Alva with Flower

I used one of my newest Magnolia stamps and this one comes with her own face! This is Alva and she must be one of the older ones but she is perfect for all seasons. The challenge this week at Make it Colourful is to color backgrounds. I used the Fairy Tree House and colored it with the same colors as Alva to help the images naturally match.


There is so much details on the house and a lot of it I didn't notice until I started coloring, like the fence in front. I think this house can be combined with a variety of images and there are endless ways to color it.


DT: Make it Colourful Challenge #12 (coloring backgrounds)
Main Stamp: Alva with Flower (Mag) and Fairy Tree House (MiC)
Patterned Paper: Stella and Rose Mabel (MME)
Chipboard: Frame Corner Flourishes (MiC)
Copic Colors:
-skin: E000, E00, E11, E13, R11, R12
-hair: E53, E55, E57
-other: E42, E43, E44, E47, E49, G21, G24, G28, B0000, B00, C1, C3, C5, YR21, YR12, YR14, YR18, R27, BG11, BG72, BG75, BG78, R22, R24, R29, R59, Y11, Y32, Y35, Y38

Did you know? Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by a tapping sound that is created from metal plates attached to both the ball and heel of the dancer's shoe. These metal plates, when tapped against a suitable surface, create a percussive sound and as such tap dance is a form of dance as well as the act of playing a musical instrument.
[Tap Dance, Wikipedia.org]

Opal Wishes

This is the second release today at Little Miss Muffet Stamps and she is called Opal Wishes. She is the "sister" to Butterfly Kisses. The inspiration came to me while watching a movie late one night and I had to pause it to quickly draw up the sketch. :D Hope you like her!


Challenge: Card Cupids Spring Time Challenge
Challenge: The Crafty Pad Challenge #113 (use digi)
Challenge: Sparkles Forum Challenge #7 (Mother's day)
Challenge: The Corrosive Challenge #108 (3 papers, 2 ribbons [ribbon flowers and ribbon lace], 1 image)
Main Stamp: Opal Wishes (LMMS)
Patterned Paper: Stella and Rose Hattie (MME)
Chipboard: Frame Corner Flourishes (MiC)
Copic Markers:
E41, E42, E43, E44, E47, BG10, BG11, BG72, BG78, E0000, E000, E00, E11, E13, R11, R12, T2, T4, T6, T8, B91, B93, B95, B97, B99

Did you know? The Marathon Dam is a gravity dam on the Charadros River 28 mi (45 km) northeast of Athens in Greece. The dam created Lake Marathon for the primary purpose of municipal water supply. Constructed between 1926 and 1929, it was the sole supplier of water to Athens until 1959. The Marathon Dam is coated with the same Pentelikon marble used to construct the Parthenon and is symbolic of the Battle of Marathon.
[Marathon Dam, Wikipedia.org]

Tilly

Welcome to my second Simply Betty Stamps preview featuring Tilly from the Sweet Gothic Kids Easter lines. She is my favorite of them all and I am thrilled to be able to bring you this sneak peek! Of course I'm using my latest paper pack which has dominated all of my project this week. These Sweet Gothic Kids will be available in rubber and digi tomorrow!


Challenge: Craft Your Passion Challenge #50 (appreciation)

Challenge: Diecut Dreams Challenge #85 (special friend)
Challenge: NettieG's Digital Gems Bein' Different (5 papers)
Challenge: Ooh la la Creations Challenge #76 (special friend)
Challenge: Pollycraft Monday Challenge #85 (swirls & pearls)

DT Preview: Simply Betty Stamps
Main Stamp: Sweet Gothic Kids Tilly (SBS)
Patterned Paper: Stella and Rose Mabel (MME)
Chipboard: Swirly Corners (MiC)
Metal Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities Beaded Oval
Copic Colors:
-skin: E000, E00, E11, E13, R14, G20, G21, G24, G28
-hair: E42, E43, E44, E47, E49
-clothes: YR20, YR21, YR23, YR24, C1, C3
-other: G20, G21, G24, G28, BG11, BG72, BG75, BG78

Did you know? The Jetsons was a prime-time animated sitcom that was produced by Hanna-Barbera. It was Hanna-Barbera’s Space Age counterpart to The Flintstones, a half-hour family sitcom projecting contemporary American culture and lifestyle into another time period. While the Flintstones live in a world with machines powered by birds and dinosaurs, the Jetsons live in a futuristic utopia in the year 2062 of elaborate robotic contraptions, aliens, holograms, and whimsical inventions.
[The Jetsons, Wikipedia.org]

Winter Winds

Here she is! I finally rounded out the season and came up with this gal here... Winter Winds! This is one of the images that is being released today at Little Miss Muffet Stamps. Now the four seasons are complete with Spring Whisper, Summer Breeze, Autumn Breath and Winter Winds.


Challenge: Aly's Sunday Sketch #38 (Spring)
Challenge: Catered Crop Follow the Recipe #8

(mini print paper, spring theme)

Challenge: I Did it Creations Challenge #47 (Spring)
Challenge: Dream Valley Challenges #3 (Mother's day)
Main Stamp: Winter Winds (LMMS)
Patterned Paper: Stella and Rose Mabel (MME)
Chipboard: Frame Corner Flourishes (MiC)
Copic Markers

Did you know? Joseph Barbera (1911–2006) was an influential American animator, director, producer, storyboard artist, and cartoon artist. Born in New York City, after working odd jobs and as a banker, Barbera joined Van Beuren Studios in 1932 and subsequently Terrytoons in 1936. He met his lifelong collaborator William Hanna while working for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1937 and soon began producing animated shorts such as the Tom and Jerry series. In 1957, after MGM dissolved their animation department, they co-founded Hanna–Barbera, which became the most successful television animation studio in the business, producing programs such as The Flintstones, The Huckleberry Hound Show, Top Cat, The Jetsons, Scooby-Doo, The Quick Draw McGraw Show, The Smurfs, Wacky Races and Yogi Bear.
[Joseph Barbera, Wikipedia.org]

Dare to Dream

I finally got around to working with the new Spring Kit from Whiff of Joy featuring Elisabeth Bell stamps and I used Dare to Dream on this card. I saw a card in a magazine that displayed a picture frame using an embossed metal sheet with a monogram. I thought that would be a perfect idea for a card and that's how I came up with this one. The DT Call challenge was to make these fun flowers.


Challenge: Whiff of Joy Guest DT Call
Challenge: Whiff of Joy Challenge #100 (anything goes)
Challenge: Stamps R Us Celebrate Spring Challenge
Challenge: The Shabby Tea Room Week #54

(BINGO: gems, flowers, diecuts [leaves])

Challenge: Paper Sundaes Challenge #61 (embossing)
Main Stamp: Dare to Dream (WoJ)
Patterned Paper: Stella and Rose Hattie (MME)
Dry Embossing: Cuttlebug Embossing Folders Leafy Branch
Copic Colors:
-skin: E000, E00, E11, R12, R14
-hair: E35, YR20, YR21, YR23
-clothes: BG11, BG10, BG72, BG75, BG78
-other: R12, R14, G24, G28

Did you know? Leave It to Beaver was a 1950s and 1960s family-oriented American television situation comedy about an inquisitive but often naïve boy named Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver (portrayed by Jerry Mathers) and his adventures at home, in school, and around his suburban neighborhood. The show also starred Barbara Billingsley and Hugh Beaumont as Beaver's parents, June and Ward Cleaver, and Tony Dow as Beaver's brother Wally. The show has attained an iconic status in the United States, with the Cleavers exemplifying the idealized suburban family of the mid-twentieth century.
[Leave It to Beaver, Wikipedia.org]

Update: I was the selected winner at Paper Sundaes for this challenge!

Scott

I'm excited to help preview the new Simply Betty Stamps' Sweet Gothic Kids for Easter and today we're showing Scott. All six stamps from the Easter line will be released on March 25 in both rubber and digi! I also used this opportunity to use my new paper from My Minds Eye and thought the blue and mustard theme was great for this boy card.


DT Preview: Simply Betty Stamp
Main Stamp: Sweet Gothic Kids Scott Easter (SBS)
Patterned Paper: Stella and Rose Hattie (MME)
Copic Colors:
-skin/eyes: E000, E00, E11, E13, E04, B91, B93, B95, B97
-hair: E50, E51, E53, E55
-clothes: B91, B93, B95, B97, B99, W3, W4, W5, W6, Y21, YR21, YR24
-other: C1, C3, R12, R14, BG11, BG72, BG75, G24, Y35, YR16, RV17, V15, V17, G20, G24, G28

Did you know? Jimmy McAleer (1864–1931) was an American center fielder, manager, and stockholder in Major League Baseball who helped establish the American League. He spent most of his 13-season playing career with the Cleveland Spiders, and went on to manage the Cleveland Blues, St. Louis Browns, and Washington Senators. Shortly before his retirement, he became a major shareholder in the Boston Red Sox.
[Jimmy McAleer, Wikipedia.org]

Marvin with Daisies by Lydia

I think I started something by posting Cassandra's card last week and so this is one of Lydia's many cards from this week. She did almost everything by herself but needed a little help with the bow and Liquid Pearls on the corner. She's been making little cards with me all week. ;D


Challenge: The Stamping Bazaar - Challenge #20
Main Stamp: Marvin with Daisies (TSB) by Marina Neira
Chipboard: Swirly Corners (MiC)
Patterned Paper: scraps

Did you know? Bats come out at night.
[by Lydia]

Hansel with Flowers

It has been so much fun being on The Stamping Bazaar design team and the gals have been real gems and a pleasure to get to know. Sadly, this is my last week on the design team so I thought I'd make a card with one of the first stamps Marina released last year. I made this card with Hansel with Flowers and enlarged him so I could work with the details. If your interested in being on the design team for the next three months, then head on over because The Stamping Bazaar is having a Design Team Call. Enjoy!


DT Challenge: The Stamping Bazaar Design Team Call
Main Stamp: Hansel with Flowers (TSB) by Marina Neira
Patterned Paper: Nook & Pantry (BG)
Chipboard: Swirly Corners (MiC)
Copic Colors:
-deer: E41, E42, E43, E44, E47, E49, R11, R12
-clothes: R11, R12, R14, BG10, BG11, BG72, BG75
-flowers: YR21, YR23, YR24, Y21, Y11, E43, E44, G20, G24, G28

Did you know? Mercado de Sonora (Sonora Market) is a mercado público, or city-established traditional market, located just southeast of the historic center of Mexico City in the Colonia Merced Balbuena neighborhood. It was established in the 1950s with a number of other similar institutions in order to help regulate retail commerce in the city. This market has specialized in a variety of merchandise such as pottery, party items, and live animals — and the two which make it notable, herbal medicine and items related to magic and the occult.
[Mercado de Sonora, Wikipedia.org]

The Paper Project - Experiment I

Welcome to the first experiment of The Paper Project! After punching and labeling over 650 small squares I wanted to work on an easy test - one that require no coloring! Hope you enjoy...

Experiment I - Ink Drop

One droplet of Copic Various Ink Refill G29 Pine Tree Green was dropped at a distance of approximately 1.5 inches high then allowed to dry. I wanted to discover how each drop was absorbed into the paper. (You can click on the image to enlarge it.) The ink was then given 4 hours to dry before I tested for smudging. Each sample was rubbed with a dry finger to see if any of the ink would smear.

Each of the samples was assigned a random letter and the master list can be found on the Introduction page. Even though all of the samples are considered white, you can see that they vary in color including some reds and blues.

I noticed that A has the smallest diameter; it appeared the droplet exceeded its saturation level and the remaining ink pooled and dried on the top.

B, C, N and U have irregular circumferences; it appears the droplet spread across the surface before seeping into the paper.

D, E and (to a smaller degree) S are lighter in color; somehow the depth of the color is lost. In addition, these count for three out of four of the shimmering papers.

As far as I can tell, the edges on A, G, J, L, M and O indicate the droplet was absorbed and spread through the middle layer of the paper first.

On most of the samples, the ink shows through to the back side of the paper. However G, H, I, K, and L all seeped through onto the next sheet of paper and that N didn't show up on the back side at all.

After letting the sample dry for several days I tested for smudges by rubbing my finger over the dried ink drop and found that A, B, C, I, L and M had smeared.

This was a difficult call because the results varied so much, but based on this test alone I would recommend the following papers to be desirable: D, E, F, G, H, J, K, O, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W and X.

The Paper Project - Introduction

I'm sure there are many paper projects but this one is specific to testing Copic markers on the various papers available. Like most of you, I started on a quest to find the best paper to color on. Therefore, I hope to perform various experiments on each brand to see how they measure up. If you want to follow along, feel free to grab the Badge from the sidebar and display in on your blog!

Welcome to the Paper Project!

With the help of a few friends, I've gathered several different papers so far to test on. Sending out a huge thank you to Annika, Beccy, Donna, Peggy, Ruby, Vicky and Zoe for building my paper supplies. *Thanks!*  Below is the list of papers that I'm working with.

1. Stamping Bella's Bestest Paper White
2. Copic Beedproof Markerpad 70g/m2
3. Stampin' Up! Whisper White Card Stock 80#
4. Bright White Shimmer Card available in UK (heat emboss image)
5. another pearlescent (textured, heat emboss image)
6. Papermill Super Smooth Bright White Card 300 gsm (140#)
7. Daler Rowney Bristol Board* available in UK
8. Bristol Board* #2
9. Rey Printer Card Paper 160 gsm
10. Xerox Colotech Paper 250 gsm
11. Georgia-Pacific Copy & Print Paper 20# (standard printer paper)
12. Neenah Solar White Super Smooth Crest 80#
13. Curious Metallic Cryogen White Card Stock 89#
14. Gina K. Pure Luxury Card Stock Pure White 120#
15. Neenah Solar White Smooth Crest 80#
16. X-Press It Blending Card Bright White 92#
17. Make 'it' Colour Blending Card 250 gsm
18. Georgia-Pacific White Card Stock 110#
19. Stampin' Up! Shimmery White Card Stock 80#
20. Copic Papercrafting Stamping Paper - Natural White
21. Bee Paper Company Heavyweight Marker Paper 110#
22. Beckett Card Stock Radiance 80#
23. Q-Connect White Wove 100g
24. Hammermill Color Copy 80# Photo White

*Bristol board (also referred to as Bristol paper) is an uncoated, machine-finished paperboard. It is named after the city of Bristol in the southwest of England. It provides two working surfaces, front and back. This quality separates it from illustration board, which has only a front working surface.

Each brand was assigned a random letter to keep track of them during the testing. Testing will be done on an irregular bases but I will assign "... The Paper Project" label to each post so they'll be easy to find. Here are also some quick links to the experiments:

1. Ink Drop
2. Basic Coloring
3. Blending Out Colors
4. Paper Attributes
5. Blending Red
6. Blending Added Depth
7. Paper Purities
8. Transparency  
9. UV Rays
10. Paper Comparisons

When all of the papers are tested together in the same experiment then after looking at the results I recommend the best papers. This recommendation is based on that test only so a specific paper may go in and out of favor. Below is sort of a chart that shows how many times each paper was recommended and is indicated by a triangle. Of course the more triangles listed the better the paper has performed overall.

On two of these tests I show that we can achieve amazing results by altering our techniques to fit the paper attributes. (See Experiments IV and X.)  Thus this rating of recommendation gives an overall indication of which papers are more durable and suited for a higher variety of techniques and skills.

I hope you've enjoyed The Paper Project and I will continue to update these posts as I get more information. Until then... happy coloring!!

(Last updated on March 25, 2013.)