To a Warmer Place – Tutorial #174

17 Comments February 7, 2009 zindorfstamps

Here in Ohio we have had a bit of snow of late. I am ready for some much warmer weather so I created it with this card. Don’t you wish you were there sitting under an umbrella, drinking your favorite drink and listening to the Ocean? Ahhh, I think I need a vacation in a much warmer place, lol. A girl can dream, right?

The stamp set I used today is another I am saying farewell to. It is Stampin’ Up 2005 Do the Hula. If you are interested in any of the retired sets I have for sale, please check out my sales page at this link: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/things-for-sale/

One more thing before we get started on the tutorial. The Saturday morning Beginner Brayer Workshop in Wheaton, IL on March 14th has only one more spot available. There are still a few spots open for the morning and afternoon Beginner Brayer workshops in Wheaton, IL on March 13th. You can check out all of the locations I will be at this link: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar/

Now on to warmer weather, lol.

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Do the Hula

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, So Saffron, Old Olive & Tempting Turquoise

Ink: Stampin’ Up Not Quite Navy, Creamy Caramel, So Saffron, Tempting Turquoise & Basic Black

Accessories: Stampin’ Up Markers, Sponge, Brayer, Versamark Pad and Marker, Clear embossing Powder and a heat gun, Ribbon, Gold Brads, Stampin’ Up Photo Corner Punch

Stamped the Hula Girl and the Tree by first loading the stamps with Versamark and then Basic Black Dye based ink before stamping them. Heat embossed both images using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Note: If you use black pigment ink you do not have to use the Versamark with it. I only do this method because I use all Dye Based inks and embossing powder doesn’t stick well to it.

Colored the girls skin and the tree with Creamy Caramel marker.

Colored the leaves of the tree and her skirt with Certainly Celery marker.

Added some darker tones to the Leaves of the tree and her skirt with an Old Olive Marker.

Blended the greens together a bit by going over them with the Certainly Celery marker again.

Added Close to Cocoa marker to the left side of the tree and the shadows on her skin.

Blended her skin and the tree browns together by going over the hard lines between the two colors with the Creamy caramel marker.

Colored her top with a Real Red marker.

Colored her flowers with a Pretty in Pink Marker.

Added Rose Red marker to the center of the flowers.

Colored her instrument with a Close to Cocoa marker.

Added Chocolate Chip marker to the under side of the instrument.

Colored over both the tree and the Hula Girl with a Versamark Marker and heat embossed the images using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Now the fun begins, at least for me anyway.

Brayered So Saffron ink at the bottom of the card stock.

Oops! Missed a shot. I flipped the card stock around and brayered Tempting Turquoise at the top 2/3rds of the card stock.

Masked the sky area of the card stock with a Post It Note.

Sponged Not Quite Navy in a circular motion at the edge of the mask, just going onto the card stock.

Removed the mask.

Brayered Creamy Caramel ink at the very bottom of the card stock to give the sand some shading.

Added a few layers of card stock, brads, ribbon and two corner punches and here you have the finished card measuring 6 5/8″ x 5 1/8″.

I hope this inspires you to warm up your summer stamps today.

May your day be filled with warm thoughts.

Until my next post. . . . . . . . . .

Hugs,

Michelle

Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar

Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Windy Sunset Pine – Tutorial #172

20 Comments February 1, 2009 zindorfstamps

Hello Everyone! I hope you have been having a very relaxing weekend. My husband and I have been kicking back watching the mini series John Adams this weekend. Great show and great United States history lesson at the same time.

I’ve also added a few more retired Stampin’ Up stamp sets to my sales page that can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/things-for-sale/

I have a couple of hundred sets I will be putting on the sales page little by little. So hard to part with them. Check it out frequently if you are interested.

OK, a little about today’s tutorial. I’ve done scenes like this before with this flourish, but not with this color combo. I have been so inspired by our winter sunsets here in country and all of the snow. This tree is over stamped with Pumpkin Pie ink to make it look back lite. Follow along and you will see.

Let’s get started. 🙂

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Lovely As A Tree & Baroque Motifs

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Basic Black, More Mustard & Baja Breeze

Ink: Stampin’ Up Not Quite Navy, Really Rust, More Mustard, Baja Breeze, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Riding Hood Red

Accessories: Versamark Pad, Brayer, Fine Detail Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Not Quite Navy Marker, White Gel Pen, Sponges

Stamped the tree by first loading the stamp with Versamark and then Basic Black ink before stamping it on a 4″ x 5.5″ piece of Whisper White card-stock. Heat embossed the image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Stamped the flourish first by loading the stamp with Versamark and then with Baja Breeze ink before stamping it. Heat embossed the image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Brayered on More Mustard ink.

Brayered Pumpkin Pie ink not covering the More Mustard ink entirely.

Brayered Really Rust ink not covering the Pumpkin Pie ink entirely.

Brayered on Riding Hood Red at the very top of the card stock.

Filled in some gaps in my embossed flourish with a White Gel pen.

Sponged Not Quite Navy around the entire piece of card stock. Also sponged very lightly a little Not Quite Navy ink under the tree for a shadow.

Over Stamped just the tree, not the truck by just putting ink on the tree part, omitting the truck of the tree. I also stamped it a bit higher than the original tree image was stamped.

Closer look.

Sponged a bit of Pumpkin Pie ink in the middle of the tree.

Added White outline to some of the flourishes.

Decided to darken the middle of the tree a bit by sponging some black ink on it.

Added dots of White gel pen to the tree to create a snowy look.

Outlined a few of the flourishes on the opposite side of the White outline with a Not Quite Navy marker.

Added a few simple layers and here is the finished card measuring 5.25″ x 6.75″.

I hope this tutorial has inspired you to look at your surroundings and be greatly inspired by the beauty.

May all your skies be of a beautiful hue.

Until my next post.. . . . . . . . . .

Hugs,

Michelle

Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar

Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Skating One Last Time – Tutorial #171

35 Comments January 29, 2009 zindorfstamps

I’ve always loved this image. Poor Boy is so out of control! Just how I’m feeling these days, but that is another story altogether.

Anyway, I decided to take my brayer approach to this creation. He is also going on my sales page. Once a set is gone it is taken off of the sales page. So if you don’t see it on there it is sold. Here is the link to the sales page if you want to take a peek at what is on there: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/things-for-sale/

Also, here is a link to my Brayer workshop calendar, I’m going to be in Dayton, Ohio, Wheaton, Illinois and Covington, Indiana. http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar/ I hope you are able to make it to one of them. I love meeting my blog readers.

Now, on with the tutorial. 🙂

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Snowy Play & Lovely as A Tree, Rubber Stampede Mirror Image Stamp

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Real Red and Not Quite Navy

Ink: Stampin’ Up Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Basic Black

Accessories: Stampin’ Up Markers, Post it Notes, Brayer, clear embossing powder, heat gun, White Ribbon, White Gel Pen, Versamark Marker and Pad

Stamped the skater by first loading my stamp with Versamark and then with Black ink before stamping. Heat embossed the image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Colored his nose with a More Mustard Stampin’ Up marker.

Colored his skates with a Real Red marker.

Colored his scarf with a Certainly Celery marker.

Added a shadow to his scarf with an Old Olive Marker.

Added a shadow to his skates with a Bravo Burgundy marker.

Added a shadow on his body with a Bashful Blue marker.

Colored his arms with a Creamy Caramel marker.

Out lined the crack in the ice with a Versamark marker and heat embossed it using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Colored over his body with a Versamark Marker and heat embossed with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Masked the sky with a Post it note and ripped a post it note and masked the bottom right corner.

Brayered Baja Breeze ink all over the unmasked area.

Brayered Not Quite Navy at the right corner of the card stock.

Brayered Not Quite Navy ink at the top of the ice .

Wiped the ink off of my embossed image using a soft cotton rag.

Unmasked the card stock.

Stamped just the trees at the top of the card stock with Basic Black ink by only inking up the trees, not the ground area of the stamp.

Stamped a reverse image using a mirror image stamp. To use this stamp you stamp your image on the mirror image stamp and then stamp the mirror image stamp on the card stock.

I only inked the trees and not the ground area before stamping it on the mirror image stamp using Not Quite navy Ink.

I wiped the ink from the embossed image again with a soft cotton rag.

I extended the tree trunks so the images looked more natural using a Not Quite Navy marker and a black marker.

Brayered Not Quite Navy Ink at the top of the card stock.

Assembled the card from and added some White Gel pen to the black trees and to the snowman to light him up a bit.

Here is my finished card measuring 5″ x 6.5″.

I hope this tutorial has inspired you to make some sort of snowy scene.

May you be safe and warm where ever you are.

Until my next post . . . . . . . . .

Hugs,

Michelle

Southwestern lizard – Tutorial #170

21 Comments January 27, 2009 zindorfstamps

I’m feeling so sentimental this week as I start to sort out some of my old, but well loved stamps. This set I used today is a retired set from Stampin’ Up titled Ancient Art. Of course, I had to go Southwestern with this creation today! I hope you enjoy this tutorial.

One more thing, I’ve updated my items for sales page again. Check it out: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/things-for-sale/

Let’s get started. 🙂

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Retired Set Ancient Art

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, Brilliant Blue

Ink: Stampin’ Up Really Rust, Basic Black, Brilliant Blue, River Rock, Always Artichoke, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Brayer, Black marker, Clear embossing powder and a heat gun, Versamark pad and marker, post it notes, Sponges

Stamped Lizard by first loading the stamp with Versamark and then loading it with Always Artichoke before stamping it on a 4″ x 4.5″ piece of Whisper White card stock.

Heat embossed the image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Colored over the white areas of the lizard with a Versamark marker and then heat embossed the image again with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Brayered Brilliant Blue ink at the top of the card stock.

Brayered River Rock ink at the bottom 2/3rds of the card stock.

Brayered More Mustard on the bottom half of the card stock.

Ripped a couple of post it notes and used them as masks to create an opening that is shaped like a rock.

Sponged More Mustard heavily around the edge of the post it note masks (top and right side of rock).

Sponged Really Rust heavily over the rest of the un masked area of the rock, not covering the More Mustard ink entirely.

Sponged Chocolate Chip at the bottom of the unmasked area and added just a tiny bit around the torn edge area of the masks.

Took the masks off.

Put a large post it note on the card stock to mask the bottom 2/3rds of the card stock.

Sponged a bit of Chocolate Chip ink above the mask to make it look like a mountain range.

Note: do not put two mountains the same size in your mountain range or it will look like it needs a bra, if you know what I mean, lol.

Added a bit of black ink to the bottom of my mountain and along the mask edge.

Took off the mask.

Sponged heavily some More Mustard ink at the bottom right side of the card stock.

Sponged Chocolate Chip ink around the edge of the entire card stock to dirty it up a bit.

Traced the right side of the lizard with a fine tip black marker to create a fine shadow.

Assembled my panels and here is the finished card measuring 5.25″ Square.

I hope this tutorial has inspired you to go a little Southwestern in your projects today.

May the sun shine upon you and keep you warm.

Until my next post. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hugs,

Michelle

Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar

Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Bee My Honey – Tutorial #169

23 Comments January 25, 2009 zindorfstamps

Farewell to Bees N’ Blossoms. . . . . . . .

This set I am using today is a retired Stampin’ Up set from 1997 titled “Bees N’ Blossoms. This is my farewell to the set because it is going on my sale page today along with a few others. Here is a link to the sales page if you are interested in this set or others I will be putting on it http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/things-for-sale/

I will take the sets off of the sale page as they sale, so please, if you don’t see it, it has sold.

Also, if you haven’t visited my Brayer Workshop calendar page I have added a one day trip to Covington, Indiana for May, 2009. Check it out here http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar/

Let’s get started on the tutorial. 🙂

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Bees N’ Blossoms

Paper: Stampin’ Up Rose Red, Basic Black, Pretty In Pink and Whisper White

Ink: Stampin’ Up Basic Black, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise, Bashful Blue

Accessories: Stampin’ Up Markers Old Olive, Always Artichoke, So Saffron, More Mustard, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Brayer, Clear embossing Powder and a Heat gun, Versmark Pad & Marker, Brads, White Ribbon, Sponge

Stamped Flowers by first loading the stamp with Versamark and then loading the stamp with Dye based Black ink before stamping them on a 3.5″ square piece of Whisper White Card stock.

I had a little trouble with my camera this morning (I dropped it in other words). I didn’t realize I dislodged the memory card in it for a few shots, so I will describe what I did next.

I heat embossed the flowers using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Stamped the Bee hive by first loading the stamp with Versamark and then Dye based Black ink before stamping it.

Heat embossed the bee hive using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

I colored some of the flowers with a Pretty in Pink Marker.

I colored some of the flowers with a Rose Red Marker.

Discovered my camera wasn’t working correctly, lol.

Now back to the pictures. 🙂

Colored the bee hive with a So Saffron marker.

Colored the left side of the bee hive with a More Mustard marker.

Colored over all the colored images only with a Versamark marker and heat embossed them using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Brayered Bashful Blue ink at the top of the card stock.

OH good Heavens! I missed a shot here. I brayered Tempting Turquoise at the top of the card stock not covering the Bashful Blue ink entirely.

Apparently recovered my mental state and Brayered Certainly Celery ink at the bottom of the card stock.

Brayered Old Olive ink (My favorite Green by the way) at the very bottom of the card stock.

Colored the lower leaves on the plants with an Always Artichoke marker.

Although you can’t tell the difference in these photos, I colored the upper leaves on the plants with an Old Olive marker.

Sponged a bit of Always Artichoke ink at the bottom of the plants and the beehive to create a shadow for them.

Wiped off my embossed images with an old cotton cloth to remove any ink on them.

Assembled my card and here it is finished measuring 5″ square.

Please forgive me for the messed up tutorial today. I’m apparently having one of those days, if you know what I mean!

I do hope you have been inspired to reach for one of those old stamp sets, dust if off and breath new life into it today.

May your day today be everything you hoped it would be.

Until my next post. . . . . .. .. . . . . .

Hugs,

Michelle Zindorf

Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar

Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Country Home – Tutorial #168

23 Comments January 24, 2009 zindorfstamps

Hey Everyone! I hope you are having a terrific Saturday. I love Saturdays because I get to slow down and take a bit more time playing with stamps and ink.

Before we get started I wanted to say a big hello to you readers in Illinois who have already signed up for my beginner and advanced brayer workshops in March. I can’t wait to get there!

I have updated my Brayer Workshop calendar so check it out if you are interested in attending one. Here is the link: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar/

Now on with the tutorial. 🙂

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Essence of Love and Holidays & Wishes, and Cornish Hertiage Farms Primitive Beginnings

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Really Rust, More Mustard and Baja Breeze

Ink: Stampin’ Up Baja Breeze & More Mustard, Adirondack Ginger, Pebble, Espresso & Lake Mist

Accessories: Versamark Pad and Marker, Brayer, Clear embossing Powder, White Gel Pen, Heat Gun, Black Marker, Prismacolor Markers

Stamped weeds twice by first loading the stamp with Versamark and then Ginger ink before stamping it. Heat embossed the images using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Note: When building a scene using emboss resist, remember to start with your foreground images then the middle images and then put in your back ground etc. In other words work front to back. 🙂

Stamped house by first loading the stamp with Versamark and then Pebble ink before stamping it. Heat embossed the image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Colored the front of the house using an Oatmeal Prismacolor marker.

Colored the right side and the bottom of the house with a Khaki colored Prismacolor Marker.

Added Light Umber marker to the bottom right side of the house.

Colored the windows on the right side of the house with a black marker.

Added Cool Grey 50% marker to the windows at the front of the house and decided to color the right side of the house entirely with Light Umber Marker to make it much darker.

Colored over the entire house with a Versamark marker and heat embossed it using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Sponged More Mustard using a circular motion at the bottom of the card stock.

Brayered Lake Mist ink at the top of the card stock.

Brayered Baja Breeze ink at the very top of the card stock not covering the Lake Mist ink entirely.

Sponged some lake mist ink at the top of the More Mustard ink.

Sponged Espresso ink under the house and in the bottom left corner of the card stock.

Sponged some Baja Breeze ink at the top of the sky area to give it some interest and a bit above the gray around the house.

Added some black outlining to just a few of the weeds to bring them forward in the picture.

Added some white highlights to the weeds with a White Gel Pen.

Added some simple card stock layers and some brads in each corner.

Decided to add a sentiment which I hardly ever do. I stamped it with Espresso ink and I used a Stamp A Ma Jig to make sure I stamped it straight.

Here is the finished card measuring 5″ x 6.5″.

Well I hope this tutorial has inspired you to try doing a scene using the emboss resist technique and layering the embossed images.

May your day be filled with tranquility.

Until my next post. . . . . . . . . . .

Hugs,

Michelle

Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar

Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Sweet Baby Seal – Tutorial #166

33 Comments January 18, 2009 zindorfstamps

Happy Sunday! If you haven’t notice this week I have been working with some old retired sets from Stampin’ Up. Some I will be parting with shortly. This baby seal from the 2003 Stampin’ Up set Cold Weather Friends is a favorite of mine, but I am saying farewell to it. Check out my sale page, there is a tab at the top of my blog or you can click this link: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/things-for-sale/ First come first serve.

That being said, let’s get stamping!

Supplies:

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Lavender Lace, Elegant Eggplant

Ink: Stampin’ Up Almost Amethyst, Baja Breeze, Palette Noir Black

Accessories: Prismacolor Markers, Brayer, White Gel Pen, Versamark marker, Purple Ribbon, Sponge, Post it Note, Fine Detail Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Gun

Stamped the image with Palette Hybrid Noir Black ink on a 3.5″ square piece of Whisper White card stock.

Colored the image with a Buff Prismacolor Marker.

Added Eggshell Prismacolor marker to the underside of the seal and to the dark areas.

Colored over the entire image with a Versamark Marker and heat embossed using fine detail clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Brayered the top half of the card stock with Baja Breeze ink.

Ripped through the stick edge of a post it note and used it as a mask for the bottom half of the card stock.

Sponged Baja Breeze ink right at the post it note edge.

Removed the post it note. Ahhhhh, just look at him. .. . . . . . , lol.

Sponge a bit of Baja Breeze ink around the bottom of the seal to create a shadow effect.

Decided to Brayer Almost Amethyst ink at the top of the card stock not covering the Baja Breeze ink entirely to give a bit of interest to the sky.

Cut a 2″ x 5.25″ piece of Baja Breeze card stock and used the swirl cuttlebug folder to emboss it.

Brayered Almost Amethyst ink over the card stock to make the swirls stand out more.

Assembled card and added some white back to the main image with a White Gel pen. Yes that’s right, you can use white gel pen on top of an embossed image. 🙂

Here is the finished card measuring 5 1/8″ x 6 5/8″.

May your day be filled with sweet images that make you happy.

Until my next post. . . . ..

Hugs,

Michelle

Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar

Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Skateboarder’s Shadow – Tutorial #165

45 Comments January 17, 2009 zindorfstamps

Hey, thanks everyone for the great tips, leads, prayers and kind word yesterday. I really needed lifted up and you all came through for me. Huge Hugs!

Enough with me and my personal problems. Let’s Stamp!!!!

Today’s project is for that teen that you just can’t give that sappy, mushy greeting card to. This card even came out to look a little like a comic book picture, bonus!

I decided to add a shadow today, which I love!

Let’s get started. 🙂

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Over The Top

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, More Mustard & Basic Black

Ink: Stampin’ Up Brilliant Blue, Distress Ink Black Soot & Palette Noir Black

Accessories: Prismacolor Markers, Brayer, Fine Detail Clear embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Versamark marker, White Gel Pen, Black Faber Castell Marker

Stamped image using Palette Hybrid Noir Black ink. I chose this ink because it works well with solvent based coloring mediums like the Prismacolor Markers I will be using.

Colored his shirt with a Blush Pink Prismacolor Marker.

Added Crimson Red to his shirt.

Went over his entire shirt with the Blush Pink marker to blend the harsh lines between the two colors.

Colored his board, gloves and stripes on his socks with Goldenrod.

Colored his knee pads & helmet with Cool Grey 50%.

Colored his Shorts with Sepia.

Colored his skin with Buff.

Colored over the entire image with a Versamark marker.

Heat embossed the image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Now that my image is heat embossed I can brayer over the image and the embossing will resist the brayered ink (emboss resist technique).

Brayered over the entire card stock with Brilliant Blue ink. I only brayered back and forth a couple of times. It came out streaked and I liked the look so I left it that way.

Wiped the ink off of the embossed image with an old soft rag.

Smeared a Black Soot Distress Ink Pad directly on the card stock to create a ramp.

Stamped the image again with Palette Noir Black ink.

Colored the image in with a black marker creating the shadow.

Added a few white highlights to the right side of the original image with a White Gel Pen.

Add a couple of simple panels and some brads, no frills for this card.

Here it is finished measuring 5″ x 6.5″.

I hope this gets you looking at your stamps to see if you can come up with some sort of scene using a shadow in it.

May your day be filled with only good things.

Until my next post.. . . . . . . . .

Hugs,

Michelle

Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar

Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Knobbly Gnome Will Never Be Gone – Tutorial #163

43 Comments January 10, 2009 zindorfstamps

One thing I would like to do this year is to use every stamp I have once. That being said, it is a very unrealistic idea. I have way more stamps than can be used in a year or two or three. Even with having so many stamps I am unable to part with some very old favorites and I find I do use these stamps at least twice a year so they have earned their right to stay in my craft room. This set by Stampin’ Up “Knobbly Gnomes” is a set that will be very, very hard for me to part with. When I feel like coloring this is the set I turn to. It has become like an old friend. Just like the music I am listening to “Janis Joplin” while creating this tutorial. Somethings just speak to your heart. What speaks to your heart that others may find different or out of the norm?

Well let’s get started with the tutorial already. 🙂

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Knobbly Gnomes & See D’s Silhouettes

Paper: Stampin’ up Whisper White, Blue Bayou, Really Rust

Ink: Stampin’ Up Sage Shadow, Night of Navy, Baja Breeze & Not Quite Navy, Palette Noir Black

Accessories: Prismacolor Markers, Sponges, Circle Cutter, Black marker, Versamark Marker, Fine Detail Clear embossing powder and a heat gun

On a 4″ square piece of Whisper White card stock I stamped a gnome with Palette Noir Black ink. I chose this ink to use because it resist smearing when used with solvent based markers such as Prismacolor. I also heat set the Palette Noir ink a bit with my heat gun. Not sure if this makes a difference, but it makes me feel warm, lol.

Colored the mushroom and book pages with an Eggshell Prismacolor marker.

Colored the top of the mushroom with a Deco Peach Prismacolor marker.

Colored the very top of the mushroom cap with a Sand Prismacolor Maker.

Went over the Mushroom with the Eggshell marker again to blend the colors together so I wouldn’t have any harsh lines.

Colored his shoes and his hat with a Green Tea Prismacolor Marker.

Added Olive Prismacolor Marker to the right side of the hat and the dark parts of his shoes.

Went over his hat and shoes with the Green Tea marker to blend the colors together.

See a pattern here on how I do my shading?

Added Goldenrod Prismacolor marker to the Gnomes hair, patches on his pants, laces on his shoes and a bit on the top of the mushroom and in the dark areas of the book pages.

I try to use each color in two different areas or more so my color pallet doesn’t get too busy.

Colored his pants with Blue Slate Prismacolor marker. Let one coat dry and then added a bit more to the wrinkles on the pants image to darken them.

Added more Goldenrod to the book pages.

Colored his face and ears with Cream Prismacolor marker.

That being done I colored over the entire image with a Versamark marker. I start with the light colors first and color over the darkest ones last. This helps keep dark colors from smearing into the light ones. Clean the tip of your Versamark marker a lot by whipping it on your scrap paper until it comes out clean.

Note: Your image will be a few shades darker after you apply Versamark over it.

Heat embossed the image using fine detail clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Cut a 3″ circle from card stock and use it as a mask for the moon. I hold this mask in place as I sponge around it. When done with the circle mask I put it in a baggie for another project.

So with the Circle mask in place I sponged Baja Breeze ink around the moon mask leaving a flat area at the bottom of the card stock to represent the ground.

Let’s remove the mask and take a peak. 🙂 So far so good. Back on with the mask.

Getting darker yet in the sky area, sponged Not Quite Navy around the edge not covering the Baja Breeze ink entirely.

Remove the mask and sponged Sage Shadow ink at the bottom of the card stock.

Sponged Night of Navy around the entire edge of the card stock.

Assembled my panels and felt this piece was missing something so I decided to stamp some weeds in the foreground.

I stamped the leaves 3 times going over all the layers of card stock. This is never a good idea. You will end up with really big voids in your images. Note: be very sure you have a marker to match the ink you are stamping with so you can fill in those voids you will have.

Filled the voids in the stamped images with a Black marker. Sometimes you really need to be creative to figure out what is missing in the stamped image.

Well here is my finished card measuring 5.5″ square.

I hope this tutorial has inspired you to get out one of your old stamps and put on some old favorite music that you haven’t heard in a while and stamp your heart out.

Until my next post. . . . . . . . .. . .

Hugs,

Michelle

Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar

Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Golden Day – Tutorial #161

37 Comments January 5, 2009 zindorfstamps

Here is a tutorial using another bird from a stamp sheet by Katzelkraft at www.katzelkraft.fr I’ve seen this bird before in other people’s projects and I just love it, love it, love it!

This is my attempt as showing the suns reflection in a puddle. It didn’t turn out the way I had envisioned it, but I like it just the same.

Before we get started I wanted to let everyone know that I am teaching my Beginner and Advanced Brayer workshops at Marcos Paper in Dayton, OH the month of February. If you are interested you can get more information on Marcos Paper website http://www.marcopaper.com/classzindorf2.htm .

The beginner class will take the mystery out of how to use the brayer. You will come away confident in your new skill and with some really great projects too. If you have already taken the beginner class and want to take your new brayering skill further I encourage you to take the Advanced class. I have revamped the Advanced class and have come up with some great new projects.

Ok, let’s get started on today’s tutorial.

Supplies:

Stamps: Katzelkraft “Bird” & Stampin’ Up “Embrace Life”

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, River Rock & Always Artichoke

Ink: Stampin’ Up Basic Black, Adirondack Oregano & Butterscotch

Accessories: Brads, White Gel Pen, Clear embossing powder, Heat Gun, Brayer, Olive Marker, Versmark pad and Marker, Post it notes, sponges, 1/2″ & 1 1/4″ Circle Punches

Stamped bird by first loading the stamp with Versamark marker then loading it with Black ink before stamping it. I stamped it on a 4 1/8″ x 4 3/8″ piece of Whisper White Card stock.

Heat embossed the image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Went over the white part of the bird’s chest with a Versamark marker.

Heat embossed the image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Brayered Butterscotch ink at the top and at the bottom of the card stock leaving it light in the middle.

Punched a 1 1/4 circle and 1/2″ circle from the sticky part of a post it note and used them as masks for the sun and the sun’s reflection.

Brayered more Butterscotch ink at the top and bottom of the card stock.

Removed the masks.

Ripped through the stick part of a post it note and masked the sky area of the card stock.

Tore another post it note and masked the water area.

Sponged Oregano ink on the unmasked portion of the card stock.

Added some black sponging on the unmasked area of the ground leaving a few light areas.

Removed the post it note masks.

Sponged some Oregano ink around the edges of the water area to soften them.

Extended the branch the bird is sitting on to the edge of the card stock with a black marker.

Stamped the plants with Black in a few times staggering the heights of the plants.

Colored the leaves in with an Olive marker.

Added White highlights to the leaves with a White Gel pen.

Used the direct to paper technique and streaked the left side of a River Rock card stock panel with Butterscotch ink.

Over streaked the panel with Oregano ink not covering the Butterscotch ink entirely.

Assembled the card and added brads. Here it is finished measuring 5.5″ square.

May your day be a golden one.

Until my next post. . . . . . . . . . . ..

Hugs,

Michelle

Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar

Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/