Card 2 for my class at CP2

Copic colors used:  fruit (R59, R29, R22, R000), leaves (G28, G24, G21)

Hey, all!  I just want to pop in to share the second card I'll be teaching next Friday at China Phoenix 2.  Still playing with those wonderful fruit themed stamps by Stampendous, this image is Cling Pomegranate.  

This time I relied more on creating a colorful background instead of coloring the entire image with Copics.  I love this technique and I try to use it frequently...I laid out a craft sheet and swiped Distress Stains in Peeled Paint and Fired Brick directly on the sheet.  Next I added Peacock Feathers, but I only had this in a reinker, so I took the dropper and randomly swirled it around the sheet and generously misted everything with water.  Now, when I use this method, I pretty much just use what I have on hand.  Sometimes I will swipe Distress Ink Pads directly across the sheet.  In this case, I wanted more intense color, so I opted for the Stains and Reinker.  Because the color from these sources is so much more concentrated, I really had to apply quite a bit of the water to dilute it enough so that it wasn't too vivid and would still allow my stamped image to be the focal point.  Otherwise my stamped image would have disappeared into the background.  Once I've misted everything with water, I laid my white panel face down on top of all that lovely color.  When I lifted it up, it was covered in this wonderful palette.  If I wanted more color in areas, I just laid it down again.  I also let it dry naturally for a bit and went back in to pick up more of those fabulous drips.  It's really fun to do this, because you never know what you're going to end up with.  I just love it!

Once my panel had dried thoroughly, I stamped the Cling Pomegranate on top using Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black.  I also stamped the image on a scrap panel and colored up the fruit and leaves, and trimmed them out.  The rest of the card was easy to assemble and a small square of burlap seemed like an appropriate detail to finish with.  Of course, I added a black button because I'm completely obsessed with them right now.  I buy them by the jar full at a local antique store.  Last time I dropped in, I also picked up a huge jar of keys, so you'll probably start seeing keys on all my cards, too.  It's a good thing I didn't pick up anything larger, like a box of cheese graters.  That would make for a very interesting card...LOL!

Pop in tomorrow for the new challenge at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!  Until then, stay crafty!        

Upcoming Class at CP2

Copic colors used:  pears (YG67, YG17, YG13, YG01, Y000), leaves (G28, G24, G21), branch (E37, E35, E31), flowers (R29, R22, R000), label (E35, E31, E50, R59, R22), blue green accents (BG09, BG05, BG10), yellow halo (Y35, Y32, Y000)

Hey, all!  I just wanted to share 1 of 2 cards I will be teaching in a class at China Phoenix 2 on Friday, June 12th, at 10:30am - 1:30pm.  I've been playing with these wonderful fruit themed images from Stampendous lately, this one is called Cling Pear Blossom.   They remind me of the vintage advertising labels found on fruit crates up until the 1950's.  The images I've seen online are usually brightly colored and very eye-catching, and I can't help but be drawn to their retro appearance.

Though this is a fairly bright palette, I tried to keep the coloring quick and simple.  Also, I topped off the YG colors on the pears with a generous layer of Y000 dotted randomly over the image to give them that slightly dappled appearance that pears seem to have.  I picked up muslin fabric at an antique store and stamped it with a Stampendous background called Cling Seed Background.  A touch of Gathered Twigs Distress Ink sponged onto the edges makes it look a bit old, which is good.  Overall, a very simple card to put together.        

 Now that I have the mechanics of this card laid out, it's time to discuss something more important.  Have you ever tried a Harry and David Royal Riviera Pear?  A friend of mine gifted me with a box of these delectable fruits last year for Christmas.  At first I wasn't sure what was in the box, but once opened, there sat 9 of the largest, most perfect pear specimens I have ever laid eyes on.  Weighing in at around a 1/2 lb each, these pears were almost too pretty to eat.  AND...to further gild the pear lily, one lone pear was ensconced in gold foil.  How elegant!

I know how extravagant a gift of this nature can be, so I had my doubts as to whether these would taste any different than the standard working class pears found in WalMart.  Boy, was I wrong!  I picked one up and held it in my hand.  It appeared to be ready to eat.  No need to wait for that brief 15 minute window of ripeness, that if missed, leaves you with a disappointing piece of overly soft fruit bordering on the verge of rot.  Nope, these were ready to go.  One joyous bite and immediately that sweet pear elixir ran down my elbow.  Good gracious, I have NEVER tasted a pear so delicious!  I wanted to hide them and keep them for myself, but I allowed my husband to have one, JUST one, and I actually gave my sister one, as well.  Pretty generous, if I must say so myself.  My sister later told me that she took the pear to work to eat the next day and a co-worker caught her in her office cradling it and calling it "my precious".  What can I say?  We're a family of foodies.  I'm actually considering heading to the Harry and David website to order myself a box.  I'm sure I can come up with a "special occasion" reason that I need to do this.  When is Arbor Day?  Have I already missed Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day?  Darn, that's in January!  I'll keep trying ;)

Tune in tomorrow and I'll share card number 2 for my class.  Until then, stay crafty!  

My October 6th class at CP2

Hey, all!  I'm back today with the second card I'll be teaching on October 6th at China Phoenix 2.  This card also features a fabulous new image from Stampendous, but this time I opted to forgo the Copic coloring.  Instead, I added vibrant color using some of the fabulous distress inks from Tim Holtz.  Maybe you've heard of him.  This guy is pretty good and I think he might have a future in this business...LOL!

Anyway, I just generously swiped Peeled Paint, Seedless Preserves, and that Marigold color (too lazy to get off my tookus and look up the actual name) across a white panel and then misted it heavily with water.  Then I just sat it aside and let the colors slide around doing their own thing.  After it dried, I was left with this very cool, very bright background, which was a perfect landing spot for this wonderful raven image.  Very simple, but it makes an impact.  I think I might do all my Halloween cards this way this year.  The rest of the card is all about the embellishments.  Remember those cheap glittery spiders that I completely raided my Westside Pier 1 for?  Yep, that's one of them in the corner.  I decided to break them out for this class seeing as I have about 50 of them...lol!  I reckon I can share ;D  The burlap is from Hobby Lobby and I picked up the black cheesecloth in the Halloween section of Target.  Dang, they have some cool stuff this year!

If you're going to be in the Albuquerque area on October 6th and want to join me to create these cards, contact Nancy at China Phoenix 2 or drop me a note at cvaladez@comcast.net and we'll add you to the roster.  Have a great Sunday!  Until next time, stay crafty!

My next class at CP2!

Copic colors used:  skin- E00, E000, R20, E11 hair- E18, E09, E07, E01 dress- YG67, YG17, YG13, YG01 hat- V17, V15, V12  shoes and mask- C7, C5, C3, C1 clock- Y28, Y26, Y21, Y00, E31, E50  ***Colors listed in the order they were used*** 

Hey, all!  I'm back with one of two cards I will be teaching at China Phoenix 2 on October 6th.  Both cards will be Halloween themed and feature new stamps from Stampendous.  This pretty little image has a bit of a steampunk flair and is called Halloween Magic.  I also played with some Sticky Back Canvas for the first time and I must say...this might become my new addiction!  I see so many possibilities!

If you'll be in the Albuquerque area and want to hang out with me for a few hours on October 6th, contact Nancy at China Phoenix 2 or drop me an email at cvaladez@comcast.net and I'll add your name to the roster.  Pop back in later in the week and I'll have the second card up.

By the way, I don't say "thank you" enough, so I'd like to extend my deepest gratitude to all the folks that visit my blog or send me emails.  You guys are the greatest and I appreciate you so much!  

Catch you later!  Until next time, stay crafty!