Play Time At My House

I'm going to host my first open house/ scrap and stamp play time next Saturday, September 13 between 12 and 5pm. I'll send out an email with details on how to get here. If you're going to be in the area and I haven't sent you an email, let me know. We'll play with stamps and paper, maybe do a card or two. The first ten people who come will be able to make a little purse shaped card from this set of diecuts. If anyone has any techniques they want to experiment with, let me know, and I'll make sure I have the materials ready. Otherwise, we'll play with watercolor stamping techniques. Check out Tim Holtz's blog for inspiration. I don't claim to be as good as he is, but we can play with his techniques.

And for anyone interested, I've signed up for Cathy Zielske's Design Your Life class, to pump up my design savvy. It starts October 3, and runs thru Christmas. I'm really looking forward to it. Anyone else want to take it?

Oh, and a word of warning for visitors next Saturday. I have 4 cats, a dog, two rambunctious boys and no offstreet parking. So, yes, kids are welcome. I'll have a table set up with kid stamps and stickers, and number one son will be on entertainment duty. (Now he just has to keep his room picked up between now and then.)

Schemes/Plans/Blueprints/ Design planning

One of the things that makes my life easier when I'm putting together an album or mini-book that has a theme (ie vacation album, birthday album, baby book, favorite things, etc.) is to take the time to plan a layout that I can use repeatedly throughout the album. This can help unify an album, even if you don't use the same colors or products from page to page. I don't have to use the exact same layout on each spread, but can modify it as needed.

What exactly is a layout? Well, think of it as a blueprint for your page. Photos go here, different papers go there, an embellishment or two or three go here, and so on and so forth. For example, the pages I did for my niece can be summed up by this plan:

To do the second page, I simply rotated the plan 180 degrees, and replaced the title and journaling block with another photo.

The fun thing about approaching scrapbooking design this way is that you can find inspiration anywhere. A label on a piece of clothing that you like, an ad in a magazine that catches your eye, a piece of furniture with interesting lines are all places where you can find inspiration. Beautiful design is everywhere, you just have to be paying attention. Once you notice it, you can apply it to your own designs. Just remember the basic components: a focal photo, a title, and a place for you to write. Everything else is icing on the cake (or page, as the case may be.)

As one final note, I told you I was going to make a page about the Police concert I went to, and as threatened here it is:

I really like the way it came out, but you may not be able to see it very well. It does have a little structure, but this was a more organic process. This was more of a move everything around until it works page.

So, take a look around you, and look at the structure of things you like. Then go mimic it. It'll be fun. Try it!

Quick and Easy Card

Materials:

Floral Favorites stamp set
Basic Birds stamp set
Juliette SWIC
Ultra Smooth White Cardstock
Juliette coordinating cardstock pack
Versamagic-perfect plumeria

Tools:

Paper trimmer
acrylic blocks for stamps
adhesive

Instructions:

1. Cut a sheet of white cardstock in half to measure 8 1/2 X 5 1/2. Fold in half to get a 4 1/4 X 5 1/2 card.
2. Cut a 4 1/4 strip of paper from the striped paper in the Juliette SWIC paper pack. Tear about a 2" piece off. Adhere along top edge of white card.
3. Cut a 4 1/4 strip of paper from the light tan cardstock in the coordinating cardstock pack. Tear off a 3" piece. Adhere along bottom edge of white card.
4. Ink oval flower from Floral Favorites set with versamagic perfect plumeria, and stamp on left over piece of white ultrasmooth cardstock. Trim to small rectangle. Rub ink pad along edge of rectangle to add hint of color. Adhere over joint between striped and tan papers.
5. Ink "enjoy" from Basic Birds with versamagic perfect plumeria, and stamp on small tag from Juliette SWIC. Adhere on bottom right-hand corner.
6. Rub ink pad along edges of card front to add color and definition.

Fill the inside with a favorite quote or a short note, then share. Repeat as needed.

Love this layout!

I had to do something with the photos I took of Josefine, and I had some lovely Heidi Grace papers I wanted to use. I've been looking for an excuse to use some Stampin Up Rub ons, and I found some alpha stickers that I hadn't been able to come up with a use for before now. Fran, one of the women who also teaches at JoAnn's kindly gave me the glitter stickers, which added just the right touch of glam. And the buttons were the final touch.What do you think? I thought it came out nice. Oh, and the felt flowers and ribbons were from the dollar bins at Target. Yay Target! On a trying to be more thrifty (but not doing too well) note, I used a left over piece of cardstock to mat the picture on the left. This is the back. Jess and Jason might recognize the letters, since I used them on a Christmas gift for them 2 years ago. And yes, I do keep everything. I have a box full of baby food jars in the attic that I just know I'm going to find a use for someday, just wait and see.

Page Review

I just thought I'd share with you one of the scrapbook layouts I've done. I'll occasionally post more, when I think something I've done is interesting or pretty.

The letter stickers are some I'd gotten for the kids one time, but on seeing them again, realized they'd go perfectly with this picture. The "attack" letters are some of Tim Holtz' grungeboard. I love his stuff. The stamps are from Close to my Heart. The stamps from CTMH are clear polymer, and are very sticky. They can be a little difficult to peel off the storage sheet. But they do have some nice designs. The papers are from DieCuts With a View. While I'm at it, I'll post one of Ethan, too. Here:

Either Mom or I took this photo when she was having her pond installed. These are all Angel Company papers and stamps, and the transparent shapes are from Heidi Grace/Fiskars. I love this paper. I want about ten pieces of this exact paper, but I'd have to buy 10 sets to get that. And while all the papers and tags in the set are beautiful, they don't make me say "I need you" like this particular design does. Oh well. Reason not to spend money.

Hope you like the pages :D

I got lucky!

So I read a few different scrapbooking and stamping blogs, and sometimes the ones hosted by people with connections in the industry have giveaways. Sometimes the winners are chosen by the host, and sometimes they use random chance.

Tim Holtz had a giveaway last week of various Ranger products. I won a complete set of the distress inks. So completely cool and amazing. They arrived today. Look:

How cool is that? What do you think I should do first? I'm thinking grungeboard or chipboard. What do you think?

Does this make me a bad person?

So today's been pretty rotten. I'm sick, I'm tired and grumpy, and I didn't sleep well. (Okay who's playing the world's smallest violin? Louder now!)

The point is that I'm not dealing well with being a Mom today, ie telling my 3-year old to stop crying because it's just a scrape on top of the scrape he got yesterday, and keep walking cos I can't walk dog, and carry him and keep his big brother going too when I'm sick. It's just pain! Suck it up and deal.

Anyway, after dinner we go outside and play with chalk on the sidewalk. The dog tries to eat some chalk, and in playing keep away, I notice the chalk leaves nice bright lines on his black coat. So I write DOG on both sides of Connor, and am beset by helpless giggles.

Does that make me a bad person?

Simple Layout

Last weekend I taught a 30 minute class to 30 seniors with some help from my mother. (aka SuperMom!) There were two basic ideas I tried to get across: You are your family's historian, and scrapbooking is flexible. You can make it as simple or as ornate as you like.

The case in point: A very simple layout I used as a demo.

As you can see, it's very simple. I'll probably jazz it up later. It needs more pop. I brought in another layout I did not finish so I could show how a picture and papers could be rearranged to suit different ideas. For example:

As you can see these are little variations that give slightly different impressions to the page. Just a thought. Now go play with some paper. Or candlesticks. Or your garden tools. Rearrange until "happy."

My First How-To for You!

No one signed up to make a perpetual calendar tonight (see the sidebar), so I'll show you a simple project you can do with stamps tonight. This will work with any stamp. I'm using a very architectural stamp, but you could use an animal stamp if you've gone zoo crazy, or a Christmas stamp if you're putting together holiday cards, or a ball stamp if you've got a kid whose second word was ball. You've got the idea.


A word about stamp pads


There are a lot of different inks. But when it comes to putting ink on your stamp there's only one thing you need to know: is it a felt/cloth pad or a foam pad? If it's a felt pad like the one on the left, you bring the stamp to the pad and tap it gently on the pad, then give it a little twist before lifting it off the pad. If it's a foam pad like the one on the right, you turn your stamp upside down, and gently tap your pad on the stamp. No twisting! You can rip or separate the pad from it's case if you aren't gentle. If you follow these instructions, you can have stamp pads for years! They will need re-inking eventually, but that's another easy thing to do. How to tell if a stamp pad is felt or foam? Get your fingers dirty! A felt pad feels like a piece of canvas, and a foam pad feels like, well, foam.



The Technique

We are going to make a background. I used this technique to make a card and a scrapbook page, but there are lots of other things you can do with this idea--even use paint and you have a home decor treatment that looks like wallpaper, without the need to scrape and peel in ten years when you decide you must have been crazy to do that. First you need to choose a stamp. Base this on what your end project is going to be. I knew I was going to be doing something with my husband in it, so I chose a stamp that could be considered masculine. (Maybe.) From this stamp set from theangelcompany (aka TAC). Then I chose three colors--2 colors close in hue, and then an accent color. I used Niagara Mist, Hint of Pesto, and Night Sky . (I'm linking you to Michael Trent's website because I haven't set one up for myself yet. He's the wonderful guy who sent me a catalog from TAC for free! It's his fault I'm selling TAC now.)


Start with the lighter of the two colors close in hue, and stamp in a staggered pattern, leaving room between images for the image in the darker color. If you aren't comfortable with eyeballing it, stamp the image on a post it note, with as much of the image on the side with the sticky strip as possible. Cut close to the image, and you've got a repositionable place holder that you can use to help space your images. In StamperSpeak, it's called a mask, and it's a very useful trick for layering images, and creating scenes. That will be a future technique.
After you've filled the page with the lighter color, choose where you want your accent spot to be, and stamp the image once with the accent color. Then fill in all the empty spots with the darker background color. Don't forget to go off the edge of your page. This will ground your background, and it won't look like it's just floating there, waiting for you to finish it.





I used it for a page about my husband on his birthday two years ago. I hope you like it.

Shameless Self Promotion

So, I've decided I've got to make my paper crafting obsession pay for itself. To that end I've done some things, and am planning on doing a few more to try to drum up some business.

Done:

Signed up as an Angel Company demonstrator. They have beautiful stamps and papers, and a very generous attitude towards crafters using their images in handmade items. I'll eventually sign up to use their online store as well, so people can order from me directly online. For now though, if any one needs any stamps or papers, you can email me. :)

Started teaching at the local JoAnn's etc. I've only taught a few classes, but I'm starting to get into the swing of things, and my class sizes are increasing! (From one to four, but hey, any increase is a good increase at this stage of the game.)

In the Pipeline:

Putting out flyers and handing out catalogs to anyone who will take one. I'm almost done with making a small pile, then I have to figure out where to put them. I've also been handing out business cards any time I can think of an excuse to give one out.

To Do:

Make samples/ put together a sample file of cards, scrapbooks, and classes. I'll have hard copies, photos, and then I'll put them online as well. I've got some together now, but this really needs to be much more organized.

Keep entering contests. I really want to get published. (I know, so do half the other papercrafters out there.)

Publish instructions for projects with pictures, so if any of you are feeling the need to play with paper, maybe I can help you with some ideas and how-tos.

A little further out:

Check out etsy. Selling cards and scrapbooking stuff online. Why not?

Look into craft fairs and shows in the area. I've got to try to sell myself. I've never been really good about that, but I'm working on it.


So, that's what I'm working on. Wish me luck!

Fall Class Samples

I've been working on putting together samples for the classes I'll be offering this fall at the local JoAnn's etc. I'm trying to put out some interesting things using stamps, and for kids as well. I haven't had much interest this summer, but hopefully this fall will pick up.

For kids I'm going over basic scrapbooking with a single page that they can use as a gift, or use to start telling their story through scrapbooking. I've also put together a simple gift set for beginning rubber stampers, that will include a card, a stamped mat for a picture, and wrapping paper using a recycled paper bag, or craft paper.

The purpose of the basic adult rubber stamping class is to make as many different cards using the same basic stamp sets. The intermediate class will focus on embossing and inking techniques to make personalized patterned paper for use in scrapbooking and card making.

On to the details: This is the kids' rubber stamped gift set. They'll be practicing basic stamping and masking to make the paper, a card, and to decorate the mat. My photo is horribly dark, but the actual pieces are bright and happy.

The kids basic scrapbooking class will focus on choosing papers, coming up with a layout, and adding journaling. I had my son pick out the photo, and the embellishments, but did the design myself. (He's only five, and would rather be playing Age of Empires than helping me put together samples for work.)

The basic rubber stamping class will focus on making as many cards as possible. I will be going over basic techniques and try to help any students create their own cards. I've made a few samples as a jumping off point, and we'll go from there.

The class I'm most excited about is my stamping in scrapbooks class. I've used stamps and various ink techniques to make my own paper designs. I love, love, how they came out. They've got depth and interest, and these techniques can be used for all sorts of things. I hope I get people for this class most of all.

So let me know what you think. If there are any items you want to make yourself, let me know, and I'll type up instructions. Hope you like these!

Basic Supplies: Paper, Stamps, and Ink

Okay, for all you first time stampers, here's a little about the three basics. Anything else is extra. (Well, stamping without embossing would be sad, but that will get its own post.)

First of all you need paper. You can buy prefolded cards at craft stores and office supply shops, or you can buy cardstock in full sheets and cut and fold to the size you decide you want. And if you're making a card, you do want cardstock, not typing/printer paper. Pick up a piece and feel it--if it's a little thicker and doesn't flop when you hold one piece by a corner, it's suitable for cards. If it flops you can use it to make envelopes or print out recipes from epicurious. If it's so stiff you could knock someone out with it, you're in the wrong store. I said office supply or craft store, not home improvement!

The texture and coating on the paper is also important. There are many, many beautiful textured papers available, but they don't take an image very well. Although you may want that effect after becoming proficient at stamping, you don't want to add that to the mix when you're just learning how to stamp. What you want is a smooth surface, either coated or uncoated. Coated papers come in matte and glossy finishes, much like photography paper, but not all inks will dry on them. Uncoated papers are much easier to find, and work with any ink. Finally, if you're going to be saving your stamp-art for posterity, use acid and lignin free paper. It lasts longer without breaking down.

Second of all you need stamps. There are many types of stamps you can use. There's the standard pink rubber stamps you see whenever you poke around the craft store. Those are usually mounted on wooden handles/blocks with an index picture to show you how the stamp will look when it's used, and sometimes with the manufacturer's recommended treatment. (ie. how to color it) You can also get these as unmounted pieces of rubber sometimes, depending on the manufacturer and the retailer. Then you need to have a wooden or acrylic block to attach to the stamp. (It can be permanent or temporary.) I'll post some links on the side bar for you to explore if you just want to order some.

A fairly recent type of stamp is clear acrylic stamps. They usually come in sets, and stick to acrylic blocks all by themselves. They're great when you need to position a stamp carefully, and don't want to use a stamp positioner. (Think alphabet stamps.)

You can also get foam stamps in craft stores. These are generally bold images with little detail. They work best with paint rather than ink, and are fun for home decor and kid projects.

You can make your own stamps as well. People have used everything from linoleum tiles they carved themselves, to bubble wrap, which gives a nice texture to backgrounds.

Last of all you need ink. There are three main types of inks: pigment, dye, and permanent. Permanent inks are generally solvent based, and are great for stamping on non-porous surfaces like glass and coated papers. Dye inks are usually water based, so are easier to clean up, and you can create wonderful water color effects with them. Pigment inks are the slowest drying, so are the best for using with embossing powders.

Hope that gives you a few basics, and a little more courage to go explore the paper crafting aisle. As always, I'd be glad to go into way too much detail, if you have any questions.

No excuses!

Whenever I hear someone say "You make such beautiful things! I could never do that," I have to control my impulse to simultaneously explain how it was done, pontificate on my belief that anyone can be a stamper/scrapper, and roll my eyes on hearing that again.
Stamping is not rocket science, and scrapbooking is important. And yes, you can do what I do, you just have to want to do it.

Stamping is easy. There are a few basics you need to know, and the rest is experimentation--play time if you will. I will go into the details of various supplies and techniques as time goes by. For now, I'll just try to give you some ideas of the variety of things you can accomplish with rubber stamps.

You can stamp on just about anything, with just about anything. As a fellow stamper once said, "I'll stamp anything, as long as it holds still long enough."

To begin, there are the standbys-- the holidays and birthdays and special occasions you try to remember with a card. These require the standard card stock, rubber stamps and inks. These can be simple, or you can use these to experiment with new techniques, or to try out new supplies.


Then there are the home decor projects--usually done with acrylic paints, or various permanent inks designed for everything from fabric to glass. Make sure if you try one of these projects you allow yourself to experiment. The first time you do something is rarely picture perfect.
Curved surfaces can be tricky to work with, and paints are slipperier than inks, so are easier to smear when lifting the stamp. I used foam stamps on the pots, and a nice sea sponge to make the clouds in my son's room.
I'm rather pleased with how each of these projects came out, and the pots are holding up surprisingly well, considering that they were painted over seven years ago, were not sealed, and have been exposed to the elements pretty continuously.

You can also use stamping for wrapping and gift boxes. These are papier-mache gift boxes that were painted and then stamped and embellished, as well as a handmade take out box. They make great little presents in and of themselves.

Lastly, try making your own party and holiday decorations. Here, I've used stamps to embellish plain Christmas ball ornaments, and to decorate a simple glass. Once again, take your time when doing things like this--curved surfaces require more care than a simple, flat piece of paper.




So, go for it. Try to bring a little art into your life. You don't have to be an artist to make things that you find beautiful, you just have to be willing to get your hands dirty.

I find few things as satisfying as ink-stained hands and completed cards, projects, and pages.

In the beginning....

There was paper, and it was good.
Then ink was discovered, and words and images flowed from the pen, and it was good.
Then came rubber stamps,
embossing powder ,
water color pencils and crayons,
mica powders,
chalk inks,
stencils,
paint....
Oh you get the idea.

I like paper crafting. I'm learning more each day, and having fun while I'm at it.
Rubber stamping is coloring for grown-ups. It's zen meditation for those who don't like standing on their head. It's art for those who appreciate beauty, but couldn't draw a house to pay their rent.

So here's the beginning of my public journey through papercrafting and life in general. Be gentle with me, I'm not good at speaking in public.