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. Deepa Lakshman says:

    I love this type of colouring. Thank you for the inspiration.

  2. Shari says:

    Very beautiful cards. Always a joy to watch your videos. Thanks so much for sharing. ???

  3. Teresa Carvalho says:

    I just love distress inks, and I’m trying to learn how to color with copics.

  4. Tracy May says:

    Great cards – very striking. Will have to give this a go – thanks for sharing 🙂

  5. Jennifer T says:

    Love these cards and your videos! Your techniques are always awesome. I have really enjoyed coloring with my Copics…

  6. Isabelle says:

    Very beautiful cards Jennifer, as usual ! I like to color with distress ink, but also with my Fabrico markers blended with water.
    Thanks for sharing.

  7. Tami Elliott says:

    Jennifer,
    My go to coloring medium used to be copic markers, but thanks to your videos with distress inks and masking – I love distress inks!!!!! Thanks for all your great tips, tricks, and easy to follow videos.

  8. MarciaC says:

    Your negative space coloring blows me away, but then you always do!. Thanks for teaching – and inspiring me.

  9. Liza Dehnel says:

    Beautiful cards! I love to color and I’m just getting into Copics!

  10. Nikki says:

    Awesome cards. Great video. My coloring choice is distess inks.

  11. Monica says:

    Love this look! thank you

  12. Jean Marmo says:

    Absolutely love this idea!!!

  13. Ann Frederick says:

    Right now my go to medium is Spectrum Noir alcohol markers. New to them so just learning but loving them.

  14. Pat Robinson says:

    Coloring in the negative space is such a wonderful technique that I would never have thought to do. My “go-to” color medium is Prismacolor pencils, but am practicing with Copics.

  15. Pai Meng says:

    these are bold and stunning! my favorite go to is probably colored pencils still despite trying (and owning) a bunch of other mediums!

  16. Jeanette Lock says:

    I seem to get on best with distress inks. They are so versatile too. I also love blending with Derwent artists coloured pencils.

  17. Dawn Hollis says:

    Beautiful, as always. I enjoy trying as many coloring mediums as possible. I’m leaning towards Copics. They don’t make the paper pill up. Yuck! I hate that!

  18. Karen Page says:

    Great idea… love how these backgrounds came out. I’m picturing all the color combos possible!!! My go for coloring has been Promarkers but I’m really trying to get better with watercolor mediums. I also like the Zig Clean Color, but I prefer it on Bristol paper so I need to know I plan on using them before I stamp on some other paper. But I guess that’s true for alcohol markers too. Shame there’s not an all purpose, watercolor, alcohol marker, whatever paper!

  19. Misti O. says:

    Fabulous cards! My go to coloring medium is copics.

  20. bev p says:

    It’s still colored pencils or markers scribbled on some packaging and picked up with a wet brush for cards. BUT!!! I did just launch myself into alcohol markers in my coloring book! I resisted for a long time, but finally took the plunge. I haven’t used them on cards…yet! Love the new Altenew release, their botanicals are all amazing. Thanks so much.

  21. Jill A says:

    WOW great technique—I love my distress inks!!!!!

  22. Marlyn Rojas says:

    Great video and technique! Right now my go-to color medium is Prismacolor pencils.

  23. KitA says:

    I love this technique. I tend to go to my copics for most of my coloring although I have been using distress inks a lot in the past week.

  24. Phyllis Freese says:

    Beautiful cards. Negative space coloring really makes the image pop! I’m most familiar with colored pencils, but am branching out with Copic markers and watercoloring, thanks to On-line Card Classes.

  25. Charlene says:

    Tombox markers!

  26. tyoocat says:

    I love to color using colored pencils! Thanks for the great tip!

  27. Valerie says:

    I have tried many different coloring mediums, but realized that I don’t have a go to except for Distress Inks for backgrounds. I think I’m more likely to use die cuts from colored cardstock than to color. Love your negative coloring idea though.

  28. conil says:

    This is a really striking technique. Have to put it on my to do list..

  29. Debbi Vasel says:

    This is a really interesting concept. I guess I should start thinking outside the box. I love coloring with my Spectrum Noir pens and my Zig water color pens.

  30. Sofia Almeida says:

    Hello! I usually color with Distress inks. Beautiful cards and great technique!
    Thanks for sharing and the chance to win. Kisses S

  31. Sandra Scott says:

    my coloring go to is my copics not that I am that good at them. But I try. Love the online card classes.

  32. Love Kathy’s wonderful 30 day Color Challenge and I am so happy you are part of it! I have never thought of coloring this way..but NOW I will! Thanks Jennifer!!

  33. Daria says:

    I love the clean, vibrant look of these cards. Thank you for the tutorial.

  34. sharon L says:

    This peony stamp set is beautiful. I thank you for the great tutorial. It brings back memories of the late 60s and early 70s. I will be trying out this technique soon. Thanks!

  35. Mary schmidt says:

    I like using Distress Inks for blending backgrounds.

  36. barbara lassiter says:

    I love coloring with watercolors and this is followed closely with using distress inks. I just love colors period……let me have something to color and I’m happy. I’m still into watercolors after taking the watercolor intermediate techniques class. Great class BTW!

  37. Gwen says:

    What a great technique! Can’t wait t give this a try!

  38. karenajo says:

    These are beautiful Jennifer !!! Love the negative space idea and the flowers are lovely. The postage stamp die cuts really add a nice effect !!

  39. Gemma says:

    Some a fun technique!
    I have been enjoying the zig real brush pens recently but my go to is probably distress inks as they are so versatile

  40. Mary W says:

    Love this! I love Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens.

  41. Nancy Wilcox says:

    The negative space coloring is beautiful and gives a nice fresh look to the cards.

  42. Shirley says:

    GREAT video! Love all your colorful beautiful cards. Awesome technique.

  43. Bobbie Bluegill says:

    WOW. Love the negative “painting” and the postage stamp look. Your videos are just the best. You get so information into them in such a short time space. I like my Tombow brush markers for most coloring. For blending, like your samples today, I’d grab my distress ink pads and round sponge blenders.

  44. Claire says:

    Love the negative space idea, such a simple technique for lots of impact. Copics are my favourite go-to colouring, I love the smooth look.

  45. Marty H says:

    Watercolors are my favorite. I love this technique–such an easy way to add color!

  46. Geri S. says:

    Love the new Altenew sets! and I try to “go to” Copics but still feel I have so much to learn before I can make cards like you, Jennifer! TFS

  47. Janet Sisk says:

    I have to say that my go-to coloring medium is alcohol-based markers (Copics, ShinHan, Spectrum Noir, etc). I just love the blendability of them. Thanks for a chance to win! 😀

  48. Rob Keogh says:

    Great technique thanks Jennifer. My very favourite colouring medium is definitely my Zig True Colour Real Brush Markers. I just love the soft watercolour techniques that I can do with them. Loving those Altenew stamps too. Thanks for the chance to win.

  49. Michele says:

    Thanks for the video. I like to use zig for watercolor.

  50. Malina says:

    I have just recently started in card making and have been experimenting with water-coloring and Copics. I would have to say that so far Copic coloring is my favorite, probably because I love to color and it brings me back to the days I use to color in my coloring book with my big 96 box of crayons!
    Thanks for the opportunity to win!! Good luck everyone 🙂

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