Tuesday 29 April 2008

Copics 1st Attempt - Hanglar "hÄnglabyk"


Ok, ok, so I said that I wasn't going to post again until after my holiday but my new Copic Sketch Markers arrived today and I had to try them out! Lots of practicing to do as this is the first time I have ever used them. This image is Hanglar "hÄnglabyk". The papers are Laura Ashley and can be purchased here. The bloom is from my kind friend Lim.

Right, now off to sign my travellers cheques, oh yes and have a little blog hop!
Hugs,



UPDATE Wed 30th April

I have received a few emails today with regards to my copics. I purchased them from Ebay. The set I ordered was set D which is 72 Copic Sketch Markers. I chose Sketch Copics as I prefer to use the brush tip. This is great for fine detail.

The ink I use is Brilliance Graphite Black. Again I am using the Concord card - (see my below Prisma post for link). I am no expert but these are my own personal preferences.

Here are the colours I used for this project - sorry the picture is so grainy.

Please don't hesitate to email me if you have any other questions and my address can be found on the right hand side. x

Award


Such a great day as I won the following award from Debbie and her very talented 10 year old daughter Hannah. Thank you so much you have both made my day!

I would like to pass this award to:

Alex

Heidi
Heike
Lim
Sinikka

These ladies all have amazing blogs and their work is such an inspiration to me and I love visiting them. Please go and check them out!

Hugs,

Monday 28 April 2008

Prismacolor Pencils

I get lots of questions with regards to colouring with Prismacolour pencils and thought this information may help you. I am no expert as I have only been colouring with my Prisma's for about 8 weeks (article written 28/04/08) but hope this may answer some of your questions.

I use Prismacolour Premier Pencils as these are the highest pigmented pencil Prisma sell. Sansodor is a low odour solvent. The make I buy is Winsor and Newton and I get it from Hobby Craft for about £3.50 a bottle.
You can also buy the paper stumps there which look like pencils and are compressed paper (You may also here people call them tortillions). The ones I use are double ended. They are about £1.50 each in hobby craft but your local art store will sell them much cheaper. Mine sell them for £1.25 for 3. There are different qualities of paper stumps and am afraid it will be trial and error until you find the ones you like..The colouring part is just so simple but can be time consuming as I do like to make sure all the lines are blended well - that's the perfectionist part of me!

I bought my set of 120 Premium Prismascolor pencils from Ebay. They came from the US and took about 10 days to arrive. Always ask the seller if they can mark the package low to avoid customs - though some will not. When I need to buy them individually I buy them from 1buy1pencils.

With the prisma's you just put the colour around the outside of the object, so say for example a dress. You can put a little more under the arms as this is where the natural shadow would occur. You dip the paper stump in the sansodor and pull the colour inwards in circular movements. This gives a great effect leaving the inside paler. Be sure to go over the outline with your stump in circular movements to get rid of any pencil lines. Go easy on the sansodor and be sure it has soaked well into the stump before putting to paper. Sometimes I dab it on a bit of scrap first. You can then pick a darker shade if you wish to add more shading but I find I can shade very well just using the one colour. When you have used the paper stump leave to dry then just file the end with sandpaper or an emery board and then you can use again for another colour.

The best paper I have found (you will think this is strange but I got this top tip from a friend AngelJakki) is Concord Plain Record Cards (pack of 100). This card is just great and blends a treat. It is also so cheap as I was buying Artist pads for about £6 ago. Here is where I buy mine. I know the delivery is a pain but if you order about 6 packs it will only come to just over £10 with delivery. You may be able to get them in Staples (£2.09 per pack) but I know they are fazing them out and using their own brand which aren't as good (only my opinion).

Update - October '08: I now use Momento Tuxedo Black ink. This is such a super ink and the only one I will use now. I warn you though as it's hard to get hold of. It works a treat with Prisma and Copics/ProMarkers... also so perfect for using when you might want to combine mediums. Another great thing is that you can easily wipe the ink off with a damp cloth as I would need Stazon remover with the Memories. So saving pennies too! You can find this ink over in my store.

Update - Febuary '09
I was asked recently what colours I recommend. These are my personal favourites but hope this helps if you are just starting out.

Skin – PC928 Blush pink
Cheeks – PC929 Pink or for a rosier glow PC925 Crimson lake
Wood, earth or to give a distressed or dirty look - PC1082 Chocolate with PC946 Dark Brown for shading
Jean clothing – PC901 Indigo Blue
Blonde hair – PC1012 Jasmine with PC1034 Goldenrod for Shading
Brunette’s – PC945 Sienna Brown and/or PC943 Burnt Ochre – PC946 Dark Brown for shading
Red heads – PC944 – Terra Cotta and PC946 Dark Brown for shading
Metal – PC949 Metallic Silver
Sky – PC1086 Sky Blue Light
Grass, leaves – colour used dependent on matching with dp - PC1005 Limepeel, PC988 Marine Green, PC911 Olive Green, PC1090 Kelp Green, PC908 Dark Green
My favourite colours – PC994 Process Red, PC925 Crimson lake (used lots at Christmas) , PC992 Light Aqua and PC905 Aquamarine

If you have any great Prisma tips to share or any questions.. please do email me and I will update this post.

Hugs

Sunday 27 April 2008

House - Hanglar Flicka med katt


I am really pleased with how this house turned out and my inspiration came from this months Papercraft Inspirations magazine. Stamps I have used: Hanglar Flicka Med Katt, Hanglar trees, Magnolia Birds and Sugar Nellie Angus. I just love this new Hanglar Stamp with the cute Kitty. All images coloured with my prismacolour pencils with Sansador and paper stumps to blend. I popped up the girl, dog and bird to give them 3d effect. I used my Sakura Stardust pen to add extra bling to detail. The House is made with Bazzill and aged with VersaMagic in Jumbo Java. I used a brad for the door handle and the flowers on the bush are Prima with little gem centres. Hope you like it!



edit: forgot to mention that I made the house using the Design Studio and cut on my Cricut Expression. x

Friday 25 April 2008

Magnolia Spring Club Card


Not sure if I am too happy with the way this card turned out. The cute Tilda is from the Magnolia Spring Club kit. Coloured with my Prismacolour pencils with sansador and paper stumps for blending. Tilda's flowers were coloured with Sakura Pens. Paper is from Basic Grey Sultry collection. You might have guessed by I just love BG's papers. The Sentiment is from Stampin' Up. The Scalloped oval was cut using my nestabilities. The ribbon, flowers and buttons are from Rebecca's Scapbooking Stash. The little bug brad I bought from Ebay.

Have a great weekend.
Hugs,

Thursday 24 April 2008

Hanglar Flick Med Vagn and HH Patch Kitten - Cute Card Thursday


I made this card for this weeks Cute Card Thursday Challenge. This weeks theme is one for the girls. Stamps used: Hanglar Flick Med Vagn and High Hopes Patch kitten. The images have been coloured with my prismacolor pencils with Sansador and Paper stumps to blend. The paper is from the Basic Grey Sugared Collection. I ripped and distressed the main paper and also distressed around the main image paper with a ruler. I cut a slit in the top of the cart for Patch kitten to sit inside. The tag was from my friend Heidi and has been stamped with a SU sentiment. The fibre and bloom was sent to me from my friend Lim. Thanks for stopping by!

Magnolia Spring Club - It's arrived!



Yippeee! My Magnolia Spring stamp club is finally here! Now have to wait for postie to bring some EZ Mount tomorrow as I've run out! Typical!



p.s. if you are wondering it is a swing and not a fence which is what I initially thought!

Tuesday 22 April 2008

Butterfly girl - Alotarubberstamps

My husband say's I am a card conveyer belt at the moment but I just couldn't wait to use this new stamp. I will be slowing down now as we are off to Florida next week and have loads of preparation for our trip. I received the below set from alotarubberstamps and they were a bargain at around £13 for the unmounted set including shipping from the US. I have a link to the store on the right hand side. I stamped these images quick so they are not perfect as my 8 year old was dying to colour them as soon as the postman had delivered! The papers are from the Basic Grey "Sultry" collection. The blooms and lace ribbon from Rebecca's Scrapbooking kit. The little buttons were from Panduro and the butterfly brad I bought from Ebay sometime ago. I coloured my image with Prismacolour Pencils with Sansador and paper stumps to blend. I also used my nestabilities which arrived yesterday and again couldn't wait to use!

Magnolia Tilda holding flower - Ismaki Sketch 16


I am not sure if this is the official name for this stamp as it is an image which was sent to me in a swap. If I have it wrong I would love to know the correct name so please let me know. This card was made for this week's Ismaki Challenge - Sketch 16. I was very naughty and tried so hard to meet the objectives but as you can see I have swapped the Poem/Sentiment for Tilda. I struggled as this card also needed a title. The gorgeous papers are by The Paper Company. The diamond paper is by PM and is in the Retro Floral pack. The blooms are from my April kit from Rebecca's Scrapbooking Stash. I cut an oval scalloped nestability in half so Tida wasn't floating in in the air! The house stamp and the brads are from Panduro. I coloured with my Primsacolour pencils with Sansador and Paper stumps to blend. I have also used my Sakura Stardust pen and various Sakura Metalic pens.
Hope you like it.


Monday 21 April 2008

Scrapbook Page - Bubble Fun


This is a project I have done for my Silly Monkey DT work. This is all new to me and this is the first Scrapbook page I have ever made. The pictures are of my little girl Danni on her 3rd Birthday having lots of bubble fun in our garden. I have used Karen Foster April 12" x 12" Scrapbook paper. I have also used lots of Bazzill Bling for the lettering and to mount the pictures. The letters were cut on my Cricut using Mickey's Font cartridge. I then run them through my cuttlebug using the Spots and dots embossing folder to continue the bubble theme. I printed the text in word and mounted. The flower splats and fibres are from my kind friend Lim. Other accessories: Buttons from my stash & bubble sticks!

Saturday 19 April 2008

Hanglar - Bug i kruka


This is different from my normal style as I tried to make the papers look older with tearing and staining. Believe me this was so difficult for me as I just hate my papers getting creased or torn! I am so pleased with how this turned out though. I coloured this beautiful Hanglar stamp with my Prisma colour pencils with sansador and paper stumps to blend. I also used my Sakura stardust pen for added detail. The Gorgeous papers are a 12" x 12" scrapbook paper by Daisy Bucket (Summer Cottage Window box). The sentiment is by Stamping up. Other accessories: Prima flowers, PM gems, String, Button, fibres & brads.

Hope you are all having a great weekend and I would like to thank you so much for all the Wonderful comments you leave on my blog !!


Friday 18 April 2008

Edwin Fishing - Cute Card Thursday & Splitcoaststampers Challenge 172


I made this card for my father-in-law (he loves fishing!) and it is for this weeks Cute Card Challenge and also challenge 172 on Splitcoaststampers (see below sketch). This weeks Cute Card Challenge is to make a card for the men and boys in your lives! Thank you so much Jakki for sending me this perfect Edwin image. Papers used: Cherry Arte "Kitty Lou - Sweet Blossoms". Bazzill Bling Blank Cheque, In the Pink & Emerald City : Happy Birthday cuttlebug embossing Folder. Added a real fly and fish brad! Image coloured with my Prismacolour pencils with sansador and paper stumps to blend. Also used my Sakura stardust pen and Twinkling H2O for the water. The lettering was cut from the Mickey and Friends cartridge on my Cricut. I cut this out on a cereal box to give the lettering a chipboard effect. I am so pleased with how this card turned out.

Thursday 17 April 2008

A girl can never have too many bags!


Thought I'd try something different today and no stamping involved! Covered these chipboard bags in beautiful Laura Ashley paper. I used my cuttlebug "Birds and Swirls" on the pale yellow bazzill. The sentiment was printed on my computer. Hope you like it!

Wednesday 16 April 2008

Lim's Blog Candy

My good friend Lim has some yummy blog candy on offer. There will also be 3 lucky winners! Pop over to her blog and leave her a comment to have a chance at winning. While you are there be sure to check out her beautiful cards and i'm sure you'll agree with me that her Magnolia scenes are just amazing.

Tuesday 15 April 2008

High Hopes Baby Collage - Mojo Monday Wk 33

This card has been created for the Mojo Monday Sketch Week 33. The stamp is High Hopes "Baby Collage". Coloured with my Primsacolour pencils using sansador and paper stumps to blend. The paper is by Basic Grey and is called "Oh Baby Girl" Karina. I also used Bazzill bling in colours Envy and In the Pink. The brads are MM Shimmer - Polo. The ribbons from my own stash. The little cutie is my daughter Danni when she was one. She is now 3 but still going through her terrible twos! I know the colours are pretty wacky but you know me and bright colours!

Monday 14 April 2008

High Hopes Summertime Teapot


I have made this card for my MIL for her birthday. Her favourite colour is lavender. The stamp is by High Hopes - "Summertime Teapot". The paper and brad are from the gorgeous new Laura Ashley range and can be purchased from Silly Monkey Crafts. The blooms, ribbons and buttons are from Rebecca's Scrumptious Stash Monthly Kit. The tag was sent to me from my very kind friend Heidi. The lettering is by K&Company. I coloured the image with my Prismacolour pencils with Sansador and paper stumps to blend. Also used the Twinkling H2O's which I just love!

Sunday 13 April 2008

High Hopes Barely Sitting - Baby Girl

Stamps used: High Hopes Barely Sitting
Papers: Dove Craft Baby Prints, Bazzill Bling Feather Boa and Hollywood.
Accessories: MM Shimmer Brads - Polo. Ribbon from own stash. Image Coloured with Prismacolour pencils with Sansador and Paper stumps to blend.

Friday 11 April 2008

High Hopes Barely Sitting - Baby Boy & Another Award!


I designed the scalloped border on my Design Studio software and cut on my Cricut Expression using the George Cartridge. The dots have been added with a white Sakura Souffle pen. The baby border was stamped twice to get the desired length and trimmed. The Blue Eyes Bling was embossed with swiss dots cuttlebug folder. Images coloured with a mixture of Prismacolour pencils, Prisma Markers and Copics. The baby's Blanket and the Teddy Bears Bow was coloured with Twinkling H2O's. I applied the paint with my Watercolour Pen. This is the first time I have used them and love them. They are so smooth to apply and the picture does not do the twinkle justice! I will certainly be buying more of these!

Stamps used: High Hopes Barely Sitting & High Hopes Baby Border
Papers: Bazzill Bling Envy and Blue Eyes, Basic Grey Paper from the Gypsy pack.
Accessories: Doodlebug abc's - Swimming pool, Doodlebug Blue Jean/Swimming Pool Gingham ribbon, MM Shimmer Brads - Polo. Twinkling H2O's Pack No. 654.

All products used on this card can be found at Silly Monkey Crafts with the exception of Basic Grey Gypsy papers which are my own. Silly Monkey's do stock a range of other Basic Grey papers.



Oh my, am I so lucky or what... This is my 3rd award this week! I have today received this award from the very kind Jean. Thank you so much Jean. For those of you who haven't found her blog yet go check her out as she has loads of fantastic cards.

I am now going to pass this award to 5 very deserving ladies...

1. My good friend Heidi who is my best blogging pal. Her cards are just so beautiful and she is such a dear friend.

2. My friend Lim who has such an amazing blog and makes the most amazing Magnolia Scenes.

3. Nicola - My Paper World. She makes so many beautiful cards and I love to visit her to see her sketches.

4. Crissy Armstrong - I am in awe of her and she is such an amazing artist and I just love all her work. Check out her gallery at Splitcoaststampers.

5. Sophia - This lady is just so talented. Her cards are amazing and she is so clever in that she designs her own characters for her cards too.

Go and check them out... I assure you that they will not disappoint!