Monday 7 September 2015

IZink Ink Cards

Created a follow up video showing how I used IZink Ink backgrounds that I created to make several different cards. Click here to see the video.

Steven

Sunday 6 September 2015

Izink Inks- Fantastic!!

I just discovered this new product from France (by way of Clearsnap). These are pigment inks that work on almost any surface - paper, wood, metal, ceramic, metal). The colours are beautiful and a little goes a long way. We have them at Class Act in Oshawa but click here to check out my YouTube Video. If you are a card maker, a scrapbooker or a mixed media artist, these inks are a must have!


Steven



Wednesday 2 September 2015

Hot Foil Your Christmas Cards!



So in my last post, you may remember I mentioned the Heatwave Pen Tool from We R Memory Keepers that is used for adding foil to your projects. You will also remember that I panned that product. Well, I have found something better for adding a little bling in foil to your projects. The Minc! 

If you don't own a Minc but do own a heat laminator, you can apply heat transfer foil to your projects. Using Heartfelt Creations "Sparkling Poinsettia" rubber stamps and dies along with heat transfer foil and heat laminator, I created some very beautiful effects. Click here to see the video. 

The Minc machine will do the same thing so probably worth the investment if you do not own a heat laminator.

Steven

Posted Two New Videos

I have posted to YouTube two new videos.

The first video is continuing my, what may now seems as a, series on storage and decor. Check out the video here which will explain how I am now storing my metal dies and using them as decorative elements in my studio.




I have also posted a very long video showing me completing, from start to finish, an Art Journal Page. This is in anticipation of teaching and forming a group in the new year for people who would like to work in Mixed Medium and create Art Journals at Class Act. Click here to see the video.

We R Memory Keepers - Heatwave Pen - Starter Kit
One last note: I purchased the We R Memory Keeper Heatwave Tool recently. It is supposed to transfer heat foil to a project. You can look up videos on YouTube if you have never hear of this tool before. I was very disappointed with it. Yes you can write with it but it does not transfer the foil very well no matter what I tried. The final result, in my opinion, is very unprofessional looking. The best thing I can say about this tool is, that if you are looking for a sort of distressed look in your foiling, then this might be the tool for you. You can make up your own mind. Click here to see a review of the tool from another consumer (who I do not know) who has had the same experience as me.

Steven

Saturday 22 August 2015

Rant: Food on Facebook

I warned you that this Blog would go beyond my usual crafting related stuff. My first Rant has to do with people on Facebook who post pictures of what they are eating. Now, many of these people are my friends so I am not coming down on them in a negative manner- I just want them to know that you make me very hungry! 

At first I did not see the point in posting pictures of your meals but then again I post pictures of my crafting projects so I suppose it is much the same thing. I may not be all that interested in what you are currently eating, but you are probably not that interested in what I am crafting. So fair is fair (whatever that means). 

I do have a couple of friends who take the art of cooking serious and they even have a great blog about food which is both entertaining and informative. Click here to read it.

So I guess this is not much of a rant; but I do want you foodies out there to be aware of how hungry you make the rest of us so don't be surprised if we show up on your door step with our plate in hand. Feed us Seymour!

This is a picture of the great smoked roast my friends (who have the food blog mentioned above) cooked recently. God that looks soooooooo gooooooooood!

Steven
 

Thursday 20 August 2015

Embellishment Storage and Decore



Just re-organized all my embellishments. Now they are neatly arranged and add to the decor of my studio. I can see what I have so I can use them. Before, the embellishments were in a drawer so they were sort of out of sight out of mind. Now I know what I have and I should be able to use them up- at least that is my theory.

Click here to see the video of my new arrangement.

Monday 17 August 2015

My Raskog!

Yes it is my Raskog! I have been watching a lot of videos on You Tube about this little storage cart from Ikea that I had to have one for storing all my Mixed Media stuff.

The colour was not what I really wanted but then again, it brightens up my studio (they were out of the dark gray).

There were a few tense moments when I was putting it together (can we say "some assembly required"?- but then again, how do you think they get this thing into a two inch square box!!) but the effort was worth it.

I now have Mixed Media on wheels.





Steven Bland
Check Out My You Tube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/stevenbland


Saturday 15 August 2015

Email from Tim!

I sent Tim Holtz, who you know I think of as a God, and email suggesting a new add on for the Vagabond. Well Tim wrote back to me a very nice email. All I need now, is to meet him face to face! Yes I am a little star struck when it comes to Tim, but he has been a great creative inspiration to me and I love all his products. If it has Tim's name on it, you know I have it or want it! Maybe I am a little obsessive- just a little. LOL 

Steven

Tuesday 11 August 2015

Irresistible Sprays!

This is a new product (well, at least new to me!) and I am loving it!! Irresistible Colour Texture Sprays come in over 35 different colours and leave texture and shine on your page. 

Click here to see my demo video of this product. 

We have it at Class Act in Oshawa. 

If you are into mixed media or like creating unique backgrounds for your scrapbook layouts and cards then you need to try this product!



Monday 10 August 2015

Check Out the Class Act You Tube Channel

Recently I started a You Tube Channel for the Scrapbooking Store - Class Act - that I work at (yes never end a sentence in a preposition - that is from my old life as an English Teacher- so sue me!).

On this Channel, I highlight new products, offer tips and tricks and sometimes capture a few moments from one of our classes.

Click here to see "Class Act- The Movie" (just for fun) and if you are interested in checking out our You Tube Channel, click here.

Of course I also have my own channel on You Tube. Click here to check it out.

Steven

Class Act - A Great Store!

I thought I should highlight the store I am working for (part time) in my city (Oshawa, Ontario Canada).

I have been working here now for about a year and a half and I absolutely love it. It keeps my up to date with the trends in Scrapbooking and Card Making and it gives me access to the newest products- in fact - I pretty much just hand back my pay cheque to my boss since I use most of it for product purchases!

The name of the store is Class Act and as I have already mentioned, we are located in downtown Oshawa Ontario Canada.



Carol Harrison is the owner of the store and she is one talented and creative lady! She creates most of the rubber stamps we sell in the store and offers a great variety of Card Making and Scrapbooking classes which are very popular. Her easy going and very friendly personality seems to attract a large number of customers who are really more like friends to us.

Click here to see a You Tube Video about our Store and if you are in the area, drop in- you will not be disappointed.

Steven


Re-Activating This Blog

HI Everyone: well I have had this Blog space for a while but to be honest I have done very little with it. I am now thinking that I should post here more often if I want more people to read it. Originally, I intended this space for highlighting my creations; now I am thinking I should expand this to include my own review of various products I have found, talk about things that are related to my hobby of paper crafting and maybe review some web sites I have found or You Tube Channels that I have found of interest.

I might extend this Blog to include my "rants" about a variety of subjects that might be beyond my original scope.

We shall see what happens and please feel free to make comments.

Steven