Coloring with Markers

Coloring my images is not my strongest point and especially coloring with markers. I love my SU! markers because all the colors match the paper which matches the brads, which matches the ribbon, etc, etc. You get the idea. But I've always had problems with coloring with markers because I get those yucky marker lines. Well, I found a great tutorial on Split Coast Stampers recently that showed how to color with markers and blender pens. For my first try, I don't think I did too bad.

I've thought about trying the Copic markers and actually bought a couple but I really couldn't see spending all that money for more markers when I already the whole line of SU! markers. This tutorial from Split Coast is good. I like it because it has both the instructions written out and a video. I'll tell you some direcions for it but for a more through tutorial, go to Split Coast Stampers and search for Marker Layering.

Materials needed:
Patterned paper, I used a piece from Twitterpated which is retired 4 x 5 1/4"
Gumball Green cardstock 4 1/4 x 5 1/2"
White cardstock or white watercolor paper
Fabulous Florets (#123027)3/8"
Striped Organdy ribbon, Melon Mambo (#129293)
Pink Pirouette marker
Regal Rose marker
Melon Mambo marker
Basic Gray marker
Black Staz On ink pad
Gumball Green ink
Melon Mambo ink
Aqua Painter (#103954) or Blender Pens (#102845)
Spong Dauber (#102892)
Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)

1. Stamp your outline images on white cardstock or watercolor paper with black Staz On ink. The watercolor paper will do a better job but cardstock will work.
2. Start with your lightest color marker, Pink Pirouette, and begin coloring your petals. Work with one petal at a time. Use the blender pen or aqua painter to spread the color over the entire petal. Remember, you can always add more color but once the color is there, you can't take it away. Start the petal near the center of the flower and work outward.
3. Next add color to the same petal with the next lightest color, Regal Rose. Don't cover the entire petal but start with a small amount near the flower center. Use the blender pen to make small circles and blend in the marker lines on the petal. Add your final color closest to the center of the flower. Again, use your blender pen to work the color in with the other colors so that the color is lighter at the outer edge of the petals and darker toward the center of the petal.
4. Go to the next petal and repeat the same process. Working one petal at a time, complete all the petals on the flower. Use the Basic Gray marker to outline the petals. This will help them to pop a bit more.
5. Cut out the petals and lay them aside for a bit.
6. On the green patterned paper, stamp 5 of the long stemmed leaves in Gumball Green ink.
7. Wrap the ribbon around the bottom of the piece and tie a bow. Adhere with your adhesive to the paper.
8. Use Stampin' Dimensionals on the backs of two of the flowers that you've colored. Place them on the leaves stamped. The third flower can be place flat with adhesive.
9. Stamp the saying from the set on white cardstock in Melon Mambo ink. Cut around the saying. Use a sponge dauber to add Gumball Green to the edges of the saying. Adhere it to the top right corner of the patterned paper.
10. Adhere this to the larger green cardstock. Place the card front on to a card base and add your greeting or note to the inside.

Hope you had fun coloring with your markers today. If you don't like how they came out, try again. Michangelo probably didn't like his first try either!