Back In Black Dark Background and Colored Pencil

ByJill Lipscomb August 5, 2016March 8, 2023

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A dark background on a card can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Colored pencils work amazingly well on dark backgrounds. So does heat embossing! I took my own advice when I created Back in Black. Yes, I’m an AC/DC fan. Hehehehe! I have never created a card with a black background and I’ve watched some my favorite paper crafters create so many beautiful backgrounds with stamps….so I thought I’d give it a shot. I had Winnie & Walter’s In Bloom: Lola’s Bouquet just staring at me saying “Pick me! I’m perfect for this project.” So I did!

Dark Background and Colored Pencil

First, I stamped the largest flower outline and a flower center in Versamark. I covered each flower image with Hero Arts white embossing powder then heat the embossing powder until smooth.

Each flower was colored with Prismacolor pencils.

I wanted some additional texture in the flower. I added Wink of Stella clear shimmer all over each of the flowers.

Then I broke out an older ink pad…Archival Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue Pigment ink pad. I added tiny circle stamps from the same set all over the background in this color. I heat set that too just to make sure I didn’t stick my finger in it and smear ink everywhere.

Next, I pulled out Colour Chameleon by Clearly Besotted and the coordinating die set. I stamped the images using MFT Stamps Hybrid Black Licorice and then used my Copics to color in the lizard and a paint brush.

Copic colors used: BG13, BG15, BG18, V09, V15, V17, W1, W5, E15, and E29.

I used fun foam on the back of the lizard and the paintbrush to give them a little lift.
The sentiment is stamped in black ink from Stampin’ Up!

I hope you like my first attempt at a black, custom background.

The full list of products used

Black cardstock
Neenah – Solar White
Stamp set(s): Winnie & Walter – In Bloom Lola’s Bouquet; Clearly Besotted – Colour Chameleon
Mediums: Prismacolor color pencils; Copic Markers Ink(s): Versamark, Lawn Fawn Black Adhesive: Stampin’ Up! – Fast Fuse; Stampin’ Up! Fine Tip Glue Pen Fun Foam Embellishment (unknown brand)