Crushed it! New bundle released today at RGAvenue!

Crushed It!  I'm smiling BIG with this fun new comic-style bundle!  These little characters are so fun and perfect for that playful spirit!  I had a ball getting inky and playing around with this new bundle called "Crushed it!"  

Wanna know how my card was created?  Easy, peasy!  Here are some easy steps to follow...

1. Start out by swiping the Tangy Apple Sugar Cube ink pad onto a piece of Powdered Sugar cardstock.  (This will give the swoosh image you see on the card.)  

2. Apply a bit of lime green acrylic paint along the bottom edge of the ink swipe on your paper to add more layers of color and dimension.  

3. Apply one drop of Tangy Apple Sugar Drops to your acrylic block and dilute with a little water.  Do the same with the Rich Cactus Sugar Drops (reinker) then use a paint brush to flick the color on the paper.  

4.  Stamp the character of choice (or use digi version) and color with Copic Markers.  Copic Colors are listed at the bottom of my post.  

 5.  Stamp the sentiment and cut it out.  Apply the sentiment and character to your card panel using foam squares. 
6.  Attach gold cardstock to the panel edge, embellish the panel with assorted sequins for some POW-PIZZAZ and then attach this panel to a Sour Pineapple panel. 
7.  Mount asymmetrically onto a Tangy Apple card base (with a top fold). 
8.  Attach some coordinating twine (mine is from Hemptique) and call it DONE! 

My second card is a bit more traditional but focuses on pieces and parts of both stamp/digi sets in a collage arrangement.  This was also quite simple to achieve...Check out my steps:

1.  Use the digi images of the star to create a fun background panel!  I just crop and copy the star in MSWord then adjust the size and arrangement of the stars until I am satisfied. 

2.  Crop and Copy the background stamp element with the starburst design and insert it onto your MSWord document in a separate location.  This allowed me make four panels with the same design that I could cut out and use for my card creation.

3.  Crop and Copy the sentiments and insert them onto my MSWord document. 

4.  Crop and Copy the Characters of choice and Paste them into your MSWord document.

5.  Print your MSWord document.  Cut out the star panel to 5.25x 4 and cut the remaining parts out.  

6.  Color the images with the assorted Copic Colors.  Unlike RG, I AM a colorer...I could spend ALL DAY COLORING.  HA HA!  Also color the background star panel by using a hint of blue to highlight the stars. 

7.  Once all items are colored, assemble card with pieces and parts until satisfied with the layout.  

8.  Apply glaze to the eyes, belts and sentiment words.  Apply microfine glitter onto sentiments to give extra pop.  

 Finally, Attach the front panel asymmetrically to a Rich Cherry Card base and say DONE!

Now wasn't that just fun?  Make sure to order your set early to take advantage of the discounted pricing.  The discount will apply until Saturday, April 27 (Midnight Arizona Time). Check out the bundle HERE. 

Crushed It! Card Copic Colors Used:  

Hair:  Y19, YR65
Skin:  E01, E93, YR00, E30
Uniform:  G24, YG61, C5

Pow! Boom! Card Copic Colors Used:

Action Bubbles:  YR65, BG01, R24

Girl Hair:  C5, N2, W3, T1, Gelly Roll Opaque White

Skin: E01, E93, YR00, E30

Girl Uniform: R24 BG01, B05, YR65, Y19

Boy Uniform: R24, YR65, B05, BG01, C-5, 0 (for removing some ink in his tummy area to make his suit "shiny")

I hope these cards inspire you to create something fun and Ahhhh Mazing!  Have a great day and see you again soon!  

Party Animals! RG Avenue Bundle and LIVECAST Class!

Hey there inky friends!  I'm popping in today to share a quick project with you that features some adorable images in the new RG Class kit:  Party Animal!   RG is hosting a virtual Party Animal card class on April 20 and you won't want to miss it!! You'll have the opportunity to join the livecast party when RG will walk you through making each of the four cards pictured below!  Take advantage of the Early Bird Pricing by picking up your class kit at a discount by this Friday! The kit will return to regular pricing the following day. 

Party Animal Class Kit and Live Event

When you purchase the kit, you'll receive four complete stamp sets, four kitted/precut card projects and the digital files too!  You'll also receive a secret url to have access to the live event broadcast on Youtube.  If you can't watch live, it will be recorded so you can watch and make at your leisure!  

To create my card, I laid out the balloon, giraffe, lion and party horn images onto a MS word document (I stretched the giraffe image so he would be really tall and resized the balloon images and placed some of the circles from the bubble image onto one of the balloons), then printed the images on my home printer.  After that, I colored the images with Copic markers.  I've included a photo image of the colors I used at the bottom of this post. 

After coloring, I fiddled around with my layout (and tried different backdrop colors and finally settled on the white background with a doodly border.  I think the white background really makes the images POP!  Once satisfied with the overall composition, I popped everything onto the panel and then tied some coordinating Hemptique twine onto some of the balloons.

To finish off the card, I tied an orange ribbon along the base of the panel before mounting it onto a piece of Gray Stuff Sugar Stock.  I also used my black pen to write the year on the lion's banner.  

Thanks so much for hopping over to check out my card.  I know you would enjoy the kit too!  RG's classes are fun and engaging and you'll have a ball creating with him LIVE!  

Sunday Sip...and a tower of coffee!

This week for my Sunday Sip post at Coffee Loving Cardmakers, I wanted to welcome Spring this week with a bright and cheery card!  

Just imagine the new grass growing, tons of daffodils and tulips popping up out of the ground and a stack of deelish coffee cups piling up in your sink.  LOL! 

My card today features a color scheme that's bright yellow and green and incorporates two new stamp sets from RG Avenue (RG Studio 360) called Happy Place and Scottish Napkin. 

To create this card, I started out by pulling out my Mysti so I could stamp the fun plaid background onto the limey green cardstock using RG Avenue Ink Rich Cactus. I then used an Opaque White Gelly Roll pen and a yellow colored pencil to add some brightness and highlights to the plaid pattern. After that, I started working on the cup stack. I stamped the cups in Black Taffy Ink and then colored with Copic Markers. I just love coloring with Copics.  It’s so relaxing!  I've shared the colors I used below, so make sure to scroll down and check 'em out.  

 After coloring the cup stack, I mounted the panels onto yellow cardstock and then started embellishing. I punched a circle to thread my lime green and sunshine yellow Hemptique Twine to and also threaded a mix of color coordinated buttons to adhere to my card. “Naked” buttons are not my thing, so of course, I had to tie a little twine through their holes.

What REALLY was my inspiration for this card?  Well, take a peek at my creamer container!  Recognize that color scheme?  Hee Hee.  My tasty Saturday morning coffee was a homemade Whole30 compliant (Yes, I’m at the tail-end of my Whole30 adventure)  iced coffee.  That's ANOTHER yum!  

Recipe:  I used Starbucks Dragon coffee, Nutpods Original creamer, vanilla bean and a sprinkling of toasted coconut.  Mighty tasty, I must say!  

Look at those mighty yummy looking coconut shavings.  SOOOO good!  

I toasted the coconut flakes so they would just melt in my mouth. They also provide a bit of sesame flavor if you ask me. Stir it around and it sinks to the bottom....and soaks up the coffee so you have a nice chewy treat when you're done! 

Thanks so much for stopping over.  I hope you have a fabulous Sunday and hope the rest of the week flies by for you!

Goooood Morning! RG releases his newest bundle...

Hey there inky friends!  Today I'm so excited to share with you the newest Ahhh-mazing stamp/digi bundle that has been released at RG Studio 360 (aka RG Avenue).  If you know me well, you'll know that this set is giving me all the heart eyes and all the feels...I LOVE COFFEE!  

This first set of cards were created using digital images from the Good Morning set and the Scottish Napkin background.  I just LOVE the plaid and adjusted the image settings to print it in a deep burgundy color.  This coordinated well with the colors I wanted to use for my to-go cup.  

Good Morning Stamp/Digi bundle

After laying out the plaid on the bottom of a Sweet Cane card base, I used some ivory acrylic paint to mute down the colors and make the images pop.  I also flicked some Sugar Drops onto the panel to give it some zing.  Next, I cut out the to-go cup and colored it with a Copic Marker and then the sleeve with Sugar Drops.  

To finish off the card, I attached some dark brown satin ribbon, popped the cup onto the card with pop-dots and added a coordinating sentiment.

Next up, I wanted that cold drink cup to shine on my second card so I did some stitching onto a white card panel, colored the cold drink cup to mimic some of my favorite boba tea and attached a little twine and a pretty pink bow. 

 To allow me to create a boba-like filling in my cup, I used several Copic markers to make the dots.

Finishing off things was pretty easy as I used a panel of Sour Guava cardstock and mounted the whole thing onto a Powdered Sugar card base.

Copics Used:  E00, E21, E53, E 47,  E71, W-7, R59, RV42

Thanks for popping over today!  I'll be back again with another fun and festive card featuring this awesome bundle!  See you soon!

Ahoy There Pirate Ship: RG Avenue introduces a fun new bundle!

Hello again inky friends!  I'm back to share another FUN project created using the Ahoy Matey bundle from RG Studio 360 (RG Avenue).  I had a vision for this set and I'm so thrilled that it was able to come to life!  I created this Ahoy Matey birthday Tablescape for a fun birthday decoration!  I searched for and found the perfect ship cuttable that would help bring this set to life!  

My post here will show step by step how I created this adorable scene...  Want to recreate it?  Just purchase the bundle (or digi sets), download the fun ship printable and get down to business!  

Ahoy Matey Bundle

I found the printable for the ship on an educational website.  It was the perfect size so all I had to do was download the image on my computer and print onto SWEET CANE AND POWDERED SUGAR cardstock.  Click on the caption to download your own ship template.

Ship printable HERE 

 After printing, I cut out the images making sure to cut inside the lines of the sails so that I would not see the black lines.

After cutting, I pulled a few Copic markers and a Staedtler Microfine black pen to add some color and texture to the wood.

 Next, I used a mat knife to cut out all the window holes and the railings.  I decided not to cut the netting on the stern so that I could just add some black thread later.  More realistic you know.  ;)

After the ship was finished, I assembled it using glue and created some mast poles to secure the ship sails.  Then, I started coloring all the adorable images in the Ahoy Matey set. I didn't take a picture of each image colored, but I did the first image so that you could see the set-up and how little ink you need to color several images.  It's important to note that I use a super fine bristle brush and very little water so that I can control the ink and the flow over the paper.  I do not use watercolor paper, I just use regular Powdered Sugar cardstock.  I also use the stamp block to help create blends and remove excess fluid from my brush.  

Take a close-up look at the finished little pirate critters:  

Little Prickly Pirate has an important job up there atop the ship.  Watch, wait and YELL!!!

Fox:  I suppose he could have had a black beard...but in his case, he was rockin' the red!  He's also ready to shoot a few balls at any sneaky boats nearby...Don't you dare think about it!

Adorable Owl:  He's always on the lookout and that rascally Raccoon is ready to blast you into smithereens if you dare think of looting the treasure.

Squirrel/Woodchuck:  He's got the treasure map and he'll chop your lips off if you eek a word to anyone!

 Ayeeeee the treasure...It's sparkly and so full!  Don't you put your grubby paws on it!

Mr. Big Bear Pirate:  Says he'll be the ONLY one to light the way to the treasure so don't bother stealing his job.  He'll make sure there's no risky business.  (I used this little critter on my card because I love bears sooooo much!)

Hope you are as inspired by this project as I was!  

Ink:  

Copics for the ship:  E23, 44, Y26 and Staedtler Microfine Black pen

Sugar Drops:  Sweet Cane, Rich Honey, Sweet Banana, Nectar Stone, Rich Cherry, Sour Watermelon, Tangy Orange, Rich Cactus, Sweet Blue

Ahoy There Matey! RG Avenue Releases its newest bundle!

Hey there inky friends! I'm excited to share a most AH-DOR-A-BLE stamp bundle with you today!  I've got two projects I'm in love with and I hope you will be too!  I'll share the other project in a second post as it has a LOT of photos and step-outs of my techniques.  Make sure to check it out over HERE too.  

The Ahoy there bundle by RG Studio 360 (now RG Avenue) is so sweet and playful!  I love this collection as it works perfectly for a Pirate themed birthday party!  I love it because of the adorable pirate critters too!  You can get this bundle at a discounted price until tonight so hop over and GRAB a bundle!  With every stamp bundle, you'll receive the coordinating DIGI sets too.  My projects feature the digi sets.  

Ahoy Matey Bundle

If you're arriving here after the bundle special is over, no worries!  You can purchase the individual sets on the RG site.  Just hop over to the SHOP and put them in your cart!

I decided to go with the Pirate Party theme for my projects.  I started out by printing and coloring each image from the Ahoy Matey and Treasure Map set.  I used RG Studio 360 Sugar Drops (reinkers) to color my images.  They work fabulously and a tiny drop goes a l-o-n-g way!  Blending and mixing the colors is a dream too!  I've included the list of Sugar Drops used at the bottom of this post!

Arrrggggh...Isn't this guy the cutest?  A closer peek at this fellow will show that I used a white Gelly Roll pen to add highlights here and there.

After coloring the images, I cut the RICH CHERRY cardstock into thin strips, attached them to a piece of POWDERED SUGAR cardstock and tied a piece of black satin ribbon around this panel before mounting this panel onto a piece of SWEET BLUE cardstock.  I attached a sentiment from the Thanks Matey set with foam squares then assembled the images in a cluster over the bow.  A POWDERED SUGAR card base (topfold) helped complete the card!

Card Deets:  

A2 Card base with a topfold
Sugar Stock Used:  Sweet Blue, Powdered Sugar, Rich Cherry
Black Satin Ribbon from my stash
Foam Squares
Microfine Iridescent Glitter from my stash
Sugar Drops Used:  Sweet Cane, Rich Honey, Sweet Banana, Nectar Stone, Rich Cherry, Sour Watermelon, Tangy Orange, Rich Cactus, Sweet Blue

Little Bunny Foo Foo...

Hey there inky friends!  I'm back with a few adorable cutie cards featuring the newest bundle at RGStudio 360 (now RGAvenue).  This bunny bundle is sure to help you make some amazing Easter/Spring cards and gifts.  So fun!  Not only will you receive the three stamp sets (It's Easter, Spring Pattern (background) and Hello Bunny, you'll receive the Bunny Treats as a digital bonus!  My cards today feature the digital versions of the products in this bundle because I love the versatility of digis, the ability to enlarge or crop images and the space-saving these digis provide!  Click on the caption under the bundle image to purchase your bundle today!  

It's Easter Bundle

I started out by cropping the stitched curly cue design on the Spring Pattern image.  I cut and pasted that into a Word Document then added several more rows to create my background design.  After finishing, I adjusted the color on each row so that I could create a pastel rainbow of-sorts. 

Next, I cut and pasted two bunny heads from the free digi set.  I wanted to use the full head and then use another head (adjusting the width of the image) to create a bunny body.  I just snipped off the ears on the wide head so that I could use the body.  I saved those extra ears for my second card.  

After that, I used some Pink Pan Pastel (340.8 Perm. Red Tint) to add a little pink to the cheeks and the ears and then added highlights with a Copic C-03 marker. 

To embellish the background panel, I added some shreds of greenish-yellow tissue paper, some light blue ribbon, a pink button and some natural twine before assembling the bunny right onto the panel.  I attached this panel onto a square Sweet Banana card base and then added the sentiment banner along the edge.  

Next up, the Coffee...

You know, as I was coloring tons of bunnies from the It's Easter set, I didn't even realize there was an adorable little coffee cup...until it smacked me right into the face!  When I saw it, I immediately snagged that cup image from the digi file and created a background.  I love that I could create multiple sized cups and could color them to make them work perfectly for a spring card.  

After creating the background, I enlarged the cup one more time...NICE AND BIG!  I wanted the cup to fit the size of the bunny ears I had left over from the previous card.  

While working in the Word document, I added the adorable little chicks.  Another thing that's awesome about digis is that you can easily reverse the images!  I wanted my little chicks to face each other so I reversed one!  After they were added to my cup, I printed and cut out the images so that I could color the cup.  I used a custom mix of RG Sugar Drops to color my cup and chicks and ran over the color to with a coordinating Copic to add the "lines and shadows" I like to see in my coloring.  I didn't keep track of the colors used to create my custom color with Sugar Drops so next time, I'll remember to write them down.  You can create any color you want just by adding a little bit of this and a little bit of that!  

After coloring the cup, I cut it out and attached the bunny ears to the back of the cup.  I added a soft ribbon bow to make it cute!  After mounting a piece of Sour Pineapple onto a Kraft A2 ENVELOPE,  I used foam squares and mounted the decorative panel over that.

So technically, this is NOT a card...It's a decorated envelope.  A perfect place to tuck an Easter treat! 

Thanks for hopping over today!  I'll be playing with this set of bunnies so much this month so make sure to stay tuned...More bunny projects to come!  :)