SGD Stamping Bella Card kits and Unity decorated Grab bags

Andrea here on this sunny Saturday!

I wanted to share a picture of the November card kit contents and one of my completed cards. They are all packaged up and ready to go but we are awaiting  the stamps for the kit from our supplier- kind of an important part of the kit lol!!! I have been itching to share this card for a few weeks now and just can't wait anymore as I love this crazy reindeer from Stamping Bella!

I used some of my Bo bunny paper from the kit to make up this card so I matched my colouring to the colours in the paper. I will include what copics I think compliment it well in the card kit instructions to help make it easy for those of you who like to match like me :)

In this month's kit we also provide cricut cut sentiments for your cards- brilliant!!! It was Sheila's idea and the reason I am sharing that is because Lori and Kim had to cut them all out and I guess they were ready to wring my neck after hee hee!!!!! So again it was SHEILA'S great idea and we appreciate the hard work as they are amazing!!! Thanks ladies!!!

Keep an eye out for the second card from the kit and also for the kits to go on sale because once they sell out they can not be reordered. 

Thank you to Susan who sent me this picture so I could share it with you. It was taken by her cell phone and I think it did a pretty good job! 

This is a picture of the grab bag that attendees of the punch a bunch class this weekend will be receiving. I made these up for Sheila using the Unity stamps for the Simple Stories kit generations. I just love this set!!! I especially love the doilies and they are so hot right now in the crafting world. The set even came with the sentiment you see below the SGD. Now the SGD stamped on here was using monograms from Just rite Stampers. Look Anja- I used your fave stamps! hee hee. This bag is so packed full of good stuff I am insanely jealous I am not going to the class and getting one!

Well that's enough from me today. I hope you have a wonderful day ladies!

Cheers, Andrea

High Hopes Stamps challenge- Anything High Hopes!

This week's challenge over at the HHS challenge blog is an easy one- create anything using any High Hopes Stamps images. Sweet! I used this opportunity to stroll down memory lane and use Candi the Tooth Fairy which is an older image. 

Candi is coloured with Touch Twin markers as I had an opportunity to try them out while hanging out with my friend Vicki Garrett. I wanted to be able to try them and give opinions on them as I try to have knowledge on colouring mediums as best as I can as part of the CMC design team as we help others by giving colouring tips and inspiration. I have to report that there is a learning curve for me whenever I try to use a different type of marker. I always start out as if I just learned to colour for the first time lol!!! I found that the Touch Twin markers really flowed across the page and easily saturated my page to help me with blending. I love the result I got with them and hope that when I get some of my own that I am able to colour as well with them as I can with my copics. I used some of the new Webster's pages Christmas paper in the fun purple, pink and green colours to match the bright colours of my image. It's funny because purple is my fave colour yet I have a brutal time crafting with it!! I think it is because purple can have cold or warm undertones and I spend ages looking through my supplies to see what I have that matches my project as least close enough. I may have to sort all my stash by colours and then by the tone of the colour.....hmmm...we both know that is likely to never happen hee hee. I would like it done- I wonder if I can pay someone to do it for me lol!!!

Before popping over to the HHS Challenge blog to see what the rest of the DT has cooked up to get your inspiration stirring check out the High Hopes Stamps sale below on Fairy Tale images (I have linked it for you- just click on the name of the stamp)- gotta love a good sale!!!

November Monthly Special on now until Nov 7th.

R-093 Fearless Knight

R-092 Castle

F-149 For My Princess

D-097 Lilly Pads

F-148 Duck Family

R-091 Reflecting Pond

G-232 Frog Prince

G-231 Leapfrogs

G-237 Kissy Face Frog

C-047 Kiss Me

K-042 Sitting Princess

H-181 Crown/Wand 2 Pc. Set

M-039 Rock Wall

S-104 Unicorn

H-180  Mushroom One

H-182 Mushroom Two

Cheers! Andi

Color Me Creative Classroom is making cards for the boys

Happy Halloween!!!!!

I am not sharing a Halloween card today as I can't wait to share the card I made as part of the CMC design team sponsored by Mo's Digital Pencil images this week. 

For my card I used Video Boy with the long shaggy hair as he completely reminds me of my nephew Riley- before he shaved his head that is lol. 

I challenged myself to just colour the image the way I wanted without matching it to paper as I typically do. I found it hard to do without having a guide but also freeing at the same time. It was nice just sitting there colouring willy nilly without any rules hee hee. What I found to be the most beneficial to stretching my boundaries in this way is that I felt free to use as many copics and colours as I wanted. I had no idea how I was stifling myself by just using the copics I picked out in advance that matched my patterned paper. Try it yourself next time you colour and let me know how it goes. You may be as pleasantly surprised as I was!

Speaking of colouring- Suzanne just shared that there are new copic online classes available. Here are the descriptions:

COPIC CLASS 5:

For those that have been asking me for the PAST year to create a Copic Class 5 wellllll I am working on it currently! It will debut the first week of November and you can pre-register for a little bit of a deal now until Nov. 5th! I had hoped to be done with it by Halloween but I have to have some procedures done that may prevent me from having everything ready by then. Most of the Class Description is up at the site under the Class Info/Pricing Tab and the Supply List has yet to be determined. I am using 60% digi stamps and the rest will be rubber stamps for the class---but as always you use what you have on hand, I don't feel that anyone HAS to use the same image as me. But all the images will be listed and linked very soon along with the Copic Colors I use.

MAGNOLIA COPIC CLASS 2 by Mindy Baxter: Mindy has created another fantastic Copic Class using those cute Magnolia Stamps. This class will cover coloring images with different light sources at different times of day. If you didn't take Mindy's other class you are missing out---she's a fantastic instructor and has printable materials for you as well to follow along. Her class will DEBUT Friday, October 14th and you can register now. All invites to the class will go out on Friday! See her full class description at the CMC Classroom by hovering over the Class Info Tab at top of site! As always when you take any class at CMC you get 1 full year to access the class and its materials!

Visit Color Me Creative Classroom at: http://scrapbitzcopics.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

In addition to this card being part of the CMC copic challenge I am also entering it into the following challenges:


Charisma Cards Challenge- Anything goes 
Crafty Purple Frog challenges- Sparkles (used glitter pen on the chip bag, pop can and game remote)
Make it Monday challenge- Anything goes
Simon Says Stamps Challenge- Anything goes
Mark's Finest Papers- use your scraps (card was made of leftover bits from a card kit)

I love Mineral Love organic and vegan makeup!!!

I typically only share my crafty ventures on my blog but I have found that many of my crafty friends also share a few of my other favourite things in life so I have decided to branch out once in awhile and also do some reviews on makeup and books and fave products that I have tried as I have found I have really enjoyed reading them on my friend's blogs as well. I hope you enjoy it too!

I stumbled onto Mineral Love's etsy store while looking for more loose eyeshadow powders. I had found a few different sellers but Mineral Love's product selection as well as their donation of sales to an animal shelter really pulled me in their direction over the others. I am so glad that happened! I have gotten to know Tricia Mack the owner and she is adorable and gives hands down some of the best customer service I have ever experienced!

First- her eyeshadows

I ordered the small size pots of a few different colours and they come in sweet clear pots with black lids. It doesn't look like a lot in the container when it arrives but don't let that fool you! You use sooo little to get a rich colour that my pots still look barely touched. I found this a great solution for me as I wanted to get lots of different colours to try for the best price. As I have found some favourites- like chocolate frosting- I will order them in the full size pots when I need to re-order. 

You get a strong colour just by using the powder straight out of the jar and onto your eyelid. I lightly touch my brush to the loose shadows then swirl it around the lid to cover my brush and apply. This gives a nice colour and you can make it soft or dark by adding more or less. 

To make your colour POP Tricia recommends putting some of the eyeshadow into the lid and adding a drop or two of the magic mixing medium she offers. It turns into a paste and you apply that to your eyes for a dramatic eye coverage and bold colours. I use this technique called 'Foiling' when I am going out at night and a more vibrant colour is what I am looking for. My eyes are my best feature and Tricia's eyeshadows never fail to get me compliments from men and women when I go out. Sweet!!!

Now- her customer service

I asked Tricia if she could recommend some colours for me and I sent her a picture of me so that she could see my colouring. She made some great recommendations and to my surprise she also included some small baggies with different colours than the ones I ordered to try that she thought would compliment me. And she was right of course! I have added the colour Jennifer to my fave list and wear it often. She puts your jars into this sweet black lace bag and also includes a wonderful handwritten note with your order. How amazing is that!!! As well she includes an instruction sheet to use with your Magic Mixing Medium so that you know right away how to get the best results. 

Additionally- Tricia is so personable!! I joined her Mineral Love facebook page and she frequently has fun giveaways and also lets her customers know if she will be setting up shop somewhere that local clients can come out to see her. I have also found out that we share the same birthday!! So of course we are basically twins separated at birth! She has also blown me away by asking me what my fave colour is so she can make an eyeshadow for me and call it Andi. Seriously- how can you compete with that service!

Overall- using loose shadows was new to me when I first started this new journey but I have quickly come to use them with the same ease that I use my compact ones. I have found a shop and seller that I know I will continue to use and support for years to come. 

If you decide to try Mineral Love for yourself please let Tricia know that I sent you! I won't be getting anything for it but I just want her to know how much I appreciate the fabulous personable customer service that she provides!

I love to SMASH things!!!

Here is my post from over at SGD's blog today....it's smashing good fun!

SGD has the sooo popular Smash Books in stock in many of the different colours. Which is good and bad for me. 

Good- they come in different colours. I like different colours. 

Bad- the different coloured books are different on the inside so of course I need each one. 

Or is that maybe another good thing? hee Hee. 

I have to tell you about how popular Smash books are not only with us crafty peeps but also for kids and teens. I bought these books for my 2 daughters. One likes to craft..one not soooo much. Well they are both onto their second books as they are so full if they put anything else in it may explode! We have bought some for their friends and it has proven to be just as popular with anyone we have given it to. I think it is because it is old school scrapbooking as shown in the video above. They cut out their 'Cody Simpson' and 'Justin Bieber' pictures from their magazines and fill the books with their fave pictures. They smash in all their movie tickets, pamphlets from places we've visited, restaurant menus, doodles, good notes from teachers and notes from friends. Instead of the collectables that used to float around in bags and drawers they have a place in their book to treasure forever. 

My oldest recently had a birthday party and 2 of her friends brought their Smash books to the party so they could add to it as the party progressed. I DID NOT MAKE THEM DO THIS! Even though it is something I could totally see myself suggesting to the kids hee hee. They smashed in flyers from the spa we went too and parts of their gift bags. Girls after my own heart. 

I am sharing this story because I am so surprised at how amazing these books are for birthday and Christmas gifts. The books and the add-ons  you can buy are so inexpensive that you can grab a few items to get them on their way- starting with smashing some of their birthday cards right into their book :). 

Click here to find SGD's supply of Smashie goodness for Smashaholics like me- 

Smashbook gallery

Here are some pics from my Smash book and my basket of Smashie goodness. I have to admit I fight not to 'organize' my page and just freely put items in. I keep reminding myself- this is not a beauty pageant- just smash it in!!!

Smash books- I'm not sure who came up with the idea at K&Company but I thank you.....I love you actually....I hope that this doesn't make things awkward...but I really love you...Smash books make my life brighter and free. Bliss...

Have a smashing day- Andrea

Meet my new bestie- Carrie. Carrie the Copic Case

**Here is my post over at Scrappin' Great Deals blog**

I would like to introduce you to Carrie- my copic case. She and I are new besties and we are getting along fast and furious. I first saw these online through a store ad and couldn't even find other pictures online. I emailed Sheila instantly blathering about a new case that I needed now...now...NOW!

Thankfully she was able to tell me they were already on their way to SGD.

She 'may' have stretched the truth slightly so that I wouldn't give myself a new hernia with the conniption I was having but it did calm me down lol!!!

I wasn't sure I would like it. I currently have them in order in an acrylic case which made it easy to find a certain colour but other than that..... well it doesn't travel well and it has spilled on me on more than a few occasions. Since I frequently enjoy colouring with friends portability is important to me.

I have to say I have tested it out and it is working great for me. I used it over at Sarah's house and had no problem grabbing the right colours quickly and clean up was a cinch compared to me putting it off because it meant re-organizing them over and over again. Time to leave..well I just closed the lid and zipped it up! I filled 5 cups with my markers and the 6th one I put my glitter pens and most commonly used refills. I also had room to slip my memento ink pad, some stamps and a stamp block in my case.

Sarah had to get a case too and I am happy to share that after I teased her with photos of mine that she now has one of her own. She was so excited to get it home and fill it up. I got an email from her titled- "Copic Case- A Cautionary tale" and the following pictures...

This is the email I sent back to Sarah after seeing these pictures- 'Sarah- before I forget...the copic cases are not meant to go on their side'. Hahahahahahaha

Sarah wanted me to share she has now recuperated from the copic incident of 2011 and all the markers have been found and put in the case. She may have a few more gray hairs than what she woke up with the morning before but all is well in the end.

I have also seen pictures of the new copic case with the 36 wallets packed inside- you can get 216 markers in the case with room left over for refills or paper.

I found this on Marianne Walker's blog who works for copic- If you use the hard shell cases like Marianne did in the picture above, you can fit about 288 markers.

I do find this to be the best option out there for me and when colouring with Sarah last night she agreed that we had no trouble finding our markers quickly even though we were used to having them in exact order. So the chaos of them all in soft cups helter skelter didn't impede us as much as we were worried it would. As well we kept exclaiming about how quick clean up was with us just sticking them back in the cups- love!!!

I hope you enjoyed this review and Sarah's word to the wise- Andi

My first Color Me Creative first official copic post.....yippee!!

I am so excited to do my first 'official' post as part of Suzanne Dean's Color Me Creative Classroom DT! I am honoured to part of a great group of uber talented ladies who love colouring just as much as I do. We joined the group in the beginning of September so I have had a chance to chat up the ladies for quite awhile before our posts started. It really makes for a comfortable family feel already! I have to admit it was tough keeping this secret for so long especially with all the Suzanne Dean fans at SGD due to her amazing copic classes. 

For our Oct 14th challenge we used Halloween colors and images from our generous sponsor Glitterbabe digi stamps. I chose the sweet kitty on the broom as I have a soft spot for all things kitty related. Probably due to my 2 fuzzy wuzzy's that keep me company all day long. I also included a pic of the markers I used, feel free to click on the pic to make it larger and easier to read. 

You will see on the top of my blog new tabs and you can find the CMC DT names under the Design Team's tab. Please take a moment and stop by their blogs to see how great the ladies work is that I have the pleasure of creating with. 

Speaking of kitties....here are some pics. The top 2 pics are of our youngest cat who is absolutely bizarre and the last pic is of our oldest kitty- the "normal" one who is biting my hair to try and get at my bobby pin. Yep that's the normal one!

Cheers! Andi