This week’s challenge is to use only shades of greys to colour our main image with one colour as a background pattern. I chose an image and sentiment from the Gamer – Little Dude set. (Linked below)
I used two inks by Hero Arts and a stencil by Catherine Pooler. You get the two-tone pattern by first inking then once you are happy with the colour you shift the stencil up and then ink with another colour. I added a little more of the darker tone around the edge of my panel.
Choosing a single colour is a great way to practice your shading because you have to really concentrate on each separate area; when you haven’t got a bunch of different colours to rely on for differentiating the shadows & highlights.
I used two types of Greys: warm & cool and between this and the shade I chose I was able to get all of this detail without adding any additional colour.
I love this little dude, he is great for teenage boys’ birthday cards for example. I used my Cameo to draw out this sentiment from the same set and then I added cut lines round it so that it was shaped to the sentiment. This kind of cutting of a sentiment always makes me think of Mary Polanco; she calls it bubble cutting in her videos and I think it’s a great technique!
Hey Crafty People!
Please be aware:
As part of my Design Team and Guest Design work I do often receive free products to use, but I only ever recommend products that I genuinely love.
Also, I know how incredibly lucky I am to have these opportunities, but you don’t always NEED the newest products or the ‘full set’.
So please don’t feel that you need everything.
I like to show a variety of brands and products; this way there will be something for everybody to enjoy.
— SUPPLIES —
— My Basic Supplies That I Use On Every Project —
 MINI MISTI Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Alt | SBP | Trinity |
 MISTI – Original Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Alt | SBP |
 Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive Shop at: Scrapbookcom | SBP | Craftstash UK | Craftstash US |
 Neenah 80lb Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Alt | Craftstash UK |
 Neenah 110lb Shop at: Alt |
 Gemini Jr Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Craftstash UK |
 Tim Holtz Trimmer 8.5inch Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Craftstash UK | Trinity |
 Tim Holtz Scissors 7inch Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Craftstash UK | Craftstash US |
 Tim Holtz Mini Snips 5inch Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Craftstash UK | Craftstash US |
 Tidy Tray Shop at: Trinity |
 Pick Up Stick Shop at: Trinity |
 Reverse Action Tweezers Shop at: Scrapbookcom | SBP |
 We R Trim & Scoreboard Shop at: Scrapbookcom |
 Pressure Tool Shop at: Trinity |
 Mini Trimmer Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Craftstash UK | Craftstash US |
 9.5 inch Shears Shop at: Craftstash UK | Craftstash US |
 Bone Folder Shop at: Alt |
 Self Healing Mat Shop at: Alt | SBC |
*Affiliate links are used, where available; this means that I may get a small commission if you purchase using one of these links, at no extra cost at all to yourself. A huge thank you goes to anyone who does purchase using my links, it is so highly appreciated.
— SUPPLIES —
— My Basic Supplies That I Use On Every Project —
Affiliate links are used MINI MISTI Shop at: Scrapbookcom | PBP | SBP | Trinity |
 MISTI – Original Shop at: Scrapbookcom | PBP | SBP |
 Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive Shop at: Scrapbookcom | SBP |
 Gemini Jr Shop at: Scrapbookcom |
 Tim Holtz Trimmer 8.5inch Shop at: Scrapbookcom |
 Tim Holtz Scissors 7inch Shop at: Scrapbookcom |
 Tim Holtz Mini Snips 5inch Shop at: Scrapbookcom |
 Tidy Tray Shop at: Trinity |
 Pick Up Stick Shop at: Trinity |
 Reverse Action Tweezers Shop at: Scrapbookcom | SBP |
 We R Trim & Scoreboard Shop at: Scrapbookcom |
 Pressure Tool Shop at: Trinity |
*Affiliate links are used, where available; this means that I may get a small commission if you purchase using one of these links, at no extra cost at all to yourself. A huge thank you goes to anyone who does purchase using my links, it is so highly appreciated.
- Neenah Classic Crest – Solar White 80lb*
- Neenah Classic Crest Solar White – 110lb (*Use code natashapapertree for 10% off)
- Polkadoodles – Gamer Little Dude
- Gemini Jr die cutting machine
- UK
- US
- Silhouette Cameo 4
- UK
- US
- Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive
- Arteza Adhesive Foam Tape
- Winsor & Newton Brushmarkers – W1, W3, C1, C2, C4 Blender
- Catherine Pooler – Split Chevron (*Use code natashapapertree for 10% off)
- Hero Arts – mini ink cubes
- Nuvo Vintage Drops – Grey