Portable Distress Ink Palette

I found that using a piece of packaging for an ink palette works GREAT!  You just scribble your ink on with your Distress Marker.  Then pick it up with your paintbrush!  This is the best technique for when just a little dab of paint will do!  You can use this for any of your water-based markers, no matter the brand.  Or, this one is big enough to smear ink on from the Distress Ink Pad as well!  Then when you're done you can just wipe it clean with a damp paper towel or a baby wipe.  Ready to use next time!
I wanted to make mine a little prettier than just the torn edges!! So, i cleaned up the paper tears along the sides and then wrapped the edges with some pretty washi tape!  Yeah! Now, it's cute!

Oh, and if you enjoy using Distress Ink in a more traditional style of watercoloring, then you've got to come over to my Facebook Group  Distress Ink for Watercolor! We'd love to have you join us!

My Personal Links:

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My art pens and how I've organized them!!

For the most part, I do my art journaling and watercolor at home.  Then there are occasions when I am in the mood to take it with me everywhere I go!  Back when I was heavy into card making and drawing stamps for my Digital Stamp store (TiffanyDoodles.com) I had my art supplies all over the place in my studio. I would save tin cans and decorate them with pretty scrapbooking paper and put all my pens and pencils in them.  Later, I discovered it's better to keep them all horizontally stored, no matter what!  With all the new pen sets I've gotten for Christmas I had to figure a better way to keep them horizontal and have the ability to grab 'em and go at any time!  So, I went on a hunt and found these caddies at Hobby Lobby!! Perfect! And if you use a coupon they are only like $7!

 

There are 4 compartments.  The bottom one is the deepest.  The 2 middle are somewhat shallow.  Then the top one is a bit larger b/c they lid allows it to be a bit fuller.

The ends pop together so, essentially you could keep building them on top of each other!

Here's how I've filled them!  In the first case, I filled the larger bottom box with my distress markers.  All 49 fit splendidly!

The next shallow box held my new 5" x 8.5" Moleskin like a glove!  Above that I have my Stablio super fine drawing markers set of 24 with room for a bit more.

Then in the top box I put my set of 36 Bic Mark It markers and with the extra space that the lid provides they fit perfectly!

Then my second pen caddy holds the following:  The bottom box holds my Gelly Rolls, Glaze, Glitter, Stardust, Meteor, and Metallic and a few other metallic pens too.

Then next box up holds my both of my Moonlight sets, bold and fine as well as my Souffle pens.  The next shallow box holds all of my scrubbers, sponges, fantastix sticks, paper stumps, daubers, etc.

Then the top box holds all of my Faber-Castell and Micron drawing pens, all of my white pens, my Sumo grip mechanical pencil and my (awesome) eraser!

Next up is my art tote (from Hobby Lobby) that I LOVE!  On this side you can see my collection of 48 Fiskars Gel pens, my scissors, my clip on Ott Light, 2 pack of fine drawing markers, a set of metallic watercolor paints, and my Koi (24 pan) watercolor travel kit.  In the middle I have my ruler, a couple of drawing inspiration books, 2 generic paint pallets and my set of 36 Prismacolor Watercolor pencils.  On the end are some small ATC paper packs and some water brushes.

On this side are my paintbrushes, and several more watercolor pencils.  I also have a few paper pads and journals in there.

My next tote box holds my Distress Ink pads, my black StazOn pad, a couple of Distress stains, 12 pans of Perfect Pearls, and a few tubes of iridescent acrylic paints.  Oh and my masking Frisket!

With everything I just showed you, that is 4 different things to take with you.  That would be for a long trip, like to my sisters for a week or so.  If I'm just going for a walk to do some sketching then I would condense everything to just my pencil, eraser, 2 drawing pens, my Koi watercolor travel kit, my water brush, and my paper pad.

Take care! Tiffany

My Handdrawn Digital Stamps - www.TiffanyDoodles.com  |  www.facebook.com/TiffanyDoodles

My Sewing & Embroidery - www.DoodleClouds.com  |  www.facebook.com/DoodleClouds

My Web Design & Photography - www.TiffanyRichards.com

My Country Living Blog - www.TiffanysGarden.com

Follow Me on Pinterest! www.pinterest.com/Tiffany777

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Matchbox Mini Dresser!

I just recently made a gift to send my sister! A cute tiny little Matchbox Dresser with all kinds of "mini" items to fill the drawers!! I also made template to go with this project!

You will need:

• Pretty paper 8.5x11 - can be double sided but doesn't have to be
• 10 Little Matchboxes
• My Matchbox Template - to hold the drawers
• 10 Beads for handles
• 10 metal crimp beads - you can get a pack in the bead section at Hobby Lobby for 1.47
• Invisible beading string - or fishing line
• Score Tape
• Glue
• Seed Beeds - for top of dresser
• Embroidery Thread - any color
• Paper Piercer
• Beading Needle

Empty out all of your matches and put in a ziplock baggie and save for later use. But remember, never play with fire!! =)

Here is the template for the dresser to hold your matchbox drawers! The zip file contains a PDF & PNG.

Cut and Score template. Use score tape and fold down the 4 outer tabs.  Adhere the other tabs to their neighboring sides.

You can see the finished outer shell of the dresser in this pic below.

Cut drawers fronts that are larger than the actual drawer. See pic. So that the paper will cover the drawer of the matchbox.

Do the same for all 10 drawers.

You can see how the front paper panel for the drawers needs to be cut large enough to cover the whole matchbox.

Use a Paper Piercer to poke a hole for the drawer handle. Insert your line; put your bead on and bring line back through the hole.

Next string a crimp bead on the back of your drawer handle. Using your chain nose pliers - Mash it! That bead ain't going nowhere!  Then cut your string.

Now you have a pretty handle! Finish all of your drawers!

Now, cut a piece of paper to fit the top of your dresser real snug. Use your paper piercer to poke holes around the edges. String your embroidery thread and go around the edges adding your beads! Mel is my beading idol!!

Now have fun filling your drawers with all kinds of mini items. The silver tea set and the 2 matching picture frames I got from Hobby Lobby in the doll furniture section. The small frame in the middle came from the jewelry section and it's a small charm where you add your own photo. Then I used some 24 gauge wire to make the stand for it. I added 2 photos of my sisters cats, Annabelle (mom) & Jazzabelle (daughter). It is with great sadness that sweet Annabelle had to leave this earth last month (jan 26, 2010) after 20 wonderful years of being a part of our family. That is mainly the reason for this little gift for my sister.

These tiny glass animals I found in a little gift shop and thought they were toooo cute!  I've been buying these for my sister for a few years, just adding to the collection from time to time.  The lemonade and glasses came from the dollhouse section at Hobby Lobby.

I filled the drawers with a few other items for my sister including a little poem that I wrote for Annabelle. And some jewelry that I made for her as well.

• www.TiffanysGarden.com my crafty personal blog where you'll find my watercolor painting, bible journaling, Distress Ink stuff and organizing my craft stash!
• www.TiffanyDoodles.com where you can find all of my drawings that you can color yourself!
• @Tiffer73 Instagram - ALL of my art and craftiness!!
• Distress Ink for Watercolor Facebook Group If you like to use your Distress Ink in a more traditional style of watercolor, then come join our group!
• My Watercolor Painting Facebook Page
• My Sewing and Crocheting Facebook Page

Pillow Boxes & Template!

These pillow boxes make the best little gift boxes for small gifts!  Here is a tutorial on how I made these 3 little beauties!

Here is the link to the PDF template file.

Please note: This file was once offered for free for a limited time.

It is now for sale in my store for a small fee. 

Cut your templates out first.  Then choose your embossing folder.  Make sure you place the paper in the folder so that the image is pushed OUT on the outside of the box.  (The dotted lines will be on the inside of the box.)

You can see on this image below that the impressions are pushed outward.  These are the parts that we'll color!

Pick out your color scheme.  I used R29, BG15, Y17, & YR07.  Use the chisel side of your marker.  It will flow right over the impression for easy coloring.  If you mess up just use a white marker to color over.  PS. I got this cool technique from Mel!

Next, use a 3/4" punch to snip out the sides on the panels closest to the tab.  Then using your score-pal score the dotted lines.  To score the curved lines I used my bone folder on top of my healing mat.  Make sure to score so that the dotted lines are on the inside!!

Then use 1/8" score tape and stick to the tab - on the outside (on top of what you just colored).  Then fold down the panel and stick box together.

Fill your pillow box with goodies!!  Fold in the punched out panel first and the other on top of that.

I tied ribbons around the boxes and did a 1" circle punch for a tag on top of the ribbon.  All done!!

• www.TiffanysGarden.com my crafty personal blog where you'll find my watercolor painting, bible journaling, Distress Ink stuff and organizing my craft stash!
• www.TiffanyDoodles.com where you can find all of my drawings that you can color yourself!
• @Tiffer73 Instagram - ALL of my art and craftiness!!
• Distress Ink for Watercolor Facebook Group If you like to use your Distress Ink in a more traditional style of watercolor, then come join our group!
• My Watercolor Painting Facebook Page
• My Sewing and Crocheting Facebook Page

Family Memory Game for Kids!

I can remember playing the game "Memory" when I was a kid and I loved it!  So I wanted to make a customized game for the new baby in our family, Owen.

I bought a pack of chipboard, it came in 10 sheets.  I cut 2.5" squares.

I ended up with 60 squares (30 pairs).  I went to my computer and picked out photos of all family members,  I choose closeup head shots.  I also added in a few of my own nature photographs of some animals.  I printed out 2 of each photo at 2.5" inches each onto white cardstock.  I also printed 60 card backs.  I designed those in Photoshop and did Owen's name.  I cut them all out and used matte decoupage on the back of each photo and glued to the chipboard.  I made sure all edges were glued down really good.  Then I painted a coat on top of the photo.  After that dried I did the same with the back of the chipboard and glued on all the card backs (Owen).  Then after that dried I did a second coat on each one!

Christmas Gift Bags!

I decided to make all my own gift bags this year! What fun! Here are a few below!! If you have a question about anything, just ask!