Sorry it has been a while since my last post! I have been working on a new design team - Frantic Stamper! The new dies don't release until next month (February 2017) so even though I've been creating and writing up posts, I can't publish until then! For now, here is a post that I did last year to go with my first video as part of the Imagine Crafts Artist in Residence program. There was a bit of a snafu with getting the video posted on their blog and a change in leadership so this never got released.
The theme for the challenge was Poetry. I had an Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem stamp for the longest time, usually using it as a background for Valentine's Day cards. This one has a little twist - the whimsical lady enjoying boxes of chocolates! You can just imagine her reciting the poem in her head as she eats her chocolates one by one.
Making the Card
Watch the tutorial below for a step-by-step on making the card:
I love how fun this image is, giving a whole new meaning to the poem. I don't know about you, but chocolate has this effect on me.
Unfortunately the Pico Embellisher doesn't show up well in the photos. The chocolates and her earring have a slight 3D feel to them plus a glossy shine and slight shimmer - looks so cool in person!
Supplies
Imagine Crafts Supplies
Memento Markers: Summer Sky, London Fog, Love Letter, Rose Bud
I love the shimmer of Fireworks sprays; it's perfect for holiday cards. I used the sprays to color most of the card. It lends a bit more texture to the background and tree. I masked to color a few areas, and used a paint brush to apply it to the smallest areas. The irRESISTible Texture Spray gave the card a slight dimension in the background as snow. Finally a few touches of Neon Amplify added fur to the hat and fox's tail.
Making the Card
1. Cut red 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 plaid patterned paper (Lawn Fawn Perfectly Paid Christmas) 4 x 5 1/4 inches.
2. Using 2nd largest oval (Large Stitched Oval Stackables), die cut white cardstock. using largest oval (Small Stitched Oval Stackables), die cut green cardstock.
3. Die cut bow from red cardstock and assemble.
4. Watch the video below:
5. I had originally planned to do more shading in the background with Summer Sky Memento Ink, either starting at the bottom and fading to the top or vice versa but I actually liked the background just sprayed so I left it. You can also optionally use Cottage Ivy Memento Ink and masking for tree shading under the branches.
Supplies
irRESISTible Texture Spray: Wedding Dress
Fireworks Sprays: Lady Bug, Cottage Ivy, Desert Sand, Summer Sky
Memento Dew Drop Inks: Lady Bug, Toffee Crunch, Optional: Cottage Ivy, Summer Sky
Ink Blushers
VersaFine Ink: Onyx Black
StazOn Ink: Jet Black
Memento Markers: Tuxedo Black, Optional - London Fog
Neon Amplify: White
Patterned Paper: Lawn Fawn Perfectly Paid Christmas 6x6 Petite Paper Pack
Cardstock: White, Red, Green
Dies: Lawn Fawn Large Stitched Oval Stackables & Small Stitched Oval Stackables, Paper Smooches Baby Bow
This card has a lot of sparkle - perfect for the holidays. The stamps are by Flourishes, l.c. The sparkle comes from Imagine Crafts, as part of a blog hop! The card is simple to make but looks very elegant.
Be sure to leave a comment in order to win prizes!
1. Cut red 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.
2. Stamp large bouquet and tag with "Winter Cheer" greeting on white cardstock with StazOn Jet Black ink. Color bouquet with Memento Markers, going from dark to light, overlapping colors to shade and blend. Cut around bouquet and tag with detail scissors. Go around outside edges from the back side with Tuxedo Black Memento Marker (this hides the white edges and gives it a finished look). Spray bouquet with Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spritz. Spray tag with Gold Sheer Shimmer Spritz.
3. Cut about a 6 inch long piece of seam binding. Spray with Gold Sheer Shimmer Spritz.
4. Cut black cardstock 3 3/4 x 5 inches. Spray with Gold irRESISTible Texture Spray. Once dry, spray Gold Sheer Shimmer Spritz over the entire piece. Wrap gold sprayed seam binding around middle where shown, adhering on backside. Adhere to card base.
5. Die cut 3rd smallest Dotted Scallop Oval from white cardstock. Spray with Gold Sheer Shimmer Spritz. Add dots of Gold irRESISTible Pico Embellisher to outside scallops. Let dry. Adhere to center of card.
6. Adhere bouquet with dimensional tape as shown. Adhere tag where shown.
Supplies
Memento Markers: Lady Bug, Love Letter, Rhubarb Stalk, Dandelion, New Sprout, Pear Tart, Bamboo Leaves, Cottage Ivy, Tuxedo Black
3. Follow the instructions for your die cutting machine to make the proper sandwich for Sizzlit sized dies. Emboss the 1 inch SHEET Metal. The good side will face up (not toward the die) since you want to color the raised side.
4. Watch the following video to color the embossed metal and card panel:
5. Adhere panel to card base. Tie ribbon in bow. Open small jump ring, put charm on it then close it. Open medium jump ring and add half the beads, the charm jump ring, then the other half of the beads. Thread through bow center; close jump ring.
Supplies
SHEET Metal: Assorted Pack (1 Inch Circle)
StazOn Inks: Mustard, Ultramarine, Jet Black
GlazOn: Clear
Ink Blushers
Fantastix
657803 Sizzix DecoEtch Die - Fairy Twilight by Vintaj
Stamp Set: Sending Holiday Cheer - Hero Arts CL464
Wink of Stella
Alcohol Markers (e.g. Copics)
Cardstock: Alcohol Marker Friendly (X-Press It Blending Card), Dark Blue
Here's a Halloween card full of sparkle (and maybe a wee bit of magic!). I used Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spritz on the background paper with the potion bottles to give it a subtle shine. Rather than coloring the images with pencils or markers, I painted them using Fireworks! The result looks incredible in person - like molten metals.
Making the Card
1. Cut black cardstock 7 x 10 inches. Fold in half to form a 5 x 7 inch card base.
2. Cut black cardstock 4 5/8 x 4 5/8 inches. Cut orange striped patterned paper (Doodlebug Design 6x6 Paper Pad Boos & Brews) 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches. Stamp spider with VersaFine Onyx Black and draw line from edge to spider with black pen. Adhere to black cardstock.
3. Find potion bottle page in Doodlebug Design 6x6 Paper Pad Boos & Brews. Cut to 4 3/4 x 6 inches. Watch the following video.
4. Use different levels of dimensional tape to adhere the apothecary table, bottles, candelabra, and sentiment by doubling up on the apothecary, gluing the back bottles directly to the background, and using a single layer on everything else.
5. To make the bow, just go back and forth in a circular pattern then staple in the middle with a Tiny Attacher (Tim Holtz). The spider charm will cover it. If you don't have one, use a strong dry adhesive such as Tear It Tape. Attach the "beware" charm using a jump ring. Adhere bow and charms to card as shown.
Supplies
Cardstock: White, Black
Fireworks: Tangelo, New Sprout, Grape Jelly, Cantaloupe, Dandelion, Rich Cocoa, Desert Sand, Tuxedo Black
I just love Halloween! This night scene is so fun to create - the inks blend nicely to create the spooky night sky. GooseBumps acts as a resist, protecting the colors of the moon and creating stars that come out as you apply the inks to the sky. These Lawn Fawn stamps are only slightly scary (well, the ghosts are actually adorable, especially the little one).
Making the Card
1. Cut white cardstock to about 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches (the final size will be 4 x 5 1/4).
2. Watch the following video to see how to create the ink blended background. Be sure not to touch the GooseBumps until it dries... I accidentally touched the moon and put a fingerprint in it. (Ugh.)
3. Stamp the house, tree, and 3 ghosts on white cardstock. Color with colored pencils. If you want to see how I colored them with my Faber-Castell Polychromos, watch the following video (coloring has been sped up).
4. Optional: with a small brush add GooseBumps to the parts of the bats that are outside the moon (i.e. outside the previous application of GooseBumps). Let that dry then put another application over both bats to give them a slight dimension (it also helped fix my finger indent somewhat).
5. Cut purple 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.
6. Once the GooseBumps has dried, adhere scene to cardbase. Adhere final ghost with dimensional tape if you haven't already done so. I wanted mine to go slightly beyond the scene onto the card base to make it seem like it was coming out of the card.
Supplies
Memento Inks: Dandelion, Cantaloupe, Tangelo, Elderberry, Paris Dark, Tuxedo Black
StazOn Ink: Jet Black
GooseBumps Clear Texture Spray
Memento Marker: Tuxedo Black
Ink Blushers
Optional: BrushStix, DoodleStix, Foam Pad
Cardstock: White (Smooth, e.g. Neenah Solar White), Dark Green, Purple
This charm is both fun to make and looks really cool. You could easily use this technique to make a pendant, earrings, or smaller charms for hanging off tags or a charm bracelet. I made this one with potions for Halloween.
The clear embossing powder gives the charm a shine that makes it look like glass. I edged the piece with silver embossing powder, which looks like a metal frame when finished. You could also use other colors, such as gold or black.
Making the Charm
1. Die cut shrink plastic using Potion Bottles. Cut a piece of shrink plastic in a rectangle that is larger than the potions stamp (Mini Halloween 4) - I recommend using a cutter so the lines will be straight.
2. Watch the video below for stamping, coloring, and embossing. You will emboss the piece multiple times with clear embossing powder. You may add VersaMarker (or VersaMark Ink) in between layers, or if you work quickly, you may dip the just heated piece back into the clear powder and it will stick.
3. Hints: I left the back of the charm with a pebble-like texture for a rough glass look. You may put more on to make it smooth. Also, I made the mistake of coloring the entire purple bottle, which had the unfortunate effect of making the label too dark. If I did this over, I would leave the center of the bottle clear where the label would go. The green bottle label didn't fit in the hole after shrinking (they don't shrink evenly) - it didn't bother me since I wanted it to stick up anyway. I'm not sure if adding it to the center of the plastic before shrinking would work - I wouldn't recommend putting glue on before baking; it might start a fire.
4. Attach a jump ring to each side through the hole punched earlier. Attach one jump ring to the lobster claw hook clasp and the other to the chain. Note, if you don't like the clasp next to the charm, you may attach it in the middle of the chain so it won't show on the front, just open a link in the middle to do so. I like the look of it so I put it next to the charm.
Supplies
StazOn Inks (Midi and/or Full Sized Ink Pads): Jet Black, Cactus Green, Forest Green, Eden
Green, Orange Zest, Pumpkin, Gothic Purple, Royal Purple, Midnight Blue, Dove Gray, Spiced Chai
StazOn All Purpose Stamp Cleaner
Embossing Powder: Clear, Silver
VersaMarker (Preferred) or VersaMark Ink Pad
Ink Blushers
DoodleStix
GlazOn Clear
Shrink Plastic: Clear (e.g. Shrinky Dinks)
Stamps: Stampers Anonymous - Mini Haloween 4 CMS198, Mini Blueprints 5 CMS170
Creating galaxy or nebula backgrounds is really popular these days. Many people are using watercolor paints to create them. I decided to use the incredibly bright Radiant Neon Inks by Imagine Crafts to create mine, along with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. This combination gives a surprisingly realistic look (well, similar to the enhanced space photos seen in magazines and online). I applied Sheer Shimmer Spritz to the background as well - it's so beautiful in person! Unfortunately the photos don't pick up much more than a few shiny dots here & there but you can see it better in the video (although the colors are duller in the video, sigh).
Making the Card
1. Cut purple/blue cardstock to 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches; fold in half for a card base.
2. Cut watercolor paper to about 5 x 6 inches. Note: the final size will be 4 x 5 1/4 inches, leaving extra space for taping down and triming.
3. Watch the video below to create the nebula look on the watercolor paper. To create a galaxy, just apply the color in a band across the card. Hint: do a Google search for "nebula" or "galaxy" - click the "Images" tab and use one of the photos as a model as you work. You will see me do this on my iPhone, which I set up in front of my work area (out of view of the video camera).
NOTE: YouTube took down my video and put a strike on my account due to a FALSE copyright claim by Sony Music Entertainment (SME). The actual music copyright owner is Pacific Digital Video, from whom I have permission to use their music. Someone called "Ogie" sang over Pacific's music track illegally and SME is distributing it. SME filed a false copyright violation against me and YouTube will not even look at this unless I allow SME to sue me! Their process rewards false copyright claims - the victims have no viable recourse. I now have a strike on my YouTube account because I filed a counter notification and wouldn't yield to them. No one at YouTube will look at the issue.
4. After cutting down the watercolor piece to 4 x 5 1/4 inches, emboss the sentiment in white embossing powder where shown (I use an anti-static tool before embossing). Mount it on the front of the card base using a strong tape, e.g. Tear It tape. Adhere alien using dimensional tape.
Supplies
Radiant Neon Ink Pads or Inkers: Electric Yellow, Electric Orange, Electric Coral, Electric Pink, Electric Purple, Electric Blue, Electric Green
These super fun crazy birds are the perfect subjects to color with bright Radiant Neon inks. The inks look almost like they are glowing and show up really well on dark cardstock. I made this little scene with the pooped out balloon (string blowing in the breeze) to go with the belated birthday sentiment. I especially love the expressions on the birds' faces. The set of "things" to go with the bird stamps make them quite versatile.
Making the Card
1. Cut kraft cardstock to about 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches (a quarter of 8 1/2 x 11 sheet).
2. Cut coral cardstock to 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches; fold in half for a card base.
3. Watch this video for stamping, masking, and coloring:
4. Trim kraft cardstock (with birds) to 4 x 5 1/4 inches; adhere to card base as shown.
Supplies
Radiant Neon Ink Pads or Inkers: Electric Yellow, Electric Orange, Electric Coral, Electric Pink, Electric Purple, Electric Blue, Electric Green
This was my first video as part of Imagine Crafts' Artist in Residence Team. I've been on the team now since December 2015 but this didn't get posted so here it is now! The theme was Get Organized. I thought I would make labels for the jars I use to store my craft products. For the binder clips and @ paper clips, I made the labels to match the colors of the items inside.
Making the Labels
Here is the video tutorial of how I made these fun, colorful labels:
I didn't show it in the video but I used StazOn to stamp on the label with irRESISTible texture spray. You may also use StazOn to stamp directly on the recycled plastic before adding irRESISTible pico embellisher.
Supplies
Imagine Crafts Supplies
Memento Dew Drop Inks: Cottage Ivy, Dandelion, Paris Dusk, Love Letter, Bamboo Leaves, Grape Jelly, Rose Bud
Use the new Black Shimmer and White Shimmer Delicata Inks to create this grunge multimedia look. This would make a great background for masculine cards (maybe with gears instead of butterflies, heh). Check out all the layers of color and texture.
Making the Card
1. Cut blue cardstock 7x10 inches; fold in half for a card base.
2. Cut red cardstock 2 x 3 7/8 inches (for stamped sentiment). Cut blue cardstock 1 3/4 x 3 3/8 inches (for background for frame and the word "FLY").
3. Watch the following video to create grunge papers:
The piece on the left of the red label (where most of the butterflies are located) is the center of the frame used around the word "FLY." All pieces were edged with the Black Shimmer Delicata Ink.
Hint: arrange items before gluing; draw pencil guide lines before stamping (erase lines after ink has dried - you may want to heat set).
This is a cool way to create the look of water. I put in a bit more color than I would have liked but it still looks pretty good. The Shimmer Creative Medium looks really pretty in person - it gives it a subtle shimmer when you tilt the card.
Creating the Project
1. Cut light turquoise 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.
2. Cut turquoise cardstock 4 x 5 1/4 inches. Cut fish patterned paper (Doodlebug Under the Sea) 3 7/8 x 5 1/8 inches. Adhere to turquoise then to card base. Stamp "you're fintastic" with Onyx Black VersaFine ink onto light turquoise cardstock, trim down. Cut turquoise cardstock to be 1/8 inch larger in each dimension (so 1/16 will show all around); adhere sentiment.
3. The flip side of the fish patterned paper is bubbles. Cut a strip from left over scrap and mat it with turquoise cardstock 1/8 inch larger in each dimension (so 1/16 will show around). Adhere together. Adhere to card where shown.
4. Die cut light turquoise cardstock with stitched rectangle die (2nd smallest in set). Cut turquoise cardstock 1/4 inch larger in each dimension (so about 1/8 will show all around). Adhere together.
5. Watch video below to create aquarium:
6. Adhere aquarium and sentiment using dimensional tape where shown. Add enamel dots to upper right corner to look like bubbles.
StazOn Studio Glaze is a translucent pigmented medium that works well on non-porous surfaces. The best results were achieved on gessoed or glossy cardstock. In the video I show how it acts on regular cardstock (not pictured above) - it's not as vibrant but it's not bad either, if you want a more muted look.
Making the Project
Watch the video for step-by-step instructions:
The papers have a wonderful texture to them. Both of the foreground pieces below were gessoed. The one at the top (between) is glossy; sorry, it's a bit hard to distinguish. The die cut pieces further below are on glossy. The biggest difference is that the glaze goes on more transparent unless applied thickly, whereas the gessoed pieces grab on to the glaze more readily. This technique could be used in mixed media projects.
These papers make great backgrounds for cards, scrapbooks, and other projects. The following pieces were die cut from Studio Glazed glossy cardstock.
I created the following card using one of the papers. Shimmer Creative Medium was added to the Studio Glaze. The dots are translucent and have a subtle shimmer.
Makin's Clay is a no bake polymer clay that comes in several colors. I used black so that the iridescent Creative Mediums and irRESISTible products would really stand out. Use these embellishments for decorating cards and other projects.
Making the Embellishments
The following video is a step-by-step tutorial on how to make these embellishments.
