Inkyheart

Aloha to these wonderful door prizes from Prima!

I've been on the lookout for my HUGE shipment of product for the Camp Hill SDV - all 95 lbs of it (not kidding).  And today a sizeable box arrived - but so light!!  Egads!!!

Turns out I owe a big shout out to Prima for sending door prizes for each of my classes coming up at the end of the month.  One lucky student in each of my Primadonna classes will be awarded with this beautiful Aloha Box of blooms (a $15.00 value).  Aren't they lovely?  And the containers are so neat and reusable as well.

Thanks Prima!!!  And the 95 lb. box is arriving tomorrow so the class preparations will begin!

Brass, Pewter and Copper - oh my!

I've been on a treasure hunt - getting ready for my own version of a class inspired by Tim Holtz' 12 Days of Christmas tags.

Many of these pieces are no longer made, or the company that made them doesn't exist - and a few of them are just really special vintage pieces.  They are all intended to make your finished artwork as special as the time you will be putting into them.  Each project will be unique and you will make it your own.  These embellishments will just be the frosting on the technique 'cake'.

Boy are we going to have fun!

I'm looking forward to the Camp Hill SDV.  I hope to see you there!

While you were out (at CHA)

Wow.  In an effort to keep busy, and not be continually thinking about all the hot new releases at the CHA show currently going on in Chicago, I think I have been infected by the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.  I cannot seem to get it to detach from my hand!  Between cleaning the oven, the refrigerator, the bathrooms (TMI!) and ditching, trashing and pitching old cosmetics, toiletries and the like in my bedroom this morning...

Which was then followed by an afternoon of IKEA 'build it all-itis'.

And I intended to run down to my LSS this evening.

What is up with me?  Could it be that in two short weeks I'm going to be teaching at a scrapbooking convention in Pennsylvania??  Could it be that I spent last weekend demonstrating at a Stamp Expo in Hartford?  Could it be that tomorrow (or is that now today?) I'm going to attack Renaissance Art in Morris, CT to get some fantastic findings for my Christmas tag class?

Am I feeling a tad bit guilty that hubby is going out of town next week and the kids are in summer camp activities?

Nah.  But it was GREAT to have the whole family at work today, getting things stirred up around here.  Lots of schtuff to donate to the Goodwill store.  Lots of stuff to pitch.  Lots of recycling to turn in.  Monday will be a busy day.

Well, I cannot end a day without doing SOMETHING creative, so I went wild with a prompt from DesignerDigitals.com by Jesse Edwards' quote challenge.  Once their e-mail hit my inbox, I was off to find appropriate photos. That was fun!

Matties (circle) by Corina Neilsen, as well as cardboard/spiral torn paper (Illusive Collection)
Michelle Coleman (blue paper (Frosted collection)), 'bling', bracket journaling spot and floral paper is from Wonderful collection
Quote brush by Jesse Edwards.

And now I really must get some sleep.  Night all!

Spellbinders: Sunflowers

I had to wait til today to show off the fantastic Sunflower dies that Spellbinders sent me.  Here goes!

You are my SUNSHINE layout

I've layered both Sunflower 1 and Sunflower 2 to make this hybrid scrapbook layout, as well as using the Daisy Border Grand with chalk pastels on the side border.

 

The background paper is made from a picture of sunflowers in "Overlay" mode over a scratched blue background from the Frost Collection (Memory Makers), which I recolored to match Brianna's eyes.

I added a couple of digital frames from Glitz Design over her picture.

Then placed the title over a white memo pad slip (unknown author) and typed the beginning of the title in Ali's Handwriting Font (CK Media, free).

I finished the title by using the Indulgence font dies with Amaco foil for a bit of sunshine.

'Impressive' Card

And then I did a bit of emboss-only work, using the reverse stencilling technique to create this card. 

It reminds me of the letterpress look of embossing with the cut edge creating such a nice detailed emboss (rather than cutting) along with the traditional embossed areas.  I have pre-inked the die with two colors of chalk ink before running them through to make this lovely sunflower.

I used the seperate center piece on the Sunflower center as a piercing template.

I also used the largest of the Label Trio dies to highlight a word on my sentiment.  The sentiment is from 'The Good Life' set by CTMH.  The remaining horizontal and vertical lines were made by holding down any 'plate' die and embossing over the edge of it to make stripes.

Organization: Stamp Shelving

I've mentioned before how I have my stamps on these great Benno Wall Shelves ($29.99) from IKEA.  Well today, to my chagrin! I discovered that they are no longer a current product.  A new catalog launch is imminent.  So I bought the last two remaining at IKEA New Haven.

If you've read my notes before and wanted to get them - it might be too late.

But it is worth checking the shelves.  They really are great.  I use both Sterlite CD storage containers (sans lids) and CTMH stamp storage boxes as well as just let the wood mounted backgrounds sit on them.

I have to admit that even I feel capable of building something like these in the future if the need arises.  I guess that should tell you how much I like them!

Technique: Distress and Glimmer

I had the weekend to play at the Rubber Stamp & Scrap Expo as Sue and I demonstrated for Rubbernecker.  What fun!  I made a few samples to share.  They aren't finished projects as much as technique samples:

The first is a shabby chic background. 

1. I stamped a wonderful botanical image called 'Red Flower' from the Jeanne Streiff collection, with embossing ink on black cardstock and heat embossed with clear powder.
2. I dragged a Ranger Paint Dabber in Willow (green) across the surface of the image and let it dry briefly.  Over the black, it almost looks like a copper patina.
3. I buffed the paint off of the heat embossed image with a damp towel.
4. I sanded the surface of the heat embossed image to remove the shine of the embossing.  This makes it look more 'old' versus that shiny appearance.
5. I used a glimmery copper/rust mist as a paint and dry brushed around the edges to give it a bit of rust too.

Isn't that neat?  I really like what you can achieve quickly with these products.

The next tag shows a background that I've photographed two ways so you can see it more like in real life. 

1. First, I used Distress Ink in Weathered Wood, to cover the entire white tag.
2. Then I went around just the image, avoiding the center, using my Cut N Dry foam with Distress Ink in Faded Jeans.
3. And then I went around just the edges with Distress Ink in Vintage Photo.  It gives the background warmth - almost like a suntan.
4. I used the Tonic Edge Distresser to fray the edges of my tag, and just 'kissed' these with a bit of Vintage Photo as well.
5. Finally I sprayed it with a Pearled Glimmer Mist, with a nice HEAVY coating.  I allowed it to drip down the surface of the tag and react with the Distress Ink underneath.

From one angle, you see the distressed background.

From another angle, this tag shimmers like nobody's business.

It is nearly impossible for me to photograph this in a way that conveys how pretty the background is.  Please try it.  You'll like it!

The last tag, was a favorite demonstration from the weekend, and a derivative of the tag above.

1. First, I used Distress Ink in Weathered Wood, to cover the entire white tag.
2. Then I went around just the image, avoiding the center, using my Cut N Dry foam with Distress Ink in Faded Jeans.
3. And then I went around just the edges with Distress Ink in Dusty Concord.  It gives the background a wonderful mystical quality.  What a great purple! 
4. I did a technique called 'Spritz & Flick', where you spray a little water into your hand from a mini mister and then flick the droplets onto your tag.  Wait about 10 seconds and blot up excess water.  Your tag will look almost as if you splattered bleach onto it.  Distress Ink is reactive with water, so your water droplets will go through to the color of the tag underneath.  Note: you can control how much bleach out look you get by heat setting early on, or letting it keep going.  Or both!  It's up to you.

When I learned 'Spritz & Flick' from Tim Holtz, I couldn't help wondering how I could better control this reaction.  So I decided to try and stamp with water as my INK.  You may get very watery results at first.  It takes a bit of practice, but I use a mini mister to apply the water to the stamp and literally wave it up and down in the air a couple of times -- and then stamp.  I'm happy with the results about 90% of the time.  The other 10%, I just put on another contrast of Distress Ink and try again!

1. On this tag, I stamped a large harlequin image, and it was quite watery - so you can see the pooled edges.  I let it air dry.  Even though it isn't as crisp as I normally like - I decided to keep it!
2. Finally, I stamped a couple of Flourishes from the Jeanne Streiff collection, in Dusty Concord Distress Ink on the top and bottom of the tag.

I love to make entire sheets of paper like this for either scrapbook pages or cards.  It is true PLAYTIME, and anything goes.  I hope you will try them.  And please share a technique that you like too. 

What are we going to do today?

Well, it isn't posting that scrapbook page I'm dying to show you.  It is so hard to hold off - but wait til Friday!!!  There are still some surprises up Spellbinders' sleeves... :o)

And it isn't traveling to Chicago for CHA-Summer, because I simply cannot leave my family during the summertime.

And it isn't going to Six Flags waterpark / amusement park - because the weather just didn't cooperate.

So the smallest blonde one offered up some choices for us:

A couple of childrens' museums.  Check.  Swimming at the park.  Check.  In the pool I picked up at Toys R Us.  Check. 

And hmmm, what is that top choice?  Ah yes --- IKEA.  Now to be forever remembered as EYECEU.  (they have a play area).  Hmmm - I do feel like shopping!

Isn't summertime fun?

Spellbinders' Winner!!

I'm happy to say that Vicki Foreyt of Wisconsin has won the Flower Nestability die set featured on this blog!  Vicki said it best:

"Wow, I can’t believe I actually won something! That never happens to me, I’m so unlucky. I just love the Nestabilities, there are just so many different ways to use them. I’m so happy to be adding the flower shapes to my collection."

Congratulations, Vicki!!!!

Demo-ing for Rubbernecker at Expo this weekend!

I hope you will be able to stop by the Rubber Stamp and Scrap Expo this weekend in Hartford, CT.  I will be at the Rubbernecker booth, demonstrating their awesome stamps and Ranger products.  Here is a quick sample tag using the 161-09 Sand Dollar stamp, the Ranger Distress Inks in blue tones, Perfect Pearls and torn paper from Scrapperdashery.

Hope to see some local girls there!

Spellbinders Sneak Peek Contest (for this blog / die)

is open till Midnight CST!

Time's up, ladies!  No more entries will be accepted for the contest from this blog/sneak peek.

Good luck!  I cannot wait to announce the winner for my blog.  :o)