Thursday, August 14, 2014

Daisy and Cupcake...STAMPlorations Bi-Weekly Sketch Challenge #17, STAMPlorations August Challenge: Stamps and Die Cuts

Hello!

Thursdays, from mid-June to early October, are Farmer Market days in our small mountain town of Canmore.  It's not vast by any stretch, but the opportunity to buy fresh produce is such a treat. I'm heading that way this morning, before the 'crowds' converge...cherries, peaches, lettuce, carrots...oh, I have a list!

Once home, I'm aiming to catch up on my online card class homework, before, hopefully, going for another Johnston's Canyon hike once my husband is back from work, and provided the weather holds. With all this to do, a treat for you:  a cas post!!!

I'm sharing two cards for STAMPlorations Bi-Weekly Sketch Challenge #17




In the midst of all my wrestling and wrangling with distress markers and water-colouring (still grrrr...), my poor Copics have been missing out on action.  Time to bring those babies out - my big crew of 12! 

I coloured my STAMPlorations images with two shades of yellow and some brown, in the first, and the same shades of yellow and two shades of blue, in the second.  Now I want more copics...gahhh!! Trust me, thought, restraint exercised on those, because we know they're pricey. Amazing, but pricey, however, I'll be keeping my eyes open for sales (sometimes my 'local' scrapbook gal has excellent sales on them. Waiting...patiently...)

Card 1:


My sentiment, stamped with white pigment ink, is splotchy. I was going to make another frame and re-stamp, but I like the funky look.  Staying as it is....kinda cool.

NOTE:  So honoured and delighted that my bloom card was selected as a STAMPlorations Bi-Weekly Challenge #17 Top Pick.  THANK YOU!!!

Card 2 - I 'shifted' the sketch layers a bit so the colours of my frames could be seen.  Isn't that sentiment great...and soooo true!

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments add sparkle to my day!









26 comments:

Greta said...

Hi Carol, Beautiful coloring (I should give you my big collection of COPICS--LOL!) & wonderful layers for both cards! I'm jealous you might go back to that gorgeous spot!

Darnell said...

You make magic happen with your set of 12 Copics, Carol!! These cards are STAHUNNING!! Hugs, Darnell

Kay Miller said...

Oh these are both wonderful Carol!! You do lovely things with only 12 Copics! haha! I adore the stitched and layered frames too! I hope you enjoy your hike with the hubby andl that delicious farmer's market haul! (hugs)

Kim S said...

Copics are expensive. Personally, I went all out at the beginning, but I seem to pull the same ones out time and time again, while the others remain near the bottom. So you don't really need a big collection. The yellows you have used today are gorgeous - so buy other color families and no more yellows. I do regret the vast collection that I have - so many are totally wasted!

Dana said...

Fabulous coloring!!! I love how you layered the different dies in both cards!! Very Very lovely cards!!

Taunya Butler said...

I think your coloring is amazing and how true is that statement - Cupcakes do make everything better!! Coming for a visit to your blog always cheers me up! Who needs a cupcake when I have got this beautiful blog to enjoy!! Both cards have fantastic touches to them - my most favorite of both is the way you showcased your images with the frames and backgrounds - gorgeously and oh, so coolly done!! Thanks for making me smile!!

Kylie said...

LOVE these Carol! I have to say that the first is my favourite with the stitched dies - love them! Having that one black panel really makes those squares and your bloom shine! Thanks so much for playing along at STAMPlorations xx

Marisa said...

Well done with the colouring :) Gorgeous flower! Love the way you used the layout too. Wonderful times two :) I tip my hat to you as I am not a colourer!

Susanne Vargas said...

I clicked on the link to Canmore's website and boy, you do live in Paradise! Oh, my!
Your cards are beautiful and great takes on the sketch! I must be the only stamper that doesn't own any copics... (but that's ok)

Happy Dance said...

I have to say that the sketch didn't inspire me much...at first...until I saw your flower card. There is now a giant PING flinging around my brain. Your beautiful flower, and the sweetly splotchy sentiment have caused that!!!!! Your second card is darling, and that sentiment is absolutely, absolutely true. And boy could I use a cupcake right now! Wonderful my dear friend. Too late for me to break out the supplies to make my pinging card, but will sketch it out and get to work early in the morning. Oh!, btw, a scrapbook store in Milwaukee owner suggested a KAISERfusion marker. Waaaay cheaper than Copics, and so I bought one to try out. Really, really like it. Will purchase more soon. Have a good night. : ) Bev

Brenda said...

Wow, these cards are amazing Carol!! I love the sketch and your take on it. Love that flower and the colors of your mats. I like the splotchy sentiment myself! I love, love the second card too and how you did the mats-very creative and oh my that cupcake is just awesome!!! But it is the sentiment is caught my eye-love that! Oh I would love to own some Copic markers, but they aren't in my budget. I do however love my Spectrum Noir markers, they are a close runner up to the Copics as I'm sure there are other markers out there too. I love that they are cheap too!! Hugs, Brenda

Carole said...

Two fabulous cards Carol!...and with only 12 copics!...amazing. My favourite is the first one.

Kylie said...

Embrace the imperfection because sometimes it is actually perfection. :) What can I say that I haven't said before - gorgeous, inspiring, creative and colourful. Love these cards too. :)

~amy~ said...

LOVE them...wow.

Cindy Lovell said...

Oh,Carol...these are both so beautiful!! I love how you shifted the little stitched panels and the frames!! Fab colors!! Great job on the coloring!!
Have a wonderful weekend sweet lady!!
HUGS :)

Unknown said...

Great job on coloring the images, Carol! I l have the same … let's call it "issue" ;) with the Copic markers. Pricey they are, but want them I do!

I found a shop here in Germany that gives a reasonable discount on them, so I'm stealthily adding more color combos to my selection every other month or so. But I needz mooooooooooore…

And thank you for stopping by my blog again and again, taking the time to comment (and making me laugh). I can't even put into words how much that means to me and how much I value every single comment you leave. Thank you!

Beverley said...

Two beautiful cards :) fabulous colouring too! Hugs Bev x

Kim Heggins said...

Carol, both of your cards are fabulous...amazing and just simply beautiful. I love how you took that design and totally hit it out of the park (sorry I am watching a baseball game right now and could not resist), but I do love them both.

Anita in France said...

Fabulous colouring, Carol ... and such great framing ... I particularly love the offset ones ... such a cool look! Markers ... whilst I long for Copics, a good alternative option is Promarkers/Flexmarkers ... but as you've already started with Copics, I don't think anything else would measure up in quite the same way! Hugs, Anita :)

Loll said...

Two beautiful cards Carol. Your coloring is awesome ... amazing depth with the shading. Love this sketch and might have to give it a try. :) Loll xx

maria f. said...

I'm enjoying the local farmer's market in MI at present too! Not much in besides cukes, but oh well. Had one meal of corn on the cob too. Love what you've done with the STAMPlorations stamps and that sketch. Great effect with the offset postage stamp die cuts. Happy rest of summer!

Tracey McNeely said...

As Canadians we embrace our Farmer's markets in the summertime. We are just beginning our all too short three week spell of the best corn ever. Your cards are so fabulous, love the flower and cupcakes are good anytime of the day! ;)

Deepti said...

Amazing cards :) love the coloring u did ! I love the color combination too, hope y enjoyed ur farmer market shopping !

Shannon J said...

You have to get more Copics, because you are working magic with them! With a crew of 12??!!! Your shading is impeccable!! You are way too hard on yourself with the watercolouring though...I think you've mastered both mediums!! The trick with the budget for Copics...buy three at a time. Then the cost doesn't seem so cah-raaaaaaaazzzy (those suckers are pricy even when they're on sale!) and the numbers do build up faster than you'd think!

Darnell said...

Popping back to congratulate you on your latest well-deserved recognition from Stamplorations, Carol! This time It's lovely to share the winner's gallery with you!! Hugs, Darnell

shirley-bee said...

Wow, both interpretations of the sketch are fabulous, Carol! Love those stitched mats on the first card :) Thanks for joining us at STAMPlorations!