Labour of love ..... literally!

The other night I thought I'd get my pencils out and do some colouring. Normally for me, I colour quite quickly as like to get that bit done so I can get on to the card making (which out of the two, is my favourite part). Anyhow I decided that I would actually spend a lot longer on my colouring and add a background, highlights, glitter .... yadda, yadda, yadda! Well .... whilst I enjoyed myself, I'm not sure I could do this everytime I wanted to colour an image. My eyes were knackered.com. I "bow down" to the full time colouring crafters amongst us, as you have the patience of a saint and probably a lot more besides.

Well here she is ..... Serenity Stardust from Polka Doodles ...


After colouring her, I rather bravely (or stupidly) decided that I wanted her to be placed amongst the stars, so set about creating my star shaped background. I've done a simple tutorial to explain what I did to create the shape.

Step 1:
Cut a piece of card slightly smaller than A5 - 13.5cm x 20cm (my chosen size). Lightly score a line at 15.5cm (slightly bigger than 6"). Place your dies so that they cover the score line. I have marked the score line in red in photo below. Stick in place on your cutting mat but beware .....


Place your card as photo below which shows where the score line will be on your cutting mat.


Run this through your machine and you will then get this shape ...


Step 2:
Now I became "flash Harry" and decided to add star shapes to the sides. Run through your machine and you will get star edges too!


Step 3:
Next cut out different sized stars to mat and layer. See below of my "rough" mock up ...


After layering up my stars, I then stuck down my Serenity Stardust image and added a few little stars to merge the two parts together.


I then added this to a dark blue glittered background to highlight the sky I had coloured and to make the stars "pop" even more.


Serenity Stardust has been coloured with Prisma pencils with added highlights using GraphIt shaker pens in white, glitter silver and glitter gold. As an added extra, I used white fine pearl pan pastel which adds a real shimmery effect (which the camera does not pick up well). Phew, as said in my blog post title ... a labour of love!

Lou
x x x

You can get Serenity Stardust here (click on image) ...

Serenity Stardust

Challenges:
Clear It Out - girls and die cuts
Creative Card Crew - for a teen
Papertake Weekly - theme I chose, "use glitter" (glitter via GraphIt pens, glittered stars and paper)
Through the craftroom door - anything goes
Tuesday Throwdown - anything goes
Artisitic Inspiration - anything goes with a twist of diecuts
Crafting from the heart - anything goes
Craft your passion - anything goes
Crafty Cardmakers - shaped card
The Pink Elephant - anything goes
Tip Top Tuesday: hair

Comments

Polkadoodles said…
WOW WOW WOW AND DOUBLE TRIPLE MILLION WOWS! Yep this has WOWED me! love it all, from the card shape to the amzing red hair - superb!!!! xxx
Anjie said…
Lou this is stunning! Love everything about it!
Hugs
Anj
xx
Karon said…
This is stunning !!! WOW - gorgeous colouring!
Absolutely gorgeous. In fact it's jaw dropping xx
Tracy W said…
Wow, knock out card, and great tutorial! Creative Blessings. Tracy x
MrsC.x said…
after all the effort lou it is def worth it it is a fabulous card!
charlie x
Unknown said…
What an amazing card Lou ,so cleaver and an easy to follow tutorial
and your colouring is out of this world .Triple Gold star for Mrs Simms
Hugs Sus xxx
Linda Simpson said…
The time you put into colouring this fabulous image shows, it is absolutely stunning! I love the card design too.
Hugs
Linda xxx
OMG this awesome!!! I love everything about it. Your colouring is absolutely amazing. xxx
Jan said…
Great card, image and tut. TFS! xx Jan
Unknown said…
Well that knocked my socks off!
Stunning, and I mean stunning colouring hunnie, you really do rock those pencils! The red hair especially...its lushness personified :D
The tutorial is fabulous and I will definately give it a go :D

hugs

Sandie xxx
Brawny x said…
Wow excellent tutorial. Thanks...I love this. Fab card x
AO Creations said…
Super cute!!! Thank you for joining us at Clear It Out, good luck!!! Amy DT
KraftyKoolKat said…
So cute and magical. Thank you so much for sharing your lovely creation with us at Creative Card Crew.
Hugs
Cathy DT Member
xxxxx
Donna K said…
You went the extra mile on this design and it certainly turned out stunning! I love your cut out stars and gorgeous image. Thank you for sharing with us at Tuesday Throwdown Have a beautiful day! ~Donna K
Lin said…
Well 'Flash Harry' this so works! Fabulous shape (thanks for the tutorial!) and the image, well coloured to perfection or what!

Thanks for sharing in our Shaped Card challenge.

Lin
Crafty Cardmakers and More
Sue U said…
Oh my goodness, this is just outstanding, from your incredible colouring, to the fabulous stars! Thank you so much for joining us at Crafty Cardmakers and More this time, good luck and hope to see you again soon

Hugs
Sue xx
julie_woolston said…
Fabulous shaped card thank you for sharing at Crafty Cardmakers and More.
Hugs Julie xxx
HeatherM said…
Stunning! Thanks for joining us at Crafting from the Heart this week.
HeatherM
Lori Turner said…
Oh WOW, Lou! I don't think it was a stupid move at all to do the star card - it's AWESOME! I love, love, love your coloring - AMAZING! Thanks for joining us at Top Tip Tuesday!

Lori,
TTT DT
Deonna B said…
Stunning Card! I love all of the stars and your coloring is just gorgeous! . Thank you for sharing your work with TTCRD this week and please come back tomorrow for our new "Anything goes" Challenge. I love visitors on my blog and would love to see you there at ialwayslovetomakecards.blogspot.com
Unknown said…
Fantastic card! Love the star border and tutorial. Your coloring is fab. Thanks for joining us at Craft Your Passion!
Kat W said…
Oh WOW! This was so worth the effort and your colouring is out of this world! Her red hair is stunning! And then the intricate star background as well...just amazing :-)

Thanks for sharing with us at Top Tip Tuesday challenge!
Hugs, Kat x
Sue U said…
Back again to say thanks for joining in with the fun at Top Tip Tuesday this time, good luck and hope to see you again soon... still love this gorgeous card
Sue xx