In Touch

The We R Memory Keepers Fuse & Hot Li'l Pockets

(click on the pics to enbiggan)

When Ellen and I saw the FUSE by We R Memory Keepers, at CHA this year, we got kinda giddy--oh, the potential! Oh, the EASE!!! 

It meant there could be a whole lotta' shakin' goin' on! *fist pump*

Before I get ahead of myself, let me start at the beginning...

The FUSE is a spiffy heat tool, designed to make quick/easy work out of making your own custom pockets on your scrapbook page protectors.  That's right--no sewing whatsoever involved! It comes with the tool handle, two tips, a metal ruler/guide and a stand.

The tips are interchangeable; one is pointed and can be used to "cut" and fuse at the same time.  The other tip features a wheel with small spikes; this is used to weld or fuse layers the plastic layers together to create pockets or seal your pockets shut (these lines will be dashed, similar to the seams already there on the pre-fab protector) 

As I mention in the video, you can also purchase a glass mat separately, which features helpful grid lines in quarter inch measurements, and I highly recommend it for protecting your work surface.  You never want the tips of the FUSE touching your cutting mat due to the high heat it generates.

Additionally, when you watch the video that accompanies this article, you'll see that I custom cut and glued pieces of fun foam to the bottom of the included stand, to help prevent it from sliding around on the glass surface.  I'll say right up front from a safety stand-point* that the stand is flimsy and the fun foam helped only slightly, if at all; I'm looking for a sturdier/reliable alternative.

*Because the tips get very hot and both they and the extended barrel end are exposed, I also want to emphasize that this tool is NOT recommended for children under the age of 14.

Initially, we were super excited at the prospect of how easy it would be to create shaker cards with this tool, but more recently, we were introduced to a super fun concept called Pocket Letters™, created by Janette Lane!

In a nutshell, Pocket Letters™ are a way for pen pals to exchange/swap fun organizer and other scrapbook/paper craft goodies with each other, reminiscent of the card and ATC swaps many of us have engaged in at one time or another.  The difference is that baseball card protector sleeves are decorated with inserts and can have items tucked inside the pockets.  The page protector is then folded into thirds and fits inside a #10 envelope.

As card-makers, ever on the look-out for fun ways to send out happy mail to friends and family, we realized that the Avery Elle and Essentials by Ellen storage sleeves could be customized, using the FUSE, and when folded in half, slipped into an A-2 envelope!

Sidebar: OK, I'm not gonna lie; in a fit of giggles and chortles (I may have even snorted, too...) we started calling them "Hot Pockets®"...  But, that's trademarked, of course... So, we've dubbed 'em "Hot Li'l Pockets"! 

I cut a piece of card stock that would fit inside the storage sleeve and used a ruler to draw vertical and horizontal lines on it, for determining where to cut and fuse the sleeve to create 4 equally sized small pockets. You can make as many pockets as you like, of course, but if you want to be able to fold the sleeve and fit it into an A-2 envelope, you do have to keep that in mind as you plan out your pockets.

TIPS:

• Always begin with an unplugged and cool tool when attaching the tips.
• Take care to screw them in "finger-tight"; if you use pliers to tighten the tips, they will more than likely get stuck and then you'll have great difficulty removing them.  Not only that, pliers with "teeth" can chew up/damage the tips... Ask me how I know... 
• To cut slits, use the pointed tip and insert a piece of card stock into the sleeve to protect the back side and prevent cutting/melting all the way through both layers. If you draw guidelines on the card stock, you won't need to draw them on the sleeve with a permanent marker and then remove them later with an alcohol swab.
• To weld or fuse, use the spike-tipped wheel (make sure nothing/no paper, etc. is stuck between the layers along the path you intend to fuse).
• After attaching tips, plug in and allow the tool to pre-heat for roughly 10 minutes for best performance.
• Apply even pressure and guide the tool at a steady, slow pace; thicker plastics like the Essentials by Ellen storage sleeves may require a little more pressure and a little slower pace to fuse properly.
• If the wheel stops spinning as you move down the metal ruler's track, try using just the outside edge of the ruler to guide the tool.
• Incidentally, should you end up with any gaps in the fused line, you can go over them with the tool again.
• Essentials by Ellen storage sleeves have an ever so slightly smaller interior than the Avery Elle sleeves, due to thicker seam lines.  The Avery Elle sleeves may also fold in half easier, due to being made of a lighter mil plastic.

As you can see in this "mini" version of a Pocket Letter™ made for a graduating friend of my son's, who will be entering the Navy, I sealed the top left pocket shut, after filling it with a die cut word and some sequins/confetti, then embellished the other inserts and tucked a gift card inside one of the pockets.

After embellishing the flap, I folded it up and tied it shut with some twine. If you don't over-stuff the pockets, it fits nicely inside an A-2 envelope and is perfect for gift-giving! I tucked a teabag into a little glassine envelope and sealed the flap with some washi tape and slipped it into one of the pockets, and gift cards also fit inside these pockets perfectly! WOOT!!! If you wanted to send it in the mail, depending on bulk and weight, of course, you might want to slip it into a padded envelope and allow for additional postage costs.

I had so much fun, I had to assemble another... which I think would be fun to have on-hand for any occasion. *grin*

Enjoy the video here or in HD on our YouTube Channel and thank you for taking a moment to give it a thumbs up!

If you find yourself inspired to make some of these Hot Li'l Pockets, please share on Instagram using #hotlilpockets #ellenhutsonllc!  We love show & tell!

 

SUPPLIES

Designer note: Project Life cards are from designer's stash and are currently retired.

We R Memory Keepers Fuse Tool

We R Memory Keepers Fuse Glass Cutting Mat

Avery Elle Stamp Storage Pocket, 25 pk

Essentials by Ellen Storage Envelopes, 25pk

Ultra Pro 8-1/2 x 11 Pocket Pages 25 pk

Ultra Pro 8-1/2 x 11 Pocket Pages 10 pk

Ultra Pro 9-Pocket Pages 10 pk

Ultra Pro 9-Pocket Pages 25 pk

Avery Elle 6x6 Paper Pad, Neutral Collection

Essentials by Ellen Designer Dies, Wild Garden by Julie Ebersole

Essentials by Ellen Clear Stamps, Mondo Magnolia by Julie Ebersole

Essentials by Ellen Clear Stamps, Hello Gorgeous by Julie Ebersole

Hero Arts Ombre Ink Pad, Butter To Orange

Ranger Archival Ink Pad, Jet Black

Essentials by Ellen Designer Dies, Treat Yo Self by Julie Ebersole

Essentials by Ellen Designer Dies, Zipper Panel by Julie Ebersole

Mama Elephant Creative Cuts, Inline Letters

WPlus9 Design Studio Dies, Clear Cut Stackers, Stars

Memory Box Dies, Majestic Anchor

Paper Accents Glassine Envelopes, 2x2

We R Memory Keepers Shape 'N Tape, Black (ST0001)

Bazzill Specialty Paper, Metallic Gold Foil 5pk

Doodle Twine Spool, Beetle Black

Sizzix Big Shot White & Gray

Santa Suit Gift Card Holder

Gift cards make awesome gifts and aren't we always looking for different and fun ways to present them? With the holidays hot on our heels, a Santa Suit themed holder certainly seems apropos!

This super adorable mini Folder Die by Lifestyle Crafts is the perfect size to tuck a gift card into and if you're careful about your positioning of the die on a half sheet (5.5 x 8.5") of card stock, you can actually yield two die cuts per sheet. Just use a little bit of Washi Tape to keep the die from shifting out of position as it goes through the die cutting machine.

This set also comes with a "notebook paper" insert die, just like ring-binder paper does!  Just die cut it from a "ruled" patterned paper to simulate the look--TOO, TOO CUTE!!!

School teachers often spend out of their own pocket to provide supplies for their classroom--this would be a great way to help them defray those costs and allows them to choose items their classroom needs the most.

Enjoy the video here or in HD on our YouTube Channel!

I believe in Santa! I do, I do, I do!!! *grin*

••••••••••••••

SUPPLIES & MATERIALS:

 

B8 Cardstock, Holly Berry	American Crafts, Pow! Glitter Paper, 12x12 Silver Solid, 2pk	Cardstock, Black, 10 pack	Lifestyle Crafts Dies, Folder with Insert
Studio Calico, Take Note 6x6 Paper Pack	Be Creative (Sookwang) Tape, 3mm (1/8")	Sew Easy Baker's Twine, Black	3D-Dots, 1/16" Thick
Paper Trimmer, Tonic Guillotine 8 1/2"	Glue Dots Sheets, Craft	Tweezers, Stainless	Punch, 3/4" Square
Sizzix Big Shot Machine, Black & Pink

InLinkz.com

Contain It

When giving a gift it is always a ton of fun to put the gift in a cute container. The versatility of container dies is what makes them so fun to use! With Halloween right around the corner I wanted to share how easy it is to make projects specific to a particular holiday using container dies. The one die that I used that is holiday specific is the coffin. I can't imagine using it for any other holiday besides Halloween and Mardi Gras, but I just couldn't resist this adorable little container for today's post - LOL!

The Berry Container was easily turned into a Trick or Treat bucket and I just had to make it neon orange - Halloween and Neon fit together perfectly, so what better time to pull out those neon ink pads you have purchased and put them to good use!

Place a strip of 4 1/2" Be Creative Sookwang tape down the length of an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of Solar White cardstock. Remove the tape backing and burnish the warm highlights glitter in place (follow these instructions if you are unfamiliar with this technique.) To save your neon ink pad from becoming a glitter magnet, pounce it on a non-stick craft sheet and use an ink blending tool to pick up the ink and spread it on the burnished velvet glitter paper surface. Add neon ink to the opposite side of the cardstock as well if you would like the interior of your bucket to be neon orange. I thought about stamping a fun image on the interior, but felt that with all the different projects I would be creating it would end up too busy for the final look. I do think that it would be magnificent though to have a funky interior on this sweet basket!

Allow the ink to fully dry or lightly heat set the ink before proceeding if you do not want neon orange ink on everything you touch. You will need to create and die cut two pieces to create this basket. I find that it is always easier to apply the tape, glitter and ink before die cutting to achieve a more consistent look.

To adhere the glittered pieces together I found that Be Creative Sookwang tape worked best.

I would like to warn you that if you are as impatient as I was you will have orange fingers and tools after all this neon inking. If you like clean fingers make certain to allow the ink to fully dry or perhaps you might just want to use the new Tangerine Dry Stickles to achieve a similar look. The scale of the glitter is not quite as fine and velvety as the Microfine Glitter Ritz and the orange is not quite as "zippy", but it still works nicely when doing this burnished technique.

Add a black cardstock handle using two black brads to secure and a cute little grinning face to complete the look!

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Another idea I have wanted to share is how fun and easy it is to add detail to your little Inchie Squares using the low profile dies.

Position the die atop an Inchie and run it through your die cut machine using the same sandwich as you use for cutting with the low profile dies. The fit as it runs through is definitely a little tighter then when cutting cardstock, but I have not had any problems at all when using my Big Shot and/or Vagaond. Rather than cutting all the way through the material it will simply leave a fantastic impression!

To add greater depth layer three inchies. Be Creative Sookwang tape is applied between each layer to hold them together firmly. Then wrap the stack with another piece of Be Creative Sookwang tape. The beauty of this tape is that it comes in multiple widths. I use them all, but if you want flexibility and only one product in your drawers you can use the sheets and cut them to the size you need.

Remove the backing and apply warm highlights glitter burnishing it in to the tape with your fingertip. Pounce Neon Purple ink on a non-stick craft sheet and run the edges of the Inchie through the ink to add color. Be careful to set the Inchie aside to dry or your ghost just might end up looking like he has been eating grape jelly (hmmm - guess how I know that. Yes, patience is a virtue ;-D)

To add additional character stamp the Impression Obsession spider web on the coffin lid using Distress Embossing ink and emboss with White Embossing powder.

I couldn't resist adding this silly little skeleton to the interior of the coffin for a picture - LOL!

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The last container I am sharing with you today is one that Krystie used in this post. I adore how she used the milk carton to create a little Nautical themed gift bag. I LOVE tools that can be used for a wide variety of occasions and many of these little containers have that versatility!

To create a project that was a little different and yet coordinated with the previous items I opted to create cut outs in the container using the Swooping Bats. I must admit that I am having a blast with the wide variety of dies we now carry - yes, I've "died" and gone to heaven with some of these - bwah, ha, ha!

First cut out the container.

I typically snap my dies apart and use a wire cutter to remove the little "tangs" that hold the dies together. I then file down the nubbins with my Basic Grey Precision file. This allows me to position my dies randomly in the exact location I want the cut out. I ran my project through the Vagabond the first time with the dies positioned as shown above. I then removed these dies and repositioned only the small bat, and once again ran it through my die cut machine.

To create the line of trees mask the lower edge of the container using Eclipse tape. Stamp the tree line using Distress Embossing ink and emboss with white embossing powder. After heat setting the white embossing powder use an ink blending tool with some Neon Purple ink to randomly add some depth and color to the base of the trees. Heat set again to embed the ink in the white embossing powder.

Add a strip of the neon orange glitter paper at the bottom and a square behind the cut out moon. Add a square of Amethyst Shimmer Sheetz to the interior of the milk carton behind the bats to make them pop!

Can you imagine the berry basket turned into fall themed baskets filled with Thanksgiving treats? or a series of little Advent calendar or Hannukah themed cartons lined up on the fireplace mantel? Select little containers that can serve a multitude of purposes and they may become some of your favorite paper crafting tools!

Lifestyle Crafts Dies, Berry ContainerManufacturer: Lifestyle Crafts	Lifestyle Crafts Dies, Coffin	Lifestyle Crafts Dies, Milk Carton	Memory Box Dies, Perky Pumpkin Face
Memory Box Dies, Ghost Trio	Memory Box Dies, Swooping Bats	mpression Obsession Cover-a-Card Cling Stamp, Spider Web	Impression Obsession Cover-a-Card Cling Stamp, Tree Line
Cardstock, Black, 10 pack	Inchie Squares, White	Distress Embossing Pad	Judikins Embossing Powders, Opaque White
Eclipse Tape Printable Sheets, 7pk	Be Creative (Sookwang) Tape, 115mm (4 1/2")	Hero Arts Neon Ink Pad, Neon Orange	Hero Arts Neon Ink Pad, Neon Purple
Glitter Ritz Transparent Microfine, Warm Highlights

InLinkz.com

Pop Art

Pop Art is a modern art movement, started in the 1950s, which uses imagery, styles and themes of advertising, mass media, and popular culture. Andy Warhol is probably the best known Pop artist. Vivid, opaque colors are characteristic of this art style making it easy to recognize. Today's project is a play off of that style.

The brain is a marvelous thing - I don't know how it does what it does, but I am always so excited when I see something and an idea just pops into my head without any thought put into it whatsoever. That is what happened with today's project!

I don't have a lot of free time to spend on Pinterest (which you can tell by the few pins I have - LOL!) but I was at a loss as to what I should cover in today's newsletter so I headed over to Pinterest to see if it would trigger a project for me. I was not signed in to my account and so loads of general pins were in my view.

ZGallerie Inspiration

It was this image that popped up on my screen and so I clicked on it to discover this fabulous series of Pop Art inspired pieces on the ZGallerie site. Instantly I knew that I had the resources at my fingertips to create some fabulous, trendy wall art!

Neon is hot right now and I figured why not experiment with it - adding little pops of color in your home in things that are inexpensive and easily changed out is the perfect way to embrace new trends for a season. Put these items in an office, child's room or bathroom - places where you can easily change out the look without a lot of expense.

A huge thanks to Krystie for sharing this fabulous linen textured cardstock with me. The moment I saw it I knew that I had to try rubbing my ink pad to its' surface to expose the beautiful texture. 

TIP: Keep moving your ink pad in a smooth circular motion to avoid getting "edges" and/or heavy spots on your paper surface when applying your ink.

Cut out simple, basic shapes that relate, from black mat board. To do this you need to select thick, traditional steel rule dies, such as Sizzix Bigz. Tim's vintage style Alterations dies work perfectly for a project like this! 

If you end up with recesses that don't cut all the way through, you can simply cut out the shape again and apply the inset pieces using 2-way Glue.

Selecting a frame with a mat will add a sense of refinement to your project. I picked up some simple frames on sale from Aaron Brothers for this project. IKEA is another place that always seems to have fun, simple, inexpensive frames.

Use a centering ruler to help make certain that you place your die cut in the correct position.

I used my ATG gun to affix the die cuts to my linen textured background.

It is really hard to photograph an art piece with glass inset, so I opted to leave the glass out for these pictures. Trying to capture the beauty of the neon was also a little challenging - LOL! Taking the photos outside certainly did help to make it easier to photograph the
rich colors.

I felt that the theme of these would make them perfect to place in an office setting.

These would also make fabulous items to sell at a craft fair or Farmer's Market!

Just think of all the fabulous options you have in your craft supply drawers for creating simple Pop Art pieces!
 

ink: Hero Arts Neon Ink Pads - Pink, Yellow, Orange

paper: Essentials by Ellen: White Linen Cardstock

dies: Tim Holtz Alterations Bigz Dies - Vintage Globe, Vintage Camera, Vintage Typewriter

accessories: Black Mat Board

Bottlecap Pendants, by Julie Ebersole

Waiting at the airport to board our flight for CHA this year, Ellen and I wandered into one of our favorite airport stores and some fun jewelry caught our eye—we were smitten with these pendants that had magnetic backings and could be switched out on a whim with another design.  “Too bad they don’t make blanks so we crafty chicks could make our own.”, we sighed, wistfully.

Then we got to CHA. And we found Bottle Cap, Inc.  And . . . as I like to say, we got the vapors! Because they make ALL the parts we needed to make our own magnetic, interchangeable pendants!  Pendants and bracelets are always fun to make and give—or keep for yourself!

I love how convenient and easy these products are to work with—I’m an instant gratification girl and when I need to make a gift, I want it to be speedy and quick.

To make the pendant in this article, I started with the super strong magnetic discs, a beaded pendant and the acrylic cabochons.

SAFETY NOTE: I do want to mention that the neodymium (N35 grade) magnets for this project are incredibly strong and not intended for children under age 14; they can easily cause injury if not handled properly. 

Begin by punching an image from paper, using a 1” punch (the magnets, cabochons and pendant base are all 1”).  You could certainly stamp an image, if you wanted, but I had some pretty paper laying around and wanted to use the pretty rose image shown here.

Next, you’ll need to mount the punched image to one of the magnetic discs.  The trick here is getting the magnets apart—as I mentioned, they are incredibly strong.  I actually tried a variety of methods, and could not pry them apart, but eventually  discovered that if I used a wooden craft stick to brace the bottom of the stack of magnets with my thumbs, I could laterally slide the top magnet off.  Make sure to keep your fingers firmly over the top magnet as you’re sliding it apart, because when they do suddenly release, it could go flying off over your shoulder.

I actually filmed myself creating this pendant, so if the above is unclear, the video should show you how I did it; you may have another method that works just as well or possibly even better. Feel free to watch the video here  below or to see it in high-definition view it here on our You-Tube channel.

Once you have the magnets separated, be sure to return the ones you are not working with back in the packaging; it’s actually the perfect storage for them.

Adhering the punched circle to the magnet is as easy as sending it down the chute of a Xyron “X” machine; it covers the back completely with adhesive that bonds nicely to the magnet.

A clear-drying adhesive, such as Glossy Accents, is perfect for gluing the cabochon over the top of the artwork to seal it.  Apply a nice puddle atop the paper, and then place the cabochon over the top.  Rather than squeezing it down, try moving the cabochon around in a circular fashion to distribute the glue evenly across the entire surface of the artwork; this will help avoid any air bubbles from getting sandwiched between the paper and the cabochon.  It may ooze a bit out the sides, but you can wipe the excess away with a damp cloth.  Allow it to dry thoroughly, and then you’re ready to drop it into the pendant base, which has a magnetic coating inside the well.

The cabochons are acrylic and do a wonderful job of magnifying and clearly showcasing the artwork beneath! You are now ready add a chain, ribbon, cord or necklace of your choice through the bail.

TIP:  If you find you ended up with air bubbles that dried in the Glossy Accents between the paper artwork and the cabochon, for whatever reason , you can actually re-do it!

Simply separate the cabochon very carefully from the magnet; drop the cabochon in some warm tap water and let it soak. While it’s soaking the paper and dissolving the Glossy Accents, you can usually remove any paper or Xyron adhesive residue from the magnetic disc itself with a baby wipe and a little elbow grease.   

After allowing the cabochon to soak for a time, use the pads of your thumbs to rub away the paper—it should roll off fairly easily.  Continue dunking the cabochon in the water and rubbing the paper and any remaining dried Glossy Accents off the cabochon.  Dry it with a lint-free cloth and you’re ready to try again.

 

I am allergic to nickel, so I like to use a sterling snake chain necklace given to me by my husband years ago and I just swap the pendants out—but with this project, I can leave the pendant in place, and simply swap out the cabochon!

 

If you prefer a permanent option, you can certainly omit the magnets and glue the punched out artwork directly into the well of the pendant, and if you prefer a lower profile than the cabochon, you can seal the artwork by substituting the 1” Epoxy Dots, which are already self-adhesive. 

Both the Cabochons and Epoxy (Circle) Dots come in 1” and ½” circle sizes, as do the N35 grade magnets—the round bracelet blanks are the perfect size for the ½” sized.  Epoxy Dots also come in 20mm squares/tiles, which match the square bracelet blanks, as well as the alphabet tiles. 

For a great children’s project, try making Bottle Cap Pendants with the 1” Caps and Epoxy Dots, or charm bracelets with the Mini ½” caps and matching Epoxy Dots—darling!  The 1/16” Hole Punch makes it easy to create holds in the caps for inserting jump rings.  The Bottle Caps come in silver, as well as a variety of colors.  We also carry pre-flattened versions! To view the entire collection of Bottle Cap Jewelry Parts and Tools we carry, click HERE. 

For me personally, it’s very exciting to have so many options for making beautiful jewelry pieces quickly and easily—I think a bracelet is next on my list!

• Beaded Antique Silver Pendant
• Acrylic Cabochons, 1” size (6 ct. package)
• 1” Circle Punch
• Ranger Glossy Accents
• 1” N35 grade Magnets
• Epoxy Dots, 1” Circles (50 ct. package)
• Epoxy Dots, 1” Circles (12 ct. package)

Vintaj Patinas: Use to Create a Custom Bookmark and Necklace

Today I would like to share some information about the new Vintaj Patinas by Ranger. Julie and I were so lucky to be able to attend the class at CHA this past January and I have eagerly been awaiting the arrival of these gorgeous colored products. The thing I am most intrigued by, is the ability to color over any metal with these specialty inks and to have that coloring remain permanent without any additional products to cover them!

To begin I wanted to share some basic information about the Vintaj/Ranger Patinas and Glaze products.

• First these inks are opaque, which allows you to paint them atop any metal covering the color beneath. Leave them as is, or use a sanding block to reveal some of the color and texture beneath.
• There are 15 beautiful, blendable colors and a little of the color goes a long way!
• They dry VERY quickly to a lustrous satin finish, so when working with them less is more - work in small areas at a time. Use about a pea size droplet to avoid the patina drying on your non-stick craft sheet. AND yes, work on a non-stick craft sheet to keep clean-up simple!
• The Patinas are acid free and UV safe.
• They differ from alcohol inks in that they do not need a coating atop them to make them permanent.
• Clean your brushes immediately using water to avoid damaging your brush.
• Do NOT mix the Patinas with water to thin, rather use the Vintaj Glaze. By mixing your Patina colorants with Glaze you will extend the Patinas creating a more glaze-like, semi-transparent effect atop paints and inks.
• The Vintaj Glaze acts as a clear top coat that dries to a satiny finish.
• The Glaze is non-yellowing and non-cracking.
• It is fast drying and permanent once dry.
• It is also acid free.

To begin I wanted to share a project that is so simple you can complete it in less than 15 minutes! Who doesn't love a personalized gift you can create in such a small amount of time!! 

I had great intentions of getting an order together for myself when the product first arrived, but guess what... that didn't happen and by the time I went to check out my cart the colors I love and always use were gone!!! Oh dear, what to do? I'm not really a "purple" girl --- I should be being my birthstone is an Amythest, but... Well, as luck would have it those were my available colors and so I decided to just give them a go.

Using the Basic Grey Plumeria collection as my color inspiration I just went with the purple, put all my cards on the table so-to-speak, and let it ride. Oh my, but I was so mistaken - what an absolutely LOVELY combination! I hope these projects inspire you.

It is tough to create both a video and photo instructional post. Please excuse the quality of the pictures as I needed to take them out of the video as I was working this project completely on my own. For a complete step-by-step visual in high-speed (and yes, my hands will be moving at the speed of light - LOL) please watch the video here on our You-Tube channel or below.

 

Begin by vigorously shaking your Patina bottles until you feel satisfied that the pigment and liquid is thoroughly mixed. Each bottle has a B.B. in it to aid in mixing.

Place a pea-size amount directly on your non-stick craft sheet. I love using Claudine's Studio Brush shown above to apply the patina.

It is easiest to dab the Patina to the surface of your metal blank as it will get the color down into the dimension of these fabulous charms. While the Patinas are still wet you can easily mix the colors.

While the Patina is still wet you can also alter it's appearance by blotting with a paper towel or wiping away the excess. In this case I wiped away the excess Patina on the top surface of the metal blank leaving the colorant that is recessed in its' depths.

Apply colors - mix, dab, wipe, and blend. To reduce the intensity of the brighter colors I opted to apply the more neutral toned Agate over the brighter tone colors to mute them down and then wiped away the excess once again.

Once you have achieved the coloration you desire, use the Black Side (this is the coarsest grain of sandpaper on the block) of the Vintaj Sanding Tool to remove the excess Patina from the surface.

I was thrilled that I could also use the Patina to colorize the Filigree beads!

TIP: Create a holder for your bead using a fine-gauge wire. You can then use this same "threader" to insert and draw your ribbon through the bead.

Use Distress Stain to color your Essentials Ribbon or seam binding to coordinate. To create a mottled appearance do not apply the stain evenly.

Once again use your threader, created from fine-gauge wire, to draw your ribbon through those hard to reach holes.

Knot the ribbon on either side of the bead to hold it in place.

Attach your gorgeous colored metal charm to the opposite end. So quick and simple!!

This next project is definitely more in-depth, but I can assure you that it took far less time to create this beautiful necklace than it took to edit the video! The theme of course is birds, because just like in Portlandia, I like to put a bird on it - ha, ha!

I am by no means a jewelry designer, but this craft intrigues me and I so love creating projects using these beautiful products! You could easily incorporate any of these elements on to a card-front or tag as well, so I hope that those who are card makers will still enjoy this post and be able to use some of the information that follows in your projects.

Vintaj has also partnered with Sizzix to create these fab embossing and etching folders! It is fantastic having a couple of different methods of altering the metal blank surfaces as it affords two completely different looks! To begin I used a DecoEmboss Folder.

Simply position your metal blank over the design in the folder that appeals to you. Your Big Shot or Vagabond sandwich is simple - just use the platform and two clear acrylic cutting pads. Place your DecoEmboss folder between the cutting pads and send through your machine.

If you want to use the metal blank in the middle of a chain length, use the small size on the Tim Holtz drill press to create another hole directly opposite the original hole.

TIP: Mark the location where you would like to drill using a Copic Marker. Align the drill press and turn the crank. Release the metal piece by turning the crank back the opposite direction.

The second type of die Sizzix/Vintaj has created is the DecoEtch die. This die creates more of a line drawing or etched look. It is easy to see the difference in the completed project below.

Once again simply place your metal blank atop the area of the design that appeals to you. Sandwich between the two clear cutting pads and send through your Big Shot, Vagabond or Cuttlebug. (For those with a Cuttlebug use your B plate with this die.)

Dab the Patina directly atop your DecoEmbossed piece. While the colors are still wet you can easily mix the colors to create your own custom palette.

For the etched piece I used only one color of Patina.

While the Patina was still wet on the etched piece I used a paper towel to wipe away the excess that was on the surface of the die. The Patina that is embedded in the etched design will make it really stand out and is a gorgeous effect.

To pronounce this effect even further use the Black side of your Vintaj Sanding Tool to draw out the detail and expose your shiny metal surface.

My DecoEmbossed design was set aside to dry, but I used a Heat It tool to ensure that it was completely dry to make the Patina permanent before sanding.

Always remember to sand both sides of your project! You never know when your necklace might get turned around ;-D

Once again use the Black side of the sanding tool to remove the Patina from the raised, embossed surfaces.

Over time this surface may darken again as the metal is exposed to the air. You can apply the Vintaj Glaze to create a barrier from the air, but I love the look of the exposed metal in it's original state and so would rather take a sanding block to it from time to time to refresh the beautiful satin-like quality of the metal.

In this photo is is simple to see the extreme difference between the etched and embossed details. The etched blank is on the left and the embossed on the right. Combining the two on a single piece of jewelry or project creates a coordinated, yet diverse look.

Create your own little "fancy" embellishments from the fabulous wire we carry. I love to use some of the specialty Jewelry Making Tools we carry to create these little pieces. Specialty pliers make forming these rounded pieces so much easier, but you could also use a paintbrush handle, pencil or marker as your base to help you form your shapes.

The lower the number or gauge of the wire, the thicker the wire. I like to use the 18-gauge wire for the focal components of the embellishments with a lighter weight, 26-gauge wire used to wrap the details.

Place a steel block atop a rubber block before doing any of the pounding on your work surface to avoide damaging your table-top. As well the rubber block helps absorb some of the noise (definitely not all - LOL!) The flat-top hammer we carry is designed specifically for flattening wire. I LOVE the look of flattened wire! You can see how I used it here on one of my Feminine Tags as well.

Do not flatten the entire piece, but only portions. In this piece I flattened the top of the "horseshoe" as well as the little curliques, leaving an area round. This creates a lot of interest in a piece.

If you do not have a jump ring that is the correct size for your project make your own. Wrap the wire tightly around a pencil or brush handle that is the size you need. Be certain to push the wire tightly against itself with no space between the "rings." Snip using a wire cutter making certain that you only snip through two strands at a time. This will assure that your jump ring closes correctly - you always want your jump ring to be a complete circle before beginning.

The last component I created was the charming little bird's nest. I had no idea how to create this little gem and so I googled "wire-wrapped bird's nest" and up came a plethora of information. I read through multiple tutorials and then just went for it. This is my first bird's nest! So if I can do it, so can you!

To begin I used three little beige colored wood beads I had in my stash. They are itty-bitty! I didn't like the color and so decided to see how the patina worked on these little wooden beads. I dabbed Marine Patina on them and allowed them to dry before beginning.

Using a length of 26-gauge wire that was between 3-4 feet in length I began by stringing the three little beads onto the wire. Leave about a 3 inch length on one end and then wrap the remaining wire around a pencil to curl it as shown.

Stretch the wire long again leaving some kinks in place.

Continue by wrapping wire around the "eggs" ten times. Secure these strands in place by threading the end of the long wire up between the eggs, wrapping around all ten wires 2-3 times before moving forward and wrapping around the next egg. Once these wires are secured as shown above, move on.

 

Add additional layers of wire to the bottom side of the nest. I wrapped about 5 times and then would thread the wire back and forth through these layers, securing them to the top layer of the nest. I love this messy looking little bird's nest and hope to make more!

 

As you can see as I worked with the wooden beads the Patina did not adhere fully, so once my nest was completed I went back in with a tiny paint brush and dabbed on a little more Marine Blue to make the eggs look more like Robin's eggs.

Using two lengths of chain, a few more beads, an amethyst colored stone and this lariet-style necklace was complete. I feel giddy with excitement that it turned out so beautiful and look forward to presenting it to a wonderful lady in my life some day soon!

Vintaj Jewelry Pieces: Vintaj Arte Metal Etruscan Antiquity Charm, Altered Blank Circle - Large and Small, Oval Filigree Bead, Round Filigree Bead, Vintaj Bronze Wire - 18 gauge, 20 gauge, 26 gauge, Vintaj Ornate Chain (2 were needed to create this lariet-style necklace.), Vintaj 4.75mm Jump Rings, Vintaj 1.5" Eye Pin

Vintaj/Ranger Patinas: Victorian Gable and Retro Highway Patina Kits

Vintaj/Sizzix Dies: Woodland Birds and Botancial Flourish

Jewelry Making Tools: Drill Press, Concave Round Nose Pliers, Bail Making Pliers, Rubber Block, Steel Bench Block, Chasing Hammer, Vintaj Metal Reliefing Block

Hand Painted Canvas Pillow Cover

One of the aspects I miss the most from my past career is paging through the fabric walls at the Seattle Design Center, looking for just the right textile to complete a project. I think this is part of the reason I love having a variety of products in our store that can be used for paper crafting, BUT also crossover and can be used to create home decor projects. I hope this simple little project opens some new doors to you as I share this design with you!

Marimekko fabrics are bold, beautiful and simply gorgeous. Today's project was inspired by this beautiful fabric line. 

I don't know if you realize how easy it is to create a custom, hand painted project using the Studio Line products together with the foam stamps we carry. This pillow cover took less than two hours to create and would have probably taken far less time if I wasn't trying to capture video and pictures. :-D To watch this video directly on YouTube visit this link.

Apply paint directly to ink blending tool.

Use craft stick to work paint into foam.

Apply paint to foam stamp.

Add second color for highlights.

By working quickly you can easily layer two colors, one atop the other to create a beautiful mix of colors.

To create custom paint colors use Claudine's chart as a guide and mix your colors on your non-stick craft sheet.

Apply the light green paint to the stem...

add your darker highlights to a corner of the same ink blending foam...

and add your highlights to one side of the stem and at the base.

TIP: If you happen to overlap color where you do not want it, simply use a damp cloth to wipe away wrong color mix and reapply.

Stamp directly on canvas. Apply pressure firmly and evenly over entire foam stamp area.

Do not worry if the color is uneven when using this technique. You are using this stamped image as a base. Simply paint directly over the stamped image with a small paint brush applying your color.

While the paint is still wet you can easily combine colors directly on your canvas. Mixing some colors and leaving other areas distinct.

To create a more whispy look with your color, simply allow the first layer of paint to dry and then paint your light highlights directly over the dried areas.

Stamp and paint remaining flowers.

TIP: Use odd numbers for a more pleasing effect and vary the heights of the stems or objects for a more pleasing look. Be certain to visualize your canvas in thirds or fifths filling up the bottom 2/3's or 3//5's for a more appealing result.

This particular canvas pillow cover will be perfect for spring! So many stamps, so many options... I hope you give it a try!

stamps: Prima Flower II Foam Stamp

paint: Studio Line Paint Kits - Contemporary, Metropolitan and Urban

accessories: Canvas Pillow Square Cover, Ink Blending Tool, Studio Brushes, Craft Sticks

Christmas Album by Sharon Harnist

This year I decided I wanted to get more of my family holiday photos out of the computer and into an album -- anyone else out there raising their hand, too?!! While looking through Ellen's store, I discovered this beautiful Melissa Frances 6-inch holiday mini album that I thought would be perfect . . . and it IS!

It includes 2 printed chipboard covers (6.5” high x 6.25” wide), 12 GORGEOUS double-sided printed 6”x6” pages, 1 vellum page, 2 vellum envelope pages, 1 envelope with a string closure, and 2 metal jump rings . . . everything you need, and a steal at just $9!

While this album is beautiful all on its own, I hope to give you a few scrapbooking tips, tricks, and additions to help personalize it and use in any of your scrappy projects!

For the cover I made a custom coordinating embellishment, using images from one of the album's printed papers and Tim Holtz Fragments Charms:

These embellishments are quick and easy to make -- just use Glossy Accents to glue the plastic charm to the paper. Let dry, then cut out.  You can either leave the charm as is, or I used this fabulous 3/8" Silver Coppered Foil Tape around the edges, to achieve a faux soldered look (since the charms are plastic, you wouldn't want to try and heat solder these as they would probably melt!):

On the larger rectangle charm, I just covered the sides of the charm (not overlapping the foil tape onto the front of the charm). On the smaller round charm, I centered the edge of the charm on the foil tape (as you would with soldering) and folded the foil tape onto the front and back of the charm.  Use a bone folder to help burnish the tape onto the charm and smooth out any bumpy spots. (A close-up of the smaller round charm is shown further down below).

For the title page, I used Paper Smooches by Kim Hughes Alphadot stamp set on a grid acrylic block (the grid helps tremendously in making sure your letters and words stamp out straight!), stamped with Tim Holtz's Limited Edition Winter 2011 Seasonal Distress Ink Pads (Evergreen Bough and Festive Berries):

A few of the pages had beautiful but minimal printed patterns on them, so I decided to add some texture to them, with dry embossing.  I used Tim Holtz Texture Fades Embossing Folders (Damask & Regal Flourish, Post Card & Sheet Music, Snow Flurries & Snowman) on these pages:

It's a fun way to make custom embossed designer paper!

I made photo mats out of these gorgeous Lifestyle Crafts Tags dies -- they are the perfect size for approximately a 2.50" x 3" photo! (I'm sorry to say these are out of stock at the moment -- it seems they flew off the shelves!  But I couldn't wait to show you my idea with them and Ellen assures me more are on order, so please check back for their availability).  The photos are mounted with 3D foam tape to the embossed background paper.

I added file tab dividers for the years, using Tim Holtz's On The Edge File Tabs dies, cut from Memory Box Dill & Cranberry cardstock:

On this page, I added hand stitched accents with red baker's twine (use Tim Holtz Design Ruler to pierce holes first) and tied on the small round charm faux soldered charm.

Copic Sepia Multiliners (or Gray or Black) are perfect for journaling -- they are waterproof and archival ink.

I wanted to try something with Tim Holtz's On The Edge Distressed Doily die and discoverd I could make a custom OVAL doily that I'll use for a photo mat!  It's pretty easy to die cut one side, then turn the die or cardstock around and match it up with the previous cuts and die cut the other side!

It was die cut from Neenah Cream cardstock and sponged with Antique Linen Distress Ink.

Here's the next year photo page:

I used one of the leftover cut-outs from the green photo mat as an accent on the Santa photo page.  For tiny/thin die cuts, I like to use Zig's 2-Way Squeeze & Roll Glue -- it's easy to get into tiny nooks and adhere those small slivers of paper/cardstock:

Here's one page for the newest addition to our family this year -- our shelf elf, Bell-a!

Included with this album are two vellum envelope pages -- I'll use them to store letters to Santa and other treasures from my girls!  

For instructions on how to make the Santa tag, please see this CLASSroom post (I had an additional "oopsie" tag that didn't turn out exactly how I wanted for our 12 Tags with a Feminine Twist series the first of this month, but salvaged it for this album!). For this version, after stamping the Santa image and spritzing the tag with my custom mix of Antique Linen Distress Ink Reinker (about half a dropper full) and Gold Perfect Pearls (plus water in a Mini Mister), I added "Letters to Santa" to the top of the tag, using the Paper Smooches Alphadot stamp set again and Memento Rich Cocoa ink -- I love the child-like handwritten look to these stamps!  

May Arts 1-1/4" Red Silk Ribbon was tied through the top of the tag. That completes this album . . . there are several more blank pages to add more photos from previous and future years!  I hope you enjoyed these scrapbooking tips and will find some of them helpful to you!  ~ Sharon

Melissa Frances Holiday Mini Album, 
Dies: Sizzix Tim Holtz On The Edge Distressed Doily and File Tabs; Lifestyle Crafts Tags; 
Sizzix Tim Holtz Texture Fades Embossing Folders: Damask & Regal Flourish, Post Card & Sheet Music, Snow Flurries & Snowman, 
Stamps: Paper Smooches by Kim Hughes-Alphadot;Tim Holtz Santa's Wish; 
Paper: Memory Box Dill & Cranberry cardstock; Ranger Inkssentials #8 Manila Tag; Neenah Classic Crest Cream cardstock; 
Ink: Memento Markers; Tim Holtz Limited Edition Winter 2011 Seasonal Distress Ink Pads; Antique Linen Distress Ink; Memento Rich Cocoa ink pad; 
Copic: Sepia Multiliner, 
Accessories: Tim Holtz Fragments-Charms; Ranger Glossy Accents; 3/8" Silver Coppered Foil Tape; May Arts 1-1/4" Red Silk Ribbon; So Easy Fancy Red Baker's Twine; Ranger Perfect Pearls-Perfect Gold, Mini Mister Set, Ink Blending Tool; 1/2" Silver Jingle Bells, Zig 2-Way Squeeze & Roll Glue; EK Success 3D Dots; Clear Rectangle Acrylic Block 3"x4" with Grid; Tim Holtz Design Ruler; Prima Jaqueline Lace Ribbon; 

 

7 Gypsies Shadowbox Message Center

I am excited to share this little "Message Center" with you today! When the 7 Gypsies small Shadowbox was presented this past summer CHA it was love at first sight. I loved the examples that were created showcasing them with baby, wedding and family pictures.

It is as products arrive in the warehouse that the pieces of a little "puzzle" begin to formulate in my mind. First came the shadow boxes, then the burlap panels from Tim Holtz, next the Chalkstock paper and when brainstorming here at work with Julia E. she tossed out the idea of a "key holder" and this message center began to build in my mind. This is a fabulous little gift that is super easy to create and would make a lovely holiday gift for the season ahead!

It started with the stunning rub-on butterflies from 7 Gypsies. I'm a sucker for butterflies in the first place and the colors of these are so realistic and breathtaking I knew that these would be a must in this project.

An important element to note in regards to the Burlap Panels is that they are backed with a hard surface. Altering these is SO easy. I haven't tried drilling through the surface, but my guess is that it is a thin piece of composite wood, so this might be a possibility. Definitely something I need to test!

Another new to us product is this fabulous chalkboard paper. I stamped several Memory Box Distress Tags in Snow Cap pigment ink on the chalkboard paper surface and allowed them to fully dry.

Simply cut a "template" from copy paper using the die and align this template over the stamped distress tag using a pencil to locate and mark the center of each locater hole.

Position the die so that these pencil marks align perfectly in the locator holes and use tissue tape to hold the die in place. Cut.

Adding the rub-ons to your project is super easy. I find that cutting out the butterfly, separating it from the large sheet, makes application so much easier. I don't worry about partially rubbing on an adjacent butterfly this way. Position the rub-on and use your popsicle stick, or rub-on roller, to burnish the butterfly in to place. Remove the backing and you are left with a gorgeous embellished tag.

Soften the whiteness of the Snow Cap ink by applying some Tea Dye ink with the ink blending tool.

I have always been enamoured with butterfly species display cases and felt that encasing these beautiful rub-ons in glass would replicate the look. Burnish the butterfly to a 1 1/2" square piece of glass and sandwich it between a second piece of glass. Place a piece of Natural White cardstock behind this sandwich and position in a Memory Frame. Once the frame is closed, twist the jump ring at the top of the slide and it will easily snap off. Be certain to wear protective glasses just in case you end up with flying pieces.

To complete the look I wanted to mount my glass framed butterflies on burlap squares. I cut three little pieces of Craft-a-board to fit the openings on the Shadowbox and inked them with Vintage Photo Distress Ink so that the white color of the Craft-a-board would not show through the burlap.

Each burlap square is made up of two pieces of burlap sewn together. I cut one down in size, removing the threads that held the two pieces together. Wrap the Craft-a-board in the burlap and use Fabritac glue to adhere it in place.

It's these little touches that really make this project have texture and balance.

TIPS TO CREATING THE LAYOUT

When I get an idea I pull a LOT of stuff - LOL! I always lay things out on the base, positioning and aligning my components, before ever beginning to glue or alter them. I also find it helpful to snap a picture of the project in process. It is incredible to me how when looking at a photo of my projects, little balance issues come to the surface.

There is nothing wrong with the top project photo, but I felt it lacked balance when it came to the black - it was so strong in the upper left-hand corner. My solution was to snip a couple of little black pieces of paper to see if putting black behind the letters would create definition, balance and focus. I loved the way it looked, so then had the courage to alter my burlap panel.

Once again I used tissue tape to define the areas I would paint with black gesso. Tissue tape is fabulous because you can easily remove it without destroying your project.

Black Gesso is a product that is new to me and having a love for the texture gesso provides and the ease of coverage I decided to try it for the first time on this project.

LOVE IT! It easily covered the burlap panel in the areas I had defined. I simply squirted some on to the panel and using an old brush that had "tough" bristles spread the gesso in the defined area. The "tough" bristles leave texture marks in the gesso. I then removed the tissue tape, cleaned the brush of most of the gesso and dry brushed the edges to create a more "feathery" look.

Once the black gesso was dry I glued the Shadowbox to the Burlap Panel surface using Fabritac glue.

7 Gypsies has thought of THE most fabulous little components for these Shadowboxes! I adore all the little pieces that can be used to customize these fabulous trays. I used the Antique Silver Loops and Hooks Display Trim to hang this cute little calendar.

The calendar is the same calendar as I used in the Pocket Watch project. To create the smaller size all you need to do is change your print settings - shift the Orientation to Landscape, making certain to remove the automatic rotate and centering features - like magic you will easily change the size of this printable PDF to a smaller version of the same calendar.

One cannot have a message center without a place to put notes. I discovered that the 7 Gypsies Printers Tape and Collage Tape are very similar to tissue tape. So easy to apply and remove - PERFECT for putting notes on your noteboard. Now I just need some real tickets to put on this message board, but for now these adorable Gypsy tickets look oh, so cute!

To create the names for this message center I used Tim's Newsprint Alpha Parts and attached them to the back side of the Wooden Alphabet Tiles. I LOVE the added texture these provide and they were meant to be as they are THE perfect fit.

Now this is one cute little key display! The reality is that I doubt this would hold my big old key ring, BUT I love the idea of putting special keys on this display. I have to wonder if I applied these cute Display Trim Squarehooks with a strong adhesive if they would hold, but I didn't have time to test it out. As it is the hooks will definitely hold the keys to neighbors homes you pet sit, a key from the first home you owned or other sentimental keys.

Add a little Typewriter Charm to each key to define whose key it is or what makes it special. SO cute and fun!

Last was the "chalkboard." Yet again it was meant to be. The apothecary bottle easily holds a piece of chalk! I embellished the bottle with some Printers Tape and glued it to the corner so that it would not fall off. I then hung the chalkboard tags from another Display Trim Hook.

Thank you for sharing in my excitement of this simple little project! I hope that it inspires you to try your hand at these darling Shadowboxes, especially now that you can start small!

stamps: Memory Box Distressed Tag

ink: Snow Cap Adirondack Pigment Ink

paper: 7 Gypsies Conservatory 8x8 Paper Pad, Chalkstock 12 x 12, Neenah Natural White Classic Crest

accessories: 7 Gypsies Black Solo Shadowbox Tray, District Market Memoirs Burlap Panel, 7 Gypsies: Antique Silver Display Trim - Loops and Hooks, Squarehooks, and Keys, Butterfly Rubbings, Clear Apothecary Bottle, Train Tickets, Lille Book Dangles, Lille Paper Tape; Memory Box Distressed Tag Die, 1 1/2" Square Memory Glass and Black Patina Frames, 6"x6" Square Burlap Shape, Studio Black Gesso

Art Parts Pocket Watch Calendar

This month we are making another trip into the warehouse to explore "parts" unknown - Art Parts! Yet another FUN, FUN adventure I tell you! Art Parts make fabulous home decor and gift items!

I like to create art elements that can be purposeful and the idea to use the pocket watch as a calendar holder made me grin from ear to ear. So here we go with my explorations.

 

Wendy Vecchi's style is classic, earthy and oh so elegant. The books she has written step out each project in detail. Before beginning I did my best to study a couple of her books and projects to see the many different ways that this product can be utilized. All I can say is WOW - SO MUCH FUN!

I decided to try and create something in a shabby chic, and very feminine style, to showcase the versatility of the Art Parts.

When you open your Art Parts the very first thing you are going to want to do is take a paper towel or old, soft cloth and wipe down the edges of the Art Parts. Art Parts are a paper product that is lasercut and so a light dust is left behind. You will want to "clean" them up by quickly wiping the edges, so as to not dirty your project.

ART PARTS + DISTRESS STAIN

Picket Fence Distress Stain - white magic in a bottle - ha, ha! Due to the light, feminine look I wanted to create I decided to experiment with this new-to-me product. I could have painted or dabbered my Art Part, but wanted to play with the Picket Fence Distress Stain. One quick swipe of the hand and a quick dry with a Heat It tool and the Art Part was much lighter. 

Adding a second swipe made me a very happy girl. Distress Stain goes on oh so quickly and takes very little work. I also dabbed some on my non-stick craft sheet and used a paint brush to lighten the areas between the fingers.

At this point I could have easily added any color Distress Stain for a more pastel looking glove, but I wanted it to look lacy.

To complete the "lace-gloved" hand I inked the lacy textured background stamp with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and stamped directly on the dry surface. Then using the ink blending tool and Antique Linen I aged the edges of the glove.

ART PARTS + EMBOSSING POWDER

 

This is an idea that came charging into my brain after my project was completely finished and I just had to run back to my studio to try it. White satin gloves are synonymous with old elegance... the idea - pearl embossing powder = beautiful satin gloves!

I began with a Picket Fence stained Art Part and inked the surface with Distress Embossing ink. I then covered it with Pearl UTEE (we are hoping more is on it's way to our shop with today's shipping notification :-D)

Using the Heat It tool melt the first layer of UTEE. As you can see the image is still slightly pitted. When utilizing UTEE you can achieve different looks dependent upon how long you heat the powder. As you continue to heat the surface it becomes smoother. To achieve a nice thick layer you simply ink again with Distress Embossing ink apply more UTEE and heat again.

I wanted to keep experimenting to see if I could now turn my satin glove into an amazingly textured glove.

SO... I applied a third layer. It is now important to work quickly!  

 

Before heating and melting the UTEE for the third time ink your image with Distress Embossing ink. This helps to release the stamp once you press it into the hot UTEE. You could also utilize a colored ink if you want a higher contrast. Immediately upon shutting off your Heat It tool press the stamp image into the liquid surface and hold in place for several seconds until the UTEE cools slightly and sets.
 

Simply GORGEOUS! I was pleased to see that the Art Part held up nicely to all this heat. No curling, bending or discoloring = happy Ellen!

ART PARTS + PEARL DABBER + ALCOHOL INK

 

To create this metallic look I utilized a technique I learned at Ranger U. I can't live without my Pearl and Snow Cap paint dabbers since then - LOL! Dab the entire Pocket Watch surface with the Pearl paint dabber and allow to dry.

Apply some Blending Solution, one drop Gold Metallic Mixatif, 1 drop Y21 Various Ink Refill and 5 drops E34 Various Ink Refill to the felt piece on the Alcohol Ink applicator.

Dab this over the Pearlized surface for the most exquisite look! Yes, I am working on the back side of my finished project because I was so excited I forgot to take pictures to share with you along the way. I'm going to blame it on the fact that I had the most beautiful guest sitting with me gabbing during this process - LOL! (Luv ya Judy! ;-D)

This is where the fun continues! Not only can you alter the pearl finish with the alcohol ink, but you can alter the lovely metal pieces you may want to use on your project. The silver finish of the small ring binder and bead chain were screaming at me. I simply dabbed the ring binder surface with the alcohol ink and then removed the felt from the applicator and applied the alcohol to the beaded surface as well. Magic I tell you - aging these really helped soften the overall look. 

 

I know that I should be wrapping up this article, but I just couldn't "resist" sharing this last bit. Initially I intended to utilize some of Tim's Kraft resist paper, but I just couldn't help myself with this lovely image of Wendy's. I am SUCH a sucker for beautiful vintage fabric stamps - LOL!

Ink the image with Distress Embossing ink and then apply clear embossing powder. Heat set.

I am absolutely LOVING my Picket Fence Distress Stain! Swipe it across the surface of your paper. Allow to dry.

Then swipe a colored Distress Stain - I used Tumbled Glass here. You will end up with an absolutely lovely, chalky pastel piece of paper goodness!

 

Curiosity led me to heat the paper once again. Double click on the image above for it to pop open larger on your screen. It almost appears like little rain drops as the embossing powder pops back through the surface when you reheat the paper at this point.

Couldn't stop myself yet though. I spritzed water into the palm of my hand and then flicked it onto the paper surface and observed as beautiful white spots appeared through the shimmery blue puddles. Oh my!! -- so lovely and vintage!!

 

Being one who has a hard time "figuring out" how to get things to actually work I thought I would share with you how I rigged my project to put it together.

I set my ring binder atop the Pocket Watch and marked the spots where I would need to insert the brads. Then using a Crop-a-Dile I punched through the Art Parts surface just like it was butter. Attach the ring binder to the face using the brads provided.

I then used Matte Multi Medium to adhere my resist paper to the Pocket Watch Back and applied a generous amount of Matte Multi Medium to the Pocket Watch Face, especially around the inner edges. By pressing it together tightly and clipping it in place as shown, the excess Matte Multi Medium squeezed out and I placed the Bead Chain around the inner ring. This is an idea I saw in one of Wendy's projects and I absolutely adored it! Thank you Wendy!

Set aside and allow to dry.

 

One last tip for you using those clips I have always adored. To ensure that I have my holes punched in the same place on all calendar pages simply hold them together with a clip and use the Crop-a-Dile to punch through all the pages at once!

 

Lots of little details - a little "reminder" string tied around the finger (this is a calendar you know and a calendar is all about reminding us of special dates), Melissa Frances and Prima Resin pieces, a Tattered flower cut out of Romantique Paper, a Vintage Accoutrement button, Silhouette Push Pin, silk ribbon, Organza trim flowers and THE perfect sentiment for any calendar.

I already know it --- I didn't order nearly enough Art Parts!!! Yes, I have done the mad scramble to get more Art Parts into the store ASAP, so be certain to keep checking back if the item you want is currently showing out of stock --- more are on their way!

It's time ladies --- it is time to start creating those special gifts for the holiday season ahead and I know that a calendar is ALWAYS well received. Use the fabulous masculine pieces Wendy has created for the men in your life... it's a wonderful way to show them that you care. Most of all I once again urge you to jump outside your comfort zone and simply explore, create and have fun!!!
 

calendar - Ellen Hutson LLC 2012 Calendar - Digital Download (sized to fit Ring Binders)

stamps: Studio 490 Sentimental Art

ink: Distress Embossing Ink, Distress Ink Pads - Vintage Photo and Antique Linen, Distress Stains - Picket Fence and Tumbled Glass, Archival Jet Black, Copic Various Ink Refills - E34, Y21 and Blending Solution

paper: Prima Romantique 6x6 Paper Pad, Hero Arts Kraft Paper

accessories: Art Parts - Timely Pocket Watches and Mustaches, Men & More; Pearl Paint Dabber, Tim Holtz Small Ring Binder, Bead Chain, Accoutrements Button, Alcohol Ink Applicator, Gold Metallic Mixative, Tattered Floral Dies; Studio Line Matte Multi-Medium, Glue Dots - Pop Up and Micro; Melissa Frances Applique Scroll, Resin Window Frame, Webster's Pages Cameo Push Pins, Rose Silk Ribbon, Red Small Organza Roses