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Swatch this!

Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 3:53 pm
by Keitha
Today I swatched my pigment powders and labeled the bottles - which will make working with Brushos in particular so much easier. A la Sandy Allnock, for each Brusho colour I did a swatch by sprinkling some powder and spritzing it with water, and then for the lids I mixed a bit of powder with water and painted it on. In some cases the pre-mixed paint is quite a different look than you get when you just sprinkle the powder, so this way I have both to refer to. For my few Color Burst powders I created the swatch the same way, but as these colours tend not to separate felt there wasn't a need for a second swatch - plus the colours appear on the bottles. It's interesting to compare the differences in colours between the two companies; I have a Turquoise and a Lime Green from both companies, but they are not the same. As you can see I've pierced a hole in the lids of the Brushos, and closed it with a thumbtack.

Re: Swatch this!

Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 3:55 pm
by Keitha
Here's a look at how my swatch book is coming along; this will be a work in progress for awhile yet. I've printed colour charts from the companies who provide them like Ranger, and for others am making my own. In all cases I'm using blank charts and colouring them myself; I've never bothered with this before but have been amazed at the difference being able to quickly compare actual samples has made, rather than 'audition' a few each time I work on a project. For media like Alcohol Inks and Vintaj Patinas I've laminated the sheets before swatching to get an accurate colour sample.
After seeing Diana Trout's swatch book I decided on using the ARC binding system; there was an initial investment for the punch, but have the ability to offset papers if I want a side-by-side comparison - which will be beneficial when I do my watercolour paints. I modified a folder from Staples for my cover, and am impressed with how well this silly disc system works. A time-consuming project to be sure, but one which has been quite satisfying.

Re: Swatch this!

Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 4:26 pm
by pamcook
Impressive! I can see the value of having them but I am entirely too lazy. I should probably be embarrassed to admit that. If I had done a color chart years ago, I probably wouldn't have so many mists!

Re: Swatch this!

Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 4:43 pm
by Keitha
pamcook wrote:Impressive! I can see the value of having them but I am entirely too lazy. I should probably be embarrassed to admit that. If I had done a color chart years ago, I probably wouldn't have so many mists!
Not necessarily true Pam; I'm learning that you really have to try the specific product to get an accurate read on it. So many things look different in the bottle/container, and you rarely get a change to try them in the store first.

Re: Swatch this!

Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 5:47 pm
by pamcook
Well...I might not have had so many duplicates or too-similar colors. I get your point though.

Re: Swatch this!

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 1:54 am
by mpizzazz
Those swatch sheets all look so nice. The diamond shapes for the powders are really gorgeous. I'd want to look at that all the time!

I should test all my ALs, I seem to have a lot of blah colors I never use and wonder if the color has shifted on those.

Re: Swatch this!

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 7:04 am
by jmp1022
very nice sheets
I started mine when the ranger charts came out but never kept it up.

Re: Swatch this!

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 9:45 am
by paddlegal
I think you should frame the diamond swatches. Gorgeous! I said it earlier but you've used your time extremely well making swatches as well as LOs! I should be so organized. Thanks for sharing this.

Re: Swatch this!

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 10:59 am
by troublesmom
Amazing work Keitha! You are so very organized.

Re: Swatch this!

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 3:20 pm
by pbp908
I need to do this with my mists. Great job and so organized.

Re: Swatch this!

Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2017 11:16 am
by nchoney
I'm thinking about doing something like Jennifer McGuire's swatch book... they're in sections by colors and then marked by manufacturer so she can color-match things and then find the right inkpads

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9LAnJxviJQ

Re: Swatch this!

Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2017 11:52 am
by paddlegal
nchoney wrote:I'm thinking about doing something like Jennifer McGuire's swatch book... they're in sections by colors and then marked by manufacturer so she can color-match things and then find the right inkpads

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9LAnJxviJQ

This useful organizing is making my brain hurt. :lol:

Re: Swatch this!

Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2017 1:03 pm
by nchoney
Don't let it hurt too much.... I'm only thinking about it... LOL

I DID run a bunch of medium sized tags through with my embossing folders at one time... they're all on a big key ring thingy.... but then I didn't keep up with it so I'll have to go back and see which ones I need to add.... of course I never look at the darn thing.. I just flip through the folders

Re: Swatch this!

Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2017 1:36 pm
by Monica
Keitha, what a great swatch book you've done! Something like 20 years ago, when I first got into stamping, I did that for my inks, embossing powders and stamps. But many moons later I wouldn't even know where to start to do a new one. You're doing great.

Re: Swatch this!

Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2017 1:40 pm
by paddlegal
nchoney wrote:Don't let it hurt too much.... I'm only thinking about it... LOL

I DID run a bunch of medium sized tags through with my embossing folders at one time... they're all on a big key ring thingy.... but then I didn't keep up with it so I'll have to go back and see which ones I need to add.... of course I never look at the darn thing.. I just flip through the folders

I did the same thing with my embossing folders. Embossed a pile of tags that I keep in a box with the embossing folders. NEVER look at them. I flip through the folders like you do. :roll: I should just take those tags, swipe them with ink and turn them into cards some way.