Friday, June 27, 2014

June Scrapping our Stash Blog Hop

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If you are following us on the Practical Scrappers Scrapping our Stash Blog hop, you should be arriving here from Wendy's blog www.stampingrules.com 

It's not very often that I break out anything glittery to use on my pages. When I do though, I tend to go all out! Today's page is all about using up some Pebbles chipboard shapes that I've been hoarding for a few years now ( probably close to 6!). I added some new wood flower buttons and papers from the newer scrap pile to keep it fresh.


...thank goodness for cork and wood grain; without them I might have really gotten carried away (*wink*) I think they really help to balance out all that sparkle and colour.

materials:
Cardstock: American Crafts (woodgrain)
pp: Glitz Design, Doodlebug Design Inc.
Diecuts: Simple Stories, Impression Obsession ( cork bunny)
Letters: American Crafts
buttons: Maya Road
Cork: Little Yellow Bicycle, Canvas Corp
Tim Holtz Distress Stain

Don't forget to leave comments along the way for the chance to win some prizes!
I will be sending a little RAK to one lucky commenter picked at random from my blog.

Next stop to visit is Majken at http://chocoscrapaholic.blogspot.com

For the full hop list please visit http://practicalscrappers.blogspot.com

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Debutante.

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It's a first layout today for me for the Challenge YOUrself Blog. I'm happy to be working on design team projetcs again, and this time with a great group of ladies, and with a great premise. All challenges must include a picture of you ( or in this case ME!)

It's about time I do something about not being part of the history and memories I'm recording.

 Challenge #7 for June is to scrap a photo of you and a man in your life. ( any male you choose- even your pet gerbil as long as he's a he).

We are being Sponsored by Paper Issues with a great prize- head over to the Challenge YOUrself blog for details!


Materials:
Pp: Teresa Collins, Graphic 45
Dylusions Spray Ink, irRESISTible color texture spray
Die cuts: Teresa Collins
Washi Tape: Little Blue, unknown
lace: Love My Tapes
Brads: Teresa Collins
Chipboard: Studio Calico
Maxi Hama Beads ( tutorial Here)
stamp: Impression Obsession
Felt Flowers:
Transparencies: Fancy Pants

Thanks for stopping by!
Erin

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Mixing it Up

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Maybe it's my urge to start painting on canvas again, or maybe it's because I'm having a blast with new products like irRESISTible dimensional sprays, and my funky new DIY enamel accents, but more and more of my projects lately are using paints, inks and mixed media. Right now, I'm having fun with washes of colour. 

This page uses Staz On ink and Prima Marketing Stamps, 
Clear Embossing powder and Top Boss embossing ink, with Inkadinkadoo stamps to create a soft resist beneath the colour washes.

 I used Dr. Martin's India Ink combined with Dylusions Spray ink, diluted with water and applied with a brush. 

I finished off with splatters of iRESISTible spray, Dylusions and some enamel accents.


additional supplies:
Bazzill Basics Paper
Prism Simply Smooth
American Crafts Thickers
Viva Decor Clear Gloss

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Melting Things

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I'm not usually one to run out and try the latest Pinterest craze, since many of the really cool ideas seem too good to be true or require too much time or money. However, since I already had all the materials on hand, I thought I'd better try making some of my own enamel dots- à la Pinterest.

Only I didn't have exactly what I needed on hand...

Of the million things you will find to make enamel dots from when you do a search on Pinterest- mine does not seem to be listed. You see perler beads seem to work fine, and what I had were just really big versions of perler beads (My First Hama Maxi Beads). I liked the idea of really big fun dots, so I decided to give it a go.

So at 375 degrees ( Farenheit)  on a foil lined cookie sheet, I baked my beads... and baked them..and baked them. They just didn't want to close up in the centers. ( photo above shows unbaked in my hand, and probably 20 minutes baked on the cookie sheet).  I returned them to the hot oven and checked every 5 minutes or so until they resembled smooth Life Saver candies.

 At first I was feeling like a Pinterest failure, but I realized how awesome these cute little rings would be on my pages.

Then I played around with a medium sized bead I found at Michaels made by Creatology that was labeled as a pony bead, but just looked like a medium straight sided perler bead. **( This is also where I discovered that foil is not the best choice for baking, as the beads were hard to remove).

These made rings as well, but smaller thinner ones. ( baked at 375 for approx 15 minutes).

Then of course I made a ton of tiny beads from real perler beads this time using an old heat resistant splat mat in lieu of foil.

...then I discovered I could place a small perler inside the center of the medium bead and make duo tone dots!!




Here's a little breakdown of the sizes achieved from each bead:


 I've also read tips that you can cut the beads in half to get yet  another size variation.



I'm all set now, and have already used these on several projects. Unfortunately my kids might have to find a new favorite craft since I've acquired their supplies!