You really can colour anything with Copic markers

I took a class at Clipper Street recently and learned the coolest new technique - you can actually colour over glitter!

We started with a die cut - white cardstock and adhesive sheet, cut on the cuttlebug. A clear ultra-fine glitter was laid over the entire thing and well-burnished in. Then we used peel-off outline stickers to create a design (the butterfly/flower shape and circles).

At this point all I had was a shiny black and white label but then the magic happened. Once the glitter was well-burnished, I was able to colour over it with my Copic markers just like I would colour in anything else. The marker picked up the odd speck of glitter but this came off very easily when I brushed against some scrap paper. Because the colouring is done over top of the glitter the colours stay vibrant and clear.

To finish off the card a second larger die cut was cut/embossed for the background and 2 patterned papers were layer behind. I'm so excited to have found another use for my glitters and peel-off stickers! If you give it a try let me know what you think!

Challenges:

• Allsorts - keep it simple
• By the Cute & Girly - all things bright & beautiful
• Corrosive Challenges - die cut/punches
• Fussy and Fancy - try a new technique
• Partytime Tuesdays - anything goes
• Raise the Bar - things with wings
• Sparkles Forum - make it sparkle
• The Crazy Challenge - choose 3 colours (I used black, white, yellow)
• The Squirrel and The Fox - anything goes

Pollycraft Double Up Challenge

I created this card for Pollycraft Monday Challenge. 

The theme for their new challenge which was set by Joanne is: "DOUBLE UP" (need to use TWO SEPARATE images).

I chose to use Felicity - swing out as she reminds me of my sister Margaret (the same tomboy cuteness, I think) combined with this sweet fence to make a summer scene. Felicity and the fence are coloured with Copic markers. I made the trees using a brass stencil (Dreamweavers, Tree of Life) and the Copic airbrushing system. The different components are each popped up to make for a very 3-D card.
 

Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge

The latest challenge on Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge is to create a wedding card inspired by the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". I decided to do something a little different from a traditional wedding card in order to capture the unrestrained joy of the movie (I also have a co-worker that has been trying to get her significant other to the altar so I figure this card will be great if she ever succeeds).

The sentiment inside says "Congratulations on making it to the altar!"

I used a sketch from another challenge - (Scrap 'n Stamp blog - for the layout. The image is a digital stamp from Mo's Digital Pencil that is coloured with Copics. It doesn't show well in the picture but I've used a Glaze pen on the dress to add shine to the dots and to the confetti. The flourish on the left is also covered in glitter.

Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge #4

Challenge #4 at Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge Blog was to create a card using anything BUT a standard fold. I decided to try a stair fold that was used by Lydia Bancroft in her design team sample.



The stamp is one of my favorites from Mo - the two cats are just enjoying themselves so thoroughly. And I'm pretty sure that they are not singing in tune.

I coloured the images with Copics and then added some stickles for extra shine (glitter is always good!). The presents on the front "step" are a cardstock sticker. The "Fa La La" was printed off my computer.

Teddy Bear in a Teacup

All right, the teddy bear isn't really in a teacup but my first thought to use this image was to add a handle to the boat and turn it into a teacup. Sort of a "tempest in a teapot" theme. But thankfully I came to my senses in time and made this card instead.

The image is a free digital stamp from Ildi Co that was offered for a challenge on the Paper Arts Copic Buzz group site. I also combined this with a sketch challenge from my favorite online scrapbook store - Scrap & Stamp.

This digital company is new to me and the image is one that I wouldn't necessarily have chosen but I ended up having a great time using it and I'm really quite pleased with the result.

I decided to try a new technique (to me) and cut-out and then layered the bear pieces and waves to really get a 3-D look. I chose a very general rub-on sentiment because I wanted to keep my options open for using it later. The patterned paper is from Basic Grey's "Offbeat" paper pack. I added the thick white eyelets because I thought they added a nautical flair.

Crop for Kids 2009 - summer crop

What a wonderful treat! This past Saturday I got to spend an entire day scrapbooking with friends, thanks to the "Crop for Kids" organizers. Jacqui, Leslie & I took part in the summer crop (sort of a warm up to the weekend-long crop in October) and had quite a good time. We each won a door prize that we liked and I was even productive! I tried to use more patterns and techniques so I feel pretty good about my efforts. I managed to get several pages completed which brings me almost up-to-date for 2009 (let's not talk about pre-2006 though).

This first layout is for Phil's 46th birthday. Note the 2 PP's! And I added black & yellow brads for interest. The tags for the title were coloured using copic marker to achieve the same off-white tone as the paper.




This 2-page layout covers a recent visit we made to the Boundary Bay Airport air show. Again, I used a bold PP. I also used copics to colour the title cloud and the tags. The cloudy effect was accidental at first but I liked it so much that I continued it for all the tags. I also used my new Cricut to cut the "ready set go" words for the tags. The font is from the Disney Mickey Font cartridge. I really like how the colour in Luke's shirt is picked up in the paper and embellishments (again, a total fluke).





I'm busily finishing off and photographing the cards I made so will post those shortly. As well, I will get pictures of the make & takes up as a couple were pretty cute.

Cute purse gift card holders

My DS were invited to a birthday party for a pair of sisters this past weekend. I absolutely love shopping for little girls so was excited to hear what present ideas the boys had. Imagine my disappointment when they said the girls wanted a gift card to IKEA (they are saving for a kitchen playset). Well, had to make the best of it and so decided to make a very fancy gift card holder for each girl.

This is what I came up with:





I started with a purse template that I modified from a few ideas found on split coast stampers. I used some pretty embossed PP for the purses and then embellished with felt ribbon, ribbon handles and lots of Stickles glitter. I used some cheap flowers (bought at Walmart) and coloured them to match with my Copic markers. The edges are liberally glittered with matching Stickles. The flaps are created with EK Success border punches and are held closed with velcro. The gift card pocket is revealed when the purse is opened.

I'm pretty pleased with the result - pretty, sparkly and fun. The girls were pretty pleased with purses. More so than with the gift cards, actually!

Forgetful, not lazy

I've have been very forgetful about adding stuff to my blog (why bother when almost no one reads it?). But for my faithful reader, Jacqui, here are my latest creations.

I've been having lots of fun experimenting with all my Copic markers (I just can't seem to stop buying more colours). I have a couple of Penny Black stamp sets that work beautifully with the Copics. I also got a free pack of paper in a crafting magazine so I tryed out some patterned papers I wouldn't normally use. Check out all the patterns and layers on Grumpy Kitty in particular!


A "Just because" card made for my niece Jamey.


Grumpy Kitty card - sentiment reads "I may be difficult ... but I'm cute". I quite like the contrast between the flowery papers and the grumpy cat. Like he's thinking "what the heck am I doing on this girly card?" I distressed the edges of the papers quite a bit to soften the contrast.


Balloon Kitty

Crazy for Copic

I took my first class the other day in using Copic markers. I have been dieing to try these (probably because there are so many to buy) but have held off until I actually knew something about the markers. Well, 2 hours of classtime and I am totally hooked. My collection of markers has already grown to an embarassing size (as has my Visa bill) but I have been experimenting and really enjoying them so that's OK.

Here is my first card which was created in class (Clipper Street Scrapbooking):





I started out with just a couple of pens in purple and green and created these images.








This card was created on some left-over glossy cardstock and class-a-peels. The marker ink didn't fully absorb into the paper which left a kind of mottled appearance which I just love for the bird. The leaves were also done with class-a-peels and the glossy cardstock but then I cut them out individually and overlaid them using some pop dots for extra interest.