A new range of stamps are released by Crafters Companion today but new artist Stacey Barrass.
I had a chance to play with them as a member of the Spectrum Noir TV DT.
I used the stamp sets:
Find Your Wings
Beautiful Bloom
In Full Bloom
Better Together
It was a new challenge for me as we were using Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers and Spectrum Noir AquaBlend Pencils. I've not used watercolours before so this was a chance to play and discover what I could do with them.
Here's what I've created.
The first stamp I used is Find Your Wings.
I stamped the image onto Crafters Companion Watercolour card with Stazon ink. I then coloured the image with my Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers and spritzed it with water in a spray bottle.
I love the effect of the bird like a phoenix rising from the frame.
Spectrum Noir Aqua markers:
Yellow, Amber, Scarlet, Burgundy
I added a touch of Clear Spectrum Sparkle pen over the top.
For my second sample I used the Find Your Wings stamp set again but went for a much more muted colour scheme from the Spectrum Noir Aquableand Pencils - Essentails set.
I stamped the image into Crafters Companion Watercolour card with Stazon.
I used a waterbrush to pick up the pigment from the core of the pencils and 'painted' it onto the image.
Spectrum Noir AquaBlend Pencils:
Fossil Grey, Dark Slate, Ebony, Squash
My third creation with Find Your Wings uses the AquaBlend Pencils from the Essentials set, but with a little more colour than the first pencil one.
I used the same technique as before - using a waterbrush to pick the pigment from the pencil core and 'painting' it onto the image. It's amazing how the same image can look so different with different colours chosen from the same set of 24 pencils.
Spectrum Noir AquaBlend Pencils:
Apricot, Coral
Nutmeg, Tobacco
Now onto the second stamp - Beautiful Bloom.
For this first sample I stamped the image onto Crafters Companion Watercolour Card with Stazon ink. I scribbled the Aqua marker onto a spare stamp block and then used a water brush to pick up the pigment and 'paint' it onto the image. I then used the fine tip of the Aqua marker to add the detailed cast shadow on the petals.
Spectrum Noir Aqua markers:
Blossom, Begonia
Moss, Leaf Green
Clear Spectrum Sparkle Pen
Now this card came about a bit by accident - I was trying to make a mat for the phoenix version of Find Your Wings but decided it didn't work ...... a little later I looked again at the base and realised it would be perfect with the Beautiful Bloom stamp over the top of it! A very lucky accident I think.
I created the background buy scribbling Aqua markers around the outside of the card and then spritzing with water. Once it was dry I stamped the flowers and sentiments over the top with Stazon ink. Simple, easy, but really effective!
Spectrum Noir Aqua markers:
Yellow, Amber, Scarlet, Burgundy
I tried a different technique for this card. I applied the Aqua markers directly to the Beautiful Bloom stamp & then spritzed the stamp with water before stamping it onto Crafters Companion Watercolour card
It gives a gentle finish which I think looks nice.
Spectrum Noir Aqua marker:
Heather, Orchid, Moss, Leaf Green
For my final card I went back to the AquaBlend Pencils Essentials set and made this clean and simple little card with the small bloom from Beautiful Bloom.
I used the same technique - lifting the pigment from the pencil core with a waterbrush and then painting them onto the image.
Spectrum Noir AquaBlend Pencils:
Apricot, Coral
Nutmeg, Tobacco
These stamps and Aqua markers and AquaBlend Pencils will be featured on the Hochanda One Day Special this evening 26th April at 8pm and tomorrow 27th April at 9am, 12, 4pm and 7pm, and will be available from the Crafters Companion Website.