Jennifer McGuire, ink.

More Distress Inking...

Happy Friday.

Today is the third and final of the Thinking Inking Distress Ink week over on 2peas.  (Click HERE to see it.)  Next week will be a new subject!  (Hint: Your hands will be just as messy, but this time using something you used even in pre-school. :)  Be sure to keep coming - this class is 9 weeks! I HIGHLY recommend reading the class threads HERE.  There are many questions answered, tips given, and amazing projects shared.  (Big hugs to all of you playing along!)

Here is today's video.  This is one of my favorite techniques.  Big thanks to Tim Holtz for inspiring it all.

I thought I would share another example and some more video links...

Supplies: Hero Arts stamps (greeting, heart flourish, woodgrain background), Distress Inks, Perfect Pearls, Big and Bossy Embossing Ink, Clear Embossing Powder, Martha Butterfly Punch.

A bit about this card... The background is a Hero Arts woodgrain stamp stamped with Walnut Ink Distress Ink.  I quickly added some gold Perfect Pearls.  (This was shown in Video 2.)  For the butterflies, I stamped a heart flourish a few times on ivory cardstock with embossing ink.  I then heat embossed with clear powder.  Following the inking tips in Video 3 (above), I pressed the embossed pieces into a variety of Distress Inks and water.  The embossed area resists the ink.  I then just punched out a bunch of butterflies.  Easy.  In fact, I normally do many pieces at once and then just punch a bunch of different shapes from it.

And a few video links...If you are interested in watercolor stamping, there is another video HERE from Hero Arts.  And if you are interested in a spin on today's technique using resist (like the butterfly card above), click HERE.

OK... a quick moment of important enabling.  Go.  Now.  And buy THIS and THIS.  These are the tools you need for blending inks and playing with the many techniques we do in my class.  These have FOAM, not felt.  (Felt is for alcohol inks.)  And these will take you one step closer to being having Tim Holtz in your hands. :)  Hee.  Truly.  It is worth the purchase.  You won't regret it.  And they are in stock HERE and rumor has it they are selling fast...

    

More to share tomorrow.  Didn't want to bore ya with too long of a post!

By the way, you still have time to win on yesterday's post.  Check HERE.

Night!

How-To Video: Mini Photo Album & 7Gypsies Binderie GIVEAWAY!

Hello.  I have a video and great giveaway today.

You all know what a big fan I am of great crafting tools.  Well, I was putting together a little mini photo album the other day (a simple design that I make often) and realized that it used many of my favorite tools.  So I decided to do a video showing the creation.

This video gives a peek into the 7Gypsies Binderie, Corner Chomper and Silhouette.  The mini photo book is a quick one, using Grungepaper from Tim Holtz and more.  I made it for my girl who is at her grandma's and then camp.  Wanted her to have some photos and notes from the family.  I will explain the album more below.

Please forgive the bad photos.  I apparently didn't have my camera settings right.  (This is common for me.  Ha.)

Supplies: 7Gypsies Binderie Tool, Corner Chomper, Silhouette, 

I really like Grungepaper or Grungeboard - they are great to use for making little books.  It is flexible and durable and easily painted.  Rounding the corners really adds and nice touch, and the fabulous Corner Chompers cuts through it all easily.

The pieces on this were cut with the Quickutz Silhouette.  Ah... my sweet baby Silhouette.  I love this guy.  He cuts the most intricate shapes and makes my crafting easier.  About once a week, I go and cut a ton of different shapes and designs from white cardstock.  That way I have a bunch of shapes ready to go for any project.  I just ink them up and get crafting.  (Oh, and you can get tons of great shapes online HERE.)

Next up is the 7Gypsies Binderie tool.  This tool rocks.  At first, I wasn't sure I had a need for it.  But once you play with it and see how awesome it works, you quickly become addicted.  Basically, it punches binding holes through just about anything, with the quick touch of a button.  Ahhh... so easy to use.  I was excited when 7Gypsies asked me to decorate one for an artist challenge.  (You can see all the other artists HERE.)  It started out red and black, and here is what I did with mine...

In my video, I show a quick way to use it.  But there are more thorough videos on the 7gypsies site HERE.  I recommend checking them out!  Oh, and this tool is fun for cardmakers, too.  I like to use it to punch holes for adding ribbon, or holding several cards together for an extra special gift.

And!  I get to give one of these awesome Binderie Tools away!  Just leave a comment here by Saturday at 11:59pmEDT telling me what your favorite crafting tool is and I will pick a lucky winner.

Thanks for stopping by.  See you tomorrow...

Fabulous color combo...

Hello! 

I have a long post in the works, but wanted to jump in quickly for two reasons.

One: It is a very special person's birthday: Tami Hartley.  This girl is a dear angel.  Adore her and so happy to work with her and call her a friend.  If you have a chance, go leave a birthday message over on the Hero Arts Blog - she is leading it this week.  Love ya, Tami!

Next, Ken and Colin went flying tonight.  And what is a girl to do with a quiet house all alone?  Stamp, of course! :)  I never take time to create for fun.  But I needed a card for a friend.  Also, I always struggle with color combos.  Kristina Werner shared a great one this week - very inspiring.  So, here it is...

Supplies: 2Peas digital greeting (by Kristina Werner), Hero Arts stuff (stamp, white embossing powder, flowers, buttons, pearls, notecard), October Afternoon paper (teal floral), Bo Bunny paper (teal dot), Sassafrass paper (yellow heart), Making Memories (brown dotted and ledger), Quickutz embossing folder (on notecard background - hard to see), Tim Holtz inks (Scattered Straw - for over the white embossed stamped image - and Vintage Photo to distress), Tim Holtz Foam Inking Tool, sewing machine, Corner Chomper, Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch

If you are looking for good color combos, check out Kristina's site.  Very helpful.  She does great challenges, and it was fun to play for the first time. 

OK, I must enable for a bit.  And I only enable for the stuff I really love...  :)

I always am looking for Christian messages for my cards.  I LOVE these from Kristina Werner - it is a digi kit.  Easy to use - just open, size and print.  :)

Run.  Run fast.  Don't walk.  You must go buy this new 8x8 paper pack from Making Memories.  It is delightful in every way.  I bought two packs.  Must. Get. More.

Also, the Corner Chomper.  This is my new best friend.  It resides on my table within reach at all times.  Does big and small rounded corners through any thickness.

And!  Embossing folders from Quickutz.  Yes, you can use with your Cuttlebug.  I am in love.  Totally.

Ok... more later!  Take care.

Blog hop, links, enabling and more...

Hello, bloggers.

First, I want to see if anyone else is playing along this Saturday in the Cards for Heroes Blog Hop?  

This blog hop is SO easy.  Just post a card on Saturday and link to the next person in line.  I did my projects today.  They are hoping for 100 people.  Please come play.  Click HERE for the information.  And, please leave a comment on this post telling me if you signed up.  From those folks, I will pick a winner of some stamps. :)  And I know they have lots of prizes throughout the hop...

I just got a card from a soldier who I sent a box of cards to via Cards for Heroes.  The appreciation from her group was so wonderful.  Made my heart smile.

Time to share.  These are layouts I did for CK.  This one was just a couple months ago.  I love making circles like this with my Quickutz Revolution and dies...

(c) Creating Keepsakes

This page is from last year.  The article was on ways to use journaling blocks.  Here, I cut them in half and used them around a photo.  Jamie had emailed me asking about it, so I thought I would share.  It amazes me how Colin is still like the many things listed here...

(c) Creating Keepsakes

It is linking time:

• Debbie Olsen.  My my my.  She is amazingly talented.  Her attention to detail is the best.  Adore THIS card.
• Love THIS page on the Studio Calico blog.
• The giftbox Tami Hartley made HERE is so gorgeous.  Can't wait to try it.
• Great page HERE from Laura Vegas.
• Great giveaways HERE from Stephanie Howell.  And the sneak peeks are fab!

Speaking of which, I have to show you a couple of my favorite new products.  I bought them.  And am now going back and buying two more. Hee.  They are from Lily Bee - 12x12 rub-ons.  So unique, affordable and cool.  Click on the images to see them bigger.

  

One last thing: Remember me telling you about the little boy in Africa named Surprise?  He is still not in a loving home.  Please keep praying.  Thanks...

And thanks for stopping by once again.  Off to watch Gilles.  Night. :)

Coming back with a bang... and giveaways...

Hey, folks.

Sorry that I went MIA for a few days.  Just needed to take a break.  I finally got back to creating Saturday afternoon.  And it felt good.  So good.

So, now I am back with lots to share this week.  Projects.  Enabling.  Links.  Giveaways.  Let's get going...

First - someone asked for a closer look at the two layouts that were in the recent CK.  I don't have great photos, but maybe these will help.  (BTW, the recent issues of CK have rocked.  I tore out lots of ideas from the June issue!)

(c) Creating Keepsakes - June issue

(c) Creating Keepsakes - June issue

Next up: Found some great shopping. How about a bit of enabling?

• I am adding THIS to my scrapbook room door.
• New Doodlebug.  I have always been a Doodlebug fan.  Their products always make me smile.  And better yet, the people who work there are true gems.  THESE are adorable.  They always use the best fonts, and THESE mini rub-ons are must-haves.  They come in lots of colors.
• Ah... and step aside, Cuttlebug.  Quickutz has some rockin' embossing folders now HERE.  My favorite?  THIS 12" border.  Great for pages and cards.  (And, yes, you can use them with your Cuttlebug.)
• Speaking of Quickutz, I am lovin' on THIS die set.  
• I really like papers that you can cut out lots of different borders from, etc.  THIS one from Cosmo Cricket - yum.
• One of my favorite things to do in the evening is to search around on Etsy.  I fill up my cart...  dig through it... save many to favorites... and then buy nothing.  Ha.  Actually, I do buy there pretty often - I like the idea of supporting handmade.  I get lots of shirts for Colin there, jewelry for the girls and gifts for friends.  (And, if you Twitter, I often share links to my favorite finds there.)  Anyway, I just saw THESE and will be getting them for the girl's bedroom doors.  And it is always fun finding bargins like THIS.  Hee.  If you like jewelry, THIS is my favorite seller.  And THIS is my favorite necklace.

How about some links?  Here are some for ya from 2peas...

• THIS page by Peg Manrique is fantastic.  Fun colors and such, but the focus stays on the photo.  Perfect.
• Shannon Tidwell does such fun pages.  THIS one just made me smile.  The title and accents are perfect.
• THIS is an AMAZING page by Kelly Purkey.  Fun in every way.  Boy, I sure wish I had access to her closet. :)
• Moon Ko is so talented.  THIS is so classy.
• Nichol Magouirk rocked this Garden.  Love THIS and THIS is the greatest page of all time.
• It wouldn't be a new Garden without a page to love from Robyn.  THIS is fantastic.

HERE is a set of cards I did.  Super quick, thanks to the help of die cuts and fancy paper. :)

(c) twopeasinabucket.com - click HERE for more information

And, HERE are two more cards I did using Crackle Paint and Glimmer Mist.  A strange combo, but it looks cool in real life - the shimmer gets in the crackles and shines a ton.  Here is one of the cards...

(c) twopeasinabucket.com - click HERE for more information

Last but not least, how about a giveaway?  Or two?  I was going through my brads and realized I have too many to count.  I picked out the ones I could still use - and thanks to my dear neighbor girl, they are now sorted by color! But I still have lots I don't need - a HUGE pile.  It includes simple brads, fancy brads, mini brads, big brads, gem brads, fabric brads, etc.  I will divide them up into two bags for two lucky winners.  For a chance to win, just leave a comment here by Tuesday at 11:59pmEDT telling me your plans for the upcoming 3-day weekend.  (If you aren't in the States... the upcoming weekend. :)  Here is a peek at the brad goodness...

I think that is all for tonight - off to get some donations ready to be picked up tomorrow bright and early.  Thanks for stopping by... night. :)

Cards made quick

Hey!

Happy Sunday.  The weather was perfect this weekend - what a treat.  Hope you all got the same.

Thought I would share a few quick cards that I have made recently.  I do a lot of quick ones... ones that I usually give to the girls.  I did these super fast with some adorable felt dog pieces that Ginger gave me.  Thanks, Ginger!  Love you.

Supplies: Felt dog shapes - no clue who they are made by - sorry;  Hero Arts greeting stamp and kraft notecards.

Here is another super fast one.  I got these fun glitter chipboard letters from Die Cuts with a View and decided to make several quick cards with them.  For some added fun, I embossed the background and added some of the letters with pop dots.

Supplies: Die Cuts With a View glitter chipboard letters; Cuttlebug embossing folder; Hero Arts notecard; Fiskars corner rounder.

And since I haven't enabled you all in awhile, I think it is time to share one of my favorite tools.  THIS guy is one of my new best friends.  You easily just flip the little switch on it to go from a small rounded corner to a big one.  I love it - less tools to keep track of! For some reason, a rounded corner adds a touch of class to most any card...

 

Ahhhh... I love fun tools.

Off to watch some excellent TV tonight.  There are a few shows on that love on Sundays.  And tonight I get to do so with the windows open while editing pictures.  God is good!

That reminds me - I added a Prayer Spot over on the bottom of the right sidebar.  For those of you interested, there are some people there to include to your prayers.  And if you want me to add some of your prayers in the spot, just email me.  After all, a few extra people praying for each other can go a long way these days, huh?

From important to mindless... more on the Bachelor.  Did you see Melissa might be on the Dancing With the Stars now?  Interesting!

Hugs.

I love new products...

... and this time of year is fun for that!  CHA - the big craft show - is the time when companies show off their newest goodies.

And I have some fun things I wanted to show you here.  The wonderful Tara from EK Success sent me a few of their new goodies.  They have GREAT punches coming out.  You won't believe it - I am gonna have to have them all.  They are the coolest!  The punches actually can be "locked closed" for easy, stackable storage.  Ahhh... how wonderful!  And there are awesome new border punches.  Woohoo!  Check them out...

Here is a card I made with a new border punch.  I used it to create the holes along the bottom.  The big star is a die cut which I adhere to the front of the card.  I then cut the center out with an exacto knife and stamped the greeting on the inside.

Supplies:
EK Success Border Punch - New this CHA
Quickutz star die
Scenic Route green patterned paper
Hero Arts notecards and stamps and gemstones

And here is a card I made using some of the great new Jolee's they have coming out.  They make cardmaking so fast and easy.  Love it.  I added brown Distress Stickles to the body for extra fun.  Bad photos, sorry.

Supplies:
EK Success Jolees Stickers - New this CHA
Making Memories Trim
Tim Holtz Brown Distress Stickles
Doodlebug glitter paper
Hero Arts notecard and stamps

What new products are you looking forward to seeing?  Me... October Afternoon, Basic Grey and Making Memories.  :)

Bye!

Home! Time for a giveaway...

Well, we are home.  It was a long day getting here yesterday (left at 8am, took two boats, two taxis, two plane rides and a lot of time between... until 1am), but we are safe.  It was a real bummer coming back to the cold, gray snow.  Boo!  I will share some photos soon... I have gotten a lot of requests.  Thanks for the kind emails!

I thought I would give you a heads up about some new books out.

First - Creative With Type.  it is a good one put together by the amazingly Brian Tippetts.  It is full of fabulous eye-candy.  For more info on it and some sneak peeks, click HERE.

Here is another peek - a layout I did for the book.  I put the words with white rub-ons on white cardstock, then painted over them - a fun form of resist.

(c) Creating Keepsakes Creative With Type

And another great one is Month by Month Scrapbooking by the fabulous Amanda Probst.  This is a really unique book with incredible projects.  I recommend checking it out!

Guess what?  I have a copy of it to give away.  Just leave a comment here by Wednesday at 11:59pmEDT telling me your current favorite place to go to for inspiration (book, blog, website, etc.) and I will pick a lucky winner.

Off to try and catch up on email.  Eek!  Have a good one.

The Catalog is HERE!!!

I am so stinkin' excited!

The 2009 Hero Arts catalog is now online HERE.  Woohoo!  And there is a sample for every stamp - could it get any better?  Lots of inspiration.

I thought I would share some cards I have done with the new stuff. 

These are two cards I did to go along with THIS page in the catalog...

(c) heroarts.com

Forgive the poor pictures.  Not sure what happened. :)

Supplies:
Hero Arts (card 1 flower background, card 2 flower background, "hello friend", "just saying hello")
Hero Arts pearls, notecards and flowers
Colorbox Chalk Ink
Versamark and white embossing powder

Would love to hear what you all like in the new catalog.  Any favorites?  I am loving all the new BIG wood mounted stamps.

OK.  The Bachelor.  I have a bit of advice to these girls: When first meeting a guy, don't talk so much about teeth, stalking, hammer toes, quitting your job, talking to the universe via your vision board or hot dogs.  :)  Oh boy... there are some characters on this show, aren't there?  But Jason is a doll.

Take care...

Giveaway #425 :)

Hello!

I love Saturdays before the holidays.  Lots of great things to go and do and see.  Love it.

First - the winner of the BasicGrey rub-ons is Tonya A!  I will email you.

Just a quick share today since family is together.  Wanted to show you a couple of my new favorite stamp sets.

This is a simple card (with a reallllly bad photo) of a card I made for Audrey.  It uses my favorite Maya Road set, Hero Arts Japanese Dolls and some awesome glitter pens.  Those pens really make the card come to life.  The photo does capture it well.  Actually, the pens should be called "shimmer pens"... it is a subtle, pretty look.  I just colored it right over the stamped images.

For the hair, I stamped it again and cut it out.  I stuck rolled up mini glue dots under the bangs to give it dimension.

Supplies:
Maya Road Word stamp
Hero Arts Japanese Dolls
Hero Arts Pink Pearls
Black Memories Ink
Copic Glitter Pens
Colored pencils

This is the set I like so much.  Isn't it great?

Now... giveaway time.  I *heart* Maya Road stamps.  They come in fabulous tins and have some great sets.  So I thought I would share one here.  Just leave a comment here by Sunday at 11:59pmEDT telling me something you asked for for Christmas.  I will pick a random winner of this oh-so-cool Maya Road stamp set...

Me?  I asked for a goat.  Ha - from World Vision.  And a vacuum.  :)

Oh... and I need to enable a bit more.  Check out THESE velvet flowers from Maya Road.  I just love them - I can envision a fabulous simple card set with them!

Have a good Saturday!