Questions + a prize

In one week I’ll be revealing my next Big Picture Class [registration opens the end of this month] – and that’s very exciting! I’ve finished the content for it – and I hope you like it! There’s some fresh twists and surprises too…

Ah, but there’s no rest for the wicked and I’m planning + working on content for my next BPC class (as in, coming in winter!) The planning process is one I take seriously. I like to write down/sketch out all my ideas and know what I’m covering before I dig in, and wow this is going to be one big + fun proejct. So this is where my question(s) and offer of a prize comes in!

Prize: FOUR distress stickles including my FAVORITE color picket fence + three more of my faves. Goodies &  extras thrown into the goodie bag too!!

how to enter: answer one (or more) of my questions here in the comments OR via email (mflaum @ comcast. net) I will pick a winner from ALL entries on Monday. So here we go: if you were reading a guidebook to fun & funky crafting written by yours truly… Winner has been drawn – but please feel free to leave your input still if you’d like!!

> What product do you have (or want) that you’re not confident about using?

> What product or technique do you wish you knew more about?

> When I say “off the page” what kind of projects come to mind? (and/or what are you a fan of? canvas? altered art? tags?)

I appreciate the feedback so much- and I promise to tell you a bit more about all the classes & fun stuff I’m working on! For now – back to the studio to finish up some CHA projects…

58 thoughts on “Questions + a prize”

  1. Thanks for the opportunity to win and good luck on your BPC classes!
    I have Copic markers that I’m not too confident about using quite yet. I wish that I knew how to properly use them for shading & coloring.
    I wish that I knew more about embossing. I’ve done some heat embossing in a few classes and I really like the effect. I’m going to try dry embossing next week in another class, but I wish I had the confidence to do it on my own.
    I’m totally into doing home decor projects lately. I love doing tags and altered frames. I think it’s always nice to look around my home and see things that I’ve made!
    Congrats on your book too!

  2. > What product do you have (or want) that you’re not confident about using?
    ** My Slice cutting machine. I got it for Christmas several years ago, and have never successfully cut anything out with it. I got the hands-free kit and the new spray adhesive this past Christmas, but I just lack the desire to sit down and figure it out. I’m a programmer, but this piece of technology has me beaten.

    > What product or technique do you wish you knew more about?
    ** Besides the slice….I wish I knew how to stamp. Never thought I’d say that, because I’ve always hated stamping. Too messy. But I decided to try it. So I bought the stuff in April…and haven’t sat down to try it. I know me, before I make the mess, I have to know how to clean it up.

    Honestly, my biggest problem is that with an almost 1yr old (as in turns 1 next week), when I finally get to my scrapbooking time each week, I want to SCRAPBOOK not figure out some new technique. I want someone else to show me how to do it. I’ve spent my whole day telling people how to run their computers and figuring out how computer code works. I don’t have the desire to figure anything else out come the evenings. I go into momma auto-pilot. You know….I’m home…must pack lunches…do dishes…make dinner…wash some laundry…pack diaper bag for tomorrow…etc…etc…

  3. I am so excited about your next class! The one product I have but don’t have alot of experience with is the new Sew Easy tool. I’ve never been taught to sew by hand but I love the look of hand stitching on projects. I wish I was more confident in that area. A technique I wish I had more experience is in multi mediums. I’m in love with your canvas pieces and I would love to recreate the techniques used. I also see it used in so many other projects and I’m intrigued by it’s versatility. Also let me say I love it when you share with us your altered projects. They’re so inspiring! You are so awesome!!

  4. What product do you have (or want) that you’re not confident about using?

    Embossing Powder

    What product or technique do you wish you knew more about?

    Embossing with embossing powder. Sensing a pattern here? I’ve tried it once at CKC and did well, but when I came home and tried it, it didn’t work, so that means I’m doing something wrong of course.

    When I say “off the page” what kind of projects come to mind? (and/or what are you a fan of? canvas? altered art? tags?)

    I love tags, mini books, and things I can hang on the wall. 🙂

  5. I recently purchased some mists. I really don’t feel super confident using them.

    Oooh! I really would love to learn how to emboss with embossing powder too! I’ve got all the tools on my wish list, but no one ever buys them for me.

    I’d really like to try more tags. I’ve only done the ones I made in your class, but I’d really like to make more. And cards… cards come to mind.

    thanks for the opportunity!

  6. What product or technique do you wish you knew more about?

    Machine Stitching on layouts.

  7. > What product do you have (or want) that you’re not confident about using?
    Glitter, not Stickles (love those) but the loose stuff: how to make it stick, how not to make a mess, what kind of interesting things can be done with it. I have a bunch of it and would like to at least try to use it before I toss it out.

    > What product or technique do you wish you knew more about?
    Walnut ink – I would like to know what it is and why I would want to use it.

    > When I say “off the page” what kind of projects come to mind? (and/or what are you a fan of? canvas? altered art? tags?)
    Altered art is what comes to mind but I also think of altered household items, message boards and decor items.

  8. There are a couple products that I’m not as confident about using as I’d like to be. One is alcohol inks, which I’ve used, but still feel a little clumsy with. The other is Distress paint. It just hasn’t worked well for me, the little I’ve tried it, so I’d like to know some tips or ideas for using it and incorporating it into projects.

    I can’t think of a product or technique off the top of my head. As for off-the-page, I think I like the idea of tags because they’re versatile and can be used on a variety of projects, including pages. Plus…they’re fun!

  9. 1. Product not confident using-Paint-with stamps, on a scrapbook page, on other items like canvas .
    2. Technique-Planning/seeing a page-knowing how to put a page together. I always struggle with what to use, what colors, textures, not too many embellishments (which I really like) and still keep it interesting and not have pages with the same basic layout.
    3. Off the page-home decor. I like when I’ve made a card or done a page that I am really happy with because they feel so personal/intimate. I would love to look around my house and see and appreciate other things that I’ve created.
    Thank you so much for the opportunity to win but also for your blog.I stopped stressing about having photos in sizes other than 4×6 or not doing any major photo shopping on them when I started reading your blog. Now if I could just figure out how to put my pages together!!

  10. I am a huge fan of tags and canvas. I’m not comfortable using canvas. I would love to learn more ideas for home decorations.

  11. 1. Distress powder
    2. A hear gun
    3. doing things you normally wouldn’t like using a round page instead of square. I’m a fan of traditional 12×12

    Thanks for sharing your articles. I’m a big fan. Julie

  12. Thanks for the Q and the chance for offering an opinion!
    I struggle with patterned paper. Mind you, not all patterned paper, some is easy, but those huge patterns, big flowers, very symmetrical whole-page patterns. I often feel like anything I do, cutting or add on top, will take away from the artful image that is taking up the whole page. dots and stripes are no problem, I just snip away, but some of the basic grey of websters pages patterned paper look finished before i have started. I would love some help using those without making them look less nice than when i bought them LOL maybe i should just stick them in a frame and get back to the polka dots? LOL

  13. I wish I knew I knew more about distress inks – love them, just don’t use them enough and I’m sure I could do more with them. I guess that answers q1 and 2. Not really a fan of off the page so much – tried some canvases, mini books, etc but never end up finishing them. Looking forward to hearing more about your fabulous classes over at BPC.

  14. I am interested in off the page projects like, shadowboxes, altered boxes and tins, mini books, canvas wall hangings and art quilting using paint and scrapbooking supplies. Thank you for the chance to win!!

  15. What product do you have (or want) that you’re not confident about using? Alcohol inks. They sit on the shelf looking at me and I just don’t know where to start.

    What product or technique do you wish you knew more about? Sewing on paper, should I get on eof those little battery machines, what thread, what needle!

    When I say “off the page” what kind of projects come to mind? (and/or what are you a fan of? canvas? altered art? tags?) Canvas, boxes and wooden blanks that you can buy.

    Hope that’s helpful.

    ** Kate **

  16. What product do you have (or want) that you’re not confident about using?
    Mists and things like ‘stickles’ that I have one colour of but have never used ‘cos I’m not sure what it’ll do!

    > What product or technique do you wish you knew more about?
    layering – I love the look of layered embellishments, but when it comes to putting them together from my own stash I haven’t a clue

    > When I say “off the page” what kind of projects come to mind? (and/or what are you a fan of? canvas? altered art? tags?)
    OTP to someone from this hemisphere is almost always Kaisercraft wooden thingamies. I’m not too keen on those (all that painting….) but I’d love to try some canvases and tags!

    Thanks for the opportunity to comment – and I’ll look forward to seeing what your new class is all about (roll on next week!)

    Margot/NZ

  17. I will be watching for your next class –

    My favorite “off the page” project is tags. It is a fun way to make the most of the little bits of beautiful papers and random embellishments that are always left over, they are quick to make and dress up any little gift and even non crafty people appreciate them

  18. 1. I have ton of eyelets, but when I use them, they look tacky for soom reason.
    2. making stuff with Fimo and stamps, misting, painting, altered art, scrapbooking, everything really. I’m contantly trying to learn new stuff.
    3. off the page- I have been trying a lot of alter art. I hang with two ladies the are amazing at it. So I’m just trying to keep up.

    By the way, I love your classes and would love to take another one. Thanks for offering it.
    Jackie

  19. How wonderful of you to be offering up a giveaway! And how exciting that you have new classes in the works – I love BPC!
    What product do you have (or want) that you’re not confident about using?
    – I have a Cricut and Design Studio and do almost nothing with them – not confident and seems to break the creative flow to get it all set up
    > What product or technique do you wish you knew more about?
    – I feel like my titles could use more umph – not so much what they say, I can be quite clever sometimes, but doing them in a way that they don’t get lost on the page
    > When I say “off the page” what kind of projects come to mind? (and/or what are you a fan of? canvas? altered art? tags?
    – all that non-scrapbook or card stuff – For the most part, I’m not a huge fan of all the little tags and tiny albums and stuff – more dust collectors for me or whomever I give them to.

  20. I can’t wait to see what your next class will be!

    What product do you have (or want) that you’re not confident about using?
    For me it’s mixing up my distress inks, stains and spray mists to create something. I have tons of these but don’t really use them much

    > What product or technique do you wish you knew more about?
    Resist papers .. again I have a ton of them but am a bit scared to actually use them!

    > When I say “off the page” what kind of projects come to mind? (and/or what are you a fan of? canvas? altered art? tags?)
    I’m not a big off the page person. I do like the idea of making tags as a way to practice techniques though

  21. Great questions…
    Hhhmm….. a couple of techniques that I would love to use more effectively and creatively would be stamping and dry embossing (like with a Cuttlebug), and I mean for layouts, not just cards!!
    Off the page….. I think of mini-albums and home-decor items first. But I do love tags and mixed media 🙂
    Hope that helps
    xxx

  22. Excited about your next class!
    I would like to learn how to do more things with tags.
    I am not comfortable using Distress inks. I have seen wonderful things that people have made, and I want to make them too! I just won four new ones, and would LOVE to put them to good use!
    I think canvas when I think altered art, and I would LOVE to try making something along that line!

  23. Ok here are my answers…

    > What product do you have (or want) that you’re not confident about using? — I’m gonna go with embossing here. It looks so easy but I tried it once and felt like a doofus! The paper was all warped and the image didn’t look all that great either. I took the heat gun back to the store. 🙁

    > What product or technique do you wish you knew more about? — I wish I knew more about Copics. They’re so expensive to start with so I need to find out more about them to see if they’re really worth the investment or not.

    > When I say “off the page” what kind of projects come to mind? (and/or what are you a fan of? canvas? altered art? tags? — Things like tags are off the wall for me. I’ve tried doing them in the past but can never seem to make them look any good! I’ve only recently worked with a canvas but love the way my project turned out so I’ll definitely be working more with it in the future.

    Your classes are always amazing can’t for this one to be revealed!
    – April W

  24. My fears are about electronic cutters. I have the original Slice machine that I received a couple of years ago for Christmas. I also won a personal Cricut a couple of months ago and it is still sitting in a box. When I get out the instructions for either of these machines, I get overwhelmed and just put them away. Also, I totally understand the use of them for alphabets for my scrapbook layouts but when it comes to the other designs, I look at them as just a flat diecut and have a hard time “finishing” them to make them look beautiful. HELP me use my products!

  25. I would like more misting tutorials and I would love more wreath examples/step by steps. I also love monochromatic layouts…any ideas there? Thanks so much!

  26. May, I love paint and painting but I lack your “savez faire” when it comes to using it on scrapbook pages. I’d also like to use my stamps and my die cut machines more on pages. I’m not a big fan of decorating with paper crafted items, on the other hand, I do like the look of printer’s tray collages and would love to see what ideas you have for these.

  27. I own several bottles of glimmer mist, but I am not exactly sure what to do with them. I have tried using them once or twice, but they don’t seem to “add” anything when I use them.

    I would like to learn to use stamps- and also my cricut. They both sit gathering dust in my scrapbook room.

    When I think “off the page”- I think of home decor.

  28. I can’t wait to find out about the new class – yay!!! Here are my answers to your questions.

    Something I’m not very confident about, and would love to learn more about is distressing edges. That, and using sprays.

    Off the page things I love to learn about are organizational type things and home decor. I also would love to see more canvas ideas.

  29. > What product do you have (or want) that you’re not confident about using? I purchased my first bottle of glimmer mist and do not know what to do with it.

    > What product or technique do you wish you knew more about? I would like to learn more about how to use the different mists.

    > When I say “off the page” what kind of projects come to mind? (and/or what are you a fan of? canvas? altered art? tags?) I am really intrigued by the home decor items which use the 7 Gypsies printer trays. These are neat!

  30. As far as “off the page”, I’ve seen some really inspiring projects done on small canvas but I’m a little intimidated to give it a try.
    I would like to learn more about using copics. There are no classes offered for them in my area so I try to learn through blogs & videos etc.

  31. Off the page tends to make me think of canvases or other sorts of art for display rather than in books – probably more dimensional

  32. Product question…What are some things I can do with resist papers! I know I can mist them, but that is all I can think of. My mind goes blank when I try to vary the looks of these papers. Thanks!

  33. Can’t wait for another “May” class. 🙂

    > What product do you have (or want) that you’re not confident about using?

    Alcohol inks (bought them, used them once); Perfect Pearls (used them once; love the look; need to remember to use them);

    > What product or technique do you wish you knew more about?
    Emboss resist (never sure which inks/papers work best for this)

    > When I say “off the page” what kind of projects come to mind? (and/or what are you a fan of? canvas? altered art? tags?)
    I’ve never done a canvas, but I think it would be fun. Would love to make something with Tim H’s configurations sometime.

  34. Can’t wait to see what your new class will be. I will be signing up for sure.
    Here are some answers to your questions.

    > What product do you have (or want) that you’re not confident about using?
    My dry embossing plates. I know how to actually use my cuttlebug to make an embossed image, but then what? I do not make cards, so looking at the square or rectangle piece of lovely embossed paper leavesme perplexed.
    Also, what is the difference between how to use a stencil vs. a mask? ( I have both). And third, watercolor crayons.

    > What product or technique do you wish you knew more about?
    I can actually do various techniques (embossing, washes, stencils, watercolor) but only as experiments. I would love to know how to put some techniques together on a LO. I tend to see what is in front of me and can’t really see different ways of using it. So I made a great embossed image. How do I use that along with my stencils or Slice diecut? I have a Slice diecut. How do I use that in conjuntion with a wash and embossing? And how do put all the pieces together on a LO?

    > When I say “off the page” what kind of projects come to mind? (and/or what are you a fan of? canvas? altered art? tags?) I would love to make canvasas. I am also a big fan of houses. I would love to decorate little houses.

    Thanks May!

  35. Oh and I really loved your little video in your May class on different mediums. I would love one on the different types of ink. I buy the ink that has a color I like and don’t pay much attention to chalk, pigment, dye, distress. What’s the difference?

  36. I would love to know a great way to apply vintage (or new) pattern pieces to a lo. I used some on a mixed media project and had a very hard time keeping it from sticking together and also wrinkling. I also would like to use my alcohol inks more.
    I have not yet worked on canvas but really want to. At some point I am also extremely interested in doing an altered book.
    Like everyone else, I am anxiously awaiting the info and start of your next BPC.

  37. I really want to learn more about UTEE-you got me intrigued in the first class I took.I bought some but I’m still at a loss as to where to start.
    I want to learn to do more with my alcohol inks-like coloring transparent overlays with them and I want to learn how to paint with my perfect pearls.
    I actually need to get back to the page, but off the page-I too want to do an altered book.

  38. This is tough. I have never machine stitched on a layout. I have hand stitched, but not much. Love the look, definitely need more confidence in this. Also, a sewing maching would help too. LOL. Thanks and good luck with the upcoming BPC classes. Love them.

  39. > What product do you have (or want) that you’re not confident about using?
    – Hmm… I’d say alcohol inks. I have a few, but don’t really have many ideas on using them.

    > What product or technique do you wish you knew more about?
    – alcohol inks and Perfect Pearl mists

    > When I say “off the page” what kind of projects come to mind? (and/or what are you a fan of? canvas? altered art? tags?)
    – canvas and any altered art items!

  40. Oh May ~~ I’d love to know more about alcohol inks, and also embossing. I don’t know much about it, but I love the look. I don’t know what I need to even emboss. It’d be great to know more about that.

    I’d love to know more about how to do canvases and I LOVED the birdhouse you did in the last class I took of yours. I’d love to know more about those types of altered projects.

    Thanks for this great opportunity. Looking so forward to hearing more about your class.

    Have a Blessed weekend ~~ Dawn

  41. Embossing powder! I have it all and still can’t seem to make it work.

    Love to have more ideas on uses for distress inks!

  42. What product do you have (or want) that you’re not confident about using?
    I have a silhouette but a) I struggle with the software and b) it never occurs to me what shapes to use.

    What product or technique do you wish you knew more about?
    I would love to invest in distress inks but I am not sure I would use them enough. I would like to see how I can use them in place of regular inks.

    When I say “off the page” what kind of projects are you a fan of? Canvas is the only off the page thing that I really like.

  43. I want to be more confident using my WIshblade. I hardly ever use it (for a variety of reasons), but since it was expensive I wish I were using it more.

    I would like to learn more about alcohol inks.

    Off the page- my mind immediately goes to picture frames and bird houses. I’m not really into either of those though. I like altering wooden boxes and gift bags to give away.

  44. I enjoyed the BPC class “52 card pick up” by Tena Sprague(?). Something along those lines with updated products like mists and stencils and punches would be fun. Or maybe more in depth like “A Technique a Week.” to get more knowledge than just a one time trial. I’m sure your class will be great May!

  45. i love the look of alcohol inks but i am really not sure of how i could use them on a scrapbook page. i want them but i need to know if they are applicable to scrapping before i shell out the money.

    off the page i’d like to be able to alter the traditional white canvas on a frame to make some original art for my walls. i’m too chicken.

  46. Hmm, there is so much I want to try. I want to learn to sew on my pages. And I also want to do something with canvas. Not sure what, but something.

  47. I want to be more confident using inks, glitter glue, glitter in general and embossing powder. I would also like to learn more about them.
    Off the page I love love love tags and would also like to learn more about assemblage art (kinda like what tim holtz does with the drawer separator things using the keys and broken dolls)

  48. I can’t wait for your next class!

    I want to learn more about using the chalks that I have. Not really sure about how to best use them in my projects.

    I’d love to learn more about COPIC markers. I haven’t bought any because I am not sure I would know what to do with them.

    Off the page…I love creating storage bins/containers to make them look wonderful. I put these in my classroom for supplies. The kids love the nontraditional look of the storage containers.

  49. Funny that, i am not confident using stickles, whenever i use them, it never looks subtle. As for altered art i love tags, i have run out of wall space for canvases and tags are great you can make a mini album with them or use them for packaging.
    thanks May

  50. I seem to have some perfect pearl that I have no idea how to use. I’d like to try some more off the page projects.

  51. Stressed about Distress. I love the look and have 16 color pads and I seem to distress everything now. I love the look and think it finishes a project. I would love to do more ideas with it. Thank you.

  52. Yeah!! More classes from May! Can not wait.

    Product? – I have a Cricut that I do not use enough, could really use help with that

    Technique? effective use of patterned paper.

    But I always love your classes, so anything you teach would be great

  53. What great questions! 1. product – raw chipboard – I have a ton and see how many color and dress it up and I can’t get it to look right – looks streaky, pale just blahh 2. I’d like to learn more about Copic markers – I”ve bought about 5 and again I use them and feel I need a ton to make things look like I see on the blogs of others – I just don’t have a ton of money to spend on them. 3. I love altered art and canvases and tags! Any of your things you’ve done other than scrapbook pages I have loved and wanted to imitate. Can’t wait to hear more about your class.

  54. Something I wish I had is Washi tape – looking for interesting ways to use it too.

    I wish I knew how to use a Melting Pot with Utee powder.

    Off the page – Altered books, home made flowers, creative ways to add mulitiple photos, 3D items,

  55. I have some new Tim Holtz stamps and inks. I would like to know how to use these with stamps, resisting, and embossing. I also seem to make a mess with the stickles! I would like to learn more about stains and alcohol inks. I can’t wait for your new class!!!! I do know that the prize has been drawn. Just wanted to put my 2cents in! Ha!

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