Scrapbook Expo NJ, thoughts on the day and Copic class

Today was the day.  Scrapbook Expo NJ 2012.  I went, I bought, I learnt, I bought, I sweated... I need a nap! 

 The day started bright and early and it was already hot first thing in the morning.  I lined up before the doors opened with a lot of other eager ladies.  We got some coupons and some freebies.  When they finally let us onto the show floor, I raced to my favorite booth: Scrapmart.  I didn't get much there.  I got some papers and a Copic refill, and some closeout Glitz Design products.  Love their stuff and Scrapmart had them in the bin for cheap!  I got two paper pads for the price of one in the bin as well.  I then ventured around the show to other booths, did some make and takes, and burned  through my hard earned cash.   All in all, there was not much new stuff that I saw there.  I got a bunch of things I have been wanting for a while but felt like I was missing out on all the hottest and newest things.  Prices were not competitive overall.  I was disappointed about that, but my fav local scrapbooking store Scrappers' Cove saved the day.  They had great show special pricing that was lower than everyone else.  I had to move quickly because I had a morning class.  I went across the street to the hotel for classes.  Dear god it was hot.  96 degrees!  Thank goodness they had a free shuttle with the AC cranking.

I took a class called Copic Intermediate with Krazy Kreations.  The class kit contained everything we needed to make 3 cards, Copic markers B91 B93 B95, and a flower stamp.  Of the 3 cards we made, the one pictured above was my favorite.  The two below were nice too.  The company offers some cool products including the plastic pouch and pebbles for the shaker card below.  The pouch is self adhesive so it makes shaker cards a snap.  They also told us about a demo going on in the booth on coloring on glitter with Copic markers.  I went back to the show to check out the demo and fell instantly in love with the technique.  I am vacation this week so I will be trying this method out and will share with you.  I also won a class prize, another Impression Obsession stamp.  Lucky me!  

I also picked up some new mediums today to try.  I got a few more distress markers and some new inks to go with them.  I bought Ranger Archival Ink and Faber Castell Stampers Big Brush which is India ink.  I saw a demo at The Rubber Cafe using the Big Brush colored onto a stamp and then stamped onto Canvas. They then used Gelatos to add color to the image.  Well you know I had to get some of those too.   I decided to do an ink test with both new inks to see how they color with Copics and Distress Markers.

Below is  how the test went.  The top two flowers are stamped with the Big Brush.  The Faber Castell Big Brush smudges when colored with Copics.  I tried it twice just to be sure that it wasn't a drying time issue.  The bottom two flowers are stamped with Ranger Archival Ink.  It works great with Distress Markers, no surprise since it is Ranger. I colored using a Victorian Velvet and Milled Lavender Distress Marker. The image on the right was colored with R08 ad R14 Copic Markers.  Archival Ink held up pretty well to the Copic markers.  There is a tiny amount of smudge in the center of the flower.  I believe if heat set, the ink will not smear.

All in all it was a really fun first day of my vacation.  I will be back tomorrow with a mixed media project to share with you.