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Monday, October 28, 2013

Dreamweaver Pasted Images and Zentangle

We had such a wonderful time at the annual Christmas party at Art 'n Soul!  Thanks so much to everyone who attended, it was wonderful to see you all!  We had multiple demos to share with everyone, including our guest artist, Helene from Magenta, Susie, Debbie and Marj.  We also had many sample cards to provide inspiration, from myself, Susie, Debbie, Marj, Deb, Patti and Sue.

I sat at a demo table with Marj, who was demoing the paste technique with Dreamweaver Stencils.  Marj had also pre-pasted some cards, and I sat and demonstrated Zentangle on them.  I honestly had so much fun doing that!

I had previously Zentangled on this owl that Marj made for me, using Dreamweaver Gold embossing paste.  It was so smooth, that it was effortless to draw on.  I just used a Micron 01 black pen.

Pasted image by Marj Marion
Zentangled by Dianne Johnson
Dreamweaver Stencil LG 751 Open Owl
Dreamweaver Gold Embossing Paste

I completed the following two at the party on Sunday.  They are both beautiful cards that Marj made and then offered to let me Zentangle on the pasted images:

Card by Marj Marion
Zentangled by Dianne Johnson
Dreamweaver Stencil LG 674 Oval Ornament
Dreamweaver Gold Embossing Paste
Memory Box Die 98732 Winterberry Sprig


Card by Marj Marion
Zentangled by Dianne Johnson
Dreamweaver Stencil LJ 906 Maple Branch
Dreamweaver Glossy White Embossing Paste

This next one of the ornament is an image that Marj pasted for me to Zentangle onto, and I completed it at home

Image pasted by Marj Marion
Dreamweaver Stencil LG 674 Oval Ornament
Dreamweaver Glossy White Embossing Paste

I brought home a few more images that Marj pasted, and offered to me to add Zentangles, so I will post those as I get them finished.  I hope you like these!  If you are local to Art 'n Soul, I will have these on display at the shop.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Class in Montreal at Mimi a la Carte

As many of you know, I got the opportunity to go to Montreal and visit Magenta Stamps, which was just an amazing trip.  While we were there, Susie and I got to take a class at Mimi a la Carte, at 3778 Masson, Montreal QC.  Helene of Magenta took us there; and it's such a fabulous shop, tucked away along the street.  When you enter, you are immediately inundated with the most beautiful cards you have ever seen.  Mimi welcomes you to take pictures of the amazing samples that line the shelves, and I admit that I tried to take pictures of them all!

Part of one wall at the entrance of Mimi a la Carte

Mimi is the owner (Micheline Jourdain) and she, along with her daughter Emilie (pronounced Emily) Jourdain Maher were so welcoming to us that we felt immediately at home.

Emile (left) and Mimi (right)

The class was held in the back at an intimate table, lined with everything that we would need to complete our project.  Behind, and around the table were other supplies, ready if needed.  We loved how they displayed their nesting dies on a bulletin board near the table where we worked.



The class was to learn the technique of using Tombow markers on watercolor paper, and using a brush and water to create a beautifully shaded image.  This is definitely a technique that takes some care and practice, but it was just so much fun to do.  Emilie conducted the class, and used it as an opportunity to practice her English on us.  She kept saying it was challenging to speak to us in English and teach to us at the same time, but honestly, she did so well, she made it look effortless.  She is a fantastic teacher, and her English is really very good.  Helene was there to help with any needed translations, but we found we could understand Emilie very well.

When we finished coloring our images, Emilie also showed us an additional technique of popping up one of the parts of the image.  They use clear silicone sealant that you can find at a hardware store!  You apply a blob of the sealant where you want your popped up image to be, and it's very important to draw the blob up to a point.  Then you gently lay your cut out piece on top of the point and don't press down very much.  Allow it to dry that way, which may take several hours or overnight.  We also used liquid appliqué (which puffs when heated) and glitter, and Stampendous chunky embossing enamel in a few places on the piece to simulate snow.  Here is the finished card I made.  It's hard to see in the picture, but the top part of the child in red is popped up.  This was colored completely with Tombow markers and a wet brush.

Magenta Stamps:  42.188.L Sledding Day; 07.780.G Joyeux Noel (small)

For those of you who are local to Art 'n Soul, we will have more samples of cards using this technique with Tombows.  We will also have the liquid appliqué and Stampendous embossing enamel in stock for our Christmas Party on October 27, from 1:00-4:00.

While we were there, many regular customers of the shop came in, and when they learned that Helene was in the back with American guests, they all came back to say hello.  Many of them spoke English to us, and welcomed us to the area and to Mimi a la Carte.  They were also thrilled to be able to greet Helene.  Magenta Stamps products are as popular there are they are at Art 'n Soul!

Before we left, Mimi kindly sat down and showed us an amazing technique for creating snow drifts, and stamping images in the snow she had created with ink.  She also showed how to make tree shadows in the snow, by stamping on a piece of plastic packaging and applying it to the image.  She mostly spoke in French, but somehow we could understand her, and with just a few translations from Helene.  We were bowled over by the beauty she created right in front of us with seemingly little effort.  She was very much in her element, and is so happy when she is creating!

Magenta stamp:  Small Deer Family 42.186.E
I did not get the information on the tree stamp, but the Magenta stamp Fir Tree 32.036.J would work well for  a picture like this.

Mimi gifted us with the sample that she created, and we will have it on display at our Christmas Party at the shop.  We are also very excited that Helene will be there at our party to show this technique to everyone who comes.  Having learned the technique from Mimi, Helene is also a master at it, and it will be such a treat to see her do it at Art 'n Soul.

Helene took this picture of the happy students and teachers before we left.

Emilie, Me, Susie, and Mimi


Thursday, October 17, 2013

Magenta Giveaway!

Magenta is having a giveaway!  You could be the lucky winner of a $50 gift certificate just by entering.




Magenta wants to say Thank You to all of its faithful followers!
Enter this special “Give Away” for a chance to win!

You could win a $50 gift certificate
applicable on your next order on our online store! *
* Certificate is valid only on our online store and shipping is not included

Simply follow Magenta on the Magenta Blog or Facebook and use the widget in this blogpost to enter!
You have until October 31st to enter!


Monday, October 14, 2013

Magenta Floral Elements Template

As promised, here are the two samples I created for the new Magenta October 2013 Supplement.  These samples will be on display at Art 'n Soul, and we have ordered a supply of these templates, as well as many of the new stamps from both of the new catalog supplements.

By Dianne Johnson
Magenta Template design by Ellie Knol - TM-39
Magenta Sentiment stamp:  07.700.G  Life is Art
Memento Ink:  Danube Blue; Grape Jelly; Rose Bud; Bamboo Leaves; Cottage Ivy

by Dianne Johnson
Magenta Template design by Ellie Knol - TM-39
Magenta Sentiment stamp: 07.691.G  Art Washes
Memento Colors:  Sweet Plum; Grape Jelly; Bamboo Leaves; Danube Blue
Wink of Stella purple glitter pen
These were so fun to do, and so effortless.  All that was needed was the template, sponge daubers or stencil brushes and ink pads.  A sentiment stamp is the final touch.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Sorry I've been absent for the blog for a bit, but September is a crazy busy month for me.  Also, at the end of September, and first week of October, I traveled to Montreal, and got to visit Magenta!  More on that later, but I wanted to let you know that Magenta has a new October 2013 release out that is fabulous.  You can check out the images here



When I was at Magenta, I was honored to be asked to create a sample for this October supplement using the new Magenta template.  The template is based on stamp designs by the talented Ellie Knoll.  My sample is on the last page of the supplement, so be sure to page through it to the end.  I actually did two samples using the new template, and I will share my pictures of both of them with you soon.