Cult Challenge for January

Anita picked a new sketch challenge; she chose Mojo Monday 147. I used a MFT digi printed on copic expressit cs. This digi is also a new release this month in a clear stamp.She is paper pieced and colored with copic markers.

The paper is from MME: Lavender. I also used ribbon and cs from SU: Sage (retired) and Pretty in Pink. The darker pink is colored with a copic marker: R56. The sentiments are stamped in memento and are from MFT: All Occasion Sentiments. The "hello" is cut in half. On the inside I used MFT dies: Fishtail Flags and one of their flower dies: Layered Rose. The flower center is Distress Rock Candy dry glitter.

Markers used for her skin are E50, E00, E11 and R20. Hair is YR24, E44 and E25. Her dress is RV11, R85 and R56 and the shoes are E42 and E43. The wood on the furniture legs is Y28 and E44. Shadows are C1, C3 and BV00.

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It's a beautiful day in Florida - we had brunch on the beach and walked the farmer's market this morning. I received my latest order from MFT yesterday and spent some time this afternoon coloring with my copics. I haven't done a sketch challenge for a while and decided to use the latest layout for the new Doodle Garden image: " Raptor" I love the latest MFT release.

I used paper from BoBunny: Little Miss and from Prima: Madeline. The cs is from SU: River Rock and Artichoke. The image is stamped in Memento on copic Xpress-it cardstock. Several MFT dies were used in this card: the new heart border; oval stax; designer labels stax 4; and for the inside I used green paper cut from sweet stack label and a stamped oval from the layered label die.

His face is colored with E50; E00; E11, R20, R00 and BV00. The hearts are RV21, RV23, RV25, RV29. Several combinations of these greens were used for the body: YG03, YG25; YG93, YG95, YG97. His stomach and dots on the body are from YG91, Y28 and E44. The ground is E43, E42 and 0 blended for a base under dots from the greens and stomach colors. The background is dotted with the same colors used for the body and stomach. The background is BG11, BG10, BG72 and O.

Copic Journals

The cult decided to  get together for Joye's Christmas present this year. She has been wanting to play with copics, but hasn't been sure how to start. I made a list of starter markers and we waited until Dick Blick had a good sale to order them. We were able to purchse about 30+ markers to start off her collection. I made her a Copic Journal Book. I downloaded the pages from the Copic Monkey and used a Saturated Canary image for inside. The dp is from my stash. The cover decorations are MFT die cuts. While I was at it, I made ones for gifts for Elaine and Anita also. I as going to make one for Kitty, but she would rather just go straight to coloring images.  Here is a slide show of their books. You can click on the show and go to the Picasa album to see the individual pictures.

Catching Up

Hoping you had a wonderful holiday and that the new year is off to a great start. I am facing my last day of break before going back to school tomorrow and wanted to update you since it's been so long. Christmas was quiet and restful, which was enjoyable. I had the chance to visit with each of my kids, but didn't get to see my sisters. Be sure to check out my other post today (Copic Journal) and the Friendship page for an update on the annual Cult Christmas/New Year Party.
I also want to share other items from before Christmas that I didn't find time to upload. First is the awards that I made for my students who made A's on their last test before break. They have the ribbon pull out for a Hersey bar.

Next is a picture that Elaine, Anita and I made over to MFT for their holiday "Mingle and Jingle" party. We had a lovely time and enjoyed a visit to Olivia's for tea and cake as well as shopping and a make and take at MFT. It was such a surprise to see the expanded store space. We even ran into Jane while there.

Next is a picture of my tag for the St A exchange (that I had to miss because of tornado warnings). I tried to go, but had to turn around because of the bad road conditions. I loved making this tag using the techniques from Stephanie Ackerman's class. I needed to order a black distress marker. None of the ones tht I own gave the look I wanted.

 I have also been hard at work on my December Daily Journal which I will upload as soon as I have time to finish and photograph. 

 

Tag Challenge

One of my favorite holiday activities is checking out the 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist 2012 on the Ellen Hutson blog. This year, I have been inspired by this tag done by Paula Cheney done on Dec 9 and shown below mine. She has great instructions that I most followed - with just a few substitutions here and there.

 I love Paula's use of Tim Holtz products; with lovely, soft colors - and a bit of sparkle. I don't have the wreath die (aren't you surprised), but substituted his snowman - one of my favorite holiday images. I also used the bird and holly mover and shaper dies and a circle die and substitued the snow embossing folder for the poinsettia.

 I really like Paula's use of Spun Sugar, but thought that broken china was a better choice for snow. The bird was colored in Victorian Velvet stain. I picked up the die cut for the JOY when I was in St Pete for a class at Whim So Doodle last weekend. I  am still waiting for my order of the platinum glitter so I used another gold glitter in it's place; it came out great. I love her directions for using the powder glue - I had it in my stash, but this was the first time I have liked the results. It is still not as permanent as I would like for glitter, but forthis tag it worked great on these small pieces of  greenery. I also like the way she used rolled glue dots to attach the narrow letters. I added a layer of Antique Linen Distress Stickles to the bird and the JOY. All pieces were distressed with Vintage Photo.

Journal Love

Anita, Elaine and I headed off to Whim So Doodle in St. Pete yesterday for a wonderful journal class with Stephanie Ackerman. She is so warm and friendly; we learned lots of techniques and her class is creative and stress-free. You can find her blog here. These are pictures that I took of our time being creatively messy.

Cyndi and Stephanie

My tags showing embellishment techniques that we learned. I am going to include them in my December Daily Journal instead of putting into an art journal.

 I love the cover of my altered book. I think I am going to gut the inside totally and just use the cover. I saw the directions on pinterest for altering books - I think I pinned it. I don't care for the inside appearance of an altered book. I would rather have a more flexible binding where I can add/shift and change out pages when I want.

 

Here is my December Daily journal page for this day showing some of the cool collage and embellishing  techniques that we did in class.

 I created an envelope this morning to store receipts and class notes - aren't you surprised to hear that I already typed up my class notes. I had to before I forgot how to interpret my scribbles.

The girls and I are heading off to MFT for another Road Trip next weekend to Mingle and Jingle!

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It has been awhile since I have had time to play with the weekly sketch challenge. I made the first card using Thankful Leaves and then decided to use the same dp and ink up a new image: PI Angel for another card. She is stamped in memento on copic blending cs. The dp is MME: Lost and Found and called Portobello Road. Dies used on the card include MFT's tab, crochet border and snowflakes. SU cs is baja and gray. Rhinestones, dimensionsl, stickles, and a SU snowflake embossing folder. She is paper-pieced and colored in copics.

Her skin is E50, E00, E11, R20 and BV00. Her hair is E33, YR23 and E39. Her wings are layered and colored in  C1, C3 and BV00. A sakura stardust pen and aqua brush were used for some sparkle. Shoes are C1, C3 and BV25. Her dress is paper-pieced and shaded in C1, C3 and BG70. The ground is E50, E43 and 0. The background is BG70, C1 and 0. Her halo is a spica glitter pen: sand and gold.