Virtual Convention coming to RSC May 3 - 7 2012

Do you like attending rubber stamp conventions?  All those companies gathered in one place, selling everything needed to create paper crafting "master pieces".  What's not to love right??

Except maybe the long drive if you don't live close by or maybe there is a scheduling conflict that keeps you from attending.  How about the standard convention food, of which the best stuff always sells out before you stop to eat.  Would you like to not have tired feet when it is all said and done, maybe even do your shopping in your pj's...

When the Rubber Stamp Chat forum was started years ago, Amy aka XrayAmy the owner started a tradition called the "Virtual Stamp Convention".  It was a new concept where a special area was temporarily opened up at the forum for stamp companies to sell their stamps and other supplies at special RSC member discounts.  The convention usually lasts for one weekend only but you can shop around the clock, until you drop.

Each company that signs up to participate has a thread on "the convention floor", that they can list what they sell, explaining discounts and specials they are offering RSC members that weekend. Their thread usually includes links and special discount codes, some have even created a special web page that can only be found/accessed thru the RSC convention. 

There is also a place for members of RSC to start discussions about what they have purchased or anything else convention related that they want to "Chat" about.  We been known to start virtual "happy hours" where we pretend we are actually together in one place enjoying margarita's or something and discuss the snacks we are eating while we shop online.   Virtual food is calorie free you know so worries about blowing that diet you are on.  Basically we just get plain silly and have fun enjoying each other's virtual company!

Oh yeah, the comment about shopping in your pj's.   Well certain members really have been know to stay up all night surfing the web in said pj's, checking out all the vendors attending the convention with a credit card at the ready.  So come check it out Thursday May 3rd - Monday May 7th.  Just don't say I didn't warn you when you shop in your jammies!!

Easter Card and a preview

This is the Easter card I made for my son this year, nothing cutsie.  It's simple, masculine and full of love.  He is after all a young man now and not a little boy, sigh.  I used Versafine Sepia ink, Spellbinder dies, a Cuttlebug Embossing folder, foam tape, white cardstock, handmade (but not by me, lol) cardstock and stamps to make his card.  The bunny and eggs stamps are from Eureka Stamps and the sentiment is from After Midnight.

This is a preview of my "how to" post for next week....  Hope you have a great weekend and be sure to check in next week for more about the above picture.

Coloring on Black Cardstock

A friend over at Rubberstamp Chat started a thread/list of techniques that can be done with black cardstock recently.  I had seen articles about using white or other very light colored pencils as a base that you then color over using the actual color you want in stamp magazines a few years ago and have even seen it talked about in non stamping colored pencil how to books.  According to the books even dark colors that would usually disappear on the black cardstock will show up this way.  I mentioned the technique which of course then resulted in a request for the above example.

As you can see not only do the colors you try to color with but the quality of the pencils can make a difference as well.  You can however use even cheap (Crayola) or a mid range priced (EKS-E K Success) pencils to enhance your stamped image.

After making the example chart I decided to make a card with this technique and my Prisma pencils.  I stamped my images in white ink and let them dry completely, do not emboss your images.  After the images are dry go over everything with a white pencil, redrawing all lines and filling in with white where needed.  You will notice that I did not fill in the flower petals and leaves on this example completely.  I wanted to keep the spiral detail of the stamp image and coloring in the whole thing would have resulted in solid petals and leaves instead. 

I selected this flower image so you could see the difference the white pencil underneath made.  It also is a reminder to think ahead before you color everything in white, don't get carried away and lose the detail of your image. 

You can really see the difference the white makes on the leaves and grass.  I used darker colors for both of those and without the white underneath the greens really do dissappear.

One other trick I learned recently.  If you place a textured surface underneath your cardstock when coloring in, you can get some wonderful results.  Not only can it emboss the paper but the color you use "skips" across the surface instead of filling in completely.  If you want to get the texture without the embossed effect then use the side of the pencil and a very light touch instead.  You will still get the appearance of texture without pressing in the surface of your paper.  I hope on the picture below you can see not only the bumps but the flecks of turquoise on the dragon flies wings where it colored only the raised parts of the wings.

Here is the finished card:

The flower is from DMD-Creativity Inc and the dragonfly is from Beeswax.  The bright happy colors I used help balance out the darkness of the black cardstock.  I smile and think Spring whenever I look at this card.  Hope you give coloring on dark cardstock a try and be sure to let me know what you think once you have. 

Have a great day!!