the CLASSroom

Copic Butterfly Tag by Sharon Harnist

Hello and welcome to the end of the month . . . Can you believe June is here? To help celebrate the start of Summer, I thought I would go bold and bright with my project today:

To make this birthday tag, I finally tried something I'd been wanting to -- using Copic's Various Ink Refills to make my own background on an Inkssentials Manila Tag #8. I started by protecting my work surface with Ranger's Non-Stick Craft Sheet and then started "scribbling" (or dropping) different colors of alcohol ink refill onto the craft sheet:

Then I pressed the tag into the puddles of ink. You'll want to just briefly touch the tag to the sheet and move it around, as the tag will absorb the ink very quicky. 

To help extend the amount of ink on your work surface, you may want to fill a Mini Mister with some Copic Colorless Blender Solution and spray it onto the ink before dipping your tag in -- this will give you a little more ink to play with and also may lighten the ink color a bit in places, giving you more variation in your ink color. After dipping my tag, I also spritzed the tag with more Blender Solution, so the color would "bleach out" a little in spots:

I also used my lightest yellow color (Y11) and dopped a few drops of color directly onto the tag where I wanted to intensify more of that color.  Next, I stamped Karen Lockhart's Polka Dot and Star Butterflies with Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink:

Then I used a Fingertip Craft Knife to cut around the the butterly wings, leaving the center bodies intact (attached to the tag) so the wings could be bent up for dimension:

To highlight the butterflies, I used Copic's Opaque White for accents. My apologies, as I am not seeing this currently in stock in the store, so you could also use Ranger's White Enamel Accents:

Next, I backed the tag with Hero Arts Black Layering Paper and colored the hole reinforcer with Copic 100 Black Sketch Marker, to make it stand out more:

I also colored black accents on the butterflies:

To finish the tag, I tied Hemtique Black Bamboo Cord around the bottom and then scattered Ellen's Essential Sequins (Daffodil) all over the tag, using Mini Glue Dots:

The great sentiment I used is from Hero Arts ClearDesign Glow Girl set I'm currently loving -- it's so versatile!

Thanks so much for joining me today . . . I hope you have a fabulous weekend!

~ Sharon

{Supplies}

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Lockhart Neon Thanks by Sharon Harnist

Hello and happy weekend once again! Today I have a brand new Lockhart stamp image to share. You'll want to be sure and check out all of the sweet images in Karen's new 2013 Spring & Summer release, here.

(Click on any photo for a larger view)

Aren't these Gift of Flowers bright and cheery?!!  Here's Karen's colored image you'll see in the store -- I altered the image a bit, by cutting off the the "Thanks" flower stake and using it on the tab of the file folder:

 

I chose my color palette specifically to coordinate with the fun Hero Arts Neon Pink ink I used on the Hero Arts ClearDesign-Glow Girl greeting inside the adorable mini Naked ATC Manila Folder:

Isn't that greeting fun?!! I found my Copic RV06 was a close match to the neon pink ink pad, so I used it to color some of the flowers in these sweet potted plants:

The flowers were stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto X-Press It Blending Card and here are the rest of the Copic Sketch markers I used, along with Copic Atyou Spica Glitter Pens (Orange, Lemon, Melon & Pink) to color the flowers. I find the glitter pens are great for coloring in small images like these -- especially tiny stems and the planter's wrought iron:

After coloring the flowers, I used Paper Smooches wonderful Wise Dies Frame-Duo Die 2 to die cut some fabulous Chalkstock paper I recently discovered in the store . . . the texture is silky amazing and accepts the Hero Hues Snow Chalk Ink I used around the edges for a faux chalkboard look very well. I placed the frame over the colored flowers, then adhered the frame to the darling ATC-sized mini file folder. (This would make a great ATC, wouldn't it?).

To keep the folder closed until the recepient is ready to view the contents, I used a cute Mini White Clothespin. Copic Foam Tape was used on the back of the folder to adhere it to the card front, which allows for easy removal and replacing of the clothespin.

The pretty coordinating papers I used are from My Mind's Eye 6x6 The Sweetest Thing-Honey pad, on a Memory Box Raspberry notecard.  I hope you have a bright and cheerful weekend!

~ Sharon

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February Calendar by Sharon Harnist

Happy Friday, everyone!  With February just one week away from today, I thought I would get a head start on my February calendar:

Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday to create projects for -- I LOVE this combination of colors!  I decided to accentuate the teal/aqua accent flowers in this gorgeous sheet of Basic Grey True Love 6x6 patterned paper, so I stamped Lockhart Stamp Company's Oodles of Doodles Heart with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto X-Press It Blending Card and colored it with these Copic Sketch markers and Red Atyou Spica Glitter Pen:

The heart is SO quick and easy to color, with all the pretty doodles already drawn in for you! It was hand trimmed and popped up on Copic Foam Tape. Next, I printed Ellen's 2013 Ring Binder Calendar PDF Download (sized to 80%) on Neenah Natural White cardstock and trimmed it closely.

When I saw Julie make this project with Lifestyle Crafts' new Shape 'N Tape (it's washi tape in sheet form that can be die cut or cut into any shape you want!), I said "Shut the front door" and immediately went shopping!  I used Shape 'N Tape-Teal Blue, and die cut it with My Favorite Things Die-namics Postage Stamp Edge die. The photo above shows the die I originally intended to use -- you can see how well the tape cuts, even with very intricate dies! But after I die cut the tape with the Memory Box Pepita die above, I decided I wanted something wider with more presence to anchor my calendar. I really like how the Postage Edge looks like a window awning!

I finished my calendar with a red Baker's Twine tied teal button. If you aren't into making calendars, you could also use this same layout for a scrapbook page by just replacing the calendar with a photo. I use my calendar pages in my scrapbook, after the month is over. Or you could just trim this down a little and use it for a Valentine's Day card!

~ Sharon

WCMD 2012 Challenge 3: Sketch Challenge by Sharon Harnist

Hello and welcome to the CLASSroom for World Card Making Day Challenge 3 ... I'm so glad you joined me today for a sketch challenge!  I LOVE using sketches, they make the process of creating a card SO much easier, I think . . . half of the hard work is already done for you!  All you have to do is choose some paper or cardstock, a stamp or embellishment and you're all set to go!

There's a Fall chill in the air so for my card today, I chose this beautiful Big Pumpkin image from Lockhart Stamp Company:

It was stamped on Copic X-Press It Blending Card, die cut with MFT Die-namics Stax Traditional Tags and then colored with the Copic markers (Y21, YR01, YR12, YR16, YG03, YG63, E50, E21, E23, B0000).  Here are a few step-out photos for you (click on any photo for a larger view):

Start with Y21 in the centers of the pumpkin sections, where the pumpkin is the roundest (standing out closest to you) and would reflect more sunlight:

Next, base coat the entire pumpkin with lightest YR01 (I did try to avoid coloring over the Y21 entirely, so that the very centers would still retain the yellow color, but blended the edges of the Y21 where it met the YR01):

Then add deeper shading with YR12 in the crevices of the pumpkin:

Go back and blend everything with lightest YR01 and then add darkest YR16 to the far left and right sides of the pumpkin that would be furtherest from you, and near the bottom of the pumpkin:

Finally, add a few shadows with E23 along the bottom of the pumpkin.  Next, color the pumpkin stem with E21, E23 and vines with YG63.  Color the flowers and their centers with Lemon and Orannge Copic Atyou Spica Glitter Pens.  Finally, airbrush the sky background with B0000 and the ground with E21.

I used a date stamper and word **celebrate** to stamp on the end of my tag, along with the date of the recepient's birthday. To make the perforation marks on the end of the tag, I used Tim Holtz's Design Ruler and a paper piercer.

Here's your sketch to follow:

I hope you have fun with it!  For my flags, I used My Favorite Things' Fishtail Flag Die-namics Stax dies, but you could also hand cut your paper or use pieces of ribbon.  Enjoy!

So what's my answer to the question below that YOU need to answer?  I think you can probably guess . . . my favorite papercrafting tools are Copic markers!!  

~ Sharon

Lockhart Stamp Company Big Pumpkin	AC Dear Lizzy Roller Date Stamp	Blending Card by X-Press It, 25 Pack	Echo Park 6x6 Pad, For The Record 2-Tailored
Memento Ink Pad, Tuxedo Black	Memento Ink Pad, Rich Cocoa	Copic Sketch Markers	Copic Atyou Spica Glitter Pens
My Favorite Things Die-namics Stax, Fishtail Flags	My Favorite Things Die-namics Stax, Traditional Tags	Copic Airbrush jSystem Starter Kit 1N	High Tack Double-Sided Foam Mounting Tape, 1/2"

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Other: Paper piercer, chocolate rick-rack trim; linen thread

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SKETCH CHALLENGE

Now it’s your turn! Create a card using the sketch above as inspiration! Once you have completed this challenge please be certain to link directly to that specific project in our WCMD Challenge Blog Candy post!

BLOG CANDY

What is the tool you use most when papercrafting?

Be certain to leave your answer in the comment section on this post to be entered in a random drawing for the following goodies. All comments must be made by 11:59pm Pacific Time on October 7th to be eligible.

Lockhart Lanterns by Sharon Harnist

Labor Day weekend usually signifies the end of summer and that autumn is on its way (although someone definitely needs to notify Mother Nature to turn the heat off down here in Texas!). So I felt these darling Lockhart Party Lanterns would be a nice way to say goodbye to summer and hello to the recepient of this card:

I stamped the group of three lanterns three times across the bottom of a Solar White panel and then colored them with Copic Markers (BG13, RV63, YR12) and festive, sparkly Copic Atyou Spica Glitter Pens (Lemon, Melon, Orange, Pink, Turquoise), to match the pretty Lily Bee Buttercup patterned papers I chose.

TIP: Keep what you would consider your "springy/summery" patterned papers close at hand year round for festive party invitations and birthday cards!  You might also want to consider stocking up on these end-of-the summer papers when they go on clearance!

A Memory Box Mango notecard, which matches the patterned paper, was used as a quick card base.  I matched up the lanterns with this great Hero Arts ClearDesign Say Hello sentiment and stamped it with coordinating Memento Rose Bud ink onto a white Inchie Arts Inchie + Square. The square was framed with a black Scallop Square die cut.  Yellow Stickles dotted around the lanterns finishes the card.

I hope the end of summer has come to your part of the country but if not -- enjoy the last of the long warm days & nights!

~ Sharon

Lockhart Party Lanterns	Hero Arts Clear Design-Say Hello	Cardstock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, 25 pack	Memento Ink Pad, Tuxedo Black
Memento Ink Pad, Rose Bud	Copic Sketch Markers	Copic Atyou Spica Glitter Pens	Inchie Arts Inchie + Squares, White
Memory Box Cardstock, Mango	Memory Box Licorice Cardstock	Sizzix Framelits Die Set, Scallop Squares	Ranger Stickles, Yellow

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Boo Time by Sharon Harnist

Autumn is right around the corner and that always puts me in the mood for cute Halloween images. Karen Lockhart just released her new Fall & Holiday stamps and I used four of her images to create these sweet Twinchie (2-inch square) magnets:

I stamped the Happy Ghost and Spider Web with Memento Lulu Lavender dye ink onto X-Press It Blending Card. Using the lighter ink to stamp helps to make the images seem more realistic. The ghost was shaded with BV0000 and BV00 Copic Sketch Markers and his eyes accented with Lilac Atyou Spica Glitter Pen (hopefully you can see that by clicking on the photo below for a closer view):

The  Boo sentiment was stamped onto Memory Box Persimmon cardstock and then traced with Black Spica Glitter Pen. The cardstock was trimmed with pinking shears and adhered to an Inchie Arts Black Twinchie Square. The ghost and web were popped up with Copic Double-Sided Foam Mounting Tape to give these magnets cute charm (I'm always amazed at what foam tape can do for your artwork)!

The web was also accented with BV00 marker and Lilac Spica Glitter Pen. The Itty Bitty Spider was connected to his web with a line hand drawn with a fine black Copic Multiliner and he accented with Black Spica Glitter Pen. The cardstock behind the web is Memory Box's beautiful Boysenberry cardstock.

Add some Inchie Magnets to the back of the sturdy 2-inch Black Twinchie matboard squares and you've got yourself some cute refrigerator art, ready to hold all those important back-to-school papers and photos (or to give to your new teachers)!

Thanks so much for visiting the CLASSroom today!  

~ Sharon

Happy Ghost	Boo	Spider Web	IB Spider
Blending Card by X-Press It, 25 Pack	BB9 Cardstock, Persimmon	B7 Cardstock, Boysenberry	Memento Ink Pad, Lulu Lavender
COPIC Sketch Marker BV0000, Pale Thistle	COPIC Sketch Marker BV00, Mauve Shadow	COPIC Spica Glitter Pen, Clear	COPIC Spica Glitter Pen, Black
COPIC Spica Glitter Pen, Lilac	COPIC Multiliner Fine 4 Piece Set, Black	Twinchie Squares, Black	Inchie Magnets
High Tack Double-Sided Foam Mounting Tape, 1/2"

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Summer Stitched Fun by Sharon Harnist

Ahhh . . . the simple summer-time, don't you love the ease of it?  I know I'd like to be taking it easy in a hammock like this one!

Coloring Karen Lockhart's sweet new Summer Hammock stamp (just released earlier this month) is just what I needed to put me in a relaxing mood! I stamped it onto Neenah Solar White cardstock and colored it with these Copic markers:

Copic Tip: Notice the color numbers I chose (except the grays, used for shading) all begin with a 1 -- this assures you that your colors will all fall within the same more saturated truer/brighter color range (0's, 1's, or 2's), as opposed to numbers beginning with 7, 8, or 9 which have more gray added to them, desaturating them and making them more suited for shading or to convey an earthy, shabby or vintage feeling.

Next, I used the Sew Easy Stitch Piercer Tool with Straight Stitch and Piercing Mat to pierce holes in the cardstock for the hammock to have something to be tied to, and then stitched with twine. To keep the hammock panel from being lumpy and bumpy if adhered directly on the cardfront, I used Copic's High Tack Double-Sided Foam Tape to raise the panel off the card base:

Yellow Stickles accent the hammock fringe and a strip of pretty Lily Bee Buttercup paper, trimmed along the zig-zag pattern, finishes this card. The sweet Lockhart sentiment is another new June release.  

I hope you find time to relax this weekend . . . I know I will!

~ Sharon

Stamps: Lockhart Stamp Company Summer Hammock #2177 & Enjoy the simple things #10093 
Paper: Neenah Solar White cardstock; Lily Bee 6x6 Tiny Tablet-Buttercup; Memory Box Notecard & Envelope-Bayou;
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; 
Copic Markers: BG11, BG13, C2, C3, C5, RV13, RV14, Y11, Y17
Dies: Sizzix Framelits-Fancy Labels; 
Accessories: Sew Easy Stitch Piercer Tool-Straight Stitch & Piercing Mat; Doodlebug Twine Assortment-Brights; Ranger Stickles-Yellow; 
Other: Embroidery needle

Ready Set Grow by Sharon Harnist

Hello and welcome to the CLASSroom today!  I got a few things planted in my yard over the long holiday weekend and it put me in the mood to create something about growing, too!  I don't think I ever colored this sweet Lockhart Ready to Plant image when it first came out this time last year, so I thought it was the perfect choice. I stamped it with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Copic X-Press It Blending Card and then colored it with these Copic Markers:

I recently discovered that Ellen started carrying this wonderful line of Sizzix Framelits dies and I couldn't wait to try them! I started off with these Fancy Labels:

While my colored image was still in the die, I airbrushed it with Copic BG11 for the sky and G40 for the grass. Then I die cut a matching frame out of this fresh, springy My Mind's Eye Be Happy-Follow Your Heart 6x6 patterned paper. I hand cut little flags of coordinating paper and machine stitched them to my card base.

The card base is a fabulous new cardstock by Neenah: Environment-Desert Storm! The product information about this pretty cardstock says: 
"Neenah's Environment Papers are made with 100% green electricity. The smooth surface is wonderful for creating designer looking cards." I like that!  It is 80 lb. weight and definitely IS a lovely smooth cardstock AND such a pretty warm, light kraft color!

I finished my card with light pink seam binding custom dyed with Copic Various Ink Refills R21 and R22. Pinking shears were used to trim the bottom edge of the card.  Are you ready for all the pretty flowers of summer?  I sure am!  Thanks for visiting today!  ~ Sharon

 

Stamps: Lockhart Stamp Company Ready to Plant #2151; 
Paper: Copic X-Press It Blending Card; Neenah Environment-Desert Storm; My Mind's Eye 6x6 Be Happy-Follow Your Heart; 
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; 
Copic Markers: BG11, BV02, C4, C6, C7, E31, E35, G40, G43, R21, R22, Y08
Copic Various Ink Refills: R21 & R22
Dies: Sizzix Framelits-Fancy Labels; 
Accessories: Copic Airbrush System 3 (ABS-3); Sparmax Windstorm Airbrush Compressor; 
Other: pinking shears, light pink seam binding, sewing machine + thread

Lockhart Window Card by Sharon Harnist

I love window cards ... having a pretty surprise on the inside of a card is a little different and unexpected, I think! 

For this window opening, I used a Lifestyle Crafts tag die to cut the opening in a Lagoon Memory Box notecard -- your opening doesn't have to be just a boring square!

To add a little extra color to the cardfront, I layered Springy colors of Meadow and Taffy Memory Box notecard to frame the opening on the inside of the card.

Next, I stamped this darling new Lockhart Stamp Company Garden Swing onto Copic X-Press It Blending Card and then added to the length of the swing's chains, using the same Copic Black Multiliner 0.1 that Karen Lockhart uses to draw her images:

Next, I colored the swing with Copic BG10 and BG53. Then I customized the swing's cushions with Copic markers: I used YG03 to make leaves simply by pressing the tip of the marker sideways onto the paper:

Then I used R81 to make flower petals in the same manner:

To give the flowers and leaves a little more definition, I used Copic Atyou Spica Glitter Pens in Pink and Melon:

Lastly, I used W1 to shade the cushions and W2 to shade the swing a little more:

And when you open the card up, you find the ...just because... greeting on the inside, along with a pretty strip of paper that matches the swing cushions:

I hope your Spring is filled with pretty garden swings and cool drinks ... just because!

~ Sharon

Stamps: Lockhart Stamp Co-Garden Swing & Just Because...
Dies: Lifestyle Crafts Tags dies; 
Paper: Copic X-Press It Blending Card; Memory Box Lagoon, Meadow & Taffy notecards & envelopes; Lily Bee Design-Head Over Heels 6x6 Tiny Tablet,
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; 
Copic Sketch Markers: BG10, BG53, R81, YG03, WO, W1, W2
Copic Atyou Spica Glitter Pens: Melon & Pink
Copic Black Multiliner 0.1,

Seeing Dots by Sharon Harnist

Karen Lockhart released her new Spring 2012 stamps last week and I couldn't wait to color this adorable Polka Dot Bike . . . especially since my sweet 9-year old daughter crashed her bicycle this weekend and broke her arm, poor thing!  

I guess this card might have been good to give her, with a different sentiment, maybe, LOL!  Her day was definitely NOT perfect that day!

I stamped the images with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Copic X-Press It Blending Card and colored it with fresh, pretty colors of Copic Markers.  The image was then trimmed to 3" square. To finish the edges, I adhered Copic's Double-Sided High-Tack 1/8" Tissue tape to the edges:

and then covered the tape with Microfine White Glitter. The image was adhered to a 3.50" square of Memory Box Currant notecard, trimmed with pinking scissors.  I love the frosty look of glassine bags and was thrilled to find these adorable 3.50" Glassine Envelopes in Ellen's store!  

I slipped the notecard in and decorated the outside of the envelope with Tattered Florals die cuts (from Currant and Cherry Blossom Memory Box notecards) and Doodle Assortment-Bright Twine.

I sure hope this notecard helps to make someone's day perfect! ~ Sharon

Stamps: Lockhart Stamp Co - Polka Dot Bike & Thanks For a Perfect Day sentiment
Paper: Copic X-Press It Blending Card; Memory Box notecards-Currant and Cherry Blossom; 3.50" Glassine Envelopes; 
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; 
Copic Markers: C0, C1, E30, E31, R24, R27, RV52, RV55, T1, T3, T5, V15, Y18, YR04, YG95, 
Dies: Sizzix Tim Holtz Bigz Tattered Florals; 
Accessories: Doodle Twine Assortment-Bright; 
Other: Pinking scissors, Copic Double-Sided High-Tack 1/8" Tissue and 1/2" Foam tapes; Glitter Ritz Microfine White Glitter; hand-held hole and EK Success 1/2" circle punches; button 

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

New 2012 Copic Colors & Lockhart Stamps by Sharon Harnist

I was very excited to see these 12 beautiful new Copic colors for 2012 and wanted to share them in a project with you today:

Colors include:

• BG57- Jasper
• BG90- Gray Sky
• BV34- Bluebell
• E84- Khaki
• E89- Pecan
• G43- Pistachio
• G46- Mistletoe
• R56- Currant
• RV52- Cotton Candy
• V22- Ash Lavender
• V28- Eggplant
• YR27- Tuscan Orange

Ellen is offering the 12 new colors either in the whole 12-piece set (at a bit of a savings) or individually. Here's a run-down of how the new colors fit into the existing Copic color palette:

• Existing G40 now has companions of G43 and G46
• Existing BG53 now has darker shade of BG57
• Existing BG93 now has a lighter BG90 pairing
• Existing E81 and E87 now have darker E84 and E89 golden brown companions
• Existing BV31 now has a darker BV34 companion
• Existing V20 and V25 now have darker V22 and V28 for a wonderful muted lavender blending group
• Existing RV55 now has a lighter RV52 mate, for a wonderful pink grouping we've all been craving!
• Existing R59 now has a lighter R56
• Existing YR24 receives a darker mate of YR27

I used Karen Lockhart's pretty new Garden Roses #2159, stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Copic X-Press It Blending Card and used the new RV55 (with RV52) for the roses and new R59 for the deepest shading.  (You can find all of newest Lockhart stamp release HERE):

(New 2012 colors have a black dot below the color name on the cap end)

The leaves and stems were colored with existing G40 and new G43 and G46:

The basket is base coated with E81 and shaded with new E84 and existing E87 -- such a pretty golden brown / khaki color!

The ground was colored with existing E30, E31 and E35.

The image was die cut with Lifestyle Crafts Tags die and tied with some of Ellen's pretty light pink satin ribbon she sends as a thank-you gift in each order, tinted a little with Copic R20 marker to match the paper roses.  

The paper roses were die cut from October Afternoon Sidewalks 8x8 patterned paper with Sizzix Bigz 3D Flower, and I have a tip to share with you that makes rolling these paper flowers a little easier!

I use Locking Hemostat Pliers to hold the outside edge of the flower and roll it tightly into the center of the flower:

After rolling, you can loosen your hold on the flower, unlock the pliers and secure the flower to the center with a Craft Glue Dot . . . easy-peasy!  

I colored flat-backed pearls with Copic R56 and secured them to the centers of the flowers.  Green patterned paper from the same Sidewalks pad was die cut with Tim Holtz's On The Edge-Scallops die and everything adhered to a Memory Box Currant Notecard.

I know you will enjoy these new Copic colors -- they really fill out some pretty colors of blending groups!  ~ Sharon

Stamps: Lockhart Stamp Company Garden Roses #2159
Dies: Sizzix Bigz 3D Flower & Tim Holtz's On The Edge-Scallops dies; Lifestyle Crafts Dies-Tags, 
Paper: Copic X-Press It Blending Card, Memory Box Notecards-Currant, October Afternoon Sidewalks 8x8 patterned paper
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Existing Copic Markers: 
New 2012 Copic Markers: 
Accessories: Simply Swank Locking Hemostat Pliers, Craft Glue Dots, Pearls, Scrapbook Adhesives 3D Foam Squares, light pink satin ribbon (free gift from Ellen)

12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist 2011 - Day 3 by Sharon Harnist

Hello, it's Sharon here today -- I'm thrilled to participate in Ellen's 12 Tags of Christmas with a feminine twist!  (With just a *tiny bit* of panic, not knowing what Tim would create today and worried if I would have suitable products on hand, LOL!)

For his tag technique today, Tim used Cut-N-Dry Stamp Pad Felt and Distress Dye Reinkers to create a custom multi-colored stamp pad. A pretty cool and a great time-saver if you plan on doing a lot of projects with that stamp and want a multi-colored image with just one stamping -- great for big projects like holiday cards or tags.  Unfortunately, I didn't have any of the stamp pad felt on hand to try this out, so I improvised!

I decided to use Memento dye-based markers to ink up my beautiful Tim Holtz Santa's Wish stamp: 

(Note: My stamp is several years old and was wood mounted then. But the Santa image is exactly the same in this pretty updated cling-mounted set.)

After coloring the rubber stamp with the markers, lightly mist it with water -- this will reactivate the marker ink that may have already dried on the stamp; then stamp onto a #8 Manila Tag. You don't want too much water or the marker ink will run together, but not enough water might leave some areas that won't stamp out nicely . . . it's a fine line and might take a little practice!

I filled in the top of the tag with this pretty swirl Lockhart Millinery Vine Embellishment, stamped in Antique Linen Distress Ink. Next, I distressed the edges of my tag with Tim's Paper Distresser and then inked the edges and top of the tag with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.

I don't have the gorgeous Festive Greenery die that Tim used on his tag today (and Ellen is giving it away to a lucky winner on this blog post!), so my feminine twist to this tag was to use what I did have on hand -- Tim's Tattered Florals and Tattered Leaves dies:

When die cut out of the right colors (Memory Box Cranberry & Dill cardstock) and stacked together, one of the flowers looks like a poinsettia! To add some texture to the leaf die cut, I folded the leaf and sanded the crease, then inked the crease with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.

To finish my tag, I used a combination of Antique Linen Distress Reinker mixed with Perfect Gold Perfect Pearls and a little bit of water in a Mini Mister. This really gives everything on the tag a lovely golden holiday glow and a little bit of a tea stained look! (Hopefully you can see the lovely sparkle better by clicking on the photo above for a larger view). Alternately, Ellen carries Ranger's Perfect Pearls Mists (where the pearls are already mixed up for you in a spray bottle) and Heirloom Gold would be a close alternative.

A jingle bell, tied with pretty gold cord, adorns the center of the poinsettia and red crystal gemstones accent the holly in Santa's hat:

Pretty green Prima lace is held onto the bottom of the tag with Tim's Tiny Attacher, for more of a feminine twist!  I hope you enjoyed today's tag -- I certainly had fun creating it!  ~ Sharon

Stamps: Stamper's Anonymous Tim Holtz Santa's Wish; Lockhart Millinery Vine Embellishment; 
Paper: Ranger Inkssentials #8 Manila Tag; Memory Box Cardstock-Cranberry & Dill;
Ink: Memento Markers-Rich Cocoa, Bamboo Leaves, Rhubarb Stalk; Antique Linen & Brushed Corduroy Distress Inks; Distress Ink Reinker-Antique Linen;
Dies: Sizzix Tim Holtz Bigz Dies-Tattered Florals & Tattered Leaves;
Accessories: Ranger Perfect Pearls-Perfect Gold, Mini Mister Set, Ink Blending Tool; 1/2" Silver Jingle Bells, Advantus Tim Holtz Sanding Block & Tiny Attacher; Tonic Tim Holtz Paper Distresser; green Prima Lace-Donegal; Hero Arts Red Crystal Gemstones;

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A huge THANK YOU Sharon - thank you for sharing your tag with us today! Please be certain to leave Sharon your love in the comments section below - and guess what, by doing so you are automatically entered in our random drawing for the goodies shown above. This Festive Greenery is gorgeous and the Cut N' Dry felt is definitely a tool that should be in everyone's craft stash :-D You have until Monday, December 5th noon Pacific Time (one comment per person please) to share your love with Sharon.

We once again thank you for joining us here in the CLASSroom for our 12 Tags series!

2012 Photo Tray Calendar Q1 by Sharon Harnist

If you follow my personal blog at all, you know I have a thing for calendars -- I love them!  I like combining them with artwork to have on display in my home and most importantly -- right on my desk or in my office/creative space!  I also enjoy finding new ways to create them for gifts.  So here's a new one I came up with, that utilizes my 7 Gypsies Black Photo Tray:

               (Click on any photo for a larger view)

Each section of the tray measures 4" x 6" -- perfect for just adding family photos to your calendar, if you wish, or artwork close to the size of a standard A2 card.  I decided to make three months at a time so I would have additional room to showcase some different techniques for you, but you could easily make this a 6-month calendar if you wish.  Then if you give the tray as a holiday gift, you can easily follow up with additional months later in the year (if you don't get them completed all at once) and they will be easy to mail to the recepient.  I'll try to have each calendar quarter prepared a month in advance over the coming year, allowing you plenty of time to follow along and create your own calendar/months, if you'd like!

The beautiful coordinating papers I used this quarter are all from Lilybee Design's Head Over Heels 6x6 Tiny Tablet, designed by our very own multi-talented Miss Julia Stainton . . . I adore all these colors together!

The calendars are Ellen's 2012 PDF Downloadable Calendar -- printed at 75%, they are approximately 3" square.  Each one was matted with Memory Box cardstock: Lagoon, Raspberry, and Vanilla Bean:

January:

I used Tim Holtz Texture Fades Embossing Folders-Snow Flurries & Snowman for the top panel. The embossed snowflakes were rubbed with Adirondack Snow Cap pigment ink pad and sprinkled with Glitter Ritz Transparent Warm Highlights micro fine glitter and then heat embossed with Clear Embossing Powder (they were a little tricky to photograph, but show up a little better in the close-up views):

The embossed snowman was just hand trimmed closely to the embossed edges and the edges of both the snowman and snowflake embossed panel were sponged with Distress Inks. Pretty Zva Clear Swirl gemstones accent the Maya Road Mini Chipboard Snowflake which was also clear embossed with glitter. Hero Arts Pink Crystals accent the snowflake and calendar.

TECHNIQUE - Watercolor Two Ways:

I just recently discovered this gorgeous Hero Arts Felt Finish Natural White Watercolor Paper Ellen started carrying and LOVE that it comes in either Bright White or this soft Natural White color I used!  I used for both of these watercolor techniques.

February:

Lockhart Stamp Company's Love Angel was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black onto the watercolor paper. Using a Niji Waterbrush filled with Copic Colorless Blender Solution, I dipped the brush into Copic Various Ink Refills (BG11, BG13, R24, R81, and YR31 placed in a plastic paint palette) to "water" color the angel (clean up afterwards with Clear Blender Solution):

Copic Clear Atyou Spica Glitter Pen accents the angel's wings and a light pink crystal accents the heart she is carrying. Memory Box Raspberry cardstock, die cut with Tim Holtz's Heart Wings Bigz Die, accents the background and calendar:

March:

Lockhart Roses Daisies & Polka Dots was also stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black onto the watercolor paper, but then watercolored the more traditional way, with Adirondack Dye Ink Pads (Lettuce, Pink Sherbet, Pool, Raspberry, Sunset Orange, Sunshine Yellow).  You can just used the ink pad lid as a palette, by rubbing the ink pad onto the lid (as seen in the lower left of the photo below) -- this will usually transfer enough ink to watercolor with, if your pads are juicy enough:

Or you can place a few drops of reinker into the stamp pad lid and use this to watercolor with.  To finish this piece, I used a few dye-based Memento Markers to accent the flowers and color those tiny flower stems!

Memory Box Taffy cardstock, die cut with Tim Holtz's Tattered Florals die, accents the background.

Please let me know if you like this concept and if you'd like to see more months each quarter next year!  ~ Sharon

Stamps: Lockhart Stamp Company Love Angel (#7008), Roses Daisies & Polka Dots (#2122)
Paper: Hero Arts Felt Finish Natural White Watercolor Paper; Lilybee Design Head Over Heels 6x6 Tiny Tablet; Memory Box cardstock-Lagoon, Raspberry, Taffy, Vanilla Bean; 
Ink: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black ink kpad and Memento Markers; Ranger Adirondack Pigment Ink (January)-Snow Cap; Ranger Adirondack Dye Ink Pads (March)-Lettuce, Pink Sherbet, Pool, Raspberry, Sunset Orange, Sunshine Yellow; Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Jan & Feb)-Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy & (Mar) Worn Lipstick; 
Copic Markers: E33 & BG13 (Angel), Colorless Blender Solution; Clear Atyou Spica Glitter Pen
Copic Various Ink Refills: BG11, BG13, R24, R81, YR31 (Angel)
Dies: Sizzix Tim Holtz Bigz Die-Heart Wings and Tattered Florals;
Accessories: 7 Gypsies Black Photo Tray; Ellen's 2012 PDF Downloadable Calendar (printed at 75%); Niji Waterbrush; Sizzix Tim Holtz Texture Fades Embossing Folders-Snow Flurries & Snowman; Ranger Clear Embossing Powder, Heat It Craft Tool, and Ink Blending Tool; Glitter Ritz Microfine Glitter-Transparent Warm Highlights; Maya Road Mini Chipboard Sets: Snowflakes; Scrapbook Adhesives 3D Foam Squares; Zva Clear Swirl gemstones; KaiserCraft Pearls; Hero Arts Pink Crystals; Darice Plastic Paint Palette; 

Framed Snowglobe Shaker Decor by Sharon Harnist

             (Click on any photo for a larger view)

Hello and welcome to the CLASSroom!  Today I have this framed snowglobe shaker home decor piece to share with you.  This 4" x 6" framed artwork was easy to create and I love that it's interactive . . . people will walk by this piece on my foyer table and shake it all season long!  Here's how to make it:

1. Stamp this year's Lockhart Stamp Company-2011 Limited Edition Nicholas Sings Carols image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Copic X-Press It Blending Card and color with these Copic Sketch Markers:

2. Stamp the image again, positioned on a 4" x 6" piece of Authentique 6x6-Wonder patterned paper where you want the shaker to be. Using a craft knife, cut out only the globe, leaving the base of the globe on the patterned paper. Color the base with Copic T4 and T6:

3. Cut a 4" x 6" piece of Ellen's Crystal Clear Medium Weight Plastic and adhere it to the back side of the patterned paper you cut the snowglobe out of, using Copic's High Tack Double-Sided Tissue Tape. The plastic helps give the patterned paper extra stiffness so it will sit up over the stamped image well:

4. Next, using 3D Foam Squares, build a barrier around the hole you cut in the patterned paper.  Stay away from the edge of the circle, so the foam tape won't show from the front.  Be sure all the edges of the foam tape are touching, so your "snow" won't escape from the shaker! This will also make the patterned paper/plastic piece sit up over the stamped image and hold your shaker material (snow) in place.  Here, I'm using chunky Twinklets Diamond Dust.  It only takes a very small amount of the Diamond Dust -- a lot less than you might think:

5. To create the banner across the top of the frame, I covered three of Maya Road's Mixed Scalloped Triangle Banner pieces with more Wonder paper.  Those little scallops can be tricky to cover, but Basic Grey's Precision File Set makes it easy.  I've had this file set for almost 5 years -- it was one of the very first things I bought from Ellen's store when it first opened!

6. Next, I colored Maya Road's Noah Alphabet chipboard letters with Ranger's Adirondack Cranberry and Snowcap Pigment Inks and clear heat embossed them:

7. The banner was attached to the top of the frame with Doodlebug Assorted (Red) Twine and Craft Glue Dots:

The final embellishment is a Maya Road Mini Chipboard Snowflake, colored with Versamark Frost Dazzle ink and clear embossed.

You can find previous years of these darling Lockhart Limited Edition Christmas globe stamps Ellen still has in stock here:

2010-Auntsy Nancy Reads to Nicholas,
2009-Nicholas & Kitty,
2008-Nicholas First Train,
2007-Grandpa & Grandma Flurry with Nicholas,

Each deeply-etched red rubber wood-mounted stamp is hand colored, signed, numbered and dated!  How cute an entire set of these framed snowglobe shakers would look on your holiday mantle!

Happy crafting!  ~ Sharon

Stamps: Lockhart Stamp Company-2011 Limited Edition Nicholas Sings Carols,
Paper: Copic X-Press It Blending Card, Authentique 6x6-Wonder, 
Ink: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark Frost Dazzle; Ranger Adirondack Pigment Inks-Cranberry & Snowcap,
Copic Sketch Markers: B0000, C1, R20, R22, R24, R29, T4, T6, YG61, YG63, YG93, YG95, YR12, Y23, Y26
Accessories:  Essentials by Ellen-Crystal Clear Plastic Medium Weight; Scrapbook Adhesives 3D Foam Squares Mixed; Flora Craft Twinklets Diamond Dust; Doodlebug Assorted Twine; Maya Road Mini Chipboard Sets: Snowflakes, Mixed Scalloped Triangle Banner, Noah Alphabet; Basic Grey Precision File Set; Ranger Clear Embossing Powder & Heat It Craft Tool; Copic High Tack Double-Sided Tissue Tape; Craft Glue Dots;
Other: 4" x 6" dollar store photo frame 

Little Red Wagon

This month's thank you note is this oh, so cute wagon filled with toys by Karen Lockhart. I love that Karen's stamps always have that hand drawn look and in this case it is perfect for these vintage toy-filled wagon. We have a special surprise for you this week only --- the Wagon of Toys is going to be our stamp of the week at 25% off! So I wanted to share a project with you that might help you "recycle" your little thank you note and give you a simple and not too fussy design you could use for your Christmas cards.

I felt that it paired beautifully with the word "dream," because it is fun to dream of the days when we were young - the anticipation of something new to play with, friends and family gathered to eat and play games together, snow covered hills to go sledding on... all delightful things to dream about! 

Dream from Tim Holtz Sizzix Mover and Shapers series is just the right size to fit on a card front. Simply sit it in the Base Tray and butt it right up to the edge, centering it to make it easy to know where to place your cardstock. Position your cardstock and place the cutting pad on top and simply run it through your machine.

Next take an ink blending tool and add a little color around the word to define the edges. I am DELIGHTED to tell you that the new Iced Spruce Limited Edition Distress Ink Pad is a wonderful coordinate to Copic colors BG72/BG75. If you love these colors you may just want to pick these pads up.

To color in the wagon of toys I used the colors shown above. Simply start with the lightest color and adding depth with the darker shades.

The final steps when coloring are to use a very well sharpened color pencil and add additional depth with a slight cross-hatch pattern to the tree and bear to create texture. As well add a little glitz with the Copic Spicas - I used gold, lipstick and turquoise.

You will notice a "snowy" appearance on the Kraft cardstock. Yes, I'm a convert to the Mister Huey Calico White - it is definitely THE most opaque mist I have used. It should be on our shelves later this week so stay tuned on Facebook for an update when it arrives.

Thank you for stopping in again here in the CLASSroom and have a wonderful week ahead!

stamps: Lockhart Wagon of Toys

ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Iced Spruce Distress Ink, Copic colors shown above

paper: Memory Box Kraft and Red Pepper CS

accessories: Tim Holtz Dream Movers and Shapers Die and Base Tray, Mister Huey' Calico White Mist, Ink Blending Tool

Bookmarks From Scraps by Sharon Harnist

Happy Wednesday, everyone!  I love Memory Box’s line of Notecards and Envelopes -- they are easy to grab for a quick card base and have the pretty matching colored envelopes included!  Often, I cut down these A2 card sized card bases (5.50” x 4.25”) and make smaller notecards -- 4.25”, 3.50” or 3” square, and am then left with these scraps:

So I recently set out to make something out of these leftover scraps (most were 2” x 8.50”) and the first thing that came to mind was bookmarks!

         (Click on any photo for a larger view)

To make these bookmarks for my girls sturdy, I adhered my Memory Box colored scrap notecards (unfolded) to 2” x 8.50” pieces of Ellen’s Craft-a-Board. On the left above, I used Meadow and Wisteria, and on the right I used Currant and Licorice. I used more pieces of my leftover notecards (the reverse/inside of Memory Box notecards and cardstock is white) and punched with Open Scallop Edger Punch to make the white scalloped edging.

Next, I stamped a few Lockhart stamp images (Bennie Bear and Crown of Royalty) with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Copic X-Press It Blending Card and colored them with these Copic markers:

Next, I cut out the images and adhered them to Inchie Arts White Inchie + Squares.  For the bear, I colored a white Inchie + Square with YG01 and YG03 Copic markers -- I love that I can make any color of Inchie, Inchie +, or Twinchie Square I want, just by coloring a white one!  I adhered the crown image to a Black Inchie + Square.

Then to personalize each bookmark, I used Kim Hughes’ Paper Smooches Alphadot clear stamps to spell out each girl’s name, “Good Reads” and “Was Here”.

By changing this basic idea around and using more “grown up” or seasonal stamps and paper/cardstock colors, these will also make great gifts for teachers, friends and family for any of the upcoming holidays!

Thanks for visiting the CLASSroom today!  ~ Sharon

Stamps: Lockhart Stamp Company-Bennie Bear #1011, Crown of Royalty #2125; Paper Smooches by Kim Hughes Alphadot clear stamps; 2.50” Round Acrylic Block with Grid;
Paper: Memory Box Notecards & Envelopes-Currant, Licorice, Meadow, Wisteria; Copic X-Press It Blending Card;
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Ranger Adirondack Dye Ink-Purple Twilight;
Copic Markers: Bear-YG01, YG03, BV02, BV04, E41, E42, E43; Crown-RV00, RV55, T0, T2
Accessories: Essentials by Ellen Craft-a-Board; Inchie Arts White Inchie + Squares and Black Inchie + Square; EK Success Open Scallop Edger Punch; 

WCMD 2011 - Inchie Challenge by Sharon Harnist (EHWCMD3)

Hello, everyone ... I hope you are enjoying today's challenges and getting some cards made on World Card Making Day!  One of my favorite products/techniques to work with are Inchies, so my challenge to you today is to make a Fall themed card using an Inchie to spotlight a larger image!  IF YOU DON'T HAVE INCHIE ARTS INCHIE SQUARES, YOU MAY USE A 1-INCH PIECE OF CARDSTOCK.

For my card, I chose my favorite new Fall Lockhart Stamp Company images, this fabulous Autumn Gate.  I stamped it with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on Copic's X-Press It Blending Card twice.  I hand trimmed around one image and then lightly colored the image a little with some lighter muted Copic colors (E30, Y00, YG61, YR00, T0, T1), to replicate what this gate might look like at dusk.  Normally when doing a spotlight technique, the larger image is left uncolored, but I liked the tiny bit of color on mine.  You may do either on your challenge card.

For the spotlighted "Give Thanks" wreath, I used a piece of cardstock with a 1-inch square punched out of it to use as a template to place over the second stamped image, to determine exactly what part of the image I wanted to use:

I used a pencil to trace around the square template and then I cut out the 1-inch image, leaving the right edge of the banner and bow extending beyond the edges.  I colored the 1-inch image with these Copic markers: (E31, E33, V15, Y15, YG61, YG63, YR12, and Orange, Melon & Lemon Atyou Spica Glitter Pens).  Alternately, you could just stamp the part of the image you want to highlight onto the Inchie Square (or 1-inch piece of cardstock), and/or punch or trim your cardstock image to be one inch square.  I then adhered the cut out image to an Inchie Arts Dark Cream Inchie Square and mounted the Inchie to my larger image.  The Inchie Square gives a wonderful bit of dimension and depth to the Spotlight Technique.  If you are using a 1-inch piece of cardstock for your spotlight, you may want to pop it up on foam tape, to make your spotlight stand out from the rest of your image.

To finish my card, I die cut a Maple Leaf from Memory Box Jack O Lantern cardstock, crumpled it up and then sponged it with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.  It is mounted with 3D foam squares to the Memory Box Paprika notecard base.  A black button and Black Baker's Twine complete my card.

I hope you have fun trying this Inchie Spotlight Technique! ~ Sharon

Stamps: Lockhart Stamp Co-Autumn Gate, 
Dies: Memory Box Maple Leaf die; Sizzix Tim Holtz On The Edge Die-Scallops, 
Paper: Memory Box-Paprika notecards (card base), Jack O Lantern cardstock (leaf); My Mind's Eye Lost & Found 6x6-Sunshine, Copic X-Press It Blending Card; 
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Ranger Distress Ink-Brushed Corduroy; 
Copic Markers: E30, E31, E33, V15, Y00, Y15, YG61, YG63, YR00, YR12, T0, T1; Orange, Melon & Lemon Atyou Spica Glitter Pens,
Accessories: Inchie Arts Assorted Neutral Inchie Squares; Black Baker's Twine; black button; Scrapbook Adhesives 3D foam squares; Ranger Ink Blending Tool; 

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INCHIE CHALLENGE

For our Inchie Challenge simply create a Fall-themed card using an Inchie Square or 1-inch piece of cardstock to spotlight one area of your stamped image.

Once you have completed this challenge please be certain to link directly to that specific project in our WCMD Challenge Blog Candy post!

BLOG CANDY

Fall is filled with traditions -- what tradition do you look forward to each fall?  Be certain to leave your answer and some love for Sharon on this post to be entered in a random drawing for the fun goodies shown below.

 
All comments must be made by 11:59pm Pacific Time on Sunday, October 2nd to be eligible.

Lockhart Pumpkin Cookies Foldover Bookmark

There are times when I wonder if I'm living under a rock - LOL! With everything going on in life I don't have any time to blog hop and so I have no idea if someone else has shared a version of this project before. Using a large, shaped die to create a "foldover" is an idea that I just thought was fun and so I had to share it with you - I hope that you enjoy it even if you have heard it before.

 

I have been LOVING the label dies from Memory Box Company and it was after creating the Halloweenie card with the Chadwick Label that this idea dawned on me. Why not create "foldovers" with my larger dies?!?

 

To create a "foldover" you simply score your cardstock and fold it. Then using a piece of tissue tape attach the cardstock, with the fold line end slightly lower then where the die would normally make the cut, to the face of your die.

 

Run it through your die cut machine and voila a very nifty "foldover." These then can turn into darling bookmarks that have fabulous shapes!

 

To hold the bookmark in place use a Basic Grey magnet - these are still the best magnets on the market for something like this.

 

Shown above are the colors of Copic markers, Prismacolor pencils and Spica Glitter pen that I used to color the Pumpkin Cookies. I <3 this image and have used it as our thank you's this month.

I also used the Copic Markers to color the 1/4" white silk ribbon with purple to add a little "pop" to the project.

As a little aside - I must tell you that Indie Bloom has papers in the collection that have a fabulous halloween feel.

 

To close I had to share the first version of my project - it is so amazing to me that sometimes when I view my completed project through the camera lens I see missing elements. That is precisely the case in today's project - do you see the difference? It's the littlest of details that can make a card special. By simply adding texture to the edges of the foldover with a pierced design the project comes to life.

 

stamps: Lockhart Halloween Cookies

ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Lavender Spica Glitter Pen

paper: Neenah Solar White, Memory Box Mango CS, Basic Grey Indie Bloom

accessories: Tim Holtz Mini Cabinet Die, Mini Paper Clip, and Design Ruler, 1/4" White Silk Ribbon,

Zentangled Lockhart Telephone

It has been so much fun hearing how much you are enjoying this month's thank you note!

 

It all began with the thought that I wanted to turn the Lockhart phone into a "mod" image. Yes, I remember the 70's all too vividly and am still somewhat enamored with the psychedelic colors and image of that era.

 
This darling telephone is one of those old rotary dials and so perfect for this technique. When looking for an image select something that has "open space." 

 

I then used the Basic Grey Lauderdale as my inspiration. Note the arrows with numbers on them. As you can see #1, the leaf, was completely inspired by the leaf in the patterned paper. #2, the line with the circle on the end of it within the bloom came from the little yellow flower center. #3, the swirls in the handle were inspired by the stamens in flower #3.

To fill my images I use a combination of my Copic Multiliners. For the smallest of areas I find myself reaching for my .03 sized pen and then working my way up when I add borders and definition.

Taking inspiration from patterned paper or Zentangle books makes "filling in" images easier. I can tell you that I doodled several images before finalizing my plan. Simply stamp your image multiple times and begin to draw. It doesn't have to be perfect and you can do each one a little differently. Once you arrive at your final look you can then redo it with that design in mind.

 
I also wanted to share with you today how fabulous the new Memory Box Corner Notch dies are. These are designed to perfectly fit a gift card, such as a Starbucks card, BUT it also fits perfectly with the Perfect Gift Card Die. Just think of the custom gift cards you can now so easily create for the holiday season ahead! What a fun little booklet it would be if you created your own stamped "coupons!"

To complete the look I simply rounded the corners with the Chomper, added a strip of glitter and topped it off with a little bling.

I would like to encourage each of you to find a stamp that has an open area and then start adding some "pattern" to it!

 
stamps: Lockhart Telephone

ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Multiliners - .03, .05, .3

paper: Memory Box Mango Notecard, Basic Grey Lauderdale 6x6 Paper Pad, Neenah Solar White Classic Crest

accessories: Memory Box Perfect Gift Card and Scalloped Corner Notches Dies, Corner Chomper, Be Creative (Sookwang) 1/2" Tape, Grasshopper Glitter Ritz, Canary Yellow MB Jewels

Zen Apples by Sharon Harnist

 

I loved the idea Ellen shared in this post about filling larger open stamped images with doodles or Zentangles, so I thought I would try my hand at tangling and had a BLAST!  To start, all you need is any stamp image with enough room to doodle in ... I chose Karen Lockhart's Perfect Apples (they reminded me of school starting again next month!) and stamped them with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Copic X-Press It Blending Card.

Next, just have fun randomly drawing images within the stamped image, using Copic's Black Multiliners -- I used 0.1 for most of my details and 0.3 for the thicker lines.  You can find the refillable markers individually in Ellen's store or both of them in this disposable pack.  Using the Copic Multiliner, which is the same permanent ink as Copic markers, ensures no fading or bleeding should you want to also add color to your tangled images.

 

If you need help with patterns to doodle, Ellen carries a wonderful selection of Zentangle books that give you ideas and easy to follow patterns.  After finishing my designs, I colored each of my apples individually with Copic markers (colors listed below): 

 

To finish my card, I die cut the apple image and mounted it with 3D Foam Squares to another die cut of Memory Box Cranberry cardstock and then to a black card base embossed with Tim Holtz Texture Fades Wooden Embossing Folder -- I love that these folders are the exact same size as an A2 cardfront!  For accents, I added red twine and green felt leaves attached with a gold brad.

I hope you'll give tangling a try, I think you'll like it -- I sure did!  - Sharon

 
Stamps: Lockhart Stamp Co-Perfect Apples,  
Paper: Copic X-Press It Blending Card; Memory Box Licorice & Cranberry notecards
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black,
Copic: Black Multiliners-Refillable 0.3 and 0.1 or disposable 4-piece set, Markers-RV34, R35, R37, BG13, E35, G21, G24, G07, YG17, Y08, YR23 
Accessories: Tim Holtz Texture Fades Embossing Folders-Bricked and Wooden, Jillibean Baker's Twine-Red & Brown, Hero Arts Felt Poinsettia & Leaves, gold brad, Scrapbook Adhesives 3D Foam Squares, Zentangle books,

The Painted Gate by Julia Stainton

When I was a teenager, I loved to paint. As the years pass, my free time seems to shrink and while I've wanted to get back to painting for awhile now, I just don't have the time or I admit, the confidence to do it. This brought an idea to my mind. Why not paint over a stamped image using acrylic paints so that it looks more like a painting than a stamped image.

Using the stamp as a guide, I've created my own mini painting to use on a card or piece of altered art. It's a fun and unique approach to using a stamped image and I hope you'll enjoy it.

To start off with, I've stamped my image onto some Sticky Back Canvas and then heat set it. I'm using one of the latest Lockhart stamps here, Petunias on the Gate, and stamped it in Jet Black Archival Ink. This is a great ink that is permanent when heat set making it perfect for adding liquid paints to.

You can see that this stamp is quite detailed and beautiful and could be colored with Copic Markers, colored pencils, watercolored or whatever medium you wish. Today's project uses a more loosely interpreted approach where you use the stamp as a guide and then cover it up totally with paint. You'll be able to see how closely the final painting follows the stamp but is not a slave to it.

Acrylic paints are wonderful things and I love how you can apply them thick like an oil painting or thin them to a wash to resemble watercolors. To create the background apply water to the area you want to "wash" with paint and then pick up a small amount of color with a wet brush and put in a thin transparent coat of paint to form the background.

After your wash is dry, begin adding thicker coats of Studio Line Acrylic Paint to build up color and totally cover the stamped image. Feel free to add in your own highlights and greenery. Above is a photo of my painting midway through.

I've added in my flowers randomly. By the time you get to the flowers, most of your ink should be covered so add them where you wish. I love adding dots of colors to resemble flowers. An easy way to get lovely dots is to turn your brush upside-down and dab the paint on with the end of your brush.

I used the Ranger Non-Stick Craft Sheet as a worksurface for my canvas and also to mix colors directly on. Get variations of colors by mixing two or more paints directly on the mat. It simply wipes off or the paint will peel off if you allow it to dry.

These are the Studio Line paint colors I used.

This is my final painting while drying. You can see that some of the flower dots are still wet.

Finally a detail shot of the finished image. Don't worry if the painting isn't perfect. It just adds to the charm of the project. One last thing to note...the smaller the stamp detail is, the harder it will be to recreate. If you're looking for extreme detail, Copic Markers or watercoloring may be a better coloring method for you.

Thanks for stopping by the CLASSroom and happy creating!

Supplies: Petunias on the Gate stamp by Lockhart Stamp Company, Find Joy Stamp set by Hero Arts, Jet Black Archival Ink by Ranger, Sticky Back Canvas by Ranger, Non-Stick Craft Sheet by Ranger, Smidge of Blue, Sable Brown, Blank Canvas, Sky Blue, Landscape Green, Yellow Pastel and Dash of Red Studio Line Paints by Ranger, Studio Artist Brushes, Pink Vintage Button by Jenni Bowlin, twine, sewing machine, Mini Pin by Tim Holtz, Solar White cardstock by Neenah, Mocha Cardstock by Memory Box

Dear Blog Candy Winner Call Me

This little telephone is insanely cute AND versatile! I just had to use it to announce today's winner because of the cute little "checklist" that you can use to accompany it! You must check out the new Lockhart images --- it is so hard to pick a favorite from this new release. 

 

The winner of our Memorial Weekend blog candy is...

 
My flowers are my favorite thing in the garden. I LOVE my little purple iris' that are blooming right now. Might be because I love purple???

Posted by: cheryl l. | May 29, 2011 at 05:29 AM

Cheryl please email us at [email protected] (or you could call us too - LOL!) with your snail mail address so that we can get your new goodies out to you!

 

Today I wanted to remind you that Copics can be used to enhance designer paper! By simply stamping your image directly on designer paper and then coloring selected portions you can add interest and depth to stamped designs. The key to incorporating color is to select colors that compliment the colors in your designer papers. Test your colors in a corner that will not be used before beginning.

Another tip I would like to share today is selecting papers that emulate a mood or emotion. For example this bold, sunburst design really made it feel like the phone is ringing.  

I couldn't help myself... I had to try putting an actual "cord" on my phone. My using the very fine tip of the Quickie Glue pen I was able to add twine to my image. I love the end result.

This phone is perfect for paper piecing, coloring and I believe I am going to have to Zentangle it as well---too much fun!!!
 

A little bling to designate what it is that I am hoping we will receive today, as well as my interpretation of the counter on which the phone is sitting, and this vibrant project is complete. Thank you to all who took time to leave your comments this weekend - I loved hearing from you! I can just envision the glorious blooms and I want SO BADLY to taste the fresh, vine ripened tomatoes!

 
stamps: Lockhart Telephone and Mail Check List

ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers - YG21, YG25

paper: Echo Park Splash 6x6, Memory Box Mango Cardstock and Key Lime Distressed Dots

accessories: JilliBean Green Twine, Quickie Glue Pen, Pistachio Green Memory Box Jewels

Welcome Gate Seed Packet

Holiday Monday's get a big thumbs up! I hope that you are enjoying yours.

Today showcases the coloring on the last piece of the little trio of projects I created using the new Lockhart stamps. Sharing garden seeds can be so much fun and the intent was to create a little piece that garden seeds could be enclosed and given to a friend.

 

Each of the pieces above have one common thread - the Mykonos papers. Using the colors from this collection was a wonderful jumping off point and allowed me to create an ensemble that easily coordinates.

 

Begin by coloring each different element in the stamped image with a light colored Copic. At times I make a "mistake" when pulling out the flowers, greens, etc. - by working with a light color it is so very easy to come back in and adjust the colors if you discover you have colored a leaf pink :-D

I am now going to work through how I add depth or dimension to my colored images.

 

Add W4 as shown above. Do not color the entire area - only little tidbits in similar corners of each "segment."

 

Add E34 in various areas as shown above.

 

Now go back over these areas with W1 - the lighter color will blend the colors you just added, as well, when you color an area over a second time it becomes darker. I have found that I will get varying shades of a color by going over an area up to four times. Each time I apply that color it becomes slightly darker.

 

The last colors I add are typically with Prismacolor Color Pencils. The added texture that colored pencils add by simply grabbing the top layer of tooth on the Neenah paper adds so much interest. I hope that you can see it in these photos.

 

I almost always work from light to dark.

 

Then come back over all colors with my lightest Copic color to blend and add colored pencil once again. Sorry for the blur on the bottom of this picture, my camera grabbed the marker colors and I didn't realize I had lost my focus on the bottom of the image :-( Please look at the photo below to see that area in focus.

 

One of the techniques I like to use when coloring "green" areas is to very lightly "blur" the background area with Chartreuse colored pencil as shown above.

I then come back in with a mix of greens to create depth.

 

Mixing yellows and yellow-reds creates a wonderful golden yellow.

 

A little Goldenrod colored pencil and the flowers and gate are almost complete.

I purposefully left the sign until the very end - I didn't know what color I wanted it to be until my image was complete. It then became obvious to me that I wanted to balance the blues of the flowers at the base and create a triangle of color.
 

To create unity amongst these projects I once again stitched my image to the flap of this wonderful little Kraft Glassine envelope. This time I took a picture of the back side as well so that you can see how the stitching can vary from one side to the next.
 

Using another Squash button together with a mini paper clip and adding a Whimsy Bird completed this simple project.

Remember to leave your comment before midnight tonight on the Summertime post to be eligible to receive the goodies you will need to create these projects! AND let's all cross our fingers for some nice summertime weather!

 

stamps: Lockhart Welcome Gate

ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers

paper: 7 Gypsies Mykonos 6x6 Paper Pad, Neenah Solar White, Memory Box Squash Cardstock, Craft-a-Board

accessories: Tim Holtz Kraft Glassine Envelopes, Mini Paper Clip, Memory Box Button Die, Design Ruler, Retractable Craft Pick

Petunias on the Gate

Welcome back - I hope you are having a relaxing Memorial Day weekend! Don't forget to visit yesterday's post and answer the question at the end of the post to be eligible for the blog candy (3 new Lockhart stamps, Mykonos 6x6 Paper Pad and Memory Box Button Die.) You have until Monday night midnight - so don't delay.

The two new garden gate stamps are amongst my all-time favorite Lockhart images! What is it that makes garden gates SO appealing?

Today's post is going to be short and sweet because tomorrow's is going to be LONG winded. I will be sharing step-by-step photos detailing how I colored the weathered wood garden gate.

When creating an ensemble simply select coordinating elements and repeat them in each project. Keeping it clean and simple makes this so much easier.

TIP: When stapling an item to your cardfront rather than always lining the staples up consider criss-crossing them or placing them at jaunty angles.

The ticket from Rocket Age's Miscellany kit was still sitting on my studio table - it was meant to be. The colors coordinated perfectly and the idea of visiting a beautiful garden... Yeah for the little things in life!

 

stamps: Lockhart Petunias on the Gate

ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

paper: 7 Gypsies, Mykonos 6x6 Paper Pad, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Memory Box Squash Notecard, Rocket Age Miscellany Ticket

accessories: Tiny Attacher

Summertime with New Lockhart Stamps and Mykonos Paper

I just have to giggle this morning as I write this post - most obviously I hid my "clue" in the picture on Facebook well. Yes, it is new Lockhart stamps that I am so excited about! Lockhart stamps were my first "babies" here in our store. I would head out and teach coloring classes using these images and would love every minute of it. I still love every minute of the time I get to spend coloring these delightful images. The details make me smile and feel all warm inside.

Over the next three days I will be sharing a new project each day, showcasing the new images AND we have a special give-away here for you today, so be certain to read all the way through this post and leave a comment to the question below to become eligible for this random drawing.

 

Ready To Plant... I am SO ready to plant this spring! I really would like to have some of my favorite home-grown tomatoes again this year, but the weather - oh vey! So for now I will have to satisfy myself with coloring pretty garden images :-D The shape of today's tag was inspired by the fabulous little tags available in the new Mykonos collection. The colors in this collection just scream summertime to me and so I began to color my series of projects with these beautiful papers sitting next to me.

 

As always I begin to color my image by "picking out" the details in my image using a light colored Copic marker.

I then come back in and add darker highlights such as the red, as you can see I am beginning to do in the petunias above. There are times when I am uncertain what colors I will want to use on certain pieces of the image, such as the wheelbarrow, and so I leave them alone until I get further into my color selection.

 

Once I have all my colors in place I then come back with the lightest color to blend them all together. If the range of the color values is too large I will scribble some of the darkest color in the area I am blending on my non-stick craft sheet and using the lightest color I will pick this color up off the sheet with the tip of my marker and bring it back into the design to blend the colors. This will create depth in your image with the varied color values.

 

I used two coordinating patterns and the tag series shape as inspiration. A layer of squash cardstock is used on the reverse center section to "disguise" the inky backside of my colored image and add sturdiness.

A button was created using Craft-a-Board and covered with Squash cardstock. I adhered the cardstock to the Craft-a-Board using a small amount of Matte Multi-Medium.

To create the stitching I simply punched holes in my tag using Tim's Design Ruler. The perfectly spaced holes make it so very easy to create simple stitching patterns on your paper. Then thread good old-fashioned and inexpensive DMC floss on a needle and stitch.

The rain is coming down outside yet again today - crossing my fingers and toes that tomorrow brings sunshine so that I can spend some much needed time in my garden. :-D

 
stamps: Lockhart Ready to Plant

ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

paper: 7 Gypsies Mykonos 6x6, Neenah Solar White, Memory Box Squash Cardstock

accessories: Memory Box Button Die, Craft-a-Board, Design Ruler, Retractable Craft Pick, Matte Multi-Medium

Do you like to garden? What is your favorite plant --- is it a flower or a garden vegetable? By taking the time to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below you have a chance at winning this fun little prize package of (3) new Lockhart images, the 6x6 pack of Mykonos paper and the new Memory Box Button Die!

You have until 12:00pm PDT Monday, May 30th to leave your comment and be eligible. (One comment per person please.) We will do our random drawing on Tuesday morning and announce the winner here in the CLASSroom as well as on our Facebook Fan Club page.

Thank you for stopping in here at the CLASSroom - we wish you a happy Memorial weekend and thank all those who help protect us by serving this country!

Copic Watercoloring by Sharon Harnist

I have a fun and different watercoloring technique to share with you today -- using your Copics!

(click on any photo for a larger view)

I love the look of a watercolored image and you can achieve it, using Copic Various Ink Refills!  To get started, I stamped this beautiful Lockhart Stamp Company Phalaenopsis image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto an Arturo Single Notecard (similar to watercolor paper):

Then I used Copic Various Ink Refills to "watercolor" the orchid image:

To do this, place drops of Various Ink onto a paint palette and use a water reservoir brush filled with Copic Colorless Blender Solution to pick up the ink color and watercolor it onto the Arturo paper.  Here are the ink colors I used (listed below):

On the palette, you can add Colorless Blender Solution to any color to lighten it, or mix any Various Ink Refills you'd like, to make new colors!

I love how the Y21 golden background turned out -- similar to an old Tuscan wall! 3D foam squares attach the watercolor piece to the card base.  The Hero Arts sentiment was stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa ink onto cream cardstock, cut into a banner shape, and then machine stitched to the card base.  More machine stitching attaches the pretty October Afternoon 5 & Dime papers to the 4" x 8" card base.

I hope you have fun giving Copic watercoloring a try! ~ Sharon

Stamps: Lockhart Stamp Company-Phalaenopsis, Hero Arts ClearDesign-All Occasion Messages,
Paper: Arturo Single Cards-Soft White, October Afternoon 5 & Dime 8x8, Neenah Classic Cream cardstock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Rich Cocoa,
Copic Various Ink Refills: YG03, YG63, R22, R24, E33 Y21; Colorless Blender Solution,
Accessories: Niji Waterbrush, Darice Plastic Paint Palette, Scrapbook Adhesives 3D Foam Squares,
Other: Sewing machine + thread

The Art of Tangling

Last October I had the pleasure of visiting Karen of the Lockhart Stamp Company at her home in the Sonoma Valley. Karen is a wonderful hostess and we had a MARVELOUS time seeing the sights, eating good food and talking trends. Thank you once again for such a wonderful reprieve Karen!

One of the topics of conversation during that visit was the art of Zentangle. I really had not heard of it before. When Karen first showed me a picture of a project created with Zentangles the first thing that came to mind was that it appeared to look a lot like Henna - I love the look of Henna and was immediately intrigued.

As soon as the Perfect series was released I began to play with the pears, even taking them with me on our college tour trip. Karen's newsletter inspired me to pick up the pieces and get that project completed :-D I hope you enjoy my little tangled take on these fab pears.

It is my love of Moroccon patterns that has inspired today's project. I hope you can see the little influences I tried to bring to this tiny work of art. Many of the patterns I utilized on these pears are inspired by Henna art. As well I looked through the series of Zentangle books that we carry. Each book contains a wide variety of patterns and specific step-by-step directions for completing each unique design. If you have never "tangled" before I highly recommend getting a book to see how it is done and try your hand. I kid you not when I assure you that everyone can do this!

Other design references are brought about through the use of Tim's newest Mini Cabinet Card die, which to me resembled a Moroccon window, and the Argyle punch, meant to imitate some of the beautiful tile patterns. 

To add color I first used a Copic Marker and then added highlights with a very sharp Prismacolor Color Pencil.

 

I would like to begin by telling you that I am NOT a certified Zentangle teacher. If you are interested in learning more about this art form you can either purchase the books or go to the Zentangle site and find a 'certified Zentangle teacher' in your area to take classes from. 

The tips I am going to share are things that I have done that seem to work well for me.

As I work I continually rotate my image - this allows me to look at it from different vantage points and decide what might "fit" with the natural lines in the stamped image. For example I began by using the little line around the stem of the pear as my jumping off point.

 

With Karen's images I highly recommend the Copic Multiliner in both the .05 and .03 tip size. You can purchase these in two different ways - sets or individually. I prefer the individual pens because then I can simply add ink rather than throwing out my pen when the ink is gone.

I like to begin with the .05 size to add the initial details. I apologize for the blur in my photos - I didn't realize I had it on such a tight focus and therefore it blurred out the front edges. I am hoping that you can see how I "beefed up" the lines of the stamp. With so much detail I still wanted the pear shape to stand out.

 

Continue to build around the patterns you add.

 

As a beginner I like to work on my entire image at one time, adding tidbits that are unique and yet coordinated to then balance the images.

 

Once I have all the main patterns I then use the .03 (which is ubber fine) to add additional details. 

 

I LOVED how the new Dutch Mustard Soup patterned paper worked so perfectly with this Henna inspired piece.

I have another project that I am working on that I am super excited about and hope it will be completed soon so that I can share it with you. For now I want to suggest that you can take any of the more "open" style stamps  such as the pears, apples, one of the aprons

 
or the slippers

 
and give it a try.

So my question for you today is have you tried the Zentangle art form? We would love to hear your thoughts!

 
stamps: Lockhart Stamp Company Perfect Pears

ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Multiliner .05 and .03

paper: Neenah Solar White, Memory Box Parsley Cardstock, Echo Park For the Record, Jillibean Soup Dutch Mustard

accessories: Tim Holtz Movers & Shapers Mini Cabinet Card Die, EK Argyle Large Edger Punch

New Spring Lockhart! Farmer's Market Flowers

You know springtime is around the corner when the new Lockhart images arrive! Coloring this gorgeous creation was like taking a breath of fresh air!

 

This is the image I colored for our little thank you notes in this month's packages. I absolutely LOVE the leaf vase - so very different from any other design I have seen.

 

To begin I always select light Copic colors to "pick out" the image. By coloring all similar flowers with a light colored Copic it is easier to create a balanced design.

 

I still favor a combination of Copics and Prismacolor pencils for coloring Lockhart images. Above are the entire selection of colors I used to complete the image.

I also wanted to share a little trick I have learned to die cut colored images  "after-the-fact" using Tim's dies.

 

I created a template out of cardstock that is sized to fit the foam area of the die. Simply place the image you want to cut beneath this paper and move it around until you find the correct position.

 

Lift the template off and tape the image in place with a piece of removable tape. Now send it through your Big Shot or Vagabond to cut it in just the right spot!

 
Add a little ribbon, button and floss, and complete the look by punching a unique edge on the card. Love the look of this new Swirling Lace edge punch from Martha Stewart - it reminds me of delicate doilies.

Welcome spring - we are so glad you are here! 
 

stamps: Lockhart Farmer's Market Bouquet

ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Dusty Concord Distress Stain

paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Memory Box Key Lime Distressed Dots, Lilybee Designs Happily Lost 6x6 Paper Pad

accessories: Tim Holtz Styled Labels Die, Everyday Ribbon, Cosmo Cricket Upcycle Button, Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page Swirling Lace Punch

Lavender Teacup and Distress Stained Ribbon

If you placed an order with us during the month of February you should recognize this image, because it was the one I colored for our thank you notes :-D I have been patiently waiting for the Lilybee Design Picket Fence papers to arrive to complete this card. I cannot tell you how BEAUTIFUL this purple is! Julia - you nailed it! It coordinates beautifully with the Dusty Concord distress ink color and real lavender - yippie for things that coordinate so well!

 

I prefer simple layouts when adding all the little details.

I'm in love with how easy it is to create coordinating ribbon colors now that I have the Distress Stains. That dabber attachment is genius I tell you. I have been in search of just the right type of white ribbon to simulate the look of the gorgeous seam binding and have finally found it. I was so tickled it arrived today! SO we now have one more Essentials by Ellen product added to the store. Everything white can be altered! You can change the color of this ribbon to coordinate with your project using either Distress Stain, Color Wash, Copic Markers and/or Various Ink Refills. So easy and fun!

To attach the vial I simply cut off an eye pin and inserted it into the top of the vial cork.

Mix together lavender and Lavender Flower Soft for added color and fill little vial.

Using three links from a chain length I then dangled it from the base of the button. Using another link I attached the pricess dragonfly. 

Add Lavender Flower Soft to the lavender in the mug by using the Quickie Glue Pen on randomly selected lavender blooms.

The sun is out today and it actually feels like springtime - what a blessing! I hope this brings some sunshine to you if you are in the midst of the random snowstorms I have been hearing about! Happy creating! 
 
stamps: Lockhart Lavender in Teacup

ink: Memento Tuxedo Black,  Dusty Concord Distress Stain

paper: Lilybee Design Picket Fence 6x6, Memory Box Granny Smith

accessories: Tim Holtz Corked Vial and Fanciful Accoutrement, Lavender Flower Soft, Quickie Glue Pen, Princess Dragonfly Charm, 1.5 Inch Eye Pin, Antique Brass Chain Extensions, 1/2" White Everyday Ribbon

English Garden Appreciation by Julia Stainton

I adore flowers. Don't you? Each one is so stunningly beautiful!

Because I adore all things floral, I love floral stamps. They are among the most timeless of images and are perfect for almost every occasion. One of my favorite companies for floral images is Lockhart Stamps. Beautifully detailed hand-drawn images always have me gasping in delight.

Enter the English Garden Flowers image. I just had to have it. Roses. Hydrangea. Lavender. Oh my!

I started off by coloring in the lavender at the top of the image. This image is very fine and it doesn't have to be perfect. I simply dab on color along each of the stalks using my Copic markers. This purple is V15 Mallow. As you can see below, the roses started out yellow, Y23 Yellowish Beige. Yes...I did plan to have them finish up red  but I thought some pretty yellow highlights under the red would give the final roses a more natural appearance. Don't be afraid to add a light color under the final color as the colors will blend when they are added on top.

Now my best of intentions of photographing each step of the coloring process didn't quite happen. I hope you'll forgive me for getting so caught up in the enjoyment of coloring that I completely forgot. Here's my steps though...

• add in R24 Prawn and R27 Cardinal Red over the yellow on the roses
• color the hydrangeas B12 Ice Blue
• dab in shadows of B14 Light Blue as well as some more V15 Mallow
• color in the basket using E31 Brick Beige and E34 Orientale
• color in the leaves using YG 93 Grayish Yellow and YG 95 Pale Olive
• go back and fill in any white between flowers with green foliage
• add a very light shadow in under the basket using W1
• add some final highlights using a white gel pen

Here's a photo of the Copic colors. Remember that you can always substitute using colors you have on hand for your own personal look.

After the image was complete, I stamped on the sentiment and adhered the layer.

I love adding a "bouquet" of pretty embellishments to my projects and group them together. The beautiful canvas butterfly is a canvas chipboard sticker that can be inked any color to match the design.

Supplies:

English Garden Flowers stamp by Lockhart, Neenah Classic Solar White Cardstock, Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink by Ranger, Tuxedo Black Memento Ink by Tsukineko, Lille 6x6 paper pack by 7 Gypsies, All Occasion Messages stamp set by Hero Arts, Tiny Attacher by Advantus, Raw Canvas Chipboard by Prima, Red and White Flower Trinket Pin by Maya road, twine, Tim Holtz Mini Pins by Advantus, Curio Small Details by Basic Grey, B12, B14, R24, R27, V15, Y23, YG97, YG93, W00, E31, E34 Copic Markers, White Opaque Pen by Ranger

 Hope these flowers brightened up a wintery day for you. Yes, spring is really around the corner if we just hang in there!

Thanks for stopping by the CLASSroom --- tomorrow we resume our Love is in the Air Tag Technique Mini-Series, so be certain to stop by again!

Bennie Bear Valentine Greetings

Copic and Imagination International have all sorts of wonderful new educational tools coming out this spring, as well as providing you with new learning opportunities with the Intermediate Level Certification program. One of the latest topics of learning has been the sharing of additional information regarding shadows. I am looking forward to getting the new book, written by Marianne Walker, in to our store (watch in the education section for new DVD's and books) and I will most definitely be studying it to learn more about how she approaches shadows. Before that happens though I thought I would throw my hat in the ring and share some basic information with you as to how I have tried to help the younger set learn more about shadows.

Before continuing I just have to share a little side-story that just brings a huge smile to my face. When Maddi, my daughter, was a baby and just learning to sit and play with the toys around her, we were playing in her room. The bright overhead light next to her closet was creating a shadow of her body on the floor. It was so well defined that you could see a complete outline of her body on the carpet. She reached over and tried to pick up her shadow by her ears. As she would lean over, it would move. It was absolutely fascinating and magical to watch her for the next few seconds as she discovered her shadow and how it moved and changed. Oh how I wished that I would have had a video camera running, but I was not about to leave that special moment and so it only replays in my mind and brings back such sweet memories.

 

For today's card I wanted to keep it sugary sweet and what could be sweeter than Karen's adorable Bennie Bear holding a box of truffles for his sweetheart?

You will find that some of my ways of teaching are so very basic. This is because I truly do enjoy working with kids and sharing basics. I hope that the information I share will be useful and not too "elementary." I don't know if I have ever mentioned that I once was a certified teacher. Graduating from college with a double degree I first followed my passion to educate by teaching third and fourth grade students.  After changing careers and utilizing the second degree by following my heart, I became a professional interior designer, but I did not lose that passion for educating children and so I have volunteered in my daughter's school as an art docent. So much of the way I teach has been geared towards children. I know that you are not children and so sometimes I worry that I'm being a little too basic, but I think it works for those who are visual learners.

 

Understanding shadows by using diagrams can be VERY helpful, but there is nothing like the true "science" behind experimenting with those shadows. What I would like to encourage each of you to do is actually "study" real shadows. If you have never really studied and "seen" shadows it is hard to emulate them in your work. For today's post I grabbed one of my daughter's teddy bears and a flashlight.

As I shot the pictures and had my husband hold the flashlight in varying positions it was easy to capture a wide variety of shadow positions and lengths. You will even notice a secondary shadow based on the direction coming from the overhead light. When coloring my image I decided to eliminate that shadow.

Simply play with a flashlight and an object, snapping photos as you go to reference when you go back to begin coloring shadows.

 

Please try to ignore the secondary shadows created by snapping these pictures. I thought it might be easier to share this shadow "lesson" by being able to move teddy out of the way, but now he is creating his own shadows in these photos - LOL!

The first example I created was a more elongated shadow. I begin by creating a very soft outline using my lightest marker - in this case W00.

 

I then moved Bennie out of the way so that you could see the outline I had drawn.

 

I then colored in the shadow using a range of markers from W00 through W2.

 

Everything was going swimmingly as I worked on my image softening the edges with a colorless blender to make the shadows disappear along the edges and then my OOPS moment. I put the wrong cap on my marker and accidentally put the darkest color to the edge. No correcting that error. So on to attempt number two.

This time I decided to try a different photo and used the image bear above as my example.

Remember that shadows are darkest right next to your object and get lighter as you move away. If your light source is close by your shadow will be much more crisp, if your light source is a long way away your shadow will be barely visible.

 

Shadows move and change depending on the direction of the light, how close the light is to the object and so much more. Experimentation, playing with your flashlight and then snapping photos can be THE best learning tool when it comes to figuring out shadows. The key once again is to simply enjoy the process and not make yourself crazy if it doesn't go right the first time! Simply give it a try and have fun - as you practice and experiment I can assure you that you will get better. It is like everything in life - you have to try it, then you have to practice and pretty soon you will start looking at what you have created and simply grin from ear to ear because you will think, "I did it!"

Thank you for once again stopping in here at the CLASSroom - I hope that you learned something and perhaps had a moment in the day where you just smiled!

 
stamps: Lockhart Bennie Bear and IB Candy Heart, Memory Box Happy Valentine's Day

ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Rich Cocoa, Copic Markers - W00, W0, W2, Colorless Blender

paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Memory Box Cherry Blossom Notecard and 6x6 Pixie

accessories: EK Success Deco Scallop Punch, Pink Small Organza Roses Ribbon

Roses in a Teacup Card by Debbie Olson

Welcome to the Classroom! Today I have a card for you using one of Karen Lockhart's new releases, Roses in a Teacup, along with Copic markers, Melissa Frances Kitschy Kitchen 6" x 6" papers, an Ellen Essentials Doily, and a Hero Arts Sentiment and cardstock. 

I started by choosing some papers that I thought might work well with the Roses in a Teacup stamp. By the time I finished, I chose just one of the three papers, though I drew color inspiration from all of them.

I started with the greenery. I'm working at using darker values. Sometimes it's a challenge since we stampers tend to use Copic values ending in a 5 or lower number! I had decided that the light would come from the upper right side, so the leaves are darker on the left.

Next I worked on the roses. These are TINY. I used regular coloring techniques, but it might be simpler to use the palette method in which you scribble the darker colors on a piece of plastic and use your lighter marker tip as a brush. At the end (as I was finishing the card), I deepened shadows a bit on the left side with a BV02 marker.

Here I colored the teacup in blue-violet tones. I did not avoid the polka dots since I knew I could come back with my Colorless Blender later and push the color out of the dots. I used harder shadows right under the roses and leaves since they are so close to the object.

Finally I added some shadows, based upon where my light source was. I probably could have gone a bit darker with them, but I already went past my comfort zone on those leaves! Edited to add: That unnumbered marker that you see is a mixture of YR31 and 0-Colorless Blender. I used it just on the sunny side, the top right, to add some warmth.

I finished the card with a sweet little doily on the lower third of the card front, a few stitches, and a dyed snippet of 1/4" silk ribbon (dyed with Copic V12 Various Inks/reinker). That's it--thanks for stopping by the Classroom today!

12 Days of Christmas: Day 11 - By Sharon Harnist

A new year brings a new release from Lockhart Stamp Company . . . wait until you see these darling new images!  I chose three new images and three new sentiments to share with you today:

 

These cards and tag were all created with papers from Cosmo Cricket's 6" Mini Deck-Pixie Licious . . . I thought they were a good representation of Spring and whimsy that would coordinate well with the whimsical style of Karen Lockhart's stamps.

How sweet is Bennie Bear?!!  I think he's my favorite of this new release!  Combined with this darling I'm here if you need me sentiment, I thought he would make a great encouragement card for a child or friend.  Or wonderful new baby cards!

 

I stamped Bennie on Copic's X-Press It Blending Card -- if you haven't tried this wonderful cardstock yet, you will be very pleased with how easily your Copic markers blend on it (and how easily mistakes erase/blend right off of it!).

Bennie's sweater was colored with Copic BG11 & BG72, then BG75 was added to the deepest crevices & folds of the sweater, and along the neckline of the sweater where it would naturally cast a shadow underneath the deep cable knitting:

 

COPIC TIPS: Don't be afraid to add quite a bit darker colors for shading, as it will make those areas recess and give your image a more realistic look.  Bennie was colored with E30 & E31, and E35 used for the deepest shading (in the folds where his legs meet his body, along the bottoms of his legs where light would be blocked by the tops of his legs, and under the sleeves of his sweater where the sweater would cast a shadow on his arm).

Along the same lines as adding darker color to the deepest folds of skin or clothing, keep features like Bennie's protruding nose and feet amongst the lighter colors you are using, since they are closer to you.  This will instantly make his nose appear closer to you.  Visualize where your light source is coming from -- I usually have mine coming from the upper right, as it's easier for me (being right-handed), to add darker colors over on the left side of images.  W1 & W0 were used for Bennie's cast shadow on the floor.  Using the W1 first, then softening the edges with W0, will fade the shadow along the outer edges nicely.

I finished the image by circle die cutting it.  The background was airbrushed BG11 while the image was still in the die (*See more about airbrushed background Copic Tip below).  I die cut a scalloped border from coordinating Cosmo Cricket striped paper and placed tied buttons in the centers of the scallops.

These darling Ducks will make great Easter or new baby cards, or when combined with this new Ducks in a Row sentiment, a fantastic "sorry I'm late wishing you a happy birthday" or late for anything type of card!

 
 

*COPIC TIP: On these cards I stamped my images and die cut them first, then airbrushed the backgrounds.  Then I used my Copic 0 Colorless Blender marker to remove any overspray that may have gotten on the images.  I find this is quicker than stamping and fussy cutting out a mask!

 

The ducks were colored with Y11 and shaded with Y21 and the areas receiving the most light (tops of heads & bodies) were left white.  An orangey YR21 was used for their beaks & feet.  G21 for grass & leaves and V01 for flowers.  BG11 & E31 were airbrushed for sky and ground; W1 was used for ground shadows. The image was oval die cut and is popped up on foam tape.  Crop-a-Dile's Corner Chomper was used to round the top corners of the card -- it cuts through multiple layers of cardstock and paper like butter!

This Caught A Bug? in a jar cracks me up -- and it's sure to cheer up anyone you know that may be ill!  I thought he'd make a good tag to tie onto a jar of homemade soup to share with a sick friend:

 

Bug is colored with Copic G20, G21, V01, & V05.  BG10 was used in the corners of the jar, where it would have the deepest color and BG0000 was used on the rest of the jar.  The cork was colored with E30 (lightest top of the cork), and the sides shaded with E31.  The part of the cork inside the jar was also colored with E30 & E31, then BG10 colored over it to make it darker and give it a realistic look that it's really inside the jar.

 

The image was die cut with a Labels-Lg die and popped up on foam tape over the scalloped circle tag base. 

I hope you'll take a look at the rest of this new Lockart stamp release and answer the question below, for your chance to win a fabulous Lockhart stamp package!  ~ Sharon

Stamps: Lockhart Stamp Company Bennie Bear #1011, I'm here if you need me #10080, Caught A Bug? #4006 & Caught A Bug? Sentiment #10079, Ducks #2135, Ducks in a Row #10078,
Paper: Cosmo Cricket 6" Mini Deck-Pixie Licious, Copic X-Press It Blending Card, Memory Box Lagoon notecards, 
Ink: Tsukineko Memento-Tuxedo Black,
Copic Markers: BG10, BG11, BG000, BG72, BG75, E30, E31, E35, Y11, Y21, YR21, V01, V05, G20, G21, BG10, BG000, W0, W1, 0 Colorless Blender marker, Clear Atyou Spica Glitter Pen
Acessories: Copic Airbrush System & Air Compressor, Spellbinders Labels-Lg, Oval & Classic Scalloped & Classic Circle Nestabilities, Big Scalloped Border Petites; Hero Arts Art Buttons-Spring (green) & Summer (teal), Crop-a-Dile Corner Chomper, EK Success 3D foam dots,
Other: white embroidery thread, plum satin ribbon

ETA: We are aware of the gramatical error in the newest sentiment and are happy to share with you that Karen is working on it immediately. With all things in life, little mistakes happen - the good news is that we always do work to fix them as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience and support.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

On the eleventh day of Christmas my goodie box could be...

• African Violets in a Teacup
• Bennie Bear
• Caught a Bug?
• Caught a Bug? (Sentiment)
• Clear Lake Chair
• Ducks
• Ducks in a Row
• English Garden Flowers
• I'm here if you need me
• Ribbon Heart
• Lavender in a Teacup

 

To participate in this random drawing, please leave your answer to the following question as a comment to this post. Please limit yourself to one comment only for each goodie package. The last day to submit a comment to this post will be January 6th at Midnight. We will post the winners (which will be drawn using a Random Number Generator) for all twelve days on January 7th.

What is now at the top of your paper crafting wish list?  Is there a specific product or product line that you are enamoured with?  Please share in the comments section below to be entered in this random drawing!

Remember to visit the following 12 Days of Christmas blog candy drawings -- be certain to post a comment to the question on each individual post to be included in that drawing!

• One Stampin' Treasure
• Two Melting Tools
• Three Copic Goodies
• 3 Stamps + 1 Color Sampler = Four Memory Box Treats
• Five treats from Claudine's Lines
• Six Sizzix Goodies
• Seven Alterable Items
• Eight Oodles of Inchies
• Nine Packs of Paper
• Ten Toys from Tim's World

October Calendar by Sharon Harnist

 
 
I know October is a third over already, but I'm just now finding time on this school and Columbus Day holiday to finish my October calendar!  So I thought I would share that with you all today.  You may remember when I introduced you to my 2010 calendar for this year, here.  It's a mini-book style, made out of 4-inch square pieces of Ellen's fabulous Craft-A-Board!  You could prep one of these calendar books for next year to give as a gift, leaving space for the recepient to add photos of their own as the year goes along, if you wish!

I started by cutting two pieces of Craft-A-Board 4-inches square and then round the corners with Crop-a-Dile Corner Chomper:

 

Next, I chose papers from Cosmo Cricket's Matilda Mini Deck and covered the Craft-a-Board with them, using a glue stick.  Then I stamped Karen Lockhart's sweet new Basket of Leaves with Memento Rich Cocoa ink onto Copic's new X-Press It Blending Card.  I noticed Ellen has several affordable package options of this fabulous new cardstock available now -- you can find them here!  Your Copic markers will blend wonderfully on this new cardstock and you won't see any feathering of marker color or stamped lines like you might on other cardstocks. 

Here's a quick step-out of the Copic markers I used on the basket image, chosen to match the Matilda papers (click on any photo for a larger view):

 
L - E31 on the basket, YR21 on the basket cross weaves and leaves, pumpkin & apples.  R - E33 & E35 on the basket and fruit stems.

 
L - YR16 on some leaves and pumpkin.  R - YR18 to deepen the pumpking and some leaves.

G82 & G85 on leaves and one apple.

Sorry I didn't get a photo of the last few steps:

R24 on last apple.
E31 & E33 on what I decided would be pods or nuts in the basket and to finish the basket rim, some E37.
YR16 & YR18 on the flowers on each side of the basket.
W1 & W3 to shade under the basket and for the blowing leaf trails.
Gold Atyou Spica Glitter Pen accents everything.

I cut out the image and popped it up on foam tape.  Now, take a look at my finished colored image next to the papers I chose:

 

I love the bright white of the Copic X-Press It Blending Card -- it produces very crisp and vivid colors.  But notice how different it is (bright white) than the ivory of the patterned papers and Neenah Natural White cardstock that I printed my computer-generated calendar on?  Now this may not bother some people, but it bothers the perfectionist in me, LOL!  So what to do?  Here's where your hand-dandy Copic E50 Egg Shell comes to the rescue!

 

I used it to color any of the remaining white areas of the basket image.  In the photo above, I started on the right side of the image, up to where the tip of the marker is pointing -- the left side of the image still remains white, so you can see the difference the Egg Shell marker makes!

And here's a close-up of the finished image -- hopefully you can see the nice sparkle the glitter pen adds (click for a larger view):

 

I used Martha Stewart's Picket Fence Edger Punch and Maple Leaf Punch to punch more Matilda paper for accents on this page.  The leaves were edged with Copic E35, crumpled and added with Mini Glue Dots.

For the right side of my calendar, I cut the Cosmo Cricket Matilda pumpkin background paper a little smaller than the 4-inch Craft-a-Board and colored the edges of the Craft-a-Board with Copic G85 marker.  Next, I die cut my computer-generated calendar with a Spellbinders Labels Four die and sponged the edges with Ranger Antique Linen Distress Ink.  It is popped up on foam tape.  

 

Cosmo Cricket's Tiny Type Brown sticker letters make the 'october' word on top of my calendar.  Using Spellbinders Nested Maple Leaf die, I die cut & embossed green plaid Matilda paper, sanded the edges, and then machine stitched it.  Strands of ribbon make "hinges" to hold the two calendar pieces together like a book!

Thanks for joining us today -- Happy Columbus Day!  ~ Sharon

 
Stamps: Lockhart Basket of Leaves
Paper: Cosmo Cricket Matilda Mini Deck & Tiny Type Brown letter stickers, Copic X-Press It Blending Card
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Ranger Antique Linen Distress Ink
Copic markers: YR21, YR16, YR18, R24, E31, E33, E35, E37, E50, G82, G85, W1; Gold Atyou Spica Glitter Pen
Accessories: Essentials by Ellen Craft-a-Board, Crop-a-Dile Corner Chomper, Spellbinders Labels Four & Nested Maple Leaf die sets, Martha Stewart Picket Fence Edger Punch & Maple Leaf Punch, Sanding Block, Mini Glue Dots