Copic App

I wanted to share with everyone a new App for your iPhone or Android device that will help you keep track of your Copic collection.  Never again will you accidentally buy a duplicate marker nor will you need to carry a coloring chart in your purse...your entire collection can be accessed and maintained with a simple tap of your finger!!  :)

Click HERE to download the App and for step by step installation instructions.

Thanks for stopping by today!!

TGF Release Party!

Click HERE for the YNS Blog Hop

Click HERE for the Ribbon Carousel Birthday Blog Hop

WELCOME to The Greeting Farm's MAY RELEASE party!

Today is the day that our FOUR NEW STAMPS are available for sale in the TGF STORE!   We are thrilled to introduce Cheeky Geeky, Prince Ian, Princess Anya 4 and CC Riley into our TGF 'cast of characters' and are excited to hear your thoughts about them as we know they'll be going home with a lot of you today! 

This has got to be one of my most favorite cards EVA!!!  Last week, I had design team deadlines looming over me and was running on no mojo.  I was becoming desperate when I decided to stamp the image on a piece of paper and call it good!!  LOL  No....Seriously!!  I created this simple card and that's when I remembered some canvas I had and thought I should at least stamp the image on that. (Thinking... it wouldn't be as lame as the paper idea, LOL!!)  I liked the look and got curious about what it would look like using Copics....and the rest is history!!  :)  

Being the first time I tried coloring on canvas, I thought I'd share with you a little of what I learned.

I was surprised that it was almost like coloring on paper.  The ink does blend into each other better,  I didn't need to use darker colors in order to achieve the rich shading.  I was careful to not oversaturate the canvas with my Copics to avoid bleeding out of the lines.  I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black and that transferred to the canvas fainter than I liked; so AFTER I had colored the image I then used my black .003 Copic Multi-liner to darkened the lines.

Hoodie: YR23, Y17, Y15

Hair/Eyes/ Shoes: E44, E43, E42, E41

Skin: E11, E00, E50

Pants: BG18, BG15, BG11

Okay, I still have one more project to show you...

Another simple layout but sometimes, less is MORE!!   :)   I used Schoolhouse papers from October Afternoon and Echo Park's Dots & Stripes (Soda Fountain).   The notebook edge border is from EK Success.  The sentiment was computer generated using Rough Typewriter font and printed on a fishtail banner die.

Hair: C9, C7, C5, C3, C1

Skin: E13, E11, E00, E50 (Cheeks R02)

Headband/Glasses/Tie: BG18, BG15, BG13, BG11

Skirt: W7, W5, W3, W1

There's still ONE more chance to WIN the ENTIRE MAY RELEASE today, so be sure to participate in our BLOG HOP with the PREMIERE FARMERS and stay tuned TOMORROW to find out who won the prize and also who our MAY GUEST DESIGNER will be!   For now...here is your blog hop order:

JESSICA

RACHEL

WENDY

CORINNA

MARIA THERESE

SIMONNE

TGF BLOG

Thanks so much for stopping by and enjoy the hop!!

My First Coloring Tutorial

This weeks Sweet Stop Sketch is all about PINK in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

I had my heart set on using this adorable digital image from The Paper Shelter called I May Have Exaggerated A Bit.  The second I saw all that fun hair of her's I couldn't wait to color it....so she has PINK hair.  This is the first time I have ever colored hair something other than a natural color...and I LOVED it!!   

I've also created a Coloring Tutorial on YouTube showing you how I colored her hair.  Keep in mind...This is my first video so go easy on me.  Nathan was playing trains right under my table (LOUDLY) and he kept trying to be part of the "show" by sticking his toys, etc. under the camera...Grrr.  At one point Nathan and Brooke BOTH climbed into the same chair I was in so they could get a better look, which is totally "normal" but a little difficult when you're trying to shoot a video of you coloring.  I was able to edit most of the distracting madness out....Anyway...I hope you enjoy it!!  :)

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Copic Doodles

CLICK HERE to take a peek at the Your Next Stamp Surprise release...you don't want to miss it!!  

It's a new Copic Creations challenge and we'd love to see your 

~ DOODLES ~

There are lots of fun things you can create and doodle using your Copic markers, multi-liners, etc.  Sounds like a tough challenge but really it isn't.  You will find lost of tutorial links for techniques and ideas to use for this challenge on the Copic Creations blog.  

Our sponsor this week is Penny Black, and I received this adorable image called Good Game to play with.  I decided to try something new and used my markers and Colorless blender to create a pebbled groundscape and tufts of grass.  I lightly brushed E50 as a base ground cover and then used various Earth & Warm Greys markers as pebbles.  Not sure it makes the safest area for playing Badminton, one of these guys is sure to stub their toe, LOL but it was a lot of create.

I've created a fun easel type card (not sure what's called) but here you can see the card closed.  It's a simple 5x5 square card, but the card front is scored at the grass and fence line so that when opened it folds just like an easel card but the image pops up.  

I want to say a BIG thank you to everyone for their sweet comments and congratulations on my Copic Creations DT spot.  I have the best friends, thank you all so much!!

  And now the winner of my blog candy from last week is...

Kim O'Connell

Congrats girlie, be sure to email me your mailing address !!

I hope you will scroll down to take a peek at the Your Next Stamp Surprise release...you don't want to miss it!!  

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Thoughts of You

Hi Everyone!!  Happy Sunday!

If I'm posting on a Sunday then that means that I'm designing for Paper Sundae's this week!!

  This week's challenge is to color your image using your favorite hair color combo.  It doesn't have to be Copic's, any medium will do...Promarkers, Prismacolor pencils, Distressing inks you name it.

I've of course used my Copic's.  I'm sure most of you have noticed that when I'm coloring hair (boys or girls) I tend to do brunette.  And my favorite hair color combo was put together purely by accident... I was trying to find my perfect blonde.  LOL   I still haven't found my perfect blonde so if you have a combo that you love...please leave me a comment and share yours with me!!

My colors are:  E50, E31, E35, E25

 I've had a few requests lately to share some tips on my coloring so I thought this would be a great time to talk about how I color hair.  Of course there are as many techniques as their are colorists, so by no means is my way the best, etc.  

  When I list the Copics that I've used, I always list them in the order that I use them.  And I always color dark to light.  The only exception to that is when I'm coloring hair.  (So you will see that I've listed my colors starting with the lightest color)  When coloring hair I do this because it's more difficult for me to "see" where I want my light/shine to be so this keeps me from messing up.  LOL  I completely color in the hair with E50 (the lightest color).  After choosing my light source I color the hair in sections.   First I find the known darker places first.  Such as the crown of the head, around headbands or bows, closest to the face or body, and flowing hair that has bends to it such as curls.  With the remaining colors I use soft and short flicking strokes with the tip of my marker...always going with the direction of the hair.  And if you ever find that you've not left enough light when you're coloring don't worry...just add MORE dark.  It will make the light/shine look lighter. And remember with hair it's perfectly okay to have lines in your coloring you really don't want to blend too much. The lines will appear as strands of hair and give your image a more realistic look.  But if you do like the hair colors to be blended...just remember to leave distinct lighter areas, that will give the hair more depth and bring it to life.

I've used a digital image from from Wee Stamps, Sweet Blossom.  She's just precious!!  I had to have her because I love the way that hair is blowing in the wind and her little crossed ankles.  Too CUTE!!   I've also colored her using Cryogen White cardstock. (It has a hint of shimmer in the paper) The DP is from My Mind's Eye, Quite Contrary collection, Little Miss Muffet.  I've used Spellbinder's Labels 10 and Classic Oval for the image panel which is popped up using foam tape.  Her blouse was sparkled using Shimmerz and Stickles together to create a very sheer appearance.  Tiny rhinestones were added to her headband and blouse for just a little more bling!!  :)

Challenges:

Ai Factory = #78 Anything Goes

CCEE Stampers = #117 Add a butterfly

Charisma Cards = #17 April Showers/May Flowers

Southern Girls = Green & Blue

Amber's Crafts & Stuff = #7 Use a digital stamp

I hope you will take a moment to view the Sundae Girls fantastic design team samples and link your project using your favorite hair color combo.

Thanks so much for stopping by!!