www.susankweckesser.com

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Mini Sketch Book

Hello everyone!

Today, I want to share a mini sketch book that I created to keep on hand for when inspiration strikes.  Because according to Murphy's Law, when it hits me, I'm usually empty-handed, with nary a pad nor pen handy! :)

Supplies used:  Maya Road chipboard album; Susan K. Weckesser patterned papers and stamps; Silhouette Cameo, Rolled Rose and Flower Leaves files; Martha Stewart Crafts and Marvy Uchida punches; Tsukineko ink; WRMK Cropodile; Offray ribbon; Doodlebug Designs and Cosmo Cricket alpha stickers; Sookwang tape; pencil, mini doily, rhinestones, binder rings and elastic band from stash.

I created the album using an old a vintage Maya Road coaster chipboard album.  I removed the ball chain and used two of the pages for my covers.  Both were covered with patterned paper and double-sided tape - I find when covering large areas, the Sookwang tape is the most resilient and durable.  I then punched small circles and attached to the chipboard, to reinforce the soon-to-be-punched-by-Cropodile holes.


From the patterned paper, I fussycut the "Green with Envy" tag and removed the inner part, leaving a Polaroid-type frame.  I then mounted it on a scrap piece of the reverse coordinating side of the Live In Colour Tags paper, after flicking it with my watercolours.  The title was added and the whole thing was mounted onto the album cover.  I wrapped it all with a satin ribbon and then embellished with flowers and butterflies (of course!), cut and punched from coordinating patterned papers.


The pencil holder was made by folding a short piece of elastic band around the pencil and sewing a loop.  I then punched a circle from patterned paper and attached it to the mini doily.  Using the loop as a guide, I cut a slit through both, using my craft knife.  I fed the elastic loop through the doily/circle and then attached it all to the upper portion of my chipboard, centering it between the punched holes.


The pencil was made by stamping plain copy paper with turquoise ink and the A Little Bit Washi stamp set.  It was cut to length and then wrapped around a mechanical pencil that was covered in double-sided tape.  Easy peasy!


For the inside pages, I wanted pre-drawn squares to use when I am brainstorming sketches for the Sketchy Challenges for Canadian Scrapbooker magazine.  Using Adobe Illustrator, I created the custom pages and printed them out.  Once they were all trimmed down to size, I marked and punched the holes with the Cropodile and bound it all together with 1" binder rings.


Thanks for looking - hope you enjoyed my project!

Cheers,
Sue :)

My Blog:  Kewl Beans

Monday, April 29, 2013

Bloom where you are planted

Hey there bloggers! Rita Barakat here today with a fun project!
I used Susan K.Weckessor's whimsical paper line
 and her stamp, The Happy Homestead form Unity. 
Some close ups...
 
 The cute little house was stamped, embossed and then colored with Gelatos.
 I cut the letters out from one of the papers.
 Of course that bird id so stinking cute, I had to give her a little sparkle!
 
 I got the textured letter background by adding molding paste and a stencil.
I painted the background with Gelatos.
The piece is mounted on clear acrylic...
I dont know why- but this piece makes me happy, i hope it makes you happy too!

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Spring has Sprung!

Hi everyone Jennifer here this week!  I created a little 6 x 12 scrapbook layout for my quote book.  I started off with cutting a piece of Susan's paper Beautiful Daydreams in half.  I choose this part as I like that it was already like a little scene. 




I then cut out a few flowers and butterflies from the other side of the paper and added pop dots to them.  I also took a Spellbinders Want 2 Scrap bling that looked like a sun and pasted it to the Bouquet paper and cut it out to make a sun. 






I then took paper and cut a bit of the edge of the cloud out so I could tuck the sun behind it.  I glued the one edge down but pop dotted the other to give the sun dimension. I attached a Pink Paislee butterfly to the sun.  I had distressed it with a bit of Donna Salazar ink. 




 Then I took rubber stamp from Susan K Weckesser's Grandma's Needlepoint set and stamped it around the edge of the paper to make it look like I sewed on it. 




I added my flowers I cut as well as another few butterflies!!  I then found a rub on that I liked and rubbed it onto the paper just above the flower line.  Of course a bit of bling in the middle of the butterflies as well.


I added a few other embellishments, a couple birds and resin flowers and Voila! my finished project....I like how Spring - y it is.


 It makes me happy to look at it.  It will find a home in my 6 x 12 album book which is starting to be quite the little album.  If you have not tried the 6 x 12 format give it a whirl as it is a nice size if you want to have a quick project or have a quote or small photo to use.  Hope you enjoyed this weeks project and hope you all are enjoying your season where ever you live!

Hugs Jennifer

Monday, April 22, 2013

The Fragrance of Flowers - art journal page

Hello Friends! JJ here today, to share an art journal page with you.  Every spring, when the lilacs bloom, the fragrance brings me right back to when I would play near my grandmother's lilac bushes.  The smell always reminds me of her.


First I created my background with acrylic paint.  The next step was stamping and embossing in white, using the flowers from the Create Your Day stamp set, and film strip and camera from the Insta-Cute set.


I then added some Smooch inks to highlight some of the stamps.


I finished off the page with my journaling, using a white gel pen and white india ink.


Is there a fragrance that triggers such memories for you?   Feel free to leave a comment and tell us about it!

Susan K Weckesser products
- Create Your Day stamp set
- Insta-Cute stamp set

Partner products
- Clearsnap embossing ink, embossing powder, and Smooch

JJ Sobey - Susan K Weckesser Design Team member

Monday, April 15, 2013

Saying Good-bye to Canadian Scrapbooker

I am SO SAD as I write this blog post today! I am sitting here in my studio with my cats, gerbil,  a box of Kleenex , and a bag of Reese Pieces.

img014I remember the very first article that I wrote for the magazine. It was called Scrap Matters and it was in the Summer 2009 issue. After that article, I  was so excited that I had a article in every issue of the Canadian Scrapbooker that came out until this past Spring. I loved thinking up new ideas and sending them to Jackie Ludlage to see what she thought of them. I would anxiously wait for an email back from her to see if she liked the idea or didn’t like it. I would then spend hours writing up the articles and creating artwork for them. I was thrilled when in January 2011, Jackie asked me if I wanted to actually be a ‘writer’ for the magazine. Before that time I had been doing the articles for her, not expecting or getting anything in return, because I loved designing, writing and interacting with people that also loved to create! It made me happy. I met a lot of WONDERFUL people and made a lot of AWESOME memories that I will always treasure!

Katharina Doyle was the first person from the team that I met, shortly after my father had passed away. Katharina means the world to me…. like a big sister I never had! She always makes me smile. She always made sure that I wasn't lost when I went places & she always brightened up my day!

My four years of writing for Canadian Scrapbooker have been four wonderful and memorable years which I will cherish with lots of fond memories. I want to combine my love for teaching with my love for writing, and pursue this combined passion with other magazines which will allow that to happen.  Since I can only be a writer for Canadian Scrapbooker, and not a teacher, I need to pursue different options which will allow me to dove tail my two passions together. Keep looking at this blog and company, Susan K. Weckesser Inc.  because in the near future you will see where I am headed and it is going to be AWESOME!!!! I LOVE to write my articles , and will to continue to do so with other magazines around the globe….. I know that you all know how much I LOVE to teach…..and talk and SHARE my love of art!!! *grin*

So, YES…… I will be teaching classes this year again!*SMILE* We get into all kinds of mischief in my classes!!!!! *wink*

Before writing articles with Canadian Scrapbooker, I taught painting, (water color, acrylic, oils), crafting, journaling, quilting, and scrapbooking for twenty-six years. Gee……when I say it that way….it really ages me, doesn’t it!!!!!! OY!

I LOVE TEACHING and talking and being with people and showing them how color and art can make them feel ALIVE and HAPPY!

ART HEALS and it always give you peace and HOPE even when you feel like your world is falling apart……. Some days are just a little harder then other days, and when they are, pick up you brush or scissors or pen…..and create your self a smile!

HElmar Want2scrap weckesser 2 

So even though I am leaving Canadian Scrapbooker…… I am not leaving Canada, Eh!? So, Please remember this little chatty Ukrainian girl who lives down in southern Alberta! Thank-you for all your kind comments and support over the years and I hope that you continue to come with me as I continue my creative journey!

Big Hugs,

Susan xo

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Inspiration Junction

Hello Susan Weckesser fans, Einat Kessler here with an inspirational project!

If you feel like your inspiration has left you, just follow the directions and you will find it in no time!


I started with stamping a few of Susan Weckesser patterned papers with powerful inspiration words. Then I cut them into arrow shapes. I inked the edges and added embellishments that I cut from the papers.
I adhered the arrows to a wooden skewer and secured the skewer in putty.
Finally I added flowers and leaves on the bottom.
Now whenever I can't find my inspiration I look up and follow the arrows...
Have fun creating!
Einat Kessler
Susan K. Weckesser DT member

Friday, April 12, 2013

D'Diva Reveals All!

 Reported by Julie Short
D'Diva Reveals All!
"Hellooo Darhlings! Thank you  all for coming! I know I've been away far too long! A little bit of patience.
 please"

"Yes it has been over two years since you last saw me!
 You see, I was tired and worn out from all the part-ay-ing. Then something wonderful happened - Artiste Julie had time for my makeover and these lovely people sponsored both the make-over and the Transformation Party. What a party it's going to be!"

"Prepare to be amazed!"

"Before - I was all cracked up, totally showing my age. Don't ask!"

"Julie is a whizz with gesso. But she got into such a tizz about my lips!
Too much pouting for the paparazzi," she said.
"Lucky, I love the girl!"

"Choices were made."

"Luscious Smooch, Color Box Chalk Inks and the ColorBox Stylus were all selected!

"Then we got excited about Susan K.Weckesser Products. I tell you that Julie is non - stop, when she's Re-making!"

"Bright, happy papers from the Susie Bee Studios Range for the new me.

And stamps too - "Fly Away" and "Grunge Leaves" You'll find those at the Unity Stamp Company.

NOW! Are you ready?

"You heard it here first!

"I'm retiring from the Diva Life! My new career will be in FASHION!"

D'Diva's new accessory range is truly, fa -bu-lous!"

"Hat Brooches - the Bigger, the Better!"

"Neckpieces! All hand made at a secret location. All to order, of course!"

"Wait! I've kept the best to last!"

"Glasses! Fan-tab-ul-ous Glasses!"

"These will be one of a kind and made by MOI! You'll love the sparkle and bling!"

"And now! 

I'm ready for photos!"

"My Stores open in Modanville, Paris and London next week.

I will be 

Creating YOU- nique.

Love Always D'Diva"

Edited from the D'Diva Press Conference by Julie Short - Susan K Weckesser Design Team