I usually start a pencil challenge with great trepidation, but always end up liking it. The moral of that story is try the challenges. You never know what you will end up liking and with every challenge, you learn a bit. My friend told me the other day that stamping with me was like having a live YouTube sitting next to her. That comes from playing a lot of technique challenges.
I started with a stamp that looked like it had been done with pencil (upper leftt in the photo). I added more detail with a #2 pencil. If I messed up, it was erasable.
I went with a subtle monochrome color scheme because I wanted the pencil to be the focus. To frame the main image, I dragged the edges in Seaside Spray ink, then popped it up. I added the shepherds in Seaside Spray to add some context to the main image but remembered to do the embossing first.
I embossed the sentiment and star in silver. I added some pencil details to the sentiment, but didn't like it, so I erased most of it. What is left is very subtle.
The star was fun! I watched a video again (which I don't usually like to do...) This is what I watched:
So I used a blending stump to pull the graphite around the star.
Date: Friday, November 24, 2023 GMT Views: 1354
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Registered: August 15, 2007 Location: Twin Cities MN Posts: 51215
Fri, Nov 24, 2023 @ 2:34 PM
Beautiful and so well done! I'm glad you decided to try this. Your sketch is the highlight of the card. The bg image and star are important but become a lovely supporting part.
Registered: June 29, 2004 Location: Sugar Land. Texas Posts: 83679
Fri, Nov 24, 2023 @ 6:51 PM
One of my favorite images of Mary and Joseph and Jesus. So perfect for this pencil challenge. I have to get this out of my stamp stash and make a few cards with it for this Christmas. Thanks for the motivation. Thanks for sharing that great video tutorial too.
------------------------------ LizThe joy of the LORD is my strength.Right Brain Madness --My blogProud member of the redDivasKSS certified multi-step stamperFan Club member since 2004
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Registered: July 27, 2007 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 140457
Sat, Nov 25, 2023 @ 12:12 AM
You really made the pencil the star of this in the of techniques, Beverly - well done you! I do like the look of pencil shading, and the work around the star is especially effective. It makes it look so dimensional, at first I thought you had popped it up on foam.
