Tips – My Crafts are Like a Box of Chocolates

Asian Lady Card for Unscripted Sketches

January 4, 2014 beccreates1

So this week I actually made something for Unscripted Sketches that has a full, proper name!! hee hee!! I got a gorgeous embossing folder but it was hard to use until I got some Asian paper to go along with it.

As you can see, this embossing folder wouldn’t suit a lot of designs as it is very Asian. But also very lovely! I needed a couple of get well cards for some classy ladies so this was a perfect design. The gold accents are just an ink pad swiped across the edges of the paper and over the embossing.

Here’s a tip for you. I didn’t want to raise the sentiment panel on two layers of foam dots. But the embossing underneath raised the lady panel up on one side so she would sit lopsided if adhered flat on the left. So I added scraps of the embossed panel under the lady panel on the left so it was balanced but still not higher than the foam raised panel above it.

I also used the WRMK envelope maker to make a matching envelope out of one of the busier patterns I’m less likely to use. I’m like most and have way too much paper so I’ve got to use it up! There’s always another new gorgeous paper pack on the horizon!

Please come on out and create something lovely with our super talented team this week at Unscripted Sketches! You can create anything your crafty heart desires from any type of artistic or creative endeavour! Just make sure we can still ‘see’ your use of our sketch. You can rotate, flip, turn and change proportions in any way you see fit and also change one shape for another. Have fun with it, take a pic and link it up! You don’t have to have a blog to play!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: PTI
Ink: Encore gold pigment, rose shadow ink-HA
Paper: G45 Bird Song, Blushing Bride CS-SU!
Accessories: ribbon-American crafts, lace-vintage, Embossing folder-Spellbinders, rhinestones-TE, corner chomper, envelope maker-WRMK, foam dots-Jody Morrow

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Waltzing Mouse Stamps Blog Party–Summer Shells Box

June 17, 2013 beccreates1

This month’s challenge was Summertime Fun. Since I won a free set from some challenge back in October and I finally chose it (I had been waiting to order some stamps at the same time and get a deal on shipping, never happened… ), I had fun using My Island.

I absolutely ADORE the beach and hot weather so this set and this challenge is so perfect for me! I wanted to do something more than just a card but I hate trying to decide what to do. As I looked around my craft room, this little box was just sitting there asking to be decorated!

I pulled out some favourite old MME papers which colours remind me of the beach and started covering the box and stamping.

I have a LOT of cool beach related items so choosing which to use was the hardest part! The shell trim has been waiting patiently for just the perfect project. It is too thick for a card and kind of big with the shells spaced too widely. But it looks amazing here dontcha think?

I used my new compressor and Copic markers to add colour to the coral and shell I had hanging around in my stash. They were both so boring before. That reminds me, have to turn it off and bleed the tank before I go to bed…

I used some very sheer gold ribbon to make a big bow using my bow easy. Then I distressed it using my heat tool. TIP: To get the bow to fluff up really well, instead of just wrapping the ribbon around and around the tool, pass it through the slit each time. You may need to scrunch your ribbon to make it all fit but that’s ok. If this means patterned, one-sided ribbon no longer shows the correct side up, just flip it in the middle! Works soooo much better than just wrapping it. The loops always separate correctly my way.

I am also entering this in Ribbon Carousel 82 Fun in the Sun.

I hope you enjoyed this post and if so, I’d love to hear from you. I treasure each and every comment. Ok, except for those weird spam ones… 🙂 If you’d like to come back, maybe email updates would help? I have a subscription widget on my sidebar. I think my RSS feeder is ending soon and I don’t know how to replace it so if you do, I’d love to know how. Anyway, thanks for reading.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: My Island-WMS, flourishes-PTI
Ink: moss, baja-SU! chocolate, kraft-PTI, frayed burlap Distress
Paper: DP-MME
Accessories: flourish die-PTI, foam dots-Jody Morrow, ribbon, loopy wired twine trim-May Arts

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PTI Blog Hop–Larkspur Sequinned Bookmark Card

March 24, 2013 beccreates1

This month’s theme is all about sequins. It was harder than I would have thought to find sequins. The ones at Michaels were horribly gaudy! I phoned to ask if they had any and the clerk went to look. I had already told her I wanted pastels and she came back to tell me they had two packs and where they were. When I found them, they were in super metallic Christmas colours – red, green, blue, silver and gold! Seriously, they need new staff!

I finally found a roll a white iridescent sequin trim in the bridal section and removed the string holding the sequins together then airbrushed them for colour. Unfortunately, they aren’t faceted like many I’ve seen people using lately and I wish they were but they will have to do.

I embossed and coloured the larkspur first without a clear idea what I was going to do to make it into a card. I used Distress markers to watercolour it using a loose, painterly technique and not necessarily staying in the lines. Though I have to admit, that is outside my comfort zone so I sort of coloured in the lines first then added some colour outside the lines after. Then while the colour outside the lines was still wet, I added the sky/background colour.

TIP: Leaving white around the outside of the image and not taking the paint to the edges of the paper adds to the ‘painterly’ effect. Sorry the picture is a bit dark, it was the only way you could see the lighter painted areas at all.

Once I trimmed out the image on the sides, I realized it was pretty tall and thin. I could have trimmed the top but I got the idea to make it into a bookmark. I needed a card for a young friend’s recent baptism and then thought about this sentiment and it all fell into place! (We baptize as teens or young adults, not as babies.) She is quite the artist and paints a lot so I knew she’d appreciate it. To hold the bookmark in, I used an old tool, the Basic Grey Notch and Die tool, to cut the circular notches.

I hope you have fun looking at the rest of the projects on the hop. If you’d like to visit again, be sure to sign up for RSS or email subscriptions on my sidebar. Thanks for visiting.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Out on a Limb Sentiments, Year of Flowers Larkspur-PTI
Ink: Versamark, Archival black-Ranger, lemon, lavender, wisteria, chartreuse, moss-PTI
Paper: watercolour paper-stash, rustic white-PTI
Accessories: Distress Markers-Ranger, sequins-Simplicity, Copics and airbrush system, Notch and Die tool, Masterstroke seam binding ribbon, white EP-stash, Crop-a-dile

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Friends Forever–Verve Sketch

March 1, 2013 beccreates1

This card was for Feb week 4 of Viva la Verve Sketches. The ones they post at SCS. My kids spilled water on my computer so we had to let it dry out before I could post it here. I don’t know if you have to use Verve to qualify to win or if you can only win if you have played all 4 sketches but I liked the sketch so I played anyway. (ETA: yep, all 4)

I am really proud of this one. It’s been ages since I used my old stand by of pink and brown. Feels good to come back home! I have a few tips for you in achieving this shabby look.

Tip 1: To get a beautiful distressed edge, add water before rolling, squishing and pressing the paper. It’s a softer look that just shredding the edge with a distresser or scissors or your nail. The opposite side of the paper will show which is a lovely, shabby look. I used a Q-tip and water with Perfect Pearls in it. Never pass up an excuse to add some pearlized water! but you can add some ink in it to colour the white edges if you wish, either to match your paper or a brown for distressing. If you want some torn sections, do that before or after because it won’t tear well while wet! See photo below for some close up areas.

Tip 2: Spritz with diluted colour mist using pearl water. Just a little bit gives it an aged, stained appearance. It can be subtle but really helps bring the card together. I used it on all the corners except the ribbon banner corner. Fill a Mini Mister by Ranger about 1/8 full with water and to 1/4 full with ink. Test and adjust until you like the intensity. You may need less darker inks and more lighter ink.

Tip 3: When you look at a sketch, think beyond your initial impression of what items should be used for a particular component. The horizontal element in this case was a scalloped strip. I could have gone with a scalloped punched paper strip or a scalloped edge ribbon which would have been even more interesting. But this ribbon treatment is miles above both of those IMHO. And if you immediately thought of ribbon for the banners, try thinking of ribbon next time. Or vice versa. What is even more interesting is combining them!!

Tip 4: Stamp on non-traditional surfaces and in layers. Stamping on the doily didn’t turn out perfect but that’s what I wanted. The tips of a couple letters ended up on the holes and the texture isn’t perfect (part of the stamp too) but it looks vintagey! I also stamped the music on the striped paper which already had some texture on it from the manufacturer. If it hadn’t, I would have added some texture or script or something to it.

Tip 5: This isn’t specifically a shabby tip but a general tip. Cut apart or unmount that wheel stamp you never use! They are cheap and a great source of images. I now have 12 different words and 2 or 3 images! I wouldn’t have used that wheel hardly ever! (I bought it knowing I would cut it apart based on someone’s recommendation) The music image I used is also a wheel I unmounted. I leave it naked, no EZ Mount even, so I can apply it freehand which gives it a shabby or grunge look depending on how much ink I use and how dark the colour is.

Do you like the tips? The angled photo with props? These are also changes I’m considering trying out though it may seem slow to adopt as I use up some older photos. Let me know. Only though feedback can I make sure you get what YOU want out of this blog!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: music wheel, friendly words wheel-SU!
Ink: spray ink-Mr. Huey Boss Lady Studio Calico, chocolate-PTI, melon berry (stamped off)-PTI
Paper: chocolate CS-PTI, vintage typing paper for doily-stash, dp-MME
Accessories: perfect pearls-Ranger, pearls-Dollarama, flowers-stash, leaves-unknown silk cut smaller with rose creations die-Spellbinders, Doily die-PTI, ribbons-stash, sewing thread, foam dots-Jody Morrow, Scor-Tape, Ribbon-May Arts

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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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Snowman Card with Gift Card Pocket

December 1, 2012 beccreates1

As soon as I saw this sketch, I thought of adding a gift card pocket to the front of the card. And I had paper that was perfect!

The snowflake is made from 5 or 6 layers of cardstock glued together. It makes for quite a nice sturdy embellishment! In the center is glued a perfectly matched rhinestone! I know red is an odd choice for a background for a snowy scene but it popped much better than any of the aquas or blues in the paper. Brown was out and so was pure white so red it was!

Here you can see the inside of the pocket a bit. It is a simple folded cardstock piece with a small flap that folds up from the bottom to secure the card and it adhered on one side only. Let me know if you’d like the pattern. I trimmed the pocket a bit so the cover closes well and rounded the inside left corner. It is stamped with snowy flourishes. The metal snowflake accents? They are bead caps I wasn’t using because they weren’t working with my jewellery style. Too pointy and big. But flattened out, they make perfect snowflake accents!

I added a few fun textural touches to this little scene. Nuts, I just noticed that the silver cord is over the scarf and pompom on the hat. Oops! It just needs to be slipped back underneath! The snowman is sporting Liquid Applique on his hat and the little girl has Pearl Pen added to her hat. The hats, scarves and coat are paper pieced. The buttons are dotted with Enamel Accents to make them raised and shiny. The snowman nose and the hill behind the scene, which I hand drew, are accented with Crackle Effects to make them look like they are covered in cracked ice. Lastly, the scene and the paper piecing are coloured and shaded with Copics. Oh, and the colour of the snowman hat is deepened with Distress ink. I had so much fun coming up with ways to enhance this cute little scene!

Click the sketch to visit the blog post. Since this layout comes up over and over, I’m making a note that will help me and maybe you too. If your card is 4.25 x 5.5” and you want 1/8” borders and spaces between the panels, each one needs to measure 4” x just under 1 1/4” wide.

I’m also entering this in the Simon Says Stamp Challenge ‘Anything Goes’ and the Cute Card Thursday challenge 245 to use snowflakes.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: girl-MFT, snowflakes-CTMH
Ink: Fired Brick, Antique Linen Distress, Memento black
Paper: DP-Echo Park, white CS-Taylored Expressions, Navy, red CS-SU!
Accessories: silver cord-SU!, foam dots-Jody Morrow, Copics and Multiliner, Crackle Effects, Enamel Accents-Ranger, cream Pearl Pen, rhinestone-stash, Liquid Applique

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Vintage Parfum

November 30, 2012 beccreates1

I am in a challenge on Swap-Bot to use one stamp three different ways.

This was one of my projects. I am entering this in Unscripted Sketches 186 and Simon Says Stamp challenge ‘Anything Goes’ as well.

Sorry the formatting is messed up. I sent this via email and when I edited it in Live Writer, it seems a bit odd. The flowers are coloured with some Copics I rarely use but they look so pretty with these vintage colours. V91 and 95. I wonder if they make another V90 something… Incidentally, the stamp I used was the bottle and it conveniently has several different things you can stamp within the label! This one is definitely my favourite.

I dyed the seam binding myself. I added several drops of blush reinker and a tiny, less than a drop, amount of Antique Linen to some water. It’s hard to see but the ribbon is unevenly dyed which makes it look old and stained. TIP: To achieve that effect, I added the blush reinker directly to the water but smeared the Antique Linen directly to the bag. I smushed the ribbon in the water and squeezed it dry. Then I dragged the wet ribbon into and through the AL. Means the ribbon gets unevenly dipped in the AL and a stained look. Perfect!

Isn’t this bottle so pretty? I stamped it on a solid coloured paper from the pack. Then I shaded both the label and the bottle but subtly. I twisted the ribbon that goes around the card because I didn’t like how much it covered the lace. I like the look!

I’m also entering this in the Shabby Tea Room Challenge to use Neutrals as well as twine or ribbon and a sentiment. Mine is little but it is there, on the tag. Click on the photo to visit the challenge post.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe
Ink: chocolate-Papertrey Ink, old Paper, frayed burlap distress. perfect plum-SU! (envelope)
Paper: true thyme CS-SU!, ivory CS-scrap, DP-Capella Basic Grey
Accessories: Copics, tag die-Quickutz, HugSnug Seam Binding, blush reinker-SU!, Antique Linen reinker, vintage MOP button, lace-stash, foam dots-Jody Morrow, twine-PTI

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Thanks, You’ve Been Wonderful

November 18, 2012 beccreates1

This is a triple challenge post. For this month’s WMS blog party and this week’s WMS sketch challenge. And Friday Mashup #85 to make a Project Saying Thank You.

I’m afraid my photography is suffering today from the bright light in my craft room, not bright enough for no lights but bright enough to add a strange colour cast to the lights I do have. Grrr… In addition, I have a cold so I am a bit shaky so the focus is off. bummer. So sorry.

I have a die cutting trick for you. I always hoard my favourite sheets of DP. So I was loathe to cut into another sheet of this paper for the label. But in my mind, nothing else really suited. So I worked out exactly where I would place the final focal tag. Then I traced it. Since the larger mat would cover over the area below, I was free to ‘steal’ it for my label! Cool idea right? I had one small problem in that the card base showed through the holes in my die cut. This is only a problem with this ribbon treatment and not normally an issue. I solved it easily with a snippet of paper in a similar colour from the same pack! The spots are so tiny you definitely cannot tell.

It was awesome to find a paper that already had words in the corners a la the sketch! But not so overwhelming that I couldn’t add my own sentiment as the focal image. My sister and I finally agreed on the style of her wedding favours and this is the ribbon treatment and tag style we are using so I had them in mind when I made the card.

(Click the sketches to visit the blog posts.)

The favour is biscotti so they will be individually wrapped in bags intended for pretzels then wrapped in patterned paper. Then the tag will be added in a similar fashion but instead of tying the ribbon the way mine is above, the holes will be punched on the other sides and the ribbon will wrap around the biscotti and paper. The paper will probably have scalloped edges if I can figure out a way to do it that won’t take forever or require multiple punches due to dulling them because of so much use. 200+ favours is a lot! I’ll be sure to show you when I make them.

Thanks for visiting, if you like what you see, be sure you don’t miss anything by subscribing. Subscription thingies for RSS and email are on my sidebar!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: sentiment-WMS, music-Skipping Stones Designs
Ink: Berry Sorbet, Chocolate-PTI, Antique Linen, Vintage Photo Distress
Paper: MME Be Amazing, kraft CS-SU!, melon berry CS-PTI
Accessories: pearls-Dollarama, foam dots-Jody Morrow, ribbon-SU!, label dies-PTI, flower-stash,

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Vintage Teacher Thank You

November 17, 2012 beccreates1

At the end of the last school year, I made two card fronts for my son to choose from. This was the one he didn’t choose. I had it kicking around my craft room for ages when all it needed was a base! Do you ever do stuff like that?

I love the butterfly paper. Isn’t it interesting? Once it is gone, I am going to try and make my own. TIP: I’ll stamp text in black on cream cardstock. Then clear emboss butterflies in a not-too random pattern. Then sponge or brayer over the whole sheet with black ink. I’ve used this technique before and it turns out really cool. The only thing is that the brayering or sponging takes a while.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Clearly About Teachers-MFT
Ink: Memento black, antique linen, vintage photo Distress ink
Paper: Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe, 7 Gypsies Conservatory, kraft, vanilla CS-SU!
Accessories: May Arts Ribbon, Recollections flower

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Cherry Blossom Anniversary Card

April 22, 2012 beccreates1

I recently bought the coolest flower die. It makes gorgeous cherry blossoms. I made them in an unusual colour combo but I love that I can personalize them!

The colours of this card are epecially unusual to anyone who knows me well. Orange is one of my least favourite colours but I have been know to use it under the right circumstances like as an accent, when I love the paper pack or when the person I am making the card for loves bright colours! The latter is the case this time. Oh, and my blonde little guys look awesome in orange so you might see it on a scrap page at some point!

Making the blossoms is easy. Die cut all the pieces. I cut all of mine from ivory card stock. Then I coloured the star shaped piece with an apricot marker. Same for the center of the sunburst shaped piece. The little ‘sticks’ I coloured in blush and the tips are pumpkin. The sticks and tips are coloured on both sides. The flowers are sponged with blush ink.

To make the flower 3-D, you glue the tab to the back of the next petal. However, I found it was hard to get the tab to stay glued as it is tiny, less than 1/8” long! When I make it again, I won’t glue the tab first. To prepare the center, use an embossing tool and a foam or embossing mat to cup the star piece. Repeat for the sunburst. Then adhere the sunburst to the inside of the star. Now you want to curve the petals and squeeze the flower into a cup shape. Then add adhesive to the outside of the cupped center and the tab and add the center to the flower. While holding down the flower center with the embossing tool, make sure the tab is touching and hold until it is dry. All done!

I’m entering this in the Joan’s Gardens challenge this week and this April’s SFYTT (turned 90 degrees). Joan is offering 6 guest designer spots for participants! I’m really hoping I get a chance!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamp: PSX
Ink: memento black, Apricot, blush, celery-SU!
Paper: Picadilly-Basic Grey, saffron, vanilla, punpkin-SU!
Accessories: foam dots-Jody Morrow, lace-WMS, die-Memory box, markers: apricot, pumpkin, blush-SU!, ribbon-Masterstroke Ribbon, Kaisercraft rhinestones