Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Sketch Challenge at Retro Rubber Challenge Blog



Our challenge this month at Retro Rubber Challenge Blog is a clean and simple sketch.  Come and join us and create a card based on the sketch using your stamps that are older than a year in need of a little inky time!

 
Most of my Easter images do not fall in the Retro timeline, as they are new to my collection.  So I decided to make a card for Operation Write Home in one of their more requested categories, Love.

The images by Technique Tuesday “All You Need Is Love” have been in my stash since about 2008.  It is a versatile set that can be used for love themes or Valentines.  Here it is stamped on black card stock in Tsukineko Versa Magic Cloud White and embossed with white embossing powder.  The flourish is stamped on the top and bottom of the sentiment images.  The card stock is 2” x 2 ¼” with rounded corners and is backed with white card stock trimmed to 2 ¼” x 2 3/8” with rounded corners.  The love sentiment is colored with a Zig Chalk Writer in red, which to me looks pink.  A scrap of pink card stock is punched with the Martha Stewart Loop edge punch and trimmed to fit behind the sentiment panel. 

Black card stock is trimmed to 4” x 5 ¼” and is stamped with the same sentiment in Tsukineko Versa Magic Cloud White.  Without the white embossing powder the images fade more into the black card stock.   My ribbon stash had a crinkle style paper ribbon in just the right tone that I added to match the sketch.  To add a little sparkle and bling that won’t rub off like glitter (not allowed at OWH) I used Little Black Dress Designs Loosie Fibers in Aurora Borelis.  Little Black Dress Designs had really cool products that could be used in multiple ways.  I was unhappy when they went out of business several years ago.  I am glad that little of the Loosie Fibers go a long way in dressing up a card!  I used a length of double-sided adhesive tape and added the Loosie Fibers, then placed the crinkle paper ribbon over the adhesive to secure them in place.

Time to grab a few of your older images and have a little fun with the sketch.  Feel free to rotate the sketch to fit your theme or stamps.  Come and post your card with us at Retro Rubber Challenge Blog.

I would like to enter this card in the following:
Aud Sentiment Challenge Blog #128 Anything goes with a Sentiment
Suzy Bee’s Bloomin’ Challenge #73 Anything goes with a twist add a sentiment
Time Out Challenges #27 Black & White and a splash of one color

Monday, March 30, 2015

Happy Easter Bunny


A few months back I was fortunate to be a random winner over at Great Impressions Stamps.  Planning ahead I decided to select a few fun Easter images as I unbelievably had very few in my collection.  Here is the sweet scene I created based on scenes inside hollow eggs.


I started by tracing the outside edge of a Spellbinders Petite Ovals Small that fit the scene size on white card stock.  The bunny was stamped in Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black in the scene and on a post-it note.  The post-it note was fussy cut just inside the black line to create a mask for the bunny.  The eggs were stamped in Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black in the scene over the mask on the bunny.  A post-it note was also stamped and fussy cut to create a mask for the eggs.  With both masks in place the sky was sponged in using Colorbox Smoke Blue and the grass using Tsukineko Versa Magic Key Lime and Aloe Vera.  The egg images and the pink on the bunny were colored with Prismacolor pencils and blended slightly.  The bunny has a slight Cool Gray (CG8) Chameleon pen coloring around the edges to give him a bit of depth.  The scene was die cut using Spellbinders Petite Ovals Small.

The frame of yellow cardstock was die cut using Spellbinders Floral Ovals.  The background pink oval and green card base were die cut using Spellbinders Grand Ovals.  It is easy to use the Spellbinders system because all of the ovals are graduated and match nicely.

A very old sentiment set by Rubber Stampede that was unmounted from the foam mounts is used for the “Happy Easter” sentiment.  It is stamped in Tsukineko Versa Magic Cloud White and embossed with white embossing powder.  The layers are adhered with the frame adhered with dimensional foam adhesive.  The finishing touch is a simple hand-tied bow of sheer ribbon applied at the bunny’s neck.        

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Moo Mania and More Eggs Includes egg images and an egg shaped card

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Five Mini Flowers for Anything But a Card Fifth Sunday Challenge


We have another Fifth Sunday challenge going on over at Anything But a Card.  That means you can create anything (but a card of course!) that includes five!  You can also create 5 some things!  My contribution is an Artist Trading Card that features five miniature felt-flowers for a birthday ATC swap.



I started with Impression Obsession’s Spiral Flowers and die cut white wool felt.  This can be found on a bolt in the fabric section of your local craft store.  After die cutting and carefully removing the excess with tweezers I sprayed the flowers with a variety of mists.  Tsukineko’s Fireworks Tangelo and Dandelion, and Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Sun Sisters (plus a little Tangelo on one), Rum Punch, and Marmalade gave me a splendid color array to build my little garden.  I set these aside to dry.  One thing to remember when using glimmer sprays is with white felt the color will become very intense.  Low temperature hot glue seemed to be the best choice to hold the little flowers together.  They should also survive the mailing process quite nicely! 

The greenery in the background is by Technique Tuesday from the “In Bloom” mini collection.  It is stamped in Tsukineko Versa Magic Key Lime and Memento Luxe Pear Tart.  The butterflies (from the same collection) are stamped in Tsukineko Versa Magic Aloe Vera.  The “Happy Birthday” sentiment is from Boxer Scrapbooking (now defunct) and is stamped in Tsukineko Versa Magic Mango.

After I assembled the ATC, I realized the stems and leaves really needed to be felt as well . . . so a search through my die stash revealed Heartfelt Creations Decorative Chateau Gate and Cut Mat Create 1B sets both had small greenery sprigs with stems and leaves.  These were spritzed with Tsukineko Fireworks Pear Tart.  These were attached with Art Glitter Adhesive.  The felt leaves and stems set of the beautiful little flowers nicely! 

Go have some crafting fun this week and play along with our Fifth Sunday challenge at Anything But a Card!

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Retro Rubber Blog Challenge, Embossed Happy Birthday Card


It is time to play with your embossing powders!  Get out your ink, stamp your Retro Rubber, sprinkle on the embossing powder and heat it up!  Show us what you create over at RetroRubber Challenge Blog by March 27th.

 

I enjoy using embossing powder; I like the glossy finish and the waterproof aspect when I am water coloring.  Many of my samples have used embossing powder.  One technique I like to use is to emboss with white embossing powder on vellum and color from the reverse side.



Here I used a Judikens' image that looks like hand-marbled paper.  The image was stamped with Tsukineko Versa Magic Cloud White.  On the reverse side I colored with Chameleon PK3 Bubblegum and VO4 Deep Violet.  Initially some areas were too dark, but the magic eraser (toner) pen lifted some of the color to achieve the look I wanted.  I tested the finished background over several colors of card stock to see what I liked best, as each one changed the hue just a bit.  I choose a light pink card stock and mounted the image and trimmed it to 4" x 5 1/4".  The next layer of deep violet card stock is 4 1/8" x 5 3/8". The card base of pink card stock is A2 size, 8 1/2 x 5 1/2" folded in half.

Quikutz Wildflower die set provided the simple sentiment die cut panel, with a nice border.  The Heartfelt Creations Inspire Me sentiment is stamped on white card stock with Tsukineko Versa Magic Eggplant and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  Tsukineko Versa Magic Pixie Dust and Spring Pansy are sponged in to blend die cut panel with the card.


To mount the sentiment I dug out my old Basic Grey Notch & Die Cutting tool.  Neat clean notches that match the curve of the die cut were easy to cut!  A length of ribbon is threaded through the notches and mounted to the front and back of the panel.  Using my Zutter Bows-It-All V2 I tied a double tailed multi-looped bow to finish the card.  The top panel is adhered with dimensional foam adhesive.

I have recently found a charity that is dear to my heart.  Operation Write Home does not need huge quantities of identical cards due to the draw down of oversees troops.  They do request HIGH quality hand-made cards in several categories.  This card will be donated to OWH in the future.  Please read their website guidelines carefully before creating for OWH.

Meanwhile let’s get started on creating a project for the challenge over at Retro Rubber Challenge Blog!  Remember to use a stamp that is least a year old and try out those embossing powders.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:
As You Like It:  I prefer rubber!  You can do so much more with a rubber stamped image like emboss, color, glitter, flock, etc!
Inky Impressions 201 Pastel Colors
Crafting for all Seasons #98 Pastel Hues
Whimsy Inspirations #81 Die Cut
A Gem of a Challenge #130 Pretty in Pink

Monday, March 23, 2015

The Lord Has Risen Easter Card


I enjoy the time of Lent that leads up to Easter.  It is a time of reflection and reverence of the true meaning of Easter!



This card using Unity Stamp Company’s Everything Easter celebrates Christ’s resurrection from the grave.  I stamped the oval image in Tsukineko Versa Magic Hint of Pesto and the sentiment in Tsukineko Versa Magic Pink Grapefruit and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  Tsukineko Versa Magic Aloe Vera and Persimmon are gently sponged in the highlight the sentiment.  Tsukineko Memento Dual Marker in Tangelo was used to carefully ink the color between the embossed Hint of Pesto lines.  The image was fussy cut afterwards.  I have found it is easier to ink the image before cutting it out. 

A 1 1/8” x 5 ¼” light olive green strip of card stock was pressure embossed with Cuttlebug’s Basket Weave Border.  The raised portion was inked with Tsukineko Versa Magic Hint of Pesto.

To get the Happy Easter border I masked the remainder of the image then inked just the Happy Easter part of the image.  It is stamped in Tsukineko Versa Magic Hint of Pesto on white card stock trimmed to 4” x 5 ¼”.  The edges are inked in Tsukineko Versa Magic Hint of Pesto.  The remainder of the panel is sponged with Tsukineko Versa Magic Aloe Vera.

Tsukineko Versa Magic Pink Grapefruit is sponged in an oval shape on a section of white card stock.  Spellbinder’s Floral Ovals was then die cut and pressure embossed.  The layers of the card are adhered together with the sentiment panel being adhered with dimensional foam adhesive. 

This card is inspired by and entered into Unity StampCompany’s Color and Sketch Challenge.

Sunday, March 22, 2015

In the spotlight at ABAC! Meander Mini Album Challenge


I am in the spotlight over at Anything But a Card this week for our Design Team.  It has been a pleasure to be involved with ABAC, and blast seeing what everyone creates to enter into the challenges for each month.  The full blog post is also here as a separate page, A little bit about me.    

My challenge for this week is to make a mini-album or mini book of any style.   My sample made for the challenge commemorates the year 2014 in photos and is done with a Meander Album. 

Actual size is 3" x 3".


It didn’t take long to scan through the year of photos and plop my favorites into Photoshop.  Then I pared them down and selected the photos that I wanted at 2.5” x 2.5” for the main pages of the mini album, and those that I wanted as 2” x 2” to go on the tags.  In my format I selected 26 photos. I selected twelve photos for the main pages, and 14 photos for the tags, with one for each side.  These were put together on two Photoshop files and printed on 8” x 12” prints at Costco. 
Front cover and tag.

Pages 2 & 3
Par for the course one of my hurdles is deciding what paper to use for a project; in this case I went with a collection from SEI, Penelope’s Potpourri.  The reverse of Tiny Tulips was a nice muted green, and Delightful Dots was a great complement to the color scheme. 

Pages 4 & 5

Pages 6 & 7
The Meander Album at Split Coast Stampers in this tutorial gives excellent directions to create an album from a single sheet of 12” x 12” paper.  The accents were cut from the scraps.  The tags were all cut from a second sheet of 12” x 12” paper.  I used my Coluzzle Tags template to cut the tags to 2 ½” x 3” including the notched section.  This fits perfectly into the pockets with just the notch protruding.  I did not cut notches in the pockets, or add covers.  I have the original Bind-It-All, so I could only punch about half of the pages at one time.  Careful finagling of sections of the album cut through all the pages.  I adhered the edges of the pockets, and then applied the binding.  
Pages 8 & 9
Pages 10 & 11

 All the edges are inked with Tsukineko Memento Luxe Nautical Blue.  The front and back die cuts are Spellbinders Labels Twenty-Two.  The front images are Studio G sentiments, and Rubber Cupboard numbers stamped in Tsukineko Memento Luxe Nautical Blue and embossed with clear embossing powder.  The back image is Technique Tuesday also stamped in Tsukineko Memento Luxe Nautical Blue.

Pages 12 & 13

Page 14
I love this little album and plan to carry it in my purse to remind me of all the wonderful events that happened for our family in 2014.  My Dear Husband likes all of the photos, but wants them in digital format to share with his friends.   Memory keeping at it’s best!  Have fun creating your mini book and album and make sure to jump over to Anything But a Card and post your submission for the challenge.

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Have a Beautiful Easter


It is time to make a few cards for the Easter Season.  Thinking simplicity I went just a few key elements in the design of this clean and simple card.   


The sentiment is from Everything Easter by Unity Stamp Company and is stamped on vellum in Tsukineko Radiant Neon Electric Blue and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  Vellum requires this when using pigment ink, didn’t want it to smudge!  The strip was punched with EK Success Dotted Curve border punch.   My version of Marine Mist is edged with Tsukineko Radiant Neon Electric Blue.  The cross is die cut from Coordination’s Yellow with Spellbinders Crosses Two and edged with Tsukineko Radiant Neon Electric Blue.  It is adhered with dimensional foam adhesive.  The card base is a light Sahara sand color with a layer of handmade white shimmer paper that was torn using a deckle ruler to keep a nice square shape.

This card was inspired by and entered in the following challenges:


I have a few more cards in process on my craft table so stop back by soon!    

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Retro Rubber Technique Challenge

It is time again for another Retro Rubber Blog Challenge.  This time we challenge you to play with your collection of embossing powders.  You can use any color and any technique, just make sure that it involves ink and heated embossing powder!


Our rules are simple:
Create a new project, card, scrap book lay out, whatever.
Use embossing powder
Use a stamp from your stash that you have owned (preferably) for at least a year.
Link up at Retro Rubber Challenge Blog!

I used a technique that produces a  wonderful effect with white embossing powder and vellum, come check it out next week!

Sunday, March 15, 2015

March Birthday Artist Trading Card


I am part of a Birthday ATC swap on a forum, RubberStampChat.  Each month we send an Artist Trading Card to the members of the swap with birthdays in that month.  What fun!



This month I had some fun with the Superior Palette Stamp & Stick Glue Pad.  I stamped the background with a Stamp Out Cute image on light pink card stock, and then added Martha Stewart Peridot glitter.   The glitter is heat set with an embossing heat gun.  The glitter is a little more green in real life!

A few Prima flowers and a little bling for the center create a pretty embellishment.  The tag is Sizzlets Tag Set, Small that is stamped with Colorbox Cat Eye Charcoal using the Imaginesce All Kinds of Happy Collection on light green card stock.  A pink eyelet and a few coordinating fibers finish the ATC.  

This project is entered into the following challenges:

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Best Buddies Layout


My most frequent format for scrapbook layouts is a double page layout with multiple photos.  So a single page layout is not the norm, but was definitely fun!  I decided to play along with Stuck on U Sketches and completed this sketch.


 I used the large DCWV Pet Stack for all of the patterned cardstock in this layout.  About a year ago I found a package of KI Memories bones 12” x 12” die cut overlays that is layered over the base cardstock.  The circle is cut with Cutter Bee Curvy Cutter, I love that I can cut a 12” diameter circle, but this one is 10” cut from DCWV blue card stock.   A few other scraps from the Pet stack add the additional layers.  

 
 The title is Thickers Black Tie Velvet stickers colored with Craft Chalks.  The “forever” sentiment is from Technique Tuesday “Words We love” set stamped in Tsukineko Memento Luxe Rick Cocoa on coordinating brown card stock.  

  
I discovered I actually had three photos that I wanted to include and a bit of journaling so I decided to add a Foto Flap by Outdoors and More.  I will cut a slit in the page protector to allow the interactive flap to move. 

The final touches are a few paw die cuts and bone paper clips from my stash.  The layout is a little busier than my usual style but I do like how it turned out! 

TBT My Favorite Movies layout

One of the crop events at Creating Keepsakes Convention in 2007 was creating a "My Favorites Album".  At CKC we created a 6" x 6", and I had a blast with all of the fun techniques I learned in the crop.  I hosted a "Favorites Album" swap at the now defunct Memory Makes forum.  It was similar to a ATC swap, with the exception that each contributor completed a 8" x 8" layout minus the photos for a particular theme within the main theme.

This was my contribution:

Created in 2007


Created in 2007

I used my Klic-n-Kut to cut movie clapboards in two sizes.  The film strip is a Sizzix die cut, and the popcorn cups and popcorn I die cut from Sizzix dies at a LSS.  The ticket is also cut on the Klic-n-Kut.  The flim reels are fussy cut from a background paper, and everything is mounted on grey card stock.

Thank you for checking in to my blast from the past layout.  Funny thing is my favorite movies have evolved over the years, so this is a layout that chronicles my past favorites. 

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Green with Envy Gift Box for Anything But a Card

It is now week two of our challenge over at Anything But a Card.  Our theme this month is Green with Envy, or to just use Green in your project.  I created this fun little gift box that anyone would be envious to receive.  Come join the fun and create your own project!

  

Keeping in mind that I wanted to use a die to create a Celtic style motif on two sides of the box I choose to make a box size that would fit in my Grand Calibur.  First the green card stock is trimmed to 8" x 8", and the box is scored and punched with the WeR Memory Keepers Gift Box Punch Board. I love this tool and have practiced making all the different possible boxes.  They are great reference for deciding what size box to make for a gift.  I used these reference patterns to decided on the size and which die to use.  The Spellbinders Medallion Eight is centered in the side area and die cut for each side.  Gold card stock trimmed to 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" is adhered to the inside of the box to back the die cut area.  To finish off the design a light green card stock was stamped with Memories Hunter Green ink and Judikens Excerpt From the Book of Kell image. The medium sized  Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms was die cut and the flower was shaped and adhered with glue dots. 



Stamping on velvet is very easy with a steady hand and a hot iron.  The most important step is to find Acetate/Rayon velvet; the salvage edge of the velvet will be shiny.  Trim the velvet to 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" and center it over the image, wrong side up and the nap facing the image.  It is best to use a rubber stamp image with bold lines.  Judikens Celtic Cube #2 is used here.  Use the flat section of the iron without steam holes to "stamp".  The iron should be set on the highest setting.  Press for about 15 seconds and check the process by carefully lifting the iron without shifting the velvet.  If there is a clear impression on the reverse side of the velvet, the image is "stamped".  If not, apply iron again for 5 to 10 more seconds.  Each image is adhered to 2" x 2" card stock with the excess velvet wrapped around the back and adhered.  Gold card stock is cut to 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" and adhered to remaining sides.  The velvet squares are adhered use thin dimensional foam adhesive to account for the velvet wrap on the edges.

Assemble the box and adhere flaps so the box will retain its shape.  I used my  Zutter Bows-It-All v. 2 to tie a multi-looped bow of gold ribbon and adhere to the top.  When I create cards, gifts, or gift boxes, I consider the creation to be part of the gift.  


Better lighting shows the embossed velvet!

Please come join us at Anything But a Card and enter your own project that reflect the theme Green with Envy.  Just remember it can be mixed media project, art journal, tag, ATC, layout, home decor, ANYTHING but a CARD! 
This project is entered into the following challenges:

Thursday, March 5, 2015

TBT Paper Tole featuring Magenta Stamps


Splitcoast Stampers featured tutorial this week is One Layer Paper Tole.  Paper Tole has existed for a very long time; my first experience was with using pre-printed cards and fussy cutting layers.  The next step was to repeatedly stamp an image and fussy cut various layers to create dimension.  

Created in 2000

This card was created with a Magenta stamp, one of my favorite companies in the early 2000s.  The center image was stamped three times, heat embossed and water colored with Jacquard Pearl Ex pigments.  It is hard to see the shimmer in a photo.  The various layers are fussy cut.  The background is stamped with the same image.  Various colors of handmade paper and card stock back the central image.  At the time the only dimensional adhesive we had was home repair chalking!  The various layers are raised with the chalking allowed to cure.  It was a little stinky!


Created 2000

This second card uses smaller Magenta images and embossing powder layers technique on the backing layers.  The center image is stamped once, colored with colored pencils and a Dove blender, then fussy cut before adhering with the chalking.

Thanks for stopping by my Throw Back Thursday post.  It is fun to share my creative work that still resides in my “idea archive” drawer.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Retro Rubber Challenge Blog Tag You're It


Time for a new challenge over at Retro Rubber ChallengeBlog, create a tag or use one on a project.  Our rules are easy to follow, just use a stamp that you have owned for at least a year, follow the prompt, and link directly to the post highlighting the project.  Come join the fun!



For a time tags were all the rage, and Making Memories even came out with a Tag Maker system.  There were plenty of pre-made tags to choose from as well.  The traditional office tags in many sizes, tags cut using a Coluzzle, small tags die cut dies, and Making Memories tags like this one.  I experimented with a few tags before I settled on this Making Memories tag because the sentiment fit perfectly in the size.



The card base is pink card stock trimmed to 9” x 6 ½” folded in half.  The bottom layer of green card stock was trimmed to 4 ¼” x 6 1/4” and the bottom edge is punched with a Fiskars edger punch that was one of the first ones I owned.  Love this little scalloped edge.  The next layer of Kraft cardstock was pressure embossed with Darice Butterflies embossing folder and trimmed to 4” x 5 ½”.  These layers were adhered with 1/16” dimensional foam adhesive. 

I have many butterfly images I purchased in about 1997 along with the sentiment.  Butterflies are a favorite of my Grandma, my Mom and myself!  This image is by Distinctive Impressions.  It is stamped in Tsukineko Versa Magic Aloe Vera on light pink card stock and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  The butterfly is watercolored with Jacquard Pearl Ex pigments mixed with Gum Arabic.  The Gum Arabic is a fixative to allow the pigment to be used as a watercolor.  Other brands have the fixative already added.  I used Duo Green Yellow on the body of the butterfly and Flamingo Pink and Interference Violet on the wings.  It is hard to photograph how the wings shimmer and change colors as you shift the card.   The image is fussy cut removing the antennae.  A little piece of craft wire is fashioned to make new antennae that are a little sturdier that paper.

The Where the Rubber Hits the Road sentiment is stamped in Tsukineko Versa Magic Aloe Vera on the Making Memories tag and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  I added three complementary colors and textures of fibers to finish the tag.  The butterfly image and tag are adhered with dimensional foam adhesive. 

Please do come and add your creation using your Retro Rubber and a tag at Retro Rubber Challenge Blog!  

Monday, March 2, 2015

Beautiful Difference Sympathy Card


I am so thankful to have known my dear friend these so many years.  At her memorial service last week it was such a blessing to learn more about her and remember the great times we have shared over the years.  I am blessed to be friends with her dear husband and her wonderful adult children.  Her battle with cancer was painful and full of challenges and blessings.  She is now walking the streets of gold in heaven and praising Jesus.



This is the last of the five cards that I made for her family.  This is one I created for her middle child, her oldest daughter.  The challenge over at Your Next Stamp was the inspiration for both the sketch and color choice.

A “pearl grey” card stock is the base of the card with a strip of “navel”card stock for the sentiment strip.  The sentiment is by Great Impressions and is stamped in Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black.  The strip is backed with “black tie” that is punched with an EK Success mini scallop edger punch.  A variety of Quickutz heart dies were used to die cut "blue", "pumpkin", and "navel" card stock.  The textures are also by Quickutz: heart, curl, and flourish.  Some of the die cuts are adhered directly to the card base and others to the sentiment strip.  The sentiment strip is adhered with dimensional foam adhesive. 

This card is entered into the following challenges: