Thinking Inking

Felt Ornaments 1: Star

Welcome! I've been hand-stitching some little felt ornaments over the past few days and finally got one finished and photographed for a post.  The star above is almost 4" across for one side tip to the other. I used three of five star die templates in the Spellbinders Paper Arts Stars Five set--numbers three and five to cut the outside front vintage cream star, number four to cut the inner harvest gold star, and number five to cut the cream back star. You could also go with just two layers and make the gold star the same size as the cream one, if you don't mind a two-toned edge. I used Papertrey Ink's 100% wool felt for the stars.

A word about felt: it is not all created equal, especially if you plan to die-cut it. I do sometimes buy other felt if I need a color that Papertrey doesn't carry, but I really like the weight and density of PTI's 100% wool felt. I have had problems die-cutting regular craft quality felt from the big box stores: it seems less dense and has more scraggly little filaments/hairs after being cut instead of cutting cleanly. So if you have tried to die-cut felt and have had real problems with it, it could be that you are using a less-than-stellar felt. . . Also, dies with more details tend to need a little extra finish-trimming, even if you use good felt. With the star, I did not need to trim anything by hand, With a snowflake die that I've used on another ornament, I needed to use detail scissors to trim a few places. Another hint: I run my felt through my Grand Calibur TWICE--forward, then backward before the plate makes it all the way through the first time--hope that makes sense.

I used a simple blanket stitch (great tutorial found here if you don't know how to blanket-stitch) to put my star together. I used some hand-dyed seam binding for the crinkly ribbon in the center, as well as some rusty bells for a splash of darker value in the center of all that light. This was a simple project--one  that you can work on when you are in waiting rooms, sitting in a car, etc., a perfect little project for this time of year. That's it for tonight--thanks for stopping by!

Peace: ETM

Welcome! I'm working on my Papertrey Ink December release projects this week, but I wanted to take a few minutes to post another easy-to-make, easy-to-mail card tonight. I seriously need to get some simpler, less time-consuming cards made still! One of my goals is to use my patterned papers while they are still current. Hey, I'm going to want new ones next year, even if I've hoarded my favorites from this year, right? 

I used two Papertrey Ink dies for this card front--no stamp sets, though I will use a stamped sentiment inside. Dies were Wonderful Words: Holiday Collection and Holly Jolly Collection. Papers are from the Authentique Wonder 6" x 6" collection. I used glitter on the word peace and popped it up on foam tape. A bit of sanding and stitching, and that's it! Of course, you could simplify and skip the stitching, but I need to stitch. . . ;-} If you are concerned about the berry button, you could also use a piece of glittered red cardstock for the berry--not much thickness there. That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by! 

Button Tree and 'Tis the Season

Welcome! I finally finished a project that was totally inspired by something I saw on Pinterest. It was the sweetest Christmas tree made of pink buttons, shown here if you have a Pinterest account, or here where it was orginally posted by Tia Bennett onTwo Peas.

Okay, so my tree is green and traditional, but I still had the most fun making it!  I bought a styrofoam cone in the floral department of a superstore, but the cone was so crumbly that I knew I needed to cover it before starting to add my buttons. I used some older  (2010) 12" x 12" Echo Park Christmas papers from the Everybody Loves Christmas line to cover the cone, making it about 12" tall before I added the star (Spellbinders Stars Five die template).

All buttons are from Papertrey Ink (Simply Chartreuse, Pure Poppy, Hawaiian Shores, and Harvest Gold). Sometimes you get large buttons in a bag; I typically use only small buttons on my cards, so I had quite a few of the large buttons as leftovers from several bags. They were perfect for my tree project! I started with the green buttons, specifically the largest green buttons.  I tied string bows or knots in several buttons but knew it would take me a year to finish if I tied them in all of the buttons. . . I glued the green buttons on and saved straight pins for my ornament-buttons. It probably took longer that way, but I wanted the pins to help the ornament buttons to stand out from the greenery buttons.

Of course I couldn't send you away without one more card for the stash too, right?  I used a focal image from Papertrey Ink's Tremendous Treats: Christmas set, colored with the following Copic Markers: R20, R24, R29, YG13, and YR21. For the background I used my Copic Airbrush System and BG13, with a Spellbinders Labels Eight die template left in place as my stencil. Sentiment is from PTI's Tiny Treats: Christmas set.

I used a glue pen to add some glitter to the center of the star, and colored the star hanger in with a Buttermilk (pale yellow) Spica Glitter pen. Well, that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by!

P.S. The winner of the Gifted Stamper class was posted just below this post, Tracy J. Congrats to Tracy!

Nicholas Sings Carols and GIVEAWAY!

This giveaway has ended.

Our winner is commenter number 101, Tracy J--congratulations, Tracy! I have e-mailed you and sent your e-mail address to Ellen Hutson. Thanks for playing, everyone!

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Welcome! Today I have a couple of special things--a Lockhart image with a Copic tutorial, and a really great giveaway, courtesy of Ellen Hutson's new HOWnow School of Creative Arts. First, the details on the giveaway: Ellen has generously offered to give a winner from my blog an online class taught by Julie Ebersole, stamper extraordinaire. How do I know that you would love Julie's class? Well, I know that Julie is amazing, and that you probably need gift ideas! 

In her class, The Gifted Stamper:  One Dozen Easy-to-Make Gifts For All Occasions, Julie will guide you through twelve beautiful, easy-to-make gift ideas and projects suitable for any occasion. This interactive online class will feature a work-at-your-own pace schedule, supported with video tutorials and detailed downloadable PDF instruction sheets. Participate in a dedicated forum and gallery during class.

This fantastic class is only $36 and will run from December 1st through December 12th, but all content will always remain available to students. During class there will be fun prizes and a special discount code for all students. For complete details please visit HOWnow School of Creative Arts.

You will have until Saturday evening at 10pm CDT to leave a comment, from which I will use the random number generator to choose one winner. Simple! Now, on to my card for today. . .

I've used Karen Lockhart's (Lockhart Stamp Company) 2011 Limited Edition stamp, Nicholas Sings Carols. I've loved this series--you can probably see why! Patterned papers are from Echo Park's Holly Jolly Christmas 6" x 6" pad.

I stared with the trees in the background, using palette blending and the two Copic Markers shown above.

Next I added some sky and snow. I left a couple of spots uncolored for reflections in the glass of the snowglobe.  The one on the right is larger, because my primary light source is from the right. I thought I would toss in one more small light to bounce off the glass on the left side too. 

I had used blue-violets in the snow shadows and did not want the snowmen to melt right into the snowbanks; so I used the B41 just to make them stand apart from te snow a bit.

 

I used the blue greens here for the Snowdad and Nicholas's coats, along with the Snowlady's scarf. I used the Blue-Violets to deepen and cool the shadows.

 

Here I've added some reds.

 

I used a variety of markers to finish up several small areas, including two that are not pictured for the wooden base, E42 and E44.  Those Ciaos are G00 and G02--used on the carol book.

  

I used a Spellbinders Labels Four Small for the star-patterned piece of paper, a Labels Twenty for the ornament layer, and little leaves from the Presto Punch Petal Pack under the button.. Seam binding is dyed with Copic R35 and R29, and I painted and glittered a rusty bell to tie onto the bow. (The rusty one didn't show up well.) 

Thank you for visiting, and don't forget to leave a comment on this post for a chance to win a spot in Julie Ebersole's  The Gifted Stamper:  One Dozen Easy-to-Make Gifts For All Occasions class. Good luck!

P.S. Yes, if you were here earlier, my card looked a little different. . . You know how you wake up after posting late and feel like tweaking somehting? ;-}