A Butterfly

It is handy to have a stash of previously colored images – they whip up into a card fairly quickly!  Here is yet another of my pre-colored images that made it onto a card:

It cannot really be seen, but the background behind the butterfly is embossed in a woodgrain pattern.  And the also-barely-visible thread there is gold and sparkly.

Thanks for stopping by today. 😉
-Ally

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Butterfly Image (Hampton Arts); Keep It Simple – Thinking of You (PTI)
Paper/Cardstock:  White (Xpedx); True Black (PTI)
Inks:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Versamark; Copic Markers
Embellishments:  Rhinestones (Recollections, Kaisercraft); Misc Gold Thread
Tools:  Woodgrain Impression Plate (PTI); Mat Stack 4 Mega Die (PTI)

A Sunflower, Just Because

Another card with a hand-colored image that has been patiently waiting in my files for oh so long:

It is always so fulfilling to finally use the images I’ve colored on a card – you know, like, now my life is complete.  Or something.

Thanks for stopping by today. 😉
-Ally

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Sunflowers (Flourishes); Friendly Flowers (PTI)
Paper/Cardstock:  White (Xpedx);  Smokey Shadow, Pure Poppy, Pure Poppy DP (PTI)
Inks:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Copic Markers
Embellishments:  Rhinestones (Recollections)
Tools:  Stitched Mat Rectangle Die (Lil Inker)

Sweet Strawberry

Another card with coloring – this one using an image that I colored loooooooong ago, back when I first began experimenting with Copic markers.  The poor thing has been sitting in my files since about late 2012, oh my!  I think this is what you might call ‘closure.’  Haha!

A little strip of Pure Poppy gingham DP on the side, some embossed polka-dots in the background (barely visible!), and some sweet, sweet hand-colored strawberries – done!

Thanks for stopping by today. 😉
-Ally

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Strawberries (Flourishes); Fresh Picked (Wplus9)
Paper/Cardstock:  White (Xpedx);  Smokey Shadow, Pure Poppy DP (PTI)
Inks:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Pure Poppy (PTI); Copic Markers
Embellishments:  Rhinestones (Recollections, Kaisercraft)
Tools:  Polka-dot Impression Plate (PTI)

Speaking of Coloring Images, Though…

There is something so fun and relaxing about sitting down with my Copic markers and some images to color.  I love to just sit and color!

One thing I have avoided, though, is coloring images of people.  I tend to think, “If I can’t make it look realistic at all, why bother!”  So, I obviously haven’t bothered at all.  Haha!

I did finally take out my MFT Pure Innocence image to practice coloring people features, then I included it on this card:

What do you think?  Not too bad, for one of my first attempts?

Well, anyway, it was fun to color.  And I look forward to trying more in the future.

Thanks for stopping by today. 😉
-Ally

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Sweet Birthday Wishes (MFT); Communique Curve Sentiments (PTI)
Paper/Cardstock:  White (Xpedx); Dark Chocolate, Classic Craft DP, Pure Poppy DP (PTI)
Inks:  Tuxedo Black (Memento);  Pure Poppy (PTI);  Copic Markers
Embellishments:  Rhinestones (Recollections, Kaisercraft); Glitter Pen (Wink of Stella)
Tools:  Ribbon Banner Die (Simon Says Stamp); Sweet Birthday Wishes Die (MFT); Stitched Rectangle Mat Die (Lil Inker)

Hello There, Yellow and Blue

Not sure why I felt the need to try the ColourQ challenge #296 color scheme, but I gave it a go.  I also used Freshly Made Sketches #192.  Just having some fun, creating.

Thanks for stopping by today. 😉
-Ally

Challenge Photos:
Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Hennah Elements (Altnew); Fancy Flourishes, Scripted (Papertrey Ink)
Paper/Cardstock:  White (Xpedx); Enchanted Evening Striped DP, Lemon Tart (PTI)
Inks:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Harvest Gold, Enchanted Evening (PTI); Marina Mist (SU); Copic markers
Embellishments:  Rhinestones, Enamel Dots (Recollections)

Copic Marker Class Day 8 – Card 3

Summer was non-stop crazy, and I always look forward to the slow-down that comes with Autumn.  It has been nice to find a little time this past week to be creative.  It is a welcome distraction from some of the things that have been occupying my mind and life lately.

I’m still busy enough that I haven’t been able to accomplish all that I’d like to with this Copic marker class, but I hope to catch up in my practice time soon.

For the time being, I have one more card to share that displays one of my practice images.

This card reminds me of Pepto Bismol, with all this pink and red.  But after spending way too much time considering other layouts and color combinations, I finally ran out of time and just quickly finished it off with my ‘easy way out’ combo – white, embossing folder, and gems.

I think this will be a good card for my Princess M on her birthday next month.

Thanks for stopping by today. 😉
-Ally

Supplies Used:
* Sentiment (Friendly Flowers – PTI)
* Embossing folder (Stampin’ Up)
* Stitched rectangle die (Lil Inker Designs)
* Banner die (PTI)
* Twine (The Twinery)

Copic Marker Class Day 8 – Card 2

Here is the next card I created using a practice image from class:

The image – from Clearly Besotted Stamps’ Happy Everything set – is spritzed with a little glitter spray.  The sentiment is from Annabelle Stamps’ Fanciful Flowers set.

Thanks for stopping by today. 😉
-Ally

Copic Marker Class Day 8

It is officially time to put our practice images from class onto a card.

My card contains an image that I colored using one of the difficult color combinations from Day 7.   I was initially hesitant to use the bold red markers.  It just felt like there was way too much color there for me to use without making a huge mess of it!  But after practicing a bit, I can see myself using these types of bold color again.

Here is the card I created with my practice image:

The embossing is from the Cuttlebug Modern Wallpaper folder, the banner die is by My Favorite Things, and I used a couple of my new PTI Shakers & Sprinkles dies for the circle frame.  The sentiment is from PTI’s Gracious Vases stamp set.

Pretty simple.

Thanks for visiting today.  Hope you all have a great week ahead! 😉
-Ally

Online Copic Class – Day 2

Wow.  I haven’t done this blog thing in a long time!  It feels a little weird. 😉

Coming out of the ashes here to participate in the Online Copic Markers class – just need a place to post my assignments and get them into the gallery.  Today’s assignment is to do some blending with 3 alternative techniques.  I used the feathering technique to color a few butterflies in between a bit of a hectic schedule.

Here are the butterflies I colored:

And then I decided to actually turn one of them into a card:

A little out of practice, but it felt so comforting to be creative.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Hope this finds you all well and happy.  😉
-Ally

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Butterfly from class practice sheets; Kind Words (Verve)
Paper/Cardstock:  White (Michaels brand); Soft Stone (PTI)
Inks:  Smoky Slate (SU!); Copic Markers
Embellishments:  Rhinestones (Recollections); Glitter Spray
Tools:  Mehndi Impression Plate (PTI); Fancy Flourish Die (MFT

Wplus9 Birthday – Trend Challenge

Here with something for the Wplus9 Birthday Trend Watch Challenge.

Okay, so I’ll just confess it right now, first thing – I am probably THE least trendy person around.  I’m clueless about trendy things, and by the time I embrace a trendy thing, it is likely to have not been trendy any more for the last 5-10 years.  So, I’m grateful that Dawn gave us a selection of trends, to help clue me in!

I went with diagonal stripes & sequins for this card:

Pulled out my Onesie Twosie stamps and die sets for this, in addition to the Heartfelt Mix stamps and dies.

Thanks for stopping by today. 😉
-Ally

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Heartfelt Mix, Onesie Twosie (Wplus9)
Paper/Cardstock:  White Cardstock (Xpedx); Winter Wisteria Cardstock and Patterned Papers, Soft Stone Patterned Papers (PTI)
Inks:  Plum Pudding, Winter Wisteria (PTI); Copic Markers
Embellishments:  Sequins
Tools:  Heart Dies, Onesie Die (Wplus9); Stitched Mat Rectangle Die (Lil Inker)