GOOD AFTERNOON FRIENDS! I’m back today with another holiday card featuring Bundled Up by Penny Black, one of the brush stroke images which was perfect to try out some no line coloring.

For no line coloring, the image is stamped with a light colored ink instead of the traditional black ink. In this case, I decided to try out Fadeout No Line Coloring Detail Ink by Inkon3, a hybrid ink suitable for alcohol markers, watercolors, and colored pencils. The ink appears as a light tan color when stamped, but takes on the color you lay on top. As a result, Copic blends stay true and are not changed by the underlying ink.

I stamped the image and planned out my coloring. With no line coloring, you need to put more thought into depth and layering since you don’t have black lines to help the eye see the various shapes and folds. I started with the folds in the scarf and worked my way from there. At first, my coloring looked a little strange without the guidance of the black lines, but the more I colored, the more it came together. So it was just a matter of having faith that it would all work out in the end.

After I finished the Copic coloring, I cleaned up my lines a little with a Prismacolor pencil in Indigo blue, adding lines where necessary or adding a little more color as needed to push some areas back and pull others forward. I filled in the eyes with a black Copic multi-liner (0.05 tip) and added a few highlights on the berries with a white gel pen.

Once complete, I added a simple sentiment to let the image stand on its own. I love how it turned out in the end, particularly the movement and billowing of the scarf.

Have you started your holiday cards yet? Hey – it’s August already! What are you waiting for?

Disclosure: Below are the supplies I’ve used for today’s project. All items were personally purchased except those marked with an asterisk (*) which were provided by a store or design team. I never share a product I do not like. All opinions are my own. Read more.

Where available I use compensated affiliate links, meaning that at no cost to you I receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I use this money to support my blog. If you like my projects, please consider supporting me by clicking through these links when you shop. Thanks so much! Read more.

Supplies

Paper: Neenah Solar White 110#; Hammermill Color Copy Digital Cover 100#
Stamps: Bundled Up by Penny Black; Christmas Sentiments by Penny Black
Inks: Fadeout No Line Coloring Detail Ink by Inkon3; Versafine in Onyx Black by Tsukineko
Copics: BV20, BG11, BG53, BG57 (scarf & hat band); C5, C7, C9 (hat); R27, C5 (berries); C5, YG03, YG17 (leaves); C5, R14, R22, R27 (nose); BG0000, BG10, B0000, BV000 (snow)