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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!
