Playing with COPIC markers and Color pencils

Hello Everyone,

"Espero que este bien de salud y en sus finanzas...." my grandma always starts her letters when she writes to me LOL Basically  she hopes that I'm in good health and doing good in my finances- I'm also hoping that for you my crafty friends.

Speaking of finances.... I bought more Copic Ciao markers.... just 24 more... lol I only had a set of 8 Manga Skin Colors (which I hadn't even used) and getting frustrated with lack of vibrancy or just having to color and go over it again with pencils and OMS which also takes too long. Sometimes the pencils work for me and lately it hasn't- more so because of time blending. I probably just should have gotten a larger set of Prismacolor pencils and different point sizes of tortillon blenders so I won't have to stop and "sharpen" (nail file) my one point.

After playing with my Copic markers I see why there are so many people talking about Copic classes and certifications- but I tried. Only because they're more expensive and the "best" out there doesn't mean it'll color wonderfully like you want them to.... you have to also know how to color and have special strokes and know what colors to blend. LOL it's weird because I know how to paint I mean I can blend well and not make lines or make a blotchy mess all over the place (aka the face- the most important part) with paint. I guess I just need more practice with these markers. Overall I like them. I also need to watch more YouTube tutorials and one day if there is a class nearby I may attend. If I just lay down one color I'm fine no streaking but blending is where I need help. In the meanwhile I'll keep practicing.

Coloring some of The Greeting Farm's

Cheeky Beach girls

Here is my attempt at blending but off the paper and bringing to the paper instead of blending straight on the paper.

This one I am planning on making her look like she's wearing a dress 

and I'm cutting off her beach ball. I used colored pencils and OMS for her hair 

and eyes (which I changed from green to blue.) 

The skin, flower, slippers and swimsuit were done with Copic markers.

The lips with a gelly roll.

 I don't know what I was thinking with the hair but it made

me think of those retro posters where the color is a little bit exaggerated so I'm keeping it as is.

I used Copic markers for everything on this Cheeky. 

This is more obvious where my blending skills are lacking on the face.

Trying to work on African American skin too... but don't have many of the Copic "browns"

So I didn't do anything to blend the skin. The hair, eyes and ball are colored with pencils.

The flower, slippers and swimsuit were done on a sparkly cardstock. 

Gelly roll lips. 

This one wasn't as bad coloring since the lightest skin tones felt a little easier for me. 

The hair, the swimsuit, ball, flower and slippers were done with colored pencils

and no OMS except the hair.

With my family life I color here and there so I didn't get to color and cut out in one sit; just took the pictures all at once. Plus looking at some of my older post my lighting really seems to suck so I took my Cheeky's outside in the mild sun to snap some photos.

Here is a card I made with the first Cheeky Beach I have post if you scroll up, you'll see.

This is for Mother's Day- a 'Mum' I met from the crafting world. I sat her at what I call an English Garden the paper is from Recollections All Seasons 12x12. The crackle paper I printed the bench on is from the Pastel, Heart Warming Vintage Collection- Crafty Secrets.

The bench is a digi stamp from http://digitaltuesday.blogspot.com/2011/03/digital-two-for-tuesday-79.html the blog name is  Digital Two for Tuesday.

I love this bench and Also because I haven't bought the newest TGF stamps 

with those cute little seats. Plus this one has that vintage feel. 

The Sentiment is from the "Mom" collection from Our Daily Bread Designs- http://www.ourdailybreaddesigns.com/mom.html I love that site!

Here is a close up of the Cheeky sitting on the bench. 

This also makes me think of that song, 'Sitting in the Park' waiting for yoooooooooou by: Billy Stewart 

LOL so not related to the card.

The inside may be a corny (belated) Mother's day poem but it came from me so hopefully she likes it.

Well that's all folks.

Crafty hugs,

Katya Bess

I entered my card at:

http://scrapbitzcopics.ning.com/group/cmccopicchallengegroup  - Anything goes with Alcohol Markers and Colored Pencils

http://www.farmfreshchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/spring-cleanings-gone-retro.html  

-dig out something VERY old  that you have from TGF