Giraffe

Posted on February 25, 2015 by Linda Osterwise

Hi Crafty Peeps!

My cards this week feature the Giraffe from Robyn’s Fettish. I had so much fun coloring the Giraffe, that I made three cards to show it off. The challenge this week for the Outlawz Greeting Card Challenge was to use four or more layers on our projects. This first card has six layers.

My second card has only four layers, but it includes a ribbon.

My third card (and probably my favorite), has seven layers plus some greenery.

Each giraffe was colored with Copic markers. I also used my Copic Airbrush system to color the backgrounds. All of the background papers came from my stash. To color the spots on the giraffes, I used E00, E01, E15, E31, E33, E35, and E19.

Our sponsor this week is Robyn’s Fettish. Be sure to check out other designs by this artist as interpreted by our Design Team.

Thanks for dropping by this week. Have a healthy, happy and creative week.

Hugz,

Linda

The Dog Days of Summer (and “inchies”)

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Linda Osterwise

Welcome, Crafty Peeps!

Since a large portion of the US has recently dealt with record breaking snowfall, I thought that I’d jump ahead and start thinking about summer – more accurately the Dog Days of Summer. Deedee’s Digis is the sponsor this week for the Outlawz Greeting Card Challenge and they supplied the images for my card. The dogs in the pool, the Pool Party text, the large sun, and both background papers, (plus a few other goodies) were included in the set, Dog Days of Summer.

This is how I created the background for my Pool Party. In PSE, I created a blank document 5″ x 5″. I placed the sun paper on the top portion, and the paper waves on the lower edge. After printing on quality card stock, I trimmed off all of the white edges, and cut a row 1″ tall from the top. Then I cut that row into 1″ pieces (“inchies”), making sure that I kept their order and positioning intact.

Starting 1/8th inch from the top and 1/8th inch from the left side of my blue background paper, I attached each 1″ square (“inchie”), with a tape runner, being sure to leave the proper margin on all sides. I continued the process one row at a time. When all 25 squares were attached, I trimmed the blue background paper leaving the 1/8th inch margin on all sides. (I eye-balled it, but it might have been smarter to use a ruler to maintain the straight lines. lol)

After printing and cutting the large sun for the card, I used my black Copic marker around the edges to smooth my ragged fussy-cut edges, and make the sun show better on the busy background.

I used Copic Markers to color the main design. The colors I chose were:

Dogs: E35, E17, E33, E79, E18 (tongue E04)
Hose: YG11, G03
Pool: Y06, Y18, Y35
Grass: YG03, YG11, E70
Water: B00

After coloring, I fussy-cut around the dogs, the pool, and the Pool Party text, then I used my black Copic marker again to cover just the top and side edges of the design.

Using foam dots, I attached my graphic, the sun, and the flowers to the background. With a light touch of clear Stickles in various places to simulate water and enhance the sun’s rays, my card was complete!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a healthy, happy, and creative week!

I’m entering this card in the following challenge:

Catch the bug – Anything Goes

Hugz,
Linda Osterwise

Little Irish Dancer

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Linda Osterwise

Welcome, Crafty Peeps! My card today is called Little Irish Dancer by Beansie Doodles. I had to keep it simple this week because I was a little short on time.

The greeting is from a Sweet & Sassy stamp set called Ticket Sentiments.

The Copic colors that I used are:

Hair: YR21, E13, E19
Skin: E00, E01, E93
Dress and stockings: G03, G00, G14, G17, G12
Dress trim: Y18, Y35, Y38
Eyes: E000, G14, G12
Shoes: C3, C5
Lips: E04

The outlines on the trim were made with a red Atyou Spica Glitter pen.

Let it snow…

Posted on January 16, 2015 by Linda Osterwise

Hi crafty peeps! I’m so … in addition to being on the Outlawz Greeting Card Challenge Design Team, I’m going to be joining the Design Team of Through The Craft Room Door (TTCRD). My official start date is February 1st, but my first card won’t be posted until February 10th (TTCRD has two teams, so we submit our cards every two weeks, instead of each week with the Outlawz)! It will be absolute fun to be designing for both teams.

Be sure to check both challenges each week, because the creativity of the members is unbelievable!

My card today uses Little Lila Drinking Cocoa, available from Angies Digi Stamps.

Here are the details:

Card size: 7 x 5
Image was horizontally flipped in PhotoShop Elements
Skin: E00, E01, R00
Hair: Y18, Y32, YR23, YR24
Spoon: C1, C2, C4
Cup: B00, B02, B04
Marshmallows: N0, N2
Hot Chocolate: E55, E99
Coat: E31, E33
Scarf: W1, E04 E02, E30
Embossing folder: Snowflake Flutter by Crafters Companion
Die Cut: Spellbinder’s Grand Nestabilities – Grand Ovals – the two smallest dies
Background paper: From my stash

I’m entering this card in the following challenges:

The Paper Shelter – (use Dies)
Dies R Us – use a die cut and an embossing folder

Thanks for stopping by today, have a healthy, happy and creative week.

Hugz,
Linda

Black & White plus One Color

Posted on January 11, 2015 by Linda Osterwise

Hi crafty peeps! Today’s card features a digi called Russian Dolls by All Dressed Up.

As part of the Outlawz Monday Greeting Card Challenge this week, my card is black & white plus one other color. Can you guess my favorite color? The black & white paper came from my stash. The Just For You tag came from A & T Digital Designs.

Thanks for stopping by, have a healthy, happy and creative week.

Hugz,
Linda

My First Shaker Card

Posted on January 8, 2015 by Linda Osterwise

Hello, crafty peeps! I made my first shaker card this week – it was a lot of fun! I’ve been reading about them for a while, but just hadn’t put one together.

My digi is from the magazine, Through The Craft Room Door (TTCRD), called Bear Cake.

There are many tutorials and videos on shaker cards, so I won’t go into great detail on how this one was made except to say that I used two layers of craft foam to give my shaker section extra depth.

It was a lot of fun making this card, so if you haven’t made one yet, you should give it a try. You may want to use a little less filler than I did, because I used so much you can’t see the entire cake at once.

OK, so you’re asking yourself where I got the transparent plastic that I used on the card? Easy – I cut it from a package that contained die cuts.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you have a healthy, happy and creative week.

Hugz,
Linda O

Chevrons, Circles and Bling

Posted on January 7, 2015 by Linda Osterwise

Hi, crafty peeps! My cards today are for the Outlawz Monday Greeting Card Challenge. The challenge started on Jan 5th – I’m just a little late getting them posted to my blog.

The first card is a digi called Ashee, from A&T Digital. Isn’t this the cutest fairy? Because I didn’t have any matching chevron paper, I made my own by cutting striped paper and angling two pieces together. The sentiment comes from them as well – it’s one of eight sentiments that come as a set.

The digi on my second card was from A&T Digital as well. This digi is called Bunch of Roses. I colored it with my Copic markers (as usual). I used the following colors on my roses:

R05, R21, R29, R37 and R56.

These are my favorite reds when I need to do something in shades of red – they work well together.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you have a healthy, happy and creative week!

Hugz,
Linda O

Party like it’s 2015!

Posted on December 29, 2014 by Linda Osterwise

Welcome crafty peeps! Are you ready for 2015? I’m not sure that I am, but the new year is almost upon us anyway.

This week at the Outlawz, we’re celebrating by featuring cards to celebrate the New Year. Our sponsor this week is Aurora Wings and their digis are amazingly detailed and beautiful. You need to check out their site because the digis are fab! I used their Peacock Masquerade for my card, and it was sooooo much fun to color!

To fit the party theme, I’ve used a little more stickles that I usually use on a card. Stickles don’t photograph well, but I think you can see them in the eyes of the peacock feathers.

Also, I’m always torn between printing my digis large enough to show the detail, and yet small enough to show the background paper and embellishments. This usually means that my cards end up approximately 6 inches by 6 inches – fun to make, but more of a challenge to mail.

Thank you for stopping by, I hope that the new year finds you healthy, happy, and creative.

Hugz, Linda

New Progressive/Freebie Challenge at the Outlawz

Posted on December 7, 2014 by Linda Osterwise

Hello Crafty Peeps!

Woo Hoo! The Outlawz have just started a new Freebie/Progressive Challenge. You’ve got to give it a chance – it’s a way to earn a free digi each month from some very special sponsors. Here’s my card for the December challenge:

This month’s fantastic sponsor is Simply Betty Designs. Isn’t her digi the cutest?

To learn more about how to join the challenge and earn a free digi each month, click here.

Thanks for stopping by and have a healthy, happy and creative week.

Hugz, Linda O

December 1st Already? – Black & White Card

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Linda Osterwise

Hi crafty peeps! Thanks for stopping by today. I have a B&W birthday card (suitable for a boy) to share with you.

This week’s Outlawz Monday Greeting Card Challenge is Black and White. Our Sponsor this week is The Stamping Boutique. My digi is the Race Car (appropriately named, of course). This digi gave me a great opportunity to “play” in Photoshop Elements.

I was able to fill in the portions of the design that I wanted digitally within PE – it was a change of pace for me – to use PE instead of coloring with my Copics.

I was tempted to run out and buy black & white polka dot and striped paper, but instead, I did an internet search for free digi paper, and came up with both the polka dot and the striped paper (did I mention it was free!). I printed them on the same type of paper as my digi. Then, deciding to have some fun with the papers, I cut out pieces and turned the striped paper at different angles to create my background.