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Creating depth by mixing colours



Hi everyone, today I would like to show you how you can create depth when colouring your stamped images by mixing your colours. Meanwhile I’m going to create this card project.


Step 1:

I started my card by stamping the largest image from the My Favorite Things stamp set called “Birth-Yay” onto smooth paper (like Strathmore Bristol Smooth) using black ink and clear heat embossing afterwards. This way my lines stay nice and crisp.

Then I can start colouring the image: I started with the rhino and I used a mix of Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers in Charcoal and Tan in combination with my water brush. By using more than one colour in an image you create a more lifelike and dimensional look. If you don’t know what colours to combine, look up an image of a real life rhino and use a swatch book for you colouring mediums to reference. I started with a light layer of Charcoal, more strong in the shadow area’s. And than I added in some Tan. Work on the image until you like what you have. If you feel a certain area is too dark than you can lift colour by putting water from you water brush on that area and dabbing of the excess with a paper kitchen towel (don’t rub).


Step 2:

For the monkey I did the same, using Aqua Markers in Terracotta and Chestnut, but I only used a little of the Terracotta on the darker parts and only a little of the Chestnut in the lighter parts. I also made sure that I choose cool colours for the rhino and warm colours for the monkey, to create contrast.


Step 3:

For the turtle I used a combination of Bud Green and Moss, creating a vibrant green colour. You can add as many layers as you like, but wait before adding the next one until the previous one is dry, otherwise you will ruin your paper.


Step 4:

For the bird I used Black, Charcoal, Jasmine, Amber and Sunshine, going over the black on the beak with the Jasmine colour to give it for depth. This will not ruin your marker, just scribble on a piece of scrap paper to remove possible black excess ink from the yellow marker.


Step 5:

For the cupcake I used a mixture of Terracotta, Charcoal, Flame Red and Hot Pink. The last two colours I also used on the balloon and the party hats.



Step 6:

Around the image I used the colour Topaz (which matches the inks I will use on my background panel later on nicely), washing it out outwards using water from the water brush. And this is how you can create depth and dimension in your images very easily!

When the colouring part is done I add some highlights using a white gel pen and fussy cut the image leaving a small border.

You can find all the Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers HERE!



Step 7:

Now that my focal point is ready I can work on my background panel: first I die cut a rectangle two sizes smaller than my card base. I place the coloured image on the panel but do NOT adhere it yet! I place my sentiment of choice (from the same stamp set) on the panel and pick it up with the door of my MISTI stamping tool. Now I can stamp the sentiment in exactly the right space using Spectrum Finesse Water-Proof ink in “Noir Black”.




Step 8:

Even for your backgrounds you can mix colours to create more depth! For this place your stencil of choice (in my case TCW912s) over the background panel and use the blending tool to apply ink over the top part of the stencil using circular motions. For this first part I used a light yellow ink: Spectrum Noir Harmony Water-Reactive ink in “Straw Bale”.

Do the same using the darker yellow ink on the bottom part of the stencil: Spectrum Noir Harmony Water-Reactive ink in “Honey Pot”. I just love how this turned out!


Step 9:

For some added fun I created splatters using the Spectrum Noir Metallic Ink in “Pewter” and I dried with your heat tool or you can set the panel aside to dry on it’s own.



Step 10:

Time to put my card together: I die cut a slightly larger rectangle panel from matching dark red card stock and adhered both rectangle panels together using liquid glue. This combination I adhered to a crème coloured card base using one millimetre thick foam tape. And to finish this fun card I now only have to adhere the coloured and fussy cut image on top also using one millimetre thick foam tape.

Detail picture:


And that’s it for today’s project! I wish you a creative day!

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