Thanks for joining me on USTREAM last night for a live broadcast of me trying this technique inspired by what I saw on Pinterest.
I did a crayon experiment -- which one melt better/what surface to use etc.... and then went to town! :) If you missed it and would like to see what I did (and how I did it, you an still see it on USTREAM by clicking this link:
This is the first one I did...... Hanging dude reminds me of the hubby...
And here's me and the dog.. LOL ... Okay, me in my mind *wink*. LOVE This one!
and... at the end of the broadcast I melted the ends of the crayons in a silicone mold. It worked great until I popped it out. ..then they crumbled. I bet I needed to make them thicker so that they'd pop out of that deep mold better. Live and learn! :)
And here's a Suitcase Update... I'm ready on one side to paint my "girl" on it :) check back again soon for another update...
Time certainly flies when you're getting your kid back to school. My "kid" started high school this week (which freaks me out!!) Lots of papers to be signed, money to be sent (so much for public education - LOL) If you have kids in school now - I know you feel my pain. But I wouldn't have it any other way!!!!!
HOWEVER!!!!! TODAY I AM GOING TO CREATE SOMETHING!!!!
My inner creative person is REALLY wanting to come out. I'm not sure what that will be yet .. I have a few things I would like to create. We'll just see where the day takes me.
Last night I hosted 4 more gals for the Technique of the Month Club. I'm so happy that the jewelry set we created has gone over so well. Definitely look for more jewelry stuff in the studio soon. I've been making my own necklaces and would LOVE to share how to do it. In fact, I haven't been without a necklace since my hair was cut -- co-inkydink? I think not :) hehe.
Anyway, without further ado. Here are the four fabulous ladies (donning their newly created jewelry ensemble). Thanks for a great evening gals. Enjoy your treasures!!
ooooooH!! How could I forget -- Did you notice in the comment section in last week's TOMC post that the designer that inspired this month's technique (Cathe Holden) found my website and posted a lovely comment!!! Thanks Cathe! You were certainly a part of this class -- even if it was only in spirit! Thanks for all the lovely inspiration on your blog!!
Before I sign off for the day -- I have to post my Zentangle. THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS and my lovely friend Wendy (who was here last night) really wanted me to post an image of what I started yesterday evening. I'll repeat. This is a work in progress. I'll post an updated image as do it until I'm done. Let's see where this takes me.
For those who don't know what a Zentangle is, here's a site that will answer your questions. Right now, I just want to play. I am creating my Zentangle with India Ink and Calligraphy Nibs as I'd like to get more practice using the tool and experiment a little. I'm getting the Zentangle Basics Book here in the studio to get those creative juices inspired with a little structure ... hummm... inspired with structure? LOL (I'm shaking my head at myself! *smile* hehe) My Zentangle is a page in my Art Journal. What a great place to try new things.
Happy Creating everyone! I'm off to get messy!
OKAY -- I had it out and had to add to it..... Now -- I really MUST do a sample or two. BUT BOY does it feel great to play!!
Yep, you guessed it! I am gathering materials today for a video shoot tonight!
The Queen of All Things (Sheri) is dropping by the studio later -with video camera in hand - to start filming a Web Series that will feature me doing some product demos and techniques of product that I use in my art and that I have in the studio. I'm so excited!! Wish me luck!!
I have the first few webisodes planned -- but, as always -- I'm open to ideas. What would you like to see? Feel free to leave a comment in this post or email me with your suggestion!!
Now, off to get camera ready! ...might take a while :) LOL
Hello Bloggers! Its been a couple of super busy weeks in the studio and at the Nottawasaga Retreat -- I know I said this earlier but .. WOW! Thanks for a great weekend girls!!
div>I did have a few inking questions come out of that retreat and a few people in the studio asking about different ways to use Perfect Pearls -- one of my favourite subjects as you know so... I thought I would oblige. *smile*
This is an inking technique to create fabulous inked backgrounds for your card making, journal and mixed media projects: its called Pigments and Pearls. The gals over on my Wendy Vecchi Yahoo group have been chatting about this a lot lately so they inspired me to share it here with you. Here we go! Enjoy!
We are using Ranger's Adirondack Pigment inks for this project, their Craft Sheet, Perfect Gold Perfect Pearls, a Mini Mister and a Heat Tool.
Pick out your favourite ink combination and dab it Light to Dark directly on your craft sheet. A good bet -- pick a light bright and earthtone of the same colour set to create depth - they are perfect together!! I used Terra Cotta, Peach Bellini and Sunset Orange
That's the pigment part... now for the pearl.
Mix your favourite perfect pearl with water in a Mini Mister. (fill mini mister with water to approximately the last R in Ranger and add a sm scoop of pearls to it and shake) Spritz the inked area of your craft sheet as shown until you get some good "puddling" happening.
Turn your paper face side down on top of the puddled ink and press down unto the back of the paper to pick up the ink. Do not drag it through the ink.
Lift and....
Dry with your Heat Tool.
Once your paper is dry, do back and "pick up" some of the inked water droplets left on the craft sheet.
Pick it up and dry again. Repeat this process until you're satisfied with the "effect".
Use your Blending Tool and your favourite coordinating ink (I used Terra Cotta) to ink the edges and finish it off. Now it's ready to embellish. And its oh so pearly and fun! :) Here is what I created with my background.
It is one of the cards for the upcoming April Card Workshop to be held Saturday April 24 (the weekend after Scrapfest) . I hope you can join us in the studio to play with the pigments and pearls! I KNOW you'll LOVE it!!
Okay.. here it is as promised. Sorry about the delay - let's pretend its Tuesday, okay? *smile*
Over on my Facebook Fan Page, Wendy wanted me to tell you about beached paper after she saw my post about the tag I created using the items sent to me from my Valentine. (If you haven't already.... please become a fan -- it's a great way to get info about what's happening at the studio while following this blog at the same time.... I digress....)
Bleached paper .... is bleached paper. I literally raided my cleaning closet, poured a little bit of bleach into a cup and, using a paint brush, I painted bleach onto areas I wanted to highlight on my stamped image. The image is stamped on cardstock -- BUT not all cardstocks/cardstock colours will work. Test your cardstock with a dab of bleach before you set to work on your project. If the bleached area turns white.... you're good to go :)
Okay... on with a similar project....
Stamp your image onto cardstock using Archival Ink. Archival Ink is important as it is oil based and will not smudge or blur when you add water or other liquid over it.
Then... go ahead and ink it up with your favourite coordinating distress inks.
I love what Alexandra did on my valentine and I will show you the steps she took here too... so this is a little bit of me and a little bit of her.
Her next step was to add.....
YEP! You guessed it, Perfect Pearls. She mixed some Perfect Pearls and water into a Mini Mister and spritzed her image. That's what I am doing here too.
Using your Heat Tool, dry the image..... now get out your bleach!
BE CAREFUL.... Remember we are using bleach. Make sure you are working on a bleach friendly surface... and that you are using your Craft Sheet so you can protect your work surface. If you are messy like me, you might want to go put on an apron -- okay, I think you get the idea... *smile*
Dip a small paintbrush into the bleach and "paint" the areas that you would like to highlight on your image. In this case, I am bleaching the flower. The beach will remove the pigment in the paper as it dries. The more bleach (ie: right after you dip it into the bleach) the whiter it will turn. Play with the bleach strength to get you desired result.
You can leave it this way... BUT... that's no fun! Now that you have removed the pigment from the paper -- go ahead and add some distress ink colours to it.
I have done that here using Cut N Dry Nibs. I love these tools ... I dip them into my distress ink pads to pick up the ink and I can add ink to small areas -- very cool! I use these while I tint my black and white photos too... This looks a little rough at first but you're not done!!
Change paint brushes or get out your water brushes and paint plain water onto the areas you coloured with distress inks. NOTE.. you don't need too much water. Spritz some on your CRAFT SHEET and dip your brush into that. Remember Distress Inks react with water.... when you apply water with the paint brush it will blend the colours nicely!! It's all good!
Keep going, adding and touching up colours and blending them with water until you are satisfied with the results......
Now go ahead and add it to a tag or a card or your layouts. I just wouldn't put bleached paper onto pictures -- I think you'd agree that those reasons are obvious. :)
Here's my new tag I made... I think I will put it on a card. It would make a great "All Occasion" Greeting.
NOW, I just showed you how to paint the inside with bleach... you can also do outside, thin stamped images with bleach too.
Take a look at this background stamp -- heart themed of course!! I made a bleach stamp pad by layering lots of paper towel in a tray and pouring some bleach on it... enough to soak the paper towel without puddling. Then... use that as your stamp pad and stamp the image as you normally would. MAKE SURE you wash your stamp well immediately. :)
Think of the possibilities.... Have fun, Go make Art!!
Hello Bloggers!
It's Tuesday and time for another ASK KAREN post.
I received an email yesterday from JO asking what you can do with GrungePAPER.
Yes, PAPER - Not GrungeBOARD. There is a difference.
GrungePAPER is thin - at least half the thickness of GrungeBOARD (...not that I measured or anything) and as a result is VERY VERSATILE. You can ink it, and sand it and die cut it, and paint it, and spray it and emboss on it... cover it with anything (with the right glue -- do you know about 3N1? LOL) BUT because of it's thin... you can also emboss it with your embossing folders. YAY... textured goodness!! and manipulate it well cause it does hold it's shape. You can also use it in your die cutting machines and punch it with your punches!!
Jo also wanted samples (picky picky - hehe)... well, samples I can do cause I use the stuff all the time... and so do many many other people in the blogosphere! I am happy to provide links to their work for you too. The possibilities are endless.... and I mean that.
Many of you know that I participated in Tim Holtz 12 Tags of Christmas.
This is Tag Number 12.. I created the roses using the GrungePAPER. We did something similar to this at the London Retreat -- but there we used GrungeBOARD. TRUST ME.... Paper is easier to work with and looks far more delicate!
LOVE this TAG!!
This year's Nottawasga Retreat (you know, the one inspired by ArtyJen's work) also has a class in which I used GrungePAPER.
The wings on this Canvas are created with GrungePAPER. Here I inked them with Distress Inks, stamped on them with Archival Inks and then added some Rock Candy Distress Stickles to sugar coat them. See how they are molded to add dimension? The GrungePAPER will hold that shape. Very cool.
Can't you just see how you can use it on your layouts too?
Wendy Vecchi (stamp designer and artist) uses GrungePaper in everything she creates with her stamps. Here is the link to her Blog where she displays samples using her stamps (yes, that are coming in the store as soon as the post people deliver it) and how she uses them with GrungePAPER. http://studio490art.blogspot.com/ Keep scrolling... oodles and oodles of GrungePAPER projects here.
And here is a FLICKR post that I found using the GrungePAPER and Alcohol Inks and Sticky Back Canvas. Gotta love that!! I am going to have to play with this technique too! http://www.flickr.com/photos/25187511@N05/4089063076/
I hope this helps you out JO! For all of you out there that are interested - I do carry this in the Studio. I have 12x12 Sheets (3/pkg) for $7.25 and there is a new size coming in from CHA- he (Tim Holtz) is now selling it as 6x12 sheets (6/pkg)... Smart move... especially as most of us cut it up and run it through our die cutting machines. This size is perfect and takes up less space. I'll let you know a price when I get it in ... but it will probably be about the same.
Go ahead, make ART!!
Monday, January 18, 2010
It's almost midnight and officially Tuesday ... Ask Karen day.
I didn't think you'd mind if I posted this an hour early ... I will be SUPER busy in the studio tomorrow getting things put back together. For those who don't know -- I am renovating the retail section of the studio. New slat wall is up, a new demo table has been built... it's all done but the cleaning and the sorting so I will be in rather early to get it ready for an 11:30am opening. Lots to do... so exciting!
Anyway, without further ado... here is this week's Ask Karen (re-printed word for word from an email I received last week)
Dear Ask Karen I LOVE 3-in-1 Glue! But I'm a bit of a clutz... how do I get it off my clothes?
Signed, Sticky in Kitchener
p.s. seriously.. if you have a solution, I need to know. I dipped my boob into a glue bottle today and now I have a glue nipple! :)
Okay... So, after I laughed my head off - I sent her a response. 3 in 1 Glue from Beacon is a FABULOUS glue but once it's dry -- it's waterproof and not coming off in the wash. So... clean off any glue mishaps BEFORE it dries because if you wait you will have permanent glue spots.
Some of the great things about 3 in 1 Glue:
its waterproof (I use it for all my crafting and quick fix needs - indoor and outdoor)
it adheres buttons, metal, and all your embellishments beautifully
a little goes a long way and doesn't warp your paper
it doesn't leave a watermark on your ribbons
it dries perfectly clear and as a result can be used to adhere clear objects like acrylic and transparencies...
Works on Grungeboard & canvas
A great fabric glue
can be used as a 3D epoxy.
fast grab and dries quickly
is acid free
A great price - 4oz for $5.99 (buy 2 for $10)
I LOVE 3 in 1 too, Sticky in Kitchener.... Just be a little more careful where you put it! *wink*
Hello Bloggers... It's Tuesday and ASK KAREN is Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!
I had a call this week from a lady who took one of my mini book classes at a retreat last fall. At this class I showed the ladies how I cover my chipboard books so that they have a mitred edge. I talked her through it on the phone.... but I thought I would post it here too ... for easy reference.
I will label all the ASK KAREN blog posts -- you can find them by clicking the ASK KAREN search link found one the right sidebar -- just scroll down to find it.
So, without further ado... Here is my way of getting a mitred corner when you cover your mini books. Have fun!!!
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Hey bloggers!!!
Miss me? i just looked at my last post -- JAN 1?? Where did 6 days go?? Wowsers! Sorry Guys.
I have been busy in the studio with retreat prep, classes, end of year (or start of year if that sounds more positive - hehe) and I'm REALLY LOOKING FORWARD to everything on the agenda in 2010.
ASK KAREN returns Tuesday Jan 12. This is your chance to ask me some questions, or to send me some tutorial requests. Email me anytime.... and I promise to post the answers here for you!
The Dollar Store Club meets tonight! I have had such fun creating my "snow" project. Wanna sneak peek?? Here she is-- my "Snow Goddess" and YES! she has a body -hehe- I will post more tomorrow with the other Dollar Store Club stuff. Off to get ready for the girls!! It's amazing what you can do with Dollar Store items, a piece of chipboard and a little UTEE!
Helloooooooooooooobloggers!
I know it's late in the day... but it's still Tuesday and I haven't forgotten to post :)
It's "Ask Karen" day so -- I thought I would take the opportunity to address a question I received at the crop on Saturday.
One of my new ladies (new to me, not to scrapbooking) overheard Lucy from Simply Scrapping tease me *incessantly* about being a "female Tim Holtz" because I love his products and, like him, I'm all about the distress - I love getting inky. *wink* Well, this lady asked me: "Who is Tim Holtz". After I picked myself up off the floor and dusted myself off I explained to her that Tim is the creative genius behind all the "distress" and much of the multi media products I love and carry in the studio - He has his own signature line.
Tim is also a fabulous teacher and demonstrator. I have been lucky enough to take a few classes of his as well as witness many demos by the man himself. I find him inspiring and often check out his blog to see what he's been up to and what he is playing with now.
Starting today -- December 1. Tim is doing his annual (and highly anticipated) `12 TAGS OF CHRISTMAS on his blog. Each day for 12 days, Tim will be creating and posting a new tag tutorial on his blog. I created the tag below based on his DAY 1 class:
You'll notice that I used a Reindeer Stamp, not the Snowman in Tim's example. That's because I didn't have the stamp set he used.... but this reindeer is one of his :) Feel free to mix, match and create -- yes!! I hope you create these with me! They're great fun!!
I will be creating his tags each day -- and I will post my creations here on the blog. If you create one too... let me know. Post your creation on your blog and I will link to you or... if you want to post your tag on our photobucket site so we can all see ... you can do that too! I'll be sure to link to that image as well. Just let me know.
Check back here each day to see my interpretation... and go to Tim's blog for instructions. Don't forget to try for one of his giveaways.....THEY ARE AMAZING!! Just like the tags!
I am home from a great weekend retreat with some ubber productive scrapbookers!! :) I have taken the last couple of days to re-connect with my family and to unpack and get back in the groove at the studio!
I have gone through the retreat pictures and will blog about it tomorrow!! Today is Tuesday which means I need to post an "Ask Karen" :) So -- hear is one question that came out of the retreat.... "What is the difference between Regular Chipboard and Grungeboard."
Grunge vs Chip -> Both are great to use to add dimension to your pages and products. Grunge is FLEXIBLE (literally). It's made from a compressed paper-based product (that's all the description I can find and I fully suspect something synthetic in it :) ) You will notice a leather-like smell the second you remove it from it's blister pack packaging. Never fear - that scent is normal.. and will fade eventually. Consider it an added bonus :)
I like using grunge. The diecut shapes are easier to use than the regular chip because the "pop out" more cleanly, without breaking. I also like the fact I can do anything to it -- ink, paint, emboss, etc directly onto it in colours and patterns that I choose. Many regular chipboard pieces have a coating on them preventing the ability to alter them -- without prep work first.
Which brings me to another question asked me this weekend -- How can I alter "shiny" chipboard pieces. Well, first, they are shiny because they've been coated with a lacquer coating. The reason paint and ink comes off these chipboard pieces is because the coating acts as a resist. If you would like to change the colour of the chipboard pieces, you must first sand the coating off the chipboard. Ranger has a fabulous tool for this ... the Sanding Block. It is a refillable block that will give an even, FLAT surface to sand the tiniest, most intricate pieces. It's great to sand board books for altering too!! Gotta love that!
I have the Seasonal Grunge Diecut Sheets (one pack with 8 sheets for Christmas, Winter, Halloween and Valentines Day) in the studio for $8.99 (that's approximate 20% off the regular retail price), I also have a few more Grunge Mini Books for $8.75 and Grunge Sheets you can but in your die cutting machines too!!! ...and yes, we have Sanding Blocks! Contact the studio for more info or come in to check them out for yourselves!! Love to see you.
Just a tip -- Grungeboard takes some time to dry when inked with some inks - especially pigment inks - but they can create some cool effects. One of the ladies at the retreat inked her grungeboard with a brown pigment ink and it looked very leather/suede-like! Totally cool! So, when doing this, zap it with a heat gun to set the ink.
Also -- try something new!! Use your Matte Medium to adhere tissue paper or napkin (yes, napkin) to the chipboard or grungeboard. You can seal this with Glossy Accents to protect it and give it an epoxied look. So fun! Use your imagination- be creative!!!
Here's a video by Tim Holtz explaining Grunge too!!
Now.. I am off to get some more work done....
Look for tomorrow's retreat post tomorrow afternoon. I'm looking forward to tomorrow night's Dollar Store Club too!!! Can't wait to play with the girls.
Happy Creating everyone! I'm off to get messy!
Once your paper is dry, do back and "pick up" some of the inked water droplets left on the craft sheet.
Pick it up and dry again. Repeat this process until you're satisfied with the "effect".
Here is what I created with my background.
