SAF 2014: Memories of a great day (video)

Hi Bloggers,
Saturday's StampAFaire was such a huge success!
I am so glad I participated, and am already thinking of ways I can incorporate what I learned into my stamping and card making classes!  Below is a video put together by Nichole Heady, of the day's participants and their projects.
Enjoy!  Maybe you'll see someone you know, I did!
I saw some of my online friends in this video, including Nancy Penir, and Tonya Jastad, both of whom left comments on my blog! So exciting!



So take a minute and watch how much fun we all had at this year's Stamp A Faire!
Happy Creating!
ReNae

Would I like to be a guest Designer? Absolutely!!

The prints are stamped images I made using watercolor pens on the stamp.

Hello dear Bloggers,

Recently I was asked by Tonya Gibbs, (Marion Smith Design Team) if I would like to be a guest designer/featured artist on the Marion Smith Designs blog, Artsy Addicts!

I just love these bright colors!

I was both honored and excited to be considered, and quickly began working on my project.
I decided to do a series of four cards, using the watercolor technique I demonstrated in a previous post.  This had to be really special.  It was the first time I had been "published".
My creative process is always the same:  start with the focal image, grab some coordinating embellishments , throw everything on the table and go to town!

I use all kinds of lace, trims, buttons and bows!

See the stick pins?  I made them!

Everyone says this one looks like a cake!

Here are some photos I took while creating my cards.  I hope you enjoy them, and if you have any questions on how I made them, please leave me a note in the comment section at the end of this post.

To read my Article as Featured Artist, you may click on the link here: Artsy Addicts: Featured Artist ReNae Allen
Thank you for stopping by, and until next time,
HAPPY CREATING!
ReNae

It's Time for Stamp-A-Faire!

Hello Dear Bloggers!
If you're here for the first time, welcome to Crabtree Creations!  If you've been here's before, welcome back!  I'm so excited to share with you all the latest information about  today's annual stamp event,

"Stamp-A-Faire!

It is a completely FREE online event that is offered to stampers worldwide! The theme for this year's event is TIME TRAVELER. We are going back in time and will be discovering new ways of stamping using various periods in history as our inspiration. We will visit Ancient Rome, The Renaissance Era, The Regency Era, and several fun decades of the 20th Century including the 20's, 40's, 60's and 80's. The festivities begin at 7am (Eastern Time) Saturday, and will continue late into the night!  It's always tons of fun and I can hardly wait to get started! Here is the official schedule of Events. 

The first event will be taking place in Ancient Rome.  From the amazing architecture of that era, to the beautiful detailed mosaics, you will love stepping back in time as you immerse yourself in this ancient culture.  Lindsay Jones will be our tour guide as she presents two video challenges for us to try!

8:00 a.m.  (Eastern Time)
FAUX FRESCOES
Basic supplies for the first project, if you care to participate, are as follows:
*some sort of coloring medium. Re-inkers, watercolors, Or Copic markers, to name a few. ..I'm going to try gelatos!
* white molding paste. Wendy Vecchi embossing paste by Ranger is safe with Copic markers, but any brand will work if you're using other mediums.

All ready for Faux Frescoes 

My Finished Faux Fresco 

Close up of the "Fresco"

A layer of moulding paste was applied to the paper prior to stamping the image.
Then I colored the image using Distress Markers as watercolors.  This is done by scribbling the color from the markers onto your craft sheet, then applying the ink to the image with a water brush.  It works just like watercolor paint.  

MOCK MOSAICS
Basic supplies for this second project are as follows:
*A mosaic style die, or any cover plate die that creates several openings.
*White self-adhesive foam, such as fun foam
*clear card stock, or Vellum
*an embossing ink pad, and some clear embossing powder.

Next, you will be inspired by the Renaissance era.  The dark ages had ended! Now it was time for opulence--shiny jewels,  beautiful fabrics,  rich luxurious clothes. Artists were creating beautiful works of art.  It was the age of discovery, and the world was becoming a more beautiful place.
Nichole Heady will be taking you tstep by step hrough this fabulous era and teaching you some amazing techniques!

VELVET STAMPING
The basic supplies for this project are as follows:
* velvet fabric
* A flat iron preferably with the steam holes covered.
* A Spritz bottle full of water
* A large, bold stamp.

"Velvet Stamping" Card

Using foil paper for the medallion, made it look like real metal.  I used bronze and gold foil paper,  green and burgundy velvet and white and gold cording to give it a Renaissance look.

Next I melted sealing wax and adhered the seal to the center of the medallion. 

Here is a close-up.  It really looks like an expensive metal medallion!
Isn't it beautiful?

WAX SEALS
Basic supplies are as follows:
* A sealing wax stick. (Preferably one with a wick)
* embossing ink (preferably versamark) and gold embossing powder
*small layered circle punches or dies preferably 1 inch or so
* I small bold stamp, one which will fit inside the circle

Regency with Melissa Phillips 

1920’s with Heather Nichols 

I made this card to resemble a 1920's Flapper Hat

1940’s with Betsy Veldman 

My 1920s card reminiscent of a tablecloth

1960’s with Erin Lincoln 

The first card from the 1960's is an homage to advertising in the 60's.
The stamp kit for this challenge came with several dies, which I used on this card.

Taking the same dies, I created a whimsical TV card!
The stamping technique creates depth.

  1980’s with Lexi Daly 

A Care Bears 45 record, a Trapper Keeper and a Beverly Hills Cop Cassette...
Memories of  the 1980's!!

This card reminds me so much of my daughter Ashley who was born in 1982.  She loved RAINBOWS!
Her bedroom was decorated in Strawberry Shortcake and Rainbow Brite, and lots and lots of rainbows!
I think her Trapper Keeper had rainbows on it too!!

For the "how to's on all the challenges, please click on this link:http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/files/saf-2014-schedulesupply-list.pdf

I'm ready to travel through time while stamping!

I hope this gets you excited about the days activities! It should be a lot of fun!

HAPPY TIME TRAVEL, and Happy Creating!

ReNae