Color Spotlight: Winter Frost

Another great color spotlight this week, sorry it's a little late, I've been having some horrible internet connections lately.

Anyway this week's color is WINTER FROST! I just love this paint!! With Christmas right around the corner, most of us are starting to think about those Christmas cards...well I think this paint is a must have!

Here's a quick card I made using Winter Frost:

Look at the shimmer!!

I also quickly made a tag this morning before I left for work, something I've been wanting to do the last few years, but never have! Maybe this will be the year! :)

Look at the beautiful shimmer you can add to your snowmen, a beautiful snow scene, etc.!
Winter frost reminds me so much of those beautiful winter days when the sun is shining and reflecting on the snow! Don't you agree?!?!


Make sure to order your Winter Frost paint for your holiday cards! Also remember there are currently 4 special edition colors, get them before they're gone!


Have a fabulous evening!


Kendra

i've cracked...have you?

Hello all! Welcome to a new week! It's Kassi, bringing you your Monday Inspiration...

Things have gotten very crazy behind the scenes here on my end... I had this tutorial all photographed Saturday, and it still took me this long to get it posted... Sorry about that!

Before we jump into this tutorial, a quick reminder... We are currently looking to add members to our DT for next term. All the details can be found by clicking the tab labeled "DT Call" near the top of the page.

Ok, that said, wanna crack? It's fun, I promise. =)

WARNING: this technique requires the use of a heat tool. The heated objects are VERY hot. Please use caution... and tweezers..... (or you will end up with burnt finger tips like me.)

Let's get started!

You will need:

The cut out you want to use

CI paint of your choice

Clear Embossing ink

UTEE

Heat tool

Freezer (optional)

Ink (optional)

Step 1: choose image/die cut you want to work with. I am using a leaf from the Cricut "Preserves" cartridge. Most anything works for this, so be creative.

Step 2: Paint with desired Creative Inspirations paint. This adds great shimmer beneath the enamel. (I'm using Silver Frost here)

Step 3: Dry completely. This is important! Either set it aside for a while, or zap it with a heat gun... Just make sure it is dry.

Step 4: Press the image (paint side down) into a clear embossing ink pad. Yes, your fingers get messy... but really, isn't that part of the fun?

Step 5: Cover in UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel). I keep mine in a box with a snap lid. It is easier to work with this way, than out of a jar (for me at least)

Step 6: Heat with heat gun until powder is melted.

Step 7: Working fast, cover your HOT piece with UTEE again. (this is where I advise using tweezers. The enamel is very hot!) The powder will stick to the hot enamel.

Step 8: Heat again until powder is melted. You have now completed a second layer

Step 9: Repeat steps 7-8 until desired build up is achieved. (For cracking, at least 3-4 good layers are needed.)

*note: You can use regular clear embossing powder for this technique, but it takes a LOT more layers to build up the right thickness*

You now have a very shimmery piece with a nice rounded enamel coating. Doesn't the CI paint add a nice touch?

You are free to stop here and use the piece as is. However, if you want to add more interest, distress, and texture, continue on.

Step 10: Place piece in freezer for a few minutes. (yup, you read right... the freezer)

Step 11: Take piece out of the freezer, and quickly (while it is still very cold) and gently bend the piece. Cracks will appear. These cracks are random, and aren't really controllable... If you want more cracks, bend more. If your piece doesn't crack, place in freezer for a few more minutes.

This is a very forgiving technique. If you don't like the placement of the cracks, simply reheat with the heat gun, re-freeze, and try again.

Again, you can stop here. If you want to enhance the look of your cracks, continue on.

Step 12: Using a blending tool, or a piece of sponge, rub dye ink over the piece. You really need to work the ink into the cracks, so don't be afraid to really press firmly when you are applying the ink.

Step 13: Using a damp cloth, gently rub away the ink. The enamel resists the ink by it's very nature, so when you wipe away the ink from the enamel, you are left with only the ink that was forced into the cracks. Pretty cool, huh!

Your piece will look something like this. I have seen this technique done over regular ink, or just plain cardstock... However, I love the added "wow" factor that the shimmery CI paints have under the enamel.

I used the above technique on this card (I didn't add ink over the cracks though... I wanted it to be more frosty looking.)

Paper: Bazzill, Cordinations, Unknown patterned paper

Ink: Memento, VersaMark, Powder Puff

CI paint: Ivory, Antique Silver

Cricut: "Preserves"

Stamps: SEI "Mimosa", Inkadinkado "Sketchy Flourishes"

Other: UTEE. Sewing Machine

Here is a close up of the grapes. They were painted "Ivory", so in some lights they look purple, and in some lights they look almost creamy...

Well, there you have it! I hope you enjoy!

Have an amazing day, and check back tomorrow to see what Kendra has in store for you.

~Kassi

fall and call...

Hello all you blogging friend!

I have some great projects from the DT today! I asked them to find inspiration from the sights, colors, and thoughts of autumn... I must say they did a fabulous job! For more info on any of the projects, click on the designer's name.

Kassi

Kendra

Barbara

Gerrie

Good stuff, huh!

But wait, there's more!

So, at the beginning of October, we will be starting the new term with our DT... and guess what? We need more people! Yup, you read that right.... we are looking for new DT members. So, here all the details...

What is expected of the DT members:

*Commitment of 3 months (October-December)

*1 blog post with completed project twice a month so blogging know-how is a must

*Be able to take quality photographs or scans of projects

*Support fellow teammates and customers who share their work by leaving comments

*Be a positive team player

*Promote the CI paints on your personal blog, message boards, and wherever else you can!

*Be active in the DT yahoo group

What you get:

*A CIDT badge for your blog

*Your personal blog link on the store blog

*A fantastic collection of CI paints to design with

*You keep all projects you make

*The chance to show your creativity and have fun!

Sound good? Here is what you need to do... send an email with the following information to ci.shimmer.paint@gmail.com by Sept. 15 at midnight MST. All applicants will receive an email acknowledging we got your application. DT will be announced Sept. 30.

1. Your name, mailing address, phone number, and email
2. A link to your personal blog, and any online galleries
3. List of all current DT obligations, as well as past teams you have been on. No DT experience is required.
4. A little about you and your personal crafting style
5. Why you think you would be a good fit for the team
6. Pictures of 3 projects that best show your creativity and style

Good luck all! I can't wait to hear from you!

~Kassi

Tuesday Color Spotlight: Blue Ice

Happy Tuesday everyone! This week I'm taking a look at CI Paints color Blue Ice.

And what a great way to show it off by making a masculine card! I usually have a tough time making cards for the guys as I don't own too many manly stamps. But am very pleased with the way this card turned out. It's a simple, yet a fun card I made using my Cricut.

I cut out "Happy Birthday" from Cricut cart "Beyond Birthdays".

The stars were cut from Cricut cart "George and the Basic Shapes" along with the squares and rectangle.

Both the sentiment and stars were then painted with CI Paints "Blue Ice" to add a clear irridescent with blue highlights to them. I just love the shimmer, it always just adds a nice final touch.

Here are two different close-up shots of "Blue Ice" on a blue piece of paper and on plain cardstock. I love the hint of blue shimmer!

Yet great paint from CI Paints that is a clear irridescent with a color highlight that leaves the paper, brad, ribbon, ect. the original color and just adds a special touch of shimmer, in this case a highlight of blue!

Have a great day!

Kendra

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Details:

Card Size: 4" x 9.5"

Paper: My Mind's Eye, Plain Cardstock

CI Paints: Blue Ice

Ink: DewDrop "Ivy", VersaColor "Imperial Blue"

Cricut Carts: Beyond Birthdays, George and Basic Shapes

Misc.: EK Punch Dotted Wave, Imaginisce Glam Rocks

family tree...

Happy Monday blogger land! Kassi here with yet another Monday Inspiration.

So, again I thought I would share a CI twist on an old favorite. This one is actually really cool with the Creative Inspiration paint... I wasn't sure it would work with the paint, but I think it has a better effect than with ink...

So, ready to start? Let's go!

This technique is often known as second generation stamping... for those who don't know what I'm talking about, here is the basics...

first, ink your stamp, and stamp as normal. This is your FIRST generation stamp.

If you stamp again without reinking, you get a lighter image... this is your SECOND generation stamp.

Ok... Now let's take that and give it a new shimmer!

Step 1: make a CI stamp pad with your choice of CI paint. (you can find a step by step tutorial on this step here) I am using Aqua Marine here.

Step 2: give your paint pad a spritz or two of water. Because of how quickly this paint dries, a little extra water helps to extend the paint to the second generation.

Step 3: ink up your stamp with paint.

Step 4: stamp your first generation image. If you don't want this on your project, you can use a scrap paper. (if you want, you can keep this for another project...)

Step 5: stamp your second generation.

(wow.. I think this is one of my simplest tutorials to date!)

Ok, here is what your first generation will look like. Full of color, full of shimmer.

Here is what your second generation will look like. Hint of color, still FULL of shimmer. Pretty cool, huh!

Here is a card I made to showcase this technique.

Paper: Bazzill, My Mind's Eye, white card

Stamps: Hero Arts "Antique Engravings", "Speckled Ornaments"

Creative Inspirations Paint: Garnet

Cricut: Accents Essentials

Other: ribbon, rhinestones

I used the second generation of the swirl, and the first generation with the butterfly. I love how they are the same color, but there is so much more dimension by using different intensities.

So have a creative day, and get a little shimmer and paint on your hands...

~Kassi

twofer...

Hello all!

We've got some great stuff for you today! We have a twofer for you all! I challenged the DT to find inspiration from a summer stroll...

AND

Creative Inspirations is sponsoring The Play Date Cafe this week, so the team played along there too. Don't I have a talented bunch of multi-taskers?!

So here is the DT's fabulous work....

*click on the designer's name to get more info about their projects*

Lisa - using the PDCC Color Challenge

Gerrie using the PDCC Color Challenge

Clare using the PDCC Challenge

Kendra

Ashley

Shelly using the PDCC Challenge

And, I have some great news.... if you play along at The Play Date Cafe this week, you could be the lucky winner of 12 CI paints of your choice... so hop on over and get busy creating. (You don't need to use CI paints to play.... however, if you do, don't forget to use the in linkz button here as well to share your work!)

And now... Some exciting stuff.... It is time to pick the winner from our blog hop! Ok... checking the random number generator... and our lucky winner is.........

Andrea said...

Love this product! The secret word is Burgundy :)

So Andrea, send me an email with your mailing address and the 12 colors you want!

believeinmagic@comcast.net

You will have until Sunday August 22 to claim your prize.... after that, a new winner will be chosen.