ICAD 2015 - Cover Card

June the 1st will soon be here!! That means it's once again time for ICAD (Index Card a Day) and Summer of Color (or Colour - s'cuse me if I keep forgetting to do the American spelling.) Yaaaaaaay! And Yaaaaaay again!

I don't usually do a cover card for my index cards but maths revision is particularly stressing me out - so I had a play the other day. I'm going to whisper this next bit - I'm getting a bit fed up with acrylics. Shhh. Shhh. I really want to get better at watercolours, coloured pencils, my Neocolour ii's etc. So I'm going to focus on playing around with those on my index cards each day. (You watch how I drift back to acrylics by the end!)

This is the cover card. I was so chilled out by the end of playing and look - I ended up getting a fab transfer when I ironed off my embossing.

Indigoblu stamp
 (Have linked because so many asked where I got it)
Clear embossing
Derwent Inktense Pencils
Winsor & Newton Drawing Inks

You can see the gold ink better in this one.

I've posted these on Facebook and Instagram (my Internet and my PC are making it a nightmare to blog recently! I swear they are in cahoots!) I was surprised when so many people asked me how I did it. And then Kyla asked for a blog post so here we go - this is for you Kyla. And anyone else that wants it. I didn't take step by steps of the one above - I literally was just playing. So I did another today... bear in mind that I'm a really crappy stamper.

Stamp
Clear Ink Pad
Clear Embossing Powder
Index Card

Stamp the image, add the powder and do your heat gun thang.

Roughly scribble over the entire card, image included, with Derwent Inktense pencils
*Ahem* Ignore the crisps

Spray with water to activate smooshiness

Smoosh about till you're happy

Drip some ink on top of the wet card - spray and hold at different angles to get different effects

When the card is completely dry, sandwich between a couple of sheets of printer paper.
Iron on a high heat.
This is just my normal iron, gets more use for arty stuff than it does for clothes *g*

You can see the embossing transferring to the underside of the paper.

And this was todays result. Not such a good index card but I was rushing. However I really love the imprint on my piece of paper.

When you iron off the embossing you are supposed to get a nice crisp white image. Like I say, I'm a crappy stamper and I kind of like the grunge effect anyway. I originally found this technique via this fab YouTube video. She uses distress inks which I don't have and you don't seem to get the imprint with those. I have done this technique with watercolour paints and Neocolour ii's with some lovely results. (I'm kind of addicted!) But this is the first time I've had such lovely imprints on my scrap paper - I think it's the drawing inks. 

Anyway - I hope those that wanted a step by step will have a play - show me if you do? I'd love to see. I reckon as long as you use something fluidy you should get good results with at least the original image - the extra image on my scrap paper was a bonus I didn't expect.

Thanks for stopping by today :)

WOYWW - On Thursday.

Blame the internet. These pictures were taken yesterday. Plonked myself down at the PC, which had been working all day... no internet. *Insert swear words and fist shakes*

Sooo, what's on my workdesk today? (Yesterday - but still there today!) Can't even get in the door of the shedio - Well, I can. If I squeeze in, balance on one foot and lean over the bike. But there's no room on the desk to do anything anyway - so... Tidy up is in order. I think a de-clutter sesh may be imminent too.

Inside isn't much better. Craig is in despair. He cannot wait till I move my desk upstairs and away from his tidy eyes.

For the extra curious amongst you - I was window shopping on Amazon. I saw mention of  Holbein coloured pencils on another bloggers page. I love her work and am now drooling over the pencils. 
Anyone have them? Are they good?

This is the book on my desk. I've had it years but not read it in ages. I pulled it off the shelf to give me some ideas for a wood sprite I wanted to put in my tunnel book. (Swap I'm in.) Can't put it down now, am loving it - it's like getting a new book all over again.

Good Faeries Bad Faeries - Brian Froud

So what's in your work space today? Why not follow me over to Julia's  and link up so we can all have a snoop.

Thanks for stopping by today :)

Mixed Media Grungy Pastel Bunny

Yep. Pastel.

The last couple of weeks has seen me organising revision time and art time a lot better. I was able to finish up this commission. The brief was a mixed media bunny in my style but also reflecting the tastes of the lovely Carol. (Snowbunny Knits.) I was sent an excellent array of pictures giving me an idea of Carols tastes to work from. One thing was for sure - there was a lot of pastel *Silent scream* Carol has been a huge supporter to me and believe it or not, I do love seeing pastel in other peoples work - it just scares the frig out of me to use!

Here he is; Bunny:

The process shots - leave me a comment if you like/don't like seeing these. I never know if people want them or not. I enjoy seeing how people get from start to finish on other blogs, that's why I pop them on here. 

 

 

Collage Ephemera
Acrylic Paint
Neocolour ii Crayons
Inktense Pencils
Graphite Pencil

In the end I really enjoyed making Bunny and I am definitely not so scared of pastel now. Thanks Carol, he was great fun.

Thank you for stopping by today :)