November 30, 2010

Inks

Basic knowledge
Things everyone thinks you should know but forgets to tell anyone to start with and you are afraid to ask for the fear of seeming  dumb.
 So I have put together a little explanation to try and help, of course there are variations out there which will contradict, but this is a simple guide.


Inks

Inks
Pigment ink
Pigment ink is a slow drying ink commonly used for  wet embossing, is acid free and fade resistant. Pigment ink can be used without embossing as long it is given adequate time to dry, can be improved using a heat gun to set the ink
Momento- is a pigment Ink that is recommended to use with your Copic Markers.
Dye ink
Dye ink pads are a water based quick drying ink they are acid free permanent and sometimes waterproof if indicated on label. Dye ink cannot embossed unless you add a clear embossing ink to it. Dye ink is used for distressing with distressing blocks also combined with blender pens or aqua painters is great for colouring instead of markers.
Chalk inks
Chalk inks are a fast drying ink which provides a rich saturated opaque result, chalk cannot be wet embossed. Acid free is resistant to smearing, bleeding and fading. Works well on dark card stock.
Stazz on ink
Stazz on ink is a solvent based ink that can be stamped on most surfaces the result is a permanent waterproof stamped image. Use on outlined stamped images if using aqua painter or blender pens, cannot be embossed or distressed as the ink will dry on the stamp if not used immediately. To remove ink from the stamps a special cleaner needs to be used
In conclusion:
There are many different types of inks around and with different names I have only covered the basics when looking at purchasing ink all you really want to know is what type is it a Dye, pigment, chalk or permanent and of course if Scrapbooking acid free. For years most of my inks I used were pigment or chalk, but now I have a large collection of dye which I use all the time, the only problem I have found with dye is they do not work well with my clear polymer stamps or stamp well on vellum, so then I have to switch to pigment or chalk. I think it’s about what colour result you are looking for what stamp and where are you stamping, which will determine what ink is best for the job.
 When distressing with a block I mostly use dye ink but there are occasions when chalk or pigment may need to be used the result maybe slightly different but it is perfectly fine to do so the same applies for when painting with my aqua painters.
Happy crafting

November 21, 2010

Dreaming of a White Christmas

Can only dream
Down here in Aussie its starting to warm up as Summer has finally come, we had a lovely warm day today spent all weekend out in the Garden pruning the over grown Lavender Bush's and hanging shade cloth up to protect the plants from the harsh sun that is coming our way.
 So why do we make snowy Christmas cards I think its the Romantic side of it, I cant think of much else. It is very hard to find something to use that suits our warm Christmas
 My Childhood memories of Christmas involves a tree full of ripe Apricots and Peaches for a few weeks Mum would be making Jam and preserving peaches and nectarines.
Check out my Christmas Papers over at Megs Garden did some Fruity Christmas papers.
Okay to get to the card and I thought I would post something different this time what we do to make out creations
In the throws of creativity

 now finished my bag

 with its card


 I would like to enter my bag in the Just Magnolia Challenge White plus one




Challenge 73

After receiving the latest Magnolia Magazine I was inspired by all the lovely creations but Rianna's  tree caught my eye, so I did my own version of a 3D tree. Stuffed up on the background nearly binned it, but kept on playing with my markers until it looked passable, very pleased with my red flowers I made them from scratch.

well this is the Sketch from Magnolia Down Under drop by and check out the challenge and every one's lovely cards

November 16, 2010

scrapbooking with Tilda

 Both of these pages I have used Webster Paper I am very fond of them, and this time I used my Distress inks

  

I have started Scrapbooking again. and Tilda is just perfect for the photos of my daughter when she was little
 am going to do a matching page but with baby Tilda asleep in the strawberry patch



November 7, 2010

Very excited

I am very excited because this week we are Sponsoring Magnolia Down Under Challenge we are offering two packs of  the "French Garden Collection" - perfect for cards and Magnolia stamps! Each pack contains 8 sheets measuring 14.5 x 14.5 cm (5 3/4 inches).
These papers are available at Megs Garden, so drop by at Magnolia and at Megs and have a look and why not enter the challenge if you don't have a blog you know you can email a pic of your card and still have the chance to win
Well must go and try and put some of this excitement towards the house work

Embelish it

Make your own Embelishment
Magnolia Down Under Challenge 71






Well had lots of fun creating this easel card it was a true challenge for me so I thought I would revisit something I did a couple of years ago  on a scrappy page I have just recently posted it. The papers I used are in the Ann-Rose Collection from Megs Garden, the little flowers are from Stampin up. the transperancy are my own
This has got me thinking how far can I take this, my journey will have to go to a scrappy page, I am sure this will evolve from here.

November 2, 2010

Cage with no Bird

I wanted to get these posted last night but have been dragging my feet of late coming home from work very tired with no enthusiasm I after taking the photo sometimes you can see things missing I really do think I need to put a bird in my cage or a butterfly  but I have got this far so when I give it away I will add to it as I often do with a sentiment

this too is from the French Garden Collection
hope you like my new designs

A Rose

I would like to enter this in Just Magnolia Sketch challenge 79
I have used papers from the French Garden collection
where the words are, I have turned into a tag or a bookmark you can pull it out from either side