Another stamp giveaway & resist ink technique!

Howdy folks! Looks like another dreary day but that’s OK, I can always brighten things up with stamps and ink! You can win the set of 4 crane stamps from About Art Accents I used in today’s technique video by living a comment on this blog post. I will pick a winner at random next Tuesday! Today’s technique is really fun, you will need glossy cardstock (photo paper will not work for this because it soaks the ink in, I used Kromekote available at print shops for about 25 cents a 8.5″x11″ sheet) dye based ink and a make up sponge.

Now that was easy! Don’t forget to leave a comment to win the beautiful stamp set from About Art accents. If you can’t wait and want to shop now use my coupon code to save 10%: Lindsay10%.  Be sure to check out all the great sale items too! The stamp set I used today happens to be on sale along with many other beautiful sets. You won’t be disappointed. Good luck and til next time happy crafting!

Embossed Acetate How-to Video & a Stamp Giveaway!

Howdy there!  I’m so happy today because I get to give away the beautiful Camellia Background stamp from About Art Accents I used on this card (a brand new one though) and all you need to do is leave a comment on this post to have a chance at winning. I’ll draw a name next Tuesday so be sure to sign up before then. Have you ever tried to heat emboss transparencies or vellum and ended up with a warped mess? Well, no more! I’ll show you how to do it right today even with the thinnest materials!

I used ink-jet transparencies on my project because one side has a coating that will allow ink or watercolors to dry on it, just like it does with printer ink. If you are using regular overhead transparencies or un-coated acetate you can still do this but instead of painting the backside with watercolors use acrylic paint and let it dry naturally. Watch the video to learn this technique and complete the card!

My favorite part about this card is how it shines, shimmers and changes depending on how it catches the light, photos do not do it justice.

I hope you enjoyed this technique and give it a try! Thanks for stopping by and till next time happy crafting!

I’m cleaning today (and I don’t even have anyone visiting!)

I know what you are thinking “Good one Lindsay! April Fools Day joke right?” But sadly no, I am actually spending probably most of the day cleaning today. It is so muddy out that between the kids and a dog who is always on the wrong side of the door my floors have a nice coating of grit on them to match the fine coating of dust on everything else. Luckily I am listing to a riveting audio book at the moment (11/22/63 by Stephen King) and it will make even the task of cleaning pleasurable. Usually I will tidy and sweep at the end of the day, do it in a mad-dash of sorts because when I start in the morning I end up cleaning all day because once you get one thing clean you notice how filthy everything else is! Thank goodness for the audiobook! Well, you obviously don’t read my blog for cleaning tips so here is a quick card I made last week:

I realized I had never used this bamboo and bird stamp from About Art Accents (the stamp is 50% off too!) before so I colored it with markers and stamped it on plain white cardstock and sponged in a background. I mounted it on a shaving-cream marbleized paper (I stuck it with hot glue because the paper is slick, hence the slight crookedness added another layer, a charm, stuck it to a kraft base and called it a day! Well, I suppose I ought to get cracking on the housework, it’s not going to clean itself (unfortunately) and if I get done early I’ll have some bonus crafting time! Happy Monday! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Video Tutorial: How to Marbleize Paper & Eggs!

Here is a fun project you will want to try today. It is quick, easy and inexpensive and what’s more, your kids will love it too! I’ll warn you it’s a bit messy (that’s what it’s so darn fun) but the results are stunning. Check out this Easter card I sent my sister, I made the background paper. I stamped the rabbit (About Art Accents) with black pigment ink and heat embossed so it would stand out on the marbleized paper.

Looks fancy and store-bought right? Nope, I marbleized it with shaving cream! Watch this quick video to see how, I’ll even show you how to use this technique with eggs!

See, told ya it was easy;)

Tips for marbleizing eggs:

1. I recommend you use blown out eggs, you can use hardboiled eggs 
   (swap out the liquid watercolor for food coloring) but I worry the shaving cream might give the eggs a soapy taste.
2. White eggs (or wooden eggs painted white) will show the technique better (but since I raise free-range hens that lay brown eggs-and cannot bring myself to buy factory farmed white ones-I used those.)
3. After you blow out and clean the eggs you need to dry them. Microwave them 30 seconds ( for a dozen) , then dip them in vinegar and nuke them again for 30 seconds. The vinegar locks the color!

I hope you try this today! It is a great outdoor project to do with the kids to and you can just hose everything off when you are done! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

WOYWW: A Winner & A Sewing Nook!

Howdy folks and happy Wednesday. Over the weekend I promised that If I didn’t clean up my craft studio that I was going to post photos on What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday (I also invite company over when my house is trashed because that lights a fire under me to clean it up!) but luckily it did not come to that, in fact I tore the room apart to make room for a sewing area:

Isn’t that cute! My sister gave me the sewing table, she found it at an antiques shop, it was the iron base of an old treadle machine with a thick board on top. I have wanted it in my craft-room since I received it a year ago but I just could not figure out how to fit it in without getting rid of anything else of course But I documented the process (so technically you DO get to see the messy room LOL) in 3 steps and I am thrilled with how it came out. Here is my 4 minute renovation video:

And yes, I made the poncho! OK so I know a lot of you are tuning in to see who won the stamp set from About Art Accents, well… drum-roll please…..

Sharon Hannifin

Congratulations! I will email you for your contact details so check your spam folder if you have not received an email from me yet;) Thanks to all who played along.  After making that first card last week I decided to make a dozen and use one of my favorite About Art Accents stamp sets: Flowered ATC Trading Cards, it is great for those who like to color with alcohol ink markers because the detail is amazing, and it is on sale for $16.99 (regular $29) each stamp is 2.25″x3.25″, that’s a lot of rubber!

I plan to sell them at the spring fair I am vending at next month. I thought they would be great for Mother’s Day but I did not want to limit my customer base so in each card package I include a Happy Birthday  Thanks and Happy Mother’s Day sentiment and 2 foam squares for sticking them on. That way there are 3 occasions the cards can be used for. I am selling them for $3.

I think they look nice and tidy in their clear envelopes!

Well that’s all for today. I hope I inspired you to cram more junk…er, I mean look for alternative storage space in your craft space! If you want to check out more crafty desks visit Julia’s blog and til next time happy crafting!

WOYWW: A Giveaway & Double Pocket Card Tutorial

Howdy folks! Today I have a rubber stamp giveaway for you but first since it is What’s on Your Work-desk Wednesday here is a pic of my desk:

I am right in the throws of making a batch of double pocket cards to sell at the Spring Fair next month. Here is the first one I made using beautiful stamps by About Art Accents. You can win this set of stamps, just leave a comment and I will chose a winner next Wednesday.

That’s it, no strings, pretty easy eh? It’s almost as easy as making this card, I made a quick 3 minute video tutorial to show you how:

I think these would be excellent Mother’s Day cards, especially with the seed packets, you could even include a gift certificate to a nursery so your mom could get some gardening supplies and plants too. I hear spring is on it’s way, tell that to the foot of snow we got yesterday!

Thanks so much for stopping by and don’t forget to leave a comment on this post for a chance to win these gorgeous stamps from About Art Accents. If you want to see more crafty desks visit Julia’s Blog and til next time happy crafting!

AAA Stamp Giveaway & Learn to Make a Shadowbox Card!

Is it Spring yet? Well, judging by the fresh new coating of white stuff on my trees, car and house I’d say no. Oh well, I at least think of Spring when I make a card. This is a shadowbox card, I learned to make one at a stamping party I went to this week.

Isn’t that angel sleeping on a calla lily the sweetest? I was actually planning to use this stamp on some Christmas cards but didn’t get around to it but it works just as well as a spring card, I think it would be nice for a baby shower. This beautiful fairy stamp is by About Art Accents. How would you like to win it? Just leave a comment on this post and I will randomly draw a winner next weekend.

So, do you want to know how to make the card? It is very easy and I’ll have a video tutorial for you in a few days but here are the written instructions:

1. Cut two pieces of cardstock (or heavyweight patterned paper) the same size. Hint: The size you cut the paper is the size of the finished card so if you want a card that will fit in an invitation envelope cut the paper 5.5″x4.25″. 
2. Score the right and left side of each paper 1/2″ and 1″ from the edge.
3. Cut window from the center of the paper you want on top (I used a Creative Memories oval cutter but you can use whatever you have such as a die, colullze or Xacto knife.)
4. At this point you may wish to decorate the inside (back piece) of the box. Try to keep it fairly flat if you want to mail it later.
5. Now you need to fold on the score lines. Use the photo as a guide. You are folding the front panel forwards and the back panel backward to create a wide shadowbox in the center.
6. Adhere the front and back of the card together on the edge.
7. Decorate the front as desired.

Now the only drawback to this card is that you need to write on the back of it. It will fold flat in the envelope to mail and pop out when removed from the envelope. Neat huh?

I also wanted to mention that I used purple glitter nail polish for the wings and I colored the image with Promarkers. Remember to leave a comment for a chance to win this stamp from About Art Accents! I will draw a name in a week, it could be you! While you are waiting you might want to check out About Art Accents awesome sales, they have many stamps 50% off and their regular prices are not bad either, in fact if you tell them I sent you (coupon code Lindsay10%) you can save 10% on all non sale items too! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

And the winner is…

Howdy folks! After last weeks crafting like a crazy person I decided to be a bit lazy today. I spent my day gluing macaroni and watching trash TV but don’t worry, I’ll have a brand spankin’ new video tutorial for you tomorrow morning:) But now I want to announce the winner of the About Art Accents/Art Neko stamp giveaway from last Monday…..

The winner is Darla! Congrats and have fun with your new stamp! If you are bummed out that you did not win don’t worry, I’ll have another giveaway next month but until then you can shop at Art Neko with my 10% off code: Lindsay10% be sure to check out their sale pages and Christmas stamps too! Thanks everyone for playing and til next time happy crafting!

Have Yourself a “Fairy” Little Christmas…{A Stamp Giveaway!!!}

Happy Monday Folks! I had fun stamping a card (it’s been a while, I know!) to enter into this weeks challenge at Oriental Stamp Art. They asked us to make a card that was “Holiday” and “Asian” in theme. Then I remembered that AAA/Art Neko had generously given me the Holly Fairy stamp to give away on my blog and my card was born. Fairy Christmas! BTW, anytime you shop at About Art Accents/Art Neko be sure to use the code Lindsay10% to save 10% on your order!

Wanna win it? Just leave me a comment (on this post) between now and next Sunday (the 9th) and  will randomly pick a winner on Monday. What a way to start the week! Here is a close up of the coloring. I treated myself to a set of  Spectrum Noir  markers (the Brights set) from Crafter’s Companion, they had all the 24 packs on sale for $24 and free shipping at Consumer Crafts (It was a bad time to be frugal because I wish I had bought them all!)

I was a bit hesitant because I purchased a set of the light flesh tones at ACmoore when they first came out and they were dried out. I added some denatured alcohol to them and got them working but I was not a fan. I notice, though, that the lighter colors of alcohol markers do seem to be a bit dry feeling but these seemed too dry. I thought that maybe ACmoore might have got a bad batch so for $24 I took a chance and they were all good and juicy and they played nice with my other markers. I had to use a dark brown Promarker, dark red Tria and a tan Copic. I know I need more markers like a hole in the head but I am sorry I passed up getting the other sets now

Something else I want to enable you to buy…er… I mean recommend are Pan Pastels, I picked up 3 a few months ago (magenta, turquoise and lime green) when they were on sale for $4 each because I wanted to try them. Well, they are expensive but I can see why, I tapped a sponge into the color and rubbed it on my background and WOW! the color blended in beautifully and a tap of color was all I needed to do the background! I think I might ask for some for Christmas…my Christmas list is getting longer by the moment (I also want Santa to bring me a Fire Works beadmaking torch kit!)

The final touch on the card was a game piece that I saved from Axis and Allies, hubby was tossing the game and there were cute mini airplanes and chips. I like the graphic punch the Japan chip gives and the repetition of the circle theme on the card.

Well, that’s it for me! I am in the final push getting ready for my craft fair on Saturday. Today is my sewing day. I am making juggling balls, hand-warmers and key fobs. Don’t forget to leave a comment to win the beautiful fairy stamp from About Art Accents/Art Neko! Til next time happy crafting!

AAA Giveaway & A Question for You!

EDIT: This giveaway is closed, check back every month for a new About Art Accents Giveaway!

Well, I spoke too soon. I officially have a cold. I am stuffy and cranky and even the dog wants no part of my company which is just as well. I am holed up in my craft room with a cup of tea, Netflix on my Kindle and my markers (neener-neener). OK that is all the self-pity I can muster, on with the show!  Lookie what I colored. It was fun AND I get to give away this stamp by About Art Accents! All you have to do is leave me a comment and I will draw a name next Monday.

I am a curios sort though,  so,  I have a question for you (since you are commenting anyway): What tutorials would YOU like to see on my blog? Be specific or be general. What crafty stuff do you want to learn more about. Let me know and I may do a tutorial on it. That’s it, no strings, just leave a comment and good luck! You will also get the smaller matching stamp as well. The stamp is deeply etched red rubber. I just used a bit of double-sided tape to attach it to my rock-a-block and got a beautiful impression. I find that when I use a curved stamp mount I rarely need cushion on my stamps saving me storage space and money. I love that the stamps from About Art Accents are so deeply etched that I can still get all of the detail without the cling-cushion.

This is an easel card, it stands up like this for display but folds flat to mail in an ordinary envelope. I tried to keep the embellishments to a minimum so it would not be too thick to mail.  I colored the fairy with a combo of Promarkers, Copics and Spectrums, they all play nice together LOL! In fact, I’m thinking of just mixing all of my markers up in one rack or bin by color, marker intergration…a big marker party, Copics, Trias, Prismacolors, away with original packaging! Can’t we all just get along?

Well then, I’d better stop before I start considering resorting my paper by pattern instead of color…that’s just nonsense. Til next time happy crafting!

And don’t forget, leave a comment on this post to win stamps from About Art Accents! If you want to do some shopping there use the code Lindsay10% to save 10% on your order!