Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

 Pumpkins carved for Halloween!

My pumpkin that did not get carved, yikes! Where was I this weekend -

Coloring, Coloring and Coloring!

Details in a future blog this week!

Enjoy!

-Elaine

Autumn Roses

In Autumn the change of green leaves on trees to golds, yellows and shades of red is a celebration of color. Also, the flowers in the gardens as they begin to fade and "rest" for a few months .Simply... I enjoy the changing of the Seasons and the beauty Nature provides us every day our lives.

A few weeks ago it was a beautiful day in Portland, Oregon and I walked thru the Rose Garden for the last time this year. Which inspired this hand- tied bouquet. The copper shades of the Leonidas Roses with the Gold Solidago felt like Autumn.


Enjoy!
-Elaine

Third Thursday Tools!

I remember crafting when the tools we used were a great pair of scissors, perhaps Fiskars brand and a cutting board. The cutting board was the large piece of cardboard that we used to cut out patterns for sewing or I got out my Mom's favorite wood cutting board from her kitchen.  Mom wasn't very happy when she found the indentions in her wood cutting board. However, she appreciated the projects we were creating! 


Now, there so many handy, creative, inventive and "good old" tools we have to create our papercraft projects. The Third Thursday of each month I am going to blog about a tool I use each time I am creating cards.

  I encourage you to comment on your favorite tool that you are using.

 I know we all have our current favorite tool! 

My first tool to highlight is the Magnetic Mat and Craft Sheet!

When I begin to stamp and color with markers or pencils the first tool I use is the

 Magnetic Precision Mat from BasicGrey

What I like about this mat:

Size - 15X15 inches is perfect for placing your cardstock on the mat for stamping or coloring

Texture - The mat has very soft/ clean (not rubber) feeling to create on

Weight - It feels sturdy and slightly flexible

Metal Core - Magnetic Ruler and tacks stays in place 

Whit Grid Markings - It is lined by 1/8 of a inch - very easy to use!

When I start to use Distress Inks, Distress Stains and heat embossing the first tool I use is the

Craft Sheet from Ranger

What I like about this craft sheet:

Size - 15X18 inch craft sheet is enough space for placing the cardstock and mixing ink with water       

Texture - Very thin and rolls out flat, non-porous ( hint- do not fold)

Reusable -  Nothing sticks to the craft sheet - easy to clean with dry cloth

Safe - Heat resistant

I enjoyed sharing with you one of my favorite tools, please comment your favorite tool!

-Elaine

Note -  No product or advertising dollars have been given to me from either companies, just want to share!

Watercolor Pencils

Surprise, I love to color!

Not really a surprise as all of my cards I make feature a stamped and colored image. I love coloring with Copic Sketch Markers, which the colors blend so beautifully and have an amazing color range.

So.... I thought it was time to break out a few of my other coloring methods;

 Watercolor pencils and Colored pencils

It had been quite awhile since I colored with pencils. I enjoyed the feel of the pencil in my hand, how the shades of color are different depending on the brand/company, how the pencils can add a deeper color by pressing the pencil to paper. 

The photo above shows you the three different companies I colored with;

 Watercolor pencils are Stampin Up and Prismacolor.

Colored pencils are Faber-Castell Art Grip.

Today I am blogging about the watercolor pencils.

To compare the watercolor pencils, both leads are soft, blendable and water-soluble. Both the Stampin Up and Prismacolor watercolor pencil colors are vivid and blended equally well. Prismacolor has a larger selection of colors to choose from.

In coloring the two cards below I used the Stampin Up Blender Pen to soften for a watercolor effect. There is another Watercolor Blender Pen by Dove that I have not had chance to use, but has been reccomened on many blog sites.

 First Card was watercolored using Stampin Up watercolored pencils.

Second Generation Stamping technique on background

2 shades of each color; purple, golds with a slight hint of orange, blue, green and brown.

 The Second Card was watercolored using Prismacolor watercolor pencils.

Heat Embossed Thank you on the Charcoal Cardstock

Watercolor pencils - Goldenrod, Orange, Spanish Orange, Lilac, Violet, Ultramarine Blue,
 Grass Green, Dark Green, Cool Grey and Umber

(Sorry the photos are so dark - Charcoal Grey background matched the sky outside)

It was very nice to color with another medium. Please comment on what watercolor pencils are your favorite and why! I love to read the comments!

Enjoy!

-Elaine

PS - In the next week I will blog about the colored pencils. I have used them just a couple of times and I need to color a little bit more with the Art Grip colored pencils.

Supplies:

Card One-

Cardstock: Kraft - Speckletone, Chocolate and Gold - Bazzill

Ink: Stamp - Ranger Archival Coffee stamped on Watercolor paper - Simon Says Stamp

       Second Generation - Distress Ink Vintage Photo

Stamps:  Lockhart Stamp - English Garden Flowers

Coloring: Watercolor Pencils - Stampin Up

Embellishments: Pearls - Kaisercraft 

Tools: 1/8" Foam Squares - Therm O Web, Adhesive - Tomboy

Card Two-

Cardstock: Kraft - Speckletone, Charcoal and Plum - Bazzill

Ink: Ranger Archival Coffee stamped on Watercolor paper - Simon Says Stamp

Stamps: Lockhart Stamp - Delphinium & Peony, Sentiment - Rubber Soul

Coloring: Watercolor Pencils - Prismacolor

Embossing:  Powder - Stampendous Clear Transparent, Heat Gun and Stamp Pad - Martha Stewart

Embellsiment: Pearls - Hero Arts - Hero Hues Pearls, Ribbon - Offray

Tools: Tomboy Adhesive

Flourishes Heavy Metal

Heavy Metal is one of the current Flourishes Challenge's

 Very enjoyable to create and a festive start to the

 Holiday Season of crafting cards!

Flourishes suggested Gold, Silver or Bronze and I choose all three.

 Silver & Bronze cardstock paper and the Gold Vellum have a Metallic finish!

The details create the "Heavy Metal" on this Holiday Card!

Ornaments and Snowflake are accented with a Spica Clear Marker

Copic Sketch Maker in Liquid Gold highlights the coloring on the garland

Sentiment is Heat Embossed in Martha Stewart Antique Gold Embossing Powder

Gold Gems are Hero Arts

Ribbon is sheer with Metallic borders

Look for a Holiday card each week!

Enjoy,

-Elaine

Supplies:

Cardstock: Kraft - Speckletone, Bronze and Silver - Bazzill, Gold Vellum - The Paper Company

Ink: Adirondack Espresso

Stamps: Flourishes - Christmas Classics and Sentiment - Winter Bouquet

Coloring: Copic Sketch Markers - C2, C4, C5, YR23,YR24,E35, E37,E41,E42,G82,G85, Y28

Embossing: Martha Stewart - Embossing Stamp Pad, Embossing Powder, Heat Gun

Embellishment: Spica Clear Maker, Gems - Hero Arts, Ribbon - Tri-Mar

Tools: Tomboy Adhesive, 1/8 Adhesive Tape - Rubber Stamp Co.

Color Throwdown

 Color Throwdown choose one of my favorite colors

 Espresso Brown with 3 very complimentary colors! 

 My first time participating in the Color Throwdown Challenge!

Contemporary Floral design works beautifully with interesting color palettes.

The floral fan patterned paper has the same feeling of the stamp.

Enjoy!
Elaine


Supplies:
Cardstock: Kraft - Speckletone, Espresso Brown and Pool Party - Bazzill, Patterned - My Mind's Eye
Ink: Adirondack Espresso on Flourishes Basic White Paper
Stamps: Paper Parachute
Coloring: Copic Sketch Markers - BG11,BG53, BG45, E30, E33, E59
Embellishments: Kaiser Pearls, Offray Ribbon
Tools: Crop- A- Dile Corner Chomper, Tomboy Adhesive

Autumn Colors!

Colors of leaves turn from greens to reds, oranges and shades of gold

Bright orange pumpkins

Rich burgundies in plums

Deep brown in Hot Chocolate

Skies turn shades of grey from blue

Time to be inside wrapped in blankets, watching football, sipping wine by the fireplace, baking, and more time in my Craft Studio!

Each season I choose colors that represents the time of year

First Card - Bright Autumn Colors

Second Card - Rich, Deep and Muted Autumn Colors

Bright Fall Shades!

Rich, Deep Muted Fall Shades!

 Colors that I begin my Autumn cards with then
 add 2-3 additional colors that complement.

Enjoy!

-Elaine

Supplies:

Cardstock: Kraft - Speckletone, Chocolate Brown - Bazzill

Ink: Adirondack Espresso stamped on Flourishes White Cardstock

Stamps: Northwoods Rubber Stamps

Coloring: Copic Sketch Marker - Y21,Y17,Y19,YR15, YR18, E19, R85, R89, B95, B97, B99, V95. V99, V20, V25, YG91, YG93, YG95, YG97, YG99. E433, E44, E47, E49, W3, W5, W8

Tools: Crop-A-Dile  Corner Chomper, Tomboy Adhesive, Martha Stewart Scoring Board

Happy Birthday, To Me!

Happy Birthday! Believe in Yourself!

Today is my Birthday when everyone wishes you a Happy day, a special day, a special lunch or dinner, presents, bouquets delivered, candles being blown out, singing and of course my favorite sharing my birthday cake with family and friends! What is a birthday without cake?


Each year a birthday to me is like Happy New Year. It is the day you were born, the date you celebrate your life. A few weeks prior to my Birthday I begin to think what would I like to accomplish, goals and passions for the next year.

Seven Bouquets for Seven Goals!

Each bouquet represents one of those goals. One is colored in, it is complete but I continue to nurture it everyday. The other six have the stems colored, as they are written down. The flowers will be colored in as I complete and focus on that goal. Maybe a flower at a time, however I Believe!


My Birthday card will sit on my desk and I will know when my bouquets are met!


Enjoy,
Elaine