Today's Tip!

Enhancing With Words

A great way to express yourself is through words. Have you ever heard the expression, " A picture is worth a thousand words,". Well it's true! Through using words, you can make even the plainest page look fabulous.

There are many different ways to use words.

1. A definition -- ex. if you are making a baby page, you could put the definition of sweet, baby, mommy, family, love, and more on there. Cut it out of a dictionary or you can copy and paste it onto Word from an on line dictionary . The overall appearances better if you print it out just like it was in the dictionary.
2. A background of words -- ex. if you are doing a page on a sports event, you could go into the newspaper (spray the paper to make it acid-free) and cut out of the Sport's page.
3. Word Collage -- ex. go into the newspaper (spray the paper to make it acid-free) and look at the headlines. Another great place to go is a magazine because their headlines or large fonts are colorful. Cut out (or use the ripped effect) letters for a title on your page. This give a great randomized effect. ** Another great use for magazine collages are borders. You can do a color themed page. For my baby girl page, I choose a pink border using this method. I went through magazines and found little dabs of pink (all around 2in. by 2in. at least)
4. Overlapping -- One way that you can use this tool is if you want to emphasize on the title, you can write it really large and in a light color. Then, on top of that word, write the same word in a darker color. It will really go well with your page and help a lot with the color theme.
5. Emphasize -- If you are adding a poem of any other text into your page, you can use this. ex. I loved my baby the minute I saw her. Go in and choose main and important words: loved, baby, saw her. There are several things that you can do at this point. 1-- outline the words or letters of the words in a different color. 2-- get a different colored sheet of paper, write the same word on it in the same size, and paste it on top. 3-- simply make the word bold-ed by outlining it several times in the original color.
6. OTHER -- crossword, word search, riddle, thoughts, quotes, poems.

Today's Tip!

Outlining a Paper Piecing, the fool proof way!


If you're like me, you have unsteady hands, and the can't draw a straight line to save your life. One trick I've found for making a beautiful piece is to make my outlines BEFORE cutting.

Using a light box, trace your pattern on your paper using a black or white pen (whatever color fits your piece) SLIGHTLY within the lines of the pattern… then when you cut the piece out, cut slightly outside the lines. You can also use stitch marks if you prefer them instead of a solid line.

If you are using a dark color, and can't see the pattern through the paper, simple place your paper on a self healing mat (or other soft surface) and place the pattern on TOP. Using a stylus, and light pressure, trace the pattern like you normally would, and BEFORE cutting, go over the grove your stylus left with your pen!

Today's Tip!

Distress Ink


Try applying distress ink with a cotton ball.  It produces a soft look- and it's CHEAP!!

Today's Tip!

Handwriting!


My favorite tip is to always use a personal touch in scrapbooking and in cards. Even though my handwriting is not perfect or caligraphy, I like to show that what I do is made by me, and couldn't have been made by a machine. It makes the reader or recipiant feel that the item is personalized!

Today's Tip!

White Chipboard Letters


I LOVE white chipboard letters.  They are so easy to sand and use a mixture of paints, inks, or chalks to create a 3-d title that coordinates with my layout every time.

They also look awesome embossed or embellished.

Today's Tip!

Doodling Tips

1. Always, always, always draw your basic shape or swirl FIRST with a pencil. Use a light hand to avoid getting an indent in the paper. Do NOT use the eraser on the pencil to erase the pencil line... use a white eraser or one specifically marketed for art/drafting. Erase with a light hand as well.
2. Whatever marker you choose, draw in the thicker lines first over your pencil marks. Erase the pencil and then add the finer more detailed lines.
3. Inspiration for doodles is everywhere. Do an internet search for "doodles" or check out digital scrapbooking sites for examples of doodles. Picture frames, mirrors, designs on fabric and clothing, book covers, knick-knacks, wallpaper, jewelry, all provide fabulous inspiration !!
4. Don't go overboard. Sometimes a little goes a long way. A flower here, a vine there. Of course, there is the occasional need to doodle on every inch of a layout.
5. Experiment with your handwriting. Get a notebook. If you see a letter that catches your eye, write it down in that style. Practice until you like what you write. You do not have to be a calligrapher to make your handwriting look awesome. Practice keeping your letters the same size with the same spacing.
6. Use those old stencil/shape templates !! A lot of us have them. Those old templates sitting around in a binder or a drawer. They are perfect for the starting point of a doodle. Find a basic shape you like... a star, a heart, a flower. Trace it lightly. If your template has the shape in a few sizes, great, trace the smaller sizes near, on, inside, whatever... next to the first shape. Now you have your basic place to start. Using your marker or pen, write over your pencil lines using dots, lines and dashes, squiggles or whatever makes you happy !!
7. Have fun !!

Today's Tip!

Create a Black Edge Around the 12"x12" Border


If you want a black border around your main 12"x12" background, but don't have a piece of 12"x12" cardstock in black, take a Zig writer, or black marker, and draw one.

You will need to draw straight lines with a ruler, but it's a simple procedure, and it looks as though you have an entire sheet of 12"x12" black cardstock under your background paper.

Try it with colors other than black for a different look!

Today's Tip!

Doodling

If you would like to try some doodling but it is not sure how to start, you can get a piece of white cardstock and a pen ( I love the Zig marker 05 and 01). Draw a heart, or a flower, or an arrow, you can even use your negative part of a chipboard and starting doodling inside of it, after you are done, if you like it, you can cut that flower of and use in a LO, if you dont like it, it was just a scrap paper anyway, and not your LO. But if you really did an awesome job you can scan your flower and use it over and over, just print it. You can even change the colors on your computer.:)

Today's Tip!

Ways to use Distressing Inks by Tim Holtz

Tim Holtz distressing inks Tim Holtz's Tips and Techniques

STAYS WET LONGER - (allows you to blend and shade on photos and paper - also emboss) other dye inks dry too fast especially on photos so you end up with lines and marks if you go direct from the pad.

COLOR WICKS OR SPREADS OUT - (these inks will travel across the surface of your paper when spritzed with water) other dyes do not travel as much although they might bleed a little when wet, the Distress Inks actually "wick" or spread out much further creating several tone on tones.

COLOR STABILITY - (the colors of the Distress Inks will not break down when wet or heated allowing you to have more color control for the finished look) other "brown colored" dyes will break down when water is added leaving a pink & green hue.

COLOR PALETTE - Well these are unlike ANY other colors of inks you've seen. The color palette of Distress Inks is:

• Antique Linen -the color of aged lace or linens found in the cherished heirlooms of grandmother's trunk
• Old Paper -the color of weathered and timeless book pages tucked away in the attic for generations
• Tea Dye -the orange hue of saturated tea bags with the results of dying in a tea bath for days
• Vintage Photo -this color is captured right out of the photographs from times gone by
• Walnut Stain -a rich, dark stain of and old walnut tree perfect to create a dark wash of color
• Black Soot -from the depths, a black like no other - this is the one you've been searching for
• Fired Brick -the look of charred cinders from an old camp fire
• Weathered Wood -taken from the patina on a dairy barn’s window frame
• Mustard Seed -the rich, warm taste of spicy Americana mustard
• Peeled Paint -the color of the flaked green paint on Aunt Sadie’s porch furniture
• Tattered Rose -grandma’s cabbage rose wall paper, faded and stained to perfection
• Milled Lavender -a veil of pale lavender sachet tucked into mom’s lingerie drawer

and a few more......

TO DISTRESS - I like to use water when I am distressing. I think it gives the papers more of a weathered texture, so here's how I start. Working on any type of paper (manila, cardstock, or text weight), crumple the paper up - always press in the center of any heavyweight cardstock or manila stock - this will break the surface tension of the paper and allow you to crumple up the paper easier without tearing it. Next rub the Distress pads over the surface - you can work with several different colors or just one - WALNUT STAIN IS IDEAL FOR THIS. Then spray the inked surface with water (you will immediately notice the ink "travels" outward when water is applied as these inks are designed to react with water). Heat the surface to dry - and here's why... Although you don't have to Heat Set these inks for any reason, I like to dry the water using either my Heat-It Craft Tool or an iron. This will allow for more tone control and keep areas dark and others light. Ironing the paper will also give you a much smoother surface to stamp on without compromising the aged finish. *If you allow the surface to air-dry most of your color will end up on the edges only because the paper will bend and buckle when wet, forcing the ink and water to the edges. Notice that these Distress Inks retain their color value even when wet and dried. Other brown dyes will break down in color (sometimes leaving a pink and green hue).

DOUBLE DISTRESS TAGS - Crumple tag and apply 2 colors (one new tone and one original tone) of Distress Inks directly from the pads to each crumpled tag. Spray with water and dry.

"WRINKLE-FREE" DISTRESSING - To create the look of aged papers, from times gone by, without all the lines and wrinkles - give this a try. Working on your non-stick Craft Sheet, begin by directly applying various colors of Distress Ink Pads to the surface of the Craft Sheet. A couple of swipes of a color or two will do the trick (you might also try using an original color of Distress Ink along with a new one!).  Get out your Distress Re-Inkers for this next step as you want to add a bit of intense color for the ultimate vintage look. I like using Walnut Stain or Vintage Photo for this, so remove the glass dropper from the bottle and drag it across the inked Craft Sheet - do not squeeze any drops of ink as it will take over everything! Next mist the Craft Sheet with water to allow the inks to begin mixing and blending - usually 3-4 sprays is plenty. Then take your paper or tag and place in directly on the inked Craft Sheet and lift it off. If you have any un-inked areas simply place that area of the paper on any left over inks on the sheet. Finally dry your paper or tag using an iron or a Heat-It Craft Tool ( if you allow your papers to air dry they will curl and force most of the ink to the edges so I prefer to heat them to dry.). To finish your attic-fresh look, ink the edges with Distress Inks using a piece of Cut n' Dry Foam.

FOR STAMPING - What can I say about the many stamping applications these inks can achieve. Once again the special formulation on these Distress Inks provides a versatile finish on papers yet still allow for "normal" stamping applications. I like to stamp on uncoated (matte) papers and immediately rub the image with a cloth - this will soften or shadow your image WITHOUT smudging any detail - VINTAGE PHOTO, WALNUT STAIN, TEA DYE, BLACK SOOT - wonderful for this one! Another surface is glossy cardstock - keep in mind this is a different type of dye ink so when you stamp on glossy, certain areas of your image will "bead" up, once again providing a Distressed look without you doing a thing (this is probably one of my most favorite looks) - some areas of the image appear "pitted". Brayering on glossy cardstock is also wonderful because you can still manipulate the inks with different tools, brushes, your fingers, whatever. Even after the ink is applied you can achieve amazing texture and color shading.

ON PHOTOS - FINALLY an ink formulated for photos! Whether you're a scrapbooker or not you can use all types of photos (vintage or new ones) on your cards and pages. The Distress Inks work on all types of photos - inkjet, laser, toner copies, regular photos (matte or glossy) and even color photos! Start by using the lightest colors ANTIQUE LINEN or OLD PAPER with either a brayer or DTP (direct to photo). Cover the photo in the lighter colors, blend the colors with a small piece of Cut n' Dry Foam after you apply the inks - these inks stay wet long enough for you to blend out any lines or marks other ink pads leave on photos. Next age the edges with VINTAGE PHOTO or WALNUT STAIN by applying the pad directly to the edges - soften and mix the tones with a small piece of Ranger Cut ‘n Dry™ Foam. Of course to complete the aged process lightly sand - YES SAND - the photo with medium grit sand paper. Don't go over anyone's face, but just make a few scratches here and there.

PHOTO TINTING - Distress Inks acid-free, easy to blend formula makes them your best choice for photo tinting. Make a black and white copy of your favorite photo onto Ranger Gloss Paper. Select areas of your photo to colorize. Pick up ink directly from the Distress Pads with Cut n' Dry Nibs and color. It's that easy! Cut n' Dry Nibs provide the control you need to place colors exactly where you want them. Distress Photo Edging Make any photo look antique. Cut a small square of Cut n’ Dry Foam. Ink the foam on one of the Distress pads. Rub the inked foam around the edges of the photo for an aged effect.

THE RE-INKERS - The Distress re-inkers are so versatile and fun, especially the bottles they're in! These vintage looking glass dropper vials are perfect for aging a "batch" of tags, fibers, linens or whatever, in baths of Distress Inks & water. You can also create your own palette on your craft sheet using the re-inkers and hand tint any black and white photo color by color (very fun thing to do). I also like using the resist ink or Perfect Medium and the re-inkers to create amazing stained backgrounds on papers.

Enjoy the journey…

Tim Holtz

Today's Tip!

Distressing tool


The foam backings from newly package brads are similar in texture and works much the same as a cosmetic sponge.
 
Cut into pie shapes; the tip is great for the hard to reach places.
 
And the best part is that it's FREE!