Happy and You Know It...

I made this card for one of my co-workers.  She has had a rough time of it lately and is always coming to see if I have any aspirin or Tylenol...  When I saw this digi stamp at Bugaboo Stamps, I had to have it.  The series of the old women just make me laugh out loud! 

I had fun coloring this one and I hope it will make her laugh!

Copic Colors Used:
Bottles: YR12, YR14, YR16, YR18; C00
Pills: Y00, Y02, Y06
Capsules/Word: R20, R22, R24, R27
Dress/Word: B02, B04, B05
Skin: E0000, E000, E00
Hair: T0, T2, T4
List: E40, E41
Border: YG21, YG23, YG25

Happy Hour

There are many days (especially Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday between the hours of 9 and 5) that I wish it was happy hour!  This cute stamp and sentiment came from a set called Get Outta Town by Paper Smooches.  There are a few stamps in that set that MADE me buy it...but the best is yet to come! I am working on several other cards featuring stamps from this set...so stay tuned!

I forgot to write down the Copic colors used in this one, but they were minimal, so forgive me...Better yet...go have a cool icy beverage and forget about it!

The Many Faces of Cats

I just had to enter the Oozak challenge again this month!  I like their monthly challenge. With my crazy schedule, it is nice to have a longer window in which to create a card.  Although, if it wasn't for the holiday weekend, I probably wouldn't make it this month! 

I used some stamps from the "Nine Lives" set by Penny Black.  I love all of the different looks in this set.  The one I am most familiar with based on the demeanor of my cats...is the one on the bottom row.  I guess it is their best side!  The paper is from an older pack for pets.  Neither of my cats are orange tabbies, but this paper was screaming for that coloring, so I went with it!

Since this month's challenge was spring colors, I thought the oranges and teals would be perfect!  Reminds me of the summer sun and the water in a pool!  I colored the cats with my Copic Markers.

Copic Colors Used:
E93, E95, E97; R22

Venetian Birthday Card

I have several upcoming birthdays, and this one is for a step-brother.  I liked the way it turned out, so I will probably make a duplicate for another masculine birthday due next month! I stamped the image with a chalk ink on glossy paper and buffed it until it was shiny.  I used some bakers twine and a button to give it a little more detail. The stamp is an old one from Limited Edition Rubber Stamps. 

Birthday Wishes

This card was made for my uncle's birthday.  I haven't seen him since 1998 when my dad and grandmother passed away. I haven't been so good at keeping in touch, so one of my resolutions this year was to try to be better about sending cards for family birthdays.  Thus far, I have been able to keep that resolution!

The stamp is an oldie but goodie from Magenta. 

Birthday Presents

This was made for my co-worker's birthday.  The background paper has some of her favorite colors, so I went with that as my inspiration to color the packages.  The digi image is from The Wax Fruit Company.  I love the simplicity of the stamp and though it was probably meant to be a Christmas present stamp, I think it works PERFECTLY for an elegant birthday card!!!

Copic Colors Used:
Presents: V12, V15, V17; YUG61, YG63; E40, E41, E42, E43

Hambo Stamps Channel Surfing Blog Hop

Welcome to the "Channel Surfing" Blog Hop sponsored by Hambo Stamps! Today Hambo customers and the Bacon Bits Design Team are bringing you fun creations that depict TV show titles! It might be our favorite show, or just one that was fun to design. If you arrived here from Beverly's blog  you are in the right place! If not, you might want to start back at the beginning at the Hambo blog to make sure you are eligible for the hopper prize!

A prize will be awarded to one participant whose TV-themed creation tickles the Bacon Bits’ fancy in a hammin’ jammin’ way! Another prize will be awarded randomly to a hopper who comments on all the blogs along the way. The winners will be announced on the Hoedown blog, as well as on the Hambo company blog, Talk to the Ham, on Wednesday, May 23.

My creation is an homage to Bob Vila and the This Old House series.  I am a DIY woodworking junkie.  I don't actually DO any woodworking, but if I had my own place, I would love to try!  When you rent an apartment, the landlords typically don't approve of you renovating their property (even if it would make it better!).  Even though I feel like an expert after watching all of the shows on TV, I am sure I would make a royal mess of things.  I would LOVE to try though! For my entry into the TV themed card challenge, I used two digi stamps from Hambo: Carpenter and House.

Now I have to admit I ADORE the smell of fresh cut wood and varnish....before you send out the people with the little white jackets that tie in the back, bear with me.  When I was growing up, my paternal grandfather was a woodworker and master craftsman.  I spent many hours in his workshop and those smells remind me of the special times I spent with him as he worked on furniture, or whatever needed repairing.  They say that certain smells can bring back memories.  For me that is very true.  

While I am at it, I would like to share a picture I have of me with my grandfather many years ago.  We were messing around with something VERY important since he was in his Sunday suit!  You can see his shop in the background. 

Below is a photo of me and my "Pa Pa" in his shop.  I was the best helper EVER!

Okay...now that you have followed me down memory lane, you can get back to the reason you have stopped by today...A BLOG HOP!

Now dance on over to Judy's Blog for another great TV show!

Below is the list of the other blog particpants in case you are lost! I also have the usual list of Copic markers used.

Talk to the Ham - Hambo blog
Sandy
Paula
Carolyn
Deborah
Karin
Jenn
Pat
Dawn
Jan
Carolina
Mary
Beverly
Melissa (YOU ARE HERE)
Next up......Judy

Copic Colors Used:
Roof/Trim/Shirt: YG91, YG93, YG95
House/Trim/Jeans/Gloves/Suspenders: B60, B63, B66
Bushes: YG21, YG23, YG25
Sky: BG0000
Stone: No, N2, N4
Boots/Belt: YR20, YR21, YR23
Hat/Level: Y13, Y15, Y17
Hair: E44, E47, E49
Skin: E0000, E000, E00
Windows: Lemon Spica Marker

Froggy Birthday Wishes

This is the whimsical card I made for my youngest niece's birthday.  She can be such a goof-ball (I love it!), so I decided to go against the "sweet" girl card I might usually give her this year.  There were several images I wanted to use and couldn't make up my mind, so I continued the fun on the inside as well. 

All of the images are by Dustin Pike.  I added the "U" "R" at the top, but I guess my letter drawing skills need a bit of work!

Copic Colors Used:
Frogs: YG21, YG23, YG25
Tongues/Hammock/Letters: R22, R24, R27
Water: BG10, BG11
Cattails: E84, E87, E89; YG95
Sky: BG0000

Mother's Day Poppies

I made this pretty card for my mom to give to her mom for Mother's Day.  I decided to use this really pretty digi stamp from A Day For Daisies.  Such a simple, yet elegant stamp and I decided to deck it out all in pink!  I wanted it to be girly...

Copic Colors Used:
Poppies: RV23, RV25, RV29
Centers: RV19, RV69; W7
Leaves: YG93, YG95, YG97, YG99
Bottles: BG0000, BG000

Mother's Day Card for my Grandmother

This is the mother's day card I made for my grandmother. I used a digi stamp from A Day For Daisies that I love.  I also cased a layout done by Lori Boyd that spoke to me!  I just love her cards.  They are always so clean and simple, but elegant.  I have so much fun coloring images that I run out of creative juices by the time I get to the card layout part.  I tend to use the same layouts over and over, so I love it when I find something that takes that out of the equation!

Copic Colors Used:
Dress/Base: R30, R32, R43, R21
Grass/Trees: YG21, YG23, YG25
Tree Trunk: E33, E35, E37
Hair: Y23, YR23, E33
Skin: E0000, E000, E00
Sky: B0000, B000

Mother's Day Card for my Mom

My mom has always encouraged us to read and I still have that love today.  When I saw this image from A Day For Daisies, I thought it was perfect for my mom's Mother's Day card!  I had a pack of coordinating papers that I found in a bargain bin somewhere and used them on this card.  I loved the combination of pinks, greens and purples.

Oh how I would love to have a hammock to read in!

Copic Colors Used:
Hammock: RV91, RV93, RV95, RV99
Bar on Hammock: E53, E55
Collar/Socks/Book: YG91, YG93, YG95
Skin: E0000, E000, E00
Hair: Y23, YR23, E33
Pages/Book: E40, E41
Dress/Shoes: RV00, RV10, RV11
Sky: BG0000, BG000

Sympathy Card

This is the card I made for my co-worker and her husband.  They both love the ocean, so I thought I would try out the new Embossing Folder that my friend let me borrow from Spellbinders. I just love the shells in the background!  I embossed it and distressed it to bring out the design.  The shell is from a Stampin' Up set that I had not yet used.  I stamped it in a chocolate brown chalk ink on glossy white paper and once it was dry, I buffed it to make it shine!

The ribbon is some from my stash that I bought a long time ago at Michael's and the pearl discs are from a jewelry show an even LONGER time ago.  I love it when I finally get to use something that I have had for a while.  Actually...truth be told, I finally found them when I was cleaning out my "doo-dad" drawer....  On the inside I used a stamp from Inky Antics.  It reads....

The tide recedes but leaves behind
bright seashells on the sand,
The sun goes down, but gentle warmth
still lingers on the land,
The music stops, and yet it echoes
on in sweet refrain...
For every joy that passes,
something beautiful remains.

Thank You Card Extravaganza

Last week I created a bunch of Thank You cards for a co-worker who recently lost her mother-in-law.  I thought it might be nice to have some pretty cards to send to those special people who helped them during their difficult time. I had a friend come over and make a few as well!  It is nice to have some stamping friends who can come lend a hand!

I decided to keep things simple and went with mostly mono-chromatic variations using the same stamps.  It is a bit of a hodge podge of stamps from Magenta, Impression Obsession, Just for Fun, Hampton Arts, Inkadinkado, and Stampin' Up...I think that is all!  Even though I REALLY wanted to add some buttons, brads, ribbons, etc., I refrained.  I didn't want them to have to pay a fortune in postage and to have to use special envelopes to mail them! 

Believe it or not, there was nary a Copic Marker used on these projects!  I know...but I knew it would take too long to do all of the coloring, so I used good old fashioned ink pads for color (except for one where I colored the stamp with Memento markers).

I hope you enjoy the bounty!  Below are close-ups of all of the cards and their variations.

Cake Trio

My boss recently celebrated her birthday and I made this for all of us at the office to give her!  It is a whimsical birthday cake trio from Impression Obsession that I think is so festive.  The patterned paper is from the Basic Grey Collection.  One can never have too much cake!

Copic Colors Used: 

Cakes: R81, R3, R85; YG21, YG23, YG25

White Gel pen for dots

Bubble Boy

 

My mom needed a card to send someone she knows who has a little boy and I chose this Bubble Boy image from Mo's Digital Pencil.  I think he is so cute! The train paper is from My Mind's Eye.

I also used this for an entry over at Mo's Challenge Blog #133 (Anything Goes).  There are some great cards by the design team and if you enter, you could win some Mo's images for yourself!

Copic Colors Used:

Jeans: B91, B93, B95, B97

Shirt: YG21, YG23, YG25

Tennis Shoes: R22, R24, R27, R29

Bubble Jar: Y13, Y15, Y17

Hair: Y11, Y21, Y32, Y26

Skin: E0000, E000, E00

Bubbles: BG0000

Masculine Birthday Card



I needed a quick masculine birthday card for a relative and I decided to use one of the Make it Snappy digital images from Bugaboo Stamps.  They have a whole line of images that are quick to color and are already framed...it really is a snap! I found this cute dot paper in my stash and thought it would be fun to color the cake in more masculine -definitely non-traditional colors!

Copic Colors Used:

Cake:

B91, B93, B95, B97

Y21, Y23, Y26

YG91, YG93, YG95

E07, E09

Frame: YR0000

Inner Background: B0000

I Feel Icky

One of my co-workers had a sick hubby recently and I made this card for her to give him....I think it is adorable!  The image is from Mo's Digital Pencil.

Copic Colors Used:

Housecoat/Houseshoes: G20, G40, G43

Pajamas/Tissue Box: B41, B91, B93

Stars: Y11, Y13

Hair: Y23, YR23, E33

Tissues: C40

Owl Couple

This card was made for my Mom and Al for their anniversary.  I just adore these cute owls from Stampavie!  Al loves owls, so I thought this was perfect!  I hope they have many more wonderful years together!

Copic Colors Used:
Owls: E51, E53, E55, E57
Beaks: E95, E97
Branch: E70, E71, E74
Centipede: YG21, YG23
Sky: BG0000

Smooth Sailing

There were two Anniversaries this month and this is the first of two cards I made.  This was for my brother and his wife who are celebrating 20 years together.  They are treating themselves to a European cruise this month and I thought this was perfect for the occasion!  I have no idea where this stamp is from...it was in my collection of stamped up images waiting to be colored.

Copic Colors Used:
Bears: E53, E55, E57
Sail/Pillow/Sign: YG000, YG00, YG01
Patches: YR61, YR65; B41, B52
Blanket: B41, B52
Pillow/Flag: YR61, YR65
Girl Shirt: RV000, RV00, RV10
Boy Shirt: B41, B52