More Fabulous Finds from Creativation

Here’s another look at some of the Fabulous Finds found at the Creativation craft and hobby show in Phoenix last month:

 

(Layering stamps clockwise from top: large roses, Hampton Art; koi and rooster, Hero Arts; small vintage roses, Altenew)

Stamp layering (images you layer to create depths of color and design) is so pretty … and still oh-so popular, with more and more companies producing layering images. And ditto for stamps with coordinating dies. I became a huge fan of Altenew stamps, a company that elevated the stamp layering technique, when I first saw the company a few shows ago. They really ignited a trend.

Also fun, Hero Arts (love the koi and rooster and … a croissant? Whaaaat? So yummy); Waffle Flower  (marble, cross stitched cacti and roses, and more); Hampton Art, and more.

Here’s a cute layered/stitched cactus from Waffle Flower:

… and a nifty marbling stamp, also from Waffle Flower.

I also love the flower border stamps!

Thanks for stopping by!

Fabulous Finds Friday — CHA Treats

I have a few quick hits on some Fabulous Finds from CHA.

I’ve always been a fan of Avery Elle, and this year’s collection of new stamps and dies prove my point. Check out these two adorable cards:

Cute, right?

Last year we were introduced to Ken Oliver’s Colorbursts pigment inks. This year he made it even easier to get that beautiful look but without the mess — just use his pre-printed sheets. Check out these samples:

Ken Oliver paper

So pretty!

(For more inspiration, check out Ken’s blog here.)

Stay tuned for more highlights!

Hero Arts at CHA

Hero Arts never disappoints in its showing of stamps, inks and more. And this year’s CHA reveal was no exception.

We all know how crazy I am about succulents (see here)

So naturally, I immediately gravitated to these cards (and images):

I also love the new ombre ink pads:

And look at this cute card done with those inks:

Check them out at www.heroarts.com.

Thanks for stopping by!

Fabulous Finds Friday — Pinster Winster

A book featuring Pinterest pins?

When I first saw the book Pinterest Perfect! (published by Walter Foster), I thought, “Why do I need a book? Why not go directly to the source?”

But have you ever gone down that rabbit hole, disappearing into a never-ending spiral of great ideas and fetching projects? Where one pin leads to another … and another … and before you know it, it’s Easter and you completely missed Valentine’s Day?

Anyway, this book is a wonderfully curated collection of inspiring ideas, complete with step-by-step projects, creative tips and techniques directly from the artists, and hints on how to use Pinterest as inspiration. The book is broken up into eight sections, from paper crafts and doodling to mixed media and “crafts.” There are also empty pages ripe for sketching, brainstorming, note taking, doodling, etc. Skim the book with sticky notes in hand for marking favorite pages. Read it order or sip and glide as you will, randomly selecting a project here and there.

Here’s a peek inside:

Curious? Intrigued? You could win it! I have a copy of the book, donated by publisher Walter Foster, to give away! Just leave me a comment by July 28 on what you love about Pinterest and a random generator will pick a lucky winner. Sorry, you must be in the continental U.S. to win.

Have fun, and thanks for joining me today.

Fabulous Finds Friday — Checking in at Carson

It’s been a while since I’ve been to the Original Rubber Stamp Convention in Carson, CA. (Commonly called the Carson show.) I didn’t have time to shop (boo hoo) because the hubster was waiting in the car…. so I just ran in to take a few picks and say hello to some old friends. Here are some fabulous, fun finds.

First up, the dynamic duo of Judi Watanabe and Rob Bostick of JudiKins.

Judi demoed a technique using Mica Magic reinkers to create some stunning backgrounds:

Rob showed me the new Frosty White embossing powder, here used to stunning effect on red cardstock:

I think I need to get my hands on that powder!
Check out more of JudiKins at www.judikins.com

Next week I’ll show some more fun finds — including some new (to me) companies and some old friends (Remember Carmen’s Veranda?)

Have a great weekend!

Fabulous Finds Friday — Odds & Ends

So many fun and fabulous things happening in the craft world … here is a quick round-up:

There are two fun new products from Scotch Brand — the above Scotch Expressions Tape comes in vibrant blue, pink and purple. It’s colorful AND repositionable. You can also write on it. I haven’t tried stamping on it, but I bet you could easily stamp using a permanent ink such as StazOn.

Then there are new Scotch Restickable Dots:

According to the company, these double-sided adhesive tabs remove cleanly from walls, desks, windows, mirrors, etc. When you’re done, wash them with soapy water and they’ll be sticky again.

Spellbinders has pretty new additions – from elegant to whimsical – in the Die D-Lites™ line. What I love about these is that they are sized for cards, tags and Artist Trading Cards.

New dies include flowers, holiday and decorative pieces. Check them out here

The colorful world of Tombow is a little brighter thanks to an expanded website that features more than 50 craft projects using Tombow products. Projects include art frames, coasters, gift tags, mixed media projects and more. Check it out at www.tombowusa.com (where you can link to a blog, Facebook, Pinterest, etc.) Besides the nifty pencils, markers and adhesives, Tombow also has a line of recyled products.

BasicGrey has a fun a flirty new collection coming out … Fresh Cut. Perfect for a spring bouquet of stamping. Check out the fresh ideas here. http://www.basicgrey.com/files/catalog/FreshCut_Catalog.pdf

Have a crafty weekend!

Using Journaling Cards

I don’t often enter challenges, but this Journaling Cards Challenge in the Moxie Fab World sparked something in me. The challenge was to use scrapbook journaling cards to create something else. I have quite a few of these cards and since I rarely scrapbook, I didn’t really have much use for them. But then I was inspired by the Moxie!

These large cards from Bazzill Basics made me immediately think of a mini book! So I took the eight horizontal ones from the School Days set, added some plain cardstock cut to size, and used my Cinch machine (We R Memory Keepers) to bind them into a book!

(The apple was stamped and embossed in red. I think that’s an old Hero Arts image, but I’m not sure. Everything else is from Bazzill)

Check out one of the inside pages:

Then I cut apart this journaling card ….

To create this card:

(paper is still from Bazzill, Miss Teagen Sue Collection; woman with shades is AB10G from American Art Stamp, embossed in copper powder from EK Success. You can’t see it, but there is a touch of Stickles Diamond in various spots)

You know I can’t stop when I’m on a roll. Here’s something cute from Basic Grey’s Aspen Frost collection:

The papers are from Basic Grey, the ornaments from Heartfelt Creations and embossed in red and teal; sentiment from Hero Arts, die cut using a Lifestyle Crafts die and edged in Ranger Distress Ink Bundled Sage. The tiny pieces of sparkly red thread on the ornaments is from Kreinik.

Really… last one….

Journaling card from Bazzill Basics; “age” sentiment stamped using a small Hero Arts clear alphabet set; blue border is a scrap left over from Die Cuts With a View paper. Edges were distressed and colored with blue pigment ink.

Thanks for coming by!

Magical Book Art

I came across something I just had to share … it’s a magical convergence of books and art!

A mysterious book lover and artist has left tiny sculpted gifts to museums in Scotland. Anyone who loves books and loves crafty things, must check this out: http://thisiscentralstation.com/featured/mysterious-paper-sculptures/

I wanted to make a card to illustrate this post… but have run out of time. So I’m dusting off a fast and easy set I made several years ago (so long ago I was scanning cards because I didn’t have a digital camera!) So in honor of trees, here they are …

See, I told you it was simple and easy! (The color is off, but oh well….)

(tree stamp from Gloria Page; words Stampin’ Up.)

Thanks for coming by … I hope to have some Valentine’s Day cards posted Friday, along with some new products from Hero Arts.)

Art Heals. ‘nuf said.

In 2004, my friend and former editor, Laura Rivera, had brain surgery to remove a tumor. She is a wife and mother and after the surgery she could not walk, talk or feed herself. Before the surgery, Laura was a talented stamper, card maker and writer — she was the long time editor at The Rubberstamper Magazine, where I started writing craft articles. Art was a big part of her life, so to lose the ability to hold a pencil, let alone draw, was tough. But through months and months of therapy — including art therapy — Laura regained those skills. I asked Laura to share a little bit about the importance of art in healing. Here are her words and drawings:

– – – – –

“I had kept an art journal off and on for about 10 years, but it wasn’t until my brain surgery and the six months of recovery that followed that my work in those journals started – really, really, started.

I spent about a month in the hospital immediately after my surgery, where I was overwhelmed by my new physical limitations. Let’s just say that the brain doesn’t like being messed with! Although the surgery removed all of my tumor, I couldn’t  walk, speak, or  use my hands to do ordinary things such as feed myself or hold a pencil. I certainly could not draw or hold scissors.
Creating art seemed out of the question, but that wasn’t a part of my past that I was willing to give up.

I worked with an  occupational therapist who  helped me gain back strength and coordination in my hands, and soon my journal became a tangible way to see progress.  My art journal  was something small that I could keep close, look at, and think, “I made that!” (And in the meantime, I regained my ability to walk and speak clearly.)

Soon art became important because it was one of the few things from my life “before” that I could still enjoy “after” — it was a part of me that I could hold onto. It was a way
of saying, “See, some part of the old me is still alive.” And then it became something else: a way to work through a situation that was difficult — maybe even impossible — to understand. (Why did this happen? Would I ever go back to work? Could I still be a good mom to my son?) I could paint or draw or cut and paste; and my mind would slow down while wheels in my brains
would turn, and usually wind themselves up to a better place.

I know I am not alone, and that there are others  who have used art as therapy through tough times. Some call it an escape, but as the writer and artist Lynda Barry explains in her book, “What It Is,” we don’t do make art to escape realit y— it’s our way to stay in it.”

– – – – – –

Thank you, Laura, for sharing your story. Readers, for more info, please visit Laura’s blog: http://mybraininpictures.wordpress.com

My New Camera

Not only am I late posting on this Fabulous Friday, I don’t even have a card to share! I did, however, get a new camera, which makes me very happy. I have been snapping away. I was too impatient to read the instructions… I wanted to play. Here are two photos I took — maybe you will be inspired to create something.

Not the most thrilling photo, but my first one, playing with the close-up feature. I love the sharp main image and the blurry background.

And here’s one of the orchid sitting above my kitchen sink:

Have a wonderful weekend!