Blessings

Good Morning Everyone! TGIF! What a busy week it's been---I'm really looking forward to a quiet weekend---I hope!

Today I'm sharing a "girly" sort of card with all the pink, but also one that would hopefully help someone having a bad day.

TIP:In the Copic Certification class I recently took, I learned "feathering" by pulling the color from middle of image out or from outside edge in or both to blend in the middle. I'm still learning so you can see this somewhat in this image.

Card Recipe:

• Stamps-Flower for Daisy by GinaK and American Art Stamp
• Paper-BoBunny
• Nestibilities-round and scalloped round
• Bling-K and Co.
• Ribbon-Michael's
• Border Punch-Fiskars
• Cuttlebug Dot embossing folder
• Copic markers-Y02, Y08, RV23, R32

Hope you all enjoyed today's card and also that you will have a good weekend!

Cathy Clark

Itsy, Bitsy Yellow Polka Dot Bikini (it's really hot pink)

Can you tell I'm very fond of cute little girls (like my granddaughter) and the beach---a few of my favorite things! When I saw this stamp while surfing the web, I HAD to have it! She's just so darn cute, isn't she?!

I know it's still winter for alot of you, but we can all use a bit of sunshine in our lives.

The recipe for this card is:

• Girl and Sentiment stamps---Polka-Dot Emma from Gingersnap Stamps at www.allthatscraps.com
• DP and CS---The Paper Studio
• Ribbon---both from May Arts
• Nestibilities---oval and scalloped oval
• Copic markers:Y06, Y15, RV00, R20, RV02, RV04, and RV29

On this always busy middle-of -the week day, please slow down and LISTEN TO THE OCEAN!

Cathy Clark

It's a LOVE thing!

Love is in the air! I have a 24" twig tree that I decorate all year round and I just decorated it for Valentine's Day. It makes me smile and my 2 and 4 year old grandchildren love to see the changes each holiday.

I made another card for the "Heart" day mostly cause I think you can get as frilly as you want for this day and I love that! It's hard to see in this photo, but I wanted show the inside as well as the front of this one. The heart cut-out on the front peeks inside to the sentiment "Sweet Wonderful You". I really like that saying.

Recipe:

• Red cut-out card---Studio g
• DP---K & Company
• CS---GinaK
• Sentiment stamps---these are old and from unknown source
• Ink---Memento Tuxedo Black
• Ribbon---May Arts
• Border Punch---Martha Stewart
• Black Stickles Glitter Glue on Love setiment
• Corner Rounder---Creative Memories

Have a great day everybody and tell someone you LOVE them!

Cathy Clark

Swing Into A New Week!

Is it Monday already? Where did the weekend go? Hope you all had a good one. Mine was busy, but great! As I told you Friday, I was in WVa visiting my one year old grandson. It was a fun-filled, fast, tiring four days but I LOVE seeing him, so it's worth it!

The card I'm showing today is one of most favorite. First of all I love the color purple and the girl in the swing is such a beautiful image---so sweet and carefree! This is a birthday card for my only sister, my BEST friend!

Recipe:

• DP---Basic Gray
• CS---American Crafts
• Ink--Memento Tuxedo Black
• Girl in the Swing and Sentiment stamps---Flourishes
• Ribbon---May Arts
• Border Punch---Martha Stewart
• Copic markers: BV00, BV15, V17, Y06, E33, R11, R20, YG03, YG95, and G99
• Flower Soft: On tree and flowers under swing

Doesn't she remind you of Spring???

Cathy Clark

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday everyone!

Today I am actually in Charleston WVa visiting my son, daughter-in-law and my amazing one year old grandson Mark II. He is so beautiful, so sweet, and so much fun to be with! My daughter and her two young children from Florida came with me in hopes to see snow! It's warmed up a little this week here so we may not be making snow men or sledding---we'll see!

With Feb. 14th getting close, I made a valentine that I'll be sending to a close friend. Hope you like it! The recipe is:

• Heart Tree stamp---Ippity Stamps (image given to me by sweet friend Kelly Landers)
• Sentiment stamp---Inkadinkado
• CS---American Crafts
• DP---Basic Gray and My Mind's Eye
• Nestibilities circle and scalloped circle
• Ink---Memento Tuxedo Black
• Border Punch---Martha Stewart
• Both ribbons---May Arts
• Copic markers: YG03, YG95, E33, E35, E47, RV02, RV06, RV29, R37, B12, and B05

Hope you all have a good, good Friday and a wonderful weekend! Usually I say something about the beach or sunshine here but today I say THINK SNOW!!! (at least in southern WVa!)

Cathy Clark

Copic Sketch 0000 Markers

I got my set of Copic Sketch very pale 0000 markers today! I feel like a kid at Christmas! They are such pretty, very light colors and since I took the Copic Certification class recently, I now see why they will be so helpful with blending.

TIP: I always thought the marker called "blender" was for just that---blending, but I learned that is not the case. The "blender" marker is actually used to erase little mistakes such as bleeding outside the lines of your image, or "picking-up" color to imitate fur, maybe streaks in hair, or a sweater. Did you know you can moisten a piece of an old washcloth with blender solution and "dab" it on an image you've colored with your Copic markers and create "spots" such as frog's skin (see below), or the look of a worn pair of blue jeans, or a fuzzy sweater? It's a really good look with hardly any effort at all!. It's called "Dirty Rag" technique. Try it!

Today I made a "cutesy" card of a little girl playing in the rain. I love to create little girl cards because I have a beautiful four year old granddaughter that I simply adore, and these cards always make me think of her!

The recipe for this rainy day girl is:

• Girl stamp---Belinda Bumberboots from Stamping Bella
• Sentiment stamp---Judith Stamps
• Cuttlebug "Dots" embossing folder for white CS background
• Yellow CS ---American Crafts using the oval and scalloped oval Nestbilities
• Ink---Memento Tuxedo Black
• Ribbon---May Arts
• Stickles glitter glue used on wings, rain drops and puddle
• Copic markers---Y08, Y15, YR23, RV02, RV04, RV06, R00, R20, B12, and B93

I hope this might cheer up any "Under The Weather" girl and she'll be having FUN IN THE SUN soon!

Cathy Clark

"Little Things"

Can you tell by my posts that I'm in the mood for Spring? When I lived up north, I could not wait till the first sight of crocuses pushing up through the snow---I knew Spring would actually come soon! Winter was long, cold and dreary so I loved spring!
Today I have a very bright, happy card that was really fun to make!
Card recipe:

• Ladybug and Sentiment stamps---Ladybug Friends by CC Designs (Cookie Crumbs illustrated by Diane Zechman);
• Ladybug Trail stamp---Stampendous
• CS and DP---Basic Gray
• Border Punch---Martha Stewart
• Ribbon---Michael's
• Copic markers: 100, R17, R22, R32, YG03, G99, and Y17
• Stickles glitter glue

Have a Bright Sunshiney Day!

Cathy Clark

Hope everyone is having a good winter day!

It’s finally warmed up a little here in Florida. I’ve lived here almost 20 years and never experienced such a long period with such cold temperatures. I know, I know it’s NOTHING like many are having elsewhere, but I moved here for the BEACH, not snow!!!

Today I have a very traditional card to share.

Sorry that the color is not too bright---I’m still learning on all the aspects of photography, blogs,etc. Rose stamp is from GinaK “A Year of Flowers” by Asela Hopkins---what a beautiful set by an equally beautiful person! It is a single rose which I cut out six times along with the leaves in the set and layered them with foam tape and arranged them in the cresent shape. Sentiment by Hero Arts; DP and CS by My Mind’s Eye; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; “Bling” by K & Co.; Copic markers in BV00, V06, V12, V17, V09, BG 93, G21 and BG96. I was so pleased recently when this card was chosen ”Card of the Week” on StampTV Florida group.

That’s all for today . Wishing you SUNSHINEY DAY, especially you northern friends!
Cathy Clark

My new Home in Cyberspace!

At this moment I’m seeing myself in that beach chair, digging my toes in the sand , listening to the waves wash in and out, and feeling the sun on my SPF 50 slathered body (I‘m blonde and green eyes!)… NOT!!! But I can dream can’t I??? Something else I’ve dreamed about for a fairly long time is starting a blog and I’m finally doing it...today!

My name is Cathy Clark and I LOVE to stamp. And I LOVE to color, but more on that in a moment.
First and foremost I am a Christian, a Wife to a great guy, Paul for the past 15 years, a Mom to four amazing grown children: Bill, Todd, Mark and Jill, and a “Mimi” to three adorable grandchildren: Halsey-4 ½, Bryce-2 ½, and Mark II-1 (who are the best things that ever happened to me!!!). I’m also a retired RN with a passion for Neonatal Intensive Care.

As you can see, I’ve been very busy in my life, but I have always found time to craft, mostly with paper, ink and stamps! My life has not settled down a lot since I quit working two years ago, but I’m trying to devote more time to this love affair with stamping.

Just recently I attended a Copic Certification Class in Sarasota, FL and came away with a world of new facts about coloring with Copic markers. Our instructor was Sally Lynn McDonald who was so full of knowledge with a huge dose of humor to go along with it. Practice, Practice, Practice was the word of the day. Now I am able to teach others about this fantastic art medium. Also attending the class were two of my Florida StampTV buddies Kelly Landers and Sue Morris. I learned so much from them as well. We had a great day!

• Kelly, Sally Lynn, Sue, and myself
  
  I have the whole 144 piece set of Ciao Copic markers, collected over about two years and just today I ordered the new set of 12 very pale Sketch 0000 ones that are great for blending. These alcohol based markers are somewhat pricey, but so worth the money. The end results (with LOTS of practice) are beautiful! I will share more tidbits of wisdom about Copics over the next few weeks.
  

My card for today is, what else, but a mermaid---”By The C” !

I love this sentiment and when I’m in a busy or stressful situation I think of being at the beach where all my cares go away...at least for awhile!

The mermaid is from Whipper Snapper; the sentiment is Beach Sentiments from Amy R stamps; CS is from Color Mates;Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic markers:Y08, YR23, E35, B02,B05, and V17; Ice Stickles in Blueberry; K&Co. “bling“; and ribbon from JoAnn Fabrics.


Please visit me again and I wish you all “A BEACH KIND OF DAY”!!!
Cathy Clark