Sunday, October 28, 2018

Monday Montage Takeout Treat Boxes



Cheers and hello to our Monday Montage Blog Hop.  Today I am sharing a pairing of Takeout Treat Boxes.  These cuties are decked out in Real Red and Garden Green and couldn't be more classic.
Adorned with hearts, holly, ribbon, and twine these boxes are just the right size to fill with one or two fancy dipped chocolates or truffles.


It's so simple to add a boxwood wreath as a handle to the box.  First, punch 1/16" holes in the two narrower sides before assembling the side tabs.  Second, open and shape wreath into an arch then insert ends into the holes.  Insert each side just past the first leaf and you're done.  The leaf will keep the wreath from coming out.



Your next stop along the hop is with Julie Warnick.  I wonder what she has been up to lately?
Or, you can click back to visit with Dani.



Monday Montage Hoppers

Retro Christmas Deer Decor


Take these products to make the most fun banner of the season.  Follow below and check it all out.


As a member of the Stampin' Up! 2018 Artisan Design Team I have had the honor to create for Stampin' Up!'s Corporate Blog.  The following is a post that was shared earlier this week on their website and Facebook Page.
...

I have always been fascinated by the stylings of the 50s and 60s, especially Christmas decorations in hues of pink, silver, white, and aqua.  Shiny Bright ornaments, tinsel, glass shard glitters, vintage lights, and foil trees, oh how they make me feel nostalgic and bring up a flood of happy holiday memories.



I found the perfect pairing of Stampin’ Up! products to make a Christmas garland that is both reminiscent and fashionable while being feminine and whimsical.  With the Calligraphy Essentials Project Kit (146857) as a base for my garland I created this decor piece which includes deer and flourishes from the Detailed Deer Thinlits (item 147915) and both the stamps and thinlits from the Merry Christmas To All Bundle (item 149952).  


An unexpected addition to this Christmas garland is the Garden Impressions 6” x 6” Designer Series Paper (item 146289).  I found four papers in the pack to compliment the project kit and made rosettes using the Simply Scored Scoring Tool (item 122334).  I scored the DSP every 1/4” and then cut the scored paper into three 1 3/4” x 6” strips to form the rosettes.


I used the Sponge Brayer (item 141714) and Lovely Lipstick Classic Ink Pad (item 147140) to add color to the Sparkle Glimmer Paper (item 146957) die cut greetings.  Smaller coordinating greetings stamped on Whisper White Thick Cardstock (item 140272) with Lovely Lipstick and Shaded Spruce Classic Inks (item 147088) were then added to finish each of the rosettes.


Stringing this garland includes a slight variation, from other garlands, which results in a box pleat look.  I followed the pattern in the photo below to run the Tranquil Tide 1/4” Velvet Ribbon (item 147802) through the punched holes.  Lastly I tied shoestring bows with Silver and Petal Pink Baker’s Twine (item 146288) in the centers of the velvet ribbon.


There are four complete sets of four different card base and envelope designs in the Calligraphy Essentials Project Kit.  This kit can easily be divided for a class or can make four gifts for three of your best friends and you!  With the last card base I used the same elements as the garland to make a gift tag which will be perfect for packaging and giving a garland this holiday season to my Stampin’ Best Friends.


I wish you all delightful season of hand crafting, gift making, and stampin’ up all kinds of awesomeness.  From me to you “have a wonderful Merry Christmas.”


Elizabeth Price
Artisan Design Team 2018



Saturday, October 27, 2018

Stampin' Creative Favorite of the Season Blog Hop


What a total thrill and honor it is to be a guest blogger with the Stampin' Creative Design Team.  I would like to give them a shout out to say "thanks to her for this fun opportunity."  Their theme for this month's hop is "Favorite of the Season" and I have lots of favorites at this time of year.


For this season of holiday crafting one of my most loved product is the White Velvet Paper from the Snowfall Showcase.  Wowzers, the paper is beautiful as well as versatile.  I love to brayer it with color and emboss it.  For this card I used the Sponge Brayer to add an ombre of Coastal Cabana and Melon Mambo Ink.  Next, I used the Tufted Dynamic TIEF to add some depth; this step brings the velvet to life and you can really see all the soft fuzziness of the paper.


My next two favorites right now I use equally, they are the Dashing Deer Thinlits Dies layered with the Merry Christmas Thinlits Dies.  For this bright themed card I was looking for some major contrast, so I cut the "holiday" from Black Foil Paper. 

For my last favorite of the season and any other season, even summer, I incorporated sparkle with die cuts of Silver Shimmer Paper.  But for me the star of this card's show is the red velvet leaping deer.  Yes, you have to try brayering a White Velvet Paper deer with any red shade of ink.  I used Poppy Parade and gave the deer a thorough covering and blending of ink to achieve a bright and absolutely perfect red velvet deer.


I have to give a shout out to the entire Stampin' Creative Design Team and a thank you to them all for this fun opportunity to stamp and share with them this month.  Many happy crafting moments to you all and a Merry Christmas this year.


Friday, October 26, 2018

#TGIF183 Tape, Twine, Tags and Tidings

Hands down my MOST used and favorite embellishment to include on cards is bakers twine!  Our challenge this week is a product spotlight featuring twine and tape.  Check out what the design team has created for this week and feel inspired to join us at #TGIF183.


On page 24 of the Holiday Catalog you will find the Tags and Tidings Bundle (item 149986).  These 15 tiny tags whip up fast and easy thanks to the brilliant stamp and thinlit coordination--thanks SU! Also on page 24 is a fashionable pack of washi tape that perfectly matches the gift giving season. The Suite Season Washi Tape (item 148079) offers five designs in Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Real Red, and foil colors in copper, gold, and silver.


My card base is one of the Silver Edged Cards from the card and envelope pack in the Holiday Catalog.  I love the silver pack and think it is a quick method to add lots of class to any card.  A perfect pairing with the silver edged card is the Silver and White Baker's Twine.  You can find the twine in the Annual Catalog.  It was just what I needed to string the mini tags in a vertical garland.



Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Happy Harvest Blessings


The Country Home stamp set is a blast to stamp and create with AND the Tin Tile Dynamic TIEF is da bomb dot com!!!  That folder makes any paper pop with all kinds of gorgeousness.  These two products were just the right fit for my mood and this sketch challenge hosted by Hand Stamped Sentiments.  Do pop over to our site and check out all the projects featuring this layout, HSS #301, and feel free to play along with us, we would love to see what you make.


Before I ran the Whisper White cardstock through my Big Shot and the Tin Tile folder I spritzed it with a mixture of rubbing alcohol and Frost White Shimmer Paint.  When it comes out it's drop dead gorgeous.  I'm telling you if I could put it all over my walls or ceilings I would.

To fit the sketch I cut the Chicken Wire Elements with one of the larger circles from the Layering Circles Framelits and then I cut a smaller Whisper White Stitched Shapes circle and speckled it with a Crumb Cake Stampin' Write Marker.  The speckling is a subtle touch, but the white needed to be knocked down and not be so bright.  All of the stamped images were colored with a collection of light and dark Stampin' Blends in; Old Olive, Cajun Craze, Smokey Slate, and the Color Lifter.


Thursday, October 18, 2018

Country Lane Stampin' Up! Artisan Blog Hop



I would like to welcome you to Seeing Inkspots and our October Country Lane Artisan Blog Hop.  It's a good chance you arrived here from Connie Collin's Blog where you saw her stunning stampin' style and something super dimensional.  Now, I have the chance to share with you some projects made using the gorgeous stamps and accessories from the Country Lane Suite.  I have created a crazy bead bracelet and packaged it in a Baker's Box ready to give to one of my friends and I also made a couple cards featuring faux "milk painted" details.


My crazy beads were made by simply scoring, folding, and rolling Country Lane DSP.  I added jump rings to each rolled bead to be able to attach them to a chain link bracelet.  I purchased both from a big box craft store.

To make the beads:
1.  Cut 1' x 6" pieces of DSP.  Note, the small beads are made with one strip and the larger beads are created with three strips end to end.
2.  Score each strip of DSP at 1/4", 1/2", and 3/4".
3.  Fold the strips in half and then fold the two outer sides inward.
4.  Use the Take Your Pick Tool to soften and help curl the paper.
5.  Use Multi-purpose Liquid Glue to adhere the rolled paper strips.
6.  Before glueing the very end, slip in a jump ring and then finish glueing the rolled paper.


I wanted to package my finished bracelet in a special way and one of the new Baker's Boxes was perfect for my idea.  I grabbed a Sponge Brayer, Crushed Curry Ink, and one of the Chicken Wire Elements to use as a stencil to decorate the outside of my box. 


With some Blackberry Bliss Cardstock, Country Lane DSP, and Galvanized Metallic Paper I created a custom insert to give the inside of the box a false bottom.  The most gorgeous touch for this is the texture.  I ran the Galvanized Metallic Paper through the Big Shot with the Tin Tile Dynamic TIEF.


Here is a closer look at the inside of the box and the special belly band handle and tag.


To make the belly band handle:
1.  Cut (2) 2 1/2" x 12" strips  of Country Lane DSP and glue the ends to make one extra long strip
2.  Cut (2) 1 3/4" x 12" strips of Country Lane DSP to coordinate with the first.  Glue the ends to make one extra long strip and glue on top of the first strip.
3.  Fold the long layered strip around the box to form the belly band handle. 
4.  Remove folded strip from box and crisp up the folds then glue the handle ends together.
5.  Use Layering Circles Framelits to cut a circle in the handle.
6.  Cut (2) rings from complementing Country Lane DSP using the Layering Circles Framelits and adhere to each side of the handle.
7.  Add 1/2 circles of Country Lane DSP to the top of each side of the handle.
8.  Crinkle (2) of the Chicken Wire Elements to form a bow for each side of the handle.
9.  Use the Leaf Punch to make Old Olive leaves and tuck under circle and adhere.


Using many of the same elements I had some fun making some Country Home cards.  This first one, and the tag on the baker's box is colored with a "faux milk paint" technique.

Tips for "faux milk painting":
1.  Stamp image using Jet Black Stazon Ink and a Stamparatus.  DO NOT REMOVE STAMPED PAPER FROM STAMPARATUS.
2.  Use an Aquapainter to watercolor the stamped image with White Craft Ink.
3.  When the watercolor is dry restamp the image with more Jet Black Stazon Ink.
4.  Leave image all white or color the white with Watercolor Pencils.


Thank you for allowing me a few moments to share some of my latest creations.  Now it's time to get ready for your next stop along the hop with Emma Goddard.  She has stamped up some beautiful things with the Country Lane Suite that will surely impress and inspire you.


2018 Artisan Design Team


Bracelet and Box Product List 
Country Home Stamp Set | Country Lane DSP | Galvanized Metallic Paper
Whisper White Cardstock | Old Olive Cardstock | Blackberry Bliss Cardstock
Jet Black Stazon Ink | Blackberry Bliss Ink | Old Olive Ink | White Craft Ink
Everyday Label Punch | Leaf Punch | Layering Circles Framelits | Aquapainter
Sponge Brayer | Simply Scored | Take Your Pick Tool | Gold Glimmer Paper
Baker's Boxes | Chicken Wire Elements | Tin Tile Dynamic TIEF
3/16" Braided Linen Trim | Old Olive 1/8" Sheer Ribbon

1st Card Product List
Country Home Stamp Set | Country Lane DSP | Galvanized Metallic Paper
Jet Black Stazon Ink | White Craft Ink | Aquapainter | Watercolor Pencils
Thick Whisper White Cardstock | Cajun Craze Cardstock | Blackberry Bliss Cardstock
Stitched Shapes Framelits | Gold Glimmer Paper | Chicken Wire Elements
Tin Tile Dynamic TIEF | Linen Thread | Stampin' Dimensionals

2nd Card Product List
Country Home Stamp Set | Country Lane DSP | Thick Whisper White Cardstock
Crushed Curry Cardstock | Early Espresso Ink | Blackberry Bliss Ink
Gold Glimmer Paper Leaf Punch | Stitched Shapes Framelits
 Tin Tile Dynamic TIEF | 3/16" Braided Linen Trim | Stampin' Dimensionals







Sunday, October 14, 2018

More Pink and Blue For Monday Montage #126



I just couldn't resist making a few more pink and blue Christmas cards and things.  The star of the show for these projects is the Snowfall Thinlits.  They are a set of dies jam packed with all kinds of awesomeness.  In combination with the Velvet White Paper and Snowflake Trinkets the dies are charming and a delight to work with.


The focal elements of this first card are layered on a piece of embossed White Velvet Paper.  White you asked?  Yes, it started white and then a blended Balmy Blue and Powder Pink onto the paper with a sponge brayer.  Once I had the color blended to my liking I embossed it with the Swirls and Curls TIEF.  This paper takes the ink so easily and it embosses like a dream.


Check out this adorable Takeout Treat Box.  I love it's handle.  I simply punched two tiny holes on each side and inserted one of the Frosted Boxwood Wreaths.  All the cut layers come from the Takeout Treat Thinlits Set.  The snowflake, white is cut from White Velvet Paper, is another of the Snowfall Thinlits shapes.  Cute stuff don't cha think?


I used papers from the Twinkle Twinkle DSP for the tiny box above and the tags below.  Some white heat embossing, cut snowflakes, twine tied around ribbon, and epoxy droplets are included on both tags.  In fact both tags are the same layout/format.  I like to make two at a time--I case myself when making tags because I always seem to need more tags.


Thanks for hanging out with me for this posting of Monday Montage.  Your next stop along the hop is with Julie Warnick unless you are working in reverse you will be visiting Dani Dziama.  Enjoy!

to Dani
to Julie
Monday Montage Blog Roll