Do not, I repeat, DO NOT press this button!

Can you guess where a button like this might live? Pop in tomorrow to see!

Double Dyed Ribbon

This was something they demonstrated for us at Convention. To be honest, I had my doubts as I rarely use my pastels. They can be so messy! This technique however, is easy and has great results!

If you have ever dyed Stampin' Up! Ribbon with ink or a marker, then you know it soaks through both sides... but pastels don't. I used Stampin' Up!'s White Grosgrain ribbon for this tutorial. Please let me know if you try this yourself!


Using Bashful Blue Pastels and a Dauber apply the pastel to one side of the ribbon generously.

Using the same method apply Pretty in Pink Pastels to the other side of the ribbon.

So pretty, but we're not quite done yet. The ribbon is still a little powdery.

I forget where I learned this; just place the ribbon (or whatever else you need to spray) in a large paper bag and spray with hairspray. No mess!



Here is the finished card; with double dyed ribbon!

I Heart Ephemera

e·phem·er·a or e·phem·er·ons

1. A short-lived thing.

2. ephemera Printed matter of passing interest; Short lived. Those bits of throwaway paper of every day life (eg: advertising, ticket stubs, programs, some booklets and pamphlets, etc.)

I have Ephemera saved from Grade school. Ticket stubs, candy wrappers folded into flowers, pamphlets from vacations, autographs, postcards sent, received and bought. A paper crane from an artist’s collection of 1000 paper cranes she folded to make a wish come true (her wish was that AIDS would go away). An 1800's postcard I bought off Ebay because the artist shared my maiden name. About 5 years worth of Mary Engelbreit paper dolls meticulously cut from her magazines.

I took care of a woman whose daughter gave me a big box of old Christmas card cut-outs. They are so great; all flocked and glittered... embossed and yellowed. I guess Anne had cut the best images out of her favorite cards and saved them for years. Here she was; 80 years old, with dementia, living in an Assisted living facility... with her Ephemera... and no use for it anymore. I plan to hold on to it for her. I think about using some of it... sometimes... but I might never get around to it. I like to picture the cool shadow box collage Anne's Ephemera would make. But it would be a shame to lock the fuzzy brittle shapes behind glass. I think they serve a greater purpose sitting in my funky box courtesy of the always inspiring Oilily. I love to lay the paper treasures out and enjoy them as one might enjoy a small pet like a mouse or a frog. These are the kinds of things you keep in a suitable box and take out once and a while to play with.

I find it terribly sad to see "used" Ephemera in Flea Markets and Garage sales... Old photos, programs, even wedding albums with no one to love and take care of them. I have bought many a box of papers, just to take them into my warm home. Who would give these items away; or worse yet... inherit them and then sell them! "Here you can take this whole box of precious priceless memories for $3 bucks... I hated my Aunt Sylvia!"

I am the Cat Lady of Ephemera, and if there is ever a fire in my home I might prefer the safety of my paper memories over that of my actual cat.

Happy Labor Day!

Ephemera Society

Nuthouse!

So last night we wento to "Nuthouse". What a blast! It was a great group... not to crazy, not too quiet... great pizza and cake... wonderful company! This is my friend Nancy... she is my "partner in craft". She probably got the most finished... but I made the mistake of not bringing a PLAN... plus I talk too much!

I am getting very inspired by reading all these new Stamping blogs! I wish I had started reading them sooner. Thanks to all of you who blog!

What have you done with your Versamarker lately?

My Versamarker was sitting around collecting dust until last weekend. After much whining about not being able to get a ticket I attended Stampin' Up! Regionals in Chicago. It was money well spent; and I learned some great new Stampin' tips... one of which I put to immediate use.

I never thought to use the Versamarker to highlight an area on my Designer papers; or any existing non-stamped image for that matter. I love the end result. It reminds me of vintage Christmas cards or wrapping paper with glittered designs. I also LOVE these new Holiday Thyme papers... they are so retro!

Here is a quick and easy step-by-step on the process.

Choose an image to work with. I selected this cool poinsettia from the Holiday Thyme collection. With your Versamarker, draw on the areas you'd like to glitter or emboss. The Versamarker dries quickly, so you may need to complete a section at a time.

Dip the Versamarked image in Iridescent Ice Embossing Enamel. I use my tool kit tweezers to hold the image and I store my Embossing powders in these handy Rubbermaid trays. Tap gently to remove excess powder.

Slowly heat with Heat tool until powder melts and turns shiny! It's like magic!



The Finished Card!