I know a lot of people are curious as to how I colored in my Thomas Kinkade stamps (by Cornish Heritage Farms.) So I decided to share the process step by step. Hope you find it helpful.
1. Before you use your stamp for the first time, condition your stamp by cleaning it and scrubbing it several times. Using Stampin' Up! Always Artichoke ink up your rubber stamp. I use a roller for the larger images, however I have used just the ink pad and it works out fine.
What paper to use? I used a very smooth toothed gray paper that I found at our local scrapbooking store. I like SU! Whispering White also, it gives a really crisp image.
2. The first areas to color are your brights. I used Prismacolor Pencils 
Pink, Pale Vermillion, Crimson Lake and Imperial Violet. Refer back to the stamps label for correct placement of the colors. Work all the areas you can find that have these colors.
3. Now you can start adding more color. Using Mediterranean Blue, Limepeel, Marine Green you can start adding in the blue and green areas. While working with the blues and greens I keep adding more of the pinks, orange, red and violets. Remember you are layering colors on top of colors. Go into the pink areas and add some red and greens. Into the orange areas do the same. And so on. You want to create
depth by adding layers of pencils.
4. I use short pencil strokes to color in the image.
5. Here's a closeup. You can better see here how these layers are beginning to be built up. I've added greens to the water (the reflection of the foliage in the water.) Purples to the sky.
6. I'm now introducing 2 more colors, French Grey 90% and Yellow Ochre. The French Grey is what you use to bring out the details. This is the color I used to bring out all the shadows. The Yellow Ochre was used in the path, the trees and the grass.
(And any other areas I wanted to highlight.) Remember, to refer back to your stamp label for color placement and always go back and use other pencils you have used before to continue to add more layers.
7. Detail of with the new colors added in. Notice how the grey really helps to create the depth you are looking for in the drawing. With out it, the image would look flat. Make sure to sharpen you pencils in order to get into some of the finer areas.
8.The final two colors added are Light Aqua and Grass Green. I used the Grass Green first. Make sure the point is really sharpened. You may need your reading glasses! Add the wrought iron detail of the fence and the dome. Layering the Aqua on top of the grass green. (Let some of the darker green show beneath.)
9. Here you can see how all the colors have come together in the end.
Click on the images to enlarge.
Supplies:
Thomas Kinkade Garden of Prayer by Cornish Heritage Farms
Stampin' Up! Always Artichoke
Prismacolor Pencils: Marine Green, Pink, Pale Vermillion, Crimson Lake, Mediterranean Blue, Imperial Violet, Lime Peel, Yellow Ochre, Grass Green, Light Aqua and French Grey 90%
Speedball Roller
Smooth grain paper
Just remember, it's all about adding layers on top of layers. Using more than one color on top of another to create depth. And practice!
http://forums.cornishheritagefarms.com/gallery2.php/v/tkdt/tktgop/
You are a goddess! okay, I just read that tutorial 2 times (awesome tutorial, btw), and i'm still sitting in awe of you... :)
Posted by: Elizabeth Royalty | July 20, 2007 at 09:46 AM
Asela that is truly amazing! You are an artist, not a stamper! This is a very beautiful image.
Have a great weekend!
Posted by: Amy | July 20, 2007 at 10:38 AM
Nice tutorial! I use different pencils but I think I can manage.
Now my question is, do you "cover" stamped areas with your pencils, or do you try to "stay in the lines" that is never go over stamped parts. this would not be all THAT obvious if one stamps with a darker color, but stampping with the light color one could cover up the design, no?
Posted by: Etha | July 20, 2007 at 10:45 AM
Fabulous tutorial, Asela!
Posted by: Sharon Harnist | July 20, 2007 at 11:49 AM
I can practice till the cows come home and I'll never be at your level. HOLY COW WOMAN!! Every time I visit, my mouth drops!! Thanks for all the awesbomb eye candy!!
BTW... you rock!! Seriously ROCK!! You've been tagged as a Rockin Blog!! See my blog when you have a chance!!
Love ya girl!!
~C
Posted by: Cambria Turnbow | July 20, 2007 at 12:14 PM
Great question Etha. I do go over the lines. But it's not an issue here, because I use the orginally stamped image as a guide. (That's why I chose A.Artichoke as my base color, it gave me my green medium base color.)Then I was able to layer colors that were darker on top and also lighter in tone. If you stamped the image in black, and I've done this, it is way to dark and you can not add all the beautiful details on top of the lines. Hope that made sense.
Posted by: Asela | July 20, 2007 at 01:30 PM
you are simply amazing, asela! that's why i tagged ya as a rockin' girl!
Posted by: erika | July 20, 2007 at 02:27 PM
This is so beautiful! Thanks for the awesome tutorial! I know I will need LOTS of practice, but this sure helps. ;)
Posted by: Rose Ann | July 20, 2007 at 04:54 PM
Your coloring is perfect! Thanks for the tutorial & encouragement to try it ourselves.
Posted by: Linda | July 20, 2007 at 06:55 PM
Thanks for sharing this! It was fun to watch the beautiful transformation and I will be referring back to it, for sure.
Posted by: Jessica | July 20, 2007 at 08:08 PM
Beautiful work!! :)
Posted by: iralamija | July 21, 2007 at 01:28 AM
And you dont set the colors with gamsol or anything? I like how it almost looks scribbled and then blends so nice. I make such a mess sometimes with colors. Hopefully, this company will be at the stamp show in AUgust.Crapola-just checked the flyer-not coming at all. will have to saunter over to the site and maybe get me some pretties.
Posted by: Jan Scholl | July 21, 2007 at 03:09 AM
Check out this video Jan. You'll better understand the properties of Prismacolor pencils.
http://www.prismacolor.com/sanford/consumer/prismacolor/mystudio/flashPopup.jhtml?flash=pencil.swf
Posted by: Asela | July 21, 2007 at 06:59 AM
Oh My! So very beautiful! I love it!
Posted by: Connie Pruitt | July 21, 2007 at 08:40 AM
What a great tutorial and what a gorgeous result! Thank you so much for sharing that. :)
Karen L.
Posted by: KayellWY | July 21, 2007 at 09:31 AM
Great tutorial. That is ALOT of work!
Posted by: Karen | July 22, 2007 at 05:42 AM
Your card and tutorial are Just stunning girlie .. You make it look soooo easy .. seriously you are Rockin ...
xoxo
Dawn
Posted by: Dawn Griffith | July 22, 2007 at 07:17 AM
WOW! I am a huge fan of Thomas Kinkade and I absolutely love this stamp! You rock with the prisma colors :) It is absolutely beautiful, Thanks for the amazing tutorial. BTW, love you blog!
~Holly
Posted by: Holly | July 23, 2007 at 10:41 AM
Excellent tutorial...I have learned two or three things...(use green instead of black to stamp, and DON'T try to blend the colors with OMS)
Thanks for the great instructions.
Posted by: Colleen | July 24, 2007 at 02:28 PM
Excellent tutorial...I have learned two or three things...(use green instead of black to stamp, and DON'T try to blend the colors with OMS)
Thanks for the great instructions.
Posted by: Colleen | July 24, 2007 at 02:29 PM
This is amazing! My question though is about prepping your stamp. What do you use to clean your stamp and what do you use and how do you scub it? I have a picture in my head of you and a kitchen scrub pad and I KNOW that can't be right. The Thomas Kincade stamps are so detailed I would be afraid to harm the stamp. I know you're probably laughing at me right now but I just had to know.
THANKS,
Angie
Posted by: Angie Warren | July 25, 2007 at 01:28 PM