Mixed Media Mania - Quick and Easy!

Well, it's officially December!! 

Most of us crafty people are now feeling the pressure to get stuff done - whether it's shopping, cooking, decorating, or making those special gifts, it always seems like we are in a rush and the time we have left for crafting is few and far between.

So today, I wanted to share some quick and easy mixed media tutorials for you.  

Check out this super cute Transfer Paper tutorial I found on 

mewithmyheadintheclouds

or the fun gelato technique with Mou Saha

or this unique and stunning journal page by Oia 

(you can google translate the page!)

and last but not least - have you seen Tim's new tag?!

We have all colours of the Distress Spray Stains in stock and will be playing with them in next month's Art Journal Class!

Hope you get a chance to play with some of these in between the hustle and bustle!

Wordless Wednesday - #Remembrance Day

Yesterday our family spent the morning watching the Remembrance Day ceremonies.  The ceremonies were beautiful and moving and led to some great discussions with my kids.  My grandfather was a veteran and didn't like to speak about the war so Remembrance Day always makes me think of not only those we lost in service, but those who struggle after their service.  

When the television shared the displays at the Tower of London, I knew that I wanted to share some of the beautiful pictures in today's post.  All links under the photos will take you to the page the image was taken from.

https://www.combatstress.org.uk

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

http://www.hrp.org.uk

http://www.dailymail.co.uk

http://society.excite.co.uk

Tell us what Remembrance Day means to you?

Spark Your Inspiration - Kaisercraft

Happy Friday!

Once again we are having some gorgeous weather...but I hear that will change by Monday :(

We received some brand new Kaisercraft lines in yesterday - Off The Wall, Close Up, and Hello Today - so thought I would go Pinterest searching for some awesome projects made from these three lines!

Layout - Close Up Collection

Tag - Close Up Collection

Card - Off The Wall Collection

Canvas - Off The Wall Collection

Layout - Hello Today Collection

CONTEST ALERT!!

CONTEST ALERT!!!! So, let's do a little contest!! I have two awesome prize packs that I will draw some winners for on Monday November 3rd.

You can earn your name in the hat by simply:

1. Sign up to follow our blog!

2. Follow us on any of our Social Media Accounts (if you are already following us, your name will automatically be entered - the links are over there on the right)

3. Leave us some blog love (also known as comments!)

One ticket will be entered for each of the above that you do!  

And feel free to share this with your friends!

Happy Stamping - Bokeh Technique

Good morning!  

So did that Bokeh word throw you off?  

If you aren't familiar with it, you are probably more familiar with what it looks like in photos

Bokeh is (are?) the little dots of light in photos.  

Looking for new and fun techniques last week, I came across this quick and easy technique video by Understand Blue and thought I would share it with you.

How fun is that?!

What's Up - November 3, 2014

Happy Monday!  The time change gave us all a little bit of extra sleep and the beautiful weather has me feeling very refreshed!

Today is your LAST CHANCE to win a prize pack from us - leave a comment here on this post or follow us on any of our social media sites (links are over there on the right).  I will be drawing two lucky winners before I head home tonight!

Bree is a busy girl this week - she has a

  Project Life Double Header Class on

Saturday the 8th from 10-4

and her SUPER CUTE 

December Daily Album is 

on Sunday the 9th from 10-1

And Jenn has her very popular 

Beginner's Guide to Hand Lettering Class

on Saturday the 8th from 630-830pm

We are expecting the little brown truck to bring us goodies on Wednesday, including some new Kaisercraft lines - Close Up and Off the Wall

Pop in for a visit or even drop in to scrap for the day for only $5 or free if you have a membership with us!

Spark Your Inspiration - Halloween Style!

Wishing you all a fun, safe and happy Halloween!

Don't forget your cameras - and since it's Friday, our inspiration today is all about Halloween!  All the links list the paper lines but if you click on it, it will take you to our Pinterest page where you can follow the link to see the designer.

Bella Blvd - Halloween Magic

An Eerie Tale - Graphic 45 (follow the link to an awesome tutorial!)

My Mind's Eye - Frightful

Bella Carta - Spooky

This one is a digi layout...but so cute and it would be so easy to re-create on paper!

Happy Stamping - Silvie Z.

If you are a Copic colourer, you can't help but gasp at this

Isn't that AMAZING??????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is the beautiful work of Sylvie Z.

 And if you ever needed inspiration for building gorgeous layered cards, she is definitely someone I suggest looking at!

Here are a few of my favourites - but please, browse her blog, you won't be sorry!

Wordless Wednesday - #Copicairbrush

Last night in our Advanced Copic class, we got to play with our brand new Air Brush System!  It was a ton of fun and I can't wait to do it again.  So today, I did a little hashtag search on Instagram and here are some of my favourite photos!

flyfishingtheozarks

(air brushing feathers for fly-fishing...but all I can think of is Art Journaling!)

krissyhansen_draws

tracyvmoore

puminboonmathum

And the card from last night!

Mixed Media Mania - Erika Winterlia

Just recently, I happened to stumble across a new (to me) blog that had some awesome tutorials, lovely cards, and inspiring art journal pages so I knew I had to share it with you!  

Her name is Erika Winterlia and she does some beautiful work.

And she has a Youtube channel :)

Most of you know, I am not a huge fan of videos but I am more likely to watch them if they are in fast forward mode...and thankfully hers are!

This is her video that caught my eye - please enjoy it, poke around,  and leave her some nice comments!

What's Up - Monday October 27, 2014

What a FANTASTIC weekend we had with Candy Rosenberg!!!!

5 classes + fabulously crafty ladies = some pretty great finished projects!

Candy and her daughter Mariah were simply amazing - kind, generous, inspiring and down-to earth!

Here are some photos from the weekend :)

Yesterday's class had us all building wire skirts for our dress forms.  I made everyone promise to take a photo of their finished project so I hope to post them next week :)

Here's what's happening in the store this week:

Tuesday the 28th - Advanced Copics 

 We will be doing Mixed Up Family Blending and playing with our brand new airbrush system!

Wednesday the 29th - Teresa Collins Mini Album with Andrea

Teresa Collins "Daily Stories" File Folder Mini Alubm
Lots of flips and flaps to add your photos and written memories!

And two shipments are due in today!

Happy Stamping - Tag Tutorial

A few weeks ago, we packed up the store and joined Canadian Scrapbooker for their Carnival in Sherwood Park and Calgary.  We met a ton of new scrappy friends and got a little dirty in our make and takes.  Some of the ladies had asked me to write down the instructions for them so I promised I would do a blog post with step by step photos.  So this morning, I set down to do it and about 3 photos into it, my phone died :(  Thankfully, I have my tablet with me but you will have to forgive the photo quality.

This is the tag we made

For this tag, you will need (click on the item to see it in the online store):

Dina Wakley's Scribbly Bird Stamp Set

Sorbet Bloom Spray

Twinkling H2os in Mediterranean Blue, Jasmine, Solar Gold, and Orange Peel

Peacock Feathers Distress Ink

Tim Holtz Mini Distress Inks in Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Seedless Preserves

Stencils - Tim Holtz's Schoolhouse and Stencil Girl's Ray Circles

Water Mister Bottle

Manilla Tag

Uniball White Gel Pen

Black Pitt Pen

Watercolour Paper

Archival Ink - Black

Water brush

Ink Blending Tool

So let's get started!

1.  Spray your tag with Sorbet Colour Bloom Spray.  It doesn't matter if you cover the whole tag or not.

2.  While your tag is drying, stamp your bird onto watercolour paper.  Colour the bird using your water brush and the Twinkling H2Os.  The trick to blending is LOTS of water!  Cut your bird out, cutting his feet off.  Sorry, this is where I had the photos on my phone.

3.  Taking your Mini Distress Inks, rub them directly onto your stencil.  If you are using a stencil that has fonts on it like I did, make sure you flip the stencil over it so that your words will be the right way.

4.  Generously mist your stencil with water.  Flip it over onto your tag and rub gently.  Lift the stencil off and dry with a heat gun.

5.  Using your Ink Blending Tool and Peacock Feathers Distress Ink, place your Circle Rays stencil over the tag and rub the ink into it.

6.  Stamp your bird onto your tag to give him his feet back :)  Glue the bird over the stamping.
Cut your words into strips and glue onto your tag.

7.  Doodle around strips, the bird and the edges of your tag using a white Uniball Gel Pen and a black Pitt Pen.