Category: Copics

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X-Press It Mask It

Ever had a cool new stamp that has you inspired to create an awesome background? I have a new set of Stampendous stamps by Laurel Burch and I am in LOVE. I love Laurel’s art work anyway and now I can get it in stamps, AND they lend themselves to the amazing vibrant colors of Copic so I just couldn’t wait to pull one right our of the mailing envelope and get coloring!

I knew before I began that I wanted to complete the image with a fabulous background as well. I could cut out the image and stick them to a separate back ground. I could try to work around the image carefully OR I could mask it. Have you ever used a post it or scratch paper to create a mask for your image? It is pretty easy, but I want to show you an even easier, more effective way to mask your image. You can use Mask It made by X-Press It. It is a clear film with light adhesive that you can lay over your image, trim away and then create your background over. Hard to describe so let me show you!

I colored my images first, I could just stamp and wait till the end to color, but like I said I was a little color happy when I got these stamps :-).

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Again the stamp is by Stampendous and from the new Laurel Burch line, this one is called Indigo Cats.

Then I cut out a piece of Mask It that was large enough to cover the area I wanted to mask. I could have cut it to only cover the cats and save on usage but I was not sure yet what I was going to do so made my sheet as big as the paper. 

I peeled off the paper backing and carefully laid the clear adhesive sheet over my image.

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I decided I was going to air brush the entire background so really only needed the cats covered so I  used a craft knife to go right over the black outline of the cats. You might need to experiment a little with pressure. You do not want to go through the paper, just the plastic mask.

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Then I peeled off the plastic where I will be airbrushing and left the cats covered so they will be protected from spray.

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I used 3 different colors in my air brush to create a modeled background. Notice that some of the spray has gone over the cats.

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Then I discovered that the stamp set came with a stencil! BONUS I added the fun graphic shapes with the air brush as well.

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I peeled off the mask and the cats popped out all nice and clean from over spray. One of the HUGE advantages to a mask film is all the edges stay tight to the paper!

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The card only needed a base and this gorgeous copper painted paper (thanks Tommy Art!)

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If you are interested in trying this masking technique, check out all the details for the Mask It at Imagination International, Inc.

Have a Happy Colorful Week!

 

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Pantone Color of the Year YG25

Those of us in the Copic world call Y25 Celadon Green, but over at Pantone they call this hue of yellow green Greenery and it is the 2017 color of the year! If you have not heard of the Pantone color of the year here is the definition that they share:

What is the PANTONE Color of the Year?

A symbolic color selection; a color snapshot of what we see taking place in our global culture that serves as an expression of a mood and an attitude.

If you would like to read more here is a direct link to the website.

https://www.pantone.com/color-of-the-year-2017

They share why the color was selected and why they think not only fashion is moving towards more “greenery” but the culture as well. I particularly loved the lower portion of the article however, where they shared several color combinations featuring “Greenery” with other colors. 

My favorites are:

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To me these all look like color challenges! And since I got some really fun new stamps from some of the manufactures at Creativation 2017 I figured, “Bring it on!” I am ALWAYS up for a color challenge. I have two stamps picked out, one for the Moody Blooms and the other for the Grand Canyon series above, I will have to come back to the Fathomless 🙂

My Colors for the Moody Blooms series are; RV69, R08, BV29, R39, YG25, RV19, R59, G85, Y26. I added YG21 and YG67 to add more depth to the leaves, B000 for some sky, and BV23 into the ground shadows. 

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I got this fun stamp from Dare 2B Artzy. They were super sweet and shared some stamps AND a stamp pad that they make that is, YES, compatible with Copics Yipee! Here is their info again so you can go check out their stamps and inks, along with coordinating papers 🙂 Fun! https://www.dare2bartzy.com

The colors I chose to match the Grand Canyon combination are ; BG72, E04, YG25, V99, E55, E21, E47, E15. I added BG10 and YG67

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This stamp is part of the new collection from Spellbinders. Keep your eyes out for videos with both these stamp lines! The line from Spellbinders is screaming for my watercolor/Copic Misti technique! Find Spellbinder’s new line up at there site HERE

Looking at the two images side by side it always amazes me how much colors change when you put different colors around them! The YG25 looks very different with the jewel tones of the Moody Blooms then the muted tones of the Grand Canyon color scheme. What a fun personal challenge though to start of the 2017 coloring season.

Take a few minutes and do some coloring just for you! Pick a YG25 series from above or a different one from the Pantone site and have yourself a little color challenge! I would LOVE to see what you come up with.

Have a Happy Colorful Day!

 
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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!