In Memoriam

Vicente Pascual Rodrigo
1955 - 25.IX.2008

Earth has no sorrow
that heaven cannot heal.
- Saint Thomas Moore


Vicente is my uncle, an artist like my father, to whom we went to visit a couple of weeks ago, knowing that it would be the last time we saw him alive.

Colors for Christmas

I'll admit that I love color, and most of times I start a card or a project by choosing the colors in it. And the easiest way I found is to choose patterned paper that I like, then I match up Bazzill or any plain cardstock to the colors of the printed paper. Sometimes I will include the patterned paper, but sometimes I wont as I will use it a color guide.
As an example the card above, which features very pastely colors for Chritmas, all inspired by the dotty paper. By the way you can find all the materials a Crafts U love.

My feet love... CAMPER

All right, I don't enjoy that much shopping for clothes or shoes. I mean, I am short slightly overweight and with a Mediterranean shaped body which makes finding clothes that fit in the UK shopping scene rather difficult. So, when I find something that works for my body whether is clothes or shoes I stick to it. Clothing wise, I stick to Zara, H&M, Principles Petite and Monsoon for fancier pieces.
Shoe wise, I am even more limited. Apart from the odd Nine West, I really only get Camper shoes. The fact that is a company originated in Mallorca (Spain) in a town quite near where I grew up, has a lot to do with my choice. But the fact is that apart from one pair, I have been really happy with all my pair of Campers, they are comfortable (at least for my feet) and they last heavy use.
I often get a pair of Twins, which means that the right shoe has a different pattern than the one for the left foot, like the pair below:


So, the reason for this rather particular Camper promoting post is that if you ever see my with what it looks like an oddly paired shoes in my feet, you will know that is not that I made a mistake and mix match two pairs, they were design to be oddly paired!

PS: The shop in the first picture is in San Francisco (California), but you can find Camper shops or Camper shoes all over the world as fortunately/unfortunately is one of those companies that has gone big time global in the last decade.

PSS: Just to let you know, that I think the pair of shoes in the picture is from at least two years ago, so I don't think you can get it anymore.

Jane Gill's Stamps

If you read often this blog, you will remember that I often mention Jane Gill as one of my friends and more importantly a fantastic cardmaker and designer. Recently, Woodware has launched a few clear stamps set designed by Jane Gill, you can see some samples by her here.


Last week, for my demo at The Craft Barn Extravaganza I demonstrated these sets. They are very easy to use for every level of cardmaker.
Jane has her own blog here (although the blog is not updated often even for my standards!)


This is my favorite stamp from the set. I love the tree that can be customized with buttons, glitter and even the tiny stamps that come in with the tree stamp set.

Inking embossing folders -how to make a background

Sorry, I don't do step by step tutorials with pictures, no time or energy left!
But I will tell you how I make the background.
Use any given card (textured or not, colored or plain old white), any color of Pearl Ex, Perfect Pearls or any other pearlescent pigment powders like the ones from Blonde Moments, any embossing folders from Cuttlebug, and, finally, the key ingredient a black Versafine inkpad -by far the best option for this technique as is a pigment ink which will be wet long enough to hold the powder and have a felt pad that will make the job of not overinking much easier unlike the other type of pigment pads which have a foam pad.

Step 1. Ink the side of the folder you wish to have on the front with the Versafine inkpad.
Step 2. Position card inside and proceed to emboss using your choice of die cutting machine, my favourite is the Cuttlebug (as if you didn't know by now!).
Step 3. Remove the card from the inside of the embossing folder and dab rather than brush the pigment pearlescent powder using a clean dry brush all over the inked areas.
Step 4. Use a bigger dry brush to brush out excess powder.
Step 5. Use the cheapest hairspray you can find over it but do NOT spray it at close range.

That is it. Then, it is up to you to embellish and finish the card to your taste.

Love demonstrating!

The Cuttlebug, although this is a card I taught at the class last week, wich is similar to a previous one that I posted here a couple of weeks ago. Using CoreDinations card, Tagalicious die, embossing folders (Dots & Snowflakes and one set of borders, forgot the name) and combo set Ice Crystals.

Inking embossing folders

This is one of the cards I taught yesterday at The Glitter Pot, using the embossing folders as stamps using Versafine black ink, Perfect Pearls and card. If you are around tomorrow, I will be demonstrating this technique at the same place all day long.

It had been a while since I was there (almost three months), so it was really nice to come back and see all the new stuff and the new room. It was really nice as well, to see new and old faces in the classroom.

Not much else to share, working on a project with gold leaf for Craft Stamper magazine, have you seen the new issues, they are absolutely fabulous.

Crafts U love demo

Last Saturday while I was at Crafts U love I did this cards, using a variety of products Hero Arts stamps, scallop punches, American Crafts ribbon...


Can you believe I did a card using a Lily and Milo or Milo and Lily stamp? Colouring is not something I do well, so I was a little bit adamant to demo this stamps, but I really enjoy it.

Anyway, next Saturday, I will do a Cuttlebug demo at the Glitter Pot. They have a big demo weekend worth while a visit, great demonstrators such as Jane Gill, Francoise Read and Jane Gill.

Cuttlebug

I love this machine! Next Thursday i am teaching two classes on it and on Saturday i will demonstrate it yet again.


This card uses an small piece of card left so the big scallop makes the card bigger.

Back on track

The past few weeks have busy, not with work but with other stuff.
I am back, hopefully, I will be able to post more often in the upcoming weeks.

AWOL

I know I haven´t updated my blog for over a week. There is a reason for that and it´s that, due to a family situation, I have been in Spain for over a week. As soon as I get back, I´l keep posting!