Monday, December 20, 2010

Spring/Summer Thoughts

Hi All,

Last weekend, I was organizing my stamps and mounting a few new sets. With the snow and cold weather I found myself drawn to some new spring and summer sets I've been wanting to use - Peony (Fall Supplement) & Outdoor Adventure (Base catalog).  I was actually coloring these while watching Miracle on 34th Street - weird I know.  I have a feeling it is going to a long winter.

I love peonies - they bloom around my birthday, the pink ones are so sweet and a sure sign summer is on the way.  I used Caboodles Set F, Copic markers and papers.


I was looking through some samples which had rounded corners and thought I haven't used my corner rounder in ages so I pulled it out.  I also pulled out my Cuttlebug and embossing folders. 


Copics: R32, 35, 37, G82, 94, 99, YR21, 23, 24

I love how this card came out.  A great one for upcoming Spring birthdays.

The second card uses Outdoor Adventure.  This fisherman was so fun to color.  I used Copics from multiple sets on this one - Set F with the reds and skin tones from G, blues from set C.




Copics: G82, 94, 99; E55, 57, 59; YR21, 23, 24; B41, 45, 37; R29, 59

This is such a fun set.  If only fishing were this easy, that they jump into the boat.  I'm not sure who this card is for but I'm sure I will find someone to send it to.


Hope you enjoyed some spring images with Christmas just a few days away.


Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Deb

  

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Brayer Blog Hop


Hello Everyone,

Today is the December 11th so for this blog hop, we are experimenting with brayers.  I've had my brayer for years but probably can count on one hand the number of times I've used it.  Sad really, because you can get really beautiful backgrounds and it is really easy.

This is what you need to do a very simple brayer background:


Glossy paper, VersaMark pad (I used "Dazzle Frost"),
 Brayer, Kaleidocolor ink pad (Blue Breeze)
Stamp set - "Ornamental Snowflakes" by The Angel Company



Stamp your snowflakes using VersaMark ink


 My glossy paper is covered with snowflakes


I used Kaleidacolor ink - Blue Breeze. 
I store them separated so the inks do not bleed into each other.


For this brayer technique I slide the pads together.


Ink up my brayer, roll, roll, roll, till the wheel is covered all the way around.


Then roll the inked brayer over our stamped image, back and forth,
until you like the background blending. 
The VersaMark ink acts as a resist, so the Kaleidacolor ink does not stick
and your stamped Versamark image shines through. 

I found, once you like your blending of the background, 
If you roll the brayer on scratch paper to remove ink,
then roll the brayer over the image again,
 you can really remove any residual ink laying on top of the VersaMark
and the image really pops then.


For this card I want to add some ribbon.  This is one of my favorite bow techniques, because it lays flat.  Great for a card you plan to mail.

I'm showing the fold with a scrap piece of ribbon.  The one on the card used a 12" piece of ribbon.  I use a little adhesive to tack down the back loops.


 Then I wrap a scrap piece of ribbon with adhesive on it,
 across the front and around the back.

This is card #1 - Simple Brayer Background with Ribbon Accent


Then I added an image colored with Copic Markers. 
You know I had to do it.
"Cuddly Penguin" a Free gift with purchase stamp from The Angel Company.



The Copic Markers used:
BG01, 05, 09 & BV02, 04, 08 from Caboodle set B
YR 61, 65, 68; Y32, 35, 38 & N1, 4, 7

I used a pointellism technique for the shading.

Base card is Caboodle B Cardstock.

Hope you enjoy the rest of the Brayer Blog Hop!

Christmas Blessings,
Deb