CAS copic faux wood tutorial

Today I wanted to share with you how to make a quick and easy faux wood look using copic markers.  I love the weather look of old barn boards that folks make into signs.  Or the look of old wood furniture that has been sitting on a beach house porch.  Like some of these I found on pinterest.

First you will need a small slip of paper that you will use as your sentiment.  I usually use the same paper I stamped my main image on. For this project I die cut the paper using the MFT washi tape die. I think it looks perfect for a faux wood sign. Then  gather your copic markers.  I used C1, C2, W5 and a black multi liner

Start coloring by swiping C1 in long streeks all over your paper.  You want to see the streaks, trust me it will add texture to your finished sign.  

 Then make long swipes with C2 and W3.  I use the tip of the thick end for this.  Then run W3 over the edges of your paper as well.  You will have something that should look like this.  Notice the steaks.  Forget what you have ever learned about copic coloring and embrace the streaks!

 The go over the entire piece again with C1 to soften and blend the streaks.
Finish by adding nail holes with a black pen.  I used a copic multi liner.

And here is my finished project.  

I used the same color markers to color the chair so the wood looked similar.  

I made this card for the CAS Summer DT search. The challenge was to use a technique and wood grain. I chose to use wood grain that represented an old chair and sign you might find on the porch of a beach house. I made the chair and sign to look like it was white at one time and is now weathered from the sun, wind and sand. I chose to use copic markers for my medium. I stamped the image using momento tuxedo black ink. I colored the wood chair using copics C1,C2,W3, the basket using E55, W3, the flowers and ribbon with R35, RV42, BV000, RV42, R12, Y04, Y32. Highlighted the chair with B000. For the wood sign I used the MFT washi die and colored it with swipes of C1, C2 and W3 and added small black dots as nail holes. I purposefully stamped my image off center to make it look rustic and handmade. And finished by adhering to a kraft card base.

Read more: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/2389308#ixzz2XLnS7jxq

I am entering this card in the following challenge

Simon Says Stamp- anything goes

A.R.T. #3, anything goes

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday - make a splash, I don't have a great image for this challenge, but instead am using weathered wood as something that reminds me of water. 

Cards for Mady

I am sending this card to a special little person who is fighting something bigger then all of us.  You can read her story here and if you feel as moved as I do you can read about sending her a card here.   Thanks to Simon Says Stamp for sharing Mady's story.

 

CASSummerDT2013A

Product
Paper-MFT
Cover Plate-MFT 
Washi tape
Stamps-MFT 

MFTWSC129

Product

Paper-MFT, Autumn leaves

Dies- MFT, PTI, spellbinders

Stamps- MFT 

Button, twine

Ink-color box for MFT 

I'm also entering these cards in the following challenges:

Simon says stamp- anything goes

Thanks so much for stopping by and even if you don't send a card to Mady please keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers. 

Have a fabulous day!

Happily Ever After

Happy Tuesday all.  Today I thought I would play along with the PTI blog hop for June. 

More information can be found HERE

I decided to use the new PTI chevron cover plate, which is awesome, and gold glitter to make a background for my Happily  Ever After Card.  My daughter just received an invitation to a bridal shower so thought this would be a perfect time to work on something she could use with her gift.  

Product: 

Paper PTI

Chevron Cover Plate PTI

Double Ended Banner die PTI

Sweet life stamps and dies PTI

Everyday Classics Sentiment

Ink PTI, Gold Inkadinkado

Martha Stewart Glitter 

Recollections spray adhesive

Thanks so much for stopping by.  

Good luck if you played along and happy hopping if you are hopping along.  

Happy Monday!

Hope you had a fabulous weekend!  I sure did.  We had a wonderful surprise party for my Mom's retirement.  It was truly a surprise, which was nice.

Then on Sunday I found my lost engagement ring.  I had lost it back at the beginning of April.  I had given up hope on ever finding it.  But then Sunday morning while looking for something in the very top drawer of my lingerie chest there it was.  I was so happy I cried happy tears.  Actually I was blubbering like a baby, but Ed dried the tears and all is back where it should be:)

Today I wanted to share with you a new challenge blog.  With a special shout out to my friend Misty who is on the fabulous design team.  It's the  A.R.T challenge blog.  You will find a new challenge every Thursday that you can play along with. This weeks challenge was to use this sketch to make your project.

Supplies: 

Cardstock: PTI

Dies: PTI chevron, MFT poppies

stamps: MFT 

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a fabulous week!

Entered in the following challenges:

1.  A.R.T challenge 

2. Card Mania

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday

Today I finished my Flourishes Timeless Tuesday card.  The challenge was to make a card that opened in an unique way. I chose to make an origami fold card.  With the weekend festivities it took me all weekend to finally finish it.  I had hoped to have it posted for Friday.  

 This is the card fully opened...

 and this is fully closed....

and finally a close up of the inside of the card.  

I used 3 different flourishes stamp sets for the images and colored them with various copic markers.  

Stamps: Flourishes On the Front Port, From The Garden, Humming Along

Ink: Momento

Paper: PTI, Websters Pages

Tools: PTI fence die, copic markers, score pal, zots, Verve ribbon, button and twine.  

Happy Hump Day!

Hope your week is going well.  It seems we are having an extended spring here.  I don't think we have had more then 2 days in a row without rain.  But today the sun is shining and the birds are chirping.  Makes me very happy:)

Today my craft share is for the Flourishes Textures of Nature Challenge.

HOW TO PLAY:  Create something with an outdoorsy texture in mind – or use an element from nature as part of your design.  It could be the texture in an embossing folder that has woodgrain, leaves or vines, it 
could be a leaf rubbing behind your image, something glossy like rain or shiny like a berry.  The interpretation is up to you!  If you play along with us, you could win Flourishes entire June Stamp Release!  If you upload to SCS please use the keyword FLLCJUN13.  You can enter as many times as you like, but we want you to know if you use your Flourishes stamps, your entry counts twice!  You have until Friday June 14, 2013 at 5 PM EST to enter.   Enjoy exploring those nature textures!

I stamped the image on vellum with distress ink.  The stamp is from Flourishes Garden Picks and the button is wood grain.  I think kraft and the  burlap is great for adding natural texture.  

I had to take a picture with some blooming flowers as my background for this one.

Thanks so much for stopping by and see you Friday!

Lemon poppyseed strawberry syllabub cake...

It's becoming a weekly event to make a new cake on the weekends. This weekend I chose to kick up a boxed lemon poppy seed cake.

There are only 2 of us so I used one cake mix and made 1 small layer cake and 6 muffins.

I mixed the cake according to package directions. For the cake I used 2 8 inch round cake pans. Sprayed just the bottoms with cooking spray and put just enough batter in the pan to cover the bottom, the death was about 1/2 inch. Then baked until the top was brown and sprinted back when touched, it only took about 15 minutes to bake.  The muffins took about 30 minutes.

While cake is baking start your strawberry syllabub, while its resting you can make your icing.

Strawberry syllabub

1 t. Vanilla
1/4 cup purred strawberries

3/4 cups heavy cream

1/2 tablespoon powdered gelatin

11/2tablespoons milk

1/4 cup sugar

3 egg yolks

3/4 cup whipped cream

Mix strawberries with heavy cream and bring to boil, remove from heat and let cool an hour.  

Mix gelatin with milk, allow to thicken.

Whisk egg yolks with sugar and set aside.

After the hour has passed slowly rewarm strawberry mixture. Then gently whisk into eggs about 5 minutes.

Then fold in whipped cream.  You can chill now until ready to use. I tend to use mine right away, but be cautioned that its not as thick until chilled.

Frosting

4 ounces cream cheese

1/2 cup confectioners sugar

Pinch of salt

1t. Vanilla

3/4  heavy whipping cream

In chilled stand mixer bowl whip whipping cream until soft peeks form. Remove from bowl and set aside.  In same bowl whip remaining ingredients until soft. Then slow mixer to stir and fold in whipped cream.

Chill until ready to use.  

To finish cake. Layer cake, strawberry syllabub, thin sliced strawberries, and top cake. Frost and garnish with strawberries.   

It keeps well in refrigerator several days.

Enjoy!

One more way to use leftover peanut butter eggs.

An oh my are they good!  Today, I felt like baking.  It's one of the cold rainy days, really crazy for the end of May.  So I baked up a batch of cookie bars.

 

If your a peanut butter fan then you'll love these!

Peanut Butter Bar Recipe: 

Ingredients

• 2 cups brown sugar
• 2/3 cup salted butter (softened)
• 3 eggs (whisked)
• 2 1/2 cup flour
• 2 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2  cups peanut butter chips
• 6 peanut butter eggs chopped ( you can use peanut butter cups as well)  

Instructions

1. Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees. Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl. Add in eggs and stir until combined. Mix the baking powder and salt with 1 cup of flour. Pour into the butter mixture and stir in the rest of the flour. Fold in chocolate chips and chopped pb eggs. 
2. Grease a 12x14 pan (13x9 will work too) and lightly dust with flour. Press dough into pan with flour on your hands. Bake for 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Test with a tooth pick. The dough should be soft in the center.
3. I tried a 9X9 pan, but they were just to think and the topped browned before the bars were cooked all the way.  

1. Allow bars to cool and then enjoy with a cold glass of milk!
2. 
   

Happy Thursday Blog world!

Any plans for the weekend?  Looks like it's going to rain here so not sure whats on the agenda.  I do plan on trying a new cake:)  I'll let you know how that turns out.

I finished the Flourishes designer focus just under the wire.  Thus the late today blog post.  This weeks designer focus was on the very talented Cindy.  You can read more about Cindy here.  I chose to case this card by Cindy.  I love how her flowers just pop off the die cut.

And this is my card using Flourishes Humming along stamp set.  

See you soon:)  

Strawberries and cream cake, or the best cake I've ever made!

Hello everyone!

I wanted to share my remake of one of my favorite desserts from Balzanos Restaurant in Bloomsburg, PA.  If you've never had the opportunity to dine there you really should check it out. Their menu is traditional Italian, with lovey cakes or tiramisu for dessert. We have never been disappointed and always take a dessert to go.  My favorite dessert their is there strawberries and cream cake. It's a white cake layered with Bavarian cream and strawberries.  Simply divine! My husband and I spent Saturday night in the kitchen perfecting our recipe.

Here is our rendition. We started out with a white boxed cake baked in two 9 inch round cake pans and cooled completely.  While the cake cooled we made Bavarian cream.  This is time consuming but so worth it!

Bavarian cream filling 

1 T. Vanilla

1 1/4 cups heavy cream

1 tablespoon powdered gelatin

3 tablespoons milk

1/4 cup sugar

5 egg yolks

1 1/4 cups whipped cream

Put the vanilla bean in cream and slowly bring to a boil. Turn off heat and let sit for 1 hour.

 Sprinkle the gelatin into the milk and set aside. It will thicken, but don't worry it's supposed to. 

Whisk the sugar and egg yolks together. Warm the cream mixture back up and slowly whisk into eggs. Place mixture over simmering water and stir until it is thick enough to coat the back of a wooded spoon. This will take a while, be patient. Remove from heat and add milk and gelatin mixture.

Place bowl in ice bath and stir until at room temperature.

Fold in whipped cream and Place in refrigerator for 4 to 5 hours or until mixture is set. Then layer your cake the Bavarian cream and a layer of strawberries. Top with second cake, cover and return to refridgerator while you make your whipped cream frosting. 

Whipped cream frosting

8 ounces cream cheese

1 cup confectioners sugar

Pinch of salt

1t. Vanilla

11/2cups heavy whipping cream

In a small bowl beat whipping cream until stiff peaks form; set aside.

In a large bowl combine cream cheese, sugar, salt and vanilla. Beat until smooth, then fold in whipped cream. 

 Spread on cake, top with a garnish of strawberries. 

Even Tink enjoyed a piece of cake for dessert. 

Enjoy!  And thanks for stopping  by.  

My first Stamp TV challenge

And what fun I had.  It was one of the quickest cards I've made that I really like!  It took me longer to cut the paper and tie the bow then it did to color the focal point image.  Using my ink pads like water color has been added to my arsenal of techniques I will use more often!  The image was stamped in a copic friendly ink so I wasn't worried about the ink smearing, but I was worried the paper might curl.  The paper is GK and worked like a charm!  While the image dried I prepared the card base of kraft with layers of Prima paper.  I matched the ink colors with the patterned paper.  Once the image was dry I die cut it with a spellbinders die and used foam tap for added dimension.  I finished the card with offray ribbon, a tiny tag and Theresa Collins jems.  And to top it all off it's already in the mail!  

Mix it Up Monday Challenge on Stamp TV. 

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a fabulous week!

It's summertime....somewhere!

Just hasn't found it's way to Pennsylvania yet so I thought I would bring a bit of summer to you! 

 The Flourishes Timeless Tuesday #222 is  to create a card or project  that reminds you of Summer and incorporate the breezy feel of sheer ribbon (FTTC222). 

 I used Flourishes On the Porch stamps and Offray sheer ribbon for the challenge.

I have to say I am loving coloring like a kid this week!  So fun!  Pull up a chair and join me:)(

My second card for today is for the CAS(E) sketch #30 challenge as well as the SCS Flybabies monthly challenge.  The flybabies challenge was to make a card for a child.  

This card is really unusual for me.  I made it without stamping a thing.  I received this paper in a card kit swap and just thought it was to cute not to use as a focal point.  

Thanks for popping in, and have a great weekend!  

PTI MIM #118

This weeks PTI MIM challenge is to make a photo postcard.  Just so happened that I needed to print photos from our cruise in April so I printed a few extra to take along on our next cruise in October.  It was super easy to print and stamp on the photos.  I used a good heavy weight photo paper that is blank on the back so I don't think I need to add a heavier layer of card stock.   Going to try to mail this one and see how it works before our next vacation.

Don't you just love self portraits;) 

 That's all for today, short and sweet.  

Thanks for stopping by.  

Flourishes Desinger Focus

Today's craft share is a card I made for the Flourishes Designer Focus challenge which was to CASE a card by Christine Okken. Christine does simple stunning work so I included elements from two of her cards.  I love the stamp set she used in the card you can see here, and I love all the layers in the card you can see here. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous day!

Sewing Desk DIY

Happy Monday!  Happy Memorial Day!  I hope you are enjoying something fun today.  

Last weekend while at a yard sale I found a great deal on an old desk.  Only $10.  We brought it open and set to refinishing it.  We took it all apart, sanded then painted it.  Now my sewing machines have a new pretty home.  

I was able to find the pink knobs at 2 different Michael's.  I put them on all my cabinets as well as the desk. 

We also repainted the vintage apothecary stand to match the desk.  

My next plans are to change up the materials I have randomly around the room to coordinate with my shabby chic pink and white room.  

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!

PTI May Blog hop

Hello friends!  Hope your Saturday is going well.  I spent some time just doing a little organizing in my scrap room and then took a little time to play along with this months Paper Trey Ink blog hop.

The challenge was to use your favorite flower stamp set and the photo inspiration.  I chose this photo 

and this is the beautiful card I came up with.  

I used the PTI lace cover plate for the card front, I stamped the image in versamark then colored with chalks.  I finished the project with a ribbon, button and twine.  I stamped the sentiment on the inside of the card as well as stamped a coordinating image.  

Thanks for stopping by and if you want to hop or play along stop by the PTI blog for the details and more inspiration.  Have a great weekend!

Hello Thursday!

Hi everyone!

I hope you enjoyed my garden tour yesterday.  It seem overnight a bug had decided to start munching on my lettuce before I can.  So now I'm looking for the  safest most effective way to deter these little critters.  I don't mind sharing, but I would appreciate a few pieces of lettuce for myself, you know not previously chewed on!  I consulted with my good friend google and decided to try a mixture of vegetable oil and regular dawn dish soap (with out anti-bacterial) first.  I sprayed them today, but it's raining so will try it a few days and see how it works.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! 

Today I am playing along with the Flourishes Free For all Friday.  This week the free for all is to use one of the featured artists cards as your muse.  This weeks featured artist is Julie Koerber.  Her work is stunning, and coloring is flawless.  For this first card I chose to use the design elements from this card....

 

and made this lovely piece of art. 

 

 

With less then a day remaining I hope to make a few more projects for this challenge. 

 

Have a great day and Thanks for stopping by:) 

Almost wordless Wednesday.

I took my camera for a walk this morning. 

letuce mix is ready to start being used

strawberries are blooming



Lilacs are blooming

The very last bulb blooming

Peas and antique tiller. 

Watermelon

Pumpking, with the shell husk still attached. 

Mushrooms, just because....

Square foot garden vegies.



Yellow Pansy, so pretty.  I hate that they are almost done blooming already. 

Watering can along sidewalk.

Peonie bud

violet

pansies are gorgeous

pansy, do these come up yearly? 

And that's what it's looking like around my homestead.  I saw my first humming bird yesterday.  It's so nice to finally have spring like weather. 

Thanks for looking and have a great day!