Friday, July 29, 2011

Tim Holtz & Ranger!

Everyone is always asking me, "Why Distress Stains?" - it has always been a hard one to explain why you need these and not just use your Distress Ink Refills...well, Scrap Time has posted a video from CHA Summer 2011 that gives the low down in simple words...by Tim! Check it out here and all your answers will be answered!

Why Distress Stains?

It couldn't be any simpler said than that! Speaking of Distress Stains - how about a demo by Tim using the newest Distress Stain - Picket Fence (once again, video by Scrap Time)!

Picket Fence Distress Stain

Another new amazing and much anticipated product is his new Snow Cap Mixative that is to be used with his Alcohol Inks (video by Scrap Time). Not of enough of Tim yet? Me neither...

Snow Cap Mixative

Love comment made by Tim in this video stating that "Alcohol Blending Solution to Alcohol Inks is what water is to Distress Inks/Stains!"

If you have some time to kill - stay a while at Scrap Time's Vimeo site and check out their VAST (and I do mean vast....500+) collection of videos showcasing so much of the industries best!


enjoy....

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Twice in one day?!

Yup - it's just been that kind of day! A large shipment of Elle's Studio arrived this afternoon and have been loaded up on the site.


There is a ton of her newest releases and a couple ol' favourites that have been restocked.


If you haven't used these products before - trust me you won't be disappointed! The quality is amazing and the ideas shared by Elle and her design team members on her blog are endless. Head over and check them out!

Speaking of her blog - pretty sure I have mentioned this before, but it bares repeating - Elle hosted a Journaling Workshop last year and has generously posted the pdf file on here blog that provides a ton of info, inspiration and just about anything every thought or didn't think about journaling! The pdf can be downloaded here; general info on the class can be found here.

I did it!

Well t is hard to believe but I actually have accomplished some creativity - under pressure to boot!

Very good friends of ours are getting married next month and I promised her I would do something special for the wedding - my job was the guestbook. Guestbook you say - this isn't a guestbook! Well, as you know I don't do anything normal or usual! This canvas will be set up at the entrance to the hall along with a few cards that will prompt the guests to write down their answers to some of the most 'common' marriage questions ever asked....

"What were you really thinking when we were saying our vows?"
"What is your favourite memory of us?"
"When did you know we were meant for each other?"
"What is the best marriage advise you were even given?"


I created nine different journaling prompts for a cool twist on the usual. The whole idea is that there will be one of these cards at each place setting and the guests will be asked to fill it out and sign it of course. Deposit back in the special box and at the end of it all, I will create a mini book for the happy couple to no double have hours of fun reading what everyone had to say!

Now onto the canvas (16x20")...

Started by applying Gesso, then colored it up with Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Line Paints in Yellow, White & Black (mixed the white & black to get grey of course).


Cut out a flower from one of my Cricut Cartridges and made it into a mask....inked it with Tim Holtz's Black Soot Distress Ink...

Wanted to add some texture....so before things got too dry, I laid over a strip of bubble wrap to get this great effect!

Cut out a leaf from another Cricut Cartridge to do another mask....

Attached my photos (8.5x11" and two 4x6") and die cut flower using Claudine Hellmuth's Multi- Medium


I played around with the letter placement...love the 'together' but was struggling with the placement of 'live, love, laugh'

not my fave...changed it eventually!

Check out the masked birdcage! They are using a large birdcage as a collection device for the cards...so thought is would be a cool idea to incorporate it into the canvas....



So here is the final result! What so you think? I am more than happy with it!
Have to tell you quickly a funny (not at the time though) story...I sealed the entire canvas using Claudine Hellmuth's Multi-Medium Matte....thought what a great idea right? NOT!! Came up to wrap it up before I was to head out the next day to take it to her...and what did I find? The photos all had a blue hue to them! It was like they had bled! I was devastated! I was tired, heading out the next morning on a long car ride to the city to deliver it...now what? First, got my craft knife out and tried my best to peel of the photo's...SUCCESS! Reprinted the photos, attached then this time using Provo Craft's Terrifically Tacky Tape.

Not to get burned again - I allowed the prints to dry a bit longer before applying a bit of paints on the edges to blend it all together. I did NOT seal the photos this time around. Not sure if it was because I hadn't let the photos dry enough or due to the fact they were printed at home. I am going to try again when I have the chance, but this time will allow to dry for several hours and then apply the multi-medium and see what happens.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

New Stock....

Have a few more new items in the shop - most desired are the Wendy Vecchi Art Parts - if you are not sure what they are about...I strongly suggest you head over to Studio 490 to see what they are all about!

I just got them in and many have already been 'picked' as they were going on the site. Another if her products that I was finally able to get was the Clearly For Art Modeling Film, "What is it?" you say...well it is a must have for those that like to do some altered art! You can cut, stamp, emboss, use your die cutters...go ahead - I dare ya!

This unique material (comes in clear, white and black or the sampler pack of one of each) can be molded into dimensional embellishments when simply heated! It will not shrink and can be reheated and reshaped as desired. It will become solid once cooled and without cracking or breaking...how cool is that?!

New CHA items will start arriving soon. Due in within the next week or so are Prima's Printery & North Country papers. Both are very 'Prima' and will sure to be a hit with everyone!

Be sure to check back often at the store as there will loads of stuff arriving over the next couple of months! Be sure to pop back in here tomorrow to see what I have been up too....


Friday, July 22, 2011

INTERRUPTION OF SHIPPING!

Please note that there will be NO shipments leaving the shop Monday July 25 2011 due to me not being in the office. I hope to be back on track Tuesday. Thanks for your patience.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Sorry for the absence!

Sorry for being MIA for the last week! I am having a minor health issue and have not been spending much time here (or there). Not to worry though, should have some answers next week and hoping to get back on track asap.

I have been busy enough with the shop and of course putting in a ton of pre-orders for all the new goodies coming out this summer at CHA. I will post soon the company, the line & when it is being released.

A few places I have been looking at photos of the happenings at CHA is of course via Mario's 'Tweets'....check them out here (no, you don't have to have a twitter account to see). Just click on the photo links in his posts to see the goods! Tammy Tutterow is an amazing crafter and at her blog she is posting her company samples. I have been on the hunt on You Tube for store videos but not having much luck! I will keep looking when I get the chance though.

Signing off for now...be back soon!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Sneak Peeks Day 5...

A few more releases are sneaking their way out....

Fancy Pants - yeah...FOUR new releases!Simply click on each image and it will take you directly to the company site with full images of the entire collection!

Cosmo Cricket has two new collections posted on their blog - Clementine and Dear Mr Claus - check them out here.

Pink Paislee is really making us wait - have only previewed the Mistables and now Vintage Vogue and Nantucket. There are two more still - just no photos! They are Phantom & Wood Shop. Guessing we will get to see them over the next two days.

Graphic 45 has shown us yet another amazing collection - Christmas Emporium! How about some more stamps to go along with...or how about THREE!

And how about our favorite man...TIM! Today he has shown us a few more new items - check it out here!

Lily Bee Designs is finally sneaking it's collections - or should I say collection! For far they have only shown us Memorandum. But on a good note - it is pretty cool!

Well - that is it for me today...have to get some paper work done - if t you think my scrapbooks are behind....ugh!

Monday, July 11, 2011

Sneak Peeks continue...

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG....just a little excited here!


So are you too doing the happy dance?! Everyone is SO excited that Ranger listened to the rants, raves, wants and desires of us all. They went one step further and added 25 colors....wait - 25? But we already had 12 colors?! 12+25+37...hmmm. So what is the 37th color.....

For complete details - head over to the Ranger Blog here to read all about it!

How about My Mind's Eye! A few more to to the releases...

Lost & Found Two has FIVE new collections (including an amazing Christmas one) and then there is an additional Christmas one just because)!



How about Elle's Studio? She has over 40 new items! Check it out here at her blog! P.S. While you are there, be sure to check out here FREE download from the 2010 Journaling In Your Own Words class. It is a large pdf, but well worth the download!!

Later today Simple Stories will start sneaking a peek at their four new collections...watch for them here!

Friday, July 8, 2011

Sneak Peeks Day 3...

Ranger has only a few items sneaking their way out, first is 12 new Perfect Pearls Mists...
Along with Ranger's Tim Holtz line comes two new additions. Snow Cap Mixative (opaque white) that is used along side the Alcohol Inks and a new larger size of the Clear Rock Candy (4 oz). You can head over to their blog for more info if you want!

Well I was finally able to see the new 7 Gypsies....looking pretty good I must say!

They have two new paper lines - Global & Off the Wall!They are in both 12x12 & 6x6 packs, tags, Paper Tape, Stamps and Chipboard Alphabet.

Loads of embellishments including more Collage Tissue - Frames, Silhouettes, Keys & Metro....
There is coordinating Collage Tape for these as well!


Four new Rubbings that coordinate with the previous releases stickers....Tickets, Apothocary, Ephemera & a new Butterflies.

Metal Embellishments include vintage pins - look like safety pins...very cool! They come in Antique Silver & Antique Brass....
More Display items including Trays, a Stand for your Trays, Hooks, Swirly Hangers, mini vials and trims....



Sorry I didn't do photos of everything - there is just so much and then of course it slows down the blog! Hoping they post on their own blog/site soon and then I will link you to it all!

**Update - check out here for complete catalog images of the entire summer release! **

Graphic 45 has released a few more items - Altered Art Boxes....very cool! Check them our here on their blog!

Now that you have seen this, you can head over to Tim's blog and see his new releases of Stampers Anonymous sets!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

More Sneak Peeks...

First up is yet another of my favorites - Graphic 45! Their new release is called ABC Primer, you can see it all at their Blog. Here is a sample!


My Mind's Eye
also has several new releases - notably Six By Six includes 12 different 6x6 all ORIGINAL paper pad designs. Each pad contains 24 double-sided sheets. Another that has been sneaked is Mischievous.

I see a theme starting here, many of the designers are going with a Halloween based line. I am going to venture out and say there is going to be a lot more! You of course will see loads more Christmas Collections too!

Jillibean Soup has a few new ones as well - Apple Cheddar Soup , Sweet & Soup Soup and Homemade 6 Bean Soup The usual fun and colorful patterns associated with Jillibean Soup!

**update - another release...Christmas Eve Chowder! **

Webster's Pages has some beautiful lines as well - check out A Botanical Christmas, All About Me, and Western Romance.

Little Yellow Bicycle as shown us a bit more - Winter Twig looks amazing! How about some more winter...Wonder & Wishes! Fall is upon us...so Hello Fall! How about some sporting activities....Get Your Game On! Finally a school year inspired one - Head of the Class. I will forewarn you though, some of the images are deceiving - I have seen full images of Head of the Class and Get Your Game on and they are both very 'primary' in color and designs. Probably better suited for those with younger children.

Authenque with Margie Romney-Aslett is the talk of the town - check out her blog for all the dish!

Oh, and don't forget to head back over to Tim's blog so see day two of the releases!

K, that should be enough for today...let's hope 7Gypsies peeks soon - I'm going crazy!

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Sneak Peeks...

Well CHA Summer 2011 is quickly approaching which means NEW stuff that we are all gonna have to have! The Sneaks have been few so far...but my fave finally allowed a peek this morning!
Link
Tim Holtz will be having daily sneak peeks for the next week - so be sure to head over now and see what is there! Today was an Idea-ology (part one of two). Nothing bad there...adding to cart!

Here are a few others that have started their sneaks....

Teresa Collins
has been giving a few sneaks along the way - here and here. I have been privi to a few more via my wholesalers...She has two new collections listed there so far...

Christmas Home: 12x12 Paper Collection, 6x6 Paper Pad, Brads, Trims & Stamp

World Traveler: 12x12 Paper Collection, 6x6 Paper Pad, Brads, Trims, Stamp & Kit


Update! Third release is up.... here is Haunted Hallows!


Bo Bunny
has yet again several new releases - SEVEN to be exact! You can head over to the blog to see them...each day they will showcase a new one! Today they are showcasing Forever Fall. I am sure over the next week they will be showing the remaining six... Et Cetera, Sweet Tooth, Garden Girl, Welcome Home, Father Christmas and Blitzen.

Basic Grey also has a few more new ones coming out - Black Dress, Nordic Holiday, Picadilly & Indie Bloom. Head over here to see them!

Glitz Designs has some great new releases as well....Vintage Blue, Beautiful Dreamer & Dance in the Sunshine.

Pink Paislee has some great new stuff - Mistables being the most notable!

October Afternoon - Boarding Pass.


Well that is it for today - off to do some work in the office then hoping to get outside for some sun! Enjoy your day....

Friday, July 1, 2011

Happy Canada Day!


To me...this has always been the official first day of summer! A great way to kick it off - fun, sun, friends and family. That is exactly what we did today and will continue with tomorrow as we are fortunate for Canada Day to fall on a Friday....therefore - LONG WEEKEND!!!

Have a great one everyone - see you Monday!

That Other Neutral Triptych

  That Other Neutral Triptych wrapped canvases 10x10x1.5" (x3) professional grade artist materials I worked on this smaller series at ...