Yippee for Yana: Sunflowers & Copic Blend Free Coloring
Hi friends! We’re delighted to welcome back special guest Yana Smakula! You may or may not know that Yana is Ukrainian. Yana is our dear friend and part of our Simon Says Stamp family. We encourage you to read her post if you are looking for ways to help during this trying time for our Ukrainian friends and family.
Hello, crafters, this is Yana Smakula for Simon Says Stamp! Welcome back for another Yippee For Yana video!
As you may or may not know, I am Ukrainian and I am currently located in western Ukraine. You might think this is not the time for me to be making cards and filming videos, but card making has always been my therapy and it is even more so now. I will continue to create cards and film videos for as long as I can. And I thank you for your support.
Instagram is booming with blue and yellow cards these days. There are so many amazingly inspiring projects featuring the two colors of the Ukrainian flag – blue, for clear blue sky, and yellow, for fields of wheat or fields of sunflowers which is a national flower of Ukraine.
I was inspired by all your projects, I wanted to create a sunflower card myself. Simon Says Stamp has several amazing stamp sets that feature sunflowers, either alone or in combination with other flowers. I picked the Sunflower Garden stamp set.
I love all things abstract and I also love to experiment with my Copic markers. This led me to a different way to color which I like to call Copic Blend Free coloring. I say Copic because I use Copic markers for this technique, but other alcohol markers work just as well.
The finished image has a modern graphic colored look to it, and the best part about it is you don’t need alcohol markers that blend well together, in fact, the greater difference in color or shade of your markers, the better it is for this technique.
I stamped the image in Versafine Vintage Sepia ink, I didn’t want to use black, as I opted for softer colors. You can also try stamping in the type and color of ink you use for no-line Coloring, and use this coloring technique for a no-line colored result. I imagine that would look quite beautiful. I’m hoping to try it one day.
My stamping was done on Simon’s 130lb cardstock as I love this paper for coloring with Copic markers. I used my heat tool and heat set the ink as the type of ink I used is not Copic markers friendly and it bleeds when it comes in contact with alcohol.
I trimmed my panel to 3 1/2 x 4 3/4” and began coloring. The idea is not to do any blending. To achieve this, you need to let the ink you’ve applied dry before you apply the next color on top.
You can use this coloring method with many different images and I’ve demonstrated the technique in the past featuring both small and large images. It works not only for flowers but other types of images too.
The darker you go, the less of an area you cover. Remember not to blend anything, just apply a solid layer of color. It is up to you how many marker colors to use to color your image in this way. I would say use 3 markers, a light, a medium, and a dark. If you have a big marker collection you can add a 4th or even a 5th color to add greater color variation to the flowers, especially if you are coloring a larger image.
I love this coloring method and the final result. It looks very different from the blended coloring. I know this is not for everyone, but ever so often I like to color this way. If you struggle with blending using your alcohol markers, this might be a very easy way for you to color.
Next, I stamped a sentiment for my card – I selected one that reads Have Faith. We all need to have faith these days and believe in a peaceful tomorrow. Here I used Versafine Onyx Black ink to add more contrast to the sentiment.
To add detail to the flower centers I used my 0.5 Sakura Gel Roll pen and added white dots in small clusters onto the brown centers. They helped create the highlights for the seeds.
I foam mounted this panel onto a light blue card base and added a “things will work out” sub sentiment cut out from one of Simon’s pre-printed sentiment strips. I also embellished my card with the Four Leaf Clover sequins from Simon.
Thank you for spending time with me today. Thank you for your encouraging comments, emails, and DMs. I have faith and I hope peace will be here soon.
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Yana, your card is gorgeous! I thank God you are OK and my family is diligently praying for Ukraine and for peace.
Prayers for you and Ukraine. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for sharing this method of coloring. Love how it turned out. Please try to stay safe. I’ll keep your in my prayers daily.
This is a beautiful card. Thanks you for sharing your technique. I am glad you’re safe. I have been praying for Ukraine and that peace will come. Bless you.
This style of coloring reminds me of the Archie comics I read as a child. I am anxious to try it. The effect is completely different and so pretty. Praying for you, your family, your home and your country. ?
This was a wonderful card and so appropriate right now. Loved this technique and will try it. Thanks for sharing your lovely card. Sending love and prayers your way today.
Thanks for the beautiful video. Please let SSS know that if they are going to promote an item like this, they should make sure it’s in stock.
Beautiful card. Prayer continue for Ukraine, peace and your safety, Yana.
Love this technique. Thank you for sharing and thank you for your great positive attitude.
This is such a great technique, I definitely need to try it. An awesome message too, especially right now. Stay well Yana, we are all praying for you and your country!
Stay safe.
Gorgeous card!!! I love when you color like this!!! Sending hugs and prayers! Stay safe.
Fabulous. I can’t even imagine what things are like for you right now. Great big hugs!
You, your loved ones and your precious country continue to be in our prayers, Yana. I will never look at a sunflower the same way again – beautiful card and such a lovely way to honor your nation!
I also believe in a peaceful tomorrow! Be safe! Create when you can! xo~ (((hugs)))
Hi there! I just stumbled upon your blog and I have to say that I absolutely loved your “Yippee for Yana: Sunflowers Copic Blend” post! The way you effortlessly blended those colors to bring the sunflowers to life is truly amazing. Your creativity and talent are inspiring. Thank you for sharing this fantastic tutorial. Keep up the fantastic work! Best wishes, Becky Gomez.