Happy Halloween! Since only one person played along on Friday-(must be everyone's busy making their costumes and cupcakes) I'm going to open Friday's giveaway to carry over onto today's contest. I will only do the giveaway if there are 10 or more people commenting so please invite your friends, personal and facebook! 

Here is today's card

 For this card, I used my Piccadilly Circus stamp set, which is my give-away for today.

For the coloration, I used a combination of Faber Castell Big Brush markers and of course, Gelatos, both wet and dry. I simply stamped the images onto a piece of charcoal paper while overlapping the medallians. I eyeballed a pumpkin shape and cut it out free form. Embellishments include a spray painted ( Tulip ) doily and some vines and leaves drawn in with my Big Brush Green pen. How simple is that?! 

Today's give-away is awesome! From FC- Complete Assortment of Metallic PITT artist pens and Gelatos plus Stamps by Brenda Pinnick   

( For purchase on HSN )

Today's question is - If you were redoing a new studio space and wanted to paint the floor, what color would you choose? ( Three walls are glass windows and one wall is red brick ).

Answer today's question on both my blog http://brendapinnick.typepad.com and in order to qualify for the drawing. Also, scroll down to Day 4 and answer that question as well. Remember, I need 10 posts in order to validate the giveaway.

Happy Haunting, friends!!

Brenda Pinnick here...Welcome to day 4 of my 7 day give-away! In case you're just joining in, Faber-Castell and I have teamed up to showcase their wonderful mixed media products for crafters, it's called Design Memory Craft and they've built the program around color - which is what I'm all about! I'm creating one card a day using both their product and products of my own- Sizzix Dies and Embossing Folders, my new stamp line and some fabric from my last collection with Henry Glass and Co., called Couleur Vie. The line is about sold out, making way for my new collection to debut soon. It's pre-selling right now at the International Quilt Market and should be in stores by late June or early July. I CANNOT WAIT to show it! And yes, it is COLORFUL!

Each day, we are giving away a prize to one lucky winner who leaves a comment of BOTH blogs and who answers the question I pose at the bottom of the post. 

Yesterday's winner is - Molly Smith! Molly, congratulations and thank you for joining in! Please send me an email with your address. Molly won a set of two Embossing Folders from my Sizzix collections, seen here. (type my name in the search to see all of my current offerings).

Here is today's card

Sometimes it's nice to make a fun, simple, easy card, especially when pressed for time, which, who isn't?

Here's what I used:

My Sizzix Bigz XL Die - Card, A2 w/Flap 

Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing Folders 2PK - Garden Flowers Set

Sizzix Bigz L Die - Borders, Fringe & Frolic (Flowers, 3-D)

For the papers, I used a soft, metallic gold wrapping paper. For the fushia, I used silk, cut from a Goodwill find then backed with medium wt. interfacing. I cut three layers total and highlighted the ends of the fushia silk with the gold Gelato. I also used it to highlight the embossed flowers. Finally, I used a Pitt Pen to darken the insides of the flower so they would stand out.

And now, for tomorrows prizes-  This little set of dies. These are small little layering flowers which can be used for just about anything, including jewelry. Go take a look at the adoarable bracelet Beth Reames made using these dies! Wow! And, from Faber Castell, an awesome prize which includes:Neutral Palette Ink & Aquarelles Set, Neutral Brush Pen Set, Black & White Gelatos

Here is today's question- When making purchases, how important is color in your buying decision? Do you feel you're influenced by color to make a purchase?  A lot, somewhat, hardly or never ?  If you can give an example, I'd love to hear it! 

Remember, you must leave your comment of BOTH blogs, here and on the my blog. Good Luck! 

Hi, it's Jill here with a card made bright and fun with the use of PITT Artist Pens.

PITT Artist Pens are perfect for coloring in stamped images that are tiny and require lots of detail.  No worries about going out of the lines as the fine tip of the markers gives you lots of control.  Simply stamp and color!  (All stamps Penny Black.)

Welcome to day 3 of my card crafting series and give-away! 

Yesterday's winner is...conniemelancon! Congrats, Connie! You've won your choice of two prints from my Etsy store! You'll need to send me your addy - brenda@brendapinnick.com then I'll get them sent to you.

OK, let's show the card already...

We talked about color combinations earlier and here's one I'm all over lately. This combo is relaxing with the turquoise but refreshing with the greens. A small bit of yellow adds some happy, which we all love!

For this card, I used my Sizzix products, available on HSN.com or from various craft supply stores across the country or the web. The base is cut from my Decorative Edge Stationery Die, using Strathmore's Bristol board, one of my Favorite surfaces to work on. The embossing was then done using one of my Sizzix Embossing Folders, the Birds and Flowers set, also on HSN.com, a terrific value kit including 10 folders!

For the coloration, I used Faber Castell's Big Brush Markers and Art GRIP watercolor pencils. I love the mix of strong saturated hues with softer tints of the same hue. The pencils are great for subtle blending - I used a little bit of water to create soft transitions in the coloring. Even though the markers are India ink, while they are still wet, you can use water to dissolve them and move them around, using a small paintbrush.

Okay, now for day 3 prizes: From Faber Castell, Yellow, Red, Green & Blue sets of Art GRIP color pencils and from yours truly, one of my embossing folder two-packs, available on Sizzix.com

And finally, today's question, inspired by Carla's comment about her husband- Do you and your husband or significant other or best friend tend to like the same general family of hues? 

Leave your comments here and on my blog to be eligible to win!

Oh, and please tell your friends about my 7 day giveaway! I'd appreciate it!

Here we are on day two of our 7 day giveaway/card making week. I'm announcing yesterday's winner over on my blog so go there next, leave a comment for today's question, read who won yesterday's stuffed owl and DMC set! 

Here's today's card made with one of my stamps from the Piccadilly Square Collection and Gelatos, plus spray textile paint from Tulip.

Step outs below...

In step one, you'll see I used watercolor paper, a paper doilly and the Tulip brand textile paint in a spray bottle to create a stenciled textural design. 

Next, I cut the paper into 2" strips, lined them up side by side and stamped using my Piccadilly Square Stamp and a black Gelato. I stamped randomly, turning the stamp sideways for some and upright for others. Notice I overlapped the design onto different pieces. When the Gelato was dry enough, I then cut the strips into 2" squares. Taking a light blue Gelato, I accented the edges just a bit to create "pop".

Finally, I choose which of the squares I wanted to use then glued them onto a 5x5 card base, choosing a hue which would compliment but not compete with the design.

Final step- I used a square of fabric from my Couleur Vie collection with Henry Glass and Fiskars pinking shears to add on final touch. I glued it onto the back side of the card so you can still see it when the card is open. I generally like to add my sentiments on the inside to allow the outside become a mini art piece - nice for displaying. I also sign the back personally, proving it's handmade! ; )

Today's prize is - Choose two prints from my Etsy store!  And.........A complete 12 count set of Stamper's Big Brush!

Now answer today's question: Go take a look in your closet and report back- do the colors in your closet vary greatly or do they lean towards one particular hue or palette?

Answer the question here and then go to my blog and post your response there also. In the end, there will be a grand prize which you can win only if you comment on each day's question, on both blogs.

Don't miss out on the Seven Days of Giveaways with Brenda Pinnick!  Brenda will be posting a card a day on this blog, as well as her own.  To be entered to win, simply leave a comment here and on Brenda's Blog. Brenda will be giving away some great stamps from her new line, one of a kind pieces of her artwork as well as Design Memory Craft products!

Must be 18 years or older to win, USA residents only.

Here is today's prize!  A hand made original design by Brenda Pinnick, using her own fabrics from Henry Glass Textiles. Use this owl as your studio mascot, or to welcome trick-or-treaters. He would also look quite handsome sitting on your table or resting quietly, posed in your favorite reading spot. He's soft, he's stylish and has a built in inquisitive look on his face, surely contemplating just what it is you're doing and waiting to see if he can help.  He will ship to you tomorrow via USPS.  As an added bonus, you will also receive a Design Memory Craft Mixed Media Sampler and a Mix & Match Writing Set! 

Since Halloween is right around the corner, we just couldn't hold this great technique off another day!  If you loved Colleen's Stamped Pumpkins, then you're going to love these jazzed up pumpkins by Christy Tomlinson.  Christy used the Stamper's Big Brush to create these whimsical works of art. 

You can find Christy's Complete How To Here!

Hi all, Brenda Pinnick here with a fun card design made with my new stamps and with Gelatos for the wonderful, scrummy backgound. There is something so delicious about these gelatos...so satisfying in the application and the results. I'm a painter and just LOVE how these work with my new stamp line, available on HSN.com. They glide on just like lipstick then smudge...just like lipstick...but melt into vibrant color when you add a bit of water with a brush or a sponge. I think the highly textured background sets a nice stage for the cleanly stamped design, made with an inking pad. Variety is one of the necessary ingredients for a compelling design. 

I'm going to be posting a new card everyday for the next seven days, here on the Faber Castell Design Memory Craft blog and also on my blog at http://brendapinnick.typepad.com- AND - I am giving away goodies each day! You must leave a comment here on this blog then go over to my blog and also leave a comment answering the questions posed on that day. This is open to anyone over 18 years old and who resides in the U.S.

Here is day one's question; What is your favorite color combination and how does it make you feel?

So, off you go now... see you soon! Oh, and please share with all your crafty besties!

Stamped Pumpkins

Using Brenda Pinnick’s new stamps and Stampers Big Brush Pens I made these Holiday Themed Pumpkins!

Here's what you'll need:    

Black #199

Chrome Green #174

Metallic PITT® artist pen: Silver #251

Ribbons & lace

Rhinestones

After loading the color onto the stamp I laid the pumpkin in the palm of my hand and cupped my hand around the pumpkin to stamp the design. Heat set the ink, then add rhinestones, ribbons and lace.

Hello everyone! It's Tiffany here and this month I was asked to guest design for Two Peas in a Bucket's Stamping A to Z event that launched on October 10th. On October 15th, "F" for Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft was featured!

So, come check out the project and get ready to learn about Stamping and ALL its glory all month long! I have tutorial pictures too! Have a great day!

 Hello, it's Tiffany here with another video tutorial! This time, I'll be showing you 5 different ways to use the 3 mediums included in the Design Memory Craft Textural Accents Sampler. The sampler includes Gesso, Glaze, and Gel Medium. This is the perfect introduction to using different mediums for cardmakers and papercrafters alike! 

We'll be designing this fun Halloween card:

Here's the video:

Thanks for looking!

Hey everyone! My name is Rebecca Parkes and I am the new Sales Manager for Design Memory Craft. I’m excited to be part of the Design Memory Craft team, and to be sharing my very first blog with each of you.

Not only am I new to Design Memory Craft, but I am a newcomer to the world of paper crafting. Thank goodness we have such a great Design Team! I have spent a lot of time watching their videos and reading their blogs to see all of the beautiful projects that can be created using Design Memory Craft products.

During my first week here, we went to our local Archiver’s store, and I felt so overwhelmed! It was hard for me to absorb all of the wonderful products, patterns and colors that fill the store. The best way for me to overcome this was to get hands on, so we headed to the Minneapolis for Scrapfest for two days of cropping and workshops.

Going into Scrapfest, I didn’t know what to expect. Our first event was the kick off crop, and I didn’t even know where to begin with my project. But, with a little thought, LOTS of time at the Archiver’s store, and my arsenal of Design Memory Craft products, I planned out my very first scrapbook page. Here’s a picture of my first creation!

 
 The technique I used to make the tags is very easy and gives a really cool look.

I used the Stamper’s Big Brush Pen and the Gelatos to achieve this look. First, I colored the tag completely with the Stamper’s Big Brush. I used Light Cobalt Turquoise for Winston’s tag and Pink Madder for Pixie’s.  

After the ink dried (which didn’t take long!), I smeared some Gelato over top. I used the Silver Gelato for both tags.  Then, I used a wet paintbrush to dissolve and spread the Gelato over the entire tag to get a more transparent, but still very shimmery look. To get a richer look, you could just smudge the Gelato with your finger or blending stump. The nice thing is, they can be used with our without water to get very different looks! The Silver Gelato is available in the Metallic Gelato 2 ct pack (Gold & Silver) and also in the Mixed Media Metallic set.

Because the India Ink in the Stamper’s Big Brush is permanent, I didn’t have to worry that the color underneath would be harmed.  I love that you can layer Design Memory Craft products on top of each other. As a new crafter, this really gives me confidence to mix and match.

For the border, I used 4 small clear stamps together on an acrylic block and inked up each with a different color of the Stamper’s Big Brush.  I used Pink Madder, Orange Glaze, Nougat and Light Cobalt Turquoise. These colors are all available individually; Orange Glaze is also available in the Stamper’s Big Brush Pen 3 ct Set: Yellow. The entire line of Design Memory Craft products is available online at Archiver’s Annex (www.archiversannex.com)

I love to use the Stamper’s Big Brush for stamping. I find it so much easier to color directly onto my stamps. The nibs are really strong so I can control exactly where I am coloring. The markers are so inky too that you can really tell if you’ve put too little or too much color on your clear stamp. When it comes time to stamp, you can actually see the ink transfer from the clear stamp to the paper. For a novice stamper like me, this is a huge help!!  Another way to use the Stamper’s Big Brush is to use multiple colors on the same stamp. I didn’t for this project because my stamps were small, but typically I do. The inks naturally blend together for a multi-color coordinated look. 

I hope you like these quick and easy techniques using Design Memory Craft Gelatos and Stamper’s Big Brush Pens. The possibilities for mixing & matching Design Memory Craft products are truly endless, and while I won’t master them all, I am definitely going to have fun trying!  

Hi folks! Jill Foster here with an 8" x 8" canvas created using Gelatos, Stamper's Big Brush Markers, patterned paper, chipboard, stamps, and an SRM sticker.

If you're like me, you have loads of chipboard pieces in your stash just waiting for a home.  Well, these pieces are super easy to color using Gelatos.  Begin by scribbling color from the Gelato onto your chipboard.

 
Next, blend the color using a baby wipe.

 
Finally, stamp the chipboard piece using a Stamper's Big Brush Marker and Penny Black Paisley Outline.

 
To create the canvas background, adhere patterned paper and tags to canvas using matte decoupage medium.  Color around edges using Gelato.

 
Blend using a baby wipe.

 
I just love the subtle metallic shine this adds. 

Thanks for stopping by-wishing you a "HAPPY" day!

Hi all,

Brenda PInnick here. I just wanted to stop by, say hello and to show you a fun technique using Gelatos! Take a look, a close look...

I loved combining traditional stamping with my new stamp lines and my Sizzix embossing folders, available on HSN.com, and using Gelatos to create a distressed image. The soft, background designs are created by layering my Sizzix Textured Impressions embossing folders underneath the fabric, then softly adding in color to reveal the design. So easy, so quick, so pretty! 

This project was intended to be a pillow but it kept getting larger and larger since I couldn't decide which little patches to leave off. So, I kept them all in and made it a big, big tote bag - perfect for travel!

I'm sure you can find more ways to combine Gelatos, stamps and embossing folders... have fun!

To read about my recent HSN segments, visit my blog and I'll be showing some behind the scenes photos soon!