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. Rita Fujisawa says:

    Coloring is so therapeutic! My go-to mediums are Copic markers and distress inks.

  2. Becky says:

    I love the look of this technique. I’ll be trying it soon.

  3. Lori Staggs says:

    I am new to copics – but love them! I also use prismacolor pencils. Thanks Jennifer for another fantastic video!

  4. stamping sue says:

    Jennifer, I always like to watch your videos …they are very informative. I like the colored backgrounds with the white embossed images. thanks for sharing
    stamping sue
    http://stampingsueinconnecticut.blogspot.com/

  5. Jen Hayes says:

    I would really love to try Copics, but they are not yet in my craft arsenal, so I often turn to my Prismacolor pencils or distress inks. Thank you for another fabulous tutorial!

  6. DebiKT says:

    I’m going to try the negative space coloring today! I love using alcohol markers, but I’m also playing a lot with different types of watercolor mediums. I have so much room for improvement but I love, love, love the effect!

  7. Anastasia M. says:

    I usuallyuse Distress inks and watercolors.

  8. Maureen Reiss says:

    These are BEAUTIFUL!!!! Never would have thought to do this, thanks!!

  9. Gaylynn says:

    Oh my goodness, so many beautiful cards. Thanks for sharing the different ways to get the background looks. Awesome video as well. 🙂

  10. Sabrina Radican says:

    Wow! Your cards are so beautiful and stunning!!

  11. Nancy Walker says:

    My favorite go-to coloring product is Copic markers. My second has now become the new Zig Clean Color Watercolor Markers.

  12. Sandy says:

    Love this idea! I think I have some outline butterfly stamps that would work for this, and now I’m dying to try it! Another wonderful tutorial, Jennifer!

  13. RebeccaL says:

    My go-to is watercolor and I can hardly wait to try this negative space coloring with watercolor. Thanks for the inspiration, Jennifer!

  14. VikkiCH says:

    I use Distress Inks for my coloring the most often.

  15. What an amazing idea to colour the outside instead!! Never occurred to me, but I love your results! My go-to colouring mediums were distress inks so far, but now that I got myself a few copic markers I think they have a new nr. 1 spot on my crafty table! Thanks so much for the great inspiration on this fabulous bloghop (and I love love LOVE those new Altenew stamps – they are super elegant!!!)! Yours, Steph
    http://www.CraftedBySteph.bloghop.com

  16. Julie Brusman says:

    My go to method would be Copics, but I would really like to be using my stamps with pads more…I need to work on that. Thank you, Jennifer for sharing with us.

  17. Teri W says:

    Love it! Gorgeous cards! I love distress inks and zig brushes. So much you can do with them!

  18. Kary M says:

    Wow, love that idea! I use distress inks and watercolor most of the time, but thanks to your videos I really fell in love with copic markers so I will use these too.

  19. Dawn T says:

    I color most often with markers but am experimenting with other mediums. I love these cards and the fact that you make multiples!

  20. Susan T says:

    Love my copics but playing around with watercolor markers currently.

  21. Deirdre H says:

    Stunning creations Jennifer – love that the MISTI makes it so easy to add the embossing powder after the image is coloured. I love colouring with copics, just starting to play about with watercolours.

  22. Natalie Winterstein says:

    I am trying to get better with different mediums like water color but my go to is usually Copic markers! These cards are beautiful! 🙂

  23. Laurie says:

    I usually use distress inks with water, but sometimes use markers as well.

  24. Donna R says:

    Jennifer, another wonderful video. I love this technique and I’m going to try it tonight. It’s an amazing pop of color and I love the embossed flowers. Thanks so much for the examples of the Altenew stamps! They are awesome.

  25. I like colored pencils, since my colored pencils are the nicest quality art supply I own… (which isn’t saying too much ;-)) I also enjoy your finger-blending technique with pigment inks!

  26. Teri Ann says:

    I don’t have a “Go To” method, yet. I’m, still, trying different methods, because each method has different benefits.

  27. Berina Febin says:

    Wow!! Beautiful cards!! Love the color combinations you have chosen!! Thanks for the video! I love to use my markers – I have a set of inexpensive water-based markers. I’m still learning to color using them. I also use watercolors.
    -Berina
    Moxie Craftie

  28. Jackie Pasko says:

    I love Prismacolor pencils, but you’ve inspired me to buy a few copic markers and give them a try.

  29. gabbe says:

    gorgeous cards! i love the negative space coloring! i mostly use copic markers, but i’ve been trying to practice more watercoloring- also just got some zig clean color brush markers to try!

  30. Lindsay W says:

    I really like copic markers and distress markers!

  31. Jilly R says:

    Thank you for the chance of winning this stylish stamp set. My main colouring technique is alcohol markers for detailed images or distress ink blending for backgrounds but I have also recently begun experimenting with watercolouring. I have never done negative colouring before and it is definitely a technique I intend to try.

  32. Linda Sipp says:

    Beautiful Cards! My go-to coloring method is copic markers even
    though I am not great at using them!
    Thank you for you great and informative videos.

  33. Anne Marie says:

    My main coloring medium is distress ink.

  34. Mary H. says:

    Jennifer: Your cards never disappoint, always elegant and lovely.

  35. Nathalie P says:

    I love distress inks but I also enjoy coloring with Copic markers; however, I do not have a great variety of them yet and I am still working on my blending technique. I guess I am work in progress…

  36. Nancy Stott says:

    Distress ink is my favorite coloring medium, however, since taking the intermediate watercolor class watercolors have become a favorite!

  37. Pat McCleary says:

    These are amazing- never would think of this. I wonder if there is a Coloring for Dummies- I don’t color. I listen to you,& Kristina, & Kathy talking of shading & where the shadow would be- haven’t a clue. And if I do try using a (Tombow) marker, it’s too dark or bleeds through. I use some colored pencils, but I just don’t know how to create depth. Perhaps you ladies would like to come visit; you could be traveling colorists. Thanks for another great video & a chance to win.

  38. Laura Joyce says:

    I’ll definitely be trying this one…with watercolors, I think.

  39. Bunny says:

    My favorite is Copics.

  40. Shelley Smith says:

    I color with Prismacolor colored pencils! Your cards are always so well designed & beautiful. Thanks for the chance to win.

  41. Barbara says:

    Beautiful! My go to coloring medium is colored pencils. I’m working on my copic coloring.

  42. Peggy F. says:

    You always have a different spin on things. It was beautiful. The new flowers sets are too yummy

  43. Sue says:

    Love what you did today. You are always thinking outside the box…literally! Loved that you showed us different ways to color the background, too! The flower stamp sets are beautiful!! Thanks

  44. So very pretty! I love how the negative color makes the image pop!

  45. Cara says:

    My favorite go to medium is watercolor pencils.

    I love the idea of coloring the outside! What a great idea, will have to try this one for sure.

  46. I love all kinds of coloring mediums but my go to is copics for sure

  47. Carol Khoo says:

    I use Faber Castell watercolor pencils. Difficult to find copics in Malaysia. Also distress inks. May get them online. Love the way distress inks worked on this project. Cheers!

  48. Shreeya K. says:

    The video was so interesting! I loved it! Thanks for teaching another technique. I love card making and I think this might be something to try out to get a pop in your card!

  49. Diane says:

    Wow, your cards are gorgeous. My go-to medium is Coptic and distress markers. Thanks for sharing.

  50. Melanie Fisher says:

    gaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh, a chance to win!! lol….omgosh! ok, my “go-to” medium is….probably colored pencils. Although I WANT it to be copics, I’m having a terribly hard time finding a place to get the refills. (what’s up with that? do you know, and do you know when it’ll be over? maybe you could do a video on THAT?) so…yes, i’m going to say colored pencils and gamsol. xoxox thank you for the chance to win!

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