Allen Family Christmas Card 2019

Hello everyone, how are your Christmas preparations going?

How many crafters out there have been beavering away for months creating wonderful cards for your friends and family?  

Now, how many of you have been procrastinating and 1st December arrived along with the realisation that you don't have enough time to make all the cards.............oh that was me back in 2016!

Since then I have challenged myself to create an image each year which I use for all our family cards.

If you have been following me on Instagram then you will have seen 

my progress reports, but for those who missed them:

Part One

Having sketched out the stag from a reference image, I started on the mottled background.  You will not believe how much grey ink I got through - I needed the pens juicy and refilled several of them multiple times!

Part Two

The smooshy background was such fun to create - here's a tip.  In order to get the colours to blend well, keep the cardstock moist, almost saturated with a pale ink, that way the colours bleed in to one another and make blending with multiple shades much easier.

Part Three

Now for the Stag. 

His antlers were impressive, but the angle at which he was holding his head gave me a few challenges with regards to perspective, but I got there in the end.

Part Four

Something magical happens when you draw in the eyes and from this point on the boy was watching my every move.  His ears were fun to do - a combination of fur, fuzz and frosty bits........I really had to think outside the box to get them looking right.  But that's what I love about doing this every year - it takes me out of my comfort zone and challenges me artistically.

Part Five

Anyone who has ever coloured fur along with me in one of my classes knows I opt for the "flicking" technique.  It's literally lots of random dashes, that build up to give the appearance of hair/fur.  On this chap, I layered approx 6-7 colours, that's a lot of flicking and was somewhat painful as my hand cramped badly from doing this for several hours!

But as they say, "no pain, no gain" - the end result was worth it - a pelt to be proud of!

Part Six

I had to give my poor hand a break after colouring his hide, so I made a few adjustments to his body and then turned my attention to the snow.  When colouring snow, it's actually the shadows created by the dimples in the snow that you are colouring, it isn't pure white as you might think.

After many, many hours of colouring here is:

"Laird of the Glen"

The falling snow was created with a combination of white pencil and sharpie marker.  Initially I found the white marks made by the marker a tad too bold.  So I dabbed each dot with a piece of kitchen paper, it smudged and softened it enough to give the impression of real falling snow.  That's what I love about doing this, I am constantly learning new techniques.

COPIC COLOURS 

Background - N0, N1, N2, W0, W1, W2, BG90, BG70, B93

Stag Antlers - E40, E41, E70, W1, W2, W3, W4, W5, 0

Snow - BG0000, BG000, C0, C1, C2, 0

Body & Head - E40, E41, E50, YR30, E70, E81, E71, T0, T1, T2, T3, T4,

 T5, T6, W0, W1, W2, W3, W4, W5, W6, W7, W8, W10

Caran D'Ache Pablo White pencil

Sharpie Water Based White Paint Marker

Thank you for visiting my blog today.

 I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2020

Until next time

Happy Colouring

Magnolia Christmas

I smile whenever I colour this particular Tilda as she was my very first Magnolia stamp!

I have her sitting inside a Stempelglede Grunge Ornamental Circle (lg) and added a dash of colour with Liquid Pearls, White gel pen and ribbon.

And if like me you need a little bit of inspiration to get those Creative Christmas juices flowing why not treat yourself to the new Magnolia Ink Magazine - it's full of Festive Crafting goodness and an interview featuring Zoe McGrath from Make it Crafty!

Tilda was coloured with Copics (sorry no list) and as per Zoe's tutorial in Magnolia Ink I've used lots of greys!!!

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Just Magnolia - Christmas

Make It Monday - Anything goes

Inky Impressions Challenges - Anything goes

Simon Says Stamp - Anything goes

The Paper Shelter - Anything goes

Charisma Cards - Anything goes

Thanks for dropping by



Pike's Playground Challenge...and it's shiny!

Firstly, I must apologise that this should have been posted yesterday, unfortunately I've been out of action for a few days - family stuff followed by a pesky migraine!

Pike's Playground Challenge:

"All things shiny!"

Anyway, here is my effort - and I assure you it is shiny even though it doesn't look it in the photograph!

Apologies for the lack of a Copics list but I was having fun playing with Perfect Pearls Mist - it's on the backing paper and the doily has several layers of it.

Then I added a bit of glitz courtesy of Crystal and Frosted lace and topped it off with satin ribbon and pearls to finish!

Come on this challenge is a great excuse to play with that glitter (unfortunately I always end up wearing the stuff) - so "do your thing and add some bling!" and post your shiny creations HERE

Please remember you must use one of Dustin's Doodle Dragon Designs and he's got some super cuties that are ideal for Christmas over at Doodle Dragon Studios HERE

Thanks for dropping by

Stars and Stripes

It’s time again for another Pike’s Playground Challenge folks!

“Stars and Stripes”

Apologies for the shortness of this post but I am still having problems with my right arm and my left one is getting sore because it’s just not used to having to work so hard

Yep, it’s another outing for the snowman but he’s sporting a nice ice blue ensemble this time around.

You may not be able to see it that well in the photo but the Liquid Applique has had a bit of Stickles glue applied for that sparkly touch!

Now come on, if this one-armed bandit can get this card online (I completed it pre-injury) you guys can create something for this weeks competition – don’t forget you have to use one of Dustin Pike’s digital images.

Please post your entries HERE

Hugs

Challenge time at Make it Colourful

Hello everyone, hope you're enjoying your weekend!  My hubby is currently playing with, oops sorry, working very hard driving his combine harvester up and down the field - boys and their toys!!

Now the question is "are you up for a challenge?"

Over at Make it Colourful we'd like you to

"GROUND YOUR IMAGE"

How many of us are guilty of stamping or printing an image, merrily colouring it in and then leaving it floating in mid air - I know I have!

Well this time you're not allowed to - so there!

It doesn't matter if you just shade it, add grass, an entire scene or like mine, doodle something yourself:

I was desperately trying to come up with a snappy little caption for the poor elf at the bottom but my mind went blank - any suggestions would be most welcome!

Image: Make it Crafty Christmas Elves (free image), floor boards doodled by me

Paper: Dovecraft Back to Basics Christmas

Colouring: Copics

Additional: Brad and bakers twine from stash, Chalk ink

If you are wanting to add your own doodles please make sure the pen you use does not bleed when used in conjunction with your markers.  I use Copic Multiliners - both water and Copic proof.

As usual I went mad with the Copics - maybe I should set myself a challenge whereby I limit the number of colours............................nah, where would the fun be in that!!

Come on, have a go, this is a really simple challenge and like me you can use it to make a start on all those Christmas cards you were planning to do this year!!!

Thanks for dropping by

My "Christmas Mojo" finally arrived!

What can I say, thanks must go to Mo Manning!

Have you guys seen her newest creations - go check them out - they are awesome

MO'S DIGITAL PENCIL

Little Elf Min

I was going to make it into a card, but I splurged on several other Mo digi's today, so I fear the urge to colour will win over completing the card!

Happy crafting peeps, undoubtedly I will be back with more so pop back soon

Last Christmas cards

Here's a montage of the remaining Christmas cards - 

Christmas card - Dustin Pike



Christmas card - Dustin Pike



Christmas card - Dustin Pike

These as you can see are all by Dustin Pike and as usual I've coloured them using Copic Sketch.  Prismacolor pencils blended with Zest-it were used for the backgrounds.

I tried to vary the way I made my Christmas cards as repeating the same design over and over would have driven me nuts, whilst remembering to keep it simple - so bold images were the key! 

Well peeps, I think that's all the Christmas cards!  Are you ready for next weekend?  Don't want to speak too soon but I think I am, apart from food shopping & a postal delivery I'm done - woo hoo. 

Bye for now & happy crafting

Christmas Cards 7

My goodness it's Wednesday already, so I guess I should post another card.

Christmas card - High Hopes Stamps

As you all know by now I'm a fan of Dustin Pike designs & some of his images have been turned into rubber stamps by High Hopes Stamps and although this isn't one of Dustin's I just had to add this cheeky little chap to my ever growing collection of stamps.

I had a blast "playing" with Liquid Applique and my heat gun.  It gives a really life-like effect to the fluffy parts of Santa's hat, not to mention being great fun watching the paint suddenly puff up (I'm such a big kid)  The edges of the background paper have been "softened" using chalk ink with ribbon adding another dimension as well as a dash of colour.  Santa himself was mounted on ovals courtesy of my Nestabilities (love these dies) and thin sticky pads add depth.

Image: High Hopes Stamp

Paper: DCWV Christmas printed paper pack

Colouring: Copics, Chalk ink

Additional: Ribbon from stash, Oval nesties

Now I've got to get my bum in gear & get an entry for Doodle Dragon Studio Challenge finished, I've missed the last couple of challenges (slap on wrist) so I'm off to play with embossing folders, bling & metal!!!!!

Happy Crafting

Christmas Card 6

New week, so lets see, which card shall I post today, hmmmmm???

How about a new Dustin Pike - would you like that?

Ever wondered what Santa does with himself once Christmas is over, apart from going to the gym to wear off all the mince pies he eats on Christmas Eve.

  Well he decided to learn how to fly..............

Christmas card - Flying Santa



This is the card I actually gave to my son, who is an RAF cadet at school!!  It was a real challenge to colour this one in, trying to get depth & shape to the plane - I think I just about got there. 

Image: Dustin Pike
Paper: Papermania Christmas Colossal paper pack
Colouring: Copics with Prismacolor background
Additional: American Crafts ribbon

That's all for today, but I've a feeling if you pop in again during the week you'll spy more of my crafty projects.

Christmas Cards 5

As promised here's another creation...............

 

Christmas Card - hAnglar stAnglar

Thought we'd have a break from Dustin's work today (don't worry he'll be back later)

This is a beautiful Swedish stamp from a company called hAnglar StAnglar - really hard to get hold of if you don't live in Sweden, Norway or Finland!! (Or stalk Ebay like a woman possessed)

I was sort of organised when I created this as I had decided on the backing papers first & coloured the image to match, unfortunately I didn't remember to keep a record of the Copics I used (sorry)


Image: Hanglar Stanglar
Paper: Crafts House - Plum Pudding
Colouring: Copics,  Prismacolor
Additional: Quickutz die











Well its short and sweet today, more next week - have a great weekend & as always thanks for popping by

Christmas cards 4

"Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat, I'm fed up of feeling cold & needing a wooly hat!!!" 

I know snow & ice are very festive, but I do wish it would warm up a smidge, just for a few days - pretty please!

Ever wondered how they get the stripes on candy canes?

Card - Dustin Pike Christmas Elf

..... well now you know!!! 

I don't know about you, but I personally prefer chocolate decorations on my tree - and I chuckle to myself every year when I put them on, why you may ask, well,  it always brings back memories of my childhood & our cat Tibby.  She decided to investigate the chocolate decorations at the base of the tree one year - we found little teeth marks in them to prove it!!!! Thankfully, she didn't eat them as human chocolate is not meant for pets, and I guess the tin foil wrapper did to her teeth what it does to ours.

It wouldn't be Christmas without the cards, my first one arrived in the post yesterday so I guess I'd better get stamps on all mine & mail them in the next few days. 

Talking of cards, I've used Dustin Pike images on alot of mine this year, his characters are so much fun & I hope that they'll make people smile - its what Christmas is all about after all.  Here are the details for the one today: 

Image: Dustin Pike Christmas Elf
Paper: from stash (Papermania I think)
Colouring: Copics, Chalk Ink


Ooh, all this talk of chocolate reminds me, I've got to go open the door for day 2 on my Advent Calendar - yummy - great way to start the day - and a valid excuse to eat choccy hehehehe!!!

Aiming to be back tomorrow with yet another Christmas creation.

Happy Crafting

Holey Moley it's 1st December!!!

Where is the time going - 1st of December already, yikes.  At least the Christmas cards are all made, written & simply needing stamps, phew! 

Talking of cards, would you like to see another one? 

Card - Quickutz Exclusive die

For anyone who's following this blog, I'd like to say hello there and thanks for taking the time to take a peek inside the box. Did you know that before I discovered the world of rubber & digital stamps & COPICS -  I used to make most of my cards using die cuts.  In fact I used to design Exclusive Quickutz dies (19 in all)

This particular design was released last Christmas and I regret to say is nolonger available but I wanted to do at least a couple of die cut cards this year for old times sake.

I cut all the pieces out in different coloured cardstock adding shading with chalk inks & a white gel pen.  If you're wanting to try this technique I'd strongly advise having baby wipes on hand - you will get very inky fingers, but the final effect is well worth it.  It will give your die cuts added depth and dimension & by mounting some pieces on foam pads as I've done here - they "pop" out at you!!!!




Image: Exclusive Quickutz Gingerbread House
Colouring: Chalk inks
Additional: cardstock - various colours, white gel pen

Have no fear fellow stampers, I will be back with more stamped images, hopefully tomorrow - anyone want to see another one?

To all who are in the grips of winter snow & ice - wrap up warm & don't forget to open the first door on your advent calendar today - I'm off to open mine!!

Happy Crafting

Christmas cards 3

Oh guys and gals I'm on a roll this week, so here's yet another creation out of the box:


Card - Dustin Pike Mistle Toad

Now these little toads just make me giggle - they get up to all sorts of festive mischief!  This particular one got a tad too curious about the inner workings of a snowglobe & sort of got stuck (don't worry I'll let him out - when I stop laughing)

Joking aside I guess you'll want to know the techy (haha) side........

Image is from the amazing Dustin Pike & as usual coloured with Copics & glazed the globe with Inkssentials Glossy Accents.

The scrumptious background papers are "Plum Pudding" from Crafts House, ribbon is American Crafts & the tag is Quickutz.






Finally, faux stitching (black marker) and peel offs to finish - not quite a "speedy" card like yesterday, but guaranteed to make its recipient smile!

Whilst I remember, may I wish all my American friends a

  

Love, hugs & happy crafting!

Christmas cards 2...............

Day 2:  I'm trying to get myself organised when it comes to blogging - so here's my second blog post of the week!!!

Todays card is pretty simple to make - an embossing folder (Cuttlebug me thinks) always makes a quick, yet effective background.  Great for showcasing one of Dustin Pike's cool images - if you like this and other DP images I've used go check out his website - he's having an amazing Black Friday Sale!


As always it's been coloured using Copics, then cut out and attached with thin foam pads - 3D cards are great, but make sure you don't go too mad with the depth or the Post Office will want lots of pennies to post it!!!!


Image: Dustin Pike digi image
Paper: Plain white cardstock
Colouring: Copics
Additional: Cuttlebug embossing folder



OK peeps, that's it for now but keep your eyes peeled for another card shortly - thanks as always for popping by the box.

Happy Crafting

Christmas cards..............

Oh the chill winds are beginning to blow here in England, my husband's gritting teams are going on their second call out of the season tonight, so wrap up warm & if you have to venture out tonight, take care as the roads will be icy!

   

Some of you know I have been pretty busy over the last couple of months creating Christmas cards & I've just finished taking piccies of some of my favourites.  Here's the first........


Card - Christmas Santa Hat

This is one of the simple designs I came up with using JustRite stamps - have you tried these? This image is from the 1 5/8 Merry Little Christmas set, one of the great thing about these stamps is that they are made specifically to fit your Nestabilities!!!

I stamped the image onto my usual cardstock using Memento ink then coloured it with my Copic Sketch. The background was created using Prismacolor pencils blended with Zest-it. I can't recommend this pencil blending solution highly enough. I am asthmatic & struggle with strong smelling solutions, Zest-it has a lovely citrus smell & blends the Prismacolor beautifully (and its made in the UK woo hoo!)

A little plain stitching and a strip of ribbon all mounted onto some Papermania Christmas paper finished it off...................





Image: JustRite - A Merry Little Christmas (1 5/8)
Paper: Papermania Christmas
Colouring: Copic Sketch, Prismacolor pencils
Additional: Nestabilities, ribbon from stash, sewing machine

Well, that's me done for now, off to get a cup of coffee - wrap up warm & get those crafty juices flowing!!