Thinking Inking

In the Meadow. . .

Good morning! Before I share card details, I just wanted to put in a quick plug for my Lansing, Michigan Copic Certification classes, with the Intermediate on Friday, November 4, and the Standard on Saturday, November 5. Do you have the Copic Standard Certification under your belt already? Then the Intermediate Certification has plenty of space available, and we'd love to have you join us!  Okay, on to today's card. . .

I hope you're not tired of the In the Meadow set, because I can tell you that I am not! This card was one of my favorites so far. I used the Melissa Frances Home for the Holidays 6" x 6" pad for background papers, matted with Scarlet Jewel cardstock. Accessories include Scarlet Jewel Grosgrain and Vintage Button, Rustic Twine, rusty bells, and some lace fabric tape that I found online in one of the Etsy shops. 

Other cardstock used was Rustic White and Kraft. I used both the In the Meadow and In the Meadow Silhouettes dies. The only stamped parts are the snow (Vintage Cream ink on Kraft CS) and the sentiment and snowman's arms with Scarlet Jewel ink. The hills are accented in glitter on the tops after being sponged with Chamomile Distress Ink on all edges. A bit of sewing and sanding, and I was finished.

Now, I'd love to share a few pictures from the Oregon coastline near Florence (Haceta Point, I think). I'm headed home early tomorrow from our annual Copic meeting. Yesterday afternoon we took off an hour early to head to the coast; what a beautiful site it was for someone who hasn't seen West Coast beaches before (except in fly overs)!

That's it for today--thanks for visiting!

Musical Notes Labels Twenty: November JRS Release

Welcome to the second day of the JustRite Stampers November release! Today's set is Musical Notes Labels Twenty. Being a music lover, I was glad to see this set; it's elegant and vintage--both things I love. 

In fact, I can think of several things that I need to make with it. . . as soon as I get some more TIME! 

I used four Spellbinders die templates here--Labels Twenty, Nested Lacey Pennants, Spiral Blossoms 1, and Foliage. Patterned papers are My Mind's Eye Lost and Found Sunshine 6" x 6" pad. See that sweet little paper doily? I found that one (French Lace Paper Doilies) and two other kinds at StarLit Studio. I'm loving doilies these days! I used a white Prismacolor pencil to color the ribbon on the inside focal image, and that layer is trimmed by hand and attached to the Labels Twenty layer behind it with foam tape. A bit of sanding and sewing, and that's it! Would you like to see more with the Musical Notes Labels Twenty set? Then be sure to check out these blogs:

JustRite Inspiration
Becca Feeken
Debbie Olson 
Heidi Blankenship 
Kellie Fortin 
Michele Kovack 
Sankari Wegman
Angela Barkhouse
Barb Schram

P.S. As a reminder, to thank you for reading our blogs, JustRite has offered a coupon code for our blog readers and Facebook fans. Simply use this code JRBLOGTEAM (use all CAPS) during check out to receive 20% off your entire order  including sale items.  Coupon Code expires October 31st and can not be combined with any other Coupon Code offers.

Botanical Butterflies: November JRS Release

Welcome! I'm in Portland, Oregon this week with several of my Copic team friends--should be a great week! I was able to get a few posts done while I was home though. Today and tomorrow I am posting a JustRite Stampers November release project; today's new set is Botanical Butterflies a lovely fourteen-piece clear set shown below.

Before I forget, JustRite would like to thank their loyal blog and Facebook fans! JustRite appreciates each person who visits and reads our posts.  As their way of saying thank you, the blog team has an exclusive coupon code for our blog readers and facebook fans. Simply use this code JRBLOGTEAM (use all CAPS) during check out to receive 20% off your entire order  including sale items.  Coupon Code expires October 31st and can not be combined with any other Coupon Code offers.   

Since this is a clear set, the rings around the outside of the images are one piece--not interchangeable; still, you have a great many options with this set. I chose the floral Just Because focal image since I can use a just because card for pretty much any need--one more for the stash. ;-)

These are the Copic markers that I used on the image. I wanted to use a primarily yellow color scheme because I had some pretty new yellow papers that felt "fall-ish"--a My Mind's Eye Lost and Found Sunshine 6" x 6" pad.

Spellbinders die templates that I used included a Donna Downey Fanciful Flight, a Standard Circles Large, a Labels Five, and a Classic Bracket.To accessorize, I used a couple of gold rhinestones from Zva Creative, as well as a length of oatmeal seam binding.

Would you like to see more of the Botanical Butterflies set? You'll find more at the following blogs. Thanks for stopping by today!

JustRite Inspiration
Becca Feeken 
Debbie Olson 
Sharon Harnist 
Kellie Fortin 
Michele Kovack 
Heidi Blankenship 
Kathy Jones 
Angela Barkhouse

Dashing through the Snow

Welcome!  I am trying to get a couple of projects finished today before heading out again on Monday. How about another mostly Easy to Make, Easy to Mail card today? This one is really pretty simple already, but I'll list ideas for further simplification below the next picture in case you are mass-producing your cards. (I'm not a good mass-producer; I get bored too easily!) As it is shown, the supply list is:

Stamps: In the Meadow, Background Basics: Twinkle

Cardstock: Rustic Cream, Scarlet Jewel

Ink: SU Cranberry Crisp, PTI Chamomile Distress Ink, Glue Pad

Papers: Jingle Tiny Tablet (Lily Bee Design)

Accessories: Spring Moss Grosgrain, 6mm rusty tin bells, Rustic Twine, foam tape, glitter

Tools: sewing machine

It's easier to see the stamped background pattern at this angle; I stamped it with a Glue Pad and adhered fine glitter "snow"; I could have used the random snowflakes stamps from the In the Meadow set instead of the Background Basics: Twinkle set, but I thought that the pattern on the BB: Twinkle set tied the snow in with the background papers  that I had used.

If you wanted to simplify further, you could leave off the bells (which add thickness for mailing, but are oh-so-sweet!) and the Background Basics: Twinkle stamp; however, that BB: Twinkle glitter layer doesn't add any thickness, and it makes the card prettier. You don't have to sew around that outer patterned layer either.

I hope that helps! Have a great weekend, and thanks for stopping by today. 

Gingerbread Boy Season: ETM

Welcome! For today's card I put down my In the Meadow stamp set--it was tough though! ;-) You know how much I like to color, right?  The PTI Tremendous Treats: Christmas set was another great match for me this month, and I kept the card Easy to Make, Easy to Mail as well. 

These are the Copic markers that I used to color the Gingerbread Boy Man. (Having flashbacks of my Papa Vickery reading the Gingerbread Boy book to me as a child--did you read that book? My grandfather was the BEST with a wolf voice! I trembled in giggly fear as that silly gingerbread boy started getting wet and climbed farther toward the wolf's face!)

Besides the gingerbread man from Tremendous Treats: Christmas, I used a sentiment from Tiny Treats: Christmas and a background stamp from Polka Dot Basics II. I used some glossy dimensional glue on the buttons and eyes to give them a shiny, raised surface. The focal image is cut and embossed with a Spellbinders Standard Circles Small die, and the sentient is stamped on a Nested Lacey Pennants die cut. I tried something different with the banner sentiment; I love for banners to extend past the edge of the card, but unless you make the card more narrow than usual, an extended banner won't fit into a standard envelope. I used a circle die (Standard Circles Small again) to cut through just the front of the card so that I could extend the banner into the missing area. I'm still not sure whether this works for me or not--maybe if I'd made it look like a bite out of a cookie? I don't know--still thinking on that one! That's it for tonight; thank you for stopping by.

Sledding in a Winter Wonderland: ETM

Good morning! I'm back from Sacramento and playing catch-up on my work now. I so enjoyed meeting several of you in the Sacramento Standard and Intermediate Certification classes--you were a delight!  

Today I have another Easy to Make, Easy to Mail card from a PTI October release set; I have used the In the Meadow set so much, as well as its accompanying In the Meadow and In the Meadow Silhouettes dies. I'll add a complete supply list below. Thanks for visiting!

Supply List:

Stamps: In the Meadow
Cardstock: Rustic White, Kraft, Scarlet Jewel
Ink: SU Cranberry Crisp, PTI Chamomile Distress Cube, PTI Vintage Cream (to distress the Mehndi Medallion background layer)
Accessories: Pure Poppy Bakers Twine, Glitter, foam tape
Tools: In the Meadow and In the Meadow Accessories die, Mehndi Medallion impression plate, Scor-Pal (to emboss the edges of the Kraft layer); Grand Calibur die cutting machine

Quick Shaker Card Tutorial

Welcome! I'm in Sacramento for the weekend, but I uploaded my pictures right before I left so I could post from here. There are different ways to make shaker cards, but this is the way that I use. It has the advantage of being able to work on a circle instead of just straight edges. This was the PTI Tag-Its #9 card that I had posted yesterday, stepped out below. 

Here you see both my frame and my stamped base, cut the same size with a 1-3/4" circle punch. Although you cannot see it, the clear window is already attached to the frame layer, right next to the underneath-side of the frame piece on the left. The slightly tricky part is the foam tape layer. Keep in mind that while I used one layer of foam tape here, you might have to use either thicker tape or double layers, depending upon the thickness of your shaker material. 

Have you ever sewn a sleeve into a garment? Did you have to clip the curve? Here I have I clipped the curve in my foam tape. After I have cut the tape to the width that I want it (in this case, about 3/16"), I clip just part of the way through that width so that the tape is still in one piece on the inside of the circle, and it has gaps on the outside of the circle to allow it to follow the curve of the shape. Make sense? This clipping is what makes the tape work around a circle. It's a simple step, but an important one.

Next you carefully place your beads, faux snow, or other material inside your frame piece. (Remember that it already has its window in the frame piece.) I generally avoid using a fine glitter, because I have had problems with it clinging to the window sheet/acetate with static electricity. In the picture above, I have too many glass microbeads in there. I dumped a few out before taping up the shaker, and I should have probably dumped just a few more out than I did.

Gently peel the backer layer off of your foam tape. Since it was not cut all the way through (clipped the curves), I could pull it all off in three or four pieces--not thirty-something pieces. Next you oh-so-carefully pick up your focal image and lay it precisely where you want it, upside down onto the tape. You pretty much get one shot at this, so you need to make sure it is where you want it before pressing down.  **If you cut your focal image layer slightly smaller in diameter than your frame layer, you don't have to be quite as precise in placing the layers together.**

I added a mat layer behind my shaker and mounted it to my card front--it's pretty simple, really. You just have to be careful at a couple of places along the way. I hope that helps; thank you for stopping by today!

The Nitty-Gritty

Stamps: Tag Its #9
Cardstock: Vintage Cream, a small piece of clear card stock
Ink: Versamagic Hawaiian Shores, Memento Bamboo Leaves, PTI Raspberry Fizz, Chamomile Distress Ink
Patterned Paper: 12 Days of Christmas 6" x 6" pad (My Mind's Eye)
Accessories: Rustic Twine, glass micro beads, foam tape, rhinestones
Tools: Rick rack border die, 1-3/4" circle punch, 1-3/4" collection (scalloped die), corner rounders

PTI October 2011 Release

It's my favorite time of year for paper crafting--time for Christmas projects! I was really motivated this month, especially since I can use these for my own Christmas card stash. So, buckle up--there are a LOT of projects in this Papertrey Ink October 2011 release post! After each card is the supply list.

Stamps: In the Meadow, Winterberry
Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Rustic Cream, Ocean Tides, Scarlet Jewel
Ink: Versamagic Oasis Green, Chamomile Distress Cube, SU Cranberry Crisp
Patterned Papers: St. Nick 6" x 6" pad (Fancy Pants Designs)
Tools: Copic BG72 and Airbrush System, Tiny Tags die, In the Meadow and In the Meadow Silhouettes dies, foam tape, glitter, glue
Accessories: Rusty Tin jingle bells (www.factorydirectcraft.com), oatmeal seam binding, Rustic Twine

Stamps: Nativity Silhouettes
Cardstock: Aqua Mist, Scarlet Jewel, Rustic Cream, Vintage Cream
Ink: CHamomile Distress Cube (PTI), Versamagic Thatched Straw and Aquatic Splash, SU Cranberry Crisp
Patterned papers: St. Nick 6" x 6" pad (Fancy Pants Designs)
Tools: Small Scalloped BOrder die (PTI), sewing machine, die cutting machine

If you leave off the sweet little rusty jingle bells, this card would be one of the Easy to Make, Easy to Mail cards that I've been posting for the past few weeks.
Stamps: Winterberry
Cardstock: Simply Chartreuse, Rustic Cream
Ink: Versamark Champagne, Versamagic tea Leaves, Chamomile Distress Cube
Accessories: Rustic Twine, Frosted Lace Stickles, Rusty 6mm bell (Rusty Tin-Tiques www.factorydirectcraft.com), foam tape

Stamps: 2011 Holiday Tags
Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Clear Cardstock
Ink: Versamagic Sea Breeze
Accessories: Stampendous Crystal Snow white ultra fine glitter, pale blue rhinestones, white pearl beads
Tools: Snowflake dies (PTI), circle punch, glue pen

Woohoo--a stamp that I can color! ;-) 
Stamps: Tremendous Treats: Christmas
Cardstock: Pure Poppy, Rustic Cream
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Chamomile Distress Cube
Patterned Paper: Season's Greetings 6" x 6" pad (Echo Park)
Accessories: Pure Poppy Bakers Twine, foam tape
Tools: sewing machine 
Copic Markers: shown above

 

Can you say Easy to Make, Easy to Mail? Yes, another one!
Stamps: Wonderful Words: Holiday
Cardstock: Rustic Cream, Scarlet Jewel
Ink: SU Cranberry Crisp, Chamomile Distress Cube
Patterned Papers: Lost and Found Christmas 6" x 6" pad (My MInd's Eye)Accessories: Gold Cord (SU)
Tools: Sanding block, foam tape, sewing machine

Stamps: Star of Wonder, Background Basics: Sheet Music, Damask Designs
Cardstock: Enchanted Evening, Rustic Cream
Ink: Versamagic Night Sky, Chamomile Distress Cube, Vintage Cream
Accessories: pale blue rhinestone
Tools: 1-3/4" circle punch, Mat Stack 3 die, sewing machine, silver paint pen

Sweet, sweet, sweet! I love the Shape Up Snowman die! 
Stamps: None, but I used the Shape Up Snowman dies for this felt ornament.
Accessories: Vintage Cream, Pure Poppy, Harvest Gold, Ocean Tides 100% Wool Felt, Ocean Tides Vintage Buttons
Tools: Shape Up Snowman dies
I blanket stitched everything here, except for French knots on the face (Hint: don't use quilting thread. It's too stiff. Stick to embroidery thread.) If you don't know how to blanket stitch, here is an excellent online tutorial. 

 

Do you know how to make a shaker card? I took some pictures and could put together a quick tutorial if you would like one--let me know in the comments section. Otherwise, I'll skip it.
Stamps: Tag Its #9
Cardstock: Vintage Cream, a small piece of clear card stock
Ink: Versamagic Hawaiian Shores, Memento Bamboo Leaves, PTI Raspberry Fizz, Chamomile Distress Ink
Patterned Paper: 12 Days of Christmas 6" x 6" pad (My Mind's Eye)
Accessories: Rustic Twine, glass micro beads, foam tape, rhinestones
Tools: Rick rack border die, 1-3/4" circle punch, 1-3/4" collection (scalloped die), corner rounders

That's it--hope you enjoy! I'm off for Sacramento tomorrow--hope to see some of you in the Copic Certification classes there. :-)

All My Love: ETM

Welcome! I have another Easy to Make, Easy to Mail Christmas card for you today. I started with the little hanger trio from Papertrey Ink's Holiday Button Bits set--I have gotten great mileage out of this stamp over the last couple of years. As much as I love buttons for ornaments, I was trying to avoid adding the weight and thickness of three buttons. The ornament on the right is from Communique Curves, and the center and left ornaments and sentiment are from the Love Lives Here: Holidays set. I stamped the background with Background Basics: Twinkle using Adirondack Bottle ink on Pinefeather cardstock. 

I added some glitter to the heart centers, and Christmas Red Stickles as the berries on the spruce bough. So, how do we simplify even further?

Simpler Version:

You could use gray or silver ink for the ornament hangers, eliminating the need for heat embossing. (Of course, you lose the raised shimmer.) You can skip the sewing, and use tiny red rhinestones to keep from having to wait for glitter glue to dry. The background could be left plain, or you could use a simple patterned paper there if you'd rather. In fact, I'll probably try a different version of this card using patterned paper and a different style. . . Hmmmm. . .thinking!

Thanks for visiting.

Hello Friend

Welcome! Before I tell you about my card today, I just wanted to mention Day 2 and Day 3 of the Swimming for Katie fund raiser: you can find a list of all links HERE, and you can contribute to Katie and her family through Paypal on the same page HERE..

Today I was in the mood to make something different. I've been churning out Christmas pieces for the last few weeks, and I was ready for something else--like a couple of challenges! I chose Jessica Witty's October card sketch from the Emma's Paperie Blog and paired that with the October Afternoon challenge to use three different prodcut lines on one layout.  The background paper and dotted flag are from the Thrift Shop line , while the quilted banner is from the Fly a Kite line, and the banner on the right is from the 5 & Dime line. What do you think--they work together, don't they? 

To add interest to the bottom of the card, I used a Spellbinders Grand Labels Four die template to cut the inside panel. I cut the banners and tag by hand. Stamp sets are Papertrey Ink's Blooming Button Bits and Tiny Tags. A bit of stitching and sanding, and that's it--my two-challenge card. I had fun! Thanks for stopping by today.