The craft industry headed off to Phoenix, AZ again this year for the annual trade show. Once again I worked in the Brother booth demoing the ScanNCut and DesignNCut, but I did have a chance to jot up and down the isles and see some of the awesome new products other manufactures have coming out this year.  Here's a few things that caught my eye:

Disclosure: Erin is a paid consultant and has received  products from Brother to evaluate. However, the opinions expressed are entirely her own and based on her use of the products.

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy from these links it won't cost you a penny more but Erin will make a little bit of money (not enough for a pony). 

Earlier this year we were in Hawaii on vacation I had my iPad with me and I practiced my digital drawing and hand lettering on it using my Apple Pencil. Here’s a peek at one of the projects I made:

After returning home I was inspired to create some cards to send give to friends along with some treats we brought home and it dawned on me that I could turn some of my digital drawings and hand lettering into ScanNCut cut files thanks to ScanNCutCanvas.  To download these free cut files click here.

Watch the video tutorial here or follow the instructions below:

Supplies:

ScanNCut Machine and Accessories

ScanNCut Stamp Kit

1 piece of light blue-green 8.5’’x11’’ Cardstock

2 pieces of white 8.5’’x11’’ Cardstock, cut to 8.5’’x 5.5” and folded in half

Adhesive

3 shades of green ink

Embossing ink

Clear Embossing Powder

Gold Embossing Powder

Heat Gun

Embossing Pen (optional)

Black Pen (optional)

Instructions:

1.  From the free download, load “Card Front” onto your ScanNCut. Place one sheet of light blue-green  8.5’’x11’’ Cardstock onto a standard mat and load it into the the machine. Cut out 4 of “Card Front.”

2.  From the free download, load “tropical leaves” and “aloha” onto your ScanNCut. Remove one side of the protective covering on the silicone stamp material and place it onto a standard mat and load it into the machine. Cut out each of the leaves and aloha out of the stamp material.

3.  Decide which color ink to use for each leaf and then mount one leaf at a time onto the stamping block, pounce ink on it, and stamp it onto each of the card fronts. Repeat for each of the leaves. (Note: be sure to wipe off any excess ink from the stamp block so it doesn’t transfer onto the card.)

4.  Sprinkle clear embossing powder over the leaves on the card front and tap off any extra powder. Use a heat gun to melt the embossing powder and allow the card front to cool. Repeat for all the card fronts.

5.  Center mount each of the card fronts onto each of the white cards with adhesive.

6.  Place “aloha” onto the stamping block, ink it with embossing ink and stamp it into the center of the card. Repeat for each card.

7.  Sprinkle gold embossing powder over “aloha” and tap off any extra powder. Use a heat gun to melt the embossing powder and allow the card front to cool. Repeat for all the card fronts.

8.  (Optional) If desired add faux stitch marks with a black pen around the edge of the front of the card. An embossing pen and gold embossing powder can also be used to give it some more shimmer.

I also whipped up some envelope liners too. The cut file is also included with the others.

Disclosure: Erin is a paid consultant and has received  products from Brother to evaluate. However, the opinions expressed are entirely her own and based on her use of the products.

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy from these links it won't cost you a penny more but Erin will make a little bit of money (not enough for a pony). 

This week the Gelatos^® Color of the Week is Metallic Blueberry and that beautiful shimmery blue color reminds me of winter so I went through my Gelatos stash and found some great colors that go with it to use for an art journaling page. Besides Metallic Blueberry, I choose Elderberry and Metallic Grape. 

First off, here's how the page turned out:

Supplies: Gelatos - Metallic Blueberry, Elderberry, Metallic Grape; Glass Bead Glitter Gel, Gel Medium, Gesso, PITT Artist Pens - Raw Umber #180, Black #199, Tag, White Cardstock, Patterned Papers, Wreath Diecut (download it for FREE right here), Sewing Machine Stitching, Brush, Pallet Knife, Bird Stamp, Ribbon

Here's what I did to create it.

I collaged some papers onto the page using Gel Medium. Once it was dry I scribbled my Metallic Blueberry Gelato over it.

 

I sprayed on a spritz of water and used a foam brush to move the Gelatos over the page.

 Next, I mixed together some Glass Bead Glitter Gel and Metallic Blueberry Gelatos.

I applied it with a pallet knife randomly all over the page.

 

Then I mixed the Glass Bead Glitter Gel with Elderberry Gelatos and applied it to the page as well.

 Then I did the same thing with  Glass Bead Glitter Gel and Metallic Grape Gelatos.

Doesn't that look so yummy!! I added a touch of just plain  Glass Bead Glitter Gel and let the whole page dry.

Next, I used my ScanNCut to cut out a wreath (which you can download for free HERE) out of wood veneer paper, white washed it with some diluted Gesso, and then added a bit of  Glass Bead Glitter Gel all over it.

 Next, I took one of my favorite bird stamps and rubbed the Metallic Blueberry Gelatos over it. Then (and this is where the magic happens) I huffed on it a few times.  -You know, the way you do to fog up your glasses or a window. Then I stamped it onto a piece of white cardstock.   I love using the MISTI to stamp with since if the image wasn't dark enough I'd repeat the same process on top of it and it lines up perfectly!

 

I used a Raw Umber #180 PITT Artist Pen to color the bird's legs on the stamp and then stamped them onto the paper.

 

I repeated that process to create 3 birds.

 Next, I took an XS tip Black #199 PITT Artist Pen and made sketch marks around the birds.

And lastly, I printed out a nice wintery saying onto a tag and added the left over  Glass Bead Glitter Gel + Elderberry mixture around the edges.  After everything was dry I assembled it all together, adding some stitching on the bottom of the tag.

Wishing you many creative days this New Year!

Disclosure: Erin is a paid consultant and has received  products from Faber-Castell and Brother ScanNCut to evaluate. However, the opinions expressed are entirely her own and based on her use of the products.

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy from these links it won't cost you a penny more but Erin will make a little bit of money (not enough for a pony). 

I love making Christmas ornaments to add to the tree. Here's one using this week's Faber-Castell Gelatos^® Color of the Week: Iced Currant:

Supplies:

Gelatos - Iced Currant, Green Tea

Glaze Medium

Plastic Bulb Ornament

Pallet Knives

Spray Bottle filled with Water

Craft Mat

Muslin

Canvas

Alphabet Stamps

Ink

Fabric Glue

Adhesive Runner

Ribbon

Wire

Beads

Paper Towels

Heat Gun (optional)

Instructions:

Watch this video or follow the instructions below:

Start by cutting off about 1/4" chunk of Iced Current Gelatos with a pallet knife. Use the pallet knife to mash it down onto your craft mat.  

Mix in about 2 tablespoons of Glaze.

Use your pallet knife to drip it into the bulb.

Rotate the bulb so that the Gelatos + Glaze mixture covers it completely.

Allow it to sit upside down to help it spread out, then put it upright, placing the mixture back inside and allowing it to spread around again.  You may need to do this a few times to build up a good coverage.  When finished allow any remaining mixture to drain out and allow the bulb to dry.

Chop off about 1/4" of Green Tea Gelatos and add a few sprays of water to it as you mash it out.  Keep mixing it until you have a think consistency without any lumps.

Add in your muslin and stir and flip it all around in the diluted Gelatos to dye it.  Add more sprays of water if you need it.  It's helpful to use a pallet knife or two to do it so your hands don't turn green.

Once finished, spread it out onto some paper towels and remove some of the moisture. You can use a heat gun to dry it if you're in a hurry.

Use alpahabet stamps and ink to stamp a word or phrase onto a piece of canvas  and then adhere it to the green muslin fabric strip using fabric glue.

To adhere the fabric pieces onto the bulb it's helpful to use a dry adhesive on the back side of the fabric so it can be positioned onto the bulb. Use fabric glue to glue the ends together.

Reassemble the ornament pieces together and use wire and bead to embellish it.

And when it's finished, enjoy it on your tree or give it as a gift!

Disclosure: Erin is a paid consultant and has received  products from Faber-Castell to evaluate. However, the opinions expressed are entirely her own and based on her use of the products.

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy from these links it won't cost you a penny more but Erin will make a little bit of money (not enough for a pony). 

I'm gearing up for Thanksgiving and created some projects for a vignette at my house.  I applied a design cut out of gold vinyl to a plate, and created a little sign using stamps. Now, I always get a lot of emails and questions about cutting out stamps, so hopefully this tutorial will help you learn some new cutting techniques!

Plate Supplies:

• ScanNCut Machine and Accessories (The Spatula & Hook Tools are very handy for this project! Enter to win the set + more below!!!)
• Plate
• Gold Craft Vinyl
• Grid Transfer Paper
• FREE ScanNCut Cut File

Frame Supplies:

• ScanNCut Machine and Accessories
• Frame
• Leaf and Sentiment Stamps
• Gold Embossing Powder
• Embossing Ink
• Heat Gun
• Various Colored Inks
• Foam Adhesive
• Cream Cardstock

Here's video instructions of how to create both projects.

Plate Instructions:

1.Insert the cutting mat with gold craft vinyl adhered to it. Download the cut file and load it onto your machine and then add a test cut.  When you do a test cut it will cut that out first, and then pause so you can evaluate how it cut out. You can then begin cutting out the design or adjust your settings and do another test cut.  

2. After it has finished cutting remove the vinyl from the cutting mat and weed out the negative parts of the vinyl design.  It's supper handy to use your hook tool to get out the centers of letters.

3. Cut a piece of transfer paper to be the same size as your design, remove it's backing, and then apply it to your design and rub it firmly so the vinyl will stick to the transfer tape.

4. Remove the transfer paper and the design from the vinyl backing and apply it to the center of the plate.  Rub the transfer paper to adhere the vinyl onto the plate and then slowly peel up the transfer paper leaving the vinyl design on the plate.

Sign Instructions:

1. On a piece of cream cardstock stamp out various leaf patterns using different colors of ink.  Allow it to dry and then place the paper onto the cutting mat and insert it into the machine. Choose "Scan" then "Direct Cut" and scan in your stamped design.

2. Crop the design selecting just the patterns you want to cut out. Next, click on the "offset" feature button. This is where the magic happens of choosing if you want a border around your stamped image, have it cut right along the edge of the image, or cut inside the edge of the image.  Isn't it cool that you get to choose your preference! -I love it!

So for this project I cut the majority of the solid leaf patterns using an "inward offset" of "-0.02" and for the more open stamped images I used "0.00" so it would just around the edge.

Here is how it looks when it's cut out:

Enjoy decorating your home!

 #BrotherBloggerBash Giveaway

My friends at Brother ScanNCut is giving one very lucky blog reader a fun prize package! See the details and enter to win below!

Giveaway Duration - November 14th - 15th

Brother prize valued at approximately $70!

Brother prize package includes: 

• 1  set Spatula and Hook tools
• 1 roll of gold craft vinyl 
• 1 roll of silver craft vinyl
• 1 roll of black craft vinyl
• 1 roll of grid transfer paper

Official Rules: To enter to win, just comment below on this blog post by midnight PST on November 15, 2016. By commenting on this blog post you are agreeing to the official rules and you agree to provide your name and mailing address to Erin Bassett and Brother International for prize distribution. Prize fulfillment will be done by Brother International.

Eligibility requirements: Open to USA residents 18 and older only. 

A random winner will be chosen via random.org on November 16th, 2016 and contacted that day. If potential prize winner does not claim the prize in 48 hours or forfeits the prize, the prize will be re-awarded. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Void where prohibited by law.

 Comments are now closed and a winner will be notified.

Disclosure: Erin is a paid consultant and has received  products from Brother to evaluate. However, the opinions expressed are entirely her own and based on her use of the products.

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy from these links it won't cost you a penny more but Erin will make a little bit of money (not enough for a pony).