Pink and White Lady's Slipper - Coloring Day 8

Yes, friends - I'm still at it. Today's Day 8 of Kathy's (The Daily Marker) 30 Day Coloring Challenge - time for me to watercolor!! I brought out the Yasutomo watercolor palette again, plus one of Prima Metallics and a pot of very bright green & one of very pink Twinkling H20s that I've had forever but not used. Decided to try a Gina K Designs stamp of the Minnesota State Flower - the Pink and White Lady's Slipper. See a photo here on a MN gov't site; that was my reference for the coloring.

I stamped the flower and butterflies with Old Paper Distress Ink on Tim Holtz watercolor paper. Then I added watercolors with various brushes, detailing a bit with a pencil (non-watercolor) once dry. The Prima metallics added a bit of shimmer, plus they stayed thicker so I was able to add some white  where my flower had gone greyish. Very hard to color white, it's not really stark white! Here's a closer look:

Stamps - Gina K Designs Stately Flowers 7

I liked how the flower turned out, though I'm sure I could do more to detail it. See the darker yellow area on the flower? It's one drop of watered down Karin marker. I got three with a recent My Monthly Hero kit and hadn't tried them yet. One drop was plenty on this. I didn't really like my butterflies but they probably aren't the best images for coloring (a lot of solid areas). Dabbed some blue around for a "sky" and called it done!!

Thanks for stopping and thanks again to the amazing Kathy at The Daily Marker for encouraging us to get out there and color. So many talented people put my efforts to shame but it's a chance to develop my skills - I really appreciate the opportunity!!

Oh - but before you go - a photo of Misty, this time napping. She looks so sweet and innocent! I didn't get a photo of her "helping" me add string twine to a card yesterday - LOL... She goes home today - I'm going to miss her!!

Some colored birdies - Day 7

Hey there friends - still with me on Kathy's (The Daily Marker) 30 Day Coloring Challenge?! Gets to be difficult to post every day so I might have to color a few days and then post - we'll see how I do! I'm really trying to keep up with daily posting... Here's my coloring for today:

Got these sweet birdies with the coordinating dies on clearance at Pink & Main. Of course they did not arrive at my house alone - I got some other goodies! Fantastic service - ordered on the 1st and my package arrived yesterday, only 5 days - even with the holiday weekend in there!!

I was inspired by Lin's (Sending Hugs) slimline card of July 5th. I don't have the dies she used but I thought I'd try to pay homage to her card with my colored birdies. Here's the card with the birdies:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Pool (retired)

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb

Stamps with dies - Pink & Main Airmail Bundle

Other - Copic Markers; Pink & Main Celebrations Enamel Shapes;

Hero Arts Intense Black Ink

I cut an 8.5x11" piece of cardstock down to 8.5 x 7" and scored the 7" side at 3.5 and folded in half to form a slimline card. Then I cut a mat layer a bit smaller. Next I stamped my images onto the die cut shapes since that's the easiest with the MISTI. I could easily stamp multiple of each by popping them into the negative. I wanted three branches like Lin had but the one branch had a birdie on it. I made do by masking off the diecut so the birdie wouldn't stamp on two of the diecuts. Then I just trimmed off the branch, then popped the birdies back into the negative to stamp for future. In case you're interested, here's a shot of how I planned the arrangement and stamped the sentiments:

Very stormy day, so please excuse the dark photo! I took the photo with the ruler evident so I would remember how I oriented my shapes. I took them all off & edged the mat with a bit of Hero Arts ink before adhering to the card base. Then I added my birdies and the enamel hearts. Done!!

Finally, I just have to share another photo of Misty - she was "helping" me color the other day and I grabbed this photo. My Facebook friends saw this one on the 5th but I know some of you aren't on there....

That's it for today - thanks for stopping and thanks to Kathy for the fabulous 30 Day Coloring Challenge!!

Day 6 of the 17th 30 Day Coloring Challenge

Hey there - I'm back with the "finished" yellow blossom panel for Day 6 of Kathy's (The Daily Marker) 30 Day Coloring Challenge. I made it into an A2 card.

Supplies: Paper - DCWV black A2 card;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb

Stamps - Gina K Designs + Hero Arts - PR101 Friendship Blooms

Gina K Designs Stately Flowers 7 (sentiment)

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 21 (retired)

Other - Hero Arts Intense Black Ink; various color pencils

I store most of my plain pencils (various brands) together in a basket as you may have caught in other posts. I keep water color pencils and metallics separate. I just pulled colors I liked for this panel and got to work (took me a couple days to finish). I'm sure there's more detailing and shading I could have done but I was ready to move on to other projects.

So here's my main coloring for Day 6, just doing a few summer items for a future card. These are from a retired Hero Arts clear set called "Let's Chill".

That's it for today, friends! I'm off to find some lunch and to check the progress of the tree trimmers. I had an Ash taken out in front; no disease but ash bore has been spotted in our area so it was just a matter of time. It was too close to another tree so I kept the River Birch.

Thanks to Kathy for the lovely 30 Day Coloring Challenge and thanks to you for visiting!!

Coloring Challenge Day 5 and an anniversary!

Hey friends - hope you had a great 4th yesterday!! No fireworks in our 'burb but I watched the ones on tv from Washington DC - gorgeous!! Very low key 4th in the days of covid19.... Anyway, I've continued to work on my blossom panel started yesterday for Kathy's (The Daily Marker) 30 Day Coloring Challenge. Here's where I am today after spending another 90 minutes on it. Managed to get the basic coloring on the flowers and leaves and started some shading. In real life the flowers I'd started yesterday looked very lemony so I added some bronze. Liked it but decided to warm up more of the flower petal with some orange. A lot of my pencils are by Staedtler and have no color name - I just go by the look of the tip. The Crayola pencils have names, as do the few Faber-Castell pencils I own (like Cool Grey II pictured)

Coloring with pencils takes a lot of time!! As Kathy has advised, I have a sharpener on hand and use it often. She recommends a sharp point and using the side of the tip to add color. Remember coloring as a kid and grinding the point straight down?? Not a good thing!! I have to keep reminding myself to hold the pencil at an angle and touch the paper lightly. I feel myself starting to hurry, eye on the prize, get 'er done & have to slow down. Good for the blood pressure, I'm sure Kathy has said!

Now to my other life which I don't mention too often on my blog. You may have seen this photo on Facebook but I know some of you aren't on it. I'm celebrating 40 years with Sweet Adelines International (women singers of Barbershop Harmony) this year. I met a couple chorus friends yesterday for coffee; they were also celebrating and we exchanged certificates, with appropriate distancing of course!

One of the great things about Sweet Adelines is being able to continue singing throughout your life and to entertain audiences, not just during your school years or in church choir. We have loads of fun doing shows and contests and traveling; of course, just not right now due to the pandemic. Surprisingly, we've had people seeking to audition, even while we're on Zoom!! If you're a woman singer looking for an outlet for your voice, find your local barbershop chorus here. Live in the Twin Cities? Check out City of Lakes Chorus!

Finally, a funny photo of Misty from the day after she arrived. I was snapping my fingers, trying to get her to look up into my phone so I could grab the photo. She got offended and hissed at me as if to say "Quit taking my photo!" Anyway, the family got a good chuckle out of this photo!!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!! I'll add my coloring to the 30 Day Challenge FB page.

Christmas in July!

Happy 4th of July in the USA!!! Kind of a let-down celebration, given the pandemic - no fireworks here or any big celebrations. Usually my chorus would be singing in the parks this summer but we're still holding rehearsals on Zoom and singing by ourselves at home. I met a couple chorus friends this morning for coffee, though - with appropriate distancing!!

Oh well, on to today's card - it's Christmas in July at Die Cut Divas and I really wanted to make the effort to join in this time. CAS Christmas also announced its new challenge - Nativity so I decided to combine both challenges.

Supplies: Paper -  Tim Holtz Kraft Metallic; Paper Studio glitter;

Poptone Black Licorice;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb

Stamps - Hero Arts CM374 Color Layering Nordic Tree (sentiment)

Dies - Penny Black Manger; Spellbinders Labels 36 (retired);

Hero Arts DI199 Nesting Circle Infinity Dies

Other - Foam tape; Krylon Silver Leafing Pen; Copic C00

Pretty self explanatory. I edged the label using the leafing pen then blended along the inside edge with C00 Copic to even it out. Still not perfect but, hey - it's homemade!! I secured the label with foam tape but the black circle was layered three times for a little dimension there. Was considering "peace" as the sentiment as I've done before but found a little "Silent Night" sentiment and liked the look. Decide to cut a star from the manger scene using the glitter paper too, cutting off the part connecting to the circle and layering atop the gold one. Done! Another Christmas card for the stash and I'm proud to say I'm up to 49 - amazing for me this time of the year!!

Will also enter at Di's Pixie Snippets Playground Challenge since everything except the card base was cut from the paper in the scrap box (well, one of the many boxes....sigh).

**Update - deleted Pixie Snippets since I already played once this fortnight - only one entry per challenge! Thanks to Di for letting me know - hey, I'm new!!**

And now for a bit of Day 4 of Kathy's 30 Day Coloring Challenge. I stamped the same Gina K Designs Friendship Blooms as for yesterday's card but I'm coloring with pencils. Not good at this but I'll give it at least 10 minutes a day and see when I can get 'er done.... I did what you see in 30 minutes.

Thanks for stopping and have a crafty weekend!! *** PS below challenge badges...

  

*** PS If you're still with me, here's a photo of my little houseguest, Misty the cat - isn't she adorable?! Please ignore all the crafty piles laying around and the dying plants in the background!! This is my dining room, not that you'd know it from all the crafts..... Can you relate?

Catch ya later....

Day 3 of the 30 Day Coloring Challenge - Friendship Blooms

Hey there - my card today is a virtual hello to all my sweet friends out there in blogland! Hope you're having a great TGIF!! It's Day 3 of Kathy's 17th 30 Day Coloring Challenge (link is to Day 1 since that's where you upload projects). I'm really making an effort to do all 30 days - wish me luck!! My Day 3's coloring has already been made into the friendship card:

Supplies: Paper - Gina K Designs Coral Reef & Lucky Clover;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb

Stamps - Hero Arts + Gina K Designs PR101 Friendship Blooms

Other - Copic Markers & multiliner pens, white gel pen

I actually stamped and started coloring this jumbo clump of blossoms last night, then continued today and did the shading & detail work Kathy describes as nooks & crannies. You could probably do a million of those and still find room for more but I called the detailing done after about 30 minutes! I used a mitt load of Copics again, some just a drop or two but I'll list them all, if you're interested; if not, skip to the end :)

Copics used:
Copic Blender - 0
Blue/Green - B0000,  G12, G40, G82
Beige/Grey - E50, E95, C00, C4
Red - R00, R05, R14, R21, R22, R24,
Pink/Orange - RV02, RV06, RV09, RV25, VR09

I found some perfect cardstock to form an A7 card with a mat in the June Gina K card kit. If you want to use the entire friendship blossoms image you'll need an A7 card. I, for one, would hate to trim off any of this beauty, even though I don't make A7 cards very often! With the angle of the blossom leaving 2 bare corner areas, I decided to stamp the quote in one & the sentiment in the other. Thought it filled nicely without overpowering the image.

I'm also adding my card to Darnell's current NBUS challenge as this blossom is just seeing ink for the first time!! Thanks for stopping and thanks to Kathy and Darnell for hosting wonderful challenges! Now, let's see your coloring and your unused stuff. Happy crafting!!

 

Pocket full of Posies!

Hey friends - This is my second post of the day. If you're looking for the June Card Chain Challenge reveal, go HERE.... 

I'm doing Kathy's (The Daily Marker) 30 Day Coloring Challenge - woo hoo!! Sharing a card I finished last night with my Day 1 coloring:

Supplies: Paper - DCWV green A2 card; BoBunny Bold & Bright Double Dots

Lawn Fawn Watercolor Wishes & Spring Perfectly Plaid;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb & blue cardstock

Stamps - Pink & Main Pocket of Sunshine (with coordinating dies);

Cornish Heritage Farms Denim Backgrounder (retired)

Dies - My Favorite Things various retired Blueprints

Other - Copic Markers; Hero Arts inks, foam tape

I'm sending the card to a clumsy, oh I mean dear, friend who broke her leg recently. Here's a look at the colored items which I shared in Day 1's Facebook album yesterday:

List of Copics used:

Blues - B0000, BG0000, B93, & B66

Greens - G12, G20, YG41 (oops Y07 too, forgot it in the photo)

Beiges - E30, E50 & E93

Yellows/Oranges - Y13, Y19, YR07, YR09, YR12, YR21, & YR61

Pinks/Reds - R00, R21, R22, R24, R56, RV02, RV06, RV13, & RV23

Let me tell you about the pocket first. Stamped it onto a white diecut using Hero Arts Intense Black Ink - perfect for Copic coloring. Then I colored it with 2 shades of blue (B93 & B66) then blended with B0000. Gotta say, that dang B66 blobbed in the corner so I had to blend it out, then fussy cut the pocket (it had such a pristine border to begin with!!). Next I stamped the denim background with HA Cornflower ink, giving it that beautiful jeans texture. I found some ancient HA blue nail head stickers to be my rivets, covering up the stamped ones. I darked them up with B66 - no blobbing this time!! Then I cut a new pristine white outline and layered it behind the denim so you'd never know I messed it up!!!

Next I colored the sweet quartet of flowers. Like Kathy shows, I pluck colors I like usually in threes but sometimes just two. She also shows how to get the glow on your foliage with E50 - love that tip and I used it here! Added nooks & crannies with the black markers, plus a few dots. Popped the flowers coming out of the pocket and added to the card with foam tape. Added a sentiment, stamped and hand cut - done!

As Kathy says, coloring is very therapeutic and you only need to find 10 minutes a day to color. No need for a marathon. I probably spent about 45 minutes coloring these two, mostly on the flowers, but you could do it quicker if necessary.

And here's a quick look at today's coloring, shared in Day 2's Facebook album:

I used Tim Holtz watercolor paper and the same Yasutomo watercolors I used on this card. Just got the pretty tulip stamp by Hero Arts at JoAnn; they didn't have the dies in store but I have them on order from Hero Arts. Will just hold this piece until they arrive or maybe use without the dies.... Anyway, I stamped and clear embossed (sorry Kathy) Old Paper Distress Ink. Why? I'm going to try the iron-off resist technique Jennifer McGuire re-visited here. I did it years ago and think it'll be fun to try again!

I'm entering today's card at the current 30 Day Coloring link up and also to the current Double D Challenge where the theme is stitching. My friend Cat (Cat Luvs Paper) suggested adding yesterday's card to the latter but she didn't realize I had created it on 6/30, even though I blogged it after the new Double D challenge was posted. No worries, I'll do more of those stitched cards before the challenge ends. Also adding to Darnell's NBUS challenge 16 since, can you believe it?!, in over 2 years I've never used that adorable pocket stamp set before now. Thanks for stopping by and thanks to Kathy and to all the Ds for the great challenges!!