Inspire Me Monday ~ Take The Challenge!

 

Hello everyone!  Gloria here!  Today is a special day for Inspire Me Monday!  Instead of just one Bloomie, you get two!  Bloomie Allison and I are having a friendly challenge.  We each sent each other a challenge. We each picked a stamp set, a coloring medium and a sketch for each other!

The challenge that Allison sent me was:

• to use either Forest Friends or Gifts of the Sea stamp set,
• use Copic Markers and Colored Pencils as a combined coloring medium
• use the sketch provided (by Mojo Monday)

Well, not too big a challenge!  I really wanted to use the Gifts of the Sea image as I live in California and thought a beach-themed Christmas card would be awesome. However, I could not color such a detailed image to fit the small size needed for the card sketch! 

 

I ended up printing the digital version of Forest Fellas: Maximo Moose to color for my project. I colored Maximo with Copics and Prismacolor Pencils. 

 

I followed the sketch very closely and created a slimline card (tall and skinny is what we used to call these in the "old days"). My card is 8" tall and 4" wide. 

 

I had fun digging into my vast stash of 6x6 paper pads for some moose appropriate patterns for my card! I was thinking lumber jacks and log cabins! I love how it turned out!

I stamped the clear version of the sentiment in brown ink. A bit of twine and a few enamel dots finish off the card.

I had fun doing Allison's challenge! I hope the Bloomies can do more of these! Thanks for looking and make sure to visit me at Scraps of Life blog.

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Howdy all!  Ally here now!  Isn't Gloria's card creation magnificent!??  I just love that moose paired with that plaid!!!

The challenge that Gloria sent me was:

• to use either Garden of Gratitude or Maize for Days stamp set,
• use Watercolor and Colored Pencils as a combined coloring medium
• use the sketch provided (by Mojo Monday)

I chose to use the bloom filled wellies image from the Garden of Gratitude stamp set.  I stamped the image using Antique Linen Distress ink for a no-line effect and then I water colored them using Derwent Intense Pencils.  Then to add all the fine detail back into my image, I used my Polychromos Pencils.

I haven't watercolored in a long time so it was a great challenge that Gloria had me using this medium.  It was super fun to create this holiday card.

I hope Gloria and I have inspired to get creating.  Why don't you take a wack at each of our challenges and join us!??! We'd love to see what you create!  Share with us below in the comments.

Have a great week everyone!

~ Gloria & Ally ~

Inspire Me Monday: Cut down your coloring time

Hello Friends! How are you all? My name is Kathy Racoosin from The Daily Marker and I LOVE To color but, often I run short on time or I need a quick card. 

Have you ever seen a detailed stamp that you are in love with but, didn't have the time to color it? Hopefully after today you might be able to think twice about coloring that detailed stamp. 

This Santa stamp called, "Flowering Santa" is so magical and brings the magic of the season to a card. It's beautiful and spectacular but, it can take a little time coloring it.... that is if your want to fully color it. :)

Note: Pick up Flowering Santa for only $14.99 — save over $3 for a limited time!

Cut your coloring time in half by coloring over parts of a stamp and adding highlights with pencils or like my friends from the UK and Canada say, "Pencil Crayons" lol. 

Blue Memento ink was sitting on my desk so I decided to stamp this awesome image with it but, any color would work. 

Cutting off part of this beautiful Santa pains me but, it's essential when you want to cut the coloring time in half. Adding a layer of color with some alcohol markers saves time too. 

Filling in part of the beard with a solid color will save me time in the long run. With that said I can't wait to color ALL of this Santa with all it's personality and glory when a quick card isn't a must. 

Adding lines of color with a colored pencil.... a sharp colored pencil.  I have been traveling a lot with the Chameleon pencils and really enjoy using them.  

Following the lines in the illustration ... like I did on the hair just needs some highlights and that's it. 

Adding more cheek color on top of that first layer of copic markers. If you compare the two images you see more warmth in the face and those cheeks that the pencils add easily. 

Love this sentiment and I stamped it with Vera Mark black ink. 

Using a 0.03 Copic super fine tip marker to add small lines to highlight and accent certain areas especially the eyes & lashes. A white gel pen added some interest in the parts that I didn't color to save time. 

Glossy accents were added to the specs. 

I hope you find a little time to color a beautifully detailed stamp like this one without a big time investment.  

Thanks for your visit today and I hope you find the magic of the season in your daily grind. 

Hugs, Kathy