Tues AM & more Pollycraft cuteness!

hi all!!!

ahh the fun of christmas crafting – an excuse to make everything as glittery as possible right?  i always have so many things planned to do AND everything has to be shipped so no waiting til the last minute.  that being said my posts may get a bit sparse as i get some of the bigger projects done on way too little time!

the two biggest things on my agenda are some very large canvases – kits i picked up from quick quotes at CKC over the summer and a digi calendar.  plus the usual christmas ornaments for everyone (nearly done), and then various gift sets and such – preschool class, teachers, and small things for various folks….so i will show them as i get them done but some, like the canvases, will take some time.  plus i want to get some winter hats crocheted for pezzy and some clay embellies made….the list never ends!

OK before we get on to the project today i have a WINNER TO ANNOUNCE!!!  it seems the perfect pearl UTEE sandwich was the favorite, which is funny sine that is not even the technique i was supposed to be focusing on but sometimes it’s good to just go with the flow!  here is the random drawing:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

11

Timestamp: 2009-11-13 11:01:20 UTC

and number 11 is…

Richelle, on November 9th, 2009 at 11:58 PM Said: 

I really like the perfect pearls one. I like the effect it gives.

so richelle, email me with your addressby next Friday and i will get some UTEE and several Perfect Pearls out to you!!

i have a christmas gift bag for you today.

i used Melissa’s sketch over at Tuesday Morning Sketches.  i also colored up another of my Pollycraft Digis - the challenge over there is anything but a card.  i have to say, as i was coloring this image i could not help but think how much this little pixie looks like my friend, Amy Sheffer’s son Gabriel - you may remember him from the pics of Pezzy’s party.  so here is my bag:

i cute the circle shape from my wild card cartridge – it was a whole card but i cut the back off.  then i cut the circle with my George cartridge – nesties don’t go big enough so i am glad i have my cricut!  the glitter on the scallops is Cherry Ice Stickles – alot more bang for your buck in terms of sparkle compared to regular stickles BUT not as much color.  the tag is a spellbinders die.  the center of the bow is a poly clay button i made on top of a fabric yoyo i got on etsy – love those things!

i colored the image with copics.  he has a touch of spica glitter too.  i am not sure if he is an actual christmas pixie – i can’t remember – but i made him into one  

i am putting the finishing touches on another batch of ornaments – a super easy technique for quick ornaments but i think they are really cute *wink*  i sure hope y’all have time to come check them out!!

thanks so much for stopping by to visit me today!!

Stamp – Pollycraft – digi image (i have had this for some time and i could not find it on their website…); Studio G – sentiment

Ink: Copics, Brilliance Pearlescent Poppy, spica gold

Paper: Peppermint Forest (surprise surprise hee heee); SU

The Rest:  Ribbon, wax thread, cricut wild card & george, spellbinders, yoyo, poly clay button, cherry ice stickles

JB mojo: not a creature was stirring…

hi everyone!

anybody else already looking forward to the weekend?  i know i am – starting to feel the christmas crunch setting in!

i just had to show you this pic from last night:

THAT is my adorable kitten Tiger – she is ALOTTA KITTY!  she is a maine coon which makes her somewhat dog-like and a little weird but oh so lovable.  she is really trevor’s kitty but she is my baby.  so this is how i get most of my work done – there’s me in the background (trying to be NOT in the picture but obviously i did not succeed) and working on my computer.  pez is always right next to me and then Tiger feels like she needs to join in so she tries to squeeze in too.  this usually results in pez & tiger fighting over the little bit of space available so i am constantly mediating real estate disputes between them!

my project today is for Just Buggin 11  - use an animal cricut cut and uses the current Mojo sketch too

 

 

i WAS going to go the usual reindeer route and then i saw this little mouse and thought HEY!  so i went for it – i think he is just the CUTEST!  my paper is from Peppermint Forest stack….i think when it comes to patterned paper i have the attention span of a doorknob.  i was so wishing i had more paper to choose from – i have barely made a dent in the Peppermint Forest yet!  i think i just like having different color schemes to choose from…

i cuttlebugged and sanded again – that’s the greatest thing about doing challenges – you do something you normally wouldn’t do i find out you like it!

i cut both the mouse AND the shadow feature because it really adds ALOT to your diecut when you use the shadow feature.  i never used to but now i HAVE to have it.

for faces i really really love Kathy’s face stamps over at Peachy Keen.  she has TONS and they are adorable!  the mouse is from Animal Kingdom cart and i have Kathy’s set of AK faces to match.  when using the face stamps instead of the ones the cricut cuts into them you need to cut your shape out using the black out feature.  however this means you lose all the detail cuts on the boddy too.  not important when doing paper dolls but very important here.  so i cut out a regular mouse too and then cut the head off so i could layer it on.  another thing that will really bring out dimension in your cut is inking the edges.  took me FOREVER to find a good, quick, easy method for this!  i simply take a ranger foam ink blending tool, dab it lightly on a darker colored ink pad and use that.  where i want to catch the detail cuts i rub it VERY VERY LIGHTLY over that area starting from the edge.  where i want to catch just the edge i start off the edge and drag it LIGHTLY toward me and catch just the edge of the diecut.

well that is enought from me today!  my official DT term with Just Buggin’ starts in two weeks so you will be seeing that every Monday!!

now we are off to eat breakfast and get ready for school!

Stamps: Peachy Keen Animal Kingdom faces; Studio G sentiment

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Brilliance Graphite Black

Paper: Peppermint Forest Stack; CTMH red, SU gray scraps

The Rest: Pezabling Acrylic Squares – Loden Frost, CB embossing folder, Cricut animal Kingdom; Ranger white gel pen, ribbon scrap

exciting news & a SFYTT pixie christmas

happy hump day!

**************************************

i want to start by taking a moment to recognize the fact that today is Veteran’s Day.  not only to thank all the folks who have or are risking their lives but to also thanks the families of those folks that stay here and “hold down the fort” while the soldiers are away and pick up the pieces when their sodlier comes home gravely injured.  i truly cannot imagine the strength it must take….

***************************************

now onto an exciting tidbit of news – i have been asked to be a member of the Just Buggin’ cricut challenge design team!!!!   i have to say i am really excited about it!!  i have been using my cricut alot more lately and love the challenges samantha gives over there so it’s a perfect fit for me!  i love my cricut and hope you will join in if you have a cricut too!

now for my project – which has no cricut on it – AH HAHHAHAH!  but it does have cuttlebugging and a gigantic bow:

isn’t she sweet!!  she is also a pollycraft digi - i printed off a whole page of them   so you will see more!  i don’t think i have EVER doen the white core embossed cardstock thing and am not into core’dinations papers HOWEVER i do like how this turned out – makes me think rustic which goes well with a pixie/sprite i think!  and i used one of the new UK only cuttlebug embossing folders i won from the Cuttlebug Spot – i am SO SO happy with those folders!!

i covered a few challenges with this one:

i started with my friend Jen’s Sketch For You To Try which is always fantastic!

In addition i was further inspired by these:

Practical Scrappers: White Core Cardstock – WONDERFUL samples posted

Papertake Weekly: Digi Sparkle – this is also the name of the sponsor for the prize this week!

Stamp Something: Recipe – 1 ribbon, 2 papers, 3 embellishments with a prize from Mo’s Digital Pencil (this one is a stretch but it IS what inspired how i made my card – i just used two ribbons for my bow without thinking…so i figure the red bow can be the 1 ribbon and the green bow, the button, & the pezabling can be my 3 embellies – whadda y’all think??)

i colored her with Copics and added LOTS of sparkle with spica pens.  i am especially pleased with her wings.  dontcha love it when the *real life* version turns out just like you pictured in your head?  i gave her wings some very light shading in the green.  then i painted them with Pink Highlights Creative Inspirations shimmer paint – LOVE this stuff!  finally i traced over the swirls with a gold spica pen.  in real life they ahve just the right hints of green and pink along with loads of shimmery goodness!

well pezzy the wonder tot has been up since 5 am, i have done 2 loads of laundry and need to get my dishes washed and grocery list made so i better scoot!

a few reminders before i go:

get your studio G challenge entries in for a chance to win a full size clear stamp set from hampton arts

be sure to enter my random drawing for a fun glitter prize on the snowflake post

have a great day!

Stamp: Pollycraft Digi - Christmas Pixies – Humble (this may have been a limited time digi because i can’t find it but there are loads of other great stamps!)

Ink: Copics, Spica glitter pens, brilliance pearlescent poppy red

Paper: Peppermint Forest Stack, Close To My Heart – red, PTI – whisper white

The Rest: Ribbon from Michaels, Button from stash, Pezabling acrylic squares - red fleck, nestie circles & scallop circles, CB embossing folder

Just blingin part 2

hi everyone! i hope your week has gotten off to good start!  before i get to the results of my further UTEE glitter experimentation i have been meaning to show y’all a copic storage solution i discovered.  i used to keep them in silver ware organizer trays but it was too hard to alwyas dig in and find the colors.  then i came across a storage rack for retailers to hold marker displays and a lightbulb went on:

this is actually several racks stacked on top of each other.  they tilt slightly back so the pens don’t fall out and each row is divided into 3 compartments.  this way i can not only separate by color families but also by color groupings – so R08, R05, R02 & R00 are all together in a  compartment.  this is SO convenient.  and the best part is that it makes it easier to find the Ciaos since they don’t have the number on the lid. 

i ALWAYS buy ciao when i have the option because it saves money.  in each color grouping there is at least one sketch so i can tell by just that one marker what other colors are there – make sense?  you can see what i mean here.  AND the rack is super sturdy with a fairly small footprint – both equally important.

the racks run $20 and though i don’t carry them i could certainly get some in if anyone is interested – just let me know.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*****************************

Don’t forget to enter the current Studio G challenge for a chance to win a full sized stamp set from Hampton Arts!

Don’t forget to post a comment on yesterday’s post telling me your favorite snowflake to be entered to win some fun products to make your own!

now MORE SNOWFLAKES!

ok here are page 2 & 3 of the LO from yesterday:

fairly simple LOs but i spent alot of time doing some experimenting with the snowflakes i added as embellishments.

i decided to start out by cutting all my snowflakes from white cardstock with my cricut.  then i sprayed them with a few different pearl mists 1. red dye with gold perfect pearls, 2. pink dye with pewter perfect pearls, 3.  juniper reinker with green patina perfect pearls.

once they were completely dry i covered one with clear UTEE.  i had covered this one with the pearl mist i made with red dye reinker (not sure which red as i have had it awhile) perfect gold perfect pearls, and water.  the shimmer was just so gorgeous i had to leave it!!  i simply covered it with a layer of UTEE which has a gorgeous effect!

next up i have two more i did by sandwiching perfect pearls between 2 layers of UTEE.  this first one was misted with a pearl mist of juniper dye reinker, green patina perfec pearls and water.  then a layer of UTEE, apply versamark again and brush on some perfect pearls (or any nmica powder – i used a pink from luminarte in addition to green patina and gold perfect pearls.)  follow it with another layer of clear UTEE.

here is the second PP/UTEE sandwich one.  This one has the pink pearl mist underneath…

and now the glitter & UTEE combination – again with the pink pearl mist underneath.  i have 2 tips for you that i noticed:

1. the effect is better if your pearl mist matches your glitter color.

2. use ALOT of glitter.  i think at first i had alot more UTEE than glitter in my mix.  it needs to be the other way around.

i could not get a pic of this one that shows it but this is actually my fave of this batch.  the glitter is amazing AND the gold pearl in the red mist matches the gold glitter – really makes a difference!

are y’all tired of my glittered snowflakes yet?????  i try to experiment for you so you can get right to the fun stuff!  PLEASE remember you can email me any time if you have any questions!

now off to dig something up for dinner – hubby won’t be home til who knows when so i am boycotting cooking!

hugs!

Just Buggin: Just Bling it & tutorial(s)

well i am pleased to report that Pezzy appears to have decided she will go ahead and use the potty full time now.  i must say she was easier than my middle one – i didn’t think he was going to get to go to kindergarten!!

now on to the show *hee heee* – ya might want to grab a cup of coffee and get comfortable – there is ALOT packed in here!!!  but i have a little reward at the end *wink*

the challenge on Just Buggin is to bling up your die cuts – oh samantha were you reading my mind???  i will add bling to ANYTHING if it sits still long enough!  the question was NOT how am i going to do this but how am i going to narrow down all of my options….there is always the easy and obvious – cover them in STICKLES!  then i came across a reference on one blog that led me to another blog which led me to a youtube tutorial - y’all know how that goes – and next thing i know i was doing some experiments so i thought i would share the results with all of you for those who want to know.  first my project – page 1 of a 3 page LO that also incoporates TWO challenges:

Just Buggin: just bling it

OCCC -  inspiration challenge – pumpkin stack people

PageMaps – not so much a challenge as the greatest source on the planet for scrapping & cardmaking sketches!

the pics are from last winter – daddy took pez out and taught her how to build a snowman

i used papers from the peppermint forest stack – i am finally starting to embrace all the odd off beat colors of christmas and thought the whole pink snowflake theme would match pezzy’s pink clothes nicely. 

next i used everyday paperdolls and doodlecharms cricut carts for the little girl, the snowfamily and the snowflakes.  i inked the edges of all the pieces for the girl & snowmen.  the faces are peachy keen stamps - kathy makes the MOST adorable faces i have ever seen!  i used some crystal ice stickles to highlight the snowmen and also gave the faces some color with copics.  i added ice stickles to the pattened snowanimal paper too. 

now the snowflakes  i have lots of different things going on with them for comparison’s sake so if you want the deets on them just continue reading!

 

 

 

 

 

I put a rose red glittered skittle in the center of each snowflake…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the title piece has yet another snowflake and a cute little glittered skittle snowman.  i stamped the title with a studio G stamp and brilliance pearlescent poppy ink.

 

 

 

i wanted to call your attention to the large pic – i took a class with jessica sprague and learned loads of fun stuff to do including this frame overlay technique.  i plan to do more altering on my photos as i go and highly recommend the classes to anyone interested in getting alot more out of photoshop elements!

 

 

now for the fun and messy part!!

you’ll need to start by gathering some supplies All of these can be found on my website except the glitter - let me know if there is something you can’t find):

Here you can see the snowflakes.  you need primas or die cuts or whatever else you want to glam up (either white or colored), pearl mist (i prefer to make my own from perfect pearls, water & reinker – see my tutorial here), UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Powder, fine glitter, small container with lid, versamark/embossing ink pad, heat gun.

Step 1: give your items some color and shimmer.  here i sprayed the die cuts with pearl mist made from water and perfect gold perfect pearls.  this gives them an all over shimmer.  now this alone can be a GREAT place to stop.  in fact i sprayed the patterned paper on my LO with it as well so it became shimmer paper   let these dry completely – at the end you can speed them along with a heat gun.  they MUST be completely dry before using UTEE.

now make your glittering UTEE – i did not measure this – just dump a little UTEE in your container and dump in some glitter – shake it & mix it up well.

 

 

 

 

now just smoosh each one really good into your versamark pad – be sure to get it good and covered.  something i noticed about this step – it made them much darker than their original color because they were wet…and the color stayed that way so several of mine ended up being much darker than i wanted them to be.  this *might* be why the person in the original video started with primas that were white not colored.  i have a second experiment drying downstairs and waiting for the next step.  it will be up tomorrow with deets.

After coating them well with versamark you will pour on the UTEE glitter mix.  carefully shake them off and place them on a surface where you can use your heat gun (i swear by my craft mat!)  you can see here they are very coated.  nw heat them until it all melts.  this can be the tricky and seriously messy part.  i recently switched to the ranger heat gun after my marvy one got water in it (don’t ask).  i will be honest it seems not as hot, not as quick and not as easy to aim BUT – and this is a biggie for me – it blows out softer so it does not send the UTEE flying in every direction.  IF you have a more forceful type gun be sure to hold it high above the UTEE and start the heating process, as it warms and begins to melt you can slowly move the gun closer.

ok this pic kinda sucks BUT here they are.  next step – you need another coat of UTEE – either plain or the glitter one if you want more glitter.

the effect is glitter trapped in glass almost and very sparkly!

 

 

here are the flowers from yesterday – i tried three different things – the flower on the left is blue and no pearl spray, the top right is blue and has gold perfect pearls mist on it, the bottom right started out white and i sprayed it with a perfect pearls mist with gold perfect pearls AND a bright blue reinker.  they start off looking almost identical in color…

in the bottom pic the flowers are in the same place.  you can see how much darker the two larger flowers became from the embossing ink.  the one that started out as white sayed truer to color.  the pearl shimmer IS somewhat visible once they are covered with UTEE & glitter and i think does add to the effect tho it is not necessary.

 

HOWEVER i wasn’t sure if it was my fave way of just blinging it.  so i created several different styles.  here they are for you to compare.  in addition to the 2 demonstrated above i have 1 large one done by sandwiching a layer of perfect pearls between layers of UTEE, the small green one is just pearl mist and the bottom middle is covered in gold ICE stickles.

 

here is a close up of the perfect pearls sandwich.  the cool thing about this technique is the reaction between the perfect pearls and the UTEE.  the top layer of UTEE drips through the layer of perfect pearls as it melts.  you can also see the gorgeous thick smooth finish UTEE gives you.

 

 

here is the one that is just sprayed with the perfect pearls mist – this is a far subtler look of shimmery-ness.

 

 

 

 

 

this is the snowflake covered with gold ice stickles – frankly this one has the biggest bling factor.  however all of them are superb and have a unique look to them.

 

 

 

 

and now i have a surprise for those of you who are still with me – A GIVEAWAY!!!  leave me a comment and tell me which method is your favorite. on friday i will draw a random name and that person will receive all of the items needed to make his or her favorite style (minus the cricut cartridge to cut the shapes out of course)!!  so if you want to give one of these techniques a try but don’t have all the goodies you need sign up for this giveaway!!

ok i am off to attempt to talk Pezzy into napping…..

thanks so much for stopping by!!!