THE ARTIST'S WELL

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2009-01-16T16:07:00.003-05:00

Ok, so I'm a little late with that but I certainly hope everyone had great holidays! Well, considering that it's the middle of January (can you believe that?!) I guess it's better late than never! Anyway it always takes me a couple of weeks to get "back in the groove". Not to mention my muse went on vacation and forgot to tell me! She's back now and I've started "creating" after I did a small rearranging of the craft room. I had to make room for my new "toy" - a Cuttlebug. What's really sad is I haven't even tried it out yet..aaaaaggggghhhhh! But now that things are back in order I'm ready to PLAY!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2008-12-31T15:27:00.001-05:00

HERE'S HOPING EVERYONE HAS A FANTASTIC AND SAFE NEW YEAR! SEE YA IN THE NEW ONE.....

FROSTED EMBOSSING

2008-10-28T15:09:00.053-04:00

- Chose a dark colored cardstock such as black, navy, deep maroon etc.
- Cut to size desired based on stamp chosen (I used a 4 x 4).
- Using Top Boss or Perfect Medium, “ink” your image and stamp on cardstock.
- Using a white embossing powder that will give you a white effect (I used Detail White), emboss your image. *This technique can be used with markers (watercolor) or Perfect Pearls.

USING MARKERS
Step 1
- Once you’ve embossed take your choice of marker color and color over your white embossing.
- If using more than 1 color, go from light to dark. Doesn’t matter if you go off your image.
- Let it sit for a few seconds then lightly rub it with a paper towel. Some color will stay and some will be rubbed off giving it that frosted look.

USING PPs
Step 1
- Once you’ve embossed take your choice of PP and brush your image.
- Don’t shake any excess off.
- Gently rub your image with a paper towel.
- After rubbing take your paper towel with the excess and gently rub over your entire piece (including cardstock) once more. This makes your image frosted while adding a little sparkle to the surrounding area.

Once you’ve completed the frosting you can then mount your image as you want, adding embellishments and words.

NAPKIN BACKGROUNDS

2008-10-15T15:15:00.026-04:00

NAPKIN BACKGROUNDS
There are so many pretty napkins out there! This is a way to put them to use.

Supplies:
- Freezer paper
- Decorative napkin any size
- Iron
- Cardstock (color coordinate with napkin)
- Stamps (whatever works with chosen napkin)
- Inks (color coordinate)

- Embellishments (coordinate with colors)
- Glue or double-sided tape

STEP 1
- Set iron to a high setting (cotton/linen on a regular iron). NO STEAM
- Place unfolded napkin on a flat surface (I use my ironing board). Iron out the napkin folds. Ironing also helps loosen the napkins other “plys”.
- Gently peel away the “plys” (can be 1 or 2) from the back of the napkin. Sometimes they come away easily and other times you have to “work” a corner. A toothpick can sometimes help get it started. Toss the backing or save it for another project. You should now have a very “thin” napkin.

STEP 2
- Cut freezer paper about ½ inch larger than napkin. Roll it in the opposite direction to get it to lay flat and place on your flat surface WAXY side up.
- Place napkin on top of freezer paper.
- Take hot iron and starting in the middle iron the napkin to the freezer paper. Make sure you don’t get any bubbles. Also make sure that your edges are ironed down good. Once the napkin is ironed check again for bubbles and the edges are secure.
- Let napkin cool.
- When napkin is cooled, trim off excess freezer paper.
- Determine what portion of the napkin you want to use and cut it to the size of the front of your card.
- Attach to front using double sided tape or glue.

STEP 3
- Assemble and decorate cards as desired with chosen stamps, inks, embellishments.

HINGED ENVELOPE SURPRISE

2008-10-11T15:27:00.045-04:00

HINGED ENVELOPE SURPRISE

Supplies
- 1 8 ½ x 11 cardstock plain or patterned for the “envelope”. If using plain and you want to stamp on it, do so before folding.
- 1 4 3/8 x 6 cardstock for the flap that coordinates
- 3 unused business size envelopes
- 3 2 x 4 “hinges” that coordinate with cardstock
- Ruler, pencil, bone folder, scissors, glue stick
- Embellishments, inks, rubber stamps, stickers (whatever you want to use to decorate) of choice
- 1 piece of scrap paper

STEPS

1. Seal the business envelopes.
2. With flap of envelope facing down, cut the right ends off at 8”, 7”, 6”.
3. Create finger pulls or notch for easier removal of pocket contents.
4. If using plain cardstock for outside cover decorate it. Once decorated (or not, depending what you use) score at the following marks – measuring from the left mark and score at 2 ¼ and 6 ¾.
5. Using scrap paper measure it to fit inside the envelope so that it sticks out about an inch. Insert into the envelope and decorate using inks, stamps, stickers etc. The insert keeps the flap from showing up on your front. Decorate all envelopes both front and back. It’s optional if you want to put decorative papers on the “pull” end at this time.
6. Fold hinges in half lengthwise, decorative side in. Glue in the following manner – place the 6 and 7 inch envelopes end to end, glue the hinge in place then put the 7 and 8 inch envelopes end to end and glue hinge in place. Use third hinge to glue pockets to the left edge of outside envelope.
7. Place your flap piece horizontal and measure 1 ½ inches from the left edge. Score and fold. Then attach to right edge of envelope on inside.

These can be used for gift giving…Make tags to put in the pockets with gift cards etc. One pocket could have “HAPPY”, 2nd pocket with “BIRTHDAY” and 3rd pocket with gift card.