Tuesday, February 26, 2013

My First Demo!

Quickly, I'd like to say thank you to all the new followers! Welcome! I appreciate you immensely! 
Last weekend I was honored to be asked by Carolyn Ross of The Crafty Scrapper to come demo for the store at the Scrapbook Expo held in Grapevine, Texas, at the Gaylord Texan Hotel. I have done a few make and takes for a few people at a time, but NEVER a full on "DEMO". I was a little nervous to say the least, but then a rescuer showed up to relieve my nervousness...Jim, The Gentleman Crafter
 
Oh that Jim made me laugh and laugh! We had the best time tag teaming! And after about, oh I'd say 5 minutes, I felt at home, lost all shyness, told my life story to Jim and the fabulous Cesar, and even sang a little! YUP! I was comfortable! I was home! was in my element! I love improvisation! It was like I was teaching school again before the days of having to read from a basil reader, when you could have teachable moments and thematic units...when I loved my job...before testing, lobbyist, politicians, and the like took over public school. Whoa! I can't go there! Anyway....Jim and I really helped people, and they were genuinely happy and willing to learn, and they loved it (Really, they just loved Jim!). We even learned a little along the way! It's amazing that when you have time to just "stand" and play and thoroughly love what you are doing, how much you CAN do and experiment with and what you can learn yourself! I LOVE to demo!!!! And, I never want to demo without Jim! ;0) Thank you Carolyn for giving me the opportunity! I hope I did your store justice.
Even when no one was around, we just taught each other or just played! FUN!!!
Who is that wearing Jim's hat?
It's Carolyn! That hat made the rounds! She is adorable!!!
Now, the important part...what did we demo? Carolyn wanted us to answer questions and show what Tim's new Distress Paints from Ranger, Wendy's new Embossing Pastes and Stencils from Stamper's Anonymous, and Dyan's new Dylusions Ink Sprays and Stamps from Ranger, could all do and how they can all work together. WOW! A big job with the best products arounds...no problem!
 
 
Here are all my demo pieces, with individual pics to follow and a tutorial as well. I was definitely in an Easter/Spring mood.
These two and the one below are only items I made with just the Distress Paints. The coaster also has a Crafter's Workshop Honeycomb Stencil used with the paints. Everyone really loved that you can alter the paint while still wet.
This tag is also only Distress Paints and then a white and black pen was used to doodle on it.
This tag has all the new Dylusions new Ink Sprays on it...very cosmic looking. It also has a little of Wendy's Embossing Paste in the center from a Dyan circle stencil.
This was a Crafter's Workshop number stencil used with Distress Inks and Dyan's guy image colored in with Dylusions in Water Brushes. The lady I showed this to did not know how to use Distress Inks or an Ink Blending Tool, and I thought she was going to pass out from excitement! If you can picture how excited that made me and how big my smile was to be able to show her this in person, then you will be able to understand why I love to demo! My heart truly grew from this experience...truly! I wish I would have gotten her name, but several women were there and were talking and she walked away, although very satisfied. I asked around, but no one knew. Maybe she was an angel sent to make me feel good...........nah! I had to draw in a face with a little scruff. My kind of guy!!!
This tag is colored with Distress Paints and stenciled with Wendy's White Embossing Paste through a Dyan stencil. I colored the flowers with Dyan's Ink Sprays, and after and used a pen to doodle. I wanted the centers a little brighter so I brought in the Distress Markers on this one.
The circles are made with Wendy's Silver Embossing Paste and Dyan's stencil, and the flowers with the White Paste and a Dyan stencil. When I sprayed Dyan's Ink, the Silver resisted it for a very cool effect. This was the first time I got to play with it. I loved it! I added a little more color to the flowers with Distress Markers.
I used a Crafters Workshop stencil and Wendy's Black Embossing Paste with this. When dry I added Distress Paints and blended with water. I love the effect. The Black Paste is wonderful as well!
I used Wendy's Brick Stencil and White Paste for the bricks after coloring the background with Walnut Stain Distress Paint. When I smooth the Paste out with a serrated knife it made the lines and Jim and I liked it, so there they stayed. More Distress Paint and Distress Ink colored the bricks. For the leaves, I used another Wendy Stencil and White Paste again, but this time I colored the paste first with Bundled Sage ReInker to prevent color problems blending together. It worked well, however, I had to clean it up a bit due to thick bricks and the Paste spread underneath...no biggie though. It cleans up easily when still wet with a pointed object...I used a paintbrush to clean mine up. Then, I tried to pull a Wendy and layer the Embossing Paste three times with this one. Epic fail with the gold as you can see! And it mixed with the Barn Door Distress Ink causing an orange tone, so I had to refanagle it into an ornate plate of sorts. After it dried I tried again, and layered more Embossing Paste onto it, which worked although a little sloppy. I had to clean up the HOME a little, but I liked the way it turned out.  This tag caused a stir though, and between this one and one Jim made, we sold out of Wendy's Brick Stencils in the first few hours of the show. Yay us!
Another sell out using Claudine's Home and Fence Stencil images and Wendy's White Paste. The blue background is Distress Paint as is the Honey Comb and ABC Stencils and the house is painted with it as well. I journaled with a Sharpie.
Here is my favorite of the show, the one I took the most time with, and the one I made a little tutorial for. I learned a HUGE technique with this as well...glad I did, because I was literally fretting about ruining it.
Using a jumbo tag I stamped Dyan's Lady from Behind image as well as her Bonnet and Bow using Jet Black Archival. I was picturing a lady in her Easter finest couture on the way to services. I also stamped the image on paper to use as a mask later if I needed to...glad I did.
Using three of Dyan's stencils and Wendy's White Embossing Paste, I made a Sun, Hanging Leaves from a tree, and an Easter Egg looking border. The reason there is a little color on the tag is because the stencils had not been cleaned very well the last time I used them....looks good though.
I hadn't used the Distress Paints with a paint brush yet, so everything you see here was colored in with a paint brush between demo mini takes. Talk about good relaxing therapy! I loved doing this. Wendy's Paste takes the Paints perfectly, and there was no need to be precise. I left open spaces on the dress on purpose for the background color to fill in to.
Here's where I was scared to pieces, but Jim wasn't. I knew that so far, Dylusions seemed to be resisting some of the Distress Painted things (Not on the coaster material though.) but I didn't want my dress to be colored up after all that work so I was afraid to spray Dyan's Ink on the dress, but brave Jim pushed me on!  I laid the paper mask over her, gave the tag a fine mist of water and began to spray the Inks on. I began to dry and lifted off the mask. She still looked perfect, and the areas with the Paste that were painted with Distress Paint resisted Dyan's Inks! Hallelujah! It worked beautifully! I was so excited, so that became my telling point for well...he rest of the show, "When you have used Tim's Distress Paints over Wendy's Paste it will resist Dyan's Inks." Yay!
I added some stamped Maya Road flowers using the White Dylusions to stamp! Yummy! Next came some doodling! I love this tag, and she was quite popular in teaching the technique!
The wonderful Shelley Hamilton, another Crafty Scrapper gal who is super talented!
This is Tammy from Colorado. She visited my demo table and asked for advise and we became fast friends! She made this gorgeous project and that FABULOUS palm tree with fuzzy coconuts.
To sum it all up...Distress Paints, Wendy's Pastes and Stencils, and Dyan's Stamps and Stencils are fabulous by themselves! That is a given! But together, they are a force to be reckoned with Crafters! They are like Peanut Butter and Jelly...better when mixed together in my opinion. A creative menage a trois if you will! Am I allowed to say that? Yikes! 
It was an absolute pleasure and blast to demo for The Crafty Scrapper! I will be doing it again next month and I can't wait! I'm on creative cloud 9! Hugs to Jim and Carolyn...and Nolan, Cesar, and the Crafty Scrapper Gals too! 

Supplies:
Tim Holtz Distress Paints from Ranger
Tim Holtz Distress Stains from Ranger
Tim Holtz Distress Inks from Ranger
Tim Holtz Distress Ink Reinkers from Ranger
Tim Holtz Distress Markers from Ranger
Wendy Vecchi Studio 490 Art Embossing Paste by Dreamweaver Stencils from Stamper's Anonymous
Wendy Vecchi Studio 490 Art Stencils from Stamper's Anonymous
Dyan Reaveley Dylusions Ink Spray from Ranger
Dyan Reaveley Dylusions Stamps from Ranger
Dyan Reaveley Dylusions Stencils from Ranger
Claudine Hellmuth Studio Stencils by The Crafter's Workshop from Ranger
Balzer Designs Stencils from The Crafter's Workshop
The Crafter's Workshop Stencils
Maya Road Stamps
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Ranger Inkssentials Water Brush Detailer
Ranger Inkssentials Water Mister
Ranger Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool
Uniball Signo Ink Pen in White
Sharpie Permanent Black Fine Marker

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

34 comments:

  1. So glad you guys had fun. Doing demmos is so good for the soul. Especially when you teach someone something new. All these products have such WOW factor, they are lovely to show off. Love your tags.

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  2. So glad it went well for you Anita and I love everything you did, the colours, patterns and ldesigns all look fantastic and I know that feeling when you've demonstrated something and you see the lightbulb moment in someone, can't eat it! :-)

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  3. Way to go Anita!!! Wouldn't surprise me if you are soon demo'ing everywhere. Love the idea of using the paste/paint resist technique, and have a feeling I'll be coming back to this post time and time again. Huge hugs and a massive round of applause! Jenny x

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  4. This is amazing Anita. Such beautiful work and fab demoing. Looks like you have had the best time. I really must get crafty with my dylusions.

    Thank you for sharing

    Annie x x

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  5. You both look in your element!! So wish I could of popped over to join in the fun!! I love all your samples, those distress paints are just fabulous!! You rock!!

    Kaz :0)

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  6. Oh Anita, this post made my early morning here in the UK! What fun you must have had!! It shines through every one of your makes, they are fabulous all of them. Sometimes two people spark each other off and it looks as if Jim and you did just that! Thanks for all the clear descriptions too. My poor wishlist is getting longer and longer!!!

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  7. Love all of your tags! My fave is the one that you drew the tulips on. Love, love, love the colors on it!

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  8. You did so well!!! No fear anymore :-)
    Great what your pictures show, Anita...gorgeous techniques and results!

    all the best, Alie :-)

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  9. Woohoo Anita! I did see pics of you on Jim's blog and it sounded like you were both having a ball. I am in experimental mode at the moment with Wendy's paste and Tim's paints - I just need to add in the Dylusions now! You did some amazing demos, love the lady one and the brick wall is fabulous, will have a go at that one next. Thank you for the inspiration and the tutorial. Hugs, Anne x

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  10. Woe Anita! I'm happy for you!!!! Great tags! Love all your "demo"!!!!BArbarayaya

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  11. Yay Anita! Glad you had a great time. Isn't it fun when it all comes together and you just have a blast! Your samples are amazing. Loving all the looks and textures. Would have been a blast to see the dynamic duo in person. Thanks for the continued inspiration.

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  12. What a brilliant post Anita. Its such a pity both Annie and I stay so far away. What a fun day you all had and the beautiful demo's are awesome. The pictures are so good and make this an interesting post. Thanks for sharing it with us. Hugs from Scotland. Rita xxx

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  13. Wow...the energy and joy of creating come right through this blog post, Anita! You are such an amazing artist. I love the little "you" touches you add to everything you do...the scruff on the man's face, the doodling, the wonderful coloring. Your work just makes me happy. I think my favorite is the brick background with the hanging leaf. It is so 3-D...but each tag is just a work of art. Give yourself a pat on the back...you imparted joy and creativity to all who were there and to us at home, too.

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  14. Wow!!! What a marvelous and informative post :)
    You are a great inspiration and you certainly have a talent for teaching . . . it shows in your posts.
    Have a fun and creative day.
    Bravo, you didn't let fear keep you from doing something wonderful.
    Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  15. Hi! I found your Blog today, sent by way of Our Favorite Gentleman Crafter. I love the tags and I just got Dyan's new sprays and I'm going to give it a whirl around... Thank you for sharing the great Pics!!!

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  16. You're so funny! lol! Thanks for sharing all the info, it looks like you had a splendid time, and I'm sure you were a big success! Love that brick tag, with the serrated knife, really cool effect! And that last tag and the resist...awesome!

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  17. Congrats to your demo. All your pieces are wonderful :)

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  18. Congrats on your demo and getting to spend the day with The Gentleman Crafter and doing what you love. How cool is that??!!! I just love the tag you made and thanks for the cool demo, I NEED to try it.

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  19. Congrats on your first demo... I know I would have been nervous; how cool to have Jim show up...that would make my day !! The tutorial is great and the projects are amazing!

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  20. Congrats on your Demo... I bet it was fantastic...and to work with Jim must be fab.... all the makes are FABULOUS... Hugs May x x x

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  21. How fabulous! I can well believe you were a fantastic demo-er - your knowledge and techniques are amazing and your enthusiasm shines out of every post... LOVE that painting of the textured border - looks sensational!
    Alison x

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  22. Seems your a natural at this! It totally came through in your post, and I can't een imagine how much you could laught with Jim. His blog is hysterical! Your creations are beautiful, and it's true i DO love Dyan's fashion stamps. Can't wait to get my hands on some. Thank you for the lovely tutorial. Have a great week!

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  23. Oh I know they had a treat to see you demo what comes so naturally to lyou. congrats my dear and love seeing what you did. Way to go. One day when you are famous I can say I use to scrapbook with her and still have a little purse charm she made for a trade at Creative Escapes, Yep I still have it. xoxoxo

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  24. Amazing samples to demo the techniques and combination of products. I feel inspired and have added to my wish list and I wasn't even there :) You are a wonderful teacher, Anita, as evidenced on your blog and videos, so I'm not surprised that people were enthusiastic watching you two. You are a wonderful ambassador for mixed media and so generous with your knowledge, talent, and encouragement. Glad you had such a great time. That means more people will get to learn from you.

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  25. What a great day you had! And no doubt, you inspired loads of people with your talent and knowledge. Oh I wish I could've been there to see you demo in person! And thanks for sharing your telling point... don't you love when you get an amazing formula and can squish it into one sentence? I'll be crediting that one back to you, my friend!

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  26. You guys rocked it and the customers loved it all. My favorite was the dude and the number stencil, so sexy! Thank you so much for making it an aw and I enjoyed the visit Sunday.

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  27. It certainly looks like you had the best time, how I would have loved to be there - if only we weren't separated by the Atlantic!!! :) Your samples are gorgeous, especally that last tag, it's stunning. As if my wish list wasn't already long enough......

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  28. Congratulations!!! I'm glad you had a great time :) Beautiful tags you've done. Background of each of the tags are simply captivating. I love it :) I liked the most this tag with the girl. Each tag is so pretty and gorgerous. Great texture and so fantastic idea you show how to use this wonderful products.Thanks for sharing it with us. Greetings Asia :)

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  29. This looks like SO MUCH FUN! The tags are amazing~thank you for sharing the pics~

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  30. That looks so exciting, Anita, and all the pieces are beautiful. I would love to do that someday. Blessings!

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  31. WOW Anita!! LOVE your demo pieces. I so wish I could have come to the Expo with Jim and Cesar. I was visiting family up in the COLD midwest.

    It looks like you and Jim both had a blast demoing and from what I've seen, you both did a marvelous job representing TCS!!!

    Thanks for sharing how you did each of the projects!!

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  32. wow, this must been a lot fun and it shows in the pictures! Love all the demo pieces! Hugs, Sandra

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  33. Congratulations on your successful "first!" I absolutely SO hear you about teaching and how that has changed. Sad, but true. Glad you have found a wonderful way to use your teaching skills!

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