Elegant Writer - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.  Today for Group of Seven, we are working with the Elegant Writer pen.  Christine first introduced me to this marker several years ago, but I didn't buy one for myself until last year.  I'm sorry I waited so long! :)

The pen is filled with water soluable ink.  When you add it to your card, the ink looks black, but add some water and you will have inks in gray, green, blue and pink show up.  It's really magical.  A little goes a long way. 

Please check out the details for the technique and link to video on the blog ...

Group of Seven Cardmakers

For both my cards today, I kept things CAS.  I was busy making cards ahead for upcoming commitments and packing up our house at the same time, so I kept things simple.  :)

For the card above, I used a wonderful image called Tree Poem (Stampendous), stamped in black and clear heat embossed.  I added a few lines of elegant writer here and there and then took a wet brush to spread the colours, dabbing with a paper towel which shows off the pink and blue colours.  I love the classic black and white colours with just a touch of added colour in the background.

Close-up ...

Here's what I learned when I experimented with this technique ...

• If you decide you want to buy one of the Elegant Writer pens, make sure it has a silver/gray casing.  This is the pen with the water soluable ink.  I mistakenly bought Elegant Writer pens that were in a black case ... permanent markers in black.  :)
• I found the video by Karlyn invaluable (you will find it on the Group of Seven blog).  She is an artist and also teaches art ... and she has lots of tips on how to use these amazing pens.
• I outlined images or partially outlined images and then added water to spread the ink.  If I wanted to add just a touch of colour, I would use a damp watercolour brush to pick up just a bit of colour directly from the tip of the Elegant Writer pen. 
• Once you add water and move the colour around, you must blot with a paper towel and that's when you will see more of the pink and blue colours.  
• As per Karlyn's video, I misted lightly from above to set the ink once I was finished.  Then I could leave my image as is, or add more watercolouring using inks or paints of different colours easily without any bleeding. 

* * * * *

Here's another CAS card using a black heat embossed image with the Elegant Writer pen.  Simple, but so pretty!

This time I used an image from the Create Chaos (Visible Image) stamp set.  Again, I kept it black and white with just a touch of colour from the elegant writer.

Sending this card to Simply Clean & Simple April Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Tree Poem (Stampendous); Many Everyday Message (Hero Arts)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Elegant Writer
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour brushes

Card #2:

Stamps:  Create Chaos (Visible Image); Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Elegant Writer
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour brushes)

Challenges:

Group of Seven - Elegant Writer

Simply Clean & Simple April Challenge

J-O-Y #8

Hi everyone.  I'm back with my eighth card using the Immense JOY die from Penny Black.  This is going to be the last JOY card for a while.  I scheduled this post ahead as we moved yesterday and my computer is unplugged and packed away. :)  

This is one of the images from the All the Trimmings stamp set (Penny Black).  I stamped the image in black ink, heat embossed in clear, and watercoloured with my Zigs. 

I finished the background of the card by using a black card front with in-laid JOY die in real red card stock.   I cut out around the image at the bottom so it would drape over the bottom of the "O" and give a bit of added dimension.

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card to Rudolph Days April Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  All the Trimmings (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!); Real Red card stock (SU!)

Ink:   Black (Memento); Zig markers
Accessories:   JOY die (Penny Black); Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool; watercolour brushes

Challenges:

Rudolph Days April Challenge

Penny Black - All-in-One Octagon

Hi everyone.  Today I've used the All-in-One Octagon (51-816) die with embossing from the newest release at Penny Black.  This is similar to the All-in-One Oval die.  I love the versatility.  You can also use the octagon frame separately (see this card), and you can use the card front embossed frame with octagon aperture separately too.  Or you can use it with both, as with the above card.

I used the second image from the beautiful Captivate (31-050) stamp set (also from the new release).  I stamped the image in black ink and clear heat embossed before watercolouring with my Zigs.  I loved watercolouring this image, combining orange and pink to create two-toned flowers. :)

I fussy-cut the bottom of the image so that the leaves and lower bloom go over the edge of the octagon frame.  I finished with a simple sentiment (Super Day), stamped in black and heat embossed with clear.

I'm giving this card to my Mom for Mother's Day, which is just a few weeks away in Canada. :)

Close-up ...

I'm sending this to Triple B April Challenge.

Penny Black Products

Captivate (31-050)

All-in-One Octagon (51-816)

Super Day (31-044)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Capivate; Super Day (both Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Fabriano (Strathmore 108 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Zigs (pale green, light green, orange, pink)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, All-in-One Hexagon die (Penny Black), watercolour brushes

Challenges:

Triple B - April Challenge

More Cover Die Eclipse

Hi everyone.  I've been away from my computer, which is unusual for me.  Sorry I have missed keeping up with visiting blogs, but we are getting ready to move in the next couple of weeks.  I've been busy packing and sorting everything.  We have been in our current house for almost 29 years, so you can imagine that we have acquired a lot of STUFF! :)  Hope to be back visiting your blogs on a regular basis in a few weeks.

For today, one more card using the Cover Die Eclipse technique at Group of Seven.

Please check out the details for the technique and link to video on the blog ...

Group of Seven Cardmakers

For today card, I used a large image (Blooming - Penny Black) which is stamped in black and heat embossed with clear.  I sponged over the background creating an ombre effect with Distress Oxide Inks (Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Aged Mahogany).  I used plain water to watercolour the flowers.  The water activates the Distress Oxide inks; then I used my paint brush to remove most of the colour, blotting with a paper towel to make sure it was dry.

I created two panels the same and die-cut one with Laurel Leaves Background Plate (Simon Says Stamp).  I cut two more panels with this cover die from white card stock and then layered all three of the die-cuts together with the stamped / sponged one on top.  I lined up the stacked dies over my second panel and then glue them together.  To finish I added a simple happy birthday (Special Sentiments - Penny Black) sentiment banner.

Close-up ...

As you can see from the close-up ... I wasn't very careful when lining up the stack of leaf die-cuts so you can see a bit of the white peeking out from the stack. :)   

I hope you'll give this technique a try.  If you do, please join us by posting your card with the linky at the bottom of THIS POST.  We'd love to see what you make!

Sending this card to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge - April.  

... and sending this to The Flower Challenge #90 - Add Layers.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Blooming (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media Paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Obsidian Black ink (Altenew - Pigment ink); Distress Oxide Inks:  Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Aged Mahogany (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Laurel Leaves Background Plate (Simon Says Stamp), sponges, Clear embossing powder (Ranger) 

Challenges:

Group of Seven - Cover Die Eclipse

PBSC - April

The Flower Challenge #90 - Add Layers