PAPERLICIOUS

Happy Zinnias

Card Construction Details:

1. Masked this gorgeous zinnia from Stacy Stamper and stamped to fill up most of the white panel.

2. Colored with Copics, making sure to color the leaves first so that I wouldn't accidentally color them as flowers. 

3.  Added Black Rangers Glossy Accents to center of flowers.

4.  Outlined flowers with Black marker.

5.  Colored background with pale blue Copic and edged with Faded Jeans Distress Ink. Sponged more Distress Ink on blue sections.

6.  Stamped Waltzingmouse Say It Loud sentiment on vellum with versafine Onyx and embossed.

7.  Trimmed vellum sentiment and embossed edges with Scor-Pal.  Adhered by wrapping around zinnia panel.

8.  Adhered to a card made from A Muse Studio Buttercup cardstock.

MOOD WHEN DONE = Happy

 

 

Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge #54

Here's my take on the sketch --

You can see the sketch challenge here. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Sewing Box Hugs
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo
Cardstock:  A Muse Studio Blueberry and Sugar
Other:  Copic markers, scissors, dimensionals

Mood When Done = cheerful

 

More Butterfly Dreams

Today I'm sharing another card made with Butterfly Dreams, a great set from Papertrey Ink-- it is filled with so many different styles of butterflies and some great sentiments.  Definitely worth the $$.  I was very sorry when its designer, Niki Estes, left Papertrey.  I hope another stamp company hires her to design sets.

 

Card Construction Details:

1.  Trimmed A Muse Studio Sugar cardstock and stamped butterflies as shown with Memento Tuxedo Ink.

2.  Colored with Copics.

3. Hand drew line using ruler, connecting butterflies (NO idea why, just goofing around).

4.  Stamped sentiment.

5. Added a bunch of clear rhinestones with a Quickie Glue Pen.

6.  Trimmed with corner rounder and adhered to black mat.

7.  Adhered with dimensionals to A2 Sugar card with side fold.

MOOD WHEN DONE - flighty and grateful for all the comments on my last post.

A Muse Studio, Chatter, and Cards

If you had told me earlier this week that Amuse Arts was entering the home party papercrafting world and that I would have joined up, I would have told you that you were crazy.

But they did, and I did.

So here is A Muse Studio.

You can see the 2011 Inspiration Guide by waiting for the image to scroll to the link. I'll list my favorite sets after I get a paper copy and have time to study!

So here's how this went down in my house -

Mike: No

Me: Why not?

Mike: You'll last an hour an a half.

Me: Maybe. Maybe not. I LOVE their paper and inks. Love the fact that there is white on one side. The colors are luscious.

Mike: Have you tried the inks?

Me: No, but several folks told me that they are very similar to Impress Fresh inks and that, even though pigment, they dry really fast. They will MATCH!

Mike: So you JOINED BEFORE TRYING THE INKS?  Are you crazy?

Me: Yes. ... Remember the lady that out of the blue sent me a huge box of stamps and papers a few years ago after I posted about the financial drain of taking care of my Mom?

Mike: Yes.

Me: Well, that was Linda, the A Muse owner. I can't resist getting in on the ground floor of her new venture. And the company's style is Clean and Simple and while most of the stamps are not my first love (clear), they are cling mount with the image and I love the colors but I'm not getting all of them because I'm limiting my colors to save $$ and space and I'm all freaked out over my Mom and I need a diversion and ...

Mike: So does this mean your blog is going to be all Amuse all the time?

Me: NO!!! I could never give up my addiction to Waltzingmouse!! We can post, promote, design team, link, anything for any other company but we can't also be a demo for another home based paper crafting company, like SU or TAC.

Mike: Craft Budget?

Me: Not breaking it. Really, truly. I'm stuck like glue to you and the budget.  And JULIE is A Muse Studio's Director of Education!!!!

Mike: Well why didn't you tell me Julie is involved?

So I'm taking orders (at least for now).  If you want to place an order with me in March, send an email to me -- jabardee@gmail.com. In April I'll have an online store and it will be much easier. Remember that I work full time outside my house and won't be checking my emails during the day but I'll get back to you. 

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Hero Arts Layered Flowers and Truly Appreciated. Color by Copics and Me.  Hero Arts Grass cards. Glitter for fun.  

 

8 Christmas Cards (made in February)  Waltzingmouse Oven Fresh Gingerbread Joy.  The Waltzingmouse February Christmas Challenge was to use something laying around on your craft table.  I had these Hero Arts Grass cards. I really don't like this shade of green.  Good bye Grass cards!  (sorry the photo is not better. but my camera is allergic to this color too.)

Have a great weekend!

 

Noel, Noel

Here's a fun card to make and to receive.

Card Construction Details

1.  Mist water over cardstock.  Used PTI Vintage Cream but anything will work.  Rubbed Memento Summer Sky ink pad directly onto the paper, keeping the pad moving and swirling. The "dots" or "bump" in the paper is where the water hit the paper and the ink got darker in those spots.  Add a few other colors, being sure to blend over the last color. I added some Memento Pear Tart and Desert Sand.

2. Stamped snowflakes from Waltzingmouse Very Vintage Christmas with Versamark and clear embossed.  You can see a bit of one flake on the tree near the heart.

3.  Die cut with Spellbinders scalloped circle.

3.  Stamped trees with Memento Tuxedo ink.  The tree and sentiment are from a no longer in production Cornish Heritage Farms set that I've had for years and never used.  Designed by Kim Hughes, it is a keeper!  Unfortunately, I did not store it with the set's name.  Surely one of you will recognize this and comment with the name. 

4.  Colored tree with Copics.  Used Sketch B95, G24, R29, and YG 25.  No shading, just a quick cover.  The Copics don't cover up the underlying darker spots, just emphasize them.  Having lots of fun!

5.  Stamped sentiment.  Went over sentiment with a fine Black Copic marker -- not the Sketch markers, but a Copic Multiliner Micron pen.

6.  Punched hole in die cut.  Added ribbon, which I colored with the B95 and G24 Copic markers.

7.  A2 Pure Poppy red card.  Misted water.  Rubbed Memento Rhubarb Stalk ink over the cover of the card.  Dried with heat gun. 

8.  Adhered scallop layer to card.

Mood When Done = Almost Noelly

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If you are interested in a bit of a life update, keep reading. Otherwise, stamp on!

My son comes home for Thanksgiving this evening.  This is making me very happy.  And speaking of happy, I posted on my Facebook page yesterday that I am the happiest I've ever been.

I have NO idea where that emotion came from.  But, there I was just brimming with joy.  The oxygen machine is making its usual way too loud noise from my Mom's room.  That, combined with the blaring TV, usually makes its way through our vents and we always have that as a background noise.  Last night, it was just a pleasant hum.

Work has been busy, and sometimes annoying.  Last night, it was hopping busy and energized me.  I love having more to do than can possibly get done in a week.  All the annoyances suddenly seemed like fun challenges.

Mike was about to come home.  He got a promotion at work last week and is officially one of those senior government officials no one likes.  But he's my honey and still does the dishes and works like a dog.  The kindest man I know.  Remember him when you think poorly of Washington!

In case I don't post again before Thanksgiving, or you don't get back here before Thanksgiving, if you are in the US, have a wonderful holiday.  And, whereever you are, I hope you have a lot for which to be thankful. 

I know I do.

 

Shady Tree Studio: Preview, Day Three

Welcome to the last day of this week of Shady Tree Studio previews.  I hope you have been enjoying seeing the new sets on the other designers' blogs (check my sidebar). 

Today I have 2 cards -- the first is in my comfort zone -- kraft, simple, quick.  It is 3" x 6" and will go to my son this winter.  He loves cold weather! 

I love this snowman! Stamped three times, a bit of Copic coloring, and punched. 

 

Here's a closeup -- can you see the snowflake under the sentiment. Also stamped them in white on the blue strip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mood When Done =  Playful

Second card is completely OUT of my comfort zone. And, frankly, I doubt I'll be visiting this zone any time soon!  Fun to try new things though.

A quilt background, Copic colored angel.  The patterned papers are (again) from Cosmso Cricket Winter Mitten collection.  Lots of patterns and textures here.   I just couldn't get enough "stuff" on this card! 

HINT:  If your coloring skills are still developing, take your colored image and cover it with Versamark and clear embossing powder.  In this case, used an Ultra Thick Embossing Powder ( 3 layers), stuck it in the freezer and cracked it. Covers a multitude of sins.  Trust me -- venial all the way to mortal!

Here's a close up of the angel:

Mood When Done = Tired and a bit Puzzled by all this stuff

 

 

Shady Tree Studio: Preview, Day Two

Here is another image from Shady Tree Studio's Just Believe -- Mr. Santa.  (By the way, this card was Mike's favorite of the ones I'm posting this week..).

The patterned papers are again from Cosmo Cricket Winter Mitten.  I don't by a lot of patterned paper, especially holiday paper.   But I saw Debbie Olson use this paper and I fell in love with it and found it when I was in Minnesota a few weeks ago. 

Card Construction Details:

1.  Took out paper and tried to find Copics that matched.  Do not have any green close and read Debbie's hint to add neutrals on top of your Copics if you need a closer match. In this case, I used a gray Copic on top of the red and also on top of the tiny green holly leaves. You can see in the picture above that where I used the gray also lifted up some of the red.  Took the same gray Copic and edged the white rectangle panel. 

 

2.  Once I figured out my colors, colored Santa and then, using a Spellbinders rectangle die, cut him out.  Too wide, so used another Debbie trick and cut out the left side to narrow the rectangle. That women is a genius. Here is a pic of how to do it.

3.  Stacked the pieces of patterned paper and ran them through the Big Shot with a Spellbinders rectangle scallop die.  By doing them all at once, made sure the scallops would line up.

4.  Die cut the bottom of the card as well and adhered everything.

5.  Lined envelope (used Papetrey's Envelope Liner Die). 

Mood When Done = Festive

Design Tip:  one of the things I did during my blog break this summer was read a bunch on graphic design.  I was frustrated with what I was making and thought I would just give it up. But, instead I found myself trying to learn more about desgin.  I don't find it intuitive, so I browsed the internet and got a lot of books out of the library.  From time to time I'll share what I am trying to learn (I'm continuing to read and practice.)  I'm not a professional and someone with real graphic design training might laugh at this. But I find it helpful...

Yesterday I talked briefly about the "grid" and how you can place things at certain points and have it be visually pleasing.

Today's card uses those grid points -- the 4 corners of Santa's mat is on the grid.  But it also demonstrates another design principle.  It is a "near symmetrical" design -- one where you can drawn a line down the center veritically and each side is almost identical.  True symettry would be identical on each side (and is rarely found in nature). 

Since the image of Santa is different on the left and right, and the background paper is not symettrical, this card is an example of near symettry.  When I'm stumped, this is also a easy way to plan a card, especially one where I want to highlight a larger image, or if I'm looking for a calm feeling.

Here are some examples of the principle of symmetry I've found on other blogs:

Claire Brennan's Jar With a Tag -- only the handle keeps it from true symettry.  And there is nothing boring about this! 

Nichole Heady's Two Hannukah cards -- I checked Nichole's blog because her cards are often symettrical in design.

Maile Belle's Congratulations card -- each side is near identical (only the word Congratulations keeps it from true symmetry

Enjoy!

Umbrella Top and Handle and a Comment on Buying Copic Markers

Regarding my last post...

Many of you guessed correctly. The umbrella top was made with the part of a Spellbinders Heirloom Ornament die.

Now the handle?

Drew a handle on a piece of cardstock, and cut it out.  Then covered it with Ranger's Inkssentials Black Glossy Enamel. 

I've linked this product to I Heart Papers because that is where I purchased it.  Also, I wanted to mention something about buying Copics from this store.

Copics are pricey. So I am always looking for a deal.  I sometimes buy one or two from a local art supply shop. However, I've discovered that markers -- at least at this store -- that are out in the open on a display rack are not juicy at all.  So I quit that and have been purchasing them from a variety of on line shops. 

I tend to buy just a few at at time, filling out an order I'm placing for other things.  This way I build up a collection without sinking too much money at once.  So on the last order I placed with I Heart Papers I went a bit wild and ordered 6 (still staying in my budget!).

Kate has excellent prices on Copics.  But the thing I noticed immediately when they came is that they are very juicy.  The two times I ordered from I Heart Papers, my Copics came noticeably wetter.  What a difference! 

I'm not dissing other online vendors.  Feel free to mention them in the comments if you get great service and juicy Copics, but I thought I would mention this. 

I pay full price for my items when I order from I Heart Papers, and except for participating in the company's 2nd birthday bash (free stamp set and free pad of paper) I have no connection to Kate or her store.  Just a happy customer. 

Toss or Mail?

Edited to Add:  Thanks so much for the kind comments.  I thought the dotted squares looked odd.  So mail it I shall!

 

It would take too long to describe this card's construction.  Let's just say insomina + Copic colored image from Peace and Plenty and sentiment from Teeny Trees -- both Waltzingmouse -- + embossed image with Versamark pen and clear embossing powder.

Mood When Done = Puzzled

And just because I have the picture -- here's a close up:

 

Naturally

Needed a break from Kraft.

Selected PTI's Vintage Cream, Ocean Tides and Sweet Blush as my basic color scheme and got to work coloring with Copics.

The stamp set (both the flower and sentiment) is from Shady Tree Studios soon to be released Naturally Imagined.  This set is full of beautiful flowery images and also includes a few sentiments. If you like these flowers, you will love this set!

I love hand drawn flowers.  I like computer generated, with sharp geometic lines also, now that I think of it, but there is something about coloring hand drawn flowers, with soft flowing edges, that I find relaxing. 

There's not much to explain other than that the finished product is 4.5" square.  If you are a fan of Kraft, don't despair and I've got a card coming up that uses this same set with Kraft!