So... I don't normally play "blog tag," but Sharon Johnson tagged me, and I LOVE her, so I had to play.. so:
Here are the rules:
1. Link to your tagger (see above), and also post these rules on your blog.
2. Share seven facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag seven (or as many as you can find who HAVEN'T done this) people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

OK, here are my 7 facts:

1. I used to be a makeup artist for TV and film.
   
2. My son was conceived while I was on tour with a music group in Phoenix, AZ, so I named him Phoenix!!
   
3. My son's father has never met my son, and wants nothing to do with us. (But it's OK, 'cause we have a GREAT life "Just the two of us."
4. I used to have 14 piercings (body and ear) and now I only have 4.
   
5. I have had plastic surgery. (I'll never tell..... lol)
   
6. I LOATHE laundry.. It piles up on my bed, and in baskets until my dear Grandmother comes to babysit and graciously folds it for me. (I still have to put it away though.....)
   
7. I waited until I was 26 (and a single parent) to pursue my dream of being a high school music teacher. I plunged myself into debt, let babysitters raise my son 18 hours of MOST days, and got my degree(s). I received my degree/certification in the mail the other day and it was a VERY good day. I am now teaching at a magnet fine arts school in my city, and LOVING it.
   

So there... 7 random things.. I tag these people:
Kelly Albright
Colleen

And, for a card! I played today's colour challenge found here.
The colours we were to use were So Saffron, Tempting Turquoise, and Real Red. As always I knew I could find a patterned paper that would coordinate with this CC, and I actually found it right away! To fulfill the "saffron" component I airbrushed Y21 with my copic marker and airbrush system along the edges of the main image. Have a great day!

Supplies:
Stamps: Hero Arts (Santa), Amuse (Sentiment and snowflake); Paper: Bazzil and Basic Grey; Ink: Noir (Palette), Jumbo Java, Red Magic (Versamagic), Versamark; Ribbon (Amuse), Felt shapes (American Crafts), White Glue (Art Institute), Copic Markers and Airbrush system.

This week's featured stamper is Nitestamper, and here is the card I cased.

I changed the following:
- colour combination
- stamp set
- ribbon
- scallop punch instead of circle

This was a great layout, and an awesome way to feature patterned paper.

Supplies: Paper: Marigold Morning, Buckaroo Blue, Cranberry Crisp (SU!), Scrapworks, Papertrey; Stamps: Amuse, Hero Arts; Eyelets (WeR), Copic markers, Ribbon (May Arts).



Here are some pics of my trip to the pumpkin farm with my son, Phoenix!

I love felt! I hoard it, but I love it. lol. I just bought another pack of 12x12 felt shapes by Fancy Pants and I was sitting there trying to find a colour to match my card when it donned on me; USE YOUR COPIC AIRBRUSH SYSTEM AND YOU CAN MAKE THEM ANY COLOUR YOU WANT!! Don't you love "aha" moments? So I grabbed my airbrush, grabbed my camera (ofcourse) and documented my findings. Result: FABULOUS! I am appreciating more and more every day why these markers are so remarkable. (no pun intended haha...)

Directions:
1)Pick a colour of felt that will either be a good base colour, OR use white. (Which is what I decided to do for my first felt shape)
2)Spray shape with the lightest colour (similar to shading) and cover shape completely.
3)Spray with a darker colour to add depth. You could keep going darker, but I only used two colours on my flower.

I adhered the felt to the patterned paper with Aleene's Tacky Glue. Do you see the brown felt shape? It was originally a baby pink colour, and I airbrushed it with a deep brown. LOVE it!

I saw someone the other day use their Scor-pal to emboss their card front (notimetostamp) and I thought it was genius! so I tried it, and it's AWESOME! (I embossed a rectangle frame around the patterned paper. Thanx for looking and visit my SCS post for supplies!

Well the REALLY big news is Diana Crick of Scor-Pal has chosen me to be a member of her design team! Diana attended one of my card classes at Precious Memories when it came up that she's the owner/inventor of this famous tool!! I am working on my first tutorial for her website. Will be coming soon!



The other news is that my "Dancing Fool" layout I posted the other day was selected to appear on the Basic Grey website. I'm so excited! Here's the link.

Today's Featured Stamper challenge features TruCarMa and here's the card I cased. In her comments she mentioned the ribbon being her original inspiration for the card, but when it came time to it it didn't fit on the card...Well, I went with her original idea and added ribbon instead of brads. I used the new Amuse ribbon, which is yummy and sparkly in real life.

I, for the most part, kept her original design. I cut down on the layers, but LOVED the layout, so I stayed true to that (scalloped bottom included). If you click on the image you can see I covered some of the dots on the present with glitter, and some with Simple Shine (Crystal Effects). Love that dimensional effect. I cut out bella's legs/dress with an exacto. I LOVE that coming-out-of-the-picture effect. What's that technique called anyway?? Have a great week!

Supplies: Stamps: Presentabella (Stamping Bella), Amuse; Paper: Basic Grey, Bazzil, Papertrey; Ink: Noir (Palette), Jumbo Java and Cloud White(Versamagic); Ribbon (Amuse), Copic Markers, Simple Shine.

The LSS where I teach (linked on the right) had a staff crop tonight! I did more talking than cropping, but isn't that what crops are all about?? Here are the fruits of my (not so much) labour:
I did this card with the specific intention of using chipboard. I used the Basic Grey chipboard and coordinating die cuts (Stella Ruby) to make this SUPER quick card. I also couldn't resist using one of my new felt shapes by Fancy Pants since it went so well with the paper.

Supplies; Paper: Basic Grey, Bazzil; Ink: Jumbo Java (versamagic); Ribbon: May Arts; Felt star (Fancy Pants), Chipboard letters (Basic Grey).



My second completed project is this layout featuring my freak of a son getting his groove on. I toiled over this page, mostly because I have many embellishments for female-oriented pages, but none for little boys. (Go figure- I only have one child and he's a BOY)

To colour the chipboard arrow I used my brown and black Copic markers and the Copic airbrush system. No more paint for me! haha..

Supplies: Paper: Basic Grey, KI Memories, Bazzil; Ink: Jumbo Java (Versamagic); Thickers (American Crafts), Chipboard (Basic Grey), Journaling tag (Making Memories), Rub-on (Cosmo Cricket), Copic Markers and Airbrush system.

No patterned paper....BY CHOICE! I will do it if I have to (for a challenge or something) but it's always my preference to use patterned paper. In the case of this card, nothing matched the airbrushing perfectly, except for this piece of cardstock I had in my stash (Bazzil) so I thought, what the heck!

This is for Beate's weekend sketch found here.

p.s... I am house-sitting for my parents and I used my mom's Canon EOS digital SLR. Isn't the picture amazing!! I want a pretty camera SO bad.. oh the pictures I would take....

Supplies: Paper: Bazzil, Papertrey; Stamps: Stampendous (large snowflake), Amuse (small snowflake, penguins and sentiment); Ink: White Cloud (Versamagic), Noir (Palette); Ribbon (May Arts), Copic Markers and airbrush system.

The first time I saw this image I didn't know what to think of it. A skinny Santa? I didn't know if I was ready for that. I bought the set anyway, and haven't inked it until today. He's kinda cute now that he's all coloured, and the new modern twist on the old Santa suits more modern and geometric patterned papers with which I've paired him.

This is the second card I've done for today's featured stamper challenge, and I cased the same card. (I was on a roll, what can I say?)

The challenge is here, the card I cased is here.


Supplies: Paper: The Paper Company, Wild Wasabi (SU!), White (Prism); Stamps: Hero Arts Clear Set, Amuse (Sentiment); Ink: Red Magic (Versamagic), Noir (Palette); Ribbon (May Arts), Copic Markers, Glitter (Glitter Ritz), Mat Pack (SU!).

This past week has been one of those weeks, you know? I taught two classes at my LSS (LOTS of prep) and I was busy making out mid-terms for my high school students, and before I knew it, a week had gone by!

I made this card for the Featured Stamper challenge, featuring Stampertammy. (Her card is here). I was determined to use my NEW stamp from Stamping Bella. Isn't it AWESOME?!?! I coloured it with Copic markers, and decorated the image with some white glue and glitter ritz micro-fine glitter.

To add special interest to the image I cut the rectangle so it appears as if the stirring stick is sticking out of the matte. I LOVE this look, and it worked out so well. I die cut a scalloped rectangle using a Nestabilities die and my Cuttlebug.

Supplies: Paper: Piggy Tales, Bazzil, Papertrey; Stamps: Stamping Bella, Amuse; Ink: Versamagic, Palette (Noir); Copic markers, Aleene's Glue, Glitter Ritz, Spellbinders Nestabilities die.

I saw Kristina's (kwerner design blog) directions for a small file folder album, and thought I'd give it a try. I actually had to go to Staples and buy a whole box (1oo) of files because I didn't have ANY in my house. Even though this is only half a file folder, it was still a lot of work, time, paper, and I don't know if I would do it again! I'm the kind of scrapper that likes to get a project done in an hour or less, and this was NOT that project.. ah well.

I had a bunch of old photos of me given to me and they have sat in my photo box for a LONG time. I find it SO hard to find papers to match that orangey-70's colour, but these papers by Cosmo Cricket worked pretty well.
Here's the cover. The monogram is a metal letter by American Crafts, and the stamps are Technique Tuesday.

Supplies: Paper: (Kraft, Cosmo Cricket, MME); Stamps: Technique Tuesday, Autumn Leaves; Ink: Jumbo Java (Versamagic); Accessories: Copic markers, EK punch, MME star die cut, WeR brads and ribbon, metal letter (American Crafts).

What a yummy colour combo: Blue Bayou, Chocolate Chip and River Rock (all SU! colours). The first thing I do when there's a colour challenge is thumb through my scraps of patterned paper that coordinate with the challenge colours ( I have SO many scraps that I'm usually successful). It is Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend, so I think my Grandmother who is hosting dinner, will receive this card.

I stamped "thanks" with a gorgeous alpha by Technique Tuesday, and "give" with my tiny snap stamps. I was able to line up the alpha using a clear block with a grid by Provo Craft.

For challenge details check out the link here.

Supplies:
Paper: River Rock, Blue Bayou, Chocolate Chip (SU!), KI patterned paper; Stamps: Alphabet (Technique Tuesday), Snap Stamp (Karen Foster), Leaf Flourish (Inkadinkado); Ink: Jumbo Java (Versamagic); Ribbon (May Arts), Felt Flowers (American Crafts), brads, Ticket Corner Punch (SU!).

Can you believe this is my first "Fluffles" stamp? I don't know why I haven't purchased one before, 'cause I think they're cute, but I just really like this one. My friend Tara first showed me this stamp, and I guess I just had to have it!

I wanted this to be a really quick card because I'm designing a class that centre around punches and Copic markers for Precious Memories, and this was a quick and easy sketch.

Here's the original layout (you can see the challenge here) and ofcourse I changed it to suit a square card - this time measuring 4.25 square. It's subtle, but the kitty is actually grey (like my son's cat) because any other colour would have clashed with the Piggy Tales paper.
Have an awesome day!

Supplies:
Stamps: fluffles (Stampendous)
Paper: piggy tales, bazzil
Ink: lamp black (ranger)
Accessories: copic markers, punches, gel pen (sakura), rik rak

So todays featured stamper is "Starofmay" aka Kristina Werner. She is my paper-crafting idol (she does both layouts and cards) and her graphic artist's eye is do die for!!


I cased this card, and changed only a few details. To stamp this card I used a Technique Tuesday alpha, and stamped it in Lamp Black (Ranger) which, by the way, works AWESOMELY (it's a word) with Copic markers. I coloured in the overlapping areas with watercolour PENCILS, then blended it with a copic marker, I then coloured in the rest of the letters. I haven't tried the watercolour pencil/copic thing before, but am LOVING the results....

Supplies: Stamps: technique tuesday; Paper: bazzil, DCWV, papertrey; Ink: charcoal (versamagic), lamp black (ranger); Accessories: felt flower (AC), ribbon (WeR), copic markers, watercolor pencils

I have always loved the sketch challenge at SCS. For me, it's always the layout that gives me the hardest time. I can always come up with colours, patterned papers, stamps, etc., but it's the layout that I'll "hum and haw" about for hours sometimes. I would NEVER be a graphic artist, that's for sure. So playing the sketch challenge is somehow freeing for me. I get to think about other things.

I wanted to use a tree from the memory box clear set I have on loan from my LSS. The set is full of non-traditional trees and I love it. See my other post here for another time I used the set.

I began with the card base, which is, as usual, 5x5. The next two layers are 1/8 of an inch smaller. The middle square is cuttlebugged, and then ticket-corner punched. I stamped the tree first, then stamped the ornaments in different colours. The only colour you can't see is the Ballet Blue (Palette) and I have to say, I HATE that ink. I keep giving it a second chance to prove to me that it's a real colour, but it keeps letting me down. If it were the colour is says it should be, it would be pretty, but it's not. I love all of my other palette colours, but hate this one.. moving on.. I then punched the tree out with a marvy punch and adhered it to the card with foam squares. Now I'm off to bed. I have early morning choir rehearsal (7:00) and I need to be alert!!! "Night.

Check my SCS gallery for supplies. Thanx!

Tara, I know this will annoy you (posting on a Blog without a picture....) but I had to. This quiz was funny 'cause I always correct my best friend's grammar, and these are the exact things he messes up. Take it if you have a minute...

You Scored an A

You got 10/10 questions correct. It's pretty obvious that you don't make basic grammatical errors. If anything, you're annoyed when people make simple mistakes on their blogs. As far as people with bad grammar go, you know they're only human. And it's humanity and its current condition that truly disturb you sometimes.

I saw the colours for the colour combo challenge (River Rock, Chocolate Chip, and Really Rust) at SCS and I knew I wanted to play, but I've been feeling like all I do is cards lately, so I chose to alter a coffee bag I got from Papertreyink. I'm thinking this would be a perfect hostess gift. (Maybe for my Gramma at Thanksgiving dinner?!)

The "F" was originally River Rock, but it didn't stand out enough, so I airbrushed it with dark brown and black with Copic markers. I stamped "all" with Technique Tuesday stamps, and filled them in with a blender and versamagic ink. The rust-coloured heart in the corner was originally pink, but I airbrushed it with Copics again to be a rust colour. The large monogram was traced from a cardstock punch-out by Basic Grey. I didn't have any letters that matched this colour scheme, so I made my own.
I LOVE how this bag turned out. Thanx for looking!

Supplies:
Paper: River Rock, Chocolate Chip, KI Memories; Stamps: Technique Tuesday (small letters) Leafy Flourish (Inkadinkado); Ink: Jumbo Java (Versamagic); Chipboard heart (K&Co.), twine, Copic markers and airbrush system, coffee bag (Papertreyink).

SO.... I have the Copic airbrush system (compressor and all) on loan from my LSS where I teach, and I just HAD to play around... This airbrushing stuff takes some getting used to. Because I only have a couple of the original Copics for airbrushing, my other mission was to defy all odds and use some of my Ciao markers with the airbrushing, and guess what? It works! You have to hold the markers in place, but hey... I'll do whatever it takes.

This is for Beate's sketch found here. I kind of melded the flower and the sentiment so I hope she doesn't mind! ;)

Directions.. I stamped the Bella on papertrey white CS. I masked off her body and head (it makes a pretty funny looking image) and airbrushed the background. I cuttlebugged the two cardstock layers, and punched the corners. I then punched the corners of all the other layers and assembled the card. Before gluing down the cool caribbean CS, I wrapped the ribbon around the card-front, and attached the tag/flower with a jeweled brad. Measurements are: Brown: 5x5, Cool Caribbean: 4.75x4.75, patterned paper: 4x4, purely pom: 3.75x3.75, Bella: 3 5/8x2.

Supplies
Paper: Cool Caribbean, Purely Pomegranate (SU!), Java (Bazzil), SEI; Stamp: Bunchabella (Stamping Bella); Ink: Jumbo Java (Versamagic by Tsukeneko); Copic markers and airbrush system; Ribbon (American Crafts); Flower (Prima); Chipboard Tag (K&Co.).

CARD... not a skirt.. Me in a micro miniskirt would just be scary.. lol..

This is a challenge over at {Caardvarks} and I haven't done one with them, and this seemed fun! I chose this tiny little polar bear as my feature image. He's SO cute. I coloured him with Copic markers and added a little liquid applique for fun. The finished card measures 2.5x3.5, the size of an ATC.

Supplies:
Paper: Card (Amuse, trimmed to size), unknown patterned paper; Stamps: Polar bear (Memory Box), Sentiment (Inkadinkado); Ink: Noir Black (Palette); Copic markers, liquid applique.

This is for a submission call from Papercrafts magazine. I traced and then covered the chipboard file folder with KI paper. It was especially helpful that all the paper I used was double-sided, so I had a lot of different patterns to choose from, and they all coordinated! After gluing the paper to the chipboard with Zip-dry adhesive (LOVE it), I sanded the edges and inked with Jumbo Java ink. I traced the top flap of the file onto the green paper to make the sentiment pop. To add special interest to the cake, I used the paper-piecing technique, in which I stamped the cake on patterned paper, cut it out, and placed it on the cake stand. I used foam squares to pop it up. To finish off the card I tied ribbon around the circular patterned paper, adhered it to the card base, and glued the file folder to the card.

Supplies: Paper: All patterned paper by KI Memories, white cardstock by Papertreyink; Ink: Jumbo Java (Versamagic by Tsukineko); Stamps: Sentiment (Stampin' Up!), Cake & accessories (Technique Tuesday); Ribbon: American Crafts; Chipboard file folder (My Minds Eye).

This was my first full week of teaching... MAN am I tired!! Two mornings this week I was up at 5 am for choir rehearsals at 7 am.. Those are gonna take some getting used to! But I LOVE my students. For those of you who don't know me, I teach at a fine arts secondary school, and I'm spoiled rotten with the talent these kids have to offer. I'm loving life right now.

I made a card for today's Inspiration challenge.. This is the inspiration photo:
The first thing that caught my eye was the colour scheme, and it's a good one! I then started to think about how I could create the circle cut-outs and geometric lines, and I grabbed my giga and mega circle punches... This is what I came up with:
I added the brads as an afterthought because the card looked kinda flat, but it ended up looking really space-aged or something. lol... Thanx for looking, and have a great weekend!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzil, Basic Grey, Papertrey; Stamps: Papertrey (Beautiful Blooms); Ink: Vandyke Brown (Ranger Inks); Accessories: Copic markers, brads, Marvy punches, glitter pen (Sakura).