Mini-tutorial

These tutorials are a product of extensive reading, researching and lots of time spent on making them. Please do not copy, or share on your page (for promoting your items in your shop) unless I give you permission to do so. Please ask nicely....I won't say no...but you need to ask.... You can link it on your blogs if you have used these tutorials...please share the link with me when you do use these tutorials...I would love to stop by and see what you have done! 

Ok, so mini-tutorial is a misnomer, its a micro tutorial!! Ok, not even a tutorial, its just a demo...yup! that's the right word...Its a demo of how the Hobby Ideas glue and gloss works. I've gotten quite a few emails, asking me how I use it or what is it.
Essentially its a Decoupage glue, and when dries it gives a clear glossy finish. It is in essence what the Glossy Accents, or the Judikins Diamond glaze does. This is how I start.
(click on any picture to see it full size)

 My weapons of choice, 3D glitter glue- ice shimmer (TIP - Pick up from the shimmer series in the 3D out-liners, they're gorgeous. superfine glitter, I still have to find the yellow shimmer, already got blue, pink and ice )The ones that say glitter are too chunky, will work only as out-liners)
ETA : another tip about these glitters, they will stick to any other paper that comes in contact with it. If its on the card, it will stick to the envelope, if its on an album it will stick to the previous page. Better to give it a coat of gloss so it does not stick.

Get your image colored, and if you want glitter on it, put the glitter on first.

I just apply tiny amounts and then spread it out with my fingers.

 Give it few minutes to dry and then get your glue and gloss.

 It looks like glue, but will dry clear. Apply in a thin layer but give it good coverage.

 

This is one wing covered. Make sure there are no bubbles. Take pleasure in popping the ones that do find their way in. 

 These are all covered, snow white beauties, waiting to dry. Don't do like I did for the green butterfly, its all podgy, if that's even a word. Give it a smooth coat, like the second and third butterfly.

At the end of one hour, the edges will start going from opaque to clear. ( yes, I did get a bit of bubbles on the green one) 

End of 3-4 hours. Do your best not to touch, no matter how much you itch..you'll leave your finger prints behind.

At the end of six hours All glossed up. I kept it out overnight since there was no light to take a good pic. Took this before I gave my DH his breakfast. And he was quick to compare, "butterflies over me?" and I said, always!! And then he too was a fan of the butterflies!

This doesn't show the gloss in its full glory, those who have my cards will tell  you how great it is. 

Another pic just to show the gloss.

Hope you can see the glaze. So that's it, my mini-micro-Demo. Go out there, buy yourself some glue and gloss and have fun.

P.S. Hobby Ideas is not compensating me enough for the stuff I buy off their shelves. They should. Are you listening? or Reading?

Hey Chickee

Long time no post..sorry! Wasn't keeping well..I was down with severe back spasms, couldn't cook, couldn't sit, couldn't sleep properly. Still on meds, but feeling a bit better...back to exercises when the pain is gone..
Since I was feeling better, decided what better way to cheer myself than make a card!

So here it is, its with the sketch for the  FTL-98 and CAS-75 (use dry embossing) and CAS-tastic Challenge (its SIMPLE). My card uses, Stamped Images, Inked edges and Embossing.

I've had the Fiskar's texture plates since 2 yrs, but really don't like the results. But still decided to break it out once again and enjoy a bit of embossing!
I've also had this beautiful Tiffany blue color paper, so decided to use it. And this cute stamp? Its being used for the first time on a card in 2 yrs! I've inked it up and sent images to many friends..but never used it myself...I think they're finally happy now..

 This is the sketch  on which I based my card, I was supposed to keep the black panel a single piece, but while watching CSI I ended up trimming them into 3! Kinda forgot the track of the sketch!

Colored using water-color pencils, my usual signo white gel pen and sharipe ultra fine black marker for the faux stitching.

Should be back again soon with a card for Simplicity challenge! Working on that soon.
On a gleeful note, I just won two stamp sets! One from Lizzie Ann Designs and one from Annabelle Stamps (Australia)

 Just a closeup of the naughty chicks!

Card Set

This post might be short. Got a massive headache again! Here's the set of cards I made with the PP I showed you in the last post. I had been wondering how to place the design when Susan's card showed me the way.
Its for H's colleague's birthday coming up later in the month.

Sorry for the bad light, took it late in the evening...its been cloudy all day and the humidity is driving me nuts..no rain yet! Here are some individual pics..

I hope you can spot the bling. Its little gemstones on all the flowers.

This red ribbon gave me the creeps. It took me more than 20 tries to do this knot, and this too was in sheer frustration. Don't know why grosgrain ribbon behaves this way...or maybe I'm just ribbon challenged! Sentiment is from Heart and Soul rubber stamps, and is embossed with clear embossing powder. Doesn't show up too well, maybe coz its superfine emb. powder!

I'm looking for a cute bird stamp. Anyone any links...will be appreciated. But the birdie should be cheap too! something like the bird sticker on the blue happy birthday.

The next card gets inspired from Ayana. Have I told you I love her cards? I have, right! so lets get on to the card. This  is my best and biggest blooper card. The sentiment got stamped upside down. I still went ahead and colored it. will find a way to salvage it or just give it like that to someone who has a sense of humor!

This card is one more example of  needing finishing touches. This card looks great, but for me it is incomplete. So here go some bling and some dots and this is what you get.. ( the bling got smudged a bit. Pls don't judge me on that, bling has a mind of its own) And as I said sorry for the dark photos..

So what do you think? does it complete the card? I think it does...
All right then peeps, good night, off to take a night's rest..


Cast of characters
1st card (blue)
Fabriano cardstock
Heart and soul rubber stamp(happy birthday)
Flowers, (mix of hobby ideas and clear stamps)
ribbon- gift from Sophie Landry
Bird sticker ( hobby ideas)

Red ribbon- Sophie Landry (where are you girl?)
Butterfly sticker-roadside vendor
Gemstones- roadside vendors

Coloring with sharpies, glitter-hobby ideas silver glitter

Inspired

I love this new blog that I found, Clips-n-cuts. I love Vicky's style of making cards..totally simple and clean. My style of making cards changes with the crafter that I'm inspired by. Right now, all the crafters that inspire me are the ones with clean cards..not too much going on...just a simple card, neat, no fuss, no ten layers on the card. Another blog, Clean and simple is also just that.

Besides that, the quilters sampler from Papertrey ink totally had me hooked since the day they were released. So this was a long time due.

Since I do not have any stamps right now(they're at my home, but you've heard that cribbing before), but I've been on such a high after buying lots of craft stuff, this card by Vicky was totally on my mind. I had papers, I had glue and I had the card-stock. Though I admit if I had the punches, the squares would be neater, but this is good too..right?

And how many times does it happen that the idea you have in mind, and the end result is exactly the same? It happened with this card...and I am soo happy..




One thing about this card, Vicky pointed out in her video, that it is better to stick the 1x1 squares on a scratch paper and then frame it up. It gives the faux quilted piece a good support. After making the card, I totally agree.

The sentiment is handwritten, with water-color pencils. And I cannot leave glitter out of the card, so I use bits of glitter paper, the pen used to make the faux stitches is also a glitter pen. the quilt is raised off the card with foam tape.

Ok, so its not a neat card, I've got glitter spread here and there but that's the part about being handmade. Its never perfect..

Card details:
PP- Hobby ideas.
Flair glitter pens
Signo white gel pen
Fabercastell watercolor pencils
Grey card stock - sent by Spardha :)

This card goes to the Crafty Creations Challenge-61-Anything goes...
And for the Just Add Ink challenge #11.
Just in time to add this card to the Meljen's Designs Weekly Thursday Challenge #1

OhHappy Days...

Reminds me of a song from Sister Act2. I just feel so happy and springy..I was just hopping around in Hobby Ideas, wanted some clear stamps and ink. They had tons of colors of ink, but no stamp..not one set. And no black ink, I know I'm not going to be using inks of other colors as much..plus these sets were dated 2007. Am I mad to pay 125 bucks for such an old set! never.

But while I was browsing the new scrapbooking section, I found these dimensional stickers. And they were so colorful, all spring themed and vibrant. I just fell in love.


These two owls are adorable, so is the frog, the peas in the pod..I can't see myself using them, I'll just keep them in the packaging and stare at them, they're so pretty!!!



Love the bee, the happy caterpillar


And this...it just says spring is here...beautiful..wouldn't you agree??

New friends

I have been MIA for too long. Just surfing through everyone's blogs and hoping for things. now I'm somehow getting my creativity back. Its limping back, in a while it should be roaring to go...

On one of my blog surfing adventures, I stumbled across an Indian card maker. From her blog, I found so many. I did not realise that there were so many Indian card makers who are as crazy about stamps, paper, inks, cuttlebug, patterned papers, ribbons and much much more. It is such a delight, and I've already found so many alternatives to the more expensive stuff. locally made patterned papers, new hobby store..the list is endless.

There is already and ATC swap for all the Indian cardmakers. Yipee, needless to say I joined in straight away.

Here are the links to the ones I know...As I get to meet others, I shall let you know..

The ATC SWAP group- Crazy about ATCs

Rachna - Rachna's Crafty Corner

Spardha- Get Addicted to Craft!

Smita - Kreativity and Me

Shalini - Craft Curry

On another note, I finally managed to find some Patterned paper from hobby ideas. With recession, their prices have literally hit the roof. or ceiling. or sky high..whatever you prefer.

A single sheet of rub-on that cost me 40bucks, in now 65. A single sheet of sticker is 95. And PP are 20 bucks. I knew this hobby is expensive but if rates keep shooting higher, I might as well give up this hobby.'

Thankfully there is an online hobby store in India (YAY). Itsy-bitsy and it has the PP for 7 bucks. maybe not as thick as the ones I get at hobby Ideas, it still works for me. Now I just hope they keep adding some new stuff.

Here's a shot of the papers I got from Hobby Ideas..






Here's hoping to see you soon with some new cards and new ramblings..