Halloween in Digi-Image

I made this Halloween card a little while ago, for a challenge sponsored by Just Some Lines, a sweet shop for digi-images.  At the time, it was black-white and gray ... you may find it if you scroll here, further down.

Today, I played with some markers and added color to the card -- mostly because I'm a fancy-color kinda gal.  I like it better, do you?

Halloween -- 4 months away -- are you ready?


DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

Copic versus Touch Markers - A comparative video

Here's rudimentary math:
             Take one CardMonkey
         -   Subtract work responsibilities while out on            
             disability (foot, ugh)
         +  Add must-sit, keep foot up requirements
         +  Add boredom from inactivity
          -  Subtract work-related (commuting, meals, 
             laundry)  expenses

Thank you, Warminster PA ShopRite!

...and what does that equal?  Online shopping! I've even found a local grocery store where I can shop completely online and they have a list of every product in their store, you choose a pick-up time and your things will be picked from the shelves, bagged and kept waiting for you (in refrigerator or freezer, as appropriate) until you drive up to the door and it's loaded into your trunk!!  Man, who knew!?  Yes, there's a fee ($10), but what a time saver for those weekly shopping trips!!!

Groceries ... and craft items, oh and things for the grandbaby (YAY! Swing Set!!), that's all I buy these days.

This led to my newest video, posted below: a comparison between Copic Markers and the cheaper alternative, Touch Twin markers by ShinHan Art Materials. 

You're going to have to watch the video for the complete deets but (spoiler alert!), here's the bottom line: Touch Twin ... two monkey thumbs up and a new addition to my Top Bananas list! Recommendation on a buy from Jerry's Artarama, where Touch Twin markers are now just $1.89 each!

Credit:   Digi-Stamp from Just Some Lines
Copic Markers - Top Banana recommendation to buy from Stamps Alive! (Terri Olsen)
Touch Twin - Top Banana recommendation to buy from Jerry's Artarama



DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

Welcome Summer Blog Hop

It feels strange -- at least a little -- welcoming summer today, in this year where we've  had very weird weather. It's been "summer-like" since March, with temperatures in the mid-to-high 80's here in Pennsylvania.  Who stole my Spring?

At any rate, the Solstice says it's officially summer (and the weatherman says it's to be almost 100 degrees today!), so it's time for the Hello Summer Blog Hop, sponsored by my friend Ashley of The Glamorous Side of Scrapping.  I made a Happy Summer card:

Card Recipe:
The front of the card is shown in this collage, top left.  I purchased from Just Some Lines a fun digi-image of a sunbathing flamingo. I paper-pieced the umbrella using Doodlebug Designs' "Hello Spring" line of paper, and colored some of the image using Copic markers. The umbrella's tip is a colored toothpick. 

I cut the banner pennants from the same paper, and stitched them together with a running stitch on my Husqvarna Diamond sewing machine. The letters (cut at 1/2") are from Cricut's Simply Sweet cartridge. The summer sun is cut from Cricut's Pooh and Friends cartridge, and is stamped with a Peachy Keen face using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and a white gel pen. 

Inside, I ran a strip of the same paper, and placed a 4.5" flamingo, cut using Cricut's Life's A Beach cartridge.  Throughout the card, I used Martha Stewart Crafts' Ballpoint Tip Glue Pen (my favorite!) and ATG gun/tape as my wet and dry adhesives, respectively.
Finished size: 6x6" folded; white card base with interior image as described (no interior sentiment).

 Please hop along to see what other fun projects are here to celebrate Summer!  Your next stop is with SYLVIA at Bella Scrapbook Designs.  Start at the Hop's beginning with Ashley to see what blog candy is available.  In case you get lost along the way, here is the entire blog hop line-up:

Ashley - http://theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com/

Michelle - www.scrappinwithmybug.com/

Jamie - http://www.jamielindstromdesigns.com/

Jessi- http://mylifeinartscrafts.blogspot.com/

Angela - http://creativecraftin.blogspot.com/

Julie - http://jk-littlebitofbling.blogspot.com/

Lissa Marie - www.somanycrafts.com/

Diana - www.daisylovecreations.blogspot.com/

Paula - http://preciouspagesbypaula.blogspot.com/

Tammy- http://tampatha.wordpress.com/

Ellen - http://cardmonkeyspaperjungle.com/  <--ME!

Sylvia - http://bellascrapbookdesigns.blogspot.com/

HAPPY SUMMER SOLSTICE, and thanks for stopping by!




DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

Beautiful Bride Card from a Digi-Stamp

I'm loving this card I made in response to a challenge on Just Some Lines, a favorite digi-stamp store. This week's Saturday Challenge calls for a wedding card. Here's my take:

The image, called Nature's Child, is from Just Some Lines, printed on ivory cardstock. The sentiment is computer-generated in the Azalea Smooth font. I randomly colored the flowers and face using Prismacolor colored pencils, with Gamsol. 

I added some netting over the top of the card from the forehead, taped to the back. Prima strip pearls (cut to fit the crown and the curves and drops I wanted) finished the classy card. I mounted the panel on light blue and lavendar Bazzill papers, and adhered it to more ivory cardstock.




DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

Nothing but Black & White

A nifty digi-stamps store I frequent, Just Some Lines, has a difficult challenge this week ... simply black and white. I used the B&W version of my Zentangle (posted earlier this week), reduced in size, to make this quick and simple card:

Feeling like I wanted to use a "Just Some Lines" digi-image, I made a second card for the challenge. Isn't this Halloween image just adorable?! 

I colored the image with black pencils by Prisma, trimmed it out to pop the hanging items, used black Martha Stewart glitter around the wand, cut it with a Spellbinders nestability, and inked the stormy background. The sentiment was computer-generated and printed.  I popped the nesting shape with thick dimensional foam dots from Ranger.

DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,