Welcome to Moosehood

Greetings! Gotta love the moose stamps. I'm back today with another post featuring
Hanna Stamps Sophie the Moose. Look, Sophie is expecting and that's good for the Minnesota moose population (it's down in case you didn't know). On one card, I colored with my Copic markers and on the other I paper pieced the little moo-moo onto the moose. (Try saying moo-moo and moose really fast three times.)
I used Making Memories papers Sabrina 6x6 pack and some paper flowers from Prima. The sentiment was computer generated by ME!
I will be posting some new things from Pink Cat Studio soon. The images are super cute!
Enjoy!

The Japanese Dolls Are Back

Greetings! OK usually I don't post the same type of card twice but my Hero Arts Japanese Doll stamps are some of my favorites. This time I used papers from Amy Butler (Lotus line) and colored the dolls hair in with my black Copic marker. The sentiments are from Hero Arts. I believe from last years line of stamps.
There are some really great Copic tutorials on copicmarker.com . In the sidebar, you can click on the "how to" section. There you will find a video to watch some of the techniques in coloring images. Check it out! Enjoy!

All I Need Is Chocolate

Greetings! I have been busy working on my Valentine cards today. This year I decided to use one of my Hanna Stamps images. Riley the Moose is one of my favorite to use. Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday. I love the colors and the whole love thing. But more than anything else, I love that you can make cards for people. My friends and co-workers at Archiver's will just love these little creations. One of my co-workers, Jennifer, has kept all of my Valentine cards since the first year I've worked with the company. This is my 4th year making cards for everyone. She even managed to keep the chocolate heart I attached to the card from last year....DUDE EAT THE CHOCOLATE!
The cards were colored with Copic markers. Papers used: We R Memory Keepers -Adore Collection. Scallop Dollie Punch: Martha Stewart-EK Success. Dry embossing of the hearts was done on my Cuttlebug. The sentiment was created by me on my computer. Enjoy!

Hello!
Just wanted to post quickly about BECOMING A FOLLOWER. On the sidebar of my blog, you can sign up to become a follower. It's really cool because I can see who's checking out my posts and I can fine -tune my posts to my readers. It really benefits EVERYONE. Plus, if you post a photo of yourself/family member/favorite singer/dog I can see how cute he/she/it is anytime I look at my blog and you can TOO! Hope to see more of you:)
Enjoy!

The 80s are back!

Yes, you heard right, the 80s are back. Well, at least this weekend at Archiver's. I am hosting tonight's Scrap Mania and I am dressing up 80's style. I have been doing a lot of whining about the whole thing. (I'm not dressing up...or ...I have nothing to wear.) Luckily, Target had some radical (note the 80's word) deals. I found cool star dangle earrings and a headband with an ugly puffy thing on it. Oh, and one cannot forget about the stirup (sp?) leggings. I found all the items listed for less that $2.00. The tights were .98!!! I tried stuff on last night for my family. My husband said, "Heather, you look like Blossom." Oh, yes! That is exactly the look I was going for.
So today I am posting a like, totally cool, awesome picture and card.
The card features Basic Grey Cupcake papers and a stamp image I found at Michael's. Party Like a Rockstar! I colored the image with my Copics and Cuttlebugged the blue paper on the side with my Swiss Dots plate. Enjoy dudes!

Copic Markers

Greetings! I am often asked about Copic markers. "What colors do I want to purchase? Where do I get them? How do I use them?" Today my post will answer some of those questions.
First of all, before purchasing any markers; think about what types of images you will be coloring. What types of stamps do you already own? Many people start off by purchasing a color set. I think often times they will be getting colors they will never use. So again consider your images.
I have many colors that fall into the "neutral" tones. Here are some colors, along with their functions I suggest starting with:
light walnut(a darker brown, I use it for rocks and the moose antlers)
celadon green
sand (a lighter brown, I use it on all my moose images)
cadmium red (a great red color-not too pink)
baby skin pink
skin white(both are great for coloring skin and insides of ears on animals)
moss
buttercup yellow(love this color i use it for frosting-a natural yellow)
warm gray no 2 (a must have for shading and outlining your images)
mint blue
pure pink (everyone needs pink)
pale blue
a multiliner;black for fixing up images or adding bubbles
black for coloring in hair (Asian girl stamps)
and of course the colorless blender (for taking away color for shading)
That is just a start......
Next, remember that Copics are alcohol based so you want to choose the proper ink to stamp your images in. I use Graphite black Brilliance. Some say heat set it before you color...it is best but sometimes not necessary. Paper is another consideration. I have used the Archiver's bright white cardstock but what works the best is cheap copier paper from WalMart. The kind that comes in the big pack. It pills less than some other cardstock I've used.
Finally, where to buy Copic markers. Well, locally you can get them at Dick Blick and Wet Paint on Grand Ave, but I highly suggest purchasing them online from a company called:
Eclectic Paperie. Joy and Daisy run a great company with all sorts of items. You can buy stamps, paper, Copics, Cuttlebug stuff and other goodies there. They have reasonable shipping costs and they ship fast!
Copics do come in a variety of styles as well. The Sketch markers have an oval barrel and come with a chisel and brush tip. The Ciaos (a little cheaper-but work the same) have the same tips.
And in case you didn't know all the markers have refillable tips so less waste!
If you have any other questions, I would be happy to answer them-just leave a comment.
My post is some tags I made with the Bits and Pieces Hero Arts set. Simple but very useful and believe it or not I didn't color anything with my Copics. I DID use my Cuttlebug for dry embossing and Diamond Glaze for embellishing the heart images. Sorry the pictures are so poor-hope you can make the most of them.
Enjoy!

The Mom Song

Love this! I got an email from a friend of mine. SO PERFECT for all you moms out there. This lady is Anita Renfroe. She has a ton of clean stuff-Weird AL gone woman. So Funny!
Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMhuAtyFCrw

Twinkling H2O

Hello! Well if you haven't noticed yet that I have had a ridiculous amount of time off from teaching. So each day I've completed something. Crazy! Just watch it all come crashing down on me next week, or maybe not. Pace yourself girl. My second post today is all about Twinkling H2Os. Now I know you've seen them before so I won't go into great detail. Twinkling H20s are a product that came out (at least when Archiver's sold them) 3 years ago. We've had them at the store FOREVER, behind the counter for OTHER reasons): We have been selling them for 75% off. I considered purchasing them but I have my TRUSTY markers and don't need much else. (Does anyone remember the dreams I used to have about living on the streets and using my QuicKutz to keep me warm on those chilly January nights?) OK anyway, I bought them because this customer talked about using them to paint chipboard pieces-and boy so I have a lot of that lying around.
So I used it and it looks a lot like the premade chipboard form American Crafts and the stuff we have from Bo Bunny. AWESOME! Paige and Dane even had a good time helping mom paint the stuff. Easy-peasy.
I added it to my Reily moose stamp from Hanna Stamps behind the main image. I also used my Copics (I wonder how warm those would keep me on the streets?? I could drink the ink for nourishment..sicko!) The snowfake is all dolled up with FUN FLOCK and I used We R Memory Keepers White Out papers. Oh, and I added Liquid Applique to the hat and snowball. Too fun!
Keep warm and have fun. Enjoy!

Approval

OK so my mother approved my diaper cake creation...YES! I've added a poll gadget to my blog so take a look and answer if you wish! The Hero Arts 2009 stamp book is out to browse so go to their web site Hero Arts to check it out. All the ideas without the price of buying the book...that's 9.99 (what a deal!)
I will hopefully be back later with a post...I'm going to do some experimenting...I'm a scientist (hee...hee...hee. -that's my scientist laugh:). Umm did anyone watch True Beauty last night..it's ummm rather interesting. Sick and interesting.
Just HAD to put this picture up. Halloween at Archiver's with some really cool chicas! Notice my totally rad Joe McIntyre doll...Donnie's in my pocket. Peanut Butter Jelly Time...check it out, you PB&J fans.
Later!

Diaper Cake

Greetings! OK so I'm in the mood to make stuff for babies (or their mommies). My friend Jenny from ECFE is having a baby VERY soon. They are throwing a shower for her this Saturday at the hospital. I decided to make a diaper cake for her-something I've done in the past with my mother's assistance.
This cake was a bit simpler but I think it looks chic and sophisticated.
Not sure what she's having but what girl (mother) does not love pink polka dots.:) Enjoy!

Miracles Book

Greetings! My cousin Josh recently became the proud dad of a second child: Emma Faith. Throughout the pregnancy, his wife kept a blog Watzspot. When they first found out about the pregnancy, they were told the baby had no nasal bone (characteristic found in baby's with Down's Syndrome), low birth weight and would have abnormal heart development. With much prayer, and God's grace the baby was born with much less complications that thought to have.
As I followed her blog, I found there to be much to laugh, cry and contimplate.
My post today is a mini album that I created for her to keep photos and excerpts from her blog in. (I even added some of my favorite posts and verses from the blog.)
Papers are from Imaginisce, sticker quotes by Heidi Grace, dies from QuicKutz and ribbon from May Arts. I titled the book: Miracle: Emma Faith here are some photos. (The pages are in from last to first.) Enjoy!