Darkroom Door

Video: Photochips & Filmstrips Demo

A couple of weeks ago we exhibited in the trade section of the Paperific Craft Expo in Melbourne. While I was there, I did some demo's for a couple of our retailers: Little Bits and Dragonfly Crafts. At the Little Bits booth, Teresa filmed some of the demo's that I was doing using the Photochips and Filmstrips. Teresa did such a great job (thanks Teresa!!)

I have to be honest, I'm pretty uncomfortable in front of a camera. I know, I know, since when am I shy, but when I know a camera is filming, I get pretty nervous. But hope you enjoy it, and hopefully it might give you some ideas to spark your own creativity with Photochips and Filmstrips. I do have more ideas, so will do a proper 'studio' film one of these days. In the meantime, enjoy the hustle and bustle of Paperific!

Oh - and you'll see me writing a note for a lady named Trish. She bought one of our stamp sets at the show and asked me to sign the inside of the tin! how cool! (hi Trish if you're reading!!!)

Thanks for watching!

If you want to see it in high-quality, click on the YouTube logo and it will take you to the YouTube site. Then click on 'watch in high quality' under the video screen.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Photobooth Artist Trading Card Swap Update!

Hey swappers! It's just under 3 weeks to the due date for the Photobooth Artist Trading Card swap... and I just wanted to do a quick post about it here on the blog to check that I have everyone on my list who wanted to sign up for it.

Here are the players:

1. me!
2. Teresa A
3. Gloria A
4. Helen C
5. Sandra D
6. Jenene E
7. Vicky F
8. Sherri F
9. Debra G
10. Janet H
11. Karen
12. Leesa
13. Lorri L
14. Sue M
15. Melanie
16. Damaris M
17. Sarah P
18. Ros R
19. Rhiannon
20. Sarah S
21. Sharon
22. Marie S
23. Marline S
24. Tracey S
25. Barb U
26. Robyn W

If you wanted to be a part of the swap, and your name is not on this list - please email me directly to info@darkroomdoor.com so I can send you the details! If your name is on this list, and you haven't received the details please email me again! Some emails have been bouncing back, esp to AOL and Comcast email addresses, so I've been trying to get the info through to you. So please do let me know if you haven't received it yet.

Some Photobooth ATC Swap packages have arrived here already, and they are delicious. I am SO excited about this swap!!! The personlaity of the people in the images really shows through, and I LOVE how you interpret their emotions and looks. I can't wait to see everyone's creations and i really can't wait to show the ATC's in a gallery here!

If you have any questions, please leave a comment here or email me directly.

Thanks!
Rachel

ATC's by Jeannie Reese

While I was in New Zealand, I was to meet the talented and wonderful Jeannie Reese. (no blog) Jeannie was going to be doing some make & takes at the SENZ show using some Darkroom Door goodies, however she had come down with the flu, so had to fly home before the show started. She was devastated!

She had created a series of Artist Trading Cards, and she wanted me to share them with you all! I'm sure you'll enjoy them. Aren't they fabulous!!! Jeannie is now home, and well on the way to recovery. Thanks Jeannie for sharing your artwork with us, and we hope you get well soon!! :)

Buddies Layout

Quick layout created with the Robots Journal, Stripe and Dots papers:

I've also used Mustard Seed Crackle Paint for the big star, then sponged over the top with other dark ink. (a mixture of whatever was on the sponge! There was a bit of Crimson, Olive and Vintage Photo).

Distress Ink Sampler

A few days ago I went to create a set of ATC's using Distress Inks for the background. I was going to just choose two or three colours of ink, and then create the same coloured background for 9 ATC's, and send them out to 9 different people.

 However, it's school holidays and when the kids saw the Distress Inks on the table, they knew it was time to pounce! They're like bees to honey when anything inky comes out and they KNOW these inks are a lot of fun. So instead of me choosing the inks, I asked them to choose the ink colours. For each ATC background Ethan chose one ink, Zoë chose the other. So the combinations were pretty random and often not ones I had tried before. I'm really impressed with the results!

Top Row (left to right):
1. Dusty Concord (need re-inking) & Peeled Paint (also needs re-inking!) I use this combo quite often, but never seen it this light. However the kids were also doing the water spritzing and they like to spritz a LOT! The whole kitchen gets a spritz. Even inside their mouth! funny kids.
2. Aged Mahogony & Vintage Photo
3. Brushed Corduroy & Worn Lipstick

Middle Row (left to right):
1. Faded Jeans & Mustard Seed
2. Dusty Concord & Spiced Marmalade
3. Mustard Seed & Pine Needles. I have to say, I have rarely used these two inks, and never together, and I really loved how it turned out.

Bottom Row (left to right):
1. Peeled Paint & Vintage Photo
2. Broken China & Dusty Concord
3. Peeled Paint & Spiced Marmalade

All edges on the ATC's were sponged lightly with Vintage Photo too.

Stamps used: Full Bloom Vol 1 (flower), and Wildflower (word)

Hope this may inspire you to get out the Distress Inks and try a few new combinations!

Robot Names

Thanks to everyone who named the Robots! It's been so amusing reading the entries :) I think my overall favourites were Sarah's collection of names... very clever use of words :) My absolute favourite though was Willy Switchon. Well, yes, Sarah I can say that Mr Willy Switchon can switch on, and he does quite a groovy walk too!

So, we picked 6 names to win the goodie packs:

1. Riveton Steel, posted by Cheri - just sounds cool! (Susan, yours was funny too!)
2. Jerry Spoinger, posted by Lyn S - he looks like he's been watching that show too!
3. Willy Switchon, posted by Sarah - we laughed so much over this one!
4. Titz, posted by Ros' husband - I'm not sure if I should say this on the blog... but we call her Hot Tits here in the studio!!! LOL. I really wanted to put that on the Wordstrip, but knew it had to be G rated, so we went for Hot Stuff instead. I'm glad someone else was thinking the same thing as us though!!! hehe. We also liked Material Girl, and we also think she looks like a Betty, so lots of you had great names for her!!
5. Boris, posted by Gina - right on Gina! He is SUCH a Boris!
6. Brad, posted by Laura - very funny.

So thanks everyone for the giggle! Please email me your addresses and I'll get some Robots out to you!

World Card Making Day - Photochip Cards

Happy World Card Making Day!

Today I went over to the Erina Scrapbook Store to teach a couple of make & takes with our Robot Collection. The store was certainly a busy place today - as they had all sorts of fun activities and card making challenges and demo's and other make & takes going on! One my table we created two cards using the Filmstrips, Wordstrips, and the Photochips from the Robot Collection. Here's the cards we created with the Photochips and Wordstrips. Quick, easy, and fun!

As you can see, they are all the same basic design, but using colours and ribbons that co-ordinate with the colours in the Photochips. Also, the different words from the Wordstrips created a whole lot of fun too. I always say that it doesn't matter if you used the same card design for the whole pack of Photochips - as it's rare you'd be giving two cards to the one person anyway! Of course there are many other ways to use the Photochips too, just check out the Darkroom Door Gallery. 

I've always wanted to give these robots a name, so let's have a challenge! Here's how to participate:

1. Come up with names for each of the robots shown above.
2. Leave a comment and write your name for each robot in order as they appear in the post here.

You have until Midnight Monday 6th Australian Eastern Standard Time (Sydney) to post your comment.

From the names posted in the comments, the name we like the best for each robot will be the winnner! So that means up to six winners! Winners will receive a pack of Robot Photochips and Wordstrips so you can create your own set of cards! (cardstock and ribbon not included - we used them all up today in the make & take!)

So get creative, and give these robots a name! :)

Hope you are all having a creative world card making day!

Guest Artist: Ros Rayner - Part 2

Please enjoy more wonderful projects by Ros Rayner...

An Orchestral Rehearsal:

Supplies:
Darkroom Door: Harmony Rubber Stamps, Music Wordstrips, Legato Patterned Paper
Distress ink: Walnut Stain, Tattered Rose
Brilliance ink: Coffee Bean
Other: Vellum, eyelets, shrink plastic, copper wire, beads.
Vintage Image: Nancy Dooren

Instructions:
1) Distress the edges of patterned paper square and a vintage photo with Distress Ink Walnut Stain.This great image from Nancy Dooren has a pinkish background, which compliments the colours in the paper. Attach the image to the paper. Mat the paper to white paper sponged with the Walnut Stain.

2) Edge 'Counting the Beat' from Music Wordstrips with Distress Ink Tattered Rose. Attach to the image.

3) Stamp music definition with Brilliance Coffee Bean on a torn piece of vellum. When dry, attach to one corner using copper eyelets.

4) Stamp violin and trumpet with Coffee Bean onto sanded opaque shrink plastic. Cut around the shape, and punch a hole at the top. Heat to shrink. I used a hot air gun. (the image above shows the original size of the violin at the bottom, and after it has been shrunk at the top)

7) Set a large eyelet in the top left hand corner of the card. Assemble the instruments using copper wire and beads.

Music Quotes Box:

Supplies:
Darkroom Door: Melody & Chorus Rubber Stamps
Ranger: Distress Inks (Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord), Adirondack (Wild Plum, Pink Sherbert), Archival Jet Black; Adirondack Dabbers (Snow Cap, Cloudy Blue, Purple Twilight)
Other: Wooden Box

Instructions:

1) Undercoat a wooden box with Snow Cap.When dry, mix together on a palette Snow Cap, a couple of drops of Purple Twilight, and a couple of drops of Cloudy Blue. Paint this on as a 2nd coat. Paint the inside of the box with Purple Twilight. Allow to dry.

2) Brayer Milled Lavender onto thick white paper. Stamp 4 sayings with Archival ink. Cut each one to the same size.

3) Sponge the edges with Pink Sherbert ink.

4) Then sponge the edges with Dusty Concord.

5) Then sponge the edges with Wild Plum. Stamp music with Pink Sherbert on top.

6) Sponge the edges of each side of the box with the Dusty Concord and Wild Plum in the same way. Not really visible on my photo! Stamp flourish in diagonal corners with Wild Plum. Allow time to dry.

7) Glue on the sayings. Varnish with mat or gloss depending on your desired finish.

Thanks Ros for sharing your artwork with us! Love the piano pens too :) You've created the perfect wooden holder for them.

Please leave a comment for Ros to help me say thanks for sharing her artwork with us! Thanks for the inspiration Ros :)

Unlock the artist within!

Guest Artist: Ros Rayner

Name:  Ros Rayner

Lives: West Midlands, UK

Known for: being calm (but I don't know why!), laughing lots, being Mum to 3 wonderful kids, and being a violin teacher and freelance violinist.

Blog, website or gallery: www.stampandscrape.blogspot.com
 
Loves to: play violin, join in with stamping challenges and swaps

Loves to create:  with stamping, and making my own backgrounds. Just love to create full stop. I'm not happy if I haven't got a project on the go.

Favourite Darkroom Door product: This has to be the whole Music collection...lol

Have you ever been in a darkroom? no

Let’s say you’re invited to come into our darkroom for a day. What would you bring with you?  I would bring my camera, and ask to be taught how to use it properly - my photography leaves a lot to be desired. I can't even hold it straight!

Are you afraid of the dark?  No. It's in the dark that I think and ponder. I think of witty retorts that I could have made earlier in the day, or play through music in my head, or plan my next card.

Ros has been busy with our new Music Collection... here are some of her creations:

Artist Trading Cards:

 

Supplies:
Darkroom Door: Chorus, Melody Rubber Stamps
Ranger: Distress Ink (Scattered Straw, Tea Dye), Perfect Pearls (Gold), Archival Ink (Jet Black), Adirondack Ink (Lettuce, Willow)
Other: Water spritzer, foam tape.

Instructions:

1) Swipe Scattered Straw and Tea Dye Distress Inks on a craft mat. Spritz with water and press paper on. Allow to dry a little, and press again. Repeat until you like the effect. Leave to dry completely.
 
2) Spritz lightly with gold glimmer spray or homemade spray made up of Perfect Pearls Gold and water.

 
3) Stamp music from Music Collection Melody with Tea Dye

 
4) On another piece of paper stamp each of the sheet music covers from Music Collection Chorus with Black Archival ink twice. On one of the images sponge with Lettuce, and the other Willow.

 
5) Cut out the centre portions of the Lettuce coloured covers, and also required parts of the willow covers. Assemble as shown.
 

6) Attach sticky foam pads to the back and press onto the music background.

Aren't these great!! Ros has more great projects to share with us tomorrow, so please drop by for more Music inspiration!