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Sunday 14 September 2014

Most of the schools are back...

...and Autumn term is underway.

For some kids it takes them a while to get back into the swing of school and homework after the six week Summer break. So why not give them a hand with a journal that they can note down their homework assignments or their reading lists.

Over at Nicecrane Designs, Ignacio has some fabulous new images and amongst them are these...
...aren't they adorable. You can find "Reading Kids" here.

So with 'back to school' in mind, I had a play with some of these images to see what they looked like.

Colouring onto smooth white CS with alcohol pens gives quite a vibrant effect...
 ...the colours just pop off the page. However, just look at the difference on kraft card...
...I used exactly the same range of colours but see how different the image looks. Much softer and the colours seem more muted.
Here again, change of image but this little chap is coloured on kraft card...
 ...quite a soft, worn look. Whereas, this next little chap...
 ...looks so much brighter on a white CS background. Both images were coloured with exactly the same pen shades but you would be forgiven if you thought otherwise.

This is something that you should keep in mind when colouring. The colour of your background will have a big effect on how your colouring turns out and this is one of the reasons that I print a blank colour chart onto the CS that I normally use so that it gives me a good idea how a shade will look.

For the journal, I used an A5 hardback note book and covered it with a sheet of PP from the DoCrafts Sew Lovely paper stack...
...I thought the paper covered with ruler images was just right. Rather than cut into two sheets of 12x12, I cut one sheet down the middle and covered from the open edge of each cover.
This left the spine of the book bare so I used some abstract washi tape (made by Scotch)...
 ...the washi tape gives a more flexible spine than paper. The image was die-cut using the largest of my Spellbinder scalloped ovals and I 'scruffy' inked around the edge - don't be afraid of lines and patches when inking, sometimes they can be just the effect that works.
A couple of 'fishtail' banners down the front...
...and some black adhesive lettering - one journal good to go.

If you tend to stick with white CS for your colouring, do try different coloured backgrounds. You will be able to create a lot of different looks.

There are lots of super new images available over on the Nicecrane Design website and if you want some inspiration, do hop over to the blog and see what the DT have been up to.................................

6 comments:

Sue Jones said...

Thats Gorgeous!

Nicecrane Designs said...

OMG Toni,,,,,love these colored kids,,,,,,and waht a different effecs on each paper surfaces,,,,,, love the vibrant colors,,,,,,on usual one and the vintage peel on kraft,,,,,.....I think your notebook is really stunning,,,,,, and I like the idea to use washi tape,,,,,,,,it sound great.......horayyy for Toni.

Redanne said...

I think Ignacio has said it all really! Your journal is beautiful and I love how you coloured that little boy. Anne xx

Virginia said...

Gorgeous as always

Lori said...

Your wonderful coloring just makes all the difference in these images! So cool to see the difference the white and kraft backgrounds make!

aussie aNNie said...

Toni, this is just gorgeous. love Nicecrane Designs and the notebook shows how lovely a result you can get....in regard to the Sue Wilson die, I must see if I can get an idea to use the die in a more versatile way, it is large and yes when it arrived in the mail I though 'oh way too large' maybe if I google the die it may take me someplace to show how to use it more effectively as I don't like the size of it..xxxThe Journey is the Start