Month: April 2015

Copics: How I’m figuring out where the heck to start

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I don’t own Copic markers, mostly because I have no idea where I would even begin and because most of the time I can work with color mediums that I do have. The whole idea is so overwhelming. Where would you even start? My friend Sandy Allnock is not only a Copic master – but she also developed her own visual hex chart that is over the top amazing. Here is a link to her site/the hex chart. It is organized not by number, but by color so someone like me can clearly see the options in a way that is laid out in a much less overwhelming way. Today she’s got a blog hop going that I am happy to take part in – and I’m going to be sharing why I am in love with this chart as the new kid just trying to dip her toes in.

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Where to start?

Before I pulled out the chart, I considered what kinds of things I most saw myself coloring with Copics. If simple coloring is all I want, Distress or watercolor (both of which I have plenty of) would be just fine. What colors and for what projects am I wishing for even more colors and options?

The answer for me was, green stuff. Trees, grass, flower stems, tree trunks… these are things I always wish I had more options color wise. Greens into browns on the visual chart sounds good to me, and that gives me a very clear and manageable place to begin a collection. Note that I am not picking out what colors are prettiest or my favorites- I will work from what colors I feel would be used the most. BIG and very important difference!

Here is a video (link to YouTube) where I take a closer look and explain more.

When it came time to pick my colors, I used the chart on my computer screen to do so. I then pulled out the hand colored chart Sandy had sent me to compare and guess what? I would have picked the same colors with it so that showed me that the colors here on my computer screen are true enough to use it as a color selector.

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The eight greens I want to begin with are: yg07, yg41, g03, bg15, yg67, g29, yg63, yg95. I also know I want some good for Copics cardstock, the colorless blender pen. For browns, I was debating a bunch of 3-4 color ranges and then I noticed a set that is eg53,55,57, and 59. Now that sounds like they are right next to each other but 3 of those colors were in my top 10 brown picks, and they span a range of brown that I’m happy with so I think that will be a good place to start. Unlike most colors there aren’t many browns that I don’t want!

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If you’ve got questions about my process I would be happy to answer them! Also, I’m the last stop in the hop so if you’re just joining in here and want more information you’ll want to head over to Sandy’s blog here. Of course for more information about her hex chart, to check out what other people are doing with this chart as experienced Copic users, and more you definitely want to click that link and enjoy the hop.

Many thanks to Sandy for including me – and for sharing this amazing chart with all of us! This is such a valuable resource and a really affordable price too.

Tending the garden…

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I had a great conversation a while back I want to try and share with you. I explained that the way I see it, I can’t be jealous of the lady down the road who has an amazing garden. She commits hours every day to weeding, planting, and care taking her yard. Me? Eh. Once a month or so I chop what needs chopping yank any high weeds and call it good. My yard is low maintenance and I don’t tend it often. I can’t expect my yard to look as amazing as someone who is putting in the time each and every day. I don’t get to be jealous of her that is silly – I don’t put in the hours as she does.

This relates to my creativity totally and completely. If I want to learn more watercolor techniques I pull out a colorful image and I play with color, with blending, with how things react.  Every day small or big I can pull something out and try something and learn. This goes for ALL kinds of creative things! This is how I discover new techniques 99% of the time. By playing and giving myself space to learn, improve, discover.

So the next time you feel some jealousy bubbling up consider the hard work and daily effort that person might be making to get to there. If it is someone who can run many miles – how long did that take them? Somebody getting the jobs you wish you had? What prep and work did they do? Somebody amazing at drawing- how many hours and days and years have they worked at that? From experience I can tell you every time I can point to myself and see something I would like to work on or be better at. So it’s up to me- sometimes I’m ok with the simple/low maintenance yard I spend an hour a month on. Other times I decide something is well worth my time and energy and work at it. Make it a priority.

Just yesterday I thought of how it’s been over a week since I played in my art journal. “Time to tend the garden…” I told myself and stamped + watercolored the image you see above. Each time I make the choice to hone a craft or improve a skill I know it is worthwhile. Not just for the creative fun – but because those little sessions and details, that daily creative play, it adds up.

This journal page will include a list of things I feel I’m doing well, and 2 things I’d like to spend more time on. Only two because let’s face it – we can’t be good at and spend time on all the things! At least, not all at once.

Prima Relic #1: on a mixed media canvas!

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Coming *SO SOON* to the Simon Says Stamp? The precious! Let me be more specific: the Relics line from Prima that I am so very in love with! Since it is an “anything goes” week on the challenge blog I’m sharing my first piece. All I did was to adhere it to the canvas. Then coat everything in gesso. Then just layer colors. Loads of colors. That really is it!

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Supplies Used:

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This was SO fun to make – can’t wait to create even more with these beautiful embellishments!

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Simon is offering a generous $50 voucher that will be randomly drawn from the eligible entries each week. Join the fun by creating a project this week – and for your chance to win a $50 voucher you should hop on over and join in the challenge here.

Falling for you blog hop – with video tutorial

Free product was provided for this, and affiliate links used when possible in this post, at no additional cost to you – it just helps keep the blog running…

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I’m excited to be a part of the Simon Says Stamp MEGA blog hop featuring their newest batch of releases! Heads up that Simon will be picking one random commenter on each stop for a Simon Says Stamp Prize pack randomly selected on April 28! So when you finish checking out my post, you probably want to leave a comment to be entered for a chance to win!

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I went wild with loads of fun stamps + stencils for my project. Here is my You Tube Video of the process!

As you can see, these stamps & stencils look great alone or layered up! I love taking a white piece of cardstock and customizing a background for a scrapbook layout!

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Supplies Used:

This style of layout is so much fun to make!

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But wait – there’s more! I made a card with the exact same techniques:

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Just a reminder that fun techniques can always apply to a multitude of project types!

Remember – leave a comment here (and on any/all stops!) for your chance to win! I’m the final stop in this blog hop, so if this is your first stop, or if you want to continue along the hop and check out all of the great projects and information head to the Simon Says Stamp blog – aka the first post.