Thinking Inking

Have Copics, Will Travel: Sacramento!

I have an unusual post today--no card, but plenty of coloring for sure!  If you follow Marianne Walker's blog, you probably saw this post back in April. While we were at our Copic team meeting last month, Marianne brought line art so that all of us could color this image from a photograph taken in Portland, Oregon last fall. One thing I loved about this project was that all of us started with the same outlines and the same photo reference, but we all ended up with pieces that are a little bit different in style. (I don't think that Lori Craig, Cindy Lawrence, and Colleen Schaan have posted their versions yet, but Sherrie Siemens posted hers HERE, and Marianne's is in her blog post that I've already linked to.)

I had intended to keep track of all of the Copic markers that I used on this image, but I don't have an all-inclusive list, since I didn't color this piece in once sitting. I was mostly happy with how it turned out. (Hey, if you can't tell what part I struggled with, I certainly won't enlighten you! ;-})

Besides sharing my Portland picture, I wanted to tell you that I will be in Sacramento this coming weekend, November 15-16, teaching both a Copic Standard and a Copic Intermediate Certification class. Neither class is completely full, so if you are interested in attending, I would LOVE to see you there! For more information or for registration, go <<HERE>>.

While I'm at it, let me mention again the Anaheim classes prior to CHA as well, taught by Colleen Schaan, Sherrie Siemens, and Michelle Houghton. You can find out more about these classes HERE (2014 Workshop Series), HERE (Standard Certification) and HERE (Intermediate Certification). There are some exciting classes planned for 2014, and we have a LOT of coloring to do before then! ;-) 

Thanks for visiting today,

Debbie

Friendship, a Million Little Things

Welcome to day five of JustRite's November release! Today's set, Sweet Heart Cling Stamps, coordinates with the Spellbinders Samantha Walker Lace Hearts die set. I've had this die set in my stash for a while, but I think this is the first time that I have used it--it's pretty for sure! I stamped the pink background layer with the Sweet Lace Background Cling stamp.

The Sweet Hearts cling stamp set has plenty of sentiments, making it useful for much more than Valentines Day.

I chose to make a friendship card with one of the sentiments. I really wanted to use more than one of the heart dies, and after experimenting with several different versions of layered hearts, it occurred to me to use one of the larger hearts to make a pocket card for inserting a smaller heart with the sentiment on it. I dotted glue on the outer tips of the bottom half of the filigree heart to form my pocket, letting the glue dry completely before inserting my sentiment heart. 

For the card base, I used a Spellbinders Grand Labels One die template, and for the lacy outer edge, a Grand Decorative Labels One die template. The finished size of my card is about 5-1/8" square. Would you like to see more Sweet Heart Cling Stamps projects? All of the ladies below have projects for you! Thanks for visiting.

JustRite Inspiration
Darsie Bruno
Debbie Olson
Heidi Blankenship
Michele Kovack
Marisa Job
Margie Higuchi
Kathy Jones
Eva Dobilas
Kristi Schurr
Sheri Holt
Barb Schram 
Angela Barkhouse

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News Flash!

If you have tried to shop on JustRite's site for the past several days, you are probably aware that there were login issues. We just heard that everything is working well again, and that's a great reason for a discount code, right? See below. :-}

"We are very excited to announce that our log in issue with our new website has been fixed.  Thank you to everyone who helped us trouble shoot the issue. In celebration we  have a Grand Opening Coupon Code for you to use in the store - simply type RESET (all caps)  in the coupon code box at check out and you will receive 25% off your entire purchase. If this is your first time shopping in our new website, you will need to reset your password.   You may use your password from our old website or you can create a new password. Have fun shopping!"

You've Got Style: Fashion Vintage Labels Six

Welcome to day three of JustRite's November Release! Today's set is Fashion Vintage Labels Six Cling stamps, shown below. For the background I used last month's Lavish Corners Background Cling Stamp.

I loved that little purse image and almost used it as my focal image; but since several of the other girls had already used that image, I thought I would use the oval portrait. It reminded me of a cameo ring that I had as a little girl. Did any of you have a cameo ring? It was my first real ring, and I was so sad when my ring finger and then my pinkie outgrew it!

I kept my card monochromatic, using PTI's Sweet Blush cardstock and ink. I used JustRite's Vintage Labels Six dies for the frame and its cutout, airbrushing Copic R32 in the negative shapes on the die before removing it from my cardstock. The mat layer behind the focal image is a Spellbinders Decorative Labels Twenty Eight die cut. I used Framed Tags One for the sentiment tag, and I dyed the white seam binding with Copic R30 Various Inks/Reinker.

There are some really sweet projects in the DT links below--I hope you have time to check them out! Thanks for visiting.

JustRite Inspiration
Debbie Olson
Kathy Jones
Heidi Blankenship
Marisa Job
Darsie Bruno
Eva Dobilas
Michele Kovack
Sheri Holt
Angela Barkhouse
Kristi Schurr
Margie Higuchi
Kazan Clark

Happy Birthday, Haberdashery Style

Welcome to day two of JustRite's November release! Today's vintage set is a guy set--Haberdashery Vintage Labels Two Clear Stamps, shown below. 

I picked the polka-dotted bow tie to use as my focal image--loved it!

These are the Copic markers that I used to color the bow ties. I used the BG93 to lightly airbrush a background as well, leaving my Spellbinders 5 x 7 Matting Basics B die template in place to act as a stencil after cutting and embossing with it first. 

Patterned paper are from the Authentique Renew 6 x 6 Bundle. I used Memento inks, Tuxedo Black for the images and Olive Grove for the sentiment. Clean, pretty simple, and most of all, MAN-LY! ;-)

Would you like to see what the other JustRite designers have done with the Haberdashery Vintage Labels Five Clear Stamps? There are some really creative projects shown below--enjoy!

JustRite Inspiration
Heidi Blankenship
Debbie Olson
Kathy Jones
Michele Kovack
Darsie Bruno
Marisa Job
Kazan Clark
Angela Barkhouse
Eva Dobilas
Kristi Schurr
Barb Schram
Margie Higuchi

COPIC Classes at Winter CHA 2014

Several COPIC classes will take place in Anaheim at Winter CHA 2014! Just in case you are planning to attend CHA in January, I wanted to be sure that you are aware of these classes before your schedule fills up. Here are brief descriptions:

January 8 :Artistic Mixed Media Apron Workshop, Anaheim, CA

Join instructor Michelle Houghton for a half-day of coloring, misting, spraying, drawing and painting with Copic inks.  Broaden your skills and knowledge of Copic markers and inks, while creating a colorful, unique, personalized work apron.  $60
CLICK TO APPLY

January 10: Copic Color Along: Whimsical Faces and Hair, Anaheim, CA

Come color with Colleen Schaan! In this intensive coloring class, learn how the experts approach coloring some of the most popular whimsical stamp images on the market.  Starting with cute and simple and working our way up to detailed and advanced, we will walk you through the process of coloring faces and hair for each level and style. $99
CLICK TO APPLY

January 10: Airbrushing Projects for Papercrafters Anaheim, CA 

Forget your fear of airbrushing with this amazing hands-on class! Use the Copic airbrush system to paint fabulous fashion plates while learning basic strokes, spray patterns and mastering control with Colleen Schaan.  Learn about various masking materials and the appropriate use of each type, while playing with stencils and masks to create fully colored scenes.  Combine airbrushing, stamping and embossing to create beautiful backgrounds, all culminating in simple, but elegant card designs.  $99
CLICK TO APPLY

January 12: Exploratory Inking: Painting with Copic Alcohol Inks    

Questions? Contact Nancy Zenke. Thanks!

If the Shoe Fits. . .

Welcome to day one of the JustRite Papercraft November release! Today's featured stamp set is Shoes Vintage Labels Six Cling Stamps, shown below. For the background I used Filigree Leaves Background Cling. (Card size is 5" x 7".)

You probably know that I enjoy playing with vintage images, but did you know that it's hard to beat button-up boots and flowers? ;-)

These are the Copic markers that I used to color the image. I didn't use the airbrush system on the focal image--just some colorless blender-softened edges for the pale blue behind the boot top and flowers. That B40 is a homemade color; I wanted one a little lighter than the B41 that comes in Sketch markers. (I used an empty Sketch marker and diluted B40 with colorless blender to fill the empty marker.) I used an RV63 and RV91 refills, along with a few drops of colorless blender to dye the ribbon to coordinate with the Lavender Moon cardstock background.

The flowers are layered with foam tape so that they can cascade over the boot. I used some black enamel accents on the buttons for additional texture, as well as some black Zva Creative rhinestones.

Spellbinders dies used were 5 x 7 Matting Basics A, Labels Twenty Eight, and Decorative Labels Twenty Eight. (Yes, I do like that Decorative Labels Twenty Eight!) I left the Decorative Labels Twenty Eight die template in place on the cardstock and airbrushed some Copic RV66 in the negative spaces to add a bit more color to the card front. Finally, I scraped the edges after sponging some distress ink on them.

Would you like to see more Shoes Vintage Labels Six Cling Stamps cards? Then you're in luck! Be sure to check out the following blogs, and thanks for visiting.

JustRite Inspiration
Debbie Olson
Darsie Bruno
Kristi Schurr
Michele Kovack
Marisa Job
Angela Barkhouse
Kazan Clark
Kathy Jones
Sheri Holt
Barb Schram
Eva Dobilas

With Heartfelt Sympathy

Welcome! Tonight I have a sympathy card to share with you. I kept the sentiment very simple, from Papertrey Ink's Through the Trees stamp set.  While I was digging through my die collection, I spotted the Botanical Swirls Shapeability and thought that it would be a great shape to airbrush fall colors on. I wanted a muted palette, so I airbrushed on kraft cardstock rather than white or cream, using my Copic Airbrush System and Copic Sketch markers Y17, YR18, and YG95.

I mounted the kraft panel behind some Terracotta Tile cardstock with a window opening cut with a Spellbinders 5" x 7" Matting Basics A die template (the third from the largest). I used a Fancy Framed Tags One die template for the sentiment, attaching it with brads as well as two small bits of foam tape where they wouldn't be seen. I left space inside to write, thinking that I could slip a piece of vellum in between the front panel and the inside to keep the writing from being distracting. (It's a 5" x 7" card, so there is plenty of writing room.)

That's it for tonight--thanks for visiting!

Debbie

Merry Christmas Poinsettias

Welcome! I made one more Christmas card for my stash tonight, this one using JustRite's Festive Poinsettia Clear Stamps paired with the Spellbinders Layered Poinsettia dies. Yes, I was in a pink mood again. . . ;-)

To stamp the poinsettias, I used PTI's Scarlet Jewel Ink on Autumn Rose cardstock. (By the way, I found it easier to cut die cut my Layered Poinsettias first, then stamp afterward. That's backward from how I normally do it when I am using Spellbinders dies.) The leaves are PTI Pinefeather ink stamped on Ocean Tides cardstock, rubbed with white craft ink. The white mat layer is cut with a Spellbinders Marvelous Squares die template, and airbrushed lightly with a Copic BG92 marker. The Lavender Moon card base is embossed with the Spellbinders Winter Wonders M-Bossabilities folder. I rubbed edges with white ink and my scissor edges, then stitched randomly around the card three times. The tag is cut with a Framed Tags One die. I glued seed beads in the flower centers after I had layered the flowers with with mini glue dots. It's not easily mailable, so I'll probably hand-deliver this one or use a padded envelope. The poinsettias could flatten, but I'd prefer that they stay puffy.

That's it for today--thanks for visiting,

Debbie

You Make the Season Bright

Welcome! I got back from Portland late Sunday night and have been enjoying being back home. Tonight I made it back down to my studio to finish up a card that I'd started before I left using this sweet little image from the Waltzingmouse Stamps A Cottage Christmas set.

These were the Copic Markers that I used to color the image. The B93 was used for airbrushing the background with my Copic Airbrush System, in conjunction with a Spellbinders Labels Twenty Eight die template. (Click image to see colors in a larger format.) I used the E04 and E07 both for coloring and for dying the white seam binding to coordinate with the doors. I also used the E07 to airbrush the kraft Spellbinders Decorative Labels Twenty Eight kraft mat behind the focal image.

The texture in the background is created with a Spellbinders Decorative Fancy Tags Two Reversible Folder, a 5" x 7" embossing folder. I hand-cut a tiny notch for the knot of the bow to sit in so that I could get it a little closer to my focal image to balance out the trees on the left. That's it for tonight--one more card for the stash! Thanks for visiting,

Debbie

Christmas Joy

Welcome! How about another Christmas card? I'm still in Oregon through Sunday night, but I had one last queued up Papertrey Ink October Release card to share--another simple one that would be flat enough to mail easily. Here I have used Background Basics: Evergreens, along with a sentiment from Rustic Wreath. I used a die cut of the trees (Evergreens die) to mask when I airbrushed Copic BG23 in the background for sky. My card base is PTI's Rustic White, and ink colors are Pinefeather, Scarlet Jewel, and Chamomile Distress ink.

I used a double length of Rustic Twine to tie around the tree bases, and that was it--easy peasy! Helpful Tip: when you want to keep the twine from sliding up and down on the side of your card, try using a 1/16" or 1/18" hole punch to punch a half-moon shaped slot in the side of your card. This will make a perfect track for your twine to rest in. Hope that helps!