Monotone Journal Page - ALL Copics

Today I'm going to use my Copic products to create a monotone journal page.  Working with a limited colour palette was a new thing for me and monotones even more so!  I used my Copics to add custom colour to my embellishments and create a custom background for my page.  It took me a while to decide on an idea, but once I had, I have to confess the Copics pretty much made this so simple I was practically cheating!

You Will Need:

• Copic Products
  Various Inks: Colorless Blender '0', E25, E59 & Black 100
  Copic Markers: Black 100, E18, E25, E47 & E59
• X-Press It Products
  Mixed Media Journal, Double Sided Tape, Adhesive Sheets, Clear Gel Glue
• FabScraps Products
  12x12 Paper - Australia, Journal Inserts - Love and Travel, Chipboard Die Cut - Lamps, Stencil - Stars & Vintage Mist
• Chromacryl: Gesso Primer & Texture Paste
• Collage items eg: ribbon, lace, leaves, material, metal findings, photos or papers

Custom Background

Step 1: Cut 12x12 paper down to a size that will fit into X-Press It Mixed Media Journal (do not glue in until finished).  Glue on Love and Travel Journal Insert pieces to add texture.  Apply a thin layer of gesso - you should still be able to see patterns from the paper underneath.  

Step 2: Apply texture paste through stencil to add more interest, wait for the paste to dry completely.  

Step 3: Copic Various Inks to Tint Gesso - Mix Various Ink (E25) into some gesso to create a tint and brush over page.  Wait until gesso is dry.

Step 4: Copic Various Inks as a Glaze - Mix Various Ink  (E59) into glazing fluid and brush over page, allow to sit for one minute then wipe off with a baby wipe.  This will allow the glaze to settle into the texture and create a grungy look.

Once dry, see how the glaze really highlights the texture!

Step 5:  Use Copic Markers ( Black 100, E25, E47 & E59) to outline elements, 

edge the page and scribble over texture.  

NB: After repeated use in this way (contact with paint and use on rough surfaces)
you will need to replace the nib on your marker.

Step 6: Fill mister with Copic Colorless Blender ('0') and spritz over the page - this will make the colours you applied run and bleed.  Allow page to dry completely,

 Once dry you can add stamping, stencilling, mists, anything you like. 

Custom Colour Embellishments

Using the same Copic colours on your embellishments as used on the background, will create a beautifully coordinated page.

Step 1: Gather all of the embellishments you will use to decorate your page, these can be metal, wood, chipboard, plastic etc. Colour the embellishments roughly with your Copic Markers (Black 100, E18, E25, E47 & E59) - leave some uncoloured space.  

Step 2: Make a pile and randomly drip on various ink (E59, E25 & 100).

Step 3: Spritz with Colorless Blender and leave to dry.

The Finishing Touch

Put it all together and glue your embellishments onto your background using Clear Gel Glue.  

You can see how the same colours of Copic ink look slightly different depending on

the material they were applied to.

I love that no matter the material - fabric, metal or chipboard, everything looks so fantastic and was so easy to colour.

My finished page looks like this... aren't those Copic colours gorgeous!

I hope this has given you some new ideas about how to use your Copic products!  Don't forget, use over paints or rough surfaces will deteriorate your nibs - so have some replacements on hand, or a few special Copic markers that you use for 'naughty' things only! 

KatePin It

Layering Copic Colours to Create a Beautiful Night Sky Effect

I'm back this week with another idea with many uses - layering your Copic colours, for a beautiful though abstract result.  I often hear Copic beginners expressing their frustration with learning to blend, well while you are mastering blending why not play with layering.  Layering colours is much easier, gives interesting and unexpected results and can be used on many projects.  I have used this to create a journal page, but you could easily use this as an amazing way to colour clothing on a stamped image, create a beautiful name tag, a stunning background or anything else you can think of!

For this page I have used:

• X-Press It Blending Journal
• Copic Markers: Colorless Blender '0', N0, N1, N3, BG11, B13,  B69, B79, RV06, RV09, BG94, B97 & B99
• Molotow Extra Fine Paint Marker

 To create this page:

Start by stamping, printing or writing onto the lower right of your page.

Using very pale Neutral Grey (or Cool Grey) colours roughly draw the outline of a hole onto your page.  This will be used as a guide for the final step so don't spend too much time on this.

Next add BG11 and BG13 and blend slightly - just enough so the colours look smooth.

Add B69 and then darken using B79.

Where the B69 borders the BG11 or BG13, pounce the BG11 over the darker colour - this will make the darker blues go a little mottled and cloudy and add some of the aqua into the blue.

Add a hint of RV06 and darken with RV09.

Where the Cerise borders the blue, layer RV09 over the blue, while these colours will not blend, a little of the Fuchsia will be introduced into the blue.  In doing this, you are introducing a hint of one colour into another - your finished result will be much nicer.

Then use BG49 to add a little more depth - I have used it to create something of a pattern.

Darken the image by layering B97 and B99, both over and around the existing colours.  I've also used these to outline my 'hole' in the paper.

Continue to add more layers (using the method of pouncing one colour over another where 2 dissimilar colours meet) and fill in any pale spots with the colours you have already used.  I have tried to create patterns that look vaguely cloudlike (you could refer to photos of the night sky for ideas if you like).

To finish I have used B79 and B99 to add fine lines and outlines to some of the patterns.

Flick paint from the tip of a Molotow Paint marker over your coloured image and carefully draw some starbursts.  Leave to dry.

See how the white paint really makes the colours 'pop'.

To finish the page scrunch up some paper, tear a hole to match what you have drawn  (this is a tiny bit fiddly) and roll back the edges of the paper around the hole.  To make sure this stays exactly as is, glue down the rolled paper pieces.

Between the starkness of the white page and the depth of colour, this really leaps out at you.  This is a really simple way to use colours that don't naturally go together, just remember to keep layering until you are happy with the result and pounce one colour over another so that there are no harsh edges.

Hoping you all have a wonderfully creative week,
KatePin It

Copic Ink Backgrounds

Hi crafty people! Teresa here to show you an awesome quick and easy background you can do using your Copic inks (they're not just for refilling your markers!).

These cards are relatively simple because the background has so much visual impact. They're all done on gloss cardstock and layered on black cardstock to help the colours stand out even more.

This first card was made with a Die-Namics die:

The second card has a little stamping in the background (Darkroom Door Rockstar set) as well as some chipboard words (FabScraps Rock'n'Roll):

Lastly this third card has a couple of embellishments made with Darkroom Door stamps (Simply Circles set) and some coloured gauze:

I could explain how I achieved the background, but a picture tells a thousand words. Here's a short video:



Thanks for watching!

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Marbled Backgrounds with Copic Various Inks

Hi All - this week I'm going to share something fun that you could even get the kids involved with if you want to!  Though I must warn you, once you start playing this can be a little addictive, and it only gets worse once you realise all the things you can use it on!  I'm talking about marbling with Copic Various Inks of course :)

To try this for yourself you will need:

• shaving foam (the cheaper the better) 
• a flat surface, tray or dish that is longer than the object you'd like to colour
• 3 or 4 colours of Copic Various ink, I used: BG15, BG34, BG49 and YG07
• a palette knife, spatula, and maybe a toothpick 
• and if you'd like to include a little luxury a pearlescent or metallic ink, I used Silver iZink
• things to marble, paper, card etc.

 Spread the shaving foam onto a flat surface using a credit card or palette knife, I make sure mine is about 3cm thick so I can make a few different marbled items.  Once the surface is relatively flat, drip the various ink on top, making sure to keep each drop separate.  I like to use only 3 - 4 colours at once or you run the risk of making mud - my most successful patterns have either been all cool colours or all warm colours, BUT if you are careful you could use all the colours of the rainbow - you just won't be able to make as many prints.  

You can add a few drops of metallic or pearlescent ink for a luxury look,

a few drops = delicate swirls of metallics, lots of drops = pure luxury!  I just added a few.

The Various ink will eat into the foam a little, don't worry this won't be a problem.

Using the tip of a palette knife or a toothpick, draw parallel lines through the shaving foam.  Then rotate your project 45 degrees and repeat the process, keep rotating your project and drawing parallel lines through the foam until you have a pleasing pattern.

Place your cardstock onto the surface of the foam and lightly press down with your fingers, you need to make sure that all of the card makes contact with the foam or you will have blank spots on your design.  Some of the foam may squash around on to the back of your page - don't worry, just wipe it off later.

Gently peel the card from the surface of the shaving foam - don't worry this isn't the design that will be on your card.

Place your paper foam up onto some newspaper and use a paper towel to gently wipe to foam off the paper, I've also tried a spatula to remove the foam, but it can damage the paper surface and drag colour across the design - so I prefer a paper towel.  This step is really messy so be careful.  Once the shaving cream is removed, the design printed onto your paper will be revealed, the FIRST print will look something like this, notice the white space and clean lines.

Now if the pulled pattern left in the foam looks really pretty like this one, then grab another piece of paper (or your journal) and place it onto the foam - no need to waste it, and yes I've placed a double page journal into the foam - messy but so pretty!

Your print may look something like this, wouldn't this be an amazing and unique background for a scrapbook layout, page or a card.

Hmm - there is still a LOT of shaving cream and ink - I like to draw more lines add a little more ink and create a 2nd generation marbled print - notice this one has less white space and the pattern isn't as crisp, the lines are all softer and this second print has more of a watercolour appearance - still beautiful though!

To be honest I just keep dipping pages into the ink until either the ink or the shaving cream run out, it's messy, fun, unpredictable and completely addictive.

Wondering what else you could use this on?  Following is a brief list of things I've marbled:

• journal pages
• scrapbook pages
• card backgrounds
• chipboard letters (this looks AMAZING!)
• ribbon - oooh this looks yummy
• doilies
• Easter eggs
• notepaper
• envelopes
• handkerchiefs - though this was a bad idea as it's so pretty I've never used it!

I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial on marbling with Copic Various inks - if you have felt inspired to give this a go we would love to see your results over on the FaceBook page.

Back with more soon,
KatePin It

Copic Journal Cover

Hi again - today's project has quite a few steps but the results make it completely worthwhile!  Now a few of you may be familiar with the work of amazing  Polish artist Anna Dabrowska - better known as Finnabair, well today I am taking inspiration from Finnabair's unique complex style and creating a cover for my new Copic Journal.

You will need to gather some materials to embellish your journal cover: metal, plastics, embellishments, papers, lace, charms, wood, chipboard - whatever you would like to incorporate onto your design.  I am using my X-Press It Blending Journal, a variety of lace, Chromacryl white acrylic paint, chipboard shapes from FabScraps and a variety of brass charms and paper flowers.

**Normally it is recommended that you apply your Copics first BEFORE paint, pencil or any other mediums, so they won't become clogged. Before you start, you do need to be aware that when using your Copic Markers on some surfaces you need to understand the nib may become blocked by repeated use over paint and you accept that you will need to periodically replace the nib. It is a good idea to have a few Copics that you use ONLY for mixed media work.**

Paint the journal cover with the white Chromacryl acrylic paint - I used 2 coats allowing each to dry before continuing.  Once dry use the fabulous TripleTac glue from X-Press It to adhere your embellishments to the journal cover - allow this to dry thoroughly before continuing.  

This is what mine looks like.

Once dry cover everything with white Chromacryl paint and leave to dry.  You can add a little texture paste for extra interest at this point if you like.

Spray with your favourite sparkly sprays and let dry (this saves a little Copic ink as it adds a base layer of colour, it also adds a little bit of sparkle to the final project).  

Using a Copic airbrush spray BG34 over your cover to colour any light/white areas.

Spray YG25 to about 1/4 of the cover - this can either be randomly or you can choose to colour individual elements.

Still using your airbrush, add V04 to a few places and colour some of the elements eg: flowers or bird - this adds a beautiful contrast to the greens and blues

Add BG49 to darken the colours.

Now this is where things get really interesting!  Using the special properties of Copics and the Copic Blender you can achieve some exciting special effects.  

Before adding any final colours, use a stencil and the X-Press It Clear Gel Glue to apply a design to some of the areas without embellishment.  I also used the Clear Gel Glue to cover some individual elements to highlight them, leave this for several hours or until completely dry.

This results in gorgeous shiny areas (keep reading to see why this is an important step).

Spray BG09 around the edges of the cover - darkening the edges draws your eye to the more colourful area in the centre.  Go ahead and use your airbrush to spray right over the top of the glue design.

Add E47 to the edges and to some of the central designs, again this helps draw the eye.

The final colour E49 is only sprayed on to the very edges, and to the central frame - go ahead and spray this well, getting into all the nooks and crannies.

Use the Copic Blender for the next steps - the special effects!

Using the blender brush tip, remove the excess colour from the top of the gel glue elements (make sure to scribble to colour off your blender in between) - this will reveal the original colour underneath which is paler, creating patterns which POP!

Then use the chisel nib to remove colour from the highest points of some of the textured embellishments eg: frame, bird etc, this will reveal the colour underneath and leave yummy darker colour around it (using this flat nib ensures you only touch the very top of the design - resulting in a beautiful colour contrast - just don't press too hard!).

As a final step flick a little of the Copic Various Blending ink onto your project (I add a few drips onto my fingers and just flick this on) - this will add just a little more texture and interest to the final piece.

 Once all the colour is dry and you have finished removing colour using the Blender your project will look something like this up close, aren't those colours amazing - the Copic ink even blends and layers over paint!

and this is what my finished journal cover looks like....

Products used on this project:

• Copic Markers: BG09, BG34, BG49, V04, YG25, E47, E49 and Colorless Blender
• Copic Air Compressor
• Copic Colorless Blender Various Ink
• X-Press It: Blending Journal, Clear Gel Glue and TripleTac Glue
• Chromacryl White Acrylic Paint
• FabScraps chipboard shapes, lace, watch parts and other embellishments (metal and acrylic)
• Optional - your favourite sparkly spray as a base - for a matt finish omit this

I just love the amazingly vibrant results achieved with the Copics on this project and the special effects achieved with the Blender make it just that bit more special.  I hope this inspires you to have a go at this technique for yourself, I can promise it is loads of fun and the results as you can see are fairly impressive.

I'd love to hear what you think of my journal cover,  I'd also love to see how you've decorated your Copic Journal covers so why not post a photo of your decorated X-Press It Blending Journal over on the Copic Australia Facebook page.

Kate

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