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Vintaj Patinas: Use to Create a Custom Bookmark and Necklace

Today I would like to share some information about the new Vintaj Patinas by Ranger. Julie and I were so lucky to be able to attend the class at CHA this past January and I have eagerly been awaiting the arrival of these gorgeous colored products. The thing I am most intrigued by, is the ability to color over any metal with these specialty inks and to have that coloring remain permanent without any additional products to cover them!

To begin I wanted to share some basic information about the Vintaj/Ranger Patinas and Glaze products.

• First these inks are opaque, which allows you to paint them atop any metal covering the color beneath. Leave them as is, or use a sanding block to reveal some of the color and texture beneath.
• There are 15 beautiful, blendable colors and a little of the color goes a long way!
• They dry VERY quickly to a lustrous satin finish, so when working with them less is more - work in small areas at a time. Use about a pea size droplet to avoid the patina drying on your non-stick craft sheet. AND yes, work on a non-stick craft sheet to keep clean-up simple!
• The Patinas are acid free and UV safe.
• They differ from alcohol inks in that they do not need a coating atop them to make them permanent.
• Clean your brushes immediately using water to avoid damaging your brush.
• Do NOT mix the Patinas with water to thin, rather use the Vintaj Glaze. By mixing your Patina colorants with Glaze you will extend the Patinas creating a more glaze-like, semi-transparent effect atop paints and inks.
• The Vintaj Glaze acts as a clear top coat that dries to a satiny finish.
• The Glaze is non-yellowing and non-cracking.
• It is fast drying and permanent once dry.
• It is also acid free.

To begin I wanted to share a project that is so simple you can complete it in less than 15 minutes! Who doesn't love a personalized gift you can create in such a small amount of time!! 

I had great intentions of getting an order together for myself when the product first arrived, but guess what... that didn't happen and by the time I went to check out my cart the colors I love and always use were gone!!! Oh dear, what to do? I'm not really a "purple" girl --- I should be being my birthstone is an Amythest, but... Well, as luck would have it those were my available colors and so I decided to just give them a go.

Using the Basic Grey Plumeria collection as my color inspiration I just went with the purple, put all my cards on the table so-to-speak, and let it ride. Oh my, but I was so mistaken - what an absolutely LOVELY combination! I hope these projects inspire you.

It is tough to create both a video and photo instructional post. Please excuse the quality of the pictures as I needed to take them out of the video as I was working this project completely on my own. For a complete step-by-step visual in high-speed (and yes, my hands will be moving at the speed of light - LOL) please watch the video here on our You-Tube channel or below.

 

Begin by vigorously shaking your Patina bottles until you feel satisfied that the pigment and liquid is thoroughly mixed. Each bottle has a B.B. in it to aid in mixing.

Place a pea-size amount directly on your non-stick craft sheet. I love using Claudine's Studio Brush shown above to apply the patina.

It is easiest to dab the Patina to the surface of your metal blank as it will get the color down into the dimension of these fabulous charms. While the Patinas are still wet you can easily mix the colors.

While the Patina is still wet you can also alter it's appearance by blotting with a paper towel or wiping away the excess. In this case I wiped away the excess Patina on the top surface of the metal blank leaving the colorant that is recessed in its' depths.

Apply colors - mix, dab, wipe, and blend. To reduce the intensity of the brighter colors I opted to apply the more neutral toned Agate over the brighter tone colors to mute them down and then wiped away the excess once again.

Once you have achieved the coloration you desire, use the Black Side (this is the coarsest grain of sandpaper on the block) of the Vintaj Sanding Tool to remove the excess Patina from the surface.

I was thrilled that I could also use the Patina to colorize the Filigree beads!

TIP: Create a holder for your bead using a fine-gauge wire. You can then use this same "threader" to insert and draw your ribbon through the bead.

Use Distress Stain to color your Essentials Ribbon or seam binding to coordinate. To create a mottled appearance do not apply the stain evenly.

Once again use your threader, created from fine-gauge wire, to draw your ribbon through those hard to reach holes.

Knot the ribbon on either side of the bead to hold it in place.

Attach your gorgeous colored metal charm to the opposite end. So quick and simple!!

This next project is definitely more in-depth, but I can assure you that it took far less time to create this beautiful necklace than it took to edit the video! The theme of course is birds, because just like in Portlandia, I like to put a bird on it - ha, ha!

I am by no means a jewelry designer, but this craft intrigues me and I so love creating projects using these beautiful products! You could easily incorporate any of these elements on to a card-front or tag as well, so I hope that those who are card makers will still enjoy this post and be able to use some of the information that follows in your projects.

Vintaj has also partnered with Sizzix to create these fab embossing and etching folders! It is fantastic having a couple of different methods of altering the metal blank surfaces as it affords two completely different looks! To begin I used a DecoEmboss Folder.

Simply position your metal blank over the design in the folder that appeals to you. Your Big Shot or Vagabond sandwich is simple - just use the platform and two clear acrylic cutting pads. Place your DecoEmboss folder between the cutting pads and send through your machine.

If you want to use the metal blank in the middle of a chain length, use the small size on the Tim Holtz drill press to create another hole directly opposite the original hole.

TIP: Mark the location where you would like to drill using a Copic Marker. Align the drill press and turn the crank. Release the metal piece by turning the crank back the opposite direction.

The second type of die Sizzix/Vintaj has created is the DecoEtch die. This die creates more of a line drawing or etched look. It is easy to see the difference in the completed project below.

Once again simply place your metal blank atop the area of the design that appeals to you. Sandwich between the two clear cutting pads and send through your Big Shot, Vagabond or Cuttlebug. (For those with a Cuttlebug use your B plate with this die.)

Dab the Patina directly atop your DecoEmbossed piece. While the colors are still wet you can easily mix the colors to create your own custom palette.

For the etched piece I used only one color of Patina.

While the Patina was still wet on the etched piece I used a paper towel to wipe away the excess that was on the surface of the die. The Patina that is embedded in the etched design will make it really stand out and is a gorgeous effect.

To pronounce this effect even further use the Black side of your Vintaj Sanding Tool to draw out the detail and expose your shiny metal surface.

My DecoEmbossed design was set aside to dry, but I used a Heat It tool to ensure that it was completely dry to make the Patina permanent before sanding.

Always remember to sand both sides of your project! You never know when your necklace might get turned around ;-D

Once again use the Black side of the sanding tool to remove the Patina from the raised, embossed surfaces.

Over time this surface may darken again as the metal is exposed to the air. You can apply the Vintaj Glaze to create a barrier from the air, but I love the look of the exposed metal in it's original state and so would rather take a sanding block to it from time to time to refresh the beautiful satin-like quality of the metal.

In this photo is is simple to see the extreme difference between the etched and embossed details. The etched blank is on the left and the embossed on the right. Combining the two on a single piece of jewelry or project creates a coordinated, yet diverse look.

Create your own little "fancy" embellishments from the fabulous wire we carry. I love to use some of the specialty Jewelry Making Tools we carry to create these little pieces. Specialty pliers make forming these rounded pieces so much easier, but you could also use a paintbrush handle, pencil or marker as your base to help you form your shapes.

The lower the number or gauge of the wire, the thicker the wire. I like to use the 18-gauge wire for the focal components of the embellishments with a lighter weight, 26-gauge wire used to wrap the details.

Place a steel block atop a rubber block before doing any of the pounding on your work surface to avoide damaging your table-top. As well the rubber block helps absorb some of the noise (definitely not all - LOL!) The flat-top hammer we carry is designed specifically for flattening wire. I LOVE the look of flattened wire! You can see how I used it here on one of my Feminine Tags as well.

Do not flatten the entire piece, but only portions. In this piece I flattened the top of the "horseshoe" as well as the little curliques, leaving an area round. This creates a lot of interest in a piece.

If you do not have a jump ring that is the correct size for your project make your own. Wrap the wire tightly around a pencil or brush handle that is the size you need. Be certain to push the wire tightly against itself with no space between the "rings." Snip using a wire cutter making certain that you only snip through two strands at a time. This will assure that your jump ring closes correctly - you always want your jump ring to be a complete circle before beginning.

The last component I created was the charming little bird's nest. I had no idea how to create this little gem and so I googled "wire-wrapped bird's nest" and up came a plethora of information. I read through multiple tutorials and then just went for it. This is my first bird's nest! So if I can do it, so can you!

To begin I used three little beige colored wood beads I had in my stash. They are itty-bitty! I didn't like the color and so decided to see how the patina worked on these little wooden beads. I dabbed Marine Patina on them and allowed them to dry before beginning.

Using a length of 26-gauge wire that was between 3-4 feet in length I began by stringing the three little beads onto the wire. Leave about a 3 inch length on one end and then wrap the remaining wire around a pencil to curl it as shown.

Stretch the wire long again leaving some kinks in place.

Continue by wrapping wire around the "eggs" ten times. Secure these strands in place by threading the end of the long wire up between the eggs, wrapping around all ten wires 2-3 times before moving forward and wrapping around the next egg. Once these wires are secured as shown above, move on.

 

Add additional layers of wire to the bottom side of the nest. I wrapped about 5 times and then would thread the wire back and forth through these layers, securing them to the top layer of the nest. I love this messy looking little bird's nest and hope to make more!

 

As you can see as I worked with the wooden beads the Patina did not adhere fully, so once my nest was completed I went back in with a tiny paint brush and dabbed on a little more Marine Blue to make the eggs look more like Robin's eggs.

Using two lengths of chain, a few more beads, an amethyst colored stone and this lariet-style necklace was complete. I feel giddy with excitement that it turned out so beautiful and look forward to presenting it to a wonderful lady in my life some day soon!

Vintaj Jewelry Pieces: Vintaj Arte Metal Etruscan Antiquity Charm, Altered Blank Circle - Large and Small, Oval Filigree Bead, Round Filigree Bead, Vintaj Bronze Wire - 18 gauge, 20 gauge, 26 gauge, Vintaj Ornate Chain (2 were needed to create this lariet-style necklace.), Vintaj 4.75mm Jump Rings, Vintaj 1.5" Eye Pin

Vintaj/Ranger Patinas: Victorian Gable and Retro Highway Patina Kits

Vintaj/Sizzix Dies: Woodland Birds and Botancial Flourish

Jewelry Making Tools: Drill Press, Concave Round Nose Pliers, Bail Making Pliers, Rubber Block, Steel Bench Block, Chasing Hammer, Vintaj Metal Reliefing Block

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; 

 

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

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

Creating Seasonal Luminaries Using Alteration Dies and a Simple White Envelope

Simple, clean, crisp decorating can be so beautiful! I don't know if you remember the article I shared showcasing how to turn a simple white envelope into a gift bag, but this is a very simple project that is based off of that idea. The wonderful thing about these luminaries is that you can use them as gift bags too :-D

To create a seasonal luminary use a Movers and Shapers die and an On the Edge die, together with a crisp white office envelope.

 

Begin by cutting off the top end (flap end) of the envelope. Varying the length at which you cut this line can add interest to your luminaries. If you prefer a more standaradized look then simply cut 3" from the top.

Use the Scor-It to create nice, deep score lines 2" from each side and 2" up from the bottom edge of the envelope (as shown above.) Fold over sides along score lines. Run a teflon bone folder along each crease to add crispness and ensure that folds will remain in place.

  

Fold the sides over and position the bag top directly beneath the On the Edge die as shown above. As you can see I wanted my bags shorter and so I placed the die further down the bag. Make certain that the die is centered on the bag. Because I was using the Snowflake die and there is only one edge style on this die it was easy to determine placement. As you can see the lettering or title of the die is positioned as shown.

 

As you can see the cut came out beautifully! I did send it back and forth through my Big Shot a couple of times before releasing it from the rollers, to make certain that it cut through the many layers.

 

For the luminary window I positioned the Mover die in the base tray making certain to center the die and place it face up as shown. It is best to also not the position of this die either visually or with a little black mark along the edge of the tray to know where to position the bag.

 

Next insert the On the Edge Cutting Pad inside the envelope, making certain it is in the area that the Movers and Shapers die is located.
 

Position your sandwich as follows:

• base tray
• Movers and Shapers die - face up
• 1 layer of envelope with 1 On the Edge cutting pad inserted within
• remaining layers of envelope
• 1 Sizzix cutting pad

Hold cutting pad carefully as you begin passing through the rollers to avoid moving the die beneath.

 

Pop open the envelope and secure the bottom corners using Be Creative (Sookwang) Tape. For more thorough directions on making this bag please see previous blog post here.

 

Now comes the fun part - the embellishments.

Apply Matte Multi-Medium randomly to the snowflakes edges and to the word opening using a paintbrush. Sprinkle with Vintage Glass Glitter and allow to dry.

For my luminary I used the die and traced the shape on to Fantasy Film, cutting out ovals to cover the openings.

 

Simply adhere to the inside of the bag as shown.

 

Use a battery operated tea light and turn the lights down --- simply magical! You can use these down the center of a party table, or place outdoors to welcome your guests. Luminaries don't necessarily have to be for the Christmas season only - birthday's, New Years --- the possibilities are truly limitless!

 
accessories: white office envelope 9" x 12", Tim Holtz Base Tray, Movers and Shapers Wish Die, On the Edge Snow Flurries Die, On the Edge Cutting Pad, Sizzix Cutting Pad, Matte Multi-Medium, Silvery Moon Vintage Glass Glitter, Mother of Pearl Fantasy Film

Refining Your Airbrush Skills by Ellen Hutson

ETA: Thank you everyone for your excitement regarding the release of this new product idea. Email me with your posts so that I can see what you have created!!!

Announcing the winner of our blog candy Airbrush Starter Set and Copic Airbrushing DVD Vol 1!!! Sorry for the delay - after having a fever and icky headcold I am a bit behind. Thank you for your patience!

Here are your random numbers:

11

Timestamp: 2009-09-24 16:02:26 UTC

Debbie you are our lucky winner! We will be contacting you shortly for your snail mail information, but if for some reason you do not receive our message, please contact us at customerservice@ellenhutson.com. Congratulations and we hope that you enjoy your new tool!

It is so exciting to be finally be sharing this information and these tools with you today! These have been in the planning stages for a LONG time. As with all good things nothing seems to move at a quick pace - LOL!

When I first fell in love with the Copic markers I was fascinated by the airbrush system. As I learned to create using this addictive little tool I realized that the ability to control the spray was extremely important. By controlling the spray patterns I was able to achieve the results I was looking for. Unfortunately I would find that the force of air would buffet my project, blowing it around my work suface, as well many times my spray pattern would get in under the edges of my mask. 

If you watch the beginner section of the airbrushing DVD you will see that sticky notes were the option of this artist's choice. I never did use sticky notes, but rather Eclipse Tape. When needing a quick throwaway mask, I still use Eclipse Tape to mask - due to it being paper thin, the relief does not inhibit the spray pattern and create a "shadowed" edge. It works extremely well, except... my project continues to be chased around my work surface with the force of the air and it will only withstand a few uses before needing to be replaced.

The other products I would utilize are the many adhesive backed masks in the market place. I still love these, but again they are not ideal. It is so important to pat the sticky surface on blue jeans, or a t-shirt to remove some of the adhesive. This allows me to then lift the mask from my project without tearing my paper surface when I have finish airbrushing. Alas, sometimes the patting takes a misstep, being the overachiever that I am, and then it will not stick at all. So I was in a quandry and started thinking about what would work better.

Yet, another problem I was having was turning my project to get even coverage as I sprayed. I would end each project with beautiful rainbow color fingertips. Holding the project down and turning it were definite problems - I do love rainbows, but the constant need to rub my hands with alcohol was not a good thing - LOL! Being the gadget girl that I am I just knew that I needed new tools!

Experimenting with numerous items that I searched out in a wide-variety of stores I jury-rigged something together that would work for this task. It is that process which has led to the products I am about to introduce to you.

Rotating Magnetic, Self-healing Cutting Mat

The first product that is currently in prototype stage (in the video you will notice that I used a square, green mat - it was my first prototype) is a rotating magnetic, self-healing cutting surface. This patent pending tool is one I believe will make a huge difference in your airbrushing and crafting needs. It has multiple uses and someday soon I hope to share the many ways that I see you being able to use this tool in your every day crafting.

I didn't know how to demonstrate the most important characteristic of this mat using still photography. In this photo the surface is lifted vertically to show that the die and paper are firmly attached to the surface. It is completely different then other products in the marketplace in that the surface is essentially a large magnet. You will never have to chase your project around your work surface as you airbrush using your nestabilities and other steel dies again. Your work surface will help keep your project intact. Watch for more to come in the next few months! If you would like to read more about how it is that I have come up with my product ideas please visit my blog simple dreams.

Essentials by Ellen: Art Magnetic Masking Material

That's a mouthful - LOL! I still am questioning what we should call this product, but I felt that the name needed to reflect the primary application. This is the second product we have been researching and are thrilled to introduce it to you today. We are still working on producing a line of basic masks that you will be able to purchase - ready for use, but we felt that to bring you the basic material first would bring a whole new level of creativity to your crafting.

The third product is not yet available, so in it's place we have been utilizing the metal sheets we carry in our store. These sheets have been used as a base material in framed bulletin boards or inchie board projects. The magnetic material sticks beautifully to these sheets. It is EXTREMELY important to note that this product comes with very SHARP corners. It is important to keep it away from small children and to be careful when using it, due to the sharp corners. Fortunately it works extremely well and will "make do" until our "Craft Assistant" is available for purchase. Once the Craft Assistant becomes available you will then be able to use this sheet, together with some 12x12 decorative paper, and make yourself a wonderful little bulletin frame to coordinate with your home decor.

Now on to the exciting possibilities of Magnetic Masks!

The material that we have found for you is SO easy to cut. Using your rotary and guillotine style cutters, as well as scissors, you can easily cut this product to the size you need! It comes in sheets that are 8" x 10" and is flat when it arrives to you. No need to try and figure out how to flatten it upon arrival!

CRICUT, SILHOUETTE and OTHER ELECTRONIC CUTTERS

My first experiment with my new Cricut Expression was not quite what I had anticipated - LOL! I had purchased it late last fall and due to the fact that I have NO time, I have never taken it out of the box. Sadly, when I went to use it... NO POWER!!! Needless to say I was extremely disheartened. Fortunately I am blessed with some of the most amazing customers who live right here in my area and Joella came to my rescue. Joella, thank you SO much for bringing your Cricut down here to my office and helping me when I was up against this last minute deadline.

Joella helped me learn to use the Cricut Expression as well as discovered a few important facts about cutting masks and stencils with the Magnetic Sheets. First - the white surface needs to go face down and adhered to the sticky mat. As you can see we used the large teflon bone folder to adhere it firmly in place. We were then successful in cutting the most basic designs, as well, Joella cut me some of the most intricate beauties, one of which I use later in this post. Thank you again Joella!!!

LOW PROFILE DIES

Next I tried using low profile dies. As you can see I did need to run my product through a second time utilizing the embossing pad. For some reason I could not get the material to cut all the way through with these highly detailed dies unless I first did a pass through cutting and then pass it through again a second time using the embossing sandwich. As you can see I was able to create both a beautiful stencil, as well as masks!

LARGE DIES SUCH AS BIG SHOT, ELLISON, SIZZIX

This next photo showcases a large Big Shot die. Sizzix and/or Ellison dies would work exactly the same. These work fabulously! I went ahead and photographed these put back together after creating my project so that it would make it easier for you to see that you can fit these back together for storage purposes.

PUNCHES

I couldn't resist, I had to try some of my favorite punches. I will tell you that at this point I can NOT recommend this with a huge thumbs up, because I do not know how it will impact my punches long term. BUT it was extremely easy to punch through and create a magnetic stencil using my Martha punches. I was SO excited. If I find that I have problems with my punches in the future I will be certain to let you all know.

So now you can see why I am excited!!! Yes, you can use the many tools you already have in your crafting closet to create custom masks!!! So now on to the refining your airbrush skills :)

AIRBRUSHING USING MAGNETIC MASKS

Creating your own decorative paper is so very fun!

In the DVD I demonstrated some of the masking products I have collected in my "masking drawer." Many of the items I shared with the editors did not make it all the way to the DVD and so I will be trying to share them here on our blogs - In Touch, the CLASSroom, and simple dreams. It is my goal to educate you to the many possibilities that will help bring a whole new life to your creations.

As you can see I have utilized a sheet of specialty paper. I have many different types of textured, specialty papers that I have collected from art stores over the years. These work so well to create texture when utilizing the airbrush system OR ink blending tools.

To begin I placed the textured paper down over my white Neenah cardstock and them placed my Art Magnetic Snowflake Mask securely over the top. 

To ensure that I do not spray over the remainder of my project I have created two "L" shaped masking pieces. As you can see the magnetic mask held firmly in place as I airbrushed my snowflake with three different colors using my Copic Sketch markers - periwinkle, blue and lavender.

 

To add additional depth I created more snowflakes from a variety of dies and punches. Simply place these masks in place and airbrush with a new series of light color tones. Remember to test your colors on a piece of scrap paper first AND also remember that it is always easier to go darker, than to go lighter.

As I work I rotate my mat. This helps to provide even coverage within all the little crevices of the intricate designs.

That first peek after spraying is like magic! If you want to add more color simply replace your mask in the same location and continue spraying.

As you can see I want you to realize the power of magnets and their importance in holding your airbrushing projects firmly in place. In the second picture you will notice that this is one of those plastic mesh designs you find at Michaels or Hobby Lobby in the needle work section. Start looking at things around you that have "holey" patterns in them in a new way - think about the type of pattern it would create when used as a mask. You will be AMAZED at the resources you already have at your fingertips!!!

To continue I wanted to share how I use my Nestabilities and low profile dies with the airbrush system. First I cut out the selected design and emboss it. I then drop it on to my rotating magnetic, cutting surface and spray. A whole new look is created so simply!!!

EMBOSSING USING MAGNETIC MASKS

The possibilities as to what you can create with the pieces you cut out is not limited only to masking. I want you to begin to realize that it is actually only the "tip of the iceburg" so to speak.

In the picture series above I have utilized the same snowflakes as in the first project, in an entirely different manner. I began by first laying down a half-sheet of the magnetic material on my Big Shot platform. (I apologize for not having my sandwich written down - I will need to come back and compile a list of sandwiches for the most popular machines - it didn't dawn on me until writing this article that I needed to provide that information.) I then positioned my cut out masks on this surface and placed a sheet of Neenah cardstock over the surface. The tan embossing mat and then the final clear acrylic plate was added to this sandwich before running it through my Big Shot. Voila - your very own custom embossing folder. The possibilities are amazing!!! How many dies, punches, electronic cutters do you already own? Yippie - new uses for old products!!!

 

To draw the details out at a greater level and to achieve a more rustic look I stamped the surface with my Aged Sheet Music Scrapblock. Then using an Ink Blending tool, I added even more of a distressed look to this piece.

"ALMOST" LETTERPRESS

Letterpress - it's all the rage. It has been a look that has been sought after for high-end invitations for many years. How can you achieve a look similar without the mess and expense? It's simple - Art Magnetic Masking Material and your Copic airbrush system!

As I stated above Joella was amazing! Look at this exquisite flourish she cut for me using her Cricut Expression!!!

Paper choices can make all the difference. I highly recommend the Arturo line of papers we carry for a letter press look. These Italian manufactured beauties are made of a high quality moulded material and they emboss exquisitely!

As you can see in the first photo you have options. I selected the flourish mask to emboss the detail in to the paper in a manner almost identical to the snowflakes above. It was the "coloring in" process that I changed up.

The beauty of creating your own masks is that you get a stencil along with the mask!!! It's a two for one value experience :) Yes, Ellen and her value conscious mind at work again - LOL!

As you can see I placed my stencil precisely over the relief that was created first. Due to the heavier weight of this paper I find that it is necessary to add additional magnets to the finer points of these designs. Therefore it is important not to create such intricate and delicate designs that you have no room for additional magnets.

I then had over 300 options of colors that I could select from to achieve my "letterpress look. I simply selected my YG93 and YG95 Copic Sketch markers and sprayed within the confines of my stencil. Cleanup is quick and easy. Just a little colorless blending solution or rubbing alcohol and my masks are as good as new! No inky mess :)

This is yet another sample showing a variety of masking techniques and different paper selections.

Lasercut papers are exquisite when used with the airbrush and the good news is that you can use them over and over again. The large heart stencil was cut using the Cricut. Again I want to point out that when utilizing multiple layers you may need to add some additional magnets to your points to keep your project firmly attached to the surface so that air bursts do not lift the corners.

Rotating the project as you work will provide even coverage and a beautiful result.

STAMPED MASKS AND STENCILS

To create stamped masks I prefer to use Palette Ink and my Heat It Craft tool. To create this mask I stamped my Chintz Butterfly and then quickly set the ink using my Heat It tool. Sorry we are currently out of this product, but it has been so sought after that we have had trouble getting our orders filled (insert sad face - hopefully soon we will have them back in stock.)

To cut out my butterfly I used my Fiskars Craft Knife to cut along the straightest edge. Then I switched to my tiny scissors because I have better control when using scissors. It is a personal preference probably due to the fact that I cut out fine details a lot - LOL! As you can see in the photo on the left I created both a mask and a stencil. I also stamped my image in Tuxedo Black on Neenah cardstock for my project.

I then placed the magnetic mask over my stamped image and sprayed a soft yellow glow around my butterfly.

As you can see the results are beautiful. I didn't have to chase my project around the room either - insert big happy grin. I LOVE magnetic masks - LOL! Now what to do with the reverse image or the stencil? Shadows! For some shadows are hard to understand and create and so this will provide you with a new, easy method. Simply replace your mask atop your stamped butterfly. Then position the stencil as shown in the photo on the right.

Spray your image again with W4, remove your magnets and voila - the perfect shadow is created!

Don't limit yourself by the possibilities that I have laid forward for you today! Think outside the box and experiment! Exlore your own creativity! I can't wait to see what you come up with. It is a thrill to plant the seed and watch it sprout and grow. I will do my best to water it, fertilize it and care for the weeds - I want to watch as each of your plants mature! I am SO excited to see what each of you create in the future with this little seed I have planted.

BLOG CANDY

Let me know your thoughts, what more you would like to learn, what do you think... Leave us a comment below to be entered in to a drawing for your very own Copic Airbrush Starter Set, as well as the COPIC Airbrush Systems Vol.1, ABS Papercrafting DVD. Deadline for being entered in this random drawing will be Monday, September 21 at 9:00am.

I look forward to this new adventure in creativity!

Thank you so much!

Ellen

 

Craft-a-Board Uses and Techniques by Sharon Harnist

 

Today I'll be showing you a few different uses for Ellen Hutson's Craft-a-Board (CAB).  It's a wonderfully diverse soft white material (similar to chipboard) that is sturdy enough to use as a base for a photo album, making your own delicate paper flowers, or creating a piece of artwork.

For this project, I chose different sizes and shapes of Nestabilities dies to create the graduated pages for a mini album about all the beautiful flowers we saw on our trip to Disney last year.  I began by die cutting Craft-a-Board, coordinating Basic Grey Infuse papers, and my photos.

 

Yes, your low-profile chemically-etched dies (such as Spellbinders) in larger, less-intricate, simpler shapes, will usually cut through most layers of the CAB just fine.  You may have to make more than one pass through your die cutting machine and/or shim a little bit, in order to get a good clean cut.  You also may have to finish cutting a few areas by snipping them with your scissors, but for this album, I only had to do that in just a few spots.

 

For the back cover of the album, I stamped Picotage Print backgrounder with Memento Rich Cocoa ink directly onto the CAB and colored it with these Copic markers:

 

The CAB takes the ink and markers beautifully, without any bleeding!  You also get great results with shading and using the Copic Colorless Blender to remove color.

Next, I started assembling the album using a liquid glue to adhere the papers and photos to the CAB.  Everything I've tried adheres beautifully to the CAB -- no problems with anything peeling away from it.

 

Quite by accident, I discovered CAB will split into layers when you want it to.  Simply bend back a corner and it will usually split into even layers:

 

If you don't get even layers (about 2 layers on each half), simply fan the corner a little with your fingernail and you should be able to see more layers and be able to divide it evenly:

 

It usually peels apart very evenly and has a wonderful texture on the inside, similar to hand-made paper!  The fewer layers of CAB cut very easily with the lower profile dies -- no problems whatsoever, and it embosses beautifully:

For the flower on the front cover of my album, I used Spellbinders Flower Creations die to cut the flower pieces and then just enhanced the natural color with a little Ranger Antique Linen Distress ink and a sponge dauber:

 

The flower center was colored directly with Copic G40.  The green flower petals were airbrushed with Copic's Airbrush System and Copic YG63 Sketch marker (using the broad tip gives a more even coverage) and then speckled (by using the brush tip) with YG95:

 

As you can see, the CAB also takes airbrushing beautifully.  Imagine all the custom colors of flowers you can now create, to match your projects perfectly! 

Here are the inside pages of the album . . . pages 2 and 3:

 

(Above photo) - The largest die of the Large set of Scalloped Rectangle Nestabilities was used to create the front cover and also used to cut the page 2 photo (left).  The largest die of the Small set of Scalloped Circle Nestabilities was used to cut page 3 (right) and a smaller die in the small set was used to cut the photo.

 

In the close-up view of page 3 above, you can see the shapes of the pages a little better.  On the interior Circle and Labels One pages, I trimmed the bound side straight so the album pages would open better.  My Crop-O-Dile easily punched holes through two pages at once so I could tie ribbon through them, to bind the album.

 

The amethyst flower on page 4 (left, next to the word "Poppies") is also CAB cut with the Flower Creations die and airbrushed with Copic V17, V06 and custom lighter Y21.  Page 5 (right) has a rose flower airbrushed with Copic R85, with Island Blossom Dew Drops used for the center and as accents on the "Pansies" title.  Spellbinders Labels One die was used to cut this page and the photo.  Here's a single view of this page, so you can see the nice shape of it:

 

You can also see how I trimmed this page straight on the left side.  Notice the edges of the previous pages on the left side of the photo -- you can see what a nice base the CAB makes for an album!  You can also see the lovely dimension the CAB flowers have, too.

 

Page 6 (left) is just my silly girls posing in a floral photo board with cut-outs for their heads!  Page 7 (right) has a strip of patterned paper on the right edge, just so the album would maintain a consistent look when it's viewed closed.  The largest of the Large set of Scalloped Square Nestabilities was used for this back page. 

And here's how that back cover, stamped and colored, turned out.  The soft white color of the CAB maintains Copic's vibrant, rich colors:

 

This holiday framed artwork that was featured in the December newsletter, also used CAB:

 

I embossed the original thickness of CAB with the Holly Cuttlebug embossing folder and then used Copic markers to color directly and airbrush the yellow background.  The Festive Stocking is a Spellbinders die that also cut and embossed CAB very well:

 

I hope this gives you just a few ideas on uses for this fabulous product . . . we can't wait to see what you create with it!

Christmas Recipe Mini Album by Debbie Olson

Have you started thinking about your holiday baking yet?  I'm serving Thanksgiving Dinner here, so I've been thinking lately about what I'm planning to cook. While looking for some of our traditional family recipes, it occurred to me that I really should have them stored together in a mini album. I have expansion plans for this album, but right now it contains just three sweet-treat recipes. I thought I'd share this idea with you in case you might enjoy making one too. If you would like to see a larger picture, click on the picture.

I started by die-cutting four curved rectangle shapes from Craft-a-Board with the largest die. The die basically cut cleanly through my Craft-a-board; I used a craft knife in a couple of places where the board was not completely cut through. Next I stamped, then die-cut eight curved rectangles from Memory Box cardstock in assorted colors: Dill, Holly Berry, and Willow. I chose these stamps: the Polka Dots backgrounder with white Brilliance ink on the Dill cardstock, the Fine Houndstooth Scrapblock with Adirondack Oregano ink on Willow cardstock, and the Perfect Plaid Scrapblock with Adirondack Cranberry ink on Holly Berry cardstock.  I covered the back and the front of each piece of Craft-a-Board with the stamped backgrounds.

Next, I trimmed the tops of all five of the covered boards to make it simpler to bind the edge.( I set up my Carl Cutter with a stop in place so that all of the pieces would have the same amount trimmed off of the top.) I inked all of the edges with some Antique Linen Distress ink, then sanded the edges to reveal parts of the white core. Why both? I wanted my little album to look like it had been in the family for long enough for the pages to darken a bit around the edges and wear on the edges too.

 

I used a Bind It All to punch four holes in each side; I set a stop so that they would all be the same--a great feature on the new pink BIA's! (Of course, you can use the blue one if you have it; you would just need be careful to be sure that you punched in the same amount from each edge. After getting my four boards punched, I was ready to start decorating my book. The first order of business was to choose and format some recipes! I'm attaching a page of four recipes here, in case someone wants them. You can print out this pdf version, then trim to 3" x 5" cards. Just a little note about one of the recipes: if the coconut bars are too sweet for you, you can leave out at least 1/2 lb of the powdered sugar and add extra coconut to keep it the right consistency. Download christmas_recipesdolson.pdf

I started with the cover: I knew that I wanted to use some of the Kim Hughes images, so I wanted a whimsical type to work with those images. You can obviously use stamped letters, rub-ons--whatever you have. I chose to use my Cricut (which has been needing to see some action) along with the Opposites Attract cartridge. I did a bit of tweaking to pull the cursive letters closer together, then cut my letters and attached them to the front cover. I added some clear and red Stickles to the letters after they were in place to give them some pizazz. For the image, I chose a snowman from Heart Warmers and colored him with Copic markers (C-1, R24, R29, Y68). I trimmed carefully around him, then attached him and applied red Stickles to his heart. For the snow, I die-cut another curved rectangle from white cardstock, then cut it in curves and stitched the edges of the curves before gluing them in place on the bottom edge.

For the first spread I chose old faithful, the fudge recipe. Another image from Heart Warmers, the trees, was colored with Copic markers (G82, G94, G99, R22, R24, R29, E35). I made a snowbank similar to the one on the front cover and added a picture--easy! The felt snowflake was from a packet found here.

 

English Toffee is another favorite around here, but, as with fudge, I need two versions--a nutty and a non-nutty version. I used a little hinge clip to hold my list of who likes which version. The "yummy stuff" image is from the Baked with Love set, cut with a Tags trio die. I snipped the end off and rounded its corners by hand to get the tag short enough.

 

Finally, the last spread (for now, at least) was reserved for one of my husband's favorites, coconut bars. After having fresh, moist, homemade ones, the bought ones aren't quite as appealing! I made a whole batch of these tonight just so I could get a picture. . . but he's not complaining. ;-) The "kiss the cook" sentiment is from the Baked with Love set.  I added a few Dew Drops to the top of the recipe for a dash of color, as well as ribbon and button.

My Merry Cherry Cheesecake album spread isn't finished yet; I still need to make some and take a picture. It's included on the pdf recipe sheet as well though. I'd love to see a link if you make your own Recipe Mini Album!  Thanks for visiting.

Debbie Olson, for the In Touch Newsletter

Masking, by Sharon Harnist

MASKING TO OMIT

The first form of masking I'm showing you is how to mask off part of a stamp you may not want to use:

As you can see, this stamp has a 'Merry Christmas' sentiment I wanted to omit, so I could use the stamp for other occasions.  The steps are simple:

• Tear off a piece of Eclipse Masking Tape

• Cover the part of the stamp you don't want inked with the tape

• Ink up stamp

• Remove tape and stamp the image

Finish with 'happy birthday' sentiment stamped onto tag die cut.  The result . . . a humerous (at least I hope the recipient thinks so!) birthday card.

Ellen Hutson LLC supplies used:

• The Rummage Bin Primitive Christmas
• Mona Lisa Moments Birthday Centers
• Spellbinders Double Ended Tags die template
• Eclipse Masking Tape
• Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• BasicGrey Scarlet's Letter 6x6 patterned cardstock

• Memory Box Licorice cardstock

REVERSE MASKING

Ellen Hutson LLC supplies used:

• Spellbinders Nested Bird die (available soon) and Tags die template
• Cornish Heritage Farms French Script backgrounder
• Mona Lisa Moments Script Essential Expressions
• Eclipse Masking Tape
• Copic Airbrush System & Sketch marker
• BasicGrey Scarlet's Letter 6x6 patterned cardstock
• Tsukineko Memento Rich Cocoa ink

• Neutral Art Flowers

For this card, I created a reverse mask in this manner:

1. Roll out and stick a large piece of Eclipse Masking Tape to thin scrap cardstock and die cut with the bird template:

2. Use the cut out bird (still stuck to scrap cardstock) as a guide to find the exact placement on the patterned cardstock:

3. Carefully remove Eclipse tape from the scrap cardstock reverse mask you created.  Using the bird as a placement guide, stick the reverse mask to the patterned cardstock:

4. Remove cut out bird from the center of the reverse mask.  Make sure all edges of the tape are pressed down firmly to the patterned cardstock.  Airbrush the patterned cardstsock inside the mask area with Copic Airbrush System and Copic Sketch marker:

5. With the reverse mask still in place, stamp with backgrounder and Memento ink:

TIP:  Before stamping, be sure the backgrounder isn't upside down like mine was!

Finish card with 'many thanks' sentiment stamped onto tag die cut and small neutral flower accent.  I'll be showing you another form of masking tomorrow over at the CLASSroom . . . I hope you'll drop over to see.