Just an INKling

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It’s just an inkling, but I feel like it’s been a while since I’ve been in my craft room..  Do any of you find it hard sometimes to fit everything in??  And it’s not as though I haven’t had cause to make a card, I have (sons birthday), and I did, but actually making it to the computer to blog tipped the time factor over the edge lol!

So albeit a little late (mid July) here is Nathan’s card 🙂  I won’t even begin to confess that I’ve had these gorgeous birds since January, a set I’ve wanted for ages!

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I took the photos at night in my kitchen sitting on my bench, so the light isn’t fantastic, but the brightness of the Inktense pencils still shines!  I started by wanting to add some texture to the card stock so coated it with a transparent Gesso, allowed it to dry, then started the scene.  This cute bird is from the Tim Holtz ‘Bird Crazy’ set, a set I need to add the little extras to!  I stamped him then applied a watercolour masking fluid before doing the background.  I drew a freehand word bubble around an already printed out sentiment (too easy!), and added this with dimensional tape.

The day I took the photos I had baked this loaf – Braided Lemon Bread – Yum! – so I thought I would share 🙂

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Have a fabulous weekend!

Smiles,

Andrea

 


Party Animal

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Hi!  Today I’ve used an image from an old AnnaBelle Stamps set called Party Animal.  I’m in the process of converting these files over to digital and should have them up soon, so thought it was a great opportunity to take one for a test run.

I’ve seen so many cards recently with the splodgey watercolour background, you know the one using a piece of acetate wand watered down ink?…  Now I know that’s not the correct word for this technique but for the life of me I can’t remember it!  So that’s what I’ve done, splodged colour on after I’ve protected my image with Daler Rowneys masking fluid, then coloured the image with Inktense pencils.  You can see a touch of texture to the background and that’s where I’ve lifted some of the colour using a paper towel 🙂

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So there you have it.  A (nearly) one layer card with that ‘splodgey’ background.  Hmmm I know someone out there must know the correct technique name and if you do please let me know!!

Smiles,

Andrea


Another Watercolour

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How has your Sunday been?  It’s a beautiful day here and we had a beautiful service this morning at Mass with a visiting Congolese choir to sing for us.  Their voices were amazing!

I have another Mo’s Digital Pencil (Bronte wants it now!) image for today and can you see I’ve used that great painters tape once again and created the plain edge – I love it!  Thanks Kristina!  As well as the tape I pulled from the back of my shelf some art masking fluid by Daler Rowney.  It has to be said that I need to at least try and use some of my many supplies that are neglected…perhaps as a belated NY’s resolution..

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I used my Copic Multiliner pen once again to draw the background line and the masking fluid to paint over my image before applying the background colours.  I learnt a lesson here because the ink that I used for the background were water based so when I went back in to add some shading I ‘moved’ some of the colour which I filled back in with a matching Inktense colour – (you can see it between the girl and dog!).

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I have another card I’ve nearly finished as well and I have to say it’s been fun trying something a bit different 🙂

Happy Sunday!

Smiles,

Andrea


Ooops!

card1-2-270216I found this really cute image ages ago on Mo’s Digital Pencil called Poop Happens and I had totally forgot about it until I went in search of something to watercolour!  Today I’m using my Inktense pencils and I reversed the image and added a simple sentiment of my own to the card.  I’ve left the inner card blank because I’m not sure what message this card will be sending, it could be for lots of things because I tend to forget things even though I hate being late for an appointment!

I love that my photocopier prints in a watercolour friendly ink!

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The base line behind her was drawn in using a Copic Multiliner 0.3mm pen and ruler.  I find it much easier to do this than draw a line freehand.  I also included a simple grey dashed line around the image (printed).  I taped the edges with blue painters tape to keep the paper flat and to help prevent warping – a great tip from the fabulous crafter Kristina Werner!  Seeing my DH is a painter and I have a known supply I’ve used it lots!…..card1-3-270216

Enjoy your day!

Smiles,

Andrea


New Beginnings

card3-130216It’s been a while since I’ve needed a card for someone going in to a new home, but recently I did, so I used a beautiful image from TiddlyInks called Home Sweet Home to create my card.

I printed the image on to Fabriano Drawing card stock and coloured in using Prismacolor Pencils, and Zest-it for my blending.  Not being very sure as to what sentiment to insert I settled on “new beginnings” in a delicate font on textured card, then cut it out and swiped with Distress Ink Tattered Rose.

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The main image was trimmed down so I could also sponge the DI down the side, but this time the main card base was a smooth white so the two sections ended up looking completely different.

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I have to say I love to colour and could spend hours upon hours doing it, but then I also need to fit in my reading obsession!  Nothing too heavy – contemporary romance – just something to relax with 🙂  Although I did go through a Stephen King fad many years ago, but I tend to have bad dreams lol!

Enjoy the remainder of your Sunday!

Smiles,

Andrea


Penciled Daisy

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Hi all!  I’ve been enjoying a wonderful summer break by spending my days colouring, reading, designing, and in-between these good times I’ve thrown in some housework, but only because the need arose!  I’d spend all my time at the computer or my craft desk if I could (Oh, and reading!) 🙂

I created a couple of cards a few days ago and amongst it tried to produce a video, but because it’s been sooo long since I’ve done a video, and because now I have a different camera to the one I use to use, it’s taken way longer than I would’ve liked and I’m heading back to work tomorrow so wanted to at least post my cards!

Today I’ve used the set Squared Posies and printed my image on to Fabriano Accademia paper.  This set was designed by me and originally produced as a clear stamp set which is now discontinued, but I’ve transformed the set to digital.

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I used a background stamp on the textured white card stock and stamped in Antique Linen.  In both cards the sentiment is stamped in Walnut Stain and the two panels made from the same textured card stock using the stamp pads to colour them.

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To this second card I added some 3mm Cocoa Sprinkles (still to be added to the shop!), and some natural twine.

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Prismacolor Pencils are always wonderful to work with so I had a blast!  To blend I used paper stumps and Zest-It!

Have a great week everyone!

Smiles 🙂

Andrea


Just starting!

I am in denial!  Christmas can’t seriously be so close!  Why is it that every year I tell myself to be prepared where Christmas cards are concerned and then never am?!?  Well all I can say is “whatever”, “what will be will be”.  At this point in time I have three cards completed…yay!  That means three VERY lucky people 🙂  So here they are..

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I had to go bright, and I had to use my Inktense pencils.  Why you ask?…simply because I love them.  The backgrounds have been made using the Inktense blocks (I snuck that purchase a little while ago) and they make it soooo quick!

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The pink and purple turned out great I think, but my favourite would have to be the blue and green, but then that might have something to do with blue being my favourite colour!  An orange one will be on the cards next!

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Have a great week everyone.

Smiles,

Andea



More Balloons

I think male cards are hard, and I think male cards for your son turning 23 even harder!  What do you create, or what sort of card do you even buy for that matter?!?  So I went with something easy, and I went with something I’d already created..a balloon, and times it by three!

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I have already used this balloon on this post HERE, and another before, but this time I made it smaller and added a simple sentiment before printing.  I’ve once again used Inktense pencils, partly because they were still out from last week, but mostly because I love using them.  I did a quick cover over the background with the colour Chinese Ink, then coloured the balloons.

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So what do you think…masculine enough?…old enough??  Oh well it’s too late now, the box is wrapped and the card attached!  I’ll add this balloon as a freebie soon for you to use, I just have a birthday to celebrate this weekend first!

Thanks for visiting!

Smiles,

Andrea


Another Birthday

Another day, another wintery arctic blast, or so we’ve been told to expect!  Whatever the weather outside it’s perfect for a Saturday afternoon of card making!!

Nathan has a party to go to this afternoon so I’ve used the same balloon from my last card and made this one…

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It’s very bright and bold, but I’m hoping perfect for an 11 year old boy 🙂  I’ve coloured it with Inktense pencils then matted on to black card then a textured white card stock.

I had another card that I printed out ages ago to colour so I finished this one off as well..

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I’ve printed this image on smooth white card stock then coloured with Copic markers, adding a few highlights with pencils.  These images are from a digi set I’ll be releasing as soon as the new store is open..which isn’t far away now.

Have a wonderful afternoon whatever you may be doing!

Smiles,

Andrea


Birthday Balloon

Hi all, I hope it’s warmer where you are than it is here!  We’ve had a week of frosts and fog until lunchtime and then not much sunshine from there…not nice at all, but it is wintertime!  It’s also school holidays here in Victoria and a great time to catch up on all those jobs that seem to get pushed to the side, but not a lot of that is happening here!

Today I had my Inktense pencils out once again because I just love how easy they are to work with, and I’ve coloured an image I created a couple of weeks ago to make a birthday card for a friend.

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Using the pencils I coloured directly on to the watercolour paper then used my brush and water to spread the colour and shade.  I only used two colours and even those these pencils are beautifully bright and vibrant they can also be subtle if you draw the colour out and away from your image.

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It’s time now to do a tidy up in my office and to get back to work (housework)!  Have a great day wherever you are 🙂

Smiles,

Andrea