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Whipper Snapper's April Showers

My friend Barb on SCS is having a Spring Whipper Snapper and Penny Black Swap.

Here's my set of WS cards using their "April Showers" stamp:

 The image was colored with Spectrum Noir markers and the flowers, raindrops and his eyes were painted with Crystal Effects to give it some shine and heighten the colors.

The inside was finished off with more DP from SEI's pack: "Couture".  I think that SEI is my favorite for designer paper.

T.G.I.F. because now I can finish the set of Penny Black cards that I started last weekend.  Thanks for stopping by and wishing all of you a great weekend!

March Mystery Image Revealed!

A group on Split Coast has a "Mystery Image Swap", where each of us takes a turn at hosting.  The hostess selects the image and stamps off sets to send to each participant.  We each make 4 cards with the image and send it back.  The hostess swaps out the cards, returning 3 cards made by the other members and the images from the next hostess to be completed for the next round.

It's great fun to see what image we get to work with and also to see the wide variety of cards made with the same starting point!  This round is hosted by my good friend, Carol, and she chose really fun image from A/I, "Selma and Gladys".

Aren't they a hoot?  Here's a closer look:

The image was colored with Spectrum Noir markers and the red swim suit was paper pieced.  All paper came from an SEI pack: "On the Coast".  Although it doesn't show up in the photos, shimmer was added to their earrings and the aqua stripes of the other swim suit by using a Clear Spica glitter pen.  It's one image but I cut each one out to play around with placing them on the card.

Two close ups of the gals.  They really crack me up, I kept giggling while making these cards, eventually hubby wandered in to see what I was up to!

Here's the inside of the card:

Thanks Carol!  Your choice was fun and it sure was great to play with colors and a theme of warmth and beaches during the winter-without-end!  (Yes, it's snowing again!)

March's Duel Includes an Irish Blessing!

It's the 15th of the month and time for another duel between the Divas and the Dazzlers!

April was the Hostess with the Mostest for the Dazzlers this round and let me tell you, she sent us the most adorable image (MFT's ala mode "Wishing You Luck") and pretty shamrock papers.  She also included a traditional Irish Blessing and all sorts of pretty embellishments.  It wasn't hard to come up with something great!

Just look at that beautiful shamrock DP!  It's even prettier in-person.  The image was not actually die cut with a Nestability, as the sizing just wouldn't work, so I traced the Nestie die and hand cut with scissors, edging it with dark green ink.

The adorable lass is colored with Spectrum Noir markers, and her shirt and shoes are colored with a silver marker from SU.  The shamrock and her headband have a thick coating of Crystal Effects, as you can see here:







Here's a closer look at the Irish Blessing which has been cut into three segments:

For the flower, I took the gorgeous piece of green & white polka dot ribbon that April sent us and basted long stitches along one edge, drew it tight and tied it off.  Then some glue dots on the back kept it in shape while I went digging for a white button.  Can you believe that I could not find ONE white button?  LOL  Then I remembered that I save the extras from prior rounds, and found this beautiful peal brad - perfect!

Here's a look at the inside which features yet more beautiful DP from April.

We were asked to share a RAK that we have done, or one that we have received.  This card itself is going to become a RAK as I'm sending it to a dear friend who is recently widowed.  I like sending her cards just as a nice little surprise in her mailbox.


April, a HUGE THANK YOU for such a delightful kit this month!

Now each of you, skip on over to the Divas and Dazzlers (links are on my sidebar) and admire their talented creations.  You will be glad that you did!