Paper Trufflez

A Little Note!

Gallery Submissions Link:  AP08SKETCH2

I was quickly grabbing paper scraps off my work surface in the studio to file away (I'm a wretch about saving paper scraps; it's a disease, I think . . . . . . ) when I noticed just how gaaaaaw-jus these paper colors looked TOGETHER!

Hmmmmmmm . . . and my Stitched Garden set was still laying on the desk from the cherry design of the other day . . .

Hmmmmmm . . .

And, gee, Tisha's 2nd sketch looks like it would work well with the birdie . . .

Hmmmmmmm . . .

And, I could practice my colored pencil skills . . . and maybe do a little paper piecing--just a little!

Hmmmmmmmmm . . . Tish used some bling on her sample . . . I could put some bling--a whole row!

Internal struggle:                   

  "A whole row?  What, are you crazy?! That's an awful lotta bling!"
"Oh, good grief!  You have a row of the blue leftover from that last class, sitting in that little bag all by its onesie.  QUIT HOARDING IT!!!"

  "Alright, alright, already!  I'll use HALF a row . . .   Sheesh!" ....................   

Supplies & Materials:
Stamps: Stitched Garden Set by A Muse Artstamps
Paper: Madeira Blue 4 Bar Note Card, Cabana Blue, Fern, French Blue, Madeira Green Papers by A Muse Artstamps
Ink:  Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink in Dark Brown, Olive Pastel
Coloring Tools:  Koh-I-Noor Colored Pencils
Ribbon:  Lime Peel Stitched Grosgrain by A Muse Artstamps
Other:  Mini Dot Twinkle Stickers by A Muse Artstamps, Marvy Giga Scallop Square Punch

SWEET!

Challenge:  AP08OUTBOX, AP08TAYLOR

Oh, this was too much stinkin' fun!  A loooong time ago I once used this stamp to make cherries and when I got to thinking about Elena's and Taylor's challenges, it hit me I could do both using this one idea! 

To get the "bling" incorporated on this "out of the box" idea, I used Simple Stick (sticky embossing powder)--that stuff ROCKS; hands down the best I have ever used.  Has the finest grind, and doesn't clump in the storage jar, etc.  If you're not familiar with Simple Stick, this special embossing powder is used to apply glitter, flocking and foil to a stamped image.  It's fairly simple to use--if you've ever done thermal embossing, you already know what to do!

Work on scratch paper, of course, so you can collect the excess and funnel it back into the jar for future use (this stuff last a looooong time).

1. After stamping your image with a pigment type ink or Versamark Watermark Ink, apply Simple Stick over the top
   
2. The trick with this EP is to remember that it's a little more "sensitive" than regular EP; don't come in quite so close with your heat tool at first--come in just close enough to watch the powder turn from granular to shiny and "wet" looking, and then back off quickly.
3. You can come back in to hit any areas that still appear granular, if needed.  If you over-heat it, it will harden prematurely and lose all tack.  Note:  Most embossing powders will burn right off the paper, if they are overheated, heated too closely, or too long.
4. Apply glitter, and rub/work gently into the image.
5. Re-heat again gently, to lock in the glitter.

And, that's all she wrote!  Simple Stick is clear, so it can be applied over any colored pigment ink.  This works fabulous with either solid images OR detailed/outline images!  Love this stuff!

Now, I have the sugary sweetest cherries, doncha think?!  Of course, the cherry panel was beggin' for scallops, so I whipped out my Nestabilities Scallop Square Die to create that layer.  Yummy, no?!  I love Bing Cherries and can almost NEVER pass by a road-side stand that has some for sale!

Hope your day is sweet!

Supplies & Materials
Stamps:  Dot bl, Stitched Garden Set, Polka Dot Alphabet Lowercase Sm., all by A Muse Artstamps
Paper:  White Card Stock, Kitchen Green Card Stock, Red Card Stock
Ink:  Colorbox Fluid Chalk in Lime Pastel; Versmagic Red Magic Chalk Ink
Other: Simple Stick (sticky embossing powder by A Muse Artstamps), Prisma Ultrafine Glitter, Nestabilities Scallop Square Die (Spellbinders), Making Memories Ribbon Slot Punch Attachments & Instant Eyelet Setter), Red Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon by A Muse, Lime Green Gingham (source unknown)

E-Learn

Link:  My Creative Classroom

YAY!  Just finished and posted my article on our A Muse-a-Palooza Sponsor, My Creative Classroom!

I'm so excited to be teaching the free online class that comes with the A Muse-a-Palooza 08 Stamp Kit--WOO HOOOOOOOO!!!

I've had to keep my nose to the grindstone for the last week, ink a-FLYIN'!!!  I've created 18 designs for my 3 Make It Merry and 12 designs for Simply Sensational and Happy Mail classes in Sacramento, in a few weeks. 

Do you have any idea what AGONY it is to keep these designs under wraps until class???  I'm WICKED IMPATIENT, and when I get excited I bounce, and it's *so* hard to bounce all by m'self--I wanna bounce with somebody!!!     Hah!!!  (I'm actually singing that to the tune of Whitney Houston's, "I wanna dance with somebody!" --FOR REAL!!!)

Meantime, I totally fell off my chair over Erika's Lighthouse design on Oldies But Goodies!!!  She totally inspired me to spend some time making this yesterday:

A very sweet SCSer RAK'd me some of these Skittle thingies, and my first design attempt using these had not turned out, but, I'm stoked this 2nd one did!  WOO HOOOOOOOO!!!  I had to dig around and find one small enough to fit over Tiny Crab--this is a clear one, that I colored the back side of with my Copic Marker--doesn't he look like a Hermit Crab packing his house around???!!!  *chuckle*

I practiced my colored pencil work ala Lisa Spangler, one of my all-time great stampy heroines, too! 

O M G! I just realized this also meets Elena's Out of the Box Challenge!!!  Did you notice my use of the waves stamp? 
  You bet there's some *deep* CHORTLING goin' on around here!!!  HAH!  Cuz I iz BRILLIANT!!!

See all the fun and ingenious A Muse-a-Palooza Challenge Chasers entries here:  AP08Outbox

So, . . . it took 18 (EIGHTEEN!!!) hours to type up all the information for all five classes! 

My bad arm has really taken a beating from all the typing, so I'm gonna have to rest it for a bit . . .  The hubs took me out for a very much needed break, and dinner, downtown last night, and treated me to some red appletinis--now I must say that while tasty, they still don't compare to my favorite, the green sour appletini. At any rate, the two I had were more like having the equivalent of four (yes, 4 . . . !)   Holy Mother of Pearl!

Have fan•stamp•magorical weekend! 

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Stamp Images:  Lighthouse, Waves, Sandcastle, Tiny Crab, Solid Scallop Circle, "Sending you sunshine" (featured inside the card) by A Muse Artstamps
Paper:  Cabana Blue Band Notes by A Muse, Natural Ivory Card Stock
Ink:  Colorbox Fluid Chalk in Dark Brown; Colorbox Pigment Ink in Daffodil, Papaya Cream, Robin's Egg Blue
Coloring Tools:  Koh-I-Noor Colored Pencils (scroll down)
Other:  Sakura Quickie Glue Pen, Prisma Ultrafine Glitter (multi-iridescent), Copic Marker R29 Lipstick Red, Decorative Plastic Accents (Michael's)

UGH! I just found out . . .

. . . what's been causing YOUR computer to lock or freeze when you visit Paper Trufflez.    It was a widget called "Share".  I've eradicated it from both my blogs, so you hopefully should not experience any more issues.

My apologies.

And, thank you to Heather for alerting me about this!

I PIMPd!

Link: Splitcoaststampers Gallery - Main Index.

It's a beauty, for sure! 

Unexpected!

Link: Paper Crafts Mother's Day Challenge.

Submitted my Mother's Day Design on a whim, and was surprised to get an email from the folks at PC!  Fun!

BOOYAH!!!!

Link: A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA: Challenge 2 - Inspiration Eastcoast style!.

SCS Gallery Keyword:  AP08INSP

Crikey, I'm a'bouncin'!

Looky, looky!!!

I wanted this to be as bold and "punchy" as the fabulous Vera Bradley print in Shurkus's challenge!  I think I pulled that part off!  I did some faux stitching with my piercing tool and white gel pen to re-create the "designer label" effect!  (I cannot help but smile whenever I see this technique used--I can still hear Consuelo, shouting out "SHUT UP!!!" *chinkle*)

As I was layering color and stamp images, I started to wonder . . . "Hmmmm . . .  I dunno if this is gonna work or not . . . "  But, it still seemed to have a chance, so I kept going . . . So glad I did not give it an untimely burial in the circular file because I absolutely LOVE how it turned out!

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Stamps:  "happy Birthday", Astro Flower, Wildflower, Super Dot all by A Muse Artstamps
Papers:  Celestial Blue (lovely pale, pale blue) Note Card, Swiss Red Paper by A Muse; Navy card stock
Ink:  Brilliance Moonlight White, Brilliance Mediterranean Blue,  Versamagic Red Magic by Tsukineko; Colorbox Fluid Chalk in Ice Blue by Clearsnap
Other:  Retired Pinking Scissors (SU!), White Detail Embossing Powder, Piercing Tool, Foam Mounting Tape

Quick Time Player Tips!

Link: Paper Trufflez: Could not be prouder . . ..

For Twinks and others having trouble viewing the Quick Time Slide Show:

You may need to switch your browser to Firefox; Internet Explorer often does not like QuickTime for some reason.   You can get that download free here:

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I *heart* Firefox!

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If these are not the issue, go into QuickTime Preferences, and click on the Advanced tab.  Change the "Download Cache" to the full setting - I think it's 10,000 MB - just slide the bar all the way to the right.

Hope that helps!  If not,  I'm at a loss, being tech inept as I am . . .

A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA: Challenge 2 - Inspiration Eastcoast style!

Link: A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA: Challenge 2 - Inspiration Eastcoast style!.

Mmmmm!    This is probably my favorite kind of challenge--being inspired by something completely unrelated to stamping!

Anyway, if you are planning to play this challenge, or any of the A Muse challenges, games, contests, etc.  make sure you are registered as an A Muse-a-Palooza participant, so your entries count!  Last year's registrations do not roll over into this year, so make sure you have submitted a new registration for THIS year!  Where do you register?  Right  HERE.

I'm hoping to find some time today to do Shurkus's--I *really* enjoyed playing Geeta's, and seeing everybody's submissions! 

Taylor has a graduation ceremony this afternoon himself--"Moving Up to Middle School".  I think pizza and build your own ice cream sundaes will make for a great celebration tonight.

Thank you for all the warm wishes for Hayley!

Her class requested that she sing . . . and she was horribly nervous (the knee she had ACL surgery on last year began to shake and she had to shift her weight to her left, afraid it might give out on her, or she'd vibrate off the stage. 

She sang beautifully!   Her classmates gave her a standing "O". 

It kinda hit me like a brick wall that evening, hearing her sing, "I Hope You Dance", Lee Ann Womack.  I've been rather emotional the last few days . . .  But, if there's one thing I know about my Hayley, she will dance . . .

 

"Thank-you for reminding me not to take for granted these hectic, hair-pulling, blood pressure-raising wonderful years with my girls, ages 11 and 4 1/2!"--Beth

Beth--your hectic, hair-pulling, blood-pressure raising wonder years are only just about to begin!    But, I tell you, I wouldn't trade any of it for anything!

She graduated; we survived.  Hey--I wonder if we get a prize or something for this?!  *chuckle* 

Could not be prouder . . .

ETA: I was bummed to hear some--maybe all?--of you cannot hear the sound track!  I've re-done it using another MP3 file of "I could not ask for More" by Edwin McCain, and perhaps if you try again, you'll be able to hear it.  It plays on mine, so I have no idea if no one else can hear it . . . ???

Sorry about that.  I'm not good with tech stuff--lots to learn . . . *sigh* . . .