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.

Spectrum Noir Inkpads!!! World Launch!!!

I’m so excited that I can finally tell you that Spectrum Noir is launching BRAND NEW INKPADS!  These truly are amazing!

In particular I’ve been playing with the Harmony inkpads which are water reactive and dye based.  They are perfect for blending and distress techniques, plus they are slightly slower at drying than other inks which means they are so easy to work with!  The collection includes co-ordinated 3-colour palates which means that for each colour you will get a light, medium and darker tone – enabling you to create 3-colour ombres and blends straight away!  Those middle tones are soooo vibrant and bright!  In conclusion, I LOVE these inkpads and can’t wait to get hold of the storage trays so that they can live on my desk!

The inkpads are launching on HSN on 11th July 2018 and in August in the UK on Hochanda.

All of my samples below were inked onto Sheena Stamping Card.

To create this effect I have used the yellow inkpad as an embossing ink for clear embossing powder.  That made the butterflies glossy and resit the rest of the inking techniques.  Stamps by Cherry Green and embossing folder from Crafter’s Companion Textures range.

I’ve done a similar embossing powder resist technique on this card but using a stencil.  Stamps by Sheena Douglass and quilling flower dies from Crafter’s Companion.

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.

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 

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. 

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.

Pebeo Mixed Media Canvas Set “LUCY” 4 of 4

Inspired by the recent Sheena Douglass shows on Hochanda I decided to give some of my daughters old wall art a revamp as I had everything in my stash.  The canvases were originally Disney princess pictures from the pound shop but I covered them up with black gesso.  All mediums used are by Pebeo plus a few bits and bobs from my crafty stash.  Here is a video on how I made the fourth and final canvas “Y”.  This has an under the water theme and I love the shells, sand and Punchinello.  This one was my personal favourite.

Scroll past the video for photos and a list of materials used…

Ingredients

• Pebeo Black Gesso
• Pebeo Modelling Paste
• Punchinello
• Shells (from a hobby store) and play sand
• Pebeo Mixtion Relief
• Pebeo Foiling Sheet in Green
• Pebeo Fantasy Prisme paints (in a green and a blue)
• Pebeo Dyna paints (2 of the blue/green colours)
• Glue
• Transparent Mixtion Relief (Pebeo makes one but I’m not sure what brand this one was)

Here is the finished set!  I love how they each have been made using the exact same techniques but each one has a completely different theme to it.

Part 1 “L” / Part 2 “U” / Part 3 “C / Part 4 “Y”

Pebeo Mixed Media Canvas Set “LUCY” 3 of 4

Inspired by the recent Sheena Douglass shows on Hochanda I decided to give some of my daughters old wall art a revamp as I had everything in my stash.  The canvases were originally Disney princess pictures from the pound shop but I covered them up with black gesso.  All mediums used are by Pebeo plus a few bits and bobs from my crafty stash.  Here is a video on how I made the third canvas “C”.  This one is covered in cogs and is actually Lucy’s favourite one in the set.

Scroll past the video for photos and a list of materials used…

Ingredients

• Pebeo Black Gesso
• Pebeo Modelling Paste
• Pebeo Mixtion Relief
• Pebeo Green Foil Sheet
• Pebeo DYNA paints
• Pebeo Fantasy Prisme Paints
• Sand paste made by mixing play sand in with the modelling paste
• Pebeo gilding wax in Empire Gold
• Cogs die cut from chip board
• Micro beads

Here is the finished set all together.  For “L” click here, for “U” click here.

Pebeo Mixed Media Canvas Set “LUCY” 2 of 4

Inspired by the recent Sheena Douglass shows on Hochanda I decided to give some of my daughters old wall art a revamp as I had everything in my stash.  The canvases were originally Disney princess pictures from the pound shop but I covered them up with black gesso.  All mediums used are by Pebeo plus a few bits and bobs from my crafty stash.  Here is a video on how I made the second canvas “U”.

Scroll past the video for photos and a list of materials used…

Ingredients

• Pebeo Black Gesso
• Pebeo Modelling Paste
• Paper flower embellishments (the ones without centres are Prima)
• Micro beads
• Pebeo Mixtion Relief
• Pebeo Gold Foil
• Pebeo Fantasy Prisme Paints in 2 colours
• Pebeo DYNA paints in 2 colours
• Pebeo vitrail glitter medium

Here is the set of canvases all together.  You can catch up on Part 1 here.

Pebeo Mixed Media Canvas Set “LUCY” 1 of 4

Inspired by the recent Sheena Douglass shows on Hochanda I decided to give some of my daughters old wall art a revamp as I had everything in my stash.  The canvases were originally Disney princess pictures from the pound shop but I covered them up with black gesso.  All mediums used are by Pebeo plus a few bits and bobs from my crafty stash.  Here is a video on how I made the first canvas “L”.  The buttons are a vey nice touch and the modelling paste really does hold them firmly in place.

Scroll past the video for photos and a list of materials used…

Ingredients

• Pebeo Black Gesso
• Pebeo Modelling Paste
• Random mixed buttons
• Pebeo Mixtion Relief
• Pebeo Gold Foil
• Pebeo Fantasy Prisme Paints in 2 colours
• Pebeo DYNA paints in 2 colours
• Pebeo vitrail glitter medium

Check back for the details on the other canvases.

5 Background Techniques with… Pebeo DYNA Paints Volume 1

What are dyna paints and why their own set of techniques in addition to regular acrylic paints?  Good question!  Pebeo’s dyna paints are part of the high viscosity acrylic paints that they do but are extra special – each one is made of a shiny pigment colour and a different interference colour, so when it catches the light they are effectively two-tone.  Even more magical is their ability to appear different depending on the colour of the background (i.e. white card vs. black card).  Until cameras and monitors become sophisticated enough to capture the shine I hope you will see some of the effect in the video, but believe me when I say that the effect is wonderful!  As with other acrylic paints feel free to pop on over to my acrylic paint background techniques as those will work with these paints too.  Click here for a full list of my technique pages.

Techniques covered in this issue are:

1. Simple blend
2. Stamping (on black surface)
3. Watercolour resist
4. Sponging (same two colours shown on black and white)
5. Gel medium tinting

1. These paints blend on surfaces very well and can take a lot of water to help with a smooth blend, not only do you end up with a blend of the base pigment but also the interference pigments too.

2. I have sponged two colours onto a background stamp before stamping onto black card to give this fabulous result.  Just remember to wash or at least soak your stamp as soon as possible.

3. I have stamped my background by sponging onto the stamp as before, but this could easily be any free hand paint on the background.  Acrylic will resist watercolours so I have washed over the top with aquatints.  You will still retain all the shine of the paints.  My personal favourite is stamping in a lighter colour and washing with a darker colour.

4. I’ve picked this technique to also demonstrate the difference between painting onto a black surface vs. a white surface by painting half the card with Pebeo’s black gesso.  Now you can see that the gold is actually green and the blue is actually pink in my example. 

5.  I wanted to test the effect out when mixed with gel medium.  This gives a different effect as now the colours seem almost pearly.  I’ve used a gloss medium for a high shine finished and both applied directly with a spatula and through a stencil.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel and/or subscribe to my blog updates to get alerted to the next edition to this series.

Art Journal: Hello Darkness My Old Friend

I’m pretty sure I’m going to divide opinion on this one – I wanted to challenge myself to create something in only greyscale this time.  The inspiration ended up being the music video for the cover of the Sound of Silence by Disturbed which has been beautifully directed.  I’ve used Pebeo acrylic paints in only mars black and titanium white, Tim Holtz tissue wrap and stamps by Sheena Douglass.  I’m curious to know what you think of this spread as I know it’s a lot moodier than what I normally do but art journaling is all about playing and trying things out!

Ingredients

• Pebeo High Viscosity Acrylic Paints – Titanium White and Mars Black
• Tim Holtz Tissue Wrap – Menagerie
• A Little Bit Sketchy Silhouette stamps by Sheena Douglass
• Black Archival Ink by Ranger
• Spectrum Noir pen in true black
• White Gesso by Pebeo
• Gel medium by Golden