It was a great day at the Portland Rubber Stamp Show. Marilyn Cordel and I helped Lisa Yang in the Local King Rubber Stamp booth since her husband, Nadar, couldn't be at the show this year. Marilyn used to work at a recently closed rubber stamp store in downtown Vancouver and is a loyal and long-time user of Local King rubber stamps. Look at the gift she made Lisa . . .

by Marilyn Corfdel

Lisa Yang and Marilyn Cordel at Portland Rubber Stamp Show

Lisa has 64 dies from Spellbinders specifically for her stamps, and more are coming. What's even more unique about the Local King dies is their precision cut around her stamp design; there is no white space as you an see in the rose and sunflower design below. And most of her dies also emboss onto the stamped image when run through a second time.

by Lisa Yang, Local King Rubber Stamps

by Lisa Yang, Local King Rubber Stamps

More pics later . . . off to today's show!




From Tim Holtz's blog . . .

fuzzy easter project...

"hey bloggers!  well i thought the title of the post might get your attention as things on my blog aren't usually described as fuzzy.  well today's project is, but i honestly love it and think it would make a great project to give friends, families, teachers, etc. a little easter surprise.  since it's "officially" the weekend and i don't have any creative chemistry class to film until tomorrow, i thought i would take time to create and share this project.  there is still plenty of time for you to hit your craft room and make them before easter next month.  they are fun, simple, and dare i say it - "cute"?...

so here are the simple steps to make them yourself -

supplies: craft sheet, distress ink/vintage photo, ink blending tool, adirondack paint dabber/espresso, #5 kraft tags, stickles, wonder tape sheets, collage glue stick, multi-medium; grungeboard, tiny attacher, sanding grip, seasonal paper stash, trimmings; texture fades/springtime background & borders, movers & shapers/mini bunny & bow, base tray, die pick, vagabond; kraft core paper; paper distresser; brown wool felt, kraft paper, pin backs (clutch pins, tie tacks)

for the bunny:

step 1: cut a strip of wonder tape

step 2: adhere wondertape to a piece of plain grungeboard.

step 3: place mini bunny die into base tray and die cut grungeboard adhesive side down.

* i prefer to use wool felt for this since it's thicker than regular felt and gives a "fuzzy" effect - i found this at hobby lobby so check your local craft store.

step 4: die cut bunny from brown wool felt.

* here's a tip, when making several at a time, alternate the shape to get more cuts from your surfaces.

step 5: die cut the mini bows on the base tray from scraps of plaint grungeboard (no tape is needed for this one). you will need a die pick to get this out.  just insert the pick into the corner as shown and pry out carefully. *NOTE: this is specifically why i use grungeboard since chipboard would most likely tear if trying to get this out.

step 6: apply assorted bright colors of stickles and set aside to dry.

step 7: apply espresso paint dabber to craft sheet.

step 8: using your finger, swipe paint around grungeboard edges to color.

step 9: remove the red liner from wonder tape.

step 10: place adhesive side up on to a cork or piercing mat and pierce the clutch pin through the taped grunge - (so much easier and more secure than gluing them to the back).

* try to position the pin so you have adhesive exposed all the way around it.

step 11: press felt on to wonder tape and rub the edges to fluff the felt.

step 12: adhere glittered bow to bunny with matte multi-medium and let dry. - seriously how easy was that?

for the tag:

step 1: emboss a #5 kraft tag using springtime texture fade - love this one!

step 2: emboss a piece of kraft core using grass border texture fade from the same set.

step 3: place on scrap paper and sand with sanding grip to expose kraft.

step 4: tear the top edge of the paper to reveal the kraft.

step 5: ink the edges of embossed tag with distress ink using an ink blending tool.

step 6: remove easter postcard paper from seasonal paper stash (probably my all time favorite paper stash since i can use it all year long).

step 7: cut out a few postcards and ink the edges.

step 8: drag paper distresser along the edges of postcard, tag, and grass paper.

step 9: print "happy easter" on printer using 14pt. typewriter font.

step 10: adhere the postcard and grass to tag using a collage glue stick or your adhesive of choice - this one is definitely my new favorite for paper to paper.  quick, mess free, and totally matte drying!

step 11: press bunny pin through tag.

step 12: attach pin back to secure pin to tag.

step 13: cut printed greeting and staple to bottom of tag using tiny attacher.

* tie stained trimming ribbon through tag - i stained mine using distress stains.

how fun was that?  i told you these were simple and "cute" (there i said it again)... they are like little chocolate bunnies, only...fuzzy!  well i hope you get a little easter inspiration and make some of these, and just to share some love - i am giving away 3 sets of the following to 3 lucky winners: mini bunny & bow die, springtime texture fade set, and one of the bunny tags i've made.  just leave a comment over the weekend and i'll pick 3 winners on monday.  have a great weekend everyone...t!m"
*be sure to check your local stores for these supplies first, but i've included links below to an online store for those that don't have that access...