Hello and Friendship Cards

Hi there! I went to Archiver's yesterday...with a coupon in hand to see if they had anything that I just had to have. And as many times as I go in there and come out empty handed, this wasn't one of those trips. LOL I found a couple of stamps I couldn't leave in the store. And I inked them up right away!

This first one is a single image from Stampendous'  new Cling Rubber line. I could handle this because...a) it's only one image & I don't have to line it up anywhere, b) the company already put the image on the back (in the right place and with the correct orientation) so once I placed the image on my clear block, I could see where I was stamping the image. c) it peeled off easy peasy. And let's face it, who could resist that adorable snail?

I had an employee at the store make a color copy of both card samples that prompted my mini buying spree,  so that I could have the inspiration in front of me rather than trying to rely on my feeble memory. I recently found out you could do that, if you purchase the stamps in the sample. Of course, I changed it up a little in what I used from their sample. The images were colored in using what else? My Koh-i-noor pencils, odorless mineral spirits and blending stumps. (I have to say the purchase of this pencil set was one of my best...I just LOVE how they color-LOL)

After I finished my coloring, I random stamped the flower image from Verve's Petals and Stems set in black ink (CTMH). I then layered the image on black cardstock and Amethyst (CTMH) and added a bit of ribbon (my stash). Once the card was all put together THEN I added the Stickles (Lavender and Crystal). The Lavender color was too dark, actually, so I dabbed a bunch of it off so that you could still see the detail in the shell of the snail. I really like how it came out.

Now this next card has an image that one might think I wouldn't particularly care for. But the sample jumped out at me and I HAD to have the set. And I am thrilled at how this one came out!

The set is called Friendship Hand and it's by Stampendous. Unfortunately, for those of you who don't have an Archiver's nearby, the packaging says it's an Archiver's Exclusive. So, I don't think you'll be able to find it elsewhere. On this one I used some flesh colored pencils that I just picked up from Hobby Lobby. I'm not sure I like them though (aside from the color looking like flesh) because the color didn't lay down very easily. Sigh...

In the set you get the arm/hand by itself and the flower is separate. I made a little mask from a post-it note so that I could try to make it look more like the hand was holding the flower stem. I think it worked pretty well if I do say so myself. LOL

The cardstock used is from Archiver's because I had a coupon to get 5 free sheets of their smooth cardstock. I just looked and it's Bazzill Basics Paper in Berry Sensation, Apple Crush and Teal something (That paper didn't have a sticker on it-poo) I tried the Apple Crush because it looks very similar to my quickly dwindling supply of CTMH Sweet Leaf cardstock) and should I get desperate for more I can get something close to the color.

After I colored in the image (using those pencils again), I used some Inkadinkado chalk for the blue background. Then I used my CTMH Legacy Writer (size.03) to draw the lines.

I think that's it! If I've forgotten something and you have a question...please don't hesitate to ask.

If you are at all interested in the progress of the counted cross stitch piece I'm working on...I'm just about done with the angel! Yea!

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you have a beautiful holiday weekend.

Jeanne