Copics in Massachusetts...

 Sandy Allnock, founder and President of Operation Write Home, came to my old stomping ground in Massachusetts, Absolutely Everything, to teach some classes on Copics.  I was very honored and priveleged to be among the class participants.  This photo is an impromptu demo between classes on how to color a stamp that Diane (the woman sitting on the right) had purchased.  Sandy told her, "You buy it, I'll teach you to color it."

 

 Our first class on Saturday was making the Color Wheel on the left.  The afternoon class was coloring funny people.  I loved learning blending from the master.  I kinda screwed up the smoke on my Grillfather so I asked Sandy to autograph it and I'll use it in my Project Life album as ephemera of the day... :)

The morning class on Sunday was "Creative Backgrounds".  We learned some wicked cool techniques that I hope I will use in future cards.  We used a compressor on the card on the right.  Very, very cool... but it's pretty clear from looking at my card and then Sandy's, I've got ALOT of practice to do before I ever reach her level!  See her card HERE...

 

 

 The last class on Sunday was doing this card.  We took the whole class to work on it as we also learned about masking.  There are supposed to be four dinosaurs on the card but I stamped the trees before I stamped him and it was supposed to be the other way around.  Therefore, he didn't make it in the card.  He's hiding off the page... WAY off the page.  We used the compressor for the background and I think I finally got the hang of it.  I'm still on the fence as to whether or not I want to own a compressor but it sure was fun to work with...

 

And, before Sandy left Absolutely Everything, she added her John Hancock to our Wall of Fame.  This was such a fun weekend with such a fun lady... :)

This is it...

I've made so many of these vertical Starburst this past week that I think I could do them in my sleep.  Which prompted THIS card.  I made rainbow combos, red combos and then blue combos.  Then as I headed to bed last night I said to myself, "Self... if you do these in browns AND add a miss you sentiment, you'll have a double whammy in your next OWH box.  Masculine AND miss you... so perfect!"

 

So, this is probably the last day in my studio for the month of June as I head to Massachusetts in the morning to take Copic classes with the incomparable Sandy Allnock of Operation Write Home.  Can we all give a collective "Woo hoo!!"?  I know, right?!!  This is a WICKED PISSAH!!  I'm so excited I can hardly breathe...

 

So, this is it, in my goal to make between 50 - 100 cards in the month of June using ONLY what I have in my studio, I have reached 91.  I have never done this many in a month, not evah!  But what fun that was!  Now, I'll have a nice healthy box to ship, once I make the card fronts for the 23 Any Hero notes I wrote while with the taxman last Saturday.  I don't know if this'll ever happen again but I rode it while I could...



Making it gone...

When I struggled thru this paper in the post of early June (see HERE), my mentor, Barb, recommended I use the rest to make Scrappy Backgrounds.  So, I made seven.  I actually followed the tutorial and cut the papers 1/2" wide.  I've never done that before.  I've always made my Scrappy backgrounds with miscellaneous widths that have been leftover.  The paper goes wicked fast when you cut it all at 1/2"... :)

 

The other four on the left are following the Scrap Wrangler's "Using Scraps" tutorial (see HERE).  This makes the paper disappear really fast too...

So, it's official... I am DONE with this paper!  There are some leftovers but they are going to the Yard Sale box... period!

 

 In my goal to make between 50 - 100 cards in the month of June using ONLY what I have in my studio, I have now reached 71...





By jove, it's masculine...

 Six more towards my personal goal, all before lunch!  This is setting up to be another productive day...  Woo hoo!!
 

These patterned papers I've had for ions with no clue what I intended to do with them.  Ever since I did OWH Sketch #218 (see HERE) on two previous cards, this clock paper has been

begging to be used.  I like this sketch alot because it is a way to showcase a large pattern print.  I picked a couple other patterned papers I felt "worked" and went at it... and by jove!, it's a masculine card!

 

SOOO, I've reached my goal to make between 50 - 100 cards in the month of June using ONLY what I have in my studio.  I am now at 54.  However, there are four more days that I can, if I choose, spend solely in my studio.  I don't think I'll make 100 but I think I can get pretty deep into the next 50... so, let's go!!



A dozen in a day... woo hoo!

I colored these this morning before anyone else was up in the house...

But the fact that I got the cards all COMPLETED before sundown just thrills me.  I think this is the most I've ever done in one day.  I decided to follow Pam's thinking by cutting and prepping first, THEN assembling.  That was quite a productive way to do things.  Thanks Pam :)

 

So, my goal to make between 50 - 100 cards in the month of June using ONLY what I have in my studio has just taken a giant step forward.  I am up to 48... :)


Burgers anyone?

This is a Midweek Throwdown from a couple weeks ago (see HERE).  I only made ONE during the actual week of the challenge for Ernie's son Christopher (who turned 14) but didn't take a picture before we hand delivered it.  SO, I've been thinking about it ever since.  These are SO cool... and makes me crave a good burger off the grill.

 

Special features: The burger was run thru the Big Shot using the Swiss Dots folder for texture.  I used Scribbles Bright Yellow Fabric paint for the cheese.  I stamped lines on the white paper and covered with Glossy Accents for the onion.  The lettuce is Dritz 5/8" Ruffle Elastic. 

 

SO, 2 more of the rainbow from the previous post and 6 of these makes 36 cards made in the month of June using only product I have in my Studio... :)
 

I am LOVING this...

 I saw a card featured this week on OWH that had a small rainbow colored starburst used as a kite.  As I was trying to figure out how that was done, I created this.  I LOVE this!  I mean I REALLY love this!  This is SOOO up my alley in the bright department...

 

These pieces, just like in the previous post, were already cut.  Since I really love making a starburst rainbow, that wasn't all that surprising to find this group of cut pieces.  I haven't however, ever done one vertically.  I made eight.  And even after I've made all these Starburst cards today, there are STILL pieces cut for more...

 

So now, I am up to 28 cards made in June using ONLY what I have in my studio... 



Look what I found...

I've been out of my studio for ten days!  TEN days!  Ou vey!  So, I'm playing catch-up on my personal challenge to make between 50 and 100 cards during the month of June, using only products that already exist in my studio.  I came across these starburst pieces already cut... HA!  Half the job was already done!  So, why not finish it.  I don't remember ever wanting to make only black and white starburst but apparently I was thinking something.  Who knows at this point! Anyway, I made four...

 

SO, for the month of June, I have made 20 cards using only products I already have.  I better get a move on, it's past the middle of the month... yikes!



Off and running to OWH...

My current shipment to Operation Write Home consists of 83 Handmade and 26 Any Hero...

 

I've had a blast the last two weeks catching up on my crafting but alas, another hiatus is coming up.  A wedding this weekend then nine days in Ohio...

 



Using up paper...

This is paper I've had a bazillion years!  Ok, maybe only six.  It's part of a Stampin' Up paper pack that has long since been retired.  I used it on a special album I made for my dad and his third wife and it took me almost forever to finish it.  The album was completed and presented as a 30th Wedding anniversary gift last November.  WAY too much emotion was charged into that project.  Since then, I've wanted to throw this paper away (just like I wanted to throw away the whole project more times than I care to admit)... but I'm the one who bought it!  Frugal me wouldn't let me.  SO, in my mission to use up what I have, it only seemed right to turn this into cards.  The rest of the paper is in the background and as you can see, there is still ALOT of it... ugh!

 



At first, I wasn't fond of this card but as I worked on it, it has grown on me.  These will get added to my current box which SHOULD have left last Friday and didn't... :(  So, it'll go this week.  These 8 and the Christmas 8 put me closer to my goal of 50 - 100 cards in the month of June using ONLY what I have...

 

My five for June...

Turned into EIGHT!!  Doing the happy dance!  AND, it's June 1st!  Woo hoo!!



An up close and personal look.  I love how this came out!  This may very well be our personal Christmas card this year.  In person, it's so elegant and crisp...

 

And now to verbalize my personal challenge for the month of June...

 

 I, Cindy, pledge to make 50 to 100 cards in this month of June WITHOUT purchasing a single item.  I will use ONLY what already exists in my Studio.  So, I leave it to you, my audience, to hold me to it... :)