Diana Trout's blog

Crafty Haul from February

This winter was a little crazy around here as some of you may recall. I was having surgeries, recovering (sort of), making videos and uploading them. Then forgetting all about them. Ahem. So here is one of the lost files. The supplies are listed below the video. I did learn a great tip since making this video. When you get a new stamp, ink it up with either Versamark or Archival Ink pad. Wipe that ink off with the heel of your hand or a soft dry cloth. It will be seasoned and ready for use.

I'm still taking it easy this week. I'm doing the live stream tomorrow, click here to set a reminder. It's at 12 PM EST. Click here for time zone converter. Get out your alcohol markers or alcohol inks and some ranger glossy, vellum or Yupo paper. 

Use what you have. The following are affiliate links. I get a percentage of the sale at no cost to you. Thanks for helping support my channel/blog this way.

 

Painting on Yupo Live Stream

Hey gang, Next Tuesday, May 3 at noon (EST) I'll be live streaming over at YouTube. The topic is Painting on Yupo with alcohol markers and alcohol inks. I've got all of the glitches ironed out in the world of live stream. I hope you'll join me. It's such fun to have the interaction and chat. You can set a reminder here on YouTube.

About live streaming: You'll click on that link above when it's time for the stream to begin. People get there a bit early usually and start chatting. The chat box will be on the right hand side of the screen. 

I'll be using some of the products from the April ArtSnacks box, blog post here. Here's that video. 

This is a take on the class I'll be teaching, Exploringi Yupo, at Art Is You CT on Oct 9 in Stamford, CT.

I'm officially still on a little at-home retreat. Being peaceful and trying not to work. I've had some lovely outings with good pals, my husband and all grown up kids. Long walks, time for writing and reading. I needed this more than I realized. 

Use what you have. The following are affiliate links. I get a percentage of the sale at no cost to you. Thanks for helping support my channel/blog this way.

 

Cards from the Scrap Pile

Hey gang, I did a live stream last night. I'm still in the "Beta" phase. Things are going much better so I'll start announcing these live events and get a bit more organized. I'm ridiculously tired right now but wanted to let you know that I'm still here!

I'll sneak in some photos of the finished cards soon. Check out the sidebar and here for upcoming live teaching events. I'll be in CT for Art Is You in October and I'm looking forward to that. Alot of behind the scenes stuff.

I picked up those Finetec Metallic watercolors at Merriartist.com here. They are very discounted at $18.95. Tell them I sent you and thanks to Barbara for that link.

Use what you have. The following are affiliate links. I get a percentage of the sale at no cost to you. Thanks for helping support my channel/blog this way.

 

ArtSnacks Unboxing

 

ArtSnacks time! What a fun box. 

The Kuretake Metallic Purple brush pen is my absolute favorite! Kuretake makes a wonderful product. The Koi brush marker seems nice. I'm happy to add to my alcohol markers with the Ironlak and La Plume brush marker. They all seemed like nice products from my initial scribble/doodle. 

Here's the video. I'll announce the Live Stream soon. 

ArtSnacks Unboxing & YouTube Live Stream

Hey Gang, My ArtSnacks subscription box came in the other day and I waited to open it with YOU. These items will be used in my Live Streaming on Thursday March 24 at 7PM EST. The rest of the supplies are linked below the video. 

Included in the kit: (all items linked below)

A paper sample from RendR which features no bleed through paper, UniPosca .7 black paint pen, Liquitex lime green paint pen (chisel nib), Koh-i-Nor Light Vermillion Progresso colored pencil, Irojiten (Tombow) colored pencil and Kum Pencil Sharpener. 

Plus the lapel pin and bubble gum (against better judgement I ate it and my hair got stuck in it. I didn't lose much).  

The live streaming will be run like a casual class. If you'd like to follow along you'll want paper (journal, sketchbook), paint pens or paint of any kind, a black marker or thick pen and colored pencils. I'll give you some guidelines, then we experiment, and have fun. Use what you have or all materials are linked below in my affiliate links. 

Here's the video 

Use what you have. The following are affiliate links. I get a percentage of the sale at no cost to you. Thanks for helping support my channel/blog this way.

 

Crafty Christmas and Video

 It's the most wonderful time of the year, isn't it? 

Nothing used to stress me out like Christmas. Really. Several years ago, I discovered that if I handmade most presents and cut back severely on the amount of presents, Christmas is very fun. Imagine that! A fun time of year. 

If you are an introvert, you will completely understand this too: I go to ONE holiday party outside of our big family soiree. Don't get me wrong. I like giving gifts and I love my friends and family. It's just all too much, too close together. 

I made a bunch of cards and tags this year. Fun and done. I'm ready to return to my secular ways. My unholy journal, my non-holiday paintings. 

Enjoy the video. I really do think that going into crafty mode decreases holiday stress. 

I've included a whole bunch of affiliate links below in case you are still looking for holiday gifts. 

 

Gelli Prints with Pigment Inks

Hey gang, who loves Gelli Arts Printing plates? I've been playing with my printing plate with pigment inks and a Fiskars Stamp Mount. You could try this method with any kind of plate, really. I have used plexiglass and you could use a stamp mount, old DVD or CD case. (Video below).

The prints won't be as clear but - what the heck! I mounted my small plate (4"x5") onto my large Fiskars stamp mount (9" x 11") and used pigment inks from Avery Elle and Memento Luxe. 

Tech Talk: What is the difference between dye inks and pigment inks? Dye inks are thinner and sink down into the paper; thus "dye." Pigment inks are thicker and sit up on the surface of the paper. The pigment inks take a while to dry (you can hurry them with a heat gun) but they held on to the gelli plate better. Pigment inks can be used on fabric. Heat set them before washing.

This technique was inspired by the new Gelli Plates available in smaller shapes. Super cool. I think that I'll be using my plate more now. So much fun and a bounty of collage and background papers. You could stamp right into your journal. 

 

 

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Acorns All Around

Hey gang, I've been busy settling the odds and ends of business and home before my surgery tomorrow. Recovery is about two weeks, though I'm sure to be up and around before then. I wanted to share these sweet acorns as a free digital stamp. Find them at the bottom of the post. 

Coloring these is super fun and the tips in the video apply to any dye inks such as Tombow and Distress. I use colored pencils in the same way. You can also print the acorns on a laser printer or toner copier and send them through the Minc machine (or laminator). See this post. 

I hope that you'll draw lots of acorns and take artistic license with theses little gems! Enjoy

download:

Curvy Acorn
Shingled Roof
Loop Lines

I hope this works ok. This is the first time I've done it. Fingers Crossed :)

Here's some supplies mentioned 

 

 

Zig CLEAN COLOR 12 set Real Brush RB-6000AT	Tombow Dual Brush Pens	Tim Holtz Distress Markers CLUTTERED CELLAR Set Ranger TDMK34919	Tim Holtz Distress Markers COUNTY FAIR Set Ranger TDMK33219	Heidi Swapp - MINC Collection - Christmas - 6 x 6 - Foil Transfer Folder
Heidi Swapp - MINC Collection - Starter Kit - 6 Inch Mini Foil Applicator	Therm O Web - iCraft - Deco Foil - 6 x 12 Transfer Sheet - Pink Melon - 5 Pack	Therm O Web - iCraft - Deco Foil - 6 x 12 Transfer Sheet - Rose Gold - 5 Pack	Therm O Web - iCraft - Deco Foil - 6 x 12 Transfer Sheet - Rose Gold - 5 Pack	Therm O Web - iCraft - Deco Foil - 6 x 12 Transfer Sheet - Rainbow - 5 Pack
Prismacolor Colored Pencils

InLinkz.com

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Colored Pencils Tricks & Tips Video

The coloring book craze is leading many of us to sharpen up our colored pencils. I had a few of them from years ago and took a little trip last week to fill in the gaps (ahem). 

I'm back with a video today with some tips and tricks to getting the most from your colored pencils. I'm still a Prismacolor fan. I've heard that the Irojiten - while wonderful - are not as soft. That may appeal to some of you. If anyone has tried the Spectrum Noir, I'd love to hear about them.

I enjoy using colored pencils on black or dark paper and will be pulling out a large sheet of Stonehenge to make a One Sheet, One Journal black journal sometime soon. The PDF guide to cutting your 1S1J is at that link. Both videos are linked below today's video.

My first coloring pages felt a little stilted but I feel my regular loose style emerging and I'm enjoying coloring even more now. Here's the video.

As usual, I really appreciate it if you use my links either within a post or on the sidebar. It won't cost you any more but it really helps to offset the costs of creating videos and maintaining my blog. BUT : Use What You Have :)

One Sheet One Journal Video
Fun with Coloring Book Video

Prismacolor Colored Pencils	Prang Colored Pencils	Stonehenge Large Sheets	Stonehenge Drawing Pads	Coloring Books
Chronicle Books ENCHANTED FOREST An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book 674889	Chronicle Books SECRET GARDEN An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book 671062	Zig CLEAN COLOR 12 set Real Brush RB-6000AT	Tim Holtz Distress Markers CLUTTERED CELLAR Set Ranger TDMK34919	Stabilo Colored Pens

InLinkz.com

Cards. Lots of Cards

I'm hooked on card making. 

And I'm ok with that.

Making cards with these kits is really a blast. Challenging and relaxing at the same time.

Those wonderful packs of patterned papers. Stamps and inkpads. Yummy.

I splurged on the Simon Says Stamp September card kit and made a dozen cards. I ran out of card stock after 8 cards but since the rest of the kit was going strong, I went too. 

Here's a video showing the kit contents and some words. The supply list is below. I just signed up for the kit on a monthly basis. I'm doing really well with not being an art snob anymore.  

Use what you have. The following are affiliate links. I get a percentage of the sale at no cost to you. Thanks for helping support my channel/blog this way.

Simon Says Stamp Card Kit of the Month September IT'S A CELEBRATION CKSept15	Simon Says Clear Stamps BIRTHDAY BITS sss101544	PinkFresh Studio HAPPY THINGS 6x6 Inch Paper Pad PFSHAPPY6	PinkFresh Studio HAPPY THINGS ACETATE Cards 76004	Simon Says Stamp Card Stock 100# DOLL PINK DP17
Simon Says Stamp Card Stock 100# COTTON CANDY CC16	Simon Says Stamp Card Stock 100# MINT MT18	Simon Says Stamp WHITE CARDSTOCK 120 LB Base Weight 12 Pack	Memento TUXEDO BLACK INK PAD Full Size me-900	Tape Runners
Dina Wakley Ranger WHITE GESSO 2 OZ. TUBE Media MDM41672	Dina Wakley Ranger PALETTE KNIFE Media MDA41771

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