My friend Carmen Sanchez– or better Cuchy as I and everyone else calls her, is one of the people who I met throughout my creative life, that I am especially grateful for. She is one of the most generous, helpful and on top super talented people I know. If I need help – she is there- always! She also organized two wonderful events in Madrid the last two years where we have been teaching together – the ART MESA Workshop Event 2011 and 2012. What can I say…She is just awesome!
I’m M. Carmen, but nobody but my mother, calls me M. Carmen. So you can call me Cuchy.
Here you have some hidden facts about me:
I studied music and piano and now I only “play it” when I clean it
I had 0 points in an exam when I was in the university. The teacher happened to be my future sister-in-law. (Imagine the family gatherings at that time…)
I love chocolate and diet coke.
I slept in the street several times queueing to get an opera ticket
I love bright colours, but I usually wear black and dark
I usually tell what I’m thinking. That caused me more than one problem.
I can roll my tongue in a wave shape
My family is my life
Put these little things together and you get a messy, curious, cheerful, daydreamer, demanding, stubborn, thankful, passionate, and happy girl, and I like it 🙂
Thanks so much Nat, for having me again in this year’s Creative JumpStart. It’s such an honour and always a pleasure.
You can find more of me and my work, here
Blog: la-almohada.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hecho.a.mano.Cuchy
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/Cuchyy2kTwitter: http://twitter.com/cuchyy2kInstagram: instagram.com/cuchyy2k
Nat
Thank you for participating and making this year’s Creative JumpStart special!
Again this year we’re able to bring your Creative JumpStart Summit 2013 free. A lot of energy and love went into this event, and the work has been nonstop for months.
If you would like to help offset these costs and support me in my effort to keep Creative JumpStart free, you can donate here. It is completely up to you if you donate and how much or how little you give.
If you have technical problems– please check the FAQ Page for possible answers.
Nathalie's Studio 
Thanks! Beautiful to see flowers bloom in the winter!
I love all techniques.. thanks i need the list of material use in winter wonderland
Hi Denisse. Thank you for your words.
You have the materials I used in the video description, on vimeo https://vimeo.com/54245934
Fun. Thanks for sharing
Enjoyed your napkin techniques; thanks for sharing !
Love the napkin technique. Thanks for sharing. Muchas gracias por el video. La tecnica de la servilleta me ha encantado por lo facil y genial el resultado. Gracias por compartirla. Saludos
I loved your winter wonderland background technique.
So much fun!!! Thank you for sharing these techniques. I really love the technique of combing through the paint in your art journal and the torn tissue for texture. Fabulous.
Cuchy, loved your techniques. I’m looking forward to giving them a try.
Carmen thank you for the video and the techniques.
Thank you for sharing–loved the napkin techique and the flower!
Thank you Carmen, loved your video,, all three of them.
I really liked the comb through technique with the ink – it really creates some amazing images. Wow.
The flowers are beautiful but I really love the winter wonderland. Thank you for sharing.
Great techniques. Thanks for sharing,
Interesting techniques!
great share with all of us
Thank you so much! Love all the three techniques! Will start with #2!
Awesome… love the different uses of napkins! That flower just blew my mind… what an awesome technique. I have never seen that done before! Thanks so much for sharing!!!
I have a long list of techniques to try…and have been collecting napkins….have not seen this adhesive method yet- lesss sticky that glue : ) Love your Art page and love the pretty flowers too!
Lo del plástico, todo un descubrimiento!. Voy a probarlo ya mismo. Y ese clavel reventón…mola un montón!. Graciasss!!
I loved your video …just wondered if you have tried using ‘blu tack’ (Blu-Tack is a reusable putty-like pressure-sensitive adhesive produced by Bostik, commonly used to attach lightweight objects) to separate the layers of the serviettes (napkin) it works wonders and saves so much time…you also find that you don’t tear the different layers.
Good tip Jean. Thank you so much. I’ll give it a try
Unas técnicas muy aprovechables, Cuchy!!! Muchas gracias por compartir! Tengo unas servilletas rojas de Ikea justo a mano, así que voy a probar la técnica del clavel! Por cierto, ¿he reconocido parte de la banda sonora utilizada, pero cuál es la música del último segmento?
besos
Muchas gracias Isabel. Me encantará ver los resultados en el grupo de facebook.
si te digo la verdad, no tengo ni idea de quién es la música. Forma parte de la biblioteca de música del editor de video. Se llama “Plucky Daisy” 🙂
Want to try the first technique using plastic wrap and adhering with the heat from the iron….who knew?!?
cool trick with cling wrap
That first technique is SO cool! I can’t wait to try it out! I’m also going to teach my son how to make the flowers – he’ll want to give some to his girlfriend, I’m sure. Thankis so much for sharing with us!
Great techniques…must give that cling wrap one a go soon! Thanks Cuchy 🙂
Thanks for these amazing techniques…
Gracias por compartir tus tecnicas tocaya! Te mando un cariño desde Argentina!
Yay Cuchy! Thank you!!!
Thank you Cuchy, loved the video, off to find some cute napkins 😀
xxDebbie / Little Dot Of Creativity
WOW Cuchy!! You were my fave last year and you are again this year!!! (though all the tutors are fabulous!!!) Love the technique of the melting cling wrap!! How cool! (And so love the napkin design of the 3 cats!!!) Totally fell in love with the technique of the brushing comb in the second one – thats an awesome journal page! The flower is fabulous – I remember making them at school with kleenex – LOOOOOONG ago!!!
Youre amazing!
wow! amazing! thanks :*
Loved all the napkin techniques!! Amazing!!!
Uf, hace ya varios días que vi el vídeo con las tres técnicas y quería agradecerte los truquis. Me ha gustado el “winterwonderland background”, sorprendido la servilleta “pegada” con plástico de envolver y traído muy buenos recuerdos el clavel reventón. Muchas gracias. besitos.
I loved your winter wonderland background technique. Looking forward to giving it a go. Thanks!!! 🙂
Great techniques with napkins, loved them! Thankyou.
NApkins!! Who would have thought you could use them.
A great way to use up all the napkins I buy!
A great way to use up all the napkins I but!
❤ all three techniques! So much fun
j’adore, merci pour ces bonnes idées!
Wow – the flower is gorgeous, and I love how the napkin is glued to the card
Hi,
The coolest technique for fusing napkins to cardstock…..brilliant!
Great ideas can’t wait to have a go. Anne x
I love the first technique using the iron and plastic wrap! Way simple and I can’t wait to try it. Love the kitty napkin you used too!
All very cool! Thanks for sharing, Cuchy. The iron transfer didn’t work for me with copy paper, but it was like magic when I used parchment paper! Love the idea of using napkins for texture as well – awesome ink drop technique, too!! And I remember making those flowers as a kid for weddings, except we used coloured kleenex – thanks for the trip down memory lane 😀
Very interesting. Can’t wait to try these!
Wonderful technique with the napkins!
You rock!!!!! As always!!!
Me ha encantao!!!!! Genial. Y el clavel reventón todo un puntazo!!!!
Me gustan las tres versiones. Genial!!!!!
Hi carmen, this did not work for me. I’m in Australia and the cling film doesn’t melt. Please advise. Thank you.
Hi Helen, Thanks for your comment.
I do not know if there’re different types of cling film out there. I can say that I’ve done this with different brands, bought in the supermarket, and it works with all.
Maybe is a matter of the temperature of the iron. Start with a medium temp. and increase it while checking if it fuses
Please, try it again, and let me know if it works.
Wonderful napkin techniques!! Never thought of using plastic wrap + wax paper to avoid the mess… cool!! Thank you so much.
I saved a napkin from a Christmas gathering and now I can make Thank you notes with it! HOW COOL!! Thank you so much for sharing!
Really enjoyed the napkin technique. The first one with not using glue was great! Thanks
That´s a fun video! Thank you Cuchy!
Thank you so so much, Cuchy!!! LOVED the plastic iron on technique!!! Very clever!!! Thanks so much for all the inspiration! love from Australia!
I either mucked this up the first time or signed in with the wrong account so here is my comment again.
Loved all the techniques. I now “get” how tissue flowers are made. Written instructions had confounded me before today, I especialy loved the 2nd technique with that interesting tool – never seen one like that before; love the effect.
Loved all the techniques. I now “get” how tissue flowers are made. Written instructions had confounded me before today, I especialy loved the 2nd technique with that interesting tool – never seen one like that before; love the effect.
I made the flowers out of crinkle paper when I was in school. I forgot all about it. Thank you for refreshing my memory.
Thanks so much for sharing!
Napkin flowers? Genius! Thanks CUCHY!!!!!!
Lots of awesome tips , thanks sooo much!!!
So fun and easy but with satisfying results. Really like the flowers.
Thank you
I like the napkin card technique!
Very clever way to adhere something without actually using “glue”. I liked the texture technique for the art journal ..can’t wait to try it.
I always save those, but never knew what to do with them…Thank you for these great techniques.
Loved your No 1 method of using napkins with the plastic wrap – never seen that done before and I would never have thought of it myself. Absolutely brilliant. Thank you.
Wow! I would have never thought to use napkins in my projects! Thank you for the inspiration!
Thanks for sharing!! Loved all 3!!
Love all the great idea!!!! The flower is just awesome!!! so cute!!! Thank you!!!
Thank you!
great way to use those napkins!
Thanks so much for sharing, love the texture & comb through.
Cool techniques! Thank you!
I loved the trick with the napkin….I’d never seen that before!
thanks for sharing, love the art journal techniek
Very cool texture in your second technique – thanks for sharing all three 🙂
I always wondered what they did with the napkins! Thanks for sharing!
Had never seen technique #1 before. What a great idea!
Wonderful techniques! I liked the way that you used the leftovers from Take 1 to make something new in Take 2!
I loved the flower napkin! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Loved take one-want to try and than cut the images out to use as embellies..2nd one totally lost me-chalking that up to a senior moment.But oh #3-I’ve tried that a bunch of times but never understood how to pull the layers apart.Got it now-thank you.
I had no idea you could do so much with napkins! Love these techniques
WAY COOL! Thanks!
WOW love the background with a napkin… the napkin transfer was AWESOME… and the flower from a napkin was a show topper!!!! Great techniques! THANKS
Very cool!
I have some napkins that I haven’t used as they are too “pretty” and once I use them, well they are gone… now I can use them happily because one will forever be kept using your wonderful technique – thanks for sharing!!
Great techniques. I can’t wait to do these. I am especially drawn to the textured journaling page. This can really be exciting. Thanks.
So creative! I wanna try the middle technique with modeling paste.
these were really great-loved that transfer technique (and the kitty napkin was absolutely adorable!!) What a great way to attch them without wrinkles or tears! will definitely be giving that a try…and also,I’ve recently used torn tissue paper as a background but had never thought of napkins-thanks for the inspiration!!
Oh Cuchy, trust you to come up with such a fabulous way to use plastic wrap!!! Thanks for the video, & all the great ideas…now I’m off to buy some napkins…besos : )
Very cool techniques! I especially like the first with plastic wrap as “glue”. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for the cute ideas!
Lovely napkin image, I never find such nice ones:) Love the techniques, fusing napkin to plastic wrap is a great idea, normally a glued image would be lost in creases. Liquitex ink makes great stars and gives a page that extra something. Love the carnation or rose, really pretty…might try it with a multi-coloured tissue too. Thank you Carmen!
Thank you for sharing these fabulous techniques. Napkins come in so many gorgeous colors and patterns, plus they are pretty inexpensive.
What unusual and interesting techniques. Can honestly say I have never seen these before. Thanks for sharing
Thank you for new ideas!
That napkin ‘transfer’ was AMAZING & I really enjoyed the flower one, too – just made a bunch of huge ones of these for a wedding for hanging ceiling decorations with tissue paper bundles….LOVE the texturized winter idea too – fab jumpstart:):):)
Wow! Some cool techniques here, Cuchy! I am new to mixed media, so I would have wished for a ‘supply’ list…for some reason I couldn’t see your whole work area and just couldn’t see what was happening. I am going to watch it a few times more, to see if I can ‘get’ it….cuz I loved the techniques! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Kathy,
Thank you for your words. There’s a list of the materials used in the description of the video, on vimeo page. Check it out and let me know if you have any questions.
Super duper – loads of fun! Pasting napkins can be tricky, I’ll definitely give Take #1 a try. I am still giggling over Cuchy’s bio–like her, now I only play piano when I clean it. Thanks a bunch for making my day.
Thank you so much…..loved your journal page. I, also remember making huge flowers for family weddings and colored Kleenex ones for my room!! Very intriguing technique on a card!!
Thanks I love the first technique.
I am going to try this.
Awesome, thank you!
That was a powerful 3! Thanks so much Cuchy – you have definitely added techniques to my to-do list!
Gracias por la genial idea. Siempre me quedan arrugas cuando utilizo servilletas así que voy a probar con la plancha!
Thank you. Loved all but especially the way you used inks.
All three techniques were great – the napkin technique came at such a perfect time – I am making each of my sons a life journal and I have kept a napkin from each birthday party “themed” or celebration and have been trying to figure out how to get them into the journals without destroying them! Thank you!!!!
great art journal page!
On the napkin adhered to cardstock…wash that parchment paper or an ironing cloth? Was the iron set to high or low? Thanks so much for the technique. This is one I really want to try as I have been collecting napkins and would like to try this technique.
Hi Colleen. In fact it doesn’t matter what kind of paper you use over the napkin. I used parchment paper, but you can use even plain copy paper. It’s just to protect the iron and the napkin. Set the iron med temperature and no steam. Check if the plastic fuses after a while and put the temp. higher if you see that it is not “glued”
I’d never seen “take one” done before. Must try this technique! Thanks for a great jumpstart!
Thanks a lot for sharing wonderful techniques, loved number two a little extra! 🙂
Very helpful. The flowers are lovely. Good tips and great ideas!
Thanks for sharing your art! Love all techniques!
madre mia lo que da de si unas servilletas!!
me ha encantado! gracias!!
thanks for sharing
love seeing different ideas for things i already have
very creative ideas
motivating
What a great video! Especially the first technique, i really looked at it for three times, is it that simpel, do i miss something? Something that makes the trick and i did not see it? Wow, amazing!
Can’t wait to to try the napkin in the journal – also the idea of a hair pick through substance for both texture and lines…very cool. Loved the video too. Thanks for a great creative jump start!
Loved the way you used the napkins never thought to use plastic wrap as glue very cool thanks
Fun video production techniques!
I am so going to use that card technique….who knew? Thanks for the video and all of your techniques that I will be putting to good use.
Cool techniques !!!!
Thanks for sharing – like the video 😉
que bonito video!
all from a napkin – CLEVER!
all three “Takes” are really cool. The flower brought me back to when I was little, and we used to make flowers like that from kleenex, when the kleenex used to come in different colours. …. way cool. I never thought to use a napkin! great idea!! and beautiful results.
thank you. =)
Thanks for the 3 different techniques with napkins… will have to try them!
What fun! Thanks for the reminder about using printed napkins! I always forget about using them in my art, and I have a ton of them laying around!
Thank you. I love all three ideas.
I can’t wait to try the paint/comb techniques. I love the texture it makes. The napkin idea was amazing! Thank you!
All 3 techniques were fabulous! What texture tool was used through the ink. Looked like a special comb?
Thank you Susan. I usually use that comb with friendly plastic. It’s a plastic comb with metal teeth that enable you to drag the hot friendly plastic and create a marbled effect. It’s also great to add texture with pastes.
thank you for the no mess techniques
I love using napkins and tissue papers in my art!
Fantastic napkin ideas!!! Love the no mess way! Thank you so much!
Thank you for a wonderful video!
Love the flower!
Thank you for the ideas. I will try the napkin technique this weekend!
Loved the fabric flower. Thanks
Thank you, what a great idea, no mess!! loved the ideas, have used pinking shears to give the flowers a carnation look. many thanks
Three fabby techniques..never thought of doing the flower with a napkin, the plastic wrap technique I have never seen nor the journal texture technique! Thank you so much!!
Learned something new , thats always a good thing.
I loved all your techniques. I can’t wait to try fusing the napkin using cling wrap and your journal page was awesome!
I just wish Cuchy could have verbalized the first Take, was that freezer paper she used on top & ironed on? Did she place a single layer of the napkin on top of cardstock? The video was great though 🙂
Hi Maggie. Thank you for your words.
You can use parchment paper, feezer paper or even a plain copy paper. It’s just to protect the napkin from the iron. And yes, I used only the top layer of the napkin.
Totally amazing about the plastic wrap! Thanks so much for sharing.
Learned something new…the plastic wrap trick…cool!
Very interesting techniques. A list of all the supplies used would be nice. Thank you for showing.
Hi Holly, there’s a list of the materiales used in the video description on vimeo. Thank you for your words
The plastic wrap was WHAT? moment! Loved it!
Thanks for sharing youre napkin techniques.
Liefs, Melanie
Wow! The video was art in itself> Thanks!
I didn’t know plastic wrap could do that!!! Cool
Great tutorial! Thanks!
I remember the ATC from tissue paper you demonstrated last year. That was fab and today’s video was fab too. Love love love the no glue no fuss napkin card. I have struggled over applying napkins to card stock – no more! Thank you.
How fun, thanks for sharing!
The first I did before, like the second en love the flower.
Great techniques – never thought to use cling film like that or a comb – thanks!
Great techniques, I love the journal page.
Beautiful stuff! I really love the flower!
Great video. I’ve never seen the technique with the plastic wrap before. Muchas gracias!!
Interesting use of the napkins. Thank you for sharing the ideas.
Never thought of ironing plastic wrap! I wonder about using it on top of the napkin, too. Would it create a protective surface? I wonder, too, about fumes as the plastic ‘melts’.
Hi Susan. In fact, the plastic doesn’t melt. Instead, it fuses the cardstock and the napkin. So, no special worries about fumes. Just be careful and do not “iron” the plastic itself
Loved the three ways with napkins – TFS Cuchy!! I have napkins from supply swaps and never know what to use them for…now I do! I especially loved the journal page texturing 🙂
Thank you for sharing your techniques. I remember making flowers similar to that when I was a kid. Haven’t thought to do it in years.
Loved the technique….thanks for sharing!
Fantastic! I have been looking for new ways to use napkins and this video was perfect! Thank you!
So cool. Now I feel the need to rush out to the dollar store for some napkins!! Thanks for demonstrating.
i will try the napkin technique and the journal page . Thank you for sharing
Cuchy thank you so much for such wonderful ideas… as always, you have cool ideas 🙂
Loved these 3 takes. I never saw the napkin technique before. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the ideas to use napkins in our projects. Loved your journal page. Nothing goes to waste.
I’ve made flowers from crepe paper and tissue paper, but never napkins. What a great idea. The texture segment was super. Will try that one today. I never knew you could iron cling wrap. What a great way to use up left over party napkins. Thanks so much.
love this flower! thanks:)!
Thanks for sharing. Loved the napkin technique!
Love your clever use of cling wrap and the hair comb two things I would never have thought to use in such ways.
very nice techniques, thanks for sharing ! love the flower !
Love the idea with the saran wrap!
Such diverse video! Liked it all and will be trying the art journal background. That is beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
Wow ! Thank you !
Wow….I will never look at a napkin the same again! I didn’t catch what products were used…could you post please…:)
Hi Robbi, you have the list of materials used in the description of the video, on vimeo.
Sooooo enjoyed the art journal page with the Liquitex ink! Just a couple of tools, and voila! Thanks Cuchy for jump starting my creative weekend!!!!
M-a-r-a-v-i-ll-o-s-o!!!!!!!! Muy buenas ideas y tecnicas, gracias por compartir esto Carmen.
Cool techniques, I remember making hundreds of those flowers for every wedding when I was a child. We would decorate all the cars with them! What are the supplies for the first technique?
Thank you Marjolaine. You have the list of materials on the description of the video, on vimeo.
For the first technique I used cardstock, cling wrap and the iron. 🙂
Thank you so much for today’s tutorial – I love the background you made in your art journal – can’t wait to play with my paints!! 😀
Pues no sabia yo esa manera de usar las servilletas, me gusta mucho lo del plastico y la flor, ya mismo a ponerlo en practica.
Loved the napkin technique!