Hello and welcome to the CLASSroom weekend edition! Today I wanted to share a quick and easy background you can create with your Copic markers. While this technique could also be achieved with Copic's Airbrush System, I wanted to keep things simple in case the ABS is still on your wish list or you happen to be away from home with only markers in your crafting arsenal.
I wanted the background for this Easter (or Spring) card to mimick a dip-dyed Easter egg and was pleased with the results! You can easily adjust the colors for whatever season or holiday cardmaking time you need. Here are the easy steps:
1. Choose five Copic Sketch colors within two or three color families of each other (the first Copic number) and keep the value/brightness (the second Copic number) relatively close together. Here I used YR31, YG23, BG23, BG45 and B23, so my color family numbers range from 2 to 4 and the brightness numbers I chose are in the upper half (1 to 5) of the brightness scale. This way, you are assured good results!
2. Next, just color on Copic X-Press It Blending Card! I stayed in ROY G BIV color sequence, starting with yellow and just eye-balled about 1/5 of the top of the white cardfront (cut to approximately 5.25" x 4") to start coloring (click on photos for a larger view):
In the last step above on the right, I used Copic Colorless Blender Solution in a Waterbrush to help blend together the transition "seams" between the colors. If you choose to do this, too, I would just caution you to test out the wetness of your waterbrush first. I didn't do that and you can see the splotch of green towards the top of the card where it meets yellow. In hindsight, it would probably would have been better to just use the lighter (yellow) marker to help blend the transition into the green (and subsequently on down between each of the other colors -- using the lighter color before the next darker one). Or you could also use the 0-Colorless Blender Marker.
3. Next, die cut the Sizzix Moroccan Card Front by Rachael Bright from Neenah Solar White cardstock, using the Big Shot:
Tip: With a very intricate die with thin details such as this, place a piece of wax paper between the die and cardstock to make removing the cut cardstock WAY easier!
4. Use Copic's X-Press It Glue Marker to adhere the die cut to the colored background:
5. Trim the overhanging Moroccan white pieces and adhere the front panel with Copic Foam Tape to the white card base.
6. Stamp Hero Arts Clear Celebrate Everyday Happy Easter sentiment with Memento Pear Tart ink and the bird from the same stamp set with Summer Sky ink onto Neenah Solar White cardstock. Die cut sentiment and Memory Box Sweet Corn Notecard with Sizzix Framelits Funky Labels (I like how they mimick the Moroccan background die!). Adhere sentiment and yellow mat layer to card front with more Copic Foam Tape.
7. Finish card by scattering different colors of Ellen's Sequins around the card front -- I used Daffodil, Grass and Iris Blue, held in place with Mini Glue Dots.
Many thanks for stopping by today! ~ Sharon
