Art From The Heart

The few, the proud . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rCrG6TzG-nw

Almost Easter Sunday and ya gotta love the men & women who serve.

Did you see these . . .

And just when I thought I was finished shopping, these are going to make me go back to the store to get the large match boxes.  Too cute not to make!

See the entire project on Martha Stewart here.

 

Today . . .

 

Something new . . .

always!

I've started up tutorials on the For Keeps Sake blog. 

Calling it Workshop Wednesday.  Here's the first tut:

 
Check it out and let us know what you think!

WOYWW . . .

Here's what's on my workdesk today . . .

Working on a project for Graphic 45 with photos from CHA-Winter.  One of these days I'll catch up to all the photos I would like to scrap. I'm betting you know what I'm talkin' about!

Simon Says . . .

This week, the challenge over at Simon Says Stamp & Show is to use a Tim Holtz technique.  Tim's Compendium of Curiosities is loaded with techniques.  I chose one of my favorites showcased on page 36, Blended Batik.

 

 
First, I die-cut the background paper using a Tim Holtz mini-label die.  Using the same die, I also cut another background out of chipboard to later give this piece height.

The Blended Batik technique requires that you stamp & emboss an image. Take the mini-label die cut paper only (save the chipboard for later) and stamp your favorite image onto the paper using Versamark Ink. I used a word background stamp with Versamark ink.  I then sprinkled it with clear embossing powder.  Remove the excess embossing powder and, using a heat gun, heat emboss. 

Using your favorite color of Distress Ink, color the tag with an ink applicator so that you are covering the entire paper.  You, of course, may use one color of Distress Ink or several colors may be mixed.  Because the image is embossed, the ink will only stain around the embossing, not the embossing itself.

For the next step you will need a piece of ordinary newspaper and an iron.  Turn on your craft iron or if using a regular iron, heat set to somewhere between cotton and linen (no steam!).  Place embossed image on top of newspaper (emboss side down) and iron the embossed image.  The heat of the iron melts the embossing into the newspaper.  Lift up and you will see the stamped image is left but the embossing is removed.  The embossing acts as a resist.  What is left is the original color of the paper showing through the design.

 
NOTE 1:  If your embossed image sticks to the newspaper, you probably either (1) don't have the iron temperature set high enough or (2) just re-iron it.  The heat will help release the image from the newsprint.

NOTE 2:  Although I've done this technique many times, I thought I would try to adhere the paper to the chipboard before stamping and completing this technique.  I stamped, embossed and ironed.  But it didn't work.  I think the chipboard makes it too thick for the heat of the iron to actually penetrate the chipboard and make this work. So . . . do not try this at home!

To the Bazzill cardstock I added Graphic 45 Steampunk Debutante background paper. Because I'm working with a card, I chose to use a piece of Modern Marvels from the 8x8 collection so that the paper design would be smaller and therefore show up on the background a bit more. 

Using the Once Upon A Springtime Cling Stamp Set, I stamped the fairy two times onto a piece of beige cardstock using black Memento Ink.  One fairy was colored in with Copic Markers.  I cut the wings from the 2nd fairy in order to give the wings more dimension. Before adhering the 2nd set of wings, I colored the wings with Twinkling H2o's . 

 

 

The Tim Holtz butterfly stamp was up next.  It was stamped with VersaMark ink and embossed with a vintage verdigris color.  The butterfly is resting on a Spellbinders Fancy Tag die (yet another thing I'm now addicted to!). The final step was to add Flower Soft to the fairy bouquet and pearls to the TH butterfly and fairy wing.

Hope you enjoyed this mini-tutorial.  Now it's time to run over to the Simon Says Stamp & Show Challenge Blog and check out the fabulous designs my Team Mates have cooked up for you this week.

If you follow along with us, you know that each week our generous sponsor, Simon Says Stamp Superstore, gives away a $50 gift certificate to one lucky winner.  All you have to do is enter something on the Simon Says Stamp & Show challenge blog and you are automatically eligible to win!

 

or you may be chosen as one of the top 3 designers for the week!

Hope you can play along with

Simon Says Stamp & Show Challenge Blog.

 

Woo hoo . . .

http://g45papers.typepad.com/

Todays post brought to you by . . .

Ice Resin and Candy Colwell's fab notes.

Candy and I were at CHA-Summer together, perusing booths, ordering products for our classes, having a great time.  We came across a booth that had ICE RESIN.  Now for those of you who are jewelry makers, resin is definitely not a new substance.  This is used in jewelry making all the time. But I did see some new applications for it and thought I'd share them here.

Candy took some fabulous notes about how to use Ice Resin as applied to crafty peeps.  (Man, you should see her type on that little i-phone (or whatever it's called).  I'd still be trying to find the *shift* key.)

This is an ordinary piece of dictionary paper.  I used Ice Resin on this and I love how it turned out.  It's hard to tell in this photo, but it is now totally clear (I have a book underneath so you can see how clear it is) and resembles a thin piece of mica.

 

I also used Ice Resin on the 7 Gypsies tissue paper and that now looks like mica.  It's so cool.  Took these pieces to Create Your Imagination last Tuesday and one of the gals asked if it could be crunched up.  She tried with my tissue paper and *yes* it worked, but still had body to it.  Can't wait to use this on a project.

I'm planning on punching out some flowers and using them on cards or in books. 

So, of course, I had to purchase more. 

(Remember, it's my duty as an instructor to purchase and try.  Please tell Bill the next time you see him.)

I got my

ICE RESIN

@

For Keeps Sake Scrapbook

(314) 487-8131 - 4530 Lemay Ferry Road - St. Louis MO 63129

Now, after that shameless commercial, here are Candy's notes with some of mine added:

First, how to mix:  You can purchase great little red tubes of Ice Resin @ For Keeps Sake that are dual tubes with one plunge for both tubes.  These are made so that you press the plunger and equal amounts of the resin come out of the tubes simultaneously.  This is good for a beginner.  These are not refillable.  Once gone, you will need to repurchase the tubes.

There are two liquids to one application of resin.  There's the resin itself and a hardening agent.  You need both in equal parts.  EQUAL is the clue.  You will need to measure.

This is jeweler's grade resin so once mixed and applied, it will NOT YELLOW - EVER!  Yeah!

You will not need to work with gloves but it is helpful to have little plastic cups and popsicle sticks for mixing the two liquids together.  Once you use the cups and the popsicle sticks, just throw them away.  They are not worth keeping!

PAPER APPLICATION:

 

The artist that was demonstrating in the ICE RESIN booth said to

• work on a plastic trash bag (YES.  NOT your craft mat.  I am saying this from experience!) that you can throw away when finished.
• seal the papers (both front & back) with Matte Gel Medium before using Ice Resin.
• use a foam brush (I used a piece of Ranger's foam) and coat paper on both sides.  Coat one side, immediately flip it over on the trash bag - and yes, the first side will be wet, but it's OK.  Then coat the second side.
• do not touch it and let it dry ON THE PLASTIC TRASH BAG for at least 24 hours.  It may take longer, depending on the humidity, temperatures, etc.
• Let sit for 3 days after it's dry.  It will take at least 3 days for it to cure

That's the hardest part of this process - waiting.  But I'm telling you it is so worth it.  The results are beautiful.

Here's the notes:

• Before beginning, get a small plastic cup and a black Sharpie marker.  Measure and mark two equal horizontal lines on the cup.  This will insure that you pour equal amounts of the two liquids. (Or, you can simply purchase the liquids in the red syringes.)
• Pour equal amounts from each liquid - Part A the resin and Part B the hardener.
• Using a craft stick or popsicle stick, mix two thoroughly, making sure to scrape the bottom.  The artist recommended stirring for about 5 minutes.  These really have to be mixed well.
• Once mixed, you have a good 10-15 minutes before the resin starts to set up.


Jewelry, Bezels and Bling, oh my!

For Keeps Sake also has in stock some beautiful bezels that you may easily make into gorgeous jewelry pieces.  Here's a link to Ice Resin's flickr group.  Ya gotta go there

http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=all&q=ice+resin&m=text

or here

http://www.iceresin.com/category/flickr-fridays/

then hop back here for the following info:

• Figure out what you want to put in your bezel BEFORE mixing the resin.  Have your collage or photo ready and complete first.
• If you are working with a photo or collage, use Gel Medium to afix your photo/collage to the bottom of the bezel.  Make sure to have all the air bubbles out.  Really press down on the image and remove any excess glue.
• Ice Resin is self-healing and self-leveling
• Be careful with the orientation of the bezels when pouring the ice resin.
• You can pour layers of Ice Resin to create dimension, adding beads or watch parts, glitter or . . . !
• You may add color to the resin itself, as long as it is oil based color.
• Some bezels have flat backs and some are open.  When using an open backed bezel (or you may use a cookie cutter!), place a piece of packing tape under it to build a wall and prevent the resin from oozing out.  Spray the cookie cutter with Mold Release first!
• Once your collage is ready.  SLOWLY pour the Ice Resin into your bezel.  If layering, pour some to cover the first layer.  You may then immediately add your second layer of paper or bling and pour again.  You do not have to wait for the first layer of resin to dry.

Here's to getting *hooked on resin*

@

For Keeps Sake Scrapbook

 

Weekend Classes . . .

Friday, April 15:  6 pm - 10 pm: Girls Night In

Hope you can join me this Friday night for a fun evening with girlfriends crafting, munching on snacks and having a great time creating. We're decorating a magnet board suitable for a college dorm room (think graduations coming up!), Easter gift, Mother's Day kitchen accessory or office bulletin board.  Everything you see here is included:

 

Please bring to class:

• Cutter & scissors
• pencil & ruler
• A good wet glue like Claudine Hellmuth's Matte Medium
• Brown ink for edging paper (Vintage Photo Distress Ink will work just fine)
• BYO drinks please and I'll have plenty of snacks!

Sunday, April 17: 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm: Altered Art Journal

Spend the afternoon creating your very own art journal and learning techniques to include:

• paint images with Distress Re-Inkers, Claudine's Acrylic paints and pigmented mica
• mix paint colors using the color wheel as a guide
• work with watercolor crayons
• color images with Copic markers

We will first create the cover of this 8.5 x 11 journal with brand new Lille paper from 7 Gypsies.  Then we'll use Tim's Texture Fades to add a bit of whimsy to the A-R-T letters.  Using Wendy's Clearly for Art and alcohol inks, we'll create a banner and the front cover is complete.

 
Then there's room for you to take your art journal home and practice to your heart's content.  We'll bind this in class so that you can easily add other pages if you desire.

Please bring to Sunday's class:

• Cutter & scissors
• Adhesive (both wet & dry)
• I will bring my paint brushes, but if you have your own, it would be helpful
• And you never know what other techniques I may throw in if we have time.  Transfers anyone?

Both Friday & Sunday's class has some availability.  If interested, please call

For Keeps Sake Scrapbook - St. Louis MO

(314) 487-8131

And one more thing . . .

Take a look at this fab train car mini book:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHUhHmztmcw

Renea and Candy's friend (and now mine) Jeanne did this as well and I had an opportunity to see it in person and OMG it was beautifully done.  All of these gals are so talented.

Don't you wonder how people think these things up?