Jennifer McGuire, ink.

Some links...

Hey!  Random stuff here...

2Peas now has a kit for sale.  It has a TON of stuff in it - even digital stuff and stamps.  It is so hard to tell, but you get LOTS of goodies. I did a 2-page layout with it.  You can see it HERE.

Also, you can see a new project I did on 2peas HERE using digital kits to make t-shirts.  So easy to do! 

Next... be sure to go to Hero's blog today.  I am giving away 3 big owl stamps!

Cards are starting to come in for the Card Drive!  I can't believe it.  I have started a list of participants, and need to add a ton more names in the next few days.  You can see the list on the right sidebar of this blog. I will also put a link there soon for the prizes.

Lesse... I think that is all for now.  I have a class tonight to get ready for.  More soon! :)

How-To Video: Raised (Glittered) Edge

Have you ever been making a card and then decide to add something... only to realize immediately that it looked better before?

This happens to me often.  I usually just leave it as is and move on to the next thing... thinking of it as a lesson learned.  I rarely redo things. Me + cardmaking = lazy. :)

Anyway, here is a video for a card that is on Hero Arts HERE.  It shows how to create a raised edge on a card.  And then I show how to mess it up by adding glitter. Hee...

As seen on heroarts.com.  For info and supplies, click HERE.

Off to go see a movie with my girlfriends.  I will post a winner for the giveaway tonight.  Have a good one...

The giveaway...

...continues.  I am going to extend it through tomorrow night.  So, just leave a comment on the previous post HERE by Saturday night at 11:59pmEDT.  Good luck!

And if you are bored, you can check out an article about my CK stuff HERE.  I promise my answers will help you fall to sleep tonight immediately. :)

Enabling Day... and a giveaway!

I love to enable. :)  Just ask Jana.  Iphones, Cuttlebugs, Cricuts, stamps... you name it, I like to enable.  But I also will be the first to tell you not to waste your money on something.  I only enable I things that I really love and think others would love, too.  :)

So, I think every once in awhile I will do Enabling Days.  Where I share some fun links and products.  (Yes, I am a dork. But enabling is even more fun when you share some good stuff, right?  Keep reading... :)

Enabling #1: Etsy
I love love love etsy.com.  If you have never been there, I warn you.  It is 100% addictive.  I love to support the sellers here - it is all handmade stuff.  I love that.  I will share one of my favorite purchases: THIS stamp.  I don't think she has this one for sale now, but I bet if you emailed her she would list one for you.  I love it.

Enabling #2: Costco Printing
Ahhhh.  Costco printing.  It is *almost* as wonderful as my watching Rob Lowe on Brothers and Sisters.  Hee.  (Isn't he hot?!)  Really - Costco has fabulous printing and good prices. You can even have them mailed to you or other people.  From what I understand, you don't even need a Costco near you.  You just load pictures online and have them mailed.  The best part?  8x12 prints. I love the look of huge photos on pages.  This is an old layout from a year ago, but I thought I would pull it up for Father's Day.  Costco rocks.

Layout from Creativity, Inc.
Supplies:
Autumn Leaves stamps, buttons and font (Uncle Charles - named after my mom's uncle :)
Versmark Ink
Memories Ink
Marvy Punches
Other: string and a photo to melt a momma's heart

Enabling #3: Kraft Paper
One thing I learned from my favorite scrapbooker, Cathy Blackstone: always use Kraft paper on a page whenever you are using bright colors.  I just helps to ground it and not make it overwhelming.  So, I have been using Hero Arts Kraft notecards a lot.  I love that the envelopes match perfectly and that the color is a bit more kraft-y than other Kraft cardstocks.  But, I craved bigger sheets. I was THRILLED to find that Hobby Lobby sells 12x12 packs of a kraft paper just like Hero's notecards... and it is inexpensive!  Now, I will be the first to encourage people to go to their local stores over chains (we want those smaller stores to stay open!), but sometimes there are things that you can only get at Hobby Lobby.  The cool thing?  Whenever they have a 50% off paper sale, this stuff is even cheaper.  (Warning: If you live in Cincinnati, don't bother trying the Fields Ertel store... I wiped them out.  Hee! :)

Let's do a giveaway! Just leave a comment on this post by 11:59pmEDT Sunday night and I will pick a random winner to send a pack of this Kraft goodness to.  In your post, just say what country or state you are from - I love hearing all the amazing places you stampers are!

OK... off to waste some time on etsy.  Hugs!

A great link...

Hi!

A quick mid-day post to share a link.  Hero Arts has a free shipping deal going on right now.  And, they have a tiny peek into some new BIG things coming out very soon... fun! 

Will be back soon. :)

How-To Video: Inked/Stamped Chipboard on Clear Tag Card

Hey!

Have a video to share tonight.  This shows a few simple things... enjoy.





Supplies:
Hero Arts stamps, clear tag, flowers, button & pearls
Colorbox Chalk Ink (Primary, Chocolates & Blueberries and Pumpkin Patch)
Black Memories Ink
Scenic Route chipboard butterfly
White Staz-On Ink
Creative Impressions silk ribbon
Other: string and a fast-moving dude to act as Vanna

Again, the music is from my BIL, Keith.  Some of his older stuff.

I had a couple people ask where on ebay I got my Inking Tools.  HERE is my source.  I usually try to support local stores (we want them to stick around!!), but they were out.

Wanna see a cute card?  Check out an adorable one by Kandis HERE.

Hope you are all doing well.  Those of us in Cincinnati are enjoying the wonderful joy of cicadas.  Yes, my yard is being taken over by these buggers.  Argh!  As Colin says, "Cicadas are EVERYWHERE at Colin's house!"  Ha.  I will save you the discomfort and not show a picture. :)

Night!

Spreading some goodness: a card and giveaway...

Well, I just found out that my favorite cardmaker is having a birthday today.  So, I thought I would post a birthday card for her, since it obviously won't make it in the mail on time. :)  Tami, hope you have a great one.  You deserve it.

And, everyone, you MUST go see Tami's gallery at 2peas.  She is amazing.  You can find it HERE.

Here is the card I made for ya, Tami.  It isn't anything fabulous, but please know I adore you. :)



Supplies:
Hero Arts birthday background
Imaginisce flower stamp
Colorbox Chalk Ink
Tim Holtz Crackle Paint
Melissa Frances rub-on greeting
Scenic Route chipboard butterfly and ledger paper
Other: scallop chipboard, jute and sewing machine

Happy birthday, Tami!

And, how about a giveaway?  I have these font cds from Autumn Leaves that I haven't used.  I got all the font files directly, so thought I would pass these on to a few of you.  There are some fabulous fonts on here!  There 6 cds.  Instead of sending them all to one person, how about I draw six names?  Just leave a comment here by Wednesday at 11:59pmPST telling me something that made you smile today.  I love to hear stuff like that.  :)

And how is this for a bad picture of the prizes?  Ha... was too lazy to go upstairs to get a different lens and a better location.



Have a good night! 

A giveaway, a cool link, a layout and some Q&A's...

Well, I am hoping to squeeze all that in before bedtime. :)  But watching the goofs on the Bachelorette may be too distracting.  (I can't believe I just admitted to watching that. Ha.)

First: a giveaway.  Jana is giving away something you know I love - a Cuttlebug embossing folder.  Click HERE to play!

Second: a cool link.  The remarkably talented, incredibly thoughtful and fabulously funny Shari is the lead blogger on Hero this week.  She has lots of giveaways planned!  Be sure to go check out her cool projects.  Go HERE to play.

Third: a layout.  Actually, this is part of a Q&A, too.  I had someone email me and ask what I do with 8x8 pages.  I sometimes teach them for make and takes or mini classes.  But I don't actually have any 8x8 albums.  So when I come home with an 8x8 page, I just plop it on a 12x12 page and add photos.  Here is a good example.  This was a 8x8 page I did as a make and take in the Hero booth at CHA.  I just stuck it on a background and added some favorite photos.  Easy peasy.

Supplies:
Hero Arts stamps (border, greetings and circles), flowers and pearls
White Memories Ink
ArtPrint Brown Memories Ink
Marvy punches
Strano ribbon
Bazzill cardstock

So, really, whenever I want to turn any page size (such as 8.5x11) to 12x12, I just plop it on a background and add stamping or photos on the edge.  Easy, huh?  Nothing fancy.

Fourth: More Q&A's. These are some I got in emails.

Q: I was just wondering....what is that brown square surface you do all your work on? Is it a craft sheet (like the one Tim Holtz uses?)

A: Hee... mine is just a 12x12 piece of Kraft paper that I was using for scrap paper. :)  My desktop is actually Home Depot cheapo countertop with a giant piece of glass on it.  So, I have to put something under my projects when I video or I get a glare in the shot.  I normally work on glass.  I LOVE THIS.  I highly recommend it.  When it needs cleaning, I spray it and scrap with a knife and it cleans perfectly and fast.  Love love love it.  My dad had the glass cut for my table.  Bless his heart. :)  I do like Tim's craft sheets, too.

Q: I just discovered your blog - very nice! Thank you for doing it. I saw there that you did extra articles online at CK. I followed your instructions: "You can find new articles by going to creatingkeepsakes.com  But the links weren't there. Which isn't your fault, I don't think - you're supposed to be able to click on any issue (in the archives) and see the table of contents for that issue - but it doesn't happen!  So I think the site is bonkers. :) and clicking the "magazine" tab.  In the middle, it says "more articles."  The articles can be found there - Technique Corner."

A: Well, I think they are working on things over on CK's site.  This month is a bit different - you can find my clear stamping article HERE.  Once things get worked out over there, I will link you to new articles. :)

OK... I think that is all I have in me tonight.  I need to get caught up on email.  I am hoping to work on finishing my scraproom tomorrow - it is killing me to have the mess!  If there is anything in particular that you wanted to see in the finished room, let me know.

Have a great night.  Be sure to come back tomorrow.  I am thinking it is getting to be time for another giveaway... :)

Another video...

... HERE today on Hero's blog.  Shows a few little tricks, including a swing card.  Thought I would share another example of this type of card here.  Basically, there is a brad on the top of that circle and it swings up to reveal the personal message beneath.  (So the card doesn't open like a traditional card.)

The technique on the butterfly is a twist of the embossed resist shown on the video on Hero Arts' blog HERE.  I just stamped the butterfly with Versamark ink on vintage text paper. I then heat embossed with white powder.  I applied green watercolor over the image and wiped away the excess with a wipe.  Easy!

Supplies:
Hero Arts stamps (butterflies, greeting) and notecards
Versamark ink (for butterfly)
White embossing powder (on Versamark for butterfly)
Black Memories Ink
Watercolor (to watercolor over butterfly)
Marvy punches
Vintage text paper (torn from old dictionary)
Brad (found on the floor in my scraproom... hee)

More later!  Happy Tuesday...

Morning! A link...

Hi!

Sounds like you all had great Mother's Days.  So glad.  It's amazing how one day can lift our spirits so much, huh?

I will post a winner tonight.  I just wanted to post quickly before I take Colin to art class to share a link to one of my videos.  I am the host again this week on the Hero Arts blog.  I will be sharing lots of videos there, so be sure to go look often.  Today I posted one on creating embossed resist backgrounds.  I will have videos throughout the week here, too.  (Click HERE for the blog.)

Hope you have a great day and more later. :)