Shading with Copics by Jane Johnson

I have received a number of emails recently asking how I shade around images with copics and rather than reply to each one individually with complicated sounding instructions I thought I would create a picture tutorial showing how I do it. I would like to point out that I am by no means an expert and this is just the way I have come to do the shading after a lot of practice!

1.

First you will need to completely colour your chosen image. Here I have used the gorgeous Nora Blowing Kisses and coloured her to match the papers I am using. When colouring an image you must decide where the light source is coming from so that you know where to shade and highlight. On this image my light source is coming from the top left which is why the area around her nose is the lightest.

2.

Bearing in mind that my light source is coming from the top left of the image this means that all the shadows I add need to be underneath things and to the right of things. I have used W5 to draw under and to the right of the image lines as shown in the above photo. It is also important to have shadows around the feet as shown and remember to shadow any other objects - in this case you can see I have created a shadow of the heart on the "ground". The other one does not need a shadow as it is above her hand.

3.

Next, using W7 I add some deeper shading in some areas. On this image I have added it around the feet as in the photo above..........

.............. and in what would be the darkest spot under her ponytail shown in the circle on the above photo.

4.

Next, using W3 go over all of the lines drawn with W5 and extend out beyond those first lines.

Here's a close up to show what I mean. In the above photo you can see the original lines drawn with W5 and the new lines drawn with W3 over and beyond them.

5.

Then, using W1 go over the lines again and extend them beyond the W3 lines.

Here's another close up. As you can see the W1 lines extend out beyond the W5 and W3 lines and have begun to blend together to form a nice shadow.

6.

The final step is to take your 0 blender and go over the shading to blend it together and fade the edges of the shading out. You need to go over all the shading lines but be careful not to go over into the image lines as you will ruin your image colouration. The above photo shows the completed shading. As you can see there are no harsh lines left and you have created the illusion of soft shadows.

Here is the image on my finished card. I hope you find my tutorial useful! As well as the lovely Nora I have also used the cute hearts and endless hearts dies from Whiff of Joy. For details of papers etc please see my blog. Thanks for looking!

Jane x

http://janeslovelycards.blogspot.com

Labels 17 box by Alice

Hi all! This is Alice. =) You may have seen a tutorial at Splitcoast Stampers about a box made with the top note die from Stampin' Up. I really liked the box, but I don't own the top note die. I decided to alter the box a little to match my Spellbinders Labels 17 die. Here is how I made the box:

First, you need a piece of cardstock that measures 9" x 6.5". Score at 1", 4", 5" and 8" on the longer side using a scoring tool.

Flip the paper 90 degrees and sore at 1" and 5 1/2" on the short side.

Pre-fold all the scored lines.

Then cut all the 1" scare marks on both long sides like such. They will be the glue tabs for your box, see photo below.

Use your choice of strong adhesive and apply them on the little glue tabs.

Then adhere them to the inside of the longer side tabs.

For the lid.

And here you go. A pizza box! You can decorate it the any way you want from here. Since I altered the measurements to match the Labels 17 die, you can use your dies to decorate it. The box measures 3" x 4.5" x 1" by itself.

Here is my finished box:

I cut two pieces of cardstock using the largest die from the Labels 17 die set, stamped some pattern on them and trimmed about 1/4" off of one side on each piece for the spin of the box.

All I did was decorating it with the Willow with hot chocolate image and used a piece of twill ribbon as the closure. Now it's a perfect gift package for sending some hot chocolate (or tea) packs to a friend!

I am not very good at explaining everything, you can refer to this video tutorial for the assembly of the box. It's exactly the same way of assembling except for the size. =)

Hope you'll give this a try!

Thanks for stopping by!

hugs,
alice

Using Border dies to create round borders

Hi! It is Kylie here with an easy way to create a pretty border around your favourite circle or oval die cut shapes using the fantastic Whiff of Joy metal border dies.

What you will need is:

• Whiff of Joy border die (I am using Heart Lace)
• A coloured Whiff of Joy image (I have Willow Dressing Up from the City Girls collection)
• A personal die cutting machine ( I have a Cuttlebug)
• Two strips of cardstock 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide and 12 inches long (30.5 cm)
• Some removable tape
• Craft glue
• Sharp scissors

Have a look at your die to ascertain which edge is the cutting edge

Align this with the top of your cardstock strip and use some tape to hold in place. Run this through your die cutting machine.

Remove your die and carefully line it up matching the pattern on the first cut, adhere in place,

 If you like, you can check from the other side that your pattern is matching, then run this through your die cutting machine again

Once cut, remove the die and using your scissors, carefully cut a slit on the strip, close to the edge of the valley, but be careful not to cut right through the cardstock.  Repeat this with the remaining strip.

Put some clean scratch paper down, and place your coloured image face down. Starting at the lower edge inthe centre, apply some glue, about 2 inches (5 cm) at a time

Attach your first scallop of your die cut lace, press in place to adhere. Carefully curve your strip around the oval, pressing the die cut strip to the oval for each scallop.

 Apply more glue as you continue around your shape

It is likely that one strip will not be enough,  as you can see I didn't quite have enough of my first strip to meet at the end. Take your second strip and measure how many extra scallops you require.

I only needed two, so I have the remaining piece of die cut strip to use else where on my card. Adhere the last two scallops to your oval

And this is what it looks like finished on the front. If the ends of your strips don't quite match up, this can be easily hidden with a flower or ribbon embellishment on your card

And this is what the reverse side of the image looks like:

And my finished card!

To complete my card I also used:

• General Sayings sentiment set
• Romantic Swirsl 2 die, and
• Heart Banner die

I hope you found this tutorial useful :)
Enjoy the rest of your week,
Kylie x

Wiper Card by Sandie

Hi everyone. Today I would like to share a tutorial on how to make a wiper card. I love shaped cards and especially love the hidden pop up wiper on this design. 

Supplies :

Design papers with co-ordinating cardstock

White card for matting

Nora Blowing Kisses

Pearl topped brads

Lace

Heart pin

Flowers

DS Tape or other adhesive

Paper Trimmer & Scoring board

Classic Circle & Scalloped Circle Nestabilities

I started by first colouring my image and cutting it out using the circle nestabilities. Leaving the nestie die on I used distress ink and a blending tool and shaded the background slightly.

Once you are happy with your image put it to one side until you have the card base constructed. 

To begin with you need -

• Two 4 1/4" x 8 1/2" pieces of cardstock, for your card base
• One 1 1/2" x 3" piece of cardstock, for your "wiper"

Score your 4 1/4" x 8 1/2" piece of cardstock at 1 1/2" and 3". Repeat on your second piece.

Prefold all scored lines. The score line next to the large panel should fold down. Repeat for your second cardstock piece.

Mark the 1 1/2" x 3" piece of cardstock at 1 1/2" on the long side. Score diagonally from the top right hand corner down to the pencil mark on the left.

Fold your score line and apply some adhesive tape.

Take one of your card base pieces and lay it down with the score lines to the right. This will be your card front. Adhere your strip, image facing down, between the two score lines.

Add adhesive to the edges of both 4 1/4" sides of the cardstock piece.

Place your second 4 1/4" x 8 1/2" piece of cardstock over your card front. Make sure the score lines are on the left.

Turn your card around

Decorate the front panels and your wiper as desired. I matted my image onto a scalloped circle cut out from the same colour card as I used for the base of the card.

This is how the card looks once it is folded to place in an envelope. The wiper folds down between the front and back panels and pops back up when the card is opened up again.

Well I hope you like my tutorial and that you will give it a try. If you do don't forget to link up, or post your creations on the facebook page so that we can see it :)