PB and J Video Tutorial

It's Monday which means it's time for a new PB and J Video Tutorial.  Today I'm sharing a fun coloring technique, combining Copic markers with Faber-Castell Art Grip Aquarelle Watercolor Pencils. 
Visit the Penny Black blog HERE to check out the video.

Oh, and I had several questions on the light box in my craft room tour.  I've updated that post with the information.  (near the end of the post, click HERE or scroll down to find it) Thanks for visiting! See ya tomorrow with our next featured artist.

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Brenda U. *Day 3*

Here is our last inspiration card by Brenda:

I love the bold statement of Brenda's big butterfly layered on the white and yellow paper.  The color combination is just so pleasing to the eye! And the coloring on her butterfly is stellar. Finally, those little pearls on the wings- perfection!

Here is my take:

The butterfly, Penny Black 2422J Blue Wings, was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Copic X-Press It Blending cardstock and was then colored with Copic markers.  After coloring and cutting out the butterfly, I distressed the entire thing with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.  I also added Walnut Stain Distress Ink around the outer edges of the wings.  Background papers by My Minds Eye (newsprint pierced and inked with Broken China Distress Ink).  Sentiment by Penny Black, 4070 Dreams Come True.

BIG thanks to Brenda for allowing me to share her beautiful cards.  She is such talented and sweet gal, it's been an honor! Here's a peek at another card set I'm sharing on the Mementos blog today:

http://www.ilovemementos.blogspot.com/

Thanks also to everyone for your comments about my lil' old craft room.  I have to admit I was a little nervous to share it, just because it isn't very fancy shmancy!  (Someday I would love a craft room that looks like it came out of Pottery Barn catalog, but for now I'm happy with a functional space.) I should have known that, as always, you wonderful gals would make me smile with your sweet comments. I am always blown away by your kindess.  Have a wonderful weekend. HUGS!

Craft Room Photo Tour

I always love seeing where other folks get creative, so today I thought I'd take you on a little tour of my craft room (don't worry, I'll be back tomorrow with another awesome card by the talented Brenda U!).  Last spring I moved from a spare bedroom into our den and I have to admit I love having the large space.  (Thanks hubby for moving my craft room 4 times since we've lived in this house...LOL!) While it's nothing fancy, it is definitely a happy place. :)

I do most of my creating in this portion of the room.  All of my most used tools and paper are kept within arms reach.

I store my most used Distress Inks in a 12 x 12 paper tray from the Mementos store. (thanks Lisa!)  These trays are also AWESOME for anyone who has to keep track of specific supplies used on projects.  As I work on a card, I add the supplies I use to the tray and then when I'm all done I can document my supply list and quickly put the supplies away.  Or if I have multiple projects going on at one time, I can keep everything organized by storing supplies and materials in each tray.

Here's a peek at my countertops and cupboards.  We purchased these at Lowes--so handy and very affordable.

 I store my Penny Black Mix and Match cardstock by color family in this paper organizer (thanks Dad!)and on top I keep track of paperwork (ugghh, paperwork...) in baskets.

And underneath one counter, between cupboards, are some old card catalog units that a school I taught in was giving away.  I soooo wish I had taken more, they are super handy.  Within these drawers are extra adhesives, glitters, some older stamps, Stickles, paint daubers, and other inks I use less frequently.

Around the corner is my punch storage.  This is actually an old bird cage holder.  Perfect for my punches and much quieter than the birds.  :)

Next, I have two white cabinets where I store some items for class, my finished cards, misc. supplies, and my Copics. Here's a peek inside.

Because my supplies and I travel to Mementos for class often, my most frequently used items are portable.  For example, I store my Copics in this handy craft tote, organized by color family. Inside the tote is a little basket, where I keep Copics that are ready to be refilled.

Speaking of being portable, right next to my desk is this rolling craft tote housing basic stuff like scissors, adhesive, etc.  It also holds a lot of my Faber-Castell items which I keep organized in pencil pouches.

Now on the other side of the room, you will find most of my "technical" equipment- here's the photo/light tent .

Around the corner you will find the area where I film my videos.  The camera stand actually came with the light tent.  It is intended to be attached to the table in front of the light tent, but what I've done here is attach it to this shelf next to my desk.  Then, when filming with the camcorder, my hands are directly below the camera.

To the right of the area where I film videos is my die cutting machine and my dies.  I store my dies (I keep Spellbinders in the original packaging for storage) in an old planter box. Oh, and if your die cutting machine moves around on your table, mesh shelf liners are perfect to keep it still while you crank it.

Finally, here is how I store my stamps.  Like most of the furniture in my room, this table has been repurposed from another room in the house.  It was purchased at Ikea and used to be our coffee table, but it works great for stamps now. 

My stamps are organized into baskets by categories (Christmas, Floral, Cutesy, Clear, etc.) and then labeled with a tag tied to the the basket with ribbon. The blue baskets on top contain stamps I am using in upcoming classes.

EDITED TO ADD : THIS is the light box/system I purchased.  LOVE it!  I still edit my photos using GIMP (free program you can download) but I really appreciate the freedom the light box system gives me in taking them the photo any time, day or night.

 

Well, thanks for joining me on this little tour.  I hope I haven't bored you to death! :)  If you've shared your craft space or organizing tips, I'd love to check it out-  just leave me a comment with a link. See you tomorrow with another gorgeous card by Brenda!

Oh, and I've got a few new cards on the Mementos blog today- here's a peek:

http://www.ilovemementos.blogspot.com/

Brenda U. *Day 2*

Hi folks! You're going to LOVE this card by Brenda, I just know it!

And here's my take:

I began by stamping Penny Black 4156K Star-Inspired with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink onto Copic X-Press It Blending cardstock.  The flower was then colored in with Copic markers.  To create the background I embossed Penny Black 40-048 Paisley Outline with white embossing powder and then applied Peeled Paint and Crushed Olive Distress Ink over the top.  Sentiment by Penny Black, 3393D Tiniest.

Thanks again for visiting. It means so much to me.

See you tomorrow with a special post- a little photo tour of my craft room... :)

Inspired by... Brenda U.

Today I'm very excited to announce that this week's featured artist is Brenda U!  She has an awesome BLOG and PHOTOSTREAM, both brimming with inspiration so be sure to check them out. :)  Here is our first inspiration card by Brenda:

I really love this overall design by Brenda.  The diagonal split in the background paper is so eye-catching! 

Here's my take.  This stamp is not the usual style I pick out but holy moly I had an AWESOME time coloring this guy in.  I'm hooked! 

I began by stamping Penny Black 40-088 Little Elf Finn with VersaFine ink and then heat embossing with clear embossing powder.  I then colored the image with Copics.  The outer edges of the cardstock was distressed with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.  The sentiment, also by Penny Black (30-079 Christmas with Mimi) was stamped with Versafine ink onto Spellbinders Shapeabilities Ribbon Banners.  The banner was inked with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink before stamping the sentiment.  Patterned paper by Basic Grey (Indie Bloom).

Thanks so much for popping by today.  If you head on over to the Mementos blog you can get a little peek at what we've got planned for this week....

PB&J Tutorial Video

Time for another PB&J video on the Penny Black blog (click HERE to visit and watch the video.)  This week we're playing with this awesome sketch by the talented Jenyfur:

Thanks for visiting. :) See ya tomorrow, my friends!

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