Fitting in a Mary Maxim class

I'm heading to Michigan to bring our last kidlet home from college today- forevah too. She'll be finishing up an internship and then graduating. Woo Hoo we're getting closer to having them all off the family payroll. Since I'll be heading right through Port Huron, I've begged Brenda to let me see my buds and teach a class. Yeah, we'll be doing things a little differently since we'll just be coloring and no cardmaking but I get to see everyone again and that makes me happy. Our first image is Florence the Flowerpot girl from Stamping Bella. I colored that up a few weeks ago. Our second image is from Stampavie, Marguerite taking Ruben for a walk. I saw these new Sarah K images on the Stampavie blog at CHA time. Loved them. I owned a greyhound for years so this image reminded me of my daughter and Lexi.



Design paper is Hazel from the Stella and Rose collection from My Minds Eye. Cardstock is Bazzil and my image was colored on Bella's Bestest and stamped with Memento Tuxedo black ink. I've colored with copics and have added shading with prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol. A few prisma flowers adorned with buttons, a rhinestone swirl and glitter are my adornments.

Maybe I'll see you at class tonight!

Cath

Peace of the Season

Today I have another display card to show you that will be headed to Mary Maxim. I loved this Impression Obsession stamp and couldn't wait to start coloring it up.


I started with a flecked ivory prisma cardstock and stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Then I cut the image out using the Nesties Labels 10 die. You'll notice that it cut the stockings off so I stamped another set, trimmed them up and then colored them with Copics. Bren and I wanted to add the appearance of wool on the heels and toes so I applied Ultra fine Earth Flower Soft. Kaiser pearls were added to the scallops. They reminded me of brass tacking. Design paper is Graphic 45...yummy...but the cardstock is again prism.

Thanks for stopping by.

Cath

I love a vintage crock

I have another sample card to share with you. While looking through the stamp catalogs this fall with Brenda at Mary Maxim, I fell in love with quite a few of the Impression Obsession Christmas stamps. They are now in stock and I have been asked to play and give you some ideas. This card actually follows one previewed in the catalog but we loved it.

The image comes in a clear stamp set and includes the sentiment as well as another tree I'll attempt later. Can't tell you how many crocks I've picked up through the years...looks like the obsession hasn't stopped.

I've stamped on Neenah Classic Crest cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with copics. Shading was added with prismapencils blended with gamsol. Design papers are Graphic 45 while the colored cardstock is prism. A simple satin ribbon bow and Martha Stewart Deco fan border punch are the only adornments. The sentiment panel was punched with Spellbinders Label 1 dies. Now you might be thinking that there is no way that the red frame was punched with the die - you're right. I had to hand trim the next larger die down.

Stop on in to Mary Maxim Port Huron to see this on display or to pick up a set to give it a try yourself.

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by.

Cath

I even Love the box!

I promised a peek at the December Mary Maxim Copic class card and if you hadn't guessed it's another Mo Manning image released in rubber through Stamping Bella titled "I even love the box". And OMG I think he's just adorable. I actually put this image up for vote with a few of my regulars and it was a hands down winner.



Since this is for our Copic class you've probably guessed that I colored him with Copic markers but I also added lots of prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol to really make the shaded areas pop. And because this is for the Mary Maxim class, I stamped him with Memento Tuxedo black ink on Neenah Classic Crest cardstock. But I'm going to start off by saying that I cased a card by Linda Heavens to give me direction with the colors. Sorry, I was a little short on time this weekend and I had to get this done in a day to bring to my Monday class. My layout and paper are different though. I used Graphic 45 Christmas design paper with prism cardstock.

A simple fluffy bow helps to give the impression of a package along with a small tag accented with holly and berries just like the tag on the stamp. The holly was punched with a small EK Success punch and the sentiment tag was computer generated and then punched with the Stampin' Up Word punch.

Here's a closeup shot...


I used the Quickie Glue pen to apply the glitter on the Santa hat and pencils to shade around the image and as the ground.

Don't forget that this week's Bellarific Friday challenge is 1,2,3. That's 1 image, 2 design papers and 3 embellishments. Send a copy of your creation to Emily by Thursday evening for a chance to win some Bella bucks! And, if you will be in the Toronto area on Saturday - stop in to the Stamping Bella store to say hi and play with Lindabella, Danabella, Paulinabella, Paulabella, Ebrubella and myself! Yeah - it's my first trip to Bellaland and I am super psyched.

Thanks for stopping by and see ya back here later this week.

Cathy


Mary Maxim Copic Classes are scheduled for Monday November 29th and Monday December 6th from 5:45 pm - 8:00 pm. Please give the store a call to reserve your spot (810) 987-2000.

Color list is as follows: E000, E00, E11, R20, R22, R27, E09, C00, C1, E42, E44, YG91, YG95, YG97, E31, E35, E37, G20, G40, G82 and 0 colorless blender. Primsacolor pencil colors are: PC1072 French Grey 50%, PC1076 French Grey 90%, PC1091 Green Ochre, PC1090 Kelp Green, PC948 Burnt Ochre, PC1088 Muted Turquoise

Phew - now there are only a few new colors...I tried to keep the bulk of the colors from our previous classes. Can't wait to see you.

Diva Take 2

Woo Hoo - Bella's are coming to Mary Maxim! Stamping Bella's that is. The wonderful rubbah stamps that have pretty much captured all my stamping moments for the past year. There are so many to choose from and there seems to be a stamp for every occassion - who wouldn't be enthralled? So to celebrate, we'll be coloring Diva, created by Mo Manning for Stamping Bella in our November Copic class.



This might look familiar to you. I colored this once before but had to modify it a little for class. I've started with Neenah Classic Crest Solar White cardstock, stamped it with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and shaded with prismacolor pencils. We'll be adding pencil shading to our creations since it adds wonderful depth to the images - especially Mo's that are full of natural shading areas. I also shaded the image panel with Encore Utlimate Metallic ink in green with a blending sponge.

A Diva has to sparkle so I added Bella glitter with a Quickie Glue pen all over the boa and tiara and added some K&Company rhinestones in the far left corner. It needed something more so I also added some velvet ric rac ribbon. I'm not in love with it but it'll do.

The card base is by Studio G. They come in a pack of 8 5x5 cards and envelopes for $0.99. The corners are already rounded and I believe they are a bargain. A real time saver if you have multiple cards to make. I added prisma cardstock and Melissa Francis design paper. The image panel was cut with a large Circle Nestie and backed with a large Big Scallop Nestie. Some dimensionals help to raise the panel.

Voila! Another class card done and waiting for you to give the store a call to reserve your spot. They're free so why not give it a try if you live in the Port Huron, MI area? I'll update my sidebar with class dates.

Copics used: E000, E00, E11, R20, R22, E04, E33, E35, E37, YR23, Y21, C1, C2, C5, BG09, BG02, BG000, BG10, BG13, V12, R39

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a wonderful week!

Cath

Loralie - Halloween

Yeah, I've finally got a finished card for the October Mary Maxim Copic classes to show you. We choose a Loralie stamp that seemed appropriate... masquerade dancer!



Oh my, I had never seen these stamps before the Novi stamp show in August. But I was very intrigued by the oversized characters. Then Mary Maxim got them in. Rainbow Beauty looked great to decorate Halloween style. Since it's a Copic class, I stamped this image on Neenah Classic Crest cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Shading was added around her and under her with prismacolor pencils. Then, I lifted the skirt with an extacto knife and added some tulle for a nice fluffy lift. Glitter sprinkled with a Quickie Glue pen on the mask gave it a lift as well.

The design paper is from the new Graphic 45 Halloween collection. Loved it! I used the less designed back side so that it would match the harlequin top. Now that wasn't part of the stamp - I had to hand draw that! But I loved the way it looked with the dress. Actually, it's what attracted me to the stamp and then I found it wasn't part of it. Hmph! Now I was challenged to make it work.

A simple sheer ribbon completes the ensemble. If you're in the Port Huron, MI area, give the store a call so you can reserve a spot in one of our classes. I have the contact information listed on my right side bar. They're free and we have a great time!

Have a great evening! I'll try to be back tomorrow with another creation to share.

Thanks for stopping in.

Cath

Bella and Bronte

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend...I went to the Heirloom Stamp show in Novi, Michigan and met up with quite a few of my copic buddies...Kimmy, Mary Jo, Rosa, Heather, and Brenda. Glad to see the Mary Maxim crew. I spent the day with Paula though cruising the booths looking for the gotta have stamp and I was actually very selective. I came home with just a few new stamps, a couple packs of 6x6 paper, a new Nestie die set and a pandora knockoff bracelet.

I spent the evening coloring with Paula and have something to share a little later this week but first I thought I'd show you the Mo Manning image we will be coloring in the September Mary Maxim Classes. Bella and Bronte are a photopolymer clear stamp from Stampavie.



You know the drill, I started with Neenah Classic Crest Solar White cardstock and stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I then colored this with my Copics but did lots of shading with prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol. Big surprise right? The design paper is by Graffic 45 (love it - the square DP is the reverse of the floral print - score!) and the colored cardstock is Prism.

Copic colors are Y000, Y11, Y13, E000, E00, E11, R20, E33, E37, B95, B97, Y21, Y17, E44 R27, R39, YG95, YG97, R00, R02, C1, C2, C5, 0 Colorless blender,E71

Optional shading with Prismacolor pencils -PC1102 Blue Lake, PC1072 French Grey 50%, PC1076 French Grey 90%

This was so much fun to color and I'm pleased with the bright primary colors. A little different from anything we've colored yet. Hope to see you at one of the classes. Don't forget to call to reserve your seat.

Have a great week.

Cath

Dream Big!

July 31st already...say it isn't so. Can't believe how fast the month flew by. I know that I didn't get to post all that much nor did I get to create all that much. Today was the first weekend we were home in almost 4 weeks. I started early unpacking bags, sorting through junk mail, putting clean clothes piles away and yup - spent some time organizing the craft room again. That meant time spent finishing some projects I had started as well.

First up is Dream Big!



Actually that's what I called it but it's really a Mo Manning design sold through Stampavie as a Photopolymer clear stamp. This is the August Mary Maxim card that we will be making with our Copic markers. I have to appologize to those copic fans that had their classes cancelled in July. It was unavoidable but I still hated to cancel. I'll try to reschedule a date in August so that we can still do the Flower Power Camper Van.

I love the detail in Mo's images. Accenting them with Copics was real fun with this one. I started with Neenah Classic Crest Solar White cardstock stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Then colored with Copics. I accented the star and wand with a glitter pen and the wings with the Quickie Glue pen and some Hero Arts glitter. All can be found in Mary Maxim's papercrafting department. I'm trying to broaden our scope so I used the prismacolor pencil PC1021Jade Green to add shading all around. It's hard to see but you'll get a better view if you click the photo.

The sentiment is computer generated using font LD Marooned from Scrapnfonts. I then made it into a banner and curled it a bit before affixing to the card. The flowers were colored with copics as well and the colorless blender. A Kaiser pearl was added to the center. The main panel was trimed with an EK Success border punch.

The design paper is from The Paper Company called Spring Pinwheel Stripe. I loved the frost shading and glittery accents. You don't get to see much of it but it pulled the soft and darker purples together along with the green.

If you are in the Port Huron, Mi area we'll be doing this card at Mary Maxim on Saturday, August 14th from 10:30am - 12:30pm or on Monday, August 9th from 5:45 - 8:00pm. Classes are free, but you'll need to bring your own copics and a general tool kit (glue dots, tape or adhesive, scissors, and glitter). Hope you can stop by to play with us.

Cathy

Copic colors:

Y13, E000, E00, E11, R20, E04, BV00, BV01, BV04, YG11, YG13, BG10 and 0 Colorless Blender

July's Camper Bus

Hello everyone! I can't believe that another month has flown past. We're moving into summer territory and with that comes some vacation time and adventures. To help put us in that mood, I inked up Flower Power Camper Van by Helz Puppleditch, a Stampavie photpolymer clear stamp. This is the image (and card) we are going to do for my July Copic Class at Mary Maxim. I fell in love with the novelty of a VW camper and this one with it's colorful flowers just called my name. And then I happened upon some delicious flower design paper by Little Yellow Bicycle and I knew where I was headed.

As you have probably guessed, I have stamped the image on Neenah Classic Crest Solar White cardstock with Memento Tuxedo black ink. Colored cardstock is Prism. Have you guessed that I used Copics to color with? Well I did, but I also used a couple Prismacolor pencils with gamsol to add some shading.

I've been trying to mix up the colors and we have yet to hit the purples in class so I decided to pull that color as my main component. I've used it as the base color of the bus, and brought it out as highlights in the background cardstock and my strip across the middle. Believe it or not, that's a piece of bias tape that I found in my ribbon drawer from my Grandmother's stash of craft supplies. So glad I scarfed so much of that up - I love when I can incorporate her supplies into a card. Brings me fond memories of Grammy!

My second highlight color is yellow. I knew that it would compliment the purple nicely and also bring some sunshine into this joyride so I added a strip of cardstock across the middle of the card cut with the Martha Stewart Daisy Border punch to anchor the flower theme.

The sentiment is computer generated and I hoped for one that could be used to wish someone a Bon Voyage or Happy Trails. The pink flower is a button from the sewing department at Mary Maxim. They have a huge novelty button bin that I never noticed because I rarely make my way out of the scrap and papercraft section. There were many colors to choose from but I loved the way this pulled out the vibrant pink I used in the flowers around the camper.

I little glitter was added to the ribbon on the top package using a clear glaze pen to adhere it to. I then added some clear glaze to the headights so they could shine too!

I'll be taking a trip in July and hope to rent a Motorhome to tour the UP and the Wisconson countryside with my sister's famiy. What do you think Madison and McKenz should I rent one of these colorful campers for us?

Hope you all have a wonderfu Memorial Day! While you hopefully have time to play, I hope you also have a spare moment to share some thanks to the honorable soldiers that serve to protect our freedoms.

Hope to see you again soon.

Cath

King of the Jungle

June is quickly approaching and I set out to finish my card for the June Copic classes at Mary Maxim. I fell in love with this Whipper Snapper wood mounted rubber stamp called King of the Jungle. Since many Dad's feel they are King of their Jungle, I thought this would be very appropriate.

This guy was stamped on Neenah Classic Crest Solar White paper with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. He was then colored with copics. I really had fun with the blending of the golds and the browns in the mane. Believe it or not, I used 5 colors in the mane. I found this a little tricky but I know the girls can handle it. This one will really build on the skills we have learned to date. I even added shading in the golds with a little brown to futher deepen the shadow that the mane casts on his paws. I really had fun with this and hope that everyone else does as well.

The design paper is by Graphic 45 Playtime Past Collection, called Jack and Jill. The rich colors accented the prism cardstock and helped make this image pop. The sentiment was computer generated and aptly named by Brenda Miller. I hoped that this was a little opened ended so that it could be used not only for a Father's Day card but also as encouragement for a student or friend.

Hope you're having a good weekend. It's just plain freezing here. We've had rain and hail today. I made the husband turn the heat on and he finally relented. It was 56 inside. He has a rule about no heat after April 1st but I have a rule too, I'd like for my nail beds to not be blue! See for all his ruling...I still won. Now whose King of this castle?

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by.

Have you got your cards out to Mary Clark for the soldiers and a chance to win some awesome blog candy? What are you waiting for? Mine are ready to head out on Monday.

Cath

May Flowers

Thought I'd share the card I'm teaching for May Copic classes at Mary Maxim. I found another Stampavie Photopolymer Clear Stamp. This one is by Tina Wenke titled Mouse with Sunflower. I LOOOVE sunflowers so this was a no brainer. I've been trying to use the colors from previous classes and build by adding a few with each new image. My intent is to show what blends with what and the versatility of colors when used in many different venues. Like E31. My magic color. It is great for blending browns or making blond hair not so yellow or to smooth out the colors in the center of this flower.

While I have been demonstrating dark to light coloring, in this image I colored from light to dark, blending the darker into the lighter color by adding another layer of light. The result is a little more blended.

All cardstock is by Prism. The design paper is another by TCP Studio. This one is full of rich golden yellows and is titled Boho Blooms Lemon Love. The finishing touch was a couple brads in the upper corner.

If you are in town, I hope you can stop by for a couple hours of fun.

Thanks for stopping by.

Cathy

Mumu sways your way..

Helle Everyone! Hope you all had a great week. Can't believe how quickly they fly by. For today's post, I have another Mo Manning digital image. Mary Maxim will be stocking this from Stampavie in a photopolymer clear stamp.



Meet Mumu. Isn't she darling? She was fun to color as well. This is going to be the card for my April Copic's classes at Mary Maxim. I finished her up yesterday and made a quick stop to find some coordinating papers. Loved what I was able to find. The DP is from TCP Studio's Mediterranean Summer collection titled Whitewash. It's double sided and has vibrant oranges and soft blues. I thought it brought out the colors in my image beautifully. What do you think? Of course, I'd have preferred to have the paper first to coordinate with my Copics but I did this one in reverse and it worked out just fine.

My theme for this class is "Blender gets a workout". I'd like to demonstrate new techniques as we explore the versatility of copics. This class will be all about using the blender pen. I layed lots of color down and then softened it to white in places to give you a weathered fabric feel. I also used the blender to soften the shading of the gound beneath Mumu's feet. And I even shaded the silk flower to match my copic colors and again added the blender pen so that the blue "ran" at the center.

The embellishments came together by accident as I was trying out different layouts. I had pulled some precut nesties shapes (rejects from previous layouts) and the Fluer De Lis pendant jumped out at me. I added a gemstone center to the flower and raised this on dimensionals. The center blue strip was cut with a Friskars punch.

Mary Maxim will be carrying Mo's new photopolymer stamps from the Stampavie line. They should be in stock soon and I bet they'll be as popular as they are in digital form.

I can't wait to get this off to Brenda so that she can post the copic color list. This should be a real fun class.

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by.

Cath

Copics anyone?

Hello everyone! I know, I know, it's been forever since you saw me here. A couple of things have gotten in the way. First, I have not been able to figure out how to use my new photo software with my new computer. Therefore, I have not been able to upload pictures. I finally broke down today and gave it a whirl on my old computer. It's on it's last legs but it's trying. The next item that got in the way is that I am finally getting into teaching beginner Copic classes at Mary Maxim's in Fort Gratiot, MI. It meant spending some time picking the picture, Copic colors and cutting out enough for 10 students to have a practice image and a final card.

So my first card is a sample of the card we did in class today...



The image is a clear photopolymer stamp by Gillian Roberts titled Being Together from the Stampavie line. Mary Maxim's will be stocking these after finding them at the recent CHA show. They've been a little slow getting their stock in however, so I used the sample they gave out at the show. I used a friendship sentiment inside but left the front of the card focused on the Copic colored image.

I know this was a pretty detailed first card to make but it used some techniques we learned in class; layering colors and sometimes blending colors. Some of us even used the colorless blender to add texture or erase mistakes.

We had 10 women that attended this class and I had a ball. I hope I wasn't too overwhelming with my not so quiet voice and the limited time we had to do a sample and then a final try at our card image. I think that everyone did a great job substituting with colors they owned or sharing with their neighbors. 17 colors were combined to make this image come to life and although I would have liked to make it just a little fewer to get everyone started, I knew that to get the true feel of the markers it takes multiple colors to do it. One good thing is that I had lots of brown to work with so we doubled up alot and the E31 sure got used alot.

I can't wait to do my next class - Monday, March 29th. I'm hoping to color a Mo Manning image that is also being sold by Stampavie in clear photopolymer. Mo used to sell her images digitally only but has recently made a select few available in "rubber". I can't wait for Mary Maxim's to get these in - everyone knows how much I love Mo's images. They just scream to be colored.

I'd like to give a little shout out to Maria from Sarnia, Canada - whom I finally got to meet in my class today. Although, I'm not sure why she was in a beginner class, she's great! She brought some of her creations with her and they were beautiful. Check out her blog here. So glad to meet you Maria - I look forward to creating with you in the future.


Next up is a Birthday Bella I made for my nephew Addison. I know that I've colored this up before but I changed the colors a little. The main reason was I made this in NY and forgot my teal colors in MI but I actually like the way the red sections link the red background paper. It also pulls the red from the DP which is by Cosmo Cricket. I love, love, love this paper.



Coloring was done with Prisma pencils and gamsol. The image is The Birthday boy by Stamping Bella. Pretty easy once you get the coloring done...of course that took me about an hour and I'm sure my 5 year old nephew didn't much notice the time I put into it but I had so much fun bringing this little guy to life!


Lastly...I made this bride up as an Engagement congratulations for a friend's daughter. The stamp is by Whipper Snapper Designs titled Modern Bride.



I saw this in Mary Maxim's and have had it for months. I just have not made the time to put her together. I was pleasantly pleased that she took a little over 10 minutes to color. Once you get the color technique for skin, highlighting and such the color selection choices you have to make become much easier. I find that E11, E00, and E000 work for me. These three are now my "go to" and became the largest part of the stamp. Next use two complimentary reds for the flowers, greens for the stems, and yellow for the hair. I actually used the same face, hair, and reds from the class I did today so that students could see the versatility of their stash. The cool blue highlight gave the impression of shadow but let you know the dress is white.

Glitter highlights in the hair and along the back of the dress helped give dimension and a small pearl became the only jewelry needed for this bride! Here's a close up for you...



The design paper here is by Me & My Big Ideas and is simply titled, Specialty Cardstock. It's filled with bold colors and some glitter highlights. This particular page did not have glitter but I loved the black, white, soft teal combo.

That's it for today folks. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Cath