Friday, March 6, 2009

Sammy Squirrel and the Copic Adventure

As many of my "faithful" blog readers know, I just entered Copic-land, the world of beautiful alcohol based markers...and I read blogs and tips and studied other people's work, scribbling down notes like I was in college for crying out loud! What no one MENTIONED was the bleed through factor these markers have...and I'm not talking about bleeding through the back of the paper, I mean COLORING OUTSIDE THE LINES! OH THE HORROR! Kindergarten teachers shuddering in their shoes everywhere...LOL...
This is my 3rd Sammy Squirrel (I Luvah him..isn't he sooooo cute?!), where I didn't color outside most of the lines...LOL...I still have a bobble here and there, but I'm NOT telling where! I did discover that the blending pen is not an eraser (bummer), but a really cool tool for lifting SOME color out and spreading and well...duh...blending ('magine that?!). Once I FINALLY got the hang of these markers I just REALLY love them...and thank goodness Sammy was patient and wanted to look his best...he was a labor of love... However I THINK I'VE got the HANG of it NOW...watch out world! LOL
A few months back I was browsing Split Coast Stampers forum (don't remember which) and came across a post that was asking stampers what they thought about digital stamps, I put in my own .02 (I Love them...I mean how often do you get to RESIZE your stamp...like never! LOL) and made a mental note to keep an eye out for the owner because I like the style of the digital stamps she presented...fast forward a couple of months later and I joined the Creatively Cute Blogging Group and who do I recognize as one of the blogging members but the same owner...talk about coincidence...and now she's got a call out for a new design team...so below is my entry for DIGITAL STAMP OASIS (now check them out, if you like Sammy here, you'll love the REST of her images...they are soooo adorable!)
So let's chat(ter) about the my design team entry (I know, like I'd never stop chattering myself...LOL). Ellie (owner of Digital Stamp Oasis) has given us a sketch to work off of, so I went from there. First, I printed Sammy off on my printer and did something I usually don't do...I colored before I chose my papers, although I DID have something in mind, but when I was finished it wasn't working, so I went with simple colors (no dp). I then decided after he was colored and mounted that I needed another strawberry, now here's where digital stamps REALLY rock, I enlarged the image and printed it out...noticed my strawberry in the corner is the SAME strawberry next to Sammy's right knee... I then colored it, ran it through my Xyron, mounted it on cardstock for stability and cut it out...I then pop dotted it TWICE so it was further off the card than the paper curls. My paper curls are 1/8" strips of paper (8 1/2") and then I curled them using a colored pencil as the base, I wanted this to look kind of like an actual strawberry plant, that's what I was after any way. I added Martha Stewart leaf punchies and stickled the leaves and the strawberry. At the bottom of the card I added queen and co flowers with red rhinestones on top. Sorry I was so long winded today...recipe below as usual...


Stamp: Sammy Squirrel from Digital Stamp Oasis
Copics: C3, YG06, YG03, YG11, R29, R20, RV10, B00
Punch: Martha Stewart Leaves
Embossing: Cuttlebug Swirls
Other: Queen & Co. flowers, Red Rhinestones, Stickles

15 comments:

Michelle Quinno said...

You are too funny!

OMG, Sammy is way too cute! Love what you did with the strawberries and your coloring is AMAZING! Now that you got the hang of Copics, can you show me?! I've read all the blogs and instructions, I took a quick class, but I have a hard time with them. I don't have more than a handful so it's hard to practice without a bunch. I prefer the prismas/gamsol just because I can semi get those!

I think this is the longest comment evah!!

Unknown said...

Gorgeous card Paula, and sammy is so wonderfully coloured. Love how you've done the strawberry plant. Good luck with the DT.

Have a great weekend.

Joanne x

Ellibelle said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ellibelle said...

Oh wow, paula your card is absolutely amazing! What a great idea to use the enlarged image for the strawberry. DH loves it!! Your coloring is amazing too. Such a cute cute card!! Yes, back when I posted that poll, I wasn't sure yet whether I wanted to go digital or rubber or even clear. I actually wasn't even sure yet if it is ever going to happen LOL. Glad we ended up in the same blogger group. What can I say, we are creatively cute!! (sorry about deleting the first comment, I had a typo and didn't like it!)

Sprytebyrd said...

Gorgeous! I love all the texture, detail and dimension! Now, if only I could figure out my copics, I'd be in heaven! Great card adn good luck on the DT! Sammy - you look marvelous!!

Anonymous said...

Congrat's on your new copics.You did such an awesome job coloring. I'd never know you were new at it. Great card and good luck with the DT.

Maia said...

This card is absolutely gorgeous and precious! You are really good with the copics and markers ... you are making me want to try the technique.
(oh no!)

One good thing I can think about digital stamps is that you don't have to have a big cubby to hold your stamps anymore. That's big advantage in my book.

Jacquel said...

Wow! What a gorgeous card Paula and your coloring....FABULOUS!!! I love that cute image and your layout....excellent work gf and tfs!!!

Liza said...

You've done a great job with the colouring Paula, I take my hat off to you...colouring with pens is too difficult for me!!! lol!!! The image is so cute, the strawberry is brilliant and the embossing is one of my favourite folders.

Liza x

MaryJo said...

This card is spectacular! Sammy looks great!!

Nikki Schmaltz said...

This is really soooo cute! I think you did a great job with your coloring. I have never tried copics, but I know that people have said they take a bit of getting used to. Also, I know Gina K designs has a special white paper that almost stops the bleed through factor. Good luck on your entry!

Carly said...

Hi Paula, Welcome to "Copic-Land"!! Great coloring job!

Laura VanVleet said...

Great enty! Doncha just love Ellie's digitals??? Good Luck!

Carolyn Bounds said...

ADORABLE!!!! Sammy is absolutely precious, and your coloring totally rocks!!! I also love the curly-q paper treatment for the simulated strawberry vine...you are just too dang creative!!! Another perfect Paula creation!!!!

Hugs!
Carolyn

Christy/Tiddly Inks Digitals said...

I love the strawberry in the corner. :) Very cute all over though. :)