Night 1 - Eight Nights of Lights 2009

Shabat Shalom!!! Happy Hanukkah!

On this first night of Hanukkah, it's important to tell the story of why this holiday is celebrated. It was a great battle. It was a great victory. There was oil to keep a light burning for a single night. The miracle is that the oil lasted for 8 nights. A great miracle indeed.

It's important to know how to celebrate this holiday. It's the Festival of Lights. It's the Feast of Dedication. For He is the Light of the World.

Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech ha-olam a-sher ki-de-sha-nu be-mitz-vo-tav ve-tzi-va-nu le-had-lik ner Chanukah.

Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech ha-olam she-a-sa ni-sim la-avo-te-nu ba-ya-mim ha-hem bi-z'man ha-zeh.

[Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our forefathers in those days, at this time.]

On the first night only, add this blessing:

Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech ha-olam she-heche-ya-nu ve-ki-yi-ma-nu ve-higi-a-nu liz-man ha-zeh.

[Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.]

Oh what fun have I been having! Tonight's video - how to watercolor paint on copper! It' so easy! And while I try to keep these 8 nights all about light.....my torch tonight will represent His light!

So, why Hanukkah if I'm not Jewish? Well, the word Hanukkah is Hebrew for "dedication". The festival of lights is held to celebrate the miracle of the oil lamps.....but it is also a celebration of the determination of a people to defend their right to worship in their own way without interfence. I simply stand in solidarity with them.


The feast of Dedication is referenced in Daniel 11:31 and John 10:22. But the story is told in 1 Macc 4:52-59.






Here's to the first of 8 nights of creative videos...and maybe a little more knowledge about Hanukkah.

Announcing the birth of.....

my newest "baby"! Well, it feels like it. I've been talking about doing this forever.....and it is finally here....today!!!

What???

I've produced my first DVD and I hope it is just the first of many to come! Well, ok, Kerry produced it! But I really feel like we co-parented our way through this.

Simply called "Art Clay Silver Paper Type Tutorials".

There are SIXTEEN tutorials! I'll bet you didn't know there was that much to do with paper type metal clay! And I only touched the surface!

It's actually pretty professional with chapter segments, background music...the works! Kerry did a great job.

So what's included? Well, it's over 1 1/2 hour long! (Remember, this is for those who want to learn how to use paper type metal clay....but I show a lot of things to do with diecuts.)

1. Using pewter

2. Spellbinder's wizard

3. Punches & Scraps

4. Revolution by Quickutz

5. Sizzix by Ellison (Big Shot)

6. Cuttlebug by Provo Craft

7. Erasing mistakes

8. Metal Repousse Tools

9. Stamping & Etching

10. Use any image to design with

11. The 1/2 sheet challenge

12. Quilling paper type

13. Pasting paper type

14. Pasting quilled pieces

15. Turning paper to clay

16. Make your own Mold

17. Samples

The tutorials come up 6 at a time and a 10 second clip starts to play so you can see what the clip is and just click where you wan tto go. You can also pop up the slider bar at the bottom (depending on what software you use on your laptop to view the DVD with) and fast forward through the entire thing in just a few seconds.

Where is it available? Well, for right now, right here! I'm taking orders and we will ship the first week of August. Kerry is burning 50 copies for me to take to the Metal Clay World Conference next week.

Price? $25 retail, $12.50 wholesale with a minimum order of 5 DVDs. Add shipping, of course.

Does it work in Europe? It is NTSC format, so we don't know if it's going to work in Europe. Kerry thinks he can produce it using PAL format - who wants to be first?

If you are taking my pre-conference workshop at MCWC...you get a free copy.....without music! LOL!!! Well, hey! It's free!!!

And I must give credit to Susan Mostek for editing the entire thing for us....and to Colleen Lee for letting me use her art in the video.

So what will our next "child" be?

I'm going to produce a DVD in August that will cover fusing paper type metal clay inside layers of dichroic glass, how to do the watercolor painting on copper, and if there's room, I'll show you how to etch on copper.

I'm just so proud of us....our first "child"! LOL!!!

update: Totally sold out at MCWC! Making more next week!

Back to "work"!

Don't you wish you had my "job"? LOLOL!!! Today I'm experimenting with Mr. Ellie Pooh paper and the cuttlebug and a variety of inks. I can't tell you how much I have loved this paper ever since I first saw it in 2005. Wow! Has it been that long???

Can you find 8 diecuts in the photo below?



How about in this photo?



OK, let me show them to you! Go back and see if you can find them now! When you put this paper in with other items...it sort of turns "real"!!! Now, be sure to read their story on their website (link above).

100% recycled, 75% pooh, 100% fun!!!



diecut with a cuttlebug die, then embossed in a variety of folders. OK, think outside the box when you think of a "folder" - the seahorse is using one of the hearts folders in a 2-part die.



And this piece of seagrass is using a folder form the make-a-flower set.  I used Colorbox queues to ink these  Sort of fun on the Pooh paper!

This paper is beyond amazing when it comes to diecutting and embossing!  Like cutting through butter!  And of course, this is one of my fav folders......I used copic markers on this one: 

Actually looks like puff paper to me:

And then I had to do my "standard" test using Ranger's distress inks....oh yumm!!!

Every now and then, a diecut comes out that I HAVE to have! This was one of them!  I just think this is way too cute!  For this one, I used copics in the air compressor.....totally love how the inks went on Pooh paper with air behind them!

Yep, even those stitches are diecuts!  Too cool!  And look how cute when it opens up!

This is the back of the numbers piece....just wanted to show that on each one of these, I'm using the cream, thin, Ellie Pooh Paper.    My favorite color is Robins Egg Blue, but I stock up on "white" because I just love how it inks up!

And finally, a real test...how does it work with Tim Holtz's new alcohol ink pens?  Just about perfect!!!

Wow! What a great way to return from vacation.....start playing the first day home!  Next up?  Turn these into cards of some kind?  No...I seriously have to start focusing on the

Metal Clay World Conference

....just 6 weeks away!  I have to teach 2 different classes - Diecutting & embossing Paper Type Metal Clay (and quilling) as well as a photography class and a pre-conference workshop!  YIKES!!!

Back to work!!!

Mini Mini Me

I have a little girl, Sophia, who is only 5 years old and she came and took one of my classes (look out crafters!!!) and she wants to do the Mini Me Class......so I made a mini mini me for her, with wings....this one one is only 10 1/2" tall. (The other Mini Me is 16" tall).

She has one shoe on and one shoe off!!!

And then I made this fun pendant using pewter and Ten Seconds Studio plates.....

And then a tiny little pin using ERA Graphics stamps:

We're using the new Adirondack Alcohol Ink Fillable Pens to recolor the metal.....I do love them!  And of course, as always, stickles to add some bling!

So, the pattern for the mini mini me doll with wings is my modification of the Ten Seconds Studio mini me doll and I can't wait for class because you will get a choice....you can do my version with wings.....or you can do the 16" doll without wings.  Each doll takes a full sheet of metal and a full sheet of red-line (super) tape.  I absolutely LOVE giving women choices....it drives them nuts!!!

My Mini Me

We've just added a totally fun class!!! OK, we're going to do this twice.....but I truly love her!!!



You can check the class detail's out on the store blog.



I think she looks too much like what I think is inside my head! LOLOL!



And, do you "get" the blue "hair"....old lady me? Just makes me laugh.



I think I should have lowered her glasses and made them look like readers. Sure wish you were all here to play - this is truly a totally fun class!!!

Things to do with your Cuttlebug

Great flight to San Diego yesterday - I was stuck between a dad and a mom, each holding an 8 month old twin. My idea of a "wonderful" flight! LOLOL!!!

My last class in Poway is going to be a jam-packed technique class showing you some fun things you can dow in your Cuttlebug. This is my latest CTC (creative technique cards) class and bound to make your head spin! Here's preview (ok, some of these sandwiches even amazed me!!!)

Make your own stencil - give texture to any diecut

Make your own matching charms

Emboss a brass stencil with no lines from the outside of the stencil:

 

Cut a die inside a die in a single pass!!!  You will love this one!  I used the seedpacket die and the small nested bird for this one

Negative space inking vs inking:

Cuttlebug (open) folder embossing with brass stencils (or without)

Make your own dimensional foam stamp:

Mirror embossing (one die, both right and left are embossed)

Diecutting transparencies and airbrush painting

Watercolor painting on copper (my absolute favorite diecut technique!)

When I started experimenting with these techniques, I was delighted at how well they all work in the cuttlebug!  I've also got a sandwich for cutting sizzix 12" border dies in the cuttlebug and a couple of surprises for this class! 

Hope you will join me!  Just click here to get the class calendar.

Gypsie cards

My last 2 days in San Diego will be up in Poway at Stamping Details. In one of the classes, I'm going to be showing you how to do some pretty fun things with Spellbinders dies in the Cuttlebug. Well, you know me, there's always more than 1 or 2 techniques in a class. The first card is quite simple



and then I'll give you a chance to leave (LOLOL!!!) The second card starts out really simple....



And then we go right over the top as I show you how to make the actual pop-up cuts using dies. You will be amazed at this cut that can be used for pop-ups or simply as a decorative cut in your paper.



Can't wait to see you there!

Grunge birds

Just too cute! Grunge paper (new), Spellbinders nested birds, Cuttlebug and Sizzix embossing folders, Copic markers airbrushed on



Susan was here today and we did a little playing!



You can sand the embossed side to take off the paint. The wings were made with the paisley die. Your dies will not cut all the way through the grunge paper, but it will give you an excellent cut line.



3 sizes of birds, threaded together with invisible thread and a needle



Grunge birds. Do they need a "house" next? LOL!!!

Friendly Plastic Cuttlebug Jewelry - San Diego Class

OK, I think I've got this down pat and can teach it while I'm out in San Diego. It's Friendly Plastic pellets melted and turned into a sheet, embosed, inked, and then turned into jewelry:





And I'll show you Linda Peterson's bezel setting:

Look at that depth!  You'll have to come to class to see how I did that!!!

If I have time later this summer, maybe I'll put together some kits so those of you who don't live in southern California can do this.  Hmmm....might be something we do at the Lucy McGoo retreat this fall!!  I really love how this turned out....and I think we can make them in under 2 hours!

20 second cards

Literally, about 20 seconds or so to make these cards. Used the Cuttlebug cut n emboss butterfly. Cut the bottom one, embossed the top in the card. Stamped and inked with distress ink on cut 'n dry foam squares



Embossed the diecut flower and stuck it inside. Just so fast and easy!



Same process, just different location for the cut and embossed dies....and different shades of distress ink.



Sort of bent the wings so this one pops up a little.



By positioning the folders and using 1 at a time, you can emboss both on a single card. Just too fun!



We made about 10 cards in less than half an hour....so just a really quick, fast way to pop them out. I think the stamp on this last one is going to be my life motto! LOL! Just too fun!!!