Friday 25 July 2014

wk 30....Hot Colours - Graph'It Colouring Challenge

Hi All you Colourists out there! 
We hope it's warm enough for you - remember to not keep your alcohol markers in a hot place, it won't do them any good! 

Today we are pleased to bring you a brand new challenge theme...
Hot Colours 
Now this challenge is all about Hot Colours so show us what youve got! This can basically include summer colours, any colour combo's which you think look really great together, the choice is yours.

But, I decided the team needed an extra challenge so this week I challenged everyone on the team to try an airbrushing technique...
We don't currently have an airbrush system within Graph'It (but we live in hope) but there are other things  you can do to get an airbrushed effect. Most systems are specific to a particular brand but you can achieve this look by simply using things you have around the house...the cheapest way and simplest way is to get an old biro or pen and empty it then hold it to the end of your marker and blow through the pen - you'll be amazed at the results! It takes a little practice to get the right angles and right amount of huff and puff but have a go - it's great fun and not as hard as you think!!

Before we get to the inspiration, let me remind you of the rules - you have until Friday 8th August to enter (noon GMT) and the RANDOM winner chosen will win some lovely Graph'It markers and goodies.  Simply follow the rules in the sidebar and remember you don't have to use Graph'It to enter.


So let's see how the team got on! 

Claire C I've used an old biro as an airbrush to create some depth to the stencilled flowers on my background, its a really fun technique! 

Our Guest Designer for July Mandy Sullivan has also joined in with us this week....thanks so much Mandy! 
Mandy...this challenge really pushed my boundaries and it was a little scary, but well worth it! I stamped an image and then stamped it again (or use a digi) and used the 2nd one to make a mask. Like everyone else I just used a biro in the same way and I love the result, it came out much better than I thought it would! I'll certainly be doing this again! 


 Susan - What a fun challenge ! I have air brushed the card back and base plus all the die cuts with an old biro and a graph'it marker also coloured my image with my Graph'Its....

GI's used    skin 4125 ,4114 ,4145 ,4170 ,3210
                   Tails & hair 6110 ,6120 ,6140 ,6170 ,6180
                                        7210 ,7220 ,7240 ,7250 ,9505 .White & Silver Shake  Pens
                    Air brushing 7250 ,7220 ,6120
 Have Fun and don't forget to enter the challenge .More pics on my blog

Claire Boelema - Wow what a challenge! This nearly had me running for the hills but I'm glad I stuck around and gave it a go, it was really good fun! Like Claire C and Susan I used a biro shell as my straw (a standard straw doesn't create enough pressure to disperse the ink from the nib as I discovered after a few hearty puffing sessions!!) with my Graph'It Markers, an embossing folder and some handmade graffiti stencils to create a background. I've used the Pretty Tuff CD for the image which has been coloured with Graph'It Markers....

Airbrushing: 8150, 5245, 1180, 7155, 9909
Skin: 4115, 4155, 4135, 4170
Trousers/Hat: 9100, 9103, 9909
T-Shirt/Shoes: 5210, 5245, 9501

WOW!! DOn't these look fantastic!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE this technique it's sooo much fun!
Make sure you have a go - you can see that the guys really have had a ball with this creating backgrounds and effects.

We'd also just like to thank Mandy for joining us this month - it's been great having her with us as Guest Designer and we have loved your projects Mandy they are fantastic! xxx

Don't forget - you have until Friday 8th August to enter (noon GMT) and the RANDOM winner chosen will win some lovely Graph'It markers and goodies.  Simply follow the rules in the sidebar and remember you don't have to use Graph'It to enter.

We'll see you next week with some more inspiration and last time's challenge winner! 

Have fun airbrushing!
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Friday 18 July 2014

wk 29...Christmas Colours - Graph'It colouring challenge

Welcome back to another Colouring challenge!

We have more inspiration for you as always this week for our
Christmas Colours 
challenge which began last week...
You can enter HERE
Just enter anything where you've used some kind of Christmas Colours (it doesnt HAVE to be a Xmas card, just using Xmas tones ie reds, greens etc!)
 with an alcohol marker - you have until 25th July to enter and we will announce the random winner and top 3 favourites as picked by the team on our week 30 post.
Our random winner will receive Graph'it goodies so it's well worth entering! Don't forget you do NOT have to use Graph'Its to enter!

Don't forget that we have an 
International design Team call 
out and are looking for some great colourists to join us here on the Graph'It Colouring team!
You can see the call here...

You can also see the winners from our last challenge at the end of this post!

So let's see what the team have made....

Anjie - For my project I have chosen colours you might not normally expect to see at Chrstimas but they work really well. The image and papers are from the new Work and Play Festive Hollybobs Collection. I have used a distress ink around the edges of the papers and the die cuts, and added some faux stitching.
The Graph'It Markers I have used are:
Skin: 4115, 4155, 4170, 4175, 3160
Greens: 7210, 7220, 7240
Pinks: 5110, 5115, 5120
Reds: 5210, 5215, 5220, 5250

Susan I have used an image from the new CD Work and Play Festive Hollybobs from Polkadoodles
also the baking papers from the same collection.
I  made a cracker shaped card covered it with the papers, added some ribbon bows and Die cuts   and the cute little image from the CD which is coloured with my amazing Graph'it markers...

Colours used :- Skin 4125 ,4115 ,4155 ,4180 ,4145
                          Hair 3210 ,3270 ,3180 ,3190
                          Dress 9100 ,9102 ,9103,7170
                          Jumper 7125 ,7130
                          Jeans  9100 ,9102 ,9103 ,7170
                          Holly 8150 ,8160 5245
                           Shake White & silver

Claire C I've used this gorgeous fairy image from Festive Hollybobs for my card, love love love her, she is adorable.

Colours used: Skin 4180, 4155,4115, 4120, 4135 5110
Hair 1210,1230, 3210, 3245
Dress: 6290, 5210,5225,5230,5145
Wings: 7130, 9103,9101
plus Graph'It Silver Shake Pen for some sparkle

Claire Boelema - I've used the gorgeous Tatty Twinkles for my altered Kraft Bag.
Skin: 4115, 4135, 4155, 4170
Hair: 1270, 1250, 1110
Dress: 7109, 7125, 7119, 9502
Wings: 9502

WOW! What gorgeous colouring from everyone this week and beautiful projects!

Our Random winner chosen by Random.org for our
ANYTHING GOES CHALLENGE is...
drum roll please....

No 25 Marianne's Craftroom
Well done Marianne! You've won some lovely Graph'It goodies worth £20 to play around with!

THe design team's Top 3 faves for the same week are:
No 8 Jenny
No 55 Suzanne
61 Jo L
It was sooo hard this week there were some beaituful entries so HUGE thanks to you all for entering and playing along! Grab all your blinkies from the sidebar and we hope to see you next week!

Just enter anything where you've used some kind of Christmas Colours (it doesnt HAVE to be a Xmas card, just using Xmas tones ie reds, greens etc!)
 with an alcohol marker - you have until 25th July to enter and we will announce the random winner and top 3 favourites as picked by the team on our week 30 post.
Our random winner will receive Graph'it goodies so it's well worth entering! Don't forget you do NOT have to use Graph'Its to enter!

Friday 11 July 2014

wk 28....Christmas Colours! - Graph'It Colouring challenge

Friday already! and that means another Colouring challenge, what better way to start the weekend!

Don't forget that we have an 
International design Team call 
out and are looking for some great colourists to join us here on the Graph'It Colouring team!
You can see the call here...
We don't have a winner to announce this week, but you still have time to enter our last challenge HERE if you're quick.

So today our challenge is

Christmas Colours
and the team are loving this one because in craft land Christmas is very much under way with all the big brands releasing their Christmas collections already. After all, we all know it can take a while to colour in an image so we need to get started soon! 

You can join in the challenge too, just enter anything where you've used some kind of Christmas Colours (it doesnt HAVE to be a Xmas card, just using Xmas tones ie reds, greens etc!)
 with an alcohol marker - you have until 25th July to enter and we will announce the random winner and top 3 favourites as picked by the team on our week 30 post. 
Our random winner will receive Graph'it goodies so it's well worth entering! Don't forget you do NOT have to use Graph'Its to enter!

So let's see what the team have made....


We have the lovely Mandy Sullivan guest designing with us this week...
Mandy...I've had a couple of advent calendar kits in my craft stash for quite some time, and thought this would be an ideal opportunity to use one of them! 


I chose an image and papers from the Studio 12 Picknix Gingerbread Twist collection, and set to work with some GIs (8270, 8280, 4110, 9303, 3140, 3170, 3180, 5250, 5245, 5240), some glittery embossing powders, Distress Ink and crochet ribbon! Hope you like it, I'm really looking forward to using it this Christmas - the drawers are quite large so I can put something more than just a chocolate in it!

I chose to use a traditional colour palette for my card and the Graph'it Marker Range is perfect for those rich Red's and Greens associated with Christmas:
Chester: 3180,3190,3160, 3140,3120, 5120
Red: 4245, 5240
Green: 8190,8180,8140
Cool Grey added to eyes and blended.


Kevin I have gone for a kind of Vintage look with my card, This is one of the New Tatty Twinkle Christmas images coloured as alway with my Graph'It Markers.
Graph'It markers used.
Skin..4150..4170..4180..5120
Hair..1230..1210..1270..1280.
Clothing.. 1140..1210..1280..4110
Blender & Silver glitter pen.






Gorgeous creations from the team as always! We'll be back next week with the winners from our last challenge, so we'll see you next week!
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Friday 4 July 2014

wk 27....Anything Goes with a marker inspiration Graphit Colouring Challenge

Hi everyone and welcome back to another colouring challenge!

Don't forget that we have an International design Team call out and are looking for some great colourists to join the team!
You can see the call here...

You can find the winners of our last challenge at the bottom of this post but first let's get to the challenge...
this week is our inspiration for our current challenge
Anything Goes
and the team are loving this one because they can show you whatever they want!

You can join in the challenge too, just enter anything where you've used some kind of colouring with an alcohol marker - you have until 11th July to enter and we will announce the random winner and top 3 favourites as picked by the team on 18th July. Our random winner will receive Graph'it goodies so it's well worth entering! don't forget you do NOT have to use Graph'Its to enter!
We hope you'll all enter the challenge again this week - 

So let's see what the team have made....

Cara.....I'm so pleased we are being treated to an Anything Goes challenge this time, I've been waiting to try using my Graph'its on Kraft card and this gave me the perfect opportunity.
I have a couple of tips for you when using Kraft Card:

Chose the regular colour combo you use for white card and then take away the lightest colour and add in a darker shade .. this will help the colours show on the darker card without looking too different from your usual combo.

Outline/highlight your image with a white pencil, it will help the colour pop like this:
Graph'its used:
Skin: 3120,4155,4150 (4135 for cheeks)
Green: 7160,715,7145
Blue: 8180, 8140
Hair: 3290,3280,3270

Claire Boelema - I've used the fabulous new Rose Budd Collection to create my card this week. 
Graph'It Markers used:
Skin: 4115, 4120, 4135, 4155
Hair: 1270, 3245, 3255
Clothes: 4135, 4145, 4150, 8280, 8290, 0000

Kevin We All love an anything goes challenge don't we, a good reason to be able to make anything we wan't. So I thought I would go sailing using this gorgeous Image from the Cherryblossom Lane Cd rom from Polkadoodles...
Graph'It markers used.
Fur 9500..9501 & 5115
Umbrella 7210..7220..7240..3150 & 3150.

Our Guest Designer Hazel Brown has joined us again this week with this lovely make...
.... My 2nd GDT card and a huge thank you for having me as a Guest designer!  I used Graph'It marker blending 3 packs in hair tones, Skin tones and Romantics.

Gorgeous makes this week, I'm really loving the kraft card!  Big thanks to Hazel, Kym and Yvonne who have all been Guests with us this month - if you would like to be considered for being a Guest Designer for a month just write (guest) next to your name when you enter the challenge! 

Our random winner from the last challenge
Blondie
is 

Well done! You've won some Graph'it goodies so please email us your address here so we can get them in the post for you!

Our favourite Top 3 chosen by the team for this challenge are:
Well done everyone! Grab your winner blinkies from the sidebar - thankyou SO much for playing along with the challenge, we really appreciate you taking the time to enter and we love seeing all your work!

We hope you'll all enter the challenge again this week - 
see you next Friday!

Thursday 3 July 2014

Design Team Call for Colourists

INTERNATIONAL DESIGN TEAM CALL:
Graph'It UK Design Team are looking for several new, uber talented colourists to join our super happy, friendly team (international applicants may apply). If you adore colouring with alcohol markers we would love to hear from you and see your work! We also welcome anyone who loves using alcohol markers in mixed media projects or other art based projects. 

Graph'It markers are super high quality alcohol markers manufactured in France since 2012 - our aim is to bring a premium quality marker at an affordable price and the brand is becoming very well known for the fantastic vibrancy of colour and beautiful blending that can be achieved by users of any skill level.  

As part of the Graph'It design team you will be provided with a generous welcome package of products to enable you to fulfil your Design Team role. Your work will be promoted via our blog and social media internationally and through the UK TV Craft Channel, Create and Craft TV. We are looking for good colourists of different skill levels and criteria...we need people with the skills to inspire others to have a go as well as people with uber amazing colouring skills already. A fun personality is a bonus!

Your role:
1. By being part of the Design Team you will be an ambassador for the Graph'It brand at all times;
2. Create a minimum of 3 projects for the Graph'It blog per month and participate in the blog challenges (fortnightly) including commenting via rota system;
3. Proactively promote the Graph'It brand in all craft projects you create;
4. Proactively participate on our social media platforms, being willing to help other users with hints and tips and education.
5. You will be required to create physical samples for use in both trade and craft shows as and when required.
6. Your terms and conditions as a Design Team member will be discussed in further detail after you have been selected and will be subject to contract.

What you need to do:
1. Email sales@polkadoodles.co.uk with a SHORT paragraph of why you wish to be on the team.
2. Send the URL of your blog (you must have an active blog and facebook page) together with 3 photos of your favourite colouring projects from your page - try to show us your versatility and if you prefer a specific type of crafting tell us about it! We want to know what makes you tick! 
3. Your photos must be of high quality and good lighting to show off the alcohol markers in the best possible light - there is no point spending hours colouring something if the reader cannot see the image clearly. Your posts will need to be coherent and promote the products well, make sure you include product links within your posts wherever possible!
4. Please do not submit work which is not created by you!
5. Include other information we need - especially if you are part of any other teams - we need to know which teams.

The deadline for applications is 31st July 2014. 
We are looking for more than one person. All applications will be answered once a decision has been made.  We look forward to seeing your work!