the creative closet by cindy lawrence

Coffee, Shadows, & Shading

Hello crafty friends!

I have had this sweet Coffee digital stamp set from Mo's Digital Pencil for quite some time now, and finally got a chance to get it inky.  I thought this would be an especially fun card to send to a friend who shares my affection for a good cup of coffee.

I printed the image in black on X-Press It Blending Card, and colored it with the following Copic Markers.


I used a lot of different shades on this one, so I could achieve some good depth in the shadows and great contrast from the darkest shadows to the brightest highlights.  Making your image look realistic and pop off the page is all about light source & contrast.  

One of the very best tools you can get your hands on to help you understand lighting placement is the Shadows & Shading book, written by the fabulous Marianne Walker.  It is a MUST have!


This book will help you to understand basic shading & the rules of lighting.  You'll also learn to break down complex images into basic shapes that can easily be colored, and learn some shadow color theory as well.


It includes four clear light guides to help you plan out your shadows & highlights.


I used the Linear Light Guide to color up the image on my card today.


The angle I place the guide at represents the direction the light (in this case, the sun) is coming from.  So, for my image, I chose to have the light source coming from the upper right corner.  Therefore, I colored the image with most of the highlights on the right and the shadows on the left.  Look at her skin for a clear illustration of this.

If you struggle with light & shadow when coloring your images, or simply want to be a better colorist, I highly recommend the Shadows & Shading book!

Before I go, here's a look at the inside of my card.


The patterned papers I used on today's card are from Jen Hadfield's Warm & Cozy collection.  I'm kinda into that collection lately. ;)

Thanks so very much for stopping by today, friends!

Have a beautiful day!

~Cindy

Power Poppy Friday: Let It Be

Hello beautiful crafty people!

Today I'm sharing an autumn card created with a beautiful new (and FREE) digital image from Power Poppy called Let It Be.  Are you singing the song yet?

My card base is a soft tan color, and the layers are a chocolate brown, and pretty patterned paper from Jen Hadfield's Warm & Cozy collection.

I printed the image in black ink onto X-Press It Blending Card, and colored it with the following Copic Markers.

You really need very few markers to make this image pop!  I used the G000 for the background, fading to white with my Colorless Blender.  The remaining colors are leaf/shadow colors.

A few coordinating sequins and a bit of natural twine add just the right amount of interest to an already eye-catching image.  It is important to me that my embellishments don't retract from the focal image, but rather enhance it.  It's ALL about the coloring, you know! ;)

Now, it's difficult to see clearly in the photo above; but those letters are quite sparkly!  Here's a different angle of the glittered letters.

Sparkly, yet subtle still.  I don't often combine rustic and sparkly elements on the same card; but in this case, I really like the end result!

To achieve the perfect sparkle, I began with an X-Press It Glue Marker, and perfectly placed the glue on the letters.  Since X-Press It has glue markers in both the regular version that I used here, and also a fantastic Wide Glue Marker, you can't go wrong!  These letters were the perfect size for the regular X-Press It Glue Marker.

The glue markers are acid free, non toxic, clear drying, and they can be permanent or temporary depending on whether you let the glue dry a bit before using it.  They are excellent for adhering glitter, flocking, sequins, masking, and tacking down those slippery stencils.

Once the letters were completely covered in glue, I then sprinkled on some fine detail glitter.  The glitter I used is the Warm Diamond Silk Microfine Glitter from Elizabeth Crafts.  It is so super fine and perfectly sparkly without overpowering the card.  

If I had wanted to color my letters before adding glitter to them, I would have done that step before adding the X-Press It Glue Marker.

Here's a better close-up of the sparkle.  Isn't it yummy?

That's all from me today, friends!

Be sure to swing by the rest of the Bloom Brigade blogs to see their fabulous Power Poppy creations!

Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence <---You are here!
Kathy Jones
Marcella Hawley
Stacy Morgan
Tosha Leyendekker

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

~Cindy

 

Coloring Outside the Lines

Hello, crafty friends!

Gosh, my posts have been a little less frequent lately.  So sorry about that!  I always have lots going on, but this month has been extra busy.  I should be back to at least two posts a week next week.  

My card today showcases one of two new free digital downloads from Power Poppy.  This one's called I Can Do All Things.  It also happens to be one of my favorite Bible verses!  It's such an important reminder for those times when we're unsure if we're up to the task in front of us.  Even if we're not up to it, He is!  It sure is a beautiful gift! :)

I printed the image out on X-Press It Blending Card and colored it with the following Copic Markers.


The white accents on some of the letters were created with a White Pearl Kirarina Wink Pen.

There's a super fun new challenge that works perfectly with the two free digital downloads.  It's 


It's the Coloring Outside the Lines Power and Sparklette Challenge.  For this one, all you have to do is quite literally color outside the lines.  I chose a soft blue violet ink around the verse on my card, and then colored the letters in to create a little extra visual interest.

Come play along with us for your chance to win the ENTIRE 2016 holiday release!!!  That's definitely a prize worth coloring for!

Be sure to swing by the rest of the Bloom Brigade blogs to see their fabulous creations today.

Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence <---You are here!
Julie Koerber
Katie Sims
Marcella Hawley
Stacy Morgan
Tosha Leyendekker

Thanks so very much for stopping by today, friends!  Have an amazing day!

~Cindy

 

Power Poppy Friday: Black-Eyed Susans!

Good morning, beautiful crafty people!

Are you loving September as much as I am?  It is definitely my favorite month of the year, and not just because it happens to be my birth month...but it doesn't hurt!  I love the cooler morning temperatures (perfect for running), and yet it's still warm enough during the day to be outside in short-sleeves.  Apple picking season.  Acorns on the ground.  Harvesting the garden.  All of it.  Perfection. :)  Thank you, God, for Septembers!

My card today showcases a new digital stamp set from Power Poppy, called Black-Eyed Susans.  It's one of five digital stamp sets that are on the Fab 5 Sale all weekend long!  Check out out:


Get on over there now & grab them up before you forget!

I kept the colors fairly neutral on my card stock & patterned papers from Jen Hadfield's Warm & Cozy paper pack.  I wanted to showcase that gorgeous digital image.  When you have images that are that incredible, you just don't need much in the way of doo-dads to dress it up.  

I printed the image on X-Press It Blending Card in black ink, and colored it with the following Copic Markers.

I confess I didn't gussy up the inside of my card.  I was running a little short on time; but I promise I will do it before I mail it!

There's also a fun little coloring contest going on right now over at Passionate Paper Creations and Friends.  Check it out:


To get in the running for this festive affair all you need to do is color up one of these sets: Cuppa Buttercups, Apples in Season, Pure Prairie Bouquet, Sunshine of My Life or our newest - Black Eyed Susan, and link it up on the Power Poppy post over HERE on the Passionate Paper Creations and Friends Facebook page. If you play along, you could be picked the winner of our random drawing for a $20 gift card to the Power Poppy Shop. Cool, right?!  So get coloring, my friends!  I can think of no better way to relax this weekend!

Hop on over to the rest of the Bloom Brigade blogs to see their fabulous creations today:

Allison Cope
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence <---You are here!
Julie Koerber
Kathy Jones
Katie Sims
Marcella Hawley
Stacy Morgan
Tosha Leyendekker

Have a spectacular weekend, friends!  Thanks so very much for visiting with me today!

~Cindy

 

Well, Hello Dahlia!

Hello friends!

I have a beautiful new digital stamp set from Power Poppy to share with you today!  This one's called Well Hello Dahlia, and comes with a range of images to work with. One large grouping of Dahlias in three bud vases, another grouping with two vases, another with only one vase, plus two fantastic sentiments.

I chose to work with the largest image of the three vases full of gorgeous dahlias.  I gave the vases a bit of a vintage feel by layer colors and adding texture with my Colorless Blender.  The pretty patterned papers are from a new 6x6 pack from Wild Rose Studio called Harvest Meadow.  They are such yummy papers!

Here's a look at the Copic Markers I used:


Thanks so much for stopping by today, friends!

Be sure to swing by the rest of the Bloom Brigade blogs to see their fabulous creations.

Allison Cope
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence <---You are here!
Julie Koerber
Marcella Hawley
Stacy Morgan

Have a beautiful weekend!

~Cindy

 

Warm & Cozy Blooms for Fall

Hello & a very happy Friday to you, friends!

Today I have a fun card with a fall feel to share with you.  This one's created with Power Poppy's new Prairie Cheer stamp set, and a yummy new patterned paper pack from Jen Hadfield called Warm & Cozy.  The sentiment is from Power Poppy's new Feeling Fall stamp set.

I stamped the image in VersaMark ink on kraft cardstock and embossed it with white embossing powder.  I then colored it with the following Copic Markers.

I do so love the look of white embossing on kraft cardstock, don't you?  

Before you run off, be sure and swing by the other Bloom Brigade blogs to see their fabulous creations today.

Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence <---You are here!
Julie Koerber
Katie Sims
Stacy Morgan

Have a most WONDERFUL day today!

Thanks so much for visiting with me!

~Cindy