Mini Book

Above shows a mini-book that we did at our “Design and Treasure” class on Friday night.  It was alot of fun!  It only measures around 4″x4″.  We used cardstock for the cover, and a few pages cut from copy paper.  For the cover, just fold the cardstock in half, then fold about 1/4″ back from first fold.  (Fold again. )   We took a piece of white cardstock, and colored with a few colors of alcohol ink, using a felt pad stamp.  We squirted the blending solution over the cardstock before stamping.  We started this layer with a silver metallic pen, just dotted over the surface.  After applying the alcohol ink, we stamped butterflies in black. 

Layer a small piece of black cardstock over this layer, and use same alcohol technique for small top layer.  There were two stamps used on the top layer.  Small butterfly was stamped at random.

Brads were used for the binding.  We colored the brad tops with alcohol ink.

Another “Pop-ups by plane class” card

This just shows a couple different views of the same card.  We did this, at our “Design and Treasure” class, on Friday night.  It was already precut, we just did the folding.  They do sell the templates, and accessories, to make these cards.  I already have some at home, and cannot get them to cut right, the lady suggested that I may not be holding the blade correctly, or something.  I don’t know, but I sure do want to go to their website to watch the video!  It would be worth it, if I could get it figured out, I do like the end result of these templates.

Holographic sticker card

This card is basically all done with stickers, on glossy black cardstock.   They were selling these at the “POP-UPs by Plane Class” booth.  Their website is www.popuptemplates.com   They said they have video tutorials at their website, on how to use their templates, and stickers.  How nice!

Coloring with Crayons

(Note the tablecloth is blue checkerboard, it is not part of the project!)

This was an interesting project!  We made this, at the “Design and Treasure” class, on Friday night.  It was actually kind of fun.  We got a small piece of illustration board that had the prestamped image already on it.  (Stamped in black ink.)  Then we took crayons, and colored in the image, at random.  Then we took a black ink pad, and spread ink all across the image.  After wiping off the ink, we took a pair of scissors, and scratched out designs, like a scratchboard project.  Then most people let the lady doing the demo have them, as she promised to clearcoat them with her special glaze. 

I was the only one that did not have her take it, to finish.  Everyone else’s designs looked so pretty, and mine looked so dark.  Guess I didn’t press hard enough with the crayon, for a good resist.  So I took mine home, and lightly sanded it, and it helped some.  I had some clear crystal laquer that I coated mine with.  It turned out better than it started, but I still think it’s too dark.  I may try this project on my own, and color harder with the crayons next time!  The company for this one was “Stamp Zia”.

Black and Silver Christmas card

This was a card that we made, at our “Design and Treasure” class, on Friday night.  We started out with silver cardstock, and used a “Corner Adorner” punch, to punch the edges out.  We used a tiny snowflake, and a checkerboard stencil, to stamp the image in random formation, in silver ink, for the front background.

Note that all pieces are precut, except for the circle on the front.  After stamping the saying in silver ink, we used a humongous circle punch, to cut the layer.  Then we used a separate small ornament stamp, to go in the center.  Was very easy to line up.  We put the black background in the holes punched in the corners, and glued the rest of the embellishments to the card.  The circle on the front is adhered with a pop dot.

This shows the inside of the card.  We used a separate piece of thin black paper, about the thickness of computer paper, and used a 3D punch, for the center hearts, you had to punch this with the paper folded in half.  When you make a few creases, you can pop it out, like shown in the pic below.  With a few stamps, and some adhesive, the card was fun and easy to make!

The company for this card is “Endless Creations”.  Their website is www.shopec.com, and I think the lady said they were updating their website, so if it looks funny, just keep checking back.  This is where to go, if you want a 3D punch.  They aren’t out on the market right now, I guess, for some reason.

Merry Christmas card

This is a card that we did at convention, at a make and take table.  They were demonstrating this at the booth for “Our Daily Bread Designs”.  They had some wonderful stamp sets for sale, and many other items.  Their website is www.ourdailybreaddesigns.com.  All the paper was precut.  We just had to fold the card in half, and used the “Glue Glider Pro”, to adhere together.  We used a Martha Stewart punch, for the decorative edging, and picked out our stamp image from a few they had to choose from.  We could choose either red or green ink, and either red, or green dewdrops.  We put these on, with the flat glue dots.  I believe it was a “Flowersoft” design that we used for the front saying, we embellished it with flowersoft. 

You may be able to tell that we used a popdot to adhere the front to the card.  I do like this card, it turned out very nice, even though I messed up, on the punch.  I almost forgot that we finished off the front with Tattered Angels glimmer mist, in gold.  (Just on the stamped white piece.)

Rubber Stamp Convention 2009

This past weekend was such a blast! My friend and I look forward to the local rubber stamp convention, every year. We have been there faithfully every year since it started, about 10-15 years ago. It is so much fun, there are many vendors with products for sale, and most of them either do demo’s, or make and takes. (I will show our make and takes, in another post.) I have pictures in this post, of the things I brought home.

This convention has been through about 3 or 4 different companies since it started, and has been held in the “war memorial coliseum”, most of the time. And more often than not, they have had a “stamp party”, with make and takes, most of those years. It is usually either on Friday, or Saturday night. We went to the one this year, held on Friday night, it was called “Design and Treasure”, and we all made 4 projects. I will do a separate post for these projects, as well.

 These first 2 pictures show everything grouped together.  Following is all of the individual items.

 

 

 

 

 I have been dying to try out the Copic markers, and finally got my chance.  My friend and I both got some!  I did find out that you cannot use the airbrush with the Ciao ones, but they were so inexpensive at the Marcos booth, that we couldn’t resist.  I guess they all color the same, anyway, and I know I will get more to add to the collection.

 Copic blender, Triart markers, and white gel pens!  The Triart markers are alcohol based, like the Copics, but they have 3 different tips, and are only $3.99 apiece.  The lady at the booth showed us a comparison between the two, and you could not tell the difference.

 Here are some pictures of my new stainless steel Copic holder.  When I get too many to fit in here, I will use it for my most used items on the craft table.

 

 

 We were also tickled pink, to finally get to try out “Flowersoft”.  I recommend it, if you are on the fence.  So easy to use, and it really gives your projects some added bling.  My only regret is not getting a jar of the Christmas Green, for my card trees.

 This is the “Gary Burlin” brand of Stickles.  They have a little bit of everything in their booth, and always have discounted items in big totes.  These little bottles were only $1.25 apiece.  I tried to get all of the colors they had.

 The next four stamps are the only ones I bought.  (I already have hundreds!)  They are by “Heartfelt Creations”, located in Nappannee, Indiana.  I thought they would make wonderful Christmas cards.

 

 The last three stamps on here, are combined into a card sample my friend got a picture of, as we both bought the stamps to make it.  I will include the picture of the sample card below, so you can see what it looks like.

 I also want to go to Hobby Lobby, and find a Linus (Peanuts by Charles Shultz,) stamp, to use with the one above.  (My friend confirmed that it was what he says, in the Christmas special.)

 

Above is the picture that shows the card, that we bought the stamps, to make.

Another sample, using the stamps!

 BIA wires in white, pink, blue, and (plain).

 We got to try out the “Glue Glider Pro”, as well.  We loved it, and had to buy.  I get tired of buying adhesive so often, and hope this one lasts much longer than the little ones do.  With the refill, I think it will be a great money saver.

 We used these flat glue dots, with the dew drops on a sample card.  They were inexpensive, and I needed these.  The only ones I have right now are the “Zots”, and they are big and fat.  You can’t use them for everything you need to.  My friend said she had some flat ones already, in a different brand, and I remembered I did too, but haven’t been able to find them in years.  I really have looked for them alot, but never did find, I think they are lost forever, so for two bucks, I got these to replace them.

 I got this “Shapabilities” die, to make 3-D snowflakes.  The demonstrator had a snowflake, and a pumpkin, using the “Renaissance Hearts” die.  I will post pictures of these, so you can see what I’m talking about.

Three pictures above shows how to use the Shapeabilities dies, to make snowflakes, and pumpkins.  I need to get the one to make the pumpkins, I love it!

 The heart punch is a “3-D” punch, I’ve never seen before the stamp party.  We used this punch, to make pop-up hearts, in the center of the card.  (You will see this, when I post the projects we made.)

 I love waterbrushes for “Twinkling H2o’s”, and other things.  But mine were getting pretty ratty, and needed to be replaced.

 Was also searching for better quality brushes to use, in my stamping projects.  I think these will work well.

 Seen these before, but never knew quite what they were.  It’s a glue pen, with a very fine tip.  It writes just like a ballpoint pen, only it’s filled with glue!  Got to try them out at a make and take,  in our LSS,  convention weekend.  Just what you need to apply glitter in a small line, or area.  One lady said they always write smooth, and don’t get clogged.

 Gamsol is something I had heard of before, when watching a Prismacolor video, showing how to blend the Prismacolor pencils.  The artist said you could also use alcohol and a Q-tip, but I found that the Gamsol with a blending stump lets you get into small areas very well.  (Also tried at the make and take, at LSS.)  So even though I wasn’t going to buy this, since learning you could use alcohol, I knew this technique was easy, and worked well, for what I wanted to do.

 Been wanting this punch, since I don’t have a picket fence image, on any of my current Cricut cartridges.  (I don’t yet have either SCAL, or DS.)  I think it will be great for my cards.

 The Tattered Angels embossed tiles was used in one of our make and takes.  The demonstrator cut a piece in half, for our project.  I wanted to get some, so I could make more, as it was a very fun project.

 I needed this, as one of my stamps is still black with “Stazon” ink.  Thought I already had some, but cannot find it, if I do.  Been holding off on using Stazon, until I got this.

 This bad picture, is a bottle of “Stamp Zia” brand clear laquer coating.  It looks like milk, and is supposed to be non-smearing, if you use it over ink.  We used it, on a make and take project.

 Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist.  I’ve been hearing about this stuff all over the place.  Never tried it, until now.  We used it on the Tattered Angels tiles, and I went back 3 times, and kept getting more colors.  I like using the color sprays on my projects.  I have some currently, but they are Walnut inks, and come out very dark.  I wanted to get some that were brighter, and these are perfect.

 I tried to get the back of the Glimmer Mist, so you could see the colors.  The one on the very left is hard to read, and it is “Haunted Shadow”.

 I love the Cuttlebug folders, and only have two.  Since they are so inexpensive now, I bought eight, at convention.  Individual shots of them are below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 This was what I was most excited to go to convention to get, a Bind-it-all machine!  Been wanting one for awhile, and picked up the bag, too.  I love making little books, and journals.  I need to watch the DVD, before I use it, because I have no idea how it works completely.  I got the machine, wires, and bag, all half off, since I got the Marco’s email.  What a deal!