Thinking Inking

Two Hearts Become One

**Edited to add envelope box and spiral blossom notes at the end. Thanks!**

Don't say it! I don't usually make a card that is so thick that you have to make a coordinating box for it. But I must have been channeling Becca today. . . :-} Seriously, I did take Becca's advice and try die cutting flower shapes from coffee filters rather than cardstock, and they worked a LOT better. (Thanks, Becca!) For the basic card shape I used a Spellbinders Grand Labels 23 die template, making a card base that is roughly 6-1/4" x 5". 

I started with some flowers and leaves cut from coffee filters with Spellbinders Spiral Blossom One and Foliage die templates. I sprayed the shapes with Cherry Blossom and Olive Vine Glimmer Mists, along with just a touch of Suede Glimmer mist to make them more vintage-looking.  

Next I pulled out some Prima papers from my stash--these may be a couple of years old, but they are still pretty! (Most of them are from the Flights of Fancy collection.) The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's Love and Marriage stamp set, die cut with Spellbinders Nested Pennants. I used pink silk ribbon and a big bow--another thing I haven't used for a while. Pearl flourish is from Zva Creative, and heart pins are from Maya Road.

For the inside sentiment I used Papertrey Ink's Beautiful Butterflies set.

And finally, here is my card in its envelope-box. I'm hand-delivering it, so I don't have to worry about postage. Still, I didn't want those flowers to be squashed. That's it for today! I still need two graduation cards--maybe tomorrow. . .

Edited to Add: I have had several questions about the envelope box today. I purchased this little gadget to make box-envelopes without having to think through the math: EnveloBox Creator . However, if you have a Scor-Pal, you can do pretty much the same thing with it, but you'd have to figure out the measurements. Here is one video by Odonata Creations that I found on YouTube on that.  

On making coffee filter roses, Becca Feeken's the expert on that, however, I didn't see a tutorial on her Amazing Paper Grace blog for those. I did find a tutorial on YouTube by Kimberly Crawford, as well as one by Kim Hupke, both using the Spiral blossoms dies on FELT rather than coffee filters. With the coffee filters, you can scrunch and spray with water or glimmer mist as you work to help shape them like flowers. I think that's what Becca does! Hope that helps--Debbie

Let Your Dreams Take Flight

Welcome! This seems like a really busy time of year to me--you too? I need four graduation cards this year, only one of which I had made so far. So tonight I made a graduation card for the one young lady on my list. Tomorrow, maybe I can get two more guy-grad cards made, or the wedding card for Friday! Next week should slow down. . . I hope. . .

To create the focal image for the card, I used Papertrey Ink's Botanical Silhouettes set (which was the 2010 anniversary set, but still one of my old favorites), along with a sentiment from Happy Trails. Before I stamped the flowers and stems, however, I die-cut  and embossed vintage cream cardstock with a Spellbinders Classic Ovals Large die, leaving it in place to act as a mask for both the stamping and the airbrushing of the background with a Copic BG32 and Copic Airbrush System. For the inside, I used a sentiment from PTI's For the Graduate stamp set. Other dies that I used include a Labels Fourteen for the pink and yellow mat layer, and a Labels Twenty-Five for the card base and background layer. (I will have to make a custom envelope since the card base is almost 6" wide.) I dyed and scrunched off-white seam binding with a Copic R21 reinker. Well, that's it for tonight--thanks for stopping by!

From the Heart

Welcome! This week I needed an encouragement card. For stamps I used JustRite's Violette Vintage Labels and Classic Art Deco Lace Edges One.

These are the Copic markers that I used to color the image. (Click for a larger/readable picture.) I also used a Buttermilk Spica Glitter pen for the violet centers.

I used four different die templates here: JustRite's Vintage Label and Banner Dies, and Spellbinders' Splendid Circles,  Labels and Tags, and Classic Edges One. Patterned paper is Green Honeycomb by Melissa Frances, paired with Papertrey Ink's Ocean Tides cardstock. I dyed white seam binding with Copic V22 various inks so that it would match the violets. Okay, that's it for tonight--thanks for stopping by!

RAWR!

I've had this darling little MFT Little Loveosaurus stamp set for a while and finally got around to playing with it tonight--isn't he the sweetest? He reminds me of Max in Where the Wild Things Are, a story that Benjamin and I enjoyed reading aloud many times when he was a little guy. 

This picture is for  those of you who have been in my Copic Intermediate Certification classes--see those complementary-toned shadows? I pulled out my Copic RV95 to mute my dark green shadows. I love the LIFE that a complementary shadow brings!

Here I have added skintones for the boy's face (first four markers), and the inside of the dinosaur costume mouth (last three colors). I darkened up the shadows a bit more later on.

(Click on any picture to see it larger.) Here I have added the surrounding color--warmer blues to the front/light side, and cooler blues and blue-violets to the cooler side. I also add the cast shadow--that was fun! I'm still debating if I need to have a little more shadow showing over the tail--I think that maybe I need more, even though it wouldn't stick up very far above the tail since it flattens against the floor. I also colored the spikes on his spine (last four colors).

This was the "could lose the whole ball of wax" part--yes, I should have added texture, if I'd planned ahead, before I did the boy's face and background. But it was one of those last-minute decisions. I used the inside of a thin sweatshirt with colorless blender--fun! 

Here it is finished, using some October Afternoon 8" x 8" Farm Fresh papers. I used a Spellbinders tiny ticket die template to cut and emboss the tag shape (from the Labels and Tags set). That's it for tonight's card. I think I may post a few notes among my son's books for a few days with just the word "RAWR" as a teaser. The inside sentiment explains "RAWR means I love you!"

Relax and Enjoy Your Day!

Welcome! I'm still in Minneapolis, but I'm headed home before the crack of dawn in the morning. It was fabulous to meet some of you at the Copic certification classes!

Today I have another Papertrey Ink  Flipping Out card for you; I really liked this set and can see using it for some fun birthday cards. I die-cut the flip flops with the Flipping Out die collection and then stamped the flip flops in Simply Chartreuse and Blueberry Sky inks. The sentiment is stamped in Versamark and heat embossed with vanilla-colored embossing powder. I did a little bit of sanding, stitching, and laying with foam tape, but hopefully not enough to make it cost $1.98 to mail when I get to the post office. (Seems like they have been really cracking down on the 1/4" rule lately. . .)

Patterned Papers are from October Afternoon's Seaside 8" x 8" paper pad. I chose them because I thought that they looked like they could make a masculine flip-flop card. ;-) That's it for today; thank you for stopping by!

Top of the Morning to You. . .

Can you hear that rooster crowing? I think he was making sure I woke up for a 6am flight! I am headed to Eden Prairie, Minnesota for Copic certification classes, but I finished a couple of cards before I had to stop to pack yesterday. 

Today's card uses Papertrey Ink's new On the Farm stamp set paired with the Chicken Wire Impression Plate. Cardstock colors are Rustic White, Kraft, and Pure Poppy. Ink colors are New Leaf, Summer Sunrise, Harvest Gold, Pure Poppy, and the Chamomile Distress cube. I die-cut the rooster with the On the Farm die and then did a bit of layering with foam tape. What a fun little set! Thanks for stopping by today.

May 2012 PTI Release in Review

Welcome! Today I'm happy to get to share some of the projects that I worked on for most of last week, my May 2012 Papertrey Ink release projects. Again, since most of the sets used in this post are from the May Papetrey Ink release, they will be available tonight at 10pm, EST, at Papertrey Ink. I have listed all supplies under each project.

Stamps: Flipping Out
Cardstock: Rustic White
Ink: Aqua Mist, Ocean Tides, Pure Poppy, Chamomile Distress Ink
Copic Markers: E43, E44, Y35, BG75, BG13
Accessories: foam tape, red gitter, glue pen, Eclipse Masking Paper/Tape, Copic Opaque White
Tools: Flipping Out dies, Sparmax Air Compressor, Copic Airbrush System

Here is how I masked my background to airbrush with my Copic markers. The torn mask is Judikins Eclipse Tape--like a roll of Post-It notes that is completely sticky. I used the 1/2" wide Eclipse tape around the edges and the 6" wide Eclipse Tape to mask water and sand. 

These were the Copic markers with which I airbrushed. I used a soft brush along with Opaque White in a drybrush technique to dab the foam onto the leading edges of the waves. (Click on any picture to see a larger image.)

Stamps: Happy Hydrangeas, Fillable Frames Sentiments, Background Basics: Wrought Iron
Cardstock: Winter Wisteria, Stampers Select White, Royal Velvet, clear acetate card base (PTI)
Ink: Royal Velvet, Winter Wisteria, Simply Chartreuse
Accessories: Winter Wisteria Vintage Button, cotton crochet thread, glue pen, Prisma Glitter, foam tape
Tools: Banners die (I hand-cut the hydrangeas, but there is a die available that will do it much faster!)

Stamps: On the Farm
Cardstock: Rustic White, Aqua Mist, Sweet Blush, Kraft
Ink: Aqua Mist, Summer Sunrise, Harvest Gold, Spring Moss, Dark Chocolate, Chamomile Distress Cube
Patterned Paper: Aqua Mist Pattern pack
Accessories: Rustic Twine, Sweet Blush Vintage Button, pink heart rhinestone (A Muse), glue pen, Prisma Glitter, foam tape
Tools: On the Farm dies, Chevron Stripe dies (PTI); Spellbinders pinked circle die

Stamps: Heart-2-Heart #4
Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Hibiscus Burst
Ink: Raspberry Fizz, Spring Moss, Chamomile Distress Cube
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey Sweet Threads 6" x 6" pad
Tools: Heart-2-Heart #4 dies, Spiral Notebook die, 1/2" circle punch
Accessories: dyed, scrunched seam binding; Pink and Lime Green Stickles

Stamps: Summer Camp
Cardstock 12" x 12" Kraft (SU); all others PTI: Enchanted Evening, Ripe Avocado, Rustic White
Ink: Ripe Avocado, Spring Moss, Enchanted Evening, Chamomile Distress Cube
Patterned Papers: Summer Camp papers
Accessories: 3/4" twill, tea-dyed, Rustic twine, Enchanted Evening Vintage Button
Tools: Spiral Notebook die, Summer Camp die, 1-3/4" circle punch

That's it for my May 2012 Papertrey Ink release projects! Again, the new stamp sets used here will be available tonight at 10pm, EST, at Papertrey Ink. Would you like to see more May release projects? Then be sure to see these blogs, and have a great day!

Nichole Heady

Ashley Cannon Newell

Betsy Veldman

Danielle Flanders

Dawn McVey

Debbie Olson (here)

Erin Lincoln

Heather Nichols

Jessica Witty

Maile Belles

Melissa Phillips

Michelle Wooderson

Refuge and Strength

Welcome! I've been working on projects for the upcoming Papertrey Ink release, and I'll have them all posted early on Tuesday, May 15. But tonight I went back to an older set when I needed an encouragement card--Beautiful Blessings for the sentiment, and a flower from the Pretty Peonies limited edition set (gift with purchase set that many of you probably have).

I used Mat Stack 4 to cut the sentiment panel and Layerz Mat Stack 4 to cut the mat layer. Papers are from Basic Grey's Sweet Threads 6" x 6" pad. I hand-trimmed the flower and leaves, then added a bit of glitter in the center of the flower. The doily is an English Paper Lace doily from StarLit Studio. That's it for tonight--thanks for stopping by!

Framed Hydrangea

Welcome! I've been trying to work on a couple of projects this week, including cleaning and refilling all of my Copic class sets. . . That's a BIG job! I thought I would stop and make a card, however, since I had already colored this sweet hydrangea image from JustRite's Botanical Medallions and Banners set. For the background I used the Elegant Fronds background stamp. 

These are the Copic markers that I used to color the Botanical Medallion and Banners hydrangea image, except for the B000 and 0 that I used in the background for sky and forgot to include in the lineup.

I used a JustRite Nested Oval Medallion Label die for the outside border of the filigree frame, along with three Spellbinders die template sets, Grand Labels Twenty-Three, Labels and Tags, and Classic Ovals Large. I popped up just a part of the blossom head with foam tape and dyed some white seam binding to coordinate with the flowers (Copic V23 reinker). I'm undecided about whether the bow works or not since there is a bow in the picture on the hydrangea stem--still thinking about that one. . . 

That's it for today--thanks for stopping by!

Music. . .

Welcome! Tonight our son has a piano recital, and we needed a card for his piano teacher. I knew that I had a music set somewhere. . . Yes! I had Lizzie's Rhythm and Soul set, still waiting for its maiden voyage! 

These are the Copic markers that I used to color the piano image. The E40's were my main piano colors, and the T's and BV01 for shadow areas.

I used Melissa Frances paper for the card background, paired with PTI's Ocean Tides and Lavender Moon cardstock and Vintage Buttons. I also used a couple of Spellbinders die templates, Splendid Circles and Labels and Tags. The seam binding is dyed with Copic reinkers and scrunched for a wrinkled look. A bit of stitching finished our Music thank you card--here's hoping he makes it thorugh Pachelbel's Canon without rushing it tonight! Thanks for stopping by. 

Special Day Botanical: JustRite May Release Day 3

Welcome! How about another new JustRite release today? I have to confess that I had a hard time deciding exactly which flower to start with in Botanical Medallions and Banners, but when I saw that a couple of the DT girls had already chosen the hydrangea image in the set, I thought I would start with the poppy. 

I think I'll have to color the irises too! If you already have the JustRite Nested Oval Medallion Label Dies, they  are compatible with two of the frame stamps in this set. The new Vintage Label and Banner Dies are also compatible with this set.

Here are the Copic markers that I used for the blossom and ribbon.

And here is the greenery, as well as the blossom center. I did not add sky behind the flower since I planned to cut the image out and use foam tape to pop it up on top of a frame image.

I used two background stamps here, Heart Scroll Background Stamp and Fleuriste Newsprint Background Stamp. The green-stamped label above is hand-trimmed so that I could use the coordinating die to mat the label with red cardstock. I also used a Spellbinders Floral Ovals die template to cut the lacy layer, leaving the die in place to act as a mask when I stamped the Fleuriste Newsprint background in the center. 

How about some MORE projects with today's release sets? You won't want to miss these!

JustRite Inspiration
Debbie Olson (here)
Sheri Holt
Eva Dobilas
Angela Barkhouse
Marisa Job
Michele Kovack
Darsie Bruno
Kathy Jones
Barb Schram

Sweet Violets: JustRite May Release Day 2

Welcome! Today I'm excited to share more new toys from the JustRite Papercrafts May release. Violette Vintage Labels is one of my favorites, but then, who doesn't love violets? 

See what a lovely set it is? I need to color that smaller label image too--it's stamped and waiting on my desk!

I took a couple of pictures as I colored. Here are the Copic greens that I used; you can click on pictures if you would like to see them larger.

Here are the violets that I used, as well as the background colors and the frame line colors.

Other stamps that I used were from last month's release, Elegant Fronds Background Stamp and Classic Lace Edges Two. For dies I used the coordinating JRP Custom Vintage Label and Banner dies, as well as the Spellbinders Classic Edges Two.  I dyed off-white seam binding with Copic V25 ink to coordinate with the violets.

How about some fabulous projects with new JustRite May sets? Enjoy perusing these blogs!

JustRite Inspiration
Debbie Olson (here)
Marisa Job
Michele Kovack
Linda Duke
Darsie Bruno
Eva Dobilas
Kathy Jones
Heidi Blankenship
Sheri Holt
Angela Barkhouse
Barb Schram