Celebrating Independence Day

Let me be the first to wish these United States of America a happy 234th birthday...you've come a long way baby! To celebrate, I am posting a card that I made for my Yahoo group's summer challenge. Everyone who enters gets a small prize from the hostess. It is definitely a win, win situation. I was able to put this one together last night and post it to the Challenge.

I gathered several of my July 4th stamps and created the background using an 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of white paper. I used red, blue and black ink only. I found the outcome to be quite striking and definitely one of a kind. I then cut the paper to make a few 5x7 cards and inked the edges in black. So what you are seeing is only a portion of the paper.

 

The USA is a Sizzix diecut that I coated with Glossy Accents and covered with the Martha Stewart Garnet micro beads. After the initial coating I felt I needed more beads and poured them. Afraid they might not adhere, I pressed on them just a bit. I should not have done that. Since the glossy accents was still tacky the beads spread a bit. I used my MM poker tool to 'clean-up' the spread.

Love the texture this added to the card without being overwhelming. I think it is simply perfect and made by me.

I used a red strip to create a border on the left. My Sakura white pen was used to create the faux stitching and I adhered a number of rhinestone stars and circles (from a summer swap).

This was a lot of fun and I was amazed at how quickly it came together. It was loosely based on a card I saw in a Cards Beautiful magazine. Since I like creating my own backgrounds, this was perfect for me.

Love using my inks and stamps to create something unique. Give it try and you will be amazed with your results. Let go of the need to be perfect and just create. Always be free to ink in the name of love.

Until then.

CropChocolate Designs: Artsy Tag/Travel

I know I went crazy with the designs for www.CropChocolate.com. I wanted to try and use everything that was sent to me. I am not much of a chipboard or fiber girl, so this took some doing for me. It is not that I don't own any, I have LOTS, I just don't use it as much. So, out of my comfort zone I came and this beauty just seemed to come alive the more I worked with the design.

I started by using some of the Noteworthy paper from the Nature layout. I did not cut it to any specific size, I simply used what was left over. I stamped the image using TH Distress Red Brick and embossed with clear powder.

I also wanted to add a bit of texture to the card. I pulled out one of the Fiskars texture plates and ran the lower half of the tag through the Cuttlebug.

After staring at how to trim the image, I decide to use my Fiskars Deckle edge (my favorite) to do the job. I simply love this look.

To further enhance the texture I selected a variety of Distress Inks and used my Cut 'n Dry Foam pad along with the craft mat and just added color.

These foam pads can be washed. I generally reserve one pad per color. I was a bit lazy here but will wash them clean later.


I went in search of the perfect quote for this tag and came across this one. I used my punch and created the two slits on each side of the quote and the tag.

I used the deckle edged scissors and inked the vellum quote also. Then my gaze fell onto the Basic Grey Scarlet Letter fibers, And I knew the ones I wanted to use.

This was me having a play with my tools. Most of the times when I sit down, it is to try a new technique or experiment. 
Again, I had a great time. When I was perplexed about what to do next, I left it alone.

I really like that I got to play with my Distress Inks on this one. I love those. I have not started collecting the new colors but will take the plunge this summer. Pull out your products and try to use them in ways you hadn't thought about. This tag hanging from your door knob or on your bulletin board will remind you to always look forward. And when you do find your dream and capture the moment remember to ink it with love.

Until then.

Crop Chocolate Designs: Artsy Tag/Lady

It seems like I have Chocolate on the brain. If something must be there, Chocolate is not a bad thing, especially if it is CropChocolate.

This one is a project that I did not submit to

www.CropChocolate.com.  I was feeling a bit adventurous when I tried this project and had no idea where it was headed when I started, but I like where it arrived. I created two tags but this post focuses on the Lady.

As you can see this is some of the leftover cardstock from the Green Calendar project--5th Ave Sophia Harlequin. The lady is inked with the Radiant Rain Dauber.

This is how she looked once inked and embossed. I used a SeeD's swirl stamp to add some additional fun to the card.

I then used my

standard and scalloped Spellbinder 
rectangular dies to trim the Lady and the green backing piece.

After a bit of thinking I decided to stamp the green piece, and then realized the swirls would not be visible. So I edged the scallops with more of the Radiant Rain. I added a layer of foam dots to the back of the Lady and secured some Basic Grey fibers using a bit of scotch tape while allowing the extra bits to hang from the bottom and the top to form a loop.

I went back and inked the Lady card in green and added some embellishments: rhinestones and a glittered butterfly.

I again took the Flirty Alpha's that are quite bright, and gave them a wash with some Radiant Rain in Key Lime. Her quote simply says, Hi. Might go back and cut a green piece and then wash with the RR for a more cohesive look. Would provide a better contrast for the sentiment. I did go back and add a piece of green fiber to the card. Nice tag to hang from a cabinet or small knob.

Here she is in all of her splendor. I hope she brings a smile to your face. She certainly brings one to mine everytime I see her. The pose and the expression brings to mind an inner longing. I think of things that have been and things that could become--the past and the future merging as one.  I dream of limitless possibilites. Of course, each is delicately inked with love.
Until then.

Crop Chocolate Designs: Card

You know when I received the email from Crop Chocolate saying that I had a package on the way, I was thrilled; then I panicked. I thought what in the world will I create. After my box arrived I just stared at the contents for a few days until I bonded with the items. One by one they started to speak to me. My first project was this lovely card. I happened upon the quote by chance and the Granola heart was perfect for it. I love the natural look of the chipboard and it went well with the Noteworthy Hillary Lace paper that came in my kit. During the material gathering process, I selected some items that I thought would complement the chipboard.

I went into my stash and pulled the perfect color of textured Bazzill paper that I used for the card base. I rounded the edges and inked them with blue pigment ink and then embossed it using clear embossing ink. I then cut the
two remaining pieces of paper--pattern and the solid using Spellbinders curved rectangles. I inked all of the edges with brown pigment ink. The quote and it's layer were cut with Spellbinders  Labels 4 and did the same inking technique.

I stamped the quote using brown pigment ink and clear embossing powder. A quick blast with the heat gun and I was ready to begin assembling the card. As you can see from the photo, I narrowed my selection of embellishments. I decided not to add the fibers Basic Grey (Scarlet Letter).

I placed the solid green piece onto the base card and then layered the flowered piece on top. The final two pieces, the quote and the green die cut piece were assembled and then raised a bit on foam dots.

The Granola chipboard appears to frame the quote and guides your eye. The line is completed on the other side with the smaller embellishment. As a final touch I adhered various sizes and colors of Queen&Co pearls to the rounded end of each stalk. This card has a very organic feel to it and I like that.

It is hard for me to create a project that does not include stamping and inking. I took this one a step further and used my technique of embossing the inked edges. It adds umph without taking center stage.

Thanks again for stopping by and always continue to ink in the name of love.
Until then.

Crop Chocolate Designs: Masterpiece

I am sorry to say that I have been quite lazy as of late. Have several projects to video and post, but I have been catching up on my reading instead. Just finished Corpse Suzette. I will be back in the saddle soon. To ease my conscience I am sharing another of my designs for www.CropChocolate.com.

This posed the greatest challenge. I was using the papers that were sent in my kit and wanted to incorporate some of the fibers. After staring at it for a bit, I pulled out my stamps and some ink. I know, shocked aren't you? I cut down this 12x12 piece to create an 8x8 page. These polka dots are on back side of the 5th Avenue Sophia Harlequin paper used on the Green Calendar. The extra bits were used on another project. Waste not want not.

I used a small stamp to create a border around the polka paper. I tried to center each flower over one of the polka dots. Those flowers in the center were my test flowers. I knew the center would be covered by the photo. This gave me an idea of how the ink would react and how much pressure to use to get the look I desired.

The flowers from a glitter kit offered by CropChoc were used to add a border to the right. My own fine pee wee glitters were used on the transfers. I also cut a piece of Bazzill card (leftover from the Greeting Card) to use for my journaling and inked the edges in blue.

This is a photo of the glittered flowers and the quote added to the bottom of the page. It is a Heidi Swapp quote that I cut apart to make it work on my blue strip. My camera catches great detail, but the cut lines are not obvious to the naked eye.

I finished the flowers by adding a dot of liquid pearls to the center of each one. These small dots help each flower make an impact individually and collectively. You are also seeing a sneak peak of the Basic Grey fiber that was used. The color was perfect for the cardstock.

 

 When I created the mat for the photo using the Making Memories Kids collection Ethan Plaid, I inked the edges in blue. I then adhered the fiber and secured it with a glue dot.

The entire piece is raised on two sets of foam dots so that the journaling can be hidden behind the photo. When you are doing smaller pages with larger photos, it is sometimes difficult to find a place for the journaling.

 This is a nice close up of how all of the elements came together. I am not usually the subject of my scrapbook pages. Once I saw the colors of the papers, I knew I had the perfect photo.  Although the design is very simple, I am loving the non-cluttered look of the elements. Everything has texture, but it is soft and fitting for the photo. This one did not make the CropChoc page, but I am pleased with it. My journaling for this was about how I used myself as the focal point in a design and how freeing I felt after doing so.

My inking was kept to a minimum but, it is there nontheless. Each page for me does not have to be over the top. If I like it, then it is a winner.

Keep inking in the name of love.

Until then.

Crop Chocolate Designs: Nature

This layout definitely fits its title. My son loves the outdoors and trying to see what he can discover. This is a small park near city hall and just up the street from our family dentist. We had lunch in the park and of course he took time to explore. I had my camera and was able to capture the moment. I used the photos to design a project for www.CropChocolate.com.

I started by inking the 8x8 base with brown around the edges to create a slight distressed look. This striped piece if the other side of the double sided Making Memories Hillary Lace Flower. Isn't it neat? I love the boldness of it.

Then I cut the Making Memories blue Watercolor Collection (Ocean Simple Sponge) paper to 4x8 and inked around the edges with blue ink using a cut n dry foam pad for a softer look. Using my craft mat makes this job easier.

Basic Grey Fiber ribbon was adhered to the back and brought around to the front and tied into a knot set off center to the right.

This is the 8x8 page with inked edges, middle layer inked and fibers attached and tied at the top. This creates the base for the remainder of the project.

Close up of quote embellishment.

I used the adhesive back Basic Grey Granola chipboard for the title and added additional chipboard elements for the frame and as accent pieces. There is a companion page showing us having our lunch in the park. That is the page that will contain the journaling.

What amazed me was being able to get in three photos to help tell the story. Simple and quick. That is my kind of crafting. 

No matter if it is fast or you labor for days, just make sure you ink it with love.

Until then.

Crop Chocolate Designs: Green Calendar

Hello everyone. I am not sure how many of you shop at www.CropChocolate.com but there are a lot of goodies to be found and at rock bottom prices. You have the option of holding your items in your 'la carte' until you reach a total that will allow free shipping.

There was a recent call for customers to create some designs using their products. I was among many of those selected. Although my pics have been up at CropChoc I never got around to posting them to my blog. I created several projects and a few of which can only be seen here.

My favorite was the calendar I created using a photo taken of my son at a studio. After distributing as many as I could, I had to figure out what to do with the rest. This is a great use for them. Here is how it all came together.

White Sakura gel pen used to create faux stitching around the 8 x 12 inch base. I simply drew these freehand and tried to make sure that the corners were even.

Next, the green base was stamped in various muted ink colors with one of the flower stamps used to create the embellishments on the final piece. Since I was covering the center of the base, I used that area to test my flowers.  

Photo was matted to black paper with a faux stitching using a Sakura white gel pen. Then that was matted to a patterned piece leaving a two inch border at the bottom to add some journaling or a quote.

Stamped Fancy Pants flower and heat set using the green cardstock. I used a swirl stamp in the background to give the flowers some variety and a bit of texture.

This Making Memories 5th Ave patterened piece was cut to 4x12, inked around the edges in red and adhered on top of the flowers and the faux stitching.

This is a better view of all the elements together.  A hand-made calendar has been added along with the matted and layered photo with a quote at the bottom. Two Basic Grey Granola chipboard embellishments have been added also.

Primary brads were used as the center for the flower images and mounted on to foam dots for dimension. You don't see the faux stitching here, because this was taken during the planning process.

The flirty letters were used and over-inked with black ink to bring down the color.

Flowers have been added to the scroll swirls and around the photo.

 I really like this idea of using those leftover photos to make calendars. Once the month has passed the calendar can be adhered to a full 12x12 piece of cardstock and placed into an album. The extra four inches at the bottom can contain numbered items that happened during the month which will correspond to the day. You get double duty for your scrapping.

Working on these projects really got me to think in different ways. This one certainly gives you bang for your buck.

It would not be mine if it were not inked in some way. I just can't resist. Why the red you ask? It is my son's favorite color, so I had to try and incorporate a bit.

Keep crafting and inking in the name of love.
Until then.