New Products, CHA Summer 2010, Part 2

More new Products for CHA
The next new product I want to share is also from Australia, new Mask-It masking film, from X-Press It Graph X. This stuff is perfect for those of you who frequently airbrush and want a high-quality mask that will last over and over again.

Mask-It is a clear, medium-tack adhesive backed film that is easy to cut, and easy to apply. It works great on cardstock and is perfect for protecting areas of your work that you want masked during airbrushing. One really nice point is that you can clean the surface between sprays, unlike using paper masks that get sticky from ink buildup. Best of all, since it's totally clear, you can assure accurate positioning every time.

Using Masking Film
If you have never used a mask before while airbrushing, then this tutorial should be really useful. There are many types and kinds of masking films, friskets, and adhesives available, but for today's tutorial we are using Mask-It, medium tack film.

1. Start with a copy of your image stamped or photocopied onto scrap cardstock. Apply a small piece of clear film over the stamped image. Make sure there are no air bubbles under the film, as this will distort the final shape when you re-use the film. Note: test your Mask It to make sure it will not pull up the fibers of your paper. If it seems to be stronger than the paper, then gently touch the adhesive to your clothing before applying to the paper. This will make it less tacky.

2. With sharp scissors, carefully cut around the scrap image. Save any pieces you will be using for masking. If you are airbrushing around a shape, save the inside, if you are airbrushing inside a shape and protecting the surroundings, then save the outside. You do not need to save the paper parts, just the clear Mask-It.

3. Apply the clear film to the area you want protected when you airbrush. This is tricky, since images with thin lines can shift easily, and you don't want to block any areas that should be airbrushed (it looks strange when you have an unintentional white halo around your art). Make sure that the film is smoothed down at the edges and won't move once you start blowing air.

4. Airbrush from the middle out. The medium tack film is great because even on fine detail areas it doesn't blow up around the edges, even if you've used the same mask a few times.

5. Carefully remove the frisket, and you're done! Save the used piece for your next project with that image. If you get a marker buildup, simply wipe the surface with hand-samitizer.

Come check it out in our booth this week- I think you'll fall in love with it just as much as we have. OK, I hope to post a few more new items before CHA starts, but I'm off to catch my fight now. Have a great weekend!

New Products CHA Summer 2010, part 1

Finally! Here's the first sneak peek at the new releases for CHA Summer 2010. If you stop by our booth during the wholesale show, or the Splitcoaststampers booth during the Supershow you'll get a chance to use and see these fabulous new products.

X Press It Blending Card
This has us very excited! I mentioned a couple months ago that we recommend this paper to anyone living in Australia, and now it's coming to the United States!!

Why did Lori and I fall in love with this paper? Because it blends beautifully, it bleeds less than our old favorite, Neenah Classic Crest, and it has a nice, bright white color. If you have ever tried Bazzil Simply Smooth paper, the Blending Card is like a hybrid between Neenah and Bazzil.

This paper is now available for stores to purchase. It comes in a large pack with 125 sheets of letter sized paper. It is about 92 lb. paper- just a little heavier than the Neenah, but it is a much tighter grained paper, so it doesn't feel too thick.

If you look at this close up on the pink popsicle, you can see that the Neenah is a much softer paper, and it easily feathers if you don't let it dry a little between layering colors. This gets to be a big problem when you're working with intense reds and other dark colors.

The Blending Card, however, gives nice blends without bleeding and I don't have to wait or be careful! I love it! Because it is not as soft as the Neenah, it takes less ink to color on so your marker lasts longer before needing to be refilled.

Please stop by the booth to try it out, or, if you can't make it to the show, ask your favorite Copic supplier to bring some in for you. Trust me, you'll love it!

Coloring Grays more interesting
Something you may not notice on this final picture of the ant trying to run off with the popsicle is the subtle tones in the gray body.

I did not want the ant to feel too flat, so I started with a C5, a nice cool middle-dark gray. Then for accent I blended in some V17 as shadows. The purple is just barely visible within the grays (see the middle of each body section.

Then, I added faint reflections on the bottom of the ant by layering on some BG09. Why? Because the gray is blue-toned I can layer a purple (which has blue in it) and add contrasting accents with a Blue Green (which also has blue in it). Because Blue-Green is far away on a color wheel from Violet they have more contrast. However, the ant has a base gray, which brings both colors closer to each other in tone. So now, my gray has subtle tone and interest, even though it could have easily remained a plain gray.

This is a great way to add a hint of tone to a neutral image to make it coordinate with other elements in your composition. The subtle purple makes the ant match the pink popsicle a little more. OK, I need to get back to work. Stay tuned tomorrow for more sneaks from CHA!

Image: Life's a Picnic by Our Craft Lounge, X-Press It Blending Card. Colors used: RV02, RV06, C5, V17, BG09, C3, 0

Quick Inspiration

You can learn to be more creative
I was recently sent this link to a Newsweek article from a couple weeks ago, and I think it is very telling... If you don't think you're very creative, then think about how society made you think that way and how can you counter it- trust me, your WHOLE life will improve if you think you're creative and act upon that creativity...

Newsweek Article- The Creativity Crisis

Certification updates

Whoops! I forgot a Certification from the list I posted on Friday...

Green Bay, WI August 21, Taught by Debbie Olson Open to Stores & Designers

and Applications are now available for:
Lincoln, NE August 7th, 2010 Taught By Lori Craig Open to public
Minneapolis MN Sept 16 (before Scrapfest) Taught by Debbie Olson and Lori Craig Open to Stores & Designers

Later this week I'll post our new products, so stay tuned!!

CHA & Certifications

July is by far the busiest month here at Copic, so I apologize for taking a bit of a break from blogging until things calmed down. Here is a fun picture I drew at Anime Expo a couple weeks ago. I think this aptly describes what I would rather be doing right now :)

CHA Demos
First of all, we would love to see you at CHA! We will have a booth at the wholesale show, July 27-29th, and you'll get a chance to see all our NEW products. Yes, you heard me, NEW products. Next week I'll be showing some sneak peeks of those new products, so stay tuned. Meanwhile, you can stop by booth #1530 and check us out. Also come and say hi to the Regional Certification Instructors, and find out what excitement is in the works for this Fall!

If you are going to the CHA Supershow on the 30-31st, you can do an ongoing Make 'N Take at the Splitcoaststampers booth. You'll also get a chance to try some one of our new products and get some to take home for yourself at the Copic/X-Press It Make 'n Take from Noon to 2pm on the 29th. I'll be there, as will Lori Craig, Sharon Harnist, and many others! Come say hi and make a cute project.

Upcoming Certifications
There are lots of certification classes coming up in the near future. However, we have had some complaints from people who thought they were taking a COPIC certification, and it has been a certification for other companies, using Copic Markers. Be sure that if you are taking a Certification class it is sponsored by by either Copic/Imagination International, Inc. in the US, X-Press Graph-X Supplies in Australia/New Zealand, or Holtz GmbH for Europe. These classes are all carefully coordinated so that the information shared at each class is the same, no matter which country you live in. Speaking of which, we are pleased to announce:

European Certification
Friday, 10th September 2010 Hagen, Germany on (one day before the Stempelmekka Fair). This class will be held in German. Taught by Diny Sprakel (she's a fabulous instructor, and you'll be sure to have a great experience!). For more information on European classes please contact Britta, at b.rumpf-burblies@holtz-gmbh.de

Australian Certification
August 30, Melbourne, VIC Taught by Mandi Lee Klinger - OPEN
October 25, Brisbane, QLD Taught by Kathy Jones
for more information please contact copicmarker.com.au

North American Certifications this Fall
Please note that when you download an application to attend a certification class there is also an information file to download as well. This has the specific location, times, and other important details.

Chicago, CHA July 26, Taught by Debbie Olson and Lori Craig Open to Stores & Designers
Lincoln, NE August 7th, 2010 Taught By Lori Craig Open to Stores & Designers
Atlanta, GA Aug. 23 Taught by Colleen Schaan Open to Stores & Designers
Albuquerque, NM Aug. 29th Taught by Jennie Black Open to Stores & Designers
Branson, MO Sept. 3, Taught by Lori Craig Open to Stores & Designers
Pittsburgh, PA Sept. 6th, taught by Colleen Schaan Open to Stores & Designers
Oakland, CA Sept 11th, taught by Jennie Black Open to Stores & Designers
New Orleans, LA Sept. 15th taught by Jenn Balcer Open to Stores & Designers

If you need an application for any of these locations you can download one here. Send in completed applications right away, even if you are not qualified, as the waiting lists fill on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Applications have not gone out yet for the following locations:
Minneapolis MN Sept 16 (before Scrapfest) Taught by Debbie Olson and Lori Craig
Salt Lake City, UT Sept 25th Taught by Jennie Black
Calgary, Canada, Sept 26th Taught by Sherrie Siemens
Buena Park CA, Oct. 2nd, Taught by Jennie Black
Jacksonville FL, Oct 8th taught by Colleen Schaan

Other Events
For Locals, I will be doing Manga demos downtown as part of the City of Eugene Art events, on Aug. 11th. I will also be doing Manga demos at the Lane County Fair on August. 20th.

Copic At Anime Expo

Anime Expo 2010
Copic will once again have a booth at Anime Expo, Los Angeles Convention Center, July 1-4. This year we will be working with Blick Art Materials.

I will be teaching 3 different workshops. If you wish to attend you need to get there early, as these classes fill quickly.

Beginner Marker Workshop
My popular beginner class. We cover papers, inking, basic coloring, airbrushing,etc.
July 1, 5:30 pm-7:30pm

Manga Inking & Papers
It's been a couple years since I have offered this class at Anime Expo. I will not talk about markers much, but I will discuss paper types, inking, tracing, penciling, and a little about converting to digital.
July 2, 9am-11am

Beginner Marker Workshop
Same class as always. I hope to see you there!
July 3, 9am-11am

If there are any topics you would like me to specifically address during these workshops, please let me know. See you soon!

Spanish Stamping Literature

Great News!

For those of you loyal followers who primarily speak Spanish, or have been teaching classes to papercrafters who primarily speak Spanish, you are in luck! We just translated our Stamping with Copic into Spanish! The brochure is available on our website, www.copicmarker.com/library available for download.

Enjoy!

Nuevas noticias de Copic!

Para ustedes que primeramente hablan español, o enseñan clases de stamping o scrapbooking a individuos que hablan español, tenemos un anuncio! Copic ha traducido el brochure de Stamping with Copic a español! El brochure está disponible en nuestro sitio web, www.copicmarker.com/library disponible para su descarga.

Que les disfrute!