Tokyo Girl Card

Not exactly a Tilda on this card, she is called Tokyo Girl by Karen which can be bought as a digital stamp from Dewdrop Craftz.  I've had this image a while and thought it would be great to try out different colouring techniques with the Pro markers, its quite a complex image with  lots of folds and tucks in the fabric.  I was more interested in the image and the colouring than the actual card itself, hence the card is quite basic no prizes here for being adventurous. I've applied gold glitter to the pocket, buttons, and general bling.  I will enter this card into Stamp Something Digital and Fussy and Fancy challenge.

Colouring Tip

I created the deep shading on the jacket by applying a layer of Lush green to the shadow areas followed by a layer of Maroon applying as many layers till I was happy with the end result.  You could also use greys, but I find these tend to dull the main colour, the Lush green enriched the maroon shading. I only used one colour on the scarf which was Moss Green, applying layers of the same colour to create the shading for the folds etc.  By mixing complimentary colours IE: green and red you will automatically create a grey which is great for shaded area's.  Have fun be experimental.

This is my entry into the following Challenges

Fussy and Fancy Challenge - Stitches, Scallop and Sparkle

Stamp Something - Any Digital

Tilda and Edwin Town Buildings

I've been looking for ages to buy Edwin Town Houses and a few days ago I found them, along with this delightful Tilda, I just love em, my favourites to date.  I really like the sketch on the CLP challenge blog, it looks quite complex but I found it quite easy to do.  In fact most of the card is made up from  left over scraps from other projects, which is great, as bits of pattern paper drive me to distraction and I usually end up throwing them away when I do a big tidy.  I wanted to do a bit of distressing on this layout so I will enter the same card into the I love Promarkers challenge.
Tilda is coloured with promarkers as are the town houses and the tulips. I've also applied various coloured fine glitters to the hat, edges of the parasol and the skirt. Apart from the Magnolia tulips there are no added flower embellishments, which is a nice change, sometimes flowers, although nice are an unnecessary distraction.

This is my entry into the following challenges

I love Promarkers challenge #22 Distressing

CLP July Sketch Challenge #27

Colouring Tip

I do have another tip for colouring, this tip is suitable for Promarkers also colour pencils.  Although I love working with promarkers I'm not happy with their range of reds.  If I want to darken or enrich a dark red I overlay my reds with a Magenta type colour or Maroon, this not only darkens the reds but gives a  richer colour which you won't get by adding red to red.  I use this technique with colour pencils, the example of  tulip on parchment demonstrates the richness of the red by adding Magenta.

I've used Berry red and overlapped the red with Maroon

This tulip is worked with colour pencils on parchment, I achieved the rich dark red by layering magenta over a red.  Experiment darkening reds without using another dark red.  have fun be experimental. 

Criss - Cross Card

I've had so much fun making this cross over card, flowers, flowers, and more flowers.  I'd seen a really nice tutorial for making cross over cards on Whiff of Joys blog and had been waiting for a good excuse to have go at making one, so I was pleased as punch to see that Just Magnolia had cross over cards for their monthly challenge.
As this card has a look of summer with the flowers and colours I thought I might also enter into this month Sir Stampalot challenge.
Apart from the Cross over card there are no other special techniques used.  I've coloured Tilda with Pro markers and added glitter to the hair ribbon and skirt edge.  Ribbon, flowers,and bead pin are used for the embellishments, oh yes and little hearts decorate the centre of the flowers

Tips and advice on colouring

On my previous post I added a little know how on how to get the best out of colouring.  I've seen so many tutorials on colouring that I've come to the conclusion that someone See's a technique and then follows with their own tutorial, a bit like Chinese whispers, I have noticed there is a lack of knowledge on the best use of colour.  I'm fortunate as my mother was a fine artist and  I picked up most of my knowledge from her, this does not mean I can apply colour well, but I understand the principles even if I don't always apply them well.  sadly she now has dementia and no longer paints,  I would like to make the suggestion that for anyone wanting to give their colouring a bit of zing check out good artist tutorial sites, I'm not asking anyone to paint a landscape just check out their colour combinations and be experimental.  It's fun.

This is my entry into the following challenges

Just Magnolia special monthly challenge - Criss-Cross Card

Sir Stampalot July Challenge

Chocolate Tilda Challenge #1

Well Chocolate Tilda was definitely a challenge as I don't have many brown papers or embellishments  but I couldn't resist the challenge and it was a good excuse to get the paint brush and paints out.
Tilda has been watercolour painted with Derwent Inktense pencils and although it is not clear on the photograph I've glittered her shirt and tips of the socks.
This is my entry for the new Totally Tilda challenge blog - Chocolate Tilda Challenge #1

Colouring Tip

Thought I would add a helpful tip for colouring.  Observation is the key to good colouring, we all know grass is green,  leaves are green or are they? Next time you're in the garden have a really good look at the trees I mean really look and see how many colours you actually see, also notice the colour of tree trunks, they are actually any colour except brown.  Don't be afraid to experiment with colour, try adding a touch of pale blue to leaves or a spot of red,  a touch of moss green to tree trunks works a treat or be adventurous and try a light purple with a hint of moss green to colour a tree trunk.  I just so love impressionist paintings although I've never been able to paint that way, they painted what they saw and not what they perceived to be there.