Good morning!  I must apologize for the lack of posts recently and my inability to stamp.  It’s been very hectic around the Cheever Household over the last few weeks and just when I thought things were going to ease up, we had another setback.  Late last Thursday night we received a phone call that my mother-in-law had collapsed at church.  While I made a pot of coffee and a go cup for Mr. Stodgy, he was getting dressed and heading out the door.  It is a four-hour drive to where he had to go, and minutes meant a great deal at that time.  Unfortunately my mother-in-law passed away early Friday morning, but all her boys were able to be by her side thank goodness.  Today we will be celebrating her life and how she touched everyone she came in contact with.  If you think of us today, think only happy thoughts . . . that’s what my mother-in-law would have wanted.  She loved life and was always available with a helping hand and a kind word.  I am so grateful this marvelous woman was a part of our lives!

Now let me get to my project for today.  Last week I mentioned that I had been working on a special project.  Beate Johns asked me to write a tutorial for Splitcoaststampers on how I make my snowflake medallions.  I also had to do my first video so please be understanding when you watch it.  Quite frankly I like videos but have been scared to do my own.  Now that the jitters have been abated, I’m sure I’ll be doing more!

Here’s my finished project for the tutorial.  You can find the written tutorial on Splitcoaststampers here, Snowflake Medallion.

• Stamps:  Tim Holtz Collection - Retro Holiday from Stampers Anonymous
• Paper: BasicGrey Figgy; Prism Baby Blue Light, Papertrey Rustic Cream and Ripe Avocado; Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
• Ink:   Ranger Distress Embossing and Old Paper; Papertrey Fresh Snow
• Accessories:  Spellbinders™ S4-222 Create a Flake 1, S4-139 Petite Scalloped Ovals - Large, S4-138 Petite Ovals - Large, and S4-174 Petite 5-1/2″ Deckled Scalloped Borderabilities; Sewing Machine; Ranger Glossy Accents and Broken China Distress Embossing Powder; Art Institute Vintage Glass Glitter; Tsukineko Sponge Daubers; Vintage Buttons; Craft Wire; Mounting Tape; May Arts Ribbon

Here’s my first video  . . . please be kind!

I hope you have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

  Happy Thursday!  A few months ago, Beate from Splitcoaststampers asked me to write a tutorial on that “inky thing I do.”  It was published yesterday on Splitcoaststampers and can be found under the Resources section as “Wrinkle-Free Distress.”  I contacted Tim Holtz and asked his permission to recreate the tutorial for SCS, and what he actually called this technique . . . I didn’t want to get it wrong!

Here’s the card I created as my sample for the tutorial.

Instead of letting the tag stand alone, I decided to incorporate it into a card.  Once I had finished the tag, and had the layout for the card, I stamped the flourish images on both the card front and the tag.  I lined the flourishes up, and raised the tag with mounting tape.  Some of the images on the card, i.e., the butterflies and small flourishes are a sneak peek of what’s coming next from Rubbernecker Stamps.

• Stamps: 427 Butterfly Inchies, 467 Floral Silhouette, 461 Scraps & Scuffs, 436 Flourish and 423 Flourish Inchies from Rubbernecker Stamps
  Paper: Manila Shipping Tag and Prism Herbal Garden Dark and Medium
  Ink: Ranger Archival Jet Black, Adirondack Snow Cap Pigment, and Broken China, Vintage Photo, Peeled Paint, Antique Linen, Spiced Marmalade, Black Soot and Faded Jeans Distress
  Accessories: Ranger Non-Stick Craft Sheet, Glossy Accents, Mini Mister, Cut-n-Dry Stamp Pad Felt; Venture Foam Tape; May Arts Ribbon; Copic At You Red Spica; DMC Embroidery Floss; Brads; Oval Punch; Candle Lighter
  All product and images from Rubbernecker Stamps

I hope you try this technique and have as much fun with it as I do!  Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Well, I guess I’ve been a little lax in posting the last few days.  Actually, it’s been busy, busy, busy here.  First, Mallory and her friends came in Friday and we all went to Kate’s to celebrate her birthday.  Saturday was a little hectic trying to get the girls ready to leave for their Spring Break trip.  The pulled out of here at 11:00 p.m. Saturday night . . . in MY car!  Now for anyone who really knows this BAD girl, knows that I never ever let anyone else drive my car.  However, it was a good thing I did, because they were packed to the max and never would have fit in any of their cars.

I had Stamp Club here last week too, and I want to share the one card we made.  We have started this year that the Hostess for the month will bring a project to share.  I didn’t have time to get anything done for them, but the Hostess did.  Here’s what we made:

I have never made a swing (flip flop) card was so tickled that Terri had this as her project.  The great thing about the Hostess bringing a project is that I get to learn something too!

During the weekend I also finished up a tutorial I have written for Splitcoaststampers.  It appears this Wednesday and here’s a sneak peek.  Do you know what it is?

Yesterday I had my follow up with the doctor.  Things are good!  The best part is . . . I’ve lost 9 pounds!  WOO HOO!  I go back again in three months, which is a good thing because it will keep me aware of the food plan I’m on.

I think that’s about all the catch up news I have for you.  Except that tomorrow is the Rubbernecker Wacky Wednesday #2 Challenge.  Kittie has a great challenge for us!

I hope you have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

PLEASE NOTE: Commenting on this post is welcome but does not enter you into the contest. This contest is sponsored directly by Spellbinders Paper Arts. Please read the post to find directions for entering the contest. If you have any questions, please e-mail ContestQuestions@spellbinders.us.

I hope you have been having fun during the Spellbinders Blog Bash!  I know I am.  I love seeing what each Designer has created with their dies.  It’s my turn today and I’m so excited to be able to share with all you!

Spellbinders is celebrating their 5 Year Anniversary by sharing 16 days of sneak peeks, with LOTS of drawings for dies!!  Today there will be a drawing for the die I am showing you and the previously revealed dies during the Spellbinders 5 Year Anniversary Celebration.  Each day an additional die is added to the daily giveaway list for a grand total of 16 dies on the 16th day of reveals!

If you’ve enjoyed seeing all the sneak peeks up to this point, I know you’re going to enjoy the remaining ones.  Don’t forget to check in with the following Designers each day to enter their contest.  You’ll have until 11:59 pm CST on January 8th to visit Holly Craft’s blog to enter yesterday’s give-away:

Jan. 9:  Heidi Blankenship - Embellished-Dreams
Jan. 10:  Becca Feeken - Amazing Paper Grace
Jan. 11:  Jennifer Ellefson - Created from Paper
Jan. 12:  Sharon Harnist - Paperfections
Jan. 13:  Jeni Calkins - Studio Jeni
Jan. 14:  Wendy Weixler - Wonderful Creations
Jan. 15:  Beth Pingry - Cookies for Breakfast
Jan. 16:  Keri Lee Sereika - Pink Lemonade
Jan. 17:  Sally Lynn MacDonald - Inky Heart
Jan. 18:  Donya Schroeder - Donya Schroeder
Jan. 19:  Linda Duke - Linda’s Works of Heart
Jan. 20:  Trudee Sauer - Follow your Bliss

WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON THE SPELLBINDERS BLOG

My Sneak Peek to share with you today are the Small Deckled Rectangles, DIE SKU #S4-201, MSRP $24.99,

and the Large Deckled Rectangles, DIE SKU #S4-202, MSRP $24.99.

If you like to use decorative scissors, in particular deckle edged, these dies are for you.  Loving to distress the way I do, I know I’ll be using these dies over and over again.  Combining these two sets will give you measurements for the smallest of the Small, 5/8″ x 7/8″, to the largest of the Large, 3″ x 3-3/4″.  The instant I saw the Spellbinders Small Deckled Rectangles, I knew what I wanted to make as my project.  However, I also knew that I needed to use both the Small and Large Deckled Rectangles.  You’ll see why later in the post.

I knew that the Deckled Rectangles would make a fabulous flower and a rose was the first thing to come to mind.  Of course, I needed something to put the rose on so I created a small trinket box, mounting the rose on top.

The box is a Maya Road 3″ Keepsake Cube that I painted with Ranger Butterscotch Acrylic Paint and then sponged Vintage Photo Distress Ink over to create a worn, used look.  I added some of my favorite paper from 7 Gypsies and an idea-ology Hitch Fastener with distressed elastic cording to keep it closed.

I wanted you to see a close-up of the rose, because I will be showing you how I created it.  All the sparkle you see is a shimmer mist I made using Aged Mahogany Distress Ink and Bronze Perfect Pearls.  The dew drops were created with Ranger Glossy Accents.

I began by die cutting all the cardstock I would need using each die in the Spellbinders Small and Large Deckled Rectangles.  Then I sponged the edges of each piece with Aged Mahogany Distress Ink and layed them out on my craft sheet from smallest to large.

To make the paper pliable, I misted each piece with water, which also interacts with the Distress Ink causing it to run and create the look I was after.  I started with the smallest piece and began wrapping it around the end of a bamboo skewer, wiring it in place as I went.

Continue building the layers, wrapping each piece of paper around the skewer and wiring as you go.  Because the paper has been misted with water, it is very easy to shape the petal as you go.

Before you know it, you will have added all your petals and can still shape the petals that have not dried completely.

In order to mount the rose onto the box, I layered chipboard circles together so that the bamboo skewer would be resting inside the chipboard base.  Of course, I did punch circles in the middle of each circle, adjusting as I went until I came to the bottom of the skewer.  The rose was then glued into the base with Ranger Glossy Accents, which was then glued to the top of the box.

• Paper:  7 Gypsies Classic Paperie; Prism Crabapple Dark
• Ink:  Ranger Aged Mahogany and Vintage Photo Distress, and Currant Alcohol
• Accessories:  Spellbinders S4-201 Small Deckled Rectangles and S4-202 Large Deckled Rectangles; Ranger Glossy Accents, Butterscotch Acrylic Paint Dabber, Bronze Perfect Pearls, Mini Mister, Ink Blending Applicator; Maya Road 3″ Keepsake Cube; Tsukineko Sponge Dauber; Making Memory Wire; Tim Holtz idea-ology Hitch Fastener; Gold Cord; Chipboard Circles; Ribbon

Now that I had a trinket box, I decided that I needed a card to complete the project.  One just can’t give a gift without a Birthday card!

I used the same paper for the card that I used for the box, adding some additional just for the fun of it.  The image is actually a picture of my mother when she was a little girl (sorry, I don’t know how old she when this picture was made).  I printed it off in black and white, die cut the image using the largest die from Spellbinders Small Deckled Rectangles and mounted it on a background piece cut with the largest die from Spellbinders Large Deckled Rectangles.  I applied Old Paper Distress Ink over the photo, to give it a more aged look, and then inked the edges with Vintage Photo.

I just had to finish the inside of the card with a sentiment that fit the picture and words on the idea-ology embellishment.

• Stamps:  Stamp Oasis Heart Sentiment from Rubbernecker Stamp Company
• Paper:  7 Gypsies Classic Paperie and Angelo; Prism Sunflower Dark; SU Very Vanilla and Cranberry Crisp; Matte Digital Imaging
  
• Ink:  Ranger Archival Coffee, and Old Paper, Vintage Photo and Aged Mahogany Distress
• Accessories:  Spellbinders S4-201 Small Deckled Rectangles and S4-202 Large Deckled Rectangles; Tim Holtz idea-ology Muse Token, Jump Ring and Trinket Pin; Tsukineko Sponge Dauber; Sewing Machine; Venture Foam Tape; Ribbon

If you already have another die cutting machine, and not the Spellbinders Wizard, it is so easy to use Spellbinders Dies with your machine.  Check out these Spellbinders Videos to actually see how easy it is to get professional looking projects with Spellbinders.

Now, for all the details on the BIG CONTEST!

Spellbinders 5 Year Anniversary Celebration
Sneak Peek Party Drawing Information

Spellbinders will randomly pick one entry from each of the 16 Spellbinders Sneak Peek Blog reveals as stated in the “Rules”. This name will be drawn to receive the die being revealed and any other dies listed as a part of said blog give-away. These entries must follow all rules stated below to be valid for the drawing.
Entrants visiting all 16 Spellbinders 5 Year Anniversary Celebration Sneak Peeks Blog reveals and correctly entering their information into the 16 separate drawings, as described below, will automatically be entered into a GRAND PRIZE give away of a full set of all 28 NEW RELEASE dies debuting at the Winter Craft and Hobby Association Show in Anaheim, California, on January 25-28, 2009!
Rules
Any participant wishing to be included in the daily drawing for the Spellbinders Birthday Celebration Sneak Peek die give away must adhere to all of the following rules:

1. Participant must click on the provided link on Reveal blog to enter each individual drawing on sneak peeks between January 5 and January 20, 2009.
2. Participant must type in the subject line the name of the die being revealed.
3. Participant must send their entry for this blog before 12:00 midnight Central Standard Time on January 9, 2009.
4. Participant is only allowed to enter each of the 16 Spellbinders sneak peek blog give away drawings one time per sneak peek. Participant must use the same email address daily to be considered for grand prize entry, no exceptions. Please consider whether you will have access to the same email address from January 5th through the 20th and plan accordingly.
5. Spellbinders Design Team members and employees are not eligible for drawings.
6. Any participant wishing to be automatically entered into the drawing for the Spellbinders 5 Year Anniversary Celebration Sneak Peek Grand Prize drawing, must enter the drawing from all of the 16 blog reveals and follow all the above rules.

Please note:
*Spellbinders will only use email information to contact the winner.
*Spellbinders will not share this email address with any other parties.
*Spellbinders will not use this email information for advertisements or communications
other than to contact the winner.
*If you wish to be included in further communications from Spellbinders, please go to their home page and sign up at Spellbinders Paper Arts for their newsletter.

If you have questions regarding the contest, please send an email to ContestQuestions@spellbinders.us.

(If you use an e-mail client that does not work with this pop-up box, you may copy and paste this address to send your entry to: ContestDay4@spellbinders.us)

For more Spellbinders product release information go to Spellbinders Paper Arts.

I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing how to make a rose using the Spellbinders Deckle Rectangles as much as I enjoyed making it.  Don’t forget to register for the contest and have a great day!

Happy Thursday!  I want to continue with the Alcohol Faux Bleach/Batik Tutorial today.  If you were at the Chicago or York Stamp Show, you saw me work with acrylic fragments and alcohol ink.  That is what I want to walk you through today.  I’ll also show you the finished project, which is a tag made with alcohol inks using the faux bleach technique.  I really think this one needs a different name, but I just haven’t settled on what.  I am leaning toward calling it - - - oh I don’t know!  It is a variation of the faux bleach technique that I have been playing with so it might as well be Alcohol Faux Bleach.

Let’s get started by inking up your felt applicator with the alcohol inks.  I have used cranberry, butterscotch and stream.

Apply the inks onto the fragment, letting the alcohol ink dry in between layers.  You will end up with a fragment that looks similar to this.  Let the ink dry thoroughly.

Choose an image (not words or sentiments) that you would like to stamp on your fragment.  Ink the image with a permanent black ink.  I have used Ranger Archival Jet Black.

Stamp the image over the alcohol ink that you applied to the fragment.

Using a gentle touch, immediately wipe the black ink off with a cloth.  You should now have a fragment that has a clear image of the one you stamped.

To highlight the stamped image, glue the fragment (alcohol ink side down) onto a white piece of cardstock.  I have used Ranger Glossy Accents as my glue.  It dries clear and very quickly.  (By the way, I applied more Glossy Accents than needed - it was way too much.)

Trim the image and you will now have an embellishment ready to use on a card, or anything else you would like to use it for.

For mine, I used the fragment as an embellishment on a tag.  Using the faux bleach/batik technique described in the first installment of this tutorial, I created a tag using alcohol inks.  The tag, unlike glossy cardstock, absorbs the alcohol ink and gives an entirely different look than that of glossy cardstock.

Supplies used:

• Stamps: Tim Holtz Nature’s Discovery by Stampers Anonymous from Rubbernecker Stamp Company
• Paper: White Cardstock and White Shipping Tag
• Ink: Ranger Archival Jet Black and Distress Embossing
• Accessories: Ranger Cranberry, Butterscotch and Stream Alcohol Inks, Ink Blending Tool and Felt, Glossy Accents, Alcohol Blending Solution, Clear Embossing Powder; Tim Holtz Idea-ology Oval Fragment and Trinket Pin; Heat Gun; Iron; Ribbon; Tonic Tim Holtz Distress Tool

I can’t wait to see all of your alcohol ink projects!