Sunflowers & Dragonflies

How to Create a Reverse Spotlight Technique

Bam, how is this for a large photo?  I’m told that my photos are too small so I created a much larger pic for you.

So, today I have what I call a “reverse spotlight” technique.  I combined this technique with my much-loved Stampscapes stamps.  Even if you don’t have these stamps, any stamps will do.

Supplies:  Four colours of ink, stipple brushes, glossy paper

Not in Photo:  white cardstock, round punch

Stipple yellow in the center of your glossy paper.  Surround with the next darker colour.

Continue adding darker colour as shown here.

Finish by using a dark blue or purple for the edges.  Round your edges as shown here.

Stamp out main image.  Notice my black mark on the bottom? That was brought about when I opened up my ink pad and dropped it.  Have you done that before?  I always seem to.  Anyways, that is okay because mistakes are so easily hidden with these stamps.

Stamp out trees.  Stagger the size by stamping the whole tree out and then just the tips.  Do not fill up all of the space because a second focal point will be added.

Add a second and third focal image as I did with the fishing boat and flying geese.  There are many other stamps to use (ie. row boat, loon, moon).

Stamp out main image onto cardstock.

Punch a hole in the cardstock.

Adhere punched circle and finish your card.

Tutorials each Tuesday

Subscribe to the comments for this post

How to Create Shadows

Have you ever wented to know how to create shadows and highlights in your work?  Today I will show you just how to do that.

Supplies:  Prismacolor pencil crayon, odorless mineral spirits

The first thing to do is envision where the sunlight is.  If it helps, draw a circle on your work area.

Start by using the lightest colour of pencil crayon, and colour your work surface.  Colour just a little bit of each area, leaving white space at the tips of each area. Leave more white space as the sun hits the object.

Continue to colour your image.  Notice how the front of the dress is left white.

Use a deeper shade of colour in each area.  Add a smaller amount of colour than you did earlier.  Shadow is recessed so think about that as you colour. Be sure to use a darker shade of skin tone under the hair line, under the chin and at the back of the left elbow.  (not pictured)  Your image is now ready to put together in a card or project.

If you want to take it a step further, use your colour wheel (shown here is The Color Wheel Company colour wheel) to determine what colour to use in the white space.  Be sure to select a much-lighter colour than your main surface area.  Using my wheel, I chose a coordinating green.

Continue adding shadows and highlights as your desire.

To take it a step even further, paint your image with Creative Inspirations paint.  If you don’t have C.I. paint on hand, then look at using children’s watercolor paints.

Your image is now ready to put together on your card/project.

I hope you learned something today.  If you have any questions, please leave me a comment or e-mail me.

Supplies:

Prismacolor pencil crayons and odorless mineral spirits.

Color Wheel from The Color Wheel Company

Creative Inspirations paint:  Fuchsia and Plum

Paper:  Paisly Road by Prima Marketing and Salt Air from Cosmo Cricket, both purchased at Mark’s Finest Papers.

TUTORIALS EVERYTHING TUESDAY

Subscribe to the comments for this post

Going to the Chapel…

Another Stampscapes card.  This time I cut out my image in multiple layers and layered the highest point on the large outer edge, making it’s way smaller with each cut.

Subscribe to the comments for this post

The Color Wheel Company Sponsorship for Tutorial Tuesday

UPDATED TO READ “The Color Wheel Company“

Did you know mice can eat bubblegum?  Anything is possible with house mouse stamps.  They are so darn cute!

Today’s tutorial shows you a quick overview of  how I selected the colors for my card.  Today’s sponsor is The Color Wheel Company who generously provided me with a color wheel for one lucky winner.

(photo used by permission from The Color Wheel Company)

As you can see from the photo above, there are many colour choices compared to an ordinary colour wheel.  This Web Wheel was created for beaders.  When this wheel on my mom’s beading table, I went crazy.  No longer did I see a scrapbooker/cardmarker color wheel with few choices, but I had a whole new world open up to me.  When I contacted The Color Wheel Company for sponsorship, they generously provided me with lots of blog candy for future posts.  This week I will randomly select a winner who will win The Web Wheel as shown above.  All you have to do is leave me a comment.  If you like, let me know if you use a colour wheel, or if you need further instructions in using one.

If you do not own The Color Wheel Company,  you can visit their site, or refer to one of the colour wheels you have on hand.

Now, on to the tutorial.

When selecting colours to use on a card, look at The Color Wheel Company  to help you out.

I wanted to see what colours would work best on my mats, as I knew I wanted to use the peachy orange as my card front.

Continue referring to The Color Wheel Company for colour choices.

Whether you already have a colour wheel on hand, or are looking for a colour wheel, The Color Wheel Company  is a #1 choice.

* * *

Image was painted with the following Creative Inspirations paint:

Rose Quartz, Canary, Turquoise, Sky Blue

Image was coloured with the following Copic markers:

E00, 01

E31, 33

R30, 32, 37

RV02, 09, 14

Y19, 35, 38

BG05

V05

YR04

G14

Subscribe to the comments for this post

Morning Fog

Doesn’t this card remind you of a crisp (Canadian) morning on the lake?  Being in Canada, it would certainly be crisp.  Of course, this scene can be in any country.

This card uses stamps from Stampscapes.  Pencil crayon was used on the rocks and reflection on the water.

My background uses the  Watercolor Distress technique from the Technique Junkie Newsletter and on top of that I layered more stamps.

Thank you for stopping by.

Subscribe to the comments for this post

Morning Sunrise

At a recent Stampscapes class I learned how to make this morning sunshine card.  I’m in love with these stamps because no two cards are alike.

Subscribe to the comments for this post

You’re a Dream Come True

Stamp:  My Favorite Things

Coloured with Copic markers

Paper:  BasicGray’s Olivia from Mark’s Finest Papers

Subscribe to the comments for this post

How to Distress with Acrylic Paint

Have you wanted to take the plunge to work with acrylic paint?  Have you been scared off from distressing?  Well, stop right here. This is an easy technique that gives punching results.  Back in 2007 I produced a distressing (with acrylic paint) tutorial, which I am updating today.  Added to my card is the Bandana Technique.

There is no right or wrong when distressing.  Every try will provide a different look.

Supplies:

Ink

Paint

Paint brush

Dictionary page

Slap ink onto cardstock (coloured or white cardstock)

Thin paint with water.  Paint thinned paint over top of the entire cardstock.  This softens the ink distressing.

Glue pieces of torn dictionary pages to the cardstock.

Optional:  Distress edges and along dictionary pages

When the card is all dry, you might like to iron (on low) between two pieces of paper to flatten out your cardstock.

Matt cardstock and finish as desired.  Have fun!

Tutorials every Tuesday

Subscribe to the comments for this post

Baby Welcomed by Giraffes

Did my title grab your attention? LOL

My cute little image is surrounded by the Technique Junkie Newsletter Giraffe Technique.  I did this technique in colours to coordinate with my blue giraffe.

Giraffe stamp is from Mark’s Finest Papers, and is painted with Creative Inspirations paint.

Hidden behind the giraffe are my handmade clouds.

Image was coloured with Copic markers:

Y08, Y11, Y13, Y15

BG000, BG02, BG04

RV000, RV00, RV02, RV06

My new custom signature stamp is from Whimsy Stamps.

Thanks for your visit!

Tutorials every Tuesday

Subscribe to the comments for this post

Lulu loves Poppies

Lulu loves Poppies is my latest purchase from Stamping Bella.  I love the Lulu collection and have many of them.  I think this one is my favourite–so far.

Image was coloured with Copic markers.  Sky was made by hand, using a sponge and watercolour paper cut out as one cloud.  You can see my tutorial for making a cloud background here.  Creative Inspirations paint was painted onto Lulu’s dress to create some shadow.

This week’s Stamping Bella challenge is to use ribbon.

Stamp:  Stamping Bella

Paper:  Stampin’ Up! Cool Caribbean; Bazzil red

Grass:  Martha Stewart icicle punch turned upside down

Ric Rac Die:  My Favorite Things

Clouds:  made by hand

Paint:  Creative Inspirations

Subscribe to the comments for this post