For My Niece

Hello Peeps.  I hope your weekend is shaping up nicely.  Blessings to my neighbours to the South, who are having their Memorial Day Weekend.  Here in Canada, we had a holiday last Monday, to celebrate Victoria Day, or the Queen's Birthday.   But this weekend is business as usual for us.  :-)
I must tell you about a new store I found here in my Province of Ontario: It is called "LSL Diversified".  AMAZING store - LOW LOW PRICES everyday on COPICS and TIM HOLTZ stuff and everything.  In fact, I don't know of any other Canadian store that sells Copic Sketch markers at her price: $5.50 each! You read it right!  And that is the REGULAR price!!!  (I know, I sound like an ad announcer... I'm just so excited I found them!) They put my order together SUPER FAST  and had EXCELLENT customer service!  I can't say enough about them!  I don't work for them in any way.  I am just sending all my Canadian buddies there because I have been SO happy with the service, prices, and products available. 

I made this card for my lovely niece who needs a cheer up right now.   This fairy named, "Ophelia" is one of my illustrations from my "Crissy's Cuties" line that I did for Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps.

 I coloured Ophelia with the following Copic markers:

Hair: 100, W3, 5. 8, E47, 49, B60, 63 

 note: I started with W3 and put it where I wanted highlights.  In retrospect, I should not have done that, and should have gone for the B60 instead.  I realized after the dark shades went on, that it would look better with cool highlights rather than warm.  And so I did what I could to go over and over them with both the blender pen to remove the warm grey.  Then I added B60 where the warm grey had been.   However, greys are very difficult to remove and don't respond well to the blender pen.  But oh well, live and learn, right?  Next time I do this hair colour, B60 only for the highlights!! 

Skin: E00, 01, 11, 13, 15, and R20 for blush

White bodice: B60, 63

Rock: C2, 4, 6, 8, B60

Red dress: R30, 32, 37, 39, 89

Wings: R000, 00, 20, 30, 32, 37, with E47 and W8 on the tips of the two antennae

Birdie: G02, 07, BG11, 72, C4 for shadow on tummy, and R35, 37 for the red parts

Background: Blender pen, BG72, 000, R32, 000

For the background, I tried a new-to-me technique.  Probably has been done before, but don't know the official name for it.  However, I will try to explain it here in case you want to try it out:

I used the blender pen prolifically throughout this technique, so for best results, make sure the blender pen is nice and juicy (refill it with a few drops of blender solution if it hasn't been filled in awhile). 

I uncapped the blender pen and BG72 and held the blender pen in the hand I was going to draw with (I'm right handed, so for me I held it in my right hand).  With BG72 uncapped and in my left hand, I swiped the tip of the blender pen onto the tip of BG72 to pick up some colour.  Then I drew little swirly lines on the background starting close to the image, with the blender pen.  I made small circular motions.  The little bit of BG72 quickly disappeared off the tip of the blender pen and made a nice faint mottled design. 

I had to keep re-swiping the tip of the blender pen onto the tip of BG72, every second or two.  It does take some time and patience to do this technique!!

I was quite random with where I placed the colour.  I decided I wanted to add the second colour so I repeated the same process using R32.  And just to keep the colours well blended, I also used the same process using R000, and BG000, so that there would be a very soft blending of light colours as well, mixing in with the deeper colours. 

Here is a close-up of the background so you can see it better:

I have a slew of challenges I am entering this card in today! Here's the list:

Kraftin Kimmie Stamps Challenge Blog: Rough It Up (distressing, tearing)

Just Us Girls: Dry Embossing (used my CB folder for a couple of the red panels)

Quixotic Challenges: Emboss It!  

Stampin' Sisters In Christ: Distressed or Vintage

One Stop Craft Challenge: Swirls & Pearls

Incy Wincy: Button Up!

Saturday Challenge: Buttons and Blooms

Ooh La La Creations: Bright and Cheerful (I think this one qualifies, agreed?) ;-)

The Character Cafe: Rhinestones, Ribbon and Red  (the pink lacy ribbon was a gift - thanks Deb!)

Oh, Alice! : Swirls

Paper Garden Projects:  Girly (could this get any girlier??)

Stampin' for the Weekend: Cheer up card

Flutter By Wednesdays:  anything goes, as long as it has a butterfly, angel or fairy on it

Special Props to my friend Rach of Papercrafts by Rach for doing this card that inspired my creation here.  It isn't an exact CASE, but I had it up on my screen as a sort of guide and inspiration.  Way to go, Rach, you are a crafting genius!

Since this post is already uber long, if you have any questions in regards to any of the details, please shoot me an e-mail (addy on the watermark).  

Thanks for coming by for a visit.  God bless you in His mighty amazing Love for you!