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.

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.

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.

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?

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?

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. 

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.