Papercraft Essentials 144 - Spring Garden

Hi Everybody,

Today I am featuring the free gift that will be attached to the Papercrafts Essentials magazine

It will be in the shops on the 9th March so keep a look out for your copy if you like the gift.

The video will give you some ideas of the way I have used this set that is made up of several spring themed stamps and s little Picket Fence die

Papercraft Essentials 144 - Spring Garden   will show you how I made this card and also how to create the clouds in the sky which is something I get asked a lot about.

If you need a more detailed explanation then you will find it her ...  Cloud Effect Sky

It is a very simple technique but is very effective once completed.


Use pale blue or for a stormy sky grey works well.  But try other colours for a fantasy look too.

I hope you enjoy the video and the free gift when it arrives in your craft space

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Pale Skin

Hi Everybody,

Here is another colored image and she is from Saturated Canary

Colors used ...
Hair                               TN1, TN2 TN7
Eyes                              TB2
Skin                               FS2, FS3, TN2, CR1
Pinafore                        TB1, TB2, TB4
Boots                            BG2, BG4, BG6
Eggs                              EB1
Grass                             DG2, DG4
Chicken                          TN1, TN2, EB1

In the first tutorial for The Art Studio using the Spectrum Noir pens I covered coloring in Pale Skin... and the result was very well received.

So in the next tutorial I will be covering the subject of dark skin and the concept of this scares many people into thinking they cannot get it right.  Well I am here to show you that you can and  together we will get the perfect look for you images.

It will be in depth  so get your pens ready to join me on another adventure with Spectrum Noir.  This image is called Egg-tra special from Saturated Canary.   But you can use any image that you have in your Digi or stamp collection

The tutorial will be available, to purchase,   at the end of this month.  More information nearer the time.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Owl in the Cherry Tree ...

Hi Everybody,

This week I have been featuring the  CD Farmyard Fellows from  Clint Rose  and this is another way to use the images ...and it's not as the artist intended.

The  images are complete with a stand ... so that they can be displayed ...  but I have cut this Owl  from the stand used it in quite a different way.

If you refer back to yesterdays card ... made using the same owl ...  you will see that  it has the wings raised to hold the plaque of your choice from the CD

On this one I have cut the wings off and re-positioned them so that they are at the side of the body.

Then from the Spellbinders Cherry Blossom die set I have cut several branches and some of the flowers ... and arranged them so that the Owl is standing on one of the branches.

The background has been inked to look like the sky and the way to do that is in a video  Cloud Effect

I have added some large Googly eyes to make her look more like a girl and in the centre of all the flowers I have added in a small pearl.   The "Thank You" sentiment is from the CD and is just one of several for you to choose from.

If you would like to win one of the THREE copies that I have then you will need to pop over to June Give Away   and add your name to the list.  You will need to become a  follower and leave me a comment please.  

I have added some more things into the prize and it will be drawn on Saturday morning

So as well as the CD three people will also get a set of SeeD's rubber stamps + 6 metres of ribbon + a small jar of mixed pearls and gemstones for you to embellish your designs.

The CD has been donated by the artist Clinton Rose  and if you show you support of this new designer that would be fantastic.

Pop over to his Facebook page and click the "like" button and show him you care... tell him I sent you over there please...

And if you can't wait to see if you are a lucky winner then you can always buy a copy now .....  .Farmyard Fellows ....

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Oh! Christmas Tree...

This  card was  created using  the 2010 Holiday Tree that I got from Save On Hobbies  and it makes a very pretty card for that special time of year.

It uses the  Baby  Blue and  Dark Blue Pearls  from  Want2Scrap  to stud the  tree.

I have used the different sizes around the middle shape and added it to the the largest shape with Pinflair Glue Gel to give it height.

The largest and smallest shapes in the dies have been sparkled with Glamour Dust.... and the background has been run through a Snowflake embossing folder.

To the Floral Ovals I have add a  Cloud Effect  as a backdrop to the trees. The ribbon ia Navy Blue and the two stars are wooden ones that have been dabbed in glue and then sparkled with the Glamour Dust. 

This is going in my pile of cards ready to send at Christmas.

Hugs xx

Lets try some Faux Effects...

Last month on the Blog I mentioned  Creating Clouds  as a background to your cards ... well over the next few days I would like to cover some more Faux effects that can give another look to your designs.

There are lot of them around and they are techniques that have been used for a long time. But maybe some of them are new to you and you would like to give them a try.  There is no right or wrong way to do these and I am no expert ...this is just the way I do it and it is very easy.

This is the  Faux Tile Effects  and it can just be seen in the backgound.  It gives the look of tiling and is done with clear embossing powder. Click the link for a more detailed explanation on what to do.

It has a very pretty look and will suit cards for any occasion ...male or female so no problems there.

Tomorrow I will add another effect that you may want to try... and I hope you will tell me what you think of the effect if you give it a try.

Hugs Christina xx

Freebie for you ...

Well I have been up since 5am ... couldn't sleep with things whirring round my head ... and yet I don't seem to have done very much so far.

I have all sorts of ideas buzzing away and I have to get them down on paper before I forget, ( sign of age!!) and so when I wake in the middle of the night the brain starts going and that's it for me ... no more sleep.

So rather than lie there thinking  ... go to sleep, go to sleep, I may as well get up and get something done.  So this is what I have achieved this morning.

These young men are more of the digital drawings from  Showers of Cards and Flowers  and they are "freebies" so grab them while you can.  They have been coloured in with Distress Ink ... and there's not a flower in sight, not even a trace of pink. (Sigh!) 

I have covered the process of using these fabulous inks to water colour with and the tutorial is in three parts.  One features the skin, the second the hair and the third the clothes.

 I don't profess to be an artist but this works for me and so this is how I go about
                          Colouring with Distress Inks

The backgrounds to both been done with the   Cloud Effect   which makes them look as if they are outside ... maybe waiting for pals to come out for a game of football... who knows.

Now because they are digital images they will need to be printed onto your paper, and off course printer ink and water don't mix.

Your work will bleed and look awful, but there is a way to stop this and it is very simple.... cheap hairspray!!

Works wonders at sealing the ink quickly, cheaply and efficiently... and that way you won't have a spoiled image.

 I have used a light card of 160gsm as that goes through my printer with no trouble at all.

On the first spine has been wrapped with rafia and the sentiment  and the footabll are from the Pretty Tuff CD from   Polka Doodles.   Just the finishing touch a boy needs.

The second card has some Spellbinder borders and the sentiment is red ... but it looks pink!!


Hugs Christina xx

Hello Ducky!!

This lovely little chap is a free download from   Showers of Cards and Flowers 

Naomi is just venturing out into the world of creating digital images and there are more for you on her pages.
This is my interpretation of her lovely duck and I have used a template for Creating Clouds

 Pay her a visit and see what else is on offer as a "Freebie"  .... I love a freebie!

There are two images for you to download and one of them is already coloured. The other is a line drawing that you  can colour your self and make the most of any of the colouring mediums that  you have ...  and make him a her if you wish....there's nothing wrong with a pink or a blue duck!!

The flying birds are hand drawn,  just little "V" with a fine liner pen, and the fence is a small stamp from one of the sets from Polka Doodles range of stamps. All the individual elements in the collections can be used on other designs with great effect.

With the addition of some Googly eyes and ribbon from my "Stash" I think he looks rather cute and ideal for a small childs' birthday..... but what do you think?

Hugs Christina xx