Follow Your Bliss…

Many of you have asked me how I store my Copic Sketch markers. I thought I’d take some time and show you how I store them, as well as how I use them.

I prefer to store my markers in the clear plastic storage cases, which I got directly from Copic. I have 2 of the 72 marker cases, so that I have room to expand my collection. (Note: the markers I have are primarily the colors chosen by Ellen Hutson, plus a few random colors.) Here’s what they look like, laying on their sides:

I don’t store mine on the side, though. I just leave them standing upright like this:

I have the markers sorted properly according to the number system. Here’s how the system works:

• Letters denote color family. BV(blue violet), V(violet), RV(red violet), R(red), YR(yellow red), Y(yellow), YG(yellow green), G(green), BG(blue green), B(blue), E(earth), C(cool gray), N(neutral gray), T(toner gray), W(warm gray)
• First number denotes color number group
• Second number denotes color brightness within the color group.

So what does all that mean?

• Colors that start with lower numbers (0, 1, 2) will be more vibrant than colors that start with higher numbers (7, 8, 9) which will be more dull or “gray”.

• In addition, colors that end in lower numbers (0, 1, 2) will be lighter (more pale) than colors that end in (7, 8, 9) which will be deeper.

So, once I sorted my markers in their cases, I created a grid in MS Word, and printed it on a piece of PaperTrey Stampers Select cardstock. I labeled each box with my black Copic Multiliner pen, then used the chisel tip of the marker, and placed a line of color in each box. I constantly use this grid when I am coloring. It makes it very easy to choose the right color, and allows me to lay patterned paper and cardstock over it to get the closest match. Here’s what my grid looks like:

To further explain, lets look at my color chart above. Scan down to the “V” (violet) section. Look at the 3 colors of V12, V15, V17. You can clearly see that they are all within the same vibrancy family of 1. As the second number increases from 2 to 7, you can see that the color gets deeper. These three colors would allow me to create very easy shading.

Now, lets look at the next color of V93. Can you see how gray that violet looks (first number of 9) compared to the 1’s? And the second number is 3, which shows that it’s fairly light in color intensity on the scale of 0 to 9.

I hope this helps you to understand your Copics a little better! Thanks for stopping by!

Edited to answer questions:

• I got the clear 72 marker cases directly from Copic. I think you might be able to get them from Eclectic Paperie, too?
• You do not have to store your Copics on their side. The ink inside the barrel flows freely from one end to the other, and the tip acts as a “wick”. The ends will not “dry out”.

Well here’s what I did today!

I sorted all of my Primas by color! I absolutely LOVE the way they look now! Click on the thumbnails to see the pics full size:

I put them into wide mouth Ball canning jars, and spray painted the tops with a hammered copper paint. Here’s what that looks like:

I think it looks so great! I am very happy with it!! Hope you enjoyed looking at the pretties! Come on back tomorrow for some treats!!

Happy Canada Day to all of my Canadian friends!! ~~HUGS!~~

Gosh it’s good to be back in blog land! Sorry for the unexpected down time. Splitcoast had a crash on Saturday, so not only did it affect their site, but our blogs as well! YIKES!

I used the down time wisely and did something that I have needed to do for MONTHS—I sorted my ribbon!! Here’s what it looked like before I began organizing:

UGH!! I cringe when I look at that, LOL! It was stored in overflowing Sterilite containers. Dozens upon dozens of little clear plastic bags, no sense of organization at all. Just strewn about in there, LOL! (I feel like I am at confession, LOL!!)

So, rewind to last week, I was surfing the net and saw that Joann’s had these Cropper Hopper 3×3 drawers and the 3×3 ribbon cards on sale. I thought that would be perfect for me! They arrived on Thursday, and I was really looking forward to getting organized. Here’s what I bought:

I love how they stack together so neatly! The ribbon cards have a “grip-teeth design” across the center that holds ribbon securely in place. Then, I just used a straight pin to secure the other end after I was finished wrapping it. Here’s what it looks like now!

I am going to buy 3 more drawers, because I need to still do my blacks, browns, and white ribbons. The orange drawer also has yellows, as I don’t have a lot of those 2 colors. There’s still plenty of room in that drawer

Here’s what the drawers look like on the inside:

Hope you enjoyed checking out my new storage! I absolutely *love* it, now!!

I think it’s about time for another Trudee Treats giveaway, SOON, don’t you? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm