This weeks entry to FMS228

I’m getting in this week right under the wire.  This week’s challenge closes tomorrow!  I’ve been distracted because I also started a “Skin and Hair” coloring class over at Kit and Clowder who I personally believe are the best resource to improve your coloring techniques.  They also have a Facebook page so if you’re at all interested or just curious, go take a look at the absolutely amazing posts on their FB page.  There classes are very thorough with a class printed booklet with all the lessons and videos too!  The students can upload their projects and/or class practice sheets for feedback from the incredible instructor Alyce.  The price is really affordable too.  On the website the “skin and hair” class is listed at 70aud which is about $42 in American currency.  WOW!  I know…..I don’t know where else you could get this quality of instruction at that price that also includes all your class materials and feedback!  Oh, and you can download as many practice images that you might need with no extra charge.

Back to the challenge.  I just love this little “Puddles Girl” stamp set from Pink and Main.  I used it for another challenge earlier. I began, as always stamping and coloring.  I wanted to paper piece the umbrella and found some designer paper with hearts that I wanted to use from my stash, so that paper sort of dictated what colors I would use for her raingear.

I knew it would be a risk to make the partial circle in the left top of the sketch a big storm cloud but did it anyway because quite frankly my entries have never been picked so I do what is fun for me!  I used Panpastels to make my storm cloud and the wet pavement under the girl.  I used black, Titanium white and Ultramarine blue PanPastels.  I colored the raindrops and puddle with Copic Markers.

I really want to tell you about my newest craft purchase.  It’s called a Misti which comes from “Most Incredible Stamp Tool Invented” and it is just that!  It’s sold by “My Sweet Petunia“.  They have a website.

 

In the above photo I have placed the stamp over the cardstock where I want her to be.  The black circles are magnets that come with it that holds your paper down.

This photo shows how the lid picks up your stamp.  You then ink it and reclose the lid.  Here’s the magic though……If your stamp didn’t ink consistently or not dark enough, you just open the lid, re-ink the stamp and close the lid again.  There is no possible way you could re-stamp using an acrylic block and get it exactly where you first stamped.  Can you even imagine how valuable that is when stamping sentiments!  Oh, and don’t even get me started on little teeny tiny stamps.  This stamp comes with 4 little rain drops.  Not only could I re-stamp them but I love how I can sort of audition them by closing the lid and seeing how the next set of raindrops look before I ink.  YAY!  See below

In this picture above you can also see how the grid on the lid also makes sure your sentiments will always be straight!  Another big YAY!  If you’re an Elizabeth Craft Designs fan, there is a great video of Karen Burniston using the Misti. I think this is the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nu1FkhWytg&feature=player_detailpage

It seemed a little pricey when I first saw it at $50 but when I finally decided to treat myself it was $60!  Yikes!  I rationalized it because the money came from selling craft stamps on Ebay that I no longer use. Now that I have it, I can honestly tell you it is the tool I most value!  I just love it!  If you stamp a lot you need it!  Just get it!

Back to the card. I wanted the raindrops and puddle to look wet so I used another product I love called “Crystal Lacquer”.  I added this after I colored the drops and puddle with Copics.  It takes a while to dry but totally worth it because I love the effect.

The blue card base measures 5.5″ x 7″  The white cardstock measures 5″ x 7″. I really hope you enjoyed taking a look and learned something.  Thank you so much!

Materials Used

Stamp set: Pink and Main

Cardstock: Printed, Echo Park see photo  Blue, Recollections “Cape Cod”

Copic Markers.

Misti

Crystal Lacquer