Thinking Inking

Schoolgirl with Book Bag: Copic Demo

Welcome! Today I have a little Mo Manning image that 've had fun coloring with my Copic Markers for you; it is one of her Four School Kids images, found HERE. I videotaped the entire process, though I had to split it into three YouTube videos to get it all on there in fifteen minute or less segments. (I'll link them at the bottom in case you want to see them.)

After I finished the jeans and started looking for some appropriate patterned paper, my best paper for the job was warmer in tone than the jeans were, so I used some warm grays (W1, W3, W5) to warm up the color of the jeans. I lost some of the texture, but it was still a worthwhile trade-off.

Papers are from October Afternoon's Farmhouse line. I tea-dyed my twill to age it and used a Papertrey Ink vintage Pure Poppy button to trim the left side of the twill. The postage stamp edge is made with a Spellbinders Postage Stamps die template.

Video one covers hair and skin. Video two is jeans and shirt (including texture on the jeans), and Video three is jacket, backpack, and shadow. I sped up the coloring in a couple of areas since it was originally close to an hour long. (Yes, that's why I don't do many coloring videos--I'm slow!!) I hope these are helpful. Have a lovely day!

 

 

 

Easter Blessings

Welcome! Today I wanted to get some coloring done. I had an Easter stamp set that hadn't been used yet, my JustRite Easter Blessings Oval Medallion set.

For the inside I used a Spellbinders Romantic Rectangles die template to cut a panel for my sentiment, also from JustRite's Easter Blessings set.

For the greenery I used the Copic markers shown above. I used the G28 only for palette blending, using my G24 as the brush. (Most of the Copic markers that I used on the Easter lilies image are JustRite Copic combos and can be found here.)

I shaded the Easter lilies with grays only where the overlapped one another. The pale yellow-green (YG0000) was for the trumpet part, with just a touch of the YG01 in the centers. 

Oops--forgot to take my background picture before I put the card together! For the sky around the flowers I used B0000, Booo, and O to soften the edges. As you may have noticed, I also added one cut out, popped up lily, as well as glitter to the flower center. 

I used a Spellbinders Standard Circles Small die template to cut the focal image. (Yes, it got cut down in size from when I was coloring it. :-}) To mat the focal image I used a Lacey Circles die template. Paper is Melissa Frances Vines and Blooms. That's it for tonight. Thanks for stopping by!

Felt Flowers Tutorial

Welcome! I had used a felt flower on one of my posts last week, and someone had asked about how to make them. I had pinned some really sweet felt examples to one of my Pinterest boards HERE, but it took me a bit to figure out how to make some. (Mine aren't as varied and lovely as THESE from PetitCalla's Etsy shop--she's amazing, and you'll enjoy her site!) 

While there are plenty of ways to make felt flowers, I can show you how I made mine. Maybe that will jump-start your own thought processes.

Here I have used a Spellbinders S4-312 Blossom Three die template to cut SIX pieces for the blossom. One piece forms the base. Four pieces are folded in half, and then in half again (in quarters), and stitched shut at the point. The sixth piece, I folded in half, and then rolled and stitched so that I would have one more tightly rolled piece to form the center of the flower. Please note that you can use ANY circular shape--plain circle, scalloped circle, pinked circle--different circles for different looks. 

This is what it looks like after I stitch the four quarters in place on the base, and then the center rolled portion. You could also use hot glue if you don't like stitching. 

Here I've added a leaf using a die template from the Spellbinders Foliage set. I usually tuck the leaf between the base and one of the bottom quarter-pieces so that I still have a smooth base to attach to something.

The smallest flower here uses the Blossom Three die template, but the larger ones use a Scalloped Circle die template. The Pinking Circle die make a flower that looks more like a carnation.

Finally, a word about felt: most of my felt is from Papertrey Ink. It is a very good quality, tightly woven 100% wool felt. I have order wool felt online once since I wanted some colors that Papertrey Ink didn't carry yet, and it was a bit thinner and a bit more loosely woven. It still worked. However, I have not had good results with kraft-quality felt from my local big box store.( It tends not to cut cleanly.) So, the quality of your felt matters.

That's it for today. I'll have several Papertrey release pieces later on this week. Have a great week!

A Perfect Reading Nook

Welcome! Before I share tonight's card, I wanted to mention that the Richmond, VA Copic Standard Certification on Friday, February 17 may still have a spot or two left, now that we've been able to get a fabulous assistant. If you were one of the people who missed the initial sign-up, you might still be able to get in. E-mail Nancy Zenke, and good luck!  

I have another stepped-out Copic coloring tutorial for you today; I needed some nicely colored images for the Copic booth, so I took pictures as I worked on the two Mo Manning images. (The Monday's Child muddy boy image was already posted HERE.) This image is called Window Seat.

I started with skin and hair, using the Copic markers shown above. Light is obviously coming in the window, from above. However, we could probably assume a smaller light source inside the room as well.

Next I added sky and tree.

Drapery and a pillow were next.

Here I colored the window seat cushions. Why these colors? I have a pretty piece of patterned paper picked out, and they'll look good with it--trust me!

I colored the structure of the window seat here. I tried adding wood grain, but on a small area, given the thickness of my marker nibs, it looked a bit busy and distracting. I just blended it all away. . . Love my Copic markers!!

Remember that patterned paper? It's Crate Paper Heart, and I think the floral piece is my favorite piece. I also wanted to show you a trick to use with a Spellbinders border die template: this die is from the new S5-080 Damask Accents set that will soon be available. I used a double-sided paper and flipped the cut off edge and pieced it back into the cut.Directly under the die is what it looks like after you cut it, then (using different paper), the border on the piece below it shows what it look like after you put the pieces back to front, puzzle style. (I also used Spellbinders Standard Circles Small die template for the sentiment, shown below.)

Sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's All Booked Up set. I dyed the silk ribbon using Copic R02 and R05, straight from the marker. That's it for tonight--I'm headed out to Anaheim in five hours!

Thanks for stopping by.

My Little Star

Welcome! I've been coloring today. And since I was already coloring, I took stepped out photos for you. :-) I started with a Mo Manning image, Monday's Child (boy). That sweet face--I just had to color it! For those of you who have asked about printing digital images for use with Copic markers, I explained the process briefly at the end of this post--the red type block. 

I started with the overalls and shirt. All Copic markers that I used are shown with each picture, and you can click on any picture to enlarge it. 

I chose some skin tones that a well-tanned boy might sport (even if it did snow outside here half the day).

I colored the garden hose, hair, and muddy pants and skin in the picture above. I used a Buttermilk Spica Glitter pen to add some subtle sparkle to the hair, shown on the left--hope you can see it.

And here I've added mud, as well as a little bit of grass, (Maybe he didn't dig it all up!)

I added some red Converse tennis shoes and the shovel and garden hose spout. (Come on, didn't you ever have any red Converse tennis shoes? I did--in junior high!)

By the time I finished, I had added some BG000 and 0 to add a subtle bit of sky. Papers are October Afternoon 5 and Dime 8" x 8" pad.  That's about it--have a great day!

 ___________________________________________

Printing Digital Images To Color with Copic Markers

Your safest printer is a laser printer. Copic markers and laser printers are compatible. Unfortunately, I don't have a laser printer, but it happens that my inkjet works just fine (Canon MG5220--it does NOT like my Mac network, but at does print on X-Press It Blending cardstock). If you have an inkjet printer, you would print on a Copic-compatible cardstock and test it just the way that you do any other unknown ink--using a light marker beside a printed line until it feathers across the line. When it feathers across the printed line, check to see if the line stayed put, or if it started dissolving, moving, etc. If your line stayed crisp, you're probably good. Try coloring and watch to see if the ink smears. If it doesn't, your inkjet  is Copic-compatible. I hope that helps!

Felt Ornaments 2: Mitten with Snowflake

Welcome! I have a second felt ornament to share today. For this one I started by die-cutting two large mittens from Papertrey Ink's Oasis Green 100% wool felt with a Spellbinders Nested Mitten die template. Next I used my Create a Flake 2 die template  to cut a snowflake from Vintage Cream felt, as well as from one of the mitten layers. (The two layers have to be cut separately. Also, the Create a Flake 2 die template is still available in some stores, but not on the Spellbinders website.) 

My favorite part of this mitten is the snowflake inset. I gently removed the green felt star and replaced it with the cream felt star. I used a heat-bonding (iron-on) interfacing on the back to hold the two layers together, and then I blanket-stitched around the entire mitten after adding some trim pieces.

To trim the mitten I used Vintage Cream, Pure Poppy, and Harvest Gold wool felt. I hand-cut the red piece, but I used a Stars Five die template to cut the gold star piece. The finished size of the mitten is about 2-7/8" x 4". That's it for today--thanks for stopping by!

Felt Ornaments 1: Star

Welcome! I've been hand-stitching some little felt ornaments over the past few days and finally got one finished and photographed for a post.  The star above is almost 4" across for one side tip to the other. I used three of five star die templates in the Spellbinders Paper Arts Stars Five set--numbers three and five to cut the outside front vintage cream star, number four to cut the inner harvest gold star, and number five to cut the cream back star. You could also go with just two layers and make the gold star the same size as the cream one, if you don't mind a two-toned edge. I used Papertrey Ink's 100% wool felt for the stars.

A word about felt: it is not all created equal, especially if you plan to die-cut it. I do sometimes buy other felt if I need a color that Papertrey doesn't carry, but I really like the weight and density of PTI's 100% wool felt. I have had problems die-cutting regular craft quality felt from the big box stores: it seems less dense and has more scraggly little filaments/hairs after being cut instead of cutting cleanly. So if you have tried to die-cut felt and have had real problems with it, it could be that you are using a less-than-stellar felt. . . Also, dies with more details tend to need a little extra finish-trimming, even if you use good felt. With the star, I did not need to trim anything by hand, With a snowflake die that I've used on another ornament, I needed to use detail scissors to trim a few places. Another hint: I run my felt through my Grand Calibur TWICE--forward, then backward before the plate makes it all the way through the first time--hope that makes sense.

I used a simple blanket stitch (great tutorial found here if you don't know how to blanket-stitch) to put my star together. I used some hand-dyed seam binding for the crinkly ribbon in the center, as well as some rusty bells for a splash of darker value in the center of all that light. This was a simple project--one  that you can work on when you are in waiting rooms, sitting in a car, etc., a perfect little project for this time of year. That's it for tonight--thanks for stopping by!

Nicholas Sings Carols and GIVEAWAY!

This giveaway has ended.

Our winner is commenter number 101, Tracy J--congratulations, Tracy! I have e-mailed you and sent your e-mail address to Ellen Hutson. Thanks for playing, everyone!

_________________

Welcome! Today I have a couple of special things--a Lockhart image with a Copic tutorial, and a really great giveaway, courtesy of Ellen Hutson's new HOWnow School of Creative Arts. First, the details on the giveaway: Ellen has generously offered to give a winner from my blog an online class taught by Julie Ebersole, stamper extraordinaire. How do I know that you would love Julie's class? Well, I know that Julie is amazing, and that you probably need gift ideas! 

In her class, The Gifted Stamper:  One Dozen Easy-to-Make Gifts For All Occasions, Julie will guide you through twelve beautiful, easy-to-make gift ideas and projects suitable for any occasion. This interactive online class will feature a work-at-your-own pace schedule, supported with video tutorials and detailed downloadable PDF instruction sheets. Participate in a dedicated forum and gallery during class.

This fantastic class is only $36 and will run from December 1st through December 12th, but all content will always remain available to students. During class there will be fun prizes and a special discount code for all students. For complete details please visit HOWnow School of Creative Arts.

You will have until Saturday evening at 10pm CDT to leave a comment, from which I will use the random number generator to choose one winner. Simple! Now, on to my card for today. . .

I've used Karen Lockhart's (Lockhart Stamp Company) 2011 Limited Edition stamp, Nicholas Sings Carols. I've loved this series--you can probably see why! Patterned papers are from Echo Park's Holly Jolly Christmas 6" x 6" pad.

I stared with the trees in the background, using palette blending and the two Copic Markers shown above.

Next I added some sky and snow. I left a couple of spots uncolored for reflections in the glass of the snowglobe.  The one on the right is larger, because my primary light source is from the right. I thought I would toss in one more small light to bounce off the glass on the left side too. 

I had used blue-violets in the snow shadows and did not want the snowmen to melt right into the snowbanks; so I used the B41 just to make them stand apart from te snow a bit.

 

I used the blue greens here for the Snowdad and Nicholas's coats, along with the Snowlady's scarf. I used the Blue-Violets to deepen and cool the shadows.

 

Here I've added some reds.

 

I used a variety of markers to finish up several small areas, including two that are not pictured for the wooden base, E42 and E44.  Those Ciaos are G00 and G02--used on the carol book.

  

I used a Spellbinders Labels Four Small for the star-patterned piece of paper, a Labels Twenty for the ornament layer, and little leaves from the Presto Punch Petal Pack under the button.. Seam binding is dyed with Copic R35 and R29, and I painted and glittered a rusty bell to tie onto the bow. (The rusty one didn't show up well.) 

Thank you for visiting, and don't forget to leave a comment on this post for a chance to win a spot in Julie Ebersole's  The Gifted Stamper:  One Dozen Easy-to-Make Gifts For All Occasions class. Good luck!

P.S. Yes, if you were here earlier, my card looked a little different. . . You know how you wake up after posting late and feel like tweaking somehting? ;-}

Quick Shaker Card Tutorial

Welcome! I'm in Sacramento for the weekend, but I uploaded my pictures right before I left so I could post from here. There are different ways to make shaker cards, but this is the way that I use. It has the advantage of being able to work on a circle instead of just straight edges. This was the PTI Tag-Its #9 card that I had posted yesterday, stepped out below. 

Here you see both my frame and my stamped base, cut the same size with a 1-3/4" circle punch. Although you cannot see it, the clear window is already attached to the frame layer, right next to the underneath-side of the frame piece on the left. The slightly tricky part is the foam tape layer. Keep in mind that while I used one layer of foam tape here, you might have to use either thicker tape or double layers, depending upon the thickness of your shaker material. 

Have you ever sewn a sleeve into a garment? Did you have to clip the curve? Here I have I clipped the curve in my foam tape. After I have cut the tape to the width that I want it (in this case, about 3/16"), I clip just part of the way through that width so that the tape is still in one piece on the inside of the circle, and it has gaps on the outside of the circle to allow it to follow the curve of the shape. Make sense? This clipping is what makes the tape work around a circle. It's a simple step, but an important one.

Next you carefully place your beads, faux snow, or other material inside your frame piece. (Remember that it already has its window in the frame piece.) I generally avoid using a fine glitter, because I have had problems with it clinging to the window sheet/acetate with static electricity. In the picture above, I have too many glass microbeads in there. I dumped a few out before taping up the shaker, and I should have probably dumped just a few more out than I did.

Gently peel the backer layer off of your foam tape. Since it was not cut all the way through (clipped the curves), I could pull it all off in three or four pieces--not thirty-something pieces. Next you oh-so-carefully pick up your focal image and lay it precisely where you want it, upside down onto the tape. You pretty much get one shot at this, so you need to make sure it is where you want it before pressing down.  **If you cut your focal image layer slightly smaller in diameter than your frame layer, you don't have to be quite as precise in placing the layers together.**

I added a mat layer behind my shaker and mounted it to my card front--it's pretty simple, really. You just have to be careful at a couple of places along the way. I hope that helps; thank you for stopping by today!

The Nitty-Gritty

Stamps: Tag Its #9
Cardstock: Vintage Cream, a small piece of clear card stock
Ink: Versamagic Hawaiian Shores, Memento Bamboo Leaves, PTI Raspberry Fizz, Chamomile Distress Ink
Patterned Paper: 12 Days of Christmas 6" x 6" pad (My Mind's Eye)
Accessories: Rustic Twine, glass micro beads, foam tape, rhinestones
Tools: Rick rack border die, 1-3/4" circle punch, 1-3/4" collection (scalloped die), corner rounders

Autumn Labels 22: Give Thanks

Welcome! Today marks the beginning of the new JustRite Stampers October release, featuring the Autumn Labels Twenty Two set. 

Fun pictures to color here--always a plus in my book!

I thought I would show a stepped out coloring tutorial for large pumpkin image; I stamped the image in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored it with the Copic markers shown above. I'm planning to cut out the pumpkin and its leaves; so even though I will use a cream cardstock later, I'm coloring on some X-Press It Blending card here to get plenty of contrast in my focal image.

These are the Copic markers that I used for the pumpkin. The blue-violets were used in the shadow areas.

Here is my focal image, colored and cut out. The markers above were used for the sky surrounding the pumpkin.

On cream cardstock, I colored the background in the Copic markers shown above. I left the center empty since I have already finished with the focal image that I will mount on foam tape.

The only thing that I should explain is that I cut that green mat layer into three pieces to get it to fit behind the image the way that I wanted it to. (It is from the Spellbinders Twisted Metal Tags and Accents set.)

Supply List

Cardstock: X-Press It Blending Card (Copic); Vintage Cream, Terracotta (PTI)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko), Chamomile Distress Cube (PTI)

Patterned Paper: Stagecoach from the Sarsparilla Line by October Afternoon

Dies: Twisted Metal Tags and Accents (the green layer), Fancy Tags Two (the dark orange layer), and Labels Twenty Two by Spellbinders Paper Arts

Accents: Taupe Pearls from Zva Creative, tea dyed twill, wooden buttons (from PTI, but no longer available)

Coloring Medium: Copic Markers

Now, how about some lovely samples with the Autumn Labels Twenty Two set?

Link List for the Autumn Labels Twenty Two Blog Hop

JustRite Inspiration
Becca Feeken
Angela Barkhouse
Debbie Olson
Sankari Wegman
Michele Kovack
Stephanie Kraft
Mona Pendleton
Kathy Jones
Sharon Harnist
Heidi Blankenship

That's it for today--thanks for visiting!

P.S. I just found out that there is a $50 shopping spree giveaway posted here on the JustRite blog.  

"Blog Candy Alert - Today's Blog Candy on the JustRite Blog is a $ 50.00 shopping Spree.  To enter to win go to the JustRite Blog and answer the blog candy question.  The Blog Candy is open for comments until Friday Night at 12 pm EST. The winner will be announced on the JustRite Blog on Monday October 3rd during the release post.  Good luck to everyone!"