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

Have a PURR-fect Christmas - classes

Is this the cutest kitty Christmas card or what?  The image is one of the new releases from Crafter's Companion new stamp line.....  Mulberry Woods.   I absolutely love all of them!  If you know me I am more of a doggie person than a kitty person (they make me sneeze and the hair is not do-able for me), but if the kitty is on paper..... I totally love them!

Just a quick post to share one of my favorite new images... Here are the colors I used.

Spectrum Noir

Trees: CT2 (yellow), CG2, CG4, DG4

Yellow Kitties: GB2, GB7, GB9 (golden browns)

Gray Kitty: IG1, IG2, IG4

Box: TN2, TN4, TN6

Snow was done with a white acrylic paint pen. 

reds: CR5, DR3, DR7
blender pen

THIS CARD WILL BE ONE OF THREE IN MY CLASSES IN AUGUST

This year let's be ready for Christmas before it's too late!

This N That - Chino Hills, CA  TBA (contact store for update)

Collective Journey - Redlands, CA  August 21

Pages from the Heart - Monrovia, CA August 17

other colors
greens: YG21, YG25, YG67
golden brown: YR21, YR24, E35
gray: C or W  1, 3, 5, 7
Brown: E30, E33, E35, E37
Blender pen

Baby Humphrey - Spectrum Noir

Is this the cutest little image or what? My niece Amanda Eger is going to have a baby girl this week.. I am so anxious! This is a great baby card for anyone expecting a little someone in their life!

I did this as a make and take at the Anaheim Scrapbook Expo this past weekend.. MAN oh MAN.. was that a busy place! Try doing a make and take for 200+ women all at the same time... did I mention a 20 minute window of time to do them all in! LOL...

Humphrey is by Crafter's Companion and is colored in only three color families.

Spectrum Noir Colors:

Blanket is colored with citrus yellows: CT1, ct4

Ears are colored with Pale Pink: PP1

Elephant is done with Brown Grays: BG1, BG2

Copic equivalents would be

Blanket: Y11, Y15, and a bit of Y19

Ears: R11

Elephant: W1, W3 and an optional bit of W5

Happy Valentines Day....

Happy Valentines Day Everyone!

Here are a few cute Valentine Friendly images that I have recently colored. Some done with Copic and some done with Spectrum Noir. I love both markers.

Today is design day... so you can bet that I will be posting cards later this week! Have a sweet Day!

Popcorn Bear was colored with Copics.

Strawberry Kisses images are colored with Spectrum Noir Alcohol markers..

Images all available at your local scrapbook store or at Crafters Companion HERE

Spectrum Noir tutorial & Blog candy

Step by step tutorial for coloring withSpectrum Noir Alcohol Markers
Stamp: Crafter’s Companion “Christmas Angels”
Markers: Spectrum Noir

Step by step instructions to show you how simple coloring with Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers is for colorists of all levels.
BLENDING:
Colors used:
Brown Grays: BG1, BG2, BG4
Citrus Yellows: CT1, CT2, CT4
Gold Brown: GB5
Blue Turquoise: BT1, BT2, BT3
Blender pen

1. Color a layer of BG1 (stay off the edges and leave white space for highlight).
2. Add a bit of BG2 while previous color is still wet.
3. Blend two colors together using BG1 (lighter color of the two) ( Optional: soften edge of light color by touching the edge of the color with the blender pen)
4. Add darkest color BG4
5. Blend the two darkest colors together using medium color BG2
6. Add a bit of darkest color back in and clean up edges while step 5 is still wet
7. Repeat with other color families to complete image

TIPS:

1. When adding a darker color, it will blend easier if the paper is still wet from your lighter color
2. Until you are comfortable on how much ink to use, you might eave a bit of white space near your lines to allow a bit of bleeding, after coloring in the rest of the area, you can lightly fill in any white space you left for bleeding.
3. I used I used Crafter’s Companion Ultra Smooth Premium white cardstock. click here
4. Suggested ink pad is Memento Tuxedo Black (Stayzon does not work).
5. For smooth coloring, color in small circles overlapping each circle. When areas are too small for circles be sure to overlap your strokes to insure even saturation (no white space between strokes - tutorial soon!)
6. Because colors blend together best when both colors are wet, it is best to color one or two areas at a time before going on. IE: finish coloring elephants head before going on to his legs & arms, unless you are quick and can layer colors before the ink dries. As time goes on you will improve and become quicker.

If you have questions regarding Spectrum Noir markers, including our accreditation program, please contact me at: Jennie@crafterscompanion.com

Markers now available at your local stamping or scrapbooking stores. If they are not on the shelf ask for them by name, or go here

WIN $100.00 gift certificate to be used on any Crafter's Companion products - that could be 50 Spectrum Noir markers! SEE MY PREVIOUS POSTING FOR DETAILS!

Win $100 of Spectrum Noir Alcohol Ink Markers & blog candy

I love free stuff! Here is a great chance to earn $100.00 of free product by doing two easy steps!

Crafter's Companion is having this amazing contest for customers and our design team! We need to get as many new people to follow the Crafter's Companion blog. The design team member who gets the most new followers gets $100.00 in Crafter's Companion products and one lucky new follower will also win $100.00 in Crafter's Companion products. (see available products Here) You could get fifty new Spectrum Noir Alcohol Ink markers, or stamps, adhesive, and The Ultimate Tool, or a variety of amazing items - you pick the prize with your $100.00 gift certificate! How cool is that! The blog is scheduled to have weekly tutorials, sneek peeks at new stamp lines being released, as well as inspiring projects. My posting will be each Thursday with Spectrum Noir alcohol ink marker tutorials.

Here are the guidelines.
1. You must sign up as a new follower for the Crafter's companion Blog HERE (under newsletter)
2. Send your name and my name to Bindy@crafterscompanion.com

Pretty simple for a chance at an amazing prize!

BLOG CANDY!
To sweeten the deal, if you leave me a comment here letting me know you did those two steps, I will put you in a drawing for this amazing Stamp by STAMP IT... Is it beautiful or what! I just LOVE it. Contest will remain until the end of February 29th - the same as Crafter's Companion contest.

Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers - new classes

Hello Everyone,

As you know I absolutely LOVE teaching people to color. It is my passion and feel very fortunate that I am able to teach for my job. I have just been spending the past few weeks really seeking out an option for those of you who want to color with alcohol markers, and could not afford them. Although, I am still teaching my Copic classes, I will also be offering Spectrum Noir Classes as well as "Alcohol marker coloring classes (where you can bring whatever alcohol markers you love or a combination). These classes will vary with each store based on what the store carries. I will be making a comparison chart soon as there are many differences.

The Spectrum Noir pens were created to fill the needs of most paper crafters. They offer a wide spectrum of 168 colors, including a blender pen, refills, and replaceable nibs. The number/color system is easy to understand and is as basic as 1-2-3. Its as easy as 1 is pale, 2 is a bit darker, 3 is even darker etc. etc. These pens come with a very nice bullet nib as well as a chisel nib. The bullet nib allows amazing blending results without requiring feathering (a task many have a hard time learning).

So in a nut shell, most paper crafters will find this product an amazing marker for their needs. I have colored the images on this posting with the Spectrum Noir. It was a simple learning curve to understand a few different characteristics of this pen vs, my Copics. I love both brands and believe there is a market for both (I know I need to have both).

Packaging:

The basic set of 72 markers come in pre-packaged 12 sets of 6 markers for only $11.95 (2.00 per marker)

*prevents duplicate markers (no two are repeated in any package)

*no need to determine best colors to go with what?

* basic skin colors are included in the Flesh Skin package

*affordable at about $2.00 per pen

the basic markers will include a variety from each color family so that you can color any style images (faces, hair, landscape, floral etc) After collecting these you can then add in the deluxe sets to increase your color spectrum to 168 different colors/shades. No two are duplicated in any set and will partner up with the basic sets. IE: if the basic set had a 2-4-6 in a color family then the pastels would include the 1, and the darks would include a 9 in that same color family. Easy peasy.

More information soon! Stay tuned.

Jennie

Strawberry Kisses - Sneek Peek! shhhh

Wow.... I am back from vacation, Austin was here for a few days and is already back in Washington with his dad... (boo hoo). We had a fantastic old fashioned visit. Nothing fancy just hung out together! Now I am back at the wheel of my job... LOL... did I say JOB....

I have recently had honor of becoming a part of a fantastic design team for Crafter's Companion. I am actually new to this company, but man oh man.... they have some fun stamps, goodies, tools etc... Especially their Ultimate tool that I cannot wait to share with you on some of my upcoming posts. It makes easy explosion boxes, fun interactive cards and boxes, etc... They have Popcorn Bear Stamps, Sheena Douglas Stamps, SWALK (sealed with a little kiss) and so many more that I can't wait to share... whew hew....

This image is from one of their fun and newest stamp lines called STRAWBERRY KISSES available at your local store, you can view them here next week! Now is that the cutest name for a stamp company or what?... it is made up of doggies and kitties doing cute little things. Some of them have a strawberry on their bottom... so cute! This is my first image that I colored, but I have about 10 more to share in the upcoming weeks. Today was my day to post a sneek peek so here it is. Be sure to check their information blog daily as they will have two posts everyday with all sorts of cute samples and new releases (did I mention I am a co-coordinator of one of their design teams). Today they have a super special project made by Jinky.. it is so stinking cute you have to go peek! HERE

This stamp along with the rest of these amazing images will be available next week! Whew Hew.. toot toot for these cute little critters.