Archive for April, 2008

Apr 08 2008

Taking a needed break. . . . . . .

Published by zindorf under Uncategorized

Hello everyone,

I’m going to take a break from blogging until I return from my vacation.  My next post will be April 20th.  In the mean time, please check out and try some of the past tutorials here on my blog.  There is a tutorial tab on the top of this page with quick links to all of them.  There are over thirty, so grab a cup of your favorite brew and stay a while.  Any questions/comments leave them in the comments section under the tutorial you are viewing and I will answer if I can before the 20th.  If I can’t, I’ll be sure to answer them upon my return. 

Thanks again to all of you that visit my blog.  Your wonderful comments have inspired and driven me to keep posting tutorials and in the process I have learned a great deal myself.

Hugs,

Michelle

35 responses so far

Apr 07 2008

Oriental Lotus Blossom - Tutorial

Published by zindorf under Tutorials

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In this day and age of the Copic marker, I find I still like to get out my Stampin’ Up markers and color every once in a while.  Today is one of those days.  :)

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Oriental Gardens
Paper: Stampin’ Up Very Vanilla, River Rock, Bravo Burgundy
Ink: Stampin’ Up Blush Blossom, True Thyme and River Rock
Accessories: Ribbon, Brads, Stampin’ Up Markers Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Creamy Caramel, Blush Blossom & Baroque Burgundy, White Gel Pen, Sponge, Versamark Marker

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Stamped flower with Blush Blossom ink on Very Vanilla card stock.

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Colored stem in first with a Certainly Celery marker and then used an Old Olive maker along the left side (shadowed side) of the stem.  Went over the entire stem again with Certainly Celery marker to blend the two colors together.

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Colored the inked areas of the flower in with a Blush Blossom marker.

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Colored over the darkest areas (shadow areas) with a Baroque Burgundy marker.

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Went over the two colors where they meet each other with the Blush Blossom marker to get a better graduation in color.

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Used a Creamy Caramel marker to make dots on the center of the large flower.

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Used a White Gel pen to color in the lightest areas of the flower and bud.

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Sponged on Blush Blossom ink around the outside edge of the card stock.  Leaving the middle area light.

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Sponged River Rock ink under the flower with a circular motion.

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Sponged on True Thyme ink under the flower to make it darker in the center and right under the flower.dsc03238.JPG

Used the gel pen again to clean up where my sponging darkened the white on the flowers.

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Stamped flowers with River Rock ink on River Rock card stock.

Sponged around the outside edge of this panel with River Rock ink.

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Used a Versamark Marker to define the undersides of the flowers.

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Assembled card and decided it needed a hint of color on the background panel.  So I colored just a hint of Blush Blossom marker on the flowers undersides and then colored the stems with Certainly Celery marker.

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And there were have it, another card done.

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Glad you could visit my blog today.  I hope this inspires you to get out your markers and play a little. 

May your day be filled with sweet smelling flowers and sunshine!

Until tomorrow. . . . . . .

48 responses so far

Apr 06 2008

Back to the Beach - Tutorial

Published by zindorf under Tutorials

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I wanted to give my brayer and embossing powder a little break today.   So this card was created using direct to paper for the background. 

Here we go.. . . . .

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Balmy Breezes
Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Real Red, Always Artichoke
Ink: Stampin’ Up Black, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Frayed Burlap, Shabby Shutters, Broken China
Accessories: White Gel Pen, Primsacolor pencils, Post it Note, Black marker

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Drug Shabby Shutters ink pad edge across Whisper White card stock using a light touch.  You want to leave some white showing through.   Next, I drug a Broken China ink pad edge across the card stock being heavier toward the bottom of the card stock.

Note:  I used the entire edge of the ink pad, not just a corner and drug it from the left side of the card stock toward the right.  Trying to drag it all the way across the card stock before lifting the pad up.

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Stamped small palm trees and large palm tree using black ink.

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Colored the palm tree leaves with a Yellow Chartreuse Prismacolor Pencil.

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Add some (red) Rouge Chamois pencil to the leaves randomly.  Colored the Coconut with Dark Brown Pencil and the trunk with Lilac pencil.

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Traced a few of the black ink lines with a black marker to give a little more depth.

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Used direct to paper technique again by applying Frayed Burlap ink to the bottom of the card stock.  Once again I used one entire edge of the ink pad and drug it in a downward motion.

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Used a Post it note to created a horizon line and small beach where the small trees are.

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Sponged Frayed Burlap ink at the edge of the post it note in a small circular motion.

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Sponged Frayed Burlap in a small circular motion at bottom of the card stock, getting lighter in color towards the top.

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Added White gel pen highlights to the leaves of the tree.  Drew in the waterline with the white gel pen using very small strokes.

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Assembled card and here it is finished.

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Hope you enjoyed this tutorial and will give the direct to paper technique a try.

I’m wishing you a day filled with Balmy Breezes.

Until tomorrow. . . . . . .

33 responses so far

Apr 05 2008

In the Woods - Tutorial

Published by zindorf under Tutorials

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Good Morning!

My Oh My, this mornings tutorial will show you just how indecisive I can be some times. 

Let’s get started.

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Pines, Delight in Life, Sesational Scenery
Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Black, Soft Sky and Night of Navy
Ink: Stampin’ Up Blush Blossom, Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, Night of Navy, Black, White Craft, River Rock and Always Artichoke
Accessories: Brayer, White Gel Pen, Black Marker, Sponge, Post it Notes, Stamp-a-ma-jig

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Brayered on Blush Blossom ink.

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Brayered on Soft Sky, but I did not cover the Blush Blossom entirely.

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Brayered on Blue Bayou ink.  Not covering Soft Sky ink entirely.

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Brayered on River Rock ink, leaving some light space between it and the sky.

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Tore some post it notes through the sticky part to use as a mask for the ground.

Also, coverted the sky area with un-torn post it notes to create a horizon line at the same time.

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Brayered Always Artichoke ink on the area still showing between the two masked areas.  Then removed post it notes.

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Tore a scrap piece of card stock to use to create my mountains. Held it in place as I sponged on River Rock ink along the torn card stock edge.

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This photo is up side down because that is how I had my card stock when I worked on it.  This is what it looked like after I removed the torn card stock.

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Used the same torn card stock and sponged on River Rock ink in different directions on the ground area.

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Stamped bear using a Stamp-a-ma-jig for placement with black ink and then went over the bear with a black marker so the image was good and dark.

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Stamped Trees with Always Artichoke ink using a Stamp-a-ma-jig for placement.

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Sponged River Rock at the bottom of the card stock.

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This is where my mind decided I did not like the sky, so I’m going to change it entirely, lol.  A girls allowed to change her mind, right?

I brayered on Blue Bayou ink almost over the entire sky.

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Brayered Night of Navy ink, but I did not cover all of the Blue Bayou ink.

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Tore a piece of Always Artichoke card stock for the bottom of the card and adhered it.

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Now I know if I make the top of my sky darker it will make the lightness at the horizon really stand out more.  So I sponged heavily Night of Navy ink and then even some black right at the top of the card stock.

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Assembled card and then stamped design at the top and bottom of the card with White Craft ink.

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Put specks of white gel pen on the tops of the trees and on the design at the top and bottom of the card.

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And there you have it, the completed card.

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Well this wasn’t my best tutorial with the switch in sky color half way through, but there it is anyway.  Just keeping it real for you, lol.

I also wanted to show you a couple of cards I created during VSN (Virtual Stamping Night) at Split Coast Stampers last night.  Wow, participating in the challenges for VSN is a real rush.  A challenge starts every hour and you have to complete the challenge and upload it within 45 minutes.  So I allowed myself 30 minutes to create each card and 15 minutes each to upload.  Whew, I was wore out after 3 cards!  Here they are.  :)

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One more really exciting thing happened to me.  I was featured on Distinctive Touches!  Here is the link to this awesome site:  http://web.mac.com/cschaan1/Site/Distinctive_Touches/Entries/2008/4/4_Friday_Featured_Artist_-_Michelle_Zindorf.html

Hey!  You all have a super wonderful weekend!

Hugs, 

Michelle

17 responses so far

Apr 04 2008

Annoucement! I’m so excited!!!

Published by zindorf under Uncategorized

I just had to share with all of you my excitement.  I have been asked to become part of Gina K’s Design Team starting in May ‘08.   Woohoo!  I love her stamps and can’t wait to start.  Also, congratulations to the rest of the new design team members as well!

See Gina’s announcement at this link:  http://blog.ginakdesigns.com/2008/04/04/announcing-the-new-gina-k-designs-design-team.aspx

34 responses so far

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