Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Turtle-y Awesome Coloring!

Hi! I hope that everyone in the U.S. had a great Independence Day!

Today I want to share a card I created using colored pencils and Mineral Spirits.  Of course I use Copics and other alcohol-based markers all the time, but once in a while, I love to break out my pencils! They give a softer look and I have a TON of pencils, so it's  easier for me to achieve the colors I want.

I knew right away I wanted to use papers from Echo Park's So Happy Together (which was part of the June Monthly Kit - soooo awesome).  I love these happy, colorful papers!!! So, I picked out the pencil colors that matched and got to work.  I do this often - I try to pick papers FIRST, so I know what colors to use.  If I color first, sometimes I don't have the right papers I need on hand and that requires a trip to the store.  :-)


I stamped the image from Turtle-y Awesome and then lightly colored the edges.  I dipped the blending stick into the Mineral Spirits (also known as Gamsol) and started blending in a circular motion towards the center of the section.  Once I have the color pulled across the portion I'm coloring, I started shading.  I drew a light source in the corner to show where the light would be coming from.  It's the same technique you would use with Copics, paint, or really any other medium.  If you have a hard time trying to figure out where the light will hit, draw that little light source in the corner.  It will help!!!


I used more than one green to get the effect I wanted.  I started with a light green, but went back in and blended in a darker green a few different times.  After I was all done with coloring, I adhered the shell (that I had stamped on So Happy Together) with foam adhesive.

For the background of the card, I stamped Wooden It Be Nice in the background and then I traced over it using a stencil and a micron pen.  I simply added the sentiment and the turtle and the card was done!


Don't forget about those colored pencils you have, hanging out in that bottom drawer!!! They need love, too.  :-)










3 comments:

  1. Colored pencils and mineral spirits...that's a new technique for me. I'll have to give it a try. I also have a colored pencil stash.

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  2. I LOVE your turtle card. I must get some Gamsol! Thanks for the tips!

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  3. Love your card, I have this stamp also but it looks so much better with the pencils and the Gamsol. I will have to use my pencils more. Thank you for the inspiration.

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Thank you so much for commenting!!! :)