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Life has been busy, busy, busy!!! How is it that springtime brings so many things to do? AND I'm not even talking about all those pop weeds springing up in our garden - LOL! I apologize for not remembering to do the blog candy drawing (insert red cheeks!) YIKES! So at long last and thanks to an email we received we have our winner!
I have not used Memory Box papers before so a comparison sampler would be great - especially when ordering online! Thanks for a chance to win a great prize!
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ETA: I am SO very sorry - I programmed the code wrong and instead of it taking off 15% it was only doing .15%. Please accept my apologies and use the new code - HeroHues15
Our product focus this week in the CLASSroom is Hero Arts. We have had so much fun with this "new to us" product line and today I would like to share a little insight into the "Hero Hues" portion of the line.
First though I would like to announce that for the next seven days we will be hosting a promotion in our store to offer you the opportunity to purchase the Hero Arts line at a savings of 15%. Please see the notes at the bottom of this post for further details. Simply place the items you would like to purchase in your cart and upon checkout enter the following code in the promo code window - HeroHues15
Be certain to read to the bottom of this post to also learn how you can participate in our blog candy drawing!
Hero Hues is a coordinated collection of papers, inks, mixed accents (pearls and gemstones) and printed paper flowers. They come in a wonderful spectrum of different Hero colors. Shown below are the different elements you can select from the Sunshine collection. (Sorry for the funky spacing and alignment - Typepad is giving me fits - LOL!)
There are six color palettes to select from (see the photo of the Art Flowers below for a representation of the colors, click on THIS LINK to see a chart of all the colors):
Hero notecards and layering papers are what we refer to as "duplex cardstock." Duplex cardstock simply means that it is two colors. It is a white core paper - so there is no need to line your cards if you want to write in the interior. The result is a crisp, beautiful appearance!
As you can see from the color comparison above they coordinate beautifully with the Memory Box papers we already carry. The only significant difference is the subtle variance in the shape of the envelope flap. The biggest reason I am sharing this information is because each line has a unique color palette, and it is incredible to me how well they coordinate. Please read on if you would like to help me answer a question I have and win some blog candy by doing so!
You know me - I can't just talk about something without creating a project. I must admit that I feel TOTALLY rusty though. Returning from Ranger U I was sicker than I have been in years and it is just now that I am finally getting back up to speed. So today I am going to share a little of what I learned thanks to Claudine and Tim. I still hope to do a blog post on my experience --- it was absolutely marvelous and the women I met... AMAZING!
Now on to the creativity!
SNOWCAP DABBER PAINT RESIST - Shabby Chic Look
For this technique I used the Snowcap Dabber. Ranger has reformulated these and they now work like a dream. Using my Clear Design Hero Arts stamp I "inked" it with the dabber. My bottle was fresh from the factory and so to start it out I turned it upside down on my craft sheet and gave it a slight squeeze until I could see the ink peek out from the edge. I should have taken a picture of this --- sorry about that, hindsight is 20/20.
Stamp the image and repeat until the notecard front is covered. Be careful because it is a little "slick", but if you stamp gently you should not have any mishaps.
I wanted to "shabbify" the cardfront to coordinate with the Basic Grey Green at Heart paper I had selected prior to starting. Gently heat set the ink. Then using Tattered Rose and Worn Lipstick Distress Ink and the Ink Blending tool I sponged the ink overtop the stamped designed in a circular motion. Leaving some portions of the cardstock bare brought the look of the notecard in to accordance with the decorative paper.
STUDIO PAINT WATERMARK RESIST TECHNIQUE
Another new toy --- oops I mean tool --- I have been wanting to play with are the new Alterations dies. I realize that they take up more storage space than the Nesties but there is an advantages to this product that I love. The depth of the blade allows me to cut all sorts and manners of things that are thicker than the depth of the blade on the Nesties. Today I used it to cut the Sticky Back Canvas.
It is a good thing that I always like to try the tools that I am recommending. What I came to realize today is that my label didn't immediately pop out of the die. Using a long thin needle I was able to pull it out of the die after cutting, but realized that perhaps I was missing something. I contacted Tim and he immediately replied letting me know that a "fix" is in the works. He put me in contact directly with Ellison and I was able to get an immediate resolution to my little quandry.
If you have purchased one of the new Sizzix dies that have an "open" middle - as in the new dies that Tim has designed that have the magnetic component, and are having trouble with getting your piece back out after it has been cut, then please give Ellison a call at (877)355-4766. They will be shipping out a "center piece" to help solve our problems as quickly as possible. These have been ordered and they hope to have them available by the end of this month/beginning of next month.
The die cuts perfectly, and works perfectly as designed, but wouldn't you know it - there are people like me who want to use the die without the keyhole - LOL! Ellison was most gracious and accomodating and I trust that we will be well taken care of. So forge ahead ladies - this really is a marvelous little tool!
OK - now back to the technique at hand...
This is an absolutely lovely technique that Claudine taught us at Ranger U. If you ever have the opportunity of taking a class from her you must! She is witty, sweet, knowledgeable and passionate. I could just hear her words as I mixed up my paint mixture for this technique.
To begin paint the StickyBack Canvas with Painterly Pink paint. (Just a sidenote - this color is PERFECT with the Hero Arts Carnation color.) Allow the canvas to dry completely - yes, I cheated and carefully used my Heat It tool :-D
Now I hear Claudine's voice as she instructs us to have our thinned paint ready for the next portion. You want to have this paint watery, like the consistency of "skim milk" (yep, I can relate to skim milk :-D) I mixed Sky Blue and Dab of Yellow as shown in the wonderful chart she created and has shared with us here. Then using a mini mister I spritzed this mixture with water and stirred.
The green in this photo is the correct consistency, the pink is a mixture of Painterly Pink and Dash of Red (to coordinate with the Punch color) before the water is added. I use either the end of my paint brush to dab just a dot of paint onto my craft sheet and then wipe it with a paper towel before dipping into my second color to avoid mixing the colors in the pots.
Once you have your colors mixed you will then ink your stamp with a Watermark or Resist Ink. Immediately (do NOT allow the ink to dry) gently paint your wash over the canvas surface. You can see how the paint beads up and "resists" the area that is covered with the resist ink!!! SO COOL!
SANDING DUPLEX PAPER (Both Hero Arts and Memory Box are duplex, or white core)
Another element that I adore with whitecore or duplex cardstock is the ease of creating lovely texture with the embossing folders. We are thrilled to announce that we have brought in some beautiful textured folders from Sizzix. These are essentially the same as the Cuttlebug embossing folders, but perhaps just a little "crisper" in the appearance of the finished embossed design. Tim's folders are still not available, but we hope they will arrive soon! Today I used a beautiful new Damask style design.
Please note that when you emboss on duplex papers it is important to think about which side is "up." The picture above helps to demonstrate this. I put the color side of the paper facing the side that has the Sizzix logo on it. This ensures that the positive design will pop upwards on your paper. Sometimes it is desireable to have the reverse, but typically this is the most attractive appearance.
As you can see just by running it through the Big Shot the details begin to appear in white. By gently sanding the surface with a Lucky Squirrel sander, or a Tim Holtz sander the design is enhanced even further.
In trying to figure out how to utilize this element in my card I came up with the little tag above. Utilizing the one-sided embossed notecard above I was able to stamp the sentiment on the smooth portion and use the textured portion to add some flair to the little tag. Cutting it into a "flag" shape, sanding the edges to shabbify the tag and then putting a little curl and affixing with glue dots completed this portion of the project.
Last, but certainly not least was the addition of the Hero Hues Art Flowers. There is a huge assortment in each package. I decided to share how you can use these little one layer flowers to create a glorious blossom. If you would like me to show a step-by-step photo technique on how to create these please let me know. Essentially all you need to do is to begin with the largest size, then select the next size down, and finally select another blossom that is similar sized and cut out two of the five petals. Use these elements in the center of your flower. I used a Jenni Bowlin stick pin to hold it all together.
stamps: Hero Arts Stencil Art, Essential Messages, DesignBlock Silhouette
ink: Snowcap Dabber, Distress Ink Pads - Tattered Rose and Worn Lipstick, Studio Line Paints - Painterly Pink, Sky Blue, Dab of Yellow and Dash of Red, Watermark Resist Ink Pad
paper: Blush Hero Arts Folded Cards, Basic Grey Green at Heart
accessories: Blush Print Art Flowers, StickyBack Canvas, Jenni Bowlin Stick Pin, Sizzix Damask Embossing Folder, Tim Holtz Alterations Styled Labels, 1 1/4" Moss SIlk Ribbon
BLOG CANDY OPPORTUNITY
This selection of goodies could be yours - please leave your answer to the the following question in the comments section below. Comments will be eligible for this random drawing if left before Saturday, April 10th at midnight.
Would it be helpful to have a color comparison of the Hero Arts cardstock collection and the Memory Box collection? Also add if you have ever used either of these collections and if so, which one? Being one who does not mind doing the work if it is helpful to our customer base I would be happy to do so, but I do not want to spin my wheels if there is no need for this comparison. Please let me know your thoughts and ask any questions regarding this line below in the comments section to be entered in our random drawing.
Once again we would like to encourage you to try the Hero Arts line of products by offering you a 15% discount for the next week. The promotion code HeroHues15 will be valid on all orders placed between now and midnight April 14th. Please enter this code upon reaching the checkout page. Note that upon completion of your order the discounted price will be listed on the individual product line and not at the end of the invoice.
This promotion is valid on all in-stock Hero Arts products only and cannot be combined with any other coupon code (frequent shoppers please place two separate orders and notify us at customerservice@ellenhutson.com immediately upon completion of both orders so that we can combine your orders for shipping if you would like.) For the best selection be certain to shop early!
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Using my random number generator, more commonly known in our household as Trina, we have selected a winner. Trina's favorite number is 9 and her best friend's favorite number is 10 --- so she selected the number 19 as the winner of the little necklace I created.
Now I'm saving this document in process and am off to count and see who number 19 is :D
Julie Masse said:
It's a gorgeous piece Ellen! I look forward to seeing your tutorial - something I haven't tried yet but would like to! Sounds like you had a wonderful birthday - here's to a fabulous year! :)
Julie, please send us your snail mail address to customerservice@ellenhutson.com if you do not get my message. :D
It has been a long week around here - my hard drive crashed the day after my birthday, needless to say I am further behind than ever - LOL! Egads---I hope to share my funny story and tutorial soon, but as what seems to be the norm in my life I have had to adjust my priorities yet again - it's all good though right?!? It will just make it more special when I actually get it posted :D
Thank you each and everyone for your birthday wishes and the thoughts that you shared! You are all amazing women!
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I don't spend nearly enough time in my studio and I miss it, so when I went to bed last night it was with the full knowledge that no matter what happened today I was going to try and head into my studio to create.
Birthday's are so very special and today has been a wonderful day. First, I would like to thank all of you for the incredible birthday wishes I have been receiving - your kind words and cheer have made me grin from ear to ear.
Secondly, I want to share my creation today with someone. It isn't the most perfect thing I have created, in fact it is far from it!!! LOL! But it was made with a whole lotta love and I would like to share this with someone, anyone! :D I will share the directions for creating something similar with you shortly - there is a funny story behind this whole "concept" and it is with delight that I look forward to sharing the story and directions.
I don't really make New Years resolutions or set predetermined goals on my birthday, instead I just make a wish. My birthday wish this year is simple - this year I would like to try and make a positive difference in this world, to bring joy to others, to help where I can and to teach my children to be strong, kind, respectful women.
So, if you would like to receive a hand crafted (and somewhat rustic - LOL!) soldered necklace pendant I would love for you to leave me a message below. Tell me about your dreams, your challenges, a joke... whatever makes your heart lighter. I will do the drawing on Friday and share this little piece of me with someone in hopes of bringing something happy to their mailbox.
Thank you for sharing your love with me today, and every day! I'm off to eat some good food prepared by my DH!!! Can you believe that one?!? He's a keeper :D
-Ellen
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Posted by: Geri Greening | April 10, 2010 at 08:18 AM
Geri please email us at customerservice@ellenhutson.com if you haven't heard from us as you read this note!
A huge thank you to all your responses - being solution driven I will be working on one shortly for all those who would like to have a better understanding of the Memory Box cardstock colors. Your response to the Hero Hues color sampler brings about the realization that a Memory Box one would be helpful as well. We now need to find the time to just get it done (and there are more colors to do - LOL!)