April Card Notes

Hi all!!  Finally getting a chance to pop in and get notes about the April card projects posted.  Please don't hesitate to ask if you've got any questions!

I hope you enjoy this small sampling of projects created with this stamp.  I can't wait to come up with more as this has been a really fun image to play with.  I really love how different it looks depending on the colors used and the portion of the image I highlight.

Path to The Beach Cards

 Sailboat
- For interest and dimension, use foam adhesive to adhere the snapshot on the card front.  I airbrushed the sky & then used my Colorless Blender 0 to push the color around and out in a cloud-ish shape.

Lighthouse
- I didn't include sand in your envelopes.  :)  I figured that might get a little messy.  If you'll be adding sand to your shaker pouch, rub the inside of the pouch with a used dryer sheet.  This will help reduce static and help keep the sand from trying to stick to the inside of the pouch.
- To color the card front I used a blender tool with a light grey, dark grey and a smidge of navy blue.  I included the die cut circle in case you'd like to use it for another project.
- I airbrushed the background and created clouds just like in the Sailboat project

Full Scene, oval cut

- This one was colored with my markers.  I let the beach are fade out and didn't color all of it.  Make this a smooth transition by fading with your Colorless Blender 0.

- I included a number of small starfish and a sand dollar in your kit.  They are real and very delicate.  I adhered mine with ZipDry.

- I airbrushed the sky on this one.  If you don't have the airbrush system, you can soak the sky with Colorless Blender 0 pretty well and feather the blue from the skyline up.  Hit the edges with your Blender pen again to smooth this transition more if needed.

Full Scene, Colored Pencils
- It was very interesting to color with pencils rather than my markers.  I applied many of the same principals of coloring with my markers to coloring with pencils.
- I  scribbled in all of the colors I wanted to use for all areas of the image.  Once I had color in each area, I came back in with an Aqua Brush or tiny paint brush dipped in water and started moving the colors around.
- Layer your gradients or shades of each color as you would your markers; most of the lightest color, less of the middle color and least of all of the darkest color.  If I overblended I found it easier to let that area dry and go back with my colored pencil and scribble in some more and start over.
- Trim the tiny sand castle out of the die cut corner, ink it up, adhere with foam adhesive.

April Featured Stamps & Projects

Ok.  So I"m a little late.  But at least I can say I got them posted BEFORE April.  :)
I've been so excited about the images and projects I had in mind for them for this month. It was so hard when the stamps came in not to create these ones first!!

The primary stamp for April is this "Path to the Beach" from Impression Obsession.

I just saw so many possibilities with this one.  I hope you will too.

Another of my favorite things from Impression Obsession is their HUGE 6x6 background stamps.  I've paired the Cover-A-Card Map stamp with the beach image a few different ways.

And last, but far from least, I found the "Picture Frame" stamps & was in love.  I'll be pairing this set up with LOTS of other images.

Here's one of the Projects I created with these stamps.  For the others check out the Class Projects Tab.

You'll notice the others have some large paper clips holding them together.  That's because the designs on them are fighting me back!!  I had them all planned out but when it came time to execute them something just didn't work.  I'll have it figured out by class time.  If you've got any ideas please send them my way!!

No Rectangles Here Samples posted!

If you'll be in Tucson for the Stamp & Scrap Fest March 16 & 17, you should join me for these fun cards.  Here's one of them.  You can see the others om the Class Projects tab, just scroll down to view them.

This class is sponsored by The Stamp Dr and features Spellbinders dies.

I'll be posting photos for the Mixed Media Mini book and the Waterfall album soon.

While in Tucson that weekend, you might also consider checking out some junior roller derby.  The PHX Derby Brats will be playing in the First Junior Devil Tournament!

March Projects!!

I was able to drop of the projects for March's class this morning at Barn.  I'm pretty happy with them & the feedback I've already gotten regarding them.  Please share your thoughts regarding them.  I'm always looking for ways to improve and add value to class.  Ok, now to the projects....

Impression Obsession has long been a favorite stamp company of mine.  With so many different styles of artists and stamps available, they really do have something for everyone.  And this year they've added dies.  Oh heaven help me!  I'm already bugging them for a die to match the Darling Dahilia, which is the image featured for March.

Here's one of the projects we'll be creating

Please excuse the photo - don't even get me started on the scanner/printer issues I've been having - I literally uploaded this from the camera and haven't done any editing to it.  I know that great photos are important but in this instance I thought any photo was better than none.

One thing I really  like is that each card features not only a different color for the Dahlia, but a different technique.  It's so important to not only be able to envision different ways to color an image but to also have a variety of ways to USE it.  That was always one of the things that stumped me with stamps.  And it's now something I'm really happy to be able to share in my classes.

This project highlights how you can use embossing SAFELY with your markers.  You can easily do this with ANY color (come to class to find out how) but I really think the white is striking.

The remaining projects can be found on the Class Projects tab.  You have two chances to join me and create these cards in March.  Please call the store to sign up as space is limited.

Stamp & Scrap Fest Classes!!

Sometimes life takes a zig when you thought it was going to zag.  The opportunity to teach at the Stamp & Scrap Fest was one of those kinds of things I'm happy to say.  March 15 & 16 you'll find me in Tucson teaching 3 classes.  Here's a quick overview of the classes:

Friday afternoon - Anything but a Rectangle!  $20
3 unique cards created fast and easy with dies.  One will be a center step card, there will also be a flip flop card and a uniquely shaped card.  As always, I'll have plenty of tips and tricks to share.  Class project samples will be completed soon and I'll have pictures posted here.  If you're not able to join me in Tucson but are interested in these projects I'll happily mail a kit out to you or bring it to a class in town.

Saturday morning - Mixed Media Mini  $30
This 2" mini album will feature the new Media Mixage blanks from Spellbinders.  There will be plenty of ink, paint and stampy goodness to go around.  Not to mention paper, texture and more.  This one is gonna be super cute and perfect to hang off your purse or other prominent show and tell kind of spot.

Saturday afternoon - Create Waterfall Album  $25
Mini's are always fun but this one celebrates the creative in you.  With fun & funky papers from Glitz Designs, this album is packed with plenty of space for photos & journaling.  Add the letters to the end of each page and you have a perfect way to document your hobby and what it means to you.

Products for these projects are on their way to me.  As soon as I can get them in my hot little hands look for lots of photos and more information to be posted.

She mixed media canvas

Have you ever wanted to decorate your home with art you create yourself?  Or create a one of a kind gift for someone special?  But weren't sure how to start or what the "rules" were?  It's easier than you thing.  Join me for this mixed media canvas project.  Here's my version:

I'll have plenty of ephemera and lots of paint colors for you to play with.  You'll be able to chose from a variety of fabric and embellishments to adorn your art work.  Feel free to bring any special trinkets you'd like to include.

This class will be March 9 at 1:30 at Scrapbook Barn.  Please call them to sign up. (480) 503-2475  Space is limited.

March classes

After some wonderful feed back - thanks again Nancy & Norah! - I've chosen to make a few changes to the card classes at Scrapbook Barn.  We'll still color and create cards with lots of techniques but we'll focus on one main image each month.  I've already got sketches and ideas for March, April & May!!  I'm rarely that far ahead.  This makes me think that this change is a good one if it's got my creativity kicked up into overdrive like this.  I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of all the stamps from Impression Obsession.  As soon as they land in my mailbox I'll start stamping, inking, coloring and cutting up a storm to create the March projects and then I'll get them posted.  In the meantime, here are the images I'll be highlighting in March.  Enjoy!

You'll be able to purchase these items and special order lots more at Scrapbook Barn in March.