Blog Hop Winner!!

Announcing the winner of the grand prize in this weeks' Squigglefly Blog Hop!! Drum roll please,...

"Mary C
What wonderful cards you created! I love them all, though the turkey is my favorite. I can't wait to see what else is released tomorrow."


Mary C commented on Vicki Parson's blog. Congratulations, Mary! Be sure to send me your snail mail addy so I can get your yummy prize out to you! Squigglefly wants to get your contact info too, so that they can give you the 13 images from my release! Have fun with your prizes!

In case you wanted to know how the winner was chosen, all 17 participating members of the DT chose a name from their list of comments. All those names were given to me in random order, and I chose one winner from the 17 names using Random Integer Generator.

Thanks again to everyone who participated and left comments. You bloggers are the best!

RELEASE DAY!! Yipee!!!

Hi Precious Peeps!
Today is the day my images are going LIVE at Squigglefly! You can now purchase and download my release as well as any of the images they have to offer and use them immediately. Is that cool or what!
I have had a blast drawing these images to share with you! The participation in the blog hop boggled my mind! Ha! Boggled the blogger. Say "boggled the blogger" fast, ten times. ;-)
In fact all the lovely comments you left me brought this humble artist to tears. Your kindness really touches me. I'll say thank you to everyone here, but when I can, I will try and pop over to pay you a more personal visit too.
I will be drawing a name and announcing the winner of the blog hop grand prize approx noon EST and announce it soon afterwards. That should be exciting!
I had always wondered how people used stamped images that overlapped the frames of Nestie dies. I am a bit mechanically challenged, and can't figure stuff like that out! So I was really grateful when Rach, my card making idol from England, posted this very good tutorial on her blog! It is so easy to follow, Rach, thanks! Now not much of Oswalda's hat sticks out, but now that I know how to do it, next time I'll make more of the image overlap the frame. I think it looks so cool to do that!
I have to thank Rach also for sending me the really gorgeous deep purple Prima flowers I used on this card. They match Oswalda's hat band so perfectly! Thank you Rach! Not just talented, but sweet as can be, that Rach! If you haven't seen her blog yet, you are totally missing out!
I colored Oswalda with Copics after printing her onto Manga Drawing pad by Canson, using my inkjet printer. I will try to remember that some of you like when I list the colors I used and do that next time.
Hey, this weekend is Digi Day at Scrapbook News and Review magazine, or SNR Card Universe as some refer to it!! They have a couple of challenges with prizes to be won as well! It all starts at SNR on Saturday at 8 pm EST, 7 pm Central. I hope to get time to check it out!
Thanks again for visiting, and thank you so much for all the uplifting things you have been leaving on my posts this week. It really amazes me, how people so freely bless each other with praise and encouragement. And it only does GOOD things for the soul of both the giver and the receiver. I wish I could give everyone a big hug!! xx

Blog Hop Last Stop! Videos! Blog Candy! All Here!

Hello Precious People!
This is the third sneaky peeky I am giving you of my brand spank'n new debut release for Squigglefly Digital Stamps, AND, the LAST STOP on the Squigglefly Blog Hop today! Scroll to the end of this post to see the video demos!
I am so pleased to announce that High Hopes, the wonderful stamp company I illustrated for for over four years is letting Mudzie the Moose come play at Squigglefly now! (God bless Tina and Bethany!) He is truly grateful that he can play in both places, and still visit all of you as well! That is, if you invite him to your house (hint, hint!) I think he is going to want to pop into a lot of new images this fall and winter. He has missed being here with you! This image, as well as nine other new images (and many sayings to match) will be available for you to purchase and download starting tomorrow, Saturday the 19th!

If you want lots of chances to win ALL TEN of my new digi images, as well as THREE of my matching sentiments, start at the Squigglefly Blog and follow your hop instructions there! Every participating member of the SF Design Team is linked up, one after another to make it easy to do! Every time you comment on the DT's blog posts in the hop, your name will be entered in to the draw taking place tomorrow morning! Don't miss out! (not more than one comment per DT member please!)
TO SWEETEN THE DEAL, I am also giving away some RUBBER stamps from High Hopes, some TWINKLING H20 paints for you to try out, some bling, button brads and some trial size packs of the ever-more-popular FLOWER SOFT!
The name of the winner will be chosen by Yours Truly on Saturday morning using Random Integer Generator!
Here are a couple of piccy's showing what I am adding to the grand prize of 13 of my new releases for Squigglefly!:



Check out my sidebar to find some great service oriented stores that sell High Hopes!

Just a few of the Twinkles for you to try, but they include the skin tones I use most, namely Natural Linen, Mocha Rose, and Cinnamon Stick for shading skin!



I have thought about making hand drawn sentiments for awhile. I figure most stampers by now are computer savvy enough to make and print off their own whenever they want to. So I decided to make some whimsical, fresh, hand drawn sentiments that couldn't possibly be duplicated on a keyboard. I wanted them to look hand done, slightly off kilter, with a whimsical feel. Like the one on my card that says "Trick or Treat". It was fun to do!



I have been itching to get a new video made for you and I finally found the time to put one together for you! I did it in three parts because of the ten minute time limit on You Tube. The first video is around five minutes long, the second around six, and the third is just over eight minutes long. I love showing you how I paint! It is truly a joy for me to do! I hope you enjoy them!
I'll sign off here, with a hug and a prayer that you will be mightily blessed today!

2nd Sneak Peek!

This is my second sneak peek for my debut release on Squigglefly! The images are not uploaded on their website yet! You will have to wait for Saturday Sept. 19 to see all of them! That is when they will be available to purchase and download immediately! Fun, eh?
Sometimes we feel like that bottom cat, and other times we can relate more to the top cat. Which one do you relate to today? heh-heh... just sayin'!
I printed the image with my inkjet printer onto Manga Drawing Pad paper, and colored with Copic markers.
Thank you to Lacey and Katharina for the charm and Primas!
Be SURE to come back tomorrow and participate in the blog hop! Start the hop at the Squigglefly Challenge blog so that you get to see all the creations the DT has made, and comment on as many of their blogs as you can so that you have more chances of WINNING the blog candy! The winner will get all ten images I illustrated as well as three matching sentiments that I hand printed to match my drawings! AND, to sweeten the deal, I am also adding stuff from my stash to share with the winner!
And for those of you who are interested, I will have a new water color demonstration video uploaded on Friday as well, so check in tomorrow!
Hope to see you there!!

BIG NEWS!! (including Blog Hop coming, with CANDY!

Finally, I can share my big news with you!! I have been on the edge of my seat with this secret but now I can tell you!!
I have been asked to illustrate digi stamps for Squigglefly!!!!!
Working for Squigglefly is totally amazing for this little artist! When Ashley and Chesney, the sisters who own Squigglefly, invited me to be a contributing illustrator for their digital stamp company, I was so excited. You see, I have been given carte blanche, to draw whatever I want as often as I want... now that is an artist's dream! That means I can let my imagination run wild and let all those little pictures out of my heart that have been patiently waiting to be revealed!
I also discovered the Squigglefly Design Team, and have been getting to know those wonderful gals! What a sweet bunch! They are full of enthusiasm and encouragement for one another. I love them already!! I feel so welcomed by all of them! They keep busy doing the challenges on the Squigglefly Challenge blog (Hi Ladies!! Waving!!)
So now you know ONE of the secrets I have been hiding from you! I am not saying anymore right now, ... BUT... I have been a busy, busy girl!
I do have a couple more surprises up my sleeve... you'll find out soon enough! (aint I a stinkin' TEASER!)

Now lets talk digi images...
I wasn't sure how to print them and if the ink would run, and what mediums I could use. I discovered I can use Prismacolor pencils, Copic Markers, or Twinkling H20 water color paints. Virtually ANY medium!
My laser jet printer works best for water coloring. I just heat set it after it prints, as if I was heat embossing an image, and I'm set to go - the ink doesn't run!
I use an ink jet printer for Copics or Prismas, and I don't need to heat set at all. I just wait a couple of minutes for the ink to properly set and I'm good to go!
The best part about digi images is that you get to use them as soon as you buy them. No more waiting for orders to arrive! AND, you can resize the image and even flip it if you want to, and the lines of the image still look perfect!
The bonus is, digi images are AFFORDABLE for everyone!
Well, I'm SOLD on digi now, there's no turning back!! Don't get me wrong, I am equally in love with rubber, but now that I have been playing with digi for a few weeks, I realize all the FUN I have been missing out on!

Anyway, Squigglefly is letting me show you some sneak peeks of my debut release! They will be available to purchase on:
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19.
You can buy and download INSTANTLY off their site!!!

EVEN MORE GOOD NEWS:
BLOG CANDY!!!!
The Squigglefly Design Team is having a blog hop on Friday the 18th, the day before the release, with a HUGE PRIZE to be given to one lucky winner!! Yours truly will pick a name using Random Integer Generator from all the comments you leave in the hop! The winner is going to get ALL TEN of my new illustrations, PLUS THREE sentiments, which I also produced by hand to match some of the images. AND, I am going sweeten the deal by adding some stuff from my stash, which I will send via snail mail to whomever wins!! Leave a comment on as many of the DT's blogs as you can in order to increase your chances of winning!!
Phew! So much excitement... now on to my card:



I printed this new image I did for Squigglefly called "Pop and the Kids" on water color paper using my laser jet printer and heat set it. I colored it with Copics. I love how water color paper makes Copic coloring virtually seamless! It does bleed a bit though so you can't soak it too much! I plan on giving this card to my Dad, just because, well, because he is a great Dad!
This post is long enough without me going into any more details. But come back tomorrow!! I'll have another peek for you!!
And Friday I've got a peek AND a new video demo on how I water color!! And don't forget, that's the day of the Blog Hop! You won't want to miss it!!!
Thanks for visiting my blog today!

HH Challenge 44 and news coming soon!!!

Hello People!
I am really excited to join in the High Hopes Challenge today! It's different for me now, being an outsider and not knowing what the challenge will be til it's posted. It's actually fun from this angle! The excitement of the suspense, oh my!! That is a bit of fun for this old gal! lol (I know, I know, get a life, right?)
Today's challenge is to make anything other than a card! There's a link on my sidebar to the High Hopes Challenge blog if you want to check it out!
Well, I usually stick to cards only, so any time a challenge is to make something other than a card, my brains starts to steam and sputter and then it just hurts. Well, not really. Thats just me being dramatic. ;-p
Anyhoo, I had a serendipity moment and all of a sudden I saw this Santa face as a Christmas tree ornament, and the round cork coaster I bought at Mike's as the base for it!
I have a video here that shows me coloring this High Hopes Santa face! Check my side bar for stores that carry High Hopes images!
Now here's how I made it:
I wrapped the outside edges with gold wrapping paper and taped them down.
I cut out my colored Santa face with my Spellbinders Lg. Circle die and Cuttlebug and sponged some ink around the edges for added color.
I made a circle for the back too, out of Christmas DP (not exciting enough to show you).
After taping the front and back circles down to the cork, I pressed my Versamark Clear Ink pad all over it and then sprinkled Ultra Thick Embossing powder on it and heat set. I had to repeat this process.
I have a great little tool I used to punch out the hole. It's called a Paper Drill and it's available at Lee Valley Tools in Canada. It punches through leather even, I love it.
To finish it off, I added the gold twine and ribbon and voila, an ornament for this year's tree all ready!
Oh, I might add, the ribbon was all creased and I was too lazy to iron it... so since my heat tool was handy, I thought I'd just run that up and down the length of it to see if it took out the creases. Yup! It worked! Yay for me!
I plan on letting you all in on my little secret this coming Wednesday, so come back then for a big surprise!!! I can hardly wait and I'm on the edge of my seat for you to find out!!! I'm just so excited I can hardly stand it!!!
Thanks for visiting my blog, precious people!!
God bless each one of you!!
Mmmwwaa!

Mudzie and Chopper Caroling

I put the close-up first today, just to be different!

I got another Christmas card made, and I'm really happy about that! I took a stamping break from painting the walls inside our house. I am SO not used to hard labour! and I am feeling muscles I forgot I had! I sure am grateful for my daughter Valerie's help! Mike, Jan and her BF also contributed a lot, but we still aren't done! Painting a house is a TON of work, but I'll be so glad when I see the result!
I stamped "Mudzie and Choppers Caroling" from High Hopes Stamps onto 140 lb water color paper (Montval, by Canson) with Versafine Onyx Black ink and water colored the image using Twinkling H20's. You can find links to stores that carry this line of stamps if you look on the right side bar.
I did the layout from my head, but I'm sure it has been done a thousand times before, it is fairly simple and popular. I used scraps of DP, so I'm sorry that I can't tell you who makes it :-(
Distressing done with the edge of a metal ruler (the best tool for the job, in my humble opinion).
I have some big secrets... and I can't say any more than that right now... but, I just wanted to tell you how excited I am and how HARD IT IS FOR ME TO STAY QUIET!!!!!!
So stay tuned... its only a matter of time before I can let the secrets out!!!!!!
Thanks for visiting my blog today!! You are a blessing!!

North Woods Stack

I have to admit that I totally CASE'd one of my favorite artists' cards, the amazing Miss Anna Wight! I love her simple yet stunning cards. She wow's me everytime!
I wanted a simple masculine style of card for my FIL who turns 80 this month! I hope he likes it!!
I watercolored the image using Twinkling H20's, and sponged Vintage Photo Distress Ink along the edges for a cool effect.
I made the bg paper myself and I love how it turned out! I used canvas paper and just swiped it with various dye ink pads. When the ink was dry, I used a bottle top to "stamp" circles all over it with an off-white colored acrylic paint. In other words, I just had fun! No rhyme or reason. Just random color and random dots. Sometimes I gotta let the inner child out to play!!
You can find this High Hopes Stamp at Bunny Zoe's Crafts in England, Scrappin' Great Deals in Canada, among other stores that carry HH's (check out the list on the right side bar).
Thanks for looking today!

Checking in...

Hello Precious People!
I have been kind of MIA as of late. Summer is always a busy time what with traveling and making the most of sunny days. We went to Ottawa recently where my son Nik and his wife Alla reside. I got to see her growing "baby bump"... YEEEHAAAAW! I'm gonna be "GRANNY CRISSY" in a few months!!!!!
Also, I have a few creative projects "in the works" that I am so excited about, but for now it's a secret (shhhhhhhh!!!) and I can't share them just yet!
I am hoping I'll have time soon to make some more cards and videos to share with you.
In the meantime, God bless you and enjoy what's left of summer!
Hugs to all,
Crissy

Stackable Santa

I love this Stackable Santa that I drew for High Hopes while I was still working for them! I stamped him on 140 lb. cold press water color paper by Canson using Versafine Onyx Black ink. I colored him with Twinkling H20 paints (which I LOVE).
I added Stickles on his belt buckle and clear Spica glitter on the ribbon of the gifts (doesn't show at all in the photo).
I did the sketch myself (I'm sketch challenged usually) and I think its all right!
I hand printed the saying on the Spellbinders tag.
I know for sure you can find this Santa here or here and I have put a new link box on my sidebar (under my profile) with all the (known to me) places where you can order High Hopes Stamps.


Have a great day and God bless you!

Copic Video Tutorial: An Irish Hat!

Well here's another video on Copic techniques I hope you will enjoy! I always have a great time doing these demos!
Let me know what you think, or if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!
Bless you!

Announcement: Leaving High Hopes

I want to announce to all who are interested that I have ended my contract with High Hopes Stamps and will no longer be illustrating for them. It was not an easy decision to make, as I have been with them since spring, 2005. I really don't want to stop sharing my stamp illustrations with you, and I hope I can continue in some form.

I do not know what Tina and Bethany have planned, so I would kindly ask that you direct any questions about High Hopes to them at their e-mail address here: highhopesstamps@gmail.com and speak to Bethany.

I have the highest regard for the High Hopes family and have enjoyed the time we shared working together. Drawing for them these four years has given me so many things that I treasure; new friendships, insights into the stamping business, and growth as an artist and a leader. For that I will always be grateful.

Thanks to you too, my readers who started off as fans of High Hopes and became my friends! I still plan to do tutorials and share how-to techniques, as I love to do that for you. I know there is a bright future ahead of me in art and I really wish to continue illustrating stamp designs so that I can keep on sharing new images with you.
Chat soon!

Crissy