the CLASSroom

Copic Letterpress by Sharon Harnist

H A P P Y   B I R T H D A Y,   D E A R   E L L E N ! ! !  

Yes, today is a very special birthday for our dear, sweet Ellen, so naturally I had to make this project into a birthday card for her!  Hope you enjoy your special day, dear friend!  

Recently I tried out a theory I'd been thinking about and am happy to report worked . . . I always love when that happens!     I played around some more with Ellen's beautiful new Letterpress 110 lb White Cardstock and Copic markers, to see if I could achieve a traditional letterpress look with the combination and these were the results:

It's easier than you might think!  

1. Simply color the raised side of an embossing folder with any combination of Copic markers you'd like.  Here, I used G43 (from this year's new 2012 Copic colors) and RV55 on the beautiful damask pattern from Lifestyle Crafts Floral Embossing Folder duo set:

No need to work quickly here or worry about the ink drying too fast -- just take your time, we'll deal with that later!  After coloring, have your die cutting/embossing machine and materials all set up and ready go, because now is when you WILL need to work faster!  

2. Fill a Mini Mister bottle with Copic Colorless Blender Solution and generously mist your letterpress cardstock on one side -- don't be afraid to get it too wet.  I suspect the high cotton content of this paper helps it to retain the moisture of the blender solution long enough for it to reactivate the Copic coloring on your embossing folder . . . yay!

3. Fold the colored side of the embossing folder onto the wet side of the letterpress paper and run through your die cutting machine with its recommended embossing sandwich.

If, by chance (and this happened to me the first time!), some of your color does not transfer to the paper, just re-mist that part of the paper, line up your embossing folder, and run through the embossing sandwich again.  Wa-lah . . . quick and easy letterpress in a myriad of 358 Copic colors!!  

I finished the card by stamping more of the letterpress cardstock with Hero Arts Clear Essential Messages birthday sentiment, inked with Adirondack Raspberry dye ink. I trimmed the sentiment into a banner shape and secured it to this sweet Memory Box Gothic Rosette, die cut from Bubblegum cardstock . . . lots of great dimension, as you can see in the photo above.

Hope you have a wonderful day, Ellen!!  ~ Sharon

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Edited to add: Someone asked below in the comments about permanent staining of your embossing folder.  Most (if not all) of the color will be transferred to the cardstock with the Copic Colorless Blender Solution. If there is some Copic marker color remaining on the embossing folder, you can wipe it off with either Copic Colorless Blender Solution, hand sanitizer (since it has a high alcohol content, it will clean Copic color) or regular old rubbing alcohol/alcohol prep wipe.

Stamps: Hero Arts Clear Essential Messages; 
Dies: Memory Box Gothic Rosette die; 
Paper: Essentials by Ellen Letterpress 110 lb White Cardstock; Memory Box Pea Pod Notecards & Envelopes and Bubblegum cardstock; 
Ink: Ranger Adirondack Raspberry dye ink pad; 
Copic Markers: G43, RV55; Copic Colorless Blender Solution; 
Accessories: Ranger Mini Mister; white button; 

Simple Wild Blooms Notecard Set

The Wild Blooms die creates the most spectacular focal point on a card front. There are a number of ways to make these little images pop and today I'm going to share a simple one that you could easily create a complete notecard set in just a few minutes!

I love white space and so I decided to use all white card stock for the main element and just pop the color from behind.

I like consistency when creating a set and do my best to keep the cut out positioned in the same place on each cardfront. To do this place a template beneath the cutting plate to help position the piece of cardstock. Adhere it to the back of the cutting plate with a piece of tissue tape to keep it from moving. I then use a tiny piece of Be Creative (Sookwang) tape to hold my die in position.

Place a piece of 4" x 5 1/4" Solar White cardstock directly atop the template guide, position the top cutting plate and send through your machine.

TIP: To remove the little pieces that might remain in the die use a Quickstik! I will typically just tap my die lightly against the edge of a garbage can and most pieces will pop out, saving me the time of removing them, BUT when I don't want to move my die this little Quickstik is magic!

For ease in creating the cut piece to fit precisely behind the cut out area simply cut an extra image. Then use it as your guide to cut the colored piece to fit precisely behind the opening.

I prefer to use a 2-way glue pen to add adhesive and then press my colored background to the back side. For images that are not as delicate or if you use only one color element you can also use pop dots to add even more dimension. Due to the intricacy of this design I adhered it directly behind my opening for best visual appeal.

The second color does not need to be precisely cut. Simply cut a rectangle of color and adhere.

Using a combination of colors makes for a beautiful assortment. Place in a Crystal Clear box, wrap with a bow and you have a fabulous gift. Now all the recipient needs to do is add a sentiment to the left of the flower or inside the card!

TIP: There are so many different ways to change up the look of these card fronts:

• Use Copic markers to add depth to your colored base,
• Use colored cardstock for the card front adding white behind the opening, or
• Use a burnished velvet glittery background to make your image sparkle.

paper: Neenah Solar White, Memory Box Cardstock - Mango, Sunflower, Holly Berry and Parsley

accessories: Memory Box Wild Blooms Die, Quickstik, Crystal Clear Boxes

Raindrop Wishes by Julia Stainton

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens...

Ready for a sweet spring card and a new technique I dreamed up that just may be one of my new favorite things? I'm actually sitting here trying to think of what I'm going to call it. How about the Stamped Template Technique? I think that covers it.

 

Here's my card. I've created a lovely panel of perfectly spaced raindrops on the plastic layer. There is no way that I could eyeball this and get it even like this. If you can... well, all I can say is wow!

I've actually used a stamped image as a template to place each raindrop evenly. There is no stamping directly on the card (except for the sentiment) but yes, I've used a stamp. Here's how I did it...

First of all you need to stamp your image to use it as a template. I've used the Cling Dots background by Hero Arts (fabulous versatile stamp) and stamped it in a dark ink on a scrap piece of paper. This is now your template.

This technique is so easy to do. I've laid some Crystal Clear Plastic over the stamped template and then using the dots as a guide, add dots of Glossy Accents on top of each dot on the template. You can also use a stamped template with vellum or any thin, see-through paper.

Keep adding in the dots until the entire surface is covered. Add your dots left to right and top to bottom so that it doesn't smear. Of course, if you're a leftie...make that right to left.

You are going to want to rush a little but please, do yourself a favor and make sure the dots are totally dry before moving your plastic. Here's what it looks like. I just love how the dots catch the light. I just can't help myself from taking lots of photos of these dots. Hope you don't mind.

Next step is to die cut your blue cardstock, stamp it and adhere to your card. Staple on your dried dotted plastic for the raindrops and then add in your embellishments.

I've covered this super sweet Maya Road chipboard set with a tiny scrap of patterned paper and the cloud were whitened with some Picket Fence Distress Stain.

Hope you enjoyed this technique and hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Thanks for stopping by the CLASSroom!

Supplies:

Key Lime Notecards by Memory Box, Water Cardstock by Memory Box, Cling Dots Background stamp by Hero Arts, All Occasion Messages Stamp Set by Hero Arts,   Jet Black Archival Ink by Ranger, Glossy Accents by Ranger, When Skies are Grey Mini Chipboard set by Maya Road,  Tiny Attacher by Advantus, Styled Labels Movers & Shapers Die by Sizzix, Head Over Heels Tiny Tablet paper pad by Lily Bee Design, Crystal Clear Plastic from Essentials by Ellen, Picket Fence Distress Stain by Ranger

Fringed Felt Flowers by Julie Ebersole

Isn't this little felt flower the cutest?! I just love making these happy little things!

Recently the Memory Box Fringe Border Die came to live at my house. ;)  Altho it is a low-profile die, it works beautifully with these *GAAAAW-JUS* rayon/wool blend felts Ellen just brought into the store. LOVE LOVE LOVE this stuff!!!

The leaf from the Twigs & Berries Die Set is also the perfect size for these particular little blossoms.

After die-cutting the felt, I ran a strip of Be Creative Tape along the uncut edge.

After removing the liner paper, rolled the flower tightly over the tape.  Tip: It really helps to use a toothpick, laying just the tip down against the tape starting at one end and rolling it quickly. When you're finished rolling, you can usually slip the toothpick out--just take care not to undo the flower in the process.

I also die cut some leaves and made myself a little stash of felt flower embellishments that will be ready in a pinch for a future project! I had so much fun, I could have made gobs of 'em all evening long!

Just pop a glue dot on the back side to mount them to your card and my, oh my, they sure do finish off a card so sweetly! *monkey clapping*

Thanks for stopping by today! If you make any of these I'd love to see them and hope you'll come hook me up with a link!

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Supplies:
Stamps:  Hero Arts Cling Zig Zag Background; Hero Arts Cleardesign All Occasion Messages
Ink:  Adirondack Dye Ink in Cloudy Blue; Archival Jet Black
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Memory Box Peony
Tools:  Memory Box Fringe Border Die, Memory Box Twigs & Berry Die, Big Shot Personal Die Cutting Machine
Other:  Be Creative Tape (1/8"), Gold Rayon/Woolfelt, Strawberry Parfait Rayon/Woolfelt, Pea Soup Rayon/Woolfelt, 3D Foam Dots, Craft Glue Dots

 

Memory Box Valentine by Sharon Harnist

Since Valentine's Day is right around the corner, I thought I'd better get busy making some cards for the holiday of love!  Here's a sweet one, using some of my favorite new products!

Sorry for the kind of strange lighting in the photo above, but by turning down some of my studio lights and using only one from the side, I was able to better capture the gorgeous white embossed card base!  When Ellen first introduced her new Essentials by Ellen Letterpress 110 lb White Cardstock, I couldn't wait to try it!  Just look how crisp this pretty Lifestyle Crafts Floral Embossing Folder turned out:

If you click on the photo above for a larger view, you should be able to see the pretty original cotton texture on the right side of the cardstock and then what happens when it is embossed on the left side of the photo -- The cotton fibers in the paper are compressed and the texture becomes a little smoother.  I hope this comes over in the photo, because it is SOOOO gorgeous in real life!

This was the first time I had used some of Memory Box's fabulously delicate cut-out dies and boy, was I impressed!  They cut so cleanly and just look at those beautiful delicate scrolls (and see -- the embossed background isn't as noticeable in my full studio lighting, unfortunately)!

I used the La Rue Heart die, cut from a Memory Box Currant Notecard; and Pepita Border die, cut from Memory Box Meadow Cardstock.  To attach these intriquet die cuts, I used Mini Glue Dots where I could, and then Zig's 2-Way Squeeze & Roll Glue Pen on the tiny cut outs:

Then I wanted an additional "light and airy" embellishment to complete my card, so I started playing around with some of Ellen's Assorted Doilies and came up with this doily flower.  Here's how to make it:

1 - Fold a 4-inch doily almost (just a little less) in half, right side over to the left:

2 - Next, fold the doily in half again, up from the bottom:

3 - Then (I forgot to photograph this) -- using Tim Holtz's Tiny Attacher, staple down inside the folds, over on the lower right side (by grasping the inside folds of the doily with your left hand):

3 - Then fold up the pointed underside of the doily.  This will give the flower a "base" to sit on and make it a little shorter and flatter:

4 - Finally, turn down the outer "petals" and fluff the inner petals into a shape you like:

I used Craft Glue Dots to attach the doily flower to the card and placed a large pearl brad (from my stash) in the center.  You could use a button or large gemstone, too.

I hope this gives you some last minute Valentine ideas, too!  ~ Sharon

Paper: Essentials by Ellen Letterpress 110 lb White Cardstock and Assorted Doilies; Memory Box Currant & Meadow Notecards & Envelopes (or coordinating Memory Box Cardstock colors)
Memory Box Dies: La Rue Heart & Pepita Border dies
Accessories: Lifestyle Crafts Floral Embossing Folders; Advantus Tim Holtz's Tiny Attacher; Craft Glue Dots & Mini Glue Dots; Zig 2-Way Squeeze & Roll Glue Pen; 

Lemon Drop Love

When we first received in these fun little alphabet dies I fell in love with the project pictured with the Lemon Drop die, where the word "hi" is accentuated. I realized that the letter placement of this fabulous little alphabet from Lifestyle Crafts would make a very cute Valentine as well and if you leave off the heart it would make a cute little thank you (I owe you - or I O U) for a favor received.

There are a ton of different ways to highlight the letters in this alphabet "background." I love sparkle and so I opted to use glitter to create the focal sentiment, but you could also pop out all the letters and highlight certain ones by placing different colored cardstock behind the letter or color in different letters with your markers, or cut out different colored cardstock with the die and pop out the white ones inserting the colored ones. SO MANY options - I love it!

Run the alphabet die through your die cut machine being very careful to keep it on a firm, flat surface when moving it. Then using tweezers remove the letters you want to highlight.

Apply Be Creative (Sookwang) tape to the back side of your letter sheet as shown above.

Apply a piece of Be Creative Tape to the back side of another piece of Neenah Cardstock and cut out the letters you would like to highlight. Remove the tape backing, apply glitter and burnish (or gently rub) the glitter into the surface of the tape. Insert the letters in your large letter background.

Apply glitter strips using Be Creative Tape in the 1/4" width.

Place a Hero Arts pearl heart in the center of the O. Highlighting the O with silver glitter allowed me to frame the sweet little heart to draw more attention to it. Once again a very simple, sweet design for the Valentine in your life.

Tip: This particular alphabet is scaled beautifully for creating sentiments on your card fronts with the die cut letters and Ann, one of the lovely ladies here at work pointed out that the quotation marks would make fabulous little molars for a tooth fairy card or page! So fun!!!

Thank you for joining me here again in the CLASSroom - have a fabulous weekend!

paper: Galvanized Curious Metallic Cardstock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

accessories: Lifestyle Crafts Lemon Drop Alphabet, Glitter Ritz - Fire Red and Silver, Be Creative (Sookwang) Tape 4 1/2" and 1/4", Hero Arts Pearl Heart

Weigh to Go!

Each month I create a little thank you note to send out with our orders and I have to admit we all got a giggle out of this one here at work. It is perhaps a little selfish, because the reality is I figured that each time I prepare a little package with ribbon and we insert it into one of your boxes it will remind us to eat healthfully - LOL!

I adore this fabulous little scale Karen Lockhart created with her last release - how perfect for anyone who is trying to eat healthier! It is a great way (or perhaps weigh - ha, ha) to encourage someone who is giving healthy eating and exercise their best effort. BUT I also came up with another idea I wish I had time to share - rather than "putting a bird on it" what if you put a heart on the little dial and for a sentiment add, "On a scale of 1-10, you're a 10!" How cute is that?

The new Viola collection from Memory Box is a luscious combination of purple, green and blue - with the "scale" (OK - I just couldn't resist - LOL!) perfect for paper piecing!

These are the Copic colors, as well as Prisma and Faber Castell colors I used to color in the details.

Don't you just love the dark purple ribbon we are including with our orders this month? I am hoping that you will be able to use this month's ribbon with the Viola paper pads that have been flying out the door!

Just one little Hero Arts gemstone and a few pierced holes using the Tim Holtz Design Ruler (LOVE the spacing that ruler provides for piercing) and this simple little creation is ready to go. I am placing it directly in front of me on my desk, so that I remember to eat healthfully!


stamps: Lockhart Stamps - Vintage Scale and Weigh to Go

ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers (see picture above)

paper: Memory Box Viola 6x6 Paper, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

accessories: Hero Arts Purple Gemstone, Design Ruler, Craft Pick

Impressed?

Have you tried our Letterpress paper? Do you like it? Inquiring minds would love to know - ha, ha!

It is simple, quick, easy and cute! So many ideas are constantly flying through my head and yet I have not had the time to get into my studio to share them with you. Even though these ideas can be completed in a short spurt (at least if you go with your original idea ;-D --- more to come on that in a later post, because this idea created another, and then another, and...) life has been racing along at speeds unknown and so today I just took a moment (or two - ha, ha) to create a couple of designs to share with you.

Letterpress doesn't always need ink and I think this simple little number is over-the-top sweet just the way it is!

Begin by cutting out three heart chains from Art Magnetic Masking Material. I used Tissue Tape to attach them to my cutting plate so that they would not move. I then positioned my guide and attached it to the underside of the cutting plate with a piece of tissue tape. This guide ensures that I will position my letterpress paper in just the right spot - I need to create one with black lines so that it is easier for you to see in my pictures.

For a complete refresher on how to create your sandwich when creating Letterpress looks with Art Magnetic Masking Material please review this post.

Then cut out three hearts using the Heart Chain die. Use a pencil to define the second heart edge on the back side and snip it with your detail scissors to create this cute little pair.

Awww - a feeling of satisfaction - idea shared :-D

paper: Essentials by Ellen: Letterpress Cardstock; Memory Box Holly Berry

accessories: Memory Box Heart Chain Die, Essentials by Ellen: Art Magnetic Masking Material

Farmhouse Fun with Dawn McVey

It is such a pleasure to welcome Dawn McVey here to the CLASSroom! Dawn is best known for the beautiful and vibrant colored work she does with Paper Trey ink and as a designer on the Studio Calico design team. You will find more of her beautiful work on her blog - Raspberry Suite!

We appreciate Dawn showcasing the delightful October Afternoon Farmhouse line today. This beautiful set of cards would make a wonderful gift! Please share your love with Dawn today and help us thank her for joining us in the CLASSroom by leaving a comment on her blog. Comment on her blog's post mentioning the post featured here for a chance to win the bundle of goodies she used to create these gorgeous projects! A winner will be randomly selected from those comments left before midnight Central Time, February 9th with the winner announced here on Friday, February 10th. 

Dawn, once again THANK YOU for sharing your talents with us here in the CLASSroom! -Ellen

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Hello there,

I’m so happy to be sharing with you today.....Ellen sent me some really fun October Afternoon goodies to work with so I thought I’d show you some cards made using the Farmhouse collection.  I love these types of collections because putting cards together is a snap, when all of the papers and embellishments are already coordinated for you!

Paris Inspired

 

On this first card, I layered a gray gingham patterned paper on some aqua card stock and die cut a bit of red doily patterned paper with a heart border die, allowing the scallops along the top edge of the hearts to peek out from behind the gingham. 

Next, I cut a button card from one of the patterned papers and stitched buttons to the button card with button twine.  To that, I added a gorgeous rose sticker, some adhesive pearls and a little snippet of adhesive lace at the top.

supplies

October Afternoon Farmhouse patterned papers, Shape Stickers and Buttons; Hero Arts adhesive pearls and adhesive lace; Papertrey Ink aqua mist card stock, rustic jute button twine, heart border die

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Hello

 
For this next card, I started out with a piece of lagoon card stock and added the gorgeous ruler patterned paper over the top along with some Hero Arts adhesive lace trim along the bottom edge.  Next, I added a Farmhouse Label Sticker and stamped the “hello” sentiment before adding some threaded buttons. 

The doily was stamped using a Farmhouse rubber stamp and hand cut before it was adhered with foam adhesive.  To that, I added a butterfly Shape Sticker as well as a circle label sticker, on which, I stamped the “cream” image.  Lastly, a few Hero Arts pearls were added to finish things off.

supplies

October Afternoon Farmhouse patterned papers, Stamp Set, Shape Stickers, Label Stickers and Buttons; Hero Arts adhesive pearls and adhesive lace; Memory Box Lagoon and Parchment card stock; Papertrey Ink chocolate baker’s twine, true black ink and mat stack 3 stamp set

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Thanks

This next card is a cheery little number.  A couple of patterned papers were layered on some parchment card stock and some adhesive lace was added.  A “bliss” sticker was adhered in the upper right corner, removing a bit of the stickiness from the bottom of the sticker, so that the “tails” would pop forward just a bit.

 

Next, an adhesive doily was layered on top as well as a tape measure border sticker, that was cut into two pieces.  The “thanks” sentiment was stamped on the scalloped label sticker before a few gems were added.  A yellow rose sticker was adhered over the top of everything, with some foam adhesive. 

supplies

October Afternoon Farmhouse patterned papers, Stamp Set, Shape Stickers and Label Stickers; Hero Arts adhesive gems and adhesive lace; Memory Box Parchment card stock; Paper trey Ink true black ink and mat stack 4 stamp set

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Buttons Note Card

This card began with a bit of punch card stock and a tape measure sticker was added along the bottom of the card, as well as some lace trim.  Next, I began piling on the various Shape Stickers and labels.

 

The button was tied with a bit of baker’s twine and in cases where I wanted the sticker to have a bit more dimension, I simply stuck the sticker to my jeans a few times, to remove a bit of the stickiness before adding foam adhesive to the back of the sticker.

supplies

October Afternoon Farmhouse Shape Stickers, Label Stickers and Buttons; Hero Arts adhesive gems, adhesive lace and Punch card stock; chocolate baker’s twine

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Bless Your Little Heart

One more for today.....many of the same elements here, layered with a bit of ribbon tucked behind the doily.

I hope I’ve helped to show today, just how easy it is to create a variety of cards for various occasions with one collection pack of coordinated goodies!    -Dawn

supplies

October Afternoon Farmhouse patterned paper, Stamp Set, Shape Stickers, Word Stickers and Button; Hero Arts adhesive pearls and Punch card stock; ribbon, Papertrey Ink rustic jute button twine

New products coming soon to the store!

Hello! We're so excited to give you an overview of many of the products that we'll be stocking in the store! We were also able to get some shots of gorgeous projects on display and have interspersed those throughout, as well. :)

Not everything comes at once, so as product arrives throughout the coming weeks we will include updates in our newsletter, as well as post updates on our Facebook Page!

If you would like to be added to our Newsletter emailings, please look for the green Newsletter button on our home page at Ellen Hutson, LLC

You can find us HERE on Facebook.

Now, let's get on to all the eye candy we have to share with you! YAY!!!

WR Memory Keepers:

Lilly Bee:

Ranger Ink:

Select items from the Cosmo Cricket collections :

Ideology embellishments by Tim Holtz for Advantus:

October Afternoon:

Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts:





Studio Calico:

Crate Paper:

 

Amy Tangerine & Dear Lizzy:

    

Prima Marketing:

Graphic 45:

Lifestyle Crafts:

Maya Road:

Basic Grey:

Hero Arts, in collaboration with Basic Grey (Stamps):

Hero Arts & Studio Calico (more pics previously shown in Studio Calico section):

Jenny Bowlin:

Elizabeth Craft Designs (Peel Off Stickers, Glitters & Shimmer Sheetz):

Crafter's Workshop:

Lawn Fawn:

Echo Park:

Melissa Frances:

7 Gypsies:





Authentique:

Paper Smooches

My Mind's Eye:

Technique Tuesday:

Impression Obsession:

Bottle Cap Inc.:

Vintaj:

WOW! You made it all the way to the end! You are a trooper!!!

Thanks for joining us and we hope you enjoyed seeing all the new stuff to come!