Fanci Freez

When I was in Idaho for Banana Ball, Kari suggested lunch at Fanci Freez. Fanci Freez been around since 1947 and has won quite a few "Best of Boise" awards. I happily agreed. Everything on their menu looked pretty good, but when I travel I tend to order things you can't get anywhere else, particularly if they're significant to the area. I have never seen a Huckleberry Cheeseburger before and huckleberries are Idaho's state fruit, so that's what I ordered. Doesn't it look amazing?!

The Huckleberry Cheeseburger features a burger patty with fresh huckleberry spread, lettuce, onion, and blue cheese on a corn-dusted bun. I paired it with a huckleberry milkshake. When in Idaho, always get the huckleberry!

After we ordered our food, I intended to take pictures, read the plaques on the wall, etc. but I was immediately distracted by crayons and a stack of coloring pages. I sat down and started coloring. Our food was ready really quickly - usually a good thing, but I had barely made any progress coloring! I reluctantly set my coloring page aside. We ate our food and it was SO GOOD. I will definitely be requesting Fanci Freez and the Huckleberry Cheeseburger next time I visit. 

Back at Kari's house, I finished coloring while the rest of the family played  games. 

I colored the whole page with the crayons at the restaurant and the Twistables that Kari had. Her tabletop is textured, so I got a cool effect coloring the title and background. 

It turns out that this coloring page wasn't just something fun to entertain kids and craft bloggers waiting for their food; Fanci Freez is running a 79th anniversary coloring contest. I can't enter since my page is here with me in California and not turned in at their Meridian location, which is fine since I don't know that the contest is for 54-year olds. 

I've added Fanci Freez to my list of restaurants you should definitely visit when you're in Idaho. No doubt I'll be back! And I'll be having the Huckleberry Cheeseburger every time. 

Coloring Donald and Daisy Duck with a Neon Effect

After coloring Dumbo with a glow effect, I was excited to color Donald and Daisy with a neon effect. What a fun technique! And so much easier than I expected. Affiliate links below. 

 

Like Dumbo, Donald and Daisy came from the Disneyland Parks Colouring Book. I cut down the image to a 7" square. I got out my black Ohuhu Honolulu...

... and colored the background black, making sure i could still easily see the lines of the coloring page. 

Then I traced the lines of the characters using Ohuhu Nahukus. 

The next step was adding a really thin line of white over the center of each of the colored areas. It didn't end up perfect, but no matter. When that was dry, I used my Ohuhu Halawas  to add a soft glow around the edges of each line, then colored right up to that glow with black. I worked on one section at a time. 

In retrospect, I wish I'd used the black Honolulu or a black Kaala to color the background. It would have been easier and faster than the colored pencil. Not to mention, my black Halawa is now half the size of the rest of the set. 

I love how this turned out! And like I said, it was a lot of fun. I will definitely be doing this again. 

Creating Your Own Coloring Page from a Photo

Technology makes it incredibly easy to make your own coloring page. Pick a photo you like (one you personally took or that you have the rights to use)...

... and then use a photo editing program to convert it to an Edge Sketch. I used PicMonkey, of course. PicMonkey is a Shutterstock property, so a subscription includes access to a library of millions of royalty-free photos. 

Print your coloring page on good quality paper, then start coloring! I used Prismacolor colored pencils on Neenah Bristol Vellum. You can use the original photo as a guide for the colors, or you can color it any way you want. 

You could use this technique to make a coloring book of images from a special vacation or event. It would make a wonderful gift for anyone who loves to color. 

Coloring Disney Villains: Evil Queen

I took a break from coloring state quarters to do a quick Disney villain. Here's my Evil Queen: 

The image is from Art of Coloring Disney Villains (affiliate link here and below). It's a fun book filled with lots of different evil characters to color. 

Overall, I like the coloring book. There is a good mix of designs, some more simple and others more detailed. They represent a wide range of Disney movies, both older and newer. However, some of the images span across two pages, meaning some of the design is lost in the binding. The designs are printed back-to-back, so you can't color all the images if you work with markers. Fortunately, the paper is fairly thick, so I didn't have an issue with the printed design on the back showing through to my colored side. 

I started by coloring a base coat with Ohuhu Kaala and Honolulu markers, which is what you see on the left. Then I used Prismacolor colored pencils to add the tonal variation and shadows you see on the right. 

  

After coloring 42 pages using 12 different art materials, it is telling that I chose Ohuhu markers and Prismacolor pencils to do this page just for fun. Using the two combines the best of both worlds for me - the speed, color choice, and coverage of the Ohuhus along with the precision and ease of blending of the Prismacolors. 

I'm looking forward to coloring my next villain!

50 State Quarters: Coloring Pages Using Prismacolor Premier Markers

I've finished the next four of the 50 State Quarter coloring pages. Today's states include Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Virginia. This time I used Prismacolor art markers. Affiliate links here and below.   

I have loved Prismacolors for a long time and I enjoyed using them for these coloring pages. However, Ohuhu's alcohol markers have spoiled me. The quality is just as good as Prismacolor and there are so many more colors available (not to mention they are so much cheaper). 

Including these four, I have now completed 42 of the 50 State Quarter coloring pages. Here are all of the art materials I've used previously:

• Ohuhu Kaala markers (Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Wisconsin)
• ink and Prismacolor colored pencils (Connecticut, Idaho, Missouri, Montana)
• Flair pens (Delaware, Indiana)
• Sharpies (Maine, South Carolina)
• Stabilo Woody 3-in-1 (Colorado, New Hampshire)
• Folk Art acrylic paint (Wyoming, Rhode Island, Mississippi, Michigan)
• Crayola crayons (Florida, Maryland, South Dakota, Vermont)
• Himi gouache (Iowa, New York, Utah, West Virginia)
• Derwent Inktense pencils (Arizona, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana)
• Ohuhu Pupe markers (Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Washington)
• Koi watercolors by Sakura (Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Oklahoma)

Eight more pages to go!

50 State Quarters: Coloring Pages Using Sakura Koi Watercolors

Ready for the next batch of 50 State Quarter coloring pages? Today's states include Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Hawaii, and New Mexico. This time I used watercolors - specifically, the Koi Pocket Field Sketch Kit by Sakura. Affiliate links here and below.   

I really enjoyed using watercolors on these coloring pages. I started with a color wash on each, let that dry, and then painted on top of that. Of course, I struggled with filling in the tiny letters, especially on the Hawaii quarter where the letters are even thinner. But a good paintbrush made a big difference. 

Including these four, I have now completed 38 of the 50 State Quarter coloring pages. Here are all of the art materials I've used previously:

• Ohuhu Kaala markers (Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Wisconsin)
• ink and Prismacolor colored pencils (Connecticut, Idaho, Missouri, Montana)
• Flair pens (Delaware, Indiana)
• Sharpies (Maine, South Carolina)
• Stabilo Woody 3-in-1 (Colorado, New Hampshire)
• Folk Art acrylic paint (Wyoming, Rhode Island, Mississippi, Michigan)
• Crayola crayons (Florida, Maryland, South Dakota, Vermont)
• Himi gouache (Iowa, New York, Utah, West Virginia)
• Derwent Inktense pencils (Arizona, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana)
• Ohuhu Pupe markers (Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Washington)

It's exciting that the end of this project is in sight. Only 12 more pages to go!

50 State Quarters: Coloring Pages Using Ohuhu's New Pupe

I was trying to decide what art material to use for my next batch of 50 State Quarter coloring pages when I got an email from the folks at Ohuhu asking if I'd like to review their latest markers. Would I?! Yes! I absolutely love everything that Ohuhu makes. Just read my reviews of the Ohuhu Honolulu and Ohuhu Kaala alcohol markers and you'll see! Affiliate links below.  

Ohuhu's latest set, called Pupe, includes 60 water-based markers. But these are not ordinary water-based markers. They are specifically designed to be paper-friendly, meaning they won't scratch or peel the surface of your paper, even if you color over the same spot repeatedly. This is a total game-changer!

The Pupe markers are double-sided, with a brush tip and a 0.4 mm fineliner tip. They're non-toxic, acid-free, and fade-resistant. They come in a handy carrying case. And best of all, they are extremely inexpensive. But how is the quality? Fantastic! The ink goes down beautifully and my paper held up to 3-4 layers with no issues. Both tips are comfortable and easy to use. The colors are vibrant. If I have any complaint at all, it's that I wanted a paler grey for shading. I'd happily trade one of the oranges or reds for another grey or a light tan. But other than that, I absolutely love the Pupes. Here are the pages I colored: 

 

I know I said I wasn't going to announce my favorite art materials until after I've done all 50 State Quarters, but I will say that the Ohuhu's Pupe set is near the top. Here are all of the materials I've used previously:

• Ohuhu Kaala markers (Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Wisconsin)
• ink and Prismacolor colored pencils (Connecticut, Idaho, Missouri, Montana)
• Flair pens (Delaware, Indiana)
• Sharpies (Maine, South Carolina)
• Stabilo Woody 3-in-1 (Colorado, New Hampshire)
• Folk Art acrylic paint (Wyoming, Rhode Island, Mississippi, Michigan)
• Crayola crayons (Florida, Maryland, South Dakota, Vermont)
• Himi gouache (Iowa, New York, Utah, West Virginia)
• Derwent Inktense pencils (Arizona, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana)

A big thanks to Ohuhu for letting me test out the Pupe set. I'll be back to them soon, but for now I need to set them aside, find a different art material, and start on my next batch of State Quarter coloring pages.

50 State Quarters: Coloring Pages Using Himi Gouache

I've finished four more of the 50 State Quarter coloring pages: West Virginia, Iowa, Utah, and New York. For this batch, I used Himi gouache (affiliate link here and below). 

I've only used gouache a handful of times before, so this was all about experimentation. I learned a lot about the way gouache behaves (at least on the paper I used). I enjoyed the vibrancy of the colors and how they blended, but even better was the fact that I could reactivate dried areas. I had a lot of fun playing with gouache! If you've never tried it, you can't go wrong with the kit I used, which is under $20. 

I've now officially completed more than half of the 50 coloring pages. These are the other art materials I've used so far: 

• Ohuhu Kaala markers (Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Wisconsin)
• ink and Prismacolor colored pencils (Connecticut, Idaho, Missouri, Montana)
• Flair pens (Delaware, Indiana)
• Sharpies (Maine, South Carolina)
• Stabilo Woody 3-in-1 (Colorado, New Hampshire)
• Folk Art acrylic paint (Wyoming, Rhode Island, Mississippi, Michigan)
• Crayola crayons (Florida, Maryland, South Dakota, Vermont)

Only (haha!) 24 coloring pages to go!

50 State Quarters: Coloring Pages Using Folk Art Acrylic Paints

I've finished four more State Quarters coloring pages: Wyoming, Rhode Island, Mississippi, and Michigan. This time, I painted each with Folk Art acrylic paint (affiliate link). Painting in the tiniest letters was a challenge, but otherwise I really enjoyed painting each coloring page. I particularly had fun making the sunset background for Wyoming's quarter.

It's been a lot of fun using different art materials to do these coloring pages. Before this batch, I've used: 

• Ohuhu Kaala markers (Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Wisconsin)
• ink and colored pencil (Connecticut, Idaho, Missouri, Montana)
• Flair pens (Delaware, Indiana)
• Sharpies (Maine, South Carolina)
• Stabilo Woody 3-in-1 (Colorado, New Hampshire)

More State Quarters coming soon!

50 State Quarters: Coloring Pages Using Sharpies

I just finished two more coloring pages featuring the 50 State Quarters. Previously, I've colored with Ohuhu Kaala markers (Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, and Wisconsin), used inks as a base and layered colored pencil on top (Connecticut, Idaho, Missouri, and Montana), and "painted" with Flair pens (Delaware and Indiana). I colored South Carolina and Maine with classic Sharpies (affiliate link). It was a fun challenge. 

I say "challenge" because Sharpies are not typically used for this type of detailed coloring. They soak through paper, they don't blend, and there is a limited palette. (As it turns out, according to their FAQs, there are 49 different colors. I don't have nearly that many. I just counted - I have 24 colors.) But the #1 reason not to use Sharpies for coloring is the smell. I couldn't work for any length of time before needing to take a break from the fumes. 

Don't think for a minute that I don't like Sharpies. I LOVE Sharpies. One of the earliest blog posts I ever wrote was about why I love Sharpies. They're just not a great choice (for me - you might think differently) for detailed coloring pages. 

50 State Quarters: Coloring Pages Using Flair Pens

I just finished two more coloring pages featuring the 50 State Quarters. I've previously shared the first four (Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, and Wisconsin) that I colored with Ohuhu Kaala markers and the next four (Connecticut, Idaho, Missouri, and Montana) where I used inks as a base and layered colored pencil on top. Can you guess what I used for the Indiana and Delaware coloring pages? 

If you guessed Flair pens, I'm impressed! (Affiliate link here and below.) Specifically, I used this 12-pack of 0.7 mm tip pens. 

I printed the images as 7" circles, which is a ridiculous amount of surface area to fill with a fine tip pen. If I'd colored them in using just the 0.7 mm pens, I would have: 

• run out of ink partway through and had to buy more pens
• wrecked my hand
• lost my mind

Instead, I took advantage of a fun characteristic of Flair pens: they are water-based. By using a moist brush, you can drag the pigment beyond the place where you colored. Look at the tires below. For each tire, I colored part of it solid black, then drew horizontal lines on the remainder. Then I used my brush to blend them out. You can see the difference between the ones I've moistened (left) and the ones I haven't (right). 

Compare the blue outline of Indiana above with the finished project. See the way I dragged the blue in toward the center? I did the same thing with the black outline around the entire design. I really like the effect. And this technique lets you add color to large areas and still save your pen, hand, and sanity. 

A few precautions before you try coloring pages with Flair pens and water. First, print or copy the image onto watercolor paper for the best results. I did a trial run using printer paper and, as expected, it was a disaster. I ended up using Neenah Bristol Vellum because it was the best option that works in my printer. It didn't allow for as much blending as a watercolor paper would, but it didn't fall apart like the printer paper. 

Second, expect to have a lot of drying time. You can't apply Flair pens over moist areas, plus if you moisten two adjacent colors at once, the colors will run. Instead, work on one section at a time and then wait for it to dry before going on to the next area. I worked on both Indiana and Delaware simultaneously so that one could dry while I was working on the other. 

 

To cover a large space with visible texture (like the grass on the Delaware quarter), you can draw lots of little lines. I wasn't consistent in blending it out, but it doesn't bother me that the grass looks inconsistent. What does bother me are the lines on the horse. The 12-pack of Flair pens doesn't have a brown, so I had to use the black pen in different ways on the horse, the tack, and the boot. I suppose I could have used the purple and embraced a horse of a different color. 

I'm looking forward to coloring my next batch of State Quarters using a different method. I've printed out the designs; now I just need to pick my next medium and get started!

50 State Quarters Coloring Pages Featuring Ink and Prismacolor Colored Pencils

Remember the state quarters coloring pages I shared back in July? I colored those with my Ohuhu Kaalas. I chose four more states and challenged myself to color them using something different. Can you tell what I used? 

It's a bit of a trick question, because I actually used two different art supplies to color these. First, I used blending brushes to cover the large areas with dye-based ink (affiliate links here and below). 

Then I used Prismacolor colored pencils to blend colors over the ink base. That part was the most fun. My least favorite part was adding all of the leaves on Connecticut's Charter Oak. 

I had so much fun with these coloring pages and am eager to keep going with more states. I'm going to color the next batch with a different medium, but I'm not sure what that will be yet. Stay tuned!