ABAC STEAMPUNKtember

Front

I am very honored to announce that I have been selected to the Design Team at Anything But A Card, where our current challenge is STEAMPUNKtember.  I had a great deal of fun creating this steam punk composition book.  The challenge encouraged me to create some really cool background paper and add elements to enhance the steam punk feel.  I picked up a vinyl cover to go over the composition book so the three-dimensional elements would not get destroyed with use.  

 

Go check our ABAC current challenge Anything But A Card.  We would love to have you play along and join the fun!

Supplies: 

Ideology:  Film Strip Ribbon, Tissue Tape, Game Spinners, Mini Mask Compass, Mask Timeworks, Remnant Rubs Numbers and Elements.

Recollections:  Clock Face

Sizzix:  Gadget Gears, Mini Gears, Sizzlits Tag Tradition and Scallop, Alterations Compass and Pocket Watch

Stampers Anonymous:  Steam Punk

Technique Tuesday:  Borderline Industry

Sassafras:  I Heart Robots

Inkadinkado:  Steam Punk Collage

Momento Tuxedo Black

StazOn Black

Ranger Distress Ink Weathered Wood

Misc:  white card stock, Core’dination Whitewash, Distressed card stock in coordinating color, flat head eyelets, 3M Multi Surface Spray Adhesive, Mod Podge, varying heights of dimensional foam squares, glue dots, and composition book.

Stamp positioning plates

  The background paper was stamped Tuxedo Black Ink alternating the images to create a balanced sheet.  A stamp positioner is vital to get the images where you want them in the background.  The images were first stamped on an acrylic positioning plates with StazOn Black.  Since I had so many images I wanted to use I stamped each one in the corner of the plate so I had 8 images on two plates. 

Background paper masked & inked

Background paper stamped

The masks were placed over the stamped images and Weathered Wood Ink was sponged around the masks.  Tim Holtz has a great how to video on YouTube Here.

 

Die cut two sets of Mini gears and Gadget Gears, one in each color.  Die cut one set of alternating colors of Tags in Traditional and Scalloped.  Distress the Whitewash die cuts with sandpaper and ink the Weathered Wood die cuts.   

Pressure emboss Compass and Pocket Watch on Weathered wood card stock.  Fussy cut the compass and two pocket watches.   Distress with Tuxedo Black ink.

Place Remnant Rubs Numbers on Film Strip Ribbon and rub to adhere.

Place selected Remnant Rubs Elements on tags and rub to adhere.  Punch a hole and set the flat head eyelets into tags.

Insert spinner into clock face with provided brad.  

Back of Composition book

Assembly:

The composition book I used had a fairly slick cover that requires a good adhesive.  I went with 3M Multi Surface Adhesive.   I trimmed the prepared background papers to size and lined up with the binding on the composition book.  Tissue tape securely adhered the edge allowing me to flip the background paper open and spray both the paper and the cover at the same time and know that it would line up.  To smooth out any air bubbles I used a rubber brayer.

The pocket watches and compass are adhered to the back cover with Mod Podge as are the first layer of gears in Whitewash on the front cover.

Detail on gears

Detail on clock face & tags

 

The three dimensional gears are adhered with varying heights of dimensional foam squares.  The thinnest layer is two stacked glue dots to just barely raise the gear.   The top layer of gears are first lined up to match (they are not symmetrical) and then offset slightly to give a shadowed effect.

Adhere clock face with glue dots and tags with varying heights of dimensional foam squares.

I have entered this into theScrapitgirl September Challenge using a stencil or mask.

Go and join the fun over there too!

Thanks for your comments, it truly makes this journey more fun to share!

Celebrate Autumn

I had a great time playing with inks and card stock to make this card to celebrate the autumn season.  The card sketch is from  Cardabilities Challenge #107.

Supplies:  Cream card stock; Tsukineko Kaleidacolor Tomato Vine and Versa Magic Jumbo Java inks, Fantastix; Imagine Crafts Fireworks Tangelo, Lady Bug, and Dandelion, Walnut spray ink; Fiskars Burlap texture brayer; Technique Tuesday Same Time Next Year sentiment; Quickutz leaf dies; Spellbinder Nested Pennants; rubber brayer; brown fibers; Plaid Deckle ruler; dimensional foam adhesive dots and squares; glue dots.

Ink up the Burlap texture brayer with Kaleidacolor Tomato Vine ink.  Reverse the direction of the inkpad to cover the entire area of the brayer.  Stamp the cream card stock.  Re-ink the brayer to complete the coverage of the paper if desired.

Tie a section of fibers together at one end.

Use the ruler to tear deckled edges to desired size.  Mine is 5 ¼ x 6 ½.  Ink edges of burlap inked card stock with Jumbo Java ink. 

Spray Fireworks colors onto a plastic surface.  Lay card stock into marbled puddles.  Set aside to dry.

Die cut leaves using two styles of Quickutz dies.  Remove veins and spray with Walnut ink.  Set aside to dry.

 

Color vines of other leaves with a Fantastix and Jumbo Java. 

Use a brayer to ink cream card stock.  (You get a more rustic look on smooth card stock, versus a more blended look when the ink is brayered on glossy cardstock.)  Place pennant die over section of ink and stamp sentiment in center.  Die cut and emboss the pennant, then ink the edges with Jumbo Java.

Cut card to 6 ¾ x 11 and fold in half for the card base.  Assemble the card according to sketch.  Layer some leaves with different thicknesses of dimensional foam dots or squares.  Trim the fibers to fit card size.  Use glue dot to secure fibers.  Layer sentiment with thickest dimensional foam dots. 

Hope you enjoyed the use of fun techniques to create a card with just cream card stock and inks! 

TBT Digital Layout mounted to Canvas

Here is a project from the past that has been on display in my parents’ home since 2008.  They celebrated their 50^th Wedding Anniversary in 2008, and this was a gift I gave them at their celebration.  I was dabbling in Digital Scrapbooking over at Jessica Sprague.

The layout is similar to one I learned to do in Digi in Deep.  I printed the layout in 12 x 12 format and then mounted it to a 12 x 12 canvas.   The canvas had been prepped with gold paint around the edges. 

Side View

 What I love about this layout is that it shows the endearing love that my Mom and Dad have for each other.  The smaller photo is taken at their wedding; the focal photo was taken on the family trip to Lake Billy Chinook where we spent a week on a houseboat.  Such fond memories for me!

Three Techniques to Color

All three cards are stamped with PSX Chrysanthemum, and wonderful fall flower that will bloom in many different shades.  This inspired me to try a few different techniques to match some of the season’s beauty.  All three cards started with cream colored card stock. 

Craft Chalk

 

The image was stamped in Momento Black Tuxedo and colored with several shades of crafting chalk.  The card front is die cut with Spellbinders A2 Locking loops and the edges chalked with green.  The card front is chalked around in the edges in the coordinating orange.  The image is mounted with dimensional foam tape onto the card front.

Imagine Craft Fireworks

 

The image was stamped with Colorbox Black and embossed with fine clear embossing powder.  Imagine Fireworks Dandelion, Tangelo, Bahama Blue, and Paris Dusk were used to paint the image.  Spray on a plastic sheet and pick the color up with a fine-tipped paintbrush.  The Dandelion is mixed with Bahama Blue and Paris Dusk to achieve the right green for the leaves.  The petals were painted with Dandelion and then highlighted with Tangelo.  A cotton swab can sponge up the excess color that may have gone outside the coloring lines.  Let the image dry and spray with Tsukineko Shimmer Spritz.   The image is die cut with Spellbinders Labels 11, with a background die cut in the next size.    The background was spritzed with Dandelion and touch of Tangelo.  The card base is folded, lined up just inside the die edge, then die cut with the next larger die.  The card front is mounted with dimensional foam tape to the base and then adhered to the card front.   

Jacquard Pearl-Ex

 

For this card the image was stamped and heat embossed like the second card.  This seems to work best when working with watercolor techniques.  A supply that has not been used for a while came out and colored the image, Jacquard Pearl-Ex in Red Russet and Spring Green.  Art Quest Gum Arabic is mixed with Pearl-Ex as a fixative in 1 part Gum Arabic to 4 parts pigment.  (I have several colors mixed that have dried in a well plate from several years ago, they are still in excellent condition.)  Add a little water with the paintbrush and color the image.  The cotton swab will also come in handy with this technique.  The image is die cut with Grand Labels 23, as is the DCWV Bronze Metallic card stock background.  The card front is mounted with dimensional foam tape to the base and then adhered to the card front.       

Imagine Crafts Inspiration

I have been touring blog land and found this simple and clean design over at Imagine Crafts,  Puttin' on the Spritz by Penny Ward.

 

Since I don't own all of the supplies she listed I improvised . . .

Supplies:  Fireworks Paris Dusk and Bahama Blue, Sizzix Happy Birthday die, Technique Tuesday “wishing you a” stamp, Zig maker in Orchid, Darice craft thread, bling from my stash, white card stock, dimensional foam adhesive, and adhesive.

This is a fairly quick and easy card EXCEPT for placing the tiny “dams” from the die.  I would suggest you leave the entire die cut in the die until you are ready to place the tiny pieces of paper into their proper positions.  The "wishing you a" is stamped by coloring on the Technique Tuesday stamp with the Zig Marker. 

Entered in the Paper Crafting Challenge-18

TBT Chalked Die cuts and Border Buddies

Scrapbooking 1997 Style

This is a page I did about a trip to the zoo with my niece and nephew.  Not so much of a sticker sneeze, all the die cuts are "grounded" including the monkeys from the vine.  The Border Buddies and a couple of Zig pens make for nice zig zag borders.  

Fun textures!

Some of the new products to use on scrapbooking pages are fun textures like burlap and cork.

This was a quick and simple layout to complete using Paper Pizzaz wood grain patterned paper, brown DCWV card stock, burlap strip,  and DCWV cork for the title.  The font is Spellbinders Donna's Alpha.  I inked the cork to distress it a bit.  John and Peter enjoyed this day at our local feed store.  

Color Swatches V2

Still getting a handle on this blogging thing!  Lost this post so here it is again.  

I have been a crafter for most of my life . . . taught well by my mother!  I still have the little reindeer made from an egg carton that I must have made as a 3 or 4 year old.   

So needless to say I have about 4 decades worth of crafting, stamping, and scrapbooking products.  I am on a journey to organize my mixed-media supplies, alterable items, stamp supplies, scrapbooking supplies, etc.  I am fortunate enough to have a 12’ x 14’ room to call my own.  Right now it is under a major clean out and purge. 

 But for now I wanted to share how I have my inks, alcohol inks, mists, glitter, flock, Stickles, Radiant Pearls, paper paints, metallic rub-ons, etc organized for easy selection.

There are a few types of media that it is best to apply to a separate card stock and then punch a shape to adhere to the color swatch sheet.  Alcohol inks, glimmer sprays, Radiant Pearls, and metallic rub-ons are just a few.

The beads, mini mosaics, Diamond dust, flock, and glitter are all applied using Art Glitter Glue.  

I started with basic categories along the left column, and discovered as I went through my inventory that I had many more items to add than the categories listed.

I labeled everything in pencil—which does not run. 

I used the basic ROYGBIV (well actually Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple) order, and added Pink, Black/White, Brown, and Metallic.   

Mine are two sided, I would suggest you stay with single sided color cards.

These are a close-ups of the blue and metallic sheets.  As you can see I had some bleed through towards the bottom.  By that time I was too far into the process to start over, oops!

TBT Family Frame

Altered Home Decor from 2009

I started with a ready-to-decorate frame, I believe from EK Success.  The papers and stickers are Basic Grey Bittersweet, card stock from DCWV, Quickutz heart die-cuts and embossed with Quickutz as well, prima flowers and brads from my stash.  With the exception of the photos, the entire frame including embellishments have been Mod Podged to be dust resistant.  I just took this photo and the frame still looks great 5 years later.  It has been displayed in my china cabinet, so no problem with fading.  Thanks for taking a peek and leave a comment or two!

TBT (Throw Back Thursday) Artist Trading Card

My favorite ATC (Dimensions 2.5 x 3.5 inches)

I have been sorting to the room that is my craft cave attempting to de-clutter, organize, and purge.   A wonderful by product of the process is revisiting projects that I completed in a much earlier time.  The title of the swap was "Snap Shot with a Twist" on Memory Makers forum all the way back in October of 2007!  This remains one of my favorite ATC's I've made.  One was sent in the swap, another I kept just because it is so fun!

I used two sizes of the oval Coluzzle (remember those?), one of my all time favorite tools before wafer thin dies proliferated.  I created this little gem with just a few Prima flowers, a brad, crafting thread, an eyelet, and Narratives by Karen Russell Swatch Book Impress-Ons, Quotes and Designs.  The origin of my idea was from Chinese lanterns, and this was before Martha Stewart came out with her Party Crafting Template.  Alternating ovals connect either on the long side or the short side.  I used small bits of tape on the Coluzzle to avoid cutting through the card stock.  Maybe it is time to re-kindle the fun of making little ATCs!  Want to join me?

Keys to a Good Life Memo Board

The background stamp "Script Key Background" seemed perfect to make a patterned paper design for a magnetic memo board.  It is perfect for a college dorm room, as the thoughts are positive affirmations for a college student.  I choose colors that would blend well with any color decor.

Directions:
Stamp 12” x 12” white cardstock with Script key background to make a patterned paper.  Heat emboss with clear embossing powder.  Apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to the back of the paper and adhere to the metal sheet.   Use a rubber brayer to smooth and remove air bubbles.  Let dry.  Die cut smaller Decorative Blossom Corner from metallic cardstock.  Apply Mod podge and adhere.  Let dry.  Apply 2-3 coats of Mod Podge to  Memo board allowing ample drying time between each coat.  Stamp Script Key Background, Burnished Key, and Journey of Love Key heart with StazOn ink on white shrink plastic.  Let ink dry before handling.  Trim Script Key Background and round corners.  Die cut Burnished Key, this will need to be shimmed to cut completely through.  Pierce smaller keys to enlarge hole.  Hand trim heart.  Bake according to manufacturers directions. 

Stamp Open Vintage Floret in StazOn ink on white cardstock (I did 4 of the mini, 5 of the smaller, 3 of the small, 1 or 2 each of the next sizes up.)  Die cut flowers.  Die cut one set of metallic Vintage Floret flowers.  Shape and assemble flowers adding Liquid Pearls as flower centers.  






Die cut one set of Burnished Keys of metallic cardstock and emboss.  Die cut a second set on the reverse side to make mirror images.  Apply adhesive and adhere mirror images to make two-sided metallic keys. 












Adhere flowers, keys, and shrink plastic charms to magnets.  Adhere Script Key charm to magnet clip. 

Tie loop of organza ribbon through holes and make a bow.  String remaining smaller metallic cardstock keys and shrink plastic key charms on metallic string and thread through holes and arrange.      

Heartfelt Creations Products:  HCD 741 Burnished Key; HCD 727 Vintage Floret; HCD 729 Decorative Blossom Corner; HCPC 3500 Open Vintage Floret; HCPC 3502 Mini Vintage Floret; HCPC 3574 Journey of Love Key; HCPC 3569 Burnished Key; HCPC 3575 Script Key Background

Other Products:  White cardstock; DCWV metallic Champagne cardstock; white shrink plastic, Encore Champagne Ink; StazOn Platinum ink; clear embossing powder; Liquid Pearls White Opal and Platinum Pearl; 12” x 12” Steel sheet with holes and rounded corners; clip magnet, ceramic magnets of varying sizes; 1 ½ white organza ribbon; metallic thread; Mod Podge