Mask It Tutorial

Hello Everyone!!!  Today I'm showing how to use Mask It and one of the newest Flourishes stamp sets called Bike Ride!  This set is PERFECT to use with Mask It with the various mix and match elements to add to the bike's basket - so fun!!

To create your very own custom mask - stamp the image you'd like to mask onto a piece of cardstock.  (I like to use X-press It Blending Card even if I'm not colouring because it's such a smooth cardstock and won't leave fuzzy bits on the Mask It!)   :)   Also take a piece of Mask It about the same size.

Peel the Mask It off the backing sheet - it's just like peeling off a sticker.  

Place the Mask It over your stamped image.

With the Mask It over the image, use a sharp pair of scissors to fussy cut the image.  Cut as closely as possible to the edge.  You want it closely trimmed since a wider edge will result in the dreaded white edge when the next image is stamped over the top!

Take a piece of X-press It Blending Card and stamp your image again - leaving plenty of space for the image you are stamping over the top.

Take your custom mask and carefully lay it over the top.  Make sure your edges align well!  

With the Mask It in place, stamp the bicycle over the top, making sure that the puppy is sitting perfectly inside the basket.

After the bicycle is stamped, peel the Mask It off and put it back over the top of the stamped and cut mask backing.  Keep your custom mask with the stamp set so that it's always within reach when you need it - Mask It is a great low tack product that can be used over and over again!

Colour your image and create your card!

Copics used for my image are......
Puppy - E42, E44, E47
Basket - E31, E33, E35, E37
Tyres, Seat, Metal - C1, C3, C5, C7
Bike - BV11, BV13, BV17
Blanket - RV000, RV52, RV55
Grass - YG11, YG13, YG17, YG61, YG63, E31

Have some fun creating your custom, reusable masks and happy colouring!!!
Kathy  :)Pin It

Feature Artist- Jay Walker

We were really excited when we got in touch with local artist- Jay Walker. His work is bold, punchy and has really caught our attention.

We asked Jay a few questions to get a feel for his work.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

I’m inspired by Funky Shapes, Patterns, Textures, Sci-Fi,60's 70's,80's advertising and Graphic Design.

When did you first start using Copic?

I first started using Copic Markers in Year 11 in graphic design at high school, but I didn't really use them again until recent times.

I remember as a kid they way artists would use them to render concept Car drawings in the 80's and the finish would always have a Sci-fi ultra modern, futuristic feel.

Why do you like working with Copic?

I like using Copic because I can blend colours, create shading and fading- it's almost like a water colour mix.

I also like how the colours are true and have a real punch to them.

I like my colours to kick when they have to, and Copic gives me this on paper.

Do you have a favourite Copic Colour or a colour you can always rely on?

Violet, Ultra Marine, Cadmium Red, Vermilion- actually I like all the colours, they all have a purpose, it just depends on what artwork I am working on.

Have you got a dream Copic Project?

I get excited every time I get to use Copic Markers on a project because they're just so much fun to use.

Are there any other Copic users who inspire you?

I get inspired by the concept artists that use them, from fashion to product designers.

How long do you spend working on your projects? Do you stop and start or work in a solid block?

I'm kind of funny when I create my artwork, if I could click my fingers, I would have it completed in a flash.

I'm very impatient because I generally don’t have a planned structure. This makes it more  interesting for me, it makes me very keen to get the colour on the artwork to give it movement, texture and Punch. I actually enjoy adding colour to my artworks more than creating the outline, Go figure?

Stay tuned over the next few weeks, Jay has prepared some fantastic tutorials to share with you. In the mean time, get inspired by the other work on Jay’s Website.

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Decorating with Spica & a Challenge

Hi Everyone,

Today I want to show you how to use your Spica Pens on top of your Copic Colouring to create a pattern or decoration.

 

In this little project, I have created a tea bag card.  I have used the La La Land Craft Image of  Tea Time Marci.

I coloured Marci using my Copic Markers.... but then..... I drew on top of my colouring with my Spica pens.

This is what has created the pattern on her dress, headband and shoes, as well as a swirled pattern on Marci's tea cup.

 

 This little tea bag is also a La La Land Craft Image.  It is part of the Tea Time Set.  I have used Paper Piecing to create the tea bag.  I have also created a little pouch to hold the tea bag.

 

Here is the tea bag card with the tea bag inside.

Drawing on top of an area that you have already coloured with Copic Markers is a lot of fun.  You can let your imagination run wild and create all sorts of different pattern and effects.

In the image below I have coloured with a Copic Marker (colour listed) and drawn on top of it with a Spica pen (colour listed).

Now, instead of simply colouring an area you can colour, pattern and decorate it....

All you need to do is add some Spica.

NOW FOR THE WINTER CHALLENGE

What's the Challenge?: Create a project (card, layout, off the page) with a winter theme!

Is there a Prize?: YES!!!  A Copic Merchandise Pack!!!

Who can play?: This challenge is open to EVERYONE, including international!

How do you enter?: Use the inlinkz below to connect to your blog or online gallery and upload it prior to 6pm Monday 1st October, Australian EST (4am USA EST)!!!

Happy Colouring

Mandi-Lee

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Blender Challenge Winner!

Hello Everyone!!  It was so exciting to see you all join in the Blender Challenge this month and even more exciting to see some of you try new techniques and use your blender to add detail or texture to your cards!!!  :)

The winner this month is Tania Von Dohren with this gorgeous card!  Tania used her blender to create pebbles at the feet of her beautifully coloured girl!

Congratulations Tania!!!!  Please Email Sascha with your postal details so we can send your prize to you!!!

Happy Colouring
Kathy  :)Pin It

Blender Challenge!

 Hello Everyone!!!  Now I'm pretty sure that anyone who owns Copics will have at least one Colourless Blender (personally I have four, but that's a whole other story!), so I thought it would be fun to see what fabulous creations you can make using your Colourless Blender Marker!!!  I've just made a quick gift card using Flourishes' April Showers stamp set and created pebbles underneath the bucket.  :)

For inspiration you can look at these ideas and tutorials.....
Adding Texture with Colourless Blender Refill
Bubbles and Pebbles
Tip to Tip or Palette Blending (use your Colourless Blender as your 'lightest marker' to fade to white)

Try adding scales to a dinosaur image by dotting on blender to your coloured image, use an old washer and a blender refill to make a teddy bear (or sweater) fuzzy or use your blender to add patterns to an image (dots on a handbag, stripes to a shirt etc....).  Let's see what fabulous creations you can make with your BLENDER!!

What's the Challenge?: Create a project (card, layout, off the page) using your Colourless Blender!

Is there a Prize?: YES!!!  An A4 pack of X-press It Blending Card and a COPIC T-shirt!!!

Who can play?: This challenge is open to EVERYONE, including international!

How do you enter?: Use the inlinkz below to connect to your blog or online gallery and upload it prior to 6pm Monday 23th July, Australian EST (4am USA EST)!!!

I can't wait to see what you create!!!
Happy Colouring
Kathy  :)


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Birthday Challenge Winner

Congratulations to the winner of last months Challenge... Lesley!

Please Email Sascha with your postal details so we can send your prize to you!!!

Don't forget to enter our latest challenge- Using Copic Colourless Blender.

Happy Colouring!

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Tip to Tip

Hello Everyone!!  Most of you know how much I love flowers so today I thought I'd show you how much fun using the Tip to Tip technique is to colour your flowers!  This technique is great for smaller areas where you need to blend two colours from two different colour families, but you don't have enough room to use the feathering technique.

For this particular image, I've used R85 (a mid toned dusty pink) and E51 (a pale cream).  Always put your darker colour onto your lighter colour.  Painters often referred to this technqiue as 'loading the brush'.  Use your lighter colour as your brush and touch the darker colour to the tip.

Then simply apply the maker to your image.  At first the darker colour will be laid down and then it will fade to the colour of the 'brush' marker.  In this case it starts pink and fades to a cream.

In this image, I've coloured the larger flowers and you can see the closer to the centre is a pink tone and the outer parts of the petal are cream.  You can continue to apply the darker colour to the centres until you are happy with the way it looks.

Finish colouring your image!

Hope you've enjoyed today's tutorial and have a go at using the Tip to Tip technique to colour your flowers!!!

Happy Colouring!
Kathy  :)

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