Embossed!

Last week my craft friends and I decided to use our embossing folders to see what we could come up with.  We started with this:

(plain old cardstock)



And used this:

(metallic rub ons, paint dabbers and embossing folders)

To make these:

(First put some cardstock in an embossing folder and run it through a Vagabond, Big Shot, Cuttlebug, etc. to emboss the cardstock.  Apply the metallic rub ons by rubbing your finger in the desired color and then rub that finger onto the embossed cardstock.  I like to make little circular motions.  Then I applied a little Ranger Paint Dabber along the edges.  The purple bubble piece on the left was covered entirely with paint dabber and then I wiped off the high spots with a damp paper towel - no metallic rub on was used at all.)





Which have turned into these:

(with the addition of a little ribbon and a stamped image, sticker or even a postage stamp)

All of these cards were very easy to make and should only require a 44 cent postage stamp to mail!

I hope you have time for inky fingers today!

Robin

My blog received the Libster Award!

Wow!  Nancy Wethington from Art From The Heart sent this,

The Libster Award.

Thank you, Nancy!

As a recipient, I can now award 3-5 blogs to "pass it forward".

     Linda Neff's Scrapped Treasures
     Barbara's Where The Tea Is Steeping-Scrap
     Anne Harada's Ever Lasting Ink

Once you get this award please pass it on to your favorite blogs (3 to 5 blogs only please).
    

I hope everyone has inky fingers today!
Robin
         

Configuring

I finally painted and attached everything in my Tim Holtz Configurations box!  I auditioned items to put in each compartment between Christmas and New Years Day and finally came up with something I was happy with but it's taken over a month and a half to finish up.

I painted the outside of the outer frame and the sides of the inner compartments (everything I thought might show) with black gesso.  I lined the backs of each compartment with dictionary paper, letting the paper cover a little of the bottom and some sides of the compartments.  I used Studio Matte Multi Medium to attach the dictionary paper and then sealed any surface that showed with the multi medium mixed with a couple drops of Distress Tea Dye re-inker.  Don't mix the re-inker and multi medium well for a more vintage-looking color.  I covered the seams where the compartments meet with narrow strips of black cardstock that were edged with Ranger Copper Paint Dabber.  The inside edge of the outer frame was painted with the copper paint dabber, also.  I found the handle at FOUND, a store in Ann Arbor, Michigan. 

It was lots of fun to find "stuff" to go in each compartment. 

The Spencerian Steel Pens tin actually had pen nibs in it when I bought it so I opened the tin as much as possible so they would show.  The big penny is from my high school days.  It had lip gloss in it.  Can you believe I still have it AND the box it came in?  Of course I prefer Coke but Root Beer is good, too!

I recently purchased a bag of old clock and watch parts and that clock spring seemed to fit with the Idea-ology clock face with spinners and the little clock charm.  I wasn't sure what I would ever do with that copper hand charm when I bought it but I think it goes very well with little phone charm.  The little camera is a spy camera that is supposed to actually work.  I guess I'll never know for sure now that's it is stuck in my configurations box.

The owl just had to have a question mark necklace because she says "Whoooooo?" and if she's the queen everyone has to answer.  :)  My college roommate's parents got the little basket of eggs for me at a craft fair way back when I was in college because it had "Robin's eggs" in it.

The watch parts tins were an Ebay find.  You need to stop and smell the roses once in a while although this rose is made from Grunge Paper and fabric so it might not smell good!

The narrow compartments were hard to fill but a hanging key with a heart charm does the job along with fork and spoon charms.  A vintage film canister with a strip of Film Ribbon finishes this configurations box.

Remember - inky fingers have had lots of fun!
Robin

Tinned Butterflies

Over a year ago I taught two card tin classes, one using a Maya Road Dinner Break tin for 5"x7" cards

 and the other using a Maya Road Tea Break tin for 4 1/4"x5 1/2" cards. 

I used Graphic 45's Botanicabella papers (my all-time favorite papers) and tag sheet to cover and decorate the tins and then used the scrap paper and remaining tags to make cards to put in the tins.  The Maya Road tins are so easy to cover because you can remove the hardware, cover the tin and replace the hardware instead of cutting around the handle and closure. 

The shiny silver of the tin didn't really match the beautifully aged papers so I inked the areas of the tin that would show with Ranger Pitch Black and Espresso Alcohol inks.  I like to use a wide strip of red line tape at the side seams to really hold the paper in place.

I liked these so much that I purchased several extra tins, covered them and have given all of them away except for these last two which will be on their way to new homes as soon as I fill them with cards:

I love the butterflies from the Graphic 45 Botanicabella Ode to a Butterfly paper.  I like to cut them out, add wire antenna and fold the wings forward before I attach them.

Of course I needed to add the Graphic 45 tag to the back:

These tins are getting hard to find and so is the paper so if you find them you should buy them immediately!

I did use Ranger Tea Dye Distress ink on all the edges of paper resulting in INKY FINGERS!

Robin

Being prepared

My crafting friends and I recently discussed that we would like to have some sympathy and get well cards made in advance so they are ready to mail when needed.  Last week Judy, Lynn and I were able to get together to make some.  We each designed 2-3 cards and brought the supplies for all of us to make some so we all have a nice variety.

Judy designed these:

Lynn designed these:

Here are mine:

I used the faux watercolor technique to make these cards.  Ink your stamp with dye ink pads or water-based markers, spritz with water and stamp, pressing very lightly.  You can spritz with water again to stamp on another piece of paper without re-inking. In fact, you can usually get a third and sometimes fourth image without re-inking. 

I think I'm prepared.

I hope you have inky fingers!

Robin

Leftovers, anyone?

I had lots of leftover paper from my Black and White album class (see February 2nd post) and have been trying to use it all and not add it to my scrap paper drawer.  I gave over half of it to friends and let me tell you that's a great way to use up scrap paper!  Here's just a portion of what I did with the rest of the black and white My Mind's Eye Meadowlark papers:

All edges of the black and white paper were inked with Black Soot Distress ink and an ink blending tool.  I added a little ribbon, a stamped image or two and ended up with lots of cards!

And, yes, my fingers were inky!

Robin

Dry Embossed

Cracker Jack Stamp Club's theme for February is dry embossed.  Recently in a class I took we were instructed to use an embossing folder to emboss the metal from a Coke can.  I really liked that technique and used it for my Cracker Jack sample this month.

I started with a Quickutz metal sheet and embossed with a Tim Holtz Alterations embossing folder.  I trimmed the metal sheet down to the embossed area.  It took one cut since the metal sheets are the perfect width for the embossing folder.  I painted the entire embossed area with white gesso, let it dry, sanded and then dropped Ranger alcohol inks in Stream, Lettuce and Pool on the metal, tipping to let the alcohol ink run and blend together.  I let that dry and then buffed using a piece of white scrap paper over my sanding block to make the raised areas shine.  Using a dry brush technique (very little paint on a dry brush) I added a little white gesso to some of the raised images and edged the entire piece.  I was going to trim the piece down into a tag but I really liked all of it so now it will be a page in a mini album some day.  I attached it to a green cardstock mat and added a few embellishments.

I hope you have the joy of inky fingers today!

Robin

Christmas cards in February?

Yes, those were my Christmas cards for 2011 on yesterday's post and my son has already pointed out that I don't need to mail those cards for another 10 months. :)  A couple of years ago (and other years, too) I barely finished my Christmas cards in time to get them mailed before Christmas.  Last year I decided to make my cards early so I would have one less thing to do in December.  There was one problem - in December I looked and looked and looked for those cards and was beginning to think it was all a dream when I finally found them.  I knew I had put them in a box but I was unsure what type of box and I have lots of boxes in my craft area.  I wasn't even sure if I stored them in my craft area.  This year I have my cards completed ahead of time AND I think I might be able to find them a little easier this year:

I started with a box that 250 envelopes came in.  I make cards in different sizes  (A2 - 4 1/4" x 5 1/2", A6 -4" x 6", and A7 - 5" x 7") so I used a box that A7 envelopes came in.  Now I'm set for whatever size Christmas card I make in the future.  I chose some paper from one of those "Stacks".  The large scale holly was a good choice because I wasn't sure what I would ever do with it since I prefer a smaller scale for the cards and mini albums I usually make.  I just cut to size for each side and attached it with my ATG.  I painted the top of the box with white gesso, let it dry, then covered it with Studio Glossy Multi Medium and immediately put crinkled red tissue paper in the wet Multi Medium.  I applied more Multi Medium on top of the tissue paper.  Just in case the red and green box wasn't enough to attract my attention I stamped "Merry Christmas" on white cardstock, matted it with red cardstock and attached it to the front of the box.

I'm headed to my craft area for some fun and some inky fingers!

Robin

Liquid Pearls

I recently purchased a bottle of Ranger White Opal Liquid Pearls.  I was working on some cards yesterday and thought the greeting on the front could use a little something.  I squeezed a little drop of Liquid Pearls on, let it dry and was very happy with the results.

It looks like a flat-back pearl! 

After about an hour and a half the "pearls" felt dry so I stacked the cards up.  The "pearls" flattened out slightly.

My first thought was "oh, no!" but on second thought I think they will go through the postal service much easier.  If you actually read the label on the bottle it says to let dry 2 to 3 hours.  Now I know! :)

I squeezed out 55 "pearls" yesterday and the bottle is still fairly full.  I have the flexibility of making small "pearls", large "pearls" and everything in between.  You can also write with it or add water and make a glaze.  I think it's a great value (I paid $2.59 for the bottle). I'll be purchasing some more Liquid Pearls in different colors!

Here's to inky fingers!

Robin

Black and White

I'm sticking with my New Year's crafting resolution (complete an unfinished album each month) and have finished an album for the month of February.  I had a Black and White album from a class I taught last summer that still needed photos and journaling.  The coordinating tag sheet had several mentions of love so I decided to add photos of my husband and me.

I used My Mind's Eye Meadowlark papers and punch-out tag sheets.

I used Stazon ink to stamp on the acetate sheets.

I added a little red here and there.

I added lots of photos.

My husband and I took turns with the journaling.

And now I have a completed mini album that's perfect for Valentine's Day!

I hope you have inky fingers!
Robin