Card 2 for my class at CP2

Copic colors used:  fruit (R59, R29, R22, R000), leaves (G28, G24, G21)

Hey, all!  I just want to pop in to share the second card I'll be teaching next Friday at China Phoenix 2.  Still playing with those wonderful fruit themed stamps by Stampendous, this image is Cling Pomegranate.  

This time I relied more on creating a colorful background instead of coloring the entire image with Copics.  I love this technique and I try to use it frequently...I laid out a craft sheet and swiped Distress Stains in Peeled Paint and Fired Brick directly on the sheet.  Next I added Peacock Feathers, but I only had this in a reinker, so I took the dropper and randomly swirled it around the sheet and generously misted everything with water.  Now, when I use this method, I pretty much just use what I have on hand.  Sometimes I will swipe Distress Ink Pads directly across the sheet.  In this case, I wanted more intense color, so I opted for the Stains and Reinker.  Because the color from these sources is so much more concentrated, I really had to apply quite a bit of the water to dilute it enough so that it wasn't too vivid and would still allow my stamped image to be the focal point.  Otherwise my stamped image would have disappeared into the background.  Once I've misted everything with water, I laid my white panel face down on top of all that lovely color.  When I lifted it up, it was covered in this wonderful palette.  If I wanted more color in areas, I just laid it down again.  I also let it dry naturally for a bit and went back in to pick up more of those fabulous drips.  It's really fun to do this, because you never know what you're going to end up with.  I just love it!

Once my panel had dried thoroughly, I stamped the Cling Pomegranate on top using Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black.  I also stamped the image on a scrap panel and colored up the fruit and leaves, and trimmed them out.  The rest of the card was easy to assemble and a small square of burlap seemed like an appropriate detail to finish with.  Of course, I added a black button because I'm completely obsessed with them right now.  I buy them by the jar full at a local antique store.  Last time I dropped in, I also picked up a huge jar of keys, so you'll probably start seeing keys on all my cards, too.  It's a good thing I didn't pick up anything larger, like a box of cheese graters.  That would make for a very interesting card...LOL!

Pop in tomorrow for the new challenge at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!  Until then, stay crafty!        

My October 6th class at CP2

Hey, all!  I'm back today with the second card I'll be teaching on October 6th at China Phoenix 2.  This card also features a fabulous new image from Stampendous, but this time I opted to forgo the Copic coloring.  Instead, I added vibrant color using some of the fabulous distress inks from Tim Holtz.  Maybe you've heard of him.  This guy is pretty good and I think he might have a future in this business...LOL!

Anyway, I just generously swiped Peeled Paint, Seedless Preserves, and that Marigold color (too lazy to get off my tookus and look up the actual name) across a white panel and then misted it heavily with water.  Then I just sat it aside and let the colors slide around doing their own thing.  After it dried, I was left with this very cool, very bright background, which was a perfect landing spot for this wonderful raven image.  Very simple, but it makes an impact.  I think I might do all my Halloween cards this way this year.  The rest of the card is all about the embellishments.  Remember those cheap glittery spiders that I completely raided my Westside Pier 1 for?  Yep, that's one of them in the corner.  I decided to break them out for this class seeing as I have about 50 of them...lol!  I reckon I can share ;D  The burlap is from Hobby Lobby and I picked up the black cheesecloth in the Halloween section of Target.  Dang, they have some cool stuff this year!

If you're going to be in the Albuquerque area on October 6th and want to join me to create these cards, contact Nancy at China Phoenix 2 or drop me a note at cvaladez@comcast.net and we'll add you to the roster.  Have a great Sunday!  Until next time, stay crafty!

My next class at CP2!

Copic colors used:  skin- E00, E000, R20, E11 hair- E18, E09, E07, E01 dress- YG67, YG17, YG13, YG01 hat- V17, V15, V12  shoes and mask- C7, C5, C3, C1 clock- Y28, Y26, Y21, Y00, E31, E50  ***Colors listed in the order they were used*** 

Hey, all!  I'm back with one of two cards I will be teaching at China Phoenix 2 on October 6th.  Both cards will be Halloween themed and feature new stamps from Stampendous.  This pretty little image has a bit of a steampunk flair and is called Halloween Magic.  I also played with some Sticky Back Canvas for the first time and I must say...this might become my new addiction!  I see so many possibilities!

If you'll be in the Albuquerque area and want to hang out with me for a few hours on October 6th, contact Nancy at China Phoenix 2 or drop me an email at cvaladez@comcast.net and I'll add your name to the roster.  Pop back in later in the week and I'll have the second card up.

By the way, I don't say "thank you" enough, so I'd like to extend my deepest gratitude to all the folks that visit my blog or send me emails.  You guys are the greatest and I appreciate you so much!  

Catch you later!  Until next time, stay crafty!   

My next class at China Phoenix 2... part II

Hey, all!  I'm back today with a quick post to share the second card I will be teaching at China Phoenix 2 this Saturday.

This card features the same set of images I used on yesterday's card, Americana Silhouettes by Tim Holtz.  I cannot stress enough, how great this set is!  At first I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it, but once I started playing, I just couldn't stop!  Also, I have a bit of recycled ribbon on the left-hand corner.  I treated myself to some retail therapy at Pottery Barn while we were waiting to close on our house and I picked up all new bedding.  Each sham was tied with careful detail using a bit of natural colored ribbon.  Of course, I had to tuck it away for later use.  I stamped it and distressed it to make it just grungy enough for my card.

Again, I had a lot of fun making these cards.  If you will be in the area this Saturday and feel like taking a little break to get inky, call Nancy at the shop (505-884-8217) and have her add your name to the class list.

Catch ya later in the week with a new Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps DT card!  Until then, stay crafty ;D  

My next class at China Phoenix 2...

Hey, everybody!  Hope you're all doing well out and about in Blogland.  We finally moved into our new house almost 2-weeks ago and are still settling in as I type this.  We spent almost 3-weeks at my sister's house while we were in transition between moving out of our townhouse and closing on the new house.  Originally we were only going to be homeless for about 4 days, but that stretched into a week, and that stretched into 2-weeks, and that stretched into....well, you get the idea.  At one point, we seriously thought we were going to have to move everything back into the old house and that the whole deal was going to fall through.  Phew!  Thank goodness, that didn't happen.  The last cog finally fell into place for our buyers and that set the ball rolling in the right direction.

I have a lot of folks to thank whose assistance was instrumental during this process...first of all, we have a group of friends who graciously helped us move all of our worldly possessions into the garages of our new place, my sister and her boyfriend who not only helped us move, but hosted us (and our 2 cats) for what must have seemed like an eternity to them, my mom and dad whose support and encouragement were tremendous, my father-in-law who also cheered us on, my friend Shay who helped me unpack and organize my entire kitchen (no small feat...LOL!), and let's not forget all of the strong shoulders I leaned on when I needed a friendly ear to listen to my tale of woe... my how you must have gotten sick and tired of hearing me whine, LOL!  

What started out as a super smooth and lightening fast sale in the beginning, proved to have a rocky ending when all was said and done.  My word of advice to anyone selling a home...a pre-approval letter is no guarantee, especially if your buyers are first timers.  In today's market, that pre-approval status can change faster than a nanosecond if an "i" is not properly dotted or a "t" is not properly crossed.  Seriously, the process is wrapped up so tight in red tape, even Indiana Jones would have trouble breaking through that maze of detail.  If you are, or will be, deep in the process of selling or buying a home, I wish you smooth sailing, my friend :)

Enough home stuff, after all, this is not a real estate blog, it's a card blog, so let's talk about a card!  The one I'm featuring today is part one of two that I will be teaching in a class this Saturday at China Phoenix 2.   Independence Day is right around the corner and these cards celebrate everything great about this holiday.  I used a set of stamps (Americana Silhouettes) by the ever clever Master of Grunge himself, Tim Holtz, and let me emphasize, I LOVE this set and ended up using all of the images at least once (sometimes twice) for the 2 cards I created for class.  The cards have a bit of a retro feel and combined with the trademark TH distressing techniques, were an absolute blast to make.  They were a bit messy, but you know it's been a good crafting day when your hands are covered in ink.  Pop back in tomorrow and I'll share the other card with you.

If you're in the Albuqueruque/Santa Fe area and you want to hang out with me this Saturday to make these cards, give Nancy a call at CP2 (505-884-8217) and she'll add your name to the class list.

Until next time, stay crafty!  

A Dia de los Muertos collaboration class at CP2 this Saturday!

When Anne originally asked me teach a collaboration project class with her at China Phoenix 2, I was honored and a bit intimidated.  Anne is a book/box making expert and she has an unbelievable love for paper.  She runs her own online craft company, Craft Fantastic, and in the past, she's owned a number of paper specialty stores around Albuquerque.  If you've ever seen her work up close...it is impeccable.  Every detail is perfect and her skilled craftsmanship is unmistakable.  Oh yeah, and it's BEAUTIFUL!    

This is our third collaboration project and let's just say, she continues to amaze me, AND I am still intimidated.  I chose the theme for this go round, so I decided that this time of year called for a Dia de los Muertos type piece.  I was absolutely not prepared for what she gave me.  It was exquisite and absolutely did not need any altering from me.  She constructed a shrine/stage completely from scratch, covered it in gorgeous dictionary text and Mexican lottery themed paper.  On the front she created a metal piece to frame the opening and embossed a Spanish design around it to emphasis our decidedly Hispanic theme.  The scallop design along the edge really adds to the Mexican Art feel and a couple of ribbons fastened to the back make it perfect for hanging on a wall for display.  This piece truly took my breath away.  

At first, there was no way I was going to do anything to the gorgeous metal frame.  It was perfect the way it was.  As I started to work with the inside design, my partial Mexican heritage kept urging me to glue a few gemstones to it.  "No, I couldn't!", I argued with myself, because I'm a bit of a loon.  Cats are not very good conversationalists, so I frequently have a bit of dialogue with myself throughout the day.  I finally mustered the courage and I knew once I got that first gem down, the rest would be easier.  Well, it was and before I knew what had happened, I had gems glued to the entire perimeter.  Too much?  Not sure.  Next I decided to get even bolder and used my Copics to color in the corner flowers.  I knew this could get messy if I flubbed it up, but a careful swipe of a colorless blender took care of any stray lines.  Okay, not too shabby.   

Time to go inside.  I tried a few different things on the inside, but finally decided that this shrine definitely reminded me of a stage and went that route.  I took a flat canvas, covered it in text papers and used that as my base.  I added a couple of rows of Anne's colorful Mexican Lottery themed paper down one edge and then wrapped it in a few rows of twine.  I took a few wooden hearts in varying sizes, painted them red, and then added Crackle Accents to give them texture.  I added a pair of die cut wings out of grunge board to the the largest heart, hoping it would convey life fluttering away.  My stage stars are a couple of images by Bombshell Stamps from the Calaveras Fiesta set.  I added an eyelet skirt to my lead "actress".  

On the outside, I added an MC using the Muertos Doll set, also by Bombshell Stamps.  I knew he needed to be a bit sturdier, so I stamped him on paper affixed him to grunge paper, colored him with Copics, and then cut him out.  I coated him with a bit of Anne's amazing dimensional lacquer glue to give him a bit of shine.  He is assembled with brads at each of his joints.  Bomshell Stamps has an excellent array of muertos themed images perfect for Day of the Dead art projects.

I'm not sure if I did Anne's beautiful piece justice, but I really enjoyed decorating it once I got over my initial fear of destroying it with one too many gems.  Phew!  I think I held my breath during this whole process...LOL!  

Catch you later this week with something new!  Until then, stay crafty!