Be Creative

My newest favorite thing

Wanted to share two of my favorite things to do with my graphite Tattered Angels! Both are super easy and you can do it too!

First... spray some Tattered Angels on to a non stick mat or some kind of slick surface. Run your cardstock through the puddled up spray and it will color the edges of the cardstock like an ink pad would. What I like most is that it bleeds a little more than ink. Plus this is way faster if you're doing alot of cards.

 
Next... masking with Tattered Angels and Die cuts. Start with a die cut shape, ones with more details seem to work well, like this spiderweb. Lay the die cut on to a piece of cardstock, spray with Tattered angels and then remove the die cut to reveal the image.

 

Grab some spray and give it a try. And if you don't have any Tattered Angels try adding a few drops of re inker for stamp pads to a spray bottle partially filled with water.

See this full card in this kit... With bonus Halloween card

Halloween Mini kits are available now too Check them out here

Have a great weekend!

 

The truth about deadlines

So excited to announce that a new technique book has been released and I'm totally happy to be part of it.

Here's a look at the cover! Best techniques from your favorite scrapbook bloggers. Memory Makers did an awesome job laying out the content!

 
Close ups of my projects... just some previews.

 

 

The dirty little truth... While I love having my work published in magazines and idea books I am not a huge fan of the process. Thats why this was perfect for me... one night just as I was wrapping up my emails for the night I got an email from May inviting me to be part of the book. It was perfect.

My deadline for these projects was way back in January. I took advantage of every last moment to make sure my projects were perfect. And here is the real truth... Nothing gets me procrastinating more than a deadline. I need a snack, I need to run to target, I better check my email, probably should dust my living room, brush the dog, annoy my girls, bug my husband, polish my nails... you get the point. But though the process of this book project I learned that if I have a deadline I better set my own deadline, like a couple of weeks before the real one.

Yep, I got my projects in on time. By the skin of my teeth. I learned that I do not like pushing the limits of a deadline. I do not like it at all, so I don't do it anymore.

Just one of the places you can Order a copy

I hope you've enjoyed my today series that I posted the last couple of weeks. I got a good blogging break. I think i've rediscovered my blogging voice. I hope you'll keep visiting and for goodness sakes, leave a girl a comment! That's the best part of blogging!

Free Download Day

Found this quote today and thought it's about time to check on the old heart. Really connect and see if any ugliness has crept in lately. If so... time to let it go. There is no room in my heart to hold any bad feelings... i'm working on filling it up with love and creativity and imagination and compassion. Really working HARD on that last one.

I'm also trying to pull out some old art supplies and get my hand reacquainted with drawing and coloring. This seemed like the perfect time to write out the quote and do some coloring with watercolor pencils.

Then of course I wanted to make a card so I need a sentiment for said card. More handwriting and coloring resulted in this fine masterpiece.

Meant to add some tiny pearls to the flower centers but I got in a rush to run outside and see the new baby in the neighborhood. 

Want to make some cards too? Click on the link below and print out the quotes on cardstock. If you want the colors a little more vivid add some chalk. I'd love to see some pictures of what you make, so send me an email. :)

Please feel free to share a link to this with any friends you think may enjoy it.

Download Happiness0001 **personal use only**

New Tutorial

Ever wonder how to get text or photos centered  and cut into a shape? Today i'd like to share with you how to use your die-cuts for print or photo registration.

Let start with the clear cut dies from Sizzix. These dies have a clear back which makes a window so you can see through them. But you can still use them to just cut shapes. Here's a link to the die I am using Click Here

Put your photo centered in the shape and run it through your machine.

 
Or center up some text that you've printed ot stamped and run that through your machine.

So what do you do if you don't have any clear crop dies? No worries... here's how to do print registration with a regular die.

First cut the shapes and keep the negative space.

Next trim the paper and keep the shape you want. Line the paper up with the blade. Tape that piece on one side to the die with some scotch tape to hold it in place.

Take your paper with the print on it and slip it under the die cut paper. Center the text in the opening.

Then run it through your machine. Of course you'll have to use the cutting pad so be careful to not move the papers when you are putting on the cutting pad. There you have it... Your text perfectly centered on a die cut shape.

Now make a cute little something...

This cute little rub on was created bymy bestie friend Steph. There's one more kit left from yesterdays sale so scroll down and take a look. Hope you enjoyed todays tutorial.
 

What to do when you have tons of rub ons...

I must have no less than 500 rub ons. It's high time to either part with some of them or use them up. Probably I will do both. I started out to make this card with this sheet of rub ons and as I started to review the words on the sheet to pick just one I thought "hey why don't I use the whole sheet". So here's what I did...

I cut a piece of patterned paper and attached it to a card base. Then I cut the sheet of rub ons the same size of the patterned paper so that none would rub off on the cardstock.

 

Then I cut out a key word. Then I transferred the rest of the sheet onto the patterned paper. I know this can be a little much for some but I really like alot of pattern. I transferred the key word on to a piece of white cardstock and then ran it through an embossing folder and inked it up.

Lastly I added a tad bit of ribbon and the key word with a pop dot and a few buttons to finish it off.

Now I only need to make a few hundred more cards and I'll have my rub on stash down to a reasonable amount. I hope you'll give it a try.
  

Sizzix Texture Impressions

Today I bring you another one of my favorite techniques for getting alot of bang for your buck!

May I introduce you to the Texture Impression folders from Sizzix. They'll run you about 10 bucks for four folders (different designs)

I'm not being biased to Sizzix here... I just can't keep my cotton pickin hands off of them. So here we go let me show you how it's done.

Put your shape or piece of cardstock into the folder and then run it through your die cut machine.

That's it... Really that's all there is to it. Your paper is now textured with the pattern of your choice. Think of the possibilities... any color cardstock and a ton of textures or patterns to choose from.

You can emboss the heck out of a dang lot of paper for 10 bucks!

I hope my pictures show the texture ok. See that little subtle cross hatch pattern? On this card I just used a strip that I embossed. I love lots of pattern and the subtlety of these embossing folders lets me do that by not adding to much bold pattern.

Here I cut out a tag and embossed it then added the rest of the elements. Always die-cut first otherwise if you emboss first when you die cut the cardstock it will flatten out the pattern.

I was going for super simple classic black and white here.

I really loved all the comments yesterday. So tell me today... have you ever embossed like this before? Tomorrow i'll have one more favorite, it's kinda a challenge too. Have a great day!

Glimmer Mist Halloween Card

One product i've been turning to alot lately is this Glimmer Mist by Tattered Angels. I've played with a product like this before but it smelled like dirty feet. I couldn't stand it long enough to get anything done with it. But this new brand has no smell at all!

Mine cost me about 5 bucks. A little goes a long way so if you're not doing over 100 pumpkins like me then you're gonna have it for awhile.

First be sure to use newspaper or something so you don't get over spray all over the place. Husbands don't like glimmer mist on the furniture!

Lay down a mask over the item you want the mist on. The Tattered Angels brand does sell masks but I opted for this felt spider web border by Martha Stewart. Got that on clearance as well. One other note is that the felt seemed to soak up the extra spray where the plastic mask seem to puddle up and make more of a mess.

Next spray a light mist over the mask and remove to reveal the pattern. At first the spray may look dark but as it dries it will lighten significantly. The pictured pumpkin here has wet mist on it.

When the mist is dry it will be very subtle. In fact on these pumpkins I like the results because at some angles you can't see it and then when you tilt it it's there. It's very Halloweenish, like a disappearing act.

Oh and of course every pumpkin needs a little glitter so I added that as well. Here's a close up of the dried glimmer mist.

Its a fun product that I wasn't sold on at first but i've come to enjoy the results on my projects. One thing to consider is that as with almost all sprays it has a tendency to blob so i'd recommend using very light sprays and be forgiving if it happens and go for the distressed look.

Here's my finished card. So tell me have you used Glimmer Mist yet?

Oh, you say you like this card and want to know where to get one? Well.... you're in luck, its one of the cards in my Card Kit this month. Look at the top of my blog page right under the banner and click on Subscribe, there you'll find all the information you need. Or come to class on October 6th.

I'm getting totally excited for the giveaway on Saturday! Did you miss yesterdays post? Check it out below.

Have a great day... I'll be back tomorrow with another bang for your buck product.

Elsa wants to know...

about using die-cuts! Here's what I can tell you, I barely touched a die-cut before I started designing for Sizzix. Now I have been shown the light and can't believe the things you can do with die cuts. I {heart}them! I've decided to make this a regular posting feature because there are just to many things you can do with your die cuts. In the coming weeks you'll see lots of information on die-cuts coming your way. For today i'll start with the basics, layering colors to embellish.

Start by cutting your die-cut in several colors. Remember pattern down if you are cutting patterned paper.

Use up your scraps you don't have to cut the whole die, only the pieces you want. See how the top of the die is missing.

Pick one color to build on / for a base. I usually pick the color that makes the most sense to be on the back layer. In this case I picked green and will cover everything but the leaves and swirls.

Cut away pieces of the different colors. Here I have already cut away the pink heart and attached it to my base layer. Then I cut apart all the yellow, orange and pink flowers.

Here are all the colors layered on the base.

Now put your die on your project and add any other embellishments you want. Here I added little contrasting circle centers, rhinestones, pearls, paint and chalk on the green and the heart.

There you have it... once you do a couple it really does go very quickly.

You can find the die I used Here.

This week i'm giving away this card to someone on my email list so if you haven't joined yet please do. I'll pick someone on Sunday night. Hope you enjoyed this post! 

Technique and Winner

Please visit my main page for my latest posts. GO HERE. And please be sure to click on the sections under my blog banner, i've got tons of great kits for sale! Enjoy! 

I'm currently hosting my annual Kit & Crafty Goodie Sale. I have some awesome deals on retiring kits and a Grab Box ($90 value for $30) You can check that out HERE

 

Here's a technique to start off your week. This may not be new to you but, I bet part of it will be. See I always knew how to change the color of brads by using embossing powder but I used to try to coat the whole thing with embossing ink and then use several coats of embossing powder. It usually resulted in a changed color but it was usually very pitted and uneven looking. Then the gals at my favorite Glitter Company  showed me the light! All you have to do is eliminate the the embossing ink. Here i'll walk you through it...

You'll need... An embossing gun (heat tool), Embossing powder, tweezers and brads.

Pick up the brad with the tweezers and heat it up with the embossing gun. I did mine for about 50 seconds or so.

 

 

 

Here's was the magic new part for me... just dip it into the embossing powder.

The embossing powder melts on the hot brad resulting in a smooth shiny finish.

 

Want some of those trendy glitter brads? After you put on the embossing powder just hit it with the heat gun for another quick second and then dip it in glitter! 

 

 

What about brad colors that are ugly or you just need something different. You can fix those too...

See all pretty...

Now you can make something adorable with the glittery brads you just made.

I made the card below, and if you'd like it to be yours i'm giving it away to one lucky person this week. Just sign up for my email list and on Sunday i'll pick someone from the list.

Hope you have a beautiful Monday! Smiles!!!

 

Technique

Hello Tip Junkie readers... please read this post and then Go Here  to see my main page and newest posts! Looking forward to getting to know you! Don't forget to sign up for my email list for more great ideas and tips.

Just a couple of things before I get to the technique.  And I have just a few spots left in my Creative Cards Homeschool for this quarter. July kits are shipping now. Go Here  for more information. 

OK here we go with the tip!

Have you noticed the price of some of the new embossed or glittered papers out there? I know i've seen some for $2.80 or even $3.25. Thats just nuts in my opinion. I offer you this solution, get the same look and feel for alot less. Here we go...

  

Glossy accents and Stickles glitter glue. If you don't have these rush to your nearest craft store and get yourself some!

Start with some plain patterned paper. This sheet cost me 70 cents. FYI its Adorn it "Nancys Flower Patch"

Apply a thin bit of Glossy Accents over selected areas. It will be foggy when its wet and then dry crystal clear and look like it is wet embossed or like epoxy. Pop any bubbles with a pin. Let it dry completely, like overnight if possible.

Now add your stickles glitter glue to the parts you want glittery. A little goes a long way with this stuff. I've always been happier with the results when its used sparingly, don't make a big blob.

 Can you see the difference?

See how pretty it looks with a little extra time and effort. Those two bottles of product will make you lots and lots of glittery shiny goodness!

Now you are ready to use your paper on any project you like!

Have a great day! Smiles...