Technique: PanPastels on Black Paper

PanPastels are my favorite coloring tool, and I find myself constantly looking for new ways to use them. It's easy to always reach for white paper when you're planning to stamp and color, but why not try something totally different?

Here's a fun technique that you can try with PanPastels. They look amazing on black paper! Here, I used Black Licorice embossing powder to emboss several flowers on Black Licorice cardstock, using the Pretty Petals stamp set by FJS (retiring June 30). Then I used the Sofft Tools wand with the "slipper" tip to apply four colors of PanPastels: Whip Cream and Pool Play on the small flowers, and Sweet Berry and Banana Cream on the large flowers. 

I added a few "dew drops" of Journey Glaze, and a white embossed sentiment from the Good Karma stamp set (also retiring June 30.) The result is a striking but simple card that you can complete in just a few minutes. This technique would make a beautiful sympathy card as well.

Tip: You do not need to set PanPastels with any kind of fixative, as they cure on their own in about 24 hours. However, if you choose to use a fixative, please be sure to use a very light coating of artist-grade fixative so that it won't change the color of your pastels, or degrade to yellow over time. Many people mistakenly use hairspray, which will turn yellow within about a year. Your work is ART! Treat it accordingly.


Supplies List

Stamps: Pretty Petals, Good Karma
Inks: Clear Pigment Ink
Cardstock: Black Licorice
Coloring Tools: PanPastels, Black Licorice Embossing Powder, Whip Cream Embossing Powder
Adhesives: Journey Craft Glue, Journey Foam Squares, Journey Glaze

To purchase these supplies and so much more, visit my FSJ store front.

Vibrant Honeycombs

This is a fun and simple card that showcases the rich, vibrant colors you can achieve with PanPastels. To achieve this look, stamp the Honeycomb ATS using Clear Pigment Ink, then gently rub the pastels over the ink, blending each color into the next as you go. 

The sentiment, bee and flowers are heat embossed in black, and then painted with Sparkle Silk and Gold Silk. Then the Gold Silk is splattered around to look like honey. 

Don't forget to make the inside of your card and the matching envelope just as beautiful! Your recipient will be wowed by your attention to detail.

Supplies List

• Stamps: Hey Honey, Honeycomb ATS, Pretty Petals
• Inks: Clear Pigment Ink
• Cardstock: Whip Cream
• Coloring Tools: Gold Silk, Sparkle Silk, Black Licorice Embossing Powder, PanPastels
• Adhesives: Journey Craft Glue, Journey Foam Squares
• Tools: Journey Heat Gun, Media Tray

To purchase these supplies and so much more, visit my FSJ store front. 

Do Small Things With Great Love

I'm definitely ready for spring and I felt like creating a little slice of sunshine on this dreary, grey day. The bold pop of orange on this otherwise monochromatic card fills the bill! Both the background flowers and the butterfly are embossed in Black Licorice, and the butterfly is then colored with PanPastels. I just adore the sentiments in the Small Things stamp set. The modern font keeps it feeling fresh.

I cut out an extra forward wing for the butterfly, and curled it with my Crease Tool. I then adhered it to the body with a Mini Glue Dot, and placed a double thick layer of Journey Foam Squares behind the curve of the wing to ensure that it stays popped up even through mailing.

I diluted Sparkle Silk with a few drops of water and painted the flower petals and wings to add a pale shimmer. This really makes the colors pop! A drop shadow beneath the flower petals gives the background extra dimension.

Supplies List

• Stamps: Small Things, Pretty Petals
• Inks: Clear Pigment Ink
• Cardstock: Whip Cream, Black Licorice
• Coloring Tools: PanPastels, Sparkle Silk, Black Licorice Embossing Powder
• Adhesives: Journey Craft Glue, Journey Foam Squares, Mini Glue Dots

To purchase these supplies and so much more, visit my FSJ store front. 

Crazy Color Challenge

My Fun Stampers Journey team, Inking The Way, holds a weekly Color Sketch challenge and this particular challenge was tough! Here's our inspiration photo:

The challenge called for using five colors: Whip Cream, Oatmeal Cookie, Huckleberry Fusion, Sweet Berry, and Tangerine Tango. Beautiful as a fashion statement, but can I translate it to paper? Here's my best shot!

I embossed the flowers from the Pretty Petals hostess stamp set, and then colored them with Journey Color Splash watercolor pencils on Color Splash watercolor paper. This stamp set does have coordinating dies, but I didn't want a white border so I fussy cut each piece with my Details Pro Shears. 

I created a faux picture frame with the Journey Rectangles die set, and added some extra foliage with the Detailed Foliage die set. The brilliant blue hue of the Huckleberry Fusion cardstock adds an unexpected twist to this tropical motif. I'm sending this little piece of sunshine to a friend who's been feeling a little down.

Supplies List

• Stamps: Pretty Petals
• Dies: Journey Rectangles, Detailed Foliage
• Inks: Clear Pigment Ink
• Cardstock: Whip Cream, Black Licorice, Huckleberry Fusion, Oatmeal Cookie, Color Splash Watercolor Sheets
• Coloring Tools: Color Splash Watercolor Pencils, Sparkle Silk, Whip Cream Embossing Powder
• Adhesives: Journey Craft Glue, Journey Foam Squares, Mini Glue Dots

To purchase these supplies and so much more, visit my FSJ store front.