Sunday, December 18, 2011

December 18, 2011 - Copics and Martha Stewart Craftstation

Okay, so it's been a long time again.  I'm not naturally a blogger.  For me, it's another chore.  But that doesn't mean I want to give up being a blogger.  I just want to get better at it.  My hat is off to those of you who keep your blogs updated with useful and helpful information.  It's not an easy task.

I've learned a lot over the last months, and I'd like to say I've got lots of hints and shortcuts and how-tos.  I don't.  My use of Copics has improved dramatically, but, like so many other things in life, there are no secrets.   It takes practice, patience and -- lots of markers!!!

I've tried and tried techniques to get the shading/blending with just a few markers and they fell lacking.  I'm open to learning new things, but with the copics you get spoiled.  There are so many colors.  If you're a real color enthusiast, you learned early on with coloring books that it's the blending and shading that makes the picture prettier.  And who didn't want the 48-count box of crayons?  Flat colors just don't work.  Without a range of colors you cannot get the desired effect.  Buying two or three markers in various shades had me about to pull my hair out because I was fitting my picture to the colors rather than the colors to my picture. 

So because I can tend to be self-indulgent when it comes to my various crafting habits, and I have been spoiled, yes, ruined by copic markers, and I now have the ENTIRE set of markers.  Even with sales, coupons, and discounts, that's still a large chunk of change.   However, you will see in the attached pictures what a difference it has made for me.  Whenever I complete a project now with the exact shading, blending, and colors I desired, this was money well spent to create my own little work of art*.

*Before you judge, I have never been on a cruise (afraid of large bodies of water, but no matter, I've  never been on one) and I've never purchased a pair of shoes over $100 and never will (that's just plain ridiculous to me, if I paid $200 for a pair of shoes I'd them expect to do something other than sit in the closet when I'm not wearing them, like maybe, clean the bathroom), and I very seldom eat out.  P.S. (Note to family: When I die one of these "little works of art" will cost wayyyyyy more than I spent on markers (LOL)

So here are some recent projects.  I'm still learning and will continue to share as long as my 5 faithful followers follow.   And I'm still hoping you all will continue to grace me with your wisdom regarding copics 'cause I'm not there yet. 

Working on skin and hair colors :



"Friends" Sooooo cute!


Some circles to use on the front of cards.









Hope you can see improvement.  Please feel free to make comments.  I learn from them, positive or negative.  If there's something you would like to see here, let me know.

Leaving you with some helpful enabling.  There are two books on the market about copic coloring.  The coloring with copic book for me has not been that helpful, seems to contains the same information I've learned on the MB and Youtube.  If you really want it, look for the sales and discounts.  I was able to get it for $8.99 plus free shipping.

The other one about coloring techniques is a winner.  It covers several mediums like markers, pencils, and watercolor.   So if you have to decide between the two, go with the coloring technique book.  It has much more helpful info for about the same price.

Because there have been questions about it on the MB, I'm including in this post some pics I posted on the MB of the MS Craftstation.  I absolutely love it.  You can do lots of different tasks without having to change out mats.  It's made of glass so you can use your exacto knife, draw, trace,  and it comes with interchangeable templates to slide under the glass, including two grids, and it cuts.  Will tell you more if you'd like.

What's included:


Some of what you can do with it. 

Cut
 
Trace
 
Embossing
Stamping

I have some cards I'd like to share with you, and I promise it won't take me long to get back, say within a week.

Thanks for stopping by :)