It's in the mail!

Us Copic-holics are always looking for a better and more convenient way to carry our stash of markers, especially if you already have them all and can't leave home without them, like me. Well, I found my solution at www.oozak.com. And true to Rusty's customer service it is already in the mail!
Here is what is coming: (copied from the Oozak website)

Finally, Copic developed a perfect solution. This soft-sided carry case is sturdy, with reinforced sides, yet holds the markers compactly. The COPIC team filled one of these cases and started turning it upside down, shaking it, tossing it around, and it held all the markers in place nicely! In fact, the Copic carry case can hold up to 380 Sketch markers...that means your entire collection, plus room for a few of your favorite inks or other pens. The markers sit in six removable mesh cups that allow you to hold Sketch, Ciao, Copics, Inks or Wide markers with ease. So, if you like to take ALL your markers with you, then this is going to be your best, compact solution. The top zipper closure and shoulder strap make transporting your Copic collection a breeze. Marianne Walker says "I can't tell you how excited I was, yet, I didn't like the idea of having my markers unorganized in little cups, so I thought of another solution. If you already have your markers in the plastic marker cases, and you only have a couple hundred markers, not the full collection, you can just pull out the carry pouches and it will easily hold your existing plastic cases. I like this because my markers live on my desk in plastic cases but if I want to take some somewhere, then I don't have to un-organize them and put them in the cups if I don't want to. If you use 36 pc. plastic cases (like I did for this photo), you can hold 288 markers. Not bad! Otherwise, it holds 3 of the 72pc. cases, with spare room on the sides for other tools. "Weight: 3.5 pounds; Dimensions: 16.5" x 10" x 7.5" (from Oozak.com website) I store my markers in the plastic display case and the measurement of the display case is 16" x 10" x 6". I am hoping that the dimensions given are accurate and transporting my markers will be so much easier and less likely to spill and cause me time putting them back in order. I will let you know if my new purchase works! To be continued..... Update:  Well my plastic display case was the right measurement but I  didn't figure in that they rounded the corners on the case so it didn't work. I don't mind the cloth bags to sort the colors but they are not in order so I had to give that up for the ease of carrying all my markers.  Conclusion: I really like the bag.  It is confortable on my shoulder and lets me have both hands free.

Glitter Ritz with Peel-off stickers and Scor Tape

This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to take a class with some friends learning the technique using Glitter Ritz and Peel-off stickers. I enjoyed learning a new technique (haven't been a fan of glitter) but this was really fun and easy to get good results.
It is a little confusing at first because it involves a sticky transfer paper and then a special double stick tape. Our teacher was very patient and gave clear instructions so we all sailed right through the process.
The first card is colored totally with glitter:

Bowl of Cherries

The second card uses the same process but the image and background is colored using Copic Markers:

Here is a video from Hanko on the process of this technique and the supplies needed:

I really like this process because it doesn't require the tedious removal by hand of all the pieces of the sticker. What do you think? Leave me a comment as to your choice.
Enjoy!

Copic classes and the Copic Coloring Guide Level 2: Nature

Are you ready for more Copics? I am so excited....just received hot off the press my copy of the Copic Coloring Guide, Level 2: Nature. This is written by Marianne Walker and Colleen Schaan. If you would like to learn more about Copics I have a class at The Mercantile www.themercantilestore.com this Friday starting at 1:30. I am telling you this book is awesome.

 The class is called "Tips, Techniques and Applications". Sign up quick...seating is limited, I like to keep classes small.

Also included in the book is a cd of digital images for you to print out for your own use.  Hope you are able to come. Every skill level is invited.  

Water color Vegetable Cart from Art Impressions

I love water color and when I was introduced to water color via Art Impressions, I was hooked. Here was a technique that me, with no art training, could enjoy water coloring and get results with which I was happy.

Bonnie Krebs, owner of Art Impressions has several videos on youtube .  I love the videos and the way Bonnie presents this technique that she developed.  You can teach yourself simply by watching and pausing as you go.

I was lucky to be able to take some classes offered in my area but I also learned by purchasing the technique books, buying the necessary stamps and supplies, and working and completing each project for every available book.

So, if you would like to explore water color you don't need the excuse of no classes being offered in your area. With the videos and the great technique books offered by Art Imprsession you can create works of art that can be used in cards, scrapbooks, paper craft projects such as book making or simply framed and given as gifts.  I hope you will try this.  As always, any questions just leave me a comment or you can email me at www.maryfwitter@gmail.com  If you are within driving range of Greenville, SC and have a local stamp store or a facility that could be used for a classroom I am available to teach.  Thanks for looking.

Water color flower pot

 The instructions for the flower pot above is available in each Art Impressions project book:

The instructions are clear and easy to follow and are available at the Art Impressions website or your local stamp store.  Here is a sample that I did that uses a combinations of stamps and techniques including masking.

Second set of Tim Holtz 12 days of Christmas 2011 Tags

As promised here are the next set of 3 tags.  Tag #4, tag #5 and tag #6 from left to right in the picture. I really enjoyed making these tags, all different, all fun and I liked the results.  Learned alot too. Imagine, we use to think working with cardstock was fun...my, how our creative world has expanded thanks to Tim and others.  Much more colorful (Copics) and creative (grungeboard) and fun (Cricut, Eclips, Spellbinder). Things sure have changed.....and for the better, I think.





Instructions for these tags can be found on Tim's blog

www.timholtz.typepad.com

12 tags of Christmas 2011



Stickles holder

Guess you could say I am going thru an organizational kick!  So I saw this on Pinterest....what is Pinterest you say?  Well it is exploding on the internet...a place to "pin" all those ideas and inspirations no matter what your interest...hence Pin-interest or Pinterest.  I have been "pining" my work and ideas that I like there for awhile now.  Check it out at www.Pinterest.com
A picture is worth a thousand words so to save words here are the pictures on my latest project.

Any questions...leave a comment and I promise to respond.  

Tim Holtz Ink blending tool sponge storage

One of the advantages of our meeting at the Powdersville Community church with our "Truly Laughing Stampers" is the tips and tricks that we swap and the knowledge we gain from each other.  This tip was shared at our group and I am sorry but I don't know the originator of the idea....but thought you might be interested.

It's very simple.  Attach the sponge used with the Tim Holtz blending tool to the back of the ink pad with the "loop" side of the velcro. (I used red line tape)  The sponges already have the backing on them that will attach to the loops. This way you can have a sponge that works with each ink pad and you only need one blending tool.

Ink pad

Velcro loops attached to pad

Sponge attached

I hope you liked this storage tip.  If you are interested in how I store other items connected with this craft just let me know by leaving a comment. 

Tim Holtz 2008 February Tag

With the release of Tim's new direction of monthly tags for 2012 I wanted to see what his tag looked like when he first started doing tags on his blog.  That was in 2008 and I loved the monthly tag (not so much to purchase all at once and more time to do the tag).  Well, I did them all that year so thought you might like to see it.  You can access this tag and all the rest in his archives on his blog.  Just like the rest you can see the tag and download all the instructions.  It is good to look back.  I had forgotten how much I liked this tag.  Here is a picture of my tag and a link to Tim's blog for instructions.  http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/02/index.html

Tim's Tags 1-3

I am playing catch-up but I am determined to complete Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of Christmas 2011.  This is my 5th year of doing these tags and now that he has retired this series of Tags I am recommitting myself to finishing all 12.  I now have 3 done and as always they are so much fun to do.  Yes, he uses ALOT of product in each tag, but there is also multiple techniques and  each one teaches so much.  If you haven't checked him out you need to visit his blog www.timholtz.typepad.com and read about his new tag of the month,  and it can pay off!  I found out this week that I won something after leaving a comment on his blog.  Don't know what but when it arrives I will be sure to post it.  So here is a picture of the first three tags.  Three down and 9 to go.

Tag 1, 2 and 3 from 12 Tags of Christmas 2011

Organization

Dear Blogger friends, today I intended to work on Tim Holtz 12 Tags of Christmas 2011.  Instead I got side tracked when I went to pull out the distress stain that I needed for Tag #2.  I decided to share my project with you and maybe it would help you, too.
Recently I had completed the line of Tim Holtz' Distress Stains,  of which there are 37 different colors. I store all of them in a plastic container.  I want to be able to pick them all up at once and my shelf space is limited so I am not able to store them so I can see the labels.
When I realized that I had to search thru each one to find the one I needed I decided I had to have a solution.

1. First I put all the stains in alphabetical order.
2. Using a sheet of address labels I briefly identified each stain color on the sheet of labels...2 colors per label.
3. Place a nickle size dot of each stain next to it's identification.
4. Use a 1/4" round punch to punch out each stain and place on top of corresponding bottle of stain.

Here are some pictures of my progress:

Creating a color sheet

True stain colors on lids

I think this will help me to identify the stain I need in the future.  Let me know if this has helped you.  I have other organizing tricks I could share if you would be interested.  Leave me a comment if you would like more of posts like this.