Miracle Star-Wow Embossing Indeed

Hello everyone and Happy Back to School Week. This year, our little girl is in Kindergarten 3 days a week, so I've got a little me time to do things. Yesterday was her first day, and she absolutely LOVED it. Gotta love when your children love school, and we are so blessed to have both of them in that mind set.

Today, I'm sharing with you a project I created for the Wow Embossing Powders blog and I truly think it is my favorite project to date. I created it using a lot of double embossing and I think it will become our new tree star for Christmas. If you want to see more of the project and see what supplies I used, hop on over to the Wow Embossing Powder blog to see.

Here is the finished products using Wow Embossing Powders, May Arts ribbons, Helmar adhesive and Basically Bare pieces.

Thank you so much for stopping by today. I would love to hear what holiday decoration around your home, you love the most.

Also, there is a education team call going on right now on the Helmar blog and a great friend Susan Weckesser, has a design team call up now too.

Until next time
Toodles

Rainbows of Smiles!!!

Hello everyone and Happy Tuesday. Let's see what I can share with you today. Last week, I made a life change and so far, I'm loving it!!! I started getting up at 5:00am with my husband 3 days a week. Why so early? Because I've started swimming again and it feels fantastic. I used to be in the pool 2-3 times a day when I was a little less aged lol. It is good for the soul and my energy is going up YEAH!!!

So I thought I would share with you today a project I created that also felt good to do.

This layout is full of color and I love the "non-white" space. I hope you like it too.

I used a combination of great Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist colors, Jillibean Soup alphas and Maya Road Chipboard pieces to accent the misted Pink Paislee paper.

To adhere the buttons to the layout, I used Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive. Perfect for those heavier embellishments.

That smile on the third photo is what I would see every morning I would go into our little boys room. It still melts my heart every time I see his smile.

That is it for today

May Arts Design Team Finalist Blog Post

I am absolutely floored and excited beyond belief to be one of the finalists for the May Arts Design Team.I could scream from the rooftops, but that might wake up the neighbors.

Today I am going to share with you my "finalist" video. I created a round canvas (Thank you Martha Richardson for sharing the love of circles) where the entire surface has been created using May Arts Ribbons and Helmar Adhesives. I'm so pleased with how this has turned out and I would love to hear your comments everyone. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask, That is what I'm here for.

Now on with the show.

Here are a a few detail photos of the project showing some of the amazing texture that I was able to create with the ribbons and trim.

And the entire canvas in all its creative glory!!!

Thank you so much for stopping by today. I hope you all enjoyed your July 1st and 4th celebrations. Until next time

Toodles


 

Helmar Happy Fathers Day Hop

Welcome to the Helmar Happy Fathers Day Hop. Today we are so excited to share with you a variety of fantastic masculine projects. We've put our Helmar arsenal to good use and want to share with you some inspiration for those last minute Fathers Day gifts.

If you have been following along, you should have hopped here from Julie's blog. If not, hop on back to the Helmar Blog and enjoy. Make sure to leave comments along the way, because we will have prizes up for grabs. And if the Man in your life is super lucky, We may even send him a Helmar prize pack too.

Today I wanted to share with you an art project I created using Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive and Liquid Scrap Dots. These arrowheads were picked up by my husbands grandfather who recently passed. My husbands family wanted a way to display them, so I thought some shadow boxes would be perfect.

I created the papers by using a leather looking paper and distressing it with a combination of Vanilla Breeze Glimmer Mist and Tea Dye Distress Ink. I then applied it to the backing of the shadowbox using 450 Quick Dry Adhesive.

 For adhering the arrowheads, Liquid Scrap Dots is perfect!!! Love how this turned out and I couldn't have done it without my Helmar Arsenal!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by. Now hop on back to the Helmar blog and leave one last comment. If you get lost along the way, below you will find the links for the order of the hop.

Momenta Butterfly Garden Layout and Fussy Cutting

Pastels are a huge trend right now. You can see them in Fashion, Home Decor and Paper crafting. When I received my latest design team products from Momenta, The Butterfly Gardens paper stack screamed at me. Well since it is filled with butterflies, maybe it was more like a soft whisper, but you know what I mean lol.

Today I am going to share with you a layout I created using the Butterfly Garden Paper pad, Butterfly Embossed Cardstock messages and Butterfly Mini Puffy Icon Stickers. The combination was perfect for a very girly layout of our little girl in her favorite pink jacket.

I also used a sentiment sticker from the My Style Puffy Stickers sheet to tie in the big fabric flower. Here are a few photos of the layout for you.

I did a lot of fussy cutting with the papers to create embellishments and the flowers and butterflies are great to do this with. 

 I also added a little Rock Candy Distress Stickles to the pieces I fussy cut, to give them a little blingage.

 Here is the complete layout. Everything has been adhered using Helmar Adhesives and I added a little distressing to the edges of the layout.

That is it for me today. I hope you all have a great weekend. Tomorrow, I'm going to select a winner for my small blog candy that I have so if you haven't entered , you can find the post HERE.

Until then
Toodles

Paper Crafters Library and My Girl!!!

What a great weekend away this was with family friends. I hope that all of you had a wonderful long weekend. Now back to the grind and crafting, which I love so much!!!


I am so excited to share with you, that I'm featured at Paper Crafters Library today. They are having a Wow Embossing Powder Week, filled with projects, videos and tips for using these great powders. If you haven't heard of Paper Crafters Libray before, You really have to check them out. Here is a little information about Paper Crafters Library


A Bit About Paper Crafter’s Library

The world of paper crafting is HUGE! Whether you are a beginner, or you’ve been creating for years, the sheer number of different products, tools, techniques and project ideas can be overwhelming.After spending 6 years helping thousands of paper crafters around the world become more successful in the creative space through her series of kits, digital tutorials and online classes, Andrea Walford began looking for a new approach to education. In 2011 she launched Paper Crafter’s Library – the first, and still to this day, only website that provides an all-in-one learning solution for paper crafters. With almost 800 videos currently in their library and 4-5 new videos added each week, Paper Crafter’s Library offers comprehensive training on products, tools, techniques, and project ideas. From beginner through to advanced, whether your interest is in stamping, card making, scrapbooking, creating 3D items or altered art – you’ll find all the resources you need to navigate the world of paper crafting in ONE place, organized and indexed so that it’s quick and easy to find.


Here is a little sneak of my project I created using Wow Embossing Powders.

Now when you leave a comment on My blog today, you will be entered to win a membership to Paper Crafters Library. How cool is that??? A great way to get inspired and learn new techniques or brush up on some you haven't used for a while.Make sure if you haven't checked out my complete project, you jump on over to the Paper Crafters Library Blog and leave me some love there!!!

Until next time
Toodles

Genuine Love and a Little Shimmer to Boot

Being in love is a special thing. To have someone in your life that fills your soul and can lean on you when they need, is a part of that love. Today I'm sharing with you a card I created using the beautiful Trinity Paper Arts Collection Sincerely. I've paired it up with my favorite fancy paper out on the market from Paper Temptress called Mica Metallic and this is what I've come up with.

 I love how the Mica Metallic papers take on rub-ons: so crisp. You can really see the shimmer on that paper. Isn't it scrumptious!!!??!!

 To get some great dimension on this card, I used a combination of Helmar Zapdots and Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots. I sprayed the flowers with True Blood Glimmer mist and they are the perfect match for the Sincerely papers.

The sketch is the New Mojo Monday Sketch, which I haven't played along with forever. Was nice to do that again. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you are all having a fantastic week. Talk soon

Toodles

Matchstick Holder has Life Altering Moment

Lately, I've been doing a fair amount of altering and when I found this matchstick holder, it didn't have a chance. I grabbed some beautiful papers from the Sincerely collection by Trinity Paper Arts, my Helmar Acid Free Glue and went to town. The Sincerely collection is so beautiful and the colors are amazing.

I really like how this one turned out. I think it is the papers, but it might be that covered the tole painting underneath lol. Here it is in all its new found glory. Hope you like it too.

Also, I just wanted to share with all of you some fantastic news. The Helmar Design Team has been announced, and I am beyond honored to be the Coordinator for the team. Here are the amazingly talented artists I get the pleasure of working with.

The New Helmar Design Team consists of 19 full time designers, 5 guest artists, and 1 sketch artist. I'm so honored and humbled to present to you the Helmar Design Team!!!
 Jamie Cripps
Jennifer Evans
Martha Richardson
 Julie Tucker-Wolek
Cheryl Boglioli
Grace Lauer
Susan Weckesser 
Carisa Zglobicki
Cindy Royal
JJ Sobey
Vicky Alberto
 Melanie Forbes
Rae Cooper
 Michelle Wallace
Amy Lynne Lassiter
Liz Chidester
Jen Erickson
Beck Beattie
Sandie Edwards
Lydell Quin- Our Helmar Challenge and Sketch Artist
Erin Morehouse - Our May Guest Designer
Lisa Wilkinson - Our June Guest Designer
Katie Nolan-Denhan - Our July Guest Designer
Kate Vickers -Our August Guest Designer
Cheryl Walker - Our September Guest Designer
Erika Taylor- Design Team Coordinator

Also Jessica Morales will be doing some amazing videos for us on a regular basis and we wanted to give her a shout out too.

Until next time
Toodles

Trinity Paper Arts- Sincerely

The new papers from Trinity Papers Arts are so much fun to work with. I love the deep wine tones and black/white combo that comes in the Sincerely collection. Today I've got a layout to share with you using this collection, Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist and Prima Flowers.

I did a lot of edge distressing and hand dyed the flowers with a combination of Cranberry and True Blood Glimmer Mists for the perfect match.

Fearless Friends in Art Guest Blogger Series- Martha Richardson

Sometimes you are lucky enough to meet someone that blows your thoughts of them outta the water. I've known Martha Richardson for a while now, but the moment I met her in the lobby of our hotel at CHA, her soul reached out and talked to mine. Without me blabbering on about how much I respect, appreciate and love this women, here is Martha Richardson

It’s one thing to be friends & co-workers online but it is something else when you get to meet them in person. Let me tell you…Erika is even more incredible in person & I’m honored to be a part of her “meet the artist” collaboration.

Erika and I finally met at the 2012 Winter CHA in Anaheim, Ca. where we worked together at the HELMAR Adhesive booth and also had the opportunity to just sit and chat. A looming question on many artists’ mind, including ours, is how to grow and evolve, push the limits and become even better at the art we love.

I thought I would take this opportunity to show you what I’ve been doing since this Feb. 2012. I am a natural born explorer, learner, investigator and curious person. Because I live in a very rural part of NC, all my art supplies must be ordered and all classes taken online. These online classes are my window into the art world and I’m never afraid to try something new. This is where I push & stretch, learn & explore, make mistakes & make beauty, meet new people, learn new techniques and just have FUN!

I would like to share some of my lettering attempts created when I enrolled in Letter Love 101 with the amazing Joanne Sharpe. I wanted to take a class from Joanne for several years and when she announced she would be doing online classes I was overjoyed…what an amazing class. Here are pictures of practice of a page that was 1st lettered and then painted with watercolor {something I’ve never done before}.



From this exercise I then created 2 watercolor paintings with inspiration from the Letter Love 101 class and conversations with one of my new artist friends Catherine Matthews Scanlon {I think you will have the opportunity to meet her next week}.  Again talking about artist evolution Catherine challenged me to attempt creating a random sketch and turn into a painting.






It’s a leap of faith sharing these new techniques but I want to share a small part of my evolution. I’ve learned that in art there are no mistakes and if I don’t try something new then I may just miss out on a technique or style that I really love. I’m not looking for perfection in what I do, that comes from practice, but the power that comes with “wow” I really like what I just did. And truth be told I LOVE buying art supplies!!!

I hope this gives you a slight nudge to evolve, to try a new technique, a different product that’s in your stash just screaming your name to try…to explore…to stretch your artistic limits.

Please take a moment and check out Martha Richardsons blog. she is beyond beautiful and her work inspires me every day. Thank you so much Martha

Fabulous News

During this last term with Helmar, we received some of the prettiest papers I'd ever seen. A company called FabScraps from South Africa was now a preferred partner with Helmar and i tell ya, those papers and metal embellishments are truly some of my absolute favorite things to work with to date. So when I heard FabScraps was having a design team call, I had to apply. Here are the 2 projects I created specifically for the call

So you can imagine my excitement when Laura from FabScraps contacted me to say I'd made the team. The roster is super impressive and I've got my work cut out for me to create in the same league as some of these amazing FabScraps Design Team members.

Tomorrow I will have a Guest post on the Quick Quotes blog with a canvas I created using the new Tin Type line. Please stop by and say hi. Until next time
Toodles

Fearless Friends in Art Guest Blogger Series- Susan Weckesser

Have you ever met someone for the first time in person and you are absolutely SMITTEN??? It doesn't happen often, but this past CHA I was beyond blessed when I got to meet Susan Weckesser. I've been following Susan since I first started paper crafting. I think one of my first Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine purchases had some of her whimsical art and I've loved her work from the moment I laid eyes on it. I think it was an article about the importance of Scrapbooking, but don't quote me on that lol. Susan creates amazing mixed media projects, scrapbook layouts and her doodling is OUTTA THIS WORLD!!!Did I mention she has a great paper line that is  full of whimsy (you can check it out here).

So without further adieu, please welcome Susan Weckesser!!!

Taking a Little Time

I was so glad when Erika asked me if I would do I post for her blog because not only do I think that she ROCKS, but it gave me a chance to sit down for a moment a just create for myself. Sometimes life gets a little hectic and we don’t always have time to do the little things that puts a smile on ours face and that is so super important. Don’t get me wrong…. It is awesome to design and create for other people and for specific projects. But, you know as a mom, a wife, a sister, or whatever we might do, sometimes life gets super busy and the days seem to race by. So when Erika said that it didn’t matter what I created… well, I was thrilled. I took a couple hours and just played!

I went digging around my studio and pulled out some fun goodies.  I had to play with some of the stamps that I just co-branded with Unity Stamp Co.  The kit I played with is called Grandma’s Needlepoint and you can find it HERE. I adore it because it reminds me of my Grandmother and sewing with her when I was a little girl!

To distress the look of the stamp I pulled out my Smooch by Clearsnap and lightly went around the outline of the image.

 I love working on chunky canvases to. That is what I used here and I prepared it by base coat painting it with acrylic paint. I then used some Helmars’ 450 Quick Dry Adhesive to glue on some wonderful paper & filters from Fancy Pants . To get my twine to holds it shape I lightly brushed on a bit of fabric stiffener.

Oh, and who can’t get inky when they are doing a project!? I love to age and distress projects just like I adore antiques! So, I also pulled out my Tim Holtz Distress Ink  from Ranger Ink and rubbed the edge of my papers to achieve that wonderful aged look! 

It was a wonderful afternoon. I had some time just to unwind and breathe! Life truly is a blessing! We just have to hold on somedays and not lose focus.

Thanks to Erika for inviting over! I loved it! Feel free to to pop over any time and say ‘hi’!

Hugs,

Susan xx