Sunday, November 16, 2008

edited to alert you to More Blog Candy offers!!

Happy Monday! I am traveling and in a motel at the moment. But I thought it would be nice if I told you that there are currently three offers of High Hopes blog candy available to be won by three random drawings! The first one is on the High Hopes Blog. See the blog for details to enter.
The second one is being offered by our guest Diva, Lacey! Check out her blog for the details to enter.
The third one is... I can't tell you! Its the High Hopes Hop! So get hopping on the Diva's blogs (listed on the right side bar) to find out who has it this time!


I got inspired by two challenges this week; the Ways To Use It challenge on Splitcoast Stampers, and the High Hopes Blog Challenge #8 for today! The WT on SCS was to use watercolor paper. The challenge today on the HH blog is to make a card using buttons and brads. And if you join in the fun and post a link to your card on the HH blog, you will be entered into a draw to win the Woodland Santa (see my third card below) and Merry Christmas sentiment stamps!
I used Crystal Snowlady from the new release at High Hopes, and drew the horizon line after I stamped her on the wc paper. For this card, I mostly used my actual artist quality watercolor paints. There are three colors in my snow; Prussian blue, yellow ochre and a bit of Prussian blue mixed with rose red for a purple color. You might find a bit of green too, where the blue mixed with the ochre, but it was not intentional. I tried to avoid that.
The background is all Prussian blue. I love the ultra deep color it produces.
When I was done, I punched up the color in a few places with Tombow markers. I find the Tombows are more vibrant than my paints.
For the falling snow, I used a white gel pen and a Snow Writer that should get trashed. I bought it last year, and its so dry, I had to squeeze way too hard to get it out, and I was scared I would end up with a sudden woosh of it and cause a horrid mess! It worked out ok, but it was touch and go for awhile! lol. I added glitter on top of the larger blobs of snow with Glitter Glue.


This is another sample I did for the HH challenge 8. I love the shell buttons I found at the dollar store. They have a gorgeous shine to them, but they do break easily. I will have to cover it with bubble wrap if I want to put it through the post! This one did not photograph well. I could not get the colors to look as they actually do, even in natural light. I think I took over two dozen photos, so I just picked the best of the bunch. I got some new Primas at Mike's on sale so I was excited to use one too!
I colored this image with Copics, masked the birds and bird bath and sponged green and blue ink for the sky and greenery. Highlighted with a white gel pen. The perched birdie, landing birdie and bird bath are also from the new release at High Hopes and can be found here. I love how these guys can go just about anywhere, as they are separate stamps. It leaves us with so many possibilities!


I started off this one on watercolor paper too, intending to make it a watercolor. However, somewhere in between the time I stamped it and the time I colored it, which was probably only ten minutes, I forgot, and started coloring with Copics!! I must be over forty! lol I had a bit of a problem when I was done because the background trees were too vibrant and I had to lighten them up somehow. So I thought to color overtop with white Prismacolor pencil. Because I had stamped on wc paper, there is a bumpy texture, so I could not possibly blend the pencils. It only seemed to add a texture to the look of it, which I think turned out to be kinda cool! So I was happy with it anyhow. This card was also inspired by the Sketch challenge on SCS this past week.
I used Forest Background and Woodland Santa for this card, stamping Santa first and then masking him before I stamped the forest.
Thanks for looking today! God bless you!

30 comments:

  1. Your coloring on all 3 of these is just out of this world!! I always thought your coloring rocked, but you still somehow manage to get better with each card!! You are such an inspiration ~~ I wanna color like you when I grow up :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I just can't believe how amazing these are! These are seriously some of my favorite of yours. That snowlady is fabulous and I need to figure out how to do the snow- what is a snow writer? The santa is great with that bg and I never thought to do that. Awesome job!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I could just sit and stare at your magical snowlady for ages.. she is just gorgeous and your colouring is fabulous. All 3 cards are gorgeous and love the background stamp which is just perfect for Santa collecting his Christmas tree, ditto Michelle.. I sure want to colour like you too when I grow up ;-) I just love the vibrancy of your work. Have a great Sunday, Hugs, Nikki x

    ReplyDelete
  4. Holy Moly....these are jaw dropping gorgeous!!! Your coloring blows me away!!!!! That snowy scene is simply magical! And I love your distressed edges and little branches with those birds.
    hugs, Jami

    ReplyDelete
  5. wow, big time! these card were amazing:) the second card...I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  6. As if one gorgeous card wasn't enough, you went and made three! Just stunning, Crissy! I love all three of them!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Astounding is really all I can think of to say! I love checking your blog because I know it will amaze me when I do. Thanks so much for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow! Your cards are just amazing! I love the colors you used. Just amazing! Thank you so much for sharing your inspiring creations!
    Hugs, Christine :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm in love with Crystal Snowlady! What a wonderful creation!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Crissy, I am just in awe of your talent! I know God has giving you this amazing talent and I am so thankful that you use that talent to inspire all of us! Thank you so much! Girl...you rock!!
    ~Lacey

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your artwork knows no bounds! It's all brilliant!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow Chrissy, all three of these cards are just amazing! They are all so beautifully colored and I love the colors, embellies, and layouts of them all! Fabulous job!

    ReplyDelete
  13. oh wow! these are some gorgeous cards Crissy. your colouration is jaw dropping. fantastic work. Hugs rachxx

    ReplyDelete
  14. I just want to see that your coloring is incredible the Crystal Snowlady is very very nice.
    Every day I go on your page to see what you have done.
    Very nice.
    Josée

    ReplyDelete
  15. Love the colors you have used on these cards and images :o)

    ReplyDelete
  16. All of your cards are wonderful! The coloring on the snow lady is just amazing! You never cease to amaze me with your superb coloring!

    ReplyDelete
  17. WOW! No, TRIPLE WOW! Awesome coloring, detail, shadowing, etc. I love the Crystal Snowlady card. Awesome inspiration. Thank you for sharing.

    Hugs,

    PattiM
    (Pattie's passion)

    I Scrap So All Moments Are Remembered!!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Good gravy. These are all so WOW WOW WOW! I love them! Stunning.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Crissy,

    Your cards are so beautiful..and the card with the snowlady.....I have to look again and again! Your coloring is amazing:))

    Anja

    ReplyDelete
  20. I've been a norty blogger and not visited you for a while. In a way it's good, 'coz I get to see a FEAST when I get here. Yo've done, as usual, the most fantastic cards and I'm dead jealous. LOL
    I DO love your colouring. It's 1st class all the way.
    I promise to come over more often.
    Viv xx

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love the cards you have made, but OMG the snowman one is divine, WOW!

    xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  22. WOW... amazing as always! I love the little lumberjack santa scene. I've gotta get my new HH stamps inky!!!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hi Crissy, I have something for you on my blog ;-) Hugs, Nikki x

    ReplyDelete
  24. These cards are all Amazing Crissy and over the top Gorgeous!! The coloring and scenes you've created are Fabulous!!!....I love them all!!...Hugs, Ila

    ReplyDelete
  25. I simply love your work, it is very inspiring. There is a little something for you on my blog if you would like to accept it.

    ReplyDelete
  26. What can i say, your work is just fabulous ! Such a great details, colors and the way you make the stamps come to live !! Your Great at this !! Nicole ;-)

    ReplyDelete