Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Ho Ho Ho... Spectrum Noir Holiday Challenge

I have been wanting to participate in the Spectrum Noir Challenge this month and have been so busy.  I finally sat down and started playing with reds today and wow... I just love how the Spectrum Noir Reds blend so nicely on the Crafter's Companion paper!  JUST LOVE it!    I did several red images tonight!

I have colored this image several times but it has been over a year since I played with it and my hands were itching to play with it again! I just love the Karen Medler images by The Peddler's Pack.

Sorry that I didn't take step out pictures of the image, I guess I will have to get that done!  Here are the colors I used.

Reds:  CR8, CR10, DR1, DR5, DR7
Flesh: FS2, FS3, FS6, TN2 and a bit of CR5
Gray BGR1, BGR2
Blue: TB2, TB3, TB5 and I added a bit of IG2 & IG4 to add a bit of gray tint around the edges.
Letter: EB2, & blender pen.

Be sure to join the challenge for a chance to win wonder prizes!  All you have to do is make a new holiday card..... yes ANY holiday!  Check it out here

I am going to be ready to mail my cards early this year... they are half done... Whew Hew!

Hugs,
Jennie




Tuesday, September 4, 2012

A Christmas Wish & Strawberry Kiss

Image by Crafter's Companion - Strawberry Kiss Collection

How would you like to have a downloadable tutorial & sample image to practice your coloring skills?  Today, begins the start of free "Color-A-Longs" being posted weekly on the Spectrum Noir Website.  Here is a sneek peek at this weeks project.

How does it work?  You go to www.Spectrumnoir.com and click on downloads, then you will see the Color-a-longs.  All you have to do is click the download button next to the one you want to color and you will have your very own color tutorial with a sample image.  You will be able to color-a-long and practice your coloring skills.  *note that some of them might have a separate download for the free sample image*  Complete images are available for purchase at Crafter's Companion.

Soon there will be videos added to our color-a-long program.. and guess who will be hosting the videos?  Yep! Yours truly, a few videos are done and waiting to be uploaded, so stay tuned!  Here is a picture of the finished card made with the same image in this week's color-a-long.  

I followed the instructions in the Color-A-Long except I added a few extra steps for that extra punch!  I added IG6 under my darkest red on the sides of the pot and deep center of the flower petals.  I also added a layer of CR10 in the center of the pot and on the tips of the petals.  That little bit of CR10 really brightened my highlight.  Red Glitter paper, a few red rhinestones, embossing folder, and die cut snowflakes finish the card. 

As you know, kitties and my allergies don't do well, but this little girl is perfect.. she is cute and cuddly and does not shed!  The perfect kitty!  I really think she is adorable and very simple to color!

Colorful Hugs,
Jennie





Sunday, August 19, 2012

Upcoming Classes!

Hello everyone!

Long time since I have posted!  I have been super super busy teaching classes for Crafter's Companion/Spectrum Noir, leaving little time to update my blog!  So here is an update!

I am now teaching a ton for Crafter's Companion and have cut back in other areas.  I am also traveling a bit teaching classes at Scrapbook Expo's and Creating Keepsakes Shows across the states.  Nashville is coming up next weekend!  YEE HAW....  Bugise gets to go with me so that is great! (for those who don't know Bugsie she is my little Yorkie).

Here are my classes for the rest of August and September.

AUGUST
Getting ready for the cool holidays during this blazing hot summer. We have had a month of temps over 100 degrees!  We need to think snow!  LOL

Class:  Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers - Crafter's Companion Mulberry Woods Christmas collection.
            (other brands of markers welcome)

Chino Hills - This and That Scrapbooking - August 7 - GREAT CLASS  a few new people came!
Monrovia - Pages From The Heart - August 17 - sold out class of 14 guests!  GREAT Time.
Redlands, Collective Journey - August 21 - four seats available - call soon!  909-793-2200


Nashville
- August 24 & 25th at Grand Ole Oprey - Creating Keepsakes Convention - day classes and demos available at the BEE Creative Booth.

SEPTEMBER
This month's classes will focus on the awesome new line of stamps by Crafter's Companion - Mooreheads... I am in love with these images!  Bring your alcohol markers and I will help you color these amazing little images!  (posted above) Please note that I am only teaching a few classes in September as I am on vacation!

Monrovia - Sept 7 - Call Pages From The Heart - August sold out so call early! 626-358-5334
Redlands - Sept 18 - Call Collective Journey 909-793-2200
San Marcos Texas!  Creating Keepsakes Convention - day classes & demos at BEE Creative booth.

Colorful Hugs to you all,
Jennie








Saturday, July 21, 2012

Spectrum Noir - Christmas in July Blog Hop


A few members of the Spectrum Noir team have gotten together to celebrate Christmas in July!  We have an inspiration-filled blog hop today, along with a few great prizes!  If you have arrived here from Leann Chivers blog, you are in the right place.  If not, pop over to the Spectrum Noir blog, so you don't miss a thing!

Here is my project (I know two - hope you don't mind but I couldn't pick)





















I used Sent with Love from the all new Mulberry Woods stamp line from Crafter's Companion... The entire line is absolutely adorable!  I can't decide which is my favorite...scroll down on my blog to see more of this fantastic new release of Mulberry Woods!  LOVE them.



The step out picture I show placement of my ink colors without blending.  Basically the light is in the middle, and dark colors are closer to the edge and in shaded areas.

Tip: I like to start with the background, so that after my bright colors are added in, I won't accidently drag a bit of the other colors into my background, as I color around the finished image.

Sky - BT1

Envelope:
  • Step 1: Color the bottom of envelope with FS2.  Then blend top edge of color with the blender pen to fade the edge of the color.
  • Step 2: Color the Back layer of the envelope (above the lower flap edge). then blend with Blender pen.
  • Step 3: Color the background inside the envelope behind the doggie and flowers. This is where it is important to color the background first as that bright red will bleed easily into your background if done after the flowers are colored.
Doggie
  • Step 1:  Color entire doggie with TN2
  • Step 2:  Add a bit of TN4 around the edges - Blend/bleed  the edges together with TN2.
  • Step 3: Add a tiny bit of TN6 to the very edge (very think line)... blend/bleed the colors together with TN4 by barely touching the darker ink already on the paper.
  • Step 4: Add a teeny tiny bit of EB5 to the ears and right side of face then blend with TN6
  • Note that in the second doggie I used exactly the same colors, just a bit more of the darker color. and EB5 for the nose instead of TN6.
Flowers are done with Reds - CR5, DR2, DR6 or  lavenders - HB1, HB2, HB3
Leaves are done with CG2, CG4, and a tiny bit of DR3
Snow and hat fur was shaded with IG1



We hope you've been checking out the Spectrum Noir blog - it is full of great tutorials, techniques, and other projects from our design team.  If you haven't been over there, go take a look!  Before we get to the rest of the hop today, let's have a little fun.  How about a prize?  Spectrum Noir is going to award one lucky winner two sets of six markers, a pack of Crafter's Companion Ultra Smooth Premium White card stock (perfect for coloring!), and an adorable stamped called All Wrapped Up, from the new Mulberry Wood line.


Entering to win is easy.  Leave a comment on the Spectrum Noir Blog Hop Post telling us your favorite Spectrum Noir color combination you saw while hopping with us this week (please comment no later then Friday, July 27 at 6:00 PM GMT).  A random winner will be drawn using random.org and posted on our blog at 9:00 AM GMT, Saturday, July 28, 2012, so be sure to check back with us to see if you have won!  The lucky winner will have one week to claim their prize or a second winner will be chosen. 

Now, hop on over to the next amazing blog and check out what Linda Hill has to share!  In case you get lost along the way, here is the entire hop order:


Thank you for joining us today as we celebrate Christmas in July!  Have fun hopping around to see all of the inspiration from our team, and good luck winning the prize pack!

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Color Inspiration


Colored with Spectrum Noir - Northwoods Image
Here is my card for today... I just love the vibrancy of the colors I chose.  I was unsure of what colors to use so I looked around me for inspiration.  I was laying by the pool in Palm Springs, CA coloring.  I snapped the below picture and took a look at the colors in the photo.  That is where my color scheme came from!  How easy is that!

Here are the steps I took to color the cylinder shaped watering can.  Remember to color the portion of the image furthest away from your eye your darkest color to make the lighter area look closer to your eye. 












Here I started with my darkest blue on the edges (BT8)
Add in your medium color marker (BT5)
Then finally adding the lightest color BT3 in the center of image.
and blend.  Always use the lighter of the two colors touching
each other as your blending marker.

Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers
Blue Turquoise: BT3, BT5, BT8
Reds: CR7, DR3, DR7
Tans: TN2, TN4
Gray: IG1
Hope I was able to inspire you to look around you and challenge yourself with the colors you see in your happy place.  My happy place was laying by the pool Coloring!  



Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Golf fun from Di's Digi Downloads

I know you would think I LOVE golf.. well - wrong!  However, I do love to drive the golf card around the course and take photos!  The golf courses are sooooo pretty and relaxing!  LOL.... It's those special people in my life that love to golf.  I love to go watch and capture fun pictures of them making funny faces and wiggling their bottom while trying to get the perfect position to swing at that silly little ball. People think I am nuts with my bag of markers and clipboard that I sneak into the golf cart! 

This little guy is from Di's Digi Downloads.. a new find for me!  I lover her fun little images, they are so cute and soooooooo many to chose from  HERE!  

Today's Tip... I love to play with texture.. there fore I used the bullet tip of my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers to "flick" in some blades of grass.  too fun.

Spectrum Noir:
reds: CR3 CR5, CR6
Gray/black: IG1, IG3, IG5, IG7
greens: CG2, CG3, DG3
bear: GB3, GB6, GB8, EB3
sky: tb1

Copic Equivalent.
reds: R24, R27, R59
gray: c1, c3, c5, c7
Green: yg21, yg23, yg25
bear: YR24, E33, E35, E37
sky: b0000

Across The Miles - Christmas

This just might be my very favorite new Mulberry Woods image by Crafter's Companion.  I just love that little doggie mailing a "hand made card" to his loved ones... I think of my dog Bugsie sending a card to her first mommie (breeder and my sister Patricia Res).  I am so thankful for my little furry baby.

Note the mailbox and trees are both cylinder shapes.... Keeping this in mind remember to put your darker colors to the sides and the lightest color in the center of the cylinder.  This will give shape or volume to the cylinder making the center of the mailbox look like it's closer to you than the sides.

THIS CARD WILL BE USED IN MY AUGUST CLASSES.
Collective Journey - - Redlands, CA - August 21
Pages from the Heart  - Monrovia, CA - August 17
This N That - week of Aug 6 - exact date tba

Colors used
Reds: CR2, CR5, DR3, DR6
Browns: GB1, GB3, GB7, GB9, EB3, EB5
Grays: IG1, IG2, IG5, IG8
Greens: CG2, CG4, DG3

other brands
reds: R24, R29, R59
Greens: YG21, YG25, YG67
grays: C1, C3, C5, C8
Browns: YR24, E33, E35, E37