Coloring Digital Images : 3 ways

Here is just a couple of quick ideas on how to use a digital image. I am not a pro, but these are the ways I love to do get the job done. :)

This is an example of a digital image (or digi stamp). This cute penguin is from Whimsie

Doodles (I added the watermark to protect the image from downloads).

From this point the image can be opened in any image editing program.

I use Photoshop and LOVE it. :) You can resize images

using the program to fit just about any project you might have in mind.

Here is an example of this penguin digitally colored. I used Photoshop and my "paint bucket" or color fill tool to color each part of my penguin. This is a very quick way to color in digital stamps. I find it easy to just print it out and use it on a project, but it may be hard to match patterned paper to the colors.

Here is my second method : Paper Piecing

I simply printed the image onto all the colors I'd like to use to build my penguin... the black is for the body, the white for the tummy and face, the red for the scarf and orange for the beak and feet.

As with any paper piecing, simply cut out each piece by hand.  You'll be gluing the pieces together to complete your colored look.  I love this method because you can get a colored digital image, but you still get the paper pieced look.  I've had lots of success using the same method for stamped images too.

Here is my third method to color in your digi : hand coloring.

Many crafters like this method. Personally I don't do this much because I don't have the fine artist grade markers or pencils, etc.  I borrowed my boy's Crayola markers for this coloring method. :)

Here are my three methods together. As you can see I digitally placed my third penguin in place on my image editing software (sorry, but I didn't get the chance to print him out before I wanted to publish this tutorial).

And here is the little card I created with my finished penguin. I ended up using my paper pieced penguin for this fun wintery card.  The paper is from Echo Park's "Holly Jolly Christmas" mini stack. I cut the mat from Winter Woodland.

As you can see I ended up changing her little scarf to match the non-traditional colors on my card. The little sentiment is from an old Stampendous set called "Holiday Words". I used Star Dust Stickles to add the glitter to the scarf, I also placed some black flat back pearls for the eyes.

I placed a scrap of the paper to the inside to complete the card... and of course I added the gel pen doodles using my Sakura / Gelly RollWhite Gel Pen.

I attached the penguin to the mat with pop dots and also added a pop dots under the little beak too.

Please feel free to email me if you have any questions about how to color your digital stamps. I am no expert, but I'll help whenever I can. :)