Goodbye to September, and as always lots of fun links

Hello and happy Tuesday everyone!  I hope that you are enjoying the last few days of September....where did the month go?  We are in the middle of a heat wave, go figure.  Our summer was cool and now we need AC, it is just typical CA weather, you never know what is around the corner : )

Onto stamping stuff : )  Susana's store is open for business and loaded with all sorts of cool new items, make sure you take a moment or two to stop by her store.  And speaking of Susana....SCACD is having a new release set for this week!  Of course we will be having a blog hop, so make sure you stop by here on Thursday, but before then make sure to leave a comment over at the "Follow your Heart" blog to win some really great blog candy.  The new release is called "The girls are back in town," and you are going to love these cute new images!

Oh, and I have some very special blog candy for you on Thursday as well.  Two people will win a portable Copic Storage bag....here is a picture of what two lucky people will win (you will need to leave a comment on my Thursday post which of course will be posted on Thursday the 30th):

From 2010-09-26

From 2010-09-26

As you can see the bag holds quite a few copics for when you are going to a crop or out for a crafting night.  You can also use the bag for other pens/pencils as well.  Remember though....you will need to come back on Thursday to enter for the blog candy : )

This week I have three cards to share with you:

From 2010-09-21

The image above was colored with Copic markers and cut out, then I cut out a background with my nesties, ran the shapes through the cuttlebug with an embossing folder and put the whole thing together.  I love to use that Elisabeth Bell image (called "New Friends"), especially as it can be used so many different ways, like I did on this card (we had a Christmas Challenge on the DT blog), spring, summer, just about any season you can imagine.

From 2010-09-26

From 2010-09-26

The two images above were created using the Viva Decor Modeling Cream with stencils (here and here) from Susana's Custom Art and Card Design.  I wanted to make two cards that were quick, but also had some "wow" factor to them as well, the Viva Decor really adds the wow to the cards : )

Ok, now how about some great links today?  I have a whole mix for you today : )

Copics:  Another great link to general information about Copics.  I post these links because everyone has their own certain likes/dislikes and it is always good to see a variety of opinions on things : )

UPDATE:  This link appears to be down as of 9/29, I am going to keep checking to see if the website comes back online.  Thanks to Gail for the heads up : ) Free Online Magazine:  You are going to LOVE this magazine, found it last week and already can't wait for the new edition : )

Simplicity:  Love this site!  The link takes you to all the posts that discuss design elements, make sure to go to the full blog and see all sorts of great posts.

Papercrafts by Rach:  Wonderful Copic tutorial on the link, one can never get enough of examples on how to use Copic markers : ) And here is another Copic video worth your time.

Copic Color Combinations:  Go down a little bit in the post and you will see a very nice copic color combination chart to print out and use.  (I think this is fairly recent as I visit this site all the time.)

Colored Pencil Links: Wonderful collection of all things colored pencils (which, as you know, are also one of my favorite ways to color images).

Foam Board Copic Storage:  WOW, WOW, WOW!  I might even try making one of these, make sure to read the whole post because she also has a link to an ink pad storage unit you can make!

Mini blog hop, some heat, and of course some GREAT stamping stuff.

Ok, so for the last few posts I have been writing about how nice our non-summer has been, temperatures in the 80's, nice evenings, and great air quality.  Well, I spoke too soon, yesterday was in the high 90's and today it is supposed to be  over 100.  And while our temps are going up, the trees are starting to change color:

From 2010-08-23

That picture is from a tree right outside my work place, I am planning on taking some more fall pictures of some of the trees in the parking lot as their colors are just starting to change as well, beautiful oranges, reds and yellows.

Anyhow, today is not just about the weather, I have a new set of stamps to preview as well.  Elisabeth Bell has designed a new set of stamps for Susana's Custom Art and Card Design, and WOW, these are just the cutest stamps you have ever seen!

I was given the stamp "Spot of Tea," and here is what I came up with:

From 2010-08-23

Here is a close up of the stamp:

From 2010-08-23

And here is a close up of the background paper I made ( to show the glimmer):

From 2010-08-23

Like these stamps?  Then head over to Marti's blog for another sneak peak of these fantastic stamps!

I used copics to color the image, and to make the background paper I used this stencil, and put some distress ink right on top of the stencil (first I put the color on my craft mat, then sprayed the color with some glimmer mist, then placed the stencil on top of the ink).  I also used some Viva Decor Pearl Pen for the dots on the card.  I also added some Glamour Dust to the shirt for some added bling (if you haven't tried Glamour Dust yet you really should, especially with the holidays coming up.)

And don't forget to head over to the store blog for some amazing blog candy! Make sure you post a comment by August 26th.  Oh, and don't forget to check out all the wonderful new products that Susana has at the store (I am going to go broke trying to get my hands on all the new things!)

If you have made it this far then I am thinking you want some links, so links you shall have!

Colored Pencil Comparison:  Very nice comparison showing how the different colored pencils look when they are blended.  I still love my Prisma's, but I haven't used them much lately......

Tutorials:  From the same blog above, GREAT tutorials on all sorts of things, you are going to find at least one thing here to love.

Just Give Me Stamps:  Inspiration all over the place at this wonderful blog (I spent way too much time admiring all the wonderful creations!)

Tutorials:  Just in time for the holidays, check out these tutorials on all sorts of projects.  The link is from the Just Give Me Stamps blog (linked above as well.).

Allistamp:  Wow, just wow.  This lady has some of the most amazing cards, they are a real treat, and they also will give you all sorts of inspiration.  What I loved is how she creates such wonders without having to have tons of layers.

That is it for this week (it is 92 degrees as I write this on Monday night at 7:00 pm, tomorrow is supposed to be warmer!) time for me to get another glass of lemonade : )

And I hope you all know how very special you are to me, your comments and emails keep me going, you are the reason that this blog is still here.  Thank you for visiting and sharing your love of stamping with me.

Have a wonderful week everyone!

SCACD Blog Hop: Victoria Case "Hearts and Hugs Summer Collection" and some blog candy

Welcome to Susana's Custom Art and Card Design Blog Hop!  Today's blog hop features an amazing collection of designs from Victoria Case, "Hearts and Hugs Summer Collection."  Each and every one of these designs is adorable, they are fun to color, and they can be used to make beautiful cards and just about any paper craft project you can think of! And they are all in deeply etched rubber which makes it oh so easy to get a GREAT stamped impression!

You will be able to order the stamps today (Friday), here is the link where they will be available, and if you order the set you will get two bonus images (the bonus images cannot be purchased separately)

After you are finished checking out my project make sure to head over to Marti's blog for another image from the "Hearts and Hugs Summer Collection."   The blog hop starts on Kim's blog, make sure you hop to all the blogs because you are going to love these images!  And keep reading all the way down to see how you can win some blog candy I am giving away.

Here is the card I made with the "Lazy Days" stamp:

Isn't she adorable?  I colored her with distress inks on water color paper, the image is stamped in Black Versa Mark and then I used clear embossing powder to set the ink.  I used the Viva Decor Hologram Glitter Liner to add some bling to "friends," the flourishes, the leaves and some of the flowers.  The band across the card was created using a Martha Stewart edge punch, and I also added a few pearls (top left corner) using the Ice White Viva Decor Pearl Pen.

Here is a close up of the image:

Isn't she adorable?  I also used my nesties to get the oval shape and the scalloped oval behind the image, and then used a bit of my glitter pen to outline the oval.

Here is a close up of the flowers (all of them were white and I used the distress ink to color them).  I put the swag together by layering the flowers and twisting the wires together, then the flowers were glued down as one piece.

One more thing:  I still haven't heard back from the person who won the blog candy I offered last time:  Lauretta See.  Lauretta PLEASE email me so I can get your blog candy shipped off to you (Jacquie at afterhoursstamper.com).  

And yes, what is a blog hop without some blog candy?  Leave a comment by next Saturday, June 4th and I will be sending some Viva Decor Pearl or Glitter Pens your way.