Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Watercolored Spruce Tree

My design today features one of my favorite images from the Art-Kure Timeless Britain Collection.
The main image stamped onto watercolor paper and colored with Distress Ink Pads and a water-brush.




The background is the lovely spruce tree image stamped off in various shades of the same color green Distress Ink Pads forest moss.



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 Education  and Inspiration Team 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!

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Embossed Grunge Tree

My design today features Sheena's Grunge Tree stencil.  I just love this tree! There are seven fabulous stencils in the release! It's coming soon!



 The moon is a mask made from a circle die cut.  I sponged in color for the sky, working in a horizontal motion from the outside in, leaving some white spaces. The stencil was taped in place with a low tack tape and then the embossing paste was applied. After the paste dried, I put the stencil back over it and dabbed in color.



NOTEs: (1) when using embossing paste, clean your stencil right away - I have a pan of water next to my creative space. (2) I used one side of tape as a hinge so I could check the color without losing my placement. (3) be sure to allow the paste to dry completely before placing the stencil back over.

Crafter Companion Supplies Used:


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 Education  and Inspiration Team 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!

Monday, January 19, 2015

Especially For You

At Crafter's Companion we are celebrating the new Floral release of Bebunni! There are eight new adorable images in the release.  Here's a sneak peek with images from a set called Brighten My Day.


  The main image stamped onto watercolor paper and water-colored with Distress Ink Refills vintage photo, mowed lawn, worn lipstick, mustard seed, spiced marmalade and a water-brush.


I added detail and depth with with Spectrum Noir Blendable Colored Pencils 022, 046, 108 using a Spectrum Noir Paper Stumps to blend.  In some areas, I did not blend the pencils completely which resulted in some cool texture.

Next, I cut out the image and edged it with a black water-based marker. NOTE: I do this from the back side of the image just in case my hand slips and puts a big ol' mark, the mark will be on the back. :) The sentiment is from the set. I stamped it onto  Ultra Smooth Premium White Cardstock. The ground is colored with a Spectrum Noir Blendable Colored Pencil 108. I used a very light touch to sponge in a sky with a Distress Ink Pad tumbled glass and an Ink Sweeper. To frame the card, I edged all four sides with a black water-based marker.  To adhere the image down, I used Collall All Purpose Glue so I could get into all the small areas.   For the center of the flower I added Stickles star dust. 


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 Education  and Inspiration Team 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!


Friday, January 16, 2015

Mini Jump Start Journal

Sheena has some fabulous new stencils coming! I used two of them to share a sneak peek in a jump start journal.



  The idea behind a jump start journal is to give you color and design as a basis to jump start your art.  A blank white space can sometimes be intimidating. This is the perfect size to slip into my purse and have available to sketch, doodle, capture a moment, jot down some thoughts - all on top of an interesting design filled with color. By changing colors, using only part of the stencil, and by varying the direction of the stencil, each page is unique yet there is a familiar design throughout the journal.

 





The journal pages are Ultra Smooth Premium White Cardstock - 8.5" x 5.5" and Shimmering Cards coastal pearl. Sheena's In The Forest stencil provides the theme design.


Starting with the cover, I used EZRelease Tape to hold my stencil in place and also provide a mask.  I added color with Distress Ink Pad frayed burlap and an Ink Sweeper, giving the sweeper a light twist in the small areas.  NOTE: I used a baby wipe to clean the colors in between pages for all ink pads.


For one of inside pages, I started by pouncing in color with Distress Ink Pad shabby shutter and an Ink Sweeper.


Next, I laid the stencil over it and used a Sponge Dauber to add Memento Ink Pad pear tart just at the edges of the larger trees in the stencil to leave a highlight in the center. I slid the stencil over slightly to add more large trees.


For the center of the journal, I turned the stencil sideways. Color was added with Fireworks Sprays dandelion, tangelo.  I spritzed in the center of the stencil then slid it over and spritzed again to cover the whole page.  While the stencil was still wet with ink spray, I took another page and laid it down on top of the color picking up the negative design and also picked up some really cool outlines.


For this page, I turned the stencil diagonal and moved it to fill in Distress Ink Pad rusty hinge on the larger trees. I added a different design element with another new stencil from Sheena's release Grunge Tree and Memento LUXE Ink Pad morocco.


For the rest of the pages and also for the inside front and back cover, I used the eBrush System with Spectrum Noir Markers BT4, HB1, IB1.  Love the soft look! I used air pressure 2.


Another way to pick up color from the stencil is when you clean it.  Here is the stencil after I used it with the eBrush.  The colors are really pretty!



I put the stencil on top of a clean piece of copy paper, spritzed it with alcohol and laid Ultra Smooth Premium White Cardstock - 8.5" x 5.5"  on top to pick up color. I repeated with different pieces of cardstock until all almost all the ink was gone.  I'll use these pieces as backgrounds for something later!  NOTE:  copy paper is a nice weight for making your own design paper to use in collages.



To bind the journal together, I punched two holes along the center, about an inch and a half from the top and from the bottom, and pulled cord from my stash through and tied it. This little journal can be a standalone journal or a signature set of pages to be included in a thicker journal. I like having options!  On the back of the journal I used the Grunge Tree stencil with Distress Ink Pad broken china and an Ink Sweeper.


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 Education  and Inspiration Team 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!