Happy Fourth of July!

I'm spending my Fourth of July weekend just hanging out stamping, visiting family and will head to a baseball game and fireworks show tomorrow night. I decided not to head to DC this year. I'm grateful for the freedoms I have in America. I'm thankful for all the liberties I have and for those who have fought so hard for me and other Americans.

To celebrate, I drew a sketch, made a card, and whipped up a video. Hope you enjoy! Happy Fourth of July!

Hope you and yours have a wonderful Fourth of July and hope you take a little time to reflect on the freedoms you appreciate as an American.

For all my friends outside of the US, I'm grateful for the ability to communicate with you via this blog, my stamping communities and in person. Thanks to you too!

Here's the video:

PS: The stamps used in the creation of the card and video are from Woodware, USA. Woodware is now available (and has distribution rights) in the US. Yipee!!!! The stamps are so cute and wonderful to color and the quality of the acrylic/polymer is awesome!!! I used the following sets for this card:

Mary and Friends

By the Sea

Boo!

I know it's a while until Halloween but I read that Odd Bird Planet was having a Halloween Blog Hop today and I just couldn't resist participating. Even though I'm no longer a design team member for them, I still LOVE their stamps! I decided to do another Ready, Set, Sketch! video and this was the PERFECT card to use for it.

I just got my class list today so I'll be making TONS of cards to send to my new students. I'm thinking that will be my next Ready, Set, Sketch! video project. I'll have to work on that this weekend...in between coats of paint for my new craft room! It's almost done but I'm dreading emptying the 55 gallon fish tank against one wall so I can paint it and remove the carpeting I cut my way around!!!

I also went back to school early to start getting my room together. I'm excited that this year will be the first year I'll be done before the other teachers return back for good! YEEHAW!!! That means I won't have to worry and rush in between meetings and inservices!

Enjoy the video!



Kerry

Ready, Set, Sketch...Stamp Shack Monochromatic Color Challenge

This week's challenge over at the Stamp Shack was a Monochromatic Color Challenge hosted by Jennfer aka inkinupstamps. I decided to use the color RED and forced myself NOT to make a Christmas Card! I drew a quick card sketch and got to work. I love my Flip so much (it sits right above my workspace) that I had to video tape it too.

So here's the final product...I kept true to the monochromatic color scheme this time. WOO HOO!!! Thanks Jennifer for a FUN and CHALLENGING challenge.

If you would like to give the sketch a try, please do. I'd love to see what you make with it so make sure you come back here and add a link to your creation in my comment section.

The video is live now...


Bye for now...I've got some painting to do in my new Craft Space. Oh, did I mention I'm relocating my craft space to my downstairs area? I've torn up the carpet, will be applying laminate flooring and will be adding cabinetry. I'm doing this because I need to reclaim my spare bedroom. Goodness, I never have any guests over because there is no place for them to sleep!!!

K:)

Ready, Set, Sketch! Man's Best Friend

You know me and making sketches. Today, I decided to make a card sketch and immediately make a card from it. I usually make sketches on the computer, but today, I was up in my craft room and decided to just do a freehand sketch on typing paper (right there at my workspace)...

After making the sketch, I initially planned on making a card for the Stamp Shack challenge for this week (monochromatic colors). I pulled all kinds of BROWNS out and selected some dog stamps from Studio G and Great Impressions. I selected my patterned paper from the Dream Street Papers company initially for the BROWNS...But...I flipped the paper over and fell in love with the stripes and pattern on the other side! OH NO...It wouldn't fit the monochromatic challenge. It had some blue! I decided to use it anyway and thought "I have a whole week to make a monochromatic card!"

That's where the video came in...I have been thinking of a "style" of video to create. Something unique and interesting and fun. I love to watch other videos and tutorials on youtube but wanted to make something other than a card or marker tutorial. Then I had an AH HA moment. I think I'm going to combine my love of making sketches and card making into my style of video! I'm going to call my videos...READY, SET, SKETCH. I'll sit right down, make a sketch then immediately make a card from it. I'll challenge viewers and my blogging friends to make a card from the sketch too.

So....To make this long story longer, I made my first "READY, SET, SKETCH" video today. Since it's my first video of this type, I thought I'd add a PRIZE challenge! So, please watch my video and then try your hand at my sketch. Make a card from the sketch and post a comment on this blog entry. Provide a link to your card and I'll select one winner to receive a SPECTACULAR card makers PRIZE. You have until August 31 to post your challenge entry.

Are you in?

Here's the card:

Check out my video first and remember to use that sketch!

Hedgie Happiness!

A new video is posted to show how I created this card. Hope you enjoy!

I've been spending a bit of time working on some magazine calls so hopefully one (or more) of the cards will be picked up...I'm also working on making a few more card videos. Perhaps I'll get them posted before the end of the week.

Kerry

Beachy Dreams...

YAHOOOOOO!!! I finished packing up my classroom and turned my keys and badge in for the summer...I'm officially FREE! WOOOHOOO!!!

WAIT...Not quite free...I have to take a class next week (M-F) and then I'll be free for the summer.

I've got BIG plans for summer and am so excited to have FUN, FUN, FUN!

So, you know those new stamps I got a few weeks ago from CC Designs? Well, several were in a summer/beach theme so I decided to pull this little boy out and make a card. I love the look of square cards so I decided to make this one square. I did make a video too (It's less bouncy this time) so I'll try to post that sometime this weekend.

For this card, I wanted to use some colors that made you think of beaches and boys. I had this plaid paper (Daisy D's) in my stash so I thought it would work perfectly. I then found some coordinating cardstock from my stash. I used my copic book to select the perfect colors to use on the image...Whaddya think? Didn't the colors turn out rich and yummy? After coloring and cutting out the image, I began thinking of a layout design. I usually just sit down with nothing in particular in mind, so it was not unusual not to have a sketch in mind. I thought this long rectangle Nestie would work perfectly positioned vertically...Well, after twirling and flipping and arranging, I decided I liked it better horizontally! Wierd. Come to think of it, I do the horizontal layout a lot for my ovals...Interesting...I then punched the strip of paper with the "rope" pattern, added some brown grossgrain ribbon and some blue fun fiber that I've had in my yarn box FOREVER... Then I added some little faux Dew Drops (I got a bag of about a million clear drops at Ben Franklin about two years ago.) and finally added the little aqua AMM brads. There you have it! Just adorable little guy, eh?

I'm SOOOO ready for the beach!

Back sometime soon with the video for this little guy!

Ker

Part 3 of 3 Tutorial...LIVE...

Just letting you know part three of the CC Designs image coloring tutorial is live on Youtube...Here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV1tlxFeWlo

I'm working on a new one so I'll have it posted most likely by this weekend.

Kerry

Part 2 of Tutorial LIVE...

Here's part two of the tutorial: Copic Coloring: Strawberry Blonde Hair... One last part for this image and it'll wrap it up. I have another card created and ready to share in a day or so.

You can visit the Youtube link here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCW1yehr75w

Meet Flip...

I ordered him online a few weeks ago and have been playing around for a few weeks. Boy, I'm having fun!

Well, wanna see a picture of him? Here you go:

Ha, Ha...Did I give you a heart attack? LOL...I've wanted to have a small video camera to do some tutorials and such for my blog and found the perfect one for my needs. It takes great video and it is also great for HD viewing. Anyway, like I said, I've been making videos and playing around for a couple of weeks. This weekend I rigged up a temporary contraption to "float" above my workspace. Well, I found a ruler doesn't do that great of a job because it bounces like crazy...So I'm off next weekend to find a sturdier piece of wood.

I learned a few things about my stamping while I video taped things:

It takes me about 30 minutes to completely color an image with my Copics.

I tend to bend my left forefinger when I'm working *Maybe that's why my arm hurts*

I sound like I've just jumped off a combine or some midwestern farm equiptment...I didn't realize how strong of an accent I have and I live in the south! SOOOO...I'm covering up my talking with some groovy tunes!

I'm not that good at selecting all my colors before I start...I always want to grab more in the process of coloring.

Anyway, I've uploaded my first one tonight...sorry it's so bouncy...I fixed it a bit after I saw this one. Be kind, it's my first attempt at a video....It's a little dark, too far away AND wayyyy too bouncy!

You might want to turn the volume down on the video so you can hear the great music on my blog instead (I like that better). PS...You can see the text better at my Youtube posting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-r5uRpPSBk