Kind of Squirrely...

Last week's "Squirrely Challenge" involved double embossing: stamp and white emboss background and then stamp and black emboss image. I was looking for some other backgrounds to use for this technique, and really liked the pattern of an embossing folder. Thus began an experiment:

The embossing folder is a newer Tim Holtz/Sizzix one (came in a set - might have been Spring). I embossed the white panel with the folder. I used my Versamark pen to color the raised areas and white embossed. I did this a section at a time for best coverage. After embossing and allowing to set, I sent the panel through my Big Shot to flatten it out. (My first test did not turn out well as the image was raised too high to get a good stamped image). Then, I black embossed the butterflies and completed the card. The sentiment and punch is from Stampin' Up. I few extra steps, but I now know another use for my embossing folders!

Tuesday's Tip

While reading through a Creating Keepsakes magazine a couple of weeks ago, I saw a great idea for using a common baking item. Cupcake liners make great flowers! Since they come in 2 sizes, you have options. As my kids are grown, I find I do not bake as much, but I do have a couple of different patterns of mini cupcake liners. The possibilities should be fun!

Squirrely Challenge

This time our Squirrely Challenge is Colorful Silhouettes. it is from the August 2011 Technique Junkies Newsletter. After white embossing a panel, I added several blue tones of Distress Inks. The bird from Impression Obsession was back embossed. The result:

I repeated the white embossed Stampin' Up background on the white card base.The label was stamped and punched, with color added from Distress inks. I used a Ranger nib dipped onto the ink pad to color the label.
For links to other Squirrely Girls, visit Nancy's blog.

Tuesday's Tip

Get more from your tools by using them in on-traditional ways. I love using stencils on a variety of projects, In addition to using them with inks, sprays, paints, Gelatos etc, I like to stamp through them. It adds a little extra texture to your image or background!

"Wicked"Commitment...

I finished up a recent journal page for my swap with my friend, Kate. I decided to use some stuff (technical term) that was on my desk. So, tearing papers, painting flowers, and painting/gessoing the pages. I really had no plan. It was looking fairly green as I had a mini kit given to me by my friend, Nancy. So, I decided to go with the "wicked" green theme...

The yellow sun up in the right corner is molding paste through a stencil (yes, both were sitting out - on a counter not on my desk!). The wicked witch was from a coordinating stamp set to Graphic 45's Oz collection. There is a bit more sparkle and glitter in real life as I used some Glimmer Glam and Glimmer Glaze.
Give yourself a challenge - use only a few items or leftovers from your desk, a drawer, a basket, etc. You never know where it will lead!

More Paper Play

I used the same Pink Paislee line as yesterday's card. Parts of the paper were a bit on the busy side, so I cut the main body out of the center of a 12 x 12 sheet of patterned paper. The pink swirls and flowers along the top were from another part of the same 12 x 12 sheet of paper. I cut them out and added them. I used the Stampin' Up butterfly embosslit for the small butterflies (and a bit of acrylic paint).
Remember, you can use any part of a 12 x 12 design and re-arrange it as you see fit. You just have to cut it (and I know sometimes that is NOT easy!)

Paper Play

I have fallen in love with patterned paper. Yes, it has been around for many years - and I had a lot at one time. It was mostly 8 1/2 x 11, and pretty basic. So, I stopped buying it and starting making my own with rubber stamps and inks. Then, I could customize each page as needed.
Jump ahead: there are so many wonderful themes and collections available. I resisted for a while - mainly purchasing (and hoarding) Basic Grey. Then, came all the Graphic 45 collections....sigh. So, I have not only embraced patterned paper, and bought patterned paper, I have been using patterned paper. The above card is all Pink Paislee except for the stamped message. I cut (and die cut) portions of a 12 x 12 sheet - making a pretty little card.

Tuesday's Tip

As I am in Boston visiting my daughter, I am not in the studio. So,  the tip for today is to have fun! Be it crafting or traveling , relax and enjoy!

For the Boys...

When my daughter was in high school (both kids actually), I would find some quirky odds and ends for stocking stuffers and Easter baskets. One year, I found the bank pictured below for her basket:

Over time, we would jokingly refer to "adding to the therapy fund" as things came up. Apparently, two of her college friends thought we had a "real" therapy fund. It is actually pretty funny, given both boys have spent time around Megan and I and know we have a rather obtuse sense of humor. So, I get a text that the boys think it is a real fund. So, I ask her if they are jealous. I receive a text back that they want their own. I had 3 days before going to Boston and could not find a bank of any kind. I did find metal canisters and devised a way to make them into banks. Add a couple of old Rubber Baby stamps, a Ken Brown/American Art Stamp and some letters...

Hope they are happy...otherwise, I will need to add to the fund...

In The Neighborhood

I completed a double page spread for my journal exchange. I thought I would use the background I made with paint and plastic wrap, adding some new purchases. It is a bit less busy in person as the pen work did not photograph well. I used one of the new Hero Arts stamps (large house) and paired with Basic Grey's Out of Print paper. I used the On The Edge houses from Tim Holtz/Sizzix to die cut the patterned paper. A few stickers and punched circles were added.

I finally completed this tag - started when I took May's class. I really liked the background - patterned paper (Pink Paislee) glued to the tag and then Tim Holtz tissue glued on top. It is a great look - more interesting in real life. A little inking, and then I cut out and attached the bird and cage with pop dots. To add a little interest, I smeared some Distress Stickles onto the cage and added Glossy accents to the flower. A nice and quick embellishment for a future card or other project!

Tuesday's Tip

Banners and flags are very popular embellishments these days. There are a variety of dies and punches available. Sometimes, you have a need for a specific size. It is easy to custom make the banner or flag you like. To get an even end, use your corner punch. Kim Reilly, a friend from the Club Scrap forum, shared this tip with everyone - center the corner of a square punch on you banner, and punch. It works great! Thanks, Kim!

Dies for Guys...

I am still playing with die cuts. It is pretty easy to make feminine cards - there are a lot of fun flower and butterfly dies available. I decided to work a masculine card into my collection. The tree and deer dies are Sizzix/Tim Holtz. I "Distress Inked" the background of the blue panel and stamped the same colors onto the white fold over card. The punch is by Stampin' Up and sentiment is Hero Arts.

For Mom...

This weekend, I am teaching a boxed card class - just in time for Mother's Day! I really love the Core d'nations texture card stock for the box and card embellishments.

These are the cards we will be making - there will be 2 of each type. The teal and fuchsia are from Core d'nations. All stamps are Penny Black and Hero Arts. The box was previously shown on my blog, but here it is below:

Enjoy your weekend - whether you are celebrating National Scrapbook Day or Cinco de Mayo!

To Die (cut) For...

I bought the new Sizzix/Tim Holtz border die. I love it! There are a ton of flowers and leaves, in slightly different shapes and sizes. The card above is a class sample. I did not use any leaves, as I liked the large swirl instead. Card stock is Club Scrap and miscellaneous others. I used an embossing folder (QuickCuts, I think) on the background.

A Little Bird...

Last weekend, Nancy and I took a class with May Flaum. During the self-paced class,
we had the opportunity to play around. The tag was colored with Paint Dabbers and Distress
Stains. The Hero Arts bird was stamped with 2 colors of Distress Markers. I cut it out and
popped it up, added a die cut branch and fabric flower. I love to mix media, usually I do this
in my art journals. So, it was fun to work on a tag.

Tuesday's Tip

My friend, Nancy, and I took a fun little class from May Flaum. We played with tags, patterned paper and a variety of media. We also discussed some of the new/latest trends. One of these trends is   using clusters of buttons and embellishments on cards and scrapbook pages. May had a great tip that I thought I would pass on - when clustering embellishments, put about 6 dots of glue on your layout. Place the embellishments on the dots, then do a few more. It makes it easier to adjust and decide what you think looks good without doing too much at one time.