Sketchbook Sunday

**Updated 4/10** I just got home late from Copic Certification class in Phoenix (such a great class, BTW) so I will post our next featured artist tomorrow--can't wait much longer to share her awesome work! ;) Thanks for your patience, my friends.** It's been a while since I had a Sketchbook Sunday post on my blog so I'm excited to share today.To begin, I've had several questions about the size and type of my sketchbook. It is 6.25" by 8.5". It is nothing special- just a cheapie I bought at Michaels with a 50% coupon. To begin creating this page, I cut a smaller piece of white cardstock (center panel with flowers). On this cardstock I stamped and masked the flower image multiple times (Hero Arts CG194) using a Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Stamper's Big Brush Marker in black. I colored each flower with a Stamper's Big Brush Marker, adding a darker shade to the center of each petal and blending the ink with my fingertip before dry. Next I used my new FAVORITE tool, a Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft white Pastel Pencil to color near the tips of each flower. I blended this with my fingertip, too (so fast and easy). Finally, I added a white Candi dot to the flower centers. Before adhering this center panel into the sketchbook, I stamped Hero Arts Friend Definition CG125 with a black Stamper's Big Brush Marker directly on the page in the sketchbook. Sentiment by Hero Arts. Thanks again for visiting, my friends!! See you tomorrow with our next featured artist!

Sketchbook Sunday

Welcome to another Sketchbook Sunday, my friends. To see my other sketchbook entries, click HERE. This week I continued to have lots of fun with my Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft goodies! I began by cutting a piece of white cardstock for the center panel. I stamped the Hero Arts Flower using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. The flower was then colored in using Stamper's Big Brush Markers and PITT Artist Pens. The blue background was created using Art Grip Aquarelle Watercolor Pencils--scribbling to lay down the blue color and then adding water directly over this to blend. Next, I stamped Hero Arts Friend Definition with black ink, dabbing off a few areas on the stamp with a baby wipe before stamping. I adhered this center panel to the sketchbook page. The red background was colored using Stamper's Big Brush Markers and all the black detailing and the quote were written using PITT Artist Pens.

By the way, don't you just love that quote: "Within your heart, keep one still, secret spot where dreams may go." So TRUE! Lately I have been dreaming lots and feel so blessed to see some of my BIG dreams coming true!! Can't wait to share more with you when I can. ;) (Oh, man, here I go teasing you again!! LOL) See you tomorrow with our next featured artist- her work definitely qualifies as "MUST SEE."

Sketchbook Sunday

Hello friends! It's time for another Sketchbook Sunday here on the blog-o! :) Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend.

I began by stamping the Hero Arts Butterflies using the Stampers Big Brush Pen in black. Next, I colored the butterflies using Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft (DMC) Stampers Big Brush Markers and I added highlights with a white gel pen. All of the black doodling, including the "frame" around the butterflies was drawn using the Faber-Castell DMC PITT Artist pens. The blue/grey background behind the butterflies was done with the Faber-Castell DMC Art Grip Aquarelle watercolor pencils. The yellow background was colored by first applying a light layer of yellow using Art Grip Aquarelle watercolor pencils and then using the Stampers Big Brush Markers to add shading and details.

Thanks for peeking! See you tomorrow with our next featured stamper- she ROCKS- you won't want to miss it!

Sketchbook Sunday

It's time for another sketchbook Sunday. For more details on this idea, see my first sketchbook post HERE. I am really loving this idea- it is fun to just get out lots of stamps and colors and just play! :)

Here's the entire page:

I started by stamping the flowers (Hero Arts CG194 Stencil Flower) using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I colored the flowers using Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft (DMC) Stampers Big Brush Markers. Next, I drew the "frame" using different-sized points of Faber-Castell DMC black PITT Artist Pens. The outer border was colored with blue Faber-Castell DMC Stampers Big Brush Markers. The brown background was colored with Faber-Castell DMC Pastel Pencils. I colored heavily with brown and blue and blended them using my finger. I also added some brown Pastel Pencil to the yellow flowers. I cut a mask for the flowers and then stamped Hero Arts Friend Definition CG125 using a brown Stampers Big Brush Marker colored directly on the stamp. Finally, I added white highlights using a gel pen. HINT: when working with lots of layers of colors and mediums, when your paper seems to lose it's "tooth" and isn't taking the medium well, spray it lightly (in a well ventilated area) with matte finish spray. I used Kryon Matte Finish 1321.

Thanks for peeking at my "doodles!" See you tomorrow!

Sketchbook Sunday

Hi everyone! I've decided to add a new feature here on the blog-o. I've been very inspired by the concept of keeping an inspiration journal or sketchpad. Basically, a place to play and try new techniques. SOOO...my plan is to share a page from my sketchbook on Sundays. I hope you enjoy taking a peek at my "doodles" and maybe you will be inspired to try it out too!

This week I got out all of my Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft products to create this page. I can tell you, the more I play with these inks, markers, and pencils, the more I L-O-V-E them! One major advantage I love about the markers is that they are india ink and they are permanent, rich, bold color. You can color your image and blend with the markers and then add watercolor right over the top or for a background and your coloring doesn't bleed or fade. I began by stamping the flowers and leaves with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Next I colored them with the Stampers Big Brush Markers. I added some shading using the PITT Artist Pens and I also used the black PITT Artist Pens to add sketch marks to the flowers, leaves, and the border. I used the Art Grip Aquarelle Watercolor Pencils to color the blue background and the red around the outside of the page. Finally I used a white gel pen to add highlights to the images.

I've had a few folks ask me where they can purchase the Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft line and it is now available online HERE.

Thanks so much for popping by--I hope you enjoyed a peek in my sketchbook!