Release day :: Steampunks

Good morning! Everyone :) Yay.. time for a new release here at Mad for Markers.

Whilst at the Papercraft show at Penrith earlier this year I was speaking to a lady about my images and she said she didn't "do cute" and I should do some Steampunk images .. so I  got to studying and sketching .. and here's the result - Today's release... thing is I can't seem to not do cute so we have a couple of cute Steampunkers ...

Rhys has a NEW (pretty awesome) guitar ... Blankina has created this great card with him ...

Taya has gotten into the spirit of Steampunk with her funky outfit ... Aren't those wings Fab!!

Nicole has used her for this lovely Filofax insert :D 

And I (Sammi) have used Taya and Rhys on a card here.. along with some G45 paper AND handmade cog paper using the new Cog stencil ... Available in the M4M store here

Ryan and Brianna wanted in on the action so here they are in their finest Steampunk gear..
The cogs have been cut out on the Silhouette and I will provide a FREE file to anyone interested :D Just email me :D

Here is one more creation using Steampunk Rhys AND the Silhouette cut cogs.

One random person who leaves a comment on this blog AND both Blankina and Nicole's blog posts for this new release will win the new images! Drawn Monday 19th :D

Multiliner Madness at M4M Challenges

Good morning!! Today there is some CRAZINESS going on at our challenge blog... well OK it's actually not that crazy! We just want YOU to use Multiliners in your creations :)

Here is a little something I  drew up in Multiliners the other night.. I used my favourite SP Multiliners... PINK and PURPLE in 0.3mm ...

I asked Guy what I  should draw and he was playing some fish game on his phone and said a fish... then he said do one of these Leafy/ Weedy Seadragons... I remember we saw some in a seahorse-y place in Tassie when were were there back in 2003... so I googled them to get a refresher and then I sketched one out with my Pink and Purple Multiliners... then went back in and added some more shading and colour with Copics.. RV55, RV52, V20, V22 and a number of Bs for the dotted water!!

I LOVE that there are so many colours available in Multiliners and I use them for LOTS of things... including but not limited to...

* just writing NOTES...
* fixing up what I don't stamp properly...
* making eyes darker
* adding extra bits around the image.. eg cement lines, grass lines, butterflies...
* stamping

Have a great day!! And please check out the challenge blog today and Sam's BEAUTIFUL creation!!

some LaLa creations

I am just popping on to share some creations I have made with some of the latest LaLa Land stamps... These new stamps are going to be for sale at our project class with Irina on the 16th June (if you desperately need some before then please send me an email).

 

I am sorry I have not recorded the Copics used... I always could take a good guess as I coloured them whilst in Adelaide last week and I had limited markers with me .. I can tell you however that my new favourite PINKS are the RV50s.... so pretty!!! :) And I can also tell you that the middle card has RED in the her hair for extra contrast with the brown... Thanks for stopping by! I'm off to clean up the place again! Really looking forward to moving to our new house in a few weeks and having a room JUST for M4M/ craft!!! :D

Lest We Forget

Today in Australia / New Zealand we have ANZAC Day .. where we remember the soldiers who fought and lost their lives never to return home.. we remember their sacrifice that we might live the lives we do today in freedom in this beautiful country!

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

I thought I would sketch up some little Diggers in memory.. Here they are .... in their Jellybeans and then in their Khaki outfits ...

If you would like these little Diggers to colour up then please send me an email and I will give them to you to use :)

Gone GaGa for LaLa Land

Good afternoon! I am so excited about the upcoming Project Class with Irina from LaLa Land crafts... that will be HERE in Sydney on the 16th June...  YAY!! you can register/ purchase the class HERE! I can't wait to see what we are making..  I've heard details and it will be an AWESOME project I am sure!!

So I thought I  would create some LaLa cards in anticipation... and I decided to try and copy off the packaging that comes with the stamps.. I LOVE that Irina has included a QR code so you can see what COPICS she used in the packaging sample!

I thought it would be fun to show you .. via some funky Instagram effects.. the packaging with my coloured image. Under each of these is the card I have created with my coloured image!!

First up we have BIG PANDA MARCI

Copics used:
Skin: E000, E00, E01, E11, R11, R20
Hair: E70, E71, E74, E77, E79
Hat: R11, R14, R20, R22, R24, R27, T1, T3, T5, T7
Shirt: Y32, Y35, Y38, YR18
Shorts: YG91, YG93, YG95, YG97
Vest, Boots: R11, R14, E13, E17, E18 (changed slightly by accident from packaging)
Panda: T1, T3, T5, T7

 

 then one of my very favourite images... AUTUMN Marci

Copics used:
Skin: E000, E00, E01, E11, R11, R20
Hair: E02, E08, E18, E19
Dress: RV000, RV91, RV93, RV95, RV34
Jacket, Boots: E50, E51, E53, E55, E57
Beret, Scarf, Gloves, Leggings: G20, G21, YG93, YG95, YG97

and finally the very sweet... SNOWBOARD MARCI

Copics used:
Skin: E000, E00, E11, R11, R20
Hair: YR31, YR14, YR24
Blue: BG10, BG11, BG72
Pink: RV10, RV32, RV34

Hope to see lots of you at the LaLa Project class in June... I know some people are even coming interstate for this event.... so you could too!!!! :)

Have a lovely day!!
Sammi

New SOG stamps

Good morning!! The latest release of Some Odd Girl Stamps arrived to me this week! whoo hoo!! so I've been colouring .... and today I want to share with you my new fav... Thank You Mae - she is now in the M4M store along with the new Gwen and Kaylee sets HERE

Materials used:
Doiley .. and some ephemera from my TGF Heart Journaling prize... including a piece of stripey wallpaper! Who would have thought??
Copics used:
Skin: E000, E11, E13, RV10
Hair: E13, E25, E27
Pinks: Rv52, RV55
Top: T0, T2


In my 2nd card... I decided to give Mae some glasses... as I thought she'd look super cute with them on.. so I drew on a pair using a 0.1mm multiliner

Materials used: Paper from my stash - Magnolia butterflies + (the purpley paper was called Samantha but I cannot remember the company.. oops!) + embroidery thread
Copics used:
Skin: E000, E21, E11, RV10
Hair: E33, E35, E37
Top: BV01, BV11, Cardy - RV10, T0
Skirt: B00, B12, B14

a tutorial of sorts on colouring "rain" drops

Good afternoon! I am sorry I did have a tutorial for you... but unfortunately I had technical difficulties again and the video has not worked properly! I'll get it right.. next time for sure!! So instead I am sharing some finished pics WITH tips on how I did the water/ rain on the umbrella/ puddle!

 I have used a Spesch stamp (my favourite... I wonder if you can guess why) of a girl with an umbrella... her name is Samantha!!

 

#1 -  I have used Xpress It Clear gel to create a glossy puddle and water droplets - you can also use Glossy accents/ Dimensional Magic... I also added some opaque white over the gloss to give it a bit more "dimension"

#2 - I left the areas for the water droplets without colour then at the end added in blue and then opaque white

 #3 - This time I coloured it all and then took my blender marker to push the colour aside to make the water droplets .. I then added a little extra colour to give some dimension to the droplets!

#4 - The final example used a few more layers of colour... firstly leaving the water droplet areas without colour and then afterwards coming back to add layers of colour to give the droplets the dimension... as well as AGAIN some opaque white.

Hope that the pictures and instructions make some sense!!

I  also hope you might join us in our current challenge

Tutorial Tuesday :: Opaque white

Listen to my mumblings as I demonstrate the use of Copic Opaque white to add highlights on my copic coloured images...

Saturday Sharing

Happy Weekend Copic Lovers,

I am having an extra long weekend thanks to the public holiday, for Australia Day. Our national day of celebration, has left me feeling a little patriotic. I have spent the last couple of days, colouring up all the Aussie images I have in my collection, a couple I am sharing with you today.

This is Digger Marci, she is a relatively new release from La La Land Crafts Stamps - designed especially for us Aussies.

Copics Used:Skin -E11, E01, E000/Cheeks RV42

Hair - Y21, Y23, Y25, YR23
Boots - E31, E33, E35

Shorts -YG97, YG95, YG93

Top - YG95, YG91

Dog Tags/Socks - W1, W3, W5

Flag - B18, B16, B12, R27, R24, R22

I used a white gel pen for the stars and the outline of the Union Jack.

I also made a discovery when colouring this image and I want to share that today too :)....just in case it had slipped your attention, as it had mine! When I opened the packaging of my Digger Marci stamp, I noticed there was a  "bar-code" on the back that said "scan for Copic Marker colours used". I have often looked at the packaging image and wondered what colours were used and if I could reproduce the same look.... and well, now I can! - how cool is that?  All you need to do is download the QRReader app to your iphone ( it is available in android as well ) scan the code and up pops a document with the list of Copics used....isn't technology wonderful?!

...so next time I colour my Digger Marci stamp, I can refer to this reference and experiment with some colours I may not have, necessarily chosen -  love this option! * Please note - not all the packaging of these stamps have this option, but you will find most of the newer releases, do have this feature.

Our own wonderful "Boss Lady"- Sammi here at Mad for Markers created some fantastic Australia Day Freebies to share with you -

....and I just couldn't wait to colour the Aussie Gal and Mr Cool Ray. I saved the images emailed to me, in a word document - resized them to fit on my card, then printed them (on my home printer ) onto some X-Press IT A4 Blending Card

Copics Used:Skin -E11, E01, E00, E000/Cheeks RV42
Eyes - B12, B16
Hair - Y21, Y23, Y25, YR23
Dress/Shoes - B12, B16, B18, R27, R22
Sun - YR23, Y23, Y21, B16, B12
again, I used a white gel pen to add detail and the sentiment was also printed on my computer.

We would love to see your creations using these Aussie images - feel free to share them on our Facebook Group Page and while you are there, remember to send Sammi some love.

Happy Colouring,

Chris x



a Fairy Princess card

Good evening ...Today I uploaded lots of markers (restocks... still more to come in next couple of weeks) and NEW stamps from The Greeting Farm. There are some fun new stamps out so make sure you check them out HERE!!

I have made this little notecard (size = A6 card folded in half) using one of the new clear stamps from The Greeting Farm - the set I used is The Fairy Princess set - they are so very cute! Pretty small images so an easy job to colour them!! :D  There are three fairies in the set as well as some other stamps.. sentiments and crown/ butterfly!

copics used: Skin: E000, E01, E11, R83, Hair: E23, E18. E74, E77, top: R81, 83, 85, wings: R0000, R83, blossom spica, skirt: YG23, 63, 67

I have used Seam binding on the bottom.. and have pulled some thread through it so that it scrunches up nicely (thanks to Mel for that tip!!) I coloured it with R81 ink ... I am now selling light coloured seam binding in the store.. it's all "almost white" but there are three options - chalk white, white and oatmeal .... I have also decided to offer a "custom coloured" piece... so I will Copic it for you in your chosen colour... you can get yours HERE.

a little masking for Wednesday

Good morning!! Today I am sharing with you a card I made with the Greeting Farm's brand new "Lounge Anya" set that I got from Marcia at The Stamp Spot YESTERDAY! :D
So I got stamping and masking and created this....


I thought it might be good to show you a little tutorial on masking.. using the Mask-It that I have in store (from Xpress IT) That's how I get the layered effect of the girls standing in front of each other. So I have done up a little tutorial and if you click on the picture below you should be able to see it large enough to read.
The MANY Copics I used are:
Anya1 - hair:E50,51,53,E11, Face: E0000,E000, E00, E11, R11, Clothes: C1, C3, C5, B12, 14, 16, E40, 41,43
Anya2 - hair: E15, 17, 18, 77, 79, Face: E11, E13, E15, R83,85, clothes: R81, 83, 85, 89, E40,41,43
Anya3 - Hair: E31,33,35,37, Face: E000,E00, E11, Clothes: R24, 27,29, B12, B91,93,95, W3,5,7
Sky - ABS - B14, 16 + B12 over the top
Grass - ABS - YG06 + YG03, 06, 63,67, G85, 99 over the top

Spesch newly released images

Good morning, This is Sammi ...I swapped posting days with Tracey this week since she opened the challenge for us! :)

I Have been excited to see some lovely DT entries and hoping to see more too.. have you applied yet?? There's still time!!

This morning I am sharing with you some digi stamps I coloured.. these are NEW - just released yesterday images from Spesch Stamps .. they would be perfect for Halloween or Young teen/ goth/ twilighty projects!

Winona

Jasper

Max

I have coloured in all three images with the Toner Grays .. o,1,3,5,7 as well as adding some R46 for Winona and Jasper with a bit of E08 for Max. Black and white with a splash of colour is pretty effective don't you think? Want to see a tutorial? There will be one coming to a MAd for Markers blog near you soon!!

Have a great day!!
Sammi

Pink, Pink, Pink!!!

Good morning ... I am loving all this pink! So very sweet!!

The DT have been creating some gorgeous pink coloured work for you and I can't wait to see what you all create as well. Below is my PINK creation that I have put together - inspired by this fortnights inspiration over at The Lollipop Ladies... pop on over and join us - It's lots of FUN!! and an added bonus - you might win a $10 M4M voucher!

Now back to our colouring Pink....

The image is a CREEPY CAKES digi from The Greeting Farm!!

The colours?? Well there are a LOT ... I used nearly ALL my Pinks (Rs and RVs) ...

E000, E00, E11, Rv10, RV02, 04, 06,09, R81, 83, 85, RV10, 13, 14, 17, 19, 25, E33, E35

oh and the doiley is airbrushed with RV06

A couple of tips on colouring PINK.... sometimes the R and RV markers will bleed out (more than other colours .. soaking through the paper more quickly). So you do not need to put as much ink on your paper... try colouring with quick strokes instead of lots of circles if you are having problems. Also... using a good quality blending cardstock such as the Xpress IT blending card will help! If you are having troubles with cardstock leave a message here and I will send you a small sample of Xpress IT card so you can try it out :D

Sammi

tutorial on Feather blending

Two today Tuesday!! :D

Kristy is unable to post here today as she is having computer issues so I am posting instead.
Just look at this GORGEOUS bookmark that Kristy has created....
The Copics used are: B21, B23, E50, E51,E53, E000, E11 & R20.
More details on this card can be found on Kristy's blog here.

And seeing as there was no post yesterday here is some more inspiration for you....
Bella and the cubs (from Spesch stamps) has been printed on Neenah paper and coloured with the following Copics:
E00, E21, E02, E04, E47, E49, E77, E71, E31,
R20, B97, 95,93,
B05, B02, B00, B32, B24, outlined in B60 :)
C1, C3 & C5
RV13, R85,

CAN you guess which colours are on which parts of these images?? If you think you can leave us a comment and you might get a little prize!!

Make sure you come back tomorrow (Wednesday) to see what Jackie has to show you!

Colouring Brunettes Part 2- Light -> Dark

The other option for colouring hair - is to colour from light to dark... It's a little easier to control the darkness this way. I have used the same colours ( E31, 33, 35, 37) although I have tried to keep the overall effect a lot lighter this time. So I start with the lightest colour, E31 - leaving sections where I would like the highlights to be.

Then taking the next marker in my chosen sequence (E33) I colour on top of some of the section I already coloured and out to the edges... I follow the strokes of the hair with my brush tip.

and again with the E35 ... colour over part of the area already done - as you can see there is a bit of a staggered effect happening.

and then with the darkest colour E37 ... I want a lighter brown so I only add the smallest bits this time.

And then it's back the other way... blending it back towards the lighter section...E35


back to the E33


and then over the whole coloured section with the E31 ... colouring in small circles to make the transition smoother!!


I then use the colourless blender to make it a bit smoother + pick up those highlights a little bit more. The hair on the far right has E27, E29 + some of the E30s.


This is the first tutorial that I've done this way so I hope they've been helpful for you... I'm not sure if it would be easier to follow like this or as a video. Might try one of those as well! :D

We'd love to see your creations... if you try colouring brunettes one of these ways OR skin colouring from Tracey's tutorial OR blondes as per Emma's tutorial - please send us an email at sales@madformarkers.com.au

Also - If you have any requests for what type of tutorials you would like then please email or leave a comment here!! :D