Mercart Metal Embossing Class

Today, I helped with a class at CHA! In perspective, I was just a small part but it was certainly exciting for me.

Magdalena, from Mercart, taught the class called Everyday Embossing.

Each student made a pewter medallion using metal embossing tools on pewter. The best part was that I learned, too. I basically moved around the room to help anyone with questions. It was so gratifying to see the excitement of all the students. It's pretty amazing to see a piece of flat metal transformed into a dimensional design.

I'm inspired to get back to metal embossing!

Today, I can say.....

........from sunny California!

-judy

Day 1 - Anaheim

Hi, everyone!

It's Day 1 of our trip to CHA in Anaheim, California.

I spent today in a Copic certification class. What a great opportunity to learn about Copic markers & how to use them with stamping!

I learned the basic techniques for using Copic markers as well as helpful information about papers & inks to use with the markers. Next, I need to practice those skills a bit. Wish I had my markers here! I plan to share what I learned in some classes at Fond Memories.

Our instructor was Marianne. Here she shows some air brush techniques.

These are stamped images that I used to practice some of my newly learned skills. The stamp is new from Cornish Heritage Farms.

A closer view......

The sparkle on the flowers is from a Spica marker also made by Copic. After I used the Spica marker along the flower edges, I used the blender marker to move the glitter all over the flower......one of the techniques we learned.

And it's official.....

Tomorrow....opening day of the CHA show. Top on our list is the Spellbinders booth! I can hardly wait to see all the new products & visit my favorite booths. Best of all......I'll see Elizabeth at the Penny Black booth.

-judy

Off to CHA

I'm off to Anaheim today. I'm so excited to be going to CHA! I love seeing all the new products and wonderful artwork. And it will be much warmer there!

I have an incredible opportunity to help with a class at CHA this year. I emailed my friend Magdalena to tell her I'd see her at CHA. She has the company Mercart. They sell metal embossing tools, metal and supplies. I asked her if she needed any help with her class. To my surprise, she took me up on my offer. I'll be helping class attendees who have questions or need one on one help while Magdalena and her mother, also Magdalena, teach the class. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity. I'm not nervous yet but I know I will be on Monday morning. I hope to be able to post while I'm at CHA including some photos so I'll let you know how the class goes.

For now, I have a couple photos of a pencil can I made with embossed aluminum. It started out as a vegetable can.

Here's another side of it.

Enjoy!

-judy

A Pearlescent Wedding Card

I created this card for Fond Memories' Valentine's Card Party stamping event this weekend. They're featuring Spellbinder's dies and Valentine's greetings. A pretty wedding card seemed appropriate for the event.

I used all pearlescent papers. The embossed frame was cut from pearlescent cream card stock using a Spellbinder's frame die that also has a wider border for embossing. It really shows off the embossed pattern and has such a pretty sheen. The 2 sided background paper is from Reminisce.

I used Ranger Adirondack Espresso ink to stamp the hearts & greeting, then heat embossed with clear powder.

A pretty ribbon with sheen is the finishing touch. The design is simple yet elegant.

Enjoy!

-judy

Happiness

I created this card using a set of Artistic Outpost stamps called Happiness. If you look closely you can see that I stamped the word "happiness" multiple times to add interest to the printed paper that I used for the background. I also distressed the edges with Black Soot Distress ink.

I stamped the woman collage 3 times in order to cut sections for layering. I colored the woman with Copic markers. I used Distress inks on the other layers. I also added some white accents with Ranger's Inkessentials white pen.

The circle & scallop circle were cut with Spellbinders dies. I used foam tape to mount it for dimension.

Another view of this card will be on Artistic Outpost's blog on Saturday.

Stay warm.......and keep stamping.

-judy

A Special Day

Yesterday was a special day for me....my birthday. How many?

I'll let you guess...

Here's a package sent by my friend Elizabeth....

I had to take a photo to post. It's so fun to get presents!

......with the ribbons untied.........

......and a close up of the card! Isn't it cute?

I admire her work. It's always so nicely done......well designed, neat, clean & crisp.

Elizabeth & I met at summer CHA a couple years ago. She was working in the Penny Black booth. We both felt an instant bond yet we didn't exchange any information to keep in touch. A few months later, I finally sent an email to Penny Black asking if they would contact her. They were kind enough to give me her email address. We've kept in touch ever since then....mostly through email. We see each other at CHA once or twice a year.

In 2007, we decided to apply for Ranger U's Inks & Embossing certification class. We were so excited to be accepted. What a dream come true for both of us! Robin Beam & Tim Holtz were our instructors. Yes, really Tim taught most of the class! We learned so much about all of Ranger's ink & embossing products. We had so much fun!

Elizabeth designs card samples for Penny Black, many of which are on their website. When I met her she had just made a connection with Penny Black. She is now designing a lot more of their card samples and sample boards. You can check out her bio on Penny Black here . Many of her card samples and paper craft projects have been published in card making or rubber stamping magazines.

She was so pleased when I asked her if I could post her card! Please leave her a comment. She checks the blog often.

We're looking forward to seeing each other at winter CHA in about 2 weeks. She'll be working at the Penny Black booth with a make & take as well as assisting buyers with orders. I'm going with Kathy from Fond Memories to "shop" for new products, papers and stamps. I love seeing all the new things as well as all the incredible samples. It's so inspiring!

Until next time........create art!

-judy

A Treasure Box

I'm sharing a little trinket box today to which I added a pewter embossed top.

I started with an unfinished wooden box that I found at a craft store. I stained it black with ink from a black dye reinker........I was too lazy to go down to the basement to find some wood stain. It worked!

For the top, I cut a piece of chipboad slightly smaller than the box top. I used that to determine the size of the pewter. I drew the flower & verse on paper and traced it onto the metal. I embossed (raised up) the flower & debossed (dented in) the verse. Then I worked the other design elements around the verse until I was happy with it. A blackening solution darkened the verse & other debossed areas. With the proper tools, it's really easier than it looks.

If you want to see some amazing embossed metal art, check out the work of Magdalena at Mercart. She does amazing things! I met her at CHA a couple summers ago. I was drawn to her booth by all the wonderful tools she had displayed. We had a chance to chat and become friends. I later bought one of her books. Her techniques inspired me when I created this box top. I always stop at her booth whenever I get to CHA. She and her mother are wonderful people, incredible at their craft!

Remember.......treasure special moments spent with a friend.

Thanks to all of you, my friends, for visiting!

-judy

Spellbinders Sneak Peak

Spellbinders 16 days of new die reveals starts today! And a giveaway every day! Wow!!!

I'm a big fan of their dies. I especially like the versatility of the Nestabilities. Truth....I like a lot of their dies! I'm excited to see what's new for 2009! I'll be checking their designer blogs everyday. You can check out the details for entering the daily contests here. That's right........a new die giveaway everyday! A grand prize at the end!

Here's a list of all the designers & their blogs:

JANUARY 5: Thinking Inking by Debbie Olson
JANUARY 6: Mish Mash by Michelle Wooderson
JANUARY 7: Today’s Creations by Holly Craft
JANUARY 8: Walkin’ on the BAD side by Sherry Cheever
JANUARY 9: Embellished Dreams by Heidi Blankenship
JANUARY 10: Amazing Paper Grace by Becca Feeken
JANUARY 11: Created from Paper by Jennifer Ellefson
JANUARY 12: PaperFection by Sharon Harnist
JANUARY 13: Mixed Media Madness by Jeni Calkins
JANUARY 14: Wickedly Wonderful Creations by Wendy Weixler
JANUARY 15: Cookies for Breakfast by Beth Pingry
JANUARY 16: Pink Lemonade by Keri Lee Sereika
JANUARY 17: Inky Heart by Sally Lynn MacDonald
JANUARY 18: Donya Schroeder by Donya Schroeder
JANUARY 19: Linda’s Works of Heart by Linda Duke
JANUARY 20: Follow Your Bliss by Trudee Sauer

I hope all these links work. If not, check out the Spellbinders blog for the list.

Have a creative day!
-judy

Snowy Roads

......a winter drive in Minnesota?

Stamps: Artistic Outpost Snowy Woods, Home

Ink: Distress Embossing, StazOn Dove Grey

Embossing powders: White Puff, Polysparkle

Background:Distress China Blue

Copic Markers: 0,C3,W1,Bg10,BG15, Bg 34

I started with a background that I had misted with Distress China Blue....I'm guessing as I pulled this out of my scrap bag.
I stamped the branches from Artistic Outpost Snowy Woods & trees from Home set with Distress Embossing ink, heat embossed with White Puffs from Ranger. I stamped over them with Distress Embossing ink & then used Polysparkle embossing powder (Ranger). The effect is like sparkling frost....a little hard to see in the photo.
I cut 2 pieces of white cardstock for the snow. I used the same technique with White Puffs & Polysparkle using snowflakes from the Snowy Woods set.
The truck was stamped with SazOn Dove Grey on glossy white cardstock. I colored it with Copic Markers & added a bit of Distress Antique Linen ink over the entire image.
I used the verse cut off the truck for "roads" & "take me home". I colored the edges & background with Copic markers. I also stamped "snowy" (from Snowy Woods set) with Dove Grey & cut it out. I used a tiny strip of cream cardstock for the sign post & foam to mount the signs.
The truck & foreground snow are also mounted with foam tape.
Snow is so pretty on a card
........unlike actually driving in it. Ah, if only we could have soft, fluffy white snow without winds & cold.....
Snowy wishes for a cozy day!
-judy

Happy Winter

Finally.......I found some time to play.


I started with a background created with Ranger Alcohol inks on glossy paper.....a scrap I had leftover from some of my Christmas cards.
I stamped the Tim Holtz branch (Letter to Santa set) several times with Distress Embossing Ink (Ranger) & embossed them with White Puff powder (also Ranger).
I really like the dimension of the white branches. To give the branches sparkle, I stamped over them with embossing ink & embossed with Polysparkle (Ranger). Since the Polysparkle is clear with sparkle, it's not absolutely necessary to get the second stamping exactly over the first image. The photo doesn't quite show all the sparkle........the effect is like frost on the branches.
I also added some snowflakes embossed with Polysparkle.
The "happy winter" oval was cut with a Spellbinders die. I used a Penny Black alphabet set to stamp the verse & embossed it with Polysparkle. Then I added the snowflakes with Adirondack Lights Aqua. I rubbed a light coat of the Aqua ink over the whole oval & embossed it with Polysparkle. A little bow & a violet mat finish it.
The card front is Bazzill bling cardstock.....a bit hard to see in the photo.
happy winter stamping!
-judy

happy 2009!

May 2009 bring you joy & happiness! May you treasure each day, find contentment in small things! May blessings abound for you in this New Year!

May you find time to create and nourish your spirit! May you be inspired by all that surrounds you!

Create with abandon!

-judy