Thinking Inking

In My Block of Friends

Tonight I have a quilt card to share. I love quilts and quilt cards and all things sweet and home-y! I started by stamping the quilt background using Papertrey Ink's Bitty Background Blocks set. True confession: I am really bad at stamping patterned backgrounds freehand and getting them just right, but the perfectionist in me isn't happy with them if they look "wonky" when I finish. Before you wonder, no, it doesn't bother me when someone else creates a really random-looking background--it just bothers me to do it personally. I would probably look at someone else's and think, "That's quaint and homespun!" I'd look at my own and think, "That's ugly--must redo!"

So, if there are any other hopelessly deranged pickypants stampers out there, the next couple of pictures are for you. ;-)

I stamped over half a sheet of cardstock to make sure I had enough for one good panel. In a couple of blocks I should have stamped harder. That part doesn't really bother me though--worn quilts are plausible, right? The pencil lines are drawn parallel with 4" between them--just how much I would need to get a card front with a 1/16" mat to put on a 4-1/4" base.

After the 4" side was trimmed, it was time to trim down the 5-1/4" side. I used a centering ruler (Tim Holtz) so that I could center from one of the blocks. I measured 2-5/8" in both directions and penciled more lines in.

Ta-da! My non-wonky card front. It isn't perfect, but I can live with it. Next I used a Copic W1 marker to add some age to the edges of my squares. If you compare this imge with the one below it, you'll see where the quilt has aged. I used the template on the centering ruler to punch "stitches" around the blocks as well.

For the sentiment I used an older PTI set, Quilter's Sampler Sentiments, stamped inside a shape cut with a Spellbinders Paper Arts Grommet Tags die and matted with a Fancy Tags Two die cut--I really like these die cuts paired together. Buttons are PTI's Sweet Blush Vintage Buttons. That's about it--now you can see why it takes me so long to make a simple card! Thanks for visiting.

Blue Sweet Peas

Welcome!  I thought that I would post another shaped card tonight since I've been on a shaped card kick for the past few days. For stamps I used mostly older Papertrey Inks sets: Year of Flowers: Sweet Peas, Mixed Messages, and one newer set, Background Basics: Newsprint.

How about some violet sweet peas today? I used the Copic markers shown above for the first layer of color, though I later went back and deepened values in several areas.

That new YG61 is a lovely color--I'm glad to have a lighter value in the YG60's!

Here I've added some new Copic YR30 around my blossoms to warm up my purple piece with some sunshine. Spellbinders Paper Arts die templates that I used were the Grand Labels Four for the card base and Royal Velvet layer, Labels Fourteen for the focal image, and Labels Four Small for the tag. Accessories are from Papertrey Ink--Royal Velvet Vintage button and 1/4" white silk ribbon.  That dark purple ink is Adirondack Eggplant; it's more muted than the Royal Velvet cardstock, but it shows up when over-stamped, and that's what I needed. Finished size of this card is about 3-3/8" x 5-1/4". That's all, folks--thanks for stopping by today!

Vintage Thank You

Welcome! Tonight I have another shaped card to share with you, a vintage thank you card. For my focal image I chose a March JustRite Stampers ribbed release, Heart to Heart Borders and Centers shown below, along with a Large Oval Base.

For the card base, I used a Spellbinders Grand Labels Four die template (the second from the largest in the set). My finished card size is just under 4-1/4" x 5-1/2, scored so that the tips just meet in the center when both front flaps of the card are closed. I used a Classic Ovals Small die template to cut and emboss my focal image base, and a Grommet Tags die to cut and emboss the sentiment.

On the Heart to Heart focal image, I colored the butterflies with Copic R81 and R83, then outlined part of the line work with a Mint Spica Glitter pen. The ribbon is some seam binding, dyed with a Copic R81 Various Inks (refill). Patterned Paper is from a Pink Paislee Sweetness 6" x 6" pad. Light pink rhinestones are from Zva Creative (CRW-03CA-109).

That's it--thanks for stopping by!

Sunshine and Blue Skies, plus winner of Shading book

Welcome!  I got back home from the Milwaukee area last night--had a great group of ladies for the Copic Standard Certification in Brookfield on Friday, and then had a chance to demo Copics at Artist and Display in Wauwautosa for a few hours on Saturday--what a fun art store! Lynn and Nora are always gracious hostesses, and Benjamin got to meet Erica the Art Dog as well.

Tonight I have a simple card to share, but it reminded me of of a sunny day with blue skies--or maybe lemon card with blueberries. I started with a shaped base, slightly under A-2 sized, at 5" x 3-1/2." I used a Spellbinders Paper Arts Grand Labels Eleven for the card base, then scored it at the half-way point. For the yellow layer, I used the same die, but then hand-trimmed at the embossing line.

The stamped background is Papertrey Ink's Lemon Tart cardstock stamped with Summer Sunrise ink using Background Basics: Gingham.  Both the sentiment and the leaves are from PTI's Sending You set, and the buttons are Blueberry Sky and Spring Rain Vintage Buttons.  Blue and yellow are such yummy Swede-colors!  To cut the the sentiment layer, I used a Spellbinders Labels Eleven die, then trimmed the top off to mirror the card base layer. Next I used a Classic Rectangles Large die and aligned my trimmed straight edge with the straight edge on the die and embossed its line by hand with an embossing stylus. Otherwise I would have had one plain un-embossed edge that wouldn't have quite matched. Make sense? Inks are Adirondack Stonewashed and Versamagic Tea Leaves.

Now, [insert drumroll here], the winner of Marianne Walker's new Shadows and Shading book on this blog is number 195, princesskitten. So, Princesskitten, I'll e-mail you for your address. Thanks for playing, everyone!

Shadows and Shading Blog Hop

Announcement: The winner of Marianne Walker's new Shadows and Shading book on this blog is number 195, princesskitten. So, Princesskitten, I'll e-mail you for your address. Thanks for playing, everyone!

Last blog hop this week, I promise! I'm leaving town today for my Brookfield/Milwaukee Copic Standard Certification, so that's why I'm sure it's the last blog hop for me this week. I am really happy to see a fabulous new book out, Marianne Walker's Shadows and Shading, a comprehensive treatment of just that--how to shade and add shadows properly. What I like most about it is that it isn't just a book of pretty images, but it's a book that teaches you to THINK like an artist--to ask yourself the questions that will lead to a successful piece. It is sorely needed, and I am sure that everyone who colors can learn something from it. It is not Copic-specific; rather, it is filled with principles that can be used by people who love Copic markers, or people who can't imagine coloring with anything other than their colored pencils, or people who wouldn't dream of using a medium other than watercolors. Seriously, it's good stuff!

All of that was from my heart. The rest is the *official* blog hop part. ;-} Straight from Marianne:

"My new book, Shadows and Shading is great for beginners, either papercrafters or artists - this is the reference book you have been looking for to help you add shadows to give your projects more dimension. The book does not teach you to draw, rather to help you add shadow and shading. This is a wire-bound book that comes with 4 clear printed guides to help you add shadows properly on your own work. So far, the people who have read it love it! There's a lot to digest, so take it slow and read it often to let the concepts sink in."

The prize here is a free copy of Marianne's book, Shadows and Shading, which will be available by Thursday on each one of the Copic blogs listed below. One commenter per blog will win a copy, and the drawing will be open until 11pm CST Sunday night, March 27. Please note that this contest is only open to North American residents on the North American blogs, and Australian residents on the Australian blogs.


North American Residents only:

Copic Marke Blog 

Marianne Walker 

Lori Craig

Sharon Harnist 

Jenn Balcer

Jennie Black

Colleen Schaan

Bianca Mandity

Debbie Olson (here)

Sherrie Siemens 


If you live in Australia, then you can win from one of the Australian Blogs:

CopicOz (Australia) 

Kathy Jones (Australia)

Mandi-Lee Klinger (Australia) 

Enjoy!

Blog Hop Winners are. . .

Wow--two blog hops in two days! We have some winners to announce from both hops. First, the winner from this blog of the Spellbinders Paper Arts Bunny Hop is number 494, Queen Mary.  Queen Mary, you have 48 hours to email Spellbinders at BlogContest@Spellbinders.us to claim your prizes! Other winners can be found on the Spellbinders Paper Arts Blog.

For the JustRite and Stampers Dream Blog Hop, the winners were randomly chosen from these three blogs:

Barb Schram's Blog --- 4 JustRite sets of your choice  (Cyndie)

Kim Teasdale's Blog – Stampers Dream Blog Candy Package  (Lori)

Kellie Fortin's Blog - $50.00 JustRite Gift Certificate  (Barbara)

If you commented on any of these three blogs, you might want to check it or the JustRite Inspiration Blog to see if you are a winner.

I will have another Blog Hop involving a  very special new Copic Shadows and Shading BOOK prize posted on Thursday--I don't think I've ever had three blog hops in one week before! If you're in a hurry to find out what that one is,  Marianne , Jenny, and Bianca will probably have their posts up today.

I'm working on visuals for my Brookfield/Milwaukee Copic Standard Certification this Friday. Will you be there? If so, I can't wait to meet you!

Thanks for stopping by.

Spellbinders Bunny Hop, Day Two

This post is now closed for comments; the winner will be announced
tomorrow on the Spellbinders Blog.
I will announce winners here later tomorrow as well.
Thanks for playing!

Welcome to the second day of the Spellbinders™ Bunny Hop!  In honor of National Craft Month and spring, we’re showcasing our spring themed die templates.  We have ten talented designers – two each day for five days – ready to usher in spring with creative projects and fabulous prizes!  

The Bunny Hop is from March 21-25, each contest is midnight to midnight EST (that’s 24 hours only).  Be sure to mark your calendar!  Each day the Spellbinders Blog will direct you to the participating blogs.

It’s so easy to win!  Simply visit each blog and leave a comment! We will randomly draw one lucky winner from each blog to win that blog’s featured die templates. Winners will be announced on the Spellbinders Blog!  Winners must respond within 48 hours of their names being posted to claim prizes.  

Spellbinders Bunny Hop Schedule:

March 21

Linda Duke

Holly Simoni

March 22 (today)

Becca Feeken

Debbie Olson (here)

March 23

Heidi Blankenship

Kazan Clark 

March 24

Sherry Cheever

Beth Pingry  

March 25

Julie Overby

Jerri Jimenez

 

Time to get down to my Bunny Hop project! My dies are the S4-211 Tulip Borderabilities and the S4-308 Labels One Small die templates. My card size is 5-1/4" square.

I've been wanting a companion to the original Labels One die templates for almost as long as we've had Labels One. Why? Because I love Labels One, I love mat layers, and I was tired of having to cut them by hand or cobble them together from cut-down pieces! So, enter S4-308 Labels One Small, a perfect companion to Labels One.( The focal image layer above is cut with Labels One Small, and the mat layer with Labels One.)

My second Bunny Hop die template, the S4-211 Tulip Borderabilities, makes a lovely border; it took me a bit of experimentation to decide that I liked it best against a simple backdrop. So, here's what I did with it.

I cut the Tulip border in three colors, then trimmed my green layer so that I could mat the light pink border. (The dark pink layer is really light pink, inked with Pink Grapefruit ink). Finally I cut pieced the leaves and blooms from the green and dark pink layers into the holes in the light pink layer. Make sense?

Next I was ready to work on my focal image. I needed some very simple tulips that would work well with the stylized tulip die image. I also need them to fit into a square format and leave room for a sentiment. Believe it or not, I didn't have one like that; so I pulled out some tulip photographs and used a couple of them to sketch a simple tulip image. It was about twice the size I used here, so I shrunk it to 50%, printed it on my inkjet printer, and stamped the sentiment beside it before cutting it with a S4-308 Labels One Small die template. The sentiment stamp is from the JustRite Stampers The Greatest Joy set.

All other supplies are listed at the end of the post.My featured die templates are the S4-211 Tulip Borderabilities,

and the S4-308 Labels One Small.

Thank You Spellbinders Paper Arts for sponsoring the Bunny Hop
and the prizes today! For questions about this contest,
please email blogcontest@spellbinders.us .

Please leave a comment to be eligible to win the Spellbinders die templates I featured today!  Then check the Spellbinders Blog tomorrow to see if you are the winner! 

For more information on Spellbinders, please visit these links:

Spellbinders Paper Arts

Spellbinders Blog

Spellbinders on Facebook

Spellbinders Newsletter

Spellbinders Videos

 

Supply List

Stamps: The Greatest Joy--sentiment (JustRite Stampers)

Cardstock: Blender Card (Copic); Sweet Blush, Spring Moss (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: Colorbox Rouge, Versamagic Pink Grapefruit (to tint the darker pink flowers and mat layers)

Accessories: White Satin (PTI); White pearls, PE-02CB-107 (Zva Creative)

Tools: Labels One Small, Labels One, Tulip Borderabilities (Spellbinders Paper Arts)

Copic Markers: YG61, YG63, YG67, BV00, BV02, BV04, R30, R32, R35, R37

JustRite Stampers and Stamper's Dream Blog Hop

Comments are now closed for this blog hop; winners will be announced
tomorrow on the JustRite Blog. Thanks for playing!

Welcome! Today I have a birthday card to share that I made for a JustRite Stampers and Stampers Dream blog hop--happily for you, there is blog candy involved too! (See the end of the post for more about that.)

 

I started with one of the new JustRite Stampers sets that I hadn't used yet, Elegant Frames, shown above. I used Versamagic inks in Sea Breeze and Spanish Olive to coordinate with the Prima 6" x 6" Botanical Collection papers, which I found here, though I don't see them in stock at the moment. That pleated ribbon on the bottom is some Maya Road pleated ribbon that I found here.

I used cream embossing powder with heat-embossing to create the oval layer behind the birthday sentiment and sanded its edges to add age. The sentiment is cut and embossed with one of the Nested Frame Dies, which I could also have used to cut the large rectangle if I'd realized it in time. ;-} Pearls are from my Zva Creative stash--PE-03CA-113, pearl flourishes in soft blue and lime. The blue gray cardstock is some retired SU cardstock, Baja Breeze.

Now, how about that blog candy? Along the hop you will find three great blog candy prizes hidden, though no one knows where the blog candy is hidden! For your chance to win one of these three prizes simply leave a comment on each blog.  Blog comments will remain open until 8 pm CST - Tuesday March 22nd.  The three winners will be announced on the Stamper's Dream Blog and the JustRite Blog on Wednesday March 23.   Here is what you have a chance to win: 4 JustRite Stamps sets of your Choice, a $50.00 Prize package from Stamper's Dream, or a $50.00  Shopping Spree to the JustRite Webstore.

Here is the list of participants--enjoy, and good luck!

JustRite Inspiration Blog

Becca Feeken

Michelle Rodgers

Debbie Olson (here)

Amy Sheffer

Kazan Clark

Cindy Lawrence

Heidi Blankenship

Kellie Fortin

Tosh Leyendekker

Barb Schram

Arlene Cuevas

Michele Kovack

Teresa Kline

Kathy Jones

Mariana Grigsby

Sankari Wegman

Christina Fischer

Angela Barkhouse

Lea Lawson

Eva Dobilas

Kim Teasdale

Just Because

Hello!  Tonight I have a "just because" card for you.  I've been playing with Maile's Modern Basics set again, pairing it with Heather's Simple Sentiments set. I used the Guidelines I grid sheet to get the flowers and leaves straight. I am not good at "winging it" and getting things straight, so if I don't use the guidelines cardstock, I usually use a ruler and a pencil to lightly draw some guidelines on my cardstock.

Ink is Adirondack Purple Twilight and Lettuce.  For those of you looking for inks that coordinate with PTI's Royal Velvet, the Adirondack Purple Twilight is slightly redder than Royal Velvet, but it's not bad. :-} For the flower centers, I used some Zva Creative self-adhesive pearls, PE-02CB-107. Mmmmm--I love pearls!

That's it--one clean, simple, all purpose card. Thanks for stopping!

Every Child. . .

It's that time of year again--the time when I can no longer put off working on my part of our taxes. Reality sometimes precludes creative time. I truly admire those of you who are natural number crunchers. . . Maybe I'll be finished tomorrow. [Insert big sigh here!]

For tonight I can share one last card based on a sketch (sketch 31) submission for the Paper Crafts upcoming Go-To Sketches 2 for Cardmakers issue. I loved this one, so I'm happy to have a sweet Mama to give it to. All supplies are listed below; thanks for visiting!

Supplies used:

Stamps: Inside and Out Baby (Papertrey Ink)

Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Sweet Blush (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: Berry Sorbet, Chamomile Distress Cube (Papertrey Ink)

Patterned Paper: All Dressed Up from Ooh La La (My Mind's Eye--last season's paper)

Tools: Grommet Tags die (Spellbinders Paper Arts)

Accessories: Sweet Blush Vintage Buttons (Papertrey Ink), Cotton Crochet Thread (Aileens); X-Press It Dimensional Tape (Copic); Mini Pins (Tim Holtz); Glue Dots

Papertrey Ink March Release

Welcome! Tonight I get to share some pieces made with Papertrey Ink's new March release--there are many different styles in this release, something for everyone.

First  up tonight is a card made with several sets: Sending You, Background Basics: Twinkle, Background Basics: Gingham, and an older set, Beautiful Blooms 2.  The Turning a New Leaf dies make cutting out leaves simple--I love that!

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What can I say about Tiny Tags and its coordinating dies?  How about, "I'll use them a LOT!" I like tags almost as much as Melissa, so I'm glad to have both the tiny tags dies and stamps. I used them on these little 2-3/4" note cards, as well as on several other pieces.

Time for a masculine card? I love vintage sets, and the Postmarks set, along with Heather's coordinating Postmarks patterned papers, seemed perfect for my guy-card stash. All sets used: Postmarks, Ribbon Tails, Mega Mixed Messages, Background Basics: Text Style.

Next I have some cards with Maile's new Modern Basics set; Maile does modern beautifully. I'm a bit modern-challenged, but I really did enjoy using this set and tried it several times. 

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This gift-card sized piece used Modern Basics as well as the new Tiny Envelope die--another one that I will use often!

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For the final "modern" card, I used these sets: Label Basics, Modern Basics, and Healing Touch Sentiments. Well, that's what I've been working on for the past few days. Happy shopping, and thank you for stopping by!

Birthday Banners

How about a birthday card tonight? This was another sketch card (sketch 14) submission for the Paper Crafts upcoming Go-To Sketches 2 for Cardmakers issue--I'm telling you--these are fun sketches!  My supply list is at the end of this post. 

Now, have you been following Papertrey Ink's sneak peeks and group posts? WOW! Here is a link to Nichole's blog; you can see what everyone has been working on from the top few posts. I will have several new Papertrey pieces to post at midnight the evening of the 14th/early morning 15th.

Have a fabulous day!

Supplies List:

Stamps: Simple Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)

Cardstock: Raspberry Fizz, Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink)

Inks: Raspberry Fizz and Chamomile Distress Cube (Papertrey Ink)

Patterned Papers: UpCycle Mini Deck (Cosmo Cricket)

Accessories: Raspberry Fizz and Lemon Tart Vintage Buttons (Papertrey Ink), Cotton Crochet Thread (Aileens)

Tools: Banner Builder Collection dies (Papertrey Ink)