TAC Savvy Projects for People on the Go

Christmas in July with Angela Kelley

 
Good Morning and welcome to the start of Christmas in July!!  For the next five days we will be featuring wonderful holiday creations to inspire you!! I love, love, love, creating Christmas projects, weather it be cards, mini books, ornaments, home decor, or packaging. So many options to choose from, so many ideas running through my head, but like everyone I have a limited amount of time to create. So starting early is a must. This year I have taken up a challenge to use non Christmas papers for my Christmas projects (thank you Connie!) The Angel Company has so many beautiful paper collections, so it was not hard to do!! Just think outside the box a little. Several of our paper collections have a sheet or two, (if not more,) that can be used for a traditional Christmas look, and what is left can be used for everyday projects, which makes our paper collections an even  greater bargain!! (Or these papers could be used in nontraditional Christmas color combos that have been so popular these days!)

For this first card I used Maggie SWIC V-847and Amberly Grace card stock collection B-320. I wanted to create an very traditional Christmas look, I love this light blue paper in the Maggie SWIC, to me it looks cool and wintery. We have so many beautiful Christmas stamps to choose from, but I wanted to take my challenge a step further and to use some sets that were not "Christmas" sets!! This sweet little angel is from Fairytale Fun R-2061. Sentiment is from Hung on a Tree T-3420, very much a Christmas set!!

This next card features Mia's Cottage SWIC R-2503 and card stock B-318, combined with scarlet card stock V-237. I embossed the polka dots from Background Soup  T-3346 onto the bright green paper from Mia's Cottage with white embossing powder. This sweet little mouse is from Mice Day T-3301, (sentiment was computer generated).

I hope this gave you a few ideas and maybe helped you think outside of the box on "seasonal" papers and stamps. Please come back tomorrow and each day this week for Christmas in July, tomorrow the fabulous Kerry Urbatch will be sharing something wonderful and inspiring I am sure, can't wait to see!!

I made several more Christmas cards and things to share with you all this week on my blog Artistic Detours If you would like to see more, please come and visit!

Have a wonderful day!!

Be A Blessing ~ What a Treat Backpack

I LOVE this darling little backpack that we received from Trudy Osborn for our What a Treat Contest Category!  I think it's perfect for little treats and a great example of how we can Be A Blessing! 

Just imagine being the recipient of this precious little gift!   Slip a little note of encouragement and blessing in the pocket and it becomes even more of a treasure!

In the tiny front pocket Trudy reserved this space for pencil supplies.  I LOVE this idea and think this would also be a great location for a note-card from mom.

Trudy used our light purple twill for the straps and hanger ~ it looks white here but is actually a perfect match to the gorgeous lavender in the Miss Moxie paper.

Inside was a tube of candy, chocolate kisses and this precious little notepad!

Darling isn't it! 

Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle

Trudy's Supply List:

• V237 Scarlet CS
• V841 Miss Moxie SWIC
• T3301 Mice Day
• T2610 Running Stitches
• Bind-it-All
• Wire
• F13 Watercolor Pencils
• F04 Blender
• White paper and Tag Board
• B319 Miss Moxie CS
• F358 Scor-Pal
• Red Line Tape
• Buttons
• Scrappers Floss
• Pop Dots
• Crop-a-dile   

Copic Marker Tutorial ~ Mice Tag

I designed this little tag with the idea that it would be darling to place on a 'pillow present' for someone special ... I hope you like it as much as I do!

I used these Copic markers from The Angel Company ~ Caboodles Set A.  R81, R85, B91, B95, YG93 and YG95.  In addition ~ I used my W1, W3, W5, W7 and my Colorless Blender.

My goal was to try and achieve a 'softer' look so I stuck to only 2 colors each from my pinks, blues and greens ... mostly because I have a tendency to really use color boldly.

TIP:  You don't HAVE to use Copics in 2's, 3's, or even 4's.  Use as many or as few markers as you'd like!

And of course ... you have to have them all sitting there ... looking pretty while you work!  {smiles}

I stamped my image on our Caboodles Cardstock using my Tuxedo Black Memento ink.

Next, I took my W1 ~ which is this luscious warm gray and colored the image as you see here.  I wanted to lay down a 'base coat of color' so that the colors I added would be more muted.  My goal was country-ish, homie-ish, comfort.  (I know ... those aren't really words ... but you get what I mean ... don't you!).

After I laid down the color I continued to add color on top of this like I normally would.  I spared showing you that here because it was all basic and very similar to the post just prior to this one.  And remember ~ click on any image and it will show a larger photo in your browser. 

I wanted my sheets to be ... I hate to say bland ... but that's what my daughter would call this color ... bland.  So I used my W1 again and colored as shown below.

Next I added some shading with my W3 and then went back over with W1 to blend.

This next image is one where I used the W1 and then used my blending pen to lighten and soften my lines.  I've placed an arrow on the image because you can see that ever so gently my ink began to feather.  Sometimes that happens when using the colorless blending pen ... especially if it's juicy.  So use caution!

Here is the image after adding more highlights with W5 and W7. 

I wanted to try and make little 'white mice' this time.  I hadn't attempted that yet so this was the perfect opportunity.

I used my W1 and inked my mice as shown.

Then I gently softened it up with my Colorless Blender.

Put all of the steps together and this is what I ended up with.

This was an EASY image to cut out so I HAD to take advantage of that and then I pop dotted the little sweeties onto my tag!  And for a touch of sophistication I stamped our Damask Backgrounder onto my cardstock with VersaMark ink.  I also used the 'back' side of the cardstock because the flip side has texture.  I used a piece of jute and off-centered my eyelet.  

TIP:  Before you attach the mice ~ attach your jute or ribbon and then hold up the tag.  Place the mice where they look cutest on the hang tag.  So easy!

Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle  

Copic Marker Tutorial: Mice Day

I LOVE this little mouse!  Isn't he darling!  He is part of our Mice Day stamp set (T3301).

Today I'm going to show you how I colored this little guy ~ using my Copic Caboodles(tm) Set G from The Angel Company(tm).

The mouse on the right I used my grays from Caboodles(tm) Set B and greens from Set G.

So let's get started!  First of all ~ if you click on any image it should show an enlarged image in your browser ~ if you'd like a closer look.

I used E21, E13 and E15 to color the tan mouse. 

When I color ~ I color in an area at a time like you see demo'd above.  First I started with an ear, then I did the other ear, then the rest of the head, then the arms, then the belly portion and then the legs.

A.  I colored the area with E21

B.  Next I used E13 to add some shading

C.  I then added E15 to create deeper shades

D.  I gently went over the outer portion of the image with E21 to create a blend.  I tried to leave some area in the center of the ear that I didn't keep adding more color to.  This is to create depth.

Here is what this finished mouse looks like with his fur complete:

 

Next I went to work on the inner ear and nose.

 
Here I used R24, R29 and R59.  I also used my colorless blender.

WARNING:  REDS are touchy to work with!  Oh my goodness are they touchy!  Practice and use a light hand!

I tried 2 different techniques for the inner ear area.

In E, F and G I tried the same technique that I did with browns above.  HOWEVER: I used my blending pen in F and G because I wanted to lighten the tone.  Since I only wanted to use Caboodle(tm) Set G I needed to figure out how to get a lighter pink tone ~ enter my colorless blender!

E.  I colored the nose and ear with R24

F.  Using my colorless blender I colored over the entire portion of the inner ear.  Then I dabbed it onto the nose.

BELOW:  A close-up of F.  REDS are touchy to work with and this is a GREAT example!  They bleed!  I spent some time trying to clean up with my blender ... it takes time.  So I thought this would be a good thing to share with you!  REDS happen!

H & I.  I did the same coloring technique as in the other examples, however, I used my blender differently in these examples.  I actually practiced this twice ... just to make sure I liked it!  {smiles}

BELOW:  This is a close up of ear I.  First I colored very GENTLY with R24.  Then I used my colorless blender to lighten.  Arrow 1 points to where I gently began coloring in small circles in the ear.  Arrow 2 shows you that I decided NOT to take my blender all the way to the outer edge.  I did this because I didn't want my color to start bleeding out.  After doing this ... I actually ended up liking this result better anyway!  It looks much more interesting and more realistic of how a light source would interpret the design. 

BELOW:  I dabbed R24 gently on the nose.  Then with my colorless blender I started at the top of the nose and brushed towards the tip of the nose.  The arrow shows the direction that I swabbed my colorless blender.  Then I gently dabbed the very tip of the nose with R29.

Next I went to work on the spool.  Again ~ REDS are difficult and require not only a light hand ... they require PATIENCE!  {Obviously this was a HUGE challenge for me ... smiles}.

I used all three of my reds for this R24, R29 and R59.

J.  I colored the area with R24.

K.  With R29 I began adding shadows.

L.  I added R59.

M.  I re-introduced R24 and began coloring in small circles to begin blending.

N.  I re-applied both R29 and R59 then tried to gently blend with R24.

NOTE:  I'm still working on my skills with reds!  {smiles}

Next I went to work on the thread.  I used YR12, YR15 and YR18.

O.  I applied YR12.

P.  I began adding shading with YR15.

Q.  I introduced YR18.

R.  I brought back YR12 and softened the blend.  I touched up with YR18 in a few spots.

Below are my finished mice straight off my camera ~ no 'fixing' whatsoever.

Below are my mice using all of the 'auto-fixing' buttons in my software.  The image at the very top of this post features minimal 'auto-fixing'.

I'm sharing each of these images with you because if you're just learning how to use your markers ~ some of the over-corrected images (like below) REALLY show highlighting and shading areas.  Almost like an x-ray of the work ... right?!  {giggles}

 So last night my bedtime reading material was our Inspiration Book & Catalogue.  Okay, I wasn't really reading ... I was studying!  I LOVE to study how other people color!  So I turned to this page and saw how Deb Miller colored this darling little mouse below:

1.  Notice how Deb added the color swatch to the spool!  Genius hugh!  What a FABULOUS touch!  TIP:  Deb added the purple circle and sketched a black circle around it.  Because my black pens would bleed with my Copics ... I'd have to wait until the image is completely dry and then add my touches!  You can easily do this as well!  Make sure you test your markers with your Copics before adding to your piece!

2.  Notice Deb's color palette.  She didn't go crazy by any means ~ she kept it simple, smart and sophisticated! 

3.  Notice that Deb used a different coloring technique than I did.  We clearly have very different end results.  Deb created a very soft, well balanced blend by using her markers with little circular motions.  {she blends by coloring in circles}.

Copics really are an incredible tool for cardmakers like us!  The key to coloring with Copics is experimenting and discovering how you like using them best!

Check back next Monday for another 'mice-y' post!

Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle