Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Aug 31 DIGI of the WEEK 40% OFF

Hi everyone!  Each week we are picking a product and offering  it at a discount.  The lovely Michelle had the honours of picking this week's and she has picked 2 LOL  This week you will find both the Pre-Coloured Gerbera Daisy Sets at 40 % OFF.

Corner Gerbera Daisy Pre-Coloured Set
$4.00 CAD  $ 2.40 CAD ( until Sept 6 )
Gerbera Daisy in a Jar Pre-Coloured Set
$4.00 CAD  $ 2.40 CAD ( until Sept 6)


Both can be purchased on the DIGI of the WEEK post at the STORE.

Even with puter problems, Michelle has outdone herself!  She has made a lovely gift set for the Digital Tuesday Challenge and a few more! 


More details on this cute gift set can be found on Michelle's BLOG.

And she made these too :D  Please go to her blog and give her some love!



Tuesday, August 24, 2010

DIGI of The Week! 40% OFF

 Every week we will pick one of our favourite digi products and offer it at a special price :)

This week ( Aug 24) I have chosen  The Favourite Flowers Digi BUNDLE.  I have taken 40% OFF the price.  It was already a ridiculous price at $8.00 for so many digi products; now get it at an even more ridiculous price LOL!


GET ALL 5 Favourite Flowers Digi Products for $8.00 CAD ( Save $2.00) DIGI of the Week 40% OFF( now $4.80 )
GET THEM ALL !!  







 



I should have a new project out this week to showcase the Digi if the Week, so stay tuned ;) I just bought a new laptop ( a convertible Tablet PC - one which you can draw on the screen :D ) It has been occupying my time getting it ready with software and updates. This week, hopefully Fred will get enough MOJO to churn out some new designs. I have been battling fatigue and brain fog, nothing is staying in the old noodle! LOL I had a second sleep study done with a CPAP machine, was that fun, NOT! Next week, back to the DR to see where my b12 and Iron are at and see if the tests show I have a gluten sensitivity. Round 'n round the merry go round LOL!

Also, thank you to all who have responded to the DT CALL. I am taking applications until August 30 so there is still time to apply :)

:)*
Fred

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

DT CALL SEPT 01-DEC 31

I have 3 spots open on my Design Team.  I am looking for designers who love floral and decorative designs.  Fred She Said sells outline images, pre-coloured images, patterns/templates/frames/ornate designs, papers and SVG cutting files for digital cutting machines.

Applicants must enjoy and have experience using digital materials that I have mentioned above, the ability to print, and perhaps, though not necessary, have the use of a digital cutting machine.  Good photographs of your designs are a must and having a blog and a presence on various papercrafting and cardmaking forums are an asset.


Most of my designs have a floral or nature theme and there will be some Christian/Inspirational designs coming up.  Please don't apply if you  are only interested in  character digi's.  There may be a few new upcoming  characters ( eg.  Emma's ) but no guarantees at the moment.

DT requirements are minimum 4 designs per month and participation in some of the activities and blog hops, Fred She Said will have.  Compensation will be all products released during the term and any products from the Store as long as you complete  one or two designs using that product.

Please email me before August 30th with a bit about yourself , your blog, forums you participate in, any DT's you are on or have been on, as well as 2 or 3 designs that you feel represent your style.

EDIT: A few people have been having trouble getting my email address from the link so here it is fred.she.said(AT)gmail.com  ( replace the (AT) with @    .

Announcements will be made Sept. 1. 

Thanks,
Tracey (Fred)

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Digi of the Week - Carol H. Picks ROSEY PUP!

Hi!  It's time for a NEW Digi of the Week!  The oh so awesome DT Carol H.  had the honours of picking this week's Digi.  Rosey with a Flower Coloured Set30% OFF!! 

Here is CAROL with her wonderful project!  This is also on Carol's blog, please go give her some love :)

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You can't help but fall in love with this sweet little puppy. Who can resist that face!!! Rosey is one of my favorite of many digial images from the Fred She Said Store. This is the pre-colored version-so it makes your card crafting a cinch. As you can see I have used the Martha Stewart Heart Border Punch, the large chrysanthemum double punch, frond, branch, and double punch monarch butterfly. Lots of machine stitching on all the different panels on this card in black thread really make the paper stand out. The tag is a Spellbinders die cut from the Fancy Tag Collection.

Here is a close up of sweet Rosey. You can see I layered this image. The design of this digi lends itself to be layered perfectly.Of course, I always have to have some bling and glitter in my designs.
This is a look at the inside of this card. The Martha Steward Punch Around the Page here is Gothic Arches.



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Thanks so much, Carol.  Your Rosey ensemble is delightful!!!

Have a great day, all!

Friday, August 13, 2010

Digi of the Week - another flower card

People, I have a tip for you today - YouTube is dangerous! LOL  I have been watching video after video on making paper flowers!!! Don't believe me? - checkout my Paper Flowers PlayList to see the videos I have bookmarked LOL!  My finger tips are rainbow stained and I am neglecting getting new designs done... cuz I'm having FUN! woohoo!

Case in point:


Here is another type of ROSE you can make.  I used the Paper Roses & Leaves Set that is on sale ( 30% OFF) until August 16 midnight EDT.  ( Check back this TUESDAY to see what our next DIGI OF THE WEEK will be ;)  )

The videos that inspired me are THIS ONE ( by JadedStudios) and THIS ONE (by  Psychomoms which uses similar technique )   After watching either of these videos, please see below for instructions on how I coloured my flower.

The Flower:
-I used 2 large and 1 medium paper rose flowers cut from a thin cardstock.
- Paint the outer edges of the petals LIBERALLY with Twinkling H2O paint ( I used Hot Cinnamon). ( Twinklers are great as they have a highly pigmented watersoluble paint AND the shimmery stuff )
-Lay the petals on your craft sheet or cardboard "spritzing box" LOL and spray the heck out of them with water in a mister.   MAGIC HAPPENS, the shimmer kind of spreads around a bit BUT the pigment really moves!
- Blast the petals with heat gun until just damp.
-Spritz the petals with a shimmery spray ( mine is water, iridescent gold powder, gum arabic for binder,  and antique linen + scattered straw reinkers  - this adds a subtle shimmer while yellowing/antiquing the flower so the white is not so stark)
-Blast with heat gun again until just damp.
-Now make roses as per videos... you need needle-nose tweezers to twist your petals.
-Center is a black dew drop and a Big Sky Flake punch with stickles on top.

The REST of the card:
If you have noticed anything about my card making is I use white and cream papers/cardstock for EVERYTHING as a base to sponge ink on, colour, print on etc.  The gold frames and swirlies were painted with Gold Lumiere paint.  The rest is pretty much distress ink in one form or another ( sponged or added to my mini misters with mica powder and sprayed on).  I sponged fired brick and scattered straw on the small printed Butterfly then spritzed with shimmer.  I brayered some Gold Encore ink on the embossed backing paper for more gold.  I LOOOVE gold  heehee.

Hope you enjoyed my flower making session :)

Fred

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Digi of the Week 30% OFF Paper Roses

I have decided to start a Digi of the Week Sale.  We will be picking our favourite digi product each week and offer it at a discount. :D

This week I have chosen the  Paper Roses & Leaves Templates/SVG Set

Right now until August 16th we are taking 30% off the price :)  was $3.50 now $2.45!


Here is a card I made with this set.



 I used 2 large flowers and 1 medium flower.  Flowers were sponged with Fired Brick and Scattered Straw distress inks, Leaves are Peeled Paint. The flowers were sprayed with a homemade glitter antiquing spray ( irridescent gold pearlex, gum arabic plus a bit of scattered straw and antique linen reinker in a mini mister with water) I also tipped the edges of the petals with Hot Cinnamon twinkling H2O's.  I love the look of the flower and it is so easy to do.  I used a tutorial I found on You Tube by jannaviles.  Please check her videos out... wowsa!  Part one is HERE and Part two is HERE :)  All you need is the rounded end of a sharpie pen LOL!   I used a small flower stamen punch, lime stickles and a gem for the center.


Note:  I used the SVG cutting file in my Cricut using Make the Cut software ( can also be used with Sure Cuts Alot or even other cutting machines).  You DON"T need a cutting machine.. just a printer and a pair of scissors ;)  There are ready to print sheets and images .. use them like "stamps" or templates ( print on wrong side of paper - colour the flowers on the other side. )  Tip for template printing... you can change the black outline to another colour to coordinate with the colour of your flower.  Use a graphics editing program or see my Video Tutoral on Free PrintMaster Express.. which can easily take care of all your digi printing needs :)

Have a great day!

:)*  Fred

Friday, August 06, 2010

Blog Hop WINNER

Hi everybody!  I am here to announce the winner of the July 30th Blog Hop.  All the DT's cards were so beautiful, thank you so much girls!

The WINNER of a $20 Fred She Said gift certificate and a $20 gift certificate to Crop Stop is:

Drum Roll....... Josie Cox!!!!!  Woohoo Josie!   I will be emailing the winner tomorrow as it's bedtime here LOL!  Thanks so much to everyone who entered and hope you had fun and were inspired.

Have a good night everyone!

:)*  Fred  ...zzzzzzz.......

Friday, July 30, 2010

Blog Hop Starts HERE

How about some mid-summer fun with a Blog Hop?!

The girls have been busy creating and have some lovely eye candy for you !  Please leave them some love on their blogs.  At each stop on your way, there will be a special word... collect them up and there will be instructions at the end of your journey on how to enter.

The winning entry will receive $20 GC for the Fred She Said Store AND.... (AND!) ... a $20 USD Gift Certificate for CropStop so you can get that punch, or dies, inks, or embellishments you have been having you eye on :)  We will receive entries until Thursday August 5th Midnight EDT.

Here is the order of Blog Hop participants in case you lose your way.

Michelle
Lora
Carol H
Maria
Darsie
Sonya
Shelly
Tracey ( end of your journey and blog hop entry instructions)

Now please go to Michelle's Blog.  Have fun!

EDIT  OH Dear... there was a few hiccups at the end of the hop!  The LAST hop never posted so please if you need the last word and instructions please go here  CHALLENGE BLOG!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Corner Gebera Daisy Coloured Set

Corner Gerbera Daisy Coloured Set is finally up at the store.  10 nummy colours :)

Last week was not terribly productive for me. I was shuttling Nolan back and forth to an Art Class out of town.  Emma and I stayed around for the 3 hours his class took as the drive is 45 min.  Nolan had alot of fun and learned sooo much.  The teacher was Mark Thurman, a fabulous cartoonist and illustrator with 40 years experience.  He taught all the kids how the professionals did it, great inking and drawing techniques, using the tools of the trade.  Nolan is going to take part 2 of this class next year, colouring illustrations with coloured pencil.  His coloured work is amazing!

Oh before I forget.  There's a BLOG HOP this Friday, July 30!  Please come and hop with us!  Great prizes too!

I am going to try and get some more drawing in today and then housework.... blech!  Have a great day!

:)*  Fred

Sunday, July 25, 2010

CupCake Inspirations Challenge

Hi all!

I am so happy to sponsor the CupCake Inspirations Challenge Blog this week.  I made them a lovely Daisy CupCake to play with ;) ...and ooooo from the sneaker peakers, the CupCake DT made some yummy cards!  I lurve cupcakes... nummers!  Go look and have a play, a $20 GC to the FSS Store is up for grabs! 


Saturday, July 17, 2010

Flowery Cupcakes!

Also added in the Store: Yum Yum!
"Daisy CupCake"

"Plain CupCake"



 * Great for adding your own embellishments like... Fred's Flowers! ;)

Burds

Just added to the Store:  "Burds" ;)

"Burd Love"



"Real Burd Love"



"Burd Love's Complicated"


Single Burds

*YES, I realise Burd is mispelled.  But a Burd is a Bird, ya know? ;)

**Burds are a concept by son, Nolan ( drawn on a grocery list notepad ).  He let me run amok with his Burd.  He is so nice. LOL I thought this Burd was sooo cute I couldn't pass up the idea.  Thank You Nolan.  Nolan will be well compensated for his creative input :)

Friday, July 16, 2010

New in Store: Peonies & Gerbera Daisies!

Hi peeps!  New Stuff ...yey!!!!   I hope you like.  I'll have more goodies next week.  The Corner Gerbera Daisy Digi you see will have a Pre-Coloured Set available early next week.  I ran out of time... ack! 

These are available in the Store NOW:




Gerbera Daisy in a Jar DIGI



Corner Gerbera Daisy DIGI


Peony in a Jar DIGI

Corner Peony DIGI



Have a great day!!!  :)*  Fred

Thursday, July 08, 2010

Paper Rose Blossom Tutorial

 Here is the Paper Rose tutorial you have been waiting forever for!  Sorry, I'm so tardy. 

 "Let Us Begin"...

Materials:
-Printed sheet of Paper Roses & Leaves Template Set OR flowers and leaves cut from the SVG version on a digital cutting machine.  Printed on a thinner white Card Stock
-work surface for inking and spritzing ( non-stick craft sheet)
-scissors
-pinking decorative scissors ( optional)
-embossing/foam/mouse pad
-embossing stylus or something round and pointy LOL
-something to curl with eg a skinny end of a paint brush
-distress inks
-sponge applicators
-white or tacky glue - I used Aleenes Fast Grab Tacky Glue
-shimmer spray ( mine is a mini mister with interference gold pearlex mixed with water and a bit of gum arabic)
-a stamen punch and glitter glue to color it; or another punch or a brad/pearl/dewdrop, anything for a flower center.


For this one I hand cut 2 large and 1 medium flower and leaves with stem.
I used a proto-type... it now is a variegated leave BUT you can still use pinking scissors to get the variegated look... or not, it is easy to hand cut.



LEAVES:
Colour the unprinted side ( "right" side) by sponging Bundled Sage distess ink.  Emboss the center line and the veins using an embossing tool/mousepad on the wrong side of the paper. Flip the leaves over and skim your sponge ( with Forest Moss -darker green ink) over the vein lines.  The veins should darken.  Use stronger pressure and ink near the center line to give the leaves more dimension.  Bend/crease the leaves along center line using your fingers and then mould the  outer edges to give them gentle curve and dimension.  Sponge the stem with either a green or brown distress ink.



FLOWERS:
Sponge all over with the lightest color of your rose ( I used Spun Sugar ).

Sponge from the center out, with a darker ink ( Aged Mahogany )- use lighter and less pressure the further to the outer edge.


Cut between the petals a quarter of the way in around all the flowers BUT, on a large and medium flower, cut all the way to the center on one of the cuts.


On the embossing pad, score lines ( maybe 4 - 6 ) down the length of each petal on the wrong side.  On you work surface, do like on the leaves and ink these these veins with your darker ink on the right side.  This step is optional but it gives a rich variegated appearance to your rose.. I just like it :)
-click to enlarge and you get a better view of the veins.


One the 2 flowers you have a cut-line to the center... on that line, glue one petal over the next petal with the tack glue.  Some people use a paper clip to clamp them together until the glue sets.  My glue was fast grab so didn't need to do this.


Curl the edges of the petals around a skewer or skinny paint brush.. whatever will work for you ;)

On your embossing pad, smush the center down a bit on the 6 petalled flower, with a big embossing stylus or eraser end of a pencil.  On your work surface, spritz it all with shimmery spray ( optional)  or paint some shimmery lines on the petals or kiss them with glitter glue or chunky glitter .

Glue ( with a generous amount of tacky glue on the bottom of flower on the pointed part) in this stack from bottom to top.. Large 6 petal flower -> Large 5 petal flower - Medium 5 petal flower ( you might want to hold the pieces together for a few minutes for it to set ).  ...then add a "stamen"... mine is a Big Sky Flake punch inked with yellow ink and stickles and a gem on top.  I glued my stamen in using silicon glue so it stuck up a bit from the center.

My card was totally coloured with distress inks.  The oval has chunky glass glitter on it (Twinklets Diamond Dust ).  The background paper was done by layering several inks on my craft sheet, spritzing with water, and sweeping the CS through it.. and drying with heat tool... then used cuttlebug and embossing folder, then brayered gold encore ink on the embossed parts.  The dark green background is various greens sponged together with a bit of aged mahogany.

Here is another leaves and stem variation from the same Roses & Leaves sheet:


NOTES:

There are so many different ways you can make flowers with this set.  There are tutorials all over the internet for paper roses.  Tim Holtz is the instigator with the  Grunge Rose.  oooh I loves that Timmy!  This will give you a realistic rose center - I have done several with this set but haven't shown yet ;)

Tim uses grunge paper that is more pliable than card stock.  But here is a tip for you to make your card stock flowers more pliable.  Run the cut flowers through a crimper several times while changing the angle you run them though with.  Then, flatten the texture using something round and smooth like the bottom of a spoon on an embossing pad.  The fibres in the paper are now more pliable. Now your flowers are less likely to tear when moulding them.

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial and it made sense LOL!

Have a great day!

:)* Fred

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

CARD: Happy Birthday Little Chicky!

Inside:
"Look Who's 1!"
"Happy Birthday, Little Chicky!"


My cousin's DD turned ONE this weekend, Olivia is sooo cute and just sweet and curious.  One of my favourite birthday years.... where you let the little one year old discover cake and icing with all ten fingers!!!! LOL  They let her at a whole cake ... it was awesome.  There was a separate cake for the grown ups.  ;)   While everyone was eating, Olivia wanted to put her pointy in everone's cake LOL. 

Card uses the freebie I offered to help kick off CDAC's first challenge.  What alot of fun. One of the winners picked my store for their prize.  Thanks so much and I feel honoured :)  They have several new challenges up with different themes and some awesome digi artists hosting... Please go check it out!

Anyhoo, the kick off challenge is over and I thought I would add the freebie here ( it is also still on the CDAC group).

Clicky on the Chicky, then right-click and SAVE

CARD deets:  Whazzup Chicky Freebie, FSS Paper from Blue Poinsettia Pack, and Fred's Flowers v1, colored pencils/OMS, nesties, gold leafing pen, pearlescent WC paints edged on flower, MS punch, distress inks.

I have imported pics from my camera and will get to work on my Paper Roses tutorial tomorrow.. so see y'all soon!  Have a great day!

:)*  Fred