simple dreams

Spellbinders Pierceabilities™!

Happy Fourth of July! It's time to CELEBRATE!!!

I hope you are all having a wonderful time celebrating your freedom with family and friends. I thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to come and visit with me here today. Especially since I believe this is going to be a post of epic proportion - LOL!

Perhaps in taking a glimpse at the card above you will not at first see what it is that I have to share in my sneak peek, but I hope that once you read through my post and send your message off to Spellbinders to enter the contest for today you will be back to take a closer look at the pictures to see exactly how it is that I used Spellbinders brand new product, Pierceabilities™, on these projects.

Today I have the pleasure of introducing a product that I proposed to the Caron's over a year ago when Nestabilities™ were being developed. I would like to say how proud I am to have been involved with Spellbinders in the conception of this product and take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Caron's. I would like to introduce to you Spellbinders Pierceabilities™ by Ellen Hutson.

 

 

 

 

 

S4 165 Pinking Pierceabilities™ ($19.99)

(approx 5 5/8" long by 3/4" and 1" high)

 

 

 

 

 

S4 167 Victorian Pierceabilities™ ($19.99)

(approx 5 1/2" long by 1/2" and 5/8" high)

Pierceabilities™ - what are they? what will they do?

Each set of Pierceabilities™ will include two dies per package, along with a Transparent Piercing Template to aid in piercing. I will share more information regarding what this is and how it will be used in a future post.

Below are pictures of the actual dies - I am hoping that by sharing this picture you will be able to "see" what these dies will look like and thus get a better understanding of how they work.

 

So what will they do?

• Cut - these will cut just like your other Spellbinder Dies and Nestabilities™. Hopefully you can see the raised line along the lower edge of the die - this is the cutting line. Each Pierceability™ die being released at CHA will have a different edge design for cutting and embossing! 
• Emboss - the Pierceability™ dies will run through the Wizard and almost any other die cut machine. They will emboss just as the other Spellbinder Dies and Nestabilities™ emboss. You will use the same sandwiches which you have already learned (thank goodness Ü). Stacey Caron has put together a fantastic video demonstration for you showcasing how to use the Spellbinder dies in other die cut machines. Please follow this link to YouTube for a wonderful video demonstration!
• Stencil - again this feature is the same as all previous Spellbinder products. Airbrush, chalk, sponge - use the die as a stencil to achieve beautiful and unique results!
• Pierce - now this is where the whole difference comes in to being - thus the name Pierceabilities™ Ü. We toyed with the idea of having the die actually do the piercing, but after much thought we felt that you would be able to achieve SO MUCH MORE if you were allowed the flexibility of piercing by hand. This option allows you to pick and choose from different areas of the design, using the entire die or only a portion - whatever suites your project. Versatility and value have been foremost in our thought process in the development of this product. The looks you are going to be able to achieve... well, I'm jumping up and down in my chair right now!
• Not only can you do each of the above individually, but you can combine the above elements for an even greater variety of looks! Remember, with Spellbinders the difference is in the details.

These cards were made to share the basic looks that you will be able to achieve with the Pierceabilities™ alone. I was absolutely stunned with the beauty of their simplicity. What perfect wedding, anniversary, or thank you notes these would make. Just place a sentiment inside or on the front and your work is complete.

Details will be shown in future posts as to how I created each of the projects. Today is all about the eye candy and the drawing!!!

This card shows the basic function of the die used three ways - cut along the lower edge, embossed and pierced.

Next I wanted to share that you can only emboss and pierce - no need for cutting. This was repeated in two places on the card front to give it a completely different look than one "border" would achieve.

Not only did I want these dies to work on the 5 1/2" side of the card, but much thought was put into how they could possibly work on the 4 1/4" side as well.

With some cardstocks, these dies will also cut through two layers. These examples are created using the Neenah Classic Crest Solar White - a quality, heavy cardstock. I cannot wait to see what other possibilities will unfold with time!!!

Yes, I used the new label, that Debbie revealed to showcase how you can pierce through our metal foil! This is a very simple design that just touches the surface of the possibilities of revisiting the folk-like pierced tin techniques!!!

Last, but not least I just couldn't help myself by sharing this little sneak peek of a clear album that I have made using the new Label 1 set in conjunction with piercing using the new Pierceabilities™. I can assure you that I will share the inside, as well as all the details regarding working with plastic, but there are more dies in use that I cannot yet reveal - you are just going to have to wait for the final reveals and my return from CHA Ü

 

Spellbinders Birthday Celebration

Sneak Peek Party Drawing Information

Drawing Information

Spellbinders will randomly pick one entry from each of the 14 Spellbinders Sneak Peek Blog reveals as stated in the "Rules". This name will be drawn to receive the die being revealed on said blog. These entries must follow all rules stated below to be valid for the drawing.

Entrants visiting all 14 Spellbinders Birthday Celebration Sneak Peek Blog reveals and correctly entering their information into the 14 separate drawings, as described below, will automatically be entered into a GRAND PRIZE give away of a new RASPBERRY WIZARD and a $500 retail value die package!

Rules

Any participant wishing to be included in the daily drawing for the Spellbinders Birthday Celebration Sneak Peek die give away must adhere to all of the following rules:

1. Participant must click on the provided drawing link on blog to enter each individual drawing on sneak peeks between June 30 and July 13.
2. Participant must type in the subject line the name/names of the die/dies being revealed.
3. Participant must send their entry for this blog before 12:00 midnight Central Standard Time on July 5th, 2008.
4. Participant is only allowed to enter each of the 14 Spellbinders sneak peek blog give away drawings one time per sneak peek. Participant must use the same email address daily to be considered for grand prize entry.
5. Spellbinders Design Team members and employees are not eligible for drawing.

Any participant wishing to be automatically entered into the drawing for the Spellbinders Birthday Celebration Sneak Peek Grand Prize drawing, must enter the drawing from all of the 14 blog reveals and follow all the above rules.

Please note:

• Spellbinders will only use email information to contact the winner.
• Spellbinders will not share this email address with any other parties.
• Spellbinders will not use this email information for advertisements of communications other than to contact the winner.
• If you wish to be included in further communications from Spellbinders, please go to their homepage and sign up: www.spellbinders.us.

Again the deadline for entering in the drawing for my sneak peek today, the Spellbinders S4-165 Pinking Pierceabilities™ and S4-167 Victorian Pierceabilities™, is midnight July 5th (Central Time). Don't forget to enter yesterday's sneak peek on Heidi Blankenship's blog Embellished Dreams before midnight July 4th (Central Time).

Click here to enter the drawing. If this pop-up link does not work or you use an email client that does not work with this pop-up box, you may copy and paste this address to send your entry via email to - newdierelease@spellbinders.us.

I hope to be able to share the winner of this portion of the sneak peek drawing with you on Sunday, July 6th. Best of luck and don't forget to enter the remaining sneak peek drawings!

Brand New Lockhart Images - It's all about Versatility!

It is always so thrilling for me to see the new Lockhart rubber stamps drawings! Then the anticipation of their arrival starts - I am so excited to share that Karen has just released 31 new designs! It was a bit of a surprise to me when I received the email notification today that they were up on her site and so I immediately set to getting them up on our site as well, being we already have a nice supply in our inventory.

I have elected to use THREE of them in this month's Stamp of the Month Packet and hope to share the information regarding this project in the next couple of days. We (well, more appropriately my DH, JJ - LOL) are still moving all of my supplies down to the office, but I hope to have that taken care of early this week as well. I have crossed my fingers and toes that my productivity will now be able to increase Ü

Versatility is always key when it comes to how it is that we can use a stamp. The apron in the new collection is just one example of how incredibly versatile Karen's stamps can be. The image on this particular design is approximately 2 1/2"w x 3 1/2"h. This larger size allows us to use the Itty Bitty images as well as some of the sentiments on the apron front. I am going to share the "naked" apron with you today and then some of the incredible options that Karen has colored to show the versatility of this stamp.

This is the apron in it's "naked" form - ha, ha! Below are just a couple of different possibilities for this marvelous piece!

Same idea - different colors and different doodling on the apron pockets.

Or make it masculine!

You could stamp this beauty on patterned paper and piece it together similar to my Robe and Bella post creations. You could also use Itty Bitty's to create a background or Backgrounders and masking to create other interesting versions. Add words like the new "Hot Stuff" or use it as an invitation with the word "Brunch" on the front. I am so excited to see the different possibilities you have in mind!

I'm behind on my Inchie INKlings challenges - it's high on my to do list this week. I will also be working at adding the new Memory Box 6x6 papers to the store and a few other goodies that we now have in our inventory, but I just haven't had an opportunity to get them uploaded.

Be certain to stop by our home page and sign up for our newsletter - I have a big announcement that I am planning on making shortly and you are NOT going to want to miss it Ü Perhaps you can start guessing as to what one special day is in June and in no other month this year. Talk to you soon!

Ranger Inkssentials Opaque White Pen

Product Update: Well ladies I can't believe the response to these pens. Unfortunately we are completely sold out. More are on order, but once again we need to wait our turn. I will let you know when I receive further information regarding our next order, but my understanding is that it will be sometime in April when our next shipment arrives. I'll keep you posted and thank you again for such amazing support!

OMGoodness - we just received a VERY unexpected shipment - the Ranger Inkssentials Opaque White Pen that I went so mad for at CHA. I wanted to post as quickly as possible so that you could take advantage of it during today's sale. I truly wish we had known earlier in the day being we have already shipped a bunch of orders, but they are here and up for sale now.

The ABC's of Inchies

Yeah - I'm back! I've been BUSY!!! There are some fun surprises in store for those who would like to participate. I'm not certain how many of you have noticed a new link on our store home page but we are putting together a mailing list for our current customers. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and you will see the link. Watch for this new form of communication - our newsletter to hit your in box shortly. Our team will be providing you with new tips and techniques to try out. You will also be the first to know of upcoming sales and events, as well as new items that are available in our store. Our goal is to keep our newsletter simple and informative. We will do our utmost not to bombard you with constant updates, so if you are interested and are not a current customer of ours then hurry and sign up now - we have some wonderful things to share with you soon!

One of those items you are going to be given a BIG hint at tonight! It has been some time since I have posted information about Inchies - they have not been forgotten. In fact Karen Lockhart and I have been working together with a new business colleague, Lisa Lee of Inchie Arts. We are thrilled to support her new adventure - she has been helping us out with solutions to our Inchie problems. Realizing that 1"x1" matboard squares are difficult to cut perfectly a solution was needed. Lisa has come to our rescue with some wonderful solutions. Wait until you see what she has come up with! I am not going to give away all the details yet so be certain to watch our blog, sign up for our newsletter and watch our store for changes!

As with all good things it is important to me that I do my very best to share as much information as possible in regards to new ideas. I want to get your creativity flowing, your enthusiasm for crafting stimulated - I want you to have FUN!!!

So here we go. Karen Lockhart has created THE most adorable accordion of Inchies - Inchies from A to Z!

With each post I will cover a new letter of the alphabet sharing from Karen's wonderful Inchie Accordion. I will also be adding my own ideas and inspirations for each letter of the alphabet. Tonight we are going start with A.

A is for Apple

Created using Itty Bitty Apple, decorative paper and Rub-On Alphabet letter.

We are also going to talk about the ABC's of Inchies. Whenever I hear about the ABC's of something it makes me think that I am learning the basics - it's back to those five W's.

Who started you on the Inchie craze?

I'm going to blame it all on Karen Lockhart - LOL! It's ALL her fault Ü She told me about them and then she started creating them. I fell in love with these tactile, adorable little squares she created and now I am creating them too - oh dear - I guess I'm a lemming!

What is an Inchie?

It is a miniature work of art that one can give as a gift, use as an embellishment, or trade with fellow crafters.

What size is an Inchie?

An Inchie should measure 1"x1" square - now technically I guess it will no longer be an Inchie if it goes past that size but do you really think someone is going to be measuring your Inchies - LOL!

What material do you use to create an Inchie?

I primarily use mat board and chip board as the base for my Inchies. Others create Inchies using fabric or cardstock. Use whatever you can think of! I plan on covering Inchies with Metal, make them out of clay, play with epoxy and glass, enclose them in UTEE, frame them with toothpicks and branches. Just wait until you see some of the beauties that Karen has created already!

What style should an Inchie be?

Contemporary, whimsical, quirky, quaint, collaged, simple, complex, unconventional - it doesn't really matter. Pick a style, pick a stamp, pick something that speaks to you and build your little piece of artwork around that element.

OK - so I created my Inchie - now what?

I believe that you have a couple of different alternatives here. First is the collectability of an Inchie. This is what can make them such extraordinary fun! Invite a group of friends to participate and pick a challenge. Begin with something as easy as a color. For example - "let's all make green Inchies this time." Do your very best work so that you can be proud of that little itty bitty piece of artwork that is going out to your friends. When they arrive you will number them and enter that number in a journal (that will be letter J). You can then create a storage system (more to come on this topic as well - this time you only have to wait until B - Ü) to view them and keep them safe, or you can put magnets on the backs and attach them to a frame or a fridge or... (yep you guessed it - more to come on this as well).

The other alternative is one that more people can relate to - use them as embellishments, make them into jewelry, put them on a cardfront. As you can see there are no set rules - it is all up to you - what would YOU like to do with your Inchies?

Where do I go to get started? Who can help me?

• Well you can start right here at our blog, as I said we are going to cover Inchies all the way from A-Z. Hmm - do you think that I can come up with 26 different posts?
• You can also visit our store - soon something will pop up when you click on this Inchie link. I can't tell you when right now being then I would actually have to be ready at that time - LOL! But stay tuned it will be SOON!
• Karen Lockhart of Lockhart Stamp Company
• Lisa Lee of Inchie Arts - be prepared for good things to come. What you see is just the beginning.
• Cindy Lyles and Sharon Harnist - Inchie Arts designers extraordinaire
• Debbie Olson, Michelle Wooderson and Trudee Sauer - incredibly talented designers

When will the big reveal happen?

I guess you didn't see that little sentence above - I can't tell you this minute because then I would actually have to be ready - ha, ha! All I can say is SOON!

Why Inchies?

Because they are adorable, addictive, tactile little squares that delight and warm your heart. To see a grouping of these displayed together just makes you smile. You will have a hard time keeping little ones and old ones alike from wanting your Inchies, from playing with your Inchies :D I wish you could feel the delight that we feel when we set eyes on the fabulous creations that have been set before us. I hope to share the FUN that Inchies are with you over the next month or two.

A is for Airbrushing

A wonderfully quick way to add color to a white mat board Inchie is by using the airbrush. In creating this special little Baby Bee Karen used the airbrush to quickly create the background for this priceless collection of Inchies.

When using a light color tone it is so easy to airbrush the entire piece, stamp and then color without any effect showing through in the final colored piece. Be certain to stay tuned for more information regarding these cuter then bees knees Baby Bees!

A is starting at the very beginning

I am going to share a little project that I have been creating with you. I'm going to "start at the very beginning" and walk you through how it is that I have created these adorable little Worm Inchies. I know it sounds like it should be Inch Worms, but I think in this case they should be called Worm Inchies. Hmmm - I guess I must be getting tired I'm not certain which way it should go - LOL!

The first step in creating a group of Inchies is to determine the number you will be creating. I created 36 very special little Inchies. I began by stamping out 37 of these using my Adirondack Pitch Black pad - yep, one extra just in case I made a mistake. As you can see in the coloring progression above I began with the lightest Yellow Green. Being that I knew I was going to cut these out (yes, I am insane - certifiable I do believe) I didn't worry about staying within the lines and so I colored FAST. As I colored I held both markers, the YG00 and the YG03, uncapped in my hand. I would lay down the YG00 immediately followed by a hint of YG03, in the next stroke I would come back and blend the two colors again with the YG00. I colored in all the worms and then came back with the Melon glitter pen to add some glam to my cute little worm.

Then the cutting began - I was having WAY too much fun! Look at this - LOL!

See - it almost looks like an A - ha! ha!

Being that I had another project in mind that I wanted to create simultaneously I then created my own background paper. Creating background paper can be a ton of fun. I typically will use Microsoft Word to create my definition documents. Using Dictionary.com I look up the word I want to use. In this case it was bookworm. Maddi, my daughter is such a bookworm and well... I guess I'd best stop with that story before I give away too many details on the next project.

I then created an entire page by repeating the definition over and over again. If you would like to see this document take a peak here:  well shoot - that didn't work - I will try again tomorrow, my brain is just too fried tonight to get this link to work. You can even use this document if you would like to create your own bookworm Inchies. I printed this document out onto Solar White cardstock and then cut it up into 7/8" x 7/8" squares. Being that I had cut off the antennae of the Itty Bitty Inchie (the worm that is) I needed to stamp Inchie on to my little white squares. To be precise about the placement I did use my Stamp-a-ma-jig. This is still a tool that I use on a constant basis being I do believe I have a tendency towards perfectionism. (I can't believe I just told you all that - I'm certain you had no idea until now - right? LOL!)

Each little square was then outlined with a Krylon Silver Leaf pen and adhered to a 1" x 1" black mat board square.

(Sidetrack here yet again - but aren't those little worms just hilarious all piled up together! I just have waaaay too much fun when I get to do things like this!)

To attach my little pieces I still like to reach for my Quickie Glue Pen. It makes it so easy to keep my adhesive exactly where I want it. So I attached all my worms and voila - 36 Worm Inchies - or is it Inch Worms - what did you decide? See I even initialed them in the bottom right hand corner.

So what do you think I will be doing with these little creatures? Take a few guesses and in the meantime if you haven't purchased from our store before and you want to receive our newsletter, be certain to head over to our home page and enter your information pronto!

Remember - A is for:

• apple
• accordion
• airbrushing
• ABC's - as in basics - as in the five W's
• and the start of something that can be totally ADDICTIVE!

Tim's Tag Inspired

It's the talk of the town, or perhaps better said - the internet. Tim Holtz has a blog and he has WOW'ed us all with his amazing tags!!! Tim has always inspired me with his over the top creativity, so last night I finally had an opportunity to play with the myriad of toys that I have had sitting on my shelves since (embarrassed a little here) last MAY!!!

At CHA this summer I was a lucky girl - at the very end of the show, when most everyone had already gone, Tim was just finishing up his work at the Ranger booth. My good friend Mona Lisa introduced me to Tim and I had the opportunity to "quiz" him regarding the Ranger line of products and he demonstrated several of the techniques that he is well known for. We had a wonderful conversation and he made an incredible tag which I have in my collection of things I'll keep for a LONG time - LOL!

This little beauty shimmers and shines just like Tim's smile. I couldn't believe how nice he was after being "tormented" by all of us ladies, for all those days - LOL!

So in honor of Tim's tag challenges I decided to try and create one with an Ellen twist using the Lockhart Wreathe Angel. As you all know I love to airbrush and have had this idea in my brain for a LONG time - I wanted to try the Heidi Swapp Masks with the airbrush. Well the results are great - they can be repositioned and reused - a feature I do love. My only caution is that they are REALLY sticky. My first try out I stuck it to my tag and when I pulled it off along came the paper, sticking to the back of the mask. Well needless to say I decided to try something different with the next one and took my fingers and just patted all over the sticky backs to lessen the adhesive so that I could then remove it without pulling the paper off. I also did not press them down to my paper, but just laid them in place. They quickly adhere and that's when I sprayed.

The tag is a small manila one. I didn't have any of those lovely gimungo ones that Tim has. Can you believe that one? I guess it's time for another shopping trip Ü I positioned a couple of the leaves on the manila tag and then airbrushed using COPIC Sketch Marker Y63. I then spritzed with my special "Tim Concoction". I will share that below at the end of my post. After removing the masks I then very lightly airbrushed the entire tag once again just to add a hint of green to the leaf sections. I colored the angel with Prismacolor pencils and Copics after adding the embossed details to her dress. Copic Spica Glitter pen highlights were added to the ribbons and her hair. I used a Copic marker to change the color of the tag "circle".

Next I added dimension to the background paper by once again placing my masks on the Crimson paper. My secret to spraying in my craft area is this big box. I can tell you that my first spritz was not a pretty thing - LOL! I actually was holding my mini mister sideways and - a big OOPS! Needless to say I learned my lesson and now use a box instead.

Unfortunately you can not even begin to see the beauty of this paper. Talk about bling!!! I know that Glimmer Mist is the talk of the town and I am assuming that it is a "concoction" very similar to Tim's. What I love about Tim's recipe is that I have LOADS of product remaining to mix in other fun and funky ways, as well as a little pot of "bling" that still calls my name for other techniques I hope to share over time. (Or you can just stay tuned at Tim's blog - I'm guessing he will share all sorts of wonders with you all as well, being these products are his "babies"!)

So following is a simple "Tim Concoction". I use a clear mini mister so that I can see what is in each little spritzer. To this I add some color wash and Perfect Pearls. For this particular project I mixed Red Pepper Color Wash with Perfect Gold Perfect Pearls. Tim demonstrates on his blog how he has used a popsicle stick to add the Perfect Pearls to the bottle. I have a teeny, tiny spoon that I like to use. A little goes a long way. The result is oh SO Christmasy! I'm going to share a little secret with you regarding this month's Stamp of the Month project - I sprayed my flowers and background paper with this mixture too Ü The shimmer that these projects have just can't be captured with my elementary photography techniques.

A little piercing, some gold glass beads, a hammered brad (yet another cool Tim Technique and Tool), some Tarnished Gold Embossing Powder and my Tim inspired project is complete.

I hope that you have a relaxing weekend even though the holiday season is in full-swing. Take some time out to breath and create if possible and enjoy some wonderful Christmas music as you create. I have Sarah McLachlan's Wintersong playing in the background. Her voice is magical and just makes me feel warm inside.

ETA: I just wanted to take this opportunity to remind you all that once again Nichole is going to blow your socks off with her latest stamp sets - they unveil tonight. I would also like to thank Nichole for being such an absolute delight to work with!!! It is with sadness and yet a sigh of relief that I share with you that I will no longer be a part of PaperTrey's design team. As you all know my life has been VERY full this past year and it is becoming increasingly busier with each passing day. It is so important to try and maintain some sort of sanity and reduce the deadline stress load. It is so wonderful to have relationships with other women who do what I do and I look forwards to supporting Nichole and what it is that she does in the years ahead. Her talents never cease to amaze me. Thank you Nichole!

COPIC - what's coming?

The clock is ticking and we are scrambling - LOL! Yes, there is SO much to upload that I think it might be a long day or perhaps a short night :D

I have received many emails in regards to a number of things and I apologize if I haven't gotten back to you yet today. First - yes, the sale will apply to ALL items in my store. So what ever you choose to purchase tomorrow the discount will apply - it will apply to your Preorders for COPIC Sketch Markers and/or Spellbinders Nestability Dies, as well as the Lockhart Stamp Company new release images and ALL other items in my store - if its in my store the discount will apply! So head on over to Ellen Hutson LLC and check out the goodies. I will be working tonight at making items go live, so piece by piece they will become visible.

The sale again is 13% off for 13 hours (6:00am - 7:00pm Pacific Daylight Time - remember that is West Coast time!) We accept Visa, Master Card and PayPal. If you would like to place an order and you are an international customer please send an email to ellenhutsonorders@comcast.net during the sale hours and we will process these orders as quickly as possible. Remember the code is: 131313-V2

Tomorrow is going to be a super fun day right here on my blog. I will be doing some fun games that you are NOT going to want to miss!!! SO stay tuned throughout the day to be included.

Remember that the drawing for the challenge will be held tomorrow night after 7:00pm (that allows you almost one more day to complete your project!) - you aren't going to want to miss out on this!

Your comment to be included in the 131313-V2 Post Drawing must be submitted before 12:00pm tonight and that drawing will take place tomorrow morning.

So come and join in the fun tomorrow. Get your stamps, paper and ink ready as well for one more challenge Ü

New Dies - Now What Will I Need?

OK - so I'm telling you that the dies are universal, that they nest, yada, yada, yada - so what now? You might be thinking, "I already own a diecutting machine, (such as a Cuttlebug, BIg Shot, Sizzix, etc.) will these still work and what else will I need besides just the little metal die?"

I am going to link you back to the post on compatibility so that you can once again read the sandwich information for your particular machine type. If you do not see your machine listed then please contact Spellbinders to ensure that the machine you own is truly compatible. There are many machines on the market and I am not aware of all of them, so I apologize if I have missed the type of machine that you own.

In addition to your machine (and the dies of course :D) the following tools are recommended:

• Spellbinders Tan Emboss Pad (currently available in the Wizard Charm Embossing Kit)
• Spellbinders White Spacer Plates
• Extra pieces of cardstock or lightweight chipboard (example - cereal box) to act as "shims"

It has been an INCREDIBLY busy day already, but I hope to be back with my countdown project for the day as well as more information regarding the dies.

I am working on photographing everything and getting them ready for Friday. I will hopefully have the time to post more information here before then, but please know that I am working feverishly to share as much as possible in such a short amount of time. Thank you so much for your patience with me!

ETA: I just reviewed the current dies and compared them with the new Nestability Dies. The old dies were not designed in 1/8" increments and therefore do not have the same capability of forming the perfect layer. That is not to say that you can not layer with them - it is only to tell you that they are not perfectly layered with the new scallops. I also want to point out the difference in the embossed corners on the squares. The old dies had a rounded corner for embossing - the new designs are completely square and therefore have a much crisper appearance. Thank you Kar for your post below - I really appreciate you helping out answer these types of questions!

Strawberry Jam and SO MUCH MORE!

AAACK! I've been hurrying and scurrying with deadline after deadline. Life is a complete whirlwind - LOL. So I thank you once again for your patience. Today I'm going to try and provide you with a little eye candy, a few ideas and a little taste of what is coming :D

What's Happening Now:

1.  Memory Box Cardstock and more colors of Notecards and Envelopes are finally uploaded to the store! This cardstock is the same quality as the notecards. Memory Box is commited to making as little impact as possible to the environment. Their paper is made by a mill that uses certified sustainable forests for it's pulp. The paper is then printed with environmentally responsible soy-based ink. The paper has a beautiful, crisp white side and the opposite side is a selection of delicious colors that make me hungry - LOL!

We have also added a list of coordinating cardstock and note card colors to the Memory Box 6x6 patterned paper lists. You can see an example of this here.

More information is being added all the time to the website details, but at least it's a start. Some of the colors are missing and some need a little adjustment, but we are working on it and hope to have it all going 100% soon. Please remember that color can vary from computer screen to computer screen and that the images are the truest representation to the color that we are able to supply. More information will be added as to what other items coordinate with these colors to help make your shopping experience and color recognition easier. We are constantly working to upgrade information and hope to finish these projects over the course of the summer.

2. I say "we" because I have some wonderful helpers now! I would like to introduce you to Malena, Katelyn and Kelcie. They are an integral part of our team here - packing orders, upgrading computer information, making phone calls and trying to bring the same level of service that we have provided from the very first day. Being that they are all new I am trying to be certain that everything goes smoothly, but as with all things new there is a learning curve. I thank you for your patience with us during this transition. I plan on introducing the other amazing team players here soon. We are working on bio's and doing our best to just make each day happen with customer service being our primary concern!

3. Don't forget that there are a few days left to get your recipes in the mail for the Lockhart recipe contest. Delicious Pacific Northwest Treats await some lucky lady! So send in your entry now.

4. We are down to the last, of the last with the Stamp of the Month packets. If you haven't ordered one yet it may be too late. As with all good things you all never cease to surprise and amaze me. It is so thrilling to see how much you are enjoying these, but I'm down to the last one and my guess is that it won't be long after this post and it will be gone. (Perhaps I won't even get this posted and it will be gone.) Unfortunately the template that was included in the packet is the hang-up with this kit. They are completely sold out and no more are available, period. The good news is that there are still plenty of Strawberry stamps :D We are already working on the project for July and I can tell you that it's a good one :D :D :D

What's Happening Soon:

1. More AMAZING Lockhart stamps!!! You will not believe your eyes - these are incredible! Karen has truly outdone herself with the Fall and Holiday line-up. It is killing me not to share all the details, but as with all good things I must be patient and follow the guidelines - LOL! BUT she did listen to us and again has added to some of the amazing collections that are well loved! In addition she has started some new ones that are going to blow your socks off! Yippie - July will be here soon!

2. After much hard work and long hours a new "Designer Set" of Copic Sketch Markers will be available for purchase through the Ellen Hutson webstore!!! It was not an easy decision, but after much consultation, consideration and play time I have put together a list of 48 colors that will be made available to you soon. Now by soon that means some time in July - LOL! It takes a while to get all the "stuff" done, but I can assure you that much thought and preparation has gone into selecting these colors. Some are coordinates to the popular Stampin' Up! colors, but not all. In order to fill the "holes" that seem to arise when coloring, it was important to  "give up" some colors to make the set truly work for you. Karen Lockhart and myself have been working together closely with the Copic representatives (THANK YOU Marianne) and we feel extremely confident that the colors that we have selected will have a universal appeal. When you have 330 colors to select from in the first place it is no easy task breaking it down into "48 you can't live without these colors" group - LOL!

They will be available in 4 sets of 12, as well as 2 sets of 24. More details and projects and how-to's will be following in the upcoming weeks and I'm delighted to tell you that we are putting together an incredible group of talented individuals to showcase this product's amazing features and versatility. Just wait until you see the cool things you can do with these markers!!!

3. There is more, but shoot - it's getting late and I haven't even shared the project I created to inspire you to try new things :D

So here you have my latest creation for another idea using the strawberry stamp. I love to make strawberry jam and have been known to give it as a hostess gift or Christmas gift. This is just a fun little idea that you can use as a starting point in presenting your homemade preserves as a gift item.

To create the little dangley charm, I sanded some Translucent PolyShrink (details on how to sand). Using my Mega Scalloped Circle I punched through the PolyShrink - this was no easy task and I don't know that I can completely endorse this, being that I don't want to be responsible for any broken punches - LOL! I then stamped the image using Black Brilliance ink. After allowing the image to airdry and then using Prismacolor color pencils to color the image to coordinate with the Strawberry Jam topper I punched a hole for the cording and then followed the directions, shrinking it to this darling little charm. The last step was adding a few white dots to add a little texture to the otherwise smooth surface using the white Souffle pen. You could also place stamped tissue paper between the sealed lid and the ring for a completely different look.

I hope this inspires you to play with your stamps in a little different way and to remember the fun of shrinking your stamp images turning them into cute little "bellies". Thanks for stopping by and spending a little time with me :D

Fluff in a Jar - Fun Flock is in :D

Yeah - Fun Flock is finally uploaded to the store. I apologize, being that the pics aren't the greatest - IRL these colors remind me of scrumptious looking jelly beans. The colors are so pure and intense. I hope to update the pictures soon with larger samples, but at least it's a start.

Once again I used Fun Flock to create the Birthday Balloon in this month's Paper Trey Ink Little Lady gallery. Last night I talked about all the other looks this lady could take on. I saw numerous possibilities for flowers and with the Lockhart dresses being something I adore a little dress was on my mind. I was so tickled to see both Debbie and Lisa play out this idea!! Great job ladies - great minds think a like - right - LOL!

So here is my balloon version.

Being that I wanted to stamp Celebrate right in the curve of the tail and I'm lazy so I didn't want to mask :D the tail was stamped first using a VERY light ink. Next I stamped the "balloon" using Colorbox Petal Points Blossom Chalk ink. I like to work quickly and therefore heat set the ink so that I could move on. I stamped and created a reverse mask using Eclipse Tape. Place the mask over the balloon and then stamp the large flowers using The Essential Glue Pad. Flock with the Cantaloupe Orange (as you can see this is a GORGEOUS color - nothing like my poor little sample on my webstore site!). Press lightly with your finger and tap to remove excess flock. Repeat with the small flower using Pixie Pink Fun Flock. (Pixie Pink is the color I used on my Faux Velvet Ribbon card as well.) Remove the mask and you have this awesome textured balloon. Without this awesome texture this card would have been BORING - but the amazing quality this little embellishment adds is fabulous.

Nichole designs these sets with versatility in mind. Another thing you might want to note is that this trail is the perfect distance for piercing. Yes, perhaps I am the piercing queen - LOL! but again the subtle texture that it adds to this project helps make it sing. Be certain to stamp your greeting first and then skip that portion of the tail when you do your piercing.

I added tails to my balloon using orange velvet ribbon from the Gypsy (Romani) set and pink DMC floss.

If I could do it over I would tilt my balloon slightly - it's just a little off, but time is always of the essence as of late and so I just ran with it. Another awesome idea would be to turn the lady bug into a kite - Maybe if I get a minute I'll try that one :D

Butterfly Garden Stakes

Do you ever get an idea that you can hardly wait to try? This was one of those for me. I think I may have mentioned that one of my hobbies is gardening (well... it was one before hurting my hip - now it is mostly watching my family garden - LOL). Anyways - I love to add little things to discover amongst the beauty that nature provides. When I first saw the Lockhart butterflies I knew that at some point these would end up being a garden "prop". It all came together for me when the reality that Copics were indeed an alcohol based ink and therefore would work beautifully on metal, and glass, and vellum, and... the excitement level for these awesome little tools has shot me right up to Mars - maybe even Jupiter :D

So here you have my first little experiment - it certainly can use some finessing (notice the lack of antennae - way too excited to even remember such subtle details :D), but at least I hope it inspires you to start thinking outside the box with these gorgeous little creatures.

First I stamped on this awesome metal (I used the copper sheeting) using Brilliance black ink. I heat set it before continuing (be certain to use your tweezers to hold the metal because it gets HOT! - hmmm - how do you think I know the answer to that little problem? :D) Using simple little scissors I then cut out the butterfly - it is surprising how easily this metal cuts. I then took my small point embossing stylus and outlined the image. This was followed up by turning the image over and using the different sized ball ends to finish adding detail to the image. I really like these little stylus, first because they are ergonomic and therefore my fingers don't get as tired while holding these and using them. Secondly because there are six different sized ball tips starting with a VERY fine point.

The next step is the one that I was SO curious as to whether it would work. I was tickled pink with the results! The Copic Markers work beautifully to color the metal!!! I certainly need a little more practice to get it down, but woohoo - it's a start ladies! If you do not have any alcohol ink markers I am thinking that Sharpies would work as well and they come in a lot of delightful colors now as well.

To attach the butterfly to the 20-gauge copper wire I used Glossy Accents from Ranger. It took about a minute of holding it in place and then I could let it stand upright in a jar to complete the drying process over night. I curled the wire a few times around a pencil to get the curl and then voila it was ready to be planted :D

So tell me - genius, or what!?! LOL!!! Have fun making your own little garden stakes. Wouldn't they be darling to give to your mom's for Mother's Day? She could even put them into an indoor houseplant :D Have fun and please share your versions with me when you make some!