Time for a Little Steampunk!!

I'm so glad you could join me for the Copic Marker Scrapbooking Design Team's first-ever blog hop.  Our blogs will be up from 12:01 a.m. (EST) Friday, April 27 through Sunday, April 29 so you'll have plenty of time to visit each of the 12 blogs.

Our talented leader, Colleen, created the most amazing Steampunk digital images which you'll see as you hop along.   The images can be purchased at Copic Marker Scrapbooking along with all of your other Copic Marker needs. You can also visit our blog and our Facebook page (Copic Marker Scrapbooking) which has a fabulous gallery of the all the digital projects created by the design team members.

Now for some  Great news!!  On each blog you'll be given a letter.  Leave a comment on each blog,  pick up every letter, then  just figure out the "secret" word and email it to Colleen at

hurricaneheron@gmail.com.

Once she's verified that you've left comments, she'll send you ALL of the Steampunk digital images FREE!!!  + your email address will be entered into a drawing where one person will win a
 Copic EX-6 set .Woohoo!!

If you've arrived from Kathie's blog, you're in the right spot.  If you're a regular visitor to my blog and decide you want to hop along, you can start HERE. 

Steampunk was a brand new genre for me.  It's a cross between vintage and punk and really a lot of fun to design.  To wrap your head around it, think gears and gadgets, imagination and invention, then add a little punk and little whimsy.  There you go - STEAMPUNK.

I wanted to try a monochromatic project and this owl was perfect.  I used the E50 - E59 Copic family.  The dimensional gears are Tim Holz, the gear die cut is Sizzix, and the stamp I used to create the background is from VivaLasVegas Stamps. The sentiment is from K Andrew Designs "Owly Hoo" set.  Since I used scrap kraft paper for the die cut and recycled paper for the stamped background, I'm entering this card is Getting Cricky's Simply Sunday "Give a Hoot" challenge.

I used R43, 46 and E08 for the skirt and BG 10, 11 and 13 for the umbrella and corset.   I found a wonderful Sizzix embossing folder perfect for this style and a great stamp from Hero Arts "Art of the Card" set.  I used the gear die cut and then embossed with a Sizzix alphabet folder.  Of course this style calls for lots of Distressed Ink.

There are lots of colors in this one, but the main colors are BG 11,13,15, and 45, YR 61, 65, and 68, andYG 21 and 23 and the W's 0-5.

Isn't this Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe paper fabulous!  It speaks for itself.

Once you leave a comment on my blog, you'll be eligible for my BLOG CANDY drawing.  One name will be chosen by Random.org to receive a surprise package.  Hmmmmmm, what could it be?  Surprises are always fun, right?  Be sure to leave me a way to contact you.

The letter you are here for is T.

Your next stop is Lynne's blog. 

Thanks for joining  our First-Ever hop.  Don't forget to email the secret word to Colleen so you can receive your FREE digital images.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Paper Piecing

It's time for a new Delightful Challenge and today I'm sharing a technique that I've never done before.  The challenge this week is to use paper piecing on your project.  I decided that I needed to learn how to paper piece using digital papers and a digital image.  I've chosen to use the Spots and Stripes digital papers and the Bee Hive Larry digital image. 
Both are available at Digital Delights by Louby Loo.

So, here's how I completed my card.

Using Microsoft Word 2010, I inserted the different digital papers I wanted to use.  Then I inserted the image, clicked the text wrap button to size it and copied it four more times. I moved the images to the paper that I wanted for a particular section and sized the paper to fit that section.  Now it's time to print.

The next step was to cut out the different pieces.  You'll notice I also prepared the card base, mat, and twine.

I adhered the plain image over the printed image on the cloud paper leaving the wings free to go over the twine.

The cut out layers are added to the image.

The final step is to add the coloring.  I used Copic markers on the bee and also to accent different parts of the hive and the honey - see the difference it makes.

A twine bow and a sentiment and my project is complete - woohoo!

You can participate in our paper piecing challenge (it doesn't have to be digital) by linking up to the Delightful Challenges Blog HERE.

Our prize sponsor this week is

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Bring on the Bling!

It's Design Team day at Cooking with Cricut.  We're bringing the bling to this week's challenge.  After all, diamonds are a girl's best friend.  I used Damask Decor for my project today.  I've had the cartridge for awhile and haven't used it very much.  The images are perfect for adding some bling.

I love using pink and green together.  If you could see my Bo Bunny Double Dot paper collection you'd find all the shades of green and pink - just love that paper!  I used the Victoria embossing folder for the background and a Spellbinders die for the banner.  All of the edges are inked with rouge chalk ink.

The sentiment is from the All in the Family set by

K Andrew Designs.

I hope you'll visit Cooking with Cricut to see how the rest of the design team added some bling.  And, you can join in the fun by linking up your project to Wednesday Challenge Post.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyun

Show Your Style

Welcome to Getting Cricky's "Show Your Style" Blog Hop.

I'm so excited to be the Guest Designer for this month's  Hop.

If you've arrived from Kristal's blog  then you are on your way.
 As you hop along this weekend, you'll get to know the designers a little better as they share their crafting preferences and personal styles.
 Kristal's stamps are among  my favorite cardmaking tools.  Although I enjoy making altered projects and scrapbook pages, cardmaking has become my papercrafting passion.  I love to add lots of mats and paper layers to my projects, but I have a rather clean and simple style.  My favorite embellishments include ribbon and Stickles and Chalk Inks.

This card truly represents my personal style: paper layering, ribbon, and inking.  Instead of Stickles on this project, I chose to heat emboss the flower and sentiment images - it adds just the right shine!

The sentiment is from the K Andrew Designs' Coffee and Tea Treats Tag Along set. 

Here's the  stamp set:

It's the companion set for these two sets:

You can purchase all of Kristal's stamp sets  HERE.  Remember that $1 from every stamp set sold is donated to charity.  And, you just can't beat the quality of these stamps.

Time for your next stop which is the very talented Lisa's wonderful "A Mermaid's Crafts" blog.
If you get lost along the way you can always start over  HERE.

I hope you enjoy getting to know the talented gals that design for Getting Cricky.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,
Larelyn

Happy Birthday

It's design team day at Delightful Challenges.  This week our challenge is to follow a sketch.  I love sketch challenges - it takes away the layout decision-making and allows me to concentrate on my images, papers, and embellishments.

For this week's project I chose "Celebration Charlie" and the Happy Birthday sentiment.  Both are available at Digital Delights by Louby Loo.  

Here's my card recipe:

Nestabilities large oval - leaving the cut image in the nestie and masking the image, I inked the oval using VersaMagic Chalk Ink.  That's how I got the white border/frame

Digital Delights by Louby Loo images

American Crafts patterned paper

Baker's Twine

Martha Stewart "Cheers" border punch

Copic Markers, Glossy Accents, Stickles, Sakura 3-D Gel Pen, foam dimensionals



 Be sure to visit Delightful Challenges to see the other designs being shared by our design team and also to enter your design in our sketch challenge.  This week's sponsor is:

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Paper Playtime - Say it with Sentiments Theme  Birthday Card

My Craft Spot - Make it Pop - use dimension

Thanks for dropping in today.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn



Buttons and Bows

Happy Saturday, Everyone.  I hope you're having a delightful weekend.  I just got back from taking a fun class with my BFF.  We made a trinket box.  I was so out of my comfort zone what with painting the wooden box and then using Modge Podge to ahere all the papers.  I'm still picking dried Modge Podge off my fingers and I have paint everywhere!!!  I hate getting my hands yucky - always have, but the class was really fun and we're excited to find our own papers and try our own design.

However, that's not what I'm sharing today.  Last night I was looking through extra Cricut cuts that I store in a little box.  I had decided to challenge myself to make a card with cuts that I found in the box.  So, this card is for Fantabulous Cricut's Buttons and Bows challenge.  The scalloped ovals, leaves and rosette were all in my extra-cuts box.  Guess I should look in there more often - ya think?

The sentiment is from K Andrew Designs "Winged Things" set.  The papers and ribbon are from my stash.  I have a really great stash of papers - I really shouldn't buy another piece or pad for years.  Oh wait - I just came home with about 10 new pieces of patterned cardstock!  Yikes!!!  I really do have a problem - but it's all so pretty . . .

I hope you'll visit Cooking With Cricut on Monday.  I'm hostessing the cartridge showcase and I'll be featuring projects using the Sentimentals cartridge.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Time for Stitching

We want to see some stitching (real or faux) at Delightful Challenges this week.  For my design team project, I chose Digital Delights by Louby Loo's "Luvvy Bear" image - so cute!

I added faux stitching using a purple Gelly Roll Metallic pen and heat embossed my K Andrew Designs sentiment from the Amazing You set.  I colored Luvvy Bear with Copic markers but you can purchase any of Wendy's digital images pre-colored as well.

Please visit the Delightful Challenges blog to see the wonderful projects presented by the rest of the design team.  If you link up your own "stitching" project you'll be eligible to win a gift certificate from this week's sponsor

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn



From the Heart

Woohoo!  I finally found the time to actually create a card specifically for several challenges.  I love getting motivation from some of my favorite challenge blogs - it really makes designing fun.

This card was designed using the sketch for Mojo Monday's #236.  I used the stamps to create a scene for Sentimental Sundays' Silhouettes challenge and the sentiment is for Getting Cricky's Simply Sunday challenge - post a favorite (I love black, white, and yellow!). I used a stamp from K Andrew Designs "Crafty Friends" set.

Thanks for dropping in today.  Tomorrow is another challenge for Delightful Sketches.  The design is incorporating stitching (real or faux) into their projects,.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn



Time for Fantasy

Digital Delights by Louby Loo is releasing a brand new set of images today.  To celebrate, our theme this week is Fantasy.  And what a perfect fantasy set - The Wizard of Oz!  You really must visit our challenge blog so that you can enjoy the entire release as shared by the design team members.

I'd like to introduce you to the Little Man, part of the Delightful Oz Accessory set (along with the stump).  I'm also using patterned papers from the Delightful Oz Digital Paper Pack and a sentiment from the Delightful Oz Sentiment Set.

You can find these papers and images at Digital Delights by Louby Loo.

The materials for this A2 card include:

Images and Patterned Papers - Digital Delights by Louby Loo - Delightful Oz

Recollections flowers - colored with Copics

Button - Doodlebug Designs

Bakers Twine

Lollipop sticker from my stash

Join in our Fantasy challenge by linking your project HERE.

You will be eligible to win $45 worth of in-stock images from our newest sponsor

Penny Black Inc.

Now, that's a great prize!!!  Penny Black stamps are so much fun to color.

I'm looking forward to seeing your projects.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn



Cooking with Cricut Easter Challenge

It's my design team day for the Cooking with Cricut Wednesday challenge.  Since Easter is almost here I'm sharing a truly quick giftcard holder - great, for those of us who wait until the very last minute to get our Easter treats done!

I made seven of these each with different embellishments to give as fat-free, sugar-free, calorie-free Easter gifts.  Be sure to visit Cooking with Cricut to see the fantastic Easter projects being shared by the other design team members - they are amazing.

Here's what I used:

Cricut Cartridge - Easter 2010 - egg and grass (the butterfly is the actual gift card LOL)

Stamp and Die Cut - My Creative Time

Ink - Staz-On

Crinkle Ribbon - My Craft Spot

Silky Smooth Cardstock - DCWV

Stickles

I hope you'll join in our CWC challenge.  Just link your project HERE.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

CMS Easter Release

The designers at Copic Marker Scrapbooking have been having a wonderful time creating with our newest Easter images drawn by fellow design team member Kathie Zaban.

I'm entering this card in My Craft Spot's Easter challenge, iCopic Lover's "for a child" challenge, and  Made Especially for You Easter challenge.

You can see more cards from the design team members HERE.  And, there is a freebie image at the bottom of the post, so be sure to visit.  All of digital images can be purchased at Copic Marker Scrapbooking.

If you haven't visited my Facebook page, please stop by the next time you're on Facebook.  I'd love if you'd LIKE my page - Handmade From the Heart.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

30th Birthday

My youngest daughter turns 30 on Friday.  She's my animal print gal so I made her this card using Cricut's Letter Envy Font Cartridge.  Along with the fonts and font layers, there is a nice selection of crests.  I used one of them as the mat and then increased the size a quarter inch to make the shadow.

I hope April Fool's Day didn't get the best of you!

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn