…BLD April Blog Hop

As you already know, today we’re having a new release blog hop using the new images from By LORi Designs!  If you’ve come from LINDA’S BLOG then you’re in the right place; if not, then you’ll need to start over at ANGELA’S BLOG to catch up and follow along.  Here’s my card for today’s hop…introducing:

“Puddle Jumpers Quinn”

I started my card as I would any other…with a sketch.  This time I chose to use April’s SFYTT by Jen del Muro, but I turned it into a standard-sized card instead of a square one.  I printed the Quinn in Black and colored her with Copic Sketch Markers, then paired the completed image with some patterned papers from the Blossom Soup paper pack from Jillibean Soup along with some Riding Hood Red, Kraft, and White Cardstock.  I distressed the edges of the Kraft cardstock panel with the Distrezz-It-All from Zutter…I just LOVE the way the edges fray when distressed with this machine!  I stitched the red dotted panels directly to the large Kraft cardstock panel, then also added some stitching around the edges of the pink text panel.  After adding some Crinkle Ribbon, a handwritten sentiment, Button/Twine accent, and tons of Dimensionals the card was complete!

That’s it for me today!  Thanks for stopping by to see me, and hop on over to SHERI’S BLOG to see what she has for you…I’m sure you’ll LOVE it!  Until then…

…Without A Little Rain

It’s the start of a new week, and I wanted to make sure that Brooke was able to start hers with a little smile on her face…so this is what I took with me when we went to see her yesterday afternoon (along with several puzzle books to help occupy her time while she’s in bed):

I printed some of the newer images from the By LORi Designs’ March release: Puddle Jumpers Ella’s Umbrella and the sentiment from Umbrella Sentiments.  I colored Ella with Copic Sketch Markers then cut her out leaving a bit of a white border around the entire image.  I paired the completed image with some patterned papers from the Stella Rose-Mabel paper pack from My Mind’s Eye along with some Summer Sunrise, Taken With Teal, and White Cardstock.  I stitched the small striped panel, punched a border along the bottom of two of the panels, then pierced the upper edge of the entire floral panel with a Mat Pack and Paper Piercer.  I added some Turquoise Rhinestones to the sentiment panel as well as the lower portion of the card base.  After adding some Dimensionals and a couple of stripes with my White Signo Gel Pen the card was complete!

That’s it for me!  Thanks so much for stopping by, and I will see you all back here on Friday with a card for the By Lori Designs’ April Release!  My boys are on Spring Break, so I’m going to be a very busy momma until this next weekend.  If I get a chance to sit down to play one day I will be sure to post my creation for you guys…but I’m not making any promises!  LOL!  Until later…

…What’s Next?

For me?  Glad you asked! :)  I’ve been so busy spring cleaning around the house that I nearly forgot to show off some of the new “special additions” that will be coming soon to By LORi Designs!

Introducing: “Happy Easter Baskets”

…and “Skyla & Rover”

Aren’t they adorable (if I do say so myself)? Each image comes with a coordinating sentiment that can be used, or you can create your own personalized greeting.  Head on over to the BLD Store and add these images to your digital collection!

That’s it for me today!  Thanks for stopping by, and I will see you back here tomorrow with another Couponing post!  Until then…

…Sweet Dreams

I finished up clipping all of my coupons last night, so I was able to get some card pictures taken and edited to share with you all this week.  Today I’m showcasing another image from By LORi Designs called “Lollipop Presley”:

I printed the image out and colored it all with Copic Sketch Markers adding the ground in the process with a Copic Multi-Liner.  I paired the completed image with some patterned papers from the Ooh La La For Him paper pack by My Mind’s Eye along with some Orange Zest, Artichoke, and White Cardstock.  I Distressed and Paper Pierced the edges of the large white cardstock panel, then punched a scrap piece of artichoke cardstock with the Apron Lace Border Punch.  The sentiment was from the My Favorite Things’ set “Pure Innocence-Bedtime Story” was stamped in White Ink onto more artichoke scrap paper, and then punched out with the Word Window Punch.  I also added some Orange Zest Saddle-Stitched Ribbon and finished the bow with a Mint Green Button and Thread.  After adding some Mint Green Rhinestones and several Dimensionals the card was complete!

That’s it for me today!  Thanks for stopping by to see me, and I’ll see you back here in the next day or two with some more new stuff!  Until then…

…BLD Blog Hop

Howdy, peeps!  I guess you’re probably wondering where in the world I’ve been, huh?  Honestly, I’ve been taking a little break since my desire to create and/or color went on hiatus a couple of weeks ago.  I’ve been cleaning house and discovered a new love…COUPONING!  So I’ve been running around town finding sales and saving buckets of money! :)

As you already know, today we’re having a new release blog hop using the new images from By LORi Designs!  If you’ve come from KADIE’S BLOG then you’re in the right place; if not, then you’ll need to start over at the By Lori Designs’ Blog to catch up and follow along.  Here’s my card for today’s hop…introducing:

“Puddle Jumpers’ Easter Lyla”

I printed the image out and colored it all with Copic Sketch Markers adding the ground in the process.  I paired the completed image with some patterned papers from SU’s retired Tea Party Designer Series Paper pack along with some Lemon Tart and White Cardstock.  I stitched the purple dotted panel to the larger floral background, then added some piercing around the floral panel edges with a Mat Pack and Paper Piercer.  The sentiment panel was punched out using Classic Circle Nesties then colored with a Copic Marker.  After adding some Ribbon, Rhinestones, and tons of Dimensionals the card was complete!

That’s it for me today!  Thanks for stopping by to see me, and hop on over to HANNAH’S BLOG to see what she has for you…I’m sure you’ll LOVE it!  I’ll see you all back here either Sunday or Monday with another creation.  I’m spending the weekend up in the mountains with my besties Pam, Jessica, and Jessie…so I’m hoping to get a lot of stamping done while I’m there.  Until then…

…Happy Birthday, Sophie!

It’s Saturday, so that means I’m home busy cleaning house and laundry…that seems to be my routine lately anyways.  I’ve got a crazy day ahead of me, but I wanted to pop in to share a card using another image from By LORi Designs called “Lollipop Sophie”.

I printed the image out and colored it all with Copic Sketch Markers adding the ground in the process with a Copic Multi-Liner.  I paired the completed image with some patterned papers from PTI’s Beautiful Blooms paper pack along with some Hawaiian Shores, Black, and White Cardstock.  I Dry Embossed and Paper Pierced the large white cardstock panel, then punched the red polka-dotted strip with the Apron Lace Border Punch.  The thin black cardstock strip was stitched to the two patterned pieces, and then the sentiment panel was punched out with a Circle Punch.  A simple Flower with a Silver Brad center was added to the sentiment panel using the Trio Flower Punch.  After adding tons of Dimensionals the card was complete!

That’s it for me today!  Thanks for stopping by to see me, and I’ll see you back here next week with some more new stuff!  Until then…

…You Make My Heart Smile

It’s Saturday, so that means I’m home busy cleaning house and laundry…that seems to be my routine lately anyways.  I’ve got a crazy day ahead of me, but I wanted to pop in to share a card using one of my new SPECIAL EDITIONS images called “Ainsley’s Heart”  from By LORi Designs (for all the details about the “special additions” images check out THIS post).

I printed the image out and colored it all with Copic Sketch Markers adding some grass and dirt in the process with a Copic Multi-Liner.  I added some Crystal Stickles to the heart, then I used a White Gel  Pen to fill in the pearls on her necklace.  I added a simple Ribbon and Swirl Clip accent along with some Photo Corners embellished with Silver Brad centered flowers.  I paired the completed image with some patterned papers from the Fly A Kite paper pad by October Afternoon along with some Brown and Aqua Mist Cardstock.  After adding several more Silver Brads, a Border Punch, and tons of Dimensionals the card was complete!

That’s it for me today!  Thanks for stopping by to see me, and I’ll see you back here tomorrow with a card that has NOTHING to do with Valentine’s Day!  LOL!  Until then…

…For The Digitally-Challenged

Yep…I’m still in the Valentine’s mood, but I have a FABULOUS announcement to share with you!  As you all know, I am a designer for By LORi Designs and Lori deals exclusively with digital stamps.  Every month when the new images/sets come out I set to work creating “new” images by merging and combining several elements to create something new that doesn’t have to be cut apart and pieced together later on.  I’m pretty proficient with Adobe Photoshop, but I know that there are others out there who wouldn’t even know where to begin in order to create new images with their digital stamps.  NO NEED TO FEAR!!!  Lori has decided to include several of my combined images in her store for you to purchase…NO FUSS, NO MUSS!  :)  So I will be sharing 3 of the latest Valentine’s images that are available for you NOW!!!

Introducing: “Davey’s Teddy Edited by Mercy” (in the Puddle Jumper section)

“PJ Ainsley & Davey Edited by Mercy”

“ Ainsley’s Heart Edited by Mercy” (also in the Puddle Jumper section)

EDITED TO ADD: here are some other images that have been added as well!

“We 3 Friends By Mercy”

“Wagons of Gifts By Mercy”

“Celebrate Friends By Mercy”

You can find the SPECIAL EDITIONS created by me (and some others created by me fellow BLD designer, Arielle Gordon) in the BLD store HERE…go check them out!!!

That’s it for me today!  I’m spending the day over at my bestie’s house, but I’ll see you all back here some time this weekend.  Until then…

…I Love You

It’s Wednesday and I’m actually posting my third card for this week…GO, ME!!!  :)   I found myself in a coloring mood this weekend, so I figured I’d go ahead and make some cards too.  Once again I sat down at my laptop and designed my very own custom sweetheart image by merging two newer By LORi Designs’ digital stamp sets (“Puddle Jumper-Ainsley” and “Puddle Jumper-Davey”…but I created the sentiment myself) with Photoshop Elements 8.0.  Whatcha think?

I printed the edited image out and colored it all with Copic Sketch Markers.  I wanted to keep the layout simple, but I added tons of textures and dimension.  I cut the focal panel out with the Top Note Die and my Sizzix Big Shot, then added some Saddle-Stitched Hibiscus Burst Ribbon and White Pearls along the bottom of the panel.  I paired the completed image with some patterned paper from the Tea Party Designer Series Paper pack along with some Basic Gray and Pretty in Pink Cardstock.  I added some Gray Stitching to the patterned paper panel, then attached each layer to the card base using several Dimensionals.  I added some *sparkle* to the heart elements by using some Crystal Stickles to complete the card.

That’s it for me today!  Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see you again next time!  Until then…

…Love You Friend!

Happy Monday, everyone!  I’m just dropping in today to share my submission for yesterday's Featured Stamper #209 at SCS, and the lucky recipient was my sweet and fabulous friend, Lori Boyd {aka 3Bugs&Me}. Lori is such a precious and uber-talented lady who can color like nobody’s business!  For that reason I chose to CASE her card HERE, but I changed several things to make it my own: the layout, the patterned papers, and the sentiment.  I also used one of her newer digital images called “Sugar Sticks-Love You Friend” from By LORi Designs.   I printed the image in Black, then colored them using my Copic Sketch Markers.  I paired the focal panel with patterned papers and from Love Me Do Kit by My Mind’s Eye along with some Lemon Tart and White Cardstock.  I added some Red Stitching to the large plaid patterned paper panel, then also added some Paper Piercing to the polka-dotted paper panel.  The hearts, the border strip, and the photo corner were diecut elements that were included in the MME paper kit…but I added a punched flower (using the Trio Flower Punch) with a Silver Brad center to the photo corner element.  After adding a TON of Dimensionals (which I purchased HERE from Jody Morrow at a FABULOUS price) the card was complete.

That’s it for me today!  Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see you back here either tomorrow with another Whimsie Doodles card!  Until then…

…Celebrate Friends

Hi there, my lovelies!  It’s been a very lazy and relaxed week her at the Kerin household.  I haven’t been doing a lot of stamping, but I have been playing with some of the newest images from BLD in my Photoshop program.  Here’s a little something I came up with:

This card is actually for today’s BLD Challenge #3 at the By LORi Designs’ Blog…a Color Challenge (Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso).  I combined “Bug & Roo Sunny”, “Bug & Roo Hazel”, and “Bug & Roo Molly” from the BLD Store to create the focal panel.  Once I saved the new image, I printed it out and colored it all with Copic Sketch Markers.  I stitched the edges of the focal panel, and added a simple Ribbon/Button accent.  I paired the completed image with some Regal and  Scarlet Cardstock.  After several Dimensionals the card was complete.  Whatcha think?

That’s it for me today!  Thanks for stopping by, and be sure to head over to the BLD Blog to play along with this week’s challenge!  Until later…

…Double Trouble

Today we have a very special surprise for our readers! A DOUBLE BLOG HOP!!! That’s right, Baby Bud Designs and By LORi Designs have teamed up to bring you a HUGE blog hop! We’ve got a fantastic line up of extremely talented designers showcasing some fabulously adorable images.  If you’ve come here from TAMMYLEE’S BLOG, then you’re in the right place (if not you’ll need to start back at either the BBD or BLD site).

Today you’ll find a ton of inspiration and of course a hop isn’t a hop without some prizes right? So be sure to leave comments at every stop!  So sit back, relax, and enjoy the wonderful creations that both of these wonderful Design Teams have created for you…you won’t be disappointed! 

I didn’t use Photoshop at all in order to create this sweet scene…this is exactly the way this new “Happy Birthday Annie” comes from By LORi Designs!  I printed the digital image onto some of my PTI White Cardstock, then colored it with Copic Sketch Markers.  I paired the completed image with some patterned papers from October Afternoon’s Fly A Kite and Farm Fresh paper pads along with White, Pacific, and Melon Cardstock.  I cut out the focal panel using Nesties and a Big Shot.  The left-hand edge of the Pacific and striped panel were created using the Spiral Punch, and I added some Paper Piercing to the large White Cardstock panel.  After adding some Stitching, Rhinestones, and tons of Dimensionals the card was complete.  Whatcha think?

That’s it for me!  If you get lost along the way the entire hop list will be posted at each of the Main blogs! Have fun and thanks for joining us today!  You’re next stop is TANYA’S BLOG!  I’ll see you back here soon!  Until then…

…Love You Bunches!

Just stopping by with a quick card for you today using another fabulous By LORi Designs’ image.  I wanted to showcase the new “Puddle Jumper Harper” along with one of the sentiments included in the set.  I printed the edited image out and colored it all with Copic Sketch Markers.  I wanted to keep the layout simple, so I only used a single layer...the focal panel.  I paired the completed image with some Enchanted Evening Cardstock from PTI.  After adding some Paper Piercing, Ribbon, and a few Dimensionals the card was complete.  Whatcha think?

That’s it for me today!  Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see you back here tomorrow with another CASE Study card!  Until then…

…Happy Birthday

THANK GOD…IT’S FRIDAY!!!  I don’t know about you all, but it has been one long week here at the Kerin house!  The boys are finally settled back into the school routine, and I am slowly getting back into the habit of stamping during the day again. 

Speaking of stamping, I wanted to let everyone know that I’ve stepped down from the TGF Design Team, so my Fridays are open for whatever I want to showcase.  I love Marie, Jessica, all of the Farmers, and all of the fans at TGF…but I really felt the need to step down since my mojo and heart just weren’t in it anymore.  I will still be using their FABULOUS images, and I might even be participating in a few of their challenges.  LOVE YOU, LADIES…and thanks for being such a wonderful design team!!!

Now for today’s card for yesterday’s BLD Challenge #2 at the By LORi Designs’ Blog…a Color Challenge (Red, Saffron, Chocolate, Kraft).  Once again, I have combined three different images using Photoshop Elements 8.0 (you can check out my Video Tutorial to see how it’s done).  I used “Wagon Tales PJ Katie”, “Puddle Jumpers Winter Landon”, and “Puddle Jumpers Party Time Piper” to create the focal panel.

Once I saved the new image, I printed it out and colored it all with Copic Sketch Markers.  The panel was cut out with a Nesties Die, and I added a sentiment panel using one of the sentiments from the new “Little Talks 2” set.  I paired the completed image with some patterned papers from SU’s  Bella Rose and Tall Tales Designer Series Paper packs along with some Kraft and Chocolate Cardstock.  After adding some Stitching, a Button with Twine, Silver Nail Heads, and several Dimensionals the card was complete.  Whatcha think?

That’s it for me today!  Thanks for stopping by, and be sure to head over to the BLD Blog to play along with this week’s challenge!  I’ll see you back here tomorrow with a peek at some of my new favorite stamps!  Until then…

…Hello There, My Sweets

Just stopping by with a quick card for you today using some of the fabulous By LORi Designs’ images.  I combined “Lollipops-Ella”, “Lollipops-Cat”, and one of the “Lollipops-Sweet Treats” to create this sweet focal panel.  Want to know how to combine your digital images like I did?  Then check out my Video Tutorial!  It’s easy and so much fun…and you can create so many different images this way!

Once I saved the new image, I printed it out and colored it all with Copic Sketch Markers.  I used the Out-of-the-Box Technique along with a Nesties Die to cut out the completed focal panel.  I paired the completed image with some patterned papers from October Afternoon’s  Modern Homemaker paper pad along with some Red, Summer, and Leaf Green  Cardstock.   I printed a sentiment from my computer, and added a diecut flower with leaves beside it.  After adding some Stitching, Ribbon, and several Dimensionals the card was complete.  Whatcha think?

That’s it for me today!  Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see you back here tomorrow with a special announcement!  Until then…

…A Few Of My Favorite Things from 2010

Another year has come and gone, and we’re at the beginning of a new one.  I wanted to take a look back and share some of my favorite things from this past year with you all today. 

It’s hard to believe that I was watercoloring at the beginning of the year, then my life changed with the arrival of my Copic Sketch Markers!  In the words of my sweet friend, Jessica Diedrich…”Taste the rainbow, baby”!  LOL!  My life hasn’t been the same since these little puppies arrived. :)

Then there was my favorite new recipe of 2010…Lemon Pasta with Roasted Shrimp:

 

My favorite trip of 2010 with my favorite people, Pam Varnell and Jessica Diedrich…Summer CHA in Chicago, IL (pictured with Sankari Wegman…she happens to be another favorite of mine):

And of course there are my favorite photos of my favorite fellas:

Christian- 16 years old

Gabriel- 14 years old (pictured with his best friend, Jessica)

And my gorgeous-yet-goofy hubby, Chuck (pictured with our niece, Danielle):

Then there are my favorite cards from 2010:

January 2010

February 2010

March 2010

April 2010

May 2010

June 2010

July 2010

August 2010

September 2010

October 2010

November 2010

December 2010

What are a few of YOUR favorite things?  Will you continue doing those things, or will you start a new adventure in the new year?  I don’t know about you, but I want the adventure…bring on the NEW!  I can’t wait to discover all of the soon-to-be favorite things, and I can’t wait to share it all with you in 2011!

That’s it for me!  I want to wish you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!  Thanks for stopping by for the trip down memory lane, and I’ll see you back here Tuesday with a card for By LORi Designs. Until then…