Top 10 of 2011

Hi All!  When I saw this pop up in my Dashboard from Kellie Winnell's blog I couldn't resist dropping by to see her Top 10 as I pretty much love every thing she makes :)  And I thought it would be fun to participate in her little linky party too and share my Top 10 of 2011 with all of you!  So here they are in no particular order, clicking on the card will take you to the post...

I loved coloring up this Kenny K Image

 This was the first card that I won a challenge with :)

 This was the first time I really got depth in the skin tone

 Fairies, Flowers and Bling :)

 Love this image Copica from Saturated Canary- she's even holding Copics!

 One of my Christmas favorites

 I love the skulls on this little cutie from Tickled Pink Stamps

 The first Some Odd Girl I ever colored up

 One of my first Design Team cards ever!

 What can I say?  I love it all!

It's the Eve!

Hi all!  I thought I'd do something a little different for this post- there's not a card or project coming- instead I thought I'd post this quiz that I saw over on Kellie Winnell's blog and share a little bit about myself with you all :)  I figured it's fitting since my one year anniversary of blogging came and went in late November (I was too busy with Christmas cards to even do a post!).  I wish you all a very Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays depending on what you celebrate.  Thanks for being with me on my journey over the past year and for welcoming me into the blogging world in style- can't wait to see what exciting stuff is to come in the new year!  Many hugs to you all :)

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate?  Neither- I'm kind of a coffee addict so that always wins out!
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?  Santa has always wrapped for us...
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?  White- they go with everything
4. Do you hang mistletoe?  Nope, wouldn't even know where to get some :)
5. When do you put your decorations up?  Well, this might shock some of you but I don't actually decorate!  Christmas is still celebrated with the family and they decorate enough for me...
6. What is your favorite holiday dish?  That's a hard one, but I'd have to say shrimp for Christmas dinner- it's the one time that my dad makes so much it truly is all you can eat!
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?  Probably getting the movie E.T. and my parents hearing me and my sister crying 'E.T. died' as we watched it and running down to convince us to keep watching because he's not really dead.  We still laugh about it...
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?  To be honest I don't really remember...
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?  Yep, family tradition...we open one gift and it's always pj's but we're supposed to act like we don't know what it is or my mom gets upset- we never play along for long though because my sister and I agree it's way to much fun to irritate her
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?  No tree at my place- it'd probably never come down if I put it up- I'm terrible like that!
11. Snow!  Love it or dread it?  Love it!  It makes everything bright...
12. Can you ice skate?  Yep, used to do it on the pond in our neighborhood
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?  That's so hard!  My family are some of the best gift givers so it's always stuff I love...
14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?  Definitely the time spent with family and friends
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?  Anything my mom makes!
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?  Christmas Eve- we always get coffee in the morning, then go to a movie and have dinner out- usually pizza because it's the only place consistently open on Christmas Eve, then we go back home and each read a Christmas story and open our one present- it's the best!
17. What tops your tree?  No tree :)
18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving?  Definitely giving- I love knowing you got the perfect gift for someone...
19. Candy canes: yuck or yummy?  Love 'em!
20. Favorite Christmas show?  That's so hard cause I love them all...for classics I would say White Christmas...and non classics I would absolutely have to go with Elf!  "Buddy the elf, what's your favorite color?"  I'm always tempted to answer my phone at work that way but I'm afraid I'll get in trouble :)
21. Saddest Christmas song? I'll Be Home for Christmas
22. What is your favorite Christmas song?  Baby It's Cold Outside- I like all the different versions but my two favorites would have to be the GLEE version and the version in Elf  :)

Imagine

Hi All!  I hope that you're all well on your way to being ready for the holiday- I can hardly believe we're down to just a few more days!  I got to spend time with one of the best Christmas presents ever this afternoon- one of my best friends' new little baby boy...his Auntie Katie had to deliver his new red and white striped sleeper that says 'My First Christmas' on it :)  I'm enjoying a few days off and working on getting the rest of my family's Christmas presents put together but I wanted to take a quick minute and post another Christmas card before the season for them is over.  I used Tickled Winter Little Evie from Tickled Pink Stamps again because it's been a favorite this season and I wanted to try and do her up in red this time with my Copics.  I paired her with some paper from My Minds Eye and used Liquid Pearls to do the trim on her outfit- it's a different look than the Stickles I normally use and it's kind of nice for a change.  I hope you enjoy seeing this little cutie again as much as I like using her!

Copics:
Skin- E000, E00, E11, R21, R30, BV31
Hair- E41, E44, E47, E49
Clothes- R37, R39, R59, RV99, W0, W1, W3

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:
Crafting for all Seasons- Christmas
Diva's By Design- Christmas
The Sisterhood of Crafters- Christmas




Supplies- Cardstock- American Crafts, Bazzil; DP- My Minds Eye Lost & Found Christmas; Flowers- Prima; Gem Circle- Recollections; Silver Pearls & Image Sentiment- my stash

Yuletide Gifts

Hi All!  Just a quick post of another Christmas card :)  I've become quite smitten with Some Odd Girl images and LOVE coloring them up with my Copics.  Here I've used Deer Gift Mae and, after seeing how some other amazing colorists created the dark shadows with their coloring I tried something new and used a really dark grey (T9) to put some really dark shadows in her dress.  As with all things when you do it for the first time it's not perfect but I think I'm on the right track which just means more practice is in my future :)  I used some of my favorite Christmas paper from Webster's Pages as the base and then kept things pretty simple- there's not even any bling aside from the pearls on the flowers...I'm surprised I didn't go through some serious withdrawals!  I've decided that my affinity for bling on my cards is probably a result of me being unable to afford it sparkling in my ears or from around my neck.  And since I've heard it said that diamond's are a girls best friend it would be a terrible shame if I were best friendless right?  So until I win lottery, or find someone who showers me with expensive gifts, bling will probably continue to be a staple on my cards :)  Well, I'm pretty sure I've rambled enough and you're probably ready to see my card now- thanks for sticking with me- I hope it was worth it!

Copics:
Skin- E000, E00, E11, R21, R30, BV31
Hair- E31, E33, E35, E37, E39, E29
Clothes- R22, R24, R29, R59, T7, E40, E41, E42, E43, E44
Present- Y32, Y35, Y38, G40, G82, G85

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:
Digi Designs Challenge- Christmas
Card Makin' Mama's- Christmas
Raise The Bar- It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
Stampin' for the Weekend- Christmas

Supplies- Cardstock- American Crafts; Distress Ink- Pumice Stone Tim Holtz; Felt Ribbon- We R Memory Keepers; Flowers- Prima; Token- Tim Holtz; Pearls- my stash

An Angel Named Snowflake

Hi All!  I hope that you are all making it through the stress the impending holiday can bring :)  I'm super excited because I don't take much time off at work but was able to get part of next week off so I'm not to stressed just yet- but knowing me no matter how much time off I have I'll still be up at midnight on Christmas Eve trying to finish up last minute gifts for my family.  I've determined that procrastination can actual help my creative process (or that's at least what I'm convincing myself of!).  I've got another Christmas card to share- I know, shocking right?!?  Ya'll are going to be really happy when I've blogged my way through most of these huh?  Well, between these needing to be mailed, and me using up a lot of my mojo with soooo many cards to make I kinda went clean and simple with a few and this just happens to be one of those.  Luckily the images from Saturated Canary, like this one called Christmas Angel, are so eye catching when they're all colored up that its easy to let them take center stage.  Pair the image with one of my favorite things about winter, snowflakes, and you really can't go wrong.  And even though it's one of the more simple cards I've ever done there's something about it that still appeals to me.  I hope the person that receives it feels the same way :)

Copics:
Skin- E000, E00, E11, R21, R30
Hair- E50, E51, E53, E33
Clothes- R20, R21, R22, R30, R43, BG0000, BG10, BG11, BG53, W0, W1
Ornaments- BV01, BV02, BV04, Y26, YR21, YR31, B32, B34, B39




I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges-
By the Cute and Girly- Let It Snow
My Sheri CRAFTS- Let It Snow
4 Crafty Chicks- Christmas Card
Charisma Cards- Last Minute Xmas Makes

Supplies: Cardstock- American Crafts, Bazzil; Charms- snowflake- Michaels, Token- Tim Holtz; Flowers- Prima; Twine & Pearls- my stash

Noel

Hi All!  I'm helping out over at the Tickled Pink Stamps Challenge blog this week and it's such a fun and easy one to join in on- all you have to do is pick your favorite past Tickled Pink Stamp Challenge theme to play along with- I mean, how easy is that right?!?  Of course I've got another Christmas card to share so I went with past challenge #39 which was a Winter theme.  I've used Tickled Winter Little Evie, which I absolutely adore, and colored her up with my Copics.  I paired her with a 6x6 square from a 12x12 sheet of paper by Echo Park called Wintertime and thought it was the perfect little backdrop- she's even holding a matching snowman :)  The paper did a lot of the designing for me so once the image was added it just looked like it was missing a little something in the corner so I added a glittered chipboard tag that said Noel and popped some bling on there to accent it :)  I hope that you enjoy my card and that it makes you want to hop on over to the Tickled Pink Stamps Challenge blog to play along with us and show us what one of your past favorite TPSC themes was...just remember to include a Tickled Pink Stamp image :)  And in case I forget to say it later I just want to wish you all a very Happy Holidays!

Copics:
Skin- E000, E00, E11, R21, R30, BV31
Hair- E50, E51, E53, E99
Clothes- B32, B34, B39, W0, W1

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:
Digital Tuesday- Winter Wonderland
Crafty Boots- Christmas


Supplies: Cardstock- American Crafts; DP- Echo Park Wintertime; Stickles- Frosted Lace; Gems- Recollections; Glitter Chipboard tag- my stash

A Bit of Mistletoe

Hi All!  I've got another Christmas card to share with you :)  I know, two cards in two days?  It's Christmas card madness up in here!  Sorry- back on track Katie.  I purchased some new holiday stamps from Some Odd Girl and have so enjoyed coloring them up with my Copics.  Here I used Mistletoe Kaylee and paired her with some paper from My Minds Eye 12 Days of Christmas paper pad.  I used two of my favorite colors, but ones I don't usually pair together, and I quite like how they complement each other...I'll have to use this pairing again for sure.  Because this had to be mailed I didn't use any flowers or anything, instead going for a more clean look with some bling and some twine wrapped between the image and its mat, then I finished it off with a chipboard sticker that says Joy from my Christmas stash.  I hope everyone is working their way through their holiday to do list- try not to get to stressed to enjoy the season!  And I'll be back shortly with some more Christmas card cheer :)

Copics:
Skin: E000, E00, E11, R21, R30, BV31
Hair: E21, E23, E57, E59
Clothes: BC10, BG11, BG13, BG15, BG18, R22, R27, R29, R59, N1, N3, N5

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:
Creative Card Crew- Tis The Season
Papertake Weekly- I'm Dreaming of a 'Red & Teal' Christmas
Hooked On Craft- Christmas
Pollycraft- Christmas Fun

Supplies: Cardstock- American Crafts and Bazzil; DP- My Minds Eye 12 Days of Christmas; Twine- Jillibean Soup; Bling Flourish- Zva Creative; Chipboard Sticker- my stash

Baby It's Cold Outside

Hi all!  Man, it's sure been awhile and I just want to say a huge sorry for the absence.  As some of you know I sell my cards and, suffice it to say, the holidays are very busy for me :)  While the extra income is awesome this time of year I also struggle with how to do it all- work full time, do cards almost full time and still try to have a life!  But I just delivered an order of 21 Christmas cards this weekend so that's helped lighten the load a little and, while I didn't have time to blog the cards while I was doing them, I still managed to take pictures of them all so I could blog them later- so I shouldn't be doing any more massive disappearing acts.

The first card I'd like to share is a personal favorite from the batch- it features an adorable Saturated Canary image called Hot Cocoa that I had an absolute blast coloring up with my Copics!  These stamps are some of my favorites for practicing shading in facial features like noses.  And this little gals hair brought about a new favorite color combo too- dontcha just love it when that happens?  Anyways, I paired it with some My Minds Eye paper from the Merry Little Christmas collection which has a great combo of blues, reds and pinks and even some green thrown in the mix which is perfect for those nontraditional color pallets.  I couldn't resist adding a few of my favorite embellishments like a bling flourish (gotta have some bling somewhere!), a Tim Holtz snowflake charm and some flowers.  Now these cards all had to get mailed so there's not a lot of dimension I could do but I sure tried to work with as much as I thought I could get away with!  I hope you enjoy and I also hope to be spending a lot more time in blog land with you now :)

Copics:
Skin- E000, E00, E11, R21, R30
Hair- E50, E51, E97, E99
Clothes- B91, B93, B95, B97, R24, R29, R59, R43, R30, YG61, YG63, YG67, E40, E41, E42, E43, E44, BG0000, BG11, BG13
Mug- E74, E77, W1, BG72, BG75, BG78

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:
iCopic- Holidays
Cupcake Craft- 'Don't Look at the Light'- make sure it sparkles and shines
The Pink Elephant- Snowflake & Sparkle
There She Goes Challenges- Color Challenge- Blue, Pink and Red
Paper Sundaes- Anything Christmas

Supplies: Cardstock- American Crafts and Bazzil; DP- My Minds Eye Merry Little Christmas; Snowflake Charm- Tim Holtz; Bling & Flowers- Recollections; Red Glitter Embroidery Floss- my stash

Hey U

Hi All!  I'm so excited to be taking part in a review of the Pinkette releases over at Tickled Pink Stamps!  I decided to color up one of my favorites- this is Coraline- and since I'm fairly new to the DT I thought it would be fun to use an image that I purchased when the Pinkette's made their first debut, long before I became a proud part of the TPS family :)  I colored Coraline up with my Copics to match my papers from MME Lost & Found Market Street, I just love the soft pretty feel that these paper's have, and threw in some of my favorite things like a pearl flourish, some flowers and a cute little bingo card that I've been waiting to use.  I hope that you like this little trip down memory lane; hop on over to the Tickled Pink Stamps blog for some more looks back at some of these adorable stamps!

Copics:
Skin- E000, E00, E11, R21
Hair- E21, E57, E59
Clothes- R20, R21, R22, R24, BG93, G20, W00, W1
Cupcake- R30, R32, E31, E33, BG93, G20, Y15, Y17

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:
Totally Gorjuss- Swirly Whirly
Clearly Inspired- Flowers
Delightful Challenges- Bingo (Stitching, Ribbon, Patterned Paper)

Supplies: Cardstock- American Crafts; DP- MME Lost & Found Market Street; Ribbon- Pebbles; Bingo Card- Jenni Bowlin; Pearl Flourish- Zva Creative; Distress Ink- Pumice Stone; Flowers- Recollections, Prima; Liquid Pearls

Joyful

Hi All!  How's it going?  I've been doing pretty good, just busy as usual :)  I swear it seems like the holiday season has just crept right up on me so I've been feeling the need to kick my butt in gear and get some holiday cards done.  And I don't know about you but when I start seeing the holiday releases at all the stamp companies it doesn't matter how many stamps I already have I get this overwhelming feeling that I can't possibly get any of my Christmas cards done with out new stuff- I think it's a symptom of this craft addiction- and I've conveniently convinced myself that you all do the same thing so at least I'm not alone- please take pity and don't burst my pretty little bubble if that's not true, lol!  So speaking of new stamps I picked up this gorgeous digi Angel Kaylee from the Some Odd Girl shop a few days ago and couldn't wait to color her up.  Now you'll have to let me know what you think because I tried something a little different and used color in my shading...I've seen the designer of the Some Odd Girl stamps Kristy do this, and even though I'm no where near as good at coloring as her, I couldn't resist trying it out.  Even with the color in the shading my image turned out a lot less saturated than what I normally do so as a result my card is a lot softer and more simple than what I've been doing lately but it's nice to switch it up sometimes.  I hope you enjoy!

Copics:
Skin: 0, E000, E00, E11, R21, R22
Hair: E13, E15, E17, E18, E19
Clothes: E41, E42, E43, E44, E01, E93, E95, E97
Wings: R000, R01, E42

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:
2 Sister Challenge- Anything Goes
Crafty Catz- Use a Digi
C.R.A.F.T.- Cute
Flutter By Wednesday's- Friendship

Supplies: Cardstock- Bazzil, American Crafts; DP- BasicGrey Wassail; Twine- Jillibean Soup; Christmas Token- Tim Holtz; Flowers- Recollections; Gem Flourish- Zva Creative; Ink- Tim Holtz Distress Ink Tea Dye, Smooch Illuminate; Pins- my stash

Grateful

Hi All!  Well, holy crap...have ya missed me?!?  Probably not as much as I've missed you :)  What can I say sometimes life just gets in the way of everything I actually want to do...oh well, I'm back now and don't plan on going anywhere any time soon so unfortunately for you- you're stuck with me!

I'm sure you'll be shocked to see that I've again used a Saturated Canary image but I just can't resist these cuties.  This is Cornelia and I thought she'd be perfect for a special Thanksgiving card.  I've colored her with my beloved Copics and felt a little more comfortable with shading in her facial features this time, like her nose.  I'm going to continue to practice though!  I used the sketch over at Stamptacular Sunday Challenge and also wanted to play over at Saturated Canary Challenge which is 1 image, 2 papers, and 3 embellishments- I used pearls, a tag and flowers.  I can tell how much my style continues to change because, for the first time, I actually had a hard time sticking to just 3 embellishments :)  But I do love how the image stands out with this more simple layout.  I hope you enjoy and I promise to be back soon with some Christmas cards!

Copics:
Skin- E00, E11, E13, E15, R22
Eyes- E49, N3, N5, N7
Hair- N1, N5, N7, N9
Clothes- E30, E31, E33, E35, E37, E49, R37, R59
Basket- E43, E44, E47, E49, B93, B95

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:
iCopic- Thanksgiving
Saturated Canary Challenge- Recipe (1, 2, 3)
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge- Sketch

Supplies: Cardstock- Bazzil, American Crafts; DP- BasicGrey Pyrus; Tag- Little Yellow Bicycle Autumn Bliss; Flowers- Recollections; Pearls- Recollections, Zva Creative

Happy Birthday to the Ultimate Odd Girl!

Hi All!  Just a quick reminder that Kristy's 30 day celebration, in honor of her turning 30,  is still going strong over on her blog Some Odd Girl.  So please stop in and see all the fun that's being had- I promise you won't be disappointed!