Monday 25 August 2014

A2Z Scrapbooking Digital Blog Hop

hopgraphic
Hello, and welcome to my stop on the Hero Arts and A2Z Scrapbooking Blog Hop.
Hero Arts are happy to announce that A2Z Scrapbooking is now their new digital retailer, and they will soon be offering all Hero's digital kits, cut files and printables. Yay. And in honour of this happy event, girls from Hero and A2Z have teamed up to participate in a big digi hop. And there's a giveaway too - but more on that later!
I have a card over at Hero Arts, the first stop on the hop, so head over there to start from the beginning if you have not already.
And I have another card here too, along with a step by step tutorial sharing a fun digital technique.
 For this card, I used a stamp from the City Adventures digikit to create my skyline and a stamp from The Firmament kit for my sentiment.
Bright World by Lucy Abrams
Printing digital stamps onto textured card stock really enhances a flat card like this… and a few die cut glittery stars and some stitching add a little extra dimension too. :)
Bright World 2 by Lucy Abrams
-----------TUTORIAL---------
Creating this ombre effect is fun, and pretty easy. (I was originally inspired by THIS very useful video tutorial by the talented Shanna Noel)
First, open the SkylineBlack.png stamp in Photoshop.
Screen Shot 2014-08-21 at 13.47.49
Next, create a new layer.
Screen Shot 2014-08-21 at 13.48.00
Select the brush tool in the left hand column. Then change the brush to a 300px soft brush, using the drop down box in the top left.
Screen Shot 2014-08-21 at 13.48.30 
Next, change the colour of the brush using the little colour box in the bottom of the left column. I chose a royal blue to start with.
Screen Shot 2014-08-21 at 13.48.50
Then add a wash of colour in a diagonal line over the skyline. Make sure you are working on the new blank layer and not the original layer. 
Screen Shot 2014-08-21 at 13.49.13
One you have a broad stripe, change the colour.  I did this by altering the H option in the Colour Picker box. I just moved it down a few degrees each time.
Screen Shot 2014-08-21 at 13.49.31
Add a second strip in the second colour.
Screen Shot 2014-08-21 at 13.49.50
Keep altering the colour, making sure your changes each time are subtle and blend well with the previous colour.
Screen Shot 2014-08-21 at 13.51.01
Once finished it looks a mess. :)
Go to layer, and then Create Clipping Mask.
Screen Shot 2014-08-21 at 13.54.24
And as if by magic, this happens. Awesome, right!!!
Screen Shot 2014-08-21 at 13.54.27

This is such a fun way to create a different look with digital stamps. I hope you have a go!
----------GIVEAWAY---------
A2Z Scrapbooking are generously offering a $50 gift certificate to one lucky commenter. The prize winner will be randomly selected from all comments received on all the blogs on the hop. Leave your comment here by Sunday August 31st and check out the A2Z blog on 3rd September to see if you have won. :)

Right, now it's time to hop on.
Next up it's
Chitra Nair
If you get lost, a full list of blogs is available on the Hero Arts blog.
Happy hopping.
Supplies


Sunday 24 August 2014

Hello!

Hello!!
Today I have a card over on the Simon Says Stamp blog. It features Hero Arts, watercolours and glitter. What a happy combination. :)
Here's a sneak to whet your appetite…
hello2
Head on over to Simon Says Stamp's blog see my card in full. :)
And have a very happy Sunday.
x

Thursday 21 August 2014

You're Fantastic

I have a third card for you today that I made with the newest card kit from Simon Says Stamp
Today's card has a few additions, namely their Petite Butterflies dies (adore this set), the gorgeous Clustered Leaves die, and Avery Elle's Gift Tags dies.
You're Fantastic by Lucy Abrams
The polka dot paper looks delicious with the addition of Calico Shine ink splatters. And I misted the tag too.
You're Fantastic - 2 by Lucy Abrams
So there you have it - three cards made to highlight the gorgeous papers in the kit. And I've barely even touched the surface. I've said it before, but these kits really are amazing value. :)
OK - I'll be back soon.
Bye for now.
Supplies

Wednesday 20 August 2014

Oh, Hello There!

I'm back with a second card created with Simon Says Stamp's September card kit. I am continuing my theme of playing with the patterned paper in the kit, and today's card really does feature the paper. This sheet of paper needed nothing adding. It's just so cute! I love those animals, and that balloon
oh hello there by Lucy Abrams
I simply added a stamped sentiment and some stitching. A less than 5 minute card! I really love patterned paper…
oh hello there - 2 by Lucy Abrams
One more card to share with this kit - I'll be back very soon. :)
Bye.
Supplies


Monday 18 August 2014

I Like You...

It's that time again… Simon Says Stamp has released their awesome new card kit. This month's kit has a book theme, with a fun stamp set, papers from October Afternoon's Public Library pad, coordinating stickers and other bits and pieces.
I've seen lots of cards already made with this kit, and most of them have featured the cute stamp set. So I decided to go a bit different, and focused my attention on the papers. Yum. So I have three cards to share over the next few days, all created with the kit. First up, this one made entirely with the kit contents.
i like you by Lucy Abrams
I added some stitching to this otherwise flat card. It really helps add that home made feel. :) And that butterfly - it's cut from one of the papers in the kit. Cute.
i like you - 2 by Lucy Abrams
And here's a look at the full kit. It's a fun one. :)
OK - I'll be back soon with my next card.
Bye for now - happy Monday. :)
Supplies


Tuesday 12 August 2014

Thank You Butterflies

Hello! I hope you are well. Things are great here. So great in fact, I've not had much time to play recently. But I have a card to share today. Yay!
I made this card with some more of the yummy digital watercolour paper from Pink Petticoat (that I also used on THIS card). I simply printed it onto some textured paper then die cut the butterflies using THESE cute Simon Says Stamp dies and stamped a sentiment with one of THESE stamps.
thank you2
I'm really into textured and recycled paper at the moment… they go so well with watercolour effects. I think I shared the link before, but these papers come from Eco-Crafts. Love them…
Thank You
Right - I'll be back as soon as I can…
My girls are growing up WAY too fast, and I need to watch them. :) Every day is different. And precious. :)
See you soon.
Supplies