Share the Fun! Share the Art! Share, share alike!

Happy Thursday/Friday! I wanted to welcome you to a new addition to my blog! I'm tickled pink (Worn Lipstick Distress Ink Color to be exact) to be added to a wonderful group of jewelry makers, crafters and all-around talented people! You've got to check them out. Whether you consider yourself "just" a Scrapbooker, Rubber Stamper or Jewelry Maker, the insight and information they offer crosses over to everything!

Before you scroll down to the list, I just wanted to remind you that Saturday is the last day to check out my blog and post who sent ya! Sunday, the latest Monday I'll have them tallied and the stamps awarded! Craft on! I've so enjoyed hearing from people I've not had contact with in a while-I'm so glad you enjoying the blog! I'm having a blast!

• The Impatient Beader: The Big Apple is a veritable beader's paradise! Margot went to judge the Create Your Style Swarovski competition and scored some fantastic new beads and bits. Go see!


• Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Jean shows a bracelet with lots and lots of cheery Earthenwood Studio pumpkins. She entered it in the Art Bead Scene challenge for October. Pumpkins surely can be Boo-tiful!


• Savvy Crafter Beads, beads, beads! They’re everywhere. Candie pokes around her apartment taking pictures of all things lovely and beadafied.


• PearlEsq. Robin provides some fun ideas for how to create "under pressure!" She shows how to have some fun with techniques on your down time, so when in a rush, you're ready to go! Also check in on her fun Stamp Giveaway Contest!


• Katie's Beading Blog Get a sneak peek at one of Katie's projects in the new issue of Easy Wire magazine. Subtle fall colors and lots of texture combine for a fresh, organic look.


• Jewelry and Beading Blog How about some low-cal candy corn this Halloween? How about zero calories in fact? That's what you'll get with this eye-candy elastic bead bracelet at the Jewelry and Beading Blog.


• Bead Arts Here is Cyndi's list of the best metal bead suppliers. Do you have any you'd like to nominate?


• Art Bead Scene Stop by and see the variety of art beads we found recently, all based on the idea of "spooky trees", and inspired by the current change of season and upcoming holiday.

I also wanted to tell you to check out Suze Weinberg's site and her videos! She and her husband, Lenny, work together to prep, film and edit some great techniques with the Melting Pot and other great products!

Everyone have a wonderful weekend...next week's going to be busy work week. Catching up with Tim to prepare for next year and to finalize prep for next weekend's Ranger U!

Linky Hugs,

Robin

Pressure, Continued-How to Create under It!

I've been teaching rubberstamping, jewelry making and all things in between for about 12 years now. There really does seem to be a "pre" stamp and "post" stamp life! One of the things that I've droned on about from time to time when it comes to making a card or something else "under pressure" , as in, "We've been invited to a birthday party, can you make a card in the next 10 minutes?". Well, that's usually not happened to me, I usually do that to myself ("Oh, crap! I forgot to make the card!" Once you've made cards for people, they expect that to continue! ("Hallmark-you sold out!" Although, I must caveat, their Song Cards are pretty cool!). Anyway, I've always got a box of varied papers cut up to postcard size (4-1/2" x 5-1/4") in a box. My standard cardstock is Watercolor Paper, Starwhite Vicksburg, Classic(r) Linen in Black and some manila tags.
When I'm not in the mood to make "something", I'll just work on a bunch of one technique. For example, the Bandanna Technique with Tim Holtz(tm)' Wrinkle Free Distress Technique. I've shown this previously, but then just stamped over it. In this case, the next step is to stamp images (flourishes are great for this!) with the Pitch Black Adirondack(r) Acrylic Paint Dabbers. the key with the dabbers is to dab the paint on, but then swipe the dabber across the stamp so that it is evenly across the stamp. Then, at my leisure, while relaxing or watching TV, I doodle...by highlighting with a white, opaque pen.

Finally, when I "need" to make something or "want" to make something, I can then add on the additional embellishments or stamps and voila! Here's a name plaque I just finished for Brian's cousin's baby Lily Rose for her first birthday. I've made a bunch of these. If any one's interested, email me and I can talk about making custom for presents!

The key to doing the "creative" stuff when you have the time and can just have fun...that's what it's all about. Then, you've got what you need to put it all together when the pressure's on! Homework assignment: try this with a technique...whether just doing this technique, watercolor, painting with Perfect Pearls(tm), enjoy and experiment! Let me know how you do!

I'm still tallying for the contest...make sure you have your online friends email and tell me who sent them!

Wrinkle Free Hugs,

Robin

Pressure, what Pressure!?

Wowee kazowee!!! What a difference a day and some stamps make! I'm so pleased about the new visitors to the blog...now what the heck do I do? Oh, yeah, that's right! Show some more, fun stuff!

I had a great day...one of my good friends and former co-workers, Danielle and her husband, Dan just added to their 3 dog family with a 2 legged wonderful, baby boy! Kieran Lorien-cute as a button, just like his parents! I got to hold him and we had quite the talk...not even a day old and he was pipping and squeaking along. It makes you truly appreciate how precious life is and to appreciate what you have. Which is something I try to do everyday, in one way or another. Coming home to all of these wonderful comments makes me appreciate what I do more everyday.

Just a reminder, for the contest: Just have all of your friends check the site and COMMENT everyday and make sure they tell me who sent them! I'm tallying the points, and the lucky winner will receive this stash of stamps. I've got tons more to give away, so this is the start of what will likely be some fun contests in the future.

Miss Wendy, my new buddy, whom I cannot wait to meet in, as she has noted on her countdown, (10 days until Ranger U), has asked me to show some of my recent soldered jewelry. It's funny how things come around again. About 10 years ago a very talented woman by the name of Kristen Powers taught a class called, "The Glass Myth", where she cut glass and put art underneath it and soldered around it. I took the class and she gave me permission to be able to teach it. As is no surprise, I just loved it and actually took an "official" stained glass class and made some fun pieces, including a glass box, a frame and a window hanging. It was such a blast. Now, years later, with Ranger's Memory Glass, (which at the moment Ranger is not shipping due to overseas issues, but it'll be back soon!), I got back into the soldering groove. With some guidance on what updated equipment to buy (Thanks, Kate!), I was off to the races again. There are some very talented people out there. Check out Josie Cirincione's site and her classes if you're in the AZ area. I've also been starting to teach again and can be contacted regarding same. Here's some of my newest pieces, which one of these days I'm going sell on Etsy.

This is just a simple 1" square with Crackle Paint and my Bandanna Technique. The stamps are from Maya Road and the "remember decades" are Tim's Distressables. Of course, nothing's better than adding Swarovksi Crystals! Since this is hanging from a chain, it can flip to the opposite side, so the trick is to have a design on the other side-then you don't have to worry about it being on the "wrong" side!

Here's another one. Again with the Crackle Bandanna Technique, but I used the wavy tape. I love the Distress Faded Jeans color...just like jeans, it goes with just about anything! I soldered these on a diagonal with two chains...these won't "spin"!

What counts is to have fun in what you create. I can never say that enough. My favorite thing to say is that if you make something for someone and they say something about it, such as "that's crooked", well, then they just don't get another one! :-) It's all about the journey-"The Journey is the reward" (Chinese Proverb).

Well, ladies and gentlemen (I know there are some out there reading, I hope!), thanks for the thoughtful comments. I'll do my best to keep you laughing or at least smiling!

Journey on!

Robin

A Potpourri Monday

Hello, everyone! Here's a bunch of fun and different things today.

1. THE CONTEST: I think I may have freaked out some people with my collection of stamps, so I'm going to offer a choice of two collections-I call one (that I posted yesterday) the non-traditional set, and the one I put together tonight, traditional. You'll see I've got some fun Holiday ones as well as some fun images that have an "open" space which is perfect to include a picture or photo. Some of the companies are Effie Glitzfinger's (an oldie but a goodie), Magenta, Impression Obsession. SO, the winner will have the CHOICE! I've only had a few comments posted! No one wants stamps!?

2. Here is a great sample Caroline Lau shared with me. She's one of the owners of one of my favorite companies, Maya Road. She made a pumpkin by using one of her foundation circles and a chipboard comma from Heidi Swapp. clever or what!? See how much fun this looks with the Tim Holtz(tm) Distress Crackle Paint? She then added a bit of matching Distress Ink over it. This helps make the cracks become more prevalent and "pop"! I love, love, love their chipboard. I'm going to continue you through the journey of the Cat Book through the week. I've also not forgotten about the Ink Techniques with the roses in vase stamp!

3. Last, but not least, I was psyched to get an email from Joan Miller today. My knotted necklace with her bead is posted on one of her pages. She also has an awesome bunch of birds that I MUST HAVE. The Robin, of course...duh!

Well, off to do more soldering. I'm on a bit of a roll. Enjoy the evening!

Inkingly,

Robin

Bonus Post and Contest! Stampy Self-Promotion!

Well, here it is! I've got tons of stamps...and tons of information I want to share. So why not work on promotion of the site and give out some coolio, vintage-y stamps!? Here it goes:

1. Contest starts today, and ends next Saturday, October 13, 2007.
2. Tell those that may be interested to take a look at my site (take a shot at those that may not even be interested...who knows!?)
3. Have them post to my blog and say who referred you. I will be sure to post EVERY DAY this coming week, so if they come back each day and post, that will be a point each day for you!
4. If the person you referred wants to get in on the action, go for it!
5. I will then post the winner on Sunday (Monday the latest) and they will get this lovely assortment of fun (and in some cases from companies no longer around!) stamps:

Some of these stamps are from: Rubber Stamps of America, The Great American Stamp Store, Ducks in a Row, Silver Fox Stamps, Emerald City Stamps (the Posterior Post), 100 Proof Press (Book, "True Confessions of a Celery Stalker"), Stampinks, and much more! 18 stamps in all. Note: The one of the person with the boobs is NOT a man...to tell you the truth, I think it's of Julie Andrews from Victor Victoria!

I hope this will be a fun contest and your friends will enjoy the blog!

Stampingly yours, Robin

Hesitation, and not the good kind

hesitation:
1. indecision in speech or action
2. a certain degree of unwillingness; "a reluctance to commit himself"; "his hesitancy revealed his basic indisposition"; "after some hesitation he agreed" [syn: reluctance]
3. the act of pausing uncertainly; "there was a hesitation in is "speech."

This can be a good thing if you have to make a decision as to spending a lot of money for a frivolous item, or whether to wear that certain pair of jeans that may be a little too tight...but hesitation in a car? Not a good thing. I drove almost 300 miles yesterday I my lovely POS car, which has done well for me over the years, but I know deep down that it's probably "time." Ugh. Another car payment, higher insurance, blah, blah, blah. You know the deal.

So this morning, bright and early, I was on my way to see Moxie (oh, yeah, and Nadine, too!) to finish our project, but every stop light...hesitation. Did it want to stall out, or not? I'm not going to drive 1-1/2 hours away to stall. So, hesitantly, I had to cancel. :-(...but again, that's the "okay" kind of hesitation. So off to the car doctor tomorrow to see how much longer I can keep my Honda going...

But, on a positive note, I had a blast at Rubberbuggy. Kris had a steady, busy day! I had fun demoing the Distress Crackle Paint and creating a frame for Kris at the same time (she's going to send me pictures!) I also helped with some fun MITIs. The day was topped off by the very talented MaryJo McGraw. I've known MaryJo from when I first started stamping and teaching; I've not seen her in a few years, so it was a blast to catch up. Little did I realize how much of Ranger product she used! She used the Non-Stick Craft Sheet like no one I've ever seen...a mixed medium paint palette of extraordinary proportions as well as Color Wash and Adirondack(r) Acrylic Paint Dabbers and Reinkers. And all with no apron! I was extremely impressed.

I also got two pumpkins on my way home...if you're in the Lancaster, PA, you've got to get at least something there. So, being it's fall, pumpkins!

So, it's going to be a day home to work on my projects and to keep my fingers crossed that the car is not going to be too much!

Happy Sunday to all!

R.

TOTW #5-"Dab it, Dab it Good!" (Think DEVO)

Hello, my painty friends! Onward and upward with the world of Ranger Adirondack(r) Acrylic Paint Dabbers and some fun ways to work with them. Here's a picture of Minnie...I've not yet shown a picture of her, but doesn't she look like a Holstein? The background is painted Watermelon (Brights), and what is better to do with a dabber shaped in a circle? Make circles!!! "Load" the dabber with paint and then just press...don't worry if the circles are not exact...they're not supposed to be! Again, I've used Maya Road Chipboard Book and Letters. They've been painted with Pitch Black and the spots were from Teresa Collin's foam stamps from Junkitz loaded with Snow Cap White. See how great it works and pops? I absolutely love using the Black and White dabbers because of the contrast it provides. I also like to cut out the detail of at least one image, as the background really allows the image to stand out!


This next page is really one of my favorites, as it shows how great the paint dabbers are with any type of stamps, whether clear, foam or rubber! I worked with Stream as the background, highlighted with

Brights Pool and edged with Lights Aqua...can't beat it. The "window" is created with Maya Road's Foundations chipboard and the flowers from Technique Tuesday. When working with a detailed stamp, dab on the paint, then just lightly swipe to evenly distribute the paint on the stamp so it's not blobby...some images have been loaded with one color and edged with darker tones...it all works!

Last, but not least for the evening are the cats...the best! These are FUN stamps from Movable Parts...there's a head, body, tail, legs...you use them in different ways and can have the front or back of a cat in unlimited numbers of positions. I loaded the "Minnie" cat with White, then created her moo-ey splotches in Pitch Black. Don't worry about messing up the dabber...it's okay! You can just dab or wipe it off. For the "Oliver" cat, I used Pebble, then swiped with the matching tones of Mushroom and Lake Mist. I love this one so much because not a picture was used, but it's still a "picture" of two of the cats!

This weekend is going to be busy. I'm have fun with my friend Kris Hoffer at her store Rubberbuggy and help her with demos to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of her store. She's also going to have the wonderfully talented MaryJo McGraw there! I also have a bunch of stained glass frames to do! So much to do, not enough time, but still aways fun!

Have a wonderful Friday! Robin