Finding a calling...

Have you ever felt that you haven't quite found your niche? As the art of papercrafting has become a part of my life, I have often felt like I have tried many different styles. There's the oooohhh I have to have that and I wish I could do that. But once I was introduced to the internet (by Lizzie) and the world of blogging, a whole new set of options became available to me. Over the past year, the biggest influences have been the layout design of Amy Sheffer, Copic coloring by Linda Heavens and pencil coloring by Paula Williamson. I finally feel like I have found me! I now put all three of them into my cards and I am sooo happy with the results. It's like the feeling of coming home after a vacation and pulling down the sheets to spend a night in your own bed. Ahhh! Yeah, it's like that!

I spent lots of time this weekend in my haven! Which means that I have lots to show you this week. But with all the crafting, I struggled with the photos. Now I just wish that I had a superstar to help me take better pictures...Anne hope you can make time for me next weekend so I can finally learn how to use LightRoom.

On to the card, A Birthday Hi!




The stamp set is from Not So Short Notes, a 1997 Stampin Up! collection. I bought it on EBay ages ago when I first started to stamp. I didn't know a thing about Copics or pencils and gamsol at the time though. I was rummaging through my old stuff to see if I still wanted anything and came across these. Now that I have my passion to color, I set about bringing this to life.

I started with Neenah Classic Crest cardstock and inked with Memento Tuxedo Black (recently rejuevenated with the re-inkers that Mary Maxim now stocks - yeah!) I colored with my copics and shaded with prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol. I added clouds using Paula's technique here and grass which can be found on Splitcoast stampers. The sentiment is computer generated and cut out on one of the Nestabilities Tags 5. The flowers are also die cuts from Nestabilites called Flower Creations. I used Bazzil cardstock and layered them with a Zot. The brad is not really a brad but an upholstery tack that I had the DH clip the post off. I then attach them with Zots. You might ask why not just use a brad? Well, I get these real cheap with my employee discount at good 'ol LumberJack. There's also the bonus of having the DH feel needed too!

The design paper is from a Making Memories 6x6 pack called Poolside and Greenhouse. It's a collection of blues and greens. Yum. I also added some Stampin Up! Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the roses at the bottom. Click the picture to get a better looksy. The ribbon is single sinded satin so it took some manipulating to get it to lay right but Voila - it's done.

So what do you think?

Happy Father's Day everyone! Hope that means that you have places to go and people to see. The DH and I will be spending the day by ourselves since all the kidlets are scattered North and South.

Enjoy your day!

Cath