Tuesday, July 23, 2019

So Much to be Joyful About Card & Daniel Smith Watercolors


This sweet greeting card is for anyone who needs a little pick-me-up (who doesn't love puppies!). It makes me smile. I put together the scene with some quick masking and a couple stamp sets from Dreamerland Crafts. I used Daniel Smith watercolors to color it. I just love these watercolors. They have some beautifully unique colors, such as Moonglow, used for the boy's shirt, Hematite, used in the shadows, and Buff Titanium, used on the ground. I enjoy making fluffy clouds with the simple technique described in the step-by-step. Now go out and brighten someone's day!

Pssst... if your reading this, leave me a comment! I see lots of hits on my pages but really wonder if anyone actually reads my posts! Heh.

Disclaimer: Please help support my work in this small way - just use my links if you plan to purchase anything - there's no extra cost to you. Here's the official jargon: links, affiliate links, and cookies may be used in this post and on this site. Using this site implies your consent. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from my design team companies, possibly monetary compensation, and sometimes free products for review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Google and Blogger use cookies to provide and improve their services. See Notice at bottom of blog for a longer description and/or see the full Privacy Policy for even more details.

Making the Card

1. Cut blue cardstock 7x10 inches; fold in half to form a 5x7 inch card base.

2. Cut My Mind's Eye Boy Crazy 12x12 Stitched sheet to 4 3/4 x 6 3/4 inches. Adhere to card base.

3. From Dreamerland Crafts Stamps, stamp bird, kitten, boy with box, and puppies on masking paper using StazOn Jet Black ink. Fussy cut using detail scissors.

4. Use VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink for stamping: stamp puppies at an angle as shown on watercolor paper - leave plenty of room around it for the rest of the scene. When dry, cover with matching mask. Using stamp positioner, stamp boy with box (it's a little tricky but the stamp positioner will make it a lot easier). When dry cover with matching mask. Stamp bushes as shown. Stamp bird and kitten where shown; when dry cover with matching masks. Be sure masks are stuck down well, especially around the edges.

5. Cover berries in bushes using masking fluid. Have a tissue ready. For my painting, I used Daniel Smith watercolors. Once masking fluid is dry, add water to sky then drop in color (I used Ultramarine Blue) starting with the darkest at top and fading out as you get closer to the bushes. Use crumpled tissue to dab in areas of the sky to form clouds. You may use a damp brush (water only) to go over areas you want lightened more; immediatly soak up with tissue. Watercolor the ground area. Once dry, paint bushes. Work in layers, allowing each to dry before adding more color. Paint shadows. Remove masking fluid from berries and paint them. Once the background is done, you may watercolor the subjects. Again work in layers. To blend, use a slightly damp brush to soften just-painted edges. I use a fairly dry brush to add color when I want smooth blending (blot excess on paper towel or rag).


6. Die cut image using square die. I actually used a Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities 4x4 inch square die but they have been discontinued. See supplies (bottom of post) for replacement. For the mat, cut blue cardstock a little larger. I just eyeballed it by placing the image in a corner, leaving the amount I wanted as a border, then used a pencil to mark where I wanted to cut on the other sides. Note: you may have nesting dies that will cut the desired border instead. Adhere image to mat. Adhere to card where shown.

7. Stamp sentiment in VersaFine Onyx Black ink on Boy Crazy paper (I changed inks because some of the detail was lost with the Clair Nocturne ink - my ink pad is fairly new and a bit too juicy). Trim as shown and add tails. Create a mat for it in blue cardstock. Adhere using dimensional tape.

8. Die cut champagne Deco Sheets and blue cardstock to create stars using Sizzix/Stephanie Barnard Triplits Stars die set. Adhere where shown. Add sequins and star confetti where shown.


Supplies
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Monday, June 10, 2019

No Line Coloring with Watercolor/Gouache Greeting Card


Recently I posted a no line coloring card using only colored pencils (here's another example as well). This time I used gouache to block in the colors and then went over the image with Polychromos colored pencils to add gradients and details. Gouache reactivates when painted over so it's difficult to achieve smooth gradients, especially if the gouache is student grade. I first tried Arteza Gouache, before I planned to use colored pencils, but it was really not working for me so I switched to Holbein Gouache.* It was a little better but still moved the paint too much. If you are going to use colored pencils in the end as recommended, either gouache should work.

*A note about gouache: there are two types of gouache, one that reactivates with water and one that does not. The latter is called Acryl or Acryla gouache (depending on brand); these are more like acrylic paint. They are permanent once dry, thus you may layer these without affecting the previous (dried) layers.

Disclaimer: Please help support my work in this small way - just use my links if you plan to purchase anything - there's no extra cost to you. Here's the official jargon: links, affiliate links, and cookies may be used in this post and on this site. Using this site implies your consent. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from my design team companies, possibly monetary compensation, and sometimes free products for review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Google and Blogger use cookies to provide and improve their services. See Notice at bottom of blog for a longer description and/or see the full Privacy Policy for even more details.

Making the Card

1. Cut watercolor paper to about 4x6 inches or so. I used 5x7 precut sheets. Use Stamp Platform and Antique Linen Distress Ink to stamp Just Dance with Me (Dreamerland Crafts). The Distress Ink will react with water and should just about disappear while painting.

2. Use a Copic Multiliner SP Black .3 pen to trace the eyes, eye brows, and mouths - be sure to do this before coloring or you might not be able to see where to put them. Use gouache to block in colors of the image (I used Holbein and some Arteza - see introduction for more information). You can mix darker and lighter colors trying to blend as you go but you may not get a great gradient. Also, details will be easier to add with color pencil (next step).


3. Once the image has dried, use Polychromos colored pencils to add shading, gradients, and details. I found this especially useful for the hair and cheeks. Keep the pencils out for the next step.

4. Use a pair of detail scissors and a craft knife (on a self-healing mat) to cut around image. Use colored pencils to gently go around outside of image in matching colors to hide white edges.

5. Cut white Soft-Finish Cardstock to 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches; fold in half to form a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch card base. I like the soft texture on the front of this cardstock and, since the reverse side is smooth, it is easy to write inside the card. Cut purple plaid paper (Perfectly Plaid Rainbow, Lawn Fawn) to 4 x 5 1/4 inches. Adhere to card base.

6. Die cut white Soft-Finish Cardstock using die from Double-Stitched Circle Set (or other stitched circle set) - see the image below for size. Use the next size up to die cut blue cardstock. Adhere white circle to blue. Adhere to card where shown (if you want to check placement, just hold off gluing until later). Use dimensional/mounting tape to adhere colored image to white circle.

7. Prep a the back of a piece of white Soft Finish Cardstock with powder tool; stamp "Just dance with me" using Purple Hydrangea VersaMagic ink (I recommend using Stamp Platform, especially if you want to stamp on the front of the cardstock where there is texture). Heat emboss using Silver Pearl Ranger Embossing Powder (you may also use clear but the pearl gives it a beautiful subtle shimmer). Die cut with stitched circle. Adhere to card where shown using dimensional/mounting tape.

8. Adhere purple sequins where shown; I recommend using a Crystal Ninja Tanto pick up tool for placement.


Supplies
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Monday, May 20, 2019

Spring Greeting Card with Sennelier Watercolor


This sweet image by Dreamerland Crafts is a perfect Spring or Summer greeting card, with it's soft colors - complete with blue sky and fluffy white clouds. Sennelier L'aquarelle watercolor was used to paint the image. They are a dream to work with: easy to re-wet and so very pigmented. These paints are very high quality, with excellent lightfast ratings. Doodlebug Design papers, Karen Burniston die cuts, and some customized flowers add to this fairly simple card design.

Disclaimer: Please help support my work in this small way - just use my links if you plan to purchase anything - there's no extra cost to you. Here's the official jargon: links, affiliate links, and cookies may be used in this post and on this site. Using this site implies your consent. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from my design team companies, possibly monetary compensation, and sometimes free products for review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Google and Blogger use cookies to provide and improve their services. See Notice at bottom of blog for a longer description and/or see the full Privacy Policy for even more details.

Making the Card

1. Cut a piece of Fabriano Artistico Extra White Hot Pressed watercolor paper to 4 1/4 x 6 inches or larger (I left extra wiggle room around my stamping).

Notes about the paper: I did not like how the paint stuck to some spots on the paper more than others when I used a wet-in-wet wash (sky); I would probably use a different brand for this type of work next time. If you look closely, you can see that the paint stuck to some fibers more than others, giving it a grainy texture - of course this is fine if you are going for that look. I didn't care for it. However, I do like the extra white color of the paper, as well as the smooth texture that makes stamping much easier than on textured watercolor paper.

2. Using a Stamp Platform and Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink, stamp Pleasant Fragrance (Dreamerland Crafts stamp) on the paper cut in step 1. You will need to trim the bunny stamp area from the girl stamp unless you want to mask or do selective inking.

3. Use Sennelier (or other) watercolors to color image. To create the sky, I used a wet-in-wet wash of blue, going from dark at the top, fading to nothing near the ground line. Then, while still wet, I used a tissue to blot areas for clouds, removing the blue so the white of the paper showed. For the grass, I put down a light green wash, then filled in the grass blades using a few different shades of green.

4. Once the image was dry, I used a black Copic Multiliner to fill in areas of grass to give it a more cohesive look with the stamping.


5. Die cut green cardstock with largest Crosshatch die with crosshatching. Die cut image using largest Crosshatch rectangle die without crosshatching. Adhere to green die cut.

6. Die cut 5 or 6 "hello" words from green cardstock using die from Word Set 6 - Summer. Glue these together one by one to form a thick stack.

7. Choose a couple flower embellishments for the bottom left on card. Optional: use the same watercolor as you did on the flowers in the stamped image to color a couple white flower embellishments so they match perfectly.

8. Cut white cardstock 7x10 inches; fold in half to form a 5x7 inch card base. Cut red cardstock 4 3/4 x 6 3/4 inches; adhere to card base.

9. Find the red striped and red polka dot papers from the Doodlebug Design Dot-Grid-Daisy-Stripe Rainbow Petite Prints 6x6 paper pad (note: I couldn't find the papers I used for a link; you may want to try Dot-Stripe instead). Cut two striped and one polka dot piece to 2 x 4 3/8 inches. Adhere to red cardstock as shown. Adhere matted image as shown.

10. Glue on flowers, hello, and enamel dots where shown.


Supplies
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Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Cute Teddy Bear No Line Coloring Birthday Card


Here is a little scene I put together using Dreamerland Crafts stamps, Distress Oxide inks, and Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils. I used Memento Desert Sand to stamp the image for no line coloring. It's helpful to have a black stamped image nearby as well in case you can't see some of the lines (I didn't do this and accidentally colored her dress a bit longer in back than it was on the stamp, oops!).

Instead of solvent blending, I used lighter and medium colors to blend over sections that needed smoothing. Overall I kept some of the texture since I liked the look. Since I wanted the focus to be on the main image, I kept the background and card simple. Have you tried no line coloring?

Disclaimer: Please help support my work in this small way - just use my links if you plan to purchase anything - there's no extra cost to you. Here's the official jargon: links, affiliate links, and cookies may be used in this post and on this site. Using this site implies your consent. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from my design team companies, possibly monetary compensation, and sometimes free products for review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Google and Blogger use cookies to provide and improve their services. See Notice at bottom of blog for a longer description and/or see the full Privacy Policy for even more details.

Making the Card

1. Use Stamp Platform to stamp Cute Teddy Bear in StazOn Jet Black ink on Stamp Masking Paper, leaving stamp mounted for step 2. Fussy cut around image using detail scissors. Use craft knife on a cutting mat to cut around inside areas.

2. Cut a piece of Canson Bristol Paper about 5x6 inches (it doesn't need to be this big but I like to leave some of wiggle room for stamping and die cutting). Stamp Cute Teddy Bear (Dreamerland Crafts stamp set) in Memento Desert Sand ink leaving a bit more room on the left side for flowers and butterflies.

3. Use black Copic Multiliner SP to fill in bear's eye, nose, and mouth and girls's eye and mouth. The SP versions of Multiliners are more economical in the long run as they are refillable and the nibs can be changed - they also reduce the amount of plastic going into land fills. (Note: I used sepia for her mouth and cool gray for her eye; the mouth looks OK but you can't really tell in the eye.)

4. Place mask over image. I recommend working on a craft sheet. Use another mask to make a slight hill. It will start near the bottom of the stump - see photo (you may also use Post-it Tape). I just cut a slight arc with my scissors, keeping both pieces. Cover the bottom while blending the sky, then do the reverse when blending the grass area. With a blending tool using Salty Ocean Distress Oxide ink, start from the top just off the paper using circular motions to create the sky, stopping short of the grass line. Change the masks to blend the grass area in a similar manner using Mowed Lawn and Lucky Clover Distress Oxide inks (using two colors gives it some variation and shading). Remove the mask covering the sky area. Using the same colors for the lawn and the Just Dance with Me (Dreamerland Crafts) grass stamp, use 2nd and 3rd generation stamping to cover the hill side with grass (2nd/3rd generation stamping is done by inking stamp and stamping off on a piece of scrap paper, then, without re-inking, stamping in the image area a couple times for lighter stamping).


5. Stamp butterflies and flowers where shown using stamps from Just Dance with Me. I stamped the butterflies with Ripe Persimmon Distress Oxide ink and flowers with Candied Apple and Mustard Seed. Hint: I used the corner of my stamp pad to ink flowers individually so I could stamp flowers in different colors at the same time. Alternatively, you could ink and stamp each flower one at a time, cleaning stamp in between.

6. Use Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils to color image, add stems and leaves to flowers, color centers of flowers, and draw bodies on butterflies. Use a light touch in small oval motions to cover areas with pencil, building up layers. Also blend with pencils, e.g. by going over light colored areas with white or cream pencils to create and blend highlights.

7. Cut black cardstock 5x10 inches; fold in half to form a 5x5 inch card base. Cut patterned paper 4 3/4 x 4 3/4 inches. I used a sheet from My Mind's Eye: Filled with Love but it is likely hard to find; you may want to check out Doodlebug Design's Rainbow Petite Prints papers - they have many colors and light patterns that are perfect for backgrounds. Adhere to card base. Pick out two circular dies, such as those from Hero Arts Infinity Dies Nesting Circle dies, that will fit on the front of the card as shown. To die cut image, use the next smaller Large Dotted Circle Stackables die that will fit inside the two you selected.

8. Use Stamp Platform to stamp Happy Birthday (Dreamerland Crafts Birthday 11) in Memento Tuxedo Black ink where shown on image (note: I cut my sentiment stamp so that I may stack the words - if you don't want to cut your stamp, then you will have to mask or ink selectively). Die cut brown cardstock and black cardstock with selected circle dies; adhere each as shown to the front of the card, with the image on top.


Supplies
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Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Celebrate Today Card with Copic Colored Image


Hello and welcome! Some of you may be new to my blog since Dreamerland Crafts is introducing the 2019 design team and today is my day! This is a fun and fairly easy card to make. I will do a little paper piecing (just a little) to give it a more interesting look (it's the lazy way to color a dress!).

Please help support my blog by using the links if you are planning to buy some crafty goods - it doesn't cost you anything but helps me in a small way. I actually buy most of my supplies... way outspending what I get from companies and from my small earnings, much to my husband's consternation. You do not have to buy the item you click on either - anything you purchase from the linked store after clicking will help, just keep in mind that the cookie (used to track where you came from) will expire not long after clicking so if you would like to support this blog, click just before making a purchase. Know that I really appreciate it!

If you like my work, you may want to subscribe via email (Feedburner) or Bloglovin' - you may find the links to both on the right side, below all the badges (there's also a Bloglovin' link at the end of this post).

Disclaimer: Please help support my work in this small way - just use my links if you plan to purchase anything - there's no extra cost to you. Here's the official jargon: links, affiliate links, and cookies may be used in this post and on this site. Using this site implies your consent. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from my design team companies, possibly monetary compensation, and sometimes free products for review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Google and Blogger use cookies to provide and improve their services. See Notice at bottom of blog for a longer description and/or see the full Privacy Policy for even more details.

Making the Card

1. If your Dreamerland Crafts Photographer stamp is new, I recommend conditioning it with a little VersaMark ink before using; just tap some on and wipe with a finger such that some of the stick stays on it. From the Doodlebug Hello Sunshine pad, find the brown pattern sheets shown, using the small print for the dress. Mount stamp on Stamp Platform - you may alternatively use an acrylic block but the Stamp Platform not only allows you to more precisely position the stamp but also re-stamp if it doesn't go well the first time. Use Tuxedo Black Memento Dew Drop ink pad to tap ink only in the dress area of the stamp (if using the full pad, you may want to mask off the other parts when inking then remove before stamping) and stamp in a corner of the patterned paper.

Optional: I recommend cleaning stamps with the Lawn Fawn Stamp Shammy. It cleans really well, does not leave lint behind, and is better for the environment than using baby wipes. I do not put it in a container to keep it wet from session to session - it will grow bacteria. Better to let it dry naturally then rewet the next time you use it. Note: it used to annoy me that it was so hard when dry but I got used to it. It only take a few seconds of wetting and wringing to get it pliable.

2. Ink the stamp again across the entire design and stamp on a piece of X-Press It Blending Card.

3. Color image with Copic markers (or other alcohol markers). You may color the dress area with dark gray or black (in case the fussy cut dress wasn't perfect - this will hide minor issues), or just leave it white (if the fussy cut dress fits perfectly). Optional: add some shadows to the dress, e.g. in the skirt creases. The colors I used are listed under Supplies.


4. Use a pair of detail scissors to fussy cut around patterned dress, hummingbird, and photographer. To get into the small areas, use a craft knife and self-healing cutting mat. From the back side, go around the outside edges with the brush end of a Tuxedo Black Memento Dual marker. This gives it a finished look by hiding any white edges. Adhere dress to photographer.

5. Cut a piece of dark pink cardstock 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches; fold in half to form a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch card base. Cut black cardstock 4 x 5 1/4 inches. Adhere to card base using Xyron Tape Runner or other permanent adhesive. From Doodlebug Hello Sunshine pad, find the brown background paper shown on card front; trim to 4 1/8 x 5 3/8 inches. Adhere to card base.

6. From light blue cardstock, die cut two clouds (Outdoor Scene). From light pink cardstock, die cut cross-stitched square. Adhere to card base where shown. Adhere small cloud where shown. Use dimensional tape to adhere hummingbird and photographer as shown.

7. Put a piece of dark pink cardstock in Stamp Platform; brush with powder tool to prevent extraneous embossing powder from sticking where you don't want it. Stamp Celebrate Today (Dreamerland Crafts Birthday 11 stamp set) in VersaMark ink. Heat emboss with Pink Peony. Trim as shown. Cut black cardstock just a tiny bit larger; I just eyeball it: with the trimmed sentiment in a corner of the black cardstock leaving the amount I want around the two edges, and mark the other two edges with a pencil then cut. Adhere sentiment to black. Adhere to card using dimensional tape.


Supplies
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Monday, February 18, 2019

Sweet Puppy Pop-up Birthday Card


I used this sweet Dreamerland Crafts stamp "Love My Puppy" as the foundation for my Spinner Square Pop-up birthday card. I wanted to have the image peeking through a front window in the card, then when opened, have the sentiment move down as the image pops up. The fun Doodlebug Design papers I used - Sugar Shoppe - are older (from 2014) although you can still find some around. Of course you can substitute some of the newer Doodlebug Design papers, just adjust the colors to match.

Once again I'm testing Lavender Spike Oil as my blending solvent. It has a very strong smell of lavender so if you don't like lavender, I don't recommend it. The fumes are not toxic (unlike other popular solvents). This time I'm using it with oil based pencils - Faber-Castell Polychromos. I must say, they blended beautifully.

Disclaimer: Please help support my work in this small way - just use my links if you plan to purchase anything - there's no extra cost to you. Here's the official jargon: links, affiliate links, and cookies may be used in this post and on this site. Using this site implies your consent. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from my design team companies, possibly monetary compensation, and sometimes free products for review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Google and Blogger use cookies to provide and improve their services. See Notice at bottom of blog for a longer description and/or see the full Privacy Policy for even more details.


Making the Card

1. Use Stamp Platform to stamp Love My Puppy (Dreamerland Crafts) on Strathmore 500 Bristol Plate in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Use Black Copic Multiliner SP .3 to draw a ground line across image background.


2. Color image using Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils, blending with Lavender Spike Oil and blending stumps. Note: I use a Kum Long Point Sharpener to sharpen my pencils - it gives you a very fine point in two steps. Once the image has been colored, use the largest square from Spinner Square Pop-up to die cut image. This will be your pop-up platform (step 3).

3. Before assembling the card, watch the video below - specific notes follow. I recommend watching the video then looking at the notes, and finally assembling the card while watching the video a second time.


Cut teal cardstock for the base card as shown in the video, 4 1/4 x 11 inches. Die cut teal for the arm - mark with Xs where shown. Cut the inside papers - see photos for the patterns I used; note: I used 4 x 5 5/16 inches instead of 4 x 5 1/4 inches to put the inside edges a little closer to the fold. Remember to only tack down the left side of the window sheet (inside left) as shown in the video. I used recycled plastic packaging for the window. For the front of the card, I cut the paper to 4 x 5 1/4 inches. You could adhere it to the front temporarily and try to cut through 3 layers but it probably won't cut all the way through. I recommend cutting two layers as in the video, removing the resulting cut squares (keep them), adhering the front patterned paper, then fitting the die into the hole to cut the front.

Cut frame, from diagonal teal striped side of paper, as shown in video. Keep squares that fall out of windows. I used the teal one for the rectangle that moves inside. For adhesive, Lineco in a fine tip bottle (shown in video) works very well; it creates a strong bond, and dries quickly.


4. For the sentiment, use the leftover inside square from the front of the card - the backside has light teal stripes. Use Stamp Platform to stamp "Happy Birthday" (Birthday 11) in VersaMark ink. Heat emboss with Gun Metal (note: I cut my stamp words apart; if you do not want to cut them, then you will have to mask them). Trim to fit on movable arm and adhere (I used removable tape to test before gluing down to make sure it wouldn't stick out of card when closed).

5. Using balloon from Birthday Charms, cut three from teal cardstock, one from yellow cardstock, and one from dark pink cardstock. Be sure to keep all holes! You will glue them back in and flatten with a Teflon bone folder (which flattens but won't make the paper shiny). Use white Gelly Roll to draw shine on balloon (you may use the stencil provided with the die). Note where each balloon goes on the card (the teal ones should all line up), cut twine for strings, adhere top of twine where it will be behind each balloon (if it helps mark with pencil first). Adhere balloons where shown, using dimensional tape to pop up dark pink balloon on front of card. Die cut small heart (Birthday Charms) from dark pink cardstock; adhere where shown, gluing front balloon strings together. Adhere sequins where shown (note: be sure sequins do not interfere with arm movement).


Supplies
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Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Celebrate Today with Breakfast and Cuteness


I just couldn't resist this adorable bear chef (by Dreamerland Crafts) making breakfast! I decided to color him with Copic markers and pair him with Doodlebug Design paper that's covered with cute breakfast foods. I tried to closely match the paper when choosing colors for the bear's clothes and background. Wendy Vecchi's embossing powder perfectly matched the color theme so I used it for the sentiment. This is such a happy card - perfect to send to a friend who needs a little cheering up.

Disclaimer: Please help support my work in this small way - just use my links if you plan to purchase anything - there's no extra cost to you. Here's the official jargon: links, affiliate links, and cookies may be used in this post and on this site. Using this site implies your consent. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from my design team companies, possibly monetary compensation, and sometimes free products for review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Google and Blogger use cookies to provide and improve their services. See Notice at bottom of blog for a longer description and/or see the full Privacy Policy for even more details.

Making the Card

1. Cut pink cardstock 7x10 inches; fold in half to form a 5x7 inch card base. Cut dark pink cardstock 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches. Cut Waffley Cute paper to 4 1/4 x 6 1/4 inches. Adhere to dark pink then adhere to card base.

2. Use Stamp Platform to stamp Breakfast Chef (Dreamerland Crafts) on Neenah Solar White cardstock in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Use Black Copic Multiliner SP .3 to draw a ground line across image behind bear. Color image with Copic markers (the colors I used are listed below in Supplies).


3. Use largest CottageCutz Cross-Stitched Square to die cut dark pink paper. Use second largest to die cut image. Adhere image to dark pink square. Adhere to card as shown.

4. Using a Stamp Platform, stamp "Celebrate Today" (Birthday 11) on pink cardstock using VersaMark ink. Heat emboss with Garden Patina. Trim down if necessary. To create a mat, cut dark pink cardstock 1/8 inch larger (so there will be 1/16 showing all around). Adhere sentiment to dark pink mat. Adhere where shown.


Supplies
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Tuesday, January 8, 2019

What is My Favorite Xyron Product and Why


What is my favorite Xyron product and why? This is the theme for the 2018 Xyron Design Team's last project. I would have to say my favorite is the 9" Creative Station, although it's really a toss up between the permanent adhesive and the double-sided lamination cartridges. I probably use permanent adhesive most often because it is an ideal tool for applying adhesive - it puts adhesive evenly all over whatever you run through it. Not only is it great for making stickers, it is perfect for background papers for cards and super useful for die cuts. I used to hate having to glue things like thin die cut letters/words because the glue would get all over the place. Now it is really easy - just run the cardstock through the the Creative Station with permanent adhesive, die cut, peel, and stick! You can even make your own dimensional tape. For a unique look, create your own designs on cardstock (such as a gradient effect with ink) before running it through and die cutting.

Cartridges are super simple to change, even mid-roll, which I do all the time! As an example of how I use lamination, check out my post on creating watercolor swatch sheets.

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Making the Card

1. Cut Neenah Solar White cardstock about 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches. Use a Stamp Platform to stamp large dog (Crazy Dogs), small dog (Mini Cats & Dogs), and bone (Mini Cats & Dogs) in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Note: I didn't notice until I went to color the images that I had missed the large dog's foot in stamping - I just used a black Copic Multiliner SP to draw the edges then covered the paw with the bone to hide my mistake.

2. Color images with Copic markers (see Supplies for a list of colors I used).

3. Find the page in Puppy Love 6x6 pad with labels - the one with "love at FURst sight;" cut it away from the other labels. Cut a piece of blue cardstock about 1/8 inch bigger (so it will have 1/16" border around it). Use 1/4" Corner Chomper to round all corners on label and blue mat. On the label, go around edges from the back side with E55 Light Carmel.


4. From Puppy Love 6x6 pad find striped page, brown small hearts page, colorful hearts page, and border strips page ("adorable" words and paw prints). Trim colorful hearts to 4 1/2 x 4 3/4 inches. Trim stripes (vertical stripe orientation) to 1 1/2 x 4 3/4 inches. Cut "adorable" and paw strip from the page of strips but leave them connected; trim to 4 3/4 inches wide.

5. Use Stacked Baroque - largest to cut blue cardstock, next largest to cut brown small hearts (vertical orientation, see card photo). On the brown hearts die cut, go around edges from the back side with E55 Light Carmel.

6. Instead of dimensional tape, cut a piece of craft foam a little smaller than "love at FURst sight" label (I used a larger piece - I keep the extra around for other projects). Cut a piece of Neenah Solar White cardstock large enough to die cut "happy" and "anniversary" (Celebration Words: Script) - do not die cut yet.


7. Run everything through the Xyron 9" Creative Station with permanent adhesive.

8. Use Crazy Dogs large dog die and Mini Crazy Cats & Dogs small dog die and bone die to die cut images. Hint: after cutting them out, go around edges with 110 Special Black to go around edges from back side plus fill in any extra white edge areas showing (e.g. if the cutting was a little off). Die cut "happy" and "anniversary" from adhesive backed Neenah Solar White cardstock.

9.  Cut blue cardstock 7x10 inches; fold in half to form a 5x7 inch card base. On inside of card, adhere "happy" and "anniversary" where shown in photo below. Use a Teflon bone folder to rub over the tops of all the letters - this helps adhere the words and removes any ejector hole indents, without adding shine to the cardstock.


10. After rubbing your fingers around all cellophane on top of papers (hint: use a die pick to also go around edges), remove cellophane. To remove backing from large pieces, flip and peel backing away - this reduces the amount of bending. Punch a small hole at the bottom right corner of striped piece where heart brad will go - peel backing partially away and insert heart brad, spreading tines. Adhere heart piece at top then striped piece at bottom, making sure spacing is equal around top/bottom and sides. Adhere "adorable"/paw strip in middle. Adhere brown heart baroque piece to blue baroque piece; adhere to card where shown. Adhere tall dog (I wrapped the tail around the back and used the Teflon bone folder to stick it down well), short dog, and bone as shown. Adhere "love at FURst sight" label to top of craft foam where the cellophane was. Peel off backing and stick to blue mat. Adhere to card front where shown.


Supplies
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