Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Exploring a New Creative Avenue: My First Steps with Caran D'Ache Luminance Color Pencils

There’s something so exciting about starting fresh with a new medium, and today, I couldn’t be happier to share my enthusiasm for my latest creative adventure! As someone who has relied heavily on Copic markers for my coloring projects, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for their vibrant hues, smooth application, and blending capabilities. But these last few months,  I've felt the itch to try something new and expand my artistic horizons. That’s where Caran D'Ache Luminance Color Pencils come in.


I’ve heard nothing but praise about these pencils—how they’re renowned for their unmatched pigmentation, lightfastness, and buttery smooth application. When I opened the box, it was like stepping into a rainbow; each pencil looked like a little work of art waiting to be unleashed on paper.


While markers have been my comfort zone for years, I’m excited to embrace the texture, control, and layering possibilities that pencils offer. From soft shading to intricate details, Luminance pencils promise a completely different approach to creating depth and dimension in my work.

Of course, there’s a learning curve. Blending with pencils versus markers is like speaking a whole new language, and I’m looking forward to experimenting and figuring out how to make these two mediums complement each other in my projects.

This is just the start of my journey with Caran D’Ache Luminance, and I’ll be sharing my progress, tips, and techniques along the way. If you’ve used these pencils before, I’d love to hear your thoughts and any advice you might have for a newbie!

Here’s to stepping out of our comfort zones and embracing the joy of trying something new. Let’s see where this colorful journey takes me!

Marciava

Friday, January 10, 2025

Kicking Off 2025 with My First Double-Page Scrapbooking Layout


Hello, scrapbooking friends!

After the whirlwind of the holidays and the chaos of returning to work, I finally carved out some much-needed creative time to work on my first layout of 2025. It feels so good to be back in my craft room, surrounded by papers, embellishments, and all the inspiration I've been saving up over the last few busy months.

This layout is extra special because it celebrates my husband's recent birthday. I wanted to capture the joy of the day—the laughter, the love, and, of course, the cake! I decided to make a double-page layout (my first one in a while!) to showcase all the photos and memories from his celebration.



The left side of the layout focuses on the big moments: the cake, his beaming smile as everyone sang "Happy Birthday," and a group photo with our four youngest kids. The right side highlights the little details I didn’t want to forget: the handmade decorations, the sweet messages on his birthday cards, and even a close-up of his gifts.

For the color palette, I went with warm, masculine tones like navy and orange to reflect his personality and the cozy vibe of the party. I added pops of red, green and white to make the pages shine. I used the Everyday Adventures Scrapbooking Kit by Kiwi Lane to create all of the embellishments.



It feels amazing to start the new year by documenting such a meaningful event. Scrapbooking is not just about preserving memories—it's about carving out time for ourselves to create and reflect. If you’ve been feeling too busy to scrapbook, let this be your sign to make time for it. Life's big (and small) moments are worth celebrating, and the process is always so rewarding.

I can’t wait to hear about your first scrapbooking project of the year! Let me know what you’re working on in the comments.

Happy crafting,
Marciava