It's cooling down 'round here in the PNW; the air is feeling crisp and the leaves are turning... and falling...
This Savvy Stamps Leaf Tree die is one of my all-time favorites--perfect for the card idea I had in mind for DIYing my own watercolor chipboard embellishment, using Craft-a-Board! You may or may not need it, but with the calibration on my die cutting machine, I found a metal shim to be helpful for cutting all the way through the Craft-a-Board.
Normally, to make faux chipboard, you have to layer about 5 piece of card stock but when you swap in Craft-a-Board, you really only need one or two, beneath your main layer--which in this case, happens to be watercolor paper because I recently got some new watercolor pencils and wanted to try them out.
In the video, I show two ways to use them; I used the 2nd method on this project.
After it was all dry, I gilded the leaves just a tad with some scrap leftover Deco Foil I had--I love spot-foiling--always looks so chic!
Hi! It's Carly here for #throwbackthursdays, a time when we seek (& find) inspiration in past projects from The Classroom here at Ellen Hutson LLC.
Today I created a card for my sweet little pen pal who's about to turn 5 on the 4th of July. I wanted my card to be interactive & fun so I started by searching "shaker cards" in The Classroom. Here's some of the cool articles I found:
Then I adhered a piece of acetate on the inside of the middle panel.
I adhered all my letter centers on to the acetate. I also folded my card together just temporarily and used a circle die to cut a half circle notch from the end.
To create my card pocket, i placed a strip of foam adhesive on the inside bottom of the middle panel and tape on the side panels. Then I just folded it together. The foam adhesive along the bottom will make it easier to pull my shaker pocket in & out and it will leave room for a little treats.
For the inside shaker pocket, I used the Fuse tool to seal 3 sides of two 3-3/4 x 5-1/8 pieces of acetate.
I mixed my shaker pieces in a coffee filter...sequins, itty bitty die cuts and the Savvy Happy Birthday Stacked.
I poured the shaker pieces into my pocket and sealed the 4th edge.
To complete the pocket, I created a little pull tab on the end from glitter tape. And I added a little blue splatter to the front of my card with Peacock Feathers Distress ink.
Now I just need to add stickers & little goodies and send it to my friend.
Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!
Hello everyone and happy Thursday!!!! Laurel Beard here today bringing you our May Mix it Up Challenge!! I LOVE these challenges and am always excited to see what the month brings and this month, we are mixing it up with... Drumroll...Savvy Stamps!
Before I get on to the challenge and the amazing project inspiration, let's first congratulate the randomly selected participant from our last Pin-Sights Challenge. Remember, YOU could win a $50 gift certificate to the Ellen Hutson store just by playing along.
And our randomly selected participant (courtesy of random.org) is: Kassi Hulet! Congratulations! Please email me at laurelbeard at me dot com to claim your prize!
A friendly recap: The Mix it Up Challenge is a challenge where we invite one manufacturer to contribute a design that combines Essentials by Ellen stamps/dies with their product to inspire our readers!
I am so excited to share a project by the talented Cindi Nelson of Savvy Stamps with you all. She is using both Essential By Ellen products and Savvy Stamps products! The supplies she used in her projects today are linked towards the end of this post! Let's check out what Cindi has in store for us today:
How fantastic! Colorful! Each card is full of techniques and inspiration! It just makes me smile when I look at it! Be sure to check out her blog where she will have more details on how she created these projects!
Now it's time where we invite YOU to play along in our challenge! ALL CHALLENGE ENTRIES WILL BE PINNED TO OUR ELLEN HUTSON PINTEREST PAGE!! And don't forget about our FLICKR PAGE! You are welcome to tag your projects to the group!
To qualify, simply combine any Essentials by Ellen productAND Savvy Stampsproducts. You can create anything. A card, scrapbook layout, mixed media, altered art... The works. It's totally up to you what you make!
We will select one player randomly to receive a $50 gift certificate to the Ellen Hutson store! WOOT WOOT!
You have until May 17th to link up your projects. You will find the link up below. The winner will be announced on May 19th!
Hi Friends! It's Carly here for #throwbackthursdays! I'm super excited to be crafting again after a few weeks spent moving and unpacking. Well it was really like one day to move and I'll let you know if I ever finish unpacking, LOL!
Today's card was really inspired by the die used to make it, Savvy Stamps Dies, Let It Sparkle. I love this die and I've been dying to create a shaker card with it!
I started with a piece of Solar White a little larger than the die. I applied Stick It to both sides of the cardstock. If you haven't tried Stick It yet it is awesome for intricate dies, like a super thin piece of double-sided adhesive.
Then I die cut the Stick It/cardstock combo. I didn't need a shim but I did roll it through my Big Shot twice.
I carefully removed all the little letter centers and then pulled the top liner paper off to reveal the Stick It adhesive. To the Stick It I applied copper transfer foil and burnished over it.
I removed the bottom liner paper and applied a piece of clear plastic.
I used thin strips of foam adhesive around the edge of the die cut. I love the Scrapbook Adhesives Foam Sheets because I can cut them to any size. My shaker box was ready...
I did a super quick watercolor wash on the front of my card with Distress Ink Spun Sugar and Worn Lipstick with a few copper splatters.
Then for my shaker material, I used sequins inspired by the Pantone Colors of the Year, Rose Quartz and Serenity. And for extra shaker-goodness I added some Prills. I had picked up some Minnie (white) Prills and I was excited to test them out. They add a great shake!
I decided I needed a little more copper on my card so I used some copper alcohol ink and a little plastic bag to color some of my white Prills.
I piled my shaker goodies on the top of my watercolored card and then centered my shaker box on top.
You can find some awesome tips about shaker cards in The Classroom archives. Check out these articles:
Brace ya' self: I used purple. I know, right? I almost never use purple. I just always have the worst time with purple so I avoid it. But, I always see pink and purple together on Valentines, so I figured I couldn't go terribly wrong. Hah!
Foil is super hard to shoot, so you'll have to forgive the lighting in these photos and trust me when I say the card is prettier in real life than I could capture on camera...
I didn't know if this was really gonna work over the watercolor until I tried it, and lucky me!!! The first go was a winner! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS, Preciousssss!!! fist pump
We're sailing right into 2016, aren't we?! In need of some pretty thank-you cards? Actually, I think these would work for ladies OR for gents, because of the blue hues and snazzy stars! :)
My Distress blending skills are much improved since I started blending on smooth bristol, angling my blending tool as I move it from the masking paper onto my project so the edges of the foam sponge don't show up sharply. I still have to remind myself to use a lighter hand, tho and barely "kiss" the surface of the paper. I love how these blue hues look together.
I sat on my hands for a while, then decided to go ahead and try adding some water droplets with a Ranger Pipette--they're similar to dropper tools and have a little bulb at one end that you squeeze to intake the water. Tapping it against my fingers allowed some nicely sized droplets to fall down onto the ink and create that cool reaction.
After heat setting it, I spattered on some Distress Paint--I like the Paint vs. the Stain for spatter because it is more opaque and once it is dry, it's locked into the paper--if I wanted to, I could add more water-based stuff over the top and it wouldn't reactivate the dry Distress Paint. Cool. :)
That little masked area filled with color makes a lovely backdrop for the rest of the elements in the design!
Merry Christmas Eve everyone! It's Carly and now that holiday cards are finished, I thought it was time to talk thank you cards. Today I was inspired by my awesome friend Lisa and her work with Gelatos. Lisa made Gelatos seem easy and super fun so I had to try them too! Here are links to her Gelato articles in case you haven't seen them:
Here's the card I created while playing with Gelatos:
1. I started by stamping & embossing a snowflake background stamp in white on a 4-1/4 x 5-1/2 piece of solar white cardstock.
2. Next I took 4 colors of Gelatos (Metallic Mint, Snow Cone, Watermelon & Metallic Melon) and colored them on an acrylic block. The Metallic Gelatos add a nice shimmer to the finished panel.
3. I misted my Gelatos colored acrylic block with a good amount of water.
4. And then I placed my snowflake panel on top of the block, pressing gently to make sure the color transferred.
5. I carefully removed the panel and ta-da! Something to note, if there is too much water on your panel after you remove it from the acrylic block or if there are "muddy" spots, just use a clean paper towel to mop up those areas. If there are dry spots where you want color, use a paint brush to transfer more color from the acrylic block.
6. I set my snowflake panel aside to dry and got to work on my sentiment. For the "thanks" I die cut 3 words with the Savvy Stamps Dies, Thanks Script in solar white. I adhered the 3 layers together to create a dimensional word. To complete my "thanks", I gave it a good coat of clear Wink of Stella. For the label-maker type strip, I stamped and embossed "so very much" from the WPlus9 clear stamp set Hand Lettered Thanks in white on black cardstock.
Hi everyone! Welcome to the first official Satur-YAY! This video series is all about celebrating the weekend by getting our craft on! I’ll be joining you once a month, on a Saturday, to share a new video tutorial with you. I’m thrilled to be here in The CLASSroom with other amazing designers.
Today, I’ve created an acetate card for you with vibrant colors. I wanted to create something that screamed summer. And these colors DO scream! If you haven’t already, grab your sunglasses. You’re going to need them.
I started by creating a watercolor background with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers. I’ve really been enjoying these markers. You can see how Julie used them to create beautiful watercolor florals HERE. They blend so nicely, even when using several colors. You can use them with or without water. Today, I’ve just scribbled some color on some watercolor cardstock and used some water and a paintbrush to blend them out and create a colorful background.
To add a little shimmer to my background, I added some Perfect Pearl mist over the top of my background to give it some subtle shimmer. I’ve made my own by mixing some Perfect Pearl Pigment Powder with water in Ranger Mini Mister. I like to make my own because I can add more Perfect Pearl Powder to make it extra shimmery, or add less for a more subtle look. If you don’t want to fuss with it, you can buy the premade mist as well. This mist is great for covering large areas with shimmer.
I knew when I started this card that I wanted to create an acetate card, but acetate cards can be a little tricky. There are several elements that you have to consider. You’ll need to think about hiding your adhesive. The best way I’ve found to accomplish this is to sandwich the acetate between two die cut pieces. I’ve done this with the Nesting Frame 9 die on the front of the card, as well as on the inside of the card. I’ve chosen to use a little larger die cut frame on the inside of the card. It makes a nice mat for the frame on the front of the card and allows more space to write a message on the inside of the card. I love how the smaller element on the front of the card appears to float over the larger element on the inside of the card.
For the card base, I’ve used the Hero Arts Acetate card bases. You can try creating your own as well. The Hero Arts Acetate is nice and thick and very clear. I also highly recommend the Ellen Hutson Acetate. It’s great quality and perfect for stamping!
In addition to using an acetate card base, I’ve also used some of the We R Memory Keepers Clearly Bold 6x6 Acetate on the front of the card. I’ve die cut it using the Folk Hearts dies, which are a part of the Essentials by Ellen line. Die cutting the acetate can be a little tricky. I used the Precision Base Plate from Sizzix to get just the right amount of umph to cut cleanly through the acetate. The precision base plate also works beautifully for die cutting my favorite gold glitter card stock. If you don’t have the Precision Base Plate, you can try adding a card stock shim to your sandwich to get a clean cut.
I attached the heart to the watercolor background with foam adhesive. Lucky for me, the stripes on this patterned acetate hid my foam adhesive perfectly. I like to add dimension to acetate and vellum whenever possible. It adds drama to these see through pieces and really helps them stand out. It gives them the illusion of floating and adds to the wow factor of using these different paper types
I’ve created a video tutorial below walking you through the entire creation of this card. Be sure to watch it for more tips and tricks. I’ve also linked all the supplies below so you can easily find them in the Ellen Hutson online store.
Now it’s your turn! I’d love to see what you create using acetate. Be sure to post your card projects on social media and use the hashtag #EllenHutsonSaturYAY so I can check out what you’ve made using acetate!
Until next month, enjoy your weekend and get your craft on! I hope you’ve enjoyed this project and I hope you have a fabulous day!
You can watch this video in HD on the Ellen Hutson YouTube channel by clicking HERE.
A cut-away card front can really make a single-layer card feel extra special, and it's so easy to do with a unique die design such as this one, called Super by Avery Elle--and even better, it matches the stamp set of the same name!
I didn't have any stamps that really conveyed the sentiments I wanted for this graduation card with a sort of "adventure" theme to it, so I used some stickers from this fantastic assortment called Small Talk by Tim Holtz. They seemed like good little bits of wisdom and advice for someone about to embark on that next exciting phase of life...
I used Copics to give the white stickers a pop of bold color against the white card base and to color the little wood veneer car embellishment, which also got a thick coating of Glossy Accents.
If you're looking for a little bit out of the ordinary, yet still fun, graduation type card idea, I hope this one sparks some ideas for ya'!
Enjoy the video in HD on our YouTUBE channel HERE, and thank you kindly for taking a moment to give it a thumbs up! :) Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a new webisode! ;)
Lately, I've been been ogling a lot of Kate Spade. So clean, crisp and classic--makes me swoon! So, that was the inspiration behind this sweetly simple Valentine card. But, it does have a bit of a twist in that the closure is a tuck and fold style, made possible by the Savvy Stamps Love Typed die! *fist pump*
Some things to note:
Card base measures 4.25 x 11"
Score at 3.5" and 8 1/8" from the short end to create bottom and top folding flaps; you can make adjustments as needed, but this was a starting point that worked great for me.
Long, long ago... in a galaxy far, far away... *chuckle*
This isn't a technique I would normally attempt, BUT the results are pretty cool, and believe it or not, the mess was relatively minimal--I didn't even wear gloves! *gasp*
A splatter box would have been nice for clean-up, tho, if I'd calmed down and not gotten so excited I froggot!
Who'da thunk this background would be so easy to achieve?! Looks more complicated than it really is. Love that.
Besides the die, not much else was needed to finish it off--couldn't resist those little wood veneer stars topped off with White Enamel... POIFECT!!!
"I'm in love, I'm in love and I don't care who knows it!" --Elf
*chuckle* OK, what I mean is, I'm in love with this background. It could be used for anything and everything! Best of all, I can make an UNLIMITED stack of it! *fist pump*
I used Memento Tuxedo Black (dye) ink, but you could also use any black dye ink you like.
I thought it would make a great foundation for this thank-you card:
I think I'll make half a dozen or so full size sheets of it, so I have it at the ready whenever I need it! What do you think?
The technique above is another great one for creating the illusion of dimension without adding a lot of bulk; vellum card stock makes it SO easy and the effect is AWESOME!!! And, the trick for keeping it simple? Solid or silhouette style images! *fist pump*
Just watch today's video to see how the snow drift is basically "built in" to the design! LOVE that!
I am totally hooked on the sophisticated, modern metallic look that has been trending this season! Combined with this drop-shadow heat embossing technique, the overall finish is a beautiful luxe effect.
When you watch today's video, be sure to note a few things I mention:
If you're going to use a stamp positioner for this technique, try stamping onto the image plate with a color that will provide good contrast; it's much easier to see when you are determining where to position the second impression.
Use a quick-drying dye ink for the initial impression, and prep over that surface with an anti-static pouch or powder tool, prior to stamping with the Versamark ink; it will help avoid unwanted stray embossing powder.
Try experimenting with different combinations of dye ink and embossing powders, as well as different colors of paper, just to see what the end-result will be! It's a great way to achieve an almost 3D effect.
Enjoy the video in HD on our YouTube Channel and thank you for taking a moment to give us a thumbs up! We appreciate you subscribing and tuning in each week for this series!
There are a variety of ways to shade solid stamp images--today, I'm stamping with pigment inks and then adding some shading with watercolor pencils. You could also use regular colored pencils.
Normally, I stamp colorful images onto white card stock, but for this design I thought it would be fun to switch it up and stamp onto a colored card stock!
Whenever you stamp on colored card stocks, you have to be a little careful about which inks you use--sometimes dye inks do not show up well because they absorb down into the paper, or the color is changed significantly on colored card stocks.
In this instance, I wanted the ink colors to remain as true as possible, so I used pigment inks; they sit on the surface of the paper. Typically, most pigment inks can take a while to dry and you may need to speed heat them with your heat tool, but I used Avery Elle's pigment inks, which are fairly fast drying on porous paper surfaces.
I also used a gold metallic pen to add some details--it looks kind of yellow-ish on camera, but in real life, the gold is a very pretty accent and completely finishes off the card.
It's a great reminder to loosen up and relax a little! Which I *REALLY* needed to do when I botched the design mid-way thru and had to come up with a fix... So annoying when that happens... GAAAAH!!!
I used the rock & roll technique (as you'll see in the video), which is a great way to add a little more depth to solid style images like him. I'm finding on some of the nautical designs I've made this summer that Hero Arts' Cantaloupe and Peach Inks look fabulous with Memento Nautical Navy!
I spattered the front of the panel with some (retired now) Navy Mister Huey's Color Mist, but I think you could substitute Little Boy Blue, Distress Paint in Faded Jeans(spread a little onto a craft sheet and load up a wet paintbrush to flick over it)or even a lighter shade of blue Mister Huey's like Honor Society.
Couldn't resist giving the waves a little sparkle... :)
Using a flourish die to create the whale spout's "plume" adds a whimsical touch and makes you rethink how else you might use all the fab flourish dies out there! I felt kinda brilliant when that idea popped into my head... LOL! *arms wrapped 'round self, deep chortling*
Now, I'm sure you saw how I resolved the card botching--that was my first instinct, and I don't think anybody else would be the wiser, eh?! ;) But, out of curiosity, I'd love to know what any of you would have done! DO TELL!!!
Yes. More watercoloring. But this time, I used a very pretty stencil with Distress Inks and a mister bottle--a "brush-less" effect.
At first, I was disappointed at what I got. I *almost* tossed it away...
Almost.
But, I set it aside, and tried again. A couple of times. Tried different colors, and also used Distress Markers (for colors I don't own the Mini Pads in yet) to get colors into particular areas. Sidebar:I've also concluded I definitely need to get MORE colors of the Mini Pads!!!
I wanted to compare the amounts of water and how much to spray onto the stencil to get a result I liked.
Anyhoo, when I look again at the now dried first attempt, it looked very different!!! It looked... PRETTY!!!
I kept it. And all the others. YAY!!! *bounces off chair*
Such a great way to get an all over/background watercolored effect! Definitely going to play more with this and my stencils/masks! WOOT!!!
I LOVE the look! So refreshing, layered over the other bright colors in the background! I played with the Koi Watercolors to make a lovely, sloppy puddle wash and then layered the die cuts over-top--I think the little photo frame die worked especially well because of the opening that breaks up the patterned paper and allows the watercolors to still show through.
My quest to use more of my patterned papers continues... *pats self on back* Hey, baby steps, right?! *chortle*
This is as good as I can get when it comes to collage so I hope you enjoy! ;)
You can watch the video here or on our YouTube channel and thanks a million for watching and subscribing!
The entire time I was making this card, I was thinking, "I didn't do this quite right..." I actually circular filed it and deleted all the video footage. All of it.
About an hour later, I went back and pulled it outta' the trash and started channeling my inner Bob Ross. I got all my supplies back out and re-filmed the watercoloring process. Go me!!! *grin*
Some things to keep in mind when playing with the "Magic Watercolor" technique:
Concentrated water-based dye colorants will yield the most vivid yet translucent results. Try Dylusions Sprays, Distress Ink or Adirondack Dye Ink Reinkers or Refills. Use a pipette (or dropper tool) if needed, to transfer the ink to a paint palette
Use watercolor paper; regular card stock will disintegrate
Plop and dab the concentrated ink from your palette onto the puddles of water and let the water spread the color; you can push it along with your brush if needed. The embossed lines will act as barriers, holding the color within the puddles of water
Don't freak if the color spills outside the image lines; watch the video to see how I chose to resolve that. :)
If you choose to speed up the drying process with a heat gun, keep the tool far enough away that you don't re-melt the embossing powder. Otherwise, some of the ink sitting on top of the embossed lines could get trapped into the embossing powder. Ask me how I know... *wink*
If any residual ink remains on the embossed lines after your project has thoroughly dried, just buff it off gently with slightly damp tissue.
Use a strong adhesive to mount the watercolor panel to your card base to eliminate any warping; if it's badly warped, then place it under a heavy book overnight and then mount to your card
Enjoy the video here or on our YouTube channel and thanks so much for watching and subscribing!
I know, I know... it may not seem "lovey dovey", but I'm always jonesin' for a more masculine Valentine idea for the Mister and this nautical themed one allows me to be a little bit sappy without goin' overboard! Pun intended. ;)
Happy New Year! I have to admit that I was a little sad to put away all of my Christmas dies and designer paper since it is my favorite theme to work with. But I wasn’t quite ready to stop using my favorite color combination of red, white and green. I am an old broad and am slow to make changes. LOL!
My project today is a scene created in the Sizzix Shadow Box by Brenda Walton. The Bigz XL die comes with simple step by step cutting and assembly instructions.
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I cut the shadow box using Neenah Classic Crest Solar White cardstock and followed the assembly process in the pictures but I used my ATG adhesive instead of the double sided tape. I find it works equally as well for this kind of project.
While the lid was still open I inserted a piece of Memory Box Water cardstock to create the sky background for my scene.
I cut a white fence using the Impression Obsession Fence Border. I used glossy accents to attach a flower border to the fence line using the Impression Obsession Grass Border cut with Memory Box Granny Smith cardstock and Memory Box Flower Mound cut with Memory Box Holly Berry. I formed the tiny flowers using the stylus and molding pad from the Accessory Tool Kit.
I attached the fence to the inside of the box with glossy accents.
I cut the Savvy Stamps Birdhouse, colored the roof and base with a Vintage Photo Distress Marker and attached vines made using the Impression Obsession Leafy Branch and added a few flowers for an added touch of color.
I attached the birdhouse to the back wall using three layers of mounting tape and secured it at the bottom with a small strip of cardstock. I added an additional section of My Favorite Things Fresh Cut Grass in front of the birdhouse but I failed to get a picture of it before I closed and secured the box lid. I measured and cut the grass section to fit straight across the scene and left enough on each side to fold back and attach to the side walls.
Now this next part is a little tricky. I wanted to cover the box with this cute Lily Bee Sweet Shoppe designer paper but didn’t make that decision until after I had assembled the box. Duh! Do you do things like that? Normally I would have attached the the two papers together before I cut the die. I applied adhesive to the four sides of the box and laid the cover over it and secured it in place. I didn’t get the fit quite perfect but it is good enough. I finished by adding a few Memory Box Mini Clouds and Flying Birds. I didn’t add additional embellishments to the outside of the box because I wanted the little scene to be the main focus.
This shadow box can be used for so many kind of projects and there are some really cute embellishment pieces in the die set. I hope this has inspired you to give it a try.
Hope you had a wonder-full Christmas with family and friends! Can you believe we're right on the verge of 2014 already?! Time is flying far too fast!
I'm still *madly* in love with sequin confetti cards and had to make a New Year's version! I've also been itching to play with my new Mama Elephant Inline Letters Stamps and the coordinating dies--such a great contemporary look!
Here's a great tip for getting optimal results with this particular set of stamps + dies:
Instead of trying to stamp the letters/numbers onto the die cuts the traditional way, place your inked stamp rubber side up on your work surface and then press the die cut letters to the stamp.
Waaaaay mo'h bettah that way! Ask me how I know... *wink*
Enjoy the video here or over on our YouTube Channel and thanks for watching & subscribing! Be sure to switch to 720p for best viewing quality, too!
This Flying Bird die by Savvy Stamps was actually from their Valentine release last year, but I think it's such a pretty one and lends itself really well as a dove for a holiday card! I forgot to mention that I cut it from m' favorite Smooth Bristol, because I like how just barely "off white" the color is, and, I adore the weight of it for my die cuts. The "Peace on earth" sentiment by Hero was perfect match for the look I wanted, too!
I had to squeeze in some Mister Huey's/Dylusions on this one, star-shaped sequins/confetti from the Magical collection by Studio Calico, as well as a messy nest of metallic thread (fabric store supply). See my sporadic star cut outs? Cosmic Stars Dies by Memory Box. In a word, they are BOMB for creating this effect because they are SEPARATE, albeit tiny dies!
Enjoy today's final Christmas themed inspiration on video right here or on our YouTube channel, and thank you for subscribing and tuning in each week! Switch to 720 HD for best viewing quality. :)
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year, everybody! Hope you have a lovely holiday, with family and friends!
They say presentation is everything... I must admit that I agree with that... as long as the presentation isn't painfully time consuming to create, LOL! I dunno 'bout y'all, but I can *always* use yet another quick and easy-to-make gift card holder for the holidays--especially when I'm frantically trying to get everything wrapped at the very last minute.
This card holder features a sliding mechanism, along with a fold & tuck closure--it took just a few minutes to make, but it looks so special!
The dimensions and score lines for the two main pieces necessary are in the video, but I'm going to list that info here, as well:
Main piece: 4 1/4 x 11"
Score at 2, 7 1/4 and 7 3/8" (from the short side)
Slider/Insert Pocket: 3 1/4 x 6 1/2"
Score at 1 3/4 and 6" (from the short side)
Watch the video for construction/assembly instructions--these are SO easy, you'll be able to bust out many of them at a time and they are super fun to embellish and decorate!
The 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist is a tradition I always look forward to being a part of! This year, my tag features a city scene within a window and lots of creamy shades of white!
I chose to create a video instead of step-outs and hope you have a steamy hot cuppa sumpin' delicious that you can sip on while you watch! :)
I can't wait to see what tomorrow's tag will be! Thanks for joining us!
Please join us in thanking Julie for once again sharing her always inspiring style with us! Leave your comment below to be eligible for the random drawing of the $25 gift certificate to our store www.ellenhutson.com - be certain to do so before noon on December 13th to be eligible (one comment per person please.) Join us tomorrow when we debut a new tag designed by Ronda Palazzari!
Christmas will be upon us before you know it, and if you haven't started your holiday cards yet, fear not! *cheeky grin* I'm sharing 3 easy ideas that feature one super fun stamp set called Naughty or Nice by Hero Arts--totally love the greetings! This is one versatile set that will enable you to pair lots of other holiday themed items with ease!
See what I mean?
I used a favorite set of number stamps, but you could certainly adapt stickers or dies to pull off the same idea...
I love that the Scattered Dots background stamp and Soft Granite ink add texture, but don't overwhelmin the focal imagery on this one!
A little bit o' bling can go a long way...this card may be sweetly simple, but it still sparkles and shines!
Enjoy the video here or hop on over HERE to watch it on our YouTube Channel! Hit the play button then click on the gear to switch to 720p for best video quality and thank you, as always, for watching and subscribing!
I adore single-layer holiday cards--so easy to mail! This design features a bright color combo--the ornaments, from a lovely holiday set called Four Ornaments, by Hero Arts, were stamped in ombré fashion, using pigment inks, like Memento Luxe and the Adirondack Pigment line.
Pigment inks work beautifully for this technique because they are so easy to blend--and another benefit is that they will stay "wet" on the stamp surface quite a while, so you can ink up several images consecutively and then stamp without worrying the ink will have dried too quickly to get a good impression.
I couldn't achieve this lovely blended look without one of my favorite tools: Sponge Daubers! They are a great way to apply ink to select areas of an image (often interchangeably referred to as "omitting"), as you'll see in today's video! As I mention, I'm fond of the ones with caps... ;)
Another fun feature of this design is custom glitter tape--a super easy way to add beautiful glam to any design! With all the colors of beautiful glitter available, you have limitless options.
Enjoy the video here or you can catch it HERE on our YouTube channel! Thanks for watching & subscribing and be sure to opt for 720p after you click on the play button for optimal video quality.
I really love how soft and delicate this design turned out, with the pine branch die cut partially overlapping the window edge. Can't seem to get enough of that woodgrain embossed paper, either... *LOVE*
This is also one of my favorite layouts for branchy/long types of die shapes. :) In the past, I've often used a 1 3/8" square punch to create a rectangular opening, and just punched, slide it further up the paper and punched again,taking care to make sure the edges are aligned and overlapping; that works great in a pinch, but you do have to remember that you will be limited by how far the punch will reach and can't always get the window on your panel or card front exactly where you'd like it... For example, dead-centered on your card front? It ain't happenin'.
I'm totally ready to get into holiday card making mode! How 'bout you? Are ya' feelin' it? I have so many ideas rollin' around in my head--I don't know that I'll be able to do them all! I s'pose that's not necessarily a bad thing, tho... ;)
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I can't begin to express my gratitude to my wonderful friends and colleagues for all the support they have surrounded my family with during this time. And, I also want to extend my heart-felt thanks so all of you for the well wishes and caring thoughts you have expressed while I was away, helping my parents. My mom is recovering well from her surgery, and moving forward with the next phase of her treatment.
Please consider yourselves virtually wrapped up in a mondo group squishy hug... :)
In keeping with all the gratitude I'm feeling, today's video is a thank-you card!
Most of my life, I've lived near the sea (I'm also the daughter of a retired USCG Chief!) so it's not surprising that I have a love of nautical themes...
I wanted to make a nautical thank-you card, using the Dockside stamp set and Nautical Notions dies by WPlus 9 with a feminine touch and I think this color scheme and the sequins/bling are a great way to pull it off!
One cool discovery in the making of this design: Hero Arts Unicorn White Ink can be used on the Lifestyle Crafts Washi Sheets! I just heat set it gently after stamping and was so tickled to see it showed up quite nicely on my little "S.O.S." flag! *fist pump*
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Memory Box's Gardenia Background & Outline dies are new favorites I can't help using over and over lately, too!
With an extremely detailed/delicate die like the Gardenia Outline, I've found that prepping the surface of the card stock/paper beforehand by buffing it with household wax paper really helps a lot for getting the intricate die cut out of the die itself! I also use the metal shim and pass the die through the Big Shot about 2-3 times to ensure a complete cut.
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I love Halloween for many reasons, but mostly because it happens to be my husband's birthday! *grin*
I had to laugh when I finished this design because while it goes completely and utterly against my "Type A" personality (Type A's, you know who you are! *chuckle*), I absolutely adore Mister Huey's Color Mists! I can't stop using them! They are a GREAT short-cut for adding a quick splash of color* and I love the way the random splotches add interest, depth and texture without me even having to work at it, all with just a few spritzes.
NOTE:I keep a dedicated box handy for spritzing/misting/spattering to confine the mess and since the color came directly out of the bottle, there is virtually NO clean-up! *fist pump*
Another great short-cut on this design: POW! Glitter Paper. This stuff is WOW! You can punch it, die cut it, use decorative blades on it (rotary or hand-held scissor type), fold it, yadda yadda! It has a thin backing, as opposed to card stock, altho with intricate dies, I would probably back it with card stock to make it sturdier for that. Most astonishing, is that NONE of the glitter flakes off when you rub your fingers across the surface or manipulate it! It's velvety smooth! I think they should make it in every color of the rainbow. I do indeed. WOW + Paper = POW! I totally get why they call it that. If you need full size sheets of glitter for a project, these are amazing!
Great gobs of glitter, Batman!!!
I also love the woodgrain pattern built right in to the Savvy Woodland Tree die--a great detail!
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*DESIGNER NOTE: I used "Sunshine" Mister Huey on this week's project, but just realized it is no longer available; a similar color and suitable substitute for this burnt orange hue would be "Desert"
I typically have a hard time with pastel color combos so I usually avoid them. Then, I spied them being used with black as an accent--rich, bold black! Whoah! Made me sit up. Made me take notice. Made me decide to try it...
It's so... sophisticated! WOW!!! I wasn't expecting it--nor was I expecting to like it!
This li'l birdie is so stinkin' cute, I can't take it! Love to pop the wing up!
I share a neat tip in the video for using the Soft Grip Embossing Stylus set--there are 3 tools in the set, for a total of 6 ball tips and the "smallest" ball tip has become m' new best friend! *grin* And I also show how to make a dimensional banner--super easy and best of all, it's "adjustable"--you can adapt it to any size greeting!
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Yip yay, happy Mundane! ;)
Note: I used a 1 3/4" circle punch to make my window, but you could also use a circle die or circle cutter in lieu of a punch. I believe the Memory Box branch die I used is now discontinued, but I have listed a good substitute, by Savvy Stamps, down below in the supplies.
When Tsukineko released the Memento Luxe Pigment Inks, I must admit I actually got butterflies in my tummy!!! I was already a fan of the Memento Dye Inks so to have a pigment version in [24 of] the same color range is nothing short of AWESOME! I sure hope they add more--I'm lovin' 'em!
These inks feature a rich saturation of color and provide strong coverage. They emboss beautifully, too! If you are on the hunt for a great pigment ink, I think you'll find the Memento Luxe to be right up your alley--I couldn't have been more pleased with their performance! I just got my hands on 6 colors, but after seeing how these inked up, how crisply they stamped and how nicely they heat embossed, the rest of the colors will be coming to live at my house!!! *fist pump*
Must admit to not doing much fancy in the way of techniques--for this design I just let the images and brilliant colors speak for themselves... And, boy, do they ever speak!!! *swoon*
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I love cake. LOVE. And, I love cake's petite counterpart:
The glorious cupcake
Something about a cute, luscious little cupcake that makes me so SO happy!
Mini hi-jack: Um, if you love cupcakes as much as I do, here's a great tip for reducing the calories... ;) > Diet Soda Cake/Cupcakes I also frost mine by combining sugar-free instant vanilla pudding with a tub of fat free whipped topping... You'd be surprised how yummy these taste... Ask me how I know! *chinkle*
OK, mini hi-jack over! Back to your regularly scheduled programming, which is about using your water-based dye inks as a watercolor method.
TIPS:
Smooth bristol is my favorite paper for this. The smooth surface enables you to stamp and get a nice crisp image because it's not lumpy-bumpy like traditional water-color paper.
Stamp with a specifically formulated bleed-proof (water-resistant) ink, such as Ranger Archival or Hero Arts Dye Inks
For water-coloring itself, water-based dye inks, such as Adirondack and Distress, tend to be the best performers with this method. I've also used Memento dye inks with success, but sometimes this ink's fade-resistant properties can affect how well some of the colors bleed out.
Tap your ink pad against an acrylic block, load the color onto your water-brush (you can also use a cup of water and a regular paintbrush, but I find it more convenient to use a water-brush) and start slopping the color around
A wider brush will create nice washes of color but you can also use a fine nib water-brush to watercolor tiny details/images with the same kind of accuracy you would get with a marker
Loosen up; go with the flow and don't worry too much about staying inside your image lines. Trust me on that one! ;)
For the fun spattered background, try flicking droplets of color from the nozzle of a bottle of your favorite Mister Huey or Dylusions Sprays (see how I do this in the video)
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Happy Mundane! ;)
SUPPLIES: In addition to the supplies shown below, I used a .3 Copic Multi-liner Pen to outline my card front.
