COPIC Classes for Remaining 2014

Leaves are changing color and falling already! I LOVE FALL and it will be here soon.  I love the colors and I absolutely love coloring fall stamps; pumpkins and leaves are my favorites.  It's a new school year and a perfect time to learn or brush up on some creative techniques as well.  Being creative is a need for me.  I crave it!  I am excited to be signing up for another drawing class this fall.  There is something special about making time for "me" to do something that I like to do.  I personally love drawing and coloring because it puts me in a relaxing state of mind; a perfect way to slow down, if only for a little while.  

Saturday classes for the 4th quarter of 2014 will start off with another beginner class for anyone that would like to learn how to effectively use the COPIC markers in addition to adding some additional TECHNIQUE and PROJECT classes.   (Pictures coming soon)

COPIC Basics:  If you are new/newer to COPIC markers, then this class is for you and where you should begin your COPIC journey.  This class is packed with a lot of information and techniques!  You will learn about COPIC markers, practice MANY different color-blending techniques, learn how to color transparent balloons and create patterns.  

10/18 @ 10-Noon   Instructor will provide all markers needed for use during this class.     

COPIC Technique* - FUR:  Learn several different techniques to make our furry friends look all warm and fuzzy using your COPIC markers, COPIC multi-liner pen(s) and colored pencils. 

10/18 @ 1-3pm

COPIC Technique* - Hair & Skin: This is a technique class on how to color different skin tones and hair colors.  Learn to create realistic highlights and shadows in your colored images. 

11/1 @ 10-11:30am

COPIC Technique* - Metals: This is a technique class on how to color different stamped images using different color combinations for realistic metal types/effects (tin, rusty, copper, patina, etc.) with your COPIC markers.  Walk away with a color chart any extra stamped images to practice or create with.

11/1 @ Noon-1:30pm

COPIC PROJECT* - Fall Cards & Tags:  Make a bunch of fall themed cards and tags using your COPIC markers and various techniques.  Extra stamped images will be provided for you to take home and create with.  

11/1 @ 2-3:30pm

 

COPIC Technique* - Shading & Shadows: This is a technique class on how to color black and white stamped items and create shadows using your COPIC markers.  Learn to create realistic highlights and shadows in your colored images. 

12/6 @ 10-11:30am

COPIC Technique* - Glass & Flowers: This is a technique class on how to color glass using different colors and shading as well as some beautiful flowers using your COPIC markers.  

12/6 @ Noon-1:30pm

COPIC PROJECT* - Winter Cards & Tags:  Make a bunch of winter/holiday themed cards and tags using your COPIC markers and various techniques.  Extra stamped images will be provided for you to take home and create with.  

12/6 @ 2-3:30pm

* Prerequisite: COPIC Basics Class & Your own COPIC markers are needed for these classes

Summertime

Summer is almost officially here.  I know that means people are much busier than normal and we sometimes forget to really relax vs. the go...go...go that we have been accustomed to these days.  I am taking off the summer from teaching COPIC classes, but will be back at The Inspiration Station beginning in September.

My ArtBin boxes arrived at The Inspiration Station (Remember to support your favorite local businesses).  I am really excited to go pick them up and organize my markers.  I have struggled with finding the best way to store them, but after many attempts, I think this is going to be the best one.  I'll be sure to provide an update and let you know what I think.  If you want some of your own, just ask Debby or anyone at the shop, they'd be happy to order them for you!

I also bought one of their bigger bins to organize my drawing and watercolor supplies from the classes that I recently took.  My husband will be especially happy when that stuff is organized a little more.  He is a very neat and organized person, while I tend to have "organized chaos".

Digital Stamp lovers:  Here is a summer treat that I had received in my inbox the other day and it is an unbelievable sale!  I definitely bought a bunch and all I paid was $16.10!!!  Now I cannot wait to color them.
Check out this sale at JustInklined before 6/30/14:

MONEY OFF COUPONS

Get more digital stamps for a lot less money...

Spend $10 and get 10% off with coupon code NL10
Spend $20 and get 20% off with coupon code NL20
Spend $30 and get 30% off with coupon code NL30
Spend $40 and get 40% off with coupon code NL40
Spend $50 and get 50% off with coupon code NL50

WOW that's a lot of discount.
We can't possibly go any higher, can we?

Oh you better believe it...

Spend $60 and get 60% off with coupon code NL60
Spend $70 and get 70% off with coupon code NL70
Spend $80 and get 80% off with coupon code NL80

If you put $80 worth of digital stamps in your cart and apply discount code NL80, you will pay the grand total of only $16 !!!

Can you afford not to take advantage of this unbelievable deal?
One use per customer. Offer ends 30 June 2014.

I hope that you all have a wonderful and "colorful" summer.
Relax, Color and Enjoy!

Coloring Makes Me Feel Like a Kid Again!

This morning I had the pleasure of coloring with 6 new COPIC Marker friends at a class that I taught at The Inspiration Station in Stafford Springs, CT.  What another wonderful group of ladies.  Since, I came back to teaching monthly COPIC classes here in January, I have been so lucky to meet such great ladies...and better yet they share my addiction of loving to color with COPIC markers :-)

During class today we shared ideas of how we keep track of our "coloring books"... STAMPS!!!  My wooden ones are displayed in an open doored cabinet, so that they are visible to me and the smaller ones are in an old printers tray that is hanging on my wall.  Love it!  My clear stamps are in a basket in plastic bags sorted by categories...and then there are my digital stamps.  These are obviously stored on my computer, but I do create a catalog of the images that I have purchased by each artist and then print that out so they are visible to see.  I like digi stamps for when I am teaching classes and the fact that I can resize it to what I want...and I usually can get instant gratification because I can get it right away (from most sites).  However, in the end, I still gravitate to the wooden stamps because each one of these are a piece of art that are displayed in my scrapbook room and I get to see them out in the open.

I told the ladies from my class that I would post the digital stamps that I have purchased from, so here they are.  Some of these sites offer freebies, be sure to grab the ones you like and PLAY!

• http://www.bugaboostamps.com (This is the one that I was mentioning that when a new release comes out they are 1/2 price initially.  Right now they are 25% off the entire store until the 19th.)
• http://www.justinklined.com (This is the one that had the adult cyclist that I gotten for my husband since he does bike racing and triathlons)
• http://mosdigitalpencil.com (Do a search on "April".  We use this stamp in the COPIC Techniques - Metals class and color in the watering can with whichever type of metal was your favorite).  This is one of my favorite sites for the boys and girls...they are all so adorable!
• http://www.squigglefly.com (There are different artist stamps sold here)
• http://www.stampfairy.com (When you look under each category it will show you some of the images.  However be sure to click on each image to see more stamps.
• http://www.tiddlyinks.com (This is another favorite of mine.  I love the font on her site and the images are just so cute!)

Yes...I am addicted. Are you?
Happy coloring!

2014 COPIC Classes @ The Inspiration Station

Happy New Year!  I am happy to say that I am back sharing my passion for coloring.  It is one of the most relaxing things that I do lately.  It brings me back to simpler times and allows me to escape from they busy lives that we seem to have lately.  It's very important to take time for ourselves and do something that we want to.  We all deserve time like that!

I have six different COPIC technique classes that I am offering so far this year:

Learn COPIC Coloring Basics:  If you are new to COPIC markers, then this class is for you and where you should begin your COPIC journey.  During this class you will practice MANY different color-blending techniques, creating transparent balloons and patterns. Prepare to be hooked on COPIC coloring and feeling like a kid again!   Supplies Needed for class: Nothing but a pen for notes if you choose to add to the information provided to you.  You do NOT need any of your own markers for this class.  The instructor will provide handouts and different sets of markers to be used / shared during class.
Date: 1/11/14: 10am-Noon $28    - SOLD OUT                          Date: 03/08/14: 10-Noon $28

COPIC Techniques: 5 Shades of Gray:  Learn about gray markers along with more coloring techniques for coloring white and black objects, shadows and altering other COPIC colors.  We will be using 5 shades of gray in this class along with some additional colors.  Four cards can be made from the items colored in class.  Prerequisite: “Learn COPIC Coloring” or another beginner COPIC class.  Supplies Needed for class: 5 shades of cool (C) or warm (W) gray: C's or W's ending in: 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 OR 00, 1, 3, 5 and 7 (I used the first set of cool grays). Other COPIC colors: B00, E44, YG67, YR23 or similar colors, Black ink pad and adhesive. Optional supplies: glossy accents, stardust and burgundy Stickles.  A case to carry your projects in (some items may not dry by the time you leave)
Date: 1/11/14: 1-3pm $28

COPIC Techniques: Hair & Faces: Learn about face and hair color combinations along with techniques for different types of hair.  Practice sheets will be provided so you can capture different combinations that can be used as a reference.  Supplies Needed for class: Students will be required to bring their own markers to this class.  Be sure to check with store staff for a list of COPIC colors. 
If you do not have all of the suggested markers you can always practice the techniques with any markers.
Date: 03/01/14: 10-Noon $28

COPIC Techniques: Airbrushing & Masking: Learn how to use your COPIC markers with an air compressor for different airbrushing techniques.  You will also learn some masking techniques with stamping and COPICs. Techniques will be used to complete a finished project by the end of class. Supplies Needed for class: Students will be required to bring their own markers to this class along with the standard class kit.  Be sure to check with store staff for a list of COPIC colors.
Date: 03/01/14: 1-3 $28

COPIC Techniques: Reflections: Learn how to create reflections using advanced techniques with your stamped images and your COPIC markers. Supplies Needed for class: Students will be required to bring their own markers to this class.  Be sure to check with store staff for a list of COPIC colors. 
Date: 04/26/14: 10-Noon $28

COPIC Techniques: Metals: Learn how to create different metal finishes such as new, rusty, copper, weathered patina using stamped images and your COPIC markers.  You will make 4 cards as part of this class.  Supplies Needed for class: Students will be required to bring their own markers to this class.  Be sure to check with store staff for a list of COPIC colors. 
Date: 04/26/14: 1-3 $28