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June 02, 2017

Specialty Inks: Versamark & Delicata Beauty by Julia Stainton

Let's talk specialty inks! It's Julia here today in the CLASSroom and I'm continuing on with the Ink Week theme with some fabulous and unique inks.

 

Beautiful

These inks were used to make this tropical themed card design and I'll be sharing tips and tricks on how to use them.

Specialty-inks

So what exactly are the specialty inks that I'm featuring today? They are both fabulous inks from Tsukineko and one of them especially, I'm pretty sure you'll be familiar with. Versamark Ink is an amazing watermark ink and is one of the most used inks that I have in my collection. I have a rather extensive collection of inks so that is really saying something and my Versamark Ink pads is one of the very first ink pads I purchased and is still going strong after 15 years!

The other ink I'm featuring is the Delicata Ink series which is an absolutely gorgeous ink line of metallics. I've tried lots of metallic inks over the years and this is my favorite. And while it's not quite the ink "workhorse" that Versamark is, the beautiful shimmer of these inks is well worth the investment.

Supplies

So let's get started! I'm using some Robin's Egg Card Stock as the base for the stamped design. Versamark ink is beautiful for creating tone on tone effects with stamped image and using a colored card stock really highlights this feature. For stamps I'm using the Wplus9 Feathers and Florals Stamp Set which you can find linked below.

Versamark-ink

Versamark is a clear and very sticky ink that is on a foam pad. You stamp with it in exactly the same way you would any other ink. Ink up the stamp and then stamp cleanly onto the card stock.

Clear-embossing

The first way I am going to show you to do a tone on tone effect with Versamark is with clear embossing powder. After you've stamped some of the images, sprinkle them with the clear embossing powder, remove excess (the powder will stick to the Versamark stamped areas) and then melt with a heat tool.

Clear-embossed-stamped-image

Once you're done the embossed images will look like this. You'll get a lovely dark tone on tone look that is lovely and shiny.

Clear-embossing-image

The raised embossing will catch the light and you can see how pretty that is in the above image.

I do the clear embossing step FIRST so that when you stamp with Versamark the second time, there won't be any embossing to stick to it.

Versamark-tone-on-tone-combos

Next stamp the images again with Versamark and just leave them as is. In the above image you can see how you get a lighter tone on tone effect and this ink will dry within minutes on card stock. If you like to rush you can also heat set it with a heat tool.

Card-stock

And that's how you can get two different tone on tone looks just by using the Versamark Ink!

Gold-Delicata-Stamping

I'm also going to use a layer of stamped image using the Golden Glitz Delicata Ink by Tsukineko. This ink is a gorgeous metallic ink that can be embossed or simply stamped. I'm simply stamping here over and around some of the Versamark image and I love the shimmer that this ink adds!

Delicata

The gold is so pretty with the turquoise! Once the inks have dried I trimmed this panel to 4" x 5.5" and adhered it to a white card stock card base. I've also stitched around the edges but you can leave them without it if you prefer.

Die-cut

The Be-YOU-tiful Die by Julie Ebersole is so lovely die-cut from gold foil card stock and by using the gold, it ties in well with the gold stamping. To make it pop on the card I've adhered it to a vellum layout die-cut using the Stitched Banner Duo Die from Pretty Pink Posh.

Messy-stitching

For a fun homespun stitched look I've stitching on the Lawn Fawn Hemp Twine.

 

Beautiful-tropic-card

And that finishes off the card design.

IMG_5052

Versamark Ink:

  • tone on tone watermark ink
  • oilbased, archival and acid-free
  • reinkers available
  • great for embossing with!
  • clean stamps well after use with Versamark
  • comes in a min ink pad and marker format as well
  • try the Versamark Dazzle formats for the addition of a shimmery look
  • perfect for use with all embossing techniques...the possibilities are almost limitless
  • try brushing Versamark with Perfect Pearls or Chalk for instant color and pop
  • stamp with Versamark on glossy card stock for a resist technique
  • If the surface of the pad appears dirty, wipe clean with a paper towel and re-ink with inker.

Delicata Inks:

  • a beautiful shimmery metallic ink
  • oil based archival pigment ink
  • comes in 6 different color tones
  • create beautiful metallic effects without embossing or gold leaf
  • reinkers available
  • will not tarnish or lose its luster
  • dries quickly on porous papers
  • beautiful effects on both light and dark surfaces

 

Thanks so much for joining me today in the CLASSroom!

Julia

Supplies:

 

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Posted at 08:06 AM in Cards, Dies, Embellishments, Essentials by Ellen, Ink Pads, WPlus9 | | Comments (5)

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June 25, 2016

Satur-YAY! 06.25.16 - Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pens

Hi everyone!  Welcome to Satur-YAY!  We’re celebrating the weekend by getting our craft on.  I hope you can find some time to get creative this weekend.  I love when I can get creative, and spend some time doing things that I love.  It’s just good for the soul, ya know?

SaturYAY June 2016-2 

Today I wanted to share a product that is new to the Ellen Hutson online store.  I’ll be showing you the Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pens.  I want to show you a few fun things you can do with these pens and then make a project with these pens.  You’re going to love the shimmery goodness that these will add to your project.  Can I just say, the pictures just don't do this justice?

SaturYAY June 2016-20

In the video tutorial below, I’ll do a quick comparison between the Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pens and the Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush Markers.  They are a very similar product.  However, there are some subtle differences that allow for some fun techniques with the Spectrum Noir pens.  If you would like a more in depth look at the similarities and differences, you can check out THIS video on my own personal blog.  I did this a few months back.

The Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pens are a brush tipped pen that contain color and sparkle.  They are also available in a clear overlay pen as well.  Just like the Wink of Stella, the color is in the ink, not the glitter itself.  The glitter is the same for every color.  The Spectrums have a beautiful truly colorless glitter.  The Wink of Stella glitter tends to be a little more of a gold/champagne color.  The clear nature of the glitter in the Spectrums allows you to overlay the clear over other colors without it altering the color of the color underneath.  The Spectrums are also blendable.  You can blend two colors of the sparkle pens or you can use the clear overlay to blend out a colored sparkle pen to create a watercolored look.  I’ll show you this in the video tutorial below.

  SaturYAY June 2016-6

For the project today, I am using some products from Lawn Fawn.  I’m combining the Flamingo Together stamp set with the Big Scripty Words stamp set and coordinating dies to make a fun flamingo themed project.

SaturYAY June 2016-18

To color the flamingos, I blended two colors of the Spectrum Noirs.  This creates a blended look and allows me to add shadows to my image and still maintain lots and lots of sparkle.  I used two of my favorite colors for the flamingos, Solar Red and Rose Quartz.  I also used the clear overlay pen to blend some Distress Marker for the beak of the flamingos.  I also added a haze around my flamingos by adding some of the Jade color and blending that out with the clear overlay sparkle pen.  I’m left with a beautiful watercolor effect and LOTS of sparkle.

SaturYAY June 2016-13

I used the Just Geometrics Triangles stamp set from WPlus9 to create the background on my card front.  I wanted to bring in some more of that minty green that’s surrounding the flamingos.  I stamped the triangle pattern in Mint Julep ink from Hero Arts.  I then stamped the triangles again in Unicorn White Pigment ink from Hero Arts.  When I stamped the triangles the second time, I offset them slightly.  This creates a shadow effect on the stamped background.  This is a really fun technique to try and can allow you to get more shades out of each ink color that you have.

I finished the card off by adding some more sparkle and patterned paper.  A strip of gold glitter card stock and some sequins added just enough sparkle to satisfy my super sparkle needs.  And you know I had to add those black and white stripes because I LOOOOVE them.  

SaturYAY June 2016-13

So that finishes up my project for today’s Satur-YAY.  I hope you’ve enjoyed a look at this awesome product.  Snag them up while you can!  You’re going to love having them in your stash.

SaturYAY June 2016-5

Don’t forget to check out the video tutorial below!  It’s a fun one!  Also, I’d love to see what crafty goodness you have up your sleeve this find SaturYAY.  You can share it on social media and use the hashtag #EllenHutsonSaturYAY so we can all check them out!

SaturYAY June 2016-19

Thanks for stopping by!  Happy Satury-YAY and until next time, I hope you have a fabulous day! 

Watch The Video

 

You can watch this video in HD on our YouTube channel by clicking HERE.  Don't forget to subscribe while you're there!

Supplies

Posted at 12:00 AM in Cards, Dies, Glitter, Lawn Fawn, My Favorite Things, Pretty Pink Posh, Product Information, Satur-Yay, Video, Watercolor, WPlus9 | | Comments (3)

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April 18, 2016

Hello, Monday 04.18.2016

Our sweet Julie has been under the weather, so I'm here, taking over Hello, Monday for the week!  I'm hoping that Julie will be feeling better and back with us next week.  But for now, you're stuck with me! ;)

Get Well Wishes Finals-7

I decided to make a get well card for Julie, inspired by Julie.  I chose some bright colors, paired with  a Dymo label sentiment, a messy nest of thread, and some black and white Shape N' Tape....all things inspired by the one and only, the fabulous, Julie!

Get Well Wishes Finals-9

I love the way this card turned out!  And I hope Julie does too!  We're thinking about you Julie, and sending well wishes your way!

Get Well Wishes Finals-15

Until next time, I hope you have a fabulous day.  And as Julie would say, Happy Mundane!

Watch The Video

You can watch this video in HD on our YouTube channel by clicking HERE.  Don't forget to subscribe while you're there!

Supplies

Posted at 12:01 AM in Cards, Dies, Embellishments, Essentials by Ellen, Glitter, Hello, Monday, Pretty Pink Posh, Sizzix, Video, WPlus9 | | Comments (14)

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March 29, 2016

Hey! hi, there...

Hey bear by carolyn peeler

Hey! Hi there :) Carolyn Peeler with you today to walk you through a sweet, fun, stamped card. Today's project uses the INSANELY adorable "All inside" bear stamp set designed by Julie Ebersol for Essentials by Ellen. I have been dying to use this stamp set ever since it was released, and am so excited to finally share a project using it. Today's card is not only Clean and Simple (CAS) but is also adorable (so, I guess that would be CASAA clean and simple and adorable). Whaddoyathink? Do you think we can make that new acronym stick? hehe!

To get started, the first thing you'll want to do is cut out the sweet adorable bear with watercolor paper using your die cutting machine. (Quick tip: Usually, when I die cut an image like this, (a small critter which is being cut on watercolor paper) I will cut out a few at a time, so that next time I want to use the image I already have one cut and ready to go.) After cutting out the shape it's time to stamp the bear onto it. For today's card, I wanted the eyes and nose to be black, but the outline of the bear to be brown, so, when inking the stamp, I first inked the whole thing with Brushed Corduroy Distress ink, then, using the small, "Tuxedo Black" dew drop black inkpad, I used the tip to go in and ink the eyes/nose/mouth. You could also use a black marker if you prefer.

IMG_4843

After you have stamped your bear onto your die cut shape, it's time to paint him! Using the Ranger Craft Sheet as your palette, smoosh Brushed Corduroy and Walnut Stain Distress inks onto your mat.

IMG_4846

Now it's time to color the bear in. Mix the Distress ink with water and paint directly onto the bear. (Sorry, I forgot to take a photo of this step in action, so, here's another bear, who is not cut out for you to see the step in action.)

IMG_4845

Now we're going to prep the background that will house our bear. First, using Solar White cardstock, cut the frame using the Mama Elephant Instalove Die. After it is cut out, use the heart die from the same set to cut the heart out of the bottom left of the frame. Using the same "Tuxedo Black" ink we used above, stamp the "hi, there" greeting from the stamp set onto the bottom right area of the insta frame. Find a small spare piece of pink cardstock, or patterned paper, and glue it underneath the frame so that it is behind the heart cut out.

IMG_4849

Choose the solid paper, or cardstock that you would like in the background of the center of the Insta Frame. I used a beautiful, varigated paper from this Jen Hadfield DIY Home 6x6 paper pad. Cut your paper to size so that it is slightly larger than the hole in the center of the frame. Then, cut your stamped bear so that he is peeking out from the bottom of the frame. Finally, using the "Tuxedo Black" ink pad again, stamp the "HEY!" greeting above the bear.

IMG_4850

In order to add some contrast to the greeting, fill the hollow of the "hey" greeting with Kuretake Gansi Tambi White Watercolor paint.

IMG_4851

IMG_4854

Cover the front of a 5.5" x 4.25" card front with pink dotted patterned paper from the Jen Hadfield DIY paper pad. Using pop dots, or other low profile adhesives, mount the completed frame and bear, centred,to the upper, front portion of your card and you're done! All that's left is to send the card to a friend.

Hey bear insta

Here's a link to the products used in today's project:

Posted at 06:00 AM in Cards, Essentials by Ellen, Watercolor, WPlus9 | | Comments (6)

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March 15, 2016

I need a vacation Video Tutorial

Colorful vacation card by carolyn peeler

This is the time of year when so many are thinking about Spring Break, or dreaming of getting away from cold or dreary winter weather. So I thought it was the perfect time to break out my Kelly Purkey Travel Planner stamps and make a "bon voyage" card. This stamp set comes with so many different icons, everything from planes to tents, so no matter what kind of vacation type you prefer, there is a stamp that is applicable to your style of travel.

Vacation getaway card by carolyn peeler

Let's jump into the video and I'll walk you through the creation and assembly process. And, while you're watching, you'll hear my easy, quick suggestion for how I line up multiple images on the same block to ensure that the designs are all straight.

Thanks so much for allowing me to share my project with you today. I hope you enjoyed it. Here's a direct link to the products in the Ellen Hutson store.

Posted at 06:00 AM in Cards, Ranger Techniques, Video, Watercolor, WPlus9 | | Comments (6)

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March 09, 2016

Bountiful Blooms Wreath by Kittie Caracciolo

Good Wednesday morning and welcome to the CLASSroom.  I love the whimsical floral and foliage images in the WPlus9 Design Studio Bountiful Blooms and thought they would be so cute made into a colorful spring wreath against a crisp white background. I framed my wreath with the Impression Obsession All-in-One Frames Squares 2 set and created the mat using the We R Memory Keepers Nesting Squares. 

KC Bountiful Blossoms left

Cut the All-in-One frames and attach the two largest frames together using double stick tape.1

2

Remove the paper cover from tape and attach the frame to the blue matting frame.3

4

Apply strips of mounting tape to the back of the frame and attach the frame to the card base. Sorry that I failed to get a picture of attaching the frame to the card base.

5

Cut several sections of foliage and gently form them using the stylus and molding pad from Susan’s Garden Tool Kit.  Note:  I’ve said this many times in my posts but it’s worth repeating.  If you want to make dimensional floral projects you just cannot go wrong by using Susan’s tools.  I don’t know what I would do without them.

6

Cut a 1.50” circle using the Nesting Circles to create the base for the wreath. Attach the formed foliage around the wreath base using glossy accents. The foliage will be attached in a left then right pattern while continuing around the base.7

Place the blue flowers face down on the molding pad and roll the stylus in a circular motion to pull the petals up.

8

Place the flower face up and push down into the flower center to form the flower.

9

Place the yellow flowers face up on the molding pad and form the flower with the smaller stylus to turn all the petals up.

10

Attach the larger flowers to the wreath with glossy accents.

11

Place a smaller yellow flower in the center of each blue flower and attach with glossy accents.

12

Apply a strip of mounting tape to the back of the banner and tiny pieces to the back of the Hello sentiment. Attach the banner and sentiment to the frame.

13

Cut two small leaf sections from the foliage, attach a yellow flower to each with glossy accents and then attach one on each side of the banner with glossy accents for the finishing touch.

14

Here’s a closer view.

KC Bountiful Blossoms close

I love making mini wreaths for card fronts.  I hope you have been inspired to get out your foliage and flower dies and punches to give wreath making a try.  Adding dimension and movement to your flowers and foliage is the real secret to creating a natural looking wreath.

Card size:  4.50” Square

Posted at 12:00 AM in Dies, Impression Obsession, Lifestyle Crafts, Susan's Garden, WPlus9 | | Comments (14)

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December 24, 2015

#throwbackthursdays - Gelatos Smooshing by Carly Tee Minner

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:

#TexturalTuesdays - Happy Fall Gelatos Card by Lisa

#TexturalTuesdays - Thank You & More Gelatos by Lisa

 Here's the card I created while playing with Gelatos:

Dec 24 01 wm

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.

Dec 24 07

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.

Dec 24 04

3. I misted my Gelatos colored acrylic block with a good amount of water.

Dec 24 05

4. And then I placed my snowflake panel on top of the block, pressing gently to make sure the color transferred.

Dec 24 06

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. 

7. Then I die cut my snowflake panel with the largest rectangle from My Favorite Things Die-Namics, STAX Stitched Rectangles.

I mounted my snowflake panel to a 4-1/4 x 5-1/2 solar white card, added my sentiments and finished with some pearls just because they are pretty!

Dec 24 03

Dec 24 02

Happy Thursday and Happy Holidays!

xo, Carly

Posted at 06:00 AM in #throwbackthursdays, Cards, Faber-Castell, Memory Box, Savvy, Watercolor, WPlus9 | | Comments (5)

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September 15, 2015

Thankful for You by Joni nina Andaya

Joni_photoPlease welcome our Guest Designer, Joni nina Andaya!

Information Technology – Software Engineering by trade, and designer at heart, Joni is an accomplished artist.  Her love of watercolor and precision is evident in her work, as you can see on her blog Papell with Love. Joni is also an Illustrator for Wplus9 and a design team member for Wplus9 Design Studios, Pretty Pink Posh and Winnie & Walter.

We are pleased to introduce you to her soft and intricate work that will inspire you to watercolor.  Joni is a master at creating depth with color and loves to add dimension to her work.  Her two most-needed tools are her Tonic Paper Cutter and her Teflon bone folder.

Joni’s other great love is her 11 year old daughter, with whom she loves to shop and go bowling. 

Please join us in thanking Joni for sharing her creativity in Thankful for You her in the CLASSroom by heading over to her blog Papell with Love and leaving a comment there by September 19th.  Look for the post where she shares a sneak peek of the project below – followed by the blog candy photo.  One lucky random winner will receive these goodies that Joni used in creating her project!

Thank you, Joni, for your beautiful inspiration!

Blog Candy Joni

1st pic

Hello Everyone, 

Joni here, Guest Designing at Ellen Hutson using their new release Thankful stamp set and its Thankful Coordinating die set  alongside with the new release from Wplus9 Wishing You stamp set and Wishing You Coordinating die set.

To begin, I brushed each of the Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers on the acrylic block. It’s easier for me to blend the colors when it’s laid out on the block; you can also brush the colors on your heat mat or non-stick craft sheet if you prefer.

Watercolor_Step 

Then I colored the stamped images from the Thankful stamp set and Wishing You stamp set, and then die-cut each image using their coordinating die sets.

Diecut flowers

For the background, I first wet the watercolor paper then laid the light blue color from the 12 pack Zig Clean Color Real Brush set and let it dry.

   2nd - Thankful4U

Next, I

  • adhered all the die-cut images using the Multi Medium Matte on the watercolored paper,
  • then cut the excess paper on the sides of the panel and adhered it on the white card base with foam tape to add dimension.

Close-up of the top flowers and leaves. 

4th - thankful4U

Close-up of the bottom flowers and leaves.

5th - thankful4U

Next, I stamped the sentiment from the Thankful stamp set using the Wplus9 PURE Color dye ink in Warm Wool.

Then, I added some watercolor splatter after brushing the Zig Clear Color Real Brush on the acrylic block (adding some water and using a separate watercolor brush to splatter on the top panel). 

6th -thankful4U

I also added some Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear Sequins to finish off the card.

I hope you enjoyed, Thank you so much for stopping by.  

Joni

Supplies Small

 

Posted at 07:00 AM in Blog Candy, Cards, Dies, Essentials by Ellen, Pretty Pink Posh, Watercolor, WPlus9, Zig | | Comments (58)

Tags: die cut, stamp, watercolor

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August 29, 2015

Satur-YAY! 8.29.15

Hi everyone!  Welcome to Satur-YAY!  We're going to celebrate the weekend by gettin' our craft on.  Today, I'm sharing a fabulously foiled Back To School teacher gift.  I'm going to show you yet another way to add foil to your projects, as well as give you some tips for mass producing along the way.  

Satur-YAY August (4 of 10)

The foiling technique I'm using today is what I consider to be the "original" foiling technique.  This technique requires your images to be printed using a laser printer (an inkjet printer won't work).  The toner from the laser printer is activated by heat and causes the foil to bind to it.  But don't worry, if you don't have one, you can take your project to your local copy center to be printed.  Since they're black and white images, they aren't usually too expensive.  

Satur-YAY August (7 of 35)

I started by creating a card front using Photoshop Elements.  I wanted to personalize the cards for the teacher I was giving them to, so I made sure her name was on them.  You can also used Word or another program that you may be comfortable with to create your document.  Once you've created your document, print it out on a laser printer or take it to your local copy center to have it printed.

I used two free fonts for the lettering on my card front.  You can download them by clicking the font names here.  Nike Total 90 & Halo Handletter 

I also created a full sheet of toner paper.  I'll show you exactly how I did this in the video tutorial below.  I'll use this with dies to cut shapes and then add foil to those shapes.  This is a fun way of creating foiled images using whatever dies you may have.

Satur-YAY August (14 of 35)

Once I had all of my card fronts prepped, it was time for the fun part....adding the foil.  I used the Heidi Swapp Minc Mini Machine and Therm O Web Deco Foil.  I chose gold and red foils, but you could use any color you want!  The Deco Foils come in so many great colors and patterns.  When I revealed the foiled sentiments and dies after running them through the Minc Machine, I was blown away!  It's amazing to be able to create customized foiled cards in your own home.  And it was easy!  I'll walk you through how to use these products in the video tutorial below.  *all supplies are linked below*

Satur-YAY August (21 of 35)

I used the WPlus9 Class Act stamp set to create some fun paper to put behind my beautiful foiled apples.  This created the perfect grounding place for my die cuts.  I layered the stamped ledger paper with a piece of vellum cut to the same size and dolled up my messy paper stack with a mini paper clip from Tim Holtz.

Since I was giving this as a gift, I made these cards en masse.  Mass producing is great for making gift sets, or for when you need a bunch of cards to have on hand.  You can either create them all exactly the same, or vary it a bit by changing the sentiment or by using the exact same elements and tweaking the layout just a bit.  I've included my favorite tips for mass producing below.

Satur-YAY August (1 of 35)

Tips For Mass Producing

  • Start with a plan.  Make a rough mock up or draw a quick sketch so that you know exactly what you will need.
  • Take it step by step.  I like to do each step in it's entirety when I'm mass producing. For instance, I did all of the die cutting at once, then I did all of the foiling at once.  I also created all of my card bases at once.  Since you have the tools out for each step, it will save time to do it for every card your creating all at once.
  • K.I.S.S.  Keep it simple silly.  Do things that are quick and easy to repeat over and over again.  Intricate steps are great when you're creating just one card, but will become tedious and frustrating when creating multiples.
  • Break it down.  No, I don't mean dance (although that's always allowed in my craft room).  You don't have to create all of your cards all in once setting.  Break the process up over a couple of crafting sessions.  You may even find steps that are great for taking on the go to kids' practices or while waiting for appointments.
  • Choose fast adhesives.  I like adhesives that are quick and easy to use when mass producing.  For instance, tape runners and tear-able adhesives are perfect.  I love the Scotch Foam Adhesive because I can quickly tear pieces in the sizes needed, which makes it quick and easy.

Satur-YAY August (6 of 35)

Once I finished off the cards, I wanted to doll them up a bit.  I put them in a beautiful clear card box and wrapped it up in some fun red twine.  I also added a coordinating tag to the front of the gift box.  This makes for not only a beautiful gift, but a beautiful presentation as well.

Satur-YAY August (6 of 10)

I realize that not all of you have teachers that you need to thank, but keep in mind that this project could be easily tweaked to fit any occasion or personality type.  Change the die cut and school themed embellishments, and you'd have a fantastic gift for any special person in your life!  In fact, I may just have to make a set of these for myself!  I must confess I was a little jealous as I was making them.

I hope you've enjoyed this Back To School edition of Satur-YAY!  Now it's time for you to get to craftin'!  Dig out your supplies and get your craft on!  You don't have to make anything teacher related, just make something!  Don't forget to share it on your social media account and use the hashtag #EllenHutsonSaturYAY so we call all check out what you've made.  We all love to ogle everyone else's projects!

You can watch this video in HD on YouTube by clicking HERE.  Don't forget to subscribe so you won't miss any of the fabulous video tutorials on the Ellen Hutson channel.

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you've enjoyed this project.  Until next time, I hope you have a fabulous Satur-YAY!

SUPPLIES

Posted at 12:01 AM in Dies, Gift Ideas, Gift Packaging, Sizzix, Tool Talk, WPlus9 | | Comments (11)

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July 20, 2015

Hello, Monday 07.20.2015

Coastal web1

(Click on the pics to enbiggan)

Goin' Coastal today!

And, using the Bokeh Dots stamp set, this handsome crab die from Nautical Notions by WPlus9, and Distress Stain Dabbers to pull it all off! :)

Color scheme inspired by our current Pin-sights Challenge--LOVE LOVE red, white & blue together! So crisp!

Coastal web2

Here are a few other sea-life dies that could also be used to get the same aquatic/coastal look:

I love how the sea salt changed the texture of the Distress Stain--Note to self:  Do more often!!!

Enjoy the video in HD on our YouTube Channel, and thanks for taking the time to give it a thumbs up! You can also subscribe to our Channel so you never miss a new video! :)

 

 

Happy Mundane! Hope you've had a chance to enjoy some coastal time yourself this summer!

1Julie

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Posted at 08:00 AM in Altenew, Backgrounds, Cards, Dies, Essentials by Ellen, Hero Arts, INspiration, Ranger Techniques, Tips and Techniques, Video, Watercolor, WPlus9 | | Comments (13)

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April 06, 2015

Hello, Monday 04.06.2015

Clean_color_bouquet_WEB_1

(Click on the pics to enbiggan)

If you haven't yet experienced the Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers by Kuretake, you are in for a treat--they are among the easiest tool around for watercolor painting!

What sets these "markers" apart from other water-based markers is their nib:  It is a REAL BRUSH.  So imagine color with a built-in paint brush tip but a marker barrel.  I know, right?!

They come in a wide array of colors, but by blending, you have an unlimited palette at your disposal!

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At the beginning of the video, I'll be demonstrating some quick/easy blending methods, in combination with a waterbrush to pull and manipulate the color.

I find I really love the effect of these markers most especially on watercolor paper, and the great thing about heat embossing your images, is that the embossed lines work wonderfully to contain the color/water within each area, enabling you to move on quickly to adjacent parts of your image and continue painting.

Unlike alcohol-based markers, which can etch/eat away heat embossed images, Clean Color Real Brush Markers are water-based; the embossed lines and imagery will act as a resist and any excess color/water sitting on top can simply be blotted away/off with a clean paper towel--just avoid using a rubbing motion so you don't smear any wet paint elsewhere onto your project.

Like almost all coloring mediums, it's easier to add more color than it is to take it away so begin with a light touch.  The medium to darker colors of these markers are quite intense and a little goes a long way when you begin to add water and pull the color--this can work to your advantage because the shading is practically built-in with the methods shown.

Trust me when I say that you do not need to paint one petal at a time! *grin* Quickly swipe a little of the desired color from the marker along the outermost tips or inner edges (around the stamen) of ALL the petals of your flowers, and then start pulling the color with the water brush (you can also use a regular brush and a cup of water if you prefer).

The Clean Color Real Brush Markers are available in open stock, but I do have a list of suggested colors you could begin with, which you can see by scrolling to the very bottom of this post.

Be aware that in some instances, the color name doesn't always match up with the actual color itself. For example:

  • Cobalt Blue seems more like a deep turquoise color
  • Blue reminds me of a more true cobalt blue
  • Bright Yellow is what I would consider "apricot"
  • Turquoise Green looks like a bright teal or possibly jade
  • Shadow Mauve appears to be blue grey and nothing like mauve

When shopping colors in the store, hover your mouse over the swatch next to the marker to get a better idea of what the color will actually look like. :)

You can view this week's video in HD on our YouTube Channel HERE, and thanks for taking a moment to give it a thumbs' up! Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a webisode! (Yes, that is a made-up word...) *wink*

 

 

Happy Mundane! :)

1Julie

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JULIE'S ZIG CLEAN COLOR REAL BRUSH STARTER COLOR SUGGESTIONS:

Posted at 07:00 AM in Altenew, Cards, Tips and Techniques, Tool Talk, Video, Watercolor, WPlus9 | | Comments (17) | TrackBack (0)

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December 08, 2014

12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist 2014 - Day 8 by Dawn Woleslagle

Dawn_0914This year we have a brand new guest joining us for the 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist. Dawn Woleslagle is incredibly talented and so well known for her crazy-good and over-the-top impressive watercoloring skills! So it was a wonderful and unexpected surprised to see the clean contemporary style she is sharing with us here today. It is obvious that no matter the style this lady rocks it!!

You can see more of what I am talking about on her blog Stamp Away With Me, where Dawn shares some pretty spectacular projects!

Thank you Dawn for sharing your creativity with us today - you certainly know how to make a project sparkle with feminism! We appreciate you joining in the fun!!

Hello!  I am very honored and excited to have been invited to play along in the CLASSroom during the 12 Tags of Christmas series!

If I had to guess, I’d say I’ve become know for either soft florals or watercolored pieces.  So…I thought I’d go full tilt in the other direction today and bring you something graphic and sophisticated.

Dawn Final 1
I started by stamping the striped background of my base tag in Versamark ink and heat embossing it with gold embossing powder.  Don’t forget to give the whole tag a once over with an embossing powder tool to eliminate static before stamping.

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Tip: Use a dry paintbrush to clean up and gently brush away any stray embossing powder that may have stuck to undesired areas.

Next I focused on building the small tag embellishment. I die cut 2 smaller tags, one from white and one from black card stock using the Wplus9 Timeless Tags 2 die.

Because, I just can’t resist, I added splatters of gold to the white tag using Heidi Swapp Color Shine in Gold. You could also use Hero Arts Gold Shimmer Spray for similar results.

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Tip: For more control, remove the spray nozzle and lightly tap the end over your tag. This will deposit just a few random splatters.

While that dries, we can go ahead and take care of the rest of the die cutting.

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I die cut three snowflakes from gold foil paper using the Wplus9 Snowflake Trio die, and the word “sparkle” from white cardstock using the Wplus9 Sparkle & Shine Trio die.

To add a little sparkle literally, I covered the word in some Tim Holtz Distress Stickles Dry Glitter.

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To adhere the glitter, just squeeze liquid adhesive onto your work surface.  Then use your finger to pick up and spread a thin layer of the adhesive across the front of the word die cut.

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Sprinkle the glitter over the entire front of the die cut and set aside to dry.

Now all we have to do is put it all together.

Use a strong adhesive to adhere the two small tags together, slightly offsetting them and thread with twine.  Adhere the largest snowflake directly to the tag and then adhere the word die cut using clear foam tape. 

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Tip: Clear foam tape is perfect for intricate die cuts.  You don’t have to fuss with cutting the foam tape into tiny pieces because it is clear and won’t be noticeable in your finished product.

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To finish the sentiment, stamp a smaller sentiment onto white card stock and adhere above the word die cut.

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To pull it all together, I adhered the small tag embellishment to the front of the large gold embossed tag. And finally, I tucked the smaller snowflake behind the small tags at the bottom left corner and added the smallest snowflake to the top left corner.

And that’s it!  I hope that you enjoyed today’s tag.  I have been kind of obsessed with gold this season and particularly love it when paired with a graphic design.

Thanks for having me - and Happy Holidays!

Measurements:

  • Finished Tag – 5 ¼ x 2 5/8”

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EHLLC 25 Store Credit
Please join me in welcoming Dawn here to the CLASSroom and help us thank her for her tag that "sparkles like a diamond"! By leaving a comment you will be eligible for the random drawing of the $25 gift certificate to our store www.ellenhutson.com. Leave your comment before noon on December 13th to be included (one comment per person please.) Come back tomorrow for another tag

Posted at 12:00 AM in 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist, Blog Candy, Tips and Techniques, WPlus9 | | Comments (177) | TrackBack (0)

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August 20, 2014

Simply White Sympathy by Heather Campbell

Heather Campbell for Ellen Hutson

I've seen the technique of watercoloring and embossed image around for awhile now and I've been anxiously awaiting to try it out.  This technique works great for open images - where you'd typically color in the image.  

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I pulled out my Wplus9 Very Vintage Greetings stamp set.  This is probably in my Top 5 list of stamps for stamps that aren't my normal style.  I love fun and cute and even graphic stamps.  These stamps are very vintage (as the name implies) which doesn't come easily for me but wow do these stamps make it possible.  Also, the sentiments are just gorgeous!

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On a piece of Distress Watercolor Cardstock, I stamped with versamark and heat embossed two of the flowers in white embossing powder.  It's important to use the embossing buddy on this technique - because you don't want any strays! 

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Since I knew I might want to contol the shading with a little bit of coloring, I used my Distress Markers diluted with water and my waterbrush to add the color to only the inside of the heat embossed images. 

To create watercolors with my Distress markers, I simply used my marker to color onto my acrylic block.  Then, using a waterbrush, I added a little bit of marker to turn the ink from the marker into a watercolor ready to paint onto the distress cardstock. I love how a waterbrush holds the water to bring it right to the block!

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I did the exact same thing with the green to add the stem to the flower.  

I am 99.9% sure that the hardest part of this technique is the waiting.  It's SO important to let this dry naturally! 

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Once it was dry, I die cut my panel with my Mama Elephant Femme Frames die...  There's also the Creative Cuts packaged set that has this Femme Frames die in it, along with a bunch of other dies that I love!

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and adhered it to a card base. 

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To finish the card, I added a sentiment.  Gosh, I love these sentiments. 

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To give the appearance of water droplets, I added Pretty Pink Posh sequins to accent the flowers. I love love LOVE this 4mm Sparkling Clear size!  To adhere my sequins to my card, I used a dab of glossy accents!

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For the final finishing touch, I added Wink of Stella White Glitter to the entire flower - oh my gosh, I never actually used the white until now and WOW am I sold on the white! GORGEOUS! 

Heather Campbell for Ellen Hutson LLC

Thank you so much for stopping by and joining me today!  I hope you have a great day! 

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July 02, 2014

Granada Mini Framed Watercolor Flower Garden

Good Wednesday morning and welcome to the CLASSroom.  I fell in love with water coloring stamped images when I first started paper crafting many years ago. It was lots of fun learning how to color and add shading to images and I must admit a bit of a challenge at times to stay within the stamped lines of an image.  LOL!  Recently I took the Watercolor for Card Makers class at Online Card Classes and especially enjoyed the free hand water coloring because there were no lines to stay in.  My project today shows the step by step process in my experiment to create a mini floral watercolor scene with flower and foliage stamps from the WPlus9 Fresh Cut Florals set. I liked adding softness to the images with my waterbrush. I may have added a level of difficulty because I didn’t use watercolor paper. I wanted the scene layer to match the crisp white double matted frame and Granada decorative background.

KC Fresh Cut Florals 2 left

The Flower Garden

Stamp the solid triple flower image several times across the paper using Spun Sugar ink.

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Stamp the triple center flower image over top of the solid flowers using Worn Lipstick ink.

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Stamp the triple stem image among the triple sets of flowers using Crushed Olive ink.3

Build up the flower bed by stamping additional flowers with the solid stamp.

Note: once I finished the first line of flowers and stems I wasn’t satisfied that it would make an interesting scene so I started the process over. I added more images until I thought the scene was full enough.

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Stamp the Worn Lipstick ink off once on scrap paper before stamping the flower centers.  This helps make the flowers appear to be further in the background.

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Stamp the Crushed Olive ink off once before filling in the stem images. Only stamp a few to add touches of green to the background.6

Lightly touch a damp brush to the flowers and stems to soften.  Too much water in the brush can totally wash away your images.  I know because I almost did.

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Apply yellow to the flower centers with a Mustard Seed Distress Marker. The soft touch of yellow adds brightness to the scene.   

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Paint the ground area with Crushed Olive reinker mixed with water being careful not to wash away the flowers.

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Frame and Granada Background

Place cardstock on the magnetic platform and then lay both of the larger Granada dies face down on the paper.  Move dies around as necessary to line up for the cut.

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Cut an opening in the die cut using a Nesting Rectangles die.

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Place cardstock on the magnetic platform and lay 2 dies in line to create the outer layer of the double matted frame.

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Cut a second smaller frame to create the mat.

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Apply adhesive to the back of the top frame section.

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Line the top frame over the smaller mat and attach.

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Apply thin strips of mounting tape to the back of the frame.

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Line the frame up over the opening and attach in place.

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Cut the flower scene small enough to hide behind the frame. Apply adhesive to the  back of the frame and attach to the scene.

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Apply thin strips of mounting tape to key spots on the back of the Granada die cut and attach to the card base.

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It is important to apply tape to the outer edges of the intricate die cut to hold them up so they won’t droop flat against the base.

Note: If you are like me and love mounting tape you may want to check out the large 36 yard roll.  I keep an extra roll in my drawer at all times.   A roll will last a long time but I get shaky if I think I’m going to run out.  Smile

KC Fresh Cut Florals 2 center

This is no great work of art but it shows that even an imperfect little watercolor can still be beautiful paired with a simple frame and delicate die cut.

KC Fresh Cut Florals 2 right

Okay!  It’s your turn to get out those inks, a brush and stamps and try your hand at a free hand watercolor. Perfection is not necessary when water coloring.  See you next time.

Posted at 12:00 AM in Dies, Lifestyle Crafts, Tips and Techniques, Watercolor, WPlus9 | | Comments (17) | TrackBack (0)

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April 16, 2014

Make a Wish by Heather Campbell

Hello, Hello!  I am so excited to be here today, I have been bursting at the seams for weeks to share share today's project with you!  (So much so that I even created a video for you too - so be sure to scroll down to find it!)  Here's today's project.  Eek!

Heather Campbell for Ellen Hutson LLC using Avery Elle Storybook

A few weeks ago I got my hands on the new Avery Elle Storybook stamp set and coordinating dies.  Now I realize I might be a bit biased but the new Avery Elle Storybook set is completely full of possibilities!  The sweet animals are all looking up at the sky and the set is full of stamps for them to be looking up at - stars, birds, bubbles, balloons, butterflies and bugs!  

I couldn't wait to watercolor these animals, especially the deer!  I used my favorite Tim Holtz Watercolor Distress cardstock and I talk at length in the video about that smooth side.  I can stamp on it and intermix it with my regular white cardstock and there's barely any difference!  It's the little things, right?!  I used my Distress Markers mixed with water to create the perfect shades of watercolors. 

To create my scene, I used my Hero Arts Design Block Woodgrain stamp set and stamped my own woodgrain background.  Then I used the new Wplus9 Spring Wreath and cut it out of vellum to pair with the sweet softness of the deer.  The banner is from Avery Elle's Build a Banner.  

Heather Campbell Avery Elle Storybook

I am so glad I was able to capture the glitteryness of this card and the softness of the watercolored animals.  

Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing a part of your day with me!

-Heather

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Posted at 12:01 AM in Avery Elle, Hero Arts, Lawn Fawn, Tim Holtz, Watercolor, WPlus9 | | Comments (11) | TrackBack (0)

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February 19, 2014

Watercolor stamped flowers by Heather Campbell

From wedding invitations to handmade cards, watercolor is everywhere. I've been trying to wrap my head around this trend but I have to admit that I'm not a messy crafter.  I'm just not good at things that require one to get messy.  So watercolor - something I can't control - it almost puts me into a panic.  Now stamping to achieve a watercolor look, that's right up my alley and how I created this card.   

Heather Campbell for Ellen Hutson

To create these watercolored florals, I simply used Distress Markers, perfect pearls, water and watercolor paper.  

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After trying lots and lots of watercolor paper, I finally have found my favorite - it's the Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Cardstock.  And there is a reason why... 

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it has a smooth side!  It also has a side that's a little more textured but I flip it right over to the smooth side almost every time!  I tried to get a picture for you to capture the difference so click on the pic to see the detail!

IMG_7051To start my card out, I stamped a sentiment from Avery Elle Laurels in Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  Since water will be involved, I had to use a water-friendly ink.  

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To create the watercolor flowers, I took my Distress Marker and brought it right to my stamp.  For this card, all the flower stamps are from Wplus9 Fresh Cut Florals. 

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Then, I took a paint brush dipped in water mixed with Perfect Pearls to give them some subtle sparkle.  

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This diluted the amount of ink that was on the stamp and created a natural watercolor look to it when I stamped it. 

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Then, I took my two-step stamp for the inside of the flower and used the same technique of bringing ink to the stamp with the marker directly onto the stamp.  This allowed for a darker inside to the flower.  

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Then, I followed that same technique and just built upon it to add more flowers in different colors.  

IMG_7058It took a little practice to get the right amount of water on the stamp so that it would stay somewhat to the original stamp shape and not diluting the original color too much. 

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I did the same thing to add the leaves, except I waited to add the inside of the leaves until the very end.  

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Tumbled glass... so pretty.  I love this color.

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Dried Marigold and Mustard Seed to create the orange/yellow combo.

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Once I had a pretty arrangement, I was ready to go back in and finish the leaves.   

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Here it is all finished! 

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Before I added some gold to the inside of the flowers, I thought I'd die cut my panel down to size using the Mama Elephant Femme Frames die. 

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I stamped Delicata Golden Glitz to the inside of all the flowers.  Hopefully you've heard that Delicata will be releasing Silver very soon and it will be available at Ellen Hutson! 

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Then, I wrapped some Hemptique twine around the top to tie in the rustic feeling of the kraft.  

Heather Campbell for Ellen Hutson LLC

There's a close up!  Again, I love that smooth paper and yet it's still watercolor paper! 

Heather Campbell for Ellen Hutson

Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing part of your day with me!  Have a great day!

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Posted at 12:01 AM in Avery Elle, Mama Elephant, Tim Holtz, Watercolor, WPlus9 | | Comments (16) | TrackBack (0)

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December 11, 2013

12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist 2013 - Day 11 by Heather Campbell

Oh gosh, I am really excited for the 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist.  Feminine doesn't really come naturally to me so it was fun to stretch myself.   Fun & cute, whimsical - that stuff comes easy to me... this I had to think about.  I loved the process!

Heather Campbell tag

To create my tag, I actually used a 3"x4" journaling card die and simply punched a hole in it. 

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First I stamped a background pattern on white cardstock to give it a very slight background.  To know where I'd be stamping, I lightly traced around the die in pencil.

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I used the new Wplus9 Merry & Bright stamp set.  I have been loving all of the new releases with two and three step stamps that allow for multiple colors in one stamped image.  First I stamped the lighter color.

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Once that was dry, I stamped the darker color right on top of the lighter color.  The stamps are designed so they line up very easily.

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 Then I went in and added the leaves.

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I stamped the inside of the flowers in gold ink to give them some shimmer.

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With everything stamped, I was able to die cut my tag shape.  I simply lined the tag up with my pencil lines.

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Then I punched a hole in the top of my journaling card to create my tag.  I also added a hole circle from another tag die set. 

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Very pretty and elegant, just what I was going for! Thank you so much for joining me in the CLASSroom today for the 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist.  Have a great day! -Heather

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Please join us in thanking Heather for once again sharing her clean, simply 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.) Tomorrow brings my special contribution to the 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist - see you tomorrow!

 

Posted at 12:00 AM in 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist, Blog Candy, Christmas Inspiration, Dies, Gift Packaging, Lawn Fawn, WPlus9 | | Comments (157) | TrackBack (0)

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December 01, 2013

12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist 2013 - Day 1 by Jennifer McGuire

JenniferIt is with much excitement that we begin our 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist series this year!

Please join me in welcoming Jennifer McGuire as she kicks off our series this year! Jennifer is kind, generous, loving and oh, so talented - I am so blessed to call her my friend. You can find more of Jennifer's work on her blog Jennifer McGuire Ink and take one of the on-line classes she co-teaches with Kristina Werner on their site Online Card Classes.

It is with great delight that I share with you the creativity and inspiration of my friend Jennifer McGuire. Thank you Jennifer for sharing such a stunning tag and technique with all of us here again today and perhaps even more importantly thank you for your friendship, kindness and support! -Ellen

  Final-1

I am really addicted to using Embossing Paste! Today I decided to stamp on it and I love the results. And my die cutting my own stencil with Ellen's Craft-A-Board, I was able to have the perfect raised embossing paste area to stamp my wreath on. Yay! 

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1. Die cut the wreath from two pieces of Craft-A-Board. Adhere the pieces together, creating a double-thickness stencil.

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2. Cut a piece of watercolor paper and position the wreath stencil slightly hanging off the edge. Tape in place.

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3. Tie a string around the center of the wreath and tie a knot at top. (This will act as a handle so we can easily remove the center piece after applying embossing paste.) Temporarily adhere to the watercolor piece. 

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4. Apply embossing paste heavily over the stencil and smooth as much as possible.

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5. Use tweezers to grab the string and remove the center part of the wreath stencil. Carefully remove the rest of the stencil. Let embossing paste dry completely.

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6. Stamp the wreath with green inks twice on top of the embossing paste.

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7. On the watercolor paper, trace the wreath with a Broken China Distress Marker. Use water and brush to pull the color away from the wreath, creating a soft blue sky background. Let dry.

8. Stamp snowflakes and stars with Soft Pool Ink.

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9. Stamp bow with red ink on white cardstock. Add shading with dark red Copic Marker. Cut out and add to wreath.

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10. Stamp greeting with black ink.

11. Mat piece with pink cardstock and add to white tag. Add stitching.

12. Add Liquid Pearl berries. 

13. Cover all the paper pieces of the tag with Wink of Stella shimmer.

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other: string, washi tape, sewing machine


Please join us in thanking Jennifer for once again sharing her elegant 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 Julie Ebersole!

Posted at 12:00 AM in 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist, Avery Elle, Christmas Inspiration, Craft-a-Board, Dies, My Favorite Things, WPlus9 | | Comments (394) | TrackBack (0)

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October 14, 2013

Hello, Monday 10.14.2013

Hello! I'm glad to be back again! :)

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!

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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!

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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*

Enjoy the video here or on YouTube! Be sure to switch to 720p for best viewing, too! Thanks for watching and subscribing to our channel.

 

 

Happy Mundane! ;)

1Julie

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Posted at 07:00 AM in Cards, Dies, Savvy, Video, WPlus9 | | Comments (19) | TrackBack (0)

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September 30, 2013

Hello, Monday 09.30.13 with Jennifer McGuire

JenniferToday we have a special Hello, Monday video brought to you by our wonderful and talented friend Jennifer McGuire. Jennifer always WOW's us with her projects and today she once again put a new spin on ways to use two dies, three different ways! Be certain to scroll down towards the bottom of this post to view the video where she shares step-by-step instructions for each card.

Jennifer is continually sharing incredible ways to use the stamping products we so love on her blog Jennifer McGuire Ink and in the classes she co-teaches with Kristina Werner on their site Online Card Classes. If you have the opportunity to take one of these courses I HIGHLY recommend them. The education they share is always top-notch and each class comes with a discount code to our store that you can use during their interactive courses. If you have been thinking about doing the Insider class, don't delay - you can still access all the material (so many fun surprises are shared, showcasing ideas you can use on the insides of your cards) and ask questions in the forums for the next few days!

Please join me in welcoming Jennifer her today - thank you Jennifer for your constant support and friendship - we appreciate you! -Ellen

As with many of you, I have been praying endlessly for Julie and her mom. Breast cancer is just an awful beast that unfortunately is hurting many we love. So today I have created encouragement cards in pink… and just hope they make my dear friend smile.

These three cards also show how to use two dies in three different ways. I love the two dies featured – the Memory Box A Little Rain and the Impression Obsession Umbrella.

The first technique is one I call “raised die cuts.” For this, I used Ellen Hutson Craft-A-Board to add dimension to my die cuts. Even those little raindrops are nice and thick!

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I also added Glossy Accents to the umbrella to give it the look of a finished embellishment.

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The second technique is “glitter-filled die cuts.” This technique is a great way to use the negative space of your favorite die cut images… filling it in with glitter for a sparkly yet smooth finish.

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My favorite glitter is Glitter Ritz. It is super fine and can be colored with permanent markers such as Copics!

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My final technique is called “smooth die cutting.” By combining die cut pieces with their negative space, you can end up with a smooth, inlaid look. Love it!

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This technique is great for using scrap paper.

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So there you have it – three ways to use two dies.

Enjoy the video here or over on YouTube!

 

And for all of you out there who are battling breast cancer or know someone who is – you are in my prayers. My grandma had breast cancer at age 33. She had a mastectomy… and went on to live a long life until the age of 101. She beat it, and I hope and pray the same for everyone else who fights that battle.

Big hugs and happy stamping!

Jennifer

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Posted at 07:00 AM in Cards, Craft-a-Board, Dies, Essentials by Ellen, Glitter, Impression Obsession, Memory Box, Tips and Techniques, Video, WPlus9 | | Comments (25) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: Cards of Encouragement, Craft-a-Board, Hello, Impression Obsession, Jennifer McGuire, Memory Box, Monday, Ways to use Die Cuts, WPlus9

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January 17, 2013

An Inchie Valentine by Julia Stainton

Cold winter days makes the perfect time to cozy up and celebrate one of the "warmest" holidays of the year, Valentine's Day. Today's project is a little valentine I put together for my sweetie.

Xoxo-you

Sometimes you have an idea of exactly what you want to create when you start and other times, well...it's a bit of a journey to the end project. This is one of those journeys and it was inspired by a stamp set I just had to have.

Cupids arrow

The sentiments in this beautiful Wplus9 Cupid's Arrow stamp set were ones I just had to have and look at all the sweet little accompanying images! This was my first foray into using Wplus9 stamps and I was so pleased with them, it definitely won't be my last!

The biggest problem I faced with this set was just what sentiment I would use. I loved them all. The fonts and typography and phrasing were so cool. So...

What to do? Use them all (or most of them) of course!

Inchie-pattern

Enter my next idea, color blocking the card so that I could include as many images and sentiments as I wanted. Inchies are a great way to color block and it's been a very long time since I've pulled mine out so it was meant to be.

I combined a variety of White Twinchie Squares with White Inchie Squares to form a 4"x4" pattern. You may notice that I have some rectangle shapes in there as well. They are simply Twinchies cut in half with the Tonic Guillotine Paper Trimmer.

Inchie-valentine-stamping

I have to admit this next photo takes in a lot of steps. Oops! I got a little carried away and forgot about the camera. Don't worry because they are easy.

  1. Stamp images and sentiments on squares with Jet Black Archival Ink and Vermillion Archival Ink by Ranger. Heat set with a heat gun.
  2. Sponge edges of Inchies and Twinchies with Worn Lipstick Distress Ink or Dried Marigold Distress Ink.
  3. Adhere to 4.25" square card made from Solar White Cardstock.
  4. Punch holes in unstamped squares with Cropadile to allow for insert of brads.

Inchie-valentine-shine-deta

Color in large font words to accent them. I used the Rose Bud Memento Marker. Go over the words again with a Clear Glaze Pen to add some shine and highlight the letters.

Xoxo-inchie-valentine-card

Sponge edges of Cosmo Cricket Natural Burlap Brads with Distress Inks. Insert through holes onto cards.

Quick Tip: Place a Glue Dot behind each brad to keep them straight and in place.

Thanks so much for joining me today in the CLASSroom! Have a creative weekend!

Posted at 09:00 PM in Cards, Inchies, Ink Pads, WPlus9 | | Comments (11) | TrackBack (0)

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January 15, 2013

Plaid Stamping by Laura Bassen

MeLaura Bassen's clean and simple style had me from the word go - the moment I saw her work I was hooked. Precision is key to creating a beautiful clean and simple look and one of the techniques that requires precision and that Laura is queen of is plaid stamping. I was thrilled when she so graciously accepted my invitation to teach this technique here in the CLASSroom! Currently Laura does design work for Paper Smooches, Runway Inspired Challenges, Jane's Doodles, and Clear & Simple Stamps.

To see more of Laura's gorgeous work please visit her blog, Doublestick Heaven! I would appreciate if you would help us thank Laura for sharing her technique with us here in the CLASSroom today. Please leave your comment on her post about being a guest here. As our way of thanking you for taking the time to do so you will have a chance to win some fo the fabulous products she used in this post! You know you are in the right place if you see the following picture.

Thank you Laura for teaching us how to do this beautiful and addictive stamping technique here in the CLASSroom! -Ellen

Laura Bassen Blog Candy

Hello there! I’m so excited to be joining Ellen Hutson in the Classroom today to do a plaid stamping tutorial.  I thought it would be fun to create a plaid pattern on an angle and show how the colors overlap one another. So let’s get started!

Step1

First, you need to stamp your sentiment and begin stamping your first strip of color to create the plaid.

Step2

Now just continue stamping more strips of color.

Step3

Next you’ll need to mask off your sentiment.

Step4

Now begin stamping your strips of colors going in the opposite direction.

Step5

Continue stamping until you have equal strips going both ways.

Step6

Finally, remove your mask and admire with great self admiration!

Final

Here’s the final result in all it’s glory.

Close-up

And here’s a close up.

Grouping

I did one more card, just for fun. Here’s the two together.

Be warned, though, plaid stamping can become very addicting. There are endless patterns to create and color combinations to try. I’ll be honest, I go through a ton of printer paper beforehand testing out my stamping to make sure I get just the right amount of spacing between strips and colors just how I want them, so make sure you test what you do before you waste that precious Neenah Solar White. I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and are inspired to try some plaid stamping. Thanks so much for having me today! - Laura

Posted at 12:00 AM in Blog Candy, Tips and Techniques, WPlus9 | | Comments (62) | TrackBack (0)

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December 15, 2012

Clean and Simple Classic Christmas by Amber Kemp-Gerstel

Casual-HeadshotIt was with much excitement that we added the WPlus9 stamps and dies to our store recently. With the addition of this line we wanted to showcase it's simple elegance and who better to do that than Amber Kemp-Gerstel. Please join us in welcoming Amber today as she shares this fabulous modern design. The technique that she shares in this post can be used with any of the bold solid stamp designs we carry!

You can find more of Amber's beautiful work on her blog Damask Love. I would appreciate if you would head over to Amber's blog now and help us thank her for sharing her talents with us here in the CLASSroom today. Please leave your comment on her post about being a guest here. As our way of thanking you for taking the time to do so you will have a chance to win some of the fabulous products she used in this post! You know you are in the right place if you see the following picture.

Thank you Amber for sharing this beautiful project with us here in the CLASSroom! -Ellen

Amber Kemp_Gerstel

When you like to make clean & simple cards, like I do, it’s nice to come up with techniques that add interest without adding bulk. The same idea applies when you are creating cards that need to mailed without adding extra postage!  Today’s card does both.

I love the look of gradient colors and I’m excited to share a really simple technique for creating color gradients without using a special inkpad.

1
I paired pink and lavender ink on this card to create a sparkly row of dangling ornaments. The technique for creating the color gradient on each image is simple:
2
Use a light tapping motion to add color to the top and bottom of your stamp. Solid stamps work best for this since there is more surface area to apply ink. Apply the lighter color to the bottom half of the image and apply the second , darker color to the top. By working from light to dark,  you won’t sully your lighter inkpad with the darker ink color.

3
Apply a small amount of the darker ink onto a sponge and use this to softly tap the point where the two colors meet. This will create a better blend from one color to the next.
4
Stamp your images as shown. They may not be exactly the same, but that’s the beauty of it!
5
To finish off this design, I added a bit of purple Ice Stickles to the top of each ornament.  Glitter makes everything better right?!


I’m so happy to have shared this project with you! Now, I’m off to make more holiday cards…nothing like some last minute crafting! -Amber

Supplies Small
Ink: Purple, Light Pink and Dark Grey Pigment Ink

Posted at 12:00 AM in Blog Candy, Cards, Christmas Inspiration, Tips and Techniques, WPlus9 | | Comments (47) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: Amber Daigre, Amber Kemp-Gerstel, Christmas Cards, Damask Love, Gradated stamping, WPlus9 clear stamps

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