Tutorial - Adding White Highlights

Today I have a short little video showing how I like to add white highlights to the digi images that I color.  In my video I used the digi stamp called "Peter".

For many of you this won't be a "new" idea, but hopefully some of the pointers or products I used will be helpful to you.  And for some of you it will just be a nice reminder of a little touch we often forget to add. 

I hope you enjoyed the video.  If you have any trouble clicking the video above you can see the video at this link. 

Tutorial - Creating and snowy or starry night sky

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Today I have a long lost video to share with you.  Somehow this one got buried in the video vault but thankfully it is found now and can be shared with you.

In this video I show you how to create a starry or snowy night sky on your colored digi stamps.

If you have any trouble viewing the video by clicking the above you can use this link. 

I hope you enjoyed our tutorial.  

Wipe Off Planner Tutorial

I hope you enjoy this tutorial showing how I made my Weekly Planner.

There are lots of fun techniques and tips in this video, so even if you don't plan to make a Wipe Off Planner I hope you will watch the video and maybe learn a few little tricks.

If you have trouble clicking the video above you can view the video at this link.

As I mentioned in my video I want to be sure to give special recognition to Vivian from Contadina K.  I can't thank her enough for her inspiration and amazing videos.  The masking tape technique I use in this video is inspired by some of her projects.

Making Glimmer Mists

Hi friends!

It's Tuesday and time for another Tutorial.  Today I thought I would do a little video tutorial to show you my tips and techniques for making Glimmer Mist sprays.

If you have any trouble clicking the video above, please click this link to the video.

Making your own Glimmer Mists is really very fun and of course cost saving.  Don't be afraid to mix paints too and come up with your own wonderful color concoctions.

Items needed:
Acrylic Metallic Paint - (non metallic works too)
Rubbing Alcohol
Ranger Ink Mini Mister
2 bb's

'ERASING' TIP

Hi Everyone and welcome back to another Tutorial/Technique Tuesday! Today I have more of a TIP for you verses a tutorial or technique.  Actually Shelly introduced me to this product and I was so thrilled with the outcome that I felt it important to share with all of you!

Now if you are an Artist (like Shelly) this is not a new product for you but a novice crafter like myself can use all the helpful tips & tools I can get my hands on.  

This product is called KNEADED RUBBER ERASER!

As you can see, this product comes in different sizes & is manufactured by different companies.  I am using the General's Kneaded Rubber Eraser because that's the one Shelly showed me she was using and I found it during a shopping trip to JoAnn Fabrics.  The cost is minimal, depending on the size and company but I think mine was right around $1 and for what I'm doing, it will last me for a very long time because I only need a little bit ... not the whole block.  Let me show you what I'm talking about and the HUGE advantage to this product . . .

Here's the items I'll be using: 

This beautiful digi image called "Spring Lamb" is perfect for using this product.  I'm not real good coloring a 'sky' with my alcohol markers yet so I like using CHALK. 

Now that I have this product I don't have to worry much about going over my image lines with my chalk.  This kneaded rubber eraser makes it easy to get into those little places and remove any unwanted chalk from my image.

As you can see in this next photo ... you can also use a 'regular' eraser but when you do, you have all those NASTY pieces of eraser that come off and all over the place.  You are constantly erasing and blowing the residue of the eraser from your workspace ... messy, messy!

NOW with using this artists kneaded rubber eraser you have NO eraser pieces & residue to deal with.  You simply pull it (knead it) into the shape you want to work with and erase away!!!  It 'erases' the unwanted pencil lines, chalk, charcoals ... without any of that nasty residue.  You simply work the erased chalk/pencil back into the product by kneading it and keep working on your project!

I really like that you can form it into a shape that you can work with for getting into those close fitting areas of your image.  With a regular, larger eraser I was constantly having to reapply chalk to an area that was erased accidentally due to the size of my eraser.

Now my image is all ready to color & create with.  

My background sky looks perfect and so does my 'Spring Lamb'.

I hope you enjoyed this helpful TIP and when/if you purchase one for yourself, pop back and let us know what you think.

Remember to come back to Shelly's Images on Thursday when we will have another FUN challenge to share with you!  

Till then ... HAPPY CRAFTING!!

My Copic Storage

Are you still as addicted to Pinterest as I am?  

There are so many fantastic crafts, ideas, recipes, and so much inspiration.

I truly think I could browse the pins for hours!

So...the idea for this project originated at Pinterest. (I will share a blog link at the end of this post)

Basically...I wanted a storage solution for my Copic sketch markers.  But I also wanted my storage to be something that I could pack up and take with me.  

Here are the directions for how I made my copic storage box.

I got my box at Michael's for 50% Off.  LOVE a good sale!  

Be sure to take a copic marker (or at least the measurements) with you with you when you go shopping for your boxes.  There are lots of options for your storage box (as you will see in the blog link later in this post) so choose whatever you think will work best for you.  I liked the pretty decorative box I found.

 The next item you will need is an "egg crate ceiling light tile".  My husband found this one at Lowe's or Home Depot.  (you could easily make 2 or 3 copic storage boxes with one)  I measured how large the inside of the box was and then cut the ceiling tile to size.  You will need two layers for each box.  One layer of the ceiling tile will lay flat against the bottom of the box.  The second layer will be elevated to create a nice stand for the markers.

The ceiling tile cuts very easily with wire cutters.  Just lay the cutting edge flat against the spot where you want to cut. 

In order to elevate the second layer of the ceiling tile my husband had the idea to use pieces of the ceiling tile to create a "shelf".  Cut four "shelves" to look like the picture below.

 The picture below shows the shelves inserted in each corner.  The bottom of the shelf will slide down on top of the bottom ceiling tile piece.  And the top shelf will be where the top ceiling tile piece rests.  Be sure to insert these "shelves" so they only block the four corners of your ceiling tile. 

  

 To make it a little prettier I decided to add a little bling to the shelf that showed through each four corners.  I put some Instant Krazy Glue CRAFT on the part of the shelf that showed through the square and then added the bling.  I also used this glue to glue the top ceiling tile piece to the shelf.  You don't want the top ceiling tile piece to pull away when you are removing your copics.  While you are gluing squirt a little glue between the shelf and the box on each corner.  Again, just to be sure everything stays in place.

 All done.  My copic markers fit in the ceiling tile grate perfectly!  They are all organized so I can see exactly what I have.  And in my box there is a little space in the front where I can slide papers and projects that I am working on.  FABULOUS!  It stands nicely on one side (the lid is kind of a "kick stand") so I can use it on my desk.

What a great storage solution.  And CHEAP too.  The ceiling light tile is very inexpensive.  And the box itself was a great price on sale.  SO much less expensive than the copic marker wallets and bags.

Thanks so much to Helen for her blog post that gave me a great "starting point".  You can see her blog post here. 

Coloring tutorial

Hi everyone. I want to show you how I color my digistamps with derwent soft colour pencils.

This is what you need. Pencils, odorless turpentine, paper stumps, a nail file and of course a digi. Mostly I use 2 or 3 shades of color for 1 thing. Depending on the size I want to color. I do that to get more shadow then with just 1 color.

I start by coloring the flower. I use 3 colors and they are C130, C150 and C160.

I start with C130 and color around the edges.

Then use you paper stump to blend the color to the middle. Do that in circles so it blends well. For big parts I use a large paper stump (number 2) and for little parts I use number 0.

It should look like this after your done.

Then I use my second pencils C 150 and I color some edges but not all. Only the pieces I want to have shadow.

 

Use your paper stump again to blend the colors.

As the last color I use C160 and color the parts I want the darkest.

 Blend the color with your little paper stump.

 

Now it should look like this. You see you get more shadow then with just 1 color.

 

Now you first clean your paper stump with your nail file the get the color of.

On to the next part and that is the ladybug. This is such a small part so I only use 2 colors and they are C110 en C120.

 Color all around and blend.

Put on the second color on the part where you want your shadow. In case at the bottom. And blend.

Now to the last part and that is the leaves and the stalk. I've used C400 and C410.
First color the edges with C400 and blend.

 

Then use C410 and color the parts where you want the shadow. And blend.

This is the finished digi. You can see how much shadow you get when using more shades of color.

Hope you've enjoy my tutorial and have fun coloring.

Tutorial Tuesday......Twin Bags

Hello my friends, it's my turn again to do a tutorial and you all know by now, I love little projects and gift-things. You don't have tot have a lot of things to make something special, you need a dubble printed piece of design paper, 12 x 12 inch, a scoretool, a eyeletsetter, some eyelets and ribbon or twine.....

I use my scorepal, but feel free to do it otherwise, score at 1 and 11 inch.......and fold the piece inside and put on some tape......oohh I forgot, you do need tape or glue.......not much though.....

After putting inside the flaps rotate your paper 90 degrees and score at 3,5 and 8,5 inch, once again fold on the lines and tape the flaps it now should look like the photo beneath....

Now the most hard to explain like above put it on your scorepal and score at 4 1/8 and 5 inch then turn it around (rotate 180 degrees) and score at 4 1/8 again, you have three scorelines, fold them....

After folding it should look like this.........almost there....LOL

Standing up it looks like this, you can see the two bags already, before making twins out of them, put your eyelets in....

After the eyelets put some tape inside and make a twinbag (I made a little mistake and had to cut it loose and ad the eyelets first, you can see I forgot the eyelets in my first attempt......

Now put some ribbon or twin making handles and your twinbags are finished it has the side of 5 x 4 1/8 inche and you can now start decorating it  and filling it with some gifts, a present or something sweet....

I hope you like it and I've giving you some inspiration.........

Hugs Amanda