Copic shading

The latest challenge at Copic Creations is to add shading either around your image or within your image. Well, I bought this digital image a few weeks back and have been dying to use it so this was the perfect challenge to inspire me. The image is from Make it Crafty - I am in love with all their images but hesitated buying because I worried that my colouring isn't good enough for these incredibly detailed stamps. It took quite a bit of work but I am really happy with the result!

For the first time, I made full use of my collection of grey markers on a project. I used warm greys for shading the wood and plants, cool greys for the stone steps and neutral greys for everything else. I tend to be quite hesitant about my shading but this time I pushed myself to add more and as a result I think the image looks very dimensional.

I chose some Basic Grey patterned papers (from the "Pyrus" set) and used basic kraft paper for all of the matting. The sketch is from the current Basic Grey Challenge. The only part of this card that makes me unhappy is the 3 flowers that I made for embellishment. I tried to mimic the shape of the flowers in the stamped image and then crumpled up the paper to give more dimension, but I'm afraid they just don't really work. I can't think of anything better though so they'll have to do for now. Hopefully I will come up with something better before the card gets used. If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them!

Challenges:
Basic Grey Challenges - sketch
A Spoon Full of Sugar - anything goes
Creative Card Crew - autumn or fall (autumn colours)
Everybody Art Challenge - autumn (autumn colours)
Charisma Cardz - anything goes
Copic Creations - shading on or around your image
Stamp Something - something with Fall colours