Monday, July 19, 2010

Copic Mondays Colorless Blender & Blending Solution


The colorless blender is probably the most mis-named item in the Copic Marker Toolbox.  By saying blender, most people thing you can blend two colors together with it.  In reality the Colorless Blender is actually just the plain alcohol that is used to dilute the marker colors.  The blender "moves" the colors around.  It doesn't actually blend them.

You can use this to your advantage in several ways.  If you are coloring and image, and your color bleeds slightly outside the lines.  Wait for the first color to dry, then push the color back using the colorless blender.  Use small strokes, and be patient.  You want to slowly move it by adding a little alcohol at a time.  You don't want to saturate the area, because that will make the run worse.

The coolest thing you can do with the colorless blender is to make effects on your designs.  Did you know you can use it to create a brick wall effect?

Color your "wall" using your favorite brick red.  Then place the chisel end of your blender pen down flat on the colored surface to create bricks.  Cool, huh?  See how it pushes the color out to create the brick effect?



You can do a similar technique using the brush end of  your marker to create flowers and hearts.


It does take some practice.  Some of my flowers are better than others, but you get the idea.  You can really see how the colorless blender pushes out the ink to create the image.  You can see how the pushed ink pools to create an outline around your image.

So what else can you do?  How about creating denim jeans on one of your stamped images?   You will need a piece of denim a little larger than the jeans on the stamped image and a colorless blender refill or bottle of colorless blender fluid.  Color the jeans first when using this technique.  Color them normally with your favorite blues.  I like to use B91, B93, B95 and B97.  Dampen the denim.  You want it damp, but you don't want it saturated.  I like to stretch the denim on a stamp block to get perfect denim jeans, but you can just press the area with the damp denim.  It will leave the denim imprint on your image.  Another great detail for your artwork!


How about animals?  Do you color them, but wish they looked more "furry"?  Take a small scrap of terry cloth and get it damp with blending solution.  Dab it on the stamped image to give it texture.  See how my bear looks more like fun then just a colored image.


You can also use the terry cloth to create texture for grass or for mountains.  I hope it is easy for you to see the light and dark areas that the blending solution creates to give a texture appearance.


Think of all the fun things you can try using blender ink!  I would love to see your projects trying out any of these fun techniques!

Next time --  we will be checking out the Copic Airbrush System!

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Dream Card w/ Cuttlebug Folders


Kim at Cutters Creek has these great Oriental Weave Embossing Folders from Cuttlebug.  She was so kind, and sent me one to try.  I love this folder.  The others in the set of four are amazing, too.  I gathered up a few supplies I thought would work well with this folder, and got to work.

I made my standard card base out of black cardstock.  I used a piece of Black Magic Core'dinations paper for the embossing.  I then sanded the image to reveal the blue color under the black.  I also sanded the edges to give the piece a framed look.  I love the way this looked done in the Black Magic with Blue undertones Core'dinations.

If you haven't tried Core'dinations for embossing, you really should.  I love the look of the dual tones, and the amazing texture.  Core'dinations papers have one color on the front, and another on the back.  When you emboss, the back color comes up through the textured cardstock.  There are many great varieties of this paper.  Be sure to check them out on the Cutters Creek Store site.
 

I added the embossed piece to my card with my ScorTape.  Next I made strips of patterned paper and layered them on top of black cardstock.  I layered them on my card using my Glue Glider Pro, and my Foam Tape.  Lastly, I cut out a Kanji for Dream out and then layered it with patterned papers and black cardstock.




For the inside of the card, I used a piece of Bazzill Prism White cardstock.  I inked the edges and then adhered it to my card using ScorTape.  Next I layered a sanded strip of the Core-dinations paper to a strip of black cardstock.  I layered patterned paper and black cardstock on a larger piece and then I layered the word "Dream" on patterned paper and black cardstock.  I added the dream using foam tape to give it dimension.

This was a fast simple card that will fit for a variety of occasions.  I love the beautiful embossing folder, and the simplicity of this card.

Products available at Cutters Creek:

Cuttlebug Plum Blossom Embossing Set of 4 Folders
ScorPal
ScorTape
Core'dinations Black Magic Cardstock
Bazzill White Cardstock
Glue Glider Pro
Foam Tape Squares

Saturday, July 10, 2010

And the winner is.....**drumroll**











True Random Number Generator















Powered by RANDOM.ORG




Random.org generated the number for our winner! It was post #3 :)

Congrats! Sue! You are our lucky winner!  Please email me with your address!

Sue said...

Your blog looks great Laura. Nice to see your work again.

July 2, 2010 6:36 PM

Thanks to everyone who entered.  I will be having more blog giveaways very soon!  Happy Summer Everyone :)

Friday, July 09, 2010

Girly Girl Card for My Auntie's Birthday & Scrappy Frogs Challenge Blog



For my aunt's birthday, I knew I wanted something very pretty and feminine.  I wanted it to be a special card she could display on her desk at work, and enjoy for a while.

I started by coloring my Magnolia image using my Copic markers.  For additional interest, I added Flower Soft to the sunflower and Glossy Accents to the shoes.  I accented a few places using my Inksentials white gel pen.  I set her aside to dry and went to work on the card.

My overall card is a 6x6.  The paper is cut at 6" x 12".  I scored at the 3" and 6" lines using my ScorPal.  My pink background layer is cut at 5.75"x 5.75".  I distressed the edges using my Making Memories edge distressor.  My floral paper layer is cut at 5.5" x 5.5", and again I distressed the edges.  I used my Glue Glider Pro to attach the papers, and then I sewed around the edges using brown thread (Gutterman).  I went around the edge twice being sure to make it look uneven and vintage.  I attached the completed piece to my card base.

Next I made the lace band.  The background is pink floral paper with white cardstock overlay, then pink cardstock, and followed by the white cotton lace.  I attached the completed piece to my card using foam tape squares.

The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink, and I stamped it using Versamark Ink then embossed it with pink embossing powder.  I die cut the sentiment out using my Sizzix oval bookplate die.  I chalked the edges with Colorbox chalks, and then cut a second die cut using the pink cardstock.  I layered the bookplates together using foam squares.  I added flowers from Prima and American Crafts accented with Martha Stewart pearls.  The pink/lavender pearl is from Michaels.



My Magnolia was dry, so I cut her out using my Cutter Bee scissors, and added her to the card with foam tape.


For the inside, I cut another piece of pink cardstock and distressed it like the front.  I used a smaller piece of floral pink card stock for the center, also distressed.  The labels were cut using my StoryBook Cricut Cartridge (Real Size Dial set at 4" for the large and 2.5" for the small).  I embossed the smaller one with my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder and then used my Colorbox chalk inks over it and on the edges for dimension.   On the larger one, I just inked the edges. The birthday cake was stamped on several scraps of cardstock using the Colorbox Chalk ink.  I added Stickles for dimension to accent the details.  I stamped the candles on white cardstock using the same inks, cut it out using my scalloped circle punch, and then colored my candle flames with my Copic markers.  I then put Stickles on top for more candlelight sparkle.  I cut out each section of the birthday cake from separate papers for layering.

For the accent bar to hold the easel part of the card, I cut a strip of white cardstock then embossed it using my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder.  I set it aside, and cut a smaller piece of floral paper and distressed the edges.  I cut another piece of pink cardstock, then covered it with a piece of satin ribbon using my ScorTape (it is so great for ribbons).  I layered the pieces together using my Glue Glider Pro and my foam tape squares.  I added the pearl strands using Beacon 3 in 1 adhesive.

I stamped the Birthday Wishes from my Papertrey Ink stamp set on a scrap piece of pink cardstock with my Versamark Ink and then embossed it with the pink embossing powder.  I then freehand cut it out using my Cutter Bee Scissors.  I layered the pieces on using foam tape and then added the three Michaels pearls.


On the back I had to add my boxer dog.  It is an old Hero Arts stamp that I bought in the 80's (I think).  I stamped it using my Colorbox chalk ink on white cardstock.  I punched it out with my Creative Memories circle punch, then punched the larger circle with the pink cardstock.  I chalked the edges then added them to my card.

My aunt LOVED this card.  She was so happy with it.  I was really pleased with how it turned out, and it is so very girly girl!

Products Used from Cutters Creek:

Circut Storybook Cartridge
Brown and Sunshine Yellow Flower Soft & Flower Soft Glue
Cuttlebug Swiss Dots A2 folder
Prism (Bazzill) White Cardstock
Memento Black Ink
Colorbox Chalk Ink
Copic Markers
Inksentials Gel White Pen
Cutter Bee Scissors
3M Foam Tape
Versamark Ink Pad
Glossy Accents
Glue Glider Pro
Beacon 3 in 1 adhesive
Stickles Glitter Glue - Diamond
ScorTape
ScorPal
American Crafts Flowers
Core-dinations Cardstock


Misc Items:

Magnolia Stamp
Making Memories Edge Distressor
Papertrey Ink Stamp Sets
Hero Arts Boxer Dog Stamp
Cardstock - Making Memories, TLC & Misc.
White Cotton Lace
Prima Flowers
Martha Stewart Pearls
Creative Memories Circle Punch
Strand Pearls
Offray Satin Ribbon
Michaels Pearls

Monday, July 05, 2010

Copic Mondays - Color Chart - What does it mean? How can I use it?

So do you really understand the color chart?  I thought I did, but then I went to my certification class, and I realized I really didn't get it, yet.





We all pretty much know that Copics are numbered using a letter code and two number codes.  The letter represents the color family:


Primary Colors:      


  • B  = Blue                         
  • R = Red                
  • Y = Yellow            

Secondary Colors:       

  • G = Green                  
  • V = Violet       
  • YR = Yellow Red

Tertiary Colors:           

  • YG = Yellow Green     
  • BG = Blue Green         
  • RV = Red Violet         
  • BV = Blue Violet        

Earth & Tonal Colors:

  • E = Earth
  • C = Cool Gray
  • T = Toner Gray
  • N = Neutral Gray
  • W = Warm Gray



The first number represents the tone of the marker of the color.  The zero means pure color.  There is no gray tone added to the color.  A marker with the first number of 2, contains a bit of gray along with the pure blue color from the 0 series.  A B9 marker contains the most gray tone mixed with the pure blue.

The second number is the intensity of the color.  The smaller the number means the marker has a lighter color.  There is more alcohol than ink in the lighter colors.  The larger the number, the higher the ink concentration.

A B09 marker is a pure true blue marker with the least amount of ink in the color.  It is the deepest true blue color.  All of the markers from B0000 to B09 contain the same ink color, the concentration of the color is just lighter or darker.

So what does all this mean?  Well, if you wanted a nice blue ball, you may use B05, and then the shadow of the ball would be more gray (since there is less light on the shadow of the ball).  For the shadow you would use either  B45 or B95.  Both have the same intensity of the B05, but they have more gray in them  (approx 40% gray for the B45, and 95% gray for the B95.


Say you wanted to color a beach ball.  Beach balls usually have bright pure colors.  You would want to choose colors with the closest numbers possible.  In this example, I would use the primary colors of red, yellow, blue and green for my beach ball.  I would use marker numbers B05, G05, Y06 (since there is no Y05), and R05.  Those colors are bright and clear.  They are perfect for a beach ball.

If you are looking to add normal high and low lights to a color, you want to use colors a few numbers apart.  There isn't enough visible color variance with colors whose numbers are only one number apart.  For example, it is difficult to see the difference between E31 and E32 in a small image.  You would want to use E31 and E33 for the difference to be visible.

Well, that covers the colors and color chart, but what about the gray scale markers and toners?  What gray scale toner family should you invest in first?  If you select the neutral gray color family, you can use it with your warm and cool colors. 

When you  really understand what the color numbers mean, it is much easier to select colors that compliment, contrast, and shadow each other.   You can make wise choices on colors to maximize your budget.  Like we discussed before, when you select any color family, you want to choose at least three markers from that color family.  You want a light color, a medium and a dark to allow for contrast and shading on your images.  In previous articles, I have given many examples of color family choices for the most popular colors and applications.

Next time, we will be talking about the fun and techniques you can achieve with the Colorless Blender and the Blending Solution.

Please, ask questions or make suggestions for any topic you would like to see covered in Copic Mondays.

Thursday, July 01, 2010

Hummingbird w/ Basic Grey "Dream" Card


I received this wonderful papers from April for being Member of the Month at Scrappin-n-Chattin' on Yahoo Groups.  I love them so much!  I made this simple easel card using Kraft cardstock that my hubby picked up for me at Hobby Lobby.  I stamped the Hummingbird using an Inkadinkado stamp from Cutter's Creek.  I used my Memento Tuxedo black ink, because I wanted to color my image with my wonderful Copic markers.  I stamped the sentiment using a stamp from Studio G's $1 stamp sets.  I think I picked it up at Michaels.  I used the Versamark ink, and then embossed it using white embossing powder from Judikins.

Other fun stuff used:

Martha Stewart border punch and butterfly punch
American Crafts Rhinestones
Twine
Making Memories Edge Distresser
Pop Up Foam Squares - 3M

Since July is such a fun summer month, I want to start out with a small blog candy.  I will be building up more prizes all month long.  To enter, just submit your name on a comment below.  If you would like a second chance to win, add your name and link below.  Include a link on your blog to this post and giveaway.  You will receive a second chance in the drawing.  For three chances, follow my blog.  For FOUR chances, subscribe to my feed updates.



This candy will be 12 stamped Inkadinkado Fancy images to include butterflies, hummingbirds (the one used in this card) and others from this great stamp collection.  All images will be on Neenah or Prism cardstocks, and stamped with Memento inks.  They will be perfect for coloring with your Copic markers.

If my followers reaches 100 before the end of this giveaway, I will add more prizes!  What a great way to start month number two of summer!!

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