Adding Details to Cards using Colored Pencils

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Hi this is Preeti on the Rubbernecker blog today, showing you how adding details to cards using colored pencils can create depth with small detailed stamps. Very often we ignore or rather don’t give importance to the the really tiny images in some stamps.

Especially for those of us who love using Copics, it can be difficult to add depth to tiny images using the markers as they require multiple shades for the blends which means the paper can get over saturated and the colors bleed out of the line. Thus we color it with maybe one color or two, which is fine if that is the look you want to go for. But if you want to add more depth and dimensions there is an easier way and that is to use colored pencils on top of Copics.

You may ask then why can’t we just do colored pencils? Well that’s because colored pencils take a long time to color, and not to mention multiple layers of coloring in different shades of pencils. The reason for that is if you colored with a heavy hand the very first layer then the colored pencils leaves a waxy surface making it difficult to blend the next color. So the only way to work with them is by slowly building up the colors. But by adding the base color using your Copics you save a lot of time and not to mention elbow grease! Again it does not mean that one is better than the other – they all have their own beauty so if you want to just use colored pencils that of course is fine too! But I think for an image like this one from Rubbernecker called Stacked Teacups where there so are many tiny images and details, I think the Copic to colored pencil approach adds a lot of punch to the image.

For the card, I stamped the image on a Neenah Solar White 80lbs card stock using a Copic friendly ink and colored it with just two shades of Copics in various colors. Remember to choose really light shades; for example the pinks I chose were RV01 and RV000. After you have finished coloring the mages, its time to add some depth. Choose colored pencils – I used Prismacolors – that are one shade darker than your Copics to add only to the deepest of the shadow areas. In a smaller images it very hard to add deep shades as there’s very little room to blend it. But adding the deepest shade using colored pencils is easy. 

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Here are a few things to keep in mind;
 
  • Make sure the tips of your pencils are really sharp. This will help you to get into all those tiny tiny spaces. 
  • Keep a sharpener handy.
  • Have a blending pencil or a paper stump, as this helps out to smooth off the colored edges when you lay in the shadows.
  • Use a white pencil for adding in the highlights.
After all the coloring was done, I added some dots in various sizes using Sakura gel roll glitter pen. Stamp the sentiment on the top corner using a black ink. I made a frame using Rubbernecker X Stitch Rectangle and Nested Rectangle Die and adhere it using foam tape to the colored panel. Add this panel to a top folding white notecard and you are  done.
 

Here is  a link to the  video tutorial on how I made  this card:

 
 

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I hope this post has inspired you to add depth and dimensions to your small detailed stamps using my technique for adding details to cards using colored pencils. Until next time happy crafting and keep spreading handmade kindness.

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