ColourSoft Part Deux

Ok so I might just be getting a little obsessive with my new pencils but they say practice makes perfect, so I'm gonna keep on practicing.

I've taken this lovely stamp by Wild Rose Studio called Louis in the Rain from Bee Crafty and stamped him onto some extra smooth card with Memento Ink.






Then taken two different shades of brown and gone around each bear. Also going into some of the areas where shadow is needed.

Now take a paper stump, dip it into Sansodor (a low odour solvent) and use to blend the colour. I used small circular movements gently thinning the colour until it was smooth and seamless

Finally I have taken my chosen colours for the umbrella and done the same as I did to the bears, coloured the edges of each panel then blended with Sansodor. Also added a spot of blue to each of the rain drops and blended down.

Oooops forgot to say that I had used a soft grey to create a path for the bears to be standing on. Cant have floating Bear's now can we........

Thanks for looking

Julie-Ann xx

New Pencils.....

How lucky am I? Very.......

Today we had to go to Warwick as DH had a hospital appointment and while out he said that we would go and get my Easter pressie. He had already asked what I'd like and with no hesitation I replied "pencils, I'd like some pencils"

To explain how I'd got to this, yesterday at work I had the lovely Mandy Fox come in and we talked for ages about my efforts with ProMarkers and how it was taking me a bit of getting used to them. It was so nice of her to give me her time and show me where I'd been going wrong, mainly putting down too much ink. We then got on to the subject of alternative colouring mediums and she told me how much she like's pencils. We did a bit of blog hopping and I saw some fabulous work by her and some other designers that I fell in love with the idea of using pencils. So last night when I got home I checked out a few websites and You Tube on how best to use them. That did it, I needed pencils straight away - poor Bill.......

So after the hospital we trawled a few different art and craft shops finally finding what I needed much nearer to home. PSW in Studley in fact, a fabby art shop with loads of different drawing and painting mediums and on a shelf sitting there waiting for me was a boxed set of Derwent Coloursoft Pencils with storage wrap. Then after a brief search found paper stumps, Sansodor and extra smooth card stock. That was me sorted, we headed home and they were soon out on my desk.

So pencils out, pc on and You Tube there for me to follow........

I had a quick sort through my stamp drawer (still not sorted out from the other night) and found this lovely lily stamp. Thought being a couple of colours should be ok and with a bit of luck should be to difficult not to muck it up.

Well I did the leaves first. Just put the colour down around the edges of the leaves and a bit extra where the darker shadows would be, then out with the paper stumps and the Sansodor. A quick dip and rubbed away like a good-un, small circular motion I could remember them saying on the video. Not to bad I thought so moved on to the flowers themselves. Feeling a little cocky I decided to put down two colours, Deep Fushia C140 and Bright Lilac C260. Again, but using a new paper stump, into the Sansodor and with more gentle vigour I blended away with a bit more direction following the curves and folds of each petal and I think it shows. The petals, to me at least, look far more natural than the leaves.





Anyway here is a picture of my first attempt and I would really appreciate your comments as I would really like to get better as I love the effect.......

Happy Crafting

julie-Ann xx

Tidying is not my strongpoint........

I'm a grass widow tonight so after a bit of a bloghop and a chat on Facebook I thought I should start and have a proper tidy up. You know the sort, do out the drawers and cupboards, sort out old magazines and all those bits of card and paper you put in a box saying "that'll come in useful for something" but never actually look in the box when you need a smaller bit. So tonight is it.......
This lovely wire cake stand was a pressie and was supposed to help me keep my tools tidy and to hand, well that worked didn't it. Looks pretty though even when it's untidy so that can wait......







I found a few bit's that can go into a charity box at work or be swapped with one of the crop ladies, but then I thought I should take photographic evidence of how bad it is and blog about it..........




.........so that's as far as I got - Nowhere really, I'm just too easily distracted, I even had a go with some pencils I found in a drawer that I wasn't even sorting at the time. Just had a look in it to see if it actually needed sorted, and yes, it does.....




Now is it really worth tidying the stamp drawer? I'm only going to rifle through it when I'm looking for something to do a corner or verse, a little swirly thing on the side of a box - so no we'll leave that one for now.....




.....and then we come to the fibre drawer. Definitely not to be touched. Well you can see at a glance the colours and you'll only want to cut of a few inches, so you can just pull out the one you want and snip away.....




Phew, I'm exhausted from all this tidying - think it's time for a cuppa, take care see ya soonly..

bye bye

Julie-Ann xx

Easter Basket.......

Hi ya again, I know twice in one day...........

Ok as promised the instructions for the lovely little Easter Basket. You will notice I have enhanced the original slightly and I'm loving it.

You are going to need 1 sheet of card, patterned or plain. I have used a sheet of 12 x 12 Bo Bunny Persuasion Dot. You will also need a paper trimmer or knife and ruler, punches or die cutter, adhesive and some embellishments.


Firstly take your sheet of 12 x 12 (if thats what your using) and cut an 8" x 8" square. Keep the other bits they will come in handy when you come to decorate your bag

Take your square and score each side at 2 3/4". At this stage I fold each side as it's easier than after you have cut.




Now make a cut twice on opposite sides to the center fold as per the diagram.



Attach adhesive to the edge ot the middle panels, again as per the diagram.

Now pull together the outside panels and as they meet fold up the center panel and adhere. (Oh please let this be making sense)

By now your basket should be looking like this........

Take the smaller of the off cuts, in this case the 8" x 4" piece and cut in half length ways. With one piece punch the edges with a decorative border punch or even use a trimmer with a fancy blade, hey it's your basket cut how you like. Now adhere together.




(the error in my punching was to show that it can happen and in no-way spoils the effect of the finishes item)

Attach the handle in place, you will find the edges sit nicely on the top of the side panels so just center it there...

Now for the fun bit

DECORATION.....

Firstly I cut a couple of oval matting layers and a scalloped one. Sanded and inked the edges before layering up. The bottom two flat together and the top one on 3D foam.


Then it was out with the blossoms and brads, threw in some ribbon and a lovely sticker also from the Bo Bunny Persuasion range......

et VOILA!!!!!!!!

Hope you find this useful.....

Jules xxx

F-F-F Friday

It's very strange getting up on a Friday morning and not having to dash about like a mad thing getting ready for work. Yep I've got a Friday off yippee!!! so do I do the good housewifely thing and clean, tidy, dust and polish ........ nah that would be a waste of a perfectly good day off. So shall I colour, cut or crop???????? decisions decisions... Actually I think I may just incorporate the two things that need done - TIDYING & CRAFTING - I'm going to tidy my craft room. I say mine it's sort of shared with a couple of toy boxes and mega amounts of Lego, arhh now all becomes clear, it's not my fault the rooms a mess it's those pesky children (am I a mean nanny blaming my gorgeous grandchildren)hahaha. You tell me, look at the mess.......

just look at all the mess that dolls house makes and that little Lego box in the window just has to go........

No seriously, I love it when I'm sitting at my desk and the kids are playing beside me. We often all sit at the desk colouring or cutting, it's just the best thing ever.

I started my day off last night. Dh went out and I thought I'd have a little play so sat and made this lovely little Easter basket.

It was really easy (come on, I managed it)

Tell ya what, I'm going to go and do a little tuturial and some piccies to go with it. I'll post them here (that is if it's any good) a bit later. The one in the picture measures 12cm wide by 15cm high (that to the top of the handle) top of the basket isn13cm and width is 6cm. Now all you crafters that can look at something and just do it will most likely be able to do it from that, me "NO" so for the rest of us pop back soon and it should be done. So kettle on and camera out me thinks, see ya soonly..............

bye bye

Julie xx

Pants..........

yup, thats me - Pants@blogging ..... actually that would be a really good label (might use it later if no-one else pinches it first - hahaha)

I've been so busy lately but I'm trying to set aside time foe "ME" not sure how it's gonna go, will have to see.

My latest purchase has been some lovely new clear stamps from Wild Rose Studio's. They are beautifully deepand the images are soooooo clear and when coloured in with ProMarkers look terrific

I've noticed I haven't grounded her so will go back and put some colour down on the bottom of the image so as she doent look like she's floating. I've a couple of other's done but I want to let you know what I've used and my pens are in the shop so I'll try and do those later.

Have a good day ....byee

Sleepy Sunday ......

Hello and good morning, told ya I was rubbish at keeping up with my blog.

Anyway, what a manic few weeks. I have been absolutely rubbish at fat club, putting back the weight I'd lost over the last month so I'm really mad with myself - I mean what a waste of time and money. I really dont want to be the fat mom inn the photo's but looks like I'm failing that battle and fast.

Talking about the wedding, plans are really starting to come together. The venue, church and reception are sorted. Last week Bev ordered her dress and it's absolutely gorgeous, bridesmaids dresses are just about done and mens suits booked. Not bad, oh yes the cake and flowers are also sorted so Bev and David have really worked hard.

Alex's swimming lesson's are going really well and he has given Beaver's a try and decided it's not for him. Little Harry is now pulling himself up at every opportunity and walking is just round the corner I think.

Booked my holiday, going back to that lovely camp site in France we were at last year. Loved it soooo much, might even have a go at fishing while there this time...