#2 - How 2 Tuesday: Easy Heat Embossing

Are really cool technique embrace by some Scrappers and Stampers is "Heat Embossing".  This technique creates a textured raised dimension to your stamped image.  Some shy away from Heat Embossing because it appears to be pretty over whelming because of the different steps but it's actually easy as pie and VERY rewarding. 







Supplies U Needed:  Heating Tool (a hair dryer is not an option)Embossing PowderVersa Mark Ink Pad
Wood Block or Acrylic Stamp & Mounting BlockWhite paper and a Tiddy Tray

Now you know the basic of Heat Embossing, give it a try. Experiment with different color and patterned paper.  It's so neat! I hope you enjoy the tutorial.  Post your projects that you used Heat Embossing as a technique.  I would love to see you what you're making. 

Have a Kraftastic Day!

Candice

#1 - How 2 Tuesday: Color 101

Some have been blessed with the gift of being of color technique, while others have to work at it.  When scrappbooking, picking the right colors can be some what of a challenge.  But always remember work the colors, don't let the colors work you.   Pulling some of your color inspiration from the photos you are scrappin' or the season when your photo was taken can be a great start in helping you select the perfect papers and embellishments for your page. As a little assistance here's a little Color Vocabulary 101 to get you started in life as a scrapper...

The beginnings of the color starts with red, blue, or yellow.  These are known as your Primary Colors.  Primary colors in their purest essence cannot be mixed or formed by any combination of other colors. All other colors, shades, and hues are derived from these 3 basic colors.   Each color thereafter is the result of mixing a combination of those three colors.  

Primary Colors: Red, Blue, & Yellow

Your next level of colors is called Secondary Colors, this is your orange, green, and purple.  They are formed by equally mixing two primary colors.  

Secondary Colors: Purple, Green, & Orange

Neutral Colors are considered to be colorless.  Black, white, and grey are true naturals.  For scrappers and card makers Kraft is also a colorless color.  The great thing about using neutral colors it that it provides a resting place for the eye and creates color definition on your scrappage.

Neutral Colors: Black, White, Gray, Kraft

 
Any pure color can be made darker or lighter by shading or tinting.  Shading is created when black is added to pure color.  Tinting is when white is added to the pure color.

Remember portion control is important you don’t want to go in total color overload. It will take away from the important part of your page, the layout, and most important the memory. You want you layout to be interesting and well-balanced. A trick that will help offset the colors you select is mixing in neutral colors like black, white, and my favorite kraft.  One things for sure you don't have to be an art teacher to be fluent in correct color terminology and how to apply them. 


Happy Tuesday!

Hott Off the Kraftie Press: Jo-Ann Fabric Agrees to $1.6 Billion BuyOut

An industry leader in specialty fabrics & craft retailer JoAnn ,Inc has just release that they have entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired be an affiliate private equity firm Leonard Green & Partners, L.P., for about $1.6 billion in cash. Jo-Ann's board unanimously approved the deal, but the company is allowed to seek alternative proposals through Feb. 14. The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of 2011 if the majority of Jo-Ann stockholders approve the transaction.
After all the dollars & cents I think the biggest concern of all is what’s next? Will things at one of our favorite craft store change for the better? I’m keeping my fingers crossed the better.

Mommy You Got Mail!

This morning my Son was excited to inform me that I had a small package at the door.  Immediately I got nervous. My first thought was OMGee did I drop some of our mail at the door last night? With all this snow out it will be wet or worst I won’t find it til Spring.  Needless to say is was a well packaged envelope holding my Scrapbook Design and U Certificate and Teachers Manual!  How excited am I totally, I am officially ready to help all you fellow scrapbookers reminisce and relive memories!  Starting in January I will be teaching at JoAnn Fabric in Homewood and Micheal’s Craft Store in Merriville.  Looking to take scrapbooking to another level sign up today!   

So what do you want for your Birthday?

A couple of weeks ago I celebrated my last "Twenty Something" birthday.  It was a joy and a birthday I would never forget.  Days prior my Hubby called me at work and said in a skies the limit tone, "So Babe' what do you want for your birthday?" *silence* I pondered and told him I had to call back, I wasn't sure of what I wanted that would be the perfect cap off to my 20's.  I called him back and said" My Kraft Room". GUESS WHAT, without hesitation he said, "Okay, well let's get the ball rolling."

Sure enough without procrastination we met with the contractor, selected my counter tops & cabinets, and got the ball rolling. Here's how it all happened... 

Phase 1:Shopping - My Favorite Part

It was fun selecting the counters and cabinets w/my husband. Can you see my happy face? lol...  ALL smiles started to fade when I thought everything wouldn't fit the car.  As I kept my cool, my husband and some of Menards hard working staff were able to get it together....  Then the smiles returned. lol :)

Phase 2: Clean Out - What a task...  It seemed like every time I tidied of my krafting space it was a mess again.  No real place to put anything.  I starting working at my kitchen table.  Which meant if I had a project going on, we were either going out to dinner or everyone had to wait until I cleared to the table of ALL my crafts and gadgets. lol 

Thank God for help.  I had 4 years of shredding to do. I will never get behind AGAIN.  Hubby took care of the rest. 

Phase 3: The Construction - The Easy Part.  I just sat back, watched, and took pictures.  I was too excited seeing it come together. 

 

 Phase 4: Finishing Touches

In progress....  I can't say any more or all just spill ALL the beans.  I'll keep you posting on the revealing date. 

My First Blog

Hello World!! Welcome to "Adorable Designs Blog Spot"! Yes it's 5 in the morning, but I'm so excited to finally launch my 'Blog Spot' I just had to post something before calling it a night. Since this is my very first blog I figure why wait til morning, heck it is morning...lol

AD's Blog Spot will be full of all sorts of DIY Krafts, Party Ideas, Kreative Kraftie Inspirations and more. Tell all your friends about us, there will be something for everyone.

Welcome and I look forward to sharing my gifts with you.
~Candice