Diamonds? No. Diamond Glaze is a Girls Best Friend

***** SEE AUG 15 20080 UPDATE TO THIS POST*****It finally slapped me in the face today that "Diamond Glaze" by Judikins is recommended just about everytime I read instructions for a jewelry and paper related product in any magazine, book or blog. I know it has been around for a while, but none of my local stores seem to carry it so I had not tried it myself until a month or so ago when visiting my crafty mother-in-law. I tried it. I liked it. I tried to find it and buy it, but to no avail. Today I decided to find it online. I Googled "Diamond Glaze" and also checked Etsy supplies and was amazed at all of the rave reviews and usage ideas that came popping off the page.

Maybe Marilyn had it wrong... it's not "Diamonds are a girls best friend". It's DIAMOND GLAZE. This stuff is amazing.

Here's what other people are saying:

"I LOVE this stuff! I use it on almost every layout! You can use it as an adhesive, or as an enhancer to any item - paper or not. I've used it to fill in conchos to make typewriter keys. I've used it on flowers to simulate dew. On water to simulate movement. You can mix it with a few drops of refill ink to do stained windows. It ROCKS~! " (www.scrapjazz.com/reviews by "PrincessDallas")

"I love this stuff. It's great as a glue, especially for see-through items like watch crystals and works as a great glaze too. Follow the instructions and you won't be disappointed." (www.scrapjazz/reviews by "Dreamweaver")

"Judikins Diamond Glaze is a dimensional adhesive that dries to a clear glass-like finish. Why buy five when one will do? Dimond Glaze is an adhesive, glaze, medium, paint, and lacquer all in one: Judikins Diamond Glaze securely holds Vellum, Embossable Window Plastic, glass beads, glitter and many other mediums! Unlike other clear adhesives, Diamond Glaze is mixable with dye-based inks, watercolor, and pearlescent pigments. Use this liquid lacquer directly over artwork, chalking, or embellishments for a raised glass-like finish. Thin with water for a lacquer-like finish. This is one of the best adhesive for gluing glitter, beads, glass, plastic and vellum" (www.scrapbook.com store)

Check out this long review including a few tips on Ebay Reviews. And there's many, many more rave reviews and uses mentioned out there.

So what is this stuff? It is...

• Acid Free
• Perminant when dry, but easy soap & water clean up for brushes.
• Medium for dye inks, pigments, micro powders, chalk, pearlescents
• Top Coat sealer
• Adhesive for many things including paper, glass, glitter
• Light resin for thick glassy coatings
• Paper embelishment. Make certain parts look 3-D by topping with a shiny coating
• Decopage medium for clear objects

It is not....

• Waterproof
• Scratchproof
• Non Yellowing when applied thick
• Good for use on fabric
• A heavy duty adhesive. Best for paper and light items.
• Fast drying. Times depend on thickness.
• Bubble free. Never shake the bottle. Pop bubbles with a dry paint brush.

Cool little project using Diamond Glaze that demonstrates how to pop the bubbles too!

Here's some resources for the little frame charms like the ones used in the video.

http://brightlingsbeads.com/picture-frame-charms.html

http://www.rubbernation.com/servlet/the-CHARMS-cln-Photo-Frame/Categories

http://www.smallstudioproductions.com/Emporium/bibelots.html

http://www.artchixstudio.com/mall/abimage.asp

Here's a resource for some fun shaped LARGE frames you can collage in:

http://www.hhhenterprises.com/ezines/07-18-2008/home.html

You can find Diamond Glaze here:
or try before you buy...Judi Kins offers FREE SAMPLES!!!http://www.diamondglaze.com/sample.html

Have Fun! I know I will. =o) Happy crafting.

Paper-o-holics & Card Makers-Impress Your Friends and Yourself with Pretty Dalia Folding!

If you you are a rubber stamper, scrapbooker or paper-o-holic like I am, you probably already have a ton of pretty papers just waiting to be turned into something wonderful! How 'bout something dimensional that will pop off the background of a card and grab the viewers attention? Sound good?

There are several paper folding methods out there that are simple to learn which turn out great results that usually really impress the heck out of card recipients. I think most of the folds are generally refered to by the umbrella term "Tea Bag Folding". "What's that?" you say...

tea bag folding
Originally uploaded by taavina

Well, according to various web sources, Tea Bag Folding (AKA miniture kaleidoscopic origami) was created in Holland by a lady who got creative with some colorful square tea bag envelopes she had sitting on her table. She folded each one and then combined them in a way that when they interlocked, they created a symmetrical medallion design. This has evolved into a big thing with many fold and connection patterns & specialy papers now available offering endless possibilities.

Here is a site with many links to patterns and resources for traditional folding with square piece of paper or teabags: TEA BAG FOLDING


My friend Sharon Mott recently introduced me to the "Dalia Fold" which is similar to teabag folding but uses circles instead of squares. I think her cards are really beautiful. Don't you agree?




































Try it...

What you will need:

• Pretty double-sided paper for the dahlia
• Coordinating paper for the background
• 1.5" circle punch or circle cuter
• Paper Glue Stick (I recommend UHU)
• Button or rhinestone for the center
• Bone folder (optional, but helps make crisp folds)
• Premade card blank & envelope
• Illustrated instructions

I hope you try this fun project. If you do, please pop back by and leave a comment and link me to a pic of your work. I would love to see it! HAVE FUN!!

How to Take Better Photos for Scrapbooking, Part 2

Hey there photo phriend! In yesterday's "How to Take Better Photos ....Part 1", I talked about 8 tips to improve the photos you will be scrap booking. I have a few more tips that will surely help most of us take "photos" rather than "snapshots".

FYI - though the focus of the articles is for scrap booking pix, the truth is these tips apply to anyone for all photos for pretty much any situation, whether the photo will be scrap booked or not.

Please review the steps in "Part 1" and then let's pick up where we left off... Here we go!

9. Pay attention to the background. Try to position the subject or your body and the camera so that the background that will show in the picture is not distracting. Try to avoid extra clutter in the picture that could detract from the subject. If you are able to adjust the aperture on your camera, use a very wide aperture (low number) to turn the background into a nice silky blur.

10. Use the flash outdoors when taking people pix. I know in a previous step I said to avoid using the harsh light of the flash, but outdoors the light is dispersed enough so that it just fills in the shadows on nicely. Also, if you are somewhat close to the subject, a flash can stop motion blur. For example, take a pic of a flower blowing in the wind using the flash to freeze the image for a split second.

11. Focus on focus. I know that it seems obvious. Of course you have to focus! Right? But, sometimes we get so excited to capture a picture we don't pay attention to which part of the picture the camera is focused on, then when we see the resulting pics we are disappointed to find that a unimportant part of the photo is tack sharp while the subject is blurry.

12. Be aware of shadows. They can be an interesting feature or ruin a picture. It's cool to capture the elongated shadows of trees & people when the sun is low in the sky. It is usually not cool to have an unintentional shadow covering 1/2 of the subjects face. In situations where there is a partial shadow that cannot be avoided, use the fill-flash (item 10 above)

13. When possible, use leading lines to draw the viewer in to the photo. Lines that start near the lower corner of a picture, continue to the subject or diminish in to the distance help to pull the eye into the photo.

14. Use a tripod, especially when there is low ambient light. The lower the light, the slower the shutter which means if your hand shakes at all the picture will be blurry. Built in anti-shake features found in cameras and lenses help, but there is no substitute for a tripod in low light.

15. Love your camera. Hug it, learn it, keep it clean. After all, it's THE tool required to take good pix, ya know? Learn how and when to use all the settings and features of your camera. Read the manual and play around to see what the settings do. Maintain the camera by keeping it dry and store in a stable temperature. Carry in a padded camera bag. Keep batteries charged and store them outside of the camera if you will not be using it for a while. Protect LCD's with clear protective stick-on covers. Be really careful not to get dust or scratches on the lens. Clean it carefully and often with a cloth or tool designed especially for cleaning lenses. Never clean with tissue, paper towel, etc. All of this is pretty basic, but it is important so worth mentioning.

Here's a few pictures that are good examples of what is covered in this blog and Part 1:


Why it's good: LEADING LINES & OFF CENTER SUBJECT

leading line
Originally uploaded by audi_insperation

Why its good: INTERESTING USE OF SELECTIVE FOCUS

"B" is for Bokeh
Originally uploaded by Steve Pearce

Why it's good: UNCLUTTERED BACKGROUND, OFF-CENTER, UNPOSED PICTURE, GOOD SIDE LIGHT

Argenit's First Portrait
Originally uploaded by azem

Why it's good: RULE OF THIRDS APPLIED. (Subject is placed at one of the four intersections where the lines meet.)

Rule of thirds
Originally uploaded by Pablo Montesdeoca

Why it's good: INTERESTING CROP + FUN COLOR/FILTER APPLIED IN PHOTO EDITOR

Rockstar
Originally uploaded by maureenwilson

How to Take Better Pictures for Scrapbooking, Part 1

What makes a page POP!?

If you are in to scrap booking or thinking about scrapping to do something cool with that giant box-o-pics you have at the bottom of your closet, then you have probably spent some time looking at other peoples scrapbook pages for ideas and inspiration. I'm sure you have admired the colorful papers and embellishments, and journaling, but I am willing to bet that the pages that truly 'grabbed' your heart the most were the ones with one or two quality photos where the photos were the star of the page. Right?

So now let's think about this.... What makes a quality "photo" vs. a snapshot?

Here are some really high-level, simple rules that will immediately improve most photos:

1. Fill the frame with the main subject. Get close or zoom in.
2. Take candid shots instead of rigidly posed shots.
3. Take the photo at a fun angle. Don't take a picture standing with the camera straight on every time. Tilt the camera, hold it high and have the subject look up, hold it low and angle up to the subject. Get down on the ground with kids and pets.
4. Don't force a smile. The most moving images are when the person has a natural expression.
5. Catch mid-giggle pics of kids.
6. Make sure there is lots of natural light. Avoid the harsh light of the flash whenever possible. Daylight with the subject near a window works great or outdoors on overcast days or at sunrise/sunset when the light gives the subject a warm glow.
7. Don't center the subject in every shot. Move the camera so that the main subject is off to one side. Also, don't center horizon lines when taking outdoor shots. Follow the "Rule of Thirds".
8. Use interesting crops to show just a portion of the photo, like maybe the whole body without the head in the frame, or just show the hands or feet.

and more...

Please check back to this blog for photography tips on how to take better photos part 2 coming soon.

Here is an example of some pages found on flickr that I think exemplify some of the tips mentioned above(permission to blog granted by the owners):

Sweet Tender Moments Digital Scrapbook Page by Christine Smith
Originally uploaded by Christine_Smith

Cute Digital Scrapbook Page by Christine Smith
Originally uploaded by Christine_Smith

Kitty 6"x6" scrapbook page
Originally uploaded by smiling.jessica

The pages above, IMHO, are embellished in a way to bring the photo more attention vs. draw attention from it. The memory is the foremost subject of the page, and that is what tugs at our hearts, makes us smile, or gives us warm fuzzies!

More tips coming soon! Subscribe to get automatic updates!

Super Smart Unmounted Rubber Stamps Storage!

All of us diehard stamp-o-holics tend to accumulate an abundance of unmounted rubber art stamps as we progress deeper and deeper into our stamping obsession. We all start out buying one or two mounted stamps, and before long we have large storage bins or shelves full. Then we move on to the "hard stuff"... Unmounted rubber stamps.

At first you say, "I'll just buy one". Then you say, "Well, they cost so much less than mounted, I can get two for the price of one, so I will get two." The next thing you know you are up to buying whole sheets at a time.

One day you will stop and take a long hard look around you and discover you are up to your ears in unmounted rubber stamps and that it is a real pain to dig through the pile to find just the one you want. What to do? What to do?

Well, I found this wonderful YouTube video from pinkcatstudio that has storage solutions that are pure genius!


Check it out:



Note regarding the CD jewel cases...A responder to the video post wrote, "This is a well made well presented video. One word of caution CD cases and similar storage methods are highly acidic. Over a number of years this could cause your stamps to deteriorate."

I cannot say for sure if this is true, but it might be. A possible solution might be to use heave archival paper to line the case??? I am not sure, but for a temp solution, it sounds great to me.