Jennifer McGuire, ink.

Thinking Inking Video... and another...

Hey, there!

New Thinking Inking is up HERE.  It is the last of the Distress Crackle Paint projects for the week.  I really love this stuff.  Even if you aren't into the brown-distress-look, there are great ways to use it in a colorful and clean way.  It is simply about adding texture to your projects.

(c) twopeasinabucket.com - info HERE.

And I thought I would show some old projects I did with the Distress Crackle Paint, too.  I have shared these before, but just in case you wanted some more examples.

This one has a video.  If you watch it, you will notice that I did this before meeting my current best friend - The Foam Inking Tool from Ranger. :)  So, ignore the icky foam piece I use in it...

Here is a card, also using Distress Crackle Paint...

Yes, my use of butterflies started long ago.  I think it started when Scenic Route came out with these rockin' chipboard butterflies...

Well, I better wrap it up.  Have a great weekend.

Another Thinking Inking Video is up...

Hey!

Just letting you know that another Distress Crackle Paint video is up over on 2peas HERE.  This was one of my favorite videos to do.





One of the cards on here was especially fun.  I love painting in images with Crackle Paint...

(c) twopeasinabucket - click HERE for info


c) twopeasinabucket - click HERE for info

Thanks for stopping by.  More later!  Heading out soon for my class tonight.  Love to teach.

I'm back... with three videos!

Hello!

Was sick there for a bit, but better today.  So I have several things to link ya up to in case you missed them.

Twitter.  I have to tell you all that you need to sign up for Twitter.  For me, it is so much better than Facebook.  (I never go on FB anymore - but my tweets just go up there automatically.)  I like Twitter because people seem to share more links there than on Facebook.  People link to great ideas, inspiration, etc.  Also, it is so less overwhelming.  If you haven't started tweeting, I would recommend it.  Even if you don't want to tweet, you can follow people and learn lots.  You can find me HERE.  And Hero Arts just started Twitter, too!  They are giving away lots of prizes there, so click HERE to find them.

Since we last talked, two different Thinking Inking classes have gone up.  Both are on Ranger Paint Dabbers.  However, if you have other acrylic paints, they work, too.  (But the dabbers are the best.  Trust me.)  Click HERE for the class threads.  And, did you know that you can play along and win great prizes?  Check it out.

 

Next up... have you seen the blog week over on Hero?  It is a tough challenge - using photos on cards and other projects.  But I think it is a fun one.  Here is a video showing how to make a fold-out card.  For more information, click HERE.

I was just going through some computer files and found this card.  It was one I did for the Hero Arts catalog that got changed a bit.  The original is below, and the "naked" version is HERE. :)  This is one big stamp.  I just stamped it in green and then added color and shading with colored pencils.  You Copic people could have a fun time with this image...

Supplies: Supplies can be found HERE. 

Well, I am off to catch up on email.  If you have emailed me in the past couple weeks and haven't heard back, please send it again.  With my computer dying and me getting sick, I fear I am missing lots.

Hugs all around.  Have a great holiday weekend...

Gotta balance out some Distress with some cutesy... (and a giveaway!)

Hey there.

Since I have been sharing so much distress-y stuff lately, I thought I would balance it with a bit of non-distressy. :)

First up, I am leading the Hero Blog this week.  The challenge is to use photos on a card or project.  I love this theme.  I hope people can play along.  A lot of people leaving comments there today said they have never done one!  Here is a peek at what I created.  Click HERE for more info...

(c) Hero Arts Blog

Here is a card I did long ago for the Hero Arts catalog.  (Since it is an oldy, I hope I haven't share it already.)

Supplies: The supplies are the same as the card found HERE.

Well, I am watching the fabulously guilty-pleasure that is called "The Bachelorette" now.  Wes gives me the creeps.  (And usually guys with a guitar melt me.)  Oh, and Jake?  I want to hook him up with my friend Courtney.  Hmmm... I am thinking there are going to be some great one-liners in tonight's show.  (Yes, I know the show is a joke.  That is why I like it. :)

NIght.

New Thinking Inking Video is up...

Hi!

Just wanted to let you all know quickly that the new Thinking Inking class is up HERE.

This week focuses on Paint Dabbers and stamping - my fave!





More soon!

Whew!

I am back online!

Yikes.  That was no fun.  The only thing I need to do is get Photoshop on this new computer and then I am set.  I love Apple... they make things soooooo easy.

OK... back to stamping. :)

Here is a card I did long ago but forgot to share (I think).  It is a bit different for me, but playing with inks makes it fun to create "new" looks for yourself.  Everything here is Distressed Inked then speckled with water.  Fun fun!

Supplies: Distress Inks, Tim Holtz Fragment clear tag), Hero Arts stamps and notecard, old text paper, Paper Studio butterfly punch, Glossy Accents (for butterfly body)

And!  A quick mention: Hero Arts is now on Twitter.  If you aren't on Twitter, you really should check it out.  You don't even have to tweet to do it - you can just follow others and get GREAT links from fellow artists.  You can follow Hero HERE and me HERE.  And, if you sign up to follow Hero, you could win some stamps.

OK... off to catch up on everything computer-related.  Smooch.

Teacher Gifts - Card Sets

Hello.

I forgot to share what I made for Colin's teachers this year.  He goes to a Montessori, so he has several teachers - 6 right now.  They each got a set of 10 cards.  Wanted to make more, but ran outta time. 

Each set was in a clear box with a matching bow.  Each card is embossed with a Cuttlebug or Quickutz embossing folder, along with some simple stamping added.  (No coloring = big timesaver.)  I used two of my favorite stamp companies: Hero Arts and Papertrey Ink.  Each envelope is stamped on the flap to match the cards.

The embossed background really brings the cards to life, even though they are simple.  I also covered some of the stamped images with smeared sitckles for fun.  The photos are bad (as usual for me), but here they are...

Supplies: Quickutz and Cuttlebug Embossing Folders, Hero Arts stamps (flourish, big butterfly, all greetings, flower and apple), Papertrey Ink stamps (stars, damask, hearts), Diamond Stickles, Hero Arts notecards, Shadow Inks and gems

(ETA: That last card was inspired by Dawn McVey.  She rocks.)

I had fun Slip 'N Sliding with Audrey and Colin tonight.  Audrey was so happy to have me join her.  I will likely be sore tomorrow - off to rest. :)

Thanks for stopping by...

Photos and stamping...

Hey there.  Forgive me - I have a bit of non-stamping to share first.  (Feel free to scroll down.)  But I know a lot of you are scrapbookers and appreciate photography, so I want to share some things...

So... I have a bucket list.  You know, the list of things you want to accomplish or do in your life.  Most things on my list are places to visit.  But there are 5 that are about photos.

See, there are 5 photographers who I adore for different reasons.  And getting my family in front of their cameras... that is on my bucket list.  And now I am so thankful to say I have now accomplished two of these.  Here are the five (in no order)...

1. Cathy Blackstone Photography

I have known Cathy for many years.  We both won the CK Hall of Fame the same year, and I contacted her and we got together.  We hit it off immediately.  Cathy is as real as they come.  True and honest and fun.  (Want a peek at how great and honest she is?  Click HERE.  Love the idea of "therapy photos."  Took some of them today.)  And when she decided to start a photography business, I wanted to be first in line.  Why?  Because of how real, true, honest and FUN she is.  Well, back in November, we got together.  It was a cold day... Colin was sick... Audrey was grumpy... but we still had fun.  Cathy made us laugh and captured those happy, laughing moments - which is so "us."  (We are a very "laughy" family.)  She is amazing.  If you live anywhere near Columbus, Ohio - contact her.  You won't regret it.  Here are some of my faves - they are so "us"...

My brother was behind the camera making us all laughing like crazy here.  This is SO us. :)

 

2. Lisa Russo Photography

Lisa is another one I have known for years, and was lucky to work with at Autumn Leaves, too.  I can't say enough about what a good person she is.  Back when I had post-partum depression, the doctor suggested I go away and visit a "fun friend" for a weekend.  I instantly called Lisa.  And, I can honestly say, she was a huge reason that I survived.  Soon, she left the scrapbooking industry and started in photography.  For a couple years now, I have admired Lisa's work.  Her photography is perfect in my eyes - classic, loving and timeless.  I would go to her blog and stare in awe... but then have to leave quickly for fear of getting sad that she lives so far away.  So, I started nagging Ken.  :)  Begging him to help me find a way for our family to get to Atlanta and in front of her camera.  A few weeks ago on our lake trip, her family came to stay with us.  We had such fun with her - she seems to have been doing this for years and years - a true calling.  If you are interested in seeing the slide show she made for me (it moves fast since she had so many good ones), you can watch it HERE.  And here are a couple (and more are HERE)...

(Yep, the girls have grown, haven't they?  Kay is taller then me.  I haven't published pages of them in the last few years because they are older and enjoy scrapping their own photos.  They LOVE to scrapbook.) 

(Cathy and Lisa - thank you. love you. owe you. :)

3. Traci Turchin Photography

I met Traci through the scrapbooking industry, too.  She is now an incredible photographer with an amazing eye.  Her photos are also so real... so true.  I love that.  The type of photos you will still love in 20 years down the road.  I hope to someday get out to Colorado (somehow) and get in front of her camera.  Someday.

4. Melissa Deakin

I don't know Melissa very well, but she just has this kindness about her - it is something that is obvious.  And, she is starting a photography business, which makes me so happy.  Her photos also have a kindness and comfort about them.  Simple, sweet and classic.  Who wouldn't want to have photos of their family like that??  I wish I lived closer to Buffalo.  A girl can dream...

5. Erin Cobb Photography

Sweet Erin.  This girl is a doll, and she makes cute babies, too. :)  I have been chatting via email with Erin for a long time now and she is always so generous when I need photos for assignments.  Her photos have a refreshing, cheerful, eye-catching look to them... capturing everyday moments with shine.  Love that.  Huntsville - I need to head your way.  Would love to have my kiddos captured by Erin.

OK... enough photo chat.  But I have been wanting to share that for awhile now. :)  Do you have a favorite photographer?

On to stamping...

Here is a page I did for the Hero Arts Blog.  (In fact, it uses a photo by Cathy Blackstone.)  Just shows the power of black and white...

(c) Hero Arts Blog - for info and supplies, click HERE.

Next up, a quick couple of cards I did awhile back using leftover class kits.  These are examples of the goodies shown in the first week of Thinking Inking Class.  These have inking and stamping with Distress Ink... followed by a bit of water splotching.  Love the Papertrey Ink Damask stamps.

Supplies: Hero Arts notecards and flowers and buttons and stamps (flourish and greeting), Papertrey Ink damask stamps, Creative Impressions ribbon, Distress Inks, twine, white embossing powder

OK... off to watch some mindless tv.  Gotta love it.  Night!

I am the happiest girl today... (and video)

... because of all of you who are playing along with the Thinking Inking class.  AMAZING projects!  I am loving looking at each and every one.

And, a new one is up today HERE...
 

I really recommend checking out what others have created for this class.  There are some really inspiring projects!

Also, here are some fun links for your Monday morning...

• A Robyn masterpiece HERE.
• A great new blog week HERE by Shari.
• Adorable Amuse card HERE.
• Love THIS sweet card by Lucy.
• Great dad card HERE by Jenn.
• Adorable card and video by Kristina Werner HERE.
• THIS card is a great example of how a great die can make a stunning card.

And here is a project I did over at 2peas.  Click HERE for the product info.  I LOVE those Quickutz leaf dies - they cut for dimension.

(c) twopeasinabucket.com - click HERE for info.

OK... off to go home and work some more.  Thank you, all, for making me smile.

:)

More Inking...

Hi!

When I got back from Ranger U a few months ago, I spent the next weekend playing with the techniques... coming up with new stuff and learning more by playing.  All in preparation for the class I was hoping to teach with 2peas.  So glad it has started - such fun.

I thought I would go ahead and share a few of them...

This first one shows inking and flicking with water, as shown in the first Thinking Inking video HERE.  I also punched the butterflies from yummy Studio Calico paper and covered them with Glossy Accents.  Love that stuff.  This is pretty distress-y for me, but that was what made creating it fun.

Supplies: Hero Arts stamps (greeting, script), Studio Calico patterned paper, Paper Studio butterfly punch, Hero Arts pearls, Glossy Accents, Distress Inks

For this next one, I masked off a rectangle area in the center of a notecard.  I then inked it with Broken China Distress Ink (blue) and brushed with perfect Pearls.  So, you can't see it in the picture, but the blue is shiny/pearly.  So cool in real life.

Supplies: Hero Arts stamps (greeting, stem flourish) and flowers and gems and notecard :), Distress Inks

This is another one of my made-with-scraps cards.  That is one of my favorite things about the techniques done such as distress inking, water stamping, etc.  There are always delicious scraps leftover.  Always.  I save these in a basket and reach for them often.  These we leftover pieces of stamped Distress Ink images... I just punched hearts from them.  So easy and fast.

Supplies: Hero Arts stamps (greeting, fern), Studio Calico patterned paper, Paper Studio butterfly punch, Hero Arts notecards and embossing powder, Fiskars heart punch, Distress Inks

Well, I am off to hang with little Audrey.  I adore her.  She is such a good sister to her little brother who is never more than 2 steps behind her.  Bless her heart.

Night night.