This is a simple way to create a patterned sheet that can be used as a background panel or for die-cutting sentiments or flowers or butterflies or whatever takes your fancy…
All you need is some kitchen roll, a water spritzer and one or more pigment powders (Brusho, Ken Oliver Colour Burst, PaperArtsy Infusions etc), along with some card and liquid glue to mount it.
I like heat embossing and I like Copic colouring, but they don’t get on too well together. With the possible exception of clear embossing powder, the usual advice is that colouring over embossing powder will damage your nibs. But I wanted to be able to use the two together, so it was time for an experiment.
It’s nice to go back to basics sometimes and that’s just where we’ve started in the Copic Jumpstart class run by Sandy Allnock: colour wheels. Not just the usual “here’s a colour wheel, this is how you use it”, but “here’s a colour wheel, now go make your own”.
Crafting is not all creating and shopping, there is also a certain amount of organising and maintenance to be done.
I signed up for Sandy Allnock’s Copic Jumpstart class next month, so I figured it was time to freshen up my colour charts and, at the same time, check over my markers and do a bit of basic maintenance. I also wanted to check whether there are any Copic refills I should pick up to start my Various inks collection.
My supplies:
My process, working one colour group at a time:
The alcohol wipes are great for cleaning around the nib, but they do dry out pretty quickly so I tend to use those only for the grubbiest markers where a bit of extra elbow grease is required. For the others and for the inside of the caps, I use a cotton bud moistened with Copic cleaning solution. If the cotton bud gets a bit too wet I use a bit of kitchen roll to dry the marker before putting the cap back on. Part way through the process I remembered I had some cotton wool pads as well; those came in handy when I was working my way through the eternity of greys…
This is a time-consuming job, but a necessary one, and my markers are now all lovely and shiny.
Testing out a new technique for creating backgrounds with Distress ink, Perfect Pearls and an embossing folder.
(Note to self: remember to actually post things and not just leave them in my drafts folder.)
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