Monday, September 30, 2013

MIXED MEDIA MONDAY Returns - sort of ...

With the craziness of summer behind me, I'm trying to get back to work on a regular schedule again. I don't have an actual mixed media project this week but did want to share a couple of things.

For as long as I can remember, I've always brought up the tail end of a trend... with enough space between me and the rest of the group to drive a semi through. I'm at that point again. I'm finally getting brave enough to play with alcohol inks. The reason I'm behind is because I have avoided the expense. Like Copics (which I am NOT good with), I was afraid of putting the money out for something I wouldn't like working with... or worse yet, would want ALL of them LOL.

I've known for some time you could make your own. And I've wanted to do this with my SU ReInkers. So with my coupons, I've been picking up the 3-pack mister bottles from RangerInk. They'll be perfect size for a minimal amount of the Alcohol Inks and I can store them with my other SU ink products.



I still need 5 more packages of the mister bottles to have enough to do the current SU standard color families. Then I'll worry about the retired colors in the art room and the In Colors - both current and retired. My goal is to have an alcohol ink to match every SU color I own. 

The Cut n Dry pad is for the next stage of the process. In one of the many videos I watched there was some discussion as to whether the extra 'cush' was necessary or if you could do just as well adhering the velcro and felt sheet directly to the block. My thought was this: If you're 'pouncing' the pad as Tim does, I think the extra padding would help with the overall effect. If you're 'swiping' as some artists do then maybe the extra pad isn't necessary. 

Hubby and I have enough scrap lumber in the shop to make small applicators like the one shown HERE. I bought 2 sheets of felt to cut my own pads based on the size of the applicators I decide to use. I also bought Industrial Strength Velcro to put on each one. 

While watching videos on home made applicators, inks and blending solution there was a division as to whether having just the one applicator then needing to remove the inky felt pads while they're still wet was an issue or not. Alcohol Inks are PERMENANT and although I won't wear the plastic gloves when working on projects most of the time, I would want them on to remove the pads. I know I wouldn't reach for a glove to do that. I don't like wearing gloves of any kind (because they never fit my tiny fingers) So I like the idea of having at least three or four applicators I can work with at once, let them dry then remove the felt. I could buy the RangerInk ones. They are not as expensive as some of the videos lead you to believe. I found them at Michaels for $4.99. That's doable for a couple even without a coupon. For those artists who want one for every color, yeah, maybe not so much. Another point one of the video instructors made was that she tends to grasp the block directly when applying the inks rather than using the post handle. I think I would be doing the same thing so why pay for something I'm not going to use all of when I could easily recycle wood from the shop.

TracysTreasures24 on YouTube was the first video I saw on recycling stamp blocks. Although this gal isn't the one I originally watched, I love her rounded applicators. I think they'd be more conducive to work with when the arthritis flares up. Keep in mind... her video has a warble in the sound but you can at least see how hers differ from the traditional block. 


One of the coolest things I'm going to love about Alcohol Inks is that try as I might I can NOT find YELLOW bling. I can find ones in a slightly yellow/ orange tone but no true Yellow to use for flower centers. With alcohol inks, I can buy bling in the clear whenever they're on sale and make them ANY COLOR I need! Whoo Hooo!

So tell me, do you use Alcohol Inks? Share your experience and usage tips! 
Creative Blessings!





Tuesday, September 24, 2013

WOYWW #225

Okay, first off, is it coincidence that WOYWW #225 is on The 25th? I think not. If you have no clue what I'm talking about, head on over to Julia Dunnit's blog for a long list of blogs we spend hours hopping to. Then for further explanation, go to her EXPLANATION page.

I'm squeaking this in on Tuesday night while I'm tweeting TheVoice for work. I'm trying not to work too  much while my MIL is visiting. Once I get started I forget to stop. LOL

Next on the list is the big REVEAL. Back on #223 I told everyone about the Surprise gifties I was making for members of our Paper Blogger Reunited (PBR) group. Five of our members were meeting up at ScrapFest in Mall of America. I couldn't go but I sent pressies for the other girls via member Maggie. So what did I send?


I took one of those $1 20-pic plastic photo albums then created the cover in PrintShop. I used a glitter mat from DCWV Glitter Pad. They'll have a brag album to remember their trip and pics of each of our members who made the trip.

Finally... my desk for this week. I have no place upstairs to work... aka the music promo/ writing stuff I do every day. The card table I might use is being used for our dining room table while Bob's mom and her husband visit for a couple more days. So everything is on my stamp table. 



You'll see a couple of things handy. I'm putting together a couple of Sympathy cards for her and have some images to stamp. Then it's back to working on my books. The first chapter of my Western Historical Romance, Jayson's Range, took 2nd in competition last weekend so I'm hoping to finish that novel and start putting it out the door soon. 

I should have a scrap project of sorts on the desk next week and back to regular blogging again soon.
Creative Blessings!

Friday, September 13, 2013

CUDDLEBUG CUTIES SEPTEMBER BLOG CANDY! Yum!





Doesn't this collection of goodies look YUMMY! I just want to start playing. Pink and neutrals has become one of my favorite color pallets. And I love MME papers.

I can't take credit for this lovely collection of Blog Candy. That goes to Anna Stillwell at Cuddlebug Cuties. This is her SEPTEMBER BLOG CANDY GIVEAWAY!

You don't have to do anything special for a chance to win... just leave her a comment on the post. 

While you're there, sign-up for her emails. She shares some of the cutest images. 

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

WOYWW #223 - Something for Special Friends

Happy WOYWW everyone! Have no clue what that means? Hop on over to Julia Dunnit's blog. She is the ringleader of our group of window peekers. We travel the blogesphere every week looking in on others' studios to see what everyone else is working on. Go HERE for official details and how you can become one of us!

After a couple of down weeks (has it really only been that long?) I was able to do some creating this week. I got some cards made. Have a few more to go but it felt good to play!

So what am I up to this week? Well, it's kind of surprise.


Several members of our Paper Bloggers Reunite group have booked their flight and hotel reservations and are now stressing over what to pack. They are converging on Mall of America for ScrapFest2013. I wish I were going, but I'll be there in tangible spirit. I'm not giving any more details but Maggie will have something for each of them from me. 

And that, my studio peeping tom/ tomettes is all you get this week.