Something new for me..Greyscale Coloring...

I like the adult coloring books but this is the first time I've tried a "greyscale" coloring book. It's not what you think of when you think of a coloring book... it has some of the shading done for you in grey scale. You then color the image but let me tell you it's not as easy as it sounds. Yes, the basic shading is done for you but just coloring won't get you a good look. You have to rethink how you color. I still use several colors for each area but work it a bit differently than you would if you're straight up shading. The grey changes the colors you're using... it's fun and challenging. I really enjoyed this.

The coloring book is Enchanted Magical Forests by Selina Fenech. I bought several from her because I like the realistic looking style of them. I also have mermaids and another I can't remember right now. They are pretty fun and I can't wait to color more.

I used Arteza colored pencils with baby oil to blend and finish it off.

Stamp A Coloring Book!

Did you realize that last Wednesday was National Coloring Book Day?  Well it was and with the recent up-tick in coloring book interest I thought it would be fun to stamp my very own coloring book so that's just what I did!

Wish You a Magical Day 

(and a unicorn)

Coloring Book

I started off my making a set of rainbow pages using both Memento and VersaColor (chalk) Inks.  Then I stamped all sorts of unicorns - some in scenes others all over the pages, etc.  

I bound them together using my zutter.

And I now have a fun unicorn themed coloring book that fits into my purse.

And I can color away just about anywhere!

How's that for fun?

Supplies:

Imagine

• Memento Inkpad – Lady Bug, Tangelo, Dandelion, Ivy Cottage, Teal Zeal, Bahama Blue, Lilac Posies, Grape Jelly, Danube Blue
• VersaFine Inkpad – Onyx Black
• VersaMagic Inkpad – Pixie Dust, Pink Petunia, Pink Grapefruit, Mango, Key Lime, Oasis Green, Sea Breeze, Ocean Depth, Spring Pansy, Pretty Petunia
• Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – Danube Blue, Lilac Posies
• irRESISTible Texture Spray – Danube Blue
• Sponge Dauber

Other

• Cardstock
• Avery Elle – Be a Unicorn stamp set
• CC Designs – Unicorn Dreams stamp set
• Lawn Fawn – Winter Unicorn
• Hero Arts – Unicorn DC208; Unicorn F6231
• Joy Claire – Doodle Flowers
• Just For Fun Rubber Stamps – Cupcake, Water Globe
• Pinkfresh Studio – Unicorn Dreams
• Technique Tuesday – Say It Happy
• Unity – Butterfly
• Spellbinders – Label Die
• Zutter – Binder, Owire (or any book binding kit available)
• Chipboard
• Masking Pape

Coloring & Drawing with Grandma

A couple weeks ago my grandma (93) fell and broke her hip...she's been in the hospital then nursing home ever since.  She has had to give up lots of her favorite crafts over the years ~ painting, crochet, knitting due to poor eyesight and arthritis.  She mentioned that she was so bored at the nursing home because she really can't do much of anything. They have a tv but seriously, how much tv can one person watch...specially with the crappy programing on lately.

She has always been into art - she's the one that originally got me interested in it so I thought it would be fun to take her a few goodies that hopefully she would get some enjoyment out of.  The first is a notebook/journal that I made....

I used some of the Club Scrap Boardwalk kit because it was bright and cheery.  

I stamped her name on the front just in case it was shuffled around.

Inside is blank drawing papers....

I thought she could draw, write down notes or whatever inside.

This is the inside of the back cover - using up scraps.

I told her the other day that I was going to color with her when I came back - I explained about adult coloring books but I think she thought I was kidding.  So, I am also going to take her this coloring book I bought by ColorIt.com.   I originally saw it advertised on FB so I went ahead and bought one to try.  I got the wild animals edition which was $16.00.

I have to say I was very pleased with it.  The pages are 8.5x11 (plus the binding) and printed single sided on heavy cardstock.  The front and back covers are both heavy chipboard - almost book board weight and it is spiral bound.  This is very nice because once open the front and back covers make a great sturdy foundation to color on even if you're not at a table.

The above photos are a  just a couple examples of what the pages look like.  They are nice big images that have heavy black outlines great for young and old alike.  This is such a nice coloring book I think I may have to buy another for myself.

I am also taking a small cigar box that I made dividers in for colored pencils, drawing pencils and pencil sharpener and eraser.  At first I just tossed them in the box but I couldn't stand it so I made the little divider out of cardstock.

What do you think?  I'm going to take it to her today or Wednesday (whichever works out)....I sure hope she likes it and that it helps pass the time.  She's always been very active so this is hard on her.

Use those Colored Pages!!

Ya know some people have asked besides coloring adult coloring book pages what do you do with them....  This past weekend I shared a couple of fun ideas on how to jazz them up using Imagine Crafts products.  Well today I have a few other fun ideas.

First off you can turn your coloring book pages into works of art!

Once I finished this coloring book page I mounted it on a black canvas.  The black background really makes the flower pop and IRL the translucent quality of the StazOn Studio Glaze adds texture, depth and dimension to the picture as well.

Here's how it was created...

First off I removed the page from the coloring book (Lesiure Arts) then I began adding my color.  I started off by painting a thin layer of Cactus Green Studio Glaze over the flower center.  It dried almost immediately which is so nice for people like me (I can't stand dry times - LOL!)  Then I went back in with more green and Gold Studio Glaze and added lots of dots for texture.

I then painted the petals of the flowers again using Studio Glaze....

From there I outlined the flower with Jet Black and Blue Hawaii Studio Glazes.  I "pulled" the colors away from the flower with a wet paint brush and watercolored the background using the glaze.  It mixes wonderfully with water and creates an amazing look once it dries....

After the page had dried, I trimmed off the excess paper and applied a layer of book binding glue (dries very flat) to the back of the page then adhered it to a pre-painted black canvas.

So easy yet it produces striking results!

It's also fun to share your coloring pages with friends and family by incorporating them into cards as I did here!  Of course colored pages are great but why not spice them up a bit!

I colored this page with a combination of various colored pencils.  Yes, it took me quite a while but it was so much fun!  And well, it was very "Spring-y" as well which helps combat Mother Natures mean streak (we had snow over the weekend and more to come!!!).  

But it's also fun to kick things up a notch by embellishing with some Imagine Crafts products - Here I have used Radiant Neon Electric Yellow Amplify.  It's a fun medium that puffs when heat activated.  It was added to the centers of all of the pink & white flowers.

I then used White (Wedding Dress) irRESISTible Pico Embellisher to the centers of the red berries and Clear Pico was applied to accent circles in the background which I sprinkled with fine glitter.  Once the Pico had dried I shook off the excess glitter and my page was ready to adorn several cards!

There are just so many fun ways to incorporate non-traditional mediums into your coloring book pages to make them not only a great way to relax but also a fun way to share art with the world!  I hope you take a moment every so often to enjoy coloring just for fun!

Supplies:

Leisure Arts - Coloring Book Pages

Imagine Crafts - StazOn Studio Glaze; irRESISTible Pico Embellisher; Radiant Neon Amplify! medium

Other - glitter, colored pencils

Coloring Book Fun!

Today over on the Imagine Crafts blog I have a post up on how to use Imagine Crafts products to create a fun card. To see how I made this card please check out the post - 

Adult Coloring Books + Imagine Crafts = FUN!

I also have a few other fun projects made by pairing the two that I'll be sharing over the coming days.  Today in addition to the card I wanted to share a fun page I colored in my Sea Life coloring book by using Memento Dye Inks and Ink Potion No.9 to create watercolor paints!

Start off by adding a drop or so of the desired colors of inker plus a drop or two of Ink Potion No.9.

Mix 'em up and you're ready to start painting.

I painted this page using Memento Danbue Blue, Lady Bug, Dandelion, Tangelo and Grape Jelly Inkers.

Once your page has dried, you can go back in with Memento Dual Tip Markers to add highlights and shading to really bring your image to life.

For an added little pop of color and dimension I used Electric Blue irRESISTible Radiant Neon Pico Embellisher to color in the dots on the page.

And here's how it turned out...

You might be thinking that watercoloring in some of these coloring books won't work.  Not so...Since this is actually a bound book the book closes nicely which will help flatten out the wrinkled pages.  

Here's another page I created using a variety of blue and green Memento inkers plus the Ink Potion.  You can create a wide range of color from a single color of dye inker by varying the ratio of Ink to Ink Potion No.9.   The pink shells were painted with Angel Pink inker then a top coat of Silver Delicata was added over top to give it a shimmery quality.

I'll be back soon with more fun ideas for creating with Coloring Books and Imagine Crafts.

Supplies:

Imagine Crafts:

Memento Inkers; Ink Potion No.9; Memento Dual Tip Markers; irResistible Radiant Neon Pico Embellisher; Silver Delicata

Skyhorse Publishing - Sea Life Coloring Book

Easter Printable Coloring Pages!

Check it out...

Fun Easter Printable Coloring Pages!

Love the bunnies and the page full of Easter Eggs!

Have fun!!

Coloring Book Fun!

Have you tried your hand at coloring?  I tell you I am so excited about all of these fun new adult coloring books popping up everywhere.  It's so relaxing to sit down and just color for the fun of it.  It also helps hone those skills for card making.

Today I wanted to share a few pages I've colored recently...

From Natural Wonders Color Art - Leisure Arts

I colored this page with a combination of colored pencils, Inktense watercolor pencils and Koi watercolors.

Natural Wonders Color Art - Leisure Arts

This one was colored using Prismacolor Pencils and filled in with black marker.  The pattern was VERY busy in the background (see below) which I didn't like so I just colored the things I liked and blacked out the rest.  You can tell my marker was stronger at the top and was running out of juice at the bottom.  I need to get a new one or switch to black acrylic paint maybe.

I just don't get all the little lines in the background on some pages...I don't like them so I make them disappear - LOL!!

Sea Live - Skyhorse Publishing

This is all Prismacolor pencils - I also used a blender pencil for many areas which makes a world of difference!

Living Wonders - Leisure Arts

I had SOOOO much fun with this one...  Initially, I started out with the brown owl in the center. I colored him using a combo of my Inktense and Staedtler watercolor pencils. Then I was stumped...I didn't have that many colors of brown watercolor pencils so I just left it set for a week or so.  I went back to it and decided that I can make the owls any ol' color I wanted and went wild!  I used a combination of my watercolor pencils, Prismacolor & Spectrum Noir colored pencils.

I'll be back tomorrow with some tips on coloring these fun pages that I've discovered since I started playing with these fun books.