YouTube Capture: Pan Pastels

What do you do when you find yourself with a new product and don’t know what to do? The first thing I do is to search “what is ___?” or “How do I use ___?” and see what comes back. For Pan Pastels I immediately thought of perfect pearls powder and the techniques I use for that product worked well on this as well. So basically I figure out the very basic “what is this/how do I make it work?” and then I just go play.

What are Pan Pastels? Why am I talking about them today? They were in the Gossamer Blue June kit and I have been experimenting with them. I think video is better for explaining, and I was trying to figure out the “hangout” thing you can do on YouTube as well… and while I did NOT figure that out, I did see “YouTube Capture” which will essentially record + upload to YouTube right from my work desk – no edits, no fuss. So I decided to try it out and explain what I’ve got so far on Pan Pastels (in case you’re curious!) + VersaMark ink pads.

[link to youtube]

If you have a specific product or topic you’d like to see – let me know! These short (hoping for 3min or so usually) videos are going to be common this summer. Though I will record a bit differently because the settings I had made the darn thing auto-focus WAY too much! annoying!!

Happy Crafting!

Guest at Lawn Fawn today!

mayf_lawnfawn (5)Today I’m over at Lawn Fawn’s blog (link) sharing an exclusive project + tutorial for how to play with messy techniques + adorable stamps to get a not-so-messy look. This technique would work on all kinds of projects – I happened to be inspired to make a card.

To see the simple how-to AND if you’d like a chance to be entered in for a spot in Camp Scrap head on over to my friends at Lawn Fawn and check it out!

We’re on count down… Camp Scrap begins THURSDAY! Can’t wait…
500 sq

Stitch Fix #1

Have you heard of Stitch Fix? You go fill out some questions about your likes, and you can link them to a pinterest board and give them notes about what you do/don’t want on their questionnaire, etc…

and then they send you a box with five items in it. You can do it monthly, but that really isn’t in my budget… so what I’m going to do is maybe quarterly or for every so many pounds lost I will order one up as a treat. You can return everything or keep some things or whatever. They explain it nicely on their site. Ok, so first I’ll show you what I got, then I’ll tell you what I like about Stitch Fix.

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This dress (Tulle Kayla Back Detail dress) was so pretty. Love the coral color, love the tiny print on the over layer, the cool fabric… but it was way too small in the boob area and caused some very weird looking una-boobage that I was not down with. I wanted to be… but yeah NO. So I did LOVE it, but back it goes.
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When you get the box you are able to tell them via their website what fit, what you liked, what you’re sending back, etc. and this will help them in future to better send things your way that will work. When I first saw this next piece I was like… oh no. NO thank you…
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This Tulle top (Cecilia Cap Sleeve Printed Woven Top) is something I so would NEVER have even considered… but guess what? I *love* it!! Such a beautiful green color – and here’s a silly pic taken for my friend… because yeah I did try ons in my studio.

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What I really loved about this is that they listened to what I said. They took my requests into consideration for sure. But then they also sent stuff I might not have picked but was great. And really – that’s the point right?! Try new fun stuff, try it on with things you own, see what works in your own closet with it.

This next one I was super excited about – such a lovely pattern!
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(Dress is Tulle Faxon Floral Waist Tie Dress) unfortunately, it has pleats in front (hellloooo to looking pregnant! NO THANK YOU!) and was also super short. This was the only FAIL in the whole box – which was incredible in my mind that they nailed things I would like 4/5 items.

Oh I loved these earrings – the fourth item- so pretty and they go well with so much that I have…
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And then, there’s this dress.
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You’re gonna have to wear spanx/controltop pantyhose/etc under this unless you’re in perfect shape… (dress is Last Tango, Rocco Faux Wrap Tank Dress). But it is a GREAT length, and what really sold me on this one was the styling card. I have a friend who got this dress and on her it is really low cut. On me? It was the perfect cut not low or anything. Loving it!
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Seeing it with the cardigan made me excited. Also with bright shoes reminded me I have a bold pair of heels that this would be perfect for! So yes, this one is a keeper. These style idea cards are really cool and helpful and come with each item too so you get fashion inspiration.

Overall? I’m really impressed. They stayed in my budget, they sent me the kinds of things I was after (I specifically asked for dresses), and it was fun to try on things a stylist recommended. I am not great at clothes in general – I have a hard time venturing out from the few things I do know that work – so this is really cool. I also *love* it as a weight loss incentive for myself, and I really felt they picked items that will still fit when I am a bit lighter just as nicely as they do now.

The only people I have seen post about stitch fix are much thinner than me, and so I wasn’t sure if getting a box would be uplifting or depressing! I think there are a few key things to the Stitch Fix happy experience:

  • Be open to new ideas. A lot of the negative reviews I’ve read are people who were just like “nope. I don’t like this” before trying it on, taking a photo, seeing how it looked. You’ve got to want some sense of adventure and mix up the wardrobe! If you don’t want to be surprised, if you’re totally set in exactly what you do want then go buy it direct!
  • Be specific and honest. Give your real size and weight, tell them exactly what you like and are looking for.
  • Definitely get the pinterest board going that they can look at/use to get to know your fashion wishes better.

This was such a fun “10lbs burned off” treat (oh yes, I BURNED off 10lbs!! lost? Nope. I worked for that!) and I hope to do another one at 20lbs gone!!

If you want to check out Stitch Fix – I invite you to use my referral code (to do this just click ANY of the links in here – they have my code in them).  If you happen to try it using my code I get credit – just FYI. Though I didn’t do this blog post for that reason – I genuinely think this is a COOL new business!

If you have tried it I’m curious how it went for you and what you liked. I’m motivated to keep eating clean and working hard and earn myself another fix!!

 

June!

I’d be sad that my month was over… May really was a month of EXTREME! Super big highs, lots of new stuff, plenty of amazing, but some big challenges and disappointments too. Ah, the roller coaster of life. Just gotta grab on and embrace it all!!

Oh, but June. June you’re going to be so chill and lovely and creatively inspiring and full of positive energy. I can just feel it! I mean, we’ve got Camp Scrap starting up (YAY!), and also in exciting news Gossamer Blue has asked me to be their guest designer this month! YES. I know I’m SO very honored and thrilled to play along. I will have a LOT more to share with their kits… this is just the beginning…

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I strongly recommend the lush kits over at Gossamer Blue – Lori is such an awesome lady and semi-local so I’m hoping to lure her out to a meet-up sometime!! But seriously – be sure to check out the blog for more information and you can see all the kits at www.gossamerblue.com

I have some video tutorials + more projects in the works with them. I’ve had a request for a mixed media + kit type project so I’m working on that now. Got a request? let me know!

Oh and hey Camp Scrap participants – you’ll be seeing me + the March Gossamer Blue kit in week #1 of class! I’m actually going to go back and look at that handout now and borrow from myself for some projects to share here!

Have a GREAT weekend!! This is day 3 of 4 for my girls, and with the last day of school nearing… well lets just say the energy level is off the CHARTS!! Here’s hoping for a bit of crafty time…