Dreaming of a Secret Gate - Fantasy Journal Pages with Zan Von Zed Digital Stamp

Take time first thing to visualize an incredible day.   Robin Howard

Hey there from Nannyland,

It's nice to begin the New Year with a dream of an intriguing new road or magical secret gate just around the bend.  I'm anxious and eager for a change in my path this coming year because,  although the one I've been on has been loaded with amazing learning and growing opportunities, it has been way too bumpy with obstacles for my liking! 

I'll never grow too old to fantasize about being a princess on an ornate balcony in the fanciest of frocks with nothing else to do but survey my vast kingdom. Zan Von Zed is one of my favorite artists when it comes to regal ladies and this one seems perfectly content in her "castle-in-the-forest" setting.  I loved coloring the layers of her gorgeous gown in jewel toned shades of Copics and adding rhinestones for sparkly decorative trim.  

I found some beautiful background DP to mimic a balcony and forest landscape and was happy that her fussy cut image tucked into the scene perfectly.  Since the paper wasn't quite large enough to fill the opposite page, I used some pretty marbled DP to expand the space. I created my inspiration quote in Cricut Design Space using the cutting and writing features, then added a few journal-friendly flat die cut flowers to adorn my tag.

Hanging on my patio pergola is a vintage sign leading into my backyard that says "Secret Garden." It's one place I love to go this time of year to drink warm cider and read a favorite book. I'm sure any princess would love it there as much I as do. That's where I'm planning to hang out whenever possible this year. I hope you have a cozy, restful escape where you can feel joy, contentment and peace of mind and visualize the fantastic things to come.   Happy New Year! 

  

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.
I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit. 
Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)
                                                              Playing along with:

My Time to Craft Challenge #550

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Digi Choosday Wk50

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Love to Scrap Challenge #171

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Morgan's Artworld Challenge #84

Passion for Markers Challenge Wk 769

Fantasy Journal Pages - Zan Von Zed Medieval Maiden

Life itself is the most wonderful fairytale.
Hans Christian Andersen

Hey there from Nannyland,

A "fantasy" art journal has emerged in Nannyland, which I'm excited to fill with images of fairies, mermaids,  unicorns, good witches and all sorts of my favorite mythical creatures (except for maybe gnomes). Anyone familiar with my art is aware of my obsession with all things mystical.  My first page for this journal is a scene with a lovely Zan Von Zed maiden on the balcony of a medieval castle, waiting for her knight in shining armor to rescue her from the fiery dragon lurking under the moat bridge. Everyone knows that she obviously could rescue herself, but then what would the handsome nobleman do while riding his mighty steed through the dark forest.  He has all the majesty and strength to put that fierce dragon down, so he should just do it for the good of the villagers and the ardor of his lady. But I digress. 

I used warm Copic colors for my damsel's dress and found handmade die cut flowers in my stash to brighten up the stone walls, which are created with designer paper.   I used a white gel pen to highlight some of the details on her gown and added beading to her bodice.  A small vellum butterfly rests on her dainty hand. 

I glued designer paper to the opposite page and created the sentiment tag in Cricut Design Space with the writing and cutting features. 

I'll never get tired of imagining a world where magic makes all things possible.  It's such a delightful escape when the world gets too real.

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit.

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

                                                               Playing along with:

Cards 4 Galz Challenge #221

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #253

Color Throwdown Challenge #785

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Worldwide Crafters and Colorists Challenge #15

Classic Design Challenge #3

Morgan's ArtWorld Challenge #74

You Are Awesome to the Core - Zan Von Zed Digital Stamp

 Love is a fruit in season at all times and within reach of every hand.
Mother Teresa

Hey there from Nannyland,

Every now and then,  I just have to take time out from coloring my favorite dewy-eyed angelic images  and choose one that's equally gorgeous, but a little offbeat.  One of my all-time fave digi artists is the talented Zan Von Zed.  Her medieval images with their engagingly prominent features always draw me in.  As I color, I like to imagine my beautiful damsel as a regal princess, wandering the halls of a medieval castle or stepping down an exotic magical garden path.  

I created this Valentine card for a friend who appreciates the fusion of art and history as much as I do.  Zan Von Zed creates romantic images in a historical style and the detail on their vintage clothing is exquisite.  I used Copic markers to color this elegant lady and added detail with a white gel pen and Staedtler triplus fineliners.  Small white pearls adorn her cuffs, multiple gold gems trim her collar and a single red gem accessorizes her belt.    I added shine to the apple with Glossy Accents.  I created the swirly gold frame in Cricut Design Space and embellished the heart in the corner with a large red gem.  I used the Cricut writing feature for the layered sentiment tag.  The water color background is digital paper from my very efficient and much-used digi library. 

If your mojo needs a little spark like mine does occasionally, I hope I have encouraged you to step out of your comfort zone and create something that's a little off your beaten path.  There are so many unique and wonderful choices out there!

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit. 

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

Playing along with:

The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge - Something New (Zan Von Zed digi)

Digi Choosday Challenge Wk 1

A Gem of a Challenge Wk 1

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Make My Monday - Challenge #191

Morgan's ArtWorld Challenge #1

Classic Design Challenge #1

CD Sunday Plus Challenge #101

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Believe in Daydreams - Zan Von Zed Lady of Leisure

 A daily dose of daydreaming heals the heart, soothes the soul, 
and strengthens the imagination.

Zan Von Zed Ladies of Leisure 3 digi, Spellbinders frame, Copic markers,
lavender gems, gold leafing pen, white gel pen, dp background, Tim Holtz sentiment strip

Hey there from Nannyland,

When I actually have a moment to daydream, I can imagine myself as an enchanting maiden like the one in this grayscale image coloring book created by  Zan Von Zed.   Her amazing fantasy images are full of heroines in lovely gowns like the ones I admired in the beloved fairytales of my childhood.  I'm not certain I would trade my jeans and converse sneakers for a medieval frock, but I'd sure like to try it on to see how if feels to look this regal.  I'd love to have some luscious golden locks  thick enough to tie back with a stunning headdress. How would it be to have nothing more important to do than roam a lush garden maze  outside a timeworn gothic castle?   But in my world,  I would have to insist on a lavish ensuite bathroom with a huge shower and closet full of dry cleanable gowns.  That's where I wake up and realize how happy I am to be born in this era full of the creature comforts of life. What did that girl do without a cell phone?

I colored this image with Copics and created a dainty background that would accentuate her intriguing feminine gaze. I die cut the outer Spellbinders frame from iridescent white textured card stock and the inner insert from blue mottled designer paper which I lined with a gold leafing pen. The image was fussy cut and adhered to the background with mounting tape.  I adorned the frame with sparkly lavender gems and added a gold foiled sentiment.

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit.  

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

  Playing along with:

Addicted to Stamps challenge #415

Color Throwdown Challenge #662

Creative Moments Challenge #223

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Patties Creations

Classic Design Challenge #10

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CD Sunday Plus Challenge #70

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You Are So Lovely - Zan Von Zed Ladies of Leisure Digi

Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you.  Live life with gusto.
Dale Carnegie

Zan Von Zed Ladies of Leisure digital stamp, Tim Holtz background die,
Heartfelt Creations stamps, dies, and mold, Cricut cutting and writing features,
 glossy gold card stock, Xpressit blending paper, Copic markers, iridescent sequins

Hey there,

Grayscale coloring can be both amazing and challenging at the same time.  Zan Von Zed, the incredibly talented artist of THIS coloring book where I found this gorgeous digital image, uses light shading in her designs but also leaves open areas,  like the eyes here, for the colorist to use her own skills and imagination. There is occasionally some controversy in the digital art community as to whether this additional shading might be "cheating" since it shows through as light shading in the finished product.  For me, there are definite pros and cons to grayscale.  I enjoy shading so much on unshaded images and the light gray is a little harder to blend with Copics.  And since light source and shading are some of the most important skills a colorist can learn, I don't think it's helpful for beginners to rely on these shadows in their work.  But I like the result I get, even though it can be darker and more intense than my usual coloring.  And since many of my favorite artists use grayscale to differing degrees, some even offering dark, medium or none in their digi shops, I'm all in for the challenges and advantages of grayscale coloring! 

What do you think?  If you haven't tried grayscale, you should give it a go.  Some of the best artists use it to varying degrees in their artwork and many colorists create stunning artwork with it.  Just be aware when you see an unbelievably shaded image colored to perfection,  the colorist might have had some help from the artist. 

Thanks for visiting,

Go forth and experiment with some grayscale artistry.

Nancy

Playing along with:

The Card Concept Challenge #155

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Digi Choosday Challenge Wk 19

Try it on Tuesday Challenge - Make it Feminine

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Get Creative Challenge #101

Just Us Girls #583

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Morgan's ArtWorld Challenge #5

QKR Stampede Challenge #419

 

Holiday Princess - Zan Von Zed Digi

How we spend out days is, of course, how we spend our lives.

Annie Dillard

Hey there,

It's no secret that I love all things magical and mystical.  Coloring fantasy art has always been a true obsession of mine.  I was thrilled and amazed when I recently discovered  Zan Von Zed's incredible digital images.  Much of her stunning art work depicts gorgeous women who look like medieval princesses.  I chose this image to color in Christmas colors  because I thought the ribbon border was perfect for a festive holiday card. 

I edged my finished image with a gold leafing pen and mounted it with mounting tape to a double layered Spellbinders die cut frame. I used pale blue card stock for my 5 x 7 card base. My two-layered  paper poinsettia has gold beads in the center and my leaves are edged with a gold leafing pen.  I used a white Sharpie paint pen for some of the details in my lady's hair  and dress.  The Merry Christmas is a small sentiment stamp.

Nothing is more satisfying than coloring beautiful princesses in my new craft castle, wearing jeans and slippers, while listening to my favorite audio books.  It's great to be Queen. 

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and rule your world with unabashed passion.

Nancy

Playing along with:

DL.Art Challenge #272

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Through the Purple Haze #173 - Ribbon, Leaves, Sentiment

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday, - November Challenge

 Arty Divas Challenge #31

Dragonfly Dreams Christmas/Winter

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