Advanced Copics Class at Bizzy B's

Here's a sneak peek at one of the images (Penny Black) we'll colour at my Advanced Copics class on December 7 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Space is limited, so call Bizzy B's today and sign up!

Copic Sample - Enhanced

Hi! So, after my last post I spent a few minutes enhancing the elephant image I coloured. I didn't do much, but I think it makes a big difference. Here's my original elephant, coloured using B21, B24, and B28 (blues) and RV23, RV25, and RV29.

To enhance the image, I added just a little bit of shading with B60, pretending that the sun was shining from the upper left. It's pretty light in the scanned image, but it is there. Then I used E31, E33, and the blender marker to create some earth for the elephant to stand on. And to finish it off, I used G24 and G28 to add a few little clumps of grass around his feet. They came out a little thicker than I wanted them to, but you get the idea.

That's it for today! To learn how to colour with Copics, check out my class at Bizzy B's Stamp & Scrap on September 28 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. It's sure to be fun!!

Lazy Long Weekend . . .

Well, summer is officially over and somehow I haven't blogged since May. I've had a wonderful summer, but I've been looking forward to Labour Day weekend for a few weeks now. Time to settle in for fall and start thinking about Christmas!!

Back in June I got my Copic certification, and I'm so excited to have planned my first official Copics class at Bizzy B's Stamp & Scrap in Toronto. You'll find a class calendar on our website. Space is limited, though, so don't delay if you'd like to take the class. I'll also be demo'ing Copics this Sunday at BB's birthday celebration.

The Copics class is for beginners or for anyone who wants to learn some tips and tricks. In class, we'll start by colouring on a practice sheet of circles and simple shapes. The focus of the class is on learning about and using the markers, not about colouring detailed images and making cards. We'll definitely colour some images, but I want everyone to walk away feeling confident about the basics of colouring. Detail will come later. Above and below are some images that I coloured in preparation for my Copics class this month.

You've likely noticed that all three images are pink and blue. I thought long and hard about how to structure this class, as some people will have no markers, some will have a few, and some will have many, and I wanted to keep the price down while providing good value. It's tempting to choose a range of colours, say blue, pink, green, yellow, and orange, but with Copics it's actually more important to have several shades in each family in order to blend properly. So, I looked at my markers, bought a few more, and then decided to use three pinks (RV23, RV25, RV29) and three blues (B21, B24, B28). You have to have the markers to take the class, and we're offering them super cheap as part of the class. It's a great way to start or expand your collection! If you already have the colours, you have to bring them to class and we'll allow you to trade the kit colours for ones you don't have yet.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me. And be sure to watch the class calendar for more Copics classes (plus others) this fall. Happy colouring!!

Crazy for Cards -- May

Last night's Crazy for Cards class at BB's was great--seven people came down to play with all kinds of goodies and learn some new techniques. It's not a new technique, but glitter lace has my attention these days! Barb asked me to demo it at ScrapFest, and now it's my new favourite thing (along with Glimmer Mist and making backgrounds with Stamp-It's Sponging Blocks).

My first card for May's Crazy for Cards class includes all three things, plus one of the new Tim Holtz distress inks (victorian velvet). For this card I used the following products:

- Tim Holtz distress inks

- Sparkle N Sprinkle glitters

- Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist

- Tsukineko Glue Pad

- Prima flowers

- The Robin's Nest Dew Drops

This month's Crazy for Cards class will take place at Bizzy B's on Thursday, May 27, from 7:00 to 9:00. Call today and sign up!

Mother's Day Gift

Spring is here, and life seems to get busier every day! For a while, I think I forgot that I even have a blog. I had a great time at ScrapFest in Kitchener last weekend, and I'm looking forward to this fall's ScrapFest in Oshawa. Combined with Thanksgiving, my birthday, the Creativ Festival, and gearing up for Christmas, October is going to be one crazy month!

It's a long way off for the moment, though, and I'm excited to have completed samples for my May classes at Bizzy B's. Just in time for Mother's Day, I'll be teaching a class on how to decorate a wooden picture frame with supplies from your scrap stash. We'll make a matching card, so your entire gift will be ready in one evening. And I'll even provide an assortment of patterned papers to choose from, as not everyone will fancy the same one!

The class is scheduled for May 6 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Bizzy B's Stamp & Scrap. It'll be lots of fun. Hope to see you there!

New Cards!

Here's a few pics of some cards we'll be making at Thursday's night Crazy for Cards class at BB's.

The Truant Blogger

The truant blogger has returned! Things have been pretty busy lately, and blogging fell by the wayside. A bit of news: I've registered for the Creators' Marketplace Show & Sale again this year. I usually just sell cards at these sales, but I've decided to try selling a few new items this time. They're secret for now, but I'll post some pics once I get more organized. Check out the link to the right for more details about the sale.

In case you haven't been to the Bizzy B's website lately, below are the two classes I have left to teach in February. In March, I'll be offering a couple of new classes, so be sure to check the class calendar and my blog for updates!

Sweet Treats (Quilling) -- Wednesday, February 17
Join Cheryl to make candies, ice cream cones, lollipops, and more—all made out of only paper and glue. It’s a calorie-free way to enjoy some sweet treats! Plus they’re super cute and make great embellishments for your tags, cards, or scrapbook pages! Please bring a basic quilling toolkit if you have one.
- Class: $25.00 Materials: $5.00 (taxes extra)

Crazy for Cards! -- Thursday, February 25, 7:00–9:00
Are you crazy for cards? Join Cheryl to make six stunning cards in only two hours. We’ll make cards for several occasions using various tools, techniques, and products! Crafters with all levels of skill are welcome. Adhesive is required. Please bring a basic toolkit if you have one.
- Class: $25.00 Materials: $5.00 (taxes extra)

Here's a pic of one of the cards we'll make in February's Crazy for Cards class. Simple, but pretty. Hope to see you there!

Be Mine!

As part of January's Crazy for Cards class, we'll be making two valentines. I used Bazzill cardstock, a set of nested hearts cut on my Silhouette, some new Hero Arts flowers stamps, a Hero Arts "love" stamp, and pink ink by Hero Arts. All the samples for this class will soon be at the store, so stop by for a peek! In the meantime, here's a pic to pique your interest.

Happy new year! I took the month of December off from blogging and paper arts in general, and it's great to get back into it early in 2010. Tomorrow night I'm off to Bizzy B's for a Hero Arts Preview Party. The 2010 catalogue is out, and there are some many great stamps in it! I had a chance to play with a few when I made the samples for the make-and-take I'm doing tomorrow night, and I can't wait to use more of them in the samples for January's Crazy for Cards class. Check out the class calendar and sign up right away!

And now, for the project at hand, I made this great little Valentine's Day gift -- an acetate box full of Hershey's Hugs, complete with a tag to write on. It's not on the calendar yet, but I'll be offering this class in February, in time for you to give it to your Valentine!