Being Good is So Hard!!!!

I've resisted the urge to buy supplies for a bit. I ran out of adhesive a couple of days ago and was planning a painful trip to the 'pretty' store (meaning anything scrappy), but I was going through my photobox and found the forgotten refill I had put there (I store refills there on occasion because I use them when I scrap and of course I use photos when I scrap!)--a very welcome and happy surprise, but not a surprise.
Tonight I'm going to work on some layouts and some cards. I've gotten a few ideas that I scribble on the margins of my notepad, and ideas to try. There are so many inspirations around us, seriously, the internet is wonderful. It's the best place to share ideas and inspirations and learn new things!
For example, in the last couple of days, I've signed up for some new sites to help inspire me.
www.monamememories.com
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/
http://snrcardiverse.ning.com/

I'd heard of splitcoaststampers.com a long time ago, but I'd never actually signed up for an account. WOW! It's wonderful. There is so much to look at and to read. It's definitely a project for this weekend--getting accustomed to their massive site.
SnrCardIverse was something I heard about from a friend, and I like the tutorials it has, I also like a lot of the onboard video applications. It seems like it'll be really easy to upload the videos, so that's really cool. Mon Ame Memories is a really cool forum and store. There's a real sense of community there, and no drama, which is really cool. They're even having a design team call until tomorrow. I would suggest stopping there and seeing some of the wonderful work. There are a lot of talented artists there, and a lot of diverse projects.

Of course, I still visit Stamphaven (and you really should too) and TwoPeas (mostly to talk to people and to participate in swaps)...Seriously, there is SO MUCH out there on the internet. And, I faithfully follow a lot of creators online, both through blogger and through bloglines (an RSS reader). We're living in a great time I tell you.

Brand New Coloring Technique

So, as I said in my last post, the Coloring Challenge over at Stamp Haven's Winter Haven, has you submit two pieces, one featuring something you usually do (mine was twinkling H2Os) and the other that you've never done.
I knew once I saw Sandy's Amazing video on Magic Coloring that I had to do it. And so I experimented the better part of the week and just didn't get it right. So then I saw a webisode on Hero Arts, where she explained it as well. Then I watched Sandy's video again, and I GOT it! Finally!!!
Now, let me point out that if I were to read about it, I would have been fine because I can learn anything from a book. The video took me some time. At first, I was just using once color, and then last night, it was like a creative wind ran through the house, inspiring me--I was supposed to use 2 colors!!!!
Here's a link to Sandy's wonderful video. I like hers a bit better than the one at HA. Why? Well, first off, the kitty is wonderful, and secondly, I like that she keeps her points sharp.
I am unable to keep all my points sharp, however. My four favorite colors of my prismacolors (Mulberry, Crimson Red, Tuscan Red and one other one) seem to keep breaking, which I've heard could be a fault with the pencil themselves.
I love this Hero Arts Peacock! It took a while to color it, but I LOVE the result, which I thought I wouldn't be able to do. So I turned on a Netflix movie (Shelley DuVal's Fairie Tale Theatre Disc 6--anyone else remember this early 80s ABC staple?) and kept at it. I took my time, didn't rush through, and I was really pleased with how it turned out. So pleased, in fact, that I'm giving the card to someone at a birthday party tonight (shh!).
It's on the same glittery cardstock from DCWV as my other one. With BG's Urban Prarie Buttons, and some green ribbon that I had a piece of. I really like this ribbon, but have no idea who made it.

So, what's the moral of this little blog entry? If you're nervous to try something, try it any way. And if it doesn't turn out, it's a learning experience. If it does turn out, you'll love it...Good luck and Happy Creating!

The Coloring Technique I Know

So I was trying to do a few challenges for Winterhaven, over at Stamp Haven, and I spent a LOT of time last night working on one--the coloring challenge!
I love color. I love crayons. I love colored pencils. I love markers. I feel, truly, as if the world is a better, more colorful place thanks to my Caran D'Ache watercolor pencils (Which I was introduced to in Switzerland when I was 13). I finally got my second tin 15 years later, they last long and they seem to have the best color, in my opinion.
Well, instead of watercolors, I decided to do something else that I tend to use a lot, Twinkling H2Os. I can't remember which colors I used for this Hero Arts stamp, but I added a dot of Glossy Accents by ranger to a lot of the circles. The card is a DCWV glitter card and the accent paper is BG Urban Prarie, with the buttons from the same line (I LOVE BG lately, and I love their buttons, too).
The basic principle of the Coloring challenge is to do something you're used to doing, as well as something new. And I LOVE the something new that I did... Check it out in the next post.

I challenge You!

Yes, that's right. I challenge you...

To what?

To Create something for one of the challenges at StampHaven's WinterHaven...



It's a great site, filled with wonderful and creative people, and you will most definitely have a great time, work on something that will impress you and learn something. So go on, check out the forums at Stamp Haven and make a commitment to do something creative!