Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Halloween Birthday card

Wow, time got away from me and this post is late!  We have a new challenge over at Retro Rubber, and it is a sketch this go around!


I decided to flip the sketch and use some fun witches boots to create a birthday card for a family member born on Halloween.


I used Hero Arts Witch Feet Stamp and Cut set from 2016, and Taylored Expressions In & Out Birthday from September 2014.  The various Witch Feet are stamped and heat embossed with Irridescent Embossing Powder.  Imagine (Tsukineko) Delicata Golden Glitz and Black Shimmer are set off by Brilliance Pearlescent Lavender inks.  The images are "water colored" with the various inks using Ink Potion No. 9.  To set off the Witch Feet, Spellbinders Nested Lacy Pennats are die cut and inked with Brilliance Pearlescent Lavender,  The base card edges are also inked with Brilliance Pearlescent Lavender, topped with a layer inked in Delicata Golden Glitz.  I had a bit of Doodlebug Desings Black Chenille cardstock from 2008 that was a perfect layer for this card.

With some masking and an ink positioner I stamped the sentiment.  The top portion is from the Hero Arts Witch Feet Stamp and Cut set with the Halloween masked.  The Birthday is from part of the Taylored Expressions In & Out Birthday with the happy portion masked.  The sentiment is die cut with Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Squares small.  The rectangle is created by lining up the scallops and die cutting it slightly smaller than the square.

I hope my favorite Halloween witch enjoys her special card!

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Open if you Dare for a Scary Halloween!

We have a seasonal challenge for you at Retro Rubber Blog Challenge.  Come have some spooky fun with us! 


I recently purchased a really fun set of dies that can be used to create pop-up cards.  The set by Stampendous is Fran's pop-up Stage Dies and was super fun to experiment with to get just the right scene for Halloween.  But first the front of the card!

 I started with Sizzix embossing folder Cracked and a DCWV cardstock. A little sanding brings out the design.  Scrappy Cat's Twist of Lime stamps the sentiment in Brilliance Graphite Black.  


The inside of the card features Hero Arts' DC161, and Witches Feet Stamp and Cut for the sentiment both from 2016.  The black images are stamped in Brilliance Graphite Black  Fireworks in Tangelo and Dandelion at the spots of color to the pumpkins and moon.  The background is sponged in with Brilliance Mediterranean Blue, Graphite Black, and Moonlight White.   Spellbinders Labels Eight provides the sign for the sentiment. 

Please show us your best "BOO" themed project and link up at Retro Rubber Challenge Blog!  Remember to use at least one stamp that is more than a year old and join a maximum of ten challenges. 

Monday, October 9, 2017

Sweet Treats for You!

Imagine has a candy or chocolate theme this month on the blog.  Here is my version that is live today!



Time for a few candy treats, Halloween candy that is!  This sweet little handled box was easy to create with dies and stamps and is ready to give to a special someone!  The box was die cut then stamped to create a balanced use of the images.  One side of the box is die cut to create an opening for a window that is finished with a bit of recycled packaging.  The die cut itself is used to make a matching tag.  To outline the sentiment in coordinating colors the image was stamped several times just out of alignment to create the shadow effect.  Add a bit of bakers twine to tie the tag to the box and a few mini candy bars finishes off the little gift. 

Imagine

Other
The Stamps of Life—Handle Box die, Candy2Share stamp set, Wrapped Candy die set
Elizabeth Craft Designs—Stitched Rectangles die set
Unknown—eyelet, bakers twine
Dimensional Foam Adhesive

Stick It Down October Double Page Sketch

What a super fun sketch this month at Stick It Down



I am working through some photos of past years for my now senior in high school.  So with all the circles it was a great sketch for a soccer layout!



The school colors at MVHS are Red and black, so I started with Core'dinations red cardstock for my base.  I have a stash of soccer related scrapbooking supplies so a quick perusal made short work of finding the coordinating embellishments.   I trimmed a single sheet of "It Takes Two" vellum paper of soccer sayings to create the border around the center white cardstock.  Each of the circular photos are die cut with Elizabeth Craft Designs Stitched Circles dies and backed with black die cuts from the same set.  The center oval is the Grand Spellbinders Oval set.  The larger brads are from a very old Hot of the Press Brad Buddies soccer set, and the smaller soccer balls are from Recollections.  The Laserline die cut title is also many years old, but still absolutely perfect for this layout.  The title at the top is Quickutz Mini Star alphabet.  I find that my Quickutz come in handy!  I avoided added the splatter to the layout as I felt it didn't really fit the theme I choose.  The Goal brad was originally intended for a corner, but red on red didn't seem to work so next to the goal photo it went!  One of the hardest parts of scrapping sport events is pairing down which photos to work with when you literally have hundreds.  I am getting much better at deleting photos soon after the event to avoid the job later! 
 
Come and join us at Stick It Down and play along with any of the sketches all revealed on Oct 2nd.  You have until the end of the month to play along with this sketch - or any of our monthly sketches! We will choose one winner from each sketch challenge to return as a guest designer in December!

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Welcome Autumn Wooden Sign



“What wood you do?” is our challenge for the month at Imagine and my project is featured today!  I choose to create a new wooden sign to celebrate the coming of autumn.  In the process, I discovered that All Purpose Ink is a great stain for a porous wood surface.  A leaf stencil supplies the design, a fun tall and skinny alphabet stamp and StazOn ink makes quick work of a darling home décor sign. For what it is worth, remember that two-sided signs allow you to have a practice run at color choices and placement of images; when it is hanging by your door no one will be the wiser!   With a few supplies you can try your hand at creating a something new for your home. 

Level:  Beginner
Time:  30 minutes 

Step 1
Place stencil over wood sign and ink with All Purpose ink.  Place ink blusher over opening and gently tip bottle to add ink to the ink blusher.  Apply the API through the stencil.  I always start with the lightest color first, in this case Lemon Yellow.

 
Step 2 
Apply different colors like Tangerine through the stencil.  The API will still be slightly wet and will blend nicely.  The project can be set aside to dry or the process can be sped up with a heat tool.


Step 3
Move stencil and add additional colors to the scheme like Red Delicious.


Step 4
As you continue to move the stencil and ink more leaves you can use ink that is on the stencil to create new blends of fall colors.


Step 5
Determine placement and stamp sentiment with StazOn ink, I used Blazing Red.  Set aside to dry.  


Step 6
Not being satisfied I decided a bit of color around the edges would finish off the rustic look of the sign, Autumn Leaf API was the perfect choice.

Now I have a new sign to hang at my front door for the autumn season!

Imagine

Other
Plaid—Leaf Stencil
Art Warehouse—Tall and Skinny Alpha
Sierra Pacific Crafts wood sign


Sunday, October 1, 2017

Aubergine Imagine's color of the month



Aubergine is such a rich fall color, and many things in nature sport this amazing hue.  Imagine is featuring three lovely cards that focus on the use of this color, go check them out!  Lotus flowers come in many versions, and one is the lovely color of aubergine.  Using a layered stamp made quick work of creating a few charming flowers to decorate a pretty card.  A bit of Electric Yellow Amplify! adds the stamen texture to the lotus flower.  The basket weave background matches the leaves perfectly as the same Memento ink was applied to the embossing folder as was used to stamp the leaf images.  Blending two colors Versa Magic ink creates a realistic color for the water of the pond, which reminded me of the photo that inspired this classic card.   To carry the color theme throughout the card, a backing layer is inked with an ink blusher and matching Elderberry Memento ink.  The sentiment is also stamped in the vivid Aubergine color to complete the look.

Imagine

Other
Altenew—Lotus stamp set and matching die set
Joy Clair—Hello Sentimental stamp set
Cuttlebug—Basket weave embossing folder