Craft withdrawal symptoms!

Had a few busy days and not made much time for any creativity. So after a quick run around this morning, a few emails and a flying visit to my mum and dad, I decided that I deserved a bit of craft time.

Slowly but surely I am making (some sort of) progress on the Squeak Shake from Di's Digi Stamps. Now this is the image used for the pencil class over at Kit and Clowder but I am attempting to colour it in with my Copics using the techniques I have learnt from the Marker Class this month!!

EEK, it's scary but exciting, putting new techniques into practice....but I must focus on that word PRACTICE! Yes I mucked up the colours of the chocolate on my first attempt, went too heavy handed with my white pencil on the strawberry....and as for the cup/glass/mug...well I am not even going to bother commenting on how I feel about it! LOL

BUT, am I still loving the process....A BIT, FAT, HUGE YES!!!!!!

Copic Colours Used

For the cream - E000, E51 &E21

For the strawberry - YR31, RV29,R27, R22 & R32

For the mug - W5, W3 & W1

Ooooo....what bit shall I colour next????

Adele

xXx

Di's Digi Stamps, Kit and Clowder and Copics!!!!

After being on such a high from my previous colouring class, I decided to used the information and techniques from Cupcake/Marker Class....and apply them to the Squeak Shake image that jumped into my basket while me back was turned!

WELL, it didn't start very well. I was aiming for a really dark, rich chocolate sauce but ended up with a "sticky"mess and the combination of Earth Colour Copics was just not working. I scribbled on it and threw it to one side.

I had been on such a high after colouring up the Cupcake Class and there was no way I was going to let it defeat me!

I went back to the drawing board and this time, I aimed at more of a milk chocolate or caramel sauce! LOL

I have noticed that when I am working "alone" rather than following a Class Video, I do tend to rush. I suppose it's almost hard wired into me being conscious of the time/being self indulgent vs. Relaxation and enjoying my creative time. I think it's a good thing to be aware of.

There are quite a few elements on this image that will put me out of my comfort zone but I am able to apply techniques from the Cupcake Class to help soften the blow. The icing, the mice, the strawberry.....it's all a learning curve to enjoy.

Copic Colours used for sauce:

E57, E35, E33 and E53

Adele

xXx

Copic (Marker) Class almost complete!

I have been lucky enough to have some time to myself and really made the most of the opportunity to colour and relax! I was just so eager to work on the April Class from Kit and Clowder and the image/s from Di's Digi Stamps are just too cute for words!

Chapter 5 - The Cherries

Chapter 6 - The Strawberries

 

(Spot the pink blob on the mouse ear? EEK)

Chapter 7 - The Mice

(I added a bit more depth of colour to the little mouse ear to cover up the blob I made!)

I still have the last Chapter to do which goes through the process of adding a bit of background colour.

Not sure how I am going to use these Class Practice images. I feel reluctant to put them on a card and give away.....they are truly becoming such a part of a learning journey that I may even scrapbook and document them.

Bye for now!

Adele

xXx

April Class Launch at Kit and Clowder

Despite the fact that I was loving working on the mini class, LOTV Workbench Image...I decided to put it on the back burner for another day....I just could not resist starting to colour the fab new Class launched yesterday at Kit and Clowder. I started downloading the Video and printed off the gorgeous image from Di's Digi Stamps straight away.

Last night I completed Chapter 1 - The Bow!

Then this morning Chapter 2 - The Icing!

and Chapter 3 - The cake!

AND Chapter 4 - The Wrapper!!!

Squeeeeeeeal! Enjoying these SO very much. By no means perfect, made a few errors along the way but that is all part of the learning process.

Copic Colours Used

Bow and Icing - R81, R83, R85 & RV000
Cake - E57, E35,E33 & E51
Wrapper - BG23, BG15, BG09 & G00

Better stop and have some lunch now! LOL

Adele

xXx

Kit and Clowder Classes, Prismacolor Progress

Yes, I am feeling pleased enough with the results of this "Mini" Class over at Kit and Clowder to call it PROGRESS!!!!! I have truly LOVED doing this class and I feel me confidence and progress using Prismacolors Pencils is shocking!

I feel that in the few Chapters of this Class I have learnt so much and I still have all the background chapters to do....AND repeat the class using my Copic Markers!

I have decided to leave this image for now as I think I'd like to complete this gorgeous LOTV Image to the same stage and compare the two different mediums before moving on the the backgrounds. The background is really something out of my comfort zone, and as a cardmaker, it is not really something I have ever really done. BUT that what makes the Kit and Clowder Classes so fantastic, they stretch your comfort zone and inspire confidence to try new things that you can then incorporate into the rest of your crafting.

RIGHT!!! Gonna run around any tidy up a bit, get the kettle on because the April Kit and Clowder Classes are being launched LIVE ON FACEBOOK!!!!!Midday BST!!!! Come over and share the excitement!

EEEKKKK!!!

Adele

xXx

Kit and Clowder, Mini Class, LOTV Workbench, Chapter 4

Oh my goodness...LOVING this class.

Just completed Chapter 4, Hat and Boots. I have also got out my Derwent Blender pencil and gone over all the areas I had already coloured in an attempt to flatten the tooth of the paper and even up the appearance. ( I did this under my magnified light!) Not sure if it looks any better.

Colours used for hat and boots:

PC943 Burnt Ochre

PC942 Yellow Ochre

PC1012 Jasmine

PC914 Cream

Derwent Blender.

I really cannot recommend these classes enough.

Now, can I sneak in another Chapter this evening? LOL

Bye for now.

Adele

xXx

Prismacolors, Practice, Kit & Clowder & LOTV

What a lovely combination for a SUNNY Saturday afternoon.

Tomorrow is the launch of the next Class over at Kit and Clowder so I wanted to make time for myself to sit down and work on the LOTV Mini Class, Workbench Image. Prismacolors are well out of my comfort zone but I may even go as far as saying that I am actually enjoying my creative time rather than feeling down about my lack of perfection!

I decided to use oranges instead of the reds used in Class, as I didn't like the combination of red tones in my stash. I think orange and blue works well together...I hope it does anyway.

It was so scary reaching the point of drawing on the blue checks! But I went along with the class and quite pleased with the results.

I think I need to continue to practice with my Prismacolors as my close up pictures do show quite a bit of "tooth" left visible on my colouring although to the naked eye it doesn't look as bad!

I used;
PC943 Burnt Ochre
PC1032 Pumpkin orange
PC918 orange
PC1025 Periwinkle
PC1102 Blue Lake
PC1061 Cool Grey 30%
PC?? White

Someone else is having a nice, relaxing Saturday too!

Time for a cuppa and perhaps even a cake and I might even manage the next Chapter if I am lucky!

Bye for now.

Adele

xXx

Perseverance with Prismacolors

Made time for myself this afternoon to do a bit more of the fabulous Mini Class over at Kit and Clowder. The LOTV image is just too cute to resist.

Today's effort was colouring the little denim dungarees! EEK

Had SO much fun and although the colouring or shading isn't great, I am amazed at the depth of the colour I have achieved with pencils. It's a long learning curve but I am on my way.

Not sure if I should have continued adding colour or not to smooth down the "tooth" of the paper but I thought as it was denim, I could get away with it!

Supposed I'd better do some proper work now! 

Bye for now.

Adele

xXx

OMG - LOTV Freebie Class at Kit and Clowder!!!!!

After yesterday's negativity I am determined not to let my pain get the better of me. Took Amelia to the dentist, came back home, dropped Jack off at College, came back home, made lunch and sat down to find this month Freebie "Mini" Class for us Clowdies who subscribe to the Monthly Classes! (NOW, how you can describe this as a mini class, I don't know!)

SOOOOO excited, not only was the class free (as an extra to our paid for Monthly Class/es...but the GORGEOUS LOTV Image was a freebie too......we are really being spoiled over at Kit and Clowder!

I had some time to spare before I needed to go out and pick Jack back up, so set to work on Chapter 1 of the Class, using......wait for it..........PRISMACOLOR PENCILS. (I have decided not to throw the lot in the bin and persevere with my pencil journey! LOL

I did print out quite large, fitting 2 practice images on a sheet of A4

Is it perfect, no! Am I happy with it....yes, I think I am....so far. LOL

LOVING being a part of the Clowdie Community, thank you.

If I am lucky I might even sneak in part of the next chapter whilst the roast is in the oven. 

Bye for now.

Adele

xXx

Kit and Clowder Eye Class - Chapter 2 with Prismacolors

Not sure about my pencils skills at all but I managed to complete another chapter today...I so needed some crafty therapy after a sleepless night last night and a trip to the hospital with Amelia this morning. My pain is sky high!

Not sure if the pain contributed, but I really struggled with this; I couldn't get a sharp point on my pencils, I tried sharpening and loads of the leads just kept on breaking and I am just not sure how I feel about the finished results.

I know I need to relax and enjoy and not get stressed about "practice" but the constant pain just kept getting in the way today. I am wondering whether or not to just give up with the pencils and concentrate with my Copics!

I am going to take some pain killers tonight, something I don't do very often, and hopefully tomorrow I will feel a bit more positive.

Night, night,

Adele

xXx

Kit and Clowder - Colouring Eyes Class with Prismacolors

Just finished Chapter 1 of the Eye Class using Prismas...and it certainly shows that I need more practice! LOL

Now I only pay for the Monthly Marker Class, but the Mini Class Colouring Eyes was a freebie and covers guidance, techniques, colour suggestions...etc....etc. for both Markers and Pencils so I thought I just had to try both. So the skin and hair is my feeble attempts of untutored, jump in at the deep end and just go for it, colouring!

This was also my first attempt on my new card stock which has more of "a tooth!"

Things I need to improve on!

Well....everything! LOL

Sharper pencils, move defined lines, better choices of colour combos, Prismacoloring techniques....

My idea of red streaks in the hair just didn't work out! LOL

Need to go over the black lines around the eyes again to define better after my colouring. Not happy with how they look.

I must not rush to complete, I have no deadlines.

Things I am happy about!

I loved the tutorial, class part of this but was out of my comfort zone once the actual eyes were done.

It was fun to try something new.

My first real Class attempt at pencils has given my the incentive to practice more to improve my pencil colouring.

Looking forward to my next practice.

Adele

xXx

Practising with Prismacolors!

As I said in yesterday's blog post, I hoped to re-do the Colouring Eyes Class over at Kit and Clowder but this time trying out my Prismacolours! EEK, even more out of my comfort zone than with my Copics!

SO - I printed off the work sheet onto my new Canson Mi-Teintes paper, dug out the recommended colours for the Pencil Class, using alternatives where necessary......and started to practice!

Things I could do better

I found it hard to work with the pencils, I need to invest in a good sharpener because as I was trying to sharpen to a sharp point, the wood was splintering and not allowing me to get the results I was hoping for.

I need to re-organise and chart my Prismas again rather than rummaging around a plastic box with colour groups gathered in elastic bands! If I know what colours I have, it will be easier to make choices for alternative colours.

Things I am happy about!

I tried! LOL

Keeping the Posca White Marker upside down helped!

Must get on.

Adele

xXx

Sunday afternoon!

Worked on a few boring "necessities" this morning, got a leg of lamb slow roasting in the oven and now relaxing with a tipple with Chris whilst watching the Grand Prix.

I obviously cannot just sit and watch TV, I have to be doing something else to occupy my overactive brain! What better than the last Chapter of the Colouring Eyes Class from Kit and Clowder!

As I started this last Chapter I was a bit put off by the suggested colours that were used; yellows, greens AND blues!!! EEK! LOL Really not a combination I would have put together for eyes! BUT that's why these classes are so effective for me. Making me try things that are different from "my norm" and challenging me to try new things.

Things I could improve on.

Need more practice with skintones and hair colours, need to find a few good colour combos..and possibly need to invest in a few new colours to complete these colour blends.

Not happy with the effect of the white Posca marker. It took ages to get it working and several layers to get the white reflection to "pop!" I was storing it nib up so I have flipped it to see if that improves next time.

Things I am please with.

Have loved this class, it has put me out of my comfort zone and given me the opportunity to practice not only eyes but different skin tones and hair colours.

This Class also included instruction for Pencils so I plan to print off the worksheet on my new Canson Mi-Teinte s paper and repeat the class using my Prismacolors.

LOVING LEARNING.

Adele

xXx

More Copic Practice

Over at the Kit and Clowder Facebook page a little while ago we were given a fab freebie image from All Dressed Up. I printed the image off and put it in my stash and today I decided to give myself some crafty time. 

Such a pretty image but I don't feel my colouring has done it justice. I had planned to look at examples of the image, all coloured in, to get more of an idea of how I wanted to colour the frilly skirt but instead I just took myself and my Copics out into the conservatory and enjoyed the warmth and the hazy sunshine. 

Things I could improve on.

I rushed this rather than taking my time.

Not happy with the shading on the tutu.

Really not sure how to have coloured the bottom of the skirt where the hem line is layered.

While using dark brown for the hair I went over onto the face tried, I tried to correct but muck up the skin tone.

Sorry, pics and lighting not great!

Things I am pleased with.

Love the image.

Love the colour combo.

Quite please with the hair.

Glad that I made time and just went for it.

Bye for now.

Adele

xXx

BAAAAAD Timing!!!!!

Oh my...why, why, why???? It just had to be the day I had set side to play catch up on the mound of paperwork when Mr Postie arrives with these beauties! LOL

Come on Adele, don't get distracted by the pwetty flowers! Stay focused and get the job done, that way I will have more time to play later in the week...guilt free!

I must stay away from the box, stay away from the box, stay away from the box.

Adele

xXx

Copics, practice, practice, practice!

I thought I play with some of my new images today, but instead I opted for another section of the Markers 101 Class over at Kit and Clowder. The Markers 101 Class is a FREE class and I would highly recommend it to everyone who colours, be it Copics, Prismas, etc, it give you so much technical information about blending and light source that applies not just to alcohol markers.It gave me another chance to try out some of those problematic Earth tones, that I have tried cleaning up again.

Things I could do better
Blending and shading still need a lot of practice.
I have coloured the highlight section of the hair in too far down, I think it would look better higher up towards the parting.
I think I needed to blend in the lower, back section of the hair more. Photographing up close shows so much more detail! LOL

Things I am pleased about
Happy with the eyes and mouth.
Happy with the colour combo that I have used here.