Yes it’s Sunday and I normally don’t post on Sundays….but since it’s Colorado Craft Company’s new release, I’ve made an exception!
I sat down with the release stamps and started coloring….I don’t think I’ve explained often how I approach new releases, but I try to see if there’s a commonality. Sometimes it’s something the products share (Anita Jeram in this case!) but the cards I started coloring were coming out with incredible contrast! What a mojo day – it was pretty spectacular to see what I made and ask myself, “Did I just do that?” Ha! So the card I color in the video will have that heavy contrast in common, and you’ll see it come to life.
Supplies for this project are linked at the end of this post. Compensated affiliate links may be used at no cost to you.
Video
At the end of the video you’ll see the cards pictured below – and I’ll write out a little more detail about them in the text here. Watch the video below or click HERE to view it on YouTube.
A Fox’s Life
The strong contrast between all the dark areas against the lights from the moon and highlights…..all that creates some serious drama!
I also created a slimlline card with the other stamp in this set; only the little part around the foxes is part of the stamp, so I created a rocky/pebbly beach with heavy heavy shadows to set off the light striking the foxes. The water is nice and dark so it makes the foxes pop in front of it – and I kept the sky lighter as well for the contrast. The sky is way fancier than what’s in the Blue Skies classes but if you’re interested in upping your game, it’s on sale right now.
Art Is
Anita Jeram has drawn a bunch of “art” related stamps, and I couldn’t be happier! This one has an easel with a couple images that can be stamped onto the canvas. Here I stamped the bunny in black on rocks that I drew, posing….and then stamped it in lighter ink as part of the in progrss painting. The background has strong side lighting, low on the horizon. It can seem “wrong” to put the highlights on the back of the bunny – but pay attention to the direction the light is shining from; it can do unexpected things.
The other version of Art Is is a slimline artists loft – I always wished I could have had one when I lived in NYC! But I guess I can draw my own so maybe I didn’t miss out on anything? The lighting here is full of drama; even if the walls are a tan color, when backed up by bright light from windows, they get dark.
Kindness First
I was working on these cards and proceeding just fine until….I hit the mojo wall. I stared at the bunny and cat and couldn’t figure out a scene to give them! I asked on social media, and someone on Instagram suggested a lumber mill by a creek, someone else wanted a waterfall – and this is what happened after that! Note all the dark colors that “frame” the figures – they don’t OUTLINE the characters, make sure you picture the background as if it’s continuous behind the figures.
Play Time
This set has smaller scene stamps, so each one got the dramatic light treatment. The mice putting on makeup have a dark wall behind and strong shadows across the teal surface of the table….and glossy accents on the shiny parts of the makeup products.Again, see the light on the BACK of the mouse on the right? Thats where the light’s coming from.
The light is coming from in front of the mice and their tea party – but just a slice of light cutting across it. Maybe a crack in a door or window. Dramatic shadows behind them and all the shadow outside the main scene simplifies it somewhat.
Spoonful of Sugar
I tried to picture what would make this mouse happy enough to juggle – and decided he was thrilled to have snuck the whole bowl out of the house! That gave me dark steps to silhouette, giving a nice dark area around the sugar bowl. I used a white pen to cover/remove the motion lines of the juggling, and then added magic dust that’s helping with the juggling.
Recharge
The cat in a hammock cried out for drama! I colored the clouds in the background first -lots of color, lots of drama, then added trees in green and grey, with extra trees on either side. Dark grasses just like i showed you in the video.
Happily Ever After
For this card I adapted one of the Copic Enchantment backgrounds into purples and pinks. SO pretty for a wedding card!
Bloghop and prizes
8 winners in this hop! Each will win one stamp set….to be included in the drawing leave a comment on each blog. Enter comments up until midnight eastern time on the 16th and winners will be announced by us on the 17th on the CCC blog.
- Colorado Craft Company- Adrienne Kennedy
- Jenn Gross
- Bibi Cameron
- Jennifer Kotas
- Kelly Griglione
- Angelica Conrad
- Daniel West
- Caly Person
- Sandy Allnock <—you’re here!
- Mansi Bhatia
- Kassi Hulet
- Erin Thompson
- Melissa Andrew
- Donna Hitz
- Nichol Spohr
- Emily Midgett
- Amy Tsuruta
INSTAGRAMMERS
Supplies
Some product may be provided by manufacturers for review and use. Compensated affiliate links are here at no cost to you. If you choose to shop using my EH (Ellen Hutson) links, please accept cookies on that site in order to retain the link to my blog, or that compensation does not happen for me. I appreciate your support of my work with your purchases! Full affiliate and product disclosure | My trusted partners in art
- Colorado Craft Company stamps:
- COMPLETE RELEASE BUNDLE
- STAMPS ONLY BUNDLE
- Other CCC stamps (there are dies but for simplicity’s sake I’m only listing stamps)
- Art Is CCC
- Kindness First CCC
- Spoonful of Sugar CCC
- Play Time CCC(no dies for this set)
- Recharge CCC
- Happily Ever After CCC
- Anniversary Mini Stamps CCC
- Copic Markers: EH – Blick
- Jet Black Lawn Fawn Ink Pad
- Neenah Cardstock, Solar White: 25pk – 250pk
Oh my gosh, as always, you amaze me Sandy. LOVE the one with the painting rabbit artist!
Goodness- amazing as always : ) I love the scenes you have created! LOVE these new stamps!!!
These are all beautiful Sandy. I always admire your work. I adore the foxes but you made everything super appealing.
Wow–love your coloring on all of these awesome scenes.
You truly have a gift for creating and coloring your cards! Love them all!
I love anita jeram designs and you have such wonderful ideas for them!
Great shares for the sets. I like the backgrounds created.
Love your coloring. Your cards are just fabulous!
Adorable new release as usual! I can’t say enough about your cards – they are so amazing! Like scenes from a movie. You wouldn’t be related to Anita, right?! I love her work, too!
Your dramatic backgrounds and colors always inspire me. Thanks
The scenes you created for the images are just stunning! I am especially in love with that sweet little fox looking at the giant moon and the bit of glow on him, and the beach scene is breathtaking, but all are amazing!
Your use of bold color makes for dramatic, gorgeous cards. Thank you! ( I’m not a fan of pastels.)
Every time I see your coloring I gasp from the beauty. The glow, highlights, shadows and dimension leave me speechless each time. These AJ stamps were created with the coloring artist in mine. A.maz.ing!
Wow, Sandy! All of these are fantastic! I’d finally decided that “A Fox’s Life” is my favorite from this release – which you have confirmed with your beautiful presentations – but now I am even more enchanted with the other sets. Now “Art Is…” might have upset “Happily Ever After” as my second choice. You have such talent and wonderful insights into the possibilities for the entire release.
Thanks for the video and sharing your process. Thank you for sharing and inspiring as you go!
Like an oil painting. So lovely.
A wonderful release and gorgeous cards!
Hi Sandy! After looking at your stunning images, I do have the “I want them all” disease. Just need the purse to go with it! Lolol. Every one you have done is better than the one before! Thank you for sharing your talents with us. If I love all the images in this release, but if I had to choose, Happily Ever After is my favorite.
Your skills are amazing! Thanks for sharing your adorable works of art
Sandy, I agree with what everyone else has stated. Your cards are always astounding! Thank you for your videos… they truly help me.
STUNNING! Each and every card!! What you did with the mice’s wedding dress is so beautiful!
You are the Master of coloring. (I didn’t want to say Mistress as that sounded kinda weird) Your fellow artist Daniel West was bragging on your creations and he wasn’t kidding. They are wonderful. I wish I had 1/4 of your talent and all the cards you created. Ha!
You have a mastery of lighting that few people ever find. Amazing work. I love the little fox and the moon, but my fav has to be the two on the beach. That is a showstopper.
Absolutely gorgeous cards! Your coloring of the backgrounds and critters are amazing..
Thanks for sharing.
Just beautiful …. you NEVER disappoint. Creative and beautiful backgrounds Sandy. I just love these sets and love your creativity with them. Bravo!!!
love your story cards. the settings are so integrated you can’t tell they were part of the set! thanks as always for sharing.
Oh my goodness, Sandy! Your cards are jaw- droppingly (not sure that is a word!!) beautiful.
Sandy, wow! You always take it to a whole new level. The Happily Ever After card took my breath away. You’re awesome, lady!
Hi, Sandy – I’ve been hard at work at the end of the school year, so I have not been able to do as many hops recently. But for you and for CCC and especially for Anita Jeram stamps, I make time. I am COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY by the very wide assortment of items you have offered for our perusal. I’m familiar with your exceptional talent, but just when I think, “Well, it’s SANDY, so it will be fantastic,” you exceed even my most wild imagination of what I will see. Loved seeing the strong contrast and the light — especially in the “Recharge” and “Happily Ever After” and “Spoonful of Sugar” cards. It’s really hard to choose a favorite, so I won’t. I continue to be a sincere devotee. You are amazing.
Lori S in PA
Your cards are amazing! I love your backgrounds, especially the beach card.
Oh, wow! Each one of your cards have blown me away. They are all fabulously done.
These are phenomenal Sandy!
First of all, you are an amazing artist! These cards are works of art. I love the bunny painting the bunny. It is so cute and so well executed. Every card is so terrific and I thank you for sharing them.
I so enjoy your videos, Sandy. These cards are all amazing. You bring them to life!
Very, very cute!
Wow, I am blown away by your coloring skills. Such amazing backgrounds and scenes you have created.
Your art is exquisite- love seeing how you took the stamps and elevated their use into pieces worthy of framing. Very inspiring to a newbie.
You are so awesome! Great art!
OMG! What awesome cards you made. Great job they are so adorable.
Stunning! Of course your shadows are beautiful and spot on! Lovely cards, every single one!
I could watch your coloring all day!!!! I love CCC Stamps….they are so charming. And your coloring and use of them makes me want each set. Thank you for your inspiration.
Incredible scenes with all of these charming critters! I think the kitty in the hammock is my favorite one! The beach scene with the foxes is absolutely fabulous too!
Your colouring and drawing is superb as always. Love these.
So many wonderful cards. I can
picture my husband lazing on the
hammock. the shading detail on
the first fox card – fantastic.
thanks for sharing
txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com
These are amazing!
Oh my word!!! These portraits are unbelievably done with all the different light angles!! Bravo!!
Awesome cards made with these lovely new stamp designs from Colorado Craft company!
Wow…tremendous cards, contrasts, and video! So inspiring!
Thanks!
Ain’t it the truth… these new sets are so amazing. Love your big moon and that sweet little fox staring up at it. Fox’s Life is really great. Love the sentiments. All of the new sets would be wonderful to chose from. Nicely done.
You are an amazing artist! I truly enjoy seeing how you picture each stamp set.
OMG! I’m not sure I have anything else to say about your coloring – totally stunning! I really need to learn the lessons about light and where it’s coming from, since my coloring is VERY different from yours without that perspective.