Tuesday, March 19

Tutorial - Adding Sprinkles


Here's a quick tutorial for adding "sprinkles" to your donuts or cupcakes.


1. Print the donut image and colour with your choice of medium. I've used alcohol markers on a sheet of blending card. As you can see from the image below, I completely ignored the sprinkles as I coloured.


2. Next, select a variety of liquid accents, such as Nuvo drops or Liquid Pearls, which will give the sprinkles some dimension. You can also use gel or paint pens, but the colour will sit flush on your paper. (TIP: if you're also using patterned paper on your card, select colours from the paper for a nice coordinated look)


3. Apply the colours to the sprinkles. In areas where there is overlap, allow the first colour to dry completely before applying the second colour over the top.


Digital Stamps:

Monday, March 18

A Splash Of Colour

Today's card features just the top portion of one of the flamingos from the Flockstar digital stamp set. I used colourful papers with a tropical vibe for my background, and fussy cut some of the large leaves to embellish around my sentiment.


Digital Stamps:

Saturday, March 16

Tutorial - Colouring The Cosmos


Cosmos flowers come in a wonderful range of beautiful colours, including fiery reds and oranges, which is what I want to show you today. I'm also demonstrating the no-line colouring technique that results in images that look hand painted rather than stamped. If you prefer, you can use pencils or paints rather than markers, and you can choose whatever colour palette matches your theme.


1. Start by stamping your image twice with a light coloured, water-based ink. Make sure you select paper that is appropriate for the mediums you'll be using to colour - in my case, I'm using alcohol markers so I've chosen blending card for my base.


2. Select several shades of red and orange for your flowers. You'll want a nice dark shade for the shadow areas and a lighter shade for the highlights. (I chose copic markers YR12, YR14, YR16, YR18 and YR27 for the orange flowers and R22, R24, R27, R29 and R59 for the red.)

3. Start by adding a base layer of the lightest shade. In the image below, I'm colouring a red flower so have started the petal with R22.


4. I prefer to add my shadows first and then work into the highlights, so the next colour I use is the darkest shade of red - R59. Apply this at the base of the petal using little flicking strokes that radiate outward from the centre.


5. Next comes the R29. Again colouring with little flicking strokes, colour over the top of the R59 and make your way further out along the petal. Add a little to the edge of the petal, which will create a "crease".


6. Using the R27, extend the colour further while blending with the R29.


7. Add more colour with the R24, leaving only the highlight area free.


8. Finish with the lightest colour, R22. This will blend the last colours together and leave a nice smooth transition along the length of your petal.

9. Add the R22 as a base for the next petal and start the process again.


10. For petals that are "under" other petals, you want to add the darkest shade along the sides to "push" the petal backward. Remember that dark colours recede, so adding the darkest red will give the impression that the petal is further back than the ones on either side. Continue blending the colours until you reach the lightest shade.


11. Repeat for the remaining red flowers, and then continue the process for the orange flowers.


12. Once your colouring is done, fussy cut both images with a small pair of sharp scissors, leaving a narrow white border.


13. Use a trimmer or guillotine to cut each image in half so that you have four "corners".


14. Use the corners to decorate your card as desired.


Clear Stamps:

Thursday, March 14

More Cake!


These fun cards were created with the Flockstar set of digital stamps, which Anesha printed, coloured, and matched with patterned papers from her collection. She confined her colours to mostly pink and white for a fabulous coordinated look!


Tuesday, March 12

You're A Flockstar

The easiest way to choose colours for a colouring project is to select your patterned paper first. Then it's simply a matter of choosing markers or pencils that coordinate or contrast with the colours in the paper.


Digital Stamps:

Monday, March 11

Sweet Treats


Karin created a cute little treat box using some of the images from the Sweet Thing set of digital stamps. One side of the box has a little window, protected by a piece of acetate, so you get a glimpse of the delicious treats inside, while the opposite side features a hand-coloured image. She even used some of the donut stamps to create digital paper for her project!


Saturday, March 9

Tutorial - Tricorn Fold Card


A free-standing, three dimensional, pop-up card that folds flat for postage...
all the things we love in a card!


TEMPLATE:

1. Place an 8" x 6" piece of cardstock horizontally on your scoreboard and score at 2", 4" and 6".


2. If you have a scoreboard that includes a right angled guide, add it to the scoreboard. Score from the top of the first score line to the left side of the card, then from the top of the first score line to the second score line. With the extra guide in place, these score lines will be 45 degree angles. Repeat the process from the top of the third score line. Turn the cardstock around and repeat at the bottom of the cardstock. See the template above for correct placement.

If you don't have a right angled guide, measure and mark your cardstock 2" down from the top corners and 2" up from the bottom corners. Make the score lines as shown in the template above.


3. Fold along the vertical score lines starting with a mountain fold, then a valley fold, then another mountain fold. Burnish with your bone folder for crisp lines.


4. Fold along each of the angled score lines. I found it easiest to pinch the angled fold while also pushing back against the vertical score line. Repeat for all the diagonal score lines. Burnish each fold firmly with your bone folder.


5. Apply glue or strong double-sided tape to the centre section of the card as shown below. Fold in half to secure the centre section together.


the back:

6. Push the bulk of the card to each side a few times in order to loosen the folds. This is how the card will fold flat for postage.


7. Decorate the card with pieces of patterned paper and additional cardstock if desired. I found it easiest to use the card base as a template for my cardstock and patterned paper. Remember to cut them slightly smaller to leave a narrow border.


8. Secure the patterned paper and cardstock to the front of the card. Add two plain pieces of cardstock to the back of the card for personalised sentiments.


9. Add an image, a sentiment and any additional embellishments you wish.


Digital Stamps: