Spectrum Noir Metallic Inks–World Launch!

Tune into Hochanda on Monday 22nd October 2018 at 6pm and 8pm for the launch of the one day special.  Shows will also be on the Tuesday.  These brand new inks are the same water reactive inks that you can find in Spectrum Noirs very popular metallic pens – but now that they are available as an ink you now have many more versatile options on how to create art and craft with these.  They are highly pigmented, opaque on even the darkest background, multisurface, water safe when dry and finish with a matt metallic shine.  I’ll talk you through each of my samples to show how I’ve used them…

Find Spectrum Noir at Crafter’s Companion UK

If you haven’t shopped at Hochanda before, use my 30% off promo code on your first order: UFT1TVP9 www.hochanda.com

Top Tip:  Although there’s a ball bearing inside the pots – I prefer to stir with a cocktail stick to make the magic happen – you can then draw or drip with the stick or wipe it onto cut and dry foam for stamping or sponging.

On this card I’ve painted and dropped colour onto heat resistant acetate and sprayed with water and sprinkled salt on, then heat embossed stamps by Sheena Douglass on the reverse.  I’ve then attached this onto rainbow mirror card.  Also on the card I’ve painted black card and die cut leaves and further in the background I’ve sponged onto kraft card.

I have stamped the eagle onto black card using a black ink then using a cocktail stick and fine paint brush I’ve painted him in.  The background was stamped by transferring the ink to stamps using cut and dry foam and the flower dies were sponged using a similar method.

Stamps and dies by Sheena.

Festive & Metallic Spectrum Noir Inkpads Launch!!! Hochanda

Right, that’s it – summer’s over, let’s get festive!  If you enjoyed the new Spectrum Noir inkpads then don’t miss the launch of 6 new festive-inspired colours in the Harmony inkpad range PLUS 6 exciting colours in the BRAND NEW metallic inkpad range called Spectrum Noir Midas!  There’s so much I can tell you about these Midas inkpads starting with the fact that they are opaque and highly pigmented plus they have an amazing metallic look to them.  Because they will layer up in a very opaque way you can stamp with them, do inky background techniques and, my personal favourite thing about these inkpads is that they can literally replace my gilding waxes for papercrafting (plus multiple home decor / mixed media applications too!)

Find these inkpads at Crafter’s Companion and on Hochanda at 6pm and 8pm on Wednesday 20th September 2018, and through the day on the 21st.  Also on the show will be Donna Radcliffe’s Christmas Elves stamps and some fantastic festive 3D Embossing Folders from Crafter’s Companion (see below for a sneaky peak)…

Crafter’s Companion Subscription Box July 2018

Have you seen the new Crafter’s Companion Subscription boxes yet?  Each month they are packed with lots of products to get you started making projects straight from the box.  I was lucky enough to be asked to make some samples using the July 2018 box which happens to be based on the Sparkle pens!  You get over 130 elements which includes 3 sparkle pens (a yellow, a blue and a pink/red) which are all the colours you need to get started with sparkle pens, cute 4” card blanks and envelopes, clear stamp sheet, plain watercolour card, watercolour card with white embossed images, watercolour card with printed images ready to colour and coloured paper for matting and layering.  I wish we had sparkle vision as it never shows in photos – but basically imagine that everywhere these pens have touched is sparkling with microfine glitter.

Apart from glue and foam pads, I’ll mention on each sample if I’ve used anything else in addition to the box…

Vintage Tea Party Collection by Sara Davies

I’m sharing something a little different today created using the gorgeous 6” Paper Pad, Twine, Lace and Stamp set from the Vintage Tea Party Collection.  These papers work fabulous on their own but I’m showing you a few samples on how to make the most of the stamp set in addition.  These cards and more have been sent off to be shown on HSN in Germany.

If you are in the UK this collection is already available from Crafter’s Companion directly.

Stamped and coloured using Spectrum Aqua pens.  Plus a little Stickles glitter glue.

I created a shadow box for this sample and the image was created by masking a few stamps together and coloured using Spectrum Noir Colourblend pencils.

This aperture card was created by distressing the edge of the paper using Aqua pens and glycerin technique.  The image is coloured with Aqua pens.

Spectrum Noir Metallic Brush Pens–UK Launch! 23rd March 2018

Brace yourselves – the eagerly anticipated Spectrum Noir Metallic Brush Pens are heading to Hochanda for the UK launch!!!  The pens are dual-nibbed with both fine and brush nibs.  They are waterbased which allows you to work them the same as your other waterbased pens but these dry fairly quickly and become waterproof!  They are highly pigmented and also are very opaque.  All of this means that they work on a number of surfaces, including glass, ceramic and embellishments.  You can also layer them up very easily.  For more inspiration see my samples that I made for the HSN/USA Launch here: Metallic Brush Pen USA Launch

BRAND NEW Spectrum Noir Metallic Brush Pens!

These new metallic pens from Spectrum Noir are amazing!  They are highly pigmented and opaque which means they are they can be layered and are amazing on dark backgrounds including black card.  They have dual nibs (bullet and brush) which means that they will be a complete game changer for both dark colorista colouring pads AND brush lettering!!!  They are water based pens so you can try out your favourite water-based techniques but are stable once dry.  The pens come in 2 packs of 6 colours and will be demoed firstly on HSN in USA and coming soon to Hochanda in the UK.

Summary:  I LOVED using these pens!

Images from Colorista Dark pad: Under the Sea

Sentiment: brush lettering on top of Crafter’s Companion script lettering stamps.

Coloured with Spectrum Noir Metallic Brush Pens

Embossing folder and stamps/die by Sheena Douglass Day of the Dead collection

Premium black pad from Spectrum Noir

You can stamp or emboss black card for interesting colouring effects.  I have also coloured straight over clear embossing with somehow goes super shiny.

AquaBlend Pencils and Stacey Barras Stamps

I’ve been playing with my artist-quality watercolour pencils by Spectrum Noir this week to create samples for the upcoming shows with Fiona Clayton.  She will also be bringing the latest floral stamps by the talented Stacey Barras.  All of the stamps on my samples are from this collection and are ideal for watercolour work!  I’m also listing all the colours that I used below…

SHOW TIMES ON HOCHANDA: Saturday 17th February 2018 at 7am, 10am and 2pm

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

Buy Spectrum Noir: https://www.crafterscompanion.co.uk/brands/spectrum-noir.html

Stamps: Rose Bloom by Stacey Barras

Aquablend pencils: Kiwi, Ruby, Tobacco, Cherrywood, Ruby, Coral, Black Umber, Chrome Orange, Carrot, Honeycomb, Straw, Powder Blue

Watercolour Card, Archival Inks

Candle (Front View) Stamps by Stacey Barras

Aquablend pencils: Sunshine, Soft Red, Carrot, Elderberry, Hyacinth, Tobacco, Charcoal Brown, Cherrywood

Tissue paper and archival ink

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.

Card Making: Take It Easy by Craftwork Cards / Father’s Day Cards

With Father’s Day coming up here in the UK I need to top up my card stand with some nice cards for the dads out there!  I’ve used the Take It Easy collection (paper pan and die cuts), additional foiled sentiments by Craftwork Cards, glossy accents, distress inks in Worn Denim and Spiced Marmalade and some string.  I used the inspiration sheet which came with the kit to get started.  My favourite thing to do with any paper is cut out mini elements.  Finally, a few cards have some Candi pieces which is a foiled newspaper print.  The Candi and the foiled sentiments are great for inking!

The bottle cards came with the kit.  The one below was inked around the edges to give it form, then attached to a square card which was altered into a rocking card – now it’s a bottle floating on the waves!!!

Glossy accents on the bottle tops works particularly well and some glitter on the highlights of the ridges.  And don’t forget your cocktail sticks with your flags!

Card Making: Craftwork Cards Time Flies

The Time Flies paper pad by Craftwork Cards was my first purchase by them – and it’s still a go to design for me.  All of the cards below are 5 x 5” so are small, cute and quick to make.  I’ve used the diecuts that came with the kit and added Craftwork Cards foiled sentiments – most have been inked because the foiling retains its colours they are perfect for colouring to match your project.   I’ve also used some mixed pieces of candi (also by Craftwork Cards) and distress ink in Spun Sugar and Iced Spruce (this is a green grey as I noticed that the grey tones in the papers have a bit of a green tone to them).  A couple of cards also have a bit of Stickles in Gunmetal.

Card Making: Craftwork Cards Man Made Collection

It seems like ages since I sat down to do some card making!  This time I’ve decided to top up my more “manly” cards and went for the Man Made collection by Craftwork Cards.  It came complete with die cut toppers, sentiments, bag of candi and some 6x6” textured cards.  As usual I’ve added in foam pads, liquid pearls and glossy accents.

Round 1 – Inked Textured Cards

These first ones I played with inking the textured cards with distress inks.  The camera doesn’t sow it too well but each card has added raised layers.

Round 2 – Textured Cards Left White

The two on the left use a very simple technique to give interest to a card: chop off a bit and stick pretty paper behind it.  The card in the middle has an extra special detail as I have made the star springing using a piece of acetate.

Here’s a close up of the springing acetate behind the star.  You can also see where I added liquid pearls and stickles glitter.

Round 3 – Slightly less ‘industrial’ styles can also be achieved with this kit too.

Card Making: Guilty Pleasures by Craftwork Cards

I finally bought the Guilty Pleasures collection by Craftwork Cards which comes complete with paper pad and die cut sentiments, etc.  Below are my finished cards after just one session.  I love the colours and the “fun” of this collection.  I also enjoyed adding to the biscuits and doughnuts from my stash of liquid pearls, stickles and glossy accents.  To have the most fun from this kit cut out half a sheet of biscuits and half a sheet of doughnuts to play with as you go. 

• Liquid Pearl colours: mint green, ballerina, bisque.
• Stickles colours: Diamond and Sprinkled Sugar which is incredible because it is not technically a glitter but it actually looks like sugar!
• Distress inks: Ground coffee and Antique Linen

Look ^ I made an ice-cream cone

This next card is a handmade shadow box card.  The doughnuts were cut out and arranged individualy then topped with glossy accents, liquid pearls and sprinkles… I mean, Stickles!

Card Making: Country Garden

These cards were made using Cottage Garden by Craftwork Cards, matching candi, sentiments and flowers from previous bundles and distress inks: dusty concord, peacock feathers and victorian velvet.