In Touch

For The Love of Letterpress - by Julie Ebersole

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Nothing gets me more excited when I walk into a stationery store than Letterpress... The texture and dimension of hand-milled Italian papers, rich bold colors, the crisp imagery and gorgeous typography literally give me heart palps!  I often turn to it for inspiration in my stamped card designs and even have a Pinterest board dedicated to Letterpress items that catch my eye:

(click on the pics to enbiggan)

Despite how long Letterpress has been around, there are still many crafters who aren't familiar with it, so here's a brief description:

Letterpress is a form of printing, via a press, that dates back to the mid 1400's--it is the oldest form of printing known and was invented by Johann Gutenberg. In the most basic sense, "type" was often carved from wood or made from metal, and was inked and pressed against paper; the pressure of the mechanism used would "deboss" the letters into the paper while simultaneously printing them. Hence the name "Letterpress", which it is still called to this day.  Letterpress is now produced with plates made from not only metal and wood, but also magnesium, photo-engraved copper, linoleum blocks, zinc and photopolymer.

Today, Letterpress is enjoying a great resurgence in popularity among printers, some of whom still use what is referred to as "moveable" type and vintage presses. Visit any fine stationery store and you will find that the most luxurious of wedding invitations, greeting cards, birth announcements and the like have been produced in Letterpress.

As much as I love Letterpress, the concept of being able to do it myself was something that truly never entered my mind--even if I could have found, and afforded to purchase, a vintage press, I certainly had no space to house it! (Yes, there are presses considerably smaller than the one in the pic at the top of this post, but I still don't have a space I could actually store even a "small" Letterpress machine. *chuckle*)

But, a few short years ago, Lifestyle Crafts introduced a system for home crafters like myself that would enable us to simulate the look, texture and qualities of Letterpress we adore so much with their L Letterpress System  (which I will refer to as the "L" system from here on out.)  Not only is it compact, it is a faaar more affordable alternative for those of us who would like to try it, but would otherwise have no other means as well as those who find the cost of authentic custom Letterpress too cost prohibitive.

 

 

Because I already own a Big Shot, I only needed the Starter Kit, which comes with the platform, a small brayer, an ink block, some foam guides, a sampling of plates, sheet adhesive for said plates, black ink and Letterpress paper (yes, you really do need use Letterpress Paper, because standard card stock will not deboss or receive the ink in the same manner).

As I worked with the L System in my home studio (OK, it's really more like a walk-in closet, but I feel more creatively inclined when I refer to it as a "studio", *wink*) I quickly realized that Letterpress in itself, no matter what machine you happen to be using, is far more art than science--that there are nuances and subtleties to achieving the gorgeous prints that I have so often admired.

In case you were wondering, clear stamps will not work for Letterpress because they are too soft and will not deboss into the paper surface.

 

Blind debossing (uninked Letterpressing) is undeniably sophisticated, classy and beautiful but you can also have a lot of fun with color!

Because the Starter Kit came with a limited set of plates, and only black ink (I like black, but not enough to do "everything" in black, LOL!), I was very glad I ordered more Letterpress Ink colors to play with, and had several different sets of the Printing Plates on hand, and an additional pack of 8.5 x 11" Letterpress Paper.

Note: To be perfectly honest, if I'd only worked with the Plates that come in the Starter Kit, I don't know that I would have persisted in learning to use the system; for whatever reason, those plates are of a lesser quality than the Plate Sets sold separately, and I had a difficult time achieving good results with them.

When I finished my session, I was *extremely* glad I got some of the Cleaning Cloths ! (the cleaning agent in regular baby wipes cannot cut thru the ink and remove it sufficiently--ask me how I know... ) Printer's ink is vastly different than regular stamping/pigment ink and, as with the type of paper you use, it will indeed make a difference in the final results of your projects.

You will be glad to know that Ellen Hutson LLC includes a complimentary pack of Cleaning Cloths with all Starter Kit Orders!*

I prepped the ink by rolling out a pea-sized squirt onto the ink block. Don't panic--It looks rather neon on the block but once it's pressed (into the paper), it's an absolutely beautiful shade of warm yellow!

I then prepped the plate by securing the adhesive that comes with every set of Printing Plates (as well as the Starter Kit) to the back and mounting it into position on the inside of the platform lid/grid and then brayered ink onto the Plate.

I closed the platform lid down onto the Letterpress paper I'd already put into position on the platform base, using the foam guides to keep it aligned. While these guides CAN be removed, they are not "easy" to remove, so instead of positioning them in the center of the base, I decided to create an "L" in one corner.  These guides help in paper placement so that when you are making multiples, you will be able to press the image or text into the same position easily every time.

With some trial and error (a.k.a. experimentation), research, and practice, I was eventually able to achieve the above results, and hopefully, you can see how the debossing enhances the printing of the Image Plate.

After figuring out a good work-flow, and working out the kinks that come with learning a new skill, I got my groove on, and decided to spend an afternoon making some Letterpress "card candy"--small pieces or panels that could be mounted to  cards, used as tags, etc.

OK, seriously, would that not make a super cool, super CUTE gift for a budding card maker???!!! Put some pop dots or glue dots on the back, put them on an acetate carrier sheet and seal them inside a cellophane envelope and BAM!!! Seriously, I very nearly purchased a (not inexpensive) package of ready-made Letterpressed pieces just like these in a store once, but now I can make them myself!!! WOOT!!!

It is definitely not a "one-off" process; if you want to make a single, quick and easy card, this not the method for that.  BUT, if you are interested in mass producing holiday greetings, wedding invitations, birth announcements, note card sets and other stationery type items with the stunning look and feel of Letterpress, you CAN do it yourself with this system!

If you'd like to learn more, be sure you are on the Ellen Hutson newsletter list, and stay tuned, as we are planning a Letterpress Workshop that will include a plethora of tips and techniques to help you avoid some of the mishaps, have fun, and get the most out of your L Letterpress System!

Thanks for stopping by In Touch today!

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SUPPLIES & MATERIALS:

TOOLS:  L Letterpress Starter Kit*, Twigs & Sprigs Printing Plates Set, "hello" from Damask Printing Plates Set, Big Shot Personal Die Cutting Machine

INKS:  Letterpress Inks in Yellow and Grey

PAPER:  Essentials by Ellen 110 lb. Letterpress Paper

OTHER:  Letterpress Cleaning Cloths*

 

Distress Markers and Memento Markers - Are There Any Differences?

When new products come in to the market place it is always so exciting! My first question is always --- are there any new features/benefits that this product might provide as I create?

There are many different versions of dye based and alcohol markers available. Today I want to share my discoveries with you as I tested two different dye based markers --- Memento and Distress Markers.

In these little test samples above I used a Memento marker on the left of each little square and a Distress marker on the right hand side of the square. I used three different types of paper to see if different types of watercolor papers would make a difference. The first column on the left is the Hero Arts Watercolor Paper, the second column is Julie's Favorite Smooth Bristol Paper and the third column is Jennifer's Favorite Watercolor Paper.

If I were to stamp an image before watercoloring I would select Julie's. Due to the smooth finish on the surface it will allow for greater stamp image detail. If I were to create a project that used a heavier amount of water I would select Jennifer's, because it is thicker and more absorbent. Thirdly, if I wanted a super sturdy paper I would select Hero Arts - it seemed to be just a little "tougher" than the super absorbent surface of the other two papers. Yes, paper does make a difference!

The biggest surprise came to me as I performed the first "test." I scribbled the marker directly on the different paper surfaces and then spritzed each paper with a water mister. My surprise came when I saw how reactive the Distress Marker ink was after being applied directly to the paper in this manner. As you can see the Memento ink holds it shape and the Distress ink spreads as it reacts to the water hitting the surface.

For the second row of test strips I once again scribbled directly on to the different papers, immediately following up by painting the ink out with a watercolor brush. Once again the Distress Marker activated the ink and spread it in a completely different manner from the Memento Markers.

For the last row of test strips I scribbled the marker on my non-stick craft sheet and then picked the color up with my waterbrush, painting it on to the paper surface. As you can see there was little to no difference in the result between these two markers.

Conclusion - yes, the markers are both dye based inks, but they definitely react differently to water.

I also did a comparison between the Distress ink pads and markers for color. There are subtle differences in the colors and as we worked with the product we did discover that the dye lots vary with the Distress markers. The color range is true to the vintage look that Tim is known for and so lends itself beautifully to coloring within that palette. Conclusion - create separate color charts for your markers AND ink pads.

Memento Color Chart PDF (for your convenience we have created a Memento Color Chart)

I still do not have all the Memento ink pads and so have not yet had a chance to do a color comparison. I hope to do that in the future because I do find having a chart SO very helpful when creating. Conclusion - if you are a fan of a more vibrant color palette then these are a must have on your list. The color range is spectacular!

When working with these colors and stamped images you will definitely want to use a water resistant ink, with my favorite being the Jet Black Archival.

I decided to complete my test with a project! I had seen Els create some spectacular designs using Peel Off Stickers together with Distress Markers and frankly I could not resist trying out her technique! Peel Off stickers give you a similar look to a heavily embossed stamped image and are so easy to paint within the lines. Julie has shared a fabulous post and video showcasing these together with Copic markers and the beautiful microfine glitter we carry.

I have found the easiest way to adhere a Peel Off to paper is to remove it from the parent sheet with tweezers, placing it STICKY SIDE UP on a smoooth surface.

For this project I decided to work with both Julie's Bristol and Jennifer's Watercolor papers as I found these papers tended to enhance the watercolor look dramatically. Both projects turned out almost identical!

Place your paper straight down atop your Peel Off and lightly press over the entire surface. This helps me to keep the Peel Off's shape intact. If I try to place my peel off down on to a paper surface, it bends and envitably I get it on their crooked and want to curse myself - LOL!

Now, turn your design face up and gently apply pressure over the details of the Peel Off, ensuring that it is firmly adhered.

This design just screamed old house wallpaper to me and so I selected some beautiful Cosmo Cricket Evangeline papers as my color guide. Using my charts I selected several markers to create my palette. It was while selecting my colors that it really brought out the differences between the color palette of the Memento and Distress Markers. The values on the Memento are much brighter and richer, whereas the Distress is much more vintage - I ended up feeling like I needed a combination of the two to get the look I was going for (see list of colors below.)

As I colored the image I tested different ways of applying the marker color. First I applied the Distress Marker directly to my paper surface and used my waterbrush to spread the color.

As you can see the color spread beautifully leaving darker regions where I had applied it directly.

By applying marker ink to my non-stick craft surface and directly to my project, using my waterbrush to blend, I was able to achieve a beautiful watercolor look!

Els had shared that she colors the entire image in with a light color marker, adds darker details using an additional one to two colors, and then comes back in with a watercolor brush to blend.

I tried that as well. As I worked I found myself going back to using the color on my non-stick craft sheet and picking that color up with my waterbrush. Old habits die hard they say - LOL!

To color the background I liked the project in which I added water to the paper before adding color the best. Adding the Antique Linen with the waterbrush first, then touching the Antique Linen marker tip to the paper surface in the spots I wanted to achieve deeper color, created a beautiful backdrop for these gorgeous roses.

I have created a little video of this whole process that I hope to find the time to edit soon so that you can see my actual coloring and testing process. The biggest conclusion that I came away with from this process is that yes, there are differences (do you like my decisive conclusions? - LOL!) These two markers react in subtle, different ways to water and they have unique differences to most of the colors in each palette. Yet, you can achieve very similar looks when using either product line.

The most important thing you can do as you begin to work with a new product line is to create a color chart before you begin. I printed one version on Julie's Bristol paper and watercolored the markers and a second version on Neenah Solar White and simply swiped the marker in each square. Using a chart makes it so much easier to select colors, because the caps do not really show the true color. You can find the Distress Marker chart here at Ranger Ink and we have created a special Memento color chart for your convenience. 

Thank you for joining me today and I hope that this little test helps you to better see some of the subtle differences between these product lines.

Color Charts: Distress Marker PDF and Memento PDF

ink: Distress Markers - Antique Linen, Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Victorian Velvet, Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint; Memento Markers - Lady Bug, Olive Grove

paper: Julie's Smooth Bristol, Jennifer's Watercolor, Hero Arts Watercolor, Memory Box Begonia, Cosmo Cricket Evangeline 6x6 Paper Pad

accessories: Circle of Roses Elizabeth Craft Peel Off Stickers, Niji Waterbrush, Tweezers

Bottlecap Pendants, by Julie Ebersole

Waiting at the airport to board our flight for CHA this year, Ellen and I wandered into one of our favorite airport stores and some fun jewelry caught our eye—we were smitten with these pendants that had magnetic backings and could be switched out on a whim with another design.  “Too bad they don’t make blanks so we crafty chicks could make our own.”, we sighed, wistfully.

Then we got to CHA. And we found Bottle Cap, Inc.  And . . . as I like to say, we got the vapors! Because they make ALL the parts we needed to make our own magnetic, interchangeable pendants!  Pendants and bracelets are always fun to make and give—or keep for yourself!

I love how convenient and easy these products are to work with—I’m an instant gratification girl and when I need to make a gift, I want it to be speedy and quick.

To make the pendant in this article, I started with the super strong magnetic discs, a beaded pendant and the acrylic cabochons.

SAFETY NOTE: I do want to mention that the neodymium (N35 grade) magnets for this project are incredibly strong and not intended for children under age 14; they can easily cause injury if not handled properly. 

Begin by punching an image from paper, using a 1” punch (the magnets, cabochons and pendant base are all 1”).  You could certainly stamp an image, if you wanted, but I had some pretty paper laying around and wanted to use the pretty rose image shown here.

Next, you’ll need to mount the punched image to one of the magnetic discs.  The trick here is getting the magnets apart—as I mentioned, they are incredibly strong.  I actually tried a variety of methods, and could not pry them apart, but eventually  discovered that if I used a wooden craft stick to brace the bottom of the stack of magnets with my thumbs, I could laterally slide the top magnet off.  Make sure to keep your fingers firmly over the top magnet as you’re sliding it apart, because when they do suddenly release, it could go flying off over your shoulder.

I actually filmed myself creating this pendant, so if the above is unclear, the video should show you how I did it; you may have another method that works just as well or possibly even better. Feel free to watch the video here  below or to see it in high-definition view it here on our You-Tube channel.

Once you have the magnets separated, be sure to return the ones you are not working with back in the packaging; it’s actually the perfect storage for them.

Adhering the punched circle to the magnet is as easy as sending it down the chute of a Xyron “X” machine; it covers the back completely with adhesive that bonds nicely to the magnet.

A clear-drying adhesive, such as Glossy Accents, is perfect for gluing the cabochon over the top of the artwork to seal it.  Apply a nice puddle atop the paper, and then place the cabochon over the top.  Rather than squeezing it down, try moving the cabochon around in a circular fashion to distribute the glue evenly across the entire surface of the artwork; this will help avoid any air bubbles from getting sandwiched between the paper and the cabochon.  It may ooze a bit out the sides, but you can wipe the excess away with a damp cloth.  Allow it to dry thoroughly, and then you’re ready to drop it into the pendant base, which has a magnetic coating inside the well.

The cabochons are acrylic and do a wonderful job of magnifying and clearly showcasing the artwork beneath! You are now ready add a chain, ribbon, cord or necklace of your choice through the bail.

TIP:  If you find you ended up with air bubbles that dried in the Glossy Accents between the paper artwork and the cabochon, for whatever reason , you can actually re-do it!

Simply separate the cabochon very carefully from the magnet; drop the cabochon in some warm tap water and let it soak. While it’s soaking the paper and dissolving the Glossy Accents, you can usually remove any paper or Xyron adhesive residue from the magnetic disc itself with a baby wipe and a little elbow grease.   

After allowing the cabochon to soak for a time, use the pads of your thumbs to rub away the paper—it should roll off fairly easily.  Continue dunking the cabochon in the water and rubbing the paper and any remaining dried Glossy Accents off the cabochon.  Dry it with a lint-free cloth and you’re ready to try again.

 

I am allergic to nickel, so I like to use a sterling snake chain necklace given to me by my husband years ago and I just swap the pendants out—but with this project, I can leave the pendant in place, and simply swap out the cabochon!

 

If you prefer a permanent option, you can certainly omit the magnets and glue the punched out artwork directly into the well of the pendant, and if you prefer a lower profile than the cabochon, you can seal the artwork by substituting the 1” Epoxy Dots, which are already self-adhesive. 

Both the Cabochons and Epoxy (Circle) Dots come in 1” and ½” circle sizes, as do the N35 grade magnets—the round bracelet blanks are the perfect size for the ½” sized.  Epoxy Dots also come in 20mm squares/tiles, which match the square bracelet blanks, as well as the alphabet tiles. 

For a great children’s project, try making Bottle Cap Pendants with the 1” Caps and Epoxy Dots, or charm bracelets with the Mini ½” caps and matching Epoxy Dots—darling!  The 1/16” Hole Punch makes it easy to create holds in the caps for inserting jump rings.  The Bottle Caps come in silver, as well as a variety of colors.  We also carry pre-flattened versions! To view the entire collection of Bottle Cap Jewelry Parts and Tools we carry, click HERE. 

For me personally, it’s very exciting to have so many options for making beautiful jewelry pieces quickly and easily—I think a bracelet is next on my list!

• Beaded Antique Silver Pendant
• Acrylic Cabochons, 1” size (6 ct. package)
• 1” Circle Punch
• Ranger Glossy Accents
• 1” N35 grade Magnets
• Epoxy Dots, 1” Circles (50 ct. package)
• Epoxy Dots, 1” Circles (12 ct. package)

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

Hand Painted Canvas Pillow Cover

One of the aspects I miss the most from my past career is paging through the fabric walls at the Seattle Design Center, looking for just the right textile to complete a project. I think this is part of the reason I love having a variety of products in our store that can be used for paper crafting, BUT also crossover and can be used to create home decor projects. I hope this simple little project opens some new doors to you as I share this design with you!

Marimekko fabrics are bold, beautiful and simply gorgeous. Today's project was inspired by this beautiful fabric line. 

I don't know if you realize how easy it is to create a custom, hand painted project using the Studio Line products together with the foam stamps we carry. This pillow cover took less than two hours to create and would have probably taken far less time if I wasn't trying to capture video and pictures. :-D To watch this video directly on YouTube visit this link.

Apply paint directly to ink blending tool.

Use craft stick to work paint into foam.

Apply paint to foam stamp.

Add second color for highlights.

By working quickly you can easily layer two colors, one atop the other to create a beautiful mix of colors.

To create custom paint colors use Claudine's chart as a guide and mix your colors on your non-stick craft sheet.

Apply the light green paint to the stem...

add your darker highlights to a corner of the same ink blending foam...

and add your highlights to one side of the stem and at the base.

TIP: If you happen to overlap color where you do not want it, simply use a damp cloth to wipe away wrong color mix and reapply.

Stamp directly on canvas. Apply pressure firmly and evenly over entire foam stamp area.

Do not worry if the color is uneven when using this technique. You are using this stamped image as a base. Simply paint directly over the stamped image with a small paint brush applying your color.

While the paint is still wet you can easily combine colors directly on your canvas. Mixing some colors and leaving other areas distinct.

To create a more whispy look with your color, simply allow the first layer of paint to dry and then paint your light highlights directly over the dried areas.

Stamp and paint remaining flowers.

TIP: Use odd numbers for a more pleasing effect and vary the heights of the stems or objects for a more pleasing look. Be certain to visualize your canvas in thirds or fifths filling up the bottom 2/3's or 3//5's for a more appealing result.

This particular canvas pillow cover will be perfect for spring! So many stamps, so many options... I hope you give it a try!

stamps: Prima Flower II Foam Stamp

paint: Studio Line Paint Kits - Contemporary, Metropolitan and Urban

accessories: Canvas Pillow Square Cover, Ink Blending Tool, Studio Brushes, Craft Sticks

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