It's Better with Color, Part 2

Are you ready for another epic ride with the E-Team?!  Along with the amazing projects and helpful hints and tips you'll find on E-Team member blogs,  there are the eclectic offerings and prizes that Daisy is so generous in giving!  Check this out: For leaving a comment on each team member's blog from Thursday, June 16, until Sunday, June 19, you will have the chance to win:

a $25 gift voucher to eclecticPaperie (two random winners will be chosen from the E-Team member's blogs)

Leave a comment on the eP blog for an additional chance to win an assortment of flower stamps and 4 New Copic Color Sketch Markers.

Winners will be posted on eP blog on Monday, June 20.

NOTE:  eP is going to discontinue to carry Copic ORIGINAL & CIAO styles so you will want to check out the clearance price on those items. Sketch Markers are also on sale. There are also some Copic cases that will be slashed to clearance price. There are also an overstock of the PALE Copic Color bundle that Daisy is going to slash at clearance price, too. Finally, there will be some "Flower Stamp" grab bags that will be available for purchase.

E-Team Blogs

Daisy

Broni

Latrice

Linda D

Micki

Sherry

Starla (me!)

eP Blog

Ok!  Enough of the business details!  Let's get this hop going, shall we?!

A frequent request of the E-Team follower's blogs has been for more details on how we color with Copics, and more specifically, how we color floral images with Copics.  Today, I would like you to look at your Copics as more than just a way to color a stamped image.  I would like you to consider using your Copics to CREATE your image.

I started by die cutting two of the largest daisy's from Spellbinders Daisy Head from Pure Luxury card stock.  In case this is your first time visiting my blog, let me catch you up to speed on this paper.  It is my FAVORITE paper for coloring with Copics!  I started using it as a base for my cards due to it's 120# weight.  I loved the fact that it was strong enough to hold up on all the layers, embellishments and various ink treatments that I wanted to use, without "buckling".  THEN I discovered the bonus fact that I could color images for single layer cards with no bleed through.  I will admit that I have not tried any of the other popular papers used with coloring with Copics, so I cannot compare.  I am very happy with this paper and haven't felt the need to change (at this time, anyways!)

Lousy picture, but you get the idea! 

I did not emboss the die cut image.  There was a very faint impression of the center of the die that I used as my guide for cutting individual petals.  You could also lightly trace a "center" with a pencil.

After I made my petals, I  went online and found some pictures of daisy's for inspiration. 

I then picked what colors I thought I might like to work with.  I always pull out my Copic Color Chart to help me get started.  I printed this chart out on Pure Luxury card stock and have filled in the "blanks" of the markers that I own.  This gives me a more accurate idea as to what the colors look like on the paper that I am using, versus my previous method of "scribbling" on whatever scratch paper that I had lying on my desk.  Starting with my lightest color (in this particular case, RV21, light pink), I made broad swiping motions from the center of the flower to the tips of the petals.  I did not worry about covering everything evenly or any overlapping of lines.  I wanted the texture this type of stroke makes.

 I then took a slightly darker marker and made more random swipes from the center to the petals, but varied the length of the strokes and did not make as many strokes.

Already, this "image" looks more realistic!  But to add a bit more detail, I then took two darker markers and repeated the above steps, but with shorter, swiping strokes with each color.  I used the last two chosen markers to make the center of my flower.  Instead of "coloring" the center, I just made random dots, first with the lighter of the two markers, then added more "shading" with the darker marker. 



If you look closely at the photo (click on the image to see it larger), you will notice that one of the darker colors has a more "lavender" or "purple" hue to it.  To me, this just adds to the realism.  I do not stick to keeping my chosen colors in the same family of classifications. Don't be afraid to mix your color families!!

At this point, you may chose to leave your daisy image as is, or go back with the first, lightest, marker that you started with and again, make random, swiping motions to "blend" all the colors a bit more. 

NOTE:  I did color the backside of my "image", using the same technique, but in a much sloppier version! LOL!  I wanted some color on the backside as I planned to curl the petal a bit, but wasn't too concerned with "details".

I also wanted to show that this "technique" of coloring will work on other mediums as well!  I used the same markers as above (with R59, Cardinal, added to the mix) on Wendy Vecchi's Clearly for Art Whiteout.

The flower on the top of your screen was done on the Whiteout.

It is difficult to see, but in real life, the lines on the Whiteout are a bit more "streaky".  Helpful hint:  when using Copic markers on Clearly for Art Whiteout, or another "glossier" type surface, let the ink dry just a bit between colors.  The alcohol stays "wet" longer and trying to apply more color or a new color too soon, will actually cause you to remove the previous color.  After you have done your basic coloring, if you'd like to add more color, to increase the intensity, let the ink dry for a several minutes THEN apply more color.  I used my heat gun on the alcohol ink on the Whiteout to shape the flowers with no change in the color intensity. 

DONE!  You've now created an image with your Copic markers! 

And for a project using the daisy's cut from the Pure Luxury.

I am in need of a wedding card for this weekend.  The jury is still out as to whether or not this looks like a wedding card or a fru-fru baby girl card! LOL!

Being in the overloaded, panicked phase of an over booked week, I used the Mojo Monday Sketch 194, as my starting inspiration.  Card base is a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" Pure Luxury (I told you this is my favorite paper!) with an SU Pink Pirouette, sponged along the edges with Distress Spun Sugar, matted onto basic black card stock.  Scrap Pure Luxury card stock was embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder and scalloped along the bottom with SU's scallop punch. All the white panels and the flower were spritzed with Tattered Angel's Glimmer Mist in Pearl to add a lovely shimmer in real life, that for the life of me, I could not get to show in a photo!  The sentiment is from SU's retired Warmest Regards, and was stamped using Archival Jet Black ink. 

And because the jury hung on the Wedding card versus Baby Girl card~~~same song, different verse



I used C1, C3, C5, C7 on the flowers.  Shimmer applied to all the white panels.  Still couldn't get that to show!!

I hope this little tutorial on creating your own image with Copics will inspire you to try creating your own images!