The Inking spot of Crain Creations

Just Us Girls #188: A WHITE Technique!

Ok, so seriously, this could be one of my fave cards!  This is my week as Challenge Hostess over at Just Us Girls and I'm challenging yall to use a white "medium" on your creation.  Now it can be white ink, white crayons, white chalk, white pastel pencils... it's just gotta be white!  Easy Peasy, huh?  Well it was until I realized my White Pigment pad had dried out and so did the refill bottle!!! Dang-Blasted!!  I knew I wanted to use the new Chalkboard Memories set co-designed by my gal Tobi Crawford so I decided to break out some VersaMark and White Embossing powder (if EP isn't a medium, it is now!;)).  I also stamped it on In The Navy blue cs (from Gina K) instead of black.  

After getting everything embossed and pretty I took a #230 Pastel pencil and did some shading areound the images and then smudging with my finger.  I used the same pencil to add some initials inside the heart (yup, this is gonna be hubby's b-day card!).  I used From the Heart dies (from verve) for the red hearts on the "chalk board", the arrow is from the Arrow die (also from Verve).  Voila!! 

Thanks so much for popping by, be sure to head over to the JUGs blog for more deets and some DT inspiration!  Can't wait to see what you create :)

Just Us Girls #184 & Kraftin Kimmie!

Hey yall!  Happy Saturday :)  This week's JUGs challenge is to use the OMBRE Technique... dark to light! We also have a fabulous sponsor for this week's JUGs Challenge...Dare 2B Artzy!  The winner of this week's challenge will get to choose a stamp set of their choice!!  Pop over to their site and check out their fabulous goodies!!

This week's fabby hostess is the Fabulous Vicki, and I have to admit this challenge stumped me for a bit, but I REALLY LOVE the way it turned out!  One of the challenges from last weekend's Springtime Krafty Krop was an inspiration photo with blues and blue/greens so I grabbed an old Couture Cardstock pack I had and chose 3 perfect colors!!  I intended on grabbing a ribbon that was a bit darker still, so 4 shades total.  I have 2 heart dies from Verve, and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them!  The sizes were just perfection!!  The sentiment is from Kraftin Kimmie's Neverland Sentiments.

Stamps: Neverland Sentiments (Kraftin Kimmie)  Extras: Jotted Heart die & From the Heart die (Verve)  Challenges: JUGS184, Kraftin Kimmie Krafty Krop Challenge #6

Just Us Girls #183, gettin' sketchy!

Yay the weekend is here!! :)  Well it's time for another Just Us Girls Challenge and this is my week to host!!  You can see the sketch below, or pop on over to the JUGs blog for more deets and to link up your creation!  We are also welcoming a brand new JUGHead to the group, Nancy Leppek :)  So for my card tonight I grabbed my Verve goodies and had some fun!  The sentiment and flower are from the Brighter Days stamp set.  I just LOVE the look of blue/green & brown with a touch of pink :)  I LOVE quick and easy cards from time to time.

Be sure to visit the rest of the JUGs girls and then get stampy!  Thanks for popping by, hope to see you again soon!

Lisa Kind 
Maria Levine 
Marisa Ritzen 
Nancy Leppek

An anniversary card for the Hubby

Just a quick post here.  I have an Anniversary coming up and this week's Viva la Verve sketch was a perfect starting point!  The sentiment is from Stronger Love by Verve, and the dies are Arrow, Jotted Heart and From the Heart are all from Verve!

 

Viva la Verve baby!

Let's be honest, I could care less about ruling the world, just fork-over the caffeine!!!  This card is for this months Viva la Verve week #3 sketch.  A couple of months ago I won a Mojo challenge and this is the set I bought with my gift cert... LOVE!!

Stamps: Better with You (Verve Stamps)  Paper: Stella & Rose (MME)  Extras: Brown Faux Suede ribbon, Espresso Liquid Pearls, Aqua Rhinestones, Jotted Heart Die (Verve)  Copics: E51, E53, E55, W0  Challenges: VLVFeb2013

Just Us Girls #175: Get masking!

Hey yall!  Today is Saturday and I have a two fabulous challenges for ya.  First up is my Just Us Girls Challenge, MASKING!  The sketch for my card is also this week's Viva la Verve.

I stamped my sentiment, from All About You, and then stamped the heart from Heart to Heart over it with  Beach Glass ink (Vivid).  I have to admit, I don't often mask... I've forgotten how fun it is and how great it looks :)  Be sure to visit my fellow JUGHeads to check out more Masking goodness!  I'll be back shortly with my Kraftin Kimmie challenge card :)

Andrea Matthews 
Elise Durenberger 
Lisa Kind 
Maria Levine 
Marisa Ritzen 
Vicki Dutcher 

 

Stamps: All About You, Heart to Heart (Verve Stamps)  Paper: Lucky Love (MME)  Challenges: JUGS175, VLVFeb2013 

Ribbon Carousel Challenge & Viva la Verve!

Hey yall!  This month's challenge on Ribbon Carousel is LOVE IS IN THE AIR!  The sketch for my card is this week's Viva la Verve, an awesome sketch by Miss Amber (LOVE her!).  I broke out some of my Valentine-y Verve sets and got busy!  See those arrows?  Well if you remember when the Ribbon Carousel Crew hopped with the Verve Diva's you'll remember that Julee sent us that die to play with (along with some other goodies)... OMG!!!!  I LOVE that die!!!  I am telling you, I have to work hard at NOT using it on EVERYthing!  The funny thing is, is that if I were shopping I'd have thought "nah, I'll probably never use it" lol!  Well that's all I have for ya for now, I'll be back tomorrow with my Just Inklined card!

Stamps: Stronger Love (Verve Stamps)  Paper: Lucky Love (MME)  Extras: Chocolate satin ribbon, Red flowers, Arrow Die & Classy Label Die  (Verve Stamps), Rouge Liquid Pearls  Challenges: RCC77, 

VLVFeb2013

Just Inklined: Daisy & Watson

Hey yall!  Hope you had a fabulous weekend :)  This is Daisy & Watson from Just Inklined stamps, tell me they are not hysterical?!?  

I've been wanting to work on my coloring (especially since I seemed to have forgotten EVERYthing over the Christmas holiday!).  So I printed this image out a couple of times with the intent that I'd try some new things with my Copics.  I started with her skin (trying some new colors) and hair... I was so excited with the way they turned out that I was too afraid to color any more, lol!  Well I got everything all colored in and then decided to play around with some shading using my new Faber-Castell pastel pencils... I'm still learning here and NOT ready to get too bold, but I like the way it turned out!  I broke down the copics and pencils I used below (mostly for my own reference) ;) 

Stamps: Daisy & Watson (Just Inklined stamps), Circular Sayings (Verve Stamps)  Paper: Summer Fresh by Simple Stores  Extras: Embossed Oval die (Verve), Fresh Cut Grass die (MFT Stamps), Red stitched ribbon, Sakura Stardust pen Faber-Castell Pastel Pencils #157, #199, #273  Copics: (see below)

Daisy's Hair: E11, E23, E39
Daisy's Skin: E000, E01, E11
Daisy's Clothes: G20, G21, G24, B41, B45, B97, E31, E33, E35, FC157
Sign: Black .5 Multiliner, E70, E71, E74, E77, E79, FC199
Watson: R29, R39, C0, C1, E30, Y28, YR20, E89, E19, FC273
Sky: B32, B21, B60, 0 Colorless Blender
Grass: G02, YG63, YG67, Y18

The Verve Diva's & the Ribbon Carousel Crew are hoppin'

Today Verve Stamps and the Ribbon Carousel are teaming up to bring you a LOVE-ly hop!  Be sure to leave some love on all of the designer's blogs for your chance to win 1 of 2 amazing prizes, Verve's latest release or a brand NEW Ribbon Carousel (details on this are on both Verve & Ribbon Carousel's blogs)!

I just LOVE stamping with Verve goodies and today I took advantage and made two cards :)  Julee sent us some awesome goodies to play with and I couldn't wait to get inky!  For my first card I used this week's Mojo sketch.  I just love stamping with great sentiments, it gives me a chance to really play with patterned paper...there is no solid colored cardstock on this card (well other than the base and mat)!  I colored the heart on the heart with a Copic and then went over it with some Clear Glaze pen.  Some soft silky Vintage Seam Binding is the perfect touch on such a lovey-dovey card :)

Stamps: Stronger Love (Verve Stamps)  Paper: Lost & Found 6x6 (My Mind's Eye)  Extra's: Jotted Heart die (Verve), Arrow die (Verve), From the Heart die (Verve), , Espresso Dimensional Pearls (Adirondak), Clear Sakura Glaze Pen, Ivory Vintage Seam Binding (Ribbon Carousel), White pearls, Martha Stewart border punch  Challenges: Mojo270

For my second card I used this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch.  I just love the arrow dies on the top :)  The sentiment on the outside is from Stronger Love, the scattered hearts are from Wings of Love.

This is the inside of my card.  The heart and the 'love. hope. dream' are from Wings of Love.  The words are actually 3 individual stamps, I placed them all on my block and stamped.  The heart was inked up with some VersaMark and then stamped on some Riding Hood Red cardstock.  Thanks Julee for the wonderful goodies!!!!  Thanks for popping by, and happy hopping :)

Stamps: Stronger Love (Verve Stamps), Wings of Love (Verve Stamps)  Paper: Lucky in Love 6x6 (My Mind's Eye)  Extra's: Arrow die (Verve), button, Pink Twine (Ribbon Carousel), Ivory Grosgrain (Ribbon Carousel), Black Jute (Ribbon Carousel), 3/4" V Striped Twill (Ribbon Carousel), Martha Stewart border punch  Challenges: SSSC173

 

RCC74 - Giving Thanks / Fall Spirit Challenge

Happy Fall Y'all!!  Have you played along yet in this month's Ribbon Carousel challenge?  Well you still have time to get inky!!  Head over to this post or this one for some Fall inspiration!  I love theese swirly pumpkins from Verve set Tall Oaks!  

I love adding some Spica Glitter pen on those swirlys :)  The sketch for my card comes from this week's Mojo sketch.  Paper and twine from Ribbon Carousel of course ;) Sorry for the quick post, but thanks for popping by.  Hope to see you again soon!

Christmas Mojo!

I can finally sit in my chair long enough to make a card :)  So I got out some Verve goodies that arrived recently and got busy!  Not sure I love the paper, but absolutely LOVE the die and stamp!!  Can't wait to get busy Christmas Card making with this set!!  Thanks for popping by, hope to see you again soon!

Stamps: Bright Spirits (Verve)  Paper: Kris Kringle (by SEI)  Extra's: Winter Fun dies (Verve), Red Pearls, Platinum Pearls (Liquid Pearls), Gold Elastic Cording, Black Striped ribbon (Ribbon Carousel)  Challenges: Mojo266

Anni-VERVE-sary Challenge #3

Whew!  I made it!!  I got all 5 of Verve's Anni_VERVE-sary Challenges done :)  This is my last one, for challenge #4... I LOVE this sketch.  I know it seems like I used the Love Notes set ALOT lately, and YES I do own other Verve sets, but I just LOVE the sentiments in this set!!!!  

Stamps: Love Notes (Verve Stamps)  Challenges: VSAVS12C

 

Anni-VERVE-sary Challenge #2... Anniversary card for hubby

Ohhhh, THIS card is for hubby!  Ok, so our anniversary isn't for another several months, but consider me early!!!  There's a first time for everything!!  This is for challenge #2 of Verve's Anni-VERVE-sary challenges... an Anniversary card, so I started going through my Verve stamps to see what I wanted to use and when I came across this sentiment the whole card just came together in my head.  I just LOVE when that happens!!  Both the Swirly circle and the sentiment are from the Fairy Tales set, I stamped the swirly in silver and it just looks so crisp and perfect on the black!  The center is a very pale pink... I just love how everything just POPS here :)  Naturally it needed a bog, fat pretty double bow!  The silver cording and silver "pearls" balance just perfectly!  Thanks Verve, for a week of amazing challenges!!!  I've got one more to go in my quest to conquer these challenges!

 

Stamps: Fairy Tales (Verve Stamps)  Challenges: VSAVS12B, SFYTT2012 (August)

 

Some Mojo and a Verve Card Carnival!

Last week I got some new Verve goodies and what perfec timing with all of the challenges they have going on now!  Did you know that Verve is doing a Customer Card Carnival?  Well I didn't but I do now! and I just couldn't wait to play.  I got to use my new Verve goodies for this card and this week's Mojo sketch was just perfect!  There is a die for that heart, but of course I neglected to order it last week (yup, it's on my wish list now!!)

The stamp set is called Love Notes (and is on sale right now :))  There is a small trio of hearts and an "XoXo" that I used along with some VersaMark on my background paper (Calypso Coral by SU!)... LOVE this look; not too  busy, not too plain!.  Love how quickly this card came together and I just LOVE that stamp set!!!!!  I can see this one getting TONS of use!

Thanks for popping in, hope to see you again soon!

Stamps: Love Notes (Verve Stamps)  Paper: Honey Cake (MME), Calypso Coral (SU!), Vanilla (SU!), Ballet Blue (SU!)  

 

Anni-VERVE-sary Challenge #4... CAS

Clean and Simple cards make me want to cry! lol!!  Everyone makes the most stunning CAS cards, so why do I struggle so much with them?!  Though with this card I think they are tears of joy... I REALLY love this card :)  I used the Tall Oaks set and I think I am in LOVE with coloring pumpkins!!

I had a great time coloring in the pumpkins with Copics, but I couldn't resist adding a little sparkle to those vines!  Spica Glitter pens just rock!

Stamps: Tall Oaks (Verve Stamps)  Extra's: Olive ribbon, Olive & Gold Spica Glitter pens  
Copics: YR0000, YR00, YR12, YR15, YR18  Challenges: VSAVS12D