Journal Prompt ~ Home

Why do you live where you are?

Canadian Music ~ City and Colour

Dallas Michael John Albert Green (born September 29, 1980) is a Canadian musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who records under the name City and Colour. He is also known for his contributions as a singer, rhythm guitarist and songwriter for the post-hardcore band Alexisonfire. In 2005, he debuted his first full-length album, Sometimes, which achieved platinum certification in 2006. City and Colour began performing in small intimate venues between Alexisonfire tours. The name City and Colour comes from his own name: Dallas, a city, and Green, a colour. His reasoning for the name was that he felt uneasy "putting the album out under the name Dallas Green".

Green was born on September 29, 1980 in St. Catharines, Ontario. Green was named after Philadelphia Phillies manager Dallas Green. Green has stated that he had gone without a name at first; his mother was considering naming him Graham-Todd Green, but his father had bet on the Phillies during the 1980 World Series that October and, after the team won, his parents decided on the name Dallas after the Phillies' manager.

Green started playing piano at the age of 8 and writing music since he was around the age of 14. The first album that he bought with his own money was Alice in Chains' Dirt (1992). He bought it on his 12th birthday, on September 29, 1992. Green said that if people want to get to the bottom of why he makes music the way that he does, it is because of Alice in Chains.

Journal Prompt ~ 25 Feb 2022 ~ Your Best Decision

What is the best decision you ever made. How did you make it? Reasoning or gut instinct?

Close To My Heart ~ 10 Tips and Ideas for Using TriBlend Markers

10 Tips and Ideas for Using TriBlend™ Markers

One of our favorite ways to add color to our art projects is with trusty TriBlend™ markers. We recently picked our artists’ brains and put together a list of 10 practical tips, tricks, and ideas for using these colorful tools!

If you are not familiar with TriBlend™ markers, inside every marker there is a gradation of colors, from light to dark, delivered through three separate fine bullet nibs. You basically get three markers in one! The alcohol-based ink is especially designed to blend seamlessly for mixing and layering the shades.

When blending alcohol-based inks, there are a few things to keep in mind.

1. The surface onto which you are applying the inks will make a difference in how to layer or mix them. If you are using a porous surface, like paper, and are hoping to create a seamless blend, don’t allow the ink to dry between color applications. Start with the lightest color, then add a darker shade, overlapping some of the color in the middle of the two. While the ink is still wet, it will move and spread through the fibers of the paper. When two colors of ink are wet on top of each other, they will spread into each other, creating a more seamless blend.

The same is true in the opposite scenario. If you want to create a seam in between colors, allow the first color to dry. When applying the second color, don’t overlap too much, because this second color will continue to spread into the first color until it dries.

2. This second tip is more of a trick that we use when we color our stamped images with TriBlend™ markers. Like we mentioned above, alcohol ink will spread through the fibers of a piece of paper when it’s still wet. Keep that in mind as you color a stamped image, and avoid coloring up to the edges, leaving a tiny space for the ink to move into on its own. If you apply too much ink to a stamped image, even though you may have colored in the lines, it may not look that way by the time the ink is absorbed and dries.

3. Alcohol ink doesn’t just absorb into paper and cardstock, but it usually also soaks through it. When coloring parts of a project, we recommend using scratch paper underneath it. If you are going to color directly onto your project, remember that you will see the bleed-through on the other side. If you are working on a card, for example, you will see bleed-through of colored images on the inside of your card if you color directly on the card front. There are two ways you can address this: You can either create separate pieces for coloring that will get attached to the card front afterward, or, you can add a piece of cardstock on the inside of the card to cover up the spots where the ink has soaked through. (In the cards above, the elements that were colored with TriBlend™ markers are on separate pieces of paper from the card base).

4. If you’d like to color on vellum with TriBlend™ markers, go for it! Vellum is less porous than regular paper, therefore it does not absorb the ink. Since the ink does not absorb into vellum, it also doesn’t spread the way it would on paper. You can still move and blend the ink, but in this case, you will do so yourself with the nib of your marker. The ink will dry on the surface, and it will dry well since it is alcohol-based.

You can create a softer “stained glass” effect by coloring stamped images on vellum from behind!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

5. Our fifth tip is to use the Blender Marker. Though technically not a “TriBlend” marker, since it only has two nibs, this marker contains a colorless alcohol-based ink and is intended to be used as a blender with other alcohol-based color markers. What we’ve discovered is our use is that this marker works well to lift and lighten other colors. Our artists love to use it to create sheens or light reflections on things like balloons, sunglasses, or fruit.

One of the perks of blending different shades of one color in alcohol inks is that creating shadows has never been easier!

6. This tip applies to all coloring projects, not just ones using TriBlend™ markers! Before you begin coloring, consider your “light source.” If you are hoping to achieve a more dimensional look by coloring your images with shadows, you will need to decide where the fictional “light” is coming from to determine where the darker, shaded areas of our images will be. Where the “light” hits your images, these areas will be lighter.

7. Once you know where your “light” is coming from, you can begin shading your image. Start with the lightest shades and gradually work out to the darkest shades. Blend these different shades by going over the intersections with the lighter shade. Also, remember to shade while the ink is wet. Break larger images into sections in order to blend while the ink is still wet. If you color all of the lighter areas first, by the time you get to the next shade your first one will be dry.

8. If you want to create an actual shadow behind an image, the lightest Brown Grey blend marker is the way to go! Color outside the lines of a stamped image, only along the parts where a shadow would fall. Consider your light source to figure out where that should be. this shadow outline will create a dimensional effect, as if your picture were propped on foam tape even though it’s not!

TriBlend™ markers can be used for so much more than just coloring a stamped image!

9. Alcohol markers are a great tool for coloring embellishments! They dry very well on non-porous surfaces, like those of gems and acrylic shapes. (Revisit this post from a few weeks ago to see more!)

10. Use TriBlend™ markers to color the white core of a ripped piece of cardstock or paper, create a “wash” behind titles and sentiments, freestyle additional design elements for your projects, or even use them with a stencil!

To create a wash with your marker, it’s easiest to hold your marker horizontally to the paper and use the side of the nib rather than the tip. Also, be aware that alcohol-markers will stain any stencil that you color through. These stains will not ruin your stencil, they will simply make it more colorful!

We truly love creating with these markers, and hope you do, too! Get creative as you color your art, and experiment with the different shades each of the TriBlend™ markers has to offer.

To help you do that, we’ve put together the following color reference chart:

Download and print a free blank chart, here (here for AU/NZ), and add the three shades of each available marker color to its corresponding rectangle. (You’ll notice that the downloadable chart is two pages long, and that is because we’ve added to our color options since this top chart was created!) We’ve also added the True Black marker to the list, although it doesn’t have different shade options, in order to have all the color options available for reference in one place.

**Make your chart last longer by printing it on cardstock rather than regular printer paper, and keep it handy as you’re making color and shade choices for your artwork.**

Thanks for joining us on this colorful journey today! In the comments below, let us know how you’re using these markers and what you love about them!

Journal Prompt ~ 24 Feb 2022 ~ The Future

When you think about the future, what excites you the most?

 

101 Interesting Facts About Canada ~ Quebec City

Did you know that Quebec's Old Town (Vieux-Québec) is the only North American fortified city north of Mexico whose walls still exist. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, as the "Historic District of Old Quebec".

Journal Prompt ~ 23 Feb 2022 ~ Best Trip

What has been your best trip so far in life? Why is it the best?

A Taste of Canada ~ Canada Dry Ginger Ale

I guess the name of this delicious beverage is all the proof one needs ~ Canada Dry Ginger Ale is a Canadian invention.

"In 1890, Chemist John J. McLaughlin of Toronto, started to manufacture soda water, which he sold to drugstores in siphons as a mixer for fruit juices and flavoured extracts.

"14 years and hundreds of experiments later, McLaughlin finally perfected the formula for his Canada Dry Pale Ginger Ale. He also developed mass bottling techniques and served Canada Dry wherever people gathered. In 1923, P. D. Saylor and Associates purchased the entire company from the McLaughlin family and formed the public corporation, Canada Dry Ginger Ale, Inc.

"The perfect mixer to mask the taste of home brew during Prohibition, Ginger Ale became a roaring success during the '20s and saw the high price of 35 cents for a 355ml bottle. During the '30s Canada Dry introduced both Club Soda and Tonic Water. In the '50s and '60s, Canada Dry was the first of the major soft drink companies to introduce sugar-free drinks and put soft drink beverages in cans.

"In the '80s Canada Dry saw several ownership changes including being acquired by Cadbury Schweppes of London. Today, the Canada Dry brand is part of Plano, Texas-based Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. In 2004, Canada Dry celebrated its 100th anniversary with the Festival of Fire sponsorship, which took place every July on Toronto's waterfront.

"Canada Dry has continued to innovate with the launch of Canada Dry Green Tea Ginger Ale in March 2008. In May 2009, Canada Dry Green Tea Ginger Ale was honoured with a Grand Prix New Product Award, for demonstrating excellence in quality, originality, design and packaging."

From the Canada Dry Website

Here's a refreshing recipe . . .

EASY CRANBERRY PUNCH
1.89 L cranberry cocktail
500 mL tub pineapple sherbet
2 L bottle Canada Dry Ginger Ale
Fresh cranberries

Combine the first three ingredients together and chill. Garnish with fresh cranberries.

Makes about 26 servings.

Journal Prompt ~ 22 Feb 2022 ~ Anywhere in the world

If money was no object, where would you live? How would you spend your time?

In My World Books ~ The First Step: An Encyclopedia of Small Business Ideas

This blog post first appeared here over ten years ago. It seems that tough times are here again. I hope you will find the perfect idea for YOUR home based business.

One of the few business sectors constantly expanding in today’s economy is the small  and home-based business.  The most difficult decision a person interested in becoming self-employed must make is what type of business will be the best fit for them and their family. 

So, a few years ago I wrote a book A Fresh Start on getting started in a small or home business.  I didn't make a lot of money at it but I learned a lot about publishing and writing from this effort.   

Three years ago my husband and I found ourselves both unemployed, in our 50s and really not sure where to turn.  For the next two years we supported ourselves through odd jobs.  In my spare time I started writing again.

I started from the research I'd done for A Fresh Start, 95 pages of good solid ideas, and expanded it to almost 400 pages of small business ideas.  Some ideas are quite unique, many new listings have been added to represent our modern multi-media environment, and some are good old time-tested ideas.  I'm pretty sure that the perfect home or small business idea for you will be in here.

My husband is now working in a career he loves and I am thrilled to be publishing this book,  The First Step:  An Encyclopedia of Small Business Ideas , available in paperback and as an ebook.

Please order one or several of my books at

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/afreshstart

Thank you.

Journal Prompt ~ 21 Feb 2022 ~ Relax and Unwind

What are some of your favourite ways to relax and unwind?

 

Canadian Music ~ Chromeo

Chromeo is a Canadian electro-funk duo from Montreal, formed in 2002 by musicians David "Dave 1" Macklovitch and Patrick "P-Thugg" Gemayel. Their sound draws from blue-eyed soul, dance music, rock, synth-pop, disco and funk.

As of 2021, the band has released five studio albums, with three of them hitting the Billboard 200 charts. In 2018, Chromeo received their first Grammy Award nomination for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical in the 61st Grammy Awards for their album Head over Heels.

Close To My Heart ~ Revamp Your Crafting Corner in Style!

 Revamp Your Crafting Corner in Style!

When you love crafting as much as we do, you can never have too many supplies! Stamps, ink pads, papers, embellishments—we love it all! It’s harder to enjoy all your crafting supplies if you lose track of what you have, though, which is where top-notch organization comes in!

Our specialized organization solutions help bring order and balance to your crafting corner. Today, we’re going to take a look at some ways our organization and storage solutions can help you get the most out of your favorite papers, stamps, inks, and embellishments.

Forming the foundation of a well-ordered crafting station is paper storage. When you can easily see the papers you have at your disposal, it becomes much easier to create unique combinations and stretch your creativity. Our paper trays measure 12″ x 12½” x 2″ and are easy to stack for seamless and efficient storage. If paper trays aren’t quite the display you’re looking for, or you want to take some paper on the go, we also offer sturdy, plastic envelopes for storage and transportation.

Looking for more stackable storage? Your ink pads have never looked spiffier than they will in our five tier stamp pad stacks! With a vibrant array of stamp pads displayed on your desk, we guarantee that it will bring a smile to your face every time they catch your eye. Top your stacks with one of our tray options to add more storage for a variety of crafting tools that you want to keep handy, like the re-inker display on top of the stamp pad stacks above!

In addition to these stamp pad, tool, and paper storage solutions, we also offer a multitude of options for storing accessories, embellishments, and stamps! If you’re a ribbon or shimmer trim lover, our ribbon organizer has your name all over it! This tray provides an easy and accessible way to organize several spools while offering a gorgeous display at the same time!

And if you’re trying to figure out how to keep your sequins or other loose embellishments in line, you need look no further than our clear plastic craft jars! These jars allow you to easily view the contents without having to open them, minimizing spills, saving time, and adding even more eye candy to your crafting area.

A recent addition to our storage solutions are our 6″ x 8″ storage envelopes, which fit in a 6″ x 8″ Everyday Life™ Album for easy stamp and Thin Cuts storage! Storing Thin Cuts in a three-ring binder makes them much easier and convenient to look through to find just the right die.

You can also turn to the My Acrylix® stamp organizers, or our clear craft organizers for storing stamps and Thin Cuts. These clear plastic boxes make it easy to see what’s inside at a glance.

With so many exciting options for beautiful organization and display, revamping your crafting corner doesn’t have to be a chore—it can be a joy! Which organization tool do you love most?