Spotlight on Colouring with Promarkers and Flexmarkers

I've recently come across a few coloured images I've done from time to time but never made into cards. It was about time they were used so here you go.  I've especially chosen images created with Promarkers and Flexmarkers to share. I've still a long way to go and some of the pictures aren't brilliant but they were perfect for some everyday cards. Here the cards:

 And some close ups to spotlight some of the shading, skin tones, and shadowing:

A couple of people have asked for some hints on colouring with these alcohol pens so I've posted below some of my lessons learnt. Believe me I'm no expert and still learning but I was really appreciative of the advice and hints and tips I got from other people so thought someone out there might find them useful as well.... I've included links to my favourite tutorials and stores. Ignore all you experts out there :-)


Hints and Tips on Colouring with Alcohol Markers

• Always use a card that is designed specifically for alcohol markers like the Crafters Companion Neenah Card, or the Craftwork Cards Digital Cardstock
• Put down more ink than you think. Go over a few times, this gives a more even colour and helps keep the area wet when blending which helps the colours mix more smoothly.
• Before you start decide where your light source is coming from so you know where your shadows will be. 
• When choosing what colours to do dresses etc then first of all decide on the design of the whole card. If you have a particular paper you would like to do then choose your pens to match in and bring the whole thing together. I did this here.
• Always pick 3 coordinating pen colours when colouring larger areas. Lay down the lightest first (remember lots of ink), then use the medium pen to shade around the edges or where you need shade - go about 1/3 in. Go over the whole thing again with the lightest pen to blend in. Then use the darkest colour to put around the edges again but this time barely going into the area at all. Again get the lightest shade and going in tiny circles move the colour into the image.  If the middle of the image gets too dark use the blender pen to take out some of the colour.
• When colouring very light areas go over the whole image with a blender pen first to wet the card, and then bring in the light shades at the sides. Use the blender like your lightest colour above to bring in the colour gradually. See the elephants here and here for an example of this. 
• When colouring images that don't have a background (like the gorjuss girls or animal characters), always go around the entire image with a light pen. This helps the image to stand out from the page. Favourite colours to use for this are Flexmarker Blue Grey 1 and Flexmarker Antique White depending on whether it is a 'cool' or 'warm' tone image.  Flexies are particularly good as the brush tip gets right into the intricate bits. 
• Get some fine tips for the promarkers - I have one or two for each colour group and swap them around. Essential for small or fiddly areas.
• For hair you might need 5 or 6 colours in one shade to achieve depth and make it look shiny. Fine tips are essential :-)
•  Favourite Caucasian skin colours for me are: base colour satin or almond. Shade colours dusky pink, march hare, coral. Cheeks Pale blossom, pastel pink, budding rose. For other skin tones I'm not going to repeat what is suggested so expertly here!
• Use Memento or Adirondack ink when stamping so it doesn't run.
• All time favourite promarker colour that appears in most of my projects is pear green! (Leave me a comment to tell me your favourite colour if you like)
• For the best tutorials and videos look at these Letraset Tutorials, Kirsty Wiseman tutorials and try and catch Nikky Hall from Polkadoodles when she is demoing on Create and Craft.

To see examples from my archive blog posts, and how I store them then click on promarkers under labels to the right. Any questions then do ask - what colours did I use, how did I achieve certain effects, and please let me know any of your top tips!

Warning - once you start colouring it is a bit addictive!  But you'll love it...

Helen x

The Gorjuss Obsession Continues...

Yet another one of my Gorjuss Girls stamps had to make an appearance on the blog:

 

This was for my sister's birthday so I wasn't too worried about using some of my favourite bits and bobs as I know she'll post it on the wall in her office with the others. Do you get what I mean? You just know some people don't really 'get' your homemade cards and the effort you put into them and they are soon in the recycling bin.

One thing I'm trying to do more of this year is to decorate the insides as well. This one is very pretty!

 And here are a few of the details from the front:

The flowers were originally white petaloo flowers that have been coloured in alcohol pens, and are layered on a Marianne die cut flourish. The frilly border is a martha stewart punch, and the ribbon is inspired by the Molly Blooms creator, Clare (I got the Christmas magazine/kit and loved her style!). All other bits and bobs and the usual Craftwork Cards goodies - 8x8" card, embossed kraft cardstock, sentiments and borders etc.  Trying to use up lots of the Craftwork cards bits and bobs I have bought over the years.  It's difficult but I'm trying to get over my stroke and keep my favourite papers habit :-)
 
The images were coloured with the trusty pro and flex markers:

 I just love the little foxes and owl.  Really appeals to my love of nature.  In fact I've been making friends with a fox that must be living alongside the canal.  When I've come out of an evening or early in the morning I've caught little Foxy-Loxy mooching around the gardens and he's spookily been looking me right in the eye for a moment before scampering off on his business. The first time it happened I had to pinch myself as I couldn't quite believe it. I love the special nature moments I encounter outside my canalside home.

Anyway, before I turn this blog into SpringWatch part 2, I've made a whole stream of cards (and other crafty projects) recently that haven't made it to the blog. As soon as I get them photographed I'll get them up here. And you never know, Foxy Loxy may stay still long enough for me to get a photo of him. Here's hoping!

Thanks for all the lovely comments you leave me.  I just wish I had more time to get around to visiting more blogs and commenting on them but things are a bit of a challenge at the moment. 

Bye for now!

Helen x

A Gorjuss Stepper Card

Earlier in the year I got invited to a Teddy Bears Picnic (they are not just for little girls, although there were quite a few there as well).  The organiser, who happens to be one of my closest friends, had a birthday this month so I just had to use the Gorjuss Girls stamp with the little bear.  So cute!

I added to the image to a stepper card similar to my previous one .  The pretty paper is Kate Knight, and the flowers are craftwork cards (as usual!).

Here's a close up of the flowers on the stepper.

It has been coloured with my trusty Pro&Flex Markers.She's such a nice stamp to colour as the image isn't too fiddly.

Such an embellished card needed an extra special envelope.  So I had to whip out the Enveloplus Board from Crafters Companion. Such an easy tool to use to make super envelopes like this:

At least it made a bit of a first impression and the card was very much appreciated. Hope you like it too!

Helen x

A little girl for a big sister

Who says you get too old for cards like this:

My big sister, and I won't give away her age, loved it!  Especially as I parted with some of my most favourite Basic Grey Sultry papers  for her and she knows they are usually just for stroking and not cutting. The Gorjuss girl has been coloured in Promarkers and Flexmarkers and I was really pleased to have got a more washed out/subtle effect this time, much as it would be if she was being exposed to the typical Manchester drizzle that I grew up with.

Glad she liked it and hope you do too!

P.S. Sorry the photos are a bit fuzzy. Will try harder next time ;-) 

Long time no post

I know it has been an absolute age since I've been on here and posted a picture.  Mainly it has been because I've been struggling with illness on top of an office move and lots of other things.  No time or energy for blogging is not good though (I've even not had time to keep up with reading all the other lovely blogs out there).  So here we go!

First off some cards (well this is what the blog it is supposed to be about!). This card I finished at craft group a while ago.  Another one using a Gorjuss girl image (thank you Karen for the loan of the stamp!) coloured in with pro-markers, this time trying to match the colours to the patterned paper I had found in my off-cuts pile. Pretty colours aren't they?

And here are a couple of close up. I just love ribbons and pins!

Then a couple of other quick cards I've also managed to complete recently.

Secondly, I've been overwhelmed to redress the balance and show you a picture of the scrumptious Meg.  So here is the little muffin after she had made herself a nest out of all the cushions on the sofa.

Hopefully the next post won't be as long in coming!  Must get some Christmas cards done so they might be making an appearance soon...

A Gorjuss Girly Card

This is an unashamedly pink and girly card!  It was made especially for one of the ladies at the craft group. I am loving the Gorjuss Girl Stamps, especially as it helps me to perfect the ProMarker colouring techniques. I made it into an easel card using a craftwork cards blank and layered the image using my scalloped nesties.

Here's a close up of the little girl:

She reminds me a bit of my middle sister when she was a little girl - with lots of unruly hair!  She'll kill me for saying that if she reads this... Oops!