the CLASSroom

WCMD Blog Candy #2

It has been a long time since we have posted any type of blog candy, so it makes me giddy to tell you that we have yet another goodie package for you to submit your response below in the comments section and be submitted for the drawing of this goodie package.

 

It has been SO much fun to see how Inchies have begun to infiltrate the world of card makers! I started out with a bang on our Inchie INKlings blog, but life stalled me out. I would like to continue to draw attention to the fun we can have by incorporating Inchies in to our creations and thank our team here on the CLASSroom for their phenomenal contributions! SO much to do, so little time, but I must renew that commitment!

I would like for you to share in the comments section below one of the following options:

• share a link to a project that you have used an Inchie on,
• share an idea as to how Inchies can be used in card making or paper crafting,

• or leave a comment about what it is that you have enjoyed about the Inchie craze.

Post your comment here before midnight on Saturday, October 4th and you will automatically be entered to receive the prize shown above. We will then draw a number using a random number generator and post the winner back here on the Classroom.

Don't forget to enter your comment in yesterday's post as well as return tomorrow - we have some fun challenges and more goodies that we are planning on sharing with you. Now scoot - go create!

WCMD Challenge #1: Give it some Texture!

Let's get crafting girls! Get out your stamps, paper and ink and let's get busy Ü

When making cards one of the items that I believe adds so much to a card is texture. This should be a simple challenge to achieve being there are so many ways to add texture!

 

When you look at the card above you will notice that texture was added in the following ways:

• felt was added as a second layer and stitched behind the cardstock on the tag,
• a tab of velvet ribbon added yet another texture, (I flipped it inside out so that the color would bring the card base back in to play) 
• a combination of zig-zag and straight stitching was added to the pieced paper background, as well as the tag,
• and texture was added in the coloring process - see note and larger photo below.

Other ways of adding texture are:

• piercing,
• embossing,
• chipboard,
• embellishments of all sorts, 
• it really is endless...

 

Yes, you can even add texture through your coloring process. As you can see, the image above looks like it has a felt-like texture to it. To create this effect I first colored the image with Copic markers. The Copic markers give it a very smooth feel. I wanted it to have the appearance of felt, being this is the material I would use if I were to sew a stocking of this variety. So I pulled out my Prismacolor color pencils and added another layer to the coloring of this stocking. The two colors I selected were Slate Gray and Olive Green - these added just the right tones to bring the stocking closer to the Basic Grey papers I was using and gave them a fibrous texture. When you color lightly with a Prismacolor pencil on cardstock that has just the right amount of tooth, it will "catch" the color on the surface of the paper and not be transferred down into the "crevices" of the paper.  If there is no color applied first then the white from the paper would show through. In this case the Copic colors are revealed.

 

I have also included this sketch that you can opt to use to assist you with your planning. You are not required to use it, it is only here to help you if you need an additional push to get you started.

ETA: I realize I should have laid my challenge out a little more clearly so I am back to edit this last portion to make it easier to understand.

Your challenge is to:

• Create a card with texture on it. You can choose to use the sketch above, or not (I'm trying to keep these simple Ü)
• Post your creation on your blog or in any online gallery or forum such as Splitcoaststampers, 2 Peas or any other crafting/stamping forum. Then come back here and link us to your creation.
• Being life is going to be VERY busy today and this weekend with all the wonderful goodies out there for you to see, you will have one week to complete this challenge and get back here to link us to it. That means you need to link us to your project by midnight on Friday, October 10th.

You didn't really think that I would expect you to participate in this challenge without including a giveaway did you? Being I have been sick and working from home for the last couple of days I haven't been able to include a picture of the goodies I have set aside for the lucky random winner of this challenge. But I will tell you that it does include some flowers, buttons and coordinating cardstock. Yep, you heard me - it is a wonderful little packet that will help you add texture to your projects Ü When I do get in to the office I will take a picture of these goodies and add it to the bottom of this post.

So what are you waiting for go get started Ü!!!

World Card Making Day... Join us for some Fun Challenges and Goodies

ETA: This drawing is now closed - be certain to look in the posts above for other blog candy and challenge opportunities!

ETA: I'm not certain what happened here on Typepad because my post reverted back to a draft format rather than the updated final version I had written. Unfortunately those who first viewed this post only saw the starting draft and did not see the drawing opportunity. Please read all the way to the bottom and enter now to win the Simply Swank Soldering Kit.

The countdown to World Card Making Day (WCMD) is underway and we will be hosting three challenges and a number of special give-aways here on our blog in honor of WCMD! Card makers all over the world are going to celebrate the day together on October 4th making card,s and we would like to be a part of it Ü

Paper Crafts magazine founded this day back in 2006, so follow the link above to their site and you can learn more about it and find an absolute ton of inspiration by following the links they provide. Be certain to continue to come back and visit us over the next few days so that you won't miss out on the fun and goodies that we will have for you here! 

 

As you can see I have shared the same sneak peek here as I did on Simple Dreams, I can't give away all my projects just yet - LOL! So be certain to return tomorrow for the first challenge we will share to get you inspired to create on Saturday!

With Cindy's gorgeous creation posted below, what better way to get started celebrating than to give away one of our Simply Solder Creative Art Kits! This kit will allow you to create some absolutely wonderful Holiday gifts this season!!!

 

Following are just a few links to projects that we have created using these tools: 

• Christmas Triptych
• Bookworm Bookmark
• Lavender Charm
• Snowman Inchie Ornament Card

Now to the fun part! Please leave a comment below and share with us what your favorite aspect of making cards is. Is it the hunt for the goodies, the sitting down to relax and create, the sharing of the project you just created, or possibly, is it being the recipient of the beautiful creations of friends. We would LOVE to hear your stories! Post a comment here before midnight on Friday, October 3rd (yes, we extended it by one day being this post went live in a wacky format) and you will automatically be entered to receive the prize shown above.

Get out your stamps, paper and ink and get ready to party together with us here on the CLASSroom!

Monogram Inchie Ornament, by Cindy Lyles

Materials list:

• soldering materials
• Memory Box Provence Paper (two - 1" square pieces)
• alphabet set
• black ink pad
• large jumprings (handmade from 18 gauge wire)
• ribbon
• stylus
• 1" square glass (2 pieces)
• Vintage crystal chandelier drop and crystal octagonal bead
• Swarovski crystals (optional)

Fuss-free stamping!  Stamp just a single mongram then complete the soldering.  Stamp monogram on both pieces of 1" square Provence paper and adhere back-to-back so ornament front and back are identical.

Create a bunch of these to have on hand for last-minute holiday gifts when it gets crazy in December!  This would also be an ultimate package topper.

For complete instructions on how to solder please visit In Touch and refer to the following posts:

• simply soldered stamp "stuff", by Ellen Hutson

• itty bitty lavender soldered charm, by Debbie Olson

Stamp of the Month, October

ETA: I apologize to those of you who have gone in search of this packet this morning. I was so tired last night that I forgot to come and set everything on the computer before heading to bed. I truly apologize for any inconvenience. Thank you for your patience with this tired girl!

From the moment I first laid eyes on the Harvest Lantern I knew that it would become one of my favorite fall images. As an interior designer I often helped create tablescapes in trays - this would allow the homeowner to easily removed it from their dining table if extra room was needed for a meal. The colors and warmth of this image give me the warm fuzzies!

 

One of the first things I would like for you to note is the difference in color of the tray in the image below and the completed card above. As you can see I initially colored the tray a green tone, very similar to the first card that I made using the Harvest Lantern. Back at that time I promised I would share the colors that I use to color this image. Hopefully by sharing these colors it will make it easier for you to get a head start on the coloring process.

 

Before I go any further I want to share the picture that shows how I stamp first and then precisely cut my piece exactly where I want. Sometimes I just don't know what direction I want to take with a card and this sandwich allows me to cut precisely where I want after I have stamped and colored my image. In this case I will typically stamp my image on a larger sheet of white paper, 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" in size. This allows me to then think about my layout as I color and come up with a cut that will work without making the piece too small.

I selected one of the scalloped long rectangles from the small set and placed it over my stamped and colored image. When I make precise cuts like this I will often pull out my Big Shot. This sturdy little machine has a flat bed and clear plates. This feature makes it easy to place my work face up and the die, blade side down over my artwork. When you place the second acrylic plate over the top you can see precisely where it is that you will make your cuts. The clear acrylic plates do take a beating and need to be replaced more frequently than than the Wizard Master plates, but it is nice to be able to see that my dies have not shifted when I use the Big Shot.

 

First I stamped my image using Memento Tuxedo Black. To color the project above I did use all of these markers - LOL! I always start light, it makes it SO much easier to add depth to your project when you start with your lightest Copic colors. Then when it comes to applying the darkest colors I will typically color them on to my Craft Sheet and then pick them up with the lightest tone. This allows me to very easily add the depth without overpowering the current colors.

 

The white paper was just WAY too white! I knew I could easily pull out my airbrush system, but being I had used it on my last Harvest Lantern creation I wanted to change it up and show how you can mask and add color using the Ink Blending tool. I lightly inked the blending tool using Distress, Tea Dye ink. I then apply it first to a piece of scrap paper in a swirling type of motion. As soon as I have that initial dark color rubbed off I then move on to my project and completely covered the entire image in a swirly motion. Next I added just a hint of Walnut Distress ink to my ink blending tool and added this color around the edges.

One of the fabulous features of Copic markers is the ease with which you can change the colors in your image. I realized part way through this project that I hadn't pulled out my Sparkle papers. When I placed these papers next to my project it became clear that the tray REALLY needed to be brown rather than green. (see photo above)

So I pulled out additional colors to change the tray - E55, E57, E79. Next I realized that this made the entire image too brown and so I added some green, YG03, to the leaves.

 

The final step in adding just a little more texture to this project was my handy, dandy Janome Sew Mini. 

I have really enjoyed having this little machine to work on my paper projects. No more "tension" problems - yippie! I have found that it is very important to make certain that you have the correct size bobbin (yes, the little plastic thing under the needle Ü) and make certain that you thread it correctly. Hmmm - I wonder how I know that? LOL! The stitches are pretty basic, but I find that it works well for me. A little straight stitching and the project is complete. I had thought about adding buttons from the Basic Grey Ambrosia collection being they look awesome with the Sparkle paper, but decided to use the KISS rule. Besides it really helped keep this month's packet so very affordable. So get your packet now and start your preparations for Thanksgiving.