More Fun Tutorials: My Creative Scoop, Creative Smiles, and Ink On My Fingers

Hey, Crafters!

Here are some more fun blogs with creative tutorials!

1.  Mindy Baxter of My Creative Scoop!  If you are like me, you can always use help coloring with Copics.  In her fabulous step-by-step tutorial, Mindy shows you How To Color Grass.  If only my grass could look like hers!

Isn't this just too cute?

Pay Mindy a visit, give it a try!

Come back here and post your project in our Never-ending challenge!

2.  Donna Ellis of Creative Smiles!   Donna's fabulous Butterfly Flutter design is just off the chain.  I love tall cards, I love creative die designs and I love this project!  The tutorial is cogent and beautifully photographed.  

Lovely work and the palette is simply stunning!

3.  Billie, over at Ink On My Fingers, is one of my favorite designers.  Her designs are creative and fun!   Billie usually spotlights interesting techniques and this week she created a fabulous fall scene using the Masking Technique.   If you did not know differently, you would think it is a single stamped image.   Great Job, Billie!

I really thought the leaves and the ant were one stamp!

Stop by and leave a little love on the blogs of these wonderful designers!  Thank them for sharing their talent and inspiring us all!

Hugz,

Chana Malkah

Double-Embossing - A Tutorial

Hello, Crafty Folks!

I have been super busy this summer!   I was invited to be a Guest Blogger for ClearSnap®.  I am a long-time fan of the company and their inks were the first I ever used back when I began creating stationery.

Double-embossing is a technique I used to create a tutorial for the ClearSnap Blog.   I am sure there is another name for it, but I wanted to do something different and decided it would be fun to mix wet (heat) embossing with dry (embossing folders) embossing to create visual interest.

The process is simple.  If you are new to crafting, embossing is easy to learn.  For seasoned crafters, it is something you already know.  This tutorial  is to help you think differently about ways to use embossing techniques to enhance your creations.  

I find it more economical to create my own "faux" metallics with embossing.    ClearSnap® Copper Embossing Powder is my favorite.

This is a fun way to create visual interest and maintain a CAS design!  For this fun quilted design, I used ClearSnap® Silver Embossing Powder and We Are Memory Keepers' Next Level "Quilted" Embossing Folder.

To create a different visual on this card, I simply changed the direction of my embossing folder.   I created a fun detail on my word bubble by wet embossing the edges. 

I hope you will give this technique a try!  I would love to see your results!

Hugz,

Chana

An InLinkz Link-up

Challenge # 11 - Up-cycled Banana Stand

Hello, Crafty Beginners!

This week's challenge is:  Upcycle a common household item.

We all have things around the house that could use a little Spring sprucing up.  I have decided to spruce up anything that is remotely connected to my illness.

I eat a lot of Bananas because I NEVER want to have to take potassium again.

THIS IS MY UPCYCLED BANANA STAND

Supplies:

Banana Stand

Napkins

Chalk or Acrylic Paint

Decoupage Glue

Matte Varnish

Bananas

Disassemble and Wash thoroughly with warm soapy water.

 I allowed mine to air dry for a day before I started painting.

No one has entered a project in the challenge in the last couple of challenges, so I am not setting up a link.  If you decide to upscale one of your household items and want to share it with me, you can enter it here - Never Ending Challenge

Have A Fabulous Week!

Hugz,

Chana

Challenge #1 - Genises - My First Creation

Hello, Crafty Peeps!

Welcome to "A Place To Start" a learning community for new crafters!

Experience crafters are welcome to participate, however, a lot of the information presented will be old hat to the long timers.

 Christmas is over,  you have played with all the new crafting toys and now you are ready to get out there in the cyber crafting world and strut your stuff.   Great...but there is a lot to learn  Along the way, I will invite some of my crafty friends to share tips and projects.

We are a "For Fun Only Challenge" which means we will not award prizes.    

We will acknowledge Top 3  and up to three Honorable Mention 

There are literally "hundreds of challenge blogs" offering prizes and most of them choose their winners by random generator.  We have a listing of challenges HERE!  If you are new to crafting, I encourage you to enter some of these challenges. 

 Here is a link to Paper Playful 

A blog dedicated to listing Active Challenges and their Requirements.

How it will work:  Each week, a challenge will be posted.  Each challenge will focus on a particular crafting technique/skill.  

All Challenges will remain open until December 31, 2016, but only projects entered during the challenge week will be eligible for Name Honors.

But this week we are starting with a fun challenge!

SHOW YOUR FIRST CREATION
(Cards, Tags, Bags, Scrap Pages, etc.)
This can be your first ever creation or 
for the experienced crafters, your first creation of 2016

Here is Mine!

It is difficult to see in the photo, but this is a recessed window shadow box card.  I created it using a SplitCoast Stampers tutorial.   This was not my very first card ever, I started card making back in 1996.   This was my first venture into the online craft community in 2010.
I was shocked when this card was chosen to be "Featured" on The Outlawz

Click here to add your link!

An InLinkz Link-up

IN THE BEGINNING WAS STAMPS AND SCISSORS

Hello, Crafty Peeps

You will get here faster than you can imagine!  That's part of the Fun!

  I hope this Challenge Community will help you overcome some of the fears that come along with entering the world of crafting.   

Well, let's just get right into it.  

Here are some basic tools and other crafting supplies you will definitely need  to get started.

I have linked to Amazon because it is just easier for me to find most items there.  I am, however, recommending the brands that are specified in the listing below.   I use these products everyday and can vouch for the quality and value.  The cheapest choice is not always the best choice.

Paper Trimmer  

Fiskars Deluxe Paper Trimmer

Scissors

Tim Holtz Tonic Scissors

EK Success Cutter Bee Scissors

Craft Knife

NT Cutter PRO Auto-Lock Stainless Steel Graphic Knife (AD-2P)

This is the knife I use.  I would be lost without it.  Cost a little more..but worth it.

This is my second knife!

SDI-0439C Snap-off Utility Knife with 20 Set of Sk2+cr Blades, 

9mm Stainless Steel Precision 

Bone Folder

We Are Memory Keepers (WRMK)

Score Board

(This is not an immediate need, since you can score your projects using your Paper Trimmer)

Scor-Pal Eights Measuring

Crafter's Companion Top Score Multiboard

Die Cutting and Embossing - Manual

Big Shot Plus Starter Kit**

Big Shot Standard

Big Shot Standard Starter Kit

** Visit our page on Manual Cutting Machines to read about the differences in these machines. 

I would recommend purchasing the Big Shot Plus.

Dies - Metal and Steel Rule

Spellbinders Matting Basics**

I would recommend purchasing the basic shapes first.

Squares, Ovals, Rectangles, Circles

Sizzix, Tim Holtz, Spellbinders, and Memory Box are among my favorite Die companies.

You may want to purchase a few decorative dies, but, in the beginning you should probably only purchase one or two.  A lot will depend on your design aesthetic.

Paper - Card Stock//Cover Stock

Bazzill

Neenah Cardstock

**You need good, heavyweight paper #24 or higher.  I often use Cover Stock which is heavier than Card Stock.  Card Stock is good to start.

Designer Papers

This is a matter of personal taste.  I would recommend not purchasing too many of the Paper Stacks.   I would look for places that sell paper by the sheet and purchase a few that I like for specific projects.   Until you start making large numbers of cards, you may find yourself stuck with paper that your never use.  I speak from experience.  

As a matter of fact, from time to time, 

I may try to unload some of my stash on you guys! :D

Here is a place that sells by the sheet.  They also have a lot of discontinued stock.

Bonnie's Best

 I also recommend:

Scrapbook.com

Flying Unicorn

Blitsy

Oozak 

Oozak is a great place to purchase Copic Markers  (more about that later)

Amazon

I am an Amazon Prime Member so I purchase quite a bit from them, however,  I always comparison shop.  Remember to always factor in shipping and taxes.

Miscellaneous Supplies

Double-sided Tape

Scor-Pal Scor-Tapes (Various sizes)

Double-sided Foam Tape

Liquid Adhesives**

Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive, 4.23 Fluid Ounce

Tombow Liquid Glues

Masking Tape/Painters Tape

Acrylic Stamp Blocks

Of course you will need a few stamps.  Acrylic or Wood Block Stamps. 

This page will be updated as needed!