Something New…

30 Wednesday May 2012

Posted by Sara in Art Journal, Week in the Life 2012

Tags

Ali Edwards, Art Journal, Dyan Reaveley, Dylusion, Gesso, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, Mixed media, Ranger, The Crafter's Workshop, Tim Holtz

I’m going to try my hand at Art Journaling. Not anything personal, like a daily, write your thoughts, dreams, wishes, type of art journal, just one where I get to play!

And I’m a lucky girl because I have two friends, Cathie and Tina, who are doing this with me (though they already art journal, I’m the newbie!) If we’re super lucky, we’ll actually get together once a month too!

Here are the things I have to begin my Play Art Journal:

1. A mixed media album and some watercolour paper:

The album had the most heinous cover ever so that got gessoed and moulding pasted over immediately. It already looks better! Love the dimension, can’t wait to see what happens when I get around to adding colour:

2. The Crafter’s Workshop Stencils:

These are the Dylusions by Dyan Reavely – I’ll get more of these for sure! I love the patterns, the size, and that they come with a border too!

And these ones are mostly Julie Fei-Fan Balzer. Great designs, I have new ones of these already on the way!

3. Paint, Stain, Mist:

These are super cheap watercolour paints and I have some big plans for them! Also, aren’t they pretty! 🙂

I have a bunch of Claudine Hellmuth’s Studio Paints, all the Adirondack ColorWash and Dylusions Ink Sprays, Distress Stains and Inks, and more. These are going to be fun!

4. Gesso, Moulding Pastes (my friend Marg gave me a couple to try out that are amazing!), and Multi Medium.

5. Stamps:

I think my faves are going to be the Tim Holtz and Dylusions from Stamper’s Anonymous, but I have some Ali Edwards ones that I know will make their way in too. And there are some Dylusions stamps with people that are going to have to be mine very soon!

6. I also have the basics – a water mister, paint brushes, Archival Ink (need more colours there too!).

To help me along my way, a few of us are doing ICAD through Daisy Yellow. This is where you make one Index Card A Day – it can be written on , or painted, or gessoed, or whatever you want. The point is to do one a day. I see this as a great place and media on which to experiment!

In the past, I have only done one thing that has mixed media stuff going on – at The Paperie Retreat in May, I had fun with my Week in the Life album:

front cover

back cover

Yes, I know I haven’t posted the album yet, that’s because it’s not quite done. Almost though, and I will post it then, promise!

Want to join in the fun? I’m planning to post my Art Journal stuff on Wednesdays, once I actually start and I’d love to see your stuff too! Even join me for ICAD, it’s easy and anyone can do it, even if you only want to doodle everyday!

See you all tomorrow, maybe with a colourful Art Journal cover in tow! 😉 And if anyone has some suggestions for this new adventure or links I should check out, please let me know!

Tuesday Techniques – Dry Embossing with Wafer Thin Dies

29 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by Sara in Tuesday Techniques

≈ 14 Comments

Tags

Cuttlebug, Distress Ink, Dry Embossing, Ranger, Spellbinders, Technique Tuesday, The Crafter's Workshop

It’s our final dry embossing day! I thought I’d show you how to use your wafer thin dies to emboss, rather than cut – use them for double duty and really get your money’s worth!

You will need:

Supplies

A die cutting/embossing machine, wafer thin dies (eg: Spellbinders, Hero Arts, Papertrey Ink, etc.), and a tag.

First, line up the die on your paper, cutting edge facing up. Next, I find it easiest to adhere the die to the paper. I normally use washi tape as it is low tack and there’s no problem removing it once the die has been run through your machine. I temporarily adhere it so it doesn’t move and I can be sure it will emboss right where I want it to!

Next, make your sandwich – for the Cuttlebug I use the A plate, B plate, then a piece of cardstock as a shim (and you can then get a die cut piece at the same time as you’re embossing!):

Then put your paper with the die facedown so the cutting edges go into the cardstock shim.

Over that goes a rubber mat and another B plate. If you want a really deep impression, you may want to use another thin shim for more pressure. Just be sure not to make the sandwich too thick or it won’t go through your machine.

After you roll it through, you get this:

Nicely embossed! I happened to use an open die here to get a frame, but you can use solid dies as well, and you can deboss if you prefer, just flip your paper over!

I like the subtlety of this embossing, and how it picks up ink really well to make it stand out more while still not being super dimensional. Excellent for cards you’re going to mail because they won’t be too bulky.

In the same vein, you can also use stencils and chipboard to emboss. I won’t cover those since they are very similar to what I did here today but if you want to see those in action check here and here. I used the stencil technique on the smaller red heart for my finished tag:

As always, leave me a link in the comments if you try this technique out – I’d love to see how you use dies for embossing!

M and her funny sayings…

29 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by Sara in Uncategorized

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Family, Kiddies, kiddies, M and her funny sayings...

I promised to post this yesterday but time got away from me…

When I was at the Daylong crop at The Paperie on Saturday, D texted me and said, “I’m facing the Spanish inquisition!!!!” And then I got an email titled Inquisition transcript excerpt (I should preface this conversation by stating that M has gone to church many times and D doesn’t really believe in religion which made this all the funnier to me!):

M. How do you spell hula hoop
D. h-u-l-a-h-o-o-p.
M. But how do you spell hula hoop?
D H-U-L-A-H-O-O-P!
M. Yes but how do you spin one?
D. I don’t know Molly.
M. But tell me.
D. I don’t know Molly
M. Why don’t you know?
D. I don’ t know Molly. (as you can tell, this is his standard answer to her many, many questions!)
M. Can you scooter?
D. Yes.
M. Where’s your scooter?
D. I don’t have one.
M. How do you know how to scooter if you don’t own one?
D. I just do.
M. Can you skateboard?
D. No.
M. Can you bicycle?
D. Yes.
M. Where’s your bicycle?
D. In the shed?
M. On the ceiling?
D. No, on the floor.
M. How do you walk on water?
D. You can’t.
M. Yes but how do you stand on water & not sink?
D. You can’t.
M. Who can walk on water?
D. Jesus (bad move there, I should have seen it coming).
M. Who’s Jesus?
D. God’s son?
M. Who’s God?
D. It’s a long story.
M. Is it a difficult word?
D. Yes Molly.

Now, knowing my daughter, this was not the end of the conversation, she’s nothing if not tenacious.

And I would have loved to be there when D said Jesus could walk on water – never thought I would hear that coming out of his mouth! 🙂

Monday, Monday…

28 Monday May 2012

Posted by Sara in Classes

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Distress Markers, Ranger, The Paperie, Year Long Album

Just some odds and ends, random stuff for today!

Saturday there was a day long crop held at The Paperie and we had a blast! I made a couple of cards, played with Distress Markers (and made 2 people buy the whole canister of 37!), and made my LO for the Designer Duo class Cathie and I are co-teaching this coming Sunday.

Here are some sneaks of the LO:

This is going to be a super fun class because we both have the same products and totally different styles. At the class everyone gets some great product (patterned papers, wood paper, letter stickers, a stencil from The Crafter’s Workshop), two completed LO’s and two different teachers – all for $35 if you’re a member! That’s a steal, my friend, trust me! 🙂 And Cathie is amazingly talented, you’ll all love her LO and great techniques!

Also on Saturday I got a text from D saying he was facing the Spanish Inquisition – I’ll do another post on that later today so watch out for it! M is pretty funny, just sayin’!

Finally, we had another 2012 Yearlong Album class yesterday and we did a bonus page along with the regular monthly LO:

It was a last minute addition (truly, I thought about it at 11:30 the night before and did the LO during our lunch break!). I thought it would be good to do a few of these throughout the year in case anyone wanted to highlight a particular story or event. They could also be mounted on a 12×12 background and used for other albums!

I’m posting it here for those people who missed yesterday’s class – for that crowd, be on the lookout for the .pdf with picture and instructions later this week in your email.

I’ll be back tomorrow with some more fun dry embossing techniques so be sure to come back and check that out!

M and her funny sayings…

25 Friday May 2012

Posted by Sara in Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

book, Jackass, M and her funny sayings..., Publishers Weekly, The New York Times Best Seller list

M: Jackass! (laughs really loudly) That’s hilarious, Daddy!

Now, I feel that I should explain this one – and the blame is all my fairy godmother’s fault! She gave the kids this book for Christmas and they *love* it.

It’s seriously funny, a definite for any kiddies on your list, and if you don’t like the jackass part (though he really is a jackass/donkey and I also think that part is hilarious!) you can change the word . The pre-readers in your life will never know the difference! It was a Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book in 2010 and on the New York Times bestseller list for over 6 months.

And, if you want to read it, here it is on Youtube – which I also find hilarious, as that’s an electronic way to read a book about a paper book! 🙂

Anyway, enjoy, then go forth and buy!

Things on Thursday – Techniques & Tutorials

24 Thursday May 2012

Posted by Sara in Techniques, Things on Thursday...

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Pinterest, techniques, Tutorials

If you have read my blog for any length of time at all (like this week!) you know how much I love a good technique. Combine it with a great tutorial and I’m sold! So today, I thought I’d give you a list of links to a few fun ones I have pinned on my Pinterest boards:

1. Who doesn’t love a good transfer technique? This is different from the one I did a while back but still super simple – it just takes a little longer due to the drying time required.

2. A good brooch never goes astray and always makes an awesome add-on gift or end-of-year teacher present. Love how simple this one is and that you could make it as fun or as dressy as you like – simply switch out the colours and fabric. Felt would be awesome for a winter coat!

3. Who doesn’t own a boat load of baker’s twine? That’s what I thought! Here’s a great way to use some and make super cute cards, embellishments, or tags.

4. This ornament is beautiful in felt and would look great as a Christmas ornament or to hang for everyday. Use paper and make fun party decorations! Or put a bunch together to make some front door decor.

5. Easy, pretty, and a really good bang for your buck, making your own coasters is simple and a gift anyone can use. They can even double as paperweights!

And here’s a bonus one:

6. 3D stars! These could be embellies, home decor, party decorations, tree ornaments…

Let me know if you make anything, I always love seeing how people go in different directions with the same starting point!

Our weekend…

23 Wednesday May 2012

Posted by Sara in Family

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Family, Kiddies, kiddies, May 24

This past weekend was a long one – the first of the summer and for once, it didn’t snow! And the weather was actually warm! Two big shocks right there! 🙂

On a side note, I love long weekends – three days instead of 2 and then, to follow it up, a short work week; it’s like two holidays in one!

We spent the weekend at my in-law’s cabin with friends of ours who have two kiddies, one of whom is M’s bestie though she’s G’s age. We figure C’s in for a shock come kindergarten when she realizes M has left her behind with G!

Anyway, here’s our weekend in pictures!

Stripey Jammies

Playing Strawberry Shortcake on the top bunk!

D. says Vienna Sausages are a May 2-4 staple… I disagree.

However, roasting marshmallows is definitely a staple!

Funny face at the fire

G & C having a lakeside walkabout

This is my grandfather Case’s face – let’s see if the rest of the family agrees with me!

ummmmm, I really have no idea…

Family walk

The kiddies – M, C, L, & G

A favourite cabin game – kick Daddy

Reading and playing Curious George

Watching movies as we pack to go home

And that’s our weekends in a nutshell – lots of outdoors, swings, and marshmallows; we can’t wait to go again!

Tuesday Techniques – Dry Embossing: Faux Letterpress

22 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by Sara in Tuesday Techniques

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Cuttlebug, Distress Ink, Hero Arts, Ranger, Sizzix, Stamper's Anonymous, Tim Holtz

One of my favourite ways to play with dry embossing is to do something called Faux Letterpress. All you need besides the regular supplies is ink!

supplies

Now, you all know my love of Distress Ink and how they are my go to ink for all things crafty, right? Well, I don’t normally use them for this technique… :0 I know, I know, it’s shocking but I do have my reasons!

Usually I will use an embossing folder for this that has a lot of white, or open, space and Distress Ink just doesn’t play nicely with that much area on a plastic folder. However, the Hero Arts Shadow Inks are a dye ink that are formulated to work well with stamps that require a large amount of coverage. They look a little splotchy a first but as they dry and soak into your paper they smooth out to a perfect finish. And they are awesome for Faux Letterpress!

I also like the Hero Arts/Sizzix Stamp&Emboss line for this since you get a coordinating stamp and embossing folder.

First, ink up your stamp and stamp away! (I used markers and a mist of water to do my impression and make it look like watercolour.)

Then, you do the Faux Letterpress. Ink up the solid side of your embossing folder, the side that has the most raised area. Another reason the Shadow Inks work well with this is because they have a firm, felt ink pad so the ink doesn’t press into the recessed areas of your embossing folder like it would with a foam ink pad.

Now, place your stamped piece in the folder, carefully lining up the image, then run it through your machine. All the inked areas on the folder will be pressed into your surface while the raised areas remain uncoloured.

Here’s a more basic example:

I just inked up my folder, stamped an image over the inked area, then embossed. The fun thing here is that it looks as though the stamped image is under the embossed area!

Finally, I did one tag with Distress Ink so you could see the difference in the inks.

It turns out really splotchy but I do like the Distress Ink look here because I’m using a less open design and the design lends itself to a grungier feel anyway. This would be perfect on the front of one of those always hard to do male cards!

And, so you can compare easily, the three tags together:

I finished off my original tag with some twine, a stamped and embossed mini tag, and some Tim Holtz doodads.

Hope you enjoyed! I’ll have one more tutorial on embossing next week and then I’ll have to rack my brains for something new! If you have seen anything or have questions about a certain technique, let me know – maybe I can take that on some Tuesday!

As always, leave me a link in the comments if you try this out – I’d love to see your creations too!

Things on Thursday…

18 Friday May 2012

Posted by Sara in ScrapBook, Things on Thursday...

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Freckled Fawn, Paperie Picks

(EDIT: Totally forgot to post this yesterday – sorry!)

1. You know how much I love to do handstitching? Well, here’s a great blog by Kinsey Wilson showing some awesome handstitching techniques – definitely worth checking out!

2. Speaking of handstitching, this looks like a great class and it’s on sale right now!

3. A few days ago I mentioned on Twitter and Instagram that I was making these brownies and promised an update once they were taste tested. Here’s the update: they’re awesome. Gooey and rich and easy to make!

4. I had a Paperie Pick blog post go live this past Friday. My “pick” was Freckled Fawn washi tape and here’s the LO I made specifically for that blog post:

cozy…

5. The Paperie is having a crop night tonight followed by an all day crop tomorrow – wish I could be there, it’s going to be a blast! And lunch is from Manna, that alone is worth the $15 crop fee!