Pearly Sparkles May Challenge ~ Clean and Simple

Hi Crafty Friends,
It's time for the Pearly Sparkles May challenge.
This month we'd like to see your Clean and Simple creations.
Here's my design team project using a wonderful stamp created by Jennifer Dove.Her stamps are now available at Whimsy Stamps.

Jennifer's stamps appear detailed but they are truly simple to color.  I used Copic markers.The frame is from Whimsy stamps.  I cut it out using card stock and then 3 layers of chip board to give the frame dimension.  The sentiment is from Whimsy Stamps' Cute Cacti set.
Just follow the link above to join in this month's challenge.

Masculine Sympathy Card

Hi Crafty Friends,

My hubby asked me to create a sympathy card for a long time friend who recently passed away.

I think sympathy cards are often difficult because so much emotion is involved.

Hubby wanted something that was representative of his friend.  His friend loved to fish so I used this amazing DoveArt (for Whimsy Stamps) stamp to create this card.

I have used this image (Large Mouth Bass) before and colored it with Copic markers.  This time I just stamped it with colored Momento ink and then heat embossed it.

To create the background I first blended Distress Ink Weathered Wood onto Cryogen paper.  Then I stamped and heat embossed the image.  I placed the LaLa Land Crafts Water Ripples Stencil over the image and ink blended again with the same Distress Ink.  I really like the effect of the background.

I used LaLa Land Crafts Stitched Build-a-Frame Dies and  LLLC Wood Planks Background Stamp set to create the picture frame.  I ink blended Distress Ink Vintage Photo onto kraft paper, cut out the frame pieces, then inked up the background stamp using Distress Ink Walnut Stain and stamped the pieces.  For the sentiment, I used Jaded Blossom Simple Sayings.  I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment onto a gold metallic tag I cut using JB Mini Tag Dies 2.  I think adding the gold brads really make it look like a picture frame plate.  Finally, I added some twine with a gold leaf charm.

I matted the "framed picture" onto gold metallic and added that to the card base.

I'm pleased that this sympathy card has a personal touch representative of the man who passed.

Thanks for stopping by,

A Little Coloring Fun

Hi Crafty Friends,
I was at an all-day crop at my LCC and spent most of my time coloring.  I'm "training" for some marathon coloring so that I'll be in shape for Jennifer Dove's Copic Boot Camp in November.  That will be 4 straight days of coloring, coloring, coloring.  For Boot Camp we can reserve times with a masseuse - what does that tell you???  I can't wait.
Anyway, here are two projects I created using CC Designs/DoveArt stamps which were designed by Jennifer Dove.

This stamp is Making a List.  I just love this traditional style Santa.

This is Cardinal Birdhouse.   Since I took the pictures with my phone during the crop and didn't edit, you might not notice that I used Stardust Stickles for the snow.  When I color this image again, I'll used Frosted Lace instead.  Jennifer's stamps are so much fun to color.  I'm so excited for Boot Camp and can't wait to meet her in person and learn firsthand her amazing coloring techniques.