Friday, February 26, 2010

spring flowers

 
This is another version of the same Hero Arts image.  I still used Copic markers to color everything in and for the background airbrushing, but the main difference for this one is that I used canvas paper for the flower blossoms.  Canvas paper soaks up a LOT of ink, so you really need a soft touch.  I loved the way that the colors just sort of came together without a lot of effort.  I also pop dotted the two main blossoms for added dimension.  The card base is Coredinations paper.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Spring will be here soon

To cheer spring on, I used a Hero Arts stamp and colored the flowers with Copic markers.  I used Smooch  pearilized accent inks for the leaves.  They are much darker in the picture than in person.  Spellbinders scalloped ovals was used to die cut part of the image out and a larger oval was used for the red background.  I dry embossed the cream colored paper with a Cuttlebug folder and then lightly ran a red ink pad over the top to highlight the embossed portion.  I then mounted everything on solid cardstock for the base.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Paper flower embellishments


I have seen this type of flower on several blog sites in the last couple of weeks and decided to see how easy it really was to make.  The answer: SUPER EASY.  I used really thin patterned paper, but I have also seen these made with pages torn from an old book.  I haven't done it yet, but I think newpaper print would work well too.  (You might want to spray it with an archival spray so it won't yellow....or not).

The first thing to do is to punch out 8 - 10 circles/scallops.  A 1" scallop punch is what I used here; it makes a small flower.  Use different size punches for different size flowers.  Next, stack them up and clip them together.  Use a paper piercing tool and punch a hole in the center.  Add a brad and begin to scrunch up each layer of the flower until you have scrunched up each layer. 
 
Finally, unruffle the layers until you get the look you are going for.  I sprayed mine with Smooth Spritz to completely change the way the paper looks.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

crackle card

This is a way to make your cards look like an old oil painting.  The first thing I did was use my distrss inks to blend my background with a couple different colors.  Next, stamp your favorite image (this one is of two angels or cherebs).  Finally, I used a background stamp that has crack marks all over.  Ink it in gold and stamp on top of your image.
For the card base, use a corner punch to cut out each corner.  Remember to turn your punch over for the reverse image.  Insert your design into the corners and you can be finished.
Since I didn't want the cut outs to be showing on the inside of the card, I adhered a piece of coordinating patterned paper to the top panel.  Using the same paper, I cut a smaller piece and stamped a Happy Birthday background stamp from Hero Arts onto it using gold and black inks.  I have enough room around the edge of this piece to write a quick note.  One of the cool things about this type of card is that you can make up a bunch and add the sentiment once you know what the purpose of the card is.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Lady in Red


This is the second in the series of blending practice.  I wanted to see what different Copic marker color combos would look like and also see how other mediums would enhance the image.  I used four shades of red in her dress, plus I added colored pencils on top to highlight/shade certain areas.  She is also cut out with Spellbinders.  I used the larger die from the set to cut a frame for her and a Sizzix texture plate to emboss the frame.  The crystals on the bottom were originally clear and I didn't like the way they looked, so I colored them with Copics (to match the lace better).

Friday, February 19, 2010

Lady in Blue


I am continually practicing my blending techniques with Copic markers.  This is the first of three of the same design.  In addition to Copics, I also used Twinking H20's to highlight her skirt (the pic doesn't show it though).  There are four different shades of blue in her dress, plus the H20's.  She takes a while, but she's lots of fun to color.  For her background, I used Spellbinders to cut out her outline and then airbrushed a couple shades of yellow to make her pop a bit more.  Hope you like her. 

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Birthday card

I've been getting ready for a card making class I'm teaching this weekend (for 20+ people) and it took me a lot longer to get everything together than I anticipated.  At least I didn't wait till the last minute.  That's why I haven't posted anything till tonight.

This is a birthday card that I made for one of my son's friends (and he needs it tomorrow).  The bathtub Porsche was part of a collage stamp (company unknown) that I stamped and cut out.  As usual, I used my Copics to color it in.  The background stamp and the saying are both from Cornish Heritage Farms (they have lots of cool background stamps).  I used Core'dinations paper for the card base and tore the edge so that I could stamp "Happy Birthday" on the inside of the card.  It's a pretty quick and simple card.  Hope his friend likes it.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Embellishment sheet challenge

The PTI challenge for today was to make a sheet of embellishments for future use (or to give away) plus make a card using one of the embellishments.  The embellishments were made using one of the many flower die cuts from Sizzix on paper that was enhanced by Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist. The flowers were then layered on top of each other.  To make each layer curl upwards, press a small rounded object (like a pencil eraser) in the center of each flower.  Make sure the flower is on something that gives a little.

To attach your embellishemnts to the acetate sheet, you can pop dot the back of the flower (leave the protective layer on the side you are going to stick to the acetate sheet) and then add a little glue stick to adhere your embellishments to the sheet.  Then you can just peel them off as needed.

I used a basic piece of cardstock for the base of the card and then cut a strip of paper 2 1/2" wide by the length of the card and tore off both edges.  Add a smaller strip down the center of the torn strip.  To make the band that goes around the card, cut a strip 8 1/2"x 3/4".  Mark the center of the strip.  Line that mark up with the approximate center of the card and temporarily hold it in place.  Fold both open ends toward the front of the card until they meet in the middle.  Press to crease and then apply adhesive where they meet.  Don't make the strip too tight because you want it to be able to slide on and off your card.  Place your newly created embellishment in the center of the strip, where the two seams meet to cover up the seam.

This is a really great idea and another great way to use up your smaller scraps of paper.

Friday, February 12, 2010

PTI Origami Challenge

Today's challenge was to incorporate origami in with your card.  I found a lotus flower I liked at PEM Origami.  I didn't have any origami paper, but I used my thinnest paper and changed it with Distress inks and Smooch Spritz after I had it folded.  I cut a piece of fabric with my Spellbinders Label Two and gathered it behind the lotus flower.   For the background, I used black cardstock and swirled Opalite Glacier Blue all around.  Curved Mega Rectangles by Spellbinders was used for the note and stamped with Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Outlines card

I used four different Outlines Rubber Stamps for this card.  I embossed and cut out the parts I wanted and then began to layer and pop dot.  The background frames were cut out using the Fleur Di Lis die from Spellbinders.  I used a Spica glitter pen to go over each letter on the saying, which says "Wishing you happiness today, tomorrow, and always".  It was so glittery that the light just bounced off it, making it hard to read in this photo (but it looks great in person).  Brads were used to mark each corner of the saying. 

The border at the bottom was created by laying a piece of lacy ribbon down and pouncing on top of it with Distress ink and my blending tool so that the light blue of the card stock would show through.  I randomly pounced on the rest of the background to make the border pop even more.  I then used the newly colored ribbon border on the inside of my card to dress it up as well.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Birthday card

Here is a quick and simple birthday card I made for my son.  He loves ice cream, so this seemed to be the perfect stamp to use.  The ice cream cone (which I pop dotted) is from Unity Stamps and the saying  is from Oulines Rubber Stamps.  I also used the Sizzix die, Card Fronts, to cut out the card base.  As usual, Copic markers were used to color everything, with some Spica glitter pens thrown in for good measure.  On the inside I stamped  Happy Birthday and wrote my message.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Organizational tip for Spellbinders

I have been storing my Spellbinders die cuts in QuicKut magnetic binders (about $13 each).  This system works great, except that it is a bit pricey and I was having to look through each binder to see which die I wanted. (Yes, I put labels on the covers, but I'm more of a visual person and had to look at them to see which one I really wanted.) 

I am also in the process of reorganizing my stamps - I have outgrown my current system (more on that at a later date).  I was using the Cropper Hopper Large Zip N Flip organizer sheets (around $14 for a pack of 2) for the unmounted portion of my stamps (the rest are cling mounted), so I re-purposed them.  I went to http://www.orientaltrader.com/  and bought several packs (12 sheets/pack) of adhesive backed magnetic 8 1/2 x 11sheets ($9 - $10/pack, depending on quantity ordered).  I was able to get 3 cuts (6 3/8" x 4 1/4") per sheet, for a total of 36 and I have a large enough piece left over for some other project. 

Each set of Spellbinders fit perfectly on my magnetic sheets and slid right in.  Now I can flip through my entire collection (which easily fits in a small binder) with ease.  Since each Zip N Flip has room for 16 of whatever per organizer sheet, I filled about 2 1/4 sheets with plenty of room for expansion.  Previously I had completely filled 6 QuicKuts magnetic binders and would have needed to purchase more if  when I purchase more Spellbinders.

Hope this tip helps.  I know what works for some doesn't always work for others. As I said before, the QuicKut binders are great, but not very price effective considering my ever expanding inventory of Spellbinders.  I now need to think of a way to re-purpose my QuicKut magnetic folders.  Any suggestions?

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Experimenting or Playing???

When I attended the Copic certification class, the instructor said that using Georgia Pacific paper (found at WalMart) was a big NO-NO and that Neenah paper was best.  After researching about papers and inks more on the internet, some said that the GP paper was ok.  So I decided to find out for myself.  As I have found in the past what works for one may or may not work for me. The Neenah paper is on the left and the GP paper is on the right in each photo.  I did the exact same thing to each image.  The Neenah paper is definitely darker (and soaks up more ink) than the GP and with this first pass, I liked it better. 

These next two pictures show where I added more colors to give more details. The photo on the right shows where I added a bit of blending solution to give it some texture and make it look more like fabric.

Here is the final version.  For this particular project, I liked the GP paper because it looked more faded.   So which version do you like better?

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

PTI Challenge Card 2

This is my 2nd card for the birthday challenge (see previous post for more details).  I used Copic markers to color the bear and the balloon and used the airbrush system and Copic markers to color in the Happy Birthday tag.  The tag was cut using Labels Four from Spellbinders.  I chose Spica glitter pens to highlight the letters of Happy Birthday and the heart on his chest (although you can't see that detail in this photo.)  I wanted a little more dimension, so I pop dotted the arm, the heart, and the balloon.  I paper quilled the flower on the tag as well.  Finally, I used a relatively new Sizzix die to cut out the entire card base.  It's called Card Fronts, A2 Eyelet & Ornate.

PTI Birthday challenge

PaperTreyInk is celebrating their 3rd birthday. (The info about this can be found here.)   Although I just recently discovered this company and don't own any of their stamps (yet), today's contest let you download images to make a card.  I used my airbrush system with Copic markers to color in the sky and grass.  I masked the parts I didn't want colored.  I also used Copic markers for the house and balloon.  Then I decided Flower Soft (Polar White) would be great for my clouds so they would be nice and puffy.   Autumn Flower Soft was used on the sun because the shades of orange and yellow were perfect for a hot sun shining down and Spring Medley was used for my flowers all over the grass and by the house.  Although this is a birthday card, it would also be great for Valentine's, anniversary, lots of possibilities. 

Monday, February 1, 2010

Asymetrical card

I found a new technique (for me) on the internet, so I had to try it - paper flowers.  As with just about everything, the more you do it, the better the results and the easier it becomes.  I decided to be a bit nontraditional and created an asymetrical card, with the patterned paper hanging off the base of the card.  I attached the paper flowers using glue dots and then spritzed the entire surface with Smooch Spritz (Vanilla Shimmer). 

Here is a closer look at one of the flowers.

I used one of Martha Stewart's all around the paper punches for the bottom left corner (I cut a square in half diagonally) and spritzed it with Emerald Spring Smooch Spritz (love the stuff!).  This was a fun technique to try and I plan on making more.  You could also use fabric or ribbon to create these flowers.  As always, if you want more details, just let me know.