My blog is called "Creative Smiles" because my designs are the result of incorporating mistakes. With fumble fingers that drop whatever they are holding - repeatedly, it takes a lot of giggles, smiles and creative patience during my crafting process. xx

Saturday, August 11, 2018

Graph it! Butterflies and Flowers

Hi, Blogging Friends!
Today I'm sharing something a bit different - creating a "graph" as a background for cards or scrapbook pages. It's fun and produces an interesting depth, and can be used with most images AND gets even BETTER with a little doodling.

Below are simple samples, and some more time-consuming illustrations as well, so this technique is suitable for any style of crafting.



For the Simiple Cards (one 5x7 and one business size), I stamped the images in Staz-On Jet Black Ink and colored with a water brush from my dye base ink pads and reinkers. The second butterfly was "colored" with a VersaMarker and coated with Clear Detail EP:



Steps for creating the graph:



for opaque mediums, use a stamp positioner or platform:
Stamp, color, and stamp again for a clear, crisp outline.


Masking is not absolutely necessary with this technique, but it helps for dimension:


Once the images are all stamped, line up the grids on opposite edges, and draw neat lines. Doodle if desired.

A few products used on some of these cards:




The 5x7 card was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copic Markers. The overlapping areas were masked:



The butterfly is embellished with Galaxy Night Ultrafine Glitter:



The sentiment was heat set with Black Detail EP:



Making a Scallop Border:

To make the glittery scallop border, I die cut the scallop and then placed the die on top of the scallops, and cut again through my die cut machine again. Painting on Brushable Glue, glitters were applied. Even in humid Florida, the glue dries within 15-20 minutes:




The Watercolor Card was created using Zig Real Brush markers and Nuvo Shimmer Powder in Solar Flare. The Shimmer Powders are intensely pigmented, pearlescent colors that create a marvelous shimmer without muting the ink from the stamped image. I found applying a watered-down amount of color on top of other colors (such as brown, orange, red), that the original color remained strong, with a pearlescent covering. It's really pretty, and I want all the colors.


My Watercolor Graph-it sample with Shimmer Powder:





Lastly, the card using Embellishment Mousse in Peony Pink and Pink Flambé. Water was spritzed directly into the Mousse containers, and a water brush was used to apply the color to the images:



The leaves and butterfly were colored with Zig Brush Markers.
Lemonade Ultrafine  and Galaxy Night Ultrafine Glitters were added to the butterfly and flower for extra drama.


Sentiment is heat embossed:


Products Used:


Challenges:

  1. Color Crazy Challenge #32 AG with coloring (all my images are hand colored with assorted mediums) 8/26
  2. Creative Fingers Challenge Blog #151 (hand stamped and colored images with graphs drawn) 9/5 (check #153 for win)
  3. Craft Rocket Challenges #51 AG 8/27 (sep post 9/1)
  4. Crafting With An Attitude #42 AG 9/1(sep post)
  5. A Perfect Time to Craft #8  SNS DT 9/1 (sep post)
  6. Morgan's Artworld Open Challenge #8 AG (all images are hand colored) 9/1 (sep post)
  7. Love to Craft Challenges #25 AG 9/1 (sep post 9/5)
  8. Crafty Gals Corner Challenges #171 Tropical Colors 8/16
  9. Creative Moments Challenge #150 AG 8/20
  10. Not Just Cards (Aug) AG 9/11
  11. Pile It On! #145 - New Technique (graph it style) 9/1 sep post

Thanks for visiting today. Hope you enjoyed the Graph-It technique!
hugs,


30 comments:

Donna said...

These are stunning and fabulous tutorial!

aussie aNNie said...

Very spectacular De, may give this a go sometime soon. Thanks for the tut and beautiful post. xx

Linda Simpson said...

These are stunning De.
Hugs
Linda xxx

Sue said...

Hi Donna, Beautiful cards. I've never seen graphs used, but I like the way they look.

Hope you are having a nice day. Sue

Lisa said...

Oh my goodness, amazing, Donna!! Wow!! I absolutely love the graph technique!! It's so creative!! I love the doodling!! Your card designs are stunning!! Those butterflies look like they could take flight from the cards!! So absolutely spectacular, my friend!! I love, love these!! Have a great weekend!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

cotnob said...

Beautiful cards Donna, such a brilliant idea - the doodling really finishes them nicely.
Pauline - Crafting with Cotnob
x

Janis said...

Donna....You have done it again!!! You made absolutely stunning cards with this creative and innovative technique. I LOVE your beautiful coloring and the wonderful depth the graphing gives. Also, I adore the fun, whimsical look of the doodles on your fabulous cards!!! Well done, my friend. VERY well done. Thank you for sharing this with us!
<3 J

jwoolbright at gmail dot com
HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com

Conniecrafter said...

Oh my Donna these are all just Gorgeous, love all the dimension and the shimmer, beautiful coloring!! I have just bought some of the shimmer powders, they are so pretty! The grids are such a neat touch, like your addition of the doodling too!

NanaConnie said...

These are magnificent, Donna! I love the grids and the idea of doodling on them is wonderful. Thanks so much for the inspiration. I may just try this on my next CAS design. :-D

Verna Angerhofer said...

These are so awesome with the graph design and your cards are all so gorgeous.

Janice said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Janice said...

Beautiful cards, full of so much detail. They must take you many hours to complete Donna!
Janice x

Ann Greenspan's Crafts said...

Love your color choices, especially with the bright butterfly. Perfect coloring as always, Donna. These make a great set to have on hand. Is your header a photo of your porch? If so, your hanging baskets are gorgeous.

KT Fit Kitty said...

WOW, Donna, this is an amazing technique! I've never seen this before and I love how your cards turned out! You are so creative to come up with this graph design - these are fabulous! Hope you're doing okay, my friend.

Hugs,
Kitty

Shona Erlenborn said...

Never heard of this technique, Donna, but I really love it!! Thanks for sharing your step by step tutorial. These cards are absolutely stunning!

KraftyKoolKat said...

Such beautiful creations, your work is mind blowing sweetie. Very detailed tut's too.
Hugs
Cathy
xxxx

Monica C. said...

These cards are absolutely stunning! Thank you for the detailed instructions too.
Thank you for joining the Crafting With An Attitude challenge.
Monica C. DT CWAA

Keen Crafter's Hand Made Goodies said...

These are gorgeous cards Thank you for sharing with us over here at "A Perfect Time To Craft" and best of luck with your entry.

Michelle DT for http://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com.au/


Annettes Hobby Rosettes said...

Wow these are absolutely gorgeous and stunning all in one. Beautiful work. They all look wonderful.
Thank you for sharing with us over here at Morgan's Artworld Open Challenge and best of luck with your entry. Love to see you join in each month. Thank you.Annette DT forhttp://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/

Beebeebabs said...

Happy Monday my friend - such beautiful cards - love the flowers and butterflies and great coloring - thanks for sharing the technique. Great job as always!!!

Jackie T said...

Hi Donna your cards are gorgeous. Thank you for joining us at Not Just Cards Challenge Blog for August challenge Anything Goes. Hugs Jackie DT

crafty-stamper said...

WOW Donna stunning cards-thee graph background and doodling is a brilliant idea-will have to remember that one!Love the beautifully coloured stamps especially like the flower stamp on the simple one-and I appreciate your step by steps too
Carol x

Rae Ann said...

This is a great technique and is a great background. The doodling really adds so much and is such a simple thing!

Thank you for joining us at Crafty Gals Corner for our Tropical Colors challenge.

Pia S said...

Lots of beautiful detailing on the flowers and buttterflies and the graphic and doodling add extra interest. Fabulous cards.

Patty Sue 2 said...

I love learning new techniques and this is at the top of my list. Thank you for posting the steps. Thank you for sharing with us over here at Morgan's Artworld Open Challenge and best of luck with your entry. Love to see you join in each month. Thank you! Patty DT for http://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/

sarascloset said...

Wow, Donna! You have outdone even yourself in the creativity department and totally blown me away with these stunning cards! I love this idea of the graph that truly gives so much dimension to these cards, visually. And then you take it up many more notches by adding those dimensional butterflies! Be still, my heart! By the way, I'm enjoying your header. I can just imagine sitting out on that porch with a glass of sweet tea! Sending big hugs!

Leslie Miller said...

Oh, what fun and so absolutely gorgeous! A person would think every piece was some spectacular designer paper. Love the doodles! More wonderful sentiments, too, and your coloring always wows me. We've just returned from another trip, so please forgive my late comment. Seems like I'm always playing catch up. Hugs, friend!

Marjeta said...

Fantastic projects. Love the different version of your cards.Thanks for sharing with us at Colour Crazy.

Loose Stitches said...

Beautiful creations Donna, love the butterflies, sentiments and designs! Thank you for sharing with us over at Morgan's Artworld Open Challenge and best of luck with your entry. Love to see you join in each month. Thank you.
Sherry DT for http://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/

Alex said...

Wonderful cards with an amazing technique.
Thanks for playing along with us at our present challenge at Craft Rocket and good luck! Hope you will join us next month again.

Hugs
Alex

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