ONLINECARDCLASSES: WATERCOLOR FOR CARD MAKERS- No line watercoloring

This is my first attempt at no line coloring.  I stamped the Mama Elephant Three Amigos with Distress Ink Antique linen and used Distress inks to color the images.  I tried to follow Kristina's directions but found I had a bit of the lines showing (as dots) around the little cards.  The paw print is from MFT You Make My Tail Wag and the paper is Fancy Pants Time Spring.

JENNIFER DOVE (just4funcrafts) SUNFLOWER STAMP BIRTHDAY CARD

Ooh, I had so much fun coloring this stamp.  It is my step-daughter's big 50 birthday so I made this for her.  Colored with copics of course!

SIMON SAYS STAMPS FARM ANIMAL BIRTHDAY CARDS

I love coloring these little animals for cute and quick birthday cards.  

SIMON SAYS STAMPS FARM ANIMALS
CLEAR AND SIMPLE GRASS STAMP
LAWN FAWN CARD
SIMON SAYS TILTED BANNER DIE AND SENTIMENTS
SIMON SAYS STICHED SLOPES AND HILLS

KURETAKE CLEAN COLOR REAL BRUSH STORAGE SOLUTION

I love these brush watercolors except for the fact that the ID numbers are sooo small and located at the bottom(why?) of the pen.  So here is my solution for saving my eyes. PTouch the number and stick it on the cap! Simple and easy.  I did also put the colors on top but when I put a few drops of glossy accents on, the colors changed somewhat so not a reliable color reference for me.  I did print up Jennifer McGuire's blank color chart and that was really useful.  For storage, I had a 72 Copic Wallet that I wasn't using for my copics and it works perfectly for the brushes, the stay upright, are easy to see and are totally portable.

30 DAY COLORING CHALLENGE

YES! In the midst of having painting done in the house I finally had a chance to post some of the coloring I've been doing.  No cards made yet (typical) but lots of coloring.  Here is Gnomes from MFT, obsessed with these adorable little guys.  

COPIC ORGANIZATION- GRRR and AHA!

I have had a major problem with copic storage.  I love to look at them all lined up neatly in my craft room but I like to sit with my husband in the evenings and color while I am bored  am watching tv.  Here is what I first used.  I know a lot of people have created their own storage using these plastic grids from Home Depot but I found that my pens didn't pull out easily and occasionally the cap caught and pulled off.  Made me crazy.

I then invested (on sale) a full set of Crafter's Companion Ultimate Pen Storage

                                                       

which worked GREAT!  Except......Not portable.  When I took the Copic Certification classes a few years ago, Copic was just coming out with their large totes and we each got one for taking the class. Woohoo!  I really found the little bag thingies that came with the tote irritating, the pens would fall over and I spent too much time searching for colors.  A few nights ago just before falling asleep, I started to wonder about putting separate cardboard boxes in the tote.  The small postal boxes fit perfectly!  I used 8 1/2 boxes.  I cut them to 4" tall and used the leftovers to create dividers.  This gives me the perfect solution, organized AND portable!  Now I can color like a fiend for Kathy's 30Day Color Challenge! The Daily Marker

WHOLE HOUSE PURGE

I have been absent for a while due to a number of factors. The first being I have been sick with Epstein Barr, a sinus infection/cold and just can't seem to get rid of either one.  When I have an episode of EBV I have no ability to create.  It is stifles my creative mojo.  So instead I try to catch up on other projects.  My project/goal for this year is to do a whole house purge.  I read "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing" and was very inspired.  I started in our master bedroom closet and that took almost a week but it is done.  I then tackled the guest bedroom closet and that was major as it has stuff that belongs to the kids (all adults and long gone from the house), our stuff, storage stuff.  You get the idea.  That took 5 days and I just finished. So far,I have made 4 trips with the car full of stuff to donate.  I found a HUGE, I mean HUGE stash of needlepoint yarn which I need to sell on ebay and have just started listing.  If you need any, I probably have it!  So my creative space is a mess as you can imagine and I can't start any projects till I get some of this stuff OUT OF HERE!  Hope to be back soon with cards and coloring.