How to Pick Copic Marker Colors Using Pattern Paper for Stamped Cards

One of the questions I hear most often from cardmakers is, “How do you know which Copic colors to use?” Coloring stamped images can feel intimidating, especially when you’re staring at a big marker collection and don’t know where to start. For this card, my goal was to take that pressure off and show a more intuitive way to make color decisions—by letting the pattern paper do the work for you.

I created this cute and whimsical handmade card as an example of how pattern paper can act as a built-in color palette. Instead of choosing markers first and hoping everything works together, I flipped the process around. The video walks through the visual process so you can see it come together, and here on the blog I want to dig into the why behind those choices and how you can apply the same idea to your own cards.

If you’re someone who loves pattern paper but sometimes struggles to use it confidently—or struggles even more with coloring—this approach is especially helpful. You’ll find the video linked at the end of this post so you can watch along as a visual companion.

Why Pattern Paper Makes Color Choices Easier

Pattern paper already does a lot of design heavy lifting. The colors are curated to work together, the contrast is balanced, and the mood is already established. When you pull your marker colors directly from that paper, you’re essentially borrowing the work of a professional designer.

For this card, I chose a patterned paper from the Cute Capybara 6 x 9 Pattern Paper Pack by Scrappy Boy Stamps that felt playful and warm. From there, I looked for the main colors—not every color—and matched my Copic markers to those tones. This keeps the coloring cohesive without overthinking every blend.

A common mistake I see is trying to match everything exactly. You don’t need a perfect match. Close is more than good enough, especially when the final card is viewed as a whole.

Using a Card Sketch to Support the Design

I also leaned on a card sketch for this project, and that was very intentional. When you’re already making color decisions, having a layout decided ahead of time removes another layer of stress.

The sketch helped me balance the patterned paper with white space and gave the stamped images a clear place to shine. Sketches are especially useful when working with bold or busy paper—they keep the design from feeling cluttered and help guide the eye around the card.

This is a great example of how combining simple tools—a sketch and pattern paper—can make cardmaking feel calmer and more enjoyable.

Why These Products Worked Well Together

The Cute Capybara Stamp Set and coordinating outline dies were a natural fit for this style of card. The images are playful but not overly detailed, which makes them ideal for coloring inspired by pattern paper rather than complex shading.

Because the paper pack and stamps were designed to coordinate, it was easy to create a cohesive look without forcing it. That’s one of the benefits of using products from the same collection—they’re designed to support each other while still leaving room for your personal style.

How to Use This Idea with Your Own Supplies

You don’t need these exact products to use this approach. Any patterned paper you already own can become a color guide. Florals, plaids, seasonal prints—all of them work.

If you’re newer to coloring, try pulling just two or three colors from the paper and keep the blends simple. If you’re more experienced, you can add extra depth while still staying within that palette. This idea also works beautifully for other themes, like birthdays, holidays, or even more clean and simple cards.

The real takeaway is learning to trust the supplies you already have and letting them guide your decisions.

A Little Encouragement Before You Go

Coloring doesn’t have to be perfect to be effective—or cute. This method is meant to reduce decision fatigue and help you enjoy the creative process more. Give yourself permission to experiment and remember that every card is a learning opportunity.

Video Tutorial

You can watch the process come together in the video below if you’d like to see this approach in action.

If you have problems watching the video here on my blog you can always watch it on my YouTube Channel by Clicking Here!

And if you try this idea with your own supplies, I’d love to hear how it worked for you.

(Wondering what I used in this video? Everything is linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post, or in the text below. Compensated affiliate links used when possible). As always I appreciate your support of my videos!

Materials Used:

Here you will find the list of supplies that I used to create today's card. All supplies are linked to supply sources below. Compensated affiliate links may be used at no cost to you.

Happy Crafting,

Rick Adkins

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