Monday, June 25, 2018

Vanilla Arts - Gray Matter



What do you do on a rainy Sunday when you have classes to design, deadlines and so many things on your to-do list? 
Kick it, and Color Cherries with Amy Shulke at Vanillaarts@teahable.com. Yup, I did exactly what she said....go by what I see and use the colors I want. So, did mine turn out like hers....nope, nada, not at all. But that's cool, right Amy?
Gray Matters

I will be honest and admit at first I hesitated to take this class.  I thought to myself, self, these are cherries and I've colored cherries before.  But was I wrong!  I've always liked combining my Copics and Colored Pencils but after a couple of classes with Amy, I am addicted.  There are things you can do by adding you colored pencils you would never accomplish with your Copic Markers.  Or you could but it would take you hours and so many colors. 

Ok, I admit this took me a couple of hours but I was playing around with the pencils.  I was getting the feel and the blending just right.  I was studying the picture and my work while watching Amy work.  

Once again, being the student vs. the teacher is so awesome!  And therapeutic for me.  I don't even care if they are perfect.  I see my flaws and yes red is hard to work with, even in pencils.  But I learned several things and that is what is important!



Thursday, June 21, 2018

Thinking of You


This week continues with Sassy Cheryl as Sponsor of the week at 

If you hop over to the group and join you will get a special discount to Sassy Cheryl's Illustrations!  



Ummmm Yeah, that face!  So here is my plan.  Here is Sweet Sally Sits In Wonder image, she is only colored in Copic.  She is still on my desk because I am going to add some fine detailing to show you what a difference colored pens and pencils can make to an image.  I am also going to show you what a wow factor cast shadows will add to your image.  

So this same post will return with an enhanced version of Sweet Sally in the next few days!



Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Embrace Your Individuality


This week continues with Sassy Cheryl as Sponsor of the week at 

If you hop over to the group and join you will get a special discount to Sassy Cheryl's Illustrations!


You are probably looking at this ladybug, and thinking to yourself, "what in the world was she thinking?"  "Was she coloring in the dark?"
Nope!  I was not coloring in the dark.  One of the greatest thing about coloring is....you can make it your own!  I tell my students to "own it", "get after it", "don't be afraid of colors" Well I think I accomplished all three of those things right here.

Now, if this bug came after me!  I would run like hell!  But on paper, it is totally adorable.  I love this card and, I truly believe in the sentiment.








Whimsey's DoveArt Studios Garden Chair


Hello again and welcome back!  I have another great Whimsy Stamp to share today, Garden Chair.  Isn't it just like the garden from your grandmothers.  It is a place I would like to sit in the shade and read a book.




You will see a lot more of Whimsy from me as I stay on another term.  I love them so much Denise my have to hog tie me to get me out!  Whimsy truly has something for everyone.

Thanks for stopping by today!


Monday, June 18, 2018

Sassy Cheryl - Sponsor of the week at PPCF



I love giving hugs.....so here is a big hug to all of you!  And a big hug to Sassy Cheryl for being our Sponsor of the week over at Passionate Paper Creations and Friends this week!  Make sure to jump over and join if you are not already a member.  She has a wonderful discount for members only.



I abosultely love Sassy Cheryl Illustrations!  There is something about all of them that pulls at my heart strings.   I just love this one Arms Wide Open.....Is she excited to see a friend or getting ready to give a great big hug!  So many uses for this image.





Thursday, June 14, 2018

Power Poppy Dahlia Clear Stamp


Hello Power Poppy Fans!  Today I bring you Dahlia XL Clear Stamp.  I do a lot of work with digital images yes.  But, I do love my stamps as I can still create a clean and simple layout by only using a portion of the stamp.


Once I have my layout, it is time to color.  I start with the background.  In this instance I used R00.  I used blender marker to create the circles.  I outlined them with the same marker to make them pop.
I moved to the flowers.  For this, I used R12, 32, 35 with a red and black multiliner, white polychrome pencil and a deep red polychrome pencil. When I was happy with the results I stamped the sentiment.

For the final touch,  I took a bottle of 100 Copic Refill and dropped 2 drops onto a palette.  I spritz my fan brush with blending solution until it was nice and juicy.  Dabbed it in the ink and gently tapped the brush to leave a little splatter.

It turned out to be a very nice clean and simple card!





Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Cheers from Vanilla Arts


Cheers from Vanilla Arts! I have chosen Vanilla Arts as the exclusive online classes of Passionate Paper Creations and Friends.  Amy has education in art and draws her own images.  She also does a monthly Power Poppy Live Class on Patron.  She is truly talented.  she has beginner, intermediate and advanced classes.


I have to admit that as a teacher myself, it was so awesome to become the student!  Talk about therapy!  And taking me outside my comfort zone...I am addicted because I found it to be so therapeutic for me.  Did I do it exactly like Amy did?  No.  Did I use the same colored pencils?  No.  Did I highlight the exact same way she did? No.  But, it is the fundamentals and the concepts of what she was teaching. I do not want to color exactly like another person.  I am me and I color like me. 

I can certainly see my errors in shading.  And that is good because I learned something.  Actually, I learned a lot.  So, basically, I found my therapy!  It coloring something I wouldn't normally color and in a way, I wouldn't normally do it.  It is awesome!

So Cheers!  


Monday, June 11, 2018

Whimsey - Large Mouth Bass



What guy wouldn't want to catch these Large Mouth Bass!  You can make it easy for him and just stamp and color it up.  You can get it at Whimsy Stamps!  

I am excited to be teaching this card in a class called "Oh Man!" at Inspiration Station on June 15th.  For more information please visit my live class schedule


Thank you so much for visiting today.






Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Connecticut Class are just 10 days away!!!


I am really looking forward to visiting and teaching these classes at
Inspirations Station
13 Furnace Ave, Stafford Springs, CT 06076
 (860) 684-2641 - call to reserve your space

Wow....this is happening in 10 days!!!!!!!!  Call quick and reserve you seat!  Spaces are limited.  Only a few spots left.