Thursday 31 October 2013

Pan Pastels as a colouring medium



At Prickly Pear the Design Team take it in turns to do a tutorial for the store blog and this week it's my turn so not too surprisingly I kept well inside my comfort zone and have concentrated on Pan Pastels as an alternative to other more recognised colouring mediums and pens. And the above card is the basis of my tutorial which I would also like to enter my:

Addicted to stamps and more - CAS
Craft room challenge - stencils or masks (not totally sure if this form of masking counts ?)
Paper minutes - masking

Before I go on to my tutorial, don't forget that tomorrow we have a super prize competition starting here.

This is how I set about creating my piece of artwork and below my basic products:


Mask a piece of 10.5 x 14.5 watercolour cardstock to create a panel – I have highlighted the placement of the masking tape in pink to make it clearer to see. I also lay post it notes over the remainder of the piece to keep it clean.


 Stamp your chosen image with archival ink into the masked aperture. I have tried various inks but always revert to archival for a smudge fee image. I also recently tried out using Pans with a computer printed digi image and to my surprise the ink stay put fine.


Next place masks over the stamped images – I usually cut several at a time from post it notes which you can do by stamping the image onto your top sheet and cutting three or four together.


Using your chosen background colour of Pan Pastels and Sofft sponges, sponge the un-masked areas building up more colour at the edges. I find using a paler shade first and then adding a darker shade of the same colour gives more depth.


Now remove the masks and colour the images using small ended Sofft sponge sticks, again using a paler and darker shade of the same colour. A little contrast can also be added to the centres of flowers for definition.

Notes you may find useful using Pan Pastels:
  • If you make a mistake or add more colour than intended it can be simply erased with a standard soft rubber. 
  • Many believe Pan Pastels are the same as chalk but nothing could be further from the truth. They are a highly pigmented, very soft and blend seamlessly. 
  • If you struggle shading with distress inks or creating backgrounds with a brayer I think you will find Pan Pastels a perfect alternative. 
  • There are mixed views on setting Pan Pastels, I don't often set my artwork and have no problems with the colour shifting but if a piece is going to be handled a lot or perhaps for display then a quick spray of cheap hair spray will set it fast. 
  • The investment of the specialist Pan Pastel Sofft sponges is invaluable, they last for ages, I am only just replacing some of mine after abut eighteen months of regular and often harsh use over rough edges. 
  • Cardstock is important and I find the best results come with watercolour cardstock, my make of choice is Fabriano but any watercolour card offers the ideal slightly rough surface to grab the Pans or the reverse side of Centura Pearl is another favourite of mine.
As always, any question please do ask and thanks for taking a peek.


58 comments:

Sammy said...

Just gorgeous Brenda! Love the colours and thank you for the tutorial... I may very well try them out some time! x

jackiescrafts said...

Thank you for this great tutorial, I only have 2 pans that I bought as a starter set with some applicators. They are red and yellow but I would like some more for Christmas, have you any advice on which colours to go for to give me a basic starter selection? There are so many available it's hard to know where to begin
Thanks
Jackie x

ellyscard creatief said...

Beautiful soft colored creation.
Gr Elly

Olga said...

What a pretty and tender card! Thanks for the tutorial!

Marianne said...

Thanks for the lovely tutorial. I guess I will have to try this out, because I really like the result. Lovely card Brenda!!
xxx Marianne

Gerrina said...

Sorry to read that it is a doll thursday over at your place... I did some work in the house, made the card and then went out, ´cause it is dry, a little bit sunny and the wind is low... so I could clean up all, almost all that is, of the leaves that are not on the gardenborder and on the lawn. Eating selfmade filet americain on a soft roll and gethering some energy to go to a bookfair in Eindhoven (nearby). Be back on time for my daugther and hope to make one or two cards this evening. Then grab my things together to go to the biggest craftsfair in Utrecht, where I´ll be tomorrow... As you can see; busy and trying to enjoy everything (even picking up five buckets of leaves!). Love the colours I saw in the buckets! At least one of the cards I want to make these few days will be inspired by them!

Love the colours you used on this card! Not the standard colours but so beautifully combined!
And as you know I love working with the PanPastels...it is so easy and often so quick! Must say that I set it with special fixative, mostly because I work in more than one layer...

Hope your day is going to be better, big hug, Gerrina

lada_vl said...

Very interesting usage of soft pastel effect! Excellent!

Sue said...

A really wonderful tutorial, thank you for sharing Brenda.
Sue xx

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Beautiful card and great tutorial! I have PP sitting in a box, someone is going to buy them from me, but this is making me wonder if I'm making a mistake. Have a wonderful day, Shirleyx

Juls said...

Fab to c another use 4 pan pastals. Hugs Juls

ALI said...

Beautiful Brenda, I love your inventive way with masking. What size post-it's to you use?

Joan said...

Lovely project Brenda, I love pan pastels and how versatile they are.

Jane said...

I am still to try Pan Pastels Brenda, they do look good...perhaps I should put them on my Christmas list? Loved your tut, thanks for showing how you get your lovely colours x

Stamps and Paper said...

Gorgeous card Brenda...haven't tried Pan Pastels but they look interesting...love your images and your colouing

Anne

Sarah said...

Thank you for sharing your expertise Brenda! I had a chuckle at your "basic products" - they are waaay beyond basic!! Love the colour combo and I am going to have a go at masking...it looks super xx

Teresa Carini said...

What a nice card with Pan Pastel! I just am using! thanks for your tips! a hug!

Deborah Frings said...

I think this is really lovely, the pastels give a beautiful soft finish to the image. And that's a super sentiment too. Thanks so much for playing along with ASM this week!

Bridie said...

Stunning card and thank you so much for sharing your experiences

Thank you so much for leaving a lovely comment on my blog

Happy Crafting!

Hugs

Bridie@BGPayne Crafts

Sue said...

This is beautiful! Such a lovely serene and gentle card. Thank you for sharing the techniques and for joining us at ATSM.

Kari said...

Great card, Brenda!! Wonderful techniques!
Hope you are well!

Have a wonderful day!
Hugs,Kari :)

Mervi said...

Thanks Brenda for this great tutorial, PanPastels is in my endless wishlist.
Beautiful and stylish card,
Thank you for sharing at Craft-Room Challenge;-))m

Beryl said...

It's a beautiful card Brenda - those stamps are gorgeous.
Beryl xx

Berina RGA said...

very beautiful card.. and thanks for sharing the tutorial..
-Berina
Moxie Craftie

May said...

Gorgeous card Brenda, the flowers are just beautiful...Loved the tutorial... Hugs May x x x

Marianne's Craftroom said...

Gorgeous cas card

iReneM said...

A beautiful card, Brenda - so clean and fresh :)
Great tut and great tips for when I get some PP's. I hope they will be at the NEC, I am saving up :)

x

Misiówa i Spółka:-) said...

Fantastic!,,,,

Patry Ro said...

Thank you very much for sharing with us step by step... I love your result!!!!

Glennis F said...

Great tutorial Brenda, I have never used these - they look great!

Paper Profusion said...

Beautiful card Brenda and a lovely tutorial that was easy peasy to follow. TFS, Nicola x

sandie said...

Brenda-great tutorial and such a stunning card. I love the fab masking and the soft palette you have used. Thanks for joining us at ATSM

Rossella said...

Beautiful card, thanks for the Pan Pastel tips and info
Rosie x

Zoechaos said...

Gorgeous card Brenda and fabulous technique, such a treat to have you join us at Craft-Room Challenge thank you. I'll leave it for Esther to decide if this qualifies, it's her challenge, but they certainly look like masks to me :-) XOXO Zoe

Kathleen said...

Well you will not believe this.
Yesterday my parcel arrived with my purchase of Pan Pastels. I had a little play last night.
This morning with my first cup of tea of the day I had a quick look on my dashboard, this post was not on it at that time.
I then thought oh Brenda uses PP's so I will go and search her blog to see the creations she has made using them and any tips she may have given.
You could have knocked me down with a feather when the first thing I saw was the tut on using PP's
Thank you so very much, how spooky was that?

Kath x

Eva Olmo said...

Thanks Brenda for this tutorial. This card is very beautiful. I didn't knew PanPastels, but i like.
Kisses!

rachel said...

This is just fab brenda and i feel very inspired to give it a go! Hopefully that feeling will remain by the time i get back from holidays x

susiestacey said...

Beautiful card Brenda and nice to see how it was created too x Susan x

Karen Petitt said...

Thank you for sharing how you use them Brenda. I won a couple from the PP challenge and haven't known how to colour smaller areas or detailed stamps - now I know I can play more. I have found that the PP colours are so much richer and they are so much smoother too. Gorgeous card, love that stamp a lot xx

Karen Petitt said...

I would forget my head if it weren't screwed on I am sure of that! Brenda I meant to ask is that beautiful bauble in Craft Stamper yours? It is stunning and gorgeous on so many levels xx

mags said...

Gorgeous Brenda. Love the use of the Pan Pastels.
Mags
x

scrappymo! said...

Very pretty card, Branda. Fabulous colours and depth of shading. Teh tutorial was great...left a comment of at the blog.

Suman Pandit said...

Very lovely card, beautiful soft colors, thanks for sharing the technique !!

Merry said...

Oh Brenda what a fantastic tutorial...love the tip of of cutting out three sticky note pages at once. Clever.

Eret said...

I've never used Pan Pastels but you make me want to try. Your card is so beautiful. Love the blue flowers and softness of the colors. Amazing work.
Hugs,
Eret

cebelica said...

I've heard about Pan Pastels before, but haven't tried them yet. But seeing how you coloured the flowers made me want to go to the store now and buy some. Wonderful card and great tutorial! Thank you for posting it! Hugs! xx

Nicecrane Designs said...

Amazing Technique,,,,Brenda, Love these stunning flowers,,,,,,,woww. wowwww..

Jackie said...

This is so pretty Brenda. I have a few Pan Pastels but very rarely use them as I make a mess of it, but thanks to your tutorial I may very well have another go :o)
Jackie xx

Unknown said...

Hi Brenda, love the result you've achieved with you Pan Pastels. Have only recently bought my first few, but I haven't worked with them that much yet. Will have to try out a lot of techniques. Hugs Frea

walchowDesign said...

Gorgeous coloring with the Pan Pastels and thank you very much with sharing all the tips, Brenda! (I am so happy to see that you are "online" again)!

Silvia(Barnie) said...

That's a wonderful card, great use of the Pan Pastels. I haven't used mine for long :( Still working on my new craft room.... no time for stamping, but soon ;) hopefully.

Tracy said...

Great tutorial Brenda, I'm not brave enough to give pan pastels a try but I always love your creations with them
Happy crafting
Tracy x

debby4000 said...

Oh this is beautiful and love the tutorial.
luv
Debby

Annie said...

Hi Brenda:-) love your CAS card and thank you for the tutorial re Masking.

Thank you too for joining us over at Craft Room Challenge this fortnight

Annie x

Esther said...

HI Brenda - gorgeous card, love the colours and clever masking -and of course this masking counts, it's my favourite kind !! Thanks so much for sharing, lovely to see you over at Craft-Room...Esther xx

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

ah what fun B so very lovely do love mine still if only time to play Shaz in oz.x

hazel said...

Thank you for sharing your gorgeous creation with us at Craft-Room Challenge.
xxx Hazel.

Karen Petitt said...

Just found this tutorial Brenda - I'm sure you are reading my mind lol! I've only used my PP's to make landscapes so far and been wondering how and what to do next - thank you! I will be breaking into those new stamps this weekend and playing with the PP's to colour them. Going to go see what other little jewels you have in your tutorial page, thank you huni for always inspiring me x

aussie aNNie said...

GEEWIZ B why didn't I look here before, thanks so helpful...xx