Thinking Inking

Hugs Sand Kisses!

Welcome! Today I have a guest post for Hambo Stamps to share with you, along with stepped out coloring images. I chose the Sand Castle Boy and the Hugs Sand Kisses sentiment--loved that wonky little sandcastle!

 

I took some photographs as I worked, hoping that I could use them to show you what a difference it makes when you add cooler shadows, rather than staying only within the same Copic color family as you work. In this picture you can see a typical color family used--E30 and E33, along with a 0 Colorless blender.

Now, compare the picture above with this one; can you see a difference? It is subtle, but I've added some blue-violets to the shadow areas. That cools them off and makes them less intense, resulting in a more believable shadow. Edited to Add: This is easier to see in perosn than on a photo, alas. . . Trust me? ;-)

Here I have added some shirt and skintones, sticking with the typical Copic color families. The E04 has a bit of purplish cast to it anyway, so the difference won't be noticeable in skintones when I add some cooler shadows below, but I'm hoping that you can see a difference in the shirt at least.

Can you see a little difference? The shadows are now cooler in temperature on the shirt.

In this one I've already added the blue-violets to the bottom left corners of that flag as well as his hair.

Here I added some softly blended sky to make the warm tones in the sandcastle, skin, shirt, and flag stand out. The T1 and BV were used on the shovel.

If it helps to see all of the markers in one place, here they are.

I die-cut the picture with a Spellbinders Classic Rectangles Small die template and left it in place while I airbrushed some sand texture with my Copic Airbrush System and the Super Brush nib of my Copic E33 Sketch marker. I used a Grand Circles die template to cut that background circle before stitching it, and a Nested Lacey Pennants die to cut the Hugs Sand Kisses Banner. Papers are from an older Cosmo Cricket line, Snorkel. 

Thanks for visiting, and thanks to Hambo Stamps for a really fun image to color!

Better with Friends

Welcome!  Today I have a friendship card to share with you. My focal image is from the JustRite Stampers Spread Your Wings cling set, stamped in PTI's Aqua Mist and Smokey Shadow inks. 

I framed the image with several Spellbinders die cuts: Classic Squares Large, the new Postage Stamps, and one of my new favorites, Lace Doily Motifs. (The new die templates will be available on 8/31.) Patterned paper is from a retired Girls Paperie line--yes, I'm still using from my stash, but I do have a stack of new papers that I'm playing with now. I'm eagerly awaiting my new Cosmo Cricket papers too! Ribbon is white seam binding dyed with a Copic BG10 reinker/Various Inks, and pearl pins are from Maya Road.  That's it for today--thanks for stopping by!

Just Because

Okay, how sweet is this image? While we were coloring together in Chicago, my friend Colleen Schaan mentioned Mo Manning images, and being curious, I had to check them out. Not sure yet if that was a good move--I may have a new addiction. :-) These digital images are beautifully drawn and fun to color too. This one is called Shy. I practiced my Copic hair and skin here; it occurred to me that I don't really have many people images, so this is good practice!

These were most of the Copic markers that I used; I forgot to add the ones that I used on her hair, and they are shown below. 

I thought that it might be helpful to see the hair in layers. I used the B32 first, then a little less of the C6, and finally the least of the C8, from the roots/crown down, and from the tips up. On the left it is finished, and on the right, only the first layer is down.

Papers here are more of my new CHA stash--from the Echo Park Victoria Garden kit. I used a Spellbinders Lace Doily Accents die template (new release) to cut that lacy gray layer at the bottom. The tag sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's Mixed Messages set. A not-so-bold prediction? There are many more Mo Manning images in my future coloring repertoire! Thanks for stopping by.

Masculine Birthday card

I needed a man-card while I was in Chicago, and unfortunately did not have one with me.  That makes this an officially belated birthday card. but better late than never! I used an Angel Company stamp (see note at bottom) paired with some brand-spankin' new CHA goodies, October Afternoon's Farmhouse line (Kitchen Cupboard)--both perfect for a guy card.

These are the Copic markers that I used to color the leaves image. (Yes, even after coloring for several days straight, I still came home in the mood to color!)

I loved this image as well as those new October Afternoon papers! Thanks for stopping by.

Edited to Add: I have had a couple of people ask about this stamp set; I was given some stamps when I was in Wichita, this one among them. It looks like this is a hostess stamp set, if I understand the catalog correctly. It is Every Leaf TB-3447 Set of 3. 

Peaceful Garden: Sympathy card

Welcome! I got home late Friday from Chicago--had a great time with both old friends and new, as well as seeing many lovely products. I also have a little stash of papers that I can't wait to use!

Today, however, I needed a sympathy card. I chose Papertrey Ink's Peaceful Garden set, paired with Green Tea Leaves papers. Inks were Adirondack Latte and Tea Leaves, and PTI Chamomile and Dark Chocolate. I also used the PTI Woodgrain Impression Plate, Half and Half die, Double Ended Banners die, and some corner rounders. Cardstock is Spring Moss, Ripe Avocado, and Vintage Cream. That's it--a simple sympathy card. I hope it will be a blessing. Thanks for stopping by!

Iconic Images: Thinking of You

Welcome! Today is Papertrey Ink's Stamp-a-faire Creative Retreat day in Cincinnati, Ohio! I wish I could be there, but I just got back from a week away, and it's good to be home. ;-} I'm positive that those of you who are there will have a fabulous time!

The Iconic Images set that I've used here today is a special edition set available to Papertrey Ink customers who place orders of $100 or more between 9am EST, July 23rd and 11:59pm EST, July 24th. You can check Nichole's blog for more information as well as several giveaways and challenges during the day.

All of the stamping on my card, with the exception of the Background Basics: Newsprint stamped on the vellum layer, is done with Iconic Images. Additionally, I used the Picket Fence die, the Parisian Lace Doily die, and the Spiral Notebook Page die. A little stitching and a little distress ink finished my simple vintage card. While Iconic Images works beautifully for vintage images, it could also work well for other styles too--it's a varied and multipurpose set, and FUN to play with.

Be sure to see all of the Papertrey Ink designers' blogs for more of the Iconic Images set, and thanks for stopping by!

Nichole Heady

Betsy Veldman

Dawn McVey

Erin Lincoln

Heather Nichols

Jessica Witty

Lisa Johnson

Maile Belles

Melissa Phillips

Michelle Wooderson

A few CHA Tidbits

Welcome! Today was the first chance that I had to buzz through the show and see a few things. Tomorrow I'm coloring at the Copic booth all day, so I may not have many more pictures this trip. Here are a few little sights that I saw this afternoon--enjoy!

Maya Road always has gorgeous projects, but this ribbon especially caught ny eye at their booth today. Isn't the the sweetest, most vintage, lovely stuff ever?

I though that this little Bo Bunny album was cute. It comes as a kit--think of the ribbons and trims and papers that you could use on a dress-shaped album for a little girl!

Melissa Frances had a sweet new Christmas line; there were enough people in the booth that I couldn't get  good picture of the line, but this lovely project is made with it.

The Cosmo Cricket Clementine line has some great possibilities--can't wait to play with it!

KaiserCraft always has great alterable items; these bird cages were pretty large--maybe 10--12" high. I could see plenty of possibilities with these. . .

Isn't this Penny Black card cute? There were so many sweet sample samples at their booth that I'm sure an order is in my future. ;-)

How about these stick pins from Webster's Pages? Love them!  If you are looking for more CHA sights, I'm sure that Facebook and the Blogosphere are full of pictures now--just wanted to share a few. Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Thing!

Welcome! I have another Papertrey Ink July release card for you today made with the Sweet As Can Be set. Remember those ice cream cones? They make cute banners too. :-} I used the Sweet As Can Be ice cream cone die to cut patterned papers from my stash of Girls Paperie Kitch. (I will be sad when I run out of this paper--hoping to find some more pretty papers at CHA this week!)

For other Papertrey Ink dies, I used the Mat Stack Five, as well as the Medium Scalloped Border. Ink is PTI Pure Poppy and Chamomile Distress ink, paired with Adirondack Stonewashed. That's it! Tomorrow we set up the Copic booth for CHA, and hopefully I can get some pictures on Tuesday. Thanks for stopping by!

Papertrey Ink July Release

Welcome!  I have several pieces to share with you tonight from Papertrey Ink's July release.  

How about a baby card? I love the Hanging Out set--so fun for paper piecing!

Stamps: Hanging Out

Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Sweet Blush

Ink: Dark Chocolate, Hibiscus, Chamomile, Spring Moss; Adirondack Latte

Patterned paper: Girls PaperieAccessories: Vintage Buttons, bakers twine, cotton thread

Tools: PTI Picket fence die, Spellbinders Petite Oval die

For Friendship Jar Summer Fillers I decided upon an 8" x 8" framed piece; it fits into a shadowbox frame that I occasionally switch the artwork out in.  You already know how much I love to color flowers, and these hydrangeas are fabulous to color!

Stamps: Friendship Jar Summer Fillers, Friendship Jar Fillers

Cardstock: PTI Stampers Select White, PTI Royal Velvet; Copic X-Press It Blender Card

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Patterned Papers: PTI Damask Designs

Accessories: Vintage Buttons, white seam binding, foam tape

Coloring Medium: Copic Markers

Tools: PTI Medium Scalloped border, Spellbinders Lace Doily Accents

What's sweeter than sparkly ice cream in Sweet As Can Be?

Stamps: Sweet As Can Be, Tiny Tags

Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, Sweet Blush

Ink: Dark Chocolate, Sweet Blush, Versamagic Pink Grapefruit

Patterned Paper: PTI Happy SpotsAccessories: Sweet Blush Satin, Prisma Glitter, foam tape

Tools: Sweet As Can Be die, Mat Stack Four die, Tiny Tags die (all PTI dies)

Pop Quiz: What's the non-card item on this Peaceful Garden card? If you guessed the toothpick chopsticks, you're right!

Stamps: Peaceful Garden

Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Kraft

Ink: Dark Chocolate and Chamomile; Adirondack Latte, and Lettuce

Accessories: Vintage Button, Rustic Twine, and toothpicks

Tools: Half and Half die, Banners die (PTI)

And last for tonight, a card using the Half and Half set--I love fun typography, and paired with its coordinating stamps and dies, this is a really fun little set.

Stamps: Half and Half

Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Pure Poppy

Ink: Versamagic Turquoise Gem and Tea Leaves, PTI Pure Poppy and Chamomile Distress Ink

Patterned Papers: Cosmo Cricket Odds and Ends

Accessories: Vintage Buttons, Oatmeal Seam Binding

Tools: Half and Half die, sewing machine

So, that's it for tonight! I have a couple of other July release cards that are almost finished; I'll try to get them up before I leave for CHA if possible. Thanks for stopping by.

For the Birthday Queen

Welcome! I have a birthday card to share with you today. After I finished it, I noticed that I've been on a total PINK roll lately--maybe time to change that up soon, eh? I started with one sweet little tag stamped with a JustRite Stampers Elegant Charms stamp and die-cut with a cling one of the custom Charm Dies. Next I needed some layers with that charm--enter several Spellbinders die templates: a Labels Three, a *new* Lace Doily Accents, and a *new* Classic Bracket Edgeablilities. (Both new die template sets are shown here.)

I used a pearl flourish (Zva Creative PE-03CA-110), along with some Copic-dyed seam binding to finish off the accessorizing. Papers are from a My Mind's Eye Lost and Found Market Street 6" x 6" pad.

How about some news next? There are some great sales right now on retiring JustRite products, HERE, and all of the new July Release products are shipping now too! Additionally, there is a video on Mix and Match Nestabilities HERE and a video on Edgeabilities How-To Techniques HERE.

That's it for tonight; tomorrow night I will have several projects to share as well. Thanks for stopping by!