Ink Me!

There are so many inks available on the market today.  Pigment inks.  Solvent inks.  Distress inks.  So many to choose from.  Right?

Well, how do you know which is the right ink for your project?  This class will teach you that; and much more.  Ink me is designed to allow you to play with different types of ink and learn what each does, how to clean it up, and which is best used in different places.  We will make a small book that is perfect to keep in your scrapbooking bag.  Perfect for reference later on.

The supply list for the class is rather extensive.  There are some things that each person needs to bring with them.  Then there is the list of preferred items for you to bring.  These items are strongly recommended for each person to bring.  The class will be quite large and it will make things go very slow if we have to share just my things.  Please, please bring as many of these items as you have.  As always, there are products in the store that are on the list.  So, here is the list:

Mandatory (each person must have ):  tape runner, ink applicators, baby wipes (alcohol free), pencil, paper towels (about 10 should do unless you are really messy), hard surface to stamp on (the tables give and will not allow you to get a clean image.  Please bring a glass stamp board or a small cutting board or something hard to put under your paper to be stamped), and favorite small stamp (and stamp block if necessary. We are working on 2.5" square pieces so a stamp that size or smaller is great).

Everything on the following list will be used in the class.  Colors don't matter on this.  I have listed the colors I used in parenthesis so you know what is in my book.  Please bring as many of these as you have.  If you don't have it, then it will be available in the store or I will have my set to work with.  The more you have the faster it will go.

pigment ink like Brillance, Tsukineko, Versa-color, chalk inks (black or brown)
dye ink like Memento, Ranger Archival, or Stampin up classic
dye ink water based like Marvy, Tsukineko, Ranger Adirondack
india ink like PITT pens (this is optional)
solvent ink like Staz-On (black or brown)
White or clear embossing powder
heat gun
antistatic pouch (optional)
Versamark (to emboss with)
Distress ink pad, any color (I used walnut stain, broken china)
Distress stain, any color (I used walnut, broken china, peeled paint)
Distress paint, any color (I used tarnished brass, peeled paint, broken china)
Reinker, distress ink reinker , any color (I used walnut)
Distress stain picket fence
perfect pearl, any color
Alcohol ink, any color, and blending solution
Miny mister or misting bottle with water in it
small paintbrush to use with perfect pearls


I know this is a ton of stuff.  Many of you have this in your bags already but may not realize what inks you have.  This class is designed for you to learn how the different inks work.

I am excited about the class.  Should be fun!  See you Monday!

A brand new life

I love to re-do something old and make it look new again.  Don't you?  There is something very satisfying when I take something that might be headed for the trash and re-make it so it is functional.

Recently I found an old, horribly painted cabinet at my local thrift store.  I don't have a photo to publish because of the grafiti that was scribbled on it (totally inappropriate!).  So let me give you a mental image to work with:  The whole cabinet was painted dark forest green.  The doors had large pine trees and pine cones painted on them in various shades of green and yellow and brown.  The 3 drawers at the bottom each had a different outdoor type item painted on it (leaf, pinecone, and something unknown!)  and the knobs were yellow.  Then there was the overall general condition of the piece....very bad.  The bottom legs were splitting apart and the doors were falling off due to a missing hinge.  Trust me when I say it was bad.  Very, very bad.

But with some TLC and some fun paper and embellishments it became this:

I first tried to paint the cabinet with chalkboard paint.  It looked awesome.  Until I went to move it 2 days later.  Don't know what happened but the black rubbed off!  Most stayed on the cabinet but just too much came off.  So, re-do!  Sanded, painted it a soft blue, then finally white.  I distressed all the edges with sandpaper allowing the light blue to slightly show.  I then added a variety of papers (I think they were all Prima Marketing papers), some vintage lace, Graphic 45 pulls, Tim Holtz knobs, and some other fun embellishments.

So that piece of trash has now become a shabby chic wonder!

Have a wonderful day.