Technique Tuesday - Faux Silk

 I'm really excited to share this week's technique with you.  It is called faux silk, because it looks as though you stamped your images on silk fabric. Here's how it's done;

Start with a piece of white tissue paper slightly larger than the panel of white card stock it will be mounted to. Stamp an image onto the tissue.  I colored this image with markers, then stamped it. You can also stamp an outline image and color in with pencils or markers.

Wad up the tissue paper into a tight ball. Then open it up carefully so you do not tear it, and flatten it out until it is crinkly (not totally smooth, so it still has some crinkles).

Use glue stick and apply glue onto white cardstock panel.  Adhere stamped tissue paper.

Turn piece over, and wrap edges of tissue to back.  Adhere to card and finish as desired.  In the card above, I used the piece as is.

In this card, I used a Spellbinder's Nestabilities template to cut the image into a circle.  I also sponged some pink ink onto the white, to tone it down a bit and add some color.

I hope you will try this technique.  It's fun, easy, and the look is very elegant.  

Blessings and peace,

lynda

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

I had a wonderful day of stamping with a friend today.  It may have been gloomy outside, but we had lots of fun in the house.  Got some cards made, and a layout for another challenge.  I made this card for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge here http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ .  The PB challenges are fun, easy, and there are prizes. All you need to do is make a card or project, be sure to use at least one Penny Black stamp on it, and upload it through the linky thing in their blog. 

Stop back Tuesday for a tutorial on how I made this card....it's called faux silk.  I'll have the directions and pictures of each step in my Technique Tuesday post on Tuesday, along with another card made with the same technique.

Hope you have a great week.

Peace and blessings,

lynda

Me and My Friends

I created this layout for a challenge over on A Few Of My Favorite Things blog here http://whatisyourfavething.blogspot.com/   The challenge was to make a layout or card about a couple of your friends.  I like this idea, and plan to do layouts of all my friends.  It will be great to look at them and remember all the wonderful blessings in my life!!

Here's my entry:

Here's each page individually:

Happy Friday everybody!  Enjoy your weekend....even though we're getting liquid sunshine.  But at least it will melt the SNOW!!  Yay....spring is on the way!

Peace and blessings,
lynda

It's A Beautiful Day

I was craving spring this morning, and challenged myself to make a card using colors I don't normally use. I must say, I think I may use these colors again....I really like the way they work together.  I used my Tsukineko The Essential Glue Pad to stamp the image, then sprinkled on orange glitter.  I know.....me - orange?  Yep, it's mine, and I did use orange.  I feel like Mikey on the tv commercial....I like it!  Here it is:

And, yes, it was a GORGEOUS day here.  Hope you were able to get out and enjoy it.

Blessings and peace,
lynda

Easy Paper Effects

I found this great technique sheet on Splitcoaststampers.  It features tearing, folding, and weaving, and has samples of each along with the directions.  These ideas have been around, but sometimes it's great to refresh our memories.  Hope you'll try some of these ideas.

Here's a link to the directions:  http://www.stampersmall.com/artists_corner/Easy_Paper_Effects.as 

CARDS AND INSTRUCTIONS BY BECKY CHABOT

 

 

 

I've been busy entering challenges and contests.  Stop back in a couple of days and I'll post some of my new projects.
Hope you're having a great week.
Peace and blessings,
lynda

Technique Tuesday - Distressed Crumpled Paper

It's good to be home, for sure, but I did get a lot of pages made at the crop over the weekend. I returned exhausted, but happy to have had some time to do nothing but scrapbook and stamp for three nights and two full days! Haven't done much since I got home Sunday afternoon. Worked Monday, ran errands and cleaned and put away all my "stuff" from the crop today. Work tomorrow....maybe tomorrow night I'll get a chance to get back in my craft room.
Today's TT post is about crumpling and distressing paper.  The pink and green panel on this card started out as a piece of ivory card stock. 

Here's how it's done:

• Crumple cardstock, paper, or decorative paper into a tight ball. Open and crumple again.
• Smooth crumpled piece so that there are still some raised ridges.
• Rub stamp pad over this piece, getting color on the ridges. Don't press too hard, as you want the "valleys" to remain inkless.
• Crumple piece again. Open and smooth out piece. If you are happy with the look, you are finished. You can add more ink and repeat above steps if more color is needed.
• Optional: Repeat above steps with second color.
• Optional: After first inking, try spritzing with a fine mist of water before re-crumpling. This softens the ink and gives a more diffused look. That is what I did with the panel on the above card.
• Smooth until flat (can be pressed with an iron if desired). 

On these scrapbook pages, I used distress ink and decorative scrapbook paper. I like the distressed, rough look of the crumpled, distressed background papers after I did this technique on them. It adds to the playful feel of the page, with Keeley in her overall shorts.

 

 

This is a really fun technique. It can be very addictive, so set aside some time. You'll want to distress everything!
Enjoy!
Peace and blessings,
lynda

Productive Crop Last Weekend - Pics of my pages

It was a wonderful and very productive weekend for me. I attended a scrapbooking crop at Palmyra Inn with my friend Karen. We got to spend time with Bridget, Danielle, and Jackie and Jana, from the former Paper Garden.  A great time was had by all, and we got lots of cards and scrapbook pages made.  I thought I'd share my accomplishments.

  

Faith, Dan, and Keeley about three years ago

Two page layout of the cutest ever flower girl

 

  

Sweet, sweet granddaughter two page layout

 

  

Keeley helping in Nana's garden (two page layout)

 

 The then 3 year old Keeley eating bananas

 

 dd's high school graduation 

 

 Keeley's first Easter - 3 months old

 

I also made eight 8 x 8 pages for dd's friend's baby album, but haven't taken pics of them yet.  

So, that's it.  It was fun, and I feel like I got a lot done. Can't wait till the next one.  Hope you enjoy them.

Blessings and peace, 

lynda

Prima Marketing Big News Coming Soon

Check out the Prima Marketing blog for some exciting news coming soon!  I don't know what it is yet, but here's a link to their blog:  http://prima.typepad.com/prima/ .
They promise it's something BIG, so I will definitely be checking it out.  There are lots of great page layouts on this blog, so check it out soon for some great ideas.

Blessings and peace,
lynda

Technique Tuesday - Embossing on Ribbon

Last week, Hero Arts blog featured ribbon and all the wonderful things you can do with it on cards and scrapbook pages.  I especially liked the day they embossed on ribbon, so I thought I'd share it here with you.  Just click on this link  http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2010/02/17/embossing-on-ribbonwith-a-video/   to read the article, see the samples, and even watch a how-to video with all the details on how you can emboss on your ribbons.
Here are a couple of the cards they highlighted on the blog:

Happy Birthday card by Kelly Rasmussin

 Glad you're in my life card by Jennifer McGuire

I'm sure you will agree, these cards are stunning!  I do hope you will check out the HA blog soon to find out how to do this, (be sure to watch the video) and try it for yourself.

I was packing last night and spaced it on the TT post for the blog!!  Got so involved in what I am going to bring to the weekend crop I'm going to with my friend Karen that the evening just got away from me. Yep, just dreaming of two full days and nights of non-stop (or stopping whenever I want and re-starting whenever I want) scrapbooking and stamping!  Woo-hoo!  We're leaving 7:30 AM Friday, and coming home Sunday.  Now hopefully the weather will cooperate!!

Hope you, too, have something fun planned for the weekend. At least carve out a little time for yourself to do some stamping, scrapping, or just playing!

Blessings and peace,

lynda

Custom Make Your Own Envelopes!

Have you ever made a card that wouldn't fit into any of the envelopes you have on hand?  How about a very special card that just needs a very special envelope? 

Well, it really is easy to make your own envelopes.  You can, of course, use an envelope template. There are many to choose from, in all shapes and sizes.  But, I think it's just as easy, if not easier, to make your own.  I've been doing it for years, and teaching it at the store.  No template, no pattern.  The beauty is that no matter what size your card is, you can make an envelope to fit it.

I found this tutorial on lkeener's blog, which is exactly how I have been making mine.  I am still a little techy-challenged, and lack the know-how to put together great tutorials, so I will link to her tutorial here on how to make an envelope of any size.  Here's the link:  http://scrapinator.blogspot.com/2009/03/easy-peasy-3-minute-envelope.html .

Use those odd pieces of paper that come in the paper packs, use maps, calendar pages, magazine pages, newspaper. patterned paper, stamped paper, even flower catalogs to make your envelopes.  Now your envelope can match your card!

Hope you're keeping cozy and warm! 

Blessings and peace,

lynda

Shamrock

My non-Irish eyes were smiling as I made this card for a swap I'm in through the Hero Arts Flickr group.  Just finished it and will be mailing it out today.  Hope you enjoy it, and get inspired to start thinking GREEN!!!

If you like swaps, consider joining us next time.  Just join the Hero Arts Flickr group and watch for Deborah Nolan's posts.  Here is her website if you would like to check it out.  She's witty, charming, creative, very, very talented, and just plain fun...hope you'll check out her site and play along next time http://dominodebi.typepad.com/sos/ .

Here's my card

OK, so now start THINKING GREEN!!

Hubby and I are off to Buffalo, where it's not so green right now....ever more snow than we have here in Rochester! Believe it or not!  Faith and Dan are off for their honeymoon on a cruise to Jamaica, while we get to watch Keeley until Monday, when I have to go back to work in the afternoon!  But she'll be in good hands with Dan's folks and lots of friends, too.  Hope we don't have to do too much shoveling!!  Just lots and lots of games, puzzles, hide and seek, coloring, stamping with Keeley, and fun!  Maybe she and I will even bake some cookies, cuz Keeley says that
"Nana makes the BEST cookies EVER!"

With that, I'll bid you adieu!

Blessings and peace,

lynda

Technique Tuesday - Scrunchy Flowers

Scrunchy Flowers Tutorial
I saw this flower as I was looking for flower tutorials online, and really like the way it is slightly scrunchy, and so pretty.  I found this tutorial on how to make them by Ilina Crouse on her blog here:  http://ilinacrouse.blogspot.com/2010/01/scrunchy-fancy-flower-tutorial.html 
It so pretty isn't it?  I will be making lots of these, and trying different papers.  Music sheets would be nice, or how about some pretty scrapbook papers, or your own hand-stamped papers.  A large crystal would also be pretty in the center. 
What a gorgeous embellishment for a card.  How about three or more of them on a scrapbook page?  Hmmm, with Valentine's Day coming right up, I'm thinking they would be pretty on a Valentine's card!


Try these, they're easy and fun to make, and I'm sure you find lots of uses for them!


Blessings and peace,
lynda
 

Sharing a challenge card

Thought I'd share a card I just finished up this afternoon for a challenge for Card Patterns weekly card sketch challenge here http://cardpatterns.blogspot.com/ .  There are some fabulous card makers participating on this blog.  Hope you will stop by there to check it out.  Very inspirational.
This was the sketch....

 

And here is my "take" on the sketch, my finished card.....

 

I used Printworks stamps, and Basic Grey papers, and my new Fleur de lis die from  Spellbinders.  Check out the link above to see some of the awesome entries for this challenge, as well as their past challenges.  Maybe you'll try one yourself soon!

Blessings,

lynda

Technique Tuesday - Glitter and Sticker Paper

I just love this season of Valentines.  Hearts are everywhere....Valentine candy is plentiful....and sweethearts are planning their special Valentine's treats and activities.

As card makers, this is a really fun season to make cards and projects for.  We get to use our pretty papers, heart shaped punches and dies, reds, pinks, and stamps with cute little critters with hearts and flowers.  For me, making Valentine's cards means BLING!   Out comes my glitter and shimmery paints and pens, glitter glue, and crystals.  Valentines and glitter just GO together!!

I had so much fun making this card, using my heart punch, vellum, glitter, and sticker paper:

 

Here's how I did it:

• Trim vellum with scallop blade on paper trimmer.  Use glue pen to trace hearts, then sprinkle with glitter.  Add to card front when dry.
• Punch double hearts in center of red cardstock scrap.  Align smaller square scallop punch or die cut and punch out square with hearts in center.  Set aside.
• Adhere double-sticker paper to white cardstock scraps.  Punch out larger square with square scallop punch or die cut. 
• Peel protective paper from the white square, revealing sticky surface.  Adhere red punched square with hearts onto white square.  The heart openings and outside border will be sticky.
• Dip pieces into multi ultra-fine glitter.  The glitter will stick to the hearts and border where the sticky paper is!
• Assemble card.

Easy, isn't it!!  

Hope you're enjoying this season of love!

Blessings and peace,

lynda

Pocket Cards

I just love the look of pockets on cards.  I often use them on my scrapbook pages, but don't think about them for cards.  This Hero Arts Technique article by Shari Carroll gives directions on how to make these three fabulous cards with pockets.  I know what I'm doing the rest of this week!

Here's the link to the article with directions and pictures:
http://www.heroarts.com/learning/technique.cfm?techID=54&catID=3

 

Thanks to Shari Carroll for these wonderful pocket cards.  And thanks to Hero Arts for always providing lots and lots of inspiration.  Be sure to check out the Hero Blog for more ideas and fun.

Blessings and peace,

lynda

Challenge Entry

Thought I'd share this layout I just finished for a challenge over on My Mind's Eye blog, using one of their sketches.  This paper is from their Wild Asparagus paper pad.

Wish me luck!

lynda

Lotsa Layers!

I had soooo much fun with this collection by My Mind's Eye!  These papers are from the Be Loved Collection, and I just love, love, love the colors.  I purchased it at Stop and Scrap online, and couldn't wait for it to arrive.  It came just last week, and I had to dive right in and make a card for the Hero Arts Hearts and Friendship challenge on their blog.  Here's my entry:

Here's how I made it:

• Cut four different papers into various width strips and adhere to ivory card front.  Distress edges with Ranger Brush Corduroy Distress Ink.
• Cut, round corners, distress, and adhere green panel.  Add striped strip from edge of card to about 2" in.
• Cut, round corners, distress, pierce around edge, and adhere rust panel.
• Cut, round corners, distress, adhere flowers and brads, and adhere teal hears strip near bottom.
• Stamp Hero Arts CL012 image with ColorBox chalk ink onto peach cardstock panel made with Spellbinders die.  Distress edges and adhere to card with foam mounting tape. Stamp image again, and cut out flower head and attach over original with foam tape.  Add highlights with clear Stardust gel pen.
  
• Stamp Hero Arts K4913 lots of love, cut out, and adhere with foam tape over image.  Add teal knotted ribbon with glue dots.
• Add flowers and gem on left side with glue dots.

Here's the inside (I didn't add the sentiment yet, as I don't know what occasion I want to use it for).....

I had lots of fun with this line, and can't wait to do more with it.  Now I'm hopping over to Hero Arts blog.  Hope you enjoyed this card!

Blessings and peace,
lynda

Technique Tuesday - Paper Piecing

Paper piecing is one of those fun and easy techniques that really makes an image "pop" on your card.  It's as easy as stamping an image onto patterned paper, cutting it out, and attaching the cut out portion over the stamped image on your card.  This link brings you to the Hero Arts blog where Sheri Carroll walks us through, step by step, how to do this technique.  I love her card, and know you will, too.  Think of all the open design stamps you have and how fun it would be to use this technique with them!

Here's the link to the paper piecing technique by Shari Carroll:
http://heroarts.com/cardmaking/cardIdea.cfm?cardID=4233

Here's the card Shari made:

I love the simplicity of this, and the great paper designs she chose!  I hope you'll check out this blog posting on Hero Arts, and leave Shari a comment.

Also, if you haven't signed up for the Hero Arts Club, be sure to sign up while you're there.  They have so many ideas and so much inspiration there, each and every day!! 

Hope you're enjoying our balmy temperatures this week!  I, personally, think snow is highly over-rated! 

Blessings and peace,

lynda

Three Boutique Gifts for $1 Each - REALLY!!

Sad to say, I got NO takers on last week's blog challenge.  Too bad, cuz I had some really pretty blog candy to give away.  Maybe I'll try again in a few weeks.

This week, I'm going to show you three gifts I made for my good friend, Sylvia. Normally, I don't brag about how much I spend on someone's gift, but you just won't believe what this pretty gift set trio cost. Here are the items:

This pretty frame...... just $1!!!!!

This gratitude journal.......just $1

And this candle......yep, just $1!!!!!!

The secret?  The Dollar Store! Yes, I bought a plain, kind of ugly, wooden frame, a top-spiral hard covered lined notebook, and a plain blue candle. I took them home, selected papers and embellishments from my stash in colors that would match Sylvia's bedroom, and simply covered each piece. I had the wonderful buttons from a tin of buttons and findings I picked up at a garage sale this summer.  All three pieces took just three 12 x 12 pieces of decorative cardstock!! 

Here's how it's done:

Frame:  Sand frame so that paper will stick easier. Paint inside and outside edges with blue acrylic paint, let dry. Trim decorative cardstock paper to size of frame (trace frame onto back of cardstock - make sure to trace inside opening, then cut out). Adhere paper to frame with good glue. I used Perfect Paper Adhesive. Or you can use bookbinding glue, as well. From coordinating cardstock, I cut out the paisley shapes, and adhered to covered frame. Distress inside and outside edges of paper with brown distress ink on a piece of Cut n' Dry.  Line inside of frame with coordinating plain cardstock. This is where the picture will go. Add buttons and flower embellishments with glue dots.

Gratitude Journal: Remove plastic spiral binding by twirling it out of the holes. Set aside. Sand notebook if it is glossy, as this one was. I chose to paint the outside edges of the covers, but you could also wrap the paper into the inside. Apply cardstock (striped on bottom, star design on top); apply small strip of cardstock between the two panels. Distress edges. Use small 1/8" paper punch to punch the holes through the cardstock. Do this from the back, aligning the punch with the holes in the notebook. Adhere panel 1/8" smaller all around the the inside cover of the front.  Repeat for back covers. I used the coordinating paisley cardstock for the back cover.  Stamp "gratitude" on brown panel, mount onto blue scrap, adhere to cover.  Add buttons and flowers with glue dots.  Rewind the spiral binding back onto the covers and pages.   Tie coordinating ribbons and fibers to binding.  

For more information about gratitude journals, including how to use them, see my article on HubPages here http://hubpages.com/_quhng16s2trb/hub/-Journaling-About-Gratitude-Changed-My-Life .

Candle:  Cut decorative cardstock (striped) size of candle and circumference plus 1". Wrap around candle and adhere by overlapping the piece and attaching with tape runner.  Cut second piece (paisley) a little more narrow that first piece and adhere as above.  Distress edges.  Add ribbon and tie bow. Add buttons and flowers with glue dots.

That's it!!! A pretty little gift set which looks like it came from an artsy boutique, for a fraction of the cost. Just an investment of your time. But you won't even mind spending the time....it's so much fun making something pretty from something plain!

Ciao!  Peace and blessings,

lynda

Technique Tuesday - Pastel Chalk Resist

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of my wonderful friends, fans, readers, followers, fellow bloggers, fellow stampers, well, everyone!

I'm enjoying a day off.  I love mid-week days off, and usually plan my trips (doctors, shopping, visiting, errands) for this day, but as I looked out the window this morning and saw the winter wonderland scene, I thought it would be a perfect day for staying in!  I don't have to don boots, gloves, hat, etc. and no shoveling or scraping.

Be sure to check read this whole post, as there is a  BLOG CHALLENGE after the technique, and you just could win a prize!!!!

So, now that I have my hot chocolate, it's time for today's Technique Tuesday technique.

Last week I did a chalk ink resist technique.  Many people get confused when we talk about chalks.  For this post, I will be using pastel chalks, the kind that come in little palettes or stick form - in other words, actual chalk.  Chalk INK, on the other hand, is ink that is formulated to look like chalk when it dries. That is what I used on last week's post.  Now that I have that cleared up, let's move along.

Pastel Chalk Resist

This is a card I made for a stamp camp at The Paper Garden in 2008.  Here's how the technique is done:

• Start with a card stock panel.  Ink panel with VersaMark clear ink pad, using stamp images of your choice. For this card, I used Hero Arts Winter's Butterfly set of clear stamps.
• Be sure to let the ink dry a minute or two - DO NOT RUSH THIS.  If you apply the chalk while the ink is too wet, it will smear. Take your time.
• Using an alligator clip with piece of cotton or pom pom, or sponge applicators made for chalks, apply color to the stamped images. Use different applicator for each color. In this card, I used light, medium, and dark blue chalks. This is the exciting step, as you will see the images "pop" out, right before your eyes! 
• Use a soft tissue to gently wipe the card front to remove any extra chalk particles.  You will not remove the smudges around the images....that adds to the charm of the technique, and gives your images a soft glow.
• Finish panel as desired.  In this card, I added some stamped snow flakes with blue Marvy Matchable ink. Then I drew over some of the design with the white Signo gel pen, to break up all the blue a little, and add some interest.
• TIPS:  Again, be sure to let the ink dry a bit before applying chalk.  If desired, you may spray your panel with a fixative, or aerosol hair spray. It shouldn't be necessary, but some people like to add this step.

To finish my card, I attached a white snowflake brad through the panel, then attached my panel to a white layer, then to the blue card. I added the stamped sentiment, and with the white Signo gel pen, added fake "brads" to the corners of the panel. I attached the panel with foam tape.

Here is the inside of the card:  

                                                                                                                       

I hope you enjoyed this technique. I use this a lot, as I like the soft, smudgy look.

Blog Challenge:   If you try this, let me know.

*If you post your card on Flickr, and send me the link, I'll post it on my blog this week for everyone to enjoy. I'd love to see what you do with this.

*BE SURE TO LABEL YOUR CARD PaperArtsCafe Blog Challenge # 1.

*Also, be sure to leave a message on this post, and send me an email at keeleysgram@yahoo.com to let me know you're playing, and that you posted your card on Flickr, along with your link, and your mailing address in case you are the winner!

*Send me your card link by NOON  Sunday, January 10th. I will choose one card, and the artist will win some BLOG CANDY! If you are not familiar with blog lingo, blog candy is goodies that stampers and scrap bookers like....a little prize. No fat, no calories, but yummy goodies to use on your next project.  I will send the winner of this challenge a Colorbok Christmas Mini Scrapbook Kit (hey, you can get an early start for next year). If you are not a scrap booker, don't worry. There are plenty of papers and embellishments for card makers in this package.

So get busy. You have until Sunday NOON to post your images and send me the link.

*Be sure to send me your name and address, so I know who and where to send the blog candy to. I will post all the entries on Monday, January 11th, and will announce the winner of the blog candy.

So check Monday's post, and come back often for more fun "blog stuff" on PaperArtsCafe! (Don't forget, if you don't want to miss a post, sign up to follow me on the blog site). This is my first blog challenge, and I hope you will participate. I look forward to seeing your cards!

Happy stamping and scrapping!

Blessings, joy, and peace,

lynda