Today I'm going to use my Copic products to create a monotone journal page.  Working with a limited colour palette was a new thing for me and monotones even more difficult - you know how I love my colour!  I used blue so much last year I thought I'd try a different palette and settled on a grungy, vintage colour scheme.

After giving the page a bit of thought, I decided to go completely Copic - ALL the colour on this page is from Copic markers or Various Inks.  I used my Copics to add custom colour to my embellishments and create a custom background for my page.  Now I haven't previously coloured something on this scale with Copics before and was a bit worried how much product I'd use, but thought I'd give it a try and see how it went - will let you know at the end!
It took me a while to decide on an idea, but once I had, I have to confess the Copics pretty much made this so simple I was practically cheating!

SUPPLIES

• Copic Products
  Various Inks: Colorless Blender '0', E25, E59 & Black 100
  Copic Markers: Black 100, E18, E25, E47 & E59
• X-Press It Products
  Mixed Media Journal, Double Sided Tape, Adhesive Sheets, Clear Gel Glue
• FabScraps Products
  12x12 Paper - Australia, Journal Inserts - Love and Travel, Chipboard Die Cut - Lamps, Stencil - Stars & Vintage Mist
• Chromacryl: Gesso Primer & Texture Paste
• Collage items eg: ribbon, lace, leaves, material, metal findings, photos or papers
• Lindy's Stamp Gang - Moonshadow Mist in Gossamer Gold
• Art Quest Mica Flakes - Large Gold

Custom Background

Step 1: Cut 12x12 paper down to a size that will fit into X-Press It Mixed Media Journal  (do not glue in until finished). Glue on Love and Travel Journal Insert pieces to add texture.
Apply a thin layer of gesso - you should still be able to see patterns from the paper underneath.  

Step 2: Apply texture paste through stencil to add more interest, wait for the paste to dry completely.  

Step 3: Copic Various Inks to Tint Gesso - Mix Various Ink (E25) into some gesso to create a tint and brush over page.  Wait until gesso is dry.

Step 4: Copic Various Inks as a Glaze - Mix Various Ink  (E59) into glazing fluid and brush over page, allow to sit for one minute then wipe off with a baby wipe.  This will allow the glaze to settle into the texture and create a grungy look.

 Once dry - see how the glaze really highlights the texture!

Step 5:  Use Copic Markers ( Black 100, E25, E47 & E59) to outline elements,  edge the page and use the side of your marker to scribble over texture.  

NB: After repeated use in this way (contact with paint and use on rough surfaces)  you will need to replace the nib on your marker.

Step 6: Fill mister with Copic Colorless Blender ('0') and spritz over the page - this will make the colours run and bleed.  Allow page to dry completely,

 Once dry you can add stamping, stencilling, mists, anything you like. 

Custom Colour Embellishments

Using the same Copic colours on your embellishments as used on the background,  will create a beautifully coordinated page.

Step 1: Gather all of the embellishments you will use to decorate your page, these can be metal, wood, chipboard, plastic etc. Colour the embellishments roughly with your Copic Markers (Black 100, E18, E25, E47 & E59) - leave some uncoloured space.  

Step 2: Make a pile of embellishments and randomly drip on various ink (E59, E25 & 100).

Step 3: Spritz with Colorless Blender and leave to dry.

The Finishing Touch

Put it all together, glue your embellishments onto your background using Clear Gel Glue.

I love that no matter the material - fabric, metal or chipboard, everything looks so fantastic  and was so easy to colour.  The metal practically looks rusty - LOVE THAT!

The same colours were used on the leaves, canvas and lace - all look so different!  Yes that is a little Moonshadow Mist spray from Lindy's on the background and a touch of Mica flakes for bling!!

My finished page looks like this... aren't those Copic colours gorgeous!

I have a feeling I'll be using some of these techniques again as it actually used very little ink - yes I was suprised too - when combined with the colorless blending fluid, a little ink went a long way!  I used maybe 8 drops per colour from each bottle, maybe a little more of E59 - but what a result!