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More Alcohol Inks!

Alcohol Inks, Classes, Faux Bleach/Batik, Just for Fun Rubber Stamps, Lavender Sentiments, Stamp Simply Ribbon Store, Tag Art, Techniques 9 Responses »

Mar 042010

Good morning! Well, I’m still trying to play catch-up with some projects I need to get done! I think I need to get off my butt during the day and head into the studio . . . classes to prepare for, blog hops to get ready for, and THEN I found out tonight that I have just a few weeks to get my projects ready for my class at Stampfest Orlando. I need to make my to-do list and put it somewhere I can find it.

I’m still working on samples for my alcohol inks class and one thing I wanted to show my class is how different papers effect the outcome of the alcohol inks. One of my favorite techniques with alcohol inks is faux bleach. The results you get are so different than those with actual dyes.

This is the sample tag I worked on last night trying to find the right mix of stamps and inks.

Its probably not what I’m going to end up with, but it’s a starting point. The wildflower silhouette was embossed first and then the alcohol inks were applied over the top. The grid background is stamped with a combination of more blending solution than ink to get a light detail. After the grid was stamped, the embossing was ironed off to show the white base tag. The image on the back of the fragment was done the same way. For more information on these steps, you can find my tutorial here and one with color wash here. I’ll be doing a video for these soon for you!

Stamps: F2714 Wildflower Silhouette, G2552 Sketchy Grid and G3354 Floral Flourish from Just For Fun® Rubber Stamps
Paper: White Coated Tags
Ink: Ranger Cool Peri, Citrus, Aqua and Lake Mist Alcohol Inks; Ranger Distress Embossing and Archival Jet Black; Ranger Gold Metallic Paint Dabber
Accessories: 1.25” White May Arts Crochet Lace, 1.25” and 1/4” Violet May Arts 100% Silk, and Ivory May Arts 100% Jute from Stamp Simply Ribbon Store; Ranger Non-Stick Craft Sheet, Ink Applicator Tool, Felt, Blending Solution; Tim Holtz idea-ology Tag Fragments; Craft Iron; Button

Thanks for stopping by today and remember . . . life is short, enjoy the adventures of the day!

Playing with Alcohol Inks!

Alcohol Inks, Classes, Lavender Sentiments, Techniques 36 Responses »

Mar 032010

Good morning! Boy I don’t know what happened to yesterday. I got up with all intent of going into the studio and spending the day and it was maybe 6:00 when I finally went down. Maybe it’s the lack of sunshine in this part of the state . . . I’m saying it now . . . no more snow, no more gray skies, no more dreary days! But now let’s think about this . . . . 24 years ago yesterday, March 2, 1986 it snowed! How do I remember . . . . that was day that Daughter #1, Kate, was born! However that private island is calling me, cabana boys waiting . . . . .

I’ll be teaching alcohol inks at Lavender Sentiments this month and want to have an altered project for the class as well as cards. I’ve had this idea for a few days now and rummaged around in the cabinets to find something I could use for a trial. What I’m going to show you is my second attempt . . . the first was too dark and blender solution made it all disappear!

So here’s what I did! I dropped alcohol ink onto the vase and sprayed it with canned air, letting the ink run and go as it wanted. I kept it up until I thought I had most of the vase covered. So you could see the colors better I rolled up a piece of white paper and dropped it into the vase.

So how could you use this? My mind didn’t now immediately go to this, but you could poor in some white fluffy stuff (whatever florists all it) and put in some flowers (real or silk). What I have used this vase for in the past is this.

To hold a candle . . . . either a pillar or a votive. I’ve found that if you put a pillar in it, and the wax drops down the sides of the candle, you’re going to play hell getting the candle out! It would make a great accent candle on a patio late at night when you are sitting around the chiminea or outdoor fireplace with your glass of wine!

So tell me, what do you think? A good project for a class? A total waste of time? Inquiring minds want to know!

Who Knew . . . Coffee Filters Have More Uses that Just Making Coffee!

Chipboard/Illustration Board, Classes, Coffee Filters, Gift Boxes, JustRite, Lavender Sentiments, Spellbinders, Techniques, Wrinkle-Free Distress 25 Responses »

Feb 102010

I can’t believe that I’m up and moving and have already finished my project for tonight’s class. I’ve also just started my second pot of coffee hmmmmm hmmmmm good!

Hopefully my class hasn’t been canceled tonight due to the weather but if it is, I’m teaching the same one next Monday at 10:00 am. There are still seats available and if you are interested please call Lavender Sentiments. They get you all set up!

I walked into Lavender Sentiments the other day and Robyn was inking up coffee filters for a class, and I got a wicked idea of using coffee filters with my project. I’m quite happy with the results.

Now look at the flowers on the top . . . they are coffee filters made with the Wrinkle Free Distress Technique. I LOVE them!

I’ve used these boxes for many things . . . . there’s two on my desk, one holds Post-It Notes and the other holds binder clips. I’ve even put gift cards in them to present my gift in.

Typically I’ve used Spellbinders™ Labels on the top, but with this one I decided to use my new stamps from JustRite and Spellbinders™ Circles. I tied a little ribbon on the top of the circle for added embellishment.

Stamps: JustRite Romantic Sentiments and Custom Design Cardmaking Kits from The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store
Paper: K&Company Filigree Texture; Core’dinations Periwinkle; Papertrey Rustic Cream; Coffee Filters; Heavy Weight Chipboard Coasters
Ink: Ranger Embossing, Faded Jeans, Peeled Paint, Brushed Corduroy, Walnut Stain and Vintage Photo Distress
Accessories: Spellbinders™ S7-014 Classic Lace Border Grand, S4-109 Flower Creations 3, Classic Circles – S4-114 Large and S4-116 Small, Classic Scalloped Circles – S4-124 Large and S4-125 Small; Ranger Queen’s Gold Embossing Powder, Mini Misters, Non-Stick Craft Sheet, Gold Perfect Pearls, Matte Accents and Claudine Hellmuth Studio Matte Multi-Medium (from eclectic Paperie); Sanding Tools; Brads

I’m off to get more coffee now! Thanks for stopping by and remember . . . life is short, enjoy the adventures of the day!

Oh and by the way, we DID get that 6″ of snow and then some!

A Work in Progress!

Altered Art, Grunge Paper/Board, Home Decor, Lavender Sentiments, Stampers Anonymous, Techniques, Wrinkle-Free Distress 11 Responses »

Nov 172009

Good Tuesday morning! I hope you had a great weekend and your week has started off good! I spent Saturday with my mom, aunt and sister. We went to Hodgenville to visit my uncle and check on things there. After lunch we were going back through the town square and there was a little shop that I had never been in before. We stopped and oh my gosh . . . what a great place. No, I don’t remember the name BUT we are planning on going back this coming Saturday and I’ll find out then. I might even remember to take my camera and get some pictures!

My project today is a sample for the class I’ll be teaching next month and is a work in progress. We’ll be seeing this change over the next few days and I thought it would be fun to watch the transformation.

I’m not too sure about the round flower on the bottom and that’s probably going to be the first thing that goes. I’m still looking at it trying to decide. I’m also not too sure about the colors, but they do happen to be my favorite combination. What do you think . . . is this something you would like to make in a class?

Lavender Sentiments!

Lavender Sentiments 7 Responses »

Nov 082009

Lavender Sentiments is my local scrap store. I visited them once or twice when they first opened, but hadn’t been back for some time. A few weeks ago I was looking for something new to stamp with and decided to go back and see what had changed. Oh my BADness! They have a sampling of just about everything. Of course, there is tons of scrapbooking paper, and cute little kits, stickers, etc. that all scrappers love, but being a non-scrapper, I was impressed. They now carry Ranger, Tattered Angels, Spellbinders, Cuttlebug, and numerous other products. There is a small section devoted to stamps, both wood mounted and polymer sets from some of our fave companies.

I knew that they had been having classes, because one of my old stamp club girls told me. What I didn’t know was the extent of those classes. However when I looked down through the list I noticed that there weren’t any Ranger classes but alcohol inks. WELL . . . . . after numerous emails, etc., there will not be a class using Ranger products. Can you guess who the class instructor is? Huh, can ya? It’s me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’ll be teaching the first Ranger class on Monday, December 14 at 6:00 p.m. We haven’t quite worked out all the details yet, but I do know that we will be focusing on some different techniques with Tim Holtz’ Distress products. Yes, that means we’ll be using Grunge Board, Distress Stickles, Crackle Paint, etc. I’m so darned excited!!

For more information on the Lavender Sentiments class schedule and how to sign up for any of their classes, check out their Classes Page.

I’ll be back a little later with some actual work to show you. I was just too darned excited to tell you this after coming back home from their Open House today. By the way if you’re local, their Open House runs until 6:00 p.m., tonight. You’ve still got time to visit today and do some make n’ takes and feast on their yummy treats!

I’m off now to finish up the project I started yesterday and to watch the race!