Monday, July 6, 2009

Bug Me Anytime!

Happy Monday! It's time for a new color challenge at StampTV and it is my week to host. I made this card as my sample this week, taking color inspiration from the flowers in my yard. I hope you will play along. You can find the challenge here. All the stamps are from Nina Brackett's new stamp set for Gina K Designs, called Bug Me Anytime.

Here are the details...

I started by stamping the flower stems on my Pure Luxury White cardstock. I wanted to show you this photo so you could see the little notch I cut into my flower stamp. I cut that notch (very carefully!) right at the bottom of the flower to act as a guide for lining up the flower with the stems. I'm a lazy stamper and don't like to use the Stamp-a-ma-jig any more than necessary and that little notch made it easy to place the flowers exactly where I wanted them.

Here you can see the image after I stamped the flowers and leaves. I did a similar notch on the leaf stamp. I was able to free hand stamp all of those images, although I did get just a little gap between the leaves and stem. I fixed that with by drawing a tiny little connecting line with my Copic Multiliner pen.

The flowers were colored with Copics, starting with V06 around the outer edges along the bottom and sides.

Using small circular motions, I added blended out with V04.

Finally, I added some V01, covering nearly the rest of the flower, but leaving just a bit of white space. I used my blender pen to smooth out the transition from bare paper to the pale lavender.

For the leaves, I used YG05 along the veins.

Added YGo3 and then used my blender pen to push some color back for highlights.

I felt like the leaves needed a bit more color, so I added Y11 over the entire surface of the leaves and then YG05 to the lower sides to create some shaded areas.

I pulled out the dreaded Stamp-a-ma-jig (SAMJ) to get the caterpillar positioned perfectly on the stem. I really do love my Stamp-a-ma-jig, I just prefer not to use it if I don't have to, 'cause, like I said before, I am lazy.

I place the plastic sheet, that comes with the SAMJ, against the corner of the positioner. Then I stamped the catapillar on the plastic sheet, using the positioner as a guide.

Then I used the plastic sheet, with the image on it, to line it up exactly where I wanted it. Slid the positioner piece into place against the plastic sheet. Then removed the sheet, keeping the positioner piece in place. Then stamped the image using the positioner as a guide, just like I did before.

Here you can see the catipillar after I colored it. I just used random Copic colors. Then I ran my embossing pad over the paper to remove static before embossing. To emboss, I first used my Versa Mark pen to cover all the colored areas with Versa Mark ink for the embossing powder to stick to. Then sprinkled embossing powder, removed excess and heated with my heat tool.

I sponged the background first with So Saffron ink. Then I added Gable Green, followed by Green Galore around the edges. Sorry I didn't get photos for the last two steps.

I layered the main image panel with Pure Luxury Black Onyx and White and added some piercing. Then came a layer of Almost Amethyst (Stampin' Up) sponged with Lavender Lace ink, layered with more Black Onyx and placed on a Pure Luxury White base weight cardbase.

The sentiment was stamped then cut out with Nestabilities. Then I carefully stamped the catapillar and ladybug. Not carefully enough, because I burned through four of those little circles before I got one stamped the way I wanted it. Yes, the Stamp-a-ma-jig would have been the way to go, but I'm lazy, I tell ya! Yep, I'm one of those people that assemble first and read instuctions when it doesn't work. I bet I'm not the only one, am I? LOL

Thanks for putting up with me on a Monday morning! I hope you have a great day filled with sunshine and happiness!

24 comments:

Thomas Sheridan said...

Hi, this is pretty cool how you walk through the process. Could you tell me what are Coptics? Are they transparent markers? I love the subtle tone. Thanks, and WELL DONE!

Juls said...

this is so cute, love both the images, love the dotty background and the pricking detail. fab!

Tracey said...

This is just adorable Therese! Love this!

Julia Aston said...

The bugs are so cute on this! your coloring and shading are wonderful on this pretty card Theresa!

JustMargo said...

I would LOVE to take a class from you...I'm in "Northern CA" too, and would totally drive to learn how to use these markers...like YOU do! Love your work! TFS
--Margo
MargosGarden.blogspot.com

slbt17 said...

thanks for sharing!
Sandra

Yvette said...

Oh wow... this is one of those take your breath away cards!!! I LOVE it!!! It's sooo pretty! Thank you for the tutorial too! It sure helps!

Becky said...

OMG!!This is just toooo cute.. I love this.

Patti J. said...

Another wonderful tutorial! Thanks for sharing your tricks with us! (Even though I will NEVER be able to color like you!) Such a cute, cute card!

Beth S said...

As always great card. Thanks for the tutorial. You're the best.

Payne Holler Cards said...

this is so darn cute! I follow your blog so didnt comment over on STV now I'm going to go check out the Flourishes blog. Huge fan here of your work .. plus so appreciate that you share how you do it LOL I also tend to "jump in" an then ask why it didnt work..sometimes get lucky though and stumble across something good.
Linda

Sandy Knecht said...

This card is so cute and whimsical! Love it!!!

Sharri said...

This card is stunning! I love the colors and am going to try play along with this challenge.
LOL! You are not alone...reading instructions takes too long when you just want to jump right in and play!

Elena said...

Very cute card! Love the pretty colors! I am the same about reading instructions! :)

Crafting Queen said...

Amazing work, love the colours and the colouring. Thanks for sharing. Anesha

kc_froglady said...

lovely card - thanks for sharing your step bu step it is great to follow along and learn a few tips along the way! love the idea about the notch for lining things up! I think I will have to incorporate that as I am always going hmmm hope this is about right as I plunk my stamp down! LOL

Anonymous said...

Your coloring is amazing! I love the copic color combination. You achieved a soft and beautiful coloring with your copics. Tutorial is great!

Silvia

Norine said...

another beautiful card your coloring is amazing
Hugs
Norine

6 wacky women said...

Fabulous card, Theresa.
Beautiful colors,love the images, those bugs are too cute!!

Karen x

Lise in Norway said...

Just love your tutorials....they are so good and" clean" done....
Can I ask where to buy this Stamp-a-ma-jig thing..........just loved it.

Jill Haddad said...

Loved the clever "notch" in the flower stamps! tfs that idea. I'm off to "notch" my flower stamps.

Leslie Miller said...

Wow! This is wonderful! I love a set like this that's both whimsical and pretty. Your step by step is fabulous. Gorgeous green background, too. What a great card!

Cathrine said...

This is beautiful. I love the idea of embossing before coloring the background. I usually just mask it. I bet it gives the image wonderful polish.

Fiona said...

Stunning - and thanks for going through the process for us - its a great help to see how it all came together!