Huge Recycled Rubber Sale at Art 'n Soul this weekend!

No kidding, this weekend will be a MAJOR Recycled Rubber event! People are really cleaning out, including members of staff - making deeper cuts to make room for new things. We have seen SO MUCH come in, including a Cinch machine and an electronic die cutter. LOTS of dies, embossing folders, stencils, beads, and yes...lots and lots of stamps and inks. We think you will be surprised and pleased. Come and find new treasures at garage sale prices, and bring some friends and have fun!! Saturday September 2, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Sunday September 3, 12:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. See you there!

We have lots of fun stuff scheduled to be delivered on Thursday, September 7, including Nuvo drops, Regular Distress in the minis, Distress Oxide inks, blending tools, more sequins, enamel dots, and more!

Our Magenta order is scheduled to be shipped this Friday, so we should have it early next week. All delivery schedules are approximate, but we are excited that we will soon have these things in our hands!

We have also sent orders to Ranger, Memory Box and Penny Black, so we will let you know when we expect to receive those things just as soon as we know!

Check out our newest email here! 

Technique of the Week: More Fun with Gilding Flakes by Pam Nelson

This week's Technique shows another way to use the Nuvo Gilding Flakes.  This time I've used Stick It Adhesive, along with a die cut, to add beautiful shine to a Thank you card.

To begin I cut a piece of white 80# cardstock to 5 1/4" x 4 1/2".  I also cut a piece of Stick It adhesive to the same dimension and adhered it to the piece of cardstock.  I rubbed a bone folder all over the Stick It side of the cardstock to ensure it was adhered thoroughly.  I removed the cover sheet from the Stick It, exposing the adhesive and set it, sticky side up it in a plastic tub.  I began tapping Sunkissed Copper Gilding flakes all over the piece of cardstock.  

The flakes are so lightweight that they stick to the adhesive very easily.  

When the entire piece was covered I started rubbing off the excess with my fingers.  

After the big pieces were removed, I used a small piece of Cut & Dry foam to burnish the entire surface.  I left it in the plastic tub during this process so all the little flakes and bits were captured.  You can also use a stencil brush for this step.  Just move the flat side of the brush in a circular motion across the flakes until all the excess has been removed.  If you end up with any stray bits of flakes outside your container, a Swiffer cloth cleans them up very quickly.  

I cut the copper piece with the Penny Black Medallion die (#51-211.)  

The die set also contains a small medallion for the center which I also die cut from the copper.  (You could also cut the small medallion from contrasting paper but for this project I just wanted to add dimension.)

I cut the sentiment from Poppy Stamps Spectacular Thank You die (#1755) out of the copper twice.  I decided that I wanted to layer them for some added dimension on the card.  I used my Pico fine tip glue applicator to apply glue to the back of one thank you die cut and adhere it to the front of the second thank you die cut.  I also adhered the small medallion to the center of the large medallion.  

With that part complete I decided to use alcohol inks for my background.  I thought the copper would stand out nicely against the vibrant colors you get when using alcohol inks on Yupo paper.  I cut a piece of Yupo paper to 5 1/4" x 4" and then applied turquoise, patina, amethyst inks along with a bit of copper mixative.  I used the felt applicator to pounce the colors over the paper until I achieved the color I wanted.  If you are new to alcohol inks on Yupo paper or want a quick refresher, check out this blog post from April 7, 2016 here.

To assemble my card I cut a piece of Fashion Purple So Silk to 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" and adhered it to the front of an A2 card.  I used the fine tip glue applicator to apply glue to the back of the die cut and then adhered it to the Yupo paper.  Next I trimmed the edges of the die cut so they were even with the edges Yupo paper, then adhered it to the front of the card.  I used my Pico fine tip applicator to apply glue to the back of the Thank You die cut and then positioned it on the front of the card.  I finished off the card by adding some clear gem embellishments (or you could also use sequins.)


You can see the card on display at Art ‘n Soul So I hope you will stop by soon.  This card came together very quickly.   When working with the Gilding Flakes, I tend to make several pieces at once.  They can be messy, but they are so much fun!  Clean up really is a breeze with Swiffer cloths or a hand vacuum.  It's easy to use multiple colors as well to get a multi-color metallic look.  The Nuvo Gilding Flakes come in three colors Radiant Gold, Silver Bullion and Sunkissed Copper.  Stay tuned for more ideas with this fun product.

What's New?
We have sent orders to our distributor for lots of products, including Nuvo drops, Distress Oxides, Gilding Flakes, and lots more! We have also sent orders to Ranger for more Tim Holtz Platforms and more of the 2nd release of Oxides. We have sent orders to Penny Black, Magenta (we will be getting in lots of Nuance), and a HUGE order to Memory Box! We can't wait to get all of these things in our hands. We don't know when yet, but stay tuned to our blog, email and Facebook.

Technique of the Week: "Love to Label" by Marj Marion

As an avid stamper and paper artist, I find it helpful (essential?!) to have lots of labels for my art supplies. And, yes, you might call me an organization guru, but for me it’s fun and satisfying to have my supplies labeled so I can easily see them and find what I want to use. This week, I’m sharing some labeling ideas for Nuance, Distress Oxide ink pads and Distress Ink refills.

NUANCE:
I’ve noticed that with frequent use of my Nuance containers the small colored labels in the center of the lid seem to pop off. I like labels with the actual color of the product, so I experimented with various circles to make watercolor labels for all my Nuance colors. My best solution was to use two circle punchesL a 5/8” and a 1-1/8” punch. Another idea is to use two small circles from your nesting circle die sets.

I created some Nuance watercolor “paint” in my palette, and painted 1-1/2” circles of each color on 90# watercolor card stock. (The 90# paper is easier to punch than our usual 140# watercolor paper.) I painted one side of the circle a bit darker, to show the Nuance color both in light and dark shades.

This photo shows how I made two shades of the same color on the ring.
You can always add a little more paint to achieve the two shades of your colored ring.

My next step was to punch a 5/8” circle in the middle of each of my large painted circles. You can use the punch outs in one of your creations!

This photo shows the 5/8” punch right side up.

Next, I held the 1-1/8” punch upside down so I could center the small hole created in step one in the middle of the opening of this larger punch. By centering the small hole and holding the paper carefully, I created an open ring as I punched this larger circle. Viola!  Nice rings for labels for the Nuance jars.

You can also just punch out the rings, and THEN paint them, but I found it’s a little more fussy that way.

I dabbed Multi Medium Matte around the edge of the Nuance lid, and then pressed my colored ring onto the Medium.  I covered it with a small piece of waxed sheet, and pressed firmly to securely attach the ring label to the lid.  I set the jars aside to dry thoroughly.

The photo at the top of this post shows my finished labels. I printed the appropriate name of the Nuance color on each ring. I love being able to look at the true colors on my labels as I am choosing which colors to choose for my projects.

DISTRESS OXIDE INK PADS
I rarely store my ink pads upside down, but after I attached velcro pieces to attach the foam circles on the underside of my Distress ink pads, they didn’t slide in and out on my shelves so well. So, I do store these pads upside down, with a label showing the name of the color, and a swipe of the actual color of the ink. I attached them to the side of the pads, and covered them with a strip of packing tape to keep the label nice and clean. Now I can see the actual color of the ink, easily see the name of the color, and the pad slides in and out of the shelf smoothly.

DISTRESS INK REFILL BOTTLES:
I’ve tried a few different containers for my Distress re-inkers, but the printed ink name on the bottom of the bottle always seems to be hidden by the container. I printed the names of all the re-inkers, and attached them to the black plastic rim on the bottle top. I secured the label on the rim with packing tapes. I found these mesh boxes at the Container Store, and they are magnetic, so they attach to my file cabinet making access very handy!  I cut some sturdy foam pieces to allow the back row of re-inkers to be raised for better visibility. I have the re-inkers grouped by major colors, and I am enjoying the easy access to my re-inkers now.

If you have some clever methods of labeling art supplies, please share them with us at Art ’n Soul!

CLASSES!!

Lynell Harlow, founding member of Dreamweaver Stencils will be with us this weekend, teaching 4 fabulous classes. There are a few spots left in these classes, so do yourself a favor and call us and sign up!

Friday, August 18th, 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. "COLOR YOUR STENTANGLE CREATIONS” – Lynell & Wayne Harlow $35
Lynell and Wayne Harlow are back with the easiest of tangle patterns. Lynell will lead the way for those of you who are a bit overwhelmed with creating patterns. She has chosen the simplest pattern she can think of called ‘Brella and used her grid stencil to further simplify the tangling process. Wayne is a Certified Zentangle Teacher, and will be there to assist and help with the nuances of shading and coloring your creations. This class is meant to be fun so bring your favorite colored pencils from home if you have some. The store has some Prisma Color pencils, but it is always nice to use what you have at home so the teachers can give you clear directions for your own materials.
 Also please bring your Basic Kit, a Micron 01 black pen or equivalent, and a pencil.

Friday, August 18th, 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. "SIMPLE PLEASURES/INK TRANSFER ETC.” – Lynell Harlow $35
Sometimes the simplest stenciling techniques are the most effective AND the most fun. If you don’t mind inky fingers here are some stenciling ideas that are sure to delight. Ink transfer is one of the easiest ways to achieve motion using metal stencils and digital card stock. Next you will have the opportunity to clean up these prints with three different yet very simple embossing paste techniques…silhouettes, sculpting and metallic paste with glitter. If you are new to metal stencils you will realize that this is an opportunity to add something colorful to your card making repertoire. If you are an advanced stenciler you will see the ease of these techniques for making multiple card designs very quickly. Come join Lynell Harlow, former owner of Dreamweaver Stencils as she returns to the Northwest for a weekend of stencil magic.
 Please bring your Basic Kit.

Saturday, August 19th, 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. "LETTERPRESS WITH METAL STENCILS” – Lynell Harlow $35
Bring your Big Shot or Cuttlebug with plates and learn this letterpress printing technique using Memories Mist Sprays and the new Oxide Distress ink pads. Lynell did a quick demonstration of this technique for one of her classes when she was here in the Spring, but this is your opportunity to use metal stencils under her tutelage. Please also bring your basic kit and a Stamping Details thick mat if you have one.

Saturday, August 19th, 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. "A GLASSY CHRISTMAS” – Lynell Harlow $35Cracked Glass was a very popular class by Lynell this Spring, so this time the emphasis is on Glass with a Holiday twist. Learn the technique so you’ll have a head start getting those Merry cards done early. Use metal stencils and all sorts of mediums to achieve these creative results, embossing paste, thick embossing enamel, snowy embossing powder, and a variety of inks are a few of the materials you will be working with. Please bring your Basic Kit, small stencil brushes and a Picasso stencil if you have one.

This class will be repeated on Sunday, August 20th

Sunday, August 20th, 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. "A GLASSY CHRISTMAS” – Lynell Harlow $35

Technique of the Week: Adding Shine with Gilding Flakes by Pam Nelson

This week’s Technique of the Week features a new product by Nuvo – Gilding Flakes.  These beautiful flakes will add lots of shine to your cards.  I decided to pair these flakes with one of the new dies from the Memory Box Holiday catalog.

To begin I cut a piece of Lapis Blue Stardream paper to 4” x 5 ¼” and used the new Memory Box Batavia Channel Die (#99815) to die cut the left side of the paper.  I prepared the surface with a powder tool, used Versamark to stamp the Magenta Multilingual Merry Christmas sentiment and then embossed it with White Diamond embossing powder.

 

The Nuvo Gilding Flakes come in three colors – Radiant Gold, Silver Bullion and Sunkissed Copper.  There are a lot of flakes packed into each of these jars so they will last a long, long time.  Before you begin using the flakes, I recommend you place your card panel in some type of container or plastic tub and then begin applying the flakes.  You can store the unused flakes in this tub or empty them back into the jar.  Because the flakes are so lightweight they move around easily - don’t do this technique near a fan!  A little hand vacuum or Swiffer cloth works great for clean-up. 

To add the flakes to the die cut, I first applied a strip of 2” wide Scor-Tape to the back of the die cut area.  Place the card front, adhesive side up, in the bottom of a plastic container.  

I began putting some Silver Bullion Gilding Flakes onto the adhesive area – just place the flakes onto the adhesive and press lightly.  You can also mix colors of the gilding flakes, just add the colors that you want.  

When the entire adhesive area is well covered, (and while the card front it still in the plastic container), begin burnishing it with your finger to remove the excess flakes. 

I also like to use the back side of a piece of Ranger Cut-N-Dry Foam to burnish the flakes until you have a smooth surface.  You can also use a stencil brush to burnish the gilding flakes – just use the brush in a circular motion and brush away the excess flakes.  

When complete, wipe the card front with a Swiffer cloth to remove the little excess bits of foil.

To create the background piece for layering, cut a piece of white cardstock to 4 ½” x 5 ¼”.   Apply ¼” Scor-Tape on the outer border of the rectangle.  

Remove the release sheet from the tape, place it in the piece in the plastic bin and cover with the silver gilding flakes.  

Follow the same steps to burnish the foil (including the edges.) 

To finish the card, cut a piece of fun foam to slightly smaller than the Lapis Blue card front.  Remove the Scor-Tape release paper on the back of the die cut, add adhesive to the rest of the card, and then adhere to the fun foam.  Apply more adhesive to the back of the fun foam and then center it on the background piece.  Adhere the whole piece to A2 card. 

I added some sequins for interest and placed a drop of Nuvo White Blizzard Glitter Drops in the center of each sequin.  

I think this would be a great technique for “production” cards.  Once you start using these flakes you won’t want to stop so why not do several cards at one time?

You can see this card in person at Art ‘n Soul so I hope you will stop by to see it.  My photography skills just don’t capture the shine from these flakes.  Stay tuned for future Techniques using this beautiful new product. 

Technique of the Week: Nuance Spin Art by Dianne Johnson

One of our customers at Art 'n Soul, Sue Wright, brought this technique to me, and agreed to let me use it for Technique of the Week. Sue brought in a salad spinner and we made some backgrounds then and there.

This is a perfect fun art project for kids and grandkids. It's fun and the mess is contained pretty well.

It's a good idea to obtain a used salad spinner from the local thrift store. I preferred not to use the salad spinner that I use for food. Some of the spinners don't have an enclosed bottom to them. If you get one like this, you can place it onto a paper plate or bowl so that the mess would be contained.

To begin, Sue said to get some poster putty, make a donut from it, and place it in the center of the spinner basket. This serves two purposes: first it levels the center which usually has a small bump; second is that when you place your watercolor cardstock into the basket, it will stick down to the putty.

In playing with this technique, I used several different papers, including Bristol and Strathmore watercolor paper. I liked how the color moved the best with the Tim Holtz watercolor cardstock.

I tapped Nuance powder onto the cardstock after placing it into the basket and pressing it down not the putty. I then sprayed the cardstock liberally with water. You can use plain water, or water mixed with Perfect Pearls powder.

I put the top on the spinner quickly and spun it as fast as I could.
The pattern that I got at first was pretty, but I wanted a little more color in the center. I tapped more of the Scarlet Nuance into the center, sprayed and spun it again.

I love how it turned out! I like how you can keep adding powder, spraying and spinning until you get something you really like. The panel said "celebrate" to me.

To make my card, I let it dry naturally, although you could hurry the drying with a heat tool. I die cut the panel with the Die-namics MFT-483 Blueprints 13 die. I stamped the Magenta Graceful Poppies stamp and the Happy Birthday sentiment with Versafine Onyx Black ink. To accentuate the "celebrate" look of the card, I stamped the Magenta Flowery Ink Spot stamp several times on the panel with Distress Barn Door ink.

I mounted the panel onto a piece of Black So Silk cardstock and then adhered it to a base card of Neenah Solar White 110# cardstock.

I shared this technique with the staff, and we got together and had a great deal of fun spraying and spinning.
One of the things I did when the staff got together to make these is to wipe out the spinners on many of the staff's panels with paper towels. I got beautiful paper towels from this.
Some of you may remember what I do with beautifully colored paper towels. You can make gorgeous  patterned cardstock with these. You can look at how to do this here on my blog on a technique called Upcycled Paper Towel.

I made another card with a second piece that I made with blues and purples. This time I used a Memory Box die, Snowy Cabin 99785. LOVE this little die! If you want one, be sure to order it soon because our catalog sale will only be open a little longer.

For the sentiment I used a favorite Magenta stamp, 07.457.H Peace on Earth.

For full details and materials lists on both cards, as well as step by step photos, please visit my Backporch blog here.

What's New at Art 'n Soul:
IT'S RECYCLED RUBBER WEEKEND THIS WEEKEND!! Come in out of the heat and smog and spend some time at Art 'n Soul scooping up on some amazing bargains! We have seen so much great stuff come in, including a massive tower of Stampin Up inks, lots of dies, punches and stamps, including some really good, barely used cling stamps that you will love! We have heard rumors that someone is bringing in some card racks and House Mouse stamps also. You do not want to miss this Recycled Rubber sale!

The first 25 of the Tim Holtz platforms are due to be delivered to us today. If you are one of the lucky first 25, you will be called when they arrive. We are ordering more! If you don't have to have it immediately, please order through us. We also want to thank all of you who have ordered the platforms and other new items through us. We know that some people may have been able to get them faster from an online company. We can't compete with them, and really appreciate your loyalty and patience more than you know. You keep us going!

The Memory Box and Poppy catalogs were opened in conjunction with Pam's mini class on July 30, and will stay open only a short time longer, so make your lists and order with us. Their new collection includes many Holiday dies. You can see them online here and here.

We are looking forward to the Sally Penley Holiday Mini Masterpiece classes on August 12. These classes are full, and if you missed your chance to get it, please go ahead and sign up on the wait list. You never know what might happen, and you may be able to get in. It doesn't cost anything to get on the wait list.

If you did not receive our newsletter this week, you can access the latest newsletter here and our calendar here. Be sure to check out all of the upcoming classes! Lynell Harlow, founding member of Dreamweaver Stencils will be here teaching 4 different fabulous classes on the 18th, 19th, and 20th. These are always a hit! 

Linda Presley of Rosie's Roadshow will also be here in September with a new and completely adorable class for you.