Graduated background challenge

Well, I finally did it - I bought some Copic markers! I have thought long and hard about whether I wanted to invest in a collection, and until now, have decided against it, mostly because I don't color in stamped images very much. When I do, I'm usually satisfied with the results I get with my Stampin' Up! markers, since I use them mostly for informal coloring. (My preferred technique for having a multi-colored image is to use the markers directly on the stamp.)

But Nichole's demonstration on how to make a graduated color background was so enticing that I abandoned my first decision to use reinkers with a watercolor brush, and instead headed over to Michael's to buy some Copics (luckily I had a coupon for the entire purchase!) They didn't have a great selection of colors, but I found half a dozen that I liked and came home to try them out.

I have to say, they didn't disappoint! I love the way the colors blended when I repeatedly drew the brush tip over the edge where the different colors met. Something tells me that my collection of Copics is going to grow!

This card is really simple in its design, since the colors are so vivid. I decided to try something with some paper scraps from another project I'm making: I glued thin strips of the scraps together and die cut the balloons from them, then stamped the balloons with Papertrey Ink's Up Up and Away. (I don't really like the colors of the balloons but I do like the contrast.) Happy Birthday comes from one of the Flower Fusion sets (I forget which one).

I really enjoyed this technique; it's great for the sky/grass background. I also used the technique in a different way for another card - check out my next post to see.