New Classes for November 2013

Exciting News!!

Jen Starr will be traveling in the area and will be stopping by to teach two classes.


Mixed Media Christmas Book
Wednesday, November 20th 6pm-10pm
We will be using Jen's absolute favorite products from Viva Décor, Art Anthology and Ranger to produce a beautiful and unique 6x9 (and 3” thick!) chipboard book with boxy extensions that will flip out to the sides for even more interest and room! While incorporating mists, Distress stains, Inka Gold, a variety of shimmering texture mediums from Viva and Tim Holtz dies and stamps to embellish you will learn a plethora of mixed media techniques to create some fabulously festive effects to celebrate the holidays in an artistic way!
Click here for more details and a list of materials needed for class.



Mixed Media Canvas Class
Wednesday, November 20th 1pm - 3pm

 (every canvas will be unique... these are just 2 examples!)

Working on a 12x12 stretched canvas you will create a mixed media masterpiece full of color and texture with a variety of surfaces! You will learn fun and unique ways to use a variety of mists and paints from Art Anthology and beautiful mediums from Viva Decor to create gorgeous dimensional effects that will bring your art and photo to life! No previous painting experience is needed!
Click here for more details and a list of materials needed for class.

Call Cafe Crop (219-661-1624) or stop by our new location at the Old Lake County Courthouse.

October's Spooky Tag

 My October Tag for Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2012.

I used the Pumpkin Jack, Mini Silly Jack-o-Lantern face and the Halloween Shadows die. Connie used the pumpkin for one of our recent Make It Take It projects and I thought it would work perfect for my tag. I used blues and greens for the background with a yellow moon. I used the Ranger's Clear Rock Candy Dry Glitter for the pumpkin's face and the words. 

It still needed something so I added the little bats on the moon. 

Perfect!

I added one extra surprise.

I just happened to have some glow in the dark paint in my stash. Every time I turned the lights out in my craft room the bottle would glow. Finally found a cool way to use it. I know I will be making a few more of these.

Distress Ink / Foam Blending Pad Storage

If you are like me, I hate throwing away or washing the foam blending pads. I kept looking for away to store them. Nothing I found worked for me, so I came up with my own storage solution. This is the revised version, the prototype wasn't as pretty. 

Several people have asked me about this, so I decided to turn it into my first tutorial.

I started with an 8 1/2" by 11" white cardstock paper and drew vertical lines for the velcro strips at 7/8", 3 5/8", 7 5/8"  and at 1 3/4", 2 3/4", 4 1/2", 6 3/4" for foam pads. I also drew horizontal line starting from the top every 1 1/4" This created guidelines for the placement of the label stickers and the foam pads. Repeat on the back side. You have some extra space on the back.

Next I downloaded the Distress Ink labels from the Ranger website (click here). Using the guidelines, I placed the stickers on the cardstock chart by color families, adding in the seasonal colors.

Then I laminated the sheet and added rough strips of velcro (I cut the strips in half to less)  on the lines at  7/8", 3 5/8", 7 5/8" .



 
Now the fun part. I added the foam pads to the laminated sheet. I used the pencil guidelines. To protect it when traveling, I placed it inside a plastic paper storage pouch.

Ranger Training Day for Crafters Home!

Today was the first day of Crafters Home meetings that occur before the actual CHA trade show begins.

We enjoyed a full day of training on Ranger products and learning about products and techniques from Tim Holtz.  The class focused on techniques, creating backgrounds and adding layers to the backgrounds.  We played with Distress Ink, Distress Stains, custom masks, Distress Stickles, Paint Dabbers, Metal Foil tape, Perfect Pearl Mists, Alcohol Inks and . . . the BRAND NEW DISTRESS MARKERS!  While creating the tags we learned tips about the products and why they work the way they do.

The Distress Markers are really amazing - not like your typical marker. We stamped with the markers and it looks AMAZING! Then we used the brand new water pens and brushes - very fun.

Here are a few pictures of the tags: 

(hotel lighting isn't the best for pictures so you'll have to stop by the store to see them in person!)

Here are a few pictures of some of Tim's new embellishments:

These are SMALL gears and will fit inside the Pocket Watch that is already available:

Clock Keys - with a screw so you can attach them to your project.

 SMALL numerals - about 1" high.

 Cute faucet handles - these have a different coating on them so you can actually put crackle paint on them to give them a cool antique look.

 These will be great on cards, tags and scrapbook pages. 

 All kinds of words . . . and they all can be inked/sprayed etc. to perfectly match your project.

 And . . . Volume II.  Chock full of new products, tools and ideas!

Fun Weekend with Wendy

We had an awesome weekend with Wendy Vecchi.  She arrived on Friday afternoon.  Several of the ladies attending the class arrived a few hours earlier to pick their seat and visit with Wendy.  (They also got FIRST pick of all of her stamps and art parts.)

We had a great time on Friday evening creating a "Don't Mess with the Queen" project and getting all inky.  Saturday morning started bright and EARLY.  Both of Saturdays projects were great fun using art parts, inks, stains, stamps, grunge paper and more.  We learned lots of tips and tricks about art parts and Ranger products. 

Thanks to all who attended.  We had fun and enjoyed making many new friends.


A special thanks to Wendy for her blogpost on 8/17: http://studio490art.blogspot.com/