Good morning! I am taking part in a special blog hop today to help fellow crafty lady Rubeena Ianigro celebrate four years of crafting! Ruby and I met several years ago when we were both members of the same design team, which seems like a lifetime ago haha! But today, I and several incredibly talented crafters are helping her celebrate her milestone, as well as crafting in general! You should have arrived here from Mayline’s blog, and your next stop is Kelly’s blog! There are some absolutely amazing prizes available, so make sure you read all the way to the end of the post!
For those who might not know my story, I started crafting after my wedding about 9 years ago. I had to make the perfect thank you notes, because of course none of the store-bought ones would do… plus, I thought I was being thrifty (joke was most definitely on me!). I got a Cricut for Christmas that year, and the rest is history. Initially, my crafting was a way to keep my creative mind entertained while finishing graduate school, but then it ended up being my lifeboat while my husband and I waited to become parents. Crafting kept my mind occupied for nearly three years while it seemed like every friend, relative, and acquaintance had children and we (inexplicably) did not. After carrying our twins and becoming a stay-at-home-mom, crafting became my lifeboat from the stresses of motherhood! I am lucky enough to have evolved from just crafting for my sanity to being on several design teams and doing guest work for my favorite companies, and I am currently on the Ellen Hutson, Hero Arts, HoneyBee Stamps, and Where Creativity Meets C9 design teams. Not only have I been granted some tremendous opportunities within this fantastic industry, I have made some absolutely wonderful friends, friends without whom I would be lost. I am so grateful for all of the dividends that this wonderful crafting world has sent to me!
For my project today, I wanted to do something extra special, because I am truly so grateful for this industry and the friends I have made because of it, so I pulled out my Polychromos pencils. Polychromos pencils are most certainly not the quickest medium to use, but it is impossible to argue with the results. The depth that you can achieve with pencils still blows me away more than any other medium, and you all know how I love my mediums. I don’t discriminate. 😉
I started with the absolutely stunning Grateful For Everything from the brand new Concord and 9th release. I knew that I wanted to do some no-line coloring, so I stamped the main floral image on some charcoal card stock using white pigment ink. I then used my Polychromos colored pencils to color the floral image. When coloring on very dark colored card stock, I first lay down a layer of white pencil on the petal I want to color, then add my colored pencil over the top, starting with the lightest and working my way up to the darkest colors. Part of my love affair with Polychromos pencils is due to the fact that I can add layer upon layer of color. Each layer adds more depth and dimension to my project. After adding the “color” from the colored pencil, I frequently will go back in with a dark gray or black and add some depth to the areas that I want to be darkest. That contrast between very light and very dark helps the image pop off of the page even more. 
I will be honest: I don’t care much for orange. But I saw this color combination on a dress that I was considering (I get SO much inspiration from fabrics and home decor!) that I just had to translate it into a card front. I wish I had been able to figure out a way to get another sprig of berries on there to have another pop of blue, but I ran out of time. To finish off the card, I used my T-square and a white pencil to create a frame around the edge of the card front. I also die cut the coordinating Grateful for Everything greeting twice from scrap card stock and once from some pale blue card stock (had to add in another little pop of blue!), which I adhered together to create a dimensional die cut for a simple greeting. The final touch was some gems that added the perfect amount of iridescence and texture to the card front.
Well, that’s all for me today! I hope you enjoyed my project. It was a labor of love, for sure! Pencils are so time consuming, but I think so worth it in the end!
Now, for the giveaway information:
In celebration of this anniversary, we have several amazing sponsors. Let’s thank them for their generosity! Winners will be randomly selected from comments left on all the blogs. The winners will be announced by Wednesday, September 5 on this page. Winners will have up to 2 weeks to contact Rubeena at ararerubycrafts@gmail.com to claim their prize before another winner is selected.
You should have arrived here from Mayline’s blog, and your next stop is Kelly’s blog! You can head back to Ruby’s blog if you get lost! Thank you so much to Ruby for having me as a guest on your hop, and congratulations on your milestone! May the next four years of crafting be just as wonderful for you! Thanks so much for stopping by today, and have a marvelous week! Happy Hopping! 🙂
Wonderful, love the pop of color on the black background. Thanks for sharing.
Gorgeous card, love the color combo just amazing. Thanks for sharing.
Your card is absolutely stunning!
I adore colored pencils and what you did with this is amazing!
The depth in your colors is amazing. I am practicing this technique but am not there yet… patience, and I won’t give up. You give me hope!!
Your work is always so gorgeous — This is no exception. Just beautiful, as always.
absolutely love the rich colors on the dark background! I may need to get myself some Polychromos pencils!! Thanks for the inspiration!
STUNNING!
Beautiful card!!! The colors are amazing!!! I’m not a big fan of orange either, but you totally made it work with this card!!! The colors and coloring is just amazing! Thank you so much for sharing! 💜
Wow this is so gorgeous!!! love it
Your card is just stunning!!
So gorgeous card. Love how you inspired by colours from fabrics and tried depicting the same beautifully. Your colouring is amazing 😍😍😍
Incredibly gorgeous coloring. Thanks.
Love love love dark backgrounds. Thank you!
EMILY!! WOW! Your coloring on the charcoal cardstock is just amazing! I really appreciate you taking the time to let us know your secrets, like stamping with white, coloring with white first, and going back in with a gray pencil to add shadows (I always seem to forget you can mix pencils, copics, etc,to get new colors). Wonderful post!
Absolutely stunning, I love your coloring.
Wow! This card is absolutely gorgeous. I love how those beautiful flowers pop on that dark background.
So pretty! Coloring with polychromos is just so amazing and pretty!
Wow!! Such a stunning card and your coloring is absolutely gorgeous! You inspire me to try pencils on dark cardstock.
Incredible coloring!
Definitely worth it to me to look at … since you color so magnificently!! This is so very beautiful. Love how you drew your own frame with the white pencil, too.
Beautiful. The colors are bold and vivid.
Look amazing against the dark backgk\round.
thanks for sharing
txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com
The card is just amazing! Love the way you have coloured the image. I am too intimidated by pencil colours to even try! But I do love and appreciate the work that artists like you create.
This is beautiful.
I love how the colors pop on the dark background! Beautiful card! 🙂
Love the bright colors with the black.
Wow…….I am never surprised at how truly beautiful and eye catching your cards are….all I can say is WOW….I love it so much….and I went to check out those Polychromo pencils…well….Not in my budget…I will have to use the ones that I have….I am so loving all of the super talent along this great hop…..such a wonderful celebration for Rubeena…and all of you great supportive artists…bless you all…big hugs….keep crafting..
Emily, this is stunning!!!
Your card is beautiful. I love the gorgeous coloring on the dark background.
WOW, a labour of love for sure Emily! Your pencil work is AMAZING! Very well done and thanks for sharing your story!
such a beautiful card, Emily – and loved reading about your crafting journey
OMG, Emily…another gorgeous amazing project! Thanks for sharing your crafting story and joining Rubeena’s anniversary celebration.
Gorgeous card! The colors are so vibrant. I really enjoyed reading your crafty story. Thanks for sharing!
Love the colored pencils on black! This card is just so beautiful.
Wow! Absolutely beautiful!
Beautiful! I love the bright colors on the dark background! So detailed!
Stunning card! Amazing pencil work and fantastically vibrant colors, wonderful tribute to this amazing crafty community. Thanks for sharing your story 🙂
Wow… just amazing! I can only imagine how long this took you to do. So much detail, so many layers!!! Amazingly beautiful 🙂
This card has so much WOW factor it’s nearly impossible to describe!! It looks like I could reach in & pick one of those berries. I’m with you about the colour orange, but it sure adds to this card. It’s perfect on it. Emily, you’ve outdone yourself & it was so nice to learn a bit about you.
I have no words – amazingly beautiful card! You are so talented Emily! Thank you for sharing your artistic talents with us!
Absolutely gorgeous!! Your coloring never ceases to amaze me.
Stunning card, fabulous coloring.
Absolutely fabulous card! Your coloring is amazing! Thanks for sharing some of your technique.
I’m drooling over your card! It is amazingly beautiful! The depths of the colors are incredible! You are very talented! TFS!
Love your card, Those beautiful fall colors are stunning.
I love using colored pencils on dark cardstock. Like you, I frequently find inspiration in textiles, esp table linens.
Beautiful coloring! Thanks for sharing!
Your coloring is spectacular!!!
Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!!
Incredible! Absolutely stunning!!! You are so talented….wow!! Thank you for sharing this beautiful card with us.
<3 J
jwoolbright at gmail dot com
HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com
Swoon! I love those vivid florals. Such amazing talent!
I’m still working on my technique for coloring with colored pencils and need more practice. I think your card is beautiful and that you’ve perfected your technique. 🙂
Emily, I am in awe of your skills! You truly do magic with pencils! Thank you so much for being part of my celebration, and I am so happy to read your words. Hugs, my friend. Congratulations on all your achievements and all that the crafting industry has brought for you. I hope that it brings you many more wonderful things. Hugs, my friend!
lol I said hugs, my friend twice! #facepalm #tired
I love blog hops because they inspire me to create and all of you are so talented that I can’t help but be inspired. Thank you.
Your card is stunning!
That is some mad gorgeous
coloring! I would like to try
using my Polychromos pencils
on the dark card stock, but have
been afraid. Thanks for the tips!
Wow! The coloring on your card is beautiful. This must have taken a long time to color but it was worth it. Love the border you added.
Your card is absolutely stunning. I love that you used pencils as I can’t afford copics, and that seems to be the way to go. Beautiful coloring. Can’t wait to try this !! Thank you for the email, so I could come and post here.
Beautiful card, love your amazing colored flowers on that dark background! Great idea for inspiration – home decor and dresses!
Love your card and the colour combo is stunning. Your colouring is beautiful and has so much depth
What a stunningly beautiful card! Love the bright, bold color against the black background!
Thank you sponsors for this super-hop. And thank you for the info and inspiration here! Beautiful pencilwork…
Wow!! Gorgeous coloring!! Totally love this beautiful card!!
My gosh, your flowers look gorgeous!
You must have nice pencils because it looks great. I am not very skilled, but am trying. You are very artistic.
Very bright and vibrant. It’s eye catching. Beautiful card.
Very bright and very colorful. Stunningly beautiful.
I love the color combo and that you saw it on a dress. I frequently turn to my fiance and tell him how some stranger’s outfit would make for a great card! Then I stare for longer than I should… 🙂
This is just stunning! Thank you for sharing your story of your crafting journey. I love reading these stories.
Awesome card! I especially love how the colors pop against the black background! Congrats to Rubeena!
awesome card – love the vibrant colors you used – amazing coloring:)
So vivid on black cardstock!
Awesome card. I have the flowers on the black background.
Thanks for sharing…
Wow!! Stunning card!!!
That was done with pencils? AMAZING!
Gorgeous card! Love the brilliant orange behind the flowers.
Amazing card!
Thanks so much for the inspiration.
Gorgeous coloring! Love the contrast with the dark background! Enjoying all these beautiful creations along the hop to celebrate Rubeena’s crafting anniversary!
Your coloring is always amazing!
Oh how gorgeous — love that black background!
Stunning! Thanks for telling us how you coloured the flowers! Great work!
My jaw dropped, and I think it will take me a while to bring it back up! THIS IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! This must be one of the most beautiful cards I have EVER seen!
So pretty. What great colors
Wow! Gorgeous card!!! Beautiful colouring!!!
Emily, your coloring is awesome!! I love all of the colors and the orange looks great!! Beautiful!!
Emily your colouring always amazes me ! This card is stunning! Thanks for sharing your crafty story also . Your projects are always beautiful x
Beautiful card and enjoyed reading about your crafting journey!
This is just wow! Your pencil coloring looks just amazing!!! I love it against the dark background too!
This is such a beautiful card! The coloring is fantastic! Thank you for sharing this and for being a part of this blog hop!
Congratulations to Rubeena! Love her work. And what an amazing group this crafting world is to sponsor such wonderful prizes. Love your card inspiration too! Your colouring is simply STUNNING!
AMAZING card!!!
Beautiful colors and amazing coloring skills!
Wow! Amazing coloring!
Such a beautiful card!
Love your beautiful coloring on the dark background. The placement and color of the sentiment looks perfect.
Gorgeous card!
I love this on the dark card stock. Soooo pretty.
Beautiful card! Love the look of the bright colors on the dark cardstock. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing your beautiful card with colored pencils on grey cardstock.I like this technique but keep forgetting to try it.
Oh…my…goodness! Your coloring is breathtaking! Such a lovely card. You make an ordinary image come to life! So beautiful!
What an absolutely gorgeous card! I love the fall colors and that you did it on a dark background really makes the image pop! Thanks so much for the great inspiration!
Emily, this is GORGEOUS.
Your card is extra special and beautiful!
Absolutely stunning, Emily! Youu coloring is fabulous!
Honestly I don’t care for orange either but wow it sure look great here !
I enjoyed reading a bit about your crafting journey. Your talent shows through on this creation.
This card is absolutely stunning! I would frame it- your coloring is incredible!! 🙂
Gorgeous Gorgeous!! Just magical coloring… love it especially on the black!
Your coloring is outstanding! I love the way the black background makes the beautiful colors pop!
What a fabulous design Emily! Love the bold colors against the black backdrop. The sentiment is very pretty too! Thanks for the inspiration!
If only my pencil coloring looked like that!
Wow, your coloring is amazing! I’m not a huge fan of orange either, but on your card it’s gorgeous! I hope someday to be able to color half as well as you. Thanks for sharing this beautiful card and for being a part of Rubeena’s celebration.
This is stunning, Emily, as always 😍
Absolutely beautiful card! Your colouring and design are stunning!
Well, who wouldn’t LOVE to receive that vision of loveliness in the mail?!? Absolutely stunning is an understatement of the gorgeous work you did on this card! I LOVE the vivid and well blended color you used on the dark backdrop, and the added outline really gives the card a finished look. Thanks so much for sharing–have a blessed evening Emily.
Gorgeous card! Beautiful colour combination. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Absolutely stunning! I must try this technique some day!
Congrats to Ruby!
I don’t even know what to say. This card is amazing!! Your ability to bring the flowers to life is incredible. Thank you for sharing your art.
SQUEAL!! Just BEAUTIFUL!! THANKS for sharing and have a FABULOUS WEEK!! =)
Your card is gorgeous! I love how you colored the floral images. Colored pencils look so great on dark cardstock 🙂
Gorgeous card and I love love the darker background, it just makes everything else pop! Thanks for sharing and for supporting Ruby’s anniversary!
Wow!! Such gorgeousness!!!
Your card is amazingly! I love Coloring with pencils, and am inspired to continue to practice by talented artists like you.
wow! your coloring just glows!
Emily, this is so beautiful. Looking forward to trying some tips you shared here. Thank you for sharing.
Emily, I am always so inspired by your work and this card is spectacular! I love the look you can get with the Polychromos pencils, it’s just not like any other medium. They are are at the top of my Christmas list this year lol. Thank you for being a part of Rubeena’s celebration and thank you for sharing your card and talent with all of us.
Oh wow !!! That’s such a magnificent card !! I love black base so much with such a perfect coloring.
[margessw(at)icloud(dot)com]
Love the vibrant colors against the dark background.