Trifecta Brush Designs

In an earlier post I had promised that when the Paintworks online project came out I would let you all know and it finally came out online at http://www.paintworksmag.com/projects/index.shtml and the project photographed beautifully.  I know that the editors chose to have this photograph be a Christmas themed project which is an interesting take on it but you can see that it wasn't designed with a holiday theme.  This photo is mine not the photo from the article and this isn't as good but you can see the project easily.  I used the Trifecta Brushes to paint the Plumeria and the Hibiscus flowers on the candles. 

I'm also posting another photo of a sunflower that I painted using the Trifecta Brush and painted the petals of the flower by pulling the brush on the side of the bristles but double loaded the brush to shade and highlight at the same time.   I used the smallest brush in the set to add the shaded detail on the center of each petal.  The center of the flower is painted using a stipple brush and I carry that 1/4" Deerfoot Brush on my website as well.  The Dynasty Deerfoot brush is quite possibly the best on the market and is an excellent price for the quality.  Why not pick up the set of Trifecta Brushes and throw in a few extra brushes to round out your order. 

Simulated Airbrush Background Papers for Cardmaking and Scrapbooking

Have you received your Deco Art Newsletter?  I am featured under the Helping Hands section showing how I have painted background papers that I've used in card making and scrapbook pages then added a splash of glitter using the Glamour Dust Glitter Paints.  It was fun to do and I'm thrilled that Deco Art liked the process and was interested in adding it to their newsletter.  This is a very fun way to use what you have at home to paint papers and is very inexpensive.  I used travel sized spray bottles and a very limited palette to paint cardstock.  The photo that I am sharing with you today simulates the look of batik and all I used were flowers that I had cut out of vellum on the Cricut and layered my paint to form this lovely paper.  How fun is that?  My next post will show another background paper but with a slightly different palette and technique.  Don't receive the Deco Art Newsletter?  Go to http://www.decoart.com/ to sign up today.  You won't be disappointed. 

FM Dynasty Trifecta Brush

What an amazing brush!!!  I can't tell you how much I love this brush.  I originally received a prototype set when Dynasty was developing this new brush and I immediately fell in love, in fact I was after the folks at FM Dynasty to hurry up and get it released to the public because I wanted to be able to share it with all of you.  The learning curve with this brush was not steep at all and I found myself using it in so many different applications, this is going to be one of those brushes that I use on a regular basis similar to my love affair with the Wave Filbert.  It was originally designed as a triple load strokework brush, hence the name Trifecta, however I'm not a strokework artist and I love this brush.  Now that I am free to sing its praises I am going to have to share with all of you some of the different uses for the brush.  Watch for those in the coming weeks. 

You can purchase the brush on my website and as far as I know I am one of the first sites to carry it.  I have a great deal going right now on the set with free shipping.  Come on over and take a look and be one of the first to purchase this amazing brush. 

Don't confuse this brush with Loew Cornell's Miracle Wedge, while it appears to be similiar the bristles on the brush are not cut quite as deep and it is much easier to use.  I purchased the Miracle Wedge because I wanted to compare the two and I wasn't thrilled with the Loew Cornell version.  I felt that the Miracle Wedge was harder to use and you didn't get the full impact of the brush because the bristles are cut deeper.  Take a look at my soon to be released free download project on the Paintworks site, hopefully it will be available soon, to see how I used the set of brushes to paint tropical flowers. 

Background Papers

I've been playing around with a number of different background papers when I can't find the exact colors that I want for my cards.   This is one example and then I stamped over the top of it randomly with a variety of stamps.  I'm sure that it will show up in a design somewhere, I just haven't figured out where.  I think that it is fun and certainly shows off the stamped design even if it is a little jumbled, however that is exactly what I was going for as I'm planning to cut sections out of it.  I'll keep you posted on what I do with it. 

Copic Markers

Have any of you used Copic Markers?  I received a set for a Christmas gift and I have to say I am hooked.  I've been working with them and love how easy they are to blend.  I haven't felt that there was much of a learning curve  but have just really spent some time familiarizing myself with the them.  I think that they are so much like painting that my thought process with them isn't that different.  I just recently completed some of the leaves similiar to the Jewel Tone Leaves that I have been painting and will post them soon.  Keep an eye out for my next post. 

Finished Card

Here is the finished product.  You can access the free project on my website.