Spectrum Noir Colorista Hello Card

I love the look of white on white with a pop of color, so today, my card will feature those elements. It's a very simple and clean layout and I just love it!

I used the Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers today to color the flowers in to give them a real pop of bright color. I yearn for spring, so this is my way to get reminded that it's really not THAT far away. Not like I'm counting or anything...

Clean layouts like this are great for bold elements. It really draws your attention to the cluster of flowers. And the embossed background adds just a simple textural element as well. Plus, who can go wrong with a few sequins sprinkled on?

Thank you for stopping by. Be sure to visit Crafter's Companion for all the great Colorista products and much more.

SUPPLIES USED:

Spectrum Noir Colorista Stamp Set, Elements 1
Spectrum Aqua Watercolour Cardstock
Spectrum Aqua Markers: Bud Green, Gold, Begonia, Fawn, Sunset, Sepia, Evergreen, Spice, Sunflower, Marigold, Olive, Topaz, Blossom, Red Violet, Heather, Rose Pink, Orchid, Burgundy
Shimmering Cardstock, Silver Starlight
Embossing Folder, Hessian
Versafine Ink, Onyx Black

Thanks Big Time

Another watercolor card coming at you today. I found inspiration from Lori's blog post for stamped watercolor backdrops and knew I wanted to replicate that! It's such a stunning look.

I did my own spin on it and used a stamp to actually stamp over that pretty background. It's very subtle, but I love how this came out!

I'm always in need of thank you cards, so these are ones I create often to keep on hand.

I kept the remainder of the card really simple to make that background really stand out. I wish you could see the sparkle from the Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pens! It's so pretty. 

SUPPLIES USED:

Spectrum Aqua Watercolour Cardstock
Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pens: Moonlight, Soft Jade, Moonstone, Harvest Moon, Starry Sky
Distress Ink, Tumbled Glass
Memento Luxe Ink, Wedding Dress
Stampin' Up, A Word for Your Stamp Set
Hero Arts, Time to Stamp
White Embossing Powder

Spectrum Noir Monthly Challenge February 2017

There is a new monthly challenge over at Spectrum Noir for February!

The challenge theme* for February 2017 is:

ANYTHING GOES!

Color up ANYTHING you want using ONLY your Spectrum Noir alcohol markers (Next Generation or Illustrator), Sparkle markers, blendable colored pencils, watercolor pencils, Aqua markers, Colorista goodies, 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:

Love & Friendship

Want to be in with a chance of winning $30/£30 in Spectrum Noir products? Create a project using our bonus theme, like our Design Team did, and you'll be entered to win loads of coloring goodies!

Check out the blog post here

 

I'm a huge fan of watercoloring, so I grabbed my Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers to create this background.

I mean, come on! I've made this for my husband for Valentine's Day. I thought it was cute, but oh-so-true. Sap alert!

I had a blast creating this background. I mean, doesn't watercoloring look like a ton of fun?! Come on and join our monthly challenge and enter your project.

SUPPLIES USED:

Spectrum Aqua Markers: Rose Pink, Blossom, Begonia

Spectrum Noir ColourBlend Pencils: Fireweed, Boysenberry, Rose Peach, Peony, Carmine
Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers: BP2, PP3, DR3, DR7
Spectrum Noir Blending Solution
Spectrum Noir Paper Stumps
Spectrum Aqua Watercolour Cardstock

Ultra Smooth Premium White Cardstock

Lawn Fawn, Octopi My Heart Stamp Set 

Stampin' Up, Valentine Defined
Stampin' Up, XOXO
Memento Ink, Tuxedo Black & Rosebud
Versafine, Onyx Black

Sweet Strawberry Greetings

Is it summer yet?! Yes, I'm wishing the winter away. I can't help it. These strawberries remind me of sweet summer days. Soon enough. Soon enough.

I found a technique on the Spectrum Noir website that I wanted to incorporate in this card. Here is the original post for Watercolor Stripes. I decided to do some striping, but I made mine into more of a plaid design to go along with the summer theme. Most tablecloths you think of for picnics are the iconic red and white gingham/plaid. I just used more of a pink palette. I wanted it a bit softer behind the big strawberries. It was so easy, and I'm definitely going to use more of this technique in future projects.

You'll draw lines, either freehand or with a ruler (I used a ruler for spacing) with your colored pencils and depending on how much water or how think you'd like your stripes is up to you! This was done on the Spectrum Aqua Watercolour Cardstock. It's THE best cardstock for watercoloring. I love it. I think I need to buy it in bulk...

I used 3 strawberries I stamped onto the watercolour cardstock and colored in with the Spectrum Noir AquaBlend Pencils. I used a water brush pen to move the color around and blend them.

I adhered them onto my striped background with some foam adhesive and snuck the sentiment in below. I scattered the sequins around to give it a little sparkle. I hope you enjoyed seeing my take on a technique from the blog.

SUPPLIES USED:

• Spectrum Noir AquaBlend Pencils: Soft Red, Cherry, Watermelon, Strawberry, Bison, Pesto Green, Spruce
• Spectrum Aqua Watercolour Cardstock
• Versafine, Onyx Black Ink
• Water Brush Pen
• Unity Stamp & Jillibean Soup Itty Bitty Sweetest Day Stamp Set

Sown With Love for You Card

I have a fun card today that I designed for Spectrum Noir using, you guessed it, watercoloring! I told you that you'd be seeing more of this technique from me. I decided to use a garden theme for this card since I'm already looking forward to spring. Come on, groundhog! 

I used a couple sets from Sheena Perfect Partners Home Life for this garden inspired card. I just love how realistic you can get with using watercolors. I used the Spectrum Aqua Markers. They're just perfect. I love that you get a thicker tip and a fine tip to add details directly to your piece, such as the lines on the onion that you can see in the picture, and the veins on the leaves of the turnips. 

This technique is called no-line watercolor. I stamped the veggies in a lighter brown Distress ink so that it didn't make a crisp hard line that you can see. I was able to color over it with the watercolor markers to make it disappear. You just need the lines faintly there to know where and what you're coloring. It gives a real depth to your coloring. You can use this technique with colored pencils and markers, as well! Try it!

Check out more inspiration over at the Spectrum Noir website and blog today.

SUPPLIES USED:

• Sheena Perfect Partners Home Life, Home Grown
• Sheena Perfect Partners Home Life, Sown With Love
• Spectrum Aqua Watercolour Cardstock
• Spectrum Aqua Markers: Topaz, Jasmine, Desert, Sunset, Orange, Leaf Green, Moss, Red Violet, and Aquamarine
• Memento Luxe, Rich Cocoa (sentiment)
• Spellbinders Nestabilities, Labels One
• Distress Ink: Tea Dye, Iced Spruce 
• Water Brush Pen

Teacher Thank You Cards

Good morning! I don't know about you, but I appreciate my children's teachers greatly. I volunteer once a month this year for my youngest's classroom by coming in to listen to him and his classmates read to me for an hour. I have never volunteered, and I am honestly regretting not doing this sooner. I love going, and I'm so in awe of how the teachers run the classroom so smoothly. It makes me really appreciate what they do every day. 

I wanted to make his teacher and teacher's aide thank you cards to show that I appreciate them. I think I'll include a gift card inside for them. Any suggestions as to where? I'd love to give them for Valentine's Day. I think it makes them smile when you drop off little treats like this. I hope they understand how much I do appreciate what they do. 

For this, I used a cute little bushel of apples and the sentiment that it just perfect for this card! (I did make two of these cards; one for each teacher.)

I chose the lined patterned paper behind everything and added a small heart in the lower right corner.

I used a messier look to watercolor the image in with my Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers. I color a swatch onto an acrylic block and pick up the color with a water brush pen.

For the blue background around the bushel, I flicked on the color for the dots of blue. I love watercoloring so much, so plan on seeing a lot from me using this coloring method! It's just too fun.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my cards for these patient and loving women that teach 20-something 7 year olds day in and day out! I can't wait to give these to them.

SUPPLIES USED:

• Spectrum Aqua Watercolour Cardstock 
• Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers: Burgundy, Crimson, Blossom, Fawn, Sepia, Chestnut, Slate, Bud Green, Evergreen, Aquamarine
• Water Brush Pen
• Memento Luxe, Love Letter (small red heart)
• Versafine, Onyx Black 
• Lawn Fawn, Thanks a Bushel Stamp Set 

SPECTRUM NOIR

All the Best

Good morning everyone! I know things have been a little delayed this month. Coming off of a big month like December is always difficult I think! But, here we are going forward with a new year, so that means new cards to create. New ideas. Fun colors. 

Let's get started on this card I created today. I wanted something bright and pretty reminding me that spring is not that far away. It's not, right? Please tell me it isn't. I am not a huge winter fan, and if you've followed my blog long enough, I'm pretty sure I've mentioned that a few times. Or a few hundred...

Today, I decided to do some embossing and then rubbing a soft blue "sky" over the embossed design to minic a sky for my colorful little butterflies. The sentiment is simple for this clean layout. Perfect for so many different occasions. 

One of my goals this year is to make or purchase a card box that I can separate by categories so I can pull one when I need one. My other goal is to purchase in bulk envelopes for all these handmade beauties. 

I hope you enjoyed my simple and clean card today. Be on the lookout over at the Crafter's Companion site and blog for more inspiration by the talented designers I am lucky to join. 

   S U P P L I E S   U S E D   

• Sheena A Little Bit Scenic, Flying Colors   
• Sheena Perfect Partners Home Life, Sown With Love   
• Premium Ultra White Smooth Cardstock 
• Spectrum Aqua Watercolour Cardstock 
• Spectrum Noir Aqua Blend Pencils: Hyacinth, Fig, Petunia, Papaya, Iris, and Rose 
• White Embossing Powder 
• Memento Luxe, Wedding Dress 
• Versafine, Onyx Black 
• Distress Ink, Tumbled Glass

Lawnscaping Challenge #143: Let It Snow sponsored by Ellen Hutson LLC

 

It's that time of year...winter. You either love it or you hate it. I'm going with the latter just because after years and years, and years, of shoveling/dealing with frigid temps, it's not the most fun time of year. I prefer summer and fall, thank you ;)

On to our sponsor - Ellen Hutson! Certainly you are familiar with her and her store, but if not, a little bit about the store in her own words:

Ellen Hutson, LLC began their adventure in November 2006 as an online web store committed to bringing you the finest paper crafting products and related product education. They are always looking to provide their customers with quality products, excellent customer service, and education and inspiration for the products they carry. You can shop with Ellen by clicking HERE. As well please join them to be inspired and learn some fun techniques in the CLASSroom, or stay up-to-date on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and/orPinterest.

Ellen Hutson issponsoring our first challenge of each. The prize? A $25 gift certificate to the online store! Thank you Ellen!

 

 

I must admit though, snow is really pretty. Especially when it's night and it's so silent falling outside your windows. That's what this card reminds me of - a town in the evening hours with snow falling for them to wake up with a blanket covering everything in the morning hours. 

 

I hope you enjoyed my card (and my rant about snow) today for this challenge. Create something fun with the Let It Snow prompt and head over to the Lawnscaping blog. Thanks for stopping by. 

SUPPLIES USED:

• Lawn Fawn Little Town Border
• Lawn Fawn Toboggan Together
• Memento Luxe, Wedding Dress
• Memento, Nautical Blue
• Distress Ink: Tumbled Glass and Dusty Concord
• Mister Huey's Opaque White Mist
• Spectrum Noir Watercolor Cardstock

 

Sown with Love

 

Good morning! It's funny because I love these gardening type sets and I don't garden! I have a black thumb I always say. But I'm hoping that next spring, I can start and maintain a successful garden full of herbs and veggies for us. Fingers crossed ;)

 

I know a lot of people who love to garden and these sets are perfect for it! 

 

The little seed packet die is probably my most favorite. This would be a great way to gift a gardening lover some seeds for either veggies, fruit, or flowers as part of a gift basket!

Thank you for stopping by. Pop on over to Crafter's Companion to see the other Sheena gardening inspired sets!

SUPPLIES USED:

Sheena Perfect Partners Home Life, Sown with Love Stamp Set and Dies
Sheena Perfect Partners Home Life, Herb Garden Stamp Set
Spectrum Noir Watercolor Cardstock
Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers: Sepia, Fawn, Terracotta, Leaf Green, Evergreen, and Moss
Versafine, Onyx Black
Memento Luxe, Pistachio
Distress Ink, Scattered Straw

A Smile is the Key to Everyone's Heart

I adore this sentiment on the card I created. It's so true, too. I wanted a softer look since I used a black cardbase and black and white twine. He just begged me to watercolor him. I obliged.

He looks dapper in his little suit tossing some nuts and fruit up in the air. Made you smile, right? Perfect.

I hope you smiled when you saw this today. Totally what I was going for! Make the folks over at Crafter's Companion smile, too, and take a look around what you'd like to order. There is so much stuff there, it's awesome.

Happy crafting!

SUPPLIES USED:
Brambly Hedge, The Secret Staircase
Spectrum Watercolour Cardstock
Versafine, Onyx Black
Spectrum Aqua Markers: Terracotta, Fawn, Boulder, Bud Green, Leaf Green, Moss, Burgundy, Chestnut, Desert, Slate, Black, Peacock Blue, Teal
Spectrum Sparkle Pens: Red Berries, Smoked Quartz, Crystal Clear

Just a Note

I used a layout for this card sort of based on one I have pinned. You can find me on Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.com/roxanne_lynn/ if you'd like to follow me. :)

 

Sequins are so easy and simple to add to give your projects a touch of sparkle and interest. 

 I hope you enjoyed seeing how I used the English Rose set. I love it and it's so simple and pretty! Check out Crafter's Companion to see the other amazingly simple sets they offer.

SUPPLIES USED:

Art Kure, English Rose
Sentimentals, Vintage
Spectrum Watercolour Cardstock
Versafine, Onyx Black
Spectrum Aqua Markers: Sea Green, Leaf Green, Moss, Sepia, Blossom, Magenta, Orchid

Watercolor Butterflies

I totally loved creating this card using the no-line watercolor technique. I tried a different set than I normally would have for this card, but I'm seriously in love with the end result. Don't ever be afraid to experiement!

 

I really love how it turned out! Check out all the wonderful supplies Crafter's Companion sells for watercoloring. The possibilities are endless. Happy crafting! 

SUPPLIES USED:

Sheena A Little Bit Scenic, Flying Colors
Spectrum Watercolour Cardstock
Versafine, Onyx Black
Distress Ink, Tea Dye
Spectrum Aqua Markers: Sepia, Wildflower, Red Violet, Gold, Spice, Heather, Sunset, Begonia

Reel Friend

Happy summer! I hope you're all having an amazing summer. I've been insanely busy with the boys, and every weekend we have a full agenda each day. I'll miss it once the kids are back in school though. We only get 10 weeks of summer break and I vowed to make this summer as much fun as I could!! Sadly I've been behind on my crafting, but I worked super hard to catch up. I want to soak up the kids youth as much as I can.

Back to my project today! I made this adorable little card to send to a friend as just a thanks for being there for me greeting. Everyone deserves a handmade card in the mail every now and then.

 

I do enjoy fishing, too, so this is perfect coming from me. I enjoyed coloring this scene. Too funny.

 

I hope you enjoyed my card today! Products are listed and linked below. Be sure to visit Crafter's Companion for all these great goodies. Happy crafting. 

SUPPLIES USED:

Mulberry Wood, Gone Fishing
Spectrum Watercolour Cardstock
Memento, Tuxedo Black
Ultra Smooth Premium White Cardstock
Spectrum Aqua Markers: Sea Green, Meadow, Gold
Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers: TN1, TN3, TN4, LG2, DG2, DG3 EB3, EB5, GG1, GG3, CR3, GB7, GB10, LG1, LG2, LG3, LV1, BT3, BT8, BG4, BG10, Blender