Hi, I’m excited to share with you several ways I use Copic products in my scrapbooking, for wonderful color coordination!  No fear… as soon as the alcohol base of the Copic dye ink evaporates (which is almost immediately when it hits air), the color is safe to use in your scrapbooks!

1.   Either make your own color coordinated background papers to use in your scrapbooking, or you can customize pre-printed papers.  Here, I used new 2012 Copic RV52-Cotton Candy to airbrush this black & white patterned paper to coordinate with all the pinks I used.

I use this little trick quite often — most frequently to change a white patterned paper or embellishment to ivory, if the rest of my project is cream or ivory colored.  E50-Eggshell is my frequent go-to ivory color.

2.   It is quick and easy to color coordinate chipboard pieces for your project:

Here, I used a mid-toned R55-Hollyhock to color the chipboard letters, arrow and heart to coordinate with the darkest shade of pink in the paint chip I used (and a shade darker than the airbrushed background paper).  You can color test the markers on the reverse side of your chipboard, to see which color will best match your project.  The color appears darker when it goes on, but as the color dries it will get a little lighter.

3.   To “paint” the scalloped trim around the chipboard heart, I used Copic’s Opaque White with a small paint brush:

4.   Add some shimmery fun to your scrapbooking with Copic Atyou Spica Glitter Pens!  To further enhance the colored chipboard pieces, I used Pink  glitter pen on top of them — solid on the arrow and swirly doodles on the heart.  You can also use them for journaling!

Here’s a close-up of how chipboard heart and letters look on the page (along with the journaled date on the edge of the photo):

5.   Keep white or clear embellishments on hand, so they can easily be altered to coordinate with any project:

Here, I colored white pearls with new 2012 R56-Currant — it came closer to matching the colored chipboard.  Frequently, you will need to use a darker color than you think, to color a clear or white embellishment so always try your color first!  Here’s how the pearls look on the page:

6.   The flower embellishment is hand-made from coffee filters!  To custom color the white filters (I used the junior 2-4 cup size), I misted the filters with Copic Colorless Blender Solution (placed in a spray bottle/mister) and while they were still wet (I have 2 filters laying together in the left photo below) I dropped Various Ink Refill onto the stacked filters (I would have used RV52 or RV55 refill, but I haven’t ordered these new Refill colors yet!  So I used the closest color I had on hand, RV63).  Keeping the filters stacked lets the top filter soak up more color, while the bottom filter remains a shade or two lighter, for a nice multi-colored final look).

Having the filters wet with Blender Solution first, helps to distribute the color — lighter in some areas and darker in others.  I like the splotchy two-toned affect!  Next, blot the filters with scrap paper or a paper towel and allow to dry.

To finish the flower: I stacked the two filters together and starting at the outside edge, began cutting a spiral circle inward towards the center of the filter, keeping the size of the spiral about the same size (about 3/4 of an inch):

Next, I used locking hemostat pliers to grab hold of the outside edge of the spiral (right photo above) and began to roll the spiral towards the center.  Once you reach the center (which now becomes the bottom base for your flower), you can unlatch the pliers and loosen the flower to your liking.  Secure with the spiraled flower to the center base with Glue Dots or hot glue.

I tried a little different technique with the coffee filter leaf — First I airbrushed the filter with new 2012 Copic color G46-Mistletoe (left photo above), and then spritzed it with the Colorless Blender Solution.  This yielded a more mottled affect.  Next, I folded the colored coffee filter into a triangle/cone shape (the fold is on the lower left in the photo below) and just cut the right portion into the leaf shape.  Leaving one side folded and uncut let the leaf fan up once it started drying, for a nice dimensional effect!

I ended up airbrushing a little more color on the top leaf.  Here’s a side view of the entire coffee filter flower & leaf, so you can see the nice dimensional effect:

7.   I love using the Copic Multiliner SP 0.3 12-pack of colors for journaling – they are waterproof and archival pigment ink that match standard Copic marker colors!

Here, I used Black Multiliner SP 0.3 to journal directly on the white cut edge of the glossy photo paper.

I hope you’ll have fun using Copic products in your scrapbooking! ~ Sharon

You can find more Copic papercrafting inspiration from Sharon here:
Blog: www.PaperFections.com
Copic Color Gallery: http://www.copiccolor.com/SharonHarnist

Love U 8-inch Page Supplies:
Copic Sketch Markers:  RV52 (airbrushed black/white background paper, RV55 (chipboard), R56 (pearl swirl), G46 (coffee filter flower leaf)
Copic Various Ink Refills: RV63 & Colorless Blender Solution (coffee filter flower)
Copic Atyou Spica Glitter Pen:  Pink
Copic Multiliner SP 0.3: Black
Paper: Echo Park Yours Truly 6×6 patterned paper; Gina K Designs Pure Luxury Heavy Base Weight Black Onyx cardstock
Tools: Copic Airbrush System;
Accessories: Copic Opaque White, Ranger Mini Mister; Maya Road Love mini chipboard & Patti mini alphabet chipboard sets; Zva self-adhesive pearls; paint chip sample from home improvement store

The Double Sided Tape (by X-Press It) will hold just about anything together. Seriously. This high-tack tape is easy to apply, has an extremely strong hold, and works seamlessly on a variety of surfaces and applications. It’s also only about the thickness of a single piece of tissue paper, so it won’t show through from behind on paper or mixed media projects. From work with photos and framing, to card making, papercrafting, and even instant hemming (how cool is that?!), this double sided tape is one of the most versatile items to keep on hand in your studio. You’ll reach for it all the time. Available in three widths: 1/8″, 1/4″, & 1/2″. Acid free.

October has come and gone, and with it, the first ever Copic Intermediate Certification. There are now 30 plus highly knowledgeable Copic artists available to share their expertise with anyone interested in maximizing the possibilities with Copic products. Look for an instructor near you or request a class at your local store. A list of all Copic Certified instructors is available here.

While both the Standard and Intermediate classes require an application review before acceptance, the Intermediate application includes a coloring section. The Standard Copic Certification teaches skills such as how to choose your paper and how to create special effects with Copic Colorless blender. The Intermediate class goes above and beyond this, covering topics such as how to choose appropriate color combinations for shading, shadows and highlights, light placement and composition.

Take a look at possible locations for classes in 2011 , or receive notice when a class opens in your area by signing up here.

Last year Graphic Designer Jessica Helfand released a “Scrapbooks, An American History“. National Scrapbooking day was back in May (5.03) and we didn’t have a blog at the time so I had no place to point this out. She wrote a short essay on the subject at her blog Design Observer. In the clip above she describes her book and the process of her work. The book is available at Amazon and on that page you will also find some other short clips that walk the viewer through some of her favorites she examined during her research.

I personally find it interesting, as part of the art industry and one that supplies scrapbooking enthusiasts, how much has changed and how much is similar. Motives for making them remain, but the execution largely has been affected by the industry that has developed around them. There are those that love the latest tools and embellishments and create a polished look and those who want the aesthetic qualities of old journals and scrapbooks and strive to achieve the same weathered affect.

Hopefully the history of these books can shed some light on the contemporary activity itself, personally and artistically.