Thank you for joining us again here in the CLASSroom today! Don't forget that our sale starts today and runs through tomorrow! As well you will most DEFINITELY want to join us on Saturday, October 3rd for a day full of card making festivities!
This month I wanted to share how you can use our stamp of the month packet to create very different looks. The colors always seem to pull the cards together, but if you look at each of the cards below they are quite different from each other. We hope that you enjoy this month's layouts and elements and that they inspire you to create something "firey" for the fall season.
To begin I selected the Basic Grey, Indian Summer collection of papers. The colors in these papers just grab me - the warmth, vibrance and sheer beauty scream fall.
When I first saw the Lockhart Cornucopia stamp I just HAD to color it! It was one of the first from the collection that I began to create with.
I always like to begin by laying down a light colored layer of color using Copic markers. As you can see - I do NOT worry about precision when placing these colors. I then begin to layer additional colors on top utilizing my Prismacolor pencils.
Many of you have wondered why it is that at times I switch from Copics to Prismacolor pencils. It is because I get a completely different look - one that has more depth, more texture, when I color on top of my Copic colors with Prismacolor pencils.
Prismacolor pencils when colored wtih a light hand will grab the tooth of the paper, allowing the colors below to show through. It is a difficult process to catch in photos, but I highly recommend that you give it a try.
I almost always use three different colors of pencils to color in one item, starting with the lightest color and adding the darkest color last.
Here is a closeup of the final colored piece. Following is the list of colored pencils I used - Burnt Ochre, Siena Brown, Chocolate, Dark Brown, Sand, Goldenrod, Pumpkin Orange, Scarlet Lake, Crimson Lake, Crimson Red, Poppy Red, Tuscon Red, Mahogany Red, Black Cherry, Limepeel, Dark Green. That's a lot of colors, but I love the depth and variety of color that makes the piece come alive.
To create the depth in this cornucopia I colored additional layers of the fruits and vegies. The foremost layer only has the pumpkin colored and cut out, with the second layer including the squash, pear, tomatoes, persimmon, and pumpkin.
Many of you have seen how Susan Tierney Cockburn has taught me how to make her GORGEOUS flowers. To create the leaves for this project I used the coffee filter technique that we worked on together when she first shared her wonderful skills with me. I just knew that Copic markers would add incredible color to these beauties.
To begin I color a small portion of a coffee filter with Y21. I then used several Martha Stewart leaf punches to create the leaves for this project.
To add color to these leaves I used a number of different Copic colors - R08, R59, YG00, E11, and E59
I then used Spica glitter pens to add some sparkley veining to my little leaves. As you can see I simply soak color in to one edge of the leaf and then come back in with my lighter colors to spread and blend the ink tones. This makes these leaves look so real!
The oak leaf was much to large to use in this basket, so I ended up cutting it and only using the top portion.
Simply adhere several leaves to your base layer, add the next fruit and vegie layer using dimensionals. Secure a couple of additional leaves and then place the pumpkin atop these using yet another dimensional.
I used a label nine die to create the background. Keeping my die in place I airbrushed my project using Copic colors Y38, Y26, YR24, and E09. "Give thanks" from the Rummage Bin, All Things Fall set was added as a greeting.
For my next card I just had to bring out my brayer. I have always been mesmerized by some of the beautiful brayered backgrounds I have seen and I felt that this stamp was begging for a similar look.
To begin I stamped my image on Eclipse tape and then cut out the circle and placed it on my white cardstock.
WIth this project I have found that I prefer the soft edges of the Speedball brayer - I hope to do an entire blog post on this subject soon.
To begin I brayered using the following colors on the top protion of my paper - Peach Bellini, Sunset Orange, Watermelon. Then on the bottom I brayered on Scattered Straw (I need to double check this one because I am writing this too late at night from home - LOL) and used Tea Dye ink direct to paper swiping in a sweeping motion that would represent hills.
The brayer from the bottom up the last layer of color is Walnut Stain ink. To determine the placement of my colors I stamped my image on a Stamp-a-ma-jig Imaging sheet and used it as a guide.
I also used my stamp-a-ma-jig to make certain that my stamped image would align perfectly with my circle. I removed my mask and positioned my imaging sheet as shown.
Simply remove the imaging sheet and stamp your image in the same place. Each stamp-a-ma-jig comes with directions, but sometimes a little refresher course can help.
As you can see I applied so much ink that it bleed through my mask, but I loved the look and realized that sometimes accidents are "good things."The final step was to add a little extra depth to the hills. By positioning my Eclipse Tape along the hillside line and using my Walnut Stain ink together with a blending tool I was able to add that extra depth.
To finalize the focal image I added some accents using my Opaque pen. I just LOVE the colors of this project!
Finally came "The Pines." Working against the clock, because this image arrived in our warehouse only today, I realized that easy would be good. I LOVE the papers in the Indian Summer collection that are monochromatic leaf images. I simply stamped my image using VersaMark on the gourd colored leaves and embossed it with Walnut Stain embossing powder. The texture and depth this Distress Powder provides is simply gorgeous. This is one of my all-time favorite embossing powders.
A little stitching and a few buttons and this beautiful silhouette was complete. There will be so many ways for you to use this simple stamp --- white for winter, color with various ink pads or water-based markers and you will get a completely different look!
We hope that you enjoy the diversity in this month's selection and that you each find something that you are attracted to. Simple or complex - we want to give you choices.
Stamps: Lockhart Cornucopia, Rummage Bin All Things Fall, Memory Box Tendril Collage, CHF The Pines
Paper: Basic Grey 6x6 Paper Pad Indian Summer, Memory Box - Gourd, Mango, Persimmon, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Rich Cocoa, Adirondack - Peach Bellini, Sunset Orange, Watermelon, Distress Ink Pads - Tea Dye, Walnut Stain
Accessories: Snips, Labels Nine, Dotted Scallop Edger Punch, Satin Ribbon (included in thank you packet), Antique Gold Twill, Basic Grey Indian Summer Buttons, Sewing Machine, Walnut Stain Distress Embossing Powder, Brayer, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Thank you for stopping by the CLASSroom today and be certain to stay tuned for more World Card Making Day announcements soon! For those of you who have added the "Blinkie" for our upcoming World Card Making Day events to your blogs this is the prize packet you will be receiving! We hope that you will enjoy the fun we have planned!