giveaway for Lily Pad's Birthday Blog Hop

Hello Friends, How are you?? Today is an exciting day because Lily Pad is turning ONE!! It's hard to image that Lily Pad has been providing us with a years worth of great ideas, entertainment, challenges and lots of inspiration. Today for the hop you may be arriving from Janet's blog? If you want to start at the beginning of the hop start here at Lily Pad's blog. Since I'm number 15 in the hop I don't think I need to be redundant about all of the awesome prices that can be won during the hop but, just in case  

There are three prize packages with a total retail value of over $300! These prizes will be awarded by random draw. To be eligible, you need to “like” Lily Pad on Facebook If you would like to better your chances,  you can leave comments on the blogs participating in this hop (including the Lily Pad). For each comment, you get your name entered again (but only one comment per blog, please).

I am having my own giveaway to celebrate Lily Pad's First B.D. 
All you need to do is leave a comment on my blog to enter your name for a random draw to win these two stamps and the card.
Do you want a better chance at winning??  Here are a few ways:
1. post my candy on your blog
2. tell your face book friends
3. follow my UTube
4. subscribe to my blog
5. follow me
Please leave a comment telling me that you posted my candy or, face booked it, subscribed to my UTube  ... etc etc. Good luck & send me an email if you have any questions. I will randomly select a winner at 12:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, April 8 & announce the winner on April 9th. 

Whew!! Now for the card. I love this cake called "Pinnacle" from Penny Black it's so versatile. Here's a wedding card I created with the stamp. Can you tell that the sweet girl called "kisses" is really trying to blow out the candle on the cake. (I drew the candle) The background was created with this stamp. 
If you are loving this sweet image here are two cards I created with her. 

The sentiment is from this SRM sticker page & the scallop card was cut out with this Spellbinder die. If you are wondering what I colored my images with the mystery is over. Copics :) 

I want to thank YOU for your visit!  YOUR NEXT STOP ON THE HOP IS Julie Ranae's blog .
 If you hit a bad link, you can always  go back to Lily Pad to view the master list of blog links. Please report any bad links to aris@inlinkz.com.
In case you have't heard... the blog hop will last for a week which gives you have more time to complete the hop for a chance to win prizes. You have until 12:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, April 8 :) Thanks again for your visit!! Hugs, Kathy

 CARD SUPPLIES: (just click on any thumbnail)

InLinkz.com

Have you seen Lily Pad??

Hello Friends, I hope this post finds you well and happy? I apologize for my delay in posting...there is just so much going on I had to let this great news about Lily Pad slip :(   Sorry Lily Pad for my delay.

Here is the link to check out there fantastic new Design Team with two wonderful women whom I adore! You will also find a new challenge with this photo as inspiration. If you would like to see the two cards I made with water colored hearts & who the two new additions are you will find them on the Lily Pad blog.

Also today Penny Black just welcome two talented ladies to the Design Team. So excited to be included among these creative women. Did you see?? Here is the link to the Penny Black blog and I think you will swoon when you see the debut cards from the new DT. Thanks for your patience. Hugs, Kathy

Lily Pads Color Throw Down/ Sew Easy Giveaway

Hello Friends, Happy TGIF day! Are you as excited for the weekend as I am? We will be attending a wedding for a very special couple & I can't wait to see them tie the knot.
TODAY I have a giveaway and a card for Lily Pad's new "Kathy's Color Throw Down"

The Color Throw Down is a monthly challenge that I get to host at the Lily Pad blog here.

Last month there were so many beautiful & inspiring entries and this months challenge is sponsored by The Greeting Farm. When you jump over to the Lily Pad blog you will find the tutorial for the sewing on my card (with the "Sew Easy") & inspiring cards for the LP design team. A treat to behold  :)


Did you spot the doily i used on this card? I cut out the center and paired it with a Spellbinder die cut. I colored the image with Copic markers and used Rock Candy distress stickles on the wing. This is the direct link to this image from TGF.


I printed the image again on a transparency (that teachers use) and cut it out. A dot of Glossy Accents was a secure way to adhere the wing on to the fairy. Here is another card with the same image I designed awhile ago. If you have a minute you must check out this card I made for a Greeting Farm battle! It was a labor of love and a great team I had. Great memories :)


Sorry I got side tracked. I added some lines on the sash around her waist with this pen. You will be amazing how a few lines can add that something extra to your project. This Basic Grey 6x6 paper pack I find myself reaching for all the time. Actually my last card I used the same paper pack.

Now I hope you will jump or hop over to the LILY Pad blog and see just how easy it is to use the Sew Easy. I LOVE using this product. Simon Says Stamp Super Store has donated these yummy goodies to make your sewing easier and more fun.

After you stop at The Lily Pad's blog add your name to the Inlinkz list below.

Have a happy weekend. Hugs, Kathy Thanks for visiting

SUPPLIES for the card:

Lily Pad's first color challenge with ProMarkers by Letraset

 Does the sight of markers make you happy? I'm pretty sure you would bet that I get pretty excited at the sight of something like this. I love everything about markers, the feel, the subtle smell & the colors. 

One day I received an email from  ProMarkers by Letraset. They wanted to know if I was willing to test their markers and see if I like working with them. You can imagine that I didn't have to think twice about that and couldn't wait for them to show up at my door. Once they did this is how decided to display my pretty rainbow of happiness.

Each pen/marker is double-ended, with a broad chisel nib for large area fills and a fine bullet tip for more detailed work. ProMarkers contain alcohol based inks and come in a range of 92 colours

Before we get started you might be wondering on how these compare to some of the other brands. I do love they way they blend & the real difference for me is in the tip & the value. I have discovered in some of my classes that the brush tip on Copics isn't for everyone. I really like the fine bullet tip on the ProMarkers especially for small detail work like you see in my card below.  If you were to purchase a few I recommend you start with a 5 pack to see how they work for you. Their website & blog has loads of information, tutorials and products.....with that said,

YOU CAN  WIN SOME OF THESE PROMARKERS AT LILY PAD's blog.

Welcome to "Kathy's Color Throw Down" today at the Lily Pad blog.  I hope you have been keeping up with all of their fun posts. Yesterday they showed you how to rescue an ugly spice rack into a snazzy shelf for your craft room wall. Were you able to pick out my baby photo in this post here?? I would love to hear what your guess is.


Take a closer look at the white areas on some of the petals. Can you see the ultra fine flower soft?


The center purple frame was cut from some wood paper and stained with distress ink then I spritzed it with some pearl spray.


HERE SOME TIPS FOR ADDING COLOR:

DON'T BE AFRAID TO ADD AN UNLIKELY COLOR: I  added the blue markers to the green leaves and some BLUE to the green background. They blended so nicely with the markers leaving no "lines"

LEAVE SOME WHITE SPACES IN  YOUR COLORING for accents as you can see on some of the petals in the flowers.

DON'T BE AFRAID TO ADD HIGHLIGHTS WITH A DIFFERENT MEDIUM for example, colored pencils to add some more highlights if you need a different color that you don't have.

The only negative I found is that the numbers are soo small on these markers. I easily solved this problem by writing the number larger on each marker for reference & fast blending.

Stamp your image on white paper with Memento tuxedo black ink.

Fill in entire background with a light green marker.

Use a darker green marker to shade in some areas.

Find  an acrylic block or a smooth surface to add an even darker shade of green. Sometimes I'll use some plastic packaging or a plastic lid. (sorry for all the different colors on my block.)

Use your smooth surface to scribble on some darker color. Take the lighter color marker to pick up the darker color (from your block) with the lighter color. You are using the bullet tip as a "paint brush"
Once the darker color is the the tip of the nib on the lighter color marker... Lay the color down on your image to highlight more areas in your background.

Now it's time to take a look at your image and ask yourself if you are satisfied or if with your shading or  would you like to continue to add more layers of color. On this particular image I decided to add some blue to the green leaves & in a few spots in the background.

Once I am satisfied with my coloring I always outline all of my images with a fine tip black marker. I find the outlining really makes any image pop.I encourage you to give it a try and you will see what I am talking about.

I decided to stamp another one of the center flowers. I cut out two of them & trimmed one flower with less petals for a different look.

On the photograph  of my card you will notice that I ended up adding ultra fine flower soft to the center of the flowers. I like to add some glossy accents to the image then sprinkle with a mix of orange & brown flower soft. I also added some of the mix to the stamens of the flowers. I hope you found some of these tips useful and please email me if you run into any snags or have any questions. I hope you will have some fun with any of these colors in the challenge and will link your cards up to the Lily Pad blog. There still is time to enter the challenge at the Penny Black blog here. Angela is creating some real magic with her ATC's. I hope you might have time to stop by Angela's blog because she is a true artist and you will be inspired!

I am grateful that you have visited me today. Have a happy weekend. Hugs, Kathy

SUPPLIES: (click on the photos for more information)