Happy Friday!!!
This post will detail how to color a detailed image quickly, layering color. I'll be using Copic markers for this very informal and quick tutorial.
I want to encourage you to try layering color and play/experiment. I start with three colors, one light, one medium and one dark, in the same color family.
My trick is to color in an area with the lightest color, then a little bit of the medium color, and finally, a smidgin of the darkest color. Let's get started!
First I picked a layout in my idea book (you can see Val's layout that I used here). I decided to use patterned paper for the lower portion of the card front. I am using Sprout here, a new 6x6 pad from Memory Box. I am using Cherry Blossom (all paper is Memory Box) for the card base. 
Ellen Hutson's site lists the coordinating Memory Box solid cardstock colors for each 6x6 pad - this saves me time, as I just pull those colors listed and pick one and go!
I then chose my marker colors and ribbon, using the Sprout paper as my guide, and created the card base.
Tulips from Lockhart Stamp Company were stamped using a Palette pad in Noir Black onto white cardstock (Papertrey Ink). I proceeded with the lightest colors, coloring in the whole part of that image: for the tulips, I colored using the lightest pink. For the leaves, I used the lightest 
green. For the vase, I used the lightest tan, then layered on the medium tan, giving a shadow effect, but with a harsh line. I did not blend the vase yet, as you can see in the photo. You can blend right away or blend all at one time - do what is easiest for you.
I opted to color in the outer frames at this time too, using the lightest tones.
Also, you can see how I outlined the whole image in my favorite BV31 pale lavender marker. I'll blend that out in the next step so it looks like a natural shadow. 
Next the medium color markers were layered on top of the light color markers. I only used a small amount. Note how I used my custom BV31c* to blend out the purple shadow around the stamped image. It not only 'pops' but looks nice & natural now.
*my BV31c - it's a normal 0 Sketch blender pen with 12 or so drops of BV31 ink mixed in - custom color! - this idea is from Debbie Olson. 
Then, the darkest colors were layered (tulips, leaves and flower stems), and I used only a tiny bit of color here.
Next, I blended the vase at this time using the lightest marker. Note I did not use a blender pen. I liked the tone of the vase and
did not want to remove color. A blender pen will make the color slightly lighter, and I just wanted to blend the light and medium colors together and get rid of the harsh lines between the two.
Blending with the original lighter color marker allows you to do that. I blended the leaves and the flowers this way too at this time.
Lastly, I decided the pink border needed some depth, so I outlined it with the medium pink, then blended it with the original lightest pink marker. I finished blending the tulip blossoms with the lightest pink marker as well. Done.
Trimmed image to desired size, and matted onto Licorice cardstock. Punched two holes and inserted two pink brads, and opted to omit the paper piecing that went with Val's original layout.
The card inside uses my formula of: 
- snippit or strip of patterned paper from card front
- stamped central image in a very muted ink
- sentiment in dark, bold ink color
