Newsletter, Liquid Pearl Featurette and Birthday Celebrations

Good Friday Morning Everyone,

Wow! What a week!!! Taylor just released her newest set of stamps this week and you can take a peek at all new products that are fresh out of the oven over at her store Taylored Expressions. Today, I am totally honored to the Featured Baker's Design Team Member for the Taylored Expressions newsletter. You can subscribe to the newsletter by visiting the Stamp a Sweet Impression blog and then click on the "subscribe to our newsletter" button on the right hand side.

When I was talking to Taylor about the project for the newsletter, she mentioned to maybe do a little tutorial on how to use Liquid Pearls! Well, first of all as many of you know -- I LOVE LIQUID PEARLS!!! I use them all the time - and actually have to resist the urge from putting them all over every card!!! lol!! So I jumped at the chance! 

So what are liquid pearls? They are a dimensional decoration that has a pearlized sheen and they are great for embellishing paper and fabric. It is a wonderfully versatile, waterproof medium that is acid-free, non-toxic and has an easy flow tip and applicator, so its perfect to draw, dot, outline, create borders, colorize on either paper or fabric. For those using Adirondack ink, Taylor also has them in 11 shades of the Adirondack colors, so that you can match your liquid pearl embellishment color perfectly with the Adirondack ink on your project.

Step One:
It is best to use the liquid pearls embellishment after all the elements to your card has already been assembled because otherwise if you are working on your card still - it might smear. Here I have created a card using Jen Del Muro's sketch for this week and the stamp is from Taylor's... Year of Sweets 1 stamp set. The Emerald Green Liquid Pearls that Taylor has in her store are awesome! It is soooo shimmery, shingy and it has a very thin applicator for precise projects.


Step Two.
I like to trace around the areas that I am highlighting. Here, I highlighted some of the grass, and 4 leaf clovers in the Emerald Green liquid pearl.

Step Three.
Okay - I admit it! I am addicted to dots :) Here I go over the star with the sentiment Good Luck, from the Year of Sentiments stamp set.

*** One of the keys to get a precise dot is to hold the bottle downward - and shake it down over a scrap piece of paper- this helps bring all the liquid pearls down and you don't have to squeeze very hard.
***The other important thing is to maintain a regular pressure while squeezing the bottle - this will ensure precise simillarly shaped dots.

Step Three.
I also like to highlight the Designer Paper (DP) with some liquid pearls because this gives it a nice texture and slight sheen.

Step Four.
Drying Time: The recommended drying time on the bottle is to dry flat for 24 hours - but that is for big projects, for these little dots and outline - I find that its good to let them dry for about a half hour (although having said that -- I am usually taking pics of my projects while they are still wet because I just can't wait :) lol!) Its nice to let it dry by a window or somewhere where little hands or pets can't jump on them :) 

Card Details:

Paper: K & Co.

Inks: SU! Always Artichoke

Stamps: Year of Sentiments and Year of Sweets 1 from Taylored Expressions

Accessories: Liquid Pearls, Brads from Easter Key Ingredients and Chocolate Double Edged Ribbon from Taylored Expressions, Star punches from Creative Memories

Using some more of the liquid pearl colors Taylor has over at the store, I made a little present to give to my friend's daughter, for easter. I used the liquid pearls on a onesie - it is good to pre-wash fabric before using. The only thing about fabric, is that it is important to lay a piece of cardboard under the fabric before painting. I actually find it easier to paint on fabric. You can mix the colors around and the create a whole new set of colors. Fabric also takes a longer time to dry - they recommend 24 hours laying flat (but wait for 72 hours before machine washing - which you do on gentle cycle with a mild detergent, no bleach)

I like to put all the colors on paper plate and take a little bit with a brush over the image on the fabric. The liquid pearls will apply almost translucently over the fabric and you can layer up the colors for a darker color. I loved making this little onesie using the latest stamp release: Sweet Spring .

-----I love using liquid pearls and I hope you do too!! They are so inexpensive and they go such a long way on so many projects and creations. You can pick this up at the Taylored Expressions store - speaking of which, Taylor is celebrating the First Birthday of the Taylored Expressions Store and she wants to invite you to the party! 

The festivities will last all weekend long with games and prizes on her blog! There will be drawings for Party Favor Packages for three days - Friday (today), Saturday and Sunday, with a different package given away each day. PLUS on Monday there will be a Sweepstakes Grand Prize winner drawn from all the orders placed at the Taylored Expressions Store from Thursday through Sunday. Be sure to visit Taylor’s blog to get all the details and to join in on the FUN! 

Thanks so much for visiting!!!

Happy Friday to all!!

Sankari :)