Embossalicious Folders - Spring Release

Today, I'm featuring one of the folders from the  upcoming Spring Release of Embossalicious. It's the 8x8 A Stitch in Time. 

I ran the folder through my ebosser onto copper metallic cardstock. I love how it turned out on the metallic!

I found the perfect matching image - Stamp-It-Australia EZMount™ Stamp - Valued Time.   I needed a splash of color behind the image - one that goes with copper. I chose Spectrum Noir Ink Refills for the splash.  I spritzed some alcohol onto a piece of  High Gloss Cardstock, dripped color (TB1 and TB3) and tilted the cardstock to spread and blend the colors.  I continued these two steps until I was happy with the blend.

After it dried, I stamped the imaged over area of the splash I liked, sprinkled with embossing powder and heat set.

Crafter's Companion has had several new releases. For more ideas, be sure to pop over to the Crafter's Companion Information Blog, as well as visit the Crafter's Companion DT members - they are sharing some more fabulous new Spring folders!  You can see their latest designs by clicking on the names on the left side of my blog.

NOTE: The copper cardstock and emboss powder I used in this design are from Stampin' Up! I checked their website and they no longer carry it. Stampendous carries a variety of copper emboss powder.  There are several places that carry the copper metallic cardstock - Scrapbook.com carries  a couple different types. 

Thank you for visiting!!

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

InLinkz.com

Crafter's Companion March Challenge - Monochromatic

This month's Crafter's Companion Challenge Blog theme is Monochromatic.  

I chose my image first, then pulled out a few pieces of design paper and ink colors that I thought matched what I wanted to do with the image. The focal image is from Stamp-It Australia EZMount Stamp Set 69 - Around The World.

I stamped it onto Croygen cardstock - I stamped off first to match the hue of the background design papers.  I used a blending tool and Distress ink pads (old paper and forest moss) to add very light shades of  color.  I edged with forest green.

Next, I cut the pieces to size and layered them onto the card. 

Every month, there's a fun challenge with a chance to win a voucher to shop at Crafter's Companion. Visit the Crafter's Companion Challenge Blog for all the details on this month's challenge. For inspiration, be sure to visit the Crafter's Companion DT members.  You can see their latest designs by clicking on the names on the left side of my blog..

Thank you for visiting!!

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

InLinkz.com

Watercolored Stream

It has been so cold and snowy here in the Midwest - I am longing for some warm, spring weather, so I painted a little spring scene using a lovely image from Sheena's A Little Bit Sketchy EZMount Stamp Set - Stream of Life.

I stamped the scene image onto watercolor paper with a black StazOn ink pad. After it dried completely, I colored with a water-brush and Distress ink pads, using the packaging pamphlet as a color guide.  I "stamped" the ink pads onto an acrylic block and used it as a palette.  I worked in one area at a time to allow the colors to blend - wetting the area first with clear water, then lightly dabbing in color. 

Distress ink pads used: spice marmalade, weathered wood, black soot, crushed olive, pine needles, shabby shutter, tumbled glass, broken china, worn lipstick, mustard seed, vintage photo, rusty hinge.

After everything dried, I went back in and darkened a few areas for contrast. To add a little sparkle in the water, I used a glitter pen for highlights. 

Crafter's Companion has had several new releases. For more ideas, be sure to pop over to the Crafter's Companion Information Blog, as well as visit the Crafter's Companion DT members.  You can see their latest designs by clicking on the names on the left side of my blog.

Thank you for visiting!!

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

InLinkz.com

Peaceful Water Scene

My design today features a technique for building color.   The scene image used is from the Stamp-It Australia EZMount Stamp Set 70 - Lucious Landscapes.

I created the background first using Memento ink refills and ink pads on High Gloss Cardstock. I cut the piece of cardstock to fit the scene. With this technique, you will create a nice finished edge. Starting with the lightest shade of blue summer sky, I dipped the the foam tip into refill ink and lightly pulled from the outside edge in, in a horizontal direction. By starting with the ink refill, the surface is being saturated and makes the rest of the process smooth. Next, I tapped the foam tip onto the same blue ink pad and pulled color in the same way, all around the piece of cardstock, leaving two areas of white space - this will be the light in the sky and reflection in the water. For the next layer, I tapped the foam tip into danube blue ink pad and repeated pulling color

The next layer was with paris dusk ink pad and then a small amount of  tuxedo black ink pad. 

I went back in added some more summer sky.

After the ink dried, I stamped the image. 

After it dried, I added more color - first some more danube blue and paris dusk along the shore line to help differentiate the sky form the water.  NOTE: This is a forgiving technique. My black was not completely dry and smeared a little adding to the fogginess of the scene, as well as water movement.

I used a heat gun to make sure it was completely dry, then added a little angel pink and dandelion around the inside of the white highlights.  For a final touches, I inked up a piece of one of the other images in the set and stamped some foliage in the foreground. I also added a few highlights with a white gel pen. 

Shout Out: I learned this technique from Kevin of Stampscapes. You can see his video here.  Kevin creates beautiful scenes using ink blending techniques and highlights.

Crafter's Companion has had several new releases. For more ideas, be sure to pop over to the Crafter's Companion Information Blog, as well as visit the Crafter's Companion DT members.  You can see their latest designs by clicking on the names on the left side of my blog.

Thank you for visiting!!

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

InLinkz.com

New Angelica & Adam Release!

This week the CC Design team is previewing images from the upcoming new release of  Angelica & Adam sets. They are so cute! Here's my design: 

I stamped the image onto Ultra Smooth Premium White Cardstock and  also onto some colorful design paper. Next, time for coloring!  I referred to my color chart to help me match colors to the design paper.

 I colored the image with my Spectrum Noir Markers using a combination of direct coloring to the cardstock and also tip to tip.  As you lay the color on the cardstock, the color starts out as dark and a natural blending occurs as the marker returns to its lighter color.

To add texture to his jeans, I spritzed a small amount of alcohol onto denim fabric and lightly touched to the the blue areas. The alcohol moves the color into the pattern of the fabric. I cut out the complete image and edged it with a black water-based marker. To adhere the design paper, I used Collall's Tacky-Glue. 

Here are the colors I used:  
shirt: OR1, OR2, Blender

skin: FS1, FS2, FS3, FS4, FS9, CR4, TN1 (freckles -
TIP: wait until face dries before adding freckles - otherwise the markers are doing their job of blending while wet. :o))
overalls: TB3, TB3, TB4
shoes: IG1, DR2
kitten: IG1, CR4, Blender
skateboard: CT1, CT2, CT4
wheels: BG1, BGR3, IG10
ribbon: over design paper: DR7
bow: DR2, DR4, DR7, PP3

I used a sentiment from the set and popped this little guy up with Double Sided Adhesive Foam Circles. I used a white paint pen to add a few highlights.

Crafter's Companion has had several new releases. For more ideas, be sure to pop over to the Crafter's Companion Information Blog, as well as visit the Crafter's Companion DT members.  You can see their latest designs by clicking on the names on the left side of my blog.

Thank you for visiting!!

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

InLinkz.com