Jennifer McGuire, ink.

Q&A and the first Card Drive prize...

Hi!  I am behind on answering questions around here.  I am so sorry.  From now on, I will try to answer your questions in the comments.  So, be sure to check there from now on. :)

Oh, and fun thing... this is my 100th post!  Wow.  Time flies.

Q: Hi Jennifer! If an item is not for sale on the Hero Arts website, do you have any suggestions on where I can find them?

A: There are many stores that have Hero Arts.  I highly recommend checking with your local stores - Hero is a big supporter of local stores. You can actually search for a store near you on the Hero Blog... it is on the bottom of the sidebar on the right.  Hero has a minimum order of 1 stamp, so stores can special order for you with no trouble.  As for chains, Archivers carries some Hero... some that are even exclusive to them.  But the other chains (Michaels, HL, etc.) only sell discontinued or older Hero stamps.  (That is one way Hero supports the local stores.)  For online, I know that 2Peas carries a lot and is starting to carry more and more.  Stampin' Treasures is another online store that I have heard fabulous things about and they carry all the Hero line!  Be sure to look THERE.  It is heaven. :) (And, if you are local, Stamp Your Art Out can order anything for you and carries a ton of it.  She is really good about getting whatever you need and places orders with Hero a lot! In fact, if you are out of town, I bet you can call her to get you stuff and she will ship it. Connie and her crew are the best.  Another store is Stampers Corner. It is in CA and the owner rocks.  I bet she could help you find product, too.)

Q: Another question from me-how do you photograph your cards? They always look great!

A: Thanks!  Well, I have this fancy light-box-photo-thing.  But currently it is on the shelf in the basement. :) Instead, i just take pictures on my table in my scraproom.  I put a piece of cardstock on the table and prop one up against the drawers behind it.  Then I put my card on it and shoot away.  I shoot in RAW and therefore can fix the white balance.  But the thing that makes the biggest difference is that I adjust the levels in PS. (You can do in Elements, too, I think.)  I go into Levels and click the little white eyedropper.  Then I click something white on my project and it magically adjusts it.  Love that trick.  :)  I am working on my PS video and will show this feature there.

Q: What kind of pencil sharpener do you use?

A: Well... it is a cheapo electric one from Staples.  It is Staples brand and bright blue and my son loves it.  (That is the reason many of my pencils are sharpened on both ends. :)  It happens to work well with my Prismacolors.

Q: How do store your stamps?

A: Ahh... I get this question a lot.  I just finished up my new clear stamp storage, which is in binders.  And I LOVE it.  Finally I found something that works for me.  I will share pictures soon.  And my wood-mounted stamps are all in cabinets on spice racks - love that system, too.  My scraproom was almost done and ready to share but then the girls summer started and KABOOM... a bomb went off. :)  They are with me a TON during the day down there.  In fact, Kay was down there form 8am until 5pm today.  Sewing, making cards, helping me organize.  Ahhh... I love it.  So, once we clean up again, I will get a video and pictures to share.

Q: Where did you get your jars? I love the size of yours & wouldn't mind getting some like that...just curious.

A: The jars that I use for buttons and flowers are from Hobby Lobby.  They are super inexpensive.  I used to have ribbon in it but decided it was too much of a mess, so I switched to THIS system for ribbons.

By the way, thanks for all the rainy day ideas.  I am bookmarking them for the future! :)

Now... check this out!

Wow!!!  This is our first prize for the Card Drive!  The super sweet Heather Ruwe from Scrapbook Bakery is donating this box of goodies.  How can you win this?  Just read the details HERE.  Basically, you get an "entry" into winning a prize for each card you send in.  There will be more prizes like this, so be sure to send in some cards for those cute kids. :)  And be sure to visit Scrapbook Bakery.  This girl is so sweet and her kits are marvelous.  Go take a lookie as a thank you for her generosity!

Off to work on my Hero blog entry for tomorrow.  Night!

I am a ditz...

... at heart still.  I completely forgot to pick a winner for the stamp set from last week!  Der.  I am so sorry.  But better late than never.  The winner of the Close To My Heart stamp set is Holly!  I will email you. :)

Hey... if I owe anyone a prize or CD of Keith's and you haven't gotten it yet, please email me.  My greatest fear is that something gets lost in the mail and someone never gets it.  Would hate for that to happen!

A few random things...

On my post from yesterday, a few people asked what white pen I used.  It was the white Sharpie pen.  Worked pretty well.

Someone also asked if you can use Cuttlebug embossing folders with the Big Shot.  I believe you can.  I would recommend doing a google search - there is likely even a youtube video on it.

I have gotten emails about the yummy silk ribbon.  It is from Creative Impressions - I believe you can buy it from their site!

Want some amazing inspiration?  Be sure to watch Hero Arts Blog this week.  Shari is sharing some amazing stuff.  Wow.

Just a quick card share using a new Hero Arts stamp.  I did this for the catalog work but didn't like how it turned out so I never sent it in. :)  It is a transparent Hero Arts card over a Chocolate Hero Arts notecard.  Yum.  Love that look.  (The card just took a turn for the worse when I started embellishing... hee. :)

 

Supplies:

Hero Arts stamps (background, hearts and greeting), clear tag, clear card and notecard

White Staz-On Ink

Artprint Brown Ink

Primary Chalk Ink

Creative Impressions silk ribbon

I think that is all for now.  Have to go work on gathering photos for holiday pages for Hero Arts!  So hard to do when today was the most beautiful summer day...

Night!

Some answers and a card...

Hi!

Just a quick post to answer some questions and share a card.

I have gotten a lot of emails and comments about where we stayed at St. John.  St. John is very pristine - no huge hotels or chain restaurants.  Not even a stop light on the island.  2/3rds of the island is a national park, so all the beaches are bare - just trees behind it.  I love that.  It is perfectly normal to be the only ones on a beach in the morning.  You get kinda spoiled. :)  The island is so pristine and "true"... it even gets it's water from rain.  It is just the prefect break from a crazy world.  When we go, we stay in villas.  They are always on the mountain with a surreal view and a short drive to the beach.  (It may sound like a bummer to not be stayin ON a beach.  But when you go to beaches without big hotels on them, you quickly realize why it is so wonderful.)  We rent a lot from Destination St. John.  We have had great luck with them.  We got with our big family and love two villas.  The one I posted in the last thread is Great Escape. There is simply no better view and it is big.  (60 foot pool.)  And you can't see another house - it is very private - just the family.  (If you are a Kenny Chesney fan, check out his song Old Blue Chair - he sings about Cinnamon Bay which is the bay we are overlooking from the pool.)  We also LOVE Ambiance.  This is the most amazing design - two houses with a pool between and a bridge connecting them.  The whole tall wall opens up with HUGE sliding doors.  Wow.  I love that place.  (For our pictures from Ambiance, click HERE.)  If you need a smaller place, you can find fabulous places on the same website, based on the number of people there.  For more of our photos, you can find them HERE.  Ken is great at beach photos. :)  And, if you want more details on the island or such, email me.  Ken is a travel-research-freak and can answer any questions. :)

Oh, and if you ever go on a cruise that stops in St. Thomas, I highly recommend immediately jumping on a ferry and going to St. John.  That is how we found it.  It is MUCH more beautiful. And a TON less people.

I also got questions about the flourish punch I used in the last project.  It will be coming out in July. :)  Paper Shapers are my favorites. :)

I still am sifting through other questions in email and comments - will get to them soon.  In the meantime, here is a quick card share.  It was made in a similar way to the card shown in a video HERE.  This tag/card uses Hero Arts' alphabet clear sets.  They are SO cute.  They each have several fonts and they all match the other sets.  A great scrapbooking tool. :)

 

Supplies:

Hero Arts stamps, clear tag, pearls, button and paper

Paper Shaper's incredible scallop circle punch

ArtPrint Brown Memories Ink

Cuttlebug embossing folder to emboss the clear tag - love that look

Cheap string

Oh, and a bit of enabling. :)  Those pearls and gems that I love so much are now available at 2peas.  Yum.  They are inexpensive... love that.  Check them out HERE.  Oh, and they have the clear tags, too... HERE.

One last thing: if you live in the Cincinnati area and are interested in a 12x12 wire paper shelf, email me for more info.  I have one I need to get rid of.

Have a good day!  Off to get some work done.  One kid is sleeping and the others are at the pool with a friend.  Woohoo! :)

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... :)

Ahhhh... (and some Q&A's)

... a long nap does a body good. :)

After a fun playdate with Ginger's adorable Addie (Colin and Addie hugged so hard they fell over and bonked heads), I took a long nap while Colin did the same.  Darn, that feels good!  :) 

So, no project to share again.  I am a slacker.  :)  And I don't want to ever bore you all with family/kid/life stuff, but I gotta show you this. Colin was helping me kit the other day and I thought this was hilarious.  He was cutting string for me and this is what I found.  He made a smiley face on my roll of string with some gems.  Too cute.

Supplies:
String (Hobby Lobby - in the knitting section - $1.99 a roll)
Hero Arts gems (the new yummy smooth ones)
A funny dude to assemble

And here are a few Q&A's...

Q: Posted by: Susy | May 16, 2008 at 03:33 AM
I do have a question for you when you get back though, sorry. I quite often see you embossing on transparecy, what brand do you use? I have tried it several times using a few different brands and whatever I do it always seems to warp no matter how careful I am and if I hold the gun a fair distance away so it dosn't affect the sheet then it's not enough to melt the powder, any hints would be gladly welcomed. TIA for your help.

A: Hi, Susy.  Actually, I never really emboss on transparency.  Whenever I stamp on it, I almost always use Staz-On white, which stamps good and true.  I have done it once or twice, but I know you have to be really careful with the heat.  I recommend trying it on super-thick transparency, like Hero's notecards or Hambly's transparencies.  HTH.

Q: Posted by: Tami H | May 14, 2008 at 08:46 AM
I love the way you've combined all the techniques...the details are fabulous!  The design blocks have moved straight to the top of my wish list verrrry rapidly thanks to you! ;) In the video you mentioned the string for a buck...are you able to share where you buy it? Will it help if I beg?...because I'm not above that. ;) Thanks for another great video Jennifer!

A: A few of you asked about this string - it is the same one that Colin decorated up above.  I have it in a bunch of colors and get it at Hobby Lobby for $1.99, I think.  It is in the knitting section.  I know they have some rolls that are more expensive.  If you pick up one and see the price is higher, keep looking. There are cheaper ones.  The must-have colors are white, dark brown and kraft. :)

Q: Posted by: Amy Owens | May 14, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Hi Jennifer, I love your site! Especially the videos, I am a visual person so the videos are big plus for me.  And your brother-in-laws music. I don't know how to e-mail you sidebar. I'm also interested in where got the twine you've used in several cards.

A: Hi! Keith's music - I am working on getting CDs from him.  He is living in Africa and the person distributing them here in the States is on vacation.  Once I get some, I will let you all know how to get them in your hands. :)  To email me, click the "email me" button right about the copyright notice on the left sidebar of this page.  Also, not sure if you wanted to know about the string I mentioned above, or the jute/hemp.  I get that form Close To My Heart. :)

Q: Posted by: kimmie | May 14, 2008 at 02:20 PM Hi Jen...I do have a questions about the background resist. I have done this technique before and used glossy paper, is that what you used?  I am loving all of these... I started out stamping and now just getting back into it!

A: Hello!  There are two types of resist, basically.  The one I did in the video is "embossed resist."  For this, you can use any paper, such as cardstock.  The simplest way to do this is to stamp an image on cardstock with Versamark ink and clear heat emboss.  Then you can rub pigment or chalk ink over the image and get a resist look.  On the other hand, there is the traditional "resist."  For this, you will need a glossy white paper.  You then stamp an image on there with Versamark ink (or a resist ink) and let it dry.  You then rub a dye ink over it, resulting in resist.  There are many ways of doing these, but this gives you the basic idea.  To sum up...

embossed resist = cardstock & heat embossed image with pigment or chalk ink on top.

traditional resist = glossy paper & Versamark image with dye ink on top.

Hope this helps!

If you have any other questions, feel free to email or post.  I am still trying to get caught up on email... sorry about that.

OK... off to bed.  Night!