Happy Card Maker

Friday, April 23, 2010

Todays image is from "Stampavie" the stamp is called "Bernadette admiring the spring flowers". It's a really cute stamp, but has a lot of detail coloring to do.

Copic Tidbit:
When I color images that have very small areas, I tend to go with two colors in the family group. Also I don't color in circles. What I do is lay down the light color first, then the darker color. With the lightest color I pull the darker color out. This keeps the ink from going out side the image line. Try it, it works for me and I get, what is to me, an acceptable blend.

I added some Crystal Lacquer to the watering can and some Spica colors to other areas. The paper for the image was "Curious Cryogen", I love this paper.

Now get ready for this, because I used a lot of different markers on this one. Here are the colors I used;

Skin; E000, E00, E01, R11
Blouse; Y11, Y15, Y17
Hair; Y11, Y21, E97, E99
Pants; E31, E35, B05, R24, R27
Water Can; C0, C3, C5
Leaves; YG07
Foreground; YG01, YG05

That's a lot of colors, plus I used random colors for the flowers.

I hope you enjoy my effort for the day. Your comments are always welcome.

Have a GREAT DAY!!!

Bob L.

Monday,April 19, 2010

As most of you probably know, I teach some classes on Stampscapes. After you teach the basics, it's hard to come up with different classes to show what Stampscapes can be used for.
So, I try to come up with different ways that you can uses the Stampscapes. We stamp on Glossy cardstock,regular cardstock,tumbled tiles,candles, and do polished stone techniques for a break in the standard methods.

Today I'm posting two samples. One is a standard glossy cardstock, and the second is a Stampscapes scenario done on a candle.

Here are the samples;

"Stampscapes on Glossy Cardstock"

The card was color using the standard Stampscapes coloring method. Dye inks,makeup sponges and some markers.

The second image is the same, but applied to a pillar candle.

"Stampscapes on Candle"

Both scenes are very pleasant, and would make a great all occassion card plus a gift for some one special.

The candle is easy to do, but one thing to remember, is to buy the cheap candles. I get them from the "Dollar Tree" for about a $1.00 each. The expensive candles have a plastic coating on them which does not let the picture adhere. Un-scented white candles work the best.

The image is stamped on white tissue paper and colored. The image is than placed on the candle and trimmed to fit. A piece of wax paper is wrapped around the image and the candle and pulled tight. Now this is the tricky part. With you heat gun heat the edges of the image, just until the tissue seems to disappear. Do not over do it with the heat gun. The heat from the heat gun can be pretty hot so use an oven mitt to hold it. Remove the wax paper and use it to rub down and smooth out the image on the candle.

Walla, you now have a very nice card and a matching candle to give as a gift.

If you have any questions, leave me your email in your comments and I will reply.

Have a GREAT DAY!!!

Bob L.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Well it's spring, and the birds are a chirping, the flowers are blooming, and the hot weather is almost here. But, who cares as long as my airconditioner is working.

Todays card is a very simple card and would be good to send just about anyone. The stamp set is from "Inkadinkado" called "English Robin". Very cute set, and easy to color with Copic markers. The sentiment stamp is from "Great Impressions" .


After coloring the bird image I had to come up with a different background. The background paper was made by stamping a piece of printer paper with a script background stamp. I stamped it in Burnt Sienna. After it was stamp, I crumpled up the paper then straightened it back out. The crumpled paper paper was then rubbed with the Distress ink pad called "Old Paper" this gives it an aged look. The edges were hand torn and brushed with another Distress Ink pad called "Walnut Stain" this gives the edges a burnt look. I also used the "Walnut Stain" to edge the image and the sentiment mats.The scrolls in the upper left and lower right corners wer cut using a Provocraft die.

The colors used for this image;

Bird; E11,E15,Y17,YR23
Berries; R24

As I said before, it's a very simple card that can be used for many occasions.

Hope you enjoy my efforts. Your comments are always appreciated.

Have a GREAT DAY!!!
Bob L.

Sunday, April 11,2010

The paper used for the image was "Cryogen" cardstock. I love the sparkle of this paper. It was colored with Copic markers, of course.

The frame for the image was cut with a new Cuttlebug A2 Embossing/Cutting die. My wife wanted to contribute to this card so she made the small flowers in the corners of the frame from plastic canvas. Don't ask me how she does it, she is very crafty. Thank You Rose.

The rest of the card is pretty standard. Once the image was colored and mounted in the frame it was popped up from the card. I did not put any stickles on this one, because the Cryogen cardstock already give the image enough sparkle.

The colors used on the fairy were;

Wings; BV0000,BV00,BV01
Skin; E0000,E000,E00
Dress; RV11,RV13,RV14
Bubble; BG0000,BG000,BG01,BG02,BG05
Hair; Y22,YR23,E35

As the title of this post said, "Mixed Bag" it is definitely that.

Hope you enjoy it. Your comments are appreciated and read.

Have a GREAT DAY!!!

Bob L.

Wednesday, April 7, 20109

Well, I guess the opinions of the "Guardian Castle" is in. It was 30% for the Prismacolor version, 50% for the Copic (No Surprise) and 20% for the Derwent Inktense. I'm happy that I could inpire some of you to try different coloring mediums. I glad that I was able to accomplish that.

Today, I am off to something new. It's an airbrushed background and uses a silhouette stamp from "Cornish Heritage Farms" called "Bird Watching" . The stamp used is from "The Saturday Evening Post" series.

First I airbrushed the background using Y06 to about half of the way down the card. Then from the top I airbrushed with YR14 to about the half way point for the Y06.

The remainder of the background was done with B05. I then used a C03 marker to simulate the hills, and blended this out with a C0 marker.

For the sun, I punched out a half circle and placed it at the half way point and airbrushed the sun with YR14.
The stamp was done in Memento Tuxedo Black at this point and touches of color worked in.

Now after all of this work, I did not want to cove up the coloring, who would. So, I cut a piece of acetate and stamped a saying from "The Angel Company" called "Linear Sentiments" in Staz-On Cloud White ink at the top and bottom od the piece of acetate.

I attached the acetate to the card with some small brads. The acetate only covers the image.

So let take a look at the card;

Monday, April 5, 2010

This is the third version of the Thomas Kinkade, "Guardian Castle". The version was colored with "Derwent Inktense Pencils" and cost about $24.79 for a set of 24.

A little about the Inktense pencils. Inktense pencils can be used dry for rich, intense color or washed out with a little water to create a vivid translucent effect. Once dry, the color is permanent and can be worked over with other media. Although I only had a set of 12, I was able to produce pretty good shading. I use an Aqua Brush to blend out the colors. Because the inks are permenant one they are dry, you are able to build up some pretty nice shading. Make sure that you let the colors dry between layers.
So let's have a look at the card;

Saturday, April 3,2010

"Guardian Castle (Copic Version)"

It's up to you which version you prefer. I would trend to pick the Copic version because of it vibrancy.

I will try to work on the Derwent Inktense watercolor version, but seeing that it is Easter Sunday, my understanding wife may nix that.

Hope you enjoy the Copic version. Let me know by you comments which you prefer.

Have a GREAT DAY!!!

Bob L.

Today I have posted a card that is not colored with Copic Markers. It is a stamp from "Cornish Heritage Farms" and is called "Guardian Castle". It is from their Thomas Kinkade series.



The image was colored with Prismacolor pencils and OMS. It's a little harder to do, but well worth the effort. I'll do the next renditions of the image using Copic Markers.I should have it done in the next day or two. The third of the series will be done with Derwent Inktense. It is a water soluable colored pencil that once it dries, is permanent.



About the card. After it was colored, I stamped the Green cardstock with a wood grain background stamp in black ink. The gold corrugated cardstock was bordered with a Fiskars Corner,Border punch. The corner scroll at the bottom right of the image was cut with a Quic-Kutz die. Copper Glitter Dots from "Jesse James", they add a nice touch.



So with out further a due, here is the card;

Hope you enjoy the card, keep checking back for the other versions. Your comments or questions are always welcome.
Have a GREAT DAY!!!

Bob L.