For a friend …

The new CMC Copic Challenge is to create a card showcasing friendship, using Copic to color the embellishments.

As someone relatively new to Copic, I found this challenge to be quite a bit of fun. You should have seen me attempting to color nearly everything that came along. Fortunately my cats stayed out of site, so I still don’t know if it is possible to color a cat with a Copic, but I do know you can color this cat …

This stamp is from Penny Black. I stamped it on Cryogen paper, that I had cut out with a die from Dies Direct. After coloring the image, I added Stickles to the insides of the flowers and the kitty’s nose for a bit of sparkle. Then, I added Distress Ink around the edges to soften the white color.

I layered some papers (from Bo Bunny and Basic Grey) that I had edged in Distress Ink and then the REAL fun began …

I started with a plain white ribbon, which I knew would take the color well, and colored it gray.

Then, I tried Tissue Tape from Tim Holtz. I was thrilled with how well it took the color. (I put a strip on a piece of scrap paper and colored it in long, even strokes. When dry, I gently pulled it up and attached it to the card.)

Finally, I pulled out some white flower-shaped buttons from Pebbles. I colored them in yellow, then edged them in orange. While they colored OK, the color seemed to come off as I worked with them, so I actually colored them again once they were attached to the card. I’ll have to look for some sort of sealer to see if that works …

Anyhow, with the addition of a saying from Northwoods, the Tiny Attachers, floss from We R Memory Keepers and a few Glue Dots, I came up with this …

Check out the other amazing samples from this challenge, here.

Birthday Wishes

I created this birthday card for a friend and tried out a few new techniques in the process, which I wanted to share …

First, I used a Dies Direct die to cut out the scalloped oval out of Cryogen paper. Then, I stamped the image (Impression Obsession) with Momenta Ink and colored the image with Copic markers.

Now for the cool part … I used Distress Ink to ink the paper around the image. It didn’t disturb the image at all! So, since this little discovery, I have a new way to color papers so I don’t have to always work with white — while still being able to use the papers that blend well with Copics.

Anyhow, once that was done, I added a bit of Sparkly Fluff in the centers of the flowers — to make them both fuzzy and sparkly.

Then, I used Art Glitter Designer Dries Clear Adhesive to adhere Art Glitter Clear Glass Beads to the vase. It reminds me of the glass marbles that people put in clear vases, don’t you agree? (Click on the image to see a larger version)

Here’s the inside:

The papers are from We R Memory Keepers, the ribbon is from Making Memories, the stamp on the cover is from Magenta and the one inside is a Wendy Vecchi stamp. I also used the Tiny Attacher and Distressing Tool by Tim Holtz.

What do you think?

It’s Christmas Time!

Christmas is my favorite time of the year.

I love the music, the ornaments, the lights, the food, and, of course, Santa. I can’t wait to put up my decorations each year and I hate to pack them back away.

So, when Glue Dots® asked me to create a bit of holiday decor, I jumped at the chance. I grabbed a gorgeous collection of paper from Graphic 45, dies by Cheery Lynn Designs, brand new Baubles by Tim Holtz Idea-ology and created this banner …

I had to hang it in order to photograph it and I am not taking it back down, so I can say this is the earliest I have ever had up holiday decorations!

It was really very simple to make …

SUPPLIES:

French Flair Stacker Nesting Dies by Cheery Lynn Designs

Christmas Past Deluxe Edition papers and tags by Graphic 45

Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Tea Dye

Crop-a-Dile and eyelets by We R Memory Keepers

Eyelets by Eyelet Outlet

Vintage Floral Parcel Dimensional Border Stickers by Jolee’s

Baubles and jump rings by Tim Holtz Idea-ology

Beads by Melissa Frances and Maya Road

Craft Glue Dots® (the Dot N Go dispenser is the easiest to work with) to adhere the papers together

Pop Up Glue Dots®

Decorative Edge (Stamp) Scissors by Fiskars

Gems by Hero Arts

Detail scissors

Ribbon and gold star (from my stash)

First, I cut out the papers using the die and inked the edges with Distress Ink.

Then, turning each one slightly, so they resemble ornaments, I put in eyelets at the bottom and each side.

Then, you are ready to decorate … each one is different, so I am putting up close-up photos of each section, so you can see what I did.

I am putting up close-up photos of each section of the banner, so you can see what I did. The camera tends to flatten the images, but I am sure you get the idea.

For the first one, I cut out Santa from the paper and adhered with Pop Up Glue Dots®.

For the next one, I layered a smaller sheet of paper, along with a tag and images I cut out of other papers. I used Pop Up Glue Dots to adhere the stamp and tag to provide added dimension. For the others, I used Craft Dots. I added ribbon and a bead to the tag for extra fun.

For the third, I layered several sheets of paper cut with the dies and then used Pop Up Glue Dots to adhere the angel, which I cut out from the paper. I added a flower, cut from the Jolee’s border to the side.

 

For the first one in this group, I used two of the Stacker dies, held together with a Removable Glue Dot in order to run them through my die cutting machine, to make a frame.  I then added another one inside. I cut out the angels from paper and used Pop Up Glue Dots to make them stand out. Finally, I added a gold star from another pack of Jolee’s stickers that I had lying around. (You could use another of the flowers from the Jolee’s border sticker, instead.)

For the next one, I cut out the design from paper and used Pop Up Glue Dots to adhere. I then added a flower and some of the border from the Jolee’s sticker.

The final one in this group is my favorite … I layered several frames to provide dimension and then placed in a design I cut from the paper. I cut out another piece of paper with decorative scissors and inked the edges. Then, to attach it, I used a combination of Pop Up Glue Dots and Mini Glue Dots. This allowed me to bend the paper and twist the paper … I think it provides movement, making it look like a flag blowing in the breeze.

The Stackers dies that I used to make the banner can also be embossed. The first one in this group shows the embossing detail the best. For this one, I layered a few die cut images. The tag, taken from the die cut sheet, is adhered with Pop Up Glue Dots and accented with gems. I then ran the floral border (another part of the Jolee’s sticker) across the banner, trimming the ends to fit perfectly.

The next one features a collage of angels cut from the Graphic 45 paper and adhered with Pop Up Glue Dots onto a layered die cut. For additional movement, you could mix up your Glue Dots, like I did in the last group.

Finally, the last one is a few layers cut with the Stackers dies, accented with a few “stamps” I cut out of the paper with decorative edge scissors. Again, I used the Pop Up Glue Dots on some of the images. Then, I topped it off with one of the flowers from the Jolee’s border.

Once they are all decorated, tie them together with ribbon. For the two ends, I tied on long strips of ribbon in a loop for hanging.

Then, add the Baubles, beads and other danglies to the bottoms with jump rings.

Oh, one more tip … I hate the white edge you end up with when you cut images from paper, so I used Distress Ink to cover it up. It gives your project a finished, professional look.

I hope this inspires you to create an incredible banner, too!

my new header

I finally got around to doing something I have been wanting to do for some time … make a header for my blog.

I used some of my favorite products, along with some of my favorite subjects and a few of my current favorite techniques.

The background is made by inking a piece of cardstock with Distress Ink and then applying a mask by Tim Holtz (I have always had a clock thing, so this one seemed appropriate) and inking with a second color of Distress Ink. Then, I used a Studio 490 stamp — Fly Poop — to add a little texture. When one discovers a stamp made by one of her favorite companies, designed by one of her favorite designers named something silly, like Fly Poop, one MUST buy it!

I then used some rubber stamps to showcase some of my obsessions — hot air balloons, Winnie the Pooh, and chickens. That Winnie the Pooh stamp is destined to be my next tattoo, but who knows when I’ll get the courage up to do that! I colored all of them in with Copic markers — another new obsession of mine.

Next I added some die cuts from Dies Direct — I collect hippos and have a recent thing for birds … All of them were inked with Distress Ink. I love how the color blends and shades itself. It is almost magic.

For the name, I used two different techniques on chipboard letters by Maya Road. The first, taught to me by Wendy Vecchi, is to color them with Distress Ink and then stamp over them with a background stamp — I used words because I am an editor and writer in the real world. The second is super simple: I used my finger to spread Mica Gloss by JudiKins over them. Don’t you love the shine?

Finally, I added a few stamps by 7 Gypsies, lace from Graphic 45 and some metal pieces by Tim Holtz.

What do you think?

Beyond pink and blue

In the scrapbooking world, nearly everything made for babies seems to be either blue or pink. I suppose that is fine in some cases, but I would imagine a new mommy would get tired of opening dozens of cards in pink or blue. So, I challenged myself to make a card that didn’t use either of those colors.

This is what I came up with …

I used an embossing background die by Dies Direct and then inked it with Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink.

I added Stickles in some of the flowers and mounted it on green and then put on a white card.

I used brads and a button from Bo Bunny, a strip of paper ribbon by Basic Grey and a flower “button” made with a die by Dies Direct to finish it off. The mini font used to write A Baby is also from Dies Direct.

Making cards

I am card challenged.

I know it sounds odd, but I can whip out a 12×12 scrapbook page, a mini album or a home decor project without trouble, but a simple card can kick my butt.

But whenever I am challenged by something, I continue to push myself, trying again and again and again. I’ve discovered its not too hard with beautiful papers, like those from Graphic 45.

These are for my upcoming class at Scrap Tales. We’ll learn how to work with acetate to make unique cards with Graphic 45 paper, alcohol ink, Dies Direct dies, and more.

Contact the store for details … hope to see you there!

S’mores, please

Our latest challenge for Scrap Wars at my favorite local scrapbook store, Scrap Tales, was a team project.

Each member of the team was given a different size plastic pail made by Stampendous. We then had to coordinate our project so they all went together.

Our team, led by Sarah, came up with the most brilliant idea (probably because I was not part of the brainstorming session, lol). They decided to make all of the pieces that went into making s’mores. Starting from the bottom, Sarah took the large bucket and filled it with marshmallows and added a stick to the outside for roasting. Then, Janet filled the next size with graham crackers. I got the next one and was assigned chocolate. And, Marty got the top, which was fire. Hers is topped with flames and filled with matches.

The paper they chose couldn’t have been farther from my own style. One side was glittered leaves and the other, bold stripes.

But, I accepted the challenge to work with what I had and to make it beautiful.

I used the stripe section of paper around the bottom of the jar and found some ribbon by American Crafts that matched perfectly to add to the top.

For the top of the jar, I colored a piece of leftover Bo Bunny paper with Distress Ink and adhered it to the lid. Then, I used attached a Tiny Hinge from Tim Holtz as the handle on the lid.

The label is cut from white cardstock using a Stackers die from Dies Direct and then colored with Distress Inks. Some parts are darker to represent the burnt marshmallows.

The letters are cut with Olivia by QuicKutz and then colored with Distress Ink to resemble marshmallows at their different stages of browning.

I accented the label with a button and brad by Bo Bunny. I attached the button with Mini Brads by Tim Holtz.

I then filled it with mini Hershey bars.

I am so pleased with the results, I think it will become my new candy jar on my desk at work!

One-eyed Spiders

I am not a big fan of Halloween. I don’t like blood, ghosts and things that go bump in the night.  So, when asked to create a Halloween project for my first Design Team submission for Glue Dots®, I was more than a little challenged — not just in what to make, but what to do with it after I make it!

A friend suggested I use the Glue Dots® to make little spiders. I latched onto the idea and after several attempts, I created these adorable fuzzy one-eyed spiders.

Even someone like me who runs from the room screaming when they see a spider, has to agree that these little guys are cute! Of course, the best part is that they are super easy to make with Glue Dots®, Sparkly Fluff by OurCraftLounge,net, Dew Drops by Robin’s Nest and my newest favorite tool — Glaze Pen.

Here are the instructions for both the spiders and the little treat jar I made. The Glue Dots® give the spider dimension and the Sparkly Fluff makes him both fuzzy and just a little glittery. Too cute!

One-eyed Spiders Treat Jar

1. Ink the lid of a small, plastic jar with Slate Alcohol Ink. (I used an inexpensive jar from Meijer found in the kitchenware section of the store.)

2. Cut out a circle of paper (I used some Cloud 9 Design paper) to fit the top. Ink the edges with Black Soot Distress Ink and adhere to the lid with Glue Dots®. You will want to use one of the flat varieties — I used Mini Glue Dots®.

3. Apply a Pop Up Glue Dots® where you would like your spider to be. This serves as his body.

4. Cover in Sparkly Fluff (I used Coffee Bean Brown). Push in slightly to adhere well, being careful not to squish the spider. Tap off excess.

5. Use a Mini Glue Dots® to adhere a Dew Drop as the giant eye.

6. Create a dimensional circle in the center and legs with the black Glaze Pen to complete the look.

7. For the jar portion, cut a strip of paper to the desired width and ink the edges (it covers up the white edges you get from cutting patterned paper.)

8. Apply several Glue Dots® to one edge of the paper, make sure it is centered and straight and then press down. The Glue Dots® will provide an immediate hold. Then, wrap the paper around the jar until it starts to overlap. Trim. Apply another row of Glue Dots® and adhere.

9. The cobwebs are just a piece of May Arts ribbon, inked with Black Soot Distress Ink to match (they were a buttery cream color) and wrapped and adhered with Mini Glue Dots®. Only a few are needed this time.

10. The fence is made from American Crafts white cardstock and the Picket Fence Border die by Dies Direct. I inked it with Pumice Stone Distress Ink to add dimension and make it not quite so white. I used several Glue Dots® to adhere the first portion and then wrapped it just like the background paper and ribbon. However, I added Glue Dots® here and there on some of the posts. This makes the paper bend in and out and provides some added dimension. At the end, I added several Glue Dots® to finish it off.

11. The tag is made from the new Tim Holtz stamp set by Stampers Anonymous and the ticket strip die by Tim Holtz from Sizzix. I used the same white cardstock and then inked it with Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink and adhered with two more Glue Dots®. Be sure to ink the backside, as well, if you want it to stick out like mine does.

12. Finally, add a few more spiders — they are fun to make so stopping might be a problem.

13. Fill with your favorite treat (mine is filled with Candy Corn) and give to a teacher, co-worker or special child for Halloween!

(I wrote this blog while participating on the Glue Dots® Design Team)

Acetate Cards

A few months ago, I taught a class making acetate cards.

One of the students enjoyed it so much, she asked me to teach a private class to her stamp group. While I couldn’t do the original class because the supplies I used were no longer available, I created new ones using the same techniques.

The first one uses papers from TPC. I cut them out using the Tim Holtz flower die from Sizzix and attached them with a brad from American Crafts. A quarter circle on the inside and a few Robin’s Nest Dew Drops complete the card.

This one uses papers and rub-ons by Kaiser Craft. I love how the red paper appears to be floating on the patterned paper in the background. The effect was simple — I just attached the red to the inside of the card and the patterned to the outside of the card.

The final one uses papers and paper ribbon from the Olivia Collection from Basic Grey. I used them to create a pocket for writing and then tucked a tag inside the pocket. The flowers on the front were made using a die from Dies Direct and the stamp is from Northwoods. StazOn ink makes it possible to stamp on acetate.

In love with Copic

I knew once I tried Copic markers, I would have to have them.
So, for more than a year, I ignored my friends whenever they offered to let me use their markers. I told myself I didn’t need another product that was the latest trend, nor did I need one that worked best on special paper.
And then I kept looking at all of those beautiful stamped images colored in with Copic markers and I decided maybe it was OK just to look.
Well, there are some products you cannot just look at without knowing deep down inside that you must have them.
It happened to me when the store was having too good of a sale to pass up and I decided to indulge.
It took me several months to build up a collection that I could work with, but I have yet to regret my decision. In fact, I have purchased more stamps that I never would have bought before Copic to go with my markers.
At first, I spent time coloring to relax. Then, I started making a few projects, like the Riley card above, using a rubber stamp, a die by Dies Direct and Copic markers.
Granted, I am not as good as the person who taught me, but I am impressed with my personal results. I have tried several different types of markers, colored pencils, paint, watercolor pencils, chalk pencils and chalk to attempt to color in stamped images of the years and never had the success I have with Copic. In fact, my lack of skills caused me to stop stamping most images years ago.
My latest satisfaction came when making this card …

The flower that goes across the middle of the card was made with a Bo Bunny stamp. I used Copic markers to match the colors in the paper.
The coolest thing is I don’t own any of those bright colors. I simply lightly layered my Copic colors until I came up with colors that matched perfectly.
Then, because all things should sparkle, I added some Stickles to the top.