Fairy Stamps and Spectrum Noir One Day Special–17th December 2017

I am very excited to share with you my samples created using the brand new Fairy stamps by Donna Ratcliff and coloured with my Spectrum Noir alcohol pens.  These stamp sets are full of everything you need to make full blown fairy-scape scenes or stamping over pretty backgrounds using the silhouette stamps that are also included.  I absolutely love these stamps and they are my favourite release in a long time!  There are so many ways of using them!

Show time on Hochanda:  Sunday 17th December 2017 at 6pm and 8pm then Monday at 9pm, 1pm and 5pm.

Spectrum Noir at Crafter’s Companion UK:  https://www.crafterscompanion.co.uk/art-colouring/spectrum-noir.html 

Stamps at Crafter’s Companion UK:  https://www.crafterscompanion.co.uk/new/new-in-papercraft/new-from-crafter-s-companion/stamps.html 

Stamps by Donna Ratcliff: Fairy Garden, Toadstool Home, Sparkle Garden and Fairy Magic

Spectrum Noir:  Toadstool: DR7 + 5 + CR7 + 10 + 1 + 2 + TN9 + 7 + 5 + 3 + 1 + TB1 + EB4 + 3 + 2 / Seedpods: MB4 + 2 + 1 + DG4 + 3 + 1 / Bluebells: HB3 + 2 + BG2 + Blender / Grasses: DG4 + 3 + 2 + 1 + JG7 + 1 + DG2 / Sky: TB1

Neenah card stock and luxury ice blue glitter card.

For this card I created my own scene using Pebeo during gum to layer up the images.

Stamps by Donna Ratcliff: Magic Garden, Sparkle Garden and Toadstool Home

Spectrum Noir: TB3 + BP1 + CT4 + Blending Solution refill

The background technique of this one is very effective.  I have a tutorial coming soon on how I created it

More Spectrum Sparkle! Hochanda 19th November 2017

Spectrum Noir are showcasing their amazing sparkle pens again this week on Hochanda.  As always – I wish we had sparkle vision on computers but please believe me when I say these are SUPER sparkly in real life!  Here are the samples that I have recently made…

Show times:  Sunday 19th November 2017 at 11am and 3pm.

Crafter’s Companion <--- UK website

Stamps: Hydrangea Heart by Cherry Green

This first card is actually coloured in with the Spectrum Noir alcohol pens but then I have used the clear sparkle pen as an overlay on the butterfly and the flowers.

Stamps: Macaroons by Donna Ratcliffe

This is a more pastel hue card using the paler seasons colours.

Call of the Wild by Sheena Douglass

I’ve been having a play with the Call of the Wild stamps and dies by Sheena Douglass.  The two cards I made below both used the same colouring mediums (a hat trick of Spectrum Noir pens!):

• Main image stamped with Grey Momento ink onto Neenah card and coloured with Spectrum Noir alcohol pens (additional details with Artliner pens)
• Background landscape was stamped using brown archival ink onto Sheena Stamping Card and then coloured using Spectrum Aqua pens
• The sky and additional shimmering reflections on the water were created using Spectrum Sparkle pens
• I’ve also used a bit of distress ink around the edges

Brand New Launch–Spectrum Noir ColourTint Pencils!

If you love your water colour pencils then you are going to absolutely need these new additions to the Spectrum Noir range!  These pencils are very unique in the fact that they are graphite based water soluble pencils and the colours are dark tints.  They work beautifully dry or wet and all of your normal water colour pencil techniques will work with these.  Only two 12-pencil tins are being released at the moment but the tones are plentiful and will obviously play nicely with your Aquablend pencils.  You can catch these launching as a One Day Special on Hochanda from Saturday 4th November alongside some perfectly-matched stamps by Sheena Douglass that have never been seen before!

Show Times on Hochanda: Saturday 4th November 6pm and 8pm, Sunday 5th November 9am, 1pm and 5pm.

Also coming soon on HSN in the USA!

Spectrum Noir at Crafter’s Companion: https://www.crafterscompanion.co.uk/brands/spectrum-noir.html 

Colorista Dark Collection Featured on HSN (Home Shopping Network)

If you’re into adult colouring at the moment and you haven’t tried the Colorista Dark colouring pads with the Metallic Pencils from Crafter’s Companion then you are definitely missing a trick!  I was fortunate enough to get to create some cool samples using the Floral Boutique 6x6” paper pad for the recent show on HSN in North America.  You can also find my previous Floral Boutique/Colorista Dark samples here made for the UK here.  What’s nice about crafting from a colouring book is that you can colour very portably – for instance, I coloured up my pads whilst I was on vacation in Mallorca, then when I came back home I got out my sentiment stamps and dies to create what you can see below…

This is an altered MDF heart.

The front of this card has been made from acetate.

Spectrum Sparkle Pens One Day Special on Hochanda 15th October 2017

I’ve been having lots of fun this last week making super sparkly cards with the fabulous Sparkle pens from Spectrum Noir.  I am soooo gutted that sparkle-vision hasn’t been invented yet but in real life theses samples sparkle like crazy.  Tune into the shows on 15th October for a chance to seem them twinkle in front on the cameras!  I’ve used a mixed bag of stamps available from Crafter’s Companion to highlight the versatility of these pens.  I have used colours from the original packs: Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter but don’t forget about the vintage hues and other special packs from designers at Crafter’s Companion.

Find Spectrum Sparkle pens at Crafter’s Companion UK: https://www.crafterscompanion.co.uk/brands/spectrum-noir/sparkle-glitter-pens-3855.html

TV Show times: Sunday 15th October at 6pm and 8pm and then throughout the day on Monday until 5pm.

You can watch Hochanda online.

Stamps: Star of the Show & Enjoy the Show by Stacey Barras

Spectrum Sparkle: Smokey quartz, moonlight, harvest moon, amethyst, red berry, blue topaz, solar red, pink garnet, starry sky

Aqua Markers (for the skin): Sandstone and tawny

Watering can archival ink, gold glitter embossing powder, acetate, diorama card blank and Sheena stamping card.

Background was created by 1st and 2nd generation stamping all the different sentiment words and then painting on the sparkle pens.

Stamps: Music Time by Donna Ratcliff

Sparkle pens: smokey quartz, pink champagne, red berry, holly leaf, starry sky

Neenah desert storm colouring card and vellum

Brand New Circus Stamps by Stacey Barras

I am really excited to bring you my samples of the brand new circus themed stamps by Stacey Barras!  The complete set includes some nice big images and lots of extra accessory stamps and sentiments.  What I like about these stamps is that you can go vintage/grungy or you can go modern and pretty.  All of my samples have been coloured with Spectrum Noir alcohol pens with the odd bit of clear sparkly pen.  Also on the show will be the Time stamps by Donna Radcliffe so scroll down to the bottom to see a sample that I made using the Sands of Time stamps.  To see these stamps in action catch Sheena Douglass on Hochanda!

Hochanda Show Times: Wednesday 20th at 6pm and 8pm, Thursday at 9am, 1pm and 5pm

Crafter’s Companion stamps: https://www.crafterscompanion.co.uk/papercraft/stamping/crafter-s-companion-collections.html

Spectrum Noir pens: https://www.crafterscompanion.co.uk/art-colouring/spectrum-noir/spectrum-noir-colouring-system.html 

Mockingbird Hill Done 2 Ways: Festive v. Spooky Halloween

I finally got around to finishing my first Mockingbird Hill houses using the stamps and die sets from Sheena Douglass.  Using the exact same sets I have created 2 looks – one is for my mum (I’m planning on making her a little mini card village for the winter holidays) and one is for my favourite holiday – Halloween!  The festive one is snowy and twinkly and the spooky one is covered in cobweb and glows in the dark!

To make them into tea lights I have created side panels wide enough for a battery operated tea light and a solid back by tracing the outline of the house. 

BRAND NEW: Spectrum Aqua pen colours Launching August 19th

I have loved Spectrum Aqua since they were launched so you can imagine how giddy I was to discover that new colours were being launched!  Aqua pens are one of the most versatile products you can get hold of.  They are portable, clean to use and offer a TON of variety when it comes to techniques!  The new colours are arranged in sets of 6 so you can add to your collection in stages – or check out the bundle launching as a One Day Special on Hochanda on Saturday August 19th!  They are also including some brand new stamps with your pens that really show off the vibrant watercolour appeal to these.  These aren’t just random colours – there’s some GREAT colours that we need including a primary red and a primary blue that we have needed!  The sets are called: Earth, Botanicals, Landscape and Brights.
Aqua pens are double ended with both a brush nib and a very fine nib.
Show Times: Hochanda 6pm Saturday 19th August, and throughout the day on the Sunday www.hochanda.com
Find Aqua pens on Crafter’s Companion UK: https://www.crafterscompanion.co.uk/brands/spectrum-noir/spectrum-aqua.html
My samples for the show are below as well as some info on how I created them:

Speed Art: Queen Nefertiti Canvas (Pebeo Mixed Media)

This is probably one of my favourite pieces ever.  I have a lot of respect for the mysterious queen Nefertiti (one of my cats is called Nefertiti too) and have tried to portray the magnificence of her famous bust using Pebeo mixed media fantasy paints.  The special effects from the fantasy paints have allowed me to create almost a hammered metal effect for the main sections (using the moon paints) and a jewelled effect for the precious stones (using the fantasy paints).  The foiling adds to her majestic qualities.
I’m always looking for ways to do something differently and so it was nice to try a portrait with the Fantasy paints because they are so unpredictable that it was almost silly to do such a thing … so I did!
The video is below and if you ever want to subscribe or browse my YouTube channel please visit: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAyDA03JqiANdqVhV6DRbbA
Ingredients

• Black Gesso
• Transparent Liner
• Black Liner
• Mixtion Relief
• Gold Foil
• Empire Gold Gilding Wax
• White 4Artists marker
• Fantasy Moon paints and Fantasy Prisme paints

Speed Art Canvas: Pirate Flag (Pebeo Mixed Media)

Guess who’s back with a brand new speed art for you?  If you know me already then you know that I am a HUGE fan of pirateology.  Here’s my pirate inspired canvas using all Pebeo products and Jack Rackham’s jolly roger!

Brand New Colorista Dark Colouring Pads by Spectrum Noir

Forget what you think you know about colouring books – colouring on BLACK paper with METALLIC pencils is sooooooo pleasing.  Crafter’s Companion are launching three sets of colorista dark pads – Floral Boutique (you can see my makes below), Steampunk themed and Moroccan themed.  Each set comes with a 6x6” pad, a bookmark pad and a tag pad.   Each page has beautiful designs on them created in a black glossy resist (like a black embossing powder).  Colour them in with your blendable colorista metallic pencils – although I even snuck in a bit of my clear Spectrum Sparkle pen on one of my bookmarks to make a sparkly background
TOP TIP:  After you’ve finished your colouring if you need to bring the black lines back up to a beautiful shine (I’m a little heavy handed) then grab a piece of blutack and it will come right off leaving behind the colour on the paper.
Show times on Hochanda: One Day Special on Monday 7th August 6pm, then on Tuesday 9am, 1pm and 5pm.
See products at Crafter’s Companion UK: https://www.crafterscompanion.co.uk/brands/spectrum-noir/spectrum-noir-colorista/colorista-dark.html

Altered box created using the bookmark pad.

New Launch: Frankie Stamps by Cherry Green Wednesday 26th July

Summer’s here and I’m excited to share with you some adorable new stamps by Cherry Green!  There is a whole set of Frankie (the little girl) embarking on lots of different activities.  Her pure look makes her so easily coloured to look like your own favourite little girls!  I particularly love the extra details stamps such as the different types of shells and the raindrops!  All of Cherry Green’s sentiments are hand drawn instead of typed.
Catch the launch on Hochanda on Wednesday 26th July 2017 at 10am and 4pm.
Visit Crafter’s Companion or Hochanda for all your crafting goodies.

7” Shadow Box Card
Stamps: Frankie Sunbathing by Cherry Green
Stamped onto Neenah Card by Crafter’s Companion.  Added store bought play sand.
Spectrum Noir pens:

• Skin: TN4 + FS9 + 8 + 4 + 2
• Hair: TN4 + OR2 + BO1 + OR1
• Clothes: TB9 + 7 + 5 + 3 / IG5 + 3 + 1 + Blender / IG5 + DR7 + 5 + CR6 / GY5 + 3 + LY1
• Sky: TB1 + IG3 + 1
• Stones: BG9 + 5 + 1
• Sea: TB5 + BT7 + 6 + 4
• Shells: PP1 + BG7 + 5 + 5 + CR2 + TN4 + YG3 + 1 + GY3 + 1

More Colourblend and Aquablend Samples for 16th June

Don’t forget to catch the one day special on Hochanda this Sunday and Monday to see the brand new colours of Spectrum Noir’s Aquablend and Colourblend pencils.  I managed to get a few extra samples made for you.

Links: 

• Hochanda (to watch live and to shop online)
• Crafter’s Companion
• Aquablend Pencils: https://www.crafterscompanion.co.uk/brands/spectrum-noir.html?cat=1515
• Colourblend Pencils: https://www.crafterscompanion.co.uk/brands/spectrum-noir.html?cat=1518
• Premium Paper Pads: https://www.crafterscompanion.co.uk/brands/spectrum-noir.html?cat=3422
• Cherry Green Stamps: https://www.crafterscompanion.co.uk/brands/cherry-green.html
• Stacey Barras Stamps: https://www.crafterscompanion.co.uk/papercraft/stamping/crafter-s-companion-collections/crafter-s-companion-stamps.html

Stamps: Hydrangea Garden by Cherry Green

Coloured onto Crafter’s Companion Premium Pencil Pad, heat embossed with gold glitter.

Colourblend pencils from new 12 packs only: sea grass, icicle, pollen, wineberry, coral, lagoon, sky blue, ladybug, dusty pink, lilac, candleglow

Stamps: Hydrangea Heart by Cherry Green

Coloured onto Crafter’s Companion Premium Pencil Pad, heat embossed with transparent hologram.  Made from Crafter’s Companion Fancy Card blank.  Butterfly overlay made from heat embossing onto heatproof acetate.

Colourblend pencils from new 12 packs only: sea grass, saltwater, orchid, cupid, pearl blush, indigo, amethyst, wisteria, candle glow, dusty pearl, saltwater.

Stamps: Little Birdy by Stacey Barras

Stamped with brown archival ink on Crafter’s Companion Premium Watercolour Pad.  Coloured with Aquablend pencils from new 12 packs only.

Matted onto patterned paper and Distress Coredinations embossed with Textures embossing folder.

Stamps: Perfect Peony by Stacey Barras

Stamped onto white tissue paper with Black Momento ink.  Coloured with Aquablend pencils from new 12 packs only.

Brand New Spectrum Noir Pencils on Hochanda 16th July One Day Special

Exciting news for Spectrum Noir pencil fans – BRAND NEW COLOURS for both the colourblend and aquablend lines have been released and will be on Hochanda as a One Day Special from 6pm on 16th July 2017.  The pencils are a fantastic expansion to the existing colours and are arranged in tin sizes of 12.  The new Colourblend tins are named Soft Tints and Bold Brights.  The new Aquablend watercolour tins are names Vivid Hues and Earth Tones.  You can see my Aquablend samples below using stamps by Stacey Barras – all have been coloured on the new Premium Watercolour Pad by Crafter’s Companion too!

HOCHANDA SHOW TIMES: Sunday 16th July from 6pm and Monday 17th www.hochanda.com

SPECTRUM NOIR PENCILS (Crafter’s Companion): https://www.crafterscompanion.co.uk/brands/spectrum-noir.html 

STACEY BARRAS STAMPS (Crafter’s Companion): https://www.crafterscompanion.co.uk/brands/crafter-s-companion/crafter-s-companion-stamps.html

Stepper Card made using Crafter's Companion Stamps "Find Your Wings" by Stacey Barras.  Spectrum Sparkle Clear overlay onto the bird.  Background created by scraping small specks of pencil onto the cardstock and spritzing with water.  Layered onto Coredinations card stock.

Easel Card made using Crafter's Companion Stamps "Perfect Peony" by Stacey Barras.  Background embossed Coredinations card with woodgrain Texture folder by Crafter’s Companion.  Layered onto Kraft card.

Wooden hanging heart made using Crafter's Companion Stamps "Beautiful Bloom" by Stacey Barras.  Heat embossed with Silver embossing powder and decorated with silver liquid pearls.

Diorama Card made using Crafter's Companion Stamps "Little Birdie" by Stacey Barras.  Clear Spectrum Sparkle pen on the edge of the wings.  Images stamped in grey Archival ink (Watering Can).  Background created by scribbling pencils and then watering with a brush, plus additional flecks of pencil.  Image has been decoupaged up for extra dimension.

Diorama Card made using Crafter's Companion Stamps "Beautiful Bloom" by Stacey Barras.  Image was stamped with orange Archival Ink, coloured and then cut out into it’s separate parts before being pieced back together for dimension.  Background is made from coredinations card, embossed with Textures folder by Crafter’s Companion and Pebeo gilding wax.

New Cherry Green Stamps Launching Thursday 15th June

Hello everyone I am absolutely THRILLED to announce that I have joined the design team for Spectrum Noir and my first samples are for the BEAUTIFUL new stamp designs by Cherry Green that are launching this week as a One Day Special on Hochanda.  These designs work amazingly with all of your favourite watercolour mediums including the very portable and convenient-to-use Spectrum Noir Aqua pens.  I truly hope these samples inspire you to get creative with this wonderful new collection.

DESIGNER:  Cherry Green

RANGE:  Hydrangea and Butterflies

LAUNCH DATE:  Thursday 15th June on Hochanda (show times 6pm, 8pm on Thursday and 6am, 9am, 1pm and 5pm on Friday)

Find Cherry Green at Crafter’s Companion https://www.crafterscompanion.co.uk/brands/cherry-green.html

All of my samples have been coloured with Spectrum Aqua pens or Spectrum Sparkle pens:

8x8" Card made using Crafter's Companion Stamps "Hydrangea Heart" by Cherry Green coloured with Spectrum Aqua Pens scarlet, blossom, sunflower, bud green, leaf green, moss, burgundy, red violet, kingfisher, peacock blue, charcoal.  This set comes with a separate butterfly stamp which fits onto the main image.  I have stamped and embossed this on heat proof acetate and stuck down just the body using 3d Collal glue.

8x8" Card made using Crafter's Companion Stamps "Dancing Butterflies" by Cherry Green coloured with just three Spectrum Aqua Pens sunflower, rose pink, aquamarine.  The black background is heat embosses flourish stamps from the set on Crafters Companion Matt Black card, the pastel background is created by stamping the flourishes in white gesso and then applying the pens with an ink tool and glycerin.  The flowers were created with a die by Sheena Douglass.

8x8" Box Card made using Crafter's Companion Stamps "Hydrangea Garden" by Cherry Green coloured with Spectrum Aqua Pens Jasmine, Teal, Red Violet, Orchid, Spice, Gold, Leaf green, Bud green, Boulder, Chestnut.  I created the box from Crafters Companion Kraft card – please comment if you’d like me to give a tutorial on making box cards.  The images have been heat embossed in Ivory powder onto Crafters Companion Watercolour card.  There is also a “flying” butterfly suspended on invisible thread that flutters above the hydrangeas.

8x8" Card made using Crafter's Companion Stamps "Midnight Dreams" by Cherry Green coloured with Spectrum Aqua Pens crimson, orange, gold, meadow, bud green. evergreen, peacock blue, purple, leaf green, moss, desert, slate, terracotta.  The background was created on Sheena Stamping Card and the Tim Holtz spritzer to give an airbrushed effect.

8x8" Card made using Crafter's Companion Stamps "Summer Solstice" by Cherry Green coloured with Spectrum Sparkle Pens Cosmos, Rose Quartz, Holly Leaf, Aquamarine, Starry sky.  The butterfly was stamped onto Crafters Companion Watercolour Card in ivory embossing powder.  Then a super sparkly cosmic background was created using the Spectrum Sparkle pens.  Even the ribbon was coloured using the pens. 

Spectrum Noir Colouring

Hi everyone I am out of my winter cave now and today I have put together a sample of my recent colouring projects.

1. Spectrum Noir ColourBlend Pencils

This is a digital stamp from ppinky designs.  I have coloured her using the ColourBlend pencils.  She’s been made into a card by mounting with a turquoise textured card and a copper pearl card.  The sentiment is from Sheena Douglass.

2 and 3. Spectrum Noir Pens

Here’s a picture that I managed to colour to give the illusion of a glow using the original Spectrum Noir pens and some brush nibs.

This one is also using these pens.  This image was from the Kit & Clowder monthly colouring class which I colour along with my Spectrum Noir pens.

4. Spectrum Illustrator Pens

This picture was coloured with the new illustrator pens.  See the original colouring post here.  I have then mounted this 3 times with textured card and black card.

5. Spectrum Sparkle and AquaBlend Pencils

This pair of Sheena Douglass Fairies was coloured with the Sparkle pens (mostly from the vintage set).  The skin and hair is from the AquaBlend pencils.  There is also a bit of Pebeo gilding wax on the wings.