Tutorial: Walnut Ink Distressing Pt Two

Here is the second part of the distressing ink technique. Here is a picture of a layout I did back in 05 or 06 using this technique--I also made a matching tag book.

Here is the second part of the video: part 2

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Tutorial: Walnut Ink Distressing Pt One

Here is the tutorial showing you how to distress/grunge your papers/tags like you see on my Live Simply layout. Leave me a comment--if you have tried this or do, leave me a link to your project--I'd love to see it! I'll send 2 followers who comment some shipping tags and walnut ink crystals so you can make your own walnut ink.
Part 2 is posted in the next post.

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Simply Prim: Altered Inked Primitive

Here is the layout I made last night using a super cool technique called Weathering--which I've used for about 6 years--as I started out a mixed media artist. I'm going to show you how to make these tags (several different techniques) tomorrow--so tune in for a video tutorial on that. I'll have the hot press going--literally!
Here is my finished layout. I have two young boys and since my first son was born 10 years ago, I've always loved Simple Man by Lynard Skynard. This song speaks volumse to me. I'm sure you've heard a song that speaks to you. Music feeds the soul.The wish the mother in the song possesses, echos my own desire for my two dear sons.

On the layout, I used my cricut to cut the saltbox house, title, crows and stars using Simply Prim. Then I created the tags using dry encausting with ink--and then I used a gel pen while the tags where still slightly damp--to copy the words from the song. I used small coin envelopes with each boys' name--in each envelope I wrote them a letter about our journey. I also used teadyed lace--I'll tell you how to do that easily too--using a water bath using the same inks. The top pieces are antique prescriptions--all young men--by the name and dates. The bottom of the coin envelopes are also antique prescriptions--using old ephemera is okay on your layouts--simply spray them with an acid stabilizer spray found at any scrapbook store--OR--just make sure they do not touch your photos. I have photos and clippings from 90 years ago that are still nice from my family--although I'm taking care to copy them--as who knows how much longer they will last.

Leave me a comment--and tell me any song that might have meaning to you. I'll choose 2 followers who commented and send them Simply Prim in chosen format.

Enjoy the men in your life today --be they big, small, or furry!

All the best--from my hands to yours,
KAndrew

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In the Garden

Plant a Memory today!

Every year since I can ever remember, my parents plant a large garden according to the season. I always remembered peanut and pea picking season--we would pick off peanuts in a big gathering--we would sing, tell stories, and just laugh. Then we would head inside to shell the peas we had picked earlier that day. I always had a GREEN thumb!
The tradition has remained--every summer I travel down numerous times and help my parents with the pea patch. This year was no different. Every year, my boys have their picture taken in the garden--last year they were sitting on a huge bunch of watermelons that they helped my father to plant--the year before in my mother's HUGE wildflower garden.
This is their scrapbook page for this summer--I finished last night. I had a ball designing the caterpillar and snail. Jonas is my little snail--for he is short and stout, and Jasper is my long thin caterpillar! My kids love when I make the pages about them--and I always have a story to accompany all the paper piecings. Every page tells a story. It's not unusual for my kids to look a new page I made and say where am I? Am I the green elephant, or whatever character is on the page!
Anyone else have any garden projects to share? If so, please leave us a comment with the link so we can all check out your wonderful projects. Leave us a comment anyway--and I'll send "someone" this free file set I designed called Garden Bugs. It's a cutting file set, but if you do not have a cutter, I'll send it in pdf so you can hand-cut.
Enjoy the greatest harvest of all--your loved ones this summer! See you tomorrow with more fun!

All the best--from my hands to yours,
K Andrew

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Jelly Swirls: Part 2: REVEAL time!

**NOTE*** I printed the digital flourishes on regular printer paper--then I put that paper under a piece of clear acetate (it was the protective sheet on top of my cricut mat--heehee) and then I glitter glued right on top of the acetate. Then you can keep that printed paper for future swirls and the acetate too!****

Here's the REVEAL of the Jelly Swirls--Enjoy! Let me know what you think. I'd love
to see any projects or hear about your experience trying this method. I think any glitter glue would work. Experiment, and have fun! Leave me a comment--love to hear from you!
*If you missed seeing how to make this--check out the first tutorial video: Jelly Swirls*
See you tomorrow--for something fun!

All the best--From my hands to yours,
K Andrew

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Jelly Swirls: for your pages--quick tutorial

CLICK on video to see it full screen--
Here is my first video tutorial (ever) on how to create jelly embellishments for your scrapbook pages and artwork.....using my Sulyn Glitter glue--I used Peppermint Twist and Formal Tuxedo. Don't forget to check back tomorrow for the reveal of how it turned out! I'll be giving 4 or 5 bottles away next week, as soon as my mother arrives with them!
The swirls are digital stamps that I created just to use for this project. You can grab those HERE, or you can use any flourish you have or can find on the net. Enjoy!

All the best--from my hands to yours,
K Andrew

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Sulyn Glitter Glue: Amazing bling that every girl needs---Who wants a bottle??

SULYN SWIRL GLITTER GLUE: Posh Folly in a Bottle!

UPDATE: BLOG CANDY!!! I have just purchased 4 bottles at a Scrap in Time for YOU my blog readers--so I will be giving AWAY FREE 4 bottles on JULY 5'th--so get your comments posted by July 4'th midnight!! One Sydney's best, 2 Peppermint Twist, and One Twinkling Star.
LOOKING TO BUY THIS? Please contact A Scrap In time and they will order this for you and ship it to you. Just clikc on A Scrap In Time below.
I was perusing the local scrapbook store, lss, in my childhood hometown of Crestivew, FL. My town is quite small and very buried in the deep south--very endearing. There is but ONE scrapbook or craft store in the entire town, named A Scrap in Time. It is in an old house and filled to the brim with beautiful and unique scrapbooking follies and desires. It's quite deceptive from the road. Not only is the house full of posh follies and goodies, but also has a lovely woman who tends to the store. She was very nice when I asked about a sample of how the glitter was used. She also seemed very chatty with other customers who sidled in with new projects and news. She was not only friendly, but productive. She was sitting at a large table in the middle of the house, making scrapbook pages! If you are anywhere near the pandhandle, please check them out and visit their quaint adorable store.
I noticed on one of the French wire shelves they had some glitter glue--but it was swirled! No it was not stickles, gasp! It was by a company named Sulyn. I thought this can not possibly be worth a thing--it's not stickles, it's swirled, how can it be possible? So I asked the clerk, and she said here--try it! Amazing customer service! So I promptly scribbled a design and fell in love. I immediately purchased a bottle and took it home at a mere 3.00 a pop for a VERY large bottle (I'm too acquainted with these tiny stickle bottles).
I purchased the Copper Penny Swirl-and used it on a beautiful Autumn Flourish diecut--it has acorns and brown flourishes--very elegant, but of course what diecut doesn't deserve some bling? It applied pretty smoothly, not as fine as stickles, but the wow factor hit the paper! This glue is not two seperate colors--no mam! It's like they took beautiful german glass glitter and put it in a bottle! A custom mix of glitters! Absolutely gorgeous! I promptly ran back to that store (its only 10 mins away--who couldn't use a run?)....and grabbed every color they had. I ended up with: Sydney's Best (green and blues), Pink party (pinks of course), Peppermint Twist (silver and red), Formal Tuxedo (black and silver), and of course Penny Copper was still in my hands. (No they didn't make me pay for it again--they must be accustomed to Lunatic Scrapbookers) Here is my nutty example *ha!*

I'm so in LOVE with this glue that I'd love to give you one of my bottles (*sniff*sniff**). So please leave a comment, and I'll pick someone to send a lovely bottle too). The only catch??? You have to use it and then send me a note about it via email, and perhaps a pic of a project if you get really excited. If you do, I'll feature you and your lovely review, comment, or project!
**If ANYONE has made anything using this swirl glue--will you leave me a comment and a link to your project? I would love to see it!
JUST IN: A Scrap in Time will order any of the Sulyn glue you like and ship it to you! We are all finding this stuff is harder to find than what we realized! Is that customer service or what? So if you can't find near you, give them a call or click on their site--
All the best wishes-From my hands to yours,
K Andrew

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Tiki Time, and the living is Easy!

UPDATE: THE CODE IS NOW WORKING-I want to say aloha to summer time! I think everyone is ready for this wonderful season! I know that it is my favorite time of the year--warm, lots of activities, and it gets me out of the house! I would love to offer a FREE digital stamp set just for my blog followers! WooHoo!
Just click on this delghtful summer set and download. It comes in JPG and PNG formats--perfect to print out and use on your scrapbook pages and cards. If you are a digital scrapper, well then, you are in luck...just use the png files for some lovely digital pages!
Just use the following code to get this sweet set absolutely FREE: aloha

CLICK TO GRAB before it's GONE!

All the best--From my hands to yours,
K Andrew

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Welcome!

I want to welcome EVERYONE to my new personal blog. If you are just meeting me for the first time, I am a papercraft designer! I absolutely love to scrapbook, paper piece, and try new products!
At my blog you will see upcoming posts about paper piecing patterns, cutting files in all formats, reviews on all the greatest scrapbook products, and tutorials on how to make your own lovely artwork, embellishments, and how to use some great products!
Please bookmark us and follow us for great inspiration to follow!

Sincerely,
K Andrew

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Review: Pazzles Inspiration

I have been designing and cutting with the Pazzles Inspiration, a digital diecutter. I purchased my Pazzles for 600.00 and added about 200.00 worth of accessories. I also joined their forum where you can post projects, get help, or just chat with other Pazzle users.

http://www.pazzles.com/

The software to design with is absolutely amazing. It's easy to draw, vectorize, draw, print, and cut within this software. I think Pazzles Inspiration software is comparable to Fun Time from what I understand.
I have enjoyed cutting with this digital cutter for almost three years. I purchased in 2008. I can honestly say it cut beautifully, used a standard 12x12 cutting mat, and never malfunctioned  during my cutting.
However, after almost three years, it stopped working completely. In the middle of cutting one of my designs, it just stopped, and made a brrrr sound--so alas it is dead.
Unfortunately it is no longer under warranty, so I'm not sure paying to ship and repair it will be a wise choice, when I'm seeing so many digital diecutters on the market at less than 1/2 of what the Pazzles retails for.
So I want to hear from all of YOU!!!
What cutter do you have? What are the pros and cons?
I'll send the BEST review a fantastic gift certificate to VDBC--a wonderful online store for cutting files!

All the best,
K

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