Scrapnextras

Cheery Snowmen

 

Last year I had the majority of my Christmas cards done by now.  I just used the challenges and before you know it I had tons of cards ready to go.  All different, and that's not always good because I spent so much time deciding who should get which one LOL!  This year I haven't played the challenges as actively, so I'm a bit behind.  So I figured I'd better get on it!

  I pulled out Jen's sketch from last weekend  and made it my starting point.  Then I decided I wanted to work with non-traditional colours...they just make it kind of fun...and challenging.  I chose Pretty in Pink and Bashful Blue.

The stamp set is "Wishing You Cheer".  I was so happy to see it back this year!  I stamped the snowman three times and coloured them in using the Watercolour Crayon Palette technique.  This technique works best when you only need small amounts of colour, and these snowmen don't need much!  I chose to use the vertical panel for the sentiment since it's vertically oriented...and I really like that!

I added a large snowflake charm with a pink brad in the centre and attached it with a pop up glue dot.  Then I found some snowflake eyelets (all of these I've had for a million years!), set them with the crop-o-dile and put a coloured brad in the centre of each.  Then I got my Stickles out and glittered up the snowflakes in Cotton Candy, Baby Blue and Stardust stickles.

The main panel of Bashful Blue Prints designer paper is popped up on dimensionals on the Pretty in Pink card base and that was all she wrote!

So what do you think?  Can pink and blue pass for Christmas?  My dd's loved it, and I think it's kind of cute.

By the way, I think the problem with my blog not remembering your info is fixed.  Do let me know if it works for you.  If it's your first time back since I fixed it, you may have to tick the "remember me" box.  You'll be able to tell if it works when your comment posts because your information will remain in the box.

Happy Wednesday everyone!  Sorry I didn't have a Technique Tuesday this week, and for those who asked for a template for the box yesterday, I will see what I can come up with.  I don't really know how to make one...so I may do it as a tutorial.

Have a fabulous day, and thanks for dropping by!  I just love it when you do!

Recipe:  Stamps:  Wishing you Cheer (SU)  Paper:  Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Bashful Blue Prints DP  Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black  Accessories:  Brads, Snowflake charm (Making Memories), snowflake eyelets (?), dimensionals, Cotton Candy, Baby Blue and Stardust Stickles (Ranger), Crop-o-dile

Technique Tuesday: Watercolour Crayon Palette

 

Each month I choose a Stampin' Up! product as my Feature Product. For the month of September I am featuring Watercolour Wonder Crayons! All 5 sets of Watercolour Wonder crayons, as well as the Aqua Painters are on special this month when purchased through me. My Technique Tuesday feature during the month of September will feature different ideas and techniques for using them. As well, throughout the month of September, you can expect to see projects on my blog featuring watercolouring, and I will be demonstrating with the Watercolour Wonder crayons during all my September workshops.

Here is the special for September:

• 10% off Watercolour Wonder crayons and the Aqua Painter through til September 30th
• My September hostesses will receive 20% Off!

If you wish to place an order, you may contact me via email. I accept all major credit cards. Canadian orders only please. Sorry, them's the rules!

Technique Tuesday:  Watercolour Crayon Palette

This is the final installment for the Watercolour Crayon techniques. That is not to say there are no more techniques, however, I hope you will find the value in the versatility of this tool with the four that I have shared with you this month.

Creating a palette is really simple, and I am most inclined to do this when colouring a small image that requires only a few colours.  Larger images can be coloured this way, you will just need to add to your palette as needed.  Here's what you will need:

  Line art stamp...I am using "Just Celebrate" a set from the Summer Mini that is no longer available, but I had a really hard time coming up with another suitable image, until after I was done.  Then I thought  of about 2 other current sets LOL!

Waterproof ink...I use Versafine Onyx Black

Watercolour Crayons

Aquapainter

Palette...here I have a Pringles lid, that I cut a circle of white to sit inside, so you can see the colours.

  First you will stamp your image in waterproof ink and allow any drying time required.

Take your crayon and scribble some colour onto the palette. 

Honestly, I'm just as likely to just scribble it onto the white portion of my stamp pad, since I'm usually using so little.

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  With your aqua painter (filled with water), dip into the first colour. 

If you are blending colours, then pull some away from the main colour and blend closer to the centre.

I chose to work with Pacific Point cardstock, so I chose Brilliant Blue and Bashful Blue, hoping they would be a good match.  Later I added Tempting Turquoise and I think I got pretty close to Pacific Point.

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  Paint your image.

I coloured his scarf and toque with my Pacific Point blend, and I used a more watered version to add some dimension to his body.

I used Bashful Blue to outline him and give him some depth.

I coloured his nose with my Pumpkin Pie marker.

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  Here is the completed image.

You can click on it to get a slightly larger picture.

Here is the finished card.

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The card base is Pacific Point and I used my last Swiss Dots embossed paper that my Christmas Elf Dawn gave me!  This is definitely a folder that will be on my Christmas list this year!

I took a strip of Pacific Point and scalloped the edge and then added a layer of white wheeled with the snowflakes wheel in Pacific Point ink.  A length of Pacific Point striped grosgrain ribbon was tied around the centre.

I cut the little snowman into a circle with Nestabilities and layered him on a scalloped circle which is popped up over the centre portion on dimensionals.  I stamped the sentiment in Pacific Point on white then punched it out in an oval and layered it on an oval of Pacific Point.  Finally, I added some Crystal Stickles to the pom pom of his toque and that was that!

I hope you have enjoyed these tutorials and are no longer wondering if the Watercolour Wonder Crayons are worth the investment...they are!  Next month I will feature punches on my Technique Tuesday posts, so I hope you'll join me then!

Happy Tuesday everyone!  Thanks so much for dropping by...you know I love it when you do!

Sketch Challenge and another WWC card

 

I had time to do the sketch challenge today, and it was a sketch I really liked plus I love the opportunity to use some of my scraps.  Here's my version!

 Actually I recognized this sketch from a couple of cards I did for one of Amy Westerman's challenges.  You can see my earlier versions here.  I liked it then and I love it here!

I decided to dust off It's a Stretch.  I purchased it in August and mounted it just today!  I love that it's long and vertically oriented.  I think it will be really versatile.

I started by pulling out some scraps from the massive pile I have accumulated.  I think most of them are from K&Co. but I wouldn't rest my life on it!  I chose Old Olive and Night of Navy card stocks to pair up with the designer papers and just pieced them together as per the sketch. 

The vase and flower image was stamped on Very Vanilla in Versafine Onyx Black.  I used markers and an aquapainter to colour it, and layered it on Night of Navy and Old Olive.  I strung some ribbon from a very old retired Ribbon Originals pack, and added the sentiment on a Cuttlebug tag.  I finally splurged with my Michaels 50% coupon and bought these little guys and I love them!!  The sentiment is from Papertrey's set Shapes by Design.

The focal image is attached to the card with dimensionals, and I thought a little sparkle was needed since the designer paper on the right is quite sparkly, so I added some Stardust Stickles to the petals, and a tiny blue gem to the flower center. 

I quite like these colours together and this sketch is awesome!  I hope you like it too!

 

I thought I would share the card I made with yesterday's first run at the Direct to Rubber Watercolour Crayon tutorial.  I was quite surprised at the size of the stamped image, and decided to work with only the two flowers for the tutorial, but this one turned out quite nice, so I thought I should try to work it into a card, and this is what it looks like now,

  I trimmed the image down and pierced the outer edge to add some interest.  I stamped the sentiment directly on the paper in Chocolate Chip, and added a row of piercing below it.  

To add a little colour I grabbed a scrap of Pumpkin Pie and added a scrap of the retired Baroque Backgrounds.  Chocolate Chip 5/8" grosgrain ribbon is tied around the entire focal piece before it was adhered to Old Olive with dimensionals and attached to the Chocolate Chip card base.

Really quick since there was not a lot you could do when the image is so big, and you all know I just like to do a lot LOL!

You know I rarely throw away a stamped image, and never if I have gone to the trouble of punching or dare I say cutting it!  I usually put them in a small ziplock bag in with the stamp set.   I don't always use them but I can't bare to throw out a perfectly good stamped image!  And I guess, this card is a good reason why, because I think it turned out pretty nice!

I hope you are having an awesome Wednesday, and the sun is shining as brightly for you as it is here!   Thanks for dropping by today...you know I always love it when you do.

Technique Tuesday; Watercolour Crayons direct to Rubber

 

Each month I choose a Stampin' Up! product as my Feature Product. For the month of September I am featuring Watercolour Wonder Crayons! All 5 sets of Watercolour Wonder crayons, as well as the Aqua Painters are on special this month when purchased through me. My Technique Tuesday feature during the month of September will feature different ideas and techniques for using them. As well, throughout the month of September, you can expect to see projects on my blog featuring watercolouring, and I will be demonstrating with the Watercolour Wonder crayons during all my September workshops.

Here is the special for September:

• 10% off Watercolour Wonder crayons and the Aqua Painter through til September 30th
• My September hostesses will receive 20% Off!

If you wish to place an order, you may contact me via email. I accept all major credit cards. Canadian orders only please. Sorry, them's the rules!

Technique Tuesday:  Watercolour Crayons Direct to Rubber

This technique for Watercolour Crayons is similar to using markers, however the effect is a little more watercolour like...which should be obvious.  It also provides another option for those who may only have the crayons and not the markers.  In addition, today I'm working with Stampin' Up!'s textured cardstock which gives a very unique and I think appealing look, almost like painted canvas.  Here's what you'll need to get going:

  Solid image stamp set.  I'm using the new and gorgeous "Inspired by Nature"

Watercolour Wonder crayons

Water in a mist sprayer.  You really want a fine mist sprayer.

You may also want an aqua painter, and an old CD or plastic dish just to spray a bit of water on.

  Start by misting the rubber.

You really want a light mist.  If you find it's puddling, then take your finger and touch it, then wipe it off your finger.

I find using anything other than your finger often takes off more than you need.

For my card I am only going to use two of the flowers, so I did take a paper towel to dry off any mist that got on the third flower.

  Begin applying colour to your image with the crayon.

Be gentle.  If you have enough mist, your colour should go on very easily.

If you find some of the rubber has dried, then spray some mist on an old CD and dip your crayon into the water beads then go to the rubber.

Avoid misting more once you have started applying colour as it will bead and bleed.

  Once you have finished colouring and are ready to stamp your image, give the rubber one final mist. 

Again, you need it to be a fine mist.  To much water will just make your image bleed and mix the colours more than needed.

Quickly after the mist, stamp your image.

Allow the stamp to remain on the paper for a few seconds to allow the water and colours to transfer without causing a suction when you lift the stamp.

  I stamped the image on Very Vanilla textured cardstock.  Isn't the effect just fabulous???  You can click on the picture to get a larger view.

Depending on how clear your image transferred, you may wish to take an aqua painter and fill in any big gaps.

Looking at this now, I should have left it, because the effect is wonderful.  However, at the time, I felt the need to fill in the gaps and ended up smudging some of the colour.  It doesn't take much since it's quite wet.

I recommend allowing your image to sit while you assemble the rest of the card.

For the record I used:  Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Really Rust, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard, Garden Green and Old Olive crayons.

  Here is the completed card.  I sponged around the Very Vanilla using Close to Cocoa and Really Rust.  I layered the image on Chocolate Chip card stock, and attached it to the Really Rust card base.

The right panel is Tres Chic, and I just inked lightly and randomly along one side of the stamp with Really Rust, then I took my Chocolate Chip pad and stamped randomly over it.  I figured the Chocolate Chip pad could handle a bit of Really Rust.  Then I cut off a 1" strip and sponged around it same as the focal image.  Chocolate Chip twill ribbon is tied around a hardware buckle on the right panel, and I added a circle clip tied with More Mustard and Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbons to the focal image.

The sentiment is from "Amazing to Zany" and is stamped in Chocolate Chip, then punched out with the small oval punch and placed in an oval bookplate.

And there it it!  I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and will try the Watercolour Wonder crayons using this technique!

Did you know I'm now a Dirty Dozen Alumni?  Oh my gosh, it seems like yesterday I was beaming with the news that I "got the call" and this was my last month.  What a ride and a priviledge it has been; one that I still can't believe is over.  The  Fan Club Gallery opened to Fan Club members yesterday, so be sure to pop in and welcome the two newest Dirty Girls:  Jennifer Buck and Mary Jo Albright.  You probably are already familiar with their amazing talent, but check them out anyway, and send them your best!

Happy Tuesday!!  Have an amazing day and thanks so much for dropping by!  I always love it when you do!

Technique Tuesday: Watercolour Wonder Crayons

First of all, I would like to thank everyone of you who responded to my request for feedback on my Technique Tuesday feature.  I appreciate your comments and ideas.   I had asked what you would like to see, and whether you would like to continue to see Stampin' Up! only products or other products.  Regarding Stampin' Up!...the response was overwhelmingly in support of SU.  So I will continue to stick with SU.  The second question, what would you like to see, had three top responses:  Watercolouring, Punches and the Big Shot.  Well, I don't have a Big Shot...yet.  So I can't share that with you, however, you can be sure I will should I decide to put my old Sizzix out to pasture. 

Watercolouring...not my strength at all.  In fact I would venture to say, as card making goes, it's my weakness.  But that got me thinking, how many other people out there think it's their weakness as well.  Because, you'll onlly get better by trying and practicing.  So I decided to feature Watercolour Wonder crayons in September, and I'll feature punches in October.  How's that suit you?

Each month I choose a Stampin' Up! product as my Feature Product. For the month of September I am featuring Watercolour Wonder Crayons! All 5 sets of Watercolour Wonder crayons are on special this month when purchased through me. My Technique Tuesday feature during the month of September will feature different ideas and techniques for using them. As well, throughout the month of September, you can expect to see projects on my blog featuring watercolouring, and I will be demonstrating with the Watercolour Wonder crayons during all my September workshops.

Here is the special for August:

• 10% off Watercolour Wonder crayons and the Aqua Painter through til September 30th
• My September hostesses will receive 20% Off!

If you wish to place an order, you may contact me via email. I accept all major credit cards. Canadian orders only please. Sorry, them's the rules!

Technique Tuesday:  Watercolouring with Watercolour Wonder crayons

The Watercolour Wonder crayons offer quick and mess free method of watercolouring your images.  The are available in all 48 of the standard Stampin' Up! colours sold by colour groups as well as a set of six neutral crayons.  They come in a crayon form and can be applied directly to the paper, and/or applied with water.  Today, I will be applying the colour with water through the aquapainter.

You will need:

Watercolour crayons

waterproof ink (or you can emboss the image before colouring)

Aquapainter

Watercolour paper (you can use any paper, however watercolour paper is very forgiving and easy to work with...highly recommended!)

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You will begin by stamping your image on the watercolour paper.

I stamped the image first in the centre, then masked it off and stamped the others.

Depending on the waterproof ink you use, you may need to allow drying time or heat set before watercolouring.  I used Versafine Onyx Black, and it requires about 1 minute to dry.

Next, choose your colours, and fill the aquapainter with water.

I chose Blush Blossom, Cameo Coral and Ruby Red.

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Ensure you have water flowing to the tip of the aqua painter brush.

Touch the moist tip to the crayon, and pick up a small amount of colour.

Avoid "scooping" colour...you just want to touch the crayon gently with the aqua painter.

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Ensuring that there is water flowing to the brush, begin laying down your first colour.

The brush of your aqua painter should be moist enough to spread the colour, but not puddling wet.

If you require more water, gently squeeze the barrel.  If too much comes out at once, press the brush tip to a paper towel and let the excess water be absorbed into the paper towel.

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I begin applying my second colour while my first colour is still damp (not wet).

Applying it while the first colour is still damp allows the colours to blend easier. 

As I look at this flower, I picture the flatter parts of the flower to be light reflecting, therefore, lighter in colour.  The folds and curls and overlapped areas will have shadows. 

I apply my second colour in the areas that I see shadows.

My third colour is applied while the paper is still damp.

It's the darkest of the three colours, so I apply it where the image will be the darkest.

Always place the new colour first in the area it will be the darkest, and move your brush in swirling or swishing motions to avoid leaving line marks from the new colour.

One point that I don't mention here and I never thought to photograph as I staged this tutorial, is that I am consistently using my grid paper or scrap paper as a blotter. 

I will dab off excess colour or tap the brush gently to get more water flowing. 

If I am just touching up or blending colour, I will tap in an area of the blotter that has some colour so that I blend with a teeny bit of colour vs water alone. 

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So this is just the basics; the how to.  I really can't teach you technique, it's something I don't have a lot of my own to share with you.  You learn with practice and of course the more you practice the better you get. 

Here is the finished card.  I was just finished the step above last night when Roxy's email notice for the Sketch Challenge popped up, and it couldn't have been more perfect!!  I had chosen my colours based on Tuesday's Monochromatic Colour challenge....and since watercolouring was a given this card came together so quick last night.  Well, not quick enough to stay up and post the tutorial!  I knew I had to get up early to get the kids up and going.

I decided to go with Riding Hood Red, vs Ruby Red simply because I wanted to use the ribbon!!  I think everything speaks for itself here, so I won't bore you with the details, the recipe is below.  Drop in next week and I will share a quick tutorial on how to watercolour with the crayons direct to paper!  At least I'll be getting lots of practice this month!

Recipe:  Stamps: Embrace Life  Paper:  Watercolour paper, Cameo Coral, Riding Hood Red, Bella Rose & Ginger Blossom DP  Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black  Accessories:  Riding Hood Red striped grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals, paper piercer, photo corner punch