30 Day Color Challenge - Day 6

This post is short and sweet!  This is my submission for Day 6 of #thedailymarker30day challenge. 

I used Memento Tuxedo Black ink to stamp these images on Neenah Exact Index 110 lb cardstock, and colored using Copic Markers. 

 

Stamps are from Art Impressions: Scrappie Front & Back and the Fence.

 

30 Day Coloring Challenge - Day 5

Here's my submission for Day 5 of the 30  Day Coloring Challenge. I used Koi Watercolors to create the sky, and 2 stamp sets from Simon Says Stamp. 

This was my first watercolor adventure.... and I'm not too thrilled with the results.  But @KathyRac gave some great advice in my Instagram comments! 

It gives me warm fuzzies to get feedback from Kathy! It's so nice to participate in a challenge (and crafty community) that is so positive and encouraging. It makes me look forward to the rest of this 30day challenge even more. 😀

Until tomorrow...

XOXO

-Amanda

30 Day Coloring Challenge - Day 4, A Zombie Birthday

Occasionally I need a masculine birthday card for one of the men in my life.  My brothers LOVE zombies,  my Husband & his friends LOVE zombies.... my male co-workers love zombies.... 

 

This seems like this is an easy equation.  Man + Zombie Birthday Card = Awesomeness

 

Plus, I'm gauranteed a genuine smile from someone who "doesn't get the birthday card thing".

 

This image is for #thedailymarker30day challenge.  I used the boy zombie in the Birthday Zombie Set from Art Gone Wild, Memento Black Tuxedo Ink, and copic markers.

 

 

xoxo,

-Amanda

30 Day Coloring Challenge - Day 3 (and a lengthy back story)

First, I just want to say that I love my copic markers. It's a serious "what would life be like without you" kind of love...

(Husband - they're just markers - I really do love you more than any art supply!) 

Ok - back to it. Copics - I adore them. 

I was first introduced to this grand love (the copics, not my husband) when..... 

Ok I really should back up and explain this better. 

Husband: Met in High School - dated after High School - married 5 years after College...still married now even though I am now a craft-a-holic.  He's a private person, so I'm not going to give much more detail than that.

Copics: It was "like" at first sight... But we had a lengthy courting period because I was convinced copics were "out of my league".  It started while I was browsing the boards of Pinterest and there was alot of ooooooing and ahhhhhing.....All of the samples I saw were gorgeous and I wasn't sure I would be able to replicate the shading and other fabulous techniques.   And then, of course, I wasn't sure I wanted to invest that much money into a product I wasn't even sure I would use very often.  And I know myself.... I'm a collector. I "need" to complete the set. I "want" all the colors! 

I got to a point where I wanted to ask Copic on a date.... and I asked myself 2 questions:

Question 1: I like you - but I'm not sure if I know what to do with you.... What would it take to replicate these fantabulous techniques with alcohol markers? 

Answer: practice, classes, practice, YouTube, practice, Pinterest, practice, practice, practice....

And I thought about it some more... I like YouTube.... I like Pinterest.... Those are great resources and totally free! I can totally watch and practice on my own. After all - I love to color, I could color all the time....  and I would love to take classes wherever I could.  Who doesn't like taking art classes??!!

Question 2. Can I afford this relationship? (Don't laugh, eventually I grew to love my markers - we've been a lot of places together, seen a lot of things...its a relationship now.)

This only brought up more questions....what other brands of alcohol markers are out there? What is the "lifespan", are there ink refills? How many colors are available? What do other people say about them? Can I use any ol' ink pad with them, or do I need more special products to coordinate? What can I dooo with these markers?! Are there any kind of temperature or storage restrictions? What is my total estimated cost for the marker, refills, extra nibs, special ink, special paper, portable storage solutions, etc....???

I had to be smart about this. I knew I had to look at other brands too. I'm no silly head!  I outlined the pros and cons of copics vs. similar products.  After about an hour of research I had convinced myself that the copic sketch markers were the right choice for me. I was making a smart, financially sound *cough* investment decision. *nods head for emphasis*  While copics were a little on the high end of the price spectrum - they had a longer lifespan, they had refills, came in more colors, there were nib replacements, I could buy colors individually vs having to buy them in sets (reducing the risks of buying duplicates), there were copic specific apps to track which markers I had vs. still had to buy! There were A LOT of positive reviews from crafters of all levels.... and classes geared towards Copics were much more widely available than classes for other brands of alcohol markers....   The only real negative I could find was the price. BUT everything I read pointed me to a place that had a "good deal" so I wouldn't have to pay full retail price. So really - if I was looking at purchasing a lifetime-use product the copics sketch markers would be the ideal match for my coloring adventures. 

Not long after I decided to dive into the world of Copic coloring... My loving husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday.... This seemed like a good opportunity to get a basic set of sketch markers and see if I would actually like using the products. So in May 2013, my wonderful husband purchased the Copic 36-piece sketch, 25th anniversary set. As soon as I opened the box my true love affair with copic began. 

Ok now back to the verrrrry beginning of this novel length post.... 

1. I love my copic markers.

2. I also love Art Impressions, and their line of "Girlfriend Stamps".  This was the line of stamps that really blossomed my coloring addiction, and continues to remain a favorite today.   (wow, seems like I could have skipped that lengthy intro now...)


Today's submission for #thedailymarker30day challenge is an image from The Laughing Set by Art Impressions.  I love the emotion that the girlfriends show in each image.  I want to know what they are laughing about, and I think they must be great friends.  This is definitely something I would put on a card and send to one of my own IRL friends... awesomeness. 

until tomorrow friends....
xoxo,
-Amanda

30 Day Coloring Challenge - Day 2

Here's my coloring adventure for today. I was almost done with the image and decided I would add a little black gel pen to their eyes to make them pop... And then... on the last girl... my pen decided to play a nasty trick on me and drop a big blob right next to her nose.  Major bummer! I was so upset!

So I tried to think of ways to save the image. I thought about cutting her out of the picture entirely, but figured that would be too much fussy cutting (not TOOO much, but definitely more than I wanted to do).

And I thought about cropping off the end of the bike... But I didn't want to do that either... These four chicks needed to stick together.

And I thought about re-stamping the entire image, re coloring the bicycle and the last lady, and then and cutting out the other 3 ladies on my first image and pasting over my new image....perhaps adding a little bit of extra dimension.  At that point I was just exhausted thinking about it, and I really wanted to keep this a single layer. 

So then, I figured "go big or start over"... So I scribbled more black gel pen over the "black blob of disapointment" and fashioned some cool shades for my passenger. Looks good, right?  *sigh of relief*  Crafters crisis avoided.... 

It's always a risk when I try to modify a stamp beyond the original artist's design.  I feel a little rebellious, like I'm coloring outside the lines! *GASP!*  But in the end, I am super glad I took the risk because I love the result! I'm such a crafty rebel.... *wink*

Oh and I L❤VE all of the girlfriend stamps from Art impressions. I want to be just like these ladies when I "grow up"... This stamp is called Pedal Pushers, stamped using Memento Black Tuxedo Ink, and colored with copics. 

Not too shabby for Day 2 of #thedailymarker30day challenge.   

xoxo,
-Amanda

@kathyrac commented on my IG pic for Day 1!!!

I don't know why, but I am always wayyyy more excited about crafter feedback than spotting random tv or music celebrities.  Love it!!!

30 Day Coloring Challenge - Day 1

@kathyrac is hosting a fantabulous 30 Day Coloring Challenge with the goal of bringing us back to our love of coloring. The challenge started today, 3/4/15 and ends 4/2/15.  You can find more details on her blog at www.thedailymarker.com. 

I kinda decided last minute that I wanted to participate.... HA!  That totally sounds like me. Bandwagon, I'm hoping on! 

Here's my first #coloringadventure for #thedailymarker30day challenge... Follow me for more on Instagram (@amanda.farhang)...

When I finsihed coloring this image, I just add it to my growing stockpile of coloring adventures and I will make a bunch of cards later. For now, I'm totally content to just color... 

xoxo, 

Amanda

PS: the stamp is "Uptown Girl BIANCA has a BIG CAKE" from Stamping Bella. I love this stamp company. I think you will see me use a bunch of their stamps in this 30day challenge!