Day 9 of the Effy Wild Blog Challenge

 Well, once again, the day has gotten away from me!  How does it get so crazy busy so fast!?  It's a good thing that it's still Day 9 somewhere here in the States.  Teehee!  Anyway, I thought I would share another sketch in my sketchbook.  I'm trying to learn to draw realistic faces.  Not photo realistic, just a face that you would look at and think it looks human!  I've been trying really hard over recent years to improve as I learn more and more.

Again, I see mistakes but I'm good with that because it's a learning process.  It's not like I've had formal training at this, it's just been a personal challenge. Still, I think she turned out pretty decent.  I'll definitely try this angle again and see if I improve.  The important thing is, I'm having fun and getting to express my creativity.  This one is from my imagination, there is no photo reference.  She kinda looks like one of my daughters, though.  Things that make you go, hmmm...

Hope you enjoy checking her out and I'll see you again on Day 10.  Thanks bunches for stopping by and thank you in advance for any comments.  Hugs to you all!  Blessed be!

Leadonna

Day 8 of the Effy Wild Blog Challenge

 

Today I'm sharing my favorite sketch.  This one took awhile to complete as there was a lot of texture.  Still, I thoroughly enjoyed creating this piece.  

I'm sure there's probably a ton of mistakes, but, that's okay.  I'm self-taught so I'll forgive myself!  Teehee! She was inspired by a photograph a friend of mine took of her daughter.  In the beginning, I tried to make it look like her girl, but, she just kind of took on her own look.  I was okay with that because it still gave that essence of peace and tranquility while she writes all snuggled up in the chair.  I love her, mistakes and all.  Even the little sap dots don't bother me, I learned not to sit under a tree and sketch!

So, there she is!  My favorite drawing.  I hope you enjoy her!  Blessed be!

Leadonna

Day 7 of the Effy Wild Blog Challenge

Yesterday got away from me and before I knew it, I had forgotten to post my Day 6.  Gotta love the fibromyalgia fog my brain lives in!  So here I am on Day 7, feeling guilty for not having a Day 6 and I honestly don't know why I'm so mad at myself over it.  I did comment on several blogs yesterday as I had some catching up to do on comments and I really enjoyed reading the blogs I read.  

I thoroughly enjoyed Renee Magnusson's post about Rocky the Secret Raccoon!  So funny, and, I'm waiting impatiently for more details on this secret raccoon who apparently passed away from stress.  RIP Rocky.  I don't normally laugh at the death of an animal, like EVER, but, the whole story of Rocky and Renee's friend texting her these cryptic messages about him was just a hoot!  If you haven't read her post about it, you really should.  You can find it at RENEEMAGNUSSON.COM.

Today, I'm sharing a sketch I did a while back.  It's a rather calm pastoral scene I created in my head.  I don't generally sketch other people's art, I prefer to create my own using the extremely vivid imagination I've been gifted with.  I love the mountains and old barns. I even threw in an old tractor for fun.  This is one of my favorite pencil sketches I've done.  I'll show you my other favorite tomorrow.

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Sharing my personal art is a little bit like baring my soul.  It fills me with trepidation and makes me instinctively want to reach for the lorazepam!  C'est la vie pour moi! Blessed be!

Lea

Day 5 of the Effy Wild Challenge

So it's technically after midnight, however, my day hasn't ended so it's still Day 5 in my book, I don't care what the clock/calendar says!  My blog, my rules!  Anyway, today I'm sharing another spread from my small Dylusions journal with another of my favorite quotes.  Are y'all getting tired of these little spreads?  I have some other artwork I plan to share but, I'm having fun sharing these quote spreads.  They make me happy in their simplicity.

This one was created using acrylics and my favorite Dreamweaver stencil, Leafless Tree.  I love this stencil!  You can create any season with it; it works beautifully with them all.  

Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you again tomorrow!  Blessed be!

Lea

Day 4 of the Effy Wild Challenge

 Today, I’m going to share a watercolor spread I created of the chapel where my daughter was married. Since this is where my granddaughter’s parents were married, I thought she might appreciate it.  I’ve not decided on a quote yet so I’ll add that later when the right one comes along. 

This was created with my Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolors.  Hope you enjoy it! Blessed be!

Lea

Day 3 of the Effy Wild Challenge

Today I have another spread to share with you from my small Dylusions journal.  This one was a lot of fun even though it turned out messier than I had planned.  Still, I enjoyed to process and that's what really matters.  

This spread uses one of my all-time favorite stamps from Stampendous called Ranunculus Field.  It's a larger stamp so it's perfect for a small journal like this one.  I watercolored it loosely using my  Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolors.  These watercolors are so richly pigmented and creamy.  If I could spread them on toast and eat them, I would!  Not really, however, they are delicious to work with.  I wanted the sky to have that soaking rain kind of look and I think it looks like it, at least close enough!  The quote is simply printed from my computer, lightly inked and adhered with gel medium.  

I love this quote from Jim.  I can actually imagine him saying this with one of his funny expressions.  Like, duh!  

I hope you like my spread and enjoy the quote as much as I do.  Until tomorrow, beautiful souls!  Blessed be!

Lea

Day 2 of the Effy Wild Challenge

So, I almost didn't make it today!  I've got ten minutes left of Day 2!  I can do it!  Today, I've used another Vera Lane Studio image to create a spread with another of my favorite quotes.  The background is a Dreamweaver Stencil that I've inked with Distress Inks.  The body of the image is from a clothing catalog.  The butterflies are from a Stampendous stamp set.

Hope you like it!

Lea

Day One of My Return

  

Well, hello there!  No, I didn't fall off the face of the earth!  I can't believe it's been three years since I last posted a card.  Where has the time gone!?  I've been toying with the idea of blogging again for a while now.  Then my beautiful friend, Effy Wild, came up with this challenge to blog along with her for 30 days.    So here I am!  I'll be sharing some of my art journaling pages, paintings, and sketches that I've created.  Actually, I may even have a card or two that I've never shared!

I'm going to begin with my small Dylusions journal that I started some time back.  I wanted to create this journal and fill it with my favorite quotes to pass down to my granddaughter, Emmaline.  She and I share a love of art; we really enjoy painting together!  I love that she and I have this special bond.

I created this page using various Distress Inks for the background.  The stamped image is from Vera Lane Studio.  Janet, the owner, creates images that are quirky and adorable.  If you've never checked them out, you really should!  The image is actually just a head so I collaged a dress for her and gave her a bouquet of flowers to hold.  I printed the quote, inked it and adhered as shown.  I sprinkled flowers around, because, well, it's all about the flowers!  Stickles were added to finish the centers of the flowers.  

So, that's it for me today!  I hope you have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by!  Blessed be!

Lea

Papermill Papermaking Perfection in Purple

Hello, again!  Today is my last post for the Earth Day hop showcasing handmade paper created with the Arnold Grummer Papermill Complete Papermaking Kit.  Today's paper is purple with bits of Shaved Ice, Crystal Micro Glitter and Royal Purple Crushed Glass Glitter.  This was made with mostly white paper and just a little bits and pieces of purple scrap papers.  I also added a few flower petals from violets my granddaughter picked in the yard.  This paper was probably my favorite, I saved the best for last!

Here's what I used to create this card:

Arnold Grummer's® Papermill™ Complete Papermaking Kit

Stampendous® Single Iris Rubber Stamp

Stampendous® Anemone Smile Cling Set (for sentiment)

Stampendous® Royal Purple Crushed Glass 

Stampendous® Crystal Micro Glitter

Stampendous® Shaved Ice

Stampendous® Mixed Media White Paper

Paper Scraps in White, Purple, and Lavender 

Parakeet Cardstock by Bazzill Basics Paper®

Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink Pad by Tsukineko®

VersaFine™ Onyx Black Ink Pad by Tsukineko®

Prismacolor® Pencils

Zip Dry™ Paper Glue by Beacon Adhesives

This has been such a fun hop!  I've really enjoyed making my own paper and will continue to do this periodically just because I can!  Thanks for checking out my projects and I'll see you again soon!  Have a great weekend.

Hugs,

Lea

Pretty Pink Paper

Hi there!  I'm back with another post showcasing handmade paper created with the Arnold Grummer Papermill Complete Papermaking Kit.  Today's paper is a baby pink with bits of Shaved Ice and Crystal Micro Glitter.  I actually made this with mostly white paper and just a little bit of pink scrap papers.  The picture does not do it justice!  It's much prettier and pinker in real life!

Here's what I used to create this card:

Arnold Grummer's® Papermill™ Complete Papermaking Kit

Stampendous® Cling Fuchsia Trio Rubber Stamp Set

Stampendous® Fuchsia Trio Cutting Die Set

Stampendous® Crystal Micro Glitter

Stampendous® Shaved Ice

Stampendous® Mixed Media White Paper

Paper Scraps

Parakeet Cardstock by Bazzill Basics Paper®

Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink Pad by Tsukineko®

Copic® Markers

3D Foam Squares™ by Scrapbook Adhesives®

Zip Dry™ Paper Glue by Beacon Adhesives

If you love specialty papers and those beautiful handmade papers with the different fibers and glitters embedded in them, you really should consider getting the Papermill Kit.  It's incredibly easy and a lot of fun!  You won't regret it!

Hugs,

Lea

I Made Paper!

I made paper, and I liked it!  This was seriously fun to do and so easy, you wouldn't believe it!  It's a great way to use your scraps, too.  I made this green paper and didn't use any green to make it.  I used scraps of yellow, turquoise and white and it became this lovely shade of green.  I added in some glitters and ended up with a gorgeous paper that I love.

Here are a couple of close-ups of the paper.  Isn't it pretty!?

Here's what I used to create this card:

Arnold Grummer's® Papermill™ Complete Papermaking Kit

Stampendous® Sunshine Daisy Cling Rubber Stamp Set

Stampendous® Sunshine Daisy Cutting Dies Set

Stampendous® Greetings Galore Perfectly Clear™ Stamps

Stampendous® Fitted Frames A Die Cut Set

Stampendous® Green Crushed Glass Glitter

Stampendous® Gold Medium Halo Glitter

Stampendous® Shaved Ice

Paper Scraps

Tropical Cardstock by Bazzill Basics Paper®

VersaFine™ Onyx Black Ink Pad by Tsukineko®

Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink Pad by Tsukineko®

Copic® Markers

Yellow Twine from May Arts Ribbon®

3D Foam Squares™ by Scrapbook Adhesives®

Zip Dry™ Paper Glue by Beacon Adhesives

If you've never made paper before and you'd like to give it a try, get yourself one of these kits, you won't regret it!  Have fun!

Hugs,

Leadonna

Life Is Sweet

It's already February, however, this is my first blog post of the year, and, it's an awesome one!  If you've missed my posts, it's because I've had a wrist surgery that has had me sidelined.  I'm happy to report I'm on the mend and getting my cast off in three days!  I've missed you all!

For today's post, Stampendous® is participating in the House-Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge.  Be sure to leave a comment, because, through Stampendous®, I'm giving away a stamp picked from the comments from today's post.  How would you like to have your very own Stampendous® House-Mouse Designs® Cotton Ball Rubber Stamp, or, perhaps you would like to have Popcorn Birthday?  I'll let you choose the Stampendous® House-Mouse Designs® stamp of your choice from the January 2019 catalog.  It doesn't get much better than that!

Here's what I used to create this card: 

Stampendous products -

HMV38 House-Mouse Designs® Cotton Ball Rubber Stamp

SSC1298 Sweet Treats Perfectly Clear™ Stamps

MPW811 Mixed Media White Paper

MEM01 Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink Pad by Tsukineko®

STF082 VersaFine™ Onyx Black Ink Pad by Tsukineko®

SSH38 Small Rectangle Handle

Other products -

Copic® Markers - E31, E33, E35, E37, E50, E51, E53, R20, C0

May Arts Ribbon®

Patterned Paper by Recollections®

Pink Cardstock by Bazzill Basics Paper®

Here's what I did to create this card:

1. Stamp image on white paper with black ink
2. Color image, stamp sentiment beneath colored image and trim as shown
3. Create an A2 card base from pink cardstock
4. Create a mat approximately 1/4” larger than the image from pink cardstock and adhere the two
5. Trim patterned papers as shown
6. Trim a piece of ribbon to fit across the front of the card
7. Adhere all the layers as shown

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Don't forget to comment to be eligible to win.  I'll do a random drawing from the comments I receive.  See you again real soon!

Hugs, 

Lea

Hummingbird Wishes

It's time for a sneak peek into the Stampendous® January 2019 Catalog!  I'm sharing this card I created using the new Stampendous® Laurel Burch™ Hummingbird Wishes Perfectly Clear™ Stamp Set.  I love, love, LOVE this set!  I just called to me to be colored!  I'm sure you totally understand what I'm talking about.  Do you see that lovely blue-ish/purple-ish background?  That was created with Distress Oxide inks.  The rest is colored with Copics.  Pretty darn yummy, huh!?

Here's what I used to create this card:

Stampendous Products -

Stampendous® Laurel Burch™ Hummingbird Wishes Perfectly Clear™ Stamps Set

Stampendous® Mixed Media White Paper

Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink Pad by Tsukineko®

Other Products - 

Delicata™ Golden Glitz Ink Pad by Tsukineko®

Spectrum Noir™ Metallic™ Gold Plate Marker

Faded Jeans Distress Oxide Ink Pad by Ranger®

Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide Ink Pad by Ranger®

Wilted Violet Distress Oxide Ink Pad by Ranger®

Copic® Markers

Lime Pop Cardstock by My Colors®

E-Z Runner® by Scrapbook Adhesives®

3D Foam Squares by Scrapbook Adhesives®

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you love this card as much as I do and I know you're going to love the Stampendous January 2019 Catalog!  Woohoo!  It's almost here!  By the way, isn't this card perfect for Winter Solstice with the sentiment to "Drink Moonlight?"

Hugs,

Lea

Over the River...

...and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go in our adorable Stampendous CURIO Woody!  Is this not the cutest Woody you've seen in a while?  I love these old-fashioned station wagons and I had to color this one green like the station wagon I grew up with.  There was nothing better than riding in that back rear-facing seat and waving at the people behind us!

Here's what I used to create this card:

Stampendous Products - 

CUR18 CURIO Woody

SSC1290 Merry Words Perfectly Clear™ Stamps

MPW811 Mixed Media White Paper

MEM01 Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink Pad by Tsukineko®

STF082 VersaFine™ Onyx Black Ink Pad by Tsukineko®

Other Products - 

Spanish Moss Cardstock by My Colors®

Red Cardstock

Copic® Markers - R24, R29, V15, V17, YG13, YG17, YG91, YG93, YG95, YG97, G29, G40, G85, G94, G99, Y13, E31, E33, E35, E41, E42, E43, E71, E74, C0, C1, C5, T8, W8

E-Z Runner® by Scrapbook Adhesives™

Here's what I did to create this card:

1. Stamp image on white paper, color and trim as shown
2. Poke a hole on each side of the tree, thread twine through and tie a bow
3. Trim a mat for the stamped image from red cardstock 
4. Trim an A2 card base from green cardstock and adhere all layers
5. Stamp sentiment as shown

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope you like my simple little card and I hope it brings back some special memories and puts a smile on your face.  Have a wonderful weekend and a joyous holiday ahead!

Much love and blessings,

Lea

Llama Delivery

Special delivery!  Anytime you have gifts arriving by llama, you know they're special!  Today's card is created using one of the new Stampendous CURIO stamps, CURIO Llama, and the sentiment is from Greetings Galore Perfectly Clear™ Stamps.  Isn't this llama just the cutest!?

Here's what I used to create this card:

Stampendous products - 

CUR21 CURIO Llama Rubber Stamp

SSC1281 Greetings Galore Perfectly Clear™ Stamps

MPW811 Mixed Media White Paper

MEM01 Memento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad by Tsukineko

STF082 VersaFine Onyx Black Ink Pad by Tsukinkeo

Other products - 

Red Cardstock

Kraft Cardstock

Copic Markers

Zip Dry by Beacon Adhesives

Here's what I did to create this card:

1. Stamp image with black ink on white paper, color and trim as shown
2. Create a red mat for image
3. Create an A2 card base from red cardstock as shown
4. Trim a piece of kraft cardstock to 4"x5 1/4" and stamp sentiment as shown
5. Assemble all layers

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I'll see you again next week with more Stampendous goodness!  Until then, have a wonderful week!

Hugs,

Lea

Merry Christmas

Or, in this case, Merry Chris-mouse!  The Stampendous® House-Mouse® Designs Merry Mice Perfectly Clear™ Stamps Set is totally adorable!  You get 5 super cute mice doing the sweetest things along with some super sweet sentiments.  You can't really beat that!  Here's my card:

Here's what I used to create this card:

Stampendous House-Mouse Designs Merry Mice Perfectly Clear Stamps

Stampendous Mixed Media White Paper

Memento Tuxedo Black Future Black 

My Mind's Eye Patterned Paper

Green Cardstock by My Colors 

Copic Markers

Primacolor Pencils

Scrapbook Adhesives

I do hope you like my sweet little card with the sweet little angel mouse.  I must confess, I'm in love with this little one.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  I'll see you again next week with more Stampendous goodness.

Hugs,

Lea

Let's Celebrate

Happy Friday!  Let's celebrate with a fun card using the adorable Stampendous House Mouse Designs Celebrate Friends Perfectly Clear Stamps Set.  This sweet set is from the October release.  If you're like me, you have to have all of the mice!

Here's what I used to create this card:

Stampendous® House-Mouse Designs® Celebrate Friends Perfectly Clear™ Stamps Set

Memento™ Gray Flannel Ink Pad by Tsukineko®

VersaFine™ Onyx Black Ink Pad by Tsukineko®

#summer Paper Pad by American Crafts™

Kraft Cardstock

Yellow Cardstock

Prismacolor Pencils

3D Foam Squares by Scrapbook Adhesives™

E-Z Runner® by Scrapbook Adhesives™

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope you enjoyed my little card.  I'll have another for you next week, so, have a great weekend and I'll see you then.  

Hugs,

Lea

Perfect Pairing with PaperMart

Today, Stampendous is doing a mini blog hop using PaperMart products.  PaperMart has a pretty wide range of products, but, not all of them are paper!  You should make a point of going to their website and taking a look around.  There's a lot to see!  For my project today, I chose to use one of their Gold Window Stackable Steel Tin Cans.  I love little tins of any sort and this was right up my alley.  

I happened to notice the tin was the perfect size of an Artist Trading Coin.  I enjoy creating ATC's!  It's fun to see what you can do on such a small scale.  I thought it would be fun to create an ATC with our Frog Yoga Perfectly Clear Stamps Set.  I love this set!  These frogs are just too cute!

 Top of the Tin

          

  

Inside of the Tin lid

Here's what I used to create this tin:

PaperMart® Gold Window Stackable Steel Tin Can

Stampendous® Frog Yoga Perfectly Clear™ Stamps Set

Stampendous® Dreamweaver Stencils Pearlescent Embossing Paste

Stampendous® Mixed Media White Paper

Stampendous® Color Fragments (Retired)

Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink Pad by Tsukineko®

Copic® Markers

DecoArt® Americana® Acrylic Paints

3D Foam Squares by Scrapbook Adhesives®

Zip Dry™ Paper Glue by Beacon Adhesives

I love my little froggy tin!  I hope you'll visit PaperMart and check out their many wonderful products!  I think they pair perfectly with our stamps!  Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you again soon!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs,

Lea

Merry Mice

...and Ornament Warmth House-Mouse Designs® go hand-in-hand for the perfect chilly Christmas Day.  There's just something super sweet about the Stampendous® House-Mouse Designs® Christmas stamps.  As if these adorable mice weren't cute enough, at Christmas, they really shine with their adorable antics!

Here's what I used to create this card:

Stampendous® House-Mouse Designs® Ornament Warmth Rubber Stamp

Stampendous® House-Mouse Designs® Merry Mice Perfectly Clear Stamps Set 

Stampendous® Mixed Media White Paper

Stampendous® Crystal Glitter Multi-Fine

Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink Pad by Tsukineko®

Copic® Markers

Spectrum Noir™Sparkle Pens

Spectrum Noir™ Metallic™Silver Ingot Pen

Misc. Patterned Paper

Blue Cardstock by Bazzill Basics® Cardstock

E-Z Runner™ by Scrapbook Adhesives™

Zip Dry™ Paper Glue by Beacon Adhesives

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I'll see you again next week with more Stampendous fun!  Until then!

Hugs
Lea

Halloween Day 31

Welcome to Day 31 of the Stampendous 31 Days of Halloween!  The Stampendous Design Team loves Halloween and we love to share our creations, however, we also love to see what you make with our stamps.  Look below for instructions on how to play along with us, you just might win a prize!

I can't believe it's Halloween!  My most favorite day of the year!  For my card today, I've used the new Little Monsters Perfectly Clear™ Stamps Set.   This is such a cute stamp set.  It comes with some great sentiments, too.  Of course, this set can also be used for monster-themed birthday parties throughout the year or a card for your favorite little monster.  

Here's what I used to create this card:

Stampendous Products:

SSC1284 Little Monsters Perfectly Clear™ Stamps Set

MPW811 Mixed Media White Paper

MEM01Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink Pad by Tsukineko®
STF082 VersaFine™ Onyx Black Ink Pad by Tsukineko®

SSH38 Small Rectangle Handle

Other Products:

Purple Cardstock by Bazzill Basics® Paper

love Nicole™ trick or treat paper pad

E-Z Runner® by Scrapbook Adhesives™

Copic® Markers

We’ve got two groups of prizes we’ll be giving away. First, you can comment on our blog and those of our designers, and we’ll randomly choose winners each week to win some Halloween product love. Second, you can enter your own creation in our Challenge Link. It will be at the bottom of every post and in our sidebar. It looks like this:

Stampendous 31 Days of Halloween Link Up – Click Here

To enter, your project needs to be online somewhere, blog, flickr, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. Just click on the picture or words above to enter the link. If you can’t make a link to your project, email it to submissions@stampendous.com and we’ll host it for you. We will choose a winner each week from the links, winners must have a US mailing address to win, but anyone can share their projects with us.

Thanks so much for stopping by this past month as I've played along with the Stampendous 31 Days of Halloween.  I hope you've been inspired to play along, too.  It's been lots of fun!  Watch out for those little boys and ghouls tonight.  Have fun creeping it real!

Trick or treat!
Lea