"Toadily Happy" with Pencils and Markers

I'm still at it....

I'm still enjoying my new fangled way of coloring...

with markers...

topped off with pencil highlighting, detailing and shading.

I'm also enjoying using lots of new stamps for the first time.

I always gravitate toward creating floral cards

(and water coloring the blooms)

But lately, I have given attention to adding some non-floral images to my daily card making.

The stamp that I chose to work with is Toadily Happy...by Penny Black 

It's adorable, I think.

I've always liked frogs 

(in real life)

So it make sense that I like this image of this happy little green speckled guy.

I also like the image details...

The long reeds of pond grass....the butterfly...

the snail...the lily pad....

the little flowers...

Well..okay, okay...

let's just say that I like everything about this image.

I stamped the image onto Spectrum Noir Ultra Smooth white card stock with Memento ink..

and added color with Stampin Up markers first...

then highlighted and shaded with Spectrum Noir Blendable Pencils.

When the coloring was done..

I matted the image on kraft card stock...

and added a little bit of twine...

and wha-la!

A Toadily Happy card!

I don't need to go on and on about this little guy...

Simply said: 

He is a little green cutie

He's adorable..and so happy.

Even his snail pal is smiling!

I think that I am in love!

and...

I'll be creating more cards with this green cutie very soon...for sure!

Thanks for visiting today...

and if you haven't given marker & pencil coloring try....

Try it!

It's really lots of fun...

and you'll expand your ideas about using color......about blending

...and how to make a colored image look more detailed.

Have a great day!

Michelle.

Marker Coloring + Pencil Highlighting and Shading = Something Wonderful !

Remember Tea Cup Trio?

The card  that I created the other day...

colored straight up...

 "old school"style...

with Stampin Up markers?

Nothing fancy schmancy...

no complicated techniques...

Just me...

my markers...

and a nice image to color.

Well...

today, I'm sharing another marker colored card...

and I've kicked it up a notch 

with some pencil highlighting and shading.

The supply list is short:

White card stock (PTI)...colored card stock (LCI)

some print paper (DCWV)

....Memento Ink...

The stamp (Penny Black: Good Neighbors)

Stampin Up markers...and Spectrum Noir Bendable pencils

and some twine.

I truly enjoyed spending time in my crafty oasis (aka my studio)

relaxing....

coloring this image and creating this card...

After coloring the image with markers...

I highlighted and shaded each element of the image with Spectrum Noir Blendable Pencils...

The marker/pencil combination brings some beautiful results...

Very different than alcohol marker coloring and blending...

But equally as nice...in a different way..

*With alcohol markers the blending flows and is seamless...

Pencil shading and highlighting over marker color is not smooth and seamless..

Instead..it's visible...

which I love.

Here's a closeup...

You can see where pencil color was layered over the marker color

to create detailing, highlighting and shading

If you prefer alcohol marker blending...

this look might not be your thing...

This is a more rustic, raw look...

where color addition/ layering and definition IS visible.

How do I like this, you ask?

I LOVE it...

and...

I am already thinking of another new stamp that I would like to color

using  marker/pencil coloring.

and...

now I am wondering how chalk pencils would work when layered over marker coloring

(Sounds like another coloring experiment is on the horizon for me!)

Thanks for visiting..

I hope that this card and coloring info inspires you to give this a try!

Have a great day!

Michelle.