Prismacolor Markers!

I noticed yesterday that Michaels had Prismacolor Art Markers on sale this week for 50% off (and they had a coupon for 20% off your entire purchase, including sale items) so I thought I'd go online to check out these markers.  Turns out they are an alcohol based marker, with two tips, and are blendable! I even found several videos on You-tube showing coloring techniques, one even mentioning they had used Copics with these markers. I have thus far resisted the Copic trend, only because I cannot justify spending $7 on one marker, and it seems to me you need quite a few to be able to blend properly.  So, coupon in hand, I decided to go and check out these markers.

I ended up getting a set of 24 for 1/2 price, which turned out to be $65, but then I used my 20% off coupon and that brought it down to $52.  Still a lot to pay for markers, but I thought I'd give it a try. And, not a bad price for regularly being $130 a set!  This brought it down to $2/marker, which I can live with.  I also bought 3 individual markers, a light tan, a colorless blender, and a grey. 

I was very happy with the selection of colors in the set. I think the only ones I'd pick up individually would be a lighter purple and a lighter pink, and maybe a lighter skin tone color.

I colored the girl on the left with a sand color for her skin and a peach color for the one of the right.  I used the thin nib as I felt I could control it better.  The colorless blender was great for a few spots I colored outside the lines and I also highlighted in a few areas.  I also added a few highlights with the Prismacolor white colored pencil.  I used the black Memento ink pad, as you would with the Copics.

All in all I am very happy with these markers and would recommend them for sure! I felt they were very easy to blend and even though I'm sure my technique could use improvement, I was satisfied with the results.

Free Magazine Downloads

I recently found a site: http://downmagaz.com/ for free magazine downloads! I love magazines :) so I'm very excited, and it's always great to save some $$! They have a wide variety of magazines and it is very easy to use.

You click ‘read more’ under the magazine you want, then click one of the download links in the blue area under the magazine cover. I’ve used the oron.com site and downloaded 3 magazines. On the next page that comes up you scroll to the bottom and click ‘regular download’ for a free download (It just takes a few min’s longer) and follow the prompts. It comes up as as PDF.

Happy summer reading!

Playing in Paradise Challenge 23 & Birthday Sundaes Challenge 17

Oh, it's been such a busy couple months! I've really been missing my creative fixes.... but moving and finding out a new baby is on the way was taking priority.  Also, our weather here in Calgary, AB has not been the best, so when we do have a nice day we'd better make the best of it!

It was really fun to do this challenge.  I used the sketch from Playing in Paradise and the color combo of orange, green and white from Birthday Sundaes to make this card.  I used a cute My Favorite Things little girl stamp for the front and inside of the card and a CTMH sentiment on the front. The patterned paper is K&Company, and I water colored the stamp with Tombows.  I really keep thinking about getting into Copics, but I do love the look of the water coloring (without the price)!

CPS Sketch Challenge #222 - Father's Day

Can't believe it's almost Father's Day! Where has half the year gone already?! CPS Sketch Challenge Blog has a new sketch out and it worked perfectly for a Father's Day card for my hubby!

I used Close To My Heart stamps, which I stamped with Distress Inks and colored with colored pencils and K & Company patterned paper.

 I placed two brads on either end of the 'happy' sign and popped it with foam dots.

 Inside view

Amie made her card as well and stamped, colored, sponged and added lots of brads and buttons.  She was very excited!

 I think maybe Tim Holtz will be featuring her technique!

Happy Father's Day to the Best Dad!!!

IC card sketches #118

I found another great sketch challenge blog, Inspirational Card Sketches, and decided on a pink flower card as a birthday card.  As I recently moved and a lot of stuff is still packed, I just pulled out my 'crop' stuff and went from there.  I used Cosmo-Cricket patterned paper and chipboard flower, and stamped with the March stamp of the month, from Pink by Design, I won a while ago.

Happy Birthday Rayme!

My baby sister, Rayme is turning 24 on Friday!  I hadn't seen her in forever it seemed and was so happy to have a visit from her this past weekend.  I needed a quick card, and since I just moved 2 weeks ago, I had limited supplies!

The challenge at the Heart 2 Heart blog was a sketch challenge, and Drunken Stampers blog's challenge was to create a birthday card.

 CTMH paper pack and Birthday stamp pack.  The bottom stamped image is a checklist of birthday things: -make a wish, - blow out candles, etc. Very cute! The paper is double sided, so I cut it in 4 pieces and reversed 2 to make the sketch (below)

 Of course you always have to have some glitter!

Inside sentiment



 Me, Rayme and other sis, Jann

Happy Birthday Rayme!

xo

Scrapbook Day!

Recently I spent part of a day at Scrapbooker's Paradise with a friend and my sister and got a whopping 2 pages done!  It was a fun day though, chatting and scrapbooking and having lunch with two great girls.  We all need a day like that once in a while!

 I used a K & Company paper pack

 This little CC Designs stamp was so cute.  I watercolored it with Tombow Markers and placed her on the log stamp.

 Close To My Heart alphabet stamps

 K & Company paper

I stamped a flower stamp on cardstock, then cut around the blossom and used foam tape to pop it up.