Suzy Bee's Challenge - Monochrome

Hi, All!

Today's cards are a couple in the bunch of Easter cards made yesterday.

I always look forward to Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge with a twist - and after spending hours on the first card (my eClips wasn't playing nice), I see this week's challenge twist is just what I had been working on - monochrome.

For the lacy background I welded together four pieces of Serenade Lace (SVGCuts) with a 1/4" border.  The flowers are from Wedding Card with Flower (SVG Shop).

Below is another Easter card I made - and when finished, thought "rather monochrome!"  Ha - who would know it would be perfect for Suzy Bee's challenge?  The image here is Bunny and Chick Topper (Bugaboo).

Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge

We all wait in great anticipation to learn if the groundhog sees his shadow!  Here in Arizona, it doesn't much matter - as our weather is pretty near always fabulous (I write this while it has been raining non-stop for 24 hours - a rarity!)  This card, though, shares the fun I have with a friend - we have always made a point of reconnecting on Groundhog Day.  You'll also notice to faux stitching on my card - for entry into Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge - Anything Goes with a Twist.  This week's twist is stitching - faux or real.  Join in the fun at Suzy Bee's - you're sure to love the fabulous cards you'll find there...get inspired and start creating your own card with stitching today!

Image from Speech Room News.

Happy Spring!

I love playing along with Suzy Bee's Weekly Challenge - this week's challenge is ATG with sparkle!  Be sure to take a peak at all the sparkly entries!

My inspiration today came from Kim Paley at Crafts U Print with her Butterfly Scroll Frame.  However, I didn't care for my first card....though I like the idea of the butterfly frame.  So more searching lead me to SVG Cuts Butterfly Garden Frame Collection...I was so inspired by the Butterfly Garden frame - but wanted to move the butterflies around.  After hitting a variety of buttons - I found by using Exclude on eCal I could weld the butterfly to the frame and get the cut I want.  I had an amazing time....made eight cards, with four more to go!  here are four I made with "sparkle" - glittered butterflies.

Suzy Bee's Challenge - Cards to Inspire You

This past week was extremely busy.  After a quick & crazy trip to Las Vegas last weekend, the week just hasn't stopped.  But dropping some things - finished with my One-Stroke class - quitting my day job (but not to become a painter - lol!).  I keep thinking I'm freeing up time - but I find as I'm making plans with others, we are now into February and March!  Guess it never stops.

But, as always, I try to get some cards in on the weekend - and here is the first card I've made in over a week.  It's perfect to let someone know you're thinking of them after the loss of their pet.

I'm also attempting to figure out just what is my favorite way of coloring digis - so you will see more of this little guy as I try to color him using Copics, Distress Pens, Colored Pencils - and whatever other items I've spent all my money on to find the perfect medium for me.  :D  This digital from 2 Cute Ink is colored using Adobe Photoshop.  While I love the perfect blending everyone else gets with their markers - I am thinking I may just end up coming back to this method for my favorite.  We'll see.

Suzy Bee's Blooming Challenge this week is ATG with a Twist - Stripes.  I made this card this morning before checking out Suzy Bee's - but since I had a striped background, am entering it in the Challenge.  Will make more striped cards later today to include.  Be sure to check out Suzy Bee's for some amazing inspiration!

Here is my second card - this time colored using EK Success Pigment Markers.  These don't blend - though with patience you can darken areas by going over them several times. 

Here's card #3 - colored with Copic Markers.  So far - no front runner...LOL!  But because of my heavy hand, I do prefer markers with hard tips.  I find it very hard to "stay in the lines" with Copics - the tips are too soft - but I'm pretty pleased with the pup.

This next card was colored with PrismaColors colored pencils and baby oil.  I think what I especially like about working with PrismaColors is that I don't fear of my ink running out mid-project.  With markers, there really is no way of telling how much ink is in your pen - I'm not fond of refilling - but replacing gets expensive.  With light colors, it's even sometimes hard to even be able to tell if there is ink there.  Of all the images so far, I think the flower looks best using PrismaColors.  I want to add - I just learned about blending with PrismaColors.  Many people use Gasmol or mineral spirits.  In my YouTube search for this, I saw a video for using baby oil instead.  I tried both - I prefer baby oil...the end product is nice and smooth.  With my hard touch, with mineral spirits I tended to blend so hard, I would almost tear a hole in the cardstock.

Okay, last one for the night.  This next card uses Distress Markers.  The YouTube video I watched for this technique uses a craft mat.  I don't keep mine out all the time - it's stored rolled up as I purchased it.  So to pull out this huge craft mat when I want to do some quick coloring wasn't ideal.  I just purchased a Sizzix crease pad - the packing material included two plastic sheets - perfect!  Small enough to be handy all the time.

Now the big question - which method did I like best?  Well, I think I decided it's not the method so much as it is my creative mojo for the day.  Last week I wasn't happy with any method - the impetus for me doing this today.  Today - I liked all the methods!  But I think if I have to pick a favorite, it's going to be the PrismaColors and baby oil.  While I'm "satisfied" with all the results - the PrismaColors actually turned out closest to what I intended.  And while PrismaColor pencils are expensive - they are much cheaper than all the other methods.  I'm sure I will lose pencils long before any of them wear out - and I bought 60 colors at Hobby Lobby for about $15 with my coupon and employee discount.  I think I have a winner!