Gamsol coloring - another method

Not long ago, I posted a class about coloring stamped images with Gamsol and colored pencils.  if you missed it, please click here for the basic techniques.

I recently stumbled on an alternative method by accident.  I was wondering what effect I could get if I just outlined and then used the gamsol to blend only the outline inwards.  I loved the subtle shading of the results.

Just go around the edges of your image with your pencil - lay your strokes on a little heavy - that will give you the pigment that you will be manipulating later

Now, using only this single color outline, take your blending paper nib, dip it in your gamsol, and just start to pull the color inwards from the outside line, in small circular motions.  Move from the outside in…

You will find that the color is darker on the outside, much lighter on the inside, and the shading is very subtle…  Its a very pretty effect.

Just by way of comparison - here are the images from my first  class - using the multi color pencil method:

Here’s a card I did using this method.  The effect is most pronounced around the spots on the deer- i did not pull it directly into the spots but the color is so soft around it, that it recreated a deer’s natural coloring nicely.  Stamps by Unity Stamp Company, November Kit of the Month.

Have fun!!

Photographing Your Pet

Taking photos of the 4 legged members of our families can be the most challenging! They move so fast, they don’t always listen when you tell them to look your way and count on them to stay put while you compose your photograph. So how do you capture their personality, those eyes that melt your heart, the way their ears flap when they’re running or maybe it’s that mischievous look that tells you they’re up to something? Well that’s something I’ve been trying to figure out since Izzie came into our lives! Izzie is our almost 2 year old labradoodle who we can’t imagine life without and our albums would be incomplete without her in them.

A few of my tips: 

• Have your camera ready to grab to capture a spontaneous moment. Ours is most often found sitting on our foyer table.
• Take photos frequently so that your pet is familiar with the camera (to help cut down on those loving licks on your lens!). They will be less distracted if they are used to seeing you with a camera in hand.

  Having been photographed regularly since birth, Miranda’s dog Elmer is 100% familiar with the camera and totally cool about sitting for a few photos.
  
  

• Treats! If you’re going for a posed photo have another family member with you with treats or a favorite toy at hand.

  Oliver is a BUSY boy, never one to slow down or sit still for a picture… unless he sees a treat! Miranda holds the treat directly above the camera lens while she snaps away keeping Oliver’s attention on the treat {and his eyes on the lens} the whole time.
  

• Natural light. When possible, take photos in natural light – you’ll get a faster shutter speed and true to life color.

  Take a look at SheltieMom’s photo of her sweet Magee, she captured catchlights in his eyes!
  

• Timing is everything. My favorite time and place to take photos of Izzie is outside, in the mid to late afternoon taking advantage of great natural light. I have my camera ready right away, because I know that the energy and playfulness that I want to capture is best right when we go outside. On the other hand, if I wait til she’s tired and taking a nap on her bed by the window, I can get the cutest photo of her asleep with the sun shining in creating a great warm glow.
  

• Vary your vantage point. Lay down on the grass, sit down on the floor or stand right over your pet.

  
  

• Focus on your pet’s eyes. They say the eyes are the window to the soul – and this is true for your pet as well – you’ll capture their personality and expression when you have sharp, focused eyes!

  

• Tell a Story. Show your pet doing some of his/her favorite things (or quirky things).

  

• Take MANY photos! Don’t give up after a few not so perfect shots, you WILL get a great one if you keep snapping away – and you’ll learn the delay your camera may have and how your pet reacts best!

special thanks to Miranda, Ann, Elmer, Oliver, Magee and Izzie in putting together this blog article:)

>>Tomorrow: Scrapping your pet photos!

Feeling in a Holiday Mood!

Well, now that the spooks of Halloween have gone their merry way, and the sugar coated children begin to assemble lists for Santa, it is time to get in a Christmas kinda mood.  This year my family will be having our holiday out of state and we are going to bring in the true meaning of Christmas by spending time with family in a cabin in the woods, we will be cutting down our own tree from fields in the woods and stringing together handmade ornaments to decorate.  I know, that I can hardly wait….this will be a holiday for the children and the adults plan to enjoy this holiday filled with togetherness, outdoor activities and watching smiles of children!

I thought it might be a good time to start thinking about our homemade ornaments.  I love homemade ones because they come from the heart and can become some of our favorites each year!  Here are a few that I made that might spark your creativity and get you in the mood!  Dont forget to involve the children..they especially love making them and hanging them on the tree!

        

    

         

       

On many of these ornaments I used simple supplies and leftover paper, ribbon and bling and still they are all special in their own way!  If you are looking for gifts for those people like crossing guards and secretaries…these are absolutely the PERFECT things!

Christmas is coming really FAST so it’s time to get motivated!!!

Did you know THIS about the LM Kit club?

Every month LifetimeMoments sends out a wonderfully picked and coordinated kit! That means that every 30 days or so, you can receive a box of scrapbooking goodness that is all ready to help you create a wonderful layout or project. The LM Kit comes with papers and matching cardstocks. Miranda and Jackie always seem to find the funnest and newest embellishments to make the kits complete!

If you are commitment phobic, you can buy the kits month by month or join for 3 months. Once you have realized how great the kits are and want a nice price break, you can join for 12 months and save $5/month (or get almost 2 kits free over the year! lol!). Kits are charged on the 15th and sent to be received by the 25th. You can check out the LM Kit forum for sneak peeks as soon as Miranda has them. Or you can relish the surprise and wait until you receive what I view as my monthly present to myself!

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2008 Crop of a Lifetime - The Final Cut

Hope this little video montage from the weekend makes you feel like you were there!  And if you weren’t we hope to see you next year!

2008 Crop of a Lifetime from Stephanie Burdett on Vimeo.

Paper cutting made easy

One of my favorite techniques is paper cutting.  Especially with big bold printed papers that look flat when you stick a picture right on top of it, but comes to life when you cut it apart and start to manipulate it around your paper….

See, for example the rainbows and critters from the Sassafrass paper:

Or here, the flowers from the Black Market Paper Society piece

This technique is also my most used one with stamping and cardmaking - as almost all of my stamped/colored images are cut out and popped up at some point so they don’t look flat -  (stamp by Chicchibouille)

Sometimes, though, staring at a big piece of paper, the thought of cutting it out seems daunting.  I used to use an exacto knife method, but I’m not really that precise, nor am I that patient. (Tracy Austin is my idol with her amazing blade cut lace papers and words…)  And my fingers got all achy and I hated that blister/callus at the top of my index finger (yes - I know that means I was probably pressing too hard).

My favorite method is a simple one and I wanted to share because its quick and easy.  Roughly cut around your image so you have a smaller piece to work with.   Then, take small sharp pointed scissors, move the image to the very base of the scissor so you’re cutting with the very inside part of the blade, then move your paper and image around while making quick small cuts with your scissors staying pretty much stationary position. The trick is to not stress too much and remember to move your paper, not your scissors.  Move quickly around your image.  Any detail cuts can be made after if you feel you need it - but I find most of the time I’m pretty satisfied with the first cut.  You don’t get perfect straight cuts - but honestly, it looks pretty darn good….  and it takes all of 30 seconds…   Give it a try.

Tom [Turkey] Foolery!

Throughout our day we typically wear many different hats. Our career hats, our scrapper hats, and some of us don the hat of motherhood. This is the hat I wear most frequently. This hat is wrinkled and a little worn, but at least it hides the gray hairs! Not only does my mother hat require me to provide food, clothing and warmth for my children, it also requires me to entertain them. Now, now, I know entertaining isn’t something I have to do, but I enjoy making crafts with the girls. It makes me happy to see their expressions as they are trying to figure something out and the look of pride on their faces when their project comes together. I love snapping away with my camera whenever we do a fun project. I have oodles of photos of baking, many of painting, and others of just working building a tower or something so everyday, it often goes unnoticed. And besides, one day, when my kids tell me “we never do anything!!” like they frequently say, I can whip out the pictures and prove to them, yes, we actually do do things

One of my favorite times to make crafts with the girls is before Thanksgiving. I have no idea why. It’s not a family tradition, nor did we ever seem to do many home-made crafts growing up. But every year around now, I just get itching to make a decoration for the house. This year I decided to try my hand at a paper mache turkey. Please don’t ask where I get these insane ideas, no one knows. I did a paper mache project way back in seventh grade; I can surely lead my fearsome threesome into a paper mache turkey fun land, right??

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Creativity abounds!!

I had such a great time at the crop over the weekend.  My classes were a blast….and I am so happy with all the wonderful creations that came from them.  I tell you, LM has some of the most creative minds at work there!  Here is a little look at some of the weekend creations!

and one from the Christmas album class!

Many of you were looking for the instructios so that you can re=create these at home so here they are!

http://mb.lifetimemoments.com/index.php?showtopic=170068

The weekend was fun, and I hope that everyone is getting a bit of rest after all the festivities and travels, and I cannot wait till next year!!

LIVE from Novi…It’s the Crop of a Lifetime!

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A little frost….

By Nancy Thomas

Alpine Frost that is.  Have you ever purchased a scrapbook item on a whim - not even sure what it included or how you were going to use it?  Such was the case when I put an SEI Alpine Frost Tag Pad in my Lifetime Moments shopping cart.  For those of you who don’t know, it a pad of 24 3.5 x 6 cardstock quality sheets.  It has 12 different patterns and some sheets have a touch of glitter on them.   I think I purchased it out of curiosity more than anything because at that time I had no idea what was inside.  My take a chance attitude paid off though because I have now used it on my third project!   Read more

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