Back in Action

It has been a while since I have been in the studio. With traveling (Retreat and Parent's Weekend in Boston) and a killer cold, I just have not felt much like doing anything. Thankfully, I am starting to feel better and was finishing some Retreat projects today.

This was a fun and easy project named the "photo Butler". The name commemorates the inspiration - my friend, Pam Butler, who found a similar album at Target. She sent it off the Club Scrap headquarters, thinking that someone could find a way to create something similar. And, Kay did!

It is basically a large pop-up album with 6 pages with different levels and orientations for photos. One of the examples had the opening as a door, with a hinge and tab to be opened. I love that idea and will probably make another one using that idea.  This project would make an excellent Christmas present.

Tuesday's Tip

There you are in the midst of a creative maelstrom - supplies covering most of your work area. As you reach for your brads or eyelets, your hand is knocked by your stack of materials. Brads or eyelets end up all over your work area and, more than likely, on the floor/carpet.

Sound familiar? Trying to pick up little bits can be a real pain. I read this great tip from the October issue of VampStampNews: Use a magnet! Pat Smith submitted this idea and it sounded like it worked wonderfully. Give it a try - I know I will!

Tuesday's Tip

Those who love all things "Tim" (ie Tim Holtz) will have plenty of Distress ink applicator tools. These consist of wood handle and changeable rectangles of Cut and Dry foam. Not only are they great for Distress ink, but you can use them with other art mediums. I took a class from the founder of Tattered Angels and we used the applicator tools with Glimmer Mists and other paints. They work great for easy spreading of paints and give a different textural effect.

Just Playing

Since I have returned from Club Scrap's Retreat, I have been very uncreative. It seems we all shared more than ideas, and I have bit of a flu. Thanks to Dayquil, I am feeling a bit better today. So, I ended up at my desk trying to decide what to make. Then it occurred to - I rarely play, as I am usually looking to make something to share. Well, today, I have no finished project. But I did get out my stamp positioner and stamp.

Without giving anything away, we did use a new tool at Retreat - the Position-It. Think of a Scor-board that is a stamp positioner. It can be seen at Stamp A Mania's site. Just enter Position It into the search window. I must say it is a pretty nifty tool. But I have my acrylic T square and panel and they work fine. I stamped in various colors and used colored pencils and paints to add color. Then, I went back to the original image and re-stamped using my stamp positioner. Nothing special..no photos...just playing...

Tuesday's Tip

This week's tip is not new, but it is a good one that bears repeating. I have been at Club Scrap Retreat making a variety of goodies, but also talking technique, supplies, etc. During lunch one day, several of us were discussing paper cutters and the dulling effects of some materials. Although some cutters are self-sharpening, they do need occasional help. Cutting aluminum foil several times helps keep the edge on the blade. I usually tear off a few inches from a roll, and cut through it several times. Since foil is pretty thin, you may need to fold it in half until you get the hang of cutting it.

Halloween

I am a scrap saver - are you? Because I love to save the larger pieces, I really love the POPS (Pound of Paper) that Club Scrap offers. This card above was made by combining different size POP pieces from different kits. It makes it easy to piece together a Halloween card.

I used white ink to bring out the embossed spider web pattern. Dab your sponge in white ink and gently rub it across the raised portion of the embossed image. A fun and easy background.

Retreat

I may have mentioned that I was heading to Club Scrap's October Retreat. I left with friends on Tuesday (a few days early for sightseeing in Wisconsin, dontcha know!). The actual Retreat did not start until Thursday evening.

This is my first time at this Retreat, although I have been to others. It is always a great opportunity to try a new techniques, learn new ways of doing old techniques, and talking with other artists and crafters. As much as I would love to showcase a couple of new ideas, I must wait a week since others have ordered "Retreat in a Box" and I can not spoil the surprise. I will tell you that I learned a new way to use an old, tried and true tool. But, shh, you did not hear it from me!

Tuesday"s Tip

I have been using my Cricut quite a bit lately. It seems like it always goes in spurts - I will use it daily for awhile and then not at all. Since I have been completing swaps for Club Scrap's October Retreat, I have been using it almost daily. My cutting mat is starting to lose its stickiness. It is not so bad that I need to replace it, yet. How do you get a little more mileage from your mat? Spray the mat with Re-positional Adhesive spray (available at art and hobby stores). Works like a charm to get a little more mileage from your mat. Always remember to replace the acetate cover to keep dust and hair away.

GAB Part 2

I have been finishing up some projects lately (and it is about time!). Do you ever just loose interest after a while or something else catches your attention so you drop that project? I have made a "Fall" commitment to put the finishing touches on some projects that seem to be lingering.

The GAB (Girls Altering Books) project was done last spring. I have bound my swap pages a while ago. I did make duplicates of my pages so that I could assemble them together. I am pleased to say that it is done. However, I have decided I really do not like the way the cover turned out.(Which is why it took me so long to decide whether or not to post it on the blog.) I usually would toss it out and start again...but I will live with it for now. I also sometimes forget that not everything you do must be perfect.... I do like the way the title turned out. It is difficult to see in the photo, but I went over the stamped letters with Ranger's Crackle Accents. It is a  fun addition to "aged" projects...