Happy New Year

Well,  as we ring in 2013, I'd like to send out many holiday wishes and thoughts.  Here in my home, we have had an awesome 2012, from Crops to  camps to skiing and sports... it's all been good.  As most of you know I have a very sports minded and athletic high school freshman.  I will not jinx him in the injury column but we have been blessed.  As well as with his academic profile.  Curtiss was named today to the local newspapers fall all American athletes list for golf.  He and his teammates should be very proud! No hard work goes unnoticed.  As parents and grandparents it is very difficult to instill and engrain these basic principals of life into our youth.  So many negative outside influences working against all that is good.  I somehow just keep coming back to the one we all know so well... "Do unto others as we would want done to ourselves."  Pretty simple.  The golden rule.  Today I tried some new "rules" to follow, (self imposed).  I have always been a little "light handed" with my Copic strokes.  Trying not to oversaturate and make images too dark, (less is more right?).  Well, despite many different style and artist inspirations I am still trying to hone my own Copic coloring style.  Being slightly tone deaf and blessed with supurb grey to white to black color differentiation I often get stuck when using the deep hues and with shading.  I have admired Suzanne Dean, Marianne Walker, Zoe and just recently Mindy Baxter's coloring styles and have even enrolled in a class or two.  But for the first time today when trying to apply some of Mindy's techniques for my images I felt like an alien overtook my markers.  Very dark for me but I loveeee how my card turned out.  Her class is called Shades of Grey which is a series of videos to help with advanced shading and backgrounds which is offered over at the CMC Classroom.  Definately food for thought.  For more information go here- "Shades of Grey".  Let me know what you think of my card front with a comment. If you're not a follower, please do! I forsee lots more resources and tutorials in the year to come and besides...You NEVER KNOW who might win a little sweet blog candy!  After all, who needs fireworks???!!!!
     I'm still working on the inside as I think this one will be for my son to give out on Valentine's Day. Many, many, many Copics were used, even the colorless blender! (Ugh, which I Neeevvverrrr use!) I do like how it turned out though.  Cardstock is from Bazzill, DP is by Authentique Paper (tag and sentiment too).  Love this line! The collection is called "lovely." Dies are by mftstamps and spellbinders (labels one).  For me,  this card is different because there's not one button or flower!  Am I regressing? Can I just say that for a Great shading perspective, Mindy's class rocks! Is simple, cheap and easy to follow and incorporate into your own "style."  I didn't use the images that she used but it works!  I hope 2013 Gives you all more time for Craftin', coloring, scrapping or whatever it is that you enjoy doing!  For those of you who know me well, this sure is the most relaxing part of my world.  It's my escape!  A quote I found to leave you with...I just love it and if you love this site,  feel free and share the love!......"Love is the keynote of the universe--the theme, the melody"-Henry Abbey...Happy 2013!

As always, Carpe Diem...