WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK- Chalk Ink and Scrap FX stencil fun

Happy wednesday folks!
I was flying high on scrappy mojo last weekend and experimented with both my Scrap FX stencils and my Pima chalk inks.

Last week readers and fellow scrappers Scraps and Scarlett BOTH wrote in to repeat advice they had given me before:

When working with wet media it's best to use heavy weight paper and spray the paper down a bit before you start.

Ok advice taken.

Not really.

I decided to use chalk ink with my FABULOUS Scrap FX Engineering stencil because I didn't want to mess with mist spray.
Mists get everywhere and I wanted to work on a tv tray table while watching Sons of Anarchy.
(I'm totally addicted!)

I recently bought 2 pieces of luscious 8x11 double weight water color paper to play with.
I just love all the nooks and crannies!

I got to work and this is the resulting page:

I love everything. Tim Holtz grunge stamps, Prima's chalk inks AND  Basic Grey's crisp clean
Hello collection paper patterns. Who knew cleartitle were a blast from the scrappy past?
To me they are so fresh and interesting. Can you tell I only started scrapping in 2009
and have no friends to bug me with the latest "fashion. Scrapping should not be about fashion!
It should be about FUN.

Here how it went down step by step:

• Prima Attic Dust chalk ink over Scrap FX stencil layer.
• Gel pen outline since the ink got under the stencil and pooled all over the place.
• 4 inch Tim Holtz subway poster stamp and black Prima ink.
• PROBLEM!!! Chalk ink stamped image is not good on the uneven water color paper
• White gesso layer to cover the ugly stamp

PROBLEM!!! Chalk ink is water based (water soluble)
so it streaked the gesso. DARN! MESS!But wait... this is... pretty!!!

• Spray the front and back of the page with Tattered Angels "Iridescent Gold" which I almost threw out because it's pretty much invisible. The thing is... that's a GOOD thing if you are layering multi media work. The gold added a nice sheen to the paper.
• PROBLEM gray stencil ink started running down the page RED ALERT RED ALERT
• Decided to use that as an effect and added some Studio Calico Opaque White spray mist to make the ink run even more.
• Let dry for 30 minutes and try to distract myself. 
• Try to speed things up with heating tool but that cracks the gesso- a look I hate and refuse to include in my pages.
•  Emboss the Tim Holtz stamp in black.

PROBLEM- the bottom of the paper wasn't fully dry
so the embossing powder stuck at the bottom. But wait..
New York City subway- that texture IS PERFECT!!!

• Decided this was a grungy page and went with it. FORCED myself to relax. It's. just. paper.
• Chose gear and cog chipboard designs to go with the "Steampunk" look.
• Added red circles from Basic Grey's "Hello!" line to give some contrast and focus to the page  

Plunked Clear Scraps title right on TOP of the photo and outlined
the edges in permanent ink so they stood out more.
The printed film strip chipboard is also from Basic Grey's Hello line.
shhh don't tell anyone- it's freaking FAB!

• Called it a friggin day

Where did my "What I learned this week" logo go?
It got me nowhere so I decided to design something a little less chessy looking.

Hope you have a great day folks- off to work I go!

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle

Thanksgiving place cards featuring Some Odd Girl digi stamps.

Good Monday to you!

Hurricane Sandy non-withstanding, I am going to share a tutorial I posted at The Odd Girl yesterday.

Kristy is running a full month of giveaways and tutorials so if you ever wondered how to use digital stamps or advanced Copic coloring techniques I suggest you swing on over.

I racked my brain trying to come up with a new and innovative way to use digi stamps (especially since I have ZERO Copic coloring mojo) when it occurred to me I hadn't seen anyone use digi stamps on vellum.

Vellum's slick surface makes it hard to print from home because the ink takes longer to dry.

Well, there's a fix for that- heat emboss it!

Some Odd Girl Turkey stamp is the cutest thing EVER!!!!!!

Swing by The Odd Girl to get the How-To details!

View from our fire escape.
The winds shouldn't be a problem but the storm surge could be quite bad.
I sent Lola to my Mom's for the next couple of days but Dave and I decided to tough it out at home.
We thought we were Zone A which is under mandatory evacuation but apparently once you cross the street from the park in this photo you're in Zone C. ???!!! How does that even work?
Does water cares that you are on a higher plane just 10 feet away??
In any case, it allowed us to stay. If it gets bad, we are taking our bikes across the Willamsburg Bridge.
I know that sounds INSANE but trust me- it's easier than braving traffic. Ever seen the stuck cars in a zombie flick? That's Brooklyn under an evacuation order. Bikes are small and wily and we ride like maniacs.

Stay safe out there, mi gente.

Michelle

Partying with Some Odd Girl Stamps!

Hiya folks!

I've been asked to participate in the month long celebration for Some Odd Girl Stamps.
YAY! Thanks Kristy!

Kristy's super cute Kawaii style is a perfect fit for almost any style scrapper and you can choose between digital stamps or clear acrylic.
I use both.
I'm busy thinking up a a crazy project for this year so here are my two projects for last year.

A shabby chic style card using the now retired "Love" digital heart stamp printed on sticker paper which was adhered to card stock.

And some CRAZY photos taken all over NYC with Kristy's adorable lightbulb character as my loyal sidekick.
This was for my featured tutorial on iPod Hipstamatic app filters.
I printed the digi on sticker paper which I then adhered to different Sunshine Broadcast prints from Sassafras Lass.

Drinking Chai Tea in Brooklyn.

Flipping out in Chinatown.

You may remember today's some Odd Girl featured artist, Leah Farquharson.
She's hosting a give away of one of her fabulous chevron camera straps.
Swing by the blog and check it out!
Thanks!
Michelle

Learning, playing- working? YES! It's possible!!!

One of the reasons you don't see me around as much lately (sorry!) is that I got a paying gig!

I'm now working at Paper Source!
Can I hear a "WOOT! Woot!"?

Paper Source isn't your typical crafty shop- I am amazed by the depth of their crafting collection.
Sure they sell paper (gorgeous artisanal paper) but they also sell all kinds of paper crafts tools and materials I haven't gotten around to discovering yet.

I wanted to share just a few of the projects I get to make during my rigorous training- seriously guys- it's like crafty boot camp (without all the shouting and dropping to do 250 push ups).

Like a fish needs a bicycle notebook
Materials: Paper Source Nautical and Bicycle wrapping papers, Zutter Bind It All (I got to use it for the
first time ever. I MUST have it!!!!), Paper Source card stock in Pool, Uni Ball silver gel pen,
Fiskars 1 inch circle punch and hole puncher- brand unknown.

Wedding Invitation Suite.
 I had an hour and 20 minutes to come up with a design and incorporate it into an Invite with envelope, RSVP card, table tent, place card and favor box- it was bananas! I tried to keep it as simple as possible. I didn't include the favor box as Lola promptly destroyed it thinking there were chocolates inside.
Materials: Paper Source Luxe card stock for the A7 envelope, pocket folder enclosure invite, 4 bar folded card and envelope as well as table tent. I also used a cherry blossom stamp, Ranger Queen's Gold embossing powder and Mums Gold on Cream Lokta fine paper. 

I learned to bind my own book! I also want to learn how to sew the actual interior pages
together but this is a start- best of al it was easy to do this with the Paper Source kit-
 everything is measured and cut out- all you need to do is put on your brave "I can handle wet
glue" face. Italian coast map print paper! SWOON!

Best 2 hours I've ever spent at "work"! I learned 3 new stamping techniques and so much about inks and
 embossing it was embarrassing. Did I think I was an experienced scrapbooker? HA!
I definitely recommend you swing by your local Paper Source branch and take this class!

So can you believe I just learned to wrap a gift properly? Yup! I failed at wrapping before
 but now I WIN. I also learned to make perfect bows which solved a life long dilemma and MAJOR
 pet peeve! LOVE IT!

On my shopping list right now:

• Faux Bois wrapping paper
• Zutter Bind It All Machine and 1 inch black wire
• Color Box Pigment ink (slow drying so perfect for embossing effects)
• Versamark embossing pen (love!)
• Cherry Blossom stamp
• Lokta grid and batik papers
• Super tacky double sided tape in 1/8 and 1/4 sizes so I can add some glitter stripes to everything I make
• Goldfish stamp (ZOMG!!! TOO CUTE!!)
• Sakura Souffle pens- Puffy NEON color pens?? MUST HAVE!!!!
• Savoy 100% cotton 8 by 11 cover weight pack (a MUST HAVE for water color and embossing projects)
• Extra fine embossing powder in clear and black
• Paper Source mixed color cardstock pack (loved playing with different color combos- everything goes together)

So enough salivating for now. THANK YOU Shanti for recommending me- you have a loyal friend for EVER! :)
ALSO... (OOOPS!!!)
Happy Father's Day everyone.

GRATUITOUS CUTE FATHER/DAUGHTER SHOT!

Bokeh effect!! FINALLY! PicFX app.

MuChOS SmOoChEs!
Michelle