In Touch

Faux Letterpress or is it the Real Thing?

The look of letterpress is so beautiful - clean, simple and sophisticated! With Valentine's Day right around the corner and SO many fabulous dies on the market I thought this was the perfect time to share my latest find.

A huge thanks to Julie for sharing the aha moment I had in this wonderful article and video back in October.  I am going to insert the video again here because it is definitely one that is worthy of repetition!

 

I wanted to once again bring this fabulous technique to your attention because after that "moment," I went in search of what I believe to be the best letterpress paper around. Combine that with the need to share more information regarding the Sizzix Letterpress Plates and I felt it was worthy of a newsletter article. I hope that you are as intrigued by this technique as I am and that you are ready to give it a try.

FAUX LETTERPRESS USING ART MAGNETIC MASKING MATERIAL

It is simple - you can use the wonderful dies you already own to create your own letterpress plates! All you will need is the addition of our fabulous letterpress paper and some art magnetic masking material!

Are you loving the Memory Box dies as much as I am? I think you must be, because we just can't seem to keep them in stock. We are trying, but it is so difficult to figure out inventory. PLEASE send us an email (customerservice@ellenhutson.com) if you are trying to purchase a specific die and we are out of stock - we do our very best to notify you as soon as that item comes in, so that you can make your purchase!

Some of the highly detailed dies may not work with this technique, but with persistence and patience you can see that even the ones that have incredible detail can work beautifully. I will try and share some of my "secrets" with you today in hopes that you will have top-notch results :-D

The LaRue Heart is gorgeous and oh, so delicate!

Big Shot and Vagaond Sandwich for cutting Art Magnetic Masking Material using low-profile die such as Memory Box or Lifestyle Crafts (Please note that this technique does not work on dies that have ejection foam in them):

• Solo Platform
• Solo Shim (this comes with the Platform, but because it can become damaged after loads of use it can be purchased separately)
• Solo Thin Die Adapter or otherwise known as Solo Adapter
• Acrylic Plate or Cutting Pad - (the Sizzix cutting pads are too wide to fit in the Cuttlebug)
• Art Magnetic Masking Material (AMMM)
• Memory Box Die - Position with "blade" side facing down towards the AMMM.
• Acrylic Plate of Cutting Pad

TIP: Run your plate back and forth through your die cut machine 3-4 times, being certain not to disengage plates and move it. I use the switch on my Vagabond to run it back and forth while the plates are still fully engaged. This keeps the material from shifting and getting a double cut that is off.

After cutting through the material you will more likely than not need to remove the pieces of magnet. I like to use my tweezers to push out the smallest pieces first and then work my way through the entire piece, carefully removing the excess pieces.

Ink your magnet cut-out using a pigment ink pad. I really love the Adriondack Pigment ink pads (we sell these individually as well, but this was an easier visual to link to.) They have a wonderful color selection and the coverage is excellent.

It is important to keep you ink pad well inked, so I always recommend getting a reinker shortly after you purchase your pads. Learning the correct coverage is something you will need to experiment with. I have shared the photo above to show too much ink. If you ink it to this level, the ink will squish out the sides and you will have a bit of a mess. Trial and error will help you learn the correct amount, but being a visual person I wanted to share this in hopes of helping you avoid too many experiments with how much ink is necessary.

Compare the amount of ink in this photo to the one above - this is the perfect amount of ink :-D

I created a template using a plain piece of copy paper (be certain to double-click on images for a larger view.) Simply draw a pencil outline that represents the size of project you are creating - in this case my rectangle is 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 - this was the size of letterpress cardstock I was planning on using.

Now you know where to position your letterpress cardstock - place your inked project atop this template!

Big Shot and Vagabond Sandwich for Faux Letterpress Technique:

• Solo Platform
• Solo Shim (this comes with the Platform, but because it can become damaged after loads of use it can be purchased separately)
• Solo Thin Die Adapter or otherwise known as Solo Adapter
• Acrylic Plate or Cutting Pad - (the Sizzix cutting pads are too wide to fit in the Cuttlebug)
• copy paper with outline of project size (see above)
• Art Magnetic Masking Material (AMMM)
• Letterpress Cardstock
• Acrylic Plate of Cutting Pad

Carefully place your letterpress cardstock atop the inked heart, being certain not to move it and smear the ink. Place the acrylic cutting plate over the top and send it through your machine.

It is almost like magic! Pick up your project and your magnetic cut-out will be embedded in the letterpress cardstock as shown above. Release the Art Magnetic Masking image from the letterpress paper by slightly bending the cardstock and remove.

Simply beautiful!

So this is where it gets super exciting in my opinion - LOL! You can use ANY die you have to create your own personalized Letterpress Plate - both low profile AND larger dies such as Sizzix!  AND you can use ANY electronic cutting machine to create your own personalized Letterpress Plate! I did not have time to cover that in today's tutorial, BUT I can tell you with complete conviction that our Art Magnetic Masking Material has worked fabulously in the Silhouette and the eClips - can you even begin to imagine the possibilities!!!

This next project was created with the latest Tim Holtz Love Struck release. I created this project completely in white and it was oh, so cute, BUT I just couldn't get a photograph. Resorting to some masking, and adding of pink, made it even more Valentiney and so it's all good in the long run :-D. 

It doesn't matter which way you face the material when using it to create your letterpressed surface. I realized after cutting out my images that, shoot, I had cut out cupid facing the wrong direction! I decided to just go with it in hopes that you will learn from my mistake :-D SO this is your reminder - remember that whatever you place on your die cut machine needs to be reversed when doing letterpress! If you use letters or words, you need to cut them out in a mirror position.

Due to using the opposite side of my masking material I decided to see what it would look like without any ink. You could probably ink the dark side of the masking material, but not being able to see how much ink was applied, deterred me from doing so.

Once again I used the 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 pencil outline as my guide for positioning. In hindsight I should have left more room around the edges as I cut down the finished project to fit a cardfront - but live and learn they say!

Once again top the AMMM with letterpress cardstock and your acrylic cutting pad and send through your die cut machine.

Adding words to the Heart "balloon" using the 3.0mm metal letters made it appear like Valentine candy hearts. Lightly press the tip of the metal piece to the ink pad and then simply press into the letterpress cardstock. I LOVE this effect, but it is so hard to capture in a photo.

Create a mask for both the heart and cupid out of Eclipse Tape. The eclipse tape image will press down into the indentation on the paper and allow you to easily sponge on the soft bubblegum ink.

Doodlebug Valentine twine made the perfect string for this adorable balloon! This side shot shows the depth of the impression made into the letterpress cardstock.

FAUX LETTERPRESS USING SIZZIX INKABLE LETTERPRESS PLATES

Have you seen the "put a bird on it" video? It is hysterical!!! You must google it and watch if you haven't!

The moment I saw this adorable Poppystamps Nestled Bird die ideas have been slamming through my head. Here is the first of many. My youngest DD pointed out to me that these little birds almost looked like a broken heart - good thing I put a real heart between to make them into love birds - LOL!

Begin by inking the Ink-its Letterpress Plates using pigment ink. I used my ink pad directly on the letterpress plate, but I think that a brayer would probably give a more even coverage. Something to definitely test in the future!  

Once again I highly recommend the Adirondack Pigment inks for wonderful coverage. I also know that Brilliance and Delicata would be fabulous! Oh goodness, but that Delicata would make fabulous wedding invitations for which Letterpress is oft-times used!

Big Shot and Vagabond Ink-its Letterpress Plates sandwich:

• Solo Platform
• Solo Shim (this comes with the Platform, but because it can become damaged after loads of use it can be purchased separately)
• Sizzix Ink-its Letterpress Plates
• Letterpress cardstock
• Copy or scratch paper if using ink (to keep your acrylic plate clean - see the red ink exposed above - be certain to cover this entire area with scratch paper if you want to avoid clean-up)
• Acrylic Plate of Cutting Pad

Gorgeous I tell you!

You can also run the Ink-its Letterpress Plates through your machine uninked with stunning results!

I cut a heart from the uninked damask letterpress, positioned my lovely birds together with a Hero Arts pearl heart and placed it atop the inked damask letterpress for my completed card.

I LOVE LETTERPRESS - OK, there I shouted it - LOL! We will have more tutorials coming using embossing folders, cut-outs from electronic cutters, etc. so I hope you are excited to plunge on in with us!

stamps: 3.0mm Letters and Numbers Punch Set

ink: Adirondack Watermelon Pigment Ink, Hero Arts Mid-tone Bubble Gum Dye Ink

paper: Essentials by Ellen White Letterpress 110 lb. Cardstock, Hero Arts Punch Notecards, Memory Box Currant Notecard

accessories: Essentials by Ellen Art Magnetic Masking Material, Memory Box La Rue Heart die and Cupid Heart die, Poppystamps Nestled Bird die, Sizzix Damask Ink-its Letterpress Plate, Doodlebug Valentine Twine Collection, Ink Blending Tool

Christmas Album by Sharon Harnist

This year I decided I wanted to get more of my family holiday photos out of the computer and into an album -- anyone else out there raising their hand, too?!! While looking through Ellen's store, I discovered this beautiful Melissa Frances 6-inch holiday mini album that I thought would be perfect . . . and it IS!

It includes 2 printed chipboard covers (6.5” high x 6.25” wide), 12 GORGEOUS double-sided printed 6”x6” pages, 1 vellum page, 2 vellum envelope pages, 1 envelope with a string closure, and 2 metal jump rings . . . everything you need, and a steal at just $9!

While this album is beautiful all on its own, I hope to give you a few scrapbooking tips, tricks, and additions to help personalize it and use in any of your scrappy projects!

For the cover I made a custom coordinating embellishment, using images from one of the album's printed papers and Tim Holtz Fragments Charms:

These embellishments are quick and easy to make -- just use Glossy Accents to glue the plastic charm to the paper. Let dry, then cut out.  You can either leave the charm as is, or I used this fabulous 3/8" Silver Coppered Foil Tape around the edges, to achieve a faux soldered look (since the charms are plastic, you wouldn't want to try and heat solder these as they would probably melt!):

On the larger rectangle charm, I just covered the sides of the charm (not overlapping the foil tape onto the front of the charm). On the smaller round charm, I centered the edge of the charm on the foil tape (as you would with soldering) and folded the foil tape onto the front and back of the charm.  Use a bone folder to help burnish the tape onto the charm and smooth out any bumpy spots. (A close-up of the smaller round charm is shown further down below).

For the title page, I used Paper Smooches by Kim Hughes Alphadot stamp set on a grid acrylic block (the grid helps tremendously in making sure your letters and words stamp out straight!), stamped with Tim Holtz's Limited Edition Winter 2011 Seasonal Distress Ink Pads (Evergreen Bough and Festive Berries):

A few of the pages had beautiful but minimal printed patterns on them, so I decided to add some texture to them, with dry embossing.  I used Tim Holtz Texture Fades Embossing Folders (Damask & Regal Flourish, Post Card & Sheet Music, Snow Flurries & Snowman) on these pages:

It's a fun way to make custom embossed designer paper!

I made photo mats out of these gorgeous Lifestyle Crafts Tags dies -- they are the perfect size for approximately a 2.50" x 3" photo! (I'm sorry to say these are out of stock at the moment -- it seems they flew off the shelves!  But I couldn't wait to show you my idea with them and Ellen assures me more are on order, so please check back for their availability).  The photos are mounted with 3D foam tape to the embossed background paper.

I added file tab dividers for the years, using Tim Holtz's On The Edge File Tabs dies, cut from Memory Box Dill & Cranberry cardstock:

On this page, I added hand stitched accents with red baker's twine (use Tim Holtz Design Ruler to pierce holes first) and tied on the small round charm faux soldered charm.

Copic Sepia Multiliners (or Gray or Black) are perfect for journaling -- they are waterproof and archival ink.

I wanted to try something with Tim Holtz's On The Edge Distressed Doily die and discoverd I could make a custom OVAL doily that I'll use for a photo mat!  It's pretty easy to die cut one side, then turn the die or cardstock around and match it up with the previous cuts and die cut the other side!

It was die cut from Neenah Cream cardstock and sponged with Antique Linen Distress Ink.

Here's the next year photo page:

I used one of the leftover cut-outs from the green photo mat as an accent on the Santa photo page.  For tiny/thin die cuts, I like to use Zig's 2-Way Squeeze & Roll Glue -- it's easy to get into tiny nooks and adhere those small slivers of paper/cardstock:

Here's one page for the newest addition to our family this year -- our shelf elf, Bell-a!

Included with this album are two vellum envelope pages -- I'll use them to store letters to Santa and other treasures from my girls!  

For instructions on how to make the Santa tag, please see this CLASSroom post (I had an additional "oopsie" tag that didn't turn out exactly how I wanted for our 12 Tags with a Feminine Twist series the first of this month, but salvaged it for this album!). For this version, after stamping the Santa image and spritzing the tag with my custom mix of Antique Linen Distress Ink Reinker (about half a dropper full) and Gold Perfect Pearls (plus water in a Mini Mister), I added "Letters to Santa" to the top of the tag, using the Paper Smooches Alphadot stamp set again and Memento Rich Cocoa ink -- I love the child-like handwritten look to these stamps!  

May Arts 1-1/4" Red Silk Ribbon was tied through the top of the tag. That completes this album . . . there are several more blank pages to add more photos from previous and future years!  I hope you enjoyed these scrapbooking tips and will find some of them helpful to you!  ~ Sharon

Melissa Frances Holiday Mini Album, 
Dies: Sizzix Tim Holtz On The Edge Distressed Doily and File Tabs; Lifestyle Crafts Tags; 
Sizzix Tim Holtz Texture Fades Embossing Folders: Damask & Regal Flourish, Post Card & Sheet Music, Snow Flurries & Snowman, 
Stamps: Paper Smooches by Kim Hughes-Alphadot;Tim Holtz Santa's Wish; 
Paper: Memory Box Dill & Cranberry cardstock; Ranger Inkssentials #8 Manila Tag; Neenah Classic Crest Cream cardstock; 
Ink: Memento Markers; Tim Holtz Limited Edition Winter 2011 Seasonal Distress Ink Pads; Antique Linen Distress Ink; Memento Rich Cocoa ink pad; 
Copic: Sepia Multiliner, 
Accessories: Tim Holtz Fragments-Charms; Ranger Glossy Accents; 3/8" Silver Coppered Foil Tape; May Arts 1-1/4" Red Silk Ribbon; So Easy Fancy Red Baker's Twine; Ranger Perfect Pearls-Perfect Gold, Mini Mister Set, Ink Blending Tool; 1/2" Silver Jingle Bells, Zig 2-Way Squeeze & Roll Glue; EK Success 3D Dots; Clear Rectangle Acrylic Block 3"x4" with Grid; Tim Holtz Design Ruler; Prima Jaqueline Lace Ribbon; 

 

7 Gypsies Shadowbox Message Center

I am excited to share this little "Message Center" with you today! When the 7 Gypsies small Shadowbox was presented this past summer CHA it was love at first sight. I loved the examples that were created showcasing them with baby, wedding and family pictures.

It is as products arrive in the warehouse that the pieces of a little "puzzle" begin to formulate in my mind. First came the shadow boxes, then the burlap panels from Tim Holtz, next the Chalkstock paper and when brainstorming here at work with Julia E. she tossed out the idea of a "key holder" and this message center began to build in my mind. This is a fabulous little gift that is super easy to create and would make a lovely holiday gift for the season ahead!

It started with the stunning rub-on butterflies from 7 Gypsies. I'm a sucker for butterflies in the first place and the colors of these are so realistic and breathtaking I knew that these would be a must in this project.

An important element to note in regards to the Burlap Panels is that they are backed with a hard surface. Altering these is SO easy. I haven't tried drilling through the surface, but my guess is that it is a thin piece of composite wood, so this might be a possibility. Definitely something I need to test!

Another new to us product is this fabulous chalkboard paper. I stamped several Memory Box Distress Tags in Snow Cap pigment ink on the chalkboard paper surface and allowed them to fully dry.

Simply cut a "template" from copy paper using the die and align this template over the stamped distress tag using a pencil to locate and mark the center of each locater hole.

Position the die so that these pencil marks align perfectly in the locator holes and use tissue tape to hold the die in place. Cut.

Adding the rub-ons to your project is super easy. I find that cutting out the butterfly, separating it from the large sheet, makes application so much easier. I don't worry about partially rubbing on an adjacent butterfly this way. Position the rub-on and use your popsicle stick, or rub-on roller, to burnish the butterfly in to place. Remove the backing and you are left with a gorgeous embellished tag.

Soften the whiteness of the Snow Cap ink by applying some Tea Dye ink with the ink blending tool.

I have always been enamoured with butterfly species display cases and felt that encasing these beautiful rub-ons in glass would replicate the look. Burnish the butterfly to a 1 1/2" square piece of glass and sandwich it between a second piece of glass. Place a piece of Natural White cardstock behind this sandwich and position in a Memory Frame. Once the frame is closed, twist the jump ring at the top of the slide and it will easily snap off. Be certain to wear protective glasses just in case you end up with flying pieces.

To complete the look I wanted to mount my glass framed butterflies on burlap squares. I cut three little pieces of Craft-a-board to fit the openings on the Shadowbox and inked them with Vintage Photo Distress Ink so that the white color of the Craft-a-board would not show through the burlap.

Each burlap square is made up of two pieces of burlap sewn together. I cut one down in size, removing the threads that held the two pieces together. Wrap the Craft-a-board in the burlap and use Fabritac glue to adhere it in place.

It's these little touches that really make this project have texture and balance.

TIPS TO CREATING THE LAYOUT

When I get an idea I pull a LOT of stuff - LOL! I always lay things out on the base, positioning and aligning my components, before ever beginning to glue or alter them. I also find it helpful to snap a picture of the project in process. It is incredible to me how when looking at a photo of my projects, little balance issues come to the surface.

There is nothing wrong with the top project photo, but I felt it lacked balance when it came to the black - it was so strong in the upper left-hand corner. My solution was to snip a couple of little black pieces of paper to see if putting black behind the letters would create definition, balance and focus. I loved the way it looked, so then had the courage to alter my burlap panel.

Once again I used tissue tape to define the areas I would paint with black gesso. Tissue tape is fabulous because you can easily remove it without destroying your project.

Black Gesso is a product that is new to me and having a love for the texture gesso provides and the ease of coverage I decided to try it for the first time on this project.

LOVE IT! It easily covered the burlap panel in the areas I had defined. I simply squirted some on to the panel and using an old brush that had "tough" bristles spread the gesso in the defined area. The "tough" bristles leave texture marks in the gesso. I then removed the tissue tape, cleaned the brush of most of the gesso and dry brushed the edges to create a more "feathery" look.

Once the black gesso was dry I glued the Shadowbox to the Burlap Panel surface using Fabritac glue.

7 Gypsies has thought of THE most fabulous little components for these Shadowboxes! I adore all the little pieces that can be used to customize these fabulous trays. I used the Antique Silver Loops and Hooks Display Trim to hang this cute little calendar.

The calendar is the same calendar as I used in the Pocket Watch project. To create the smaller size all you need to do is change your print settings - shift the Orientation to Landscape, making certain to remove the automatic rotate and centering features - like magic you will easily change the size of this printable PDF to a smaller version of the same calendar.

One cannot have a message center without a place to put notes. I discovered that the 7 Gypsies Printers Tape and Collage Tape are very similar to tissue tape. So easy to apply and remove - PERFECT for putting notes on your noteboard. Now I just need some real tickets to put on this message board, but for now these adorable Gypsy tickets look oh, so cute!

To create the names for this message center I used Tim's Newsprint Alpha Parts and attached them to the back side of the Wooden Alphabet Tiles. I LOVE the added texture these provide and they were meant to be as they are THE perfect fit.

Now this is one cute little key display! The reality is that I doubt this would hold my big old key ring, BUT I love the idea of putting special keys on this display. I have to wonder if I applied these cute Display Trim Squarehooks with a strong adhesive if they would hold, but I didn't have time to test it out. As it is the hooks will definitely hold the keys to neighbors homes you pet sit, a key from the first home you owned or other sentimental keys.

Add a little Typewriter Charm to each key to define whose key it is or what makes it special. SO cute and fun!

Last was the "chalkboard." Yet again it was meant to be. The apothecary bottle easily holds a piece of chalk! I embellished the bottle with some Printers Tape and glued it to the corner so that it would not fall off. I then hung the chalkboard tags from another Display Trim Hook.

Thank you for sharing in my excitement of this simple little project! I hope that it inspires you to try your hand at these darling Shadowboxes, especially now that you can start small!

stamps: Memory Box Distressed Tag

ink: Snow Cap Adirondack Pigment Ink

paper: 7 Gypsies Conservatory 8x8 Paper Pad, Chalkstock 12 x 12, Neenah Natural White Classic Crest

accessories: 7 Gypsies Black Solo Shadowbox Tray, District Market Memoirs Burlap Panel, 7 Gypsies: Antique Silver Display Trim - Loops and Hooks, Squarehooks, and Keys, Butterfly Rubbings, Clear Apothecary Bottle, Train Tickets, Lille Book Dangles, Lille Paper Tape; Memory Box Distressed Tag Die, 1 1/2" Square Memory Glass and Black Patina Frames, 6"x6" Square Burlap Shape, Studio Black Gesso

The Many Ways to Use a Crafter's Workshop Template

I love finding products that can be used with my existing supplies! Crafter's Workshop templates are definitely one of those items. There are SO many products that can be used with just one template (and they are easy to store - a huge bonus!) Today I am going to share five different ways to use a single template.

Chevron is a VERY trendy look - you will find it in fashion, home decor and now big time in the paper crafting world. It is so very easy to incorporate some of these fun trends into your projects and today I thought I would share all my samples using just this one template and a limited color scheme to show you how diverse one item can be. 

When working with a template I find it easiest to attach my cardstock to the back of the template using tissue tape. Tissue tape is easy to remove without damaging the cardstock and keeps the template in one position when working, for a crisp, clean end result.

DISTRESS INKS and CRAFTER'S WORKSHOP TEMPLATES

Fredward bear is oh so cute and when creating the various backgrounds the chevron appeared to be a group of forest trees. Adding a paper pieced scarf, a sweet Hero Arts sentiment, a little Copic shading, white glittery snowbanks and a little bling --- who wouldn't love receiving this sweet little thought in the mail?!?

By looking at your stencils, moving them around on your project and/or masking them, the variety of looks is endless! As you can see I placed a piece of scratch paper along the upper edge and taped my stencil into position, allowing the top of the stencil to become the treeline.

Simply swirl your ink blending tool over the top of the stencil and overlap the two colors ever so slightly to create this particular look.

By starting with the Tumbled Glass on each end and then adding in the Shabby Shutters, allowing the color to almost completely disappear by the center, I was able to create a fabulous gradated sample --- an ombre look.

Or mix it up even further and use a larger variety of colors.

These cute little snowmen are the Limited Edition release from Karen Lockhart this Christmas Season. I love how each year Karen creates a new snow globe centered around what is new in Nicholas' life. Yes, this year Nicholas LOVES to sing :-D Each stamp is signed and number, as well as colored, which makes it a wonderful reference tool!

These are the colors I used to create my sample image and on this is the image I used for this month's Thank You notes.

Using a Styled Labels diecut, trimmed to make it appear as though it is a mantle, I was able to create a fabulous and unusual colored Christmas card. The sentiment "Christmas brings us together" is so appropriate for this card!

COPIC MARKERS and CRAFTER'S WORKSHOP TEMPLATES
If you have had the opportunity to view the Copic Airbrushing DVD you will see how I love to use masks (stencils, templates) to control my airbrush and create wonderful effects. The Crafter's Workshop templates are fabulous for this use!

One product I forgot to include in this image of the supplies is Eclipse Tape. I have been shouting the beauty of Eclipse tape since I first began blogging in 2006. It is still my go to, absolute favorite, masking product.

Trace through the stencil with a pencil and then cut out the eclipse tape as shown in the image above. Even though the eclipse tape has a sticky surface it can curl away from the edges during use, so I have found that it is best to hold the eclipse in place using magnets and our Essentials Craft Assistant.This keeps the edges crisp.

Creating a mask will allow you to use the templates in a whole new way.

As you can see I developed a repetitive pattern by working my way down the template with my masks, covering an airbrushed area and exposing that fresh white cardstock until I had moved all the way down my cardfront.

Crisp, clean and bright!

Exact same supplies but just using the airbrush in a freeform manner, combining colors and creating a more graffiti like look! Super quick and EASY!

STUDIO PAINTS and CRAFTER'S WORKSHOP TEMPLATES

With the addition of the new Studio Paint Kits this project would be simplied even further! Squeezing small amounts directly on to the ink blending tool and then pouncing on your non-stick craft sheet to spread it evenly over the foam would be super easy!

For this project I simply placed a dab of Studio paint on a non-stick craft sheet using a different craft stick for each color. Dab an ink blending tool into the paint and apply to stencil.

As you can see a little paint goes a long way.

You could mask for a clean line between colors or do as I did and overlap the colors ever so slightly. Paint will work on cardstock, sticky back canvas and so much more!

Each product lends a unique look and texture to the finished sample.

FABER CASTELL AQUARELLES AND CRAFTER'S WORKSHOP TEMPLATES

When you want a precise look an easy product to use to achieve this would be the Faber Castell Aquarelles.

Color each chevron quickly with an Aquarelle pencil or combine a couple of colors for added variation. Do not worry about coloring in an even manner because it will actually have greater depth if you scribble color.

Then use a waterbrush or paint brush to blend the colors. Stay in the lines if you want a crisp clean look, or let it bleed outside the lines for a completely random look.

Creating unique and custom patterns is ideal with this medium.

ADIRONDACK DABBERS and CRAFTER'S WORKSHOP TEMPLATES

This background has a lovely textured look --- sort of like the surface on a piece of knitwear or even socks :-D Life is definitely too short to match socks, it is far more fun to stamp and experiment - LOL!

This cute image from Unity Stamps was watercolored with Distress Ink pads. Simply rub the surface of the ink pad on your non-stick craft sheet and then use the waterbrush to paint in your image.

Applying some of the fun stamping techniques I learned at Ranger U to these templates is going to be a blast! This particular technique is simply a modification of one of the techniques I especially love the look of.

Dab the entire surface with Snow Cap White.

Remove the stencil and allow to dry.

Then add color in a circular motion using an ink blending tool. Absolutely shabbilicious! You could also use different colors of dabbers to create a completely different look.

I haven't even touched on sprays, Distress Stains, watercolor paper, shrink plastic, layering... oh my, oh my, oh my! Let the experimentation begin with the Crafter's Workshop Templates!!!

Art Parts Pocket Watch Calendar

This month we are making another trip into the warehouse to explore "parts" unknown - Art Parts! Yet another FUN, FUN adventure I tell you! Art Parts make fabulous home decor and gift items!

I like to create art elements that can be purposeful and the idea to use the pocket watch as a calendar holder made me grin from ear to ear. So here we go with my explorations.

 

Wendy Vecchi's style is classic, earthy and oh so elegant. The books she has written step out each project in detail. Before beginning I did my best to study a couple of her books and projects to see the many different ways that this product can be utilized. All I can say is WOW - SO MUCH FUN!

I decided to try and create something in a shabby chic, and very feminine style, to showcase the versatility of the Art Parts.

When you open your Art Parts the very first thing you are going to want to do is take a paper towel or old, soft cloth and wipe down the edges of the Art Parts. Art Parts are a paper product that is lasercut and so a light dust is left behind. You will want to "clean" them up by quickly wiping the edges, so as to not dirty your project.

ART PARTS + DISTRESS STAIN

Picket Fence Distress Stain - white magic in a bottle - ha, ha! Due to the light, feminine look I wanted to create I decided to experiment with this new-to-me product. I could have painted or dabbered my Art Part, but wanted to play with the Picket Fence Distress Stain. One quick swipe of the hand and a quick dry with a Heat It tool and the Art Part was much lighter. 

Adding a second swipe made me a very happy girl. Distress Stain goes on oh so quickly and takes very little work. I also dabbed some on my non-stick craft sheet and used a paint brush to lighten the areas between the fingers.

At this point I could have easily added any color Distress Stain for a more pastel looking glove, but I wanted it to look lacy.

To complete the "lace-gloved" hand I inked the lacy textured background stamp with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and stamped directly on the dry surface. Then using the ink blending tool and Antique Linen I aged the edges of the glove.

ART PARTS + EMBOSSING POWDER

 

This is an idea that came charging into my brain after my project was completely finished and I just had to run back to my studio to try it. White satin gloves are synonymous with old elegance... the idea - pearl embossing powder = beautiful satin gloves!

I began with a Picket Fence stained Art Part and inked the surface with Distress Embossing ink. I then covered it with Pearl UTEE (we are hoping more is on it's way to our shop with today's shipping notification :-D)

Using the Heat It tool melt the first layer of UTEE. As you can see the image is still slightly pitted. When utilizing UTEE you can achieve different looks dependent upon how long you heat the powder. As you continue to heat the surface it becomes smoother. To achieve a nice thick layer you simply ink again with Distress Embossing ink apply more UTEE and heat again.

I wanted to keep experimenting to see if I could now turn my satin glove into an amazingly textured glove.

SO... I applied a third layer. It is now important to work quickly!  

 

Before heating and melting the UTEE for the third time ink your image with Distress Embossing ink. This helps to release the stamp once you press it into the hot UTEE. You could also utilize a colored ink if you want a higher contrast. Immediately upon shutting off your Heat It tool press the stamp image into the liquid surface and hold in place for several seconds until the UTEE cools slightly and sets.
 

Simply GORGEOUS! I was pleased to see that the Art Part held up nicely to all this heat. No curling, bending or discoloring = happy Ellen!

ART PARTS + PEARL DABBER + ALCOHOL INK

 

To create this metallic look I utilized a technique I learned at Ranger U. I can't live without my Pearl and Snow Cap paint dabbers since then - LOL! Dab the entire Pocket Watch surface with the Pearl paint dabber and allow to dry.

Apply some Blending Solution, one drop Gold Metallic Mixatif, 1 drop Y21 Various Ink Refill and 5 drops E34 Various Ink Refill to the felt piece on the Alcohol Ink applicator.

Dab this over the Pearlized surface for the most exquisite look! Yes, I am working on the back side of my finished project because I was so excited I forgot to take pictures to share with you along the way. I'm going to blame it on the fact that I had the most beautiful guest sitting with me gabbing during this process - LOL! (Luv ya Judy! ;-D)

This is where the fun continues! Not only can you alter the pearl finish with the alcohol ink, but you can alter the lovely metal pieces you may want to use on your project. The silver finish of the small ring binder and bead chain were screaming at me. I simply dabbed the ring binder surface with the alcohol ink and then removed the felt from the applicator and applied the alcohol to the beaded surface as well. Magic I tell you - aging these really helped soften the overall look. 

 

I know that I should be wrapping up this article, but I just couldn't "resist" sharing this last bit. Initially I intended to utilize some of Tim's Kraft resist paper, but I just couldn't help myself with this lovely image of Wendy's. I am SUCH a sucker for beautiful vintage fabric stamps - LOL!

Ink the image with Distress Embossing ink and then apply clear embossing powder. Heat set.

I am absolutely LOVING my Picket Fence Distress Stain! Swipe it across the surface of your paper. Allow to dry.

Then swipe a colored Distress Stain - I used Tumbled Glass here. You will end up with an absolutely lovely, chalky pastel piece of paper goodness!

 

Curiosity led me to heat the paper once again. Double click on the image above for it to pop open larger on your screen. It almost appears like little rain drops as the embossing powder pops back through the surface when you reheat the paper at this point.

Couldn't stop myself yet though. I spritzed water into the palm of my hand and then flicked it onto the paper surface and observed as beautiful white spots appeared through the shimmery blue puddles. Oh my!! -- so lovely and vintage!!

 

Being one who has a hard time "figuring out" how to get things to actually work I thought I would share with you how I rigged my project to put it together.

I set my ring binder atop the Pocket Watch and marked the spots where I would need to insert the brads. Then using a Crop-a-Dile I punched through the Art Parts surface just like it was butter. Attach the ring binder to the face using the brads provided.

I then used Matte Multi Medium to adhere my resist paper to the Pocket Watch Back and applied a generous amount of Matte Multi Medium to the Pocket Watch Face, especially around the inner edges. By pressing it together tightly and clipping it in place as shown, the excess Matte Multi Medium squeezed out and I placed the Bead Chain around the inner ring. This is an idea I saw in one of Wendy's projects and I absolutely adored it! Thank you Wendy!

Set aside and allow to dry.

 

One last tip for you using those clips I have always adored. To ensure that I have my holes punched in the same place on all calendar pages simply hold them together with a clip and use the Crop-a-Dile to punch through all the pages at once!

 

Lots of little details - a little "reminder" string tied around the finger (this is a calendar you know and a calendar is all about reminding us of special dates), Melissa Frances and Prima Resin pieces, a Tattered flower cut out of Romantique Paper, a Vintage Accoutrement button, Silhouette Push Pin, silk ribbon, Organza trim flowers and THE perfect sentiment for any calendar.

I already know it --- I didn't order nearly enough Art Parts!!! Yes, I have done the mad scramble to get more Art Parts into the store ASAP, so be certain to keep checking back if the item you want is currently showing out of stock --- more are on their way!

It's time ladies --- it is time to start creating those special gifts for the holiday season ahead and I know that a calendar is ALWAYS well received. Use the fabulous masculine pieces Wendy has created for the men in your life... it's a wonderful way to show them that you care. Most of all I once again urge you to jump outside your comfort zone and simply explore, create and have fun!!!
 

calendar - Ellen Hutson LLC 2012 Calendar - Digital Download (sized to fit Ring Binders)

stamps: Studio 490 Sentimental Art

ink: Distress Embossing Ink, Distress Ink Pads - Vintage Photo and Antique Linen, Distress Stains - Picket Fence and Tumbled Glass, Archival Jet Black, Copic Various Ink Refills - E34, Y21 and Blending Solution

paper: Prima Romantique 6x6 Paper Pad, Hero Arts Kraft Paper

accessories: Art Parts - Timely Pocket Watches and Mustaches, Men & More; Pearl Paint Dabber, Tim Holtz Small Ring Binder, Bead Chain, Accoutrements Button, Alcohol Ink Applicator, Gold Metallic Mixative, Tattered Floral Dies; Studio Line Matte Multi-Medium, Glue Dots - Pop Up and Micro; Melissa Frances Applique Scroll, Resin Window Frame, Webster's Pages Cameo Push Pins, Rose Silk Ribbon, Red Small Organza Roses

Peel Off Stickers and Wet Media Transparencies

We have had some products in the warehouse that are a bit of a mystery to me. Wet Media Transparencies are most definitely one of those items and now that I have had the opportunity to begin to play with them I want to experiment even further! I have created a couple of different projects now utilizing the transparencies and today I am going to share the first of my experiments.

Peel Off stickers are another one those products. The "glitter ladies" were the first to show me these stickers and I have to admit I really didn't get the fascination with them. You know, I'm a stampy stamper and so couldn't imagine what I would do with these. Well... one thing led to another and yes, I fell off the wagon and gave them a try. I hate to admit it but I'm thinking these can be quite addictive as well - LOL!

So today I am going to combine these two products and share some of my discoveries - I hope you enjoy this little journey into the unknown.

 

The first of my creations shows a combination of the beautiful Koi Peel Off stickers together with the wet media transparency.

 

It is my understanding that these tranparencies work well with watercolor products. Being Distress Inks can be used as a watercolor medium I went ahead and stamped the ink pad directly on my non-stick craft sheet. I wanted to create an ombre look and so I utilized three different colors.

I laid the wet media transparency directly over the ink and moved it gently back and forth mixing the edges ever so slightly and covering the entire transparency. I then set this aside to dry. 

I then spritzed the remaining ink on the non-stick craft sheet with my mister and using a slightly larger transparency I ran it through the ink/water puddle and also set it aside to dry. As you can see you can achieve vibrant colors or more subdued color with this technique. 

One of the things I noticed was that the more inky surface did not want to dry completely. I would like to experiment further with different varieties of ink to see if they will dry more readily than Distress Ink, but unfortunately with all the goings on in life right now I just didn't get the time to try this out yet.

 

I then prepared to use the Peel Off Stickers. I found it easiest to use my tweezers to lift the stickers from their surface.

 

Place the stickers on the side of the transparency opposite the ink. The VERY cool thing about these transparencies is that you can create a monoprint of the ink by simply applying pressure to the surface. The ink will then transfer to the paper surface beneath! I do believe that some experimentation with my Vagabond and Big Shot may be in order in the near future ;-D

 

While at CHA I watched as Els flooded her Peel Offs with color. Finally another reason to use the Sakura Glaze pens I have had for years. Yes, years! It was at least four years ago that I taught several classes sharing the fun of stamping on regular transparencies and it was Souffle and Glaze pens that we used to color in the images.

This is the addictive part! Flooding each of the little fields with color and then adding a second color to add depth was way too much fun and so relaxing.

 

To utilize two colors I tried a couple of different techniques. In this one I first laid down my lightest color and then came back in and floated a little of a darker accent color in to the light color. It is important to add that second color immediately before the ink begins to dry. Once the ink begins to dry it is best not to touch the surface and disturb the smooth finish.

 

As you can see you can get a lovely variance in color! My first experiment was on the lighter or more watered down transparency.

This second experiment took place using the Distress Ink version. I placed it atop a piece of fresh Neenah cardstock as I could tell that the ink was not yet completely dry. As I colored in the scales on the fish I noticed the "magic" happen. I wish I had thought to take a picture of this portion without the transparency covering it because the monoprint of the fish is VERY cool! If you look carefully at the photo close to the bottom of this post you will find two distinct fish prints. These were achieved by firmly coloring in the Peel Offs and then using this print beneath the finished piece of artwork.

 

The second method I utilized to color in the Peel Offs was to use each color independently, just butting the color up against on another. This keeps each of the colors more true to the original color of the glaze pen.

This shows a better view of the monoprint I was talking about above. 
 

Learning to use new to me products is so much fun! I can hardly wait for the opportunity to experiment further with the Wet Media Transparencies and now try the Peel Off Stickers with glitter and Copics. I'm a happy girl when I get to play with new things and discover what can be done with these unusual surfaces. I hope that you enjoy this little journey into the unknown corners of our warehouse.

 

ink: Distress Ink Pad - Faded Jeans, Tumbled Glass, Shabby Shutters

paper: Memory Box Blue Poppy and PeaPod Notecards, Neenah Solar White Cardstock

accessories: Wet Media Transparencies, Koi Peel Off Stickers, Glaze Pens - Basic Colors and Bright Colors, Tweezers, Mister

The Many Ways To Use Sizzix Jewelry Dies

Sizzix Original Jewelry Dies are so versatile! You can use them together with your papercrafting supplies to create jewelry and embellishments to use on your cardfronts or scrapbook pages --- there are so many possibilities!!!

 

The Original Medium Dies are thick steel-rule construction dies, similar to the Tim Holtz dies in depth, but measuring approximately 2 3/4" x 4 1/2" in size. These dies are designed to cut through chipboard, grungeboard, Clearly for Art and plastic materials, fun foam, fabric magnet, vellum, sandpaper, metallic foils, Shimmer Sheetz and more. 

 

Today I wanted to share how you can create metallic-look jewelry by simply using Inkssentials Foil together with Craft-a-Board. Remove the backing from the Inkssentials Foil and apply to both sides (front and back) of a piece of Craft-a-Board that is cut to the same size.

 

Cut out the jewelry pieces by sending this through your die cut machine. I adore my Vagabond as there is no cranking necessary, but the Big Shot & Cuttlebug work great as well ;-D

 

Craft-a-Board is the perfect choice for use with embossing folders. It is thick enough to be sturdy and hold it's shape and yet thin enough that the impression from embossing folders is incredible!

At this point you could alter the color of the foil with alcohol inks, but that is another lesson for the near future :-D

Tim's new drill press is perfect for adding a teeny, tiny hole in which to place jump rings in the earring drop. Again, the Craft-a-Board shape is sturdy enough to create these awesome earrings and yet is SO lightweight that you will not even notice these earrings when you wear them.

Art Parts, Clearly for Art Blackout is another product that works WONDERFULLY with these dies.

TIP: Use the Concave Round Nose Pliers and 24 gauge wire to help you create perfectly shaped loops, allowing you to customize the predesigned bead lengths we carry.

 

The necklace was created using an altered Vintage Groove Silk and Shell Combo Strand. By simply snipping the thread that holds the shells together I was easily able to create two custom lengths of beads. It was fun to create a fashionable assymetrical piece by adding a Maya Road Golden Yellow Ruffle Blossom to one side.

The earrings were embellished with Jenni Bowlin Pearl Charms.

Vintage Inspired Netting was sandwiched between two coordinating patterns from the Out of Print paper pad. Using a small bow created from the ribbon we send in our thank you notes I then hung the focal point jewelry piece like a piece of wall art. This piece could then be removed and turned into a pendant piece as well.

I hope this inspires you to continue to meld your jewelry making supplies together with your papercrafting goodies! To be able to create wearable gifts is so much fun!!!

 

paper: Craft-a-Board, Basic Grey 6x6 Out of Print Paper Pad, Memory Box Squash Notecard

accessories: Sizzix Originals Dies: Frame & Pendant #2 and Oval Frame, Bird & Pendant; Inkssentials Metal Foil Tape, Clearly for Art Blackout, Vintage Groove: Silk and Shell Strand Combo, Earring Wires, Silver Clasps and Jump Rings; Webster's Pages Vintage Inspired Netting, Maya Road Golden Yellow Ruffle Blossom, 24 Gauge Beading Wire, Concave Round Nose Pliers

Creating a Collage Using Creative Layers and Dylusions Stamps

Creating art for art's sake is so rewarding! Today I am sharing my journey as I tried my hand at creating a collage using Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Line paints and Creative Layers stamps; pairing them with the whimsical, new Dylusions stamps. This quirky, fun style of art is most definitely outside my comfort zone, but I must tell you that when I do step outside my norm I have SO much fun as I get lost in the process. I would like to encourage you to take "risks" once in a while and explore; creating just for the sake of creating.

 

I am most definitely NOT an expert in collage - for me it is an experimental process at this point. So what I share here today is just my learning process. When I began this piece I had no idea what I was going to create. It was a rainy day again here in Seattle and I have to admit I am REALLY tired of the rain, but decided that this was my opportunity to turn my nemisis into something fun and so I grabbed Dylusion's Ruby Rainbow stamp set to inspire me. I then found a quote that would bring a smile, and set to work. I am pleased to report that we now have sunshine - woohoo - perhaps positive thinking does make a difference! LOL!

Referring back to the projects we created under Claudine's and Dyan's direction at Winter CHA, in which we focused on the different uses of Studio Paints and Perfect Pearls, I began to create my canvas, layering the pearls with the Studio Paints.

 

The background was created by painting directly on the canvas. I also mixed some of the teal, sky blue and white on my non-stick craft sheet to create color blends, which added softness to the canvas background. LOVE the look of the "swooshy" background which is meant to resemble sky and land.

Once dry I added some of the black details, once again stamping these with paint. I like to "ink" my rubbber and clear stamps using an ink blending tool as shown below.

Using the flying crows to resemble Sea Gulls and adding a border were the first elements.

 

Foam stamps work GREAT on canvas. To add paint to these stamps I place a dollop of paint on the non-stick craft sheet and then pounce the stamp in the paint until it is completely covered.

 

I was curious - would reverse stamping work? Using a clean red rubber stamp I placed it to the surface of the foam stamp. I love how it removed some of the paint to add texture! When I am working quickly I don't bother to add Extra Time to my paint, but if you are afraid of the paint drying out before you can stamp, simply mix in a little Extra Time to give you just that... extra time.

 

Highlighting some of the edges and dots with additional white made the details pop. I also dry brushed over the birds using white to reduce the contrast that the pure black brought to the birds. These were not meant to be my focal point and I felt less intensity would be better.

 

To add paint to clear and red rubber stamps is easy. Simply place a small dollop of paint on your non-stick craft sheet and pounce the ink blending tool in the paint until it is spread evenly over your sponge surface.

 

Then pounce this on the surface of your stamps as shown above and stamp. Once again I work quickly, if you want more time add a little Extra Time to your paint. Always clean your stamps immediately after use to avoid long clean-up times.

Curious as to whether it would be easy to "doodle" on my canvas I pulled out one of my PITT Artist Pens and added a polka-dot hill. So FUN! I also used this same pen to add a little more definition to the house details as they did not stamp as dark as I had initially wanted. I should have used paint rather than ink - LOL! These pens work great to fix those little "oops" items.

Add highlights to some of the images using Sour Apple Perfect Pearls --- these really brighten the canvas.

 

Once again I added additional white to "pop" the details.

 

Stamp the pieces that you want to paint or "watercolor" with Perfect Pearls using Archival ink. This is the perfect ink for any wet projects - it is waterproof and will not smudge when you get it wet. I used Neenah cardstock for my project. It is not the ideal watercolor paper, but I always have it at hand and so it makes my life so very simple. I am totally pleased with the result - it stood up to the "wet factor" just fine.

Spritz water on the surface of your non-stick craft sheet and scoop out just a little Perfect Pearl using your paintbrush. Mix and paint.

 

I love being able to create my palette right on my non-stick craft sheet. Mixing colors is so easy. To create the flesh tone I mixed Biscotti together with just a hint of Pink Gumball and Mandarin.

 

Leave the excess on your sheet until you are completely finished your project.

 

It does not matter if it dries as you can easily reconstitute it with a droplet or two of water as shown above.

 

To add charm to the words I added an outline using a PITT artist brush around each of the printed words.

 

To see if it was all coming together I then laid it out the cut pieces on my canvas. I realized the author's name was too large and reprinted it smaller. Seeing it all come together is magical I tell ya!

To adhere the pieces to the canvas I used Matte Multi-Medium. LOVE this adhesive when I need it to REALLY stick! Simply paint it on the back side of your cut outs and press in place holding for a couple of seconds. Allow your project to sit and dry for about 30 minutes for great results.

 

To add additional brightness to some of the Perfect Pearl painted areas I simply colored with my PITT Big Brush markers and used my wet paintbrush to blend the color out. I love how you can mix different tools!!! I can easily see airbrushing, spritzing with sprays and SO MUCH MORE! Oh for more time to play :-D

So in a nutshell following is what I learned from this experiment as I created my "collage":

• layering is good,
• selecting a color scheme will give you confidence as you add layers (I used a split-complimentary color scheme - blue, green and orange),
• PITT brushes can be layered over Perfect Pearls to add additional color dimension,
• Perfect Pearls can be painted over top of Studio Paints to add sheen and a fun contrast,
• Perfect Pearls are easily reconstituted after drying,
• don't be afraid to experiment!
  
   

Now rather than plodding through the puddles I am going to think happy thoughts and envision cute little Ruby Rainbow (or perhaps my friend Heather who adores rain) hopping over the puddles looking so cute in her happy colors! I would like to invite you to join me and try something a little different by creating a collage using your rubber stamps or try watercoloring with your Perfect Pearls! Try something new - it is creatively invigorating!

 
stamps: Dylusions Ruby Rainbow and Around the Edge, Claudine Hellmuth Creative Layers Clear and Foam Dwellings, Doodles Clear Stamps; Studio 490 Be Happy Make Art; Memory Box Distressed Crows

ink: Jet Black Archival Ink Pad

paper: Neenah Solar White Classic Crest

accessories: Studio Line - Blank Canvas, Charcoal Black, Classic Teal, Sky Blue, Studio Artist Brushes, Matte Multi-Medium, Sticky Back Canvas;  Perfect Pearls - Sour Apple, Blue Raspberry, Mandarin, Pink Gumball, Biscotti; Faber-Castell PITT Big Brush & Artist Pens - #146 skyblue, #171 light green, #113 orange glaze, #118 scarlet red, #199 black

Easter Lily Cake Box YouTube Version and Blog Candy Winner

Welcome back to In Touch! First off thank you to everyone for your gracious comments and for your patience. This is a first for us and so we apologize for the difficulties you may have had in watching our video. It is quite long and we know that there is no way for us to troubleshoot the problems that might arise with different computers/browsers etc. SO we are trying "Take II" by uploading the video in segments to YouTube. SO if you have had trouble viewing the video in it's entirety then please try the links below.

Now on to our blog candy winner! Shelly if you could please contact us at customerservice@ellenhutson.com with your snail mail address we will be getting your goodies together to ship out to you asap. Following is Shelly's comment:

Gorgeous flowers! Thanks for a chance to win a copy of the book and the punches! I already have a person in mind to give some Lilies to..Have a fabulous day and thanks to Ellen for featuring Susan Tierney Cockburn and her amazing work!

Posted by: Shelley Smith

 

Easter Lily Cake Box Videos:

 

 

 

For additional directions and a complete supply list please visit this post.

Easter Lily Cake Box, Video with Susan Tierney Cockburn and Ellen Hutson

How many of you are passionate about flowers and/or gardening? How many of you can no longer garden the way that you once did? It has been too many years now since I have been able to climb all over my hillside gardening. Before my hip injury I was passionate about my flowers and covered my hillside in beautiful perennials. Some still remain, but they are not in the same "shape" as they once were, so perhaps this is the reason paper flowers appeal to me so much. I can make these in my craft room without squatting AND at any time of the year :-D

One of my greatest blessings in life has been the friendship and bond I have had the good fortune of developing with Susan! It is such an honor to have her join me for today's lesson in paper flower making. Susan has pioneered the art of paper flower making for the past 15 years. Her work is such an inspiration and it is always so much fun to collaborate with her on projects!!!

 

This beautiful cake box is the project we worked on together for this month's newsletter. We hope that you enjoy the video we created to share with you today and that it empowers you to give flower making a try. In this video Susan will teach you how to create the beautiful lilies showcased above and below, sharing many wonderful tips throughout. Please grab your favorite drink and settle in for this 45 minute class with Susan as she shares many of the fabulous techniques she has innovated to bring this art form to us.

 

Please note: To view the video please click on this link --- Easter Lily Cake Box Video. If you do not see controls for the video, change the size of your viewing window to a narrower width and the controls will appear.

Step-by-step written instructions for creating beautiful lilies are included in Susan's first book The Paper Garden. I cannot begin to tell you how helpful her books have been to me as I learn to create beautiful blooms! If you are a visual learner like me you will also find this book a wealth of information.

CREATING THE CAKE BOX

Now that you know how to make the flowers for this project I am going to share just a few basics regarding the construction of the cake box.

I prefer to attach my decorative paper to the Craft-a-Board before die cutting the pieces using the 3-D Cake Box Die. By affixing the paper to the Craft-a-Board with Be Creative (Sookwang) tape I am assured that I will have a perfectly covered project.

To create today's project I used Lilybee's 12x12 paper. For the scalloped top and base I applied decorative paper to both sides of the Craft-a-Board before die cutting. 

For the cake sides, decorative paper was applied to only one side of the Craft-a-Board. Being careful to position the paper so that the decorative side is cut all the way through, and the Craft-a-Board only scored, is important. To do this place the paper, decorative side to the die, and then send the die through your Vagabond or Big Shot using the crease pad. This will give pieces as shown above and below.

Carefully bend each piece along the score line before attaching them together to get a more uniform look.

 

You will also need to cut and score three pieces of cardstock to hold the cake pieces together. Using a strong adhesive affix the cardstock to the die cut pieces on the back or Craft-a-Board side as shown above.

 

Attach each piece one at a time.

 

When you have all three pieces attached, form the piece into a circle, affixing the last edge.

 

Next you will need to attach the base - the piece with the four tabs. I find it easiest to insert this piece from the top. Push it down through the center until it is firmly positioned in the bottom of the circular piece. Using a pair of needle nose tweezers insert a Glue Dot behind each of the flaps and affix these to the cake tube.

To adhere the scalloped top and base I prefer to use Ultimate Glue. The base is easy to affix due to the large surface you will be attaching it to. Apply Ultimate Glue to the base of the cake and position the scalloped piece holding it in place for a few seconds until you feel it is firmly in place. The cap or top is a little trickier. I run Ultimate Glue all the way around the top of the circular form and then position the scalloped top in place. The glue allows you to move it slightly until you have it in the desired position, then hold it for a few seconds until the glue grabs hold. Allow to dry for at least 30 minutes before continuing your work on the base.
 

To add interest to my cake base I attached a strip of white silk ribbon and then added pearls to either side of it. I also ran a strip of pearls around the top.

I wanted to include just a few close-up photos of the finished project so that you could better see the detail on these beautiful Easter blooms. 

The lily was one of Susan's first punch designs back in 2006. Sadly there are others who have taken Susan's work and called it their own, but the truth of the matter is that these designs, the techniques and wording, are copywritten by Susan --- I am so proud and honored to share her designs with you. With Easter right around the corner and spring knocking at our doors it has been a thrill to be able to share this beauty with all of you. Thank you so much for joining us!

We also have something special to give to you today! Leave a comment below for a chance to win an autographed copy of The Paper Garden, as well as the three punches used to create these beauties! You have until midnight Sunday, April 17th to leave your comment and be eligible for this random drawing.

 

 
ink: Copic Markers -YG00, YG63, YG95, YR14, Y15, Y17

paper: Lilybee Designs 12x12 Picket Fence and Stationery Designer Paper, Craft-a-Board

accessories: Punch Bunch punches - Mega Lily, Large Alta Flake, Mega Big Sky Flake, Small Caladium Leaf, Small Birch Leaf; Punch Bunch Papercrafting Tools and Magnum Power Punch Aid; The Paper Garden, Sizzix 3-D Cake Box Die, Faber-Castell PITT Pastel Pencils - #104 and #170, Flower Soft - Earth, Toffee, Russet Red, Sunshine Yellow; 12" strip White Pearls, 1/4" White Silk Ribbon, Be Creative (Sookwang) 4 1/2" Tape or Sheets, The Ultimate Glue