Sunflowers and Dragonflies - Challenge 28

OK, here's your chance for more wonderful, free prizes! This week, the Sunflowers and Dragonflies challenge is to make a card using the following sketch. Then go to the S&D Blog for directions on how to post a link to your card. If you win, you get to pick any pad of Basic Grey card stock AND any package of Prima Flowers.
Here's my sample following today's sketch. I used the S&D Large Fish, Basic Grey Sultry card stock, Coquette Flowers, Paper Trey white card stock, and Stampin' Up Sage Shadow card stock. The image was colored with Copic Markers.

I love this fish stamp; you could do this in so many color combinations.

We hope you have fun with this sketch challenge. Show us your best!

Cathy

Technique Junkie "Technique by Design" Challenge/Contest

Happy Monday, fellow Technique Junkies! Today is the big day that the Technique Junkies Feb/Mar 2010 issue goes on line. And . . . how would you like the opportunity to become a "TECHNIQUE JUNKIE FOR LIFE"?

First off, did you start at the Design Junkies Blog? If not, go there to start your journey through some wonderful samples from Vada and Judy using techniques from the new issue (and maybe some previous ones, too). Then come back here to see my card and find out where to go next.

For your chance to win "TJ FOR LIFE", you must make a card using the sketch below the contest instructions, and follow these specific directions:

1. In order to qualify for the drawing, at least two different TJ techniques must be used on your card, and one of those two must be used on the background squares.

2. The deadline for the challenge is March 15th.

3. The sketch uses a background made from six 1-1/2 inch squares; three sets of two different technique or cardstock pieces. In other words, 2 squares of a technique, 2 squares of a second technique, 2 other cardstock squares, either plain or using a third technique. Make sure your colors coordinate; using different techniques can give you some amazing results!

4. When you finish your card, go to Pat's Blog ( http://patstamps.blogspot.com/ ) to make a comment and POST A LINK BACK TO YOUR CARD following Pat's directions!

OK, here's my sample:

For my background squares, I used Pulled Pastels and Marker Tapping from the Feb/March 2010 issue, and Antiques Glimmers from the Dec 2009/Jan 2010 issue. The main image employs the Wisped Frames techniqe from the Feb/Mar 2010 issue. Image and sentiment are Stampendous acrylics. A Spellbinders die was used for the main image. Card stock is black, white, and brushed gold. The central image was colored with Copic Markers YR23, G24, G99, and BG09, and the piece was outlined with a gold Krylon Leafing Pen.

Your next stop on the hop is Shelly.

Can't wait to see what YOU come up with!

Cathy

Sunflowers and Dragonflies Challenge 27 - ATC Art

The Sunflowers and Dragonflies challenge for January 30 is "ATC Art". If you would like to win any TWO lady and matching flourish stamps here, just make an ATC. Then go to the Sunflowers and Dragonflies blog for Challenge 27 details on how to post and link your entry!

I used Cheyenne and Cheyenne Fourish. The flourish is stamped on Basic Grey "Sultry" paper with a glue pad, then brushed with Brilliant Gold Pearlex. Cheyenne is stamped on acetate with black StazOn solvent ink and colored on the reverse with Copic markers (you can use any alcohol markers). The brads are Basic Grey "Two Scoops", and the flowers are "Coquette". The Basic Grey is mounted on black cardstock edged with a gold Krylon Leafing Pen.

I hope you enjoy this lovely lady!

Cathy Yamashita

Copic Flat Coloring versus Advanced Blending

Hello, Copic fans! I thought I would post a chart I made for one of the scrapbook stores where I teach Copic classes. This shows the differences you see with "flat" coloring, basic blending and advanced blending. On the advanced blending picture of the cupcake, the frosting is highlighted with pink, but it did not show at all in the scan. The flat coloring looks nice, but the basic and advanced techniques really bring the images to life!

If you click on the picture, it brings up the full-size version. But you still can't see the frosting highlights or the shadow around the flower.





The lovely fairy image is an unmounted rubber stamp from Prickly Pear. The flower is a cling mounted rubber stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms. And the cupcake is an acrylic stamp from a set made by Pink Persimmon.

The best recommendation I can make is to play with your Copics and try lots of color combinations. When you find something you like, scribble the combination into a notebook and write the colors beside it.


Cathy Yamashita

Haiti Relief Incentive

I know we are all aware of the terrible suffering caused by the recent earthquake in Haiti. If you've been thinking of donating and need a little more motivation, Paper Temptress will send you a package of beautiful Silver Lustre paper for any donation of $10 or more. I received the following e-mail this morning:

Paper Temptress is offering a Silver Lustre Package for every donation of $10 or more that is donated to any charity for Haiti by anyone for the next two weeks. All you have to do is e-mail me at patricia@papertemptress.com with some form of proof, an e-mail confirming the donation, a cc bill (of course cover the numbers), or any type of proof of a donation with an address and I will send you a Silver Lustre package (my absolute favorite) free of charge. There is no great joy than giving! I hope to hear from all of you so please donate to any charity of your choice to help during this tragedy. Please spread the word, also.

Patricia

www.papertemptress.com/

Thanks for giving this some consideration!

Cathy

Copic Examples

My Copic Certification class was taught by the funny and very talented Sally Lynn MacDonald. Even though I had already taken two classes from a certified instructor, I learned so much from Sally Lynn. It was a great class!

Here are two samples, even though I haven't had time yet to make them into cards. These samples use only simple blending - no advanced techniques. The first is, of course, a House Mouse stamp. I used the following colors: for the mice on each end - C2, C4, R20, and B21. For the baby in the middle - W1, W3, B21 and R 20. For the grass - G21 and G24. For the yellow ribbon - Y02 and Y08. I did not write down my blue & red ribbon colors. Sorry about that.

The next sample is a Christmas Bell image from Sweet Impressions. I used B24, B26, R27, R29, C2, C4, C6. For the shadow around the bells I used C1 and the Colorless Blender 0.

I did get outside the lines in a couple of places, but I can blame that on a "dip in my macula". Don't ask. . . but trust me, you don't want it. It puts a little distortion right in the center of your vision.

Enjoy!

Cathy

Doing the Happy Dance

Just a quick note with my big news! I am honored to announce that I've been invited to be on the Design Team for Pat Huntoon's Technique Junkie Newsletter. I've been a guest designer for two issues and will be a permanent member with the December issue.

And. . . last weekend I completed the Copic Certification class. In a couple of weeks, I will be listed on the Copic website as an instructor.

Sorry I haven't posted lately. I've been busy making holiday cards and wedding invitations. I'll try to get some things posted next week. In the mean time, look at my new logos on the right for Technique Junkies and Copic!

Stay tuned. . .


Cathy