Inspired by: Sandy Allnock

Welcome to Camp Scrap! For more details about this special blog event, prizes, community, and more check out the FAQ page here. Note that affiliate links are used in this post. 

Today I challenge you to be inspired by someone that has a totally different approach or style than your own. Me? I’m inspired regualarly by an amazingly talented artist and card maker: Sandy Allnock.

Sandy blogs and shares her many artistic talents through online classes as well (check it out here!)  I learn about coloring techniques, copic markers, and always enjoy seeing what she does with stamps. Her classes are epic – if you’re looking for watercolor, copic, or coloring instruction? Look to her. She’s a MASTER.

Me? I’m not a master of copics or watercolor but I do enjoy learning and dabbling in techniques and new ideas. I love the process and enjoy them tremendously and that is definitely what matters. Last summer Sandy sent me some brusho colors  while I was struggling with feeling totally useless and only able to work left handed. I could stamp an image onto watercolor paper. Sprinkle some brusho. Add water. And OH! How creative I felt and how magical it was to be making stuff one-handed. Brusho saved my sanity at a time I was barely hanging on – and I’ll forever be grateful to Sandy for sharing with me. Thinking back on that, I knew I had to create with them for this post, and I decided some star gazing Lawn Fawn stamps would be the perfect compliment.

Here is a my YouTube video tutorial for how I made this fun card.

I used (links go to Ellen Hutson) the Lawn Fawn “Upon a Star” stamp set.  Oh how I love this set! Looking at this set I thought of Sandy, the gift of brusho, and let inspiration run from there. I also used black archival ink, white embossing powder (and pigment ink) and the coordinating dies for the stamp set.

Speaking of Brusho, I used Prussian blue, violet, turquoise, and cobalt blue – Ellen has all of these and many more in stock. If you want to get a few I’d stick to a trio that go together and see how you like them or the starter kit. While I did a background here, there’s some really fun stuff you can do with water + stamps + brusho. In fact, I’ll be sure to create another video (or three) with them in the coming months because they really are just the most fun! Used carefully, they really don’t make a mess either.

Sandy inspires me so much with her intricate creations, but not to make my own. You see I’m a big fan of a enjoying what someone does with something, then taking it in your own direction. Two examples – I’ll take just one idea of how she colors a background, or take a general coloring tip such as shading. I thought the stars would be the light source hence the dark on their booties, light at top. How else can you be inspired by someone who has an entirely different style than your own?

  • A single tip or technique that they use
  • General design of the project
  • A color combination you’ve not thought of or used before
  • Try something “not you” just to see how it goes and stretch your style
  • Get inspired to use that — (paper, stamp, ink, whatever!) because they used it or something similar

I get great joy from watching Sandy create intricate backgrounds I’d never attempt to do myself. And, people like her who do what they do as well as they can and continuously challenge themselves creatively are the BEST inspiration! Similar style to me not required.

For one of you, I’ve got a fun goodie bag of (not yet released!!) 28 Lilac Lane sequins & paper crafting treats I think you’ll enjoy. If you’d like your chance to win simply leave a comment on this post. The winner will be drawn and announced on July 16th in the ’round up’ post here on my blog. Good luck – and happy crafting!

75 thoughts on “Inspired by: Sandy Allnock”

  1. OMG, May, You have put together some of the BEST giveaways for this years camp scrap. I love this card today. I am going to really miss getting up in the morning and not seeing your fun videos when this camp is all done. Thanks for all the chances to win nice goodies. Those star sequins are the BOMB!!!

  2. May that card is AMAZING!!! I love the background and those cute critters. I am going to buy that set as soon as my scrappy budget allows me to! You are so sweet to be offering so many wonderful prizes. I need to get my crafty butt in gear today! I have a forever back injury and it chose now to flare up.

  4. Such a great card, I love the background you achieved with the Brusho powder, it looks perfect for a night sky. And of course the Lawn Fawn stamp set so so stinkin’ cute. And Sandy Allnock makes the most fabulous cards, I can understand being inspired by her, she’s great! What a great Camp Scrap blog post today, all sorts of fun stuff to be inspired by!

  5. That background is AMAZING! I’d love to be able to learn more about coloring, so thank you for introducing us to Sandra Allnock.

  6. What an adorable card. Love it. Thanks for a chance to win too. Camp scrap is so much fun. I have to get more creating done this weekend.

  7. I love Sandy’s blog and inspiration. She always makes everything look so easy! You did such a beautiful background! Love the constellations!

  9. This card is just adorable. Something about the little animals looking up at the stars . . . the star sequins in the picture are super cool. For some reason stars always seem perfect for Disney scrapbooking — must be all those times we saw Wishes at Disney world. I’m so glad you are (mainly? forever?) through your time of trial with your hand/wrist. Happy Wednesday!

  10. Love the background and constellations. You are so inspiring and thank you for sharing with us who inspired you for this one. Would love to win the prize today.

  11. Thanks again for the inspiration! Everything about this card is wonderful!

  14. oh, how I love watercolor powders!!! I’ve been messing with them a bit here and there, trying to find a groove. I haven’t tried them with embossing resist yet…

  16. May did you color the critters with copic’s or watercolors. I love how your card turned out. I don’t have brusho’s but I do have a few of Ken Olivers. Will give this a try. Thanks

  17. This card is so darn cute! I love all the blues in the night sky. Can’t wait to see your new 28 Lilac Lane collections.

  18. Gorgeous card! The brushos make a perfect background for that night sky and everything works so well together. Another awesome day at Camp Scrap

  22. Talk about inspiring!! Thanks for sharing yours. Great card. Love these super fun techniques. Curious about the powders too. Thanks for the chance to win. Michelle t

  23. Love that night sky you created for your card! the critters looking up at the stars are adorable! I have some of the powders that are similar to Brushos and haven’t tried them yet… you have me inspired to get them out and see how they work!

  25. I adore your card! I love watercolor. I am not a Copic marker user, don’t even have any, but the style i struggle with is simple and clean. that’s what i’ll do.

  26. I have been really enjoying Camp Scap and I would love to win this fun prize! I love this card too!

  28. Thank you for sharing not only your beautiful card, but also your tips to benefit from the inspiration that you gain from other artists and crafters. Each artist has their own style that sets them apart from others. while each has worked hard and many long hours to find their style,i am enjoying seeing and trying all these styles. just need to figure out my own style.

  31. Naturally I added both the Brusho powders and the clear color markers to my wish list!
    In the interim I dug out some of my own watercolor markers and inks and stepped outside my comfort zone and made some cutesy cards.

  33. May, love the card today. That background is amazing. I’ve been lurking in the background during camp but finally have the nerve to post something.

  35. May, I too love the background you created, and the simple–but effective–coloring on your critters! When you mentioned about Sandy’s gift of the brushos, it reminded me of a story. There was a pianist, Paul Wittgenstein, who lost his right arm in World War I. It was, of course, devastating to him, but he commissioned Maurice Ravel to compose a piece that he could play. Ravel ended up composing “Piano Concerto for the Left Hand in D Major” between 1929 & 1930 for Wittgenstein, which he performed in Vienna in 1932. There are other pieces written for only the left hand, but I think that is probably the most famous story. I am glad that you have gotten the use of your hand/wrist back, and I hope it doesn’t bother you too much anymore. Thank you for spreading joy through your crafting! 🙂 ~ Andrea

  36. Such a cute card! Im so glad you found a way to create last year. I can’t imagine how differcult that time was for you.

  38. I have yet to try either the brusho or ken Oliver powders (laurel beard was a hoot watching her periscopes when the Ken Oliver powders just came out), but I’ve definitely challenged myself to using the watercolors I’ve purchased (and just found a whole palette range of windsor~newton tubes in clearing out my exes stuff, this summer… i love the messy fun backgrounds you can create with them all (even the zig cleans) and am bound determined to get some great ones going this summer (and hopefully the couple days off I will have this long weekend!)

  39. I love Sandy Allnock as well. She inspires me with her talent to be a better card maker and artist. I don’t know if I will ever achieve the level of her, but I will continue to try.

  40. It can be really fun to adopt a totally different style than your own once in a while, isn’t it?

  41. my favorite card so far- that stamped sentiment with the little creatures just adorable.`

  44. I Love watercolour powders. What you get is often a happy surpriseT. thanks for sharing your creation. I really like how you perched the animals on the strip of paper and a great way to use the star sequins.

  45. Enjoyed watching the video. Definitely inspired by the stamp set and your stamp coloring. Learned I try to hard to be precise. Going to try and get some coloring in this weekend. hope i can get the effect you did.

  46. Great video! I love the way your background turned out. Thanks for the inspiration.

  47. Thank you for the video and the most adorable card EVER! Sandy rocks too. How thoughtful she was in sending you some toys to play with.

  48. I love the card. Great background. I really need to try and make more cards. I struggle.

  49. I love that lilac lane star mix, I had hoped to snag them when I was in Florida, then I realized they were the upcoming release.
    That card is too adorable 🙂

  50. CUTE! That stamp set is ADORABLE. Love those Brusho colors- HOW FUN! I must try those….

  51. Absolutely love, love , love the card! You are my inspiration when I am feeling blocked or down. Thank you, May for all the time and effort you put into your blog and classes.

  52. LOVE this card! I have never used Brusho but it looks like so much fun, definitely adding it to my wish list.

  53. I just love your card. Those animals are adorable and the night sky background is awesome.

  58. Your card is the cutest! I am very intrigued by the Brusho! Thanks for the fun project!

  59. Wow. I love these. The color is so intense and I love the layered look and how easy it was. thanks for introducing some of us to new products.

  61. What a fun card. Sandy is my idol with her copic colouring, it blows my mind how talented she is. I am a big fan of the brusho products, they are so much fun to play with, it really set your background up nicely for the cute little animals to stare up at the stars.

  62. Ok I haven’t ever heard of brushos, but I do have colorburst so I shall try those! And OMG this stamp set has to go on my wishlist!!!! I love it!!!!

  63. I haven’t tried brusho but have a few colors of Ken Olivers equivalent color bursts. I love the way you get a little surprise every time you use them.

  66. Wow I just watched the video and I am so in love and so in want with the brusho colors. I had never heard of them before and your video using them has opened so many ideas in my head!!!!

  67. Love your card May… I actually had to double check to make sure it wasn’t Sandys card.., you replicated her style so well!!

  69. I keep or pin the images of projects that inspire me and are different than my style so when I’m in need of inspiration I go looking!

  70. Oooh, I love that beautiful background…and how fun that you played around with Brushos when you were unable to manipulate other, more exact art media. Creativity always wins out!

  72. I have another brand of watercolor powders, but haven’t really used them very much. I guess it’s time to do that now, after watching your video!

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