Big Announcement and Monthly Challenge Card for January 2017

Good morning! I have some exciting news to share with you all today. I am now proud to announce that I'm part of the Spectrum Noir Design Team. I can't explain how thrilled I am to be a part of this team with these amazing talented artists.

If you have noticed, I use Spectrum Noir products in almost every project I've created for quite a while now. And every new product that gets introduced, I fall more in love. I've used so many different products and none compare to the ones offered by Spectrum Noir. 

They're affordable, and just amazing to color with. Check out the blog over at at Spectrum Noir to see all the products offered and get design inspiration across the board. You'll be in awe of the creations!

Spectrum Noir Website
Spectrum Noir Blog

Every month, Spectrum Noir offers a different challenge. Check out this month's challenge HERE.

• Ready for a brand new challenge? Color up ANYTHING you want using your Spectrum Noir alcohol markers, Sparkle markers, blendable colored pencils, watercolor pencils, Spectrum Aqua markers, or AquaTint inks, put it on any card or project, and you can play along with us! Share your work with us, enter below and you’ll be in with a chance of being chosen for our Card of the Month or Top Three spots!
•  *PLAY ALONG WITH OUR BONUS THEME: USE A COLORING PAGE
• Want to be in with a chance of winning $30/£30 in Spectrum Noir or Spectrum Aqua products? Color a project using our bonus theme, like our Design Team did, and you’ll be entered to win loads of coloring goodies! Please remember to use only Spectrum Noir products for coloring; you may enter up to five times. Click on the above link for details on how to enter.

Here is my card for the monthly challenge. I color images in my Colorista coloring pads while I'm out, usually at my oldest's Boy Scout meetings. While he's in his meeting, I sit down and use my time to color. This way, I have images that are colored and ready to make into something like this card below! It's a great way to pass the time AND have images ready to create into a card (or other item) quicker. 

 
 This page is a part of the Colorista coloring pad called Butterfly Garden. It has gorgeous gold accents on the butterflies (not captured above) that really add elegance to these colored images. 

I used a small tag with a sentiment stamped in Versamark ink and embossed with white embossing powder. I then applied a distress ink over that and flicked on some water to create a splotchy effect. I pulled a piece of orange ribbon from my stash to coordinate. 

 

I chose a purple card base to accent the colors in the butterflies. See how much punch you can pack with just coloring 2 butterflies?

 

The Colorista colored pencils blend beautifully together. You adjust the amount of color with the pressure you apply while coloring. That's where the white and light areas come in. Less pressure = less color. More pressure = more intense color. I thought I loved the markers until I used the colored pencils! Plus, they're easy to take along with you. 

I keep a few coloring pads, Colorista markers and colored pencils in my bag ready to just grab and go. I love how easy it is to relax and color. 

Have a blast entering your project into the monthly challenge, and good luck! 

SUPPLIES USED:

• Spectrum Noir Colorista 5x7 Pad with Foil, Butterfly Garden
• Spectrum Noir Colorista Colored Pencils: Set 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 
• Lawn Fawn, Hello Stamp
• Versamark Ink
• White Embossing Powder
• Distress Inks: Scattered Straw and Spiced Marmalade

Spectrum Noir Colorista Foil Notebook

I have another simple and beautiful project today using the Spectrum Noir Colorista products. This would be an amazing gift for a birthday or a holiday. There's this big one coming up in, less than 100 days (how scary is that?!)!! You could get a jump on your holiday crafting.

This notebook was one I purchased at my local craft store for $1. I didn't know what I was going to do with it, so I've had it a while. I'm sure we all have those items purchased for SOMETHING. This would be a great way to dress it up and give it with a gift of a pretty pen, and a small gift card for coffee. Think teacher gifts, too.





I used a sheet from the Spectrum Noir Colorista Butterfly Garden Premium Marker Pad. These have foil accents on them. They're so pretty and look amazingly high-end so you can use them on a multitude of items to gift give or decorate your own home. You can find the Colorista products over at HSN.com. Please also be sure to visit Spectrum Noir to sign up for the FREE online coloring course!!

I had actually colored most of this while at the airport/on the plane during a trip my husband took for work to Reno where I tagged along! If you've never been to Nevada, oh my goodness. GO. We come from the land of humid, sticky days from June through about the end of September. Ew. You're always in a state of sticky. There, NO STICKY. NOTHING. It's just hot. And it was amazing. It was about 95 there on average, but it wasn't unbearable because there's NO humidity. At least to us there isn't any! At home while we were there, it was 80-90% humidity, there the highest day was 18%. So I may just pack my bags. Not to mention the beauty. Sigh.

Back to my project!! So I colored this in with the Spectrum Noir Colorista markers, which again, blend so beautifully. I then just measured out the front of the notebook, adhered my colored butterfly image onto that, and added a black button! That's it. You could do a wraparound cover, or cover the back as well, but since it's just for me, I kept it simple! Another fun idea would be to add a piece of small elastic on the inside front or back cover to keep the pen handy.

I hope you are inspired to pick up on the adult coloring trend!! Thanks for stopping by.

PRODUCTS USED:

• Spectrum Noir Colorista Butterfly Garden Premium Marker Pad
• Spectrum Noir Colorista Markers: Pearl Blue, Cobalt, Lemon, Canary, Nectarine, Maple, Sandstone, Purple, Sorbet, Hot Pink, Umber, Rose Blush, Lipstick, Rose Red, Coral, Cream, Pear Green and Forest Green