Water proof ink choices

It seems everybody likes to use water colors right now or use markers. I know I do - the worry is there to go over the line. You don't want to smear the lines. Here are a few ink pad choices for you and you can decided how you would like to use them in your artwork. I will try to make a video soon to make it even a bit easier:

CTMH Archival Exclusive Ink pad. It will take a moment to dry. By the time you clean your stamp pad with a scrubber, your artwork will be dry. I highly recommend to use a scrubber to clean your stamp pad. Even though, your stamp will discolor. But this ink pad will give you a nice dark black.

The Memento ink pad is also a great choice - I like to use this pad, because it does not discolor my stamps as much, even though I still clean my stamp right away with a scrubber. Give your artwork a moment to dry with this as well.

If you like to emboss, the Stazon ink pad is a great choice for both - outline and embossing. But you do need to let it dry before coloring in your image. I always wait for a few minutes or use a heat gun to heat set it. Again, use a scrubber to clean your stamp.

Do you want en inexpensive and colorful way for outlines and still be able to use your water colors or your markers? Use these little babies! I love the pigment inks! You can get our black and cocoa inks in bulk. So, if you use those a lot for outlines - get the bulk and maybe share with some friends :)

Hope, I was able to help you a bit - have fun!

Margit

CTMH Tools of the Trade

The right tool can make all the difference in your artistic scrapbooking, especially in the details. See the tools we have to offer to enhance your creative experience, and then try them out for yourself!

I love those organizers, not just for the inks as shown above. I use them when I go to crops and I use them at home to keep my stamp sets, my embellishments, markers, pens, glue, and whatever else one needs to organize. Yes, I do have a stack of them. The fit nicely on a shelf, but they do fit nicely on top of each other. Of course, Close to my Heart did not only make boring plastic organizers - no! They put a nice little design on the side of the organizers! Love those things! Have fun!

Get Organized!

Love, Love, Love those organizing tools from Close to my Heart! Here are some of the big organizers. When I go to a crop I usually have all my tools in there from the blocks to sets, to glue - you name it. If I need it, I will take the medium with me for some of my embellishments. At home I keep them separated for sets, embellishments, blocks, inkblocks - yes, our little inkblocks have their own little place. I just received a new little camera, so be on the lookout for a little video to show you what I mean! There will be another installment of my own for organization. 

Once I move into my new house I can organized again into my own space and I will share how I do it - because I need to know where all my goodies are :)

As always, you can find these goodies on my website right here. Have fun creating!

Better Blending

Over 19 years ago I started with Close to my Heart, one of the things that I loved then was teaching how to use markers! I still love to use markers. There are so many cool things you can do with markers. Don't be afraid of them, even if you have never used them before - just go ahead, stamp some images and play with them. Set yourself free and play! I was always amazed at the wonderful things my friends and customers were able to create when they finally "let" themselves go and play with those markers. It is often just that inner voice telling them they can't do it.

So - go ahead, play - have fun with those wonderful markers! Make them your own.

Marker Magic

Close to my Heart markers are not Copic marker look a likes, but they are alcoholic markers and you can do some really sweet things with them! Have a look and learn. I love our short little clips, you can learn so much from them. You can create some nice art with our inexpensive markers in a short time. With the blending pen, we offer you can take color away for a great effect. Use those markers and play and see what you can create - have fun. Send me a picture of your art and I would love to share :).