Stamp It Stencil It Genius

One of the things I plan to offer regularly on my blog are product reviews and tutorials. With fewer independent stores, we are forced to purchase the majority of our products online. The problem is, no one shows us how to use the products and we cannot see and touch them ourselves. While I cannot let you see and touch things on my blog, either, I can try my best to critically review and share as much as possible about the products to make it easier for you to make a purchase decision. Some of the products I will feature I sell in my retail store. Others I do not, but I will provide you with links so you know where to get them.

The first product I want to start with is not new. It has been around for several years, but since I did not understand how it worked, I have not purchased it before. At the Great Lakes Mega Meet, I finally got up the courage to tell Wendy Vecchi, the genius who created this product, that I didn’t get it. She showed me the part I was missing and my head exploded!

This inventive product is called Stamp-It Stencil-It. It comes with a cling mounted rubber stamp and a matching stencil. You can use either piece on its own. But the magic happens when you use them together. The stencil actually acts as a mask for coloring in the flowers quickly and easily.

Since it is called, Stamp-It, Stencil-It, Wendy says you stamp it first. Then you line up the stencil and use it to mask off the leaves while you color the flower and then mask off the flower while you color the leaves. Notice in the photo above how, when lined up with the flower, the leaves are covered. This allows you to take an ink blending tool or makeup sponge and color the flower quickly and easily. Genius!! (just be careful not to go off the edge of the stencil).

The technique works so well that I was able to use the stencil to add Transparent Gloss Texture Paste over the middle flower to make it glossy and beautiful.

And here is the finished card … the flowers and leaves are colored with Wendy Vecchi’s Archival Inks. The background is colored with Distress ink.

You can order the inks and texture paste from me. The Stamp-It, Stencil-It sets are available from Stampers’ Anonymous. There are dozens of ink colors and even more stamp sets to pick from. I brought several home with me. And, yes, I wish every stamp came with one of these stencils!

New Piccolos from Globecraft Memories

Have you seen the new holiday Piccolo Accents from Globecraft Memories? They are really cute …

Here are a few cards I created with them …

This one is the Night Before Christmas. I coated it with Vintage Gold Enamel Powder and then glued a bit of embroidery floss behind for the string. The stamp is from Stampers Anonymous and the papers are from Reminisce.

This one uses the Lil Christmas Accents (well, a few of them …). I painted them white and black and then covered them with Glastique. The “buttons” were created with a Glaze pen. I used papers by Moxxie and velvet paper for the background. The saying is a sticker.

Finally, this one I have shown before, but I love it so much, I thought it was worth another look! It features the My Own Wreath Design Accents, which are a lot of fun because it comes with several accents and you pick what you want to go on the wreath! The dark green is Mossy Glen Enamel Powder. The red and light green are paints by Claudine Hellmuth Studio. I covered the entire thing with Glastique.

The stamp is the same one used above. Papers are from Authentique and the sentiment is stamped on paper cut out with a Lifestyle Crafts Die.

Are you making Christmas cards this year?

 

Merry Christmas Card

It may be the beginning of Autumn, but I’m feeling a lot like Christmas.

I decided this is the perfect time to get started making Christmas cards.

This year, I have a special project I am doing in conjunction with Capture A Memory. I am creating holiday cards using only items the store has in stock. Then, I am putting the cards, a recipe to make them, and all of the products needed to create them in a special section in the store. Think of it as one-stop-card shopping. I think it will be fun for both me and the customers and I am excited to get started.

Naturally, with my brain that easily gets overloaded, I left the new stamps and papers I purchased to make some of the cards at the store last Thursday. Then, my husband offered to go with me to the store on Sunday to pick up the items and run a few errands. We were almost to the store when I realized I didn’t bring my keys and since the store isn’t open on Sunday, I wasn’t getting anything!

So the project is already behind schedule, but I despite all of my issues, I did manage to create one card this weekend …

Supplies: Authentique papers, Vintage Photo Distress Ink, Festive Berries Distress Ink, stamp by Stampers Anonymous, die cut by Lifestyle Crafts, Wreath by Globecraft Memories, Mossy Glen Enamel Powder, Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paints, Glastique, and a little gold cord.

Most of the items are available at Capture A Memory in Flint Township. The Globecraft Memories products (Wreath, Mossy Glen, Enamel Powder Adhesive and Glastique) can be purchased through the new link on the right side of my blog. Easy, easy!

If you choose to make your own version of this card, please send me a link or jpeg and I’ll share it with everyone!

Thanks for reading …

 

At the beach …

During my recent vacation, I inadvertently discovered the most beautiful beach on Lake Michigan (or so I thought when I was there …)

On our way to the Sleeping Bear Dunes, I asked my husband if we could track down a couple of lighthouses on the way. I “collect” lighthouses — I visit as many as I can, take a picture or two and then scrapbook them in a special 8×8 album that I started after our honeymoon. So, naturally, he was willing to take a short detour to Frankfort, the next stop on my map of Michigan lighthouses.

What we discovered was an adorable town and a beautiful beach, not to mention a great view of the lighthouse.

This is the page I created about the beach …

I used paper, a journaling tag, a glittered border sticker and some fabric embellishments from Little Yellow Bicycle’s new Sweet Summertime line — I love the bright colors!

I attached all of the photos with Ultra Thin Glue Dots, which are perfect because they do not add any bulk to the page.

Next, I stamped the poem — from Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous — on a sheet of white cardstock with Ranger Archival Ink and then used Distress Ink to add a bit of color. I attached the poem with Glue Dots and then applied a few brads to the top.

For the banner, I started with the mini chipboard banners from Maya Road and painted them with Adirondack Paint Dabbers. TIP: Use Removable Glue Dots to hold the chipboard in place while you paint.

I cut out letters with QuicKutz dies and used Micro Glue Dots to attach them to the banner. Then, I covered each piece with Diamond Glaze to give it a shiny, epoxy-like finish. Again, use the Removable Glue Dots to hold them in place.

Then, I cut a piece of We R Memory Keepers twine to use behind my banner flags. I used Craft Glue Dots to attach these since they hold so well. I made sure some of the twine ran through the Craft Glue Dots in places to secure two parts at one time.

Finally, I used Craft Glue Dots to attach a few of the shells I took from the beach.

Here is a close up of the banner … click on the image for a larger view.

What can you do with Glue Dots®?

Mini Glue Dots® were used on this to fix edges that didn't get adhered properly and to hold tags in place.

When I was asked this question, my first response was, “what can’t you do with Glue Dots®!”

I have been a huge fan of Mini Glue Dots® since the day I discovered them some 10 or 12 years ago. I first used them to attach decorative buttons. Then, when metal charms and accents were all the rage, I used them for that.

Eventually, I developed my own techniques.

For instance, I never learned to sew. I understand the concept, but the whole knotting thing is just too much for me. So, when I want to “sew” a button onto a scrapbook page, I run embroidery floss through one of the button holes. Then, at the back, I attach Mini Glue Dots® so it holds the floss in place. Next, I run the floss through the rest of the button holes and then add another Mini Glue Dots® to hold it all in place. I trim the edges and adhere it to my page.

The Mini Glue Dots® on the perforated sheets are my favorites — so much so that I special order them from my favorite scrapbook store (they carry both the value pack rolls and the Dot N’ Go Glue Dots®. But, I love using the perforated sheets when I teach classes.

They also come in handy when working on altered art. It never fails that no matter how much adhesive I apply, I always seem to miss a corner of the paper here and there. With the perforated sheets, you can slip the Mini Glue Dots® under the paper, press down and yank the sheet back out, leaving behind a perfectly adhered corner.

I also like the Removable Glue Dots®. I use them to adhere small pieces of chipboard to my Non-Stick Craft Sheet when painting or inking. They are also helpful in keeping ribbon wrapped up on its spool.

The only adhesive used on this frame were Glue Dots®.

But, in response to the question I was asked, I decided to experiment and see what you really could do with Glue Dots®.

As it turns out, you can use them to hold embossing powder in place while you heat it (see the blue lines in the frame above). You can also use them as an adhesive for glitter, flock or Sparkly Fluff. And, they can hold just about anything, as shown in the travel frame I made to celebrate a train ride my husband and I took.

Incidentally, my husband took one of my Mini Glue Dots® and used it to fix his camera the other day. While I wouldn’t recommend that, he’s happy and in the end, that’s all that really matters!

Here are step-by-step directions for making the Travel Frame:

1. Sand frame by KaiserCraft.

2. Paint with Ranger Paint Dabbers — I used Black and Silver. Since the tape is transparent, the different colors underneath create a bit of depth and interest.

3. Once dry, place a photo in place and assemble the frame using Glue Dots®.

4. Cover the front of the frame with Tissue Tape by Tim Holtz.

5. Apply two strips of Continuous Glue Lines® and sprinkle with JudiKins Embossing Powder in Lapis Lazul. Heat to melt.

6. Using Sizzix Dies by Tim Holtz, cut out Tickets on plain white cardstock and flowers using paper by Tim Holtz.

7. Stamp desired tickets with Ranger Archival Ink using Tim Holtz stamps by Stampers Anonymous. Color with Tim Holtz Distress Ink. Journal. Crinkle and bend as desired and staple on each side using the Tiny Attacher. Add mini paper clips by Tim Holtz.

8. Bend flower dies as desired. Pierce hole in each and connect with Hitch by Tim Holtz.

9. Attach lace, buttons (My Mind’s Eye), and pin (Tim Holtz) with Mini Glue Dots®.

10. Thread chain (Tim Holtz) through key (Tim Holtz). Place Mini Glue Dots® on the bottom of the key and Pop Up Glue Dots® on the top of the key and attach to the frame. Drape the chain over the frame corner and attach in the back with Mini Glue Dots®.

11. Attach flower with Mini Glue Dots®.

12. Attach a Game Spinner to a Clock Face using a brad (all by Tim Holtz) and use Glue Dots® to adhere.

13. Place a Mini Glue Dots® on top of Gear (Tim Holtz) and attach a Dew Drop (Robin’s Nest).

14. Using jump rings (Tim Holtz), attach charm (Maya Road) to gear. Then place another Glue Dots® on the back of the gear and adhere it to the frame. Push it into the Continuous Glue Lines® for extra security. Be sure your charm hangs freely in front of the photo. Enjoy!

“I wrote this blog post while participating on the Glue Dots design team.”