Challenge 87 - Things With Wings

Hello everyone, it's Annette here to host today's challenge.

I've had so many people ask how I do the clouds on my images, so I've made a step-by-step picture tutorial especially for you.

First of all, for those of you who've not seen my clouds before, here is my finished card showing the clouds behind my image.

You'll need the following materials:

1) a coloured image of something outside

(cos clouds inside a house just don't look right LOL !!)

2) some chalks and applicators (or inks and make-up brush)

3) your cloud template (see below)

How I make my template:

I've drawn an oval, and then copied and pasted it loads of times, and moved the repeated ovals into a random ripple / wave shape.

I've then edited out all the lines of the ovals except for the topmost line so that it looks like a continuous line. You don't need to do this, cos once you've cut it out, the lines don't really matter, but I'm a bit of a geek, so I like to do this!! 

Alternatively, you can just download my finished template below !!!

Print it out in thin card (or even possibly acetate), cut around the line, and you have yourself a cloud template.

Before I start to apply my clouds, I like to outline my image in pale blue/aqua. I use B000 copic. This just gives a bit of depth to the image before you add the clouds (and also hides any colouring that has ventured outside the lines of the image!!!)

Below is a picture of the chalks I use. They are Dovecraft Shimmer Chalks, and I think it is fairly obvious which one I use the most !!! Yup, the blue one that is worn away to the base of the tin !! I'm starting to use the darker colour now, and pressing more lightly to create the same effect. The shimmer chalks produce a lovely effect.

I start from the top of my image and work down in rows. For the top row I place the template so that it is directly over the top line of my image, covering the top of her head in this case, so I can do one full-width row of clouds. 

Apply the chalks in small circular motions along the width of the template. 

For the second row, I offset the template so that if the clouds were in a upward curve on the top row, they're in a downward curve on the next row down. This way your clouds look more random, and the pattern doesn't look like it repeats. 

(Yup - placement matters - I told you I was a geek!) 

Do the same on the other side. I guess you could mask your image, but I just work down each side, and am careful when I get close to my image so I don't go over the colouring. If you have done the pale blue copic outline you don't have to get too close with the chalks. 

Tip : When you brush off the excess chalk powder, brush it upwards into the blue area, not downwards into the white. You don't want to get any blue streaks in your white parts! LOL 

Keep working down the page, I usually find that 4 rows is enough, but that would depend on the size of your image and your preference: 

To finish off, I usually apply a bit of green chalk to the grass. Here's the green I use ...

Here's my finished girlie, all cut out, and edged with Amber Satin & Dune Colour Box brush pads which I apply directly to the cut edge: 

Here she is again, all made up on her card: 

Hope you liked my easy tutorial and I look forward to seeing you try out some cloudy skies!!

If you haven't guessed already, the challenge theme for this week at Top Tip Tuesday is 


Things with Wings. 

Our fab sponsors this fortnight are ......

Simon Says Stamp

Simon Says Stamp is offering a $20 gift voucher to spend in their store!! 

In business since 2002, Simon Says Stamp is striving to offer you the best selection of Rubber Stamps, Altered Art, Scrapbooking, Artist Trading Cards, and Paper Crafting Supplies in the world. We stock over 100,000 items in our warehouses so that we can offer you quick service and one stop shopping at a great price! 

Happy customers are the heart of our business. 

We work hard to find and deliver to you the latest in stamping and paper crafting supplies! Attending classes, workshops, and sales meetings around the world, our goal is to keep our product offerings fresh and current. Make us your one stop easy shop - and we'll deliver right to your door! 

Robyn's Fetish! 

1 Lucky winner 4 stamps of their choice! 

Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More is proud to sponsor this challenge. 

Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More, a division of I Did It Creations, was created and is 

owned by Robyn Weinrib. Robyn offers a wonderful variety of digital stamps and digital papers, designed to meet the needs of all digital paper crafting addicts for every occasion. 

Have a peek at the gorgeous creations from our design team.

We've also got the uber talented Deanne joining us this week as a guest.  I always adore her creations and she's created a gorgeous pink card (I LOVE PINK) for our theme today.

Thank you Deanne for joining us this week.

Deanne 

Our Design team 

Annette using Robyn's Fetish Dreamy Papers

Bettina
Tip: When making a twisted easel, make sure you manage to fold the back so the upper part of the easel is twisted to one side;)

Carol

Image coming soon

Deneen 

Tip: I found these little books at the dollar store (3 in a package), I bought several packages and decorated them all at one time...it makes a quick personalized gift to have on hand when needed.

Elaine
Tip: Leave a little of the image outside the frame and cut round it to make it a bit more dimensional. 

Lisa M  using Robyn's Fetish - Lady Who Swallowed A Fly

Tip: Instead of a sentiment, create a funny conversation between objects on your card.

Samantha
Tip: When adding a sentiment you can cut a tag but also stamp that with a part of your image and over line it so you can just add height but not extra colour or hide the image.
click on the picture to in large so you can see the sentiment tag better.

Lisa S using Robyn's Fetish BOO Word Art
Tip: Have you ever wished your stamped image was a bit larger? Use a fine point pen/sharpie and draw around the image to increase its size. Color in with a dark pen/marker and no one will ever know. Check out my bats & you'll see what I mean. ;) Be sure to visit my blog because I have another tip regarding my word art image for you.

Now its over to you we can not wait to see your Creations

Don't forget we want to see your Top Tips too
Add (TIP) after your name when you link your Top Tip
Up to 3 Projects AND 3 Top Tips per challenge! Good Luck :)