Wishes and Dreams - Copic Coloring Tutorial and Blog Hop!

Okay all you coloring fanatics out there (and I know who you are...), I have a GREAT new stamp set to show you tonight!  The amazingly talented Alicia Krupsky (daughter of the equally talented Gina Krupsky) is the artist behind this month's Card Kit Club Exclusive Set over at GinaK. Designs. 

Alicia created a rockin' set called Wishes and Dreams that is filled with fun Manga-style illustrations and dreamy coordinating sentiments.  This month only, every purchase of the Wishes and Dreams stamp set includes the new Card Kit that Jessica has designed specifically for this set!  That's right - every purchase! Included in the kit will be the written instructions and cut card stock needed to make 3 cards along with the stamp set. All this will be available for $23.95. This is a limited time offer though - after January, the stamp set will be sold alone.  Take a peek HERE to see the adorable cards that Jessica made with this month's kit! 

To help showcase this set, I've created mini-tutorial showing how I colored this little lovely.  I know many people are intimidated by images that need to be colored, but these adorable little gals almost color themselves!  

I always like to start with the skin.  (I don't have a reason... I just like to.)  Here I used E000 and E00.  I wanted to follow the true Manga style, so I didn't blend it out too much.

I then moved onto the hair.  I wanted a nice dark, blue-black final color, so I started by coloring strokes of C3 and C5.  Notice that I left the center lighter.  This will end up being where the highlights in her hair are. 

I then added some strokes of C7.

And some C9.  Notice that as I go darker, I add fewer strokes of color.  I also haven't blended it at all at this point.

And then since I wanted that dark "bluish-black" look, I added a few strokes of B99.  It's a super dark blue - so use it sparingly. (I've actually added in a bit too much, but I still like the results.)  At this point you can leave it all in strokes or you can blend it together just a bit with the C1 or C3.  Just don't over blend... you want to keep the stroke marks visible for this style.

Then I colored in the wings... I wanted them very light, thin, and almost skin like... so I used very light yellows with a touch of pink. 

Next I've colored the eyes.  Since I'm a blue-eyed gal... most of my images have blue eyes too.  LOL  Here I've done things in the opposite order than I normally color.  (It's a small space and I don't want to use too much ink and chance it bleeding out.)  I added a dot of the B99 to the top of the eyes, then added a dot of the B24 just under that, and then blended them out with the B21.  This gives the illusion that she is looking up a bit.

For the clothing I kept it simple.  I wanted her to be wearing an all pink outfit (gotta coordinate you know)... so I started color blocking all of the clothes in R81 and then adding a touch of shading with the R83.  (I am adding the darker colors to the clothing with a feathering motion.)

I then added more shading with R85.

And then added the darkest color R89 and blended it all together.

And here she is... all colored in and ready to give you warm Birthday Wishes. 

I can't wait to ink up and color the rest of the images from this set...  I know all the rest of you coloring crazed folks out there are going to LOVE it just as much as I do.

For even more inspiration with our new stamp sets being previewed tonight, check out these GinaK Designers' links:

• Nina Brackett {Illustrator of Heartily Yours}
• Gina Krupsky {Illustrator of Love Notes}
• Jessica Fick
• Theresa Momber
• Melanie Muenchinger
• Carolyn King
• Cathy Tidwell
• Lee Murphy
• Donna Baker
• Lynn Mercurio
• Erika Martin
• Emily Giovanni
• Tami Mayberry
• Bev Gerard
• Colleen Schaan
• Valerie Stangle
• Jen Charboneau 
• Suzanne Dean

Thank you all for stopping by and visiting tonight! 

Colleen

Card Details
Stamps - Gina K. Designs (Wishes and Dreams)
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper - Gina K. Designs (Luxury White 80#, sweet corn, black onyx, and wine with everything )
Coloring Medium - Copic Markers (see tutorial)
Other - Luxury Ribbon