Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

July 13, 2012

Spectrum Noir Introduction

Here is the first of the promised videos and this one will introduce the pens to those that are new to them.
They are an alcohol based colouring system that has many good point in it's favour.

They are more affordable than some of the other pens on the market and that has got to be something to be considered for us crafters.

They are refillable and the nibs are replaceable too so that's another plus point.

The video is availble on the website and here is the link.....Spectrum Noir Introduction 

I have another one ready to add tomorrow and that will cover skin tones.... and bit by bit I will cover different coloured skins, hair colours, clothes, transparency, creating back grounds and making embellishmnets fit the colour scheme.

Hope you will enjoy them

Hugs xx

July 12, 2012

I'm being lazy ...

Since we got back from Canada we have been very lazy. Griff says it is jet lag and that he feels his will last about three months....  No chance !!

So today I have been busy preparing everything I need for the new videos I want to do and tomorrow it is back to work with a vengence.  So my "Film Crew" will have to get his hat on again and get up his ladder.

This is some of my  Spectrum Noir pens and some of the paper that I use to colour on.... which is a  160gsm Text and Graphic  card from   Staples         
This will be the start of a set of videos showing how I use them.   I do not pretend to be an artist ... this is just the way I make these pens work for me.
I have had several emails asking about them and so I thought that a video or two would be the best way forward rather than answer the questions individually

So tomorrow I will introduce the pen system and explain some of the things about them to those that are new to alcohol marker pens.

These are some of the cards that have been made using this system and hopefully ....  fingers crossed ....  you will enjoy the videos and find them useful to you in your own colouring.

Click the photos for an enlarged view.

The images are from   Mo's Digital Pencil  ... Lili of the Valley   and   Just Inklined  ... and all make the most adorable cards.

The "Bling" as always is from Want2Scrap and has been added to the Elephant card.

Hugs xx


July 11, 2012

Babies, babies everywhere.

Since I discovered these beautiful images from   Mo's Digital Pencil   I have had so much fun colouring them in.

I have used Spectrum  Noir pens  throughout the process and they are available from Crafters Companion

Here are some that I have coloured in using the same image but I love the way they have turned out...and although the image is the same one the effect is different each time... and I will be adding these to cards as I need them



This baby was featured in a card a few posts ago and has been coloured with Spectrum Noir pens....

Clicking the photo will give you a larger image so that you can see the different effect on each one.

I used the palest in the turquoise set and outlined it all with a pale beige.

I just love the sofness of these images and they are perfect for new baby cards or a first birthday.

My Great Grand daughter will be getting one of these on her first birthday in October.

This one has been coloured with pale greens and the effect on the dress is created with the pens.
And this one is in a pale Lilac with a Polka dot dress and this is my favorite colour scheme.
Such a delightful image deserves your best shot at colouring it in and making it into the prettieset card you can.

Hugs xx




July 10, 2012

Colouring In ...

While I was in Canada one of the things that Naomi wanted to learn was how to colour in images that  are from  stamps or  digital downloads. 

One of the images I coloured is on her blog page so why not pop over and  take a look at  Creative Bug on the Loose  She has made it up into a very pretty card that would suit any occasion and I just love them

It features one of the Fairy Babies that I bought from Mo's Digital Pencil  and there are so many beautiful images on there that you will be  spoilt  for choice. 

The artist,  Maurie Manning,  has given me her permission to use these images in a series of videos that I am going to make on using the Spectrum Noir pen system.

Naomi made a very good pupil and watched as I showed her which pens to use to get the effect for each individual thing that we wanted to do.
All the parts to this card are done with the Spectrum Noir pens and this is Naomis' first attempt at using them. 

 The card that we used was not the correct one for the pens and once Naomi gets some smooth paper she will be even more pleased with the results.

We coloured the ribbons, pearls and the acetate background with the same pens, and blended them all to match the colour scheme.

The little tag sentiment at the bottom Naomi has covered with the  Glass Beads  that I told you about the other day.

The flowers are of course Spellbinders Blossom 3 and she has inked the edges with Distress Inks.

So well done Naomi with this beautiful card.... and the videos will be here shortly.

Hugs xx


July 09, 2012

Sea Glass

Click to Enlarge
This is some beautiful Sea Glass that Naomi and I collected for Souris Beach which is right in front of her house. 

All we had to do was cross the road and there it was.... and such a beautiful view from the big window in her front room.

Enlarge the picture to see the array of colours in the glass and the smoothness of some of the pieces ... and when I learn how to make it into some lovely jewelery I will be sure to show you what I have done.

Some of the pieces are small enough to add to cards, but there are some that would make wonderful earrings.  The pinks and lilacs are gorgeous but my favourite is the very pale turquoise.

The blue is not so prominent and apparently the red is very rare.  I asked Griff if he would come collecting it off our local beach and his answer was ..... "Nope"  ..... spoil sport !!

Hugs xx