Beach Bums & Fancy Pants

Check out this awesome new paper line from Fancy Pants...just in time for all those summertime photos.

Can you belive June is already coming to an end? It seems like school got out just last week and we are already closing in on July! Summer is in full swing! And this week, our Product Spotlight is a collection perfect for those sizzling summer photos. Check out these ideas using Beach Bum!




For more info please visit Fancy Pants Blog... located here on the left under suppliers.

Cardmaking tricks with word

Cool tricks to arrange digital images and text on your page in word for cardmaking. Check out all these awesome tutorials from Squigglefly!

Mixed Media Canvas

 

A mixed media canvas using using Gelatos and Art GRIP Aquarelle pencils. The canvas is 12" x 16" large and pre-primed.  I used some tissue papers, sheet music and patterned paper scraps to create the collaged background.  Using gel medium, I adhered them first and then used blue and green Gelatos over top of them.  Using water, I blended them with the medium to create a soft look.

Texture paste or modeling paste was added in a thin layer over parts of the collage.  I let it dry a bit and then stamped with a text rubber stamp and bubblewrap to create texture.  Once dry, I added a wash of gold Gelato over top to pick up details.
I used orange and yellow Aquarelle watercolor pencils to color some book papers and punched circles to add some contrast to the piece.
Rub ons by Hambly Studios were added and a few other embellishments by Prima.  I used embroidery floss to stitch a branch onto the canvas by poking holes first to attach.

The final artwork is full of texture, color and fun details.  Here is another view:

For more info please visit Design Memory Crafts

Inkadinkado Stamp Giveaway

Love stamping? Then check out this giveaway!

We are so excited about our new Cling Stamps! You’ll just love the superior quality of Inkadinkado’s unique hybrid stamps, and we want to help you experience it all for yourself. In our Giveaway, 10 lucky winners will receive a Cling Stamp Prize Package chosen by Inkadinkado—a $50 value which includes a selection of our new stamps along with a clear block so you can start playing right away!

You must be 18 years or older to enter. Open to US Residents and Canada (excluding Quebec).  See Official Rules. Enter by Friday July 15, 2011 at 11:59pm. No purchase required.

Click HERE to enter!

Tattered Angels...The Paint System

Mix and blend the paints to achieve a unique background … Have Fun! For more details on this technique please visit the My Tattered Angels Blog.

Make your own custom paint colors to jazz up that plain chipboard...

GCD offers a ton of cute chipboard - in just about any shape you can imagine. Alphabets too!

I think my favorite package is the butterflies, but for this layout, I decided to go with a star.

Gather up your chipboard, white acrylic paint, and some sort of liquid ink. Here I've used a re-inker that goes with one of my ink pads.

Put some paint in a little cup or container and add a few drops of ink. Stir it up with a toothpick or popsicle stick. Start out with a little and see how dark the tint is; you can always add more. Alternatively, you could mix different colors of acrylic paint (yellow + blue to make green), or even mix a color with white (black + white to make gray) - you could even get really creative and add a little glitter!

Using a paintbrush or sponge, cover the chipboard with paint. You may have to add a few coats to get even coverage.

When mine was dry, I felt it still wasn't quite dark enough so I sponged it with some additional ink.

Here's a peek at the chipboard on my finished layout.

For more awesome echniques visit GCD Studios Blog!

Sassafras Mini Album

Check out this cool technique from Sassafras....
Mini album with squared coasters, masking tape, and the fabulous Indie Girl collection.

Take about 6 coasters, and cover them with printed papers. Then use some large masking tape to bind them all together. Put some tape between each page, and on the edge of the album.
Ink all the borders with a blue ink.

You can put a bit of Mod Podge on the covers to make them a bit shiny.
Now you just have to place your photos and embellishments to finish your cute mini album !

For more cool techniques visit the Sassafras Blog.

June Weddings

Check out these NEW Melissa Francis stickers for all those June wedding cards!! Abosuletly GORGEOUS!!

Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint

Tips & Techniques
 

Tim Holtz™ Distress Crackle Paint™
Distress Crackle Paint is just that…paint that dries with a crackled effect. This is not the “2-part” crackle finishes that you see in hardware or craft stores, but an acrylic paint that has more of the look of “dried or cracked earth”.  What is so special about it is that the paint cracks on its own as it dries and comes in the beautiful 24 color Distress™ color palette. A multitude of looks can be created, from grungy to vintage distressed to shabby chic!

Here are some tips on how to get the best results with Distress Crackle Paint!

Tips:
1. Shake the jar to mix the paint. If it is a little thicker, add some mists of water with a Mini Mister™. Stir and add more mists of water as needed until you have a smoother consistency. Note: only add water to Crackle Paint IF NEEDED.

2. Apply Distress Crackle Paint to a surface that has some “tooth” (something that the paint can grab onto) such as paper, Grungeboard™, chipboard or primed canvas. If using unfinished wood or natural canvas, it is suggested to prime the surface first with gesso or acrylic paint, such as the Adirondack® Acrylic Paint Dabbers.

3. It is ideal to paint medium to thick applications; a medium application will result in smaller cracks. A thicker coat will create larger cracks. A thin application doesn’t work as well because the paint has nothing to crack. Don’t treat the paint like a “regular” acrylic paint-Distress Crackle Paint is self-leveling. If a thicker application is applied, the paint will still level out before it dries and cracks.

4. The optimal way for the paint to crack is to just let it dry and crack on its own. Yes-watching paint dry! If you’re in a rush for the “magic”, once the paint has started to crackle on its own first (this is an IMPORTANT step!) apply cool air, such as from a mini-fan or dry with a Craft Tool from underneath the painted surface.
 5. Be sure to completely close the lids on the jars.
 6. Once the paint crackles, an option is to highlight the cracks using one of the Distress Ink™ Dye Stamp Pads and the Inkssentials™ Ink Blending Tool. The matching color of the Distress Ink will accent the cracks; a darker color of Distress Ink will tone down the paint color as well as accenting the crackle.

Here is a layout I created using the "Distress Crackle Paint"