Distinctive Touches

CardMaker - Coloring Red

Are you ready for another tutorial? 

Head on over to the CardMaker Blog today to check out my latest post... How to Color Red. 

Thanks for stopping in!

Shiny and Sparkly - CardMaker Blog Hop!

Welcome to the Metallic Inspirations Hop - brought to you by the talented CardMaker Blog team!

This month, we were challenged to create a card that sparkled, shone and shimmered!  My first thought was glitter (uugh) and then it moved to metallic cardstock (I think I have some in my stash somewhere...) and then I decided to REALLY take this challenge to a different level. 

I wanted something "non-traditional" for my card, something not typically found in my studio... so I ran into the tool room and started looking around.  I knew I hit the jackpot when I found a roll of metal screen mesh!

I colored up this adorable Polished to Perfection image from My Favorite Things and gave her a bit of bling with green Stickles as the polish.  Then, I decided to use the screen as a full layer on my card...and turned in two corners to help "hold" the image in place. 

I'm not sure the card is "polished to perfection", but I did enjoy trying something new!

I know the other gals have some AMAZING metallic inspiration for you today... so head on over to their blogs and leave them some lovin'!

• Anya Schrier
• Carolyn King
• Colleen Schaan
• Glenda J. Wyatt
• Jennie Harper
• Kimberly Crawford
• Trudy Sjolander
• CardMaker Blog

Thanks for stopping in...hope your day sparkles!

Supply List
Cardstock:	Blue Jean and Kelly Green (Bazzill Basics) X-Press It Blending Card (Imagination International)
Image(s):	Polished To Perfection (My Favorite Things)
Ink(s):	Espresso Truffle (Tsukineko)
Copic Markers:	skin - E000/E02/E21/E95 hair - E40/E42/E43/E44 polish - G20/G82/G43 clothes - B60/B63/B66/B69 shoes, cap - C7/C5/C3
Other:	metallic screen, Eucalyptus Stickles

U Inspire Me - CardMaker Blog

A'Hoy There!...

I've got another post up over on the CardMaker blog today.  It's all about what inspires me!

Sail on over and check out my latest project! 

(Here's a sneak peek!)

Thanks for checking it out!

 

 

Summer Dreams - CardMaker Blog Hop!

I LOVE summer... the sun, the heat (yes, I actually enjoy the fry an egg on the sidewalk kind of heat), the ice cream! 

Let's face it, summer just isn't summer without the tinkling sound of the ice cream truck!

Today the CardMaker blog team is sharing HOT Summer projects that I know you will find sweet. 

This adorable Sweet Treat for Wryn image from Tiddly Inks fit the theme perfectly and I quickly colored her up.  Paired with some patterned paper from the Bazzill Basics Avalon collection and she screams Summertime Treat!

For more sizzling summer sweetness, hop on over to the other designer's blogs.

Kimberly Crawford
Carolyn King
Colleen Schaan (you are here)
Anya Schrier
Trudy Sjolander
Michelle Woerner
CardMaker Blog

Thanks for stopping by - have a Super Sweet Day!

He's All That - CardMaker Blog Hop

Welcome to the "He's All That" blog hop for the CardMaker Blog group! 

Today I'm excited to be bringing you inspiration to help celebrate the GUYS in your life!  Whether it's a father, son, husband or grandfather, get BIG smiles with this simple card...

 

 

This card features a BIG image from Whipper Snapper that is colored up with Copic markers.  I paired it with an extra-large sentiment from MFT and left the layout super simple. (No buttons, bows or frillies for the guys in MY life!  LOL)

Are you ready to celebrate the man in your life?  Head on over to the other designers hopping along today to see more masculine inspiration!

Kimberly Crawford
Carolyn King
Colleen Schaan (you are here)
Anya Schrier
Trudy Sjolander
Michelle Woerner
CardMaker Blog

______________________________________________

Supplies Used
Cardstock:             Capers and Kraft (Bazzill Basics)
                             X-Press It Blending Card (Imagination International Inc.)
Patterned Paper:   Generations Collection (Simple Stories)
Stamps:                 Kroner (Whipper Snapper Designs)
                             Big Greetings (My Favorite Things
Ink:                       Tuxedo Black and Expresso Truffle (Tsukineko)
Copic Markers:      skin - E40/E21/E23
                            hair - C5/C7
                            Tshirt - W1/W3/0
                            shirt - E81/E84/E87/YG00/YG99
                            hat - YG91/YG93/YG95/YG97/YG99
                            shoes - E11/E23/E37
                            jeans - B41/B91/B93/B95/B97/B99/B39
                            ground - W1/W3/W5
                            background - BG70/BG72/E81/E84/0
Other:                   Hemp Twine

 

Thanks for stopping by today... have a Colorful One!

Colleen

 

Kickin' It With Kim! (MFT)

It's HOT down here in Florida as I start my "Hot Spots" tour! Last night I KICKED it off in Ocala, FL at Priceless Scrapbooks and had such a great time with the gals there! We giggled, laughed, chuckled, snickered and even guffawed a few times.

And today I was lucky enough to spend the day with my friend Kim who owns My Favorite Things (MFT) and her family as we helped her KICK off her new GRAND OPENING of her store.

It's a sweet space all decked out in pink and it was so fun to see all of her stamps and the beautiful samples made by her team... simply lovely. I taught two classes there today and I had such an amazing time. The gals were SO willing to "try new things" and "not be afraid of the dark" in coloring. I enjoyed their positive attitudes and willingness to play and have fun.

One of the cards we did was this adorable little guy... Karate Boy.  I taught skin tones and how to color white... and everyone really kicked up their coloring a notch!  LOL

Okay.. I've KICKED around the whole "kickin" thing enough... nothing like KICKING a dead horse right?  Oh, wait... that's beating a dead horse... errrrrr, welll....... (grimace).

Well I'm off to bed now... I'm going to KICK off my morning pretty early and head south...  (sorry, I just couldn't resist!)

 

I've got PLEATS!

I decided to take some time off of "work" today and color.  Yes... I color for work...but today I didn't color for any specific project or deadline.. I colored just for fun...so I guess I had the day off!  LOL

I recently joined the Make It Crafty group on Facebook and I'm so impressed (and somewhat intimidated) by the talent over there!  Zoe (artist and group administrator) colors like an angel... and I want to soak up everything I can from her. 

The group posts challenges and tips for people to try... and I tried two today! (I'll show you one today and another in a few days...)

Here's the first new thing I tried... coloring PLEATS!  Now, I've colored pleats on images that already have pleats on them... but I've never done it on "flat" images. 

Here's an adorable image from My Favorite Things called Cute Is What I Do.  This is the way I would normally color her... (yup... and like normal, I changed the light source half way through the process!  LOL)

And here she is with PLEATS!  Isn't that awesome?  Now, it was my first attempt at pleats and I got a little pleat crazy... and they do look a bit zig-zaggy... but overall, I'm pretty happy and I can't wait to practice this technique and really perfect it. 

Here are the Copic markers used:

What fun...  I love that I can now take a fairly simple image and really bump up the difficulty level. 

What are you waiting for?  Go out and get your pleat on!

Florida HOT SPOT Tour and Book Signing!

Summer is about to get HOT!!!

Join me this August for my Florida Hot Spot Tour!  I'll be visiting some amazing stores where I will be teaching classes, chatting during Q/A sessions, and signing copies of The Copic Coloring Guide.  Come take a class or just stop in and chat...  I'll be at the following locations:

 

Friday, August 26, 2011
6-9 PM

Priceless Scrapbooks
1925 SW 18th Ct #107
Ocala, FL  34471
352-390-6813
http://www.pricelessscrapbooks.com

 

Saturday, August 27, 2011
11:00 AM - 7:30 PM

My Favorite Things - Grand Opening Celebration!
2515 Dora Avenue
Tavares, FL 32778
kim@mftstamps.com
http://www.mftstamps.com/catalog

 

Monday, August 29, 2011
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Scrapbook Etc.
3725 Bonita Beach Rd. #7
Bonita Springs, Fl. 34134
239-495-9199
http://scrapbooksetcinfo.blogspot.com

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Cherry Blossom Studios (AKA - Scrapbook Central)

4449 Lyons Rd #J-103

Coconut Creek, FL 33073

954-247-0020

http://www.cherryblossom-studio.com

 

Wednesday, August 31, 2011
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Pictures In Time
550-13 Wells Road
Orange Park, FL 32073
904-213-7891
http://www.mypicturesintime.com

 

Contact individual stores for class schedules, prices, and registration information.   Sign up today... spots are limited and going FAST!  It's going to be one HOT week!!!

Final Fabulous Friend! My Favorite Things

Good morning!  I'm back with some more FABULOUSNESS from My Favorite Things! 

This week I colored up two of the cutest images in the Pure Innocence line... 

The first sample uses the image Love You With All My Heart.  This little gal has a HUGE heart and she's perfect for sending loving messages to anyone in your life. 

I paired her up with a saying from the Clearly Sentimental About You set.  (LOVE THESE!) And I've got three more videos this week showing the steps for coloring her.  You can see them by clicking on the links below. 

My Favorite Things - My Heart Is At Your Service - The Coloring Code and Basic Blending.

My Favorite Things - My Heart is At Your Service - Coloring Skin and Hair

My Favorite Things - My Heart is At Your Service - Beyond the Coloring Code Blends

I did add some things to the image once the videos were done... like some textured detail on her dress that I created with a sky blue multiliner and some dots of Opaque White.  I then paired the colored image with dark blue card stock and created a scallop border with the  Die-namics open scallop die and added a layer of patterned paper from Basic Grey. 

 

My second sample uses Ladybug... probably my all time favorite MFT image. 

This little lady is just adorable!  I don't have separate videos for coloring her up, but I do have a video link where I colored her as part of a live-web show interview that I did back in February.  You can view that at the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RG-r8XmJtU

For this card, I colored her up and paired her with red, black, and gray card stock.  I love the way the polka-dots on the card stock mimic the dots on the body!    I used three of the dies in the Layered Labels Die-namics set along with the sweet sentiment.  I wanted to keep the whole thing fairly simple, but I wanted something fun, so I added her antenna with curls of wire so they would pop off the page.

I want to thank Kim and the crew over at My Favorite Things for letting me join them this month as a Fab Friend.  I have had so much fun coloring and making videos with these amazing images.  If you'd like to learn a bit more about me, you can head on over to the MFT Blog for a final posting and my answer to yet another interview question. 

Thanks for stopping by... and have a colorful day!

 

MFT - Fab Friend Friday!

It's me again... your favorite FAB FRIEND!  LOL

This week I want to share some cards that I made with some of my very favorite images.  I am in LOVE with My Favorite Thing's Pure Innocence line of stamps.  They are just sooooo sweet and a joy to color (which as you know is sort of my thing! LOL). 

This first card is made with the little girl from the My Balloon set.  I actually cut the balloon out and then squiggled a wire between her hand and the balloon so it had a 3D quality.  The balloon is popped up on foam tape.  The bright colors and the sweet little girl just made me happy... so that's what I put as the sentiment.  (I used the Layered Labels Die-namics for this.. uber easy!)

And for a little treat for you... I decided to create a video for this next image.  I am always asked about my coloring, so I thought I'd tape myself while coloring the image and share with you.  Of course, I didn't do a lot of editing, so I ramble a bit and it ended up being sort of long.  I split it into 4 videos... each about 4 or 5 minutes long... so you could see what I do. Nothing elaborate... just something simple to get you started.

You can see the videos on my Youtube channel - just started one... will be adding lots of videos in the months to come... or just click on the links below.

Video #1 - Coloring The Skin

Video #2 - Coloring The Dress

Video #3 - Coloring The Hair and Details

Video #4 - The Finishing Touches

 

And here's the final image on a card. 

 
I used the adorable little youngster from the Make Mine a Double set for this card along with the Die-namics Open Scallop Border.  Ice cream always reminds me of summer... and the 4th of July... so I went with a red/white/blue color scheme for this one.  Isn't it sweet?

Head on over to the My Favorite Thing Blog today for another "Behind the Scenes" question and answer session. 

Thanks for stopping by!

I'm a FABULOUS Friend!

Well... I HOPE my friends would agree!

This month though... there's no question...as I've been asked to be the April Fab Friend for My Favorite Things!

My first project uses images from The Sheltering Tree set.  Talk about adorable... these two little owls are just the cutest!  I stamped the tree with Memento and colored with Copics.  I then added the leaves with Bamboo Memento ink, stamped and colored the owls and then cut them out to pop them up on the branch.  I just love the way the larger one is looking at the smaller one and spreading his wings... like he is saying, "You can do it.. just take the leap and fly."  I've got an amazing friend who pretty much told me the same thing this weekend..so this card is winging it's way to her!

My next card was SO much fun to create!  As you know, I like cute and whimsical... and pink isn't my favorite crayon in the box. LOL  But I honestly LOVE this card!

I used the Inspired By - Love set and ohhh, it's full of gorgeous images and text!  I stamped the heart and wing images in Memento black and then colored them with Copics in the R80 family.  I went over the bold black lines in the heart with my Spica pure black glitter pen to really set off the pinks.  I cut out a tag and airbrushed it with R83 and W3 and then stamped "LOVE" on it.  There is a subtle image of the music staffs on the patterned paper at the top of the card and the sentiment is stamped on the bottom.  I wrapped some variegated red/pink fibers around a gray strip and attached the die cut.  I popped the heart on and glued the wings to the back.  A few pearls were the perfect simple embellishment for this project.

And of course... I couldn't leave without giving you Cute and Whimsical...so here's "World's Best Doctor"

If he looks familiar, it's because I gave a sneak of him as an example of coloring tips on this post.  I thought he was so cute I had to use him on a card.  I love the simple layout... that way the focus is on the image and the coloring.  It's the perfect way to express gratitude for someones friendship...

...which of course, is the theme of the day! 

Please head over to the MFT BLOG today to get up close and personal with me as I answer a question or two for inquiring minds. 

Happy Coloring - and Go Hug a Friend!

 

Shading VS. Shadows - A Copic Blog Hop (with Candy!)

*This contest is over and commenting is now closed.

Today the Copic Regional Instructors in the US and Australia are doing a Blog Hop
and offering up  a GREAT prize!!!

We are excited to announce that Marianne Walker's new book called Shadows and Shading is now available for purchase.

This book is designed for beginner artists or paper crafters who want to make their coloring look more realistic, taking it up to the next level by adding shading and shadows.  The book does not teach how to draw, rather it teaches how add shadows and shading.

This wire-bound book comes with 4 clear printed guides to help you add shadows properly on your own work.

Here the linear light guide placed over an image to be colored. 

I was so excited to get a copy of the book and read it!  I love that it discusses the differences between shading and shadows and gives detailed information on how to add both to your work.  While I've got shading down pat, I have a tendency to struggle a bit with shadows.  In the past few months, I've stepped up my coloring game by adding harder shadows (no more land of diffused light for me)... and even adding some simple cast shadows. 

My light source is coming from the upper left... just in front of his shoulder. 
Check out that shadow cast by the clipboard!!! 
 (Ignore the actual shadow above his head... I cut him out and he curled up just a bit.)

 

I've still got a ways to go on the cast shadows thing, but with this book, I know I've got the resources to maser them!  In this sample... I wanted my doctor standing in a hallway with the light casting a shadow of him on the wall.  

While I've got the general shape right (I even followed it from the floor to the wall!)
I wasn't quite able to get the whole color/look right.  I probably shouldn't have used dots.
(If you squint, it doesn't look so bad LOL.)

_____________________________________________________

Image: My Favorite Things (World's Best Doctor)
Copic Colors Used: BG70/YG61/YG63/YG67/E00/E21/E34/BV00/C3/C5/C7/E11/E15/E57 ABS E21

_____________________________________________________

You see... it's all about practicing new skills, trying new things and not being afraid to make mistakes.  Give me a few months... I'll have shadows everywhere! 

If you'd like to learn along with me, leave a comment to be entered to win a copy of Marianne's new book.  And then go visit the other instructor's blogs for even more chances.  You have until Sunday night at midnight (EST) to comment on my blog.  I will be picking a winner on Monday!

Here's the list of blogs you can comment on for your chance to win.....

Copicmarker

Marianne Walker

Lori Craig

Sharon Harnist

Jenn Balcer

Jennie Black

Colleen Schaan

Bianca Mandity

Debbie Olson

Sherrie Siemens

For our friends down unda:

CopicOz (Australia)

Kathy Jones (Australia)

Mandi-Lee Klinger (Australia)