Tag Archives: Coloring

Just Add Ink Sketch Challenge

Posted in Cards, Masculine by

Hi and welcome back.
For those who have been following along with my blog posts for a while, you will know just how much I enjoy taking part in challenges, and I do particularly enjoy a Sketch challenge.
So I decided to use the current Just Add Ink challenge to inspire my card today. Here is the sketch:

My card features the mushroom image from the Inspirational Sketches stamp set.
I was a little sad when the new Catalogue first came out, I thought that this gorgeous stamp set had retired, but you will find it sneaks in with some images on pages 110 and 111.
I am very glad it’s a current stamp set, it’s a lot of fun to use.

I have used some Grey Granite cardstock as my base, and the background layer has been embossed with the Timber Embossing Folder, and then I have run the Grey Granite ink pad over it to highlight the embossed parts.
I have taken one of the large die cut circles from the Spotlight on Nature Dies, cut it in half, and then stamped the image in Grey Granite.
The red mushrooms were stamped in Black Memento ink, which I stamped off on scrap paper before stamping onto the cardstock, just to make the outline a little lighter. The image as been coloured with Stampin’ Blends in Crumb Cake for the stems, Ivory for the underneath of the mushroom caps, and Dark and Light Real Red.
And yes, the image was fussy cut (I love fussy cutting!).
The white dots….. there are several ways to achieve the white dots on the mushroom caps, which do make them look more realistic. If you have White Craft Ink, you can use a stylus, dip that into the ink on the ink pad, and dab it onto the image. You may have to do this several times to give a good coverage.
Alternatively, you can use a white gel pen or similar and that is much easier to do.
Did you know that Stampin’ Up! used to sell these? I’m talking way, way, way long ago in the deep dark past, not long after I first joined as a demonstrator. And believe it or not, I still had one that I bought from Stampin’ Up!. It doesn’t work any more, not surprising, since they do dry out after a while.
Perhaps it’s time to do a very big clean out.

Happy stamping!
Chris

Product List
Inspirational Sketches Cling Stamp Set (English)
[162684]
Spotlight On Nature Dies
[163580]
Timber 3 D Embossing Folder
[163094]
Gray Granite Classic Stampin' Pad
[147118]
Real Red Stampin' Blends Combo Pack
[154899]

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

CASE = Copy And Selectively Edit

Posted in Cards, Flowers by

Welcome back to all of my crafty friends. We had our first frost of the winter this morning, and even though the sun is out, the next door neighbour’s roof is still glistening in the sunlight.
I am so grateful for the lovely fire that is keeping me warm and cosy.


When I first joined as a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator in 2008, I had done very little stamping or cardmaking, and my wonderful mentor, Larissa, told me to find cards I liked online, and copy them as best I could, with the items I had available. At that stage, I didn’t have much in the way of a papercrafting stash (oh my, how things have changed!), so I had to be inventive and creative, look at the card I was copying, and change it to suit what I had available.
That process is what we now term CASE-ing, (CASE = Copy and Selectively Edit) and I will be forever grateful for Larissa’s advice to do this, it started me out on this journey, and to me, this is still a fun way to get really creative but also a great way to find inspiration, especially when your Mojo has gone out the window! It is important though to make sure we credit whoever made the original card.
And so, onto my card today, and yes, it does once again feature the Stippled Roses stamp set and matching Dies. I may be a little obsessed with this stamp set.

The card that I have CASE-d is the one that goes across the spine on pages 122/123 of the Annual Catalogue. I loved the look of that card but wanted to add the gorgeous roses.
The roses have been stamped in Pecan Pie ink, and then coloured (of course! it wouldn’t be me without a little colouring) using Peach Pie ink and a Blender Pen, very gently dabbing the colour onto the shaded areas.
In the background, the leaves in Old Olive and Basic Beige are also from the Stippled Roses Dies, the Designer Series Paper is my new favourite, Country Woods DSP, the circle is cut from the Spotlight On Nature Dies, and the sentiment comes from the Stamped With Love set. Then to finish off I’ve added a few of the Peach Pie Shimmer Gems from the 2024-2026 In Color Shimmer Gems.

Make the most of the fantastic 10% discount on stamp set and die bundles through until the end of June. Bundles are already cheaper than buying the stamps and dies separately, so now you get that discount plus another 10% off. Great deal. You can shop online here.

Hoping you have a crafty day.
Happy stamping!
Chris

Product List
Stippled Roses Cling Stamp Set (English)
[162657]
Stippled Roses Dies
[162666]
Country Woods 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper
[163393]
Spotlight On Nature Dies
[163580]
Stamped With Love Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)
[161395]

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Card Sketch Ideas

Posted in Cards by

Hello and welcome back.
Did you know that on Page 22 of the Annual Catalogue, at the bottom of the page, there are 22 sketch ideas for making cards?
I have used one of these sketches for my inspiration today, the sketch on the top row, 5th along from the right hand side, and I have used this to create a clean and simple masculine card.

My card features the bird from the Inspirational Sketches stamp set. The image has been stamped with Black Memento ink onto Crumb Cake cardstock, and then coloured with watercolour pencils in Basic Black, Basic White and Early Espresso.
I also created a reel on my Facebook page, showing how I coloured the image, which you can find here.
While you are on my Facebook page, make sure you follow me so that you can get updates when I post there, which is generally more often than I do here, at least at the moment.
I have then modified the sketch a little, extended the panel with the main image and added a layer behind it, to create a different look altogether.

I hope you are enjoying a crafty Sunday wherever you might be.
It’s a chilly day here, the start of winter, and we have the fire going, so I will be enjoying staying warm in front of the fire today, and perhaps creating something different.
Happy stamping!
Chris

Product List
Inspirational Sketches Cling Stamp Set (English)
$44.00
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad
$14.00
Watercolor Pencils Assortment 1
$32.00
Crumb Cake A4 Card Stock
$20.25
Early Espresso A4 Card Stock
$20.25

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Try Stampin on Tuesday Sketch #545

Posted in Cards by

Here is this week’s sketch at Try Stampin on Tuesday.

I have used the Pattern Party Designer Series Paper for my card for this sketch, the only stamping is the sentiment.

The flowers have been fussy cut from the Designer Series Paper and then coloured. There are so many different ways to colour images but I thought I would try something a little different with these flowers because I wanted them to pop out from the card, so I wanted some nice colour intensity, but because it’s DSP, I didn’t want to be doing too much blending or brushing.
So I have used the Wink of Stella, and some Polished Pink ink, which I put onto the smallest of our clear blocks. The liquid in the Wink of Stella makes it easy to put the colour down and also adds that lovely glittery shimmer at the same time.

Pretty!


I hope you will pop over to Try Stampin on Tuesday to see what the rest of the Design Team have done with this great sketch. And maybe you will share your own creation with us.
Happy stamping
Chris

Stampin’ Up! Happy Hedgehogs

Posted in Cards by

My card today features the Stampin’ Up! Happy Hedgehogs stamp set, without the Hedgehogs!

It’s been a difficult couple of weeks for me, I have struggled with quite a lot of what is still going on around the world. I am sure there are many who are also struggling with what has become a long and drawn out situation which none of us would have chosen.

I’m not going to get into politics or even my beliefs, all I am going to say is that while I know there are many who are suffering a lot more than I am, I don’t believe there is a single person on the planet at the moment, who doesn’t need the sentiment on my card.
Happy Hedgehogs is such a cute stamp set, and I have chosen to colour the tree and butterfly with watercolour pencils. The coloured image is combined with a panel which has been embossed with the wonderful Hive Embossing Folder and one of the gorgeous Bumblebee Trinkets.

It’s not always easy to stay positive right now, but that is my message today, just hang in there.
Happy stamping!
Chris

Product List
Happy Hedgehogs Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)
[157983]
$32.00
Hive 3 D Embossing Folder
[157955]
$15.75
Bumblebee Trinkets
[155568]
$13.00
Watercolor Pencils Assortment 2
[149014]
$21.75
Add All to Cart

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

February Host Code:

CHY3YYAM

Use this host code when you order, and if you order $90 or greater you will receive a free gift from me!  If your order is $250 or over, please do not use this code, you’ll still get a free gift – your choice of any item valued up to 10% or your order (excluding shipping costs) from the 2021-22 Annual Catalogue or January-June 2022 Mini Catalogue!  That includes some of the Host Exclusive items. (Australian orders only please).
And don’t forget to add your FREE Sale-a-Bration item, only available until the end of February, when your product order totals $90 or above.

***Make sure that you can see my name on the final checkout page listed as your Demonstrator when you order so that you know that you’re ordering with me and you’ll get my rewards!

Stampin’ Up! Natural Tone Blends coming soon!

Posted in Stampin' Blends by

I am sharing a bit of a sneak peek today of a new product which will be available from 1st Feb 2022.
The new Natural Tone Stampin’ Blends!

These will be fantastic for skin tones as well as for animals and, well…. just a great addition to current collection of colours.
They are available as a preorder for demonstrators right now, so if you are interested in getting these now and would like to get a minimum of 20% off your craft purchases, contact me, or you can join here.
These will be available from my online store from the 1st Feb 2022 – start planning your projects!

Happy stamping
Chris

Vintage Friendly Hello

Posted in Cards, Flowers by

As I am sure you can tell, I just love the Friendly Hello Sale-a-Bration stamp set (available 4th January 2022), I am also loving the Heart and Home Suite (also available 4th January from the new Mini Catalogue) – yes, there is a lot to look forward to with all the gorgeous new goodies coming soon.

I made this card during my regular Wednesday morning Facebook Live, I have to admit though, I was very tired and probably sounded it. However I think the card turned out ok. This is a style I love to make, I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but it is easy enough to adjust it to be less “fussy” and appeal to a wider range of people.
The gorgeous flowers from the Friendly Hello set, have been stamped in Basic Gray and then coloured with Pale Papaya ink and Blender Pens. And that gorgeous Basic Gray doily is part of the Heart and Home suite.
Did you know that you can watch most of my Facebook Lives on my YouTube channel? Make sure you hit the subscribe button to get regular updates. Click here to go straight to my youTube Channel.
I’m not sure about you, but I am looking forward to some holiday time and some down time to connect with some creativity and have a play with some new products and ideas.
Happy stamping!
Chris

Stampin’ Up! Friendly Hello

Posted in Cards, Flowers, Sale-a-bration by

My card today uses the Stampin’ Up! Friendly Hello stamp set, one that you may not have seen yet. It is a brand new one, available from the 4th January 2022, along with the pretty Friendly Hello Designer Series Paper.



I fell in love this with gorgeous little bird as soon as I saw it, and am so grateful that I am able to earn free goodies from Stampin’ Up! just for choosing to be a demonstrator and share what I love doing. And of course, it’s always fun to receive free things, and this is one that you can also receive for free during this coming January/February Sale-a-Bration.

Cute little birdie is coloured using the Stampin’ Up! Watercolour pencils, but with no water involved, just coloured with the pencils.
Isn’t this just the most gorgeous image?
I have also stamped on the inside of the card with a smaller image from the same set, also coloured with the pencils.

While this one is only available to demonstrators prior to the 4th January, if you really want it, you could join my Stampin’ Up! family of demonstrators, with all the benefits that go along with that.
Of course there are always the items that are on the Last Chance List and in the Clearance Rack to craft with until January, and I will be posting up some projects using those soon.
Happy stamping!
Chris

Pattie’s Creations Challenge 112

Posted in Cards by

Theme – Make a Splash: Water MUST be part of your Image!
For this month’s challenge with Pattie’s Creations I have chosen Pattie’s wonderful Mallards image.

I just loved colouring this image, and of course have used my Copic Markers.

I decided to keep the card very clean and simple so that the image was the highlight of the card, and also decided to leave it blank without a sentiment, although it could be used for just about any type of card.
I hope you will join in the fun this month, create something with a water theme, or just that has some water somewhere, and share it with us at Pattie’s Creations in July.
Happy Stamping!
Chris