Sepia Tone Copic Tutorial

I happened across a most worthwhile post by a fellow Maggie lover and blogger, Penni. She has a wonderful video tutorial for coloring sepia tones with Copic markers that's worth a gander. Check out her video at http://lazycatscards.blogspot.com/2011/11/card-and-video.html or by clicking her name above. Then, send me a photo of your sepia-tone Maggie and I'll post it on my blog.
Keep eyes posted here to see my version soon...not sure I have all the E-Copics needed for her method but we'll see what I can do.

Naughty or Nice?????

I finally finished my 5"x7" card for the Cosmos Cricket and Cards Magazine challenge from the cool sketch in my August 21st post. I loved Debbie Olson's card (seen in my post below too) and was inspired by her scalloped crescent because it looked so much like an envelope flap so I incorporated it on my card. My "peppermints" were made using Fire Brick Distress Ink pad and Glossy Accents with a retired Sassafrass Lass clear stamp. The peppermints looked too new for my card so I antiqued them a bit with brown Stazon Ink. The vintage-feel papers are from an 8x8 Cosmos Cricket pad called Wonderland from a few years back. For fun the faerie wings were treated with a dab of diamond Stickles and coated with Glossy Accents. Be sure to click on the photo for a better look.

I made my own "naughty or nice" list which was antiqued and punched with an EK Success punch. My favorite May Arts ribbon was tied around the middle. A pair of cute little friends were colored with Copics and pop-dotted to the front. This wonderful stamp is a digi called "The Larakins" from the Emerald Faerie Garden.



I used these Copics for the stamp:

Hurry over and enter your card...this challenge ends on August 27th with a winner announced on September 3rd.

Copic Coupon Code at Michaels

I was scrolling through my Michaels Craft Store coupon selection a short time ago and was overjoyed to see a 40% off coupon for art pens & markers. The good news is my Michaels Store just began carrying the markers and hadn't put them on the shelf yet but a manager gave me a peek some weeks back so I knew exactly where to find them to have another look this time with 40% coupon in hand! Their price is steep at $6.99 each but at 40% off $4.19 is a bargain when one considers there is no shipping charge. So if you are inclined hurry over but first click my link and get your coupon! Oh, and you might want to print the chart above to take with you. Happy shopping Copic fans...I bought 9!!

If you're new...don't forget to follow my blog so you can come back for more fun tidbits like this deal!

Refilling Copic Markers

I'm really loving the Lily Pad! They have fun, easy projects for all levels of cardmakers and interesting how-to videos. Check out the latest on refilling Copic markers.

I have the booster nib and followed the directions judiciously and could not get a great fill with the amount suggested. The Lily Pad method does it quickly. I'll be filling mine this way from now on.

A word of caution...DO NOT forget to clean the nib after every use. I did and tinted my blender slightly!

It is CHA Chicago week so things will be quieter than usual around the blogs and websites. I'm hoping my favorite spot to buy Copics will learn a bit about customer service in their travels at CHA. When I find a suitable replacement...I'm outta there!

My Favorite Things!!

My Favorite Things is one of those interesting places one happens across online that is a true keeper. Besides the sweetest little stamps this store also has wonderful Die-namics die sets, many with stamps coordinated to fit within the die cut...brilliant!!

Well, today I was looking around this website and found another amazing service they offer which will definitely be worth a try in the future. Can you believe they also service Copic markers? Yes, you heard me correctly! You can send in your markers to have them refilled and tips changed. I've been buying refill ink lately and wondered what the heck I was going to do with all those bottles...well, this answers that for me. Next time I have a pen or two of colors I use less often, I'm sending them to My Favorite Things to be refilled. Geez...brilliant x2!!

I have a number of Ciao markers that need their nibs replaced and have dreaded doing it myself tho' am sure it is an easy task...for $1.95 I don't mind having it done for me. Enjoy the interesting tidbit...hope to see you soon with a fun paper creation.

COPIC SALE at Scrap-Mart

Hello friends and happy Saturday! I got an exciting email today from Scrap-Mart and wanted to share it with all of you who love Copics as much as me. Scrap-Mart has the best prices I've found plus...free shipping everyday on Copics! Until Monday you get free shipping PLUS 20% off their already low price on anything Copic. I'm buying a dozen or so Sketch markers which run in the vicinty of $6. normally, for only $3.90 a piece! This is the first time I've ever seen Sketch markers for such a great price.

Don't forget to enter "COPICSALE" at check out and don't forget who gave you this great tip! Stop back and tell me how many you bought.

Day 3 without my closest little pal and daughter, Carrie...she's off on a Mediterranean cruise with her good friends, Megan & Shannon. The girls arrived in Barcelona 2 days ahead of their ship to enjoy a little bit of Spain as well.
I was relieved to get a call from her this morning and happy to hear they are safely on the ship which should have just sailed out heading for Nice in France where she's going to look for Hanglar Stanglar rubber stamps or any other unusual European stamps!! Hanglar Stanglars are from Sweden and don't ship to the USA so I'm hoping she finds a store in France. I should be so lucky!

* Magnolia Challenges Galore *

To start I am entering this sweet little Tilda Christmas card in the great challenge featured at Just Magnolia Challenge #74 using their wonderful Dawny sketch below. My second entry goes for the first time to Magnolia Down Under whose Challenge #65 is titled "flowers & lace"...perfect for this card sweet Tilda too! My card was a huge stretch for me as I generally subscribe to the philosphy that "less is more" and really struggle with adding lots of embellishments.

For my entry I set out to recreate with my Copic markers a distressed/vintage-look like those using Distress Inks as watercolors. I'm pleased with the outcome and hope it translates in my photos taken on this dreary day on the East Coast!

Triple Challenge...Oh my!!

Here's my 5.5" square card interpretation of the wonderful Dawny P. sketch for challenge #68 which I will enter at #68 Just Magnolia, #3 Totally Tilda and Flutter By Wednesday also:



This is the sketch I followed for this card:

The recipe:
-5.5" square purple card
-Basic Grey Wisteria & misc. solid scraps of cardstock
-Neenah solar white centerpiece background cardstock
-Anna Griffin lavendar stamp pad (centerpiece background images)
-Color Box wisteria stamp pad (antique cardstock edges)
-Offray 5/8" wire-edge lavendar ribbon
-Brass butterfly stamped charm from my vintage stash of charms
-Diamond Stickles to highlight wings & back ground
-Copic markers

Stamps used: Magnolia Butterfly Tilda, G Studio i.Cling Hydrangea, Basic Grey Hydrangea, TPC sentiment

Hurry...Just Magnolia challenge ends 8/19 at 8 pm UK! Flutter By ends Tuesday evening August 17th! Totally Tilda starts new on the 2nd Sunday and you can enter up to 4 times per month. Flutter By is a weekly Weds. challenge.

Mojo Monday

I'm going to try my best to make a card for the Mojo Monday challenge...one I've never entered before. I have so many stamps other than Tilda...it will be a nice change of pace. I was searching for a challenge without a product tie in so this is perfect!! Kudos to my papercrafting gal pal in Texas, Karen, for turning me on to Mojo Monday.

Well, the weather was uncooperative for photography Saturday & Sunday around here so I missed getting my card in for this challenge but here it is just for fun...

For this card, I used Basic Grey's Wisteria collection of cardstock with solid colors from my scrap box. The centerpiece was stamped with BG clear stamps from the same collection. The sentiment is a TPC clear stamp. (I don't recommend these as the image quality is poor.) I used dimensional tape to layer it over the beautiful ruffled ribbon from American Crafts. I've been anxious to make something with this beautiful collection from Basic Grey and love the outcome!

Edwin Challenge

"Fangtastic" has a clear iridescent coating that doesn't photograph so well!
I don't have many boys in my family so this vintage Dracula Edwin is my only stamp unless we count Edwin's Snowman! The card was created for the Magnolia Stamp Lovers Challenge. He made a great little Halloween card and I can't wait to make more with my old iron fence stamp. The sentiment is by Stampendous.

My watch word is "conserve" so I'm trying to use up my stash of paper & embellishments. I didn't purchase anything new for this card...my DH would be so proud!

I enjoyed adding subtle distressed touches to the card along with a cute little bat button! The jack-o-lantern rests on a bed of black branches with a green wire vine. The 2 shades of orange brads fill an empty corner and balances out the card. They are from the same set of old Halloween brads by Queen & Co. This little Edwin was a mixed media man...his cape was paper pieced, along with an assortment of gray & flesh Copics and, since my collection isn't big just yet, I did his hair with gray Copics and watercolor pencils. I've learned through trial and error that purchasing a black Copic was a waste, I don't like the look of solid black and it doesn't shade well. The sentiment, pumpkin & Edwin were all pop-dotted to add some fun dimension to the 5.5" square black card.

Happy August 1st!!

I have spent the morning looking at so many blogs and challenges and am now totally bleary-eyed. One email from a blog I subscribe to has the neatest challenge going on at a spot I've long considered but never entered. Today's email from Jodi at Inked Inspiration was so tempting I think I'm going to have to jump in, finally! The challenge is sponsored by Copic Creations. Best of all the challenge turned me on to some great free digital art by children's book illustrator (my secret ambition) and author, Elisabeth Dulemba. Her link to free coloring pages is at the right. The challenge ends August 14th.

For visitors who aren't familiar, Copics are wonderful alcohol-based markers used in illustration...I've just started collecting them this year from Period Style. Their prices are some of the best I've found and I'm never tempted to buy other items I don't need since they only sell Copics! Shipping is fast and economical too.

Well...am off to work on my project and to finish some items too!