Markers + Colored Pencils on Toned Grey Paper is the Best!

Hi friends! I really enjoyed creating this drawing. I think one of my favorite sketching combinations is markers on toned paper. It is such an interesting experience.

Watch the video and see how it all came together!

Supplies (affiliate links used)

• Colerase pencils
• Ohuhu brush markers: NEW 120 Set now available! (48 set on sale currently) Also available in a 72 set and a skin tone set
• Prismacolor Pencils (sets and open stock)
• Toned grey mixed media paper
• Reference photo

You can find a real-time tutorial for this project in Critique Club. Critique Club is a monthly membership group that allows you to upload 2 of your original paintings a month for personalized feedback from me and it gives you access to dozens of in-depth, more advanced tutorials. I add two new long tutorials and a new creative prompt every month and while you are a member you can access all past tutorials and prompts. You get all of this for $5 a month and you can cancel anytime:) If your goal is to grow and improve as an artist Critique Club is for you! Learn more here! That’s all for today! It’s March, that means Spring is on the way and soon we will have real flowers growing outside to paint (in the north anyway:) and that is an inspiring thought. Happy crafting!

Sketchbook Sunday: Rainbow Roses!

Hello friends! Today in my sketchbook I decided to paint a rainbow rose!

This was a fun loose watercolor that I enhanced with Prismacolor colored pencils. Watch how it all came together in this weeks Sketchbook Sunday timelapse:

Supplies (Affiliate links used)

• Watercolors (Mission Gold)
• Colored Pencils (Prismacolor)
• Sketchbook (Fabrino Venice Book)
• Fountain pen (Jane Davenport Inkredible pen)
• Fountain pen safe india ink
• Brushes: Royal & Langnickel Menta vegan watercolor brushes *I just found these the other day at A.C. Moore, I have not seen them online yet.
• Reference photo

I also wanted to share this lesson I added in my Essential Tools and Techniques for Watercolor Class. If you purchased this class in the past you have access to it in now in the classroom. If you would like to enroll you can use coupon code DRAWME to save 50% on the class (Regular price $79, sale price $39.50 with coupon code DRAWME through 3/31/18)

The Hydrangea lesson is focusing on the skill of negative painting and I think it rounds out the Essential Tools and Techniques for Watercolor course very well. If you are new please make sure to do the lessons in order so you get the most from the class as the hydrangea lesson assumes you have already completed the previous lessons in the course. I can’t wait to see your work in the classroom!

You can also save 50% on my new Learn to Draw with Lindsay Class or Texture Toolbox Feathers & Fowl (and I am working on an extra goodie for students of that course too!)  but don’t wait if you want to save 50% as that deal is only good through 3/31/18. *Enter coupon code DRAWME if the discount isn’t shown.

I hope you enjoyed this weeks Sketchbook Sunday video, tell me, what are you working on in your sketchbook today? Let me know in the comments below and til next time happy crafting!

5 Cards & 10 Fun Techniques with 1 Stamp Set!

Hi friends! Have you ever bought a stamp set and made one card with it and then never inked it again? Maybe I am the only one guilty of this but I know I feel better when I find many ways to use one supply. The other benefit is that you end up with a whole bunch of cards from one crafty play session so if one technique fails you still can feel good about what you made. I find that trying new things, even if they fail, spark new ideas!

We will do the following techniques (in no particular order)

1. Resist: Heat emboss resist
2. Resist: Versamark on Glossy paper
3. Rainbow Brayer technique
4. Leftover ink brayer technique
5. Coloring: White gouache on kraft paper plus colored pencil
6. Coloring: Alcohol marker on cardstock
7. Background Technique: Stamping with clear in and chalking
8. Selective Glitter technique
9. Background Technique: Using pigment powders
10. DIY Domed paper dots

Here is the technique packed video!

This tutorial is sponsored by Top Flight Stamps! SAVE 10% off your next order with coupon code: thefrugalcrafter10 *USA orders of $50+ ship free!

Supplies:

• Stamp set: Scrapcosy #4 by PaperArtsy 
• Watercolor paper
• White neenah cardstock for markers
• kraft cardstock 
• Glossy white cardstock
• Cardbases or cardstock
• Versamark ink 
• Versafine black ink
• Ranger Archival ink Sepia
• Memento ink in Rich Cocoa
• Quickie glue pen
• Fine clear glitter
• Rainbow inkpad
• Soft brayer
• Ball end stylus
• Colored pencils 
• Brush pens (Waterbased)
• Alcohol markers
• Pigment powder such as PaperArtsy Fusion, Ken Oliver Color Burst, or Brusho 
• Clear embossing powder
• Glitter embossing powder
• White gouache

Here is a closer look at the cards:

I hope you try some of these techniques the next time you are crafting. If you don’t have the exact supplies I used try the technique with the most similar product you have before buying new. There are so many products that can do double duty in our stash and trying them out is half the fun! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Sketchbook Sunday Episode #1

Hi friends! Today we are starting a new series called “Sketchbook Sunday” where I share a process video from my own personal sketchbook. I have developed the habit of getting up before other members of my family on sunday mornings, making coffee, putting on a podcast or audio book and working in my sketchbook.  I’d often share photos of my sketchbook work on Instagram later that day and many folks asked me if I had a video tutorial of the projects so last week I let the camera roll as I worked and then I took the footage and narrated it.

I hope you enjoy this time-lapse and more than that I hope you make a bit of time every week to work in your sketchbook too:)

Supplies I used:

• Sketchbook Fabriano Venezia (current fave)
• Watercolors: Qor,  Turner and Prima
• Prismacolor colored pencils
• White gel pen (uniball signo broad)
• Book I mentioned: The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

Speaking of sketching I am working on a new online drawing course. Here is a sneak peek!

 

My new drawing class will be in my online school on March 9th 2018. Stay tuned for an exclusive discount offer for current viewers!  Drawing and sketching can provide so much happiness and satisfaction and I am so excited to help people learn how to draw!  Have a great day and til next time happy crafting!

Huge Coloring Media Giveaway & Marker/Pencil Gel Pen Layering Technique!

Hi friends, the lovely folks at ColorIt are having a free instructor lead coloring party AND giving away over $500 in prizes! Below is the loot going to one of my lucky subscribers!

Sign up for a chance to win the coloring supply bundle I showed you ( including 50 Markers, 72 Pencils, 48 Gel Pens, Colors of Nature and Around The World) here If you live in the USA. Links to the international giveaways are on the right hand side of the giveaway page. You can sign up for the free live coloring party here, it will be Thursday at May 11th at 9pm eastern time and they have a coloring page for you to download and print so you can follow along with the professional instructor who is leading the free tutorial.

In today’s video you can see the prizes up for grabs and I will show you how layering media in your coloring books or stamped images for cardmaking can yield beautiful results. I have linked all the supplies I used below the video but feel free to use the supplies you already have:)

Here are the butterflies from the book that I showed in the video. I really love the paper in the Color It books, my markers and pens lay down smoothly but there is still enough tooth for pencil. I really love the depth of marker plus colored pencil as illustrated on the large butterfly but I also love the shimmer from over-layering the gel pen. So many options!

Supplies: (Refills are available for all Colorit coloring products! Save 10% with coupon code: frugal10)

• ColorIt Set of 50 Markers 
• Color it Set of 72 Pencils
• Color it Set of 48 Gel Pens 
• Colors of Nature and Around The World Coloring Books 
• Silicone tipped tool (for gel pen blending)

Techniques:

Example 1-Marker + Colored pencil: Color image with marker, let dry and shade and highlight with colored pencil to build richness

Example 2-Marker + Gel Pen: Color with marker, let dry, apply a small amount of dark gel pen to shadow area and blend with silicon tipped tool. Repeat with light shades until satisfied. Works well with glitter gel pens.

Example 3 – Colored Pencil + Gel Pen: Color with colored pencils and then add gel pen over top and blend with silicone tipped tool. The gel pen will stay wetter over the wax pencil so you have more time to blend.

I hope you try some of these techniques and make sure you head over to the Color It website to sign up for the giveaway and Free coloring party! Happy Crafting & Coloring!

Sponsored by ColorIt

$2 Embossing Folders & 25% off Total Purchase!

Hi friends! I am sorry I did not share this sale earlier but it is a great one! 25% off your total (non-sale) purchase at Consumer Crafts! The also have free shipping on orders over $75!

They also have their embossing folders on sale for $2 each! It is a great time to stock up, it is where I bought most of mine because you can’t beat the price or selection but they do sell out fast so don’t delay.

They also have the best prices on markers and colored pencils from Crafter’s Companion so if you have been waiting for a deal to buy these the time is now! They even have the watercolor markers I use a lot for stamp school on sale for under $16!

They also sell a larger variety of craft supplies from painting to floral to jewelry making and storage so if you are in need check them out today when they have 25% off your total order. Any thing you purchase at Consumer crafts after clicking my special discount affiliate links in this post also help support the free tutorials I post here and on YouTube and I thank you for your support! Happy shopping and crafting!

 

 

Colorful Palm Trees!

Hi friends! First of all I want to remind anyone who has not signed up for a chance to win the FabArt brush set I blogged about last week to go sign up because I will pick a winner tomorrow night! I also want to remind you of the importance of taking a little time for yourself every day to create! Drawing is a great option because you don’t need a lot of stuff and you can do it anywhere and on any budget. If you want to get fancy use colored pencils, pens and watercolor. Your materials are not going to make you a better artist but the practice of drawing will so grab some paper and get going:)

I did a little sketching on vacation and one of my favorites was a colored pencils and watercolor sketch of a palm tree. I recreated it in this real-time video for you. Feel free to sketch or paint along!

Supplies:

• Colored Pencils: Tri-Tone or these fun budget friendly dual ended crayolas!
• Watercolor paper or Watercolor sketchbook (Jane Davenport in demo-Strathmore visual journal for other sketches) I also like the 400 series from Strathmore and it is on sale here.
• Watercolors (variety)
• Waterbrush

Tip! Try sketching with the pencils on wet and dry paper! BTW I painted a mermaid on the opposite page of the journal, if you would like to see a demo of that you can on YouTube. Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

*Please note that affiliate links were used in this post directing you to deals that would work for this project, it does not cost you any extra to buy via my discount links but I do earn a small commission on the things you buy, thank you for your support:)