Month: August 2021

Amethyst

I created this card using a sprinkling of magic, a Tim Holtz die/sentiment, Lavinia Stamps Glitter, and Copics! This is my first attempt to draw an anime character.

I’d like you to meet Amethyst… Her hair sparkles, like a night sky filled with glittering purple and blue diamonds. Her eyes, liquid pools of purple light, reflect her beautiful soul and her childlike, angelic innocence. Or, at least that’s how I saw her in my mind’s eye when I drew her.

My grandson really likes anime, so this year I was determined to draw an anime character for his birthday. I wasn’t familiar with this art form, and hadn’t drawn anything in years, so I started looking at online tutorials. There are so many excellent ones by talented artists!

I sketched the character with a graphite pencil, then used a purple Posca pen to go over what I had drawn. Using a paintbrush, I put glue on the hair and choker necklace areas; then sprinkled them with glitter. (After I finished the card, I found that glue wasn’t the best choice as an adhesive, as the glitter was coming off on my hands. Please see the NOTE below.) Next, I colored Amethyst with Copic markers. I die cut the black ‘Crochet’ lace and cut off an end section to create her hat. I adhered these pieces with a strip of 1/8” Scor-Tape and Multi Medium Matte.

I added glitter on her cheeks and eyes; stamped the sentiment; and used Scor-Tape to attach the layers of the cardstock. 

NOTE: I’m going to experiment using Mod Podge as a sealer for glitter instead of the glue I’ve been using, IndigoBlu FlitterGlu. I’ll reserve this glue for glitter that is fine or ultra-fine. I now have both the normal Gloss Mod Podge and Gloss Paper Mod Podge. I like the acid-free and non-yellowing aspect of the one specifically for paper. I’ll update this post once I have tried both.

Materials Used:

  • X-Press It Blending Card
  • Core’dinations Cardstock, Jet Black
  • Darice Cardstock Base, Vineyard
  • Sizzix Thinlits Tim Holtz, Crochet, 664178
  • Copics: E00, E000, E11, and E13 for shadows
  • Eco Glitter StarBrights, Fairy-tales (Lavinia Stamps)
  • Tim Holtz, Stampers Anonymous, Saying Stuff, THJ009
  • Uni Posca Marker Pen, Extra Fine Point, Purple
  • VersaFine Clair Ink, Nocturne
  • Tim Holtz Stamp Platform
  • Tim Holtz Glass Media Mat
  • Graphite Pencil
  • Cricut Weeder
  • Ranger Multi Medium Matte
  • Scor-Tape: 1/8”, 3/8”

Machine: Sizzix Big Shot, with two cutting pads, and the magnetic platform

Thanks for stopping by my website. Have a day that SPARKLES!!!

Diane

Summer Lilies

I created this card using Picked Raspberry Distress Oxide and Lavinia Stamps.

I used the smooshing technique to make this card. I put distress oxide on a glass media mat; spritzed it with water until the water beaded; and smooshed the watercolor paper into the distress oxide. I repeated this process a few times until I achieved the look I wanted.

After the distress oxide had dried, I stamped the lilies and sentiment with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink. I put another strip of Distress Oxide on the media mat; spritzed it with water; and used a paintbrush to accentuate the flowers. A few of the inked lines on the flowers appeared to be lighter, so I touched them up with a black copic multiliner.

To highlight some areas on the card, I put some Crystal Gold Mica Minerals in a paint cup, stirred, and applied it to those areas with a paintbrush.

To finish the card, I attached the watercolor paper to a black cardstock base.

Materials Used:

  • Strathmore Watercolor Paper, Cold Press, 140 lb.
  • Core’dinations Cardstock, Jet Black
  • Lavinia Stamps: Lilium Set, Heartfelt Verses (Tracey Lavinia Dutton is the artist of the Lavinia stamps); Lavinia Stamps Mica Minerals, Crystal Gold
  • Ranger TH Distress Oxide, Picked Raspberry
  • VersaFine Clair Ink, Nocturne
  • Ranger Mister
  • Tim Holtz Stamp Platform
  • Tim Holtz Glass Media Mat
  • Copic Multiliner, Black, 0.3
  • Scor-Tape: 3/8”
  • Baby Wipes, Paper Towels

Have a BEAUTIFUL day!!!

Diane