I am kicking off a new weekly series called Tiny Tuesday, where we create small, finishable projects that still feel special. For this first Tiny Tuesday, I pulled out one of my favorite Art Impressions stamps and created a tiny winter village scene, then brought it to life using colored pencils and Gamsol. If you have a small stamp, some colored pencils, and a little time to play, you can create this charming scene too.
Supplies for This Tiny Winter Village Scene
You can adapt this project to what you already have on hand. Here is what I used:
- Stamp
Small winter village scene stamp (mine is from Art Impressions) - Ink
Black Ranger Archival Ink or another waterproof, non-smearing ink - Paper
Smooth cardstock or marker-friendly paper that can handle blending without pilling - Coloring & Blending
Colored pencils you enjoy using (Crayola, Prismacolor, etc.)
Gamsol (odorless mineral spirits for blending colored pencils)
Paper stumps or blending tortillons in a few sizes, including a tiny one for small areas - Optional Extras
Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White or another white acrylic paint for snow highlights
A small detail brush
Baby oil and cotton swabs if you want to try an alternative to Gamsol - Tools
Acrylic stamping block or a stamp positioning tool
Scrap paper for test impressions
Pencil sharpener
Step 1: Stamp Your Tiny Winter Scene
Start by creating a clean, crisp impression of your winter village stamp.
- Mount your winter village stamp on an acrylic block, or place it in a stamp positioner if you want extra precision.
- Ink the stamp with black Ranger Archival Ink, making sure the image is evenly covered.
- Stamp onto your smooth cardstock using firm, even pressure.
- Let the ink dry for a minute so it does not smear when you start coloring.
Tip: If the stamp is brand new, stamp it off once or twice on scrap paper to “season” it before stamping on your project.
Step 2: Block In Base Colors with Colored Pencils
Next, use your colored pencils to lay down basic color on the houses and little details.
- Choose a small, harmonious palette for your village: a few house colors (blue, pink, orange, soft green), plus browns or grays for doors, chimneys, and wooden beams.
- Lightly color in each house, leaving the roofs white to represent snow.
- Add a dark color for the snowman’s hat and coal buttons, an orange for his carrot nose, and a bright color like red for his scarf and mittens.
- Think about light and shadow. Allow one side of each house to be slightly darker to suggest the shaded side, and keep the other side a bit lighter.
At this stage, the colored pencils will look a little grainy. That is perfectly fine, because the blending step with colored pencils and Gamsol will soften everything beautifully.
Step 3: Add Soft Shadows to the Snow
To keep the snow looking white but still dimensional, add subtle shading instead of coloring it fully.
- Choose a very pale gray or soft blue colored pencil.
- Lightly shade along the bottom edges of the roofs where the snow sits, under eaves, and across the tops of snowbanks.
- Add a gentle shadow along the walkway to suggest areas that have been shoveled, with small banks of snow along the sides.
Use a very light touch. These shadows should be soft and simple hints, not heavy gray areas.
Step 4: Suggest a Winter Sky
You do not have to color the entire background to get the feel of a winter sky.
- Select a soft blue colored pencil.
- Lightly add patches of blue around the tops of the buildings and trees.
- Do not fill in the entire background. You just want a suggestion of sky in a few areas so the scene feels finished and cozy.
Make sure you apply enough color that there is something to blend later, but keep it delicate.
Step 5: Blend with Gamsol for a Soft, Painterly Look
Now it is time for the magic. This is where the colored pencils and Gamsol combination really shines.
- Dip the tip of your paper stump into a small amount of Gamsol.
- Start with the neutral areas, such as the pale gray snow shadows, and blend using small circular motions.
- Move on to the colored areas on the houses, doors, and details, blending each color one at a time. Wipe or sand your stump between very different colors so they stay clean.
- Gently blend the sky patches so the blue softens into a light, hazy background.
The Gamsol dissolves and spreads the colored pencil pigment so the grainy texture disappears and is replaced with a smooth, painterly look.
No Gamsol? You can experiment with a tiny amount of baby oil on a cotton swab for a similar effect. Just be sure to use a light touch so you do not saturate the paper.
Step 6: Add Tiny Finishing Touches
Once the blended areas are dry to the touch, add small details to make your winter village scene feel complete.
- Reinforce tiny lines such as door edges, window frames, and chimney details with a sharpened colored pencil if they softened during blending.
- Add a little green to the trees if you want hints of foliage peeking out from under the snow.
- Use white acrylic paint, such as Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White, to add bright snow highlights on top of chimneys, rooflines, or as a few tiny snow dots.
On a larger piece, you could even lightly spatter the white paint to create the look of falling snow.
Ideas for Using Your Tiny Winter Village
This little winter scene is very versatile. Here are a few ideas for how to use it:
- Mat it and use it as the focal point on a handmade winter or holiday card.
- Tuck it into a seasonal junk journal or December daily album.
- Turn it into a gift tag or a small art piece for a tabletop display.
A small stamp, some colored pencils and Gamsol, and a little creative time are all you need to create a cozy winter village that feels like it came from an illustrated storybook.
Try Tiny Tuesday with Your Own Supplies
You do not need the exact same products to enjoy this technique. Look through your stash for:
- A small village, house, or winter scene stamp from Art Impressions or another brand you love.
- Any set of colored pencils with decent pigment.
- Gamsol and paper stumps, or baby oil and cotton swabs if you want to experiment.
The heart of Tiny Tuesday is giving yourself permission to sit down with a small, manageable project and simply play. Practice, experiment, and see what happens as you explore colored pencils and Gamsol on your own artful adventures.
If you enjoy this style of project, keep an eye out for more Tiny Tuesday tutorials, and feel free to share your own winter village scenes with me. I would love to see how you bring your stamps and supplies to life.
Recommended Supplies
If you’d like to try this technique yourself, here are a few products I used or recommend:
- Art Impressions Tiny Scene Stamps (Winter, Village, Houses)
- Ranger Archival Ink – Jet Black
- Colored Pencils (Crayola, Prismacolor, or your favorite brand)
- Gamsol & Paper Stumps
- Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White
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