Sunday, August 31, 2014

CREATIVE BLOG HOP




I was nominated to take part in the Creative Blog Hop by my friend Fiona Henderson. Fiona has a quick wit and is always trying to help others even when she doesn't feel up to it. She goes above and beyond to be a great co-owner of the Through the Purple Haze Challenges blog. She dedicates a big portion of her time to CHAS (Childen's Hospice of Scotland), where she donates her cards. To learn more about Fiona, visit her blog:
http://ahighlanderflingofcards.blogspot.com/





The Creative Blog Hop happens every Monday and hops from crafter to crafter.

 
We all answer the same questions and nominate 3 people to hop on to so here goes:

 
 
1.   What am I working on?

Right now, I am on 3 Design Teams, Through the Purple Haze Challenges, the Outlawz Sketch Challenge, and I just became a DT member of Through the Craftroom Door magazine. Blogging, making cards, blogging, making cards, blogging....well that is what will be occupying my time. Along with commenting on challenge entries.
 


2.  How does my work differ from others of my genre?


Everyone has their own style. Me? I like to make cards that are more Clean and Simple than Fussy and Fancy. I tend to make "cutesy" cards that are cheerful and fun. I use a lot of pinks and purples in my work. And almost every card has some Copic marker coloring on it.



3. Why do I write/create what I do?


I love the creative outlet that I get. I've always enjoyed crafting and wished that I had more of a drawing talent but this is the next best thing. I love using Copic markers and it is so relaxing, I can literally pass hours of time in my craft room.





4. How does my creation process work?






I have to think about it before I do anything. I can't just sit down and start creating. First, I'll think of what I'm making the card for. Birthday, wedding, get well........... and then I'll pick my image ....sometimes its a digi image for a challenge or maybe it's a rubber stamp that is brand new, or one that I haven't used in ages or maybe it is an all time favorite. I choose my background papers next because I like to match my coloring to the paper. I find it turns out better that way.
 




  Now its time to nominate 3 people for the Blog Hop.
I have to nominate 3 people with blogs.
Its been so difficult to choose as I know so many
wonderful crafters.



So here is my choice of three crafters:-

1. Janet McLaughlin   http://mainelycards.blogspot.com/


Janet and I started as DT's on the Outlawz at about the same time. We soon found out that we had an awful lot in common. We are the same age. We each have one child. And we have many interests in common. Our cards, yard projects, plants, and so much more.
   She is so talented and her coloring is wonderful. It is so much fun to compare notes with her and we chat almost every day. I consider her one of my dearest friends and I can tell her ANYTHING!!






2. Sandra Van Blaricum  http://cardsandcreativity.blogspot.nl/


Sandra is my team leader at the Outlawz and the most gentle, nicest person you could meet. She is so thoughtful and her cards are so full of inspiration to me. If I could color half as well as she does, I would be so happy!! She has great creativity and is one of those people you are happy to call a friend. Sandra is also a leader at Through the Craftroom Door magazine.



3. Linda Kupstas    http://ladybugstampers.blogspot.com/


Linda is one of those people that just make you laugh. And we all need someone like that in our lives. She is a kind, generous lady that I met online about a year ago, I think. We chat sometimes and joke about getting together someday and crafting together! We think our hubbies could just spend the day fishing and we would lock ourselves inside and make cards.   She has taught classes at Joann's and she has such abundant talent in all crafting areas. When you visit her blog, you will see what I mean. Her creations are unique and well designed and she also has great coloring skills. 






Well now you have read my words you can go and enjoy our Blog Hop
with three wonderful crafters...


 








Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Outlawz Wednesday Sketch Challenge August 27

Well this challenge will pretty much wrap up the month of August! Why does summer have to go so fast and winter takes forever????
I made a summery card for the Outlawz Sketch Challenge. Emily Shroom did the awesome challenge post and it is her first one as a DT member!! Congrats, Emily! You rocked it!!

 Wednesday Sketch
The image is Georgia's Daisies and is from Oak Pond Creations which has been our sponsor all month.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/OakPondCreations
Here is the sketch!

 

Here is my card!




I used very few markers for this one. Here are the Copic colors:
B21 Y17 Y13 YG13 YG11 and I used a Bic Mark-It Summer Melon to make the little dots in the flower centers.

Hope you will stop by the OUTLAWZ and see what the other Design Team ladies have made.

Thanks for stopping by.....I appreciate it very much!

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Outlawz Wednesday Sketch Challenge August 20-26




Hello!!!  It's Wednesday and there is a new Sketch Challenge at the Outlawz!



Wednesday Sketch



The sponsor all month of August is Oak Pond Creations. Winner gets 3 free digis from the Etsy shop
 Here is the Sketch! 
 
 And here is my card using Oak Pond Creations image Iris.
 
 I colored the image with Copic markers and added some Gold Stickles. The Dragonfly is made of natural colored wood and so I used my Copic black marker to color the body. The wings were colored with Copic FV2 and then Lavender Stickles added to the wings for sparkle.


For my yellow layer, I used an embossing folder. The sentiment is by Gina K Designs and the bling on the dragonfly is from my stash as is the Pink and Purple papers.


I hope you will visit the Outlawz and see what the other Design Team members came up with. We all used the same image!!


Thanks for coming by!
Darcy
 

Monday, August 18, 2014

Through the Purple Haze Challenges #55 Inspiration Photo

Happy Monday to ya!!!
Today starts Challenge #55 at Through the Purple Haze Challenges!

http://throughthepurplehazechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/





We have two sponsors this week.


www.nikkiburnette.com

www.craftysentimentsdesigns.co.uk


Our theme this week is to use the photo below as our inspiration. It can inspire you in many ways:  Colors, feathers, motion, animals........... I let the colors inspire me and I added feathers, because it isn't every day you get to add feathers to a project!!!




I hope you are able to look at my card and see the inspiration.



My image is Tess-Summer Fun by Crafty Sentiments. I used papers and feathers from my stash and a cute little brown bow to tie the feathers together. I colored my image with Copic markers.

Copic markers I used:
Skin: E000, E00, E11, R04
Hair: E50, E51, E53, E81
Eyes: B63, B66
Dress: RV21, RV23, R32
Shoes: C4
Roses: R83, R85
Leaves: G24, G82
Other flowers: B34, B23, Y08, R000
Shading on ground: G000

A closeup of the image:

A closeup of the feathers:


Hope you will visit Through the Purple Haze Challenges blog and see what the Design Team has come up with!
Challenges I am entering:
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes
Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes
Fan-tastic Tuesday - Anything Goes
Corrosive Challenges - 3 things starting with B ( I used Blooms, Bow, Birthday)
Craft for the Craic - Use something you've never used before ( I used the little mini-bow)
Open Minded Crafting Fun - Last days of summer
The Squirrel and the Fox - Anything Goes








Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Outlawz Sketch Challenge August 13-19





Gee, the month of August is almost half over!  This summer is going way too fast.  We are already into our second week of Sketch Challenges at the Outlawz.
Wednesday Sketch



Kim and the Oak Pond Creations is sponsoring our Sketch Challenge the whole month of August. She will give our August winner three digis from her Etsy shop.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/OakPondCreations




The Sketch





My card was easy to put together. It is a 5 by 7 inch card and I used papers from my stash.

 
My image is Hibiscus from Oak Pond images. I colored it with copic markers.

Challenges I am entering:
Digi Galore - Anything Goes
Fan-tastic Tuesday - Anything Goes
Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create - Summer
Crafty Girls Challenge - Anything Goes


Have a great week!!







 


Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Outlawz Sketch Challenge August 6-12

Welcome to August and a new month of sketches at the Outlawz Sketch Challenge.


Wednesday Sketch


 Kim and the Oak Pond Creations is sponsoring our Sketch Challenge the whole month of August. She will give our August winner three digis from her Etsy shop.










Here is our sketch for this week. I used the sketch to make a topper for a gift bag. 
 
 
 
 My image is Marie's Strawberries from Oak Pond Creations. After coloring the image with my Copic markers, I got out my Cuttlebug and Spellbinders Circles and Scalloped Circles Nestabilities Dies and just started cutting layers. The very bottom layer is heat embossed with Stardust embossing powder to add some sparkle.
 



My gift bag is a red metallic gift sack and was pretty boring until I put this topper on. The camera picked up a lot of glare from the bag, so I cropped most of it away to be less distracting.
Here are my colors I used with the copic markers. Accents on the leaves are with a Sharpie white painter pen.


Berries: R35, R14 R11, YR07, E09 OVER THE SEEDS, C3 FOR SHADING.
Leaves:  YG25, YG61, YG63
Blossoms: Y13, YG25
Background: YR000, YR00, 0


I hope you will drop by the Outlawz and take a look at our sketch challenge and all the other challenges! We have a new one starting every day!

Monday, August 4, 2014

Through the Purple Haze Challenges #53 Sweet Summer

Welcome to another challenge at Through the Purple Haze Challenges.  Our theme this week is Sweet Summer.


This week we are sponsored by Sassy Studio

http://buysassystudiodesigns.blogspot.no/ 




The image I received was from Sassy Studio Designs and it is Strawberry Shortcake!

 

I used decorated papers for my background layers. The camera didn't really pick up the right shade for the first layer. It is more of a green than a brown. I used some Anna Griffin dies to make some swirly elements.


I colored the image with Copic markers.
Skin: E000, E00, E11, R20
Hair: Y21, Y23, Y26
Lips: R27, R01
Hat and clothes: R29, R27, RV23, RV21, R32, R24
Floor: T4, R11
Leaf on Strawberry: FYG2

I'm entering these challenges!
 613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes Optional Friendship Day
Creative Corner - Summer
Digi Galore - Anything Goes
Fan-tastic Tuesday - Anything Goes 
Crafty Girls - Anything Goes
 
Hope you have a great week!