Spectrum Noir comes to Hochanda!

Crafters Companion have had some wonderful shows on Hochanda TV since its launch two weeks ago, and today sees the launch of a one day special from the Spectrum Noir range of Alcohol Markers.

Fiona has some wonderful demonstrations lined up, including 3 colour blends, borderless colouring, palette blending and many more.

With this in mind I created a card using Sheena Douglass' Tropical Nectar stamps and a few of my pens...

I think of all the stamps I have...these are my favourite!

I used the palette blending technique to colour the hummingbird with

CT3, CR10, LG5, JG3, BT5, TB1, TB9

The hibiscus is also coloured with the palette blending method the colours I used are

PP3, PL5, CT3, CG2

I hope you get a chance to catch the shows, not only is Fiona great to watch but the design team samples are all fantastic, if however you don't feel free to click HERE for a video tutorial from Leanne showing palette blending to full effect,

Happy Colouring

Nicky x

March Challenge time - Show us your sparkle!

So this year is whizzing past so quickly, can you believe we are well into march already?

That of course must mean that there is a new challenge on the Spectrum Noir Facebook page!

You will love this one...Show us your sparkle, it's one of those lets go to town with the glitter challenges! and boy did I take that literally!

Not only did I use my Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers, but I also used my brand new set of 36 chunky glitters that I purchased from a well known high street stationers/newsagent!

I matched each marker that I used to a glitter tube to create my rainbow background.

Here is the list of the colours I used for the stripes:

CR10, GB3, CT4, CT1, CG3, LG5, GT2, IB3, TB5, TB7, LV3, PL4, PL5, PL2, PP3, CR3, CR8, DR4, BP6. 

For the Balloons I used:

LG5, BP6, IB3, GB3, CR10, PL4
With a Clear Sparkle pen over top to give them a bit of extra shimmer!

I hope you get all glittertastic this month with us!  You can add your projects here!

Happy Colouring everyone

Nicky x

Happy Mothers Day!

So today is Mother's Day, and I would like to wish all the gorgeous Mums, grandmas, Step Mums and all the lovely ladies who are just like a Mum to someone, a very special and happy day.

Just like all of them my mum is one in a million, she does so much for us all year through and I wanted to give her a very special handmade card this year, and thought it would be nice to share it with you too...

I made the sentiment panel in Docrafts Digital Designer, which I love and can't do with out! After die cutting it with a Spellbinders die, I stamped around the wording with my gorgeous new Altenew Vintage Flowers stamp set using Versamagic chalk inks.

I just love these stamps, and while I still need some practice at lining them up, I just love the way they look, think I may have to keep collecting them all!

For the inside of my card I used the Versewriter  on a Crafters Companion CDRom

and of course stamped one of the roses on the inside too.

Well I am looking forward to having a lovely day, surrounded by my family and all three of my boys together (a rare treat as they grow older)

Hope you all have a great day too,

See You Soon,

Happy Colouring

Nicky x

It's Our Anniversary!

This week marks the 10th Anniversary of my wedding day, the day I married my best friend, the man who loves me the way I am, we are kooky, sometimes crazy and on occasion just a bit weird!  We love to embarrass the kids by being loud and funny and singing loud and proud ! but we love the kids and love each other, I love our life together, and I'm not afraid to shout it from the rooftops! 

And I have to share with you the card I made him...

I used my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers in these colours:

Skin: FS6, FS2, GB8
Hair-Boy: BG6, EB8, TN1
Hair-Girl: EB5, EB6, TN6, TN4, TN3, TN1...
Boys Clothes- Shirt: BT1, BT3, BG1
Jeans: TB3, BT1
Girls clothes-Skirt: LG1, LG2, LG4, BG4
Top: PP1, CR3, CR5

As I am out of practice a little with my markers I followed a tutorial on the Spectrum Noir Blog on Manga Hair, you will find a link at the bottom of this post,

I love the new papers I got from a craft fair, they are from a company called Pion Designs and the collection are called Paris Flea Market, they also did co-ordinating plain cardstock to match, I am definitely on the look out for more of these.

I hope you are enjoying all my projects this year, I would love to hear your feedback so please leave me a message in the comments block below, and here is that link to the Spectrum Noir Blog Post.

Have a great Day!

Happy Colouring

Nicky x