Peg Leg Pete

Hi everyone. Here is my card for this weeks High Hopes Challenge. I made this card before I started reading 'Eclipse' the 3rd book in the Twilight series. I knew if I started reading, this card would not get made for a couple more days. Hope you like it.
This weeks challenge is to 'create a card for a dude', no flowers allowed.
I chose High Hopes 'Peg Leg Pete' (isn't he just adorable) and Polly .
The images were stamped in Black colorbox ink and embossed with black powder. They are coloured with Lyra watercolor crayons and highlighted with Twinkling H2O's.
The designer paper ( by Sandylion) sets off the whole Pirate image making it a very much a boys card, I embellished the card with eyelets and some
I-Kan-Dee twine.
Lyra watercolour crayons and High Hopes Rubber Stamps can be found in Australia at Heavenscent Crafts.

Leo the Lion

What a great image this is. It is Leo from High Hopes Rubber Stamps. They stamp up so beautifully and are wonderful for those of you who like to colour in. High Hopes Stamps are now available in Australia from Heavenscent Crafts.
Here I have stamped him in Black StazOn ink and coloured with Prismacolor Pencils blended with Odourless Mineral Spirits.
I have layered the card using the 12 x 12" scrapbook papers from Amazing Creations.
I finished the card off with a pink and brown ribbon and some co-ordinating flowers.
Thanks for looking

Until Next Time
Inking of you All
Michelle

Just One Layer

When was the last time you made a card that was a single layer? That long ago huh! You probably don't remember when it was. Am I right?
Well let me tell you that I am no different. But a couple of days ago I made this little beauty.
My Favorite Things guest designer challenge was to create a single layer card. You could use as many embellishments that you like etc, BUT no extra paper.
I stamped all images in Black Colorbox ink and embossed all of them with clear powder.
I then coloured them in using those fabulous Lyra watercolour crayons from Heavenscent Crafts and then I added some stickles glitter too add a little BLING to the card.
Last but not least I pulled out my Black Millennium pen and hand drew the lines and dots around the edge. The frame gave the card a more finished off feel to it.
Do a little experiment yourself: stamp and colour an image and then do it again this time adding your own frame. Compare the difference, it's huge. It's only scary the first time you do it, besides it is only paper. If you mess it up it's not the end of the world.

Until Next Time
Inking of you all
Michelle

Sunset Iris

Happy New Year Everyone. I hope this post finds you all well. It has been such a hectic time of year and now things are starting to slow down a little, this is good because it gives me time to stamp and create, it also gives me time to blog and catch up with friends all over the world. I am back on the forums and have decided to kick the year off with a very bright and cheery card. I was lacking a little bit of design inspiration so I went back through the cards sketch challenges and came up with this beauty.
This card was made for the Flourishes Tuesday Chat Challenge over on SCS. The challenge was to make a square card with a flower on it. Yes pretty simple but exactly what I needed to get back into the swing of things.
First I embossed the Flourishes Siberian Iris in Silver metallic EP on watercolour paper.
I then watercoloured the Iris using my brand NEW Lyra watercolour Crayons (my Christmas gift to myself). They are fabulous, stunning, gorgeous and easy to use.
In this close up you can see how easily the colours have blended together.
I matched the watercolours to the designer paper I had chosen. (DP is by Cosmo Cricket, cardstock is Core-dinations). I then cut everything to size, cut circles with the classic nestabilities and layered it all together.

Whilst I was on holidays over Christmas I spent the day stamping with Deb at Heavenscent Crafts, She showed me these wonderful Lyra Crayons and as they say the rest is history.
Heavenscent Crafts sell these wonderful Lyra Crayons. The shop is also the Australian distributor for Flourishes stamps. For more information contact Debbie on the link above. Tell her Michelle sent you.

Wishing you all a safe and happy 2009
Inking of you all
Until Next Time
Michelle

Sorry it's been awhile

I have been so busy lately, I guess it's just that time of the year. I haven't made very many cards, I have been working on my Christmas cards as shown a couple of post ago.
In the past week I decided to sit down and pull put my Fishy Friends set from Stampin Up. I came up with these 2 cards.(They B-Day sentiment is from My Favorite Things)

I have used Bazzill Bling cardstock and the DP is from Kaiser Craft, the stripes are on one side, the dots on the other. I just love the colors. The paper gives a very whimsical feel to these cards. (So does the Pink fish). I have stamped the images on to SU confetti white cardstock with Black Brilliance ink. I have coloured all images with Prismacolor Pencils and Blended with odourless mineral spirits.

Until Next Time

Inking of you all

Michelle

My wish is for High Hopes

I just love this image from High Hopes Rubber Stamps It is called Oops Ellie. High Hopes Rubber Stamps are now available in Australia at Heavenscent Crafts and I have a wish list about a mile long. Unfortunately I do not yet own any of these wonderful stamps, This image of Ellie was lent to me by a lovely friend named Pam. (Thanks Pam). I spent the day with Pam and her friend Pat teaching them to colour in using Prismacolor pencils. When I coloured in this elephant Blue I had no idea what I was going to do with him. A couple of days later I walked into my local stamp store and found this terrific designer paper by Australian designer Rachel Greig. It is from her Darkroom Door Range of products.
On the same day as buying the paper I was looking at the High Hopes Blog and saw the challenge to create a card using both Brads and Buttons. And Viola my card came to life. I hope you enjoy this card as much as I do. I was really pleased with the final outcome. I hope to feature some High Hopes Images over the next couple of weeks.

Until Next Time
Inking of you All
Michelle

My Guide to making a great card- tutorial

Here is my first tutorial, I call it My Guide to making a great Card. It is the basics on helping co-ordinate the pieces need to make a simple elegant card.
I have decided to show you this years' Christmas card, but you can apply this to any card you make.Step #1 (above): Choose your Stamp and Designer Paper first

Step #2 & #3 (above): Choose co-ordinating plain cardstock.

Stamp and colour your image. I have chosen to stamp my image in Black and colour with co-ordinating pencils. Choose any other inkpad colours now. If not using a neutral colour like black, choose an inkpad shade the same or as close to possible as your cardstock
When mass producing cards like Christmas cards cut and prepare all necessary pieces at the one time. This makes your life so much easier.

Step #4 (above): Now assemble all the pieces to your card.

I have chosen to do a simple card with a folded front for a bit of interest. As I am making lots of Christmas cards I didn't want to do something to fussy with lots and lots of work (that takes hours per card). However at the same time I still wanted a card that looks nice and classy. I think this card captured the look I wanted.

Step #5: add any embellishments now. I accented my card with red Rhinestones and stickles on the 'ribbon'

Last but not least. Take several photos of your creation before you put them in the post. You might also like to stamp a co-ordinating envelope, just remember to leave enough clear space to address it.

Hope you enjoyed my guide to card making.

The pudding stamp I used is from Stamp It (Australia) and the sentiment is from Hero Arts. The Designer Paper is Kaiser Craft

Until Next Time

Inking of you All

Michelle