Archive for the ‘Tips & Tricks’ Category
Nov
12
Posted under
Tips & Tricks 
In a world where Copic marker sales are soaring, you may ask why I continue to love a coloured pencil aka pencil crayon. Linda Heavens of Heavens Created This is a prime example of how beautiful Copic markers work. Linda makes me believe I could do beautiful work with Copics, but in the end, coloured pencil wins. Why? Coloured pencil takes me back to my childhood where I would spend countless hours colouring. Child by heart, I get an overwhelming sense of peace and relaxation when I take the time to enjoy colouring with coloured pencil.
If you are following my Coloured Pencil free on-line class, you will need to have 6-10 Prismacolor coloured pencils. Prismacolour sets may be cost prohibitive, but there is a way around that. Simply visit your local art supply store (ie. Bear Creek Studio in Sarnia, Dick Blick) to select from a showcase of single coloured pencils. If you do not have Prismacolor on hand, any brand will do, but it will be necessary to purchase a colourless blender pencil (purchase at local art store, Michael, Hobby Lobby).
What makes Prismacolor so special?
Prismacolor coloured pencils are wax-based and blend with ease. The bright series has 132 colours, and lightfast has 48 colours.
Coloured Pencil Galleries
Prismacolor website gallery
Colored Pencil Society of America 2009 winners
Colored Pencil Society of America 2008 winners
Monopoly board
Bouquet that resembles a photo rather than coloured pencil
Shiny gold chairs
Alastair Lockwood
Colour Pencil Resources
Scribble
Coloured Pencil book list
Amazon book list
Coloured Pencil Blogs
Nicole Caulfield
Siti Nuriati (beautiful Lady Diana artwork)
Holly Bedrosian portrait artist
Deborah Friedman
Gamsol/Odorless Mineral Spirits

In my coloured photo above, I used Prismacolor coloured pencil with Gamsol. Gamsol is an odorless form of turpentine. A little goes a long way, and your bottle will last forever. You can find this product in the art supply section at Hobby Lobby or Michaels, among the oil paint tubes and watercolour tubes. Look for odorless mineral spirits if you do not see Gamsol. Local art stores carry this as well.
To blend your colour you require tortillions, which are tightly wound paper sharpened to a point. You can purchase a starter kit which will have everything you need to get you started. If you don’t see a starter kit, have sandpaper on hand. Stores will have sandpaper hand-held blocks in the coloured pencil section. If you chose to buy your sandpaper at a hardware store, buy a very fine grit. Sandpaper is used to sharpen your point and to take off colour in you don’t have enough tortillions on hand.
Don’t miss out on my free on-line coloured pencil class, subscribe today
Sep
12
Posted under
Sunflowers and Dragonflies Creative Designs,
Tips & Tricks 
This is a very exciting week for Sunflowers & Dragonflies Creative Designs. Want to know why? We are showcasing cupcake stamps drawn by our new artist, Marisa of Elegant Bloggery. When I came across her cupcakes I asked her to make some for us. I am sure you will love these just as much as me. All week I will showcase more projects and cards with these delightful cupcakes.
Cupcakes are stamped out on watercolour paper and watercoloured with Tombow and Stampin’ Up.
The surprises don’t stop there. Next week we will showcase another stamp line by another artist. They are darling and will win your hearts. I know they won mine
Both stamp lines will become available to purchase on my new website which will be unveiled on September 19th.
* * * *
Please join us and show off your talent. Show us a card or project with anything sweet. You are welcome to use any product. Of course we’d prefer that you use images by Sunflowers and Dragonflies Creative Designs, but feel free to use other images if you don’t have one of ours. This week’s prize is a set of cupcake stamps and sentiments.
Please post a direct link to your challenge project (with a link back to the challenge) from either your blog or an online gallery so we can view it, no later than Saturday afternoon. If you upload to an online gallery, please use the keyword S&D8.
Please check out the challenge projects below from each of our DT members and click on their blog links to find details about each specific project.

Kim created a sweet tooth house

Beth showcases her love for chocolate

Jennifer created a heavenly sugar-coated delight for you
This week’s prize
A complete set of our cupcakes stamps and sentiments


Aug
10
Posted under
Tips & Tricks
Pearl Ex is a wonderful, colourful, and magical medium that is used by professional artists and potters, as well as rubberstampers, scrapbookers, and polymar clay artists. There are a variety of finishes–from metalic to pearlescent and iridescent. Pearl Ex is safe, non-toxic and archival safe.
Pearl Ex comes in liquid and powder form, but the most versatile is the powder form.
When painting with powder, water and Gum Arabic is added. Gum Arabic is a binding agent that prevents the powder from rubbing away. Rubberstampers find that a finishing spray (or hair spray for the thrifty) works just as well if Gum Arabic is omitted from the Pearl Ex powder/water mixture.
There are many ways to use Pearl Ex powder. It can be used as a colouring agent in embossing powder and polymar clay. It can be dusted into polymar clay molds before pressing the clay into the molds. One of my favourite methods of colouring polymar clay is to dust a variety of colours, with my finger, onto the clay prior to baking. Colours blend beautifully together. The adventerous are known to add Pearl Ex powder to their eye shadow.
There is a wealth of information on the Jacquard Products website where you will find products, a forum, project ideas, and more.
I hope you are inspired to try Pearl Ex out. Listed below are lots of tutorials and interesting photos to read, so grab a coffee, sit back, and enjoy.
50 Places to Inspire You
Subscribe to Technique Junkie Newsletter for ideas
Sunflowers and Dragonflies Tutorial (one I posted on my old blog)
Maria’s Bell’s Christmas Ornaments
Maria Bell’s Floor Wax Tutorial
Mel’s Verdigris Embossing
SplitcoastStamper’s Melted Pearls Tutorial
Mini Tutorial by Camp Fire Lady
Background Technique by Inkie Fingers
Polymer Clay Buttons
Crafty Goat’s Notes makes a test strip
Crafty Goat’s Notes organizes jars of PearlEx and Embossing Powder
Amy Celona has a video to share with you
Learn That Craft shares a video
Ars Longa put together a tutorial
Kim shares a tutorial about PearlEx with Gold Leaf
Scrapbook Designs shares a tutorial
Amy put together a wonderful tutorial and Information Sharing
Cindy Lou combines chalks with PearlEx
Pez-A-Doodle Shines
Tanya’s crayon scrappings shine
AMACO describes a technique with Friendly Plastic
Melissa’s Tile Tutorial
Gina P Crafts Shimmering Tutorial
Kim BT’s Tile Tutorial
Scrapbook Studio Gets A Little Messy
Polymer Clay Project Makes PearlEx Paint
After Hours Stamper’s Stained Glass Tutorial
Mona Designs’ Stunning Bracelet
Lisa’s Beaded Necklace
Pearl Ex as Eye Shadow
Polymar Clay Buttons on Flickr
Mikasa Vase on Flickr
Pendants on Flickr
Halloween Trinket Box on Flickr
Flower Pendent on Flickr
Sea Journal on Flickr
Tiles on Flickr
Faux Shells on Flickr
Mermaid on Flickr
Bright Coloured Card on Flickr
Jacquard Projects
Please report any broken links. Thank you.
Jul
24
Posted under
Tips & Tricks One of my favourite methods of colouring a stamped image is to watercolour with Tombow markers, and for that watercolour paper needs to be used. Whether a stamp artist or professional artist, watercolour paper is all the same; it is personal preference that determines what brand and style of paper is used.
Watercolour paper is paper that has been treated specifically to prevent absorption. There are three things that determine the weight and feel of the paper, and that is how much pulp is used, how it is treated, and how it is processed. A hot pressed surface is smooth, while a cold press surface is a little roughter. On close inspection, each piece of watercolour paper has a smooth side and a rough side. Again the roughness is determined by the factors discussed above.
Watercolour paper is labelled by weight. Weight is determined by pounds per ream, or grams per square meter. The lighter the paper, the higher the tendancy to warp.
As a rubberstamp artist, 70 pound paper is acceptable to use because less water is placed onto the paper, thereby decreasing the risk for warping. I purchase a heavier pound paper in booklet form because it travels well, it warps less, and book paper goes on sale.
In summary, picking the right paper isn’t rocket science. With the information provided, your next trip to the art store should be a little easier.
Jun
13
Posted under
Tips & Tricks,
cards 
The minute I saw the video tutorial for this gorgeous rose on Patty’s Stamping Spot, I put in a Stampin’ Up order that would allow me to create this lovely and elegant rose. The order included Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set, reinkers, white Craft pad, and Shimmer paper. This rose is just one of the 24 that I created.
These lovely textured leaves are sold at Sunflowers and Dragonflies Creative Designs.
Thanks to my mom for passing over all her unused lace, I was able to add a little more elegance to the card.
I will add this post to the Tips & Tricks tab at the top of my page, so you can refer back to my card and location of the tutorial just in case you need it again.

Thank you for stopping by. Have a great day!
Are you a subscriber? Subscribe today for more tips and tricks and tutorials.