Negative Space Coloring + Hop + Giveaway

Welcome! Today’s video is all about negative space coloring — a great technique for getting new looks from your outline images. I am also part of a fun hop for a great new coloring challenge.

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[All supplies are linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post. Affiliate links used. To watch the video in HD on YouTube, click HERE.]

Coloring negative space is a great I-don’t-have-to-think-too-much-or-work-to-hard-to-get-good-results technique. I decided to use the new and gorgeous Altenew Botanical Garden and Peony Bouquet stamp sets. (To see a video showing a close look at the other new Altenew stamps, head HERE.)

I share two ways of doing this negative space coloring. The first is with Copics.

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I don’t like to use my Copic Markers up against a heat embossed image. (Two reasons: 1. I don’t want want to ruin the tip of my Copics and in the past I did have embossing powder discolor the tips. Be sure to test first. 2. I don’t want my markers to color the embossing powder – I want it to stay true.) To avoid the contact, I first stamped the flowers with a super light Copic-friendly ink (My Favorite Things Grout Gray Hybrid) and then created a blended background of coloring. After doing this, I stamped the image again in the same spot with Versamark and heat embossed with sparkling powder.

Since I used the MISTI Stamping Tool, it was easy to stamp the image in the exact same place on top using VersaMark ink. However, if you don’t have the MISTI, you could look carefully though your block to line it up.

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On this one I also added some Wink of Stella to the background for a bit of shine…

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A second way to achieve a similar look is to use Distress Ink for the background. I created a mask and placed it on top of the stamped floral image… and then used an Ink Blending Tool and three colors of Distress Inks over the whole piece. The key to getting good coverage is to blend well and overlap the colors.

Instead of using a plain mat under my colored pieces, I die cut pieces with the Memory Box Postage Layer dies. I just adore the look of those detailed edges!

On some of my cards, I heat embossed the Altenew Painted Greetings directly on the colored backgrounds. On others, I stamped an Altenew You Are sentiment underneath using a T-Ruler. (I highly recommend having a T-Ruler in your supplies. It’s inexpensive and helps keep everything centered and straight.)

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I hope this inspires you to try some negative space coloring.

BLOG HOP

Today I am part of a blog hop celebrating the kick-off of Kathy Racoosin’s 30-Day Coloring Challenge. I am proud to call Kathy my friend and am continually amazed by her coloring talent. She has really done a great job bringing the industry together for this challenge. The point of the challenge is to simply color a little (or a lot!) each day for 30 days. Be sure to use the hashtag #TheDailyMarker30Day.

chall

The next stop on the hop is the blog of my favorite gal, Kristina Werner! She will knock your socks off – I am sure.

GIVEAWAYS & DISCOUNT CODE

Like the Altenew Botanical Garden stamp set I used in this video? Here is your chance to win it! For your chance, leave a comment below by 11:59pmEST on 2/10/16 telling me your go-to coloring medium. (The winner’s name will be randomly selected, emailed and posted on my “Winners page” after the giveaway closes. International folks are eligible, too!)

Also be sure to head to Kathy’s blog for a chance to win one of four spots in an Online Card Class.

In celebration of the 30-Day Coloring Challenge, Online Card Classes is giving a one-time coupon code for $5.00 off Copic Markers for Card Makers  and/or for the Watercolor for Card Makers class. Both class will help build up your confidence when coloring. You can get the code HERE at Kathy’s blog.

SUPPLIES

Interested in the products I used? To make them easy for you to find, I have listed them below. (Affiliate and product disclosure can be found here. All products were personally purchased except those with an asterisk.) Click on the letters below each picture to go to a favorite store: Simon Says Stamp (SSS), Ellen Hutson (EH), Amazon (AZ), etc.


Leave a Comment

756 thoughts on “Negative Space Coloring + Hop + Giveaway”

  1. Mai sharara says:

    Nice idea, I really like it..

  2. Patt H. says:

    Gorgeous cards, Jennifer! I love Altenew stamps. I usually use my Distress Inks or colored pencils for coloring. I have some Peerless colors also but have not used them. They are a little intimidating for me so keep putting off playing with them.

  3. Wonderful techniques! I love the look of the outside being colored rather than the image. Just gorgeous. My go to coloring medium would be my water color crayons and a close second would be my colored pencils. I do have to say that I love anything that is water color though. Thanks for sharing all your talent with us.

  4. Jeannean says:

    Copics are my go-to medium; I’ve been trying out my Zig markers and distress pads more though. Thanks for a chance to win this set and I love the cards you shared, great idea!

  5. Cathy M T says:

    I’m just getting started so I don’t really have a “go to” anything yet. I have some markers, but not the nice Copics I see everyone using. If I’m not using my old set of markers, I using colored pencils. I Absolutely Love what you did with these cards. They’re gorgeous. Thanks so much for the great video. It helps!

  6. Sue D says:

    Beautiful cards. My go- to coloring medium is my Copic markers.

  7. Rissa says:

    Love the cards and it’s so smart to make multiples if you have the stuff out already. My go to coloring medium is the Zig Clean Color Markers. I love that they blend together and I love doing watercoloring with them even though I’m still a complete novice.

  8. Jane S says:

    I like using Prisma colored pencils. Great cards and so many ways to be creative!

  9. StampinLouie says:

    Love the technique you used on your beautiful cards

  10. deb kerns says:

    I like the Inktense coloring pencils!

  11. María Alba Negrón says:

    Hi Jennifer,

    AWESOME CARDS!!!! I will be trying that technique soon,thanks! Thanks for the chance to win!

    Cariños,
    María Alba

  12. natgodfrey says:

    Adorable cards! Love the postage look. My go to medium right is is my spectrum & prismacolor pencils.

  13. Lisa Silver says:

    I’ve been grabbing my watercolors the most lately. Thanks for sharing!

  14. Denise Fonda says:

    I am not great at using Copics on flowers. This background coloring is an easier way to blend without using the shadow process. Love the look.

  15. Janice says:

    Thank you for showing us this twist Jennifer.
    Blessings!

  16. Tona says:

    LOVE these cards! Thanks for the continued inspiration.

  17. Brenda lubrant says:

    My go to color medium is Tim Holtz’s distress inks. My favorite thing todo with them is to spray the inks and use them as water colors.

  18. Gia says:

    Love the idea for these cards. My go to for coloring is the zig clean color real brush pens.

  19. Debbie Anemaet says:

    If have to say that although I’m inspired to learn and to try some of your coloring techniques, I’m pretty much a novice at most of them. I did a little watercoloring recently and want to get better at it. Maybe that will become my favorite!

  20. Marlene B says:

    Beautiful cards as usual. My go to coloring medium has been my Copic markers although I am currently participating in the water colour online class.

  21. FeM says:

    Lately I’ve been playing with watercolor colored pencils (taking a break from colored pencils-I can’t color!!!). Great and beautiful cards.

  22. Deneen says:

    Love your cards so fun! My go to coloring medium of choice would be my copic’s I just love the way I get easy blending with them.

  23. Erin says:

    I love using watercolor pencils and a blender pen. Loved your video, you make it look so easy to line things up!

  24. Pat C says:

    What a great idea! I’m totally copying the idea and seeing how I can tweak it a bit….Thanks for the inspiration!

  25. Cheryl L. says:

    Really pretty! I love the bright colors and contrast! My favorite medium is Copic markers!

  26. Kim Rendino says:

    This is such a great idea, I can’t wait to try it! My favorite coloring medium is definitely my kopecks

  27. Ellen S says:

    Beautiful cards! My favorite coloring medium is my Tombow markers.

  28. Memoriesbymanda says:

    My go-to colouring medium would be stamping markers ( Stampin’ Up!; Tim Holtz distress markers) because that is all I have on hand.
    Great cards. Love the postage stamp look.

  29. Natasha Rendon says:

    Such a cool technique! Thanks for sharing!

  30. TracyM #6773 says:

    GORGEOUS cards, DELIGHTFUL colouring and FABULOUS tutorial!!!
    THANK YOU for sharing your colouring INSPIRATION and helpful tips – I ALWAYS learn so much from you 🙂
    Thank You for the chance to win too, Botanical Garden and Peony Bouquet are on the top of my Altenew wishlist (waiting for the peonies to come back in stock) and it would be wonderful to try your negative space colouring technique with my distress inks.

  31. jlingraham says:

    Thank you for sharing tips on getting the beautiful results on negative space coloring

  32. Jimin K says:

    Absolutely gorgeous cards! Adore them!!!
    I enjoy working with the Copic markers!

  33. Teri W. says:

    My favorite mediums are my Kuretake Gansai Tambi water colors and Zig Clean Color markers. Copics and I have an uneasy relationship…sometimes we get along and sometimes we don’t. Love the new Altenew stamps.

  34. Nandini says:

    Beautiful cards and thanks for a great new technique. I always break out my distress inks for coloring, which I initially bought after seeing the gorgeous cards made by you and Kristina Werner!

  35. Great coloring! I like to use Spectrum Noir Blendable Colored Pencils. I’ll have to try this technique soon! Thanks for the inspiration!

  36. zehra says:

    lovely cards, my go to coloring medium is zig pens lately, copics and prisma pencils.

  37. Lagene says:

    WOWZERS!

  38. Lagene says:

    WOWZERS! Your cards are AWESOME!Thanks for the great video!

  39. Rachel says:

    Recently I’ve loved the Zig clean color brush markers. What fun!

  40. patrap777 says:

    Copic markers! Great cards Jennifer!!

  41. Dana Joy says:

    Stunning cards Jennifer. I love this technique and I can’t wait to try it. Thanks for the tutorial and inspiration.

  42. Ericka16Ericka16 says:

    Beautiful cards love the look of this negative space. So pretty and thanks for sharing!

  43. Rhonda says:

    These cards are amazing!! I’m so thankful that you provide so many options for those of us that don’t have “loads” of stamps sets and copics. Thank you! I’ve been practicing with watercolor and distress inks.

  44. Jan Castle says:

    Never tried the negative space coloring….looks really cool – will have to give it a try! Thanks Jennifer!
    Paper Hugs,
    Jan

  45. Kimberly B says:

    So lovely! Normally my go-to coloring are my Copics but I am seeing new ways to use my Distress inks too!

  46. Allison G. says:

    lately my go to color media has been zig clean color makers.

  47. I haven’t colored negative space with inks other than with…. crayola markers. This is a beautiful card ad I like the gold detail of the flowers for a pop of sparkle. I love the details and fun this card offers 🙂 thank you for the inspiration!

  48. Lisaerica says:

    Jennifer, I looooove these cards. I think this is my absolute favorite technique, I’m so going to try this. The color combos are awesome with the Metallic powder and pop of white, love it, love it, love it. My head is spinning right now, thinking about what stamp sets I want to use. I don’t have the postage die though, I think I’m going to see if my Explore has a similar die cut. I want to try this out and I don’t have the patience to wait the week or two for it to come in the mail, lol. Guess I know what I’m doing as soon as I get some free crafty time. Thanks for sharing your talents and always inspiring me 🙂

  49. Cheryl Bennett says:

    I use the Spectrum Noir and the Copic markers.

  50. Kavita says:

    Beautiful cards and the coloring is stunning

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