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Bohemian Garden Under Vellum by Sandy Allnock

Happy SPRING! I'm Sandy Allnock, and I'm pretty sure the whole nation is now ready to put all that winter behind us, right? I've got a pretty little card to share that packs a lot of springtime color and shimmer - and you can create it with a variety of mediums. PLUS...a sneaky peeky at one of the new release stamps coming up VERY soon! Ready?

First, the basic supplies. The Bohemian Garden set (ohmygosh how fun, right?) designed by the talented Julie Ebersole is going to be great in SO many ways. I also pulled out some of my Essentials by Ellen vellum - I just adore the weight of it!

You can use different inks or markers to do this technique - but I had to get out all my fun Distress Inks in their little storage tins - can you believe I am probably the LAST on the train to collect all 12 sets of mini inks? Call me slow! But I'm a happy camper now since I can have more ink at-hand when they're the little ones, and the round pads for the blending tool tuck right underneath the pads themselves. Genius, I say, that Tim Holtz is genius! (We won't need that tool for this card but I just had to tell you in case you're like me and didn't know about the pads!)

Alrighty, on with the card! If you know anything about distress inks - they aren't great at stamping with clear stamps, right? The ink, because of its forumulation, bubbles up a little bit on the polymer surface, unlike some other inks. But I had an idea to try with the vellum, so I inked one of the flowers up in ombré fashion with Wild Honey, Ripe Persimmon, and Seedless Preserves, just tapping them onto the stamp itself. 

I wanted to see how a bunch of the flowers would stamp on the 4" x 5-1/2" piece of vellum, and here's the result....the flowers are all in the three colors above, and the leaves use the same technique with Crushed Olive and Peacock Feathers. The result is a little marbly stamping - though I'll let you ponder what happens when we turn over that vellum.

I placed a paper towel over the wet ink and pressed once so as not to move any of the ink, just to pick up any major excess, then heat dried it just a little bit and stopped before any curling began. Here's a closeup of the result so far:

Next I wanted to attach my stamped vellum panel face down onto a white card base. Yup, stamping side down! That'll smooth out the look of the ink.

It's always interesting to figure out how to attach vellum to our card without adhesive showing - what I opted for was dots of Glossy Accents on spots on the flowers that wouldn't show.

I placed it gently onto the card front made of Neenah 110lb, with a little bit of tape runner (I love the dot Stamp Runner from Tombow) across one strip at the top, so I could cover that with this goooorrrrgeous 1-1/4" May Arts Silk Ribbon in Antique Gold. It comes in yard increments and so many pretty colors, so you could do this with a lot of different color schemes.

If you struggle with getting a big bow to go through the mail, try this trick - tie a knot with your beautiful ribbon, and just cut the two ends so they have points - fold it in half and snip it at an angle, and it makes a knot look so much fancier! And oooh, what's that sentiment? Could it be from another new release stamp set coming soon....? Hmmm, you'll have to wait and see! *grin*

I wanted to now add a little shimmer. I got out my clear Wink of Stella pen, which doesn't "move" any of that distress ink since it's on the other side of the paper, so you get to just see the soft shine on top.

This could work with a variety of inks on the vellum - I wish my photo of the shimmer showed it better. It's hard to capture on a camera. Trust me though, it's beautiful!

The finished card is bright and cheerful, and yet has a lot of white to keep it fresh for spring - and of course a little shimmer makes everything better!

Stay tuned for the release coming your way soon....you're gonna love it. #hideyourwallets!

Happy crafting!
Sandy

Essentials by Ellen 43 lb. Vellum, 25 pk

Neenah Cardstock, Neenah Heavyweight, Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb, 25 pk

Ranger Distress Mini Ink Pad, Wild Honey

Ranger Distress Mini Ink Pad, Ripe Persimmon

Ranger Distress Mini Ink Pad, Seedless Preserves

Ranger Distress Mini Ink Pad, Crushed Olive

Ranger Distress Mini Ink Pad, Peacock Feathers

Zig Wink of Stella Glitter Brush Tip Marker, Clear

Ranger Accents, Glossy

Ranger Accents, Mini Glossy

Tombow Stamp Runner Dot Adhesive Runner & Refill

Silk Ribbon, Antique Gold 1 1/4" by the Yard

Ranger Mini Distress Ink Storage Tin

Ranger Ink Blending Tool, 1 Inch Round

Ranger Ink Blending Tool Replacement Foam, 1 Inch Round

Holiday Show Stopper

(click on the pics to enbiggan)

3D scenes have always enchanted, and at the holidays seem even more magical to me--I love how charming they can be as home decoration.  One of my favorites are water-less snow globes--I always keep my eyes peeled for fun and different DIY ways to add these to my collection.

I've never actually made jam or jelly (OK, I can hear you guys chuckling at me, the anti-Martha!), but I often use canning jars to present home-baked goodies all year round and as luck would have it I had a few unused wide-mouthed jars in the pantry that were perfect for this project because the Cosmo Cricket Show Toppers are made to match them! SWEET!!!

I couldn't have been more thrilled when I finished this project--wouldn't they make awesome gifts any time of year, for any occasion?!  You could also tuck a gift card into an envelope and slip it into the slot, or the slot can be used to hold recipe cards while baking, or it makes the cutest photo holder!  EEP!!!

There are different styles of Show Stoppers, and each of them has a hook on the inside of the lid that could be used to dangle their Mini Mobile--imagine hearts at Valentines, clouds and stars celebrating the arrival of a sweet new baby, or balloons for a birthday! I must admit, I love the different color options, too!  

 

Once you've decided what/what kind of scene you want to showcase, these really don't take long to put together!  If scene building is not your thing, then stuff it with yummy edibles, or wrap a gift card up in a fluff of pretty tissue paper and just decorate the lid!

Basic Supplies (links to specifics at the end of the article):

• Cosmo Cricket Show Topper
• Wide-mouth Canning Jar
• Assorted Dies for creating a scene + Die-cutting Machine
• Circle Dies or Circle Cutter
• Card Stock
• Tape Adhesive, Glue Dots
• Scoring Tool
• Epsom Salts (you can use Buffalo snow, but the weight of the epsom salts works much like sand would, "propping" the die cuts upright.  Plus, I just like how it looks! *gleeful grin*)

Watch the video to see how I built the 3D paper scene inside my jar of Christmas!

Yes, there was a LOT of off-camera monkey clapping. ;)

Thanks for giving us a thumbs up on YouTube!

 

Happy Christmas!!!

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SUPPLIES:

• Cosmo Cricket Show Toppers
• Cosmo Cricket Mini Mobile
• Cosmo Cricket Glitter Sheets, Starlet
• Savvy Stamps Tall Birch Trees Die
• Savvy Stamps Deer Silhouette Die
• Essentials by  Ellen Merry & Bright Dies
• Savvy Stamps Merry Typed Die
• Nesting Circle Dies or Circle Scissor
• Hero Arts Red Gemstone Stickers
• Neenah Heavy Weight Card Stock
• Neenah Desert Storm Card Stock
• Pearl Thread
• Pom Poms
• Big Shot
• Stamp Runner
• Glue Dots
• Tombow Stamp Runner
• Tombow Mono Multi
• Crop-a-Dile
• Martha Mini Score Board
• Julie's Favorite Tweezers
• Epsom Salts (available in the pharmacy section)
• Ribbon, Red Jingle Bell (from my stash)

 

DIY Diorama Holiday Ornament

(click on the pics to enbiggan)

I have often admired those beautiful vintage style diorama tree ornaments--there is something so magical about the tiny scale of a world housed inside a globe or small box! Last year, I was jonesin' for about a dozen of them to decorate our family tree, but with each one I found, at $15-24 each (gasp!), I just couldn't bring myself to plunk down the coins...

This year, I decided I was going to make my own (Go, me!!!) and I had SOOOO much fun that I envision making many more!!! *monkey clapping* And, when my granddaughter is old enough, I imagine this will be a holiday craft she and I will really enjoy doing together--just the thought of that makes me smile! 

There are many different "containers" that you can use for a diorama, depending on the scale and size, but I happened to have an old gift card tin laying around and realized a great way to recycle it would be to use it to create an ornament sized diorama.

One of the fun things about making this diorama was using some of my favorite card-making stamps and supplies (project specific supplies listed at the end of this article). It helped me to have an idea in mind, which was to create snowy hillsides with little houses nestled among the trees. Full Disclosure: I am heavily influenced by my desires for a white Christmas. I wish for snow every single year. *grin*

An important thing to keep in mind with dioramas is to build the scene from back to front, and not to glue anything down permanently until you are satisfied with placement. You can click on the step-out photo guide below to enbiggan.

HOW TO:

1. Gather stamps and embellishments in your desired theme, along with inks, paints, card stock and other tools
2. Discard the insert from the tin then trace the tin onto card stock to create the backing; I also traced again onto white card stock to create snow drifts (see step #4) for my winter scene. Trim to fit as needed
3. Stamp the snowfall pattern with white ink onto the kraft panel and set aside to dry
4. Stamp trees with green inks onto scrap white card stock; paint chipboard houses, allow them to dry, then add details with a white gel pen
5. Use a Crop-a-dile (or a nail & hammer) punch holes into the top of the tin for threading a twine hanger
6. Glitter the edges of the snow drifts then 3D mount them into the tin--keep in mind that part of the enchantment of a diorama is the illusion of depth that staggered layers of dimension creates
7. Once the background is in place, temporarily place embellishments and afix foam dots on the backs as needed for support; when I was satisfied with my scene I snapped a quick pic with my phone to guide me later as I was mounting them permanently. I coated the little houses with Rock Candy glitter to mimic the sugary glittered effect of vintage ornaments and applied Stickles Lime Glitter to the trees and mounted everything into place once they were dry
8. Die cut some clouds from patterned paper and score the bottoms at 1/8" to create a flap; apply double-sided tape to the flaps
9. This is an upside down view of the inside of the ornament; secure the flaps of the clouds to the inside top of the tin
10. Further embellish as desired; I added some Gold Stickles Glitter Glue to the clouds and spread it out with the tip of my finger for just a smidge of sparkle and also added some gold confetti stars to the background 

 

I couldn't resist the upside down clouds--I think they add a whimsical charm to my little miniature world!

I hope you get to enjoy some crafty time during the holiday season!

Happy Christmas, everyone!

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SUPPLIES:

STAMPS: Lawn Fawn "Let It Snow"

DIES: My Favorite Things Flat Bottom Clouds

INKS: Hero Arts Unicorn (White), Adirondack Lettuce Pigment

PAINTS: Distress Paint in Barn Door

PAPER: Neenah Solar White Card Stock, Neenah Desert Storm Card Stock

EMBELLISHMENTS: Maya Road Chipboard Welcome Home (Houses), Rock Candy Loose Glitter, Stickles Lime & Golden Rod Glitter Glues, Lawn Fawn Peppermint Twine

TOOLS: Crop-a-Dile, Uniball White Gel Pen, Big Shot, Martha Stewart Mini Score Board, Soft Grip Stylus Tool

ADHESIVES: Kool Tak Foam Adhesive Squares, Two Way Glue Chisel Tip, Glue Glider Pro High Tac & Dispenser, 1/8" Be Creative Tape

OTHER: Gold Confetti Stars, Text Patterned Paper Scrap(from my stash)

 

GO FOR THE GOLD! by Julie Ebersole

Gold has been the trending metallic this year and there are so many easy ways to use it to accent your projects!

Here's a sampling of some of the items I though would be fun to play with for this article:

(click on any of the pics to enbiggan)

You'll see that in some cases the designs took on a "luxe" look, and in others a softer, more subdued finish, depending on what I combined with it.

 

YOU ROCK

 

This card has a very posh and dramatic look, achieved by die cutting chevrons in two different widths from Be Creative Tape and applying them to plain black card stock. Stickles Dry Glitter is one of the most sparkly glitters I've ever encountered and its ultra-fine grind offers wonderful contrast to the bold black background.

Die cut vellum stars are layered and stapled over the top for further embellishment to allow the glittery chevron to show through. You might not think to add sequins to a card that has such a modern masculine vibe, but these have a satin finish that compliments the overall style of the design.

Incidentally, I tried out the Kool Tak CLEAR foam adhesive squares for 3D mounting one of the sequins (normally, I use rolled up Glue Dots); I had to cut it in half to fit under the sequin because it was larger, but those things are AWESOME! I love that they're totally clear!

To maintain that bold, crisp look I chose a sentiment that had a large, strong font and used Brilliance Graphite Black Ink to ensure a very rich and saturated impression--I love how "sharp" this ink looks against white.

 

WISH BIG

This card takes the same Luxe style a slightly different direction, with increased white space and the addition of another color, by way of some large glossy plastic letters in mint.

After creating a diagonal channel in the top layer, 1/4" Be Creative Tape was applied to the edges and Dark Gold Microfine Glitter was burnished overtop [see Burnished Velvet tutorial HERE]. A little forethought had to be given on this design because the word "big" needed to be stamped onto the top panel in a particular spot before it was mounted.  This layer was then 3D trimmed and mounted to a white base card, leaving a gap that exposed the patterned Washi Tape.

These plastic letters by Heidi Swapp are fantastic and I adore the color, but they are not self-adhesive so I had to think on that one for a bit. In the end, I sent them through my little Xyron because they fit in the chute (weren't too wide, and weren't too thick) and I knew the adhesive would be invisible. I will have to experiment with more ways to mount them to projects--I think you could have some fun hand-stitching them, securing them with the Tiny Attacher Tool or even brads, etc. :)

More vellum stars were added, with some left flat and applied with Xyron adhesive, and others were folded in half and then glued down with Glossy Accents in the centers so they would pop up a bit along the outer points for added interest and dimension. After adding a few gold sequins I sat on my hands... *grin* I've learned to sleep on some designs overnight; if the next morning I feel it is missing something, I can always add to it! In this case, however, I think stopping at this point was the right call. ;)

 

NEW LIFE

Metallics don't always have to hard and crisp; this new baby card is very gentle and dreamy... 

The top layer of white linen card stock was placed underneath a mask of tiny stars and lightly misted with Mister Huey's in Gold. This color of mist has lovely, warm golden toned shimmer to it.  To keep from obliterating the details of the stars, repositionable adhesive was used to keep the mask in place over the card stock and the piece was placed in a large cardboard box so I could spritz it from up high with several coats, building up the intensity of the color.  I had to spritz from a high distance to allow the mist to "float down" onto the paper; being too close caused a great deal of puddling, which then ran all over the place and ultimately looked like blobs. Not exactly the effect I was going for... Oy!

NOTE: If you're not sure of what kind of results you will get, test (Always test first; ask me how I know...!) your misting on scrap paper until you get a feel for how high up you need to be, depending on the color you're using and how intense you want the color to lay down. Be aware that if you pump hesitantly or start and stop midway, you will probably create a lot of heavy droplets whereas depressing the pump completely and with confidence will yield a much finer, more uniform mist.

 

I even misted some scraps of white card stock (Splash & Gold Mister Huey's) and after they were dry, stamped and embossed my sentiment with gold detail embossing powder and punched the greeting out. Double punching a scrap of bright yellow card stock enabled me to create an crescent-shaped layer for my "moon".

A length of gold cord was coiled up and glued it to the back of the moon before mounting it to the card front--a fun look I've seen before but hadn't tried yet. 

This was such a unique way to create a new baby card and I loved being able to use non-baby themed stamps to pull the idea together! The strips of color on each side of the star panel were just from my scrap bin--these are perfect for creating the illusion of a more layered look.

 

SHINE ON

These wood veneer shapes acquire the look of metal charms with a coating of embossing powder, but they are soooo lightweight! 

Just press them against your Versamark/embossing pad and dip them into a jar of embossing powder.  Remove them with tweezers then place them with the embossing powder side facing upward into a shoebox lid or something similar; heat with your ebossing gun until the powder becomes shiny/melted and allow them to cool, then glue them onto your project with Glossy Accents.  (The lid will help keep them corralled and from blowing all over your desk when you're heating them. You can also use the tips of your tweezers to keep them in one spot while you're embossing.)

The Starburst image was stamped in Soft Pool to support the gold accents, but not create a totally overpowering metallic look. Before stamping the greeting right over top with Versamark, I prepped the surface with an anti-static pouch; this ensures the surface is dry and no moisture will attract stray embossing powder in unwanted areas.

The greeting was then embossed with gold detail powder and a narrow strip of metallic gold card stock was glued beneath it along the horizon line of the starburst pattern.

As you can see, it only takes a hint of gold to create a fabulous luxe look and it can be as bold and sharp or soft and subtle as you like! And, keep in mind that this applies to any metallic, including platinum, pewter, silver, copper and brass.

 

••••••••••••••••

 

Technique Tuesday Clear Stamps, Bring on the Sun by Ali Edwards	Technique Tuesday Studio AE Monthly Clear Stamp Program, March 2012, Beauty of Spring	Mama Elephant Clear Stamps, Midnight Letters	Technique Tuesday Clear Stamps, Big Thanks
Studio Calico Cling Stamp, Starburst Background from Hero Arts	Brilliance Pad, Graphite Black	Shadow Ink, Soft Pool	Delicata Ink Pad, Golden Glitz
VersaMark Inkpad	Studio Calico Sundrifter Mister Huey's Color Mist, Aqua	Studio Calico, Mister Huey's Color Mist, Gold	Heidi Swapp Clear Pop Alphabet, Mint
Essentials by Ellen: Sequins, Satin Gold	Studio Calico Darling Dear Wood Veneer, Triangles	Studio Calico Wonderland Mask, Star Pattern	String by the Spool, Metallic Gold
Glitter Ritz Microfine, Dark Gold	Ranger - Super Fine 1oz. Embossing Powder, Gold	A Cardstock, Essentials by Ellen: White Linen #100 Cardstock, 25 Pack	A Cardstock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, 25 pack
A Cardstock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Ream	A5 Cardstock, Black, 10 pack	Curious Metallic, Gold Leaf Cardstock	Bazzill 40lb. Vellum, 25pk
Shape 'N Tape, Black	Embossing Gun	Stickles Dry Fine Glitter, Golden Rod	Nesting Punch, 1 1/2" Circle
My Favorite Things Die-namics, Chevron Stripe	Tim Holtz, Tiny Attacher	My Favorite Things Die-namics, Stacking Stars	Accents, Glossy
Kool Tak Clear Foam Adhesive, 1/4 Squares	Kool Tak White Foam Adhesive, 1/4 Squares (1/8 Thick)	Glue Glider Pro	Glue Glider Pro Plus Refill, High Tac 58'
Be Creative (Sookwang) Tape, 5mm (1/4")	Be Creative (Sookwang) Sheets, 5 pk (8x11)

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"If You're Afraid of the Dark" Altered Trading Cards by Ellen Hutson

The book begins - "If tomorrow morning the sky falls..." As of late I have felt the sky falling and when trying to prepare for this month's newsletter post I pulled out a book that I was given back in 1991 by a dear friend. We had just received the new Art Squares and when thinking about how I would create some type of trading card I put two and two together and realized that inspiration was at my finger tips. 

My inspiration is the book titled "If You're Afraid of the Dark" by Cooper Edens. The whimsical illustrations and sweet words bring a smile to your heart! So in that moment, ideas began to flow.

image credit

This little book is truly amazing and I encourage you to get a copy to share with your children, a friend, or just for you!

With this post I am happy to share a brand new addition to our Inchie Art product line. In addition to Inchies, Inchie +, and Twinchies, Inchie Arts has rebranded their product line and added two new sizes to that line - ATC sized (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") and 3" squares. These Art Squares are now availabe in seven different colors. I am so excited about these additions due to the ever growing popularity of Mixed Media art. The surface of these squares allows for you to stamp, watercolor, spritz, add gesso, paste... you name it, give it a try.

Today I will share how to use several different product lines with the ATC cards - Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Line, Distress Paint, Dylusions Ink Sprays and Embossing Paste - let the exploration begin.

"If your heart catches in your throat... ask a bird to sing."

Cut patterned paper pieces to adhere to your ATC Art Square. For this card I am using the Wheat color ATC card together with a couple of papers from the Studio Calico Classic Calico Collection Volume 3. To adhere the paper to the trading card use Studio Matte Medium. This adhesive is fantastic to use with paper and many other items.

At CHA Claudine taught a fabulous way to utilize her stencils and paint on projects. Using tissue paper you can create fantastic layered looks and be able to place your objects exactly where you want them... with no mess!

Position the stencil and use an ink blending tool (be certain to use the foam pad version) and a small amount of Studio Paint. After I shot this photo I actually added a very small amount of the teal to alter the sky blue color ever so slightly.

Allow to fully dry. You can heat set it with your Heat It tool if you are in a hurry as the paint layer is so thin.

Paint a layer of Studio Multi Medium on your trading card and position the tissue paper atop the trading card. Then paint a second layer of Multi Medium over the top of the tissue paper. Allow to dry.

The effect of Stencil Paste when used with stencils is fantastic. Apply a small amount to the straight edge of a craft scraper and smooth this over the area of the stencil you would like to use. You can mask off any areas you do not want the paste to seep through - in this case I had plenty of space to work without risk of making a mess, so no masking was necessary.

Remove the stencil immediately after adding the paste. I like to clean my tools immediately after use for ease, BUT another great tip Claudine shared for cleaning those stencils that might have dried paint, is to put it in a container and add regular rubbing alcohol. This helps to easily remove the paint from the surface of the stencil (AND an added bonus is that it works for removing paint from clothing as well ;-D)

Another product that adds wonderful dimension when using stencils is Studio Gesso! In the picture above I have mixed the gesso together with Studio Sky Blue paint.

Using tissue tape to ast as my mask, I tape off all areas of the stencil that I did not want gesso to seep through. Apply in the same manner as you would the Embossing Paste. Work quickly as you need to remove the stencil immediately to avoid "seepage".

As you can see I did get some "seepage", but it turned out to be a happy accident...

You can see in the closeup picture  below that I used Blank Canvas paint on the end of a small brush and stippled it over the blue paint creating this fantastic little shadow. Yep, everything works out in the end :-D

Use a fingertip knife to cut away the excess tissue paper. 

Add a sweet heart pearl...

and listen to the birds sing in your heart.

"If you find your socks don't match... stand in a flowerbed."

Dylusions Ink Sprays can be used in multiple ways - spritz with them and paint with them. For intense color add the spray to a watercolor brush using a pipette. For less intense watercolor effects spritz a little ink on a non-stick craft sheet and use a waterbrush filled with water to apply the ink. 

To fill the watercolor brush unscrew the barrel of the brush and remove the black valve. Add the ink, insert the valve and you are ready to paint with delicious intense color. I prefer to use Tim's watercolor brush for this application as the color of the barrel is clear, whereas the Niji barrel is green in color. Using the Niji for all my water projects makes it easy to identify the difference very easily.

TIP: Store these brushes alongside your bottles by using a rubberband to attach them to the bottle and easily identify which colors you have at your fingertips.

Art Squares are available in white which are perfect for watercolor techniques. For best results be certain to always use the pebbled side of the Art Squares. Position an Eclipse Tape mask over the flowers...

and stamp cute little Ruby with her boots hidden in the beautiful blooms. Remove the mask and paint.

Simply watercolor directly on the ATC card using the beautifully intense Dylusions inks. As you can see when I first started I had a rather mottled look that was a little too dark for my liking. I simply brushed over this surface with my waterfilled waterbrush and used a paper towel to dab off the excess color creating a fabulous sky.

It is simple to create your own little cloud masks. Attach a couple of small Eclipse Tape strips to a piece of typing paper and die cut two sizes of clouds.

Reposition the mask over the flowers and one over cute little Ruby's body.Then position the cloud masks on your project using the White Distress Paint dabber to add texture. Allow to dry as shown, or use a paper towel to dab away some of the excess paint for a fluffier effect.

Add detail to the flower centers and buttons with a Clear Gloss pen. (Sorry for the poor photo - I just couldn't get a better photo of this little detail.)

Standing in a bed of flowers makes everything better!

"If you're afraid of the dark... remember the night rainbow.

Distress paint has fabulous coverage - I began with a white ATC card!

Apply the Distress Paint direct to the card. As you can see the surface is streaky, but...

wipe over the surface with your finger and it all magically smooths out! Distress Paint will easily wipe off your fingers - yeah! Once it is dry it becomes permanent on your surfaces, yet it will still come off your hands with ease.

With the paint still wet, spritz with Dylusions ink and watch the paint react to the waterbased spray - WAY cool!

Apply heat to dry enough to remove the tacky nature.

Situate a starry stencil and spritz with White Linen Dylusions Ink Spray. It creates an awesome night sky effect as it dries.

Apply a small amount of silver embossing paste to the straight edge of a craft scraper.

Swipe over your stencil work from the bottom up allowing the paste to feather out as you move upwards for a random look.

It was amazing to observe the waterbased Dylusions paint seep up through the paste as it dried. Unfortunately I did not think to take a picture at that point because I set the stencil back in place once the paste was dry and reapplied more silver paste over the top because I wanted to truly have a silver background. If you look at the final picture below you can sort of see what I am talking about as the stars towards the top have a purple cast to them. Experimentation is going to lead you to many fascinating discoveries!

Dab three different colors of Distress Paint on your non-stick Craft Sheet and use a waterbrush to pick up those colors swiping them across watercolor paper to create a rainbow effect. I started at the top with Barn Red, then added a stripe of Mustard Seed, cleaning my waterbrush and then blending a strip of the two colors to create an orange. Continue adding and mixing colors until your rainbow is complete. Allow the paper to dry and then cut out the rainbow and apply 2-way glue to the entire surface. Sprinkle with Warm Highlights glitter and remove excess glitter.

Once your base is completely dry attach the rainbow using 3D pop dots.

"If there is no happy ending... make one out of cookie dough."

I hope that this inspires you to pull out a favorite book and be inspired. Create an entire series on your own or ask some friends to join in the fun and then trade your cards. Above all, enjoy the time you get to spend just fiddling around with your crafting supplies and run away from life for just a little bit!

Art Squares: ATC, White	Art Squares: ATC, Assorted Neutrals	Claudine Hellmuth Studio Stencil, Fly Away	Claudine Hellmuth Studio Stencil, Love Birds
Studio Gesso	Studio Multi-Medium, Matte	Studio Artist Brushes	Studio Multi-Medium, Matte Mini
Studio Acrylic Paint Mini, Blank Canvas	Studio Acrylic Paint Mini, Sky Blue	Studio Acrylic Paint Mini, Classic Teal	Studio Calico Classic v.3 6x6 Paper Pad
Studio 490 Embossing Paste by Wendy Vecchi, Silver	Accent Pearls, Hearts	Dylusions, Ruby Rainbow	Dylusions, Background Love
Dylusions Ink Spray, White Linen	Dylusions Ink Spray, Bubblegum Pink	Dylusions Ink Spray, Pure Sunshine	Dylusions Ink Spray, Squeezed Orange
Dylusions Ink Spray, Vibrant Turquoise	Dylusions Ink Spray, Dirty Martini	Dylusions Stencils, Starry Starry Night, 5x8	Tim Holtz Water Brush, Detailer Brush Nib
Waterbrush, Small	Distress Paint, Picket Fence	Distress Paint, Chipped Sapphire	Distress Paint, Mustard Seed
Distress Paint, Barn Door	Distress Paint, Salty Ocean	Essentials by Ellen, Jennifer's Watercolor Paper, 10pc-6x9	2 Way Glue, Chisel Tip
Glitter Ritz Transparent Microfine, Warm Highlights

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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

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

The Many Ways To Use Sizzix Jewelry Dies

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

The earrings were embellished with Jenni Bowlin Pearl Charms.

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

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

 

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

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

Shimmer Sheetz Magic - Techniques, Techniques and more Techniques!

What are Shimmer Sheetz? It is a question that has come up multiple times since Love is in the Air Tag #1 - Shimmer Sheetz Texture was posted. Shimmer Sheetz are new to me even though they have been around for a long time! The creator, Judi Kauffman, teamed up with Els to teach me some of the possibilities at Winter CHA. Believe me when I tell you that there are a ton of possibilities with this product - once again I think I am only limited by ability to think outside the box and my own creativity!

Today I will attempt to answer the question - "What are Shimmer Sheetz?" Shimmer Sheetz are mylar sheets that are highly alterable and are excellent for card making, scrapbooking, mixed media, collage, clothing and accessories, party decorations, outdoor decorations (they will stand up to the rain), flower arrangements and so much more.

 

There are two varieties of Shimmer Sheetz - iridescent and metallic mylar. With three (3) 5"x12" sheets per pack and 13 different colors available you can create a lot of different types of projects. They are about the weight of medium weight card stock, so most punches will punch through this medium quite easily.

 

These sheets are acid-free and are garment quality, which means they are both color fast and washable. Shimmer Sheetz are compatible with embossing folders, standard dies, low-profile dies, punches, and electronic cutting machines. You can use them together with peel-off stickers, Be Creative (Sookwang) tape, glitter, embossing powders, paints, markers and inks that work on non-porous surfaces (such as Alcohol Inks, Sakura Glaze Pens, Metallic pens and more.)

 

There are so many different ways to alter the surface of the Shimmer Sheetz and today I hope to share just a few examples. Following are four projects I created yesterday to share just a few of the possibilities. 

 

As you will see I have tried to share (probably) too many techniques in this one short post - LOL! I will do my best to revisit these ideas in the weeks and months to come so that I can answer any additional questions that might arise. Feel free to leave a question in the comments section and I will do my best to answer those questions.

 

Lately it feels like life has been a bit of a circus (can you sense I try to fit WAY too many things into a single day), so I decided that Le Cirque would be the collection that would fit my life perfectly - LOL!

 

My first experiment started with an Iridescent Yellow Shimmer Sheet. I began by stamping this Jacobean style Hero Arts stamp on the mylar using Noir Palette Ink. Once again I would like to share that Palette ink is by far my favorite ink for stamping on non-porous surfaces. Being the ever impatient stamper I used my Heat It tool to make certain the ink was set.

This turned into my first experiment. As you heat the Shimmer Sheet the surface changes - you will notice the sheen turn more satiny and the mylar will curl ever so slightly. I LOVE the way this looks and was thrilled to pull back some of the shine.

I then colored in my image. I did stay within the lines because the Copic marker can muddy with the Palette Ink if you are not careful, but I had no problem when I colored within the lines.

 

Using the gorgeous Jacobean style print in the Le Cirque collection as my color guide I selected my Copic colors. I then fussy cut out my flower.

The final step was to use Adirondack Butterscotch Embossing powder to add a sentiment. I must admit that I am totally in "like" with the Adirondack embossing powders - the colors are fabulous and I have had so much fun experimenting with them! It is funny to me how many of what I consider the "old" techniques are still some of my favorites!

To help define the sentiment I used my .03 Copic Multiliner on all the sentiment edges when they crossed over a butterscotch polka dot.

 

Next I returned to the example I shared in Tag #1, only this time I tried it with a twist. Please refer back to the instructions in Tag #1 for additional information on how to brayer the surfaces together. I knew this post would be lengthy and so I am trying not to repeat too many of the steps.

So here is the twist... When I completed the project for Tag #1 I used the Shimmer Sheet in it's original color. For this project I felt that the color of the Shimmer Sheet wasn't deep enough and so I began to alter it.

First I ran the sheet through my embossing folder, I then used my Alcohol Ink applicator to add Copic YR24 Various Ink to my sheet by dabbing it with my applicator. You can see the difference from the original sheet by comparing the top and the bottom in the photo above.

 

It still didn't "sing" enough for my liking and so I added R29 to my applicator and dabbed the entire surface achieving the finish above.

 
I then used my brayer to transfer the raised surface to my tape background (see Tag #1 post)

 

Add dark gold microfine glitter to the remaining sticky surface, brush off excess and burnish.

 

Absolutely DELICIOUS with the Le Cirque papers and the perfect accompaniement to the sweet tag!

 

This next tag was created from the opposite side of that same Shimmer Sheet! Yes, this product goes a LONG way if you consider all the different ways to use just one little piece. Keep using it until ever scrap is incorporated into your projects!

 

Once again I transferred my raised mylar to a sticky piece of cardstock using the brayer as shared in Tag #1. Do you remember when I shared in that post that tone-on-tone would have a fabulous look? Well since that time other ideas dawned on me --- if I could use glitter, why not try embossing powder, or flock, or?!?

 

So that is exactly what I did. Using the Butterscotch embossing powder, I poured it over the exposed sticky surface. As you can see it adhered beautifully. The fabulous thing about Be Creative (Sookwang) tape is that you can heat it without any problems whatsoever.
 

As you can see the embossing powder was heat set and the mixture of the textures is fabulous!

 

One last little step that I wanted to share is the altering of the gorgeous 7 Gypsies paper tape - it just felt too white and so I placed a strip on my non-stick craft sheet and swiped my alcohol ink filled applicator the length of the tape. Voila - it coordinates perfectly!

It is important to note that the metallic sheets will not transfer to sticky tape surfaces!

So what do you do with the metallic sheets?

I decided to try stamping an image and embossing it on the Metallic Gold.

 

You will notice in the completed project above that I have also shared how you can punch these mylar Shimmer Sheetz with your hand-held punches! To complete the look of this project I used a fairly complicated and deep Martha Stewart punch, just to be certain it would work. It took a little strength to punch it, but the results were perfect.

 

Using the Clear Design vintage bicycle from Hero Arts I stamped it on the metallic surface using Distress Embossing ink. Remember this surface is really "slick." I must admit that it took me three attempts before finally making certain I didn't move when I stamped it - too much coffee is what I'm going to blame it on - LOL! Each time I would diligently clean my surface before trying it again.

After applying my embossing powder I did use a brush to remove the excess powder that I had in a couple of spots. Heat until the powder melts and becomes glossy. Make certain you leave your mylar on your work surface as you heat it, because it becomes quite warm. Once again I loved how the mylar surface turned satiny and the edges curled ever so slightly as I heated it. Needless to say I punched out several flowers and began heating them and curling the petals with what could be gorgeous results. I didn't have the time to complete more projects and so you will either just have to try it or wait for me to get to doing another post :-D

I absolutely love the look and feel of this finished project! It is hard to create Masculine projects and I think this really fits the bill.

Just a couple more tips on how to use the metallic sheets. The sheet on the right is the gold metallic unaltered. The sheet on the left is one that has been embossed and then alcohol ink applied.

 

You can leave it unaltered or you can grab a Shrink Plastic sanding block and lightly sand the surface for a completely different look.

SO MANY options, so little time - LOL! I hope that I have been able to help you better understand what Shimmer Sheetz are and how you might be able to work with them! If you already own Be Creative Tape, microfine glitter and embossing powder I think that you will most definitely want to try adding this to your group of basic supplies!

We carry all 13 colors of Shimmer Sheetz in our store in our Alterable Items: Plastics category (just scroll down to the bottom of the page.) Remember Iridescent Sheets work wonderfully with the brayer and transfer techniques and the metallic ones look very much like metal foil, without being metal. 

Thank you for joining us once again as we try our best to stay "in touch" each month!
 

stamps: Hero Arts ClearDesign Exotic Decor, ClearDesign Joy Ride, ClearDesign Made with Love

ink: Palette Noir, Distress Embossing Ink, Copic Various Ink Refills - YR24, R29

paper: Graphic 45 Le Cirque 8x8 Paper Pad and Tags, Memory Box Red Pepper and Squash, Hero Arts Azure

accessories: Shimmer Sheetz - Iridescent Yellow, Metallic Gold, Dark Gold Microfine Glitter Ritz, Butterscotch Embossing Powder, Detail Black Embossing Powder, Martha Stewart Happy Birthday Punch, Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink Applicator, Foliage, Washers,  Metal Corners, Mini Paper Clip, Sprocket Gears, Tiny Attacher; 7 Gypsies Sapphire Dangle, Antique Brass Reinforcer, Lille Paper Tape, Antique Gold Silk Ribbon, Black Twill, Basic Grey Glazed Brads

Back to School & Cutting Basics by Julia Stainton

For some school has already started and for others, we have another few wonderful weeks of summer.This time of year brings busy shopping trips, nervous and excited children, a fresh start, a return to routine and the last beautiful days of summer. I have always enjoyed getting ready for back to school as a child and as a mother. There's something about fresh new books and pencils, sneakers and art supplies.

Lately I been creating a few fun back to school projects that you can use now or throughout the year. They are great for kids to take to school, or give to your favorite teacher. I hope you'll get inspired to create a basic bound notebook, thank you card, fridge magnet and glittered pen.

While the kids are going back to school, the instructor in me is coming out and I'll be sharing some very basic cutting tips throughout this newsletter. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to recently help out a scrapbooking event and did a lot of helping out with the paper trimmer. I know this may be basic for some but for those just starting out in paper crafting, the proper cutting techniques will make your project much more professional looking.

Everyone can always use a personalized notebook whether you create this for your child or his teacher or even for yourself. This is a super simple project and it's a great place to start with cutting basics. When paper crafting your projects will only be as good as your tools. Dull blades and uneven cuts really tell on a design and a poor paper trimmer can make the best designer frustrated. I love using a guillotine style paper trimmer for the cleanest cuts.

The Tonic Paper Trimmer is my go to tool and I've been thrilled with the initial investment. The blade sharpens itself with each cut saving me money in not having to purchase replacement blades and it always gives clean precise cuts.

Whether you use this paper trimmer or any other, the first thing you should note is to place your paper squarely at the top edge when cutting. This will prevent the paper from shifting and get you a perfect 90­­° angled cut. I know this is something that most know but I bring it up as there are crafters who have never been taught this. Essential.

Make sure you press down on the safety bar to prevent shifting.

On any paper trimmer you will find a ruler or grid to help you measure your paper for cutting. I like to cut in precise measurements as it makes matting and layering easier and reduces waste. When cutting small strips of paper you can cut down to one inch. The smaller you trim the more difficult it may be to keep the paper from shifting.
 
 

When cutting small strips I like to use a little math and cut in the reverse. If the paper is 12x12 inches and I want a 1 inch strip I place the edge of the paper at 11 inches to get a perfect one inch strip with no shifting.

One of the things I like best about the Tonic Paper Trimmer is it's ability to cut through more than just patterned paper and cardstock. Craft-a-Board and chipboard as well transparencies and specialty paper cut perfectly and easily. For the altered notebook project I've created it by cutting two pieces of Craft-a-Board to 4 x 6 inches in size. After covering the covers with patterned paper and adding white cardstock for writing on, the notebook was bound with the Bind it All.

 

Another of my favorite cutting tools is the Tonic Non-Stick Scissors. I love how easily they cut paper, ribbon and transparencies as well as many other products and the non-stick coating is wonderful for not gumming up with adhesive. These scissors are also amazing for cutting out unmounted rubber stamps.Here I've used them to trim the paper from around the chipboard.

 

Any additional paper that was too tight to trim off is easily sanded away with the Basic Grey Precision File Set.

 

Supplies: Craft-a-Board, Bind it All by Zutter, Oliver Paper pack by Basic Grey, Buck Naked Alpha Buttons by Cosmo Cricket, Tim Holtz Hinge Clip and Ruler Ribbon by Advantus, Farmer's Market Twine

You can never have too many thank you notes and this one can be used for anyone but I like to think it's particularly suitable for a teacher. There are so many office supply products out there and they all look great on school themed designs.

When creating you may often find that your layers are not 100% lining up. Even a millimeter off will look less than wonderful. The Tonic Paper Trimmer is fabulous for trimming off those tiny increments of paper that a sliding blade trimmer would make a mess of.

 

See how tiny a strip I was able to trim off to get a perfectly clean edge?

For my sentiment on this card I used the Basic Grey stickers that are included in the Oliver Paper Pack. Giving the first letter a bit of pizazz is easy by matting it with black cardstock to make it stand out. The EK Success Titanium Blade Scissors are another favorite of mine and they are great for precision cutting. I keep these scissors just for paper as I want to maintain their fine cutting abilities.

 

Here's the T after it has been cut out. These scissors are also fabulous for paper piecing and other fine detail work.
 

To highlight the remaining letters I traced them with a 0.3 Copic Multiliner pen.

 

Supplies: Oliver paper pack by Basic Grey, black cardstock, Copic Multiliner,  Tiny Attacher & Mini Paper Clips by Advantus, Kraft Library Cards by Maya Road, Binding Edge Punch by EK Success, Basics Kraft Small Details by Basic Grey

With back to school comes the never ending cycle of papers and notes and things to keep a track of. This sweet little Inchie+ is a magnet that will attach to your fridge and keep those notes under control. If you have a large family, create these with your kids and personalize them with their names.

To create this magnet simply stamp the Inchie+ and then embellish as desired. The hinge clip is attached with a brad and a Basic Grey magnet adheres to the back.

Supplies: Inchie+ Squares, Tiny Type by Cosmo Cricket, Cling Ledger Stamp by Hero Arts, Game Spinner,  Tiny Attacher & Hinge Clip by Advantus, Crop-a-dile by We R Memory Keepers, magnet, Sepia Archival Ink and Tumbled Glass Distress Ink by Ranger, Large Magnetic Snap by Basic Grey

Finally with the myriad of pens and pencils at school make yours stand out and keep it from wandering off. I think I'll be making more of these as I'd like one for my purse, my daughter has claimed this one and I'd like to give a couple out as teacher's gifts. This pen is an altered Copic Multiliner and if you've never used them for writing, you're missing out.

The Tonic Paper Trimmer easily cuts this sheet of Wonder Tape. I used 1.5 x 3.5" for the barrel and 1.5 x 1" for the cap. The clip on the cap is removable and can be reattached after altering.

 

After peeling off one of the adhesive papers, roll around barrel of the pen. Apply glitter as with the Burnished Velvet technique that you can find here in last month's In Touch Newsletter.

I've used  the beautiful Peacock Blue and Regal Red glitters by Glitter Ritz for this project.

Have fun getting ready for back to school and I hope you've had a little fun yourself, learning with this tutorial today. Thanks for stopping by and happy creating!