Hi everyone, today I would like to show you my entry for the poster contest for an art and craft event here in the Netherlands called "ART Specially", it’s a craft fair for stamping and mixed media enthusiasts. The winning project for this contest will be displayed on the posters for the event and also on social media for that year’s event. You are free to create whatever you would like as long as it contains some stamping.

The ART Specially fair is held in March 2020, so in early springtime, that’s why I choose flowers and butterflies for my focal points, combined with a hand lettered text. The title is something that’s very true for me personally and I guess for a lot of other crafter’s as well, even if you don’t know it yet: don’t wait for inspiration to hit you, start creating and the idea’s will come to you on their own!

Step 1:

Today I’m working in my A4 sized journal: what I like about this journal is that I can take the pages out, work on them and then, when ready, put them back in again, not having to worry about damaging already finished previous pages!

I choose the text that I wanted to use and pencilled it in very lightly using a graphite pencil. Then I used the so called “ink smooshing” technique to create the blue background over the text.

For this I sprayed some Lindy’s Stamp Gang “Azure Sea Asters” on my glass work surface. Then I used a piece of plastic (like the package stamp sets usually come in), pick up the colour and smoosh the plastic on the art journal page, repeating this process until I like the results. Then I dry the colour with my heat tool.

Next I go over the graphite text lines using a black Faber Castell PITT Artis Pen (s) to bring the text back up. I could have done the text first but the shimmer parts in the spray would have covered it up and I really wanted to make sure the text wouldn’t run, even when the Artist Pen is waterproof the paper might cause the text to smudge.

Step 2:

Then I stamped the flower image (Craft Sensations brand) twice onto Canson XL Watercolor paper using Versafine “Onyx Black” ink and heat embossing afterwards using Lindy’s Stamp Gang “Clearly Clear” embossing powder.

Now I can colour the image: I used a variety of Lindy’s Stamp Gang products for this: for the flower petals “Plumeria Pink” Magical, “Pink Ladies Pink” Spray and “Magnolia Magenta Gold” Magical Shaker; for the flower hearts “Bonjour Butter” Magical; for the branch “Phantom Fuchsia” Spray and for the leaves “Aloha Avocado” Spray.

When in powder form I added some of the powder to my palette using a fan brush, then I added water to create a watercolour paint. I coloured the image using a small brush and water. I kept adding layer until I liked what I had.

When done I added back in some highlights using a white Gelly Roll Pen and then I fussy cut the images leaving a small border.

Step 3:

For some fun added elements I choose a couple of butterfly stamps (also by Craft Sensations) and repeated the procedure, colouring them using Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magicals in “Cocklebells Coral” and “A bit o’Bubbly”.

Step 4:

Now that I have my focal points finished and though I wanted to keep the background of my art journal page light and airy, I still felt it was lacking something. That’s why I decided to add a stencilled design using a The Crafter’s Workshop stencil called “Tiny Circles” (TCW361s) in combination with Memento Ink in “Bamboo Leaves” which matches the green of the leaves from the flower images nicely. I used a sponge applicator tool to apply the ink over the stencil to create the design you see in the picture. And to finish the background I added some darker blue splatters using Pearl Colors by Finetec GmbH in “Blue Silver”.

To finish my project I now only have to adhere the flowers and the butterflies using one millimetre thick foam tape!

And that’s it for today’s art journal page.

I wish you all a creative day!

Lindy’s Stamp Gang products used:

- Spray: Azure Sea Asters, Pink Ladies Pink, Phantom Fuchsia and Aloha Avocado

- Embossing Powder: Clearly Clear

- Magicals: Plumeria Pink, Bonjour Butter, Cocklebells Coral and A Bit o’Bubbly

- Magical Shaker: Magnolia Magenta Gold

Hi everyone, today I have another acrylic pouring project for you and this time I used thinner paints and a different pouring medium. Vallejo creates two sorts of pouring medium, the regular Pouring Medium and the Thick Pouring Medium which is meant for thinner/fluid paints.

If you would like to know more about what acrylic pouring is and what tips I have considering the basics of acrylic pouring then you can read one of my older blog posts HERE!

Today I used DecoArt Americana acrylic paints to pour with and these are of a thinner consistency then heavy body acrylic paints but not as thin as fluid acrylics. The mixing process is the same as with the heavy body paints: I used a recipe of 1/3 paint (20 grams) and 2/3 Vallejo Thick Pouring Medium (40 grams). This I mixed and then added a little bit of water and when happy I added a few drops of silicone oil, but not to the white! The mixing part went a lot faster with the Vallejo medium I must say, because less added water is needed!

Note: better to not use water!

I think that the regular Vallejo Pouring Medium would have worked with these DecoArt Americana Paints as well, the consistency was a little thicker then I liked and it dried a bit to fast in some places (like where it was running of the edge of the canvas, which created thick globs). More water in the mix improved it though, but caused problems later.

I used DecoArt Americana acrylic paints in the following colours: “Snow (Titanium) White” (without silicone), “Shimmering Silver” (which is a metallic), “True Blue” (gorgeous colour by the way) and a mixture of “Heritage Brick” and “Hauser Dark Green” to create a nice dark brown for contrast.

The main difference between the Floetrol (the pouring medium I used in my other paint pouring projects) and the Vallejo Thick Pouring Medium I noticed when I torched the paint after tilting the canvas: the mixture with Floetrol instantly reacts to torching, lots of things can change that way, but with the Vallejo Thick Pouring Medium the bubbles pop (which is good) but nothing really changed in the composition, which I mostly liked!

From watching YouTube video’s I know that without the silicone oil you don’t get any cells with the Vallejo medium, so that is a big difference with the Floetrol as well (which gives you some cells even without the added silicone oil).

Added note after drying: if I would need to choose between Floetrol and Vallejo Thick Pouring Medium then I would choose Floetrol though because I personally don’t like the way the Vallejo dries, I takes really long and I had some cracking (not today’s project but a different one, where I added a little water to thin the paint mixture), I also had more trapped bubbles that didn’t pop with the torch (visible after drying only), but I’m no expert in acrylic pouring so you can try out both for yourself and see what you like best! Price-wise Floetrol is the better option as well.

This is probably the last or one of the last pouring projects that you will see on my blog, the plastic waste and non-controllable outcome are just not my thing, but I enjoyed it while it lasted!

Some detail pictures of today’s project (which is a gift for my boyfriends aunt) after drying:

I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I would like to show you this home decor project that I created for our neighbour’s son (who is two) his bedroom, as a thank you gift for them taking care of our plants during our summer vacation!

Step 1:

On a sheet of Strathmore Toned Tan Paper (slightly larger then A4 size) I first traced a The Picsees image and then added details with a regular pencil. Then I pencilled in the quote and when I was happy I went over the lines using a black 01 Spectrum Noir ArtLiner pen.

Step 2:

Then I added the highlights to the picsee image using a white drawing pencil, this makes the image stand out more against the darker background.

Step 3:

Now I’m adding my first layers of colour, deciding which colours should go where! The face turned out a bit to bright green for my liking but I will correct that later on. If you don’t add pressure to your pencils too soon in the colouring process you can correct layers that aren’t completely to your liking in a later stage.

In this stage I used the Spectrum Noir Colourblend pencils in Icicle, Jade, Sea Grass, Cedarwoord and Sage.

Step 4:

Here I’m deepening the colours with Sea Grass and Twilight Blue, and adding additional layers of highlights using the white drawing pencils, working on each part of the drawing separately.

Step 5:

Deepening the shadows using the colour Espresso and deepening all the colours where they are needed.

All of the pencils used on today’s project are from the Spectrum Noir Colourblend sets in Primairies, Essentials and Bold Brights.

Step 6:

And here is the completed image, with and without frame (for today’s pictures I added the frame without the glass, but the gift will include the frame combined with the glass).

Some detail pictures:

And that’s it for today’s fun colouring project! I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I would like to show you my inspiration for the Lindy’s Stamp Gang September Color Challenge mood board. The purple gray colour made me think of elephant’s, so I decided to arrange my card around an elephant stamp that I have in my stash.

This is what this month’s mood board looks like:

Step 1:

I stamped this Wild Rose Studio image onto Strathmore Bristol Smooth Surface paper using Versafine “Onyx Black” ink and I clear heat embossed afterwards, this way the lines stay crisp and black.

Then I started colouring the image with some gorgeous Lindy’s colours, water, and a small brush. I transfer some of the powder to my palette using a fan brush and then add water to create a watercolour paint. The first two colours that I used are LSG Magical in “Gag me with a Spoon Gray” (which has a purple ting) and “Bling-Y Blonde”.

Step 2:

I decided to add a bit more purple to the elephant using LSG Magical in “Pop Rock Purple”, also using this colour as a shadow in the flower. For the heart of the flower I used an combination of LSG Spray in “Tea Pot Purple” and Magical in “Blue Hawaiian Blue” (to create the periwinkle blue colour that I see in the mood board). This mixture, very watered down, I also used around the entire image.

You can add more layers of the previously used colours until you like how it looks!

When the colouring is done I add some highlights using a white Gelly Roll Pen and then I fussy cut the image leaving a small border.

Step 3:

For my background I die cut a rectangle panel two sizes smaller then my card base. I applied some TCW “Light & Fluffy Modeling Paste” over a TCW stencil called “Garden Frame” (TCW826) and set that aside to dry.

When dry I added the mixture of periwinkle blue colour (“Tea Pot Purple” with “Blue Hawaiian Blue”) to the panel, using a brush, spraying with water and drying when I liked what I had. This I repeated until I was happy. Then I added some “Pop Rock Purple” (to brighten it a bit) and finally I splattered with the “Bling-Y Blonde” and “Tea Pot Purple” colour.

Most of my cards contain a sentiment, but I loved the background and I didn’t feel it needed one, so no sentiment for this card!

Step 4:

Now I’m ready to put my card together: I die cut a slightly larger panel from matching card stock and adhered both panels together using liquid glue. Then I adhered the elephant image on top using one millimetre thick foam tape. And to finish my project I adhered this combination to a creme coloured linen textured card base using one millimetre thick foam tape.

Detail picture:

And that’s it for today’s fun card project! I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I’m on The Crafter’s Workshop blog with two sets of cards that are really easy to make and don’t take a lot of time! You can use this style of cards for all sorts of occasions but today I’ll create two birthday cards and two Christmas cards. Let’s get started!

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The Crafter’s Workshop provided me with some product to create this project. The opinions I share are solely my own.

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Step 1:

The procedure for each card is the same. I started with die cutting a rectangle panel two sizes smaller then my card base. I used white or creme coloured linen textured card stock but you can use any card stock you like. I temporarily taped the die cut rectangle panel to my glass work surface and then temporarily adhered the stencil I wanted to use over it, adhering the tape to the glass work surface.

For today’s project I choose a The Crafter’s Workshop stencil called “Big Flower” (TCW828s), but even though I only used one stencil, I created two different designs, I love it when a craft supply is versatile like that!

Step 2:

For each card I choose two colours of glitter paste and I tried to choose colours that compliment each other. You can use any colour of glitter paste you have, I used Nuvo Glimmer Paste (“Raspberry Rhodolite” and “Emerald Green”), Cosmic Shimmer Sparkle Texture Paste (“Frosty Blossom”) and Imagination Crafts Sparkle Medium (“Old Rose”, “Lapis Blue”, “Turquoise”, “Champagne” and “Sage Green”). Only remember, particularly for the Nuvo ones, that you keep the seal after opening it for the first time, because otherwise they will dry out on you!

Using a palette knife I applied the two colours of glitter paste over the stencil, trying to apply the paste only a little outside the stencil, because I want to have room left to stamp my sentiment.

I cleaned my stencil, glass work surface and palette knife between each panel.

After I had applied the glitter paste to my satisfaction, I removed the stencil carefully and set the panel aside to dry.

Step 3:

This way I created all four panels that you can see in the picture. As you can see I varied between adding the stencil design to the short and the long side of the rectangle and also creating two different designs with one stencil.

Step 4:

When the glitter paste is dry I added my sentiments to the panels: for the birthday cards I used the Altenew “Birthday Builder” stamp set and for the Christmas cards I used the Altenew “Holiday Wishes” stamp set. I used a stamping tool (MISTI) to stamp with because my card stock is textured.

Step 5:

Next I die cut a slightly larger mat for each card in a colour that complimented the overall design. These two panels I adhered together using liquid glue and to finish my card I only had to adhere this combination to a card base using one millimetre thick foam tape.

Some detail pictures:

And that’s it for today’s fun, quick and easy card project!

I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I have a fun and easy card project for you: I’m using the Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers to created a stamped image! I showed you this technique a couple of weeks ago, but this is a more in depth tutorial with more pictures.

Step 1:

I first took a piece of paper : this is some crème coloured linen textured card stock. Usually I first die cut this paper into a panel with the right shape and size (two sizes smaller then my card base). Because of the sentiment that I’m using, which is a rubber stamp, I’m not sure up front if it’s stamped completely straight, that’s is why I first stamped and then die cut a panel from it for today’s card.

This sentiment stamp is by Quietfire Design and is called “If Nothing Ever Changed”. I stamped with black ink and using my MISTI, so that I could repeatedly stamp over the same text when necessary because this paper is slightly textured. You can use any stamping tool you have, the idea is that you can stamp several times over the same image.

Then I decided where my butterfly image should go: this is a stamp by Studio Light with the number CLINGSL08. I placed it in the spot on the paper where I wanted the image to go.

Then I closed the door of the MISTI to pick up the stamp and then I started to add my first colour directly to the cling stamp with the large nib of the Spectrum Noir Aqua Marker in Sepia. I only added this colour to the body of the butterfly.

After adding the colour to the stamp I breath on the stamp to add moisture and stamp on the paper.

Step 2:

My second colour is Fuchsia, you can see in the picture to what area’s of the butterfly I added this colour, each time I add colour directly with the large nib of the marker to the stamp, breath on the stamp to add moisture and then stamp on the paper.

Step 3:

My third colour is Magenta, which colour I added to the rest of the butterfly.

Step 4:

I repeated each step and each colour until I liked how deep the colour was (it took two to three times for each colour).

All of the colours on today’s project are from the Spectrum Noir Aqua Marker sets in Essentials, Primary and Botanicals.

Then I made sure that the die cut around the image using a rectangle die made the sentiment look straight.

To finish the card I adhered this panel to a deep red coloured panel, slightly larger then my first panel, adhered both panels together using liquid glue and adhered this combination to a crème coloured linen textured card base using one millimetre thick foam tape.

Detail picture:

And that’s it for today’s project! I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I'm on the Lindy's Stamp Gang blog and I would like to show you how to create a card with some fun layers of vellum in combination with Lindy’s Stamp Gang Embossing Powders.

Step 1:

The most important thing to keep in mind when heat embossing on vellum is to always use an anti-static powder tool before adding a stamp to your vellum surface. The oils from your skin will leave a residue on the vellum and the embossing powder will get stuck to it. The anti-static powder tool reduces the static and also neutralises the stickiness from the oils.

To get my project started I die cut a square piece of vellum two sizes smaller then my card base. I treated the vellum piece with my anti-static powder tool and then stamped with my background stamp (this is an old one by Joy Crafts) on it using VersaMark Ink, which is a clear sticky ink. Now I can pour the embossing powder over it, tap of the excess and heat emboss the design. For the background design I used Lindy’s Stamp Gang Embossing Powder in “Midnight Gold”.

I also die cut a square panel from some crème coloured linen textured card stock, slightly smaller then my card base.

Step 2:

Next I’m going to work on my sentiment. For this I stamped my sentiment (Quietfire Design “Live in the Moment”) onto a vellum strip using VersaMark Ink, after treating the strip with my anti-static powder tool, and I heat embossed with Lindy’s Stamp Gang “Midnight Teal” Embossing Powder.

You can also stamp and heat emboss first and then cut the vellum to the size that you prefer.

The strip needs to be wider then your combined square card panels, so that you will have room left to wrap the strip around the back of the combined panels and adhere there.

I also cut a piece of crème linen textured card stock slightly larger then my vellum strip for underneath my sentiment because dark on dark is difficult to read. When my background would haven been heat embossed with white embossing powder then I wouldn’t have needed the card stock strip.

Step 3:

For an extra fun little detail I next stamped one of the flower images from the Stampin’ Up “Petite Petals” stamp set twice onto vellum (after using the anti-static powder tool) using VersaMark ink and then I heat embossed using two colours of embossing powder.

For this I added a little of the Lindy’s Stamp Gang “Terra Cotta Rust” Embossing Powder to the stamped image, tapped of the excess, funnelled that back into the little jar and then added Lindy’s Stamp Gang Embossing Powder in “Orange Creamsicle” over the entire image, tapped of the excess and then I heat embossed (this last colour will only adhere to area’s where the darker colour didn’t already adhered to).

After heat embossing I punched out the flower shapes. I also punched out the same shapes from some very light coloured matching peach card stock (to make it stand out al little bit more from the background).

Step 4:

I adhered the two square panels together using see through tape runner. This is the best way to adhere vellum to any project I feel, because you don’t see the tape runner on a light coloured background. When your background is darker then use it sporadic and in places where you add an embellishment on top or wrap the vellum piece around the back and adhere there.

I adhered the sentiments banner strips together in the same way, mainly adding tape runner to the areas where I planned on adding the flowers.

Step 5:

Next I’m adhering the sentiment strip to the combined panels by adhering it with see through tape runner on the front, wrapping it around the back and adhering there using regular tape.

Step 6:

This combination I adhered to a crème coloured linen textured card base using one millimetre thick foam tape.

The two little vellum heat embossed flowers I then adhered to their peach mats using the see through tape runner again and then adhered this combination to my project to finish it.

Some detail pictures:

If you have never heat embossed on vellum before, then you should really try this out, it creates a really elegant element for your projects!

Hi everyone, today I have this fun card to show you: it’s for a little three year old girl! To get started I stamped this cute Scrapberry’s “Panama Hat“ image onto some Strathmore “Marker“ paper (this paper is a bit more yellow coloured paper then I usually like, but it suited this image nicely and it takes the Copic marker ink really well. I used Memento “Tuxedo Black“ ink to stamp and also used my MISTI.

Then I started colouring this image using my Copic Sketch Markers. I used the following colours: B0000, B01, BG53,BG07, BG75, R0000, RV91, RV11, Y000, Y11, Y13, E50, E42, E55 and E57. I also brought back in some details using a white Gelly Roll pen.

When the ink was dry I die cut around the image using one of the circle nesting dies in my Crea-Nest-Lies XXL die set. And because I felt that a mat would look nice, but the next circle in size was to big for my liking, I just adhered the circle with the image on some light yellow linen textured card stock, using liquid glue, and then free hand cut around it using my Fiskars scissors.

For my card base I choose a crème coloured linen textured card base. I found some matching dark turquoise patterned paper in my stash that I die cut in the right size using one of the dies in my square Crea-Nest-Lies XXL die set and edging that piece with Distress Ink in the colour “Broken China“ to give it a bit more definition.

Next I started working on my sentiment: I wanted to use a Dutch sentiment so I choose one of the stamps in the “Eline’s words“ stamp set from Marianne Design (which spells “big kiss“ in Dutch). I stamped the sentiment onto some vellum using Versafine “Onyx Black“ ink and clear heat embossing afterwards. Then I die cut a banner around the sentiment using the Clearly Besotted “Long Flag Die“.

I adhered the circle shaped mats with the image, on top of the square panel using one millimetre thick foam tape and then adhered the banner using see through tape runner, folding it around the back and adhering to the back using regular tape. Then I adhered this combination to the crème card base using one millimetre thick foam tape.

And for my final embellishments I choose some buttons from my stash in different sizes and styles and some flat back rhinestones in matching colours which I adhered to the card using Ranger Medium Matte.

And that finishes today sweet and girly project. I hope you enjoyed and until the next time, I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I have a fun birthday card for you all, featuring Whimsy Stamps “Spring Bringer”. I stamped this cute fairy onto some Copic friendly paper with Memento “Tuxedo Black” ink and started colouring with my Copic (Sketch) Markers.

I used the following Copic marker colours:

Skin: E000 / R00;

Hair: E50 / E13 / E17 / E27;

Other colours: R43 / RV25 / R39 / RV 91 / V93 / BV11 / RV10 / RV17 / B0000 / E42 / E55 / G40 / YG17 / YG06 / G94.

When I finished colouring I die cut a rectangle from the coloured panel with the largest die in the My Favorite Things “Stitched Rectangle STAX” die set. I matted this panel on some matching green card stock, adhering the panel with liquid glue, and free hand cutting around the panel, leaving a small green space. I edged the green panel with Memento ink in the colour “Cottage Ivy”.

Next I started working on the background panel: I normally would have used two mats for the background since that is what I prefer but in this case I felt there wasn’t enough room left for that. So, I die cut only one square panel with one of the dies in my square Crea-Nest-Lies XXL die set from some matching faded red card stock. Then I stamped one of the gorgeous background stamps from Studio Light (STAMPSL181) on this faded red panel with VersaMark ink and heat embossed with Ranger Super Fine Detail “Silver” Embossing Powder. I also edged this panel with Versafine “Crimson Red” ink to create a bit more contrast.

I adhered this silver heat embossed, faded red panel onto a linen textured white card base with one millimetre thick foam tape and adhered the combined panels with the stamped fairy onto this combination also with one millimetre thick foam tape.

Then it’s time for the finishing touches: I stamped a sentiment (unknown brand, bought a long time ago) saying “Have a Magical Day!” onto some black card stock with VersaMark ink and heat embossed with the same silver embossing powder as used before. I die cut a banner from the sentiment with the smallest die from the Lawn Fawn “Everyday Sentiment Banners” die set and adhered that to the card with partly foam tape and partly Ranger Medium Matte.

I also die cut the name of the recipient of this card (her name is “Bente”) using two die sets from Craft Emotions (“Uppercase Alphabet” / “Lowercase Alphabet”) from some matching light pinkish/purple card stock, I edged the characters with Memento’s “Lulu Lavender” (which you can’t really see in the pictures) and adhered them to the card with Ranger Medium Matte.

In my stash I also found some sparkly green flower embellishments, so I attached one to the card and for a final finishing touch I applied some Stickles in the colour “Star Dust” on the fairies wings with an old brush.

And that’s it for today’s card! I hope you enjoyed and until the next time, I wish you a creative day.

Hi everyone, today I’m showing you another card coloured with the Spectrum Noir Colourblend pencils and a fun Lili of the Valley digital stamp, but this time I’m showing you the step by steps as well.

Step 1:

I started my card by printing this LOTV “Annabel Upside Down” digital image onto Canson Mi-Teintes Pastel paper (from the block with five colours this is the middle colour, a sort of yellow-greenish-brown coloured paper). This paper is awesome to colour on and for coloured pencil it’s advised that you use the back of the paper which is less textured.

After printing I die cut around the image using a rectangle die two sizes smaller then my card base and considering that I wanted to stamp my sentiment in the top right hand corner above the image, so I had to leave room for that.

I stamped one of the sentiments from the Clearly Besotted “Sweet Little Sentiments” stamp set above the image using Versafine “Onyx Black” ink.

Then I started colouring the image by first adding my highlights in with a light hand, using a white drawing pencil.

Step 2:

Usually I then proceed with colouring the skin or the hair, in this case first the skin and then the hair. For the skin I used the Spectrum Noir Colourblend pencils in Linen and Cream, mixing them with the white drawing pencil when needed (which I will do with the other colours as well).

For the hair I used Espresso, Cinnamon and Saddle Brown.

Step 3:

Then I coloured the clothes and the greenery: for my blues I used Vintage Blue and Twilight Blue.

For my greens I used Pistachio, Jade and Ivy.

By keeping my colour palette limited I will create a completed image that feels harmonious.

Step 4:

For the dog I used Taupe and Black and to finish the colouring I used a little Cedarwood around the entire image (it’s the coloured pencil closest to the colour of the paper).

Now that the colouring is done I can add back in some of the printed lines that I lost during the colouring process. For this I used a Spectrum Noir ArtLiner in 01.

All the coloured pencils that I used on today’s project are from the following sets: Primariesand Essentials.

Now that my colouring is done I die cut a slightly larger mat from some matching green coloured card stock. These two panels I adhere together using liquid glue. And to finish my card I only have to adhere this combination to a crème coloured linen textured card base using one millimetre thick foam tape.

Detail picture:

That’s it for today’s project! I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I’m on The Crafter’s Workshop blog with a cute card for which I used modeling paste on a dark background to create a fun effect.

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The Crafter’s Workshop provided me with some product to create this project. The opinions I share are solely my own.

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Step 1:

I started my project by die cutting a piece of dark grey card stock to a size two sizes smaller then my card base. Then I applied some The Crafter’s Workshop (white) “Modeling Paste” over a The Crafter’s Workshop stencil called “Faithful Tree” (TCW831s) using a palette knife. I tried to place the most left branch a bit of to the left, so that my critter wouldn’t be exactly in the middle of my card.

While the Modeling Paste is still wet I carefully applied some pastel coloured embossing powders over the tree design and let that dry. I used Lindy’s Stamp Gang embossing powders in the colours “Merci Beaucoup Mint” (over most of the design) and then a little of the “Bonjour Butter” and “Raspberry Lemonade”. Each colour embossing powder is added separately and the excess taken of before adding a different colour.

Step 2:

After the Modeling Paste had dried completely I heated the embossing powder to melt it. Of course you can also do this while the Modeling Paste is still wet but I didn’t wanted the Modeling Paste to bubble. After heat embossing this first layer of embossing powder the tree design has a very light colour and smooth texture.

Now I’m using a VersaMarker (it’s a pen with sticky ink) to add shadow to the tree and the leaves, only adding the sticky ink to the right hand part of the design, where the shadow would be when the light would shine from the top left corner. I added a slightly darker green embossing powder to the sticky ink (Lindy’s Stamp Gang “Orbit Olive Gold”) but still keeping it light to have enough contrast with the grey background. This times I melted the powder as soon as it’s on the project. If you have some of the powder where you don’t want it, like on the grey paper, then you can use a dry brush with a small point to wipe of the excess embossing powder before melting it.

Step 3:

Next I’m working on the rest of my card design: for this I stamped a Purple Onions stamp called “Lilly” onto Strathmore “Bristol Smooth Paper” using Versafine “Onyx Black” ink and clear heat embossing afterwards. Then I coloured the image using some Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers and my aquabrush. I used the following colours of Aqua Markers: “Tan”, “Chocolate”, “Orange” and “Terracotta”.

I also created a banner from some matching orange card stock, using a banner die by Lawn Fawn and one of the stamps from the Clearly Besotted stamp set called “Sweet Little Sentiments”.

For my slightly larger mat I decided on a matching green card stock.

Step 4:

Now I’m ready to put my card together: I adhered both rectangle panels together using liquid glue. Then I adhered the critter to the branch using one millimetre thick foam tape and I did the same with the sentiment banner. I folded the banner to the back on the left hand side and adhered there using regular tape.

Now I can finish the card by adding the combined panels to a white line textured card base using one millimetre thick foam tape!

Detail picture:

And that’s it for today’s cute little project!

We would love to see what you create with The Crafters Workshop Stencils and Mediums. You can share it with us on our Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest using hashtag #tcwstencillove.

I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I would like to show you this fun card design for which I used the Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers, both on the roses and on the background! Let's get started!

Step 1:

I started my card by stamping the rose image from the Kennedy Grace Creations stamp set called “Splendid Roses” onto some Strathmore Bristol Smooth Surface Paper using Versafine “Onyx Black” ink and clear heat embossing afterwards.

Then I added my first colour to the paper using a Spectrum Noir Aqua Marker in Daffodil in combination with an aqua-brush, deciding where my highlights and shadows will go on the flower petal part.

Step 2:

Next I’m deepening the colour on the flower petals with the Aqua Marker in Gold and my aqua-brush.

Step 3:

To deepen the shadow parts of the flower petals even more I’m now adding a tiny bit of Crimson to the deepest parts of the petals, until I’m happy with how it looks.

Now that I know what colour the flower petals look like I’m colouring the leaves using Verdant Green.

Step 4:

Deepening the leaves with Moss, looking for the leaf colour that I associate with roses. Also colouring the smaller rose bud that I missed the first time around.

Step 5:

And ending with a final layer of Verdant Green on the leaves.

Next I’m adding colour around the rose image using first the Teal marker and then a little of the Verdant Green in some area’s.

When the colouring is done I’m adding in some extra highlights using a white Gelly Roll Pen.

I will cut this rose panel down with a circle die and adhering the circle to a slightly larger circle later on (using liquid glue).

All of the Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers that I used on today’s project are from the following sets: Essentials, Primary and Botanicals.

Step 6:

Time to work on my background panel: I first die cut my background panel, that is one size smaller then my card base, from some crème coloured linen textured card stock. This panel I place in my MISTI (you can use any stamping tool you have, the idea is that you can stamp several times over the same image).

My goal is to cover this panel with stamped leaf shapes from the Studio Light CLINGSL10 stamp set. For this I place the stamp on the area of the panel that I want to stamp on, close the door of the MISTI to pick up the stamp and then I start to add colour directly to the cling stamp using first one colour of Spectrum Noir Aqua Marker and then the following one.

I started with the marker in Verdant Green using the large nib to add my colour to the stamp directly, then I breath on the stamp to add moisture and stamp on the paper. My second colour is Moss and I will add that colour to the stamp directly with the large nib of the marker, focusing on the bottom part of each leaf, breath on the stamp to add moisture and then stamp on the paper.

This way I cover the entire panel.

Step 7:

Time for my sentiment: I choose one from a no name brand stamp set, you can use any sentiment stamp that you like. I then die cut a banner using the Gummiapan “Textbanner” die (this creates two banner shapes, I die cut one from yellow paper and one from the a light teal colour).

On the yellow banner I stamped the sentiment using the same black ink as before.

Now I can put my card together: I choose an orange coloured card base and adhered the created background panel on top using one millimetre thick foam tape. And to finish my card I only have to adhere the rose image and the sentiment banner shape on top using one millimetre thick foam tape.

Detail picture:

I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I would like to show you another acrylic pouring project, this time with ARA Acrylic Paints, which are also heavy body paints, like Amsterdam or The Crafter’s Workshop paints, which I tried out before. With this technique I created two small canvasses.

For those that are new to acrylic pouring, let’s start with what acrylic pouring is:

It is a form of painting where you mix your paints with a medium that thins them and allows them to flow, then you pour the paint mixture onto your canvas. You never know what result you’ll get!

Like mentioned before, the recipe for your mixture is very important, mine isn’t holy, every painter seems to have a different one and each paint brand and/or medium can mean a different mixture (or even the humidity where you live, the season of the year and so on)!

That being said, these are the tips that I gathered, after many hours of research, you can use them as your basic guidelines and adjust them with your own experiences:

- I started with two 20x20 cm canvasses. Spray the back of the canvas with water, let it sit for a short while and then dry with a heat tool or hair dryer (this will tighten the canvas fabric). Cover your work surface in plastic because pouring is a messy business and wear old clothes;

- Tape the edges of the canvas on the back of the canvas with painters tape. Put push-pins on the back (on all four corners, so the canvas itself is not resting on the table) and make sure the canvas is level. If you don’t tape the edges of the canvas on the back the paint will make the canvas sag and when the paint dries afterwards it’s really hard to correct this;

- Gesso the canvas and if you like paint the edges of the canvas (when you are using a dark contrasting colour (this way you don’t have any bare patches on the sides). Today I used ARA Acrylic Paint in “Titanium Buff Light” for this;

- Mix the pouring medium (there are a few different ones) with the paint (I did this by weight): I used 2 parts Floetrol (50 grams) to one part paint (ARA Acrylic Paint : 25 grams)), stir well in a plastic cup, avoid creating more bubbles then necessarily (don’t mix like you’re clutching eggs). You can use a pop-sickle stick for stirring.

I always like to add one metallic paint to my project, and today I felt like using two!

Most important is to keep in mind that the consistency you are after is like warm honey!

Add a tiny bit of rubbing alcohol (couple of drops) to the mixture (this may help prevent bubbles) and stir.

Then add (boiled and cooled down) water, in little bits at a time, until you have reached the consistency of warm honey (you can check this by letting the mixture pour of your stick into the cup). Let it sit for about a half hour / an hour (so that the pouring medium and the paint can get to know each other). For this I choose to use plastic cups with a lid.

Just before you’re pouring add a couple of drops of 100% silicone oil (I used treadmill oil) to the recipe and stir a couple of times, not too much (if it’s winter time make sure that you warm the oil up a bit in the pocket of your fleece vest, for example, before adding to the mixture, so that the oil is not too cold when you add it to the mixture)! The silicone oil will create the so called “cells” (the circular shapes that you see in many acrylic pours).

For this particular project I choose the following ARA Acrylic Paint colours: “Titanium Buff Light”, “Burnt Umber”, “Dark Gold” and “Red Brown Bronze”. All the colours contain silicone oil except for the “Titanium Buff Light” (because I want the negative space to be smooth).

- Time to put on your gloves! Check if your canvas is still level. Do the pouring! I love to do a dirty cup flip pour: use a size plastic cup according to the amount of paint, the cup should be almost full, pour different colours of paint in a cup, one after another (don’t stir!), until you think you have enough paint for the canvas you’re working on. Lift the canvas with one hand and put it on top of the cup with the paint. Hold it firm (canvas in your left, cup in your right hand)! Turn the canvas with the cup on top and put on your table. Let the cup sit for about a minute. Pour more of the Titanium Buff Light mixture around the cup and spread over the canvas using a palette knife or a pop-sickle stick.

Puncture a hole in the cup with a push pin. Because air fills the cup the paint should flow out on it’s own. When not, you can help a little carefully.

Now, you can tilt the canvas back and fort, you can use a circular motion if you like. If you are going after “cells” then don’t tilt the canvas too much, it will break the cells. Because I’m going for some crème coloured negative space I’m not going to let the paint flow over on all sides of the canvas, at least that’s the idea, sometimes things just happen really quick!

When you are happy with how the paint covers the canvas as well as the edges, make sure that you always tip the paint back to the middle as your last step, without loosing your design, this will abort the ongoing flow towards one edge of the canvas (the one you tipped to lastly);

- Check if all your edges/sides of the canvas are covered enough with paint, if not, you can use your finger or a pop-sickle stick to pick up the paint from your work surface and add to the sides of the canvas where you need it, in a dabbing motion (don’t rub, it will create muddy colours);

- You can use a torch (like the ones you can buy for crème-brulle purposes, to pop the air bubbles and make the silicone rise to the top. You can use your torch after the pouring (like I did on today’s project) and before the tipping, or only at the end, or both, whatever you like, but make sure that you always have done this at the end so that as many bubbles as possible have popped!

- Now you can use a toothpick of a pop-sickle stick to clean the underside edges of your canvas (while the canvas is standing on the table). Scrape of the paint that is hanging under the canvas so that it doesn’t dry this way. Be careful to not ruin your wonderful project!

On today’s project I also sprinkled some black, gold and copper coloured fine glitter for an additional fun effect. You can use any brand fine glitter that you own.

- The best thing you can do is to walk away and only check every now and then if you have any more overflowing paint that needs to be scraped on the underside of the canvas. Don’t touch the canvas on top, you will ruin it!

- Let the canvas dry! Some say that two days is enough (after two days the top is dry enough to transport the canvas to a save place to dry further). I would advise to let it dry for at least a couple of weeks (on the save side, in winter, at least four weeks, in summer about three weeks, but not in the sun, the paints needs to dry slow and evenly to prevent cracks in the paint surface);

- After drying, and when you have used silicone oil, you will first have to remove this as best as you can (it will sit on top of the canvas). Some will add baby-powder or corn starch to the canvas and/or wash the canvas with soap and water. I felt that gently cleaning the canvas surface with tissue paper (like Kleenex) did the job but it’s not a guarantee. I’m no expert at this (it tried alcohol and that didn’t work, so I decided that when I don’t see it any more it should be gone). You can do whatever you like. Do some research on this! If you resin your piece then left behind silicone oil can create ugly bubbles on your canvas.

- Now you can varnish/seal the canvas: you can choose between many options such as resin, epoxy, regular varnish, whatever you prefer. Most will choose a gloss option though, but if you like matt, go for matt. I choose a regular gloss acrylic varnish, added two coats with a brush and my project is finally finished!

Some detail pictures:

First canvas:

Second canvas:

Let me know your tips if you have tried this technique already!

I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I’m showing you my card project for the Lindy’s Stamp Gang August Color Challenge Mood Board. The sweet pink colour in the mood board made me think of cherry blossoms but going through my stamp sets I eventually choose some tulip like flower shapes.

This is what this month’s mood board looks like!

Step 1:

To get started I stamped some flower and leaf images from the Simon Says Stamp stamp set called “Spring Flowers” onto Strathmore “Bristol Smooth Surface Paper” using Versafine “Onyx Black” ink and clear heat embossing afterwards using Lindy’s Stamp Gang “Clearly Clear” embossing powder.

Then I coloured the images using Lindy’s Stamp Gang Sprays in “Clam Bake Beige”, “Cotton Candy Pink” and “Azure Sea Asters” in combination with a small brush and water.

When the colouring was done I fussy cut the images leaving a small border.

Step 2:

For my background panel I die cut a piece of watercolour paper to the right size (two sizes smaller then my card base) and stamped a sentiment on this panel using Archival “Jet Black” ink. Then I applied some The Crafter’s Workshop “Light & Fluffy Modeling Paste” over a The Crafter’s Workshop stencil (TCW450s) using a palette knife and set that aside to dry.

When dry I added the blue colour that I used before to the background with a brush and sprayed with water to make the colour move. This way I have more control over the colour then spraying the colour directly onto the paper. This I repeated several times, until I liked what I have, drying in between layers using my heat tool.

To finish the background I splattered onto this background using the brown colour that I used before and a brush.

Step 3:

Then I die cut a slightly larger panel from some matching pink card stock, adhered both panels together using liquid glue and then adhered these combined panels to a crème coloured linen textured card base using one millimetre thick foam tape.

To finish this card I now only have to adhere the flower and leaf images on top using liquid glue and one millimetre thick foam tape.

Detail picture:

And that’s it for today’s project! I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I would like to show you this boy birthday card for which I used a fun Lili of the Valley digital stamp that I coloured with the fabulous Spectrum Noir Colourblend coloured pencils.

I started my card by printing this LOTV “Superstriker” digital image onto Canson Mi-Teintes Pastel paper (from the block with five colours this is the middle colour, a sort of yellow-greenish-brown coloured paper). This paper is awesome to colour on and for coloured pencil it’s advised that you use the back of the paper which is less textured.

After printing I die cut around the image using a rectangle die two sizes smaller then my card base and considering that I wanted to stamp my sentiment underneath the image, so I had to leave room for that.

I stamped one of the sentiments from the Altenew “Birthday Builder” stamp set underneath the image using Versafine “Onyx Black” ink.

Now I’m ready to colour my image; for this I used the Spectrum Noir Colourblend pencils in the following colours: Linen, Cream, Espresso, Maple, Cedarwood, Taupe, Black, Pistachio, Jade, Ivy and Emerald.

For my highlights i used a white drawing pencil.

When the colouring is done I added back some of the printed lines using a Spectrum Noir ArtLiner (01).

All of the Colourblend pencils that I used on today’s project are from the following sets: Primaries and Essentials.

For my mat I choose a darker brown card stock that I cut to the right size, using a rectangle shaped die, slightly larger then the previous one. These two panels I adhered together using liquid glue.

And all I have to do now to finish my card is to adhere this combination to a crème coloured card base using one millimetre thick foam tape.

Detail picture:

That’s it for today’s card project! I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I’m on The Crafter’s Workshop blog with another fun art journal page. This time I wanted to create a dark background and add my focal point in lighter colours on top.

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The Crafter’s Workshop provided me with some product to create this project. The opinions I share are solely my own.

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Step 1:

Normally I would start out with painting the entire background first, but this time I felt like drawing in the quote first and then painting around it. Today I’m working in a A4-sized journal. To get started I pencilled in the quote using a graphite pencil and then I went over the lines using a black Faber Castell PITT Artist Pen (s).

Then I painted around the quote using a mixture of The Crafter’s Workshop Heavy Body Acrylic Paints in the colours “Grape Jelly”, “Candy Apple Red” and “Spun Sugar”. I mixed the red and the purple to create a nice aubergine colour and added in more white around the inner edges where I felt it was needed.

Step 2:

Then I placed my stencil of choice, on today’s project that is a The Crafter’s Workshop stencil called “Growing Wild” (TCW824s), and placing it on the page where I wanted the flower design to go. Next I applied two colours of The Crafter’s Workshop Metallic Modeling Paste over the stencil, using a different palette knife for each colour, and being careful to keep the paper as flat as possible so that the paste won’t spill too much underneath the stencil (the paper is slightly warped because of the water in the acrylic paints).

If you feel your stencil designs are not neat enough then here is a good tip: make sure the paper is on a hard flat surface and that the paper isn’t warped (too much), make sure your stencil is as flat as possible on the paper (use removable tape and/or hold it flat with your hand) then apply the modeling paste over the stencil with a palette knife and going in only one direction!

On today’s project I used a combination of “Champagne Gold”and “White Pearl” Metallic Modeling Pastes. I started with the white one and then added a bit of the gold where I felt that was needed.

Step 3:

Now you can remove the stencil carefully. I like to wash my stencils in between uses but I know many who don’t, do as you please. I created the same design on the opposite site of my page as well.

Step 4:

And then I repeated the same procedure on two other places as well because the page still felt a bit empty but I didn’t wanted it to be too busy by adding in another design. And to finish this project I created some splatters using a contrasting bright green colour using Pearl Colors by Finetec GmbH in “Apple Green”. That’s it for today!

And guys, that quote, isn’t that true for all of us?

Some more pictures:

We would love to see what you create with The Crafters Workshop Stencils and Mediums. You can share it with us on our Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest using hashtag #tcwstencillove.

I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I’m on the Lindy’s Stamp Gang blog and I’m showing you how you can decorate a jewellery box or any other box for that matter. My goal was that the box could still be easily opened, so that my niece, whom I’m gifting this box to, will find it both pretty and use-full!

Step 1:

I prepared the top of the wooden box by applying a coat of The Crafter’s Workshop Clear Gesso with a brush, I used clear gesso because I wanted the wood texture to be visible. On the sides of the box I only stamped with a background text stamp using Archival Jet Black ink and later on I splattered on the sides using the darker pink Lindy’s colour that I will use to colour the flowers with. The rest of the decorating process is all focused on the top part of the box!

Next I applied some White Crackle Texture Paste over a The Crafter’s Workshop stencil (TCW833s) using a palette knife. Then I quickly added two colours of Lindy’s Stamp Gang embossing powder before the top layer of the crackle paste is too dry for the embossing powder to adhere to. I first added Lindy’s Stamp Gang embossing powder in Terra Cotta Rust to most of the design and then added a little of the Cleopatra’s Copper embossing powder. I prefer to let the crackle paste dry over night on it’s own to create the best crackles. When dry you can melt the embossing powder and the crackles are visible! I totally love this technique that you of course can also use on cards or your art journal pages for example!

Step 2:

Now I’m working on the other layers of embellishments: first I die cut two pieces of sturdy card stock using a Stampin’Up die set called So Detailed. With VersaMark ink I’m making the die cuts sticky and then add a couple of layers of two different colours of Lindy’s Stamp Gang embossing powder. I press the die cuts in the VersaMark ink pad and then, on a clean sheet of paper, add the powder over the die cut. What is not adhering to the die cut can be funnelled back into the jar. I first applied two layers of Tannenbaum Green Gold and then added a little of the Merci Beaucoup Mint embossing powder (not covering the entire design because this mint colour is opaque).

Step 3:

On top of the die cuts I will add a clay mould shape (Studio Art Prosvet) that I created earlier on and this I will colour with some different layers to achieve the look I’m going for. I first colour the mould shape with a Lindy’s Stamp Gang Squirt in Poutine Gold (one of my favourite squirt colours) and a brush.

Then I add a little VersaMarker (in the pen form) to the raised area’s with a light hand and then apply Chateau Rose embossing powder over the mould. If you feel you added to unwanted area’s then you can brush of with a dry brush before melting the powder (but when you apply the VersaMarker with a light hand then that’s probably not necessary). I first worked on the top half and then on the bottom half of the mould shape.

Because the outcome was a little to pink for my liking I added a light layer of the translucent King Midas Gold embossing powder on top in the same way.

This is what my different layers combined look like now, nothing is adhered yet.

Obviously something is still "missing"!

Step 4:

Now I’m working on the missing parts: I decided to add some stamped flower and leaf shapes to complete the main design. Because I wanted to make sure that I had enough images stamped I decided on my lay out before colouring the flowers/leaves.

I stamped the images (Simon Says Stamp Even More Spring Flowers stamp set) that I wanted to use, on some Strathmore Bristol Smooth Surface paper using Versafine Onyx Black ink and then I clear heat embossed over the stamped lines using Lindy’s Stamp Gang Clearly Clear embossing powder. I fussy cut all the images leaving a small border.

Then I coloured the images with some fun Lindy’s Stamp Gang products and water and using a small brush:

Magical in Raspberry Lemonade, Magical Shakers in Cathedral Pines Green and Antique Gold and a Spray in Salt Water Taffy. I chose colours that worked well with the colours that I already had in my project.

When the colouring was done I added in some highlights using a white Gelly Roll Pen.

Step 5:

Now that I created all the layers that I want to use I adhere them to my project using The Crafter’s Workshop Gloss Gel Medium and a brush. And to finish my project I adhere some matching small green beads and Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear Sequins using Glossy Accents.

Detail pictures:

And that’s it for today’s fun jewellery box project! I wish you a creative day!

Lindy’s Stamp Gang products used:

- Embossing Powder: Terra Cotta Rust, Cleopatra’s Copper, Tannenbaum Green Gold, Merci Beaucoup Mint, Chateau Rose, King Midas Gold, Clearly Clear

- Squirt: Poutine Gold

- Magical: Raspberry Lemonade

- Magical Shakers: Cathedral Pines Green, Antique Gold

- Spray: Salt Water Taffy

Hi everyone, I love to combine different stamp sets to make my craft supplies more versatile and last longer, I mix different brands or stamps by the same company, whatever goes well together. Today I’m using a beautiful Studio Light flower stamp set (STAMPSL381) but there are no leaves included in this set, so I decided to mix them with the leaves from another Studio Light stamp set (STAMPSL379) to make a fun project! The images all coloured with the wonderful Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers.

Step 1:

I stamped the flower images onto Strathmore Bristol Smooth Surface Paper using Versafine “Onyx Black” ink and clear heat embossing afterwards. Then I coloured the flowers with my first thin layer, deciding where my highlights and shadows should go, using the Spectrum Noir Aqua Marker in Purple in combination with an aqua brush.

Step 2:

Then I added some darker layers using the Red Violet Aqua Marker, working in layers until I like how dark the colour is.

Step 3:

To the hearts of the flower I added some Yellow and Gold Aqua Marker and around the image some Aquamarine and then I fussy cut the images leaving a small border.

Next I stamped the leaves on a separate sheet of paper, first fussy cutting them out and deciding on my lay out.

Why did I created my lay out first before adding colour to the leaves? I wanted to know what part of the leaves would be up, so that I knew what part to add my highlight to.

Then I coloured the leaves using the Fern Spectrum Noir Aqua Marker. I also added in some highlights using a white Gelly Roll Pen.

All of today’s Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers are from the following sets: Primary and Botanicals.

Step 4:

For my background panel I die cut a rectangle panel, two sizes smaller then my card base using some crème coloured linen textured card stock. On this panel I first stamped my sentiment, using the same black ink as before and for this I choose a sentiment from the Clearly Besotted stamp set “Happy Birthday”.

Then I applied some Imagination Crafts Sparkle Medium in “Lapis Blue” over a The Crafter’s Workshop stencil (TCW5005) using a palette knife and set this aside to dry.

Step 5:

I used a crème coloured linen textured card base and cut a mat from some matching aqua coloured vellum, slightly smaller then my card base. I adhered the coloured vellum panel to the first panel that I created before using liquid glue and then adding the flowers and leaves on top using one millimetre thick foam tape. The stems of the leaves I folded around the back and adhered there using regular tape.

And all I have to do now to finish my card is to adhere this combination to the card base using one millimetre thick foam tape.

Detail picture:

And that’s it for today’s fun little card project! I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I would like to show you a fun card where I use white heat embossing as my base and then I add colour to the project to enhance the stamped image.

Step 1: To get my card started I first used an anti-static powder tool on my die cut rectangle panel (Clairefontaine Multi-Techniques á Grain (the blue one) paper), then I stamped the flower image from an Impression Obsession stamp set with number J16149 onto this panel using VersaMark ink. I heat embossed using Stampendous “Detail White” embossing powder.

For this technique you can better choose and image with not too many details and preferably no critters images (because the eyes will be white as well).

My next step is to lay down the base colours that I want to use on my project. For this I choose some Daniel Smith watercolours paints: “Quin. Deep Gold”, “Sap Green” and “Ultramarine Blue” in a light wash and with a small brush, deciding where my highlights and my shadows will go.

Step 2:

Next I’m deepening the colours more to create a better contrast and more depth in my image. I also added some “Quin. Sienna” to the top part of my flower.

Step 3:

To make the flower stand out even more I’m darkening all the colours of the flower and it’s surroundings with all the of the previously using colours, creating a darker hue of these colours by adding in a bit of “Payne’s Blue Gray”. Be careful with this colour though, it’s very potent.

Work on the image until you like what you have!

Step 4:

Next I die cut a slightly larger mat from some matching green card stock and adhered both panels together using liquid glue. For my sentiment I choose one of the stamps from a Marianne Design stamp set called “Eline’s Words” and stamped this onto grey card stock using VersaMark ink and then I heat embossed with the same white embossing powder as before. From the sentiment I die cut a banner using a Crealies banner die. This banner I adhered to matching orange card stock using liquid glue and cut around it using my scissors leaving a small orange border. This sentiment banner I adhered to my project using one millimetre thick foam tape, wrapped it around the back on the right hand side and adhered there using regular tape.

Now all I have to do to finish my card is to adhere this combination to a white linen textured card base using one millimetre thick foam tape!

Detail picture:

And that’s it for today’s project! I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I’m on The Crafter’s Workshop blog with a fun card for which I used vellum to create an eye catching background design!

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The Crafter’s Workshop provided me with some product to create this project. The opinions I share are solely my own.

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Step 1:

I started my project by die cutting a square panel from a piece of vellum. This square panel is two sizes smaller then my card base. I placed the square vellum panel on a piece of printer paper (so that my desk won’t get sticky), then I used an anti-static powder tool on the vellum, and then temporarily taped the stencil I wanted to use over it. For today’s project I choose a The Crafter’s Workshop stencil called “Waves” (TCW5019), which is such a gorgeous design!

Then I applied VersaMark ink over the entire stencil design using a foam applicator tool. VersaMark is a sticky ink, usually used for embossing powder.

Step 2:

Next I’m carefully removing the stencil from the vellum, you can see the stencil design faintly now. Transport the vellum spuare carefully to another piece of clean printer paper and apply embossing powder over the entire design, without touching the sticky ink. I choose Lindy’s Stamp Gang embossing powder in “Café au Lait”.

Step 3:

Tab of the excess and heat emboss until all the powder is completely melted. Not all heat tools are equal but with a Ranger Heat Tool most vellums are safe to heat emboss. If yours is really hot then heat the vellum in short bursts so that it doesn’t warp!

Step 4:

Now, turn the vellum around, so you look at the back, and colour the back with two colours of alcohol markers, I choose Copics in RV66 and RV99, in a way that the colours run into each other smoothly.

Step 5:

From a piece of crème coloured linen textured card stock I die cut a slightly larger square panel and adhered the vellum piece on this using see through tape runner. This combination I adhered to a brown linen textured card base using one millimetre thick foam tape.

From a piece of dark turquoise card stock I die cut my sentiment using a die set by Mama Elephant. This I did twice and adhered the two layers on top of each other using Ranger Matte Medium in the small bottle. This thicker sentiment I adhered to the vellum also using the Matte Medium.

And to finish my card I added some matching enamel dots.

Detail picture:

We would love to see what you create with The Crafters Workshop Stencils and Mediums. You can share it with us on our Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest using hashtag #tcwstencillove.

Hi everyone, today I would like to show you this fun and easy card project for which I used a circle shaped card base and some Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers to colour the magnolia image with.

Step 1:

I started my project by die cutting my circle shaped card base using a square card base and using a large circle die to cut my base. The only thing you have to make sure of is that the part of the die that is sticking out is on the fold side!

Then I decided what size my inner circle shapes should be like. I wanted the sentiment to be on the card base itself and matched my inner shapes to leave enough room for that.

The smallest circle shape I then die cut from some Strathmore Bristol Smooth Surface paper. On this circle I stamped the two magnolia flower shapes from the Studio Light STAMPSL380 stamp set, using Versafine “Onyx Black” ink and clear heat embossing afterwards.

Now I’m ready to colour the image using the vibrant Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers in the following colours: Tulip, and then a little added Fuchsia, using only the small nib; and for the rest of the image Chocolate, Olive and Moss. And around the image a little Aquamarine.

I love using these markers in combination with my aqua brush. I apply the colour directly to the paper and then add water to blend the colour outwards. It’s easiest if you apply the colour to the paper on a spot where the shadow will go and wash out the colour with water in the direction of the highlights (where the sun would naturally hit, I always pretend that the sun comes from the top left hand corner).

All of today’s Aqua Markers are from the following sets: Essentials, Primary and Botanicals.

When the colouring was done I added some additional highlights using a white Gelly Roll Pen.

Then I die cut a slightly larger mat from some matching olive green card stock and adhere both circle panels together using liquid glue.

Step 2:

On my card base panel I then stamped a combination of sentiments from the Altenew stamp set called “Reason to Smile” using the same black ink as before.

Step 3:

To finish my card I now only have to adhere the combination of circles that I created before on this card base using one millimetre thick foam tape. I made sure that the sentiment was well visible!

Detail picture:

And that’s it for today’s fun project! I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I would like to show you a technique that I showed you before but this time I’m using Copic Various Inks instead of the Ranger alcohol inks and I’m applying the inks in a different way. The Various Inks are the Copic refills.

Step 1:

Before you start, protect your work surface, work on a craft sheet of glass work mat. To get my project started I applied three colours of the Copic Various ink to a piece of Yupo paper. The panel is large enough to die cut two panels for my cards from (these panels are two sizes smaller then my card base). Onto these panels I added the alcohol inks, dropping in the inks in a stripy manner (drawing lines with the colours). Then I mixed the colours, maintaining the stripy design, to create a gradient effect, using a felt applicator tool. And to finish my base panel I added some of the contrasting colour on top by stippling with the same felt tip applicator (mainly with the red alcohol ink colour). If you feel the colours don’t blend enough then you add some Activator to your felt applicator to move the colour around more easily.

I used Copic Various inks in the colours : Y08, YR18 and R29.

Step 2:

Now I’m die cutting two panels from the created gradient alcohol ink background. These panels are two sizes smaller then my card bases. I temporarily adhere a stencil (for today’s project I used The Crafter’s Workshop stencils “Tuscan Floral” (TCW774s) and “Scrollwork” (TCW781s)) over one of the panels using removable tape. Then I applied some Activator to my glass work surface and picked it up with a foam applicator tool (in the picture I show the felt applicator but after testing I felt that the foam applicator worked faster) to apply the Activator over the stencil, removing the colour to reveal the stencil design. For a faint design you apply less Activator in the same area and for more contrast you can use more Activator.

Step 3:

Now I’m going to work on the rest of my card design: I stamped two flower images onto Schut Terschelling Glad/Smooth watercolour paper using Versafine “Onyx Black” ink and clear heat embossing afterwards (you have to stamps several times over the same lines, use a stamping tool like a MISTI, and then work fast because the ink will dry fast on this absorbent paper), this way my lines will stay dark and crisp. I used a Gina K Designs stamp set called “Thank you Friend” and a Clearly Besotted stamp set called “Beautiful Friend”.

Then I coloured the images using my Daniel Smith watercolour paints: for the Gina K image I used: Quin. Sienna, Quin. Deep Gold, Carmine, Sap Green and Payne’s Blue Gray. For the Clearly Besotted image I used: Quin. Sienna, Carmine, Payne’s Blue Gray, Quin. Magenta, Quin. Deep Gold, Hooker’s Green, Pht. Blue Green Shade and Pht. Green Blue Shade.

I can mix the colours in the metal palette I store my paints in but when I work at home I prefer working on a porcelain plate.

When the colouring was done I added in some highlights using a white Gelly Roll Pen and fussy cut the images out, leaving a small border.

Step 4:

Next I’m working on my sentiment strips: for this I choose vellum and I clear heat embossed over black stamped ink (I prefer Versafine “Onyx Black” for this). My sentiments are from a Clearly Besotted stamp set called “Many Mini Messages” and a Simon Says Stamp stamp set called “Tiny Words”. I also created to matching green mats, slightly larger then my alcohol ink background panel.

Now I can put my cards together: I adhered both rectangle panels together using liquid glue. Then I wrapped the sentiment strips around the panels and adhered on the back using regular tape. This combination I adhered to my peach coloured card base using one millimetre thick foam tape and then finished the cards by adhering the flower images on top also using one millimetre thick foam tape.

Some detail pictures:

And that’s it for today’s project! I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I have another colour challenge project to show you featuring some gorgeous Lindy’s Stamp Gang products.

Sympathy cards are one of these cards that mean a lot to the recipient but are not a lot of fun to make when you need them on short notice, that’s why I always have one of two at hand to grab.

These are the colours of this month’s mood board:

Somehow these colours made met think of a sympathy card, so that’s what we are creating today!

Step 1:

I started my project by stamping the flower images from the Studio Light stamp set STAMPSL379 onto some Strathmore Bristol Smooth Surface paper using Versafine “Onyx Black” ink and heat embossing afterwards using Lindy’s Stamp Gang embossing powder in “Clearly Clear”.

Then I coloured the flowers using a small brush and some Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magical in “Bodacious Blush”, Spray in “Salt Water Taffy”and a little around the image using Magical Shaker in “Stormy Silver”, in combination with a small brush.

When the colouring was done I added some highlights using a white Gelly Roll Pen and fussy cut the images leaving a small border.

Step 2:

For my background panel I first die cut a piece of watercolour paper in the size that I wanted (two sizes smaller then my card base). Then I applied some The Crafter’s Workshop “Light & Fluffy Modeling Paste” over a The Crafter’s Workshop stencil (TCW854s) using a palette knife and set that aside to dry.

When dry I started to add the Stormy Silver colour that I used before to the panel in little bits at a time. Spraying the colour with water, which makes it run, and then drying what I had. This I did several times until I liked the end result and the colours were dark enough to make the flowers contrast with the background.

Step 3:

Then I’m ready to put my card together: I die cut a slightly larger panel from some matching reddish brown mirror card stock and adhered the background panel to this panel using liquid glue.

Next I stamped one of the sentiments from the Clearly Besotted “Many Mini Messages” stamp set onto a scrap of black card stock using VersaMark ink and heat embossing with Lindy’s Stamp Gang “Purely White” embossing powder.

To create a banner I die cut around the sentiment using the middle sized die from the Lawn Fawn “Everyday Sentiment Banners” die set. This banner I adhere to the combined panels using one millimetre thick foam tape and wrapping it around the back on the left hand side.

Now all I have to do is to adhere this combination to a white linen texture card base using one millimetre thick foam tape and adhering the flower images on top, also using one millimetre thick foam tape.

Detail picture:

And that’s it for today’s project! I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I have an easy project for you where I use, next to the white, only four coloured pencils to colour up the images on this card! Lots of coloured pencils are a lot of fun to have but you don’t always need many to create a great project!

Step 1:

I started my project by stamping the flower image from the Studio Light Essentials range stamp set with number STAMPSL378 onto Strathmore “Toned Tan” paper using Versafine “Onyx Black” ink. Then I coloured my highlights with a white drawing pencil. I always pretend that the light source is in my top left hand corner.

Step 2:

Now I’m adding my first layer of colour using a Spectrum Noir Colourblend pencil in “Vivid Pink”.

Step 3:

To darken my shadows after that I’m adding a Spectrum Noir Colourblend pencil in “Auburn”. This is the so called ugly stage, the project maybe feels ruined but it just means that you have to work on it a little bit more!

Step 4:

Here I’m going back to the Vivid Pink colour to make the project brighter again, but because I have the darker tones underneath there is more depth.

Step 5:

Lastly I’m adding a bit more highlights using the white drawing pencil again on the petal parts. For my green colour I choose a Colourblend pencil in the colour “Sage”, combined with the white drawing pencil again.

I added some lines back in with one of the black Spectrum Noir ArtLiner Pens (01) and then fussy cut the image leaving a small border.

On a different panel of the same paper, cut to the size that I need for my card (two sizes smaller then my card base) I stamp the flower image again, but this time I use “second generation” stamping (this means that you first stamp on a scrap piece of paper and then, without re-inking the stamp, on your actual project). This way the lines are lighter!

Step 6:

This will be my background panel: I want to create the look that there are more of the same flowers in the background, they are further away from the eye and therefore lighter in colour: I coloured these flower lightly with just one layer using the white drawing pencil and two Colourblend pencils in “Sage” and “Sorbet”.

It doesn’t make much sense now but when I put my project together you will see what I mean.

The few pencils that I used on today’s project are from the Primaries and Essentials Spectrum Noir Colourblend sets.

Step 7:

Now I’m ready to put my project together: I stamped a Hugs sentiment by Marianne Design on the bottom right hand corner using the same black ink as before.

Then I die cut a mat from some matching pink card stock one size larger then the panel I already have.

These two panels I adhere together using liquid glue.

On top I can now adhere the separate flower image using one millimetre thick foam tape and then cut of the excess on the bottom.

Now the only thing I have to do is to adhere this combination to a crème coloured linen textured card base using one millimetre thick foam tape.

Detail picture:

I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I’m on the Lindy’s Blog with a fun project where I create custom coloured modeling paste that you can use on all your projects, not just art journaling (like I do today).

Step 1:

To get started I took some of my The Crafter’s Workshop Clear Modeling Paste out of the jar and divided in three parts. To each part I added one colour of Lindy’s Stamp Gang powder to create the colour I was going for. I used Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magical Shakers in Magnolia Magenta Gold and Antique Gold and Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magical in Luscious Lime. Then I mixed the colour with the clear modeling paste to create my custom coloured modeling paste. Because the gold one was still a little to light for my taste I added a little of The Crafter’s Workshop Grecian Gold Modeling Paste and mixed that in as well.

To make it easier I used a different spatula for each colour.

Step 2:

I placed my stencil of choice (TCW842s) on a piece of cheap watercolour paper and then applied the coloured modeling paste over the design, sort of aiming the green on the leaves, the pink on the flower shapes and the gold in random patches. Just be careful not to mix the pink and the green to much, because it creates a sort of dark muddy colour!

Step 3:

Now you can carefully remove the stencil and set the paper aside to dry. This design I created twice. Wash you stencil in between for good results as well as afterwards .

Step 4:

When dry I fussy cut the images leaving a small border. Of course you can also apply these coloured modeling pastes directly to your canvas or other 3D project and work from there!

Step 5:

Now that my embellishments are ready I can work on my background design. Today I’m working in my A4 sized journal. I hand draw in the quote, first with a graphite pencil and then going over the lines with a black Faber Castell PITT Artist Pen (s). Then I applied some white The Crafter’s Workshop Modeling Paste over a stencil (TCW838s) using a palette knife and set aside to dry.

Step 6:

When the modeling paste is dry I can apply colour to my background. I choose a Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magical in A Bit o’Bubbly (I love the shimmer in the colour by the way!). I applied a little of the powder with a fan brush to my project. Sprayed with water, which makes the colour run and drying with my heat tool when I liked what I had. This I repeated several times until I liked the end result! Then I created splatters with green and pink, mixing the Luscious Lime and Magnolia Magenta Gold that I used before with a bit of water and splattering on the project with a brush.

Step 7:

For an additional fun added element I heat embossed one of the flower stamps in the Clearly Besotted stamp set Beautiful Friends on vellum, using an anti-static powder tool first. I used VersaMark (a sticky ink) to stamp the image on the vellum and then applied some Lindy’s Stamp Gang embossing powder in Tannenbaum Green Gold, tap of the excess and heat emboss. This I did four times and then fussy cut the images leaving a small border.

Step 8:

Now I’m ready to put my page together: I adhered all the elements that I created before, to my page using one millimetre thick foam tape and see through tape runner (for the vellum) and then edged the page sparingly using Memento Ink in Sweet Plum to give it a bit more definition.

Some detail pictures:

And that's it for today's project, I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I’m on The Crafter’s Workshop blog with an art journal page showing you how you can create modeling paste in about every colour of the rainbow as well as adding colour to a textured stencilled background.

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The Crafter’s Workshop provided me with some product to create this project. The opinions I share are solely my own.

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Step 1:

Because my pineapple needed to dry for a while I started out with creating that part of my design: I used a piece of cheap watercolour paper for this. To get started I created two colours of modeling paste, but you can use this technique for about every colour of the rainbow you would like to have!

I took some The Crafter’s Workshop “Clear Modeling Paste” from it’s jar and split it in two on my glass work surface (you can also use a craft sheet); then I added Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magical Shaker in “Yodeling Yellow” to one part and Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magical Shaker in “Cathedral Pines Green” to the other part.

Step 2:

Then I mixed the pigment powder with the clear modeling paste on my glass work surface, using a palette knife.

Step 3:

Now I can apply the coloured modeling paste over a The Crafter’s Workshop stencil surprisingly called “Pineapple” (TCW848s). I used two different palette knifes to keep the colours clean.

You can see that I left some bare patches, here I applied some The Crafter’s Workshop Metallic Modeling Paste in “Grecian Gold” and “Sterling Silver” and mixed them a little with the other colours that are already there to create a more dimensional look. I love these Metallic Modeling Pastes, they add something extra to every single project!

Step 4:

Now you can carefully take of the stencil and wash it. In the picture you can see what my finished pineapple looks like. I set it aside to dry while I work on the rest of my page.

Step 5:

Today I’m working in my Winsor & Newton Heavy Weight Wire-O Sketch Book. From good watercolour paper (this is Watercolour Card by Crafter’s Companion) I cut two panels in the right size for my art journal (the size for each panel is: 14,5 x 20,5 cm).

On the left hand page I draw in the quote that I wanted to use, first with graphite pencil and then going over the lines with a black Faber Castell PITT Artist Pen (s).

When my quote was done I then applied some The Crafter’s Workshop “Light & Fluffy” Modeling Paste over a The Crafter’s Workshop stencil called “Fantastical” (TCW833s), using a palette knife and let that dry! Do you see how gorgeous this stencil design is, I’m in love with it!

Step 6:

When the background panels have dried sufficiently I’m going to add colour to this textured background. For this I choose Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magicals in “Tilt-a-Wheel-Teal” and “Caribbean Blue”. I first started with the lighter teal colour, adding the pigment powder to my project with a fan brush, a little at a time. Then I sprayed the powder with water which makes the colour run and I dried with my heat tool when I liked what I had. This I repeated until the colour was dark enough for my liking. Then I starting adding the darker blue colour, but only in some places to create a bit of contrast through out my project.

Step 7:

I fussy cut the pineapple design that has dried in the mean time, leaving a small border around the edge.

I also splattered on the background panels with a Coliro Pearl Color called “Moon Gold” (by Finetec GmbH), using a brush, and when dry I edged both panels sparingly using Archival Ink in “Library Green” in combination with a foam applicator tool.

Now the only thing I have to do to finish this fun art journal page is to adhere both panels to my art journal using The Crafter’s Workshop “Matte Gel Medium” and a brush (wash the brush afterwards).

Some detail pictures:

We would love to see what you create with The Crafters Workshop Stencils and Mediums. You can share it with us on our Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest using hashtag #tcwstencillove.

Hi everyone, today I would like to show you this fun card project for which I used the recent Studio Light Caribbean Sea stamp collection. All the images are coloured with the use of the vibrant Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers.

Step 1:

I stamped the images I wanted to use from the Studio Light stamp sets STAMPSL383 and STAMPSL385 onto Strathmore Bristol Smooth Surface paper using Versafine “Onyx Black” ink and I clear heat embossed afterwards.

Then I coloured the images using the following Spectrum Noir Aqua Marker colours: for the lighthouse: Scarlet, Burgundy, Yellow, Charcoal and Black; for the walrus: Terracotta, Chocolate and Charcoal; for the sea turtle: Olive, Moss and Verdant Green; for the sea shell: Peach and Slate. Around the images I used the colours that I will use later on for the sky and the sand: Tan and Aquamarine. I coloured with these markers in combination with an aqua brush and I applied the colour directly to the paper fading it out with the aqua brush working in small area’s at a time. I added a couple of highlights using a white Gelly Roll pen.

When the colouring was done I fussy cut the images leaving a small border.

All of Spectrum Noir Aqua Marker colours I used on today’s project are from the following sets: Essentials, Primary and Botanicals.

Step 2:

Next I die cut the panel I’m going to adhere the coloured images to using the left hand smallest shape in the Studio Light Cutting & Embossing die set STENCILSL199 from the same Bristol paper I used before.

On this panel I stamped the sea waves and the dotted line from the STAMPSL385 stamp set used before as well as the sentiment from the STAMPSL383 also used before, using the same black ink and clear heat embossing afterwards. I coloured the sea part with Spectrum Noir Aqua Marker Navy, and the sand and sky parts with Tan and Aquamarine.

I decided where my turtle should go and stamped the sea waves on him as well and then cut his lower part of. I also added some white Gelly Roll pen to the waves to make them look more dimensional.

Step 3:

Then I die cut all the other elements from the STENCILSL199 die set using crème coloured linen textured card stock and matching dark red card stock.

To put this card together I adhered some red/white bakers twine through the holes in the largest panel. Then I adhered the two layers on top, onto each other, using liquid glue and then I adhered these combinations to the base card using one millimetre thick foam tape.

And to finish the card I adhered the light house, the sea shell and the turtle to the background using liquid glue and the walrus using one millimetre thick foam tape.

Detail picture:

And that’s it for today’s fun little project! I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I would like to show you this cute boy birthday card. I always find it harder to create cards for boys/men then for girls/women, but I also feel that by steering away from the flowers and bling section of my craft room it usually ends well!

So, to get today’s card started I stamped the image from the Lili of the Valley stamp set called “Little Folk - Just Chilling“ onto Strathmore Bristol Smooth Surface paper using Versafine “Onyx Black“ ink and clear heat embossing afterwards.

Then I coloured the image using my Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers and using my Pentel Aquabrush. I used the following colours: Yellow, Bright Yellow, Pale Green, Light Green, May Green, Pale Pink, Oatmeal, Brick Beige, Green Gray, Mid Brown, Haze Blue, Light Blue, Cornflower Blue, Dull Blue and Blue.

When the colouring was done and the image was dry I die cut around it using one of my square stitched nesting dies in the size that I wanted. I also used a regular square nesting die set to die cut a slightly larger yellow panel that I edged with Gina K. Designs ink in the colour “Wild Dandelion“ (to create a more defined edge).

Then I started working on the background panel: for this I die cut a stitched rectangle panel from some crème coloured card stock. On this panel I stamped a Stampin‘Up background stamp called “Hardwood“ using Versafine “Vintage Sepia“ ink, to create an interesting background for my coloured image. I also die cut a slightly larger rectangle panel from some matching dark blue card stock that I edged with Versafine “Majestic Blue“ ink.

I adhered the wooden background panel onto the blue panel using liquid glue and then adhered the first the yellow square (off set) and the the coloured image, using one millimetre thick foam tape between each layer.

Next I started working on my sentiment: for this I stamped one of the sentiments from the Joy Crafts stamp set with number 6410/0021 onto a scrap piece of Strathmore Bristol Smooth Surface paper using Versafine “Onyx Black“ ink. In English the sentiment reads “Congratulations“.

I die cut a banner around the sentiment using the middle sized die in the Lawn Fawn “Everyday Sentiment Banners“ die set. I also die cut a larger banner shape from some matching green card stock using the largest banner die in this set. I edged this green banner shape using Distress Ink in the colour “Mowed Lawn“.

I adhered the two banners together using liquid glue and then adhered some two millimetre foam tape on the back, put the banner on my project and folding it around the back on the left hand side.

And then I’m ready to finish this card by adhering the combined panels to a matching yellow coloured card base using one millimetre foam tape.

Isn’t this the most adorable image ever, totally love it!

I wish you’ll a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I have a card for you showing you how you can create a cute little scene with some fun sea images and using lots of Spectrum Noir Colourblend coloured pencils along the way!

Step 1:

On some Canson 1557 extra white paper I stamped a couple of images from the Studio Light Caribbean Sea Collection stamp sets: STAMPSL383 and STAMPSL385. These I coloured with the following colours of Spectrum Noir Colourblend pencils: Pumpkin, Nectarine, Flame Red, Pistachio, Jade, Emerald, Ivy, Maple, Espresso, Sea Grass and Denim Blue. Because the images are quite small you don’t have to worry about creating a lot of depth.

All of the coloured pencils used on today’s project are from the following Spectrum Noir Colourblend pencil sets: Primaries, Essentials and Bold Brights.

I added some highlights to the eyes using a white Gelly Roll Pen. Then I fussy cut all the images.

Step 2:

With the use of the Studio Light Cutting & Embossing set STENCILSL198 I then die cut a panel in the shape you can see in the picture from the same Canson 1557 paper. On this panel I created my lay out but I didn’t adhere the images yet! I now know where my sentiment will go and I colour the sand/sea part with Maple and Denim Blue Colourblend pencils. Then I place the panel into my stamping tool and stamp the sentiment using black ink as well as the air bubbles. Both the sentiment and the air bubbles are from the Studio Light stamp sets mentioned above. I also stamped the background text stamp from the Studio Light stamp set STAMPSL382 onto the sea blue pencil colour using Memento Summer Sky ink (behind the sea turtle). I didn’t wanted this to attract a whole lot of attention, just an interesting detail in the background!

Step 3:

I die cut a slightly larger panel in the same shape as the first one, from some matching orange card stock, using a size larger die from the STENCILSL198 die set mentioned before. These two panels I adhere together using liquid glue.

Then I take my white linen textured base card and use it as a top fold card this time. On this card base I stamp the sea waves from one of the stamp sets mentioned before using black ink and colouring the part beneath it lightly with the Denim Blue Colourblend pencil.

Step 4:

Now I can put my card together: I adhere the combined panels to my card base using one millimetre thick foam tape and then adhere the small images on top of this also using one millimetre thick foam tape.

To finish the card I add some Ranger Glossy Accents to the air bubbles to make them look more shiny and dimensional.

Detail picture:

And that’s it for today’s sea project! I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I’m on The Crafter’s Workshop blog with a step by step acrylic pouring tutorial using The Crafter’s Workshop Heavy Body Acrylic Paints.

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The Crafter’s Workshop provided me with some product to create this project. The opinions I share are solely my own.

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Let’s start with what acrylic pouring is:

It is a form of painting where you mix your paints with a medium that thins them and allows them to flow, then you pour the paint mixture onto your canvas. You never know what result you’ll get!

Before I will start giving you some tips for when you would like to try this form of painting let me say that the recipe for your mixture is very important, mine isn’t holy, every painter seems to have a different one and each paint brand and/or medium can mean a different mixture (or even the humidity where you live, the season of the year and so on)!

That being said, these are the tips that I gathered, after many hours of research, you can use them as your basic guidelines and adjust them with your own experiences:

- I started with a 20x20 cm and a 30x30 cm canvas. Spray the back of the canvas with water, let it sit for a short while and then dry with a heat tool or hair dryer (this will tighten the canvas fabric). Cover your work surface in plastic because pouring is a messy business and wear old clothes;

- Tape the edges of the canvas on the back of the canvas with painters tape. Put push-pins on the back (on all four corners, so the canvas itself is not resting on the table) and make sure the canvas is level. If you don’t tape the edges of the canvas on the back the paint will make the canvas sag and when the paint dries afterwards it’s really hard to correct this;

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- Mix the pouring medium (there are a few different ones) with the paint (I did this by weight): I used 2 parts Floetrol (50 grams) to one part paint (The Crafter’s Workshop Heavy Body Acrylic Paint : 25 grams)), stir well in a plastic cup, avoid creating more bubbles then necessarily (don’t mix like you’re clutching eggs). You can use a pop-sickle stick for stirring. I always like to add one metallic paint to my project.

Most important is to keep in mind that the consistency you are after should be like warm honey!

Add a tiny bit of rubbing alcohol (couple of drops) to the mixture (this may help prevent bubbles) and stir.

Then add (boiled and cooled down) water, in little bits at a time, until you have reached the consistency of warm honey (you can check this by letting the mixture pour of your stick into the cup). Let it sit for about a half hour / an hour (so that the pouring medium and the paint can get to know each other). For this I choose to use plastic cups with a lid.

Just before you’re pouring add a couple of drops of 100% silicone oil (I used treadmill oil) to the recipe and stir a couple of times, not too much (if it’s winter time make sure that you warm the oil up a bit in the pocket of your fleece vest, for example, before adding to the mixture, so that the oil is not too cold when you add it to the mixture)! The silicone oil will create the so called “cells” (the circular shapes that you see in many acrylic pours).

For today’s project I choose paint colour that go well with my craft room, since that’s what I created these canvasses for: “Spun Sugar”, “Raspberry Sorbet”, “Candy Apple Red” and “Iridescent Gold”. For the light pink colour I first mixed a bit of the Raspberry Sorbet with more of the Spun Sugar and then added the Floetrol. I mixed up twice as much of the white because I will use that colour for my negative space.

I added silicone oil to all of the colours except for the white!

- Time to put on your gloves! Check if your canvas is still level. Do the pouring! I love to do a dirty cup flip pour: use a size plastic cup according to the amount of paint, the cup should be almost full, pour different colours of paint in a cup, one after another (don’t stir!), until you think you have enough paint for the canvas you’re working on. Lift the canvas with one hand and put it on top of the cup with the paint. Hold it firm (canvas in your left, cup in your right hand)! Turn the canvas with the cup on top and put on your table. Let the cup sit for about a minute. Pour more white mixture around the cup and spread out using a palette knife or pop-sickle stick. Then puncture a hole in the top of the cup with a push pin. Air goes into the cup and will lift the cup, when not help a little, but be careful.

Now, the paint will probably not spread out as far as you would like it to go by itself, so you will have to tilt the canvas back and fort (the corners are hardest to cover, unless you have a circular canvas), you can use a circular motion if you like. If you are going after “cells” then don’t tilt the canvas too much, it will break the cells. Because I wanted some white negative space I didn’t have to cover the entire canvas with paint. When you are happy with how the paint covers the canvas as well as the edges, make sure that you always tip the paint back to the middle as your last step, without loosing your design, this will abort the ongoing flow towards one edge of the canvas (the one you tipped to lastly);

- Check if all your edges/sides of the canvas are covered the way you want it, if not, you can use your finger or a pop-sickle stick to pick up the paint from your work surface and add to the sides of the canvas where you need it, in a dabbing motion (don’t rub, it will create muddy colours);

- You can use a torch (like the ones you can buy for crème-brulle purposes, to pop the air bubbles and make the silicone rise to the top. You can use your torch after the pouring and before the tipping, (that’s what I did today) or only at the end, or both, whatever you like, but make sure that you always have done this at the end so that as many bubbles as possible have popped!

- Now you can use a toothpick of a pop-sickle stick to clean the underside edges of your canvas (while the canvas is standing on the table). Scrape of the paint that is hanging under the canvas so that it doesn’t dry this way. Be careful to not ruin your wonderful project!

As an additional step you can add some fine glitter to the wet paint. I used Nuvo Pure Sheen Glitter in “Rose Gold” for today’s project, but this in no way necessary!

- The best thing you can do is to walk away and only check every now and then if you have any more overflowing paint that needs to be scraped on the underside of the canvas. Don’t touch the canvas on top, you will ruin it!

- Let the canvas dry! Some say that two days is enough (after two days the top is dry enough to transport the canvas to a save place to dry further). I would advise to let it dry for at least a couple of weeks (on the save side, in winter, at least four weeks, in summer about three weeks, but not in the sun, the paints needs to dry slow and evenly to prevent cracks in the paint surface). If you seal the canvas to soon then the moisture will be trapped and it can create mould over time;

- After drying, and when you have used silicone oil, you will first have to remove this as best as you can (it will sit on top of the canvas). Some will add baby-powder or corn starch to the canvas and/or wash the canvas with soap and water. I felt that gently cleaning the canvas surface with tissue paper (like Kleenex) did the job but it’s not a guarantee. I’m no expert at this (it tried alcohol and that didn’t work, so I decided that when I don’t see it any more it should be gone). You can do whatever you like. Do some research on this! If you resin your piece then left behind silicone oil can create ugly bubbles on your canvas.

- Now you can varnish/seal the canvas: you can choose between many options such as resin, epoxy, regular varnish, whatever you prefer. Most will choose a gloss option though, but if you like matt, go for matt. I choose a regular gloss acrylic varnish, added two coats with a brush and my project is finished!

I love how these canvasses turned out, especially the largest one. Some detail pictures:

Large canvas:

Small canvas:

We would love to see what you create with The Crafters Workshop Stencils and Mediums. You can share it with us on our Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest using hashtag #tcwstencillove

Hi everyone, today I have a fun birthday card for you for which I painted a cute fuchsia image using watercolour paints.

Step 1:

To get my card started I die cut a square panel from Clairefontaine Multi-Techniques á Grain paper (the blue one). Then I used an anti-static powder tool on the paper and stamped the fuchsia image from a Clearly Besotted stamp set called “Beautiful Friend” onto this panel using VersaMark ink and then I heat embossed using WOW! “Metallic Rich Pale Gold” embossing powder. I did the same with the sentiment that comes in the same stamp set.

The base of my card is ready now and I can add the first layer of colour to my project: for this I choose a few Daniel Smith watercolour paints and applied them with a brush in a light wash deciding where my highlights and my shadows will go.

I choose “Opera Pink”, “Quin. Purple” and “Sap Green” for this first layer.

Step 2:

Now I can deepen the colours with more layers of the same colour.

Step 3:

To darken my shadows a bit more I mixed the pink and the purple each with “Quin. Magenta” and the green with both “Hooker’s Green” and “Payne’s Blue Gray” to create even more depth. I also added some “Pht. Blue (Green Shade)” around the fuchsia’s.

Work in layers until you like what you have!

Step 4:

When I was done colouring with the watercolour paints I added in some highlights using a white Gelly Roll pen. I also die cut a slightly larger mat from matching purple card stock and adhered both panels together using liquid glue. Then I adhered this combination to a white linen textured card base using one millimetre thick foam tape and to finish my card project I adhered some “Jewels - Ice Cube Mix” by Lucy’s Cards Little Things using Ranger Medium Matte.

Detail picture:

And that’s it for today’s fun little project! I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I would like to show you this project where I used a completed acrylic poured canvas and decorated it with a stamped and coloured image. I used the wonderful Spectrum Noir Aquamarkers to colour the image!

Let’s get started!

Step 1:

To get started I first added some anti-static powder to a piece of Strathmore Bristol Smooth Surface Paper and then I stamped the large flower image from a The Ton stamp set called “Coming up Daisies” on this paper using Versafine “Onyx Black” ink and clear heat embossing afterwards This way the lines stay black and crisp even if I add a lot of water. I chose Spectrum Noir Aquamarkers in the hues present in the acrylic poured painting and then laid down my first layer of colour. I wanted the flowers to be not to dark to make them stand out from the dark background colours of the canvas, so that is why I started with a light hand.

I first used Spectrum Noir Aquamarkers in Spice and Teal in combination with a waterbrush.

Step 2:

Next I added a darker layer to the flower petals but only using the small nib of the Orange Aquamarker. This way I can add a little bit of the darker colour at once and control the outcome better. Also deepening the leaves with the Teal marker and adding Daffodil to the heart of the flowers.

Step 3:

Adding more details with the small nibs of the Orange and Teal markers where I felt these where needed. Also adding some Terracotta to the flower hearts to darken them up a little. And then adding Chocolate around the entire image, creating the transfer to the canvas colour the image will be adhered to.

All of today’s Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers are from the following sets: Essentials, Primary and Botanicals.

When done I added in some highlights using a white Gelly Roll Pen.

Step 4:

This is what my poured canvas looks like. I have a different blog post about how you can do acrylic pouring, this post is not about that form of art.

Then I fussy cut the flower image leaving a small border and to finish the project I adhered the image to the canvas using The Crafter’s Workshop Gloss Gel Medium and a brush (wash the brush afterwards because the medium will act as a glue).

Some details pictures:

And that’s it for today’s project! I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, I thought today I would show you a little something different then usual: the place where I design and create my projects, work on my blog and write my design team blog posts.

Now, before telling you a bit more about my craft room, let me say that I didn’t started out this way: I crafted many years in the attic, between the storage boxes, the laundry and the washing machine.

When we bought the house we live in now, about three years ago, I was lucky enough to be able to dedicate a room to my hobby.

That being said, I repurposed many furniture pieces from my old house (like the plastic drawer carts, all the closets, the desk and the table my Big Shot is on (these are all 5 to 15 years old).

Most of the things that I added are from Ikea, I love their storage solutions! As you can see I like things stored away, when there is too much stuff laying around or on the walls I find it harder to focus.

I also purge twice a year to let go of the supplies that I don’t use/decided I don’t like/planned on using in the past half year (after having them far too long) and didn’t use, and so on (look up “Marie Kondo” if you would like to know how to purge). This way I know exactly where everything is and what I have!

My most recent purchase is the cart for my Lindy’s products.

I love that my work table is in front of the window, with a pretty view outside, and that bright red wall gives me a lot of energy every day!

One thing I couldn’t live without is my daylight desk lamp and my glass work surface.

My "Catalogue":

All my supplies: colouring mediums (like coloured pencils, markers or inks), stamps, dies, stencils have a visible image in my catalogue. This way I know what I have, I don't buy duplicates and when I look for a suitable image or sentiment I can find it easily.

To make this is a lot of work, but once you have it, you can add stuff that you buy or remove images from supplies that you purge really easily. I love working this way because it saves me a lot of time when I'm creating a project!

Stamp Storage:

I store all my stamps in Ikea boxes. Some are divided in categories like Sentiments or Christmas, and some are divided by Brand.

Nesting Die Storage:

Standing next to my Big Shot die cutting machine I have this small wooden box (originally designed for letters) and in this I store magnetic sheets with my nesting dies on them, in envelopes. Since these nesting dies are my most used dies this way I can grab them easily.

Copic Storage:

I store my coloured pencils in fabric pencil rolls and my Copic markers in flower pots (Ikea), sorted by colour family in an Ikea box.

Handmade by:

All of my cards or other projects that I created are marked on the back with my personalised stamp (these can have your blog name, your own name, or whatever you please). These are available on Etsy.

I guess these are the items I figured people might have questions about.

If you have any other questions feel free to ask!

Hi everyone, today I would like to show you my inspiration for the Lindy’s Stamp Gang June Color Challenge Mood Board. These colours made me instantly think of oranges and that’s why I choose the Studio Katia “Citrus Trimmings” stamp set to work with.

This is what this month’s mood board looks like!

Step 1:

I stamped the image onto Strathmore Bristol Smooth Surface paper using Versafine “Onyx Black” ink and then I clear heat embossed using Lindy’s Stamp Gang “Clearly Clear” embossing powder.

Then I started colouring the image using Lindy’s Stamp Gang “Orange Creamsicle” Magical, water and a small brush. I try to create a 3D feeling of depth in the image by adding shadows and highlights. I transfer some of the powder to my palette using a fan brush and then add water create a paint to work with.

Step 2:

Next I added some green to the leaves using Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magical in “Bells of Ireland Green”.

Step 3:

Working further on the image until all the area’s that I want to colour are coloured: adding more layers to darken the shadows on the oranges using Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magical in “Tears of my Pillow Tangerine” and adding “Azure Sea Asters” around the image (because this will also be my background colour).

Step 4:

Now I’m starting to work on my background: I die cut a rectangle panel, two sizes smaller then my card base, from watercolour paper. I stamped one of the sentiments from the same Studio Katia stamp set on the panel using Archival Ink in “Jet Black”. Then I apply some The Crafter’s Workshop White Modeling Paste over a The Crafter’s Workshop stencil (TCW5005) using a palette knife and set that aside to dry.

When dry I add a little of the “Azure Sea Asters” Magical to the panel using a fan brush, spray with water, which makes the colour run and dry with my heat tool when I like what I have. This I repeat until the colour is dark enough to my liking.

I had some of the green paint that I created earlier on left in my palette and the background needed something extra so I splattered with that colour using a brush.

Step 5:

Then I fussy cut the citrus image leaving a small border and added some highlights using a white Gelly Roll Pen.

I also cut a strip of vellum five centimetres wide and distressed the edges a little.

Step 6:

Now I’m ready to put my card together: I die cut a slightly larger panel from matching green card stock and adhered the background panel and the green panel together using liquid glue. Then I wrapped the vellum strip around the panel and adhered on the back using regular tape. I used the vellum strip to create more distance between the background and the front image, I just felt it looked better!

This combination I adhered to my crème coloured linen textured card base using one millimetre thick foam tape and now the only thing I have to do to finish my card is to adhere the citrus image on top also using one millimetre thick foam tape.

Some detail pictures:

And that’s it for today’s project! I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I would like to show you a masculine set of cards created with the use of alcohol inks.

Step 1:

I used a left over, half A4 size sheet of Yupo (which is a synthetic paper) to start my project off with. I also have some plastic shot glasses, a few pipets, a straw (black in the picture), 96% isopropyl alcohol and two colours of Copic Various Inks (which are their refills) in B28 and Y08 (blue and yellow create green together).

I added some of the coloured alcohol inks to the shot glasses and then added some of the isopropyl alcohol (this will make a larger amount, but the colour will stay as strong). In the last shot glass I put some alcohol by itself.

Then I started working on the Yupo paper: I added blue and yellow drops of ink using the pipets (but a bit more of the yellow) and some drops of alcohol and started to blow the ink around with a straw. When I felt that was needed I added more ink or more alcohol. This technique with the straw creates softer edges then my previous project where I used my hair dryer (which was too strong) but if you have breathing/respiratory problems then this is not for you! When I was happy with the results I spattered lightly with some alcohol by itself to create fun spots on the ink.

Step 2:

Next I die cut two rectangle pieces from this Yupo panel, each two sizes smaller then my card base.

Then I stamped some of the images from the Simon Says Stamp stamp set called “Ice Cream Dream” onto Copic friendly paper, using Memento “Tuxedo Black Ink” and I coloured the images using the following colours of Copic Markers: R20, R14, R37, BV31, BV02, BV13, V17, YR30, E13, E35 and E27.

When the colouring was done I added in some highlights using a white Gelly Roll Pen.

Step 3:

I fussy cut the previously coloured images leaving a small border. Then I stamped my sentiments from the same “Ice Cream Dream” stamp set on the Yupo paper using Versafine “Onyx Black Ink” and heat embossed the text using clear embossing powder.

This is a bit tricky since the Yupo will not take the heat well: I use a Ranger Heat It tool, heat it up well and then hit the Yupo in short bursts, it only warps a little this way. If you don’t like this method then you can use Staz On ink to stamp on the Yupo as well.

Now I can put my cards together: I die cut a slightly larger mat for each card, one in bordeaux red and one in light purple and adhered the Yupo panels to this panel using liquid glue. Next I adhered these combined panels to a crème coloured card base using one millimetre thick foam tape and to finish this card I adhered the ice cream images on top also using one millimetre thick foam tape.

Some detail pictures:

And that’s it for today’s project! I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I have another colouring tutorial for you using the Spectrum Noir Colourblend coloured pencils, using this fun image by Power Poppy.

Step 1:

I started my project by printing this gorgeous digi by Power Poppy called “Hyacinth Bulb in Glass” onto Strathmore “Toned Tan” paper. Then I die cut around the printed image using a stitched rectangle die, making sure that I have enough room left on the right bottom hand side to add the quote later on.

To get the colouring started I first added in my highlights using a white drawing pencil and a light hand.

Step 2:

Then I lightly mapped out the colours where I wanted them to go. For this I used the following colours of Colourblend pencils: Lemon, Mauve, Amethyst, Cedarwood, Smooth Jade, Espresso and Jade.

Step 3:

In this step and the following ones I’m going to add more layers of these same colours plus darkening the shadow area’s, until I like what I have. In each layer I add a bit more pressure to the pencil but not burnishing yet, because once you have done that adding more layers in really hard.

In this step I added Ivy to the green parts to deepen them and Orchid and Blackberry to the pink/purple parts of the flower parts.

Step 4:

Here I’m even adding more dark colours using Twilight Blue and Maroon. Going over these colours with the previous ones to get the original colours back but in a darker hue.

Step 5:

Now I’m bringing back in the white and mix it with the other colours to brighten my highlights again and mix them with the other colours for a nice gradient. When the top part of the image is done I work in the same way on the bottom part, using colours previously mentioned.

Work on the image until you like what you have! Working in coloured pencils is time consuming and it’s all about layering!

For today’s project I used coloured pencils from the following Spectrum Noir Colourblend sets: Essentials, Primaries and Bold Brights.

Step 6:

Because I lost some of the printed lines I added them back in using a black Spectrum Noir Artliner pen in size 03.

Next I’m working on the rest of my card. Together with the flower image I printed the quote that comes with the flower image and now I cut that to size and mat it onto a matching piece of green card stock. These two panels I adhere together using liquid glue.

For the larger rectangle panel I choose a matching purple mat and also adhered these panels together using liquid glue.

To put my card together I now only have to adhere the different combined panels to my crème coloured lined textured card base using one millimetre thick foam tape.

And that’s it for today’s fun card project!

Detail picture:

I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I’m on the Lindy’s Stamp Gang blog with a fun card project with lots of Lindy’s products being used!

Step 1:

Choose your background stamp to work with: mine is by Simon Says Stamp “Emma Background”. Since this is a rubber stamp I first stamped/heat embossed and then die cut my square panel. If you use a clear stamp then you can die cut you panel first and then stamp/heat emboss on it.

I used a piece of watercolour paper (Canson XL Watercolor) and, this is very important, I first used an anti-static powder tool on the paper before adding the stamped image. This way the embossing powder only adheres to the stamped lines and not to other places, for example, where your fingers have been!

Then I stamped the background design on the watercolour paper using VersaMark ink (this is a sticky ink). Next I heat embossed using Lindy’s Stamp Gang Cafe au Lait embossing powder. I die cut a square panel from the watercolor paper afterwards.

Step 2:

Now I’m going to colour in all the details from the background design: I started first with Lindy’s Stamp Gang Squirt in Emerald Eh?!, using water to thin the colour down on the paper in combination with a small brush.

Then I’m adding in Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magical in Merci Beaucoup Mint (adding some of the powder to my palette using a fan brush and adding water to create a paint).

This way I’m painting the whole design, also adding Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magical in C’est la vie Cerise and Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magical Shakers in Glittering Gold and Lederhosen Laurel.

Afterwards I decided that this background panel needed something extra so I added some splatters with C’est la vie Cerise and some white lines with a white Gelly Roll pen (picture Step 4).

Step 3:

I loved how the background looked so I didn’t want to cover it up too much, that’s why I decided on adding some butterflies (no name brand stamp set). I stamped the butterflies on Strathmore Bristol Smooth Surface paper (this paper is smooth and therefore all the details of the butterfly will be nicely visible) using VersaMark ink and I heat embossed using Lindy’s Stamp Gang Midnight Gold embossing powder.

I coloured the butterflies in the same way as I did with the background design, this time using a Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magical in Plumeria Pink and Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magical Shaker in Magnolia Magenta Gold. After the colouring was done I fussy cut the images leaving a small border.

Step 4:

For my sentiment I choose a chipboard by Little Birdie (CR66003) reading “Life is Beautiful”. I’m adding a few layers of embossing powder to create the design and dimension that I’m going for using VersaMark ink between each layer: I started with three coats of Lindy’s Stamp Gang Embossing Powder in Raspberry Lemonade, then I added a little of the Poppin’ Pink embossing powder, just sprinkling in on, not covering the entire sentiment, and lastly I added a full layer of King Midas Gold embossing powder (which is translucent).

Step 5:

Now I can put my card together: I die cut a square mat in a matching pinkish purple colour, slightly larger then my watercolour panel. These two square panels I adhered together using liquid glue. The combination I adhered to a crème coloured linen textured card base using one millimetre thick foam tape.

Next I’m adhering the butterflies and the sentiment on top of the card using Ranger Medium Matte (in the small bottle), and as my finishing touch I choose some Sparkling Clear Sequins by Pretty Pink Posh in different sizes and adhered them also with the Ranger Medium Matte.

Some detail pictures:

Lindy’s products used:

- Embossing Powders: Cafe au Lait, Midnight Gold, Raspberry Lemonade, Poppin’ Pink and King Midas Gold

- Squirt: Emerald Eh?!

- Magical: Merci Beaucoup Mint, C’est la vie Cerise, Plumeria Pink

- Magical Shaker: Glittering Gold, Lederhosen Laurel, Magnolia Magenta Gold

And that’s it for today’s fun card project! I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I’m on The Crafter’s Workshop blog with a kitchen apron that I decorated for my boyfriend who loves to cook. Let’s get started!

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The Crafter’s Workshop provided me with some product to create this project. The opinions I share are solely my own.

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Step 1:

I started with a blank Canvas Corp Brands chefs apron (but you can use any apron you have) and I hand sew a piece of fabric (CCB Farmhouse Kitchen) on the front pockets to get my project started. I washed the apron before applying the paint.

Then my boyfriend got to choose the stencils he wanted me to use on his apron. He choose stencils with food (pineapples and pumpkins). For the colours I choose copper and turquoise, because these colours go well with the colours we already have in our kitchen.

Step 2:

Then I mixed two colours of acrylic paints (Winsor & Newton “Deep Turquoise” and Reeves “Copper”) with Vallejo Textile Medium on my glass work surface. If you have worked with acrylic paints before and have spilled some on your clothes then you know that once dry they don’t wash out the fabric easily but I wanted to make sure that the design stays nice over time even if this apron will be washed often: with textile medium the paint adheres better to the fabric.

I placed my first stencil on the apron and started to apply the paint using a dry painters stippling brush and up and down pouncing motions. I started with the pineapple design that I wanted to look like it was peeking out of the front pocket of the apron. I covered the pockets with regular printer paper to prevent the paint from covering parts that I didn’t wanted to be covered.

For the pocket pineapple I used a large The Crafter’s Workshop stencil called “Pineapple” (TCW848).

After applying both colours I dried the paint with my heat tool so that I could move on to the next design without smudging the paint.

Step 3:

Next I worked on the two smaller pumpkin designs on the bottom edge of the apron beneath the pockets. For this I used a The Crafter’s Workshop stencil called “Harvest Pumpkins” (TCW819) and I choose the smaller size for this.

I mixed and applied the paint in the same way as I did with the pineapple design.

Step 4:

When the two smaller pumpkin designs were ready I worked on the two partially showing pumpkin designs on the sides of the apron in the same way as the ones before (this time using the larger “Harvest Pumpkins” stencil).

As you might have noticed I used front and backside of the stencil designs to create the design I liked best.

Step 5:

When the pumpkins were done I decided I needed more pineapples and for this I used the smaller “Pineapple” stencil design. And to finish this fun apron project I used the small and large “Harvest Pumpkins” stencils, but now only the swirly top part, to create a fun design along the edge of the apron.

For best resistance to washing Vallejo advises to fix the painted fabric by ironing on the reverse side so that’s what I did and now the apron is ready to be used!

Some detail pictures:

We would love to see what you create with The Crafters Workshop Stencils and Mediums. You can share it with us on our Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest using hashtag #tcwstencillove.

Hi everyone, today I have another fun card project for you featuring an adorable Whimsy Stamps image and the wonderful Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers!

Let’s get started!

Step 1:

I started my project by applying some anti-static powder to a piece of Strathmore “Bristol Smooth Surface Paper”. Then I stamped “Maya” by Whimsy Stamps onto this paper using Versafine “Onyx Black” ink and clear heat embossing afterwards. This way the lines stay black and crisp.

Next I laid down the first layer of colour: using a very light hand and deciding where my highlights and shadows will go. I added the colour direct with the brush to the paper and spreading the colour with my aqua brush. More colour in the shadow parts, less in the highlight parts.

I used the following colours of Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers: Chocolate, Charcoal, Peach, Verdant Green, Aquamarine, Tulip and Tan.

Step 2:

Now I’m going to deepen the colours that I previously added: I used the above mentioned colours plus Fern, Fuchsia and Spice. Working on adding more shadows to create a feeling of depth in my image.

Step 3:

To deepen the colours of the clothing and the flower parts even more I’m now going to add darker colours that you don’t think of at first glance: I added Navy to the teal colours to create a darker hue and Sepia to the pink flower parts to deepen these shadows. Only use a tiny bit to prevent the colour overpowering the colours that you already have!

I totally love how these markers work together!

All Aqua Markers used on today’s project are from the “Botanicals”, “Essentials” and “Primary” sets.

This is also the fase where I add some colours around the image to create a feeling of background.

When dry I add some highlights to the image using a white Gelly Roll Pen and I fussy cut the image leaving a small border.

Step 4:

Now I’m going to work on the background design. For this I die cut a square panel form watercolour card stock, the size of this panel is two sizes smaller then my card base. On this panel I stamp the sentiment using a Stamplorations stamp set called “Sentiment Builders: Celebrate”.

Then I add some sparkle using a The Crafter’s Workshop stencil (TCW824s) and some Imagination Crafts Sparkle Medium in “Antique Pink” that I apply with a palette knife and set that aside to dry.

Step 5:

When the background is dry I can put my card together: I die cut a slightly larger mat from some teal coloured vellum. These two square panels I adhere together using liquid glue. The combined panels I adhere to a crème coloured linen textured card base using one millimetre thick foam tape.

And to finish my card I now only have to add my coloured image on top also using one millimetre thick foam tape.

Detail picture:

I totally love how this card turned out! I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I have an adorable hand coloured card for you featuring a StampingBella stamp. Isn’t she cute? I pretty much love all the Garden Girls from StampingBella but this one is my absolute favourite (until now, because now and then there come out new ones)!

I started my card by stamping the image from the “Tiny Townie Garden Girl Rose“ stamp onto some Strathmore “Bristol Smooth Surface“ paper using Versafine “Onyx Black“ ink and clear heat embossing afterwards (as I always do when I plan on using my Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers, this way the lines stay crisp and black no matter how much water I ad).

Then I coloured the image using my Zig Markers and my Pentel Aquabrush. I used the following colours: Light Carmine, Wine Red, Pale Green, Green, Deep Green, Beige, Dark Brown, Deep Brown, Shadow Mauve, Dull Blue, Pale Gray and Pale Pink (the last one for the skin only).

When the image was dry I fussy cut her out using my Fiskars scissors and then I added back in some of the highlights with a white Sakura Gelly Roll pen.

Now I can start working on my background panel: for this I die cut a square panel from some patterned paper from my stash using one of the dies from the square Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL nesting die set. I also die cut a slightly larger mat from some matching dark red card stock using one of the dies from the stitched square Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL nesting die set. These two panels I adhered together using liquid glue and then I adhered these combined panel to a crème coloured linen textured card base using one millimetre thick foam tape.

Next I created my sentiment by die cutting the Stamplorations “Hello Sunshine“ Phrase Die from some matte gold card stock. I adhered the Rose girl onto my card using one millimetre thick foam tape on her body (but not her legs) and liquid glue on her legs. Then I adhered the die cut sentiment onto the card, partly covering up her legs using Ranger Medium Matte. I love how the sentiment and the Rose girl image work together!

This card doesn’t need much else! So, to finish my card I adhered some “Jewels - Ice Cube Mix“ from Lucy’s Cards in different sizes on the card using Ranger Glossy Accents.

And that’s it for today’s project! I wish you’ll a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I have a fun home décor / craft room decoration project for you as a Spectrum Noir Design Team Member!

And I really feel that this quote is oh so true: don’t wait till the moment inspiration hits you to get crafty, get crafty and you will have more idea’s for future projects then you can handle (you might want to write them down)!

So, let’s get started!

Step 1:

I first decided what size my picture frame would be. Then I used a piece of Strathmore “Toned Tan” paper to draw the outlines of the inner frame rim. I used an image and quote I found on line by The Picsees and traced the lines of the fantasy figure onto the top part of my paper.

On the bottom part I pencilled in the quote that comes with the image. Normally, in my art journals, I write my quotes without drawing lines first but this time I wanted the results to be really straight. Make light markings on the paper that you can erase easily.

When I was happy with how the quote looked I went over the lines using first the black Spectrum Noir ArtLiner pen in size 03 and to create more volume adding more dimension with the size 01.

Let the ink dry for a couple of minutes and then you can erase the base lines used for drawing in the quote.

Step 2:

Next I’m working on the fantasy figure. With a white drawing pencil I’m adding the highlights to my image, this is what makes colouring on darker coloured paper so much fun. By adding the white the image jumps of the paper instantly.

The highlights go there where the sun would naturally hit first. I always pretend the sun comes from the top left hand corner.

Use a light hand and multiple layers to achieve a light enough colour without being able to blend the other colours I’m going to add with the white.

Step 3:

Now the wonderful Spectrum Noir Colourblend Pencils come into action: I first lightly lay out the colours, a little more where my shadows will go. Then I take darker colours like browns and greys to deepen the shadows, using a light hand.

This way I build my layers and blend with the white area’s I added in before.

When you have added multiple layers you can start using a bit more pressure to create more vibrant colours and deeper shadows.

I used the following colours of Colourblend pencils: Espresso and Taupe mainly for the shadow area’s; Mustard, Saddle Brown, Pistachio, Jade, Sage, Raspberry, Smooth Jade and Twilight Blue.

All the colours on today’s project come in the “Bold Brights”, “Primaries” and “Essentials” Colourblend Pencil sets.

Step 4:

In this stage I’m working on adding another layer of white, blending it with the coloured pencils and deepening the shadows, adding a little of the Black pencil when needed, but not with a heavy hand!

I know you can hardly see it in the picture but I also added some Peach coloured pencil around the image and also a little white to appear the background a little more defined.

In this stage I also add in some lines that I lost during the colouring process as well as the lines from the dangly thingy from his ear using the size 005 Spectrum Noir ArtLiner pen.

Now I only have to put the image in the picture frame and my décor project is finished. I decided to take the glass out but you don’t have to do that, I just didn’t liked the glare from the light on the glass.

Detail pictures:

I hope you enjoyed this fun project and I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I would like to show you guys this quick card using the adorable Stampin‘Up “Postcard Pals“ stamp set.

When it’s not my day (you probably have them too!) then I like to colour with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers, because they are effortless in creating a fun and quick result!

I started my card by stamping this cute animal image onto Strathmore Bristol “Smooth Surface“ paper using Versafine “Onyx Black“ ink and clear heat embossing afterwards. Then I coloured the image using the following Zig Markers and my Pentel Aqua Brush: Yellow, Bright Yellow, Orange, Scarlet Red, Persian Blue, Peacock Blue, Pale Gray, Blue Gray, Mid Brown, Dark Brown and Haze Blue.

When the colouring was done I added back in some highlights using a white Gelly Roll pen.

After the colouring was done and dry I die cut a square panel from the coloured image and I also die cut a slightly larger mat from some matching orange card stock.

For my background I choose a stamp by Create a Smile called “Ocean Waves”, which I also stamped on the same Strathmore paper. I coloured the waves with the two blue markers that I used on the animal image as well and then added in the sentiment, using an old Joy Crafts stamp set, saying Happy Birthday in Dutch.

I die cut a yellow mat for the finished waves panel and decided on a dark blue card base.

Now I’m ready to put my card together. I adhered the square mats and the rectangle mats together using liquid glue and then I adhered the combined rectangle mats to my card base using one millimetre thick foam tape and to finish my card I adhered the combined square mats on top also using one millimetre thick foam tape.

And that’s it for today’s card, I think I know a little boy who will like this card a lot! I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I would like to show you guys the basics for acrylic pouring. With this technique I created multiple canvasses for our living room wall. I do must say that this is not a hobby that I will be doing long term because you waste a lot of plastic and paint and that’s not good for the environment.

Let’s start with what acrylic pouring really is:

It is a form of painting where you mix your paints with a medium that thins them and allows them to flow, then you pour the paint mixture onto your canvas. You never know what result you’ll get!

And that’s the other thing, I like to be able to control the outcome of my projects and I really can’t with this form of art. I enjoyed doing this nonetheless for a while: I will create some gifts during the year, finish the supplies I have and that will be it! I enjoyed it, but not as much as other hobbies!

Before I will start giving you some tips for when you would like to try this form of painting let me say that the recipe for your mixture is very important, mine isn’t holy, every painter seems to have a different one and each paint brand and/or medium can mean a different mixture (or even the humidity where you live, the season of the year and so on)!

That being said, these are the tips that I gathered, after many hours of research, you can use them as your basic guidelines and adjust them with your own experiences:

1. I started with some 20x20 cm and 30x30 cm canvasses. Spray the back of the canvas with water, let it sit for a short while and then dry with a heat tool or hair dryer (this will tighten the canvas fabric). Cover your work surface in plastic because pouring is a messy business and wear old clothes;

2. Tape the edges of the canvas on the back of the canvas with painters tape. Put push-pins on the back (on all four corners, so the canvas itself is not resting on the table) and make sure the canvas is level. If you don’t tape the edges of the canvas on the back the paint will make the canvas hang and when the paint dries afterwards it’s really hard to correct this;

3. Gesso the canvas and if you like paint the edges of the canvas (when you are using a dark contrasting colour (this way you don’t have any bare patches on the sides);

4. Mix the pouring medium (there are a few different ones) with the paint (I did this by weight): I used 2 parts Floetrol (50 grams) to one part paint (Amsterdam Acrylic Paint : 25 grams)), stir well in a plastic cup, avoid creating more bubbles then necessarily (don’t mix like you’re clutching eggs). You can use a pop-sickle stick for stirring.

These Amsterdam paints come in tubes, which means that they are thicker. I always like to add one metallic paint to my project. If you use, for example, DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paints (which are thinner) then you can probably better use a 1:1 recipe (you might not even need to add water to this recipe, depending on the consistency, if it’s like warm honey then it’s good)! I haven’t tried acrylic pouring with a different brand then Amsterdam at this moment, when I have I will let you know. Most important is to keep in mind that the consistency you are after is like warm honey! I would stick to one brand paint on a canvas, when you have more experience you can mix brands more easily.

Add a tiny bit of rubbing alcohol (couple of drops) to the mixture (this may help prevent bubbles) and stir.

Then add (boiled and cooled down) water, in little bits at a time, until you have reached the consistency of warm honey (you can check this by letting the mixture pour of your stick into the cup). Let it sit for about a half hour / an hour (so that the pouring medium and the paint can get to know each other). For this I choose to use plastic cups with a lid.

Just before you’re pouring add a couple of drops of 100% silicone oil (I used treadmill oil) to the recipe and stir a couple of times, not too much (if it’s winter time make sure that you warm the oil up a bit in the pocket of your fleece vest, for example, before adding to the mixture, so that the oil is not too cold when you add it to the mixture)! The silicone oil will create the so called “cells” (the circular shapes that you see in many acrylic pours).

For this project for my living room I choose colours that match the rest of the room: turquoise, white, dark brown and metallic copper.

5. Time to put on your gloves! Check if your canvas is still level. Do the pouring! I love to do a dirty cup flip pour: use a size plastic cup according to the amount of paint, the cup should be almost full, pour different colours of paint in a cup, one after another (don’t stir!), until you think you have enough paint for the canvas you’re working on. This is tricky, you need way much more paint then you think! Lift the canvas with one hand and put it on top of the cup with the paint. Hold it firm (canvas in your left, cup in your right hand)! Turn the canvas with the cup on top and put on your table. Let the cup sit for about a minute.

Then lift the cup and the paint will flow. Now, the paint will not reach the edges of the canvas by itself, so you will have to tilt the canvas back and fort (the corners are hardest to cover, unless you have a circular canvas), you can use a circular motion if you like. If you are going after “cells” then don’t tilt the canvas too much, it will break the cells. When you are happy with how the paint covers the entire canvas as well as the edges, make sure that you always tip the paint back to the middle as your last step, without loosing your design, this will abort the ongoing flow towards one edge of the canvas (the one you tipped to lastly);

6. Check if all your edges/sides of the canvas are completely covered with paint, if not, you can use your finger or a pop-sickle stick to pick up the paint from your work surface and add to the sides of the canvas where you need it, in a dabbing motion (don’t rub, it will create muddy colours);

7. You can use a torch (like the ones you can buy for crème-brulle purposes, to pop the air bubbles and make the silicone rise to the top (don't touch the flame to the canvas, hoover above it). You can use your torch after the pouring and before the tipping, or only at the end, whatever you like, but make sure that you always have done this at the end so that as many bubbles as possible have popped!

8. Now you can use a toothpick of a pop-sickle stick to clean the underside edges of your canvas (while the canvas is standing on the table). Scrape of the paint that is hanging under the canvas so that it doesn’t dry this way. Be careful to not ruin your wonderful project!

9. The best thing you can do is to walk away and only check every now and then if you have any more overflowing paint that needs to be scraped on the underside of the canvas. Don’t touch the canvas on top, you will ruin it!

10. Let the canvas dry! Some say that two days is enough (but after two days the top is only dry enough to transport the canvas to a save place to dry further). I would advise to let it dry for at least a couple of weeks (on the save side, in winter, at least four weeks, in summer about three weeks, but not in the sun, the paints needs to dry slow and evenly to prevent cracks in the paint surface);

11. After drying, and when you have used silicone oil, you will first have to remove this as best as you can (it will sit on top of the canvas). Some will add baby-powder or corn starch to the canvas and/or wash the canvas with soap and water. I felt that gently cleaning the canvas surface with tissue paper (like Kleenex) did the job but it’s not a guarantee. I’m no expert at this (it tried alcohol and that didn’t work, so I decided that when I don’t see it any more it should be gone). You can do whatever you like. Do some research on this! If you resin your piece then left behind silicone oil can create ugly bubbles on your canvas.

12. Now you can varnish/seal the canvas: you can choose between many options such as resin, epoxy, regular varnish, whatever you prefer. Most will choose a gloss option though, but if you like matt, go for matt. I choose a regular gloss acrylic varnish, added two coats with a brush and my project is finally finished!

Let me know your tips if you have tried this technique already!

Some detail pictures:

I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I would like to show you my first project as a Spectrum Noir Design Team Member. Spectrum Noir is part of Crafter’s Companion and they make good quality colouring mediums with fair pricing! Today I’m working with the Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers to create this fun card project!

Step 1:

To get my project started I stamped some images from the Clearly Besotted stamp set called “Some Birdie Loves You” and the branch image from Purple Onions Design called “Blossoming Perch” onto Strathmore “Bristol Smooth Paper” using Versafine “Onyx Black” ink and clear heat embossing afterwards. This way the lines stay black and crisp no matter how much water I add.

Then I can colour the images using my Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers in combination with a water brush. I used the following colours of Aqua Markers: Yellow, Gold, Orange, Olive, Moss, Tulip, Rose Red, Crimson, Slate and Aquamarine.

The colours come in Aqua Marker Sets: “Essentials”, “Primary” and “Botanicals”.

I start with a thin layer of colour, adding some of the colour, directly from the pen to the paper and spreading that out in the area I want that particular colour to go, using my aqua brush. This way I define where my highlights and shadows will go. Then I add more layers until I like how dark or vibrant the colours are.

I love how well these Aqua Markers mix with each other and how vibrant the colours are.

When ready I added some highlights using a white Gelly Roll Pen. And then I fussy cut all the images.

Step 2:

For my background I die cut a piece of watercolour paper, two sizes smaller then my card base. On this panel I stamped one of the sentiments from the Clearly Besotted “Brushed Sentiments” stamp set using Archival “Jet Black” ink.

Then I applied some Imagination Crafts Sparkle Medium in “Champagne” over a The Crafter’s Workshop stencil (TCW5003) using a palette knife and set that aside to dry.

Step 3:

When dry I can put my card together: I die cut a slightly larger mat from matching dusty dark red card stock and adhered both rectangle panels together using liquid glue. Then I adhered the branch to these combined panels also using liquid glue. Now I can cut of the excess branch and adhere this combination to a crème coloured linen textured card base using one millimetre thick foam tape.

And to finish my card I now only have to adhere the other images on top also using one millimetre thick foam tape.

Detail picture:

And that’s it for today’s fun project! I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I have a fun and bright card for you all that I found on my computer but have never published! I created this card for when my sister in law and her daughter were moving house a while ago.

I started this card by choosing my card base: I used a rectangle crème coloured card base because that colour is closest to the Strathmore Bristol Smooth Surface paper that I will use later on. Next I decided on the sizes of the mats that I wanted to use on this card: I used dies from two different sets of Crea-Nest-Lies XXL die sets (one normal and one stitched die set) and picked my preferred sizes. I decided on only using two mats and having a fairly large area between the two sizes.

Then I stamped two stamps from the Stamping Bella “Tiny Townie Fairy Garden House“ stamp set onto Strathmore Bristol Smooth Surface paper using Versafine “Onyx Black“ ink and using my MISTI and clear heat embossing afterwards (making sure that both stamps are close enough together for the mat size that I want). Then I die cut around the image and the sentiment using the smaller stitched die of my choice. I did the stamping before the die cutting because these stamps are rubber, not clear, so it’s a little harder to get them straight and by die cutting afterwards I can make sure that at least the sentiment is straight on my card.

Next I started the fun part of this card and that’s the colouring part: I used my Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers and my Pentel Aquabrush. I used the following colours: Pink, Dark Pink, Light Gray, Mid Brown, May Green, Light Blue and Haze Blue. While the colouring was drying I looked for some matching patterned paper and I found this paper with pink and white flowers in my stash that was perfect for this card. I die cut a mat from this patterned paper with the larger die that I choose earlier on.

And then it’s already time to put this card together: I adhered the mats together using liquid glue and then adhered the combined mats to the card base using one millimetre thick foam tape. For my embellishments I used a wooden element that in my eyes looks like a snail (but I’m curious what you see in it, if it’s not a snail.....) and some Pretty Pink Posh “Sparkling Clear“ sequins in different sizes and adhered them with Ranger Medium Matte.

This is such a fun stamp to colour, I’m glad my sister in law moved house so I had a good reason to buy it (I told my boyfriend that I “needed“ this stamp and he just laughed, I didn’t get that ;-) )! I hope you enjoyed this card and I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I’m on The Crafter’s Workshop blog with a fun card tutorial for which I used stencils in combination with alcohol inks.

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The Crafter’s Workshop provided me with some product to create this project. The opinions I share are solely my own.

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Step 1:

First of all work on a glass mat of craft sheet that you can clean with alcohol afterwards. To get my project started I took a sheet of A4 sized Yupo paper and added drops of alcohol ink (I used the colours Turquoise, Amethyst and Mermaid), next I sprayed the inks with 96% isopropyl alcohol, you can blow the colours around with a straw then, followed by adding more ink where you I needed it and let it dry. Work in a well ventilated area because of the alcohol fumes. I wanted to create a dark background so that my stencil work would stand out nicely.

Step 2:

From the A4 sized paper I die cut four panels, two sizes smaller then my card base, I used two for today’s project. I then temporarily adhered a The Crafter’s Workshop stencil over one of the panels using removable tape. I took some Alcohol Blending Solution and applied it to my glass work surface and then you can use one of two applicator tools to add the blending solution over the stencil: you can use either a felt applicator or a foam applicator, in the picture you can see the felt applicator but I liked the results of the foam applicator better, it worked faster and the result is less “scratchy”. But you can use either one of these! You can reach a faint design by lightly applying the blending solution or create more contrast by rubbing more with the applicator tool. See what you like best!

For today’s project I used the following The Crafter’s Workshop stencils: “Number Scramble” (TCW764s) and “Circle of Jewels” (TCW757s).

Step 3:

Now I’m going to work on the rest of my card design: I choose one stamped image each from two Lili of the Valley stamp sets called “Tea for Two - Trio” and “Birthday - Trio”. I stamped them onto Strathmore Bristol Smooth Surface paper using Versafine “Onyx Black” ink and I clear heat embossed afterwards. Then I coloured the images using Lindy’s Stamp Gang products: “Clam Bake Beige”, “Banff Blue”, “Bratwurst Brown”, “Caribbean Blue” and “Sassy Sapphire” in combination with water and a small brush.

From two strips of vellum I created sentiments using two stamps from Taylored Expressions called “Bright Birthday” and “Another Year Older” in combination with VersaMark ink and gold heat embossing.

Step 4:

Now I’m ready to put my cards together: I choose matching dark blue card bases and crème coloured linen textured mats for my alcohol ink panels. I adhered the alcohol inks panels to their mats using liquid glue. Then I wrapped the vellum sentiments around these combined panels and adhered on the back using regular tape. This combination I adhered to my dark blue card base using one millimetre thick foam tape. And to finish the cards I adhered the coloured images on top also using one millimetre thick foam tape!

More detailed pictures:

And that’s it for today’s fun project!

We would love to see what you create with The Crafters Workshop Stencils and Mediums. You can share it with us on our Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest using hashtag #tcwstencillove.

Hi everyone, today I have a fun and bright card to share with you using the two editions of the Derwent Inktense Paint Pan Travel Sets.

Step 1:

I started my card project by stamping the flower image from the Kennedy Grace Creations “Splendid Roses” stamp set onto Clairefontaine Multi-Techiques á Grain paper (the blue one) using Versafine “Onyx Black” ink and clear heat embossing afterwards.

Then I started colouring the image with the Fuchsia colour from the second Travel Set, defining where my highlights and my shadows should go. I worked in layers, each time darkening a little more.

Step 2:

When I was happy I added in another colour to create the feeling of depth: for this I mixed the Fuchsia colour with the French Ultramarine colour from the same set (creating a nice purple) and adding that over the pink colour that I already had. Don’t pull this purple colour over the pink entirely, just create deeper shadows where they are needed. This is the ugly duckling stage! Just work on it a little more, it will pass!

Step 3:

To merge the pink and the purple colour together again, creating a better balance so to say, I added another layer of the Fuchsia, making sure that I didn’t loose my highlights.

Then I started working on the leaves: for this I used the first Travel Set: I mixed Sun Yellow with Bright Blue to create a green that looks nice for roses and added my first layers.

Step 4:

To brighten it up a bit I then added a bit of the mixture Sun Yellow with Teal Green (which is a brighter green mix, but in the same colour family as the previous one).

Step 5:

And to finish the leaves I added another layer of the first green mixture that I used before. Around the roses I painted with a pastel yellow colour created with a mixture of Sherbet Lemon and Antique White for the second Travel Set. This brightens the whole image and creates distance between the rose petals and the background.

To add in a bit more highlights I next used my white Gelly Roll Pen.

Step 6:

I fussy cut the rose image leaving a small yellow border. Then it’s time to work on my background design. For this I die cut a square panel from the same Clairefontaine paper that I used for the roses. On this square panel I stamped one of the sentiments from the same Kennedy Grace Creations stamp set, using Archival Ink in “Jet Black”.

Then I applied some The Crafter’s Workshop “Light & Fluffy Modeling Paste” over a The Crafter’s Workshop stencil (TCW824s) using a palette knife and set that aside to dry.

When dry I applied some Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magical in “Bling-y Blonde” on the square panel, using a dry fan brush, then I sprayed the panel with water, which makes the colour run and drying with my heat tool when I liked what I had. This I repeated until the yellow background colour was dark enough for my liking.

To finish the background I created splatters with the same Derwent Inktense Fuchsia colour that I used for painting the roses (for this you only have to mix a bit of the pigment with water and splatter using a brush).

To put my card together I die cut a slightly larger square panel from matching green card stock, then I adhered both panels together using liquid glue. Next I adhered these combined panels to a white line textured card base using one millimetre thick foam tape and adhered the rose image on top also with one millimetre thick foam tape!

Detail picture:

And that’s it for today’s project! I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I’m on the Lindy’s Stamp Gang blog with a fun project where I used Lindy’s wonderful products on fabric. I decorated two small zipper totes (they would fit brushes, markers as well as Lindy’s Magicals and Magical Shakers) to go with my denim craft apron. I washed the zipper totes before applying the colours.

Step 1:

I started the actual project by stamping on the canvas fabric zipper tote using Archival Jet Black ink and a Darkroom Door background stamped called French Script.

Step 2:

Next I mixed some The Crafter’s Workshop Clear Gesso with Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magical Shaker in Bavarian Blue to create a paint and this mixture I mixed with Vallejo Textile Medium, on my glass work surface. Of course I could have applied the Magical Shaker colour to the fabric with water but to have the stencil design run as little as possible I wanted to create a paint.

If you have worked with Lindy’s products (or acrylic paints for that matter) before and have spilled some on your clothes then you know that once dry they don’t wash out the fabric easily but I wanted to make sure that the design stays nice over time even if I wash the totes in the future: with textile medium the colour adheres better to the fabric.

Now I’m ready to apply the blue paint that I created over a stencil (I choose a stencil by The Crafter’s Workshop called Art Deco Leaves) using a dry painters stippling brush and using up and down pouncing motions. I applied the paint to different areas drying in between with my heat tool. I did the same on the back of the tote.

Step 3:

Next I’m repeating the same procedure with Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magical Shaker in Black Forest Black, but I only apply this black paint mixture sparingly. When the paint is dry you can add more stamping if you feel that your project needs this.

For best resistance to washing, Vallejo advises to fix the painted fabric by ironing on the reverse side so that’s what I did and now the zipper tote is ready to be used!

Step 4:

And to finish this project with a fun detail I adhered a metal butterfly to my zipper tote using needle and thread.

Detail picture:

Step 5:

On the black zipper tote I adhered the canvas fabric flower (made by Canvas Corp Brands) using needle and thread. Then I sprayed the flower with water and I added a Lindy’s Stamp Gang Squirt colour in Banff Blue directly from the bottle to the flower. I sprayed more water when I wanted the colour to flow more and when necessary I also used a brush to spread the colour around. I didn’t wanted to cover the entire flower though.

Step 6:

To finish the second zipper tote I first adhered the metal butterfly on top of the canvas flower, using needle and thread and some The Crafter’s Workshop Matte Gel Medium (using a brush) and then when I felt that the black was a bit to black I applied some white acrylic paint mixed with the Textile Medium over the same stencil I used on the other tote using the same stippling brush.

Detail picture:

Lindy’s Stamp Products I used:

LSG Magicals: Bavarian Blue and Black Forest Black

LSG Squirt: Banff Blue

That’s it for today and I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today I’m on the Colourstock blog with a fun art journal page entirely created with the use of mono prints. Today I’m working in my Studio Light A4 sized journal.

Step 1:

I started with creating lots of mono prints with the use of a GelliArts mono printing plate, GelliArts Acrylic Paint in “Snowbound”, “Freshwater” and “Mixed Berries”, and ARA Acrylic Paint in “Dark Gold”. I also used a brayer to roll out the paint. I used stencils and foam stamps to create texture on my mono printing plate before I lifted the prints.

This way I printed on pages from my art journal to create the background and several sheets of regular printer paper for the colourful prints that I lifted.

I get the best prints not when I start right away but after about an half hour to 45 minutes after starting. I just print a bunch and then select afterwards which ones I want to use for my project.

The others I select in “keepers” for a different project of “bin” for the ones I totally don’t have a feeling for/that I don’t like.

For this particular project I selected one background page as well as six colourful prints on regular printer paper.

Step 2:

Next I added the quote that I wanted to use on the background page, first in graphite pencil and when I liked the results I went over the lines using a Molotow Blackliner in 0.4.

Step 3:

On the colourful prints I started to stamp different images from the Create a Smile stamp set called “Fun Flowers” and using Versafine “Onyx Black” ink and my MISTI stamping tool. I stamped the leaves on the more turquoise/gold papers and the flowers on the more pink/blue papers.

Step 4:

Then I hand cut all the images using my Fiskars scissors and I added details to the images using a white Gelly Roll pen.

Step 5:

Now I’m going to create a lay out on my page with the flowers first and adhere them to my page using one millimetre thick foam tape.

Step 6:

When I was happy with the design, to finish my page I added the leaves using Ranger Matte Medium (you can use any strong glue you have).

I had so much fun creating this project!

Some detail pictures:

And that’s it for today’s project! I wish you a creative day!

Hi everyone, today it’s Mother’s Day in the Netherlands, so I can show you the card that I created for my mother (since she has now received it)! I was in the mood for colouring and choose to work with my Copics.

I first die cut a piece of Copic friendly paper (for this project I used Strathmore “Marker Paper”, which is slightly crème coloured) to the size that I needed for my card (two sizes smaller then my card base). Then I stamped two of the images from the Penny Black “Fairy Sweet” stamp set onto this paper using Memento “Tuxedo Black” ink. Next I stamped my sentiment with the same ink, the sentiment is by Clearly Besotted (“Brushed Sentiments”).

The Penny Black fairy image is totally cute and it goes so well with the Clearly Besotted sentiment (that company creates THE most gorgeous sentiment stamp sets in the world!).

Now the colouring can begin. I used the following colours of Copic markers:

V000, RV10, RV52, RV06, RV55, RV09, RV66, BV08, E000, R00, R01, R20, R22, R24, R14, R29, G40, YG13, YG17, G28, E11, E13, E15 and E57.

When the colouring was done I added in some highlights using a white Gelly Roll pen.

Next I choose a pinkish purple card stock for my mat and cut it to size. I adhered both square panels together using liquid glue. This combination I adhered to a crème coloured linen textured card base using one millimetre thick foam tape.

To finish my card I applied some Stickles in the colour “Diamond” to the wings of the fairy, using a small brush (wash the brush afterwards). I love to do this on all my fairy images, it gives them their extra fairyish look (yes, I know that is not a word)!

Detail picture:

And that’s it for today’s Mother’s Day project. I wish you a creative day!