Review of NEW Waffle Flower Water Media Mat & Giveaways!

Hi friends!  I am excited because I have been testing a very special product since December. Some of you have spied it in the background of my videos and asked me about it but I really couldn’t say much publicly about it until now!

It’s the Waffle Flower Water Media Mat which is a non glare, matte white silicone crafting mat meant for use with watercolor, gouache, acrylics and glue.  The folks at Waffle Flower asked me if I would like to be part of their video hop to introduce the mat and I said “Sure! As long as I can post my full review.” and they agreed! So make sure you leave a comment on my YouTube video if you want a chance at winning a $25 gift certificate to Waffle Flower or a Water Media Mat. After you are done You can check out all of the inspirational designers on the Waffle Flower Video hop! Like this video and leave a comment by 4/15 at each stop along your way for your chances to win the mat! I will also draw a random winner from comments left on my video (on YouTube) for a $25 gift certificate to WaffleFlower.com! Winners will be announced on Waffle Flower Blog on Wed 17th! Open Internationally!

(WATER MEDIA MAT REVIEW)
Finally I get to share a review on a product I have been using almost daily for 4 months. The Waffle Flower Water Media Mat (*Affiliate links used throughout this post) *For the full review watch the video:)

Pros:

• Non stick
• Heat resistant
• Non slip/wont skid across table
• Waterproof
• Handy marking for taking social media photos and videos
• Non glare
• Protects workspace from spills and messes

Cons:

• The white silicone stains
• Can’t be used as a cutting surface
• Price ($36)

Supplies:

• Water Media Mat
• Swatching stamps & Dies
• 2″ double stick Tape
• WatercolorPaper
• We Heard Stamps & Dies
• 3-D Mini Bow Die
• Arteza Watercoors *10% off with code FRUGAL10 on Arteza website or on amazon (no additional discount on Amazon)
• Small paintbrushes
• Cardstock
• Glue

I have been using the Water Media Mat for months and I have to say I really like it for reducing eye strain and clean up. If you don’t mind the staining and it’s in your budget I highly recommend it. Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Bring on the Bows!

Hi friends! Today I will show you how to make a Bow-Tie Necklace:

You can even use this technique to make bows to put on barrettes and headbands too! Watch the video to see how.

Video:

Supplies:

• 1 1/2″ Lux Ribbon in Gold Dust
• 3/8″ black Lady Chiffon Ribbon
• Hot glue, ruler, scissors

Directions:
1. Cut a 7″ and 2″ piece of gold ribbon. Glue the 7″ ribbon into a loop (right side out.)
2. Glue the edges of the short piece to the back. this will be the center for the bow.
3. Flatten and accordion fold the looped ribbon, then place it on the center strip.
4. Glue the strip around the pleated bow.
5. Cut 25″ of black chiffon ribbon and glue to the inside of the bow loops to make a necklace cord.

Thanks to Offray for sponsoring this post and til next time happy crafting!

Fast or Slow, you choose with today’s painting tutorial!

Hi Friends! Sorry I forgot to post yesterday, I just realized it but hey, as a special treat I have 2 videos for you tonight. I had several people mention that they would like a speed painting so I decided to release this tutorial as a speed paint with a voice over and  a real-time live narrated one too. You can pick the one that is best for you!

Here is the quick video:

Here is the long video:

Thanks for everyone who told me that the plant in the tutorial is an Angel Wing Begonia. Hopefully it will root in water and we can plant it! Thanks so much for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Who wants to win stamps and make an easy card?

Today I have a limited supply project and a giveaway! You can win the stamps by ArtNeko I used to make this card:

I considered editing down this video to make it about 5 minutes. I thought who needs a 17 minute long video on making such a simple card. I watched the video looking for spots to chop but every bit I though of chopping contained a tip that someone might find useful so if it feels too long feel free to skip ahead or watch it is double speed (click the gear at the bottom to speed it up) I figure it is better to leave the extras in for those who want them.

Supplies:

1. Art Neko Sympathy stamp & Framed Plum Blossom stamp (use coupon code Lindsay10% for a 10% discount of non-sale rubber!)
2. Archival Ink
3. Spectrum Aqua Markers and Tombow Blender Pen
4. Hot Press Watercolor Paper
5. Cardstock (kraft) and pattern paper scrap
6. Grosgrain Ribbon
7. Adhesive (ATG and hot glue)

Note about the Bow Making Tool, I was having some technical issues on my shophandmade store where I sold the Bow Making Jigs my hubby made, if you would like to order one you can send me an email at artstudiosofbangor@yahoo.com and put “bow making jig order” in the subject line and I can send you a PayPal invoice. The Jigs are $20 plus shipping ($6 US Priority Mail, $16 international first class) and handcrafted from beautiful, durable hardwood.

I hope you found the tutorial on blending and all the random tips useful! If you want to win the stamps I used simply leave a comment below, I will draw a winner at random in one week (3/31/15) and this giveaway is open to everyone on the planet!  Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

 

Let’s Make Ribbon Flowers to Use on Crafts!

Hi friends! Today I am going to share a fun way to make ribbon flowers that can be glued onto barrettes, pin-backs or used to embellish your cards or scrapbook pages:

You will need ribbon (I am using beautiful solid and patterned ribbon from Offray, see other ideas with this ribbon here), a needle and thread, scissors and a button. Follow along with the video and have fun!

For a removable card embellishment glue or sew the flower to an alligator style clip barrette so it can be worn in the recipient’s hair! Here is a closer look at the card we made:

Ribbon flower how to:

1. Cut a 4″ piece of ribbon for each petal you wish to have.
2. Thread a sewing needle with thread to match your ribbon.
3. Make a right angle fold in the middle of the ribbon by folding the right side down, then take the left half of the ribbon and fold it down over the right to create a point. Please refer to the video so see this in action.
4. Hold the ribbon so that the smooth side is facing you (the side that shows the folds is down) and pleat it in the middle and fold the edges back to make a petal. Again, refer to the video if you are confused.
5. Stitch through all the pleats to create a petal.
6. Repeat steps 3-5 until all of the cut pieces of ribbon are used and you have a full flower.

They look great on a scrapbook page too!

I have a video on making this scrapbook page here on my YouTube channel if you want to see how the page went together. Lots of tips in that video too!

I want to thank Offray for sponsoring today’s blog post.  You still have a couple of days to take advantage of the coupon FRUGAL15 (it expires 2/28/15 so hurry) for 15% off your order at Offray.com They have all the ribbon you want in the quantities you need so save a trip to the craft store and snag it online! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

So, you want to be a designer?

Hi friends! I have been asked a lot via email and in Ask a Crafter comments about ways to make a living with your arts and crafts. One of the best ways is to be a designer and sell your designs, patterns or classes. You can even design projects for magazines or companies. I’ll give you some ideas in today’s art marketing video:

I hope that gave you some ideas! I make my income primary from the free videos I post online because you folks are kind enough to watch the youtube ads so big thanks for that! I get to do what I love and inspire others. I really have the best job and if I can help other make a living from their passions as well I feel doubly blessed! If you want to see all of my art marketing videos you can find them here. In case you want to find my digital product it is available through MyGrafico and the free shop I mentioned that works with Instagram in InSelly. Thanks so much for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

How To Store It: Ink Pads, Embossing Powder, Flocking and Reinkers!

Hi Friends! First let me apologize to those of you die-hard fans to stalk my YouTube channel on Tuesday nights waiting for a new Ask a Crafter. It is still uploading and will be up tomorrow because my massive paper storage video took a LOOOOOOOONGGG time to upload. That is up tonight in case you needed to see even more of the hoard I have amassed over the years LOL!  I have to say with every new storage and organization video I feel more and more like I need an intervention or a craft supply addicts group. If you know of any let me know. Wait, if this is crazy I don’t wanna be sane LOL! That is the thing about creating, you save things, collect things and invest in things that will enable you to make beautiful things! You must take care to organize them so you can find them and make sure they will last so that is why I wanted to do a video just on inkpads and other stamping consumables. These are the things you use up but could spill or go bad if they are not stored properly or worse you can forget you have them altogether. We bought these things to use them but we have to know where they are first! So, without further ado here is my inkpad storage video:

I also wanted to mention that I used to use an old wooden cassette tape organizer for my inkpads and it worked pretty well but it took up too much space for the storage it offered. When hubby built me the foam core holder using the pattern by The Rebel Inker (see her awesome free plans to make one here) I gave the cassette tape holder to the kids for their ink pad/ribbon storage. I hope this helps you store your inkpads and powders. If you have any cool ideas for craft storage please leave them in the comments! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Paris is always a good idea!

Hi Friends! Whew, I just got back from seeing the new Mocking Jay movie! I really liked it! Ten of us friends went together, I drove one of the carpool vehicles which was referred to as “Mr. Toads Wild Ride” hey, I will entertain you to and from the movie, that is the kinda gal I am! we had a great time and most importantly I delivered everyone (well the 5 in my car) home safe and sound. I did not really have  a post planned tonight but I did make this fun journal page the other day so I thought I would share. I am using an Audrey Hepburn Quote:

Please note that the virtual convention sale with Lost Coast Designs I mentioned in the video is over but maybe if you type “Lindsay sent me” in the comments box the owner will do something nice for you:) I used the cityscape and 4th dimension background stamps. I would have liked to blog this last weekend but I did not have the time. I hope you have a great weekend! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Ask a Crafter! First episode of season 3!

Hi Friends! We had the first power outage of the season this morning. I hope this isn’t a sign that we are in for another rough year (thank goodness for the wood stove!) So I thought I’d get this post up early in case we have another one! Kathy, Lorraine and I started filming season 3 of Ask a Crafter yesterday. We had 250 question between the blog and YouTube! Woah! I decided I would print off the questions every week, cut them apart and put them in a big bowl and answer them as we go along…will we ever get caught up? We will surely try! Without further ado, here is the latest episode of Ask a Crafter!

FYI if you are watching this on YouTube and you see “comments are closed” it just means I have printed off all of the questions from that video so you will have to leave your question on the next one. I hope that will keep me from missing any left on older posts. Wish us luck! If you have a question for us you can leave a comment here or on you tube! I love how you help each other out in the comments too, thanks! If you want more Ask a Crafter videos check out the Ask a Crafter playlist with a full day of videos! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!