Shellphone

~ sproatmeyer ~ 4 Comments

This card features the new image from Love to Stamp, called Shellphone, and another one from Make it Crafty, called Beach Hut by Sea. With so many summer backgrounds available it has been fun pairing up images and creating a scene. This one is inspired by the warm weather we’ve had lately and I wanted to use lots of warm-tone colors to represent a shining sun.


No clouds in sight but at least there is the ocean with a some cool-tone colors for a refreshing feel. The faux candy was an embellishment I had forgotten about which turnedto be a fun addition for this card. Afterall, what girl wouldn’t like a bit of Salt Water Taffy to chew on?! Yum!


Here’s the Beach Hut by Sea background before it was trimmed down. I tried a different technique on my sand using some tips I got from Elaine but clearly I need some more practice! She colored the most perfect sand texture on her card that I was trying to duplicate.


One of my staples of crafting essentials are foam dimensional dots! I seam to use them on every card don’t know what I would do without them. ;D I like how it changes the overall feel of the card by raising the main image and giving it focus. Yet the mind still takes in all the elements around them and see them as complimentary embellishments. Yep, they’re a must have in my crafting room! Hope you enjoy the card and have been inspired to make something or even to play outside in the sun today. ;D


Main Stamp: Shellphone (LTS), Beach Hut by Sea (MiC)
Patterned Paper: Salt Air (CC)
Chipboard: Swirly Corners (MiC)
Metal Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities Inverted Scalloped Square

Copic Markers colored on Copy Paper
Shellphone:
-skin tone: E23, E33, E25, E27, E04, R22
-oranges: YR04, YR07, YR09
-yellows: YR30, YR31, YR21; E50, E51, E53
-greens: BG93, BG96, BG99
-pinks: R12
-grays: N4, N6, N8

Beach House by Sea:
-browns: E41, E42, E44, E47; E23, E39, E55, E51, E53; E33, E50, E51, E53
-reds: E09, E17, E18 E19
-greens: G40, G21, G24, G28, G29
-blues: B91, B93, B95; B0000, B000, B00

Did you know? The Johnstown Inclined Plane is an 896.5-foot (273.3 m) funicular railway in Johnstown, Cambria County, in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The funicular is capable of carrying passengers and automobiles up or down a slope with a grade of 70.9 percent. The incline and its two stations connect the city of Johnstown, situated in a valley at the confluence of the Stonycreek and the Little Conemaugh Rivers, to the borough of Westmont on Yoder Hill. The travel time from one station to the other is 90 seconds.
[Johnstown Inclined Plane, Wikipedia.org]

Princess Fiona

~ sproatmeyer ~ 21 Comments

Ready for another Tiddly Inks challenge? This week our challenge for you is to create a card or project using the theme Diva! That can include a variety of terms and I chose to go with a princess diva…


I used two Tiddly Ink images for this card, Princess Fiona and Gothic Window, which looked like they were perfect for each other. I wanted to expiriment with her dress and added lots of folds and pleats – I think I went overboard but had fun coloring it. ;D


I used my new tag diecut and adorned it with a felt bird, also from the same diecut. After it was finished I realized it matched paper too – it was such a happy coincidence.


DT Challenge: Tiddly Inks Challenge #50 (Darline Diva)
Main Stamp: Princess Fiona and Gothic Window (TI)
Patterned Paper: Togetherness (CC)
Chipboard: Swirly Corners (MiC)
Metal Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities Dahlia and My Favorite Things Die-namics Notched Tag

Copic Markers colored on Copy Paper:
-skin tone: E000, E00, E01, E02, E21, R12
-browns: E42, E44, E47, E49
-reds: R20, R21, R22, R24, R27, R29, R59
-yellows: Y35, Y38
-greens: YG61, YG63, YG67; YG91, YG95, YG97
-blues: B000, B52, C3
-grays: W00, W1, W2, W3

Did you know? The Arcade in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, is a Victorian-era structure of two nine-story buildings, joined by a five-story arcade with a glass skylight spanning over 300 feet (91 m), along the four balconies. Erected in 1890, at a cost of $867,000, the Arcade opened on Memorial Day (May 31, 1890), and is identified as the one of the earliest indoor shopping malls in the United States.
[Cleveland Arcade, Wikipedia.org]

Sea Shells

~ sproatmeyer ~ 10 Comments

Here’s a quick post to make up for yesterday’s project – although, it certainly wasn’t a quick card to make! LOL! I wanted to color up the new Sea Shells images from Make it Crafty and see how realistic I could get them. My daughter was studying shells the other day so I had a few ideas in mind to get started.


To get a good look of all the shells I had scanned them in before cutting them out. Here they all are without the background in the way:


Once I had them all colored it was difficult to find the “perfect” project to use them on. Luck was on my side and I found these shell chocolates in the store and was finally inspired to make a gift set for a great teacher we have this year.


I also used the Ornate Floral Scroll from Make it Crafty but removed all the flowers before printing it out. The dotted background is suppose to give the feel that the scroll is sitting on a sandy beach.


I used microbeads around the card to simulate the effects of sand. I like how these worked out on the white card. Also most of the shells are popped up with foam dots.


Here’s a good look at the tag with a few of the shells added onto it. I’m sure you’ve seen this sentiment stamp before, and along with the kids quotes, it’s one of my favorites too. I loved how it turned out and the teacher loved it too.

Main Stamp: [altered] Ornate Floral Scroll (MiC), Sea Shells (MiC), Good Day (Inkadinkado), and the barcode one

Copic Markers colored on Copy Paper:
-scroll: W4, W6, W8, E50, E51, E53, E55, R32, R37, R39, E40, E41, E42, E43, E44, E49, E57
-seashells: lots of colors, didn’t keep track

Did you know? There is a popular folk myth that holding a conch seashell to the ear can produce the sound of the ocean. However, the rushing sound that one hears is in fact the noise of the surrounding environment, including the sounds originating within the human body itself, resonating within the cavity of the shell. The same effect can be produced with any similar cavity, such as an empty cup or even by simply cupping a hand over the ear.
[Seashell Resonance, Wikipedia.org]

Summer Dreams

~ sproatmeyer ~ 9 Comments

It’s another challenge day at Make it Colourful! This week’s theme is to color with Yellow and Purple and we are sponsored by Magnolia-licious. I love these two colors, however, not necessarily together, so this was a very hard challenge. The card was in processing on my desk for a whole week! Anyway, it’s finished and now it’s your turn. ;D


I used the new Summer Dreams image from Make it Crafty and was so excited to color her up – she’s such a cutie! I placed her in front of the Magnolia Spring Fence and “tried” to keep the rest of the card simple. However, I ended up using lots of diecuts in the process and finished it up with flowers and corner flourishes.


The background was created using a diecut. I taped it down to the white cardstock and used the Copic airbrush tool. It’s an interesting effect and I’m glad I kept the center part light. This isn’t my favorite card but I love a few individual elements. Hope it inspires you anyway and have a great weekend!


DT Challenge: Make it Colourful Challenge #20 (Yellow/Purple)
Main Stamp: Summer Dreams (MiC) and Spring Fence (Mag)
Chipboard: Swirly Corners (MiC)
Metal Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Seventeen, My Favorite Things Die-namics Sunshine and Fresh Cut Grass

Copic Markers colored on Copy Paper:
-skin tone: E40, E41, E42, E000, E00, E01, E31, R12
-browns: E43, E44, E47, E49; E31, E35, E27, E29, E39
-yellows: YR30, Y21, Y26, Y28; Y13, Y17
-greens: YG91, YG93, YG95, YG97, YG99
-purples: V12, V15, V17, FV2; BV23, V25

Did you know? The history of the crayon is not entirely clear. The notion to combine a form of wax with pigment actually goes back thousands of years. The Egyptians perfected a technique using hot beeswax combined with colored pigment to bind color into stone in a process known as encaustic painting. A heat source was then used to “burn in” and fix the image in place. This method, also employed by the Romans, the Greeks and even indigenous people in the Philippines around 1600-1800, is still used today.
[Crayon, Wikipedia.org]

Spring Fairies

~ sproatmeyer ~ 20 Comments

While organizing my stamps I had found this cutie all ready colored up and begging for a card. This fairy was colored with Prismacolor Pencils a couple months ago and had forgotten about it.


Coloring with the pencils is a whole another ballgame and one completely different from Copic markers. It’s a lot easier to add a little color and to experiment, however, I have to press harder and it takes longer to blend. I guess both mediums have their ups and downs.


Here’s the back of some other cards with the second custom signature stamp … I love the size of it… big! 😀 I think it fits well on any size card and make the back more interesting. Thank you Zoe!


Main Stamp: Spring Fairies (P)
Patterned Paper: Kioshi (BG)
Metal Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Eight, Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Seventeen, and Provo Craft Cuttlebug Vintage Corners

Prismacolor Pencils:
946, 941, 945; 901, 932, 902, 961, 962; 913, 911, 908, 991; PC1021; 997, 942, 915, 917; 918, PC1022, 934, 956, 995, 931, and “light flesh”

Did you know? Most pencil cores are made of graphite mixed with a clay binder, leaving grey or black marks that can be easily erased. Some time before 1565, an enormous deposit of graphite was discovered on the approach to Grey Knotts from the hamlet of Seathwaite in Borrowdale parish, Cumbria, England. The locals found that it was very useful for marking sheep. This particular deposit of graphite was extremely pure and solid, and it could easily be sawn into sticks. This remains the only large scale deposit of graphite ever found in this solid form.
[Discovery of Graphite Deposit, Wikipedia.org]

Agent Cupcake Descending

~ sproatmeyer ~ 13 Comments

Welcome to another challenge from Little Miss Muffet Challenges! This week our challenge theme is to use metal embellishments. I couldn’t think of any better way to use this metal star that has been sitting on my desk unclaimed by the kids.


I used one of my new stamps, Agent Cupcake Descending, which was released last week. I had coordinated the colors with some paper on the desk – if you haven’t noticed, I get a lot of inspiration from things left on my desk. LOL If it isn’t put away you’re sure to see it on another project soon enough. ;D


I wanted to mix up the elements on this card so I have heart themed paper but in earth tones; a nice big flower but made out of rough corduroy fabric; swirl flourished but in stark black; and finally the metal star as the shining embellishment but with a fun adventurous theme just like the image.


I’m also excited to show you the back of my card! I “cashed in” all my chips and favors with my good friend Zoe and begged her to make a couple custom stamps. Ok, it wasn’t all that hard to do, but it has been one of the best special one-time favors ever! Thanks Zoe! 😀


I’d like to enter into the following challenges:
Sparkles Forum Challenge #12 (something metal)
Crafting for All Seasons Challenge #1 (anything goes)
Divas by Design Challenge #2 (girls)
Stamps & Fun = Creativity Challenge #48 (flowers)
The Paper Shelter Challenge #15 (anything goes)

DT Challenge: Little Miss Muffet Challenge #10 (metal)
Main Stamp: Agent Cupcake Descending (LMMS)
Patterned Paper: Dutch Mustard Soup (Jillibean Soup)

Copic Markers colored on Copy Paper:
-skin tone: E000, E00, E21, R11, R12
-browns: E55, E57, E59; E43, E44, E47, E49
-yellows: YR30, Y32, Y26
-greens: YG93, YG95, YG97, YG99
-grays: 0, C1, C3; W2, W4, W6, W8

Did you know? The official name of the Philippines has changed several times in the course of the country’s history. During the Philippine Revolution, the Malolos Congress proclaimed the establishment of the República Filipina or the Philippine Republic. From the period of the Spanish-American War and the Philippine-American War until the Commonwealth period, American colonial authorities referred to the country as the Philippine Islands, a translation of the Spanish name. During the American period the name Philippines began to appear and it has since become the country’s common name. Since independence the official name of the country has been the Republic of the Philippines.
[Philippines, Wikipedia.org]