Look who is turning 5

It is the middle of the week, I can't wait until Friday as I am taking a Copic class at my LSS, Paper Vineyard where the talented Jennie Black will be teaching basic copic technique. I have been coloring with copics for awhile now and haven't taken a class, so I am excited to learn new things or just learning how to blend with these markers. I am SUPER excited about this class.

Ok, back to my card, I made this card for my niece, Audrey who is turning 5 this month. She is the one on the left in the picture sitting in my Mom's lap. She wasn't very happy in this picture because she was fighting with her sister over something and her Dad (my brother) gave her a talk. I am the one holding her sister, Charlotte. As you can see I am not very photogenic. I can't believe how much Audrey has grown and she is starting kindergarten this coming September. I truly miss her as I don't get to see her much these days since I move over to Arizona and she lives in California. I have to say that I got a gigantic hug last month when I came back from my Canada trip (my Mom, Dad, and I just drove back from our trip (12 hours from Portland, OR to San Leandro, CA), it sure brighten my day after the long drive, Audrey and Charlotte starting running to give me a big huge while shout "Auntie" (in Chinese). What a welcoming gift. Audrey is so into this ballerina thing, loves to watch Angelina Ballerina on tv.

As always Imy cardmaking process starts with a stamp and a sketch I work to work with. The sketch is from this week's Friday Sketch #113. This stamp is Penny Black, stamped on watercolor paper and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored the image with Tombow markers using watercoloring technique. The applied couple of layers of pink stickles on the number 5. I made clouds in the background which really doesn't go along with the theme unless the little ballerina are throwing stars up to the sky and not have fallen stars.

This week's challenges:

1. Friday Sketch #113

2. Penny Black Challenge #112: 1 Circle, 2 Papers, 3 Flowers

3. Stamp and Create Challenge #4: Flowers

4. 2 Sisters Challenge #3: Punches

5. Colour Create Challenge 50: hot pink, warm orange, and saffron

Card deeds:

Stamp: Penny Black

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Summer Rise PTI, Marvy blue ink, Tombow Markers

Paper: Brazzill, Gina K Luxury ivory, watercolor paper, Cosmo Cricket

Embellishment: ribbon, prima flowers, star pin, hero art number 5, pink and yellow stickles, nestabilities label and oval

Wish BIG

Sunday is almost over and the start of another work week. Where did this week went? I had some really YUMMY crawfish and super jumbo shrimp this weekend, shipped over from Louisiana called Fisherman's Cove. The seafood is very fresh and the price for the crawfish was only $2.19/lb. My family usually do this a few times a year. This is the best time to get crawfish for a low price because last time we got crawfish at the end of March, it was around $3/lb.

I made some time this weekend again to play along in some of the challenges these week. I really need to motivate myself to play along in weekly challenges. I need to do my Father's Day card this week. I am such a procrastinator, can't change old habits. Now for the card, my thought process is always to look for a sketch to work with then my colors and images. This week's sketch is from Papertake Weekly sketch #42 . I stamped and colored this image for quiet some time now, just haven't put it together. I have tons of scraps I needed to use up. This stamp is Penny Black. I love those Penny Black critters, they are just darn ADORABLE. The sentiment is from Stamping Bella. I colored this image with my prisma color pencils and OMS (odorless mineral spirits) which can be found at Michaels and your local hardware store. I colored the background with my copic markers in B0000. I distressed the around the edges of the cardstocks/patterned papers with Tim Holtz tea dye distress ink. The used liquid applique (white) on the cupcake. I used my embossing heat gun to heat up the liquid applique rather than waiting for it to dry. The applied crystal glaze to the candle wax and orange and yellow stickles to the flame of the candle. I also added coaco (coffee) bits on the gound. I purchased it at my local scrapbook store when it went on sale. The card smells like coffee now. I haven't used any brads or light blue drew drops (found a huge pack @ Michaels last yr). I love this pink, blue, and brown color combo as it can be a male or female birthday card.

Challenges:

Papertake Weekly: Sketch42

Simon Says Stamp: Recipe - 1 image, 2 patterned paper, 3 types of embellishments

Stamp Something: Happy Something

The Crazy Challenge: Distress It!

Thanks for visiting my blog, have a wonderful week.

Card Deeds:

Stamps: Penny Black; sentiment: Stamping Bella

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Colorbox Ice Blue Chalk ink, Tim Holtz Tea Dye distress ink, copic marker

Paper: Gina K luxury ivory cs, DCWV espresso cs, DCWV sweet treats dp, Basic Grey sultry dp, unknow light blue cs

Accessories: brad, nestibilities label die, liquid applique, stickles, crystal glaze, drew drops

June Card Swap

Finally finish my June card swap with a some gals on SCS. I am the hostess for this month and this is my card. I am so glad everything came together. I had the stamped image and dp selected for a month now and finally got around to do the sketch layout, coloring the image, and cs color choices. I used the Penny Black Hedgehog. Don't you just love this stamp, Harvey (I named him) the Hedgehog is just having a wonderful, relaxing day. I added some yellow flock on the center of the flower for texture.

Today is also my American birthday. My Chinese birthday is not until October. I am so bliss to be pregnant this year as said by my friend, Teresa. I feel really bliss to be "a mom to be", my my health, and my family and friends around me. I am very fortunate and grateful for all I have though it may be tough at times.

This is what I received from my brother and SIL. Isn't this just sweet of them. I love it. The front has "Marked with Love", Charlotte's full name, and birthdate. The inside is a baby stoller bookmark. Yesterday, I spoke with Audrey and she was sad because she misses me. How cute is that! I love her and miss her too. Hopefully, I will to visit them in mid-September. It's been almost 4 months since I went to California. I will not be travelling until I know my pregnancy is going well. That reminds me, I need to call for my OB appointment next week or the week after.

Recipe:

Stamp: Penny Black

Ink: Stazon Jet Black

Paper: DCWV yellow texture cs, purple cs (received from a swap), American Craft dp

Accessories: prismacolor pencils, baby oil, ribbon, and stampendous yellow ducky flock

Happy 70th Birthday - Hugs to You

I made this for Terry, YuRee putted in a requested on SCS "Need a Lift Forum". She needed 70 cards for her father's 70th birthday. YuRee said her father's tag line is "I need a hug" thus this is what I made. The stamp is from Gina K, "You know you are old when..." set and the sentiment is from Penny Black. I have been admiring Faith Hofrichter aka Markie's Mom on SCS. Check out her cards, it is awesome. I love how she used the white gel pen (Signo pen) on the borders of all her cards. I love it and wanted to try it and I tried it here. Mines off course its as complicated as Faith's cards. I don't make many masculine cards. I hope this doesn't look feminine.

I hope everybody had a wonderful weekend. My DH and I went out fishing at Tempe Town Lake with our friends this weekend. We caught some touts and a carp. The weather is getting warmer over in Arizona. It will start to get HOT in mid-May. TFL

Recipe:

Stamps: Gina K and Penny Black

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, Colorbox Red Lipstick and Chocolate

Paper: Espresso DCVW cs, Olive Brazzil cs, Light blue cs, and Basic Grey dp

Accessories: prismacolor pencils, cuttlebug slider die cut, ribbon, crystal effect, clear copic spica pen.

Yesterday was VMAA

Yesterday night was the Virtual Meeting of the A Muse Addicts which I missed! Today, I made it up and was only able to play for a little while as I have to make time to post the challenges. I did two challenges. A Muse stamps are so cute. I got hook on them a year ago. They are so fun and simple to play with.

The Challenge #4: Saturday Night Fever , which was to use only black and white. I used the A Muse animal acrylic stamps, the cow and the sentiment. I did my own background by making cow prints. I punched out two photo corners and decorate on with black brads and the other is stamped with the "holy cow" sentiment. I recyled the cripple black cs which was from the incense boxes.

The Challenge #3: Do the Hustle Challenge, which was a sketch challenge. I used the Elzybells stamp, "Girl in car". I stamped her twice, one in white cs and the other one in left over scrap dp. Cut out the car from the dp and glue it on the white cs. Use the left over black cs as the road by adding white lines. The sentiment is from Penny Black.

I am glad I was able to play even though it is only for a little while. I will be doing the other challenges when I have more time to play. Thanks for looking.