Mar 26 2008
Touch the Moon - Tutorial
I love this Drama Queen image from Cornish Heritage Farms. The Drama queen and the flourishes can be found here: http://www.cornishheritagefarms.com/intro.php?osCsid=dtmnia8l444rr6anm95hm03995
You all know that stamping is my therapy, so after a rather long day at work I needed lots of therapy. If you are looking for a fast project, this isn’t it! But if you still want to follow along, grab a cup of your favorite brew and join be on my therapy session, lol.
And away we go. . . . . .
Supplies:
| Stamps: Cornish Heritage Farms Drama Queen and Beautiful set by the Rummage Bin, Stampin’ Up Stardust |
| Paper: Whisper White, Really Rust, Basic Black |
| Ink: Stampin’ Up Soft Sky, Not Quite Navy, Night of Navy and Basic Black, Palette Noir Black |
| Accessories: 1 3/8″ circle punch, Brayer, Exacto Knife, Glass mat, Sponge, Prismacolor Pencils, Odorless Paint Thinner, Post It Notes, Heat Gun, Black Marke |
Punched a moon mask from the sticky part of a post it note and stuck it to Whisper White card stock.
Brayered Soft Sky ink at the top and bottom of the card stock.
Brayered Not Quite Navy ink at the top of the card stock and at the bottom. I did not cover the Soft Sky ink completely, so I have a graduation in color.
Stamped the image from Stampin’ Ups Stardust set in both Soft Sky ink and Not Quite Navy ink.
Tore Post It Notes through the sticky part and used them to mask the ground area. Sponged on Note Quite Navy ink and than a little Night of Navy ink at the torn edge of the Post It Notes to define the horizon line.
Removed Post it Notes and sponged Night of Navy ink around the edges of the card stock.
Really wanted the middle of the card stock to glow with light, so I decided to get really dark at the edges. Sponged on Basic Black around the edges and a little into the Stardust images.
On to the Drama Queen! On a separate piece of Whisper White card stock I stamped the Drama Queen with Palette Noir Black ink. Heat set the image with my heat gun. This helps keep the ink from smearing in the next steps.
Time to have some coloring fun using Prismacolor Pencils and Odorless Paint Thinner. I don’t use blending stumps. I just dip my pencil in the paint thinner and color with it in very small circular motions. The paint thinner makes the soft leads melt like butter onto your card stock. I start with my lightest colors first and graduate to my darker colors, blending as I go with the pencils.
Sorry, some of the pictures are a little washed out. My poor old tired eyes need lots of light to color and that tends to make for bad photography. Bare with me, I’m not a professional, just flying by the seat of my pants every day on this planet!
Enough rambling, let’s color!
I keep a very small container that I poor about 1/4 inch of Paint Thinner in at a time. I have a tight fitting lid for the container so I never have to pore it out. I just keep adding to it when it gets low.
This is what I dip my pencil into as I color. When coloring, you can tell when you need to re-dip your pencil in the paint thinner. Your coloring won’t look as smooth.
Colored queen’s hands and face with Light Peach.
Colored her robes with Poppy Red.
Colored her robe in the spotted areas with Scarlet Lake.
Colored the heavily spotted areas of her robe with Rouge Cramoisi (spelling?) Hard to see the color name on the pencil.
Each time I add a new color I blend it into the previous one to get a graduation in color.
Last pencil color, Tuscan Red was used right at the bottom of the previous color. I also, picked my first color back up and darkened areas of her robe to create light and shadow.
Cut the image out using a very sharp Exacto Knife and glass mat. When cutting with an Exacto Knife I don’t move the knife. I move the card stock. This gives you very nice smooth curves. The only time I move my knife is when I am cutting straight lines. Note: if your knife starts to hang up on the card stock, you need to replace your blade.
I went over the black trim in her Robe with a Black marker to make it more dramatic. It was looking a bit washed out.
Adhered the Queen to the scene using my favorite glue.
Stamped the flourishes using Basic Black ink. Since I stamped over two layers of card stock (the queen and the background) it left little gaps in my flourish images, so I just cleaned them up with a black marker.
Finishing touches: I didn’t like the Soft Sky Stardust images in the scene. You just couldn’t see them well so I over stamped them with Not Quite Navy ink and then added a few more at the very top of the scene in Basic Black ink.
Are you still with me? Well if so, we are finished. I just added two layers and done.
I hope you enjoyed this therapy session, lol, I mean tutorial. If you did give me a shout out in the comments section so I know.
Best wishes for a super day!
Until tomorrow. .. .. . . .
Absolutely wonderful tutorial!! It is packed with tasty tidbits and helpful hints. Not to mention the grandness of the art work. Excellent therapy session.
Michelle - as always absolutely stunning! Thanks so much for all your great “therapy sessions” it is very helpful to see how you create your beautiful cards. ~chris
Michelle, this is simply stunning! I also love coloring with Prismacolors, but have never tried dipping the pencil right into the gamsol (I always use the blending stumps). I’ll have to give your method a try. Thanks for the beautiful tutorial and all the hard work it takes you to produce them!
Another great card!!! Oderless paint thinner…is that the same thing as OMS??? I’ve tried the pencil technique with stumps and OMS…just doesn’t work for me. I may try this though…looks easier!!! (I’m hoping what you use is the same as OMS so I don’t have to run out and buy something else!! LOL!!). Thanks! Mary L.
Mary asked “Oderless paint thinner…is that the same thing as OMS?” Sorry Mary, I’ve never purchased Oderless Mineral Spirits so I not sure if it is the same thing. Anybody know? If so, please shout it out!
Michelle,
As always I am blown away by your artistry. Thank you for your detailed instructions. You were born to teach. Now I am off to shop for the Goddess stamp. Thanks for being an enabler.
Linda
You are amazing and this card is proof, again. Always learning stuff from you. thanks
Aaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh……therapy! I feel better already.
I love to watch your creative process in your tutorials and love that you even show us when you change your mind and fix something. The card is exquisite! Do you really give these fabulous pieces of art away? If so….how do I get on the list?*LOL* Thanks for starting my day off with a great therapy session. Have a wonderful day.
Trish
I am so glad I don’t have to pay for this therapy. I could never afford it. You’re incredible.
I just love how your cards are a work of art. What you can do with some rubber, inks and a few coloring tools is absolutely amazing! Thanks for breaking all down- it really entices me into thinking I might actually be able to take your methods and apply them to my own creations. What a beautiful start to my day! Thanks- Adelle
Wow… I’m not sure I can say anything that’s not been said already. This is another stunner and the best therapy session anyone could ask for.
If I could do a card a week as beautiful as you do each day I’d think I died and went to heaven.
Thanks so much for shareing.
After seeing this stamp on another card you made I bought it. It’s become one of my favourites as well. I love the way you’ve used the image today, it’s an entirely different look to last time. You’ve created a completely different atmosphere with this design. Aren’t stamps so adaptable?
Absolutely stunning!!
Michelle, this card is unbelievable! You are a true pro! I look forward to your daily posts. They are truly inspiring. I don’t have the goddess stamp but I’d like to give it a try with my vintage couple. tfs
Karen
Awesome! Add my name to “the list” right behind Trish’s!
From what I’ve heard, OMS is artist grade odorless paint thinner. I think it is a little safer than the paint thinner.
You are amazing!! I just love your work. You make it look so easy.
I tried a couple of your tutorials yesterday one turned out great (it was sponging) and the other two were terrible. Do you have a secret when you first start with the brayer? Yours looks so gradual and natural. Mine is just a big line. I haven’t read all your post post yet so maybe you already have something on how to use your brayer. Thank you so much for allowing me to view your creativiness. Cynthia
Very cool card. I like how you cut the image out(in your other card as well…) using the exacto knife and glass mat. I’d like to experiment with doing that, but where does one get the glass mat? Michaels, Joanne’s, Hobby Lobby? And, in the crafting area? Or, sewing area? In some other area? Thanks.
As always an incredible piece of art! I really appreciate your step-by-step tutorials and all the great tips you include. Thank you so much!!
every one more beautiful! you are awe inspiring
I live in Ontario Canada and have never seen that ‘Godess Stamp’ now I want/need it!! You are truly gifted. [any Canadians know where to get it]
Michelle, my jaw is getting sore from it hitting my desk every time I open the link to your blog. This is just exquisite! Totally frameable art!
Thank you for all the work you go through to show us how you create… you make it look very easy, but I am not so dumb to believe that it is! LOL!!
HB
Absolutely beautiful.
I use odorless paint thinner as well. It works the same as OMS, but stinks a whole lot less! I use the Sunshine brand that is in a big tin. I think it came from Walmart or True Value. Much less stink they OMS.
Beautiful and elegant. I’ll try my Prismas direct to the gamsol next time instead of the stump. I have never seen anyone use the brayer as much as you use it. I’m getting closer to getting mine out and keeping it there. You are such an inspiration.
Absolutely stunning, you are truly gifted with an eye for detail and color. I want to be like you when I grow up :). thank you so much for taking the time sharing your work with us, you are an inspiration. I was looking at that stamp “drama queen” loved it but didnt know what to do with it, “Now I do!” These stamp company’s should give you free stamps for I am sure their sales increase after your Tutorials.
Michelle, absolutely stunning. You are such an inspiration to me. I love your “therapy” sessions. I have a very stressful job and my doctor prescribed 2 hours a night of stamping/crafting so I can find my “happy place.” Can’t get any better than that.
And anytime you want to do a tutorial using my stamps, I’d be happy to give them to you.
So inspiring! I love the tutorials you create, they’re fabulous! I learn so much. Now, not only do I need to learn how to brayer like you do but I need to learn how to use the Exacto Knife like you do. I need to try it your way because my way leaves me sooooo frustrated. I’ve used new blades but I try to cut out the image using a self-healing mat under the image and try to drag the knife around the image - it doesn’t work for me!!! I’ll be out shopping for a glass mat very soon
Thank you for all that you share.
Lest I forget, this latest piece of art is awesome!!!!
You just saved me a few bucks and time on the therapist’s couch, ha ha. Love your work, it’s just beautiful. You could sell stamps to two left thumbs just on seeing your lovely designs.
~~ * ZINDORFULOUS! *~~ Totally fabulous!! You should post the pic of your other Drama Queen card…the one of her in the winter forest. So lovely…thanks for the tutorial!
Absolutely beautiful! As always, I am in awe. On a side note, I’ve followed directions from several of your tutorials & posted my result in my gallery here:
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/863144?cat=500&ppuser=138000
Thank you so much for making it easier to step outside the box!
Very informative. I never though of using paint thinner in this manner….will certainly give it a try.
I am blown away at the beauty of this creation = just SO lovely! I am equally wowed that you gave such a wonderful step by step process, quite amazing. Thank you for sharing your talents so freely. I do mixed media type creating and also view it as my therapy…..help I’ve started and can’t stop
Now I need to look around your blog some more, your horses are awesome too!
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Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful cards. It is an inspiration to us all. The tutorials are very informative and well written and I can’t wait to try them.
I have missed reading your blog for a few days and I am going back playing catch up. Again I say “WOW”! I don’t know what else to say. Your work is just stunning. I love this scene.
Michelle this is stunning! The colors and design and image are so elegant! Fabulous!
Wow, your work is beautiful and inspiring. I have one suggestion for your Prismacolor pencils. If you sharpen them from the other end it will preserve the color name and number so you can reorder it when you get to the end. I’m off to try some of your techniques!!!
Awesome, I can’t even think that creative. TFS
when i grow up i can only hope to be a third as creative as you are