Tuesday's Technique

Hi all and Happy April! Tuesday marked the start of the second Tuesday's Technique Challenge. Thanks Rene for your entry last month. I enjoyed it. Being the only entry you win a little prize.  Email me your email address and contact info so I can get your prize to you.  I hope this month we'll have a better turnout. The rules are located along the blog sidebar. I thought I would update my favorite video of the week to provide some inspiration.

Aprils Tuesday's Technique will be to use alcohol inks in your project. Alcohol inks are the best! I don't care if it's Ranger or Copic, I just love it and use it every day. I even colored a dime during a class I took. I will use this for my technique for the challenge even though it's never been forgotten or "lost" by myself. If you need a good reference go, the March 2011 Vol.19 Number 3 issue of Vamp Stamp News has a great article in it. They are also on line at http://www.vampstampnews.com/.  Both the Copic and Ranger web sites have info on alcohol inks as well.  I like to color with them and my Prisma pencils the most because the colors blend well as long as you stay in the same blending families.  I have a sweet Tilda image colored for a simple Easter card that I will submit as my entry for the challenge since she is completely colored with Copics.  Of course I used Stickles and some sparkly fluff for the bunny's tail. There's flowers and ribbon and all things that scream SPRING!  Did I mention we got 10 inches of fresh fluffy snow here on Friday 4/1/11.  APRIL FOOL'S (not)! 

This little lady is just sweet to me. You can click on the image for closer details. I still have to finish roughing up the edges and add a little stitching but I think this one's for  my mother in law so she loves anything I make for her, perfect or not :)  The inside is simple as well. The best part for me is the airbrushed ground and sky.  Thank God for my ABS 3 system whahoo.....  Not too many complaints with that. 
See, simple.  She'll love it.  Ribbon, flowers, the sentiment is from Close To My Heart stamps.  Paper is old as the hills.  Cardstock is Bazzill of course.  Ribbon is random from my gigantic ribbon jar.  Girls who know me, know me well.....I mean this jar is liken hubbies power tool huge!
     Over at Splitcoast the Products and Image Swap forum is alive and well.  What a great way to get stamped images that you don't have.  Have to pinch pennies ya' know.  I'm waiting for my packet of images from the mega swap.  Hopefully this week.  If you're looking for some fun come over and check it out.  http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums.   Leave a link to your project or an email link so you can be entered in the drawing.

April 26-Heartstrings

Happy Monday everyone. Although today I am a little blue. I dropped off my sweetpea at school today only to have him leave for Nature's classroom. Yes, a whole week without Curtiss. I'm going to go nuts. I thought it would be good practice for the dreaded day he leaves for college, wrong. I miss him already and it's only been 2 hours. UUgghhh, I guess I am a softie.

Despite having dirty hands and no fingernails left from cleaning the flowerbeds I did manage to finish Straight through the heart Tilda in time for the challange. I hope you like it. I decided to make it suitable for an engagement or wedding card rather than another Valentine (have about 20 already). Cutting her out was a bit of a challenge but not impossible. This was a fun one to make because I was determined to use red, white and black! So romantic. Sorry I can be a bit corney in that way. I have to add as well a BIG Thank You to all of you who have left comments on this post today. All I can do is think of C and smile. Only 4 more days to go I guess. Oh, I will be redesigning this blog soon. Time for a change.

Have a great week, Carpe Diem!

Carlotta

Card Recipe: Copics :E00,13,25,29,31,33,35,53,59, R20,22,27,29, Y13,32,BG05(eye), C5, CB0, Red atyou spica, 0.35 multiliner and uniball signo white gel pen, Memento ink of course, Bazzil cardstock, Neenah white, Scrap DP's, Ranger Distress crackle paint and stickles. Cuttlebug and embossing folder, Black velvet ribbon, flowers Magnolia and Creative imaginations. Pearls are from Recollections.

April 24- Definately Spring

Tilda Springtime Scene

Well, since we are a week away from May i'll say it...It's finally spring! As with any part of the country the weather in New England can be quite unpredictable in the spring time. We haven't had too much rain thank goodness. Today it should hit upper 60's. Good for yard work and planting of the flowers. I finished a scene card last night that will be mailed out to a new friend as a thank you. I apolagize for not listing the Copics I used as I was trying to be good and clean up right away. You know, the OCD thing (I obviously did't have enough chocolate while I was working!) I did use 15-20 along with the clear atyou Spica on Tilda's shoes. The DP is Pinecone Press, CS- Bazzill, Flowers- Magnolia & Prima, Embossing powder- Ranger, Distress Ink- Ranger, Pearls- Recollections & The Robin's nest, Sentiment- Close to my Heart. Hope you enjoy.

Besides yardwork today also have to watch Curtiss's 3 on 3 hockey game and go to a birthday party. We already did his packing for Nature's classroom, one chore done. Yahoo! More time for crafting! I will be going to a farewell Crop next Sat. for a local scrapbook store that closed it's doors in March. I'll start packing for that I guess. Have a great weekend all!

Carpe Diem,

Carlotta

April 13, 2010 Firsts- Springtime Tilda

Hi everyone, happy Tuesday. It's nice and sunny here in MA. Took Curtiss golfing yesterday evening, first round of the season. It was nice to just take in the fresh air, and enjoy my son's company. I know it won't be long until it's "Uncool to hang out with mom. It took a little bit but here's my first card using a Magnolia stamp. I'm so excited! I think I will send her out to spread some cheer this weekend as it is supposed to rain.
I figured out how to use the Spellbinders dies in the Revolution machine as I have long been a QuicKutz and Cricuit girl. I just love the Nestabilities though. They are easy to organize and store. (Back to that organization thing again). I really need more hours in a day! "Just to play" of course. My goal with summer coming will be to complete one card and on scrapbook layout per week until school starts again in the fall. I know that without goals and timelines, I get very little done.
Another first about this card is that I actually broke down and used my bowdabra for the first time! I can't believe all the peripherals that have accumulated over the years! I don't think I would ever withstand a move with all this stuff! I guess it could be worse, it could be shoes :)
I lined the inside of the card with DP from Basic Grey from the Sugar rush collection. Everyone will soon see just how crazy I am for Basic Grey paper! The new Tim Holtz line is my runner up. Love it, love it, love it! Hope you have a wonderful start to your spring. With the flowers come the birds, butterflies and barbeques! Bring em' on ski season is over!

The Copic color combination used for the dress: B28, B26, B24, and B21. I also used RV17 for airbrushed edges, Skin: E000, E00, E11, RV21. Waterfall stickles, Prima flowers, The Robin's Nest Dots and Recollections Pearl stickers. Cardstock: Bazzill and DP: Basic Grey

Carpe Diem,
Carlotta

March 27, Winter Again?

Well, it is March right? Outside it's 24 degrees. At least no rain. Well I survived my trip to Long Island for the Copic Certification Course. Oh what fun! I met some wonderful and talented ladies! Hi Anna, Bonnie, Suzanne and Debbie! I purchased a sketch book, more Copics and now practice, practice, practice. Even though I've enjoyed using the makers before attending the course, I didn't realize how much more they can do. I'm hooked on the Airbrush system. I also joined the Magnolia-licious yahoo group. What fun! The stamps are adorable! Will post art soon. Have a wonderful day, wherever the day takes you. Carlotta