A cheeky little extra!!!

Evening all! I have a cheeky little extra post for you this evening, as it occurred to me a tool I find useful may be just what you need to help you with your colouring!
So what is it I hear you all cry??? well most of us these days have smart phones, and its what I use on a daily basis to photograph my work, as my camera is too much faffing around with, linking cables excreta, and, most of the time! photos are instantly available on my laptop thanks to that mysterious object "The Cloud!  (get to the point...)
So " why is all this waffle gona help me?" I hear you screaming...

 When I have coloured an image I take a photo, then I use the filter function in the edit bit to turn it black and white, this way I can check to see if my shading is correct, and if I need to add any more shade or if I've gone a wee bit over the top... here's an example

 

This is the original photo, and there was something wrong and I couldn't work out what, so...

 

 

 

I used the black and white filter to check, and while most of it was just right, the part by her arm and bust was completely wrong, and consequently I won't be using her on a card, its a great little aid to use and although it might seem time consuming to recolour something I'm not happy with, it means that only my best work gets through. 

 

Give it a go and let me know in the comments how you got on, and have fun with it.

 

Night all,

Happy Colouring

Nicky x

Creating a dark sky background.

Have you ever wanted to give your stamped image a really dark night sky background?
Well if like me you wanted to give it a go, you can find a fabulous tutorial by Dilyana on the Spectrum Noir Blog, and to make it easy for you here's a cheeky little link!!
Here's my version, using the Spectrum Noir markers, the stamp is from new Moonbeam Meadow collection from Crafters Companion, the images are all so cute it was hard to choose, but as I believe in angels it was fitting to use this cutie!

I used Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers as well as my Spectrum Noir pencils!

The colours are:

Background: TB4, TB5, TB6, TB9

Moon: CT2, CT3, OR2, 020, 089

Stars: CT4, OR2, 015 

 

 

Skin: FS3, TN2, 091

Hair: TN3, TN4

Dress: TB1, 073

Wings: BT1, 117

 

I hope you like my take on dark sky, I certainly enjoyed a new challenge, and don't forget that there are lots of tutorials on the SN blog, there's all sorts to get your creative juices going!

 

Thanks for coming by today, Happy Colouring

Nicky x

 

 

Spectrum Noir Tutorial Sillhouette background.

So today is my turn to share a tutorial over at the Spectrum Noir Blog, if you would like to find out how I created this funky little background that YOU can create with your pencils and blending fluid, click on the link here

 

It works perfectly in conjunction with the Die'sire Christmas range, I couldn't resist this beautiful Nativity scene.

 

 

Don't forget that it's not just a technique for Christmas, try using pastel colours and adding a fairy for instance!

 

I love to see what you create with your pencils and today I am in the shop for our Macmillan Coffee Morning, so bring your colouring along and let me see your creations, there is a great raffle and you could also have a go at decorating your own cupcake, I will be on hand to offer any advice you may need (on colouring not decorating the cakes!!!)

 

Thanks for stopping by today,

 

Happy Colouring

 

Nicky x

Fairy sure I love these stamps!

 

Good morning everyone, today I want to share a recent commission card that I made, I had no brief whatsoever, but knew that the last Sara Burrier card that I shared was popular so I chose another of her stunning digi stamps, you can check them all out here.

 

I of course used my gorgeous Spectrum Noir pencils, and thought I would give you quick step by step skin and hair tutorial.

 

 

Firstly I started by putting in the shading, why do it first I hear you ask? because it cuts down blending time later! I used 088.

 

 

Next I used 008, going into the white area a bit more blending over the first pencil as I go along

 

 

Then I went over these with 005, again blending into the second colour and then added 004 as the last skin colour.

 

I then went back in to really deepen the shadows with 109, but was very sparing with it. 

 

 

Then her hair...after colouring her ear (bet you didn't even notice!) I started by going all over with 084, pressing slightly harder in the darker areas.

 

Then onto 088, this acts as a link between hair and skin!

 

Then I used 095 to really darken the shadows, I don't tend to blend hair I think it looks more natural without.

 

 

Then I finished colouring the image in shades of blue and turquoise

 

 

The rest of the colours are:

Dress: 062, 064, 063, 055

Bodice: 050, 052, 055, 063

Wings: 061, 056, 055

Moon: 074, 055

Ribbon: Spectrum Noir Marker IB2

 

I hope you are all loving your pencils as much as I love mine, and remember to practice lots, as you can't improve a blank page!

 

Happy colouring

Nicky x