Spectrum Noir Blog Hop & Candy!

Welcome to the very first Spectrum Noir Blog Hop!  This week our entire design team has come together to start off summer with a grand celebration of Yellow - the color of summer!  If you have landed here from --Linda's-- blog, you are hopping in the right direction.  If not, pop over to the Spectrum Noir Blog so you do not miss a single stop!

For my project, I chose this image by Saturated Canary.  The yellow and lime green color combo fits perfect for the summer theme of this blog.  I like to give tips in each of my postings, so I thought I would talk about about shading yellow.  I used TN4 to shade my pretty yellow dress.  Quite often I use gray for shading, however when when using yellow, I prefer to shade with brown or golden brown. (other great colors to shade yellow are GB5 or GB8)

Here is a step out I snapped while adding the shading to her dress.

 Steps to color Dress 

      TIP: add each layer while the previous layer is still wet, to ease in the blending process

1. CT1 - Color entire dress.
2. TN4 - Add in shading in deep folds of dress.
3. CT4 - Blend the pale yellow and brown together 

Tip:  When blending two colors together, just add enough fluid from your medium color marker to allow the two colors to "bleed" or "blend" together. This is normally done by dabbing a bit of fluid onto the joint of the dark and light ink, then pulling a bit of the dark ink towards the light color. 

Other colors used are. 

Hair: TN1, TN2, TN4, TN6

Flesh: FS1, FS3, TN2

Cheeks: CR1

Greens: CG1, CG2, CG4 

Ground: TN2, TN4

We are excited to announce that our new Spectrum Noir website and blog is up and running. If you have not had a chance to check out all of the great tutorials, tips, suggestions and samples our design team has posted, today is a great day to take a peek.  Before we get to the rest of the blog hop, how about we add a bit more excitement?  Spectrum Noir is going to award one lucky winner with a full set of 72 Basic Spectrum Noir Pens!  Yes, that's right...all twelve sets of six pens each.

Entering to win is easy.   Leave a comment on the Spectrum Noir Blog Hop Post telling us one fun new thing (tip, trick, interesting combination of colors, etc) you learned about the Spectrum Noir markers while hopping with us this week.  A random winner will be drawn using random.org and posted on our blog at 9:00 AM GMT, Saturday, June 23, 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.  How about a bonus chance to win?  If you add our blinkie to your blog and mention in your comment that you've done so, you will be entered into a second contest to win a $25.00 gift certificate USA or £25 voucher in the UK to be used on any Spectrum Noir product at Crafter's Companion (the US or UK site).

To add the Blinkie, simply download the code from the downloads section on the Spectrum Noir Blog and place it prominently in the sidebar of your blog. Do not forget to let us know in your comment on the Spectrum Noir Blog Hop Post  that you have added the blinkie to your blog!

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

Danielle

Leann

Angelique

Linda

Jennie

Louise

Kristine

Marcea

Taylor 

Suzanne

Cyndi

Wendy

Jacqui

Spectrum Noir Blog

Thanks for joining us today, and best of luck on winning a 72 piece set of Spectrum Noir pens (and maybe even a gift certificate)!

Hello Everyone,

I am here today with some fun and exciting ways to use your Spectrum Noir Blender Pen.  I think it is a funny name for such an amazing tool.. I call it my Magic pen.  In my world, anything that can correct my mistakes and add a bit of texture is nothing less than magic!
I colored this image for someone dear to me who has not been feeling well.  I wanted to make him "looking a bit spotty" for more of a get well type image... That's easy to do with one of the techniques I describe below.  First let's take a peek at learning how to correct a mistake (accidentally going outside of your image line).

CORRECTING A MISTAKE:

1. First add a clean paper towel or absorbent paper under your image.  (This will help wick some the excess color or fluid through the paper rather than sideways.)
2. Using the nice bullet tip of your Spectrum Noir Blender Pen - GENTLY push the mistake back into your image, stopping before you get to the line of your image.  Do not over soak. Adding too much fluid will cause excess bleeding into the image (see picture)
3. Let blender fluid completely dry, then repeat this process.  It is best to take several baby steps rather than trying to complete the correcting in one "too wet" step.
4. Note the position of my pen at the bottom of the picture is aimed towards the image, and stops just before touching the image line.
5. Light colors are pretty easy to clean up with just one or two tries.  However, dark inks are a bit more trying and may require repeating the process several times as the dark inks stain the paper more than the light colors and have more ink to dilute.  Take it slow with those dark mistakes.
6. If all else fails, remember that you can cut out your image and adhere him onto your project (adds a fun 3-d effect and everyone will think that was your original intent!)

ADDING TEXTURE

1. Color your image and blend colors as normal.
2. Using the nice bullet nib aimed straight down, gently dot the image where you want to add dots/texture. Do not add too much fluid at one time or your intended tiny spot will become a large spot.
3. Repeat for the entire area that you wish to have textured.
4. After blender fluid has completely dried, you can add another layer right on top of your original dots to "bleach" the color even more.  Each time you repeat this process your dot will be come lighter and lighter.  It's fun to sometimes mix and match some light and dark spots.

This picture shows one dot on the mussel of the dragon's face where I repeated the above process for a lighter dot.  The center of his mussel is where the ink was already lighter before I started adding texture.  I like the end result, as the lighter center of his mussel adds a round shape to the face.  The possibilities with this technique are endless!  Think about adding pebbles to sand, scales to a fish or mermaid image, polka dots on a little girls dress, soooooo many possibilities -

Colors used for rest of image are as follows: Greens: CG2, CG4 and a bit of CT2 Purples: PL1, PL2, PL5 Orange: OR1, OR3 and a bit of CT2 Sky: BT2 Flower pot and seed pack: BT2, BT4 Ground: TN1 & TN2
I really hope you enjoyed my tips today... see you again soon.

PLEASE ADD YOUR TEXTURE IDEAS OR FAVORITE WAY OF USING THE BLENDER PEN HERE UNDER COMMENTS..
Jennie Black

How did I get started? A Cinderella Story

LOL... this question is asked of me all the time! Really, it's a lot of hard work, being in the right place at the right time and not giving up. Here is my story on how I got started teaching Alcohol Marker Coloring technique and card making classes. - it starts out sappy and sad, but turns into a cinderella story so read on.

I had just moved back to California after a nasty nasty divorce and leaving my son in Washington state.... (sigh... another story) I was sad and in need of a job, as my money had run out and I was living on my credit card. I looked and looked for a job, but the job market in California was stinky. To compound the situation, I needed a job that would pay for living expenses, pay child support and allow me to have extended time off with my son every six weeks for visitation. I was also craving "friends" because I had just moved back to the area after being gone for about 15 years. That was going to be a tall order to fill and I could not find anything even close!

Although I could not afford it, I went out and purchased my first seven Alcohol based Markers.. Hey, I needed something to do while I was unemployed! I could not get the darn things to work, so I did a ton of research and played with them until several were completely dried up. Finally, I was getting better, but needed more ink! There was no one to help me get better... more research....

I went to all of the local stamp and scrapbook stores asking if they were hiring teachers... they laughed at me, because they were having a hard time getting enough customers for their already scheduled classes. Sigh again. One Day I was in Collective Journey (LSS) shopping when a bus tour came into the store. The ladies were all scurrying around making purchases when the clerk shouted out that everyone was getting a 20% discount. I was excited and made a small purchase. OOPS... the discount was only for the tour group. The clerk was nice and gave me the discount, but I felt guilty.

Ah Ha moment! I went home and made up several thank you cards for the store and took them back to the clerk. I was hoping that these "samples" would help the sales of their products. I got a huge reaction from the clerk.. she said "wait here.... I'll be right back". She ran in the back room and came out with this man. He was the sales rep from the stamp company that I had used on my cards. He immediately asked me if I would be interested in teaching card making in some of the local stores. I laughed and said "of course"....... (Thanks John and Our Craft Lounge Stamps.)

A few months later, I took the Copic Certification class and was addicted. People kept asking me to teach them how to color with these amazing markers. I compiled and wrote a 16 page Alcohol Marker  Techniques workbook to assist me teaching Technique classes, in addition to my card making classes. That was a huge key to my success. The news spread like wildfire, as everyone seemed to want to learn how to use these amazing markers. Soon, I was teaching in several stores and started making ends meet financially. Even paid off the Credit Card....

Six months later Copic asked me to be the Western USA Copic Certification Instructor. WOW..... I cried with happiness.

Things progressed and soon I was teaching and traveling so much, I was exhausted and didn't have time for organization. Things just exploded and grew so fast, I saw that the quality of my projects declining, as I was cutting corners just to get things done. I stopped teaching certification classes and focused on monthly Alcohol Marker Technique and card classes in Southern California stores. Then I limited out of state teaching to quarterly. Finally, life was calming down.

I now work for Crafter's Companion, as their alcohol marker specialist for Spectrum Noir.  My fit with this company is amazing... I just love the people, and their vision to provide a quality marker in a price range that is affordable to such a large range of people. I am so happy that more people can now enjoy the world of alcohol markers.  I get to teach an accreditation program that people can do in their own home without the expense of taking a class that may never be offered in their area.. this makes it friendly world wide..

My Cinderella story has allowed me to purchase my very own home in Colton, California where I live with my two spoiled Yorkies... Jazzie and Bugsie. I have a flexible schedule so I can have quality visits with my son. Although, I will never be financially weathly and may need to tighten my belt at times, I have a job I love and have everything I need in life... Love, the best son in the world, a warm happy home, friends and my pups.... oh and markers, stamps and paper!

Thank you EVERYONE for helping my dream come true.. Remember to stay positive and keep working towards what is important to you.

Love,

Cinderella... aka Jennie

ps.  I only sell the workbook with a class... LOL.... sorry!

Basic Blending - Spectrum Noir

By Jennie Black

Here we have a darling little kitty from Crafter’s Companion SWALK line.  Sealed With A LIttle Kiss... now is that a cute brand name or what?  The name alone gives me the warm fuzzies.

  

Three color blending

1. Lay your lightest color over the majority of your object. (flower pot).  Here I  left a bit of white in the center for my highlight.
2. Add your midtone marker (middle color) on top of your lightest color only about 1/4” into the flower pot from each side.
3. Color your shading color (darkest color) on top of your midtone color, this time only covering about 1/8” of the flower pot from each side.  (see image)
4. Blend your light and midtone colors with your lightest marker, dab the joint where the two colors join together.  This will allow the two colors to “blend” or “bleed” together.
5. Blend your midtone (middle) and shading (darkest) colors with your middle color repeating the motion as in step 4.

Look at the area where the two colors join together.  I placed the lighter pen where you would blend.  

  

Blend the colors together then mount onto a card or scrapbook page.

Have a colorful day

Jennie

One Class you will not want to miss!  This fun and different technique is done with Copic or Spectrum Noir markers.  I am not giving away tips on how it is done until after I teach it in my classes... Sorry, but it is a sales tactic I am trying!  LOL.. If I give away all my secrets then no one will come to class... I will post a tutorial later!  This one is done with the new large flowers from Stampendous!  I am in love with this stamp set... it comes with both the Hibiscus as well as the Pulmeria (one of my all time favorite flowers)....

Colors:  (suggested)

Spectrum Noir: PP1, PP3, PP, CG1, CG3, CG5, CT1, CT4, GB5, TN6, or1

Copic: Y11, Y15, Y19, E49, E44, YG01, YG13, YG17, YG63, YR24, R81, R83, R85 , YR18, YR12

Hope you like it!  

Classes in May and June at

Scrapbooking Mades Simple - Santa Clarita, CA (May)

This and That - Chino Hills, CA (June)

Pages from the Heart - Monrovia - CA (May)

Jolleens Papery - Banning CA - June

Collective Journey - Redlands, CA - May

GIVE SUGGESTIONS!

also soon

Cool Scrapbooks, Poway

Stamp Addict - San Diego

Borderless images with Alcohol Ink Markers

 Have you ever created something then said "wow" did I really do that?  Well, that is what I said when I finally created these two cards.  It's a technique that I have wanted to try for about six months and finally sat down to give it a try.  I am keeping the tutorial secret until after my classes.. hey... who wants to take a class if they already know how it is done.  I just love the outcome and this can be done with any alcohol markers.  

Visit me at Scrapbooking Made Simple on May 21st to make these fun borderless cards.  Or join me at Collective Journey or Pages from the heart soon!  Watch my calendar for updates... too fun!

colors will be posted for both Copics and Spectrum Noir.

Hugs,

Jennie

Scrapbooking Heaven - Final Class - Be there!

I am in LOVE with this card!  We will be making a similar card using this image at Scrapbooking Heaven in Westminster MONDAY.... This will be our last class at this store as it is sadly closing it's doors.  I will miss this store tremendously!  All the regulars will be there.. Phylis, Barb, Kathy, Karen, Me, Aunt Donna - and I will bring Bugsie for a fare well!  Bring a snack to share and let's party.. we need to find a new orange county venue for classes... See you all there... (three - four projects all extremely fun).  Check out that Hair!

Image by Make it Crafty
SPECTRUM NOIR: markers used were
Jeans: TB2, TB3, TB5
Hair: TN1, TN2, TN6, TN9
Green: CG2, CG4, CT1
Skin: FS1, FS3, TN1
Eyes: CG4
Red: DR5
Paper: Pinecone express (class paper will be different as it is out of stock.. sigh)
Colorist: ME.... Jennie Black

Copic colors could be used by using the following colors
Jeans: B41, B45 or B91, B93, B95
Hair: YR21, E33, E35, E37
Green: YG11, YG13, YG17 (Maybe a bit of y11 instead of YG11)
Skin: E00, E11, R21
Eyes: YG11, YG17
Red: R27

Colorful Hugs everyone!