Goodbye 2017, Hello 2018!

Happy New Year (almost)!  We are counting down to 2018 here, and I wanted to share a couple of my last cards of 2017!

I recently completed an order for a trio of custom cards for a coworker.  He let me have free reign with the designs with one exception: he wanted the recipient's name on each card.  The first is a New Year's card.  I have been wanting to color up the Let's Celebrate couple from Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps and this seemed like a good occasion!  Special thanks to Deborah Deruyck for allowing me to use her coloring as inspiration!  You can see her original HERE.

The images are stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copics.  I used Fran-tage for the champagne fizz.  Dies are all from La-La Land Crafts (Filigree Elements Border, Filigree Border, Filigree Stars, and Stitched Elements).  The gold letters are alphabet stickers from my stash.

Next up: Valentine's Day!  For this I colored one of Krista Smith's images.  I believe this one is called Path to my Heart.  She is colored with Copics and cut and matted using Spellnbinders Nestabilities dies (Long Rectangles and Scalloped Long Rectangles).  The Heart Beat die is from SugarPea Designs.  The rest of the dies are from La-La Land Crafts.  Featured here are Open Hearts Doily Border, Lattice Doily Border, Lattice Border, Stitched Nested Hearts, and Stitched Tags.  The letters are an alphabet stamp set (Spell It Out) and die (Tiny Shapes) from Whimsy Stamps.

The last card is a birthday one.  Krista is one of my all time favorite artists and I can never get enough of coloring her images!  I wanted to create a camping scene so I selected her Saturated Canary Winnie Goes Camping image and fussy cut the fire from another of her images called simply Camping.  All are colored with Copics.  I created a frame using the Double Stitched Squares die from La-La Land Crafts.  The rest of the dies are also from LLLC (Sunburst, Flag Banner, Happy Stitched, and Happy Birthday).  The letters are glitter chipboard stickers from my stash.

Look for an exciting announcement and new projects coming in 2018!  Wishing everyone a fun and safe new year!

{hugs}
Regan

Tis the Season

Hello!  How is everyone's holiday season going so far?  I am actually ahead of the game for once with my shopping and wrapping!  I have been quiet for some time.  First I had a cold just after my last post in October which then turned into pneumonia and really knocked me for a loop.  It took me to pretty much until Thanksgiving to finally feel 100% better.  In that time I somehow managed to participate in two crafty Secret Santa swaps and since it's snowing here today I finally have some time to share them.

The first was for Kit and Clowder.  I colored Elf Marci from La-La Land Crafts with my Copics.  She's a cutie, right?  All the dies are also from LLLC (Stitched Merry, Merry Christmas, Presents Border, Scalloped Snowflake Border, and Snowflake Ornaments).  I mailed this off to my Secret Santa partner with the goodies below.  

My next swap was for Make It Crafty.  I colored one of the Krista Smith (Saturated Canary) images that they sell.  I selected Christmas Angel to work with and she is colored with Copics.  I added Stickles to her wings as well as to the Sparkle chipboard word (also from MIC).  The dies are from my La-La Land Crafts collection (Fancy Doily Border, Snowflake Border, and Two Trees).  I shipped it off to Sweden with a few holiday crafty treats.  

Both arrived safely (and I received goodies in return from my swap partners) so the holidays are off to a festive start! 

Thanks for stopping by!  I'm off to enjoy my evening of pizza and Christmas movies while the snow falls.  Hope yours is cozy too!

{hugs}
Regan

Kit and Clowder Monthly Coloring Class: September/October 2017

Hello!  When I started coloring some 15 years ago it was not the booming industry it is today.  It was something paper crafters sometime did along the way to making their projects, but adult coloring books were not a thing yet and my markers were water-based and not very blendable.  I knew nothing about light source, cast shadow, or any other art theory.   Fast forward a decade plus and the coloring scene is no longer just for kids or professional artists! 

I always admired certain crafters as I progressed on my creative journey, and I often would try to emulate their techniques.  The end result was that I learned and improved over time.  One day I discovered a lovely crafter named Alyce Keegan.  Her coloring and paper craft projects were exquisite!  People loved her coloring and she started teaching her technique to others locally to her  in Australia.  Soon her online and International friends wanted to join in.  In 2014, Kit and Clowder was born.  I was lucky enough to win a contest where the prize was her very first class - Skin and Hair.  But, busy single working mom that I am, I never made time for class work.  Over the last 3 years between design team work, custom orders, personal projects, being on the board of my son's school parent teacher group, and helping to plan my 25th high school reunion, I made excuse after excuse as to why I had no time to jump in.  I would dabble with a few free classes that she offered on occasion, but couldn't seem to commit to more...

Until last month.  I finally joined Alyce's monthly classes (available by subscription) and jumped in!  Here is the product of my very first online coloring class with Kit and Clowder!

The image is from Power Poppy.  Every month Alyce will have a sponsor company who kindly partners with her to provide an image (often with an attractive discount) for the class.  This one is called Tulips in Hobnail Pitcher.  I use Copic Markers for my coloring, but Alyce will give color equivalents for several different brands depending on people's preferences.

And here is the final card I created out of the image.  The doily die is called French Pastry from Cheery Lynn Designs.  The Fishtail Flags Banner is a Stax Die-namic from My Favorite Things Stamps.  The sentiment came with the image and I decided to add it.
 

Check out Kit and Clowder's online course catalog HERE!

{hugs}
Regan

Go Team!

Hi!  I wanted to share a couple of custom orders I made with baseball themes featuring two of Krista Smith's awesome images.  

For the first, I used Baseball Girl.  She is colored with Copics and cut using the oval from La-La Land Crafts Stitched Elements.  The remainder of the dies are also from LLLC.  Here I've used Sunburst, Stitched Bracket, Birthday Flag, Skyline Border, Bracket and Arrows, Fancy Numbers, Social Media Elements, and Diamond Wire.  The #50 is representative of the recipient's favorite Red Sox player.  I added a baseball themed sticker and a few flowers as my final embellishments.

On the second card, which is for a 30th anniversary, I've colored up The Fan using my Copic markers.  She is cut with a Stitched Square Die-namics from My Favorite Things Stamps.  The Scallop Square used to mat the image is a Spellbinder Nestabilities die.  The rest are from La-La Land Crafts (Open Hearts Doily Border, String of Hearts, Lattice Border, Flag Banner, Fancy Numbers, World Border, World Map Heart, Stitched Tags, and You & Me).  A couple of sequins are my only other embellishment here.

I have so much creating with Krista's images!  I hope you enjoy the finished projects!

{hugs}
Regan

Pretty Pumpkin

Hello there!  I'm just popping in with a quick share.  Yesterday I BOOed one of my coworkers.  If you've never been BOOed it's basically a gift left with the instructions to pass on the fun to someone else by bestowing a gift on them.  It's supposed to be anonymous but since my love for Halloween is well known and I would have been figured out anyway, I decided to make a card to go with the treats.  They can be anything you want: homemade baked goods, candy, little trinkets...  Here is what I did.

A black cat tealight holder, kitty ears, fun socks, a chocolate bar, and a card. 

The image is one of Krista Smith's that is available from Make It Crafty and she is called Pretty Pumpkin.  I colored her with Copics and then cut her out using Wonky Rectangles Nestabilities (Spellbiders).  The Pumpkin circle at the top is also from Spellbinders.  The rest of the dies are from La-La Land Crafts (Pumpkins Border Filigree Border, and Stitched Zigzags).  The chipboard BOO! layered word is from Make It Crafty as well.  I colored it with Copics to create an ombre purple effect and then covered it with glossy accents to make it shine.  I really wanted the image and chipboard to stand out so I only added a few sequins as embellishments.


My co-worker loved her goodies and I can't wait to see who she passes on the fun to!

{hugs}
Regan

Kayak

Hi!  Today I am sharing a couple of cards I made using Krista Smith's Kayak image.  Who would have thought I'd have an occasion to use it twice in a short period of time, but I did!  These were both special orders, but I can actually think of at least one of my friends who I should use this image for as well!

The first card was for my boss' outdoorsy, VW loving sister.  How did I do?  Lol  Kayak was colored with Copics and fussy cut.  I popped her up with foam squares.  I need to get that VW symbol in there so I decided to make a shaker card.  All the dies used are from La-La Land Crafts (Filigree Border, Filigree Elements Border, Filigree Flowers, Stitched Nested Circles, and Double Stitched Squares).  I used a piece of acetate, double sided foam sticky tape, and sequins I purchased at Michaels to make the shaker.

Next, is a card requested by another coworker.  He likes me to personalize cards with the recipient's name.  Here Kayak is also colored with Copic, fussy cut, and popped up with foam squares.  La-La Land Crafts dies featured are Christmas Hill Border, Double Stitched Squares, Love from Love Always, Open Hearts Doily Border, and Lacy Hearts Border.  The letters are made with an alphabet set from My Favorite Things Stamps.

Thanks for visiting!  I hope you liked today's creations!

{hugs}
Regan

#Fabulous

Hey there!  How is everyone today?  I have been so busy coloring and making cards that I never seem too have time to blog them these days.  So I thought I would try to get caught up and get some posts written and ready to share!

Today I am showing you a few Some Odd Girl projects I made.  The first was a birthday card for my best friend featuring Girlfriends Kaylee & Mae.  They are colored with Copics and cut using the oval from the Stitched Elements die set from La-La Land Crafts.  All the other dies used are also from LLLC (Stitched Brackets, Filigree Crown, Skyline Border, Social Media Elements, Fabulous, Fancy Doily Border, and Scalloped Banner).  For embellishments I added a few pearls and some flowers. 

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Next is a card I made for my coworker friend who was leaving to go to the dealership next door (same company, just different building).  She is super sweet and would bake for us a couple times EVERY week so I thought Gingerbread Kaylee  was perfect!  Kaylee is colored with Copics.  Again I've used dies from my La-La Land Crafts collection (Filigree Border, Filigree Hearts, Filigree Elements Border, String of Hearts Border, Stitched Elements, Rolling Pin and Whisk, and Double Stitched Squares).  I added enamel dots and flowers as my finishing touches.  The sentiment if from My Favorite Things Stamps. 

My last card was for my son's first day of 3rd grade this year.  Every year since Kindergarten I have made him a card for the first day of school.  This year I selected Bookbag Tobie.  He is also colored with Copics.  More LLLC dies grace this card (Book Brackets, Lattice Doily Border, Steampunk Border, Steampunk Corner, Gears Heart, and Stitched Elements).  The Stitched Square is from My Favorite Things Stamps and READ is one of the dies in SugarPea Designs Brainy Bookmarks set.  The sticker is from my stash.  I bought a set in 2014 that contained grades K-6 and I am working my through them!  The pen nib is by Tim Holtz.

 

Thanks for stopping by and having a look!

 {hugs}
Regan

Four Marcis and a Dinosaur

Hi!  It's not secret that I love La-La Land Crafts dies.... BUT I also adore their images!  Here are five cards, four featuring Marci and one showcasing a cute LLLC critter!

One: This is Fabulous Marci.  She was colored with Copics and fussy cut for a coworker's birthday card.  I have also used a few LLLC dies from my collection (Build-A-Frame Fancy Large, Fancy Doily Border, Filigree Crown, Filigree Hearts, Fabulous, You from Celebrate You, Dress, Filigree Hanger, and Hello Tag).

Two: A birthday card for a sweet two year old!  We were invited to a birthday party for my friend's daughter and I wanted something special for her card so I colored Celebrate You Marci with my Copics and fussy cut her.  She is popped up with foam squares as I often do when I fussy cut.  The dies are once again all from LLLC (Sunburst, Loopy Doily Border, Stitched Happy, Birthday from Happy Birthday, Presents Border, Balloons, and Fancy Numbers).  I added a single flower as an embellishment.

Three: Marci with Strawberries is super sweet and perfect for a 50th birthday card for an avid gardener.  She was stamped with Momento ink in Tuxedo Black, colored with Copics, paper pieced, and fussy cut.  More LLLC dies on this one (Loopy Doily Border, Lattice Border, Stitched Happy, Heart Fence, Strawberries, Stitched Nested Circles, Small Scallops, and Fancy Numbers).

Four: My coworker is expecting her second child any day now!  This is the card I made for her baby shower featuring Baby Marci.  She is colored with Copics and fussy cut.  (Are you seeing a pattern here?  Lol)  LLLC dies used are Open Hearts Doily Border, Stars Border, Stitched Brackets Border, Heart Fan, Large Lacy Border, Small Lacy Border, Stitched Nested Circles, Stork, Baby Clothesline Banner, and Shabby Flourishes.  The baby shower stamp is from A Muse Artstamps.

Five:  My final card was a custom order for a baby shower.  My coworker ordered it for her daughter and the theme of the shower (and the baby's nursery) was dinosaurs with colors of green and blue.  This is what I created.  Now, I can't take credit for the awesome idea of making a baby carriage out of LLLC dies. That was CASEd from Anne-Maree Campbell's fabulous card which you can find HERE.  The little dinosaur was included in the A Rare Find rubber set that was originally part of the March 2016 Club Kit.  Dies used are Open Hearts Doily Border, Stitched Brackets, Heart Fan, Stitched Nested Circles, Pointy Flower Border, Two Branches, Heart Header Border, and Love Owl Tag.

Thanks for taking time to visit!

{hugs}
Regan