A.Go's Craftomonium

Important Notice!

2010-03-08T06:07:00.005-07:00

Due to technical difficulties with the Blogger platform, I have made the difficult decision to switch my weblog publishing platform. I will now be using WordPress. For many, that's a technical detail that doesn't mean much. However, there will be a change in accessing my weblog.

From now on, you can reach my blog directly by using the following address (URL):

http://www.agoscraftomonium.com (link here)
So you will need to update your bookmark (if you are using one). As I will be leaving Blogger, I will no longer have an opportunity for you to "follow" this blog. Instead, on my new blog, you will have the option to subscribe to an e-mail notification to let you know when my blog is updated. (Of course, this is entirely optional.)

Most of the transition went smoothly. However, there were a few issues with spacing and picture sizing. Some posts may look a bit odd, but all the information is there. Hopefully, this move will help prevent further such problems.

I'm still tweaking the site, but it's basically up and running.

So again, if you will bookmark or type http://www.agoscraftomonium.com into your browser, you will find my new home on these crazy Internets.

I look forward to meeting you on the other side. I will not make any other posts on this blog. Everything will happen in my new posh cyberspace digs.

Thanks for putting up with me...and I hope you'll come along for the journey.

Giveaway #3--Sentimental Winner

2010-03-08T02:14:00.004-07:00

Thank you all for your interest and for sharing some wonderful songs and vivid memories. By random draw, the winner of a new ProvoCraft Cricut 'Sentimentals' cartridge is:

nikki said...
What song makes me Sentimental - Can't help falling in love with you. U2's version. :) First dance at my wedding in 1991 to my high school sweetheart. We were 18 at the time :)

Thanks for the giveaway!

Congratulations NIKKI! I've sent you an e-mail and your cartridge will be on its way shortly. Thank you again to everyone who participated. Your sharing is truly appreciated--as is your readership.

Of course, this means it is now time to announce Giveaway #4! I'll give you three hints: 1) The giveaway will be officially unveiled on Wednesday, March 10, 2010; 2) There will be more than one prize up for grabs; and 3) It's an all Stampin' Up! giveaway.

So check back on Wednesday....and every day (hopefully). A special "Thank You" to those of you who have taken the time follow my blog and leave comments. I read them all and try to respond where possible. If you ever have questions or comments you'd rather not leave in a public forum, my e-mail address is available on the sidebar. Your input is invaluable.

Have a SUPER Monday!

Background/Foreground

2010-03-04T00:01:00.010-07:00

While I dabble in many other types of papercrafting/crafting, I am at heart a cardmaker. I think in many ways it has for me the same appeal that creating ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) does. You have a limited blank space--or canvas--upon which to laydown your ideas, thoughts, and designs. Though there are many different sizes and shapes of greeting cards, I tend to work in the A2 (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") size the most. Every card maker has their own set of "patterns" that guides their work. Do you start with the paper choices first? The event or sentiment? The design idea or embellishments?

Even though I do have a specific pattern to my card building, many times it is just altered by happenstance. Sometimes it will be finding a terrific piece of decorative paper that inspires an entire card. Other times, it might be a person or place that gets inspiration flowing. Sometimes, I think we tend to be too rigid in our patterns and methods. When you let the card make itself, you can find surprising results. This particular card is an example of that for me.

While I LOVE decorative and designer papers as much as the next crafter, sometimes I love to play around with textures and stamps to create my own background images and patterns. What surprised me with this card is the seemingly lack of cohesiveness between all of the elements of the card. What sounded like a wreck in my mind, actually turned out to be an interesting end result (or at least I thought so).

The materials list for this card project is as follows:

paper: Stampin' Up! textured cardstock in Crushed Curry (5 1/2" x 8 1/2"); Stampin' Up! cardstock in Kraft

inks: Stampin' Up! Classic Ink in Soft Suede

stamps: Papertrey Ink fleur di lis tile stamp from Giga Guide Lines set; Stampin' Up! Vintage Labels (#119122)

embellishments: K & Co. Grand Adhesions Butterfly from the Que Sera Sera collection

tools: Stampin' Up! 1 1/4" circle and scalloped circle punches, Stampin' Dimensionals, Scotch ATG 714 adhesive, Stampin' Up! sponge dauber

To begin, I scored my base cardstock at 4 1/4". I then used a single image stamp to repeatedly stamp the background image over the face of my card. I used a sponge dauber to take the same ink and darken the borders on all edges of the card. Because the paper has a textured finish, the stamping has a raw look to it and the imperfect imprinting adds a certain old-world charm to it. The sentiment is stamped on a punched circle of the Crushed Curry cardstock--and then stamped again with the circular frame border. I layered the circle on a scalloped punch circle of Kraft cardstock that has been sponged with the Soft Suede ink to darken it. Stampin' Dimensionals were used to attach the sentiment to the card. The butterfly embellishment was a weird afterthought that in hindsight is an interesting contrast to the repetitive pattern on the background. Though it's not clear in the photographs, the die-cut butterfly has a layer of clear transparency film on top of it to which glitter has been applied. It gives the butterfly a nice sheen and a bit of light reflection which helps it stand out from a busy background pattern.

Don't forget that Sunday is the deadline to enter Giveaway #3 (see sidebar for details). May your background always be pleasing and always star in your foreground. Keep crafting!

Crazy For Cupcakes

2010-03-02T10:25:00.005-07:00

What is it about cupcakes that fascinates us so? Yes, they are yummy...as my tummy will attest. But, for over a year now, cupcakes seem to be all the rage in paper crafts and home decor. Of course, one can perhaps argue that cupcakes are never out. Maybe it's their size? Or the vast array of colors and textures? The frosting and assorted sprinkles? Hmmm. The world of cupcakes is just a place of fluffy goodness that always seems to bring a smile to our collective faces.

Today's quick and simple card project celebrates all things cupcake. The materials list is a follows:

papers: Stampin' Up! cardstock in Summer Sun (5 1/2" x 8 1/2"); Basic Grey decorative cupcake paper from 'Nook & Pantry' collection; Stampin' Up! Whisper White cardstock

ink: Stampin' Up! Close To Cocoa; Tsukineko Memento in Tuxedo Black; Copic Sketch markers

ribbon: Stampin' Up! polka dot grosgrain ribbon in Crushed Curry

stamps: cupcake image and sentiment from Pink Cat Studio

tools: Stampin' Up! scallop edge punch; Zutter 1/2" corner rounder, Cutterbee scissors, Stampin' Dimensionals, ATG714 adhesive, Zig two-way glue pen

I stamped three cupcake images on Whisper White cardstock with Tuxedo Black ink. I then colored each image in with blends of Copic Sketch markers and trimmed around the images. I played around with the grouping of the three cupcakes and when I found a layout I liked, I tacked them together with the Zig glue pen. The cupcake decorative paper was punched top and bottom to create the scalloped edge and the edges were slightly inked. I then wrapped the ribbon around the paper and adhered the mat to the cardstock base using my ATG714 adhesive gun. I used Stampin' Up! Stampin' Dimensionals to attach the handcolored cupcake trio over the ribbon. The Dimensionals lift the cupcake cutouts up and away from the decorative paper and give it more of an illusion of depth and creates interest for the eye. I rounded the corners of the card and stamped the sentiment--and cupcake madness ensued.

Hey, Cupcakes! Thanks for stopping by...and as always, keep crafting!

Vintage Meets Chic

2010-02-26T10:55:00.003-07:00

Today's card project is a quick and easy example of highlighting stamping on a card.

The supply list for this card is as follows:

Paper: Stampin' Up! Glossy White cardstock; 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"

Stamps: Stampin' Up! 'Vintage Vogue' (flowers); Stampin' Up! 'I {Heart} Hearts' (vined heart); Stampin' Up! 'Whimsical Words' (sentiment)

Inks: Stampin' Up! 'Always Artichoke' and 'Handsome Hunter'; Tsukineko Memento in 'Tuxedo Black'

Embellishments: Prime eLine Pearls & Crystals in Hunter Green and Teal Blue

Tools: Zutter 1/2" Round-It-All

While the stamps are clearly meant to evoke an overall vintage feel, something happens to them when you stamp them on a glossy cardstock. Suddenly, the vintage feel gets a "pop" from the shiny, sleek modern paper. It's a very interesting contrast in moods and creates a totally new feel for the card than if you had simply stamped on a matte cardstock.

To begin, I scored my glossy cardstock at 4 1/4" inches and then rounded all the corners with the Zutter tool. I then stamped the large and small floral images and decided the heart image was a nice compliment to the flowers. (TIP: When stamping on glossy cardstock, it is imperative that you use a steady hand and consistent pressure or else your stamp will slide and blur your image. You may have to practice a few times before you get the technique down. Also, you'll want to allow a bit more drying time for the inks as the glossy coating on the paper does not absorb the ink as well as other types of cardstock.) Once, my stamping was dry, I decided the centers of the flowers could use a little bling. A few halfback adhesive pearls and faceted crystals in complimentary colors give the card another layer of vintage meets chic--with a touch of bling.

I hope you all have a Happy Friday and an even better weekend! Don't forget to sign-up for Giveaway #3 (see sidebar)...and as always, keep crafting.

Giveaway #3--Let's Get Sentimental

2010-02-25T13:31:00.003-07:00

Yes, Kids! It's time for Giveaway #3. Up for grabs is a brand new Cricut cartridge from ProvoCraft entitled "Sentimentals". I've had this cartridge for a bit now and I have to say I've grown fond of many of the images contained therein. This cartridge has the following creative features: Layer, Phrase, Tag, Card, Envelope, and Shadow.

To enter for a chance to win this cartridge, just leave a comment in this post answering the following question: "What song makes you sentimental?" You don't have to explain your answer (though you can if you'd like to share). The deadline for entering is Sunday, March 7, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. MST. The winner will be chosen via random draw and announced on the following Monday. If you haven't already become a follower of my blog, I'd love for you to consider it (but it is certainly NOT required).

{Finally, just as a point of information (and because I have had an inquiry on the subject), all prizes given away on my blog are purchased with my own funds. I do not have any corporate or vendor sponsorships. It's good to give...}

Every Day Is Magical

2010-02-25T12:31:00.007-07:00

There is a fine line in the world of paper crafting. It's a line you get more accustomed to the more time you devote to your crafting. Nonetheless, it's a line that whether you are a beginning crafter or a very experienced one, you deal with on nearly every project. The line? When is too much too much? As crafters and souls obsessed with sparkly things, we tend to love our embellishments--perhaps a bit too much. Knowing when a project is done or needs just "a little something" is in the end a matter of personal taste and artistic vision. I know that I've been guilty of overdoing a design or using one too many embellishments. Sometimes, too much can be a good thing and you'll discover an odd color combination or a surprisingly appealing excess of bling that you might not have otherwise discovered unless you allowed yourself the freedom to let go and experiment. In the end, it is true that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Don't be afraid to try new things, mix different textures and elements, play with odd color combinations--because it your art and your expression. Not everyone has to "get it" every single time. Being creative means coloring outside of the lines now and again.

This particular card project is a fine example of trying to find the point where you tow the line and say, "This is done...or maybe...".

To start the project, I chose the following papers to work with:

(1) 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece of Stampin' Up! cardstock in Rich Razzleberry

(1) 4" x 5" piece of SEI cardstock from the 'Jolie Chocolat' collection

(1) 3 3/4" x 4 1/4" piece of Stampin' Up! cardstock in Whisper White

(1) 4" x 5 1/4" pice of Stardream Fuse Mica cardstock in Amethyst

The Rich Razzleberry cardstock is my card base and is scored at 4 1/4" to create an A2 card size. The Whisper White cardstock is my stamping and embossing base. I used the Stampin' Up! scalloped edge punch on the top of the cardstock. The two stamps I used (fairy and sentiment) are from Unity Stamp Co. I heat embossed the fairy image with a silver tinsel embossing powder after stamping it in Versamark. The sentiment was heat embossed with a fine black embossing powder.

Next, I used my ATG714 adhesive gun to adhere the decorative SEI cardstock to the front of my folded card base.

Before adhering my embossed mat to the decorative cardstock, I thought it would be fun to use my Ranger ink blending tool and some Tsukineko Dew Drop ink in Lilac Posies to ink the edges of my stamped piece. The replaceable sponge pads on the tool are really wonderful to work with and give you so many different looks and techniques to try.

At this point, I seriously considered stopping. It was a nice card and very colorful. Yet, something still gnawed at me. After looking at it for a while, I decided it needed another pop of "oomph" to really meet the standard of being magical. My eye zoned in on the top flower of the embossed image and decided it needed more interest, bigger presence. The solution was to take three die-cut flower images and layer them with Stampin' dimensionals to create an image that leapt off the card front. A bit of glitter, a Prima pearl in the center, and a chocolate heart stick pin and now the fairy really had something magical to gaze upon.

Finally, because of the deep color of the Rich Razzleberry cardstock, I adhered the piece of Stardream Fuse Mica cardstock to the interior to have a place to write a note or sentiment.

As always, thanks for stopping by....and may your days be filled with magic always!

We're The Perfect Pear...

2010-02-22T10:32:00.008-07:00

It's no secret that my favorite color is green. I love all shades of green--but honestly, I tend to really love the odd end of the scale--olive, chartreuse and lime. Last night while keeping tabs on the all-absorbing Winter Olympics from Vancouver, I worked on this card. I was ready for something Spring-y and Kermit-y.

The base cardstock is Papertrey Ink cut at 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and scored at 4 1/4" with the Scor-Pal. I used my Stampin' Up! ticket corner punch to shape the card. All along, I knew I wanted to make this wonderful Unity Stamp Co. pear stamp the focal point of my card. But, I also knew I was going to need "something" more to keep the card from swallowing up the stamped image.

I stamped the image with a Versamark pad onto Stampin' Up! Whisper White cardstock and then heat embossed it with a fine black embossing powder. I used my Stampin' Write markers to color the embossed image and then trimmed around it. (TIP: I found through trial and error that sometimes using Copic markers to color a heat embossed image is a bit tricky. The alcohol based ink can tend to smear some embossing powders, putting unsightly black streaks into your coloring. However, the Stampin' Up! Stampin' Write markers do not smear any embossing powders that I have tried thus far.)

To set-off my pear image, I decided to use a Cricut cut from the 'Picturesque' cartridge. I chose a swirled tag image cut at 4" from some dark green textured Bazzill cardstock. I used another piece of Papertrey Ink pear colored cardstock to create a backing shadow cut for the open swirl tag. For the hole in the top of the tag, I chose a polka dotted Making Memories brad, cut off the backing prongs, and used Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere it to the tag. Finally, I found a piece of scrap Stampin' Up! designer series paper in a green houndstooth pattern and cut it down to creat a horizontal mat to break up the tag and add another layer of visual interest. Now, it was time to put everything together using my ATG714 adhesive gun.

After I finished the card, I was getting ready to pull and envelope and a poly storage bag to file it away. But, I decided to try something a bit different--and I have to say I really like this idea for presentation purposes. Instead of using an envelope, I chose a glassine envelope/pouch to put my card in. It fits perfectly and I love the fact that you can see some of the card detail through the glassine paper. I picture this stuck in a wicker basket of fresh Bartlett pears as a wonderful neighbor/housewarming gift.

As always, thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to stop by and see what's crafting on my blog. Wherever the day takes you, I hope you have a pear-fect one....

Keep Crafting!

Monkey Love

2010-02-18T11:36:00.002-07:00

This is a quick and easy card made predominantly of Stampin' Up! supplies. I am in absolute love with this monkey stamp. He is too cute for words!

The base of the card is Stampin' Up! cardstock in 'Soft Suede'. The bottom mat is Stampin' Up! 'Kraft'. The images were stamped on 'Whisper White' cardstock. The edges of the white mat were puched using an EK Success Postage Stamp Edge punch and inked with Chai tea stain.

The monkey stamp is from the Stampin' Up! clear mount set 'Fox & Friends' (#118565, $14.95). The heart stamp is from 'I {Heart} Hearts' (#118571, $18.95). They were stamped in a random pattern using Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip Classic ink. I also used a piece of Stampin' Up! 1/4" grosgrain ribbon in Chocolate Chip as a matching embellishment. A bit of Sakura Stardust clear glitter pen accents the outline of the white mat.

Happy Thursday...and I hope your day includes a little bit of monkeyin' around!

Giveaway #2--Hearts Flutter Winner

2010-02-08T21:05:00.003-07:00

Thank you to all who entered Giveaway #2! This is turning out to be a lot of fun getting to know some of you a bit better. Of course, that means you're probably learning a bit too much about me--which can be scary. Before, I name this week's winner, please be on the lookout for Giveaway #3 popping up in the next couple of days.

The winner of the Hearts Flutter Valentine's package is:

scrapgranny said...
My heart flutters over new crafty things!! Thanks for the chance to win!
January 31, 2010 12:31 PM

Congratulations Scrapgranny! I hope your new goodie bag makes your heart flutter and spurs your creativity. If you will please e-mail me with you mailing information, I will get your package in the mail.

A Little Less Conversation...

2010-02-04T09:15:00.005-07:00

Today is a quick and easy card day. I also had a strange idea and made a bizarre discovery--but we'll get to that in a minute.

I'd received some new Cuttlebug embossing folders that I've been wanting to try out. So this card uses one of the new 5" x 7" folders entitled "Conversation". This folder is one of six in a new set coming soon from ProvoCraft called 'Love Is In The Air'. (This is also the same set that was an early release to HSN and sold as 'Romance'.)

The base of the card is a piece of Bazzill Bling textured cardstock in the color "High Heels". The mat for my card is a piece of scrap red cardstock (not sure of the brand) cut to 4" x 4 1/2". I ran the mat cardstock through my Cuttlebug in the "Conversation" folder. I was pleased with the overall look, but thought it needed a little bling. That's when I had the bizarre idea. I took some Tsukineko Dew Drop Brilliance in "Pearlescent Beige" and used Kleenex to apply a light buff coating to the embossed mat. The result is rather remarkable. It gives the conversation heart a bit more definition, while imparting a sparkly sheen to the paper. It really mimics the look of a mica cardstock (which is typically much more expensive). So, I suppose the lesson is EXPERIMENT. Find new ways to use old products in unexpected ways. Perhaps it won't always work, but for every failure you're sure to find numerous new discoveries to set off your work. I'm not sure what possessed me to try beige ink on red paper--but the result was totally unexpected and perfect for this particular card project.

The sentiment is also done with the Cuttlebug. I used an A2 die from a combination die/embossing folder set entitled "Love Language". The final touches were a piece of Stampin' Up! silk ribbon in "Real Red" and a couple of punch-outs using the SU! Small Heart Punch (#117193, $5.95). I love the look the heart punch-outs have against the darker color of the cardstock interior. Visual interest is always so important in creating eye-catching projects. Until next time, as always, keep crafting!

It's A Bird...

2010-02-02T05:11:00.008-07:00

Today simple and easy card features a die cut from the new licensed ProvoCraft Cricut cartridge 'Superman'.

For this card project, I chose a base cardstock from Die Cuts With A View (DCWV) 'Modern Loft' paper stack. As this was obviously going to be a masculine-inspired card, I thought the brick pattern was reminiscent of a background panel one might see in an actual comic strip. I used a Chai Tea stain to ink the edge of my cardstock, which was cut to 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" and scored at 4 1/4" to form an A2 sized card. The corners were clipped using my Stampin' Up! tag corner punch.

The diecut was cut on my Cricut Expression at 4 1/2". I did shadow cut with Bazzill corduroy textured cardstock in Raven. For the layering pieces, I cut them out of Bazzill corduroy textured cardstock in Snow. The reason I cut the layering pieces out of white cardstock is that I wanted to use my Copic Sketch markers to "color" in the face and hair details. I think the handcoloring gives the diecut a bit more "pop" and comic book realism (than if I had just used corresponding colored cardstock). I used a blend of E00 (Skin White), E11 (Barely Beige), E13 (Light Suntan) and E15 (Dark Suntan) for the facial features and shading. I used B29 (Ultramarine) for the hair highlight. I also went back in with a Copic Atyou Spica Glitter pen in Sky Blue to add a little oomph to Superman's locks. (He is a SUPER hero after all, lol.) Finally, to achieve those come-hither baby blues, I used Clearsnap Smooch metallic ink in Azure for intensity and sparkle. (Am I the only one fanning myself!? Wait, don't answer that.) The sentiment stamp is from Unity Stamp Co. and seemed appropriate. It was stamped using Tsukineko Memento ink in Tuxedo Black.

'Superman' is a terrific addition to your Cricut cartridge library if you have men in your life--big or little. It's also a terrific resource for themed parties and decorations--as it includes three-dimensional character boxes, banners, party favors, Clark Kent spectacles, treat bags and much more. Of course, it features several variations on that fabulous Superman logo and a complete font set.

Now, I must be off. (I have to go figure out what size I need to cut my Clark Kent glasses at. Don't judge. Or at least, don't tell me.)

Trust me. I know.

Simply Adorned

2010-02-01T04:50:00.004-07:00

Stampin' Up! announced its line of customizable jewelry pieces several months ago. However, some issues with quality control kept the line from debuting until the recent Occasions Mini Catalog. I finally got around to playing with a couple of pieces I purchased to try out.

The idea behind the 'Simply Adorned' line is indeed simple. It consists of an oval link bracelet and necklace (available in two lengths) with charms available in different sizes and shapes. The charms are key to the "adorned" part of the concept. These nickel-plated charms are locket-style pieces with glass fronts and backs. There is a clasping mechanism that allows you to open the charms and create your own mini-artworks to display. Of course, you can use photographs or other keepsakes--but the fun is really in using your creativity, stamps, and other crafting supplies to create little expressions of yourself to wear for others to see.

The first piece I purchased was the 34" Simply Adorned chain (#116853, $12.95). The chain has an alternating oval link pattern to it with a bar and toggle closure and a 'Simply Adorned/Stampin' Up!' hang tag. (The chain is also available in a shorter 24" length.) To go along with it, I purchased the Simply Adorned rectangular (1" x 1 1/2") charm (#116798, $18.95). The charm features a tempered bevel glass front and a flat glass back. The nickel-plated charm frame attaches to your chain via a lobster claw clasp.

Inspired by the upcoming Valentine's holiday, I worked a quick design for my charm using some decorative paper, metallic inks, a white pen and a bit of sketching. For a quick example, I don't think it turned out half bad. I look forward to making new inserts and to giving these to the important people in my life. A little reminder to carry around their neck of my love and devotion.

Wherever today takes you, do something unexpected and nice for someone. We can all use a little unexpected love in these days. Have a happy Monday and may February bring us all the bounty of love.

(p.s. Don't forget to sign-up for Giveaway #2 in the previous post!)

Giveaway #2--Hearts Flutter

2010-01-29T23:31:00.003-07:00

It's time for giveaway #2...and of course, it's inspired by the upcoming salute to St. Valentine. So put your cupid wings on and enter for a chance to win this week's loot.

Up for grabs, a package that includes:

Fancy Pants "French Market" rub-ons

7 Gypsies "Zanzibar" rubbings

Prima Marketing Journaling Bloc-Notes & Storage Box (30 sheets, 4"x6")

Heidi Swapp "Crowns" Journaling Spots

K&Co. "Smitten" Holographic Puffed Heart Stickers

K&Co. "Smitten" Adhesive Chipboard Heart Collection

Pebbles Inc. Ribbon Sampler in "Chocolate Box"

Papertrey Ink 6" x 6" Patterned Paper Pad in "Pink Patterns" (36 sheets)

For a chance to win, leave a comment on this post telling us: "What makes your heart flutter?". The winner will be chosen by random draw. Entries accepted until 11:59 p.m. MST on February 3, 2010. The winner will be announced on February 4, 2010 on this blog. As always, consider officially "following" my weblog to stay abreast of giveaways and updates (see right sidebar).

Good Luck and have a terrific weekend ahead!

Note Card File Prototype

2010-01-28T11:01:00.007-07:00

The project I'm sharing today is one that I've been working on for a while now. This is actually the fourth prototype I've created continually tweaking the design. I was inspired by all of the envelope albums that seem to be in vogue right now.

I knew I didn't want to create an album per se. I was interested in taking the "pouch system" created with the envelopes and adapting it to a type of holder or file system. I originally thought it would be a cute idea to use as gift packaging for a set of personalized note cards. However, after working with the design for a while now, I think this would be a great design to hold tags, photos, gift certificates or coupons.

The main problem I encountered was coming up with an appropriate closure system. Previous versions used a hook and loop closure, a constructed tab closure, and a button closure. Through trial and error, I've decided the most effective (and best looking) closure was made by using simple eyelets and ribbon.

The base for this project was a piece of thin chipboard measuring 11" in length and 5" in width. I scored the chipboard piece at 5 1/4" and 5 7/8". This creates the spine of your book, which measures 5/8" in width.

With the interior structure of the folder created, I chose a lovely patterned paper from SEI's 'Oasis' collection to cover my chipboard with. I allowed a 1/4" overhang allowance on all sides of my covers to allow for the paper to wrap over the edges and be adhered to the interior backing of the chipboard. I used separate cut pieces to cover the front and back covers and the spine.

At this point I punched holes on each side of the covers and set eyelets to hold my ribbon closure. For the actual ribbon, I used some 1/2" Stampin' Up! silk ribbon in Old Olive. By threading each piece of the ribbon through the eyelet and then using my ATG 714 adhesive, I taped the ribbon to the interior raw chipboard. Not only does this allow you to anchor your closure, but it allows you to hide the backsides of your eyelets and the ends of your ribbon. I then used the same decorative paper to cover the inside panels of my folder book.

For the actual accordian fan folders, I used some Stampin' Up! A2 sized Kraft envelopes. I took four envelopes and sealed them. Then I cut 2 1/2" off each end of the envelopes to create the eight pockets used to create my filing system. To create the fan file, I used two strips of ATG adhesive in the center of each of the envelope pockets, adhering the back of one pocket to the front of the next. Once all eight pockets are adhered to one another, all that is left to do is adhere the pocket bundle to your chipboard covers. I covered the front of the first envelope pocket and the back of the last pocket and attached them to my cover.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with the results. I might work on a couple other design modifications, but the basic folder shape is there and it is very functional. [TIP: A cute Valentine's Day idea for a project like this is to create eight coupons to place in your file folders (e.g., "redeem for one kiss", "redeem for a massage", "redeem for a candlit dinner", etc.)]

Giveaway #1 Winners Announced!

2010-01-25T23:15:00.003-07:00

First, I must apologize for the tardiness in posting this much-anticpated post. Some time between Saturday night and Sunday morning, I had an unexpected visitor in the form of some nasty flu bug. Now, I love bugs--especially Cricuts--but I do not care for the flu variety. Needless to say I was knocked for a loop with a fever and chills--but I think I'm finally starting to kick its little gross butt. (But no one wants to hear about that, lol.)

So, my first giveaway winners chosen by random draw are:

**Cricut Cartridge: Plantin Schoolbook:

Jacqui said...
Just discovered your blog. love your work. I have become a follower.
January 24, 2010 8:46 PM

**Stampin' Up! Good Neighbors Clear Mount Stamp Set:

Jeanette T. said...
Nice to see a guy doing this. Thanks for a chance to win some candy. Have a great weekend.
January 22, 2010 4:08 PM

Congratulations to JACQUI and JEANETTE T.! If you will please e-mail me your mailing addresses, I'll get your packages on the way to you.

I really want to thank everyone for participating and for leaving such wonderful and encouraging comments. I do take the time to read each and every one--and they all mean so much to me.

Look for Giveaway #2 to appear sometime Friday! Wanna know what I'm giving away? Uhm...not so fast. You'll have to come back for the goods...

Picturesque

2010-01-21T15:09:00.005-07:00

After an internal battle with my will and common sense ended in gory defeat, I finally succumbed to this itch that has been plaguing me for nearly two months and begrudgingly (with a slice of giddiness) gave in an purchased the illusive Cricut cartridge 'Picturesque' on the secondary market. It goes without saying that this has become my most expensive cartridge yet (replacing 'Potpourri Basket').

Finally, it came down to a simple matter of supply. It does appear (via information from a well-placed source) that ProvoCraft will NOT be making 'Picturesque' available for individual sale any time in the near future. Originally, paired with a champagne-colored Expression, 'Picturesque' was to be an exclusively bundled cartridge to Home Depot. However, a contractual problem occurred and the deal fell threw. It is my understanding that the rumored 300-500 bundles were sold to a warehouse club--and were quickly broken up to sell on the secondary market by some savvy consumers. My source says that the cartridge will reappear in a new set of exclusive machine bundles that will be exclusive to a major retailer in approximately the same quantity. The retailer has been chosen, but has not been officially announced. Meanwhile, there are no plans through 2010 to offer 'Picturesque' as a solo cartridge.

In my opinion, that really is a great shame as this is a bursting-at-the-seams chock-full content cartridge. The artwork by Noralee Peterson is intricately detailed and filled with decorative flourishes and embellished elements. The cartridge features the following creative features: tags, corners, frameworks, cards and seals, shadow and blackout on over 99 individual pieces of artwork. Among the images included are: florals, dragonflies, butterflies, birds, nests, swans, vines, scallops, celtic knot elements, greek key elements, and iron work elements.

Here are a few photographs of some of the elements from the enclosed handbook:

My first project using 'Picturesque' was a quick greeting card. The three lighter blue cardstock pieces (card base, mat, and die cut) are all Bazzill cardstock from a Fourz pack with a grasscloth texture. The mat cardstock was punched with an EK Success border punch called "Swiss Cheese". The backing paper on the diecut tag is an SEI glitter cardstock. The "love" sentiment was cut on the Making Memories Slice (from the 'Think Pink' card) out of silver foiled SEI cardstock. The actual diecut tag I chose to cut on my Cricut Expression is called "cotton blossom" and was cut at 4" (Shift + Tag). The polka-dot ribbon is from Papertrey Ink's "Enchanted Evening" collection and the mabe pearl accent is from the Stampin' Up! Pretties kit. I used my ATG 714 adhesive to assemble the card. The inner sentiment is from a Stampin' Up! Sale-a-Bration stamp set entitled 'Whimsical Words' (#119119). Finally, I used a Martha Stewart corner rounder punch to shape the final card.

With the addition of 'Picturesque' to my cartridge library (and Gypsy), I am now only down three cartridges of all that have been released thus far: 'Keystone International', 'Don Juan International', and 'Pink Journey'. As always, the search continues...

Well, I was rather wordy today. I hope you enjoyed the peek at 'Picturesque'. If you have a way to add it to your collection, I highly recommend it. It really is a beautiful set of images.

As always, have a terrific Friday ahead...and keep crafting!

Let The Games Begin!

2010-01-19T13:27:00.005-07:00

In a shameless effort to promote myself and my crafting blog, this month I'm going to start what hopefully will be a monthly tradition of giving back to my loyal readers and fellow enthusiasts.

First up this week, your opportunity to win either a new Stampin' Up! Sale-a-Bration stamp set or a new Cricut cartridge.

The stamp set is entitled 'Good Neighbors'. Not only is this set not available for individual purchase, but it's one of the new clear-mount rubber stamp sets introduced exclusively for Sale-a-Bration. It consists of ten individual rubber stamps with a new cling-mount foam system packaged in a new DVD style storage case. All you need is a clear acrylic mounting block and you're ready to stamp away.

The Cricut cartridge is 'Plantin Schoolbook'. This cartridge is usually bundled with the Cricut Expression and is a great basic shapes and font cartridge. It is brand-new, never registered nor linked to a Gypsy. (I received a new Green Expression for Christmas and already own this cart. So I hope someone out there can use it).

To win either prize (winners determined by random draw), you only need to do one thing: Leave a comment on this post. However, I'd really love it if you would consider "following" this blog by signing up on the right sidebar. This will keep you informed of updates to the blog and other giveaways coming down the pipeline. The deadline for this giveaway is Sunday, January 24, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. MST. Winners will be posted on Monday and they can contact me with their mailing information.

As always, thanks for reading and helping get the word out that men can craft too! Be on the lookout for some really great giveaways right around the corner.

Butterflies Are Free

2010-01-19T12:59:00.003-07:00

I know it's not proper etiquette to rave about your own work, BUT...I LOVE this card. It started out as something entirely different and morphed into what you see below. It features a new Stampin' Up! exclusive Sizzix Embosslits die that was just introduced in the new 2010 Occasions Mini Catalog.

The die is called 'Beautiful Wings' (#118138, $ 11.95) and it cuts and embosses four different delicate butterfly diecuts. Measuring a scant 2 1/4" x 2 1/2", this must have die will fit into anyone's collection (lol). The A2 sized card below was made from a sheet of DCWV 'Latte' cardstock. The mat is from the gorgeous SEI collection entitled 'Jolie Chocolate'. Throw in a little tea staining, glitter, a corner rounder and you have a card with implied motion, dimension and joyful charm.

Now, pardon my overindulgence in the photography department. (Oh, and just a friendly reminder: If you are ever looking for any Stampin' Up! products, feel free to check out my on-line boutique.

Wherever the day takes you, flutter your wings...and create! Keep crafting!

Up Close: Aging & Staining

2010-01-15T11:21:00.004-07:00

This tri-fold card was an experiment to use several aging/staining techniques I will be sharing with you in the near future. I really like the effects you can obtain by using tea stains, inking, paint, masking and overlaying. It gives a bit of the vintage feel, but still retains an overall modern and stylish look.

Also, next week be on the lookout for your chance to win some cool prizes, including:

Wanna know what they are and how to win them? Stay tuned...and tell a friend. Have a terrific weekend Crafty peeps...

Love Struck 2010

2010-01-11T10:35:00.004-07:00

I seem to be enchanted with hearts these days. While two-thirds of the country may be finding icicles dripping from their tickers, it's safe to say that the blood is still flowing in my neck of the woods. (Which reminds me, I should really clear up the latest craft-blog rumor about myself: That story about me dating an entire NFL football team is so overblown. I swear. It was just the offensive line of the Indianapolis Colts--not the entire team.)

Hearts are so randy... Now, where was I? Oh, hearts. Not to be obvious or anything, but Valentine's Day is soon upon us and Cupid will be looking to pierce his little sticks of love (or lust) into unsuspecting paramours around the world. I'll shortly be handing out my yearly application for potential boyfriends and other assorted play toys.

One of the new timely releases from ProvoCraft's new line of seasonal limited-edition cartridges is appropriately entitled 'Love Struck 2010'. It features a very nice array of highly-detailed cuts celebrating all things love and hearts. This weekend, I played around with the cartridge a bit and thought I'd share a couple of examples of the intricate hearts found on this mini-cartridge. It's truly a must-have in my opinion (but, aren't they all usually?)

These first two are base cut out of Bazzill cardstock and the overlay is cut from a piece of K & Co. decorative cardstock from the "Smitten" collection.

The final two examples (which I A-D-O-R-E-!) are cut with base layers of Bazzill white cardstock. The top layers are cut from Stampin' Up! textured cardstock in Melon Mambo. To really set off the intricate designs, I used a layer of Stampin' Up! Crystal Effects for gloss, sheen and added dimension.

Now all of you crafty peeps, go break some hearts....

Matryoshka

2009-12-17T03:33:00.005-07:00

A matryoshka doll is also known as a Russian nested doll or babushka doll. The set of typically wooden dolls is of decreasing sizes which fit one inside the other. The word "matryoshka" (матрёшка) is derived from the Russian female first name "Matryona" (Матрёна). The word "babushka" is the Russian word for grandmother.

Matryoshka dolls are said to have been inspired by souvenir dolls from Japan. The concept of nested objects was familiar in Russia at that time, having been applied to carved wooden apples and Easter eggs. They date from the 1890's and consist of a wooden figure which separates, top from bottom, to reveal another figure of the same sort inside, which has, in turn, another figure inside of it, and so on. The number of nested figures is usually five or more. The form is approximately cylindrical, with a rounded top for the head, tapering toward the bottom, with little or no protruding features; the dolls have no hands (except those that are painted). Traditionally the outer layer is a woman, dressed in a sarafan. The figures inside may be of either gender; the smallest, innermost doll is typically a baby, and does not open. The artistry is in the painting of each doll, which can be extremely elaborate. Matryoshka dolls are often designed to follow a particular theme, for instance peasant girls in traditional dress, but the theme can be anything, from fairy tale characters to Soviet leaders.

The first Russian nested doll set was carved by Vasiliy Zvezdochkin (from a design by Sergei Maliutin), who was a folk crafts painter in the Abramtsevo estate of the Russian industrialist and patron of arts Savva Mamontov. The doll set was painted by Maliutin himself. Maliutin's design was inspired by a set of Japanese wooden dolls representing Shichi-fuku-jin, the Seven Gods of Fortune. Maluitin's doll set consisted of eight dolls -- the outermost was a girl holding a rooster, six inner dolls were girls, the fifth doll was a boy, and the innermost was a baby. In 1900, Savva Mamontov's wife presented the dolls at the World Exhibition in Paris, and the toy earned a bronze medal. Soon after, matryoshki dolls were being made in several places in Russia.

I've long been fascinated by Imperialist Russian history and art. I am a student of the work of Peter Carl Faberge and a collector of eggs. The beauty in art, textiles, sculpture, jewelry molding, fashion, and other areas of Czarist Russia is truly breathtaking in its scope and grandeur. Wassily Kandinsky is another artist of the period that I adore.

When I saw the early sample images of the new Cricut cartridge "Paisley", I was immediately drawn to the images of several matryoshka dolls. Of course, the entire cartridge is filled with delightful, whimsical images, but the matryoshka sold me immediately.

Of course, I was dying to make a card with one of the pieced images. This card was my first attempt--and I have to say it holds a special place in my heart. For some reason, every now and again, the crafting muses align perfectly and a project has just the right combinations of colors, textures, and design elements. For me, this card is one of those watershed moments.

The matryoshka image is cut at 3.75" on the Cricut Expression and consists of several layered pieces. The solid cardstocks are all textured Bazzill papers. The decorative paper for the mat and outer matryoshka layer is from Die Cuts With A View. The card base is an A2 piece of Stardream Fuse Mica cardstock in Ruby. The ribbon is 1/2" satin Stampin' Up! in Real Red. I also used the Stampin' Up! tag corner punch on both the card base and mat in all four corners. The crimson pearls are from Jennie Bowlin Studio and the inner journaling shield is from K & Co. The layers were adhered with SNAIL adhesive and the matryoshka is elevated with Stampin' Up! dimensionals. It's a very simple, yet strikingly elegant layout.

Monkeying Around

2009-12-11T08:05:00.003-07:00

There is something just so darn adorable about this monkey! Every time I see him hanging around, I can't help but smile.

The cardstock base is from DCWV 'Safari' stack. The card mat is Bazzill Bling cut with a Stampin' Up! Exclusive Top Note die and the Sizzix Big Shot. The monkey is a Sizzix Bigz Die (#655356 by artist Debi Adams) cut out of textured Bazzill cardstock. The greeting is a stamp from the Stampin' Up! 'A Little Somethin'' stamp set. I used a corner rounder on the card and inked the edges with a chamomile tea stain. Oh, and yes, the monkey is upside down on purpose...just hangin' around.

No matter where today finds you and your tail, keep smiling...and most importantly, keep crafting!

Give'm That Ol' Razzle Dazzle...

2009-12-07T04:04:00.007-07:00

If you are anything like me, you're submersed in the wonderful world of gift wrapping, last-minute gifts, and decorating every nook and cranny of your home...and loving every second of it. Somehow, in all the madness, I've still found a few minutes here and there to work on a few projects (and of course, buy more supplies). We even had a surprise light dusting of snow on the grounds as December rolled in. It's been years since we've had an honest-to-goodness White Christmas in my neck of the woods, but a boy never stops dreaming.

For today's quick card project, I have to say that I'm slightly disappointed that I didn't have more time to fidget with the camera to try and get some better shots of this card. It was my first time experimenting with the Stampin' Up! Heat & Stick Powder and the Dazzling Diamonds glitter. Let me just assure you that these pictures do a poor job of getting the glitz across. If you are a bling junkie, you really need to play with some of these wonderful powders and potions.

The base of this A2-sized card is a piece of decorative cardstock from SEI's 'Glitzmas' collection. I used a 4 1/2" x 4" piece of Stampin' Up! Whisper White cardstock to create the mat for the card. Both the card base and mat had the corners removed with the SU! Ticket Corner punch.

I ran my white cardstock through my Sizzix Big Shot using the "Christmas Ornaments" Cuttlebug embossing folder. I then used a sponge dauber to apply Tsukineko Memento ink in "Lady Bug" to the embossed front. After the ink was set, I used a VersaMark pad to coat the raised portions of the embossing. Then it was time to sprinkle with Heat & Stick powder and get out the heat gun. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but the powder applies wonderfully and melts with minimum heat. As soon as my adhesive powder was melted, I scooped some Dazzling Diamonds glitter across the top, shook off the excess and reheated a bit for a final set.

For the greeting, I used my SU! scalloped circle and circle punches, pieces of Riding Hood Red and Whisper White cardstock, some Tsukineko ink in "Cottage Ivy" and a stamp from the Stampin' Up! set 'Holiday Best'. (If you'll notice, I sort of missed the mark on my stamping job--but I convinced myself that it gave the piece the illusion of being a round ornament, lol). Sometimes mistakes do add a bit of charm to the finished project--or so I tell myself.

Before I leave you for a pile of bows and tape dispensers, I thought I'd share a sneak peak of a home decor project that I'm working on. I think it's coming along nicely...and I'll share the completed project soon.

Wherever the day finds you, keep warm and more importantly, keep your heart warm...and keep crafting!

A Sketch & A Card

2009-11-23T14:58:00.005-07:00

Today, I thought I'd try something a little bit different. We begin with a sketch that (hopefully) shows the folding card project I experimented with. I should warn you that is hand-drawn and not necessarily to scale, but I think it gives you the general idea as well as the key measurements. Of late, cards that include this type of stair-step folding seem to be all the rage. I think this one lends itself to a holiday card very nicely.

Your base cardstock should measure 5 1/2" x 8 1/2". I chose to use a piece of Bazzill textured cardstock. The "trickiest" part of this card is a vertical cut that you must make from the 1" mark to the 6 3/8" mark. Where you decide to make the cut is entirely your option. Where you put the cut will determine the length of your stairstep folds. I made mine at 2" in from the left side of the cardstock. You can either use a craft knife and a straight edge or your paper trimmer to make the cut. Once you have made the cut, the rest of the card basically becomes an exercise in paper folding.

You want to use a scoring tool (in my case the Scor-Pal) and score from the right side of your cardstock up to the cut line you made. You should score your paper at 1", 2", 3 1/8", and 6 3/8". Notice here, that your first and last score (1" & 6 3/8") should meet the beginning and end of your cut mark. There is one final score to make, but it is slightly different in execution than the others. This score mark will go all the way across the entire width of your cardstock at 4 1/4". This is also the midline of your cardstock (and your folded card). Once you play with you scored paper a bit, you'll see the natural way it fan folds to create the stairstepped effect. After you've folded and creased your paper, the fun begins as your canvas is now ready for your imagination.

For my project, I used a piece of DCWV decorative paper measured to fit the front of my folded card in a complimentary shade of blue. For my cut-out decorative piece, I used my Cricut Expression and the new Limited Edition cartridge "When It's Cold Outsided 2009-2010". The large snowflake and the shadow were cut at 4". The snowmen came from the snowman snowflake. I merely trimmed them out of the snowflake with scissors and used adhesive to put them in the row in front of the giant snowflake. I liked the idea of the snowmen doing a secret unseen dance out in the snow in front of a giant snowflake (like their altar if you will). I added a Stampin' Up! rub on and sentiment to finish the card.

This card type is lovely in that it creates its own stand and would look lovely displayed on a mantle or other decorative holiday display.

Destinations Décor

2009-11-13T02:12:00.007-07:00

Recently, I added the Cricut 'Destinations' cartridge to my ever-growing library. Currently, this cartridge is an exclusive early release to HSN (available in a Gypsy bundle or as a separate purchase). It should be available in mass retail in December 2009.

I knew when I first heard about this release, it was going to be a 'must-have' for me. (But then again, aren't they all?) I've always loved the history and romance of old steamer trunks, valises, and portmanteaus covered with vintage labels/stickers from varied destinations and travels around the world. From the artwork, color combinations, landmarks, and world languages, they have always inspired and fascinated me. This cartridge takes that concept and gives it a modern twist. Covering locales and landmarks around the world--and cities in the United States--'Destinations' is a must for those with wanderlust and travel in their souls.

After glancing at some of the images, I was inspired to create a piece of home décor alteration. I've had a reproduction black steamer chest around my home for many years. It's served as an endtable, a book case, and numerous other functions in rooms around my house. I've decided to take it and decoupage it with 4" labels from landmarks around the world. While it will be a project in stages and over time, I thought I would show you two of the labels I created that will find their way onto the finished project as an introduction to 'Destinations'.

The first cut I made represents Rio de Janeiro ("River of January"), Brasil and features a depiction of its iconic Christ the Redeemer statue. I chose to cut all the pieces out of white corduroy-textured Bazzill cardstock with my Cricut Gypsy and Expression, then color them with my Copic Sketch markers, and finally, adhere their layers with Zig 2-way Glue and Sakura Quickie pens.

Using the Brasilian flag as inspiration for my color combinations, this is what my finished label looked like:

The second locale I "visited" was Moscow, Russia and its magnificent St. Basil's Cathedral (The Cathedral of Intercession of Theotokos on the Moat). Here are the cuts for this project:

For this label, I had two inspirations for the color scheme. The first was Stravinsky's 'The Firebird' (reds and oranges of flames) and van Gogh's 'The Starry Night' (blues, whites, and blacks of the night sky).

So two down, only several dozen to go...lol. Hopefully, I'll keep you updated on this project as the steamer trunk gets a facelift. In the mean time, I strongly recommend you give 'Destinations' a "trip"...

Keep Crafting!

Snow & Witches?

2009-10-29T02:33:00.004-06:00

It's that time of year where the collective psyche of all paper crafters kicks in high gear. From now until year's end, there are an abundance of holidays, projects, home decor, and gift ideas that dance in our heads like sugar plums on that fateful night.

I've been busy tackling several home decor and alteration projects (some of which may end up on this page). In between time, I've been on a kick with the holiday cards. Here are two more in my growing arsenal of designs:

This particular project was unique and satisfying in that the background images of this card are all hand stamped. I'm recently inspired to start creating some of my own 'decorative' papers for my projects.

(INGREDIENTS: Cardstock: Papertrey Ink Guidelines I Grid Sheet White, Bazzill corduroy textured in Petroleum Blue and Ice Blue; Stamps: Papertrey Ink 'Giga Guidelines' and 'Signature Christmas' sets; Inks: Tsukineko Memento in London Fog and Bahama Blue; Cricut & Gypsy Die Cuts: Christmas Solutions ornament and shadow cut; Adhesives: Zig 2-Way glue pen, Stampin' Up! Stampin' Dimensionals, Glue Dots; Accents: Prima Marketing faceted rhinestone, Stampin' Up! 1/4" grosgrain ribbon in Tempting Turquoise;)

This second card came from a negative cut of a piece I used on another project. Once again proving that your scraps can always inspire.

(INGREDIENTS: Cardstock: Bazzill corduroy textured in Raven Black and Spiced Pumpkin; Cricut and Gypsy Die Cuts: A Child's Year (witch outline), George & Basic Shapes (rectangle); adhesives: ATG 714;)

Interestingly, this card was dictated by the size of my negative diecut. It is a 4" x 4" square card and purposely layered the cardstock so that the waling texture was perpendicular to one another for more visual and textural interest.

Finally, I received a couple of new toys this week. My numerous years too old digital camera finally gave up the ghost. I still can't believe what wonderful pictures I got out of that 3.2 megapixel Canon. I stuck with the Canon family and upgraded to 10 megapixels. So, I'll be experimenting with images for a while--so bear with me. I also finally broke down and purchased a Sizzix Big Shot die cutting machine. I was able to get in on a "goof" deal on the Sizzix website and purchased a Hello Kitty edition of the Big Shot for $29.99. At that price, I figure I can deal with a hot pink machine that doesn't match any of my other crafting tools. Of course, I had to buy the extended cutting pads, crease pads, and accoutrement. So, I hope to bring you some projects using it in later entries.

As always, bundle up from the chilly winds....and keep crafting!

Autumn...and One Last Gasp

2009-10-19T11:04:00.004-06:00

Here are a trio of recent card projects that I've designed.

(INGREDIENTS:Cardstock: Bazzill Textured, Stampin' Up! Whisper White; Stamps: Papertrey Ink "In Bloom" and "Text Style" sets; Inks: Tsukineko Memento in Rich Cocoa and Desert Sand; Copic Sketch Markers: E33 Sand, E34 Orientale, E35 Chamois, and E50 Egg Shell; Tools: Stampin' Up! Tag Corner Punch; Adhesives: ATG 714, Stampin' Up! Stampin' Dimensionals)

(INGREDIENTS:Cardstock: Bazzill Textured; Tools: Cricut Expression, Cricut Gypsy, Story Book Accents cartridge; Adhesives: ATG 714, Zig 2-Way Glue Pen; Accents: Kaiser rhinestones, Sakura Glitter Pen in Clear)

(INGREDIENTS:Cardstock: Bazzill Textured, DCWV Latte Stack; Tools: Sizzix/Stampin' Up! Top Note Bigz Die, ProvoCraft Cuttlebug; Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Greenhouse Garden" set; Inks: Stampin' Up! Basic Black and Bermuda Bay; Accents: Stampin' Up! Crystal Effects)

Halloween Tri-Fold Card

2009-10-12T01:37:00.006-06:00

I know I've been on this Halloween kick! But, I suppose I'd better get it out of my system as Thanksgiving and Christmas soon approach. Today's card project was a bit different in construction and execution.

The basic shape of the card is a tri-fold. What's nice about this particular arrangement, is that it basically creates a "pocket" card that's wide enough to store a hidden surprise inside of. Say your favorite lollipop, tea, or cocoa (as examples). I made a few with Halloween candy in them, but I decided to show just a non-treat example for this entry.

The base cardstock for this project is cut at 5" x 11". I used Stampin' Up! Crushed Curry. The decorative paper (the "cover" if you will) is also Stampin' Up! from the Designer Series Paper collection entitled "Cast A Spell". It was also cut at 5" x 11". While there are numerous ways to adhere the two layers of paper together, I found that using my Xyron 510 is easiest. I simply ran the decorative paper through the Xyron and adhered it to my Crushed Curry base. Now, you are ready to score your card to create the gatefolds.

Using my Scor-Pal, I scored the cardstock layers at 3 1/2", 3 3/4", 7 1/4", and 7 1/2". Use a bone folder to ensure your card is properly creased at these score marks. Now the real fun begins.

I chose to use my ProvoCraft Gypsy to create a portion of this card. The "Autumn" greeting and shadow were cut on my Cricut Expression from the new "Gypsy Wanderings" cart. The two pumpkins used (and the corresponding shadows were cut from this exclusive-to-the-Gypsy electronic cartridge. (Can I just say I LOVE my Gypsy!) The acetate witch die-cut is from Little Yellow Bicycle. The mulberry paper orange jeweled flower is from Petaloo. The spider stamp is from Papertrey Ink. Finally, I used my Making Memories Slice to create the "Boo!" greeting from the "Spook Alley" card.

I cut the word "Autumn" and the two pumpkins out of white Bazzill cardstock as I wanted to handcolor them with my Copic Sketch markers. I still consider myself a beginning learner with the Copic markers, but I have to say nothing beats the shading effects you can obtain by using these markers. I'm particularly fond of the orange-to-yellow effects achieved on the card front.

I hope Autumn finds you well today...and as always, crafting!

Itty Bitty Halloween

2009-10-05T14:20:00.007-06:00

This card uses one of the ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE images from a set put out by Pink Cat Studio called "Itty Bitty Halloween". The card base is Papertrey Ink cardstock, the decorative paper is DCWV. The mat is Stampin' Up! Whisper White with tea stained edges. The image is stamped with Tsukineko Memento in Tuxedo Black and colored with Copic Sketch markers. I used a corner rounder punch on opposite corners of all the papers to give it more visual interest. Finally, a line of Stickles in Orange Peel accents the card.

I forgot to take a shot of the inside: it has a black die-cut that says "Boo!". So boo to you my little pumpkins! Keep Crafting...

Release Your Inner Gypsy!

2009-09-24T02:01:00.005-06:00

On September 24, 2009 at 12:00am EST, the highly anticipated world-wide launch of Provocraft's digital companion to the Cricut line of personal die cutting machines took place on HSN.

A special bundle was released for $299.99 that includes the Gypsy (including two exclusive cartridges and all the needed cables and cords), the protective sleeve, an AC adapter, a car charger, a bonus color-coordinated shoulder carrying bag, and the hard-to-get 'Don Juan' Cricut cartridge.

Apparently, crafter's were salivating at the chance of getting their (glue) sticky hands on the Gypsy. More than half of the original stock available to ship, sold out in its first hour of sale. Very few units are still available for your stragglers. You can find more information here.

Card Gallery #279

2009-09-11T02:24:00.005-06:00

I promise you I'm not obsessed with Halloween. (Okay, maybe just a wee bit. Don't tell anyone.) But I had another scrap of the decorative paper from the treat box in the last entry and I hated for it to go to waste.

The second card is an interesting one (at least to me). I was inspired by book binding. I used extra strips of cardstock (the same I used for the base) to create a faux binding. It creates a natural offset for your decorative elements (in this case the glossy floral handcuts). The ribbon was a last minute addition--but the idea looks great with or without the ribbon. This is definitely a technique I want to experiment with more in the future.

Treat Boxes

2009-09-07T01:35:00.004-06:00

This weekend, I felt the urge to experiment more with my Sizzix Matchbox Bigz XL Die (#114890, $42.95) that I purchased from Stampin' Up! With basically two diecut pieces of cardstock or other material, you can create wonderful multi-use boxes that are perfect for party favor, sweet treats, and small gifts. I worked with several types of cardstock and made versions of a baby shower treat box, a Thanksgiving prayer box, and the Halloween treat box pictured below.

I chose a rust colored textured cardstock to make the box out of. The tray insert portion actually requires no adhesive to put together (though you can add it for extra security). The sleeve portion of the box takes a small strip of sticky strip tape to construct. The diecut medallion on the top of the box is but one of the three choices you have to cut out with this Bigz XL die. I used a 2" strip of decorative paper with a Halloween theme to create the box band. Finally, the decorative topper--a whimsical jack o' lantern--is part of a new Stampin' Up! set called 'Pumpkin Patch' (#116499, $22.95) that was introduced in the Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini Catalog (see sidebar). I chose to fill my treat box with some lusciously juicy Sunkist Tangerine Jelly Belly beans. Trust me, the box contents were not long for this world.

May whatever treats you find stuffed in your inbox today be sweet and juicy! More importantly, smile and keep crafting...

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like...

2009-09-02T02:06:00.005-06:00

Yesterday, the Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini Catalog went live. You can now order items from this lovely 39 page mini-catalog via my Stampin' Up business website (clink link in the sidebar) or from your favorite Stampin' Up! Demonstrator. The catalog has a great array of holiday (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas) themed stamp sets, embellishments, gift ideas, and projects. It also features the introduction of a new line of Build-A-Bear Workshop themed items. Finally, there is the introduction of the forthcoming jewelry line and a software suite called 'My Digital Studio'.

Today's card project features many items that you'll be able to find and purchase from the 2009-2010 Holiday Mini Catalog. This project uses Stampin' Up! Riding Hood Red cardstock (now retired) and decorative paper from the 'Merry Moments' DSP pack. The red cardstock is cut to 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" and scored at 4 1/4". The decorative paper mat is cut at 4" x 4 1/2".

Using Stampin' Up! Whisper White cardstock and the new stamp set 'Delightful Decorations' (#116517, $21.95; p. 24) and the coordinating 'Ornament Punch' (#116794, $15.95; p. 25), I created my decorative elements using Stampin' Pads in Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, and Bermuda Bay. I chose three of the holiday ornament stamps and onced stamped, cut them out using the coordinating punch.

Once my ornaments were stamped and cut, I decided to use some Stampin' Up! Gold Elastic Cording (#109867, $4.95; p. 27) to tie a bow around the stem of each ornament for a bit more sparkle and visual interest.

I thought the ornaments looked right at home on this sheet of Designer Series Paper with green pine boughs scattered throughout. This paper is found in the 'Merry Moments' collection in the 2009-2010 Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog (#115672, $9.95; p. 160).

The decorative paper and ornaments called out for a traditional holiday color--red. So, I chose to go with a piece of the unfortunately retired Riding Hood Red cardstock (from last season's In Colors selections).

Using the Stampin' Up Tag Corner Punch (#107215, $6.95; p. 186), I contoured all four corners of both my base cardstock and Designer Series Paper mat. I then attached the mat with Stampin' Up! SNAIL Adhesive. The ornament pieces were attached with Stampin' Up! Stamping Dimensionals to give the card some depth and a focus on the ornaments. Finally, I decided to use a sentiment from another new stamp set entitled 'Four The Holidays' (#116921, $13.95; p. 19).

The sentiment was stamped with Basic Black ink and the card was complete.

Though the Christmas holiday season is yet a few months away, now is the time to be thinking about what design and format your holiday cards will take. If you've never made your own holiday cards, now's the perfect time to look at some of the marvelous ideas Stampin' Up! offers and get your feet wet and your brain oozing creativity. Some of the best gifts and rememberances are the ones that come from the heart--and from the hands.

I'm going to be hoping for snow this year(yet, again!) and wishing you all a very creative Wednesday! Keep Crafting...

Happy Harvest

2009-08-31T06:08:00.005-06:00

I have a confession to make. I've recently become totally enamored of a Stampin' Up! cardstock color that often gets short shrift--Kraft. You can purchase a forty (40) count package of 8 1/2" x 11" 80lb. weight cardstock for $ 7.50 (#102125). Many people accuse the color of Kraft paper as being bland and boring. But with Summer dying its slow death, Autumn is right around the corner...and Kraft is the perfect color either as a main focus or accent to your projects. There's something about Stampin' Up! Kraft cardstock that is at once vintage and freshly modern. Another interesting thing about the Kraft cardstock is how wonderfully in coordinates and compliments the currently line of fabulously popular In Colors selections. Try pairing up some Kraft cardstock with Soft Suede, Dusty Durango, Rich Razzleberry, or Crushed Curry. I think you'll be surprised at the palette it opens up for your imagination and creativity.

I just finished making a set of card fronts for a Stampin' Up! swap I participated in and I used the combination of Kraft cardstock, Soft Suede cardstock, Soft Suede ink and a new stamp set that will be debuting tomorrow (09.01.09--which is the official launch of the new 2009-2010 Holiday Mini Catalog from Stampin' Up!). The results (if I may say so myself) were striking. (I will share the project with you once my swap happens; Oh, and I'd be remiss if I didn't give the Philly Inkers a shout-out!)

Over the weekend, I tackled several more card projects using Kraft cardstock. The one I'll be sharing with you today is Autumnal in theme. I used a piece of 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" Kraft cardstock scored at 4 1/4" as my card base. I used a Martha Stewart corner rounder punch to lop off the four couners. The decorative mat paper is from 7 Gypsies. It is a slightly lighter shade of Kraft color base and has a very muted cranberry polka dot pattern to it. I thought the contrast in tones was intriguing. I rounded the corners of my decorative paper and then used a tea stain along the edges to draw the eye in. A strip of Stampin' Up! Close To Cocoa cardstock cut at 1 1/2" x 4" serves as a horizontal break in the design.

Using Stampin' Up! Whisper White cardstock to stamp my images and the Papertrey Ink stamp set entitled "Vintage Picnic", I used Tsukineko Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black to stamp my images. The basket and pumpkins were then hand-colored with Copic Sketch Markers. The sentiment was stamped on Whisper White and them punched out using the Stampin' Up! Modern Label Punch (#116630, $ 15.95). I then used a chamomille and chai blend tea dye to "age" the sentiment label and ink its edges. I adhered all of my elements with Stampin' Up! Two-Way Glue Pen and added a faux stitched accent with my Uniball Signo 1.0mm White Gel Pen.

I really love this particular Papertrey Ink stamp set--it is very versatile. I also like this project because it shows that you can mix-and-match your scraps and come up with a cohesive project. It's no secret I love using Stampin' Up! products. But, I love many different companies and lines and often mix products in projects and designs. Don't box yourself in to thinking that you need to be "matchy--matchy" in your crafting. Papers, stamps, ribbons, and embellishments from a host of different manufacturers often create stunning synergy.

So here's a look at the finished card. Whatever you are harvesting today, may you do it with a smile on your face and love in your heart. Keep Crafting!

O Christmas Tree Pop-Up

2009-08-12T01:34:00.008-06:00

Today I turn 44. So, I thought I'd share a sneak peak of something I bought as one of those "present(s)-to-myself". This exclusive Stampin' Up! Sizzix Bigz XL die will be available in the upcoming Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini-Catalog, which will be active from September 1, 2009 through January 4, 2010. The die is called "O Christmas Tree Pop-Up" (#116822) and will retail for $42.95. This Bigz XL die and a complementary ornament Sizzlits die were designed by artist Karen Burniston.

I used some Bazzill Bling cardstock and my Cuttlebug to cut out the pieces for my tree assembly. To create this pop-up, you will need one (1) cut of each of the largest tree shapes, four (4) of the smaller tree silhouettes, four (4) of the triangular tree pieces, and one (1) of the base piece (which attaches your tree pop-up to your card base if you choose to use it in a card fashion). Of course, this Bigz XL die is highly versatile for use in home decor, holiday decorations and other Christmas projects. Here are the cuts used in this project:

The assembly of the actual Christmas tree pop-up is relatively easily and I highly recommend reading the enclosed instruction sheet with the die before you begin. After a bit of awkwardness the first time, it becomes a logical process. Amazingly, the assembly of the tree does not require any adhesive or other fasteners. It is comepletely built on a tab and slot construction.

Here are a few shots of the construction portion of the project:

Once you have your basic pop-up tree constructed, the real fun begins: trimming your tree. As I mentioned, there will be a Sizzix Sizzlits die that will cut a star tree topper and various shaped ornaments in the Stampin' Up! Holiday-Mini catalog. (You'll have to wait to see that! I can't just spill everything...). For this tree, I thought it might be fun to use some of my Basic Grey Bling jewels to decorate my tree. Using various colors and shapes of stones, this is what I ended up with:

The fact that I used so many three-dimensional rhinestones as decorations does not make this pop-up tree the ideal candidate for a card. But, I did it anyway so that you can see the possibilities. The one little odd piece from the original cuts is all that is required to attach the tree to a card. Here, you will need a bit of adhesive. I have to admit that I'm absolutely intrigued by the engineering behind this pop-up mechanism. It's quite brilliant.

This is but one of the new and brilliant ideas and products coming in the Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini 2009-2010 catalog. The stamps are adorable and the accessories are all MUST HAVES. (Trust me, if you saw my preview order you'd understand!) Over the next couple of weeks, I'll continue to give you a few sneak peaks of things coming down the pike in Santa's Big Bag of Surprises. Until then, Keep Crafting!

Candy Corn Explosion

2009-08-11T04:19:00.003-06:00

I came upon this lovely sheet of candy corn paper from a Die Cuts With A View Fall Stack from last year. It inspired me to play with a couple of Martha Stewart punches and create a couple of Halloween themed cards.

I have to say that I am completely in LOVE with the new Martha Stewart Punch Around The Page punch sets. Additionally, the new wing-edged punches are a dream when it comes to folding them up and conserving on storage space. I recently purchased the Spider Web punch set and finally found a source to order my Loopy Border set. I even re-purchased the Drippy Goo punch just to get the wing-edged version.

Both cards are A2 size and the card base is Bazzill textured cardstock in Raven. The first card features a Drippy Goo border on the decorative mat. The stamped skull image is from the new Stampin' Up! Halloween set entitled "From The Crypt" (#115460, $22.95). It was stamped on Stampin' Up! Whisper White cardstock (#100730, $7.50 for 40 sheets) with a Classic Stampin' Pad in Only Orange (#102696, $5.95). The sentiment is from the Stampin' Up! set "Teeny Tiny Wishes" (#115370, $36.95). The card is accented with a Copic Atyou Spica Glitter Pen in Orange.

The second card showcases the same decorative DCWV paper. I cut a piece at 3 1/4" x 5" and used both the Martha Stewart Wing Edger Spider Web punch and the Corner Spider Web punch to create the all-around border. To highlight the web cuts, I adhered the decorative paper to a piece of Stampin' Up! Whisper White cardstock cut at the same size. I used the Stampin' Up! Ticket Corner Punch (#107214, $6.95) on the four corners as an accent.

Medallion

2009-08-10T00:45:00.006-06:00

I guess it is rather gauche to say, but I really love this card. There's just something about the combination of colors and textures that makes me happy.

The centerpiece of the card is one of the new stamps from the 2009-2010 Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog called "Medallion" (#115223, $17.95). It's a very large damask-inspired background stamp that is very Parisian in feel and style. Because the image is so large, you can really be creative with it--making it a subtle element or a focal point of a card, scrapbook page, or home decor project.

The base of this card is a piece of 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" Stampin' Up! cardstock in Night of Navy, scored at 4 1/4". The mat of Papertrey Ink's Stamper's Select White cardstock is cut at 4" x 5". The Medallion image was stamped in two parts. First, the offset image was stamped on the card mat with Tsukineko Memento Ink in Blue Danube. Then, I restamped the image in Tsukineko Memento Bahama Blue and cut out only the center circle portion and adhered it to the card mat image. The button is from Papertrey Ink's Enchanted Evening Collection and was sewn on the cardstock with their Rustic Jute Button Twine. The card mat was then sponged on the edges with Tsukineko Memento Bahama Blue and adhered to the card base. A diecut journaling block was added to the card interior as the cardstock was so deep in color. The finished piece has a charming couture charm to it (if I may so myself).

Coloration

2009-08-07T02:49:00.007-06:00

One of the things that fascinates me most about paper crafting (and crafting, in general) is choosing colors for a project. I swear I can literally spend hours flipping through reams of cardstock, paper stacks, mat stacks and decorative papers browsing and matching, placing swatches and pages side-by-side, changing my mind again and again. I guess in the end--and something I find true of many crafters--we are all paper addicts. Can you really ever have enough paper? I, myself, am trying to debunk this myth apparently. I would never admit this in public, but I think when you have so much paper you actually have to pack some of it away, there might be a problem. But, then again, I tell my therapist it's just my back-up plan.

This card began with a scrap piece of paper left over from a card project from a few days ago (the chandelier card). It was a strip of lovely cardstock from the new Die Cuts With A View stack called "Downtown Loft" that is an exclusive to JoAnn's. It was a green tiled cardstock that had squares of high-gloss interspersed throughout. Since it wasn't large enough to actually use as a card base or mat, I decided to take one of my Martha Stewart punches ("Oak Leaf") down from the rack and punch out as many pieces as I could from the scrap.

As I started playing with my punched-out pieces, I soon was fascinated with a wreath-like shape. I punched out a 1 3/8" circle of white cardstock and and 1 3/8" circle of decorative paper from scraps. Using a Zig 2-way adhesive pen, I attached each leaf stem to the back of the white cardstock circle. Once it was complete, I adhered the decorative paper circle to the white circle. Then I stared at it for a while and decided it "needed" a bit more __________? I ended up piercing a hole through the center and using a Stampin' Up! Corduroy Button in Kiwi Kiss. (Are we sensing a green theme?)

Next, I went looking for papers to mount my creation on. After much thought, I ended up choosing Stardream Fuse Mica cardstock in Fairway for my A2 card base. The card mat is from the DCWV "Taj Mahal" mat stack. After everything was adhered together, I was struck by the fact that an Indian influenced design worked so well with the seemingly incongruent wreath design. One might even daresay it's rather "Christmas-y" in it's overall look. Yet, it could serve as a general everyday notecard.

Sometimes it is a game of trial and error. But, that's not really the right term. For in my opinion, there are no errors...just ideas that don't quite workout like you thought they might. Expressing your creativity and experimenting is a very large part of the entire crafting process.

Keep coloring your world....and as always, crafting...

All Hallow's Eve

2009-08-06T01:25:00.003-06:00

I am completely enamored by this new Stampin' Up! Halloween stamp called "All Hallow's Eve" (#113264, $17.95). It's a very large stamp and is deeply etched for maximum detail. I will admit that the size makes it a bit cumbersome to stamp with (and you may have to stamp a few times before you get a print that you're truly happy with). You may also want to ink your stamp with a brayer for larger and quicker coverage.

The card base is Stardream Fuse Mica cardstock in Flame. The image was stamped on Stampin' Up! Whisper White cardstock with Tsukineko Memento ink in Tuxedo Black. The card mat and base were punched with the Stampin' Up! Tag Corner Punch (#107215, $6.95). The ribbon is from artiste extraordinaire Marah Johnson and Creative Imaginations (LOVE IT!). I used a Sakura Metallic Ink Pen in Orange Flame for accent and a Stampin' Up! Stampin' Write Journaling Pen in black for the freehand sentiment.

May your ghosts and goblins always bring treats...and Keep Crafting!

Cricut Exploration: Home Decor

2009-08-03T16:04:00.007-06:00

I have a horrible confession to make. Over the weekend, I finally took my poor ignored Cricut Expression off the shelf and played with him. It's not my intent to be a neglectful father. However, my limited crafting space does not allow me to leave my Circut set up for easy use. I'll admit, it's a bit of laziness on my part; That, and a combination of being busy using other techniques and ideas.

This weekend, I decided to explore the Cricut Solutions Home Decor cartridge. After a few imperfect cuts and a blade change, I made a few elements for some card layouts. I really enjoy the modern and fashion-forward look of the cuts on this cartridge.

This first card features the bumblebee cut at 3". This card also features an embossed layer using the exclusive Stampin' Up! Elegant Bouquet Textured Impressions folder by Sizzix. I used Stickles in Fruit Punch to highlight the center of each flower. The bottom is trimmed with the Stampin' Up! Scallop Edge punch. I enhanced the Cricut cutout with a pair of googly eyes and a bit of glitter pen. But my favorite element is the wings. I used a piece of clear acrylic plastic to back the wings showcasing a design of black swirls and flourishes. I really love the effect.

The next card uses the stylized cupcake image on Home Decor cut at 3". The base and mat cardstocks are both Bazzill Bling. The sentiment stamp is Stampin' Up! The real highlight of this card is the coloration of the cupcake. I was striving for an airbrushed (without actually airbrushing) look using my Copic Sketch markers. Using a lot of blending, I think I achieved a fairly decent interpretation of the coloration.

The final card features the chandelier cut from Home Decor. I absolutely ADORE this cut. I cut it at 3" in a yellow Bazzill cardstock. I then used Copic 110 to color in the chandelier leaving the original yellow "bulbs" uncovered. The chandelier is attached to a strip of DCWV Modern Loft cardstock that has been edged with the Stampin' Up! Eyelet Border punch. I used a Stampin' Up! clear rhinestone brad to attach the chandelier to the strip. The sentiment stamp is from Unity Stamp Company. The base cardstock is from the Die Cut With A View Downtown Loft Stack. This is my absolute favorite stack of the new JoAnn Exclusive releases.

Until next time, Keep Crafting!

Little Monsters

2009-07-29T05:34:00.006-06:00

For some strange reason of late, I seem to be preoccupied with Christmas. Which is a bit weird since it's more than five months away. My mind is exploding with Christmas card layouts and holiday projects. Most of them are being written in my "inspiration" notebook for perusal at a later date.

But, another holiday struck my fancy yesterday (even though it is still a few months away as well)--Halloween. I recently purchased a terrific set of stamps from Unity Stamp Company called "Little Monsters". They are the most adorable Halloween inspired images. If they don't make you smile, I think a part of you might be dead--which come to think of it might just fit with the holiday!

This card project is a standard A2 size (4 1/4" x 5 1/2"). The base cardstock is Stardream Mica Fuse in Flame. The accent cardstock is by Core'dinations from the All In The Family collection in Orange. It's been cut at 3 1/2" x 4 1/4" and edged with the Stampin' Up! Scallop Border Punch. It was then run through the Cuttlebug with the Tiny Mosaic Folder and sanded with a Stampin' Up! Snow Block.

The Baby Frankenstein and Witch's Hat are from the Unity Stamp Set "Little Monsters" and stamped on Papertrey Ink Stamper's Select White Cardstock using Tsukineko's Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black. I then colored both images using Copic Sketch Markers. They were adhered to the embossed cardstock with Stampin' Up! Stampin' Dimensionals. The scalloped piece was then adhered to the card base with my ATG 714 adhesive gun. For the card sentiments, I used two other stamps ("little monster" and "trick or treat") from the "Little Monsters" set. Something about this card just makes me feel like a little kid again (Not that I'm not accused of the fact more often than I care to admit!). I hope this card gets your "little monsters" waking from the graveyard of holiday's future and inspires you to create something in honor of ghosts and goblins that float by us each and every day! Keep Crafting....

Quilting In The Greenhouse

2009-07-28T10:42:00.005-06:00

The art of quilting is an amazing source of inspiration. Taking needle and thread and combining two or more layers of material produces a landscape of textures, colors, and patterns. Adapting ideas from quilting into your cardmaking is an easier transition than you might first imagine.

Today's card project uses the illusion of quilting blocks to create a background for stamped images. You can really use your eye for color and pattern to create some mesmerizing tableaux. You can go bold or subtle. You can go for harmonious or contrasting designs. You'll find yourself playing with your paper blocks--rearranging, rotating, and replacing them over and over.

I chose the following papers to work on this card: the card base is Stardream Fuse Mica Paper in Copper cut at 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"; the decorative papers are Basic Grey 6" x 6" from the Marrakech collection; and a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" piece of Papertrey Ink Stamper's Select white cardstock.

To begin creating the quilting pattern for my card, I used an EK Success 1" square paper punch. The 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" white cardstock will be the base upon which I'll layer my quilting blocks. Using the punch, you'll need to cut out ten (10) 1" x 1" squares of each piece of your patterned paper selections.

Now is when your creative juices really need to kick in. Play with your blocks and look at colors and patterns. Lay them out like a puzzle and try to find the best patchwork design for your project. Once you've settled on a pattern, you can begin adhering your blocks on the cardstock base. I used Stampin' Up! SNAIL adhesive to begin attaching my quilt blocks.

Next, I chose to use my Cuttlebug and the Sizzix Bigz Top Note Die (a Stampin' Up! Exclusive) to add another element of visual interest to my quilted background. Sandwiching the die and quilted cardstock between the two "B" plates, quickly and easily runs through the Cuttlebug.

For the stamped image to complete the look of my card, I chose to use the Stampin' Up! Greenhouse Garden stamp set (I LOVE this set!). I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to create a two-step floral image and stem. The inks I chose to use are Tsukineko Memento in Pear Tart and Cottage Ivy. I stamped my image on Stampin' Up! Whisper White cardstock and trimmed around the the images. I also chose to add a piece of Stampin' Up! Always Artichoke grosgrain ribbon to the quilted background.

I attached the stem using a Zig 2-way Glue Pen and tucked the end behind the ribbon. The flower is attached using Stampin' Up! Stampin' Dimensionals. I also chose to adhere the entire quilted block with Stampin' Dimensionals to give my card the layered visual interest that allows the images to pop from the very deep and glittery cardstock base.

Until next time, keep crafting!

Product Spotlight: Stampin' Up! Sizzix Lattice Bigz Die

2009-07-15T07:09:00.007-06:00

One of the products lines that really piqued my interest in the new 2009-2010 Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog was the Sizzix Bigz Dies. I ordered several of them (and have several others picked out for upcoming orders). While I have thus far avoided the temptation of the Sizzix Big Shot, I was really happy when I found out the Bigz die line will work perfectly in Provocraft's Cuttlebug.

I purchased the Top Note Bigz Die (#113463, $21.95), the Tulipe Bigz Die (#113457, $21.95), and the Lattice Bigz Die (#115958, $21.95) to start experimenting with and quickly fell in love with their ease of use and versatility.

If you do not have a Sizzix die cutting machine, these dies will work in your Cuttlebug. The proper "sandwich" recipe is: Plate B, Sizzix Bigz Die, cardstock (or other material), Plate B. There is no need to use the Plate A spacer block. The die I chose to feature in this post is the Sizzix Lattice Bigz Die, which is an exclusive die to Stampin' Up!. The actually die is approximately 5 1/2" x 6" and 5/8" in thickness. I didn't photograph the actual die, as truthfully, there's not much to look at as it is encased in protective foam and a plastic shell. But, the real magic is the effect it produces. The Sizzix Bigz dies can cut varying thicknesses of paper, cardstock, vinyl, wood sheets, crafting metal, and fabric to name a few.

I started just by running a piece of cardstock through my Cuttlebug and was really inspired by the shape of the lattice cutout. The uses are really almost endless.

The pattern of the lattice cut-out is perfect for cardmaking and scrapbooking. You can choose to feature it in the foreground or background of your project. You can use multiple cuts to make larger layouts, chains, and decor pieces. I immediately thought it would look lovely on a card as a makeshift trellis for displaying flowers.

I was also intrigued by the geometric possibilities of the shape itself. For instance, taking two diecuts, you can create a wonderful design shape that calls to mind florals and snowflakes. These would be terrific for creating a mobile for a baby's crib/room or party decorations. Imagine these cut in foils for the sparkle and attention that they'd receive.

I decided to experiment with a quick card layout. I took two lattice cuts from the same color cardstock and ran them through my Xyron 510 (as a quick and easy way of applying adhesive to the backs of the design. I then lined them one on top of the other to create a seamless design element for the background of my card. A quick sentiment (Stampin' Up! Teeny Tiny Wishes Set #115370)stamped on Whisper White cardstock and punched out with the new Modern Label Punch (#116630) and a couple of jeweled and glittered floral embellishments later...

I highly recommend that you check out the Sizzix Bigz die-cutting line if you've not experienced working with them. They give you immediate satisfaction and endless design possibilities. More importantly, they are a snap to use--quick and easy. These days, anything that shortens our prep time and gets us to putting our valuable inspiration to use can't be a bad thing, can it?

I see another collection in my future! Whatever you see in yours, take some time out and grab your favorite beverage, steal yourself away from the never-ending hubbub of the day, and make something. Until next time, keep crafting!

Card Glimpses

2009-07-08T04:44:00.007-06:00

Of late, I seem to have found this deep fountain of ideas for card layouts and techniques I want to try. The problem of course is one as old as time. Well, actually, it is time. For as many ideas as I have, there never seems to be enough time to get them all realized. I suppose that is a good thing--since inspiration and creativity can sometimes be moody playmates.

I just received a huge order of new stamp sets from Stampin' Up! and have been busy preparing them (EZ-Mount) for the calendar cases I store them in. There really are some marvelous new sets and artwork in the 2009-2010 catalog. Among some of my new favorites are: 'All Hallow's Eve', 'Beware Pirates', 'Extreme Elements', 'Medallion', 'Pendant Park', 'On A Pedestal', 'Greenhouse Garden', 'From The Crypt', and 'Chic Boutique'. I also finally broke down and ordered the Color Caddy and extender kit. I was never quite sure this is the route I wanted to take for my Stampin' Pad storage, but now I'm very happy I did. Of course, not all of my pads fit. But, it does make a great home for the four major color groupings (Bold Brights, Earth Elements, Rich Regals and Soft Subtles), as well as the last twelve In Color ink pads. It provides a great visual reminder of the palette that is available in my stamping ideas.

The weather here has been ridiculously hot. Though, I suppose that's just further impetus to stay inside and create. Wherever you are and whatever your weather, keep crafting!

Picnic Season

2009-07-03T17:25:00.003-06:00

I hope this upcoming Fourth of July finds you close to family and friends. Have a safe and sane celebration of our Miss Liberty's 233rd birthday.

This card project highlights two new stamp sets released by the fabulous Papertrey Ink bunch. I highly recommend you check out Vintage Picnic and Vintage Picnic Sentiments which are used in this project.

Project Recipe:

base cardstock: Stampin' Up! Soft Suede cardstock;
5 1/2" x 8 1/2", scored at 4 1/4"
mat cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White cardstock;
4" x 5"
envelope: Stampin' Up! Kraft A2 envelope
stamps: Papertrey Ink Vintage Picnic & Vintage Picnic Sentiments
embellishment: Petaloo Dazzler floral embellishment
punch: Stampin' Up! Ticket Corner Punch
accent: Uniball Signo White Pen
inks: Tsukineko Memento in Tuxedo Black, Papertrey Ink Tea Dye in Chai Blend
Copic markers: E29 (Burnt Umber), E31 (Brick Beige), E37 (Sepia), R24 (Prawn), R27 (Cadmium Red), R29 (Lipstick Red), G14 (Apple Green), G16 (Malachite), Y04 (Acacia), YG13 (Chartreuse)

Sneak Peek!: Crushed Curry & Soft Suede

2009-06-25T09:19:00.006-06:00

On July 1, 2009, the new 2009-2010 Stampin' Up! catalog goes into effect. There are so many wonderful new stamp sets and products in store for all of us. I know my wish list is bursting at the seams (and unfortunately, I'm sure I will buy it all...lol).

One of the exciting unveilings is the addition of six new colors to the In Colors line. The new colors are: Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo, and Dusty Durango. These colors will be available in Stampin' Pads, ink refills, cardstock, ribbon, and other products. I've had these products for a while now and I have to say they are a beautiful palette of colors and they integrate wonderfully with the regular Stampin' Up! color spectrum.

However, from the outset, I have to admit that there are two colors that I have fallen ABSOLUTELY head-over-heels for. They are so made for one another and I think they are going to become Stampin' Up! classics: Crushed Curry and Soft Suede.

Today, I've decided to give you a slight sneak peak into the color duo with a card project. I'm also highlighting one of the new stamp set releases that will be in the new catalog entitled "Circle Circus". This project is quick and easy, but I think it illustrates the endless possibilities of two of my new favorite colors.

The card will be a standard A2 size. The mat is cut from Stampin' Up! Whisper White cardstock at 4" x 5". The cardstock base is Soft Suede cut at 5 1/2" x 8 1/2". This card utilizes two stamps from the upcoming "Circle Circus":,as well as inks in Crushed Curry and Soft Suede.

Circle Circus, (10) stamps

2009-2010 In Colors Crushed Curry and Soft Suede

To begin the card, I cut a mat of Stampin' Up! Whisper White cardstock at 4" x 5". Using one of the stamps from "Circle Circus" and the Crushed Curry Stampin' Pad, I randomly stamped the image on mat cardstock.

Using the same image, I used the Soft Suede Stampin' Pad for contrast and visual interest. Don't be too concerned with careful placement of the image. Many times overlapping the image or stamping off the cardstock creates really beautiful accents that draw the eye. Randomness in a good thing.

After looking at my mat for a few minutes, I decided I needed a little "more". So, I went back to "Circle Circus" and picked out one of the smallest images to fill in some of the blank space. Of course, the danger is always that you make your card too busy. So, you just have to practice and learn to train your eye. Sometimes, it doesn't work out so well...and it's back to the drawing board. In this instance, I think it was a good call.

When I was happy with my card mat, the question turned to which color to use for my card base. In truth, I think either new In Color Crushed Curry or Soft Suede would have worked. But, I was drawn to the Soft Suede.

I cut the 8 1/2" x 11" piece of cardstock in half, which creates two A2 card sizes at 5 1/2" x 8 1/2". Using my Scor-Pal (a MUST-HAVE tool in any crafter's arsenal), I scored the cardstock at 4 1/4".

Now that I was ready to assemble my card, I thought it needed one final touch: ribbon. While the new In Colors line comes in a matching polka dot ribbon, I thought that the dots would fight too much with the circle patterns of the stamping. I saw a piece of Stampin' Up 5/8" grosgrain ribbon in Chocolate Chip and thought it would be the perfect addition.

However, during assembly with my trusty ATG714 adhesive gun, I changed my mine (always a crafter's prerogative). I thought the 5/8" ribbon was a tad too wide and switched it to the 3/8" Stampin' Up! grosgrain ribbon (in Chocolate Chip) instead. Here's the final card and a close-up detail.

Remember, the new In Colors and stamp sets will be available on July 1st. You can order through my website (link on the sidebar) or your preferred Stampin' Up! Demonstrator. I, for one, am impatiently awaiting to place my order! Whatever you do today, take some time out to work on a project. It's good for your soul! Keep smiling...and Keep Crafting!

New Toys, New Cards

2009-06-21T02:16:00.006-06:00

In the "I'm Sure This Is Not Breaking News" department, I must report that I've been a very, very bad boy on the spending front. (*gasps ring out from the stunned masses--or not*) I've recently become a big fan of Unity Stamp Company and their deeply-etched red rubber stamps. They've got some terifically quirky artwork. Many of their stamps are already mounted on cling mount foam and ready to use. The quality is superb. I recently joined their "Kit Of The Month" club, as well as purchased several sets that I just "had" to have.

I've also another terrible confession to make. As much as I love my Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol, as well as my Stampin' Up! Stampin' Write Many Marverlous Marker Set, I've succumbed to that Japanese virus called Copics. I embarrassed to say that my first purchase was a set of twelve (12) of the Original Copics. I bought them without really knowing enough to make an informed purchase--or realizing that I much prefer the Sketch marker. That said, I now own seventy-two (72) and counting Sketch markers and I LOVE THEM! Now, I am no where near the talent level of many of my fellow crafters when it comes to Copic technique and blending accumen. But I am certainly enjoying self-teaching myself. I can definitely see progress, but I have of hours of practice ahead of me. The major problem with Copics is that they are truly, hideously ADDICTING! No matter how many you have in your collection, it is never enough.

Of course, I also have been through the new 2009-2010 Stampin' Up! catalog (several times) and have been honing my lists up and down. Needless to saying, I'm chomping at the bit for July 1st to arrive so that I can place the first of what I'm sure will be several orders. So far, I haven't had the intestinal fortitude to add up the total of my current list. But, I do love surprises, LOL!

Well, enough about my shopping habits. Here are a few cards I've worked on in recent days. I've tried to include all the product information, but if you have any specific questions (and/or comments), please feel free to drop an e-mail or leave a comment and I'll try to get the information you need to you.

Feel Better Card: (base cardstock: Stardream Fuse Mica in Citrine; mat cardstocks: Stardream Fuse Mica in Lapis, Stardream Fuse Mica in Fairway, Stampin' Up! Whisper White; punches: EK Success Corner Adorner--Fountain Fun, Martha Stewart Branch punch, EK Success Corner Rounder; stamps: Stampin' Up! Pretty Peony Set (retired), Papertrey Ink Mega Mixed Messages; inks: Palette Hybrid Ink in Water Lily Green and Prussian Blue, Tsukineko Brilliance in Starlight Silver;)

Friendship Card: (base cardstock: Bazzill Bling in Emerald City; decorative paper: Basic Grey Offbeat Collection; mat cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White; punch: Stampin' Up! Tag Corner Punch; stamps: Gel-é-tins Sheltering Tree Set; inks: Tsukineko Memento in Cottage Ivy, Tsukineko Brilliance in Pearlescent Thyme, Tsukineko Memento in Potter's Clay, Tsukineko Memento in Rich Cocoa; accent: Uniball Signo UM-153 in Gold;)

Missing You Pocket Card: (base cardstock: Bazzill Textured cardstock, Stampin' Up! Whisper White; decorative paper: Papertrey Ink Men Of Life Collection; punches: Stampin' Up! Scalloped Circle Punch and 1 3/8" Circle Punch; ribbon: Stampin' Up! Striped 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon in Pacific Point (retiring); stamps: Papertrey Ink Mega Mixed Messages set; ink: Tsukineko Memento in Tuxedo Black; tab: K & Co. Mira collection;)

Anniversary Card: (base cardstock: Stardream Fuse Mica in Citrine, Stampin' Up! Whisper White; mat cardstock: Stardream Fuse Mica in Rose Quartz; decorative paper: Papertrey Ink Hodge Podge Collection; punch: EK Success Corner Adorner--Fountain Fun; stamps: Stampin' Up! Fifth Avenue Floral (#113734), Papertrey Ink Mega Mixed Messages set; copic markers: RV21 (Light Pink), RV04 (Shock Pink), R24 (Prawn), R27 (Cadmium Red), R32 (Peach), and V12 (Pale Lilac); ink: Tsukineko Memento in Tuxedo Black;)

Raining Inspiration

2009-06-11T02:37:00.009-06:00

This morning the loud crack and roar as thunder and lightning dueled in the black sky was my wake-up call...literally. What followed was a very rare downpour to clear the dust away for the morning's arrival.

I've been told I'm strange. (Whoa, big surprise there!?) I'm one of the (apparently) few people that is inspired by dark and gloomy weather. Unfortunately, I live in the middle of a desert. So, dark and gloomy are rare visitors. I've always wondered if I shouldn't be living in Seattle, but I digress. Something about dark, overcast days really gets my creative juices flowing. It inspires me to write--and craft.

Here are a few of the cards I made in a thunderstorm of inspiration:

(base cardstock: Stardream Fuse Mica in Azalea; mat cardstock: Core'dinations in Love Potion; Cuttlebug folder: Floral Fantasy; ribbon: American Crafts; sentiment: Papertrey Ink Mega Mixed Messages; ink: Tsukineko Staz-On Jet Black; accent: Sakura Glaze Pen in Black, Clearsnap Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink in Siren; distressed with Basic Grey file set)

(base cardstock: Stardream Fuse Mica in Kunzite; mat cardstock: Die Cuts With A View La Creme; stamps: Papertrey Ink Floral Frenzy set; accent: Sakura Glaze Pen in Black; punches: corner rounders; EK Success & Stampin'Up!)

(base cardstock: Stardream Fuse Mica in Lapis; mat cardstock: Core'dinations in Love Potion; Cuttlebug folder: D'vine Swirls; stamps: Stampin' Up! Crazy For Cupcakes (#111618); inks: Stampin' Up! Stampin' Write Markers (#105541), Clearsnap Smooch Pearlized Accent Inks in Azure, Gold Lamé, Green Apple, Silver Fox, and Siren; distressed with Basic Grey file set)

(base cardstock: Stardream Fuse Mica in Fairway; mat cardstocks: Stardream Fuse Mica in Gold, Stampin' Up! Whisper White (#100730); stamps: Kitchen Sink Stamps Multi-Step Lilies; inks: Tsukineko Memento Ink in Pear Tart, Bamboo Leaves, Cottage Ivy, Dandelion, Tuxedo Black, and Potter's Clay)

(base cardstock: Die Cuts With A View Tahiti Beach; mat cardstocks: Stardream Fuse Mica in Lapis, Stampin' Up! Whisper White (#100730); stamps: Basic Grey Ambrosia Halvah set; inks: Tsukineko Memento in Danube Blue and Bahama Blue, Palette Ink in New Canvas; punches: Stampin' Up! Corner Rounder (#109047) and Tag Corner (#107215))

(base cardstock: Stardream Fuse Mica in Aquamarine; mat cardstocks: Papertrey Ink Hodge Podge Collection, Stampin' Up! Whisper White (#100730); stamps: Clearsnap Rollograph Wheel Chinese Noodles; inks: Stampin' Up! Brilliant Blue Stampin' Around Cartridge (#100871), embellishment: K & Co Layered Accent from Wild Raspberry Collection; accent: Stampin' Up! Stampin' Write Marker in Night Of Navy (#100069))

I had a few more, but I think you get the idea! :-) I love these bursts of creativity and inspiration! The problem is sustaining them. So, no matter what weather you awake to...Keep Creating & Crafting!

It's Easy Being Green...

2009-05-06T09:02:00.007-06:00

A quick card project to share with you and a cardstock recommendation! I recently placed an order with Papertrey Ink to try some of their products. Needless to say, I'm now awaiting my third large order to arrive. On top of having some wonderfully creative and exquisitely packaged acrylic stamp sets, Papertrey Ink has a full line of solid color and artistic print cardstocks. Today's card project utilizes two of their Perfect Match Papertrey Color Collection cardstocks: Ripe Avocado and Spring Moss. You can purchase a 50 sheet 8 1/2" x 11" cardstock sampler collection (#CS2008) for $10.00 on their website and I highly recommend you try them out. It's a very nicely saturated and heavy cardstock with a fine tooth to it.

For this card, I used a standard A2 base of Papertrey Ripe Avocado. The card was cut at 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and scored on my Scor-Pal at 4 1/4". The mat is Papertrey Spring Moss cut at 5 1/4" x 4". The stamped image and sentiment are from the Stampin' Up! set "Upsy Daisy" (#111710). They were stamped using a Stampin' Pad in Handsome Hunter (#105215). The ribbon is Stampin' Up! 5/8" striped grosgrain in Kiwi Kiss (#111372, which compliments perfectly with the Papertrey cardstocks). The mat was attached using my ATG714 adhesive gun. Finally, I used a Copic Atyou Spica marker in Melon for accent. (The envelope is an A2 size in Kraft from Stampin' Up!)

Going green and good friends are a good thing! Have a great day and Keep Crafting!

S-H-O-P-P-I-N-G

2009-04-24T06:24:00.004-06:00

Children, I'm not sure what to say in my defense. It seems as if the Spring Fever is spreading and along with the lovely pollen (not) and I've apparently succumbed to a major shopping bug! Okay, I know. I had to try and pretend that it was something out of the ordinary for me, but alas... He breathes. He shops.

I've just received an order of about (13) fantabulous sets of Stampin' Up! rubber stamps. I completed my three color families of Stampin' Up! Stampin' Pads (Bold Brights, Earth Elements, and Rich Regals), as well as the coordinating re-inkers. I have a couple of inks from the Soft Subtles family (and I'm sure eventually I'll get them all), but somehow there's just not much about me (or my crafting) that is soft or subtle.

I also caved in and placed my first order with Papertrey Ink. Which raises the imponderable question: Exactly how many stamps, inks, and papers does one man need to fully function in society? (Don't answer that! My shrink and I are currently hashing that one out, lol.)

Another little excursion saw me picking up the new 7 Gypsies Binderie Punch, and while I haven't had a lot of time to play with it as of yet--what I have done with it is very promising. It's a great little portable tool for those of you that like to make your own chipboard books, word books, and mini-albums. I'll hopefully have a feature next week using it.

I also bit the bullet on the ProvoCraft cartridge offer for Home Decor and Jubilee. Of course, I had to get in on the one payment option to get the Cricut Jukebox. It's something I've considered in the past but never decided that I "needed" it. This deal was just too good to pass up.

On a completely non-craft related purchase, I've discovered Scentsy and my wallet may never forgive me.

I've worked for the past two days on a set of cards for one of my Cricut Message Board Card Swaps--and I'm really pleased with the end results. I have another set of card fronts to work on this weekend and hopefully I'll share pictures of those two projects with you next week as well.

Whatever your plans for the upcoming weekend, I hope you find some time to shop, craft and spend a little quality time with yourself. Have a great weekend and Keep Crafting!

P.S. I would like to send a very special cyber shout-out to The Pink Stamper on the momentous occasion of her 100th video tutorial. ROBYN, you ROCK girlfriend and your provide so much information and assistance to crafters everywhere (and I for one, never miss an episode)! Big Hug!

Fabulous Friend

2009-04-13T02:30:00.006-06:00

Hope you all had a lovely Easter weekend with family and friends. Mine was quiet, but I did have dinner with my Mom, my sister and her family on Sunday evening.

I worked on several card projects this weekend as well. I also started a new list of items I want to order on my next Stampin' Up! order. Apparently, the madness never ends.

Today's card project uses the following materials list:

--Stampin' Up! Oval All Stamp Set (#113790)
--Stampin' Up! Large Oval Punch (#107305)
--Stampin' Up! Scallop Oval Punch (#114889)
--Stampin' Up! Classic Stampin' Pad in Garden Green (#102272
--Stampin' Up! 8 1/2" x 11" Cardstock in Kiwi Kiss (#111353)
--Stampin' Up! 8 1/2" x 11" Cardstock in Whisper White (#100730)
--7 Gypsies Decorative Paper; Nottinghill Collection
--Stampin' Up! Simple Flower Embosslit Die (#114514)
--Stampin' Dimensionals (2)
--Stardream Mica Fuse Cardstock in Serpentine
--Prima Center Kiss Jewel in Deep Emerald
--Copic Atyou Spica Glitter Pen in Clear
--Scotch ATG714 Gold adhesive

For this card project, I tried out some new toys from the new Occasions mini-catalog from Stampin' Up! Specifically I used the stamp set called "Oval All" which was designed to work with the large oval punch and the new scallop oval punch. For the card base I chose a piece of Stampin' Up! cardstock in Kiwi Kiss and cut it down to a standard A2 size, 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". I chose the stamp that said "Fabulous Friend" on it and stamped it on Whisper White cardstock with Garden Green Ink. I then used the large oval punch to punch out the sentiment. For the backing scalloped oval, I used a small piece of mica cardstock in a light green color with an exquisite shimmer to it called Serpentine. As I have lamented in the past, this beautiful cardstock from Italy does NOT photograph well, but it is a must-see in person. I purchase my mica cardstock from California Paper Goods.

As a Cuttlebug fan, I've never really played with any Sizzix products. However, there is a set of exclusive to Stampin' Up! embosslits dies that are made for use in the Big Shot in the current catalog. I ordered a couple of them in hopes that they would work with my trusty Cuttlebug--and they do work beautifully. These dies are small hinged rounded squares that cut and emboss the design at the same time. I simply put the paper (in this case more Stardream mica cardstock in several colors) and placed the die between the two B plates and ran it through the Cuttlebug. I used both dies I have currently and numerous color shades and played way too much as evidenced by my virtual flower garden.

Needless to say, I'll save all my flowers for various projects. I chose to use one cut from the Simple Flower die in the Serpentine mica cardstock for this project. I also chose a piece of decorative paper from the 7 Gypsies Nottinghill Collection cut to 3" x 5 1/2". I adhered to decorative paper off center to my base cardstock with my ATG714 adhesive gun. I also adhered the oval sentiment to the scallop base. I adhered the scalloped sentiment to the card front using Stampin' Dimensionals to give it lift away from the cardbase and create more visual interest. For my flower embellishment, I adhered a small Prima Center Kiss blossom to the flower's center for just a pop of darker color. I then adhered the flower to the card. For a final touch, I used a clear Copic Atyou Spica Glitter Pen to outline the flower and the edges of the decorative paper (which again does not photograph well).

Well, I hope you get a bit of inspiration to surprise one of your fabulous friends with a card when they least expect it. Every now and again, we can all use a bit of pick-me-up when it's least expected.

Have a great Monday--and Keep Crafting!

Garden Greetings

2009-04-03T11:23:00.008-06:00

Well, hello there!

I bet you thought I'd finally ~~been confined to that psychiatric hospital for the craftily insane~~ hung up my ATG714 adhesive gun and called it quits. It's been so long since I've posted that I forgot my own password! I really have no excuse for my absence other than laziness--and a period of lack of inspiration.

The good (?) news is that I've found my mojo again. I'm really going to make a concerted effort to post more of my projects and keep the blog fresh. So, I hope you will bear with me.

Recently, I finally succumbed to the temptation (after spending the equivalent of the GNP of a small developing country) and became a Stampin' Up! demonstrator. I know, I know... It seems like everyone and there mother is a demonstrator these days. But, give me a bit of credit--I'm a MALE Stampin' Up demonstrator (lol). Seriously, I've been so impressed with the products and company that it is an honor to be a demonstrator. I know you have many options when looking for your Stampin' Up! products, but I hope to provide great service, perks and fun along the way. So if you are in the market for something, please keep me in mind. But enough about that. Let's make something.

I was itching to try a project with one of my new stamp sets--and yet wanting to do something "different". So, this is the card I came up with:

Materials List:

--Stampin' Up! Garden Greetings Set (#113716)
--Stampin' Up! Stamp Pad in Basic Black (#101179)
--clear transparency sheet
--mica cardstock
--decorative paper
--brads (4)
--adhesive
--EK Success corner rounder punch
--Tim Holtz piercing tool

To begin the process, I choose a lovely and large bloom stamp from the Stampin' Up! Garden Greetings set. Using the Basic Black Stampin' Pad, I cut a piece of clear transparency into a 3" x 4 1/4" block.

I then stamped the image several times in random places on the transparency and allowed it to dry completely.

The base of my card is going to be a standard A2 size. Therefore you need a piece of cardstock measuring 5 1/2" x 8 1/2". I chose to use a beautiful piece of mica cardstock that has an incredible sheen to it (that unfortunately does NOT photograph well). For the element pieces of my card, I needed a decorative paper measuring 3" x 4 1/4" (to mount my transparency stamping on). The paper I chose was from the Basic Grey Two Scoops collection. It has lovely pinks in it that compliment the base cardstock and the swirls provide a great backdrop to my blossoms.

To attach the transparency film to my decorative paper block, I decided to use brads--in this case four (4) Doodlebug Sugared brads (two pink, two white). Not only will the brads hold my elements together, they'll do double duty as stamen in my flowers. For easy attachment, I used my Tim Holtz piercing tool to make holes through the transparency and decorative paper where I wanted my brads to attach.

Once all four brads are in place, the element is ready to be adhered to the card base.

As a final decorative touch for my card, I decided to round the corners of my card using an EK Success punch.

Here's a look at the final card and a close-up of the detail.

Well, I hope this inspires you to think Spring! I know the weather is not cooperating in many parts of the country, but it's definitely time for us to put some flowers into our lives!

See you soon...and keep crafting!

Card Spotlight: A Rose Is A Rose...

2008-11-12T07:35:00.005-07:00

I just received some new Stampin' Up supplies...so of course, I had to try them out. The result was this card. The base cardstock is textured Bazzill cut to 8 1/2" x 5" and scored at 4 1/4" on the Scor-Pal. I used two strips (4 1/4") of Bazzill textured white cardstock and the Martha Stewart Lattice Arch Border Bunch to create the edging. The decorative paper is from Die Cuts With A View Once Upon A Time paper stack. The particular design is called "Stained Glass Window".

The border strips are adhered to the decorative paper using my ATG 714 gun. I had carefully picked this decorative paper because I was dying to try out one of the new stamp sets I just received from Stampin' Up. The set is called 'A Rose Is A Rose' (#111560)--and I just LOVE it. It's designed for a two-step stamping process and it enhances the realism of the image in my opinion. I used some Stampin' Up Whisper White cardstock to stamp the image on.

I used Rose Red to stamp the base rose image and used Cranberry Crisp for the highlight image. The leaves were done with Kiwi Kiss and True Thyme. I then cut out the image and used All Night Media Pop Dots for the dimensional positioning. Two lines of the new Glitz Stickles in Ruby Slippers accent the border between the puched element and the decorative paper.

Pandamonium!

2008-11-05T05:56:00.008-07:00

A recent project that I have to admit, I really love. The base cardstock is Bazzill. The decorative paper is from Basic Grey and is trimmed using the Martha Stewart Arched Lattice Border Punch. The panda paper is from Prima. A little touch of a Sakura clear glitter pen...and you just have to love a little pandamonium! :-)

Halloween Book

2008-10-30T09:50:00.006-06:00

Here's a few shots from a 5" x 7" chipboard accordian book I made in honor of Halloween. Hope you ghouls and goblins like it!

Happy Halloween Everyone!!

Card Gallery

2008-10-30T09:24:00.012-06:00

Here's a look at some of the card projects I've been working on of late:

Bazzill corduroy cardstock, Versamark, stamp by Basic Grey (Offbeat), Stampendous red tinsel embossing powder, K&C0. grand adhesions sentiment

Bazzill cardstock, Fiskars edge punch, Cuttlebug butterfly die/emboss combo, Perfect Pearls, Stampin' Up sentiment stamp (Dreams du Jour), Stampin' Up Stampin' Pad (Kiwi Kiss), Dew Drops Ink (Pearlescent Orchid)

DCWV glittered cardstock, Autumn Leaves ornament stamp, Stampendous red dragon embossing powder, Martha Stewart lace edge border punch, Versamark, All Night Media pop dots, Dew Drops Ink (Aquatic Splash)

Card Spotlight: Fall Is In The Air

2008-09-30T02:26:00.005-06:00

It's about that time. Time for sweaters, hot cocoa, spiced apple cider and watching the leaves tumble off the trees in our front yards. Yes, friends, I think it's safe to say Fall is officially here.

Last night I was goofing around with a couple of card designs and decided I wanted to make a Fall-inspired card. Of course, for me the biggest (and first sign) of Fall is the changing colors of foilage and the piles of leaves that seem to end up on the doorstop quite mysteriously. The colors of Fall are a marvelous palette for cardmaking.

For this project, I used the following materials:

--Bazzill crosshatch textured cardstock in Burnt Orange; cut to 8.5" x 5.5";
--K & Co fall leaves decorative paper from the Fall Harvest mat pad designed by Johnny Yanok; Cut to 3.75" x 5.5";
--Cuttlebug 2" x 6" die "Leaves & Netting" set (now retired);
--Cuttlebug
--adhesive
--brown craft paper scraps
--Prismacolor markers: burnt sienna, dark brown, orange;
--white resist pen
--Sakura clear glitter gel pen

I used my Making Memories paper trimmer to cut down my Bazzill cardstock, my K & Co. decorative paper and brown kraft paper. I used my Scor-Pal to score my cardstock at 4.25" to create a bi-fold card base. I fell in love with the fall leaves design by Johnny Yanok in the K & Co. mat pad. It was the inspiration for the Cuttlebug die-cut leaves.

Using my Cuttlebug and the 2" x 6" die, I cut two sets of leaves out of the brown kraft paper. I wasn't sure how many leaves I was going to use on the card, but I figured having two sets gave me more wiggle room to play. The leaf shapes I cut (two of each) looked like this:

I used a little trick (which I may share one day) to decorate the leaf fronts. It basically consists of using a white resist ink pen to make miscellaneous doodle designs on the the leaves. After I've made the freehand designs, I used Prismacolor markers to put two to three coats of color on top of the white resist. I think the effect is very eye-catching and gives the piece a bit of whimsy and visual interest.

I used my ATG 714 adhesive gun to adhere the decorative paper to the front of my card. I then deicided that three leaves were plenty for the front of my card. I chose one shape in each of the three marker colors I used. I used my very favorite mini pop dots from All Night Media to attach the leaves to the card front. The mini pop dots give the piece a lot of dimensionality (which unfortunately is difficult to capture in photographs.

As for placing the leaves on the card, you just need to use your eye and experiment with different positions (obviously before you put your adhesive dots on). I found three leaves of various colors worked best. Once I found the layout I liked, it was easy to finish up the card. The only other element I added was a border of Sakura clear glitter pen along the edges of the decorative paper element. A couple of views of the finished look:

This card makes me want to run and jump into a giant pile of multi-colored leaves. Of course, it might be safer to wait until the leaves have actually fallen from the trees in my yard.

Create--and keep crafting!

Apologies & Drippy Goo

2008-09-23T09:58:00.006-06:00

Hello dear crafters! If it seems I've done a disappearing act, I must apologize. It's been a long time (too long) since my last entry. There are many reasons for that, but suffice to say that I've been busy crafting in my absence. I have to--it helps to keep me sane!

I've been busy working on many different swaps that I've signed up for via the Cricut Message Board. I've been making ATC cards, greeting cards and layouts (yes, you've read correctly) for various groups I joined. I have to say that I really enjoy working on these themed based projects. For one thing, it forces you to keep crafting and to come up with (hopefully) new and original ideas. I cautiously started in one or two swaps--and now I'm in so many I have to keep a written schedule of when things are due and who they are due to. Yes, like many other things, swaps are highly addictive.

I do have to comment on one swap in particular. For the first time, I signed up for a recipe swap. I actually do like to cook. It's the clean-up I have a problem with. But nonetheless, this particular swap was a major challenge for me. It required a dip recipe layout in 8"x8" size for fifteen participants. I can't even remember what the last layout I did was. I've been so consumed with cardmaking and other papercrafting avenues, I really haven't done a "real" scrapbook layout in some time. So this was a challenging--and in many ways daunting--task for me. I have to say I think the end product came out well (and I will share some photos of it after my swap deadline passes). It was just an amazing amount of work. I used my Cricut for my page titles. But, the finished project involved some hand-cut embellishment pieces, stamping, construction and a lot of journaling. I have to admit, I was a bit rusty getting started. After about eight or nine layouts, the groove started returning. I just didn't realize it would be so much work to do fifteen of the same layout. Not that I'm complaining mind you. I had a lot of fun doing them and it was a good refresher--just very time consuming.

Anyhow, I felt I should drop in and update my blog and apologize for my MIA status. I hope to be more consistent in the future about posting on a frequent basis. Please hang in there with me.

Recently, I added the Martha Stewart Crafts "Drippy Goo" punch to my ever growing collection of her delightful tools. I have to say that this one is quite addictive. Obviously, it was designed for the Halloween season--but its uses are really only limited by your imagination. It's terrific for stylized grass, rain splatter, fringes--and so many other things.

Here are a couple of recent Halloween cardmaking projects that use the Drippy Goo punch. I think it's very eye-catching.

Create--and keep crafting!

Card Spotlight: Air Male

2008-09-02T13:19:00.016-06:00

It's interesting to note that many paper crafters have a hard time when it comes to designing and constructing projects for a male recipient. I think it's safe to say that many of the leaders in the crafting industry cater to a mainly female clientele. As such, many of the designers collections are specifically created with that demographic in mind.

Of course, there are male crafters out there (obviously). It stands to reason that the larger the market share (customer demand), the more companies start to offer alternative lines and color palettes. I am very pleased with some of the new product lines being introduced for Fall/Winter 2008 and beyond.

I think the largest stumbling block some crafters face is the idea of avoiding certain colors (pink, pastels, etc.) and themes (florals, intricate patterns,etc.) when planning a male-oriented project. As a male crafter (and perhaps because of my own personal aesthetics), I do not have a problem receiving cards and projects made with florals or bright colors. However, right or wrong, there is a concern that a project be "masculine" enough. I hope such narrow thinking one day becomes the exception instead of the rule.

Oops, I guess that's enought of that rant...at least for a while. What brought the subject up for me was that I recently set out to make cards for a few of my friends that definitely skew toward the "manly men" end of the spectrum, lol. I thought I would share one of the cards I created in this card spotlight.

An interesting thing about this project is that it was all inspired by a piece of scrap paper from a DCWV paper stack: High School. The inspiration was this bit of design left over from another project. (I'm generally not very good about saving or using scraps, so this was a breakthrough for me.)

When I saw this flourish pattern, I was immediately drawn to the theme of flight and birds (wings) specifically. With that thought in mind, I hit my supplies and rounded up a few things.

For this project, you will need:

--one sheet of white cardstock cut to 8 1/2" x 5 1/2"
--one strip of textured cardstock cut to 5 1/2" x 2 1/8"
--one strip of decorative paper cut to 5 1/2" x 1 3/8"
--Tsukineko VersaMagic Chalk Ink Pad (Jumbo Java)
--Marvy Stippling Brush
--rubber or clear acrylic stamps
--Sakura Metallic Gel Pen
--adhesive (Xyron 510)
--Scor-Pal (or other scoring tool)

To begin, I took the white cardstock piece and scored it at 4 1/4" to create the card fold.

I chose to work in a brown palette for this card. For visual and color interest, I used a VersaMagic chalk ink pad and a stippling brush to create a textured background on the white cardstock.

Using the Jumbo Java chalk ink, I inked my stippling brush directly on the ink pad surface and pounced both the front and back sides of the card. After the initial application of ink in a circular motion, I used a few diagonal sweeps of the brush on the card face to muss the stippling effect slightly. I also inked all of the card edges using the VersaMagic pad.

Once you've achieved the desire color depth and texture on your card, allow the chalk ink to set before proceeding to adhere your decorative elements to the card. For my card, I chose a piece of textured Bazzill cardstock in Chocolate as the base mat for my decorative strip. As mentioned, the decorative strip for this project was a scrap from a DCWV High School paper stack.

This textured cardstock was trimmed to 5 1/2" x 2 1/8" and the edges were inked with the VersaMagic pad. Then it was run through a Xyron 510 and attached to the card face. The decorative paper was trimmed to 5 1/2" x 1 3/8", inked, run through the Xyron and centered on top of the textured cardstock.

To go with my theme of flight and wings, I used two stamps to finish the look of my card. The first was a rubber stamp (SeeD's) for the greeting that said "Air Mail". The second was a clear acrylic stamp (Autumn Leaves) from Rhonna Farrar's "Gypsy 2" collection of a bird in mid-flight. I used the same color chalk ink and stamped the greeting in the bottom right-hand corner and strategically placed the bird in the center of my decorative paper strip.

I like the symbolism on this card. The freedom of flight expressed by the bird juxtaposed with the wink-and-a-nod "Air Mail" greeting made me smile. I also think the bird picks up on the free-flowing airiness of the swirls from the flourish design.

As a final touch, I took a Sakura metallic gel pen in Galaxy Bronze and put in a few accent lines along the borders of the paper strips to add a bit more definition and visual interest. All-in-all, it was a fun and relatively creative project to put together.

Create--and keep crafting!

Card Spotlight: Boo!

2008-08-25T13:48:00.006-06:00

There's something in the air. Fall, thankfully, approaches...and so do the ghosts and goblins. This weekend, I was inspired by pumpkins.

This quick and fun card is made from a 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" piece of DCWV textured chipboard in a yellow-orange color. (If you haven't tried working with DCWV versatile chipboard stacks, I highly recommend them.) The jack-o'-lantern is cut from a piece of Bazzill corduroy texture white cardstock. The die-cut is a Cricut cut from the "Stretch Your Imagination" cartridge cut at 4" on my Expression. The backing paper for the reverse side of the card is from the DCWV Old World paper stack.

I used Gamsol and Prismacolor pencils to handcolor the jack-o'-lantern. I used a black Sharpie pen to outline the image after coloring. The "Boo" greeting is done with black Making Memories alphabet rub-ons.

On the reverse side, I used a 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" piece of DCWV decorative paper adhered with my ATG 714. The decorative journaling sheet is by K & Co.

Artist Trading Cards (ATCs)

2008-08-20T05:07:00.009-06:00

I'm by no means an expert on the whole phenomenon of Artist Trading Cards or ATCs, as they are often referred to in shorthand. However, it is a form of paper crafting that does appeal immensely to me. I think the intriguing thing about ATCs is tied to the size of the final project. The only die-hard rule of ATCs is that finished size of your project must be 2.5" x 3.5" (64mm x 89mm). Other than that, the design and materials to be used are as endless as your imagination. While, it is obviously a temptation to go crazy with the dimensionality, the key to a good ATC design is that it be "portable art", that is a trading card that is easy to store or take with you.

You can explore stamping, textures, paints, inks, sketching, stitching, papers, found objects, and so many other techniques with ATCs. ATCs can be modern or vintage, bold or subtle, themed or free-form. I've used my own sketched images, pieced collages, Cricut die-cuts, and various objets d' art in my own ATC collection. Of course, much of the fun in ATCs is trading with other budding artists and sharing your inspirations/works.

I recently joined a "Your Choice" ATC Swap through the Cricut Message Boards. The three (3) themes I selected to participate in were: "Love", "Asian", and "Black & White". Here is a peek at the designs I came up with.

For the Love theme, my design is called "Without End". It combines a Marah Johnson image stamped with Tsukineko Brilliance Rocket Red Glare and an accent paper from DCWV Rock Star paper stack. The edges are inked with StazOn Jet Black ink and the cards are accented with Sakura Gelly Roll Metallic pens.

The Asian theme is called "Asian Lamp". The base paper is from DCWV Far East collection. The card edges were inked with a crimson pigment. I used some kanji characters and a layered die-cuts of an oriental paper lantern as focal points. Kanji are originally Chinese characters that are used in the modern Japanese logographic writing system. Each card in the set, showcases a different lamp and kanji character combination.

The final set was an interesting challenge. Black and white is a restraint in that it means there is a lack of color. I decided the images should be stark and visually interesting. The card design is called "Life". The wording is done with a ransom styled alphabet stamped with StazOn Jet Black ink. The fingerprint (which is my own thumbprint) is also inked with StazOn. I used Sakura Glaze Pen in Black for the accents. The "messy" smudges were intentional--as Life is never without its messes. The thumbprint represents the "touch" of someone in your life.

I urge you to try your hand at ATCs. All you need is a stiff cardstock or chipboard base, your imagination and whatever embellishments strike your fancy. You can spend minutes--or hours on your designs. The finished projects look wonderful in frames, in cards, stored on a rolodex turnstile or cataloged in baseball card trading sleeves. Consider them mini-art projects for the soul.

Create--and keep crafting!

Card Spotlight: Stamping

2008-08-14T13:31:00.004-06:00

For this card project, I wanted to use a couple of new stamp sets I recently acquired. It's a simple card with a bit of bling.

I used an A2 sized piece of smooth white DCWV cardstock. The images and sentiment are stamped using Tsukineko VersaMagic Chalk Pigment Ink in Jumbo Java. The crown stamp is from an Autumn Leaves clear acrylic set called "Gypsy Style" by artist Rhonna Farrar. The "Live With Intention" sentiment is from a limited edition Hampton Arts clear acrylic set entitled "Intention" by artist Marah Johnson. The border stamp I used is from Sassafras Lass and it was stamped with Tsukineko Brilliance Ink in Coffee Bean.

For a bit of bling and visual interest, I used a Sakura Quickie Glue Pen and some Doodlebug Sugar Coating in bronze to highlight a portion of the swirl below the crown. I also used a Sakura Gelly Roll Glitter Pen in Clear to highlight the crown.

As a final touch, I used the same border stamp to stamp the inside of the card.

This was a quick and easy card project that took on a bit more sophistication with the addition of the glitter touches and double border stamping. Don't forget to use your stamps on the insides of your cards--as well as the outsides.

Create--and keep crafting!

Card Spotlight: Bear Hug

2008-08-12T04:25:00.006-06:00

I wanted to use a gatefold design for a card--but I wanted to do something "different". My difference turned out to be adding an embroidered applique to the gatefold design.

For this project, the materials list is:

--Bazzill textured cardstock (one 12" x 12" sheet in Burnt Orange)
--embroidered applique
--decorative paper
--white cardstock
--Tsukineko Dew Drop Ink in Pearlescent Orchid
--Tsukineko VersaMagic Chalk Ink in Jumbo Java
--Colorbox Queue Ink in Black
--adhesive

For the gatefold card, I trimmed a piece of 12" x 12" Bazzill cardstock down to a 6" x 8" piece.

Using my Scor-Pal, I scored the cardstock at 2" and 6" to create the two flaps that will make up the gatefold card.

I made the teddy bear embroidery applique using my Brother E-100 Applique Station. After the bear was complete, I used an iron-on adhesive backing so that the threads would not unravel.

As the bear is going to be the focal point of the card--as well as serving as the opening/closing tab, I decided to use a piece of the same colored cardstock to make a backing mat for the applique. This serves two purposes: (1) It keeps any of the unsightly backing threads and stitches from being exposed; and (2) It adds another layer of stiffness and durability to the card closure. I simply traced around the embroidered applique shape with a pencil to create a mat backing. Then that outline is cut out with a pair of scissors. I then ran the applique through my Xyron 510 to apply a layer of adhesive to the back and adhered it to cardstock mat.

I used a set of alphabet stamps called "Ransom" to stamp the greeting on the front of my cardface. I used an overstamping technique. First, taking a Tsukineko Dew Drop ink in Pearlescent Orchid and stamping the greeting with the gatefolds held closed. Then I went back in with a slight off-set on the same stamp block and used some Colorbox black ink to re-stamp my greeting. I used my ATG714 to apply adhesive to half of the back of the embroidered applique cardstock backing and adhered it to the left side of the gatefold centering the bear at the center line of where the two gatefolds meet.

To complete the inner card, I used a piece of decorative paper from the DCWV Once Upon A Time Mat Stack, trimmed slightly smaller than the 4" x 6" card middle. I inked the edges of the paper with some Tsukineko VersaMagic Chalk Ink in Jumbo Java. Then I took a piece of smooth white cardstock and inked the edges with the same chalk ink. I used my ATG714 to adhere both papers to my card base.

I really like the combination of an embroidered element with cardmaking. It adds visual and textural interest. Don't be afraid to explore adding other craft elements (e.g., embroidery, needlepoint, tatting, mosaics, woodcrafts, etc.) to your cards.

Create--and keep crafting!

Card Spotlight: Vintage Surfboard Inspiration

2008-08-06T12:53:00.018-06:00

For this card project, I was inspired by a design pattern from a vintage surfboard. It combines the techniques of masking (which we explored in an earlier project) and the Gamsol colored pencil technique. Again, we play with color and texture to create visual and tactile appeal.

This project uses the following materials:

--white cardstock
--Nick Bantock Vermillion Lacquer
--Sakura Glaze Pen in Black
--Heidi Swapp hibiscus flower mask
--Prismacolor pencils
--Gamsol
--Wooden stick cotton swab applicators
--Kleenex

For the base of this card, I chose a piece of smooth Bazzill white cardstock cut to an A2 size. I used a piece of a Heidi Swapp mask in the shape of a hibiscus flower and leaves. I chose to use a vermillion lacquer from the Nick Bantock Collection by Ranger. For those unfamiliar with this line, the Nick Bantock lacquers are brilliant dye based, acid-free, fade resistant and embossable ink. This was my first time experimenting with them and I was impressed with strong color hues.

After you've picked your masking shape, figure out your placement on the card front.

Once your mask is firmly engaged, make sure your work surface is covered with a sheet of scrap paper to prevent ink seepage. Then begin the process of dabbing your ink pad against the card front and go for maximum saturation. The coverage doesn't have to be complete because some bleed-through from the white surface adds an element of visual interest. To make sure that your color gets into the nooks and crannies of your mask, you can dab a Kleenex (or other tissue/applicator) on your ink pad and rub-on color into those cut-out areas. You can use the same Kleenex to rub down the back of your card to give it a lighter depth of color than the card front.

Allow your ink to set for a couple of minutes before removing your mask and exposing the white surface we will use the Gamsol technique on.

Prior to beginning the coloring of the image, I used a Sakura Glaze pen in black to outline the image to be colored. Not only does this define your coloring area, it creates a tactile border around your image (which is not affected by the Gamsol).

For coloring the hibiscus flower, I chose to use a layer of two colors. Closest to the black edging of the Glaze pen I used a thin layer of Prismacolor PC928 Blush Pink. Inside of the pink, I used a thicker layer of PC1002 Yellowed Orange.

Using the Gamsol and a 6" wooden stick cotton swab applicator, I blended the two pencil colors to provide a differential shading on the petals of the hibiscus flower. The stamen of the hibiscus were colored in using the black Sakura Glaze pen. I freehanded a few more smaller stamen and pistles to flesh out the outgrowth. For the leaves and stalk of the flower, I used a combination of PC909 Grass Green and PC910 True Green Prismacolor pencils.

For a final touch--and to emphasize the vintage look I was going for--I used two file boards from my Basic Grey tool set to distress some of the card surface and color. I had a bit of the vermillion lacquer smear into part of the leaves and one of the petals during the distressing. It was not intentional, but I think it adds to the vintage feel I was striving for.

Here are a couple of closer looks at the finished design:

Look for inspiration for your card and layout designs from the everyday world around you. You don't have to choose a large element to be inspired by--a small piece of a design can be interpolated into a beautiful layout. Don't be afraid to experiment with color. There is a time and place for muted colors. But, don't shy away from exploring with bright, vivid, loud color. The world needs more color!

Create--and keep crafting!

Card Spotlight: Textures

2008-07-30T10:22:00.008-06:00

I recently received my first sets of Spellbinders Nestabilities Embossing and Cutting Dies. I chose the classic oval and scalloped oval sets as my first purchases. I hadn't had a chance to try them until last night, when I felt the urge to make a card. Though this is the first project I've used the Nestabilities on, my main focus for this card spotlight was showcasing layered textures on a card.

The base for this card is plain white cardstock scored into a standard horizontal bi-fold shape. I used a piece of woven textured DCWV printed cardstock as the mat for the card. I was drawn to the contrast of the powder blue background and the printed creme floral image. Before adhering my mat to the card base, I wrapped a piece of baby blue grosgrain ribbon from Pebbles around the mat.

I used the Nestabilities dies to cut the scalloped oval from the DCWV Luxury Mat Stack. The plain oval was cut from the DCWV Once Upon A Time Mat Stack. They were adhered with my Xyron 510. I used two Studio G clear acrylic stamps for the greeting. They were stamped using Tsukineko Brilliance in Pearlescent Sky Blue. I also used the same color to ink the edge of the plain oval. It's a terrific color and ink and it adds a subtle bling to your stamped images. The final step was adhering the scalloped plaquette to the card base. Here I decided I wanted to go with an offset for two reasons: 1) I didn't want to take away from the beauty of the floral portion of the mat; and 2) I think straying from the obvious placement (dead-center of the card) creates its own visual interest. There's just a hint of ribbon on the left side of the plaquette, then a larger piece running across the other visual element of the card.

The purposeful layering in the construction of the card creates several layers of eye-pleasing texture: from the mat woven texture, the ribbon texture, the plaquette texture and implied texture, and finally, from the depth created by the chosen stamping ink.

When working on your projects, always consider adding layered elements and create contrasting textures. Not only does it creat visual appeal, it also provides a tactile appeal as well.

Create--and keep crafting!

Word Books: Cricut Cut Files

2008-07-29T06:39:00.006-06:00

A while back, I tried my hand at designing a couple of word books using my Cricut Expression, Cricut Design Studio and the Alphalicious cartridge.

Each letter of each book is laid out on a separate 12" x 12" mat in the cut file. I made the base cuts using Bazzill textured cardstock in Raven. I highly recommend you cut these images from a heavier cardstock and then apply decorative papers to give your books a bit more sturdiness (unless of course, you've used chipboard for your base). The embellishments can be up to your heart's desire. I used DCWV decorative papers, eyelets, and cuts from a few other Cricut Solutions cartridges to decorate mine. I thought I'd share the CUT files for these two projects, so that you can explore your creativity.

Download CUT file for LOVE book

Download CUT file for FRIEND book

Create--and keep crafting!

Further Adventures In Gamsol

2008-07-28T03:33:00.003-06:00

I've continued to practice with the fabled Gamsol technique. The more I use my Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol, the more comfortable I become with the technique. I think I'm getting better with the application and blending. I'm still have some troubles getting the shadowing and perspective down...but I'm assuming that will come with time and more practice.

I started using blending stumps and then I came across some 6" wooden stick cotton swab applicators that I really like. They come two to a package, so you can use a new stick with each color range and avoid cross-contamination. The longer applicator also gives you more range of motion and freedom in coloring, I think.

Here are some of the latest images I practiced on this weekend. If you haven't tried this colored pencil technique, I'd highly recommend you check it out. The results are quite astonishing. It does take some investment on the front-end, but the dividends are very satisfying.

The stamps used: owl (Inkadinkado), butterfly (Autumn Leaves), bunnies (a RAK from AMKs_Mom), heart (Marah Johnson), poppy (Rhonna Farrar).

Quick Tip: Paper Perspectives

2008-07-25T10:04:00.011-06:00

There are so many wonderful artists out there who design decorative papers for all the big name crafthouses. Many times, when I discover a new collection or artist that tickles my fancy, I have a hard time using some of the papers on my projects. You almost feel guilty about using the "pretty" paper. But, eventually, the creative juices usually win the battle and you end up creating something beautiful from it. (Though, I will admit that I do have certain paper designs that I tend to hoard for truly special projects.)

While I'm not as much into scrapbooking as I once was, I do enjoy working on and designing layouts for various projects. Many times these designs and techniques transfer over into my cardmaking--only on a smaller scale.

One comment I hear often is that sometimes a background paper is "too busy" or "too intricate" to use in a scrapbook layout or card. But, I say it's all a matter of perspective and thinking outside the box. Just because you have a 12" x 12" sheet of paper doesn't mean you have to use the entire piece in a card or layout. Sometimes, you need to put your designer's cap on and utilize your resources to fit your project.

For instance, I found this piece of lovely hibiscus paper in a Basic Grey paper pad from their Mortifica range. It is truly a piece of artwork.

I had an idea for a layout, but I honestly needed a little more contrast and focus for the project I had in mind. As I had several pieces of the same paper design, I thought it would be interesting to modify a piece so that it would work for my project. So, I found a piece of 12" x 12" black Bazzill cardstock and grabbed for my scissors and played around for a bit. After looking at potential cuts and layouts in my mind's eye, I found a combination that I liked. I carefully cut part of the hibiscus paper design out and adhered it to my black cardstock. The result is a piece of paper that combines two different ranges and design aesthetics--but works.

The lesson is to let your papers work for you. If they don't work the way you want them to, change it up and create something unexpected. Sometimes, it may not be a resounding success. But, in crafting, they are no failures. Expressing your creativity and resourcefulness can never be a losing proposition.

Create...and keep crafting!

Waterfall Card Tutorial

2008-07-20T20:12:00.005-06:00

I've been wanting to try and make a waterfall card for a while now. However, I was honestly intimidated to try. Something about the engineering involved sort of frightened me. Now that I've done it, I have to say that it is much easier than it might look at first glance. If you haven't tried one, I hope this tutorial will help you to give it a go.

Supplies you will need for this project:

--cardstock (two complimentary colors)
--decorative paper
--eyelets
--adhesive
--eyelet setter
--paper trimmer
--stamps
--ink pad
--scoring tool
--colored pencils

First, you will need a base cardstock that your card will be built upon. I chose to use Bazzill corduroy textured cardstock in Raven. The base card should be trimmed to 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". You then need to cut a mat for your base out of a decorative paper. I chose to use DCWV Once Upon A Time Mat Stack for my decorative paper and trimmed it to 4" x 5 1/4".

The next few cuts will form the backbone of the waterfall mechanism for your card. You will need to choose a solid cardstock that coordinates with your mat and base colors. I chose Bazzill criss-cross textured cardstock in a Burnt Orange. The following pieces need to be cut from this cardstock:

--waterfall slider bar at 2" x 9"
--mat squares for your stamped image: you will need four (4) of them at 2" square

The final set of cuts are for your stamped images and for the keeper bar that will be attached to the front of your card. You will want to use white cardstock for your stamped images (I chose Bazzill again in the color Snow). The keeper bar should be cut from the same cardstock as your base color (in my case the raven).

--stamped image squares: you will need four (4) of them at 1 7/8" square
--keeper bar at 3/4" x 4"

We'll begin the card construction by creating the scores in our waterfall slider bar (the card's backbone). Take your strip of cardstock (2" x 9") and grab your scoring tool. I use the Scor-Pal.

You'll want to make four score lines at the following intervals: 2", 2 3/4", 3 1/2" and 4 1/4". The folding is a simple back-and-forth accordian fold.

Set your slider bar to the side and take your card base and decorative paper and adhere them to one another. I used my Xyron 510 to run the decorative paper through and smooth on to the cardstock (TIP: A couple of passes with a bone folder works wonderfully to assure that you have no trapped air pockets between your mat and decorative paper).

Next you'll want to position your holding bar on top of your card face approximately 1" from the bottom of the card. We will be using eyelets to attach this piece to your card. You will need your preferred eyelet setter. In my case, I used my Crop-A-Dile and a couple of 3/16" copper-colored eyelets.

Next, we'll take the 1 7/8" white cardstock squares and adhere them to the 2" colored cardstock squares. Again, I just ran my white cardstock through the Xyron 510.

At this point some people would advise to begin stamping your images. However, I think it works best to wait until the card is fully constructed to stamp your images. The main reason for this is to make sure your images are positioned properly on your squares and they are "covered" by the waterfall square above it. If you stamp now, there's a chance your images will not align properly.

It's time to adhere your stamping squares to the scored and folded waterfall strip. For this job, you'll need to use an adhesive runner or your favorite glue. I used my ATG 714. Each square will need to be adhered just below the score lines on your waterfall strip. Place a strip of adhesive on one side of your first square and adhere it just below the fold of the first score line on your waterfall strip.

You will continue to repeat this process, attaching one square just below the crease of your next score line until all four squares are adhered to your strip.

The rest of your colored cardstock will now fold right behind your stamping squares.

We are now ready to attach the waterfall slider bar to your base card. First, you'll want to slide the folded portion of your slider bar behind the keeper bar. Once it's behind your bar, I used three strips from my ATG gun to put on top of the keeper bar. You'll want to use the width of your slider bar as a guide for how far to spread your adhesive. You do not want to apply too much adhesive or it will show through the sides of your waterfall panels.

You will pull the strip with your stamping squares down until the edge of the bottom stamping square is aligned with the bottome of the holder bar. When aligned just press down to adhere the stamp square to the top of the keeper bar. Believe it or not, this is the only place your waterfall mechanism is adhered to your card. It sounds counter-intuitive, but it works wonderfully.

Here's a side view of what your waterfall mechanism should look like:

Now, all that's left to do is the fun part. Pick out the stamps you want to use and embellish to your heart's content. I decided to make an early Halloween holiday card. I used some of the new Studio G stamps with a Tsukineko Brilliance ink pad in Coffee Bean. After my images dried, I used my Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol to give each image a bit of shading. I stamped the "Happy Halloween!" greeting (another Studio G stamp) with Tsukineko Brilliance in Black Graphite.

Now all that's left to do is put a ribbon pull on the end of your waterfall strip if you'd like. I chose not to on this particular card. You can also cut a half circle (or other notch) out of the card base for ease of pulling the strip. But, I think it works just fine without it. Again, the design possibilities are endless.

I'll bet you'll spend ~~hours~~ minutes watching the card flip back and forth.

Have fun exploring the waterfall card!

Card Spotlight

2008-07-18T05:31:00.004-06:00

Today, it's a quick and simple greeting card. The main reason for the spotlight is to showcase some of the lovely K & Co. decorative papers from the new Mira collection by Brenda Walton. I fell in love instantly with this collection that highlights sunrise yellows and oranges with the contrasting deep spice colorations. It's a fusion of Indian and Eastern influences. The entire collection is gorgeous--and the coordinating embellishments are sublime. (My favorites are the Grand Adhesions Chinese Lantern set.)

This particular card is made from a 5 1/2" x 8" piece of "Golden Poppy" paper scored at 4" for a vertical orientation. Also, used is a small piece of "Paisley Ombre" from the Mira Collection for the tag. I made the tag using Making Memories Tag Maker (medium square aluminum rim). A sugar coated flower diecut and leaf adhered with a pop dot and glue dot respectively complete the look of the card. For the sentiment, I chose a Studio G clear acrylic stamp and Cat's Eye Queue ink in Raw Silk.

Life really is wonderful! I hope you have a super weekend ahead!

Keep Crafting!

Spotlight: Scor-Pal Mat & Tote Bag

2008-07-16T04:44:00.015-06:00

Any of you who have read this blog before know that I love my Scor-Pal. It was another of the many purchases that were enabled by the members of the Cricut Message Board. As someone who loves cardmaking and paper folding, I'm not sure how I ever managed without a Scor-Pal. I know there are several brands and types of scoring devices out there--and in the end, there is a degree of personal choice and what works best for you--but, I highly recommend the Scor-Pal to any of you who may be in the market for a multi-purpose scoring tool.

So, I've had my Scor-Pal for a while now. But, Diana Crick and the great folks over at Scor-Pal have recently introduced two handy upsell items for the Scor-Pal.

The first is a handy and beautiful colored teal tote bag to safely store and carry your Scor-Pal. The water-proof nylon material is very sturdy and some obvious thought went into the design of the bag. It has a detachable black adjustable web carrying strap. It's designed with a large front zip pocket with the Scor-Pal log screenprinted in white and gray on the front of it. It also features a front pocked ID window for identification and personalization.

The inside is surprisingly roomy. It feature two large elasticized pockets on the back wall that will easily hold a 12" paper trimmer and a bulky tool such as the Crop-a-Dile. The Scor-Pal fits in there with the mat nicely and there's still room for current projects, paper pads or other supplies you might need to take to a crop or friend's house. The overall dimensions of the tote are 14" x 16 1/2" and it sells for $16.00.

But, the real treat is the Scor-Pal Mat, which is designed to be perfectly seated in the tray area of the Scor-Pal. It also is a reversible, double-sided dual-use mat. The translucent teal mat is nearly 12" x 12" and features a self-healing cutting mat with inch markings done in black and 1/8" increments marked in white. The reverse side features a shiny worksurface with a slight amount of cling to keep papers from moving or slipping. Now when you are through using your Scor-Pal for scoring or folding, you can put the mat on top and continue working on your project. The mesuring scales are extremely handy and the work surface is fabulous for stamping and working on your current page or card. At $15.00, it is must-have tool for your arsenal.

Buying a Scor-Pal (sells for $39.95), the mat and tote is a bit of an investment for the savvy crafter. However, it pays off in dividends. You'll find yourself reaching for this tool set constantly. I'm always coming up with new ways to use my Scor-Pal--and the mat just gives it all the more possibility and flexibility.

This is a five-star (*****) winner! You won't be sorry

Gamsol Technique--Attempt #1

2008-07-14T03:35:00.009-06:00

Over the weekend, I tried my hand at coloring a stamped image sent to me by the wonderful AMKs_MOM. I had tried a couple previously, but I didn't use the correct ink and they smeared.

While I'm not completely thrilled with the end result, I must say that it was a lot of fun experimenting and I look forward to trying my hand at more coloring.

A Card From My Secret Sister

2008-07-14T03:23:00.005-06:00

I have an absolutely terrific Secret Sister on the Cricut Message Boards. Her name is Kelly and she goes by KellpieJo on the message board.

She sends me some of the most cheery cards. I love this one because it showcases her work with metal and alcohol inks. The butterfly and center square are metal and hand painted with alcohol inks. The borders are also inked (I assume on photo paper).

Thank you KELLY! You are a true gift!

Idea: Putting Those Scraps To Use

2008-07-12T14:59:00.007-06:00

If you are anything like me, you usually find yourself at the end of work session with a pile of odds and ends. I'm going to be honest. I'm not a very good example when it comes to saving scraps, especially paper. It always seems to be more trouble than what it's worth--and I never actually use what I save. I'm a bit better about saving bits and pieces of embellishments. It's just too hard to throw a pretty away.

After working on several cards yesterday, I had a few things left on my work table. I started eyeing them for a bit and became determined to do something with them. The key was finding an empty embellishment tin I had been saving. After a few mintues of playing with my pieces, this is what I came up with: a shadowbox/windowbox on which a card can be attached to the back of the box.

The material list for this project:

--empty metal embellishment tin with lid
--scrap decorative paper for shadowbox background
--chipboard butterfly from DCWV
--chipboard flourish from DCWV
--K & Co. Grand Adhesion flower
--miscellaneous flower, stem and bee stickers

So save your miscellaneous pieces and put them to good use!

Spotlight: Autumn Leaves: Rhonna Farrar

2008-07-12T14:44:00.006-06:00

I've recently become a collector of clear acrylic stamps. I don't think that it was a matter of preference over rubber stamps, but moreso an issue of space constraints.

But one of the artists (and there are some very talented people out there) whose work I've become enamoured with is Rhonna Farrar. There's just something about her style and sense of design that connects with me.

Rhonna Farrar is a wife and mother of three children. She is also an outstanding artist and teacher. I recently purchased this set of stamps released by Autumn Leaves as part of their Stampology line. This set is entitled "Gypsy Style 2". I think it's amazing!

Tag In A Bag--Masking

2008-07-09T10:36:00.009-06:00

For this particular project, I have chosen to use a tag in a bag from the Sara's Surfaces line by Hot Off The Press (which you can buy at Paper Wishes) .

However, it is the stamping technique that I wish to highlight here. So you can use this process on regular greeting cards, altering projects and scrapbook pages. The result is a project that looks much more complicated than it really is.

My supplies for this project include:

--Sara's Surfaces Tag In A Bag
--Colorbox Cat's Eye Queue Pigment Ink (Rain Forest, Rich Rustics)
--an acrylic or rubber stamp of your choice
--plastic sheets or transparency sheets
--ribbon

The technique highlighted in this project is called masking. You can think of masking as the reverse of stenciling. Heidi Swapp has introduced a line of mini and large masks that work very well. However, the only thing that really limits your options for masking is your own imagination.

You can create you own masks by using a sheet of plastic and tracing/drawing your desired design on it with a marker. Then cut around your mask. All that's needed to make your mask stick to your project surface is a little repositionable adhesive. My Xyron 510 comes in handy for this step. I've found you can also use clear transparency sheets as well. As for the images, you can draw something from your mind or trace an image from coloring book or clip art image.

For easier visuals, I have used a piece of black plastic cut out in simple leaf and branch shapes. They were run through the Xyron to put adhesive on the reverse side. Once you have prepared your masking elements we are ready to position them on your work surface. Make sure the edges of your mask are securely adhered to your project surface.

Once you have the masking elements in place, it is simply a matter of choosing the color of ink that you wish to use on the negative space of your surface. I chose to use the Colorbox Cat's Eye Queue Pigment stack in Rain Forest and chose Fresh Green as my color. Then you simply dab your inkpad all across your surface, avoiding stamping in an obvious pattern. You will want to leave some areas lighter and darker for visual interest.

Continue dabbing with your inkpad until your entire masked surface has been well covered will ink.

At this point, you will want to remove your mask material. I find you achieve better results if you remove them prior to the ink drying. You can either discard your masks or clean them and save them for another application.

After your masks are removed, you do want to let the ink completely dry before proceding to your final embellishments. I chose a sentiment stamp from Studio G and used the black ink pad from my Colorbox Cat's Eye Queue Rich Rustics stack. Be creative in your positioning of your sentiment.

Once my sentiment stamp is dry, I decided to use a piece of color coordinating ribbon to loop through the tag hole. This will allow it to be used as a card pull and allow for easier access once the tag card is in its paper bag.

After thinking about it a bit more, I decided I needed to add a little "something" to the bag envelope. I found another spool of ribbon (I love paisleys!) and cut a piece to go around the width of the bag. I used another piece to further embellish my card.

Now, my project is completed and ready for giving.

Have fun exploring with the masking technique and let your imagination run wild!

Keep Crafting!

Mosaic Tile Postcard

2008-07-07T08:45:00.009-06:00

This project is modern take on the traditional postcard. It is done with a chipboard base, stamped images and distressing techniques. Your finished project will look something like this:

front side

reverse side

To do this project, you will need the following tools and supplies:

--a piece of chipboard measuring 4.5" x 6.5" (I chose to use a piece from the DCWV Chipboard Mat Stack Brights (wine), as it is already finished on both sides. If you use bare chipboard, you can choose to cover it with decorative papers that will match your stamped image or solid cardstock)

--a piece of white textured cardstock measuring 4" x 5" (I chose Bazzill corduroy textured cardstock in Snow)

--a rubber or acrylic stamp of your choosing (I chose an Inkadinkado stamp from "Affair of the Heart" Collection)

--ink pad matching your base chipboard color (I chose Cat's Eye Queue in Ruby)

--a Tim Holtz Distress Ink pad (I chose the color walnut stain)

--several pieces of Kleenex or tissue

--adhesive of your choice (I used the Xyron 510 and Zig pen)

--glitter (I used Doodlebug Sugar Coating)

--a sheet of coordinating solid color paper

The key technique for this postcard is a trick using your favorite scoring device. I love my Scor-Pal. The use of textured cardstock also adds a lot of character to the distressing of this piece.

You want to take a piece of white textured cardstock and trim it to 4" x 5". Using your Scor-Pal (or other device), you want to score your cardstock at 1", 2" and 3" on the shorter side. Turn your cardstock 90 degrees and then score the 5" side at the following intervals: 1", 2", 3", 4". What you will end up with is a grid pattern of one inch blocks which will create the illusion of mosaic tiles in your finished piece.

Before stamping your chosen image, make sure that you stamp the side on which your scored your textured cardstock. It creates a deeper furrow on your scores and breaks up your stamped image for the desired effect. I chose to stamp the image multiple times to fill the cardstock.

Allow your stamped images to dry completely. Then you want to take your Tim Holtz Distress Ink pad. The secret tool you want to use for application is two pieces of Kleenex (or other tissue) balled up for hand application. You want to dab your tissue on the ink pad and then hand apply with strokes going in the same direction on each application.

The amount of distressing you want to apply to your stamped images is a matter of personal preference. You obviously don't want to use so much stain that it totally obscures your stamped images. However, the more ink you use the clearer your scored channels will be accentuated creating the desired mosaic effect.

Once you're happy with the distressing and all of the inks have dried, you can now adhere your cardstock to the chipboard base. I found it easy to run the cardstock through my Xyron 510. I then used a white rub-on (the word "LOVE") to accent the corner. Any further embellishment is up to your heart's desire. But, rememeber, you want your mosaic to be the centerpiece of the postcard and draw the most eye-attention.

On the reverse side, I simply glued a piece of solid pink paper and added another Inkadinkado stamped image to the corner. This leaves you the bulk of the space to do your writing.

Keep experimenting with this mosaic stamping technique. You'll be surprised what a versatile (and easy) technique it is. But, it will look like you spent a long time to achieve the effect. Afterall, who doesn't love immediate gratification more than crafters?

Keep Crafting!

Butterfly Trifold Card

2008-07-05T14:03:00.006-06:00

I've been experimenting with different card shapes and folding techniques. This was my first attempt with a tri-fold panel card. I think I'm really going to like this shape.

I used Bazzill textured cardstock as the base of the card cut at 11" x 5". I used the Scor-Pal for my scoring (and I highly recommend you look into acquiring a Scor-Pal if you don't already own one). Score your cardstock at the following intervals:

* The first score is at 2"
* The second score is at 4 1/2"
* The third score is at 7"

At this point, you need to decide how many of the card panels you wish to cover with decorative paper. I chose to to cover panels two and four on this particular card. You want your decorative paper to be slightly smaller than the panel dimensions to allow the base cardstock to frame your decorative paper. I chose to use paper from Die Cuts With A View (DCWV) Luxury Paper Stack and trimmed them down with my Cricut paper trimmer. I used my ATG714 adhesive gun to adhere the papers to the cardstock. After you've glued down your decorative papers, you can fold your card with a basic accordian fold and secure your folds with a bone folder.

The next major feature of this card is the tabbed opening. I decided to use a butterfly clear acryic stamp from Inkadinakdo. I stamped the image on Bazzill white textured cardstock using Tsukineko Dew Drop ink in Pearlescent Sky Blue. You want to stamp the image twice and them trim around your images. You next want a piece of cardstock in the same color as your base card. Glue one of your images to the cardstock and then trim around the stamped image leaving a border of approximately 1/4" around the image. Apply adhesive to one half of your image and adhere it to the front of your first card flap. (TIP: if you position your image where you want it on the card front, turn it over and draw a faint pencil line which will guide you when putting your adhesive on.)

Once the tab front image is adhered to your card opening, open the panel and take your second stamped image to position. (TIP: You want to select a stamped image that will look well mirrored on itself; If it is not a balanced image, it will not mirror well and your tab opening will look funny.) Adhere your image to the back of the cardstock of the first image. The inner half of your image will be adhered to the inside flap

Your card is now ready for final embellishments. I chose to use a Prima flower with a Making Memories Epoxy brad on the card cover. The word "SOAR" is a white rub-on transfer. On the inside I used another Inkadinkdoo stamp (flower blossom) stamped in black ink. A journaling circle of blue paper creates a nice area for your card sentiment. The other butterfly is a Heidi Swapp clear acrylic cut-out.

Real Men Carry An ATG Gun

2008-07-05T13:57:00.004-06:00

So, here it is.

A place where I will share my crafting projects. I'm mainly a paper crafter and cardmaker. I do some scrapbooking, altering, decoupage, knitting, needlepoint and other odds and ends. I hope to share my insights and tips, tools and product reviews. I'm also a big fan of Provocraft's Cricut Expression. You'll find some of my cut files posted from time to time.

I'd like to thank Ted (Sir Craftalot) for encouraging me to start this project. This weblog is dedicated to all of my friends and contemporaries who frequent our home-away-from-home, the Cricut Message Boards.

Happy Crafting!