So Excited!

I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. Let's just say that this blog has been under construction and is almost ready to have its facelift unveiled. I will be singing the praises of VK Design Co. for a long, long time. Hope you all love it as much as I do. Now there should be no lack of motivation to sit down and journal this whirlwind adventure that we all call life. I am also working on a developing a monthly challenge to help inspire and motivate everyone to dabble and explore their own inner creativity. Lighting the perverbial fire under each other! I'm not sure if it will be a color/theme challenge or a sketch challenge just yet. I love both but don't want to be too limiting. Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated as there wasn't too much interest in the Tuesday's Technique challenge. In the near future I will also be looking to put together a DT for the challenge. I'd love any ideas you come up with. Just leave a comment on this post. Since it is almost Halloween I feel the need to make something with a goul or gobblin on it. If you have a creation you'd like to show off just leave a comment and we'll get Mr. linkie busy! Hope everyone is having a good week so far. No rain in New England today yahoo (I think we may be on a roll). Although I should bite my tongue because it could be snowing right now somewhere. Carpe Diem and be safe. Carlotta

Fall's splendors

The foliage here in New England is almost at its peak. Gorgeous to say the very least. Soon the snow will fly and some of us will be stranded with nothing more to do but scrap and stamp! Yahoo! Sign me up. For anyone who would like to join, I have a winter image swap open over at splitcoast stampers. Here's the link if you'd like:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/products-images-f112/new-open-holiday-image-swap-happy-holidays-all-t539674.html

Also it's a very exciting time for my blog. Veronica from VK designs is working on my new design. I figured that after two years, it deserved an overhaul or rather a transformation :) If you get a chance you should hop over to her site to check out the beautiful work she has done. It's WELL worth the wait! You can check it out over at http//www.VKdesigncompany.com. Another addition to the site will be a photo gallery for inspiration (and a place to call home for my creations). I've added some music via a playlist at the bottom of my blog as well for you to enjoy if you like. I chose not to have it turn on automatically because when I stumble upon sites that do this, it nearly scares the bejesus out of me!

So sunny boy is having a friend over today. Maybe I'll do a little baking. I've got apples to use up and got a couple good recipes over at NestleFamily.com that I'm itching to try. It's funny how every week end gets jam packed with stuff to do but during the week, there's only enough time to cook and clean. Must have something to do with that dirty four letter word......work! Oh, good grief, I almost forgot, from now on, my video of the week I'm going to try and just feature coloring tutorials and techniques. It seems that that is what the majority of people have questions about. There is also a new resource page full of copic color combinations to get the newbies started out. I'd like to share a photo with you all that I took this morning standing out on my deck. It sure screams fall to me. Grab a cup of apple cider and enjoy your day! Carpe Diem, Carlotta

TGIF to all!

Well its been 10 years since the 9-11 act against the U.S. Hard to believe, since it seems like just yesterday. The news clips and images seem so fresh. This is one part of American history I wish could be rewritten. Unfortunately our children's children will be asking us about it someday. It will be recollected again and again, so many different ways, with so many different emotions but with common thread....There were so many brave and caring people who tried to help. It made New York City and the entire U.S. a kinder place. People helping people. From here in Boston to Washington D.C. to California and Alaska. We all felt something, a desire to help.
I will watch the memorial on Sunday with both sadness and joy. Joy only in knowing that the families of those lost have managed to fight through and grow. Living, in the aftermath. I send a prayer to them all and gently reaffirm, WE WILL NEVER FORGET!
For a lighter note, hop on over to Susana's custom art and card design site for a peek at all the new and cute stamps by Sylvia Zet. OMG, another collection I'm going to have to purchase! You can find them here. http//www.susanascustomartandcarddesign.com

Hope everyone has a nice weekend and take advantage of any warm weather that may come our way. It won't be long till' the white stuff flies ;)

Carpe Diem,
Carlotta

Well it's about time.

Okay, okay, it's been a while. It seems these days that i'm burning the candle at both ends. It seems with each month I get busier and busier and the one thing I let go is the blog. So, this is my early New Year's resolution to not do that any more. I guess I was a little discouraged with the Tuesday's Technique challenge that I just couldn't get off the ground. It seems that the idea of using a specific technique on a card was intimidating for some folk which I can totally understand. So What I will do is beginning Tuesday July 5th I have revised the Tuesday's Technique challenge to become Tuesday's Tadah! That way people will be more apt to participate using whatever technique, project or other art form that they wish. I have noticed a lot of untraditional pieces that are sooooo.....beautiful. There are some frames and lampshades to die for. Remember that Copic or alcohol markers can and should be used on any and everything. I will post additional specifics of the revised challenge tonight. And for those of you last minute gals, i'm hosting a summer image swap over at splitcoast stampers look for "Last Call" subject heading. It's about to close but we would love to have you join us. I'll chat more this evening. Off to play mom's taxi and then finish up the Copic color combination reference sheet for everyone. Chao and Carpe Diem,

Carlotta :)

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.

Tuesday's Technique Challenge

     Happy Tuesday to all.  Today mark's challenge #1 of Tuesday's Technique. Being the first challenge it can contain as many techniques as you like.  Any color theme you like, any season you like, just complete it! You can use any companies images that you like for this as well.  I love all the vendors you know. This challenge has been created to bring all of those stamping and crafting techniques that we learned somewhere along the way back into our focus.  I want to continue to grow as an artist and maybe teach and inspire a little bit along the way.  I am first a photographer so I tend to see things a bit differently anyways.  But, I can't tell you how many techniques I use regularly that I learned through various classes and web sites along the way.  I still over use http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ I can't help it. I also love Technique junkie newsletters as it's jam packed with ideas.  I also use the VSN (Vamp Stamp News) magazine a lot!!!!  The March 2011 issue which you can find at your local stamp and scrapbooking stores contains an  awesome amount of info on Alcohol Inks (Copics) and PhotoShop Elements (Digital  Scrapbookers or photo buffs).
     I can honestly say that my favorite technique is heat embossing.  Especially in the winter months.  (I'm always cold ya know).    For today I just want to give you  an example with a recent card I created.  My official entry will come this weekend.  I don't have a design team yet but hopefully soon.  VK designs will be redesigning this blog to reflect the upcoming growth and change, both on creativity and ideas but also on digital designs as well.  When everything comes together I will be calling for submissions of all techniques, cards, layouts and altered art. I think layouts sometimes get the short end so please try stamping for a layout or two (that's a great technique). I so don't believe that an artist is one or the other: stamper or scrapper!   Please don't forget to scroll to the bottom of the blog to the resources area because I try to add free  informational pages when I can.  I also upload info files to the Magnolia-licious web group as well and feel free to capitolize on all the wonderful international talent and inspirational talent that you will find there.  Enough said, let's get too it...See how many techniques I used on my smiles card.

Let's count.  1. Dry embossing, 2.  Background stamping, 3. Image layering, 4. Copic coloring.  Four techniques.  Let's see what you can come up with by the end of the month.  Link to your blog or photo gallery or other gallery leaving a direct link   and you could win the candy of the month.  This is a work in progress.  Be patient and grow with me.
 Carpe Diem, Carlotta

                                                                          

And the winner is.....

Cricket. You won the blog candy.  Please email me your two mini choices and address.Blustery day today.  If you're lucky enough to have the day off today, cuddle up with a good book and blankie.  No snow though which is good.  Hope everyone has a technique in mind that they want to use for the upcoming challenge on tuesday.  I just might try my hand at paper piecing.  We'll see...Time to start the day...Carpe Diem,
Carlotta