Archive for June, 2010

In an attempt to encourage myself to read more, I decided to make myself a bookmark during my free time! Knowing that I’ll throw my books around, I didn’t think a conventional flat bookmark would work. Probably fall out of the book at some point in time.

 Decided to finally try out my magnet tape. Basically a magnet that comes in a roll with double-sided tape on one side. First I coloured a stamped image and attached it to a folded cardstock. Then I stuck tape on the inside of the cardstock (bottom on both sides).

[Tip: Please make sure that the magnet tapes are placed in the correct direction before you stick them down, i.e. do not repel each other when you close the bookmark.]

Now, I can hold my book in any direction and my bookmark will not fall

(Post transferred from previous website)

Was asked to be part of the design team to share some of my own creations. I know it’s way past xmas! But it took me quite some time to beg and borrow cards that I have given out, so that I could take photos of them..

So using my ‘Christmas Trio’ cling stamp from Whipper Snapper, I tried a few layouts and here are 2 of them:

1) Of course, the easiest one is to stamp the image directly on white cardstock or index card. Next I coloured the images with watercolour pencils, stamped the xmas greeting and the stars as background. Lastly, I used momento ink and HeroArts stamping sponge to sponge some colours around the card border so that it does not look that plain (a little faint blue in the picture).

It’s perfect if you need to mass produce the cards for many many people. Just tweak the image colours, use different background stamps and sponge different coloured borders!

2) Of course, if you are feeling hardworking enough. You can try to vary the look like this!

First, you stamp the image on artblock or watercolour paper. Colour the images and then cut each out individually. Then decide on how you want to arrange the images and use foam tape for a pop-up effect. For this deisgn, I’d recommend that you sponge the card background first stamp the background images on your cardstock before you attach the pop-up images. (Speaks from experience =P)

Of course you can try other designs, e.g. just pick one of the trio and stamp on mini squarish gift cards. Continue experimenting!

(Post transferred from previous website)

This is actually an old post from the previous site. I transferred it so that you might all take a look at colouring images. I will have a more detailed tutorial up soon. Playing around with new papers that I recently bought. Happy reading!

I thought I would share the images I coloured using my new toys – Derwent colourpencils that I bought in Aug last year. I bought 4 different sets of the pencils: watercolour, inktense, graphtint and coloursoft. I have mostly used either the watercolour or the inktense pencils. I used the new Stampavie images we just brought in for the store. These images are so cute!! i love to colour them in and transform the blank outlines into colourful pictures.

The first images of the bear with flowers were coloured using watercolour, inktense and coloursoft pencils respectively. They were all stamped on medium weight cartridge paper and blended with a Kuretake waterbrush.

I really like the difference in tone and hue I get between the watercolour pencils and the inktense ones. The one with coloursoft is my favourite out of these 3 images. I like the look of the unblended lines – makes it look more casual and fun. I usually blend my images a lot to achieve no lines between changes of colours etc. This was an interesting experiment for me.

The next image of Monkeys with Balloons was stamped on index card as well as medium weight cartridge paper. The first picture of the image on index paper looks strange with dark lines that I was unable to blend out. I was trying to add colour directly to the paper using the pencils while the paper was damp. That was a mistake. I would not recommend anyone try this if the paper is not meant to withstand wet blending like watercolour paper. The next 2 using watercolour and inktense pencils looked pretty well blended.

I decided to abandon using index cards for this experiment and stuck to using the cartridge paper. The last 2 images I will be sharing in this post are of the stamp Mouse Carrying Cake. The fat fat mouse is just too adorable. The left one was coloured using watercolour and the right on using inktense pencils.

I shall be colouring more images and play with the pencils till I get used to them. I bought the new sets of pencils as I was getting bored with the box of 30 of the Swisscolors ones I have been using for the last 9 years or so. They last so long I will never get round to finishing the box of pencils at all. I decided then to buy new ones on a whim during a sale period last Aug. While it may have been an impulse purchase, I really love the range of colours I am getting.

Stay tuned if you would like to see more coloured samples as well as what works and what doesn’t as i continue playing with my toys. =)