coloring with white

Hello crafty friends!  I’m back with a quick and easy technique.  For stampers sometimes it gets a little boring to stamp on white cardstock then color in the image with whatever medium you happen to be using.  What about if you want to stamp on some colored cardstock?  For some products (like copic markers) the color shows through. Other markers just don’t blend well or look right.  In my simple card below I stamped the image on green cardstock and colored the flowers with prisma pencils starting with a white pencil.

Here are the simple steps to achieve this look:

I used prisma pencils in white, blush pink, pink and process red.  First coloring in the stamped image with white.

Next, I used blush pink and added in some color over the white:

Added more color with pink:

Added some depth with process red:

Finally, I used all three shades to blend, add color and to “fine tune” the overall look.

To finish the card I stamped a sentiment (from Tim Holtz) and a “spattering” of white on upper left of the main panel.  The “spattering” stamp is also from Tim Holtz.

Thanks for stopping by!!

more with tim holtz

Here is another card using the Urban Grunge set from Tim Holtz – the same set used in yesterdays card.

The main panel was sponged in Memento New Sprout and Summer Sky inks, with the images stamped in Tuxedo Black.  The background was stamped with London Fog ink with black designer paper from DCWV.  After everything was said and done I wished I had cut down the sentiment panel a bit. 

Thanks for stopping by today.

Swinging Z fold card

time to try a new technique!  I’m playing along with this weeks challenge at SCS, which calls for making a “swinging z-fold”  card.  Here is mine:

The instructions for how to make the card are found HERE, but I made one change which I will describe later.

I started by taking a standard ivory card and folding it as in the instructions.  I cut a reverse mask and airbrushed copics in the YR series into the cut out circle to create the sun.  The mask was then removed and the same copics were lightly airbrushed around the card.  Then Memento Cantaloupe and Rose Bud inks were sponged on the top and bottom of the card to give the colors some depth.  Here is the card at this point.

Now on to the cutting part.  In the tutorial linked above Beate used an xacto knife and scissors to cut out the shape.  Since my xacto knife skills are not that great I used my cuttlebug to cut out the shape.  But in order to get the “swing” part of the fold, you only cut half of the shape.  In order to do this with the cuttlebug you will need to place the die where you want it, then place the top B plate only on the half that is to be cut .  Here is a photo.  Low tack reposition-able tape holds the die in place.

The die is from Spellbinders and colored with rose and orange inks, then highlighted with a stardust gel pen and sponged along the edges with cocoa ink.

All the other images are from Tim Holtz’s Urban Grunge set – a great versatile set I picked up at JoAnn’s last week at 40% off.  One of the images in the set is a small “spatter” stamp – this is great for adding a little bit of texture.  I used this stamp with Rose Bud ink along the top and bottom of the card.  I know I will get much use out of this small stamp.  All the other images were stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black.  Here is what the inside of the card looks like:

The card was mounted on black, then with orange – I think tangerine.  The narrow black sheer ribbon holds the card closed.

Thanks for stopping by today!

let’s talk about that paper stash…….

Yes, I’m talking to you, lover of paper and cardstock.  How’s that “using your paper stash” resolution going?  Could be better?   Let’s talk….

I’m right there with you.  Never saw a Basic Grey pattern I didn’t like.  And if it is especially pretty I want two of them because I don’t want to run out in case I need it for that “special” project.   When Hobby Lobby or JoAnns has their 50% off scrapbook pads I feel the need to check them out.   I’ve got a rainbow of cardstock and designer patterns to match.  And let’s not forget that specialty paper – shimmery, glossy, embossed and textured, glittered and flocked – it’s all good.

So what are you waiting for?  An engraved invitation to be on the show “Hoarders”?  Open up that paper closet and start using!  Need ideas? -Here are just a few:

If you’re a little timid to get started, just take one sheet (that’s all!) of designer paper and use it as a ready made “one sheet wonder” piece and make a quick bunch of cards.  You’ll be amazed how fast you can whip out a bunch of cards this way.

Check out the resources section of SCS and try some boxes, envelopes, or  gift card holders.  The Scor Pal site has a wonderful selection as well.  Now ‘s the time to get working on those holiday items.

How about a calender?  The one below uses the calendar download from Amuse and a bunch of Basic Grey paper.

The front and back cover was created by covering matboard with Heidi Grace cardstock,  a label made from a Tim Holtz die on grungboard and numbers from Tim Holtz as well.  Why did I use matboard?  Because I had a large piece that was intended for another project that ended up not being done.  I had the 2″ O rings in my stash as well.

I  printedout  the A2 size  color text calendar from Amuse – I splurged by printing it out on glossy cardstock  – and cut the calendar part down to about 4″ x 3″.  Love the way the glossy paper stands out against the designer paper.

Next, based on the color of each month I quickly went through my Basic Grey stash and selected the patterned paper in a 6 x 6 size.  I then cut the BG paper down to a 5″ x 6″.  This used up 12 sheets of 6 x 6 BG paper. 

Each month was matted with coordinating cardstock – and my rule was I had to use scraps.  I could not cut a full sheet of paper.  This,  of course,  was not a problem.

For embellishments I took the same approach as with the paper.  Just dive into my stash and pick something!  Nothing was off limits as being too “nice” for a calender.  I figure I’m worth it!  I did not want to spend alot of time on this part because I was afraid if I thought too much about it I would start setting certain embellishments aside and the point was to use what I have.   Since I have alot of flowers it seemed the logical choice, but I went a step further using brads and rhinestones as well.

One thing I learned was that if your embellishments are thick (like most of the flowers here) then don’t put in the same place on each page – your calendar will end up lopsided.  I realized this late in the game and was able to place the embellishments in the lower right for July and December.  They are all in the upper left on all the other months. 

Once the embellishments were selected I had to decide the base for each page.  It  had to be cardstock and a neutral color.  I remembered that I had purchased a ream of heavy cardstock many years ago – it was  cream colored with blue fibers.  Sort of has a handmade look to it, without being handmade, if that makes any sense.  Anyway, I rarely use it and have a bunch left, so it ended up being the perfect base. 

Twill ribbon was threaded through a hole on the bottom of the front and back covers.  This allows you to flip through the calendar while it is sitting on the desk.

 

The final project ended up being 7.25″ x 5.5″ and fits perfectly on my computer desk in my craft room.    I hope you will take a look at the Amuse calendar download.  Proceeds go for a good cause and its a great way to create something for yourself or for gifts for friends and family.

Thanks for stopping by today!

letterpress reindeer

I’ve taken out my letterpress tools once again and created this latest holiday card. 

The paper, rich red ink, and images are all from the L Letterpress from Lifestyle crafts.  No that is not designer paper in the background!  The damask image, along with the reindeer and sentiment are just a few of the images from the Letterpress Holiday plate.  That background is just gorgeous and can easily be used for a wedding card or pretty birthday card.  This particular Holiday collection also has a beautiful tree which I have not used (yet!).

You can’t tell from the photo but these letterpress plates impress or deboss the image into the paper so its not just a flat stamped image.  The plates can also be used like embossing folders without the ink.

I love the rich red letterpress ink – the photo does not really show its true color  – which is more dark, almost scarlet red.  The die cut label is a Tim Holtz die, the ribbons are from My Minds Eye (the loop ribbon) and JoAnn’s (the grosgrain).  And those red velvet brads are from The Paper Studio Spare Parts collection.  I LOVE velvet brads and which more stores would carry them!

Thanks for stopping by today!

tim holtz, travel notes

We’re back from our road trip !  Had a great time and I’ll share some notes from the travel journal later on in this post.

While I love traveling it was great to get back home and  to my craft room.  This card was based on todays SCS inspiration challenge.  The challenge was to create something inspired by the eye candy at the Amy Atlas Events.  There was so much to look at and her creations look luscious!  My inspiration piece was the pink and brown wedding desert table shown on page 16 of the “eye candy” link.

I started with a chocolate card base and added designer paper from the Basic Grey Sultry series.  The front panel was cut with my new Tim Holz edge dies – this one is called Brackets and it has two different edge cuts on one die.  The dies are unique in that they cut on the edge of a piece of paper, hence the name, and can cut through heavier chipboard.

I cut this using my Cuttlebug – since the dies are thick I only needed to use the two B plates – easy peasy!  The sentiment is from Fiskars and with weddings and graduations coming up this summer its one I will use often!

Other embellishments used were chocolate velvet ribbon, a prima flower, a copper brad that was colored with a copic marker to make it more brown and some chocolate pearls.  I sponged the cut edges with Memento ink, which was also used for the sentiment.

The card is about 5.5″ square and is big enough to be made into a mini album.

Notes from the Travel Journal…

I thought I would share some experiences from our recent road trip.  Orvil and I have traveled much of the USA, primarily via car or motorcycle.  We usually have a general route in mind with a few specific places to stop along the way.  We like to take  the back road and scenic highways. 

Our first stop was in Savannah, Georgia – what a charming southern city!  This historic area is striking with all the old homes, parks and trees.  We took the “Historic Savannah” trolley tour – a 90 minute guided tour which stopped at many of the hot spots in the historic area.  Our ticket provided for “on/off” privileges so if we wanted to stop and look at an area we could then catch the next trolley.  There is also a free shuttle that will take you to many, but not all, of the same areas.  By the way, the Paula Deen food tour, which included lunch at her restaurant, also looked good!

Savannah has some stunning examples of wrought iron, beautiful trees and many “squares” (parks), the most famous being the one in Forrest Gump where he is sitting on the bench eating the box of chocolates.  We were told that bench was purchased at the local Home Depot and is available!

We stayed at the Marriott Residence Inn – which was just a block away from the visitor center where all the tours start, and our hotel was one of the stops on the free shuttle as well.    We didn’t plan it that way it just worked out! 

The Visitor Center is the old railroad station and is beautiful.   The large windows were designed in the shape of the Liberty Bell.  The downtown waterfront has been developed by keeping the old Cotton Exchange buildings intact and creating a nice waterfront full of shops and restaurants.  The charming gas lanterns still work in this area!  During our walk here we purchased some pralines and candied pecans – a must!!

We continued our travels to the Outer Banks of NC to the Blue Ridge Parkway and on to Asheville, SC.  I’ll share more of our  trip in the next few posts.

Thanks for stopping by today!