Chuck Knock is the illustrator and owner of Gray Wolf Stamps. At a convention many years ago, he showed me how he colored his fish while I checked out. The vellum for fins was brilliant and is his idea. When I acquired these angel fish thought IÂ’d give his idea a try again. How long does it take to color two small fish? 8 hours. I was experimenting with coloring media on vellum and nothing worked. I was amazed that even my trusty pencils removed the embossing. Zig Brush markers dried too fast, copic dried too slow and pencil on the back side looked awful. I even fussy cut the vellum hoping it looked better. Fussy cutting is not my favorite thing so having to do it again almost made me throw in the towel. At this point I remembered a boat load of colored vellum I had and finally chose a color that came closest to the fish and embossed one in silver and the gold one in gold. The body was easy, the vellum, quite the challenge which could be why itÂ’s been sitting in a drawer for 8 years. Had to stamp and emboss again, fussy cut that side fin, slit the fish and slip it in. Fussy cut the fin layer and mounted the body on the vellum. Simply watercolored the background, used Ryn stamps for the sea weed after spritzing the stamp with water. I wanted more of a bleed so sprayed more water on it. (Three tries on the background too.) The bubbles are Stamps by Ryn also. Strange as it may sound, IÂ’d love to try this again without the overwhelming turquoise.
Thanks for stopping by.
Date: Tuesday, July 5, 2016 GMT Views: 2334
Favorited:15
Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni My Pinkie is Inkie in Boxertown
Registered: April 4, 2006 Location: Boxertown USA, IL Posts: 67305
Tue, Jul 05, 2016 @ 7:27 AM
Wow, Nancy, this is a fabulous card. I love the fish. The colored vellum was perfect for them. So glad you held onto the towel and did not throw it in.
Registered: June 13, 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 23647
Tue, Jul 05, 2016 @ 7:43 AM
Nancy, this is so beautiful - the fish are perfectly coloured so all your trial and error paid off! I love the way you did their wings, and I love the bubbles and the watery weeds.
------------------------------ Susan
My SCS gallery is here should you care to look! Or please visit my blog, Cardmaker's Garret.
Wow! I am glad you persevered! I love the turquoise vellum. I have never embossed vellum. In fact, I am like you, my vellum has been sitting in my drawer for that long! Lovely results, Mancy. I would not have had the patience! Beautiful piece of art! I have to add that they absolutely look real!
Registered: December 14, 2007 Location: Vancouver canada Posts: 8914
Tue, Jul 05, 2016 @ 8:28 AM
the velum is beautiful, don't you love pulling out those stashes that have been hiding in the cupboard for years. I love the embossed fish and awesome fussy cutting by the way. The softness of the seaweed is perfect, with the hints of crisp edges.
Registered: January 20, 2011 Location: Beautiful British Columbia Posts: 7619
Tue, Jul 05, 2016 @ 8:47 AM
You are dedicated. 8 hours to colour your fish ... wow! But an amazing job you did. And now you know what works perfectly, because that's what you've achieved ... perfection! Gorgeous images, and they look amazing on your watercoloured background. xx
Registered: December 4, 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 16610
Tue, Jul 05, 2016 @ 9:11 AM
I am SO chuckling with you on this FABULOUS card of yours because I just completed a card that I threw in the trash 3 times! Ha! I absolutely love the fish, the water, all of it! It's incredible. Using the vellum for the fish truly is brilliant. Have you ever tried sponging ink onto the back side of your vellum. I find staminup inks work really well because they are not as juicy as the Tim Holtz inks are. Just a thought. AWESOME job on this card- thanks for hanging in there with it because I really want to try this myself now! ~ Karen.
Registered: February 21, 2007 Location: Bay City, MICHIGAN Posts: 17556
Tue, Jul 05, 2016 @ 9:45 AM
OH MY GOSH - these fish are extraordinary! You achieved the perfect look for both the fish and the blurred water with the spritzing is so realistic! Love how you tucked in the vellum fins - so cool! - can't wait to see this in person in a couple weeks!
Was just thinking the same thing as Karen above - sponging on the back side of your vellum - SU inks are good for that ! So glad you did NOT trash this masterpiece!!
------------------------------ SUE aka GREENIE - Twisted Sistah Handmade cards because..No one displays an email on their mantle, or saves a FB post in a box of treasures! Nothing is impossible with God!
Registered: February 3, 2005 Location: Delray Beach, FL Posts: 34769
Tue, Jul 05, 2016 @ 10:32 AM
Oh, Nancy, you are amazing, and I absolutely love these fish in the water, along with the bubbles! Yes, you hung in through it all, and it was truly worth it, my friend! You are amazing, and I think this is such a gorgeous color and not at all overwhelming! LOVE!! Hugs, sweet friend! You always delight, and I love reading your descriptions.
------------------------------ Cheryl
Proverbs 3:5-6 My blog
Registered: December 15, 2011 Location: Abilene TX Posts: 11275
Tue, Jul 05, 2016 @ 10:37 AM
Worth every curse word you uttered through the trials and tribulations of making this awesome card. I LOVE the fishes, and I think the background is perfect. So glad you hung in there!
------------------------------ JodyLynn - "Love me - love my cats!" DTGD12, DTGD14, HYCCT12, HYCCT13, HYCCT14, HYCCT15, Love Fest 2013, Love Fest 2014 CAS and CC guest designer QFTD 258