Saturday, May 30, 2020

A Kit In Color Alternatives


I Up!STYLED a project using pieces and stamps from this month's Paper Pumpkin Kit called A Kit In Color.  I used two of the striped card bases to make this notecard pouch and a second card (down below you can see it).  I have diagrams of how to cut, score, and assemble this pouch.  When it's finished it will fit 2-3 notecards and envelopes.








Here are a couple more alternative aka Up!STYLED cards I made using the kit.  The pocket card is made using the leftovers from the pouch I made up above.



This "hey" card is totally cased and inspired by Dawn Olchefske.  I loved her clever positioning of the cloud and how it opens like a gate fold.


Thursday, May 28, 2020

A Paper Pumpkin Thing


Welcome to A Paper Pumpkin Thing Blog Hop.  This month's A Kit In Color is cheerful, spunky, modern, and full of fabulous design elements.


I grabbed a few extra items and then sat down to create some fun.  On my desk I had my paper trimmer/scorer, scissors, a few sheets of Whisper White, Basic Black, Just Jade, and Misty Moonlight cardstock.  I also grabbed my Stamparatus and a few ink pads, Crushed Curry, Pretty Peacock, and Highland Heather.  For a few projects I added Basic Rhinestones and new Misty Moonlight Ribbon.


For this first card I changed the fold and then layered a panel of Whisper White cardstock inside the card to cover the original scoreline.  For the belly band I cut a strip of Just Jade cardtstock to wrap around the card.  The "happy day" greeting is stamped with Pretty Peacock and a Stamparatus.  I stamped the greeting several times to get a solid heavy coverage of dark teal ink.


This pouch pack holds three of the Purple Posy notecards and envelopes.  To make the pouch I used two of the Just Jade card bases.  For step by step instructions click here.


For this easel card I included a few basics.  There is a panel of Basic Black and three Basic Rhinestones.  You are wondering why a calendar now?  I ordered them for class the very beginning of this year and when they finally arrived my stamp classes were derailed by Covid.

Another thing to note about this card is the greeting.  I didn't want to fuss with masking to stamp one word on one cloud and others on the second cloud, so I cut the stamp apart.


On the middle "hey" card below I used the leftovers from the notecard pouch pack for the diagonal piece.  Using the Stamparatus I did some ink blending to play up the colors and rainbows in the kit. For all three of these cards I did some fussy cutting of the "hey" greeting.  I know some don't like to fussy cut, but I find the more I do it the better I get AND I believe the finished look is worth it.



I felt the In the Tropics Dies combined perfectly with this kit.  The new Bumblebee and Just Jade colors combine to make a vivid pineapple and the small tropical style flowers play off the puffy enamel elements in the kit.

People have asked about the fringe I have made in the past and on this gift bag.  They want to know how to make it.  Here's what I do:
  • Cut off a piece of tissue from the kit and fold it in half both directions.
  • Cut narrow strips one after another across the fold stopping about 1/4" before the edge. Repeat cutting the narrow strips lengthwise down your entire folded piece.
  • Once all the strips are cut I open it up flat to one layer then refold it in half. 
  • Add a bit of glue to hold the halves together, then add it to your project.  Note, for this bag there are two layers of fringe.


Thanks for hopping along with all of us this month for A Kit In Color.


Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Hand Stamped Sentiments Inspiration



This floral themed style board not only inspired my citrusy color palette, but it also inspired my bright white and yellow daisies.  If you click over to Hand Stamped Sentiments you can see the entire Team's take on this early summer inspiration challenge.

Using stamps from this month's A Kit In Color I made an unconventional rainbow to peek through some fancy daisy clouds.  You heard that right, daisy clouds!  Aren't they fun?  The daisy petals were punched using two different sized Daisy Punches and the fuzzy Pineapple Punch centers were cut using the Poppy Monents Dies.


Another set of dies I used were the Rectangle Stitched Dies.  I framed the white embossed greeting with one of the smaller dies that seemed to perfectly fit the image.  For the Flirty Flamingo frame I used two dies which I aligned just right and then cut at the same time.  And, I even used one of the dies to make my photo corner.  To make the corner I cut it the same way as a frame and then I placed the die on a 45 degree angle and ran it through a second time to cut the diagonal side.  

I love the softness and simple blending of the rainbow.  To get that effect I stamped and then stamped repeatedly without reinking.  I just barely moved the image and stamped again and again until I had stamped off all the ink.  I did this same process with each color.  Speaking of color, I used Flirty Flamingo, Pineapple Punch, and Granny Apple.





Sunday, May 24, 2020

It Happens


This image and classic scene from Forrest Gump sprang to my mind as I unpacked my Paper Pumpkin Kit.  Why?  The stamps in my kit were upside down and I saw a smiley face ;0)
While running across the country Forrest met a poor t-shirt salesman who wanted to put Forrest's face on a t-shirt, but he couldn't draw that well and he didn't have a camera. Just then I truck drove by and splashed Forrest with mud, so he wiped his face on a yellow t-shirt.  As he handed the t-shirt to the salesman he said "have a nice day."

We know who really designed the iconic smiley face--Harvey Ball did.   An authentic Harvey Ball smiley face is identified with narrow oval eyes, one larger than the other, and an arching smile "almost like a Mona Lisa Mouth."

Isn't it amazing how the bright yellow simple design of the smiley face has evolved into our language of emoticons today.  And then you have the evolution of emojis to personalized bitmojis and avatars. This week Facebook was flooded with countless avatars.  I too fell in the trap and made mine, but I also made this.



to Dani
to Julie

Monday Montage Hoppers


Friday, May 22, 2020

#TGIF265 Travel Themes


How do you travel?  Planes, trains, automobiles, air balloons, blimps, boats, horse, motorcycle... Pull out your preferred mode of transportation stamps or dies that fit our theme and craft along with us at #TGIF265.



For my take on this travel themed challenge I grabbed my favorite car image.  With White Embossing Powder I embossed a piece of Watercolor Paper and then loaded it up with layers of Blueberry Bushel and Gorgeous Grape ink with an Aquapainter.


While the car is the focal element, the background is my favorite detail for this card.  On a panel of Pacific Point, a color I don't use too often, I stamped the "best dad" image with Blueberry Bushel and the oil spots with Pacific Point.  Next, I glued the winged die cut frames around the "best dads" and last I embossed the entire piece with the Subtle 3D Folder.  Splattters in blueberry and white were the finishing touch for the background.




Sunday, May 17, 2020

May's TECHNIQUE TIME!

If you had the opportunity to create along with me at this month's TECHNIQUE TIME! Stamp Class in the Zoom Room, you made a Double-Diamond Pop Up card.  My class included precut supplies and accessories to make this interactive card.  Kits were available by mail or for socially distanced porch pick up.


Prior to my class, I had participants do a bit of homework.  They were instructed to fussy/detail cut the birds and flowers that were found in their kits.  Also on the supply list was a black ink pad and any greeting images they wanted.  With the variety of birds and flowers, which were cut from the Bird Ballad DSP, I love how each card is the same, but not.  And, with the variety of greeting images used everybody's card had it's own signature.

Stamping virtually is totally awesome.  It was fantastic to meet up with friends near and those who have moved too far to come to my TECHNIQUE TIME! Stamp Class.  I am looking forward to next month's stamp class AND if you want to join in the fun contact me at ebeth9267@hotmail.com.


At the end of the class I emailed a PDF of close up photos of all the class projects and photo instructions for recreating the Double-Diamond Pop Up Card.  I thought it would be smart for me to share the instructions with you too.




Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Hand Stamped Soft Subtle Tones


Check out these soft subtle hues from our latest color challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments.  We are mixing it up with Rococo Rose, Seaside Spray, and Mint Macaron.  I decided to add a couple neutrals by including Whisper White, Sahara Sand, and Basic Grey.


I have to admit that this card and these colors remind me of bedsheets from the 1980s.  It all looks like a classic Waverly print.  I guess that could be good or maybe not it just depends on your passion.  Me personally I like things a bit bolder in color and spunkier, though soft palettes like this one does have it's time and place.


This card is  a "puffy" card made up of layers and a series of special folds.  I created this double-sided accordion fold card after being inspired by a fellow card making friend so, I call this the Cindy Cpecial.  A bow tie of Mint Macaron 1/8" Sheer Ribbon keep the folds in place and the card closed.


1.  Untie the bow.
2.  Open the right side.
3.  Open the left side.
4.  Lots of interior space to decorate and write a message.


Here's a look at the inside.



Sunday, May 10, 2020

Just Because


Keeping it easy yet bold with some die cut pieces in fully saturated colors for today's Monday Montage Blog Hop is what I'm going for.  

I've use three sets of dies, the Stitched Nested Labels Dies, The Rectangle Stitched Dies, and Poppy Moments Dies.  The gorgeous DSP is from the January-June Mini Catalog and it's called Peaceful Poppies.  The "just because" stamp and vellum die cuts  were loose pieces on my stamp table from a past Paper Pumpkin kit.



to Dani
to Melissa


Monday Montage Hoppers

Friday, May 8, 2020

#TGIF263 Springtime Impressions


This is a WAY COOL sketch challenge hosted by the fun and fabulous TGIF Design Team.  Be sure to see each of the team members spin on #TGIF263.



I pulled out the Abstract Impressions Stamp Set and the coordinating dies call Springtime Impressions to create my take on the latest sketch.  I grabbed colors I rarely use but love the soft breezy feel they have.  And what are these colors?  Gray Granite, Seaside Spray, Highland Heather, and Pear Pizzazz.  Are you wondering where the dragonfly comes from?  It's the butterfly from Springtime Impressions trimmed down to make a dragonfly.

When I was making this card I had every intention to use the butterfly.  When laying the elements all out the butterfly was just to over powering.  After I trimmed the butterfly down I liked how I could see more of the stamped florals.