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Springtime Collage with Earth Love

I had been told by Jan Hobbins, over a year ago, that you could take our element cards, especially the vintage ones, coat them in UTEE, freeze them, then crack the UTEE making them look like they had antique glazing (you know how it is cracked on old vases, etc).

Well, this is my first attempt and I learned a lot! First a thicker coat of UTEE works a lot better. Second, don't get impatient waiting for it to freeze, it will warm up very quickly in your hands, so it's got to be good and frozen all the way to start. Crack quickly, like I said, it warms up fast.

After you've frozen and cracked, wipe some distressing ink across it. I used Ranger's vintage photo.

Here's a close up. Like I said, first attempt and I did everything I warned you about not doing (too thin of UTEE, not waiting for it to freeze enough, not cracking fast enough, etc).

Still I think it's a fun look....... although I'll get it even better next time! By the way, that is our Coordinations cardstock as the background. It looks like fabric and I LUUUUUURVE it!!!! (Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2010)

Page of the week: Start with family

It's a Girl

Step2 On white cardstock, stamp one Bootie using embossing ink, either pink or clear. Now carefully lay your mask over this Booite and stamp another Booite next to it as shown. Using this masking technique, it appears as though one Bootie is behind the other. Using pink embossing powder, emboss both images.

Step3 Cut out a 3 1/2" diameter circle with the images in the center. Using a pink ink pad, dab ink around the edges of the circle.

Step4 With a scalloped edge scissors, cut another circle 3 3/4" in diameter out of pink cardstock. Layer the white and pink as shown.

Step5 Stamp It's a Girl, H950, on white cardstock and cut it out in a 1 1/4" square. Cut another square a bit larger out of pink cardstock, attach the two and set aside.

Step6 Cut a patterned background paper 4" x 5", and a lighter pink cardstock 3" x 4" and attach them as shown.

Step7 Using a coordinating pink ribbon cut approximately 6" long, attach with desired glue or tape to bottom portion of card, overlapping raw edges behind cardstock

Step8 On a white card 5 1/4" x 5 1/4" lightly color the edges with pink ink. Then later patterned piece, circle with Booties and attach text square with foam tape for added dimension.

Step9 Stamp two butterflies from set CS3215 in the upper right as shown. Add coordinating silk flower of different sizes to corners for that extra pizazz! (Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2010)

Flowers for You*** Just because***

Green Week

Here's Design Team member Shannon's fun green themed layout...

Shannon says: "Being the Irish Catholic girl that I am my childhood dream was to attend the University of Notre Dame and play field hockey for them- when they eliminated their field hockey program in 1985 that dream no longer was an option for me... but now my son dreams of playing football for the Irish one day... this summer we had the chance to take him on a day trip up to the amazing campus... he was thoroughly engrossed in the tradition... I loved it!"

Supplies: White 12x12 (71081) - Cardstock, Yay! Paper (34966) - Junior, Touchdown! Paper (34957) - Junior, Study Hall Paper (34645) - Teen, Honey (43019) - Thickers, Sentiments Large Set (59004) - Clear Stamps,Veggies Journaling (42547) - Remarks, Sotheby's (42459) - Remarks, Precision Pen Black .03 (62311) - Pens (Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2010)

Year In Photos...

Happy Happy Birthday!!!

Anniversary Roses

I stamped the image twice, colored them with markers and a blender, then cut both out and pieced them together. I like the little bit of dimension this gives. I attached it to a layer I cut using a Spellbinders rectangle. I left the die in place and lightly sponged on a little pale gray ink. I used an eyelet border punch on the black layer and a red marker to edge the white layer under it. All images are Sparkle N Sprinkle and are from a Wedding/Anniversary set I drew for them a couple of years ago.

The textured gray and white strips were crimped and attached along with two bands of ruled black paper. I made three colors of faux brads and attached them as shown along with some red grosgrain ribbon.

Happy Stamping, (Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2010)

An Absolute Beauty...

Here is how Teresa creates roses:

1. Cut a 5 inch round circle from Teresa Collins Mr & Mrs pattern paper. *note: for larger flowers flower’s cut the circle larger, or smaller for smaller flowers. The circle shape does not have to be perfect, embrace that each flower will be unique and one of a kind.

2. Begin at the circle edge and cut the flower in a cinnamon roll shape. There is NO right or wrong way. Start with a smaller width and gradually go larger as you cut towards the center. No need to worry about even or straight edges. Embrace imperfection!!!!!

3. Start with the outside edge and begin rolling tightly toward the center of the flower. Try to keep the bottom of your paper edge completely even with the paper as you roll.

4. Completely roll until you get in to the center of the flower. This is a continual roll until you reach the inner little circle. Then carefully allow the flower to OPEN or BLOOM. If you want a larger flower, allow to expand wider. A smaller flower will be created if you keep the paper bloom closer to the flower center.

5. In the center of the flower, add either white paper glue or clear Ranger Glossy Accents. Hold Flower center bloom in place for a few seconds so that the flower shape will remain as desired. *make large or small sizes by allowing the flower to BLOOM to the desired size.

6.Next, using Teresa Collins Shimmerz Pearlz you will use a paintbrush and lightly coat all the paper flowers with the translucent medium. It will add beautiful sparkly shimmer!!! (Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2010)

CD Clock

Using the Wizard and the Enchanted set, cut and emboss the numbers needed for the clock with silver Mirricard. Using the Color Wash Jewels, spray colors onto white tissue paper. Let dry. Put a junk CD through the Xyron, placing the adhesive on the silver side. Place the tissue paper over the CD, and use a bone folder to press the paper down, Stamp images on CD with document ink. Let dry or heat set. Color with colored pencils, and edge the CD with silver Krylon pen. Using the thin bodied glue and tweezers, place the numbers around the CD. The center of the clock may need to be a little smaller, depending on the clock movements purchased. Using silver Mirricard and scrap cardstock, create two small circles in the Wizard with circle die. Adhere the silver circle to the front - and scrap circle to the back. Assemble the clock according to the directions on the clock movements package. Supplies:

The Wizard Embossing & Die Cutting System by Spellbinders Spellbinders Alphabet - Enchanted Spellbinders Die - Circles Silver Mirricard, from Marco's Paper Stamps from Third Coast Color Wash Jewels from Stamp Zia White tissue paper (The kind for wrapping presents.) CD Clock movements Black Document Ink (Stewart Superior), or any black permanent ink Colored pencils Silver Krylon® Leafing Pen Xyron w/adhesive cartridge Thin bodied white glue Tweezers (Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2010)

Everyone Loves Flowers!

Enjoy your day!

Karen (Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2010)

I trimmed these two figures from the paper, and added a splash of color with Glimmer Mist. I simply sprayed a small puddle of Glimmer Mist onto my Misting Mat, and with a paint brush, painted in the color. I love the color variance I achieved by simply painting another layer of Glimmer Mist onto certain areas. The chip in the background is the new Tattered Angels Framed Fonts Postage Stamp. I sprayed half of this with Wheatfields Glimmer Mist and the other half with Patina. Once dry, I stamped over the chip with some script. I adhered the frame to another sheet from the Simplicity line, and made a great backdrop. The inside sentiment comes from the coordinating rubons for the Simplicity line. And, again, the figure was painted with Patina Glimmer Mist. I love how just lightly painting these figures adds so much. (Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2010)

Scrapbooking Is So Easy With The Stencil Collection!

Fall Scrapbook Page

A wonderful page to keep those special memories preserved. The Glazed Dimensions give the look of real leaves. It has also been added to the belt around her dress and on her shoes. Now you can enhance any photo to look 3-dimensional and glossy. Glazes dry in Five minutes. The Embossed Icing gives a blended look to capture the look of fall leaves. The Non-Smear Pastels were colored on the paper edge to keep the color theme of the scrapbook page. They set and seal so there won't be dust on your page protector. Just print out the saying on Scrapbook paper, rip the edge, and color with the Non-Smear Pastels.

The Stencil Collection Products Used: RM03- Autumn Motifs RM48- Leaf Background Fall Icing Tower All Colors Country Glaze Dimension Set Non-Smear Pastels 48 Color Set (Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2010)

New Scenic Serenity Stamp Series

Easter Baskets

Some Easter Baskets for you. These first cards, with the basket with the plain eggs is Jeanie’s Easter Basket – 701H - named after the artist who drew it. This same basket is in the Cling set 567QCL with a beautiful word stamp. (Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2010)