DO YOU HAVE A PORTFOLIO?

I liked to think I did, I really didn't.  The more I learn, the more artistic I feel.  Someday someone will ask me "Are you an artist?" And I'll be confident in saying "Yes, I am.

How would you present your work if someone wanted to see it?  If you're like me, you probably have boxes with cards that came out somewhat right, but a little wrong, swatches, or maybe you have a stash of cards made up for certain occasions.  And, of course, you have all those pictures online that you've uploaded. I read an article today about the importance of having a portfolio to showcase your work. 

I don't like scrapbooking, but I'm going to be more aware of putting together a hardcopy portfolio to showcase my work, if only for myself.  I'm also going to organize an online portfolio that will showcase my work.

If someone wanted to see your work immediately, you don't want to go through files and folders online or boxes of cards around your crafting space to put something together.  You want to be able to respond "Just say when and where". 

Along with actual cards, it would be a good idea to include references or some of those job-well-done letters in your portfolio, too. Your portfolio should give an instant indication of the type of artist you are, what you do, and how well you do it.  Opportunity can come to call at any time.

A portfolio could be something that will inspire you to keep working and improving your craft.  I like to think that if I had a portfolio, it would be something that I would leave behind when I die and that it may be valuable to somebody as a great collector's item.

So let's get on to making a portfolio that we would be proud to share with someone who wants to see what we do.  Online portfolios are good to have, but you may be required to produce hard copies of your projects as well in some instances.   It may turn out that your portfolio turns out to be a brag book of your cards or layouts.  You never know when opportunity might present itself, so you want to be ready.


                                    Thanks for stopping by.

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS FEBRUARY

This week over on the Circut MB we're supporting breast cancer awareness by creating a set of boobies during the month of February.  That's right, boobies!!!

This is one of my first posts.  It's Jersey inspired.  (Do you think *nookie would like it?)

Come over and check out the submissions from the other supporters, add one -- or two, three -- of your own.  It's been a real treat.  So fun!

http://www.cancer.org/Involved/Participate/MakingStridesAgainstBreastCancer/make-a-pink-ribbon-lapel-pin

Thanks for stopping by.

 

SMOOCH INKS

This is my post from the Cricut MB for Barbara.  A few days ago Barbara was clearing out her craft space and asked on the MB what was a Smooch and should she get rid of them. 

 "Hey Barbara,

This is why you need to keep your Smooches.

Found this in among my swatches. It's a reject because it has a big oopsie. (One of the hearts got messed up and I tried to fix it.)

This is a dry embossed place card, made with a stencil and stylus (also from Paper Wishes), and then patiently painted with Smooches. Isn't it so pretty and girly and sweet?

Anyway, as you can tell the Smooches are pearlescent. The color is intense and the brush makes it possible to get into the tiniest of places. I love my Smooches. There's even a pearl white.

SMOOCHES!
 Let's do lunch."

Now, in case you don't know what Smooches are, they are "Pearlized Accent Ink." I like to call it nail polish for paper.  You can get Smooch ink in lots of colors from PaperWishes.  Look around while you're there.  It's one of my favorite places.

Thanks for stopping by.

COPIC COLORING AND PAPER

We have a new follower.  Welcome!  That makes six of us here.  I will try to make this a place of learning and time well spent when you stop by.

I posted this earlier on the Cricut MB:

"This paper came from PC, I think. I really can't remember, but it's with my other TC stuff from PC, so I'll make that assumption. It's a really good paper. It has a good feel; and as you can see from the pics, you can get good color on it.
   On this pic I used a lighter hand and much less ink. And on the backside of the pic you can see the saturation is near perfect, which is what you want to achieve. I'm learning that some folks don't want their ink to go through the paper, but so far this technique works for me.
  I'm still developing my own style of coloring with Copics. I will get familiar with the different papers out there, especially the ones you all suggest here on the MB.
  Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and wisdom about Copics."

Thanks for stopping by!

STILL COLORING WITH COPICS AND WHAT I'M LEARNING

Awwww.  Sooooo cute.  And it took many oopsies to get her that way.

I purchased this Magnolia stamp, “Tilda Longing,” from a seller on the Cricut MB.  It's a Magnolia stamp.  There are some really cool videos on the web about coloring Magnolia stamps.  I'm loving the MakeItCrafty channel onYoutube that was mentioned on the Cricut MB regarding coloring with Copics. 

Thanks, you guys, for sharing :)

On to the oopsies.  I was coloring this swatch late at night when I really should have been sleeping.  I decided to finish it at another time, so I propped it up on my E2 until later.  This is what happened in the meantime.

I could immediately see what happened but not why.  This has never happened to me before. The problem is that my ink didn't dry quickly.  Usually you don't have worry about Copics drying or staying "wet" for a long time. But because it was "wet" and I propped it up, the ink ran or migrated downward until it dried  :(



This one is more like what I was trying to achieve.  There's a big oopsie on it one, too. (Surprise. Surprise.) I didn't intend to color her skin this way.  Because of "wet" ink and accidentally getting my darker color on top of my medium color, she is much darker than intended. Some of the areas are nicely colored. Most of it is oopsie :(

This one is much better. Too bad I didn't stamp it right (her hand is messed up). The coloring on her face is pretty good, and the hair is not too bad.  Still working on staying in the lines.  Easier not to make a mess than to try to fix a mess.  The arm she has under her chin has really good coloring as well as her face and neck line. 

So what did I learn?

I learned that you need to know the properties of your paper when coloring with Copics so you can adjust your style to get the best effect from that particular paper.  I also learned not to prop up a "wet" project. You have to consider the amount of ink/color you lay down on certain papers.  Be patient and let an area dry before you try to "fix" a mistake.  Using the least amount of ink to achieve the color you want will speed up the drying time.

Please feel free to share your wisdom, thoughts, and comments on working with Copics here.  It would also be helpful if you let me know what, if anything, you would like me to post here.  I have stamping, cardmaking, and coloring projects that I would like to post, craft kits that I would like to make up to post, books I have, and tools I use, relate my experience and encourage you to comment on your experience, things that are not appropriate for discussion on the Cricut message board. I know there are lots of blogs and videos to keep up with.  If there is something you specifically would like to see or know about - tools, books, supplies - let me know.  If I have it, I'll tell you my experience with it.  I have lots of crafting stuff, but, then, don't we all. :)

Thanks for stopping by!



Am I joining the Martha Stewart pep squad? My gift subscription to Martha Stewart Living

With one of my recent MS purchases, I received a one-year gift subscription to

MS Living. I usually avoid magazines like MS Living.  Quality magazines take time to fully appreciate, and I have magazines from 2006 I'm catching up on.

I just finished the November issue of MS Living -- I also have the December 2011 and the January 2012 issues -- and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  It's like a Martha Stewart DVD, without the DVD, and without Martha, but subscribers do have free online access.  I tore out pages I thought I would use like always, but I'm keeping the hard copies for my library. 

MS Living is true to Martha's style.  There are instructions for almost any craft item in the magazine and recipes for the food items.  Even the tear-outs are pure Martha.  They come out perforated and/or glued, so when you tear them out, you get a little booklet.  That is soooo Martha!

If you received a gift subscription, I hope you'll enjoy yours, too.

Thanks for stopping by.

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 :)