Happy Weekend everyone!  I finally got a moment to use this new set, Can You Dig It from My Favorite Things.  Cute, cute images!  Of course I’m a sucker for gardening images this time of year.

Before we get started on this tutorial, I need to apologize in advance for the first 10 photos being blurry.  I was taking photos in the garden and forgot to change my camera setting back again, daaahhh, lol.  Stick with the tutorial, I do finally get my act together!

Let’s get started. . . . . . .

Supplies:

Stamped image with Palette Noir Black ink on Whisper White card stock.

Colored her hat with Prismacolor Eggshell marker and then put in a shadow around the flower band with a Prismacolor Sand marker.

Colored her dress with a Prismacolor Cloud Blue marker.

Put shadows on her dress at the top and on the bottom with a Prismacolor Blue Slate marker.

Colored her gloves and shoes with a Prismacolor Light Olive Green marker.

Gave her a tan on her arms and legs with a Prismacolor Sand marker.  Don’t we wish tanning was that easy, lol.

Put a little darker shadow at the top of her dress and the very bottom with a Prismacolor Periwinkle marker.

Colored the flowers on her hat with a Prismacolor Blue Slate marker and filled in the centers with a Prismacolor Sunburst Yellow marker.

Ok, now we are back in focus, lol.

Colored over the image with a Versamark maker and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Masked upper portion of the card stock at an angle with Post it notes.

Brayered Creamy Caramel ink on un-masked area.

Sponged Close to Cocoa ink right were the post it note meets the card stock.

Flipped the post it notes around and lowered them a little.  Sponged Close to Cocoa ink right where the post it note meets the card stock.

Continued to move the post it notes down and sponge more Close to Cocoa ink making more lines.

Removed post it notes.

Made dots in the rows of dirt with an Old Olive Maker.

Masked Sky area with new post it notes.

Note:  I use new post it notes instead of re-using ones that have ink on them when I change colors, because the ink on the post it notes with mix with the new ink, yuck.

Sponged Old Olive ink on the grass area, using a circular motion.

Removed post it note and sponged on Soft Sky ink in a circular motion in the sky area.

Sponged Not Quite Navy ink at the top of the card stock not covering the Soft Sky ink entirely.

Decided to put a shadow in for the gardener.  Sponged Close to Coca ink around the bottom part of her.

Getting darker yet with the shadow, sponge a small amount of Chocolate chip ink right around her leg.

Sponged a little Always Artichoke at the top of the grassy area.

Used a Chocolate Chip marker and put a hard line between the row of dirt to define them a little more.

Sponge a bit of Night of Navy ink at the top of the card stock to create some movement in the sky.

Assembled card and here it is finished measuring 5.5″ x 5.5″.

This ends the tutorial, but I have a few photos of my garden to share with you today.

My Lilac bush is in bloom and smells heavenly!

An Iris, I think the colors on this one is unbelievable.

Peonies have made there appearance.  These are close to my heart because they have been in my Grandmother’s garden and my Mother’s garden, before coming to me.

Here is a front view of the house and the split rail fence I was wiening about installing last weekend, lol.  Wave hi to my DH, Russ  who is leaning on the fence and wondering what the heck his wife is doing, lol.   Anyone want to come over and help me dig the flower beds that will go in front of the fence?  Just let me know and I will have a shoval all ready for you. 

That’s it for now.

Until my next post. . . . . . .

Michelle

Everyone keeps asking so here you go! 

I’m happy to announce that I have been invited to come teach 4 workshops at Lisa’s studio in Sunny San Jose, California August 1-3, 2008.   Each workshop will be limited to 6-8 people so everyone will have lots of one on one time with me.  I will be teaching 3 special projects using my style of brayering and emboss resist.  All materials will be provided.   

For more details visit Flat Fish Paper Arts, here is the link:  http://flatfishpaperarts.blogspot.com/
You can also contact Lisa at  itatani@yahoo.com for more information.

I would love to meet you all so come on out

Michelle
 

I haven’t posted a tool related post lately and this one is also a cry for help, lol.  I use a foam pad to stamp on and it is in horrible shape.   I have a really hard time stamping on a hard surface.  I found this burgundy colored foam mat (looks bad I know) at Michael’s about 100 years ago.  I’m exaggerating now, about 5 years ago and have beat it up pretty bad and it is in need of replacing.  It was actually package as a Rubber Stamping mat and measures 11″ x 16″ x 1/4″.  All I can find for replacement is a piece of fun foam (black piece in pic) that is only about 1/3 the thickness, big difference!  I thought about stacking them, but I would rather just find a source for the thicker one.

If you don’t use a foam mat to stamp on, you are probably wondering what the heck difference does it make.  Big difference to me.  The give in the mat really helps to make a good impression with your stamp with no missing sections.  I have the mat under my card stock when I brayer too.   Anyone else use one?  I can’t be the only one.  Although after searching for a replacement I may be the only one.  I Can’t find one anywhere!

Here is where you can help me.    Do you have a source?  Let me know in the comment section below so everyone can check it out, please I’m begging you.  Wow, this crazy stamper is sounding a little desperate this morning, lol. 

Hope your day is filled with good impression!

Until my next post. .. . . . . . . .

Michelle