Monday, May 23, 2011

Peel Offs

So, despite the lovely weather, the schoolwork and the yard work, I was able to sit down tonight and create. On Thursday, June 9th, I am teaching a class at Shelley's. It's all about Peel Offs. If you've never used them, you're in for a treat! Peel Offs are vinyl outline stickers. It sounds pretty simple, but they really pack a punch! Below are the cards I will be doing for the class. I apologize for the bad quality of the photos. I was going for speed rather than artistry tonight!


This card was done using black Peel Offs. I stuck them right to the blue cardstock. I then used an aqua brush. They come in all kinds of brand names, but basically it's a paintbrush with a hollow handle. The handle can be filled with water, to provide tons of painting time without the need for a dish of water. In this case though, I filled the brush with bleach, and painted the area inside the Peel Off. I let it dry and painted it again, but it didn't change the colour much. The result is a very pretty pale green flower in the corner of my card.


For the butterfly, I used gold Peel Offs. I simply stuck the butterfly to white cardstock and coloured it with my gel pens. It looks like stained glass - simply beautiful!


The second butterfly was done using the negative image of the stained glass butterfly. I used painter's tape to lift the pieces off the backing sheet, so that I didn't have to worry about positioning them perfectly on the card. It took a bit of time, but the result was well worth it.


This birthday card was done with double-stick Peel Offs. They are completely clear shapes, sticky on both sides. This cupcake is actually 9 pieces! I first stuck on the cupcake wrapper and covered it with super fine brown glitter. After taking off the excess, I added the stripe pieces and the first cupcake topper. I used orange glitter on them. After clearing off the excess orange, I added the top of the cupcake and used brown glitter again. Finally, I added the hot pink cherry on top (I really wanted to go red, but don't yet own fine red glitter, and chunky just wouldn't have looked right.)

Of course, Peel Offs can be used on scrapbook layouts, on 3D projects, they stick beautifully to glassware for a decorative touch too! I hope you can make it out to my class on June 9th to experience Peel Offs for yourself!

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Scrapping Space

Everyone who crafts needs a space in which to create. Sometimes it's the kitchen table, others have whole studios in which to putter. I started with the kitchen table, years ago, and have slowly expanded my space. I now have a whole room - a small one, but a space all my own.

I am very lucky in this, but it spoils me for when I go to crops. I never seem to be able to take everything I want! I also have a hard time keeping it tidy. When nothing but crafting goes on in the space, there's little incentive to clean up the project(s) at the end of the day. After all, I'll be coming back to it, right?

Well Shelley is having a contest right now. To enter, you have to submit pics of your scrapbooking space. Do I need to enter? Nope. But as a design team member and instructor, I kind of have to provide the photos. So I spent a few hours (I won't say exactly how many, it's embarrassing), cleaning and sorting and putting away. My space is now something I am proud to show off. So here it is:


This is my supplies wall. I love these cabinets! We picked them up at Canadian Tire a few years ago, and I really don't know how I did without them. I also have my paper in racks, divided by colour, and of course my stamps up top where I can see them easily. The drawers are full of tools, embellishments, idea books and more. It's hard to read the wall decal, but it says "So many toys, so little time." Isn't that the truth!?!

This is where all the action happens. I have my punches within reach, thanks to my wonderful hubby, Trevor. I also have my favourite brads, eyelets and markers close to hand - not to mention the ever useful Cricut. Hidden behind my marker caddy is my Tassimo coffee maker - for those late-night crafting sessions! (And yes, there is a fridge in my space. Sadly, it's just our basement fridge, and holds nothing more exciting than a few extra jugs of milk and some soft drinks...)Here, to the left of where I sit to craft, I have my ink caddies, ribbon, my Big Shot, more storage, this time for projects in progress (and things still to scrapbook.) The quote on the wall is from Stampin' Up! and is the definition of "create". The extra table is there more for storage than anything else, but I do use it for extra crafting space in a pinch (usually when I'm switching between projects without putting things away!)

Now off to bed with me, as it's late. If I get all of my schoolwork out of the way early tomorrow, maybe I'll actually have time to make something in my newly cleaned space!