You really can colour anything with Copic markers

I took a class at Clipper Street recently and learned the coolest new technique - you can actually colour over glitter!

We started with a die cut - white cardstock and adhesive sheet, cut on the cuttlebug. A clear ultra-fine glitter was laid over the entire thing and well-burnished in. Then we used peel-off outline stickers to create a design (the butterfly/flower shape and circles).

At this point all I had was a shiny black and white label but then the magic happened. Once the glitter was well-burnished, I was able to colour over it with my Copic markers just like I would colour in anything else. The marker picked up the odd speck of glitter but this came off very easily when I brushed against some scrap paper. Because the colouring is done over top of the glitter the colours stay vibrant and clear.

To finish off the card a second larger die cut was cut/embossed for the background and 2 patterned papers were layer behind. I'm so excited to have found another use for my glitters and peel-off stickers! If you give it a try let me know what you think!

Challenges:

• Allsorts - keep it simple
• By the Cute & Girly - all things bright & beautiful
• Corrosive Challenges - die cut/punches
• Fussy and Fancy - try a new technique
• Partytime Tuesdays - anything goes
• Raise the Bar - things with wings
• Sparkles Forum - make it sparkle
• The Crazy Challenge - choose 3 colours (I used black, white, yellow)
• The Squirrel and The Fox - anything goes

Using Brass Stencils with Glitter

OK, I've been experimenting with ways to use my brass stencils with glitter. The embossing paste works well but can be tricky (use too much and it bleeds, use too little and it won't fill in the tiny cracks of the stencil). This morning I experimented with using PAM non-stick cooking spray. It works on frying pans so why not on stencils ....

Both attempts worked although the burnish on the flower was a bit different than expected.


The cat worked out great although I should have used a lighter shade for the background to get the full impact of the image. I'm really pleased with how crisp the image lines are.


What should I use next?

Christmas is coming

My friend Jacqui & I spent a very productive weekend making Christmas cards. Not all of the cards worked out but these 3 are favorites.








And finally, I completed this card in answer to a splitcoaststampers card sketch challenge. I'm not totally happy with it (I can't help but think the flower looks like a sliced apple) but I do like the way the inked embossing looks.

It's going to be a sparkly Christmas

A wonderful side effect of my Cuttlebug is that I've started using a couple of things again that I haven't touched in years. After finding out that my brass stencils work with the Cuttlebug, I decided to do some experimenting. This card worked out absolutely fabulously (if I say so myself).



To get this look, tape down your brass stencil with removable tape. Spread translucent embossing paste over the stencil ensuring you scrape off any extr. Lift stencil straight off. Cover with glitter (shake off excess). Let dry.



This is a fun mixed card using glitter for the stripes and a bit of glitter glue around the edges of the scalloped circle. And no card is complete without Fluffes!

I love glitter

Jacqui and I have decided to take some craft classes for fun - the first choice was All About Glitter at Clipper Street. I'm not normally a glitter person (and what type of person is that?) but I am completely in love with this technique! Here are a couple of cards that I made during the class using the ultra-fine glitter and some masking techniques. Follow this link to a great tutorial - http://craftstorejunkie.blogspot.com/2008/02/tutorial-glitter-masking-technique.html


This first card uses a simple mask created with a circle punch. The colours are alot more vivid in person.



This card is my favorite although the picture didn't work out great. I love the unusual colour choices and the way the images pop when the light hits them.



This is the first card we created - it isn't particularly exciting but nice enough for a first try. I laid down a strip of adhesive, cut out my images on a similarly sized piece of white cardstock, then laid the cardstock over the adhesive. The glitter was then added to the images and then rubbed in using my finger to create a velvety texture.