Cut-Away Card using Copics

Hello Everyone!

I hope you've all had a good week.  Summer gets so busy it's sometimes hard to find time to sit down for a little bit and create something.  Today I'm using this lovely stamp set that I won in a giveaway from Deepti Malik - thank you Deepti!!!!!  It's available through Stamplorations and it's called "Blossom Sprays #2".

This is also my first post since getting my Copic markers earlier in the week.  I have other alcohol markers, but Copics are so superior to anything I have.  I am taking the Copic Jumpstart Class from Sandy Allnock and it's been wonderful.  If you are new to Copics, like me, or just want to really know how to use them, Sandy's classes are awesome.  I've only completed lesson 1, but already I can see they will be invaluable.

Supplies I used:

• Stamplorations "Blossom Sprays #2"
• Kaisercraft "Background Friend" stamp set
• Neenah Solar White yardstick 80lb cut to 4 x 5.5
• My Favorite Things Extreme Black Ink
• A floral cardstock panel for the background paper
• Copic Markers - colors listed in instructions
• Glue
• A2 size top folding card base
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Simon Says Stamp "Moonstone" sequins
• Nuvo Crystal Drops - Sugared Almond
• Black Dazzles from www.paperwishes.com

Originally I had keyed my colors to another sheet of background paper - it's pictured here:

When I finished the stamped panel, I really didn't like how it looked, so that sent me back to my paper stash to find a piece of paper that matched.  I did find a better one in the same stamp pad which was from A. C. Moore - called "Aquarelle".  I liked it better and since it was from the same paper pad, the colors still matched nicely - WHEW!

To start, I stamped the image onto a piece of Neenah Solar White card stock.  I marked off with a ruler and pencil where I would eventually cut the panel.  It ended up being about 3/4" on each side.

I started by coloring the big blossoms.  I used - R20, RV42, E04, R59.  I went from lightest to darkest.  The R59 was an after-thought.  The blossoms didn't look dark enough in the shaded areas.  I am limited on my color selection, but the R59 worked out well.

Next I added color to the tiny leaves.  I did these with BG10, B00, BG01 and then a glaze of YG11. The larger leaves were G00, B23, BG15, G99 with a glaze of YG11. I felt the leaves needed this warm green glaze because they were a bit too cool.  The flower centers were Y02, Y08, and Y17.  For the little blue flowers I used B23 - colored them in solid - then used the Blender marker and make a little circle in the middle.  I then put a tiny drop of Nuvo Crystal Drops in Sugared Almond in the center of these.

When everything was dry I cut both sides of the panel.  I did this by hand.  I cut the background paper to 4 x 5.25 and glued it onto my card base.  Then I glued my colored panel onto it directly in the center.  I stamped the sentiment and used my MISTI for this.  I added sequins and the bottom of the colored panel looked a little plain.  I cut a narrow strip of the background paper and glued it on - CROOKED!!!!!!!!  I had to take it off and it peeled off paper......UGH!  So, I dug out my Dazzles - which are peel-offs from Paper Wishes and added that to the bottom.  Not ideal, but it did take care of the issue.  I couldn't start over!  The sheet of Dazzles also had the tiny butterfly.

And that completed my card!

This is a fairly large stamp and had I been thinking!!!!! I would have dropped the image a bit lower and given a little more room at the top for the sentiment and taken care of the bottom.  Sometimes, though, you just have to roll with it!

I hope you enjoyed today's tutorial.  And again, a big thanks to Deepti for this beautiful stamp!!!!!

Have a great week everyone

      and remember, it's only paper!

Betsy