Copic & No Line Colouring

Last week I stamped and heat embossed this image, then coloured it with watercolour paints. Today it's all about Copic markers and no-line colouring. For anyone who hasn't seen no-line colouring before, here's a TUTORIAL using digital images. If you want to use a traditional stamp, which is what I've done for this card, then simply use a very light coloured ink pad.

I've included a few photos of my colouring process, as well as a colour guide, below.

Stamps:
Welcome Home clear stamps

Welcome Home digital stamps

Everything Papercraft - Marbling

Marbling is a method of liquid surface design that can produce patterns that bring to mind smooth marble or other stone. Coloured mediums, such as paint or ink, are floated on either plain water or a viscous solution known as size, and then carefully transferred to an absorbent surface, such as paper or fabric.  Usually the floating colours are manipulated either by blowing on them directly through a small straw, fanning them or by stirring them with a stick or brush.

A fun and simple way of achieving a marbled background is to use shaving foam to float the colour. Pieces of cardstock or paper are easily laid over the swirled colours and then removed to reveal the pattern. You can find a full tutorial on shaving cream marbling right HERE.

Hot Tip Tuesday

When you view a painting or photograph you might have noticed that the first place you generally look is into the eyes of the subject. Most artists are aware of the importance of eyes when painting, drawing or taking photographs. That's the place to seat expression, feeling and character. The eyes can also convey information about age, well-being, ethnic heritage and the species of the subject - think snake eyes! With all this potential information, you can see why it's so important to get the eyes right when you're colouring an image.

Start by colouring the iris of the eye. Generally, the darkest part of the eye will be around the  highlight, and there will be a bit of a shadow from the top eyelid. When choosing colours for the eyes, keep your theme in mind as well as the other colours in your palette. 

Use a black fine line pen to fully colour the pupils. You want them solid and dark.

Now use a bright white pen to add the highlight. It's very important to place the highlight in the same place on both eyes... not a mirror image. If you place the highlight at the top left of the right eye, then you need to place it at the top left of the left eye too. Highlights in different locations will give your character a cross-eyed or cock-eyed look, which can be used to your advantage with some characters.

I've made the highlight much bigger and in a slightly different place from the original stamp. This gives the eyes a glassier look making the character seem more alert.

Play around with different highlight shapes and locations, you'll be amazed at how it can change an image, for example, drawing a broken line along the bottom eye lid will give you tear-filled eyes! Try a square instead of a dot, or a ring around the iris, add a few dots in different sizes... just remember to keep them the same in both eyes. Good luck!

Stamps:

Emu Parade

Black or White

Today I'm using one of the stamps from the Welcome Home set to do a comparison between black and white embossing. I've stamped and heat set both images then coloured them with watercolour paints. It's amazing what a difference the colour of the line work makes to the finished piece.

I personally prefer the black embossing powder, I think it works better with the subject matter and gives an earthy, solid feel.

Stamps:

Welcome Home

Tutorial - Suspension Cards

Often called Spinner Cards, these fabulous creations add a little bit of excitement to your card giving. Wind up the suspended image, fold the card and wait for the squeals of delight when it's opened and the string spins back into place. Great for people of all ages and easily adaptable for just about any occasion.

1. To make a card similar to mine, you'll need a card blank measuring 4" x 51/2" when folded, a piece of card stock measuring 33/4" x 51/4", and a piece of patterned paper measuring 31/2" x 5". You will also need two flat mirror image embellishments that you can suspend in your card, such as a stamped image, paper flower or similar. You don't have to use a fussy cut image like I did, a small card stock circle with a little stamp will work perfectly. Select a die that fits completely around your little embellishment.

2. Using repositionable glue or tape, secure the single piece of card stock to the front of your card blank keeping a nice even border around the four sides.

3. Cut a window through the piece of card stock and the front of your card blank using the die and a die cutting machine. If you don't have a die cutting machine, use a kraft knife or trimmer to cut a window through both layers.

Cut a length of heavy thread, crochet cotton or similar. It has to span the window with a little extra on either side that can be anchored in place.

4. Secure the thread across the centre of the window with tape and glue. The tape will hold the thread in place while the glue dries. Make sure you allow plenty of time for the adhesive to dry before adding the embellishment.

5. Secure the piece of card stock over the top of your card blank, sandwiching the string in the middle. Take care to line the windows up and keep the side edges parallel. Allow to dry completely.

6. Cut a slightly larger window from the patterned paper and adhere to the front of the card. Nesting dies are ideal for this step.

7. Place a strip of double sided tape on the back of one of the little embellishments and press it down over the string. Make sure your card is open so that you don't adhere the image to the inside of the card! Add a second piece of double sided tape to the back of the other embellishment.

8. Flip the card over so that you're working on the inside and on the back of the first little embellishment. Add strong glue or tape and secure the other embellishment over the top, sandwiching the string between the two. Add any additional decorations, stamped sentiments or ephemera that you wish.

Stamps:

Choose Happy

What could be happier than a serene, peace-loving, flower picking tortoise? He never rushes and spends long days just soaking up the sun and kicking around the house. Now that's what I call livin' the dream!

Stamps:

The Slow Lane

Taking the Slow Lane - with Anesha

We're having a slow day today, hanging out with Anesha, getting

our mellow on and checking out her awesome card creations.

Anesha has created three cards in coordinating colours and styles with a fun, yet laid-back vibe. The cards are paired with different sentiments from the set making them suitable for a number of different occasions including birthday and encouragement. Anesha has kindly included a colour guide for anyone interested in what she used on her projects.

For more inspiration visit:

Anesha's Blog

July Challenge Winners

Congratulations to the July Challenge Winners!

Sandra H, TracyM and MCS (Mies)

You are the randomly chosen winners of last month's challenge.

If you already have a Beccy's Place store account, I'll be adding a $20.00AU credit very soon.

If not, please email me at beccy@beccysplace.com to claim your prize.

August New Releases

Those of you who follow along on Instagram will already know that we had a shipment of new dies arrive, and they are now packaged and ready for purchase along with a couple of fabulous new image sets. Check them all out below...

Available in Store Now

Welcome Home

digital stamp set

Available in Store Now

The Slow Lane

digital stamp set

Available in Store Now 

Available in Store Now

Available in Store Now

Available in Store Now

Available in Store Now

Available in Store Now

Available in Store Now

August Challenge

Create a card or paper-craft project using any Beccy's Place image, upload a photo of it to your blog or other hosted site, and submit a direct link below. The challenge runs from now until midnight on the 31st of August 2019 (AEST).

To keep things interesting, I'll be adding an additional optional element to the monthly challenges. This month we have a photo to kick start our creativity. You can use the colours, composition or any other element from the photo as inspiration for your project. As always, keep in mind that the additional challenge is just an optional extra!

PLEASE READ THE CONDITIONS CAREFULLY

BEFORE ENTERING THE CHALLENGE

• Entries that don't meet the conditions will be deleted from the challenge.
• Your project must be created during the month of August 2019 and entered into the challenge during the active challenge period. Due to an automated system, late entries cannot be accepted.
• Each month I will include a re-mastered digital image from my library of freebies as well as a bonus challenge, such as a card sketch, bingo grid, etc. You DO NOT have to use the image or bonus challenge on your project, but you MUST use a Beccy's Place image, either free or purchased, to be eligible for entry.
• You can enter as many times as you like and you can submit your card to any other challenge you wish.
• At the end of the month three winners will be chosen to receive a $20.00AU store credit for any digital stamps at Beccy's Place. To redeem the store credit, winners must have a Beccy's Place customer account. (Please note, you do not need an account to enter the challenge. It is acceptable to create an account in the event that you win. Accounts can be closed at any time.)
• Store credit won during any Beccy's Place challenge is only redeemable for digital stamps.
• Entries can be uploaded to the challenge from any hosted site including blogs, online galleries, Google photos, etc. If you do not have access to a hosted site, please feel free to email your photos to me and I will add them from the Beccy's Place Guest blog.
• Beccy's Place designers may enter the monthly challenge but are not eligible to win prizes.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER