Blog Archives

Tuesday with Wendy, March 27th

3/30/2018

This week for class we had a LOT of fun and the cards were just wonderful, as usual!!

These cards all taught a different technique..

The first card was made using the new paper from BoBunny, Black Tie Affair and this Vintage Paper Dolls set from Tim Holtz

First, Students went through and picked out EITHER 1 large photo or 2 small photos from the Vintage Paper Dolls
Then, using the Faber Castell pens, each person colored in only PART of the images.. such as the hats and gloves or just the dresses.. etc.
Heat-set the image to dry the Faber Castell markers!
Using the Nuvo Blending Sponges, apply Walnut Stain Distress Ink to the black and white rose paper. *This is a great way to colorize paper if you needed to add another color into your card!
Layer the card together using some textured ribbon

Check out how everyone colored their little Paper Dolls!! I LOVE THESE!!

It is so fun to see everyone's cards come together at the end!! What a sweet card this is !!

This next card was made using all these fun Texture stamps from Fred B. Mullett!

The stamps she used: Netting2, Half Shell 1, Half Shell 2, and May All Your Dreams by Prickly Pear

To make the card:

Stamp out the Netting and Half Shell 2 in black ink on White Cardstock
Stamp out the Half Shell 1 in red ink after all the other images have dried
Stamp out the sentiment in the bottom right hand corner (Wendy used the Tim Holtz Platform to stamp the sentiment)

The best part about this card is you can arrange your texture stamps in any way you see fit!

What a fun card this turned out to be!!

This next card was made using this BEAUTIFUL Ferns embossing folder by Cest La Vie, this amazing Spruce Lines stamp from Fred B. Mullett, and the ALL NEW Distress Resist Spray from Tim Holtz

To make this card:

First, open up your embossing folder and lightly rub the Distress Oxide Ink, Peeled Paint, across the BUMPY SIDE UP side of the embossing folder ONLY
Run your Kromekote paper (shiny side down toward the ink) through your machine in the embossing folder
THEN spritz the surface with the Distress Resist Spray one time and LET IT DRY (we used a heat gun). **it needs to be FULLY DRY before you continue!**
Rub 2 colors of Distress Ink (Seedless Preserves and Dusty Concord) lightly across the embossed paper. The purple ink should just barely cover the image but not go as deep as the embossed leaves.
Take the Seedless Preserves ink pad, rub it on a craft mat, spritz water to activate the colors, and use ANOTHER small piece of Kromekote paper to lift some of the ink off the craft mat. This will transfer the ink onto the Kromekote paper. Heat-set the paper.
Stamp the Spruce Lines stamp on top of the Kromekote paper you just finished heat-setting using Versafine Olympic Green ink. Heat-set AGAIN.
Put your card together, adding a bit of Ombre Purple Ribbon, and look in awe at how beautiful it is!!

This was a VERY popular card in class this week!!

What a FUN class this week!! Join us for the NEXT Tuesday with Wendy class on April 10th ! Give us a call to sign up! 360-647-9663

What's Wendy Up To?

3/30/2018

Here at the store we are ALWAYS playing and experimenting with new ideas in the world of Art.. and the Queen of Creativity around here is our own Wendy Schwartz!

This week for Demo, it was all about What's Wendy Up To?

Check out ALL THE COOL THINGS she has been making!!!

Above we have a Banner Wendy did for a Banner Project that Judith Bishop asked us to participate in... Wendy used Prismacolor pencils and one of our favorite pens.. the Sakura Black Glaze Pen!

This next piece is one of my FAVORITES!! It ALSO uses the same technique as above..On a Wooden Canvas, Wendy colored with the wax-based Prismacolor Pencils. Then, FREE HAND, Wendy went in and drew on top of the color with the Glaze Pen.. WOW!!! How stunning is this?!?!!?

Here are some Close-Up photos.. just amazing work! And I LOVE how vibrant it is!

Following that same vein of art... check out this idea! On Book Board.. she did it again!! But this time these boards were bound together with pages in between to create a book!

(front, back)

This next group of photos was all done using a printing press with leaves and oil-based inks.. THESE ARE STUNNING!!!

When Wendy was making these she said she tried to use ink colors that mimicked what the actual leaf coloring might be.. and she did a great job!

Now.. my FAVORITE part about Demo this week was... NEW CLAY!!!!

This is Apoxie Clay! And if you just heard a scream across town THAT WAS ME!!

Why do we love this clay so much?!?! Well, it is a 2 part mix that DRIES AT ROOM TEMPERATURE in 24 hours, bonds to almost ANY SURFACE and is extremely hard so you can even work it with a lathe!!

Check out what Wendy created!!

Using metal powders, seed beads, and Swarovski Crystals, Wendy made these STUNNING works of art!!

This one here is bonded to a ROCK!!

We were SO impressed with all that Wendy has been working on!!

Keep an eye out in the store for the Apoxie Clay!

Also, Wendy will be offering a class on how to do the Prismacolor and Glaze Pen art in April!

Give us a call if you have any questions!!

360-647-9663

Sealing Wax!

3/27/2018

Last week for Demo, Elli demonstrated how to do Wax Seals .. and there is a lot to learn!!

Traditionally, the sealing wax comes in a single stick with a wick at one end. To do a wax seal in this way, you light your wax stick WITH A LIGHTER, drip it onto the envelope, and then dip the wick into the hot wax (this puts out the flame). Then, while the wax is still hot, press the Metal Seal into it leaving the impression in the hot wax.

Now, although that is the traditional way to seal envelopes, it is NOT THE ONLY WAY!!

Here at the store, we sell the Low Temp Hot Glue Gun and the colored Sealing Wax which fits in the hot glue gun.

THIS IS NOT HOT GLUE!! This is true Sealing Wax meant for doing wax seals.

Using the Sealing Wax in a Low Temp Hot Glue Gun is the easiest way to get control of the Sealing Wax as well as gives you a cleaner puddle of wax to work with

*often times when doing the classic drip-wax, it is hard to make a nice clean circle. By using the Hot Glue Gun method, you can end up with the exact amount of Sealing Wax that you need

I LOVE to add a metallic element to Wax Seals:

To create that effect, apply a little bit of Versamark ink to the Metal Seal before you stamp it into the hot wax. This will leave a little bit of a clear ink that you can then brush a little bit of Pearl-Ex powder onto (see the wax seal below, Right side).

Or, you can apply a little bit of the Versamark ink directly onto the wax seal impression (after it has dried) and then brush on a little bit of Pearl-Ex powder (see the wax seal below, Left side)

You can also add a nice element to an already fancy event...

I love adding the Wax Seal to the ribbon on this Scroll.. it makes it look SO ROMANTIC!!

Check out how you can use it to seal little vials!!

To seal and invitation...

Or for making place cards...

You can even make your own "Award" by just using a bit of ribbon underneath!!

The possibilities of doing Sealing Wax are ENDLESS!!

Want to learn if Sealing Wax will work with your next project? Stop by to learn more!! We are open 7 days a week and are always happy to help you!

See you soon!

360-647-9663

Magnetic Cards

3/20/2018

Last week at Demo, Bekah showed us all how to make Magnetic Cards!

Check out these fantastic ideas!!

Bekah used the magnetic sheets that come in the Tonic Storage Binder REFILL folders. She was very impressed with the strength of the magnetic sheet that they provide in the package.

Bekah says that the magnetic sheets can even be cut in a standard DIE-CUT MACHINE!!

she put a sheet of magnet in between her card base and the front of the card...

Then Bekah cut out these adorable images from some of our new paper, Sun Kissed by Graphic 45!! There is a piece of magnet on the back of each image which makes it easy to move the little shapes on and off the card!

This makes for a GREAT car activity for the kids!!

I love how you can arrange the images in whatever way you'd like!! What a sweet idea..

With the second card, Bekah used the Crazy Birds stamp set and matching die-cut set...

...and used the magnetic sheet on the backside of each image..

SO YOU CAN MIX AND MATCH!!!

The best way to make all the shapes magnetic is to attach the paper to the magnet sheet FIRST and THEN cut out the shapes using scissors or a home die-cut machine. That way each image is a FULL magnet!

The magnet sheet is behind the background that Bekah created using the Nuvo Blending Sponges and Distress Ink.

All the magnet pieces stick together fantastically!! I also love how she stamped the images on sticker paper with the idea that the person receiving the card can color in the images themselves!!

If you would like to order some of these WONDERFUL magnetic sheets, give us a call!!

360-647-9663

Tuesday with Wendy, March 13th

3/17/2018

All 3 cards this week were just FANTASTIC!!!

Wendy used all new products to make these 3 cards.. and she did not disappoint! They are vibrant, fun, and unique!!

The first card from the series was made using:

Rolling Wave Collage die-cut from Memory Box
Starling on Branch stamp from Impression Obsession

Wendy first cut out the Rolling Wave Collage die-cut
She overlayed her die-cut onto the piece of white paper. She used a pencil to trace inside the swirl to know where to color in.
Take off the overlay and use Prismacolor colored pencils to color in the swirl
Stamp the Starling on Branch and emboss with Detail Black Embossing Powder
Overlay the Swirl onto the card and tape down using double-sided tape
Layer the Rainbow Brick paper behind the image

Check out how beautiful this card is!!

I love how each one of these cards looks a little different!!

This next card was made using these 3 stamps from Impression Obsession: Mushroom, Happy Trails and Simple Things

To make the card, first start out by scoring the card in half THEN fold the front of the card in half again so you have a card with 3 panels
Next,Wendy colored the mushroom and snails
On the front of the card, she mounted the Mushroom and one snail and mounted it on the piece of patterned paper. She mounted the little snail up with a pop dot.
For the inside of the card, stamp the sentiment Simple Things and mount another snail on the far right bottom corner.
Wendy used the Nuvo Crystal Drops to add texture onto the dots of the Mushroom and the antennae of the little snails

This last card was BY FAR one of the most incredible.. and the technique is just grand!! Wendy used this new stamp from Penny Black, In Paris

To make the card:

Sprinkle a little bit of Colorburst onto a Craft Mat and spritz with water. Use a piece of Kromekote paper (Glossy side facing the Craft Mat) and transfer the ink to the paper by just pressing it into the Colorburst
Next, ink up your stamp. Wendy used 4 colors of Versafine Ink- Onyx Black, Majestic Blue, Sepia, and Olympic Green DIRECTLY onto the stamp.. THEN she stamped the image onto the Kromekote paper on top of the Colorburst splatter that was already there. *Remember that Versafine ink stays wet longer so you can apply all 4 colors and then stamp*

One of our FAVORITE parts about card class is that even with the same technique.. EVERY CARD WAS DIFFERENT!! Check out some of these other beautiful Paris cards... WOW!!!