No matter how fast your internet connection is, you probably have experienced some pauses when watching youtube videos. Almost without fail, I seem to get these kind of face freezes….
I’m thinking of using the bottom right one for my official headshot. At least my hair looks nice.
The contest time is almost over, and I’d love to see my video count pass 3,000 views. Won’t you help me out by watching my entry in the Close to My Heart Studio J video contest? Even if you’ve watched it before, I hope you’ll enjoy it one more time.
I’ve been a bit lax about blog posting, so I hope to get some more artwork and videos posted very soon. Stay tuned!
This technique creates the appearance of a watercolor painted image with pen and ink accenting. It’s easier than you think!
I’m working on a video that will show this technique more in depth. Until that’s released, here’s a quick course on watercolor stamping…
You will need a two-part stamp, with an outline and solid. I’m using Close to My Heart’s April Stamp of the Month. You only have a few more days to get this lovely set before it’s gone, and you can get it at a discount or even free with minimum qualifying purchase.
You’ll also need one or more dye inkpads (the card above uses Sunset and Juniper) and a fine mist spray bottle filled with water.
There are two different ways that I like to use for the watercolor effect. It depends on how much water you use, and where you apply the water.
First, the direct-to-paper method. Ink up your stamp and set it aside. Spritz the cardstock with water, then stamp. This creates a very free-flowing watercolor with a lot of bleeding. More water on your cardstock equals more ink spread.
Direct-to-paper: 
Don’t be afraid of how much the image runs, the final step makes the finished piece look very artistic. After your image dries thoroughly, stamp the outline stamp over the image, using a dark ink. This gives the effect of a pen-and-ink watercolor drawing.
The second method is more subtle. In this version, you spray the water onto your inked stamp, then stamp on dry paper.
Direct-to-stamp: 
As you can see, this image is much more contained, the water color effect happens on the stamped image but only bleeds a small amount outside the edges, if at all.
To complete this image, stamp the outline after the base has thoroughly dried. With minimal bleeding, you may choose to skip the outline stamp, for a softer look without the pen-and-ink sketch appearance.
I do not have the final images in still pictures for the sample above, sorry. The video will have them… coming soon!
The reason I love stamps: you can dramatically change the way you see an image by changing the color and patterns. Take this bicycle stamp. Love the grungy vintage-style, paired with the Lucky Paper pack in Close to My Heart’s spring/summer catalog.
For my first card with this set, I followed the typical color scheme, and it was pretty darned cool (if I do say so myself). But I wanted a lighter, brighter approach for a feminine birthday card. Sophia paper pack provides the pink and greens, and I added a neutral of Gray Wool.
Fun & Fresh!
Watch the ustream video class to create this card.
Don’t forget to show off your creations using LSG products in the Lovin’ Lindy’s Linky Party beginning tomorrow through April 21. Enter as many projects as you like, prizes drawn daily from all of the entries! You can enter right here on my blog, beginning April 15th.
For something as simple as a PSA to wear your seatbelt, this short video will captivate you. Beautifully filmed and with so many emotions, there are no words that can describe it.
Coming Monday, Lindys’ Stamp Gang design team is having a Bunny Hop!
I’ll be sharing a new video, how to create a verdigris patina with Lindys’ Stamp Gang products and Close to My Heart papers and stamps.
The way Friday should have been done.
If you haven’t heard of the world’s most annoying song…you can see it here. I can’t make it through the entire thing, honestly. Until I watched Steven Colbert on Jimmy Fallon. Makes me wanna party.
Why are the words backwards? The video is flipped to avoid copyright issues and allow you to watch it without commercials.
Just a little something I whipped up to wear in a video.
I don’t know about you, but I’m not particularly fond of having my hands seen in HD and ultra close-up. But it’s part of the job when you’re making videos. Unless I hire a hand model who will work for stamps.
See, I’m not exactly a spring chicken (although I have been known to have a very juvenile sense of humor), and my nails are tools, not jewels. So I figure I can at least try to dress up the scene a little with some sparkle and glamour.
I’m thinking that the ring is a little lop-sided, but I don’t think I can cram any more beads into this baby, so I’m calling it done. Amazing what you can do with an inexpensive bag-o-beads, an adjustable ring and a whole lotta jump rings.
Back by popular demand, my April Fool’s video.
A word of warning: this is not a real tutorial. This is just a joke. If you are highly sensitive, please do not view. The video was very well received on youtube on April 1 but I removed it from my regular channel because a few people were very offended and perhaps did not realize it was an April Fools video.
So don’t say I didn’t want you!
