Tool Tip ~ Dremel Drill Block

Several people asked me what the block I was using to drill holes when I was using my Dremel in the photo below.



It's actually what's left from a wood mounted stamp that I unmounted!  I use the top side to place flat items that don't have a tendency to move alot when you're drilling them...



and I left the foam on the side that the rubber die used to reside.  The foam helps hold slippery or hard to hold items in place while I'm drilling. 



It's great because it's thick enough to protect my desk when I am drilling but not too large to make it a pain to store.  I just slide it under one of the shelves on my desk and pull it out whenever needed.  Best part is it was free and I don't have to feel bad about tossing it when I have drilled too many holes in it and no longer functional.

So there you go ~ a great idea to help protect your work surface without taking up lots of space or $'s!

Beautiful ~ Stickles & Liquid Pearls Card

Today I wanted to share a ... Beautiful... card with you today ~

It's a combination of plain old stamping, embossing, a little bit of Stickles Glitter Glue and some of the new Liquid Pearls! 

I love stamping lighter "ghost" images in the background then either embossing or highlighting the main image with other mediums.  In this case the stickles & Liquid Pearls.  It makes the main image really pop off the page. 

I hope you are having a great weekend.

Tomorrow I'll draw the winners for both the

February give-a-way

and the

 Get Inked Vintage Cupid Stamp Set.

Be sure to go over and sign up if you haven't already!!

Just For Fun Friday ~ A Wee Bit 'O Green!

Do you realize that it's less than a month until St. Pattie's Day?!?!? 

Well it is and it's time to pull out the stops and get into the Irish Groove of it all.  I've done just that with a couple St. Pattie's Day themed cards. 

I wish I could read Gaelic (I *think* that's what this writing is) so I knew what this background stamp said.  It's so beautiful I'm just sure it's something wonderful - LOL!!

Be sure to check out the Just For Fun Blog to see what the rest of the team has been up to this week!

More Charms!!

I have rec'd a few more packages of charms over the last couple days....

Mindy ~ LOVE your charms...both designs are great ~ I love tiny little bottles and these are just beautiful!  Thanks for the "charming" goodies - tee hee hee!!  The necklace is great...did you make that?  Way cool.

Kim ~ Awesome charms...all 3 sets!  I especially love the tri-ominoes!!!  I made some charms from some of these game pieces a couple years ago but they are hard to find! 

Cher ~ Your fuses are GREAT!!  Love the different colored beads you used.  Thanks so much for the very vintage goodies... and that lil ducky is hilarious!  He made me laugh :) 

It's getting so exciting seeing all of the fun charms you all are coming up with!!  I so can't wait to share the results with everyone!!

Altered Key Charms

Hi Everyone...  I want to thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and comforting words.  It's amazing how much reading each message and e-mail helps.  I went back into my craft room today for the first time since Monday and I have to say that inking up my fingers and creating is such a healing act.  I was able to plunge into today's project and forget everything else.  I'm a big time cry baby but I haven't shed a single tear since walking into that room...

on to today's project...

Altered Key Charm

I have always loved keys.  I don't really know why...maybe it's because they come in so many different styles and shapes or maybe it's the mystery of never knowing for sure what lock those keys opened.   Either way they have always been something that has fascinated me.  Several years ago I was lucky enough to stumble onto a GREAT deal... a 35lb tin FULL of all sorts of keys!  What fun it was to sort through them and share with other crafty friends.

NOTE: the key with a crown on the top is a very old hotel key that was never used!  How cool is that :)

Today I wanted to share a cool charm incorporating a few of those keys with my Altered Key Charms.  I will also be using the Twisted Wire & Paper Butterfly Wing Charms I shared with you earlier in the week.

As far as the supplies go it's pretty wide open.  You can embellish your key charms with just about anything you can think of.  Some of my favorite things are watch parts ~ gears, faces, hands, etc.; vintage/junk jewelry parts; faux gemstones; collage images; hardware bits; etc.   It's just so much fun to see what all you can lump on there!

You'll also need a good strong glue.  I like to use super glue or jewelry glue.  Brands are totally up to you...I use what I can find. 

Once you've gathered your keys and decorative goodies you're all set.  It's time to play!

I begin by laying various bits and pieces on the key to see what I want to use for each charm.  After I find a look I like I remove each item in sequence then begin gluing each piece to the key.

Depending on the various parts and pieces you use your charms could take on any number of looks... Steampunk, vintage, victorian, shabby chic, grunge, industrial, etc.

It's all up to you and the goodies you use!

And here are the charms I made today...

The next two Key Charms incorporate the Twisted Wire & Paper wings I made...

I still have one more charm but it wasn't finished when I took the pics so I'll share that with you another time.

So there you go...

another quick and easy

but oh so fun charm to try!

Be feel free to share links to your creations if you try this or any of the other charms I've shared with you!

1500!!

This is my 1500th post since I began Ink Stains back in November of 2007.

Doesn't seem like it's been that long ago but as they say time sure flies when you're having fun. 

So to celebrate 1500 I thought it would be fun to hear from you...

Tell me what you've liked, disliked... 

what you want to see more of / less of...

ideas...

suggestions...

is there a technique you'd like to see?

a challenge you'd like to propose?

I'd just love to hear what you think...

After all, I am doing this for you!

Everyone who posts will be entered to win a

$25.00 Gift Certificate to Queen Kat Designs

(and no, you don't have to just buy my stamps - lol!)

You will have until March 6th, 2011 to enter to win!

Good Luck Friends

and

here's to another 1500!!

Sad News - Sorry No Project Today

I just wanted to let you know that I won't have the time nor the will to finish the Twisted Wire and Paper Butterfly charm today...  My FIL passed away last night so it's been a roller coaster of emotions today.  I know it's for the best because he had suffered for a while now but it doesn't help all the feelings.

I'll be back tomorrow with the charm...

Thanks for understanding.

Twisted Wire & Paper Charms

Today I have a really fun and totally unique charm for you to try...

Twisted Wire and Paper Charms!

These babies are so much fun because no charm will ever be exactly the same and it uses items that are in your stash already!  When I started thinking about these charms I originally had in mind a leaf shape but as you will see the ideas grew from there.  You're not limited by the shapes I share below...the sky is the limit.  If you can dream it and twist the wire into that shape it's fair game!

NOTE: I was trying to hurry so some of the pics didn't turn out very good which is why there aren't many with this tutorial.  I will try to remake & take more pics possibly later this week.

Supplies:

Wire (any gauge)
Glossy Accents or Similar Medium
Paper Ephemera ~ Dictionary Pages, Book Pages, Sheet Music, Map Pieces, even pattern papers if you like.
Embellishments (optional) - seed beads, mini gears, glitter, etc.

Instructions:

1. Twist wire into desired shape.  I started off with a leaf shape but then I made a curly leaf, a bird wing and a couple sets of butterfly wings.

KEEP IN MIND: If you are going to use this wire & paper shape as an embellishment you don't need to worry about adding a hanger.  If it's going to be a charm be sure to add a loop in the wire for hanging.

2. After you have twisted the wire into the desired shape you will need to make sure it is pretty flat.  You can flatten the piece several different ways: 

* Place the wire shape on your work surface and stack several books on it and leave it for a couple hours until it flattens out and stays there.  

* Run it through your die cut machine with enough blocks/plates to ensure it gets smooshed flat.

* Bend it and manipulate it until it's pretty flat (that's what I did)

3. Lay the twisted wire pieces onto your paper ephemera. 

4. Fill each shape with Glossy Accents.  I found that it worked best if I ran a small bead of GA around the inside edges of the wire and let it dry for a couple minutes.  I then went back and filled in the entire piece.

Don't worry if some of the Glossy Accents runs out under the edges.  You can cut off the excess later.

 

5. (optional) If you would like to add a bit more interest to your charm/embellishment you can do so quite easily.  After you have filled the wire shape with GA, let it dry for a minute or so then drop in desired extras.  Here I am using watch gears but you could also add seed or micro beads, glitter, tiny screws, faux gemstones, seed pearls, etc... 

6. Let the charms dry completely.   You may be tempted to mess with them before they are dry...DON'T!  You could easily mess it up and have to start all over again.  (don't ask how I know this!)  Leave it set until the Glossy Accents is completely clear.  Several hours to over night is best.

7. Trim the charms from the paper ephemera.  Cut as close to the outside of the wire edges as possible. You can easily trim through excess Glossy Accents as long as your shears are sharp.  I like to use my Fiskars Micro Tips because they stay very sharp and can get in all of the small areas around the twisted wire.

and here is how they turned out....

(backs)

Geared Wing...

And here are the butterfly wings. 

I have a plan for these that I'll be sharing with you in a day or so ;) 

I think you'll like where they end up!

Told you it was easy!

Now it's your turn!

Say Yes to Amber's Dress!

In addition to the Direct TV/Internet guys come today we had a very serious family issue arise today so I didn't get to work in my craft room at all. 

BUT, I did want to share our own version of Say Yes to the Dress!  I have to tell you I had lots of fun...it's just like the show but Amber had about a dozen ladies there to support and I think confuse her - LOL!!  Everyone had opinions but in the end nobodies opinion outweighed her inner joy when she finally made her decision.

Having 2 boys I have to tell you I've never set foot into a bridal shop before so this was a totally new and unique experience for me.  (When I got married I wore my Mom's dress...which fit me perfectly nearly 20 years after she wore it.)  Anyway, it was VERY busy when we arrived...lots and lots of girls trying on not only bridal gowns but formal wear, brides maid and prom dresses....not to mention all the little kids running around.  

I am so proud of her...she looked great in everything she tried on!  She's 5 months preg (due 6-25) and just kept going and going.  Anyway, without further delay here are the dresses she tried on (in order)....

Dress #1

Dress #2

Dress #3

Dress #4

Dress #5

Dress #6

Dress #7

Dress #8

So, which did you like the best?

Which one do you think I liked the best??

Which one do you think she picked as "THE" dress???

I think since this is such a special occasion it calls for a little give-a-way! 

Vote and enter (by posting a comment) for your favorite dress and you'll be entered to win a bag of goodies from my stash!  This goodie bag could be filled with a combination of ribbon, ephemera, embellishments, rubber stamps of course and whatever else I decide to toss in.

You'll have until March 3rd to post your vote to be entered to win!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I wanted to take a minute and wish you all a very

Happy Valentine's Day!!

We're getting a new internet service today.  I'm not sure when I'll be able to post the project for today but I'll be back at some point.

BTW, we did have success with the dress quest!  I'll have more on that later...I took LOTS of pics :)