Zig Clean Color Markers vs. Nuvo Watercolor Pencils - Tonic Studios

Today, I am going to share a little comparative exercise using the same stamp set and two different mediums on two different types of paper.  I used this new stamp set ‘Orchid’ from Avery Elle that is just gorgeous!  It is my new fav.

I thought it would be interesting to compare the differences between the Zig Clean Color Brush Real Brush pens and the Nuvo Watercolor Pencils in the Brilliantly Vibrant collection.  I also decided to throw in another variable by stamping and coloring both on Smooth Bristol paper and the Tonic Crafter Perfect Watercolor paper.

I filmed my process and you can click on the video below or HERE to go directly to my YouTube channel.

* Tonic Studios provided me with some products and some were purchased by myself, and the ideas are completely my own.  Affiliate links at the end of the post are provided with no cost to you! *


I had originally planned to paint the orchid blooms more white with a magenta color in the center.  It quickly morphed into more of a pink and purple bloom all over.

After using the coordinating dies to cut out the images, I created a couple layers of papers to mount onto the card base.  I used a piece of patterned paper from the new Tonic Dream in Color 6x6 pad for the first layer and then added a layer of plain white cardstock that I cut out and used the frame and the inset piece together.  I wanted to create some interest and texture behind the colored images without taking away from the orchids.

I mounted the white frame onto a piece of foam and then adhered it to the patterned paper.  I popped the two individual blooms up with dimensional adhesive to give the illusion that the stem they are on is in front of the bigger one.

I used a sentiment from the stamp set and heat embossed it onto vellum and die cut it using a banner die.  I didn’t want to cover up any more of the orchid than I had to.

I finished off the card by adding a layer of Nuvo Aqua Shimmer pen to the blooms and then lots of Jewel Drops to the centers of each blossom.  I also added a few of these “water droplet” around the sentiment.

I repeated the process for the image I colored using the watercolor pencils, except I used a sentiment from a different set of stamps.

I really enjoyed this process and learned a lot about my process, what works better for many style and what I prefer on each of the papers.  Both cards shown here are the ones colored on the Bristol Smooth paper.  I personally preferred the card with the Nuvo watercolor pencils, but my husband liked the vibrant colors of the Zig Clean Color brush pens, so there is no right or wrong!

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you check out the video as well.  Have a wonderful rest of your day!

Tonic Studios Craft kit #19 - Shaker Cards

Today, I am sharing a couple shaker cards I created for Tonic Studios using two of the Shaker & Die sets.
Using lots of products from the Tonic Craft Kit #19 - Sweet Sentiments and several of the newly released tools, I had plenty to play with!

Tonic Studios provides me with some products, but the ideas are solely my own.

*Affiliate links are used at no cost to you and the profit goes to helping fund more supplies and this channel...*

Below is the video process I filmed creating these cards.
You can click on the video below or HERE to go directly to my YouTube Channel.

I love these shaker sets, they make creating shaker cards so clean and simple.
I used both the star and heart sets and two of the large detailed word dies that are in the Kit under each of the shaker bubbles.

I chose a large detailed die from the Craft Kit for each card, "hello" and "believe" as well as one of the stamps and the coordinating die.  I used various techniques on the large word dies, including glitter and blended embellishment mousse.  Each of the stamps was heat embossed on vellum, die cut and adhered below the large word.

I added a few of the new gems, the Rose Triads, also part of the Craft Kit, that are flat backed and perfect for embellishing.

I also used the Glitter Drops 'Summer Sunrise' to embellish the card front.

I used the new blending brushes with the embellishments mousse, mixed with water to make a creamy watercolor like paste and brushed across the background panel.

I used the large word die with the Craft Perfect Double Sided Adhesive sheets and two colors of blue glitter.  I heat embossed this sentiment using the Classic Silver embossing powder to match the Chrome Silver 6x6 cardstock that was part of the Kit. 

This card turned out better than I had imagined, never having used the glitter with adhesive paper before.

I think it would make a great card for a young or teen boy.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed these cards and check out the video.
I truly think those shaker die sets are such an amazing product!
Have an amazing day!

YOU ARE IN MY heart Card - The Crafter's Workshop March 2019

Hi friends!  I am sharing a cards I created using one of my favorite stencils from the latest release from The Crafter's Workshop.  I used this 6x6 stencil  and 4 colors of Distress Oxide Inks to blend a colored background for my card.

* The Crafter’s Workshop provided me with some product to create this project.

The opinions I share are solely my own.  Compensated affiliate links used. *

Below are the products I used...

Click below to watch the video or HERE to go directly to The Crafter's Workshop YouTube Channel.

I used a masking fluid over the heart before I used the Oxide Inks over the cardstock.  After the Inks dried, I removed the masking fluid and then masked the heart covering the newly inked card.

I added a layer of the Platinum Silver Modeling Paste from The Crafter's Workshop over the heart.

I used a lovely stamp set from Hero Arts for the sentiment that I stamped & heat embossed on black cardstock.

Finally, I added 6 or 7 Nuvo Drops in Dream Drops, Crystal Drops & Jewel Drops across the card in a rough diagonal from top left to bottom right. 

I added the Dream Drops over the open heart stamp.

Thanks for stopping by the Blog today.  Please check out the video for a more detailed look at the products I used and the overall process.

I hope you have a wonderful Tuesday!

Tonic Studios - Mixed Media Mini Album Cover

Hello there crafty friends!  Today, I am going to share a Mini Album Cover I made using lots of Nuvo mediums and some new Tonic metal dies.  I wanted to use all the metal dies I chose in a way that was different and think out of the box!

Tonic Studios provides me with some products, but the ideas are solely my own.

*Affiliate links are used at no cost to you and the profit goes to helping fund more supplies and this channel...*

You can Click on the video below or HERE to go directly to my YouTube channel.

I started my project using an 8"x8" canvas board that I primed with a thin layer of white gesso.  I added several colors of Shimmer Powder and lots of water to give a watercolored look to the base of my piece.  I added a little Mica Mist and used my heat tool to move the colors around a bit.  I sprinkled some Sparkle Dust on top of the drying paint.

I used the Tonic Studios Tangerine Die Cutting Machine to cut out the Sunflower Array die, the Dimensions Gesture Box die and the Keepsake Photostrip die out of basic white cardstock. I used the Sunflower Array panel die as a stencil for the Aquamarine Embellishment Mousse.

Next I used the main piece of the Gesture Box die to create a base for a "floral" cluster and applied a coat of Expanding Mousse to it.  Tearing strips of tissue wrap from Tim Holtz, I created another layer and stapled it together.  I added a thick layer of Expanding Mousse to the heart from the Box die and added more Sparkle Dust in the color Rose Quartz.  I dried both of the piece with my heat tool to expand the mousse and create lots of texture.

Using the cut out pieces of the Filmstrip and some hot glue, I created yet another layer and "flower" that I colored with the Nuvo Watercolor pencils and added to the top of the other layers with lots of silver and turquoise thread.  The heart was the final topper along with some silver glitter Thickers in my daughter's initials, since this will be a mini album about her.  I tucked the actual Filmstrip die cut pieces under the tissue wrap and painted the edges with Mica Mist from the bottle, adding some splatters too.

I finished off the entire piece with three different colors of matching Nuvo Vintage Drops sprinkled around the canvas and over the pattern of the stenciled Mousse.  I had a lot of fun creating this project and simply playing with lots of products!

Thanks for stopping by the Blog today.  Below is the list of products used.
Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Tonic Studios - Filmstrip Die

Hello there crafty friends!  Today I am going to share a traditional Scrapbook Layout I created for Tonic Studios.  I wanted to focus on the newly released ‘Photos & Filmstrip’ die for my page.

There is a complete list of supplies used at the end of the post.

All products used were purchased by me and used with no influence of suggestion of anyone but myself!

*Affiliate links are used at no cost to you and the profit goes to helping fund more supplies and this channel...*

I started by die cutting plain white cardstock with the retro photo frame with the Tonic Tangerine die cutting machine.  I cut the die 4 times and used a couple of the different titles to cut into the frames.  The frame is a piece that you fold over to encase your photo.  I used 4 photos from our recent photo shoot before Christmas.

I chose this patterned paper from Pinkfresh Studio with the faded navy and white strips and a piece of plain white cardstock.  I cut them roughly in half and adhered them to a full piece of patterned paper as a mat for the layout.  I added Gesso to the large piece of white cardstock on the right and a little bit to the center of the right side pattern, planning to add some Nuvo Shimmer Powders!

I used 3 colors of the Shimmer Powders and lots of water to get a soft watercolored look over the dried gesso areas.  While that dried, I misted the die cut photo frames using some Dylusions Ink Spray, backed the titles with colored paper and slipped my black and white prints inside the frames.  I lined up the photo frames over the seam between the two papers and added some washi just for decoration.

Finally I added a few other die cuts, some Thickers for my title, and some flowers and leaves I fussy cut from another piece of Pinkfresh Studio paper that is part of the same collection as the main patterned paper.  I finished up with some journaling and lots of Nuvo Drops scattered around the page!

Thanks for stopping by the Blog today!  Below is the list of products used.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

wishes - Birthday Card *VIDEO* (new Waffle Flower & Distress Oxides)

Hello friends!  I am sharing a card I created for a masculine birthday using a new Die from Waffle Flower over a blended Distress Ink background.  I also filmed my process, so check that out in the link below!

All products used were purchased by me and used with no influence of suggestion of anyone but myself!

*Affiliate links are used at no cost to you and the profit goes to helping fund more supplies and this channel...*

You can click on the video below or HERE to go directly to my YouTube Channel.

I wanted to create a a birthday card that was more masculine and so I chose this new Tile Panel Die from Waffle Flower.  I cut it out of bright white cardstock and mounted it onto another piece of fun foam I cut out using the same die.  This gave a little dimension without too much fuss.  I used a cold press watercolor paper to blend a background using 5 different Distress Oxide Inks adding some splatters of water for interest.

After adhering the blending background to my card base and the die cut piece over it, I added another word die from Lawn Fawn cut out of gold glitter paper.  I finished off the card with several gold sequins and I was done!

Thanks for stopping by the Blog today and make sure you check out the video!  I would love any feedback and appreciate all the support! :)

Have a great Wednesday!

'You Color My World' Cards - Tonic Studios

Hello friends!  I am sharing two cards I created for Tonic Studios using a new Die Set from Tonic and a new stamp set from Waffle Flower.  I also filmed my process, so check that out in the link below!

 You can click on the video below or HERE to go directly to my YouTube Channel.

Tonic Studios provided me with some of the products used, but the ideas are completely my own.
*Affiliate link used at no cost to you...*

I adore this sweet stamp set from Waffle Flower and the painter palette inspired me to use Nuvo Drops as the “paint” on the palette itself, and match the paint on the stamped brushes.

I used the Nuvo Shimmer Powders to create a watercolor like background for each card using the ‘Blue  Blitz’ & ‘Atlantic Burst’ colors.  I love the soft colors you can achieve and the subtle shimmer they give to the background is such a lovely touch.

I used the Nuvo alcohol Markers to color in the stamped images and fussy cut them out using scissors.  I came up with two different layouts for each card and added some dimension using foam on one background and dimensional adhesive on the images of the other.

I finished off the cards using some Aqua Shimmer and of course, the Nuvo Vintage Drops on the painter’s palette.  I made the dots really large and I think they look so fun!

Thanks for stopping by the Blog today and make sure you check out the video!  I would love any feedback and appreciate all the support! :)

Have a great Wednesday!