Spring Is Around the Corner

It's hard to imagine, what with the 3 foot high snow banks surrounding us in Chicago, but it IS March, and according to the calendar, Spring is just around the corner.  March certainly came in like alion, so it should hopefully go out like a lamb with warmer weather and a little sunshine.

Meanwhile, other parts of the world are enjoying the timid beginnings of Spring, so I wanted to make a card in celebration.  The Outlawz Challenge for Friday is Spring or Easter, using any kind of alcohol-based coloring.  I pulled out my Copics and here he is!

I used a March QKD release from Artist Terrell Dorfeo called Dragon Riders.  I must say this little guy is adorable, and he doesn't complain when I color him pink and orange.  I used a negative cut of hot pink cardstock to frame my image.  I also used a leftover piece of K & Co Border, using the back of it to color the coordinating green (YG03) for my card.

For some more Springtime inspiration, check out the QKD Shop!  For your chance in the Outlawz Friday Copic Challenge, click HERE!

Far Out!!

Groovy baby, far out, Right on, Let’s book, what a fox, Bummer, Doobie, Funky, Trippin’, take a Chill pill...
The time was the seventies, the scene was where it was at,.  Bad was good, a fox was sexy, and bookin was getting out of there.

Queen Kat Designs released some groovy, funky, far out stamps, one of which blew my mind, it was like, psychedelic.  It's called Patches the Hippie Chick and it was designed by the grooviest of designers, Terrell Dorfeo.
The stamp brought out some very funny but cool memories of my high school years (yes, I am that old, just chill).  There was a head shop, I mean a music store, that sold patches specifically to cover your jeans, didn't matter if there were a rip or hole or tear, you sewed them on to look cool.  There was a song called Patches that came out in 1970 by singer Clarence Carter, and I used to listen to it ALL the time.
So this little cutie and I have a connection, and I thought I would make her a nice card to decorate.  I might just send it to one of my high school friends with whom I am still in touch.  Bet she'd get a kick out of it!!
For those of you who understand what I'm saying, hope you enjoyed the trip down memory lane.  Check out those elephant bells!! LOL

March New Releases from QKD

It's March, and with a new month comes new releases from QKD!  One of them is called "Patches the Hippie Girl" by artist Terrell Dorfeo.  Patches looks like she is high on life, and everything is groovy, baby!!

I used mixed media to make this card.  I am very much into mixed media right now, and wondered how paint, matte medium and designer napkins would look on a card.  I showed my daughter, who is in her third year of art in high school.  She said she liked it because it was "different".  The texture is very different, and even though the finish is supposed to be matte, it has a bit of a shine to it.  What do you think?
I added a few layers of designer tie-dye napkin first, removing the thin backing first and then tearing the bottom for a rough look.  I colored my image with Copics, then positioned it on the card with Pop Dots for added dimension.  I stamped the sentiment "groovy" with an alpha set and colored in the letters with black Copic and white acrylic paint.
To frame Patches, I drew a peace sign, then placed "flower power" embellies around her.  I added a VW Beetle button, and finished off my card with some white acrylic painted dots and white inked edges to lighten it up.
I had fun trying this technique on a new venue, and would do it again.  Have you tried mixed media yet?  It is "far out, dude"!!  
Meanwhile, check out more of the Queen's new releases at the shoppe!

Decorating for Halloween

It's time to show off one of the newest-released stamps from artist Terrell Dorfeo.  It's called Devil Skull and you can find it in the Shoppe right now!  I paired it with a couple more QKD stamps and made some wall art.

First, I painted a 99 cent window box frame with black paint and added bone stickers and glitter to the edges of each window.

Next I stamped Devil Skull twice.  I colored her with Copics and cut the first, full image to fit the middle frame.  I fussy-cut the second image and adhered it with dimensional tape.  I used Liquid Glass for the shine in her eyes, horns and tail.

I used a fantastic QKD background stamp called Skulls Background to use in the long window at the bottom.  I stamped it three times, right smack against each other, for a long panoramic scene.  I used Tim Holtz' Distress inks and blotted a bit of color onto my gruesome scene, adding some Stickles in different shades for some shine.  To this window I added a paid of eyes, compliments of Martha Stewart.  A single teardrop jewel was attached.

In the right hand corner window, I stamped on patterned paper with another QKD stamp called Just Batty Background.  I added a wooden gravestone embellishment.

The last window was decorated with patterned paper and another MS sticker.  To finish off my wall decor, I added a few nasty little spiders around the frame and in the windows.  They were a steal from Target for $1 for a huge container of them!

I hope you like my wall art.  You can get all the QKD stamps that I used here at the Shoppe.