October & Frugal Scrappin'...what could be better?

I just can't believe it's October ALREADY!  Since we REALLY didn't have a summer here in Sunny Southern California this year, I'm still waitin' for that warm weather, lol...the GOOD NEWS is that our "summer" did allow for extra craftin' and creatin' time:)

I am FINALLY finished the 5 tags we will be workin' on in the October FRUGAL SCRAPPIN' class.  Whoo hoo!  Class will be held at Ever After Scrapbooks on Thursday, October 28th from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

This month's it's all about T!m's alcohol inks (well at least on 4 of the tags anyway).  I've had loads of FUN (and a little creative block, too) creatin' the October "tags" using alcohol inks in various ways.  Let's start with the supply list for October:

October Frugal Scrappin’ Supply List


• Paper Trimmer
• Scissors
• Distress Tool
• Ink Blending Tool and sponges
• Ink Blending Tool and Felt Pads
• Fabric Tac or similar liquid adhesive
• Tape runner or similar adhesive
• Small/large glue dots
• Heat gun
• Stickles in Icicle and Silver
• Distress Inks in Barn Door or Fired Brick AND Peeled Paint AND Walnut Stain or Vintage Photo
• Alcohol Inks in red pepper AND Lettuce
• Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black

Now that that's out of the way, let's take a look at the "tags" one at a time:)

EnJOY:)

Lori M., FSE:)

"Waterpainting" with Mr. T!m's Distress Inks

As promised, I'm back with a technique I use often.  I call it "water painting" with Mr. T!m's distress inks.  Since Autumn has arrived, I decided to "waterpaint" using some of my favorite Autumn inks.

Now for this technique, it is important to position your inks on your craft mat so that they portray the background your are trying to achieve.  Since I wanted to start by "painting" my sky and ground, I started with the Forest Moss and Tumbled Glass inks...I swished the inks across my craft mat in a kind of "S" fashion.

I know it's hard to tell in this picture, but I swished Tumbled Glass and right beneath, swished Forest Moss across my mat.  Then I spritzed with water using a mini mister water the inks down a bit.

Then I layed a plain white piece of cardstock over the ink.  I have found it's best to use a "non" textured cardstock for this type of project.

Then I dry the ink so when I layer more ink over it, it won't get "muddy".

I then took a "tree" stamp from my stash and just inked part of it since I only wanted the "trees on the edge of the project.  I used archival Sepia ink for these trees so that the trees would not be effected once I layered more distress ink "painting" on top of what I'd already done.

I repeated my "swishing" technique using Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, and Rusty Hinge distress inks.  I added more water using a mini mister and just patted my paper on the ink. I then used one of T!m's decorative corner stamps and decorated the corners of the project using the Sepia archival ink again.  The cool thing about the archival ink is that once it's dry, it will NOT react to getting wet like the distress inks do.

I added another one of T!m's stamps to another piece of white cardstock (this time with black archival ink)and "painted" with more distress inks as seen below.  With this technique, I just randomly took the ink pads right to the paper, lightly tapping them until I got the effect I was looking for.  I used Tumbled Glass, Mustard Seed, and Spiced Marmalade.

Then viola...I added some subtle fibers and one of T!m's coins and I'm finished...

You can find T!m's distress inks here at CropStop.com.  You can also find many of T!m's ideal-ology products here, also at CropStop.com.  They also carry many of T!m's Stampers Anonymous stamps here.

I hope you enjoyed this short tutorial:) 

Feel free to share a link to your project using this technique via a comment to this post:)

Yours creatively,

Lori M., FSE:)

Movin', Studio L3 AND CropStop.com

Wow, fellow crafters...I've definitely gone through "creativity withdrawal" over this last week!  My dh and I have spent the last week or so slowly, oh so slowly....moving to our new condo.  Ya know, there's somethin' to be said about the difference between movin' cross country and movin' a mile away...

When I moved cross country a few years back, I litereally packed my scrappin' stuff, a few clothes, and traveled cross country in my good ole Honda Accord (well, it wasn't really good ole at the time, it was only 3 yrs old)...anyway...I listened to Kelly Clarkson's Breakaway CD and a Sheryl Crow CD...ya know, the one with the song about Santa Monica Boulevard?...that one...cause I was FINALLY movin' to Sunny California (I'd only wanted to do this since I was 5)...I know, I know, I digress...

Anyway, that move was MUCH DIFFERENT because what I had was what I had...started out fresh in CA...and what ever I left behind was staying there...

This move a mile away is just so slow!!!!  We had a two week overlap which we thought would give us plenty of time to thoroughly go through our "stuff"...have I ever said I really DON'T like "STUFF"?...anyway, as the story goes...the "stuff" ever so slowly followed me to the new place...apparently I wasn't "driving" the move "bus"...as my kids and dh decided to move EVERYTHING!  Now don't get me wrong...I REALLY appreciate the help we had, it's just that now that my "stuff" has made it to my new place, I may NEVER get RID OF IT!...

O.k., how did I go off on this tangent when I really just wanted to post a project?  Oh yes, it's because I was goin' through creativity withdrawal...TODAY is the first day I get to CREATE all day!

Top on my list is a project I wanted to do for two reasons...

#1 I wanted to use it for the current CCC #16 challenge over at Studio L3.

#2 I wanted to use it for a tutorial over at CropStop.com.  I'm a guest designer over there for the month of October...I haven't even had time to give this opportunity it's proper attention...THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH, CROPSTOP, for giving me this AMAZING opportunity!

Now for the pic of my project...

The challenge at Studio L3 is to use Tim's Compendium of Curiosities book and go to page 33 where you will find the Wrinkle Free Distress technique.  If you don't have the Compendium of Curiosities book yet, you're really missing out:)  I just love this technique because there is so much you can do with it.  The way I used it here, makes my project look like a watercolor painting.  LOVE IT!

I will be doing a short tutorial on how I made this card that I will post over at the CropStop.com site.  I will come back and post a link to the instructions later today.

Here's to having a WONDERFULLY CREATIVE DAY:)

Lori M., FSE:)

WCMD BlogHop with CropStop, WHOO HOO:)

Whoo Hoo, it's World Card Making Day and CropStop.com is hosting an AWESOME Blog Hop:)  Please read below for all the GREAT details!

CropStop's "Around the World" Card Making Blog Hop!

Yes, we are doing it again!

In honor of World Card Making day, CropStop is hosting a progressive blog hop! Starting with the Cropstop Blog, you will visit each of the Cropstop Crew Member Blogs listed below and leave a comment on their creative project. Then, you will have one week to complete a project of your own, using one or more of the products featured in the CropStop Crew Member Blogs and link it in a reply box on the Cropstop Blog. Show us how you can mix and match the products the team is using in your project and if you don't have an item then show us your inventive side with a smart substitution. You do not have to use all the items the ladies are using but show us how creative you can be.

Deadline for linking to the CropStop's "Around the World" Card Making Blog Hop POST is Saturday, October 9th, at midnight Eastern time.

Winner will be chosen by random draw of all that participate and link to the CropStop Blog.

First prize is a $25.00 Gift Certificate to the CropStop Store.

Second and Third prizes will be a $10.00 Gift Certificate to the CropStop Store.

1. CropStop Blog - rules and guidelines http://cropstop.blogspot.com/

2. Veronica/Tattered Angels http://artbyveronica.blogspot.com/

3. Dalis/Cricut http://www.stampergirl.com/

4. Lori/Sizzix http://frugalscrapper.blogspot.com/ YOU ARE HERE!

5. Gloria/Tim Holtz http://gloriascraps.blogspot.com/

6. Lisa/Quickutz http://pop-dot-porcupine.blogspot.com/

7. Anneliese/ Cuttlebug http://www.queen-of-the-crop.blogspot.com/

8. Vicki/Spellbinder http://validationofvicki.blogspot.com/

If you stopped by my blog without knowing about this AWESOME Blog Hop, make sure to start at the beginning, so you can participate in this awesome event!

WORLD CARD MAKING DAY...

World Card Making Day began in 2006 as National Card Making Day. Founded by Paper Crafts magazine to bring card makers together at the beginning of the busiest card-making season of the year, it was first held on October 7, 2006. The initial celebration involved the Paper Crafts magazine audience only; however, due to the positive response it received and the worldwide popularity of card making, the holiday became known as World Card Making Day from then on.

Celebrating its fifth year in 2010, World Card Making Day is celebrated annually on the first Saturday in October. It's a day for the card-making community -- hobbyists, retailers, and manufacturers -- to unite and celebrate the connection and creativity that is the heart of card making.

Make sure that you are part of this "Around the World" card making day by taking part in our CropStop, "Around the World" Blog Hop!!

Here is my project using a set of Winter Sizzix Embossing Folders.  I was in the mood to make a masculine card and was thrilled that this set of embossing folders are easy to use for so may reasons.  They work well when making Holiday cards, feminine cards AND masculine cards.  I started with a piece of Core'dinations cardstock.  I embossed and sanded the cardstock to show the blue "core".  How cool is that?  I then embossed a recycled soda can (that I painted black first) then sanded.  I also distressed the edges using a distress tool.  I was also happy to use some brads on this card.  I haven't used those in a while, but still love the finishing touch.  Many of these products can be purchased at CropStop.  I have provided links to the supplies available at the CropStop store so it will be even easier to purchase the products I used.
 

 
My Challenge, you might ask????  My challenge is to use multiple embossing folders on one card AND emboss something "unique" (ummmmm...like a soda can, hee hee)...make sure the soda can is empty first, though...it may make for a "sticky" project otherwise:)

Oh, and one more thing....if you DO use a soda can, aluminum IS SHARP so be CAREFUL:)

Have fun, and HAPPY WCMD!

Scrappingly yours,

Lori McCausland
Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire:)