Coloring With Copics: Sepia Tones!

Hello everyone!  I'm Ally... your hostess for today's Inspire Me Monday tutorial!  Today I'm going to share with you a quick an easy way to colour your images.

Not everything you colour has to actually use colour!  Why not try a black and white image or try a Sepia toned image.  Let's find out how to colour your stamped images using simple Sepia tones...

Start off by stamping your image using some Memento ink (the ink I always use with my Copic marker projects) onto some smooth cardstock.  I chose a light cream coloured cardstock for my super cute "Play Ball!" stamped image.

I began by colouring almost all of my image in using Copic E50 - "Egg Shell".  I left the highlights of my objects uncoloured.

Next I took Copic E51 - "Milky White" and added even more colour to my image, once again leaving the highlights of the pieces of equipment uncoloured.

Next I applied some Copic E53 - "Raw Silk" to my image.  I paid extra attention to the shadows on the base, below the bats and the glove this time.

Taking the next deepest Sepia tone, Copic E55 - "Light Camel", I added even more colour to the shadows of the mitt, ball, base and bats.

I grabbed Copic E57 - "Light Walnut" and applied even more rich colour to my shaded areas.  I added it below the ball, below the mitt and in the shadows of the bats, darken my shadows once again.

And to further deepen the shadows of the each piece of equipment, I applied Copic E59 - "Walnut".

I carefully went back over my stamped image and deepened the shadows of my bats and the fingers on my mitt using the E53 and E55 again.  I wanted to make my highlights smaller and this also allowed me to blend my deep dark areas back into the lighter areas as well to get a smoother transition of light.

I fussy cut out my image and applied a light coat of E53 to all of the stark "white" edges of my paper.

Here's my final card creation.  I chose to use some fun Sepia toned patterned papers with a fun splash of red plaid!

And don't forget about the inside....

I hope you too will take a turn at colouring your next stamped image using Sepia tones!

Happy stamping and colouring!

~  Allison Cope ~

Swoon over our release day Power Poppy Hop!

Hello and Happy June,

Thank you so much to all of you for joining us during this week’s tantalizing teases from Power Poppy’s Swing into Summer stamp release. All sets in this collection are clear photopolymer — although you can still get your hands on our digital flower stamps, if that’s your cuppa tea. :)

But folks, today you have GOT to see what the Bloom Brigade has created for today’s Power Poppy Hop, using all of the sets from this release: Lavender, Play Ball!, Sassy Succulents, and Dynamic Duos: Peonies & Tulips.

 

Every time I think they couldn’t possibly make anything MORE creative or clever or downright, jaw-droppingly AMAZING than what they’ve already done, they go and do it again. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE??? It is not for me to ask, I simply am grateful, and in awe that we all get to share in their creative gifts. GO SEE!

Allison Cope
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Danielle Kennedy
Dawn Burnworth
Julie Koerber
Kathy Jones
Katie Sims
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan
Tosha Leyendekker

Today all of our new sets are available for purchase at powerpoppy.com. Thank you so very much for your continued support of Power Poppy - and do take a moment to follow all of our boards on Pinterest to feel the full force of the Bloom Brigade — then take that spark and create your OWN magic! Have a great day!

Swing into summer with Play Ball!

Hey there! Welcome back to another day of FULL-ON AWESOMENESS. 

Exaggeration? Not if you’re Finn Hawley, age 8, baseball player and superfan. When he found out I was doing a stamp set with a baseball theme, iterations of the word “awesome” were flying at me like balls hit off the bat of Stan Musial.

Finn loves baseball. He loves playing, he loves watching, he loves stats, he loves players, and quite simply, he loves The Game. This snapshot of Finn playing third base was taken last year, when the Red Hot Fireballs (don’t you dig those smokin’ hot red jerseys and caps?) were in the midst of a local rec league game.

 

I’m a born and bred St. Louis Cardinals fan, and the same goes for my family (I mean, what’s not to love? GO CARDS! Woooooo!!!). Finn’s dad’s side of the family—ESPECIALLY his dear Grandma Mary—are crazy for the Chicago Cubs. I don’t know if you follow the majors, but the Cubs and Cards have one of the biggest rivalries in baseball. Usually it’s a good-natured ribbing, but man, the fans can get a bit, well, colorful in their support or disdain for their chosen team. My kiddos are big supporters of BOTH teams, and often can be found wearing Cubs and Cards gear at the same time. A recent example, we went to the first Cubs-Cards match-up this season (pic below). Finn is wearing a retro-style Stan Musial (“Stan the Man”) jersey that I sewed for him (with a red Yadier Molina Cards t-shirt underneath!), paired with a bright blue Cubs ball cap. When asked by folks sitting near us how he could be a fan of BOTH teams, he said with confidence, “I really just love the game.”

That kid. Don’t you want to hug him?

So, I’ve designed a set in honor of this beloved game and my snuggable little baseball fan: Play Ball!

 

My set is a bit different from other sporty sets, as I’ve chosen to celebrate the vintage look and feel of baseball: the old felt pennants with exuberant one-of-a-kind lettering, the well-worn woodgrain and colorful stripes on the old bats, the trusty ball cap (which can be personalized with your team colors, how do you like them apples?)—it’s the little details that make something feel special, and I hope you and the sports fans in your life will think this one’s a big hit! 

I know some folks who have decidedly smashed this one out of the park—the Bloom Brigade! Hope you’ll go run ’round the bases to see what they’ve created with Play Ball!

Allison Cope
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Danielle Kennedy
Dawn Burnworth
Julie Koerber
Kathy Jones
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan
Tosha Leyendekker

Thank you so much for coming by... and please pop back in tomorrow, as I have something sassy to share for our next set sneak!