Tuesday 9 October 2012

Clouds Tutorial

I've had so many people ask how I do the clouds on my images, so I've made a step-by-step picture tutorial for Top Tip Tuesday

First of all, for those of you who've not seen my clouds before, here is my finished card showing the clouds behind my image.




You'll need the following materials:

1) a coloured image of something outside
(cos clouds inside a house just don't look right  LOL !!)

2) some chalks and applicators (or inks and make-up brush)

3) your cloud template (see below) 

How I make my template:

I've drawn an oval, and then copied and pasted it loads of times, and moved the repeated ovals into a random ripple / wave shape.




I've then edited out all the lines of the ovals except for the topmost line so that it looks like a continuous line.  You don't need to do this, cos once you've cut it out, the lines don't really matter, but I'm a bit of a geek, so I like to do this!!

Alternatively, you can just download my finished template below !!!



Print it out in thin card (or even possibly acetate), cut around the line, and you have yourself a cloud template.

Before I start to apply my clouds, I like to outline my image in pale blue/aqua.  I use B000 copic.  This just gives a bit of depth to the image before you add the clouds (and also hides any colouring that has ventured outside the lines of the image!!!)




Below is a picture of the chalks I use.  They are Dovecraft Shimmer Chalks, and I think it is fairly obvious which one I use the most !!!  Yup, the blue one that is worn away to the base of the tin !!  I'm starting to use the darker colour now, and pressing more lightly to create the same effect.  The shimmer chalks produce a lovely effect.




I start from the top of my image and work down in rows.  For the top row I place the template so that it is directly over the top line of my image, covering the top of her head in this case, so I can do one full-width row of clouds.



Apply the chalks in small circular motions along the width of the template.



For the second row, I offset the template so that if the clouds were in a upward curve on the top row, they're in a downward curve on the next row down.  This way your clouds look more random, and the pattern doesn't look like it repeats.  

(Yup - placement matters - I told you I was a geek!)



Do the same on the other side.  I guess you could mask your image, but I just work down each side, and am careful when I get close to my image so I don't go over the colouring.  If you have done the pale blue copic outline you don't have to get too close with the chalks.

Tip : When you brush off the excess chalk powder, brush it upwards into the blue area, not downwards into the white.  You don't want to get any blue streaks in your white parts! LOL



Keep working down the page, I usually find that 4 rows is enough, but that would depend on the size of your image and your preference:



To finish off, I usually apply a bit of green chalk to the grass. 
Here's the green I use ... 




Here's my finished girlie, all cut out, and edged with Amber Satin & Dune Colour Box brush pads which I apply directly to the cut edge:




Here she is again, all made up on her card:





Hope you liked my easy tutorial and I look forward to seeing you try out some cloudy skies!! 

If you haven't guessed already, the challenge theme for this week at Top Tip Tuesday is Things with Wings. Our sponsors this fortnight are Simon Says Stamp and Robyn's Fetish so join in for your chance to win.  I hope you can join us.


See my cards available to buy on eBay
eBay



Card Recipe:
Please pop on over to the Top Tip Tuesday Challenge Blog to see the other creations by the talented design team, and to enter our challenge.  I look forward to seeing your creations this week.

I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.

27 comments:

Christine L said...

Hi Annette....

Your card is fabulous.... and I really love how you do the clouds.... so THANK YOU so much for the fab tutorial and the template (which I have printed out to have handy)... You've taken a lot a of time put this together and it's much appreciated!

Hugs
Christine x

Christine L said...

PS... I have those chalks too.. I KNEW they would come in handy sometime!! hehe

Donna said...

Beautiful card and a fabulous tutorial. Donna x

Anonymous said...

wow so wonderful card

Lisa Minckler said...

That is the grooviest and most nerdy template ever and I TOTALLY love that!!! LOL..I freaked out the other day when I couldn't find my print out of it, but "phew" I found it filed in my things that begin with C folder!!! Annette your template works so well and I love the outcome every time. Your card is just sensational!! Thanks so much for the great tutorial. :D
hugs,
Lisa xx

shatril said...

Thank you for the tutorial. That makes it seem so easy. The card is lovely also.
Hugz, Shatril

Mojca said...

Waw Annette a BIG THANK YOU for that. If you remember I was asking you about this a long time ago and still didn't try it out.I think now I will, because you're tutorial is so perfect, you really can't do anything wrong now.
hugs Mojca

3treescreations@gmail.com said...

Such a great tutorial - thanks! Love the sparkle on your cutie card too.

Deanne :)

Mayflower said...

Great tutorial, and such a gorgeous card. Thank you. xx

Anonymous said...

Annette you have really Done us Proud! you are one clever chicka! AWESOME job and totally fabulous card and cloud creation! Outstanding Annette! hugs me xx

Wishcraft said...

Fab tutorial and your card is gorgeous! Love this sweet image and great layout :o) Hugs, Lisa x

Elise said...

HI Annette! You crack me up! Clouds inside the house! hahahah!!! I giggled! :)

Your tutorial is simply WONDERFUL!!! What an AMAZING tutorial you've done! You give out PERFECT instructions and so very easy to follow! Me on the other hand .. end up confusing people with instructions. LOL!!! I simply LOVED this and your card is GORGEOUS as always!

Big Hugs,
Elise

Sharon Basel said...

Fab tutorial Annette - thanks for sharing your secrets to an amazing card!

Larissa said...

THanks for the cute cloud template! Love the look of clouds behind an image. Your card is really adorable.

Hugs,
Larissa

Junhild said...

Hi!

Love your cards and this tutorial is great.

Where can I get the chalks set you have, and what`s the name of it?

Hugs Junhild

Teresa - My Crafty Heart said...

Hi Annette, what a great tutorial, thankyou so much for taking the time to do this...I use distress ink for my clouds, but I love the look of your chalks and I think I NEED them! A fabulous card too - it all goes together so perfectly. Hugs, Teresa x

Bettina L. said...

This is absolutely fab Annette. Love your cloud tutorial and the design with the flowers , bow and layers makes it absolutely perfect too;) Your cloud template is superb;) Hugs Bettina xx

Lena Katrine said...

Georgeous! Thank you for taking part in our anything goes challenge at WOC :)
Hugs, Lena Katrine

Crafty Mamma Mia said...

Hi Annette - just stumbled across your cloud tutorial. Great template and thank you for sharing ... beats my WordArt cloud on a sticky note hands down!!!!!!! ;P
Thank you for such a clear explanation, and I love the idea of clouds in houses!!!
Helen xxx

Chris (catt871) said...

HOW did I miss this????????????????? GREAT tutorial!!!!! Thanks Hunny, gonna go try it now!!!
Hugs,
Chris

Sam K said...

I love this and the tutorial is great, can't wait to give it a go, but struggling to get the chalks at the mo :(
x
Little Pear Tree

Unknown said...

This is a wonderful tutorial! I have been wanting to try clouds for a while. Can't wait to give this a go. THANKS!

scrappymo! said...

Gorgeous card. Love the look of your clouds...so soft and dreamy!
Thank you for sharing the file with us.

KT Fit Kitty said...

Hello, Netty. A google search led me here - and I'm so happy it did! I sponged my first sky thanks to you and your lovely template! I've been wanting to try this forever! I gave you a shout out on my blog too! Thank you! You can see my sky here:

http://ktdesigns2013.blogspot.ca/2014/09/fall-scene-birthday-newtons-nook-image.html

Hugs,
Kitty

Unknown said...

I followed KT FIt Kitty here, lol and love your idea. I'm gonna make that on my Cameo Silhouette! Thanks for the idea. :) Will ref back to you if I blog about it too! (crazybeyoutiful.com)

Edwina said...

Netty, Thank you so much for the template and the tutorial telling how to use it. I love your clouds so much. Edwina Brown

JD/ Jill said...

Beautiful card, nicely colored, and a terrific job with the clouds!
Great tutorial, and thank you for the cloud template. Can't wait to give it a try.