Sweeten with Gratitude

Hello everyone!! It's time for my inspiration post at Inspired By Stamping. For this month, I decided to use one of the freebies from the Inspired By Stamping newsletter.

Warning: This is a picture heavy post!!

I took a printout of the card front freebie from Inspired By Stamping and trimmed it to 4.25" x 5.5". I colored the image with Copics. I'm sharing a few tips on how I colored the lemons and the leaves.

For the lemons, I used the colors Y38, Y35, YR31. In this picture, I've marked the areas where I think the lightest color and the darkest color will be. Hope this will help in understanding.

For the leaves, I used my usual set of markers - G99, YG67, YG63, YG61 and YG03.

For the leaves, I start by drawing the veins with the lightest color. I like the veins to be in the lightest color. So I use YG61 to draw the veins on the leaves.

The vein divides the leaf into small segments. Next, I take the darkest color (G99 in my case) and kind of outline the segments (except the outer side of the leaf) leaving the veins. I hope this picture makes it clear and easy to understand.

Then I take the second darkest color (YG67 in my case) and extend the coloring done with my darkest color (G99) and blending it out. The veins still remain in the lightest color.

Then I take my next color (YG63 in my case) and extend and blend the coloring in each segment of the leaf. I use this color to fill any space left out in each segment.

Now, I take my lightest (YG61 in this case) and go over the entire leaf, trying to create a blended look with the veins. Notice the difference in the veins, between the previous and the next pic

I like to add a coat of YG03 over the entire leaf as it gives a more yellowish green look the YG 60's. This also allows the veins to blend in a little bit more.

Here's the fully colored image. This may not be very realistic or the perfect blending. I have a limited collection of copics and used the colors I had. I'm trying different looks for leaves and seem to like this better so far (with the veins in lighter color than the rest of the leaf). It's really up to you.

I trimmed the panel to 4" x 5.5". I colored a thin strip of white cardstock with Y38 and adhered it on the left of the top folding A2 card base. I also adhered a thin strip of black cardstock next to it.

I added a few drops of Tonic Nuvo drops in color English Mustard around the sentiment.

Here's another look at the finished card.

How do you like this card? In case you have not subscribed to the Inspired By Stamping newsletter, I would highly recommend you to do so by clicking here and click on NEWSLETTER. Joanna sends out a newsletter every other week and each week there's a gorgeous freebie to color. The download link expires after 4 weeks. Also, Joanna has offered a 15% off coupon, which can be used multiple times, not valid on previous purchases and sale items. The coupon is valid till Dec 31, 2017.

Submitting this to:

• Word Art Wednesday
• Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp - Work it Wednesday