Picking Apples - Sugar Nellie image by Elisabeth Bell

Well I've been off for a few days trying to get my e-bay site sorted & I'm about half way there now! So I thought I'd better do a post today before my new blog becomes ancient! (if thats at all possible). Anywho topdays post features an old Sugar stamp drawn by Elisabeth Bell - one of my fave artists making stamps nowadays. Its not my favourite image anymore though it was when I bought it, but it still always looks good & gives loads of scope & potential for colouring & shading. Although I used to actually do watercolour paintings from scratch, when I first started colouring stamped images this way - I didn't like the effect & so had to totally re-train myself. When I'm colouring stamped images with Distress Inks nowadays I tend to use a more cartoon, caracature feel & stick to 1 or 2 colours of the same shade.When watercolouring you usually pick a contrasting hue to shade (ie. if using red you pick green, yellow you use purple etc.) Well thats in very basic terms anyway, but with this stamp I always end up instinctively colouring it more simelar to how you would actually watercolour. I did used to love mixing colours when painting but with these Distress Inks now they are allready mixed into stunning complex colours & shades of several hues with pastel tones & some really fantastic colours that actually go with ANYTHING!!! - I have not yet come across a designer paper collection that my Distress Inks wont compliment. They're FAB ('nough said)...

 

So I hope I've not dissapointed with the colouring after my little ramble on! - I just wanna fly the flag for Distress Inks really cause though I love copics & have been dying to try them myself for AGES! - I do think Distress Inks are a little under used & under credited. So these are the colours I used...

 

Skin: Tattered Rose

Cheecks: Fired Brick

Hat, hair bow & Apples: Mulled Lavender& Victorian Velvet with touch of Fired Brick

Dungarees & Hat ribbon bow: Weathered Wood, Tumbled Glass, Victorian Velvet to shade

Blouse & flowers: Spun Sugar, Pumice Stone, Victorian Velvet to shade

Hair & Basket:Old Paper, Pumice Stone, Frayed Burlap with Victorian Velvet & Brushed Cordroy to shade

Grass & Leaves: Shabby Shutters with Victorian Velvet to shade

Extra Shading: Pumice Stone, Frayed Burlap & Brushed Cordroy

Highlights with crystal Stickles glitter glue

.......................................

BUTTERFLIES TUTORIAL:

The Butterflies have been made with some HOTP stancils I got for my Cardmaker of the Year prize - I got a few different ones so will be trying to get through them all soon! - Theres loads of different ways you can use them. Basically for this card I traced the templates on to different pieces of my patterned papers; the big butterfly in stripes, body on pink & inner wing sections on blue & cut out. Then I lay the pieces on another piece of patterned paper; pink for the main butterfly & wing sections, and blue for the body then cut around them leaving a small 1-2ml gap around the outline so they were slightly bigger. I then embossed all of the pieces seperately with a stylus embossing tool; basically you want to work on the reverse side of the paper in circular motions, beginning in the center & working outwards in bigger circles, then back in again - the paper will begin to curve, simply repeat until you have the desired amount. Then assemble all together & adhere with silicone or Pinflair glue. I added some wire with beads on & some beads to the wings also. I'm not totally thrilled with the outcome but happy for a 1st attempt & think theres something there to be developed...

The smaller butterfly has been made in the same way with 2 smaller templates. The papers which I totally forgot to mention before is HOTP also from the prize & is really delicate & pretty. Not something I probably would have chosen myself - but do really like it actually. Its good sometimes to work with materials someone else has chosen - it can bring a different element to your work, and it defo has here for me as I really think this has a different feel to most of my other makes, try it some time - its fun too!

The part I'm most pleased with apart from the colouring is this fab little journaling tag from the HOTP collection. I just think its so pretty & they always look great tucked under the side of the card, the little beads finish it perfectly & it really adds to the design & layout here.

The strip going across just under center has been embossed with Cuttle Bug 'Swiss Dots' embossing folder & wrapped with this gorgeous Stampin Up ribbon. Cream felt flower is from Maya Road tin, other fabric flowers are HOTP. Pin has been homemade with pearl bead from my broken necklase.

The doily which looks stunning in real has been sprayed with micas & really shines - the colours really go with the papers too. The 2 brads are HOTP also & I think thats why the card has ended up so co-ordinated as many of the elements are from the same collection, which gives a different look to mixing different manufactures & collections like I would usually do, but for a bit of a change - I think I quite like it.

I'd like to enter into the follwing challenges:
Anything Goes - Pearls
Papertake Weekly - Truly Dimentional
Shabby Tea Room - Doily
My partner in crafting crime - 3 or more layers
Paper Issues - Show us your grass! (Easter/Spring)
Sparkles Forum - Easter
Cardmakin mamas - Embellish it
Craft your days away - spots & stripes
Dream Valley - Things with wings