I'm Back... with so much Inky Goodness!

Hello! Happy Thursday... It has been too long since I have been here... unfortunately I have to admit that I haven't had too much time to create really these last couple weeks.  ...and then something awful happened: I hit a creative wall block! BUT all that changed last week when I was so fortunate to be able to take a class from the designer and creator Jen Starr! Ink Boot Camp was the name of the class... and let me tell you something: WOW!

I learned so so so very much!!! and Jen is a fantastic teacher! I can't tell you how many times in class my jaw dropped and I just was amazed at the techniques!

I was able to play in my studio most of the day Tuesday and here is a layout that I created with some of the techniques I learned using Distress Inks.

(I thought these were very appropriate pictures to use for such an inky layout!)

...and here are some of the techniques that I used...

I started with the Wrinkle Free Distress technique on a sheet of watercolor paper.

How To:

1. Start by rubbing multiple colors of Distress Ink on to your craft mat being careful to not overlap them.

2. Mist your mat with water until you see little water beads of color.

3. Place your paper face down into the color and rub your hands along the back. (I used a brayer and rolled it all around on my paper).

4. Dry it with your heat gun.

5. To get the specks and spots that you see on mine: After drying it, tap it down randomly. You don't want to place the whole paper down and you don't want to rub... just tap!

TIP: You can put your paper face down on to the craft mat as many times as you want... the important thing is that you just want to dry it between each "dip" into the color. This allows you to layer your color. If you skip this step then everything you do will just run together.

HERE is a great video from Tim Holtz on Distress Inks!

OK... I know that this post is getting kind of long... but I have to share this next technique with you because it is one of my favorites!!!!

Removing your Distress Inks with water...

Do you see how I have poinsettias on my background and on my tags?

This is how I did it...

Once I had my wrinkle free distress background finished I came back with my stamp and Archival Ink. (You want to make sure you have a water-proof ink to do this technique... Archival Ink is just my favorite!)

I stamped all down the edge of my paper and on my tags. (Depending on what ink you use for this step, you might need to heat set it.)

now time for the magic!

1. Using a water pen or a paint brush and water color in your image with water.

2. Once the water has been on there for a few seconds or so, come in with a paper towel and blot off the water.

See? because Distress Inks react with water, we are able to remove some of the color. Allowing our image to really "pop" on our background!

When you play with these techniques, don't be afraid to push the limits! Once you got it, try using different inks, different papers... there is just so much you can do!

Stay tuned for more inky fun... My head is just spinning with ideas!

until next time... Happy Creating!

CHRISTINE



Spooky Candle

Happy Haunting! I have a spooky project to share with you today... I created this fun candle decoration for a contest that We R Memory Keepers was having over on Facebook.... and I was one of the winners!!! Yipppeee!

I started with a decorative candle holder.... Using a sheet of 12 x 12 paper, I ripped about a 5" piece off and then inked both sides. I decorated the front with various embellishments: bling, flower, ribbon, cheese cloth, & paper accents.

I didn't want to permanently decorate my candle holder, so I made my project to be a corset for my candle holder... here is the back:

...you can see it featured on the We R Memory Keepers Facebook page...

A newly Discovered Paper Company...

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Did you get any creating done? I wish I could say that I did.. but I didn't really get a chance to... Here is a layout that I did last week:

It is actually another layout that I started in a class from CKC Nashville. In it we used paper from a company that I had never heard of, Bisous b-zoo. I absolutely love these papers. The colors are bright and beautiful and there are a lot of accents that you can fussy cut out and use as embellishments.

I kept a few things the same on this layout as what was instructed in the class, but completely changed the embellishment grouping and added a few other accents as well.

Its a fun and silly picture and I love how the colors in the photo and the papers go so well together.

Here is a closer look...

In class we used white embossed cardstock. Using Distress Stain we colored it blue. We then ran Distress Ink in brown over it to color the embossed dots.

The blue and orange flower I cut out of the paper and then put Rock Candy Crackle Paint on them to spice them up a bit. The other flowers and bling are Prima. The really dark colored flower was actually a black flower. I used Adirondack Color Wash in Stream and then Perfect Pearls Mist in Turquoise to add the blue sheen to it. The butterflies where given to us in class. They are just little wooden accents. Using paint dabber I colored them and then added the copper wire to create their antennas.

Wishing you a creative day!

Christine

Soiree!

TGIF!

I am a little behind posting today... but I have a fun layout to share!

Here is a layout that I did this week using the Pink Paislee Soiree line. I absolutely love this line! Last Friday we had a big birthday crop at our local scrapbook store... During our group picture they tried to make me be in the front... I didn't want to be in the front.... so I crossed my arms and pouted (not being serious)... someone next to me snapped a quick photo... we were all laughing!

Using the matching twine in the Soiree line, I wrapped it around my picture several times.

 I used a selection of Prima Flowers and Bling to make this little grouping. The green embellishment next to the flowers is on pop-dots, I have a little journaling tag in there telling the story. Its hard to see in the picture, but I used my Epiphany Shape Studio Tool Round 25 on the top of the tag to make it easier to pull out. I cut the word "pouts" with my Cricut using the Alphalicious Cartridge.

The white grid lines that you see, (above), I made using Ranger's Enamel Accents. Once it dried, I used my Ink Blending Tool and Worn Lipstick Distress Ink and smudged some ink over that area to make the Enamel Accents pop!

The lettering here used to be green foamy letters. With the help of some ink and Perfect Pearls Mist, I altered them to match my layout. The circle embellishment was also made using my Epiphany Shape Studio tool! 

Have a wonderful Friday and a crafty, creative weekend!

Christine

Quick & Classy with My Mind's Eye

Welcome Thursday! ...and tomorrow is Friday! Yipppee!

Today I have a layout from a class that I took at CKC in Nashville, Quick & Classy with My Mind's Eye. I didn't finish it in class, so I pulled it out the other day when I started to scrap. I tweaked it a bit to make it my own... I am so happy with the results!

The papers are from My Mind's Eye and so are a few of the embellishments.

The Green Polka-dot paper is a 12" strip. I folded it to create a single pleat and then added the stars at the end. They are on pop-dots and have Stickles on them!

The title I cut out with my Cricut and the Opposites Attract cartridge.

IN THE DETAILS:

I had these fabulous little clear word stickers hanging up on my Clip-It-Up... I just picked out several words that went along with my picture and adhered them in a "zig-zag" column.

One thing that we did in class, that I thought was so neat, is this little paper clip! Paper clips come in all sizes and colors! Here we used a blue one that matched our papers and tied two pieces of ribbon to it... instant embellishment! Instant, cheap, embellishment!

These are little rub-on birdies from Studio Calico. I added the bling using my I-Rock.

When I was looking for something to journal on, I saw the packaging to the rub-ons.... and thought it would be perfect! So the journaling below is on the packaging!

Have a splendiferous day!

Christine

Not So Halloween Card

Happy Wednesday! As October keeps on rolling, I can hardly believe it is getting closer and closer to the holidays! Halloween, Thanksgiving, .... Christmas! Today I have a not so Halloween card to share....

I used the new Halloween line from My Mine's Eye, Mischievous. I distressed the edges... I really distressed the edges! A friend let me use her Zutter Distrezz It All tool.... this tool rocks! I love it! ...and it's on my wish list! I then ripped and tore and ripped some more!

The flower started off bright orange... I brushed Black Magic Glimmer Mist on the leaves, used a Metallic Silver Paint Dabber on the edges and stamped flourishes on the petals in silver paint.

A huge brad finished the flower.

I hope you are enjoying fabulous Fall weather!

Happy Creating!

Christine

Playing with Goosebumps!

Today I am so excited to share with you a card that my friend Sharmiece made! It's beautiful!

She started by embossing a 4.75"x5.5" of Butter Cream Cardstock using a Tim Holtz Texture Fade by Sizzex. To get a deep impression she ran it through her Texture boutique twice. She then sprayed it with Goosebumps and heat dried it. Goosebumps is a fun new product from Tsukineko! It's a clear texture spray. Once dried, she ran a Cat Eye Ink in Chestnut Roan over the paper. She wiped it with a paper towel and repeated the inking again.

She used the Stampendous Daisy Thanks stamp set to create her flower. Stamping it and then coloring with colored pencils and Gamsol. (Here is a how to video from Archiver's website!)

She then fussy cut her flower. After tying the ribbon around the card she adhered her flower. Stamping the sentiment was the last step in creating this beautiful card!

I hope you have enjoyed Sharmiece's work as much as I have!

Happy creating!

Christine 

Pronto Pups! Yummy!

Happy Monday! I can hardly believe that October is here!

Today I have a layout to share....

Fall is here, and with that, of course, comes the fair! I created this layout to document our adventure at the fair and one stop on our fair food quest! The paper is from 7 Gypsies. The mat is Grungepaper that I inked up and then used a mask to create the design on the right side. The circles you see were made using the Epiphany Crafts Shape Studio Tool Round 25.

To create this little grouping, I used Prima Bling, leaves cut from Tim Holtz Alterations Die, Tattered Leaves, and a journaling block that I stamped and distressed. The title is made from felt letters by Prima. After "Googling" the pronto pup, I found out that it was established in 1941. It was quite interesting learning about this tasty little fair treat... You can read more here.

Hope you have a fabulous, crafty week!

Christine