Category: Ranger

New Class! Calm, Carefree and Colorful – April 3rd, 2018 at the Queen’s Ink

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I’m returning to the The Queen’s Ink on Tuesday, April 3rd to teach a new Copic marker class. In this workshop, we’ll create three cards featuring the fun and exuberant images from Penny Black and sentiments from Ranger. The images are colored using a very limited set of Copic markers. Details are below. All necessary techniques are taught in class. Seats are limited, so sign up today! CLASS FEE: $25

The Queen’s Ink
Savage Mill Box 2048 | 8600 Foundry Street | Savage, Maryland 20763
phone: (301) 497-9449 | website: https://queensink.com
Tuesday, April 3, 2018, 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Tuesday, April 3, 2018, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Register online or call the Queen’s Ink at (301) 497-9449

BRING TO CLASS: The list below reflects the Copic markers that I will use in class. You can follow along using the same colors OR substitute colors based upon your personal Copic collection. Please bring all your markers to class and make sure your Copics are marked with Washi tape or some other means of identification. Markers are available for purchase at The Queen’s Ink. Students will receive a 10% discount on Copic markers. I will be available prior to class to help with selection.

PLEASE NOTE: You must bring your own markers to participate in class. If you need markers, please contact The Queen’s Ink in advance of class. If you wait until class time, you may not be able to purchase the markers you need.

  • V20: Wisteria
  • Y32: Cashmere
  • Y35: Maize
  • Y38: Honey
  • R35: Coral
  • R37: Carmine
  • R59: Cardinal
  • BG0000: Snow Green
  • B0000: Pale Celestine
  • B32: Pale Blue
  • B34: Manganese Blue
  • B37: Antwerp Blue
  • E000: Pale Fruit Pink
  • E00: Cotton Pearl (formerly Skin White)
  • E21: Soft Sun (formerly Baby Skin Pink)
  • E51: Milky White
  • E53: Raw Silk
  • E55: Light Camel
  • 0: Colorless Blender

OTHER SUPPLIES: Please bring scissors, foam adhesive squares, and a tape runner adhesive or double-sided tape.

Rowhouse Greetings | Birthday Ballons by Penny Black

Rowhouse Greetings | Breathe by Penny Black

Rowhouse Greetings | Va-Voom by Penny Black

 

 

Rowhouse Greetings | Va Voom by Penny Black

Va Voom by Penny Black

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Sometimes you see an image that you just know that you have to color. That’s how I felt about Va Voom by Penny Black. Every time I stopped by The Queen’s Ink, I’d picked up the stamp and then put it back down. Picked it up. Put it back. For weeks. Finally, I decided that it was a sign – I needed to color this stamp. So the next time I picked it up, it went home with me.

This image has such an exuberance that it needed bright colors. Frankly, I loved the way it was colored on the stamp packaging so I just decided to go with the flow. Sometimes it’s nice to just color without worrying about color schemes (although I did modify – albeit slightly – the colors of the flag). For the sentiment, I added one of the new Letter It clear stamp sets by Ranger.

A note about the coloring – that B34 in the list of colors for the scooter is not a typo. I’ve been experimenting with underpainting – applying in a base color for shadows and depth before overlaying it with the final color (in this case R37 and then R35). I think it gives a more realistic dimension to the curve of the scooter and is certainly easier to blend than using an even darker red like R39. I’m still experimenting with the technique, but liking the end results. If you want to see the technique in action, take a look at the beautiful work of Amy Shulke of Vanilla Arts Co.

So, is there an image that you absolutely have to color (but haven’t yet)? Apparently there’s now vacancy at the top of my list!

Supplies

Below are the supplies I’ve used for today’s project. Items marked with an asterisk (*) were provided by a store or the manufacturer for free or at a discount. All other items were personally purchased. Read more.

Paper: Neenah Solar White #110; Mini Pack Paper for Markers by Copic (*); Sunshine Three by Authentique
Stamps: Va Voom (*) by Penny Black; Celebration (*) by Ranger
Inks: Memento in Tuxedo Black by Tsukineko; Versafine in Onyx Black by Tsukineko
Copics: E000, E00, E21, E11 (skin); Y32, Y35, Y38 (dress); B00, B02, B06 (bow); Y32, Y35, Y38, R35, R37, B00, B02, B06 (hat); W1, W3, W4 (dog); B00, B02, B06 (dog’s sweater); B34, R35, R37 (scooter); W2, W4, W6 (tires)

Mixed Media Tags Featuring Red Castle Stamps

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I’m back today with a project that is a first for me – mixed media tags! My project features stamps from Red Castle (available exclusively at The Queen’s Ink) and Penny Black as well as inks and stencils from Tim Holtz and Ranger.

Rowhouse Greetings | Red Castle Stamps

As you know, my primary medium is Copic markers and the end result is usually a handmade card, but I’ve been experimenting with other media, including watercolors, colored pencils, and Distress Inks. These simple tags provided the perfect opportunity to explore color and texture with supplies that I already had at hand.

INSTRUCTIONS

I work in a relatively small space and knew that things could get messy quickly. I covered my work surface with an Easy Clean Mat from Tonic to protect it and speed clean up when I was finished.

  1. Using a blending tool, apply Distress Ink to one side of a #8 manila craft tag.
    In the case of the first tag, I started in the middle with Mustard Seed, blending each side with Spiced Marmalade followed by Picked Raspberry. For the second tag, I started at the bottom with Chipped Sapphire, working upward from dark to light with Peacock Feathers and Broken China, ending with Cracked Pistachio. I followed with a second coat to make sure that the inks were well blended and coverage was even.
  2. Lightly spritz the tag using a mini mister filled with plain water.
    The water will activate the ink and create a pattern as it dries. Use as much or as little as you want to get to desired effect.
  3. Once the ink has dried, stamp the images to be embossed with Versamark Ink. 
    I used Leaves Set 3 by Red Castle Stamps. The images are deeply etched and leave a clear impression. I particularly liked the botanical images and chose those for my tags.
  4. Cover with embossing powder and heat set the images.
    Be sure that your heat gun has had a chance to warm up first to reduce warping of your tag.
  5. Decide the placement of your stencils and apply Texture Paste with a palette knife. Wash your palette knife and stencil immediate with water. Allow Texture Paste to dry completely.
    Do not use a heat gun to dry the texture paste as it may cause bubbling (unless that’s the effect you want!).
  6. Once texture paste is dry, lightly dab and blend Distress Ink in the color of your choice over the raised stenciled areas. 
    You can either select a contrasting color to make the stenciled image stand out or match the ink to the background to create texture without additional contrast.
  7. Stamp any additional sentiments using a stamping platform.
    I selected sentiments and a butterfly image from the Spiritual Snippets Stamp Set and the Snippets Stamp set, both by Penny Black. I used a Tim Holtz Stamping Platform so that I could stamp multiple sentiments at the same time using Versafine Ink in Onyx Black.
  8. Apply Distress Micro Glaze to seal inks.
    A little goes a long way! Buff with a soft towel (I actually used a paper towel) to remove excess.
  9. Add a ribbon or other embellishments as desired.
    Don’t forget to sit back and admire your work!

SUPPLIES

Below are the supplies I’ve used for today’s project. Items marked with an asterisk (*) were provided by a store or the manufacturer for free or at a discount. All other items were personally purchased. Read more.

  • Tonic Essentials Easy Clean Mat (*)
  • #8 manila craft tags
  • Distress Inks: Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Picked Raspberry, Cracked Pistachio, Broken China, Peacock Feathers and Chipped Sapphire
  • Ranger Mini Round Ink Blending Tool and Foam Applicators (one for each ink color)
  • Ranger Inkssentials Mini Mister filled with plain water
  • Stamps: Leaves Set 3 (*) by Red Castle Stamps; Spiritual Snippets by Penny Black; Snippets by Penny Black
  • Tsukineko Versamark Embossing Ink
  • Stampendous Detail White Fine Opaque Embossing Powder
  • Heat gun
  • Palette knife
  • Ranger Texture Paste (opaque matte finish)
  • Various stencils (I used the custom stencil included in the Tim Holtz Distress Mixed Media Spray Stain Kit)
  • Tim Holtz Stamping Platform (*)
  • Tsukineko Versafine Ink in Onyx Black
  • Tim Holtz Distress Micro Glaze

Hope my project inspires you to try something new!