Monday, November 23, 2015

Pine Bough Wreath Tag Card

Made for the ECD Susan Tierney-Cockburn Design Team

This elegant looking card is fairly simple to make. The trickiest part is making the pine cones but even those are pretty easy (and there's a video!). The branches flatten easily for mailing. The items that really stick up are the "berries" (half pearls). You could substitute glittery round red stickers to allow the card to flatten even more.

Making the Card

1. Cut red cardstock 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches (half of an 8 1/2 by 11 inch sheet). Fold in half. Use main Tags & More 7 - Vine die to cut top, aligning left edge along, but outside of fold (you don't want to cut the fold).

2. Cut patterned paper 3 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches to go across card front. Cut green strip 1/8 x 8 1/2 inches; cut in half. Adhere these to card base as shown.

3. Using Garden Notes - White Pine Pinecone & Bough, die cut about 14 pine bough sets from each: green and white cardstock (I cut a few more green than white). Cut apart the double boughs (you may want to trim the stems a bit as well).


4. Draw a circle where you want the wreath. I used a roll of washi tape to trace a circle. Glue pine boughs following guide line - place  2 green then 2 white (or 3 green and 2 white). Add more boughs for a fuller look.

5. Make two pine cones as shown in the video below. Optional: ink bottom of each "seed" with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and ink blending tool.


6. Adhere pine cones and red half pearls where shown.

7. Die a length of white seam binding with Evergreen Bough Distress Ink (my cardstock had more blue in it so I had to add some Stormy Sky as well). Tie through back hole. Tie white ribbon through front hole.


8. Stamp "Merry Christmas" sentiment inside, bottom right corner, in black ink.


Supplies

ECD Supplies
Other Supplies
  • Cardstock: Red, Green, White
  • Patterned Paper: Christmas Home (Teresa Collins) CH2719
  • Optional: Distress Ink - Walnut Stain, Ink Blending Tool
  • Distress Ink: Evergreen Bough, Stormy Sky
  • Seam Binding: White
  • White Ribbon
  • Black Ink
  • Red Half Pearls
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Monday, November 16, 2015

Christmas Card Featuring Anime Girl in Santa Hat

Made for the Oak Tree Stamps Design Team

Here is another design using the Oak Tree Stamps: All I Want for Christmas set. I used this cute little anime girl on a previous card, which I had watercolored. This time I'm using alcohol markers. I kept the colors pretty simple so she would really pop on the card.

Making the Card

1. Cut dark brown cardstock 4 1/4 x 11 inches. Fold in half for a card base. Cut red cardstock 4 x 5 1/4 inches. Cut star patterned paper 3 7/8 x 5 1/8 inches; adhere to red cardstock. Adhere these to front of card.

2. Die cut red cardstock with largest Spellbinders Lacey Ovals die. Die Cut gift background patterned paper with largest Spellbinders Classical Ovals Large.


3. On alcohol marker friendly paper, stamp girl on gift, "All I want for Christmas is You" sentiment, and holly & berries. Optional: add some crosshatching with a black Multiliner in heavily shaded areas. Color with alcohol markers (see list of Copic colors I used below Supplies). Add Wink of Stella Clear to hair ties, neck tie, gift bow, and berries. Cut out images with detail scissors. Use black marker (e.g. Copic Multiliner) to go around the outside to cover white edges. Add glossy accents to hair ties and berries; set aside to dry.

4. Cut out sentiment, mount on red cardstock. Adhere as shown using dimensional tape. Adhere girl on gift where shown using dimensional tape. Glue button, snowflakes, and holly & berries where shown.


Supplies
  • Cardstock: Dark Brown, Red
  • Stamps: Oak Tree Stamps - All I Want for Christmas
  • Patterned Paper: Studio Calico - Magical Collection 6x6 (331570)
  • Spellbinder Dies: S4-314 Lacey Ovals, S4-110 Classical Ovals Large (Use Largest of Both)
  • Alcohol Marker Friendly Paper (Copic X-Press It Blending Card)
  • Alcohol Markers (Copics)
  • Glossy Accents
  • Wink of Stella - Clear
  • Embellishments: Snowflake Button, Snowflakes
  • Dimensional Tape
Copic Markers Used
  • Copic Multiliner to fill in eyes, do some crosshatching, and edge once cut out
  • Skin E0000, E000, E00, E13, E11
  • Cheeks E93, E01
  • Eyes/Gift/Holly Leaves G29, G28, G24
  • Hair Y26, Y28, YR23, YR30, YR31
  • Boots/Skirt T9, T7, T5
  • Shirt/Fir T3, T2, T0
  • Dots/Hat/Tie/Hair Ties/Berries R89, R46, R81

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Thursday, November 12, 2015

Tsukineko Neon Plaid Background Cards - Video!


This is my first time using Tsukineko Radiant Neon Amplify paints. When heat is applied, they puff up giving wonderful texture and dimension, creating very exciting possibilities! In this post, you will learn how to add Radiant Neon Amplify to die cuts to give them extra oomph. The matching Radiant Neon inks, stamped in a plaid pattern, provide the perfect coordinating background.

Difficulty level: 2 out of 5
Time to create: about 45 minutes

Making the Card(s)

Video Tutorial


Step-by-Step

1. Cut black cardstock 4 1/4 x 11 inches; i.e. cut an 8 1/2 x 11 inch sheet in half down the long side - I used one sheet to make two cards. Fold in half to create 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch card base(s).

2. Cut light yellow cardstock 5 x 6 inches (I also cut a white piece this size). You will cut this down later but need some extra while stamping. Tape it to grid paper using removable tape (I used Post-It tape) on the top and bottom. You may want to make guid marks on each side where you will stamp. When I didn't do so, things went a little wonky (luckily it's not too noticeable, with all that's going on on the card).

3. Stamp stripes across the card following the guides. I used a stamp press to make it easier to line up each row. Change colors and type/size to stamp between each stripe. Un-tape paper, re-tape for the other direction, then repeat the process. Cut down to 4 x 5 1/4 inches. Adhere to card base.

4. Die cut several leaf triplets from neon green cardstock. Spray with Sheer Shimmer Spritz, Sparkle. I did this on a craft sheet. I wanted them really saturated and sparkly so I dipped them in the excess spray on the sheet. Set aside to dry.

5. Die cut a bunch of different flowers from white cardstock. Mostly I chose the smallest in the sets, plus a few a bit larger. Decide which ones to layer together. Ink bottom layers well on front sides (Radiant Neon 4 Ink, Warm) but also add some on backs so white won't show when shaped. Ink top layers in another color, mostly around the edges so they won't show once the puff paint has been applied. Once dry, shape bottom layer by rubbing with back of die pick or large ball stylus.


6. Apply Radiant Neon Amplify to all top layers (matching the color you used in step 5). Apply a good even coat (you shouldn't see any cardstock through the paint). Use heat tool to puff up paint. I applied it to half the flower at a time so I could hold it with my tweezers as I heated. Add some in the center in another color then heat again. Glue top and bottom layers together, offset to show each layer best.

7. Die cut 5 copies of each sentiment you plan to use from black cardstock - I cut both "hello" and "hugs" for my two cards. Glue a for matching layers together one at a time, lining them up, to make a thick stack. The last copy is for a shadow. Apply Radiant Neon Amplify to top layer of stack and heat (again I did half at a time). Adhere the last (single) copy of word to card as shown; adhere puffy version on top but slightly offset so it looks like it has a shadow.

8. Shape leaves by running die pick or small stylus down center of each leaf. Adhere flowers and leaves as shown.


Supplies

Tsukineko
Other Supplies
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Monday, November 9, 2015

Christmas Tree with Silk Glitter Garlands Card

Made for the ECD Susan Tierney-Cockburn Design Team

This is my first card made with the Holiday Evergreen & Trimmings dies. This realistic looking tree can be made as full as you like by layering branches. Silk Microfine Glitter adds incredible sparkle to the garlands, which look even more beautiful in person. I used a chalkboard technique for the sentiment - check it out!

Making the Card

1. Cut a piece of kraft colored cardstock to 7x10 inches. Fold in half to form a 5x7 card base. Cut pattern paper with presents at bottom to 3 3/4 x 6 inches. Cut red cardstock 4 x 6 1/4 inches for mat. Adhere pattern paper to red mat. Cut striped pattern paper 4 1/2 x 6 1/8 inches. Cut black cardstock 4 1/4 x 5 7/8 inches for mat. Adhere striped pattern paper to black mat. Adhere both to card base as shown.

2. Die cut tree twice from green cardstock and once from brown (you may need metal adaptor plate if the cardstock is thick). Cut branches off brown tree - you will only use the trunk part. Adhere trunk to one of the green trees. With other green tree, cut off each branch, making a little circular-like end where the branch meets the trunk (see photo). Add cut branches to tree, gluing ends at tree trunk. Adhere tree to matted gift pattern paper where shown, leaving branches mostly free (unglued) for a 3D look.


3. Die cut two sets of presents from alcohol marker friendly cardstock. Color with alcohol markers (Copic colors used are listed in Supplies). Let each layer dry before applying another. Use colorless blender to highlight areas and another coat of same color to darken shaded areas. The gifts are so small you really don't need to do any fancy coloring. Adhere to card where shown using dimensional tape on four. I used a double layer on two of the four to pop them up a bit more.

4. Stick one side of double sided adhesive to a piece cream cardstock. Die cut 8 garlands. Peel off backing, dip in Cool Diamond Silk Microfine Glitter, and polish with finger. Color with alcohol markers. Glue to tree as shown.

5. Cut black cardstock 1 1/8 x 2 1/4 inches. Stamp Merry Christmas sentiment in white ink (don't worry if it doesn't stamp very bright - you actually don't want it to). Add white colored pencil in some areas to give it a chalkboard look. Optional: use a craft knife to gently scrape some areas lighter as desired. Cut green cardstock 1 1/4 x 2 5/16 inches. Adhere black to green, lining up left edge.


6. Die cut small holly leaves and small berries. Draw line down middle of 3 leaves using pointed tool. On the back of each berry, rub the small round stylus to form a little cup. Glue above sentiment as shown. Adhere to top left of card using dimensional tape. Add enamel dots as shown.


Supplies

ECD Supplies
Other Supplies
  • Cardstock: Kraft, Brown, Green, Cream
  • Alcohol Marker Friendly Cardstock (e.g. 
  • Pattern Paper: Recollections - City Sidewalks 6x6 Paper Pad
  • Alcohol Markers - Copic colors used: FYG2, RV09, RV55, R29, and G19
  • Ink: White
  • Colored Pencil: White
  • Enamel Dots
  • Craft Knife (Optional)
  • Dimensional Tape
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Monday, November 2, 2015

Girl on Gift Watercolored Christmas Card

Made for the Oak Tree Stamps Design Team

This little girl was a lot of fun to watercolor! She is so joyful - the perfect choice for a Merry Christmas card. The packages at the bottom went well with the card, but if you don't have this paper, you could stamp them or even doodle them. Note: the watercolor paper is warm toned (yellowish), not white so be sure to use it for the sentiment as well.

Making the Card

1. Cut blue cardstock 7 x 10 inches. Fold in half to for a card base.  Cut red cardstock 3 3/4 x 4 3/4 inches. Cut red/white striped patterned paper 3 5/8 x 4 5/8 inches; adhere to red cardstock then to card base as shown.

2. On watercolor paper, stamp girl on present (Oak Tree Stamps: All I Want for Christmas set) using waterproof black ink. Optional: with a waterproof black pen, draw a line for the ground. Stamp Merry Christmas sentiment leaving enough space to die cut image and cut around sentiment. Watercolor image starting with lightest values, letting dry in between layers. This gives it a painterly look.

3. Die cut watercolored image using Lawn Fawn: Small Stitched Rectangle Stackables. Adhere to card base where shown.

4. Cut strip of presents from patterned paper; adhere near bottom of card. Trim excess from back of card.



5. Die cut packages using Sizzix/Tim Holtz Mini Retro Packages - large in pink and red, small in blue and pink. Cut bows from large red and small pink packages then paper piece on pink and blue packages respectively as shown. Glue a piece of cardstock on the back of each package where the ribbon cross will go: use color matching ribbon to go in the hole - cut just smaller than the package body (hint: I trace the outside of the package on the cardstock then cut just inside the line). Glue ribbons in as shown. Adhere packages where shown using dimensional tape.

6. Cut Merry Christmas sentiment out in a strip, leaving room for flag tails. Cut flag tails and trim as necessary. Adhere to red cardstock. Cut around leaving small margin of red (I trimmed the left side flush). Adhere to card where shown, using dimensional tape.

7. Adhere enamel dots as shown.


Supplies
  • Cardstock: Blue, Red, Pink
  • Watercolor Paper (e.g. Arches Hot Press)
  • Waterproof Black Ink (e.g. Versafine Onyx Black)
  • Watercolor Paints (e.g. Winsor & Newton)
  • Patterned Paper: Jolly Holiday (Recollections) 6x6 Pad
  • Oak Tree Stamps: All I Want for Christmas
  • Lawn Fawn: Small Stitched Rectangle Stackables (2nd Largest)
  • Sizzix/Tim Holtz Mini Retro Packages
  • Enamel Dots
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