The Graceful Artist

Thursday, November 17, 2011

So Excited!!

Boss Kut has not only a software upgrade but a motherboard upgrade as well.  The combo is primarily for Print and Cuts, which to be honest, I haven't had a big problem with - but I'm all for easier so I ordered my new motherboard as a Christmas present to me.

I can't say enough for Boss Kut, that they are not forcing me to purchase an entirely new machine for this upgrade.  Not many companies would go that far for existing owners.  They have the best customer service going as far as I am concerned.

I haven't used my little Gazy a fraction as much as I had planned to.  Got sidetracked with Copics - Taking lessons, practicing and practicing and so on.  Gazy sat by gathering dust along with my Prismacolor pencils, which I love, and a lot of other supplies.  Well, the new upgrade gave me a kick where I needed one to put Copics aside for awhile and start using my Gazy.

I have tons of gorgeous cutting files from Penny Duncan (side bar) and Paulo at http://scale-files.blogspot.com.  They are both such totally talented and amazing designers and they GIVE their designs away to us far less talented people.  I appreciate them both so much!

So now I'm guessing you might be expecting an example aren't you?  Well, I don't have any new ones yet, but I do have a couple of really bad photos of a couple I made with an intricate Penny Duncan file that cut just beautifully.

BAD PHOTOGRAPHY, GREAT FILE




Isn't that a gorgeous file (ignore how bad the photos are please - so embarrassing)?  I took the little wings off for the pink card, mostly because I tore the blamed thing taking it off the mat.  Since then I have learned how to remove delicate cuts from the mat without destroying them.  I tried that little Cricut spatula thingee and it gouged stuff to bits.  Then I discovered pins.  Plain ole pins get under and lift SO EASY!

Now for those of you who are gluttons for punishment and keep reading, or are designers who can enjoy a good chuckle (or a smug smile) I have one more card that I actually created a cut file for!  GASP!  Yes, it's true.  The little checked border.  Won't win any prizes, but yep, made it meself!  It is a card for my sister, in chemo after cancer breast surgery.



Black checked border by ME.  Image by Cheryl Seslar, colored with Copics.  Paper from stash.  Really big stash.

Well, that's it for today.  I'm going to get busy with my Gazy for the rest of the day.  Be blessed yall.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Autumn is in the air, so I'm thinking Spring

Autumn has arrived!  It is so gorgeous here in the Georgia Mountains.  Gotta love it.  But I would love it a lot more if it jumped right into Spring.  Autumn means Winter and 30 degree temperatures and snow.  Snow and cold are two of my least favorite things.  I have really tried to convince daddy God that a little adjustment would be very welcome, but as anyone can see, He has chosen to leave it as it is.  Sigh.  I can't be sure, but it just may be that He figures I am blessed enough as it is.  And I am.  Such a spoiled brat, really.

Meanwhile, there are still many mysteries to life.  For instance, while I truly intended to enter many challenges, this has not happened.  For one thing, you have to find a challenge that hasn't got 500 entries already.  500 to one is not the greatest of odds.  Then you have to create a card that suits the challenge.  Well, I can't slap one together in a day.  Takes me that long to pick out JUST the right paper.  Then a day to Copic the image and start assembly and then learning that what you had in your head is really not working out on the card.  So there is another day redesigning.

Not to mention the TIME involved in finding the challenges.  Exhausting really.  So as much as I love to win prizes, I think I will just post what I make and if it accidentally fits a challenge, terrific.

And --  I found one.  (yes, the crowd can go wild with applause and relief)  It is for the Color Me Copic Challenge group and is a 'boy' card.  Not sure how boyish this is, but little boys like dogs, right?
It's a little washed out from the flash.  The black cardstock should be, well, black.  And Bowzer is a nice dark brown.  Will I ever get the hang of this?



http://scrapbitzcopics.ning.com/group/cmccopicchallengegroup is where the Boys Boys Boys challenge is located.

Hope you enjoy.