Followers

7/02/2014

Spectrum Noir and Poppies

Good morning & welcome. First let me give a link to one of my newest followers, Zella of Joyful Expressions. I didn't have a link when Zella was welcomed in an earlier post - and now, thankfully I do have this link to share to Zella's lovely blog. Also welcome to another new follower, Cathy of Crafting Cathy. Again, thanks to you both for becoming followers, and please do take time to pop over to say hi to these very talented card makers. I'm pretty close now to the 250 mark, and there's a little surprise when that milestone happens. Not a blog candy as such, but just a little appreciation I hope!!

I'm seeing a lot of Spectrum Noir use on various blogs and in youtube videos. Had stamped this image and since it's small, decided to give the Noirs another go. I just don't find them as easily blendable as Copics - but I learned alcohol marker coloring using copics, so possibly am being a bit prejudiced. The copic brush has a very soft touch, while the small nib on the Noirs feels hard to me. I do like the smallness of this Noir nib, though, as it's easy to get in tight places without blobbing all over a flower stem or such.

Here's the card I worked on.

 
 
- not sure of the stamp manufacturer, but it's still on my desk, if anyone wants to know. Stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa, because at the time, thought I'd use a light color on the flowers - which I think are poppies. Used yellows & oranges for the flowers and greens, yellow greens for the foliage. White gel pen for the center stamens. The Noirs have numbers (well, the copics do too, but the copics also have a color name as well) - so it's harder for me to distinguish what the particular color is. I wasn't happy with the result of my effort on this at first, but after I got it matted & carded up, I did like it a bit better. The background was done with a Copic B0000 - my standby!
 
By the way, I had 2 dry Noirs; has anyone had their markers refilled? I refill the copics all the time; when I bought a marker, I also bought the refill after I learned it was a $1.00-$1.50 to fill a pen with about 12 drops. If I get 'into' the Noirs, I will get the refills too, if I can. Also I got my Noir sets at
A C Moore with coupons, so there may be newer colors available now too, since these seem to be gaining in popularity.
 
_various S/B ovals to create the frames...the classic ovals & the deckled oval - which S/B should have continued and made another size in my humble opinion. I think that one has been retired as I never see it on their pages. This green was a snippet that looked pleasing with the background green dp from a 6x6 pack.
 
- S/B Tranquil Moments die cut a yellow dp from the same 6x6 pack as the green background paper. I am finding this yellow & green color combo to be soothing in the heat of summer. Not sure just why, but my hand keeps reaching for these colors when I'm thinking flowers.
 
I see I need to put my signature stamp on the image, and I will add a sentiment when I send it. Also see I need to pull off a little 'thread' on the inside frame too.
 
I'm still finishing up 4th of July cards and {sigh} didn't get the finished ones mailed today as I'd meant. So those who are going to receive a holiday card, will - alas - receive it late. For the past 2 days, I feel like I've been on a little hamster wheel and just spinning my feet without really going anywhere. Tomorrow is another day, and always ready to be better!!
 
Ya'll have a great afternoon and come back when ya can set a spell. Blessings & Hugs.
 
Psst: added some new cards to the Friends Cards page...see tab at top of this post.

26 comments:

  1. Yes, I would say those gorgeous flowers are poppies, Mary. You've really colored them beautifully and used some pretty die cuts. I've never tried the Noirs but the part about getting in tight places sure sounds good. I'm working on a poppy card and hope to post it this week.

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  2. Pretty card! Nice job on your coloring

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  3. Looks to me like you're doing great coloring with those markers! So beautiful and love the die you used on this.
    Lynn

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  4. Beautiful card with some gorgeous poppies. Enjoy the upcoming Holiday weekend.

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  5. So pretty! I love the happy summery colors of this card. That die cutting folder is scrumptious! Much fun can be had with that. I love that you cut it out on patterned paper. Yum yum!

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  6. Gorgeous poppies Mary and great colouring. The jury is still out about the SN pens, I can't decide if I like them or not. Some are really juicy and smudge and therefore don't blend too well and some colour tones, I find, don't work. On the other hand I do like the smaller nib. I shall keep trying, like you!! xx

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  7. Your coloring is magnificent on these flowers! The die cut and framework is lovely and I'd say you've already mastered the Noirs! Beautiful card Mary, and I wish you a healthy and very happy July 4th celebration!

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  8. Beautiful card Mary. Love the poppies. I don't have any orange pens at all so I always end up colouring my poppies red. I must invest I think. I adore the Tranquil Moments die! Hugs Christine xx

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  9. This card is gorgeous Mary. You did an exemplary job of coloring the poppies. I have tried most markers at on time or another and I still come back to Copics. Thats not an knock or put down just a preference. I find that anyone with a light touch style will have more control with Copics super nib. Copic markers and/or nibs are available like the Noir pens.

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  10. Hi Mary, I love your vibrantly coloured poppies. You have done an amazing job with the SN pens, I started to buy them but I didn't like them at all, and some of mine dried up really quick too.I have started to collect Promarkers now and find them much better. They have a similar nib to the SNs and you can buy very fine nibs that fit over them for very fine colouring.
    Jean x

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  11. this is so pretty Mary - you have coloured those poppies beautifully xx

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  12. Oh wow Mary, those poppies look absolutely stunning - I love them and the card you created is wonderful too! Hugs, Anne xx

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  13. Wow, this is so gorgeous, Mary!! The flowers look amazing!! You colored them beautifully!! And you framed them perfectly!! Love this my friend!! Have a great day :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  14. I really like this cars Mary. I always go for poppies anyway, and this colour combo is great. Like you, I much prefer my copics over Spectrum noirs, mainly because I like the soft brush. I really like the yellow swirl frame. It is not one i recognise, but then there are so many on the market now, it is impossible to keep up with them all. It's all beautiful anyway. Hugs Kate xx

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  15. Stunning! Love your fancy frame.

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  16. If I could colour half as well as you I would be very happy with that image Mary. It really glows and takes the eye beautifully.
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  17. Beautiful card, Mary!
    I love that die cut you used...it looks fabulous.
    Comics are my pen of choice but lately I have been using Prismacolours!

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  18. BEAUTIFUL card Mary, love the colour combo, so summery, your colouring is beautiful.

    Happy 4th July

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  19. This card is gorgeous Momma Mary! You did a great job coloring them with the Noirs. Love that beautiful fancy mat too!! I don't think the Noirs are as good of quality as Copics but really have no clue as I've never used a Copic marker before. I like the Noirs because I can get similar results as the Copics and they were cheap. lol And cheap was good for me. The Noirs don't have near as many colors as Copic markers. They can be refilled and I've refilled some of mine. Haven't gotten all the refills yet. I did find that some of my markers came dried out and some dried out soon after. Not sure if it was just a fluk or what. So I do have some that are dried up waiting for me to buy the refill. lol I do like them though and if you buy the newer shaped ones, you can change out the nib for a brush nib. It did upset me however that they didn't make the brush nib for the markers I have but instead came out with a whole new set. But that's the way it goes. Hope this helps! Hugs, Brenda

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  20. I love this colour combination using those dp's Mary and especially that beautiful die cut with the yellow dp, and the poppies are so prettily coloured too. Gorgeous! x

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  21. How gorgeous! I love this, Mary! Happy 4th! hugs, de

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  22. Beautifully colored card, Mary. I am thinking of getting some SNs. I only have 3 Copics - I find the cost prohibitive. I will be on the lookout for the newer SNs mentioned in some comments here.

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  23. This is breathtaking, Mary! Love that frame and the beautiful poppies!

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  24. Hi Mary. As always, your coloring is amazing. This image, done in the bright orange is STUNNING! Loll xx

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  25. Fantastic colouring on the poppies, Mary. I've not had much time recently to play with my pens but the end of term is only 16 days away! x

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  26. beautiful card love the die-cut frame and beautifully coloured image
    carol x

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