Pam's Pearls

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Ahoy Little Fishes!

Today I am posting with the Design Team from All Dressed Up with our inspirational cards for the August Challenge.

I'd like to share a fun little summer card using 'Little Fishes'. I think I could see this little fellow out my window any day here at my home on Lake Murray in South Carolina (USA).

This little fellow with his sailor hat and his faithful doggy are out for a spin with the colorful fishes.

After sizing the image I printed him on #110 Neenah cardstock and have used my Copic markers for coloring. Then I die cut the oval using Gina Marie Designs Stitched Oval Dies.

I found the fun water background paper in my stash and love how the oval fits right in the waves. Once the design was secured, I added clear Wink of Stella to all the little fishes near the boat. I didn't want a bow for this card but found a piece of 'Summer Fun' ribbon to secure across the top of the card to complete the design.

Be sure to check out all the All Dressed Up Design Team cards on the Challenge Blog. We'd love to see your entry too!

Thank you for stopping by today to view my blog. I enjoy sharing my work with you and invite you to 'Follow' my blog and to visit my site - "Not Just Scraps' on Facebook - where you can purchase my cards.

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:

Make Mine Monday ~ Challenge 207 ~ 3 of an image (little fishes)

Crafting Happiness ~ Challenge 145

Cupcake Inspiration ~ Challenge 575 (I Live in in the USA)

Pam's Pearls

Copics

Flags: R17, B24, Poles: C3, Boats: B91, B93, B97, Life Rings and Hat: R37, Dog: N1, N3, N4, Fish: V04, YR23, BG45, BG72, FYR1, BV01, RV06, Water: B01, B04, B05, BG15, BG45, BG57, BG11

Products

All Dressed Up, Little Fishes

Gina Marie Designs, Wonky Stitched Ovals

Monday, August 14, 2023

Cancel My Subscription

Today I'd like to share an extra Polkadoodles card that I made after Stamp Camp 2023. I've used 'Thinking Rebel Girl' for this card.

The last night we were there, our hostess gave us two cards from The Color Match game by Lisa Solomon. Each card has a color/technique challenge and our homework was to combine the two card challenges into one card.

I drew 'ZigZag' and 'Tints and Shades'

I'm always up for a challenge but like anything new this took a minute to figure out. I felt like Tints and Shades was great with Copic coloring and made sure I included as many shades as I could on this image. I didn't see a great place to add ZigZag on the image itself so I went with adding the zigzag matting. I was thrilled to find the paper in Polkadoodles Tropical Fever Paper pack that coordinated with the completed image.

Once I'd secured the layers as shown in the photo, I added a bit of Diamond Stickles to the center of the flower on her hat and to the center of the Sun. She turned out to be a cute and funny little card as did all of the cards the other gals posted for their homework.

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:

CD Sunday Plus ~ Challenge 116

The Corrosive Challenge ~ August

A Perfect Time to Craft ~ August

Pam's Pearls

Copics

Rock: W1, W4, Shoes: YR01, YR04, Hair: E41, E42, E43, Hat & Dress: BG02, BG07, BG45, BV13, Grass: G46, G43, Flowers: R08, R17/ R81, R85, Hat Flower & Sun: YR01, YR04, Y19, Y15, Y11

Products

Polkadoodles, Thinking Rebel Girl

Polkadoodles, Tropical Fever

Saturday, August 12, 2023

Panda Beach Time

August is Hot, Hot, Hot and the Polkadoodles Design Team has so many cute cards on the Challenge Blog to share with you today! I've selected this adorable Panda in her 'Beach Inflatable Flamingo' for the hot days of summer!

I sized the Panda to about 3" and added the Sunshine from the Zodiac digital pack. I printed those on Neenah 110# cardstock and colored them with Copic markers. Then I fussy cut both pieces and set them to the side.

The background is two papers from the Polkadoodles Starfish & Sandcastles papers. I trimmed 1" of the blue water paper and secured it to the bottom of the starfish paper. Then I took another strip of the water paper and cut it using a generic bubble die. After glueing it over the 'seam' of the two papers, to represent the bubbles in the water's edge, I added the panda and the sunshine. Both of those pieces are popped up with foam backing. Lastly I added the Happy Birthday sentiment in the center at the bottom of the card front.

It really turned out cute! This little Polkadoodles Panda will definitely be catching the rays and chilling by the water through the hot days this summer!

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:

Crafty Animals ~ Challenge 75

Papercraft ~ Challenge 96 ~ Summer Fun

Pinspirational Challenge #304 ~ August

Cardz4galz ~ Challenge 205 ~ Summer Day

Creative Knockouts ~ Challenge 500 ~ Summer Fun

Pam's Pearls

Copics

C5, C7, R32, C10, BV00, V12, V15, RV02, RV21, YG06, YR04, YR00, E39, FRV1

Products

Polkadoodles, Panda Inflatable Flamingo

Polkadoodles, Zodia, Sunshine

Polkadoodles, Starfish & Sandcastles

Friday, August 11, 2023

Remembering the Good Times

Sympathy cards are always hard to make, especially when it's a close friend or family member. Then we never know the right words to write inside the card. But we as card makers know, it's important to make and send the card. The receivers will appreciate the thought more than we will ever know.

Today's card image is from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Beautiful Birds set, one of my favorite sets.

After stamping, I've Copic colored this bird like a blue bird with vibrant shades of blue feathers and a warm peachy tummy. He's nestled on a Dogwood branch in the middle of several beautiful flowers.

I used Spellbinders Label 15 to die cut the decorative edge for the image. The sentiment I had previously stamped and I used Penny Black's Elegant Stitches for the pretty stitched edge.

This card is on a standard A2 top fold card base. I covered the top with the green patterned paper and added the solid 1/2" vertical strip on the right side. Then I secured the image and the sentiment layers as shown to complete this design.

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:

Paper Funday ~ August Challenge #56 ~ Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday ~ Week 607-608 (Top 3)

CD Sunday Plus ~ Challenge 116

Pam's Pearls

Copics

Bird: B91, B93, B95, B12, YR00, E01, YR23, YR27, Branch: E71, E74, Leaves: G40, G43, G46, Dogwood: E42, E43, Around image: YR0000

Products

Sweet 'n Sassy, Beautiful Birds

Spellbinder, Labels 15

Penny Black, Elegant Stitching

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

Let Your Light Shine

Today I'm sharing another water color card I recently made. This city scape image is by Technique Junkies (Watercolor NY ~discontinued).

I used water color paper and stamped the image with black Versa Claire ink then embossed with clear powder. I used Zig markers and an aqua brush to paint the color on the image. Once it was dry, then I trimmed the edge close to the buildings and added the 1/8" black matting, then secured to the A2 card base. Lastly I added the Fishtail cut embossed sentiment at the bottom corner.

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:

Get Creative ~ Challenge 124 ~ Summer Nights

Creative Inspiration ~ Challenge 5

Krafty Chicks Challenge 675

Moving Along with the Times ~ Challenge 157 ~ August ~ Emboss

Pam's Pearls

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Color Palette Background Challenge

One of the biggest and best parts about Stamp Camp 2023 was watching and learning about backgrounds for cards. With the exception of just a few, most of the things that were shown were all new to me! I was super excited and tried to soak in as much as I possibly could.

This past weekend, the challenge on the Stampers Swap site was for a Color Palette Background, which was one of the new ones we were taught. Lynne used acrylic inks however here at home, I used water colors.

This is all new to me, and honestly just looks like a hot mess most of the time! But I'm not giving up because I enjoy learning new things and about new products. Here is the color palette we were given and I'll reference the videos at the bottom of the blog.

With my watercolor paper taped down to my glass mat, here's what my completed color palette paper looked like.

After drying, I added a few stamps from the Unity Stamp Company, All the Stories, doodles with gold Stickles, a silver gel pen, and a blue paint pen. Then I cut each piece in half to make four A2 size cards.

Next I basically pulled things from my desk top that I'd colored or stamps that were there waiting to be stamped, to put together the four cards.

For the first one, I used Beccy's Place, Fairy Travels (discontinued) and a sentiment from my stash. Both are raised on foam. It's a bit hard to see, the swirls are gold Stickles and the XOXO are silver metallic gel pen.

For the second card, I used Unity Stamp Co. Panda Bear Bundle by Lisa Arana. This cute little panda is also popped up with foam and the dots on the banner were done using Nuvo Red Berry Crystal Drops.

On to the second piece of water coloring and the first card, I've used a cute little Polkadoodles chick from Wings of Love. This one has a good bit of doodling, along with the enamel dots and a bit of washi tape along the bottom.

Lastly, a thankful for you card. All stamping on this one ~ no coloring. I used Gina K's Bitty Blossoms and a few random enamel dots. Amazing how the placement of the flower was just perfect.

I am thankful for YOU for wading through this Long blog posting today!

I appreciate you stopping by today to view my blog. I enjoy sharing my work with you and invite you to 'Follow' my blog and to visit my site - "Not Just Scraps' on Facebook - where you can purchase my cards.

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends ~ Challenge 211

Sunday Stamps ~ Challenge 315 ~ Summer Vibes (Top 3)

We Love 2 Create ~ Challenge 7

Crafty Calendar ~ August Challenge

Beccy's Place ~ August Challenge

Pam's Pearls

Video References:

Here is the technique video using acrylic paints

https://youtu.be/SIywgiXCyTA
Here is the technique using watercolor paints
https://youtu.be/XmCE98lvwCA

Monday, August 7, 2023

Splish Splash Little One

Today I'm sharing one of Jan's older digital stamps - Splish Splash! I selected this for a couple of reasons - it's a great summer image, super cute with the puppy and baby doll and most of all - it was perfect for our Great Granddaughter's FIRST birthday card!

I truly enjoy making special cards for her and her first birthday was certainly a one of those days! Most of the family gathered together for burgers and hot dogs and watched our little Wren pull the paper apart and out of the bags like a professional.

Thankfully her parents kept her card and the other cards safely too the side after showing them to her!

To make this card, I sized the image to just over 4" tall and used my Copic markers for coloring. I added the stenciled cloud background with Quick Quotes Chalking inks and dotted the water droplets with Diamond Stickles.

The card base is 6" square, covered with the navy blue patterned paper and the completed image was secured in the center. The sentiment came from the same digital package and is secured at the bottom right corner after being die cut.

It turned out to be a cute card, one I hope will be tucked away until she's old enough to look back and enjoy reading her messages.

How about you ~ do you write to your grandchildren for them to read later in life?

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:

C.R.A.F.T ~ Challenge 687 ~ Summer (Top 3)

Fab 'n Funky ~ Challenge 578 ~ Summer Fun

Simon Says Stamps ~ Wednesday Challenge ~ Summer Fun

The Four Seasons ~ August Challenge ~ Summer

Pam's Pearls

Copics

Water: B21, B23, B24, B28, Bathing Suit: Y15, Y18, N5, N6, Hair: YR21, YR24, YR27, E39, Water Can: R14, R17, B28, Duck: Y13, Y19, YR19, Tub: Y26, N2, N4, N5, N6, C2, C5

Friday, August 4, 2023

Just Exhausting!

There's nothing worse that forgetting a family member's birthday - especially when you have it on your calendar! But amid my unexpected recent surgery and recover and then hurrying to prepare for this last retreat, I not only forgot to send my sister in law's birthday card, I also forgot to send my good friend in my home town birthday card too! They share the same birth day! As soon as I returned from the retreat and opened my planner book - BAM! Then I saw my noted birthdays and felt so bad! Thankfully I'd made some really cute birthday cards while I was on the retreat and was able to pop them in the mail the next morning.

So today I'm sharing the one I selected for my super sweet sister in law, Judy. Recently she suffered a scary event with heat exhaustion and had to be rushed to the hospital. Even more reason that this Spring Chicken image from Beccy's Place was perfect for her birthday!

After sizing the image to about 3 1/2" tall, I layered the sentiment close to the chicken about midway on the left side. I used my Copic markers for coloring and then used the Gina Marie Dropped Pendant die for the stitched die cut edge.

I cut the chevron style paper slightly smaller than the A2 size card base and wrapped brown twine around the image and the colored paper several times, then made a bow just to the left of the image. I secured this to the card base to complete the design.

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:

Beccy's Place ~ August Challenge

Fab N' Funky ~ Challenge 578 ~ Summer Fun

Simon Says Stamps ~ Wednesday Challenge

The Crafty Addicts ~ Challenge 4

Crafty Animals ~ Challenge 75

Critter Crazy ~ Challenge 77

Pam's Pearls

Copics

E41, E42, E43, R35, R37, R39, YR23, YR24, YR27, W3

Products

Beccy's Place, Spring Chickens

Gina Marie Designs, Drop Pendant

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

Cherish the Moments

While I was away at the last retreat over in Georgia, we did make a Retail Therapy trip to a wonderful crafting store called Impressive Ideas.

The shelves were filled with Market 49 and Mintay papers along with all the embellishments and extra goodies. Then there were tons upon tons of stamps from so many different companies to choose from. When you ran out of stamps there were inks and tools and of course a SALE Room!

Today I'm sharing a card I made with one of the stamps from the sale room ~ this is Shell Picture by Impression Obsession.

One of my best friends is currently recovering from surgery and I made this Cherish card for her. She and I both love the beach and I knew she'd love the shades of the shells.

After stamping it on Neenah cardstock, I colored the image with Copic markers and used an edger die for the scalloped rounded edge. Then I secured the aqua piece on the A2 card base and added the completed piece on top. Lastly I added the Cherish sentiment and the enamel dots to complete the design.

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:

I Love Promarkers ~ Challenge 8 - Fav Color Combo

A Place to Start - July Challenge ~ Life's a Beach

Avenue 613 ~ July Challenge

World Wide Crafters & Colourist ~ July Challenge

Pam's Pearls

Copics

V20, V22, V25, V91, V95, YR27, YR16, E41, E42, E43, E93, E95, E97, W3, W5, R21, R22, YR12, BG32, BG49, BG45, BG63, BG09

Products

Impression Obsession, Shell Picture

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Believe In Your Dreams

It seems the first of each month comes faster as the calendar flips through the year. We don't even want to mention that wonderful time of year that might be just around the corner!

So today starts our last hot month of summer here in the south - August - and boy is it HOT! I'm so blessed to be able to craft daily and have my lake view, watching the boats go by.

I'm posting today with the Design Team from Morgan's ArtWorld as her August Challenge Blog is now open. I'm glad you stopped by to see my newest card and hope that you will also visit the challenge blog to see the other Design Team members' cards as well.

I selected Morgan's 'Cass' for my project this month. I think her wild, full hair caught my eye. I've always enjoyed coloring hair. Recently I'd seen a posting with an odd shade of green for the hair. It didn't state the Copics used but I knew I wanted to try it. So here we go with one version of GREEN shades for hair.

I started by sizing the image to just under 4" tall and printed her on Neenah 110# cardstock. For her hair, I used Copics BG72, BG75, BG78. Definitely different, but amazingly looks pretty good too.

To add to the royal look, I selected several shades of orange to gold for her gown and jewelry and then added Copic BG70 lightly around the image to tie it all together and soften the edges.

For the matting, I added black behind the image and also behind the peach with gold dot background paper. Usually I list the die that I use, however this is one that I don't have labeled and I wasn't successful in identifying it.

I secured the layers as shown on a light blue card base with a side fold. The sentiment die cut was also done in black cardstock and secured overlapping the image. Lastly I added the blue green twine at the fold with a key charm at the knot.

Morgans – Be sure to visit Morgan’s ArtWorld for more images and to see the other Design Team cards. We’d love for you to join us in the Monthly Challenge!

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:

CD Sunday Plus ~ Challenge 115 (Top 3)

Creative Fingers ~ Challenge 259

Crafty Catz ~ Challenge 648

World Wide Crafters and Colourist - July Challenge

Pam's Pearls

Copics

Hair BG72, BG75, BG78, Gown: Y26, Y28, YR000, YR02, YR09, YR18, YR23, YR24, YR27, YR68, Around: BG70

Morgan's ArtWorld, Cass