Thanks a bushel

How's everyone doing today?  I'm trying to get over the post vacation hump!  It's hard to get back into the swing of things with work and kids and the like.  Slowly things are resuming there normal schedule and I'm getting back into my craft room.

I have finally had the chance to finish the last sections of the Create with Markers Mega class!  I have been working my way through section by section.  Mindy at My Creative Scoop breaks everything down into differenct sections.  It makes it a lot easier when you don't always have a lot of time to devote in one sitting.

The last portion deals with wood/leaves/greenery.  I should have printed out the digital stamp a little bit larger but I made it work anyways.  I think it would have been easier to squeeze in some more wood grain texture but there is always next time.

I turned the completed piece into a very simple card.  After I spend all that time coloring an image I really want to keep it as the focus.  This sentiment is from the Thanks a Bushel set by Lawn Fawn.  It was the perfect sentiment!  I stamped it onto dark brown cardstock and embossed it with white embossing powder.  I cut the main piece down a little bit, adhered it to a green layer and then onto the brown card base.  It is the same dark brown that I used on the sentiments.  I gathered up a couple diffrent sequins to coordinate and called it done!

If you haven't checked out Mindy's classes yet, you can follow this link to all her current offerings. She recently added an amazing hair and skin class!  It is on my wish list but it will have to wait.  I just signed up to take her Creating Backgrounds with Markers class.  I can't wait!

~Toodles!
Kristina

Balloon coloring

Hiya my crafting friends!  I'm back today to share a card that I made out of a practice piece I colored in Mindy Baxter's Copic Create with Markers Mega class.  Check it out here.  I have been having a great time with the class.  I had to take a short break due to a family vacation but I plan to be back at it again shortly.  I think I'm down to the last couple of sections (trees, grass, etc.).  Then I hope to take her Creating with Backrgrounds class!  I love learning more and more about using my Copic markers. I am always looking to improve my skills.  I highly recommend you check her classes out. She even has a free class to try out!

The section I just completed was on coloring transparent items.  In particular, balloons.  In the past I have just colored balloons that overlapped as a solid color with no transparency.  NO MORE!  Check out my results...

I am amazed at how simple she makes it seem!  I was able to follow her instructions to achieve beautiful results the very first time I colored the image.  I just love how it turned out.  I can see myself coloring a lot more balloons in my future.

The gray layer is Going Gray cardstock from Stampin Up.  The blue layer is Pacific Point also from Stampin Up.  I used the Roses all over background stamp from MFT Stamps and embossed it with white embossing powder.  The aqua layer is Cool Caribbean from Stampin Up.  The balloon layer was cut using a die from the Fancy Frames set from Craftin Desert Divas.  I did add a little glossy accents for a little extra highlight.  The sequins are from my stash (most likely from Pretty Pink Posh). The birthday die and stamp are from Lawn Fawn.

I appreciate you stopping by!  Remember to check out Mindy's full line of classes here.

Toodles!
~Kristina

Turtley awesome

Hi guys!  I can't wait to get a break from the sweltering heat we have been experiencing lately! It does however make for an excellent excuse to stay inside and hide in my craft room!  I am still working my way through the Create with Markers Copic class I am taking from Mindy Baxter at My Creative Scoop.  She has several different classes (including a freebie!) and she just added a new one for hair and skin!  I have got to take that one next or maybe the background class...I just want to take them all.  Anyways, click here to check out the selection.

I colored up a fluffy cat but I haven't had a chance to make it into a card yet BUT I did finish up the turtle image.  He is just fabulous!  I think I'm a little obsessed with him.  The details Mindy shows you how to add are just amazing.  I can't get over how wonderful he looks.  Take a look and see for yourself!

The entire card is colored with Copic markers.  Well, the sentiment is stamped but everything else has been colored.  I can't believe that I made it.  The turtle is a digital stamp that is included with the class.  All the other details were freehand drawn in following Mindy's awesome instructions.  People, I can't even hardly draw stick figures.  I still came out with an amazing scene.

I can't tell you how excited I am to continue on with the class.  I'm tackling trees and greenery next. Stayed tuned for more sharing!

~Toodles!

Kristina

All smiles

Happy three day weekend everyone!  I appreciate the fact that with an extra day off I can spend more time in the craft room!  I also figured this would be a really good time to type up today's quick blog post.  Last week I shared some images on Instagram of some work I am doing in the Copic Marker mega class from Mindy Baxter/My Creative Scoop. You can check out this awesome class here.  I am learning so many things including how to cover/go with your mistakes.  Like extra marker blobs or bleeding outside the lines...or dropping your marker on your work!  Mindy has given me the freedom to NOT throw away projects and I love it.

In the past, my Copic projects have been on Neenah Solar White.  Now I am a convert to Copic Xpress it and Cryogen white cardstock.  I still love my Neenah for many things but I was getting frustrated with the bleeding.  Sometimes I could control it and sometimes I couldn't.  To be honest, it could be user error but I am happy with the new papers I am using.  So if you are getting frustrated with your current paper, I suggest giving the two I have listed a try!  You might just love them.  On to my project!

The girl is a digital stamp included in the class and I printed her out onto the Cryogen white paper.  In the class, Mindy shows you how to color an ombre dress and I just had to try it out.  She had a different color scheme but I just found some colors I wanted to use and jumped right in.  I would list my colors used but I can't find my piece of paper with all of the colors.  Dang it!  I think my craft desk needs a little bit of cleaning.  If I find it I'll come back and add the information.  I know that they are from the V and BV color families.  I then used some of the same colors from the dress along with B000 and B0000 to create the little dots all over the background.

The purple gingham paper is from a Doodlebug paper pad, the dark gray cardstock is from MFT Stamps and the light gray is from Stampin Up.  I used a Tim Holtz stencil and Going Gray ink from Stampin Up to create the pattern on the gray cardstock.  I added an assortment of sparkling sequins from my stash and the sentiment is from a Mama Elephant set.  There you have it!

I highly encourage you to check out Mindy's Class.  I have learned lots and look forward to learning more.  My next section to work on is animal fur!  Have a fantastic day!

~Kristina

Floral fun

I am really, REALLY excited to bring you today's post.  I signed up to take Mindy Baxter's Mother's Day coloring class.  This class is only available for purchase through May 14th but it is available for a lifetime after purchase!  It uses a gorgeous digital stamp (purchased separately) from Power Poppy.  I was thrilled to get to combine two things that I have wanted to do.  Take an in depth Copic class AND try out Power Poppy stamps.  A total win-win for me!

I cannot even begin to tell you how much fun I had taking this class.  It's like Mindy is right there in your home giving you one-on-one instructions!  She goes into a lot of detail and it's super easy to pause and catch up to whatever portion she is working on at that moment.  Not to mention you can "rewind" and watch things as many times as you need.  Awesome!  I felt her instructions were very clear and well thought out.  I mean, they must have been or there is no way I could have created such a gorgeous card!  Seriously!!  So without further delay, here is the result of taking Mindy's Mother's day class.

It is just so amazing!  I keep getting it out because I can't believe that I made that!  Yes, I am squealing here and doing a happy dance.  And it's even a no line coloring image!  And it looks fabulous!  Mindy made it so incredibly easy to create this gorgeous piece of art.  I can hardly bear to part with it but I think my Mother-in-law will be thrilled!

To create the card itself, I added just a little bit of extras.  I added a few sparkle flat sequins and a couple of clear Nuvo drops.  I used the same pink Copic marker to color the mat layer and went over it with a Spectrum Noir glitter marker because everything needs sparkle.  As the final step I adhered it all to a dark gray card base.  Done!  I couldn't bring myself to stamp a sentiment so I embossed one in silver on the inside.

If I haven't convinced you yet to run over and sign up for Mindy's class then I better share one more thing with you.  Mindy's classes aren't just for Copic markers.  You can certainly use any kind of alcohol markers.  I also wanted to show you how the same techniques she shows you can be applied using different mediums.  I brought out my Zig Clean Color markers and got busy!  Take a look.

Isn't it just as stunning as the one I did with Copics??  I am just tickled with how great this one turned out as well.  I encourage you to go check out Mindy's full line of classes which can be found right here.  I must also mention Mindy's awesome website My Creative Scoop.  She has so much to offer and a lot of it is free.  Yes, FREE!

These classes are going to become very addicting, I can just tell.  In fact, I'm off to continue working on her Create with Markers mega class.  I hope to be back soon with more lovely projects to share!

~Kristina

Pretty as a Princess

Happy May everyone!  I'm here today to share some news that is pretty darn exciting for me.  I have been chosen as one of the members of My Creative Scoop Creative team!!    You can see all of the fabulous members of the design team here.  I am SO jazzed!  I have always wanted to take one of Mindy's classes and now I am finally getting a chance.  I get to work on improving my coloring skills while sharing my progress with you all.

Another equally exciting piece of news is that Mindy is launching her very own line of digital stamps! Her store is launching today.  You are going to love her release.  Head on over right now! My Creative Scoop Digi shop.  To help with her launch I have a lovely card to share with you featuring her brand new Tiana digi stamp!  She is such a fun stamp to color.

Would you believe that this is my very first time using such a dark skin tone?  I've already picked up a few hints from Mindy's Create with Markers mega class.  You can check out all of her classes here.

I printed Tiana out onto Copic X-Press paper.  I generally use Neenah Solar White but Mindy highly recommends the X-Press It paper.  It worked out beautifully!  I colored everything using Copic markers.

Skin V17, E27, 25 & 23

Hair W9, E49, 47, 44

Dress and Crown YG0000, 00,03, 05, 07, 09, 21, W00

Flower RV13, RV11, G28, G24

Lips R56, 59

I do hope you take a peek at Mindy's Etsy store as well as all of her great classes!  Thanks for stopping by.

~Kristina