Be Your Beautiful Self

When I attended Stamp Camp back in June, Ginger taught two different types of Eco prints techniques.  The 'Leaf Spraying' technique was a lot shorter method to get to the beautiful results than the method of using rusty nails and boiling a wrapped bundle of several prints.  Both methods however produced beautiful Eco prints for backgrounds.

Today I'm sharing the first card I've made using the sprayed Eco print I made at camp. I am grateful for the gals that gathered the assortment of leaves for all of us to have an amazing assortment to work with.

 We used two sheets of Canson Water Color paper for each set of designs.  One sheet is placed on plastic and the leaves placed fairly close without overlapping them.  Then we sprayed three random colors of Distress Oxide or Oxide Stain sprays over the leaves.  Quickly the second sheet was placed on top and using our hands we basically rubbed over the entire sheet to allow the ink to absorb around the leaves on both the top and bottom of our set of sheets.

After drying, a script stamp is used to carefully hand stamp in the open leaf blank spots. Then a Phano pencil (China Marker) is used to draw around the leaves.    A few ink spatters in black or white and the paper is complete.

Mine randomly cut into 5" x 6" pieces for backgrounds....

 I selected today's piece, trimmed to fit the yellow card base and added the sentiment along with a die cut fern piece.

Delivered this one to my friend Martha for her birthday TODAY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARTHA!

Thanks for stopping by to see what I've been working on. 

Pam's Pearls

 I'll be posting this card in the following challenges. 

Mix it Up Challenge ~ Challenge 78 ~ Optional Mixed Media

Simon Says  ~ Monday Challenge ~ Happy Birthday  

Krafty Chicks ~ Challenge 780 ~ Birthday Cards  

Creative Inspiration ~ Challenge 29

Believe in Yourself

Today I'm sharing a 'flower' that my friend from California gave me.  Just an extra stamped and embossed flower ...  then I watched in amazement as she painted hers.  I've always wanted to be able to paint but I think I need to stay with coloring.  

Joyce used aqua green shades for her flower from the Unity Stamp set, Blow Your Mind.  I decided to use the same shades with my Copic markers to color my flower.

Here's my completed card and a few of the details on how I made it. 

 

After coloring, I hand cut the flower out and added foam near the center.   I started by adding the mint gauze to the mat paper, attaching it at the top and knotting the other end.   Then I layered several die cut dark green fern pieces and then added the black loopy thread.  I secured the colored flower on top and then randomly added the black enamel dots.  Lastly I added the embossed sentiment at the bottom right corner.

I'd like to share the beautiful card that Joyce's created and invite you to visit her blog also.

Joyce's Creations

Thanks for stopping by to see what I've been coloring. And a special thanks to Joyce for her inspiration and beautiful posting for the Friends of Unity Blog Hop. I hope you enjoyed today's card and will be back soon.  

Pam's Pearls

I'll be entering my card in the following challenges:  

I Love Promarkers  ~ Challenge 587 

Card Concept ~ Challenge 218 ~ Summer Days

(Inspired by their color challenge)

Allsorts ~ Challenge 828 ~ Pretty Flowers

Copics  

BG70, BG72, BG75

Products

Unity Stamps, Blow Your Mind

I Hope in Him

Here we are at the end of July and boy has it been a hot one in South Carolina!  Maybe today's card will help you think about a good memory of a cooler day at your favorite beach! 

I am posting with the Design Team for Word Art Wednesday as we open Challenge Week 710-711. Our wonderful sponsor for the challenge is Stamp Simply who is also offering a $25 Gift Certificate to the winner.

Our featured scripture is Lamentations 3:24 and for my Design Team card I selected the stamp set 'He Stilled the Storm' by our sponsor. 

 

I stamped the Ship wheel on a separate paper and stamped the lighthouse and birds on Neenah 110# card stock. I also sized the scripture from Lamentations and an aqua green mat to fit the card design die cut using My Favorite Things, Elegant Rectangle Stax Die set. 

I colored the image and the ship wheel with my Copic markers.  I fussy cut the wheel and trimmed close to the completed scene.  Then I secured the aqua green background mat to the A2 size card base.  After adding a yellow liner mat to the image, I secured it to the top of the card base, leaving about 3/4" space at the bottom.  In this space I added the Ship wheel image.  Lastly I added the scripture sentiment at the top right to complete the card design.  

Thanks for stopping in today to see what I've been coloring.  Be sure to visit the Word Art Wednesday blog to get your free file of the featured scripture.  Simply right click on the scripture and save to your folder on your computer. 

Pam's Pearls

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:  

Make Mine Masculine ~ Challenge 257 ~ Masculine  

Sweet Stampin' ~ July Challenge ~ Anything But a Square  

Krafty Chicks ~ Challenge 778 ~ For the Boys  

Moving Along with the Times ~ Challenge 180 ~ Masculine

Copics

Sky:  RV000, B0000, Y11, BV000, B60, Brick: E07, E08, E09, Water: BG23, B24, B28, B63, Lighthouse, BV20, Y13, Wheel, E07, E08, E09

Products

Stamp Simply, He Calmed the Storm 

My Favorite Things, Elegant Rectangle Stax

She Will Not Fail

A couple of days ago I started another Masterboard, this time for a girl theme.  I had been tossing the pink summery colors into a separate little box, which made it super easy to sort and see what I had available. 

For the base I used a piece of Canson Watercolor paper which is 140#.  This is a good weight as it holds the weight of the additional pieces and yet it isn't too think when it's time to cut the board.  I also tend to keep most of my shapes around 3" square or smaller unless it's a special print or embellishment.

Here's the first step of the masterboard with the the colors applied.

Each color coordinating piece is cut and randomly secured, some overlapping and some glued to the edge of the next paper.  Next I took a simple 'doodle stamp set ' and randomly stamped flowers and leaves over the page. I added three different styles of washi tape across the paper seams until I had everything covered that I wanted.

Normally at this point I would stop and not cut the board apart until I had images ready to apply.  However, today I had an image waiting for a piece of this background.

At Stamp Camp 2025, I had borrowed Ccolorado Crafts STAMPtember Collaboration / Simon Says Stamps~ Lovely Legs.  I  stamped the image then used my Copic markers for coloring.  To me the hardest part is deciding where to cut the masterboard for the card.  This image required a large portion and you hate to cover it up!  

But I ended up going vertical using the area just above the red polka dotted border.  Again, normally I would have left a lot more of the background showing, but that's just not possible on all card designs.

 The card ended up being a 4" by 8" slimline design.  I added the star strips to the top and bottom, the shine embellishment and then the black liner mat before attaching to the card base.  I really like how it turned out and appreciate you coming by to see what I've been coloring.

Pam's Pearls

I will be entering this card in the flowing challenges:  

Crafts Galore Encore ~ July Challenge  

Creations in Pink ~ Challenge 83  

Creative Crafters ~ Challenge 90  

Simon Says Stamps ~ Monday Challenge ~ Make Your Own Background

Products:

Ccolorado Crafts STAMPtember Collaboration / Simon Says Stamps~ Lovely Legs

Good Friends

Today I'm sharing my latest Design Team card for All Dressed Up Design Team using one of the new images for July.  I've selected 'Wings of a Butterfly' to make this friendship card. 

I love this little image and the possibilities with using her.  After printing her, I colored her with Copic markers and then fussy cut her out.  

Using coordinating papers, I  folded the patterned paper back and secured with a few pieces of foam.   The leaf was die cut using the Pink & Main Leafy 1 Die and added the doodling with a Posco (China) pencil.  After adding the leaf to the base, I added the loopy gold thread, and then the butterfly fairy.  Lastly I added the woven sentiment to the right of the image to complete the design. 

Thank you for stopping by to see what I've been coloring today.  I hope you will visit the All Dressed Up Digital Challenge Blog to see all the Design Team cards and to enter your ADU cards in the challenge. 

Pam's Pearls

I will be entering this card in the following challenge:

Cards Galore Encore ~ July Challenge  

Creative Crafters ~ Challenge 90  

Dream Valley ~ Challenge 340  

CD Sunday Plus ~ Challenge 163

    

Copics:  

Hair: E21, E23, E25, Butterflies: Y15, R35, BG49, Wings: BG49, BG45, Y15, Y13, R35, R22, Top: R22, R35, Pants: BG45

Products:

All Dressed Up Digital Stamps, Wings of a Butterfly

Pink & Main, Leafy 1 Dies

Do Small Things with Great Love

Today I'd like to share one of the projects each of the participants for the 2025 Stamp Camp were asked to make prior to the event.  We were asked to make and bring ten Artist Trading Cards (ATC) to swap with each person attending the camp.  While this was a breeze for about half of the ladies, the other half had either never made an ATC or it had been many years since they had.   To say there was 'some fretting going on' would be an understatement, but with lots of encouragement from those seasoned ATC makers everyone showed up with their cards ready to swap.

I fell into the second group ~ I've made a few ATC's in the past but I'm not a small image artist and really didn't enjoy making them.  I've always stayed away from the ATC challenge swaps even though some are quiet cute, just not something I really wanted to do.   But I wasn't about to be 'the one' that didn't have my ATC's ready!  

I decided that I wanted mine to represent something about me, something that when my girlfriends looked at it later, they would know it was the one that I'd made out of the ten they received.  It didn't take me long to decide the main image would be a hummingbird, my logo for many years, that holds a special place in my heart.  Here's my finished card and then a few details about the process of making these.

I used the Stampendous, Hummingbird Hello stamp set, and selected the bird, the larger 'yellow' flower and the vertical sentiment.  To save time, I used photoshop to  merge the bird and flower image into one and resized to fit the ATC card. 

I printed one image and colored it using Copics, then duplicated that one for all the others. 

Then the fussy cutting began... and went on and on! 

Each sentiment was hand stamped on the purple marble paper from Craft Consortium as the bottom layer.  The gauze strips were ripped to 1/2" wide and secured around the base.  I tucked half of a gold foil doily from Stampin Up under the edge of the gauze for the bird to have a 'nest'.  After adding foam behind the bird, I secured him and the flower across the card from the nest to the top right corner.  Then I added the strip of die cut leaves across the top to finish the front.  I added a piece of thin cardboard to the back to keep the gauze secure and give the card a solid structure.

I looked at so many designs online for the back of the ATC cards.  Since I didn't have a stamped image, I pulled from several that I liked and designed my own.   After printing, I  added one to the back of each of the ATCs. 

I really thought they turned out nice and the sentiment reminded me of what our hostess Lynne Bunn teaches just by who she is.

'Do Small Things With Great Love'

Several of the ladies have framed their collection of the group's cards. 

What a great keepsake of so many talented ladies! 

And if you're wondering - yes, I did make eleven, so I'd have one to keep! 

Thanks for stopping by to see what I've been coloring.

Pam's Pearls

Copics: 

Flower: Y17, Y18, Y15, Y08, Leaves: G28, YG63, YG61, Hummingbird: YG00, YG23, YG25, R27, R29, V12, V15, BG02, BG05, YR27

Products:

 Stampendous, Hummingbird Hello

Jesus Christ is the Same

Today I'm posting with the Design Team from Word Art Wednesday as we open Challenge Week #708-709.  Our sponsor for this challenge is Divinity Designs and the featured scripture is from Hebrews 13.8.

Divinity Designs will be giving a $25 Gift Certificate to the winner on the Word Art Wednesday Challenge so be sure to visit there and enter your cards.  You can also get the featured scripture from there by simply right clicking on it and saving to your file for future use. 

For my Design Team card, I selected the stamp set 'Serve the Lord' from Our Daily Bread (which is now Divinity Designs).  

 

This older stamp set came complete with the circular flower collage with crocheted edge, coordinating circle die, straight crocheted row and coordinating die, and three sentiments.  I stamped the images on white cardstock and colored with Copic markers.   After deciding on the card layout and sizes then I was able to size the sentiment to fit, print it and die cut using a small tag die.  Before securing the pieces to the background, I went back with Copic V20, which coordinated with the lavender, and lightly colored the lace around the collage and on the straight strip. This softened the image and made the card design flow better.  Then I secured each piece as shown in the photo and added the lavender enamel dots to complete the card design. 

Thanks for stopping by to see what I've been coloring.  I hope you'll visit the Word Art Wednesday Challenge to see the other Design Team cards and enter your cards for your chance to win! 

Pam's Pearls

I'll be entering this card in the following challenges: 

Stamping Sensation ~ July Challenge  

C.R.A.F.T. ~ Challenge 759 ~ Thank you or Anything Goes  

Word Power ~ July Challenge  

Try it on Tuesday ~ Summer Blooms

Copics: 

Lace: V20, Flowers: Red ~ R39, R35, R24, Orange ~ YR07, YR16, YR12, Yellow ~  Y15, Y06, Y11, Leaves/Stems: YG63, G24, Stamped Coin: E33, Background: E30

Products:

Our Daily Bread, Serve the Lord (discontinued)

Wild About You

This afternoon I'm posting with the Design Team from All Dressed Up Digital Stamps as we open the new challenge and share more cards with ADU images. 

For my card today, I selected, Jungle Friends, and made this happy animal card.  

I picked this card because of the giraffe - I just think they are a fun animal and I seem to be drawn to them.  When I first printed the image and colored it, it was on a white background.  Although colorful, I wanted trees and 'jungle life' around it.  I'll be the first to say - I'm NOT an artist!  So I went back and pulled the image over a 'jungle' image then reprinted it and colored again.  I'm sure there are better ways to accomplish this, but it turned out pretty good I think - I was pleased with the results. 

I mounted the image on a solid green cardstock liner, then a leaf patterned matting, and then the 6" white card base.  I used a Spellbinder die to cut the navy colored words 'wild about you' and secured them in the top center of the card to complete the design.

Thank you for stopping by to see what I have been coloring.  I invite you to now visit the All Dressed Up Challenge Blog to see what the other Design Team members have colored and to enter your ADU image cards into the challenge.

Pam's Pearls

I will be entering this card into the following challenges:  

CD Sunday Plus ~ Challenge 162  

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends ~ Challenge 257  

Sunday Stamps ~ Challenge 364 ~ Going in Circles  

All Sorts ~ Challenge 827 ~ For A Child  

Digi Chooseday ~ Challenge 7 ~ Week 2

Copics

Giraffe: Y32, YR02, YR20, YR82 E18, G02, Elephant: BV20, BV25, E18. B24, Y32, C0, Birds: B21, B24, Leaves, YG63, YG61, Palm Tree: E13, E15, E17, E19, E08, YG91, YG93, YG95, Water: B24, Flowers & Notes: RV55, Border: B24, E18, Shadows: W2

Products

All Dressed Up, Jungle Friends

Why Limit Happy

Today I'm posting with the Design Team for the Classic Design Challenge as we open the July/August Challenge.  Our Sponsor for the challenge is Dr. Digi Digital Stamps and our OPTIONAL Twist is 'Sun, Sand or Surf'. 

For my Design Team card I've selected Dr. Digi's 'Beach Bum Bob' and made this snarky summer beach card. 

 

After printing the images I used Copic markers for coloring and then I used the Gina Marie Label Six Rectangle dies for the image and the orange matting to get the fancy border.  I mounted a green and light orange polka dotted patterned paper on the 5 x 6 card base, then secured the matting and the completed image to the background.

I selected a sentiment strip from the Tim Holtz Small Talk Snarky set, mounted it on an orange strip of cardstock, then secured it across the top left corner of the card to complete the design.  

Thanks for stopping by to see what I've been coloring. I hope you'll hop over to the Classic Design Challenge to see the other Design Team cards and to enter your card designs for the challenge also.

Pam's Pearls

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:  

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers ~ Challenge 264 ~ Hot Hot Hot   

Just Add Ink ~ Challenge 759 ~ Beach & Water  

Moving Along With the Times ~ July ~ Challenge 180 ~ Masculine  

I Love Promarkers ~ Challenge 587

Copics

Coconut Drink: E17, E11 E30, R27, BG05. Hat: Y23, YR21, E84, Y23, Shorts: B91, B95, B97, Bag: E70, E71, Beard: N1, N3, N0, Vest & Shoes: YG05, Water: B000, B01, G60, B91, BG01, Sky: YR65, E95, R11, YR20, Y32, Y11, Sand: E53, E51, E34, E31, E70, E30, Shadow: W2

Products  

Dr. Digi, Beach Bum Bob

Gina Marie Designs, Label Six Rectangle Dies

Difficult Person

Recently at Stamp Camp 2025, I found myself in my 'normal' position among my friends.... the only Copic colorist. At this retreat I was among so many great card making and multi talented artists, mostly in mixed media and water coloring.  Each day different lady's taught short sessions on skills and techniques they enjoyed and the rest of us were like sponges... soaking up every bit of knowledge we could.  It was amazing to even begin to comprehend the amount of crafting knowledge, skill and talent that was shared freely among this group.

As many of you know, I came home to my husband having hip replacement two days later and have been pretty much involved full time since then with his care.  He's graduated to a cane now, completed home health, and will begin out patient Physical Therapy next week.  Although still very much involved with his healing plan, I've started to have a little time back in my craft room.  I've been so anxious to pull out the items from the Stamp Camp and play ~ hoping that I remembered what was taught and that I could read my hand written directions!

My first card to share with you is a combination of using pieces from the Masterboard Class (taught by Kathy Sheely) and the Tim Holtz Time Traveler stamped image (provided by Ginger Pelfrey).

Here's my completed card and then a few details about how I created it. 

In crafting, a Masterboard is a large collage created from paper scraps, cut down into smaller pieces or tags to use as embellishments.  We had a lot of fun in our little class making our very different masterboards.

Up close view

Then I cut them into tags and strips

and used two on today's card.

The image is from Stampers Anonymous, Time Travelers and he was colored with Copic markers.   I used a glass dome over the pocket watch along with brads and charms on the tops of the tags.

Thanks for stopping by to see what I have been coloring today!

Pam's Pearls

I will be entering this card into the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamping ~ Challenge 496 ~ Make Your Mark  

Crafter's Cafe Challenge ~ June ~ Masculine  

Girlz Make Guyz Cards ~ Challenge 29 ~ Men  

Mix It Up ~ Challenge 70  

Copics: 

Hat & Coat: BG91, BG93, BG96, BG11, Vest, E13, Shirt Vest: E51, Tie: E13

Products:

Stampers Anonymous, Time Travelers

. 

Sweet Innocence

One of the first things you learn to color when starting out with Copic markers is the shading of hair.  The artist, Mariola Budek is my personal favorite for purchasing digital images of beautiful ladies with flowing locks of hair.

Recently she shared this image of her daughter as a freebie for her followers.  She captures her sweet innocence as well as her beautiful long curls.

 

I loved coloring this little girl and making her image into a card of encouragement.  

After completing the coloring, I used the Stitched Fancy Scallop Rectangle Die from Kat Scrappiness and trimmed the image to fit along the stitched inside line of the frame.  Then I secured both the image and frame to the card base and added the premade 'hope' tag across the bottom corner along with two tiny black pearls.

If you've never seen this artist, I invite you to her Facebook page, fan page,  and her Etsy store for purchases.  You won't be disappointed. 

Thank you for stopping by today to see what I've been coloring. 

Pam's Pearls

I'll be entering this card into the following challenges:  

Crafts Galore Encore ~ July Challenge  

A Cut Above ~ July Challenge

Morgan's Artworld ~ Challenge 90  

CD Sunday Plus ~ Challenge 162

Copics:

Hair: E41, E42, E43, E44, Top: V20, V22, BV0000, Background: Y000

Products:

Free Image from Mariola Budek's Facebook page

Kat Scrappiness, Stitched Fancy Scallop Rectangle