Tool Talk - July 2013

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If you're looking for the DeNami Summer Splash hop card, it can be found one post down! Thanks! :)

 

Hi everyone and welcome to another edition of Tool Talk! Today's guest is someone I "meet" not so long ago and I think she's one of the sweetest people ever! I'm really glad to have gotten to know her and am glad that I put my big girl panties on and asked her if she was interested in guest posting here on the Addict Blog...boy was that intimidating!! I'm just smitten and brought back to my childhood with her precious "paper doll" stamps that can be dressed up in so many different adorable outfits! She runs her own stamp company and a fun blog with a monthly challenge...let's give a warm welcome to Debbie Marcinkiewicz, owner of Paper Sweeties stamp company!!

 

Tool Talk – Prismacolor Pencils

By:  Debbie Marcinkiewicz

Hello crafty friends!  I was beyond excited and honored when my sweet friend, Tina, invited me to write an article for her Tool Talk segment this month!  The only problem I could think of was which tool I was going to select to spotlight in this article … there are SO MANY great ones out there from dies, to embossing plates and heat guns to sewing machines!  In the end, I chose Prismacolor Pencils along with Gamsol Mineral Spirits since they have become my ‘go to’ tools to add color to stamped images these days!

 

I began with a stamp set from Paper Sweeties that will be released in the shop today, July 15^th … these sweet little birdies on a branch and adorable tree made of pretty little blossoms just cried out to be inked and colored!

I colored each of the ‘open’ images with different colored Prismacolor pencils …

… and then the ‘magic’ happens when you add Gamsol Mineral Spirits!  Just dip the tip of a ‘stump’ into the Gamsol and then rub it over the spots you filled in with Prismacolor pencils – the mineral spirits act as a blending agent and give you a clear, smooth finish to your penciled coloring – no pencil marks – just a beautiful, clean finish!  They are SO EASY to use … if I can use them, a monkey can!!  I was not ‘really a fan’ of coloring previously, but since I discovered the Prismacolor pencils in combination with the Gamsol, I find them hard to put down!  It’s so quick and easy and gives you a really professional result!

I’ve taken Copic marker classes and just can’t seem to master the technique.  I think I color ‘too heavy’ and don’t like the result I end up with.  Using the Prismacolor pencils gives me a nice, light, soft effect each and every time.  And, if you want to go darker, just go over your image with more pencil and smooth out with more Gamsol.  Perfect every time!!

After stamping my images onto patterned paper and die cutting into a pretty shape, I colored the stamped images with Prismacolor pencils.  I adhered a tiny gingham patterned paper heart inside the tree and topped it off with a pretty iridescent button and twine.  I added some pretty patterned papers to the base of my card and secured them with a machine-sewn zig-zag stitch.  I added a snippet of pretty white lace trim and then tied on a sweet tea-stained seam binding bow using Ambrosia Cantalope and Pink Bubblegum colors!

I stamped a cute little sentiment onto a white cardstock pennant and adhered it to the bottom of my card along with a smaller pennant and a pretty little pink satin bloom!

And there you have it my friends … coloring the ‘easy way’ with Prismacolor pencils!  Give it a try … I bet you’ll fall in love with them too!

 

Here are a couple other cards I’ve made in the past using Paper Sweeties stamps with Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol Mineral Spirits …

 

 

 

I can't thank Debbie enough for joining us here today, she's truly awesome!! I hope you take the time to visit with her on the Paper Sweeties blog and on Facebook!

 

As a special surprise because it is DeNami Addicts birthday month, how about a 2nd give away???? Info on the first one can be found here...there's still plenty of time to enter and the prize up for grabs is a DeNami Design gift certificate!!

 

For a 2nd giveaway, how about following the Paper Sweeties blog or Facebook page? After you follow Paper Sweeties on one of the social media sites just leave me a comment and I will randomly pick a winner for a Paper Sweeties gift certificate on Friday!

 

Thanks for joining us here today, and don't forget to join in on the DeNami Addict Birthday fun!!!