Busy, Busy August

I can't believe how long it's been since I have posted. I must get better at this.  Things are always crazy in August with back to school, my oldest child's birthday and my anniversary (both on the same day). Anyhow, a week ago today I went to Cincinnati for the Stamp Away USA Convention.  It was awesome and I spent entirely too much money.  I took a picture of all my "loot" and I will try to get it posted for ya.  I also have several cards to post as well but just don't have the time this morning as I am writing this right before leaving for work.  The other thing that I have done lately is I have been working on my own Copic Coloring book.  I believe I had mentioned in an earlier post that I wanted to create something like this to just hold some of my work (I don't always put everything on a card).  I have put the book together and now I need to work on the front cover (boring white right now)! Not to worry I will Copic it all up!!  My hope is to get a post together tonight with pictures.  A few other things going on with me: zentangle, drawing and a month in my life album!!  More about that later.  That's all the time I have for now, keep it colorful!!!

A lot to chat about!

Did ya think I fell off the face of the earth?  I have so much to talk about and it is late at night so I'll get right to it!  First, I took the kids and went on a little road trip to Cincinnati to a rubber stamp store that I had heard a lot about.  The kids and I enjoyed the time together and I definitely enjoyed the stamp store.  I bought several stamps and even the latest issue of Card Maker Magazine.  Love that magazine and hadn't been able to find the newest issue here in Columbus.  I am in the process of coloring the stamps I got and am very excited about them.  I will post pics as soon as I can.  My first image took me a couple hours to color.  Now I just need to put together a card with it. Secondly, my hubby just returned from Summer CHA (what's wrong with that picture? Shouldn't I be the one going to CHA?).  Yes he went, he is the Director of Merchandising for Cord Camera so he got to go and I got to stay home with the kids.  Doesn't seem fair!!  He likes to send me pictures of things like the Copic Booth!!  He does usually bring me back a few goodies though.  This time I got a couple of idea books and a bag from Silhouette.  Third and finally!!! I got 23 more Copic Markers this weekend!!  This is very exciting for me because I had placed my order to finish off all of my colors (minus grays, fluorescent, and earth tones).  What was a little of a bummer was that one RV is on back order and somehow the reds I needed didn't get on my order at all.  That's ok though I am still having a great time with all my new colors.  My next goal is to get them entered on the copic color website.  I have 3 cards that I will hopefully get posted for all to see sometime this week, so keep watching for that.  I need to say goodbye for now because my fingers are not cooperating with me and I keep making spelling mistakes!! Thank God for spellcheck!  Until next time, keep it colorful!!

Happy Hump Day!!

Happy 4th of July as well.  It always seems to me that the 4th marks the beginning of the last half of summer and boy is that depressing.  I have been so crazy busy that I'm not sure where the first half went.  Tomorrow will be spent with my kids at the pool and I will hopefully get some coloring in tomorrow night.  I thought I would share with you a couple of cards I made for my last copic card class.

The stamp is from Stampendous, the paper is Bazzill and the ribbon is of course, white and I colored it to match exactly!  Love that about Copics!! Of course I have a HUGE stockpile of white ribbon in my craft room.

Uncle Sam is also a Stampendous Stamp, cardstock is Bazzill and the printed is We-R-Memory Keepers.  Both cards are from my June Copic Card class that I had at Cord.  As always I try to keep these cards very simple as the class is only an hour and a half long and believe me it takes that long to color 3 images.  Look at my previous post for the balloon card that we also did during that class.  My July class features two adorable birthday stamps and a monkey ready for some pool fun.  I hope to get those posted really soon.  It seems that my students really like to color people stamps, I do too!!

I got an idea earlier today that I am excited about!! You know how art journals are all the rage now. (I even have one and am slowly filling it) I am excited to start a coloring journal!  Not sure how I am going to make it happen yet. I do already have a card portfolio and a coloring portfolio (I use these when I teach).  If you have any great ideas please let me know!!  I will also post when I have it all figured out (oh that could take awhile KWIM!!)

I feel as though I am rambling, could be cause I'm exhausted.  That being said I will leave you for now.  Keep it colorful!!!

Copic Card Class

Happy Tuesday everyone.  It is a hot one here in Columbus today, supposed to hit 91 and my guess is that it did!  We had a horrible storm this morning that brought in the humidity.  Yuck I tell ya!  I actually have a free day tomorrow and am hoping to get the kids to the pool.

Anyhow tonight is my Copic Card class at Cord and I thought I would post one of the cards we will be working on tonight.  It's actually one of my faves.  I was kinda impressed that I was able to color translucent balloons (not always an easy task).

Not sure you can see the full effect of the balloons behind each other from this picture but it is definitely a favorite card.  Speaking of cards, is everyone making cards to send to the troops?  I plan on turning in a bunch and Cord is a designated drop off spot.  If you haven't heard about this awesome gift that we are giving to our soldiers it is from We-R-Memory Keepers and I'm sure you can find some info on their website.  You should also be able to find a store in your area that is a drop zone.  So happy cardmaking and keep it colorful!!!

Copic Storage

So here it is (finally)!  Was gonna post it yesterday and just my luck the power was out.  No idea why, we had a bad storm AFTER the power came back on.  Taught a Copic Basic class last night, it is always refreshing to see a new person experience Copics for the first time.  So enough about my day (or days).

Here is a picture of my Copic Storage Bin.  It is absolutely awesome for travel.

This is how I created it.  First let me start by giving credit to the person who I got the idea from.  Her name is Helen Johnson and you can visit her blog at bhelenj.blogspot.com. I did mine a little different from hers but the concept is the same.

I started with the Double Deep Super Satchel from Art Bin.

I then made the insert to hold the markers.  It is made from a 5/8" dowel rod and a florescent ceiling light grid style cover (found at Lowes or Home Depot). I got mine at Lowes (in the ceiling tile section) and it cost 11 and change (you can make 2 boxes from one tile so find a friend and split the cost).  You need a saw that has at least 25 teeth per inch to cut the ceiling tile (I used a hacksaw blade but be very careful since it is not in the saw).  The art bin actually tapers in slightly so the bottom grid was cut 19x19 little squares across and the top grid is 19x20 squares across.  The top grid will sit on the lip of the recessed area of the handle.  The dowel rod will fit perfectly inside the squares at each of the four corners but do be careful when inserting them as the grid will break easily.  It should look like this:

Notice that my dowel rods are taller than the grid.  I did this to help add support to the lid in case something would get set on top of it.  Now let me tell you that it WILL NOT hold Copic Original markers but will hold the Sketch and Ciao.  When you do the math this bin will hold 357 markers (19x19-4=357).

The grid simply sits inside the bin and can come right out if you should want to use the bin for something else.  And here it is filled with my markers!

Hope you have fun creating your own Copic Storage system!  If you have any questions please let me know and I will respond as promptly as I can.  Until next time, keep it colorful!!!

Back from Indy!

What a great time I had!  Not only did I enjoy the class but I truly enjoyed my time alone.  I was super exhausted when I got home so I slept in a little on Sunday and even took an afternoon nap.  Tomorrow I am teaching a Copic Basic Class at Cord and I am looking forward to that.  On the 21st I will be teaching my Copic Card class and I will try to get pics up ASAP.  For now here is a pic from Saturdays class.  I was so excited to find Marianne Walker there (don't know how I missed it on her blog that she would be there).

From left to right is me, Colleen Schaan, Marianne Walker and Bianca Mandity.  I was so happy to get this shot I just wish I would have taken more.  I know I have promised to get the pics and instructions up for how to create the Copic Storage Box and I will hopefully get that done within the next 24 hours (maybe I'll log back on after the kids are in bed).  See ya for now!

Copic Mixed Media in Indy!

Yes I am here in Indy and tomorrow I will be attending the Copic Ink, Art and Mixed Media Workshop.  I can't tell you just how excited I am.  It's also a relaxing weekend away for me and believe me I needed it.  I have also completed my new Copic Storage Container and I will hopefully get some pictures and instructions uploaded soon. So can I tell ya, I came over tonight and of course visited Cord Camera (I teach for them in Columbus, Ohio).  What do you know, they had 19 Copic colors that I didn't have yet.  Needless to say I have them now!!  Just getting those markers makes it a huge success in my book.  I will post pictures from the class as soon as I possibly can.  Goodnight for now.

Wow!!! I finally did it!!!

I have always wanted my own Blog but I'll admit I am technology challenged, so I was afraid to try it.  If I new how easy it was I would have done it long before.  I am a certified Copic Instructor and have just recently completed the Copic Intermediate Class.  I will also be attending the Copic Ink and Art class in Indy in June. My hope for this site is that I will be able to share my creations and hopefully inspire others to find their creative side as well!  Until next time!