Test Driving Spectrum Noir Colored Pencils

Hiya, People!

I discovered, quite by accident, that the good people (Crafter's Companion) who make the Spectrum Noir Blendable Colored Pencils have a monthly challenge on their blog. It ends on the last day of each month, it looks like, so if you want to enter for April, you best be quick about it! (The challenge this month is Anything Goes, so the sky's the limit.) And if you miss this month's gig... May's just around the corner.

I decided to enter a card (see below). If I win any of the pencils, I'll do a giveaway here. Sound fun?

Today's card features a lovely frog from the fabulous Stacy Yakula over at Purple Onion Designs. I colored this frog during the retreat (nearly a month ago) using Mary Dawn's Crafter's Companion Spectrum Noir Blendable Colored Pencils. 

(Say that three times fast.)

So I fussy cut the little guy, coated his edges with black marker, and slapped him onto this card (with a few other little touches, obviously). Think he's toad-ally cool? (Buh-DUHM-pah!)

S U P P L I E S

Stamps: Purple Onion Designs, Paper Smooches, Hero Arts; Dies: Simon Says Stamp, Cardstock: Ninah, Bazzill; Patterned Paper: DCWV, My Mind's Eye; Inks: Hero Hues Black (Hero Arts); Other: Glossy Accents

S P E C T R U M   N O I R   C O L O R E D   P E N C I L   N U M B E R S

• 43, 44, 57, 59, 60 and 55 (frog body)
• 16, 84, 85, 88 (eyes)
• 62, 72 (word shadows and dragonflies)

T I P S

To make a panel for your speech bubble, die cut the bubble, then cut a panel that is 1/8" - 1/4" bigger than the bubble and round its corners. Adhere the die cut to the mat. Freehand on a matching scrap the hanging-part at the bottom and fussy cut. Butt the top of the hanging-part mat (what is that thing called, anyway?!) to the bottom of the panel and adhere.

 

A   W O R D   A B O U T   S P E C T R U M   N O I R   P E N C I L S

 

Until I got all these lovelies, I had only used PrismaColor pencils, so Prismacolors are my baseline of comparison for the Spectrum Noir pencils. The most noticeable difference between the two is that SN pencils have more wax as a binder.This basically means that you have to apply the color very lightly as you build your shading, etc.

 

Other than that, they seem to be very similar to one another, have 120 different color choices (oooh, mama!) and are holding up well to sharpening. I'll keep you posted on future discoveries as I make them.

Thanks for stopping and have a blessed day!

Deborah

Comments

[Linda baker]

Beautiful job with the pencils!

[ionabunny]

Great card. Cute frog

[Loly Borda]

Awesome coloring of that fun frog. TFS