Okay - I'll admit it. This stamp set is a bit unusual. It really amused me when I purchased it but then I then realized that it could be a bit difficult to color and use. Definitely not for everyone.
The style just doesn't lend itself to realistic shading. And it doesn't really require natural dog colors either.
I wanted to participate in this week's color challenge at Splitcoast
Stampers - Wild Wasabi, Wild Wisteria and Soft Sky.
Normally
I try to think of things that could actually be the colors used in the
challenges, but this week I wanted to do something a bit out of the box. And so the combination of colors and dogs was born!
I colored the dogs loosely in watercolor using the challenge colors and a bit of light grey for the shadow.
The stamps are all individual dogs so I created masks to make a little family group.
The sentiment is die cut and inlaid back onto the card.
I hope you enjoyed this card. It was an experiment for me and certainly took me out of my comfort zone for images. I was a little unsure of it at first but the more I look at it, the more I like it.
Stamp: Indigo Blu "Duke's Gang"
Die: LaLa Land "Woof"
Thanks
for visiting today! Click here to sign up for email notifications of future posts (you will be sent an email to verify your address - don't
forget this step). Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
I'm calling today's technique free form watercoloring for lack of a better term. I see people who do gorgeous realistic watercoloring and I really admire them. But that just isn't me. If I want to create in a realistic or controlled manner I'll use markers and pencils. When I want to be loose and "wild" I turn to water colors (or at least a water based medium).
The sketchy nature of this stamp set called for a very free form style of coloring. I used my ZIG Kuretake Clean Color Brush Pens for this card. They have VERY vibrant colors which I thought would be perfect. I applied a water wash to most areas and the went in with the brush pen. If I wanted an area darker or more intense, I used my heat gun to dry it and went back over it with the brush pen.
The third heart was done on a separate piece of paper, die cut and adhered using foam dots.
For me, the final look I want to achieve dictates the medium I use. In this case I wanted a very loose and free form look. I've tried using the ZIG pens in a controlled manner but prefer my Copic markers for that. These are great for a loose, artsy look.
I often say that I don't have a definitive style for my art. It could best be described as "multiple personalities". When I begin to create, I'm never sure who will show up! This week - Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday - I think you can see that three of my personalities showed up at some point over this past weekend! (All kidding aside, I think that my background in commercial art has given me the ability to be a chameleon. When you have a client who wants a certain something you must learn to adapt.)
Today's card is entered in the Fusion Challenge for February 1 . Here is the challenge that was posted:
Thanks
for visiting today! Click here to sign up for email notifications of future posts (you will be sent an email to verify your address - don't
forget this step). Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
Today's card is for the color challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches blog.
The challenge this week is to use Powder Pink, Berry Burst and Wild Wasabi. Patricia picked a gorgeous color combination.
It was tough to decide what stamp set to use but I decided on these from Altenew for a few reasons. First, I think they are beautifully graphic which makes them perfect for a clean and simple card. And I have made a vow to myself to use stamps this year that I've never inked up before. It's a lofty goal to get every set inked up, especially when I keep acquiring new ones. But I am going to try to use as many as possible.
I Hope you'll find time to play along with this week's challenge!
Stamps and Die: Altenew Simple Blooms
Ink: Stampin' Up! Powder Pink, Berry Burst, Wid Wasabi
Thanks
for visiting today! Click here to sign up for email notifications of future posts (you will be sent an email to verify your address - don't
forget this step). Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
Today I'm sharing the card I've made for my husband for Valentine's Day. I still haven't quite finished it. I have plans for the inside and I'll post it later.
The scene uses three Stamping Bella stamps and masking. It wasn't too difficult. Neither the left mushroom or boy gnome are intricate so the masks were simple to cut.
I had a great time coloring this card. I picked the colors based on the background paper I decided to use and used Copic markers for the base color. I did do quite a bit of shading and could have left the image with just the markers but I wanted more detail.
The image on the left is just Copic markers and the one on the right has Prismacolor pencil over the marker. I also used gamsol to blend. You can see there is more depth on the right one but both would be fine to use. I usually color two images at a time, so I may use the left one as is for another card. Of course, I'll have to find an appropriate occasion or sentiment to change it from a "love" card.
Stamps: Stamping Bella Lovey Gnomes, Tiny Townie Fairy Garden Fairy, Tiny Townie Fairy Garden House
Dies: Cottage Cutz Live Laugh Love, Technique Tuesday Charming Hearts, Stamps of Life Sailboat Die
Paper: Neenah Solar White, Stampin' Up! Calypso Coral, Pool Party and A Little Foxy DSP
Copic markers: R00, R02, R25, E00, E50, E11, E21, E31, E33, E34, E35, E37, BG000, BG10, BG13, B0000, G43, G46, T0, T1, T2, T4, C00, C0, C1, C2
Prismacolors: all warm greys, 10% & 20% cool grey, 1082, 941, 1033, 941, 939, 927, 1001, 921, 905, 992, 105
Thanks
for visiting today! Click here to sign up for email notifications of future posts (you will be sent an email to verify your address - don't
forget this step). Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
Will we have six more week's of winter or an early spring? Only the groundhog know for sure. I've had a soft spot for Groundhogs Day ever since I worked in communications for the ground source heat pump industry where we used the groundhog as a mascot. This little guy stays comfortable all year long in the perfect temperature of his underground home. So this card is dedicated to all my friends who are still in the industry.
This card was also a chance for me to use some things from my stash that had never been used. I've had this stamp FOREVER. It's wood mounted and I prefer cling mount stamps now. I almost took it off the block but decided to try inking it before I did. I'm happy I left it mounted. He is colored with Copic markers.
I used a wood grained embossing folder for the top panel that left a fairly deep and obvious impression. I wasn't particularly happy with it but when I ran it through the Big Shot again while die cutting the dome window the grain was somewhat flattened and not so prominent.
I used foam tape to raise the front panel off the card and washi tape along the side of the back panel to add a bit of color.
I hope you enjoyed today's card. And I hope that the groundhog either saw (or didn't see) his shadow depending on your inclination. I live in Southern California so it's pretty much summer all year long for me!
Stamp: Inky Antics Groundhog Hall
Dies: MFT Stitched Domes, MFT Stitched Dome Frames, MFT Hi There
Embossing folder: Stampin' Up! Wood Grain
Copic Markers: W00, W2, W4, W5, N9, E53, E55, E57, E59, E49, G43, G46, Y15, Y19, R81, R85, B0000, C0, C1
Thanks
for visiting today! Click here to sign up for email notifications of future posts (you will be sent an email to verify your address - don't
forget this step). Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
