Born to Shop - High Hopes Ch#28 - News

I am a little late with this weeks High Hopes Challenge....but I'm here. It's a fun challenge....Amy has asked us to "think outside of a card". Go to the HH Challenge blog to see all the Wonderful projects the Divas have come up with!....A Warm Welcome as well to the very Talented Lacey who is back as a Full time High Hopes Diva!!

The little book I altered here is from Michael's. I bought a few of them after Christmas.....for 50cents each....can't beat that...right?....now I wish I would have bought more..... The High Hopes stamp I used on this is from High Hopes....and is called "Hopeful Ant". The sentiment is a Studio G Clear stamp from Michael's.

I colored the image with Copics, prismacolor pencils (oms) and h20's.

To alter this little book I only added the 2 red pieces of cs in the alternate corners. I colored the image to match the original colors of the cover. I used my new labels 4 die....and just added some accents....ribbon, staples, k&C flower, jute and brad.

My News is that I am stepping down as a High Hopes Diva. It has been Wonderful to be part of this Fabulous and Talented Team! and High Hopes - Tina and Bethany have and are an Absolute Joy to be a Diva for!.......Life is changing somewhat for me though....Hubby is retiring this fall...that will be an adjustment in itself...lol. You may have noticed that I haven't been posting or commenting on your blogs as much. I have a very treatable vision problem....but need to take care of myself and reduce my time on the computer. You will still see me around......and definitely still see me using Fabulous High Hopes stamps...... I am just needing to balance things out a little.

I woke up to about 4 inches of fresh snow and it is still snowing!!....It's not so bad though...I mean...it's not like it's going to stay...right??!!!....

Have a Lovely Day Everyone!......and Thank you for your Wonderful Comments!!!

"You Make Me Smile" - Magnolia DT

Tilda as a Butterfly....isn't she Sweet?!!...She is part of the New Magnolia "Chasing Butterflies Collection 2009". The Fabulous sentiment "CC09 You Make Me Smile" is from the same collection.

I have used Donalda's Wonderful sketch from the Just Magnolia #1 Challenge to make this card. I had planned to have it done for the Challenge....but I haven't been feeling very well this last week...a nasty virus is in the house!!..lol.

To color Tilda...I used copics for the base colors...prismacolors over them...and then h20's to deepen the shades a bit. Acrylic white paint for detail dots.

Tilda is cut out and set on pop ups for dimension.....The antennas on her head are black wire. The nestie panel is popped up as well.

There is glitter all around her wings. (hard to see)...on her head and on the bottom lace part of her little pants.

I mounted the sentiment on a thin type of EZ mount.....this way I could shape it on the acrylic block so I could stamp it in a curve.

Paper - GP white, dcwv, cs and patterned back panel paper (Magnolia), k&company.

Ink - memento black, bashful blue, creamy caramel, pretty in pink

Accessories - flowers, raffia, brads are all from Magnolia. butterfly charm, chain, chipboard buttons, nesties, glitter, stitching

We've been having some nice spring weather here....but today the temps dropped enough to sprinkle a little snow...it's not time to get rid of our winter coats yet....lol.

I'll be offering blog candy next week. Hopefully I will be feeling back to normal by then. Have a Wonderful Weekend Everyone!!....and Thank you so much for your lovely comments!!!

***Oh yes....you may notice the bee card photo in the post below is a little different......Would you believe it ??!!!....I had forgot to add the wire antennas to her head!!.....Glory Bee...some days ...I tell ya!!........Anyway....I added the wires and did a retake photo of the card.***

"Bee Blessed" - High Hopes Ch#27 and New Release Day!!

The High Hopes Challenge this week is brought to us by the Wonderful Kimmie and she would like to see distressing on your card...Easy and Fun!!....Go to the HHBlog to check out the Fabulous cards made by all the Divas. Join in to have a chance to win a few really Cute HH stamps!

The stamps I've used on this card are from the Fabulous High Hopes New Release. Which is out today!! You can check out all the new stamps right here High Hopes Stamps just type HOTP into the search box to see them all!!

I also made this card casing Inge....who is was the Featured Stamper this last week at Splitcoast Stampers......Inge has always been one of my favorite stampers.....and I had a great time casing this fabulous card. Check out Inge's ..... "gallery" and "blog" to see her Amazing and Beautiful work!

Onto the card....All the stamps are High Hopes ..I've used the Big Flower, Sitting Bee and Honey pot. The sentiment "Bee Blessed!" is an older stamp.

I've used copics, prismacolors and h20's for the coloring. Acrylic white paint for the details.

The flower and Bee are raised up on foam pop ups. The front wing of the Bee has been stamped separately and glued on so I could raise the back of the it.

There is glitter on the Bees wings....top of the honey pot and center of the flower.

Paper: GP white, treasures, mme, k&company

Ink: memento, bashful blue, creamy caramel

Accessories: ribbon, lace, glitter, baubles, black marker, stitching

Mop Brushes

......I've had someone ask me in the comment section what Mop brushes are......I didn't have their personal email to answer so I hope she sees it here.

Mop brushes are soft art brushes that actually look like a mop. A soft stencil brush would work as well. I use the Mop brushes as a dry brush for my backgrounds.....check my tutorial here.

Mop brushes are available at Artist Club............ http://www.artistsclub.com/brushes/brushes_Display.aspx?dgroup=MaxineThomas

I also use Lang nickel bringle blenders.....at 1/2 inch in size or more...

http://www.royalbrush.com/main/dcat/cat.php?k=5136

Have a Great Day everyone!! ...and Thank you for all your Wonderful comments!!

High Hopes Hullabaloo!! - "I like your style!"

High has a New Release coming up this Sunday April 19th!! ...Crissy the Wonderful Artist for High Hopes has been busy again creating new Fabulous designs! Check out these Divas to see Gorgeous creations made with this New Release......

Crissy - Kimmie - Nikki - Jeanne - Karen - Niki - Tab

This Cute little dress up girl and the sentiment are both part of the HH New Release.

The High Hopes Challenge #26 this week is set for us by the Fabulous Crissy and is to have piercing on your card. I've including piercing on the black panel around the image...and in the scalloped border. Check out the Gorgeous cards displayed on the HH Blog....Join in and you could win some Cute HH stamps!

The layout on this card is the SC224 sketch..which was perfect for this image!

I've used copic markers, prismacolor pencils...and a little twinkling h20's to color this image. Acrylic white paint for the detail dots.

The dress up girl and the black pierced panel behind her is popped up with foam dimensionals. I've added glitter, stickles and glaze to her shoes...some you can see and some simply doesn't show up in the photo..lol. I strung the little beads....randomly and hung them behind the little black ribbon and brad.

Paper - GP white, Treasures cs, Crate

Ink - memento, creamy caramel

Accessories - brads, stitching, ribbon, beads, metal flower

Thanks for looking Everyone!!....and Thank you for all your Wonderful comments!!

"You're one in a Melon" - High Hopes Ch#25

This weeks High Hopes Challenge is brought to us by the Wonderful Jeanne...and she has created a Fabulous and Fun Sketch for us all to use. Be sure to check out the High Hopes Challenge Blog to see Gorgeous cards the Divas have made. Join in the challenge and you could win some really cute HH stamps!

The name of the High Hopes stamp I've used on this card is called "Summer Sweetness". Could this name be any more perfect? The sentiment on this card is created on the computer...but High Hopes has a sentiment perfect for this image..."You're one in a Melon".

I used copics and prismacolor pencils to color this card. I also used H20's to deepen the shade. The little detail dots are made with a stylus using acrylic white paint.

Nesties were used for the circles (how did I ever do anything without them?...lol).

The lace flower was created by gathering a small amount of lace and tying it off to form a circle. I borrowed this idea from the very talented Bev.....here is her card and instructions. Be sure to check out her blog..."All things I love"...her creations are Amazing!!

Ink - versafine black, bashful blue, mellow moss

Paper - GP white, MME, always artichoke, treasures CS

Accessories - brads, buttons, flowers, lace, ribbon, glitter, stitching, SU punch, nesties, computer, shimmerz, ghost flower, embroidery floss

I hope everyone is enjoying some lovely spring weather. Although it hasn't been really warm here....it is fairly nice. I had hoped the snow would be gone by Easter...but we still have quite a bit...especially in our backyard.

It's going to be a great Easter for us.....all our kids are coming home!! Trina is on holidays and will be down on Wednesday ....Yay!! It's going to be so good to see her. We're hoping to get a little time for stamping....and do a ton of visiting.....I even have the swing all cleaned up in the backyard ready for our morning coffee and tea breaks.

Thank you Everyone for your Wonderful comments!!... My birthday is in a month....so there is going to be blog candy again in the very near future!!

Just in case I don't post again till after Sunday.....I wish you all a Very Happy and Blessed Easter!!

High Hopes "April Project of the Month"

This card features the stamps for the April POTM....included are: "Bobby Lee" - "Ally Rose" - "Bail O' Hay" - "Take A Break" - "Sit A Spell". For the month of April you can get the set of these stamps 25% off the regular price which would be...... $32.55CDN wood mounted or $16.25CDN unmounted!!

**Until this special is up on the High Hopes website, you can order it by emailing Tina and Bethany directly at highhopesstamps@sympatico.ca **

For coloring I used prismacolor pencils (oms) and twinkling h20's to deepen the shade.

Ally Rose and Bobby Lee are popped up on foam dots as is the whole Kraft panel under the image.

I bought the pitchfork charm about a year ago .....a Michaels clearance item for a price I couldn't resist. The blue flower is made of burlap .....another clearance item , bought last year from House of Stationary in Estevan. Whenever I visit my daughter Trina....we make a happy trip to that Fabulous little store!

Paper - GP white, MME, paper studio, SU kraft cs

Ink - versafine black, bashful blue, mellow moss

Accessories - flowers, brads, charm, jute, MS border punch, stitching.

It is finally warming up here.....although there is still lots of snow in our yards.....the main areas of the streets are almost clear. It is so nice to be able to go for a walk.....on pavement!!..Yay!!

Have a Great Day Everyone!!...and Thank you so much for your Wonderful comments!!