Tuesday, August 28

Geared Up

I was excited when I got my Inkadinkado Stamping Gear Deluxe Kit in the mail this weekend.  I pre-ordered it from their website earlier this month, and I have to say that it was worth the wait.  I'm impressed with the packaging... really nice.


This kit contains the Circle Wheel and Cog, Oval Wheel and Cog, Clear Paddle and four stamp sets.


Maybe I was excited, but it sure was a pain to get the goodies out of the packaging.  During the process, I was thinking if the awesome packaging was worth the hassle.

I didn't want to wait no longer, so last night I made sure to give it a try and make something out of it.  Stamping with just the Circle Wheel and Cog, I was able to make this:


Kudos to EK Success for coming up with such a cool tool!  The possibilies are endless... really! 

So I used that as my background for this card:


Materials used:
cardstock/dp:  Wassau, DCWV, leftovers
image:  Inkadinkado
ink:  Stampin' Up
tools:  Inkadinkado, Spellbinders, Stampin' Up
embellishments:  rhinestones
adhesive:  Scotch, Glue Dots, mounting tape

It's also my first time to use a "Cut-Fold-Tuck" die from Spellbinders.  I have some templates like this from years ago, but you had to cut with a knife.  I love that with these dies, you can just run it through your die cut machine and then instantly fold and tuck away.


For the corners, I used a die from the Spellbinders Twisted Metal Tags/Accents set.


I sure had lots of fun making this card.  I'll definitely be playing with these tools some more.
 
'Til next blog!

Saturday, August 25

Unique

I held on to strips of red card stock left over from a project late last year (click here to see).  And like usual, it took me months to finally figure out what I was going to do with them. 
 
I started to adhere together both ends of each strip, then adhered them together, until it started to look like a tree.  And it all stemmed from there.  For the base, I sewed dp on a 12 x 12 inch sheet of cardstock.  It won't show so well on the photo, but before I adhered the paper tree, I sprayed the dp with Tattered Angels Smooch Spritz and Glimmer Mist.  


I also thought that this project might work for the current Unity Stamp Challenge:  All About Stars.  And with that, this project is automatically entered in the Pick A Challenge challenge by Ippity by Unity as well.  The funny thing is, I have acquired a good number of Unity stamps, but I only have one set that had stars.  This image is from the "faith, hope, love... live by it" set, embossed on vellum.  I made the felted flowers as well, which have been in hiding for quite some time too.


This project made me realize how much you can do with so little.


Materials used:
cardstock/dp:  Prima, Gartner, vellum, leftovers
image:  Unity
ink:  Tsukeneko, Tattered Angels, Glimmer Mist
tools:  Spellbinders, Janome Sew Mini
embellishments:  butterflies (K&Co.), rhinestones, handmade felted flowers
misc.:  embossing powder (American Crafts), ribbon, yarn
adhesive:  Scotch, Glue Dots, mounting tape

There are still 5 days to join the Oozak Fall Challenge and have a chance to win a prize package from EK Success.  Click here to find out more.
 
'Til next blog!

Tuesday, August 21

Product Review: ArtBin Magnetic Die Storage Case and Sheets

I am proud to say that I figured out a good system to store my Spellbinders dies.  I was just too cheap to buy whatever is in the market that I decided to make one that will work for me.


I used metal sheets for roofing as my base, then adhered two layers of 1/4" strips of mounting tape.  After that, I topped with cork strips.  Magnets keep the dies in place. 


But when Spellbinders came out with bigger and longer dies, I knew they wouldn't fit my custom organizers.  So when ArtBin came out with a storage system for dies like these, I decided to give it a shot.


The size was not as big as I expected, but good enough to fit the dies that won't fit in my system.  The bigger dies fit, even the Borderabilities and Edgeabilities.  My only disappointment is that the Grand Borderabilities were still too long.


Other than that, I can say that I'm very happy with the ArtBin Magnetic Die Storage System.  If you haven't found a good way to store your thin dies, this might be it.

'Til next blog!

Monday, August 20

Every Moment

My Photoshop Elements 8 hasn't been working for over a month now.  Somehow, my computer crashes to a blue screen everytime I run it.  It's very frustrating.  I have to use another computer to be able to edit and put watermark on my photos.

So yesterday, while technical support was fixing my computer via the internet, I was able to make this card:


Materials used:
cardstock/dp:  Recollections, leftovers, some packaging
image/sentiment:  Unity
ink:  Copic, Tsukineko, Ranger
tools:  Spellbinders, edge punch (Martha Stewart, EK Success)
embellishments:  K & Co., brads, lace, pearls, leftover gauze
misc.:  Smooch Spritz
adhesive:  Scotch, Glue Dots, mounting tape

I just finished cataloging my Unity stamps, you see.  And during the process, I saved parts of their packaging that I can use for a card.  The background and the layered flowers are all from Unity packaging.  I also used some leftover packaging from Tim Holtz' embossing folders.


This image from the Retro Mod Clocks set is colored with Copic markers.  I've always liked to use E09, E08 and YR23 to achieve this copper/wood look. For the clock face, I used G12, Y21 and YR20.  The hanging bars were colored with Y26, Y28 and E18.


To be honest, I wish I just cut the clock with a craft knife, instead of the matching Spellbinders die.  But I guess this will pass.

Hey, there is still plenty of time to join the Oozak challenge this month "Fall Theme".  You can enter up to three times to be eligible to win these yummy goodies:



Head on to the Oozak Blog to join in the fun...  'Til next blog!

Saturday, August 18

One of a Kind

Yesterday, I took my DM to Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  The Wild Blueberry Festival started in Paradise, and as usual their craft show rocked.  There were lots of awesome craft vendors selling jewelry, stained glass, shell art, wood art, sewing and knitted items and more.  I'm kinda thankful that I didn't bring much cash with me.  However, I ended up getting this really beautiful nature art:


The artist has a good variety of designs - deer, owl, different kinds of small birds, sandhill cranes and more.  It was so refreshing to see something new.

I love all the elements the artist used in his work - all natural.  With the treatment he used to finish his art, he guaranteed that the colors won't fade.


Too bad he didn't have a website or business card.  However, I have a good reason to visit the craft show in Houghton Lake at the end of this month.  The sandhill crane one is really beautiful, and hopefully he has another one of that for me.

DM and I went some more sightseeing, and ended up at the Soo Locks in Sault Ste Marie.  It's not my first time there, but DM wants to see the area in the daytime.  So we did. 

What made the trip there really special for me was this store called Riverstone Gallery.  Everything in the store was created from found objects - recycled glass, cellphone/computer/watch parts, silverware, vintage keys and more.  



And it's not just jewelry.  They also have home decor from clocks and wall art photography.

It was a feast to my eyes - seeing all those unique and awesome creations.  But seeing the jewelry made from silverware made me really giddy.  I was actually giggling as I was looking through each piece.  The owner must have thought I was nuts.  Can she blame me?  It's genius to make something out of old spoons, forks and knives.  And it does make sense.  They are made with silver or stainless steel - just perfect for everyday jewelry.

Ring

Bracelet


Pendant

I can't wait to wear these in my next band gig.  Just thinking about it makes me smile really big.

And like I told the owner of Riverstone Gallery, their stuff is one really good reason to go to Sault Ste Marie.  For real.

'Til next blog!

Monday, August 13

Bliss

I've been holding on to a couple of acrylic accents I got as freebies from Tattered Angels during the winter CHA.  My, it took almost 7 months to finally use them.  Oh well, better late than never, right?

For these cards, I challenged myself to use ribbon.  It's been years, and I still have to overcome my fear of ribbon... haha!  But everytime I have that feeling, I visit Becca Feeken's blog Amazing Paper Grace.  Her work inspires me the most. 





Materials used:
cardstock/dp:  Wassau, Chatterbox, leftovers
image/sentiment:  Unity
ink:  Ranger
tools:  edge punch (Fiskars, Martha Stewart), embossing folder (Fiskars, Cuttlebug), Martha Stewart corner punch, Janome Sew Mini, Tim Holtz embossing diffusers
embellishments:  Tattered Angels, ribbon, flowers, hat pins, bling 

Making this project, I learned that the Spellbinders embossing folders will ruin Tim Holtz diffusers, as they are double sided.  Just stick to regular embossing folders when using Tim Holtz diffusers.

By the way, the August Oozak challenge is still running with yummy fabulous prizes to be given away at the end of this month.  And guess what?  You can enter a project up to three times.  Click here now to join. 

'Til next blog!

Saturday, August 11

Crafty Visits

Hello dear reader!  I mentioned in my previous post that I'm currently trying to transfer content from my craft homepage (via Multiply) to this website.  As I was going through my blog posts from years ago, I noticed how much I have changed as a blogger and a crafter.  My posts were mainly about scrapbooking and a lot of other crafts, until it gradually shifted to mostly paper crafts, card making and stamping.  I also realized that I used to blog about my experiences and thoughts basically, craft wise.  And in the recent years, it hasn't been the case.  Now I feel that my blog has been "commercialized" because of the recent blogging trends.  Somehow, there is this "need" to have so many "followers" and subscribers, that I have forgotten the real reason why I started my craft blog in the first place.

After this realization, I prefer my former blogging style.  And I would like to shift more towards that direction.

Anyway, earlier this week, my Mommy and I took a road trip somewhat down state.  I had an itinerary, and that includes some craft stores I would like to visit on the way.  I was able to find some LSS through Scrapbook Stores List.  Whoever started that site - I thank you!

We don't have any LSS in my area anymore.  But I'm thankful that we have a Hobby Lobby and a Ben Franklin.  So when I have a chance, I like to visit some LSS because there, you can find more brands/products that the big box stores don't carry.

During our trip, I was able to visit Di's Ink Stamp & Crafts in Bay City.



I haven't felt this kind of excitement in a local craft store for a long time.  This store carries out of this world awesome stamp brands.  They also do classes in this store, making me wish that I live nearby.  And guess what?  I finally got my first La Blanche stamps! 

Then in West Branch, I got to visit The Scrapbook Nook.  Now this is a huge store, like they're occupying two spaces side by side.  One is mainly for scrapbooking, and the other is for stamping/card making and classes.  I would love to own a store like this someday, when I win the lottery or something. 


I called the store first as it was getting late that day.  I was in luck, because they were having a class and the store was still open.


Their stamping wall was super yummy with awesome stamps.  I got me several Tattered Angels stamps and stuff.


This summer, I haven't had the chance to go to any craft shows because of a lot of family visiting.  But sure feel good now that I was able to visit two awesome local scrapbooking/stamping stores.  I can't wait to play with my planet's new additions.

'Til next blog!

Monday, August 6

Bye Multiply

Hello crafty friends!  I learned some sad news just now.  Multiply, where my Tinker Plant Home Page is located, is closing its doors to bloggers like me.  They are venturing into a different direction, and it's going to be official at the end of this year.  I've had my craft home page since 2007 back when I was still living in Japan, and now I'm worried about all the blog entries, photos, videos and a lot of other things that have been "stored" there. 

In other words, I'm going to be busy figuring out how to transfer all those to Blogger.  I'll still be posting projects and busy with my craft obligations.  It's just a total bummer that I have to deal with this change.

And since you're already here, let me direct you to the Oozak Challenge Blog, and join in the fun.  You can share up to three cards and at the end of the month, an awesome prize package from EK Success will be given away.

'Til next blog!

Saturday, August 4

Ar Bunny

Yesterday, I showed some cards made with the Bo Bunny Cambridge kit.  Today, I'd like to show you some more.

I found a couple of the cards quite small, so I decided to make them bigger. 



And since I still have several elements left over after finishing the 8 cards from the kit, I decided to make a few more.  The ColorBox Petal Point in Cambridge was really handy at this point. I didn't have to think too much on which color combinations to use because they are all in one spot.


For these two cards, I used parts of the packaging itself.  It worked!



Materials used:
Bo Bunny Cambridge Card Kit
cardstock/dp:  Wassau, Paper Reflections, leftovers
ink:  ColorBox
tools:  Spellbinders, Martha Stewart, Janome Sew Mini
adhesive:  Scotch, mounting tape

And before I go, don't forget to check out Oozak's "Fall" challenge this month.  Join in the fun and maybe you can win some fab goodies.  Click here to find out more.

'Til next blog!

Friday, August 3

Bo Arnie

Earlier this week I had a chance to visit one of my favorite LSS - Arnies in Houghton Lake.  It's a huge craft store with almost everything in it.  As for scrapbooking and stamping, they carry brands that most of the "main stream" craft stores don't. 


I went through every aisle, but kept reminding myself to be smart with my purchase.  I ended up with a few items from the clearance section.  One of them is the Cambridge Card Kit by Bo Bunny.


When I got home, I made sure to play with it right away, and finish the 8 cards from the kit.  The cards came in a variety of sizes, and what I'm showing you today are made following the instructions that came with the kit.  I just added a little distressing and inking in some layers, and pierced holes along the faux stitching with a pin to make it look more realistic.







The ColorBox Petal Point Inkpad in Provence matched this Bo Bunny Kit perfectly.  And did I mention that I had fun making these cards?

By the way, my term with Oozak as design team member has started on August 1st.  And this month's challenge is all about "Fall".  You know what the best thing is?  You can enter up to 3 cards/projects as long as they are made this month.  Go ahead and check out the Oozak blog for more information on how to join in the fun.  Oozak has a good bunch of yummy goodies to give away on August 30th - you won't want to miss the chance.

'Til next blog!