highlights from CHA - part 5

OK - saved the best til the last.

Yep - fully admit it - huge, crazy, weak-kneed fan of Tim Holtz!  I just love his style - and how he makes everything look so easy.  You cannot be around this guy and not feel like crafting!

Had to get my photo-op in of course!  He is always super, super gracious, no matter how many of us crazies are wanting photos & autographs!  Just lovely.  Have to say - this man is the demo master - he could sell anything!

Watching the man at work (again).  Yep - might have spent a little (lot) of time at the Ranger booth!  Here Tim is demonstrating his new Distress Paints which were (no surprise) one of the Top 20 products at CHA.  Of COURSE they are super cool and amazing and of COURSE I need them all - like yesterday.

Just one more pose - cause you know - I can!  Shoulda' taken a pic of Tim's shoes.  The man wears cool shoes.  But - that might have been just a tad stalker-ish...

The new paints.  LOVE.  You can layer them, unlike the distress inks.  They have no texture or grit once on the paper.  You can make them translucent or opaque.  Super cool.

Happy Crafting!

Sarah
xx 

highlights from CHA - part 3

Hello Craftys!

Here are some more highlights from CHA!  So much fun and so many incredible sights to pack into one blog post.

I LOVE Gorjus girls!  I first got hooked on them when I went to the UK to visit my in-laws.  This is at the DoCraft booth.  They are a huge supplier in the UK - and newly launching in North America!  They distribute through Notions and this was their first CHA.  They also gave away the most beautiful distressed Union Jack bags (LOVE) and UK magazine with stamp set! 

Cute little images at LaLa Land!  I haven't coloured any of them for a while, but they had the sweetest little make & take card that inspired me!

And just a little more CHA flair - cause you know - I collect it.  Interesting to come all that way and spend all that money to attend the show ....

Happy Crafting!
Sarah
xx

highlights from CHA - part 2

Hello Crafty Peeps!

Here are some more highlights from my amazing trip to CHA last week!

First, here is the incredibly talented Dyan Reaveley and superstar Ranger artist.  I could have watched her work all day long - she is awesome!  Of course now I NEED all her sprays - and her journal with it's amazing paper - and her new stamps & masks!

My name in lights - hee hee!  Had just the BEST time teaching two workshops for 3M.

There are some AWESOME sights at CHA.  I love it.  I like call it flair - I collect it.

More flair.  LOVE.  IT.

Happy Crafting!
Sarah
xx

highlights from CHA!

Hello Crafters!

I thought you might like to see a few highlights from Winter CHA 2013 - Anaheim - where I was last week!

This is me setting up the make & take at the 3M booth.  Prima was wonderful in supplying all the gorgeous papers and embellishments to make the mini-albums I designed!  We had a ball.  You can see the white room in the background where attendees could play with all of the amazing new Washi tapes (50+ designs!) and stick them onto vases, walls, furniture, etc.

Here you can see some of the beautiful new designs!  Some super cute tape and Post-it dispensers too (dog, compact, iguana, margarita glass).

Here I am with fellow SGD diva, Jeanne Streiff!  We had the most AMAZING time together!  Jeanne knows everyone who's anyone in the crafting world - so we mixed & mingled with so many amazing people!  Phew, were we tired at the end of the week.

Here are ladies in one of my two workshops that I taught for 100 people for 3M.  They are loading the new wide width 3M tape glider.  It is just like the pink glider, but has 1/2" wide tape instead of 1/4".  It is a MUST have!

A MILLION times thank you to my incredible crafty friends Suzanne Dean and Jeanne Streiff for helping me with my workshops!  I could not have done it without them. And what a great time!  Honestly, crafty people are just the BEST.  I am so happy and grateful to have been introduced to this amazing world!

Happy Crafting!

Sarah
xx

Saturated Canary - Windy Day

Hi Stampers!

This is Windy Day by Saturated Canary, one of my current favourite line of stamps to colour.  The paper is "Ready Set Go" 6" x 6" paper pad by Amy Tangerine for American Crafts.  I love the bright pretty colours in this paper!  And orange has always been one of my faves.  The metal embellishment is a Bo Bunny trinket and the flowers are from my stash.  I used my Tim Holtz tool to twirl the ends and adhesive dots to adhere them to the card.  The sentiment is from Paper Smooches (my absolute go-to sentiment stamps).

Windy is stamped on X-Press It paper, cut out with a Spellbinders Nestabilities label die, and inked with Antique Linen distress ink (my standard technique).

I've coloured her with Copics, and added little touches of white gel pen as well as Copic Atyou Spica pens.

Happy Stamping!

Sarah
xx

Fifty Shades

Hello Stampers!

I'm pretty sure that most of you know what this card refers to.  If not, you'll want to Google "50 Shades of Grey" to find out!

I haven't been into the store in a little while, but was there today teaching a Copic 101 class.  SO much fun - as always!  And a great chance to catch up on the new stuff!

I could NOT resist this stamp (which comes as a set of two actually) because it will be PERFECT for all my girlfriends!!

The stamp is by Saturated Canary, called "Grey Tie/ Under Contract".  The paper has been in my drawer for a little while.  I needed grey tones for obvious reasons!  It is Country Boutique by Fancy Pants Designs, 6" x 6" pad.

I've coloured Christian with my Copics.  And I added a few little extra embellishments.  The tie was cut with my Silhouette Cameo, and I cut my image out with a Spellbinders Nestabilities die.

Happy Stamping!
Sarah
xx

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