Fairy in a Frame

Lots of different inspirations coming together again for this vintage fairy picture frame. I actually started to create a frame for a picture that was accented by these cute images from Fairy Whimsey but these images were so lovely, I decided to make them center stage.

To get started, I cut out 4 of the large Labels 8 Nestie in Soft Suede. The first two just get adhered together to make a strong back of the frame. The second two get the center cut out with a Nestie oval shape (cut one and then lay it over the top of the other and cut again so that they line up exactly). The 4th piece also gets cut apart at the corners, embossing (lay the pieces in the embossing folder so the "grain" all goes the same direction), sponging, and then adhered to the 3rd piece with the oval cut out of it. Did that make any sense? This treatment was inspired by this Faux Wood Frame tutorial.
Now I had to "invent" some way for my frame to stand up. I cut a piece of Soft Suede into a 3 x 3" square. I scored it at 1" intervals. I cut about 3/4" off the left and right at the top so there was just a tab in the center. I cut from the outside corner in to the tab to form the angled sides. It wasn't quite sturdy enough so I cut another 1 x 2" piece of Soft Suede. I scored it at 1/2" and 1 1/2".
I adhere the small piece inside the larger piece to add some stability.

The main Vanilla panel is cut in an oval shape (make sure its one sizer LARGER than the oval you cut out of the frame so you have some area to attach it with). The images are stamped in Chocolate Chip and colored with Copics. I sponged just a hint of River Rock across the colored areas and around the edges. I then used the Cracked Glass technique on this panel. (My DS loves to "break" these!)

Now I just need to assemble everything. I used small dimensional dots on the edges of the frame because the main panel was so think with UTEE. Here is a pic of the back (I am really proud of how neat it looks!)

I don't usually have the patience to design an original 3-D piece that actually works so I was pretty proud of myself!

Stamps: Artful INKables Fairy Whimsey
Paper: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla
Ink: River Rock, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Copics, Nesties, Distressed Stripes Embossing Folder, Ultra Thick Embossing Powder, Versamark pad

Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Think Ink Challenge #19

Think Ink Challenge #19 is a makeover challenge! Participants are to make over an old card. Hope you'll play along for a chance to win free stamps! The complete details are HERE.

I didn't pick a very "old" creation to redo but I picked one from a couple of weeks ago because I kept saying "I should have" while I was making it! Here's the original piece:


The "I should have's" that I'm addressing in my made over piece are 1) I should have used some white to separate the images 2) I should have used spring like colors or even more than one color family. Hopefully this piece will give you inspiration for lots of color choices if you try this technique. HERE is a tutorial from the original card.

Stamps: Artful INKables Plant Prints
Paper: Papertrey White (base), Whisper White
Ink: Almost Amethyst, Lovely Lavender, Perfect Plum, Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, Rose Red, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Old Olive
Accessories: Versamark Pad, Clear Detail Embossing Powder


Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Heidi's Playing the Sketch

I'm playing along with today's sketch challenge on SCS (#278). Yippee! I'm glad to have the chance to play as this one is my favorite. And I reward myself for getting up early with my favorite soda on the way to work!

I had this little girl all colored and ready to go so I just cut her out with a square Nestie. Next I took a 4" x 4" piece of cardstock and used the same Nestie to cut out the center so I could insert the little girl instead. I stuck these two pieces onto an old Cricut mat to hold them still while I inked. I stamped some grass and a couple of clouds. I masked off the grass with a torn piece of paper and also masked off the clouds. I roughly sponged in the sky....no need to be perfect here. I didn't mask off the girl - just sponged softly right up to her. Then I masked off the sky with the other half of my torn paper and sponged in the grass. One thing to note on the grass is that I colored a bit darker BEHIND the grass....not the grass blades themselves. This makes those blades pop out rather than hide.

Here's a couple of tutorials with pics of how I do this type of card:
Cut then Ink Technique
Cutting a Sketch with DP

Stamps: C.C. Designs Swiss Pixies Heidi Among the Flowers digi, C.C. Designs Sugarplums Scenery
Paper: GP 110, Elegant Eggplant
Ink: Baja Breeze, Old Olive, Wild Wasabi (behind the grass blades and under Heidi), Momento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copics, Nesties

Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Art-y Pear

Lots of inspirations here coming out in one piece:

1. The whole "pear thing" started when I was thinking about a piece of art a co-worker used to have hanging in their office that was just a single pear. This fab digi pear called Forever Postage from FireCracker Designs by Pamela reminded me of that pear.

2. I have a piece of art hanging in my home that has this type of background. To create this, I just drug my River Rock ink pad across the top inch or so. Then I wanted to use Sage Shadow on the center strip but I didn't want to mask anything so I just drug it across the River Rock and down into the Sage area. Finally, I drug my Always Artichoke pad across the bottom section. I sponged Artichoke and Chocolate Chip around all the edges (got a little sloppy here didn't I?) and a little Chocolate Chip for a pear shadow.

3. I made a HUGE mistake the other day and decided to figure out how long it was going to take me to own every Copic marker.....eons!!! So I decided to go back to my colored pencils again. I could finish that collection in just a month or two! So I studied up on YouTube and tried out some new things I had learned (like using purple in shadows!). The pear is colored, cut out, and adhered to the background piece.

Stamps: FireCracker Designs by Pamela Forever Postage
Paper: Whisper White, Sage Shadow
Ink: River Rock, Sage Shadow, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils & Goo Gone (to blend)

Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Drum roll please.....

And the winner of the Cosmo Cricket DP is

Gail's Card Cafe!!!!! Yeah!!! Just send me a note with your addy and I'll get that right out to you.

Enjoy!
Michelle B.

So Soft Fairy with Paint Swatches

There are still a few days left for Think Ink Challenge #18 to use paint swatches. You could win free stamps so hurry over and play!

I happen to be in the process of picking colors to repaint our whole house so I just happen to have many paint swatches here. I choose a couple of pretty colors and punched butterflies out of them and also used those colors to inspire this whole piece. I always color with such bold colors that I thought I'd try something different for this sweet little fairy from Artful INKables Fairy Whimsey set....and color softly. I got a little carried away on the wings but the rest of her is exactly what I was aiming for.

Stamps: Artful INKables Fairy Whimsey
Paper: Papertrey White, Soft Sky
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Soft Sky
Accessories: Nesties, Copics, Cricut & George Cartridge (ovals), paint swatches, Martha Stewart Butterfly punch

Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Woo Hoo! I'm off today!

Woo Hoo! I am off work today! So I decided to play along with today's Ways to Use It challenge over on SCS. Today's challenge is to mix up patterns. Eek! That's usually a little rough for me but this came to me pretty easily.

I wanted to do a sunset behind this lovely tree from FCD's Mahalo and when I saw the oranges and yellows in this DP from Basic Grey Maraakech, I decided to take the easy route and just stamp the tree onto this beautiful DP. Using DP like this is a great alternative for those of you who love the look of brayered skies but aren't ready to take that on yet. I sponged just a bit of brown along a torn paper mask for the ground below the tree.

The 3 pattern DP's are also from this line. For the green piece I just stamped the leaves onto it. The red/orange piece is stamped with the sun image from this set. The multicolor piece had some bright white in it which didn't really go with this piece so I just colored in the white with my E31 Copic.

Stamps: FireCracker Designs by Pamela Mahalo
Paper: Soft Suede, Kraft, Basic Grey Marrakech DP
Ink: Soft Suede, Really Rust, Always Artichoke
Accessories: Nesties, E31 Copic

Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Art Inspired Flowers Tutorial

Wanna know more about how I created that card yesterday for the Artful INKables hop? I always hesitate in adding a tutorial to a blog hop post because there is so much going on there already. So, here ya go:

I start with a piece of "slippery" cardstock (helps the ink move around). In this case I used SU Very Vanilla. I used the emboss resist technique to stamp the two dark flowers. (Emboss resist=ink first in Versamark and then Chocolate Chip before stamping to paper. Dust with clear detail embossing powder. Heat with the heat gun). Now, these are dark images....why didn't I stamp them in the end? Because 1) I wanted their dark stems to be seen all the way through the picture. If I had stamped them later, they would have been broken up by the other embossed images and 2) This helps me place all the other images, masks, etc. for the rest of the piece.

Next I embossed this beautiful leaf image in just Versamark.....no ink and embossed. The leaf on the left was a little too high off the edge of the paper so I used a Versamark pen to extend its stem to the edge of the paper.
The ferny leaves were stamped using the emboss resist technique again and River Rock ink.
Placement of the sticky note mask here is critical. NEVER put this right smack in the middle. It will always be more interesting to place this more towards one side or the other. It is also important that it cuts the brown flower on the right in half. Again, this is more interesting and helps tie the two halves together.

I sponged Sahara Sand ink from the outsides inward all the way around. I always place a scrap paper underneath my piece and start sponging completely OFF the piece and work my way to the center swirling and rubbing all the way. See all the ink on my sticky note! I let the ink run out as a I get to the center which gives that nice fade. When its time for more ink, I start off the piece on my scrap again and work towards the center. I like to leave just the tiniest bit of the Very Vanilla showing here.

(Sorry forgot to take a picture between these two steps) Close to Cocoa ink is sponged in the very same way except that I only go in about 1/2" or 3/4"....not all the way to the center. You should still be able to see the Sahara Sand sponging so don't cover it up completely.

Here's some helpful tutorials on sponging:

Sponging a Glow (written for Artful INKables)

Using Sponges

Now I move the post it note around to cover up what I just did. You cannot sponge all the way up to the post it note so I always leave a sliver of the completed side showing so that I don't get a white line between the two sides (hmm.....although that would have been an interesting effect. Maybe I should try that!). I sponged Close to Cocoa on this side using my usual technique (start off piece and move to center, leave a little Vanilla showing in center). Then I used my Soft Suede ink pad and drug it from off the page towards the center lifting as I went to give me a faded, textured appearance.

All that's left is to remove the sticky note and add this to a card base!

Stamps: Artful Inkables Plant Prints
Paper: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede
Ink: Chocolate Chip, River Rock, Sahara Sand, Close to Cocoa, Soft Suede
Accessories: Versamark Pad, Versamark pen (to extend the stem on one of the leaves that I stamped too far in!), clear detail embossing powder, embossing buddy


Enjoy,
Michelle B.

Artful INKables April Hop!

Welcome to the Artful INKables blog hop! We are celebrating the fabulous month of April with some amazing April flowers the Artful INKables way!

If you haven’t come here from Tanya’s Blog, be sure to hop on over to the Artful INKables Blog, you don’t want to miss anything for today’s hop!

My favorite Artful INKables set is Plant Prints. I love to look at pieces of art to get inspiration for ways to use this set. Today I was inspired by this piece. I used the emboss resist technique on the flowers and leaves. I masked and sponged the panels in much the same way I sponged a glow in THIS AI tutorial. I drug my stamp pad across the right panel from the top down and bottom up to give that cool effect. I am thinking now that maybe I should have done in this piece in some more spring-like colors.....maybe next time.

Make sure to comment on every one's blog, because one lucky commenter will win a $10.00 gift certificate to spend at the Artful INKables store! Please leave your comments by Friday, April 23rd, 12 midnight Eastern Standard Time, one lucky winner will be chosen on Saturday, April 24th.

Thank you for participating in today’s blog hop, now hop on over to JOY’s fabulous blog. I am sure you will love everything you see today!

Stamps: Artful Inkables Plant Prints
Paper: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede
Ink: Chocolate Chip, River Rock, Sahara Sand, Close to Cocoa, Soft Suede
Accessories: Versamark Pad, Versamark pen (to extend the stem on one of the leaves that I stamped too far in!), clear detail embossing powder, embossing buddy

Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Blog Candy Time!

Last time I was shopping over at All That Scraps, I bought an extra pack of the New Cosmo Cricket Material Girl DP for one lucky winner. What am I celebrating? I don't really need a particular reason do I? I am still here and that's good enough for me to be happy!

So here are the rules: Just post a comment so I know you want to be in the drawing. You have until Sunday, April 25 at 11:59 pm CST to enter. One post per person please. On April 26, I will pick a lucky winner. You will have 48 hours to claim your prize or I'll draw another winner.

Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Vintage Peacock Saga

So the story starts like this: I look on the internet at peacock photos to get a new idea on how to color them. I find a lovely vintage print on vanilla paper. I would love to show this inspiration piece to you but my PC rebooted itself and I didn't have the link saved. Of course, I can't find it now. (Edited to add: HERE it is!) So I use that inspiration piece and make this card:



Then I realize, I was supposed to do a 3D piece...not a card. Now what? I see some info on SCS on According Cards and think it would be a great photo album! SOOOOOO I decide to rip apart my card and turn it into a mini photo album. And here are some closeups of the inside for you:



Stamps: Artful Inkables Paisleys and Peacocks
Paper: Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze, Blue Bayou
Ink: Blue Bayou, Baja Breeze, Creamy Caramel
Accessories: Blender pen, Nesties, SU scallop trim border punch, SU word window punch, SU modern label punch, SU photo corners punch, ribbon from Pink Hedgehog


Enjoy!
Michelle B.

FCD - Word Play Hop

Welcome to the April Firecracker Designs By Pamela Blog Hop! This month's theme is "Word Play." I chose the word Spring and I used at least one letter to represent color, embellishment, and the image. Here's what I used:

S - Sparrow (ok, it doesn't look like a sparrow but I was stuck here!)
P - Pattern papaer
R - Rag dipped in Copic blender solution and stamped onto tree for texture
I - Inked sky
N - Not Quite Navy cardstock & one of the colors in the pattern paper
G - Green in the card base, tree, and ribbon

NOTE: The official start time of this Hop is Friday, at 8:00 AM (EST). If you arrived early, please be patient as all the links may not be live yet.

This is a “circular blog hop” where the only beginning is wherever you start!! You will know you are at the end of your blog hop when you’ve come back to the blog you’ve started from! (It’s not a huge circle…so it should be easy to remember where you started.) The winner will be chosen from a mystery blog hostess that we don’t even know who it will be until the hop is over…so that’s why you’ll want to leave a comment on EVERY blog, so you don’t miss out!**To find out if you’ve won… you will be contacted by Pamela via e-mail (so be sure to leave it with your comment.) and you can also find out on Pamela’s blog after the blog hop ends on Mon, at 8:00 PM (EST).

Now, to continue the circle, you will need to hop on over to SHELLY'S BLOG!!!!

Stamps: FireCracker Designs by Pitchin' In (*LOVE* this set!)
Paper: GP 110, Not Quite Navy, Mellow Moss, Cosmo Cricket Material Girl DP
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Copics, rag, ribbon from Pink Hedgehog, sewing machine

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
Designer for FireCracker Designs by Pamela

How did this happen?

It all started with coloring the blue hair and then this card seemed to have a mind of its own! Ha!

I haven't been able to play the sketch challenge in a while. I was up late working on another card when this sketch was posted so hey, what's another hour without sleep!

Stamps: C.C.Designs Presents Sweet November Sparkle Thistleweed
Paper: Papertrey White, Tempting Turquoise, SU DP
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Tempting Turquoise
Accessories: D’Vine Swirl EF, Shimmerz Angel Wingz, Boho Blossoms Punch, Brad from SU

Enjoy!
Michelle

Game on Collage

Where have I been? I went to Copic Certifications this weekend!!! That cut into my stamping time but it was worth it. I had fun and came home with a list of things I want to try so watch out!

I used Artful INKables Game On set to make this cool collage card. (Do you know that set is only 5 bucks!!!) I was experimenting with some different techniques this time. I varied from my usual recipe here by only using 3 colors of ink (I usually use 4) and no swirls or vines of any kind this time. Still cool!

Stamps: Artful Inkables Game On
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Grey
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Basic Grey, Going Grey
Accessories: Slot punch, ribbon from Pink Hedgehog

Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Cage the Ebony

I made this for the Punk It Up challenge over at Club Anya. I've been wanting to case the CD cover from Cage the Elephant for several weeks and this was the perfect opportunity! Get the title now: Cage the Elephant CD inspiration + Ebony stamp!

Stamps: The Greeting Farm WS - Ebony
Paper: Papertrey White, Basic Grey
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Basic Grey
Accessories: Safety pin, Diamondplate Embossing Folder, Glitter Pen, Kaiserkraft rhinestones, Stamp-a-majig

Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Card Soldier Bookmark

I so love when I can think of something to do with a stamp set that most people wouldn't have thought of! It really stretches how many different ways you can use the same set. Today I used the playing card from Artful INKable's Game On set to create an Alice in Wonderland inspired Card Soldier bookmark.

All I did was stamp the cards image onto red cardstock. I cut out just the Ace. I punched some little circles for his hands and feet (and cut the bottoms off for his feet). I used my Cricut to cut some hearts in various sizes for his head and the top of the sword. The sword is just a sliver of silver cardstock. His arms are embroidery floss. I colored in his face and heart shape lips with Copics. Fun eh!

Stamps: Artful Inkables Game On
Paper: GP 110, Basic Black, Real Red, Silver from Mike’s, DP is My Minds Eye I think
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Basic Grey, Going Grey, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Copics, ¼” circle punch, Cricut and Doodle Charms Cartridge, Nesties, slot punch, ribbon from Pink Hedgehog

Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Some Serious Sunshine!

There is a serious amount of sunshine here! Need sunglasses? I got the idea for these rays of sunshine off a television commercial. The sketch is Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #TESC107.

Before I go on, be sure to check out the new wedding themed image from FireCracker Designs by Pamela HERE. You can preorder thru 4/11/10 and save $$!

Wanna see how I made those rays? I bet so....

First I took a piece of GP 110 cardstock and made a mark about every 1 inch along both sides and the top. Then I found the center along the bottom and made a mark. I used a ruler to draw a line from the bottom center to each of the marks along the top and sides. I then "scribbled" in every other space.

I cut out each of the "scribbled" areas. Notice that I didn't go ALL the way down to that center point when cutting or my mask would have fallen apart.

I placed this mask on a piece of barely banana cardstock and sponged Summer Sun into all those open spaces.

I remove the mask and have this sunshiney piece for my background.


Next I cut out the circle first and then the rectangle portion of the sketch using my Nesties. I kinda forgot about that green piece so I had to cut the rectangle a second time to get the green piece cut as well.

My images were colored with Copics and cut out. I cut the blue pieces. The flowers are punched DP with punched centers. All that's left to do now is adhere everything into place!

Stamps: FireCracker Designs by Pamela Pitchin’ In
Paper: Old Olive, Baja Breeze, Barely Banana, GP 110
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Summer Sun, Basic Grey Urban Prairie DP
Accessories: Circle & Rectangle Nesties, ¼” circle punch, EK Success Dotted Wave Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch

Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Reflection with a Digi Tutorial

Remember this piece?

Want to know how I created that reflection with a digi image? I wrote a tutorial for FireCracker Designs by Pamela and you can find that HERE.

(My original post including supply list was here)

Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Tip: Planning your cardstock colors

I store my scraps of cardstock by color. I often pull out many different color scraps (and make a big mess) when trying to work thru what colors I want to use on a project. I hate to clean up so its no fun to put all those scraps away properly.

The solution: I have a little plastic bag that I have a sample of each color of cardstock in. I write the name of the color on the cardstock to ensure I remember what it is. When I am working on a project, I can just pour the package out. I can pull out several colors and see what works best, and then I can quickly scoop all the samples up and put them right back in the bag.

I have also found several color combos that I wouldn't have thought of if they didn't end up next to each other in my sample pack.

The little sample pack of cardstock started waaaaaay back when I first started stamping. I didn't have the budget at that time to buy all the cardstock at once and I wasn't sure what colors I liked so I bought a litle sample pack off of ebay. I have added to this pack as new colors have come out. I used to carry this little pack to the store when shopping to help me match dp and accessories also.

Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Happy Easter 2010

Happy Easter! This card rocks if I do say so myself! I made this Easter card for my DS who loves skate boarding. He really would skateboard over an egg if he had the chance!

On my quest for 100 ways to make a sky (guess I am doing it)....I airbrushed this one with my Copics. The egg was cut with my Cricut. Ian was colored with Copics, cut out, and pieced into place. The grass was punched, sponged along the bottom, and them embossed.

There was an injury with this card. I dropped the punch on the instep of my foot! Ow!!! I was seeing stars for a few minutes. I have a mark on my foot but I am fine now.

Stamps: The Greeting Farm Skater Ian
Paper: Old Olive, American Crafts DP, GP 110
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Old Olive
Accessories: Cricut Doodlecharms, Martha Stewart Grass Punch, EK Success Binding Edge Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Cuttlebug Tiny Bubbles Embossing Folder

Enjoy!
Michelle B.

It's Almost Easter 2010

I'm way behind...I just started my Easter cards this morning! Ug! Luckily I only have to make a few. Yesterday, I received an Easter card and this cute bunny image from my friend Sue. Thanks Sue!!! I knew my daughter would love this image so I made this card for her and colored the egg in her favorite colors.

I tried doing the "sky" by fading the blue color outward from the image. I'm thinking about going on a quest for 100 ways to make a sky. Hmmmm....

PS: Hope you like the dp because I made got on a roll and made ALL my Easter cards using this dp! Ha!

Stamp: Unknown
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, American Crafts DP
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copics, Nesties

Enjoy!
Michelle

So Proud

(I am feeling MUCH better! Thanks so much for all your well wishes!)

It is my turn to host the challenge over at Artful Inkables. I choose to have everyone make a piece inspired by a CD or book cover. The complete details are here. There is still plenty of time to enter so I hope you'll play along for a chance to win stamps!

My inspiration piece is the CD Comfort Eagle by Cake (love that title song!!). I simply used my Cricut to cut out a star. I used the outside of the star as a mask, positioned it on my piece, and sponged Soft Sky ink into the star space. Next I stamped the peacock and the sentiment in Chocolate. Finally, I cut the letters out for "Proud" with my Cricut and positioned them across the top. I really love this layout and will use it again (think a guitar with "you rock", heart for wedding image, etc.).

Stamps: Artful Inkables Paisleys and Peacocks
Paper: Papertrey White, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Cricut George & Storybook

Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Mahalo

Mahalo - I had to look that up. It means "Thank you". And thanks to you for hanging tough with me here. I am still sick! I slept over 12 hours last night so maybe I'll do better today :)

I love the clean and simple style. It helps reign me in when my cards start getting to complicated. It is also great for a day like today when I need to keep it simple because I am out of time or out of energy. I am always amazed at how awesome a good CAS card can look and also how hard it can be sometimes! Ha!

Stamps: FireCracker Designs by Pamela Mahalo
Paper: Papertrey White
Ink: River Rock, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Rectangle Nesties

Enjoy!
Michelle B.