Still Blog Hopping

I'm still blog hopping.  There are so many blogs and so many talented people, and I continue to hop because I continue to be amazed at the artistry and creativity found in blog land.   I visit blogs of those who follow my blog, and I visit blogs that I have said I would visit and leave comments.  Of course, one blog leads to another blog and another blog and another blog ... you can get lost in a vortex.

I'll be the first to express my appreciation to the artists who share their images either as freebies on their blogs and websites as well as those who offer them for sale.  I support an artist's right to profit from their creativity and do not use any unauthorized images here on my blog nor privately. Strictly a no piracy policy.

I'm sharing a post here that I made on my Facebook page in response to the what's on your mind question.  It's just something to think about if you happen to be one of those folks who offer your images for sale.  

"What's on my mind today is the cost of digi stamps. Just about a year ago, you could get a really good digi for $1.00 and exceptional ones for $1.50. Then it changed to $1.50 to $1.75 for a good one; $2.00 for an exceptional one. Now most new digis come out priced at $4.00 to $4.50.

I certainly don't want to dictate what prices people charge for their items. However, I have yet to pay $4.00 for a digi stamp. Problem is I used to get 4 digis for that price. Prices go up, I know. But am I really going to pay $16 for four digi stamps? Nope. So I avoid the pricey ones. No matter how much I like the artist -- and I have my favs -- I will not pay $4.00 for one of their digis.

Several artists have collections of digis, i.e., Alice in Wonderland, Wizard of Oz, Nursery Rhymes, etc.  If there are 5 images in the set at $4.00 that's $20.00.  I don't bother trying to keep up with those collections because it limits my ability to buy digis I like from several artists rather than settling on just one or two.

I truly appreciate those who give their top-quality digis as freebies and/or keep their prices low enough that a person can purchase several and not have to pick just one."

Rubber stamps and clear stamps seems to have been replaced by digital images because of cost.  There are pros and cons with each type of stamp for both the buyer and the seller.  While keeping costs down for the buyer, digi stamps also decrease time, energy, and cost to the seller.  I'm sure things will balance out and settle at a place where both the buyer and the seller can benefit mutually.  In the meantime, to any sellers that are aware that cost could be prohibitive for some of their buyers and keep their prices reasonable, I say thank you, and I want you to know you are appreciated.

As always --

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Shoes and Tags

Yeaaaaaa, a new post!

Seems like forever since I posted something new.  I've spent the last month going to visit other blogs and making sure of the blogs I follow since the demise of the Goggle Reader.  You all have so much amazingly good stuff it's hard to just visit and comment without looking around.  So much fun.  

SOC's current challenge is Tags, Tags, Tags.  This one for you shoe shoppers out there. 
 

I had to get this tag done, didn't I, Dr. AA.  LOL
I'm going to laminate it and use it as a fob for my keychain.

The image is by Robert Jackson.  Robert has a collection of shoe images that I collect and color.  His latest collection is of drinks, like Margarita and Bloody Mary ... I colored the beautiful orange shoe with Copics, wrote them down, but can't remember where.

When I uploaded my the pictures from the camera, I noticed so many images I've colored and have done nothing with.  I really want you all to see these images from these artists, so I've got to get the lead out. 

In the meantime, as always --

Thanks for stopping by! 

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Change...I don't like it, but it's happening...

Hello, Everybody.

I don't like change.   Just got a message that Monday is the last day for using the Google Reader.  I'll miss the pics of your lovely smiling faces that I find so encouraging and inspirational.  I'm so happy to have all you.

I am moving all of your blogs over to Bloglovin, and I have included a button at the top right-hand corner if you'd like to join me there.

Hopefully, I will still be able to keep up with you all.  My regular visits to your blogs will continue.  Take care and a happy crafting!

(POST TO CIRCUT MB:
Got an e-mail reminding that Monday is the last day for Google Reader.  As you've probably heard by now that means that not only will you no longer be able to read your blogs through Google Reader but all those lovely, friendly faces you see on your blogs as followers will also go bye-bye!

I'm switching all of my fav blogs to Bloglovin so I can continue to follow you.  If you'd like to continue to follow my blog, please connect to Bloglovin.  You get all your updated blogs through an e-mail or by logging on to Bloglovin.  I visit all of my followers' blogs, so if you'd like to continue following my posts you can click the button at the top right-hand corner of my blog.  Still going to miss your lovely faces.
Hoping to continue to keep up with you and be inspired, as I always am, by your blog posts.
-Sweetpea1030)

Shades of Gray

Sometimes when I read about a subject, I skip over the information that I find difficult to understand thinking that I'll pay attention to that later.  It's like when you read a book for the second time and pick up all sorts of things you didn't get in the first read.  Once your mind is not flooded with new information, there's room for more new information to sink in.  Huh?  At least that's the way my brain works.

The first time I recall reading about using grays with your colors or colorings to enhance appearance is from book on coloring long hair.  There it shows how you can go back over your finished project using gray to add depth.  I've also read enough about coloring to know that it's not black and white but gray that influences color shades and tints.

Now, because I know that doesn't mean I understand it.  From a scientific standpoint I probably won't.  At one point in my life I would have scoured any info until I understood, but the older you get you start to realize that you don't have to know everything about a thing to know enough to make use of it.  Huh?  Makes perfect sense.  We only live so long.

I started this coloring wanting to use some colors I don't use that often.  I used Promarkers, but I didn't write down the colors.  As you can see from the first picture, the colors are "off" and looked like two different colors rather than shades of the same color, not at all what I thought they would be, and I didn't like it.  Something in my brain tells me maybe this would be a good time to try out some of that gray stuff I've been reading about.  Couldn't hurt. 

I added gray to all of the purple.  I used a lighter gray for the light purple and darker gray or the darker purples. Started with the lighter grays and worked my way up until I was satisfied with the final color. 

Wow!  What a difference a little gray makes.  I loved the purples now, so much so that I completed the coloring instead of scrapping it.  Sassy Studio Design has its own name for her, but I call her Cher.  And I have a short pictorial on how I colored her hair for another post.

These next two pictures show the before and after of adding gray to enhance the layers in hair.  By adding gray in places where there would be a layer, you add fullness to the hair, lusciousness.  

"Before"

 

 Amazing what you can do just by playing around. 

"After"

As always --

Thanks for stopping by!



Black, Blue, and a Pretty Red Shoe!

I'm so excited about these swatches.  This is why I color.  I don't know where my coloring journey will take me, but I'm having fun just coloring things.  Faces, hair, and other girly things are my favs, so I'm thinking it may be an extension of my days of playing with dolls.  Plus, it's both soothing and relaxing. 

So, here's to black and blue.  This is how I've learned through coloring swatches is the easiest way for me to achieve blue-black hair.  I color as I would for black hair, and then go over it with a blue (True Blue) marker.  This is one of the lovely ladies from Sassy Studio Designs, and I colored her with Promarkers.

 

 

  

 Some kind of wonderful!

 

Done with the black and the blue.  On to the pretty red shoe. 

 

Image:  by Robert Jackson

Copics

Not a woman in the world that wouldn't want to wear this shoe.  The shoe is fabulous.  The coloring is fabulous.  It took lots of practice, and I nailed it.  I'm happy, happy, happy. 

 

As always --

Thanks for stopping by!

 

 





Been Coloring Freebies

So these are swatches I colored this week. Feel free to use them in your personal projects.  Do not share the images.   You should direct them here to get a colored version and from here they will be given info on where to obtain a black-and-white image.

IMAGE: TALES OF POLLYCRAFT

PROMARKERS

Skin:  Soft Peach, Sun-kissed Pink, Ivory,

Pink Lobster

Hair:  Tropical Orchid, Pink Carnation, Pink Lobster, Blossom,

Pink Mittens, Fuchsia Pink, Plum, Mulberry, Cerise

Clothes and Accessories:  Ice Grey #1 - #5, Black, Pastel Blue,  Tawny Owl

Purple, Spring Lilac

IMAGE: ANJI'S ANTICS

PROMARKERS

Skin and Hair:  Sandstone, Tan, Caramel, Cocoa, Henna, Umber,

Sun-kissed Pink, Dusky Pink

Hat and Clothes:  Cool Grey 2, Cool Grey 5, Burgundy, True Blue, Blue Pearl,

China Blue, Midnight Blue, Artic Blue,  Indigo Blue, Cobalt Blue

IMAGE:  BEYOND THE FRINGE

PROMARKERS

UNFORTUNATELY, I DID NOT MAKE A LIST OF COLORS

 

IMAGE:  SASSY STUDIO DESIGNS

 PROMARKERS

Hair:  Ivory, Sandstone, Buttercup

Skin and Eyes:  Soft peach, Blush, Ivory, Powder Blue

Flowers:  Grass Green, Lush Green,

Meadow Green, Gold

Dress and Shoes:  Peach, Baby Pink

 

IMAGE:  ROBERT JACKSON

PROMARKERS

Warm Grey

Ice Greys #1 - #5

Sharpie White Highlighter

IMAGE:  ROBERT JACKSON

PROMARKERS

Pastel Pink

Baby Pink

Cerise

Magenta

Carmine

Satin

You can leave any questions you may have in the comments section.  I will do my best to answer them.  If you leave a comment with access to your blog, I will be sure to visit you.  Same if you become a follower.  I often visit my followers' blogs.  And, depending on the circumstances, I can color an image to your own color specs, if desired.  Whatever you do, just have fun with them.  I did.

As always --

Thanks for stopping by.