One Final Mermaid for MerMay 2020

I managed to color one more mermaid for MerMay. I'm still feeling sad, after losing someone I loved very much earlier this week, and coloring is helping me keep my mind off of it.

The main image is a digital stamp called Siren by Krista Smith Stamps.

My card measures 6" x 6", and my colored panel is 5.5" x 5.5". I colored the mermaid and scene with Copics and layered her on a My Favorite Things floral-patterned paper. I created the clouds by using the Cloud Stencil as my guide and drawing the lines with my lightest blue Copic marker (then shading later). I stamped some birds from a Hero Arts kit and a sentiment from the Friends with Fins stamp set (My Favorite Things). A few Amethyst Swarovski crystals completed the card.

List of all stamps/dies used on this card:

• Siren digital stamp (Krista Smith Stamps)
• Cloud stencil (My Favorite Things) 
• June 2018 My Monthly Hero Kit (Hero Arts)
• Friends with Fins stamp set (My Favorite Things)

I hope you enjoyed this project and have a wonderful day!

High Tide, Low Tide Mermaid

I wanted to color at least one more mermaid for MerMay. It's been a really rough week, as I've been dealing with the grief and pain from losing someone I loved dearly, so I've tried to use coloring as a way to distract myself.

The main image is a digital stamp called Mermaid Shoujo by Lemon Shortbread.

My card measures 6" x 6". I colored the mermaid and scene with Copics and layered her on a My Favorite Things chevron-patterned paper. I added some sparkly, gold accents in her hair and around the top of her clothing with gold Stickles. (Sadly, they don't show up well in the photo.) I also added some gold 3D stickers (crab and starfish, although the starfish is covered by my watermark) and blue glass drops. Finally, I added a sentiment from the Friends with Fins stamp set (My Favorite Things), popped up with foam dots.

List of all stamps/dies used on this card:

• Mermaid Shoujo digital stamp (Lemon Shortbread)
• Friends with Fins stamp set (My Favorite Things)

I hope you enjoyed this project and have a wonderful day!

Girl with Falling Flowers

For today's card, I used a lovely digital image (available to members of Julie Rabischung's Facebook Group) to create a wistful, soft floral card.

This was the first time I've colored any artwork by Julie Rabischung, and I absolutely love this gorgeous girl. I kept everything fairly simple so the focus would remain on the girl. A year ago, I would've told you my LEAST favorite thing to color (and Achilles' heel) was hair. Now, after practicing over and over for months, hair is one of my FAVORITE things to color! I don't know if "practice makes perfect," but it certainly makes the process easier and more enjoyable.

My card measures 5" x 7". I colored everything with Copics. After I matted the 6.75" x 4.75" colored image on a pale, pink cardstock, I added some 3D paper flowers from my stash and some clear Swarovski crystals. I didn't add a sentiment, as I felt the card already had enough going on.

If you'd like this image, please join the artist's Facebook group or visit her Etsy store (Fantasy Art and Crafts). (I am not compensated for this recommendation, the project or the links and simply want to support great artists.)

I hope you enjoyed this project and have a wonderful day!

Flower Fairy Floral Card

In today's card, I used a lovely digital stamp (Flower Fairy by Sweet Escape Digis) to create a floral, feminine card.

I had some soft, teal, fabric flowers in my stash and decided to use colors that complemented them. (I have WAY too many embellishments in my stash and need to start using them!)

My card measures 6" x 6". I colored the lady with Copics and layered her on a Lawn Fawn plaid-patterned paper. I used the Romantic Corner die (Elizabeth Crafts) on some gold Mirri Sparkle Paper for two of the corners and glued the fabric flowers/leaves on the other two corners. Finally, I added some pearls to her crown and earring. I didn't add a sentiment, as I didn't want to make the card too crowded. (I already practically had to sit on my hands to keep myself from adding crystals and other bling!)

List of all stamps/dies used on this card (any links are for your convenience, as I do not profit from them in any way):

• Flower Fairy digital stamp (Sweet Escape Digis)
• Romantic Corner die set (Elizabeth Craft Designs)

I hope you enjoyed this project and have a wonderful day!

Inner Peace at Home

With everything going on in the world, I'm finding my inner peace at home - and I suspect you are, too.

In today's card, the main character is finding her center at home... and her dog wants to help! This lovely yoga lady is a digital stamp by Stamp Anniething.

My card measures 5" x 6.5". I colored everything with Copics and cut out the two characters with my Scan N Cut. I created the background separately (using a few digital stamps by The Greeting Farm), added a bunch of details (like stripes on the couch) with my trusty pencil, and drew a yoga mat. I created the sentiment on my computer, and I popped up all of the characters and the sentiment with foam dots.

List of all stamps used on this card (any links are for your convenience, as I do not profit from them in any way):

• Namaste digital stamp (Stamp Anniething)
• Hello from Home digital stamp set (The Greeting Farm)
• Desktop digital stamp set (The Greeting Farm)
• Les Chiens (dogs) stamp set (Katzelkraft)

I hope you enjoyed this project and are finding your inner peace, too!

Get Ready to Shellebrate!

Today, I created a happy, interactive card featuring crabs jumping on a beach. Let's SHELLEBRATE!

I decided to go in an unconventional direction and use the "props" (or side characters) from the main digital stamp sets: the crabs! I thought they deserved some time to shine because they're SO DARNED CUTE. On this card, they're just so happy to "sea" you!

My card measures 4.25" x 5.5". I resized the the crabs to 2" wide (each). After I die cut the card base (with the slits for the mechanism), I used several stencils (Wave Maker and Mini Clouds) and a mask cut from the Rolling Hills die for the beach. Because the elements have to slide up and down, it was important to keep the base at a single layer.

I colored all images with Copics and used my Scan n Cut to cut out the crabs. Next, I used a fun, interactive die set to create movement on the card. Check out the video below!

My Favorite Things provides an instruction video for the Interactive Up & Down Die Set on their website, and I followed those instructions to create my card. It was challenging the first time, but it will be much easier the next time I make a card. Once I assembled the card, I typed and printed a sentiment and popped it up with foam dots.

List of all stamps and dies used on this card:

• Chibi Cancer Zodiac Kit digital stamp set (Stampers Delights)
• Anime Cancer Zodiac Kit digital stamp set (Stampers Delights) 
• Rolling Hills Die-Namics (My Favorite Things)
• Interactive Up & Down Die-Namics (My Favorite Things)
• Wave Maker Stencil (My Favorite Things) 
• Mini Cloud Edges Stencil (My Favorite Things)
• Interactive Labels stamp set (My Favorite Things)

Have one shell of a good day!

Just Keep Swimming!

This week, I created a card featuring the Anime Zodiac Pisces digital stamp kit from Stampers Delights.

This mermaid is so lovely that I wanted her as the main element, with a few small friends joining her. I imagined that this mermaid's best friends (and spirit animals, perhaps?) are sea turtles!

This is a "slimline" card, which means it's (at least) twice as tall as it is wide. The card measures 4" x 8". I colored everything with Copics and cut out the mermaid and sea turtles with my Scan n Cut. The background is a quick Distress Oxide blend (Salty Ocean, Mermaid Lagoon, and Peacock Feathers). The sentiment is from the Just Keep Swimming Hero Arts stamp set.. I popped up all of the characters and the sentiment with foam dots and added a few clear Pretty Pink Posh clear crystal drops for a little sparkle.

.List of all stamps used on this card:

• Anime Zodiac Pisces digital stamp kit (Stampers Delights)
• Turtles from the Kit & Clowder Underwater Magic Coloring Class (August 2018)
• Just Keep Swimming stamp set (Hero Arts)

I hope you enjoyed this project, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Happy Crafting!

Alice and Mad Hatter Slimline Cards

This week, I created a pair of slimline cards, featuring cards based on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Presenting: Alice and the Mad Hatter!

Both cards are "slimline," meaning they're at least twice as tall as they are wide. (The Alice card measures 7" x 3.5", and the Mad Hatter card is 7.25" x 3.5".)

I created the Alice card first and then felt she needed her partner in crime, the Mad Hatter! Both images are part of a digital pack of stamps from Sweet Escape Digis. I printed both of them several months ago and finally got around to coloring them.

I colored Alice with Copics, cut her out with my Scan 'n Cut, and popped her up with foam dots. I created the sentiment in MS Word and found the background paper in one of my oldest cardstock books. (Seriously, I bought that book when I first started cardmaking about 5 years ago!) I added a few pearls, since I thought they fit the vintage theme.

I followed the same process for the Mad Hatter: coloring with Copics, cutting her out and mounting her on foam. I created the sentiment in MS Word and added the black pinstripe and neon green cardstocks. The diamond strip is actually from a spool of ribbon that's ALSO been in my stash for years! Finally, I added a few Peridot Swarovski crystals.

I hope you have an impossibly good day, and if it's your "unbirthday"... well, Happy Unbirthday!!

Happy Crafting!

Keep Your Fin Up with Chibi Marina Mermaid

Today, I created a card featuring the Chibi Marina Mermaid digital stamp from Stampers Delights. This stamp is brand new, part of the May 2020 release!

When I saw the stamp, I decided that Marina Mermaid should be part of a Mermazing Monochromatic Marine Masterpiece! (How's that for alliteration, mmhmm?)

My card measures 5" x 6.5". I decided to color her hair in the lightest blue shades, and I just keep reaching for blue markers as I continued coloring... so the card ended up being monochromatic! I colored Marina and her fishy friend with Copics and created a very simple background (a few marine silhouette images stamped in blue on a baby blue cardstock). I popped up Marina, the fish, and the sentiment with foam dots. No crazy mechanisms or sparkly embellishments this time, just a lovely mermaid and encouraging sentiment.

.List of all stamps used on this card:

• Chibi Marina Mermaid digital stamp (Stampers Delights)
• Just Keep Swimming stamp set (Hero Arts)
• Color Layering Octopus stamp set (Hero Arts)

I hope you have a fintastic day!

Happy Crafting!

Chibi Delphin Mermaid Catching Fireflies

Today, I created a card featuring the Chibi Delphin Mermaid digital stamp from Stampers Delights. This stamp is brand new, part of the May 2020 release!

This sweet lady is originally featured underwater (with a fish friend), but I imagined that she heard that human children sometimes catch (and release) fireflies. Net in hand, she's ready to try catching one, too!

My card measures 6" x 6". I added some fireflies from free ClipArt online, and then I colored everything with Copics. I added a sentiment (popped up with foam dots) and some Sunflower Swarovski crystals to make the fireflies even more magical. Here's another photo to show you those details:

.List of all stamps used on this card:

• Chibi Delphin Mermaid digital stamp (Stampers Delights)
• Magical Unicorns stamp set (My Favorite Things)
• Free ClipArt online (fireflies)

I hope you enjoyed this project, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Happy Crafting!

Anime Let's Make Waves from Stampers Delights

This week, I created a card featuring the Anime Let's Make Waves digital stamp from Stampers Delights. This stamp is brand new, part of the May 2020 release!

This gorgeous lady is very regal, so I decided to focus solely on her and not add more characters. I colored her in power colors (red and gold!) and kept everything else fairly neutral, so she shines.

My card measures 5" x 7", and the mermaid takes up most of that space. I colored everything with Copics and cut out the mermaid/rock with my Scan n Cut. The background is a quick Distress Oxide blend, splattered with water, and then I used the Ray of Light stencil and Gina K Glitz Gel (white) to create sparkly rays of light. The Glitz Gel is SO, SO SPARKLY! A few underwater plants (from the Hero Arts die set), colored with Copics, completed the scene. I also added Swarovski crystals to her crown and took another photo to show you those details:

I typed and printed the sentiment from my computer. I felt like the card needed some green, so I die-cut a few pieces of seaweed and colored them with Copics. I popped up the mermaid on her rock and the front piece of seaweed with foam dots.

.List of all stamps and dies used on this card:

• Anime Let's Make Waves stamp set (Stampers Delights)
• Coral Fancy Dies (Hero Arts)
• Ray of Light stencil (My Favorite Things)

I hope you enjoyed this project, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Happy Crafting!

Chibi Best of Fishes from Stampers Delights

This week, I created a card featuring the Chibi Best of Fishes digital stamp from Stampers Delights. This stamp is brand new, part of the May 2020 release! (You can see the newly-added items in the store HERE.)

I love these adorable mermaids, so I decided to keep the card fairly simple: mermaids, a few jellyfish, a sentiment, and some crystals. No crazy mechanisms or crowded scenes for these beauties!

My card measures 5" x 7", and the mermaids take up most of that space. I colored everything with Copics and cut out the mermaids and jellyfish with my Scan n Cut. The mermaids are so lovely, and I wanted to do them justice, so I spent nearly 3 days working on them! The background is a quick Distress Oxide blend, splattered with water. I typed and printed the sentiment from my computer. I popped up all of the characters and the sentiment with foam dots and added a few clear Swarovski crystals for a little sparkle.

.List of all stamps used on this card:

• Chibi Best of Fishes stamp set (Stampers Delights)
• Chibi Capricorn Zodiac Kit (Stampers Delights)

I hope you enjoyed this project, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Happy Crafting!

Fishy Surprise with Stampers Delights' Facebook Progressive Challenge

Today, I created a cute fishy card (with an interactive surprise) using digital stamps from the Stampers Delights' Facebook Progressive Challenge. The digital stamps in the Progressive Challenge are free, as long as you join the Stampers Delight's Facebook page and upload a picture of your project to the photo album.

This month's free stamp set includes the fish bowl, two different fish, and several items you can use to build a scene. I combined several images from the free digital stamp package with some other digital stamps: the castle is from the Chibi Pisces Zodiac Kit and the crab is from the Anime Cancer Zodiac Kit.

My card measures 5" x 6.5". I resized the fishbowl to 4" tall and adjusted everything else around that element. The cat is actually a VERY small stamp (about 0.5" tall), and I scanned and enlarged it to 2" x 2.5". The lines got fuzzy, so I had to redraw them (after coloring my image) with my C10 Copic marker. (I spent nearly two hours searching for a comparable digi stamp online and couldn't find anything I liked, so I had to adapt with the stamps I had on hand.)

I colored all images with Copics and used my Scan n Cut to cut out the various images (fishbowl, cat, and crab). Next, I used a fun, interactive die set to create a surprise element on the card... Want to see why the fish look so nervous? Check out the video below!

My Favorite Things provides an instruction video for the Double Slider Loop Slots Set on their website, and I followed those instructions to create my card. I have to admit that I found this mechanism VERY difficult to make, so I don't know if I'll use it again anytime soon. Once I assembled the card, I popped up the crab with foam dots and added some Aquamarine Swarovski crystals for a little sparkle.

Here's the card after you pull the interactive tab:

List of all stamps and dies used on this card:

• Free digital stamps from the Stampers Delights Facebook Progressive Challenge (May 2020)
• Chibi Pisces Zodiac Kit digital stamp set (Stampers Delights) 
• Anime Cancer Zodiac Kit digital stamp set (Stampers Delights) 
• 1" Circle Punch (Stampin' Up) - used to create the arched cutout above the pull tab
• Double Slider Loop Slots Die-Namics (My Favorite Things)
• Interactive Pull Tab Die-Namics (My Favorite Things)
• Cool Cat stamp set (My Favorite Things) (resized)
• Interactive Labels stamp set (My Favorite Things)

I hope you enjoyed this project, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Happy Crafting!