Welcome to our Stamp Of The Month Blog Hop! This month we have over 60 Close To My Heart consultants featuring November’s Stamp of the Month, It’s the Little Things. If you’ve come from Sarita Schraeder’s Blog you are in the right place. If you’ve started here, no worries!!! This blog hop is one big circle so you can join the fun by clicking on the link at the bottom of my post to take you to the next blogger!! If you happen to get lost along the way there is a full list of participants on Melinda Everitt’s Blog.

Earlier this month I created this card pictured below {click here to read the entire post} using the November Stamp Of The Month. This card has a spring-ish feel to it, but there are so many possibilities with this stamp set!!

For this blog hop I wanted to create another card with a totally different feel. For my card I used the Pathfinding Paper Packet and warm fall tones.

Remember this stamp set is only available until November 30 and it can be yours for only $5 with a qualifying order!! Contact your CTMH consultant or click here to get more information and to shop now!! I hope you are having fun and finding inspiration on our monthly blog hop! Now it’s time to head to Jean McNulty’s Blog to see what she has created using this fun and exclusive stamp set!!

-Kelly

Welcome to our Shinhan™ Touch Twin™ Marker Blog Hop! If you’ve come from Sarita Schraeder’s Blog you are in the right place. If you’ve started here, WELCOME!! Please join in by clicking the link at the bottom of each post to hop to the next blog. If you happen to get lost along the way, you can find a complete list of participants on Melinda Everitt’s Blog. Now onto my artwork-I was inspired by this card from the talented Laura Bassen.

To be honest, I’m a little nervous about this blog hop. Prior to purchasing the NEW Shinhan™ Touch Twin™ Markers from CTMH I had never made an investment or a true attempt at coloring/shading with alcohol markers. Let me give you a little bit of info regarding the ShinHan Touch Twin Markers that are available from Close To My Heart. Close To My Heart is offering 24 colors, and they feature a broad nib & a fine nib. There is also a Colorless Blender Marker available. {more info on this below}.

While my knowledge is not vast and I am a complete newbie when it comes to alcohol markers let me share what I do know for those of who are unfamiliar with alcohol markers.

#1- Alcohol markers are blendable…meaning you can layer multiple colors to add effects such as shading/shadowing or combine colors to make new colors. {Anyone else flashing back to the primary color wheel from elementary school?? LOL!}

#2 Alcohol markers bleed through your cardstock. Make sure you have a piece of scrap paper underneath the image you are coloring.

#3- Dye ink & StazOn™ are not your friends when it comes to alcohol markers. You will need either pigment ink or archival ink.

#4- Make sure your ink is completely dry before you start coloring or your ink will bleed into your coloring and get on your nib {tip of the marker}. If you are short on time use a craft heater to set {dry} the ink before coloring.

#5- The ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Colorless Blender Marker sounds slightly misleading. When I hear “blender” my mind automatically thinks it is meant to help blend my colors together {similar to the Blending Pen for Watercolor Pencils}, but that is not the case with alcohol markers. The Colorless Blender Marker is meant to take color away. It aids in shadowing, shading, and if you happen to color outside the lines it can “erase” those errors.

Again, I’m a complete newbie when it comes to alcohol markers, but those are just a few things I’ve picked up on. If you are familiar with alcohol markers and have any tips to share I would love for you to leave a comment on this post! If you are interested in purchasing these great new markers that are available through Close To My Heart, contact your consultant or click here to shop now!! I have no doubt I will learn so much more as I continue to practice, and as I hop along through this blog hop. Now hop on over to Michelle Battitori’s Blog to continue to be inspired.

-Kelly