52 Weeks of Wonder

Easy to create, hard to "resist"!

"I love the beautiful, professional look embossing brings to any project, and today's 'reverse' emboss, also known as an 'emboss resist' is a longtime favorite. Start with a color palette you love—I've chosen sweet spring tones of Amethyst, Blush, Garden Green, and Pansy Purple. Then, turn to your Versamark ink pad and clear detail embossing powder and get ready to make some watercolor-like magic!

When used on light paper, the outline appears light with soft color surrounding it. When used on darker papers, you get a soft muted contrast with deeper tones." Jeanette Lynton

Jeanette's blog has detailed steps to create the embossed resist effect. She also shares a gorgeous 2-page 12"x12" layout and an additional card that features this embossing technique.

Digital Srapbooking with CTMH's Studio J

Tresa Black is a phenomenal fellow consultant who created a short movie about CTMH's Studio J. Her video says it best, so I won't bore you with the details. Just take a few minutes to watch.

And if you haven’t tried online scrapbooking yet, click here to check out Studio J. It’s not a replacement for traditional scrapbooking, it’s just another way to share your stories and document your memories. "Studio J is FREE online design software that allows users to create custom-printed two-page layouts for 12" x 12" albums. There is no software to purchase and install; instead, simply log in to Studio J and start designing your layouts. You can create and immediately purchase your layouts, or you can save them for later completion and purchase."

What are you waiting for? Try Studio J now for free.

Inheritance

The much-anticipated, thrilling conclusion of the worldwide bestselling Inheritance cycle - scheduled for release on November 8, 2011. My daughter is counting the days.

Paper Flower & Easter Egg Garland

I found this adorable DIY garland over at HappyClippings and just had to share. It's super simple and most crafters have the supplies on-hand already. I'm pulling some spring paper from my stash and the girls and I will be creating one this afternoon. Think SPRING!

52 Weeks of Wonder

Stamping Clusters Made Simple!

"One of the great things about working with My Acrylix stamps and clear blocks is that you can cluster multiple images on a single block. Not only can this save time, but it's also a fabulous way to create designs that are uniquely you. This straightforward technique can be a quick way to add a 'wow' design to just about any project.

To create a multicolored focal image, first decide the size of your cluster and choose a block close to the same size as the paper you will be stamping on. This makes it easy to construct the correct size of cluster. Arrange multiple stamps on the block. (You might want to 'test stamp' your cluster in a single color first on scratch paper just to ensure it looks as balanced and proportioned as you envision it. This will also give you a 'template' to refer to as you add stamp images to your project with each different color you add.)

This easy, adorable technique is one you'll love playing with again and again—and possible only through the magic of clear stamps, thanks to My Acrylix!"

Jeanette Lynton

Hope for Japan

"We've all been reeling with the images of tragedy and devastation in Japan. If you're looking for an easy, real, practical way to help relief efforts, then I invite you to contact me today! Typically, our A-sized sets retail for $7.95, but the "Hope for Japan" set will be available through April 30 for just $5 ... CTMH will be donating 100% of the profits to the American Red Cross to benefit relief efforts in Japan. If we all do a little, together we can do a lot. Let's show our support and together, provide real HOPE for Japan!"

I will be placing a bulk order next week specifically for the "Hope for Japan" stamp set. If you'd like to save on the initial shipping cost from CTMH (with pick-up directly from me), send me an email with your order by March 30th. Out-of-town customers can still take advantage of this offer, just contact me directly to arrange for secondary shipping to your location.

Simply Sophisticated

“'Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,' said Leonardo da Vinci, and who could argue with that great artist? The seeming simplicity of the My Acrylix® Fill In the Blanks stamp set is what makes it such a perfect—and perfectly versatile—addition to any stamper’s toolbox!

The words and outline images that make up this set really lend themselves to a variety of looks and techniques. Let’s take a peek at some artwork!

The butterflies on this card are stamped tone-on-tone using the small butterfly image from the Fill In the Blank set, and then we took word stamps and stamped them in first and second generation to create our own patterned paper.

We’ve also used the small butterfly stamp on this layout, but can you guess what other stamp we used from the set? If you guessed 'flower,' you’re right! Since our My Acrylix stamps are flexible, we’ve scrunched up the flower stamp in different ways to get these cute cloud images. We stamped them on B&T Duos® paper to give them a subtle pattern.

For this card, we cut out the large butterfly stamp image a few times and then layered it to make it dimensional. Here are the steps so you can make it yourself:

~ Stamp butterfly with Desert Sand ink on Colonial White cardstock. Using a craft knife, cut along wings, leaving body intact. Mount cardstock piece on Cocoa cardstock and Bamboo B&T paper. Pop up wings using 3-D foam tape.
~ Stamp butterfly again on Crystal Blue B&T paper. Cut out entire image, omitting body. Mount on Colonial White butterfly using 3-D foam tape.
~ Stamp butterfly a third time on Sweet Leaf B&T paper. Cut out entire image, including body, and mount on Crystal Blue butterfly with 3-D foam tape.
~ Accent body with Opaques Mocha adhesive gems.

This card, featured in the Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book on page 96, also shows the stamping on B&T paper technique. This time we used the bird stamp, and the background pattern is much stronger. To give visual variety, we stamped the bird’s wing on a complementary piece of Grey Wool cardstock. Then, we stamped three different sentiments with Grey Wool ink, then highlighted one of them by stamping over it in Goldrush ink. This brings in a third color and makes the 'friends always' sentiment stand out as the main message of the card.

Does this card look familiar, too? It’s also from the Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book on page 96. Check out the Hollyhock cardstock on the sides. We stamped the flower on it in a repeating pattern to make an abstract, subtle patterned paper. Notice how the petals overlap in various spots? This gives the flower image a whole new look!

And here’s a final technique for you: using the stamp set as a cutting guide for negative space then filling it with a patterned paper to give visual interest. To create the stars you see in this layout, follow these steps:

~ Stamp three stars on top of your layout, overlapping paper pieces and photos.
~ Use a craft knife to cut out the center, leaving a 1/8" border, and distress the edges with a stipple brush dipped in Desert Sand re-inker.
~ Stamp three 2 1/2" × 2 1/2" pieces of Colonial White cardstock with words or phrases, using Cocoa ink and first, second, and third generation.
~ Attach the cardstock pieces to the back of your layout so the sentiments show through.
~ Accent each star with a pair of Opaques Mocha adhesive gems to give them even more zing!

Have you created a fun project using the My Acrylix Fill In the Blank set?" Post it here for all to admire - I’d love to see it!