Celebrating a new Blog...

There's a new game in town!
Heather Valentin 's
Coloring Without Bounderies 
Coloring Showcase Blog
using 
Lacy Sunshine Images

This new venture for Heather has been top secret until today when her blog comes live - so other than some generalities about the game plan - I can't tell you all the details.  For this reason, when you are done here - go straight to the great reveal at Coloring Without Boundaries and check it out!

What I am privy to at this time is that Coloring Without Boundaries will encourage their fans in their coloring efforts in essentially two ways:

#1  At the first of each month there will be a showcase event by the team and an open invitation to the fans to share their colorings for a chance to receive special prizes!

#2  Through out the rest of the month, the new team of Colorists will be posting their own colorings including how to info, tips & tutorials.  The idea is to share as much technique as they can from different perspectives.  Just coloring by the way - no finished projects required.

The really great news for me is that I have been asked to be one of the Colorists on that team... an amazing honor and I am excited beyond words!

So - here we go!  My first coloring for the new Blog:

I'm using Heather Valentin's Lacy Sunshine image

 "Rory Jitterbug"  

that can be found here:

All About Rory Coloring Set #14.

I use Copics for my coloring  - I love the blending capabilities of these alcohol ink pens.  Here I have noted the colors I used for all the areas of the image.

For this post I wanted to focus on one of the greatest roadblocks for a colorer... fear of "messin' up!"  If you think a perfect colored image rolls off the pen each and everytime... it ain't happenin'!  So many "mistakes" can be corrected - whether it needs re-working or the use of the blender pen.  I want to show you what happened to me this go around.

Version #1

Sometimes there's no fixin' it!
Ok - records are black, right?  I didn't like the lighter grey I started with - it was all too pale with the costume colors I chose for Rory.  So, I went over it with a darker shade - Eck!  Then I could not see the tiny lines in the record that made it look like a record - AND the black notes disappeared into the background - AND it looked like one big blob!  So, I added in white lines with my gel pen, but they were too shaky & too fat & looked awful.  I added a gold aura to put more color in the background - that part I did like.  So, set it aside [I may use it for someone on my birthday list who won't know the difference - *giggle*] and on to...

Version #2

Here I switched to a "Gold" record & reduced the amount of really dark contrast in her hair.  The notes show up, the extra color is good - but, heavy sigh, the costume is just washed out and looks too much like the grey background.   So...

Version #3

To Version #2 I added more color and contrast in her costume and I added BG0000 to the grey of the background.

So, here are my suggestions for your fears:

• It takes time & practice, practice, practice to get to a level of expertise.  Don't get discouraged - just keep coloring!
• Even with experienced colorists, you need to be willing to throw out the failures and start again.  It's only paper after all!
• Bookmark and follow Coloring Without Boundaries because the entire focus is on tips and tutorials, coloring, sharing and having FUN!  Come play with us my friends!

Create wildly and color with abandon! 
 ~ginny

Clown Dance...

"Clown Dance" from Ppinkydolls
can be found here!

613 Ave C's current challenge is ATG/optional twist to use STASH!  Yea!  Love to use up my stash!   There are two sponsors [Ppinky Dolls & Toadstool Printables] this go around.  Two prizes available for you and you can enter up to three projects!  You have a week - I know you have some stash you can use somewhere... don't tell me you don't!  LOL!  I played the twist this time - using stash for all the paper and embellishments.

IMAGES: 

• Ppinkydolls provided me with this image to use for the 613 Design Team.  I have never had the opportunity to color up one of these images before - I enjoyed it tremendously!  The artist has provided so much shading in her digi images you almost can't go wrong!  "Clown Dance" can go from almost spooky dark to sweet & shy depending on how you color her - a very versatile image!

PAPER:  

• Neenah "Classic Crest Solar White" 80# Cover Wt. used for the image.
• DP from Teresa Collins' "Far & Away" collection.
• The dark burgandy CS was the last sheet of a beautifully textured CS out of stash.
• The inside is using up the remnants of the papers left from the front.

EMBELLISHMENTS: 

• TIP: The Candi [of course a stash item] used for the two corners were white.  I colored them with the darkest shade of burgandy Copics that I had used on the image.
• The ribbon is a remnant left from a roll.
• Image panel and mat have been elevated on foam tape.

INKS:

• Images were printed on an Epson WF-3520 printer 
• Hand colored with Copics:

CHALLENGES:
Tuesday Throwdown #278 – ATG
Through the Craft Room Door – ATG Always
Crafting from the Heart #96 – ATG Always
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge – Always ATG + DP
Simon Says Wed – ATG
Crafty Sentiments – ATG
Inspiration Destination #70 – ATG
Really Reasonable Ribbon  #133  – show me the PINK w/ ribbon
Art by MiRan Challenge #50 – ATG
As You Like It / Your Favorite... One or Multi Layer & WHY [Actually I Like BOTH - I am definitely more comfortable with layers and I struggle to make one layer cards... but I love the look & skill that it takes to make a successful one layer card!]
Open Minded Crafting- #1- Try Something New [Tried a new technique for the background with Copics and the blender]
Crafty Girls Creations – ATG
Fussy & Fancy  #156 –Monochrome
That Craft Place – ATG

Create wildly and color with abandon!  ~ginny

Elegant Fairy Arden...

If you like this image - you can find it HERE

Current Challenge for 613 Ave C is ATG /optional twist is Elegant or Stylish Creation.  The sponsor I got to work with is the Fantasy Art of Nikki Burnette and I chose the Fairy "Arden" to highlight.  You may enter 3 projects no later than Saturday 1/23/16 for a chance at several prizes.  For further info and a look at the incredible inspiration from the 613 paper Artists, click on the link above!

IMAGES:

• "Fairy Stamp Arden" was provided for my use by Nikki Burnette at her Etsy Store.
• 
• Sentiment is by ???

PAPER:  

• Neenah "Classic Crest Solar White" 80# Cover Wt. used for the image.
• DP used is Basic Grey's "Out of Print" collection.
• Inside is decorated with left over papers from the front.

• Die Cut used to shape the focal image panel is Spellbinders
• A Marvy Uchida Punch was used for the 'Spotlight' of the image and for the sentiment.

EMBELLISHMENTS: 

• Gems are from Pizzazz Aplenty 
• Cord is "Celebrate It" from Michaels
• Highlights done with Copic Opaque White
• Duo Glue and Silver Foil applied to the flower centers and to parts of the dress, her gloves & her wings.

INKS:

• Images were printed on an Epson WF-3520 printer 
• Hand colored with Copics:

CHALLENGES:

Inspiration Destination #68 – ATG

Paper Shelter – #231 – Shades of Blue

Sweet Stamps Monthly – ATG

Sweet Stampin' – Things w/ Wings

Winter Wonderland – Glitter & Shine

Really Reasonable Ribbon  #132  – Newest acquisition w/ ribbon or trim [New pack of Silver Foil]

Art by MiRan Challenge #49 – ATG

Pile it On #99 – Use something w/ 1st Initial = G Sweet Sprinkles Award Winner

Get Creative Challenges - #30 – Something New

Sisterhood of Crafters – Something Old Something New [New = Silver Foil/ old = "Out of Print" paper by Basic Grey.]

The East Wind #47 – B & W + one other color [B & W + Blue/Green]

As You Like It / Your Favorite... Paper or Non-paper & WHY [PAPER with out a doubt... I can complete a project in 1 to 3 days instead of the weeks/ months it took me for other projects like Crochet!]

Crafting for all Seasons -#117 – Monochrome [Blue/Green]

Fussy & Fancy  #155 – Fashion

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge – Always ATG + DP

Open Minded Crafting- #1- Try Something New

Create wildly and color with abandon!  ~ginny

Happy Birthday Jeff!

Jeff is an entrepeneur extraordinaire!  He is the busiest man I know - and has that capability to take an idea and build it into the most fabulous computer businesses - from caviar to knee-walkers!
I wanted a card for him that is low in frou-frou, high in detail & flat for mailing.

IMAGES: 

• This image is "Dress Up Owen" from the Paper Nest Dolls.
• The sentiment is from Ink It.
• Inside sentiment is from ???

PAPER:  

• Neenah "Classic Crest Solar White" 80# Cover Wt. used for the image.
• A2 base card is Confetti white.
• DP used is from My Mind's Eye - 'Oxford Lane collection'.
• Inside was decorated with left over papers from the DP used on the front.

EMBELLISHMENTS: 

• SU punch used for the sentiment.
• Candi has been colored with Copics to match my yellow cup.
• Frame is had drawn with a black Micron 01.

INKS: 

• Images were printed on an Epson WF-3520 printer 
• Hand colored with Copics:

This card should be eligible for the following 

CHALLENGES:

That Craft Place – ATG

Through the Craft Room Door – ATG Always

Tuesday Throwdown #276 – Add Dimension

Crafting from the Heart #94 – ATG Always

Shopping our Stash L:13 – SOS #234 – Something new [New set of Micron Pens]

Inspiration Destination #68 – ATG

Sweet Stamps Monthly – ATG

Art by MiRan Challenge #49 – ATG

Pile it On #99 – Use something w/ 1st Initial = G [Green, Goofy] Sweet Sprinkles Award Winner

Sisterhood of Crafters – Something Old Something New [Old = Candi, New = Micron Pens]

Quirky Crafts #1 - 2016 – Celebrate [Birthday]

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge – Always ATG + DP

Open Minded Crafting- #1- Try Something New [New Micron Pens]

Create wildly and color with abandon!  ~ginny

Happy Birthday Kathi!

Happy Birthday 

my friend!  

Happy 29th birthday from your 100 lb. friend!

I used "Penny's Winter Walkies" from Little Darling's Rubber Stamps.



On the inside, the sentiment is a 1994 Annette Allen Watkins rubber stamp.

The A2 card stock is from stash - it was embossed with a Cuttlebug E-folder - Dots.  Used a Corner Chomper to punch the "Deco" corners and added the ribbon from Michaels.
Image was colored with Copics on Neenah "Classic Crest Solar White" 80# Cover Wt.
Embossed dots, elevated image panel & Ribbon/Bow added for dimension.
Hand colored w/ Copics:
A Signo Uniball - broad Gel Impact pen - white was used for the highlights in her eyes and in each of the snowflakes.

This card should be eligible for the following 

CHALLENGES:
That Craft Place – ATG
Aurora Wings #21 – Warm & Fuzzy
Tuesday Throwdown #276 – Add Dimension [embossed dots, elevated image panel & Ribbon/Bow added for dimension]
Crafty Sentiments – Baby it's Cold Outside
Shopping our Stash L:13 – SOS #234 – Something new [brand new image for me]
Inspiration Destination #68 – ATG
Sweet Stamps Monthly – ATG
Really Reasonable Ribbon  #132  – Newest acquisition w/ ribbon or trim [my newest image]
Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers L: 10 - #50 – O is for Old
Pile it On #99 – Use something w/ 1st Initial = "G"  [Girl, Grin, Good times]

Create wildly and color with abandon!  ~ginny

Make a wish Hannah!

This is a Happy Birthday wish for a young lady in my extended family - her name is Hannah and she and her sister Rachel live in Montana.
Shout Out also to Jackie and Cale!

IMAGES: 

• This image is called "Schoolgirl" and is from Tiddly Inks.
• "Make a wish" is from Savvy Stamps.
• Fabulous Birthday is from Hero Arts.

PAPER:  

• Neenah "Classic Crest Solar White" 80# Cover Wt. used for the image.
• DP used is from Basic Grey"s "Hello Luscious" & "Indie Bloom" collections.
  

EMBELLISHMENTS: 

• Two SU punches were used for the front sent and the mat behind it.
• The broad pink satin ribbon was from stash
• The white, doily like lace on top of the ribbon is actually a roll of paper sticker from SU.

INKS:

• Images were printed on an Epson WF-3520 printer 
• Hand colored with Copics:

This card should be eligible for the following 

CHALLENGES:

That Craft Place – ATG

Through the Craft Room Door – ATG Always

Tuesday Throwdown #276 – Add Dimension

Crafting from the Heart #94 – ATG Always

Shopping our Stash L:13 – SOS #234 – Something new [Roll of SU Lace tape]

Sweet Stamps Monthly – ATG

Really Reasonable Ribbon  #132  – Newest acquisition w/ ribbon or trim [New roll of SU sticker ribbon put on top of satin ribbon]

Art by MiRan Challenge #49 – ATG

Pile it On #99 – Use something w/ 1st Initial = G [Girl, Green]

Quirky Crafts #1 - 2016 – Celebrate [Birthday]

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge – Always ATG + DP

Scrapper's Delight #51 – ATG

Open Minded Crafting- #1- Try Something New [Learned new background method with Copics and Blender Solution]

Create wildly and color with abandon!  ~ginny

Carousel...

If you like this Carousel image -
you can find it HERE at The Stamping Boutique

613 Ave C's current challenge is ATG / optional twist of CAS.  The sponsors include The Stamping Boutique, Eureka Stamps and Melonheadz  - and you are invited to submit up to 3 projects over the next week for a chance at their prizes!  For more info on the challenge and a look at the  fabulous projects by the 613 DT,  click on over to 613's post gone live this morning!

PROCESS INVENTORY

IMAGES: 

• The Stamping Boutique provided "Carousel" Digital Stamp for me to use.
• For the focal image I used Paper Tole Technique to give the horse dimension. 
• The sentiment is from "Ginger's House" - one of my all time favorite sources!

PAPER:

• Neenah "Classic Crest Solar White" 80# Cover Wt. used for the image.

EMBELLISHMENTS: 

• Ribbon is Christmas wrapping ribbon from Walmart.
• Paper piercing done with a template by SU.
• Gold Uniball Gel pen used for the confetti.

INKS:

• Images were printed on an Epson WF-3520 printer 
• Hand colored with Copics:

This card should be eligible for the following 

CHALLENGES:

Through the Craft Room Door – ATG Always

Inspiration Destination #66 – ATG

Sweet Stampin' – New Stash [New gold Uniball Gel pen that WORKS!]

Art by MiRan Challenge #48 – ATG

As You Like It / Your Favorite... ATG

ABC Challenge L:10 – Y is for Your Choice

Scrapper's Delight #51 – ATG
That Craft Place – ATG
Robyn's Fetish #297 – ATG
Quirky Crafts #1 - 2016 – Celebrate [see Sentiment: "Until further notice - Celebrate Everything!]

Create wildly and color with abandon!  ~ginny