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March 07, 2011
March 05, 2011
Jane's Doodles Blog Hop + Giveaway!
Hello!
Today I am part of a blog hop for Jane's Doodles. Jane is a sweet friend of mine who has her own clear stamps. I have linked to here many times in the past - both for her adorable cards and fabulous handmade buttons.
Here are a couple cards I made with Jane's birthday clear set. This first one also features the fabulous My Mind's Eye 6x6 papers (from HERE).
This next one is so very simple. I colored each dot with a different Big Brush Pen, misted lightly and stamped for a fun pattern. Love the messy dots.
Be sure to visit the other crafty crafters on this blog hop. Just click on the names to see their creations. These girls are SO talented and some of my favorite card makers!
Oh, and to celebrate this hop, Jane gave me an extra birthday set to giveaway! Just leave a comment here by Monday for your chance to win...
Thanks for stopping by!
Card Supplies:
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March 04, 2011
Upcoming Classes in Boston + Ranger Share
Hello, bloggers.
A few things today. First, I have two weekends of classes coming up in Boston.
I will be at Absolutely Everything in Boston on April 16 and 17th teaching 3 classes. You can find out more about the times and class descriptions HERE. And for info on where to call to sign up, click HERE. How about peeks at some class projects - all are very heavy on techniques and a variety of styles:
Also, Shari Carroll and I will be with Hero Arts at The Collin Rep Show in Boston March 25-28 teaching 3 classes, including a big one with Sizzix. This show is open to all (and only) store owners - click HERE for more info. Here's a peek...
Funny... from the looks of these projects, you would think I use a lot of pink in classes. But I really don't! Ha. I promise I have a good mix of cheerful, vintage and simple looks. :)
I also thought I would share a card that Ranger has up on the website. It features their new Shrink Plastic. Just lightly sand the plastic, stamp on it with Archival Ink, let dry and color with pencils and markers. Finally, heat it with your heatgun until it shrinks. SO fun. For instructions and supplies, click HERE.
By the way, the winner of the Neenah paper was Terri (luv in scrapin). Enjoy!
Take care.
March 02, 2011
How-To-Video: Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft "Inks"
Hello!
I have been getting a lot of emails about the new goodies from Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft. I thought I would throw together a quick video about them. This is a simple video just showing quickly how they can be used to get a variety of looks. HOWEVER, they are many great techniques you can do with them. But I will save those for a future video. Or two.
By the way, I was not paid to talk about these products. I tried them and loved them - and had to share with you.
You can get the Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft products in a few places. I would recommend getting that HERE at Ellen Hutson or HERE at 2Peas.
There are two products I will talk a bit about here: Stamper's Big Brush Pens and Gelatos.
First? The Stamper's Big Brush Pens.
Stamper's Big Brush Pens are great for crisp and clear stamped images. The pen has bright india ink that is odorless, won't bleed through papers and is lightfast/archival/waterproof. One of my favorite things about these pens is that the nib is strudy and won't fray after using them on your stamps. And the point of the brush tip stays nice so you can get into tiny areas. Not only can you use them directly on your stamps for stamping, you can use them on paper, canvas, etc. Oh, and the colors are yummy.
For this card, I just colored right on the stamp and stamped onto the paper. (No misting.)
(By the way, that green patterned paper is from Hero Arts. It is thick enough to make a notecard with white on the inside. LOVE. Find it HERE.)
You can color right on the stamp and stamp immediately for a crisp look as I did above. Or, you can mist it with water for a watercolored look. One of my favorite things to do with these is to stamp with them and then - without reinking - lightly mist the uncleaned stamp and stamp again for a lighter look...
(Used another Hero Arts patterned paper for the card here too - HERE.)
I will show a few more examples in a few days using these pens. (You can get a peek at them in the video.)
Next? The Gelatos.
I have never used a product like the Gelatos and they are fun! They are somewhat like chapstick - you just twist to reveal more product. The consistency is also like a chapstick or lipstick - creamy rich colors that blend smoothly. There are Color and Metallic Gelatos. The Color Gelatos can be rubbed right onto papers for thick, vibrant color or add some water for a watercolor look or translucent tints. The Metallic Gelatos look amazing on colored papers. You can even color Gelatos onto your stamps for stamping. I have never used a product like this - such fun.
I used the Metallic Gelatos a bit differently. I first clear embossed an image on dark cardstock and then rubbed lots of the Gelatos over them. Love the results...
(Oh, and there are those lovely flowers that I am addicted to. Get them HERE.)
By the way, if you want more "official" info on these products, you can visit Faber-Castell Design Memory Crafts HERE.
More on these products later. In the video I mentioned a friend who uses these products a lot - Jill Foster. Her blog is amazing.
Take care!
Card Supplies:
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Wanna take a class?
Many people comment that they wish they could go to a weekend class event, but haven't been able to.
Now is your chance.
Check out True Scrap - a weekend of online classes with some of my favorite people.
No need for flights, hotels, big $ or even getting out of your pjs. Just watch online and ask questions as if you were there. This is gonna be such fun...
I will be totally honest - I wasn't sure about this at first. But I am so glad to be a part of it. Why? Because this set of classes covers everything from stamping to journaling to scraproom organzation to getting-more-from-your-product.
I can't wait.
To sign up, click HERE. If you want to learn more, HERE is a video with details.
See you there!
March 01, 2011
How-To Video: Smooching Technique + Lots of Kissing
Hi.
I was the host on the Hero Arts blog a couple weeks ago. In case you missed it, I thought I would share it all here.
All of the cards focused on the "kissing" technique. For the video, I shared a twist on the "kissing" technique that I found by accident... and I called it "smooching."
(For supplies on this card, click HERE.)
And then I did a good ol' fashioned kissed background...
And to spice up that little flower, I added Glossy Accents for highlighting...
(For supplies on this card, click HERE.)
Then finally a couple kissed super simple ones...
(For supplies on this card, click HERE.)
Many have asked what my favorite inks are for kissing. For the light ink I like to use Hero Arts Shadow Inks and for the dark I like to use Distress Inks. For kissing with one ink (where you kiss an uninked stamp), I like to use Hero Hues Chalk Inks.
I love how you can create unique "how-did-they-do-that" cards with the kissing technique. Stamping rocks.
Night.
February 28, 2011
Fundraiser Prizes + An Essential + Giveaway
(Quick note: I had mentioned yesterday that I would have a fun surprise on March 1. But time wasn't on my side today and I had to delay it until Monday. Sorry!)
Hello! Hope your Monday was fabulous.
First, I wanted to let you know that my friend, Kristina, is doing a fundraiser for MS and has some great prizes, including some from me. Click HERE to check it out.
Next...
I get a lot of questions about the most essential crafting product that exists: white cardstock.
I only have one white cardstock in my house and I used it for everything: Neenah Classic Solar White.
I buy it in bulk. Want proof? 1,000 sheets...
I use this cardstock because it is bright white, nice and thick, works great with inking techniques, perfect for stamping and my fave for Copics. So, basically, you can use it for everything.
I get my cardstock HERE at Ellen Hutson. (She has excellent customer service.) You can buy it in reams - 250 sheets - which gives a great price. Or, you can packs of 25 HERE.
Want to give Neenah a try? Just leave a comment here by Wednesday night and I will pick a winner of 50 sheets of this delicious white cardstock. Good luck!
February 27, 2011
Stay tuned...
Happy Sunday.
Just wanted to pop in an say "stay tuned." I have something fun coming your way on March 1.
(Can't believe that is just around the corner!)
In the meantime, how about a bit of enabling? :)
You will be soon seeing lots of love on this blog for Faber-Castell goodies. You can find them all HERE at Ellen Hutson or HERE at 2Peas...
I am in love with the new Studio Calico goodies HERE...
2Peas also has lots of new Hero Arts HERE...
Simon Says Stamps has a lot of the new Tim Holtz stamp sets in stock HERE. I am in love with this set...
Jane, my favorite handmade button maker, has some buttons in her shop. Get 'em now HERE - they go fast. I hoard these like you wouldn't believe...
That's all for tonight. I am off to snuggle with the pup. Night!
February 24, 2011
Saving money...
Hey, there.
So, the other day when one of the moms at Colin's school saw the Valentines we made, she complimented them and then said in the sweetest voice, "You must save SO much money by making your own cards!"
Yes, I am laughing with you.
If she only knew, right?
Anyway...
I thought I would share the invites for Colin's upcoming 5th birthday party.
Yep, he wanted a bowling party. With a Super Mario theme. And momma liked the challenge.
Found a Mario clipart online - one where he was throwing a fireball. But, of course, I replaced it with a bowling ball. The clipart was all the wrong colors so I removed the color in PS from everything but his face and re-colored with Copics. Audrey helped and Colin colored the bowling balls.
And since I am incapable of keeping anything I create simple, I did a fun fold. Which Colin loves.
And the funky fold opens up to reveal the party info.
Isn't that new Hero Arts + Basic Grey star background perfect for birthday invites?
We had to make 30 invites...
And Colin addressed them all.
Colin LOVED the cards and many of his friends have told him the same. That makes it SO worth it.
Now THAT is priceless.
:)
Night!
(Oh, the winner of the configurations was Barb E.)
Invitation Supplies:
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February 22, 2011
A giant heart...
Welcome back.
I have received many emails from folks asking about the Let Your Heart Shine Frame I did for the Ranger Perfect Pearls CHA Designer Challenge. (You can find more on this challenge HERE.) So, I thought I would share some info about it here.
People also have asked what I am going to do with it. There really is no where in my house that it works. And I decided against having it published and instead think I might auction it off or sell it to raise money for the card drives or something. Not sure yet - I just think the message is a good one and could really make someone smile.
That frame was plain wood. Then white. Then red. Then black. I couldn't decide.
The background is made up of old book pages applied on a chipboard background with Multi Medium and then painted lightly over with Studio white paint.
I die cut a bunch of cardstock hearts with a PaperTrey Ink die and laid them on a craft sheet. Colin then sprayed them heavily with Perfect Pearl Mist and even shook on some more Perfect Pearls. The puddles of shine dried leaving such a cool look on the hearts.
Colin then put a foam dot on the back of each and I placed them within a traced on the background. Team work.
And I loved every minute of creating it. Even if it took a lot of minutes. :)
Off to watch some TV and plan some of my upcoming classes. Take care!
Giant Heart Supplies:
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