Shrink Plastic

When I was a kid I used to make magnets for the fridge with Shrinky Dinks. It was like watching a magic trick when Mom would pop them in the oven. We would turn the light on and watch them shrink into a tiny little charm. I haven't used them much in my scrapbooking projects because the film was always milky.

A few days ago, I found Shrink Plastic made by Lucky Squirrel. I was in love because this product comes in several color choices black, white, and crystal clear.

For those unfamiliar with the product you can decorate the film with permanent ink, pearlEx, Opalite, StazOn, Archival Ink, permanent markers, stamps, and non-oil pastels. If you are using markers, stamp on one side of the film, then color on the opposite side or the ink from the stamp will transfer to the tip of the pen and ruin it.

You can fussy cut around a stamped image, die cut, punch, cut with Cricut, Silhouette or any other cutting device. Just make sure your original image is 75% larger than your finished size. I will show you the measurements for the one that I created.

I used my Sewing room die cut from Tim Holtz to cut the dress form it measures almost 6 inches when cut.

When you stamp or color the image before you heat set it the design becomes fused into the plastic, and the design will also shrink with plastic. Of course you can also do some of this after the heating process if you would like your stamped image to be true to size.

Heat the Poly Shrink in an oven at the recommended settings or with a heat tool. If you are using a heat tool, please be careful and use tweezers to keep the image from sliding. Also - with the heat tool, you may want to keep the heat even so that the image doesn't distort too quickly and become a mess. I heated the smaller sections, and then flattened them out, before starting on the larger sections. It will curl as it heats, but will straighten back out once it is finished shrinking.

Here is a photo of my dress from after it has cooled. It is about 2 3/8 inch after the shrinking process.

Look at how cute the die cut is sitting on this card. You could also make charms to hang from mini albums, or use as embellishments on mini pages. The possibilities are endless!

Bazzil Cardstock, Prima - Madeline Collection paper, innocence II Flowers, Lindy's Stamp Gang: Tibetan Poppy Teal, Crème Brule cream, Stampin Up: Pennant Die Cut, Tim Holtz: Sewing Room Die Cut, Fancy Flourish Stamp. Lucky Squirrel: Poly Shrink Plastic, Devine Twine: Bakers Twine, Dress It Up: Buttons,Inkadinkadoo: Bloom stamp.

There are so many other ways you can use and design these cute embellishments. We may explore them in a future post.

Thanks for visiting,
Tonya Gibbs
http://www.psychomoms.com/

9/11 Tribute Projects

 Submitted by: Tonya Gibbs

Submitted by: Suzie Crafter

Thank you ladies for your submissions. You both did a phenomenal job. 

And to all those who lost their lives, or a loved one on 9/11 we honor you. 

~ABC

Mini Album - 4x6 sheet protectors

I love mini albums. I love how you are only limited by your own imagination! I have a lot of people ask me – what type of photos do you put in them, because they are so small? Well, most of my books accommodate wallet sized photos. I usually select the collage printing option at my local photo processing center, and I can usually get 9 wallets on 1 8x10.

One day I was waiting for my photos to process, and I noticed a package of 4x6 plastic photo sleeve refills on sale for $.50 a pack. So I decided to create a mini – embracing the “Simple” design of traditional scrapbook pages but sized at 4x6.



I used Marion’s Vintage Trinkets with my “HOARDED” last few sheets of Prima’s Flights of Fancy paper for the cover. When I say hoarded – I mean have had for years refusing to use.

For the inside pages I used Prima’s Melody collection with various Prima flowers, stamps and bling. Last week I shared with you how I used the Prima packaging in this book, and I think you will agree, it turned out wonderful when I added photos.

Sorry for the glare on the following photos. I wanted to show how the pages look inside the sleeves.











I think my favorite part of this album is its simplicity. Also - I love how I can take advantage of the page protectors and incorporate larger more dynamic 4x6 photos with the smaller wallets. The paper collection also gives pleanty of journal space.

Thank you for taking the time to visit.
Tonya Gibbs
http://www.psychomoms.com

A little Member Spotlight!

Hi everyone!

I wanted to share this awesome project made by one of our Artsy Addicts ladies her name is

Amélie Cousin

She did an awesome job and this is her very first video! Enjoy!
xoxox Marion

Artsy Addicts 9/11 Tribute Projects

Source

9/11 is a day in American History that no one will every forget and to pay tribute and honor all the Heros who sacrificed their lives for us on that day we'd like to commemorate them with a creative challenge.

Please create a project of any type that pays tribute to the Hero's of 9/11 and submit it to artsyaddicts@yahoo.com or leave a comment with your link here on this post and include a little story about 9/11 and how it has impacted your life. We will gather all the pictures and post them on the blog next week.

~ABC

Upcycled Packaging - Tonya Gibbs

I think we have a huge responsibility to protect our environment as much as possible. When I first saw Marion use packaging in her mini albums and as journal spots on her layouts a few years ago, I began saving mine for the same purpose. I want to share with you today how I have been "upcycling" my packaging in scrappy projects.

In this example I made a mini album using 4x6 photo sleeves as sheet protectors and the Prima packaging was used for photo mats.

Here I used my Tim Holtz & Nestabilities dies to turn Prima's beautiful inserts into embelishments.

I also used the blister packaging from Tim Holtz embelishments as a shaker box card.

Watch video on how I made this card

I hope this gives you plenty of ideas on how to turn your trash into keepsakes.

Thanks for stopping by today,
Tonya Gibbs,
Psychomoms.com

{Member Spotlight: 03} Tracy Weinzapfel

Hi, I am Tracy Weinzapfel the owner of Tracy Weinzapfel Studios and the President of Helmar USA, Inc.  I handle the distribution of Helmar products in the United States and I love my job!   


What you see, is what you get....I put it all out there every day. I am the mom of three great kids (14 year old son and boy/girl 9 year old twins). For me, every day is a Nikon Moment. I am happiest behind my camera capturing life's every amazing second. I live life with a creative edge and know that art is my calling.

Most evenings you can find me in my art studio using all mediums (paper, glue, paint, etc.) to scrapbook those precious memories.  I am proud to have been hired to create albums for movie stars and our very own President of the United States, Barack Obama! 

I am most proud to travel and teach workshops and classes sharing my passion using Helmar adhesives & art mediums.

I try to live life to the fullest every day and for the most part you can catch glimpses of my crazy adventures HERE. I never know where life is taking me but one thing I know for sure is I will have my camera in hand and my Helmar adhesives to capture all those special memories.

Tracy Weinzapfel - Tracy's Website & Blog:  Tracy Weinzapfel Studios 

Happy Saturday!

Just a quick video I did the other day, loooove beeswax!

Product Review: GooseBumps - Tonya Gibbs

I'm excited to announce that Marion & Angee have asked me to be a permanent blogger for Artsy Addicts. Thank you so much for this opportunity.

Today I would like to introduce you to a new product from Tsukineko called GooseBumps. It is a clear texture gel medium that acts as a resist while also providing an “orange peel” like texture to the surface of your project. I first saw Kristina from YourMemoriesHere.com (one of our fellow members) use it in a YouTube video. She used it with stamps for a clear emboss look, and as a resist on tags.

For my project sample I used it as a resist with a Prima mask to create a great texture on a mini notebook I’m sending to a friend.

I started with a mini Kraft notebook that I got from a $1 bin at a local craft store.



I used Honey Dew Glimmer mist and Peeled paint distress inks to color the background of my album cover.


Once the base coat color has been applied to the entire surface, cover your work surface so that the over spray does not ruin your table top.


I positioned a Prima mask over the notebook cover then sprayed the GooseBumps over the mask making sure I covered the entire notebook. Immediately remove your mask and wash it with warm soapy water to remove the Goosebumps residue.

Allow the Goosebumps to dry (usually 5 – 10 mins on its own), or you can speed up the process with a heat tool.

This is what your project should look like. You can really see the resist on the project, and this would be great left as is. But adding a little more color will really help you see the texture.

I chose a heavy contrasting color – Aged Mahogany distress ink to resurface my notebook cover. I applied the color using an ink applicator tool.


Use a baby wipe to remove the excess color from the top of the Goosebumps.



You can really see the two toned effect now, and the second color enhances the texture of Goosebumps.


Then I decorated the cover of the book and it is ready to send off to a friend.

I could see me using this product on frames, cards, scrapbook pages, tags, flowers, and so much more. The possibilities are endless.

Artsy Addict Member Feature {02}: Marie Claire Graves

I’m a French Canadian wife and mom who had Belgian parents and is now living in Northern Kentucky! How I got here is a very long story, but I’ll share some of the amazing adventures that happened along the way! When I was 16, I sang at the US Embassy in Paris, remember, I’m a Canadian! I was the acting project manager for the Montreal Olympic Village during the construction phase and one of the Operations officers in the Games Operations Center during the actual games!  I was in my early 20’s! I’ve written and published songs, one of which was actually recorded.


I wrote a poem that I gave to two people. It ended going around the world, was read live in front of 2500 people,  and was distributed to the school children of Montreal. My poem, “The Peacekeeper” was even part of a presentation at the Pentagon by a Canadian General who later became a Canadian Senator.  I was in the Canadian Military for 25 years enrolled as a Private Infantryman and retired as a Logistics Major in charge of the functional team implementing PeopleSoft HR, for the department of National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. I’ve taught accountants at PriceWaterhouseCoopers how to use their Oracle Financials software.  


A couple of months after moving to Northern Kentucky, I got a gig with a production company who was shooting a  Christmas commercial for the Ohio Lottery.  MY job, create a big Christmas stocking and a Gingerbread mitt.  The Mitt talked in the commercial.  The production company also used pretty much everything in my craft room furniture, cards, mini albums, projects and furniture to dress their set!  So while I’m not famous, my “craft stuff” is, LOL! Like I said, I’ve had an amazingly interesting and bizarre life filled with wonderful people, for which I am truly grateful!

I came to crafting early. Like most little children, I drew and colored.  I think of my first real crafting experience as being the knitting lessons my great aunt gave me when I was visiting Belgium.  I was 5 ½!  As for scrapbooking, my first experience was in 2002 when a very good friend of mine name Kathy became a Creative Memories consultant.  I was intrigued and wanted to support her efforts.  However it was after I visited my first scrapbook store that I was really bitten by the bug. I think of scrapbooking not only as an art form, but also as a social activity. It has allowed me to form friendships with people across  North America and around the world. I’ve moved from Canada to Florida to Arkansas to Florida and to Kentucky all since 1998. I’ve had readymade scrapbook friends every time I’’ve moved.  I am very, very grateful for that!

I honestly can’t tell you when I first heard of Marion.  It must have been when she first joined Prima as I’ve been a huge Prima fan for many years.  I became more interested in her work and in Marion as a person when I discovered her You Tube videos. She also happens to attract some amazing friends, some of which I hope will become friends of mine over time!  As for Artsy Addicts, I got an invite from Marion to join the group when she first started it. I am very grateful that she included me as I’ve truly enjoyed being part of the group!

I love minis, so two of my favorite projects are minis.  The 1^st  was inspired but not limited to the Graphic 45 Once Upon a Springtime collection.  I love mixing collections, but that one was the main focus.  I also like flowers, hence the number of flowers, including the Prima Vines that adorn the front of the one bellow!

The next one I created just this week, it’s main focus was the Butterfly Garden Collection by Pink Paisley.  I first created a larger version of it and then thought it would be cute in a smaller size for a swap I’m in.

As a third project for this blog feature, I just had to pick the 6 page Echo Park For the Record Layout series I created for my next class. That’s actually the reason that there aren’t pictures on the pages.  I get to add pictures later when I add the pages to my personal collection!

Now figuring my crafting style isn’t all that easy. I had to ask my friends what they would call my crafting style.  They seemed to agree on elegant eclectic!

If I were an embellishment, I think I’d be a flower. My petals would be  wide open and I’d have a little bling in the center!

In addition to paper-crafting, I make Teddy bears, knit, read lots of Mysteries.  I also paint a little.

My creative process is usually triggered by patterns and shapes. I think I am first and foremost a paper floozy!  I love and collect paper.  I’m at my happiest right around the CHA seasonal shows when new collections are announced and for the past couple of years I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to attend the summer show in Chicago. Well I’ve attended one and am going again this July! I can’t wait! I intend to go and give Marion a big hug and thank her for the joy that she brings all of us!

When I first started scrapbooking there weren’t a ton of companies to choose from, but from the beginning I’ve loved K& Company.  
Today there are a lot of other manufacturers out there that I’ve also come to love; Graphic 45, Basic Gray, Pink Paisley, October Afternoon and Echo Park to name a few.  I really respond to a specific collection rather than a specific manufacturer. I’m always in love with all things Prima, though I tend to collect their products and hoard them.  I have to really make myself use rather than simply look at or fondle their stuff!

To me the most valuable aspect of scrapbooking other than the obvious memory keeping aspect (I’m very big on journaling) has been the friends that I’ve made all over the world! I’ve even had the good fortune of travelling and meeting a goodly number of them! Those friendships have allowed me to stay sane when I’ve moved, since there was always someone nearby that I knew from a scrapbooking group onlineThose friendships were the reason that I satrted a blog in February 2008, so that I could share what I saw and experienced at CHA in Aneheim. I never worked all that much on my blog until about a year ago and started making YouTube videos a few months ago and have enjoyed getting to know some new and very creative people through that medium.  Bottom line, I am truly grateful for all the friendships crafting has brought into my life!


Marie Claire, 


Thank you for being an Artsy Addict and for sharing your beautiful creations with us. 


Until the next feature. 


Keep creating. 


ABC