Thinking Inking

Perfect Cherries

Welcome! Today I have a summery little card to share using a new Lockhart Stamp Company image; these Perfect Cherries were fun to color! 

These were the Copic markers that I used on the image. (You can click on it to enlarge.) On the perimeter of the image (after I took this photo), I used a YR30 and a bit of BV0000, softened on the outside edge with a 0 colorless blender.

Spellbinders dies that I used on this card were the Labels Threes, Standard Circle Large, and Lace Doily Motifs. That lace strip is from JustRite's Lace Borders set, stamped in Versamark and heat embossed with detail white embossing powder. Patterned papers are from My Mind's Eye's 6" x 6" Lost and Found Rosy pad. A bit of sewing, some foam tape, and a bow, and that's it--one last hurrah to summer! Thanks for stopping by. 

Wishing You Happiness: Grandma's Doilies and Old Friends

Welcome to day three of the JustRite Stampers October release, today showing you Grandma's Doilies combined with Old Friends. I also added in the Lace Borders set that we introduced yesterday. 

The Grandma's Doilies set is comprised of eight pieces; the centers are  separate so that you can switch them out with other centers. I chose a center from the Old Friends set because I wanted a sentiment in the center of my doily. My favorite doily is the one that looks like Battenburg lace, especially since there is a coordinating border in the Lace Borders set.

To get the small doily aligned on the background, I first penciled in a grid. You might be able to see where I added four little hatch marks to my acrylic block; those helped me with alignment. I stamped the images in Versamark ink before using Filigree detail white embossing powder to heat emboss the pattern. I did not have as much contrast as I wanted when I had finished, so I used sponged-on distress ink  to make the white pattern "pop." (Patterned papers are My Mind's Eye Lost and Found Portabello Road 6" x 6" pad.)

Here you can see that I layered both the Battenburg lace doily center with one of the scalloped centers (die cut with a Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Circles Large S4-124 die. I hand-cut the top doily on the outside edge, and used a Spellbinders Standard Circle Small to cut out the center. For the lace strip at the bottom, I heat embossed Lace Borders on cardstock weight vellum and trimmed the lower edge by hand. Ribbon is off white seam binding, and button is from Papertrey Ink.  I added two little sprigs of foliage with a Spellbinders Foilage die template because I liked the lacey appearance of that particular leaf pattern with all of the rest of the lace on the card. A bit of stitching and distressing, and that's about it!

Would you like to see more with either Grandma's Doilies or Old Friends? Then be sure to see these blogs:

JustRite Inspiration
Becca Feeken 
Debbie Olson (here)
Mona Pendleton
Sharon Harnist
Kathy Jones 
Kazan Clark
Stephanie Kraft
Heidi Blankenship
Michele Kovack
Sankari Wegman
Kellie Fortin 
Angela Barkhouse
Barb Schram

Also, just another reminder: Blog Candy on the JustRite Blog is a $ 50.00 shopping Spree.  To enter to win go to the JustRite Blog and answer the blog candy question.  The Blog Candy is open for comments until Friday Night at 12 pm EST. The winner will be announced on the JustRite Blog on Monday October 3rd during the release post.  Good luck to everyone!

In My Prayers: Lace Borders

Welcome to a second day of projects for JustRite Stampers' October release! Today I have a card using the new Lace Borders set, which I think will be a staple, easy addition to my card-making tools. I used three of the Lace Borders stamps on this card--two stamped on the patterned paper, and one stamped on pink cardstock and trimmed closely. The stamps are cling stamp with padding. After I trim mine, I stick them to a gridded acrylic block, making sure that straight edge lines up with the grid for placement help. Here I stamped in Versamagic and heat-embossed with detail white embossing powder.

Now just a note about the funny little square pattern in the lower left corner of the package: as part  of JustRite's October Release they are introducing QR codes to their new packaging and their catalogs.

QR codes are popping up everywhere and you may have wondered what they were. What is a QR (Quick Response Code)? QR codes are pixelated squares that you can scan with a smart phone app. Scanning the QR code with your phone will bring you directly to a website or landing page.  The JustRite QR Codes  on the packaging and in JustRite's Catalog will link a stamp set to JustRite's Design Gallery for that set.  Now you can scan the code with your phone to see what your favorite designers have created with a set before you purchase the set in your favorite store.  You can use your smartphone to access the design gallery for your stamp set from your craft room when you are ready to use your set or from our mini flyers or catalogs when you are sitting in a car waiting to pick up your child from a sporting event!

  
Here is a smaller version of our Shabby Chic Labels Four QR code for you to play with if you have a smart phone--pretty neat!

You may already have a QR code scanner already on your phone - if you don't you can upload any of these apps - for your iPhone - Red Laser (free),  NeoReader (free),  Optiscan ($1.99)  For your Android Phone - QR Droid. 

Back to a few more card details: for the sentiment I used one of last month's release sets, Be Strong, and trimmed it with a Spellbinders Ribbon Tags Trio Three. Patterned Paper is a Melissa Frances paper--Flora, PA361. The pearl detail is from Zva Creative, CR-04CB-120.

Would you like to see some gorgeous projects using Lace Borders? Check out these blogs:

JustRite Inspiration
Debbie Olson (here)
Heidi Blankenship 
Kazan Clark
Kellie Fortin
Stephanie Kraft
Angela Barkhouse
Michele Kovack 
Kathy Jones 
Mona Pendleton

Blog Candy Alert - Today's Blog Candy on the JustRite Blog is a $ 50.00 shopping Spree.  To enter to win go to the JustRite Blog and answer the blog candy question.  The Blog Candy is open for comments until Friday Night at 12 pm EST. The winner will be announced on the JustRite Blog on Monday October 3rd during the release post.  Good luck to everyone!

Autumn Labels 22: Give Thanks

Welcome! Today marks the beginning of the new JustRite Stampers October release, featuring the Autumn Labels Twenty Two set. 

Fun pictures to color here--always a plus in my book!

I thought I would show a stepped out coloring tutorial for large pumpkin image; I stamped the image in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored it with the Copic markers shown above. I'm planning to cut out the pumpkin and its leaves; so even though I will use a cream cardstock later, I'm coloring on some X-Press It Blending card here to get plenty of contrast in my focal image.

These are the Copic markers that I used for the pumpkin. The blue-violets were used in the shadow areas.

Here is my focal image, colored and cut out. The markers above were used for the sky surrounding the pumpkin.

On cream cardstock, I colored the background in the Copic markers shown above. I left the center empty since I have already finished with the focal image that I will mount on foam tape.

The only thing that I should explain is that I cut that green mat layer into three pieces to get it to fit behind the image the way that I wanted it to. (It is from the Spellbinders Twisted Metal Tags and Accents set.)

Supply List

Cardstock: X-Press It Blending Card (Copic); Vintage Cream, Terracotta (PTI)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko), Chamomile Distress Cube (PTI)

Patterned Paper: Stagecoach from the Sarsparilla Line by October Afternoon

Dies: Twisted Metal Tags and Accents (the green layer), Fancy Tags Two (the dark orange layer), and Labels Twenty Two by Spellbinders Paper Arts

Accents: Taupe Pearls from Zva Creative, tea dyed twill, wooden buttons (from PTI, but no longer available)

Coloring Medium: Copic Markers

Now, how about some lovely samples with the Autumn Labels Twenty Two set?

Link List for the Autumn Labels Twenty Two Blog Hop

JustRite Inspiration
Becca Feeken
Angela Barkhouse
Debbie Olson
Sankari Wegman
Michele Kovack
Stephanie Kraft
Mona Pendleton
Kathy Jones
Sharon Harnist
Heidi Blankenship

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

P.S. I just found out that there is a $50 shopping spree giveaway posted here on the JustRite blog.  

"Blog Candy Alert - Today's Blog Candy on the JustRite Blog is a $ 50.00 shopping Spree.  To enter to win go to the JustRite Blog and answer the blog candy question.  The Blog Candy is open for comments until Friday Night at 12 pm EST. The winner will be announced on the JustRite Blog on Monday October 3rd during the release post.  Good luck to everyone!"

Sending Cheer: ETM

Welcome! I have another of my Easy-to-Make, Easy-to-Mail cards for your today, though this may be the last one for a few days. I have some other release projects coming up this week, but I'll get back to the ETM cards on occasion after that.

Today I used three Papertrey Ink sets, Holiday Photo Finishers, Postmarks, and Tiny Treats Christmas. Obviously the Holiday Photo Finishers is the main one, and while you could get by with only that one to simplify, I like the little additions of the others.

So, why am I adding a tiny little image that had to be colored to this card? Someone asked me to put on a few bells and whistles that could be removed for a simplified version, but would add to it if you have the time, and still not cost extra in postage.--hope that this fills the bill. :-) I used only four Copic colors, all shown above, and I trimmed the image closely.  Since it is so small, that didn't take very long.

I used a couple of Spellbinders dies here: a Standard Circle Large and a Pinking Circle Small. Papers are from the Authentique 6" x 6" Wonder Collection Bundle. Ribbon treatment is flat, so you have little added bulk there.

For a no-frills version, you can leave off the Pure Poppy mat layer on the side rectangular panel, as well as the mat layer under the round focal image. Papers can be anything that you happen to have in your stash--the ones that you just HAD to have last year but haven't cut yet. . . The holly sprig can be omitted, and you could also omit the tiny string bow at the edge of the ribbon.  The ribbon extending will not be a problem for mailing since you can tuck it inside the card to keep it out of the way. 

That it--one more Easy to Make, Easy to Mail card for you holiday idea file. Thanks for stopping by!

A Time of Cheer: ETM

Welcome!  Today I have another easy to make, easy to mail card for you, this one using Papertrey Ink's Stylish Sentiments: Holiday for the focal image. For the background I stamped Background Basics: Chevron Stripes stamped on Kraft cardstock with Adirondack Latte ink, and distressed with PTI's Chai Distress Cube (the darker cube). The holly is stamped with Holly Jolly, after being die-cut with the Holly Jolly die collection. I used a Scarlet Jewel mat layer and mounted the card on a cream base. Holly leaves are stamped in Memento Bamboo Leaves ink, and the berries are covered in Ranger's Ruby Slippers Glitz Stickles. Ribbon is PTI's New Leaf Grosgrain, and it will easily fold inside the card rather than making a bulky place.

Now, how about that no-frills version? You could use Scarlet Jewel as your base layer, if you were willing to stamp a sentiment in cream, or if you wanted to heat-emboss a sentiment on the darker cardstock inside. For a shortcut on the holly, you could simply die-cut your holly leaves from green cardstock and skip the stamping step entirely, then add your berries directly onto the sentiment layer with the Stickles, or even with large red rhinestones. (Personally, I think the berries are easier to align than the leaves are when you are stamping, so I would probably go ahead and die cut the berries from cream and stamp them anyway--I like for them to be on top of the leaf ends.) Keep in mind that you can always switch out sentiments as well as background stamps for a change of pace.

That's a wrap on my second Easy to Make, Easy to mail card. Thanks for stopping by!

Peace, Love, and Joy Bells: ETM

A day or two ago I had a request left in the comment section of my post, and it so happened that I was already working on something that fit the request: "minimally layered, quickly assembled cards." This is for people who make a lot of cards, or don't have a lot of time to make those cards. I'm also trying to avoid (with a few exceptions) oddly sized envelopes and thick embellishments that generally require more postage. That doesn't mean that I'll skip the stitching, but you can always leave it off if you prefer.  I'm adding a sidebar category for these and calling it Easy to Make, Easy to Mail. If I have added stitching or unnecessary layers, I will try to remember to post a no-frills alternative, but since I'm using these as my cards, you might have to indulge me a bit on those details. ;-)

First up today is a card made with Papertrey Ink's Bells and Boughs, Christmas Blessings, and the Woodgrain Impression Plate for the background. I also used  a Double -Ended Banners die and the Bells & Boughs die collection. Cardstock is Rustic Cream, Kraft, and Pure Poppy. Ink is PTI Pure Poppy (a trial of the new ink!), and Adirondack Lettuce. I used a glue pen to add a sprinkling of glitter on the bells and popped them up with foam tape as well.

For a no-frills version, you could leave off the stitching and the Pure Poppy mat layer. You could also leave off the foam tape that I attached bells with, but for what it adds, it doesn't cost that much when you cut it into small pieces. It also flattens fairly well in the mail--unlike buttons. You could even skip the impression plate or use a piece of patterned paper as your background--you know, last year's collection that you just HAD to have, but didn't use much of? It's not getting any newer. . .

That's it for day one of Easy to Make, Easy to Mail. Thanks for stopping by!

Peace on Earth

Welcome! Yes, I know I have other stamp sets. . . but I wasn't finished playing with this one yet! I promise to move on to something different for my next post. All supplies are listed below--thanks for stopping by!

Supply List

Stamps: Love Lives Here: Holiday

Cardstock: Scarlet Jewel, Rustic Cream

Ink: PTI Scarlet Jewel, PTI Chamomile Distress Ink, Adirondack Latte, Memento Rich Cocoa

Copic markers: E41, E42

Accessories: Stampendous white glitter (for star), oatmeal seam binding, PTI Vintage Cream Buttons, foam tape

Tools: Edgers #4 die collection, Love Lives Here Holiday die collection, Fillable Frames #10 die, sewing machine, sanding block, glue pen

Patterned Papers: Lost and Found Christmas 6 x 6 pad from My Mind's Eye

Angels We Have Heard on High

Welcome! I'm playing with my Papertrey Ink September Release sets again. We got back from Minneapolis Thursday night and had a great time there with Copic Intermediate Certification ladies. This next week should settle down to normal--whew!

I wanted to try one card with Love Lives Here: Holiday that was all white. Cardstock is Shimmer White, and ink is Versamagic, with detail white embossing powder on top of that. It's tough to get a good photo of an all-white card, but it turned out pretty, if a bit out of my comfort zone. The framed area that the angel is sitting on is from the Table Service set, cut with the Button Card die. The angel is cut with the Love Lives Here: Holiday die collection and mounted with foam tape. For ribbon I used some white seam binding. Now that I've got the white card out of my system, I'll probably play with vintage papers next time I pull her out. That's it--thanks for stopping by!

September Papertrey Ink Release

Welcome! I know it's been a few days since I've updated my blog, but I've been away for a couple of Copic events and had been working on my Papertrey Ink September release pieces right before that. So, I guess it's either famine or feast here--I have several cards for you below.

Love Lives Here Holiday--oh, my! I adore this set, just like I did it's predecessor Love Lives Here. All dteails are below.

Stamps: Love Lives Here Holiday, Tag Its #8

Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Lavender Moon

Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye vanity Fair 6 x 6 pad

Ink: Aqua Mist, Sweet Blush/Hibiscus Burst combo, Dark Chocolate, Chamomile Distress Cube; Versamagic Key Lime and Thatched Straw; Palette Glue Pad

Tools: Love Lives Here Holidays die, Tiny Tags die, Damask Snowflakes die, sewing machine

Accessories: white seam binding dyed with Copic R21, Stampendous White Glitter, natural cotton string

On this card I combined Christmas Labels with the mittens and sentiment from Love Lives Here Holiday. For that red label, I stamped it in Pure Poppy, then, after trimming it by hand, used a glue pen to add glitter to the red frame. I used the coordinating die to create the Aqua Mist mat. Other details are listed below.

Stamps: Christmas Labels, Love Lives Here Holiday

Cardstock: Rustic Cream, Aqua Mist

Patterned papers: Echo Park Everybody Loves Christmas

Ink: Pure Poppy, Dark Chocoalte, Chamomile Distress Cube; Versamagic Key Lime

Accessories: White seam binding, Sweet Blush Vintage Button, natural cotton string, Stampendous White Glitter

Tools: Christmas Label die, sewing machine

Here I used one of the Photo Finish Strips dies, paired with a sentiment from the Christmas Blessings set. For the holly I used an older PTI set, Holly Jolly, along with newly released coordinating dies.  The scallop cut in the patterned holly layer is also a new edger die--Edger #4. This would be a  pretty simple card to mass-produce.

Stamps: Christmas Blessings, Holly Jolly

Cardstock: Rustic Crem, Pure Poppy

Patterned Paper: Authentique Wonder 6 x 6 Bundle

Ink: Pure Poppy, Chamomile Distress Cube; Memento Bamboo Leaves

Accessories: Stampendous White Glitter, Rustic cream Vintage Button

Tools: Photo Finish Strips, Holly Jolly, Edger #4 dies

I was tickled pink--well, more like tickled "Autumn Rose"--to see a new cardstock color come out this month! So while I know that rose is not a typical Christmas card color, I still intended to use it. ;-)

Stamps: Stylish Sentiments, Winter Cheer

Cardstock: Autumn Rose, Stamper's Select White

Ink: Versamagic Pink Petunia, Versamark Champagne, Glue Pad

Accessories: Prisma Glitter, White Satin, Autumn Rose Vintage Button

The Holiday Lights set is perfect for clean and simple cards--the kind that don't require extra postage and padding to mail. That's a plus!

Stamps: Holiday Lights

Cardstock: Pure Poppy, Stampers Select White

Ink: Pure Poppy, Summer Sunshine, Aqua Mist; Memento Bamboo Leaves

Accessories: Stampendous White Glitter

Tools: Scor Pal

I have a few more cards in various stages of progress, so I'll post them after I get back home and get a chance to stamp again. Thanks for stopping by!

Minneapolis Area Copic Intermediate Certification on September 14

If you are enrolled in my Minneapolis/Eden Prairie Copic Intermediate Certification that is being held on Wednesday, September 14, could you drop me an e-mail (debbie dot olson at gmail dot com)? I would like to send you an informational letter, and I do not have a list of attendees yet. 

Also, if you are in the Minneapolis area and are interested in attending, we still have room for a few more people. Ashley can get you set up on Monday. You will find more information on this page. Thank you!

Wishes and Dreams

Welcome! Today I have a birthday card to share. For the background I used Papertrey Ink's Flower Fusion #7 set, inked with Hibiscus Burst, Aqua Mist, and Spring Moss inks. A bit of quilt-y stitching finished that layer. I've had a few questions on my sewing machine and thread again recently. I have an inexpensive Janome sewing machine (though it is rated heavy-duty), and I used regular cotton/polyester sewing thread most of the time. Occasionally I used the thicker hand-quilting thread, but not often. My sewing machine is not the Sew Mini, which I tried and eventually gave away because I couldn't adjust to its lack of variable speed. I need to be able to slow down when I'm approaching a corner. The Sew Mini didn't let me do that, so I bought a machine with variable speed instead. I use the same machine for cloth, though changing needles is a good idea since paper tends to dull needles.

For the center sentiment I used Papertrey's Daydreamer set; I love the clean, modern font in that set. It is inked in Hibiscus Burst ink and die-cut with a Spellbinders Standard Circles Large die. To mat it, I used both a Lace Doily Accents die template (Aqua Mist layer), and a Lace Doily Motifs die template (the cream layer, with the points trimmed off on the top and bottom and used on other projects.) I liked how this card turned out, though I'm still trying to figure out how I would mail it without having to fold those doily layers in. This just may have to be a hand-delivered birthday card. ;-)  Thank you for stopping by!