March Tag!

It's March!  Tim has a fun tag for this month, and I have made a version of the tag using the same techniques and my own favorite colors and stamps.

You can check out Tim's blog at 

http://timholtz.com/12-tags-of-2015-march/

First, I created a collage on a #8 Manila tag using Idea-ology "Sketchbook" tissue tape.

Next, I smeared Distress Paint onto my craft sheet and misted it with water.  The colors here are: Tarnished Brass (my favorite for the week!), Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers, Pumice Stone, Crushed Olive and Wild Honey.

 Press the tag into the paint, mist again to blend colors, and dry with a heat tool.  

Quick product review:  Cracked Pistachio is a bold green color with a slight blue undertone.  In the Distress palate it is brighter and yellower than Evergreen Bough (deep green-blue) but bluer than Mowed Lawn (bright grass-green).

Here was a chance to use one of my favorite stamps:  the face of Michaelangelo's David from "Artful Artifacts" CMS 080 by Stampers Anonymous.  I'm fond of David stamps because I have a son by that name.  And Michaelangelo was super awesome.   It is stamped in archival black ink and heat set with clear embossing powder over the top.

Mask the main image - I used the old-fashioned technique of stamping the image on blank printer paper and cutting it out.   Then I used the "Dot Fade" layering stencil by Stampers Anonymous (THS 006) and smeared texture paste over it using a palate knife.  The key to this is choosing a stencil that has more negative space (stencil) than positive space (openings).  The look works best with a smaller amount of paste going through so you can see the awesome background color.  Trying this with the clear texture paste could be a fun option, too.

Sprinkle gold embossing powder over the wet texture paste, shake off excess, and allow to dry.  Definitely use lots of embossing powder.  This happens to be Stampin' Up's gold embossing powder.  This takes 15-20 minutes to air dry.   Set it aside and be patient, using a heat tool makes it bubble. 

Once it is dry, you can gently brush off any excess and set with a heat tool. 

For embellishments, I wanted to use some Ideology paper twine, but didn't want it white.  Using a blending tool, I smudged Crushed Olive over the twine.  It works easiest if you load up the tool with ink, place it on top of the twine, and pull the twine through.  It only takes a couple of passes on each side.

A couple wraps of twine secured with the Tiny Attacher, plus some Idea-ology game spinners, a Philolophy Tag, and Foliage finish it off.  The Crinkle Ribbon is dyed with Cracked Pistachio ink and Tarnished Bronze stain. 

Here's the collection thus far!

Copycat Tag of Tim's January 2015 creation

Hello friends!

Tim Holtz has begun another year of tags, and January's had some fun techniques that I wanted to try and share with you.  The link to Tim's tag is http://timholtz.com/12-tags-of-2015-january . I love Tim's work, but unless you're independently wealthy, hopelessly obsessed, or work for Ranger Industries, you probably don't have everything that Tim uses on hand.  Sometimes we have to go for the next best thing.

Tim's first step is to cover a #8 manila tag with Idea-ology Tissue Wrap - which is gorgeous but not on my shelf.  My solution was to take a sheet of tracing paper and stamp some background using Staz-on ink.  Staz-on works the best, archival ink works in a pinch but it will smear a little bit.  These stamps are from Stamper's Anonymous: "Artful Artifacts" CMS 080 and "Life Adventure" CMS 077.

To adhere the backround, smear Liquitex Acrylic Matte Medium over the #8 tag, here cut from Stampin' Up "Very Vanilla" card stock using the Sizzix Alterations Bigz Die "Tag and Bookplates." Lay the tracing paper background on top of the wet medium and trim aound the edges.  That's the medium there, I didn't blow my nose on the tag.

Like Tim, give it a bit of sanding - gently - around the edges and finger-paint another layer of matte medium over the top.  Make sure to put some paper between your sanding block and your craft mat - a scuffed craft mat does not work well.

After the matte medium dries, finger-paint with some Distress Paint for color and spritz it with water.  The colors here are Peacock Feathers, Weathered Wood, and Antique Bronze.

After the paint dries, spritz with Distress Spray Stain.  Here, I used the classic recipe of "1 dropper of Distress Re-inker and fill the rest of a mini-mister with water" to make my own "Walnut Stain" Distress Spray Stain.  The whole tag got a generous spritz.

Because I didn't have the cool plastic words and numbers Tim used in his blog, it was time to "fake it" again.  I cut a "15" from black card stock using Sizzix Bigz die set "Serif Essentials,"  covered them with Glossy Accents and poured Martha Stewart's "Citrine" glitter  over the top and set it aside.  Don't deny that those sparkle-y little vials at the craft store haven't found their way into your basket before.  Martha knows marketing.

For the "twenty" I cut black card stock using Sizzix Alterations "Carnivale" decorative strip die, covered it with "Antique Linen" Distress Paint, and followed up with a coat of "Squeezed Lemonade" for a little extra brightness.  Hey, I could have made myself an "age" tag and said "Twenty x2" instead of "Twenty 15"... that'd be a great birthday card, I think I will do that.

Again, making do with what's on hand, I printed my own words out on the computer using "Bookman Old Style" font, 12 pitch.  After sticking them in place with some tape runner, I covered the tag with matte medium again and let it dry.  There was a futile attempt at splattering some "Picket Fence" Distress paint, which got everywhere but the tag.  Following that debacle, I went around each word with a Stampin' Write marker in Basic Black, smudging off as I went.  

To dye the ribbon, take Idea-ology Crinkle Ribbon and smudge "Vintage Photo" Distress Stain all over and spritz it with water.  Crumple and dry with a heat tool. The Crinkle Ribbon is beautiful in person, it has a lovely sheen when it's been 'stained'. 

The Spritzer tool is fun, that's the truth.  My gold pen of choice is a Zig Painty that's been rocking for years.  Finish the tag by gluing the card stock letters and going around them with a black marker to add some depth.  The embellishment in the bottom corner is an Idea-ology Philosophy Tag that says "Simplify."  That seemed like a good resolution for the new year.

Here are the finished tags.  The second one is my "age" tag.  There are a few differences, first is that the "age" tag is sealed with  "Rock Candy" Distress Crackle Paint to cover the tag before adhering the letters and numbers. Also, the "twenty" was cut from black card stock using the Sizzix "Go Go Boots" alphabet.  Each letter was covered with Glossy Accents, for an epoxy look.  The number 2 was traced onto black card stock from the old Idea-ology Grungeboard Numerals, which I saved to use as stencils. The Crinkle Ribbon is dyed with "Broken China" Distress Stain, and the Philosophy Tag is backed with an Idea-ology Vial Label to help it stand out.  

Enjoy, and thanks, Tim!

everything's new but the stamp set...

Here's another retired stamp set that's on the block at Ebay this week.  Everything in the card is new, but the stamp set.

Stamp set:  Tags so Much (retired)
Card Stock:  Bermuda Bay, Old Olive, Smoky Slate, Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango, Crushed Curry, and Whisper White.
Ink:  Smoky Slate Classic ink pad; Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango, and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers
Tools:  Deco Labels Framelets, Big Shot, Baroque embossing folder, Large tag punch (retired), Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Petite Petals Punch (new!)

Thought for the day... sympathy and insight

Ever had one of those days?  This is the card for that day...

Supplies available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp set:  Trust God (w#132094, c#126702)

Ink:  Basic Black

Card Stock:  Raspberry Ripple, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Modern Medley Designer Series Paper (birds and backing label)

Tools:  Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439), Labels Collection Framelits (125598), Hearts Collection Framelits (125599), Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder (129984), Petals a Plenty Embossing Folders (116824),  2-1/2" Circle Punch (120906),  Decorative Label (120907).

Peace!

This card is not totally a Stampin' Up card, my inspiration piece for this card was the elephant/butterfly washi tape that I got from a local craft store...

Supplies available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamps:  Positively Chevron Background (w#130496, c#130499)

Ink:  Versamark

Card Stock:  Crumb Cake, Always Artichoke, Island Indigo, Melon Mambo, Elegant Eggplant, Tangerine Tango

Tools:  Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439), Window Frames Framelits (129021), Label Bracket Punch (132153), Elegant Butterfly (127526), Bitty Butterfly (129406), Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309)

Enjoy!

Epic Thanks

The zig-zags on the Gumball Green background were made with the 1" square punch...

Supplies available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp Set:  Six Sided Sampler (w#130953, c#130956), Gorgeous Grunge (w#130514, c#130517)

     (*Buy as a bundle with the Hexagon punch and save 15% - w# 132725, c#132724)

Ink:  Gumball Green, Crumb Cake

Card stock:  Crumb Cake, Gumball Green, Calypso Coral, Very Vanilla, Daffodil Delight, Pool Party;  Epic Day Designer Series Paper

Tools:  Hexagon Punch (130919), 1" Square Punch (124094)

Happy Day Hello

The colors of this card were inspired by the mock-Turkish rug on my living room floor...

Supplies for this card are available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp set:  Happy Day (w#130294, c#130297)

Card Stock:  Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Island Indigo and Always Artichoke.

Ink:  Island Indigo, Versamark

Tools:  Artisan Label Punch (130920), Scallop Edge Border punch (119882), Floral Frames Collection Framelits (127012), Adorning Accents Edgelits (125595), Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439)

Enjoy!

Crescent Craze

Last week's feathers and crescents keep popping up.  Like a kid with a new toy, I can't stop playing with these!  

Supplies:  available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp Set:  Lots of Thanks (w129687, c129690)

Card Stock: Midnight Muse (126843), Calypso Coral (122925), Crisp Cantaloupe (131298), Soft Suede (115318), Coastal Cabana (131927), Whisper White (100730)

In Color 2013-15 Designer Series Paper (130136)

Ink: Midnight Muse (126860), Early Espresso (126974)

Tools:  Chevron Embossing folder (127749), 2-1/2" Circle Punch (120906), 1-3/4" Circle Punch (119850), Itty Bitty Punches (118309), Big Shot (113439).

Ex Libris - cards for the literature lover

I love the Ex Libris background stamp - probably because I love books.  For this card, I stamped Ex Libris in Soft Suede on a Raspberry Ripple background, and then trimmed it down with the Stampin' trimmer.  It's mounted on a base of Baked Brown Sugar.

Supplies: available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp Set:  Ex Libris (w131992, c129496),  Chalk Talk (w 130631, c130634)

Card Stock:  Baked Brown Sugar (131296), Raspberry Ripple (126842) Soft Suede(115318) Crumb Cake (120953)

In Color 2013-15 Designer Series Paper (130136)

Ink:  Soft Suede(126978)

Tools: Label Bracket Punch (132153), Bitty Butterfly Punch (129406), Elegant Butterfly Punch (127526), Chalk Talk Framelets (129983), Big Shot (113439)

Moon Shadow Feather Flower Card

Last week I was playing with "feathers" and crescent moon shapes made from 2-1/2" punched circles, so I call these "Moon Shadow Feathers" because it's the shadow area left over from cutting a crescent moon.

Supplies: available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp Set:  Chalk Talk (w130631, c130634)

Card stock:  Crisp Canteloupe (131298) Coastal Cabana (131297), Whisper White(100730), Baked Brown Sugar (131296), Pistachio Pudding (131294)

Venetian Romance Designer Series Paper (130144)

Ink:  Calypso Coral Stampin' Write Marker (Subtles Collection 131263), Coastal Cabana Classic Ink Pad (131175)

Tools:  Honeycomb Embossing Folder (129378);  Big Shot (113439)

Almost Masculine card...

In my house, I'm the official card maker for the family.  So when I showed this card to my husband and asked "Do you think this is a masculine card?"  I got a scrunched up nose with this reply:  "For a dude to send to a dude, or are you sending this to a dude?"  So my husband (who is not from California, despite the lingo) has stated, he wouldn't send it to another man, but if I were to send it to a man that would be artistically acceptable.  So, I'll call it an almost masculine card....

Supplies available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp sets:  Truly Grateful (w131730, c131733)

      Chalk Talk (w130631, c130634)

Card stock:  Baked Brown Sugar (131296), Midnight Muse (126843), Cherry Cobbler (119685)

Ink: Soft Suede (126978), Versamark (102283)

Tools:  Label Bracket Punch (132153), 1-3/8" Circle Punch (119860),  Itty Bitty Punch Pack(118309), Heat Tool (129053)

Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder (122949) Midnight Muse Satin Stitched Ribbon (126847)

Eastern Elegance Card

I love the colors Smoky Slate and Crushed Curry together!  The Eastern Elegance Designer Series Paper artfully blends these colors together.  I used a couple different sheets - both sides to decorate this gate-fold card.

Supplies:

Card stock: Smoky Slate (131202), Basic Gray (21044) and Crushed Curry (131199)

Ink: Crushed Curry (131173)

Stamp Set:  Hello, Lovely (w130240, c130243)

Eastern Elegance Designer Series Paper (130131)

Label Bracket Punch (132153)

Enjoy!!

Paper Pumpkin can be at your door...

This is one of the coolest crafty things and I just had to let you know about it... The Paper Pumpkin is a card kit that you receive via UPS monthly, it comes with everything you need to make a stash of fabulous all occasion cards.  Stamps, ink, pre-cut card stock, embellishments and instructions.  Paper Pumpkin is a stamp class in a box - at your convenience.  It's different every month - endless variety!  Right now its 50% off, so it's a great time to give it a try.

If you'd like to try before you buy, Stampin' Up has a "Try It" kit (132600) that you can order from  my website www.creativeflare.stampinup.net that is a little journal making kit, comes with 2 passport sized journals and embellishments, cling mount stamps and a stamp block for 16.95 plus shipping and tax.  They're so cute and a great back to school gift.

Enjoy!

The Moon

Some days simple is best.  As I was chomping bits out of 2-1/2" circles to make feathers the other day, I had a variety of crescent shapes left over... perfect for a moon card.  I crumpled the crescent and backed it with a 2-1/2" crumpled circle of Basic Grey card stock - easy texture!  The sentiment and heart come from the Chalk Talk stamp set, embossed with white embossing powder on Smoky Slate card stock. 

Supplies:  available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Chalk Talk stamp set (w130631/c130634); 2-1/2" Circle Punch (120906), 1-3/8" Circle punch (119860); Chevron embossing folder (127749), Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine (113439);  white embossing powder (109132), Versamark Watermark Ink (102283); Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Perfect Blend - Fast and Fun Card

This was very simple.  It's a 5-1/4" x 4" Pistachio Pudding card front with 3 coffee cups stamped using the masking technique.  The forward most cup was stamped on Whisper White card stock in Early Espresso ink (of course) and colored with a Pistachio Pudding Stampin' Write Marker.  The cup sleeve was made by stamping a cup on Crumb Cake card stock, stamping the sentiment in Garden Green, and then trimming out the sleeve and adding it to the card using a Stampin' Dimensional.

These days everything looks better with banners, so I rummaged through my scrap keepers and found some Crumb Cake, Crisp Cantaloupe, and Strawberry Slush to add some pizzazz.  The finishing touch was a little bow of Early Espresso Baker's twine and a small heart punched from Strawberry Slush card stock.

Supplies:  available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp Set:  Perfect Blend (w130745, c131392)

Ink: Early Espresso (126974)

Pistachio Pudding Stampin' Write Marker (part of In Color 2013-15 collection 131260)

Card Stock:  Pistachio Pudding, Strawberry Slush, Crisp Cantaloupe (In Color 2013-15 collection 131200)
Whisper White and Crumb Cake (Neutrals Collection 131191)

Tools:  Small Heart Punch: (117193)  3/16" Corner Rounder (119871) Paper Snips (103579) Stampin' Trimmer (126889)

Morning Coffee.... Perfect Blend with Gorgeous Grunge

"Given enough coffee, I could rule the world...temporarily."  Yeah, I feel like that most days.  This card is  done in what you can call "The Starbucks color scheme"  - Baked Brown Sugar, Early Espresso, Garden Green and Very Vanilla.  The coffee cup is stamped with Early Espresso on Whisper White and colored in with a Blender Pen loaded with Baked Brown Sugar ink.  The sentiment stamped in Garden Green ink, and the cup was cut out and attached to the Very Vanilla background with Stampin" Dimensionals.  The coffee splatters are Baked Brown Sugar - stamped off for the big splat, straight to paper for the darker spot, and Early Espresso for the spray.  The washi tape is the Witches' Brew from the Holiday Mini Catalog.  

Supplies - available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp Sets:  Perfect Blend (w 130745, c 131392), Gorgeous Grunge (w 130514, c 130517)

Card Stock:

Baked Brown Sugar (131296), Garden Green (102584), Very Vanilla (101650), Whisper White (100730)

Ink:  Baked Brown Sugar (131174), Garden Green (126973), Early Espresso (126974)

Tools:

Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Blender Pens (102845), Witches' Brew Washi tape (132156)

Enjoy your coffee!

Convention Make and Takes - Using "The Crime Scene" stamp set

Donna Griffith, from Demonstrator Training at Stampin' Up, presented the "Gorgeous Grunge" stamp set at convention.  She said that her initial reaction to the stamp set was that it looked like a crime scene - tire tracks, splatters, police tape... This make and take used the "Gorgeous Grunge: (aka: "The Crime Scene") set and the "Hello, Lovely" set.  

The "tire tracks" are in Crisp Canteloupe, the splatters are in Summer Starfruit and Coastal Cabana (stamped off)  and Old Olive.  I made my own "Washi Tape" and decorated my arrow  using the "police tape" stamp.  The original make and take recommended the Epic Day washi tape.

The colored twine was a neat trick, we took plain white baker's twine, pressed it between a stampin' sponge and a Bermuda Bay ink pad, and pulled it through.

Supplies - available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Gorgeous Grunge set (wood mounted item #130514 $24.95/clear mount item #130517 $17.95 set of 5)

Hello, Lovely set (wood mounted item #130240 $32.95/clear mount item #130243 $24.95 set of 10)

Card stock: 

Whisper White (item #100730 $8.50 for 40 sheets)

Coastal Cabana Core'dinations Textured card stock (item #131195 $9.95 for 12 sheets, assorted color collection)

Crisp Canteloupe (item #131294 $6.95 24 sheets)

Whisper White Envelopes (item #107301 $6.50 for 40 A2 size - fits 5-1/2" x 4-1/4" card)

Stampin' pads - $5.95 each

Coastal Cabana (item #131175)

Crisp Canteloupe (item #131176)

Summer Starfruit (item #126991)

Old Olive ((item #126953)

Calypso Coral Stampin' Write Marker - part of  Subtles Collection (item #131263 $28.95 for set of 10 colors)

Epic Day Washi Tape (item #131269 $4.95 set of 3 rolls)

Silver Glimmer Paper (item #124005 $4.95 (2) 12" x 12" sheets)

Very Vintage Designer Buttons (item #129327 $5.95 for 24 buttons)

Island Indigo Baker's Twine (item #125575 $2.95 for 25 yards)

Convention Make & Take - Tag a Bag

The new little Tag a Bag gift bags and Accessory kit are going to be great materials to have on hand this holiday season.  They're fast and fun and perfectly sized for giving a little "something something" to family and friends.  The bags are flat, but at convention they showed us how to turn a cute little flat bag into a cuter little gusseted bag within about 60 seconds.  Check it out:

Here's the bag that started out a flat 5" x 8-1/4", and became a 3" x 2" x 7" gusseted bag.  The stamp is from this year's Ronald McDonald House stamp set "Tag It" (wood mounted item #130300 $22.95/cling mount item #130303 $16.95)  $3 from the sale of each stamp set goes to the Ronald McDonald House Charities.  

It's recommended to use the Simply Scored tool to make the score lines, but the Stampin' Trimmer also has a scoring blade, the Simply Scored just makes a softer, deeper score.

After scoring, trim just a hair off the bottom to open the bottom of the bag.

Pre-fold along the score lines ....

Fold in the short sides first, then close up with the long sides.  I used SNAIL adhesive to secure mine, the Tag a Bag accessory kit also comes with Smoky Slate tape to secure the bags decoratively.  You can add a cut piece of chipboard from the kit to the inside bottom to stabilize the bag, just a little smaller than 2" x 3".

Supplies:

Tag a Bag Gift Bags: (item #131370 $3.95 for 10)

Tag a Bag Accessory Kit (item #130153 $7.95 for 10 large tags, 10 medium tags, 10 mini clothespins, 3 colors of baker's twine -20' ea-, 40 Stampin' Dimensionals, 5" of Smoky Slate self-adhesive strips)

Related items - Tag a Bag Gift Boxes: (item #130927 $6.95 for 8 Kraft food safe boxes with acetate sleeves, 6-7/8" x 2-1/8" x 2-1/2")

UNDEFINED

Ladies and gentlemen!  I'd like to introduce to you....

UNDEFINED!

This is Stampin' Up's latest innovation, stamp carving!  While it's not a new concept (just check out Albrecht Durer's work back in 1500) it hasn't been widely accessible outside the art classroom ... until NOW!

Here's what is inside the kit (item # 133402) - you get a thick linoleum block (that grey thing at the bottom left) mounting foam, 4 wood blocks, an Island Indigo Stampin' Write marker, and a "V" carving tool and a "U" carving tool, plus directions and cards to stamp.  You can also get a refill kit that includes just the blocks, mounting foam and linoleum. (item #134808)

First, sketch out your stamp design on plain paper with a pencil, keep trying until you get it just the way you like.  Using pencil is key here, because the next step...

...is where you transfer the graphite from the drawing to your linoleum by placing your drawing face down and rubbing firmly with the back of one of your tools, a bone folder, wood block... something firm but not scratchy.

Here is the transfer of my design on the linoleum block.  I used Stampin' Up's old Craft and Rubber scissors to cut out near the edge of my design, and try to preserve as much of my block as possible for future stamps.

For the carving, start with the "V" tool and carefully outline ALL the inside and outside edges of your design.  Be sure to keep your free hand BEHIND the cutting edge, these tools are EXTREMELY SHARP.  Always cut away from yourself and away from your design.  It is better to turn your block as you cut, rather than try to turn your hand to go around shapes.

Outlined.  Ta-da!

.   

 Using the "U" tool will carve out large areas that you don't want as part of the stamp - the "negative space".  Always carve from the edge of the design outward.  If you accidentally scratch into your design, there's no fixing that.

After carving everything the way you want, test your stamp on some scratch paper to make sure there's no errant ridges that will be transferring ink to your final printing.  Once you've made all your tweaks, stamp  the image on your wood block.  Finally cut your mounting foam to fit your linoleum, and attach it to the block.

This was my first UNDEFINED stamp - I actually made this one at convention.  They gave us each a block and a little linoleum to get started with, and had a station where we could carve our stamps.  This design was inspired by a drawing of sliced through rocks that was the decor in a clothing store.   Turning the stamp 90 degrees each time gave it just enough variation in the background.

Finished project! A 100% Creative Flare Card!  Gives me a warm glow inside :).  I finished off the card with a little Washi Tape from the Witches' Brew collection in the Holiday Mini Catalog.  Washi tape is a great substitute for ribbon stripes on a card, is re-positionable and easy to use.  It also works great to adhere a note inside a card - adds a colorful touch.

I would like to thank Ms. Joan Andre and Ms. Nell Landry for having taught block carving as part of their Junior High and High School Art curriculum.  It's been fun!