Coloring Dark Skin on Kraft

Hi Guys!

So as promised, I worked up a step by step for you in coloring ethnic skin tones on kraft. 

I was a little more ' in my element ' doing this one and I hope you like it.

The colors are very similar to what you would use on white paper (see tutorial for white here) with this one difference: Because we are looking for a darker shade of skin there is no need to start off with whites and creams. In fact, this is where kraft is in its element because we're halfway there before we start. ;)

OK! So lets get started!

Step 1 we're going to work the shadows with light umber. Just nice easy circular strokes.

Follow the umber with (step 2) burnt ochre. So you're covering the light umber with the burnt ochre and coming in toward the center just a bit further.

Step 3) All over with goldenrod. (below)

He's looking a little jaundiced at this point but don't panic.

Step 4) working the shadows with sienna brown.

Step 5) begin blending with pink (very lightly) and add a wee bit of process red in the deepest shadows for "punch".

Steps 6&7)

ok, I know this looks like a lot but it isn't really.

The yellow ochre, jasmine and peach is a layering combo that works wonderfully to blend the tones together. If your image is too pinky peachy, add more yellow, if its too yellow, add more peach etc. You get the idea.

The dark brown is added in the shadows to re-depthen them. (They may have lost some depth with the blending).

It really starts coming alive now.

Step 8) This is just so exciting! Burnt Ochre and Dark Brown is used now for further contouring and depth.

This is where you get an inkling of what Geppetto felt when Pinocchio came to life.You know what I mean? It's like the image starts to breathe when your back is turned! lol

Step 9) The final magic touch: Black. Black grounds everything . It adds realism and the shadows darkest depths.

ps) I added the hair colors on the side in case you were wondering what I did.;)

And here he is all finished!

Really you could go in and tweak and tweak til the cows come home but at some point you've got to say "enough ".

It's a tough call.

But I think he's pretty cute as he is. :)

happy coloring!

Coloring Ethnic Skin with Prismacolors on White

Hi Guys,

Its been a while since I've done a coloring tutorial on white cardstock so bear with me as I was kind of eeeeek! But I think I worked it out so I hope the color combination helps you out as well.

Coloring Ethnic skin tones can be quite a challenge for us pasty whites. You kind of need to retrain your eyes to see all the colors that make up dark skin as opposed to just seeing "brown". The danger of just seeing brown is that your ethnic coloring will look a bit like, well, chocolate pudding , and that's not flattering at all.

I have a lot of black friends and their skin tones vary tremendously. Some are really dark, others really light, some red toned, some yellow toned, it really varies just as much as light skin. 

So here I am going to show you just one way of coloring dark skin.

Please don't expect perfection.

(and by the way, I know black people don't "blush"~ at least we don't see them blush, but you know what?So be it. Ive given this child a rosy brown complexion. Its called artistic licence.

I'm using a digi by Mo Manning called "Dante's Drum" and prismacolor Pencils.

The first 6 steps are done with a light touch, all over color. Try to color as evenly as possible and avoid pencil streaks

With Steps 7-9 we are building up the darker shadows for contouring.

Dark brown in the deepest shadows.

A close up so you can see where we are right now.

Building on the darker areas with umber and sienna...

Even out the tones with goldenrod and peach

And a wee bit of pink

Some process red for making the skin "pop" (go EASY, its very strong)

More blending cos you just can't do it enough..

OK, and a bit more.....

And we're done!

PS) Yes, I will be doing an ethnic coloring on kraft tutorial soon !!

Kraft OUtlet~ Use Any Sketch

Hi Guys!

So how is everyone!

This week at The Kraft Journal we are wanting you all to find a sketch and use it!

It doesn't have to be a recent one it can be any at all. I'm using an older one from Mojo Monday and I have turned it on its side to make this "scrap card". (Yup! Using my scraps again!)

I just LOVE this cat! Reminds me of my Gingerboy after his morning feed...or was it his mid-morning feed? Or maybe lunch?? Or snack?? Breaktime??

Recipe:

Cat Stamp: Eat Cake Graphics, Cake stamp: Stampin Up

Cardstock: Brown Coverweight Cardstock , Lunch Bag Kraft

Paper: MME Stella and Rose "Gertie"

Pink Bakers Twine

Border Punch: Martha Stewart

Mini Clothes pin

And the inside which reads:

"We're so happy when surrounded by cake, I mean, friends"

Thats it from me today!
Thanks for visiting!

Need A Hug?

Hi Guys!

So this week at Mo's DP2 we want to see your 

Favorite Colors!

I do love yellow (but not to wear!) and gray together so I chose this stamp as the colors just sort of came together naturally with the blonde hair and gray cat.

I hope you like it too. :)

Recipe:

Image: Marion by Mo Manning

Papers:DCWV "Lemon Flowers" and MME "Sunshine"

Punch: Martha Stewart

Brads: from stash

Dies: Spellbinders

Have a great weekend!

Kraft Outlet ~ Just For Kids

So this should be fun!

This week at The Kraft Outlet we're looking for your projects that are

Just For Kids

So todays card I made for a friend of my daughters and I hope she liked it. I think this stamp is just hilarious, course I do like dogs to be the butt end of jokes, its the Garfield in me. lol

Recipe:

Cardstock: Brown Kraft Coverweight cardstock, Lunch Bag Kraft, Buff Ivory Coverweight Cardstock

Paper: Melissa Francis & MME "Sunshine"

Image: Eat Cake Graphics

Colors: Prismacolors and Lyras

Brown Bakers Twine

Button

Dies: Spellbinders

Thats it for today!
I can't wait to see all your fun projects this week!
Happy Crafting!

Flowers In Her Hair

Hi All!

So this week at Mo's Digital Pencil our theme is:

Flowers

As you know, I don't use many flowers on my cards but I did throw a couple on there as well as using some flowered papers and a flower sentiment stamp. :)

I have cropped this stamp cos I wanted a nice big close up of this girls wistful  face which was so much fin to color. :)

Recipe:

Image: End Of Summer by Mo Manning (cropped)

Colors:Prismacolors and Lyras

Paper:MME "Quite Contrary Jack & Jill"

Tickets, ticket die and sentiments :Whimsy Stamps

Foliage Die: Marianne D Creatables

And I'm also following the recipe at the Catered Crop

which happens to be:

Kraft Paper!

(I know, soooo difficult for me! LOL)

One winner will receive a $25.00 voucher for  Perfect Paper Crafting to spend in their store!

Thanks for looking!

Swine Flu

Hi Everyone!

Ok, maybe swine flu is a thing of the past but allergies still rule!!

This week's challenge at The Kraft Journal is:

Use Your Stash

No problemo mi amigo!

Ive got lots of stash and I do like to use up some leftover bits every now and then, too. So Ive been saving my remaining bits of cardstock from  81/2 x11 sheets of cardstock that I make a 51/2 x51/2 cards from (which leaves a length of 3x11). I just score those 3x11s in half and make small notelets like this one.

Recipe:

Image: Mo Manning

Colors: Prismacolors and Lyras

Cardstock: Brown Kraft Coverweight Cardstock

Lunch Bag Kraft (for coloring)

Paper: MME "Fine and Dandy Girl" and "Market Street"

Punch: Martha Stewart

Dies: Spellbinders

White Gel Pen (for faux stitching)

button (from stash)

Pink Bakers Twine

So I hope that inspired you a little bit today, I'll be looking out for your creations this week and hope you can play along with us at The Kraft Journal!

I See Spots

Hi Guys!

Well we have a fun challenge for you this week at Mo's! The theme is:

I See Spots

and as I do love me some polkadots I enjoyed this one!

I made this card for a sweet, red headed friend of mine, I do love this stamp!!

Recipe:

Image: Patience by Mo Manning (cropped)

Colors: Prismacolors and Lyras on Kraft

Paper: MME "Union Square"

Dies: Spellbinders

Ribbon: From stash

Lace and mesh: Bunny Zoes

Thanks so much for visiting!!