tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67075524377239847152024-03-04T23:33:52.469-08:00In The Studio With BarbTips, Tricks, and Techniques for Cards and Crafting!Barb Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076090758278803414noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6707552437723984715.post-19529921172469781502015-11-16T09:13:00.000-08:002015-11-16T09:23:59.595-08:00Creative Medium Butterflies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have a thing for butterflies. I have complete admiration for a creature that goes through an extreme metamorphosis to become something delicate and beautiful. For me, butterflies are the epitome of Mother Nature's magic. My inspiration for this card came from an afternoon spent at the butterfly exhibit at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. I no sooner walked into the exhibit when a butterfly fluttered near only to land on my hand. It stayed there for the next 45 minutes while I walked around admiring the foliage and the various species of butterflies flitting around. Definitely magical.<br />
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I began this project with a 4 x 5.25 piece of purple cardstock. Using a stencil and a sponge dipped in silver Delicata ink, I created the square maze for the background.<br />
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Stencils are so easy to use and offer up so many possibilities in the crafting world.<br />
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I love the shimmer that the silver Delicata ink lends to the background. It's a rich, thick ink that really stands out.<br />
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Next, I used a different stencil and Imagine Crafts Creative Medium in iridescent purple. I used painters tape to mask off parts of the stencil to avoid accidentally stenciling where I didn't want to.<br />
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Creative Medium is wonderful stuff! It's and acrylic medium, about the consistency of peanut butter, that spreads on easily with a palette knife.<br />
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Once done, I carefully lifted off the stencil and there were three iridescent butterflies!</div>
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I let the butterflies dry and then repeated the stenciling process using the stencil, my palette knife, and the Creative Medium. You can see how the butterflies have begun to dry and really show that iridescent sheen, while some of the wet circles still look a little more like paste.<br />
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I wanted to give the piece movement, so I made another butterfly to give the piece some air. I began with an old scrap of sheet music which I spread very lightly with the Creative Medium to carry that same iridescent shimmer.<br />
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When it was dry, I stamped it with a butterfly using StazOn Gothic Purple ink. </div>
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Then I cut out the butterfly and attached it to my background piece.<br />
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All that was left to do was to mount the piece on a card backing and send it flitting on its way to brighten someone's day.<br />
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This card took a couple of hours to complete, but only because of the drying time needed. Actual time spent making it was about 20 minutes. This is something that a beginner could easily do!<br />
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<b><u>Imagine Crafts / Tsukineko Products Used</u></b><br />
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<li><a href="https://www.imaginecrafts.com/creative-medium" target="_blank">Creative Medium - Iridescent Purple</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.imaginecrafts.com/delicata" target="_blank">Delicata Ink Pad - Silver</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.imaginecrafts.com/stazon" target="_blank">StazOn Ink Pad - Gothic Purple</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.imaginecrafts.com/palette-knives-/no-view/2219" target="_blank">Palette Knife</a></li>
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<b><u>Other Products Used</u></b><br />
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<li>Stencils by The Crafter's Workshop</li>
<li>Sponge</li>
<li>Purple cardstock</li>
<li>Sheet music scrap</li>
<li>Beacon 3-in-1 Glue</li>
<li>Butterfly rubber stamp by Finnabair</li>
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Barb Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076090758278803414noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6707552437723984715.post-52598817147271870362015-10-30T23:00:00.000-07:002015-10-30T23:00:05.738-07:00Happy Halloween Blog Hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXc1vkjyg8_OnMvuWAvEh8dT0Q5MwR5_mX9ZjG3ihK6vzylKpi4ne-GuVINJ2DQNHuvD23PDUuKZv4yeJbAIpirYGLzl_H7OI2o0_nPFxIjd9-EK6TWbxabWF1TKqUNnPumiH9oD5nGvEL/s1600/halloween.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXc1vkjyg8_OnMvuWAvEh8dT0Q5MwR5_mX9ZjG3ihK6vzylKpi4ne-GuVINJ2DQNHuvD23PDUuKZv4yeJbAIpirYGLzl_H7OI2o0_nPFxIjd9-EK6TWbxabWF1TKqUNnPumiH9oD5nGvEL/s400/halloween.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Happy Halloween!</i></b></span>
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It's time for a fun Halloween theme blog hop!<br />
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The <a href="http://www.paperclay.com/" target="_blank">Creative Paperclay</a> Design Team has team up with <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/" target="_blank">Gina's Designs Lasercuts</a> Design Team
for a Halloween theme blog hop.<br />
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We are excited to show off our Halloween projects and we are even more excited about the fact <b><i>you</i></b>
can win a prize!<br />
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Prize Package Includes:
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1 pound package of Paperclay<br />
1 sample package of Sandits<br />
and<br />
$25 shopping spree to Gina's DesignsLasercuts<br />
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How to enter - each of these will get you one entry:<br />
1) enjoy the hop - stop by each blog on the hop and leave a comment.<br />
2) Pin each project on your Pinterest site<br />
3) share this post on your Facebook page<br />
4) Like Creative Paperclay Facebook page<br />
5) Like Gina Designs Facebook Page
Here is the list of blogs -
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<script src="//static.inlinkz.com/cs2.js?v=116" type="text/javascript"></script> <!-- end InLinkz script -->Barb Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076090758278803414noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6707552437723984715.post-55584884615723617642015-07-20T09:29:00.001-07:002015-07-20T09:30:06.788-07:00In Vino Veritas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4t873-Ipke8OL93pfcwDNNSfO4grOmW-rm_507q3LvHbJfxBS16NYPIlISGzBHe20IKEZv-hAIq8astR8B7ffWMP7mitvtHSGAErMLk_3k4Uaz4GEPTzUfMiPrMA6TitkwJ4mhX0XNgW/s1600/winefull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4t873-Ipke8OL93pfcwDNNSfO4grOmW-rm_507q3LvHbJfxBS16NYPIlISGzBHe20IKEZv-hAIq8astR8B7ffWMP7mitvtHSGAErMLk_3k4Uaz4GEPTzUfMiPrMA6TitkwJ4mhX0XNgW/s400/winefull.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I was so thrilled when Gina's Designs came out with the <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=18_49&products_id=825" target="_blank">Wine Shape Set</a>! I was waiting for a visit from my family and knew that we'd be going to a couple of wineries while they were here. And we did! So, I didn't have to dig deep at all for inspiration for this piece.</div>
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I had also recently received some of <a href="http://www.colourarte.com/products/" target="_blank">ColourArte's</a> Silk Acrylics and Twinkling H2Os, and they paired with Gina's Designs; like... wine and cheese.</div>
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For the background of this piece I began with a 9 x 12" canvas on which I slathered blue, green and purple acrylic paints and some of the Silk Acrylics. I got one of my Twinkling H2Os good and soppy, dipped a wet brush in it, and then flung the color onto the canvas. I followed up with a french script stamp using StazOn Claret.</div>
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For the bottles, I painted them (and all the other pieces) first with gesso. Once the gesso was dry I painted on Silk Acrylics Olive Vine. I love the way they shimmer when the light hits them!</div>
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For the glasses, I used Silk Acrylics Iridescent Blue. I free-handed some wine in the glasses using Sharpie Markers. Then I gave both glasses a coat of Judkins Diamond Glaze to make them look like glass.</div>
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For the grape vines, I colored in the vines with a brown Sharpie, the leaves with a Distress marker, and the grapes with a combination of StazOn colors. Then I smooshed Distress Stickles around on the leaves. To give the grapes a little more depth, I dotted on StazOn Studio Glaze and Stickles.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KzgThKmLlNxyZ3aPbAgM-6wG3kEHrEwKmcE-kKugIi9ao70aQKXHJLQQJRUMW9U28GLGPLhlBf6ezMYPQuCqIxbqZiHZ29QfapuUPDUMBXZiX6eHqlKlQlwvJqztr1DdvZZfRgopqujk/s1600/winegrapes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KzgThKmLlNxyZ3aPbAgM-6wG3kEHrEwKmcE-kKugIi9ao70aQKXHJLQQJRUMW9U28GLGPLhlBf6ezMYPQuCqIxbqZiHZ29QfapuUPDUMBXZiX6eHqlKlQlwvJqztr1DdvZZfRgopqujk/s400/winegrapes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I glued everything where I wanted it and have a piece that will find a happy home hanging over someone's wine bar. Plus, I got to revisit a couple of wonderful days wandering the countryside and trying some delicious wines.</div>
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<b><u>Gina's Designs Products Used</u></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=18_49&products_id=825" target="_blank">Wine Shape Set</a></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.colourarte.com/products/" target="_blank">ColourArte</a><u> Products Used</u></b></div>
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Silk Acrylics</div>
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Twinkling H2Os</div>
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StazOn Inks</div>
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Acrylic Paints</div>
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Distress Ink</div>
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Sharpies</div>
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Stickles
Gesso</div>
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French Script Stamp by Artistic Outpost</div>
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Barb Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076090758278803414noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6707552437723984715.post-82606796467166317182015-06-09T09:44:00.001-07:002015-07-20T09:29:34.113-07:00At the Beach with Gina's Designs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNqidJcswVKF09382-jiDbWmPMrtbHWqbFqPZ_axfpKDiC2cHfVk_JHcG6RkUyqUW48w-YLCjWyqxcCLY44tDYh0orhlBnI38iAuWwVVTW_wB0e_Z9zHZGRIILWpETQ4R3JFSKRuP2pZK/s1600/seascapewm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNqidJcswVKF09382-jiDbWmPMrtbHWqbFqPZ_axfpKDiC2cHfVk_JHcG6RkUyqUW48w-YLCjWyqxcCLY44tDYh0orhlBnI38iAuWwVVTW_wB0e_Z9zHZGRIILWpETQ4R3JFSKRuP2pZK/s400/seascapewm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Happy June!</div>
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Here in my area of the Pacific NW we often experience what is referred to as the marine layer - dense, almost foggy, cloud cover. We're just a few miles inland from Puget Sound, so with that brooding gray, we often get the scent of the sea. Sipping coffee on one such morning, I was inspired to play with the <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=18_42&products_id=328" target="_blank">Beach Shape Set</a> from Gina's Designs and this above collage piece is what happened.</div>
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I wanted it to have a slightly gloomier feel, not bright beachy. I'm not a bright beachy type of person. Too much hot stand and sun and screaming kids and bright color actually kind of makes me crabby. I know... I'm strange, but I own it. So, to begin, I tore pages from an old 1930's nautical almanac and glued them to my 12 x 16" canvas board with a matte gel. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vldi9UgPMoiceAzLmo0YTQpSTALwr6RBnUJCWB6M_BSCxgQtgKQ9FSd6iuwwz1ES78rKvFVf00Qq3MCBzQQZYZkx8nwkhzOIkMuFxGhXKEQSWiKzFKQ62YCgf8qjdd0V13wqsvSNiPBU/s1600/lighthouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vldi9UgPMoiceAzLmo0YTQpSTALwr6RBnUJCWB6M_BSCxgQtgKQ9FSd6iuwwz1ES78rKvFVf00Qq3MCBzQQZYZkx8nwkhzOIkMuFxGhXKEQSWiKzFKQ62YCgf8qjdd0V13wqsvSNiPBU/s400/lighthouse.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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I coated the lighthouse with white embossing powder and heat-set it. Then I stamped on it to give it some texture. I adhered yellow cardstock to the back of it to make it look like the lights are on.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitv0LjrTCs5TLXLHbQhnnzs89_-sybU7mEuE0tL7Qpz8YlBof6-thvj-wMsPiGGcwqmTQB-RYz2MnICJoxzWJHmPsr4Q4RNFhFy9gJP4QmyvzjvS-5CV8xZGVncy2UqAnmAlXz9-sjvQXX/s1600/chairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitv0LjrTCs5TLXLHbQhnnzs89_-sybU7mEuE0tL7Qpz8YlBof6-thvj-wMsPiGGcwqmTQB-RYz2MnICJoxzWJHmPsr4Q4RNFhFy9gJP4QmyvzjvS-5CV8xZGVncy2UqAnmAlXz9-sjvQXX/s400/chairs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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For the fence, I first coated it with gesso. After the gesso had dried, I distressed it with brown and gray inks and blobbed a little more white acrylic paint on it. For the chairs, I also began with gesso. Once that had dried, I coated them with StazOn Studio Gel in Cactus Green. When the gel was dry, I stamped on them using matching StazOn Ink.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0mIkHrlR16MyHPPU1iSfQaRKN4qB-0eggaAu4ALt5YLsnuY3fEuh2OYx3XYCy31QXwLUPmWMk2PQfcXCIpgtRcvPRnlYEER8E5sRagPvCxdYE50fMKVnnMtPSgkWXhPKb_qVNBKKaapS/s1600/sanddollars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0mIkHrlR16MyHPPU1iSfQaRKN4qB-0eggaAu4ALt5YLsnuY3fEuh2OYx3XYCy31QXwLUPmWMk2PQfcXCIpgtRcvPRnlYEER8E5sRagPvCxdYE50fMKVnnMtPSgkWXhPKb_qVNBKKaapS/s400/sanddollars.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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For the sand dollars, I first coated them with gesso and let it dry. Then I smeared white craft ink all over them and coated them in an iridized embossing powder. I heat set the powder and they were done!</div>
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<u><b>Gina's Designs Products Used</b></u></div>
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<a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=18_42&products_id=328" target="_blank">Beach Shape Set</a></div>
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<u><b>Other Products Used</b></u></div>
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Matte Gel</div>
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StazOn Studio Gel</div>
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Stickles</div>
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Gesso</div>
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StazOn Inks</div>
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Embossing powder</div>
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Liquid Pearls</div>
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White Craft Ink</div>
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Compass Mask by Tim Holtz </div>
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Tree and Arrowheads stamps by <a href="http://www.rubbermoon.com/" target="_blank">RubberMoon</a></div>
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Nautical Log stamp by Stampin' Up!</div>
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Barb Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076090758278803414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6707552437723984715.post-49125552734121097202015-05-31T11:42:00.000-07:002015-05-31T11:46:13.468-07:00Winner Announced - Gina's Designs Birthday Blog Hop<div style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gina's Designs Mermaid Shape Set</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #141823;">Congratulations to the Winner of the Gina's Designs Birthday blog hop! My winner is </span><b><span style="color: magenta;">Caroline Cain</span></b><span style="color: #141823;">, who won the </span><a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=18_35&products_id=427" style="color: #141823;">Mermaid Shape Set</a><span style="color: #141823;"> that I am giving away here on my blog. Congratulations, Caroline!!! Please follow the steps below to claim your prize!</span></div>
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The Grand Prize winner has been announced over on the Gina's Designs <span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">Blog which you can find here: <a href="http://ginasdesigns.blogspot.com/">ginasdesigns.blogspot.com</a></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br />1) Please email Gina at Contest@ginasdesigns.net<br />2) Place "Birthday Blog Hop Winner" in your email Subject line<br />3) Please state what blog you won on and the shape set you won<br />4) Please provide your mailing address</span><br />
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*****If we don't receive your email by Friday June 5th at 5pm CST a new winner will be chosen****<br />
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Thanks to everyone who hopped along with us, and stay tuned for more from Gina's Designs Lasercuts!</div>
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Barb Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076090758278803414noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6707552437723984715.post-70561753320868171042015-05-21T23:30:00.000-07:002015-05-22T09:01:40.232-07:00Gina's Designs Birthday Blog Hop<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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Name="List Bullet 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
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Welcome to Gina’s Designs 3<sup>rd</sup> Birthday Blog Hop!</div>
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The Birthday Blog Hop will run from today, May 22, until May 29 at 8pm CST. You should have just come from <a href="http://craftyblether.com/" target="_blank">Angela - A Crafty Blether</a>. If you didn't, don't worry! Just pop over to <a href="http://ginasdesigns.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Gina's Designs</a> Birthday Blog Hop post and follow all the blogs in order. </div>
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We are having two great giveaways associated with this blog hop.</div>
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The first one is the Birthday Prize Giveaway!<br />
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The Birthday Prize package includes: </div>
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<a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Filigree Frames Shape Set </a>,<a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank"> Dressforms 1 Shape Set</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Butterflies & Dragonflies</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Grape Vines</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Feathers Shape Set</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Dressforms & Wings Shape Set</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Steampunk 2 Shape Set</a>,<a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank"> Clockwork Penny Farthing</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Garden Fairies Medium</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Garden Fairies Large</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Damask Singles</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Button Shape Set</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Skylines</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Landmarks</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Collage Border Splash</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Mermaids Shape Set</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Stackable Labels Shape Set</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Steampunk Shape Set</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Vintage Ladies Silhouette</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Dressforms 2 Miniature Shape Set</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Candelabra Set</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Dressforms 1 Miniature Shape Set</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Barbed Wire Deco Frame Square</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Barbed Wire Deco Frame Rectangle</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Alarm Clock</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Layered Border Victoria Small,</a> <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Flourish Frame Sienna</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Flourish Set Amanda</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Wishing Well</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Butterfly of Gears</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Longstem Rose</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Grape Vine Frame</a>, <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Barbed Wire Frame Circle</a>, and a <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Brush Caddy</a> </div>
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To be entered into the Birthday Prize giveaway, you need to:</div>
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1. Stop at all 15 designers’ blogs for a secret word.</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2. </span></span>After you collect all of the 15 words, create a sentence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
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3. Email your answer <a href="mailto:Contest@ginasdesigns.net">Contest@ginasdesigns.net</a> for a chance to win the Birthday Prize! </div>
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This is why you will want to make sure you stop at each blog. That prize package is fantastic!</div>
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The second giveaway will be done on <i>each</i> of the designers' blogs. </div>
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The shape set I am giving away is the <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=18_35&products_id=427" target="_blank">Mermaids Shape Set</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDArxbIyaEi0af70K3wHVt5Nak3RdLrhLDznOezIDqI0ROU29YRklb-ppybh5UdiRMwhahkufIY8D8sp3dGRcBp3NfNwcJwanteQMwK9WU4ATTTnrfLIKBINMvd_BY8ds2Y5VYN77G_2Xe/s1600/mermaidblank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDArxbIyaEi0af70K3wHVt5Nak3RdLrhLDznOezIDqI0ROU29YRklb-ppybh5UdiRMwhahkufIY8D8sp3dGRcBp3NfNwcJwanteQMwK9WU4ATTTnrfLIKBINMvd_BY8ds2Y5VYN77G_2Xe/s400/mermaidblank.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is a fun set with so much potential! You'll see what I did with it when you reach the end of this post.</div>
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To be entered into my blog's giveaway:</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1. Subscribe to my blog.<span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">2. </span></span></span>Leave a comment on <i>this</i> blog post.</div>
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That's it! So easy!</div>
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So many great ways to win some fabulous chipboard pieces!<br />
My word for the Birthday Prize giveaway is <b>MY</b>.</div>
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The next blog you will want to visit is <a href="http://melissalarson57.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Melissa - Ribbons, Lace, and Good Intentions</a>.</div>
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If you get lost along the way, here is a list of all the blogs you need to visit to collect your words. <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://angeldreamcrafts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kim - AngelDream Crafts</a></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://craftyblether.com/" target="_blank">Angela - A Crafty Blether</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://blackinkpadstudio.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Barb - In the Studio With Barb</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://melissalarson57.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Melissa - Ribbons, Lace, and Good Intentions</a></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://damselofdistress.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mary B - The Damsel of Distress</a></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://scsdesigns.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Shanna - Shanna's Designs</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://kathiscreations.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Kathi - Kathi's Creations</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://amylovescraftykingdom.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Amy - Amylove Crafty Kingdom</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://kreationsbykimber.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kim C - Kreations by Kimber</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://scrappysquirrelsnest.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Lynne - Scrappy Squirrel's Nest</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://diannascraftsblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Dianna - Diana's Crafts Blog</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://blog.pixiehill.com/" target="_blank">Nichola - Pixie Hill</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://pinklola37.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Carla - Carla's Creations</a></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://craftdee1.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Deann - CraftDee1</a></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://thecrafthoarder.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mary - The Craft Hoarder</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Here is what I did with the mermaid set using and 8 x 16" canvas panel, acrylic paint, Imagine Crafts Iridescent Purple Craft Medium and Alcohol Inks.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLNuMy5mySFMDwlB8vAGU1TKdafthn221Nc5emquLNcyFugwihcTtjQR7HsOvtyNhBbz5X8SnaL6qIoSBZrxZLa9gVgK5ZlgWAZbYJ-Nd8qYLByyIfmKsR5IeWusFe55-AiYoRMwXd97Q/s1600/mermaidfull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLNuMy5mySFMDwlB8vAGU1TKdafthn221Nc5emquLNcyFugwihcTtjQR7HsOvtyNhBbz5X8SnaL6qIoSBZrxZLa9gVgK5ZlgWAZbYJ-Nd8qYLByyIfmKsR5IeWusFe55-AiYoRMwXd97Q/s640/mermaidfull.jpg" width="339" /></a></div>
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Barb Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076090758278803414noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6707552437723984715.post-43943217637379497832015-04-11T06:00:00.000-07:002015-04-11T06:00:06.964-07:00Experimenting with Creative Medium<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6m9yjDtEGMNL6TNSUCbPd_ZgiELlY5EydH8yy8Wad0JnHgH9DH2UNB6aiqM061MoE0xAuT9SdaSR-gEBtHoU_pgPeaRc3sOdZLGtDNfVSem9CsRLtLQWH63cL8R_PD8UJY-kOXZdhcPsF/s1600/butterflycomplete.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6m9yjDtEGMNL6TNSUCbPd_ZgiELlY5EydH8yy8Wad0JnHgH9DH2UNB6aiqM061MoE0xAuT9SdaSR-gEBtHoU_pgPeaRc3sOdZLGtDNfVSem9CsRLtLQWH63cL8R_PD8UJY-kOXZdhcPsF/s1600/butterflycomplete.jpg" height="640" width="465" /></a></div>
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I have to tell you about the fun I've been having! A week or so ago, I got a big box of happy from the fine folks at IMAGINE Crafts. They carry all manner of Tsukineko products as well as their own relatively new line of acrylic mediums, inks, and sprays, etc.</div>
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One of the things I've had fun playing with is their line of <a href="https://www.imaginecrafts.com/creative-medium" target="_blank">Creative Medium</a>. Creative Medium comes in a variety of metallics and iridescent colors. It's a somewhat thick consistency that works well for adhering paper bits when making collages, or it can be slathered on with a palette knife like thick paint, with or without the use of a stencil.<br />
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For this piece, I used Creative Medium in gold and a stencil by Tim Holtz. I simply placed the stencil on my canvas (in this case, a 5 x 7" panel) and spread the Creative Medium over the top just like soft, creamy butter! I carefully scraped the excess off of my stencil and then, just as carefully, pulled the stencil away from the canvas, resulting in the image you see below. The stencil cleaned up easily with soapy water and a rag.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqiwa_r1SUyEM7AcTspHBqppsaW1SqzAnSPD-0re1D7SUjyZGgwFXhgF3hP00PC6Z-1gbDfbX2-6Xt4tB4BOYbpP9-v4JCMeZDE1Zf67b2Np1X9QrncyFJEDvrq6F5hVnKM8mI2uVvOjH-/s1600/butterflybegin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqiwa_r1SUyEM7AcTspHBqppsaW1SqzAnSPD-0re1D7SUjyZGgwFXhgF3hP00PC6Z-1gbDfbX2-6Xt4tB4BOYbpP9-v4JCMeZDE1Zf67b2Np1X9QrncyFJEDvrq6F5hVnKM8mI2uVvOjH-/s1600/butterflybegin.jpg" height="303" width="400" /></a></div>
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Once the Creative Medium had dried, I went to work giving it all the abuse I could think of. I really wanted to test this stuff and see what it could do. Boy, am I ever impressed with how it holds up! I dripped ink (from re-inker bottles) on it and spritzed it with <a href="https://www.imaginecrafts.com/ink-potion-no-9/no-view/305" target="_blank">Ink Potion No. 9</a> to make it blend and drip and run. Once it dried I dribbled more ink on it and spritzed it with Windex (which gives it a more puddled, mottled look). I let everything dry well and smeared white acrylic paint down the "blank" side to mute the color a little, and then stamped* gear images and wording and butterflies on it.<br />
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For the butterfly, which comes from <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=18_43&products_id=483" target="_blank">Gina's Designs: Butterfly of Gears</a>, I used IMAGINE Crafts' line of <a href="https://www.imaginecrafts.com/irresistible" target="_blank">irRESISTible Pico Embellishers</a>. I colored the gear side with gold and the wing side with bronze and the butterfly body with Tuxedo Black. I traced the wing on clear acetate and used <a href="https://www.imaginecrafts.com/stazon-studio-glaze-display-set" target="_blank">StazOn Studio Glaze</a> in Gothic Purple to color it. While it was still sticky, I simply used the glaze that was already on it to adhere it to the wing. As you can see a little bit in the picture below, when the light hits it right, it has a stained glass effect. I did use a spacer to adhere the butterfly to my background just to give it more air and light that would highlight that stained glass effect.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeufr9tTN9Wh3TWgcCwdA7egFjJ_sArl4EGY20OgaZRQrFoYlp0xFtomwOE16e5mnGWBBpiLtjrzvPukbhjEtvJ2GivZwberjW4j93yl4_-zljYzz92EI1COX38De7EgHeavUYrFHICp66/s1600/butterflycloseup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeufr9tTN9Wh3TWgcCwdA7egFjJ_sArl4EGY20OgaZRQrFoYlp0xFtomwOE16e5mnGWBBpiLtjrzvPukbhjEtvJ2GivZwberjW4j93yl4_-zljYzz92EI1COX38De7EgHeavUYrFHICp66/s1600/butterflycloseup.jpg" height="360" width="400" /></a></div>
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As you can no doubt tell, I had all kinds of fun playing with my new goodies! Here is the background for another piece that I did. This will give you some idea of how absolutely striking the Creative Medium iridescents are against a dark background.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nHtJK3BwMJrOfVmDdt8gPqopZSyXYg_xEx00Iu3R5WfMVAIMlAsG4LgOpBIrp7oD4lV0OnAk99MpbNs8yiLbKKzloMc_CE4kowHPJHGk9-3SfPUVr9B1jtxQpLb0Z0sMG1yE7E7lIVXP/s1600/seahorsebgbegin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nHtJK3BwMJrOfVmDdt8gPqopZSyXYg_xEx00Iu3R5WfMVAIMlAsG4LgOpBIrp7oD4lV0OnAk99MpbNs8yiLbKKzloMc_CE4kowHPJHGk9-3SfPUVr9B1jtxQpLb0Z0sMG1yE7E7lIVXP/s1600/seahorsebgbegin.jpg" height="371" width="400" /></a></div>
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I began with a canvas (again a 5 x 7") to which I applied various colors of blue, green, and white acrylic paint. I let it dry and cure thoroughly over night. Then, same as before, I used a stencil (this time from Stencil Girl) and my palette knife to spread on the Green Iridescent Creative Medium.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xkvR3fR7Yt_GXfzNeGejt4Oze2aXaN3JfcaHD9NPfbRCwgLH0wUyyNuiLf8T1jWn6sP70uvxMZFXVXtdT2K5OVoc_Usl_AlEp-cIo1TpdRXwz8Tt-WIy7QGiUbFtUzWSNGFBHvr-j9Lc/s1600/seahorsebgtechnique.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xkvR3fR7Yt_GXfzNeGejt4Oze2aXaN3JfcaHD9NPfbRCwgLH0wUyyNuiLf8T1jWn6sP70uvxMZFXVXtdT2K5OVoc_Usl_AlEp-cIo1TpdRXwz8Tt-WIy7QGiUbFtUzWSNGFBHvr-j9Lc/s1600/seahorsebgtechnique.jpg" height="258" width="400" /></a></div>
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I let it dry overnight and... Voilà! As you can see, the "white" paste magically dries to a beautiful, shimmery green against the dark background.<br />
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I wish I had a way to show you how much the iridescence makes the piece "move" depending on how and where the light hits it. You'll just have to take my word for it... it is gorgeous!<br />
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This is only the beginning of all the things I can imagine doing with my IMAGINE Crafts products. So, stay tuned, because I have all kinds of other things I want to show you.<br />
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Until next time... here's to wild imaginations and crafting!<br /><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>*Stamped images are: </i></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Gears by Stampin Up! </i>and </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Butterflies and Curiosity Definition by Tim Holtz</i></span><br />
Barb Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076090758278803414noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6707552437723984715.post-52217200415981365482015-03-16T12:54:00.000-07:002015-03-16T12:54:14.683-07:00Gearing Up!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Howdy, howdy!<br />
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I know it's been a while, but I was dealing with some different stuff that needed my attention. I know, I know... what could need my attention more than this?! Truth be told, nearly two weeks of my absence was spent watching everything Netflix had to offer while I lay on the sofa, snuffling and wheezing away a cold. For some reason it's difficult to feel creative when breathing is an issue.<br />
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Anyway! I have been and am a Guest Designer this month for <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/" target="_blank">Gina's Designs</a>. Gina's does all kinds of really cool laser cut things, such as the gears pictured above. If you haven't followed me around on various social media platforms, here are the links:<br />
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<a href="http://ginasdesigns.blogspot.com/2015/03/guest-designer-barb-black.html" target="_blank">When Whippoorwills</a><br />
and<br />
<a href="http://ginasdesigns.blogspot.com/2015/03/we-danced-by-guest-designer-barb-black.html" target="_blank">We Danced</a><br />
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Less than a year ago I fell madly in love with Gina’s Designs laser cuts. I was introduced to them via Rubbermoon when I was on their Design Team. Ever since then I've been a little addicted to using them in my projects. I find that they fit perfectly with my collage style of art work. As with so much of my work, I love to give chipboard that aged, distressed, vintage feel. For me, that’s part of what makes it so much fun to work with - the fact that I can use layers of stuff and multiple techniques and the chipboard stands up to my “abuse”. So, when Gina asked me to be a Guest Designer, I was thrilled.<br />
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But not quite as thrilled as I am today, 'cause... <b><i>guess what?!</i></b><br />
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I just found out that I'm going to be a more permanent member of the Design Team for Gina's Designs! I actually found out the other day, but I couldn't tell anyone until they'd announced it. So, I've been giddy with excitement and just about exploding from holding back the news. I'll be posting every Monday on <a href="http://ginasdesigns.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Gina's Design's blog</a>, so save the link and check back. In the meantime, check out what my fellow crafty Design Team friends are doing over there, because they are one freakishly talented bunch!<br />
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The quick tutorial for today is me telling you to play. Just play!<br />
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I started with the Gears Shape Set, which, like all the other laser cuts, comes in plain old kraft brown. See?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpneFz36BMUjzM7nY61AcSmOxomOY8OZHZof0C6XQ9zLELxBXIfbTGE-mpn5q69OWvJbJGOGsGoyv0xx0m7RYbgwxDI0Rm9W1OgLzhaBsILxFuww_JbOgkaWziB1ehdvbjPtfAhg1CTueJ/s1600/GearsShapeSet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpneFz36BMUjzM7nY61AcSmOxomOY8OZHZof0C6XQ9zLELxBXIfbTGE-mpn5q69OWvJbJGOGsGoyv0xx0m7RYbgwxDI0Rm9W1OgLzhaBsILxFuww_JbOgkaWziB1ehdvbjPtfAhg1CTueJ/s1600/GearsShapeSet.jpg" height="141" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />I wanted them to look like well used metallic bits, so I got out every metallic-y substance in my arsenal and started playing... sponging, spraying, slopping, glopping. I'm tellin' ya, that's where the fun is.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByOcj7yL0jkwX5DY3KG6V-EEc09mLD2Ng4RA3sDWheJn0aCZV04bIl1fbDP0Cw6d9Ym1gHwGDbY3iZQpBMCBr4BD18VptOX9dzXHhHN18mhOW8D0Upf2U5ZPnOqhYoPwFV24ieWtRnuz4/s1600/gearstuffmat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByOcj7yL0jkwX5DY3KG6V-EEc09mLD2Ng4RA3sDWheJn0aCZV04bIl1fbDP0Cw6d9Ym1gHwGDbY3iZQpBMCBr4BD18VptOX9dzXHhHN18mhOW8D0Upf2U5ZPnOqhYoPwFV24ieWtRnuz4/s1600/gearstuffmat.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Just play. You'll be amazed where it takes you. And here's the other thing about that. I hear all the time from people who tell me they try doing something, get frustrated when it doesn't go where they want it to, and give up. Well, if you're just playing, none of that pressure is there. You're freed to just let it happen the way it wants to happen, which is where all the very best art of any kind comes from.<br />
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Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to play.<br />
<br />Barb Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076090758278803414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6707552437723984715.post-24488221267893999702015-01-28T11:30:00.001-08:002015-01-28T11:35:10.964-08:00Triangle Treat Box<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfQD74i8PoilnZEFJdovjIjS-N59vw0doAV7799LlDPWxBAf71S5umrHc9RRExNz6-abySVz9WuWaBdPuQZU0htYkPAZybDVQnXGmaCWUU7ovy3YoRIYklWdcM4m3GKbi0ShEErMRTnBg/s1600/triboxdancingfaery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfQD74i8PoilnZEFJdovjIjS-N59vw0doAV7799LlDPWxBAf71S5umrHc9RRExNz6-abySVz9WuWaBdPuQZU0htYkPAZybDVQnXGmaCWUU7ovy3YoRIYklWdcM4m3GKbi0ShEErMRTnBg/s1600/triboxdancingfaery.jpg" height="640" width="408" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Triangle Treat Box</td></tr>
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First of all, a little business. I'm sad to say that my stint as a Design Team member for <a href="http://rubbermoon.com/" target="_blank">RubberMoon</a> has come to an end. It was a wonderful whirlwind of a few months and I still stand by their product as being something fun and different in terms of style, as well as excellent in terms of quality. I got to be good friends with the owner and my teammates. Kae Pea, said owner, is going to allow me to guest post on occasion. So, at least I won't be very far away.<br />
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One of the wonderful connections I made on that Design Team was with a woman who helps run <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/" target="_blank">Gina's Designs</a>. Gina's Designs does all kinds of crazy good fun lasercuts. Until I was given some as a sample to play with, I kind of poo-pooed the idea of them. For a rather intelligent lass, I can be sort of ignorant sometimes. Because... <i>SO much fun!</i> Now I have a difficult time visualizing my creative life without them.<br />
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Which leads me to... I have been asked to be the Guest Designer for March at Gina's Designs, so you'll be seeing a few posts here that feature their nifty products. As part of that, I hooked up with their Facebook group where I'm finding all kinds of kindred crafty spirits and some pretty stinkin' amazing inspiration.<br />
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Which brings us to... the picture of that pretty little triangle treat box featured at the top of this post. One of the leaders of the group had received a gift box of different teas for Christmas. She thought the triangle shape of the boxes was too cool to simply toss them. I agree, and I love knowing another person who looks at "trash" that way! Anyway, she offered up a challenge to the group and I jumped at it. Here's a picture of the pile o' fun stuff that she sent me to play with.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48WeeDRFuGd8trs9h7OzURt9JQMu2LZdS-X4yFPN6JPVu18Mc-9Zgc9MEolOBBTrUGmsoXkHFzxrjny2MbnDRifecn7fzNeUkrGGIpNQiT5mx-UHVPrkBIYCaviLjqU7MF0nBeRe_OMgY/s1600/triboxkit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48WeeDRFuGd8trs9h7OzURt9JQMu2LZdS-X4yFPN6JPVu18Mc-9Zgc9MEolOBBTrUGmsoXkHFzxrjny2MbnDRifecn7fzNeUkrGGIpNQiT5mx-UHVPrkBIYCaviLjqU7MF0nBeRe_OMgY/s1600/triboxkit.jpg" height="278" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pile o' Fun Stuff</td></tr>
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Here's a better angle on the triangle box.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07eIcLI4MOmNvDZgmKHvsmTH6jRDsg0KhjqY6MIVW1DxsuQYNXN_lhJbHdpeRYhKp_9fChEmNg3pqEt4HAxFvtWFe93KG3OPM65AyhgTvfImha0UJcIEf5_MI7RB0OlWYQAZ7ivSNk90w/s1600/triboxendshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07eIcLI4MOmNvDZgmKHvsmTH6jRDsg0KhjqY6MIVW1DxsuQYNXN_lhJbHdpeRYhKp_9fChEmNg3pqEt4HAxFvtWFe93KG3OPM65AyhgTvfImha0UJcIEf5_MI7RB0OlWYQAZ7ivSNk90w/s1600/triboxendshot.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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I won't tell you everything I went through to put this box together. For one thing, you'd be sitting here reading all day which means I'd be sitting here typing all day. Ain't nobody got time for that! Plus, a girl can have <i>some</i> secrets, can't she? I will tell you how simple it was to take <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=18_35&products_id=208" target="_blank">Gina's Designs Garden Fairies</a> and make them sparkle. I used bright pink acrylic paint for the "glue" and while it was wet, dusted it with pink glitter.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewOKStcuLCalKJgNsPiG-BNSoB3ummloEvGV-WxatNLypLY6-g0Hs1C3b-13z1niruZp6wbMkCSGr6Ta9K25b5bOGHkLw-WG5oRK09XOkCpfk2thSwTyLJhus_keMSo92QClMhEpo3rqc/s1600/triboxfaerypaint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewOKStcuLCalKJgNsPiG-BNSoB3ummloEvGV-WxatNLypLY6-g0Hs1C3b-13z1niruZp6wbMkCSGr6Ta9K25b5bOGHkLw-WG5oRK09XOkCpfk2thSwTyLJhus_keMSo92QClMhEpo3rqc/s1600/triboxfaerypaint.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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For the overlay on the roof (which I initially painted with the same acrylic paint as the fairies), I used <a href="http://www.ginasdesigns.net/Store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=50&products_id=360" target="_blank">Gina's Designs Texture Sheet in Diamonds</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilS2BpUgqWByOYcWjyXNeT8vHl2EwMtoo7mPGB9g_DlWmthcjuaQNpKjXltrOyfIA3ufcMq7J1OBOa1ubeqbJOIsDcAyX7mMnQaIUjfEaOt9LJu3f2xFaHiZo19-21hnAPWQxY4L0sjBHo/s1600/triboxroofclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilS2BpUgqWByOYcWjyXNeT8vHl2EwMtoo7mPGB9g_DlWmthcjuaQNpKjXltrOyfIA3ufcMq7J1OBOa1ubeqbJOIsDcAyX7mMnQaIUjfEaOt9LJu3f2xFaHiZo19-21hnAPWQxY4L0sjBHo/s1600/triboxroofclose.jpg" height="400" width="340" /></a></div>
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The rest was an afternoon's worth of playful experimentation. It's been quite a while since I "altered" something.<br />
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I leave you with views of the other sides of the triangle box, and with the admonition to look at "trash" through a crafter's eye. Can it be re-purposed in any way? Save it! If you're not a crafter, offer it to a friend who is. It took me a year to convince my beloved to not throw away anything that was the least bit interesting. Our relationship has flourished ever since.<br />
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Now, I'm off to fill the treat box with chocolaty goodness and send it on its way to a friend.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0KAtu3ksXrH1YSAJfvW2cv-cAyOsyMbeJdBzO8QoCvQQoyHgbgGDaMcWkOkeAPJ-f08VMV7VHAF1x_mED6oiSuBF9dnv2OLGPhXA0q9Uk8fkHefvwztyrzCqCiaGEBoTSzuheqobNj2A/s1600/triboxsittingfaery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0KAtu3ksXrH1YSAJfvW2cv-cAyOsyMbeJdBzO8QoCvQQoyHgbgGDaMcWkOkeAPJ-f08VMV7VHAF1x_mED6oiSuBF9dnv2OLGPhXA0q9Uk8fkHefvwztyrzCqCiaGEBoTSzuheqobNj2A/s1600/triboxsittingfaery.jpg" height="640" width="438" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whereupon my photography skills took a nose-dive.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTy9DC1D9TmKLdac3hY6H1i0LKV0J4Byx-Wm3AM8Pm-ntp5Awnr4280GNKpLvjAqPZScJeeB-qcPyvIYixPZW7Bt9_-4K7JzNfvILQOMuUuaW16TPWYMOqrgTs4zfAeM-Z7p6kTI_hmHj/s1600/triboxkneelingfaery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTy9DC1D9TmKLdac3hY6H1i0LKV0J4Byx-Wm3AM8Pm-ntp5Awnr4280GNKpLvjAqPZScJeeB-qcPyvIYixPZW7Bt9_-4K7JzNfvILQOMuUuaW16TPWYMOqrgTs4zfAeM-Z7p6kTI_hmHj/s1600/triboxkneelingfaery.jpg" height="640" width="406" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When fairies daydream, do they daydream of other fairies?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nMvOO17iTxOG6mUx8tZngOgYNJ1gue850Os7bwxlmFzv346e0oe43B0cPG4cFuxv9M_8pslcmUwHj7shY4-c2CZFd1UMKLBonNkS0JS-B6LAuIlmz8WF4bsV2q5WbXpNUt45aMTi7Ccr/s1600/triboxdancingfaeryclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nMvOO17iTxOG6mUx8tZngOgYNJ1gue850Os7bwxlmFzv346e0oe43B0cPG4cFuxv9M_8pslcmUwHj7shY4-c2CZFd1UMKLBonNkS0JS-B6LAuIlmz8WF4bsV2q5WbXpNUt45aMTi7Ccr/s1600/triboxdancingfaeryclose.jpg" height="400" width="341" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close-up of the fairy in the top picture</td></tr>
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<br />Barb Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076090758278803414noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6707552437723984715.post-71255171734774165572015-01-09T15:51:00.000-08:002015-01-09T16:30:34.529-08:00Eye to the Telescope<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's a new year. The holiday decorations are put away. The house is quiet. The laundry is done. Something warm is burbling away on the stove, scenting the house with dreams of dinner stew.<br />
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These are the good moments in life. The ordinary moments for which we often forget to be thankful. But this is it... real life. And right now it's pretty damned good.<br />
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So, I'm thinking about love. Sure, the card maker in me is thinking about Valentine's Day, but my inner aesthete brings it back to love.<br />
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This is a technique that I like to use. I call it telescoping, but I've heard it called by other names. It's a simple technique, but I like how rich it feels.<br />
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I began by printing out two each of <a href="http://www.fitztown.com/valentine.html" target="_blank">Fitztown's Valentine 1 and Valentine 12</a>. You'll see the second finished card at the end of this post.<br />
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I then cut one each of the two different images that I'd be using for my main background and set it aside. (It doesn't matter what size the other two "working" images are.)<br />
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I stamped "Love" on the main image using a stamp from Stampin' Up! I also used a sponge to lightly ink the outside of the image.<br />
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I used a blender pen and ink pads to color in just a portion of the "throw away" image. There was no need to color everything since I only needed a 1 1/4" circle.<br />
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Moving on, I used a 1 1/4" punch for the image, and a 1 3/8" punch for the contrasting cardstock layer, and punched out both of those. (I love saying I punched something out. "What did you do today, Honey?" "Spent the afternoon punching out stuff." And that's how I get control of the TV remote.)<br />
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The only thing left to do was glue the layers together, being careful to line up the circle image to the background image.<br />
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Here's the other card that came from my telescoping adventure. This one I edged in Delicata gold ink and used the Anais Nin quotation stamp from <a href="http://www.stampsmith.net/ecommerce/anais-nin-friendship-quote-rubber-stamp.html" target="_blank">Stampsmith</a>.<br />
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<br />Barb Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076090758278803414noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6707552437723984715.post-24869182344017515342014-12-29T16:21:00.000-08:002014-12-29T16:31:55.741-08:00The Whimsical World of Art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There is a word that I love (just one of many, if you know me at all).<br />
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That word is:<br />
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<i><b>whimsical</b></i><br />
/adjective<br />
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1.
spontaneously fanciful or playful<br />
2.
given to whims; capricious<br />
3.
quaint, unusual, or fantastic<br />
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It's a word that doesn't get used nearly enough.<br />
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In the art world, in my humble opinion, it's a concept that doesn't get used nearly enough.<br />
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Don't get me wrong. I admire "serious" art, and especially the skill it takes to produce it. However, as someone who appreciates art, it's always the more whimsical stuff that draws my eye.<br />
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After all, where else in our lives can we completely give ourselves over to whimsy if not in art? In art, it's acceptable to have a chartreuse sky, swimming camels... anything that doesn't quite belong in all the most amusing ways.<br />
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Truly, art <i>should</i> be spontaneously fanciful and playful. Art <i>should </i>be capricious and given to whims. Art is at its best when it is quaint, unusual or fantastic. <i>Art ought to be whimsical</i>.<br />
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So it is there that my love of <a href="http://www.rubbermoon.com/" target="_blank">RubberMoon</a>'s stamps is based. They make it easy to wander the whimsical path.<br />
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The card above was made using RubberMoon's <a href="http://rubbermoon.com/products/ge2167-squeak" target="_blank">Squeak</a>, "<a href="http://rubbermoon.com/products/rm2647-oh-rats" target="_blank">Oh, Rats!</a>", and <a href="http://rubbermoon.com/products/ge2738-black-cattitude" target="_blank">Black Cattitude</a> stamps, along with Tim Holtz's clock stamp.<br />
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The concept behind this card perfectly, yet oh, so whimsically captures my behind-the-eight-ball frantic feeling with regard toward getting everything done between Halloween and Christmas.<br />
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Hey, what day is it? Wait. What time is it?! Oh, rats!!<br />
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The rats race around the clock (rat race... get it?) as if trying to keep up with time, capped off by the wry look on the cat's face as one of the rats gets away.<br />
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Here I am at my last post on this blog for 2014, with holiday presents made and gifted, cards made and sent, cookies made and eaten, well-wishes bestowed upon beloved family and friends...<br />
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...but for this final wish...<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;">May you have a very </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;">Happily Whimsical New Year!</span></div>
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<br />Barb Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076090758278803414noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6707552437723984715.post-80133905555179059312014-12-19T16:05:00.000-08:002014-12-19T16:05:20.424-08:00Holy Shrinkin' Snowmen, Santa!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi, I'm Barb, and I'm the most procrastinating elf Santa's ever known. If that's naughty, then so be it. Some things are never going to change. Of course, that makes life... challenging. Especially when you're Mrs. Black's daughter and the one rule that you manage to adhere to is, "Never show up empty-handed."<br /><br />We had a dinner to go to, one I knew about for a while. One I pushed out of my mind with an, "I'll deal with that later..."<br /><br />Suddenly, it was later. Suddenly, my mate was saying, "Don't forget we have that di..." "OH, Nooooo!!!" Panic mode set in. I had nothing ready to bring. I had about fifteen minutes to come up with something.<br /><br />Bring on the polyshrink and <a href="http://www.fitztown.com/winter-collection.html" target="_blank">Fitztown's Winter Collection No. 1</a>!<br />
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I raced to my computer, stuffed a sheet of polyshrink in the printer, and printed out two adorable snowmen.<br />
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I quickly colored them in using Derwent Inktense pencils and Sharpies. Then I cut them out.<br />
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Now for some Honey-I-Shrunk-the-Ornaments magic. Polyshrink, when heated, reduces to about 40% of its original size. Heat can be applied by using an oven (and a very watchful eye!) or with a heat gun. I didn't have time to wait for my oven to heat up, so I blasted 'em with my heat gun.<br /><br />Once they'd shrunk, I used my white Pico Embellisher from <a href="https://www.imaginecrafts.com/" target="_blank">ImagineCrafts</a> and some glitter. After all, what's an ornament without bling?!<br />
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All that was left to do was to attach some thin gold braid so they'd be all ready to dangle.<br /><br />With that, I sprang to my sleigh; to my team gave a whistle. And away we all flew like the down of a thistle. You probably heard me exclaim e'er I drove out of sight...<br /><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Merry Christmas to All!</span></b></div>
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(And to all, Good Crafting!!!)</div>
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<br />Barb Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076090758278803414noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6707552437723984715.post-59878836445531139862014-11-29T00:00:00.000-08:002014-11-29T00:00:03.625-08:00This Is That Time of the Year!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Let's face it. The winter holiday season is <i>the</i> best time to be an arts n' crafts freak. </div>
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Am I right, or <i>am I right</i>?<br /></div>
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Of course, my winter holiday season starts in August - at which point I'm already about two months behind schedule! Alas, and thankfully, I work well (read: <i>best</i>) under pressure.<br /><br />Anyway, now that the holidays are upon us, I can share some of my projects without fearing someone will throw a sweaty flip-flop at me!<br /><br />I love the simplicity of this <a href="http://www.fitztown.com/winter-collection.html" target="_blank">candle digistamp from Fitztown</a>. I began this project by printing it out on ivory colored cardstock.</div>
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The first thing I did was to fill in the candle drips with IMAGINE Crafts irRESISTible Pico Embellisher in white. The ink from the Pico Embellisher stays raised and shiny, so it really does look like wax drips!</div>
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I let that dry - it only takes a couple of minutes - while I colored in the holly with a blender pen dipped in distress ink. I also colored the flame in yellow. </div>
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To embellish both, I used a gold pen to do the inner markings and the outline of the candle. I also added yellow Stickles to the candle for sparkle.</div>
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I colored the ornaments in blue, rose, and green and then added corresponding colors of Stickles or glitter.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJFGmqult1ODvxc1qAPTOVEhJhSJBkaURYhx9FK77GKIEHAP9oNn55GGxajR4yLQJubPgFi9KirJJ43tOZ4qnE4kzv4__hzE03tdLrTt4dG7pCzXw8KsAwBV-yxZKOd2hFnRGra2_lh6F/s1600/candlefour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJFGmqult1ODvxc1qAPTOVEhJhSJBkaURYhx9FK77GKIEHAP9oNn55GGxajR4yLQJubPgFi9KirJJ43tOZ4qnE4kzv4__hzE03tdLrTt4dG7pCzXw8KsAwBV-yxZKOd2hFnRGra2_lh6F/s1600/candlefour.jpg" height="308" width="320" /></a></div>
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I stamped Noel in green, using a stamp that long ago forgot the name of its manufacturer.</div>
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Then, to finish the piece and give it a little extra somethin'-somethin', I made some snowflakes out of blue cardstock using an ancient Marvy Uchida punch that I have had for-just-about-ever.<br /></div>
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I glued everything together and then added just a bit of Waterfall blue Stickles to the snowflakes, because snowflakes need a little pizzazz too.</div>
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That's it for now, folks. I'm off to make something else. </div>
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What artsy craftsy things are you working on for the holidays?</div>
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<br />Barb Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076090758278803414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6707552437723984715.post-77447509507301900962014-11-28T14:00:00.000-08:002014-11-28T14:00:04.462-08:00Making It Snow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tB5v6C_PLRYQRHOq00ll0p0g2d3sxOsqitVbo-m3Aep1IprkzdQ-nhon784Kld4uzH0CHLryhOxFu8JS8owDe9R7v4KwXHoSSylJlLnyFaKyLK3wbpv7-zcX5iPW1QCLRRCzJkPW3C_M/s1600/ICRMBADGE2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tB5v6C_PLRYQRHOq00ll0p0g2d3sxOsqitVbo-m3Aep1IprkzdQ-nhon784Kld4uzH0CHLryhOxFu8JS8owDe9R7v4KwXHoSSylJlLnyFaKyLK3wbpv7-zcX5iPW1QCLRRCzJkPW3C_M/s1600/ICRMBADGE2.jpg" height="169" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://imaginecraftsblog.com/" target="_blank">IMAGINE Crafts</a> and <a href="http://rubbermoon.com/" target="_blank">RubberMoon Art Stamps</a> are excited to share with you the amazing projects that our design teams have created to kick off the Holiday Season! Over the next few days, we'll be sharing with you inspiration and techniques using IMAGINE Crafts' line of ink products featuring rubber stamps from RubberMoon.
Be sure to visit the <a href="http://imaginecraftsblog.com/" target="_blank">IMAGINE Crafts</a> and <a href="http://rubbermoonarts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">RubberMoon</a> blogs daily for more projects and ideas!</div>
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Can I just say? I have been having <i>sooooo</i> much fun playing with my stuff from IMAGINE Crafts and Rubbermoon! I thought I'd share a fun card with you today. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1iTc9Aauslp88Hw_v-pViN80xvsoBGGaysiYRzTNw_nsvsbi-HADl_3X0MySHQfeIbt95r5cmKED8GiiaEMcRZmD2TRD1ngNlNG5PzD3JHPqyrpdTvtucpjXfHNjptQiGq0pheD45-NW/s1600/blogextracardfull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1iTc9Aauslp88Hw_v-pViN80xvsoBGGaysiYRzTNw_nsvsbi-HADl_3X0MySHQfeIbt95r5cmKED8GiiaEMcRZmD2TRD1ngNlNG5PzD3JHPqyrpdTvtucpjXfHNjptQiGq0pheD45-NW/s1600/blogextracardfull.jpg" height="305" width="400" /></a></div>
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For this, I started with a half sheet of watercolor paper, which I sprayed with IMAGINE Crafts GooseBumps Shimmer Texture Spray. I love the slight shimmer and the texture adds some nice dimension to projects. In this case, I was going for snow, and it worked so well!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhtPMd2yzbQO8SpGBBh_nh39-5a8pflBLgpskcToFWWvhEzPLSaylX3-ttYuO-MFysJGrKMQljQEjLxGKXLdLbagHjvc_ruh2_bP69I0D_RCI4JcM1UR_ZOckPCPb4jFodrGWVSXxHip5/s1600/blogextrabegin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhtPMd2yzbQO8SpGBBh_nh39-5a8pflBLgpskcToFWWvhEzPLSaylX3-ttYuO-MFysJGrKMQljQEjLxGKXLdLbagHjvc_ruh2_bP69I0D_RCI4JcM1UR_ZOckPCPb4jFodrGWVSXxHip5/s1600/blogextrabegin.jpg" height="320" width="234" /></a></div>
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If you look closely, you can see the shimmer! It's really difficult to capture in a photo.</div>
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Once the GooseBumps spray was dry, I used a couple of different colors of blue, an IMAGINE Crafts Ink Blusher sponge, and some Ink Potion No. 9 to fill in the sky.</div>
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I sprayed the Ink Potion No. 9 directly onto the cardstock. It helps the inks blend and made the perfect cloudy sky for my falling snow. As you can see, the IMAGINE Crafts GooseBumps resists the ink, making it look like falling snow.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9FdF4pTw7L5MKOh3ioBTjtsI-2s5xPr6XgOD1ZFq8Ev0wQnlVMa-N-T17MA21PkikgT6L0kUWT8qhJoZduXojoYsE_3wcorIMDIIiCSouiJ26JQeGhy01nrX8luFFKos4zx8mn2iJWC1/s1600/blogextratwo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9FdF4pTw7L5MKOh3ioBTjtsI-2s5xPr6XgOD1ZFq8Ev0wQnlVMa-N-T17MA21PkikgT6L0kUWT8qhJoZduXojoYsE_3wcorIMDIIiCSouiJ26JQeGhy01nrX8luFFKos4zx8mn2iJWC1/s1600/blogextratwo.jpg" height="245" width="320" /></a></div>
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Time to start stamping! For the trees, I used RubberMoon's <a href="http://rubbermoon.com/products/tree-background" target="_blank">Skinny Trees background stamp</a>. </div>
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Again, the GooseBumps resists the ink, so it looks like the snow is falling on the trees and just beginning to give them their wintery coats. </div>
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To add to that effect, I sprayed the trees with a bit of IMAGINE Crafts Sheer Shimmer Spritz in silver.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ82VZjuBKkNZPHxnczfMUjZybrIHLopq3LKziuWDc_MwtiKltW7UNPXHqS-bzPopTbEM-2QqQ85gro-HWhnzRN-dhzfIXmpGNxINP50exklembsakumPclJLzbmwkehr_ug9VMny5zB-z/s1600/blogextrathree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ82VZjuBKkNZPHxnczfMUjZybrIHLopq3LKziuWDc_MwtiKltW7UNPXHqS-bzPopTbEM-2QqQ85gro-HWhnzRN-dhzfIXmpGNxINP50exklembsakumPclJLzbmwkehr_ug9VMny5zB-z/s1600/blogextrathree.jpg" height="268" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then I cut the cardstock down to size. Of course I saved the rest of it for later!</div>
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I added a few more trees to fill it in. </div>
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I topped just one of the trees with a single gold star using the star stamp from RubberMoon's <a href="http://rubbermoon.com/products/ge13-dust-collection-unmounted-sheet" target="_blank">Dust Collection</a>. (It's not like I won't use the rest of that set, but I tell ya... that star stamp alone was worth buying the whole set!) I stamped it using IMAGINE Crafts Delicata Golden Glitz ink.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8d6evX77GGqjdJkXQyUlXUYyQG29bU9tUYkDQqWHZJ-n54LJnw9T0lI5oI-XepufhZ2xCXJHnia62rwd4NjeX38jzgU9cPNkbVwn0-L6dEqg1UURHgCDSi5F1BKLZ4LQq6IjDTtTUZMn/s1600/blogextrafour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8d6evX77GGqjdJkXQyUlXUYyQG29bU9tUYkDQqWHZJ-n54LJnw9T0lI5oI-XepufhZ2xCXJHnia62rwd4NjeX38jzgU9cPNkbVwn0-L6dEqg1UURHgCDSi5F1BKLZ4LQq6IjDTtTUZMn/s1600/blogextrafour.jpg" height="254" width="320" /></a></div>
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I felt like it needed just a little something more, so using <span style="text-align: center;">IMAGINE Crafts Delicata Silvery Shimmer ink, I added the sweet RubberMoon <a href="http://rubbermoon.com/products/new-moon" target="_blank">New Moon</a> face in the sky. She has that peaceful look that I feel when the snow starts falling.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">One final word about </span><span style="text-align: center;">Delicata Metallic inks. I wasn't convinced that I needed <i>more</i> metallic ink pads. <b>But!</b> I <i>love, love, love</i> these! The colors are so vibrant and lush. I may never use any other gold or silver pads again.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">PS. If any of you IMAGINE Crafts / Tsukineko gods are listening... I'd love to have one in a nice bright copper. Pretty please!</span></div>
Barb Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076090758278803414noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6707552437723984715.post-4096237948869629132014-11-07T16:53:00.000-08:002014-11-10T10:15:20.534-08:00A Crafter's Tribute to Veteran's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20iDCfYQKC-lDw1LMMRcTdOZwzuKASMnuPBg0rIEQbu9jPpX6St2Ix-bAVGP27viMau74RtJtLN9h4VLKr3-i7gZP7pzxHO4FdUTItbkNaCoDjcSHPo70ZIi13ET8G79NFXMbUAl_pQO0/s1600/eaglecomplete.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20iDCfYQKC-lDw1LMMRcTdOZwzuKASMnuPBg0rIEQbu9jPpX6St2Ix-bAVGP27viMau74RtJtLN9h4VLKr3-i7gZP7pzxHO4FdUTItbkNaCoDjcSHPo70ZIi13ET8G79NFXMbUAl_pQO0/s1600/eaglecomplete.jpg" height="311" width="400" /></a></div>
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Tuesday is Veteran's Day. It is a day that I always feel deeply in my heart. Several of my family members and friends have served to defend and protect the country in which I am privileged to live. It is a debt that I am humbled by and can never repay, so I try to honor it and pay tribute to those brave people whenever I can.<br />
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That's what was on my mind the other day as I sat on my back porch, sipping coffee and watching eagles soar over the valley. And that's what inspired me when I came across this fierce looking eagle at <a href="http://www.fitztown.com/index.html" target="_blank">Fitztown</a>.<br />
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And, hey... is there anything more American than a pair of faded blue jeans? My beloved learned early on in our relationship to never <i>ever </i>throw away an old pair of jeans. I mean, come on! Old jeans are a crafter's cheap, but perfect playground! Am I right, or am I right?!<br />
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Along with a piece of denim from a pair of old jeans, I used an inexpensive, unfinished frame, and printed the eagle image out on heavy watercolor cardstock.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XhGl2PfpU62DfsQrxB3bxWDPWdoDtvTD0IxzgxUr3bIdp0kJnKyoU4czfjBGS1DxiuTlMlMmAgPkBcby_8lvswr3CDBIlXhxmzEo7VTdIOrYfeOPO_HPB1wJ8ZY15I_9HIU491nkjBPx/s1600/eaglebegin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XhGl2PfpU62DfsQrxB3bxWDPWdoDtvTD0IxzgxUr3bIdp0kJnKyoU4czfjBGS1DxiuTlMlMmAgPkBcby_8lvswr3CDBIlXhxmzEo7VTdIOrYfeOPO_HPB1wJ8ZY15I_9HIU491nkjBPx/s1600/eaglebegin.jpg" height="295" width="400" /></a></div>
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I traced a line around both the inside and outside of the frame on the "wrong" side of the piece of denim. I made sure to use a bright color that I could easily see when I cut the piece. Once it was cut, I glued it onto the frame.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYHf713EKU0TdhSv821jEdVzc3s6EqFzqgiLv4ySCvV4TmWaKcXnI_LXVw_0f33eM5jRneJnoPbob8BJDzaW-akiO2_7o54mNyPTr2Fq8UlMoG3XA0emUu2IzGF2jRgqeGJwgNbeNna-M/s1600/eagleframe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYHf713EKU0TdhSv821jEdVzc3s6EqFzqgiLv4ySCvV4TmWaKcXnI_LXVw_0f33eM5jRneJnoPbob8BJDzaW-akiO2_7o54mNyPTr2Fq8UlMoG3XA0emUu2IzGF2jRgqeGJwgNbeNna-M/s1600/eagleframe.jpg" height="640" width="276" /></a></div>
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I used a multiple star stamp from Inkadinkado and, with craft ink, stamped stars in red, white, and gold directly onto the fabric.<br />
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Then I used a star stamp from Stampin' Up! to make the star cut-outs with red, white, and blue cardstock.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9JEXbQ17vT8nOVemwaWlfSSr_m3y5-1o_q5-QMn2U2-rW3BT1k_0Bb_1LTBNdZwWh_VTW2Ei6UyBk0ydB0KjoF__VYlzWFrcCu23RkxKsPUM60xTW7D5uHldiPNyxJ5bIAq8RLGTmeC7/s1600/eaglestars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9JEXbQ17vT8nOVemwaWlfSSr_m3y5-1o_q5-QMn2U2-rW3BT1k_0Bb_1LTBNdZwWh_VTW2Ei6UyBk0ydB0KjoF__VYlzWFrcCu23RkxKsPUM60xTW7D5uHldiPNyxJ5bIAq8RLGTmeC7/s1600/eaglestars.jpg" height="326" width="400" /></a></div>
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I arranged the stars and glued them down. For a little extra pizzazz, I added some rhinestone stars.<br />
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Time to move on to the eagle.<br />
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For this, I began by doing a quick watercolor wash with red and blue distress inks. I didn't worry about being precise because I wanted it to have that washed look so that the starkness of the eagle would stand out that much more.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWp6Xor6_hrBNZ_KKDK36i1HAWssSTEZ03H3JpHltuIphYdP4yoNZODHtLrkPpLFhbQM3g_MY2HPUSTCfrx6teGoKhYWrwsQJJMQoVDfE6kbycRUfwwVvdX8MC2kwp-VpPSeEIGcdBXIux/s1600/eaglewatercolorbg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWp6Xor6_hrBNZ_KKDK36i1HAWssSTEZ03H3JpHltuIphYdP4yoNZODHtLrkPpLFhbQM3g_MY2HPUSTCfrx6teGoKhYWrwsQJJMQoVDfE6kbycRUfwwVvdX8MC2kwp-VpPSeEIGcdBXIux/s1600/eaglewatercolorbg.jpg" height="317" width="400" /></a></div>
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I waited a few minutes for that part of it to dry and used the Inkadinkado star stamp and gold ink to add stars to the "sky".
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31vewKLX69IsphFpqFWt73xmVwghyEH0eRXRDsF7tTbTSB32_YFFrV_QEdMmEKEToJvJNYNw5oVimkZ6xSztBt3hCF9kWeUI0EXnghsZLXEeu9AtzS33EaoAy757FQSmhqFzqRTa14OHF/s1600/eaglecolorpencil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31vewKLX69IsphFpqFWt73xmVwghyEH0eRXRDsF7tTbTSB32_YFFrV_QEdMmEKEToJvJNYNw5oVimkZ6xSztBt3hCF9kWeUI0EXnghsZLXEeu9AtzS33EaoAy757FQSmhqFzqRTa14OHF/s1600/eaglecolorpencil.jpg" height="400" width="363" /></a></div>
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After that, it was a matter of coloring in the eagle, and what else would I use besides my beloved Derwent Inktense watercolor pencils?<br />
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It's funny. I poo-poohed the need for these amazing pencils for a long time. Now I can't imagine how I ever lived without them. And I want all 5 bajillion colors because... well... 24 just won't do, y'know?<br />
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Anyway, that's all there was to this project besides putting the eagle into the frame. Total cost (even if you take into account the purchase of the stamps and pencils and how many times I've used them) was under $5.00.<br />
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Just imagine the gifts you could make with a minimal investment, a little bit of thought, and a whole bunch of love. Stuff like this? This is why I <i><b>love</b></i> crafting.<br />
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This is where I'd normally tell you to go craft something, and you should. But first, go hug and thank someone you know who has served your country.Barb Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076090758278803414noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6707552437723984715.post-68054980894088470572014-10-29T06:00:00.000-07:002014-10-29T06:00:07.821-07:00You Art Too<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5sAwoYuZYGFbEUTAD_nvEeyUGThiWFriEngO-nlC7yBaRmL7I3ez5cZqaBAFq8XhD2tnADk-m9tFYJPNPPoDw9_-tkw9mkCM2skq6JJ-n1Rkw5F0UHkDu9_o8smCDo_8PL8hDagnUrmU/s1600/snowtree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5sAwoYuZYGFbEUTAD_nvEeyUGThiWFriEngO-nlC7yBaRmL7I3ez5cZqaBAFq8XhD2tnADk-m9tFYJPNPPoDw9_-tkw9mkCM2skq6JJ-n1Rkw5F0UHkDu9_o8smCDo_8PL8hDagnUrmU/s1600/snowtree.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Rubber stamp: <a href="http://rubbermoon.com/products/rm860-tall-tree" target="_blank">RubberMoon's Tall Tree</a></i></span></div>
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Whenever I hear someone say, "Oh, I could never... I'm not an artist." It makes me want to scream. Mostly because I've been there, thought that, and wasted years that could have been a whole lot more fun had arts & crafts been part of the scene.<br />
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I used to try to sketch tree branches and end up with a wastebasket full of crumpled paper. The only reason for it? I forgot to take a good look at nature. Nature, while it has a certain order to it, loves some randomness. Branches aren't, as I kept trying to make them, straight lines. They're squiggly and bendy and broken in places.<br /><br />Branches are meant to be doodled, not sketched.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZnB3L0yBufeA9ZOsDXkNLMpyPW-NeI19zYwtwjUy_aIKG8M7O6a-gZdZ2hhZSQFVTXLEz9chj-psIHS6sCt7igpVKp1LzItRKPQwsQ86PituztsXqMPF9Nj-0N5B4JlcNLDbAzRZdIPKS/s1600/talltree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZnB3L0yBufeA9ZOsDXkNLMpyPW-NeI19zYwtwjUy_aIKG8M7O6a-gZdZ2hhZSQFVTXLEz9chj-psIHS6sCt7igpVKp1LzItRKPQwsQ86PituztsXqMPF9Nj-0N5B4JlcNLDbAzRZdIPKS/s1600/talltree.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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When I first held my new Tall Tree stamp (original image pictured above) in my happy little hands, I knew I wanted to do a winter scene with it. So, I stamped it in white on blue cardstock.<br /><br />And I wasn't happy with it. I mean, I was happy with the stamp - I just didn't achieve the look I was after. I wanted a cold, snowy afternoon. The kind that always makes me think there's magic afoot.<br /><br />That barren, stubby tree just didn't say "magic". So, I picked up my white gel pen and began to doodle branches. And I didn't stop until my little tree whispered "magic" to me. It took me maybe 5 minutes. Yep. Five.<br /><br />But, the key here is that it was just doodling. Anyone can do it. Anyone. Even you, over there shaking your head and rolling your eyes. Squiggly lines. You can do it. Yeah, so much for that old oh-but-I-can't-even-draw-a-straight-line excuse. Because, guess what? Neither can I!<br /><br />Give it a try. I dare you. It's true, the Guggenheim Museum will probably not make an immediate bee-line for your door, but you'll have tons of fun. Plus, you'll flex creative muscles you didn't know you had, and trust me on this, it will take you to some amazing places.<br />
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To see what else I did with the Tall Tree stamp, check out my post this week over at Rubbermoon: <a href="http://rubbermoonarts.blogspot.com/2014/10/one-stamp-three-designs-by-barb-black.html" target="_blank">One Stamp, Three Designs</a>.<br /><br />Barb Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076090758278803414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6707552437723984715.post-76116985825583157282014-10-16T14:34:00.000-07:002014-10-17T10:32:38.996-07:00I Want My Mummy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJlRrzYHdeu0iWxJNEMC6YomDEOid-ncC2ddr99ePViqnkH5ozfjRj1o-sbmfWwCtY3-6s7vlsL7hio3l9DrILtlUq5lWOqSvSfl3zHXVbY68l0r2gVIfn2csDu9q8IRGT3mGD1_hmWcb/s1600/nurses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJlRrzYHdeu0iWxJNEMC6YomDEOid-ncC2ddr99ePViqnkH5ozfjRj1o-sbmfWwCtY3-6s7vlsL7hio3l9DrILtlUq5lWOqSvSfl3zHXVbY68l0r2gVIfn2csDu9q8IRGT3mGD1_hmWcb/s1600/nurses.jpg" height="308" width="400" /></a></div>
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"I want my mummy!" was the first thought to cross my mind when I saw <a href="http://www.fitztown.com/halloween.html" target="_blank">Fitztown's Halloween 3 digistamp</a>. Not because I was frightened, but because I can't resist a horrible pun.<br />
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The other, maybe only slightly more artistic thing that crossed my mind was that the Dead Nurse Zombie Mummies made me think of the women in those old Robert Palmer videos (think <i>Addicted to Love</i>).<br />
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So, I knew I was going to glitz them up as much as I was going to gore them up. Seriously. What's a Dead Nurse Zombie Mummy with out a little glitter?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw12MrhUW0mt135I4BAsoMwHkRHV7Ht7fcDP8tiClGiRCzybz6Q5SuBPwcrIF_yvi-xVDzOLh-aSVX8yeGQujmyK7KoaGNMcpfrmhPcQ6jFsdH7q46C7Zz_8JxZ2gfVzXJLkmh6PEH7VlM/s1600/nursescutoutbg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw12MrhUW0mt135I4BAsoMwHkRHV7Ht7fcDP8tiClGiRCzybz6Q5SuBPwcrIF_yvi-xVDzOLh-aSVX8yeGQujmyK7KoaGNMcpfrmhPcQ6jFsdH7q46C7Zz_8JxZ2gfVzXJLkmh6PEH7VlM/s1600/nursescutoutbg.jpg" height="292" width="400" /></a></div>
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I began by coloring the images and cutting them out. I glitzed up their nurse caps and shoes using Stickles Star Dust. I chose gray cardstock for my background onto which I stamped a spider web (no idea who made that stamp, sorry!) using white craft ink. <br />
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As you can see in the first image at the top of the page, I also distressed the gray cardstock by flicking different colors of ink at it. How? Just dip a paintbrush in a dab of re-inker and flick your fingernail against the brush or tap the handle of the brush against your other hand. It's something you'll need to play with to get a feel for what kind of force creates the look you're going for. I also swiped around the cardstock with a sponge dipped in a couple of different colors of ink.<br />
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My Dead Nurse Zombie Mummies looked pretty good, but I felt like they were missing something. I couldn't decipher what. So, I took a break, wandered away, came back, squinted at them, and in my finest cheesy Dracula voice, yelled, "<b>BLOOD</b>!"<br />
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Duh. Every Dead Nurse Zombie Mummy needs blood!<br />
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I didn't want to use plain old ink and have it soak into the paper and end up looking like plain old ink. I decided to go the mad scientist route and experiment with some mediums. What I came up with was a very simple, very satisfying solution.<br />
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I mixed about a dime sized dollop of Judikins Diamond Glaze glue with a couple of drops of Fired Brick Distress Ink from my re-inker bottle. I mixed it together with a toothpick and, <i>ta-da</i>! Blood.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwL_LpNz21zZbcndDWh8E4aAeyae12g12-osEh4forWh1YESfFywYDHtzFqsnIb5FDe_Ggs6qXtCImuvhuQ6DMy7T6ORM_YXCONEzV-6wdUtJnCIkf7RQQ7gRzMW2vd-5ddDyc-MPf9N_J/s1600/nursesafter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwL_LpNz21zZbcndDWh8E4aAeyae12g12-osEh4forWh1YESfFywYDHtzFqsnIb5FDe_Ggs6qXtCImuvhuQ6DMy7T6ORM_YXCONEzV-6wdUtJnCIkf7RQQ7gRzMW2vd-5ddDyc-MPf9N_J/s1600/nursesafter.jpg" height="296" width="400" /></a></div>
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Using the same toothpick, I added drips and smears of "blood" to my Dead Nurse Zombie Mummies. It did exactly what I'd hoped for and dried to a shiny finish that still looks like liquid-y fresh blood.<br />
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Wait... <i><b>Stop</b>! Don't throw away that remaining "blood"!</i> Get a piece of cardstock and schmeer it around. Let it dry and you have a funky, fun background to use for some other project.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNdlAG_AttwsPw8buB4uk22N-MnzsThWmU2EhNehAfQPbC1mylQZ_PU4wXO__ST5ydWIMGHiNeUtAvT69quECq3tTTmpw7XTUzWOZT4f3OKjk5AjeHGcl_oTxJNn4IYXPd36jJBEajxjz/s1600/nursebloodleft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNdlAG_AttwsPw8buB4uk22N-MnzsThWmU2EhNehAfQPbC1mylQZ_PU4wXO__ST5ydWIMGHiNeUtAvT69quECq3tTTmpw7XTUzWOZT4f3OKjk5AjeHGcl_oTxJNn4IYXPd36jJBEajxjz/s1600/nursebloodleft.jpg" height="295" width="320" /></a></div>
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I love my new technique. I plan to play with a few different colors to see what else I can come up with... aqua for water, pale blue for ice... you'll excuse me if I wander off to play, won't you?Barb Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076090758278803414noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6707552437723984715.post-27244468079103455292014-10-03T13:49:00.001-07:002014-10-03T13:49:45.324-07:00Coffee and Templates<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBGK1xW-o77CGoPfpE9pK7JGBj34jtNmGQ8s3-LfuevnyloWY5qjJk0B28g1vUXuC14rqCSuinI4pMu0ftiFeIww6f1OFPN_XCTGRoTfyyCPmGnC10zr6O3Eu1yAqYmh8844E2z-Sc4rHD/s1600/deathfire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBGK1xW-o77CGoPfpE9pK7JGBj34jtNmGQ8s3-LfuevnyloWY5qjJk0B28g1vUXuC14rqCSuinI4pMu0ftiFeIww6f1OFPN_XCTGRoTfyyCPmGnC10zr6O3Eu1yAqYmh8844E2z-Sc4rHD/s1600/deathfire.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(Fitztown digistamp used: <a href="http://www.fitztown.com/halloween.html" target="_blank">Halloween 9</a>)</i></span></div>
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It's no secret that I'm a freak for coffee. Not only is it <i>not</i> a secret, it's probably a fairly well-known fact. Rumor has it that I can be a little scary if I don't get my coffee.<br />
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And it has to be decent, deep brew for me to be really satisfied and happy. Weak coffee only serves to make me fractious. But decaf? Boy, howdy. Serve me that stuff and you'd better just run for your life!<br />
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But enough about my (completely reasonable) demands.<br />
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Somewhat lesser known is my love of stencils. They can be used in so many different ways and combinations and on any number of projects.<br />
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I have a dozen or so of them and it's not nearly enough. Which runs frighteningly close to being the same as not having enough coffee. Yeah. <i>It's that bad</i>.<br />
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Anyway, when I saw this <a href="http://www.fitztown.com/digi-stamps.html" target="_blank">Fitztown</a> spectre, I knew that poor ol' ghoul wasn't so bad really. He just needed some decent coffee to bring him back to life. So, I poured myself some and went to work.<br /><br />I colored him in using Derwent Inktense watercolor pencils and a small brush dipped in water to blend them. Then I cut him out.<br />
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I felt like he needed some ghostly looking flames and I had just the ticket - a template from <a href="http://www.thecraftersworkshop.com/The_Crafters_Workshop/Home.html" target="_blank">The Crafter's Workshop</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hwXLe8axMPMStLiEQAvgIfm119X1kVZVhGLXXxYMU0RBnJ6TwfXgNlNiGPYouJBygYynlsxFymQ_yqwdGYepr-i4g_tgxPFnq117WWXtXkdc0GCZsWLzzDmOFpv5-9QDDeMaJV9f95X3/s1600/pumpkin+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hwXLe8axMPMStLiEQAvgIfm119X1kVZVhGLXXxYMU0RBnJ6TwfXgNlNiGPYouJBygYynlsxFymQ_yqwdGYepr-i4g_tgxPFnq117WWXtXkdc0GCZsWLzzDmOFpv5-9QDDeMaJV9f95X3/s1600/pumpkin+001.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Using a template is ridiculously easy. All I did was to lay the template on black cardstock and sponge over it with ink. I shifted it slightly to vary the placement of the flames, and using a different color, sponged over it again. I repeated this four times using Brilliance Pearlescent inks in: Lightning Black, Poppy, Olive, and Ice Blue.<br />
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Your templates can simply be wiped clean and put away for later use. If they get really messy, you can gently wash them in soapy (dish detergent) warm water.<br />
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Here are a few other examples of cards I've made where I used templates.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PnFYwPjVAdEfijGlxnJF9TosUGhm8ZF_1QhYhDpDo8OB71yF5wBaIdUwA21QghFOpMQzVomWsNncaYFJnaPurYdJd66syU2ydfEqvYfjQ1uRlbE4SnxIPM8M5gN0lRBoOWQxNVNse7Qy/s1600/pb17apr0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PnFYwPjVAdEfijGlxnJF9TosUGhm8ZF_1QhYhDpDo8OB71yF5wBaIdUwA21QghFOpMQzVomWsNncaYFJnaPurYdJd66syU2ydfEqvYfjQ1uRlbE4SnxIPM8M5gN0lRBoOWQxNVNse7Qy/s1600/pb17apr0001.jpg" height="320" width="244" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Another Crafter's Workshop template, </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">combined with a Tim Holtz stamp (sentiment). </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I don't know what company made the bird stamp.</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3u3GZtnp121iJCeE1DFxd8YGWzr4UxiCwzTq-N28grnbvkVE8znXotkgqKc0ubrwTWPN1c2uHHF9DcBK-6A2_sWBqEfW2MGZcrWGGsKAyGo6EthR9dh48M9C3P-NFd88iKyvLYLNMT-Hs/s1600/cestlavie0002b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3u3GZtnp121iJCeE1DFxd8YGWzr4UxiCwzTq-N28grnbvkVE8znXotkgqKc0ubrwTWPN1c2uHHF9DcBK-6A2_sWBqEfW2MGZcrWGGsKAyGo6EthR9dh48M9C3P-NFd88iKyvLYLNMT-Hs/s1600/cestlavie0002b.jpg" height="320" width="245" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tim Holtz template over Stampin' Up's Harlequin background stamp. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Floral stamp is by Penny Black. Sentiment is by <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/162575374/cest-la-vie-mounted-rubber-stamp-french" target="_blank">Sweetgrass Stamps</a>.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tim Holtz template. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stamps by Blockheads, Eclectic Omnibus, </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stampin' Up!, Scottish Borders and <a href="http://rubbermoon.com/" target="_blank">Rubbermoon</a>.</span></i></div>
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Get some templates and start playing! You'll be amazed at the creativity they inspire. Barb Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076090758278803414noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6707552437723984715.post-52120545530412050132014-09-25T15:06:00.000-07:002014-09-25T15:11:30.063-07:00All That Glimmers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of my mother's favorite idioms to throw at us was "All that glimmers is not gold."<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(I'll show you how to do those leaves in just a minute.)</i></span></div>
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Mom was right. It's also aqua, rust, maroon, green, silver. Okay. Now I can feel her giving me <i>The Look</i> for being sarcastic. Amazing how she can do that from 2800 miles away.<br />
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So, let's just talk about Glimmer Spray, shall we? Or you can call it shimmer spray, or twinkle spray, or <i>Extra Special Sparkly Magic Juice</i> if you prefer. Yeah. Let's call it that! You probably know the stuff I'm talking about though. You spritz a little on your paper craft project and Shazam! Suddenly your project shimmers like it fell into a vat of fairy dust.<br />
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Companies like to sell their name brands of <i>Extra Special Sparkly Magic Juice</i> it for big dollars. The well-kept secret is that it's very inexpensive to make your own. Not only that, but by making your own, you can get exactly the color you want. You can even tailor it to match your ink pads (presuming you have bottles of re-inker to match them, and why wouldn't you?).<br />
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Here's what it takes to make your own <i>Extra Special Sparkly Magic Juice</i>:<br />
<ul>
<li><b><i>Gum Arabic</i></b> - available at any art supply store. I bought mine a couple of years ago for under $5 and I still have at least 2/3 of the little jar left.</li>
<li><b><i>Re-inker</i></b> - any brand will do. In fact, I bought out a re-inker supply from a company that was going out of business. I knew I was going to use the ink just to play with and not to re-ink pads that I have, so it was a worthwhile and relatively inexpensive investment. I use re-inkers in all kinds of ways for all kinds of projects.</li>
<li><b><i>Pigment Powder</i></b> - I have several different kinds that I've had for several years. Pearl Ex, Perfect Pearls, etc. Go with whatever you've got. If you don't have any, for making Glimmer Spray, I recommend getting plain pearly white. It will blend fine with any color of ink and you don't necessarily have to match the powder color to the ink. </li>
<li><b><i>Small empty spray bottles</i></b> - again, go cheap. Sure, you can get them from art suppliers and big brand names, but scout out the dollar store or dollar bin at your local pharmacy first.</li>
<li><b><i>Water</i></b> - straight from the tap will do.</li>
</ul>
<b>The recipe is</b> -<br />
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In a small spray bottle add:<br />
<ul>
<li>1 part Gum Arabic</li>
<li>4 parts Pigment Powder</li>
<li>Fill bottle about 2/3 of the way with water</li>
<li>Add ink drops until you achieve the color you want.</li>
<li>Shake well.</li>
<li>Find all kinds of <i>fun</i>tastic uses for it.</li>
</ul>
<b>Note</b>: Your homemade <i>Extra Special Sparkly Magic Juice</i> will keep forever, but you will need to shake it well before each use. Occasionally, the pigment powder can clog the nozzle. Simply run it under hot water to unclog it.<br />
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Really, that's all there is to it and the possibilities are endless. Oh, I should warn you that mixing up those <i>Extra Special Sparkly Magic Juice</i> potions can be a little addictive, not to mention using them. But look all the different things you can do with it!<br />
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You can simply spritz it on paper for a unique background. You can dip paintbrushes into it and use it like a watercolor. You can spritz it on your non-stick work surface or on a piece of plastic wrap, dip your stamps in it and then stamp on watercolor paper for a beautiful, shimmering image. Here's how I did the leaves pictured above...<br />
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Stamps used are from <a href="http://rubbermoon.com/" target="_blank">RubberMoon Art Stamps</a>, from left to right: <a href="http://rubbermoon.com/products/ge2831-carved-leaf" target="_blank">Carved Leaf</a>, <a href="http://rubbermoon.com/products/ge2209-oak-leaf" target="_blank">Oak Leaf</a>, and <a href="http://rubbermoon.com/products/ge2874-elm-leaf" target="_blank">Elm Leaf</a>.<br />
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Oh, and once you're done dipping those stamps in and you have tiny blobs/smears of it left on your work surface? Don't just wipe it up - use it! I get some of the coolest backgrounds by dropping a piece of cardstock onto my "leftovers" and smooshing it around.<br />
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I told you, there's just no end to what kind of creativity you'll spark when you start playing. So, now that you know how to make your own <i>Extra Special Sparkly Magic Juice,</i> what will you do with it?<br />
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To see another example (pictured below) of how I used it in a project, please check out my post over on the <a href="http://rubbermoonarts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">RubberMoon Arts</a> blog. It's scheduled to go "live" tomorrow, Friday, September 26th.<br />
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<br />Barb Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076090758278803414noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6707552437723984715.post-64921088435132948072014-09-19T14:05:00.000-07:002014-09-19T14:05:04.896-07:00Paper Tiger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm posting again for the <a href="http://www.fitztown.com/digi-stamps.html" target="_blank">Fitztown</a> Design Team. What inspired me this week? A pile of crumpled napkins. *shrug* It's how I roll.<br />
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I submit for your review, the basic brown paper napkin. Dining and coffee establishments love to give everyone copious quantities of them. In my life, there is always a bunch of these things hanging around - jammed into my purse, stuck between pages of books as a marker, tossed aside on an end table - until I finally get tired of seeing them or digging around them and toss them. <br /><br />Toss them? Not this time and probably never again! I went with, "Hmmm... crafting possibilities...?" So I taped one to a piece of printer paper to give it stability and printed out Fitztown's tiger (available <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/194667983/instant-download-tiger-digi-stamp-design?ref=shop_home_active_7" target="_blank">here</a>) on it.<br />
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So far, so good. Now what...? I decided to see if I could color on it without ripping it and see if I could then maybe decoupage it onto a blank coaster. I experimented with different mediums on a spare napkin. With dozens of them in residence, it wasn't too painful to sacrifice one. Some of the mediums I tried were too wet and tore the napkin or bled too much. So, I went (very gently) with crayons, a blender pen with distress ink for the leaves, and a white ballpoint pen to give ol' Tony some contrast.<br />
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Next up, I got out a blank coaster (this one is a 3.5" square) and my Liquitex gloss gel (I use the medium thickness). I also ripped the napkin down to an easier to manage size at this point.<br />
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I turned the napkin over and applied a coat of the Liquitex gel to the back of the image, coating only the image and not outside of it. I flipped it over again and adhered it to the coaster. I applied more Liquitex gel to the top of the image going slightly outside of the image, since my intention was to be able to rip away excess napkin.<br /><br />As you can see, I used my finger to apply the Liquitex gel both to the back and the front of the image. I like getting messy. Plus, I find that I can control what I'm doing better by being completely "hands-on". But, for those of you who don't like to get messy, you could easily use a sponge or a brush - just be really careful not to tear the napkin.<br />
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Once the piece was mostly dry, I carefully tore away excess napkin. Then I swiped some of Ranger's Tarnished Brass Distress Stain around the edges and sponged over that in a scrubbing motion using Ranger's Crushed Olive Distress Ink. Finally, I went over the entire piece again with the Liquitex gel.<br />
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The piece seemed too dark to me and I wanted to lighten it up and give it a little extra interest. So, I used StazOn Opaque White and an old background stamp that I got from who-knows-where and stamped around the tiger.<br />
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<br />And that, as they say, is that. I know it seems like a long, complicated process, but it really wasn't. Waiting for it to dry in between gel applications got a little tiresome, but that's what goofing around on Facebook is for... isn't it?<br /><br />Look around you. Look at the stuff you normally toss out and try to come up with something creative to do with it instead. Let me know what you come up with.Barb Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076090758278803414noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6707552437723984715.post-68099794732417953502014-09-05T16:31:00.000-07:002014-09-05T16:43:04.961-07:00Tiger, Tiger, Burning BrightWilliam Blake penned the following lines at the end of his poem, <i>Tiger</i>:<br />
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<i>Tiger, tiger, burning bright</i><br />
<i>In the forests of the night,</i><br />
<i>What immortal hand or eye</i><br />
<i>Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?</i><br />
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I will forgive Mr. Blake the blatant misuse of an adjective in place of an adverb if he will forgive me attempting to frame a tiger. Because that's just what I did for this week's <a href="https://fitztownchallengeblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Fitztown Design Team</a> post.<br />
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For this card, I used Fitztown's Tiger digistamp (available <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/194667983/instant-download-tiger-digi-stamp-design?ref=shop_home_active_7" target="_blank">here</a>).<br />
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I printed it out on ivory colored cardstock and then colored it in with Derwent Inktense watercolor pencils. If you're not familiar with these amazing pencils, you are missing out! I love working with them - they can be used as regular old colored pencils or you can dip them in water for a more intense color, or brush over them with a wet paintbrush for a softer watercolor effect.<br />
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I colored in the tiger and the leaves and then very lightly went over much of it with a damp brush.<br />
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From there, it was time to move on to the frame. To cut it I used my trusty old Coluzzal... does anybody use those any more?! I don't have any of the fancy cutting/embossing machines, and this has always worked just fine for me for mini matting/framing needs. It also takes up <i>no</i> room on my desk!<br />
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I wanted to give the frame a little depth, so I used my Tim Holtz canvas stencil and sponged in a little distress ink. Then I put some darker brown spatter effect on it using an old Stampin' Up! stamp. To give it some good border and draw the eye back in, I went around the edges of the rectangle as well as the edges of the oval with a sponge that I'd swiped on the same brown ink.<br />
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All that was left was to assemble the card and trim off the excess ivory cardstock.<br />
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For those of you who aren't satisfied with a mere taste of William Blake's work (I never am!), I invite you to read the entire poem (<a href="http://www.bartleby.com/101/489.html" target="_blank">here</a>). I promise, you read the entire thing and you'll be checking behind you to make sure there's not a tiger crouching and ready to pounce.Barb Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076090758278803414noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6707552437723984715.post-13147998341802635542014-08-29T11:19:00.002-07:002014-08-29T11:19:58.209-07:00Give Peas A Chance!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My first post is up over at the RubberMoon Arts blog (read it <a href="http://rubbermoonarts.blogspot.com/2014/08/give-peas-chance.html" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a>)!<br />
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I sound like a broken record (or glitchy mp3 for those of you too young to understand the implications of a broken record), because I keep saying "I'm so excited to be part of this Creative Dream Team!" But I am. Not only is it a wonderfully supportive group, but Holy Inspiration, Batman! I can only sift through the blog posts for so long before my head is so full of ideas that I feel like I'm going to explode.<br />
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The above card is what I designed for my first post and you can read up on how I did it by following the link above.<br />
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Stay tuned, because I have all kinds of fun new <a href="http://rubbermoon.com/" target="_blank"><b>RubberMoon</b></a> stamps to play with!<br />
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<br />Barb Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076090758278803414noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6707552437723984715.post-24020154359539516672014-08-27T14:43:00.000-07:002014-08-27T14:43:29.479-07:00Viva Las Vegas Stamps - August Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There I was, complaining about the Summer heat (as usual). I was trying to find a way to distract myself from my sweaty puddle of discomfort when I saw the August challenge over at the <a href="http://vivalas.blogspot.nl/2014/08/august-challenge.html" target="_blank">Viva Las VegasStamps blog</a>. I decided to play along. The prompt was the color orange, and summer and girls and well, pretty much anything goes. So I designed the above card using three different VLVS stamps:<br /><a href="http://www.vlvstamps.com/index.php/leapfrog-lady-3-1-2-x-2-1-4.html" target="_blank">Leapfrog Lady</a><br /><a href="http://www.vlvstamps.com/index.php/diving-lady-2-1-2-x-3-3-4.html" target="_blank">Diving Lady</a><br />
and the <a href="http://www.vlvstamps.com/index.php/donand-39-t-take-life-so-seriously-3-4-x-2-1-4.html" target="_blank">quote</a>.<br /><br />I stamped the images and quote using StaZon Jet Black Ink on glossy white cardstock. Then I colored in the images with water-based markers and sponged around the edges with an orange-y water-based ink. Just to add some bling - because that's how I roll - I "colored in" the diving woman's top with yellow Stickles.<br />
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It should be noted that I have been a huge fan of <a href="http://www.vlvstamps.com/" target="_blank">Viva Las VegasStamps</a> practically since the day I began stamping. They offer tens of thousands of different stamps. Really. They cater to every rubber stamp need you can imagine, including my own penchant for sarcastic and whimsical stuff. They also have a great variety of naughty stamps - as naughty as you can think it. I'm a fan of that, too. Go figure.<br /><br />In 2006, a couple of years after I'd fallen headlong into the addictive world of rubber stamps, I was fortunate to meet up with a group of friends for a rubber stamp convention in Las Vegas. One afternoon, we ditched the convention and made the trip to the VLVS store. I am not joking at all when I say that the place is a stamper's wonderland. My friends and I happily fell down that rabbit hole and whiled away that entire afternoon looking at rubber stamps. It goes on record as one of the top ten afternoons of my life and it's probably why I can't use a VLVS stamp without breaking into a somewhat enigmatic grin.<br /><br />After all, I'm trying to not take this non-permanent life so seriously. Rubber stamps help.Barb Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076090758278803414noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6707552437723984715.post-73095955771694047522014-08-08T14:50:00.001-07:002014-08-08T14:50:46.450-07:00Can You Digi It?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello, Crafty People! Uh... maybe that should be Craft<i><b>ing</b></i> People...?<br />
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This is my first post as a new member of the <a href="http://www.fitztown.com/" target="_blank">Fitztown</a> Creative Team; the challenge is "Anything Goes". It's been a busy week, and I will admit that I'm sliding this one in like it's bottom of the ninth and the score is tied. On that note, I apologize that I don't have step-by-step pictures to go with this post as was my intention. I just didn't have the time.<br />
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This really was a new endeavor on my part. I have never used digital stamps (aka digistamps) before, so I wasn't quite sure what my real reaction was going to be. My reaction was that I like it. The cool thing about digistamps is that once you receive the image, you can resize it to be whatever you want. The flower vase above could have been an entire 8.5 x 11" page, or I could have reduced it to half an inch (or smaller, I suppose). That's a pretty neat feature because when it comes to standard rubber stamps, the size you've got is the size you get.<br /><br />The image I chose is <a href="http://www.fitztown.com/garden.html" target="_blank">Fitztown's Garden 9</a>. Once I resized this image to fit the 3.75 x 5" piece that I wanted it to be, I printed it out and went to work. I began by coloring in the leaves, flowers, and the vase. I dabbed some cinnamon colored Stickles in the centers of the flowers for a little shimmer effect, and set it aside to dry.<br />
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If you're at all familiar with my work, you know that I like messy. Some people call that distress, but I don't like the word distress. It sounds too frantic for a process that is so much fun. So then, my next step was to get messy. I schmeered some Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint (made by Ranger) over the image. Again, I set it aside to dry.<br />
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As soon as it was dry, I sponged a light turquoise ink over the entire piece to bring out the crackle effect and to give it a more country antique look. That's all there was to it.<br /><br />I encourage you to try out some digistamps. I can already see that I'll have plenty of fun with them.<br /><br />Have a craftastic weekend!Barb Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076090758278803414noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6707552437723984715.post-65693771203130210092014-08-03T14:08:00.000-07:002014-08-03T14:08:32.204-07:00Hurricane Barb Strikes Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello! I thought I'd start you off with a project that I worked on in June. Otherwise, there's nothing significant about the picture above. Well, nothing except that someone commissioned it, didn't like it (which is absolutely fine), whereupon it was immediately snatched up by someone else. There's a lesson there for you hesitant artists and crafters. Art is subjective. Someone is going to hate it, someone is going to love it. Don't let anyone's opinion of your work get you down.<br />
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But. That's not why we're here today. We're here today because I have <span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>huge</b></span> news! I have been asked (and of course I've accepted) to be on<i> two</i>... count 'em... 1, 2 (wooHOO!) Creative Design Teams. I am so thrilled that I'd be dancing if it didn't get in the way of trying to sip coffee and make art. (<b>Note</b>: <i>Jitterbugging is not a friend of the finely drawn line. It does, however, make for some fascinating abstract</i>.) Anyway. Yes. I'm now on two design teams and I couldn't be more excited. I will be designing cards and crafty projects using stamps from <a href="http://rubbermoon.com/">RubberMoon</a> and from <a href="http://www.fitztown.com/digi-stamps.html">Fitztown</a>. Of course, I'll also be blogging about those projects and giving you helpful how-to's and stuff like that. What's cool about it for me is that I get to be part of a couple of amazingly creative teams - I can't wait to see what my co-conspirators cook up each month.<br /><br />So, life just got busy. Very busy.<br />
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Here's what my desk looks like mostly clean and waiting for me to begin.<br />
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Here it is six cards and a little over two hours later.<br />
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And, just in case you need an aerial shot...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbr9_72JaRy4r9tDu9L3JltZI03qTbt5u4btYkm6dY9TCpUIEYp38Fz0iLceL_4u1lJqIPNJZfbRHvOc6wH1waUK8KQX0HFM9Dx45HvVHZF6wf78IS5Ly3o6lElnG99pgfbElJTWH98x6/s1600/desk+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbr9_72JaRy4r9tDu9L3JltZI03qTbt5u4btYkm6dY9TCpUIEYp38Fz0iLceL_4u1lJqIPNJZfbRHvOc6wH1waUK8KQX0HFM9Dx45HvVHZF6wf78IS5Ly3o6lElnG99pgfbElJTWH98x6/s1600/desk+005.jpg" height="261" width="400" /></a></div>
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That's it for today, my friends. I have a bigger mess to make, and never enough time in which to make it. I encourage you to get messy. Some of my best stuff has come from accidentally getting paint or ink slopped in the wrong place... now I do it on purpose and people think I'm a genius.<br />
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Now, about all that jitterbugging... remember the old Fats Waller tune, <i>The Joint Is Jumpin'</i>? Well, in the same vein of passion and abandon and joy, <i>this studio is stampin'</i>!<br />
<br />Barb Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076090758278803414noreply@blogger.com2