Thinking Inking

Copic Markers and Various Inks Organization

Welcome! I get a LOT of questions about how I store my Copic supplies. This isn't new information, but it evidently bears repeating. Tomorrow I will have a post showing how I store my Copic Airbrush System; I'm not sure that I've shown that before. So buckle up for a picture ride if this is something that might help you!

Before I share more pictures, I thought I would tell you about our new Copic Workshops, now that we've had the first exciting run-through in Phoenix: Hand Lettering, Coloring Animals, and Coloring Landscapes went well! We were all able to be there and get on the same page for the next classes, as well as make a few tiny tweaks where a project took maybe a bit longer or shorter than we had expected. I can't wait to teach these, and I'm working on portfolios for them every chance I get. My first NEW Workshops will be in Detroit on May 19-20, and Dallas/Irving on June 9-10. Before that though, I'll be teaching Certifications and the Flowers Workshop in Atlanta (February 10-11), Dallas/Irving (March 3-4),  Saskatoon (April 7-8), and Pittsburgh (April 28-29). Whew, I'm tired just typing all of that!

First I'll show you both sides of my studio; the first three pictures in my post were taken in 2016, but the rest will be new. I'll point out any changes between last year and this year. The biggest change (and the reason that my "big picture" shots are last year's) is that right now I have three extra storage shelves crammed into one end of my studio. We're working on finishing a family room in the basement, right next door to my studio, and I've tried to relocate everything I can in order to avoid having to clean drywall dust off of everything. I thought that a few weeks (okay, months?) of being crowded would be SO worth it when the basement is finished. I might change my mind though. ;-)

So, the photo above shows the creative side of the room--my workstations for cutting, stamping, coloring, sketching, and die-cutting. Changes from this photo: (1) My light table has moved so that I don't scratch the top of it, (2) the button storage containers have all been put away. (So they can come back in style at any time, now that I've put mine away, right?) I decided that as little as I was using them, I valued the clean space more than the convenience. (3) I have a large Stamp-n-Storage ink holder now (but it's full and I need another.)

This is the business side of my studio--stamp storage, printers, computer, cardstock storage in the kneehole cubby, ribbon storage, sewing machine, and photo tent just out of sight on the right. Not much has changed on this side, other than the fact that my trusty five-year-old iMac died last December. . . I'm using my old laptop until I see what Apple does with their next release. I haven't used my beautiful wide ribbon in ages, but since Rick spent a lot of time building this ribbon storage unit for me, I didn't have the heart part with it or hide it in the storage area of our basement. Will wide ribbon ever come back in style? I figure I've got at least two more years before it does. ;-)

Now we're on to the new pictures! My Copic workspace has stayed pretty much the same, other than collecting a few more storage bins for items that I use often enough not to want to open a drawer to grab them. As you see, I was playing with lettering projects this afternoon and evening. That one white basket container of Copics does fit on my Copic storage racks. I still need to record that I used them on a project before I put them away though. I love the storage racks that I have for my Copics, but they are not easy to find. These are actually display racks that stores use. I purchased a couple directly from Imagination International, one from eBay, and one from Amazon. (Yes, I liked them enough to hunt all over for them!)

The display racks on the left of the photo are for my Copic Various Inks, as well as a few random extra markers and Multiliners. I have finally purchased almost all of the refills; I'm missing only a couple that aren't in stock right now.

Remember those three extra storage shelf units that are temporarily in my studio?  I have three 12 x 12 bins of extra Copic/Imagination International materials stored there. I also have three 6 x 12 bins of Copic class projects and portfolio pieces that I'm working on. But I'm hoping to sneak those shelf units back into the family room when the drywall is done. . . In addition to these bins, I always have two large pieces of luggage that go to each class with me, as well as two shipping boxes containing class materials and supplies. Oh, yes. It's a LOT of stuff!

That covers a general overview of my studio space, as well as specifically my Copic Marker and Various Inks Storage. I have a few more pictures to edit before I share my Copic Airbrush system storage tomorrow. (And one more honey-do project as well!) If you want to see more storage pictures, including stamps, dies, cardstock, and patterned papers, here is a link to the organizational posts in which I covered all of those areas. While I have collected more of those items, my storage systems for those have not changed.

If you have questions, ask in the comments section, and I'll try to answer anything I can. Thank you for visiting!

A Farm-tastic Day: MFT Blueprints Tags Sketch Challenge

Welcome! Today I'm playing along with a My Favorite Things Blueprints Tag Challenge. I chose the Blueprints Tags 5 Sketches since Blueprints Tags 5 is one of my favorite tag sets. (All MFT Blueprints Sketches are found on THIS PAGE; it's an awesome resource if you have Blueprints Die-namics!) I chose a farm theme for my tags because I had never used my Farm-tastic stamp set and coordinating dies, and I knew that my Dad's birthday was coming up in February. He'll like that tractor. ;-)

Shown above are the Copic Sketch markers that I used to color the Farm-tastic images. The smoke coming from the tractor is from the No Place Like Home Kit, but you could substitute little pieces of cotton ball if you don't have a No Place Like Home kit yet.

I love these guys--aren't they fun? I hope you get a chance to visit the MFT Stamps Blog for a complete list of players in this week's Blueprints Tags Challenge. Thanks for visiting!

Farm-tastic	Die-namics Farm-tastic	Die-namics Tag Builder Blueprints 5	Die-namics Blueprints 15	Die-namics Stitched Sentiments Strips
Die-namics Stitched Basic Edges 2	Blending Card by X-Press It	Smooth White Card Stock	Dill Pickle Prestige Card Stock	Sour Apple Card Stock
Elf Green Premium Dye Ink Pad	Hybrid Ink Pad Black Licorice	Foam Mounting Tape 1/2"	Milk Chocolate Prestige Card Stock	Die-namics Stitched Sentiments Strips

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Simple Masking with X-Press It Mask It

Welcome! Yesterday I shared a project featuring Pantone's Color of the Year, Greenery, which is very close to Copic YG25. I took pictures as I worked on the airbrushed background in case anyone asked to see them today, so, Mary and Trudie--this one's for YOU!

I started with a 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" piece of X-Press It Blending Card, a Copic B23 Sketch marker, X-Press It Mask It, and my Copic Airbrush System. (I was using the sheets of Mask It, but I will probably purchase a roll next time since I don't necessarily need a specific sheet size.)

After I peeled the backing off of my X-Press It Mask It, I laid it carefully, sticky side down, onto my paper JUST BENEATH where I wanted my horizon line to be. I knew that I would not need the full quarter sheet of cardstock, but I usually give myself more airbrushed area than I think I'll need in case I change my mind.  The picture above shows what the cardstock looked like after I laid down a coat of B23 and removed the mask that covered the water area.

I will mask the sky off before I airbrush the water, making sure that the sky is dry before I lay a mask on it. If the sky is not completely dry (or if I have over-inked it and it feels sticky), the mask can sometimes peel up paper.  So, be sure it's dry before you lay Mask It on an area. If I have any doubts about whether it is dry enough, I let it dry some more. Alternatively, on a straight line like this, I sometimes use a large Post-It note, which is not as sticky as the X-Press It Mask It. But especially if I have an intricate shape, I find that the Mask It gives me a cleaner line than a Post-It. There is a time and place for BOTH products.

Helpful Hints: If you are having problems getting smooth coverage with your airbrush, chances are that it has to do with the way you move your hands. Remember, you control your application by (1) how hard you depress the trigger, (2) how close you are to the paper, and (3) how you move your hand.  Smooth, steady hand movements that go past the edges of your paper will give you much better results than jerky, tense, quick hand movement. (Try swinging gently from the elbow rather than the wrist.) Always practice on a scrap sheet to be sure that you have good ink flow, plenty of ink, and your marker positioned in the Air Grip correctly.

Here I have masked the sky area, as well as masking the shore line. The only unmasked area that you see in the picture above is the water. See my yellow Post-It note there? I was running short on Mask-It, so I didn't have as much length on the shore side as I needed. I masked my curvaceous shore line with Mask It, and then I extended the straight edge of my mask with a large Post It note. Those little things on either side of the Post It are strong magnets to help hold it in place on my Craft Assistant/magnetic board.

Here you can see that my sky mask is still in place, but I removed the shoreline mask so that you could see the clean edge that Mask It will give you. When I cut this shore line, I saved BOTH pieces--both the part that would cover water, and the part that would cover shoreline--so that I would have curves that fit together like a puzzle.

In this picture, both the sky and the water are covered with X-Press It Mask It. The water looks so green because of the yellow overspray on the mask.

With all of the Mask-It peeled off, here is my almost-finished background--VERY simple to create. I am using only a small portion of this background in a circular shape, but i could just as easily use almost the whole sheet.

I went a little further, knowing that I needed some foam on my shoreline. I used my White Kirarina Wink pen to stipple some foam on the leading edge of my water, as well as hint at a couple of waves farther from the shoreline. While it was still wet, I sprinkled glitter on as well. (Sorry--if I have glitter handy, I can't help myself. . .)

I want to be clear that this is a very simple way to create a shoreline. You could spend a lot more time and mask for waves and create clouds and tone down the colors, but I knew that I was using it with a whimsical stamp set (MFT Polynesian Paradise). Clean and simple with bold color works just fine for that! If you have invested in an airbrush system for your Copics, the main thing is to USE IT. I can assure you that you won't improve and gain confidence as long as it sits in the box. . . mocking you. . . (I can say that because I've had my fair share of boxes around here that I try to remember why I thought I couldn't live without.) So, open the box. Try it. You've got this--really!

Thanks for stopping by today,

2017 Color of the Year: YG25

Welcome! Did you know that Pantone chooses a color of the year? This year's color happens to be--are you ready for it?--Greenery, or in Copic-speak, that's YG25. I had a darling MFT Stamps Polynesian Paradise stamp set and dies that I'd never used, and that little lizard or gecko was just begging to be 2017's Color of the Year!

Shown above are the Copic Sketch markers colors that I used to color the Polynesian Paradise images. To give him some texture, I used a colorless blender to add spots on top of my dry green ink. I airbrushed the background, and listed those Copic colors as well. 

For the background, I used MFT Sour Apple cardstock, stamped in Green Room dye ink. I used X-Press It foam tape to raise my layers and give the images some added dimension. Let me know in the comments section if you'd like to see more about creating the airbrushed background, okay? Thanks for stopping by today, and go color some GREEN! ;-)

The Love of a Family: MFT January Kit Release

Welcome! Tonight is release night for the My Favorite Things Stamps January kit, No Place Like Home. With a TON of sentiments to choose from, you have a lot of options with this kit. 

I simplified my die-cutting by cutting the house and tree pieces from white cardstock and then coloring them solid with my Copics. It obviously would have been just as simple to cut the pieces from colored cardstock, but it would have taken longer to cut several colors and I would have had more wasted pieces. . . And I was trying to get ready to leave for Creativation in Phoenix! ;-)

Be sure to visit the MFT Stamps blog for No Place Like Home inspiration! Thanks for stopping by,

No Place Like Home Card Kit	Die-namics Blueprints 15	Die-namics Stitched Basic Edges 2	Primitive White Heavyweight Card Stock	Sno Cone Card Stock
Sour Apple Card Stock	White Detail Embossing Powder	Versamark Ink Pad	Foam Mounting Tape 1/2"

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Big Hugs: MFT January Release Replay

Welcome! It's Release Replay Day for My Favorite Things Stamps, and I have a BIG hugs card to share. For my background, I stamped the new Floral Fantasy Background in Pure Plum ink on Razzle Berry cardstock. Of course hot pink needs orange, right? (Well I thought so anyway!) 

For the hugs sentiment, I painted a scrap of watercolor paper with distress inks and let it dry completely before die-cutting. I love those tiny 3mm sequins for dressing things up at the very end! For the bow, I dyed white crochet thread with a Copic re-inker.

For a complete list of all participants in today's Release Replay blog hop, be sure to see the MFT Stamps Blog. I know you'll be inspired! Thanks for stopping by today, 

BG Floral Fantasy Background	Pure Plum Premium Dye Ink Pad	Die-namics Big Hugs	Die-namics Blueprints 25
Die-namics Stitched Basic Edges 2	Die-namics Stitched Scallop Basic Edges 2	Smooth White Card Stock	Orange Zest Prestige Card Stock
Razzle Berry Card Stock	Glossy Accents	3 mm Sparkling Clear Sequins	Foam Mounting Tape 1/2"

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Hello, Sweet Pea: Power Poppy Instant Garden Release

Welcome! Today I have a Power Poppy Instant Garden release to share with you, Sweet Pea Show. I love sweet peas--common and unpretentious, but soft and sweet too! Marcella's illustration captures them beautifully in this January digital release.

 

Sweet Pea Show, including the illustration and sentiments are available HERE.

I paired the Power Poppy Sweet Pea Show image with some PTI patterned Papers (Raspberry Fizz Collection) and some MFT dies. The image is colored with Copic Sketch Markers; I didn't get my normal graphic finished tonight, so for now I'll list the colors below. (If I get a chance tomorrow afternoon or evening, I'll try to add a Copic Color Map.)

Blossoms: RV0000, RV04, RV55, RV66, RV69
Greenery: G40, G43, G46; YG00
Labels: E40, E43
Background: B0000, 0

I hope you get a chance to visit the Power Poppy Blog, as well as all of the talented ladies below, for more Sweet Pea loveliness! Thank you for stopping by today.

Power Poppy Blog -- Marcella Hawley

Cheryl Scrivens

Barb Walker

Broni Holcombe

Jenn Dove

Jessie Banks

Stacy Morgan

Another Year Wiser: MFT Stamps Release Night!

Welcome! It's finally My Favorite Things Stamps Release Day, so all of the fun products that you've been seeing online for the last few days are now available HERE. I saved the I'm Owl Yours stamp set to use tonight as a birthday card.

Shown above are the Copic markers that I used to color the owl images. Aren't those little guys sweet? (And there are several more owl images that I didn't use too!)

After deciding that my owls would work best in an oval frame, I looked for a die that I could use with an oval and saw that the Stitched Basic Edges 2 and Stitched Scallop Basic Edges 2 would work perfectly! Papers are form the MFT Sweet Celebrations Paper Pack.

Again, all of the new January products are now available, and the links below should all work. Each of the MFT Design Team will have projects to share tonight, so please check out the MFT Stamps Blog for many more cool projects and products, as well as a chance to win fabulous prizes! Good luck, and thanks for visiting,

I'm Owl Yours	Die-namics I'm Owl Yours	Die-namics Stitched Sentiments Strips	Die-namics Stitched Basic Edges 2	Die-namics Stitched Scallop Basic Edges 2
Die-namics Stitched Oval Scallop Frames	Oval STAX Set 1 Die-namics	Hybrid Ink Pad Black Licorice	Smooth White Card Stock	Limelight Prestige Card Stock
Blu Raspberry Card Stock	Razzle Berry Card Stock	Blending Card by X-Press It	Foam Mounting Tape 1/2"	Sweet Celebration Paper Pack
3 mm Sparkling Clear Sequins	Scotch Quick Dry Tacky Glue

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Lots of Love: MFT Release Day 2

Welcome to Day 2 of the My Favorite Things Stamps Release! Today I played with the new Die-namics Stitched Heart Grid. It's a two-piece die set with the stitching on one part and the stitched hearts on the other part. That gives you the freedom to use as many or as few hearts as you want. (I thought it might be fun to substitute buttons or flowers or something like that for hearts as well!)

I painted a scrap of good watercolor paper with light and medium pinks and an orange (distress inks in the sets listed below), then let the paper dry thoroughly before die-cutting hearts from it. I bent each heart along its stitching line and then glued them onto the stitched base lines, using the negative shape from which the hearts had been cut as my placement guide. The sentiment on the banner is from Love Is in the Air. I used a Copic R22 refill to die my white cotton string to coordinate with the hearts.

Keep in mind that while I linked all MFT products below, the links to the NEW release products will not work until release time, 9pm, EST on Tuesday, January 10. (All other links should work now.)

I hope you have time to check out the MFT Stamps Blog for a complete list of participants in today's Countdown and to enter for prizes there! Thanks for stopping by today,

Die-namics Stitched Heart Grid	Love Is in the Mail	Die-namics Blueprints 24	Die-namics Stitched Sentiments Strips	Watercolor Pad
Sweet Tooth Card Stock	Razzle Berry Card Stock	Versamark Ink Pad	White Detail Embossing Powder	Tim Holtz Distress Mini Kit #1
Tim Holtz Distress Mini Kit #4	Tim Holtz Distress Mini Kit #11

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You've Got Mail: MFT Release Day 3

Welcome to Day 3 of the My Favorite Things Stamps January Release!  Any post-people in your life? If so, you're in luck with today's You've Got Mail stamp set.( Okay, even if you just send mail, it works for that too!)

Shown above are the Copic markers that I used to color the You've Got Mail image. I also used just a tiny bit of airbrushed Copic YR31 right behind my mail girl on the white oval background to warm up that area and help her to stand out a bit better.

Sometimes people ask about the card inside; it's pretty simple here, with a sentiment stamped in Nightshift Blue, and the same little mail girl stamp in Blue Breeze.

I added texture to her mailbag with a scrap of denim spritzed in Colorless Blender, then popped it up with foam tape for added dimension.

Keep in mind that while I linked all MFT products below, the links to the NEW release products will not work until Release Night, 9pm, EST on Tuesday, January 10. (All other links should work now.)

I hope you have time to check out the MFT Stamps Blog for a complete list of participants in today's countdown and to enter for prizes there! Thanks for stopping by today,

Pure Innocence You've Got Mail	Die-namics PI You've Got Mail	Die-namics Blueprints 15	Die-namics Blueprints 24	Die-namics Stitched Basic Edges 2
Die-namics Stitched Scallop Basic Edges 2	Die-namics Stitched Sentiments Strips	Die-namics Oval STAX Set 2	Die-namics Stitched Oval Scallop Edge Frames	Hybrid Ink Pad Black Licorice
Blue Breeze Premium Dye Ink Pad	Blue Yonder Premium Dye Ink Pad	Hybrid Ink Pad Nightshift Blue	Nightshift Blue Card Stock	Blue Yonder Prestige Card Stock
Blue Breeze Prestige Card Stock	Foam Mounting Tape 1/2"	3 mm Sparkling Clear Sequins	Mini Multi Medium Matte Glue

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Have a Cool Day: Terial Arts Gift Bag Link

Just popping in to let you know that I have a snowy day gift bag tutorial posted on the Terial Arts Inspire blog today, all stepped out. Images are from the MFT Stamps Cool Day stamp set, colored with Copic markers on a muslin drawstring bag.

Next, I'm headed to the Atlanta area (Peachtree City) for my first Copic Certification and Flowers classes on February 10-11--hope to see some of you there!

Stay warm,

No Otter Like You: MFT Release Day 4

Welcome to Day 4 of the January My Favorite Things Stamps New Release Countdown! I admit that I'm a sucker for cuteness. Make it cute animals holding babies, and I just can't help myself!  Today's featured set is Otterly Love You, and it will be available on Tuesday evening, January 10, with the rest of the January release.

Shown above are the Copic markers that I used to color the Otterly Love You images. I colored the water and sky first; and after my ink was dry, I heat-embossed waves with Versamark and detail white embossing powder.

The inside is really simple; I kept the images light so that I could write over them if I needed to.

Who wouldn't love those faces?

While I linked all MFT products below, the links to the NEW release products will not work until Release Night, Tuesday at 9pm, Eastern, on January 10. (All other links should work now.) Be sure to to visit the MFT Stamps blog to enter for today's prize, and to see a full list of links for the DT members showcasing today's release sets! Thanks for stopping by today,

BB Otterly Love You	Die-namics BB Otterly Love You	Die-namics Inside & Out Stitched Rounded Rectangle STAX	Die-namics Blueprints 15
Die-namics Blueprints 28	Smooth White Card Stock	Cornflower Prestige Card Stock	Hybrid Ink Pad Black Licorice
Cornflower Premium Dye Ink Pad	Blue Breeze Premium Dye Ink Pad	Versamark Ink Pad	White Detail Embossing Powder

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