"Alcohol Markers" Technique Blog Hop

Welcome to our Technique Blog Hop! This month there are six of us highlighting the Alcohol Marker technique.  This blog hop is a great big circle so you can start wherever you want and continue through to see all the fabulous artwork incorporating this technique.

If you are coming from Shirley's Blog, "Mom N Me Scrap", you are on the right track!  

Here are two projects that I recently completed using Close To My Heart's AMAZING alcohol markers.  I have a few copics but have resisted getting many due to price.  Our markers work great, come in wonderful colors that match our papers, and are only $4.95 for TWO!  They come in pairs (see pic below) including the true CTMH color and a lighter or darker complimentary (blending) color.  

***#1 TIP!!!! - Use a permanent pigment based ink to stamp images you color with alcohol markers.  Our standard inks may bleed a little an my ruin lighter marker colors.  This is true of ANY alcohol markers.  I used Momento's Tuxedo Black for these.  You can also choose to emboss any image before coloring as the embossing powder will "dam" the color and reduce bleeding. ***

This butterfly card was inspired by the wonderful blue colors in real butterflies.  The stamp set is a retired oldy but goody, Butterfly Wings.  My go to many time for graphic butterflies.  The rose on the back is stamped with Twilight Ink (retired) and is from the January "Happy Valentine's" Stamp of the Month.

I used a "flicking" technique from the outside of the wings and the inside wind near the body towards the middle with the standard dark blue Pacifica marker and then overlapped the edge using the same technique towards the middle, leaving a little of the blue paper showing. Here's a closeup. I also used a splica (sp?) pen to add a little glitter.

The other card features another rose from the January Stamp of the Month.  I stamped the rose twice on pink cardstock with my Memento black ink.  The base is colored with the Topiary and Ruby markers (except the rose center that isn't seen).

Here is another close up.  I started with the darker Ruby and colored where the black lines are and near the creases.  Then I went over the whole rose with the lighter Ruby marker to blend.  For the green leaves, I did the same with the regular and lighter Topiary green.  On the second stamped image, I colored just the center and cut it out.  Using a pop-dot, I created a 3D effect that I think gives the card some real dimension.

I hope you liked my cards.  I'm slowly building my stock of these amazing markers. A full list of the markers is available here.  Happy coloring! :)

Your next stop on the hop is back to the beginning with Debi...

Here is the full hopping list in case you get lost!  Thanks for stopping by! :)

1. Debi
2. Cherri
3. Joy 4. Judy
5. Shirley
6. Kindred Hearts<<< You are here

And we have another winner!

Congrats,

Wendy Bergeron Coffman

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
Wendy was given the choice of:

• FREE Stamp of the Month (Spring/Summer Catalog)
• $10 in product credit
• a "Surprise" gift by mail

An email has been sent and I we will see what she chooses!

I haven't decided if I should do another giveaway this month or not.  Maybe one of my followers can convince me? 

Thanks for stopping by.  Congrats again, Wendy! :)

Lorby's World - Valentine's Mailbox/Treat Box Blog Hop

Valentine's Day is just two weeks away and we wanted to see what kinds of mailboxes, boxes, and bags you make to give those special people in your lives. Join us for some amazing Valentine's inspiration in plenty of time for that special day and those special treats.

This hop has two hostesses today: Jearise from Lorby's World and Tee. Make sure you visit their blogs because they have some special treats of their own to give away. They'll tell you more on their blogs.

Now on with the inspiration...

Although my brand new "Tags, Bags, Boxes & More 2" Cricut Cartridge contains many boxes and even a mailbox to choose from, I love this little treat box.  There was a little learning curve when cutting and putting this box together but I love how it turned out.  (PS - the pictures don't do the matching base and almost perfectly coordinating paper justice.)

The cardstock is white core and took the Chocolate distress well.  The patterned paper is some retired B&T paper from Close To My Heart that I love.  The two sides work so well together that I cut a butterfly out and turned it to the "back" side to compliment the lighter distressing in the paper.

My favorite part of the box is still the "lock and heart" sides.  The keyhole is where the tabs from the top insert to close the box.

I think I may make a few more of these for the special Valentine's in my life!  Hope you like it.

 Thanks for stopping by and please continue on to Robin S.

1. Jearise 
2. Tee <<<YOU CAME FROM HERE
3. Penny (Kindred hearts) <<<YOU ARE HERE
4. Robin S. <<<GO HERE NEXT
5. Amanda 
6. Sandra
7. Jessi
8. Priscilla
9. Katie 
10. Michele 
11. Ashley 
12. Lynne 
13. Jackie