News and Good News!

Good morning! Well it was mid-morning when I started this post, but I'm still here to give you all sorts of news today.

I've been working on some cards and tree ornaments this week to sell at an upcoming holiday shopping day. It's geared towards my church's men's ministry. They meet for breakfast once a month and so we are setting up shop next to their meeting room. After the breakfast is over they really just need to just shop as they walk out to their cars! LOL
This is the first time I've had a booth all to myself and seriously it will be sparse since I signed up only two weeks ago. I'll let you know how it went and show some sneak peeks as they get done in bulk!

Jen instructing me and my friend,
Jill McDonald owner of Urban Paper,
on the feathering technique... I think.

You know my October was turned upside down as my father passed away, but my first business-like adventure happened as well. I went to Portland, OR for a friday class to better understand how to use COPIIC Markers! You can see the back of my head in a tweet photo from CopicMarker. Our instructor was Jen Balcer, a lovely lady, who had plenty of tips and tricks that had this coloring veteran spinning! I had a learning high so much that I begged to be in the Intermediate class. Lucky for me, Imagination International (the US company that does these classes) just decided earlier in the week to run a trial process letting students register directly from their Standard classes. I got to be with the talented and hyper, Colleen Schaan and extraordinary Marianne Walker for that class the next day. So you can now call me certified to know how to use Copic markers when I create. It's time for me to set up some classes out of my home! I'm working on a few digital stamps that I can use for practice pieces, then its hype time.

Incredibly fun news is next! STAMPENDOUS! news!
I saw a tweet from Taylor Usry a couple weeks ago about the Stampendous BlogStars Design Team Call. I prayed and debated about it in my head and decided to submit. I used it as an excuse for a few new stamps and wouldn't you know I came home with three new sets to ink up and my back problems kicked in. It took me almost a week to be able to sit at my computer for more than an hour, so I wasn't sure I would be able to create cards AND get them sent in time. Thankfully I got them done and emailed in time to be considered. Whew! So now here's a card that I submitted that uses my new found Copic Marker knowledge AND my new Jumbo Cling Hydrangea stamp.

Isn't that hydrangea make you swoon? I'm partial to that plant even though I can't grow them AT all so now I have one that will last a very long time! LOL

I stamped the flower cluster with Going Grey ink, a new learned technique, after stamping the butterfly in Memento Tuxedo Black and masking it off with a post-it note.

I used Copic markers to color it all in and then I pulled out my new absolute favorite black pen, Copic Multiliner 0.08mm size and squiggled a line along side a see-thru ruler that measured 1/8-inch away from the edge of the card.

The sentiment is from another Stampendous set called Birthday Assortment. It's got quite a few ways to say exactly the right thing on a birthday.

Details:
Stamps: Jumbo Cling Hydrangea, Birthday Assortment
Paper: Neenah Classic White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Going Grey, Copic markers and black multiliner
Accessories: Omnigrid ruler