Monday, September 24

Complicated Style

While on work-related training last week, I had another chance to visit Di's Ink Stamp-n-Crafts in Bay City.  As usual, I took my time and looked through each item.  I really like the fact that they carry stamp products that are not available in the big craft stores.  What really caught my attention this time are the Graphic 45 items.  I've seen their booth at the Winter CHA this year, and I clearly remember it being so full of people.  The design of their booth clearly depicts their products.

So I bought a couple of their pads and a stamp set.  And I made sure to play with them so I can post something today.

For this vintage card project, I used dp from the Curtain Call pad and images from the A Ladies' Diary 2 stamp set.



Materials used:
cardstock/dp:  Graphic 45, Bazzil, leftovers
image/sentiment:  Graphic 45
ink:  Tsukineko, Ranger
tools:  edge punch (Martha Stewart, EK Success), Spellbinders
embellishments:  peacock feather
misc.:  Ranger embossing powder
adhesive:  Scotch, Glue Dots, mounting tape

I embossed my images with Tim Holtz Distress embossing powder in Black Soot, which fit perfectly onmy vintage card.  And for a change, I colored the image with chalk by The Stencil Collection.  I got the peacock feather from a wedding party a few weeks ago.

 

The brown paper you see below is packaging from Tim Holtz embossing folders.  (Say aye if you save those!)


I sure had a lot of fun making this card.

'Til next blog!

Tuesday, September 18

Cheers!

Over the weekend, I made a quick birthday CAS card for DBIL.  The image I used here is from Unity - definitely one of my favorites to use on a masculine card.


Materials used:
cardstock/dp:  Bazzil, ColorBok, leftovers
image/sentiment:  Unity, Fiskars
ink:  Copic, Tsukineko, Kodomo
tools:  Martha Stewart scoring tool, Martha Stewart edge punch
misc.:  Recollections embossing powder
adhesive:  Scotch, mounting tape

To achieve the beer suds, I used Popcorn Pen in white by Kodomo.  I bought them years ago back in Japan, and they still work really well.  This pen is very easy to use.  After application, blast the area with a heat gun, and it puffs out like magic.  No waiting or drying time of any sort.  The more heat, the more puff.


 'Til next blog!

Saturday, September 15

You Make Me Smile

Hello crafty friends!  Before I show my project for today, I want to share with you my couch potato moment a couple of nights ago.  I guess most of you knew that HSN had their 24-hour Craft Celebration and were glued to the TV or the internet.  The only chance I had was that night.  I can say that I was laying on the couch watching HSN from about 8 pm til midnight.  I would take breaks to get some snacks, and even snooze a little bit.  It's been a long while since I did that.  And man, I tell you, that sure was fun!  There were a couple of things that I wanted overall.  I procrastinated on a stamp set until it sold out, but I was able to buy a tool.  I definitely will blog about it when it arrives, and find out if it works the way it should.

As soon as I got home from work yesterday, I went straight to my planet, picked an image from my stash of RAK stamped images and started coloring.  I had this urge to make a card - I guess creative juices were a-flowing.  I based my color mix from the washi paper I used.  It's a combo I would have never thought of putting together on my own.


Materials used:
cardstock/dp:  washi paper, leftovers
image/sentiment:  RAKed/unknown
ink:  Copic, Stampin' Up
tools:  Spellbinders, Martha Stewart
adhesive:  Scotch, mounting tape



Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  I definitely will.

'Til next blog!

Thursday, September 13

Be Yourself

Guess what?  My planet's solid than ever... almost.  I'm very happy with my revamped paper station, ribbon storage and my craft desk had some changes as well.  I just need to get rid of some more clutter, and it's all good to go.

Speaking of clutter, while going through them I saw this paper bag from a recent craft show purchase.  I really liked the colors and design so I decided to keep it for a later project.  Along with a found paper tape measure, I was able to make this card:


Materials used:
cardstock/dp:  Bazzil, Paper Reflections, Me & My Big Ideas, recycled paper bag, leftovers
image:  Tim Holtz
ink:  Copic, Ranger
tools:  Spellbinders, Janome Sew Mini
embellishments:  flower (Prima), trim, paper tape measure, twine
misc.:  UTEE, Glossy Inkssentials
adhesive:  Scotch, Glue Dots, mounting tape


With a part of the paper bag for my background, I painted the left side with Tim Holtz Distress Stain in Chipped Sapphire.  It's my first time to use Distress Stains, and I really liked it.  I sewed my new background on coordinating cardstock with zigzag and running stitches.

It was a challenge for me to use this image by Tim Holtz, but I held my breath and started to color with Copics.  I guess it worked with my background very well, and I love the outcome.  See the center of my flower?  That's melted UTEE poured on a small ceramic mold.  I made a bunch of them, and I finally get to use one on a card.  I also colored the center of the flower with Distress Stain to go with the color scheme.  It doesn't show so well, but I covered the sentiment with Glossy Inkssentials for more pop.




I really enjoyed making this card - not my typical style, but I really like it.

Don't forget to check out Oozak's challenge this month - all about SPARKLE!  Click here to join and get the chance to win some fab goodies. 

'Til next blog!

Monday, September 10

Never Ending

Yes.  The changes in my planet is never ending.  I thought I was done with the improvements, but I guess I was wrong.  Again.

I realized this when I went to the closing out sale of the last LSS (Ben Franklin) in our area.  But before I go on, I have to reiterate that I was really sad when I learned that it is going to close.  I didn't ask anymore why the owner decided to discontinue their business.  Other local craft stores have in the past, but Ben Franklin stayed afloat.  I guess it has come to the end of its line.

I don't want to sound mean, but when a store is closing, I always find it a good opportunity to look for display cases or fixtures that I can use for my craft room.  When I was at Ben Franklin this weekend, I wasn't really looking at the items they carry, although I did buy some stamps.  I was checking each fixture and display cases in the store.  I knew I had to get some pegboards, and more shelves for storage.  So I did.

My planet was super chaotic yesterday as I moved fixtures around.  For now, I can share with you my paper station.


With a small space such as mine, going vertical is the way to go.  As for this particular space, I can say that I have really maximized it.  Before this came to be, my stock of paper can be found anywhere in my planet, especially the 8.5 x 11s.  Now they're all in one spot.


And before this all started, I have decided to change my ribbon storage system.  I used to store my spools of ribbon in this wooden holder bought five years ago:


It is good storage for my ribbon, but I can't see the ones in the back and totally forget what I already have. Plus, I wanted to utilize that space a lot better, so I decided to do what a lot of crafters have done.  And that is the use of plastic gutters.


For just a little over $10 (Lowes), I now have a new place to put my ribbon spools.  I put it on top of the black towers on my desk.  I can easily look up and see the ribbon I need, and reach up and cut. 

That's it for now.  There are still lots of stuff to be done.  I will get there.  And I'm really crossing my fingers that this is going to be the last time I'll ever have to change things around my planet.

And before I go, The Oozak Blog is up with their new challenge this month and it's all about SPARKLE.  Hope you can join in the fun, and maybe win some fun prizes on September 30th.  Click here to learn more.

'Til next blog!