Jackson Digital Expression Launch Party & Blog Hop

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to the Launch Party for Jackson's Digital Expressions. If you came here from Berni Cuttino then you had landed in the right place.  If not, return to Jackson's Digital Expressions and start the hop there!  We are having a BLOG HOP and Design Challenge to introduce our DT members and to introduce many of you to our  Resident Artist, Robert Jackson. We hope you will  HOP along with us, PLAY along in our Design Challenge, and BECOME a new follower!

Here is my project.

I chose this cute little girl, the digi is called Go Night Night I  

I found the sentiment on line and just ran it through my printer

I used Koh-I-Noor colored pencils and Odorless Mineral Spirits (OMS)

For the hop my project was to include Kraft Paper

I chose my new Spellbinder's die Romantic Rectangles because

it reminded me of those fancy crochet baby blankets I used to see from older relatives.

                             Here is close up of the face. The colors on the picture don't give it justice... 

Here is close up of the face. The colors on the picture don't give it justice... 

I hope you guessed my letter...

For the Hop: Follow the path to each DT member's blog. 

Make sure you leave a comment on each and that you FIND the MYSTERY LETTER. 

When you complete the hop, return to Jackson's Digital Expressions and leave a comment that includes the MYSTERY WORDS. Each DT member will have a random drawing and award a prize to some lucky visitor to their blog and we will have A GRAND PRIZE drawing here for those who collect all the letters and correctly Identify the Mystery Words.

For the Design Challenge,  our theme is "Anything Goes" you may submit cards, layouts, altered art, or ATC's. We would love to see you use an image from Fine Arts By Robert Jackson , but it is not required.

Prizes: Grand Prize - Our grand prize winner will recieve 5 digital Images from Robert Jackson and a $15.00  Oozak Gift Certificate.

You have until Sunday, April 15th at 11:59pm EDT to complete the hop and to get your challenge entries uploaded here at our blog. So, I bet you're ready to start hopping?!? 

Your first stop is: 

http://jacksonsdigitalexpressions.blogspot.com/

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Challenge Deadline:You have until 11:59 pm on April 15th to link your project to the InLinkz . Please make sure your project matches the requirements before you link it.

How to participate:

You can enter only ONE project per challenge, but if you use a Robert Jackson image, your project will count for two entries. New entries only, please, no backlinking

Prizes:

A winner will be selected by the Design Team and will win:

1. A gift certificate for 5 digis from Robert's online store

2. and the winner will also be invited to be a Guest Designer on one of our upcoming challenges

We will also recognize 3 additional designers as our Top Three. Normally, we will not give prizes to the Top Three, but, to celebrate our launch, our Top Three this Week will receive a Gift Certificate for one free Robert Jackson Digi.

Your Next Stop is: 

Lesia Cook

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Thank you so much for stopping by! Here is the list of this fabulous blog hop for you to follow:

Rj Avery

JoAnna Branscomb

Lawren

FranCine Green

Joyce Ann Owens

Trish Butler

Alice Brown

Kathi Silvia

Berni Cuttino

Katya Bess ◄--Your Are Here

Lesia Cook

DeNetra Bates

Lisa

Chauntelle Nealy

Pamela Levingston

Kim Grant

Sheila

Princess return to: http://jacksonsdigitalexpressions.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I entered my card at: http://blog.oozak.com/2012/04/challenge-1-anything-goes.html                                                                                                             Thank you all for stopping by!

                                                                                                  Katya Bess

Jackson Digital Expression Launch Party & Blog Hop Monday April 9th
http://jacksonsdigitalexpressions.blogspot.com/
Come join us. There will be prizes- you don't want to miss it!

Thanks for stopping by,

Katya Bess

Happy Birthday Granny!

 Good evening everybody!

Hope all is well with everyone. Today I colored in Cheeky Shooter from The Greeting Farm but I didn't get to start on the card to later in the evening (mom life...) It's a birthday card for my hubby's granny, We call her 'Mama. LOL Yes her age is a secret her own kids don't know it... but one day I had her do a puzzle that I found in one of those gossip magazines and bam! I figured it out and I told her age and she was embarrassed some how and told me not to tell anyone and that I must of made a mistake.... lol too funny. But her secret is safe with me.

I used Copics for the skin and colored pencils for her clothes.
Jelly Rolls of course for the white sections. I used a little bit of the
Copic Atyou Spica Red, not so sure if I'm happy with that one...
some of the other colors sparkle more.
I tried to use it on her scarf, belt and boots.
Yes, I get out of the lines but only when I plan on cutting
(at least it's what I tell myself and my daughter LOL)

 My lighting is always weird in the house....
It's an easel card but I added a personal message ;)

I found this quote and it is just perfect for her,  "Don't want to admit being a day older than 29?" the inside says: "Stick to your guns, girl! Happy Birthday!" lol Plus she loves all of those western movies, every time we go to her house and every time, if the kids aren't watching tv at my house and she's here you bet the  channel is turned to guess what? one of those old western channels. LOL

Anyway, started dinner later cause of my little card lol but I had fun. Good night everybody!

-Thanks for stopping by

Katya Bess

Keep In Touch

Hello Everyone! 

      I made this card using with some digi sentiments I purchased at Create with TLC called Dial a Saying. 

The rubber stamps are from The Greeting Farm called Cheeky Chat and Blush Hello background. I love all of the Cheeky girls but I need a few more for my collection. On my wish list are: A Cheeky Xmas, Cheeky  Beauty, Cheeky Cherry Pie, Cheeky Glamour,Cheeky Mate and Cheeky Nurse..... okay okay okay I need more than a few I only own about half.

I drew a little shabby cushion for her to lean on. I used Copic Atyou Spica pens, Copic markers and colored pencils.

I know short blog post.... Have things to do like clean up my house lol my hubby wants to have a few family/friends over to watch WWE Wrestle Mania (yep this is one of their big events) Hmmmm... I like John Cena... but my fave is still The Rock!!! Can you tell that I want that stuff too? Anyhow, {heehee} hope you liked the card.

Entering my card at:

http://www.farmfreshchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/tgf-monday-fun-day-26-anything-goes.html

Have a lovely Saturday!

-Katya Bess

Joined a Design Team!

Good morning Everyone!

I read through a blog I've been following for a while now, http://alicebrowncreations.blogspot.com/ Hi
Miss Alice Brown! On her blog she had announced that there would be a new blog named: Jackson's Digital Expressions here is the link: http://jacksonsdigitalexpressions.blogspot.com/ They were looking for a few good designers and no previous Design Team experience was required. The digital art stamps are mostly African American but I'm sure that anyone can use them. I, myself always had a hard time finding African American stamps or even appropriate for the Christian/church goer, plus so much more. When I read about this design team  I was all over it! I've been itching to join a team but some teams rules and or requirements like trips (even though paid by the company)I  knew I wouldn't be able to fulfill that commitment with small children.) Jackson's Digital Expressions has simple requirements yet is challenging us designers because is to design for one year! But that's the thing I've been buying all of this scrappy stuff and haven't been putting it to use! So when I got an e-mail for Chana telling me I was part of the team I got excited and couldn't wait to tell my hubby. Now time for a change and time for a challenge! Speaking of challenge... The Jackson's Digital Expressions Challenge Blog will officially launch on Monday, April 9, 2012. Keep posted scrappy friends there's definitively more to come! Thank you for stopping by.


-Katya Bess

Playing with COPIC markers and Color pencils

Hello Everyone,

"Espero que este bien de salud y en sus finanzas...." my grandma always starts her letters when she writes to me LOL Basically  she hopes that I'm in good health and doing good in my finances- I'm also hoping that for you my crafty friends.

Speaking of finances.... I bought more Copic Ciao markers.... just 24 more... lol I only had a set of 8 Manga Skin Colors (which I hadn't even used) and getting frustrated with lack of vibrancy or just having to color and go over it again with pencils and OMS which also takes too long. Sometimes the pencils work for me and lately it hasn't- more so because of time blending. I probably just should have gotten a larger set of Prismacolor pencils and different point sizes of tortillon blenders so I won't have to stop and "sharpen" (nail file) my one point.

After playing with my Copic markers I see why there are so many people talking about Copic classes and certifications- but I tried. Only because they're more expensive and the "best" out there doesn't mean it'll color wonderfully like you want them to.... you have to also know how to color and have special strokes and know what colors to blend. LOL it's weird because I know how to paint I mean I can blend well and not make lines or make a blotchy mess all over the place (aka the face- the most important part) with paint. I guess I just need more practice with these markers. Overall I like them. I also need to watch more YouTube tutorials and one day if there is a class nearby I may attend. If I just lay down one color I'm fine no streaking but blending is where I need help. In the meanwhile I'll keep practicing.

Coloring some of The Greeting Farm's

Cheeky Beach girls

Here is my attempt at blending but off the paper and bringing to the paper instead of blending straight on the paper.

This one I am planning on making her look like she's wearing a dress 

and I'm cutting off her beach ball. I used colored pencils and OMS for her hair 

and eyes (which I changed from green to blue.) 

The skin, flower, slippers and swimsuit were done with Copic markers.

The lips with a gelly roll.

 I don't know what I was thinking with the hair but it made

me think of those retro posters where the color is a little bit exaggerated so I'm keeping it as is.

I used Copic markers for everything on this Cheeky. 

This is more obvious where my blending skills are lacking on the face.

Trying to work on African American skin too... but don't have many of the Copic "browns"

So I didn't do anything to blend the skin. The hair, eyes and ball are colored with pencils.

The flower, slippers and swimsuit were done on a sparkly cardstock. 

Gelly roll lips. 

This one wasn't as bad coloring since the lightest skin tones felt a little easier for me. 

The hair, the swimsuit, ball, flower and slippers were done with colored pencils

and no OMS except the hair.

With my family life I color here and there so I didn't get to color and cut out in one sit; just took the pictures all at once. Plus looking at some of my older post my lighting really seems to suck so I took my Cheeky's outside in the mild sun to snap some photos.

Here is a card I made with the first Cheeky Beach I have post if you scroll up, you'll see.

This is for Mother's Day- a 'Mum' I met from the crafting world. I sat her at what I call an English Garden the paper is from Recollections All Seasons 12x12. The crackle paper I printed the bench on is from the Pastel, Heart Warming Vintage Collection- Crafty Secrets.

The bench is a digi stamp from http://digitaltuesday.blogspot.com/2011/03/digital-two-for-tuesday-79.html the blog name is  Digital Two for Tuesday.

I love this bench and Also because I haven't bought the newest TGF stamps 

with those cute little seats. Plus this one has that vintage feel. 

The Sentiment is from the "Mom" collection from Our Daily Bread Designs- http://www.ourdailybreaddesigns.com/mom.html I love that site!

Here is a close up of the Cheeky sitting on the bench. 

This also makes me think of that song, 'Sitting in the Park' waiting for yoooooooooou by: Billy Stewart 

LOL so not related to the card.

The inside may be a corny (belated) Mother's day poem but it came from me so hopefully she likes it.

Well that's all folks.

Crafty hugs,

Katya Bess

I entered my card at:

http://scrapbitzcopics.ning.com/group/cmccopicchallengegroup  - Anything goes with Alcohol Markers and Colored Pencils

http://www.farmfreshchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/spring-cleanings-gone-retro.html  

-dig out something VERY old  that you have from TGF 

Kid's Card Swap hosted by Saturated Canary

Hello Everyone!

I hope everyone is doing well. Last month I discovered a new blog (well for me it's a new blog) http://saturatedcanary.blogspot.com/ by Krista Smith. I really love her work! So one day Krista put up a challenge sort of like a pen pal for the kids by making cards and and it had to have one of her images. So before I signed up I asked Jade is she wanted to make a card for another little boy or little girl; of course I made the decision about being able to send the card somewhere other than USA if need be.

A few days later I received an e-mail with a name of little girl from England, her name is Emily. Jade got excited and said she wanted to make her a Valentine's Day card. So I pulled some of my markers (that's what she wanted to color with), some Stikles, a little bit color pencils, rubber stamps, embossing powder, Spellbinders and of course a digi image from the Saturated Canary. During the works and after it was a huge mess in my little crafty space, "She gets it from her mama..." LOL (only some might get that one- rap songs).

                       Here she is using some makers. She's so concentrated on her coloring even has her tongue out

                             She said she wanted to color her hair is Yellow I told her its called Blonde.

                             Of course she can't make a card without glitter somewhere

             She wanted a window card but needed help gluing 

She also couldn't wait to use my ATG gun and likes to roll the crank on the cuddle bug because she wanted to use the the die with the hearts for Valentine's Day.  She also wanted to emboss but I didn't want her to use the heat gun- she probably would've burned a hole on the paper but she used her own heart stamp which I borrow sometimes heehee. 

Here she is again with her complete card but for 

some reason she wanted to change her pajamas (she does this a lot)

and got the munchies so grabbed herself a banana for the picture.

I forgot to take a picture but Jade added some Hello Kitty stickers 

(she's a sticker fanatic.) I also ran a pink envelope

through the printer and added the same digi 

stamp to the front just small scale.

When we went to the post office she wanted to hand it to the attendant herself so it can get weighed and get proper postage. Once the letter was sent off she kept talking about Emily and kept asking she wanted to visit, "Mom can we go to Emily's house today?" I too had to show her a map... google maps lol. I also had to show her where other family members live to compare how far Emily really is since we're in California USA and she's in England UK. I tried to tell her a few things that are different from our countries even the way we speak. I tried to show her some youtube videos on how people in England speak English but for some reason I mostly found Americans trying to speak like the English LOL. There was a little trouble with Jade getting her card but in the end it was my mistake :/ [sighs] When Jade got it she was so happy she wanted to call her granny and tell her she got Royal Mail like the princesses from Disney. She she also received stickers (that made her day too.)

"I got Royal Mail like the Disney princesses," she said.

Here's Emily's card to Jade. She got the stickers and tucked them in her overall's front pocket.

This whole experience was such a delight; getting to know another crafty mom (Sarah)in another way than just commenting on blogs and getting the kiddos involved in our hobby and making a new friend.


Thank you Krista for the opportunity. And thanks everyone for visiting.


Katya Bess


P.S.
When Sarah, Emily's mom first e-mailed me and maybe another e-mail or two she said don't be surprised to see that emily likes to color people with odd skin colors and hair colors lol... another thing about geography... we live very close to Berkeley and San Francisco, CA so we see a lot of people with lots of weird colors on their hair and lots of colors on their skin (a.k.a. tattoos/body art.) I think if Emily saw my type of neighbors she would have a field of colors to play with. Here is a picture I took of Jade- I paint her face for fun. Sarah, Jade said, "Please tell Emily blue faces are all right with me."

Yet another Calla Lily: Thank You card

Hello All! Hope all is well with everyone.

Finished this one about 2 days ago and just now posting LOL. I've used this stamp several times before. I told myself that I bought all of these clear and rubber stamps and don't use them as much as I would like to -- so this year I will try to use most of them if not all. Even if the holiday already passed I'm going to make a card with a stamp... (yikes lots of work) But I will try to use at least 10 rubber stamps and complete cards before buying another stamp... maybe a digi... AND even those are under used. 

The small die tag and stamp are from My Creative Time stamps.

Not much as you can see but I colored the callas in some of the different colors that they come

just to make it a little more cheerful since most people (that I know)

seem to identify Calla Lilies for sympathy or sometimes wedding. 

I just wanted to create a simple card to give anytime.

And speaking of not buying any more stamps lol I found a little one, a calla lily stamp from the same company so perfect for the inside of the card (F-1018). Bought that small stamp  last week. So yes no more stamps for me until I've created enough to show for what I've purchased. I will try not to window/screen shop cause then I'll be tempted.

Hugs Everyone.

Katya Bess

My Creative Time Thursday Throwback Challenge - Sports

Hello Everyone!


I created a card for Emma's challenge at My Creative Time.


 *** This challenge is a SPORTS CHALLENGE! Use any sports cartridge you have & if you don't own any sports theme carts, just use anything you have & just make sure it has something to do w/sports!:)


Here is the actual link: http://www.creativetimeforme.com/search/label/Throwback%20Thursday


My choice was: MOTORSPORTS!
It's masculine, it's valentine-ish and it's a sport. Hope you like it. 
I use Paperdolls cart to create this card I really tried my best to use only one cartridge and I did!

I use a watermark and clear embossing powder to make the helmet shiny.

Thanks for stopping by,

Katya

For the hubby - Just for fun

Hello Everybody!

Here's a little card I made for my hubby, just for fun. It's his lol but I have it displaying on my side of the office... teeheehee! I had pre-colored this Cheeky Kitty a while back and gave it a twist by drawing a "Catwoman" mask. This was inspired by my love of  watching old Catwoman and Batman scenes as a kid and often would "borrow" my some of my brothers comic books.
Here is a link of where I got my digi image from: http://thegreetingfarm.com/digital/chibi-farm-helper-digi.html

The Cheeky Kitty I colored in colored pencils and the faux stitching was done with a white gelly roll and the lips with a gelly roll too.

The Sentiment I printed that on the computer and used a Spellbinders die from the Ribbon Tag Trio Two set - I just cut off the ribbon holes. 

I added some Darice Self-Stick Gems 'cause our Catwoman is all about her diamonds!

The Cityscape was cut with my cricut and tweaked the width and height to fit the card.

The Moon was also cut with the cricut but that can be any circle shape from any cartridge that has circles.

For the moonlight in the sky I lightly colored the blue cartdstock in the area of the moon.

For the whip.... oh yea!!! lol j/k... more like ouch! I used embroidery floss and just make a chain by doing  simple slip knots like the first row of knitting. Then I used some of the hubby's black electrical tape lol and made the whip handle. The very end of the whip has a few speckles of stickles glitter glue.

I hope everyone enjoyed the visit. Thanks for stopping by. Grrrr....... or Meow!

Hugs,

Katya Bess