Distinctive Touches

Happy Friday!

It's Friday!!!  All day...

I'm so happy!

It has been a super busy week this week - I'm working on some final deadlines.  It always seems like the end of the month is jam-packed with things to do... but that's okay.  You all know that I work better when I'm busy.

I just wanted to take a quick break from "business" to post a card!  Are you surprised???  It seems like forever since I made (or at least posted) a card!  (Well, a recent card anyway!)

This week I was working on some samples for a Copic class that I'm going to be doing this fall.  Here is just one of the many...

I LOVE the simple layout... the pink and the black really pop!  And check out her pants...  I tend to get into the habit of coloring jeans in the typical blues... but this time I wanted to try out some new BG markers I got... and I LOVE the combination of the pink and the greenish... and the colors are all at the higher end of the numbering system so they are a bit more muted... Love the look!  :)

The Deets
Card stock: SU Black, Pink Passion, Basic Grey
Stamps:  Sweet and Sassy (Sugar Nellie), Sentiment from Verve
Colored with Copic markers
Embossed with Cuttlebug folder.

Thanks for stopping by today! 
I've got some news to share with you all very soon...so stop back in...  I'm counting down the days!

Happy Friday -
colleen

Favorite Card Friday - Buzzing with Excitement!

I am SOOOOO glad it is Friday!  I feel like I've been stuck in slow-motion this week while the rest of the world is set on fast-forward! 

I'm busy working on some great new videos for my fall classes at My Creative Classroom along with helping the new instructors get set up and ready to rock and roll.  Some of the instructors have been announce and some are still "under wraps"  and I have to say... when you all hear who has joined us for the fall and spring terms you will jump-for-joy!  I know I am!!!  (I know... it's not nice to tease... but I just can't resist! LOL)  You only have to wait a few more weeks to find out who's teaching with us and what classes are being offered!

I'm also coloring up a storm! (Here's a peek at one of the images I've been working on...I'll show you the final projects soon.)  I've been whipping up some samples to send off to The Paper Garden where I will be teaching a Copics 101 class in October.  I'm buzzing with excitement... I just can't stand it!  Tara and I are hammering out the final details... but I can tell you that I will be at The Paper Garden in Amarillo, TX on October 17th  for a demo in the morning and a class in the afternoon.  I'll have cost and sign up details to you ASAP.  If you are in the area, I'd LOVE to see you there! 

And, since I can't show you any NEW stuff just yet, I'll share one of my FRIDAY FAVORITES... 

Details:
Stamps - Stamps Happen: Three Bees, Karen Foster Snap Stamps
Ink - Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Cardstock - (SU Marigold, Bayou Blue, Chocolate Chip) (GP White)
Other- (Copic markers, wide grossgrain ribbon, large brads colored with Copic markers)

Thanks for stopping in today, have a wonderful and safe weekend!

Black or White?

Some days I just can't make a decision... today is one of those days!

Recently, one of our friend's dog passed away.  It was completely unexpected and I can't imagine the sorrow and grief the family is going through. 

I decided to make a card for them letting them know that we care and that we are thinking about them.  I pulled out my new Comfort and Peace set from Gina K and got to work.  I wanted to make something understated yet pretty... and this set was the perfect choice.  I stamped some of the flowers onto a light pink layer and matted that with a darker pink as the focal point.  I also knew that I wanted to use the beautiful flowered paper from Basic Grey's Phoebe collection. 

That's where my ability to make a decision came to an end.  I couldn't decide whether I wanted to use black or white as my card base and neutral... so I made a card using each.  Same layout... same materials... only one with black and one with white. 

I have to say... I STILL can't decide which one I like better.  I think I'm leaning towards the black... because it has a bit more contrast and I think that makes the pink pop a bit more.  Yet I really like the soft, quiet quality of the white card too.  (Sigh)

I even went so far as to decorate the inside of each... thinking that might make my decision easier.  It didn't.

What do YOU think? 

Black... or White?

A Sneaky-Peaky!!!

Remember those wood blocks I was searching for in the last post? 

Well, after tearing my studio apart and cleaning out the bins in the closet, I finally found them... and put them to good use!

Here is a Sneak Peak of another Self Portrait project from my new Express Yourself class that I will be running this fall.  I CAN'T wait!!!  I'm sooooo excited about it (the class AND the project).

Now that I'm done with the portrait projects, I can concentrate on coloring up some samples for a Copic Class that I'm going to be teaching in October in Amarillo!  (I'll post specifics as soon as I have them.)

I also am a bit behind in my card making... I have a few birthdays coming up and I unfortunately need a pet sympathy card for a friend. 

Thanks for stopping in... I'll have more later!

Hugs.

Why I Haven't Blogged...

There are so many reasons I can't seem to keep up with my blog lately...

but this is the REAL reason.

It started out as me innocently searching for a box of wooden blocks that I wanted to use for a project (that I would have blogged about)

... and ended up like this!

Even the animals had enough sense to run and hide.  I should have too.

I'll be back with some actual projects soon...  well, once I dig myself out of the debris.

Hugs!
colleen

I'm a Doodl'in Fool!

Okay...  Call me crazy!  Come on... do it, I deserve it! 

I just can't seem to stop myself! 

I just keep adding and adding and adding stuff to my "plate" ...it's a disease!

• Not only am I pounding out 6 brand spanking new classes for the fall
• I'm re-organizing and re-posting 9 others
• I'm working a bit "behind the scenes" to help Jeri and the new instructors
• I'm teaching my water fitness class
• I'm TRYING to keep up with blogging (yeah, I'm not real successful with this one...)
• I'm organizing my stamps to sell (I own over 600 sets and haven't even seen some in YEARS!)
• I'm working on a technique article that I REALLY want to get published
• I need to clean up and remove some class video files from my computer - SPACE... I need SPACE!
• I have 12 boxes of "books and resources" from when I taught English... they've moved with us and never been opened - it's probably time to start tossing!
• I have some home maintenance that has been left undone for WAY too long!

• And Now... I've signed up for an 8 week class on DOODLING!

That's right... DOODLING! 

I know what you are saying... "But Colleen, You already know how to doodle... you doodle all the time!"  And of course, you'd be right.  But it's been ages since I've doodled and this class just caught my eye. 

I have to say... I'm really enjoying it!  

Here is my first assignment...  Stephanie wrote out the words and we just had to put pen to paper and doodle away!  It was SO much fun to just let go and forget about coloring for realism and trying to be perfect.  I will say that I had to force myself to STOP before I got too out of control! LOL

Stephanie will be re-running this class again in August.  You can find more details on her blog Homegrown Hospitality. 

Well...  I've doodlee-doodlee-dooed enough for one day!  I've got work to do.

Thanks for stopping in - See you later!

Happy July!

I LOVE July...  hot summer days, warm summer nights, BBQ's and cookouts, fireworks and friends.  Ahhhh, life couldn't get any better. 

I'm happy to say that we finally got our flower beds all weeded and looking spiffy again.  All that hot weather after all that rain really did a number on them...  WEEDS EVERYWHERE!  But... with the help of my wonderful hubby, we got all 4 areas done in just three days.  Weeded, new plants planted, and about 40 bags of red mulch spread.  Phew... all that's left is a few hundred pounds of stones and we are set! 

I haven't been stamping as much as I would like, but I do have a cute card to share today.  This is the card that I made for my dad for Father's Day.  I know... I know... it says thank you... but inside it says "for always being there and for being a great dad"  so really, it's a Father's Day card.  LOL 

One of my fondest memories of childhood is waking up EARLY...to go fishing with my dad.  It was always the highlight of my week.  I LOVED every moment that I spent with him...and wish I would still be able to spend time fishing with him now. 

So anyway... this Whipper Snapper stamp is one of my favorites... it is so fun to color!!!  I started with my Copics and then added some extra punch with highlights and shadows with my Koh-I-Noor pencils. 

I wanted to keep the primary color scheme going, so I used some polka-dot paper and layered that with Green Galore, Real Red, and YoYo Yellow.  Bright, sunny and fun!  I used my large label Nestability and cut the image out and then mounted it on the side of the card and trimmed the extra... it gives it sort of a different look.

Hope you like it! 
Happy July -
colleen