Thinking Inking

A Bit of Lavender, and a Pinked-Edge Inchie Card

This is just a quick post to let you know that I wrote a soldering tutorial on this piece for Ellen Hutson's In Touch blog, and you can find it here. Actual size of the piece is  about 1-1/4", and the focal image is the Lockhart Itty Bitty Lavender stamp. If you receive Ellen's newsletter, you will find at the bottom a coupon for 10% off of all of the Simply Swank soldering supplies that she carries. If you don't receive the newsletter and would like to, go to her home page here, scroll to the bottom, and sign up. 

Just as "green stamps,"  here is an inchie notecard that I made the other day when I was trying out one of Ellen's new Spellbinders dies, the S4 165 Pinking Pierceability. This was a fun die! I decided that I needed to order a smaller piercing tool than I usually use. When I get back from CHA, I should have that smaller tool and can play with these edge dies a bit more.  This inchie image is from the Lockhart Roses and Daisies Floral Couture line, and the gem is a Light Sapphire Swarovski Crystal. Card base is a pale blue Arturo notecard--similar to a Fabriano, if you've used that, but these come in colors too. The ribbon is a May Arts white silk ribbon.

Well, I'm still working on samples to take with me, and I haven't packed yet. . . Wish me luck, and I'll try to share some CHA glimpses with you over the next few days!

P.S. Do you have a Just Rite Stamper? Check out this blog to see some of the new outfits that your JSR could be sporting after CHA!  I am excited in particular over a new font that I unashamedly begged for, the Brayton font, shown here.  (Hint: It reminds me of my favorite catalog for color ideas!)

Fresh Veggies!

Tonight I felt like playing with tiny stamps. Rick has tilled my little garden, and I'm ready to think about planting. Believe it or not, it's still possible to have frost up here, so anything planted needs to be hardy or covered if it gets cold. All of that to say that I chose some Itty Bitty vegetable images to work with, and I colored one of them step-by-step for you. Keep in mind that the three images on this card front are 1" square, and you are seeing them much larger--warts and all! Still, I hope that the process will translate into something that helps on a larger piece as well.

First, I stamped the IB Radishes on white cardstock (I use PaperTrey Stamper's Select White or Neenah Solar White with my Copics, generally) with Black Brilliance ink. I then colored then all over with R83 and YG11 Copic markers. If it were a larger image, I would probably leave some white space. In an image this small though, I simple covered the entire image with my lightest colors.

Next, I used a shade darker in both colors R85 and YG03) and added the first hint of shading--the midtones. I was not especially careful--just wanted to get the color on the cardstock. (Don't worry: It will look better by the end!)

I went in with my darkest shade (in this case, R89 and YG63) to add some shadows.  Again, I didn't fiddle with blending at this stage. I just wanted to get my colors on the cardstock. If this were a larger image, I would probably take more time to blend as I went along rather than blocking color in like this, but I know that I'll be able to soften these lines later. It takes some time to know what your markers will do, but after you get used to them, they're amazing. . .

Next I used the lightest colors (NOT the colorless blender yet!) to soften the hard lines and get a more blended look.

Now is the time to pull out that colorless blender! Use it to pull highlights out of the darker colors. Just a touch of the blender will generally fade a color perfectly for a highlight. (If I had used it to blend the darker colors in step 4, it would have faded them.)

I used my Spellbinders Classic Square to cut this image to about 1", then left it on after embossing and used it as a mask to airbrush on some Copic BG11 with my airbrush system.  Other than the die, I did no masking; I simply chose a background color that was pale and that would not look bad layered on top of the colors that I had used.

In the other two inchie squares, I used a YR31 marker to airbrush the background. (A blue-green shade on top of carrots would have  made the orange looked grayed and dingy.)

Here is a close-up of the finished, airbrushed square mounted on the card front.  I added something and wish that I hadn't: do you see it? I went back with a white gel pen and added tiny dotted highlights. But on an image this small, even small dots are a bit much. I probably should have stuck with the highlights that my clear blender gave me--much more natural looking. I really like the crisp edge that I can get using my Spellbinders dies as a mat for my Copic airbrush system--very compatible and fun toys!
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Credits
Stamps: IB Radishes, IB Carrots, and IB Pea (Stamped twice) by Lockhart Stamp Company
Cardstock: Arturo Buttercream notecard, PaperTrey Stamper's Select White, Prism Ferro
Ink: Black Brilliance
Copic Markers: R83, R85, R89, YG11, YG03, YG63, YG95, BG11, YR31, Y17, YR07, YR09, 0
Accessories: PaperTrey Lemon Zest Satin
Tools: Spellbinders Classic Square Dies, Copic Airbrush System, Cuttlebug dots A-2 embossing folder

*For more about inchies, check out Inchie Inklings and Inchie Arts.

CPS Sketch 65: Chocolate: There for You!

Our CPS Sketch 65 sponsor for this week was Sweet and Sassy Stamps; I chose the Chocoholic set to work with since I'm a chocolate lover and had no chocolate stamps. I turned the sketch on its side and made the square a little smaller so that I could use some inchie images on the card front. The focal image was a set of three chocolates, which I stamped and colored three times, with the Copic markers pictured below, in order to get all three inchies.

I tried to color the chocolates to resemble both milk chocolate and dark chocolate  varieties, then used some white Liquid Applique (not puffed) on the tops of a couple of the chocolates, and some Sakura Stardust pen on the swirly milk chocolate piece.

The row of pink rhinestones was an afterthought--maybe a bit much, huh? :-)  Background is Prism Perfect Baby Pink cardstock, stamped in Versamagic Gingerbread and Jumbo Java inks. I stamped the focal image in Pearlescent Chocolate Brilliance ink because I sometimes get some smearing when I combine my Copics with Versamagic inks. I cut that bottom scallop with my Spellbinders Long Rectangle dies--I love them for scalloping edges! Ribbon is from Reasonable Ribbon. This was a fun set of stamps to play with--thanks, Korin!

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Credits

Stamps: Chocoholic by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps
Ink: Gingerbread and Jumbo Java Versamagic; Pearlescent Chocolate Brilliance
Cardstock: Suede Brown Medium, Suede Brown Dark, and Perfect Baby Pink by Prism; Stamper's Select White by PaperTrey Ink
Accessories: brown satin from ReasonableRibbon.com, Mini Dot Twinkle Stickers (rhinestones) by A Muse; Stardust Sakura pen, Liquid Applique
Markers: (Copic) W1, 0, E55, E57, E77
Tools: Spellbinders Long Rectangle Die and Plain and Scalloped square dies, foam tape

Inchie Resources: Inchie Arts, Inchie Inklings (contests and prizes)

A "Cheery" Hello

I've been playing with my CHF backgrounders this week in celebration of CHF's Backgrounder Blitz.  I just figured out tonight that we were supposed to be meeting specific challenges with the backgrounders! (Yes, color me clueless. . .) So, this isn't necessarily the backgrounder challenge, but it is in the backgrounder ballpark anyway. (If you check out that link above, you will see that there are prizes involved.)

I started with a 3-1/2" x 5" notecard and coordinating envelope here, then stamped the Canvas backgrounder on Kraft cardstock in Adirondack Espresso ink, and the Polka Dots backgrounder on Prism Blush Red medium cardstock, with Versamagic Brick Red chalk ink.

I had already prepared my inchie art, Cherries, in advance, using the Copic Sketch markers shown on the left. It was a struggle to make myself use this inchie on a card rather than soldering it up into a charm! (If you're an "inchie person," don't laugh at me!) It's just that after I spend an inordinate amount of time perfecting one square inch of real estate, something inside of me wants to preserve it for posterity. OCD? Who knows! Do you think my eight year old will ever marry a woman who likes to wear inchie charms?  Sheesh! One more thing to add to the list of qualifications! :-D

I used my Fiskars small scalloping scissors to cut a pale yellow cardstock to layer under the red, then sewed the two layers toegther. Next I matted the inchie in pale yellow, Intense Kiwi, and Spring Willow Dark.  The scalloped darker green mat is cut diagonally from a smaller square Spellbinders Nestability die cut. I chose natural twill and antique copper mini brads to finish the card, then stamped some Itty Bitty Cherries on the envelope and colored them as well.  I used some Antique Linen Distress ink to age all of my edges since this whole card had an antique farmhouse feel to me.

I bet you're wondering if I'm going to pull this card apart and solder that cherry bowl up, aren't you? Time will tell. . .  Have a lovely day!

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Credits

Stamps: Cherries and Itty Bitty Cherries by Lockhart Stamp Company; Canvas and Polka Dot backgrounders by Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink: Memento black, Adirondack Espresso, Red Brick Versamagic
Cardstock: Kraft and notecard (SU), Frosted Yellow, Blush Red Medium, Intense Kiwi, and Spring Willow Dark (Prism)
Markers: Copic Sketch markers by Imagination International
Accessories: twill tape, Antique Copper Mini brads (Making Memories)
Tools: Spellbinders Nestability Scalloped Square dies

Cookin' Up Some Love: CPS 61

Here's a sneak peek at my CPS Sketch 61 card for this week--Cookin' Up Some Love. (In my native Southern, that's "luuuuv, y'all.") I knew that I wanted this Baked with Love CHF set as soon as I saw it on some of the CHF blogs a few weeks ago; Kim Hughes does a fabulous job with both her line art and sentiments.

I incorporated four inchies into the sketch, as well as my new stamps, and new Basic Grey Cupcake pad. Sentiment is heat-embossed in SU's Winter White EP, a slightly off-white embossing powder.  I used my SU Slit punch to make a passageway for the ric-rac to travel through and a "nest" for my button.  I stamped the images (colors shown below), then just added a bit of Copic W-1 marker for shadow areas. (I tried another version in which the images were fully colored, but it seemed busy with this patterned paper.)

I hope that you have a chance to play with the CPS sketch this week!  Thanks for visiting.

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Credits

Stamps: Baked with Love by Cornish Heritage Farms, Kim Hughes Collection
Paper: 6" x 6" Cupcake pad by Basic Grey
Cardstock: Blush Red Dark, Intense Kiwi by Prism; Stamper's Select White by PaperTrey Ink
Ink: Watermelon, Stonewashed, Citrus, and Lettuce Adirondack inks (available at CHF), Versamark
Accessories: Ric-rac by May Arts, button by Foof-fa-la, Winter White Embossing Powder by SU
Tools: Copic Markers: W-1, O; Spellbinders Nestability Plain Squares

Hearts Knit Together: Card and Inchie Charm

It's been a busy weekend!  I've gotten a lot done, though I can't share all of it quite yet.  How about some bits and pieces? I finished up this card and inchie charm set just yesterday.   Color inspiration and patterned paper came from  Cosmo Cricket's  Little Boys Biography Collection. I've always loved this paper, and the colors just seemed to be perfect for balls of  yarn.

The buttons are some that I picked up in a large bag at a superstore; I'm finding myself drawn to buttons lately as opposed to eyelets or brads. I think it's because I've seen so many beautiful creations online that use buttons, ribbon, and lace. (Okay, it's the influence of some amazing CPS girls. I'm hoping that they rub off on me!)  Grosgrain ribbon is PaperTrey's  Spring Moss, and scalloped cardstock is Prism  Desert Coral Dark. (In real life, it isn't as much darker than the printed pattern  at the top as it looks in the photos.)

Stamps are Basket of Yarn for the card and Knit One, Purl Two for the inchie charm as the focal images, and Faux Ribbon for the card front sentiment. I used my Stampin' Up word window punch to punch the sentiment, and my  plain and scalloped square dies to mat the inchie charm.

I'm still not sure if I like the writing on the charm; it's my own handwriting. I think I might try it again with something other than my handwriting on it! By the way, if you need further information on soldering, there is a well-written and photographed tutorial here. And if you would like more information on inchies, you'll find a dedicated inchie blog here. (You don't have to start with a tiny stamp; just cut a 1" square mask and look for interesting areas.)

To color the images, I used the Copic Sketch markers pictured here. The marker end with no number on the end was an empty Copic marker that I filled with a mixture of clear blender fluid and YR31 to get a muted yellow glow.

I'll be posting a PaperTrey Sneak Peek in a few hours. Don't forget to check Nichole's and Amy Rysavie's blogs for today's sneak peeks! Thanks for visiting.

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Credits

Stamps: Lockhart Stamp Company, PaperTrey Ink
Dies: Spellbinders Paper Arts Company
Punch: Stampin' Up (local demos)
Paper: Cosmo Cricket
Cardstock: Prism
Soldering, Inchie, and Copic Supplies: Ellen Hutson, LLC

Apples for the Teacher: Inchie Charm

Here's a new twist on "apples for the teacher," an apple inchie charm!  I had colored a few fruit-inchies last week and wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do with them.  Tonight I started playing with this Apples in Chintz   image and trying to think of how to present it as part of a whole.  Spotlighting came to mind; remember when we  stamped a simple line image, re-stamped it, colored the second image, then used a circle punch to punch out the colored image and layer it on top of the  original line image?

That's the concept that I used here. I stamped the monochromatic base layer of the main image (Lockhart) on Prism China cardstock, then colored it with a Copic W-1 marker and a white Prismacolor pencil. Next I die-cut and embossed it with my Spellbinders Nestability Plain Square dies. The background papers are Flirt by Memory Box. I picked them because of their painterly look, trying to play up my framed artwork theme.

The inchie apples were stamped in Black Brilliance ink and heat-set, then colored using the Copic markers shown on the left.   I used three silver mini brads to tie in the color of the soldered frame and help balance out the visual heaviness of the top of the card.

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For the charm,  I trimmed my colored image to 1" square, cut a backing from a patterned paper, and sandwiched the layers between two 1" glass squares. I taped the edges with copper tape, burnished them well, then fluxed and soldered them. (If you would like to learn more about how to make a soldered charm, you can find step-by-step instructions here.) If you already have a soldering iron, you can get other necessities here; if you do not have a soldering iron, the Creative Art Kit contains everything you'd need to get started.)

If you are interested in playing with inchies, you may want to visit the new Inchie INKlings blog; there's a monthly challenge posted and a prize attached to it. Thanks for visiting!

If you've e-mailed me in the past few days, I'm slowly working through the e-mails. I've had some satellite internet outages this weekend, as well as some other challenges. Thanks for your patience.

 

Hey, Cupcake! Inchie Charm

I need to keep tonight's post a short one, so how about another inchie? Friday night I worked on three little soldered pieces, and this little Lockhart Cupcake image was one that especially pleased me. It's shown here larger than life, obviously, since it's a 1" square stamped image.

I stamped the Three Cupcakes image on Neenah Solar White cardstock in Black Brilliance ink, then heat-set it for a few seconds before coloring the image with the Copic markers shown here, in addition to an R29 for the cherry. (The red dots on my markers don't mean anything any more; the colorless blender with the blue ink on it, however, is one that I added several drops of B000 to in order to get the super-pale blue that I often use around the outsides of my images.)

Next I trimmed my image to 1" square, cut a backing from a patterned paper, and sandwiched the layers between two 1" glass squares. I taped the edges with copper tape, burnished them well, then fluxed and soldered them. (Ellen explained that whole process here.) If you already have a soldering iron, you can get other necessities here; if you do not have a soldering iron, the Creative Art Kit contains everything you'd need to get started.)

The trickiest part for me is always adding a jump ring or scroll. This one went on pretty easily. In case you have tried it and found it tricky, let me say that of the three pieces that I made Friday night, two went fairly quickly and smoothly, and the third one I soldered and re-soldered the edges so much that I charred the cardstock a bit! So keep working at it. Sometimes it will come together easily, and sometimes you just keep plodding. . .

Thank you for visiting!