Sparkle Tart by Kate Palmer

Copic Keyboard

Ok so I saw some keyboard stickers on Pinterest, and thought I'd try something similar with my Copic markers.  What do you guys think of my keyboard???

May your day sparkle,

Copic Bling Flowers - Part 3 of 3 in the Copic Coloured Flowers Series

This is the third flower technique  in my Copic Coloured Flowers series, Flower #1 used 2 colours of Copic markers, Flower #2 used 3 colours from differing families and added in a little bling.  This technique ramps up the sparkle power and when combined with some creative Copic combinations produces stunning results.  Depending on your flower choice (flat or dimensional) will decide how many colours you can use to create the copic colour of your flower.  For smaller flowers fewer colours are best, on larger flowers you can use 3 or more colours.

For these flowers you will need:

• Mulberry Paper Flower
• 2 or 3 Copic Markers
• Colorless Blender Various Ink Refill
• X-Press It Clear Gel Glue
• Heat Gun /Embossing Gun
• Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Spray (I used Creme Brulee Cream) or Glitz Spritz (I used Royal Amethyst Fire) you could also use the Perfect Pearls Mist from Ranger
• Gala Glitz in White

Instructions:

1. Begin with flower of your choice, flat (like a gardenia) or dimensional (like a rose).  
2. Choose colours of Copic Markers to add to your flower - for a realistic effect perhaps choose colours from a natural blending family or colours that may exist in nature, or go for a wild combination of fantasy colours - the choice is yours.  
3. Apply colour to flower in one of the methods described above.
4. Add Colorless Blending solution to blend and soften colours, then dry with a heat gun.   

It's at this point you add the bling - building on our previously learned techniques.  For each of the following flowers you need to have completed steps 1 to 4.

Example: Shimmer Flower

Copic colours used on this flower BV11 &BV17

After completing steps 1 to 4 spray entire flower with a pale or colourless shimmer spray (I used Starburst Sprays), and dry with heat gun / embossing gun, for a result that looks like this:

Example: Bling Flower

Copic Colours used on this flower YR15 & R39

After completing steps 1 to 4 add Clear Gel Glue to tips of lower petals and sprinkle Gala Glitz over top.  Carefully turn flower upside down and tap to remove excess product and then allow glue to dry completely before use.  DO NOT dry with a heat gun as this can cause your glue to bubble or embellishments to melt.  This gives a result that looks like this:

Example: Shimmer & Bling Flower

Copic colours used on this flower BG13 & BV13

After completing steps 1 to 4  spray entire flower with a pale or colourless shimmer spray (you could even use more than one colour of spray), then add Clear Gel Glue to tips of lower petals and sprinkle Gala Glitz over top.  Carefully turn flower upside down and tap to remove excess product and then allow glue to dry completely before use.   You can also apply these 'bling' techniques to the flatter gardenias and similar flowers. This gives a result that looks like this:

 

You can watch these flowers being created here:

 

May your day sparkle,

Tri-Coloured Flowers - Part 2 of 3 in the Copic Coloured Flowers Series

This is the second flower in my Copic Coloured Flowers series, Flower #1 used 2 colours of Copic markers, this flower uses 3 colours from differing families and adds in a little bling to create a stunning fantasy flower.  This technique really works well on flatter flowers like the gardenia I used here, and though I have used a mulberry paper flower you can use this same technique on fabric flowers also - it looks amazing on satin, though your colours will turn out much lighter!

For this flower you will need:

• Mulberry Paper Flower  - I like using gardenias for this
• 3 Copic Markers from across colour families (I used: V09, RV09 & YR09)
• Colorless Blender Various Ink Refill
• Stickles Glitter Glue - I used Diamond
• Heat Gun /Embossing Gun

Instructions:

Begin with a white or light coloured paper flower (I like gardenias because they are easy to colour). Choose 3 colours of copic marker (this works to best effect if you choose 3 colours each from a different colour family - though can use a natural blending family as well if you like).

Colour the centre of the flower (avoiding the stamens) - I used V09, you can pick any of the colours to be your centre colour.

Then colour the remaining layers of petals, with the same colour - only add this colour to the to the inner part of each petal.  Your flower should look like this.

Add your second colour next to the first, overlapping a little - making sure to leave white space on each petal for your third and final colour.  Add this second colour to all petals, your flower should now look like this.

Add the third and final colour to remaining white areas of flower, overlapping the third colour over the second colour - you are not trying to blend here.

You should now have something like this and you are ready to add Colorless Blender fluid all over the flower - make sure you have thoroughly wet all petals so that the colours mix and blend.  For this flower you do not need to drip blender onto edges, just wet the flower all over so that the colours blend together.

Dry flower with heat gun / embossing gun as this produces best results.

Add a little stickles to the edges of each petal and leave to dry.

When dry your flower will look similar to this

 

You can watch this flower being created below:

May your day sparkle,

Bi-Coloured Realistic Flowers - Part 1 of 3 in the Copic Coloured Flowers Series

Let me start this post by saying I take no responsibility for anyone ending up with a Copic flower colouring addiction.  I'm warning you all these are fun, soooo easy and give fabulous results every time! This is flower #1 in my Copic Coloured Flower series there are 2 more gorgeous copic coloured flower techniques for you to try coming up next.

Please note each technique builds on the one preceding it, so there is some repetition of instructions.

Flower #1 - Using 2 Copic Markers for a Realistic Coloured Flower

This technique creates a fabulous flower that looks quite realistic, I love using roses for this as you can really see the colour blends on the underside of the petals.

For this flower you will need:

• Mulberry Paper Flower (I'm using a mulberry paper rose from I Am Roses)
• 2 Copic Markers from a natural blending family, this flower uses RV63 & RV66.
• Colorless Blender Various Ink Refill
• Heat Gun /Embossing Gun

Instructions:

Begin with a white or pale coloured paper flower and choose 2 colours of copic marker (I like to use colours that appear in my copic coloured image, from a natural blending family).  
For this flower I have used RV63 & RV66.

Colour 1/2 of each petal with your lightest colour working from the outer edge in towards the flower centre - make sure not to colour the whole petal.

 Using the darker colour, apply a thin strip of colour to the outer edge of each petal - I just run the side of my marker along the edge of the petals.

Your flower should look like this once finished applying colour from your Copic markers.  You will notice I've made no attempt to blend colours or be particularly neat here - this technique is very forgiving.

The next step is to apply a few drops of Colorless Blender to each petal - add the liquid to the outer edge of each petal - the fluid will wick towards the flower centre and drag a little colour along with it.

Dry the flower with a heat gun / embossing gun - this will take up to 45 seconds depending on how wet the flower is.

Drying with the heat gun will not only dry the liquid but it also results in discoloured edges to the petals (they darken considerably) giving a beautiful result.

I love how these turn out and honestly once you've made one these are so super fast to colour.

You can watch this flower being created here:

 

May your day sparkle,

Art To The Eggstreme

Lindy's Stamp Gang Blog Hop and Linky Party with PRIZES .....

Contest starts now and ends on March 31st 2013 at midnight and is open to everyone!.

There will be 3 winners, chosen by the Lindy's Team. 
Winners will be announced on the Lindy's Blog on April 5th 2013.

1st prize will get $50.00 gift certificate
2nd & 3rd prize will get $25.00 gift certificates.

To enter this fabulous giveaway you will need to:

1. Color and decorate any kind of eggs (styrofoam, paper mache, real, foil, plastic, etc.),
2. Use paint, mediums, paper, lace, fabric, trims, ribbons, beads, paper, etc. AND at least one Lindy's Stamp Gang product!   Please list the Lindy's Products used on your eggs on your post or in the description.
3. Post photos of your entry to your own blog, site, or album
4. Go to the post  LSG blog  "Art To The Eggstreme" and add a link to your project so we can all see your fabulous creations! 
5. You may only enter one creation - one entry per person.

The Lindy's Stamp Gang Design Team have created a bunch of eggy projects to inspire you (keep scrolling as mine mine is below).

Jessica

Sharon

Ivett

Bona

Limor

Kate (you are here)

Cynthia

 WARNING: the following is Photo Intensive!

For my EGGstreme art I chose to finish a project I'd had in mind for a while.  It's frivolous, purely decorative and a bit of fun and it is now decorating my craft room.  I've included a list of the materials I used and a bunch of photos so you can really see how gorgeous and shimmery my EGGstreme art looks :O)

What I used on the Eggs:

• Lindy's Stamp Gang Magical Micas: Icy Primrose, Tiger Lily Orange, Delphinium Turquoise and Hydrangea Blue
• Polystyrene eggs, were coated with Golden Clear Granular Gel, then painted with Magical Micas mixed in with a tiny bit of water to dissolve dye and Golden Regular Gel (Gloss).  Once dry they were then dipped into Golden Self Levelling Clear Gel x 3.

What I used on the Bird:

• Lindy's Stamp Gang Starbursts: Delphinium Turquoise
• Lindy's Stamp Gang Magical Micas: Icy Primrose, Tiger Lily Orange and Hydrangea Blue all mixed with Golden Regular Gel (Gloss)
• Bird from gift shop, you could look for these at store selling Wedding decorations

What I used on the Nest and Leaves:

• Lindy's Stamp Gang Starbursts: Dark Chocolate Truffle and Cadbury Milk Chocolate (nest) and Sea Mint Green, Bells of Ireland Green and Cathedral Pines Green (leafy material)
• Nest from Darice 'Nest on Twig Stem'
• Leafy material if Florists filler - leafy material dyed green

 

Here are the photos I promised, to begin with the finished bird, eggs and nest.

 

 

This is how I've used these, I had a small decorative bird cage, one of those spur of the moment purchases, and the nest and bird fit perfectly inside like this.

Good luck to everyone who enters the EGGstreme Art contest, I can't wait to see what you all create!

May your day sparkle,

Lindy's Starbursts on Hair Acccessories

Ladies - did you know you can use your Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Sprays to colour fabric? You did? Well have you considered using them to colourise YOUR wardrobe and not just your craft projects?

This is another foray Off-the-page for me and I have to say the results are well worth the effort.

Supplies Needed:

• Fabric flower: clips, pins, hairbands etc from $2 store, chemist or handmade
• Stickles: Black Soot and Stardust  you could alternatively use Graphite Pearl Pen, Black Pearl Pen and Holographic Glitter Liner from the Viva Decor range
• Viva Decor Glass Effect Pen
• Starburst Sprays: Afternoon Delight Denim, Carpathian Bluebells, French Lilac Violet, Magnolia Magenta Gold and Wisteria Purple Blue

Instructions:

1.  Begin with clean fabric flower, depending on if the flower has more cotton = darker colours, more synthetic will result in lighter colours.

I've chosen to use flowers attached to hair pins - you could use anything you choose.

Work on one flower at a time, unless you'd like them both the same colours. 
In the most simple way to create a coloured flower, begin with a white or pale coloured flower.

2. Spray lightest colour Starburst Spray onto flower first, this is Carpathian Bluebells.

Cover as much or as little of the flower as you like, you can see I sprayed it all.

3.  I then like to spray the edges with the darkest colour, in this case it was Afternoon Delight Denim. 
Then leave until fully dry.

4. Begin on second flower, this one will be a little more layered.  Again begin with a white or pale flower.

5. This time I added Magnolia Magenta Gold to the centre of the flower.  This pink would make a wonderful lily flower all by itself.

6.  Then I sprayed French Lilac Violet over the tips of each petal. 

7. Then I added Wisteria Purple blue over the top of BOTH previous colours.

When you add too much liquid too quickly, some of the colour runs off the fabric as you can see below.  To achieve darker colours, you must add one or two colours, allow these to dry and then add extra colour over the top.

These are my flowers after drying, I love the blues but the purple flower is a little pale for what I had in mind.

8.  To darken the purple flower I have shaken my Starburst bottle, then carefully unscrewed the lid.  I am using the plastic straw to touch the flower petals and capillary action is doing the rest - the fabris sort of sucks the colour ot of the little tube.  Keep adding more liquid using the straw to dab it onto the petals until the petals are fully covered.  Yes you can spray it on - but this results in way more interesting patterns on your flowers.

This is how my flower now looks - a much richer and deeper colour.  While the camera has not picked it up there is also a large variety of colours visible in this flower.  Leave this to dry before proceeding to the next step.

9.  Using Black Soot Distress Stickles, add spots to the flowers to imitate the pattern on real lilies.

Be careful not to squeeze too much out at once.

10.  Add Rock Candy and Stardust stickles to the edge of each petal as you see fit.  A little or a lot it's your choice.  This adds sparkle and helps to seal the edge of the fabric.

11.  Lastly using Viva Decor Glass Effect Pen - add some random droplets to petals - when dry these will look like drops of water.

Up close you can see how all of these elements combine to create a truly beautiful and sparkly flower.

Trust me when I say that these are more stunning in person!

and of course you can watch the process in action on YouTube

 

May your day sparkle,

Pretty in Pink Tag

Hmm you can tell when I'm working on projects for a craft show, as the blog goes rather quiet.  I've just returned from Melbourne Paperific and I will be posting a few of the projects I created over the next weeks.  Up until recently making tags didn't interest me all that much - now I can't make enough of these beautiful little treasures, I've even considering making Christmas tags instead of Christmas cards.  Today I thought I'd create a tag using an array of beautiful flowers and embellishments from Prima - OK so it's a great excuse to get pretty and use some of those fabulous flowers I buy and then ummm sit there and admire - sigh yes I'm a Prima hoarder!

What you will need:

• Prima Products
  Flowers: Gillian Silk Flowers - Raspberry and Louisa May Alcotts - Bubblegum
  Prima Black Lace from the Almanac Twill Ribbon set
  Prima Wooden Buttons from Almanac Collection
• Distress stamp pads: Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint
• Dylusions Leaf stamp from set 'Further around the edge'
• Kaisercraft 12 x 12 Paper from Tigerlilly Collection: Coral
• Manilla tag from Inkssentials
• Self Adhesive Pearl
• Zva adhesive pearls
• Sickles - Stardust
• Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool
• Glossy Accents
• Collections Word Accessories sheet
• Leaf ribbon - Green
• Honeydew Twine from the Twinery

What I did:

1. Tear paper and adhere to tag - use both sides for added interest, allow glue to dry and trim off any overhanging paper.
   
   
2. Using blending tool, apply Shabby Shutters ink around edge of tag, I coloured about 1cm around each edge.  Then apply a darker layer to the very edge using Peeled Paint ink.
3. Ink leaf border stamp using Peeled Paint ink and stamp over top section of tag.
4. Glue black lace across where the 2 paper patterns meet.  Thread twine through wooden button and tie in a knot, use glossy accents to glue wooden button to lower portion of tag.
5. Choose the flowers for your tag, play with placement of flowers and leaf ribbon, then use glossy accents to glue in place.
6. Add adhesive brad to centre of one small flower and layer stickles around brad.
7. Trim excess lace and seal ends with glossy accents, cut cardboard word to size, glue onto tag and add a layer of glossy accents over the top to create a shiny raised effect.  Leave flat to dry for a few hours and you have an embellishment looking something like this....... 

A few close ups of the finished tag...

I hope you've enjoyed this post, why not give one of these cute tags a try yourself, go on bust out the Prima you've been hoarding, it won't get more valuable with age and it's not worth more 'in the original packaging' :O)

May your day sparkle,

Crayon Art Canvas with Magicals Background

Something a little different today - I'm creating an Off-the-page project using my yummy sparkly paints from Lindy's Stamp Gang.  Magicals and Color Shots are amazing pots of powder paint, shimmery, intense and oh so versatile.   The Magicals in particular are specially formulated to work as a paint when added to water and are suitable for use on paper, wood, canvas - basically most porous surfaces.  The thing I love most about these is you can control the shimmer intensity and colour depth, more powder = more shimmer and richer colour, less powder a less intense and less shimmery result.  Guess which one I go for the most ....  As for the Color Shots these are sold in wide mouth pots so you can do a wider range of things with them - I added clear glaze medium to all of mine so I can use them as a paint that could be used as a thin glaze of layered more more depth and shimmer.

 What I Used:

• Magicals or Color Shots from Lindy's Stamp Gang - Black Orchid Silver and Midnight Rendezvous Raven
• Jo Sonjas Clear Glazing Medium
• Chipboard word: Dream
• Flat paint brush and stippling brush (or sponge)
• Tim Holtz Detail Nib Waterbrush
• Crafter's Workshop Template - 12 x 12 'Paradise'
• Ice White Pearl Pen from Viva Decor
• Children's wax crayons eg: Crayola
• Pre-stretched canvas on wooden frame (I bought mine from a dollar store - cheap store)
• Heat tool
• Glossy Accents
• Glue Gun

What I did:

1. In a small airtight container, mix 2 tablespoons of glaze medium with 1/2 teaspoon of Black Orchid Silver Magicals (or whatever colour you choose), do not add the glaze medium directly to the Magicals pot as it is too small.  Stir well until Magicals are completely dissolved - for larger canvas projects you may need more mixture. You could also use Color shots for this, as they are in a larger jar with a wider mouth.

2. Paint the Black Orchid Silver Magical mixture evenly over entire canvas (including the edges) and leave to dry.  It should look a bit like this.

3. Glue crayons to top of canvas using hot glue gun, I put the colour name facing out, you may want the Crayola label facing forward or you may like a more random look for yours.  Leave hot glue to set.

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 4. Mix 2 tablespoons of glazing medium with 1/2 teaspoon of Midnight Rendezvous Raven Magicals in a small container (one with a lid is perfect if you have left over paint).  Stir well until Magicals are completely dissolved and then apply to lower half of canvas using stippling brush and stencil - I love the Paradise stencil from Crafter's Workshop that I used on this.  Again you could also use the Color Shots for this - that wide mouth jar is perfect for this type of thing.

Remove the stencil and wash immediately, leave the project to dry completely.

5.  Use heat tool to gradually melt crayons and allow them to run down surface of canvas, I tilted mine as I was heating, the greater the angle the faster the crayon runs, experiment with the tilt to achieve best results.  To get the crayon to form pools, reduce the angle of tilt - ie: position the canvas so it's almost flat.  Just keep heating until you're happy with how it looks.


6. When crayons cover as much of the canvas as you want them to, set aside canvas to cool and set.  While this is cooling, prepare chipboard word by painting with same colour of Magicals as used for background (Black Orchid Silver in this case) or you could choose a contrasting colour.  Paint Magicals directly onto chipboard using a water brush and allow to dry.

7.  Use Ice White Pearl Pen to add a few pearly spots to the word and allow to dry.

8.  Cover embellishment with Glossy Accents and use same product to adhere word embellishment to crayon or canvas, place wherever desired.

Hang finished canvas where the sparkly Magicals and shiny word will catch the light.

May your day sparkle,