Coloring Techniques with Blends Alcohol Markers & Colored Pencils

Today’s project features the Country Home Stamp Set and Tin Tile Embossing Folder with various coloring techniques. Tools used include, blends alcohol markers, watercolor pencils and a blender pen.

This project is one of my three September/October Free Card Kits. Place a qualifying order through my Online store and you’ll get kits in the mail for free! The dry embossing and all the cutting are done for you too!!

Handmade card with various coloring techniques. Features blends alcohol markers, watercolor pencils and a blender pen with the Country Home Stamp Set and Tin Tile Embossing Folder.

I don’t know that I’ve ever played with all these different coloring techniques, all on one project.

Honestly, coloring techniques have never really been my thing, but with the introduction of the Blends Alcohol Markers I’m more motivated than ever to play with these types of techniques and tools. The outcome is so gratifying and worth the effort!

So you may be wondering, why I chose to use all these different coloring tools in one project.

Well it all comes down to finding the best way to get the range of colors on my image that I wanted. The image is stamped on Crumb Cake cardstock to that significantly effect how the colors show up on the paper. The colors tend to be muted when coloring on the Crumb Cake.

Handmade card with various coloring techniques. Features blends alcohol markers, watercolor pencils and a blender pen with the Country Home Stamp Set.

Here are some of the reasons that I used the various coloring tools for specific elements:

  • For the cotton images the only way to get the pure white was to use the White Watercolor Pencil.
  • I brought in the Blender Pen because it’s especially good for blending with the watercolor pencils so that you don’t see the lines and texture from the pencil marks.
  • On the cotton, I used the light and dark Soft Suede Blends Alcohol Markers to give them a softer, more multi-dimensional look.
  • The little yellow “berries” were colored with the Daffodil Delight watercolor pencil. This gave me a brighter yellow than if I’d used an alcohol marker here.
  • For the foliage I wanted a bright green and the Granny Apple Green blends was the perfect choice.
  • The watering can is the largest image here with the most blending possibilities. As a result, using the Blends Alcohol markers just made sense. I’ve created two version of my focal piece that you’ll see below showing different ways to color specific elements. The most obvious difference is on the watering can.

 

Handmade card with various coloring techniques. Features blends alcohol markers, watercolor pencils and a blender pen with the Country Home Stamp Set and Tin Tile Embossing Folder.

There are three differences between the focal pieces above.

The first is on the watering can, the second is in how the cotton elements were completed and the third is how the two large flowers were colored.

  • As you can see in the photo above, I did NOT use the color lifter on the focal piece on the left but I did use it on the right. The color lifter gives it so much texture and sort of makes it look old and warn.
  • I also used the color lifter just a tiny bit on the cotton images for the focal piece on the right, but NOT the left. Can you see how the light soft suede on the cotton is more blended with the white, than on the focal piece on the right?
  • Last but not least, the two largest flowers were colored differently on these two focal pieces. The one on the left just uses the light and dark Cajun Craze Blends markers. The version on the right uses a combination of a watercolor pencil, blender pen and alcohol markers. While I really like the way the version on the left turned out I wanted to try a different approach to try to get a brighter look. The flowers on the right use a combination of all the coloring techniques shown today.

Here are my two finished cards side by side:

Handmade card with various coloring techniques. Features blends alcohol markers, watercolor pencils and a blender pen with the Country Home Stamp Set and Tin Tile Embossing Folder.

Video Tutorial for this card:

If you enjoyed this video and watched it here on my site please jump on over to my YouTube channel so you can Like, Share and Subscribe to my channel. I would so appreciate it!

I hope you’ve enjoyed my post today and have learned something new about the various coloring techniques and tools shown. There’s a complete supply list and project dimensions included ahead for your convenience.

If you’re interested in getting Free Card Kits in the mail click HERE to check out the details and/or click HERE to shop in my Online Store.

Thanks so much for spending some time with me today. Come back soon!

Happy Crafting friends!

Melissa 🙂

 


More Going On Now…

World Card Making Day SALE going on NOW!

  • Sale goes from 10/1/18  to 10/7/18
  • Select products @ 10% Off during this promotion!
  • Click HERE to see a PDF of the items on sale.

Stamparatus Accessories NOW Available!

  • Items will be available for customers to order starting TODAY, 10/1/18
  • There will be a variety of accessories available plus another Stamparatus related product coming out later this year! 
  • Click HERE to check out these new products!

Creative Escape Day Coming In October!… There may be an Online Offering too.

  • SAVE THE DATE: Saturday 10/27/18 from 10am to 10pm!

Click HERE to Shop Now

Current Hostess Code:

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Click Below to see the 2018 Holiday Catalog PDF

2018 Holiday Catalog by Stampin' Up!

 

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Use the current hostess code to get Free Card Kits, and other perks with your qualifying purchases!

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Project Dimensions:

  • Card Body in Soft Suede: 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″
  • Soft Suede Embossed Layer: 3-3/4″ x 5″
  • Blackberry Bliss Layer: 2-1/2″ x 4-1/4″
  • Crumb Cake Focal: 2″ x 3-3/4″
  • Cajun Craze Strip: 15/16″″ x 3-3/4″
  • Granny Apple Green Strip: 1″ x 3-1/2″
  • Very Vanilla Inside Piece: 3-7/8″ x 5-1/8″

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About Me Page

I am a seeker of that crazy, excited feeling that comes when you've created something that’s unique, beautiful and expresses who you are in some small way. It’s like making a new discovery, when you find a unique combination of color, layout, dimension and texture. I call it a creative spark and it makes me giddy! Through sharing and teaching I hope to help others find this amazing feeling of creative bliss!

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