Monday, April 27, 2009

Cheep Talk Scenes

For technique club this month, I decided to try emboss resist a la Michelle Zindorff (if you've never seen her brayering style, check it out! She's amazing). So here's my own twist using the retro sets "Cheep Talk" and "Trendy Trees."

Use Versamark (pad or marker) on your stamps, then either color with your markers or dip in a classic stamp pad. Stamp your image, then sprinkle on clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool. In order, I did the branch, birds, then trees. Do one tree at a time to get the layered effect. Lastly, is the the background scene. In the top card, I used sponges and torn paper to create the hills (kiwi kiss, old olive and creamy caramel for shadow), then did the sky (bashful blue with a little yoyo yellow over it). You can go all over the embossed images with ink because after you're done with the background, you can just take a clean cloth and wipe the ink off the images. To add highlights I used a white paint pen over the embossed images (I tried a white gel pen but it didn't work on embossing very well). Finally, I sponged brilliant blue all around the edge of the card.


In the second card (the first one I tried, actually), I used a brayer in the background using Creamy Caramel for the "ground" and Baja Breeze for the "sky." I didn't really like it so after making the other card, I came back to this and added the hills. It made the Creamy Caramel look like a beach so I added white gel pen for "sea foam" and viola--the sky became the ocean instead.
I really love this technique because it allows you to make real scenes that look like paintings (awesome for people like me who just WISH they could paint!). It is more time consuming and detailed of course, but the results for a very special card (maybe even worth framing!) are well worth it.

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Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Mother's Day Mini-Album

I made this Accordian Mini-Album as a sample for a Mother's Day gift class I'm having May 1 (if you're local to DC--there are still a few spots left!). I learned how to make it at my local Stampin' Up! group's recent meeting. I also got the idea for the butterfly from that meeting too. You simply wrap a ribbon around the butterfly (made from SU!'s Butterfly Die), add Sticky Strip and ribbon.

If you email me, I can send you a file with the instructions from my meeting but I'm not sure if I should post them directly on here. Basically, you'll need a Large Scallop Die and a Big Shot.

To decorate the album, I used Bella Rose Designer Paper, Red Riding Hood
and Kiwi Kiss 12 x 12 cardstock. The stamps are from a few different sets, including: All Holidays, Enjoy the Moment, Stitched Exotics, God's Blessings and Fifth Avenue Floral. (The sentiment under the first photo and after "Enjoy" is: "the little things" with a pic of my kids). I was really pleased with the way it all came together as a special Mother's Day gift!


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Thursday, April 9, 2009

Sports Mini-Coaster Album

My brain's a bit mushy right now--I've been organizing our church & school's Silent Auction & I don't know if I'm coming or going. So forgive me for not being very specific about this latest project. It just so happens that I made it for the Sports-themed basket my son's class is donating to the auction.

I housed the little album, made from Outback Steakhouse coasters, in this ancient box. I had it in my closet and the label on it had font from the 1960s I think. Crazy. So, just like last post--finally a use for it! I didn't have to distress it or anything cuz it's legitimately OLD. I just wrapped some paper around it from an old Simply Scrappin' kit. How 'bout that Jumbo Grommet from the new mini-catty?

I used the Crop-a-Dile, Jumbo Eyelets and some office store D-rings to make the album. The paper on the coasters are all from retired Simply Scrappin' kits. This is the cover--thank goodness for the Stamp-a-ma-jig for the All in the Family & Accessories stamp sets!

I also used a bunch of SU! sports stamps & the retired Starstruck in the album too. The sports brads are from Around the Block. I made the pages so that you could stand the album up and display either side.
































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