Yay, Summer finally arrived!

So Summer is finally here, long may it last!
Summer Loving is also the challenge them on the Spectrum Noir Facebook page this month too, its almost like we planned it!
The design team have been hard at work giving you some awesome summertime inspiration, here's the card I made for the gallery...

I love this little guy from Mo's Digital Pencil, reminds me of beach holiday fun with my boys when they were little!

I coloured him with my Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers in these colours:

Skin - FS2, FS4, FS6, TN3
Ring - FL1, DR1, DR2, DR6
Shorts - TB2, TB9, FL2, OR1
Towel - OR1, GB1, GB3

I hope you can enjoy this beautiful weather while we have it, and if I have inspired you to make something for the Summer Loving challenge then you can add it by clicking here and following the link, don't forget there is always a prize for the winning entry.

Happy Colouring!

Nicky x

The World is Your Oyster!

This week my middle boy turned 21! I can't believe it, the time has passed by so quickly

I swear five minutes ago he was just a baby!
Well now he is actually an adult the world really is his oyster! And with that tenuous link! I made him this!!!

I used a technique I've done before to make all the backing papers as I couldn't find a paper I really liked. I  used Spectrum Aquatint inks and glycerine to create the background.
I used 06, 53, 30 & 37.

and then over stamped using the Sara Davies Just for Men Collection Stamps, Urban graffiti and Street Wise, using Tim Holtz Distress inks in Peacock Feathers, Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade and Mustard Seed. I wanted the colours to really co-ordinate, so that the stamps blended into the background.

The 21 stamp is from Woodware, "the world is your Oyster" is on the same sheet.

 I wanted a bit of a WOW so created a bespoke exploding box,

I used Sara's Star dies from the same Just for Men collection and stuck them to some thick acetate, I keep die packets for this, its nice and stiff so doesn't make things too wibbly wobbly!!

You can check out my original tutorial here.

I hope you like my creation, Dougie certainly did, he hasn't stopped showing everyone!

Have a great day today, thanks for popping in...

Happy Colouring!

Nicky x