Friday, July 10, 2015

Gamer digital stamps!

Just a few coloring adventures from today! 😀 these are digital stamps from Make It Crafty. 

I'm looking forward to putting these onto cards! 

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

30 Day Challenge- Round 2

Omg, I'm a total slacker. I just finished an amazing 2nd round of Kathy Rac's The Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge and I didn't post a single thing here.... 

If you want to see my coloring adventures - follow me on Instagram. My handle is @coloringinprogress. It's wayy easier to post there on a daily basis. Of course I'm less verbose on Instagram too... Which may be preferred. Ha! 

This is what I posted this morning. I think it might have been the only non-person image i colored this month. I love love love how it turned out! This is a stamp from one of my old There She Goes Stamp sets. I Inked it in Memento Tuxedo Black and stamped it on Neenah Classic Crest 110 lb card stock. And of course colored it with my Copic Sketch markers.   


Friday, May 29, 2015

Make It Crafty - Penny & Scott Kissing and Sandy Allnock's HexChart

Yeah I love Digital Stamps. Big Big Love! They are so accessible and feed my need for instant gratification.  Oh and one of the best parts.... I can store, catalog and browse digital images much more easily than I can store traditional cling/wood mount stamps.  Plus - added bonus, my "hoarding" tendencies are less obvious. *nervous laugh*...

I love coloring people images!  Today's image is from www.makeitcrafty.com. It's called "Penny & Scott Kissing".  I adore this image.  It gives me those warm-fuzzy romantic feelings.  They both look so passionate and I can just image this kiss as a "Hello - I've missed you" kiss.  I read too many sappy romance novels.  haha.  oh well.... we all have our guilty pleasures. :)


I printed this image onto Neenah Exact Index 110lb card stock.  I also flipped the image so he guy was on the left, and the girl on the right. I printed 4 images on a single piece of card stock, so I could visualize the size and spacing on an A2 size card, while maximizing my materials.   Did I mention that I love the flexibility of digital stamps?

Tangent: I was able to cut down the 8 1/2 x 11 piece of card stock into quarters immedately and add to my stack of pre-printed digital images.  This way I could grab-and-go whenever I wanted to color... It's way easier to throw a gallon ziplock bag of my favorite copic markers and a stack of pre-stamped quarter sheets into my purse, than it is to cart around full sheets of paper and my entire collection of markers (current count 311!!)
 




























HexChart
Before I start explaining what I did - I should explain how I picked my colors.  My current favorite skin color combo is E50, E53, BV00 and R20.  However, I need to change the nib on my E53 marker - so I had to come up with a back up plan...  To pick out my colors, I referred to my handy-dandy HexChart.  I looked for a color that was close to E53 and tested a few out on a piece of scratch paper by blending it with E50 and BV00.  I tried substituting E31, E21 and E11.  I really liked how E11 blended over the BV00 so that's what I went with.  I also looked at R20 and decided it wasn't quite right.... I wanted something a touch brighter.  Why?  Who knows! I was just floating where the Copic Groove was taking me... I thought RV10 looked nice, so that's the first one I picked-up and tested on my sample.  I was happy with the brightness of the color and felt like it would give a nice romantic blush on the skin tones I had selected.   So that's how I started...

Skin & Hair:
Skin: I started with a base of E50, and then I lightly drew in the shadows with BV00 with the very tip of the brush tip.  I drew in the shadows at the hairline, eye sockets/brow bone, jawline, the fingers closest to the ground, and wherever I imagined a gap between fabric and the skin...  When I first drew in the shadows it really looked like my image was a victim of domestic violence: black eyes, bruises peaking from the hairline, roughed up knuckles... and then I remembered what Sandy Allnock says about her coloring - it usually looks like a "hot mess" in the beginning, but it works out in the end.  :)

After I laid down the shadows in the skin with BV00, I  went over the purple with the E11 marker.  THEN, I went back with the E50 to blend the lines.  I did go back with E11 a few times to cover a stubborn spot of BV00, and then blended it again with E50.  And what do you know! Sandy was right. It all worked out.  :)  I then put a little flush into their cheeks.  I used RV10 to get a nice rosy flush in the girl's cheeks, and then blended out with E50.  I couldn't bring myself to use RV10 on the guy's face though.  It was too pink.  I wanted to show a flush of excitement - but I didn't want him to look like he was wearing make-up.  So!  I took out my handy-dandy HexChart again and browsed for a subtle "masculine flush" that was closer to the flesh tones I was working with. And TA-DA! YR01 was right next to E11 on the HexChart.  I was pretty sure this was the shade I wanted to use. However, before I committed myself, I took YR01 for a test drive on the first sample I used to pick out my colors. My sample was a success - so I lightly applied the YR01 with a side swipe of the brush nib to where I imagined the guy's cheekbone would be.  Flicking with the side of the brush nib produced a softer smudge of color than if I had tried to use the tip of the brush tip.  This way, I didn't have to do much blending to get a look that I liked.

Hair: I started with the girl hair first.  Because, as a girl, I think that's the most fun to color.  I colored the hair with the same E50 base I used on the skin.  I then picked up E55, a nice "light camel" to add in some lowlights/shadows, whatever you want to call them.  I used the very very very tip of the brush nib to flick in strand detail.  (I think this is why I gravitated towards this image, because it would be a greate opportunity to practice coloring hair)

On the guy's hair, I wanted a little variety, so I covered the base with E35.  I didn't want them to look like twins - b/c that would be gross.  I then, with a heavier hand than I used on the girl's hair, I flicked in E18 in the direction I imaged neat combed hair would lay.  I then took E55 and colored over the back of the head to the side burn so the bottom hair would be slightly darker and less defined.  It was a quick brush over - no work to blend the colors at all.



 




His & Her Coats:
 
Her Coat: Surprise Surprise - I started with her coat first.  I think it was actually because I pictured her more quickly.  I picked out my favorite BV Color blending family BV20, BV23 and BV25.  I colored a base of the BV20, and then lightly sketched in with the tip of my brush nib where the contours/curves of her body were to show where the shadows would go.  I then went over those areas with the BV25.  Then I came back in with BV23 to extend the shadow areas, and blend the darkest color.  Then I went back with my lightest color, BV20, to blend the line between the base coat and the BV23.  I colored the inside of the pleats with BV25, because this is where the folds of the fabric would be darkest. 
 
His Coat:  I didn't have all my markers with me when I was coloring this image, so I had to work with what I had on hand.  When I was browsing my colors, I tried to picture coats that I've seen my family wear and see if I had markers to achieve the look....  My husband has this beautiful camel color coat and I love how soft and warm it is.  So I drew my inspiration from that.  I probably could have gone a little darker, but these were the only warm gray colors I had with me at the time.   I followed the same process that I used on the girl's coat, but with W0, W2, and W5 instead.  I did do a little tip-to-tip with the W2 and W5 when I needed an in-between shade.  This helped me achieve a more blended look. 
 




 



Accessories:
 
I really struggled with which colors to use when I got to this point.  The soft skin and hair colors, and then the dull BVs and Warm Grays were nice together.  I really didn't want to pull in a random florescent color to ruin the soft romantic look that was evolving.  So I went back to my HexChart....  *Quick thank-you-prayer to Sandy Allnock and the Copic Gods* 
 
I finally decided on these two blending groups (more of my favorite blending groups).  Blues for the guy's scarf and sweater cuff; and dusty rose reds for the girl's hat, belt and sweater cuff.  I colored the inside of the knit pleats with my darkest colors, because this is where the knits would cast shadows and naturally be the darkest.  I also added shadows where ever I thought there would be a curve to help add extra dimension.   
 
 



So that's how I finished this image.  Someday, when I have time, I'll put it on a nice card.  :)

Hopefully this post helped explain the awesomeness of Sandy Allnock's HexChart.  I will likely refer to it in the future because it is an awesome tool and will use it all the time.  In the meantime, I encourage you to pick up the HexChart from Sandy's store.  It's super reasonable! Just $5.99! Besides the personal use of this absolutely amazing tool - you will be suporting an awesome artist and a super nice person. And doesn't that just make you feel warm and fuzzy? :) 

Happy Friday. 

Saturday, May 2, 2015

My First Digital Stamp - Dragons & Baptisms


I just discovered the magic of digital stamps! *gasp!* 

So a co-worker asked me to make a card for a baptism for her. As a not particularly religious person, I don't have any faith based stamp images or sentiments. I did a search of the Stampin Up catalog, the simonsaysstamp website, and even Amazon.... I couldn't find anything that caught my fancy. Not surprisingly... 

And then I searched Pinterest - I should have started there first, I don't know what I was thinking....

There were a ton of ideas, and most of them didn't even use stamps! But I wanted to color... I found a few card ideas that used images by MoManning and I fell in "craft love".

I googled Mo Manning to find out where I could buy her stamps, because I know I've purchased a few of her stamps before (Penny Black & Stamping Bella make rubber versions of her images) and I found her blog and online store: http://www.mosdigitalpencil.com. 

She has a HUGE store full of digital images for very reasonable prices. I totally recommend you visit her store and take a peak at what she has. She's so talented! 

Well, to make a short story, shorter, I found cute baby boy and baby girl images in baptism gowns. It was perfect for what I needed, so I added both images to my cart. And then, because it's an instinctive impulse, I browsed the rest of her image library. All of it. Every image. I couldn't help myself, everything was so gosh, darn cute! Before I knew it, I had 25+ images in my cart. I had an internal argument about spending money on a product I didn't need... Well, I "needed" it, but you know.... 

So I compromised with my inner thrifty self. I purchased the two baby images, and this dragon image. It captured my heart as soon as I saw it. After all, I could go back and buy/download more images later. My instant gratification impulse would not suffer too much.

I liked how easy it was to print out on my copic friendly paper (Neenah Exact Index,110lb white card stock) and how simple it was to resize the image. Magic! 

Anyway I couldn't wait to color this dragon and little boy. I couldn't print it out fast enough! :-) I used my new HexChart to pick out the copic colors I wanted to use on the dragon. I'll post my review of Sandy Allnock's HexChart soon! I want to play with it a little more before I give you the rundown on it.

Here's the result...doesn't it make your heart warm and tickle your imagination?! I love it!!


Thursday, April 2, 2015

30 Day Coloring Challenge - Day 30

Today is the last day of #thedailymarker30day challenge *tear* and I'm a little sad. I've had such an amazing time coloring and actually using stamps that I had purchased years *cough* ago but hadn't used yet... I'm determined to break that trend.... So today's image is actually from a brand new set called "indescribable gift" by Stampin Up. I just got it in the mail this week and figured it would be the perfect end to a great month. I inked it up with MFT Black Licorice Hybrid ink and stamped onto Neenah Exact Index 110lb white card stock. I colored with copics and finished it off with a little bit of stardust gel pen. I really like how it turned out. 


Wednesday, April 1, 2015

30 Day Coloring Challenge - Day 29

I literally had 5 minutes today - just 5 minutes! This is what I came up with, including glitter & scraps! I was a speeeedy crafter this morning, and that almost never happens! Crafty time warp miracle! Haha :-) 

This image was quickly stamped using the new Stampin Up Painted Petals set. 

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

30 Day Coloring Challenge - Day 28

I'm so sad this 30 day challenge is almost over!!! I have really enjoyed coloring everyday! This is my submission for Day 28. This image is from the Scent-sational set from There She Goes Stamps. Stamped in My Favorite Things Black Licorice Hybrid Ink on Neenah Solar White 110lb card stock, and colored with copics. Of course! 

Skunk: RV10, RV11, RV13, C2 & CO
Ground: BG72, BG75, C5 & 0



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