| Rubber stamping is a hobby that allows you to | | | | shades. They are ideal for adding delicate color to |
| become an artist, even if you never considered | | | | rubber stamping crafts. You can apply chalks with a |
| yourself one before. With the huge variety of | | | | stiff paint brush, Q-tip, eye make up applicator, or |
| decorative rubber stamps and clear acrylic art stamps | | | | simply use them like a crayon and then brushed away |
| that are available, you can always find designs that will | | | | the excess powder. The best idea is to experiment |
| suit your project. Rubber stamping on scrapbook art | | | | with the different application tools to find your |
| pages and card making crafts can take the tension | | | | preference. You may find that one brand of pastels is |
| out of your day. But, what if you want more than a | | | | harder than others. The softer they are the easier you |
| stamped outline? What if you truly want your stamping | | | | will find it is to use a brush to apply color to your |
| images to be in full color? This article will teach you | | | | stamping crafts. |
| how to achieve different styles of full color rubber | | | | 2. Coloring with pencil crayons can give bold vivid color |
| stamped designs. | | | | to your rubber stamping crafts or subtle pastel shades |
| Adding color, whether vibrant or subtle, can draw the | | | | on your card making or scrapbooking ideas. Choose |
| eye where you want it in seconds. Coloring the details | | | | good quality crayons and colors that suit your craft. |
| on the rubber stamp itself is one of the first steps you | | | | With colored pencils your can simply add shadow, fine |
| will take to achieving a full color image in your hobby | | | | detail or a background aura. The trick to coloring |
| stamping projects. Try any of the following techniques | | | | rubber stamped images with pencil crayons is the |
| to add color to your creative ideas. | | | | amount of pressure you put on the crayon as you |
| STAMPING AN IMAGE IN COLOR | | | | color. Always color in the same direction. For pastel |
| 1. Use a multi color ink pad. Often you will find these | | | | shades or to blend colors together apply only light |
| available in colored stripes ranging from a rainbow of | | | | pressure. Likewise, for vibrant color, you should press |
| different colors to complementary colors in different | | | | harder as you color. Smooth papers will color |
| shades. You may even find pie shaped multicolor ink | | | | differently than textured paper. Experiment with this |
| pads that will give you even more colors in your | | | | technique if you are unsure of the effect you will |
| stamping art. Regardless of the ink pad, number of | | | | achieve. |
| colors, or shape, you will end up with a multicolored | | | | 3. Stamping additional color is a fun option. Many rubber |
| stamped image that will add great interest and appeal | | | | stamp sets offer a solid background stamp which, you |
| to your scrapbooks and card making crafts. Clear | | | | can ink then stamp to fill in objects such as flowers or |
| rubber stamps are ideal for this technique as you can | | | | leaves. Watch for these types of rubber stamps as |
| see the ink coverage and the blend color before you | | | | you create your stamping ideas. They are fun to use |
| even stamp the image. | | | | and work with. When using these shadow stamps, be |
| 2. Another way you can add color before you stamp, | | | | sure you choose a color lighter than the outline color |
| is to use water based colored markers. You can do | | | | so that your details still show up after you stamp the |
| this easily by simply coloring the stamp details in your | | | | solid image. |
| choice of color. Depending on the size of the image | | | | 4. Add vibrant color with the use of markers. You can |
| you are stamping, you may choose to stamp between | | | | use water base colored markers to easily color in |
| colors. Clean the stamp and then stamp the next color | | | | details on your rubber stamped designs. Try to use this |
| separately so that the ink doesn't dry on the stamp | | | | technique on smaller areas as the ink sometimes |
| before you get it on paper. This is very easy to do | | | | leaves overlap lines from coloring over dry ink. |
| with your clear rubber stamps as you can see where | | | | 5. Pigment inks are a quick and easy way for you to |
| to place the stamp keeping your images precisely lined | | | | add color to your rubber stamped images. You can |
| up. | | | | always be sure that the colors you use will match all |
| 3. The third way to add color to a stamped image is | | | | your stamped elements with this technique. Ink can be |
| simply to choose a color of ink other than black or | | | | applied a couple of ways. Trial and error will help you |
| brown. Then you can ink the entire image and stamp it | | | | choose your favorite method. Ink a make-up applicator, |
| on your paper craft ideas. With that done, you are | | | | and then mist it lightly with water and color in as if you |
| ready to begin filling in the spaces with fun coloring | | | | were using a paint brush. You may also use the corner |
| techniques. | | | | of a make up sponge, and color in the rubber stamped |
| Once you have finished stamping your image with the | | | | image using it dry or moist for different results. |
| technique of your choice, you may choose to add | | | | Now you can fully enjoy full color rubber stamped |
| even more dazzling color or you may wish to use it as | | | | designs. Use them on your hobby scrapbook art and |
| it is. If you choose to add more color, keep reading for | | | | card making crafts to ease tension and tap into your |
| more great ideas. | | | | creative self. By exploring the world of color in your |
| COLORING IN STAMPED IMAGES | | | | rubber stamping hobby, you will more fully realize your |
| 1. You may use chalks or pastels to color in an image. | | | | creative potential as you design satisfying works of |
| Chalks are available in a wide range of colors and | | | | art. |