Shimmerz Licorice Spritz vs. Before Dawn Vibez

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between the two black mists that Shimmerz produces? Wonder no more!

Licorice Spritz and Before Dawn Vibez are amazing products with very different ways of reacting on paper. Watch my video as I demonstrate how different these two seemingly similar products really are!



I case those projects whizzed by too fast, here are some still pics for you.

The layout that I created with Shimmerz Spritz in Licorice appears like a beautiful silver wash in the background. Can you imagine how cool this product would be used with a mask and black cardstock? Can't wait to give that a whirl!

My project using Shimmerz Vibez in Before Dawn has a much more subtle effect. The Before Dawn Vibez appears more like individual sparkles on black paper. You can see the beautiful shimmer on the close-up of the crepe paper border. (The very edge is glitter. The Vibez can be seen on the ruffled part.)

In conclusion...if you are looking for a silver-y wash of color, reach for your Licorice Spritz. If you are looking for sparkle that doesn't overwhelm the background, reach for your Before Dawn Vibez.

Have fun playing with these great products!
 xoxo
Bethany Kartchner

The SuperStar Album

Calling all Shimmerz fans in the Phoenix, Arizona area! If you've wanted to learn how to use Shimmerz Vibez, Pearlz and Blingz now is your chance! 

I'm teaching a mini-album class called The SuperStar Album that incorporates loads of techniques, loads of paints and loads of Shimmery goodness!

You can watch my video for more info.

Now that you are totally psyched and are making your travel plans....here's the nitty gritty...

Technique Arsenal: The SuperStar Mixed-Media mini-album

JULY 24th
10:30AM-1PM
Scrapbooks Etc.

2820 E University Dr

Mesa, AZ 85213

480-854-2303

Class Fee ($35.00) includes everything you need to make the album. 

Please bring the following tools:

3+ photos (no larger than 4x6), scissors, heat gun, paint brushes (various sizes, no bigger than 1 in), 1 foam brush (for applying glue if you don't want to use your finger), Mod Podge, any embellishments you wish to include like buttons, paperclips, patterned papers, a snack and water (optional)

Please note that class size is limited so please sign up early to reserve your spot! 

See you soon!

xoxo

Bethany

MLS Blog Hop Winner

I'm just getting back from a week long vacation during which I ate, chatted and generally enjoyed myself tons and tons. But alas, my deadlines didn't go away while I was gone. What is wrong with them?

So I will be working like crazy on a few projects and my blog may be a little neglected while I catch up on the laundry, cleaning, class prep, etc.

To tide you over, here is a pic of my sweet Dani's head. She was in need of a cute hair clip so I wizzed to my studio, found this cute crocheted flower by Harmonie and glued it to a plain silver clip. Tacky glue didn't hold for long, but E6000 would. It turned out really cute for a project that took about 30 seconds plus 5-10 minutes of drying time.

While I was gone, my review of Donna Salazar products appeared on The Scrap Review. Sometime in the next week or so I'll post those projects here too. I'm quite pleased by how they turned out.

I also want to thank you for all of your sweet comments on the MLS Farewell Blog Hop. If I am ever down, I'll be reading those little gems to lift me up. Thank you so much for all your support. Especially all of you who have been commenting for 100 years. I'm so grateful for your love. Thank you.

You're probably all waiting at the edge of your chairs to find out who won my MLS giveaway...it is ROSE! This was a totally random thing, but once I found out that Rose won, I went to her blog and totally fell in love with her. She is so talented! You gotta check out what the girl can do with copic markers. Wow.



Rose, email me at kartchnerfamily@cox.net with your addy and I'll get your prize out to you sometime in the next month (or so). giggle...

xoxo
Bethany

Farewell Blog Hop

Welcome to my blog! What a feast for the eyes this My Little Shoebox Blog Hop has been! The design team is so talented. It has been an honor to be included among them this past year.

Even though I've thoroughly enjoyed my time working with My Little Shoebox, I decided not to renew my contract for another year. I would like to focus more on teaching, publishing and expanding my artistic repertoire. As you can imagine, each of these things requires an abundance of time and energy. I'm excited for all the opportunities that are waiting for me to seize!

I'd like to bid a fond farewell to a wonderful company with a few of my favorite projects. Love you MLS!

Without further ado...

(Cape Cod Moments appeared recently in Somerset Memories.)

Whew, you made it to the end of my photos! Congrats!

Now, if you'd like to be entered into my own personal giveaway, please leave a comment with your favorite color of MLS Sprinkle Glaze Alphas. I will randomly choose a winner on Monday and will do my bestest to send you your favorite color. Good luck!

Now on to the GRAND PRIZE! It is only a blog away! Hop on over to Pattie Beltran's blog.

Pursue Big Dreams

Yesterday, the MLS DT appeared again on Pencil Lines! Yeah! Make sure you check out all the beautiful layouts. I'm always blown away by the designers on that blog!

I created Pursue Big Dreams, Not Small Realities using the sketch. The photo I used is from an impromptu photo shoot that Dani and I did for each other.

Materials: MLS papers and mini alpha stickers, bling, Petaloo flowers, text paper, unknown ribbon

This flower was a failed experiment for my Flower class. However, it worked beautifully on this layout. I was inspired by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer with the sewn pattern paper swirls.

My journaling was done on a failed ATC/paint experiment.

The butterflies were made by adhering punched out butterflies onto metal wire. For once, a successful experiment!

Have a great day!

xoxo
Bethany

Creative Escape 2010

I've just been informed that there are still spaces left at Creative Escape 2010! I've heard wonderful things about this retreat that takes place at the end of August in my home state of Arizona.

If you are interested in finding out more, just go here.

If you do decide to go, please let me know!

First Hair Cut

About a week ago, I needed to create, just for the sake of creating. So, I made First Hair Cut with some Bella Blvd papers that I received from Helen at MLS.

These papers are so easy to work with that this layout came together in about an hour. Even with all the fussy cutting!

Materials: Bella Blvd papers, MLS chipboard letters, black pen, sewing machine

You can see that big grin on that cute girl's face. She loved every second of her first hair cut!

A few close-ups...

I even included a small piece of hair from Lyssie's first cut.

It felt so good just to create something fun! Oh, and check out the Love My Tapes blog as someone you may know appeared there this week. (giggle) Seriously though, I'm loving their double-sided adhesive and I used it on the layout above (as well as just about every layout I've completed in the last 2-3 months!)

Happy Creating!

xoxo
Bethany

We Must Carry it With Us

This is the season for major change. Graduation, moving, vacations. Many people are embarking on new adventures. My children are all moving from one grade to another and one of them is starting kindergarten in the fall. All of this has prompted me to reflect on a project that I created a few months ago, but didn't have a chance to share yet.

I've entitled this piece: We Must Carry it With Us or We Find it Not.

The background boards are Cosmo Cricket lacing cards that I purchased ages ago. The girls' dresses are My Mind's Eye, 7 Gypsies and an unknown pink flower paper. I drew each of the girls to resemble one of my daughters (and myself) and each one is complete with symbols that reflect on their personalities.

Sweet Lyssie...

Sweet Zozo...

Sweet Dani...

And of course, myself...

I made this piece in response to a concern that I have as my daughters grow and develop and take a bigger place in society. Because we live in a world that rages war on women's bodies, one of my main concerns for them is that they develop a healthy body image. I want my daughters to rise above society's conception of beauty and know that they are beautiful beings no matter what. I made this piece as a means of teaching that lesson to them, as well as a visual reminder to myself. (I have and continue to struggle with positive body image.) 

The quote that is weaved throughout is a powerful one from Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not.

As you and your loved ones embark on new adventures, I hope that you too carry the beautiful with you. In your heart.

Getting Stuff Done

I just finished reading Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project and was totally inspired to tackle some of those chores that have been weighing on my mind for months and months and months. Things like figuring out what is wrong with the old computer (the monitor went out) and tackling the installation of my Silhouette SD onto my new computer (thank you technical support!) and putting away those piles of clothes that have been sitting in my hall for months waiting to go into long-term storage. You know, things like that. Things that you build up in your mind for months until they become so grand that it is almost impossible to start.

These projects have been floating around the house waiting for me to acknowledge them, but until I read Rubin's book, I just couldn't. I just found them too overwhelming. I followed her advice (I guess I'm not the only one with long lists of stuff to do...) and wrote everything down. Everything...from finding hooks for all the aprons shoved into a shelf in the pantry (not yet completed) to figuring out the mess at the computer table (ack!).

I have to admit, writing everything down was good for a few reasons: 1. the list wasn't quite as long as I had imagined, 2. it allowed my tired brain to rest because everything was written instead of floating around, 3. it gave me a visible goal and 4. I really really like crossing things off.

So yesterday, I had an extra hour because the 4 older sweeties were playing and the youngest munchkin was happy following me around (instead of wreaking havoc on the older 4 or the dogs or the house.) I decided to tackle the old computer problem. After calling my computer savvy brother (thanks Ian!) I figured out the problem and was able to solve it. It didn't take as long as I had expected nor was it as expensive. (I know this won't always be the case...). Crossing that chore off of my list gave me such an immense feeling of satisfaction that I was able to tackle two more chores today. I feel the energy of momentum taking off here...

Here's my challenge to you. Perhaps we can work on this together? Write down all those things that you've been putting off. You know...getting the car fixed (yep, that's on my list), cleaning up the garage, going through your closet, stuff like that. And let's work on it. One thing at a time. Just one. I know that we can do this. Need a bit of motivation? Check out The Happiness Project. You'll love it.

xoxo
Bethany

Happiness Album

 Last month, the My Little Shoebox designers were given a Punky Sprouts mixed-media album to complete.  I decided to make a Happiness Album filled with inspiring quotes to encourage me on grumpy days. (Of course, no one else has those kinds of days...)

I'm kinda a quote junkie so this was a great way to display all those lovely thoughts.

This is how it turned out...

The cover

The inside pages.

Once I finished, I sent some pictures to Punky Sprouts and they featured it on their blog. Yeah!

By the way, there are still a few spots left in my June 5th class so if you are thinking about signing up. You've still got a few hours! :)

Happy Creating!

xoxo
Bethany