It's always such a pleasant surprise that pigment rich pencils such as Prismacolor retain their color intensity when used on surfaces other than white. We are such creatures of habit when using bright color mediums (most always on white) that it's easy to forget that these pencils work really well on even the super black of our squares.
We are often asked about cards like this that use large images across multiple squares - in fact, when we send these types of cards out to stores as samples we are told that they often 'go missing' from the shelves!
A few tips that will make creating this card super easy. Begin by selecting 4, 1-1/2" black Inchie + Squares. Adhere them to your work surface so they fit tightly together to make a square. Be sure and use a REMOVABLE adhesive. (our favorite is a dry, roller style made by TOMBO).
Ink the stamp, the Striped Outline Poppy from Impress, with white pigment ink. Stamp across all 4 of the black squares. Working one square at a time, pick them up and dredge (see tip below) them through white embossing powder and tap off the excess. Heat set these squares and fit them back together on your work surface.
Using a variety of similar color pencils (we used pinks, fushias, and purply reds) color the flower to your liking. Don't forget to keep your pencils sharp, don't press too hard and remember that you can overlap different colors to create new hues.
When you assemble the card make a point to select card stock and papers that coordinate with the colors that you have used to color the flower. Try making a set of 4 of these, each with a different color solution!
This next card utilizes a completely different technique. Instead of coloring the stamped image, you create a colored 'frame' with coordinating and overlapping color pencil strokes.
Begin by stamping the leaf, Leaf with Veins by Gretchen Ehrsam for Rubbermoon, using a Pear color pigment ink by Fresh Ink on a black 2" Twinchie Square. Dredge the square through clear embossing powder and heat set.
Using at least 3 coordinating Prismacolor pencils (we used artichoke, pale sage, and limepeel) create a frame around the stamped image by repeating and overlapping quick pencil strokes that begin about a 1/4" away from the edge of the stamped image and run off the edge of the square. Continue all around the stamped image changing colors and overlapping until the desired color is reached. This card is finished with one of our most favorite script style sentiments; thanks from Rubber Soul.
Tip: Our tip for handling embossing powder really comes from all of the classes we teach and the desire to figure out a way to make embossing powder easy to use. By putting the embossing powder in disposable plastic wear (we like the small shallow round ones best) we discovered that it's easy to 'dredge the stamped squares' into the powder and tap off the excess without any mess or hassle.
Get your crayons at the ready! It's been a long time coming, but Pencils, Paper, Scissors Collective's circus-themed colouring book has finally arrived! From lions and tigers to acrobats and clowns, the book features 24 pages full of fun and exciting circus images for you or your little ones to attack with their crayons because, let's face it, you're never too old for a little bit of colouring in!
Posted by: mechanical pencil | September 01, 2012 at 10:49 AM