Faber-Castell Gelatos

Hello All!
I got the gelato gift pack from Michaels and they are quite amazing!  They are like a combination of oil pastel and watercolor in their behavior.  I made 2 mixed media boards where I am going to contrast the different ways of application.

The first:

This was done oil pastel style. I first stamped the Hero Arts image with versamark ink.  I then applied the Gelatos and smudged with my fingers to blend.  Blended very easily and smoothly, and after it dries it is smudgeproof. 

The Second:

This was done watercolor blended.  Again this was first stamped with versamark ink.  I applied the Gelatos directo to paper and then used a wet paintbrush to blend.  Blended very well with water and paintbrush, and much more control for tight spaces.  Also Smudge proof once dry which took about an hour.

I am excited to work with them and do some mixed media Techniques!  I am also going to do a tutorial series on layering over this week.  I am going to do 4 classes on layering techniques including a tutorial on the above.  Please stay tuned for the layering class!  :)

~Jay

Some random cards

Hello All!
I hope everyone had a great Christmas!  Here are some random cards I made over the last couple of weeks I though I would share with you.

You can never have enough Thank you cards!  These are a gift pack for someone.



A card made using Hero Arts "Bokeh Technique"

Another card using the Bokeh Technique

A card using different paper punches.

I hope you have a very Blessed New Year!
~Jay

Reindeer Tag

This tag is my rendition of Day 2, by Julie Ebersole in Ellen Hutson's 12 tags of christmas with a feminine twist.

Cardstock: Neena Solar White
Ink: Squeezed Lemonade, Chipped Sapphire, Tumbled Glass, Vintage Photo, Antique Linen, Black Soot,  Gathered Twigs distress ink; Iced Spruce, evergreen bough distress stain. Also the spots are Stampin' Up's white shimmer paint.
Die Cut Dies: Spellbinders Label #8; The following are Sizzix Tim Holtz Dies: Tree line, reindeer flight and Townscape.
Also entering this into Simon Says Stamp's background challenge: Let it Snow!
Thanks for stopping by!
~Jay

Gift Basket Basket Alternative

Hello All! I hope you are doing well with your Christmas shopping!  I thought I would share an idea I came up with a few years ago.  I do gift baskets for family members at Christmas if I am just doing gift cards or some smaller gifts, and a couple of years ago instead of using a wicker basket (as who needs yet another wicker basket) I started using inexpensive kitchen finds from Christmas Tree Shops.  The first year I used a decorative cutting board as my base, and since it is put into a plastic bag anyways everything stays together.  The second year was an oblong glass baking dish and Last year was a decorative cookie tray.  This year I think I am going to do something along the lines of THIS.  The cost of the base is pretty close to an average decorative basket, but much more functional and wont have to go into the basket junkpile that everyone seems to collect. I hope this helps give you some more ideas!
Have a great day!
~Jay

Amaryllis Repair

As promised here is a way of repairing a stamped image. There are many ways of repairing an erroneous stamped image depending on how big and the placement of the error….or you could just throw out the paper and start again….lol as if any stamper/scrapper would ever throw something away… J
Here is the original:

As you can see, the left side of the image has a dark smudge on it. When I finish up, it will be covered by some embellishments.
Here is the finished product:

Supplies:
Paper: Neenah Solar White
Stamp: Amaryllis from Rubber Stampede, and French script from Hero Arts
Ink: Pumice Stone, Dusty Concord distress inks; Memento Tuxedo Black for the image; Charcoal and Soft Granite From Hero Arts
Markers: Copic flowers: V06, BV02, BV20; Leaves: BG09, G00; Bulb: Y21, Y32
Fiber: Tim Holtz crinkle ribbon
Tools: Scotch Glue Runner, Tim Holtz blending tool
Misc: Tim Holtz Pin, Sizzix Tim Holtz Holly Bigs Die, Brushed Pewter distress stain, Rock candy stickles, rock candy glitter, Rhinestones from Stampin' Up, Grunge paper, Pop dots

I started using a standard A-2 and used the ink blending tool with Dusty Concord around the border of the card. .I then cut a smaller piece of Neenah solar white leaving a 1/4" border. I stamped the main image with Memento Tuxedo Black, and colored with Copics. I then used Pumice Stone with an ink applicator around the image, It went on a bit too dark so I lightened it up a bit with a baby wipe, which did the trick. Then a smaller border of Soft Granite, followed by outlining the edges by rubbing only the edge of the cardstock across my Charcoal ink pad for a darker edge. I then inked the French Script stamp with Pumice Stone, using a baby wipe to remove ink from the area roughly around the focal image. I applied Charcoal to the back of two corners that I rolled up. I colored the crinkle ribbon with pumice stone and dusty concord, and tied with a bow. I cut the holly leaves from the T.H. Sizzix holly die and colored with brushed pewter distress stain. I then brushed the charcoal ink pad around the edge of the leaves to bring out the edges more. I then covered with rock candy distress stickles and sprinkled on more rock candy glitter. I adhered them on with dimensional adhesive (foam dots) and put the T.H. pin through the ribbon. I finished uo with some rhinestones from Stampin’ up that I colored with copics.
Have a great evening!
~Jay

Amaryllis in Copics

Supplies:
Paper: Neenah Solar White
Stamp: Amaryllis from Rubber Stampede, and French script from Hero Arts
Ink: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Wild Honey, Vintage Photo distress inks; Memento Tuxedo Black for the image
Markers: Copic flowers: R32, RV42, RV00; Leaves: G21, G00; Bulb: Y21, Y32
Fiber: Hemp Cording from Joann Fabrics
Tools: Scotch Glue Runner, Tim Holtz blending tool
Misc: Pearls from A.C. Moore

I started using a standard A-2 and used the ink blending tool with frayed burlap around the border of the card.  I then cut a smaller piece of Neenah solar white leaving a 1/4" border. I stamped the main image with Memento Tuxedo Black, and colored with Copics.  I then used Wild Honey with an ink applicator around the image, then a smaller border of Frayed burlap, followed by outlining the edges by rubbing only the edge of the cardstock across my Vintage Photo ink pad for a darker edge.  I then inked the french script stamp with Antique Linen, using a baby wipe to remove ink from the area roughly aroung the focal image. I then put the pearls on (which was a mistake to put them on before I attached it to the main card. It makes it harder to attach the adhesive to a non-flat surface) and then attached the copper-hemp piece and finally attached it to the card front.
I stamped out 2 amaryllis to color differently, and made an error in stamping the other one. I stamped on the other side of my piece and it didnt stamp properly either.  I am going to do another post on that later this weekend showing the mistake and how I use them and cover them up so please stay Tuned!

Have a Great Day!
~Jay

Black Friday Haul

Hello everyone! Happy after Thanksgiving! I hope you all had a chance to get some great art and craft supplies at super discount prices!  I thought I would do a little haul post about some of the Goodies that I got.  I went shopping at Michaels and JoAnn fabrics, and JoAnn.com.  I used the coupons and the sale items together and got some sweet deals!  JoAnn.com had a bunch of Hero Arts ink pads for $3.59 a piece!

The Vertical Merry Christmas is a Penny black stamp.

Ther flower is Hero arts and the diamond pattern is penny black.

The sponge daubers were from Joann.com and the ones with the caps are smaller than the daubers without the caps, just a note.

The glue runner refill was a steal at michaels! it was buy 1 get 1 free and 25% off!

The Large T.H. dies were all from Michaels.

Sorry my scanner wouldn't pick up these. the stencils I got were: Tweed Pattern, Large Lotus Pattern, Elegant Pine and Borders.

Have a Great Day!

~Jay