What kind of black ink do you use when you are going to use your copics to color? I am having problems with the ink bleeding...KWIM (know what I mean)?
I use a variety of inks - mostly Brilliance Graphite Black - it either has to be set aside to dry (for a LONG time) or heat set - I have the least amount of smearing issues with this ink.
I also use Palette Hybrid Noir ink - this one dries almost instantly and it doesn't smear often.
FYI the card stock you use can also affect your coloring - I almost always stick with Papertrey's Stamper's Select white when using Copics as I get the best results with that. Another great one I use is Bazzill Smoothies Coconut Swirl (aka white).
When you make cards to give or even sell, do you make the envelopes as well? And If you do make them, what do you use so that the person can close the envelope? Because store bought envies have the glue strip to lick or wet down.
I rarely make envelopes - I just don't have the time. When I do though I use Greeting Glue - Stampin' Up! made it available in one of their mini catalogues (last year I think) and you apply it to the flap and let it dry and it works like regular envelope adhesive. Sadly I have NO idea where else to get it as SU! no longer carries it.....
I pretty much always make standard A2 sized cards (4.25 x 5.5") so I either buy my envelopes at office supply stores (you can get a case for not too much $$), from Stampin' Up! (great for special occassions) or through Papertrey.
What size is the I got you Babe card. It looks square.
What size is the envelope? Do you make or buy it?
I put at the end of that post the card size (5.5" square), as well as mentioning that I made the envelope out of matching patterned paper - it's a little larger than 5.5".
I have been reading lots about the copic markers. If you were just starting, what would you buy just as a beginner? And, do you have any hints on using them.
Are there any online classes for them?
I get asked a LOT which colors I think people should start with. Honestly I can't answer that question. I got the full set of CIAO's to start off with - over 140 markers. And each person's color preferences is different. All I can say is if you start with one of the sets (there's 4 basic sets in the CIAO line - A, B, C and D, plus other smaller sets) I say start with A and go from there. There are a lot of basic colors as well as skin tones in that set - good way to go.
As far as hints - basically just PRACTICE!! No one becomes a great colorer overnight - you need to keep at it and experiment with different card stocks and inks and just keep experimenting until you get into a "coloring groove" that works for you.
I don't know of any online classes - you can try a google search and see what comes up.
Do you stamp the inside of your cards?
Sometimes I do - not always tho.
What adhesives do you use for each step of your process
I use Mono Multi for pretty much EVERYTHING. It holds everything really well. For really tiny areas I'll use my Quickie Glue Pen, for ribbon I'll either use sticky strip (aka red liner tape) or mini glue dots.
How do you organize your stamps? I'm unmounting all mine and can't decide if I want to arrange by company, by "theme" or what.
Since I have *cough* a LOT of stamps - I keep them organized by company - Papertrey, CC Designs, GinaK, Stampin' Up!, Stamping Bella, Rubber Romance, etc etc etc etc.
How much do you charge for your cards - how do you determine what the pricing should be? For example, the card you posted yesterday: http://prairiepaperandink.typepad.com/amyr/2008/03/thinking-of-y-1.html
It really depends on the card - how much work went into it, how much embellishments, time etc etc etc. A card like the one you linked to I would prolly sell for around $5. I have been tossing around the idea of selling my cards through this blog and pricing them right has been my biggest road block - so we'll see what happens.
I am wondering how you store your punches? I have several from SU and from stores and I haven't figured out how to store them so they are accessible.
Right now they're stored in big plastic containers (all my Marvy ones) and the SU! ones are stored in shallow drawers. I don't have the wall space right now to store them there (I've seen people using curtain rods and then setting the punch handles into them and then the punch leans against the wall - eventually that's what I want to do).
My question may seem a bit dull, but I just can't seem to get my ribbon to stay on my cards for long! I've seen "ribbon-glue" in the craft stores but don't want to buy it and find that it's really nothing special. So, my ? is...how do you get you ribbon to stay put?
I guess it depends on where you're putting the ribbon on your card and how tightly you are tying it - I rarely glue mine down and a lot of the time it's just wrapped around and it's never come off. Sometimes I punch a hole and thread it through - but that's just an aesthetic touch. I really only glue the ribbon down when I want it to stay a certain way and it won't do it on it's own - I find a mini glue dot does the trick for me.
I just purchased some of the Stamping Bella stamps and really like the way you colored the bella image on your Friday Sketch #6. Would you be able to list the Copic colors you used for this image?
I made that card quite some time ago (it was posted in February but I think I made it before Christmas) so I don't remember what colors I used. I rarely pay attention to the specific colors as I'm creating - I grab whatever color I'm looking for. I just don't have the time to write down all the specific colors I use as sometimes I use a LOT and the time I would spend keeping track and writing them all down is time I could be using for cleaning up and working on other projects....
I was just wondering if you still liked your photo kit? I'm getting ready to buy one and wondered how the lighting was... or if you would recommend this size vs. the smaller one.
Still love it - I use it for almost every picture I take on here. The tent is HUGE but since I like to take pictures of my scrapbook pages I am glad I got it. If you're just doing cards then it'd prolly be better to go with the smaller tent (mine is 24").
I've noticed on a few of your cards you pull the ribbon through the main image and then tied a bow. What kind of punch do you use? I love the whole look of the ribbon.
Making Memories Slot Punching Tool
Ooooh Amy love the ribbon on your latest card. Do you remember where you got it (or who makes it)?
I got it at Michaels. It was on a little wooden spool and there was no name or anything on it.
By any chance do you have a tutorial or a link about instructions or a way of painting a card using a brayer or inky roller?
I don't personally - but check out the resources section on Splitcoast - I KNOW there is a tutorial or two (or more) that use the brayer :o)
Was browsing thru your site and noticed a FlipFlop card that you did I think under Stampin UP. Did you ever do a tutorial on that card, who how you made it.
No there isn't a tutroial - I used a flip flop template I came across on Splitcoast - I printed it off and traced it onto white card stock.
