Stamps at Archivers!

As some of you may know, Archivers had a big stamp sale this past Tuesday.  All their stamps were 43% off.  When they first came to my neck of the woods I would say they had a fairly big stamp section.  It has dwindled since then.  I was able to find 3 that I just couldn't live without.  I really hope that this was an effort to get rid of some oloder stock so that they can refresh that section of the store.  I would obviously like to see more stamps that I can use my copic markers on!

I found this little cutie on a Chrismas display they had set up.  He is from Hero Arts and I am not sure if he is new this season.  Even though I am NOT ready to think of Christmas I knew that he would be lots of fun to color!

I am adding to what seems to be a collection.  I just think these stamps are just too too cute!  I already have 2 others from this "girlfriends" collection.  Here is the crazy part though, I have not sat down and colored any of them yet.  All of my coloring of late has been for classes.  I just want to sit down and color just for the love of coloring!!  Who knows maybe I will color this weekend (as of now my weekend isn't too jamed packed).  Time to start bedtime preperations so that's all for now.  Until next time, keep it colorful!!!

Skin Color

The lovely ladies who take my classes have been after me to do a technique class on coloring skin.  Well I have finally given in and placed it on the calendar for September.  So needless to say I have been spending time creating  a cirriculum for that class.  I have put together a blending chart for them to use for favorite color combos and I sat down tonight and colored a hula girl from la-la land stamps.  Thought I would share those images with you tonight.

This is the color chart I created I guess I should have zoomed in a little but you get the idea.  I went ahead and colored in the boxes with skin combos that I use.  This is a 6x8 so I can put it into my copic binder that I have created/work in progress.

In this image I am trying for a darker/Hawaiian skin tone.  Also wanted to show the importance of shading around body parts (the nose and lips).  I have arrows to indicate my light source (upper left).  I am actually excited about finishing her because I am very happy with how her skin is coming along.  Maybe I'll show a finished card some day soon.  That's all for now, keep it colorful!!

New Copic Storage!

Here are the pictures as promised!

This is the box itself. I got it at Tuesday Morning. It is material over a very hard casing.  I assume it is a very very strong chipboard type of material.  It zips shut and as you can see has 2 zipper pulls.  There is also a business card pocket on the front (very hard to see in this pic).  The card that was in there just says "storage"  and underneath that says "Raymond Waites". Hopefully if you are interested in the case you can google it with that info.

This is a view of the side.  Both sides have a very nice fabric handle.  I think you can see it in this photo.

Here is what it looks like inside!  It holds more than the amount of Copics that are cuurently available although right now the exact number eludes me.

I was trying to get a good shot of the inside of the case.  What I have done is taken plastic canvas (I got mine at Hobby Lobby) and I used embroiderey floss to sew the four pieces together to make a square that fit perfectly into the box.  I then attached the cross pieces using floss as well. I did this to both ends of the cross pieces. For the pieces that go from front to back of the box I cut up into the canvas on both pieces so that would slide together.  These steps were not done in that order and I'm not gonna lie, this is something that I would NEVER take on again!!!!  If I get people interested I would be happy to take my markers out to show better pics of the insert.  Feel free to leave a comment or question and I will answer as soon as I can. Keep it colorful!!!

Ok I know! Where in the world have I been right?  We have had major computer issues and I decided to stop posting until I had my very own laptop. Well that happened for me last night!!! Why did it take so long? Well so much has been happening in my personal life that it was very much put on the back burner.  We bought a house this past December (a real fixer upper) and that is exactly what we have been doing since the beginning of the year.  Still not totally complete, the contractor has just a few things left to do in the kitchen.

So enough about houses!! Let's talk copic!!  Still teaching classes at Cord and now have a group of women that will be seeing me for private monthly classes!! I have also replaced Roxanne.  Roxanne was my previous copic case that I created (look back to my previous post).  I just had to name her and that's what I came up with.  I will put pictures of my NEW copic case on here ASAP.  I also would like to start doing some youtube videos but I have no idea how to do it yet.  I am so computer illiterate!!!  So that is all for tonight.  Be back soon!!!  Keep it colorful!!!

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!!!