Showing posts with label Colored Pencils. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Colored Pencils. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Cute Teddy Bear No Line Coloring Birthday Card


Here is a little scene I put together using Dreamerland Crafts stamps, Distress Oxide inks, and Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils. I used Memento Desert Sand to stamp the image for no line coloring. It's helpful to have a black stamped image nearby as well in case you can't see some of the lines (I didn't do this and accidentally colored her dress a bit longer in back than it was on the stamp, oops!).

Instead of solvent blending, I used lighter and medium colors to blend over sections that needed smoothing. Overall I kept some of the texture since I liked the look. Since I wanted the focus to be on the main image, I kept the background and card simple. Have you tried no line coloring?

Disclaimer: Please help support my work in this small way - just use my links if you plan to purchase anything - there's no extra cost to you. Here's the official jargon: links, affiliate links, and cookies may be used in this post and on this site. Using this site implies your consent. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from my design team companies, possibly monetary compensation, and sometimes free products for review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Google and Blogger use cookies to provide and improve their services. See Notice at bottom of blog for a longer description and/or see the full Privacy Policy for even more details.

Making the Card

1. Use Stamp Platform to stamp Cute Teddy Bear in StazOn Jet Black ink on Stamp Masking Paper, leaving stamp mounted for step 2. Fussy cut around image using detail scissors. Use craft knife on a cutting mat to cut around inside areas.

2. Cut a piece of Canson Bristol Paper about 5x6 inches (it doesn't need to be this big but I like to leave some of wiggle room for stamping and die cutting). Stamp Cute Teddy Bear (Dreamerland Crafts stamp set) in Memento Desert Sand ink leaving a bit more room on the left side for flowers and butterflies.

3. Use black Copic Multiliner SP to fill in bear's eye, nose, and mouth and girls's eye and mouth. The SP versions of Multiliners are more economical in the long run as they are refillable and the nibs can be changed - they also reduce the amount of plastic going into land fills. (Note: I used sepia for her mouth and cool gray for her eye; the mouth looks OK but you can't really tell in the eye.)

4. Place mask over image. I recommend working on a craft sheet. Use another mask to make a slight hill. It will start near the bottom of the stump - see photo (you may also use Post-it Tape). I just cut a slight arc with my scissors, keeping both pieces. Cover the bottom while blending the sky, then do the reverse when blending the grass area. With a blending tool using Salty Ocean Distress Oxide ink, start from the top just off the paper using circular motions to create the sky, stopping short of the grass line. Change the masks to blend the grass area in a similar manner using Mowed Lawn and Lucky Clover Distress Oxide inks (using two colors gives it some variation and shading). Remove the mask covering the sky area. Using the same colors for the lawn and the Just Dance with Me (Dreamerland Crafts) grass stamp, use 2nd and 3rd generation stamping to cover the hill side with grass (2nd/3rd generation stamping is done by inking stamp and stamping off on a piece of scrap paper, then, without re-inking, stamping in the image area a couple times for lighter stamping).


5. Stamp butterflies and flowers where shown using stamps from Just Dance with Me. I stamped the butterflies with Ripe Persimmon Distress Oxide ink and flowers with Candied Apple and Mustard Seed. Hint: I used the corner of my stamp pad to ink flowers individually so I could stamp flowers in different colors at the same time. Alternatively, you could ink and stamp each flower one at a time, cleaning stamp in between.

6. Use Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils to color image, add stems and leaves to flowers, color centers of flowers, and draw bodies on butterflies. Use a light touch in small oval motions to cover areas with pencil, building up layers. Also blend with pencils, e.g. by going over light colored areas with white or cream pencils to create and blend highlights.

7. Cut black cardstock 5x10 inches; fold in half to form a 5x5 inch card base. Cut patterned paper 4 3/4 x 4 3/4 inches. I used a sheet from My Mind's Eye: Filled with Love but it is likely hard to find; you may want to check out Doodlebug Design's Rainbow Petite Prints papers - they have many colors and light patterns that are perfect for backgrounds. Adhere to card base. Pick out two circular dies, such as those from Hero Arts Infinity Dies Nesting Circle dies, that will fit on the front of the card as shown. To die cut image, use the next smaller Large Dotted Circle Stackables die that will fit inside the two you selected.

8. Use Stamp Platform to stamp Happy Birthday (Dreamerland Crafts Birthday 11) in Memento Tuxedo Black ink where shown on image (note: I cut my sentiment stamp so that I may stack the words - if you don't want to cut your stamp, then you will have to mask or ink selectively). Die cut brown cardstock and black cardstock with selected circle dies; adhere each as shown to the front of the card, with the image on top.


Supplies
Follow my blog with Bloglovin so you won't miss any of the artsy fun!

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , ,

Saturday, December 1, 2018

A Boy, a Bear, and a Train Christmas Card


I love this sweet scene of a boy playing with his train along side his bear buddy. I can just imagine him receiving the train set as a Christmas gift - playing with it all morning, as his parents get ready for visitors.

I colored the image using Derwent Coloursoft Pencils and blending with Lavender Spike Oil and blending stumps. The lavender spike oil is very strong smelling so if you don't like strong smells, I don't recommend using it. However, it does not have toxic fumes like many other solvents. It is also clear so I am hoping it does not turn yellow over time (I had this issue with Linseed Oil on my Dragon Get Well Card - sadly it turned yellow after only a few months).

Disclaimer: Please help support my work in this small way - just use my links if you plan to purchase anything - there's no extra cost to you. Here's the official jargon: links, affiliate links, and cookies may be used in this post and on this site. Using this site implies your consent. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from my design team companies, possibly monetary compensation, and sometimes free products for review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Google and Blogger use cookies to provide and improve their services. See Notice at bottom of blog for a longer description and/or see the full Privacy Policy for even more details.

Making the Card

1. Cut blue cardstock 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches; fold in half to form a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch card base. Cut white cardstock 3 3/4 x 5 inches. Cut blue stripe paper (Dot-Stripe) 3 5/8 x 4 7/8 inches; adhere to white cardstock, then adhere to card base as shown.

2. Cut a piece of Strathmore 500 Bristol Plate about 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches. Use a Stamp Platform and Memento Tuxedo Black Ink to stamp The Most Wonderful Gift of All (Dreamerland Crafts), leaving room to die cut image later (I actually wish I had stamped mine a bit higher). Use a Copic Multiliner SP .3 to draw a line across background. Optional: you may also draw tongues for the boy and the bear and fill in above each as shown below.


3. Color image using Derwent Coloursoft Pencils and blending stumps dipped in Lavender Spike Oil. You may want to practice blending on a scrap of the same paper before coloring image. The Spike Oil really blends the pencils well - so much so that you have to use a light hand if you want dark areas. I also recommend going over areas again in pencil, not blending with oil, to get a darker color.


4. Use Small Stitched Rectangle Stackables and Large Stitched Rectangle Stackables to die cut image and blue cardstock as shown. Adhere image to blue, then adhere to card base.

5. Use Blueprint Sketch Distress Oxide Ink to stamp "Happy Holidays" sentiment (Miscellaneous 02, Dreamerland Crafts) on strip of blue stripe paper (it may be short but tag should cover this). Trim and adhere to card as shown. Also use Blueprint Sketch to dye a length of White Seam Binding, spraying with water as you do to get ombre effects along ribbon. Set aside to dry.


6. Use 1" circle punch to punch snowflake paper (Polar Pals) then put one side in a 1" Tag Press ring so design is facing front (smooth side), push it the rest of the way in. Use Tag Press to close back. Use Crop-a-Dile (or other small hole punch) to punch a hole in top of tag. Tie bow in seam binding you dyed in step 5. Add tag to loop pin with Snowflake Adornment; pin to back of bow. Use Pop-up Glue Dot under tag and Mini Glue Dot under bow to adhere to card where shown (note if sentiment strip is short, this should cover it).

7. Use snowflake punch (All Over the Page, 3 Snowflake Punch) to punch some snowflakes from white cardstock; adhere where shown.

Supplies
Follow my blog with Bloglovin so you won't miss any of the toy town fun!

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Dragon Get Well Card with Xyron and Derwent



This is a collaborative post with Xyron and Derwent. Derwent sent the Xyron Design Team a 24 set of beautiful Procolour pencils and a sketchbook to try out. The pencils are creamy to use and smooth to blend but they are not quite as soft as Derwent Coloursoft pencils so they may be sharpened to a finer point without breaking.


I used the pencils to color this adorable dragon image in the sketchbook then die cut it with stitched ovals dies (Rubbernecker Stamps). I used stumps to blend the colored pencils with Linseed Oil, which worked amazingly well. It was super easy to get a smooth blend. The dragon and sentiment are from the Magical Dragons set by My Favorite Things.

This card can be used as a get well card or just to lift someone's spirits. For example, you could stamp "Get well soon" inside the card or write an inspiring message, as appropriate. Paper by Doodlebug Design.

Affiliate links may be included in this post. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites at no cost to you. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from my design team companies. Regardless, all opinions are my own. I do not get paid for my posts unless otherwise specified. Cookies may be used on this site. See notice at bottom of blog for a longer description.

Making the Card

The first thing I did was test the Linseed Oil with the pencils and paper to see how well they worked together. I was very happy with the results! A beautiful blend!

1. With Memento Tuxedo Black ink, stamp dragon (Magical Dragons by My Favorite Things) in Derwent Big Book sketchbook (or on white cardstock). You may want to heat set the image with a heat tool. Color with Derwent Procolour Pencils (the colors I used are listed under Supplies). I used a KUM long point sharpener to sharpen the pencils to a fine point as needed and used blending stumps with Chelsea Classic Studios Linseed Oil Extra Pale to blend.


Lay down color using a circular motion (tiny circles) and work in light layers. Don't rush - just build up the color by alternating between blending and coloring. Note: I added a ground line using a Black Copic Multiliner 0.2.


2. Once the image has been colored, die cut it using Rubbernecker Stamps: Nested Oval Small Stitch Die. Also die cut green cardstock with the next size up stitched oval and gray cardstock with one more size up.


3. Cut light blue cardstock 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches; fold in half to form a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch top folding card base. Cut dark blue cardstock 3 3/4 x 5 inches. Cut triangle patterned paper (Dragon Tails by Doodlebug Design) 3 1/2 x 4 3/4 inches.


4. Use the Xyron 9" Creative Station with permanent adhesive to coat all die cut pieces, plus dark blue cardstock and triangle patterned paper from step 3. Rub before pulling off cellophane.


5. Adhere dark blue cardstock to card base then triangle patterned paper. Adhere dragon to dark green oval then to gray oval. Adhere where shown on card.

6. Using VersaMark ink, stamp "I Heard You Were DRAGON" sentiment on light blue cardstock (may use Stamp Platform or stamp positioner to make it easier). Emboss with Fern Green Wendy Vecchi Embossing Powder using heat tool. Trim and add tails. Cut a piece of dark blue about 1/16 inch larger. Use Mega Runner to add adhesive to sentiment banner then stick to dark blue. Cut tails. Adhere to card where shown using Xyron foam tape - watch the following video to make foam tape.


7. Add Swarovski Crystals where shown using strong liquid adhesive.


Supplies
Follow my blog with Bloglovin so you won't miss any of the dragon coloring fun!


SaveSaveSaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave
Posted by at 3 comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Winter Greeting Card with Prismacolor Pencils

Dreamerland Crafts Stamp Colored with Prismacolor Colored Pencils

I love this adorable image by Dreamerland Crafts. I made it as a generic card so any greeting could be stamped inside (or just a handwritten message). I used Prismacolor colored pencils to color the image and Chelsea Classic Studio Walnut Oil with blending stumps to blend the colored pencil for a smooth look. This oil is non toxic and low odor, much safer to use than other solvents, such as (odorless) mineral spirits. I also did a quick comparison to Sansodor. The comparison chart is below the step-by-step.

Affiliate links may be included in this post. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites at no cost to you. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from my design team companies. Regardless, all opinions are my own. I do not get paid for my posts unless otherwise specified. Cookies may be used on this site. See notice at bottom of blog for a longer description.

Making the Card

1. Cut light blue cardstock 7x10 inches; fold in half to form a 5x7 inch card base. Cut light turquoise cardstock 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches; adhere to card base. Cut plaid patterned paper 4x6 inches; adhere to card base in center of light turquoise.

2. Cut white cardstock about 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches. Watch video below; it compares walnut oil to Sansodor for blending. After the blending comparison I go into stamping and coloring the image.


Video Steps:
3. Die cut image with stitched rectangle (Rubbernecker Stamps Small Stitched Rectangle Dies). Cut gray cardstock 1/4 inch larger than die cut image. Adhere image to gray cardstock.

4. Cut enough seam binding to make a bow with three loops and tails. Use Picked Raspberry and Festive Berries Distress Inks (plus optional Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide ink) to dye seam binding. I used a small mister bottle with water to wet the inks and seam binding as I went along the length of seam binding. Set aside to dry.

Dreamerland Crafts Stamp Colored with Prismacolor Pencils

5. Use Distress Inks Picked Raspberry, Festive Berries, Peacock Feathers, and Tumbled Glass (plus optional Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide) to color bouquet flowers. I used cotton swabs to apply the colors.

6. Cut several inches of blue/white/black twine - this will be used to tie around ribbon. Wrap dyed seam binding around 2 or 3 fingers three times - leaving enough for tails. Pull off fingers carefully, grasp in middle. Tie twine around and secure with knot. Fluff loops.

7. Thread twine through hole in button. Trim and adhere on back with Glue Dot (you may also tie a knot but it might make it more difficult to adhere it flat on the card).

8. Adhere bouquet flowers, bow, and button using permanent Glue Dots, where shown.

Distress Ink and Distress Oxide Ink used to color seam binding ribbon

Comparing Walnut Oil to Sansodor

In the video you can see me blending the colored pencil using walnut oil with blending stumps. Walnut oil is non-toxic and does not give off harmful fumes like other solvents. Sansodor, although as the name implies doesn't have much odor, gives off harmful fumes and must be used in a well ventilated area. It is a toxic substance, poisonous if swallowed (possibly fatal), harmful if inhaled, and harsh on the skin. Walnut oil is flammable (as many oils are) so care should be used when disposing of oil-soaked rags and other items, otherwise it is safe to use.

I would say that the blending is comparable between walnut oil and Sansodor. It is slightly easier with Sansodor but I definitely don't think using it is worth the added risks. When blending lightly colored layers, I actually preferred the walnut oil. See the chart below. The first (unlabeled) rows are straight pencil with no additional blending. The "W" rows were blended with walnut oil; the "S" rows were blended with Sansodor. I also wrote the Prismacolor pencil numbers I used next to each section.

The first rows on the left are simple gradient's of one color (208). Next to them on the right are light layers (pencils 208 and 925). The yellow to red and yellow to blue rows were colored pretty heavily. The walnut oil mostly took off the top layer of red over the heavy yellow, although Sansodor did something similar in the yellow to blue row. When colors were applied lightly (right side), they blended much more smoothly.

I will likely be trying linseed oil and lavender spike oil for blending


Supplies
Follow my blog with Bloglovin so you won't miss any of the Prismacoloring fun!

Posted by at 2 comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , ,

Thursday, January 11, 2018

Let's Just See Arteza Colored Greeting Card

Rubbernecker Stamps Bear with Arteza Expert colored pencils

The Rubbernecker Stamps I used for this card really amuse me. I love the bear's expression - it could be used with a number of funny sentiments. This particular sentiment cracked me up - as those who know me can attest, I don't often hold back.

I decided to use a dark brown ink (Memento Espresso Truffle) rather than black so it wouldn't look so stark against all the browns in the card. I colored the image with the 72 set of Arteza Expert colored pencils. They are waxed based pencils, like Prismacolors. This is the first time I used them and I think I like them as much as my Prismacolors, possibly more. The only drawback is that there aren't as many colors. The good news is, they will likely work well together! Something to try in the future.

Affiliate links may be included in this post. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program that provides a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites at no cost to you. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. See notice at bottom of blog for a longer description.

Making the Card

1. Note: I used two versions of the Neenah Environment Desert Storm cardstock: 80lb cover for the colored image and double thick cover 120lb for the card base itself (they also have a 100lb cover version, which may have replaced the 120lb since I don't see 8 1/2 x 11 inch listed on Neenah Paper's website anymore). Cut (120lb) Desert Storm cardstock to 7x10 inches; fold in half to form a 5x7 inch card base. Cut dark brown cardstock 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches; adhere to center of card base. Cut light blue cardstock 4 1/8 x 6 1/8 inches; adhere to card base as shown.

2. Cut (80lb) Desert Storm cardstock to 4x5 inches. Use a Stamp Platform or stamp positioner to stamp Distress Oval Frame with Memento Espresso Truffle in center. Inside the oval, stamp Bear with Espresso Truffle. Color with colored pencils. I used Arteza Expert set of 72 colored pencils. For this image, I mainly used browns and golds, plus white under the lighter areas and as highlights. To get lighter shades of browns, I combined colors by putting the browns over white or light gold, or just used less pressure. I drew the ground line and pebbles in a very fine tipped black 0.05 Copic Multiliner (which is also waterproof and alcohol marker friendly) and went over some of the lines of the image that became slightly faded from the colored pencils.

Rubbernecker Stamps Bear with Arteza Expert colored pencils

3. Die cut image using largest Nested Oval Small Stitch die. Adhere to card where shown using dimensional/mounting tape. Stamp sentiment on Neenah Environment Desert Storm cardstock. Trim, leaving room for tails on right side. Add tails by cutting a V into the right side (I usually put a pencil dot in the middle to mark the point I want to cut to). Cut a piece of dark brown cardstock so it will be about 1/8 inch larger all around (this time I cut a strip that was longer than I needed and 1/4 inch wider than the sentiment cardstock, although sometimes I just eyeball it by marking with a pencil where I want to cut). Adhere to card base with a double thickness of dimensional/mounting tape (be careful not to put any where it will overlap with the image's oval).

4. For the flowers, I used pre-made ones from a couple sources. I colored three of them myself but the other two (the two that look most alike, top and 2nd from bottom) came pre-colored; I bought those at Michaels (one package of blue flowers in different shades of the same hue) in their "dollar" area. The 2nd flower is also from Michels, from their Recollections collection. The others are by Petaloo. I like to buy Petaloo's white or natural colored flowers so I can add my own color to match my cards. I colored the 2nd flower using ColourArte's Silks in Mediterranean Blue. Silks are acrylic paints with a beautiful shimmer, which unfortunately doesn't show up well in photos. Typically I spray the petals with a little water then apply Silks, watered down to the desired intensity. In this case, I gave the middle more concentrated color and the outer petals a bit less. I did the same thing with the largest rose (middle) but using Silks in Chestnut Brown and adding a lot more water as I worked outwards from the middle. I also colored the bottom one with the Chestnut Brown. Note: the new Silks come in cool little bottles (rather than small round plastic screw-top containers - which didn't seem to seal well). I recommend the sample packs. The colors are all gorgeous. ColorArte also makes Twinkling H2Os - watercolors with shimmer. For even more shimmer, I added Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spritz to some of the flowers.

Rubbernecker Stamps Bear with Arteza Expert colored pencils

Supplies
Follow my blog with Bloglovin so you won't miss any of the holiday fun!

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)