Day 6 Card Class, Fab with Five

For this class we were to use just five items to create our card. I used a fun inking technique shared by Tasnim Ahmed.  Here are my five supplies:

And once I started to write this narrative, I realized I had forgotten to include masking tape, so actually I have six ingredients. Oops. I used just one piece of masking tape to create the background affect for my card, along with the blending tool and Distress Ink, Peeled Paint.

The poppies are from a stamp set called Remember, by Clearly Besotted. I stamped the configuration I wanted then cut it out with scissors. I added the tiny pearls to the center for the stamens before adhering it to the card. The sentiment, also from the same stamp set, is adhered with foam tape. Added sequins and done.

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Day 6 Card Class, ink-painting on vellum

My first card today is a vellum painting technique. I admit I found this to be a little harder than it looks, but I wanted to give it a try. Here is my version of Carissa Wiley's design for our inking technique class today.

Basically you "make" your vellum paint out of rubbing alcohol, distress reinker, and perfect pearls. That part was easy. LOL Keeping the vellum from rolling up was the hard part. I even taped it down! It curled so badly that it left weird dark spaces where the color puddled. Oh well. Another time I might try again and see if I can make it easier than the first try. ;) 

I cut the banner from the vellum using the largest of the fishtail flags stax set by My Favorite Things. The super cute love heart is a die by My Creative Time. Because it is so fine, I cut it four times adhering together two for the shadow layer under the vellum, and two for the upper layer over the vellum. I used a few heart shaped gold confetti and pink sequins to finish it off.

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Day 5 Card Class, Inking Tricks - masking

For my second card today, I've combined two of the 'tricks' from class. Masking and inking direct to paper. I masked the heart then added a sort of ombre look using Memento Rose Bud, Hero Arts Orange Soda, and Hero Arts Butter Bar. I used these same colors for the rows of hearts on the right.

The heart space I masked off looked way too stark white, and I didn't like it, so I added just a touch of Distress Ink, Spun Sugar before adding my sentiment, then I colored over it all with wink of stella clear sparkle pen. The sentiment I used is by My Favorite Things. The heart borders are Paper Smooches.

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Day 5 Card Class, Inking Tricks

Today we're playing with inks and inking techniques. This one comes from Laura Bassen. It's a "make your own ink pad" idea. I've seen this done before but have never tried it till now. I love it! 

I used the striped border stamp by My Creative Time from the Geo Borders stamp set, and Distress Reinkers in dusty concord, chipped sapphire, forest green, and weathered wood. 

"Awesome" word is by Technique Tuesday and "you are" is from a My Creative Time set. I added some twine and a few flat back pearl gems for fun.

My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge 213

For my last post of the day, I'm sharing the card I made for the My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge-213. If you are in need of inspiration, check out the weekly sketch each Wednesday and link up your project in the gallery.

I used My Favorite Things, Blueprints #9 die set for my card. There are so many fun elements in the blueprints sets there are endless possibilities for card designs and scrapbook pages. They are so versatile with so many pieces to combine.

The pattern papers are Bo Bunny, Snowfall 6x6 paper pad {I LOVE that collection!} and the snowflakes are cut from metallic cardstock by Die Cuts With a View. I also used the snowflakes dies and Just My Type stamp set for the sentiment, which I heat embossed with white powder. I added a few flat backed pearls for interest.

Day 4 Card Class, Adding Texture-II

For my second card on adding texture, I used this layered stencil design by Jocelyn Olsen, using embossing paste. I liked the colors she used so I used similar colors for a springy feel. I have very few stencils and these don't seem to show up well together, but you can get the idea. I do like the finished project, so I'll be keeping my eyes open for a few new stencils so I can do this again in the future.

I actually used three stencils. The background dots is by Tim Holtz, and for the second layer, I used a leaf frond on the bottom right, and in the upper left a flower. No idea who makes those, as they've been hanging around in my stash for years. The colors I used are Distress Inks, ripe persimmon and mustard seed.

The "smile" word is a die by My Creative Time, and enamel dots by Doodlebug.

Twine and a matching button tie in with the enamel dots and dotted background.

Thanks for looking!

Day 4 Card Class, adding texture

Oh goody! I love adding texture and dimension so today's class is extra fun. {Oh, who am I kidding....every day in card class is fun!!! LOL} Anyway, my first card for the day {yes, there will be another coming up!} is faux embossing using dies, by Yana Samakula. This is a fun technique and you can create any design imaginable, even if you don't have any embossing folders. Simply use a die and layer the cuts over a card base of the same paper and, voila!

For my card, I used dies and coordination stamps by Technique Tuesday and Paper Smooches. The pink hearts and the heart with arrow are from the Paper Smooches Sweet Hearts set. The love words and border hearts stamp are Say It by Ali Edwards for Technique Tuesday. Pink Lemonade card stock by My Favorite Things. 

I placed my sentiment on a flag banner adhered with foam tape. This is a scrap piece I had water colored with Distress Inks some time ago. Thanks for coming by today! Hope you're enjoying my class projects as much as I am enjoying them. :)

If you're interested in taking online card classes, check them out here: Online Card Classes.

Day 3 Card Class, velveteen stamping

Another fun class today! We are using inking and stamping techniques. This card is done using what is called "velveteen stamping". I used Karolyn Loncon's design as my inspiration. I like. 

The bees, flowers, tag, and sentiment are by My Creative Time, and the leafy branches are Paper Smooches, from the Botanicals2 stamp set. For the background on the card base itself, I used the Bit of Burlap background by Market Street Stamps.

If you look closely, you can see the white background peeking through the bee and leaves. I used the chicken wire background by Peachy Keen Stamps. You may also notice I used Wink of Stella clear pen on the wings of the bees. Not sure it shows up very well here but it's there.

 
Here'a a good shot of the background I used in the white ink to create the "velveteen" look. Easy technique but really great affect on the finished project!

Other products used:
Distress Ink, Picked Raspberry
Memento Ink, Bamboo Leaves
Archival Black ink
Flower sequins, twine

Day 2 Card Class, die cutting techniques

This technique by Shari Carroll is one I've used before and it's really fun. Cut a die from fun foam to make your own stamp! I used the Paper Smooches feathers die to create my feather stamp. Super simple and the foam cuts very easily. The sentiment is also by Paper Smooches, from the Sentiment Sampler set. The script you see along the edge is a background stamp by My Creative Time.

I splattered the card with pumice stone distress ink, the feathers are stamped in Old Olive, by Stampin Up, "colored" the light feather with Wink of Stella clear sparkle pen {sorry it doesn't show up any better}, and added sequins for texture.

Day 2 Card Class, die cutting techniques

Today's class focuses on die cuts and different techniques for using them. I'm a die girl through-and-through, so this is a super fun class for me. The technique here, is using border dies and creating interest by leaving gaps. Here's my version.

I used Paper Smooches Cyber Cafe stamp set and the stitched scallop border die by My Creative Time. I wasn't sure how I was going to incorporate the sentiment, but decided it looked best split up. To put it all together, I added a few other images from the set - the coffee ring and spills, and the coffee beans. 

Each piece is mounted on foam tape for depth, but as you can see in this view, the gaps give it even more dimension.

It's a fun and easy technique that adds a great look to any card. Give it a try!

If you are interested in taking online classes, click on the badge in the upper right sidebar, or check out all the great ones here at Online Card Classes.

Day 1 Card Class, heat embossing & masking

Heat embossing with masking technique. The entire card front is stamped with one background stamp, but using masking you can add another color and still have the continuous flow of the design. Pretty cool.

I used this word die from My Creative Time and heat embossed that as well. Love the look of it. You can see the design better in this one too. It looks to me like my mom's old drapes. LOL

This one is a little better as far as showing the light on the embossing. Pretty cool doing two different colors in one continuous pattern. I think I like it. :)

Day 1 Card Class, faux ceramic tile

Eeek! FUN technique today in Clean and Simple Card Making4 class. I love the look of this faux tile!! I used paper from Echo Park, 6x6 Ahoy There, for the mat behind the anchor.

The anchor and sentiment are by Paper Smooches from the Nauticool stamp set and coordinating dies. I love how it actually looks like a tile with the layers of embossing powder. Way cool!

Thanks for coming by. More to come all week!

DIY Tiered spinning organizer

As  most of you know, I recently gave the studio a makeover! I'm still in heaven and love every bit of it!! That said, however, it does not mean I won't be making minor changes here and there. I'm always on the lookout for awesome storage solutions....but, really, aren't we all?! LOL

Today I'm sharing how to make a spinning organizer for your worktop. This is the one I did as one of the new storage options for my space. This idea was inspired by this pretty spring-y spinner I saw on pinterest that was made by Regina Easter, seen here.

For my version, I started with pie tins I found at the thrift store. Cost: Less than $1 for all three of them. Score! Candlesticks from Dollar Tree, and the spinner piece from the bottom of a remote organizer we no longer used. Cost so far, $3.00.

You also may know that I have an extreme fondness for spray paint. I LOVE using spray paint to refurbish things that are still usable but maybe don't fit the color in the space where I'll use it. Obviously, in this case, paint was a must. I used this yummy color I like to call Tiffany Blue, which is actually called Blue Ocean Breeze, made by Krylon. For this project, I needed just one can of paint, less than $5. 

For the next part I didn't get any pics; my apologies. But using a compass or whatever works for you, mark the center of the largest pie pan and drill a hole through it the size of the screw that attaches the spinner piece {if you're lucky enough to find one like mine, you've got it made!} You may also choose to skip this part if you don't care to make one that spins. Or you may have to improvise if you can't find a solution as simple as mine turned out to be! Set aside the spinner for now.

Next, paint both sides of the pans and let them dry thoroughly between coats, if you choose to apply more than one. These were good after just two coats. The candlesticks also needed just two coats, but you'll want to be sure and paint the inside as well as the outside. Let everything dry a day or at least overnight.

Now comes assembly. First screw the spinny thing to the bottom of the largest tray. Be sure to test the spin to be sure it's not too tight and spins effortlessly, as there will be no way to adjust after the next step. Next, glue one of the candlesticks to the center of the bottom tray. I used Aleen's Turbo Tacky Glue {that stuff is awesome for gluing glass pieces together}. This covers the screw so there will be no way to make any adjustments to the spinner. Glue the next tray to the top {or bottom, however you place it} of the candlestick divider, then do the same with the second candlestick and smallest/final tray. Be sure to let the glue dry at least overnight to give it a good seal.

There you have it! Simple, yet extremely useful, project for about $8.00. :) Go forth and be creative, bloggy friends! Thanks for coming by the studio today.

 

MFT Color Challenge #14

This week's challenge is one of my fave color combos. I love these colors especially for winter pages. But my project today is a card. You can play along too! Check it out on the My Favorite Things Card Challenges Blog. I don't have any of the new MFT inks {yet!} so I used papers in the challenge colors. These are from some old Quickutz adhesive back paper pads I've had in my stash for eons. Or so. ;)

For the stack of presents I used the Jingle All The Way stamp set and matching dies. I used white pen for the bows and ribbons, and around each of the cut outs I colored with Copic, Cool Gray No.1 to give it a little depth.

The sentiment is from the Birthday Sentiments stamp set. At first I was bummed that this came out kind of messy. But then I decided I like it and that it looks sort of 'distressed' this way! So I didn't redo it. :)

 Color palette for this challenge:

Products Used:
My Favorite Things, Birthday Sentiments
My Favorite Things, Jingle All the Way stamp set
My Favorite Things, Jingle All the Way die set
My Creative Time, Rectangle Frames dies
Other:
Copic Cool Gray No.1, Sakura white pen, Archival Black ink, Versamark ink, white embossing powder, green twine, Quickutz adhesive back cardstock