Hop Art Studio

Sit A While

 

 

Have a Happy 4th of July!!

(All stamps, paper, and embellishment Ginak Designs)

A Single Step

I had fun making this card. I used Copic markers and Prismacolor Pencils with Gamsol. If you don't have Prismacolor Pencils than you can use Kohl I Noor Pencils. They also have a very soft lead. You can find them in Gina's store.

I stamped my kids using Memento ink and used a mask that I had created earlier, placing it over them, to stamp the grass and the the rocks. All of the elements on my card are from my set for Ginak called "The Journey".

I began by coloring in the children with my copic markers. I then did the sky and the ground using cross hatching strokes with my Prismacolor pencils. I then used a stump dipped into the Gamsol to smooth out the pencil lines and blend all the areas.

I added extra shading to the dress and shirt using the Pencils.

The background paper is a wonderful digital that I printed out. You can find Ginak's digital paper on StampTV and Ginak Design.

I have a ton of stuff I need to start working on. Is there ever enough time in the day? LOL

You can find more beautiful samples of my new stamp set at StampTV.com

Key to Heaven

I have been busy going through my stamps and have a bag full of them to sell. All I need to do is photo edit them and post them in my Etsy shop. It's time consuming but hopefully I'll get it done this week.

Meanwhile I've been busy creatively. I made this card using my new set for Ginak called "The Journey".

I stamped the door and kids using Memento black and colored them in using Copic markers.

The potted plants and the kids are raised off the page with dimensional tape (3M).

I printed out Ginak's digital paper on 8.5 x 11 piece of Pure Luxury layering weight by resizing them to in Adobe Elements to 4.25 x 5.5 inches they are the perfect size for cards. Four digital papers will fit on one sheet of Pure Luxury.

The saying is also from my new set.

I hope you are enjoying all of the wonderful samples that the design team has done using my new set. I know I have!

Road to A Friend's House

What a fun day! Did you get a chance to see all the amazing samples that the design team made using all of the new sets? Wowzer!!!

I loved all the different takes on my truck. The flames, the colors, the combos with other stamps. Great!

I did something a bit more subtle, trying to keep that old sepia look.

I used GinaK's gorgeous new card stock Soft Sand for the card base and the top layer.

I cut out a free form shape out of acetate (shrink plastic actually) and sponged the background. I was going for clouds but I think it looks more like mountains covered in the background covered in mist. (Yea! That's what I was really trying to create...mountains...lol.)

I used the straight edge of the acetate to create the horizon line.

I stamped the saying and the truck using a dark brown ink pad and colored in the highlights using a white Prismacolor pencil. Then I sponged around the top layer using Creamy Caramel (SU!). I attached it to the card front and then sewed around it.

I had my little one pick a number and the winner of my new set is...

"You-Hooooo,Asela! Over here!  Pick me!  Pick me!  Gabriela (Gabi With An Eye)"

Congrats Gabriela! Send me your mailing address and I'll put the new set in the mail ASAP.

The Journey

Yea! I'm so excited to be able to start sharing cards I've created using my new set "The Journey".

I used my girl and boy image (some see Mom and son, it was big sis and lil' bother actually. But I'm happy to see that it's versatile.) I stamped them using Memento and created a mask by stamping it again on a post it note and cut it out.

I stamped the chair and did the same thing creating a mask.

I drew the horizon line with Copic Mulitiliner black pen. Masked the images and started coloring the backgrounds. I used Copic markers for the girl and boy and chair. I used copic for the sand and grass. I used Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol for the ocean.

The clouds were created by punching out a scallop circle (you can use SU!'s or Nestibilities for the template) and with a sponge dipped in blue ink I sponged around the scallops. Moving the template and increasing and decreasing pressure on the sponge to create darker and lighter areas.

Love that striped paper! It's GinaK Digital. The spotted one is BoBunny. And see that shiny brad? Well, it's actually a sticker! Ginak will have it available this release.

The design team has created some amazing samples using my sets. You can start your hopping at GinaK. You'll also get to see the new free for three set "Many Wishes"

Then hop on over to Carolyn, Cathy,  Cindy,  Donna,  Emily,  Erika, Jessica,  Joanne, Kurtis,  Lee,  Lynn, Melanie, and Theresa. 

And the CenterStage Spotlight Design Team Selma and  Pam  join us.

Tonight is the release party from 7-10 pm over on Splitcoast Stampers Click here to enter the party. Then at 10pm all the stamp set, new paper and accesories will be available.

Don't forget to post in the PREVIOUS post for a chance to win my new stamp set.      

Win My Newest Set!

Here's a sneak peak at my new set for GinaK that will be introduced tomorrow. I can't wait to see what her talented design team come up with! It's so exciting. They always blow me away.

If you would like a chance to win this new set leave a message on THIS POST by Thursday the 25 by 12 midnight EST.

I will announce the winner on Friday.

Hop on over to Gina's blog http://blog.ginakdesigns.com/ for links to all of the wonderful creations of Melanie's and Nina's gorgeous new sets. You won't be disappointed.

Friends Forever

Every Friday I post a color combination to inspire our Florida group of stamper on StampTV. I made this card using the colors for last weeks combo.

I stamped the rose from my set Friendships Garden using Memento ink and colored in with my Copic markers.

You see that honeycomb piece in the back ground? Well... after the drywall guy came and fixed the hole in the wall that the air conditioning guy left (in my brand new wall!) he was picking up his mess outside. I picked up a piece of paper and he said "I'll throw that away for you" and I looked at him puzzled. "Oh no! It's so cool!" And he laughed. I asked, was is it? . And he said it was the backing of the drywall tape.  (Okay, you know it's an illness when you drool over drywall tape backing!)

One side is slick but the other side is paper. I lightly swiped a white ink pad over it. And adhered it to the card.

I've had that ribbon for a lifetime! it matched the color for the combo and I just had to use it.

Don't forget to check GinaK's Blog for previews of the new sets by Theresa and Rupa. I know you are going to love them!  

You Rock!

Ha! This is how I look on a Monday morning after a long and hot weekend. LOL

I used my sons digital stamp "Tongue Monster" that I have listed in my Etsy shop to create this card.

I printed it out on plain ole 80lb printer paper and colored him in using Copic markers.

I used SCS Wednesday sketch challenge for the layout.

Saying is by GinaK.

This week is the release of my newest set for Ginak. I've been busy making samples using it. Hope you like it.

Keep checking Gina's blog for sneak peaks and blog hops! I'm excited to see what all of her talented design team come up with. All of the sets this month are awesome!

Check back this week for a chance to win my new set.

Time Together

I was sick during the last release of Ginak stamps. I loved all of the them. It's hard to believe but next week you'll be able to get some previews of the newest stamps that will be available.

They are all so wonderful! I know you'll love them.

I used Nina's new set "Special Fathers" for the clock and Gina's set "Eclectic Summer" for the flowers. I embossed the clock and colored it in using Copic markers. Be extra careful if you use black embossing powder when you color in your image with your markers. It will smudge the black embossing powder and ruin your coloring. So color with-in the line!

Saying is also by GinaK Designs.

My friend Deb (the brand new Dirty Dozen gal on SCS for June!) is coming over this afternoon to stamp and chat. I'm looking forward to it. My days are so full of boy stuff lately that it's going to be nice to spend the afternoon with a girlfriend.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Inchie Magnets

I spent some part of yesterday finding my mojo again. One of the things that usually helps me is to reorganize my space, be it as small as it actually is, it doesn't take long! LOL

I stacked one wire shelf (the kind that hook into each other) onto the one next to it to create a fairly tall unit. I then consolidated all of my SU! and other stamp sets here. My GinaK ones are directly behind my table on a 2 shelf wire unit for easy access.

I then bought another 2 shelf wire unit and placed it next to the taller one. I put odds and ends on this one. Re-organizing helps me to discover things that I haven't used in a while and get's the mojo going.

One thing I found was a $1 magnet set that I bought at Michael's. I peeled the fronts off the magnets. (You can punch your own inch magnets by using those thin magnet sheets you can buy at Michaels or office supply stores.) I then stamped the animals from my Zoo Animals set and colored them in using my Copic markers.

I used a punch I have that is just a bit smaller than 1 inch to punch out the animals and punched out 1 inch black squares. Glued the animals to the black background and then the black to the magnets front.

I saw the cutest little page magnetic markers. I think I may try to re-create them using my little Zoo magnet.

Lifted Up

Finally! I was able to sneak a few minutes away from hubby and the boys and create a card. And boy did it feel good.

I had colored these adorable hot air balloons by GinaK,  Eclectic Summer StampTV Kit, using my Copic markers. I stamped the front balloon then masked it. Stamped the other 2 balloon behind it.

Love Gina's new line of papers. They are all really nice to work with. I used In The Navy, Rocket Red, and Pure Luxury White Layering on my card. I also used Gina's ribbon and brads.

Saying is from my set "Friendships Garden."

Hot air balloons aren't the only things on the rise, so our our temps. We may get up to 99 by the weeks end! Ouch! Good thing I like the heat 'cause it's smoking hot here. Hope everyone is doing fine and enjoying their summer.

Stamp sets: Eclectic Summer StampTV Kit, Friendships Garden and Lazy Days of Summer

Coloring

 

This is all I was able to get done over the weekend. I just can't seem to get into a routine lately. Hopefully things will begin to find their way into the correct flow and I'll have my stamping time back again.

If nothing else, at least I seem to have time to color!

(Thanks Melisa for sending me some of these images. They are great!)

Well...

I'm still alive! I did get something done but can't share it with you since it's for a challenge that I participate in monthly. But at least I was able to get something creative made this week. And it felt great.

While being ill those 2 weeks I at the same time had that time of the month happen. Well...one week later it happened again! Seriously...how bad can things get. I mean a one week break. Yep, I'm peri-menopausal and it really "s_ _ ks"! LOL

I also have Hashimotos Thyroiditis. I did find an excellent new doctor here (miss the doctor I found when we were stationed in California, boy was she great. She's the one who finally correctly diagnosed me and got my meds right.) Anyway, this new doc is good. He checks all of my hormone levels. My estrogen is still fine. But my progesterone and testosterone are almost non existent.

It's just taking time to get my levels correct. And I'm just not loving it!

Well...eventually menopause will officially hit and hopefully I'll make it through it fine.

So I'm here .... just not 100% yet.

Bonus Room

Well, I'm pooped! Seriously, I know I saved a ton of money doing all the painting myself-and I love painting-but the trim and baseboards, oh my! I was able to put on the 2 coats on the baseboards and worked on the other 3 windows yesterday but I just couldn't go on and finished the other 3 windows yesterday. They are putting in the carpet today (I hate carpet, lol) so I had to paint as much as I could.

Oh, why put in carpet if I don't care for it? First, it's cheaper than putting in wood, secondly it will help to insulate the room and deaden the sound of the drums.

So needless to say that I got nothing creative done this week to share on my blog. Sorry. It's just that I really needed to concentrate on finishing the bonus room. And I'm really please that it was done on schedule and I love how it is turning out.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Fairies

    

I drew these little ACEO (ATC size) fairies and colored them in using my Copic markers. It was just something fun to do.

Well, this weekend found me painting the walls of our new bonus room. I wish I could say that I will be using all of the space as my new art studio but alas it's not the case. With a hubby who is a drummer and musician and 2 boys it's going to become the man cave and hang out room! I'm okay with this. My hubby really needs that space more than I do. I've had to share my space with a set of drums for the last 24 years! So trust me it's nice that it's up and away from me....lol

I'll be finishing the rest of the painting, hopefully today. I'll have to check the walls and see if they need another coat. My 17 year helped me paint. Bless his heart. He tried, but left a lot of unevenly coated areas. I went behind him and tried to even out the walls. Still...

By the end of the week we should be able to start moving all of the stuff back upstairs. I can't wait! I hate having a mess around me.

Finally!

Yeah! I'm finally feeling more myself. I really think that the antibiotics made me feel yukky. I know they helped me but I was in such a funk. Now that I'm not on them I'm feeling better. I'm so sensitive to antibiotics.

I'm looking forward to getting back to stamping, coloring and creating this weekend. I'll be really busy next week.

Have a wonderful weekend! Thanks for all the happy thoughts you left me on my blog.

Oh Well....

Sorry for the lack of post. I'm on my second round of antibiotics. No I don't have H1N1. I ended up after a week of being sick with sinus and ear infections, hence more drugs. Add to the fact that I'm allergic to just about every antibiotic made! LOL...makes for a tough case. This new drug seems to be working fine without any side effects. That's a good thing!

So, I'm still really yukky and feeling down. Hopefully by the end of the week my funk will be gone and I'll be feeling up to being creative again.

Thanks for the emails and well wishes.