Sealed with a Little Kiss (SWALK) new release!

Is this image  darling or what?  It is one of several new SWALK stamps being released today by Crafter's Companion!  The image is colored with Spectrum Noir Alcohol Pens. I used the amazing Ultimate Tool to make this fun fold card.  You will find the instructions below, give it a try.

PAPER PIECES
Base Card:  6" x 12"
Two coordinating printed paper pieces cut 5 3/4" x 2 3/4"
One coordinating printed paper cut 5 3/4 x 5 3/4
Embellishment pieces (stars, 1/2" x 5 3/4" stripe)
Image piece with another piece cut the exact size for the greeting on the inside of the card
Matting for image is cut 1/4" larger than image piece (CUT 2 - one for inside of card)
Double Matting is cut 1/4" larger than the above piece (CUT 2 - one for inside of card)

Base card scored at 6"

Base card also scored at 3" 

Fold card at 6" to make card base.

Fold front flap up at the 3" score line.

Adhere the image to front flap 

(be sure adhesive is only on the left half of the image back)

Hide the greeting piece directly behind the image piece

Adhere greeting piece inside the card.

Add desired embellishments and color image

I hope you enjoyed this fun fold tutorial using the Crafter's Companion Ultimate tool.  You can find many more samples colored by me at Spectrumnor.com 

Doggie Hugs!

Here is a fun card I made for Andy's mom.  She had a task to complete and did a fantastic job doing it.  We thought this little card might show her how proud we are of her!  

The image is one of the newer releases from Crafter's Companion Mulberry Woods Stamps.  You can purchase it HERE.  

I did not take step out pictures of the image while I was coloring, but here are the colors I used.  I totally love the red and brown color combination! 

Browns: TN1, TN2, TN4, TN8, EB8

Flowers: CT1, CT4, GB5, CR11, DR3, DR1

Green: CG2, DR3

Ground: BGR2, BGR1

I made the greeting using the computer and then rolled it a bit to look like a banner.

Colorful Hugs to everyone!

Jennie

Happy Haunting

Halloween was always a fun holiday while Austin was young.  I remember my very favorite picture of him for his first birthday.  He was a little lion.  He was in love with Nayla from The Lion King!  he loved being a helpful fireman and then he grew up and loved the scary masks and grim reaper hoods with no face.  Gotta love a kid that goes from The Lion King to the Grim Reaper!  lol... (he still watches and loves Disney and helping people!).

Here is a little something different for Halloween.  I hope you enjoy it!

Beginner Spells - A center highlight

In this fun Halloween image, I will show how to build dimension by placing your highlight in the center of your image.  We can actually make a flat image look as if it has shape or dimension by placing our darkest color (shading) furthest from our eye and the lightest color (highlight) closest to our eye.  These bottles are cylinder shaped, so I put the highlight right down the center of each bottle.

Add lightest color GB1, and add darkest color GB9 on the area furthest from your eye. (the sides of each bottle or label)

   In the picture below, you can see where I blended the light and dark golden browns together using a medium color (GB6).  I then softened the edge of GB6 with my original light color (GB1 or GB2).  As seen in the photo above, I colored the green label using the same steps as I used on the first label.  The colors used are listed in order of use, DG1, DG3, DG2, DG1 then softened the center highlight with the blender pen.

I also started coloring my red bottle starting with my darkest color on the edge of the bottle (DR7) then worked my way towards the center of the bottle with my lighter colors.  Here are the colors I used in order of use  DR7, DR5, DR3, CR8. Note: The CR8 is a higher number, however it is from a completely different color tone which happens to be lighter. The Coral Reds are lighter with more of an orange tint than Dark Reds.  

Complete red bottle above.  Other bottles were were colored using the same steps.  Here is another view of the finished project with different background paper.

Center Highlight helps build dimension to images.

Other colors used in order used:

Golden brown labels: GB1, GB9, GB6, GB1

Brown Bottle: TN2, TN9, TN6, TN4, TN2

Red Bottle: DR7, DR5, DR3, CR8

Gray Bottle: IG7, IG5, IG2, IG1

Corks: EB8, EB4

Base: IG7, IG4, IG1

Background: TN1

Edging was done with a brown ink pad.

A Christmas Rose - for the love of coloring

Sometimes we need to remember what coloring is all about.  Today I took time for myself.  Turned on some light classical music and colored away, letting my imagination pick the colors and positioning of the flowers.  The image itself is inspirational, it's by Crafter's Companion in the Sheena Douglas collection -  Christmas Rose.  Note the image on the side of the greeting was not there but I added it by stamping a bit of an image onto the paper piece.  I also stamped a flower and cut it out for an embellishment as I didn't want to clog up the card with clutter and take away from the focal point.

I enjoyed coloring this for ME...  So without further ado I am going to just list the colors I used and one little coloring tip (I can't post without a tip!).

Soft Edges

As you will notice there is no harsh drop off in color where my petals fade from color to white.  What I did is soften the edge of the lightest color on each petal with my blender pen.  This diluted the crisp line that markers leave when lifting your pen at the end of a stroke.  

Have a Colorful Day

Jennie

Life is full of Sparkles! - Elizabeth Designs stickers & Glitter

MIcrofine glitter colored with Spectrum Noir Markers - Hat Colors: CR5, CR8, CT4, GB5, PL4, CT2, CT4

Cupcake - CT1, CT4, GB5, CG2, CG4, BP2, BP6, 

I have been super busy lately and have not done my weekly post!  A little update on what is up.  I was hired by Crafter's Companion a few months ago as The Director of Product Education.  I am loving my new job and a company that appreciates me and treats me with respect, trust and loyalty.  I am thrilled with the position that I worked hard to get.  You will see lots of new things coming in the near future.  Stay tuned!  For now let's take a peek at a project I made for my son's girlfriend Amanda.  She is a girly girl and so I thought this would make a cute card to go with a gift I got her recently.  

Here is a fun way to add two of my favorite things into one project.  I used my Spectrum Noir alcohol pens to color on top of my MICRO fine glitter.  Here is how I did it.

1. Adhere wide double stick tape to white cardstock

2. Remove the double stick backing paper and retain it as your "transfer sheet"

3. Remove sticker from sticker sheet and place sticky side up onto the smooth side of your "transfer sheet"

On transfer sheet being placed onto sticky cardstock.

4. Using transfer sheet place sticker onto the sticky cardstock. (see photo below)

5. Add MICRO FINE glitter to your sticky paper and burnish firmly making sure that the glitter is tight and there are no holes without glitter.

6. Remove all excess glitter from sticker. Double check to make sure the glitter is tight and no loose areas.

7. Begin coloring with your darkest color first.  Adding your lighter colors as you work your way towards your highlight.  The glitter will soak under the glitter and spread quickly so be careful that you color slow.

8. Cut around image/sticker and adhere to your project.

I hope this added a little sparkle to your day.

Jennie Black

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

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