Praying for You

If you are looking for the Graphic 45 September Folios, please check back on September 20th. I am working on them, but it is going slowly. Taking three months off was, perhaps, not as good an idea as I thought it was!

Welcome to another Conie Fong Art and Design inspiration project! I wanted to color something bright and pretty for this project, because I have a few friends who need some cheering up!

I chose Bow Tie in My Hair for my image this week. I love Conie's adorable girls with their long, flowing hair and their sweet faces. I printed the image at 4" tall onto Hammermill 100# white cardstock. I have great results with this particular cardstock (find it HERE) using either my Epson Stylus Photo R380 or my Lexmark Pro 900. The paper is a bit thick, and both printers want to kick up a fuss, but they will eventually print the line art! 

I colored this little sweetie with Copics and used a white pen to add the polka dots. I actually colored her twice! I had saved the dress to color last, and when I was coloring it, I made a HUGE mistake with Copic B39! I could not save the image, so I ended up having to do it AGAIN! (For those who do not know, B39 is a VERY dark blue!) 

The second time around I made her dress a pale yellow with a blue sash. With no ink blobs! The hair is a bit darker in this second go, but, I still like it. 

The card is 7" tall and 5" wide. I added white panels to the inside and stamped a scripture message. 

I found some great blue and yellow papers in my stash, which match the ink colors perfectly. I did not have any dark blue pearls, so I used that infamous B39 to color a few pale blue pearls to match. 

I was struggling with the shape for the image, but I found the large oval dies in my hoard. I always forget I have these larger ovals. In fact, the matching scallop oval set was NEVER OPENED!! I received it as part of my design team work for Spellbinders...in 2011!!! {I know. It's criminal.}

Thanks for looking! For more inspiration, visit the Conie Fong Facebook Group!   

I am entering my card into these challenges:
Classic Design Team Open Challenge Blog #17 - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday #300-#301 - Anything Goes
Crafting From the Heart #174 - Anything Goes

Digital stamp: Conie Fong Art and Design Bow Tie in My Hair
Copic markers: C9, C3, C1, C00, B39, B37, B34, B32, Y21, Y00, E33, E21, E00, E000, E0000,R22, R20, Colorless blender
Pens: Sakura Gelly Roll white
Cardstock: Hammermill 100# Digital Color Copy White, WorldWin Smooth Flag Blue, White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Ribbon and twine: Really Reasonable Ribbon Navy Sheer with Satin Center (out of stock), Lemonwood Baker's Twine
Printed paper: Canvas Corp Yellow and Ivory Ribbon Stripe, Navy and Ivory Mini Dot Reverse
Stamps: Verve 2 Corinthians 12:9 (inside), Potter's Clay (sentiment)
Dies: Elizabeth Craft Designs Stitched Squares; Spellbinders Grand Ovals, Grand Scalloped Ovals, Curved Borders 2
Pearls: Recollections
Adhesive: ATG tape, hot glue, foam squares, Scor-tape

Really Reasonable Ribbon September Blog Hop

Welcome to the Really Reasonable Ribbon September Blog Hop! You should be coming to my blog from the Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog. (For the complete blog list, scroll to the bottom of the post.) After visiting me, hop over to the spectacular Ginny's Blog next!

At the end of the hop, comment on the RRR Blog post, answering the question listed, for a chance to win the September Ribbon Club Assortment shown below. (The Design Team appreciates your comments, too!)

This month the collection is called Halloween Assortment. I love purple and green for Halloween projects, and I am super happy to see a little bit of those colors in the assortment!

I decided to celebrate the purple by creating a 7" x 5" card. This is a fun size to create, because you can use a note card-sized image and still have some decorating space on the front of the card.  

This cutie super hero image is called Superduper Boy from Mo's Digital Pencil. It is a digital image that I printed at 5 1/4" tall by 4" wide. (There is a girl version too, called Superduper Girl.)

Instead of coloring the image in traditional Superman colors, I colored him in green and purple. I am sure there is a super hero out there somewhere with these colors, right?! I also made sure to match the boy's hair with the orange of the ribbon, for just that small pop of orange! 

I used Copics to color him, with a few colored pencils for the hair, and some penwork with a glitter pen. As I have progressed with my Copic skills, I find I am enjoying coloring deep, saturated colors! 

I cut a small opening, next to the image, and threaded the Apple Satin and the Halloween Bold Diagonal Striped Grosgrain ribbons through the hole. I wrapped the ribbons around the green panel and secured them with tape. 

I added some ribbon "tails" from the Apple Satin, Diagonal Stripe, Grape Taffeta, and Pumpkins on Black Grosgrain ribbons. I topped the ribbon tails with a die cut spider web and a matte finish enamel dot. 

I added some decor to the inside of the card, too. 

I originally wanted the sentiment for the front of the card, but it was too big. I added the sentiment and a curvy pocket to the inside of the card. I can tuck a gift card or a chocolate bar into the pocket, if I wish. 

I love the curved topper! I added a die cut word to the top, as well. I have not used either of these die cut templates in AGES, so it was fun to get them out and have a play date! 

I really love how this purple and green card turned out! 

I am entering my card into these challenges:

Crafty Creations Challenge #350 - Anything Goes
Sisterhood of Crafters - Oh Boy
Through the Craft Room Door - Week Sept. 12th - Anything Goes
Make My Monday Challenge #54 - Something for a Child



Thanks for stopping by today! Now, hop over to Ginny's Blog to see what she has for you!

Here is the RRR Blog Hop Order in case you get lost!

Really Reasonable Ribbon's Ramblings (REMEMBER, LEAVE A COMMENT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN!)

Gloria - YOU ARE HERE!
Ginny

Cheryl

Bonnie
Karen

Kathy
Cherry
Linsey
Shelia

Ribbon: Really Reasonable Ribbon September Ribbon Club (Apple Satin with Grosgrain Edge, Halloween Bold Diagonal Striped Grosgrain, Grape Taffeta, Pumpkins on Black Grosgrain)
Cardstock: Hammermill Digital 100lb White, WorldWin Midnight, Purple and Green unknown
Designer paper: Bo Bunny Whoo-ligans, purple stars paper unknown
Enamel Dots: Doodle Bug Design Matte Sprinkles Halloween Assortment
Stamps: Mo's Digital Pencil Superduper Boy, Paper Trey Ink Trick or Treat (sentiment)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Copic Markers: BV08, BV25, C00, C1, C3, C5, C7, B37, YG13, YG17, YG25, YG67, V09, V15, V17, E000, E00, E01, E08, Y11, Y15, Y21, YR27, R20, Colorless blender
Colored pencils: Prismacolor Mineral Orange, Dark Brown
Pens: Sakura Gelly Roll Stardust, Silver; Sakura Pigma Micron 01 Black
Dies: Spellbinders Curved Borders 1, Tonic Mixed Edge Rectangles, Paper Trey Ink Halloween Words, Spider Webs
Tools: Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher
Adhesive: ATG tape, Scor-tape, Glue Dots, Ranger Multi Medium

Purple Dragon Birthday Card

Welcome to the Conie Fong Art and Design September Facebook Challenge! The challenge this month is to use a Conie Fong image and the theme - use 2 or more patterned papers. (As always, the challenges are Anything Goes, but you get an extra point for using the theme!)

Use two or more patterned papers...boy what a hard challenge...NOT! I created a 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" card this time, which will fit into a square envelope for mailing. Plus, the card is pretty flat, for a change! I really am mailing this one - to my daughter for her 22nd birthday next month. 

I used three printed papers from my Halloween stash. I don't buy much purple paper (say that three times fast), so most of the purple paper in my stash is in Halloween themes! I added some white dots to the solid purple paper as well. 

The image is called Tori the Dragon - Birthday Boy. You can buy a trio of Tori's HERE. Tori is holding a different cake in each image. 

I chose the football cake image, and then colored the dragon in purple and gold...the Minnesota Vikings colors! My daughter and husband are HUGE Vikings fans! I color matched the current uniforms to get the right purple and gold! {I am such a nerd!}

I used Copics to color the image, and then added some pen work with white and clear glitter pens.

I used some clear stamps to decorate the inside of the card. 

Please play along in the Conie Fong FaceBook challenge. If you don't have a Conie Fong image, you can download one for free once you join the Facebook Group! Click HERE for that.   

I am entering my card into these challenges:
Colour Crazy Challenge - Week 35 - Anything Goes
Little C's Aloha Friday Challenge - Digital Image (Closed)
Cute Card Thursday #493 - Too Cute (Closed)
Little Red Wagon Challenge 409 - Go Hybrid (Closed)

Conie Fong September 2017 Facebook Challenge
Your project needs to be uploaded into the designated Facebook album (click HERE) in order to be considered for the prizes. Make sure to read all the RULES on the Challenge Page.

Digital stamps: Conie Fong Art and Design Tori the Dragon - Birthday Boy
Clear stamps: Power Poppy Party Time (inside - cake and presents), My Favorite Things Delicious Birthday (sentiments)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Colorbox Pigment Violet
Copic markers: YG07, YG09, YR23, YR24, Y15, Y21, C00, C1, C3, C5, E35, E37, V09, V15, V17, BV08, Colorless Blender
Pens: Sakura Gelly Roll White, Stardust; Zig Wink of Stella Clear
Printed paper: Graphic 45 Steampunk Spells 6x6, Rare Oddities 6x6; Echo Park Happy Halloween
Cardstock: Hammermill Digital Copy 100#, Worldwin Midnight
Dies: Elizabeth Craft Designs Stitched Squares; Spellbinders Standard Circles Large and Small, Picot Edge Circles; My Favorite Things Stitched Circle Stax, Rectangle Word Window Frames
Pearls: Queen and Company
Adhesive: ATG tape, Ranger Multi Medium

Announcing a NEW Mini Album Makers Challenge Blog!

Hello! If you are a mini album maker, this is the challenge blog for you!  The Mini Album Makers Challenge will feature a monthly challenge, plus one full mini album tutorial a month! In addition, there will be guest makers each month! I am so excited to be part of this challenge blog! 

The team will post the 1st of each month, with each of us posting links to a mini album tutorial, tip, or trick. Then, one team member will post a full tutorial on the 14th of each month! (My BIG tutorial month is not until February, but I will post other tutorials monthly.)

Click HERE for the September Challenge!

Our goal for the challenge is to help and instruct you in making your own albums FROM SCRATCH! For our first challenge, I am posting this project, which I made about a year and a half ago. (After this month, I will be posting NEW projects.)

I originally created this mini album when I was on the Canvas Corp team, and it remains one of my favorite album projects. I created the entire album from scratch, and it is the first time I used canvas for a cover and spine!

For the FULL TUTORIAL and VIDEO, please click HERE. 

The tutorial and videos show you how to make the cover and spine of this mini, plus how to make the style of pocket page I used.

 I have a second video to show you the full inside of this amazing mini album!

Thanks for joining me today! I hope that you are as excited as I am about this new blog! Below is a full list of the Design Team, with links to their blogs!

Alison Bomber

Anne Redfern

Astrid Maclean

Autumn Clark (the Boss)

Gloria Stengel (that's me!)

Inna Bronnikova

Nancy Wethington

I have worked with most of these ladies before, and if you think they are a powerhouse group of makers, you'd be right! I am excited to be working with them, and I know I will learn as much from them as you will.

Our challenge follows a few simple rules:

Any Handmade Book Goes.  Enter any form of handmade mini albums, scrapbooks, journals and book arts.  Our focus is on completed works, so no layouts or journal spreads that are not part of a complete handmade book project.  You do not have to provide a tutorial, but we wish you would.  Feel free to use one of the DT tutorials to make your project and give proper credit where due.  No back links allowed.  Combine with any other challenges as applicable.  No limit on entries.  Share the love by visiting and commenting on other entries.  Please become a follower.  That's it - have fun! Click HERE to enter your project!

Our Prize Sponsor this month is....

Seth Apter

Website

Blog

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

Seth has donated this AMAZING prize!!

Come back on  October 1st for a new set of tutorials from the team! I will have something NEW to share! 

December Calendar Page

Welcome to another Conie Fong Art and Design inspiration project! My project today is part of a larger project that I am working on...a set of calendar pages! I am using the NEW Molly Cutie image from the Molly Winter Bundle that was released last month.

I have two different calendar sets in the pipeline, not counting the calendar folio series that I am working on. So, yes, I love calendars! This set is 10" tall by 6 1/2" wide and contains a sweet image for each month. This is the December page for that set. (The other set will feature flowers for each month!)

Ok, the truly scary part is that I have enough digital images in my stash! I did not have to buy even one image to complete the two sets! {Don't act surprised! You are NOT surprised by this news!} 

I sized the image at approximately 5" tall and added it to a calendar page that I created in Adobe Illustrator. The image is colored with Copics. (See the list in the supplies below.)

I plan to display the page for each month on an easel stand on my desk. I kept the decor simple to let the image be the star of the page! I poked around in my stash and used some old buttons and stray flowers that I have been hoarding. I buy FAR more Christmas decor than I can possibly use each year! {Again, shocker!}  

I had a bit of trouble with my reds this month because TWO of my markers were dry and I am STILL waiting for the refills to come in the mail. So, I had to do my best with the markers that I had. 

Thanks for looking! For more inspiration, visit the Conie Fong Facebook Group!   

I am entering my card into these challenges:
The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Challenge #13 Anything Christmas Goes (closed)
Christmas Card Challenges #20 Anything Goes (optional colorful glass ornaments) (closed)
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #348 Anything Goes (optional use something old) (CLOSED)

Digital stamp: Conie Fong Art and Design Molly Cutie (from Molly Winter Bundle)
Copic markers: Skin: E000, E00, E01, R20; Hair: E37, E35, E27; Bird/Holly/Clothes: B97, B95, B93, C7, C5, C3, C1, C00, Y17, G07, G14, G28, R24, R27, R59, R35, E47, E39, E37, E35, E27; Background: C3, CC1, C00, BG0000
Pens: Sakura Gelly Roll white, star dust
Cardstock: Hammermill 100# Digital Color Copy White, red cardstock unknown
Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts, Petaloo
Buttons: Buttons Galore
Charm: 7 Gypsies
Enamel Dots: Simple Stories
Adhesive: ATG tape, white glue, hot glue

Calendar: generated with Adobe Illustrator

Heartfelt Creations August Alumni Blog Hop

Welcome to the August Heartfelt Creations Alumni Blog Hop! Each month, on the last Friday of the month, the Heartfelt Creations Alumni Team participates in a Blog Hop! The August Hop starts 8am EST on Friday, August 25th and closes Monday, August 28th at midnight. 

Be sure to visit each blog on the hop, and leave a comment, because one fortunate Blogger will be chosen to receive a $25 gift card to Heartfelt Creations! The winner will be announced on the Heartfelt Creations Blog and Facebook Page on Wednesday, August 30th. The winner should contact Heartfelt Creations at socialmedia@heartfeltcreations.us with "Winner of the August Alumni Hop" in the subject line.

The blog hop is now closed. The winner was chosen from my blog and is....

HELEN BUDZ!

You should be coming to my blog from Vicki Dutcher's Blog. After visiting me, head on over to Deneen Treble's Blog. For a list of the Alumni Blogs, see the end of the post.

For most of the USA, the end of August marks the end of summer. Not so here in southern CA, but I still think of fall as coming on September first! We will have weeks and weeks of warm and hot weather here, with no true autumn in sight! 

Since I want to celebrate the end of summer, I decided to color up some juicy strawberries! This stamp is soon to retire, so if you want it, grab it fast - Blooming Berries Cling Stamp Set.

The image is colored with Copic markers (see the list in the supplies below).

I added a sentiment with the Heartfelt Sentiments Cling Stamp Set. I added some printed paper from the Peacock Paisley and Butterfly Medley Collections.

Thanks for hopping by! Hop on over to  Deneen Treble's Blog next. DON'T FORGET...POST A COMMENT FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A $25 GIFT CARD TO HEARTFELT CREATIONS!

August Heartfelt Creations Alumni Blog Hop List:
Kathy Clement
Amarilys Doria
Emily Niehaus
Vicki Dutcher
Gloria Stengel - YOU ARE HERE!
Deneen Treble
Archana Joshi
Martine Smith
Alissa Wells
Sarah Miller
Sandy Hulsart

I am entering my card into these challenges:
Crafty Creations #348 - Anything Goes (CLOSED)
CropStop Linky Party #31 - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door (8/22-8/29) - Anything Goes (CLOSED)
HeARTful Stamping - Anything Goes plus a Stamp (CLOSED)

Heartfelt Creations Products:
Blooming Berries Cling Stamp Set.
Heartfelt Sentiments Cling Stamp Set
Peacock Paisley Paper Collection
Butterfly Medley Paper Collections
Memento Dye Ink Pad - Tuxedo Black

Other Products:


Copic markers: R24, R27, R37, G24, G28, BG0000, Y06, Y15, RV0000, RV000,
White pen: Sakura Gelly Roll
Cardstock: WorldWin Papers Smooth and Silky Midnight, CutCardStock Basis White, Hammermill Digital Color Copy 100# White
Enamel Dots: Simple Stories DIY Christmas
Ribbon: Really Reasonable Ribbon Moss Green GinghamOther dies: Spellbinders Grand Rectangles
Adhesive: ATG tape, glue dots

Graphic 45 Calendar Folio Series...

Great news! The Folio Series is coming back. After a three month break, I am ready to get back to the series. We will start up again in September with the September folios, posting September 17th!!

I will hold the Summer Folios (June, July, and August) until January 21, 2018. (I hope you will forgive me for taking a break. I sure needed one!) I want to stay on track with the monthly projects, so we will start up again with September and then have a Summer Fest in the New Year! 

If you are seeing this late, click HERE for the January - May Folios. There is a link to the storage box also.

Now, for a "bad" note about the folio storage box. Since I make my folio covers so LUMPY, only about 12 folios (6 months) will fit in the box! So, if you are making your folios dimensional, like I am, you will need to make a second box, or you will need to make a longer box, or find another storage solution. I have not decided what I will do yet. 

I am quite upset that I did not calculate the thickness of each folio correctly! I will probably make a second box. {insert major sigh and an eye roll here}

So, join me on September 17th for the next folio!