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CZ Design

No color critters (with a super fun colorful background!)

June 14, 2021

No color critters (with a super fun colorful background!)

If you ever struggle with choosing colors for adorable stamped critters, I have a fun idea for you today! The answer is so simple: don’t color them!

I love this look and I never think to do it! Until, of course, today! Leaving the critter black and white and adding a colorful panel behind it? So easy and so much simpler for me than coloring with markers. Plus, I love the look!

Here is the video showing you how I created the card:

Hope this inspires you to skip the detailed coloring, and whip out the stencils instead!

HOP DETAILS: Pretty Pink Posh is giving away three $25 gift certificates during this hop, one winner drawn from comments left on that day’s hop participants’ blogs! Here are todays makers:

Pretty Pink Posh blog
Caly Person
Ashley Ebben
Heather Hoffman
Cathy Zielske—you are here!
Yana Smakula
Alberto Gava
Laura Bassen

Leave a comment to be entered! Comments must be left by 11:59 PM PST on 6/20/2021. Winners will be announced on the PPP blog.

SUPPLIES:

Affiliate links are used in this post and below at no additional cost to you. I receive a small percent of compensation when you click through and shop using the provided links. This helps me to continue building my YouTube channel and my small business. Thank you!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Estelle Wujcik says

    June 14, 2021 at 7:34 am

    Your cards are always inspirational. Love the surfboards!

    Reply
  2. Melissa Teeling says

    June 14, 2021 at 8:24 am

    Love this idea, thank you!

    Reply
  3. Meghan Kennihan says

    June 14, 2021 at 8:28 am

    I love the surf stencil and the lion! HOW CUTE!

    Reply
  4. Deepa says

    June 14, 2021 at 8:46 am

    That is a really nice idea to emphasize your background!

    Reply
  5. Lisa B Harvey-Reber says

    June 14, 2021 at 8:54 am

    So cute Cathy. It would never occur to me to leave my critter naked…not sure my OCD will allow but I’ll give it a try!

    Reply
  6. Sheri D says

    June 14, 2021 at 8:58 am

    How stinkin cute is this! Thank you for such wonderful inspiration!

    Reply
  7. Anny Hale says

    June 14, 2021 at 8:59 am

    Cathy this is a great idea! Now I neeeeed that stencil!

    Reply
  8. Bernadette says

    June 14, 2021 at 9:10 am

    Those critters are so fun and I love that background!

    Reply
  9. Isabel Z says

    June 14, 2021 at 9:11 am

    What a great idea and the finished look is fantastic!

    Reply
  10. Susan Young says

    June 14, 2021 at 9:42 am

    Love how this turned out even without color! Looks awesome!

    Reply
  11. Anneleise Hampson says

    June 14, 2021 at 9:47 am

    What a great card! Amazing.

    Reply
  12. Ann Ito says

    June 14, 2021 at 9:52 am

    Love this idea because I am just not a good colorer. I like to color but my coloring skills are pretty limited to just staying in the lines! Thanks for the great tips on having colorful backgrounds and simple focal images!

    Reply
  13. Melissa Leftrick says

    June 14, 2021 at 10:29 am

    This is awesome!! This background is so cool!!

    Reply
  14. Lori Spitzer says

    June 14, 2021 at 10:42 am

    Hi, CZ –
    I already commented on IG but will leave you a note here, too. I like coloring but know it’s not your fave. I think this is a genius solution — color the background by using the stencil and then, so as not to overwhelm the viewer or annoy the maker, leave the one design element b/w. Terrific! You get a gold star for today!
    Lori S in PA

    Reply
  15. Kelly B says

    June 14, 2021 at 10:47 am

    Adorable! LOVE those colors!

    Reply
  16. Alma Dirpaul says

    June 14, 2021 at 11:01 am

    Cute card. Thanks for sharing, Cathy.

    Reply
  17. Anne Sturgeon says

    June 14, 2021 at 11:11 am

    I am loving those stencils for the surfboards… he looks amazing un-colored! Fun release with loads of goodies for the summer season.

    Reply
  18. Patricia Wilson says

    June 14, 2021 at 11:34 am

    This card was so cute. You’re right in that you don’t always need color and you proved it. Loved that little lion.

    Reply
  19. roxanne tellini says

    June 14, 2021 at 11:54 am

    He is one cool cat!

    Reply
  20. FRANNIE REID says

    June 14, 2021 at 11:56 am

    I love that you left the critter black and white… and have the background so colorful… terrific idea!

    Reply
  21. Amanda Wilcox says

    June 14, 2021 at 12:02 pm

    Such a cool idea and I’m absolutely swooning over your stenciling! I ordered that already and can’t wait to play with it!

    Reply
  22. Sandra Smith says

    June 14, 2021 at 12:32 pm

    Love that card. The black and white lion over those cute colored surf boards is fantastic! And thanks so much for creating a video.

    Reply
  23. Sheri Kempke says

    June 14, 2021 at 12:38 pm

    Very cute card, love the surfboard colorful background! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply
  24. Cyndi Morris says

    June 14, 2021 at 1:31 pm

    What a fun card! Love that sweet critter and the stenciled background is wonderful.

    Reply
  25. BECCA YAHRLING says

    June 14, 2021 at 1:55 pm

    What a cool card this is! Fun, fun, fun!

    Reply
  26. Cheryl says

    June 14, 2021 at 2:06 pm

    So sweet!

    Reply
  27. Tina says

    June 14, 2021 at 2:10 pm

    Another great card! Totally going to use the misti with stencils to keep my backgrounds in place.

    Reply
  28. Elizabeth says

    June 14, 2021 at 2:57 pm

    Oh, Cathy! I think you’ve won me over to both layering stencils AND not feeling like I need to color ever critter. Your combo worked out perfectly.

    Reply
  29. Nandini Karmarkar says

    June 14, 2021 at 3:05 pm

    This card is really fun! The background looks amazing!

    Reply
  30. Patricia says

    June 14, 2021 at 3:09 pm

    Love your card. Have added the stamps and dies and stencils to my wish list.

    Reply
  31. Terrie D. (StarSpry) says

    June 14, 2021 at 5:49 pm

    Your card is great! I love this surfboard stencil. 🙂 Thanks for sharing this idea to avoid coloring critters; I’m going to give it a try!

    Reply
  32. Judy Russell says

    June 14, 2021 at 5:58 pm

    Such a cute card and lovely colors!

    Reply
  33. jean marmo says

    June 14, 2021 at 6:11 pm

    A wonderful release and gorgeous card!

    Reply
  34. Lara Read says

    June 14, 2021 at 6:13 pm

    Cathy you rock it every time! Love this card and thank you for the videos they help so much!

    Reply
  35. Mary Holshouser says

    June 14, 2021 at 6:47 pm

    Love the surfboards in the background.
    Cute critter. Fun card. thanks for
    sharing. txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Reply
  36. Denise Bryant says

    June 14, 2021 at 7:39 pm

    Love that background and the cute lion! Such a fun look with all of those fab surfboards… great colors! Awesome card!

    Reply
  37. Patricia Coleman says

    June 14, 2021 at 7:43 pm

    Super adorable card!! Thank you for sharing your creativity!

    Reply
  38. Jeanne Beam says

    June 14, 2021 at 8:03 pm

    Adorable card! Love the summer release…
    Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  39. Jeanne Beam says

    June 14, 2021 at 8:14 pm

    Adorable card! Love the background.
    Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  40. Jeanne Beam says

    June 14, 2021 at 8:24 pm

    Adorable card! Love the background and the critter.
    Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  41. Janet D. says

    June 14, 2021 at 8:55 pm

    He is one cool dude on a great background!

    Reply
  42. Jeanne Beam says

    June 14, 2021 at 8:57 pm

    Adorable card! Love the background and critter.
    Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  43. Lisascreativeniche says

    June 14, 2021 at 9:19 pm

    This rainbow background is awesome!

    Reply
  44. Marisela Delgado says

    June 14, 2021 at 10:42 pm

    Such a cute cards!

    Reply
  45. Sharon Gullikson says

    June 14, 2021 at 11:03 pm

    The surfboards are so cute. I LOVE THEM

    Reply
  46. Giselle D. says

    June 14, 2021 at 11:47 pm

    Not only am I not great at colouring but it takes so much time! Your card is a perfect example of getting a colourful card and not taking hours to complete it! I love the shine you created and look forward to my just ordered, embossing pens to arrive! So cute!

    Reply
  47. Jane says

    June 15, 2021 at 7:19 am

    Adorable card!

    Reply
  48. MIchelle Hackett says

    June 15, 2021 at 8:00 am

    Yes Cathy, this is a great look. Black and white can be elegant, or fun and playful like this card. Great design.

    Reply
  49. Autumn Bell says

    June 15, 2021 at 10:31 am

    I love, love, love this release. This is an awesome technique! I’ll definitely give it a go. And your color choices are just delish! Thanks for the inspiration.

    Reply
  50. Pam R says

    June 15, 2021 at 11:16 am

    What a great way to make a quick card. Never thought to leave the critter colorless, I’ll add it to my todo technique.

    Reply
  51. Donna Griffin says

    June 15, 2021 at 12:37 pm

    So in love with that stencil with the surf boards! Will be such a great addition to my stash! And love how Cathy did the no color critter! I’m definitely coloring critter challenged!

    Reply
  52. Donna Griffin says

    June 15, 2021 at 12:38 pm

    Loving that surfboard stencil!!

    Reply
  53. Sue D says

    June 15, 2021 at 12:40 pm

    Cute lion and I like the colorful background.

    Reply
  54. Jenifer says

    June 15, 2021 at 1:25 pm

    I have such a hard time leaving my stamps uncolored. This gives me so much inspiration!

    Reply
  55. Gayle F says

    June 15, 2021 at 1:56 pm

    Love the colorful background over the simple stamped image. Thank you for the inspiration!

    Reply
  56. Joyce says

    June 15, 2021 at 2:17 pm

    OH, my. That lion is the best and the coolest.

    Reply
  57. Megan N says

    June 15, 2021 at 6:09 pm

    That is one super cool lion! 🙂

    Reply
  58. Lindsey A Collins says

    June 15, 2021 at 7:08 pm

    Super cute and love the idea of no color since I’m not much for coloring.

    Reply
  59. Donna Walls says

    June 15, 2021 at 9:38 pm

    Love the card and the process video. Great idea too, thanks for the inspiration.

    Reply
  60. SueB says

    June 16, 2021 at 12:38 am

    Super cute card.

    Reply
  61. Carol Kawakami says

    June 16, 2021 at 8:56 am

    Saw your video and loved your card! I had to get the stencils!

    Reply
  62. Lisa M Byers says

    June 16, 2021 at 9:58 am

    I love the surfboards!! What a wonderful idea!! And that is the cutest little lion!!

    Reply
  63. Jennifer Reece says

    June 16, 2021 at 1:35 pm

    Very cute–and I love the alternative to coloring!!

    Reply
  64. Margaret Mckernan says

    June 16, 2021 at 4:36 pm

    Great technique for a quick and fun card!

    Reply
  65. Lucy E. says

    June 16, 2021 at 8:34 pm

    This is such a fun card! I love all of the color behind the black and white lion-great contrast.

    Reply
  66. Natalie Godfrey says

    June 16, 2021 at 8:36 pm

    Cute card Love the colors used!

    Reply
  67. Ruth says

    June 16, 2021 at 10:48 pm

    Great card!

    Reply
  68. Kelsey Thomas says

    June 17, 2021 at 8:57 am

    Such an adorable card!

    Reply
  69. Joanne Travis says

    June 17, 2021 at 10:08 am

    Love the surfboard background! Super cute card.

    Reply
  70. Janice Hixon says

    June 17, 2021 at 1:05 pm

    I am in love with the surfboard stencils. Your background is awesome. I love all that color so much that I don’t even miss the little animal not being colored. What a neat trick for for all of us that are not Picassos.

    Reply
  71. Jenna Chapman says

    June 17, 2021 at 4:21 pm

    Great idea! I like this card. I just bought a stencil and some foam discs. I’m really enjoying coloring like this. They work so well.

    Reply
  72. Jenna Chapman says

    June 17, 2021 at 4:24 pm

    Love using stencils now!!! So fun! Super cute card!

    Reply
  73. kathleen dumpert says

    June 18, 2021 at 11:59 am

    I like your stencil background on your card, screams summer!

    Reply
  74. Lauryne Cunningham says

    June 18, 2021 at 4:24 pm

    That is the cutest card! Great idea to have a colorful background and a black and white image!

    Reply
  75. Heather Mills says

    June 19, 2021 at 8:41 pm

    How cute!! The patterns on the surfboards are so fun!

    Reply

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