Technique Tuesdays??? Adding Color to Embossing and a Freebie

Hello!  I do hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas and New Year breaks.  I also hope the work week wasn't too tough to come back too!  I know it's Wednesday and I'm just now posting my technique.  Oh well better late than never is the motto I'm following! 

Okay now on the the technique.  I just think Jennifer McGuire is one of the most talented people on this little planet we live on.  I marvel at how she has such a knack for knowing the perfect placement of embellishments and what textures and shapes to combine to create fabulous paper crafting projects.  Well I could go on and on about her but there is one video she did that captured my eye one day.  It is an older video but still a very good technique.  You can see the video on her blog here.  She used a Cuttlebug embossing folder on white core cardstock sanded the embossed part to reveal the white then used markers to color the embossed dots.  So simple yet so effective I just had to try it!  So see my examples below.

This card is based on a sketch by Di Hickman.  I am featuring it on my sketch challenge I host on the Paperthreads forum.  It's not too late to sign up.  You get a free file from me just for signing up and if you submit a card to the gallery by the end of  Jan you get a chance to win another great file.   Click here if you are interested.   Note: you do have to register but it's FREE!

I used my 3-D butterflies file but replaced the body with grey gemstones and copper wire antennae.  Click below to see the file in my store.  I used my Copic markers to color the dots in three colors randomly.  You could use just about any type of marker though.  I know you are thinking this will take forever to do.  It goes quite fast as all you need a quick dab or two of the brush tip and it's colored.  When you are done it looks almost as if your card is illuminated with tons of tiny dots of light!  I would love to try it with the Copic Glitter Makers.

I had so much fun with that I just had to try embossing, sanding and coloring some more.  So this time I decided to do a Valentine and get a head start on that holiday!

This is based on a sketch by Mojo Mondays.  I used the floral fantasy Cuttlebug embossing folder along with white core burgundy cardstock.  I used just two colors of Copic markers...and left some images uncolored.   I love how some of the burgundy cardstock still shows through the colored images.  Makes the hot pink pop without being too overbearing and almost makes the paper look like I bought it that way!  All the other embellishments were cut from the ivory cardstock I also used as my cardbase.  I simply used the markers same markers to color them to match my background.  The gold hearts were embossed using my turning paper into metal technique found here.  The picture just does not do it justice..this technique is best seen in person for sure!  I used my Valentine Set available only in my quarterly membership.  There are still a few days to purchase it so don't miss out...click on the preview below.  (Oh and if you want to see all the files I have in membership so far check out the pink camera slideshow to the right).

I almost forgot.  The cute little bow was made using Michelle's wonderful bow template.  Click here to see how to make your own. 

I had a thought that you could do so much more with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder.  As you can see below instead of coloring randomly I colored in diagonal lines.   I can also see this done in diamonds, zig zags, chevrons...you could even do shapes like an arrow to point to something on a layout or card.   Yep...I'll be seeing colored dots in my sleep!  LOL!  Oh and sorry about the poor photo but I think you can still get the idea!

My CDT has been busy too.  Let me share with you a few things they did.

Check out this awesome calendar page created by Sandra.  She used my Monogram Birthday file available through my quarterly membership.  You can see the file in the pink camera slideshow  to the right.

Brett Robinson has been busy too making this adorable card using my Clothes Line Baby Boy Card file.

I'd also like to show you the newest file added to my membership.  It is a stencil designed to decorate the inside of a greeting card. 

The entire stencil will fit inside of a standard 5 x 6.5 inch card but you may be able to use just the greeting on an A2 card depending on which orientation you use.

In my example I sprayed a little temporary adhesive on the stencil. Then I used Michelle's wonderful air brushing technique done with Copic markers to color the stencil in purple and pink colors. (This looks much better, softer in person....I so want the Copic airbrush system now!) You can use glimmer mist, ink, chalks or whatever you'd like to color your stencil.

Click here if you'd like to purchase my membership so you can download this stencil file.  The membership will be removed from the store soon but I will continue to upload file and you will be able to download them until the end of  Jan. 

Okay now on to your freebie!  As a thank you for stopping by and letting me share a fabulous technique by Jennifer with you I'd like to give you a parting gift.  It is the love title with mat I used on my card.  It is small since I had to fit it into that little space but you can definitely resize it larger if need be.  The zip contains AI, WPC, GSD, KNK, and SVG formats.  My TOU still applies.  I ask that you do not share this file but send them to my blog to download it themselves.  This file will only be available for 24 hours then poof the link disappears! Click on preview to download. 

Happy 2010!
Shelly

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