Live Now!

Hi all!

Pezza's challenge piece turned out so nicely I just had to make one myself to enter into the following challenges

• Tim Holtz 12 tags - July
• Mixed Media Monthly Challenge - Around the House
• Pile It On - Embossing

I don't do tags so instead I incorporated my smaller piece into a larger page sized to fit in my 8 x 8 loose leaf journal I have been making in my Journal Soup class with Kate Crane.  I followed Tim's tutorial as closely as I could - I was lacking a few products as he comes out with products far faster than my budget can keep up with now that I don't work!

My base page background followed his background and then I added a bit more to it by stamping with bubble wrap and distress paint, then I sponged embossing ink through sequin waste and sprinkled on Distress Embossing Powder for a nice tone on tone effect.  Finally, I took the leftover gritty goop mix (the "sand" in his tutorial) and I spread that through the same sequin waste.  I am quite pleased!

Here is a closer look at the main part - that Rock Candy crackle followed by Distress Stain is fantastic!  For the "around the House" challenge I have used the packaging from an embossing folder for my embossed plastic layer and I tied my metal tag on with kitchen twine I used to use to stake my gladiolas.  The Live Now tag is perfect - I am a live in the now type and my poor hubby is a plan for the future type so we tend to drive each other nuts!  But there is a good reason opposites attract - we balance each other out.

This was my first time playing with the Distress Glitter - I love how it sparkles in the "tree branch" goop I made.  I am thinking I need the rest of the colors - it is quite deelish!  If there is anyone who would like some Distress Embossing powder super cheap let me know - I still have several jars of colors in the inventory left from my store and would be willing to part with it quite cheaply!

Thanks for having a look!  Let me know what you think as I love to get comments.  Did anyone else participate in either of these challenges?

OCCC and SFYTT and still NO COLORING...

ok raise your hand if you are tired of seeing this flower stamp and purple and green *raises hand* - i was on a role this weekend and i love all the things i made but by the time i was through i was tired of seeing the same stamp and color combo (even tho it is my favorite color combo) BUT when your on a roll you go with it right? so here are my next two fun things~~

the challenge on Our Creative Corner was to use tags so both of these cards have grungeboard tags on them. Jen's SFYTT is the second one...

This first one is actually tag 2 from tim holtz's 12 tags of christmas 2008:

This card was quick and easy and uses a couple of the NEWEST colors in the alcohol ink line - purple twilight and cool peri - i cannot WAIT to get my hands on the rest of the colors - which should be here within the next week!! these open up SO many new possibilities and just in time for spring and summer (the original earthtone colors tend to make me think of fall and winter.) for the card above i used eggplant, purple twilight, cool peri and silver mixative on ranger's glossy cardstock to make the background piece. next i stamped my image using versamark and then embossed with black embossing powder. next i stamped the swirly image using black archival ink (which is cool because it fades out a bit where it is over silver.) next i added a few swirley white basic grey rub ons and the silver bird charm (from my friend Susana's Store). i inked the grungeboard tag with milled lavender, stamped my studio g image and used two glittery bead pops (thanks cat) as decorative pieces instead of brads. the black dots are just drops of espresso dimensional pearls (if you find you get *peeks* when using dimensional or liquid pearls just tap the underside gently a few times and they will disappear.)

i cannot stress enough how fabulous these tutorials of tim's are. if you have ever wanted to learn how to use all the cool products Ranger Ink has to offer his tutorials will show you ALL you need to know and are so clear and easy to follow!!!

next up i have more tim stuff. for this one i used Jen's Sketch For You To Try this week ->

and came up with this:
i stamped the image with versamark and then carefully sprinkled distress embossing powders on the different parts of the image to *color* it without coloring :) is that cheating??? for this one i used 5 embossing powders - mustard seed, milled lavender, dusty concord, shabby shutters and peeled paint. i just shake the jars well and take a little pinch at a time, hold it over the area i want colored and slowly move my thumb and finger just a tiny bit so i can control the powders. once they are all down i tap the underside a bit so the powders dance around and cover their areas well. dump off the excess and heat. these powders are different than your regular slick and glossy embossing powders. these have a flat sort of sandpaper distress look which is so cool. the edges are done with an ink blending foam tool and distress inks - first dusty concord and peeled paint and then barely edged with walnut stain. the grungeboard tag frame is painted with dusty concord crackle paint.

All of these items (including the new alcohol ink colors) are on sale right now but hurry! the sale will be ending very soon!!!!!! and then it is back to regular price.

i hope you are all having fun exploring some non-coloring options with me!

12 tags ala tim holtz

anyone remember Tim Holtz's ultra-fab tutorials last year - the 12 tags of christmas?? they were my first intro to all things tim and i was hooked instantly! i have since used many of the techniques in all sorts of projects since. i asked tim and he does not know if there will be a similar set of tuts this year BUT in honor of the creative genius that is tim a new yahoo group was started called all things tim which i of course joined immediately (you can too - see the button on the right hand column of my blog). on the group we have decided to go through each of his 12 tags tutorials IN ORDER. our goal is 2 a week but we all know how time can get away from us!! at the groups request for ease of supply buying i have created a new page on my website that has kits put together for the supplies for each tag AT A 10% DISCOUNT! i am hoping y'all will all join in too! i have to say it is a wonderful journey through product exploration and creativity with tips that you will use over and over again.

and while we are talking all things tim - STILL NO DISTRESS STICKLES. i am quite sure i will spontaneously combust if i don't see them today (EGADS)! so i appreciate all your patience with getting your orders! and still no word on distress crackle paint......

and while we are talking tim here is a recent card using one of his tag tutorial lessons on distress embossing powders:

i have lots more stuff to come - i was very busy for the crop over at Scrapping Friends and will be getting the items up soon along with a tutorial on porcelain ornaments....... here's a teaser for you:
yep that started out as WHITE! my mom will be here tomorrow *happy dance* and we will be working on more. also i will be doing a one time custom order for blanks so if you want some be sure to tune in and get the info - there are alot of different styles to choose from!

Tutorial - masking fun!!

ok i will apologize now for this post being so photo heavy BUT i want to make sure i explain this technique well enough for y'all to follow along! my fabby talented friend suzanne told me she was lurking around my blog waiting for this tutorial i teased y'all with and then promptly dropped in order to get my shipping done. SO - want a great use for all those little studio Gs you have been collecting??? this is the perfect technique!! i will apologize now for not having the completed project to show you but there is a bit of a back-up in the studio these days AND i made this for a gift bag which i have yet to go out and purchase.....

i first showed this technique a few days ago - we did this in my monthly SU tech club that i go to. stacey always comes up with something i love!

SO gather some supplies - you will need a larger (or regular size) stamp as a focal image and then you will need numerous coordinating smaller stamps - 5-7 (grab those studio Gs girls and guys!) three ink colors - light, medium and dark - same color family. ink blending foam or sponge, glitter or embossing powder, the larger size rectangle post it notes - 3-4 (OR you can do like me and cut your own scrap paper and put repositionable adhesive on it but the post it notes work better - just couldn't find any)

Cut your cardstock to the size you want and stamp your focal image in your darkest color. OPTIONAL - create more emphasis by embossing it or adding glitter - here i decided to do some distress embossing powders on the large cardinal stamp from inkadinkado's winter birds set. when using distress embossing be sure to shake them well!

Now starting on one corner mask your main image with the post it - best to not make it an exact corner but a little askew. take your ink blending tool and smudge from the post it note onto the paper in your LIGHTEST ink color.

DO this for all four corners. Be sure not to have any of the previously inke area showing when you ink a different area.

NOw continue working your way around the edges of your paper creating a "frame." At this point it is unavoidable to have previously inked areas unmasked so you will need to use additional post it notes to cover up any inking. keep going around the paper and inking sections just along the edges of the post it note(s).

SOme areas will even require three post its to mask adequately.

Next repeat the same masking process BUT use your medium color to ink the outer edges toward the post it note but not covering your lighter ink - just up to it or almost up to it.

Continue moving the mask(s) around again to add your medium color to each masked off area.

Final step - again place the masks in the same spot for each area and stamp random small images in the 3 different colors - BUT if using the darkest color stamp on a scratch paper and then your piece so the image does not overpower the focal image. again placing the masks correctly is what makes this so cool!

i hope that is clear - if it isn't PLEASE let me know, ask me questions!!

ok i'm off - working on some cool new things.....oh so much to show you, so little time.......

tutorial-alcohol ink altered light switch plate

YEP that's right - i said your light switch plate!! this little idea was posted on my ranger ink yahoo group that i belong to - FAB ideas over there i must say! i did two rooms two different ways so here is the first one in the powder room:

and these are from Pezzy's room:



Gather your supplies: switch plates (nothing special - these are the cheapest available as they came with the house and i pulled them right off the wall and inked away!), 2-3 alcohol inks, metallic mixatives if you want, felt piece and applicator tool. also need optional items like versamark and embossing powders or tsukineko brilliance pearlescent dew drops.

ink up your felt piece - now the first thing you might notice is i totally broke the "rule" about using very little metallic mixative. i am using pearl and i did this because i want the colors to be somewhat lightened. i also added plenty of blending solution.

here is the plate after inking. alcohol inks are funny because they can be somewhat unpredictable. i liked it after i went over it just once but then i just HAD to keep fooling with it so it turned out a bit darker BUT i still like it.

Next i inked up a stamp with versamark (*waves to catherine*), stamped onto the plate and added distress embossing powders. heat and melt them - be careful the plate gets very hot!!!

For Pezzy's plates i added ALOT of pearl mixative for the first pass and then got a clean piece of felt with ONLY blending solution to pick some ink back up because i wanted to get a real light color. Then i stamped with brilliance pearlescent inks and pink cat studio stamps for a different look. next i want to try making a full-on antiquey metallic looking one perhaps with gold mixative and a brown ink OR silver mixative and black ink BUT hubby's not crazy about them SOOOOOOO....he asked if i have to decorate EVERYTHING and i said well of course i do!!!!!!!!!!!! if it stays still long enough i'll pretty it right up!!

Have fun y'all!!!!

SFYTT and Distress embossing powder

I am back with a tutorial for distress embossing powder! YAY!! these are absolutely increedible if you have never used them. they have a totally different look from typical embossing powders. the sample i have uses this weeks Sketch For You To Try from Jen's blog.






and here is my card - this stamp is perfect for these powders:

The big difference is in the finished look - most embossing powders result in a smooth raised image. distress embossing powders have a texture more like fine sandpaper and "rub off" a bit for a somewhat worn look. they also come in ALOT of colors just perfect for the distress look.


Supplies: image stamp - a stamp with a lot of surface area is better - these powders are not as stunning on line stamps. stamps done in sort of a sketch form are ideal. pezadoodle has a line of these coming out soon that have been designed specifically with distress embossing powder techniques in mind. in addition you need your embossing buddy, piece of cardstock cut to size, versamark, various colors of distress embossing powder, heat tool.

the first thing you must do is shake the distress powders really well and open them all up so they are ready. swipe cardstock with embossing buddy and then ink up your stamp with the versamark and stamp on your cardstock.

Now carefully take a pinch of your first color in your thumb and forefinger. hold it over the area of your stamp that you want that color. wiggle your thumb and forefinger ever so slightly so a tiny bit of powder falls onto the image - this gives you some control over where you "color"

Continue with all of your colors until the image is covered with powders. carefully lift it up and hold it over a trash can (or tray if you want to save the mixed colors). gently tap your fingers on the underside of the card so the powders dance around a bit but stay mostly in place - this will ensure good coverage. dump the excess.

the colors are not going to be EXACTLY only where you wanted them - this is not an exact technique but they should be mostly where you intended them to be! now working under a strong light so you can see well, heat the powders and melt them. it is very difficult to see the change but they don't take any longer than regular powders. let the image cool completely before touching. they will all rub off if still warm. once cool test an edge to make sure they are melted down. if they are not you can re-heat a bit. if they are then rub all over the image to release the distress crystals. at this point you can add matching distress ink to the edges or even onto the image itself with blending foam.

to show the difference i did a line image with this same technique. it isn't that it looks bad you just don't get the full effect of what these powders can really do.

keep an eye out for more tutorials - things will become more regular once my company is gone!! next up i will focus on perfect pearls powders - these things are INCREDIBLE!! in addition there are other exciting things happening here at the Pez-A-Doodle Studios. All Tsukineko products are in the mail and on their way to us so those orders will be shipping in the next few days. I am still working on getting the Inkadinkado $1 clear stamps in so watch for an announcement on those SOON! new stamps are in production and these are really unique! a collaboration between us and sugar and scraps - look for those in less than a month!

have a fun day!!!

tutorial #4 and SCS color challenge

Better late than never!! my mom is in town so i have had a full morning!!! as promised today's tutorial focuses on the FABUlous tim holtz distress embossing powders. these powders are a tad bit fussy but OH SO worth it! my card below uses the colors in this weeks SCS color challenge - soft sky, creamy caramel and black.

distress embossing powders are different and give a different effect than your typical embossing powders. these are NOT the usual raised, shiny smooth look. they have a textured, almost grainy look and the colors are just amazing.

Our supplies: Versamark pad, distress embossing powder, embossing buddy, cardstock cut to size, and a stamp. these powders really work best on stamps with a lot of surface area or solid shapes rather than thin lines so you can really see the texture. The Butterflies A Flutter stamp used here was created with this in mind. Today I am using Vintage Photo - a gorgeous medium brown.

BEFORE doing anything SHAKE the powder very well and then open it up. Swipe your cardstock with the embossing buddy and stamp your image using versamark. Cover with embossing powder and shake off excess.

Heating this powder can be tricky.

they will not have the same type of change you usually see as they melt. they will have a slight change visible with most colors and i ALWAYS need to heat them with my heat gun under a good strong light. keep in mind they do not take any longer than regular powders so that can help guage. once heated LET THEM COOL COMPLETELY before touching them or the powder will wipe right off. Once cooled test a small spot to see if the powder is stuck on and re-heat if necessary. once it is cooled rub your finger over the image and the special release crystals will rub off giving a distressed sort of "grunge" or worn look.

Here is another card were i used them on the background with the cobblestone background stamp. after rubbing off the release crystals i smudged on some very pale distress inks to suggest the look of stones:

These powders also look WONDERFUL on other surfaces. i used it on the lid of this box i made for my mother:

after painting i covered the lid with versamark by smooshing the versamark pad directly on to the top of the box. sprinkled on the distress powder, heated it, let it cool and rubbed off. i wanted it to be especially "distressed" so i actually took very fine sand paper and rubbed it in some areas.



these fun powders are even more exciting when used to "color" your image - that will be Saturdays tutorial. but tomorrow tune in for Thinking Outside the block - new and inventive ways to use those studio G acrylic blocks you have lying around. the techniques featured in these friday segments are also good for acrylic/transparencies in general so be sure to come by and pick up some tips!!

Don't forget to stop by Catherine's blog - she is hoping to have something posted this evening - nothing like getting a last minute assignment!!! ha hahaha!

powder kisses!!!

SFYTT day and more peeks & blog candy!!

I am starting today off with a card i did using Jen's Sketch For You To Try - these are always wonderful and go up every Saturday. Jen will also be posting some things using my new stamps on Thursday - she is SO talented I know they will be FABULOUS!!! Lots of pics today so onto the fun stuff! Here is the sketch:

And my card:
I used Cake-cake with Pezzy. Colored in using prismas and gamsol (waiting on my new set of copics *waving to Amy & Jen* you enablers!!). I wanted some texture to the cake icing so i delved into my new Paper Transformed book by Julia Andrus - my oh my is it delish! The icing is made by adding a drop of water to a pile of perfect pearls adn mixing well. Then add glossy accents until you have a thick paste. I *iced* with a dry brush. The background is stamped with another one of my newbies - tiny flowers, dots and leaves. I stamped with versamark and then embossed with bridal tinsel.

Next up is a LO of pics from Easter using three of the Scrollybug stamps. I did these a little different than my norm - i stamped IN COLOR and then colored them in with Ranger ink and an aquapainter. The bricks on the ladybugs are colored with a versamark pen and then embossed with ranger's fired brick distress embossing powder.
the title is done with grungeboard and Ranger pigment ink.

Next up is a poor sick pezzy. background is done with alcohol inks and of course some bead pops from sugar & scraps on my website!
this uses one of the butterflies again. i stamped in versamrk and embossed in detail silver.
The background is painted with pearl paint dabber, alcohol inked and then i added texture to the corners with the silver paint dabber and alcohol inked those too. I am also SO pleased to get our first entry in the acrylic block contest! here is the link:

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii57/jys5099/acyrlicblocks.jpg

and now for our daily giveaway - because i love how nice the Tim Holtz Distress Embossing powders work with these stamps i am giving away two jars in your choice of colors! simply leave a comment here and tell me which Ranger product SCARES you!! i know when i started they ALL scared me!!!!! heck i was scared of distress ink! Now i ADORE them all!!!! and i hope to see more entries for the blocks - do you want me to post some of my samples....???? let me know!!

stampy hugs to all!!