Glorious in Green

Good evening my crafty peeps!  I am hopping on really quick to share the card I put together for the latest Monthly Mood Board challenge with Craftin Desert Divas.  I had a little extra time while being off for the holidays and I was excited to get a chance to play along.

All of the colored papers I used are from Stampin Up.  Tranquil Tide, Mint Macaron and Sahara Sand.  All of the dies I used (frame, pinecone and greenery) are all from Craftin Desert Divas.  The frame is the Window Pane die and the pinecone/greenery is from the Winter Wonderland dies.

I stamped the two bears on Bristol paper and colored them with a waterbrush and dye inks.  The bear with the snowflake is from the Artic Pals set and the single bear is from the Chilly Set.  I do not have the matching dies for the bears so I fussy cut them out.    

The card base is Sahara Sand.  The lighter green is Mint Macaron.  Before I glued it to the card base, I randomly stamped the three largest snowflakes from the Chilly Set in the same color ink.  I glued the window pane in place using lots of foam tape for added dimension.  I then carefully arranged the greenery pices in two of the windows and some behind the bear on the top right.  Both bears were attached with foam tape.  

I stamped the sentiment from Happy Celebrations onto a piece of heavy vellum and embossed it in white.  I also cut a fishtail end to the right side.  I was afraid the vellum would get a little lost so I cut another piece of the dark green cardstock to put behind the vellum.  I then attached across the window.  Oh...I also used some Wink of Stella on both of the pinecones.  And that's a wrap!

If you get a chance to participate in the Craftin Desert Diva's challenge (#cddmonthly) it is going on all month.  Check their group out on Facebook here.  You kind find their online store here.

Thanks for stopping by!

~Kristina

Many wishes

Welcome back to my blog!  Today I have a Craftin Desert Divas project to share with you. I'm using the May Mood Board/Social media colors as my inspiration for my card.  They are so bright and cheerful.  I can't help but smile when I use them!

We're really just at the beginning of May so you have LOTS of time to whip up a project to participate in the challenge.  Check out the CDD Gallery FB Group for further details.  Don't forget to use #cddmonthly!

Now I know peacocks don't really come in these colors but isn't it super fun?!  I created the background on watercolor paper using Kuretake Gansai watercolors.  After the colors splotches were dry, I splattered it with all the different colors from the splotches as well as adding gold and black. Once it was completely dry I cut it using one of the dies from Fancy Frames dies.  I hand cut a pink layer and a turquoise layer.  The green layer was cut out using another of the Fancy frame dies. Then I adhered all of that to a black layer and finally the white card base.  This card is heavy!

The word I cut out of black glitter paper using a die from Wishful Thoughts.  I also cut it out three more times using white paper.  I wanted it to stand out from the card but I don't have much luck using the fun foam with dies.  It always seems to end up a little bigger than the die...maybe because it gets squished?  Anywho, I glued all the layers together and adhered it to the card.  The oh so small wishes word comes from the Autumn Wishes set.  I just stamped the one word from a larger sentiment.  It happened to be the right size.  I stamped it in Versafine black and embossed it with clear embossing powder.

The two thin strips are two different shades of gray.  I used the same die from Fancy Frames so that the ends would match up perfectly and have the stitching detail.  Oh, I almost forgot to tell you that I colored the peacock using Copic markers.  I put a little bit of foam tape behind the parts of the peacock that weren't touching the gray strips.  That finishes up my project!  I do hope you like it!  It was a lot of fun to create.  I do love using my watercolors for backgrounds.

Hope to see you back soon!

~Kristina

Fluttering by

I hope you have all recovered from the new release.  I also hope you have some of those wonderful new products in your eager hands!  I can sense lots of crafting going on!  I'm here to remind you that the April Monthly Challenge is still going on until the end of the month.  What a perfect excuse to use some of those brand new goodies!  Who needs to wash the dishes anyways??

The colors from this month's challenge are just so soft and lovely!  Let me share my newest project with you.

Today's project features the Butterfly Garden digi stamp.  She's the sweetest little butterfly and I adore the flowers that come with it.  I printed the flower base and the butterfly out on Bristol Smooth paper so that I could you use my Zig Clean Color real brush markers.  I just love these markers!  I probably say that about all of my coloring!  Oh well, I just love them all. Each have their own special qualities.

Everything was colored with only six markers and a waterbrush.  I love how you don't need a lot of colors to get beautiful results.  I just put down a little color and pulled it out with the water brush. Easy peasy!!!  The sentiment also comes with this digi and I printed it on Bristol as well.  I grabbed the same yellow marker I used on the card to color the sentiment.  Then I colored another piece of the Bristol with the purple marker to make perfectly matching layers.  I did spray the sentiment layer with some shimmer spray for that little extra.

The flower layer was cut out with the largest die from the Fancy Frames die set.  Attached that to a blue cardstock layer and onto the white card base.  For the butterfly I added foam tape to the back and adhered it.  The sentiment layers were glued directly down.  Now, do you see the little butterfly and dragonfly?  Those little lovelies come from the Window Pane dies set!  I cut them out from Bristol paper and colored them with just the barest bit of color from the Zig markers spread out with water. While they were still wet I bent them just a little.  Once they were dry they stayed bent adding to the dimension of the card.  I added a little Wink of Stella because you know they need to sparkle!

Have a lovely day!

~Kristina

Happy Spring

Hi there gang!  Welcome to the spring of ever present rain!  Well, at least that's what it seems like around here.  I hope some of you are enjoying sunshine.  I now that this will bring beautiful May flowers but enough with the gray skies already!  So in attempt to brighten up my day, I bring you some more cuteness from Craftin Desert Divas.

CDD has several of these super cute lambs in the digital stamp section.  They are all so cute that I had a really hard time deciding which one to choose.  I combined two different digital stamps to create the scene on my card.  Lamb with Flowers and Butterfly Garden.

I colored the lamb, flowers and grass with Copic markers.  I cut the main panel out using one of the dies from the Fancy Frames set.  Layered it on pink cardstock and on to a taupe colored base.  I added some sequins from the Citrus Bliss collection.  The Happy Spring sentiment comes with the Lamb with Flowers digital stamp.  I printed it out on white cardstock, mounted it on the same taupe cardstock as the base and popped it up with foam tape.  Ta Da!!  This makes me look forward to the beautiful flowers that will be coming soon.

Since it's a new month, there is a new social media challenge on the Craftin Desert Divas Gallery Facebook page.  The colors are so very pretty for this month!

You've got loads of time to color something up to participate!  Check out the CDD store today!

Have a fabulous day!

~Kristina

Life is a ball

Well hello there.  Yep, I'm back with another project to share!  I did mention I was going to be keeping super busy for the next week or so.  I'm here to share some more inspiration featuring the awesome colors on this months Social Media/Mood board challenge!  Have you had a chance to participate yet?  You should!

My card today was colored with Inktense pencils and a watercolor brush.  Yep, that is another handmade plaid background.  I hope you aren't getting tired of them yet!  It features the adorable Have a Ball digi stamp.  After coloring the stamp, I went back with a fine tip black marker and traced around the entire image.  I love how it helps to make it pop!

I cut it out using the fabulous Inside Scalloped Circle dies.  I adhered the outer circle directly to the background but popped the kitty up on some foam tape.  Just to give it a little extra dimension.  The actual sentiment is included with the digi but I decided to hand write it because I wanted to emboss it. I wrote it with marker on vellum, let it dry for a bit and then went over it with a Versamark marker. I sprinkled on clear embossing powder and applied my heat tool.  I wrapped the vellum around the panel so I could hide the glue.

As a final touch I added Spectrum Noir glitter marker to the ball.  You know how I am with sparkle! Oh, and don't forget the gorgeous Shimmer sequins I added!

I'll see you again soon!

~Kristina

Best Buddies

Hi everyone!  I know I haven't posted for a while but I'm back and this month is going to be a busy one! So I'm just going to dive right in with my project for today.

I'm so in love with this digi stamp and it's called My Best Buddy.  The cute armadillo with his snail pal riding on his back!  Oh the cuteness!  Picking this stamp was easy but now I needed a color theme.  Have you seen this month's challenge inspiration in the CDD Gallery Facebook group yet?  It's fabulous and just perfect for making some spring cards.  Here it is if you haven't seen it.

 

You have plenty of time to get started and make something fun!  You have a chance to win one of three prizes.  I promise you will have fun.

Back to my project.  Color scheme chosen.  Hmm, now what medium do I want to use??  I saw my tin of Inktense pencils were gathering dust.  A sure sign I needed to put them to use!  I colored the critters and grounded them with a little ground and sky.  I also went around the entire image with a black fine tip marker to make it pop out.  I cut it out using the brand new Inside Scalloped Circle dies. 

I'm still on a plaid kick so I dedided I would make my own plaid.  The twist this time was that I used my Inktense pencils!  They were already out on my table just begging to be used some more.  I drew the lines with the pencils and went over it with my water brush.  I just love how it turned out.  You can bet I'll be making more plaids with my Inktense pencils in the future!

I adhered the outer circle directly to the background but used foam tape to pop up the inside of the circle.  I think it gives a bit more interest.  I used the sentiment that comes with the My Best Buddy digital stamp.  I printed it out on kraft cardstock and used a die from the Flag Banners die set.  I swear I use the Flag Banners die set all the time!  I adhered a strip of watercolor paper down and then added the sentiment strip.  All done!

Thank you so much for stopping by today!

~Kristina

Need Coffee

Hi there my crafty friends!  I'm back to share my newest CDD digi DT project with you.  I also want to encourage you to participate in Craftin Desert Divas Social Media/Mood Board challenge.  You still have over a week to participate.  Tara gives out three different prizes!    There are so many wonderful acrylic and digital stamps in the store to choose from.  Not to mention, lots of new releases!

                     

Now that Valentine's has come and gone, I had to give my project some extra thought.  My mind has been using so much pink and red that I had to take a step back.  I kept looking at the Mood Board inspiration photo until I came up with a plan.  So here it is!

I love coffee and tea so I went hunting through the CDD digi stamps.  There are lots to choose from but the Need Coffee one jumped out at me.  I'd love to have a cup of coffee almost as big as me!  I love coffee and is much needed to get me going in the mornings.

I knew that I wanted to use tan, red and white.  I got stumped when I needed another color to use with the coffee cup.  I wanted the primary color on the cup to be red and the bear to be brown and tan.  So I opted to use gray since it tends to be pretty neutral.  Some days I really struggle with where the highlights should go when I color the images.  Today was one of those days.  I colored the bear and the cup in with copic markers.  I put down a little sparkle on his eyes and then covered it with glossy accents since they are supposed to be glasses.  It always adds a nice little touch.  I also did the same thing to the white highlight on the cup.

After all the coloring was done, I fussy cut the whole thing out.  I would have just used a rectangle die but my white paper was just a little too small for the die.  I went around all of the edges with a black marker.  I then cut the white rectangle using a die from the Fancy Frames die set.  Now I was beset with another issue.  I couldn't find any patterned paper that used a shade of red similar to my cup with a tan!  So I just made my own!  I recently watched a video on Youtube of someone using their copic markers to make a plaid background.  I grabbed the same markers I used to color the images and got busy.  I just kept adding lines until I was happy with the way it looked.  A pretty neat trick I must say!

I adhered the plaid piece to a white base, then the white rectangle on top.  I used a bunch of foam tape on the bear/cup and placed it on top.  I colored a scrap piece of white paper with one of the lighter tan copics and stamped my sentiment on top.  It comes from the Sky is the Limit set.  I cut banner edges and went around it with a red copic.  I also popped it up with foam tape and adhered it.

Whew!  I hope this has given you a bit of inspiration and I hope you will play along with the Mood Board/Social media challenge!

~Kristina

Love Always

Hi everyone!  I'm back with another Valentine's card to share with you.  I colored up the adorable Be Mine Skunk a few weeks ago and shared him on my Instagram feed.  I think he is SO darn cute that I decided to color him up again and do a blog post.  While my first example on IG had him colored in a much more natural way, I broke out the only-happens-in-the-crafting-world colors!  I mean, come on. What could be cuter than a purple skunk???  I guess I'll leave that up to you to decide!

This is another one of those projects that didn't go as planned.  In fact, it was kind of an accident that I managed to recover from quite nicely.  I knew I wanted to work with the colors in the current #cddmonthly Social Challenge.  I got out my Kuretaki Gansai watercolors and selected a red, pink and purple to work with.  I traced loosely around the Heart of Hearts die to give me an approximate shape to work with and add a bit of clean water.  I then randomly added bits of the three colors.  I dried it with my heat tool and then added another layer of the colors.  After it was dry, I added some splatters with black and the silver watercolors.

Then the accident happened.  I had intended to cut the heart out of a solid white piece and use it as an overlay over the watercolored piece.  Well, I've been sick lately and not quite thinking so clearly.  I cut the heart out of the watercolored piece!  Oh man.  I realized what I had done as soon as I finshed cutting it out. So, scratch my original plan and come up with something else!  I wasn't about to throw away what I had already invested my time in!

Thankfully I had used an oversized piece of water color paper so I was able to use a die to cut it out. I had left the bottom portion unsplattered so I got my paints back out and added a lot more splatters after taking out all the little hearts.  I plan to use those hearts on another project in the future.  Ok, so I had a panel.  Now what to do with it?  I didn't like the look of a colored piece behind the heart so I used a plain piece of watercolor paper.  I then added a bit of sparkle with the Spectrum Noir glitter marker in some of the hearts.  And because purple is my favorite color, I colored the skunk with different shades of purple to match!  Plus the red heart of course.

The little black banner is cut from one of the Flag Banner dies.  The sentiment is from the Simply Said set and embossed in silver.  I popped the skunk up with foam tape and added glitter marker to the heart (I can't help it!).  Mounted all of those to a red piece of cardstock and finally onto a black card base.  Whew!  I just love it when an accident becomes a happy accident!

Don't forget that now that we are in a new month, there is a new monthly challenge/mood board up!  It's super easy to participate and there are prizes to be won!  Make sure you use #cddmonthly!

Check out the CDD Galleyr Facebook group!

Kisses!
~Kristina

XOXO

Here we are almost at the end of January!  I'm beginning to think ahead to Valentine's day.  I know you have probably been bombarded with Valentine goodies at every store you go to.  I just love looking at all of the pretty things, even if I don't tend to decorate for it.  My mom was always so good at decorating for every holiday, I don't think I inherited that particular gene.  But I do make a mean Valentine's Day card!

Today's project features one of the newer digi's at Craftin Desert Divas, in fact there were a couple different digi's recently added featuring Cupid.  The one I'm using is Cupid in Clouds.

Sometimes I don't get to sit down and make my projects all at once.  In fact, sometimes my creativity only flows in bits and pieces at a time.  So this project was made over a several day span.  

I started by embossing a piece of watercolor paper with one of my heart embossing folders in my stash.  Then I had to decide what colors to use.  I wasn't sure which ones I wanted as I didn't really have a plan in my head yet.  I figured using a variety of pinks was probably a pretty safe bet for a Valentine's card.  I pulled out three different distress inks.  Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick and Picked Raspberry.  I put clean water down on the paper and then randomly added bits of the different colors.  I set it with my heat tool and when back over it with a second layer of colors.  I then spritzed it with some water and dabbed it off with a paper towel to make some lighter areas.

I let it sit overnight and came back to it.  This time I decided to add some more contrast.  I splattered a bunch of black paint first.  Then I added silver splatters.  Another round of drying overnight.  So the next chance I had to sit down I had to figure out where I was gong next.  I'd like to say that I always have these awesome ideas in my head.  Well, it's not exactly true.  If you struggle with your creativity don't worry about it.  We all deal with it at least now and then!

I decided to pick up the Cupid digi that I had printed out a few nights before.  I dug around in my copic collection and pulled out a handful of colors that I felt coordinated nicely with the background. Pinks on her shirt and the heart arrow and purple hair!  For the wings I picked out three very light shades and sort of dabbed them on.  No real blending.  I went over it with irresistible Pico Embellisher in the Shimmer color.  Nothing says wings more than a bit of shimmer!

I cut her out using the smallest die from the Fancy Frames die set.  I hand cut a black layer and adhered it to the Cupid layer.  The watercolored back ground I cut down by hand as well and adhered it to a black card base.  I put foam tape on the back of the cupid piece and glued it down.

I had a few scraps left of the watercolored background.  They were just big enough to use the heart dies from the Pocket Pieces Hi die set.  I went over them with my Wink of Stella.  Can never have enough sparkle!  I randomly glued them down.  I also added wink of stella to the swirls on the cloud portion of the digi.  The very last thing I did was to add the XOXO sentiment from the Simply Said set.

Whew!  And at last my project was complete.  I am very happy with how she turned out and I hope you like her too!

Thanks for stopping by today!

~Kristina

Hello Gnomes

Hello my crafty friends!  I decided it was time for a brightly colored card.  It's been pretty dreary around here and I needed something to brighten up my day!

When Tara released these cute little gnomes (Winter Juliet & Winter Gnomeo) I knew I was going to have to make something with them.  I have started collecting gnome things for my yard and stamps as I find them.

Craftin Desert Diva has SO many fabulous dies and sequins in addition to all the stamps.  If you haven't browsed through those sections you really should give them a look!

Lately I have been selecting a piece of patterned paper and letting it guide me in my choice of colors. It's almost like participating in my own color challenge!  I used Copic markers to color in the gnomes.  I had orginally intended to just cut a white panel with the gnomes on it but the RV's bleed something crazy.  Plus I really had to saturate the colors in order to get a blend.  Let's just say the RV's and I aren't friends right now.

I digress.  The simpliest solution was to just cut them out by hand.  No worries.  The gray rectangle was cut out using the index card die from the Pocket Pieces Hello dies.  I thought it needed a little something so I used the little mushroom stamp from Autumn Wishes as well as sponging around the edges with gray.

I pulled some cardstock out of my stash to coordinate with the striped paper to cut out the hellos.  I also cut several out of white cardstock.  The blue got one layer of white, the pink got two and the green got three.  I stuck the colored hellos back in to one of the negatives to hold it in place.  I pulled out my copics and started blending up from the bottom.  I love the way they turned out.  Of course, I also had to use Spectrum Noir sparkle marker on top.  I just can't seem to help myself!

Once all of my pieces were ready I started adhering everything together.  Striped paper was glued directly to the gray card base.  Small gray piece glued to the striped paper.  Gnomes went on top with foam tape since I wanted them to stand out.  I then lined up the hellos and glued them down.  I dug around in my stash of CDD sequins and found some perfect matches.  Easy peasy!  Oh, I also added a little sparkle to the heart on Juliet and to the dots on her hat.

Thanks for stopping by!

~Kristina

You're so Cool

I have to say that I simply adore the current inspiration for Craftin Desert Diva's Mood Board for the Social media challenge this month.  Just look at this gorgeousness!

If you haven't figured it out by now, my favorite color is purple.  Putting purple AND blue together on a project = even more awesome!

My project started out small and by the end I had used a whole heap of CDD products!  Today's card features an older digi stamp but an absolute cutey!  Sock Monkey with Ear Muffs.

I printed him out onto Bristol so I could color him with Zig Clean Color real brush markers.  I added white dots to his scarf with a white gel pen.  I also added it to the white spots on his eyes to make them stand out more.  Of course I needed some sparkle so used a Spectrum Noir glitter marker on the ear muffs.

The sock monkey layer was cut out using one of the smaller dies from the Fancy Frames set.  Even though the die was bigger than I needed it worked out since I wanted to put it right up against the edge of the large back ground paper.  I simply cut off the one edge!  Next I pulled out a lovely swiss dot purple paper for the next layer.  The blue paper is out of the Polar Pals Doodlebug paper pack and I cut it out with a die from the Pocket Pieces Hello set.

Next I cut the largest patterned paper piece using the largest Crazy Stitched Frames dies.  It's a bit hard to see in the picture but I sponged a blue ink around the edges and that helped it pop a bit more. At least in person!  I adhered all of the layers to the white card base,

For the sentiment banner I used curved banner from the Flag Banners set.  The sentiment itself comes from the Chilly stamp set.  The stamp actually has the words stacked up vertically.  I need them to be in a horizontal line.  So I grabbed some post-its and masked the other words.  Since I wanted the banner to stand out more, I went around the edges very lightly with a blue copic marker and popped it up with foam tape.  I added glossy accents very carefully to the words.  For the final touch I added an assortment of glitter sprinkles.

Don't forget that you have plenty of time to participate in the CDD Monthly challenge.  Remember to used #cddmonthly!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Kristina

Here's a hug

Here we are with a brand new year!!  Hard to believe it is here already.  So I'm jumping right in as I have the honor of another term on the Craftin Desert Divas digi stamp team!!  Woohoo!  I have just been having so much fun.

Today's project features Java Fox.

I know, foxes don't come in blue but hey, it's the crafting world.  If I think a fox will look cute in shades of blue then I go for it.  You gotta admit he's darling!

I used the fantastic Polar Pals paper pad (a real favorite) again to help me choose the colors for the fox.  Which just happens to be perfect for this month's Social Media Challenge at Craftin Desert Divas!  I colored the fox with several different colors of Copic markers.  I used a Spectrum Noir sparkle pen to add sparkle to the sweater, puff ball on the hat and the skinny stripes on the hat.  I cut the two patterned papers at an angle and attached to the card base.  I cut the aqua strip to fit across the card and embossed the sentiment in silver.  Would you believe that the sentiment actually comes from the Autumn Wishes set?  I mounted that strip on to a piece of silver glitter cardstock.  As I always say, you can never have to much sparkle!

I splattered water mixed with Pearl Ex all over the card.  As the final touch I used foam tape on the fox in order to give him some extra dimension.

I hope you get inspired and consider playing along with the CDD challenge.  Don't forget to use #cddmonthly!

Hope you have a fabulous day!

~Kristina

Noel

I hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas!  I am now looking forward to a new year and many new adventures to be had.  I will also admit that I *might* not have gotten all of my holiday cards out in a timely fashion.  However, that gives me the chance to share another one with all of you!

Waddles the penguin is back for another visit!  Do you remember my post from two weeks ago?  That project was with the same digi stamp but an entirely different color scheme.  It makes them look like totally different stamps!  Anywho, I colored Waddles up using my Zig Clean Color markers.  Isn't he so gosh darn cute?!  I just want to pinch his sweet little cheeks!

The red scalloped circle is the largest die from the Stitched in Circles set.  I brushed my Versamark ink pad along the edges and then embossed it with copper embossing powder.  The Green circle is the next size down die from the same set.  The green paper and the patterned papers are both from the Here Comes Santa Claus paper pad.  The patterned paper was cut out also using a die from the Stitched in Circles set.  Again, I went around the edges with the Versamark pad and added copper embossing powder.

I attached all three layers to the dark gray card base.  The little white tag was cut out using the tag from the Pocket Pieces Hello die set.  I went around the edges with a red copic marker just to make it stand out a little bit more.  The Noel sentiment is embossed with the copper embossing powder and it comes from the Simply Christmas stamp set.

I sprinkled a few sequins from the Berry Christmas sequin mix and used foam tape to pop Waddles up for added dimension.  He really is a versatile image!  I can see using him for winter birthday cards just by using a different color scheme.

Don't forget that you have a few more days to participate in the CDD Monthly challenge!  All of the DT members have been hard at work sharing lots and lots of inspiration.  Just don't forget to use #cddmonthly!

Stockings galore!

I blame Craftin Desert Divas for having SO many adorable digital (and clear!) stamps.  Yep, that's my excuse.  I couldn't help myself so I had to make *3* projects to share with you.  I may have a CDD problem.  LOL!

Here they are!

My first attempt at a spinner card using the Santa Stocking digi.  I need to practice my photography skills for spinner cards!

A tag featuring the Reindeer Stocking digi.

And another tag but this one features the Christmas Stocking digi.

And the two tags together.

All of the images were colored using Copic markers.

Thanks for stopping by!

~Kristina

A Cuppa Thanks

Christmas is fast approaching and I sure hope to finish wrapping my presents soon!  While I absolutely love spending time with my family, giving gifts that light up someone's face and the general happiness of the season...I admit I get a bit stressed out.  So I'm taking a few deep breaths and spending a little extra time in my craft room to help me relax.

My project today features an adorable bear holding his cup of joe.  I could use a cup right about now!

I printed Ice Bear out on Bristol paper.  I have  been spending a lot of time lately with my copics and wanted to spread the love with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers.  I love the fact that with just a few colors I can get some really awesome shading.  Not to mention that it doesn't take a lot of time or extra work!  I'll admit that when I first got these markers I had a bit of a struggle but I now find that I reach for them frequently.  

For this card I picked the tree paper from the Here Comes Santa Claus paper pad.  I then used that to guide my coloring and coordinating papers.  I first cut the tree paper using the 2nd largest die from the Inside Scalloped Squares dies.  I didn't have a green piece of paper the right shade to match so I dug around until I found a copic that matched nicely.  I colored a piece of white paper and then used the same die to cut it out.  Then I used the largest Insided Scalloped Squares die to cut out the red mini dot paper and the pink Gingham.  The red came from Here Comes Santa Claus paper pad and the pink gingham is from Gingham-Linen Rainbow Petite Prints paper pad.

I cut a piece of vellum using a die from the Flag Banners set.  The sentiment is from the Got Coffee stamp set.  I embossed it using a red glitter embossing powder.  And of course I had to add just a bit of sparkle on the coffee cup and the ball of his hat with my wink of stella marker.  As a final step, I popped the bear up using some foam tape.  Whew!  It sounds like a lot but it really went together pretty quickly and I love the results.  It certainly isn't your typical Christmas colors!

Have you had a chance to enter the December Craftin Desert Divas social media challenge yet?  It is so easy and there are prizes to be won!  There is tons of inspiration to be found at the Craftin Desert Divas Gallery Facebook group page too!  Just remember to share your project using #cddmonthly.

Have a Merry Christmas!

~Kristina

Warmest Wishes

Hello everyone!  I don't know about you but we are experiencing yet another polar vortex.  I'm thinking the winter this year is going to be a doozie.  At least for some of us here in the midwest. While I don't particularly enjoy being cold, this little penguin I'm using for my project today doesn't seem to mind the cold one bit!

Isn't he just the cutest???  I started by picking the plaid piece of paper from the Doodlebug Polar Pals paper pad.  I let that be my guide for choosing all of my colors.  I really do love this color scheme!  I colored him in with Copic markers and added some sparkle with my wink of stella marker.  I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with the background so I picked some blues that coordinated and just started coloring it in.  I love the subtle graduated color.  I also put a touch of very pale blue to make the snow blend it nicely.

Some of my blue background bled into the snowflakes so I just brought out some bling dots!  They were just the perfect size!  I cut the penguin layer out using the largest die from the Fancy Frames die set.  The little oval is popped up with foam tape and it was cut out using a die from the Pocket Pieces Hello dies set.  I decided white looked too stark and used the same pale blue as the snow.  The warmest wishes sentiment comes from the Chilly stamp set.

I sure hope you enjoyed my project for today!

~Kristina

Gobble until you wobble!

Thanksgiving is fast approaching and I am looking forward to spending time with family and eating lots of yummy food!  Of course that means that Christmas is coming soon and that tends to put me in a bit of a panic mode.  Eek!!  Anywho, I'm bringing you this cute little Turkey that you can still get for free from Craftin Desert Diva's.  You can find more details on the Craftin Desert Divas Gallery Facebook page here.  This little turkey is just perfect to use for participating in the Social Media Challenge.  Don't forget to use the tag #cddmonthly!

Without further ado...

I printed him out onto Bristol paper and used my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers.  Ahhh, how I love the way they move on Bristol.  I swear it is the key to getting a good blend!

The dies I tucked behind him are from Winter Wonderland dies.  I know, they say "Winter" but I can see them being used for so many different things!  They are so very pretty.  I stenciled the leaves on a kraft piece of cardstock and the yellow layer is from the Happy Camper Doodlebug paper pad.

Thanks for stopping by!

~Kristina

Supplies used:

Lil Gobbler

Winter Wonderland dies

Crazy Stitched Frames

Fall Harvest sequins

Happy Camper

Starry Owliver

Hi all!  I'm back with another Digi DT project to share with you.  This card has been floating around in my head for a bit.  I actually colored the Owliver digi quite awhile ago and shared him on Instagram.  Since then he's been on my image board waiting for me to decide what to do with him. Inspiration finally paid a visit this past weekend!

I actually printed Owliver out on kraft colored cardstock to start.  I love the way that Copic markers look on kraft.  I even have a separate color chart so I can know what the color will look like once it has dried.  It comes in so handy!

There poor Owliver sat.  There was just too much open space.  I picked up some blue copics and started making a sky.  Then I worked from the bottom up with the greens to create grass and ground.  I am always scared to color the entire card front but I am very please with how it turned out!

I thought it looked like an evening sky so I used my Sakura Stardust gelly roll pen to add a few dots and stars.  I searched through my dies to find just the right one and the Crazy Stitched Frame dies called to me.

Just one more thing needed...a sentiment.  I think Owliver looks like he might be waving hello and I searched through until I found one in my CDD collection.  This lovely hello is from Say it big.  I embossed it using Liquid Platinum embossing powder.

Have you had a chance to enter the November Craftin Desert Divas social media challenge yet?  It is so easy and there are prizes to be won!  Just remember to share your project using #cddmonthly.

As always, I appreciate you stopping by!

~Kristina

Supplies used:

Owliver

Crazy Stitched Frame dies

Say it Big