Image for Mother-in-law's Birthday Card

Since my prior post was a long rambling one filled with nothing really crafty, I thought I'd share this image I colored up last week. It's a Mo Manning image http://digitalpenciltoo.com/index.php/Mummu-s-Nissu.html for my MIL's birthday later this week. (It was done prior to yesterday's intermediate class, so of course I see thing's I'd change.) I don't feel the yellow bowl really works. It was a special request of my husband's (his mom used to use a yellow bowl just like that to do all her baking) but I should have worked harder to coordinate the other colors with it.

Copic Intermediate Certification

I just completed my Intermediate Copic Certification class with the very talented Colleen Schaan!!! (Yay, me!) We were extremely fortunate to have the amazingly talented Marianne Walker there as well. I took my Basic Copic Certification from Marianne this past June and she is phenomenal. Her ability to draw and color upside down is better than anything I could ever dream of. Colleen is absolutely wonderful herself.

Marianne Walker, Colleen Schaan, Me (I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy....)

I was very excited back in September when I heard Colleen was going to be instructing this class. Marianne had autographed my Copic books in June, now I could get Colleen to add her autograph to their Copic Coloring Guide. She was gracious enough to do just that. (They're working on another one by the way...)

The class was amazing. It was a full day, 9:00 - 4:00 then 6:00 - 8:00, but time flew by. Not hard to believe considering it's a topic I love and Colleen is a very animated and dynamic instructor. The class consisted of some lecture, PowerPoint, video, and lots of practice coloring time.

Topic covered include:
Shading, Shadows, and Color
Coloring Tricky Situations

Composition & Design in Papercrafting

Improving Design on your own

Applying Coloring & Design Concepts

Each attendee received an empty 72 Piece Marker Wallet, Opaque White, X-Press It Double Sided Tape, 4 light guides (slightly larger than the one's included with Marianne's Shadows & Shading book), and a 5x7 Itoya Art Profolio. 

Then of course there's your manual (which includes blank images of every image used - all Marianne Walker originals), your certificate, and a lapel pin.

One of the most amazing things I learned, was a new technique for coloring lilacs. (I LOVE lilacs) When Colleen told us how to do it and Marianne demoed it, I thought they were both insane. But it works. I'll have to post a pic when I finish my image.

Another exciting thing is, they're working on an Advanced Copic Certification Course. Nothing was officially announced, but several comments made during the class definitely point to them actively working on course content for an advanced course.

D2D Challenge - Every Flower

D2D's latest challenge.

D2D - Stitched Pumpkin Challenge

My latest entry for D2D's weekly challenge turned into a simple notecard due to lack of time. Kinda hard to plan a 5 year old's birthday party, finish up redecorating both kids' bedrooms and get any craft time in. I was happy with it until I added the background and embellishments, but oh well.

D2D Challenge - July Week 3 - "Christmas in July"

My latest Designed to Delight Challenge entry. Tried something different and pulled out my very dusty and mostly unused Stamping Up Watercolor Crayons for this one.

D2D Challenge - Peacock Beauty 071511

My second D2D Challenge. A total quicky thrown together while the kids napped. Image was colored with Copics. Paper is DCWV - Royal Garden. I also used Stickles to dot the "feather eyes."

D2D Friday Challenge - 070811