Crafty Lizzie

(Re)Discovering Brush Markers

Like (I suspect) many other paper-crafters, I have recently been rather taken with Copic markers.  Indeed, they are fun to play with AND have definite benefits (smooth color, don't run, don't pill paper, and can blend to create lovely shading... to name a few).  I had been neglecting my (quite) large collection of brush markers, both Marvy Le Plume II and the thicker Marvy "perfect for rubber stamps" markers that you can get in sets of 12 at Michael's or A.C. Moore.

When someone recently asked that I create a design using Stampin' Up!'s "Upsy Daisy" set, I was initially at a loss... the set is one big (huge) flower image, and then three sentiments.  After some pondering, and some pretty horrible test designs, a light bulb went off... what about breaking out some of those brush markers to create a soft, watercolor stamped image?  The result is below.  I loved how it turned out -- I used two of the big, thick Marvy markers (in Peppermint and Bubble Gum Pink).  Just colored right on the rubber, huffed on the stamp like a crazy person (and almost hyperventilated... no need to huff *too* hard... :), and stamped it.

Just lovely.  This single-layer card took less than 5 minutes to make, and the sentiment could be modified for almost any occasion!

The point of this blog post: don't ignore your brush markers!  They can never and will never be *replaced* by those Copics, and both kinds of markers deserve to take up space in your craft rooms!  :)

Spring is in the air...?

My blog has been awfully quiet lately, which has everything to do with my prolonged battle with the flu (and then bronchitis), a fun little gift I think I picked up from a group of awfully cute, but likely very germy, first graders.

The weather around here actually feels like spring could be just around the corner, but I keep telling myself to not be fooled; this is a cruel joke that Mother Nature plays on us here in the Northeast each year around this time.  I will wager that we'll still be seeing snow on the ground in April, and my winter coat won't be brought to the cleaners till mid-May -- this little "thaw" we're experiencing right now is just a fluke.  But regardless, time will march on, and spring *will* inevitably arrive... and, spring's arrival means spring cards!  YAY!

I had a lot of fun coming up with a bunch of cute designs for my upcoming classes.  Here are a few for your perusal, and even, perhaps, your enjoyment.  :)

LOVE ROCKS!

Ah yes, love is in the air these days, isn't it?  Alas, many of the Valentines we ladies like to make are quite lovey-dovey, full of hearts and flowers and whatnot... and they are indeed beautiful.  However, sometimes you just want a plain, simple card that is suitable to send to even the most tough and manliest of men.  I present to you my solution to this problematic card recipient.

I embossed both the image and the sentiment with clear powder, which made it ever so slightly difficult for the bling to stick to the heart notes coming out of the boom box.  But, they did cooperate with just a little extra pressure with the Quik Stik took.  I LOVE this set of images, which I picked up a couple of years ago -- made by Savvy Stamps.

"If music be the food of love, play on."  - W. Shakespeare

"If music be the food of love, turn it up and rock it out!"  - me

Happy Bird-Day!

Last night I spent some serious time planning my upcoming A Muse classes for the next couple of months (I will definitely be at Right at Home Scrapbooking, Abeille, and Artbeat, and possibly a couple more stores!).  I had a great time coming up with fun, spring-y birthday greetings and got such a kick out of this one (below).  I did have to use my Stamp-a-ma-jig like a crazy person to get all of the images lined up just so.  And, I had to break out the yellow flock to make the single birdie (perched atop the birdhouse) a little extra special.  Adorable!  I always love a good punny birthday card... and who doesn't?!  :)