Hi friends,
One thing I love about Unity stamps is the detail in those red rubber beauties! So much detail, in fact, that you don’t need to add much to it for a gorgeous card! Today I want to share two easy ways to add color to your cards using the October Kit of the Month and Background of the Month! Let’s start with the October Kit of the Month, called Change in Direction.
This kit is AMAZING with so many elements included. You won’t know what to choose first! But I guarantee you will have plenty of choices to make a ton of cards!
Getting back to my card, the first step was to stamp the pumpkins and flowers (my fave from the kit) using permanent black ink. I use that type of ink when I plan to use alcohol markers because it doesn’t bleed. Next, I decided on my color panel.
TIP 1: Limit your color choices to no more than 3.
I chose blues, yellows / browns, and a touch of purple. This helped me to minimize the number of markers needed to color my design. Try to stay either in the cool or warm color families. I used a color mood board to help me choose my colors. Color mood boards generally have no more than 3 color hues that are already coordinated for you, so it’s a great place to get color inspiration!
TIP 2: Refer to a color mood board for color inspiration
I started my coloring with the main focal point, the pumpkins. I wanted them to be blue! Starting with the focal point allowed me to add quite a bit of detail, which helps the focal point to stand out. For the remaining piece in the design, I tend to keep it simple and not add as much detail into the coloring. Those items need to compliment the focal point, not compete with it.
TIP 3: Start coloring with your main focal point
Once I finished coloring the pumpkins, I moved onto the remaining pieces surrounding it. That’s where the remaining colors in yellow / brown and purple came in to play. I only used 2 – 3 markers in each color family. This helps with good blending and prevents bleeding outside of the lines.
TIP 4: Limit the markers in each color family to no more than 3
Once I was finished coloring, I decided what accents I wanted to use to pull my design together.
TIP 5: Save room for a background that accents your focal point
I decided to ground the pumpkins by adding brown beneath them with my markers, so that it looks like they are sitting in dirt. Then I added gold splatters all over the card panel to reduce the amount of white space. I also added brown around the sentiment and adhered that over the finished piece.
Next up is the Background of the Month, called Santa Express. Here I applied the same tips as above, but in a different way. I hope that you will see the variety of ways to use alcohol markers to add color to your project!
This is such a fun mixed media style background, and I wanted my coloring to be a bit more playful than with my first card. I used a color mood board to help me choose some autumn colors for this project. Even though this is a Christmas stamp, I like to get playful with my colors! Don’t limit yourself!
After stamping my background in permanent black ink, I applied 2 blue markers in 3 spots on the card panel. Then I applied orange in 3 spots, and then finished with yellow in 3 spots. Then i went over the background with the lightest shade of yellow (it’s almost a beige color) to accent and complete the look. I kept the coloring light and splotchy because I thought it matched the design of the background beautifully! What do you think?
I’m so glad you joined me today and I hope that find fun and easy ways to use your markers to add color to Unity’s gorgeous and detailed stamps!
