Be Jolly

More sprightly fun with the elves in the workshop...

Today Little Elf Kit (illustrated by Mo Manning/Penny Black) is visiting.  An elevated frame was created with Jolly Chant stamped in Niagara Mist.  Underneath, on the card base, is a small piece of purple cardstock to fill the window.  Elf Kit was stamped on a separate piece of white cardstock in Onyx Black VersaFine, colored with Copics, and then fussy cut.  A portion of a longer sentiment (Christmas Wishes) was used to accent the star.

Have a holly-jolly day,
Elizabeth

Supplies:
Penny Black Stamps: Little Elf Kit 40-263, Jolly Chant 40-250, Christmas Wishes 30-196
Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Fuchsia Fantasies 13-002
3M Dimensional Foam Tape
Copic Markers
Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Niagara Mist VersaMagic, Clear Embossing Powder
Sakura: White Gel Pen

HO HO HO!

With the holidays approaching, the elves are busy creating happy smiles.

I use my Spellbinders Flower Pot die cut upside down more than right side up.  It is a great shape for images that format into a triangular configuration.

Little Elf Ava (illustrated by Mo Manning) was stamped on a separate piece of white cardstock in Onyx Black VersaFine and heat embossed with clear powder.  After coloring with Copics and trimming, she was layered onto the shaped card.  A second layer of the arms holding the star were doubled up on top for additional dimension.  The background is Warm Wishes stamped in Bamboo Leaves Memento. A soft sponging of white gesso softened the edges.

Have a happy day, 

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Little Elf Ava 40-265, Warm Wishes 40-074, Whooo's Wishing 30-190 (sentiment)
Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock:  Spring Meadow 06-001
3M Scotch Dimensional Foam Tape
Copics
Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Bamboo Leaves Memento, Clear Embossing Powder
Sakura: White Gel Pen
Spellbinders: Flower Pots (S5-060)
Other: Gesso

Joy * Peace * Love

Holiday joy with Penny Black's "Gathering" illustrated by Mo Manning.

Chalks and pastels are fun alternatives for backgrounds.  This soft, snowy sky was created by stamping Crystal Pattern in VersaMark Watermark ink and lightly pouncing on Phthalo Blue Tint PanPastel with a Sofft Art Sponge.  Firmer dabbing pressure around the outside edge will yield darker tones and enhance the highlighting effect.

More ideas and techniques for using PanPastels can also be found on their Facebook Page.

Have a great day,
Elizabeth

Supplies:
Penny Black Stamps: Gathering 40-264, Crystal Pattern 40-162, A Better World 4349E
Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Fall Festival 16-003
3M Scotch Dimensional Foam Tape
Copics
Colorfin:  Phthalo Blue Tint PanPastel, Sofft Art Sponge
Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, VersaMark Watermark Ink, Clear Embossing Powder

Igloo Snuggle

Snowflakes are starting to dance about ...time to snuggle.

This is a fun image to color and layer. (Penny Black: Igloo illustrated by Mo Manning)  The little flag was created by painting a toothpick black.

Have a warm and cozy day,
Elizabeth

Supplies:
Penny Black Stamps: Igloo 40-267 (illustrated by Mo Manning), Love At Christmas 30-187 (sentiment), Christmas Harmony 30-194 (snowflakes)
Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Fall Festival 16-003
3M Dimensional Foam Tape
Copic Markers
Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Love Letter Memento, VersaMark Watermark, Clear Embossing Powder, White Embossing Powder, Jumbo Sponge Dauber.

Holiday Hints with Penny Black: Day 5

It was an honor to design on the Penny Black Blog all this week!  

Before I go, one last project for the special "Holiday Hints" feature.  

A sneak peek for Day 5....

Click HERE for the full reveal.

Previous full reveal "Holiday Hints" posts can be viewed by clicking on the corresponding day below:

DAY 1

DAY 2

DAY 3

DAY 4

Thank you for all your visits!

Elizabeth

Holiday Hints with Penny Black: Day 4

So excited to be designing all this week on the Penny Black Blog with a special "Holiday Hints" feature.

Here's a sneak peek at Day 4....

Click HERE for the full reveal.

"All throughout the year",

Elizabeth

Holiday Hints with Penny Black: Day 3

So excited to be designing all this week on the Penny Black Blog with a special "Holiday Hints" feature.

Here's a sneak peek for Day 3....

Click HERE for the full reveal.

"Sweet" wishes,

Elizabeth

Holiday Hints with Penny Black: Day 2

So excited to be designing all this week on the Penny Black Blog with a special "Holiday Hints" feature.

Here's a sneak peek for Day 2 .....

Click HERE for the full reveal.

Wishing you a "luminescent" day...

Elizabeth

Holiday Hints with Penny Black: Day 1

So excited to be designing all this week on the Penny Black Blog with a special "Holiday Hints" feature.

Here's a sneak peek for today's project....

Click HERE for the full reveal.

Wishing you a day of "sheer" happiness,

Elizabeth

Studio Sessions: PITT Pastel Pencils, 4 of 4

It has been an exciting week launching Studio Sessions with Jill. We are already working on the next series and can't wait to share the inky fun.  Before we close the week, one more card using PITT Pastel Pencils. 

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft PITT Pastel Pencils
Additional Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Inspiration on their BLOG and FACEBOOK PAGE

Today I am taking advantage of the rich opacity of PITT Pastel Pencils and using them on colored cardstock.

Poppies (Penny Black) were inked with a Stamper's Big Brush pen in black and stamped on grey cardstock.  PITT Pastel Pencils from the blue/green, red/yellow and neutrals collections were used to color and highlight the flowers.  The neutral PITT Pastel Pencils added subtle shading accents underneath the blooms and along the stems.

Tip/Hint:  If desired, a light fixative can be sprayed on the artwork to prevent smudging. 

The flowers were masked to protect them while Letter Background (Penny Black) inked with a Stamper's Big Brush Pen in cold grey was stamped across the background.  Before removing the masks, gesso from Faber-Castell's Textural Accents Sampler was "flicked" onto the design. 

The artwork was adhered to a panel stamped with the sentiment (Penny Black) in black pigment ink.  The entire piece was then placed on the front of a card blank with dimensional foam tape.

And here is Jill's Friday finale.  

To see the previous three Studio Sessions you can scroll down after this post or click on the links provided below:

DAY 1

DAY 2

DAY 3

Have a fabulous weekend!

I will be back on Monday to kick off another special week-long event....
  
Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Blooming Garden 30-155, Edge to Edge 30-164, Letter Background 1999L

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Storm 01-002 (Gray)

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft:

  Mix & Match PITT Pastel Pastel Pencils (blue/green, red/yellow, neutrals)

  Stamper’s Big Brush Pens (Black 199, Deep Scarlet Red 219, Magenta 133, Cold Grey 232)
  Textural Accents Sampler: Gesso

Other: Black Pigment Ink Pad, Clear Embossing Powder, Blending Stump

Studio Sessions: PITT Pastel Pencils, 3 of 4

Holiday cheer for today's Studio Session.

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft PITT Pastel Pencils
Additional Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Inspiration on their BLOG and FACEBOOK PAGE

Switching gears with my PITT Pastel Pencils and using them over inked images. 

The opaque chalk pastel allows for superb coverage and you can easily achieve multiple colors in a stamped image that has solid graphic areas.

It is good to start with an impression created with a non-smudging ink (i.e. dye or archival).  This wreath (Penny Black) was inked with a Stamper's Big Brush pen in light cobalt turquoise, which is a waterproof, India ink.

The leaves were accented PITT Pastel Pencils in green and yellow while the berries were darkened with red.  A shiny sheen was added to the berries with Glaze from Faber-Castell's Textural Accents Sampler.

Don't miss Jill's colorful post.

Have a great day.
Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Merry & Happy 40-261

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Fuchsia Fantasies 13-002

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft:

  Mix & Match PITT Pastel Pastel Pencils (Collections: blue/green, red/yellow, neutrals)

  Stamper’s Big Brush Pens (Deep Scarlet Red 219, Magenta 133, Light Cobalt Turquoise 154)
  Textural Accents Sampler

Other: Black Pigment Ink Pad (sentiment), Clear Embossing Powder (sentiment), Blending Stump

Studio Sessions: PITT Pastel Pencils, 2 of 4

Welcome to Day 2 of Studio Sessions featuring PITT Pastel Pencils.

The vibrant chalk pastels are available in three mix & match collections:  red/yellow, blue/green and neutrals.

 Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft PITT Pastel Pencils
Additional Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Inspiration on their BLOG and FACEBOOK PAGE

PITT Pastel Pencils offer many possibilities for blending and highlighting.  By using short bending strokes, colors within small intricate areas can be intensified and delicate shadows can be achieved.  This worked extremely well for the small berries.

Holly Concert (Penny Black) inked with a black Stamper's Big Brush Pen was stamped on white cardstock.  PITT Pastel Pencils (blue/green, red/yellow and neutral collections) were added to the image.  

Highlighting with the gray PITT Pastel Pencil softened the design and added a subtle glow.  Blending was done with my fingertip.  

Tip/Hint:  PITT Pastel Pencil markings can easily be erased which provide additional options for manipulating the color and intensity.

The Mix & Match qualities of Faber-Castell's products are fabulous for coordinating colors between different mediums.  As seen here, the red mat created by applying Stamper's Big Brush Pens in deep scarlet red and magenta to white cardstock coordinates fabulously with the pastel pencil medium.  This is also a savvy way to save on colored cardstock when just a small portion is exposed within the design.  In addition, the same Stamper's Big Brush Pens were used to alter the ribbon.

A few vertical dry embossed lines at the bottom of the card base lends a bit more "visual" weight to the design and anchors the matted artwork.

The pencils sharpen magnificently too.

Join me as I pop into Jill's section of the studio to see how she worked her magic today.

See you tomorrow with Part 3.

Thank you for visiting,
Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Holly Concert 4337K, Thinking of You 30-023

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft:

  PITT Pastel Pastel Pencils (blue/green, red/yellow, neutrals)

  Stamper’s Big Brush Pens (Black 199, Deep Scarlet Red 219, Magenta 133)

Other: Black Pigment Ink Pad (for sentiment), Blending Stump

Studio Sessions: PITT Pastel Pencils, 1 of 4

Welcome to the first collaborative post of Studio Sessions.  I am ecstatic to be sharing a virtual studio with my friend and colorful artist, Jill Foster, in a new series of artful adventures.    

During our Studio Sessions we will feature a product, technique or idea that will we both be using which will be highlighted during the collaboration.    

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft PITT Pastel Pencils
Additional Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Inspiration on their BLOG and FACEBOOK PAGE

For my first studio session project with PITT Pastel Pencils, I colored this feathery friend.

To begin, Winter Perch (Penny Black) was inked with Faber-Castell's Stamper's Big Brush Pen in black and stamped on white cardstock.  Tip/Hint:  Un-embossed images are typically easier to color and blend.

PITT Pastel Pencils (blue/green, red/yellow and neutral collections) were added in layers to create definition and depth.

The fussy cut image was layered with dimensional foam on a small piece of mat board cut from Faber-Castell's Mini Mixed Media Journal.  Letter Background (Penny Black) stamped in watermark ink and heat embossed with clear powder created a resist for the application of butterscotch Gelato which was blended with a moist towel.  Edged highlights were added with a Stamper's Big Brush Pen in nougat.

I implemented several blending methods when working with the PITT Pastel Pencils.  In addition to using my fingertip and a soft cotton towel, I found a blending stump to be extremely helpful in working in small, intricate areas.  Also, PITT Pastel Pencil color applied with soft "flicking" motions worked well for controlling definition.  

There's more!  Now you can visit Jill to see how she used her PITT Pastel Pencils.

We will be back tomorrow with more inspiration from Studio Sessions.

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Winter Perch 4367H, Letter Background 1999L

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft:

  PITT Pastel Pencils (blue/green, red/yellow, neutrals)

  Mini Mixed Media Journal

  Gelatos (Butterscotch)

  Stamper’s Big Brush Pens (Black 199, Nougat 178)

Other: Clear Embossing Stamp Pad, Clear Embossing Powder, Blending Stump

Introducing...Studio Sessions!

I am very excited to share a new art adventure.  I will collaborating with my good friend and fellow artist, Jill Foster, in "Studio Sessions". 

We will be debuting our first four collaborative posts starting tomorrow which will also reveal our feature product.  

We hope you will stop by to check out all the fun! 

....Elizabeth

Penny Black Fan Favorites

Check out this fabulous event "here" for 

Penny Black Club Members.

Not a club member?  

No problem....sign up HERE in a flash!

Flip It: Two for One

Flipping a holiday stamp to get two cards from one design.

 The hanging ornaments (Penny Black - City Lights)

were inverted to create birthday balloons.

After randomly applying Memento inks to 

the image it was stamped on white cardstock.

Shimmer Creative Medium was 

applied to the trimmed element.  

The elements were then matted with colored cardstock

 and attached to the prepared cards.

Enjoy "flipping out" with your stamps!

Elizabeth

Supplies:
Penny Black Stamps:  City Lights 40-270, Friendship 30-160
Penny Black Les Petites 90-001
Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Fuchsia Fantasies 13-002, Storm 01-003
3M Scotch Dimensional Foam Tape
Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Bahama Blue Memento, Pear Tart Memento, Tangelo Memento, Lilac Posies Memento, Creative Medium (Shimmer)