Thinking Inking

I Love You More Than Coffee!

Welcome! I was browsing the Digital Pencil Too site earlier this week and ran across this darling digital stamp, Coffee. Of course I wanted to color it! I printed the image out with my laser printer, then started coloring.

These are the Copic markers that I used to color the Coffee image--yes, a LOT of them! (As always, click for a larger version.)

To trim and emboss my focal image and the mat piece directly behind it, I used a Spellbinders  5 x 7 Matting Basics A die template. For the pink square patterned paper , I used Romantic Rectangles on the long edge to create a lacy border.  Now, I have to confess that I'm not an experienced sequins user! But I received a box the other day that had two containers of sequins in it, so it was my *duty* to use them, right? :-} There are Spellbinders Celebrations sequins in Hip Hooray, and the colors worked perfectly with the patterned paper from Echo Park's Sweet Girl 6" x 6" paper pad. My finished card size is 5" x 7". The inside sentiments are:

"I love you more than coffee!
[And that's saying a latte.]

Loved those sentiments! Thanks for visiting,

Missing You. . .

In December I went to visit my sister and her sweet family in Texas; I so enjoyed getting to spend time with them! I found this little Mo Manning Bye Bye image in my digital stamp stash and decided to make a card for one of the girls. (I have a second card in the works for my second little Texas niece.) This digital stamp also comes in different ethnicities as well as different gender.

 Here are the Copic markers that I used to color the ladybug and trike.

Next I colored her hair and jeans. I went back a couple of steps later and added more darkness to the shadow side of her hair, however.

Here are the jacket colors, including some blue-violets for cast shadows. That BG45 is a cooler temperature blue-green than the BG30's. I used it in the shadow areas as well. 

Here I added some sky with a homemade B40 (B41 + colorless blender in an empty Copic Sketch marker). I also darkened the hair a bit with the Y35 and E13. The C2 was for that collar of her jacket as well as the heels of her sandals. (I darkened the collar more after I took this picture; you can see that if you compare this picture to the next picture.)

Here I finished the sandals, feet, the few other places that had skin showing, and the ground. I also added some Chamomile Distress ink (PTI) to the edges of the cardstock panel. You don't see it on this shot, but I colored the streamers on her handlebars and the ponytail scrunchies with a red Spica Glitter pen.

I used three different Spellbinders die template sets on this card: On the Edge for that notebook edge at the bottom of the blue-green patterned paper, A-2 Matting Basics A, and A-2 Matting Basics B. A bit of sanding, stitching, and glueing, and I was finished with my card. My little nieces enjoy making cards as well (at 2-1/ and 5), and they wanted some pretty ribbon to dress up their cards. Guess what Auntie Debbie has plenty of to send with the card? Oh, yes, that would be ribbon. Sounds like an opportunity to work on fine motor skills to me. :-) Patterned paper is from Cosmo Cricket's Baby Jane Mini Deck, and baker's twine is from Papertrey Ink. That's it for today; thanks for visiting with me!

Debbie 

P.S. I hope to see some of you in Charlotte, North Carolina on February 22, or Portland, Oregon on March 22! I will be teaching Copic Workshop classes in both of those locations, one a Color Along for Whimsical Faces and Hair, and the other an Airbrushing Projects for Papercrafters. Details are HERE. If you are in the Portland, Oregon area, Marianne Walker is teaching a Tracing Memories Class on February 15. This is a relaxing, all-about-coloring class. It's a newer one, and it is fun! Detail for this class are also posted HERE (toward the bottom of the page). Here is a link to a video that highlights and explains the Tracing Memories class. I will embed it at the end of this post as well.

If you are looking for a Copic Standard or Copic Intermediate Certification class near you, Sherrie Siemens, Lori Craig, and Cindy Lawrence have upcoming classes in Tempe, Arizona; Orlando, Florida; Los Angeles, California; and Columbus, Ohio. (Click on the links above for more information.) Thanks!

 

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!

 

 

 

Copic Coloring Guide Level 2 FAVORITES

Hello from St. Louis! We have a winner on the Copic Coloring Guide Level 2, and it is. . .

Thanks so much to all who participated!

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Welcome to a very special blog hop!  I am excited to announce my participation and publication in the new Copic Coloring Guide, Level 2: Nature!

Authors Colleen Schaan and Marianne Walker have partnered up again with the team at Annie’s Attic and some of the most talented artists and designers in the industry to bring you a quality publication packed full of techniques, theory, tutorials, and inspiration.  The 64-page book is the next step in the Coloring Guide series, offering information and educational material for crafters of all skill levels.

From the introductory suggestions for creating a Copic journal and tips for working with digital images, to explanations of advanced blending techniques and detailed tutorials for coloring specific objects, the book presents useful information in an easy-to-follow format. 

A bonus CD comes with the book that contains all of the hand-drawn images used in the tutorial section of the book, along with the assembly instructions for all of the projects.

Each participating designer is hopping today to give you a peak at their favorite project from the book, and a chance to WIN your own autographed copy! 

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This is one of my projects in the book. I loved this little Mo Manning Bye Bye Boy image and wanted to use it because of the hair texture--not to mention that it was just a beautifully drawn image!. I was happy with how it turned out, and judging from the number of people who left comments in the previous giveaway about wanting more information on hair and skin tones, it's something that I need to share more of!

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To help kick off the celebration of the new book, each designer on the hop is giving away an autographed copy of the book--signed not only by Colleen and Marianne, but by the individual designer too!  Please leave a comment on this post for your chance to win your copy of mine.  Commenting will be closed Friday night (3/09/2012) at 10pm CDT.  Winners will be announced on the individual designer's blog.  

Michele Boyer

Lori Craig 

Jennifer Dove-Bonner

Sharon Harnist

Tammy Hershberger

Melanie Holtz

Michelle Houghton

Debbie Olson  (here)

Claudia Rosa

Colleen Schaan

Marianne Walker

Can't wait for your copy? 

Copic Coloring Guide Level 2: Nature is now available at many stamping and scrapbooking stores. Visit your local store today and ask about availability.  It is also sold through the Annie’s Attic catalog, accessible online at HERE at AnniesAttic.com.

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!

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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!

Enjoy Chocolate!

How about a Mo Manning image today? When I saw her Chocolate Smile image, I had to buy it. This little girl looks so much like my niece, and her favorite color is yellow. That pretty much made my major design decisions! (Click on any picture to enlarge.)

These are the Copic markers that I used to color the image--a bunch of them!  If I were coloring her again, I might go with an E000 for the skin base tone rather than an E50, simply because between skin, hair, and patterned paper, there are a LOT of yellow tones here. I think pinker skin tones might have worked a bit better.

I used Papertrey Ink's Mixed Messages set for the tag sentiment and Tiny Tags die for the tag. I also used the notebook paper die--love that random edge at the top! Patterned papers are from October Afternoon's Sidewalks line. That's it for today--thanks for stopping by!

P.S. Don't forget that Spellbinders still has product introductions and giveaways going on. See this post on their blog for more information!

'Tis the Season card on Copic Blog

Welcome! Today I have a stepped-out tutorial here on the Copic Blog. I showed how to render a shiny ornament, as opposed to a satin finished one. Enjoy, and thanks for stopping by!

Supply List:
Stamps: Little Elf Mim (Mo Manning digital stamp image); Winterberry(sentiment, Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Pure Poppy ink for sentiment, Chamomile Distress Cube to distress edges of cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Little Elf Mim digital image was printed on a Canon Inkjet MG5220 on X-Press It Blending Card.
Cardstock: X-Press It Blender Card (Copic); Pure Poppy, Rustic White (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: 12 Days of Christmas 6” x 6” designer paper pad (My Mind’s Eye)
Copic Markers: BG11, BG23, BG32, BG72, BV0000, BV00, BV02, BV04, R20, R22, R24, R29, R89, RV99, YG61, YG67, YR30, YR21, T0, T2, C3, 0, E50, E11, E13, E43
Accessories: Hawaiian Shores Grosgrain, Pure Poppy Vintage Button (Papertrey Ink); natural cotton crochet thread
Other Tools: Copic Airbrush System, Sparmax Air Compressor, Spellbinders Paper Arts Classic Squares LG, Spellbinders Grand Calibur, sewing machine, sanding block

 

Stop and Smell the Flowers Copic Tutorial

Good morning! I have another one of those sweet Mo Manning digital images for you today. This one is entitled End of Summer. I printed it with my Canon MG5220 ink jet printer on X-Press It Blending card, then proceeded to color it with my Copic markers--all pictured below.

For skin tones I used mostly the E00 and E13, with some BV000 in the shadow areas.

Next I colored her clothing--pinks and blue-greens too coordinate with the pretty Kaisercraft Bubblegum Hills Collection papers that I had chosen.

Next, I colored the grass and faded out to white on the edges. **I used my Copic 0 Colorless Blender to soften the edges, though I left it out of this picture.**

Next I colored her red hair. My original picture at this stage was not good, so I had to set this one up at the end. Still--these are the colors that I used on her hair.

Here I've colored the flowers and their leaves, adding some shadows on the grass with BV00.

The butterfly paper is Kaisercraft Bubblegum Hills Collection Fruity Galaxy 12" x 12", and the dotted paper that I cut with a Spellbinders Grand Labels Eleven die template is from the Bubblegum Hills 6-1/2" x 6-1/2" pad. Vintage buttons and Hibiscus Burst grosgrain ribbon are from Papertrey Ink. That's it--one sweet little "end of Summer" girl. Thanks for visiting!

Wishing You Sunshine

Good morning! I have another one of those sweet Mo Manning digital images that I've colored with my Copic markers to share with you today. I printed Kai in the Sand with my Canon MG5220 printer on X-Press It Blending Card and then found some pretty new October Afternoon Sidewalks papers that I thought would work well with him.

I started with some skin, baby. . . . The face was still too pale on the shadow side here, but I didn't realize and correct it until later in the process.

Here I have added some color--ball, bucket, hat, and diaper, pulling in colors from the paper that I had already chosen. 

These are the Copic markers that I used in the photo just above.

Here I have added some sky and sand, as well as glitter in a few places.See how that little bit of sky makes the hat show up so much better?

If you are looking for a complete list of the markers that I used, here it is.

The "Wishing You Sunshine" sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's Blooming Button Bits set, die-cut and embossed with a Spellbinders Ribbon Banners die template. Ribbon and buttons are both Papertrey Ink, and that scalloped border along the bottom is a new Spellbinders Classic Scallop (available 8/31/2011). This was a FUN card to make! Thanks for stopping by.

Just Because

Okay, how sweet is this image? While we were coloring together in Chicago, my friend Colleen Schaan mentioned Mo Manning images, and being curious, I had to check them out. Not sure yet if that was a good move--I may have a new addiction. :-) These digital images are beautifully drawn and fun to color too. This one is called Shy. I practiced my Copic hair and skin here; it occurred to me that I don't really have many people images, so this is good practice!

These were most of the Copic markers that I used; I forgot to add the ones that I used on her hair, and they are shown below. 

I thought that it might be helpful to see the hair in layers. I used the B32 first, then a little less of the C6, and finally the least of the C8, from the roots/crown down, and from the tips up. On the left it is finished, and on the right, only the first layer is down.

Papers here are more of my new CHA stash--from the Echo Park Victoria Garden kit. I used a Spellbinders Lace Doily Accents die template (new release) to cut that lacy gray layer at the bottom. The tag sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's Mixed Messages set. A not-so-bold prediction? There are many more Mo Manning images in my future coloring repertoire! Thanks for stopping by.