Thinking Inking

JRS Butterfly Challenge

Today I have a challenge card from last Friday's JustRite Blog challenge--yes, I'm about a week behind. . . The challenge was simply to use a butterfly and soft spring colors. I pulled out my Butterfly Gardens set along with some softly colored My Mind's Eye Blush Lost and Found papers. I've had a couple of people asking about how to cut a shaped card base, so I used one of those while I was at it--hope it helps. (Sorry--I can't link Butterfly Garden since it just sold out after the challenge was announced. However, you can get some great deals at JustRite's Warehouse sale HERE. Every JustRite Original Stamp set is on sale for $10.00 or  $5.00.)

Cutting a shaped card base is really pretty simple. You just cut, score, and fold your cardstock large enough to cut the shaped base, then place your chosen die (in this case, a Grand Scalloped Circles die) so that the die goes slightly past the fold. Letting the die extend past the fold gives you that little hinge part that you need. Sometimes I leave a larger hinge (where that little pen is), but in this case, I stayed very close to the edge since I had two scallops that I could hinge with. That edge is NOT cut through though. 

Here is the same thing with a different base die. Click to enlarge, and you will be able to see the hinge on top a little better. Sometimes I run the plates through my Grand Calibur twice when I am using thicker cardstock--winding forward, then winding backward before it winds all of the way through. 

These are the Copic markers that I used to color the image.

After coloring by Butterfly Garden image, I cut and embossed it with a Spellbinders Standard Circles Large die template. I stamped, colored, and trimmed an extra butterfly, which I coated in glitter after coloring. Other dies that I used were the Persian Motifs and Grand Circles.  I added some self-adhesive pearls from Zva Creative to accent the Persian Motifs shape.  Well, that's it for today. I hope you are having a fabulous week, and thanks for stopping by!

Schoolgirl with Book Bag: Copic Demo

Welcome! Today I have a little Mo Manning image that 've had fun coloring with my Copic Markers for you; it is one of her Four School Kids images, found HERE. I videotaped the entire process, though I had to split it into three YouTube videos to get it all on there in fifteen minute or less segments. (I'll link them at the bottom in case you want to see them.)

After I finished the jeans and started looking for some appropriate patterned paper, my best paper for the job was warmer in tone than the jeans were, so I used some warm grays (W1, W3, W5) to warm up the color of the jeans. I lost some of the texture, but it was still a worthwhile trade-off.

Papers are from October Afternoon's Farmhouse line. I tea-dyed my twill to age it and used a Papertrey Ink vintage Pure Poppy button to trim the left side of the twill. The postage stamp edge is made with a Spellbinders Postage Stamps die template.

Video one covers hair and skin. Video two is jeans and shirt (including texture on the jeans), and Video three is jacket, backpack, and shadow. I sped up the coloring in a couple of areas since it was originally close to an hour long. (Yes, that's why I don't do many coloring videos--I'm slow!!) I hope these are helpful. Have a lovely day!

 

 

 

Pink Parisian Birthday

Welcome! Today I have a very pink birthday card to share, though not quite as pink as it looks on my screen right now for some reason. . . I combined several JustRite sets here, including a sentiment from Shabby Chic Labels Four, a background shape from Greetings from Paris, a postmark from Bon Voyage, a frame from Just Keep Calm, and my favorite border from Lace Borders. Cardstock is PTI's Hibiscus Burst, and inks are Hibiscus Burst, Fresh Snow, and Chamomile Distress Cube (all PTI), as well as Adirondack Shell Pink.

I used a JustRite Nested Oval Medallion Labels die for the outside of the frame, as well as two Spellbinders dies, Classic Ovals LG and Blossom Tags and Accents. Ribbon is some white seam binding, and pink rhinestones are from Zva Creative. That's it for today--have a great one!

Peace Be with You

Welcome! This morning I made another card for my father-in-law and mother-in-law So far I have made masculine ones, but I thought that if I give it to both of them, I might get by with some pink today. ;-) I used several JustRite sets on this card: Cast All Your Cares, With Sympathy, Classic Scallop Borders Clear, and Harlequin Script Background Cling.

These are the Copic markers that I used on the greenery, though I later toned the leaves down a bit with a YG61 (not pictured).

These are the markers that I used on the blossom and the bud.  I also used a YR30 and YR31 for the flower center (not pictured). 

In addition to the JustRite sets that I listed at the top, I also used three Spellbinders die template sets: Grand Labels One for the card base and the pink mat layer, Labels Sixteen for the triple-stacked focal image and mats, and Classic Scallop Edgeabilities for the lacey edge.  I used Becca Feeken's Peg Bow Maker to tie the triple bow--trust me, I'm not naturally a triple bow tie-er! Inks used were Versamagic Pink Grapefruit, Tuxedo Black Memento, and PTI Berry Sorbet, New Leaf, and Chamomile distress ink. That's it for today; thanks for stopping by!

Birthday Medallion

Today I saw a great Thursday sketch on the October Afternoon blog and wanted to make a card from that sketch. For the focal image I used Papertrey Ink's 2012 Birthday Tags set, stamped in Hibiscus Burst, Simply Chartreuse, and Aqua Mist inks. I hand cut the outer oval and used Spellbinders Standard Circles Small die templates to cut the inner layers. To cut the ribbon banner, I used a Nested Pennants die template, cranking it only part of the way through my Grand Calibur so that the die did not cut the end. I finished cutting the end longer by using my paper trimmer. 

For the inside of the card, I used Papertrey Ink's Inside and Out Birthday set, trimming the bottom of the card with a strip of the OA Sidewalks paper to tie it into the paper ribbon element on the front of the card.

Paper are from October Afternoon's Sidewalks collection, and buttons are Papertrey Ink's Vintage Buttons in Hibiscus Burst, Simply Chartreuse, and Aqua Mist. To cut the card base, I used a Spellbinders Romantic Rectangles die template. A bit of stitching, sanding, and sponging of distress ink, and that's it--one more birthday card for the stash. Thanks for stopping by!

For the Happy Couple

Welcome! Seem like my blog and I are strangers these days. . . We've had house-guests and other "that's life" happening, so paper crafting hasn't been on the front burner. It was fun to get back down to my studio tonight and play with my stamps and paper. Besides, I needed a wedding shower card for this weekend, so I had ample incentive!

I chose Papertrey Ink's Beautiful Butterflies set for my sentiment and the butterflies, and the Background Basics: Twinkle set to over-stamp and add texture. Papers are from Cosmo Cricket's Evangeline Mini Deck. I used two Spellbinders die templates on my card,  Classic Square Small and Fleur de Lis Squares. A bit of sewing and distressing, and I have one finished wedding shower card--whew! Thanks for stopping in, and have a fabulous day.

Eat {Cup}cake!

Welcome! After I started playing with my new Tremendous Treats: Birthday set, I just had to color another of the sweet little images. One of my nieces has a birthday coming up soon, and this little cupcake is just the thing for her.

These are the Copic markers that I used to color the image.

What's a cupcake without some glitter? I used a glue pen to add a bit of Prisma glitter to the star and the highlights of the cupcake. Papers are from PTI's Happy Spots patterned paper. I used a Mega Mat Stack 1 die to cut the card base and a Tiny Tags die to cut the star tag.

That's it for now--have a fabulous weekend!

Papertrey Ink March 2012 Release Projects

Welcome! I have four cards to share with you today, all made with sets from the March Papetrey Ink release, which will be available tonight at 10pm, EST, at Papertrey Ink. First up is a card using the new 2012 Birthday Tags set, paired with the new Background Basics: Wrought Iron, and previously released Simply Jane and Background Basics: Gingham. I also used the Limitless Layers Ovals die collection, as well as the Parisian Doily die. Ribbon is Hibiscus Burst Satin.

Next I have a card made with the new World's Greatest, a perfect set for the men in your life!  I tried a bit of paper piecing on this one, using October Afternoon's Farmhouse line (Clothesline, Attic Trunk, and Guest Room). The bottom banner is cut with the Double Ended Banners die.

How about a kid's birthday card next? I loved this little monkey image in the new Tremendous Treats: Birthday! Papers are from the Raspberry Fizz Pattern Pack and the new Dark Chocolate Pattern Pack. Card base is cut with the Mega Mat Stack 4 die. Okay, maybe I got a bit carried away by adding a tiny rhinestone for belly button bling, but she looks like a fun loving monkey to me!

These are the Copic markers that I used on the Party Animal card above.

Finally, I have a card using Back Pocket Basics, along with the previously released Background Basics: Twinkle stamp set. I used a new Edgers #5 die  to cut the card base

This is the inside of my Back Pocket Basics card.

And these are the Copic markers that I used on the card. I also used a scrap of denim saturated in colorless blender  to create texture on the pockets after coloring them. That's it for today; be sure to see what the ther PTI girls have in store for you--you'll be inspired, I promise! Remember that the new products will not be available until 10pm tonight, March 15, at Papertrey Ink. Thanks for stopping by!

Nichole Heady

Ashley Cannon Newell

Betsy Veldman

Danielle Flanders

Dawn McVey

Debbie Olson (here)

Erin Lincoln

Heather Nichols

Jessica Witty

Lisa Johnson

Maile Belles

Melissa Phillips

Michelle Wooderson

 

Wildflower Hello

Good morning! Yesterday was a productive day--good thing too, because it needed to be! I had a chance to get a just-for-fun card made using Papertrey Ink's Larger Than Life stamp set. I pulled out some water-based markers and colored directly to the acrylic stamp before spritzing with water and then stamping twice before re-inking. For that spattery blue color in the background, I used some Tattered Angels Patina Glimmer mist. 

Background papers are from PTI's Damask Designs pad. I dyed the white seam binding with my Copic reinkers. That little tag is cut with a Spellbinder Labels and Tags die template and stamped with PTI's Tiny Tags 2. A bit of stitching and distressing, and that's it--one  card ready to go! Thank you for stopping by today.

Easter Card: Classic Scallop Borders

Yesterday I got back downstairs to my studio space to make cards again--it's been a while! We're having a spring thaw this week, and after I finish some assignments tomorrow, my son and I are pulling out the bicycles to go for a ride. So, spring thaw, spring bike riding. . . and spring cards, of course! For this one I used three JustRite sets, Classic Scallop Borders Clear for all of the background pieces, Musical Notes Labels Twenty for the pink stamped mat layer, and Easter Blessings Oval Medallions Clear for the focal sentiment.

I used several Spellbinders dies as well: Classic Scallop, Labels Twenty, and Labels and Tags. On the inside of the tag shape, I used my Copic Airbrush System to airbrush BG23. Pearl flourish is from Zva Creative (PE-02CB-141). The JustRite Original Stamp Retirement Sales Ends March 21st.  After March 21st all these great stamp sets will return to full price. These are the lowest JustRite Original Prices of the Year!

How about more projects with JustRite's Classic Scallop Borders and Lace Borders Two? You'll enjoy these!

JustRite Inspiration
Debbie Olson (here)
Eva Dobilas 
Darsie Bruno
Angela Barkhouse
Kellie Fortin
Michele Kovack 
Kazan Clark
Kathy Jones

Copic Coloring Guide Level 2 WINNER

Hello from St. Louis! We have a winner on the Copic Coloring Guide Level 2, and it is. . .

So, Janet B, I have e-mailed you! I should have the new book today, I'm hoping.

Thanks so much to all who participated!

 

Our Refuge and Strength

Welcome! I'm in St. Louis this weekend, along with Lori Craig, for Copic Certification classes. I'm hoping to meet some of you here! Today I have another encouragement card to share. My dear father-in-law is not feeling well these days, so I've been trying to get a card made every week for him, just to encourage him and remind him of things that he knows far better than I. I pulled out my Papertrey Ink Beautiful Blessings set once again--love this set!  To ink the sentiment in two colors, I put tape over the two words that I wanted to be red and inked with Hawaiian Shores ink, then removed the tape and stamped. Next I taped the parts that had been Hawaiian Shores earlier and inked the remaining parts with Pure Poppy ink. I removed the tape, aligned with the Hawaiian Shores layer, and stamped.

I wanted to keep it colorful and thought that some Cosmo Cricket Baby Jane patterned papers would be just the ticket. I used several Spellbinders dies including Grand Labels Twenty-Three for the card base, a Bauble Blossoms One for that aqua trim layer, and Office Supplies for the distressed notebook layer.

That's it for today. I will be posting a winner of Colleen and Marianne's book as soon as I get a chance on Friday night. I teach late that night, so it could even be Saturday morning when it gets posted. Thank you for visiting!