Spectrum Noir Colourist Accreditation

Well, last week I was very pleased that  to hear that I had now got my Spectrum Noir Colourist Accreditation and can proudly display a blinkie to this effect.  I am just waiting for my name to appear on the list on their website and to receive my certificate.  I had first seen about this accreditation on Julie Woolston's blog - craftyjulie57.blogspot.co.uk - when she had got hers and then I received an email from Crafter's Companion. Like Julie, I didn't have that much confidence in my colouring.  The accredition is free for everyone to get and you need to download the test from their website www.spectrumnoir.com.  You then need to print it out onto the correct card or paper for alcohol pens, colour in, scan and submit to the email address provided.  There is a sample test for you to see what is expected but it is up to you what colours you use. 

 I was not convinced by the Spectrum Noir when they first came out but after sticking with them have found that I do like them and actually enjoy colouring with them.  I have enclosed two of the test colourings that I submitted - the first one is the nature landscape which I was really pleased with the way it turned out as I had not really used alcohol pens before to colour in nature.  The second one was an optional one that we could choose to submit so I chose to colour in Paintbox Poppets "Apple for Teacher" stamp as this is one of my favourites.

I am often very critical of my work so it was nice to submit it to the "experts" for their views.  What I like about the programme is that if your colouring is not quite up to scratch, they will provide feedback with suggestions on how to improve your colouring skills.  It is not often that you get that sort of service for free nowadays.  Luckily for me, I did not need it.

Parchment and Peel offs

This card has been made very quickly using large peel offs.  This is a good card for a beginner to practise using a grid or just to make a quick card.

I just folded a piece of A4 parchment paper in half and the chose a large peel off which I stuck onto the parchment paper in the bottom corner and attached two smaller peel offs in each of the top corners. 

Using White Tinta ink I then traced around a greeting that I had (I had previously typed this using a large font and then printed out).  From the back I then embossed the wording and the flowers of the top corner peel offs.

I then coloured the flowers of the large peel off from the front using Tinta Yellow Ink.

With an Easy Grid, I pierced each hole to form the pattern inside the peel offs of all that had not been coloured all embossed.

With a Semi Circle Perforating Tool, I then pierced a pattern from the edge of the peel offs to the edge card and cut out.  With a Two Split perforating Tool, I pierced from the edge of the card to the peel off and in between the peel offs and cut to create a nice border.

New Home Card

As my brother was moving, I thought that this would make a great New Home Card.  I had originally made this card on a workshop with Jayne Nestorenko at the end of July but thought that I would make it bigger and use a different sentiment.  It is really more for his partner than for him.  I had asked what her favourite colour was to ensure she received a card in colours that she liked and I know that she likes flowers.  I prefer to see flowers in the garden so thought that she would receive a card and flowers all in one here.

This card was made with Grand Labels 4 using the 3rd, 4th and 5th size dies.  On the original card with Jayne, we only used the 1st  and 2nd size dies and drew around the smallest on the outside to create a faux nestie.  As I wanted this card to be larger I did not use a faux nestie for this and used Centura Snow White and Core'dinations card.  You need to ensure that the card is firm enough to be able to take the large size. 

I stamped flowers and leaves from Jayne's Grande Journeys stamp range onto watercolour paper and then coloured them in with a variety of H2O's and Cosmic Shimmer watercolour paints.  Some of the flowers I cut and shaped and used Cosmic Shimmer Mica Flakes to create the centre. 

The sentiment is from Lili of the Valley, stamped onto Core'dinations and cut out with Spellbinders and mounted.  I made a box for the card to go into and just hope that she will like this.

I have also shown the original card I made at Jayne's workshop although this does not show the difference in size.