Author: Michelle

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New Year: Starting with a clean slate or at least a clean desk top!

I am in my clean and purge mode, with me it is always in fits and starts. If I get started it is often hard to stop until the whole area feels a little more put together. Before I left for Phoenix and Creativation, this year’s CHA convention, I managed to at least clean out my daughters’ craft supply area and my own desk. Of course the desk top will never remain looking like this but boy I love it when it does!

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I even moved some art around, and before I flew away for a few days had it hung on the wall. Obviously the highlight of my workspace is the A-MA-ZING woodd shelving unit that stores my Copic Markers and Various Ink. You may or may not know this but Copics can be stored either vertically or horizontally so the possibilities of storing them become numerous.

I used to store my markers in the Copic Marker Wallets that were held in  a 31 Bag. Of course I did not have as many then and at the time it was the perfect storage solution for me. I could tip them on their side facing me while I was working and then scoop them up by the bag handles and swing them away to a crop or crafting event.

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I get more questions about this bag then anything else I have ever posted. It measures 12″ x 7″ x 8″ (or close to it) I have been told that 31 Bags has one similar to this again, it was missing for a while. 

When I was completing my set of markers and starting to collect all the Various Ink I started looking for a new system. I surfed Pintrest and started a collection of storage Ideas:

https://www.pinterest.com/cpclasses/copic-marker-storage/

I also searched on Etsy to see what people were making for storage, I found several beautiful wood storage units and decided I was ready to try “open” storage, meaning larger openings to house color families all together versus little holes to hold individual markers. I found a unit that I loved and then asked my wonderful Father In-Law if I could sweet talk him into making one for me. It worked! And now I have this GORGEOUS piece that I get to have on my desk. 

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There are so many ways to store your markers. You can find what works best for you. Here are some things to think about though when you are sorting through your options;

  • How many markers do you have?
  • How much space do you have to store them in? – closet or desk top where ever they will stay
  • Do you want to be able to transport them easily and if yes are you going to take the time to move them to a separate storage unit or do you need something that can easily sit on your desk and then be on the go?
  • Do you need your markers in nice neat number order or can they be stored in open bins?
  • And of course cost, like anything else there is a huge range of prices 

By thinking through the above questions, and making some searches on-line you will be able to find the PERFECT storage unit for you!

Best of luck organizing and cleaning as you begin 2017! I hope it is a crafty, creative year for you, I am going to make sure mine is!

Have a Happy Colorful Week!

 

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Classes opened for registration

Happy 2017 I hope you all had a FABULOUS break and spent time with family and /or friends. I had the pleasure of both! Our family made our annual trek to Arizona to soak up a little vitamin D and play with John’s parents. I also had the special treat of seeing a longtime friend and re-connecting with her! Love you Bug! We hiked, 4 wheeled, puzzled, slept, ate Mexican food and in general had a wonderful time!

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Now I am back at my desk and catching up with all things Copic! Imagination International, Inc. continues to open more of the 2017 classes up for registration. Right now most of the locations are hosting the Standard and Intermediate Certification as well as the Copic Coloring Flower Workshop. 

These are the locations currently open!

Phoenix, AZ with Cindy Lawerence teaching Certifications and Flower Workshop,  and Me teaching the new Workshops
Atlanta, GA with Debbie Olson teaching the Certifications and Flower Workshop

Minneapolis, MN with ME teaching the Certifications and Flower Workshop Yep I will load up my car and head 4 hours north to teach the Certification classes and Flower Workshop in February, hope you can join me!

Houston, TX with Cindy Lawerence teaching the Certifications and Flower Workshop
Portland/Vancouver, WA with Debbie Olson teaching the Certifications and Flower Workshop
Dallas/Irving, TX with Debbie Olson teaching the Certifications and Flower Workshop
St. Louis, MO with Lori Craig teaching the Certifications and Flower Workshop
 
To get all the nitty gritty and to register for classes go to Imagination International, Inc.
 

Come Color with us!

Have a Happy Colorful Week!

 
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Refill your Copic Markers!

How many of you would like to know how to refill your Copic markers? It is one of the questions instructors get frequently and although we go over the information in the Standard Certification class it is valuable information to revisit! There are a few ways to refill your markers including using the booster (needle that screws onto the refill bottle) and pulling out the chisel nib to poor ink into the core. Below I will share my favorite way to refill my markers. I need my markers that are low in ink, Various Ink (the refills bottles) and I am using a pocket scale. 

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The first thing that I am going to do before trying to refill any markers is measure a full marker so I know what I am aiming for with my scale. I place a new sketch marker on my scale with both lids on and find out how much it weighs. ** Notice I have a label on my marker. If you have tape or a label marking your Copics make sure that the new marker you weigh also has that label so you have an accurate starting point.

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I know that I have colored with this Copic a few times, but very little, so this is about what I am aiming for when I refill one of my sketch markers. Then I pull both caps off and measure again, often I will have to measure several times as I am refilling and I would rather not have to pull the caps on and off as I measure each time.

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I go ahead and measure one of my markers that needs refilling so I know how much ink I might need to add.

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Next I pull both caps off my Copic Sketch marker, this allows air flow through the core and the ink to be pulled into the body of the marker. THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP IS NEXT! Check the lid of your marker and lid on your Various ink not once or twice but THREE TIMES! Just be super duper positive you have the right ink going into your Copic marker!

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Then I slowly drip ink onto the chisel nib. I usually drip 10-12 drops and then weigh the marker and repeat until I get to my target weight. You can also watch the chisel nib and as the body of the marker gets full the ink will no longer pull into the body of the marker, the nib will remain shiny and wet. 

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When I reach my goal with caps off I double check with caps on and call it good!

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You will notice this is higher then my original new marker. As I said, the above marker was not brand new and I was using it as a starting point. I will keep an eye on this one and watch for blobbing as I color, but I think I should be good!

Copic markers are made to be refilled. Once you have purchased a marker it will last you for your entire coloring career with ink refills and nib changes as needed. 

If you have any questions let me know! And do not forget you can get all your refill supplies at Imagination International, Inc.

Have a Happy Colorful Week!

 

 

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Transfer Paper from X-Press It

X-Press It has come out with a new product that Imagination International, Inc. is now carrying! Transfer paper 🙂 I saw this one last year at CHA and I have been waiting NOT SO PATIENTLY for the product to arrive! I know transfer paper has been around for a very long time. But this is a new and improved version that is worth a look.

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Remember the mess transfer paper was? all that black stuff all over your hands and smearing on your paper? Not from X-Press It, clean hands and clean projects the transfer only goes where you put it. And it used to come in gray and or black, but X-Press It has designed both graphite (gray) and white, for transfers onto darker papers. One other bonus (and it is a doozy) is it’s ability to run through a printer. You can print an image or design directly onto the transfer paper, lay it on top of the surface you want to create your art on and go over your lines to transfer. EASY PEASY! 

Today I am going to use it in a more traditional way and transfer a rough draft onto a final surface. I have my rough draft, my paper for my final project, Washington tape to keep things from wiggling and my white transfer paper.

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When using the white make sure you check with side to lay towards your final project. The cream side is actually the transfer side.

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Then I make a sandwich of my papers. I tape my rough draft on top of my final paper with two small pieces of tape at the top edge and slide my transfer paper in between the two layers.

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Next I go over all of my lines with a pencil. If you are concerned you do not have the correct side facing down take a peek after drawing one or two lines to make sure. With the tape holding the paper together you can look with out messing up the transfer.

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Then I finish up my art work. I have been doing a lot of practice for our new Hand Lettering Workshop and the X-Press It Transfer paper has been an invaluable tool! Wait till you see how some of the other team members are using the transfer paper with photos!

Make sure to check out all the information at Imagination International, Inc. AND also check dates for all the upcoming Copic Workshops and Certifications. There are several Certification classes that are now open for registration!

Have a Happy Colorful Week! 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

 

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Holiday Stamp #4! Merry Christmas!

We have reached the 4th week of my mini giveaway and the fourth stamp in the series that I created for all of you. This week has a Candy Cane for your coloring fun. 

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I colored it up and photoed all the steps, you can find the tutorial at Pinterest HERE OR grab the link over at Copic In The Craft Room.

Color away Copic Friends!

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Have a Happy Colorful Day!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!