European Copic Colouring Programme Class 4

Well, it's official, I have finished all four of the European Copic Colouring Programme classes today, with Class 4. Yay! Massively proud of myself :)

Today's class was adding onto what I learnt in Copic 3, folds, and ended with some no line colouring, something I really shy away from, as I struggle so much with light and shade. The folds section really went into more detail with the shading and I think I may be starting to understand.... note the maybe! I shall need to practice a lot more to really test it out.

I also did the colouring on Kraft class in the afternoon which I loved and will definitely try some more. I think the Kraft is pretty forgiving and you get a really subtle look with fewer markers.

As usual Faye was an amazing teacher - and even didn't give me too much of telling off for chatting a bit too much.... it's so nice seeing crafty friends, I can't help it!

Thanks to everyone who bought some of my bags, so that I could invest in more stamping supplies - thank goodness for the pop up shop, eh?

I will be back at more classes in September. They always give me a boost when I've been struggling to colour! If you fancy having a go at any of Faye's classes, all the details are on her website Stampin' Fluff N Stuff.

European Copic Colouring Programme Class 3

What do Copics and moving house have in common? They have a great deal for me. Back in February I took the first two classes in the European Copic Colouring Programme with Faye Wynn-Jones. You can read all about it in my post for Copic classes One and Two. The following day, I decided to broach the subject of moving house with my husband. Fast forward 8 months and the week after we moved house, my friend Dawn and I travelled to a venue outside Leeds for Copic 3! Thankfully for my husband, nothing dramatic has happened.... so far...

Dawn is wonderfully kind and takes me in her car. I truly HATE driving round the outskirts of Leeds and Bradford. Junction and roundabout Hell.

Having found the venue and after a quick catch up with our old colouring buddies and a quick whizz round the Dies to Die For Pop Up shop. That was a welcome addition - new goodies.

Copic 3 is all about folds and pleats and practicing feathering and blending quite different colour combinations. 

Since getting hooked on Stamping Bella, this has been the most useful one by far. I was prepared to feel horribly overwhelmed as I had convinced myself that folds are really hard, but, like everything, it just takes practice. Do not be put off! In three hours I had begun to understand the basics and am itching to get my SB stamps out and do some more dedicated folds and pleats.

It makes such a difference to me to have someone there to encourage and also put me back on track. Faye is a superb teacher and I find I learn a lot and it makes me want to practice more. She is wonderfully encouraging and has given me some tips on colour combinations for the future. 

Next April Faye returns to do Copic 4 and I will be there with bells on. It's in my planner so no one, but no one, can stop me. Quite possibly my husband will then breathe a sigh of relief that they are all over...

If you've any questions, please drop me a comment. I am a zealot for this course and think it's worth every penny I've spent on it and the markers!

As always, happy crafting!

European Copic Colouring Programme with Faye Wynn-Jones

Today, after many months of build up, my friend Dawn and I travelled to a Holiday Inn outside Leeds to take Classes One and Two of the European Copic Colouring Programme with Faye Wynn-Jones. If you don't already know Faye and her work with Dies to Die For, please look her up, because you will be astounded by her work. 

Faye came up to Leeds after I asked her if she ever came North and she said if she got enough interest, she would look at running a class. I found a couple of people and it rather grew from there. Something to bear in mind if you are quite far from some of the classes.

So, what did I think? I loved it, absolutely loved it. I was hyper excited about taking it - possibly because I also got a day off from looking after my two little ones! - and sometimes I can get a bit disappointed with things I've got overly excited about (yes I am 40, but everyone gets to act like a 10 year old sometimes!). I was not disappointed at all. It was everything I hoped and more.

Not only do you get access to a European Copic Colouring Master who instructs, encourages and even says 'I like it', which is a massive boost to your confidence :), but you also get six hours of Copic colouring and sit with a group of people who also love colouring and card making. We had a really nice group and shared storied and laughs. Oh, and I also forgot a couple of markers but Faye had spares - obviously she's met people like me before ;)

We covered the Copic markers themselves and cleaning them (something I need to do more!), focussed on smooth blending, hair, skin and backgrounds. The time just flew by!

There is a lot of information on Faye's blog about what is involved in the classes, and the six hours flies by and certainly gave me a bit of a boost to my colouring.

I have a whole booklet, some goodies and a reinvigorated sense of colouring and creating, and a desire now to do Classes 3 and 4 later in the year when I've had a chance to do some more practice. With the 30 Day Colouring Challenge coming up on March 1st, I'll be practising with Copics a lot. 

And best of all, I get a certificate all signed to say I've done it. Makes me feel like I've accomplished something! 

Thanks for indulging me in my excitement about this class and if there's anything else you'd like to know, please drop me a line. Thanks for popping by today!