Hello friends. It is Spring yet? It is definitely Spring in my craft room (aka craft corner of our living room) – I can’t stop coloring flowers and reaching for fresh bright colors.
As I was playing with my Polychromos pencils the other day I decided to recreate the card I made last year (and colored using Copics) but color same images using Polychromos pencils this time. I’ve never done this kind of comparison before and was very curious to see the results. I’m talking about this card here.
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And here’s side by side – it’s kind of hard to tell! I like the pencil colored card better, I think it has more detail to it (aside from the yellow flower – I should have worked on it more):
CARD DETAILS
I started working on this card by selecting the same images I used for the previous card. They come from 2 stamp sets from Simon – More Spring Flowers and Friendship Blooms. When I use Polychromos pencils I like to color on non-white papers, so I picked Simon’s Fog cardstock and stamped same images with the help of a stamp positioning tool 3 times on to 3 panels (I needed to use my MISTI to be able to stamp the black outline once my coloring was done to intensify it as coloring with pencils over black stamping dulls the black stamped line). I needed to have 3 crocuses and 3 long leaves so this is why I stamped same images onto 3 panels.
Next, I started coloring with my Polychromos. I recently got 20 additional colors to my initial 36 pencil collection – so I’m enjoying these almost to the fullest (one can never have too many colors! But I do still believe that it’s best to start small – with a 12 or 24 pencil set to “get your feet wet” so to speak and try these pencils out).
The colors I used are: White #101, May Green #170, Chromium Green Opaque #174, Cream #102, Cadmium Yellow #107, Dark Naples Ochre #184, Burnt Ochre #187, Warm Grey II #271, Purple Violet #136, Blue Violet #137,Ultramarine #120, Helioblue-Reddish #151.
Once my coloring was done (I didn’t color all of my stamped images, just those I needed to recreate this card) I put them back into my MISTI and stamped the black outlines. I used Versafine Onyx Black ink as it’s a nice and creamy ink. You do need to give it plenty of time to dry, especially on top of the Polychromos coloring. Alternatively, you can heat set it or use other ink that takes less time to dry.
Next, I cut these images out with the help of coordinating dies in my Platinum die cutting machine and arranged into a cluster. I also stamped a Birthday sentiment using same Onyx Black ink and adhered my floral cluster onto the panel (I cut it down to 4 x 5 1/4″). I used Simon’s Fog cardstock to create a card base for this project (same paper I used for my stamping) and embellished my card using clear droplets from Pretty Pink Posh.
STEP BY STEP
See this card made step by step. Click to enlarge.
SUPPLIES
I’m listing the products I used below. Click on the link to go directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!
 Simon Says Stamp More Spring Flowers Stamp Set Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp More Spring Flowers Dies Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamps and Dies More Spring Flowers Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Friendship Blooms Stamp Set Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Friendship Blooms Dies Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamps and Dies Friendship Blooms Shop at: SSS |
 Faber-Castell Polychromos Colored Pencils Shop at: SSS |
 Faber-Castell Polychromos Colored Pencils 12 Piece Set Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Fog Gray Cardstock Shop at: SSS |
 Neenah 110 Lb Solar White Cardstock Shop at: SSS |
 Spellbinders Platinum Die Cutting Machine Shop at: SSS |
 Spellbinders Tool ‘n One Shop at: SSS |
 Tsukineko VersaFine Onyx Black Ink Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Intense Black Ink Shop at: SSS |
 Mini Misti Stamping Tool Shop at: SSS |
 Scor-Tape 1/8 Inch Crafting Tape Shop at: SSS |
 Crystal Ninja Crystal Katana Mixed Media Pick Up Tool Shop at: SSS |
 Tonic Deluxe Adhesive Nuvo Glue Shop at: SSS |
 Pretty Pink Posh 4MM Clear Droplets (small) Shop at: SSS |
 Pretty Pink Posh 6MM Clear Droplets (medium) Shop at: SSS |
PIN THIS PROJECT
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These are amazing! I love this set and will try to color with both mediums! 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration as always, Yana! I love your photographs, too <3
I like the yellow coloured pencil flower better than the Copic!
Both cards are stunning of course – you always make winners in my book.
Looking at the 2 cards side by side, I could not tell the difference between copic and pencil! (At least from the photo!) The pencils give such a vibrant color! Thanks, Yana.
Yana,
I love that you are using your coloured pencils as a medium quite a lot lately as I was bought as set of Prismacolor coloured pencils for my birthday and I although I have not got the same stamp sets as you I usually can get hold of the same flowers so I can learn to colour these as you have. Thank you I am learning such a lot.
Interesting comparison. I agree with you about like the pencil version better. Thanks for sharing.
Lovely cards but must say I like the pencil one better, it has more Wow! They are both beautiful though. thanks for sharing.
Beautiful card Yana, love the colours as well.
Di
Both cards are simply lovely, Yana. I have to agree – I like the depth and texture that the coloured pencils give to the images, especially the crocuses. Thank you for the breath of springtime. I needed that. We just had 40 cm (about 16 inches) of snow dumped on us in one day!
So pretty and love the color choices and of pencils and copics. I sometimes use both together. Great spring card. Love it.
So pretty! I love the depth and texture you created with the pencils!
I can see the difference, but both are so beautiful. I just bought a good set of colored pencils, and practice constantly, but can’t get mine to look like yours yet. I’ll definitely keep at it. Thank you for inspiring me.
Absolutely beautiful, love the bright white base, really emphasizes the lovely colours 🙂
After watching you and hearing you talk about the PolyChromos pencils I took the plunge and bought a set. I’m looking forward to playing with them and hopefully one day get the beautiful results that you do. Your coloring videos inspire me. Thanks for sharing your talent.
Such a gorgeous card!! Love the beautiful bright colors!!
Both are gorgeous Yana and brings spring on my pc screen. I love the pencil coloured one more, I think it has more depth wich gives it a more natural look.
Can you tell me what kind of pencil sharpener you use?
I see beautiful long points on the blue pencils in the last picture. I am still searching for a nice one for my Polychromos.
Lovely coloring! I am liking color pencils more and more too!
GORGEOUS! I am going to look at the details again. I am trying to learn to use my pencils…
Both cards are lovely, but I do prefer the one colored with pencils; the shading is incredibly beautiful. TFS.
Both cards are beautiful….but I think I like the pencil coloring more! Inspired to try my hand at coloring with pencils. Absolutely love Yana’s videos, great explanation of tips and techniques. Always inspired. Thanks!!
These cards are both beautiful. I love comparing images done with different products. Its great to see the effects different products give the same image. Great work.
great coloring! thanks for sharing the two types!