Spectrum Noir April Challenge

Sorry I’m late posting the new Spectrum Noir challenge! Life has been very busy lately, preparing for the holiday coming up and enjoying the birth of our grandson 🙂

Spectrum Noir’s April Challenge is in full swing, and the theme this month is Photo Inspiration. You can also enter an Anything Goes category. See challenge rule for details.

I’ve used the flowers from the challenge photo for inspiration to create this cute little gift box featuring stamps from the Sheena Douglass Perfect Partners Victorian Floral Lily stamp set. The box was created using Crafter’s Companion cardstock and the Crafter’s Companion Ultimate Tool. The lily stamps were colored with Spectrum Noir markers.

Please join us for the April Spectrum Noir Challenge, we would love to see your entries!

Challenge Web Link —>>  CLICK HERE

Challenge Facebook Link —>> CLICK HERE

Spectrum Aqua Watercolor Home Decor Tutorial

It’s been awhile since I played with my Spectrum Aqua watercolor markers, so I decided it was time to bring them out for a little play.

The US recently celebrated International Day of Forests, and these nature stamps from the Sheena Douglass A Little Bit Sketchy A Sheltering Tree and Lakeside Shore stamp sets are perfect for creating a beautiful scene. I put together a quick tutorial on how I created the scene, colored it using my Spectrum Aqua markers, and re-purposed a wall hanging from a discount store into a beautiful home decor piece. Be sure to check it out!

SPECTRUM AQUA HOME DECOR TUTORIAL

Happy Snowman

Even though we’ve had a couple 60+ degrees days, technically it is still winter, and this adorable snowman melts my heart!

This winter stamp is from the Sheena Douglass A Little Bit Sketchy line and is called Happy Snowman. I’ve colored it up using Spectrum Noir ColourBlend pencils. The sky was created using Spectrum Aqua watercolor markers. For a little extra dimension, I added some snow texture along the bottom edge.

Project Details:

Sheena Douglass A Little Bit Sketchy Happy Snowman stamp
Sky colored with Spectrum Aqua markers
Stamp Colored with ColourBlend Pencils
Scarf – Jade, Shamrock, Ivy, Grass, Pewter, Maroon, Blackberry, Cranberry, Rose Red
Bushes – Pistachio, Sage, Ivy, Jade, Shamrock
Blue Houses – Royal Blue, Atlantic Blue, Petrol Blue, Denim Blue
Brown Houses – Maroon, Maple, Maize
Red Houses – Maroon, Blackberry, Cranberry, Rose Red
Gray House/Buttons – Black, Rock Pool, Pebble, Smoke
Nose – Pumpkin, Mulberry, Nectarine
Windows -Lemon
Spectrum Aqua Sky – Peacock Blue, Aquamarine

Sparkly Borders with Spectrum Noir Sparkle Markers

Spectrum Noir Sparkle markers are a fun way to kick your projects up a notch. You can take your projects from boring to Blingy with just a swipe of the Sparkle brush nib. I have a new tutorial up on the Spectrum Noir blog showing a very quick and easy way to create Sparkle borders using a Sparkle marker and a scrap piece of cardstock.

So Sparkly and so much fun!

Project details:

Ornament stamp – Sheena Douglass A Little Bit Festive EZMount Christmas Bauble Stamp Set
Spectrum Noir Sparkle Markers – Spun Gold, Sterling Silver (for Ornament), Red Berry (for frame)
Die’sire Edge’ables Christmas Only Words – Wishing You A Merry Christmas die

White Uni-Ball Signo gel pen

Spectrum Noir November Challenge

Time for a new challenge over at Spectrum Noir! We’ve changed up the rules a little bit this month. You can enter an Anything Goes category for a chance at winning top honors, or you can follow our monthly them for a chance at winning  $30/£30 in coloring goodies! The monthly them for November is “Christmas/Winter”.

I went clean and simple with this card, because I simply adore this stamp from the Sheena Douglass A Little Bit Festive Season’s Greetings stamp set, and Spectrum Noir Sparkle markers are the perfect medium for coloring the stamp and adding a bit of Christmas sparkle!

Be sure to get your entry in, either for Anything Goes or for the Christmas/Winter theme!

 

Project Details:
Sheena Douglass A Little Bit Festive EZMount Season’s Greeting Stamp set
Stamped on Spectrum Aqua watercolor cardstock
Colored with Spectrum Noir Sparkle Holiday set
Red Berry, Holly Leaf, Spun Gold

Grand Entrance Mixed Media Canvas

I just love the new mixed media dies from Crafter’s Companion, and I used them, along with some other Die’sire dies, some paints and my Spectrum Noir alcohol and Spectrum Noir Sparkle markers to create this fun canvas.

I used some homemade texture paste and some Sheena Douglass stencils to add some texture to the canvas, then I airbrushed over the canvas using a variety of colors of Spectrum Noir alcohol markers. I added a little bit of dimensional paints in random spots for more texture. For the birds, branch, leaves and butterflies, I took some cardboard from a snack pack box and, using my Gemini diecutting machine, I diecut it with the Mixed Media dies. I then painted the diecuts with acrylic paints and added a coat of clear Spectrum Noir Sparkle marker.

The birdhouse was stamped from the Twit Twoo stamp set and colored with Spectrum Noir Sparkle markers. I added a few more leafy diecuts, and finished it with the gorgeous Create A Card Grand Entrance iron gate die cut. I added the Art Anthology Lava Stone Effects texture paint around the edges to transition it onto the canvas.

This was a really fun piece to create, and I can’t wait to get it framed!

If you want some tips on how to apply Spectrum Noir Sparkle markers to  your diecuts, check out this tutorial on the Spectrum Noir website:

Sparkle Up Your Diecuts

Project details:
Homemade texture paste
Gemini diecutting machine
Sheena Douglass Distress Grid stencil
Sheena Douglass Graphic Equalizer stencil
Art Anthology Dot Matrix stencil
Background Airbrushed with Spectrum Noir markers
TB7, TB5, PL3, LG5, LY3, CG3
Spectrum Noir Sparkle Twit Twoo stamp set, colored with Spectrum Noir Sparkle markers Blue Topaz, Moonstone, Moonlight, Smoked Quartz, Pink Champagne, Harvest Moon, Clear
Die’sire Mixed media dies:
Graceful Butterflies die set and Tweet Tweet die set (painted with acrylic paints)
Branch Out dies (airbrushed with Spectrum Noir markers EB7, EB5, EB3, JG6, JG3, LG5
Regular dies:
Sheena Douglass Hedgerow Corner die set
Die’sire Create A Card Grand Entrance gate die
Die’sire Classiques Wildflower Trio die set
Artist’s Loft Acrylic Paints
Art Anthology Dimensional and texture paints

Enjoy the Little Things

Well, this wasn’t a little thing for me – I was so excited when I was asked by Janice Cullen Collyer, the owner of Scrapper’s Delights to be one of her colorists for coloring samples of her digital images for her online store! One of the first images I colored up for her with my Spectrum Noir markers was the adorable Honey Markers 2, a new design in her Marker Girl collection.

I loved coloring this one, and of course I had to add my own personal touch and make the markers look like my Spectrum Noirs!

Project Details:
Digital Image from Scrapper’s Delights = Honey Markers 2
Colored with Spectrum Noir Markers on Spectrum Noir Ultra Smooth Premium White Cardstock
Skin – CR2, FS9, FS5, FS2, FS1
Hair – EB8, EB3, TN3
Lips – CR2, BP2
Reds – DR7, DR6, DR3, CR7, CR5
Greens – JG6, JG3, LG5, CG3
Pinks – BP7, BP5, BP3, BP1
Yellows – GB7, GB5, CT3
Browns – GB7, GB5, CT3, EB3, TN7, TN5, TN3
Muslin/Glue Sticks – TN3, TN2, EB2
Blacks – IG10, IG6, IG4, IG3
Gray sleeves – IG2, IG1
Corner leaf dies – Sheena Douglass Hedgerow Corner die set
Sentiment – Crafter’s Companion Vintage Floral Sentimentals Greetings

Spectrum Noir July Challenge – Summer

Phew, the weather’s been pretty hot the last couple weeks, so what better theme could there be for the Spectrum Noir July Challenge other than Summer?!?

I love sitting out on the patio in the summer and watching the hummingbirds visit the feeder. They are such magical little creatures!

I’ve colored these stamps from the Sheena Douglas Tropical Nectar stamp set using Spectrum AquaBlend watercolor pencils.

Use any of your Spectrum Noir products to create a summer themed project and get your entry in!

SPECTRUM NOIR JULY CHALLENGE – SUMMER THEME

Project Details:

Sheena Douglass Tropical Nectar stamp set (hummingbird, flower, sentiment)
Colored with Spectrum Noir AquaBlend watercolor pencils.
Flower – Soft Red, Petunia, Rose, Watermelon, Straw, Chrome Orange
Leaves – Parakeet, Verdant Green, Bright Green
Hummingbird – Parakeet, Verdant Green, Crocus, Hyacinth, Carmine, Deep Blue, Regal Blue, Carrot, Mango
Die’sire Edge’ables Beautiful Bouquet die set (corner dies)

The challenge is on!

Spectrum Noir has their June challenge posted, the theme this month is Use a Die. For my challenge inspiration, I used my Spectrum Noir markers to color up this beautiful Sunbeam stamp from the Verity Rose collection (currently available in the UK and at HSN in the US, coming soon the the Crafter’s Companion US website). I paired the image with a Sheena Douglass die from the Hedgerow Corner die set (it kind of reminded me of seaweed) and then added the sentiment with the Die’sire Classiques Only Words Cherish Every Moment die.

To play along with the challenge, click HERE for challenge rules and entry form.

Verity Rose Sunbeam stamp
Sheena Douglass Hedgerow Corner die
Die’sire Classiques Only Words Dies – Cherish Every Moment Die
Stamp colored with Spectrum Noir markers
Skin – TN2, FS6, FS2
Hair – EB8, EB5, TN7, TN2
Eyes – GT3, GT2, GT1
Hat/Pants – PL5, PL4, PL2, PL1
Shirt/Hat Band/Flower – GB8, GB5, CT4, CT3
Cone – TN7, TN2
Ice Cream – PP5, PP3, PP1
Shell – IB3, IB2, IB1, GT3, GT2, GT1
Hat Decor – GT3, GT2, GT1

It’s a Dog’s Life-Spectrum Noir AquaBlend Coloring Tutorial

Looking to color an image with a vintage or nostalgic feel to it? The new Spectrum Noir AquaBlend watercolor pencils and Crafter’s Companion Kraft cardstock are the perfect combination to give you the results you’re looking for. I have a new tutorial over on the Crafter’s Companion blog showing step by step how to create that vintage feel on this adorable It’s A Dog’s Life stamp from Sheena Douglass using AquaBlend pencils on kraft cardstock.

Click HERE to view the step by step tutorial.

Project details:

Spectrum Noir AquaBlend watercolor pencils
(Cherrywood, Brunette, Sorrel, Spruce, Pesto Green, Blue Marine, Sky Blue)
Spectrum Noir Blendable Colored Pencil #001
Crafter’s Companion kraft cardstock
Sheena Douglass A Little Bit Sketchy It’s A Dog’s Life stamp
Vintage Floral Collection Sentimentals Phrases stamp set
Sheena Douglass Hedgerow Corner die set
Downton Abbey Leaf Flourish embossing folder
Marvy Matchables Yellow Green distress ink
Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink