Too, too much fun! – just add water!

Hi all,

 I was cruising the Internet as usual looking for fun links to share (I know I’m supposed to be Laboring today!) and found a hilarious post over on Craft Critique (one of my favorite review sites).   Found out about a journaling book I’d never heard of before but apparently is out there everywhere.    Just goes to show that hanging out in used bookstores, libraries and thrift stores as I do won’t keep you up on the latest publishing craze.  Turns out Keri also has another book that after reading some of the sample pages on Amazon.com has me intrigued.  Way less money than seeing a shrink that’s for sure :D!

                                 

So if you are looking for a Labor Day laugh or just want to try out a little creative destruction on your own using whatever materials and book you have to hand check out this post on Craft Critique for ideas and a fun review.  Leave a comment and you might even win your own copy.   Of course just so you know how tough the odds are I’m planning on winning it myself! 

And if you scroll on down to their previous post  you’ll find some great reviews of coloring and journaling implements that you’ll want to use to Wreck a Journal of any kind or any other creative endeavor for that matter.   The reviewers at Craft Critique always give you their honest opinion and they are all crafters just like us and not paid by the companies or products under review.

In reviewing their reviews in this  post I was thrilled to see that Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Wonder Crayons and Watercolor Pencils were tops in their estimation!  Always lovely to have someone else agree with my own personal opinions!   And of course if you would like to try out your own personal sample test and need the product I”m only an email away for placing an order or go to the SU order site (link in my sidebar) and select me as your demonstrator.   The crayons and the pencils are among my favorite toys (er…tools) and I’m sure you will love them too.  I’m planning a post or two in the future to show the possibilities so stay tuned.

Here’s what SU says about the Crayons:

Now you can watercolor in Stampin’ Up!’s exclusive colors! Plus, you can use the neutral pack for shading and adding dimension. Try coloring directly onto your stamp, misting lightly with water, and stamping onto your paper. You will get an instant watercolor image! You can also take the pigment directly off the crayon with your Aqua Painter to color a stamped image. artist-quality, highly-pigmented crayons.

■ Water soluble and easy to blend, allowing for an unlimited range of shades
■ Coordinate with Stampin’ Up!’s exclusive colors
■ Available in color family assortments and a neutral pack (each pack sold separately)
■ Contains 12 crayons per package
■ Can also be used without water to color images

And my favorite trick?   Using Stazon to stamp large open images, I create coloring books for my littlest relatives (okay, for myself too sometimes – hee, hee, hee) then for the littlest guys I color across the images with the crayons – not filling them in but placing dots of color here and there.  Then when my munchkins visit I hand them the book and a paint brush or aqua painter and they add water to the page!  Amazement shortly follows as the colors come to life and can be moved about the page or mixed together!

Here’s a tip from SU:

After stamping a design, color the desired area with the pencils, then paint with water or a blender pen and watch the colors come to life! For more vibrant color and shading, color your artwork again while the paper is wet.

You can also make a palette on scratch paper by scribbling a section for each color. Pick up the color from the scratch paper with an Aqua Painter or blender pen.

For easy opening, squeeze the two back corners of the tin; the lid will pop open.

 

Another nice note about the pencils is that they are acid free and so perfect for coloring images in scrapbooks and other archival quality creations.

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Oh and one last thing if you are into giveaways and blog candy there are a few out there today:

Craft Critique – Basic Gray paper here.

Mary Fish on her blog is giving away Lovely Letters Alphabet Stamp Set from SU and a few other goodies to celebrate her Million hits (don’t you just love it when someone throws a party and gives away gifts :D)

Hope your Holiday weekend has been a fun one.

Hugs and blessings – Jean

PS: On a literary note I’ve discovered that WordPress’s dictionary not only can’t handle worlds like blog or Google but large syllable words are also “apparently” a problem as well.  Can’t recognize journaling either.   Very funny to me that a medium that relies on words can’t find most of them!  But then my version of Word doesn’t recognize contractions like can’t either!  😀

Hodgepodge Hardware as Jewelry? – more design tips for Hodgepodge Hardware

Happy Labor Day MondayYa’ll!  

Hodgepodge Hardware as Jewelry? – more design tips for Hodgepodge Hardware are coming your way!  So grab a drink (your choice), warm up the printer (you are going to want these directions and links for your files) and snag your gift list and other note taking equipment and join me for a look at Hodgepodge Hardware couture accessories.

In an earlier post (found here) I shared a tip or two about using and altering Stampin’ Up’s Hodgepodge Hardware.  I thought today I would add a few more twists to the usual.  

Now while many crafters refer to the addition of Hodgepodge Hardware(hereafter referred to as HH for simplicities sake :D)  and other embellishments as adding jewelry to a card… today I’ll show you how some clever crafters have created actual jewelry you can wear!

Using bits and pieces from HH and other SU accessories you can fill your jewelry box and your gift list quite nicely and still keep your budget intact.  Since the hodgepodge comes with 10 pieces each of the different sized frames you have quite a few potential jewelry pieces hiding in this lovely box.  Not to mention the brads and other pieces that you can use to  make earrings and bracelets.  So whether you go Silvertone or Vanilla (and don’t forget that with the coloring tips in my earlier post you have at least 48 other color possibilities for your creations!)  you have some fun jewelry making (and wearing) in your future.  And here you thought this blog only talked about paper! 

Last January SU shared with it’s demo’s a very cool necklace created using the designer label pieces from the Hodgepodge Hardware kit.   While I think this was an idea that had been around it was the first time I had come across it and the first time I saw such excellent directions.   And since presentation is everything I’ve included those directions for you as well.

Instructions

To Create Necklace:

1.       Stamp Fresh Cuts background image in Chocolate Chip ink on Naturals Ivory card stock (1-1/2″ x 2″). Sponge Chocolate Chip ink around edges of card stock using sponge daubers.

2.       Stamp leaves silhouette image in Chocolate Chip and Kiwi Kiss ink over background image.

3.       Ink “Be” portion of “Be yourself” stamp using Chocolate Chip Stampin’ Write marker, and stamp word over background image.

4.       Stamp “Happy” in Riding Hood Red ink over background image.

5.       Stamp flower image in Riding Hood Red ink on Naturals Ivory card stock (1-1/2″ x 1-1/2″), and cut out. Adhere to Naturals Ivory card stock over background image. Attach Styled Silver brad to center of flower.

6.       Adhere Naturals Ivory card stock behind designer label holder.

7.       Cover Naturals Ivory card stock with Crystal Effects and Micro beads. Allow to dry.

8.       Slide pearl, crystal beads, felt flower, and filigree piece onto jewelry wire, and loop jewelry wire through bottom end of label holder. Twist wire end to secure.

9.       Tie Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon through top end of label holder, then slide label holder onto bead chain. Slide filigree piece onto bead chain.

 

To Create Card and necklace presentation:

1.       To create inside pocket, punch notch in top of Chocolate Chip textured card stock (2″ x 2″) using 1/2″ Circle punch. Adhere side and bottom edges of card stock inside front of Riding Hood Red card.

2.       Sand edges of Bella Rose Designer Series paper, and adhere to Riding Hood Red card.

3.       Punch holes in card approximately 1″ from top of card at 1″ and 3-1/8″ from left edge using 1/4″ Circle punch. Feed necklace chain through holes, and close clasp. Tuck chain inside pocket.

4.       Stamp Fresh Cuts background image in Chocolate Chip ink on Naturals Ivory card stock (3-3/8″ x 3-1/8″), and sponge Chocolate Chip ink around edges of card stock. Adhere to Chocolate Chip textured card stock (3-1/2″ x 3-1/4″). Sew around edges.

5.       Punch holes through all card stock layers 1/2″ from top of card stock at 3/4″ and 2-3/4″ from left edge using 1/8″ Circle punch. Cut slits from top of card stock to holes.

6.       Stamp “For you” in Chocolate Chip ink on Kraft card stock, and punch out using Round Tab punch. Fold tab in half, and adhere to back side of Chocolate Chip textured card stock so greeting shows.

7.       Adhere piece to card using Stampin’ Dimensionals, lining up holes in piece with holes in card. Slide necklace chain through slits so chain feeds through holes in piece as well as holes in card.

Secure necklace to card using Stampin’ Dimensionals. Be sure to place the Dimensionals beneath metal portions of necklace to aid in removal of necklace from card. To further secure, tie loose chain together inside card using linen thread. 

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Pretty cool huh?!  Now that you’ve seen what SU suggests you do with these goodies here’s a few more ideas and variations from crafty bloggers all over.

More Links to Hodgepodge Hardware Jewelry:

http://christynelson.net/blog/2009/02/learn-how-to-make-pendant-with.html – Pendant using oval HH

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=112302766511&ref=mf – similar necklace using Lovely Letters stamp set

http://www.thestamper.com/the_stamper/2009/08/hodgepodge-hardware-jewelry.html – Another Lovely Letters and using Crystal Effects to make it shine.

http://www.2stampis2b.com/2009/03/trendy-trees-necklace-earrings-gift-set_27.html – Check out the Earrings made from brads and Felt Flower Fusion

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?si=hodgepodge+hardware+jewelry&cat=&x=16&y=2 – Splitcoaststampers Gallery of HH Jewelry

I hope you have enjoyed this view of  HH crafting “couture” (does one use the term couture for jewelry?  Hmmm….I guess if I have to ask I’m really not in that league -oh darn- lol!).    Stay tuned for more fun and non traditional ways to use that stash!

 Oh yeah – if you have cats as I do before you cover this stuff or anything else with Crystal effects check for cat hairs on your target area!  Trust me on this you’ll be happier with the results :D!   And really cats don’t like to wear this kind of jewelry!  Don’t ask how I know this okay??

Hugs and Blessings – Jean