Friday, April 30, 2010

Twinkling H20's

This is the final version of an image I teased you with in this post.  The image is from Stampendous and I purchased mine here.  There are so many possible color combinations with this stamp - spring, summer, fall.  Winter would be a little more challenging - maybe Flower Soft or Liquid Applique?  (Watch for more posts with this image.)

I used Twinking H2O water color cakes  to color in everything.  In order to get more shading, I let each layer dry before adding another layer of color.  Unfortunately, it's really hard to photograph how shimmery this card turned out, but it's really pretty in person.

If you haven't tried Twinking H2O's, they are very cool to use.  I used an aqua brush and got a small section of the pot wet.  Then I began painting my image.  These cake pots will last for years, because such a little amount goes a long way.  Once you have finished with that color, just put the top back on and it will be ready the next time you decide to use it. 


Here is a side view, so you can see the shimmer a little better.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Twilight

Here is another example of a sponged background.  This time, I was trying to create a twilight effect.  In order to produce this type of effect, you need three shades of blue dye ink (light, medium, and dark) and one shade of dark purple.  I used Distress inks.  Begin by sponging the lightest blue with a sponge dauber around the edges and top of your paper.  Follow with the medium blue, then the dark purple.  Finally use the dark blue to blend everything in.  Be sure to use light pressure and go in a circular motion.  It's easy to put more color on, but you can't take it off.  I also sponged  black ink under the bottom of the car.

The roadster, which is a River City Rubber Works image, was stamped on Neenah cardstock and colored with Koh-I-Noor woodless color pencils.  Next time, I'll probably switch to Copics because I like more vibrant colors.   I also used the Sakura Gelly Roll Star Dust pen to make my twinking stars in the night sky.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Out by the water mill

This is one of my few detailed stamp images and it is a cling mount from Impression Obsession.  I used Copic markers on this version to color in everything.  Once you break it down into parts, it's pretty easy to color.  Copics really make the image pop. 

The next photo is the same image using Koh-I-Noor woodless colored pencils, which look like this.  I purchased mine at a local craft store.



This is a much subtler, softer look than the Copics. It just depends on the look you are going for.  You don't have nearly the selection of colors to choose from, but it is a fun medium to try.  Do you have a preference as to which medium you like to use the most?  As you can probably tell, I like Copics the best.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Sunset


Don't you wish you were gazing into a beautiful sunset?  This was created using a sponged background and Distress inks.  The woman is from Viva Las Vegas Stamps and I used Copic markers to color her in.  The base card is dark chocolate.  Enjoy your sunset!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Nellie Snellen Multi Frame Dies


This is a new die (for me) I discovered through my travels on the web called Nellie's Multi Frames and I found them here.  This company is based in the UK but they have a currency converter you can click.  I must also say that shipping was wonderful (it was actually cheaper than a lot of places in the US and it didn't seem to take any longer).  Go check out these dies and this site.  These dies work just like most thin dies (like Spellbinder's) and are really easy to use. 

For this card, I cut out the die and used the negative image as a mask to color in the white cardstock with Distress inks.  I used the new Tumbled Glass and Broken China inks to achieve this look.  The flower stamp is from Unity Stamps and the butterflies were created using punches from Creative Memories.  I took the negative portion of the punches and used them as a mask to create these images.  I used my Scor-Pal to score around the edges of the card and then I took my black marker and, using the same score line, went down to highlight the score marks.  Another quick and easy card.  Maybe I could coin the phrase "Q & E", like the CAS (Clean and Simple) phrase.  : )   What do you think?

Monday, April 19, 2010

Wine Tag


I wanted to do a little more for the hostess gift other than just a plain bottle of wine.  I decided to make a tag for the bottle.  These are a set of clear stamps from Fiskar's called Aged to Perfection.  I purchased mine at a local craft store. 

I took a basic manila tag and inked it up with Distress inks.  I also stamped the images directly on the manila tag and then stamped them again on white cardstock.  I colored in both sets of images and pop dotted the ones on white cardstock.  It's hard to tell from this angle that all three images are raised.  I used Copics to color everything in and add touches of a Spica purple glitter pen on the grapes to make them sparkle more.  The reason I decided to color in the images that were stamped on the tag itself was because the pop dots I like to use are fairly tall and I wanted there to be color if you looked at it from the side.  Though, I must admit, I didn't do any shading on these, just color blocked them.

Here is a picture of the tag on the bottle.  The hostess much appreciated this extra touch and it was easy to do.  I think I'll make up a bunch to have on hand when I need them (so I'm not making the final touches just before walking out the door next time).

Friday, April 16, 2010

Songbirds

Both of these images are from Unity Stamps and the die is Spellbinder's Label Three.  I used a couple of the new colors from Tim Holtz's Distress inks to outline the label and the yellow cardstock (which was cut using a Sizzix Bigz die) and Copics were used to color in the bird.

I didn't have a ribbon the shade of blue that I wanted, so Copics to the rescue.  You can also use these markers to color your ribbon or just about anything else.  Enjoy!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Cutie pie

This is one of my favorite stamps from 100 Proof Press.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, I am trying out different mediums and I used chalks to color her in.  Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Ovals die was used to cut the image out.  I also chalked around the edge of the cut image and anchored it down with small heart embellishments.  Quick and easy card.  Enjoy!

Monday, April 12, 2010

Copic organization

I recently re-organized my Copic markers because I needed to make them more portable.  This is the Creative Memories tool caddy and it holds all the markers I have, plus room for expansion.  I subdivided the four sections with plastic canvas that is used for yarn and needlecrafting and looks like this.  You can get it at any craft store.
 

I cut four panels for each quarter section and sewed them together using embroidery floss to give it added strength.  And they looked like this:


Here is a final picture of my storage unit from the top.  Now I can attach the top to the tool caddy and carry it wherever I need to (and it's not too heavy).  Hope this gives you another idea for storing your markers or pens or whatever you can come up with. 

Friday, April 9, 2010

I'm not cheap...


I'm trying lots of new mediums out (not just always reaching for my Copics).  This guy was colored using Koh-I-Noor woodless pencils (I purchased mine at Michaels, but I'm sure other craft chains carry them as well.  You can always get them on the internet too).  I must confess that I did use Copics for his skin because there wasn't any skin tones in my set of pencils.  The saying came from River City Rubber Works and the man came from My Heart Stamps For You.

For the base card, I used my Scor-Pal to score a subtle diamond pattern in the cardstock.  I began by lining up opposite corners of the front panel on the 6" mark line and scoring down.  I then scored every 2" across the cardstock.  I then turned it, lining up the other two corners, and scored again.  Finally, I scored around each of the four sides about 1/4" in from the edge.

The banner was made by using Spellbinder's Fancy Tags.  I colored the edges of the tag with the Koh-I -Noor pencils as well and stamped my saying in the center.  I pop dotted the tag to make it stand out more.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Anytime basket/gift bag

This is a basket that was made using a 10" x 15" manilla folder, Spellbinder's Scalloped Edge Frame, strips of paper, Martha Stewart's Garden Trellis Deep Edge Punch for the handle, and Martha Stewart's Loops Punch Around the Page edge punch for the top of the manilla folder.

The first thing you do is cut off the excess amount of the folder you don't want; make sure you at least cut off the metal clasp and the glue adhesive strip.  While the folder is still flat, use a decorative edge punch to cut along the top of your gift bag.  Manipulate the manilla folder into the larger size by scoring along the sides and bottom the same number of inches (1", 2", 3", etc) and coax it into shape.  A tutorial on this will follow soon.

Next, cut out your Scalloped Edge Frames.  I used the center of the frame (which is cut out) as a guide on the newly made gift basket in order to cut out a widow on both sides of the basket.
Begin your basket weave in any one of the corner slots (I chose the top right) and thread the first strip of paper up from the bottom of that loop, going down through the loop on the opposite side two up from the bottom left corner. 

Continue threading your strips one by one until you have half of the weave completed (you can always stop here if you want stripes).  In the picture above, I have already tucked my end pieces behind the frame.


Now you are ready for the weaving in and out.  Start the same way as before, just in the opposite direction.  Begin in a corner and go two loops up from the bottom corner on the opposite side.  This time though, make sure you weave your paper strips over and under the existing strips of paper (for this photo, I didn't tuck my ends behind the frame yet so you can see where each strip begins and ends).  This reminds me of making pot holders when I was little and running the cloth loops over and under, over and under - yes, I know I'm dating myself!  Once you've gotten all your strips in place, bend them to the back side and glue down the ends (I used a glue pen).  If there's a lot of excess paper, you may want to cut it down some before gluing.

This is what it should look like when you've finished weaving the frame.  For my basket I made two, one for each side.  I used red liner tape to adhere the scalloped frames to my windows and my handle.

This project took a little while to complete.  It's not hard, just be prepared to spend a bit of time on it.  The great thing about this is you can make your own basket for any occasion and decorate it as much or as little as you want.  Enjoy!



Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Quick update

I hope no one thinks I have forgotten about posting.  I have made lots of partial card fronts in the past few days, but haven't gotten around to getting completed projects done yet.   Here is a sneak peak of one of them.  Can you guess what medium I used to color this image?  Post a comment and let me know.

My busy time of the year for making cakes has begun.  I'll be making cakes to feed 400+ people for my church for this weekend and in approximately three weeks, make enough for 900+, so I may not be as regular at posting as I would like, but don't worry, I'll get as much done as I can.  I'll try and post some photos of the cakes as well.  In the mean time, get crafting!

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Easter Blessings

Happy Easter.  This is a card that is very simple to make but, I think, looks quite elegant.  The swirled background is actually acetate and I used alcohol inks in a swirling motion (as opposed to the normal pounce motion used for the polished stone effect).  The cross is one of the new Spellbinders limited edition releases that just came out and can be found here.
I cut the larger cross twice and pop dotted them together for a more dimensional look and then adhered the smallest cross to the front.  I stamped the Easter saying with Staz-On ink at the bottom.  The background base of the card is the same paper as the crosses, for a more cohesive look.  The decorative corners are actually the cut outs from the center of the large cross.  They looked like photo corners to me after they were cut and were large enough to easily place on the card.  Enjoy your day!