Each day of CHA (January 29 - February 1) demos will take place in the Graphic 45 booth.
January 29: 11 am - 12 noon
Sherry Cheever will demo altering Graphic 45 metal flowers.
January 30: 11 am - 12 noon
Jane Tregenza will demo pop-up elements with Graphic 45 images
January 31: 11 am - 12 noon
Gloria Stengel will demo stamping techniques.
February 1: 11 am - 12 noon
I will demo a simple bookbinding stitch to create mini-books with Graphic 45 papers.
Today we flew from St. Louis to Anaheim to attend CHA (Craft & Hobby Association) Conference. It's sounds so official but it's really a shopping spree for the store. There's 4 of us on the same flight and there will be 5 of us sharing a hotel room. You heard me right - 5 women, 1 bathroom.
(photo courtesy junkgarden)
It won't be pretty and I'm sure we'll come home with stories. We usually do. And we always laugh until we can barely catch our breath. Stay tuned!
is up on the Graphic 45 blog today.
Isn't she adorable?!
It's one of my grand-nieces, Olivia
on Graphic 45's new collection
Little Darlings.
In addition to this beautiful line of papers
I've used
Imaginarium Designs chipboard.
A complete list of products used can be found HERE
along with my Team Mate Robin's gorgeous layout
using the Olde Curiosity Shoppe collection.
Photo taken by Jordan Weaver Productions
who is a great guy but not necessarily the hearts-and-flowers-pink-and-red-blingy-doily romantic type. So when Valentine's Day rolls around, it's quite a challenge to figure out what to do for him.
Since retirement, he keeps busy fishing, hunting and building things. Considering he has a heaping mound of gears and such, Steampunk seemed a good fit for a Valentine's Day somethin' somethin'.
Enter Oxford Impressions and their new line London Telegraph. When paired with Graphic 45's Steampunk Debutante and an extra large tag, this itsy mini (I know!) is a great size to hold a gift card to his favorite fishing store.
The tag was first folded to resemble a booklet, then stamped an image from London Telegraph with VersaMark and embossed with Stampin' Up! Vintage Verdigris embossing powder. (Not sure if SU carries this any more. I've had mine for ages.) I like the color of this and it still gets a bit shiny so good for resist techniques.
Once that was embossed, I over-stamped with another image from London Telegraph to create a background. Usually a background is stamped first but when doing a resist technique, you can stamp the background last as the embossed image will resist any stamping/inking done after the embossing.
To release any ink that may be on top of the embossed image, simply dampen a rag or paper towel (just slightly) and lightly go over the embossed image. The dampness will pick up any ink left on the embossing.
Here's more of the inside:
The images from London Telegraph are perfect for Graphic 45's Steampunk Debutante. And what's a little Steampunk without gears!
You can find more ideas in the
Now that my CHA projects are completed and shipped off to Graphic 45, I have time to play with some new stamps I just received from Oxford Impressions.
Such sweet images that can be used for Easter and beyond.
When I first get my stamp set, I cut and mount them on cling mounting foam. I know you don't have to do this, but it's how I like to work. If you prefer, you can simply cut the rubber and stamp as is, making sure to have some sort of cushion underneath the paper you're stamping on. A mouse pad will do.
My preference is to use the cling mounting foam and then I can use clear blocks with the stamps. Here's what I did with a few of the stamps on this sheet:
I stamped the lily and basket with Memento Ink onto Copic Marker paper. Then colored in the images with Copic Markers and cut out.
The background stamp resembles an old bakery sign. Love it! I stamped the image onto Bazzill cardstock with VersaMark ink. Then sprinkled on some Ranger Embossing Pearls. This stuff is gorgeous! It's an interference powder meaning it can change color depending on the ink you use. Since I used a non-color ink, the result is a pearl-like finish.
The background paper is also Bazzill. I took a bit of leftover ribbon and wound it around the card front. Once the entire card was put together, I hung the little Easter basket with a mini safety pin and jump ring.
If you like these stamps as much as I do, you can get them here. Happy stamping!
have information about my classes posted at least a month in advance of the workshop. That way, you have time to decide if you'd like to join me, mark your calendars and get your reservations in.
With CHA starting up this next weekend, I was in a bit of a hurry to get a couple of workshops on the books.
Saturday, February 25 Mini-Book Workshop: (10:30 - 4:30) Join me along with Graphic 45 paper and For The Record paper as well as a beautiful Bruno Mars song to create this mini:
Room for only 9 people so sign up as soon as you've made your decision.
Depending on what you choose to decorate your album
(you'll receive plenty of goodies!)
you can gear this towards a husband, wife, sister, child
grandchild, mother, father or graduate.
$30
Classes are held at
For Keeps Sake Scrapbook - (314) 487-8131
St. Louis MO
Saturday, March 10: Bookbinding Workshop (10:30 - 4:30):
Start with a couple of file folders. Add a little 7 Gypsies. Stir in some Jenni Bowlin and *Life Is Good* workshop happens.
(Note: the vintage salt shaker with the bling is not included.)
This workshop will include a kettle stitch/pamphlet bookbinding technique.
$30
Always at
For Keeps Sake Scrapbook - St. Louis MO
Call for reservations.
(314) 487-8131
There are so many great songs out right now. This week's Simon Says Stamp & Show inspiration came courtesy of a Bruno Mars song. The base of this Graphic 45 mini album is a Black Policy Envelope book and celebrates accepting someone *just the way you are*. Curtain Call seemed the appropriate paper and that's paired with For The Record stickers and embellishments.
The Graphic 45 record on the front cover is popped up so that the flap of the policy envelope can be tucked underneath for a closure. A Tim Holtz locket and key were adhered to the flap.
More envelopes were added for additional photos or journaling spots.
I took a Tim Holtz glassine envelope,
folded up the bottom to create another pocket
and then put it through my Vagabond
using a Sheet Music Texture Fade.
The small bottom pocket was then *sealed* using a tiny attacher.
More envelopes to stuff with goodies
and each policy envelope has an additional piece to add photos or journaling.
Our always generous sponsor Simon Says Stamp is offering a
$50 gift voucher
as the prize again this week!
The winner will be chosen at random from those who enter the challenge,
so why not give it a try?
Head over to the Challenge Blog to see how the other members of the design team
have interpreted this weeks theme.
Chinese New Year
&
the year of the dragon
If you were born in
1904 * 1916 * 1928 * 1940 * 1952 * 1964 * 1976 * 1988 * 2000 * 2012
you are probably a dragon
and possess ambition.
You are free spirited. This is your year of good luck.
You are to be honored and respected.
(Now run and tell your kids.)
new stamps from
I can't remember when I first started collecting Oxford Impressions stamps but it's been a good long time ago. When I began to rubber stamp, I was a *must have wood mounted* stamp girl. Then as time went on (or should I say my collection grew), it was hard finding a way to store all the wood mounted stamps.
That's when I started searching for unmounted. I still like stamping with red rubber though so the quest began and I found Oxford Impressions.
Their stamps are beautifully cut and extremely detailed. And because they are unmounted, it's a great value for the number of stamps you receive. There's even enough on one set to share with a friend.
This is their latest design and my latest acquisition. Love this set as it can be, of course, used for Easter but I also see several images that can be used for birthdays, sympathy cards and generally all occasion.
See more here: http://content.oxfordimpressions.com/new.html
and check out the Oxford Impressions gallery here:
http://gallery.oxfordimpressions.com/
I'll be playing with these today and will show you
samples
later next week.
My time lately has pretty much been taken up by CHA projects. CHA= Craft & Hobby Association. CHA sponsors two buying shows a year: one in January usually held in Anaheim; one in July in Chicago. This is where craft vendors from all over the world show their newest products so that store owners can purchase those products. The vendors are made up of corporations who actually produce products like scrapbook paper, embellishments, rubber stamps, sewing items, ribbons, boas (yes, there's a boa booth!) . . . anything and everything you can think of that you use when you craft. It's not just a scrapbook convention!
And most of the booths have to do with scrapbooking (which can be trouble if you're a scrapbook buyer)! The winter show is the largest show of the year. It's held at a huge convention center and takes up several football fields of booths to shop.
Nothing is brought home except catalogues.
The stores can order at CHA but that doesn't mean you'll receive products right away. Some of the things that can be ordered aren't even made yet and some won't ship for months.
None of this means that it still isn't fun to go and see! It is amazing!
One of the vendors is Graphic 45 and I am ever so grateful I am on their Design Team. (Frankly, I'm still in awe that I even made it on the team!) Being on the Design Team means that I get to work with brand new, never-before-seen product that is in the works.
This season, I received 4 new lines from Graphic 45. With each line I was sent about 10 papers (I'm guessing here because (1) I didn't count them and (2) they are completely gone, torn up, cut-up and used up! Each one is gorgeous. I thought I had a favorite and then started working with the next line and that became my favorite and then the next line . . . oh my they are all beautiful!
I received the shipment from Graphic of the new lines on January 7. To say it was exciting is putting it mildly. On my way out the door, I stopped in my tracks and had to open it right then and there. It is imperative that when you get brand spanking new paper you have to fondle it, smell it and ooh and ahh over it. No problem!
The manufacturer's work on such tight deadlines that when we get the papers from Graphic, many of them are printed on Diane's own home printer. They hadn't come back from the printers yet. And right now, I am seeing the embellishments at the same time you are . . . on the Graphic 45 blog. Most of the chipboard and stickers weren't printed when we received our shipment. I cannot wait to play with them!
As of today, it's getting shipped back to Graphic 45. All 15 projects completed and ready to show at Graphic 45's booth at CHA. I'm not one to get nervous but this tests my nerves. It's thousands of people judging your work. It's editors of major publications walking around with cameras taking pictures of their favorites and asking if they can publish your art (hopefully that's what they're asking!).
I will be demoing at CHA in the Graphic 45 booth on Wednesday, February 1. If you're at the show, please stop by and say *hey*. Can't wait to see everything and come back with stories and photos.
Wish me luck!
