-zip lock bag.

Manga me? Zenn?

My daughter laughs that I even know what Manga means, but I picked up a book by Mario Galea and have been playing with Manga Drawing. Galea suggests drawing his manga first to get the feel of it then branching out and creating your own. So this is my interpretation of the manga by Galea. The copic coloring is all mine since manga is traditionally done in black and white, according to the book. I promised Pam at Firecrackers to try to create a fairy manga with zentangle wings. Now if I could put a Nancy Z. sunset in the background, color with copics and fit it all on a sketch card, I might lasso in all the directions my muse has been flying lately.

Teapot Tuesday

 Sending some sunshine!

Thank you card

I have never sent a card to thank a merchant for great service .....  till now .... Not only was this place incredibly fast, but they sent everything in a cute little bag with colored tissue and a thank you card thanking me for my business.  WOW .... Wish I were more of a knitter, I would love to order more from this place!

Featured stamper Kristen

This card gave me some inspiration this morning ... and I need to get going on my Christmas challenge.  So while the punches and pieces were out, I put together 8 Christmas cards. Not bad, huh!  This snowman set is going to be featured at Firecracker on Wednesday so I think I will link to today and be all set.

The photos don't show the microfine glitter in the snowflake cutouts but it is there and glitzy.  Holiday cards just HAVE to have some sparkle, don't you think?

Blog Hop Sketch -

It's blog hop time again!  This time all of us at Firecracker have made a card using the same sketch.

The official start time of this Hop is Friday, at 8:00 AM (EST). If you arrived early, please be patient as all the links may not be live yet.

This is a “circular blog hop” where the beginning is wherever you start!! You will know you are at the end of your blog hop when you’ve come back to the blog you’ve started. We'll all be showing a different interpretation of the very same sketch this month. Your comment at each blog will give you another chance to win a special treat. If you win, you will be contacted by Pamela via e-mail (so be sure to leave it with your comment.) and you can also find out on Pamela’s blog after the blog hop ends on Mon, at 8:00 PM (EST).

The card above was made with the "I wish you bluebirds" set from Firecracker as well as the sketch of the week. My owl was colored with copics and I made a brown bag flower for the embellishment. It seems to go well with the kraft paper background.

Hop on over to Michelle B and see what she has done with the same sketch.

Tuesday teapot on Wednesday

After watching the World Cup, the basketball teapot just didn't ring my bell ... till I saw the Wednesday sketch. Pulled out my soccer boy ( soccer is close to basketball, at least in my brain's file cabinet) and decided to put the two together. Card coming soon.

Duhhhh

This card for Darcey will be mailed with the check I meant to enclose with the last card I made her!

Featured today!

My poetry and card were featured today at this blog ... makes me want to go and make her another card as a thank you!

Thank you Darcey!

Darcey will appreciate my Zindorf style card - and I was quite pleased with the way the water came out.  I still find the results of direct-to=paper are always a surprise. Today it happened to be a good surprise.

Sketch Challenge Wednesday - a day late

Sketch challenge Wednesday didn't happen till Thursday at my house .... but then I found this cute image at Designed2Delight and pulled out my copics to play with background shading.

Look at this in a mirror

Since I took the picture with my computer, the whole card is reversed. But you get the idea. This was a thank you card for David - he arranged everything for our weekend in New York.

Teapot Tuesday!

I am just not sure how you can have an all white firedog. A white snowman, yeah. A white summer cloud, sure. But a white firedog? This puppy needs some spots!

He actually has a 000blue shadow but the scanner didn't pick it up very well.

For a sweet gal with a 4 of July Birthday...

I found the digi image free online and forgot where ... but it was a boy. I added the hair down the back to make it into Darby.

Fun with copics again... the hair has 4 different colors of scribbles.

Just one layer of sunshine

I have my own private battle with the post office. I have send ( and received ) such crazy stuff that now the postal workers all know me. If I try to mail an envelope, they instinctively pinch it here and there to find the pop top tab, the eyelet, the penny to make something roll down a tab ... and then they charge me for it.

So one layer cards really make me happy. I can stick 'em in MY mailbox with a stamp and know they will get where I want them to go without bouncing back like a bad penny .... for another nickel and dime.

Wednesday Sketch Day!

I really enjoy doing sketch cards --- plus I had to use a bit more of that purple and green  paper I love.  This is my first French card - Amanda is studying French so I got some special stamps to use for her.

Teapot Tuesday!

This card is for a dear friend who has always dreamed of seeing the ocean and running her toes in the sand. The teapot had such a hand made feel to it that I thought it really worked with hand colored paper. I rubbed my distress pads on a waterproof mat, spritzed them with water and pearl ex and pressed a watercolor paper into them.  Fun effect.

Josette Card and Bookmark

Josette is a dear crafting friend in Hot Hot Hotter than ever before Florida  --- and she has gone on to get a whole year older without me there to tease her. I made her this card and bookmark and included a note inside about how nice and cool the nights are in Michigan. I swear, I don't know where I got this evil streak from!

I was  playing around with background techniques and my copics ... not sure if I like the look or not. But it was something new to try.

Image is a digi from Firecracker.

Happy Anniversary Susan and Walt

 Love doesn't always last so it is important to celebrate when it does. My dear friend Susan is celebrated her anniversary yesterday. I wish her love and a snuggle! I waited till today to show the card so I wouldn't ruin her surprise.  It's colored with copics and brayered in the corner.

Sketch challenge Wednesday

Time for a sketch challenge. Sometimes you just need a pretty card. I met a dear lady in Florida who is battling cancer. I got a call that I might not see this lady again ... seems the cancer is back and vicious.

I made this card with tears in my eyes.

The sewing machine is out and happened to have yellow thread - I really like the look. The verdict is mixed on whether I just ruined my needle, I will have to see how it works when I go back to stitching fabric. Or maybe I will just leave it out to stitch on cards.