Using Chalks with Your Cards & Pages

Decorative chalks are a great way to add color to your scrapbook pages and cards. They are acid-free and very easy to use. There is a variety of decorative chalks on the market today. They come in different types and my favorites are the palate type by Craf-T Products, the stick type by Lowe-Cornell and my absolute favorite are chalk pencils by Faber-Castell. The General Pencil Company also makes a great set of chalk pencils. Let’s talk about how to use the different types.

Chalk Palettes

You can apply these chalks to your projects with a foam-tipped applicator, cotton swabs, or you can attach a small pom-pom to a pair of hemostats and apply the chalks that way. Simply pick up the chalk color you want to use with your applicator and rub it onto your project .

Chalk Pastels

You can use the same types of applicators as I mentioned before, directly on the chalk sticks, or you can rub the chalk stick on a piece of scrap paper and then use the applicator to pick up the chalk and apply to your project.

Chalk Pencils

Chalk Pencils

There are two different ways you can use chalk pencils. The first way is to use your chalk pencils the same way you would use a colored pencil. Use them to color directly onto your project. If you’re looking for a watercolor effect, use a Dove Blender pen with your chalk pencils. You can do that by coloring your images with the chalk pencils, add your highlights where you want them, then use the blender pen to blend the colors of the pencils together. You can achieve some beautiful results with this method.

Finally, after you have completed your project, be sure to use a spray fixative to “set” your chalks. This will seal the chalks onto your project so they don’t smear. My favorite fixative is called Preserve It! by Krylon Products. Never use hairspray to seal your chalks. It is not acid-free and it will damage your projects over time. And, after all of the hard work you put into each of your projects, you want them to last so future generations can see how talented you were!

Krylon "Preserve It!"

Thanks for joining me. Until next time…

Crafty hugs,

Lisa

Stampin’ Queen Creations

Give The Queen A Call!!!

Scrapbooking on a Purse!

Hear Ye, Hear Ye. NEWSFLASH… Scrapbooking is out of the album!

People from all walks of life want to cherish and preserve all of those special moments that occur in everyday life. Scrapbooking has been around for approximately 150 years now. I read somewhere recently that Thomas Jefferson was one of the first most famous American scrapbookers. He created a number of albums filled with the newspaper clippings of his presidency. Since cameras were not created yet, people would put things such as calling cards, poems, quotes, and other items in their albums.

The first scrapbook store was opened in 1980 by a lady named Marielen Christensen, and in the mid-1990’s the scrapbooking world exploded with all of the wonderful embellishments that we use today. Of course many more items have been added since the middle of the 1990’s, making scrapbooking into a multi-billion dollar industry.

Then a few years ago, we began seeing scrapbooking coming out of the albums. People began using scrapbooking materials to create wall hangings, magnets, home décor items and much more. And since sharing our memories with others is something we all enjoy doing, why not place those pictures on your purse for everyone to see. How do you do that? Well, with the right products to start off with, it is so much easier than you think.

First of all like I said, you need to begin with great products. The project that I’m going to share with you today started with a wonderful product called Daily Window. A lovely lady, Paula Krieger, from the company contacted me and asked if I would create a few projects using their purses, totes and bags. She asked if I would scrapbook on them. I have to admit, I was wondering how I was going to scrapbook on a purse, but I said I would give it a shot. When I received the products in the mail, I just about flipped out! I was expecting to be spending some time on these projects, but no way! They did all the work for me. The Daily Window purses, toes and bags are so easy to use. You simply create your scrapbook page or card and slide it into the clear plastic pockets, and viola! You're done!

 The wonderful thing about these bags is that they are changeable because of the pocket behind the window. It's a great opportunity to share many different options when it comes to hand crafted cards and pages. The bottom line is that the bags offer an ongoing opportunity to share and connect with others using your personalized ideas! For more information about Daily Window products, check out their website at www.dailywindow.com

NOTE: You will notice on my purse that I added some trim and chipboard pieces. I used Fabri-Tac Permanent Adhesive by Beacon Adhesives.

Thank you for joining me. Until next time…

Crafty hugs,

Lisa

Stampin’ Queen Creations

Give The Queen A Call!!!

If you ever see me at one of the Craft and Hoby trade shows, this bag is something that you'll recognize. I'll never attend a show without this bag. It's just the greatest!!!

KaiserCraft is Just Too Kool!

As I wind up my CHA winter show review with today’s post, I knew it wouldn’t be complete without declaring my infatuation with KaiserCraft.  Ever since this company hit the craft industry some years back, they have held a special place in my heart. Everyone that knows me knows that my first crafting love is rubber stamping. I have been creating with rubber stamps for years and I never get tired of it. Well, one of my most favorite surfaces for my stamps is wood. I LOVE stamping on wood! So, when I first noticed KaiserCraft at a CHA show those years ago, I thought my head would explode with the ideas I was getting just looking at their products, and my heart would explode with the excitement of creating some cool designs with all that wood.

Since that time, KaiserCraft has never let me down. Each year they come out with some great new stuff and not just their wood. I’m talking about their papers, bling, chipboard, flowers, even their rubber stamps! Be sure you hit your local stamp and scrapbook stores to check out their new collections like, “Tiny Woods”, “These Days”, “Tigerlilly”, and much more. And if you’re anything like me, you’ll walk out with a few of their wood products too!!!

Thank you for joining me. Until next time…

Crafty Hugs,

Lisa

Stampin’ Queen Creations

Give The Queen A Call!!!

Friendships Made at Trade Shows

I have been attending the Craft and Hobby trade shows for the last ten years. In that time, I have met so many amazing people. In your life when you’re involved in this wonderful but sometimes crazy craft industry, you meet people that come and go. Each person touches your life in one way or another. Maybe it’s a manufacturer that you design a project for, or maybe it’s an editor that you write an article for. Whatever the reason they enter your life, you do the job and you move on to the next project. It's wonderful to have these people in your life, but those are not the people that I’m talking about now. The ones that I’m talking about are the ones that you meet at the show and they stay in your life. The ones that you develop a deep friendship that lasts.

I have been blessed to have quite a few of those people in my life, but the friendship that I want to share with you is the one I have with my dear friend, Ann Butler. I met Ann about 10 years ago and after talking to her for a few hours I felt like “Wow! This is someone who finally understands my love for all things crafty!” Someone who gets excited about a new rubber stamp or a glue that works great on paper! No one in my non crafty life even comes close to getting it, but Ann got it. She was one of my people!!! And ever since that day over 10 years ago, we have remained close friends. We only see each other twice a year at the CHA shows and we only talk about once every couple of months, but when we do get together it’s always like we were never apart. She is one of my closest friends and I love her with all my heart!

I guess what I’m trying to say is, that with all the craziness that goes into attending a trade show, between the meetings and checking out all the new products, don’t forget to take some time out of your busy day to spend with your friends. Nurture that friendship and cherish the short time that you have together. Stop and ask them, “Who’s up for a trip to Kentucky Fried Chicken?”

And to my friend Ann… I'm glad you're in my life. Thanks for being my friend. I love you girl!!!

Thanks for joining me. Until next time…

Crafty hugs,

Lisa

Stampin’ Queen Creations

Give The Queen A Call!!!

My friend Ann Butler. Isn't she just too cute!!!

Wordless Wednesday

What is Wordless Wednesday you might ask? Well, each Wednesday I will post a very easy project without instructions or any comments from me at all. Of course you could always comment on my blog if you have any questions about the project, but this will be the only time that I will comment, my post will include a project only.

 Wordless Wednesday is just a very simple way to share creative projects without the fuss. I know that my husband likes the Wordless Wednesday concept or at least the no chatter part of it for everyday!!!

Thanks for joining me. Until next time...

Crafty hugs,

Lisa

Stampin' Queen Creations

Give The Queen A Call!

Happy Valentine's Day

I don’t know about you, but I just love Valentine’s Day! I am s true romantic at heart and I always want to show the people I love how much they mean to me with some kind of a card or project.

I have been truly blessed to be married to my wonderful husband for almost 31 years. He is my everything and I really don’t know what I would do without him. I love you Honey!

Although the love for my husband is something I could shout about from the rooftops, today I would like to share a project that I created about another couple’s long lasting love, my parents, Earl & Yvonne Davis. Before my dad’s passing, my parents had been married almost 50 years. For me, the idea of being married for almost 5 decades leaves me in the state of awe. It also leaves me with the hope that one day, God willing, my husband and I will be able to achieve that wonderful dream too!

So, in honor of the love that my parents once had, I want to share with you this project entitled “Unforgettable Wedding”. And for the love of my life, Happy Valentine’s Day Honey!!!

Thanks for joining me. Until next time…

Crafty hugs,

Lisa

Stampin’ Queen Creations

Give The Queen A Call!

Have You Seen Any Purple Cows?

No, I’m not talking about an actual purple cow, but then again maybe I am! All joking aside I’m really talking about the company Purple Cows! The wonderful people at Purple Cows are always so generous with helping professional designers, that any chance I get to talk about them I do! Their products are always fun and innovative. And what I saw was no exception!

When I stopped at their booth at the CHA winter show and I saw some of their new products, once again I was excited by all the great ideas that flew through my head. “Oooo, just think what I could do with that” and “Wow, that would look great using this paper!” As fellow crafters you know exactly what I was thinking because I know you would be thinking the same sort of things! 

 Now, I’m just waiting until the products start coming into the stores so I can buy them. I can already see the tears in my husband’s eyes and I’ll tell you, they’re not tears of joy! Oh well, I know mine will be! {Very Big Smile} 

Thank you for joining me. Until next time…

Crafty hugs,

Lisa

Stampin’ Queen Creations

Give The Queen A Call!

Look at the great patterns you can create with this craft punch. Awesome!!!

Sizzix + Eillen Hull= Fabulous Products!

I have to say that Sizzix is one of my all time favorite company. So, it was very exciting for me when my long time designer friend, Eileen Hull, ww.eileenhull.blogspot.com  became one of Sizzix’s licensed designer a few years ago. 

As Eileen was getting ready to debut her newest collection of Scoreboard die cuts, she called and ask me and our other designer friend, Ann Butler, if we would make some samples for Sizzix to give out at the show. One of her new dies was a super cute cake box. Let me just say for the record, that after using spray adhesive to attach papers to 93 of these boxes, plus using my Big Shot machine to cut out the boxes and 279 paper elements to add to this boxes, they were not looking oh so cute to me through eyelashes that were sticking  together (just kidding Eileen!).

Sticky eyelashes aside, Eileen’s new collections and the other new items by Sizzix were totally awesome! These pictures are just a few of the many new things that the Sizzix booth had to offer. Eileen’s newest collection will be available in stores by June. Be sure you go to your local rubber stamp and scrapbooks stores to pick up a few and maybe some of the other Sizzix products, check out the Sizzix website at www.sizzix.com . You’ll fall in love with them. Just make sure if you’re making 93 of those super cute cake boxes, that you wear a pair of goggles. It will save your eyelashes!

Thanks for joining me. Until next time…

Crafty hugs,

Lisa

Stampin’ Queen Creations

 

Give The Queen A Call!

 Tim Holtz Products

My friend, Karen Burniston, demoing her new product line at the Sizzix booth.

My friend, Eileen Hull's, new product line called "Sweet Treats"

Now these are some very yummy treats!!! And zero calories! How cool is that!

Very Cute!

My friend, Karen Burniston, demoing her new product line at the Sizzix booth

Prima Marketing, Inc.

The pictures that I’m sharing with you today do not do any justice to the lusciousness of the products I that I saw at the Prima Marketing booth at the CHA show. Their booth samples and product samples just blew me away. Their new products include Resin accents like windows and birdcages, metal accents, beautiful new pattern papers, rubber stamps, etc.

These pictures are a small sample of their beautiful products. I hope you love seeing them as much as I did. Congratulations to their Design Team. They really rock these products!!

Thanks for joining me. Until next time…

Crafty hugs,

Lisa

Stampin’ Queen Creations

 Give The Queen A Call!

Let's Talk Clearsnap Inks!

Since we’ve been talking about the CHA winter show that just finished, I have to talk about my favorite inkpads and inks by Clearsnap! While I was at the show, I had the pleasure to demo some new & fairly new products from Clearsnap.

These tags were created using Donna Salazar’s new inkpads, “Mix’d Media Inkx” inkpads and some new ink accents called “SmoochGlitz”. Donna’s new inkpads are a pigment ink but because they were designed to use with mixed media projects, they are very wet and will not dry quickly. This gives you the time you need to work on your mixed media projects without the fear of your ink drying too fast. 

The other product I used in these tags was the new “SmoochGlitz”. These inks are just like the regular Smooch ink accents but these have a special surprise of glitter! And depending on how much you apply, you can use just a little to add some bling to your projects like I did on the butterflies. Or, you can add several coats of the SmoochGlitz to give you full coverage on your stamped images. Either way you use them, you will love them!

Thank you for joining me. Until next time…

Crafty hugs,

Lisa

Stampin’ Queen Creations

Give The Queen A Call!

Graphic 45 at CHA Show

As I said in my last post, the CHA show was fantastic! The manufacturers that were at the show did not disappoint and of course Graphic 45’s display was once again one of the best at the show. Here are few pictures that I wanted to share with all of you. I hope you enjoy the gorgeousness of Graphic 45. I know I sure did!

Thank you for joining me. Until next time…

Crafty hugs,

Lisa

Stampin’ Queen Creations

Give The Queen A Call!

 The projects seen in these pictures are created with their new line "Olde Curiosity Shoppe". These papers are just incredible

 The last five pictures are of Graphic 45's new line called "Little Darlings" Too cute!!!

Craft and Hobby Winter Show!

Well, it’s the first Monday of the month and you know what that means! The Designer Craft Connection Blog Hop!!! Boy, you are in for a big surprise! The topic for this blog hop is the newly finished Craft and Hobby Winter Show. Since most of the designers on the Designer Craft Connection went to the CHA show, we thought we would share with everyone all of the cool things we saw at the CHA show. So, if you didn’t get a chance to attend the largest craft show around, we will bring the show to you. Make sure that you click on the DCC blinkie on the right side of my blog to hop from blog to blog and see all of the coolest products in the craft industry!

More exciting news from me! Because the show is so big I can’t fit all the information in one blog post so, please check back with me a few times this week for more on the CHA show. And while I’m at it, I might as well let you know that I will be increasing my blog posts to 3-5 times a week instead of my usual 1 time a week. I’m having such a blast sharing all things craft related and I really hope that you will continue to stop by. I will be offering more craft projects & instructions and I will also be offering tips & techniques, maybe a give-away or two (hee hee!), some guest blog posts, and much, much more. Stay tuned and check me out as I kick it up a notch or two!!!

Let’s get started….

There was so much to see at this show that I wasn’t even sure where to start. I decided to start with the new products that were awarded the Innovations Award for the “Hot New Products” at the show. I’m sorry I don’t have pictures, but I’ve listed a brief description of each product. I’ll have lots of pictures in my other posts.

Approximately 100 new products were entered for the Innovations Award at the show. The panel of judges picked 20 of these products to be named “Hot New Products”. The manufacturers set up their displays and demos for the judges. Each manufacturer had 60 seconds to promote their new product and judges and attendees had the opportunity to see the new products and watch demos. Here are the products and their manufacturers in alphabetical order-

Babyville Boutique. A sewing program for environmentally conscious moms who need specialty fabric for making diaper covers. The program includes coordinating snaps and snap tool, fold over elastic, appliqués and more.

Flower Me with Candy: An easy way to make realistic looking edible flowers with candy.
Sullivan’s Clear Rulers: That sharpens the rotary blades as you cut......

Send it Clear from Clear Scraps: One of a kind clear card kit with USPS approved envelope.

Embosser from Craftwell: Electric die cutter and embosser.

Cool2Cast from Yaley Enterprises: Developed by Tiffany Windsor this is a new, air dry fiber plaster.

Copper Color Me from Hot off the Press: Custom color your own embossed papers with mists, chalk and more.

Dazzu Light Craft Studio: Especially for kids, this kit contains programmable, interactive lights plus all the materials needed to create a one-of-a kind, unique projects. Such a fun way to bling your projects

Diamond Head Tacks (for Home Dec): Upholstery tacks with interchangeable heads.

Crafty Bands from Epiphany Crafts: Create unique custom charm jewelry for kids!

Eco Crayons: Saving the world one color at a time! In recyclable packaging.

Fringe in a Flash from June Tailor: Multi-Blade Rotary Cutter- The perfect tool for cutting fringes.

The Knook by Leisure Arts:  Knit with a crochet hook!

USB Power Glue: When the power fails, use your laptop battery power to use this glue gun.

Shoe Attitude by Kodak: Print images on Kodak shoe art film then use a special adhesive to apply to shoes.

Prima Press: Use individual letters to create your own sayings, etc. It's like having your own mini print press.

Craft Geek Pin It by Purple Cows: Pin it anywhere with this new tool.

Screen It by Tulip: All-in-1 Screen Printing System

Well, that’s it for today. Be sure to check back a few times this week for more information on the CHA Winter Show.

Thanks for joining me. Until next time…

Crafty hugs,

Lisa

Stampin’ Queen Creations

Give The Queen A Call!!!