Tag: crafting

Relaxing Bath

Bath frame close H2O

Well, while in California we have all been ordered to shelter in place, I have been having some fun making some wall hangings for family and friends using one of my all time favorite Digital Stamp store, The Paper Shelter’s adorable digital stamps.  This one is called:   Relaxing Bath

Bath wall H2O

First of all if you are not familiar with digital stamps, then let me tell you why I love them and use them more then traditional stamps.  When you buy an image you get the colored image, the black and white line image (to color yourself), a background with the featured image on it or you can choose to print out the feature image and the background separately, as I did for this project.  The average cost is around $3.00!  You don’t have to store them in your craft room because you store them on your computer.  You can also print them out in any size!  So let’s make some cute art to frame!

The Steps:

Step 1:  Print out the colored version of the background and the featured image that goes with it on white cardstock.  Cut the featured image out using a nested squares die set.  I used Elizabeth Craft Designs: 1118 – Stitched Squares

Step 2:  Make a frame using Elizabeth Craft Designs: Happy Frame XL.  I chose to use a purple cardstock for this step so that the bath accessories would stand out.  Here’s the link to the assembly video: Happy Frame Assembly video

Step 3:  I used some Karen Burniston’s die sets such as the little ducks, bubbles and wine set.  I used Silhouette files for the “slippers, soap, bath brush and yellow bottle of bubble bath.

Step 4:  Trim the background to the same size as the frame.  (if you measure 1″ from each side of the background and trim off the excess, then the printed background should be the exact size of the assembled frame (8″ square).  Add double sided adhesive to all four edges of the trimmed background and attach to the backside of the frame.

Step 5:  Add the bath accessories to the frame as shown.  I chose a white 5/8″ wide ribbon to hang the finished project with.  I tied a bow and left enough ribbon hanging from the bow to attach to the back at the length I felt would look good.  Tape the two hanging pcs. to the back of the project.  Then cut a 8″sq. of white cardstock and attach to the back of the project to cover the ends of the bow and make a clean backside.

Step 6:  On the back of the project I attached Elizabeth Craft Designs: Lace Pocket

Lace pocket

This step is optional, but this is where I wrote a little note about why I chose this particular image for this project for the recipient, but also some things I love about them.

Here’s a few more I made:

I’ve made a total of 13 of these!

Thanks so much for taking a look and I hope you are staying safe and finding some fun projects to make if you are also “sheltering in place”.  And I hope you’ll experiment with digitals!

Other Products Used:

Michael’s Craft Store:  All cardstock

Amazon:  10mm double sided adhesive

Elmer’s Craft Bond

Cutterpillar Pro

Sizzix Big Shot Pro

 

Cute Wedding Card

You can make anything!

Wedding towels H2O

This week’s challenge over at: Crazy4Challenges is to put a ribbon on it!  So first I want to say this is a challenge that everyone should take because you literally can make any kind, color, and type of card you want!  Just put a ribbon on it.  I decided to make a wedding card. First, because I’m still glowing from attending my first granddaughter’s wedding a few months ago and second because yrs. ago I saw a wedding card on Pinterest with Mr. and Mrs. towels with a bow above the towels.

The Steps:

Step 1:  The card measures 4.75″ x 6″ so score an 11″ x 8.5″ pc. of white cardstock at 5.5″ and fold at the score line for a book fold card.

Step 2:  With white cardstock, cut a rectangle using: 1120 – Stitched Rectangles

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Use the largest die in this set above that measures 4.5″ x 5.75″.

Step 3:  Using Elizabeth Craft Designs: Entwined Hearts  emboss the “stitched rectangle”.  Here’s a close up over the sentiment that shows the embossing.

close uo senti

Step 4:  The ribbon I chose looked like it was stitched on the edges to go along with the stitched rectangle.  I made a bow with about 10 inches of ribbon and then cut the ends leaving enough to tape them under the left side top and bottom edges.  Then adhered this layer to the front of the base card.

Step 5:  On a scrap piece of white cardstock about 4 x 4″,  I stamped the Mr. and Mrs. with clear embossing ink and then used silver metallic embossing powder to make the towels.  I separated the mr. and mrs. by an inch apart so I could cut the two towels using the smallest die in this set by Spellbinders: Card Creator

Step 6: Cut a strip of silver metallic mirror cardstock that measures 2″ x .25″.  Fold the top end of each of the towels but without creasing that fold. (you want the towels to thick and luxurious)

.Back of towels

As you see in the photo above I didn’t glue the towels over this strip so as the bottom edges were even. LOL  So I fixed that with adding shiny little white trim at the end of the towels from a really old set of border stickers from Martha Stewart.

Towels close up

Add a small silver self adhesive ball to each end of the silver strip as seen above.  Adhere the towel rack to the front of the card as shown using a large foam dot on both the top and bottom of both towels a half inch from the stitching as shown.

Step 7:  The sentiment is cut from silver mirror cardstock using Elizabeth Craft Designs: 1050 – Best Wishes

Here’s another quick look:

Wedding towels H2O

That’s It!  I sure appreciate you stopping by!

Other Products Used:

Sizzix Big Shot Plus

CatterPillar Pro

Michael’s Craft Store: Cardtock

Amazon:  Double Sided Clear Adhesive

Walmart:  White ribbon

 

 

 

 

Anything But A Card!

Ann's Cups h2o

This weeks challenge over at: Crazy4Challenges

The theme this week is to make an “ABC” or Anything But a Card!  I have to admit that I made this Spring Trio for my oldest daughter in February but I also thought it would be a good inspiration for a gift for someone for any occasion or to hang in your own kitchen or dining room.

The Steps:

Step 1:  I always like to cut out all the elements that will make up the card first.  Then I audition them to see if what I had in mind will actually work.  Here are the die sets I used to cut out all the elements:

A:  Cut 3 cups and saucers from this die set from Elizabeth Craft Designs: Garden Notes – Victorian Tea Cup and Saucer

Garden Notes - Victorian Tea Cup & Saucer

I used 3 different black and white prints from a card stock pack from Michael’s Craft Store.  I used black card stock for the saucers.Michaels paper

Step B:  Cut enough petals and leaf pieces from these 3 die sets to make the flowers: Garden Notes – 1089 – Pansy – 5 piece set

Garden Notes - Pansy 5 piece set

I made enough for 7 pansies.

Make enough petals and flowers for 3 Amarillas and 3 Daffodils: 1218 Garden Notes Amaryllis

Garden Notes - Amaryllis

1137 – Garden Notes – Daffodil

Daffodil die set

Step 2:  Cut an 3 white ovals with the largest die from this set: 1113 – Stitched Ovals

Stitched Ovals

Step 3:  Assemble the cups and saucers and adhere to each white oval  Glue the saucer in place and then put a large foam dot under the cups in the center of each.  When you like where it is on each saucer then add a line of glue  around the underside edges of the cup.  Press the bottom edge down on the saucer.  Next remove the “dot” backing and press the cup in place.  Now go around and press the rest of the edges of the cup down.

Step 4:  If you haven’t made paper flowers, here is the YouTube link to Susan Tierney Cockburn, the designer for Elizabeth Craft Designs.  This is where you will find the video tutorial for each of these flowers.  You will build your flowers right into the cups:

Susan Tierney Cockburn – videos

Step 5:  Cut a rectangle of black card stock that measures 5 x 7″.  Cut two strips of striped paper from the same pack or one you choose that measure 7 x 1.5″.  Cut one stripe from coordinating card stock that measures 7 x 2″.  Adhere these to the 5 x 7″ rectangle and adhere the floral ovals centered.  Here’s another look:

Ann's Cups h2o

Thanks so much for stopping over and I hope you’ll come back soon!

Other Products Used:

Sizzix Big Shot Plus

Michaels:  Shadow Box Frames

Beacon’s Kid’s Choice Glue

C4C – 419 Opposites

Quick and easy with a big impact!

This week’s Challenge over at Crazy 4 Challenges is to make a card with the theme “Opposites” such as black/white, mirror images etc.

.2018-01-22 C4C 419 final

I chose to make my DT card black and white.  Obviously!

This is a really easy card to make.  The background is a Silhouette Studio file called “Fern Artisan”.  This file gives you two mat cutting files.  One is the mat that has the fern cutouts (in my card the top black mat).  The second one is a plain mat.  You can make these files any size.  However, if you don’t own a Silhouette Cutting machine you could use a set of nesting dies and cut out with black cardstock the third to the largest die.  Then put some “leaf or vine type” dies over the black mat and run through your machine to get this same effect.   Below is a picture of the negative from cutting the Silhouette file.  I’ll more than likely use that on another project!

2018-01-22 16.51.20

The Steps:

I needed enough room to add the daisies that I wanted to be the main feature because daisies make me “Smile”.

Step 1. Size the over daisy overlay file to measure 5.5″ square.  The plain mat file you will size to 6″ square and cut from white cardstock and another plain mat sized to 6.5″ in black cardstock.  Adhere the layers together as shown in pictures.

Step 2:  I used this die from Elizabeth Craft Designs to make these cute daisies:

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Cut the over lay piece 3 times from white cardstock.  Cut the daisy silhouette pc. from Velum 3 times.  Adhere the white over lay pcs. of the vellum silhouette pcs. Cut the pc. that is the daisy center from black and white polka dot paper or cardstock 3 times.  Cut the stem pc. 6 times from white cardstock (glue 2 together to end up with 3 stems).

Step 3:  Glue the daisies and their stems as pictured.  I put a foam dimensional dot underneath each daisy center and then glued down one edge of each flower.  I added a black and white polka dot organza bow.

Step 4: Cut the “Smile” sentiment out of white cardstock with this die set and adhere to card as shown:

2018-01-22 17.35.05

That’s it!

Thanks so much for taking a look.  I know your time is valuable!  Please comment and follow I love to read them.  Heck sometimes they’re the brightest spot in my day!

Other Products Used:

Elizabeth Craft Designs:  Clear Double sided Adhesive 10mm

Beacon’s Kids Choice Glue

Recollections:  Foam Adhesive Circles

Sizzix Big Shot Plus

Michaels:  Ribbon

 

 

 

 

C4C – 418 Sketch

A Yupo paper review!

 

I love a sketch challenge.  With all the excitement this past year with Oxide Inks I’ve been wanting to do one of those backgrounds.  However, I don’t own them. I did just get some Yupo paper.  I first read about this paper in Cardmaker Magazine.  Basically, it’s a sort of plastic paper.  This is my first experience with it, so I’m not an expert but here’s my experience.

Yupo Review

Because of it’s “plastic like” surface it doesn’t absorb the ink.  So you have a lot of time to move the ink around.  There are many videos on making your own background or designer paper.  What I did was first choose several ink pads of colors I love together.  I dabbed some ink on a non porous mat of all the colors.  Then I squirted the mat with water from a spray bottle.  I took a large pc. of plastic wrap and wadded it up to wrinkle it and then opened it up and laid it on the ink.  Then I turned the plastic over and laid my Yupo paper over that plastic wrap.  But I needed it to have more color so I added more ink directly on the Yupo and sprayed with water.  I discovered that because the ink stays wet for some time I could take a straw and blow the ink where I liked it!  Then you have to wait for it to dry.  You could probably speed it up with a heating tool.  I didn’t.

Here’s how I made this card:

Step 1:  Make your background using the technique above with your choice of colors.  The picture below shows one of the ATC’s I made with this technique and Watercolor Paper.  It’s interesting to me how much more vivid the colors are but no moving around time:

2018-01-07 21.58.33

Step 2:  I bought this beautiful stamp from Hero Arts called Leafy Vines.  This is a rubber cling stamp.  I used teal ink and my Misti and stamped over my dry background.

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Step 3:  Cut two lamp posts from white cardstock with this die set:

2018-01-17 12.20.20

Cut a little pc. of pale yellow cardstock to put between the two lamp post pcs. to mimic light and glue all together.

Step 4:  From these two die sets cut the 3 little butterflies from 1011 – Garden Notes – Bugs and Butterflies and the large butterfly from  out of white cardstock and color with Copic Markers.  On the large butterfly overlay pc. I went over the coloring with Glitter Pens.

2018-01-08 16.12.33

 

Step 5:  Cut four of the 2nd to the bottom bead dies from this die set 1168 – Bead Strings 1 out of purple cardstock:

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Step 6:  Stamp the sentiment on cream cardstock and cut out with the 2nd smallest from the set on the left.  Cut out of lavender cardstock the 3rd smallest die in the set on the right:

 

Step 7:  Create the base card by cutting a 12 x 12″ pc. of  Soft Sky cardstock in half.  On one half score at 6″ on the long side.  Fold into a book fold and trim to 6 x 7″.

Step 7:  Assemble the card.  In the below pictures are all the elements of the card.

Cut the Yupo background to 4.25″ x 5.5″.  Frame it with the purple “Bead Strings”.  Add two strips of the Peel Off silver stickers with the bottom one at 1″ from the bottom of the base card.  Next adhere the Yupo background to the base as shown putting the lavender circle under the upper right corner.  Adhere the largest butterfly on the top right corner of the background mat, then the sentiment circle.  Next adhere the “lamp post” to the lower left as shown.  The last step is to add the tiny butterflies as shown.

2018-01-08 C4C 418

That’s it!

Thank you so much for taking a look and I hope you will try this fun technique!

Other Products Used:

Elizabeth Craft Designs:  Soft Finish Cardstock 12 x 12 Sky Blue,  Clear Double sided Adhesive 10mm

Beacon’s Kids Choice glue

Sizzix Big Shot Plus

Dies R Us – Kids Cards!

Combine stamping and Die cutting to make adorable cards.

I decided to enter the current challenge at Dies R Us which is “Kids Cards”.

2018-01-16 DiesRus

The image I chose for this challenge is one called “Peaceful Easter” from The Paper Shelter.  I fell in love with this sweet image of innocence:

2018-01-15 16.46.56

The Steps:

Step 1:  Download, size and print the image.  If you’re new to digital stamps,  the greatest reference on many things about using digital images is from a website called Kit and Clowder.   This is a company that teaches coloring with Markers and Pencils.  They also have areas on their website that have an amazing amount of information on all things coloring!  The below photo shows how I always print out an image that I buy in both the black and white, and color version on one page that I keep in a binder.  It also has the image that I colored with PrismaColor Premium Pencils. 

2018-01-15 16.48.02

After I colored the stamped image I created the background with stencils and PanPastel’s then trimmed the finished image to 5 x 7″ with the stamped image centered:

2018-01-15 16.35.56

Step 2:  Cut 2 rectangle mats that measure 5 x 7″.  One from Designer cardstock and one from white cardstock.  From the Die set below on the right 1113 – Stitched Ovals, center the second to the largest on the Designer cardstock and run through your machine.  From the same die set, center the third to the largest on the white rectangle.  Save the Oval mats for another project because you will use the rectangle mats with the oval cut outs.

2016-11-26-17-11-25Step 3:  Adhere the white mat to this layer. Then, on top. the Designer layer.  The photo below is these 3 layers and the beginning of step 4:

2018-01-16 13.24.10

Step 4:  Cut from white cardstock and color with Copic Markers, all the decorator items as follows:

Peaceful Easter collage

Cut the grass, eggs, bunnies and fence once.  Cut all the Holly Hock pcs. to assemble the holly hock on your card directly and build the plant from the stem up as the picture in step 3.

Step 5:  Assemble the Holly Hock on the left as shown then add the fence, bunnies and eggs on the bottom.

Step 6:  Create a base card by scoring a 8.5 x 11″ at 5.5″ on the long side.  Fold and trim down to 5.5 x 7.5″.  Adhere the assembled front to the base.

That’s It!

Thanks so much for taking a look.  Please follow and leave a comment.  I love to read them and answer any questions.

Other Products Used:

Elizabeth Craft Designs:  White Soft Finish Cardstock White,  Clear Double sided adhesive 10mm

Beacons Kids Choice Glue

Sissix Big Shot Plus

 

Rubber Ducky Day!

Again, who knew there was a “Rubber Ducky Day”?  Well, it’s today!  The challenge this week over at Crazy4Challenges is to put a duck or some other feathered friend on your project.  If you’ve been following, then you know I’m crazy for “The Paper Shelter”.  All through the Holiday Season I was using digital stamps from this company on many of my cards for Christmas.  This “Duck” image is called “Most Adorable Duck“.  I’ve been taking classes from Alyce at Kit and Clowder and applying the great technique’s I’m learning.  Alyce’s  mantra is “Practice, practice, practice”  Note: Whenever I get a new digi stamp I print both the black and white and the colored version.  I then usually copy the artist’s coloring the first time I color an image.  It helps me see where the artist’s light source is coming from:

2017-12-26 12.43.18

The Steps:

Step 1:  Size, print and color the image.  I used Prismacolor Premium Pencils.

Step 2:  Cut out the colored image with Elizabeth Craft Designs: 1116 –  Stitched Circles:

2017-08-29 12.55.26

Apply 250.5 Diarylide Yellow PanPastel with a make up sponge to the edges and blending into the center.

Step 3:  With the largest die in the below set 1254 – Entwined Circles cut one pc. with light blue cardstock:

2017-05-23 13.33.36

Step 4:  From the die set below cut 1 of all 3 of the smaller pcs. from white cardstock and color with Copic Markers :

2017-08-23 20.12.29

Step 5:  Cut both small butterflies 1011 – Garden Notes – Bugs and Butterflies from white cardstock and color with Copic Markers.

Step 6:  The card assembly.

6A:  Make a base card by cutting a pc. of 12″ x 12″ White Soft Finish Cardstock by Elizabeth Craft Designs in half and scoring one half at 6″ along the 12″ side.

6B:  Cut a pc. of designer paper with the largest die from the below set:

2017-07-23 16.40.23

6C:  Adhere this pc. centered on the white card base.

6D:  Adhere the “Duck Image Circle” centered as shown, then the light blue “Entwined Circle”.

6E:  Add the “cattail die pcs. and butterflies” as shown.

That’s It!

Thank you so much for taking a look and I hope you’ll join us over at the “Crazies” challenge.  We can’t wait to see what you create.

Other Products Used:

Beacons Kids Choice Glue

Michael’s:  Designer paper

Sizzix Big Shot Plus

 

 

C4C – 416 Tags for Christmas!

Hi friends!  I hope you had a great Christmas!  This week’s challenge is to incorporate a tag or tags on your project.  My grandchildren are all either teens or adults now so I usually give them money for Christmas.  I had purchased Elizabeth Craft Designs 960 – Tags and More 7 – Vine but hadn’t used it yet.  So I made these huge tags as gift holders for the Grands!  Below is a photo of the backs.

2017-12-25 14.31.28

I have fallen in love with The Paper Shelter’s digital images for Christmas.  These two are called “Santa’s Family Selfie” on the left and “Snowmen Selfie” on the right.

2017-12-27 C4C-416 Tags Challeng

The Steps:

Step 1:  Print out the two digital images on cardstock that is appropriate for what ever medium you will use to color them.   I got a bargain on Amazon for Prismacolor’s Premier 150 count color pencils.  Both of these I colored with my new set.  I watched some lessons over at Kit and Clowder and applied those techniques I learned for these two adorable images.

Step 2:  From and 8.5 x 11″ 110lb. cardstock cut two long rectangles that measure 8.5 x 4″.   Cut two more long rectangles from Designer paper the same size.  Put one white rectangle on top of one designer rectangle. Cut the top of each of these 2 sandwich rectangles with the die pc. that cuts the top edge from the set below.  TIP:  Leave the layers together and run through your cutting machine again removing the previous die and adding one of the  “hole” die pcs.  Use the “hole protector” pc. and cut 4 red hole covers.

2017-12-27 14.27.22

Step 3:  Cut two of each of these dies from green card stock:

Add red/gold glitter dots as shown.

Step 4:  I created the humorous sentiments on my computer, printed them out on light brown cardstock and cut them out with the smallest die from this die set.

2017-07-30 12.38.42

Step 5:  Assemble your tag as shown.  On the “Snowmen Selfie” make a frame from light brown cardstock and square nested dies by nesting two dies and running through the cutting machine.  The size of the two square dies would depend on the size of frame you need to frame your image.  I wanted it to look as if animated snowmen were looking into a window and coaxing my granddaughter to come outside.

Step 6:  Decorate a letter size envelope.  I used this stamp set and a Misti on the flap side:

2017-07-09 16.43.33

I also added some die cut stars and snowflakes I had in my stash.  Adhere the envelope to the back of the tag with ECD Clear Double Sided Adhesive 10mm.  Add glitter lines all around the outside of the envelope.

That’s it!

  These are so fun and easy to make and could be used for cash, gift cards and checks.  A great quick way to make the “gift and card all in one”!

Other products used:

Elizabeth Craft Designs:  Soft Finish Card Stock,  Clear Double sided Adhesive 10mm

Michael’s: Ribbon

Sissix Big Shot Plus

Beacon’s Kids Choice Glue

 

 

 

 

 

 

C4C 415 A clean and simple Holiday Card

2017-12-04 13.07.21

 

This week’s challenge over at Crazy4Challenges was to pick any one of the sketches above from the yr. 2017 for your card layout.  It could be any theme or colors.  I chose C4C369.  Do you see the mistake I made?  In my haste to get this done on time I glued the silver flourishes down going the wrong way for the sketch!  OH NO!  Well, we all make mistakes.  Once I was able to start breathing again, I decided I was just going to go with it.  Even though they would have looked so much better the right way.

I’m confessing this to you because we are our toughest critic.  The person who receives this card will never even see that there’s that mistake.

So let’s make this cute Christmas Tree .

The Steps:

Step 1:  This one is so fun because it combines two die sets not intended for each other.  With the below die set, use just the pine bough pc. and cut a bunch of these.  I just kept repositioning the die over two layers of white cardstock until I had cut out that die 12 times netting me 24 of these.

2017-12-03 18.43.34

Brush, on all 24 of these, with clear Wink of Stella.

Step 2:  With the below die set 755 – 5 Part Pine cut all 5 pcs. of this tree from white cardstock:

2016-08-21 13.19.57      2017-12-03 20.05.49

Step 3:  Now start gluing the “pine boughs” over the 5 tree layers but only glue the top of the pine boughs down.  That’s what makes the tree more 3D:

2017-12-03 20.06.55

2017-12-03 23.46.41

Once you have all 5 tree layers covered the way you want it, then glue the 5 tree layers as shown above.

Step 4:  Cut the two flourish pieces from this die set using silver mirror cardstock.

2017-11-30 19.17.18

Step 5:  Using the largest die from this set, cut a square from white cardstock:

2017-07-23 16.40.23

Then using the below embossing folder, emboss this white mat:

2017-12-04 15.12.36

Step 6:  Using the third to the largest die in the below die set cut a rectangle out of red cardstock:

2017-12-04 15.04.47

Emboss this red rectangle with this folder below:

2017-12-04-15-11-58.jpg

The below are the main elements for this card.  The little silver star is one I had in my stash:

2017-12-03 19.14.36

Step 7:  Make the base card from heavy white cardstock that measures 11″ x .5″ and score on the long side at 5.5″.  Fold and trim to a 5.5″ square.  If you’re going to stamp a sentiment on the inside of the card then this is when you should do it.

Step 8:  Adhere the White mat to the base card leaving a 1/8″ on all sides.  Adhere the Red mat onto the white mat as shown.  Then adhere the completed tree.  The flourishes next and I added a Red/silver Glitter Dot from Elizabeth Craft Designs.

That’s it!  Pretty easy and I could also see this tree technique in green or a combo of white and green.

Thanks so much for taking a look!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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