Long day of work calls for... uh, shoes.

So, on the way back from out of town court today, I stopped by DSW to use my coupons.  Mind you, I've never done this, as I'm a new DSW convert.  So I scoured the racks for a deal, and came across some Bandolino's, $54.94, 50% off, (27?).  Two $10 coupons (they allow using 2 together if different), and $8 later, I'm out of there.  Yup.

Baby card for Julie!

Made with some shimmery brown paper (you can't really see that detail), edged white with Wild Wasabi Stampin Up Ink, (same ink for stamped background on green paper), itty bitty tags tied on (knot hidden under green layer) with brown floss, Copic YG23 for baby outfit.

and... this time it's shoes. Happy Friday

So this AM I had all this inspiration to get down to business... when 6pm.com sent me its ad for "designer days".  Next thing you know, I've got some Betsey's.

Now I just need some places to go in these...  The bottom ones also came in silver and gold, but I think I have enough silver and gold shoes to last me awhile.  Well, black too, but I figured I could wear these with jeans to dress them down, or a mini skirt.  Yeah, I did buy a 7 For All Mankind mini as well...  incident.  But anyway, cheap thrills, these were both under $50 each for shoes regularly priced at $175. 

Muted gray vs bright Magenta Flowers with Copics.

Here is the same flower by Magenta, with 2 different techniques. 

LEFT: The one on the left is muted, stamped with Memento Gray.  Now I know you are supposed to use Warm Grays with living things, but until my order comes (justifying more Copics), I used cool gray as that's all I have, and I thought the ink was a more cool gray as well.
Did Y00 over all, then YG63 for the leaves and C0 (gray).  Then flowers were B63 plus the Y00 again. I also used the C0 around the side of the flowers and leaves as shadow, ok, actually, to erase mistakes.  Simple and fast.

RIGHT:  I tried some brighter colors with the image stamped in Black Memento.  Used Y000 all over, then YG11 and YG23 for leaves.  Used B63 and B66 on flower using B63 on all, then feathering B66, then blending again with B63.  I added Y02 on the middle of the flower and side flower for brightness.  Again, simple and fast.

I've also been using the Artist Marker Pad from Bee Paper Company Professional Series that I got at Spokane Art Supply.  I like it better than the Neenah used in class.  It's 30 sheets for $10.25.  Works well. 

I'm going to eventually mount these, but I just had some time to kill before dinner and wanted to try out some different color combos.  Hope you like it!

Copic Roses and how to...

So, here's what happens when you leave me at home on a Saturday night... bought 45 new Copics online, and then played with what I have.  Here it is, step by step.  I first stamped the pic with Magenta ink.  It obviously missed the middle of the stamp, so I stamped again, and cut out that portion.  I did it on glossy, just because I had a scrap of it, but it was kind of neat as it stood out a bit.  I mounted it with mounting dots after cutting it out.

To pick the colors, I tried it on the paper scrap.  The Copics look different on different papers.

See how I missed the middle?  Oops.  Anyway, did all background in YR000, and roses in R0000 to start.
Tested some colors, and thought R85 would look good with some earthy E70.  I know those colors typically don't "go" together on the Copic Color Wheel, but hey.  I was told to experiment.  Here's the mix, above.

I thought they were kind of "dark", so I added some RV42 to "blue" them up a bit.  Started testing leaf greens to see what would go with these pinks.  I mean, come on, I only have so many colors to work with here...  I did all on Y00, then added YG03 and YG23.  I didn't think it was dark enough, so I added YG 17.

After I stuck on the middle piece with the dimensional dots (well, actually, the scraps saved from in between the dots, cut up with scissors...) you can't tell there was a "mistake".

Basically, I colored with the dark colors near the black shadows, then used a lighter color to blend it in.  I didn't love the green, so I colored over all of it with another YG to change the color a bit.  Basically, I just keep playing and adding/taking away color.  By the way, I didn't use the "blender pen".  I just kept coloring darker, then blending (or removing color) with the lighter pen.

I then added shadow with B00 around the flowers where I messed up and went outside the lines.  It just kind of adds a shadow, and hides the mistakes.  I went over it with YR000 to blend in with the background, and went over the entire background again with it to make the light background "darker". 

What to mount it on?  Both.  Finished product on top!  I guess I can sleep now.  Maybe.

6pm.com Calvin Klein Dresses!

One thing I love is Calvin Klein dresses.  They just happen to fit me well.  I was excited one day when 6pm.com had them on special that day.  (They are now mostly still there but about $10-$20 more than what I paid for each dress).

Got this in Charcoal.  Looks great.  I can wear to work as a suit type deal if I add a jacket.  It's really comfy too.  $39.00.  What a treat.

Then this one, $38.40.  I took my chances, because its hard to see online.  Looks fab on, and again, a work outfit.  yessss

I had to get this.  It was a bit more ($50.40) but I just loved the cut and color.  It looks cute on.  Not sure where I'm going in this, but I have it, nevertheless.

And again, this one is apparently sold out now, but $38.40, and it looks fab.  Wore it to see client on Friday.  Comfy and easy.  Score!

In other news - these are some old outfits I got on 6pm.com that I apparently didn't post.

For those of you who have my facebook, this is my oh-so-famous Vegas shirt. I wore it with a bra top, and black skirt and heels.  I rocked it.  It was 7 For All Mankind and also on 6pm.com for under $40.  Well worth it...

I also picked this up about a month ago,  another Calvin Klein dress, and the necklace is removable.  $34.80.  Wow.  I love 6pm.com.

Here was more Vegas activity - Wore this Bebe tank at the Bank at Bellagio with a black mini and heels.  Awesome night.

That's about it for my clothes activity...  I am  going to have to save up for my Toronto trip, so in the meantime, I will hopefully get to spend more time at home crafting!!!

Happy Father's Day!

Well, I'm now Copic Certified, and will have to start practicing my techniques more.  Here is my little Copic table at home, right in front of my TV. 

So, on the left, I finally put this card together.  This was done before my certification class.  I should have done something with the background, but was more about testing the Microglaze for the window to act as a resist from my Tsukineko shimmer spritz.  I also used gel pens for the detail.  I also tried using my Stampin' Up air blower with a Copic Marker. If you unscrew the blower and take out the inner thing holding the pen, it will make the hole big enough to hold a Copic.  It worked ok.  Not great, but I'm trying to talk myself out of a Copic Airbrush system.  I think with some practice, I could make it work.  Well, it didn't work any worse than my clogged Tsukineko shimmer spritz...

On the right, just used Copics after the class. Tried some of the feathering techniques and color lessons.  It's subtle, but I kind of like it.

Then, I got around to Father's Day.  Here's the pic before I glued it on a card.  I did one darker, and one lighter.  Stamps by Magenta.

Then I tried to make a girl.  Fail.  Oh well.  I tried.  Hair just came out too dark compared to the rest.  But anyway...  Happy Father's Day!