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. Angie McArhur says:

    Hard to believe but I’ve recently rediscovered waxed crayons and I’m having a blast with them…it’s very nostalgic 🙂

  2. Zelda says:

    Lovely cards and such a great idea which I’ll be trying, tfs. The postage dies are adorable! I love Distress Inks but also like trying other coloring mediums.

  3. megan mcdonald says:

    I love water colouring, this week it distress markers i have been using

  4. irmz says:

    Loved the Botanical flowers… they look amazing!

  5. Diane Cramer says:

    I think my current favorite is my new Chameleon markers. Wonderful effects!

    But I also like Prismacolors and Watercolors.

  6. Melanie says:

    I love using my prisma pencil crayons.

  7. Joyce says:

    OMG! Gorgeous – love these techniques! Definitely a must try – TFS!

  8. Christine Meinel says:

    This one of the best U Tube videos I have watched. I am definately going to do this negative stamping method. I will also look into trying to add the stamp die to my stash. I hope I win the stamps as I have begun hoarding the new markers that are out but need outline stamps to use with them.

  9. Elizabeth says:

    It would be impossible for me to choose a favorite. My favorite is colors! I have always loved a lot of different colors! Colors are everywhere and I’m so grateful God gave them to us! I would love to win the botanical stamp set. I am definitely trying this technique.

  10. Michelle Laulu says:

    My favorite coloring medium has to be water colors. I love the soft, blended look they give.

  11. Robin says:

    Beautiful method! Will be giving this a try.

  12. Toni C says:

    Hmmm, not sure I have a go to colouring medium. My cousin was using metallic pencils the other day and I do want to get some of those. I’ve just bought some Spectrum Noir markers but will need to practice with them I think!

  13. Michelle says:

    I guess I would turn to colored pencils. I have not tried a lot of coloring mediums. The Botanical Garden stamp is lovely. I like the way you used them.

  14. Nicole says:

    I always use colored pencils but recently got the zig clean color markers and I love them!

  15. Nancy says:

    My go-to coloring medium is water colors, they give such a pretty pastel look!

  16. Denise L-V says:

    It is nice to see only the background being colored and letting the stamped image shine. Thank you very much for the idea.

  17. Racheyll says:

    I dont know if i have a go to coloring medium. I sometimes use copics, watercolor, watercolor pencils, colored pencils, acrylic, ink, and pastels. It depends what look I am going for. Copics sometimes stress me out, I have about 200 and I have the hex chart and regular charts but I never seem to have the color I want to use.

  18. mary lewis says:

    I like to use distress markers as watercolors.

  19. Cathy says:

    I recently found you on the Internet through you tube and have been exploring your website…..that is AWESOME by the way. I have always favored watercolor pencils but I think that is because that is what I am use to. I am branching out to the alcohol markers , however, that can be overwhelming at times trying to decide on the right colors. I found your post , believe it was in 2010, that is how far behind the times I am…lol, on your favorite Coptic go to colors . I am going to give those a try and see how it works. Thank you so very much for helping to unmuddy the waters for us crafters. With so many products out there it is nice to go to a place where someone will try them out and give honest feedback . I guess I will just call you my “Goodhousekeeping Seal of Approval” when it comes to crafts. I am going to try the ngative space coloring this weekend. My Favorite thing.

  20. My go to is distress.

  21. Katie Sterry says:

    My go to coloring medium is now, thanks to your technique videos, distress markers! I can’t get enough of these babies!!! Thank you so much for the inspiration and chance to win!!

  22. AnnWa says:

    My go to coloring medium are Copic markers because they even make my unskilled coloring look good!

  23. Krysia says:

    Right now my favourite medium is distress inks, used as watercolours. I love how they look, especially on backgrounds!

  24. Mary Wright says:

    Oh I would love to win this, I don’t have any stamps like this at all. Whenever I draw anything I love to use my Spectrum Noir pens. I got a set on offer a couple of years ago and they are still going strong. I would love to share some of the cards I just made with you. I did a few for a charity here called Epilepsy Action, they ran a Doodle day. So I doodled a load of images and used my markers or water paints to make them a bit prettier. I am so pleased with how they turned out. I have a few pics if you would like to see the cards xx I love your vids, thank you so much for sharing all of your ideas with us xx

  25. Cheryl Samdal says:

    I really use my distress inks on almost every card I make whether it’s watercolor or stamping with them. I just love that one of a kind look they give my cards.

  26. Pam says:

    My go-to is Distress Inks! Thanks for another fabulous video. I always learn so much!

  27. MJ GELTZ says:

    Tried this using my ink pads to give a water color look. Had to share my results with my stamping friends. They loved it and wanted to know the technique.

  28. Tanis Scott says:

    Markers are my favourite for coloring. I generally use Copics, but am interested in trying Zigs.

  29. deb kerns says:

    Love my colored pencils and markers!!

  30. Leola M Johnston says:

    I would have never thought to do this. Thank you for showing this, getting more use from my stamps.

  31. ENelson says:

    Love having a new way to use my floral stamps. This gives an entirely new look to cards. Thanks.

  32. Lorena says:

    All of them but I love the Sunshine sets.

  33. Lorena says:

    Colored pencils, then copics. But I would love to learn more about copics

  34. Allisa says:

    I love distress ink watercolor backgrounds.

    Beautiful cards!

  35. Silvia says:

    I like watercolors and oil pastels

  36. Mary P says:

    My go-to coloring medium sort of depends on what I feel like doing on a particular day but my favorites are watercolor, Copics, and Prismacolor pencils.

  37. Dana says:

    Gorgeous cards and fabulous technique. Thanks for the inspiration

  38. Michele says:

    I don’t have a favorite coloring technique. i use colored pencils alot but it really depends on my mood and what I want the final project to look like. Great video!

  39. Ananya.U says:

    I usually just colour in with coloured pencils but recently I’ve started water colouring with distress inks.

  40. Jeannine H says:

    I am loving my Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens but for this technique, distress inks would be my choice. Really innovative technique.

  41. Cindy Aguirre says:

    Right now I’m using a lot of watercolor pens! Love this technique! I’m so excited to try it!

  42. Liliana G says:

    Beautiful cards! I use Copics markers. Thank you.

  43. Lisa Gross says:

    Colored pencils, I want to try water color. Love your video.

  44. Jenny says:

    My go to coloring medium has to be color pencils. They’re easy to blend and control

  45. Amanda L says:

    Probably distress markers or pads!

  46. Cathrine says:

    Distress inks!! So easy to blend. Thanks for the video!

  47. Angela says:

    Stunning look! So simple and elegant. Thank you for sharing your cards and your techniques.

  48. First of all, beautiful cards! As for the coloring medium I think I like watercolor the best. Perhaps because it is all the rage.

  49. Lydine Arriola says:

    Beautiful cards Jennifer! As always!! As for me my coloring medium fav is water coloring! Especially with distress inks!!!

  50. Mary says:

    Great stamp release. Your cards as always are beautiful

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