Ok...I lied....

I decided to do one more post before Christmas....
This is what is going on our table for when my family comes for Christmas... I decided to do some fun, whimsical, non-traditional colors.
If you have empty rolls of TP around you can make these fun little table crackers and stuff them with fun things. I used Studio paint and stamped the woodgrain backgrounder from Cornish Heritage Farms on kraft card stock.
I sent the kids hunting around the neighbourhood for pinecones then I added some paint to a yoguart container and a little bit of water and shook to coat these pinecones. Here they are drying on some parchment paper.
I went to the dollar store looking for some cute hair accessories and didn't find any so I bought a bunch of the plain silver clips and made my own. This was very easy...some some cute spellbinder dies, felt and buttons.....
I had some extra pine cones left over so I added them to the table centerpiece. I rolled these candles in epson salts to give them the snowy look. The blue candles weren't quite the right shade so I painted those and then rolled them in the salt. The paint acts like glue and it worked quite nicely.

Well all my "crafty" prep is done....and the projects I will show you after Christmas (as to not ruin any surprises).
Merry Christmas!

Fabric Trends

I am seeing more and more fabric showing up on paper creations and I love it! This card has incredible texture IRL....wish a photo could show that all to you!

I started with my sticky back canvas and cut it into a large circle. I also cut out the bird using a Spellbinder die and some of my favorite Michael Miller fabric.
Tip: Run your die through your machine a couple of times when cutting fabric to make sure all the little edges are cut. Don't worry if it frays a little, it adds to the texture and character of the bird.

I positioned my bird on the canvas circle and then stamped the sentiment in embossing ink. Covered both the bird and the circle with embossing powder and heat set. I then removed the bird and used Claudine Hellmuths' Studio paints to paint my canvas (I used the modern red color...perfect with the turquoise of my bird). The embossing resisted the paint. I peeled off the back of the sticky back canvas and adhered it to a vanilla layer of cardstock and then trimmed the cardstock to size. This is a standard sized card.
Add the bird back (lining it up with the sentiment) and the fun felt branch leftovers from yesterday's card.
The button with the single hole worked great for the "eye" as well.
A little bit of decorative stitching and that is it! I loved the bold handmade nature this card gives.
Here are all the product details:
Stamps:
Big Inspiration (Mona Lisa Moments) by Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink:
Versamark (Tsukineko)
Paper:
Vanilla, Suede Brown Dark (Prism)
Sticky Back Canvas (Claudine Hellmuth)
Accessories:
Studio Paint (Claudine Hellmuth), Clear Embossing Powder, Fabric (Michael Miller), Button, Felt Branch (Prima), Bird Die (Spellbinders), Sewing

Easter Blog Hoppin'!

Look who's hopping around today on the CHF blog hop!
Yes, that awesome vintage "Easter Basket" image from Saturday Evening Post.
I wanted you to see a nice close shot of this image done in Claudine Hellmuth's acrylic paint.

Looking for paint application techniques and tips?
1. The higher the viscosity (thicker the paint) the more evenly it will cover your stamp. Claudine's studio line is perfect for this.
2. I use Tim Holtz's application tool with the dry cut foam on the bottom to apply the paint to my stamp.
3. Take a piece of plastic and scoop out your paint, lay your rubber stamp facing up on your table. Pounce your application tool in the paint and get your sponge good and saturated. (Notice on the pink bag my image isn't quite as clear, well that was my "first" attempt and I realized I wasn't using enough paint).
Dab the paint with the sponge on your stamp, get it good and gooey, stamp immediately.

Note: This technique works best if you are using DEEPLY etched rubber because when applying your paint...the paint will find it's way into the creases and your rubber. The creases need to be deep enough that it won't stamp out onto your project. I couldn't believe the detail I could achieve with paint on this stamp...look at that basket, you can even make out the chicks!

So....my kids aren't getting "baskets" this year....they get bags. This was a simple strip of 6.5"(the width of my cutting ruler)by 30" strip of fabric sewn in half and tied up with a ribbon and tag......easy peasy!
The fabric you ask?.....Yummy stuff from Michael Miller, it is the "Flights of Fancy" line by Paula Prass.
There you have it, my quick and easy easter packaging!
Now you want to see more easter eye candy?
Start at the source (THE CHF BLOG) and of course the other CHF chicks that played along:
Julia,Kristine,Lisa,Joanne and Becky!

A Technique Day!

Today I had the MOST FUN! I got to play with some new toys and just be artsy! I had a purpose, today's "Ways to use it" challenge was a thankful theme. Well you know I have talked a lot about our recent move and I really wanted to make some fun cards for our friends and family that took their day to help us! Hugs to you all!

Here is the group shot of the cards that I created....you got to scroll way down today because I have some fun techniques to show you and a cool stamp peek!

First off, here are the card deets:
Stamps:
Sneak Peek of Distressed Grid (Scrapblocks) by Cornish Heritage Farms (Released Dec 2nd)
Pretty Birds (Kim Hughes Collection) by Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink:
Snow Cap, Espresso Adirondack Ink (Ranger)
Paper:
Honey Pie (Cosmo Cricket)
Accessories:
Butterfly Die (Spellbinders)
Felt Fabric
Buttons (Making Memories)
Stick Pins (Fancy Pants)
Ribbon (Ellen's Store)
Flourish Mask (Tim Holtz)
Paint (Claudine Hellmuth)


Ok, here is the peeky of a new scrapblock comin' to the farm Dec 2nd. It is called "Distressed Grid" and it is for all those funky cards you want to make. So Fun! This is how I stamp it onto paper. Lay your scrapblock down (rubber side up) and ink it up. Lay your piece of paper down onto your inked stamp.
Cover your inked paper with a piece of scratch paper and rub over it with your fingers.
Lift your paper and this is what you get!
OK, another WAY COOL thing I discovered today. I was opening my new Tim Holtz flourish mask and this is the piece you are to throw away! What?!!! It makes such a cool negative image, why not use this piece! I laid this sticky backed piece of "garbage" over my paper to get it ready for paint....now this is my kind of recycling!
Using Claudine's new paints (another new toy of mine...can't seem to get enough paint!) paint over your stencil. Oh, this paint is creamy dreamy!
Lift up your mask and VOILA! What a cool perch for my owl!
For a finishing touch I mixed a little black with the brown paint on my craft sheet and swiped the edges of my paper to "frame" my card.

Another cool little note:

Did you notice my lush butterfly? It is some scrap felt that I had cut with my butterfly spellbinder die! LOOOOVE it!
Yup, just a wee bit excited over the "play" time I had today!

Enjoy your Thanksgiving all my American friends!