BLOG CANDY!!!

608 Comments February 21, 2009 zindorfstamps

I am teaching this weekend and have been spending a whole lot of time preparing for workshops and have neglected my blog a bit. So I wanted to treat one of you with a fabulous stamp sheet by Innovative Stamp Creations. This New Stamp sheet is called Delicate Roses.

To throw your hat in the ring to win this stunning stamp sheet, please leave a comment on this post for me to enter you. If you are getting this blog update by e-mail you will need to click this link and then leave a comment at the end of the post: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2009/02/21/blog-candy-2/

To view more Innovative Stamp Creations stamp sheets at their online store just click this link: http://www.innovativestampcreations.com/ischomepage.html

ANNOUNCEMENT! I have added Beginner & Advanced Brayer Workshops to my calendar in Fort Smith, Arkansas for April 17 & 18! To register, please e-mail me at mzindorf@aim.com to get all the details.

My workshops are sold out today in Dayton, Ohio so I better get moving!

May your weekend be warm and cozy!

Until my next post. . .. . . .. .

Hugs,

Michelle

I need a Chef – Tutorial #178

23 Comments February 18, 2009 zindorfstamps

Today I created a little different scene for you using a masking technique with Post it Notes. Grab your favorite beverage and hang out a while with me.

Let’s get started. 🙂

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Voil`a & Voil`a to Go

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Basic Black & Pumpkin Pie

Ink: Stampin’ Up Kiwi Kiss, So Saffron, Always Artichoke & Basic Black

Accessories: Sponges, Post it Notes, Stampin’ Up Markers, Black Ribbon, Copper Brads & a Brayer

Please don’t forget you can order your Stampin’ Up products from me 24-7 from this link: http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net or e-mail me at mzindorf@aim.com if you are within the United States.

Stamped the Chef with Basic Black ink on a 4.5″ x 6″ piece of Whisper White card stock.

Stamped the coffee cup with basic black ink.

Stamped the Chef and the coffee cup again on post it notes and cut them out to use as mask. Try to stamp as much of the image as you can on the sticky part of the post it note. When cutting your mask out cut inside the design area a bit so you don’t end up with a white shadow around your image after coloring in the background.

Sponged So Saffron ink all over the background of the card stock using a pouncing up and down motion to get a speckled look.

Sponged Kiwi Kiss ink on the card stock, not covering the So Saffron ink all the way.

Masked the top of the card stock with a post it note right over the other masks.

Brayered Kiwi Kiss ink at the bottom of the card stock.

Sponged Basic Black ink at the edge of the post it note mask.

Removed all the masks.

Colored the chef’s skin, cup and outlined his suit with a Creamy Caramel marker.

Did some outlining with a Close to Cocoa Marker.

Colored his scarf and part of the cup with a Pumpkin Pie marker.

Outlined the scarf and the detail on the cup with a Really Rust marker.

Colored the tray and the bottom of the chef’s feet with a black marker.

Sponged Always Artichoke around the outside of the card stock.

Sponged Basic Black ink around the edge of the card stock not covering the Always Artichoke ink entirely. If you get really dark around the edge of your card stock the lighter center of the card stock pops!

Added a few simple layers and stamped the sentiment with Basic Black ink. Added the ribbon and 3 copper brads.

Here it is finished measuring 5″ x 6.5″.

I hope this tutorial has inspired you to try masking with post it notes. It is an easy way to create a scene.

P.S. I have updated my sales page with more retired Stamp Sets.

May you be content in whatever you are doing today!

Until my next post. . . . . . . . .

Hugs,

Michelle

Link to my Stampin’ Up website were you can order all of your must have Stampin’ Up products from me 24-7: http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net

Here is a link to all of my tutorials: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar

Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Swap Card – Tutorial #177

26 Comments February 17, 2009 zindorfstamps

I found out it is OK to show a tutorial on my swap card so here it is for you.

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up “Branch Out”

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Baja Breeze & Creamy Caramel

Ink: Stampin’ Up Baja Breeze, Creamy Caramel, Really Rust, Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss, Going Gray

Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note Die, Brayer, Clear embossing powder and a heat gun, Copper Brads

Please don’t forget you can order your Stampin’ Up products from me 24-7 from this link: http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net or e-mail me at mzindorf@aim.com if you are within the United States.

Cut my Whisper White Card stock using the Big Shot Die Cut Machine and the Top Note Die.

Stamped the tree with a Going Grey Craft ink and heat embossed it using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Brayered Baja Breeze ink at the top of the card stock.

Tore the very edge of the sticky part of a post it note and used it as a mask to create my hills.

Sponged on Going Grey ink.

Moved the post it note and sponged on Mellow Moss ink.

Sponged Always Artichoke ink right at the post it note edge.

Removed the post it note mask and sponged Creamy Caramel ink at the bottom of the card stock.

Sponged Really Rust ink on the right bottom corner of the card stock.

Adhered it to a couple of simple panels of card stock and added two copper brads.

Here is the finished card measuring 5.5″ x 4.25.

May your day be filled with peaceful scenes and sounds.

Until my next post. . . . . . . . .

Hugs,

Michelle

Link to my Stampin’ Up website were you can order all of your must have Stampin’ Up products from me 24-7: http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net

Here is a link to all of my tutorials: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar

Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Swap Card

36 Comments February 16, 2009 zindorfstamps

Hello there! I thought I would share a swap card I have been working on all day. Now I remember why I don’t do multiples of cards, lol.

I did take pictures of the process and will post a tutorial if it is within the swap rules. I will check it out and post the tutorial if I can.

My heavens, I have to mention that I already have quite a few spots filled for the Buffalo, Minnesota workshops June 5 & 6 that I had just barely mentioned on an earlier post. It is on my calendar now. If you are in that area I would love to meet you! E-mail me at mzindorf@aim.com for details.

The spots are getting limited for the Wheaton, Illinois workshops, March 13 & 14. There are a few spots left in Covington, Indiana for May 16 & 17 also.

I have even more news to share. . . . . . .I am now a Stampin’ Up Demonstrator. If you see any of Stampin’ Up’s great products (such as the set I used for the card above “Branch Out”) and you just have to have them, please e-mail me or order directly online from me 24-7 from my Stampin’ Up website at http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net

Sorry, this post turned into a commercial, lol. Hopefully I will be back with a grand tutorial tomorrow.

Hope everyone is staying happy, healthy and warm today.

Until my next post.. . . . . . . . .

Hugs,

Michelle

Lone Bird – Tutorial #176

25 Comments February 14, 2009 zindorfstamps

I have fell in love with this Innovative Stamp Creations Stamp Sheet “Tranquil”. It has these great flower stamps that come with it too, but I chose to make my scene today a winter one. If you want to check out Innovative Stamp Creations’ site here is the link: http://www.innovativestampcreations.com/ischomepage.html

Also, I haven’t posted it to my calendar yet, but guess who is going to be holding workshops in Buffalo, MN in June? I cannot wait! If you are interested send me an e-mail at mzindorf@aim.com and I will give you all of the details.

By the way, I updated my sales page and added ten more Stampin’ Up retired stamp sets. Here is the link for that: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/things-for-sale/

Ready for this quick tutorial? Let’s get started.

Supplies:

Stamps: Innovative Stamp Creations “Tranquil”

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Basic Black and River Rock

Ink: Adirondack ink, Pitch Black, Pebble & Lake Mist

Accessories: Stampin’ Up Word Window Punch, Sponge, Brads, Brayer

Brayered Lake Mist ink on the top 2/3rds of a piece of 3″ x 6″ Whisper White card stock.

Stamped the twig stamp a few times in Pebble ink. Remember with unmounted stamps you can bend them to make them different in shape when sticking them on your acrylic block.

Covered the bottom 1″ of the card stock with a scrap piece of paper and stamped the twig much lower on the card stock. Sorry I missed taking the picture of the actual stamping.

Turned the scrap piece of paper around so it is masking the top of the card stock and sponged Pebble ink at the edge of the mask.

Un-masked the card stock and stamped the twig again. This time bending the stamp quite a bit and stamped in with Black ink.

Stamped the little twig so it connected to the larger one with black ink.

Stamped the bird with black ink so it is sitting on the tree.

Sponged Pebble ink around the outside edge of the card stock.

Punched two Window punches out of black card stock. I held them together and cut the curved end off of one side of both at the same time so they would be the same size.

Added simple panels of card stock and added the punches and a couple of brads and here you have the finished card measuring 5″ x 6.5″.

May your weekend be pure delight!

Until my next post. . . . . . . . . . . .

Hugs,

Michelle

to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar

Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/

By the Golden Pond – Tutorial #175

31 Comments February 10, 2009 zindorfstamps

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Lovely as a Tree

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Basic Black & More Mustard

Ink: Stampin’ Up So Saffron, Always Artichoke, Real Red, Basic Black, Really Rust & More Mustard

Accessories: Post it notes, Black marker, Brayer & Sponges

Brayered So Saffron Ink all over a 4″ x 5.5″ piece of Whisper White card stock.

Brayered More Mustard ink at the top of the card stock.

Tore some post it notes to mask the sky area, the road and the pond. Leave the sticky part of the post it note on your mask.

Brayered Really Rust over the unmask portion of the card stock.

Sponged dots of Real Red ink around the ground area.

Sponged some dots of Always Artichoke ink around the ground area and edges of the post it note masks.

Heavily sponged Basic Black ink at the horizon line edge of the post it note and a bit around the road mask.

Removed masks.

Inked my tree stamp up, but only put ink on the trees, not the ground portion of the stamp.

Stamped the trees. See how they do not have trunks.

Put the trunks of the trees in with a black marker.

Sponged some really rust ink around the road and the pond to soften the hard lines.

Sponged More Mustard ink heavily at the top of the sky and sponged some More Mustard ink on the road and the pond.

Held a piece of card stock on for a mask and stamped the very tips of the tree stamp at the bottom of the pond to look like brush.

Assembled the main image panel with some simple black and More Mustard panels and here you have the finished card measuring 5″ x 6.5″.

I hope the tutorial has inspired you to see what objects you can put in your scenes using torn post it notes.

May your day be golden!

Until my next post. . . . . . . . . . .

Hugs,

Michelle

Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar

Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/

To a Warmer Place – Tutorial #174

17 Comments February 7, 2009 zindorfstamps

Here in Ohio we have had a bit of snow of late. I am ready for some much warmer weather so I created it with this card. Don’t you wish you were there sitting under an umbrella, drinking your favorite drink and listening to the Ocean? Ahhh, I think I need a vacation in a much warmer place, lol. A girl can dream, right?

The stamp set I used today is another I am saying farewell to. It is Stampin’ Up 2005 Do the Hula. If you are interested in any of the retired sets I have for sale, please check out my sales page at this link: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/things-for-sale/

One more thing before we get started on the tutorial. The Saturday morning Beginner Brayer Workshop in Wheaton, IL on March 14th has only one more spot available. There are still a few spots open for the morning and afternoon Beginner Brayer workshops in Wheaton, IL on March 13th. You can check out all of the locations I will be at this link: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar/

Now on to warmer weather, lol.

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Do the Hula

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, So Saffron, Old Olive & Tempting Turquoise

Ink: Stampin’ Up Not Quite Navy, Creamy Caramel, So Saffron, Tempting Turquoise & Basic Black

Accessories: Stampin’ Up Markers, Sponge, Brayer, Versamark Pad and Marker, Clear embossing Powder and a heat gun, Ribbon, Gold Brads, Stampin’ Up Photo Corner Punch

Stamped the Hula Girl and the Tree by first loading the stamps with Versamark and then Basic Black Dye based ink before stamping them. Heat embossed both images using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Note: If you use black pigment ink you do not have to use the Versamark with it. I only do this method because I use all Dye Based inks and embossing powder doesn’t stick well to it.

Colored the girls skin and the tree with Creamy Caramel marker.

Colored the leaves of the tree and her skirt with Certainly Celery marker.

Added some darker tones to the Leaves of the tree and her skirt with an Old Olive Marker.

Blended the greens together a bit by going over them with the Certainly Celery marker again.

Added Close to Cocoa marker to the left side of the tree and the shadows on her skin.

Blended her skin and the tree browns together by going over the hard lines between the two colors with the Creamy caramel marker.

Colored her top with a Real Red marker.

Colored her flowers with a Pretty in Pink Marker.

Added Rose Red marker to the center of the flowers.

Colored her instrument with a Close to Cocoa marker.

Added Chocolate Chip marker to the under side of the instrument.

Colored over both the tree and the Hula Girl with a Versamark Marker and heat embossed the images using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Now the fun begins, at least for me anyway.

Brayered So Saffron ink at the bottom of the card stock.

Oops! Missed a shot. I flipped the card stock around and brayered Tempting Turquoise at the top 2/3rds of the card stock.

Masked the sky area of the card stock with a Post It Note.

Sponged Not Quite Navy in a circular motion at the edge of the mask, just going onto the card stock.

Removed the mask.

Brayered Creamy Caramel ink at the very bottom of the card stock to give the sand some shading.

Added a few layers of card stock, brads, ribbon and two corner punches and here you have the finished card measuring 6 5/8″ x 5 1/8″.

I hope this inspires you to warm up your summer stamps today.

May your day be filled with warm thoughts.

Until my next post. . . . . . . . . .

Hugs,

Michelle

Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar

Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Spring Bouquet MZ – Tutorial #173

35 Comments February 5, 2009 zindorfstamps

I am still saying good by to some very old stamp friends of mine. For instance this one 😦 Stampin’ Up’s Spring Bouquet from 2000. Check out my sales page I’ve been trying to put more Stampin’ Up retired sets on there daily. Here is the link: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/things-for-sale/

Oh yeah, do you believe it, I actually used some embellishments today! If you follow this blog regularly you know that doesn’t happen often, lol.

Let’s get started.

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Spring Bouquet

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Rose Red & Certainly Celery

Ink: Stampin’ Up Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise & Certainly Celery

Accessories: Versamark Pad and Marker, Stampin’ Up Markers, White Gel Pen, Ribbon, Silver Brads, Brayer, Clear embossing powder Heat gun, flower punchers

Stamped image by first loading the stamp with Versamark and then with Basic Black Dye ink and heat embossed the image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Colored the stems and leaves with a Certainly Celery marker.

Colored the darker areas of the leaves with an Old Olive Marker.

Colored the bottoms of the flowers with a Pretty in Pink Marker.

Added a touch of Rose Red marker to the bottoms of the flowers.

Colored the watering can with a Baroque Burgundy Marker.

Colored the darker areas of the watering can with a Real Red marker.

Colored the butterfly with a Barely Banana marker.

Colored over the entire image with a Versamark marker. Be sure to color your lightest colors first and then middle colores and then dark colors. They will smear onto one another. I clean my Versamark marker constantly by coloring on a scrap piece of paper to try not to transfer color where I don’t want it.

Heat emboss the entire image.

Example of how much I clean my Versamark marker.

Brayered Certainly Celery ink at the bottom of the card stock.

Brayered Tempting Turquoise ink at the top of the card stock.

Assembled my layers and added ribbon, hmmmm this card needs more!

Punched some flowers and added them to the card front with Silver Brads as centers. Now that’s better.

Added a bit of White Gel pen lines and dots and here it is finished measuring 5.25″ square.

I hope this brings a bit of Spring to you today!

Until my next post. . . . . . . . .

Hugs,

Michelle

Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar

Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Cutting Up!

25 Comments February 2, 2009 zindorfstamps

Whew! Things are getting a bit overwhelming here at the Zindorf homestead. So much to do, so much to think about. The job search still continues for us, but we are doing fine. FRAZZLED, but fine. Sometimes I just want to hold on to the chair I’m in and ask the world to stop spinning so I can get caught up, lol. But instead when things get tough the tough get cutting! At least I did today since I am under the weather also. I received a package of new stamp sheets from Innovative Stamp Creations and spent a bit of time cutting them up. If you want to check out their stamp line here is the link: http://www.innovativestampcreations.com/ischomepage.html

I’m just showing you the back sides of the stamps in this picture. I’m such a tease! I think you will love their new line that will be released this month.

If you have never used unmounted stamps before and want to know how to prepare them check out this previous post I did on the subject:

http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2008/08/06/tool-time-red-rubber-stamp-sheets/

Oh heck, how about a little sneak peek of a card project that I will be doing in my Beginner Brayer Workshops that are coming up.

What you haven’t signed up yet! Here is the link to my Brayer Workshop Calendar:

http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar/

Hey, I hope you are feeling your very best today.

Huge Hugs,

Michelle

Windy Sunset Pine – Tutorial #172

20 Comments February 1, 2009 zindorfstamps

Hello Everyone! I hope you have been having a very relaxing weekend. My husband and I have been kicking back watching the mini series John Adams this weekend. Great show and great United States history lesson at the same time.

I’ve also added a few more retired Stampin’ Up stamp sets to my sales page that can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/things-for-sale/

I have a couple of hundred sets I will be putting on the sales page little by little. So hard to part with them. Check it out frequently if you are interested.

OK, a little about today’s tutorial. I’ve done scenes like this before with this flourish, but not with this color combo. I have been so inspired by our winter sunsets here in country and all of the snow. This tree is over stamped with Pumpkin Pie ink to make it look back lite. Follow along and you will see.

Let’s get started. 🙂

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Lovely As A Tree & Baroque Motifs

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Basic Black, More Mustard & Baja Breeze

Ink: Stampin’ Up Not Quite Navy, Really Rust, More Mustard, Baja Breeze, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Riding Hood Red

Accessories: Versamark Pad, Brayer, Fine Detail Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Not Quite Navy Marker, White Gel Pen, Sponges

Stamped the tree by first loading the stamp with Versamark and then Basic Black ink before stamping it on a 4″ x 5.5″ piece of Whisper White card-stock. Heat embossed the image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Stamped the flourish first by loading the stamp with Versamark and then with Baja Breeze ink before stamping it. Heat embossed the image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Brayered on More Mustard ink.

Brayered Pumpkin Pie ink not covering the More Mustard ink entirely.

Brayered Really Rust ink not covering the Pumpkin Pie ink entirely.

Brayered on Riding Hood Red at the very top of the card stock.

Filled in some gaps in my embossed flourish with a White Gel pen.

Sponged Not Quite Navy around the entire piece of card stock. Also sponged very lightly a little Not Quite Navy ink under the tree for a shadow.

Over Stamped just the tree, not the truck by just putting ink on the tree part, omitting the truck of the tree. I also stamped it a bit higher than the original tree image was stamped.

Closer look.

Sponged a bit of Pumpkin Pie ink in the middle of the tree.

Added White outline to some of the flourishes.

Decided to darken the middle of the tree a bit by sponging some black ink on it.

Added dots of White gel pen to the tree to create a snowy look.

Outlined a few of the flourishes on the opposite side of the White outline with a Not Quite Navy marker.

Added a few simple layers and here is the finished card measuring 5.25″ x 6.75″.

I hope this tutorial has inspired you to look at your surroundings and be greatly inspired by the beauty.

May all your skies be of a beautiful hue.

Until my next post.. . . . . . . . . .

Hugs,

Michelle

Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar

Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/