Sunday, August 31, 2014

Krafty Bookmark

A krafty bookmark for Simon Says Witch Kraft and Simon Says Anything Goes. I cut a bookmark out of Papertrey Ink cardstock using the bookmark die. I ran it through the BigKick with the Regency Rose cross-stitch die from the Regency Era mini kit.

Then I stitched it in places with some handspun wool embroidery thread. I used some thicker handspun for the top fringe.

Feel Better Soon Card

Just in time for Simon Says Witch Kraft. I didn't have access to my Halloween stamps, but I did need a get well card for a friend who broke her arm.  The stamps are from Stampin' Up Lots of Bots outlined with a Versamark Marker. The ground and shadow are made with a Memento London Fog marker. The mat is Papertrey Ink Kraft cardstock and the cardbase is Simply Chartreuse.

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Gertrude the Grrrraduate

The paper is from Autumn Leaves All Occasion Pack covered with Picket Fence Distress Stain. Then stamped with the large paw print from Paper Smooches Paws for a Cause stamp set. The pictures are matted with Papertrey Ink's Pure Poppy cardstock.

A bonus feature of the paper is that it provided a space for her name and school lol.

The notebook paper is Papertrey Ink's Stamper's Select White stamped with the notebook line stamp from It's Official with Spring Rain ink.

The scroll is made with a rolled piece of scrap paper tied with Papertrey Ink's 1/4 inch White Silk Ribbon and the Sealing Wax technique from Stamp-a-faire 2014 with the smallest paw print from Paws for a Cause.


The medallions are made with a die from Papertrey Ink's Make It Market Co.: Luxe Letterpress set, sentiments from Paper Smooches Paws for a Cause stamped with Iced Spruce Distress Ink and ribbon from my stash.  Simon Says Anything Goes : ).

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Back to School card

The challenge at Simon Says is Back to School so I made this card for my daughter. I used Papertrey Ink's A Little Inspiration and Black Soot Distress Ink for the sentiment. Versamark, my hand-carved Monster stamp and clear embossing powder over the sentiment and a gold star sequin.

After the Time Travel Stamp-a-faire 2014 at Papertrey Ink this weekend, I've been thinking about tools and techniques I haven't used in a while, so I inked the edges with some Tea Stain Distress Ink. I stamped a notebook page with Papertrey Ink's It's Official and Spring Rain. The cardbase is Summer Sunrise.

WOYWW 273

It's really my desk lol. Even after Papertrey Ink's Stamp-a-faire 2014. This year's theme was time travel, and each designer covered a different era from Ancient Rome to the 1980's with two different technique videos and a spotify playlist with about 2 hours of music from the era.

At the stamp-a-faire Meet and Greet, the designers were talking about their first papercrafting tools and paper crimpers were a popular item. So I dug mine out, ok it was just in the top drawer next to me (even though I haven't used it for years). My favorite project (which is saying a lot as I kept saying "this is my favorite" as I was working each one) was the Time After Time Challenge and I actually used my paper crimper.

Head over to Julia's Stamping Ground to see more crafty spaces : ).


Monday, August 25, 2014

Yes! I used my Paper Crimper


The Papertrey Ink Stamp-a-faire 2014Time after Time challenge was to remake a card made some time ago. The card on the left was made for the July 2011 Papertrey Ink Blog Hop.

And it was the perfect card to remake because I got to use my Paper Crimper for the window sheer! I started by cutting a square in the "wall paper"and stamping a view with a stamp from Club Scrap's Destinations kit on the white cardstock where the "window" would go. Then I used my hand-carved Monster stamp which I heat-embossed with black embossing powder. I put the wall paper on the white cardstock and ran some thin vellum through my paper crimper. I made a valence out of the same paper I used from the wallpaper and some foam dots. I die cut the couch and paper pieced the sofa cushions and pillows (stamped with the flower from Botanical Silhouettes. I order to avoid the gap in the cat that I got the first time, I stamp the cat first on the background, then on the sofa and then lined it up. I even paper pieced the picture this time. (Couch, cat and picture are from the On My Couch set also purchased at the CHA 2010 Super Show.

Papertrey Ink's Stamp-a-faire 2014: Closing Ceremony

Closing Ceremony. My craft table after I've done most of the challenges. This is actually pretty good! It's usually filled with many more crafty things lol. This stamp-a-faire has pretty much filled my little idea notebook with things to do later.  I had such a great time even though I was crafting on my own. It's the first time I've gone to the saf forum and that was a real hoot.  I even used my Paper Crimper on the Time after Time challenge lol.

Papertrey Ink's Stamp-a-faire: Explore the 1960's

Explore the 1960's. I definitely need to practice this technique more before I can say I got the hang of it, but I certainly learned a lot in the process. This is the first era in which I have first hand experience lol. I vividly remember riding my bicycle to my piano lessons in my imitation Modrian Sheath Dress (and no helmet).  My favorite shows were the Dick Van Dyke Show, The Aadams Family and Batman. And I had such a crush on Mingo on the Davy Crockett Show.

Check us out : D. Totally stylin'.  I think we were desperately trying to make our bobby socks into much cooler knee socks (which we weren't allowed to have).

Papertrey Ink August 2014 Blog Hop

This month's Blog Hop inspiration is the picture above, and it really was a bit of a challenge for me until I saw the small type.

The card base is an A2 sized Raspberry Fizz with Gold Mirror paper circle punches. The white is Stamper's Select White stramped with "Chairs" using the Simple Alphabet stamp set.

 On the inside is a row of chairs from the Chair'ished stamp set. One of the first Papertrey Ink stamp sets I ever purchased at 2010 CHA Supershow. It was the last Supershow, and it's cancellation led to the Papretrey Ink Stamp-a-faire which I've been busy making things for all weekend.


Papertrey Ink's Stamp-a-faire 2014: Explore Ancient Rome Faux Fresco

Explore Ancient Rome. This is my take on the Faux Fresco technique. I used Crackle Embossing Paste (everywhere I looked seemed to be out of white embossing paste). But I really like the extra texture, though I think it might stick to the stamp a little more than regular white embossing paste. All the stamps come from the Ancient Rome mini kit. I used painters tape on the sentiment and stamped it in two parts then drew and fussy cut the thought bubbles. The cardstock used is Fine Linen for the mat, Enchanted Evening and the cardbase is Canyon Clay. The inks are Ocean Tides for the mosaic, Spring Rain for the laurel behind the urn and Black Soot Distress Ink.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Papertrey Ink Stamp-a-faire 2014: Explore the 1940's.

Explore the 1940's. I stamped a pattern with the stamps in the 1940's mini kit and I'm over joyed I was able to get Harvest Gold and Spring Rain in time. I made the flower and leaves with the die and Pure Poppy and Simply Chartreuse cardstock. Inks Pure Poppy, Harvest Gold and Spring Rain. I swear I've had tablecloths with these patterns in them. I love how they fit together with so much variation. The dies are brilliant and sweet, I'm really looking forward to making a proper corsage with them.

Papertrey Ink Stamp-a-faire: Explore the 1920's

Explore the 1920's. I admit I have a bit of bias, I love so much about the twenties. I even wrote a comparative analysis of Garden Design between the Economic Boom of the 1920's, the Economic Depression of the1930's and World War II which I called "Gardens Gone Boom, Bust and Bang!".  I have a tabletop Victrola and most of my 78's are from the 1920s. Dare to be a Babbit! (a scathing condemnation of Middle Income complacency and sheepish need to follow the crowd turned into a celebration of the same by a booster group). And I'm tapping my toes so much while I'm listening to the playlist I can barely type... fortunately I'm too tired to Charleston, but I do know how : D.

The jewel of the 1920's mini kit is the die. It's nothing short of brilliant, a die and a rhinestone placement stencil in one. I only used some of the rhinestone possibilities. I'm not sure I will ever get all the green glitter out of the nooks and crannies of my crafting bins, but it was well worth it. In addition to the materials in the mini kit I used Ocean Tides cardstock, Green Glitter leftover from a stamp kit of some sort and Black Soot Distress Ink.

Papertrey Ink's Stamp-a-faire 2014: Explore the Regency Era

Explore the Regency Era with Melissa Phillips. Have I mentioned the playlist that accompanies each era? I get to listen whilst I write my posts. If I wasn't so graceful, I'd have my computer in the craftroom, but I'm unwilling to risk it lol. I used the frame die and stamp from the Regency mini kit. I love that blue striped paper. The mat is Vintage Cream and the die is from Papertrey Ink's Make It Market Co.: Luxe Letterpress.  I stamped the mat with the cross-stitched rose in Tea Dye Distress Ink and distressed with Aged Mahogany and Antique Linen.

This kit has also given me ideas for the perfect gifts for someone who loves the Regency Era.

Papertrey Ink's Stamp-a-faire 2014: Explore the Renaissance


Exploring the Renaissance with Nichole Heady. Another era with sooooo many things to do lol. But I'm just doing this one for now. Except for the ribbon, the Versamark Ink, the gold embossing powder and the Royal Velvet cardstock (which can't be seen lol), everything comes from the Renaissance Mini kit even the sealing wax.  I sure hope these papers are sold separately at some point, they are gorgeous!

And again, the Spotify playlist is wonderful!

Stamp-a-faire2014: Explore Ancient Rome

This is for the Explore Ancient Rome with Lizzie Jones Challenge. Oh my word! So many options, I have applied embossing paste to A2 size mats which are set off to dry for the faux fresco part of the challenge. This is my take on one of the mosaic variations.

I ran the mosaic die from the Ancient Rome mini kit through my Big Shot with some sticky backed fun foam. I peeled, carefully peeled the backing off all the tiles (leaving the backing on the "grout" cut). When the backing of all the tiles had been removed I pressed a piece of acetate (the backing of a PTI stamp set) onto the fun foam. Then I removed the "grout" cut, leaving me with a wonderful tile stamp. I'll make a lovely "grout" stamp later : D.  There's a video of the whole project at post as well as a spotify playlist of  Roman music!

The background was stamped with the Make It Market Co: Beautiful Brushstrokes large flower with Papertrey Ink Harvest Gold, Scattered Straw and Wild Honey Distress Inks. I used the tile stamp with Ranger Clear Resist and heat embossed clear embossing powder over the flower background.  Then I used Seedless Preserves Distress Ink over the entire mat, wiping it off with a slightly damp paper towel. The cardstock is all Papertrey Ink Fine Linen. The sentiment "Each Day Provides Its Own Gifts-Marcus Aurelius", also from Ancient Rome mini is stamped on a banner of Fine Linen in Wild Honey Distress Ink.

I think this tile technique will also work really well on patterned paper or print outs of Roman sites, artifacts, etc. And the techniques and stamps are the solution to the problem of scrapping "Latin Days". Major Bonus!! I'm late for the Renaissance and Regency periods lol. Where's my Tardis? : D

Stamp-a-faire 2014 Morning Timer Challenge

 Stamp-a-faire 2014 Morning Timer Challenge.

color recipe: ripe avocado (substituted CTMH Olive), enchanted evening (substituted Memento Paris Dusk), Crayon Clay (card base), Melon Berry (pattern paper).

sketch:
Stamps: Make It Market Co: Beautiful Brushstrokes (circles), Bold Bouquet (sentiment).

Papertrey Ink's Stamp-a-faire 2014 Meet and Greet

After watching all the Design Team members meet and greet videos, I thought I would show my paper crimper also (hard pondered, soooo needed, coupon sought-it was before online coupons were even an idea). Also not used very much lol. I know I did use it at least once, but no memory at all as to what the crimped pieces were used for.

I had stamps, but I really didn't start using them until after the 2010 CHA Supershow. I just couldn't work out what to do with the ink (I only had pigment inks). At CHA I discovered Papertrey Ink and Distress Inks and I haven't looked back. I had all my stamps and inks in my carry on and spent a few happy hours at the airport waiting for my plane sitting at one of the laptop charging desks stamping my little heart out lol. I was especially fascinated with On My Couch, Chair-ished and Everyday Button Bits. Now I even use all my pigment inks now that I know how to speed up the drying process lol.

So my desk is cleared (check my WOYWW posts for verification if you want a comparison), my paper crimper is at hand and I'm ready to start!

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

WOYWW 172

Saturday is Papertrey Ink's Stamp-a-Faire 2014, and I'm supposed to be cleaning off my workdesk. While it is better, I keep finding things to do like reworking scrapbook pages (hence the cutting off the background paper from the shopping cart) and continuing my paper sorting (hence the green triangular K&Company printed ornament to assemble). Other than that I'm right on schedule lol.

Stamp-a-Faire 2014  is a 16 hour crafting extravaganza.  Last year I think I had a 3 inch square space to work in by the end of it,  and I managed to do all the challenges even though I didn't have the official SAF set.
Still having fun with my chair card, pull the string and


The tally from the fair this year is: Tardis ornament second place, Handspun painted cabled 4-ply yarn 3rd place, Polar Bear Love layout honorable mention, bugs and kisses layout honorable mention, Monster card declined.

If you want to see more crafty spaces around the world, head over to Julia's Stamping Ground and have a gander.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Backgrounds with Embossing Paste

Make It Monday #176: Backgrounds with Embossing Paste. I mistakenly ordered the Crackled Embossing Paste instead of the smooth, but that means it fits for Simon Says Scratched Up. In the video, Laura said the embossing paste can be colored by smooshing the inkpad on the mat as an alternative to adding a drop of re-inker.  It was not quite as dark as I think re-inker would be, but it is nice to have a break from all the brown re-inkers I have lol. I used Ocean Tides, Hawaiian Shores and Simply Chartreuse to color the embossing paste. 

She also demonstrated stacking multiple die cuts to add solid dimension, and that worked well too.But it is good to use a glue with a little "slip" to it.  The die and stamps are from Make It Market Co.: Shakers and Sprinkles and stamped with Ocean Tides and Golden Harvest. The stencil "Power Lines" is from the book Stencil Me In by Marthe Le Van.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

A cleaner card I've never made


Pull the twine (whilst holding the sides of the card together).

: D.

Yes, I really am THAT easily amused. Another project for the Kinetic challenge at Artful Times. I used Papertrey Ink White Twine to add some texture to the card. It doesn't show up well in the photographs, but the image is behind a piece of heavy plastic packaging. The sentiment is made with Simple Alphabet, and the cardstock is all Stamper's Select White. There is a double layer of foam tape to make the channel for the image and to give some depth to mat.

Hamster Art

The paintbrush is drawn with my Cricut and the Locker Talk cartridge using my Gypsy, then I drew over it freehand, adding the little drop of paint. The hamster is from Paper Smooches Party Posse, stamped on some scrap paper and fussy cut. I'm adding it to the Paper Smooches SPARKS Picture Perfect challenge.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

WOYWW 271

My desk has a clearing because I just took apart a failed moveable prototype, but lessons have been learned and the next one is sure to be a little more successful : D. All 5 projects made it to the fair, but the Doctor Who/Whoville mashup will be made another day. Ironically I ran out of time, so it was just a Tardis in the snow ornament. It's been a busy week, with lots of posts... I feel I might be making up for the 33 weeks I was without a useable camera.

I finally got around to making the prototype with my Eileen Fahleens (iron filings). It's ridiculously fun and I'll be making more of them. And a realllllly good seal for the filings seeing as they are very tiny and very heavy (they are made of iron lol). A stacked well of cardstock with an extra seal of glue or stickles does the trick nicely. The other secret is really good magnets, the cheap ones (that barely hang on to refrigerators) really don't move the iron filings at all.. It also works well as a message board if it's put in an easel. Fun and practical : D. The frame on this piece comes from the shaker card below.  I entered it in the Artful Times Kinetic Challenge. Kinetic cards, tooo much fun  : D.

 
This is the shaker card I sent to the fair. The paper is Anna Griffin. I'm making a conscious effort to use patterned paper. I have a four foot stack of it, time to start using it in earnest lol.

Head over to Julia's Stamping Ground to see more crafty spaces around the world.

Monday, August 11, 2014

Oh, So Attractive


It would be a heavy card, but it could definitely be a card. It's a prototype for a bit of analog fun that is surprisingly calming. It's definitely kinetic it's also an entry in the Artful Times Kinetic challenge. And Simon Says Scratched Up, the iron filings in use especially look scratched up.

It's iron filings, some googly eyes and some elegant (Anna Griffin) papers. It is heavy (well it's iron filings) and they really needed to be in a sealed form. I used four sheets of heavy cardstock glued together rather than the foam tape I usually use for shaker cards. I also used a sturdy piece of plastic packaging for the window.

Put it in an easel and it can also be a message board.

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Polar Bear Love

I finally put the finishing touches on this layout I started a few years ago. I added some Pure Glitz Ruby Slippers around the edge of each photo, making the edges a little irregular. I am still amazed how much photography has changed, from the pictures of my childhood "DON"T touch anything but the edges" and carefully measuring the days adventures and possibilities against my allowance of film and now I'm drawing on them lol.

The paper had snowflakes on it, but I added more. Thank goodness for hide contour (I did this on my Gypsy). By  hiding the inner cuts, solid space is made for writing. I was a die-hard two page layout thinker, but I've converted to one page layouts so I can take them out of the scrapbook and put them in 12 x 12 frames.

This week Simon Says Family : ). 

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Bugs and Kisses, 1.1

This is a tweaking of a layout I did a few years ago (you can read the details here). The border ribbon never lay right for me, so I decided to replace it. I used my Gypsy and welded bugs & kisses (from the Cindy Loo cartridge) to a rectangle. I cut a second "g" and glued it on the title,and then outlined everything with a fine line black pigment pen.

I used a "decorative accent" from the candle department (around 2010 these were known as "skittles" by the crafty crowd I ran with) dyed with alcohol ink for the dot for the "i". One of the things I liked best was the ribbon came off (with a little bit of tugging, but the paper still had adhesive on it. Luckily I had some freezer paper left over from another project (okay it was a year ago lol) so I just put that over the adhesive until the new title was ready.

A Tardis Snow Ornament

The sparkle doesn't show up much in the picture, but this is chock full of aurora borealis flakes so I'm thinking it's something different for the Simon Says Sparkle challenge. It's the Tardis in an ornament. The cardstock (except for the windows) is beige dyed heavily with a Faded Jeans Distress Ink bath. Repeatedly. A crystal seed bead serves as the light on top. I found a whole new level of love for my new camera when I found out it has a "shoot through glass" setting.

La Vie en Rose Monster Style

Simon Says Make It Sparkle, so I did. I adhered a piece of Anna Griffin paper to the front of an A2 mat cardstock and then cut the rectangular frame from Make It Market: Shakers and Sprinkles. The pieces were then re-assembled and stamped with my hand carved monster stamp and heat embossed with gold Embossing Powder.

The two outer pieces of the mat were lined up with the A2 Papertrey Ink Ocean Tides card front and the center piece was attached to the card front. A piece of heavy plastic is glued to the bottom of the mat and the opening surrounded by two layers of foam tape. 10 mm gold sequins were added for the shaker. The middle piece will be used in another project, the "frame" is made with the Ocean Tides cardstock showing through where it would have been.