New craft tool -- a can of air

I'm constantly amazed by the things crafters think up to use for tools and embellishments. Ever since I discovered Tim Holtz (that makes me sound like a Hollywood agent which I'm not) I've been looking up and down the aisles of hardware stores for cool things to use on cards. He's come up with another one -- using a can of air to disperse alcohol inks on glossy papers before they dry. Just use a drop or two and then use the can of air and see what happens next. I used the new Brights Alcohol inks and what a fun card this makes. The background stamp is from Impression Obsession, the $1 ribbon from Michael's and the Smile stamp from Inque.

Until my next post,

Diane

It's not the destination but the journey

Some might say the words of the Greatful Dead song Truckin', "what a long strange trip it's been", might be appropriate to a long marriage; but in this case I'll defer to the Harley Davidson motto of "it's not the destination but the journey". A while back I celebrated my 27th wedding anniversary and I think back to the day..... My motto is more like "it doesn't matter where you get married, who marries you, what you wore or what you served at the reception; what matters is that you STAY married and continue on the journey.

By the way, this card is made with the Route 66 stamp collection by Artistic Outpost.

Until my next post,

Diane

Dictionary ATC

Here's the first ATC I did for yet another Yahoo Group I belong to . This group is called AlteredDesigns and I found it by looking at Elizabeth's art on her blog. I contacted her and now I'm a member of that group too. Give her blog a look/see, she's got some really neat things on it.

Q: So Diane, just how many of these Yahoo groups DO you belong to?

A: Less than 100 but more than 20 (22 to be exact).

Q: Why?

A: Because they are there.

This ATC was made with using a background layer of Metallic cardstock from DCWV followed by a piece of paper from the Rock King collection also by DCWV. The embellishment is made using a piece of grungeboard from Tim Holtz. I used paper Mod Podge on the grungeboard and then on top of the dictionary page. Look closely and you'll see the words "skull and crossbones" that I specifically selected from the dictionary. I used the Cuttlebug to emboss the grungeboard and then inked it with Ranger Distress inks. I then outlined the edges with a gold deco marker.

Until my next post,

Diane

Getting specific about color with kuler

Do you know what complementary colors are? How about analogous colors, or monochromatic? One way to see these colors and many more is to look at kuler. Kuler is an online color wheel of sorts from Adobe. When you start kuler look on the right side of the screen and you'll see "Welcome to Kuler" you can click on a link to view a video demo about what it can do for you.

I need to point out two things about Kuler. First kuler requires Flash so if you don't have it installed or the current version it will prompt you to do so. Second, kuler requires you to have an Adobe ID which is really easy to set up. Watch the video and decide for yourself if it is worth it.

Until my next post,

Diane

What the second challenge turned into

Here's the final result of my second double embossing. Like the previous one I darkened it up with the ColorBox chalk inks then put in on a A2 card. I used my cuttlebug with Spellbinders dyes, ribbon and a bit of bling like the other card. I'm happy with the results.

Until my next post,

Diane

What one challenge turned into

Here's the final result of my green double embossed Cuttlebug challenge that I showed you four days ago. I darkened it up a bit with the same color and trimmed the cardstock to fit a 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 card (which is half of an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of cardstock). I used my spellbinders dye and Studio G $1 stamps along with some ribbon and bling flowers to finish it off. I like the concept and will likely do more. Now I need to finish the blue one.

Until my next post,

Diane

So popular this blog has a personalized soft drink

Now here's some advertising. I read about this on Suze Weinberg's newsletter. The one that mentions this isn't archived yet but it should be when Suze gets back from her European excursion. The web site that can create your own personalized soda can (Says-It) will also make other personalized signs, badges and images that look quite real. Now you know how all those folks do it when you get those goofy jokes that go flying around the internet. Used properly these can be quite fun and entertaining but in the wrong hands...

As your parents used to say when you were roughhousing it's all fun and games until someone gets hurt.

Until my next post,

Diane

Responding to the challenge

I follow a LOT of blogs, sometimes I think too many. Sometimes I think I need to follow the Nike motto and "just do it" instead of just read about it or just watch what other people do. BUT then I read a blog and get some inspiration and realize that there is wheat amongst the chaff. I bought my Cuttlebug a while back and don't regret it a bit. It was a good bang for the buck. I emboss more than cut and I cut more Spellbinders dyes than Cuttlebug dyes. I saw this double embossing challenge on the Cuttlebug Challenges blog last weekend and decided to give it a try on some extra cardstock. The blue one was my first attempt. The embossing went OK but I'm not thrilled with the coloring. I think I may darken it a bit and see what happens. I used Colorbox cats eyes sized chalk inks on that one. The green one was my second attempt and I like it much more. I used Versa Magic chalk tear drop sized ink on that one. The ink pad is stronger and stiffer and I think that helped a bit.

Until my next post,

Diane

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

This is to all of you that are Irish and those of you that wish you were Irish...at least for today anyway. I had the pleasure of visiting the Emerald Isle a few years back. I had a great time on my short visit touring the beautiful country and I hope to go back some day.

This card was made with 8 1/2" x 11" cardstock cut in half and folded to become an A2 card. On top of that is a white mat for a shamrock paper that I spiced up a bit with glitter and Sakura markers in green glaze and stardust. I used my Cuttlebug to cut and emboss three circles. On top of the last one I stamped a Studio G $1 clear stamp and colored in the shamrock with the green Sakura glaze pen. A little ribbon is the finishing touch.

Until my next post,

Diane

I'm all packed and ready to go