My Method for Copic Skin & Hair. Part 1: Light Skin & Brown Hair

When I color with my Copics at a crop or somewhere I often get asked how I do skin and hair.  (Ok I get asked more about hair, lol) So I wanted to make a post that kind of explains my method.   For this post I am going to do a pale skin tone with a medium (golden?) brown hair.  I am using a La La Land digi stamp - Angel Marci for my demo pictures. So, here we go!

These are the colors I am using for the skin- E000, E00, E02 & E11. To Start, I cover the whole face with E000. This first layer may be streaky or uneven- it will get covered. I try to leave a blank area around the eyes.

The next step is to add a line of the E00 around the hairline, ears and cheeks. basically any where there would be a shadow or where the edge of the face recedes.  Anything that is further away should be a bit darker than what is closer to the viewer. I then go over the lines of E00 with E000 with a "flicking" motion toward the center. (Trying had to avoid the eye area I left blank.)

 

I then basically do the same process with the E02 of shading around the edge of the face the blending toward the center. First with the E00, Then the E000.  The skin will start to get a gradient or I guess ombre effect that gives a more rounded appearance.

And this is the last of the flesh color pens added in the same way, E11. Which is then blended out with the E02, Then and E00 and finally a last blend out with the E000.  This last blend is where I try to get the skin even and well blended.

 

This is where I would add blush or lip color. I used R20 here. (ou will see it better on hair pictures.) and blend it with E000 to soften.

 This is also a good point to do any clean up with the blender pen. If there are any stray marks in the eye area or hair they an be gently lightened with the blender.

Now on to the hair!

I choose A blending set in the E20 range. The lightest and darkest tones will be used sparingly so focus on middle shades when picking a color. I wanted to do a mid range brown with a golden sheen to it.

I start with the second darkest coloe In this case I am starting with the E27.  I color the roots or part of the hair this color. I also color the tips of the hair and out side edges or shadows.  Remember that we want to make the head appear rounded by having darker shades further away.

I then feather out the darker color with the next two colors (E25 then E23.)  I blend in from the darker colors toward the middle where the highlight or lightest color will go.  When I first stated (and sometimes still if I am being very exact) I will make a light curved mark with the lightest color to show where the highlight should be.

I now add the lightest color over pretty much all the hair to blend and soften any hard lines and add the highlight color.  And now I move to the second "layer." of color.

Starting at the part, tips and edge of head, again, I color in a small amount of the darkest color- E29.  You want to use a really light hand and just to a bit to deepen the shading that we already put down with our first layer of color.

I then blend toward highlight from darkest to lightest like I did before.  Adding E27 and E25.

And then E23. As you can see the highlight area is much smaller on this layer.  But we only want a sliver of that bright sheen for it to look more natural or real.  One of the best suggestions I read or heard when I was learning about Copics was to look at magazine photos. Ads (especially for make up or shampoo) will have girls with super shiny hair which is the look I am trying to duplicate. And I can look at how their hair is naturally shaded for guidance.

I add one more blending layer with the lightest shade (E21) and stop.  I left some harder lines between some shades, you can take more time and blend it out softer.  But basically this is my method for hair.

I suggest you look at and try all the different techniques or methods out there. (There are so many tutorials!) And find a method for coloring and shading with Copics that feels right to you.  Because there is no right way to color there is just fun. So go have some!!

Below are samples of some cards I made with Copic colored stamped/digi images.  All images are the property of the artist/manufacturer please respect that!!

This is another La-La Land digi stamp by the wonderful Irina Blount.  It is called "Best Friends Luka."  I colored the hair a similar brown, but went a tad darker on the skin tone.

This card features a stamp by The Greeting Farm called "Cheeky Nurse."  I used the same technique with a strawberry blonde coloring

These adorable dolls are made with the Julie Nutting/Prima stencils. While most of the image is done with paper piecing, the hair on all four were colored in Copics. 

 

And lastly, another La-La Land digi card.  On this one I combined "Umbrella Marci" with some of the accessory stamps Irina designed. The hair color is more of a red brown, but I used the same technique of dark to light shading and layering.

Coming soon - Part Two: Darker skin tones, and Curly hair techniques.

Upcoming Class - Mini Album of Tricks & Treats Using Graphic 45's Sweet & Spooky Steampunk Spells!

 

Next month (October 8th from 6-9pm to be exact), I will be teaching a class (at Perfect Day Scrapbooking in Huntington Beach) of this super special mini album.  It uses Graphic 45's Steampunk Spells line and will be perfect for Halloween. And the beautiful paper is not the only treat that makes it special, no no no. This album includes some of the tricks & techniques I learned at Laura Denison's Graphic 45 class at CHA, Las Vegas, including her "stack the deck" binding. And at $28.00 the cost of the class may be the biggest treat of all!

Scroll down for more sneak peaks of the album and info on where, when and how.  Or if you are in the Soutern California area swing by Perfect Day (9552 Hamilton Avenue, Huntington Beach, California 92646 / 714-369-2862) and see the sample in person. 

 The stacked binding creates such a clean well hidden hinge for the pages.  And the hardback cover is also made "from scratch."

And the pages are so interactive! Tags that slide out of both the middle and the ends of the pages! And each page can be combined how *you* want it so it is totally personalized.

And don't let the folded and layered look fool you. The technique for making these pocket pages is really quite simple - Once you know how!

The images used for Steampunk Spells are really creative and manage to be both a little creepy and a little cute, sightly whimsical and a bit witty, bright and fun all the while still having that great vintage feel Graphic 45 is known for. I really love this line.

And even from the back this mini is fun and pretty with classic steampunk gears and roses. It would look great on display.

So, now you have had a peek inside this mini album full of tags, pockets and some new tricks and treats to learn. If you want to make one of your own, please contact Perfect Day Scrapbooking in Huntington Beach (9552 Hamilton Avenue, Huntington Beach, California 92646 / 714-369-2862) to reserve a spot!

Supplies needed - scissors, wet & drt adhesive of choice, scoreboard & tool, trimmer, ruler pop dots.

Optional - ink/chalk for edges

A Horse of a Different Color: New Oz album with G45 "Magic of Oz" & Leaky Shed Chipboard!!

We are journeying over the rainbow once again for an album full of Graphic 45's Magic of Oz paper. One of my oldest friends loves the Wizard of Oz and I want to make a very special album as a gift.  This time I am altering a Leaky Shed Emerald City chip board album.  I ordered this album with some matching etched chipboard embellishments a while back (like a year ago);  I think Leaky Shed still makes it.  Ask your local store if they can order it because it is pretty darned cool.

I started by altering the pages of the ablum to be a little more unique and interactive by adding flaps. I then covered each page with the gorgeous G45 paper.  To do this I traced the shape of the chipboard onto the paper (doing it backwards on back of paper where possible)  And trimmed then sanded/filed away the overhang.

On the front cover is the green "Emerald City" paper.  This album  comes with doors , I covered them with "Parcel Post." 

I really wanted the doors to open and close, so  I used a set of Tim Holtz' Idea-ology hinges. The brads provided won't go through the thick chipboard, so I used 3 in 1 glue. (Let it sit overnight) I also added a latch.

For the chip board letters I painted them in a thick coat od Viva Decor crackle paint in gold.  When it was dry I buffed in some InkaGold in lime green.  The final embellishments added to the cover were some Jeweled brads (green of course) and some green rhinestones.

On the back of the front cover I used the "Munchkins" paper.  Using the text on the door and the munchkins on the rest of the page.  I also added a line of brass colored faux brads around the arch of the door.  On the next page, I lined up Dorothy and Scarecrow to the front door using a quadrant from the "There's No Place Like Home". The background is the bubbles from the "Poppy Fields" paper.

I covered the back of page two with the character side from the "Yellow Brick Road" paper .  At the bottom I added a "pocket" with a strip of card from the "Journey to Oz" 8x8 paper.  I added a couple of tags into the pocket, one curved with  the poppies from "Poppy Fields" and the "Emerald City paper on back with stamps from "Parcel Post" and a pointed one with gingham from "Yellow Brick Road" and the slippers side of the "No Place Like Home" paper.

Page three has a flap added to it, I covered the front side in the Oz lettering from the "Scatterbrained Scarecrow" paper.  I added a copper color die cut embellishment by leaky shed of the Scarecrow. (These also seem to be made to match the Magic of Oz.) The outside of the added flap and main page are cover with the hearts from "Tenderhearted Tin Man."  And have a silver Tin man embellishment by Leaky Shed and Cowardly Lion stamp.

The back of the third page is covered with the ruby slippers pattern ("No Place like Home") and a fussy cut one from reverse side.  The next page is the tall silhouette of the Emerald City and the center of the book. I covered this in the green stripes from "Parcel Post." I added different sized green rhinestone bling on the top "pillars."  I used the same tracing, trimming and filing method that I used on the cover to get the shape right. I added two over lapping flaps.  The front one has the "Emerald City" paper with more green bling and a green pom pom ribbon across the bottom.

 The back of the flap is in the "Tenderhearted Tin Man."  The underneath flap has the newspaper side of the "Goblin Gazette" on one side and the cards from "Journey to Oz" on the back.

 The back of the city silhouette has the Oz lettering from the "Scatterbrained Scarecrow." There are some carer rhinestones added to the tops of the "pillars."  At the bottom I ,made a pocket from the "Munchkins" paper with a fussy cut edge at the top.  I added two tags that I had made for a different OZ album that didn't work out. (long story, lol)  So I honestly don't remember what the pink or gingham paper brands or lines are, I'm sorry.  On page six I added two flaps that I shaped into folder type tabs using the We R Memory Keepers envelope punch.  I added a simple woven ribbon tie to them. 

The base page is the blue gingham ("Yellow Brick Road") with a fussy cut Dorothy. The inner tab has hearts ("Tenderhearted Tin Man") and a fussy cut Tin Man on one side and "Yellow Brick Road" on the back. The front tab has the "Goblin Gazette" with a card from "Journey to Oz" on one side and the writing from "Munchkins" with a couple fussy cut munchkins on the other.

 The back of page six has the stamps from "Parcel Post" with the Leaky Shed Cowardly Lion embelly. The next page (7) has the striped side of "Parcel Post" covering it.  

 This is another page that has an added flap panel.  I covered the outside of the flap with the Scarecrow and Tin Man from the "There's No Place Like Home" paper.

 The inside of the flaps are in the "Emerald City" paper with a fussy cut Scarecrow and the words "There's no place like home" across it.  Page eight has cards from the 12x12 and 8x8 "Journey to Oz" paper.  I used one at the top of the page to change the shape of the page.

The back of page eight features the Wicked Witch.  I used the "Wicked" paper with fussy cut clocks from reverse as embellishments.   The next page is a pre-made chipboard tag I added to the album.  It has the Oz lettering from the "Goblin Gazette"  with the witch feet from "There's No Place Like home fussy cut on it.

The back of the tag has the "Tenderhearted" hearts and a fussy cut Wizard. I added some red and yellow ribbons.  I added a large page to the back so that the silhouette of the Emerald City was highlighted.  To create contrast I used the poppy paper over the whole piece and added the  Scroll work title from the "Magic of Oz" paper. 

 For the back of the album, I decided to go simple with a sheet of the Goblin Gazette.

I was really happy with how this min turned out and I think my friend really like receiving it as a gift.   The leaky shed album and embellishments were a great platform for the amazing Magic of Oz papers in 12x12 and 8x8 (one of my absolute faves!)

I apologize for the meh photos, I ended up taking them with my phone at my friends house.

 

2013 So Cal Shop Hop

Had another fun and awesome So Cal Shop Hop Adventure!  Rosie and I visited all the awesome crafting stores and had a great time! If you are a Facebook friend of mine I am sure you saw all the great photos. 
This one is my favorite!

If you live in or near Southern California maybe I will see you in my Shop Hop journey next year, its a BLAST - Craft stores with discounts and contests, what more could you want?!?

Corset Apron Design fo So Cal Shop Hop

 This year's Shop Hop theme is What's Cooking.  So this year we are decorating canvas aprons.  It took me a while to decide what to do; There are alot of cool things you can do with aprons.  I decided I wanted to go steampunk since I like that style and would be more likely to wear it again.  Then I got some inspiration from a Betsey Johnson tee shirt with a corset drawn on it,  So my final idea was a hand draw steam punk corset.

 

First thisng was to sketch out the corset on the apron.  I used the back of the apron because I didnt want to pockets in the middle of the corset.  I then went over my lines with a brown paint pen and started a bit of shading that would create depth.  To fit with the the steam punk theme I filled in the seams and boning with a copper gilding pen.

I then filled in the "fabric" part of the corset with an olive green paint pen.  I also added a necklace to the top of the apron and began filling in the background black.  This took several Sharpie markers.  I recommend the "magnum" for this much coverage.

 After I finished coloring/painting, I covered the edge of the apron and the neck strap in a faux suede.  I also added grommets down the corset front which I laced with green ribbon decorated in peacock feathers.  I decided to replace the drawing of a necklace with one made of a cameo embellishment and some bling. I think it looked way better.

 I added a glass bead fringed ribbon to the bottom of the corset. and re gilded all the boning and edges with the copper pen.  For finishing touches I added some steampunk themed embellishments like keys. gears and butterflies. I also replaced the tie with the green peacock ribbon.

 Finished apron.

Hope you enjoyed my So Cal Shop Hop apron project.  It was sure fun to make and I think it came out super cute.  I wonder what I will make next year....

Playing and Learning with Copics and LaLa Land Crafts Images

Lately I have been enjoying using my Copics to color some of my La La Land Crafts (digi) stamps.

 I print out my 'digis' on my HP printer in black ink only.  I have been testing different papers and so far I like the Crafter's Companion Ultra Smooth Premium White cardstock and Bazzil Card Shoppe in Marshmallow.  I usually let the print outs dry overnight and sometimes also heat set the prints using my heat tool as if i was embossing the images.  This helps to avoid the black ink from the printer smearing and ruining the image or the tips of the Copics.  (If you use regular stamps I recommend Memento ink. Don't use StazOn because it can ruin the marker tips,)

Two of the projects I worked on were for La La Land Crafts' Facebook group's "Red White & Blue /. Fourth of July" contest.  The first card uses the hero stamps - "Star Boy Luca" and "Super Cupcake Marci."  I printed them both out and cut them off page loosely so i could have a smaller piece of paper I could move to different angles while I colored.

 

I started with the Marci image.  For her skin I used E000, E00, E21 and E11 with R20 as blush. (I will post a tutorial with each stage pictured in future--promise!) I continued to do the rest of her skin tones in the smaller areas.  I then did her bright red hair.  I color hair from the darkest (shadow) area to the lightest (highlight) area. So, for Marci's hair I began with R37 at the roots, tips and also where the hair curves in near her ears.  Working toward the highlight, I blended to R35, then R22 and R20 (highlight color)  I went over this a second time adding some R39 to the darkest areas. I colored in Luca's hair blue. (B37, B34, B24 & B21.)  Since Luca's hair is straight, I work from the roots (dark) and the tips (dark) with a highlight in upper to middle area.  I will some times use the lightest pen to draw a curved line where the approximate location of the  highlight should be.

I used R24 as the main color for the red clothing adding some R29 as shadows and R22 as highlights. My shading group for the blue clothes were B00, B02, B05 and if needed B06.  I thought this was a nice bright and fun blue for a super hero.  I then shaded the "white" areas (his shirt, her belt & gloves) with N0 & N2.  I started with N2 in darker area like edges of belt and blended out with the N0.  I then added a few extra colors, some pink and yellow for Marci's cupcake emblem, yellow on Luca;s safety pin and belt and red and blue for his star symbol.  I also added some glitter to the cupcake and star (its hard to see in photo.)

While the glitter was drying I built my card.  I decided to use a neutral base of a beige paper with stars over that I layered a red and white stipe paper and a bright blue with multicolor polka dots.  I then added red white and blue ribbon and my sentiment, "You are my hero."  I slid a circle with a star on it behind the ribbon.  But it turns out I really didn't like the circle. (lol)  So covered that with flowers and buttons in the red white and blue color theme.  And I liked that a bit better. Which version do you like?

 I also did a second card with the Luka stamp "Best Friends."  It is a really cute stamp of Luka with his dog.  I used the E000, E00, E21 and E11 combo for the skin again.  I also used the same R29, R24 and R22 combo for his red hoodie.  For his hair I used (from dark to light) E29, E27, E25 & E23.  On his puppy I used E87, E84 & E81 for the main fur color.  I added some E39 & E37 for darker spots and some Y32 to the yellowish spots.  For his jeans I used B97, B95, B93. These are a very grey blue and make awesome jeans.

I went pretty simple for background.  I used Authentique's Genuine paper for the jeans with tag on top of red & white polka dots.  I then stamped my sentiment and added the 4 brads and was done.  I really like this card I think its simple straightforward and cute with out being girly.

But speaking of girly...the last La La Land crafts and Copic Marker card I worked on this week was a thank-you card for a special friend.

 I used the Dress Up Marci stamp.  It is so cute with the over sized pumps and pearl necklace. For the darker skin tones I generally refer to the tutorial on La-La Land Crafts. (here) The colors they use are E11, E13 & E18.  For the hair I used C7, C5, C3 & C1.  With hair this curly I just try and decide where I think the darkest part of the curl is and work around it in the light to dark shades.  I decided the hat and shoes would be cute in purples. I used V12, V15 & v17 here.  I tried to keep the edge of brim the highlighted area on the hat. 

I did the dress in the same bright blues I had used on the super heroes. B00. B02 & B05.  The ribbon on waist and sleeves matches the hat coloring.  I also colored the flower in pinks. (R81, R83, R85)  On the necklace I added platinum colored Stickles. To complete the card I added some paper flowers and a doily from the Martha Stewart punch on a pre glittered gold card.

I thought Marcie looked sweet and liked how the colors looked together.  What do you think?  Do you have a favorite skin tone blending set for Copics or Spectrum?  I would love to know what you use!