Rain Rain Go Away!!!!!

We have had two dreary days now and I am sure that these gray days can take their toll on ones mood.

I have been meeting my neighbour for a brisk walk at 6 a.m. each morning, so I usually get up around 5:45. The last two mornings, my alarm has not went off and I have awakened at precisely 6:02 (a grand way to get your heart rate up in record time!!!). What is very unusual is that last night I specifically checked my alarm clock to ensure that all was working and that the volume setting on the radio that at the minimal when activated should have caught the attention of EVERYONE in the house (giggle!). Lo and behold, when I opened my heavy eyelids this morning, the clock reads 6:02. Leaping from my bed in a single bound, I dashed to the back door to check the weather. Initially I breathed a big sigh of relief to see the rain this morning, but as I am sitting here composing this post, I am realizing how much more energy I would have if was a sunny day and I had already been "working it" for an hour. Now, I KNOW I checked that alarm last night.......hmmm makes me wonder why the volume was turned right down the last two days. Is it that my DS is hoping that I'll sleep the morning away so that he can have a day off, or is it particularly sensitive to not disturbing it's owners on a rainy day???

Whatcha think of my little pirate????? I resisted this set (SU! Ahoy Matey) for the Longest time, but after seeing so many fabulous samples, I could resist no more!!!!!

I made this card using Apricot, Turquoise, Green Galore and Real Red Cardstock (a slight modification from the SCS colour challenge yesterday as evidently I missed the "rose" in front of the red!). The image was stamped on whisper white, coloured in with the Stampin' Write markers and the borders was doodled in. I then sponged over the image with apricot. Using the "gear" stamp from it's about time, I created the Ships Wheel. I did a little caramel sponging to the green band to tone it down a bit and added texture with the cheesecloth background stamp. I think I will have a lot of fun with this set!

Outdated Image

Do you have some older images kicking around your cupboards??? Take the challenge to make a card that will showcase those stamps in a new way!!!!

You all know that I am a splitcoast junkie! One of the members sent out this image to several members. Our challenge was to make a card that reflects a more modern look. You can check this challenge out here

I am not sure where the image hails from, but don't you just LOVE this new Designer Paper? This comes from the Pallette of Prints Paper by Stampin' up!!! Check out my SU! website to find out how you can take advantage of this paper through a special offer that is being held until the end of the month. The Chipboard Star is from SU! and is covered with Saffron designer paper. Ribbon and Clip are also from SU!

I'm Back!!!!

From the Stampin' Girls Convention

It was SO exciting to share my passion for Stamping with many of my fellow demonstrators. We were also afforded the excellent opportunity of listening to the inspiring words of Jen Bailey, a Stampin' Up! Rising Star who shared many of her excellent ideas on how to build a successful Stampin' Up! Business. Can't wait to share some of her tips with my group!

I also able to meet another Splitcoaststamper and fellow demonstrator, Anne-Marie. We had so much fun and it was great to put a face to a person that I had been corresponding with for some time. Check out AM's Gallery to view some very pretty cards and clever ideas!!!!

I was very happy to share some basic design tips for card making and scrapbooking as well as demonstrating two methods of watercolouring. As I promised, here is the First of two watercolour techniques.

Watercolouring with Stampin' Write (tm) Markers

I choose this method of Watercolouring when I want to work more quickly and achieve a deep concentration of colours and generally when I am working with the same hue of colours.

Supplies:

• Stayzon(tm) Solvent Ink
• Stampin’ Write Markers(tm)
• Aquapainters(tm)
• Paper Towel

Step One:

• Stamp your image with Stayzon on Watercolour Paper or White Cardstock.
• Let image set for a minute.

Step Two
Using your lightest hue of colour, fully fill in the areas that you wish to cover.


























Step Three




“Scribble” in a darker value of the colour, keeping the dark areas to the same side-shadows and highlights generally are on the opposite sides.












Step Four


Continue to add in darker and lighter or brighter values of colour.


Remember that as you increase the depth of colour, the area of coverage will become smaller.

Step Five
Using a damp Aquapainter, gently blend out your colours, pulling the dark into the lighter area. Use a paper towel to remove the excess colour as you are blending.

Clean your aquapainter and blend the light across into the dark areas.



















Continue with the process until you have fully blended the colours in the image.

I LOVE my Watercolor Wonder Crayons!!!!

The advantages of using the Watercolor Wonder crayons to colour images are vast, but for me the opacity that you can achieve with this medium allows for the applications of layering colour, painting on coloured cardstock and achieving crisp highlights through the removal of colour.

Teamed up with Stampin’ Up’s! Aquapainters, you are able to create vibrant images.

Let me show you how!

Supplies:

• SU! Watercolor Wonder CrayonsÔ
• SU! AquapaintersÔ
• StazonÔ Solvent Inkpad
• Watercolour Paper
• Paper Towel
• 
  

Step One


Stamp your image on the Watercolour paper with Stayzon (tm)

Wait a minute or two for your ink to set.

Step Two

Rich colour can be achieved through a process of layering colour. Working from light to dark, build your layers of colour accordingly. If you are looking for a warm colour finish (Red, Brown, Green, Orange) start with shades of yellow and strengthen the colour until you build to the finish colour. If you are finishing in cool colours tones, (Blue, Purple, Cool Reds) start with the lightest hue available and build from there. This example shows the building of a Warm Red Finish.

Start by filling the image with a light wash of Banana.

Step Three

Leaving the highlighted areas (areas that would catch light if exposed-i.e. the crown of the hat, the puff of the sleeves) unpainted, choose a darker hue of yellow (summer sun) and colour in a reduced area, particularly paying attention to filling areas that would be shadow cast (Under waist bands, to the sides of strong lines etc.).

Step Four

Choosing a deeper strength of colour again (More Mustard) follow the principles of step three, making sure your darker colour becomes slightly less than the previous application.

Step Five
Repeat Step Four using a deeper colour (Only Orange)
































Step Six



After adding your final colour, use your clean and fairly dry aquapainter to gently blend all of the colours together.












Using a darker colour (Chocolate Chip works well with warm shades of red) Blend some colour into the Shadowed areas.

“Lift” out colour from the highlighted areas, using a slightly damp aqua painter. Wipe the aquapainter on the paper towel to wipe off the colour and repeat this process until you achieve the level of highlight that you are looking for.


You can blend additional highlights in by adding some of the mid point colours (example: for highlighting on red, try Mustard or Summer Sun).


Enjoy your Finished Project!!!

Additional Tips

• Be Patient-although it seems like a lengthy process, once you get the order of colours arranged, it actually works up quite quickly.

• Ensure that you wipe your aquapainter off before changing colours
• Make sure that your aquapainter is not too wet. I usually work with a slightly damp brush, blotting the excess water off the brush with paper towel.

• If your work become too wet on the paper, carefully blot the paper with paper towel.

• Wait a second or two between applications of colour to ensure that it has set.

• Don’t over blend; too much blending will make for muddy work.

More Watercolor Wonder Crayon Samples:

Off to Ottawa!!!!!

I am so EXCITED!!!! Yet, a little nervous. I am off to Ottawa tomorrow, where I will be attending the Stampin' Girls Convention. I have been afforded the wonderful Opportunity of doing a presentation on design and the creative side of Stampin' Up!!!! It is just fabulous to get together with so many individuals who share the same passion.

Just wanted to wish you a Happy Mother's Day. If I return from the Convention in good time, I plan to post my first tutorial (keep your eyes peeled!!!!) I am really excited about sharing my watercolouring technique with you!!!

This card was watercoloured using SU!'s watercolour wonder crayons and aquapainters. The faux frame was created by sponging ink directly to paper to create the mitered corners and shadows. The fine line work was made with a perforating tool and craft ink. The pretty flowers are from CTMH. The Brass lock was a great find at the local $$$ store. All images copyright SU!

Going to Miss those Chickens!!!!!

As many of you are already aware, the Stampin' UP! retirement list came out on May 1st. With over 250 sets retiring in total, I lost 90 sets, not including hostess sets and wheels. This means I am going to have one heck of a Garage Sale in July!!!!!

Best of Cluck is one set that I am sad to see retire.............it took me a long long time to endear myself to this set, but with all the arm twisting samples that I would view on Splitcoast, I eventually added these happy hens to my "I REALLY NEED IT" list. These are a few of the fun cards that I have created with this set...............needless to say, this is one group of gals that won't be on my sale table............not this year anyway. Although I was sad to see a few other sets go, I am waiting excitedly to see what the new SU! Catalogue will offer in July!!!!!

Right now I may feel like Mother Hubbard with my near bare stamping cupboard........but I guess it's out with the old, in with the new!!!!!!

Isn't Spring Great??????

Finally, we are getting some nice weather!!!!! I haven't had much of a chance to enjoy it as I have been preparing for a presentation that I am giving at the Stampin' Girls Convention in Ottawa next weekend. Today I made some time to do a little gardening. I lasted about an hour and a half, cleaning out the flower beds, turning soil etc. when it seemed that I was the main entree for the gazillions of blackflies that landed on me for a taste...........it only took one to draw blood and then I was doomed!!!!!!!! I retreated inside to do some spring cleaning.

Yesterday morning while out on the deck, the tappings of this big red headed fellow drew my attention. I started to scan the trees along the property line, to no avail. To my amazement, there he was at the top of the Hydro Pole!!! I have NEVER seen a woodpecker this size.........EVER. This guy had to be over 14" tall. I scurried as fast as I could to get my Camera and Long Lens, dashed upstairs to take several pictures and then back into the house to share my discovery with my family. Jonathon actually captured this shot, which was pretty good, considering that the pole seems to be about 100 ft tall!!!!