She Sold Me!

I absolutely LOVE this card designed and made by Dena Rekow!  I am so intrigued by it that I bought the set and I never, barely ever do that.  Seriously check out all the details you'll love it too.

Glitter is My #1

It's Tuesday and time for a fabulous challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments.  Check out the photo above at the glittered Christmas ornaments--they are covered in sparkle and that just makes me smile.  If you haven't noticed I love glitter, it is my number one all time favorite.  For the ornament on my card I added a single drop of Pacific Point Ink Refill on a scrap of Silver Glimmer Paper.  Then I spread the ink and covered the paper with an Aqua Painter filled with plain water.  I let the paper dry before I punched any pieces.  Of course my colors: Lucky Limeade, Melon Mambo,and Pacific Point are totally based on the inspiration photo.  What would you create using this picture as your inspiration?  Show it off at Hand Stamped Sentiments!

So Shelli Creative Challenge

This month over at So Shelli the Creative Challenge is to share holiday table decoration projects.  Wahoo that's right up my alley!  She said we could do name cards, place settings, table decorations. . . whatever we want to share--just one project or an entire table ensemble.  Here's the deal, I wanted to participate, but I also wanted a second challenge and that was to use what I have.  Many times we think we have to go out and shop or make new, but that is not what I did.  I pulled from things I have made recently.  So scroll down to see what I pulled together for a festive Be of Good Cheer table design.

I started with seven sheets of paper for added color and interest.  I included a mix of First Edition and Be of Good Cheer.

For softness and even more texture I made a no fuss runner with the Scalloped Edged Tulle Ribbon, in all three colors of course.  (If you have it use it!)

I had a tree which I decorated with a collection of ornaments made using all Stampin' Up! products for the Santa Clara Scrapbook Expo.  I re-displayed the tree at my "Only Ornaments" class last month so in the spirit of "use what I have" I pulled them all off the tree and added them to the center of my table.

I based the tablescape with a pair of candle sticks and three Mason Jars to give me some levels.  On each of those I added one of my flower poofs.  (These flowers were made for the Pleasanton Scrapbook Expo).  I used lots of layers of the packing paper from a SU! order and First Edition DSP cut in the Big Shot with the Scallop Circle Bigz Die.  I then placed a few more at table level.  To fill the rest of the table I added my stash of Designer Rosette ornaments.  They add brilliant color, pattern, and dimension.

In each of the flower poofs I nested a Red Glimmer Paper bird cut from the Elegant Bird Bigz Die.  I only have eight of the birds, so in the empty nests I tucked the Felt Ornaments because the colors were a perfect match and again, if you have it use it!

My favorite touch to the table design is that inside the Mason jars I added a battery operated tealight along with a Greetings of the Season two-sided apothecary label.  A few more tealights in short glass holders add a pop of glow and glisten.  Come Christmas dinner I will use real candles in the holders as I have a love hate relationship with fake tealights.  There are times when they are necessary and times when they should be left out.

A gorgeous ornament simply placed at each place setting continues the decor and make for a festive party favor for everyone.  I posted this favor a few weeks back, here is the link to learn a bit more.

Happy Holiday planning and decorating from SeeingInkSpots.

Merry Christmas,

four fold

I have said it before and it's this..."it's Tuesday and you know what that means, another Hand Stamped Sentiments challenge."  And what a cool challenge it is it's Fancy Folds.  A cool fold that I like to pull out of my bag of tricks every now and again is what I call the card board box fold or the four fold.

Here is how simple it is:

1.  Cut four squares any size.  I used the Scallop Square Bigz Die.

2.  Fold each square in half, open it up, and fold it in half the opposite direction.

3.  Adhere the four squares together as shown in the photo below.

4.  Fold the four halves inward and close as you would a card board box.

Bottom view of how to adhere the four squares together.

Open view.

All supplies are from Stampin' Up!

• Stamps: More Merry Messages
• Inks: Cherry Cobbler & Gumball Green Stampin' Write Markers, Whisper White Ink Pad
• Paper: Be of Good Cheer DSP, Cherry Cobbler, Gumball Green, & Very Vanilla Card Stock, Silver Glimmer Paper
• Accessories: Scallop Square Bigz Die, 1 1/4" Scallop Circle, 1" Circle, 3/4" Circle Punches, & Merry Minis Punch Pack, Basic Rhinestones, Linen Thread, Stampin' Dimensionals, & Dazzling Diamonds Glitter

Vintage Chic for Pink Paper Bakery

Happy Monday and welcome to my SeeingInkSpots blog.  I am totally thrilled to be sharing with you all today that I am a guest blogger at a fabulous paper crafting site called Pink Paper Bakery.  With the holidays quickly approaching I thought I would share a card I made using one of my all-time favorite stamp sets Greeting Card Kids.  Why is this set so appealing to me?  Because I can't enough of anything vintage, antique, and retro.

For the focal point of this card I pulled out my Aqua Painter and several of my "go to" ink pad colors: Crumb Cake, Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery, and Jet Black Staz On.  I first stamped the image twice on Very Vanilla card stock with Staz On and let them dry thoroughly.  Then I gave each of the ink pads a squeeze to collect ink in the lid.  From that I picked up the ink with an Aqua Painter to watercolor the images.  

Once they were dry I punched one of the images out using a 2 1/2" Circle Punch and from the second image I detail cut the girl out to include her face, hat (not the pom pom), scarf, and coat (minus the left arm).  On the 2 1/2" circle piece and with a clean Aqua Painter I painted a halo of water around the girl and the tree.  While the water was still wet I gently sponged/dabbed Crumb Cake ink to create a unique aged look (that's my favorite step).  I repeated that step to create a floor and define the space.  Once dry I added the detail cut layer with Stampin' Dimensionals to the circle punched layer.

The greeting comes from the stamp set Bells and Boughs and was stamped on Very Vanilla with Jet Black Staz On.  I fishtailed and sponged the piece with Crumb Cake ink and then curled and distressed the banner with a bone folder. 

Some of the finishing touches include Basic Pearls and punched snowflakes, but I have to say I started the entire card with the Framed Tulip TIEF.  Of course I pre-inked the folder before I ran it through my Big Shot to give it lots more interest.  I also delicately splattered the card base with my Color Spritzer Tool again for more depth and interest.

I tied four loops of Crumb Cake Seam Binding which I secured with a hat pin and Linen Thread tied in a shoestring bow.  Before I added the bow to the card I shaped it by getting it damp with water.  Once the entire card was assembled I spritzed it with hair spray and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter.  The hair spray step is not only great for adhering a dusting of glitter, but it stiffens the seam binding--it's magic.

My hope is that you have enjoyed learning a bit more about my method of achieving a vintage style.

Smiles and Happy Holiday Craftin', Elizabeth

Another Favor

 

Today is the final Saturday of Card "Create"tions at Create with Connie and Mary.  Each of the designers have made a simple favor with the stamp set they featured this week over at the subscription site.  It's amazing how fast this mini-series has gone by, but it has surely been fun and inspirational.

My project came together rather quick.  I cut three pieces of Gumball Green from the Floral Framelits and then used a smaller Floral Framelit to cut out the center.  Then I stamped the flourish image from Open Sleigh with Gumball Green all over each cut piece.  It is very subtle but in person it really adds some nice depth.  I spritzed each layer with rubbing alcohol mixed with a few drops of Shimmer Paint and scrunched the pieces all up.  I opened them up and glued them together to form my gorgeous layered wreath ornament.  The images for the banner are also from the Open Sleigh set and I ran a Two-Way Glue Pen around the banner edges to add some Dazzling Diamonds Glitter.  A bow, more glitter, and Basic Rhinestones make the ornament totally fabulous.  The super nice thing about this quick and easy project is it doubles as an over-the-top gift tag.

pink snowflake

Today is Tuesday and you know what that means?  That's right, a new challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments.  This week is a theme challenge perfect for the chill in the air.  We are all creating projects to include snowflakes!  I pulled out the Snow Flury Bigz Die and cut a sweet pink snowflake.  I love it.  I also preinked the Snowflakes TIEF before I ran it through the Big Shot to add some visual depth.

The "Merry Christmas" greeting image is from the stamp set Open Sliegh and I think it fits the card perfectly.  Once I finished putting everything together I pulled out hair spray and glitter to add a dusting of glitz.  I always keep a can of Aqua Net hair spray on hand because it's the perfect way to adhere glitter to cards and things.  I call it the spray sprinkle spray step.  I should also say I put my Dazzling Diamonds in a salt shaker.

Triple Wrapper Package

Hello and greetings to SeeingInkSpots and our second Saturday special post for Card "Create"tions at Create with Connie and Mary.  For this Saturday and the next Saturday each of the designers on the "Create"tions team will be sharing a 3-D/party favor featuring the stamp set that they worked with during the week.  This past week I designed three sweet cards using the Scentsational Seasons stamp set. 

For my 3-D/party favor I have made a triple candy wrapper package.  The super cool thing about this is that it's ready to go for whatever little treasures I find.  Because I kept all the decorating around the middle the ends of the wrappers are easy enough to pop open and fill!  Cool huh?

Want to be a part of Card "Create"tions?  It's never too late.  These details include:

• EXCLUSIVE card designs to our subscription which won't be shown anywhere else. 
• 3 week mini-edition that is all about cards, October 28 - November 17
• Each designer will choose a holiday or winter set each week and make 3 different cards using that one set.
• Total of 45 unique card ideas from 15 different sets. 
• Each card set includes a printable supply list with card measurements and photos.
• Perfect for your classes and stamp camps or to make for your own holiday cards!
• AND...as I said about on Saturdays, each designer will be sharing a little 3D favor that matches the holiday or winter set they chose that week.

secret ingredients

The color combination challenge for this week at Hand Stamped Sentiments sounds just like the secret ingredients of a tv cooking show.  You know on those shows when the open a mystery basket and find four mismatched items they must include in their dish that the chefs have to be slightly perplexed.  Well that is not this case with these ingredients: Old Olive, More Mustard, Early Espresso, and Elegant Eggplant.  Not only could I imagine a great and tasty dish made by a skilled chef, but for me as a stamper these tasty colors combine with ease and are perfect for the fall season.

I really had fun putting this card together.  At first I had no idea what to do except for which colors to use, so I pulled out one of my Stampin' Success Magazines and found a cool layout to follow.  Once I found a layout that appealed to me I had to match that with just the right stamp set.  I looked through my stamp cabinet and decided to ink up a brand new set that I received last month called Take Care.  Isn't it a sweet set and totally versatile?  My favorite part of the card is the nest.  I inked up the image with More Mustard then Old Olive and then Early Espresso markers and stamped it on vellum card stock.  Once it was totally dry I cut the image out and then used the fine end of a stylus to trace the lines and create some neat texture.  FYI the espresso houndstooth paper is from the Festival of Prints stack.  That is a must have pack of patterned paper.

Pretty Paper Favor

Welcome to SeeingInkSpots and our first Saturday special post for Card "Create"tions at Create with Connie and Mary.  For today and the next two Saturdays each of the designers on the "Create"tions team will be sharing a party favor featuring the stamp set that they worked with during the week.  This past week I designed three gorgeous cards using the Christmas Lodge stamp set.  I just love that set because it's a perfectly balanced package of great images.  You get two beautiful focal images, a couple small background pieces, and two AMAZING greeting stamps.

For my favor I have made a pretty paper ornament with a simple greeting tag/banner.  I think these make great take away gifts for party goers who come to your home or wrap it up and take as a hostess gift to your holiday gatherings.  (Don't you just love the upside down First Edition?  I was being so careful to keep them all the same direction and then I hot glued the bow on the wrong end!  Urgh!!)

I made my honeycomb sphere ornament with 12 Red Glimmer Paper 3 1/2" circles and 12 First Edition 3 1/2" circles.  Each circle is first folded in half.  Working Red Glimmer then First Edition each half is glued to the next.  To make the sphere symmetrical I found it worked best to glue pairs, then glue the pairs to make quarters, then the quarters to make halves and so on.  

To create the honeycomb effect the top and bottom of the Red Glimmer sections are hot glued together.  Then the middle, or equator, of the First Edition is hot glued together.  To give the Cherry Cobbler Tulle Ribbon some volume and shape I sprayed the tied bow with Aqua Net Hair Spray and then sprinkled Dazzling Diamonds glitter all over.  To secure the glitter a second coat of the hair spray is needed.  Two Way Glue was added to the tag to adhere the glitter and make it extra special.

Want to make one of these pretty paper honeycomb ornaments?  Sign up for my Only Ornaments Class November 8th and 9th in San Jose CA.

Want to be a part of Card "Create"tions?  It's never too late.  These details include:

• EXCLUSIVE card designs to our subscription which won't be shown anywhere else. 
• 3 week mini-edition that is all about cards, October 28 - November 17
• Each designer will choose a holiday or winter set each week and make 3 different cards using that one set.
• Total of 45 unique card ideas from 15 different sets. 
• Each card set includes a printable supply list with card measurements and photos.
• Perfect for your classes and stamp camps or to make for your own holiday cards!
• AND...as I said about on Saturdays, each designer will be sharing a little 3D favor that matches the holiday or winter set they chose that week.