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. 03sunshine says:

    Love Love the cards love the way you showed off the Coptic coloring and Embossing being new to stamping I love your techniques Thanks for sharing thanks for the chance to win great way to add to any stamper collection.

  2. Gabby says:

    Nice cards! My #1 go to for coloring is Ranger distress ink, followed closely by #2 which is Derwent watercolor pencils. Thanks for the opportunity to win a fabulous Botanical Garden stamp set! 🙂

  3. Brenda Lee says:

    What an awesome technique! The cards are gorgeous. I love your videos…very easy to follow. Thank you for sharing your talent. My go-to coloring medium: Copics. I love to color. I would love to give the Zig markers a try one day. Just haven’t made the plunge yet….but soon! 🙂

  4. Linda S. in NE says:

    These cards are gorgeous. Thanks for the tips on how to avoid ruining the tips of our markers when coloring up against embossing powders.

  5. Kaikeeler says:

    Thank you for sharing!!! Will definitely try this! My favorite medium right now are the Faber Castell watercolor pencils 🙂

  6. Carrie R. says:

    These cards are beautiful. My favorite coloring medium is distress ink. I wish I got better results with other mediums, but distress ink usually works for me.

  7. Cyndee says:

    I’ve recently started using Echolife Water Color pencils and like how versatile they can be.

  8. Michelle C says:

    Between my Copics and distress inks, I find myself going to the distress inks more often when creating background or when I needed to achieve a watercolour effect. I should definitely try using Copics more on backgrounds like you did here. Thanks for the tips!

  9. Rosslyn W says:

    I love that postage die. My go-to coloring is markers and a couple of Copics I got for Christmas! Thanks for the inspiration!

  10. jenniferk says:

    Your cards are so beautiful! My go to colouring medium is distress ink usually the ink pads sometimes the markers (more for watercoloring) ! Thanks for sharing the new techniques I am going to try the distress ink background with masking!

  11. Rosa M. Vasquez says:

    Copic are my “go-to” coloring tool, but I’m getting back to watercoloring, again. Love all the looks each medium produces.

  12. Paulette S. says:

    These cards are Amazing, Jennifer McGuire! As are You! Probably for my older hands, I’m going to try the ink blending with distress inks and mask. Since I got my Copics, 18 months ago, they seem to be my front runner for coloring! LOL And I invested in the refills 5 months ago, since I’d already drained about 4-5 pens. Love them! Thanks for all that you share. I LOVE Kathy’s 30 day Coloring Challenges.

  13. Murneyb says:

    You do such a wonderful job, I love your videos… Your fast pace is easy to follow. You also inspire me to try different coloring tools. I usually make my Copic markers my go to tool when coloring… But I have started using my distress inks for water coloring, thanks to you.
    Thank you for this chance to win this beautiful stamp!
    Mary B.

  14. glowing says:

    thanks ever so much jen… gr8 tips and awesome coloring skills:) and i love the stamps you used today.. SO gorgeous:) thanks for taking time to share and all the best to you… i love using distress inks, but i love venturing out… except no copics for me cuzi try to stay where i am comfortable… so copics are over and above right now.. i am the type to own a bunch of inks that are the same source instead of a few of every brand .and when i get a feel for something i am right at home:) sending love your way…. sincerely “glow”ing

  15. Sal says:

    New to card making but loving your videos. Teaching me loads. I would say Distress Ink as my colouring medium.
    Can’t wait for the next blog!!

  16. Lesley says:

    Thanks for another great technique video, with lots of possibilities using different colouring mediums!
    Thanks also for the chance to win a beautiful stamp set! Love all the cards!

  17. Gina says:

    My go to coloring medium is distress inks. I love this idea of coloring the negative space! Thank you for the inspiration and the opportunity to win this beautiful stamp set.

  18. Terri Dean says:

    Ohh, so pretty. I want to try this technique.

  19. Linda S. in NE says:

    I love these cards. You really DO go to town when you have a card making session. Thanks for sharing all the hints and tricks with us.

  20. Paula M. says:

    Great techniques! They are simple enough that I want to give them a try.

  21. Can’t wait to try Negative Space Coloring! I think I will blend Distress inks for the background.
    You are such a blessing, Jennifer! ♡

  22. Barb Ghig says:

    Absolutely gorgeous cards, Jennifer! Thank you so much for being part of the hop, and for the fabulous video 🙂

  23. Torrie says:

    Oh what beautiful cards! I so want to try this. I don’t own copies but I do have distress inks, so thanks for sharing both atyles. I love my mini distress inks for blending and watercoloring.

  24. Sheri says:

    What an unique way to use those stamps! I enjoy copics but am learning how to use the distress inks. Beautiful cards and thanks again for sharing your creativity!

  25. Amber H. says:

    Lovely stamps! I don’t have a “go to” coloring method yet — I am still trying out different ones to see what I like best.

  26. Jenny C. says:

    I usually reach for distress markers and I also try water colors. Great idea in coloring the negative space. Thanks for all your inspiration.

  27. Gretchen Wilson says:

    Super amazing cards, and as you say, have the supplies out make more and that’s going to be my thinking this year. I love this new stamp set from Altnew!

  28. Annie Dill says:

    Right now my go-to is the set of Akahashi brush pen markers I just got:)

  29. Ceal says:

    Gorgeous cards! Copics are my go to coloring medium, but I am trying to venture out. I got some different mediums for Christmas to try them out

  30. eva says:

    Love the technique!!! So unexpected!!! I love coloring with all mediums, but lately, even though I don’t know how to use them, I have found particular pleasure playing with watercolors. Don’t matter what kind of watercolors, pans, pencils, crayons, peerless, markers… Love all of them!

  31. Carolyn S says:

    The Altenew stamp set is gorgeous! Winning it would certainly save me some $ since I’m sure it will be on my list. My favorite coloring medium is whatever is being used in whatever video I’m watching! Seriously, I am all over the board. Thanks for the chance to win.

  32. clara hanni says:

    My Moms favorite flower every spring was peonies. Love the peony set. As always, BLESSINGS to you for helping us to achieve the “most” when we make cards for others.

  33. Sonia says:

    Love your beautiful cards!!! as always! As for me, I love distress ink.

  34. Great technique. Thanks for sharing.
    I use several mediums when colouring but I suppose that I use my Copics the most with watercolor pencils running a close second. Thanks so much for a chance to win that great stamp set. Cheers.

  35. Heather Innusa says:

    What a nice idea!! Can’t wait to give this technique a try!

    Right now I’m loving watercolor, but Copics are a fave as well!

  36. Karen S. says:

    My go to color medium is pencils. But your videos are so instructive, I am trying to work up enough nerve to invest in copic markers.

  37. Gloira Lee says:

    Wow!
    Negative space coloring is awesome!
    Love your video tutorial and thank you for sharng!

  38. jbatik2000 says:

    My go to medium for coloring has to be anything Distress. I am trying my hand at watercolors. I just can’t seem to get the blending down with Copics. I might just have to take the Online Card Class.

  39. BeverlyBL says:

    This is a really cool look. I like the intense color. Outstanding!

  40. Marcie Lovett says:

    What a great idea! Love the clean look you get. The stamps are beautiful and I would be thrilled to color them with Distress ink.

  41. deb pereira says:

    Fun cards! Great idea. My go to is Distress ink blending for backgrounds and watercolor for stamped images.

  42. Patricia Ladd says:

    My go to medium for coloring is water-color pencils because I don’t have to be good–the water will blend the color. However, the colors I have are not intense and would not create the beautiful blended backgrounds you demonstrated. I have alcohol markers and need to practice more with them. Thank you once again for sharing a new technique for me.

  43. rosalie says:

    I do like this coloring the negative space and you make it look easy to do …after watching your video! Yes please I would like to be a winner! I love all of these floral stamps. I don’t have a Misti but I can dream on and improvise! Thanks for the opportunity to win!

  44. Love coloring with Copics! Would love to win this set!!

  45. Bernice says:

    I love this negative space coloring technique and I will have to try it out. I haven’t been using my copics much lately so this gives me a reason to get them out. Right now my favorite medium is distress but it’s hard to choose just one when there are so many awesome products out there. Thanks for all of your videos, you are awesome!

  46. I don’t actually have a “go to” coloring medium because I am just learning how to color with copics and water color! I love the Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens I bought. They seem to be so easy to use, so maybe those are my “go to” for now. But as I learn, practice, and grow, I am sure my choices will change. Thanks for all your super clever ideas and inspiration. I can honestly say that watching your videos over the past year taught me how to make cards!

  47. Carol MJS says:

    What a wonderfully unique technique, Jennifer! Love this look and will have to give it a try.

  48. Donna Phelan says:

    Fabulous cards…..I love my Copics! 😉

  49. Sue says:

    Fantastic cards. I especially love the new peony stamps. WOW !! Thanks for sharing with us. 😉

  50. Patti says:

    Love your reverse coloring! I love the distress inks, they are so versatile and come in so many colors now!

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