Teaching Something???

Good evening, today's blog prompt from Sunday is to write a how to post, teaching people
"How to do something". I thought I would give you a quick description on how to colour with Copic markers followed by a video I made a couple of years ago which my nephew edited and did the voice over for me... I Love listening to it!

Sammi's basic Copics 101
Copics are alcohol markers which means that you can colour over what you've already coloured and build layers of colour, blending and creating shadows which gives the image dimension and brings it to life!

I always start with my lightest colour and build the base, I then gradually add the shadows with darker colours and then blend back out again. It's like a I walk up a ladder and then back down again. But I don't jump between steps or I might fall off the ladder.

So in the case of the darker skin in the video before I have used E01 as my lightest colour,
I then add E11 and E13, blending the E13 back down with the E11 and then the E01. I then add the E15 and blend back with E13, then E11 then E01. I hope this makes sense.

and now for the VIDEO

 

I'm hoping to start posting some more videos in my youtube channel SOON. I also think it's time to update the older ones and make them better!!! ANOTHER goal perhaps.

Compliments :p

Hello there, today's prompt from Sunday's blog challenge is to write about a compliment that has stuck with you ... I've found this one quite hard... I get embarrassed when people compliment me .. I don't really like the spotlight or having attention drawn to myself.

I guess one that has come up here on my blog is about my colouring ... Of which I am actually quite out of practise but I have been doing a bit lately ... So instead of dwelling on the subject of compliments right now I think I'll share a creation instead :)

                         

I hope that you've had a great weekend!! See you again tomorrow :)

Sammi

xxx

Less is more

This takes me back to studying Art History at school/ uni and learning about Mies van der Rohe who made the "Less is more" slogan famous... I always remember him for his funky chair design.. even though I believe he was primarily an architect.

This is Mies van der Rohe in his apartment (sitting in that chair he designed) 

on East Pearson Street, Chicago, 1964 © Werner Blaser.

If you click the pic it takes you to the original website where the photo was borrowed from.

Ok... Less of my digression and More of the blogging task. Day 3 of Sunday's Blog every day in May challenge is to create a Less/ More list. So here goes my quick list :)

Less Procrastination	More Creating
Less Mess	More Cleaning
Less Guilt	More Visiting
Less Complaining or feeling sorry for self	More Gratitude
Less TV	More Bible Reading
Less Self Critique	More Boldness

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you are having a great weekend!

What's in My cup??

RIGHT now actually!! I do love a good cup of coffee!! I love the taste but more importantly I love to drink a coffee with friends and family.. the comfort and companionship of having a cup of tea or coffee together. I drank more tea earlier in life but I guess it was at Uni/ college that I was really converted to coffee. We used to sit in the common room and drink coffee, we used to go to the coffee cart and get Caramel Latte's, I used to got to another coffee cart at COFA and get Caramel Latte's .. they knew my order :0  Then, years later I realised I could not have dairy anymore... it makes me sick.. so sad! So, I tried Soy Latte's - the yummiest ones I can remember were from the Coffee place next to my old work.. had some great chats with the coffee guys there...and they knew my order too :) but truthfully sometimes Soy coffees are too gross to drink, I've tried rice milk and almond milk, none of them cut it really! So I learnt to drink my Coffee BLACK!!

I've actually been thinking I should cut back on the number of Coffee's I drink a day.. so I need some substitutes .. It's easier at work as I just have tea .. but at home I am more tempted to pop a coffee pod in the machine. Also, Black tea is not quite as good without milk as Coffee is... I don't mind the Lipton's Chai black tea and I also quite like a cup of ginger tea.

What about you? What is your favourite thing to have in your cup??

Yay - a little self pat on the back... I made it through Day 2 of Sunday's blog every day in May ;)
Thanks for stopping by ..  Please leave me a comment so I know you were here and can come and day "Hi" back to you as well!! :D

Blogging every day in May :0

  

Hello world, 

I was checking my facebook feed this afternoon to relax... (after I got home from my new job ... yup - I started a new part time job today :) Pretty exciting - I'm actually looking forward to working again - not till Monday now for me) and saw Kellie's blog post about her goals for May .. which then took me to Sunday's blog and I think this is just what I need to get back into blogging regularly... so I am going to take up Sunday's challenge to blog every day in May :0 it's a little daunting but I'll see what I can do.. and any posts are better than my current record right!!! :D

                                                   

Sunday has very helpfully created a list of blog prompts... so I am using that for today...
Day 1, Thursday: Goal setting.  What are your plans for today?  (And/or this week?  This month?  This year?)

So here goes -  My plans for the upcoming days and weeks are:

• to blog more regularly again....
• to catalog my blog, make sure the labels match the posts etc.
• maybe do a redesign???
• add Blog links.
• make and send more cards.
• finish three dolls.
• to learn my new job well and work at it for the Lord.
• to clean and tidy our house making every room a pleasant place to be.
• get my store Mad for Markers going strong again.
• Be generous with my time and $$.
• Be productive with my days not at work... make lists!!!
• Bring glory to God in all I say and plan and do!

Ok... I think that will give me plenty to do don't you think. It is a little daunting claiming that I will post daily (especially after my last post - form Feb) which is why I chose the image of the Tiger which I took at Taronga zoo the other day, this Tiger was staring STRAIGHT at me!! 

Thanks for stopping by! What are your plans for the coming month? Post a comment below as I'd love to hear them :D

hopeful end to blogging drought

Good evening,

Wow!!!  It's been AGES since I last blogged. I feel a little like I should do a big update on life and craft etc, but for now.. I'll just say ... I'm BACK and share a couple of piccies...

It is Valentines Day today.. and we don't really do that ourselves... but I thought I'd post a card here with that theme lol! I know lots of people find this day difficult and so I want to send you lots of LOVE and virtual HUGS from this Little Pink Dragon ... and of course me too!  :)

The last two weekends I have been at Glebe markets... selling my dolls and cards. I also have "some cards" and almost all the dolls in an etsy store HERE! Here's a pic of the little cuties....

I will endeavour to do a bit of a life update soon! :D And HOPE to post more Coloured creations soon too!! :D


  

MERRY CHRISTMAS

******prizes for those who answered questions :D

MERRY, BEC and GIN ******* see your emails 

Well life happened .. got busy, I got a little stressed with things to do and although I had CArols written up in my blogger dashboard as drafts - I dropped the ball on my Christmas countdown ... and then suddenly Christmas is here!! Merry Christmas everyone!! Yay for Jesus who was born - Let's celebrate HIM today, remembering the reason it's called CHRISTmas :D 

Have a lovely day with family and friends and presents and feasting!! 
I'm praying for all those who feel sad or lonely at this time of year xxx

I will be announcing winners of my giveaways tomorrow.. so if you have not yet commented go ahead, and on todays post please share what your Christmas plans look like.

As for us we will go to my in-laws church today for church then off to their house to spend (hopefully a fun relaxed) time with them! Tomorrow my parents and a sister and my Nan will come to our house for lunch :)

Here's another GREAT Carol ...

ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID's CITY

Once in royal Davids city,
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her Baby,
In a manger for His bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ, her little Child.

He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall:
With the poor, and mean, and lowly,
Lived on earth our Saviour holy.

For He is our childhood's pattern;
Day by day, like us, He grew;
He was little, weak, and helpless,
Tears and smiles, like us He knew;
And He cares when we are sad,
And he shares when we are glad.

And our eyes at last shall see Him,
Through His own redeeming love;
For that Child so dear and gentle,
Is our Lord in heaven above:
And He leads His children on,
To the place where He is gone.

The First Noel

The First Noel the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds
in fields as they lay;
In fields as they lay, keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the east beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.

And by the light of that same star
Three wise men came from country far;
To seek for a king was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went.

This star drew nigh to the northwest,
O'er Bethlehem it took it rest,
And there it did both stop and stay
Right over the place where Jesus lay.

Then entered in those wise men three
Full reverently upon their knee,
and offered there in his presence
Their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense.

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord;
That hath made heaven and earth of naught,
And with his blood mankind hath bought

I was not as organised as I hoped with these Carols posts.. and didn't get to post in advance before coming to Orange (as a Birthday surprise for my Mum)for a few days... so posting the Carol I had for yesterday NOW but will have a new post this afternoon with some piccies and giveaway info!! :D

Day 4 :: Oh Holy Night

Good evening, It's day 4 of my 12 days of / till Christmas countdown :0 Getting closer!! 

Today I have a card to share... this is the Christmas image I drew last year :D 

Tonight's carol is this beautiful one.... have a read of the words :D

Oh Holy Night

Oh holy night!
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appear'd and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine
Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine
Oh night divine

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here come the wise men from Orient land
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend

Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name


Leave a comment below for your chance to win a little surprise :o

Day 3 :: Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Good evening! I'm a little later today with my posting... and no creation to share. We've just got home from our Church Christmas carols! It was a Great night :) Awesome talk by Dave on Jesus being the Light of the World. So I'm going with that theme for my posting today... Light!!

I love glitter and sparkles and light!! Isn't it fun to see the Christmas lights popping up at this time of the year... Although some go a little over the top sometimes (maybe) I am now going to look at Christmas lights and think about Jesus being the Light .. and as it says in this favourite carol (yup another fav) "Light and Life to all he Brings" - I'll give thanks for Light and Life in/ through him!!

Hark! the herald angels sing,

"Glory to the newborn King!"

Peace on earth, and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled

Joyful, all ye nations, rise,

Join the triumph of the skies;

With th' angelic host proclaim,

"Christ is born in Bethlehem."

Hark! the herald angels sing,

"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ, by highest heav'n adored:

Christ, the everlasting Lord;

Late in time behold him come,

Offspring of the favored one.

Veil'd in flesh, the Godhead see;

Hail, th'incarnate Deity:

Pleased, as man, with men to dwell,

Jesus, our Emmanuel!

Hark! the herald angels sing,

"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail! the heav'n born Prince of peace!

Hail! the Son of Righteousness!

Light and life to all he brings,

Risen with healing in his wings

Mild he lays his glory by,

Born that man no more may die:

Born to raise the sons of earth,

Born to give them second birth.

Hark! the herald angels sing,

"Glory to the newborn King!"

Oh .. what about a giveaway....  Lights, sparkle .... BLING!!!! I am going to give away a couple of packets of Bling from Flourish with a Bling to someone who comments below and tells me what they think about Christmas lights :)

Good afternoon, tis time for my second carol, second Christmas creation and 2nd giveaway. 
You have until Dec 25 to comment on all these posts to be in the running for the prizes.

This CAROL is a favourite of mine - a great reminder of just what Christmas means... Christ the Saviour born as a man ... Lord from his Birth .. brings us peace :D Wow!

Silent Night

Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love's pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth

**************************************

Here's my CREATION for today.. a Christmas card using an image created from TWO Greeting Farm characters.. a Creeper and a Miss Anya ... do you know which ones???
If you can tell me I'll give you a special surprise :D

TODAY'S GIVEAWAY!!  is this Clear Christmas stamp set from The Greeting Farm. To be in the running for this stamp please leave a comment and tell me What is your favourite Christmas carol and Why?

Christmas countdown

Good morning!! I thought it was about time I got back into my blogging properly.. and so here I am... doing a sort of 12 days of Christmas thing ... In these days leading up to Christmas I will be sharing a Christmas carol each day as I wanted to make these posts focused on what I think the true meaning of Christmas is. 

It's pretty supernatural really... Christ Jesus being born. God become Man - born as a baby. Such a wonderful humble thing it was he did coming to earth - the long awaited Messiah (KING)!! Here's the first carol....

Joy to the World

Joy to The world! the Lord has come
Let earth receive her King
Let ev'ry heart prepare him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing

Joy to the world! the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonder wonders of His love

***************************************************************************

I will also attempt to share a Creation as well as have a little giveaway... So ...
Here's a card I made using one of the nativity images from Mad for Markers. 
Pippi Dressed up as Mary, holding the newborn baby.

Please leave a comment on this post telling me what Christmas means to you for your chance to win this stamp below - Merry Tags from The Greeting Farm.

Such a perfect set for making little Christmas tags.

Give a Girl a ...

Good morning!!! My life is a little crazy at the moment so I'm sorry for letting you know a bit late... but Kellie is doing a great 12 Days of Christmas - with 12 great giveaways on her blog HERE!

There have been 2 days posted so far and believe me you'll want to check out these amazing giveaways from AWESOME Aussie businesses! Oh and if you keep checking back each day you'll even find one in a bit from Me/ M4M :)



 

The Spire Market

It's been a while between posts again and let me tell you why.....

My friend Bec and I are going to be running a Market at our church on the 7th December... and I've been busy working things out for that.... and creating more Stuffed dolls to sell there... I'm having a lot of fun creating lots of little characters in sockrag doll form :)

If you are around the Sydney area make sure you come along to the market.. it's going to be AWESOME!!!

Some more fun news coming soon too!!

Stuffed by Sammi :: Raggy doll Jilly

Good afternoon, I've been having a little play these last couple of days ... We had a lot of left over polyfill from when we restuffed Guy's old teddy Bogey :) So I've been wanting to try making some softies... anyway being a very girly girl (yes STILL) I  thought I'd attempt making some raggy dolls... take #1 was not so brilliant... but the next two attempts are much better.. and even worthy of a picture or two.... The other thing I should mention is that I  do not have any "proper" supplies... I am just using OLD rags... well they are old clothes of mine really :)

..... This one I am surprisingly quite proud of.... This is Jilly (MIL - Pam helped me to name her :)

More on the making....
Jilly is made from... a sock, and a jumper and and offcuts of a tshirt and a skirt.. as well as buttons and wool and lots of sewing (still lots of room for improvement on this front)

Here she is with some extra lace and sitting on the chair next to Pam...

Seems like (in the right mood) dolls can be good therapy ... provided us both with some laughter, that's for sure :) Pam had a good chat to Jilly and then posed her for a picture.. telling her to be good and smile for Mummy to take a photo :)

Might be a few more stuffed toys showing up soon!

Monday Meditations :: Proverbs 19:21

mmm... it was about 2 months ago that I decided to do Monday Meditations on my blog... and well I didn't follow through.. but I do still want to do it ... and here goes my 2nd attempt :) You can read the 1st one here :)

A verse that I commonly meditate on is ...

Proverbs 19:21 - Many are the plans in the mind of a man,

but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. (ESV)

I've found this to be true in my life ... Many plans I had for what I would do/ where I would be in life have not turned out the way I planned ...  This is also something that I still struggle with... when things don't go the way I hope... I get upset. But I know that God's plans are bigger and better than I can imagine. In Growth Group and church we've been reading Ephesian - and I'm reminded about God's BIG plan revealed in Jesus to bring all things under him. How Awesome ... and well I guess it brings my plans into a new perspective. So I guess this verse is a challenge and an encouragement in one. :D

 I decided to do a Smashbook page on this verse and so I'm (funnily enough) just in the planning stages of it....

I did decide to sketch up a quick little image to go on the page... I have her in a new section on the website - images "inspired by Scripture" as I would like to do more of these types of pics. She is currently a FREEDIGI so if you would like to use her just go through the checkout process and you will receive the download link at the end :D

Thanks for stopping by!


 

a new video - Bodyswapping with TGF

Good morning,

I am hoping to get a few more videos on here... and make my youtube channel a bit more active :) So this is a start... a couple of people asked how I combined 5 TGF images... and so I thought I'd make a video :D  Hope you like it!!

As you can see at the end I have a few TGF mixmatched images to colour now!! tee hee :)

Have a great week!!!

Monday's Creepie, Cheeky, Geeky Sadie wearing Oliver's hat

Good evening,

Well I have not selected photos yet to share from the holiday... still working on that one :) I have however been inspired today to create a card FOR FUN! I've always loved a good old TGF body swap and so I had to play along in their current challenge....

To create your alter ego... well... Here's what I've done..... I've stamped up all these stamps....
(click each picture/ link to go get them for yourself from the TGF store)


 

yes.. I went a little crazy today using FIVE images to create my one alter ego.. and to make my life even harder I stamped them in a pale pink ink which does make colouring a little harder but it also means that you don't see the "joins" so much. Anyway ... Here is my creation ...

We have.... a hat from OA Lovey Dovey - Thanks Oliver! This cutie's Head and top are Creeper Sadie, with the glasses and bottom of face + pigtails from Cheeky Geeky, Skirt and legs are Creeper Monday and the Coffee was stolen from Latte Anya ;)


I have used the Merci Fairytale stack as well as a couple of scraps. I've coloured the image with Copic markers and the "love this Moment" sentiment is from Giveagirla... I've grunged it up a little with TGF splotchy stamps and a nonamed swirly one and finished by flicking Opaque white on it... Not sure if I like the "mess" lol! But I must say I do love this Monday's Creepie, Cheeky, Geeky Sadie wearing Oliver's hat.

Thanks for stopping by!
Sammi
xoxo

back to it....

Well I'm back sort of... I don't seem to have much time and energy for blogging these days... but hope to do a bit more again!

I have been just getting back into caring (after a wonderful break for 5 weeks) I might have to update a bit on the break soon... maybe over the weekend I'll do a little post with some pics :)

Just wanted to pop on and share that I have drawn some Firefighters for Mad for Markers ... in honour of all those fighting the current HORRIBLE fires around NSW, I am donating all the proceeds from these Digis to the NSW RFS!

Click the piccy below to go get yours!!

 

Trick or Treat

Good morning, There is a new release at Mad for Markers today... the gang have dressed up for Halloween... Here's a few of them for you to see....



not cards, but almost... I am making them into single layer cards / postcards!! :D

you can now pick up these fun digis in the Mad for Markers website HERE!!

*we are still on holidays and enjoying the break... internet is a bit here and there.. but will try an post some more soon*