Water color with Distress Inks - Tutorial

Welcome to the Pixie Cottage Saturday Tutorial! Today I am going to go over the basics of water coloring with Distress inks. I hope you have fun! It is absolutely one of my favorite ways to color a stamped image and with practice, can create stunning images.

Supplies Needed:
Water color paper (I prefer canson or Strathmore 140lb)
Stamped image-heat embossed (I used the wonderful "Hannah at the Pond")
Distress inks (Stampin' UP! waterbased inks work well too)
Aquapainter or small paint brush and water
Towel

Step 1. Stamp and emboss your image. Embossing the image helps to keep the color from bleeding.
Step 2. Squeeze the lid of the ink pad until beads of ink appear on the inside of the lid

Step 3. When using ink to color your image it is best to have at least two shades to create a dimensional effect. For Hannahs dress I used Milled Lavender for my light shade and dusty concord for my darker shade.
Swirl your moistened brush in the lighter color and completely color the area of your image with the shade.

Step 4. Clean your brush and dip it into the darker shade. Pulling the brush in one direction lay down a small amount of the darker shade in areas that should have shadow.

Step 5. Clean your brush but keep it moist. Using small circular strokes, blend the edges of the two colors until you can't see the edge of the darker color.
Let dry a few minutes and repeat in areas that you wish to appear darker.

(In this image I used Vintage photo and Walnut stain to create the hair and I have used broken china as the first shade in my water)

Helpful Tips
Don't be afraid to play with different shades of color. If an area becomes too dark, let it partially dry and use plain water to remove some of the color by using circular motions. Sometimes I find it helpful to blot with a towel and then re-blend.

By letting an image dry for a few minutes between colors it keeps the color from pooling against the embossed edges.

I find it faster to color a different area while another is drying.

Here is my finished image

(The darker shade in the water is Faded Jeans and the grass/leaves is a mixture of Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint and Pine Needles.)

Have fun playing! I can't wait to see what you create!

Spooktacular Delights

Happy Thursday everyone, you have almost made it through the week! :)
Today I get to showcase another fun image from Digital Delights by Louby Loo! I am having a blast with her Halloween images, there are so many cute ones to choose from I am sure you will find something you love.
Today's image is "Sitting Mummy". I printed out the digi on Neenah Solar White paper and then shaded him with Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol. My background was created using Bazzil cardstock and my new Die and embossing set by Cuttlebug. Isn't it fun and spooky all at the same time!?

Have a great week everyone!

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Digital Delights By Louby Loo- Sitting Mummy
Paper: Bazzil Cardstock
Coloring: Prismacolor pencils, OMS
Accessories: Sewing Machine, Pop Dots, Sponges, stickles, Cuttlebug dies and embossing folders

Challenges:
Fairy Fun - Embossing
Sew Many Challenges - Embossing
Crafty Pad - Embossing
Secret Crafter - Anything Goes
Sweet Stampin - Stitching
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Anything Goes
Tuesday Taggers - It Takes All Sorts (open challenge)
Glitterbabe - Anything Goes with Sparkle
Ann's Creative Nook - Halloween
Gingerloft - Happy Haunting
Clearly iStamp - Owl

It's all Fun and Games!

Welcome to this weeks Pixie Cottage Challenge! This week we have another wonderful sketch by Pam Limric. Our theme this week is Fun and Games. As always, you can use the sketch or the theme or both!
I used this fun image by Sandra Hammer called "Spooky Tree Background Stamp". Rather than use this as a background I decided to use it as the focal image of my card. I added a fun Halloween poem (author unknown) and finished it off with these adorable Cuttlebug die bats.
I used some amazing papers for my card. I have never worked with anything like them so I have to share. The black paper has a velvet feel but is smooth. It is really heavy cardstock with a matte finish that changes when stroked....just like velvet!
I also used a beautiful iridescent paper that inks beautifully and still shines like crazy. It gave my image a moonlit glow :)

Card Recipe:
Stamps: The Pixie Cottage- Spooky Tree
Paper: Cryogen White Iridescent paper, Velvet touch black, Bazzill CS
Ink: Distress Ink, Versafine Onyx, Tombow markers
Accessories: Sewing Machine, water brush, Sponges, Cuttlebug embossing flolders and dies, stickles, jewels

Challenges:
Fairy Fun - Embossing
Sew Many Challenges - Embossing
Crafty Pad - Embossing
Secret Crafter - Anything Goes
Sweet Stampin - Stitching
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Anything Goes
Tuesday Taggers - It Takes All Sorts (open challenge)
Glitterbabe - Anything Goes with Sparkle
Ann's Creative Nook - Halloween
Gingerloft - Happy Haunting

Cleaning out my stamps! For Sale!

It is way past time for me to clean up my craft area. I seem to be a pack rat that never gets rid of ANYTHING :) I have a bunch of stamps that have been well loved but still have a long life ahead of them.
Let me know if anybody is interested in purchasing these. I will ship just about anywhere...they need a good home!

Email me and we can chat about prices.
My thoughts were:

Wood mounted stamps (singles) $2 each except for large maypole stamp with angels (let me know if you want a better picture of that one, the flash consumed it :) It has never been used and is HUGE $5
Stampin up sentiment sets $5
Stampin Up A little Birdie Told me $8
Stampin Up, Stampin around, 2 handles, 5 wheels and 4 inks in Blue, red, green and black. $15
Close to my heart - Greeting Tree cling set $3

Sewing a zig zag stitch on your cards - Tutorial

Sewing on cards is a great way to create a beautiful finished edge. I love using the zig zag stitch because it looks nice and is SUPER EASY to keep straight.

NEEDLE:
Your needle size doesn't matter, just remember that the larger the needle, the larger the hole it leaves. I use a size 11 which is a nice mid size needle. You can still see the holes but they don't overwhelm your stitching.
THREAD:
Another tip is to use your nice colored thread on the top and use a basic cheap thread for your bobbin. This will save you the expense of winding beautiful threads onto the bobbin when nobody will ever see them. When you do this, just make sure that the tension on the bottom is a little tighter than the top. This will pull the top thread down a little farther and you won't see the bottom thread at all. If you have tried to sew on paper and were frustrated with the little loops on the top, it is because your bottom tension is too loose. I use a Brother sewing machine and my tensions are: Top tension is 4 and the bottom is the default. If you keep getting loops, just adjust your top until they disappear.
PAPER:
You will need two pieces of paper but make sure that one piece, if not both are a heavy weight cardstock. Two thin pieces of paper do not stitch well. Cut the two pieces so that the smaller piece is 1/4" smaller than the other on all sides. For my demo, I used one 5" piece and one 4 3/4" piece.
GLUE:
You want to avoid your needle coming into contact with your adhesive. If you sew through your glue, it will not only gum up your needle but will eventually cause your thread to break where you don't need it to break (don't ask me how long it took to realize that!) I usually just make an "X" with my adhesive in the middle, avoiding all edges. This will keep your paper in place while you sew.Okay...on to the zig zag stitch.

For my demo today I have my stitch length set at 1.5 and my width at 3.5. You can experiment and see what you like best.

To begin, place your needle on the RIGHT side of the paper at the top corner. This will make the zig zag go inside your paper, also allowing you to use the edge of your smaller piece to keep the stitch straight. Start slow and make sure your needle always ends up on the right side of the edge.
As you approach your corner slow your needle down and end with your needle on the RIGHT at the very bottom edge. If your needle doesn't naturally end up on the bottom right, just hand turn the dial and guide your needle while keeping your hand firmly on the paper. This will not allow the paper to advance while you place the needle where you want it.With your needle in the down position, lift the presser foot and rotate the paper to begin the new side. Your first one or two stitches will slightly overlap but this creates a clean finished corner. Finish the other two sides using the same method.

When finished with your last corner, leave the needle in the up position and gently pull your cardstock out and cut your threads. Leave a couple of inches of thread.To finish, gently pull the bobbin threads on the back until you can see your top thread come through, using a needle or the tip of your scissors, pull them all the way through to the back of the card.
I knot my thread by tying them all together but if you like, you can just tape them to the back of the card.

To finish your card, just use your adhesive and glue all of the edges, over the thread and stick to your card base.
Voila! You have a beautifully stitched card!
Don't be afraid to play and try out new stitches on scrap paper. Sewing on cards can be a lot of fun!

Wizarding Delights

I can't believe the week has flown by so quickly and it is already Thursday! I have been completely overwhelmed with homework the last few weeks so time is just passing me by it seems.

The happy thing about Thursdays are the images I get to show you from Digital Delights by Louby Loo.
I am having so much fun with the Halloween cards. It really makes me want the holiday to arrive (talk about time flying huh!)
This sweetie is called Wizard Toby.

Okay...now you have to see the spooktacular creations from the design team. I know you will think they are Bootiful too. :) hee hee...I can't take credit for that I copied from Wendy but it made me smile :)

Like this card? Buy it HERE

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Digital Delights By Louby Loo- Wizard Toby
Paper: DP DCWV, Paper Temptress Gold Sparkle
Coloring: Prismacolor pencils, OMS
Accessories: Sewing Machine, Pop Dots, Sponges, stickles, spellbinders die, distress inks, magic mesh, jewels

Challenges:
Stamp Something - Spots and Stripes
Ooh La La - Stripes
Timbro Scrapmania - Anything Goes
My Time to Craft - Jewels

Freebies and Scarecrows...Oh my!

Happy Wednesday and welcome to a brand new Pixie Cottage challenge. This week we are celebrating the harvest and all that goes with it. You can choose fall images, colors, themes...anything you wish. Not to mention, we have a great sketch from our own DT member Adrina.

Not only do we have a great challenge this week but if you visit the Pixie Cottage Blog, you can pick up a wonderful Free Digi by one of our artists ARTish!

Card Recipe:
Stamps: The Pixie Cottage- Fall Friend by Eileen Gutierrez and Apple Bench by Sandra Hammer
Paper: K&Company, Bazzill CS
Ink: Distress Ink: Vintage Photo, antique linen, Tombow Markers
Accessories: Sewing Machine, water brush, Sponges, MS branch punch, stickles, crystal effects, prima flower

Challenges:

365 Cards Day 196 - Country Charm
Pollycraft - Autumn Colors
Paper Make Up - Autumn
Paper Players - Fall color combo
Creative Card Crew - Autumn
Theme Thursday - Autumn
Paperplay - Autumn Colors
Incy Wincy - Autumn Colors
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Colors of Autumn
Wee Memories - Fall into Autumn
Stempel Magie - Fall Colors
Allsorts - Colors of Autumn
Raise the Bar - Orange, Brown and Green
Timbro Scrapmania - Anything Goes
Chamber Maids - Anything Goes
Gingerloft - Anything Goes
Tellens Place - Anything Goes
Daring Card Makers - Masking

Card Shoppe Now Open!

For those readers that like the cards you see, you can now purchase them safely right from my blog. I am adding new things daily so make sure to check out the Shoppe section of my blog! Checkout is through Paypal.

Check it out HERE

Witchy Woman!

I absolutely adore fall. I love the cool crisp air, the smells, the changing leaves and the impending holidays. Now I can add Wendy's new Halloween images to my list of loves this season. Digital Delights by Louby Loo has some adorable halloween images just released.
This sweet little lady "Audra the Witch" is just one of the many adorable characters. Checking them out is a must!

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Digital Delights By Louby Loo- Audra the Witch, Pumpkin
Paper: DP Cosmo Cricket, Core'dinations CS
Coloring: Prismacolor pencils, OMS
Accessories: Sewing Machine, Pop Dots, Sponges, stickles, ribbon, jewels, crystal effects

Challenges:
Paper Jewels - Night Time
Cowgirl Sunday - Anything Goes
Gingerloft - Anything Goes
Your Next Stamp - Anything Goes
Bee Crafty - Anything Goes (and a Digi)
Stamptacular Sunday - Distressing
Artful Inkables - Distressing
Stars and Stamps - Halloween
Gingersnaps - Punches
Simon Says Stamp - Holiday

Pixies and Furry Friends

Welcome to another Once Upon a Wednesday with the Pixie Cottage. I hope you all had a fabulous holiday weekend (those of you living in the States that is) everyone else, I hope you had a fabulous weekend anyway :)
Today's challenge at the Pixie Cottage is to honor all of our Furry Friends. We also have a sketch for you to play with by our very own Pam! As always you can choose the theme, the sketch or both!

I used this fun stamp called Down on The Farm by Tina Akonom. Aren't they sweet! I always knew that if I had to meet my food I would become a vegetarian! :)
I hope to see entries from everyone!

Card Recipe:
Stamps: The Pixie Cottage- Down on the Farm
Paper: Scenic Route DP, Bazzill CS
Ink: Distress Ink: Vintage Photo, antique linen, worn lipstick, marigold, shabby shutters, peeled paint, broken china - Tombow Markers
Accessories: Sewing Machine, Pop Dots, Sponges, ribbon, spellbinders dies,gems

Challenges:

Twisted Thursday - Animals
Paper Romance - Furry Friends
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Animal Crackers
Cowgirl Sunday - Anything Goes
Gingerloft - Anything Goes
Stamp Something - Something Cute
Stamping Vacation - Animal with a Beak
365 Cards Day 191 - All Creatures Great and Small
Moving Along With The Times - Stitching
Paper Play - In Stitches
My Time To Craft - Jeweled
Pile it on - Layers
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Flowers