Trena's Creative Space

Fishing in the Country

This little scene is for this month's StampscapesII Yahoo Group Challenge. The theme is country.  This fishing dude from Art Impressions is catching more Z's than fish. ;o)  I met my swap partner, Sandy K, at the 2010 Stampscapes retreat in Chicago. She is such a sweetheart!

For this scene I decided to cut out my focal image, fishing dude, and place him in the scene. Another way to put him in the scene is to stamp him first, mask him, and then stamp around him. I wanted him to really pop out.

1. Inked up fisherman image with VersaFine ink pad, stamp onto watercolor paper, sprinkled with
   embossing powder and heat set. TIP: rub an anti-static bag over your paper or card stock before you stamp your image. This will help the powder stick only where you want it - to the ink!
2. I used a combination of the blender pen and waterbrush to spread color. For the larger areas, I laid down two shades of color and then used a waterbrush to spread and blend. For smaller areas, I used one shade and the Tombow blender. TIP: If you have any water spots after an area dried, dab a little color and use the blender to blend.
3. After the image dried, I cut it out. I cut out the base pieces of the image, not the small lines, i.e. fishing line.  TIP: If you cannot get close enough with your scissors and have any tiny white areas left, run a black marker along the edge.
4. I stamped my background scene, using StazOn, on scrap paper first to decide which images I wanted and for placement. TIPs: Use your cut out image to help with placement.  If you have any white space in between your images on your background, use a waterproof pen to fill in dots. When you are using alcohol inks for your coloring, be sure to use an alcohol ink friendly pen for dots.
5. I used a stamp positioner tool to stamp the image onto the background. 
6. After the background scene dried completely, it was time to color!  I used my Tombows and a watercolor brush to add color.   I colored the whole barn red, then then thought I should have googled barns before I colored! :o) Sure enough the barn photos I really liked had a white roof - no worries, there's always acrylic paint! And, that's what I used the for the barn roof.
7. With the waterproof marker, I added some grass strands in front of the toolbox and then used a green Tombow to fill in color.
8. After the background dried, I adhered my fisherman, his fishing bobber and worm to the card and adhered all the layers.  Yes, his hat going beyond the border was on purpose. :o) I like that affect!
9. Last step was to send to Sandy!!

Stamps: Art Impressions, Stampscapes 147F, 149F, 176C, 188F, 251C, 276G
Paper:  Stampin' Up!  basic black, Neenah Classic Solar White,  Fabriano Artistico Extra White Watercolor Paper Block 140lb hot press (image), 90lb hot press watercolor paper (scene),
Ink: VersaFine onyx black, Tombow Dual Brush Pens, StazOn jet black & stoned gray
Accessories: heat tool, Stampin' Up! black detail embossing powder & embossing buddy, waterbrush, craft knife and mat, Sakura  Micron .01 archival ink pen, white acrylic paint, paint bush, stamp-a-ma-jig

Take care and STAY POSITIVE! 

Trena

Welcome to Your New Home!

Click on the photo below for details of how I made this card:

 

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Just Coloring

I've been just coloring and coloring and coloring! Sat down and couldn't get up. :o)  I'm having a great time with my Girlfriend stamps from Art Impressions!!   For these images, I used my Copics on Xpress cardstock.

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Sailing with a Spectrum Noir Painting Technique

Click on the photo below for details of how to do this technique:

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Easy Background with Tombows!

 

Sharing an easy background technique with two of my favorites - Stampscapes images and Tombow Dual Brush pens!

1. Scribbled a few marker colors onto a nonstick surface. Spritzed with water. Swirled Cryogen card stock around in mixture to pick up color.  NOTE: Check paper and make sure you're getting the results you want.  If not enough color, repeat process.  You can spread the color with your fingers. You can also allow the background to dry and then pick up more color.  Be careful not to saturate your card stock.
2. Allowed background to dry completely.
3. Stamped trees in black, mountains in grey.  No masking necessary. I wanted to see the mountains through the trees.
4. Stamped the clouds in grey.
5. Stamped birds and sentiment in black.  I used StazOn on the transparency (lavender base card).
6. Adhered all layers. Used brads for transparency.

Stamps: Stampscapes 150E, 182G, 296C, 302A, Stampin' Up!
Paper:  Curious Metallic CRYOGEN WHITE 89lb card stock , Stampin' Up! basic black, old olive, lavender lace
Inks: Tombow Dual Brush Pens (used a variety of colors) VersaFine onyx black, StazOn jet black, Memento London Fog
Accessories: black brads, transparency

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

 

Coloring Large Areas and Teeny Tiny Areas

If you'd like to learn some tips on coloring large areas and very small areas with Copics, I'll be teaching a class on it!!   We'll be coloring the male version of "there's a nap for that" sets from Art Impressions, along with some Itty Bitty's from Lockhart - all fun to color!

Below is the list of classes I'll be teaching at Creative Cuts & Crafts:

Creative Cuts and Crafts
486 S. Spring Road
Elmhurst, IL 60126
630-279-4444

Copic Technique Series
I have planned different technique classes each month. I will provide a list of the markers used prior to each class and the store will have a supply of them for purchase as well.  Each session is on the second Thursday of the month from 1-3 pm and cost $15 OR for those preferring weekend classes, I will offer a two classes every other month on a Saturday.

Topics and dates:
Copic IV,Thursday, April 12th, 1-3pm…Coloring small areas vs large areas
Copic V, Thursday, May 10th, 1-3pm…Using Copics with other mediums
Copiv VI, Thursday, June 14th, 1-3pm…Backgrounds to make your image pop

Copic III (10-noon) & IV (1:00 - 3:00) on Saturday, April 21st

Please visit the store's website for more information and call or stop by to register.

http://www.creativecutsandcrafts.com/index.html

Hope to see you!!

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Watercoloring with Markers

Click on the photo below for details of how I made this card:

 

 Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

 

The Spirit of Spring

I am feeling spring in the air!! In the Chicagoland area, the temperature is in the 70's in March!!   People have lost their minds - wearing shorts and flip flops. :o) Me too!

I'm sharing cards I made in the spirit of Spring. Very simple to make!  I saw this technique The Carol Duvall show - remember that show?! I miss Carol and her guests...  Tim Holtz demo'd it.

1. Colored images - markers direct to rubber, spritz with water, stamped onto watercolor paper, and then blended color with a water brush.
2. Cut and adhered layers. That's it! Ready to mail!

 

 

Stamps: Stampin' Up!
Paper:  Stampin' Up!  yo-yo yellow & real red,  Pearlescent Paper & Card Pack - Brights, Club Scrap design, Canson 120lb cold press watercolor paper
Ink:  Tombow Dual Brush Pens
Accessories: mini mister filled with water

Take care and STAY POSITIVE! 

Trena

There's a 'Nap' for That!

 

When I saw this adorable set at Creative Cuts and Crafts, I just had to have it! There's also a male version. I'll post a card with him in the next few days. As soon as I saw them, I asked Linda to put them away for me!  She is part of Art Impressions new release. I entered this card in this month's contest.  Here's how I made this card.

1. Inked up image with VersaFine ink pad, stamp onto watercolor paper, sprinkled with embossing powder and heat set. TIP: rub an anti-static bag over your paper or card stock before you stamp your image. This will help the powder stick only where you want it - to the ink!
2. I used a combination of the blender pen and waterbrush to spread color. For the larger areas, I laid down two shades of color and then used a waterbrush to spread and blend. For smaller areas, I used one shade and the Tombow blender. TIP: If you have any water spots after an area dried, dab a little color and use the blender to blend.
3. After the image dried, I cut it out.  TIP. If you can not get close enough with your scissors and have any tiny white areas left, run a black marker along the edge. 
4. I used a glitter pen to add a design to her blouse and some bling to her purse.  I used a gold metallic pen to fill in her ear ring.
5. For the background, I drew in the baseboard and outlet. I colored them with my Tombows. I also colored the carpet with a Tombow and add a little darker shadow where I planned to to adhere my image.
6. Inked up the sentiment image with VersaFine ink pad, stamp onto the background, sprinkled with embossing powder and heat set.
7. Adhered the layers and image to background. Added a strip of design paper to the inside.

When you're finish, remember to sign your little piece of art work. Bonnie reminds us to do that! :o)  You can see Bonnie's fabulous videos here.

Stamps: Art Impressions 
Paper:  Stampin' Up!  basic black & very vanilla, Basic Grey design, Fabriano Artistico Extra White Watercolor Paper Block 140lb hot press
Ink: VersaFine onyx black, Tombow Dual Brush Pens
Accessories: heat tool, Stampin' Up! black detail embossing powder & embossing buddy, water brush, craft knife and mat, Sakura pink glitter pen, gold metallic pen, & Micron .05 archival ink pen

Take care and STAY POSITIVE! 

Trena

Specturm Noir Background

Sharing a card with a background technique I made with Spectrum Noir Markers.   Click on the photo to see details of how I made it.

 

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Art-Kure In Season

Sharing a greeting card and an ATC I made with Art-Kure Images.   Click on the photo to see details of how I made them.

   

 

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Winner of $100 Shopping Spree

Remember that wonderful contest I posted about last month?!!

And the winner is.....drum roll......  Kathy Boisvert

Cathie from Cricut Creative Cutter Room sent me! Love your blog.

Kathy Boisvert

Congratulations and thank you so much for becoming a follower!!

Kathy will receive a  $100 gift certificate to the Crafter's Companion online store.

Thank you to all of you who participated in our efforts to increase our blog followers!!!

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena