Say It In Copic

I got into Copics because I wanted to know what the buzz was all about. I bought a few at Blick Art Supplies and started playing. The first Copic Markers I got were the multi-liners — they come in various diameters and colors. I started with black in 0.7, 0.35 and 0.5mm. The coolest part is they are refillable and the tips are replaceable. They have a nice weight, made from metal, and just feel wonderful in your hand. I LOVE them for journaling. After that, I bought a few colors of Copics here and there.

I did a little stamping and coloring but didn't get what I was doing. I was also nagged by the question, “What does this have to do with scrapbooking?” in my head and from others. Yeah, it seems Copics are more a “stamper” thing than a “scrapper” thing, right?

After I took the Copic Designer Certification class I came home with a wealth of knowledge about them. I got to stamping and coloring right away — it is really fun to create texture on a plain piece of paper. But that is still stamping, not really scrapbooking…

After the class I also realized that Copics can do so much more. They are alcohol ink based. Now, when I think alcohol ink I think fuddy duddy psychedelic swirls of ink on glossy paper and I gag. Not my thing at all and I am not the least bit interested in making stuff like that. While you can do that kind of art with Copics if you want, with all 322+ colors of Copics, you can also take advantage of them being in a marker form!

From a scrapper's perspective, this means you can color stuff different colors. And I mean color STUFF, not just color images.

I know you've run into this problem because I have it all the time–you have the perfect embellishment but it is in the wrong color. Marianne Walker, a Copic Certified Instructor and Designer, shared with us during the course that she never buys anything colored anymore–she gets everything in clear or white because she can color it with her Copics.

Well, I still buy stuff in color because I just do! LOL I was recently working on a circle journal page (the DT at Pink Pineapple are all in on this one) and wanted to use some Prima Say It In Pearls for the page featuring photos of my family on the Tea Cups ride at Disneyland–I thought the swirls would be great to compliment the crazy fun spinning feel of the photos.

I pulled some Prima Say It In Pearls in pale pink from my stash. Then I chose Copic markers that complimented the colors in my layout. When using colored pearls or rhinestones it is best to choose colors that include the color of the rhinestones (pink in this case) and that are darker than the item already is. These are the Copic colors I chose:

I colored one pearl with R32 (pink) and then started on a darker pink, RV14, on the next pearl:

Here is the final result, after coloring that row of pearls:

The beauty of alcohol ink is that it dries instantly and Copic alcohol inks aren't sticky afterward like some other inks on the market. The brush tip on the Sketch markers I am using on this page really allows me to control where the ink goes–I am coloring with just the tip of the marker so I don't accidently touch neighboring pearls with the wrong color. If I did, I would just have to color over them with the color they are supposed to be, another wonderful thing about Copic Markers.

After I colored my Pearls, I cut them up to make smaller swirls to fit on the 6×6 page. I find it easist to cut the pearls and the plastic backing at the same time. This way I can arrange the swirls on the page with the backing safely attached until I figure out what looks best. You can also peel up the swirls and cut them apart that way. Here's where I made all my cuts:

After you've figured out where you want the swirls, apply them to the page.

I added some stitched swirls using variegated craft thread and Bazzill's In Stitches Stitching Templates. Here's the final product:

I created a little pocket on the back of the page for a tag to go into that explains why this is my favorite quote (that was the theme of this journal):

Off to The Scrappin' Table to turn in a few class samples. I am starting up Book Club again in September!!! We're using Claudine Helmuth's idea book – will be really really fun!

Also, Bind It All BOOT CAMP will be at The Table so if you've taken the Basics or are already binding and want to go to the next level, come to the class. We'll create 5 challenging, yet easily duplicated (think Christmas gifts) projects in the class for just $45! I'll have an embellie and paper bar set up for you to choose your own items to customize each projects–so nothing will look exactly like my samples. I'll post more about that later. Hope to see you there!

Author: Jennifer Priest

It started with jewelry, beading, sewing, home decor, painting, basket weaving, pottery, and cross-stitch. Marry that to an entrepreneurial spirit & at 9 years old a girl is selling her wares at craft fairs as far as her parents and grandparents would drive her. These days, Jennifer enjoys crafts of all genres from sewing to scrapbooking to jewelry with a little dabbling in the mixed media world. Her style is approachable and she wants everyone who sees her work to feel that they too can embrace creativity and make their home and life beautiful.