(composed last night -- Wednesday -- but I forgot to click on 'publish'!)


We had a very fun time this afternoon playing with the new Memento colors. Here are some of the practice pieces using a variety of the Memento ink pads and Memento marker pens, along with Ink Potion No. 9 and Goosebumps. The ink pads and pens are still at the store for you to stop by, try the colors, and figure out which colors you want to add to your stash of ink colors. The pink sheet orders for Tsukineko and Imagine Crafts' products are piling up!

by Cindy Sharpe

by Cindy Sharpe

by Sue Moffat and Dianne Johnson

by Dianne Johnson

by

by Kate Larsen

by Debbie Gaetz

by Dianne Johnson

by Dianne Johson 

by Sue Moffat
Sue took what she read from a Tsukineko USA technique sheet
about applying color ink pads directly on a plastic plate or
non-stick craft sheet to make a palate, and diffusing those
colors by spraying Ink Potion No. 9 on them before applying
to the paper for a background paper. SHe sprayed Goosebumps
over the entire card top when she was finished coloring
and stamping. This picture just doesn't show how nice this
card top really is!

Earlier this month, I showed a couple of card samples from Penny Black's blog featuring artist Heather Telford. Several people have since told me they really loved Heather's work. Sue Moffat was so inspired, she looked further into Heather's showcased style and came up with this beautiful card.

by Sue Moffat

And Sue made this beautiful card using the background paper technique from John Petersen's class using the new Memento ink colors and Ink Potion No. 9.

by Sue Moffat

I think you'll agree with me that Sue is an artist in her own right. She really enjoys learning new techniques and sharing those techniques with others. I am quite thrilled to partner with Sue in teaching a class at Art 'n Soul towards the end of March. Information on that class coming in another day or two.

From Graphic 45's blog . . .

'Hello Awesome G45ers!

Welcome to another magical day of the Graphic 45 Tag-stravaganza! Prepare to be ultra inspired by today's fantastic tag creations by Sherry Cheever and Gloria Stengel of our design team! All this week we're sharing gorgeous new tag creations from our design team that feature our brand new paper collections! We even have a terrific tutorial by Gloria Stengel today that you are sure to love. She's going to show you some wonderful techniques for using copic markers with our new Kraft Reflections collection!  And don't forget about this week's marvelous contest!  All you need to do is tag Graphic 45 (@Graphic45) on Facebook or Twitter. The more @Graphic 45 tags you do, the more chances you have to win a prize package valued at $60. So start tagging for your chance to win! And now it's time for some serious inspiration!

This first tag was created by Sherry Cheever and features our fantastic new collection Olde Curiosity Shoppe. This tag displays some of Sherry's classic paper flowers in conjunction with Graphic 45 Metal Button Staples and Metal Flower Staples. You can see how perfectly the Metal Staples blend together with the gorgeous colors of Olde Curiosity Shoppe. It's like a beautiful vintage dream!'

Supplies:
Graphic 45 Papers:  Olde Curiosity Shoppe Collection – Genuine Article, Apothecary, Olde Curiosity Shoppe, Bazaar of Wonders and Exquisite Motif

Graphic 45 Staples:  Metal Flowers, Metal Button, Packaging from Metal Door Plate
Spellbinders Paper Arts:  S5-068 Dress Forms, S5-086 Bitty Blossoms, S5-085 Mix’d Media Elements, Grand Calibur
Ranger Industries:  Distress Stain in Peeled Paint; Distress Stickles in Peeled Paint; Distress Crackle Paint in Rock Candy; Distress Ink in Vintage Photo; Accents in Glossy, Matte and Crackle; Glue n’ Seal; Mister; Craft Sheet; Heat-It Tool; Perfect Pearls in Green and Blue Patina; Perfect Medium and Brush
Imaginarium Designs:  Flourish
Other:  Advantus idea-ology Memo Pins and Corked Vials; DecoArt Lamp (Ebony) Black Acrylic Paint; Sanding Tools; Wood Trim; Sewing Machine; Hot Glue Gun; Wood Skewer; Foam Mounting Tape

"Next we have a wonderful tutorial by Gloria Stengel. Here you will learn some terrific techniques for using copic markers with our new Kraft Reflections collection. The tag that Gloria created is just stunning and once you see it you'll want to make one of your very own! Learn just how it was made in this fun and enlightening tutorial! Take it away, Gloria!" 

Kraft Reflections and Copic Marker Tutorial

Supply List:
Graphic 45 Supplies:
Graphic 45 Paper:
Kraft Reflections: Bed of Roses
Curtain Call: Moulin Rouge
Graphic 45 Staples: packaging tag from Flowers Staples
Copic Markers: R81, R83, R85, R39, R59, B23, B24, B26, B37, G43, G46, G28, Y13, YR02
Fiskars: postage stamp punch
American Crafts: Lace
Really Reasonable Ribbon: Satin ribbon
Maya Road: Pins
Tsukeniko: Memento Tuxedo Black dye ink
Gina K. Designs: Framed Greetings stamps
Adhesives: Scotch 3M tape runner; Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L foam squares; Glue Dots adhesive dots

Instructions:

1. To create the colorful paper, trim a 4 x 6 inch section of Kraft Reflections Bed of Roses paper.

2. Color all kraft sections with Copic Markers. For each section, start with the lightest color in your chosen color family. For the rose, begin by coloring the entire flowers with R81.

3. Next, shade some areas with R83. Make sure to place scrap paper under your project as the ink will soak through the Graphic 45 Kraft Reflections paper. This is normal.

4. Next, add R85.

5. Shade a few areas with R39. Add YR02 to the center.

6. Continue coloring, light to dark, until all areas are colored. Experiment with color choices. You may color an entire sheet of 12x12 paper with one color scheme, or trim the paper into four smaller sheets and color each with a different color scheme.

7. To create the tag, cover a Graphic 45 packaging tag with your colored paper, and trim.

8. Wrap lace around the top of the tag.

9. Stamp sentiment onto the kraft side of a scrap of Bed of Roses paper. Punch sentiment with postage stamp punch and edge with black ink. Attach to tag with foam tape.

10. Trim Moulin Rouge postage from Curtain Call paper and color with R39. Attach to tag. Trim Paris postage and attach.

11. Add pins and ribbon.

"Have fun coloring your Graphic 45 papers. The paper is a high quality, cardstock weight paper, which makes it easy to color with Copic Markers.

That's all for today, G45ers. Thank you all for joining us! Big thanks to Sherry Cheever and Gloria Stengel for their wonderful work today. There is more fun in store for you all tomorrow. We will have more stunning tag inspiration from our design team. You wont want to miss the fun! We hope to see you then! Have a terrific day!"

Smiles and Tags,

Your Friends at Graphic 45

I've always wanted to 'color in' some of the decorated papers  I come across, and I'm so glad that this idea was shown by Graphic 45 today. Will there be any paper safe from my coloring enthusiasm after this?


This morning and evening was devoted to nothing but interior color selections for the new house, and it will continue into tomorrow morning before we meet at the job site to do a walk-thru with our color swatches and house plans. The painters finished sanding today and will apply another primer coat tomorrow morning. I think it may be time to seriously begin the 'packing it up' phase here at home.


I'm off to color my dreams . . .