Sizzix – My Crafts are Like a Box of Chocolates

Last but not Least, TSTR DT Application 4!

June 29, 2015 beccreates1

I went all out on this one. Shabby but bold!

I started with a rather painstaking process of learning how to use foil. My first three attempts failed miserably despite following directions from several different prominent crafter’s blogs! Grrr… But I finally got results I could use even if I didn’t love it. I applied Versamark through a stencil and clear embossed it. Then I added foil and ran my paper through my laminator. It melts the embossing powder so the foil can stick. Unfortunately, it also flattened the melted embossing powder causing it to spread out. So my pattern is a bit more messy than I had hoped for but hopefully that just enhances the shabby chic-ness.

I made the small white flowers, I realized that I hadn’t use the baby’s breath as inspiration at all so I made the closest flowers I could! I think they softened an otherwise quite bold card. I used the yarrow die set from Susan’s Garden. Sizzix used to manufacture them but now I believe you can get them from Elizabeth Crafts. I used the Paper Players sketch 225. and of course The Shabby Tear Room DT call.

Enjoy, Rebecca

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Masculine Thinking of You Card

March 8, 2015 beccreates1

Sadly my great uncle is sick in the hospital. I knew he would love a card but most of my get well cards were too young for him. So I set to work.

We are both very religious so I knew he would appreciate this stamp with a scripture on it. While it doesn’t exactly say ‘get well’, I don’t think it needed to. The buttons look too bright for the card colours but IRL they are a perfect match. This is a pretty basic card so there isn’t much to tell you about. Click on sketch to visit the challenge.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: SSS
Ink: Grey Flannel- Memento
Paper: light grey CS-SU!, dark grey, ivory CS-PTI, DP-MME
Accessories: buttons-Basic Grey, embossing folder-Sizzix

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No Line Coloured Rose Card

April 21, 2014 beccreates1

I’ve been wanting to try no line colouring for a while and wow, does it ever cause you to really look at the shadows, highlights and overall contrast! Quite the Copic challenge!

The sketch was based on Sketchbook Saturday 100 but as usual, I managed to come in late so I can’t link it up. Bummer. I had it done a while ago too but I didn’t get around to blogging it in time. The ribbons are a bit hard to see in the photo (click to enlarge) but IRL it looks really nice. The background was sprayed with some mist I mixed a long time ago. Maybe it’s a diluted version of a Mr. Huey’s mist??

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: rose-SU!, sentiment-SSS
Paper: white CS-PTI, white CS for rose-X-Press It, gold CS-SU!
Ink: pale tomato-HA, Antique Linen (for no line rose)
Accessories: foam dots-The Sticky Stuff Store, rhinestones-TE, mist-?, embossing folder-Sizzix, ribbon-stash, Copics R11, 20, 22, 32, 24, 27, 29, 59

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Spring has Arrived for Unscripted Sketches #241

January 25, 2014 beccreates1

Ok, I know, I am jumping the gun in a huge way. Most of us are locked in the grip of winter and struggling through snow and freezing temperatures. So I felt a pop of spring was a necessity to cheer me and everyone else up.

I really stretched the sketch this week. But it was fun to see the branches work as the grey strips on the sketch. Ok, so I know the ‘Spring’ looks crooked but I SWEAR it isn’t! I measured it twice! I think it’s the slant of the ‘r’, then the fact that the top line of the ‘n’ is low and the bottom of it dips down combined with ‘g’ tail dipping down too.

The centers of the flowers are made with a tiny dot of Viva paper pen. The branches are held with glue only at the thicker part of the branch so the thinner parts with the flowers sit off the paper a bit giving the, dimension. I cut some small bits off the upper branch and moved one smaller branch and relocated it to make it look different from the bottom branch so more realistic.

I’d love to see what you would do with this sketch? Do you play it clean and simple? Jazz it up? Stick right to the sketch? or go outside the box? Please be sure to join us at Unscripted Sketches this week! Thanks so much to all of you who come back and play often or even every week!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Paper: kraft CS-PTI, DP-WRMK Spring, white CS-PTI
Accessories: cloud dies-PTI (airbrushing), alpha dies-Quickutz, branch die-Memory box, flower dies-Sizzix yarrow

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SAF Tea Staining–Vintage Daisy Card

August 25, 2013 beccreates1

I just got a new Sizzix die I used to make this sweet little daisy and I thought it would work perfectly with the deep tea staining I got on this seam binding ribbon.

Instead of bright yellow, I used a deep, almost brown-yellow Copic to tint the middle of the petals giving it a vintage look to match the card. I have no idea who made the papers as someone gave them to me to use to make ATCs. They were sitting on my desk and looked so pretty and vintage they found a new purpose.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE: kraft, ivory, ocean tides cardstock-PTI, avocado cardstock-SU!, Hug Snug seam binding ribbon, Sizzix min daisy die, Viva decor paper pen, Kaisercraft pearls, Copic marker. Spellbinders embossing folder

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You Rock for Unscripted Sketches

August 3, 2013 beccreates1

A whole bunch of kids in our extended circle of friends graduated this year. We don’t know them well enough to get invited to grad parties (which is why I found out so late and am still making cards)but I still wanted to send something! It is so hard to make teen boy cards, I should get brownie points from the judges of the sketch challenge!

The bottom is done with a Tim Holtz embossing folder. I misted the cardstock so it wouldn’t crack and Yea! it worked. I added ink direct-to-paper while the cardstock was still wet and liked how the ink softened so I added more ink and more mist. It accents the embossing without looking harsh. The black strip is thin washi tape.

Next I used two colours of ink to stamp the funky blob under the guitarist. Why is it that SU! seems to struggle to get bright turquiose/teals colours to match the colours on the ink case? Does the ink fade over time? Do they just not match it correctly in the first place? In the case of both Bahama Bay and Taken with Teal, I thought they were too bright so used neither when they were new. As I developed a love for teal, I got them out only to find neither is nearly as bright as the case shows. They aren’t just a little off but WAAAAY off. So I used Hawaiian Shores rom PTI (which does match the colour on the case!) to finish the stamping of the sentiment which is why they don’t match.

I used the Flashback Summer sketch #27 but you only have a few hours to play so get going if you want to join. But you have a bit longer to play Flashback Bingo so take a look at the post before the one I’m linking to if you’d like to play.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Taylored Expressions
Ink: Bahama bay-SU!, Hawaiian shores, harvest moon-PTI, archival black-Ranger
Paper: white, chartreuse, Hawaiian shores-PTI
Accessories: foam dots-Jody Morrow, washi tape-Recollections, star dies-Simon Says Stamp. TH embossing folder-Sizzix

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Mojo Monday 300! No Small Miracles Awareness Ribbon Card

July 2, 2013 beccreates1

Wow, Mojo Monday is on their 300th sketch! Even though this is a hard week for me to get any crafting done, I had to play this sketch!

My original idea wasn’t to use all pink or an awareness ribbon theme but as with most of my cards, it changed as I worked on it and ended up very different than I originally envisioned it. That’s just my process. I really love it though and that’s what matters! The sentiment is light but easier to read IRL. It says ‘There are no small Miracles.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: t-shirt-Flourishes, sentiment-Verve
Ink: Memento Black, Hero Arts Rose shadow
Paper: DP-Lavender My Mind’s Eye, Blushing bride,moss CS-SU!, kraft CS-PTI
Accessories: foam dots-Jody Morrow, doily-Wilton, rose-Prima, MS rose leaf punch, label 1 Nesties dies, Sizzix embossing folder, Copic markers and airbrush system, EK Success punch, Sakura gelly roll pen

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Interactive Card Zipper Card for PTI Challenge

February 5, 2013 beccreates1

Nichole challenged us to make an interactive card in honour of their 6th anniversary. We were to be inspired by one of the team’s projects. Seeing Jessica’s fridge magnet with a photo of her son on it made me think of my son whose 12th birthday is today. And I loved how Heather used die cut letters on one of her projects. While we don’t celebrate birthdays, this rather important milestone was on my mind. I guess the inspiration is a rather loose interpretation but still…

So I made this card for him. Inside it has the following words. Energetic Fun Silly Caring Friendly Amazing. I won’t give it to him for a while so it doesn’t seem like a b-day card. It isn’t easy to line up the stamping underneath the tear strip unless you plan ahead so I’ve got a tutorial below showing you how I do it. It isn’t too hard but I have a couple of tips.

The grey keyboard keys are actually off a flexible keyboard. The kind you can roll up. My 5 yo tore it apart so I saved the keys for embellishments! At least something good came of it. The numbers at the bottom are from Boy Basics-Out of this World. I taped off most of the numbers so I count just ink some numbers individually and stamped the additional numbers to create an 11 and a 12.

So here’s how to line up whatever you hide beneath the tear strip.

1. Die cut your tear strip die (aka zipper die) and choose a scrap to use underneath the tear strip. Using a pencil, draw two parallel lines just less than 1\2” apart. Using slightly less than the width of the tear strip will ensure your stamping doesn’t touch the edges of the zipper opening on the finished card since they won’t be smooth and straight. Place the paper with the lines on it under the die cut, line it up with the tear strip and trace the notched end. Slide the paper so your notched pencil line disappears slightly under the die cut. Trace the other side of the die. Again, by making your pencil marks slightly smaller than the die cut opening, you ensure you leave space where the zipper strip attaches in case the recipient doesn’t tear it off completely.

2. Stamp your choice of images or sentiments within the pencil lines. Then erase your pencil lines so you can barely see them. I didn’t trim the notched end now because it makes it hard to line up later.

3. Add Scor-Tape or other strong adhesive to the back of the die cut close to the tear strip. As close as you can place it. Remove the backing except for the small portions shown.

4. Line up the stamped scrap using the faint pencil lines. Make sure no stamping shows from either end and you need to leave enough room to trim your notch.

5. Trim off the straight side flush with the die cut and trim out the notched end while looking at the back. Because you left the backing on close to the notched end, it is easy to get your scissors in. When you are satisfied with the trimming, remove the last bits of backing. You could cut the notched end in advance but it would be hard to line up the scrap. If you wish to cut it ahead of time, I recommend you use a larger scrap and when you draw the lines, mark another where the bottom of the die cut would be so you can use that to line it up. (Next time I’ll be more careful and cut it smoother.)

6. Add more Scor-Tape. You want to be sure that tugging the strip doesn’t pull the die cut off the card! For the top portion, I just used my usual adhesive. Burnish the adhesive well. Apply to your card or project!

I hope this helps you line up your die cuts!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: tag and words (inside) CTMH, countdown numbers, ink splotches-PTI
Ink: Walnut Stain, Vintage photo Distress, Teal Zeal-Memento, pumpkin pie-SU!
Paper: kraft, natural white, chocolate CS-PTI, DP-MME
Accessories: foam dots-Jody Morrow, stencil letter dies-Sizzix, interactive die-PTI,

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Happy 15th Anniversary Honey!

December 9, 2012 beccreates1

A couple weeks ago was my 15th anniversary! I was a bit late making an anniversary card for hubby, we aren’t that particular about the date anyhow.

Friends had us over for an anniversary dinner two weeks before the actual date, we went out for dinner and to see War Horse one week before the date and I was at a shower for my sister on the actual date. He gave me a card on the date so who was I to end the festivities by giving my card on time? I stretched everything out by giving him his card a week late! The actual date was November 15th but you could stretch it even further by leaving us congrats in the comments, pretty please!

Back to the card. I used this week’s Mojo sketch which was a really nice one. Instead of three hearts, I added our initials to the heart. I think it’s ok to add hearts to a card for a guy if and only if it’s a love card. Some bloggers I follow add way too much girlie stuff to guy cards. For me, this is the absolute limit. There’s already scallops, a label shape, a flourish and rickrack for Pete’s sake! But there’s also serious stripes (strong colours, all the same size, none are little dots or dashes etc), distresses and torn edges, newsprint, non-girlie fonts and distressing. No bows, no glitter (unless it’s a winter card), no rhinestones, no ribbon unless it’s flat or tied in a knot,very sturdy and not frilly like grosgrain or corduroy. Ooh, or strips of suede or leather. Cool!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: flourish-PTI, sentiment-PTI
Ink: frayed burlap, Antique Linen Distress, chocolate-PTI
Paper: smokey shadow, Ocean Tides CS-PTI, vanilla-stash, dp-MME
Accessories: Scrabble letters-, ampersand sticker-October Afternoon, rickrack, scallops die-PTI, heart die-Sizzix, labels 8 Nesties die

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Celebrate–You’re a Star

June 17, 2012 beccreates1

I hope my son does well on his report card and if so, this is for him to celebrate the end of the year. This card is also for Unscripted Sketches 163, Joan’s Gardens challenge this week to make a card for a kid and this month’s Waltzing Mouse Blog Party which is open for linking right now!

I kinda got on the confetti craze for this card. I used lots of different papers from 3 packs and Say It Loud from Waltzing Mouse stamps. I wish I’d had one smaller star die so I could layer some even smaller stars pointing off the top right corner, I’ll have to go on a hunt to see which company makes just the right sizes. The photo below is the inspiration for this month’s blog party.

I’m noticing that I really strayed from the sketch quite a bit. I think you can still see the inspiration though, my large panel is bigger, the square was translated into a star and the right panel shrunk into my banner panel. I was still inspired by it though and that’s the point right? I hope…?

I hope if you enjoyed my card that you will visit again. I am in the process of making a video for a really cool graduation hat gift box/gift card box and I’ll post the link and measurements as soon as it is done. I have subscription thingies on my sidebar. Have fun with the rest of the party!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: WMS
Ink: pumpkin pie, green galore, teal (the last two blended to get the small sentiment colour)-SU!, broken china distress
Paper: Fancy Pants, Echo Park-Splash, MME-Lime Twist, confetti white, kraft CS-SU!, orange zest CS-PTI
Accessories: star dies-Sizzix, PTI, star punch-Fiskars, foam dots- Jody Morrow, notebook page punch-SU!