TTC10 - color challenge

There's a new challenge up at the Touch Twin Markers & More Challenge blog - this time we're using our markers to create projects with a specific color combination. We hope you'll join the fun! Huge thanks to Unity Stamp Co. for sponsoring our challenges this month!!

As soon as I saw this stamp image (Your Wings Exist), I knew I wanted to use it for this color combo - I had fun blending the blues and purples to create folds and dimension in her little dress. The pink is in her skin, but mixed a bit with more peachy tones. I used PB183 for the sky, applying it with a waterbrush filled with rubbing alcohol (video tutorial here).

I also used PB183 to color the ribbon, saturating it with spritzed alcohol to blend.

These are the Touch Twin markers that I used:

You can visit the Touch Twin Markers & More Challenge blog for all the details if you'd like to play! Don't have a blog? That's OK. Just post to any online gallery with the keywords TTC10 and touchtwin. Have fun!

CHA DT Blog Hop Week - Day 1

The Impression Obsession team is showcasing some new images being introduced this week at CHA! You can visit the I.O. Blog each day this week for links to the previews. Be sure to leave a comment on each designer's posts throughout the week for a chance to win a gift certificate from Impression Obsession!
I went with a simple layout for this card, to showcase 3 new stamps - a greeting (C8703), a background (CR008), and a new floral design (Poppy Love 2) from Alesa Baker. You know I love poppies, and this is a lovely long-stemmed image. The top of my card is embossed with a Sizzix texture plate. I used a scalloped die to finish the bottom of my card, and a row of pearls made with my new Viva pearl pen.

Thanks for stopping by!

So happy!

Just so excited for the opportunity to go to CHA - so thankful that everything has come together. I won't deny that I'm a little fearful too... it has been a long time since I did anything by myself, and though I know I'll have lots of stamping friends there, I also know it will be a huge act of my own will to not be intimidated!

When I designed the image below, I thought of girlfriends doing a happy dance - that is what I have been doing on the inside for weeks now, and I can't wait to meet some 'pretend friends' in person! If you'll be attending, you can come and visit me at the Impression Obsession or ShinHan booths! I'd love to meet you. :)

No coloring on this card, except for the seam binding, which was colored with Touch Twin markers. All the stamps and dies are from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.
A close up on the ribbon, and the colors that I used:
Thanks for visiting me today - I'm thankful for you too! Not sure how much I'll be able to post next week between my already-scheduled posts, but I'll check in with pictures if I can!

P.S. Check over at the Sweet 'n Sassy blog today for a peek at the whole new February release! All the February sets are available for pre-order, and I designed this fun interactive set which will be great for tags and CAS cards:

if you like my stamp designs, stop by and 'like' dkdesigns on Facebook!

Daily Window Bags

Jill's Inspired By post last week reminded me that I never showed you the bag I won as a prize from the contest I mentioned in this post........! Here are a few pictures of the bag I chose, with my card in the display window - this is the All Around Classic Tote, which is described as "a large designer-quality tote with inside pockets to carry your accessories and even some business files."

I love the size and quality of the bag, the divided inside, the color of the liner, and the inside pockets. It's going to be a great place to keep my watercolor pads and pencil cases when we're traveling... and a great carry-on for my trip to CHA!

I've posted this affiliate button to my sidebar - when you click through my blog to make a purchase from Daily Window Bags I'll get credit for the referred sale, so you'll be helping me out too. :) That's pretty cool!

Want to win a Window Bag or case of your own?? Beginning on Feb. 5, there will be a contest at the Daily Window Bags blog! I will be posting the details here along with a fun technique for you to try on your entry. Be sure to check back if you're interested in playing along for a chance to win!!

Heather's Hobbie Haven hop

The Shinhan Artisans and Heather Huggins from Heather’s Hobbie Haven are doing a Fairy hop today to celebrate the addition of Touch Twin markers at Heather’s Hobbie Haven! Heather has a fun variety of paper crafting supplies at her store, so make sure you head on over and take a peek! If you just happened on the blog hop because you're a regular reader of my blog, and you'd like to view the entire hop, you can start back at the Heather's Hobbie Haven Blog - you'll find a full list of participants there, and all the details you need. If you're already hopping and you arrived here from Bev's blog, you're doing just fine.

As you hop along make sure and comment on every post, because one lucky person who comments will be chosen to win a $10.00 Gift certificate from Heather’s Hobbie Haven! Our winner will be announced by Heather on January 23^rd.

I chose the image called "The Larakins" to color - these little guys are so cute! The marker colors I used are shown below.I used a waterbrush filled with rubbing alcohol to color the background around the image. I like the softer edge I get this way. You can find a tutorial for this technique HERE.
These are the markers I used......
...and the color combinations I used in each area.....
I also used R11 and R16 to color the ribbon.
After you comment here, you'll be hopping on to the Touch Twin Blog - Lydia's got a project there that will make you smile! Hope you enjoy the hop!

Here's a list of everyone hopping today:

Heather’s Hobbie Haven Blog
Jeanne Streiff
Vicki Garrett
Tami Mayberry
Bev Gerard
Dina Kowal <--- You're here!
Touch Twin Blog (featuring Lydia Fiedler’s project)

Impression Obsession DT Challenge: An Oldie But a Goodie

The Impression Obsession team's challenge today is to create a card using older I.O. stamps. We're also celebrating our DT coordinator Kelli's birthday! Happy birthday, Kelli!!

I watercolored this image (Butterfly with Daffodils) when we were still overseas, using reinkers that have a tiny bit of Shimmerz paint mixed in. I'm giving you a sneak peek at a new background stamp in a new size (CR008), and a new sentiment (D8685 Forever) too!!

Be sure to check out these other designers' blogs for inspiration -

Daniela @ For the First Time
Jeanne @ Inky Paws
Jenny @ One Krafty Kat
Julie @ Out to Impress
Laura @ Laura's Stamp Art Journal
Vicki @ Summerthyme Studio

Remember you can enter these challenges too, using your Impression Obsession stamps! See the I.O. blog for all the details - you might even win a $25 gift certificate!! We'd love to have you join us.

TTC09 - Think Snow

There's a new challenge up at the Touch Twin Markers & More Challenge blog - this time we're using our markers to create projects with a winter or snow theme. We hope you'll join the fun! Huge thanks to Unity Stamp Co. for sponsoring our challenges this month!! The girls are all working with this sweetie snowman set, called You Melt My Heart.My image is stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa, but I stamped the image off once before stamping it to my watercolor paper. I tried to give the appearance of an upper-right light source, so my shadows are falling to the left. Next time I'll use smoother paper that will saturate better - I think that will work better for this background technique. I like the texture, though! I used a Quickutz circle die, and a doily die from Cheery Lynn. The texture plate with the circles is from Sizzix. One of my Christmas presents to myself was a Sizzix Big Shot, and I am loving it!These are the Touch Twin markers that I used:

You can visit the Touch Twin Markers & More Challenge blog for all the details if you'd like to play! Don't have a blog? That's OK. Just post to any online gallery with the keywords TTC09 and touchtwin. Have fun!

Bless You!

If you're a Fan Club member over at Splitcoaststampers, you know that the new Dirty Dozen gallery posts today at Noon Central! I made a card to go along with the new theme, using last week's sketch (SC366).

This image is from Whiff of Joy - isn't Henry the Mouse soooooooo cute? Thankfully I have been able to avoid the things that make me sneeze for several weeks here (YAY!!) but I definitely know his sniffly sneezy feeling. I sent him off to encourage a friend who's been having some allergy problems. :)Just a tip: sometimes I don't like a dark outline on my stamped images - for this one I used Memento Rich Cocoa ink, but I stamped it off once first before stamping.

These are the Touch Twin Markers that I used... I used a waterbrush filled with rubbing alcohol to color outside the image (tutorial here):Hope you're having a great weekend!

Inspired by...

I'm sooooo honored to be Jill Foster's featured designer on her brilliant blog "Inspired By" this week! If you're not familiar with Jill's blog format, she chooses a designer then creates several cards in her own amazing style, inspired by that designer's work. Here are direct links to her posts:

Post #1 - inspired by this card
Post #2 - inspired by this card
Post #3 - inspired by this card
Post #4 - inspired by this card

Thanks Jill!!!

Ups and Downs

When we're overseas I don't make many cards to send, because of the high cost of international postage - I've had to pay over $3 per card in the past, which adds up really quickly! So while we're in the States I'm enjoying being able to send cards to friends that seem to need a little pick-me-up. There is really no substitute for that, as much as we rely on texts and emails these days... I sent this card off to a dear friend who recently had a baby and is experiencing some of those 'ups and downs' that are perfectly normal but so confusing and overwhelming at times. I used my Derwent watercolor pencils and a waterbrush to color the yo-yo image (Unity Stamp Co.). I'll share a tutorial sometime soon on how I cut my matted layers.

Spent yesterday taking the kids through Kennedy Space Center, then catching up with old friends we haven't seen for years. Hard to believe we have been in the States for a month already!