Get Well Soon

This is one of the first completed cards I worked on with my new Spectrum Noir markers.  

 

Overall the markers performed well, and I liked the effect I added with the grey in the leaves.  I'm getting a little better at flowers already!  I want to find some images that are a little larger to try out my hand at foliage techniques, but that will come another day.

The doily die cut is from the Prickly Pear, crushed ribbon and verse stamp from A|Muse Studio, curly label die cut from Spellbinders, and textured green cardstock from Denami Designs.

Spectrum Noir Markers

Stamping and paper crafting are hobbies that I really enjoy... when I'm in the right place, and I'm producing work I like :)  This has been an interesting year for me so far, and I've had difficulty getting back into working on projects or techniques.  Let's hope that some of that inner imbalance that was keeping me from my hobby has worked its way out.  Its almost Christmas Card season, after all!

(Let's be honest though, that hasn't stopped me from buying new product =) )

Anyway, today I finally had the chance (and was in the mood) to play with my newest acquisition - the whole set of 6-pack Spectrum Noir alcohol markers.  

These are the "average crafter's" version of Copic markers - similar product (thought not professional grade), similar effects/colors, a fraction of the price.  I have never colored with Copics or alcohol markers but for the odd make and take - so I spent the morning pouring over YouTube videos and instructional sites.

Here was my practice page - definitely some wins, definitely some ... opportunities to improve :) (Click to enlarge, I think)

I tried to capture the colors that I worked with along the way, especially with the grey outlines, but not all of it came through in the scan.  The Blue-Green combo of flowers is probably my favorite, but I'm a sucker for that color combo.

In the leaves of the pink and purple flower sets I definitely was not happy with the coloring.  I couldn't get the streaks to blend.  By the time I got to the blue one I was doing something I was much happier with.

The "Birthday or Bust" cat's balloon definitely bled everywhere, but I know a little more about what it takes to color in a balloon now :)  I also got to experiment with the blender pen a bit.

Overall the Spectrum Noirs were pretty cool. I'd like to get some further lessons in blending, and how better to use white space - but that's for another day!

Diving Back In!

Well - I have to say, it has been MONTHS since I could report this but -- I have comleted some new cards! I attended a retreat in April and had a wonderful time. After the trip back home though I unloaded my boxes of supplies into the apartment but... knowing I would be moving again within a few months, thought it best to *gulp* leave everything in boxes...

Since that time, I've attended a few catalog parties, the big Spring Rubber Stamp/Scrap convention at the Fair Grounds, fell in love with the new Catalog company A Muse Studio (well - they've been around a while, they're new to catalogs...), signed up for and received their demonstrator starter kit, received in the mail a few other orders I had placed......................... and haven't been able to play with ANY of it!

Then what was worse - I moved at the beginning of June, was mostly settled in within a few weeks, have had multiple opportunities to sit down and scrap - but was hitting a wall of creative block so thick it was ... well, it was pretty frustrating. I think there's probably more than a little to be said about where my head is at and how my subconscious was trying to tell me things - but we'll leave the psychoanalysis for another day.

Here are a few cards I drafted up using both some of my new products and also some old product I've had lying around. I really liked playing with some new blending tricks using my Tim Holtz blending tools nad my new spinner/holder for them (I've been wanting one forever!). I also found that, when I was stuck in a bind, I was able to quickly shake it loose by turning to my stash of punches and looking for new/exciting ways to layer/use them.

It was really nice to break into my supplies again. Here's to many happy returns :)

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Free Cut files for Electronic Die Cutters

So I'm going to try to start regularly posting to my long defunct blog again. I have a few friends who share regularly, and I think its a good outlet for sharing ideas, projects, thoughts and... life?

http://pennyduncancreations.blogspot.com/

I recently came across the blog posted above - Penny does a lot of great work, but most importantly she has an incredible library of FREE cut files for the software programs you can get for your electronic die cutters. The files are offered in all the major program formats, but for me its SCAL with my Cricut. MOST exciting to me were the cut files she calls "Shaplies", which are very similar to Spellbinders (which are very expensive). I spent time to download the whole catalog, and was PUMPED. I end up using these products on a ton of my cards and pages - I'm looking forward to the greater flexibility/options I'll have with these in a digital format.

I'm also pretty excited to try out some of her beautiful flower cut shapes for 3D bouquets - something to put in my "when I find the time" folder!