Sunday, February 28, 2010

One sheet wonder class

March 10th I'll be teaching a class at Green Valley Recreation, AZ and this is what I'm hoping to get across.  The One Sheet Wonder is so cool!  I made an 8 1/2" x 11" pattern paper using the new set Anchor To The Soul, a new set in the just released spring supplement, Serendipity Street. My cards are rather simple as a few of my "students" have very little stamping experience and I wanted to show them simple cards that they can easily reproduce.


I used Basic Brights Chalks to color after stamping with Noir PH ink.  It's very hard to see but the ice in the glasses and the sun and it's rays have all be outlined with the Stardust Clear Gel pen.


Here's all the pieces cut from the sheet.  What a jumbled mess, don't you think?  But these are the components to use on the cards.


So here's the first card.  I have so much of the blue, green, and yellow cardstocks from years ago that I used those colors when coloring the sheet.  This card also uses a white button and turquoise scrapper's floss.

So, stay tuned for 3 more cards in my next post!

Friday, February 26, 2010

I'm just side-stepping here!

Today I'm teaching a class at Green Valley Recreation, Green Valley, AZ.  This side-step card is the technique.  I love how it's so dimensional.  I used a new set from our Serendipity Street Magalogue called Fanciful Vintage. This set is really outside of my comfort zone.




Here's the card in it's entirety.  I used white cardstock and the Scor-Pal to create the base.  The pattern paper is from our Amberly Grace SWIC.  It's such a gorgeous paper!


Here is a closeup of the bow.   I purchased the Bow Easy at the small stamping convention last Saturday in Tucson, AZ.  This is my FIRST attempt!!  Isn't it great!!  The ribbon is from the Amberly Grace ribbon collection.


The little blue flowers come from the Ava Embellishment Jar and I tied on White Scrappers Floss.  I colored the stamped images using my Prismacolor Pencils.  Also used, Noir and Burnt Umber P.H. inks.  So, how'd I do with this set??

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Cool finds and fun projects...

Well, I got more pictures downloaded from my camera and resized for this post. Susanne and I had found so much at the convention last Saturday but I was pretty frugal in my purchases. I had some ideas of what I wanted and found 1 thing I was looking for.



The 2 punches are from Holland by Just Imagine Crafts. Can't wait to play with them! Seen the coolest Christmas Tree card made with the punch on the left. Found the Bow Easy, something I've been looking for. I make horrible bows and I've heard great things about this tool. The lady who demonstrated it made great little bows, so professional and neat!! Loved them. Susanne and I shared a package of EcoArt Boards. The projects in the following picture were made with these. They're made from recycled material and have various sizes. And the cool Cuttlebug folder. I was thinking of our youngest son when I see this.


Here's my 2 make 'n takes. I cannot tell you who makes the stamps. The pin was made at the Blockhead stamps booth. I added Ultramarine StazOn ink on the necklace edges. It also has gold foil edging.


I tried to get a closeup of the pin. It is covered with microbeads and has a lot of depth. It's hard to show that. We did use Palette Hybrid inks for this. I edged the pin with blue foil.

So, what do you think?? I'm anxious to play with my goodies but I do have 2 classes to teach this week. One today and one on Friday.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Rubber Stamp & Scrapbook Expo

This past Saturday a friend and I drove to Tucson to attend this little convention. We had a ball, spent a few dollars and did a couple make 'n takes. While there I arranged to meet up with Michelle, a new "angel" who joined TAC under me. She didn't get to stay long but she seemed to really enjoy herself and made a few purchases. My next post will show you what I got and maybe even the 2 things I made (need to finish one). Needless to say, I went straight to bed after supper as I was exhausted. It's not easy to walk around on concrete for 7 hours and "study" all the vendors cool products!!!





Saturday, February 20, 2010

Happy Spring.... soon....

The AZ Scrapbooking store in Green Valley, AZ wanted us teachers to create a card or two using alphabet stickers since they have so many. I dug out some Basic Grey paper from way back when TAC carried it. I had to use stamps that they carry and the little flower is by Martha Stewart. I like this 2-step image.


I wanted to show you that I used the Stardust Clear Gel pen on the flowers. Can you see the details on the flower? The pen just adds some great bling! I will be using this flower set for a class or two at the store. I hope TAC comes out with something similar!!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Hoping Your Day...

I survived the 2 day craft fair at the Assembly of God church in Green Valley, AZ this past weekend and finally am getting around to stamping! And, I finally got 4 new sets from the new Serendipity Street magalogue which is now current and has wonderful new stamp sets! Anyway,
this little cutie and text is from the cool set called Wonder and Joy.




I used yellow and green cardstock from the DCWV Brights stack and white cardstock and used Noir PH ink to stamp the images.


I colored this little cutie with Prismacolor pencils and used Odorless Mineral Spirits to help blend the colors. What do you thnk of her? Wouldn't this be a great card for a daughter, granddaughter, niece? I can imagine it for scrapbooking, too. Hmmm.... I need to print some pics of our granddaughters and use this set. There's a little boy in this set, too.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Warmth and Goodness

I seen this cool card layout on a blog I just happened by and thought, I like that! But I could not decide what image to use. Well, during a class last week at the AZ Scrapbooking store I seen this set by Martha Stewart and thought, perfect! Now, you know I love my TAC stamps but this just caught my eye.


I used retired Mimi SWIC (but More Mimi would work great!) and the text is from Inspirational Sayings and stamped with Noir PH ink. I LOVE how this turned out! I stamped the flower in Pink Petunia VM ink. It's a 2-step image (the background and the outline). I used the Corner Chomper at the 1/2" cut for the bottom corners.


I added a strip of Ivory Cardstock Strips under the little pattern piece and brown buttons with white Scrappers Floss. I think I should have used a brown strip instead as it would have popped more and fit in a bit better with the colors.

Here's a closeup of the flower. Isn't it beautiful?? I hope TAC comes out with a set like this! I probably will use the set to teach a coloring class this summer at the store.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Two more techniques for class...

These are the other 2 techniques that I was going to teach on the 12th at Green Valley Recreation, AZ. They're called Mono Masking and Faux Snakeskin. I like these techniques better than the salted. That being said, here's my class samples..


This is the Faux Snakeskin technique. Can you see it on the dark grey layer? Supplies used on this card: Take Pride stamp set, Noir PH ink, VersaMark ink, black brads, black scrappers floss, black cardstock, white cardstock, gray cardstock, clear embossing powder, and a heat tool.


Here's a close up of the faux snakeskin. Given the "ingredients" have you figured it out???


Now, doesn't this look like it's got some layers? Well, there's the white base card, the black cardstock and the decorated top layer. Yep, just 3 layers! I used Aged Ornaments stamp set, Noir PH ink, a sponge, and a ball-point pen.


This card was so easy but a bit time consuming. I love the look, so elegant, at least to me. I think I'll be teaching this mono masking at the AZ Scrapbooking store as it is easy yet has such a complicated look.

So, today is Valentine's Day! Go give your sweetie a hug and kiss!

Friday, February 12, 2010

Salted but no taste...

Is this a catchy title?? What did it make you think of?? Anyway, today I was to teach a class at Green Valley Recreation, AZ and show 3 new techniques, and salt was involved! So, what do you think??


This card uses the Treasure It set and is stamped in Noir PH ink. The glossy cardstock was brayered with Desert Breeze K-pad. I had some burgundy cardstock so used 1/4" matching ribbon.


I tried to get a closeup of what the salted technique does and you can kinda see it here. Kinda different. I've seen better but it did what it was supposed to.


Now, this card uses 2 stamp sets, Script Background and Be Still. I used markers to color my glossy cardstock for the flowers. I stamped the background on yellow cardstock with Sunflower PH ink and stamped the phrase with Noir.


The yellow background paper photoed horrible in this take but I wanted you to see the salted technique on the flowers. I used 3 different sizes of flower punches and did the middle flower in orange.

Stay tuned for 2 more samples that I was planning to teach, Faux Snakeskin and Masked Mono technique. Hope you'll like them!

My Wednesday class at the AZ Scrapbooking store went fabulous! I taught the Middle-step card using the Scor-Pal or paper trimmer with stylus. I had 8 ladies! They made 3 cards using a set that was very similar to our Little Cupcake set. We had great fun and they all said they'd be making the card again. That just warmed my heart!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Cut and Layered

I was again inspired by a Paper Wings challenge and this is the result. We were to cut out and layer something to give more dimension to our creation. I used the ageless Gerbera Daisy and stamped it 3 times, once on my main piece of white cardstock then twice on scraps. I also played with a technique from the Technique Junkies newsletter for the Cognac ink colored "frame" around the daisy.


All the colored paper is from our gorgeous Amelia SWIC and matching cardstock. I also added some coordinating brads from my stash. It is hard to see the text in the bottom right but it is from the Always Remember set and is also stamped with Noir PH ink. I colored the daisy on the main piece and on one of the scrap pieces using Prismacolor pencils and colored only the center on the third piece. I also colored an extra set of the leaves. I then cut out 1 daisy, 1 center, and the leaves and layered using pop dots or foam mounting tape.



Here's a close-up of the daisy flower. See the layers? I love the dimension! Just so cool!


And I used the Stardust Clear Gel pen on the flower center and veins of the leaves. Really added some pop!


Monday, February 8, 2010

You are Dino-Mite!

I remember watching an old sitcom back in the '70's (I think) where AJ was always saying, "Dine-O-Mite!" Anyway, TAC has a special right now and these stamps are part of the set! And I pulled a quickie on the red circle - it's embossed but can you figure out what I used?? I did use my Wizard but not a circle die. I'll give you a hint, you cut these off to get to the contents. Take a close look at the close-up picture.



This adorable little dinosaur and text is from the Little Darlins set. Isn't this great for a little boy?? Can be a Valentine or a birthday card. Check out this LINK for this set. I used the Super Jumbo Circle punch for the piece the little guy is stamped on. And I used Noir PH ink for all images.



The green and red cardstocks are from the DCWV Brights stack. Oh, can you see that I pierced the large white circle? And it is cut using a circle cutter. The red "embossed" circle was punched using a 3" circle punch. I colored this little guy with Prismacolor Pencils and used my blending stump and Odorless Mineral Spirits to blend.

So, have you figured out what I used to emboss the red circle?? No? It was an orange juice lid!! I did play with the Wizard plates to make sure I didn't have too tight a fit and to not cause any damage to my Wizard.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Seeing red...

Still playing blog catch-ups for the great Valentine challenges on Paper Wings last weekend. One challenge was to use only shades of red. Well, I digressed a bit with a minimum of white paper and black ink.



I scored my DCWV white core cardstock with my Scor-Pal then sanded to get the cool grid. And easy yet elegant background! I punched the same red cardstock with the Giga Scallop Circle punch then pierced the scallops with a paper piercer. I punched a pink cardstock (same paper pack) using the Mega Circle punch. I then stamped the beautiful cardinal from the All Things of Nature set in Noir PH ink and colored only the back of the bird in reds using PrismaColor pencils. After cutting it out I adhered the bird with pop dots. The scallop circle is adhered also using pop dots. I really like how this turned out even though I didn't quite follow the challenge exactly.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

I can't stop making Valentine cards!

Here's another Valentine card I created for the Paper Wings Valentine Challenge. The challenge was only 1 color of cardstock, any ink, any stamps, heat embossing, and 1 embellishment. I don't know if using my Dotted Swiss Cuttlebug folder counted as an embellishment. Anyway...


I embossed the text from I Heart You using VersaMark ink, red embossing powder and my heat tool. I used white cardstock and L'Amore PH ink, and ...


a felt flower and button from the Ava Embellishment jar and red scrapper's floss. This was quite a challenge to use only 1 color of cardstock! But I do like how it turned out. What do you think?

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

A sympathic card

Last weekend we had a great time on Paper Wings with the Valentine and more challenges. This card was created for the Friday Member Motivational challenge of a sympathy card.

For this card I used an assortment of stamps: With Sympathy, Script Background, and Watercolor Plants. I received the scallop frame from a friend. The big scallop strip is out of the Ivory Cardstock Strip pack and the paper is odds and ends from my stash. I stamped the images with Burnt Umber PH ink.


This card uses the I Heart You set for the text. The pink paper is from the Lilly Ana SWIC package - beautiful paper! The heart is created with my Cricut Expression and the Home Decor cartridge. I used white and black cardstocks and a 3" circle punch, the Giga Scallop Circle, and the Mega Circle punches. The text is stamped using Noir PH ink.

You know that you can browse the PW gallery even if you're not an angel with The Angel Co. Just click on the words Paper Wings at the top or click through the Logo in the lower left sidebar. There is almost something in every stamp set album!

Monday, February 1, 2010

Flower girl, oh, I mean Kitty Girl...

I was cleaning out some old emails and came across a blog post from last October (yeah, I save some to read again) and I think it was Laurie that had this cool sketch. So, I grabbed paper, stamps, ink and pencils and started playing.


This cute little Kitty girl (and inside sentiment) is from a "special" that TAC™ is currently having. The set name is Brighten Your Day (yours for $13.95 with a qualifying $30 order). The paper is from our Lilly Anna SWIC collection. I stamped all images with Noir PH ink. The cute little "flowers" are punched from the bottom of the papers! I used 3/4" and 1/2" circle punches and pop dots. The phrase on the bottom right corner is from the Thinking of You hostess set.



I colored this little gal with my Prismacolor pencils and used odorless mineral spirits and a blending stump to color. And the flower, nose, lace trim, and dots were colored with the Souffle Gelly Roll pens! You just can't see the shine from my photo but it is cool and raised a bit.


I did a little more than usual with the inside. I layered the phrase on more Lilly Anna paper for a bit more finished look.

Now, wouldn't this card be great for a little girl? Just cute!