Workshop

Why do we call our SU get-togethers a "Workshop"? Seriously do these people look like they are working? If our matra is "Love what you do, Share what you love" I call it a SU PARty.
We let the creative juices flow using various techniques (shaving cream, masking,) and SU products Watercolor crayons, watercolor pencils, markers, blender pens, aqua painters, embossing folders, to name just a few).

Japanese Dye Technique

What do you get when you take a hammer, some flowers,different herbs, muslin, SU cardstock and a lot of imagination? The most colorful fabric and paper to use for your crafting projects.I used a variety of herbs and flowers - parsley, dill, geraniums (pink and red), hibiscus, petunias, marigolds, roses, and delphiniums to name just a few.I placed my SU Whisper White cardstock down first, then arranged the buds, herbs, and petals randomly and then covered them with a piece of muslin. Next I just hammered away getting different colors as each plant species gave up its juices. SU should name it's next green CS parsley since it is such a pretty color. I let the cardstock and fabric air dry. I did heat set both with an iron using parchment paper so as not to scorch the media. The next decision was what to do with my creation.I started with the fabric and decided to make a journal by applying an adhesive to Whisper White CS (8.5 X 11 and scored it in the middle),applying the muslin and smoothing out the edges, sewed all around the outside with a zig-zag stitch and used a decorative stitch and sewed randomly throughout the front cover (for decorative purposes only). I folded some copy paper (8.5 X 11) in half and aligned it with the center of the journal cover and using a machine basting stitch secured the paper down.
I made two cards, one using the Fun Flower die to create a fabric flower and the second one using the Top Note die. Each card color was chosen to enhance the colors created in the fabric.
The cardstock color imprint is basicaly the negative of the fabric. The section that was more greens and yellows (dill, marigolds, and thyme) was used to create a butterfly scene using the inlaid technique. I used the SU Beautiful Wings embosslit, Butterfly die and the Butterfly punch. I saved the purple and green hues (petunia and parsley) for a cardstock Fun Flower

Fabric Easter Eggs

Putting together fabric eggs is so much easier than the traditional boiling, coloring, and displaying. It also eliminates the chore of eating egg salad for a week. LOL. I got the pattern instructions from
http://retro-mama.blogspot.com/2009/03/easter-is-in-air.html. I used the SU designer fabric Springtime Vintage from the Occasions Mini Catalog that runs from January 4 to April 30th. I attached a piece of SU 3/8" twill tape and decorated it with flowers punched using the Boho Blosooms XL punch and added a small pearl to each center. I'll probably add some more decorations before I give them out but for now I'll just let them sit on the counter.No refrigeration necessary.

Decorative Folder

A decorative file folder can be great gift for the person who has everything. SU has provided two new designer fabrics for the current mini catalog Sweet Stitches and Springtime Vintage. It also provides an opportunity to use any of the various SU dies to add shape and texture to the product.

Aged Tiles

I used the Aged Tile technique,from the TJ Newsletter, to highlight the simplicity of the SU Elements of Style stamp set. The card base is Not Quite Navy,followed by a piece of Crumb Cake CS I put through the SU Lattice embossing folder, and Whisper White holds the image. I used the SU Watercolor Crayons to color the image and Baja Breeze ink to shade the tiles. To finish it off I added SU buttons and linen thread.
Supplies:
Stamps: Element of Style
Inks: Baja Breeze, Watercolor Crayons: Wasabi, Marina Mist and Baja Breeze
Paper: Not Quite Navy, Crumb Cake, and Whisper White
Misc: Linen thread and buttons

3x3 Canvas

Stamping on the canvas frames is a little tricky because of the empty space behind the canvas. So I decided to cut a 3x3 square of SU "Presto" paper and start from there. I sponged SU Crumb Cake and Baja Breeze on the paper to highlight the words. I next used the stamps in the "Nature Walk" stamp set and alternated using "Expresso and Baja Breeze inks to creat a collage effect. I used red line tape to adhere this to the 3x3 canvas and hung the results on my wall.

Card Class January

In the January card class I featured the SU "Nature Walk" stamp set. I cased the bookmark and one card from the latest edition of "Stamping Success". The other card I used the SU stamp set "Clearly for You" and the stamp "Elizabeth". CS was Kraft, Baja Breeze and Soft Suede.