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…

Speed Art Journal: Way Too Extraordinary

After taking a break from making art journal videos to knuckle down and finish my final dance teaching qualifications I’m pleased to say that I am back!  I really enjoy art journaling so I’m hoping I can get back into a regular routine for you. 

In this first video of the new series I’ve decided to demonstrate some of my colouring techniques with you as this will be my first video since becoming part of the Spectrum Noir design team.  This entire spread was inspired by my daughter (who micromanaged the different stages lol x)  (Scroll down for video…)

YouTube Partnership Changes

Before we get into it I have a few points to make:  firstly, my channel has been affected by the recent changes to YouTube’s policies and now all of my videos that I worked hard to make have become demonetised.  This basically means that I can no longer receive ad revenue (which was only pennies on my channel) but it was a very good incentive for me to carry on creating and sharing content.  It also helped me justify buying another art journal or replacing supplies that ran out.  In order to get monetised in the future I need to greatly increase the number of hours my videos are watched by people.  Each video takes several days to create, then edit the footage, produce the final video and give you the blog entry listing all the materials, etc.  If you would like to support my channel (for free!) then the best thing would be to subscribe to my channel and maybe watch a playlist or two on there from time to time.  This, as well as liking and commenting on my videos, lets me know that you like my content and that you’d like to see more.  Of course, if you’re a company and would like to sponsor me to make a video using your products then please get in touch too!

Voiceovers or Background Music

I’ve had a chance to reflect on comments made and there have been some occasions that people have said they would prefer a voiceover and/or more descriptions of what I’m doing to help them make similar artwork or learn from my techniques.  I am super happy to start doing voiceovers for you but I also know that other people prefer to have the background music as they find the videos quite relaxing to watch.  Therefore, for this video I’ve created TWO versions – one with voiceovers and one without.  To help me know which format you would like to see in the future please comment on the video that works best for you.

Materials Used

• Templates and Stamps from Paperbabe: Female Profile, Long & Fringe and Profile Face Stamp Set
• Spectrum Noir Colorblend Pencils
• Skin: Walnut, Saddle Brown, Vanilla, Peach, Cream and Linen
• Lips: Raspberry, Carmine, Peach
• Hair: Saddle Brown, Cider, Antique Rose, Peach, Vanilla
• Spectrum Noir Aqua Pens: Sandstone and Blossom
• Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pens: Starry Sky, Blue Topaz, Moonstone, Rose Quartz (lips)
• Spectrum Noir Artliner pens in black:  Brush, 08, 005
• Spectrum Noir Metallic Pen: Silver Ingot
• Ranger Archival Inks: Watering Can, Black, Red, Green
• Pebeo Decocreme Paints:  Pearl Violet, Matt Linen, Matt Royal Blue
• Texture Stamps by Craftwork Cards
• Cosmic Shimmer Flake and Glitter Glue
• Gilding Flakes
• Posca white pen
• Golden Gel Medium, Pebeo Drawing Gum, Pebeo White Gesso
• Tim Holtz Tissue Paper

Video WITH Voiceover:

Video WITHOUT Voiceover:

Which video do you prefer?

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

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