Friday, June 27, 2014

Inking silk flowers tutorial

I've got these pretty ivory silk flowers from May Arts Ribbon (Item# 439-09) that I want to ink up and embellish so I thought I'd share this tutorial with you.  I like plain white or ivory flowers that I can color to my choosing to match whatever card or layout that I want to coordinate with.   I ended up making a trio of Thank you cards and used the Unity Stamp sentiment kit, Everything More, one of my all time favorite kits.  Um, it's on sale for a ridiculous price right now of $8.  You need it!
 
 

        

So to start....Don't have a craft mat?  Me either.  It's on my wishlist.  Instead, split open a used bubble mailing envelope and use these.  Awesome and cheap.  Plus it wipes clean with a dry paper towel!  Some of us have to budget our crafty purchases, right?  Anyway, I chose 3 different colors and styles of ink to color my flowers.  Marvy blending box in Sunset, October Afternoon Sprinklers in Carbon Copy and Twinkling H20 shimmering paint in purple


Next, stamp ink directly onto your surface or spray ink, etc.  When stamping ink, I did this about 3 times per batch.  Only sprayed once from the Sprinklers as a lot comes out.

 Mist with a squirt or two of water from a mister. Picked up this 2 pk mister for $3 at Walmart.  I used a paintbrush for the October Afternoon Sprinkler and the H20's to spread out better.

Dab your flower in mixture until you have complete coverage (no need to do both sides).  I did about 3-4 flowers from each batch of color.

Allow to air dry.  If you're in a hurry, you could use a heat tool.  Just make room to do one at a time or they'll all go flying!   All in all, it took me about 15 minutes or less to color these flowers but now that I know what I'm doing, I could probably cut my time in half next time.
 
Here's the final result of what I did with the flowers....I embellished each one differently, using sequins and burlap string for the pink.  I cut the edge off a strip of lace and made "stems" for the blue with white sequins and used some purple mesh and sequins for the purple flowers.  Each were coated with some Smooch Glitz glitter polish.  I even colored some white veins with a white gel pen on the blue flowers and did some more coloring on the flowers with yellow and white watercolor. 
Ya Like?
 

 
And for the final product.....
 
 
 
Additional supplies: May Arts Ribbon olive mini raffia bow ribbon, Memento London Fog ink, Tim Holtz distress markers, Tim Holtz Brushed Cordorouy distress ink, American Craft Taffy Ink, Stickles green glitter glue, Cuttlebug embossing

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Well I've gone and done it now....

Yes, it's official.  I'm on Twitter.  It's a double-edged sword, I'm sure.  So if you didn't already have enough ways to find me, here's one more.  You will definitely get news about giveaways, updates and what not from me much quicker...providing I figure this thing out, lol.  So have at it!  And follow me!


Monday, June 23, 2014

When I reach 10,000 page views...Giveaway!!

Well, I noticed a few weeks ago, my blog was at over 7000 page views.  Next thing I know, it's over 8000.  So....I'm going to have a giveaway when it reaches 10,000 views.  I'll be interested to see how long or short of a time it will take to bridge that 1900 gap.  I'm guessing, not very long!
 
By the way, I just did a re-design of my blog too.  Clean, lean and mean.  Well, not really mean, haha.  But I like the new look.  Tell me what you think in the comments section.
 
So here's the dealio:  Bookmark my blog and click on it every day...share this post with your friends on Facebook, re-pin on Pinterest....doing one or all of those things gets us to the giveaway quicker. 
 
While you're visiting my blog, take a look around...click on some sponsor links and get to know my crafty site.  Can't wait to celebrate!!  Terri
 
 

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Let not your heart be troubled

For those.of us who are crafty obsessed, we follow trends, blogs, company forums....you name it.  I'm a big fan of Teresa Collins products and follow her blog. 

I'm asking you to lift her family up in prayer as they deal with her husbands cancer.   Her recent post inspired me to make this card.  There's a lot of hurt and pain in this world.  But if you trust in Christ, you have hope.  Blessings to each one of you.


Saturday, June 21, 2014

Embossed Gratefulness

Up late last night and in the mood for something quick, I made this Cuttlebug embossed card with fussy cut glitter flowers.  Yes, I cheated a bit.  The flowers were cut from a pretty piece of scrapbook paper that was already blinged out.  I added some pieces of May Arts Ribbon natural jute for fun.  Love how it perks up this little bouquet. 

 I also added a pretty piece of Martha Stewart adhesive ribbon and topped it with a Teresa Collins Vintage Finds chipboard strip and wood enamel dots from Studio Calico.  The finishing touch is a tiny frame cut from We R Memory Keepers Inked Rose pad and stamped with a sentiment from a Unity Stamp set called {Leafing} Grateful.  This could be used for just about any occasion.  Love the simplicity.  Enjoy your day!


Friday, June 20, 2014

Love to the Moon

Happy Friday!  It's going to be a busy day today.  My son has his first Allstars baseball game tonight (Go Weaver Bearcats!).  Might not have much crafty time over the next week or so.  Hopefully I can squeeze in a little time...
 
I made this card with several Unity Stamps and watercolors.  The sentiment is called "to the bitty moon" and the tiny dots background was from a grab bag, as was the love border.   I'm entering this card into these challenges:
 

 
I stamped all around the edges of the card with a love border stamp in pale pink ink.
 
Supplies: Tim Holtz distress markers, May Arts Ribbon natural twine, Unity Stamps, Studio G pink ink, adhesive glitter moon, Unity freebies tag and stars, Twinkling H20's shimmering blue paint, Stickles yellow glitter glue, blue glitter brad (maker unknown)

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Embossed hearts

I was inspired by a recent project from Angeline over at Scrappy Scrappy to do this emboss resist card.  I heat embossed these lovely hearts that are from the Unity Stamp Jillibean Blossom Soup kit.  Next, I inked up the card, brushed some Smooch Glitz glitter polish over the hearts, then  added a cute tag with May Arts sequin ribbon and some other goodies and called it a day!  It was a quick project which was an added bonus....Click on the Scrappy Scrappy link above and check out Angeline's how-to video.  She is super talented!



Other supplies:  Freckled Fawn neon enamel dots, American Crafts Sunflower ink, Marvy blending ink Sunset, Inkssentials blending tool, K&Company chevron cardstock, Lil Inkers stitched tag die, bubble wording, Jolees Boutique pink paper jute

Fathers day stars

Here's one last Fathers day card for the week.  This one goes to hubby from the kid.  Not too elaborate.  Why?  Because he couldn't care less, ha!  This is pretty simple with some Cuttlebug embossing and sanding for a little distressed look.  A few cardstock stickers, twine...not too fancy.  And a stamped image on the inside from Unity Stamps "All about dad" set. 



Other supplies:  Freckled Fawn neon enamel dots, We r memory keepers large enamel dots, denim twine from The Twinery,  The Paper Studio Daddy cardstock stickers, Inkadinkado sky blue ink, October Afternoon Cakewalk embellishment dies, Permapaque blue pen

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Sympathy card watercolor sky

I hear a lot from the crafting community that folks often don't like making sympathy cards.  I understand the reasoning behind it but I feel quite the opposite.  Enjoy is not the word I would use but I do feel a purpose in the creative process.  I also believe that when you pour your heart into a sympathy card, or any card for that matter, the recipient knows it is truly heartfelt.  

That is the goal.  Believing that this card will bring some measure of comfort.  That's what spurs me on when making a sympathy card.....maybe even distract from the pain and grieving, if only for a moment.




Supplies:  Unity Stamp Season under Heaven, Tim Holtz distress markers, Twinkling H20's Watercolor paint, Pink Paislee floral stamp, Pentel yellow and sepia watercolor brushes

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Birds and gray skies

It's a beautiful day here in Alabama and I've made this watercolor card using my Twinkling H20's.  I just love the shimmering colors.  

The birdbath stamp is Inkadinkado and the sentiment is from the Unity Stamp set Jillibean Blossom Soup.  The designer paper is Crate Paper including the tag.  I made the bow from some old lace and pink American Crafts ribbon.  Lastly, there's a bit of May Arts Ribbon mini pink raffia bows and Teresa Collins Vintage Finds wording on the tag.  Enjoy your day and make some time for you!


Thursday, June 5, 2014

Father's day card splash

Here's another Father's Day card I made using distress markers and my new October Afternoon Sprinkler.   I seem to get the best results by unscrewing the mister and just letting droplets fall from the end of the tubing.  I found this cool "kings crown" button in my stash that's from the Teresa Collins Vintage Finds collection and paired that with my May Arts Ribbon natural jute.  Isn't it perfect?!

Again, I relied on these awesome stamps from the Unity Stamp Co.  the background image is called Tattered Chicken Wire and the sentiment is from the set,  All about Dad, from the Stamp of the week collection which is 5 bucks and change every week.  That includes the cost of shipping!!  You can't beat that!  You also get to purchase previously released SOTW at under $4.00 each.  That's how I obtained this set.  Well, I didn't intend on sounding like a commercial, but I think Unity is one of THE best stamp companies around.  Did I mention ya get freebies with every order too?  Just sayin.....  #grin

Entering in:
Unity Friends with Flair






LOVE YOU PAPA

Father's day will be here soon and with that in mind, I've made this card for my son to give his Pop.  They have a very special relationship and I know Pop will love this card.  I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.  The challenge is masculine cards.

I made some watercolor paper using Pentel watercolor brushes, Tim Holtz distress markers and Unity stamps.  Then, I made the focus trees and grass in watercolor also.  Pops and my son love to hit the golf balls and this scene reminds me of a golf course.

I hope this card inspires you to get creative and do something special for your Dads and Grand dads.  Happy Fathers Day!

SUPPLIES:  Unity Stamps Triple Tree Line, All about Dad, Tattered Chicken Wire, Inkadinkadoo dragonfly stamp by Brenda Walton, Pentel watercolor brushes in yellow, green and sepia, Tim Holtz distress markers, Basic Grey candy buttons, MAY ARTS RIBBON Natural jute, Cuttlebug and embossing folders




Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Bridal shower card

June, the month of weddings is here.  There's love in the air, the sweet smell of honeysuckle and joy abounds.   My niece is engaged to be married to this guy they call Matt.  I prefer to call him Bob.  It's my way of saying, "hey, you signed up for this weirdo family so get used to it!"

So with bridal showers in the works and weddings not far off, that put me in the mood to make this sweet bridal shower card, using a sentiment from the Unity Stamp Co kit LIVE LAUGH LOVE by Samantha Walker.  I embellished some felt hearts with glitter hearts and jute cord, colored a doily in green, used pieces from different designer paper including Crate Paper, threw in a dash of this and a dash of that......love that sparkle from the pink glitter adhesive ribbon.  I love that love is in the air and I love how this card turned out too!

  
 


Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Am I a cheap crafter? YOU decide!

I've been inspired to make a shaker card after seeing a post by Jennifer Loftfield from Caffeinated Papercuts (found here). I've seen plenty of shaker cards, but for some reason, Jen made it look so easy that I had to give it a try.  With that being said,  I've got 3 recycled items on this card.  Way back in the day, a crafty friend (You know who you are Nancy) told me to save everything. 
EVERYTHING!  Well I admit.... I do save a lot of scraps, so let me share my cheap, crafty ways: (see below)

 
 
 
1.  The acetate was cut from a larger piece that once held gemstones.

2.  I made some glitter dots out of a scrap piece of cardstock. Just run adhesive over it, shake on some glitter and press in, then cut your dots with a hole punch .

3.   Do you use foam dots? Don't throw away the "frame". I cut sections of the leftover frame and use to raise items on my projects like the flower on this card.

 
 
 
 So, yeah, I can be a little thrifty in my crafting but that's not a bad thing. Oh, did I mention the lovely Crate Paper floral background? I found this 36 sheet 6x6 pad at the Tuesday Morning store for 2.99. Cheap IS good!
 
 
(Supplies: Unity Stamp Co Feel Good Sentiment kit, sequins, Scotch foam backing, gold glitter, glue runner,  Crate Paper Maggie Holmes paper stack, Bic Mark-it red pen, Memento Luxe black ink, craft lace, The Paper Studio white flower, Valentine glitter heart, houndstooth red washi tape (maker unknown)