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Paper Awareness

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Category : Coloring Techniques, Copics, Instructions, Techniques, Tips

Let’s talk PAPER AWARENESS!!! What exactly does that mean? It means that all paper is not the same when using Copics.

Choose your paper wisely!!

For example:

  • Stampin’ Up! Whisper White is not a good choice for Copics. SU’s paper is made for water-based markers and your Copics will just make a complete mess if you try and use them with it. Been there, done that!
  • Neither is water color paper. It is also made for water based products (hence water color!! lol) and your Copics are just going to absorb into the paper wasting your high dollar ink.
  • I like PaperTrey Ink’s white paper. This has been my “go-to” paper for quite some time now.
  • I also like Neenah Solar White 80 lb paper.

Neenah Solar White is now being stocked in the Stamp Happens Shop!

How do you know if your paper is going to work well for you? Test it.

Testing your paper is simply the easiest way to know if you’ll be frustrated and disgusted…or happy. In fact, some paper might work well with certain images but not others. Your best bet is to just test the paper.

I recommend testing your paper by:

  • Printing a digi image on it.
  • Stamping an image on it (use all inks you plan to use).
  • Use both a simple image and a detailed image for each. This is incredibly important!!!
  • Take one sheet of your paper and do all these tests on it. Label the bottom of the paper with the brand name so you’ll remember which kind it is.

 

I’m not sure if you can really tell that there is a slight shade difference here. But there is.

This difference is precisely why you need to print your Copic color chart on a piece of the white card stock you normally use.

The paper will slightly affect your ink!

Here are two circles I’ve drawn with Copic Multiliners.

You will notice that the finer the image is, the more prone the Copic ink is to spreading.

Neenah paper is great with thicker lines, but you can possibly run into issues with finely drawn images.

BE CAREFUL.

Practice coloring finely detailed images so you can figure out where to stop coloring.

I would be better off stopping the coloring right before I get to the edge.

The ink can then spread on it’s own to the edges.

JUST PRACTICE!

You’ll note, I don’t have the same problem with PTI.

PTI is a heavier weight paper which may be the key. I’m not a paper “expert” so I’m not certain.

I’m used to coloring on PTI so I need to practice using the Neenah.

A final word of caution.

I added another color to the middle of the Neenah ink circles above.

Note how the ink spreads even further.

This is incredibly important for those finely detailed drawings!

You will get spreading! Make sure you account for it!

Stop your coloring before you get to the edge!!

Neenah is a great paper.

It just takes some practice if you are used to PTI.

Sassy Studios Challenge: Pink & Brown

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Category : Challenges, Coloring Techniques, Copics, Sassy Studios, Spica Pens, Techniques

Two challenges…one day! Crazy, huh? As I previously mentioned, I’m doing things a little differently this week to give myself a little break and to get out of my normal routine. I’ve only recently purchased some Sassy Studio images and I think they are fun! I guess I’m slowly coming around to the digi craze. You’d think I’d jump on it faster given my geeky status with technology but… oh well.

I created this card for the Dare to Be Sassy Thursday pink and brown challenge:

I used BoBunny Persuasion designer paper, Strawberry Double Dot card stock, Chocolate Chip SU! card stock, and white PTI card stock. I also use Versafine Onyx Black ink with polysparkle embossing poweder, Robin’s Nest Dew Drops, Spicas and Copics.

To create the texture on the cupcake, I dabbed a blender fluid soaked washcloth onto the ink. This card is going to a special lady with a birthday coming up…wonder if she’s reading this post now???

 

sassysaturday109 Also, I am humbled and grateful that I was chosen to be featured on Sassy Studio’s Sassy Saturday. Thank you so much! It’s so nice to have my work recognized and I appreciate it very much!

I was looking around my crafting natural disaster area when my eyes fell on all of my Stampin’ Up! stamps. My SU! stamps have been sorely neglected lately so I pulled out some to work with this week. I hope to give them a little love. I also got my new release order from Verve so I’m excited to start using those!

Did you notice that the sketch I used today has been used twice? If so, you’re paying attention!   On Monday, I’ll be posting this sketch as a new challenge over in The Shop to win a really great prize. Mark your calendar!! There will be a twist in the rules…

Mojo Monday on a Tuesday!

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Category : Mojo Monday Sketch Challenges, Techniques

I worked on my mojo this afternoon. My mojo and I have been in couples counseling and things are really starting to work out lately. Hopefully mojo will continue to act nicely and I can make lots of new inspiring things!

So here is my entry for this week’s Mojo Monday Sketch Week 112!

I dug really deep to in my creativity to make this card! The entire card was chosen for a specific special friend of mine. I am hoping she isn’t reading my blog right now but just in case, I’m not saying who it’s for! These colors are right up her alley I believe.

I used Organic Snowdrop (in my store this week!) by BoBunny. The paper is double sided. I also used Baja Breeze (retired, Stampin’ Up!) for the layers and Soft Suede (Stampin’ Up!) for the base. The buttons, eyelet and ribbon are all Stampin’ Up! The stamped image is from Just Rite Stampers (coming soon to my store!). I sponged all the edges in Soft Suede ink to give the whole thing a distressed look.

Have you ever made faux metal accessories or images like I did here?

This is one cool technique. If you’ve never done it, you definitely should try it out.

Faux Metal:

  1. Using Top Boss or Versamark, directly apply ink to paper.
  2. Cover with embossing powder (I used copper), shake off excess and heat set.
  3. Apply your Top Boss or Versamark again.
  4. Cover with embossing powder and shake off excess.
  5. Before heat setting your final layer, ink the image of your stamp with the Top Boss or Versamark (I prefer Versamark). Lay aside.
  6. Heat set again. Once the image is set, quickly stamp your image into the embossed area before it cools down. Remove stamp.
  7. Voila!!

Then you can punch out your image or whatever you want to do. I think this is a super fun technique that I don’t use nearly enough. The image I used from Just Rite stampers has a tiny bit of dark (Versafine, Onyx) ink on it so the lines in Love are noticeable.

And this is the inside of the card! I can’t wait to write my message and send it to my fun friend. I hope she enjoys this! If you happen to use the faux metal technique, be sure to leave me a comment so I can go check yours out!

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