Winter Tilda

Hello Stampers!

I've made a Tilda easel card for a class I'm teaching later this month.  I wanted a vintage, Parisian, romantic theme for her.  I've used ivory cardstock and one sheet of Prima designer paper 12x12 for all the elements.  The doily die is by Cheery Lynn as well as the lace border.

The gems and roses are from Wild Orchid.  The butterfly is Fab Scraps.

European style Tilda

Hello Stampers!

Here's a little Tilda for a Copics class I'm teaching later this month.  I wanted to make something a little more "European" in style, hence the layers and elements.  I've had cheesecloth in my stash for months now - but this is the first time I've used it!

My flowers and gems are from Wild Orchid.  The clock die is Tim Holtz, and the other swirls and flourishes are Spellbinders.

This is Tilda in Ugg boots from the last release.  The postage stamp is Tim Holtz.  The ribbon is seam binding from Stampin' Up.

I've used an oval nestie and all the edges are distressed with the Prima distressing tool and Tim Holtz distress ink in Tea Dye.

pink and Bella

Hello Stampers and Happy Monday!

I cannot believe that we are already so close to Christmas, where does time go?  Blows my mind.

Anyway, this is my way of slowly "easing" myself into the Christmas theme with my cards, because I'm not quite ready!

Here is a card I taught in class recently.  We did three Bellas with Copics and the same colour scheme.  This is "Nutcracker" from Graphic 45.  I hadn't used much from this company in the past.  But after CHA this summer, I am seeking them out!  Their booth was AMAZING - just blew my mind.  Definitely my fave from the show.

The stamp is Uptown Girl has a Present by Stamping Bella.  

Of course she's coloured with my beloved Copics!  I've used R81, 83, 85, 89 for her dress - and accented the corners with some W5 that I sandwiched under the R89 to add extra depth.

Have a great week!

Sarah
xx

Bella Madison

Hello Stampers and Happy Monday!

I cannot believe that we are already so close to Christmas, where does time go?  Blows my mind.

Anyway, this is my way of slowly "easing" myself into the Christmas theme with my cards, because I'm not quite ready!

Here is a card I taught in class last week.  We did three Bellas with Copics and the same colour scheme.  This is "Nutcracker" from Graphic 45.  I hadn't used much from this company in the past.  But after CHA this summer, I am seeking them out!  Their booth was AMAZING - just blew my mind.  Definitely my fave from the show.

The stamp is Uptown Madison has a Margarita by Stamping Bella.  I apologize, the Bellas sold out after my class, but I'm sure she'll be back in stock soon!

The sentiment is from Joyful Greetings by Paper Smooches.  Paper Smooches are definitely my favourite sentiment stamps.  I love the fonts!

Have a great week!

Sarah
xx

vintage Shabby Tilda

Hello Stampers!

I have been searched online for this vintage Tilda (Tilda with Topknot bow from Shabby Chic Fall 1998) for months and months!  I finally found her from England - I was beyond thrilled!!!  And of course I get to get the other elements from the Shabby Chic 1998 collection ....  Well, she'd be lonely otherwise wouldn't she??

I masked her and stamped the Eiffel tower behind her.  She's coloured with my Copics.  The flowers are all from Wild Orchid.  I've added some Gesso to the papers and to the wooden heart.  I used my Tim Holtz tiny attacher to put on the lace.  The paper is Classic Calico by American Crafts (6x6 pad).  I love the neutral colours!

Tilda with Ugg boots

Hello Stampers!

It felt so good to sit down and spend some time crafting (finally) and make this card!  I have been so busy lately and have really missed spending time in my craft room.

I LOVE Magnolia stamps - just adore them.  And this new release is "Tilda with Ugg boots".  I think she is super cute - and I happen to love Ugg boots too!  

I picked up a beautiful new neutral 6x6 pad today at SGD (while checking out the garage sale, of course!).  This is Classic Calico Collection by American Crafts!  I'm always on the hunt for new neutrals because they are my favourite type of card.

I thought I would share with you how my flowers have evolved - and thanks to crafty time with my BFF Andrea - we've figured out some techniques to share with you today!

1.  NEVER cut the stem!  That is mistake #1.  Instead - twirl the stem around a pointer/ quilling tool/ Tim Holtz poker, etc.
2.  Once you've curled up your stem, use the Glue Gloss (this one is the easiest to use for this technique) to dab glue around the edges and tops of your petals.
3.  Dip your gluey flower petals straight into a tub of Twinklets Diamond Dust.  This one is perfectly chunky, not too sparkly, and just right!
4.  Glue your flowers in coordinating colours, in pairs or in threes, using a hot glue gun.  Trust me, you'll want a hot glue gun for this - it is best.  I LOVE the Imaginisce cordless gun!  I take it everywhere!

And there you have it, glittery European flowers!

Happy Stamping!

Sarah

Little Birdie

Hello Stampers!

It may feel like fall out there, but sometimes I just want to make pastel and Spring cards.  I LOVE this stamp & die set from My Favorite Things.  There are so many brands of dies out there now - dies are HOT!  But I keep going back to my beloved MFT.

This paper is from Kaisercraft.  An old 6 1/2" pad I found in my drawers that felt just right for this card!  It's called "Lil' Primrose".  I love a good paper pad, can never have too many!

Sarah

time for hot apple cider!

Hello Stampers!

It's almost that time of year again - time for hot apple cider and cozy visits with friends, chats by the fire!

I made this card for the latest Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge - which is a sketch challenge.

I've used one of my favourite Smooches sets, and a brand new for fall Bo Bunny 6x6 pad, "Apple Cider".

Happy Fall!
Sarah
xx

Warm thoughts

Hello Stampers!

It's almost fall again.  The weather here has been beautiful, fingers crossed it continues for a while!

I've been having lots of fun with dies and with paper piecing as well this week.

This die is one of my favourite dies from My Favorite Things.  I love all the dies of things from nature - branches, trees, birds.  So much fun for cardmaking!

I used an old Stampin' Up punch to cut the corners.  The twine is from the Twinery.  and the sentiment is from Paper Smooches!  I LOVE their sentiments!

I've used some kraft cardstock for the base, and the designer paper is Bo Bunny Gabrielle, one of my all time favourites!

Happy Stamping!

Sarah
xx

Halloween Smooches!

Hello Stampers!

It's nearly that time again - getting ready for Halloween!  Costumes are in the stores - and crafting supplies are on the shelves.  Here are my first Halloween creations of the season!

I've used the brand new Spookalicious from Paper Smooches.  I love my Paper Smooches and I love paper piercing - so this was a great combo!  As always this is a great set, very versatile - with lots and lots of little elements.

I used an old 6x6 paper pad I had, Bo Bunny Garden Girl, because it was the perfect combo of green, orange, and purple.  I've embossed the little bats with some regular embossing powder.  I used a Memory Box die to cut the fence.

Happy Stamping!

Sarah
xx

Saturated Canary Wendy

Hello Stampers!

Here is another one of my projects with my brand new Saturated Canary stamps!  I've been looking at these online for ages, so was thrilled to get to colour them up now that we have them at SGD!

This is "Wendy"!  She is stamped on XPress It with Memento ink in Rich Cocoa (my favourite!).  She is coloured with Copics, and die cut with my Spellbinders Nestabilities.  While still in the die, I inked up the image with my favourite Tim Holtz distress ink in Antique Linen.  This is my go-to colour!

I've used an old punch to cut out some corner tabs.  And I've used my "Seeing Spots" Cuttlebug embossing folder - which is apparently all the rage again lately!  We can't keep this thing on the shelves, wild.

This paper is one of the newest releases from My Mind's Eye, "Come Away With Me".  I LOVE a new 6x6 pad!

I have to say, I've never been a ribbon girl - but I think that is because I needed some lessons, badly!  Thankfully, BFF Andrea to the rescue - with some "Bow-Easy" lessons, and here we are!  Ribbons!  I have to say, I'm liking them!

Happy Stamping!

Sarah
xx

Copic landscapes part 4

Hello Stampers!

Sarah here and yes, I'm still playing with landscapes. I'm having so much fun creating my own scenes.  Probably as close to fine art as I'll come, ha ha!

This is one of my absolute favourite Golden Oldies from Art Impressions.  We have most of them at SGD and I think they're a blast!  This is Vera and I think the expression on her face is classic.

I've accented with Crystal Lacquer on Vera's sunglasses, that are also coloured with Spica Atyou pens.  I've accented with lots of Liquid Pearls for texture.

Sarah
xx

Saturated Canary Autumn

Hello Stampers!

Hard to believe that summer is nearly over.  Back to school time is here!  This weekend has been all about school supplies and new shoes in my house.  My soon-to-be third grader is pretty excited!

This is my FIRST fall project of the year!  I wait as long as I can every year, because I love summer so much especially all the bright colours.

This little beauty is one of our brand new line, Saturated Canary, that we ordered at CHA Chicago.  This is "Autumn".  Isn't she sweet?  Those of us who took Suzanne Dean's Copic class on hair the other weekend had fun learning some techniques on these cute stamps.

She is stamped on XPress It with Memento ink in Rich Cocoa (my favourite!).

I've inked the edges with some Tim Holtz distress inks (old paper, frayed burlap, brushed corduroy) using the distress tool.  I've used my Viva Decor pearl pen in bronze to add some accents.

Happy Stamping!

Sarah
xx

Copic landscapes part 3

Hello Stampers!

Here's another card in my ongoing landscapes practice.  Another stamp that I borrowed from a lovely lady in my card classes from Heartfelt Creations.  This is a line of stamps that carry beautiful scenery & images.

Sarah

xx

Copic landscapes part 2

Hello Stampers!

As I mentioned in my last post, I've been working on landscape techniques.  A lovely lady in one of my classes loaned me some Heartfelt Creations stamps and this is what I've been working with.

My last post I shared this wonderful video I found on YouTube - and I think this is the best one I've tried so far for sky and for grass.

I also found this awesome tutorial by Copic's own Marianne Walker on water.  I think this is by far the best I've seen.

Happy Stamping!

Sarah

xx

Copic landscape techniques

Hello Stampers!

We had a wonderful weekend at Scrappin' Great Deals hosting the lovely Suzanne Dean, Copic instructor extraordinaire!  I know I learned a lot from the lessons - and I hope my classmates did too!  

If you aren't as lucky as me to be able to go to SGD in person, then you may not have seen some of the awesome new things we have in store!  The staff is working frantically to get it all added to the website!

In the meantime - let me share with you one of my favourite lines.  This is Sarah Kay from Stampavie.  They are beautiful images and fantastic quality!  The always stamp crystal clear - and clean up like a dream.  I don't know about you - but I can't stand a stamp that takes four tries to get a sharp image.

This image is "Laura and Henri" and reminds me of my beloved Holly Hobby from when I was little!  I remember going to school in England when I was about 5 or 6 with my Holly Hobby plastic lunchbox.

I've been working on landscape techniques lately - so you can see here my methods for grass and for sky.  Now don't tell anyone - but I'll share with you my SECRET......  YouTube!!!

Check out this awesome video - this is where I got my techniques from.  Don't tell anyone I told you - shhh!

YAY!  Isn't that a cool one?  I love it!

I have used some Crystal Lacquer on the bow and flowers, as well as some Atyou Spica pens for accent, and lots of Liquid Pearls.

Happy Stamping!

Sarah

xx

create bold and beautiful with distress inks and sprays!!

Hello Stampers!

There's nothing I love more than finding a great source of inspiration that makes me want to run to my craft room and CREATE!  I subscribe to Craft Stamper Magazine from the UK and it is chock full of awesome ideas.  This particular card is inspired by a beautiful creation in the latest issue.

Here's how I made it!

First, use some sprays to create a background out of white card stock.  I used Tattered Angels lemongrass and pink bubblegum.

Spray one colour at a time and blot really well with paper towel in between colours to help the colour absorb.  Try varying your spray distance and your spray speed to get different effects.

Then you'll want to leave this to dry - or like me, use your heat tool to speed up the drying process.

Once dry, I used a Mister Huey mask - and Tim Holtz distress ink to add a few details.

This is Picked Raspberry from the limited edition Summer 2012 set.  I LOVE my distress inks and rush to add each new colour to my collection!  I love that each time there is something new - and not just a slight variation on past colours.  This bright pink just screams summer to me!

Then I used a white gel pen to add some detail to the circles. 

I stamped some beautiful flowers from my Unity stamp collection on white card stock with black Ranger Archival ink.  Then I coloured then with my Tim Holtz distress markers.  I am absolutely IN LOVE with my markers lately!  I am really enjoying creating with them.

I cut the wavy piece free-hand.  I used a ruler and a white gel pen to add the lines onto black card stock and then mounted onto that.

To finish off, I stamped a Unity stamp sentiment onto some of the sprayed card stock - and accented it with white gel pen as well.

Voila!  Inspiration from Craft Stamper magazine UK!  LOVE!

Sarah

xx

art journaling - part 3

Hello Stampers!

Here's another page (with all it's good & bad points) in my art journal!  As I've mentioned before, I am BRAND new to this - but I am loving it!  I think that even when you make an "oops" it's worth keeping - as you learn what you like & don't like!

For example - it wasn't intentional for my flowers to bleed like this.  I just forgot to "set" them - before spraying them with Perfect Pearls - oops!  But next time, I'll remember - hee hee!

Lots of layers on this page, as usual.  Here are some of the products I've used:

• Golden Gesso
• Golden Acrylic ground medium
• Krylon fixative spray
• acrylic paints
• Pan Pastels
• Vintage French book pages (etsy)
• Donna Downey for Unity stamps
• Memory Box Stamp
• Tim Holtz distress markers
• Tim Holtz distress ink pads
• Tim Holtz Parisian stamps
• Ranger archival ink (black)

The technique I really liked on this page - was creating a subtle stamped background (the Parisian elements) with a pale pink wash on top.  Then the bold doodled flowers (sorry they are old - I think they are Hero Arts?  Not sure) stamped in black - and coloured with distress markers.  I discovered that this makes them really POP against the background!  They look so bright and bold!  Especially when I used the Picket Fences marker on top for accent.  I love this look!  Now - don't go and spray on top of them - distress markers are activated by water - hence my runny flowers.

Happy Stamping!

Sarah

art journaling part 2

Hello Stampers!

Welcome to part 2 of my art journaling!  Now, I preface this post with the fact that I am very much new to this art form!!  I am much more a "want-to-be" art journal crafter.  But I LOVE it!  It is a great form of R&R I think.

I've used lots of layers on this page layout.  Some of the products I've used are:

• Gesso
• Modeling paste
• acrylic paint
• Pan Pastels
• Mister Huey's stencils
• Mister Huey's sprays
• Prima stamp (text)
• Vintage French book page & music score (etsy)
• Fab Scraps chipboard elements
• Ultra Thick Embossing
• Ranger Archival ink (black)
• punches (to create my own stencils) - butterfly & flower
• Tim Holtz distress inks

The technique I enjoyed trying out here was creating the little "windows".  I adhered the vintage paper onto the page.  This is paper I bought on etsy - but I suggest scouring garage sales and second hand bookstores.  I love French text and music pages.  Then I "whitewashed" them with some thinned white acrylic paint so they weren't quite so stark.  I painted some Fab Scraps chipboard windows and stuck them on top.  Then I used my Ultra Thick Embossing on top of that to create an awesome thick glaze, making them look like little windows!  I've used a Prima script stamp to randomly stamp around the page.

Happy Stamping!

Sarah

Magnolia love

Hello Stampers!

Just another card I wanted to share with you made with my beloved Magnolias!  This is Tilda from the recent Summer release.  I ADORE her!

She's coloured with Copics - accented with Copic opaque white paint - and accented with Atyou Spica pens (have I shared how much I LOVE these pens?? - fabulous glass glitter - not so flashy - perfect over your Copics).  I think the white accents in her hair really make that blonde hair gleam, don't you?

And I've used one of my favourite Bo Bunny papers here - "Little Miss" - LOVE these colours for summer!

The post is one of the Magnolia "Doo Hickey" dies - they are so sweet & whimsical!  This one comes with a cat too - CUTE!

I've finally figured out to use my die pick to twirl the flower stems before I glue them down with a hot glue gun.  This is what I've seen on all the European blog and I always love the look.  Took me a while to figure this out though - silly girl!

Happy Stamping!

Sarah

xx

art journaling

Hello Stampers and Happy Monday!

If you are a blog follower and a paper crafter, you are probably very familiar with "art journaling".  If not, then welcome!  In short, it is a journal of art.  Personally, I find it a great way to practice new art mediums, techniques, and applications without the stress/ pressure of creating a finished product.  I enjoy creating for creation's sake!

Friday night I enjoyed a fabulous crafty night with my fellow divas at SGD - WHAT FUN!  And this was such a great way for me to unwind from a stressful week at work.  And of course, reminisce about our awesome CHA adventures in Chicago!  (Still on a high!).

This page uses a lot of mediums.  The concept though, is layering.  Some of the products used are:

• Memory Box Stamp
• Penny Black stamp
• Tim Holtz tissue tape
• Mister Huey's mask
• Mister Huey's misting sprays
• Pan pastels
• Acrylic paints
• Tim Holtz distress ink (antique photo) & distress tool
• Tim Holtz distress markers
• Ranger archival ink (black)

On this particular page, I LOVED colouring the flowers with my distress markers!  I thought they really popped against the black ink and the gentle pink background.  I am so much more in love with my markers now that I had the one-on-one time with Tim!  It was really helpful!!

Have a great week!

Sarah

xx

updates from CHA

Hello Stampers!

We are all home safe & sound from a FABULOUS week in Chicago at CHA!!  What an incredible week!  It was my first time - and wow - it certainly lived up to expectations!  My first time meeting Tim Holtz!  And countless other incredible artists - Donna Downey - Claudine Helmuth - the list goes on!  See some of the photos below!

Here is a card I created today - inspired by a creative week!  The card base is Kraft.  I prepped with gesso.  By the way - I am just in LOVE with masks & sprays - and wow - they were everywhere at CHA!  Here, I've used the Mister Huey's chevron mask - and two tones of green Pan Pastels.  Then I applied a layer of Golden  Absorbent Ground.  While this dried - I created some of my own masks.

I used plastic packaging from a die set - and cut out some shapes from my Tim Holtz Movers & Shapers dies (here I used the butterflies).  I laid them on the page - then sprayed with some Tattered Angels.  I placed them somewhere else - and sprayed with another colour.

I used these beautiful new Prima stamps - to randomly stamp text on my page in Ranger archival.  Alamanc stamp set and Songbird.  

I sprayed some lace with Tattered Angels and dried it with my heat tool.  I've applied some Prima self-adhesive gems.

The plastic butterflies that I cut out - were inked with Ranger alcohol inks and then glued to the card front.

Here are some photos from CHA!

Graphic 45 booth

Graphic 45 booth

doing a make & take at Ranger with Teri from Papercrafts magazine.  Tim said "wait for me!" and popped into our photo!

some gorgeous altered art projects at Kaiser Craft

our last day!