Jan 10 2009
Knobbly Gnome Will Never Be Gone - Tutorial #163
One thing I would like to do this year is to use every stamp I have once. That being said, it is a very unrealistic idea. I have way more stamps than can be used in a year or two or three. Even with having so many stamps I am unable to part with some very old favorites and I find I do use these stamps at least twice a year so they have earned their right to stay in my craft room. This set by Stampin’ Up “Knobbly Gnomes” is a set that will be very, very hard for me to part with. When I feel like coloring this is the set I turn to. It has become like an old friend. Just like the music I am listening to “Janis Joplin” while creating this tutorial. Somethings just speak to your heart. What speaks to your heart that others may find different or out of the norm?
Well let’s get started with the tutorial already. 
Supplies:
| Stamps: Stampin’ Up Knobbly Gnomes & See D’s Silhouettes |
| Paper: Stampin’ up Whisper White, Blue Bayou, Really Rust |
| Ink: Stampin’ Up Sage Shadow, Night of Navy, Baja Breeze & Not Quite Navy, Palette Noir Black |
| Accessories: Prismacolor Markers, Sponges, Circle Cutter, Black marker, Versamark Marker, Fine Detail Clear embossing powder and a heat gun |
On a 4″ square piece of Whisper White card stock I stamped a gnome with Palette Noir Black ink. I chose this ink to use because it resist smearing when used with solvent based markers such as Prismacolor. I also heat set the Palette Noir ink a bit with my heat gun. Not sure if this makes a difference, but it makes me feel warm, lol.
Colored the mushroom and book pages with an Eggshell Prismacolor marker.
Colored the top of the mushroom with a Deco Peach Prismacolor marker.
Colored the very top of the mushroom cap with a Sand Prismacolor Maker.
Went over the Mushroom with the Eggshell marker again to blend the colors together so I wouldn’t have any harsh lines.
Colored his shoes and his hat with a Green Tea Prismacolor Marker.
Added Olive Prismacolor Marker to the right side of the hat and the dark parts of his shoes.
Went over his hat and shoes with the Green Tea marker to blend the colors together.
See a pattern here on how I do my shading?
Added Goldenrod Prismacolor marker to the Gnomes hair, patches on his pants, laces on his shoes and a bit on the top of the mushroom and in the dark areas of the book pages.
I try to use each color in two different areas or more so my color pallet doesn’t get too busy.
Colored his pants with Blue Slate Prismacolor marker. Let one coat dry and then added a bit more to the wrinkles on the pants image to darken them.
Added more Goldenrod to the book pages.
Colored his face and ears with Cream Prismacolor marker.
That being done I colored over the entire image with a Versamark marker. I start with the light colors first and color over the darkest ones last. This helps keep dark colors from smearing into the light ones. Clean the tip of your Versamark marker a lot by whipping it on your scrap paper until it comes out clean.
Note: Your image will be a few shades darker after you apply Versamark over it.
Heat embossed the image using fine detail clear embossing powder and a heat gun.
Cut a 3″ circle from card stock and use it as a mask for the moon. I hold this mask in place as I sponge around it. When done with the circle mask I put it in a baggie for another project.
So with the Circle mask in place I sponged Baja Breeze ink around the moon mask leaving a flat area at the bottom of the card stock to represent the ground.
Let’s remove the mask and take a peak. :) So far so good. Back on with the mask.
Getting darker yet in the sky area, sponged Not Quite Navy around the edge not covering the Baja Breeze ink entirely.
Remove the mask and sponged Sage Shadow ink at the bottom of the card stock.
Sponged Night of Navy around the entire edge of the card stock.
Assembled my panels and felt this piece was missing something so I decided to stamp some weeds in the foreground.
I stamped the leaves 3 times going over all the layers of card stock. This is never a good idea. You will end up with really big voids in your images. Note: be very sure you have a marker to match the ink you are stamping with so you can fill in those voids you will have.
Filled the voids in the stamped images with a Black marker. Sometimes you really need to be creative to figure out what is missing in the stamped image.
Well here is my finished card measuring 5.5″ square.
I hope this tutorial has inspired you to get out one of your old stamps and put on some old favorite music that you haven’t heard in a while and stamp your heart out.
Until my next post. . . . . . . . .. . .
Hugs,
Michelle
Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/
Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar
Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/
Michelle,
Some days I will open up your site and just review all the wonderful pieces that you have. When I was growing up, art was so far from my reach, I would stare in wonder at people who I felt was so privileged to have art as part of their life. In school, teachers were selective on who took art (so glad that is not the case today). So that said, I feel like a small child each time I come close to your site. You are that teacher I dreamed of someday having, kind, gentle in your tutorials to the point that no one could be offended in their lack of knowledge. You arm us with that knowledge. Thank you so very, very much. Blessings, Vicky
Very kool card Michelle!! I really like the color combination!!
Take care and STAY POSITIVE!
Oh so lovely! I’m love seeing how you shade w/ your markers. Learning so much from your detailed pictures. I have this set and am very inspired to get it out again….
Another fantastic creation!
You are such a gift. I’ve been experimenting these last few weeks with your techniques. I would never have purchased a brayer without these tutorials. I’m melting the images too much so far. I heard some people heat the image from the back. Any suggestions? I’m doing placing an object on a table in one of your earlier tutorials. Your explicit directions and photos give us such confidence. Your site is an important part of my day. Thanks so much.
Bernice
Michelle what a wonderful and whimsical card I love the gnome. I also love the colors you chose. As always thank you for sharing
Debbie/Phx AZ
can you come up to Alberta Canada and learn me in your ways of the brayer??????? I wish I had half your talent.
The grumpy gnome makes me laugh.
Speaking to my heart.
I enjoy having a large group of my teenage DD’s friends over to the house. And if they sleep over it is a bonus. And if they can spend the following day here, I am really happy. Heck, two nights here and that would be a perfect week end. I love listening to all the laughing and silly stories they share.
Many times they want to go to Target, Borders or a video store. I don’t mind. It is fun to watch the girls.
You are an unending inspiration - beautiful work!
xxxxxxx
Every morning this is the first place I check to what amazing creation you have made. I have learned so much from your tutorials, I have tried almost all of them. Thanks for the inspirations.
Super cute card!
I have trouble parting with my stamps. I keep trying to thin out the collection, make room for new ut just can’t seem to let any of them go. They are like little buddies.
How adorable! Thank you once again for sharing your tremendous talent with us. A couple more tutorials like this and I may crack and get that set of Prisma Markers. I’m in awe of how beautiful your shading is. I wanna be YOU.
As for what speaks to my heart that is outta the norm, would you believe painting as in painting the walls of my house? If my husband wouldn’t divorce me, I’d paint a different room every week. Everyone tells that’s twisted! But that’s me!
Have a wonderful day and thanks again for sharing your remarkable talent.
Michelle!! This is so weird! First, I love your card and thanks so much for the tutorial on coloring. Each time I visit your Blog I get another few tips on techniques. The weird part comes in with the Gnome and Janice Joplin. Friday we ran sum errands which took us right next door to the book/music store. We ran in just to take a quick look. I found Janis’s Pearl album on CD AND bought it! I hadn’t heard that album in years. I wasn’t looking for it exactly I just came upon it. And I have been looking for a Gnome stamp since my Mom collects them and I wanted to do a card for her. She is fighting breast cancer and I like to send encouragement any way I can. I listened to Janis while I tried my hand at a book mark. I’ll post it with a link to this blog in a while. Thanks for the great day wishes and right back atcha!
That is so, so, so adorable.
Oh Michelle, this is my absolute favorite card. I love that little Knobbly Knome set and I don’t know what I will do when it wears out. Thank you so much for adding this bit of whimsy to my Sunday.
Wendy
He looks like fun! Cute!
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is amazing… I know I always say that…but you truly blow me away with your talent…. This is a set I can now kick myself for not getting… I can see that little gnome just sitting in the moon lit night having a grand ole time…
Thanks for all your amazing tutorials… you’ve taught me so much
Another great card. Your mind must go 24/7 to come up with all these ideas!
What a cute card ! It amazes me how you can pick up any stamp and just create an amzing card. I love the colors, and the little gnome is so cute, and whimsical.
Well if you hadn’t told us I would never have noticed the ‘touched up’ bits! I love all the different styles you come up with. January is kind of a stock take month & I have to take a good hard look at what I’ve got & see if I can remove any redundant stamps. Trouble is as soon as I get rid of them I KNOW I’m going to find a use for them?
Michelle,
I’m sitting here in my pj’s lol, and I’m so excited to hear you say you are going to use a different stamp each day for your cards. I just hope I have alot of the ones you use, although I know I can put something I have that is similar to what you use. Yahoo, can’t wait. I so enjoy your site! Hope you have a wonderful Sunday.
Your work is fabulous! I must take a look through the rest of your blog to pick up some hints on techniques. I have a difficult time getting the right effect when I sponge the edges of my cards….. always too blotchy looking!
Absolutely beautiful Michelle! I love the colours in this card and of course the gnome is fantastic. Your work is so inspiring. Have a wonderful day!
Michelle this is another creative beauty. I love this stamp. Why doesnt SU have more great stamps like this? But every thing you do “I want that stamp “:) I said the same thing about using the stamps that I have, I do not own many but I have not used all I have. And thanks so much for the details on the color of your makers, it helps so much. I do not own any “yet” but when I do, it will be great to come back here and practice.
Michelle,
I never was into gnomes…but, I must say, this little guy is quite adorable. That’s because you can transform anything into beauty!
Thanks for the tips in blending…I could use help with my blending. I just bought a large set of copic markers… I have been practicing and trying to learn how to blend with them…it will take me some time.
Thanks again,
Linzie
When I grow up I want to be Michelle Zindorf …
Another wonderful card! What a cute gnome! Love the large moon and how you added the weeds.
Very cute image, wonderful card!! Great tutorial, it really cleared it up for me how you make it so cohesive using the same colors in different locations. Thank you!
Hi Michelle~
Here I am in my jammies with no thought of getting out of them anytime soon (it’s 12:45 p.m.)!
I love this card. I like the way there is no doubt where the light source is coming from so the right side of the little gnome’s hat is a lighter green than the left side. He is quite adorable, and this is the first I’ve seen him. Must be an older, retired set?
Here’s an idea for coloring in the missing leaves and stems with black marker: stamp the leaf image on scrap paper, then look at it periodically to see what’s missing and needs to be filled in on your project. That might not require so much “creativity,” as you call it, when filling in the gaps.
Thanks much for continually sharing your talent, techniques, and tips!
hugs,
~jeanie.
Love the gnome in the moonoight! I have a fairy stamp that would work with this layout. I’ll have to try it someday. The weeds made a great finishing touch. You asked what speaks to my heart? Old favourite songs really speak to my heart. I love the music of the sixties. *L* I guess that ages me doesn’t it? Take care and happy colouring.
Trish
Great card Michelle. I can see why you like that stamp…what a cutie.
Hugs
Heather
another great work of art You have such talent thanks for always sharing with us
Hugs
Norine
What a wonderful job you have done (again!) I also love this stamp set.
This little guy is adorable. Wonderful card Michelle. Thanks for sharing!
This is and adorable set and i wish i could have gotten it when it came out. i like the card you made with it today. Your art is amazing.
Love the card - love the stamp!!!
I did it! I did it! Thanks to you and your tutorials I have finally ordered my very first brayer! Now, how many years of constant practice will it take me to get my cards looking anything like yours? LOL!
Thanks for yet another fabulous tutorial. I totally love the gnome.
Minna
It’s been a long while since I’ve commented here Michelle, because You leave me in awe and most times I find myself too speechless to express just how beautiful your cards are. I think I have depleted my vocabulary of descriptive words so I’ll just say
AWESOMELY BEAUTIFUL, and thanks again for sharing.
Have a great day
I have the gnome set too. I collect knomes for my garden and am always sad when we put them away for the winter.
For me, every stamp earns the right to be in mt craft room just by being bought. I can’t get rid of stamps. I find that I move in cycles. For a while I’ll be into one type of stamp and then it will change and another type will appeal to me. Then suddenly something I have used for a very long time will be on my mind and out it comes. I never know what I might want, so I want it ALL! LOL
My music while I stamp…it can be anything from country to rock to classical to R & B to jazz to pop…I like it all and it just depends what kind of mood I am in. Jazz seems especially soothing, especially the saxophone. I love that!
Happy belated New Year! I had gotten out of my routine of checking your blog because of the holiday break:) So happy to see you up and running again. This card is simply adorable! Now I need to get my cup of tea and look through the older January post!
I love the idea of trying to use all the stamps I own this year. I’ll admit that I have some new ones that have not seen ink yet:)
Michelle, I love this set also and I don’t get to play with it often enough. Thanks for the push, I’m going to pull it out again. BTW, great card as always!!
Been studying for my Real Estate exam…taking a break to catch-up on your tutorals. U love Gnomes..one of my flower gardens and deck have quite a few and I enjoy all of them. I LOVE this card!!
[…] and Magical Image Swap on SCS and I got this adorable gnome (and more) from it. So when I saw Michele Zindorf’s card made with the same image I had to try it too. The picture came out a bit “blah” - […]