Monday, October 19, 2009

Peaceful Poinsettia, Take One

I played around with Papertrey's Peaceful Poinsettia for the first time last week and made a bunch of cards with it.

Does anyone else buy a set on impulse, and then stare at it for weeks wondering, "Well, now what? Why the heck did I buy this set?" Then, do you work with it and realize, "Wow, I am so smart to have bought this"? That's what happened with me and this set. Temporary buyer's remorse, followed by great joy.

Here's the first card, and my first with Copic coloring on it.






That's right, I used COPICS! Yes, yes, I hear you shouting: "OH MY GOSH SHE SAID SHE WOULD NEVER BUY THEM!!!! SHE LIED!"

No, I didn't lie. I won these three as blog candy, and it would be morally wrong not to use them. I could probably have blended a bit better in places, but oh well, I'm hopelessly lazy. I got it good enough for government work and quit.


Government work isn't so bad, is it?

I'll say that the Copics do work better than the Sharpies and Bic Mark-Its for blending, perhaps because that is what they are made to do. So for those of you who have more patience than I do, Copics might actually be worth the money. But DH has informed me that he would kill me if I spent hundreds of dollars on markers.

Given our fiscal priorities at this time, it'd be justifiable homicide. I'd do the same to him if he spent $1,000 on handlebars for his triathlon bike. Fair is fair.

Anywho, I really, really like this card. A lot. I stamped the large outline poinsettia on scrap PTI white in palette noir and colored it with the Copics using the "I don't know what I'm doing but I'll keep adding color until it looks okay" method, which was remarkably successful, all things considered.

Then I cut it out, which was easier after I started using a craft knife rather than scissors. Next, I tried stamping a sentiment on the twill, which is a rather stiff nylon that lays nicely and cuts cleanly but does NOT take ink well. After trying three different inks, I gave up and went sentiment-less.

The half-beads in the center of the poinsettia are totally fab and fit perfectly in the circles of the image. Yeah!

The poinsettia is popped with dimensionals.

Do you like it? Do you have your own feelings about Copics? Care to share them in the comments, please? I'm dying to hear if I'm the only person strong enough to resist these beauties. 'Cause I am resisting, and it isn't even hard.

Supplies
stamps: PTI Peaceful Poinsettia
ink: Palette noir
cardstock: PTI white
accessories: green twill, dimensionals, small gold half-beads (Hobby Lobby)


31 comments:

  1. I have a very well stocked studio with nary a copic. (but who knows what the future holds...)

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  2. I have not gotten into the 'world of copics' either probibly because they are not readily available here where I live in Canada. They are so expensive here when you can find them so I have resisted although it would be fun to try them out if I won some....who knows...you may get addicted like so many others.

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  3. No, I don't like this at all! I LOVE IT! I just made the mistake of counting how many Copics I have (big mistake -- one which I won't repeat again). I have 90 of them right now - at 4.95 a pop. Yikes! That's terrible considering I'm still at the low end of the learning curve with them. I think I better start selling off some of my other stuff. But truthfully, I rarely use anything else well coloring with a marker. Debbie Olson taught me to stamp the initial image with a Memento color of ink and I swear by that - never, ever any bleeding. And BTW, your coloring of this is to die for. Really. I'm jealous. Gorgeous card.

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  4. I should have typed "I rarely use anything else when coloring with a marker." Guess I'm still thinking about those 90 markers.

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  5. I agree, morally wrong. ;) No copics in my craft kitchen either, the price is just too stiff.

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  6. I just don't like coloring stamped images, period. So Copics are easy for me to resist. :) Heck, I don't even have all the Stampin' Up markers, and I'm a demo. :)

    Keep up the awesome work on your blog!

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  7. I'm not a Copic gal either and have no desire to become one. I have all the SU markers, which coordinate w/ the SU CS and have a set of 36 Bics from last year's clearance of after-school sale (think I got them for about $8) and SU watercolor crayons (which I don't use, but better $50 than $5/each for a bunch of Copics I wouldn't use either).
    I'm not much into blending anyway, just a red flower with green leaves. No highlights, shadows, etc. Nance in Reno

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  8. Have tried to resist for so long now but I finally gave in this weekend and am waiting for my copics to arrive (probably won't be for a while thanks to these UK postal strikes!!)

    I like colouring with Whispers markers and just needed something that would blend better and extend my color range. Oh well, we'll see how I get on!

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  9. Gorgeous! You are a hero to me with your always awesome CAS cards. Thanks so much for sharing your work with us!!

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  10. No copics no extra money cannot justify when have all SU's and many Marvy's...since not a perfectionist and my receipients thik I'm already wonderful and don't know the difference between SU's coloring and copics, will stick with what I have.
    Have started using you card ideas (was previously afraid to leave any blank space) and am now loving simplicity.
    blessings
    patti

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  11. Very pretty card. I have been stamping for 17+ years and have no intention of ever buying Copics. I love my colored pencils. I remember that the full set of pencils was around $100 which I consider expensive. I have never been a marker girl. My watercolors and colored pencils make take a little more time but stamping is not about saving time, it is about spending time doing what you love.

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  12. This card is gorgeous. I'm glad your buyer's remorse had a happy ending. I have about 20 copics, and I do love them. But I can't go nuts and buy a ton, because I don't color a lot and I have a very limited craft budget. When I do color, I love the finished look you can achieve with copics. I don't have much luck with other methods. I've seen gals that color with OMS that make gorgeous cards, but my skills are lacking.

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  13. Your card is so beautiful!! Love the colors, coloring and design.

    Yes, after resisting for so long I've taken the plunge, buying COPICs about 6 at a time (more if there's a sale!). It's amazing how fast your collection starts to build up. My LSS is 45 mins. away so I don't go that often but when I do, I make it worth while:)

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  14. I have just recently bought a few Copics, and I just wanted to mention my strategy. Since I mainly want to color flowers, I just got a few Copics in reds, pinks, and blues, plus yellows for centers and (very pale) outlining, and greens and browns for leaves and tree trunks. And I have the colorless blender. I have 20 Copics total. You can get them at ScrapbookingAlley.com for $4.87 each (with no tax or shipping)--so that is 20 for under $100. Since you already have three reds, you could get some greens for leaves, and a couple other favorite colors of your choice and spend around $85--not too bad. Put them on your Christmas list! You are obviously talented in your coloring!

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  15. I was surprised that you colored in an image - and then with Copics - I was shocked! :o) Then I read the rest of the explanation. I have some Copics - I went to Marianne's Copic certification class to see what all the rage is. I got a bunch of Copics from the class and from other people who already had the colors that we were given in the class. I love to color but I love colored pencils and watercolor pencils better.
    Oh, btw, your card is beautiful!

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  16. Sharon D,

    I had thought about doing exactly what you have done because it is so sensible. And who knows, maybe I will, eventually. But honestly, I have all the SU markers, about 100 prisma pencils, a bunch of watercolor pencils and crayons, 40 or so Twinkling H2Os, and nearly all the Bic and Sharpie markers in two tip sizes. AND I RARELY COLOR IN IMAGES!!!! Sheesh, when do I stop buying more variations on the theme?

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  17. Love the card.
    I am resisting Copics for many reasons. Money is the first, but I don't really color in any medium. You and I will stand strong against the masses.

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  18. I have also easily resisted the Copics craze. Watercolor crayons and a blender pen are just about the extent of my coloring -- in both ability and desire :) So, resisting something that costs hundreds is not so hard.

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  19. This is so beautiful, Susan..and you should be so proud of your coloring of the poinsettia!! Gorgeous!!

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  20. Another beautiful card! I am resisting copics, and so far am happy using watercolour paints, watercolour pencils, sharpies (so glad someone else admits to using them!) and prismacolour pencils with baby oil. Although the last is still in the "learning" stage... ;)

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  21. As I tend to use watercolour pencils when I DO colour I would rather save my limited funds for stamps and not the very expensive Copic markers ... so resistance is easy for me!

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  22. I came upon your blog from a link at Gingerwood a few days ago and have been enjoying your cards and posts. I like the idea of CAS but really have to work at it (always think I should be adding more). I don't have copics either and have no plans to get any as I have lots of other coloring mediums sitting on my desk to use. I think you did a great job your first time with them and love the card. Also it is nice to read a blog where the posts don't talk only about Copic coloring!

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  23. I love your work and your blog is one of the first I read on a regular basis.
    I loved reading these comments because I SO want the copic markers, but the price is really holding me back. Reading what everyone has said may have helped me build resistance. Thanks!

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  24. I LOVE this card and may actually share your buyer's remorse for this set. Maybe not remorse, but it hasn't seen ink yet and I changed my mind about using this set for our holiday party invitations (which was the justification). I have purchased a handful of copics. I love the skin tones I've purchased (2), however the other 3 or 4 markers I own to do the cool outlining I see everyone do so successfully have ruined several nearly complete cards. I'm simply not artistic enough to handle copics. I think I'll be investing in a more complete set of colored pencils.

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  25. I love reading your blog. Thank you for sharing your artistic talent, writing talent and humor. Have you seen the video called copycat copics? It gives instructions on using reinkers/ink pads with acetone to imitate the blending like copics. Acetone is way cheaper that copics! Keep sharing, please!
    gail

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  26. love it!! you did a great job with your copics. I, sadly, could not resist. I did not, however, buy hundreds of colors, just a 12 pack starter kit and a few extras in colors I tend to use a lot (greens and browns). I do love using them because they make coloring so easy compared to pencil crayons or watercoloring!! Maybe we'll see a few other "red" projects where you can demo your great technique (man, for your first go you did a great job!!)

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  27. ok susan! you say you aren't any good with coloring images, but...... me thinks you lie!! this is stunning coloring. wow! a true talent you are!! thanks yet again for a beautiful card. i love the way you cut the ribbon end. perfect! marty ferraro

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  28. no copics here. I, like you, have a lot of the other goodies to color images with, but find i like watercoloring with inks the best. The price is extremely prohibitive for me. the only things i use (and regularly) are 2 prismacolor markers (pretty much the same??). i like the cool gray for outlining images and light peach for skin. the "transparency" of those two really help for those two jobs specifically. I also like that i can use a 40% off coupon on them at AC Moore!! keep up the great work!

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  29. I started coloring with Le Plume markers and finally got too frustrated buying so many that were near dry. So I sprang for a 48-color set of Prisma Watercolor pencils, not realizing "real" artists use gamsol and the other kind of Prisma pencils. A month ago, I found the gamsol and sprang for the 48-color set of the OTHER Prisma pencils to go with. So no, Copics are not in my future, ever!

    But I love what you did with them here. Still, I do believe you, in particular, would have made the poinsettia just as gorgeous with whatever you usually use for coloring. Do you ever do gold-leafing? Or wet-embossing with stencils?

    Looking at your art every morning starts my day with a hug of peace, thank you very much!

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  30. I like the deep red flower against the light green ribbon and white background. Very easy to look at.

    I too don't own Copics and don't intend to get any in the near future. I had seen so many other bloggers get great results with their coloring from these and was interested but I swore I would not invest large amounts of money in any tools unless I actually had a chance to try them for myself to make sure I could actually use them well. So I went to a "demo day" at a sb store where one of the make-and-takes used Copics. I explained to the teacher I wanted to learn how to do the blending and color variation. I don't know if it's because she was rushed, she didn't have the right colors of copics for that technique or she just wasn't interested in having me there, but I didn't feel I got very good instuction and I was not impressed by my results. Plus it seemed to take a lot of time to do the coloring layering, swirling, blending. Aach! Not for me. Especially not at $6 a pop. And of course you need at least 3 of each color to have the blending work effectively (or so I read). So, unless like you, I win some, you won't see Copics in my "ingredients" list on my blog.

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  31. It's all a matter of whether or not you enjoy coloring. Coloring an image is rather self-defeating if you're hoping to make a quick and simple card. You specialize and excel in this style and I know it's every bit as satisfying when you complete a card as a more involved design is to someone who enjoys that process. I could only hope to ever be half as skilled as you at clean and simple.

    I enjoy most coloring mediums. As far as alcohol markers, I started with Prismacolor markers since they're less than half the price of Copics (when purchased on sale). They're actually less expensive than SU! markers. In any case, my husband and I have both worked all our adult lives, and our budget includes an equal allowance of spending money for each of us -- guilt free -- to do with as we please.

    Thank goodness there are many different styles and mediums for us all to try -- freedom in creating.

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment!