Even the falling bigger-than-life snowflakes couldn't stop the fun, laughter and creativity yesterday afternoon.

Art 'n Soul was at high-energy level yesterday afternoon during John Petersen's class that introduced some of the new products Tsukineko USA will be introducing at CHA later this month. I took pics; but, because of a major snafu by the store with an apple logo where I purchased my new Airbook, I am still without my old and new computers and cannot share those pics with you yet. My husband is allowing me to use his laptop with the understanding that I won't muck it up with a bunch of photos that don't belong on his computer. I'll post those pics as soon as possible.

John gave us a quick tip . . . do not wash your rubber stamps with baby wipes. What? You're kidding! Nope! It turns out the baby wipes leave a residue on the stamp's surface that we don't see. When you press the rubber into your stamp pad(s), that residue is then left on the stamp pad. Over time, you may see some mold developing and that's from the baby wipes residue working its magic on the stamp pad. It's recommended that you use a stamp cleaner instead. (Guess I'll be donating all of the new baby wipes I just purchased at Costco, and loading up on stamp cleaner from Art 'n Soul.)

In the meantime, know that the new products are great. And John also explained about Imagine Crafts . . . read this posting from an earlier Tsukineko USA Facebook posting:

"We'd like to invite you to celebrate the New Year with us as we share out exciting news: Over the years you have come to expect and rely on high-quality products from Tsukineko. As we continue to grow and expand our product offerings, we are introducing the new American brand, Imagine Crafts, for our creative innovations. Imagine Crafts' products are made under the same high standards of quality... and innovation that you have come to expect. Current products that will be part of the Imagine Crafts brand include Fireworks! craft sprays, GooseBumps texture sprays, GlazOn layer protectants, Walnut Inks, Kaleidacolor inkpads, Sheer Shimmer Spritz, BrushStix, Ink Blushers, StazOn All-Purpose Cleaners, Sheet Metal and others.

Rest assured that as we grow this new brand, we will continue to offer the Tsukineko lines of inks and tools and will continue to provide the same dependable and excellent customer service you've come to expect.

2012 will bring many exciting changes, most importantly the launch of our new and improved website, planned for the first quarter of the year. The new website will focus on education, introducing many informational, technique-oriented and project-oriented videos, downloadable project sheets and our first ever design team, featuring our "Artists in Residence."

We look forward to your joining Imagine Crafts on this new adventure.
With best wishes for a wonderful year in 2012,"

Your friends at Imagine Crafts / Tsukineko

Let me tell you, y0u're going to want to purchase some of the BrushStix and the Ink Blushers and the Sheet Metals and the photo sheets. And then after CHA, you're going to want to purchase their . . . stay tuned!

By the way, John Petersen is teaching another fabulous class on Saturday, February 12, from 12 noon to 4 p.m. at Art 'n Soul. It's going to be a journal project. There are already 6 students signed up . . . you might want to call the store as soon as possible to sign up because it's going to fill up rather quickly. (360.357.6820). There is no 'funner' way to spend an afternoon than with John and his artistic ways!




From Dave at Memory Box . . . I really like this!

Heart Tuckaway Card Video

"Last week, I was working in my studio on a project for embossing, and had a happy accident! I was trying to color an embossed background with alcohol inks and decided to add some copic blender solution to the paper, to help the ink mix a little - and came across a really amazing way of distressing a background! I decided to create a video about it, and combined the technique with instructions for making a valentine card with a special fold. And, my creative daughter Emma has created a little piece of music for the beginning and ending of the video! I hope she'll do a new piece of music for the videos every now and then - I love it!




The card below shows the alcohol embossed background - I've "opened up" an area on the heart so I can add an embellishment (in this case, it's the 819 Attic Key die from poppystamps). I really like how the ink lands and dries around the embossed areas - and when some of the embossing is removed, it creates a beautiful effect.




I am featuring the 98254 Grand Heart, the 98107 Pastry Labels and the 98280 Heart Delights dies for this project...



...and the G1855 Damask Heart stamp matches perfectly with the Grand Heart die,as you can see in the video.



The measurements for the Tuckaway fold are below - I used them to make a Valentine card, but as I point out in the video, you can use any large die to create a flap and fold, as long as you position the die correctly when cutting! Just click on either image below to get a better look at the exact dimensions.



Then, after you run the die through your machine, in the correct position, you'll get...



...and that will give you a flap to tuck under!"

And from another blog entry at Memory Box . . .

Deerly Beloved and Butterfly

"Are you looking for a quick and easy valentine idea for your "deer" one? This one's for you. (Sorry for the puns) This card has little stamping and would be quick to throw together. The new Grand Heart die makes it so simple to cut a frame. Doesn't the doe look stylish with her crystal choker?

Here are the details - Cut a rectangle from Cranberry Dots card stock. Die cut the Grand Heart from the center to make a frame. Cut deer from Mocha cardstock. Turn Latte Distressed Dots paper upside down and cut a deer from it. (So the deer will face each other.) Cut antlers from dark brown cardstock. Cut Pastry Labels from Parchment cardstock. Using stamp positioner, stamp love on label with Festive Berries ink. Using frame as a guide, attach doe to a Parchment notecard. Next place buck a little higher than the doe. (Don't apply adhesive to top of buck's head so you can slip antlers behind later.) Attach dotted frame with foam tape for dimension. Tuck antlers behind buck's head. Attach love label at the bottom. Add cherry red jewel stickers for choker (cut strip of 5 jewels).

Ingredients:

• 98150 Antler
• 98152 Graceful Deer
• 98254 Grand Heart
• 98107 Pastry Labels
• Cardstock - Cranberry Dots, Latte Distressed Dots, Mocha, Parchment & Parchment note card

Okay, hope you can stand another one, I couldn't stop playing with the Love and Kindness dies. This one has one of the butterflies I love so much.




Couldn't get the colors to photograph quite right so you'll have to use your imagination. This one has no stamping at all. With the temps here below hovering around 20 degrees, I needed a splash of spring.

Here's how it's made. Cut a Darla butterfly and a Vivienne butterfly from Parchment cardstock. Cut the body from a scrap of mocha cardstock. Cut a Madeira Corner from Parchment cardstock also. Using your favorite colors apply color to Darla (solid) butterfly. (I did some direct to paper with shades of blue/green and softened with a sponge.) Carefully sponge color on the Madeira Corner. (I used Shabby Shutters and highlighted with Peeled Paint.) Attach elements to an Eggshell note card. Add flowers and pearls. (The flowers were felt flowers from my stash - not sure of the maker.) Only apply glue to center of Vivienne die and slightly bend wings. (The butterflies are so detailed.)
Ingredients:

• 98265 Vivienne Butterfly
• 98264 Darla Butterfly
• 98237 Madeira Corner
• Cardstock - Parchment, Mocha, Eggshell note card

Keep warm wherever you are, and thanks for stopping by!"

(at Memory Box)

Spellbinders is introducing a record number of new products at CHA in a couple of weeks. The M-Bossabilities look awesome, and so do the Cut Fold Tuck dies. Take a look at this from the Spellbinders blog . . .

By Heidi Blankenship, a member of the Spellbinders Design Team (Heidi's blog can be found at http://embellished-dreams.blogspot.com . . . check it out because Heidi makes beautiful cards!)

"Here are the new products I am introducing:

Sku Name EL-007 Elegance
MSRP: $9.99
PRODUCT SIZES:
5" x 7"

Sku Name S5-113 Floral Burst
MSRP: $29.99
DIE SIZES:
1: 1 ¼''

2: 2''

3: 4''

I am very excited to be sharing Spellbinders M-Bossabilities™ folder EL-007 Elegance and S5-113 Floral Burst a Cut • Fold • Tuck die templates with you today. I am so excited to feature the new and innovative Spellbinders M-Bossabilities folders! These are unique reversible folders, with 2 separate yet coordinated embossing patterns for twice the designs and double the value! The folders simply flip over, so easy to use! There are 20 new folders, each with 2 designs, and they come in 2 sizes, 5 x 7” and 4 ¼ x 5 ½” for all your paper crafting needs!

Watch this introductory video!

See how to use the new Spellbinders M-Bossabilities in this video!

 

I am honored to be introducing the new Cut Fold Tuck dies from Spellbinders! These European inspired designs create beautifully layered geometric designs in one pass through your die cutting machine! Simply fold the pieces, tuck them under and watch as the amazing designs develop! With multiple dies in each set, you can easily and quickly create different sized Cut Fold Tuck die cuts, or layer them for wonderful dimensional effects!

Watch this introductory video!

See this how-to video on the new Cut Fold Tuck dies:

To start I used the two larger die templates in the S5-113 Floral Burst set and Racy Raspberry DoubleMates cardstock. The paper is double sided with a light color on one side and a darker color on the other side which is perfect for creating die cuts with the Cut, Fold and Tuck die templates. I used the Grand Calibur® machine to cut/emboss the die cut shapes.

The next step is to lift up and fold the paper on all of the cut lines.

Once all the pieces are folded over then tuck the cut lines behind the previous fold, it's super easy! This is what the die cut will look like once all of the cut lines are folded and tucked in.

Then cut/emboss the largest shape using S5-113 Floral Burst die template and the Grand Calibur with Simply Smooth Ivory cardstock from Discount Cardstock. I inked the entire die cut with Antique Linen Distress Ink before folding and tucking.

Next fold and tuck the die cut. Inking the die cut before folding it will give you a two tone look.

I used EL-007 Elegance M-Bossabilities folder to emboss a piece of Bronze Metallic cardstock from Discount Cardstock. I love the crisp and deep embossing you can achieve using the M-Bossabilities folders!

I lightly sanded the cardstock to reveal the black core.

I used 3D Foam Squares from Scrapbook Adhesive by 3L on all of the die cuts and then layered them on the card front.

Before adding the die cuts I adhered a piece of Antique Gold Satin Wrinkle Ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

Here you can see the dimension from layering the die cuts. I added LeCreme pearls from Want2Scrap to the die cuts and some hand made trinket pins for embellishments.

SuppliesSpellbinders: Grand Calibur, EL-007 Elegance M-Bossabilities folder, S5-113 Floral Burst
Paper: Discount Cardstock Simply Smooth Ivory, Racy Raspberry DoubleMates, Bronze Metallic, Soot
Ink: Ranger Antique Linen Distress Ink
Accessories: Really Reasonable Ribbon Antique Gold Satin Wrinkle Ribbon; Want2Scrap LeCreme Pearls; Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L 3D Foam Squares; Trinket Pins, Sanding Block




Be warm, be safe; and most of all, be artistic! We may not be able to help you with the first two wishes, but all of us at Art 'n Soul can certainly help you with the 'be artistic' wish. (Anyone remember the song "Snow" from the movie White Christmas?)