Colouring 101 - Beautiful Blendabilities

Happy Monday!  I hope you had a fabulous weekend.  My hubby and I got to have our belated Valentine's celebration last night with dinner at one of our favourite local restaurants.  The perfect way to end the weekend :)
Today I have my final post in my series on colouring.  I'm all about the Blendabilities today.  Since these awesome tools were released last spring I have used little else to colour my stamped images.  It was good to go back to my blender pens and water colouring for this series, as it has reminded me just how wonderful each medium can be, depending on the look I want.  So, here are some projects using my beloved Blendabilities:

Birthday card featuring the Bloom with Hope stamp set with sentiment from Blooming with Kindness

For this one I stamped the flower images from the Bloom with Hope hostess-exclusive stamp set using Memento Tuxedo black ink.  I coloured them using the Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie and Daffodil Delight assortment Blendabilities sets. I used Old Olive for the leaves and stems.  The background layer of Basic Black is embossed using the Pretty Print (retired) TIEF. 

The sentiment is from the Blooming with Kindness set and is heat embossed in gold and die-cut using the Apothecary Accents framelits.  The wee butterfly is punched from gold foil card stock using the Bitty Butterfly punch and embellshed with rhinestones.

.Here is another project featuring the Blended Bloom stamp.  I kept the same Calypso Coral colour scheme as on the projects from my previous posts in this series so that you can see the difference in the colouring media.

Thank you card featuring the Blended Bloom stamp with sentiment from Sassy Salutations

I stamped the Blended Bloom image in Memento Tuxedo black ink and coloured it using the Calypso Coral and Daffodil Delight Blendabilities assortments.  The sentiment, from Sassy Salutations is also stamped in Tuxedo Black ink.  The edge of the panel is embossed using the Delicate Designs TIEF and embellished with some ribbon from the Best Year Ever Sale-a-bration Accessory pack.

So now the question is:  Which colouring media do you like best?  In case you missed them, here are the previous projects using the Blended Bloom set for easy comparison:

Coloured using a Blender pen and ink pads.

Coloured using an Aquapainter and ink pads.

Leave me a comment telling me which one you prefer...I'm interested in hearing your opinion.  Have a great week!

Colouring 101 - Wonderful Watercolour

Since the release of Stampin' Up's Blendabilities alcohol-based markers I have gotten away from using some of my other favourite colouring media.  It occured to me that perhaps some of you might be in the same situation, so I decided to do a series of posts highlighting different colouring media offered by Stampin' Up. 
Today I'm all about watercolour.  I have to admit this is still one of my favourite ways to colour stamped images.  It is quick and easy to blend colour and creates a soft look that is very appealing to me.  Here is a project I created using an Aquapainter and my classic ink pads for my upcoming Colouring 101 class:

Any-occasion card featuring the Bloom with Hope Hostess stamp set and sentiment from the Million and One set.

I love the sketched look of the images in the Bloom with Hope hostess set...they are perfect for watercolouring!  The key to successfully watercoloured images is to use Watercolour Paper.  Using regular card stock just leads to warped paper, poorly blended colour and generally unsatisfactory results.  On this card I stamped the flower and leaf images in black Staz-On ink.  I coloured the flowers using ink from the Rich Razzleberry ink pad and an Aqua painter.  (One may also use a small paintbrush and water for this look, but I have found it difficult to control the amount of water I am using with that method.  I much prefer the Aqua painter for watercolouring.) I added a little bit of Blackberry Bliss ink to add darker highlights on the flowers, blending it with the lighter shade as I went.  The centre of the flowers is coloured using Crushed Curry ink.  For the leaves I used Old Olive ink.

Once the images had completely dried I stamped the spatters using the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set and gold metallic ink.  The sentiment, from the Million and One stamp set, is heat embossed in gold.  The coloured panel is mounted on a Blackberry Bliss card base.

Here is another card I did using watercolour that features the Blended Bloom stamp...

On this one I used Calypso Coral ink for the petals and Daffodil Delight for the centre of the flower.

Stay tuned tomorrow...I'll have some projects coloured using a Blender pen to show you...it gives a completely different look!

Painted Blooms Birthday

Happy Hump Day...it's all downhill to the weekend from here!
Today I have another of the projects that was available for a card buffet I held a couple of weeks ago. 

Birthday card featuring the Painted Blooms DSP with sentiment from Simply Sketched (retired).

This one has some retired products as well as some brand new ones from the Occasions catalogue.  The Whisper White background layer is embossed using the new Spring Flowers TIEF and is layered on a Rose Red card base.  The beautiful floral focal point is a piece of the Painted Blooms DSP...it is SOOO pretty!  I also layered that on a piece of Rose Red card stock, but not before embellishing it with some Rose Red Seam Binding Ribbon (retired) and a Something Borrowed Embellishment, which I used as a ribbon slide.

The sentiment, from the retired Hostess-exclusive set Simply Sketched, is heat embossed in silver and die cut using the Banners Framelits.  The little butterfly, from the Papillon Potpourri set, is heat embossed in silver on vellum and punched with the Bitty Butterfly punch.  I added some rhinestones for a little extra sparkle.

Inside view with sentiment from the Bloom With Hope Hostess-exclusive set.

On the inside I added another narrow strip of Painted Blooms DSP and then stamped the sentiment from the Bloom With Hope Hostess set in Rose Red ink.

Now, I totally forgot to post the Weekly Deals yesterday, so here they are...something for everyone this time!  Remember, prices are good until Monday at midnight.  My order goes in on Sunday evening :)

Boys Will Be Boys Clear-Mount Stamp Set Price: $21.95  Sale: $16.46	Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper Price: $5.95   Sale: $4.46	Fine Print Coupons Swatchbook - Digital Download Price: $13.95   Sale: $8.37	Hamburger Box Bigz Xl Die Price: $52.95  Sale: $39.71
Hearts Border Punch Price: $20.95  Sale: $15.71	Ornate Tag Topper Punch Price: $31.95  Sale: $23.96	Sweetheart Punch Price: $21.95  Sale: $16.46	Tag A Bag Accessory Kit Price: $9.95   Sale: $7.46

Pointillistic Posies for The Twist

Today I have to share my final project for The Technique Twist.  The Design Team have decided to shut down the blog following this week's challenge due to low participation.  For our final challenge we were to try a new technique that takes us out of our comfort zone.  I decided to try a brand-new-to-me way of applying colour to images called Pointillism.  Now, I studied this style of painting in my music history courses in university because musical trends typically reflect those in visual art; but I never imagined I'd actually try it myself!  Here is my project:

Thinking of you card featuring the Bloom With Hope and Papillon Potpourri stamp sets with sentiment from Sassy Salutations.

Now this technique takes some practice.  My first attempt looked nothing like this, but with practice I finally got the hang of it. I stamped my flowers from the Bloom With Hope stamp set, masking the larger flower to give the illusion of depth. I used my Blendabilities:  Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight and Smokey Slate.  There is a great tutorial over on Splitcoast Stampers that explains how to achieve this looks very clearly.

Essentially, you are colouring your flowers using a series of little dots.  It takes practice to know when to stop with each colour.  The rest of the card is pretty straightforward.  I added a little vellum butterfly from the Papillon Potpourri stamp set and stamped the sentiment from Sassy Salutations.  I used the Large Polka Dots TIEF to emboss the white background panel and the Delicate Designs TIEF  for the black strip.  I added some silver metallic ribbon and a Basics Glimmer Brad to complete the front of the card.

Inside view with sentiment from Really Good Greetings.

On the inside I stamped one of the flowers again and coloured it.  The sentiment is from the Really Good Greetings set and is die cut using the Deco Labels framelits.

I hope you'll consider playing along with our final challenge at The Technique Twist.  It would be great to go out with a bang!  Have a great weekend!!

Bloom With Hope Meets Blendabilities

Yesterday I promised you a project using the Bloom With Hope hostess set and Blendabilities.  Here you go...

CAS Birthday card featuring the Bloom With Hope and Papillon Potpourri stamp sets.

Isn't that flower yummy??  I coloured it using the Calypso Coral and Smokey Slate Blenda colour sets.  both of those sets will be available for order starting Friday...be sure to add them to your wishlist.  They are stunning!  This flower reminds me of the beautiful poppies I have growing in my backyard in the spring.
I kept the design for this one really CAS, adding just the wee vellum butterfly and some rhinestones for embellishment.

The background is embossed using the Honeycomb TIEF and the whole thing is on a Basic Black card base.

On the inside I reversed the colour scheme a bit, leaving the flower in black and white and the butterly in Calypso Coral.  The sentiment is also from the Bloom With Hope set.

In case you missed it, I have posted a photo of the projects we'll be making at my Fabulous Flower Patch class coming up at the end of August.  Click HERE for more information.

Now yesterday I forgot to show this week's Weekly Deals!  There are some awesome projects on sale this week!

1/2" Circle Punch Price: $7.95   Sale: $5.96	Brights Designer Buttons Price: $10.95   Sale: $8.21	Clear Oval Accent Bigz Die Price: $26.95   Sale: $20.21	Cupcake Builder Punch Price: $22.95   Sale: $17.21
Delight In The Day Photobook Template - Digital Download Price: $21.95   Sale: $13.17	Gift Bow Bigz L Die Price: $40.95   Sale: $30.71	Little Book Of Coupons Designer Swatchbook Template - Digital Download Price: $13.95   Sale: $8.35	Pool Party Stampin' Emboss Powder Price: $6.25   Sale: $4.69

 
  Watercolor Wonder Designer Washi Tape  
Price: $6.50  
Sale: $4.88

Blooming Christmas

Well, it's about time I started Christmas cards, don't you think??  Last week I was playing with the Bloom With Hope hostess set, colouring it with both Blendabilities and watercolouring, just to see what different looks I could get with it.  I didn't set out to create a Christmas Card but it sort of morphed into one. 

Christmas card featuring the Bloom With Hope stamp set with sentiment from Many Merry Messages (retired).

Now it just so happens that this week's challenge over at Just Add Ink is all about Christmas in July...

...so I decided to enter this card.  We'll see what happens!

To create this look I stamped the images in black Staz On and then started with a watercolour wash in Crumb Cake all over the background of the watercolour paper.  I coloured the flower using an aquapainter and Cherry Cobbler and Daffodil Delight ink pads.  The leaves were done with Mossy Meadow ink and an aquapainter.  Once the images had dried I stamped over the whole thing using one of the spatter images from the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set and gold Metallic ink.  I matted the whole thing on a piece of Mossy Meadow card stock.

For the card base I used some of the new Kraft card stock and then stamped the leaf image repeatedly all over it using Crumb Cake ink.  I also stamped the same spatter image in metallic gold to give it some shimmer.  The sentiment is heat embossed in gold, die cut using the Chalk Talk framelits and adhered with dinmensionals.  I added a wee bit of Cherry Cobbler seam binding ribbon and an Antique Brad by way of embellishment.

On the inside I stamped the leaf image again, as well as the gold spatters and then added the sentiment, from the long-retired Many Merry Messages set, in Mossy Meadow ink.

Be sure to check back tomorrow to see this same flower image coloured with Blendabilities! 

Embossed Blendabilities?

I learned something last week that I couldn't wait to share with you...did you know you can colour a heat embossed image with Blendabilities?!?  How cool is that??  Check out this project I made...

Birthday card featuring the Bloom With Hope stamp set

So how'd I do it?  I started by stamping the flower image several times using Versamark ink on Basic Black card stock.  I heat embossed the images with white embossing powder.  Then the magic happens!  I coloured the embossed image (allow time for it to set and cool completely) using my Rich Razzleberry and Daffodil Delight Blendabilities.  It is so crazy easy, but I love the WOW result...no coloured embossing powder required!

One caution, to preserve the tips of your Blenda's be sure to use a very light touch so as not to damage them on the raised embossed lines.  I added some sparkle with some rhinestones that I also coloured with the Rich Razzleberry Blenda's.  The sentiment, also from the Bloom With Hope set, is punched with the Modern Label punch and adhered with dimensionals.  The card base is Daffodil Delight, with a Rich Razzleberry mat beneath the front panel.  So...have you ordered your Blenda's yet??

Bloom With Hope Birthday

Before I show you today's project I have some important news to share!  Stampin' Up! has just updated the online Clearance Rack with tons of fabulous items at ridiculously low prices.  All items listed are availble only while supplies last, so if you see something you need to have order it today, as it may well be gone tomorrow!

Also, I neglected to mention in my previous post about new products that there is a brand new GORGEOUS Christmas stamp set, a sneak peek from the upcoming Holiday Catalogue, that is now availble for all of you who (like me!) like to do Christmas in July.  Check it out:

Beauty of the Season (135779) $20.95

Isn't that just begging to be coloured??  I can't wait to get at it with my Blendabilities!

Now for today's project.  I finally had a chance over the weekend to ink up my Bloom With Hope hostess set.  I LOVE this set!  So many beautiful floral images to colour, but first I wanted to see what I could come up with that didn't require colouring, for those who don't (gasp) enjoy it.  Here is the result:

Birthday card featuring the Bloom With Hope stamp set

Can't get much simpler than this one!  I masked off part of the card front with sticky-notes and sponged with Mossy Meadow, Hello Honey and Blackberry Bliss.  Then I heat embossed the flower image in white...I love the way it pops against the darker background.

 I added a bit of stitched satin ribbon in Hello Honey and layered it on a Blackberry Bliss card base.  The sentiment, which is also from the Bloom With Hope set, is stamped in black, punched with the Modern Label punch and then layered on a Large Oval punched from Blackberry Bliss card stock.

On the inside I simply stamped the same image from the front in Blackberry Bliss, leaving plenty of space for a personal message for the birthday girl!

Now...go check out the Clearance Rack...so many great deals!