PEP tangles - my Zentangle Inspired Art blog

Sunday 13 June 2010

At Home with the Old, New, Borrowed & Blue

front of card

close-up of image showing textured glossy
cardstock used for mounting image on

inside of card

close-up showing paper piercing & linen effect
on the blue & pink papers

This was my first experience of a Belles 'n Whistles stamp - one of the photopolymer clear stamps. I have never encountered such quality in a clear stamp as it stamped perfectly & I had none of my usual pressure trouble. Since I'm short with small hands I stamp standing up & (contrary to all advice to stamp on a cushioned surface) onto a hard surface (normally my glass mat). I have tried so many different methods & this one works for me.

The following - in coloured italics - concerns my personal experience using ProMarkers & Copics. I include it as someone may find it useful & I know that I have benefitted hugely from reading of other people's experiences. Nevertheless the section is quite lengthy & can easily be skipped.

The other revelation for me was using my Copics. Having found a number of tutorials using the ProMarkers & that whenever I tried to follow a Copics one, though I have all the Ciaos, I was invariably missing a colour that was being used for it was not available in the Ciao format, I decided to purchase the two Stamping sets of ProMarkers & then the Skin Tones set & to proceed that way. I've struggled with the bleeding over the stamped image edge despite using the "correct" cardstock & also with my limited selection of colours but nevertheless have been thoroughly enjoying the learning process. Lack of pinks, discovering the information on Color me Copic & the gift of a Suzanne Dean on-line colouring class for me to start in August  made me attempt the Ciaos again yesterday. No bleeding, on the exact same cardstock I was using with the ProMarkers & I delighted in being able to cut out my image with a little white border. I did use the white Inkssentials gel pen for edging this time (I'd been colouring outside using a tray resting on my knees & sitting on a hill with a 45 degree gradient) which I prefer not to but that was another difference for the gel pen had been inadequate when used with the ProMarkers. I also love the brush tip of the Copics & the fine detail possible with it.

In an ideal world one would wish to have both a complete set of ProMarkers & all the Copics colours (which are available in the more expensive Sketch format) for the colours are different - the ProMarkers seeming to be more subtle in their colouration - in fact  the pens handle differently too & for some people the ProMarkers will be easier to hold. Basically it is a matter of personal preference & I count myself fortunate to have been able to experience & compare the two.

I have flipped the Sketch Saturday sketch sideways & as there is nothing square about my card I am submitting it to the Cute Card Thursday Challenge #15. The image of the girl hugging her teddy evokes thoughts of comfort & home for me & taking the concept even further I am going to be very "at home" developing my use of Copics & supplementing my Ciaos with Sketch colours.

Recipe
Stamp Belles 'n Whistles Beary Big Hugs.
Inks etc... Memento Tuxedo Black (image). Black Soot Distress Ink & Brilliance Moonlight White, Pearlescent Orchid & Pearlescent Sky Blue for inking cardstock & paper edges.
Colouring Copic Ciaos, Inkssentials White Opaque Pen.
Cardstock Moondust black, textured glossy black, & Moondust white from "stash".
Papers Moondust white & linen effect papers in blue & pink from "stash.
Punches Fiskars (border), Woodware (circle & scalloped circle), EK Success (scalloped corners).
Ribbon Woodware
Pearls Kanban

Challenges Entered
Belles 'n Whistles - Ribbon 'n Punches
Colour Create #46 - Bay Pink & Pastel Blue + Something Soft (the ribbon is my soft element & the teddy bear image is "soft" by association)
Cute Card Thursday #116 - Anything but Square! (my card is rectangular & nothing on it is square in shape)
Paperplay Wk 23 - Home (see above)
Sketch Saturday #107 - Sketch
By the Cute & Girly June Challenge - Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue (old: Brilliance inkpads bought at the very first craft fair I attended 18 months ago, new: the stamp, borrowed: sketch, blue: paper & pearls)

9 comments:

Elaine said...

Very sweet Paula. Cute image and your colouring is beautiful.
Love Elaine xx

Lorraine said...

wow i love this is gorgeous i just love that stamp too i must get a belles n whistles stamp they are so cute.
Thanks for telling me about Jaks candy huni I don't know whats happening as i was hopping a minute ago and i had won a bonus candy on hippyauds blog too let me know if you follow her as she gives away fab candy all the time i will get the link if you need it huni.I really hope that you win one or all of the challenges you so deserve to win them.Your colouring looks fab on this card well all of your cards.Have a great evening huni xx

Jodi said...

Love the image choice and colors you used for your card!! Thanks for joining us at Belles n' Whistles stamps!!
Hugs
Jodi =)

Unknown said...

You did a great job with you card. I am so glad to hear that you like our new photopolymer stamps- I think they are great too! Thanks for playing with us at the Belles N Whistles and good luck!
hugs,
Gini

Linda said...

Lovely card Paula. Good choice of colours.

Sharon said...

This is a beautiful image Paula and you've coloured it so well! I love the embossed background paper and the layout; especailly the layers of punched borders at the bottom.

Thanks for joining the Colour Create Challenge this fortnight!

Sharon x

Annie said...

Hi Paula! I do so love this cute image - one I'll have to add to my list! like you I've found colouring with the PMs and Copics slightly different, and I prefer the brush tip for finer work. The asterisks on my card today are a cuttlebug die - 4 little ones in a set although they are temperamental in my machine which is why I don't use them often! 2 are asterisks and the other 2 more like flowers - I have most problems with cutting the flowers.
enjoy your day.
hugs, annie x

Geraldine said...

Beautiful card and beautiful choice of colours.
Thank you for joining in the BTG&G challenge this month.
Geraldine

Di said...

Beautiful card love your colouring on the image!
Thanks for joining Colour Create this week!
Hugs Di xx