Faber Castell/ Perfect Layers Blog Hop

The Perfect Layers Designers are teaming up with the talented designers from Faber-Castell Memory Craft to bring you a blog hop overflowing with crafty goodness and inspiration!  The folks at Faber-Castell were so generous to our team of designers, sending tons of different mediums such as Metalics, Pastel pencils, Gelatos and more to create with.  With projects created with Perfect Layers and Faber Castell Memory Craft we hope to wow you with some gorgeous creations today!

Now, let's talk prizes!

Hop along with us today and leave some blog love for our Perfect Layers Designers and the Faber-Castell Designers to be eligible to win $50 in prizes from Faber Castell as well as a Perfect Layers Deluxe 3-pack and a Perfect Square (a $45 value).  Prizes will be selected randomly from comments left on the DT blogs.  You have until midnight (EST) April 5th to participate and complete the hop.

I made this card for my nieces 18th birthday using this sweet image from Sparkle Creations, Happy New Year Emily.  The designer papers are from My Mind's Eye Portobello Rd. (Lost & Found Collection) which I machine stitched and added a silvery grey crushed silk ribbon.  The numbers were cut out on tack n' peel with the MFT By the Numbers dies and covered with Ritz gunmetal fine glitter. And the mat layers were made using the 1/16" edge of my Perfect Layers tool.

Now when it comes to coloring, I am very happy and comfortable with my Copics.  I have never felt the need to try any other coloring mediums - so I admit that I was a little apprehensive about trying something new and mixing my coloring mediums.  But after giving the Faber Castell pastel pencils a whirl all I can say is, "WOW!!"   I have found a whole new addiction!!   They added such a depth and richness to my coloring that I think it actually enhanced it.  I was also able to achieve a softness in the shadowing around the image that I have never been able to do with Copics.  I think you can count on seeing these pastel pencils in more of my coloring.

Copics Used:

Skin: E11, E00, E50, (Pastel Pencils)

Hair: E50, E31, E35

Dress: B95, B93, B91, W3, W1, W00 (Pastel Pencils)

Gloves/Bow/Trim: C9, C7, C5

Shadowing: (Pastel Pencils)

Ready to hop?

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Blog

Tiffany Johnson

Roxie Glaza

Rita Barakat

Wendy Ramlakhan (Me!)

Jennifer Matott

Eva Uyeunten  

Colleen McGinty

Jenny Gropp

Mou Saha

Laura Lynn

Jill Foster

Pam Sparks

Thanks for stopping by and happy hopping!!

Copic Creations - Pastels

When I saw that this weeks Copic Creations challenge was coloring Pastels, I immediately started to freak out.  If you've followed my blog for even a short period of time, then you know that I DON'T do pastels...especially when it comes to coloring.  I guess you could say pastels are my Copic Kryptonite.  ROTFL!!  But I DID IT!!  :)  Well, as close as I will ever get to pastels anyway.   I still had to go and add lots of dark shadows but I think I successfully completed the challenge and I'm so proud of myself.

Our sponsor this week is Sparkle Creations who generously provided Shopping Emily for me to create with and I have to tell you that I truly enjoyed every second of coloring her!!   

To balance all the frilly and softness of the card, I thought it would be fun to give the pink background a "harder" edge by embossing it with a brick wall folder.  I paper pieced a few of her bags, added a green rhinestone to the clear acrylic flower brad, a little bit of lace, a few dots of white paint on her headband to mimic the ribbon and it's done!!   I love this card!!  :)  :) 

I hope you will take a few moments to check out the dazzling pastel designs by my Copic Creation DT teammies. 

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I'm still on a bit of a blogging hiatus (until August) and I've really been enjoying my summer with the kids.   For those of you interested I thought I'd share a little of what we've been up to.  :)

* Last week I took the kids to the coast to watch the last Shuttle launch (one word...AMAZING!!)

* We had a fabulous July 4th at the St. Augustine Fort (a tradition we look forward to every year)

* Went to the Daytona 400 Nascar race (Compliments of Nana & Grandpa - Thanks Mom!!)

* Playing in the pool

* Going to the movies

* Visiting with family

I've also been teaching Nathan (4 years old) and Brooke (3 years old) "life skills" and giving them a "badge" that they stick on their bedroom door for every skill they master.  So far they have earned badges for:

* Knowing their address

* Knowing Mommy's cell phone number

* Knowing their birthday's

* Knowing Mommy & Daddy's full name

* Learning how to making a bed

* Learning how to fold towels and blankets

* What to do if they are ever lost

* Learning to whistle - that one was Nathan's idea!!  LOL

* Learning how to hang their clothes

Here's a little slideshow of some of the summer fun so far :)  

(Email subscribers...You'll need to come directly to my blog in order to view the photos)

As always, thanks so much for stopping by!