Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Get Your Witch On

Hello all,

Well I couldn't wait to try some of the new techniques that I learned from my copic workshop.  I recently bought this little cutie and thought she would be fun to try.






Copic Colors:
Purple: BV29, BV25, BV08 BV04, BV02, BV00... If just starting I would leave out BV29 and BV25
Orange: Y17, YR12, YR14, YR16, YR18, E19
Yellow: Y11, Y13, Y15, Y17
Ghosts: N3, N1, 0
Green: YG01, YG03, YG09, G16, YG67... or just the first three if new to blending
Ground: E21, E23
Hair: E30, E31, E33
Skin: E000, E01, E31, R20  or E000, E00, E11, R20

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Irreplaceable

Hello stamping friends,

I have a tough one for you today.  I really enjoyed coloring this card, but the red is a challenge.







Copics used:

Black: 100, W9, W7, W6, W4
Red: R59, R39, R29, R24, R14, W7, W5
Skin: E000, E00, E11, E13, R20
Hair: E21, E23, E25, E27, E29, E49
Stockings and white: E50, E51
Cage thing: W4
Gold: Y11, Y17, Y26
Green: G09, G05

The red is really challenging on this card.  If you have a hard time with reds, I suggest leaving out R59.  In the end you don't really see R14.  You can also leave this one out if you like.   I used greys to deepen shadows.  This makes a huge difference in the end result.  If you are unsure about this step.  Start with W5 and leave out W7.     Take you time and use nice and light strokes.

Monday, September 21, 2015

Copic Workshop

Whew!  What a long, amazing weekend!!

I was lucky enough to be able to attend the 2015 series of copic workshops.  They were almost cancelled this year due the the Pope visiting Philadelphia this year.   The city was over flowing with people preparing for the Popes arrival.  It was impossible to find reasonable hotel rooms and the streets were full of people.  Thankfully, I was able to sneak out of the city before they closed the roads.

There were three topics being covered this year.  I had taken the Hair and Skin class last year, but they were offering a new variation on what they did last year,  a vintage class, and fabric class.

Here are my two favorite images from the Hair and Skin class.


I wasn't sure what to expect from the Vintage class.  I usually do not do a lot of work in sepia or black and white.  I was surprised how much I liked the end result.  It was surprising how challenging it was to choose colors.  You think you are working in monotones and it would be easy. However,  in order to get good contrast you need to plan a head and really understand the shadows.





 My favorite part of the two day event was the fabric class.  I have been experimenting with fabric on my own, but this really helped pull it all together.  I have so many ideas bouncing around my head...I can't wait to try them.   My favorite is the little genie.





Thanks for looking.  I can't wait to take what I learned and apply it to my own images.  Stay tuned!!

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Flower of the Month: Cosmos

Hello Stampers!

Today is the second month in the "Flower of the Month" series.  These images can be purchased from Lila Grey.  This month we are highlighting Cosmos.   This wasn't a flower I was familiar with.   I'm so thankful for Google Image.  The majority of the photos that popped up showed them to be beautiful bright pink.  However they could also be white, yellow, or purple.  I chose to go with pink because this seemed to be the most common.  I wanted them to be easily recognizable as cosmos.

Cosmos have bigger petals than last months Asters.  This made them much easier to color.   Lisa (the artist) put in several detail lines on each petal.  I wanted to add some shadow to each of those lines.  I think this helps add a little more interest or depth to the flower.    To do this. I colored the flower first using RV10, RV11, RV13, RV14.  Remember to color one petal at a time so that you can get a smooth blend with your colors.  Then I added RV17 to the deepest shadows of the flower.   It is important to hold the marker close to the nib in order to get a nice thin line.  This takes some practice.. don't give up!!




Copic Colors used:
Pink: RV10, RV11, RV13, RV14, RV17
Green: YG03, YG09
Yellow: Y15, Y17, E13, 




Monday, September 14, 2015

BeWitched

Hello friends,

Halloween is just around the corner.  It became a little more real when Connor and I received an invitation to a Halloween party!  What should I go as?  HHmmm.... the brainstorming begins now...

To help me get in the mood I made this cutie..




Copics used: 
Orange: YR27, YR18, YR16, YR14, YR12
Black: 100, W9, W7, W5
Green: YG01, YG03, YG06, 
Hair: E21, E23, E25, E29, 
Purple: BV08, BV04, BV02
Skin: E000, E00, E11
Ground: BV31, BV34
Wood: E71, E74, E77
Broom: E41, E43, E44, E47

Saturday, September 12, 2015

Ghostly Greetings

Hello!

I have a quick card for you today.  I love Halloween cards.  I think I'm going to make a few more of these!




No copics today!

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Light Brigade

Hello friends,

Christmas is coming!  Christmas is Coming!!  Look at these guys hurry to get decorate the tree.  I've always been a fan of these hedgehogs!  Sadly the company discontinued this stamp.  I was lucky enough to pick one up before the stocks were depleted.  





Copics used: 
Skin: E000, E00, R11
Hair: C3, W3, C1, W1, tiny bit of W5
Belly: C1, C0
Red: R29, R24, R14, G46, G43, G40
I covered the lights with glossy accents to look more 3D
Light string: C7, C5, C3, C1
Ground: W3, W1, W0

Monday, September 7, 2015

Aloha Summer

Aloha Friends,

In Hawaii, they use Aloha to say hello and goodbye.  I thought this card would be perfect to say a final farewell to lake season.   Our time at the lake went by way too quickly this summer.  It feels like we just opened it up for the season.  We will still be going down on most of the weekends this month, but it will start making preparations for winter (big sigh!)

 I had a lot of fun making this card.  I started off with the idea of making it look like a photograph.  In the end I'm not sure I really achieved that look, but I really like the layers.




Copics used:

Tilda:
Skin: E000, E00, E11, E13
Grass skirt: G20, YG41, YG45, YG63, G94, E11
Pink: RV52, RV55, RV66
Yellow: Y11, Y13, Y35
Hair: W5, W7, W9, 100, E49
gel pen for her eyes

Sand: Just put random dots of brown on cardstock
Tree: I added some brown marker to add depth to shadows on tree trunk: E47
Coconuts: also put some dots on them to add texture: E47, E49

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Simple Thank You

Happy Saturday,

I have another quick card to share with you today.  I send a lot of Thank you card and like to keep a few on hand.  I have had this oversized thank you stamp for a while, but wasn't quite sure what to do with it.  It is huge!  It doesn't fit on a standard card easily.    I thought I'd try stamping it off center.  What do you think?


No copics today!

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Rediscovering Fall

Hello friends,

Do you remember playing in the leaves when you were little?  I love the crunch sound they make.   I think I had forgotten how much fun the whole experience was until we adopted our dogs.  They spend hours playing in the leaves in the back yard.  They chase them and roll in them.  Their happiness is contagious.  I can't help going outside and playing with them.  I'm looking forward to doing it again this year. Who can resist that puppy playing in the leaves?



Copics:
Skin: E000, E00, E11, E13, R20
Green: YG61, YG63, YG67, G94
Hair: E21, E25, E27, E29, E49
Dog: W5, W7, W9, and E42, E43, E47-- I think I wish I made him lighter
Pile: YR31, YR20, YR21, YR23, YR24, YR27
Random leaves--just picked fall colors.  There is a bit of everything.  I make sure to do 4-5 leaves in each color combo.