Sunday, November 24, 2013

Using Copics on Fabric

After attending the Copic Color and Ink Workshop, I've tried several projects using techniques we learned.  Using Copics on fabric (muslin) was one project I really liked.  I ordered some small (5x7) muslin bags from Amazon.com and stamped and colored a variety of little gift bags.

These are some general all-occasion bags.


Now I will tell you about each bag.
This first one is the one we did in class.  The muslin is much smoother than what I found on Amazon.com, but both worked fine.


Instructions:

Here are some instructions for coloring with Copics.  Place a folded sheet of paper inside the bag before stamping.  This prevents the ink and markers bleeding to the back side of the bag.  Stamp on the fabric with a fabric ink, such as Versacraft or Fabrico.  Or you could use a pignment ink.  It will be need to be heat set with a heat tool before coloring.  Caution:  muslin scorches easily, so don't hold it in one place long.

Color lightly, not going all the way to outline, since Copics do spread.  Use a very light touch and blend slightly.  Too much saturation will ruin your image and go out of the lines.  You cannot use the Colorless blender marker to erase, as you can on paper.  It is still possible to blend a little bit with a lighter color, but be careful.

Then heat set with the heat tool, and you probably want to do that between colors also.  Copic ink is not waterproof, so do not launder. 

This next bag is stamped with Flutter By by Red Rubber Designs.







The next cute little girl is Wonder and Joy by Red Rubber Designs.




And these are some Christmas gift bags I made.


Pinecones 


Build a Snowman by Red Rubber Designs
(check the website for availability)




Christmas Bear by Mabelle R.O.






Holly  by Red Rubber Designs



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Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Copic Color and Ink Workshop

This past weekend I had the opportunity to go to a Copic Color and Ink Workshop in Dallas.  This post will share some of the projects we did and techniques we learned in the workshop.  I hope you are inspired.  I never knew I could do so much with my Copic markers.

I will start with my very favorite part of the workshop - Coloring.  Isn't that what markers are for?  We learned how to distinguish and color age and skin tone.  Here is the difference between a baby and an old man.  Old people have lots more shadows and a grayish tint to the skin, whereas babies have plump and smooth skin with few shadows.


We did a variety of images to learn how to color ethnic skins and various types of hair.
Here you see Native American, African American, and Latino/Mediterranean/Middle Eastern skin tones.  Also in these pictures are coloring of braided hair and curly hair.


Here is Caucasian skin tones and more samples of hair - up-do hair, straight hair and dreadlocks.  There are special techniques used with each of the styles.  We actually had more samples to color with different skin and hair colors but time did not permit completing them all.  However, I came home with the instructions and can work more.



Moving on to other Copic techniques, we learned how to use Copics to paint on tiles.  We did this with a watercolor brush filled with Colorless blender fluid, using the Copic refills in a paint palette.  Using the marker directly on the tile would damage the tip of the marker.


This is Copic coloring on fabric.  It was fun, and definitely one I will do more of.

We tried pounced Copic inks on metal that had been embossed.  Fun!  All kinds of home decor would fit in here.


I found this one not one of my favorites, but interesting.  Using Yupo paper, we spread Copic ink with the refill bottles to form landscapes.  Since the paper does not absorb at all, the ink stayed on the surface and floated around until it dried.


We painted on a black and white photograph with our Copic markers.  Interesting squeeky sound and it does not blend well, but is do-able.


We stamped and then colored on shrink plastic and then used the heat tool to shrink it into a charm.  Shrink plastic is always fun to watch as it shrivels up and finally lays flat, much smaller than when it started.


Moving on, we tried floating Copic inks on top of shallow water, and then scooping a piece of white cardstock into the water and under to paint to capture it on the card.  It could be an interesting background, or cut into smaller sections for an accent.


This is blowing Copic inks with a straw.  The ink is dropped from the refill bottle on to glossy paper and then blown with a straw.  Straight down blowing makes it spread in a circle, or sideways blowing makes it move on the page.


Copic faux stone, using glossy paper, a pouncer with ink dripped on a felt piece attached to the pouncer.  Metallic alcohol ink can also be added for a shiny look


And we even did "Oodles of Doodles" in a journal book.  We drew a flower and then filled it in with doodling.  It could also be a smaller flower that is open with the doodling around the sides of the flower.  Then it could be colored too.


Acrylic and dripped alcohol inks gave an interesting effect. You probably can't see in the photo, but there is a slight white line around the edges of the ink where it spread.  This could be used in a journal or as background work.  The page is painted with acrylic Gesso first.


Here is another piece of embossed metal.  This one was first painted with Gesso and then spread with Copic ink from the refill bottle.


Now moving to Airbrush techniques with Copics.  We spent nearly a whole half day doing projects with the airbrush.  This first picture is airbrushing using Frisket, a masking fluid that was painted on the cattails and leaves first.  Then the airbrush was applied and the mask removed.  Last, the cattails and leaves were colored with Copic markers.


We airbrushed a city scape using stencils.


Next is a project using resist bleaching with the Colored blender spritzed on a stamp after airbrushing on cardstock.


 One last project was art journal stencils using the airbrush technique.


Now a big shout out to my two wonderful Copic teachers at the workshop.  They were such excellent teachers.

Left is Colleen Schaan, right is Cindy Lawrence



 What a fun 2 days I had playing with Copics.  Next year there will be a Copic workshop in Dallas doing whimisical faces and hair and another doing the airbrush techniques.  I hope to do the face and hair coloring one. 



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Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Red Rubber Digitals - Flowers

Red Rubber Digitals is a new digital stamp site with some of the same images as Red Rubber Designs and also some new ones.   If you like high-quality digital products - stamps, images, clip art, patterned designer paper and more - you'll love Red Rubber Digitals!  I'm exited to show you some cards I made with one of the digital stamp sets called Flowers

Flower 1
This card shows one of my favorite aspects of digital designs - being able to make the image whatever size one desires.  In this layout, I've made one large flower and five smaller flowers from the same digital image.  

This first card also uses a digital sentiment (also sizeable as desired) from Nature's Greetings digital set.  I colored the images with Copic Markers and used an embossing folder for the background cardstock.
 

Flower 2
The second card uses another image from Flowers and a sentiment from Nature's Greetings.  The image is colored with Copic Markers and cut out with Spellbinders Nestabilites Labels 16.  The background paper is from my stash - not sure the origin.

Flower 3
The third card is the last of the flower images in the Flowers digital set.  I colored it with Copics and added some jewels to the centers of the flowers and on the bottom of the card over some fabric lace.  The image is cut out with Spellbinders Nestabilites Petite Scalloped Circles Large.

Challenges:
Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes
CMC Copic Challenge Group - Anything Goes

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Monday, October 7, 2013

Fun cards with Inky Antics and Waffle paper

Today I have some fun pop-out cards to show you using 
Inky Antics stamps and Waffle Paper. 

The first two cards use Cupcake Birdy HoneyPOP Clear set.


I made a birthday card with a cupcake pop-out in the center.
 


Here's another one using the same stamps and a Bazzill matchbook card. 
 



This card uses Turtle HoneyPOP Clear set.


The inside


This last card uses the Caterpillar HoneyPOP Clear set .


What fun cards that pop out when you open them.  They are fun to make and a joy to send.

Supplies:
Cupcake Birdy HoneyPOP Clear Set by Inky Antics
Turtle HoneyPOP Clear Set by Inky Antics
Caterpillar HoneyPOP Clear Set by Inky Antics
Memento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad
Copic Markers
Eat Cake 4.5x6.5 Paper Pack by the Paper Studio
Waffle papers - red, green, pink, white
White cardstock
Solid color Bazzil cardstocks 
Ribbons

Challenges:
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes
Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes
KennyK's Krafty Krew - Anything Goes
Penny Black and More Challenge - Anything Goes
Stamping Sensations - All Creatures Great and Small


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Monday, September 30, 2013

Saddle Up by Doodle Pantry


Today it is Happy Birthday to Ella, my 8-year old horse-loving granddaughter.  I made this card especially for her birthday using Saddle Up digi stamp from Doodle Pantry.    Here is Ella visiting a horse during a visit with Grandma and Grandpa.  I tried to color the card to look like this pretty horse.


Supplies:
Saddle Up digi by Doodle Pantry
Copic markers (E11, E15, E13, E17, E18, E77, E79, E41, E49)
Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circles Large
Patterned Paper - Loverly by GCD Studios
Cream cardstock by Paper Trey Ink
Copic XPress cardstock
Bakers twine

Challenges:
Di's Digi Designs - Coloring Skills
Krafting Kimi's Stamps - Inspired by Nature
Send a Smile for Kids - Anything Goes for Kids
Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes
Creative Inspirations Paint - Anything Goes
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Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Emily Rose Hatter Birthday card


This is a special post for Kayla's birthday.  She is my 9-year old granddaughter who is nearly grown up.  I made her this birthday card using Emily Rose Hatter from Little Miss Muffet.  It reminds me of Kayla, so pretty and girly!  Here is Kayla with her new haircut!  


We love you, Kayla, and are so proud of you!  

Supplies:
Emily Rose Hatter digi stamp
Copic markers (YG61, YG63, YG67, E13, E15, E17, E31, E33, E35, E11, E51, W1, W5, RV000, RV32, RF34
handmade flower
Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 10
Cuttlebug zig zag embossing stitch
pink Bazzill cardstock
Copic XPress cardstock
patterned cardstock 

Challenges:
Little Miss Muffet - Pink and Gray
Anything Goes Challenges - Out With the Girls
Inky Chicks - Pretty in Pink 
Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes
Sweet Stamps - Roses
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