Spritz and Spring

We’re just digging out from a big snowstorm here in Washington state, but that doesn’t mean I can’t dream of spring.

I created this layout for Lindy’s Stamp Gang’s CHA booth. They’ll be there, showing off their fabulous shimmery two-tone products.

I used lots of Glitz Spritz, mixed with Close to My Heart reinkers for custom-colored sprays. I also used several of LSG’s Starburst sprays to add even more shine. Click the photo above for a larger view.

It may be snowing outside my window, but it’s all flowers and butterflies in my studio!

Hip to Be Square

I’ll have a pear and cocoa smoothie please. Okay, maybe not the most delicious food combo, but put together Pear, Cocoa and Smoothie cardstock and you’ve got a yummy treat! Faux stitching and the Rock the Block stamp set complete this little bit of eye candy. 

You can still purchase the Rock the Block promotion until January 31. A huge stamp set, 9 white chipboard collage cubes in a matching tray, just $15 with a qualifying $25 purchase from my website.

As a special bonus, anyone placing an order on my website this month, for any amount, will also receive my 7 page instructional to create the Magic Cube using the Rock the Block collage cubes. SWEET!

Whatever Wednesday–Phone Stacking

Can’t put down your phone? They’re addictive, and we’re used to checking them all day long. Facebook updates, tweets and texts, we’re connecting to people all day long through our phones. But what about when you’re out with friends?

I’m sheepishly raising my hand, color me guilty. Time out with friends should be about face-to-face time, and real people are more important than cyber-people.

That’s way I love the idea of this new “game” suggested by the Brian Perez, from his tumblr blog. He has a rather colorful name for the game, but the idea has gone viral and a much more family friendly name has emerged, phone stacking.

The rule: stack your phones, or place them on the table when you’re out with friends. First person to pick up their phone, picks up the check. That should be a pretty strong incentive to keep your attention on the real people in front of you, not the ones that aren’t there with you.

Love it. Stack me up.

Wise Words

Opportunity is missed by most because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
- Thomas Edison

photo: my husband, hardest working man I know.

Faux Stitching with the Paper Piercing Tool

The paper piercing tool is so versatile, it’s not just for poking holes for brads!

I love the look of stitching on my paper projects, but it’s not always practical to drag out the sewing machine, and hand-stitching can take forever. With a couple of tools from Close to My Heart, including the paper piercing tool shown above, I can create faux stitching in half the time!

In order to create this look, you’ll need to use Close to My Heart’s exclusive colors cardstock, or any other cardstock with a white core.

Check your cardstock for a white core by tearing a bit at the corner. As you can see below, the color is on the surface of the cardstock, but the center is white.

I’m going to create a square of faux stitching, so first I like to mark my cardstock, so my corners will meet nicely. Use a straight edge and a pencil to lightly mark your lines.

Dry emboss the lines with an embossing stylus and the groove of your paper trimmer.

Tresa Tip: Tracing over the cardstock several times lightly, rather than one heavy pass, keeps the cardstock from tearing through.

You can also use a scoring board for this step.

Flip the cardstock over so that the embossing is “mountain,” not “valley.”

Use a sanding block, or a piece of sandpaper to expose the white core of the cardstock. Keep your sandpaper flat to sand only the raised areas on the cardstock, so it won’t scratch the rest of piece.

Place the paper piercing foam mat under your cardstock. To create perfectly spaced stitch marks, use Close to My Heart’s ruler. Line up the desired stitching holes over your white scored line.

Hold your paper piercing tool vertically, poke through the stitching holes. You want to pierce deep into the foam mat in order to make larger sized stitching holes.

Continue until done!