In the Works...

Choices...

Awhile ago Less Is More issued a challenge to choose any three of their previous challenges, and incorporate them into a single card...Well, this week they decided to repeat that same challenge... Of course, this time the pool of choices is bigger. My card combines three challenges not previously entered:

Week 3 - Spring Theme - I figure my card qualifies for this in two ways... the pink and green color scheme, and the "bloomin'" flowers.

Week 56 - Don't Scrap It - The saying panel for this card was actually a piece salvaged from a OWC that I dropped on an ink pad. I separated the front from the back, and was about to discard the ruined side when I realized that I could actually trim away the saying, and save for use on another card... this one!

Week 57 - Punches or Die Cuts - Two flower punches were used to layer accents over the stamped leaves.

The stamps used are from the newer Garden Silhouettes, and the older Friendly Wishes.

August Arrives...

August's Easy-To-Do Card Project -- Tree-mendously Thankful Thank You

Materials
Stamps: from Tree-mendous
Cardstock --  White, A-2 card (cut the long way, top-folded), 1.5 x 5.5 strip
Inks:  Brilliance Graphite Black, Memories Apple
Other: Lg. Sponge Dauber, Stamp Positioner (i.e. Stamp-a-ma-jig)

How To
Card FRONT:
-- Using a sponge dauber, apply green ink to the white strip (see first tip below)... heavier coverage in some areas, lighter in others, and leaving a little white space here and there.
-- Still using green ink, stamp smaller tree image randomly over strip -- use both 1st and 2nd generation impressions.
-- Using black ink, stamp a partial large tree image, once, along the lower left edge of strip as shown.
-- Using the stamped strip and the stamp positioner as guides for placement, stamp a single large tree on the card front.
-- Matching up both black images, adhere strip to card.
-- Stamp "Thank You" in black as shown.

INSIDE Card:
-- Referring to photo, stamp a single small tree image in green.
-- Stamp words in black.

Tips/Variations
-- To create a smoother surface for sponging, begin by rubbing a VersaMark, or embossing ink pad lightly over the cardstock.
-- For a one-layer card, work directly on the card front... Replace the strip with a mortise mask.  Sponge, and stamp per directions for using the green ink/small tree image.  Remove mask.  Overstamp with the large tree and words in black.
-- Substitute any color ink for green.
-- Substitue a different pair of sm/lg trees from the Tree-mendous set.
-- Position strip and large tree along the left side of the card, and use a different saying in the "open space" created at the right.

 

Embossed

My love affair with stamping actually began upon seeing someone at a country fair heat emboss a stamped image using gold powder...  Of course, there's more to the story, but that single act of embossing really was the bait that got me "hooked."  Heat embossing seemed like magic then, and it has remained just as magical for over a dozen years...

More recently, paper embossing, facilitated by plastic folders and texture plates, has added yet another magical dimension to my stamping world... By simply sandwiching paper in plastic and rolling it through a little machine, beauteous effects are achieved!  Again, to me, like magic every time! 

One might conclude then, that incorporating both embossing techniques on a single card could produce "double the magic."  At least it was certainly worth a try... 
In all honesty, this card was initially made for what I thought was the current Less Is More Challenge -- to create a CAS card showcasing either kind of embossing... When I went back to the LIMC site to enter my card & copy the link, I discovered that entries also needed to be one layer cards.  Couldn't enter the challenge, but I still feel like a magician.  

Stamps: smARTworks from Ministry Mix
Card Size: A-2, top-folded
Ink/Coloring: Archival Teal, clear embossed using Transcendence powder, Alcohol markers
Punches/Dies: Circle/Scalloped Circle (QuicKutz)
Embossing Folders:  Swiss Dot, Polka Dots (Cuttlebug)
Other:  Vase is paper pieced. Portions of bouquet are "popped."  Flowers accented with Stickles, dimensional glaze, and a mini rhinestone.

Tip: If using alcohol markers "dulls" the heat embossing of an image, wait until you've completely finished the coloring, then revive the shine by doing a quick re-zap with your heat tool.

A little bit of trivia: The idea for embossing the vase with Swiss Dots is based on an actual milk glass vase that once belonged to my mother.  

Just a reminder... We're another week closer to drawing the winner for smARTworks' Inchin' Toward Summer" Giveaway, so if you haven't entered yet, make sure to do so by leaving a comment at the end of this post. 

 

Thanksgiving Extended

In keeping with the theme of yesterday's Thanksgiving holiday, this card:

Inside reads:  Many Thanks!

Details --
Size: A-2 (4.25" x 5.5")
smARTworks Stamps: Flowers from Little Bits 1, words from Ins & Outs (currently retired)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Coloring: Markers
Other: Corner rounder by Carl, yellow glitter glue for flower centers.
Techniques: Basic stamping, coloring, and layering, with the 3 flower blossoms slightly 'popped'.
Tip: To stamp words in a straight line, use a ruler & pencil to lightly create a guide line, then use a Stamp-a-ma-jig to aid in placement.  Once the ink is completely dry, gently erase the pencil line.  Susan's favorite erasers: Magic Rub by Sanford, and the Bic Clic.

Still counting those blessings,

Susan T.

A Little 'Bright' Spot...

The title of today's post is sort of a play on words... You see, during yesterday's computer disaster, I had forgotten saving images for the first part of today's post on a pen drive.  The discovery was a bright spot in my evening, AND it just so happens that the images saved were the 'bright' cards designed for this month's smART-Word Challenge.  God is always good!

'Bright' card #1 is pretty straight forward. The spirit lady was stamped in Memento and colored with a base of alcohol markers, then deepened with colored pencils & OMS (odorless mineral spirits - Mona Lisa brand, available at Michael's).  The borders and words were stamped in Versafine, and the borders were clear embossed.  Don't you just love the look of black embossing on black paper?!?

My second challenge card looks easy enough, and it is...However, since all the stamps except the words are 'solid', I'll share a handful of tips for what I believe yields good results...

Generally speaking, dye inks produce a brighter appearance, so for the background, I immediately reached for my Marvy Matchables -- These are water-based inks that come in square pads which stack upside down wonderfully well, and stay really juicy for years.  They're available in LOTS of colors, many of which also match a color of Marvy brush-tipped marker. Is the brand 'special' for solid image stamping?  No, but the juicy-ness of the pad is...so use what you have as long the pads are well-inked.

Now to pull out the Stamp-a-ma-jig. Yes, in this case, it's important...BUT since this is a randomly designed background, the plastic imaging sheet is not needed... 

• Using prepped rubber (see post on silhouette stamping), ink up the stamp.
• Wait briefly for any air bubbles in the ink to smooth themselves out. 
• Stamp the image onto paper, and hold in place for a count of '10'. 
• Without moving the block, position the jig. 
• Without moving the jig, repeat the stamping process until the stamped image really is solid. I found '3' impressions was the magic number, but it's really the juicy-ness of the pad that determines this...

 
With so much ink in the paper, make sure to allow a background like this ample time to dry before proceeding.

For solid, black images I prefer Brilliance ink (again, see post on silhouette stamping).  Again, I stress a well-inked pad.  For this ink, planning ahead is the ticket because the reinker is a thicker consistency than dye ink, and isn't absorbed by the pad as quickly.  I've found if I 'freshen' my pad the night before, working with it the next day is much less messy...

On this card I wanted my black images/words specifically placed, so I used the jig in the traditional manner, and made a single impressions.  Should you prefer using a different black ink, you can always try building it up in layers as was done with the geometrics.  In the case of all 'solid' stamping, I recommend always stamping a test image on a scrap of the same type of paper you're using for the project.

This weekend I hope to re-photograph the cards featuring the sneak peeks of Summer Blooms and My Hope, load them into the laptop, and post them shortly thereafter.

Still 'growling' a little, but making the best of things,

Susan T.

Show 'n Tell...

This week I received some unexpected 'happy mail' from Mary Dinucci (SCS's seamom).  Mary, who won last month's smART-Word Challenge giveaway, used part of May's 'flower' prize to create this pretty card, and thought I'd enjoy seeing it in person.  She was right!  I really like it, especially the color combo, and how the yellow accents, add such 'pop'.  I also appreciate knowing that Mary is enjoying her prize goodies.

By the way, June's smART-Word prize is still up for grabs, so if you've made any card with 'ribbon', all you have to do is post a link at the bottom of the challenge's invitational post, and voila! you'll be entered... The posting deadline is June 24.

Speaking of 'yellow', this is my yellow embellishment drawer from the organizational system I adopted back in October.  The initial execution of the system was A LOT of work, but long-term it has really worked well for me... I have a drawer for each of the eight, original 'Crayola colors', plus drawers for 'white', 'pink','metallic', and 'holiday'.

Originally,I stumbled across a similar idea while blog hopping.  I embraced the concept immediately, but it took me about three months to muster up the courage to execute... By then I wasn't able to relocate the post, and could only remember: "Organize embellishments in a drawer by color." 

Focusing on that as my plan, I waited for a weekend when all the males were away, rented a stack of chick flicks, bit the bullet, and 'sorted'.  What a project!  Especially sorting through all the packages of multi-colored 'mixes'.  About halfway through, I was ready to give up, and rent a dumpster instead! 

The set-up itself is really quite simple.  I already had the 3-drawer, Sterilite storage units (from my wood mounted rubber days -- available at WalMart). These stack wonderfully well, and as you can see, I tagged the front of each drawer with a color swatch (punched circle from the scrap bin).

For inside storage, I chose to use a combination of containers.  Again, ones that I already had --  multi-compartmented acrylic boxes from Craft Mania, peek-a-boo jars (formerly available at smARTworks), and some soft, plastic, mini boxes by Cropper Hopper.  I also used various sized 'zipper' bags, and some small, petri dish looking, acrylic rounds which I've only ever been able to find at Craft Mania. The key here, for me, is see-through!

I can't tell you that this is the best system in the world for everyone because any mode of organization must suit the individual, but I can tell you that so far, I love it, and feel the initial expenditure of time/energy to implement was completely worth it:

• When I need something, say 'yellow' for a project, I simply remove the yellow drawer from the storage unit and bring it to my work area. I can see all the different types of embellishments at once, all the shades, sizes, etc. I now spend my time sampling the embellishments instead of looking for them... or worse, deciding not to dig them out because I don't want to have to put 'more' away...
• In general, my work area stays less cluttered because there are only drawers to put away, and not the separate, 'category' containers for brads, buttons, eyelets, etc.
• It has helped me evaluate my spending habits because I can really see how much of everything I have... Now when something 'yellow' catches my eye, I think about how full my yellow drawer is, and almost always pass... almost always. LOL
• Upkeep is super easy! Much easier than my former 'by category' system... Whenever I buy something new, single color packs go straight into the appropriate drawer, and items from multi-color packs get sorted into single color piles, which then go to their respective drawers.  Then, every once in awhile, I re-tidy a drawer. It's painless!

So, if you happen to be looking for a new way to organize your embellishments, maybe, just maybe, something similar would work for you.  At least it's food for thought...

All on the sharing block for now,

Susan T.

Inchie Delight

Okay, so while I still don't feel 'great', the aspirin has kicked in, and I can now hold my head up long enough to share a little something with you...

A new batch of card samples recently arrived from smART Cookie, Donna Duquette.  All samples have been added to Donna's smART gallery, and each features at least one inchie, so with nine new cards, there are inchies and inches of fun to be seen!

The thing that really stood out to me in this batch, was the superb job Donna did in utilizing a variety of techniques, styles, and mediums... These cards aren't just variations of one another, but distinctive entities.  That fact alone, made it difficult to choose just one teaser card to show you, but I finally settled on this card which Donna titled, Nature's Sketchbook.

The images on the Inchie Squares are from the Little Bits #1 stamp set. 

Donna created graduated, Copic marker backgrounds on each square, overstamped them with the images in black, then turned each square into a tile using VersaMark Dazzle ink and UTEE.

The rest of the card is pretty much self explanatory -- Cuttlebug embossing, button accents, and a border-punched base panel for the inchies.  (Notice how the chosen border ties into Donna's title... Very clever!)

Donna's samples have also been featured in her different blog posts, so if you see something in the gallery that needs further explanation, try visiting Dees' Studio, and read about it there.

Extra Tip:  Little Bits images make great envelope/label accents for return addresses.

Lord willing, I'll see you next week,

Susan T.

Single Layer Card

I'm always intrigued by well designed, single layer cards, and as of late, have also been inspired by the clean, simple card ideas I've been seeing at Wiggy's World (Donelda's blog)... Hence, this card.

Here's a visual 'How To':

Other Card Details --
Stamps: FL-30 Leaves #1, WD-51 Lovely Smile - Inks:Versafine Toffee, Memories (Honey, Apple), Adirondack (Red Pepper, Cranberry) - Other: Fabriano Medieovalis square note card, Transcendence embossing powder.  All dye inks applied with sponge daubers.

Notes:
-- The Frisket film used for masking, was just something I happened to have on hand.  Eclipse tape works just as well.  While thin text weight paper can also work, both the Frisket and the Eclipse are sticky-backed which creates a nice, 'tight' fit around images. Frisket and Eclipse masks are also durable and reusable -- Plus, their 'sticky' will not damage paper surfaces.

-- When applying ink along the seam line where mask and image meet, try to use either a pouncing motion, or inward brushing motion.  Brushing outward, from image to mask, may push ink under the mask, and outside the image.

Hope you give it a try,

Susan T.

Perfect "Teeny Popping"

Every month or so I try to send four year old Isabelle some kind of thematic fun mail which includes a matching card.   For August, the theme was 'cats', and this was the card.

If something looks familiar, it's because I used a variation of this favorite, stand-by layout which you've already seen a couple of times before... The differences lie in using more than one image, in repositioning the image and text, and in the partially 'popping' images.  Since each 'popped' piece (butterfly and the kitty's neck bow) is, or includes a very small area,  I thought I'd share what I do in such cases...

-- First, because it's difficult to cut foam tape small enough for tiny areas,  because foam tape tends to raise tiny pieces too high making them unstable, and because foam tape tends to really show under small pieces,  I use a thin, white chipboard, similar to a good grade poster board.  Note: The $$$ store stuff is too thin.

-- Next I stamp the image to be raised onto the chipboard, and allow it to dry.  If you don't make sure it's dry, you'll have smeared ink all over your fingers. 

-- Then I cut out the area I plan to 'pop'.  The important thing is to cut completely inside the outline.

-- After cutting, I check the fit by placing the chipboard raiser behind the corresponding cut-out, and 'tweak' as needed.

-- Lastly, using a toothpick applicator, I dot tacky glue across the raiser, and adhere to the back of the cut-out... Apply more glue to the other side of the raiser, and adhere the cut-out to the corresponding area of the main image.

The results make for 3-D purrrr-fection every time!

Note: If more depth is required, use two layers of chipboard.

Until next week,

Susan T.

Card Details --
Stamps: Do You See What I See?, WD-31 Remembering. Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black.  Coloring:Prisma pencils, Spica marker (b-fly wings), and white gel pen. Ribbon: White ribbon custom colored with permanent markers. Other: Dimensional glaze applied to kitty's eyes & nose, and butterfly's body.

God Bless

This has to be one of my favorite smART ministry stamp sets because it is so versatile, and allows for sending taylor-made encouragement...

For instance, if someone with cancer is going through chemo, and battling extreme weakness, you can ask God to bless the person with strength, then send a card letting the person know exactly how you're praying for them... Or if someone has a weighty decision to make, you can send a card showing that you're asking God to bless him/her with wisdom...etc.

Additionally, the saying and specific encouraging word can be used together inside, or outside the card, OR separately with the saying outside, and the word inside.  This is great for having cards with the saying all made up, then stamping the appropriate word inside as needed... PLUS the font is male/female appropriate, and can be used with almost any style of stamping.

Now take a look at what Marcelle Schauer did with her God Bless set of rubber!  She made wedding favors!

"I know this is not a card, but my former Pastor's wife needed help in printing rocks for her daughter's beach wedding in a few weeks. I immediately thought of the words from smARTworks that I received af few months ago and voila, 100 beach rocks ready to be taken from the tray. Thank you smARTworks for the great stamps."  ~ Marcelle Schauer

A spin-off on this... reminder stones --  smooth stones stamped with a single word to be carried in the pocket, or set on a nightstand, etc., and used as a visible, concrete reminder that whoever presented it, is praying for God to grant whatever has been stamped on the stone to the recipient.  I've done this before, and it always becomes a treasured possession -- giving something tangible to hold/finger during a difficulty, and something to remember once the difficulty has passed. 

I have also made reminder stones for myself, to keep in a pocket, so that every time the stone is touched, I remember to pray very specifically for something, or someone...  Sort of makes me think of the 'pillars of stone' God often instructed the Israelites to set up...

So in the day when your children ask, "What do these stones mean?" You will remember My wonderful acts, and tell your children what the Lord your God has done for you... (paraphrased from several Old Testament examples)

Now for a couple of rock stamping tips:
*  Smooth rocks work best.
*  Make sure rock is dust-free and dry.
*  Method #1 (Inked)-- Use permanent ink such as Staz-On, and heat set.
*  Method #2 (Embossed)-- Gently swipe an anti-static pad across stone, stamp with appropriate ink such as Versamark, sprinkle with powder, tap/brush off any excess powder, and heat set.  Allow rock to cool before touching.  If embossed rock will be handled a lot, use an appropriate sealer over the embossing (i.e. one of the Krylon sprays).
*  Method #3 (Decoupaged)-- Stamp words on tissue paper, cut or tear out, then decoupage onto rock using a medium such as Modge Podge or Future floor polish.  Allow to dry.
*** As always, before using any product, make sure to read safety precautions.

Happy Stamping,

Susan T.
 
Card Details --
Stamps: WD-219 God Bless (shown above), FL-24 Happy Duo, Ink: Big and Juicy Soothing Sunset, and Versafine Onyx Black, Black Flower Layer: Cuttlebug Die, Sm. Flower Punches: PBS5, Flower Center: Lady Bug Spots.