Grunge paper flowers

I think I'm in love! After watching Wendy Vecchi make flowers with her stamps, Tim Holtz's Grungepaper (Idea-ology) and distress inks, I had to make some. I love the way they turned out. Did you know that you can curl the grungepaper with your fingers and it will stay curled? Awesome! These flowers are for a swap, but you know I had to make extra for myself!

How did I make them? First, I stamped the flower parts on grungepaper using Wendy's stamps and black ink. Once they were dry, I cut them out using Tim's Tonic scissors.

Then I inked them with Ranger Distress Ink. Here's a tip from Wendy: don't tap your ink applicator on the distress pad. Rub it around instead. You get more ink and it's easier on the hand than tap,tap,tap. And she's right!

After inking the flower pieces (both sides) I stamped them with background images in black (both sides, again).

I ran the small brown flowers and large green leaves through my new Epic embossing machine with a small dot embossing folder. YES, you can emboss the grungepaper. It works great!!

I used a brad in the center to hold the layers together. The little leaves are attached with Tim's Tiny Attacher.

Prism cardstock, quality and variety

Prism cardstock has to be one of my most favorites to work with. The weight is just perfect - heavy enough to support a complex layout yet light enough to layer on that layout without creating excess bulk. Crisp enough to take light or heavy embossing. Plus the texture....yummy! There are several different lines of Prism: Prismatics (the basic line), Seaside (like mulberry paper only heavier), metallics, exclusives....and the list goes on. The most recent addition, Simply Smooth, is simply to die for if you're a stamper. It takes the best image I have ever seen!

I created this birthday card using only Prism cardstock. You see, you really do not need patterned paper to create a classic and classy card. The only embellishments are a strip of ribbon, a brass finding from Vintaj and a colored cupcake stamp. Who would not like to receive this card...raise your hand. Aha, I thought so!


Products: Prism Prismatics (white, frosted teal), Seaside (Pier), Simply Smooth (white); Brass finding (Vintaj); cupcake stamp (unknown), Markers (Sakura Glaze), Glitter (Ranger, Distress Stickles, rock candy), Embossing folder (CuttleBug), Die cuts (Spellbinders nestabilities, small labels).

Thanks for stopping by!

eCraft cutting system

Everyone wants to know if there was a "WOW" or "gotta have" item at CHA and I have to say YES! The new cutting system from Craftwell really blew me away.

It will cut paper, cardstock, thin metal (like the sheets from TenSecondStudio), Tim Holtz's grungepaper, Claudine Hellmuth's sticky back canvas, thin chipboard. They are talking about adding a longer blade so that it will cut the heavier chipboard.

Unlike other electronic cutting systems (Cricut, Wishblade, Pazzles), the eCraft does NOT require a sticky mat. It can cut anything up to 12 inches wide, with unlimited length. That's right -- unlimited! If you can come up with paper 48" long, it will cut it or any other length, without limit.

The blades are easily replaced and cost only $1 each. The basic machine will operate with SD cards which will retail for under $30. However, for less than $100 you will be able to purchase software to connect the machine to your computer. Then you'll be able to create from the internet, using PNG files. Got a wealth of digital files on your computer? You'll be able to use them to create paper die cuts and alphas for your paper crafting projects.

How much is the machine, you ask? Just $199.00. Yep, you read that right. And when will it be available? It's scheduled for release at Winter CHA in January, 2010. So start saving your pennies, 'cause you're definately gonna want this! I can't decide between the magenta and the sage color. What do you think?