Thinking Inking

Enhanced Denim Texture Tutorial on the CLASSroom

Good morning!  I have a tutorial up for creating an enhanced jeans texture on the CLASSroom blog today, if you're still looking for Father's Day card ideas. It uses a CHF Denim backgrounder, white gel pen, a ruler/piercing template and piercing tool, a white Prismacolor pencil, and three Copic markers. It's easy-peasy too!

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Stamping Public Service Announcements

Remember the Card for Heroes Memorial Day blog hop? Swarovski Crystals is partnering with CFH to try to get 30,000 cards signed for troops. In fact, if you are near one of their stores, you could sign a card, complete with crystal bling. Learn more about it here. Also, here is a link to a locator to see if you are near a store.

Next, Kimberly Schofield and Julie Masse have teamed up to bring you a Stamping Around event coming up in Connecticut on July 10-11. If you live in or would be visiting the area at that time, you might want to check out this informational blog. Future venues are Vermont and Philadelphia. These sound like a lot of fun!

Finally, tomorrow, June 22, Spellbinders has a Blog Frenzy starting at Becca Feeken's blog, Amazing Paper Grace. I'm sure that Becca will have something fabulous to share. Prizes are involved, and if you want to win the grand prize, you'll need to be hopping from June 22 through June 29. Good luck!

Interested in Becoming Copic Certified?

I've had a couple of e-mails lately from people requesting information on how they can become Copic certified. I asked Marianne at Copic, and she sent the following information--just passing it along. HTH!

Want to get Copic Certified for papercrafting and stamping? Our first session will be in Medford, OR on Friday, April 18, 2008.

Copic Certification sessions are open to teachers, designers, and store owners who specialize in papercrafting (stamping, scrapbooking, and card making). Sessions will be one full day. Space is limited, and applications are on a first-come first serve basis, with priority given to teachers.

 

This program is NOT intended to produce finished projects, rather, it is technique based and geared toward the papercrafting audience (stamping, scrapbooking, cardmaking). Topics include Basic Product Knowledge, Using Copic Products, Copic Color Theory, Ink Effects, and Airbrushing. Copic Certified instructors will be listed on the Copic website with a contact e-mail address as a resource that other stores can contact (more info is included in the application).

If you are interested please e-mail Marianne at office1@copicmarker.com for more information and an application for the Medford event.

Other locations for 2008 include

Seattle, WA

Chicago, IL

Boston, MA

(dates & times TBA)

A Quick Note

I'm just finishing up a big project tonight, which I will share within the week. We've been a bit under the weather here, so a new card will have to wait for Tuesday afternoon after B's  Christmas Play Practice. In the meantime, I saw that my buddy Mish Wooderson has a fabulous recipe box kit up in Ellen's store tonight!  You'll enjoy seeing what Mish has been up to!

If you're still looking for more amazing Christmas projects, check this acrylic coaster project and tutorial by the multi-talented  Becky Oehlers. I'm itching to get time to try her project! She's made a beautiful acrylic block necklace as well. It' seriously worth spending some time there to see what she's been creating.

I just saw that Impression-Obsession has some great deals on rubber and acrylic stamps in the clearance section--50% off! You'll have to click on a category on the left to see the clearance stamps in each category.

While I'm in the announcement mode, Karen Lockhart told me last night that her husband's new computer has had a major crash. It will probably be next week some time before they are able to get the Lockhart website updated with their new stamps. You can see them in Ellen's store, however.

Finally, I should get an SU box tomorrow--unless it gets rescheduled.  I pre-ordered just one stamp set, a wheel, and some gorgeous new paper. I have too many unused toys to indulge more than that. . .  Have a great day!

Going to CHA?

I get a lot of questions on Copic Markers. While I answer the best that I can and have time to, I don't have all of the answers. (Shhhh! Don't tell my son!) I've learned by doing, and I love my markers. Some of you could use some more in depth answers, however.

If you are attending CHA this coming February,  you might be interested in knowing that COPIC is sponsoring a training session on Saturday, February 9, 2008, from 12 to 5pm. This event is open to designers, reps, teachers, and stores who have questions about Copic Markers. Marianne, whose gorgeous work I've seen and heard about, but whom I haven't met yet, will be teaching and answering questions. It's a drop-in event, but they are asking for RSVP. If you have questions or want to RSVP, e-mail Marianne.

Hope to see some of  you there!

Need Paper Storage?

Are you looking for paper storage? I received a Prism Papers newsletter yesterday that mentioned a really good deal on wire racks. From personal experience I have to tell you this: a few months ago I bought a wire rack for my 12" x 12" printed papers. Even though I got a good deal on the rack, shipping was over $25 on ONE rack.  Besides being a good price, these racks have shipping in the US as $9.95. . . (Now I just have to decide whether I need another rack before they run out!)

I am not affiliated in any way--just passing along information. Hope this helps someone!

Scrapping Stamper looking for a DT?

One of my blogging buddies Sharyn Tormanen told me that Wendy at ScrapSupply.com is looking for a scrapbooking stamper for her design team. Might it be you?  Here's a link to Wendy's forum post.

Good luck!

Stitched. . .

I'll post as soon as I get a chance to work sometime tomorrow (Tuesday); we had a little accident here this afternoon, which ended up in a trip to the ER for many (I lost count) stitches on my husband's fingers. Thankfully no tendons or nerves were severed. I think I'd better stick close to him instead of staying up stamping half the night! ;-)

A Request from the Heart

Hi, Everybody!  I'm taking a long weekend, and I'm not sure how much computer access I can beg or borrow while I'm away. (Yes, a laptop is high on my wishlist! It's right there next to high speed internet instead of dial up. . .) I received a request tonight that I wanted to be sure to pass along before I leave.  Andrea Vernagus sent me an e-mail about a family with three-month old identical twin girls, Madeline and Isabella, who are undergoing treatment for cancer. If you will check Andrea's blog, she has a twist on "blog candy" there: Andrea is attempting to put together a box of cards for this dear family. Do you have any extra cards lying around unused and unloved?  I know that I do!  How about sending one to Andrea? Andrea also has a link there to the Dunn family's Caring Bridge site so that you can see pictures of this precious family and read their updates.  I'm sure that any encouraging words would be appreciated. I'm leaving this post at the top for a couple of days to make sure that everyone sees it. Thank you!

Home Again

I don't do this often, but I wanted to tell you a non-stamping story. After lunch today we went into Iron Mountain to welcome the 46th MP Company home from Iraq. I doubt that you would see a story like this on a national newscast. But in small town America, families still line the roads along the route that the two bus-loads of our young men and women travel to get back to the National Guard Armory in Kingsford. (I so wish that I'd had my camera with me!  I didn't, so my friend Hope sent me a picture that she took.)

First came the police cars with sirens, then firetrucks from counties all around. Next rode a 147-motorcycle escort, many with double riders. (Someone else counted them!) Finally came our troops. I think they were touched. I know that I was. It was all pretty blurry behind my sunglasses. . . We rejoiced with those who came home physically unharmed. We ached for those who had come home earlier and are going through months or even years of rehab due to injuries. And we cried for the family of Jim Priestap, our only local young husband, father, son, and brother who won't see his family again this side of Heaven.  We thank them all. And we thank God for bringing them home.