Today we have a chatty video! I made this card for my friend Kelly who wrote the book The Rainbow Pants so I thought this card would be perfect. Grab your watercolors and let’s get started!
Supplies:
Watercolor paint
Clear embossing ink
Black pigment ink
White and black cardstock
1 sheet of 12″x12″ colorful scrapbook paper (K&Company from one of the 360 sheet pads)
Hi Friends! Today I have a fun french fry favor box that you can craft and fill with goodies for someone! You can snag my free template here. You can print it right from my website (select landscape to print the same size I used) or download it and save it!
I printed mine on green cardstock but you can also print it on sturdy double-sided patterned paper too, just make sure to print on the side that will be the inside of the box to hide the scoring lines. Watch the video for instructions:
I want to thank our sponsor Love With Food for their commitment to feeding hungry children in America. They have a special offer for my blog readers: Get your first Tasting box free here and get $20 off any 6 and 12 month plans with code YTFEB15SAVE20!
Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!
Hi friends! I just wanted to give you the heads up that I will {hopefully} be teaching 2 stamping and watercolor classes at the Heirloom Stamp Show in West Springfield Massachusetts in June. Are you going? I’d love to meet you! I have so much fun there every year! I wanted to make sure my blog readers get first dibs on the class (only 16 students are allowed in each class) so if you want to be notified when sign ups are posted leave a comment on my class page and I will let you know. The classes will likely be on June 5th or they could be held on the 6th or 7th. Who knows, maybe they would let me repeat the class on Sunday if the Friday spots fill up…now that would be cool! Here is a preview of the two classes:
Please visit my class page for more info and samples. If there is a good response I might teach at other conventions! If you are wondering if there is a Heirloom Stamp Show in your area you can visit their website or Facebook page (you could also tell them how much you’d love to take my class! Just kidding….not kidding, tell them! Kidding…not.) I hope you are finding some time to be crafty this weekend. It is snowing again up here in Maine (shocking) so I think we will be inside and crafty tomorrow! Thanks so much for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!
Hi Friends! Have you heard the buzz about the new Spectrum Aqua watercolor markers yet? Well, I had not until about 2 weeks ago when several viewers asked me what I thought about them and if I would do a review or demo with them. I was curious. I didn’t really NEED new markers but when the nice folks at Hallmark Scrapbook (who stock the markers at a 30% off retail discount) asked me if they could send me some I said “sure!” all for the sake of science you know:)
They sent me the full range of 48 colors and a storage rack. The markers are sold in 12 color collections based on what you like to color (nature, floral, essential and primary) and there are no duplicates within the packs so you can collect one set at a time to see if you like them or as your budget allows. That is one thing I really like about all of the Spectrum products, you can collect as you go without buying duplicates. Today I will show you a few rubber stamping techniques with the markers. Feel free to follow along with whatever watercolor markers you have at home because these techniques will work with any watercolor type markers. These markers will also work well with your current collection so if you want to try them you can chose a set of colors that us different from what you have because they will play nice. I hope you find this video helpful!
I got a few questions from viewers:
Are the markers refillable? Hmm, I did not see anywhere on the Spectrum Aqua website where it said you could refill these BUT none of the other watercolor markers are “refillable” and I refill them with reinkers or liquid watercolors. I wonder if the new Spectrum Liquid Watercolors are the same colors and if the Spectrum Noir (alcohol marker) replacement nibs are compatible? I’ll try to find out!
How light fast are they? Again, I looked for this info on the Spectrum Aqua site but did not see that info so I suspect they are not but then again, most markers aren’t unless you are buying an $8 a piece watercolor marker.
Are they comparable to the Tim Holtz Distress Markers? Actually, I prefer the Spectrum Aqua, I have a few of the TH sets and singles bought at different locations and I have had problems with a couple of them from different vendors being dry or leaking (and that was without my hardscrabble reinking techniques LOL!) Now, Ranger is great at replacing faulty products, don’t get me wrong, but I think the Spectrum Aquas are higher quality and more consistent.
I love watercolor markers and I rate these up there with my favorites (Tombow and Memento) but you can’t beat the price and quality of the Spectrums. The fine tip is much like the tip on the Memento and the brush end is similar to a Pitt Big Brush pen but the ink in the Spectrum Aqua is watercolor, not India ink, you can go over it with water after it is dry and soften the lines. I am also a big fan of using what you have and I am glad you can use these with the watercolor markers you have. Bottom line, if you have watercolor makers you love keep using them, if you want to add to your collection these are great and if you are just starting out this is a very great set to start with. I was not paid to write this review but I was given the markers for free to share the review with you. If you have any questions just ask in the comments section and I am happy to help. Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!
Hi Friends! Today we will make a scrapbook page! You only need watercolor crayons, white cardstock or hot press watercolor paper, stamps (Bugz set and background) and a journal stencil. The stencil and stamps are from Lost Coast Designs. You will also want a black pen and colored pencils if desired. You can make this an art journal page too if you like but if you are making a scrapbook page you will also need photos and adhesive!
Watch how easy it is to make this!
The video is a bit long, I almost feel compelled to apologize for it but I have had so many people tell me how much they enjoy the longer videos because it feels like they are crafting with a friend. Awww, thanks guys:) That makes me so happy! I guess it is nice to have a mix of both:) I hope you try some artsy limited supply scrapbook or journal pages. You will be surprised at what you can do with just a few things! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!
Hi friends! We did not get the blizzard that was predicted today, we only got a couple of inches of snow and not the 18″-24″ that was in the forecast. That was great because we got to have a lazy day around the house. I spent most of the day preparing samples for classes I (hopefully) will teach at the Heirloom Stamp Convention in Mass this June. Speaking of stamps I have a winner for the ArtNeko stamp giveaway from last week: oberlinmom Yay! please check your email for details! Also the winner of the Spoil contest last week goes to Cindy Z! Congrats ladies!
I have had many people asking me how to mount and unmount stamps lately. I thought I would do a quick tutorial since I just got this sheet of sentiments from Art Neko that I needed to mount. Generally I do not wood mount my stamps but I like to have my sentiments mounted and sitting on my shelf for quick access. I hope this helps! Money saving tips too!
If you want more in depth info on stamp mounting you can see all my stamp mounting videos in this playlist. Now that’s a thrill a minute I tell you. Have a great night and til next time happy crafting!
Hi Friends! Today I will show you how to make a lovely thank you card using the new Year of the Ram stamps from Art Neko. I will share a few techniques including watercoloring, embossing and tips on using new unmounted stamps. So, grab a cuppa and spend 15 minutes in the craft room with me while we make a card!
All you have to do for a chance to win the stamps I used is leave a comment on this blog post. This giveaway is open to everyone in the world!
Hot pressed Watercolor Paper (Fabriano Studio #90)
Waterproof black ink (Ranger Archival)
Alcohol Markers
Adhesive
Follow along with the video for full instructions! Many of you have told me that you prefer the casual “craft with me” videos to the short edited ones so I hope you found this one fun and I hope it was not long and boring to everyone else. :) Good luck in the drawing and til next time happy crafting!
