Hop Art Design Cards

**disclaimer-I am in no way endorsed by Hambo Stamps.  All opinions are strictly my own.**

Never fear blogger friends.  I made some cards along with my scrapbook pages.  If you haven't heard yet, Hambo Stamps are having an awesome sale-get the info HERE.  At the same time, they are retiring the Hop Art Designs collection. :-(  All sales of Hop Art Designs digis benefit OWH.  (Plus they are stinking cute.)  You have until Oct. 31 to buy these images.

If you follow my blog, you know that I love the Hambo Hoedown.  You also know that my go-to stamp for any Hoedown project is "Clare and Danny" from Hop Art Designs.  (I just realized that I'm going to need a new go-to stamp for the Hoedown.  Sad day!)  As soon as I heard that Hop Art Designs was retiring, I went straight to Hambo's site to order two other images that I just love-"Bella Ballerina" and "Josephine's Puppy."

The Hoedown theme this week is hexagons.  I couldn't choose, so I used both new images.  The hexagon border is a free digi from Julie Makes Cards.

First up, "Bella Ballerina":

I tried out the Prismacolor + odorless Mineral Spirits technique.  This is my 2nd time trying this technique out.  (No, you can not see my 1st try...)  What do you think?  This technique gives the coloring a watercolor look to it.  I haven't been able to get any good highlights blended in yet.  Any suggestions?

Just for curiosity, I chose not to use the technique on the second card.  I still used Prismas and blended with blending sticks, but no Odorless Mineral Spirits.  This card uses the image "Josephine's Puppy."

Which one do you prefer?  I like Josephine's hair, but Bella's dress.

Linking up:

Hambo Hoedown-Hexagons

OWH-Hop Art Designs cards

Hunting Widow

Well, hi there.  Sorry to disappear for a little bit.  My husband's been off hunting with my dad and brother.  They go every year.  And every year my mom, sister, and me spend the time eating out and catching up on our scrapbooking.  (I think that it's easy to see who gets the better end of this arrangement.)  The boys got nothing, but I got 7 scrapbook pages done.

Here's a 2 page spread that I made during girls' night(s).

Supplies Used:  paper-Chatterbox and K&Co, embellishments-Making Memories, title-Cricut Graphically Speaking cartridge

The empty purple box is for journaling.  I'm going to type up the journaling and paste it there.  It'll be printed on white paper with the same mat pattern as the pictures.  Here's a closer look at that fun title:

I added twine and buttons because the layout felt really bare.  I really wanted a CAS look to the pages, so I only added just a few buttons to help join the two pages together.  The pictures are adhered with PopDots so that the twine could fit underneath them.

I work with 8 1/2" X 11" scrapbook pages.  I like to leave "white space" on my pages, and when I work with 12" X 12", I find that there's too much.  Plus, I print my pictures at 4" X 6" because it's a lot cheaper (I'm poor) and they are a bit small for the larger scrapbook pages.

The Pink Elephant is having a DT call.  This is my entry.

Until next time, Ciao!

Prismacolor Tutorials

I just love coloring with Prismacolor pencils.  It is so relaxing and fun, plus the colors are so vibrant and smooth.

Side-track story:  So I got my Prismacolors for free when I worked at Roberts Crafts.  A not so honest customer returned his set of 120 pencils, but when we examined it after the refund, we saw that the pencils were used, broken, and some missing.  Obviously we couldn't re-sell the set so it ended up in the trash.  After my shift, I did a little dumpster diving and ended up with a free set of pencils.  Considering we sold the set for about $120, I think it was worth the dumpster dive.  So crafters, if you're on a budget, keep your ears open, have no shame, and get creative-who know what you'll end up with.  I found a color swatch guide online HERE and got on Blick to order the missing pencils.

I've been checking out lots of tutorials on blending Prismacolors using Odorless Mineral Spirits.  Here's some of my favorites.  I've linked each tutorial back to the creator, so you can go to their sites for more info.  (Don't feel obligated to watch them all, that's a lot of tutorials to see.  I just wanted you to have a place to start.  Plus I wanted to keep track of my favs for future reference.)

Shari Carroll, from the Hero Arts Blog, gives a very basic tutorial perfect for getting started with Prismas and OMS

I love this skin and hair tutorial from The Greeting Farm

Finally, Dana from Dana's Inspirations gives two wonderful tutorials on highlighting.  Her blog also has some great color guides for skin and hair tones.

Happy coloring!  Let me know what you make-I'd love to see it.

Happy Today

I'm happy today.  Things have been going really well for me lately, and I've been feeling a lot more positive.  I think that a lot of credit for my mood is due to this blog and making cards for soldiers.  Thank you for helping me stay on track with my goal of 2 cards a week.  I started this blog as a way to stay focused as I battle depression, but now OWH has become a major passion for me.  It's amazing how creating and serving can change your outlook on life.

Okay, sorry for the personal detour there.  I made two other cards today, and both are purple-my favorite color!

Paper: Cloud 9 Design, Stamp-Hambo Hoedown, Image-Rick St. Dennis

This cheerful jester can't be sent to soldiers since he's on glitter paper.  I think I'm going to send this to a dear friend who is in England.  Sometimes, I love to send cards for no reason other than I'm thinking about someone.

Linking Up:

Rick St. Dennis-Shimmer and Sparkle

Crafts and Me Challenges-Anything Goes

Crafting for All Seasons-Costumes/Dress Up

Here's my second card:

Paper-Penny Lane, Ribbon-Offay, Image-MilkCoffee Stamps

My husband laughed when he saw this one.  I use this image all the time.  It's one of my favorites; I just love Tiffany, she's so stylish.

Linking Up:

Milk Coffee Stamps-Sweet Treats (Does coffee count as a treat?)

Deep Ocean Challenges-Anything Goes

Hambo Hoedown

It's time for this week's Hambo Hoedown.  The hoedown projects this week are a little wet.  That's because the theme this week is watercolor.

Paper:  American Crafts and Provo Craft, Sentiment and Image: Hambo Stamps

The Hambo image I used is called Walrus, and you can get it HERE.  I painted the walrus image and then paper pieced his hat and tusks on after.  I love his funny expression and the hilarious sentiment he came with.

Linking Up:

Hambo Hoedown-watercolor

Deep Ocean Challenges-Anything Goes

Crafts and Me-Anything Goes

Hambo Hoedown

One last card for today-my Hambo Hoedown card.  I made a hoedown card last week, but never uploaded it, so I didn't get this week's image.  That's okay, it gave me an excuse to use my favorite Hambo image-Clare and Danny.  You can get the image HERE.

This week's theme is sparkle.  My card is a bit more shine than sparkle, but I needed to make it hero safe for   OWH.  No glitter, but I did use foil paper and shimmery trim.

Linking Up:

Hambo Hoedown-sparkle

Simon Says Stamp-sparkle and shimmer

Thinking Pink

Here's two pink cards in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month.  Breast cancer is so treatable if caught early on.  Get checked regularly ladies (and check yourself about once a month)!

Paper-Provo Craft, Stamp-Hero Arts, Ribbon-Offay, Image-Sassy Studio

I think I need to work on my photography skills.  These look so much better in person.  The colors are a bit off in the photo.

Paper-My Mind's Eye and Paper Studio, Stamp-Hero Arts and Kraftin Kimmie

Forget white.  Nothing says stardom like the flowy pink dress.  Marilyn rocks!  Gotta love a gal with confidence.

Linking Up:

Kraftin Kimmie-pink cards

Sassy Studio Designs-Freebie Friday

Dare to be Sassy-think pink

Craft your Passions-think pink

MIA

I've been MIA for a little while now.  After being sick, there was so much to do at school.  But I still craft every weekend.  Everyone needs that unwind time; my unwind time is crafting.

Paper-My Mind's Eye, Stamp-Autumn Leaves and Kraftin Kimmie Stamps

I love that button.  Glad to finally use it.

Linking Up:

Kraftin Kimmie-Skulls (Do the little skull on the pocket and on her bow count?)

Kraftin Kimmie-Anything Goes

Penny's Challenges-Die Cuts (trimmed on the bottom)