stamp out loud by tami sanders

Christmas joy!

Today's card uses some of the same techniques as the card done in the last post.

The background has been "Smooched" using Smooch Spritz, then Design Adhesives have been applied and foiled...

  
 

And, as with the last card, there is PLENTY of sparkle and bling!

 

 

To add a bit of dimension to the card, "joy" was added using dimensional foam dots...

 

Smooch Spritz and Designer Foils are both perfect products to use when you want to dress up any holiday project. Both are easy to use and produce GREAT results!

Here's all you need to know to make this card yourself... 

“joy X 4” card

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Smooch Spritz: Citrus Tickle and Limolicious, Design Adhesives: Memory Box Collection: In the Forest and Calm and Bright, Designer Foils: Cherry Pie and Irish Eyes, ColorBox Archival Dye Ink: Golf Course, Stylus Handle and White Foam Blender Tip and Color Catcher

Bazzill: card: Ruby Slipper and Walnut Cream, Hillary and Parakeet cardstocks 

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive, black pen and dimensional foam dots

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut a 4 1/2 square piece of light green cardstock and mat on a 4 3/4 square of dark green cardstock. Adhere to upper portion of card front.

2) Cut a 5 X 5 square of cream cardstock and spritz lightly with both colors of Smooch Spritz; set aside to dry.

NOTE: Make sure that paper is COMPLETELY dry before doing this step - the Design Adhesives will not appy or adhere properly otherwise.

3) Cut the 5 X 5 "smooched" cardstock into 4 - 2" squares. {reserve leftover}

4) Cut apart poinsettia, 3 holly leaves and 1 set of berries, 1 set of ornaments and bird from Design Adhesive sheets. Apply  each set of designs to one of the 2" squares.

5) Apply red foil to poinsettia, berries, round ornament and bird. Apply green foil to leave and pointed ornament.

6) Use black pen to add sides, crowns and hooks to ornaments and legs and feet to bird.

7) Ink edges of all 4 - 2" squares using Golf Course Dye Ink applied with Stylus and blender tip.

8) Adhere squares to matted cardstock at top of card.

9) Cut apart and apply "christmas" beneath and aligned with the left side of the matted square. Apply green foil.

10) Cut apart and apply "joy" on the leftover piece of "smooched" cardstock. Apply red foil. Then trim around word, and ink edges using Golf Course Dye Ink applied with Stylus and Tip. Adhere at an angle at the end and slightly below "christmas".

MORE Holiday and Christmas projects are on the way, so please come back later!

AND --- within the next few months, Clearsnap will be COMBINING Jean's and my blogs into ONE big blog with projects by guest designers too! You can take a peek at it HERE! In the meantime, I will keep posting to our Typepad blogs, but the projects will also be posted on the Blogger blog --- so be sure to bookmark it!

Clearsnap has also started a FACEBOOK page, Be sure to check it out and join up so you can view projects posted by others as well as be the first to know about any news or special announcements!

jingle bells...jingle bells...

Listen... do you hear them? That distant sound of bells that is getting CLOSER and LOUDER everyday?

The theme of the next round of posts, and I hope to have a LOT of them, will be the holiday season.

Who doesn't love the holidays, and crafting for them? The colors, bright, vivid colors and the BLING! Now is the time to add a touch of sparkle and shimmer to ALL you create.

I'm starting off with an easy card today; one you can mass produce easily if you've procrastinated in getting your holiday cards done, but it still has plenty of BLiNg...

 

The card base is plain kraft cardstock, and the focal piece is just cardstock that has been "Smooched". Design Adhesives snowflakes were added and foiled with silver...

 

 The "peace" sentiment is just another Design Adhesive cut apart and applied to bits of cardstock and then covered in blue foil...

 

Here are the quick and easy to follow directions for this card.

“peace in blue” card

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Smooch Spritz: Navy Twinkle and Vanilla Shimmer, Design Adhesives: Memory Box Collection: Flurries and Calm and Bright, Designer Foils: Silver Fog and Seaport, ColorBox Archival Dye Ink: Mermaid, Stylus Handle and White Foam Blender Tip and Color Catcher

Bazzill: Kraft and Walnut Cream cardstocks

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive and stapler

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut a 4 X 12 piece of kraft cardstock and fold in half to make card.

2) Cut a 3 X 4 piece of vanilla cardstock and place in Color Catcher. Lightly spritz with Navy Twinkle Smooch Spritz, then add a quick coat of Vanilla Shimmer. Set aside to dry.

3) Prepare sentiment while "smooched" piece is drying. Cut 5 - 1" X 1" pieces of vanilla cardstock. Cut apart "peace" design adhesive from set, and apply one letter to the center of each square. Gently rub blue foil over letters. Trim the pieces in random legths, keeping the widths to about 1/2". Ink edges using Mermaid Dye Ink.

NOTE: Make sure that paper is COMPLETELY dry before doing this step - the Design Adhesives will not appy or adhere properly otherwise.

4) Cut apart snowflakes from set and randomly apply to "Smooched" cardstock piece. The designs can overlap the eges, just trim excess and use elsewhere. Lay silver foil sheet over designs and rub gently. 

5) To assemble, staple or glue the "peace" letters to the lower edge of the "Smooched" piece, then adhere the "Smooched piece to the center of the card. 

MORE Holiday and Christmas projects are on the way, so please stop back by to see what's new!

AND --- within the next few months, Clearsnap will be COMBINING Jean's and my blogs into ONE big blog with projects by guest designers too! You can take a peek at it HERE! In the meantime, I will keep posting to our Typepad blogs, but the projects will also be posted on the Blogger blog --- so be sure to bookmark it!

Clearsnap has also started a FACEBOOK page, Be sure to check it out and join up so you can view projects posted by others as well as be the first to know about any news or special announcements!

nevermore...

Since I had the polymer clay sitting out {it was used for the charm on the treat box in the last post}, I decided to make a SPOOKtacular pendant for Halloween...

 

Polymer Clay is a great medium to use with your stamping supplies. Stamps can be used to add designs to the clay just by pressing them into it, and your inks and sprays can be used to add some COLOR to the design.

For this pendant, a stamp was pressed into the clay, then after baking, several colors of Smooch Spritz were added to create a soft collage of "Halloween" colors. Then Crafter's Ink in Black was applied and rubbed in to "antique" the piece. Smooch Spritzes add a pretty touch of shimmer and work well on the clay. And the Crafter's Ink can be blended and worked into the design to get in all the little nooks and crannies. Let the ink set a few minutes, then gently buff off the excess.  

Here's a closer look at the pendant...

 

You can see my fingerprints in the clay as i used my "special" tools - aka my fingers to flatten the clay!  I wanted the pendant to have a free form shape, so fingers were the best tools to use to achieve that look.

After the pendant was done, I added a bail to it and strung it on some leather cording.

If you'd like to try using your stamping supplies with polymer clay, here's what you need to know...

“nevermore” polymer clay pendant

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Smooch Spritz: Carrot Cake, Citrus Tickle and Gold Glow, Crafter’s High Top Ink Pad: Black, ColorBox Stylus Handle with white blender tip and Color Catcher

Indus Trading Company: Deerskin Lace – 1/8” black 

Memory Box: Spooky Collage wood mount stamp

Other: Plaid: Forged: metal findings – multi bales and Polymer Clay: beige 

Tools: a wood skewer {or something to punch hole in pendant with}, scissors, pliers and heat gun {optional}

DIRECTIONS:

1) Condition clay according to package directions.

2) Break off a piece and roll to form a 1 1/2" to 2" ball.

3) Use your fingers to flatten into a free form rectangle shape about 1/8" thick.

4) Press stamp into clay, careful not to press too hard.

5) Make hole at center top and bake pendant according to package directions.

6) When pendant has completely cooled, place it in the Color Catcher and lightly spray with Smooch Spritz letting the colors overlap slightly. Set aside piece to dry or use heat gun to speed drying time.

7) After you make sure Smooch Spritzes have completely dried, apply Crafter's Ink using Stylus and Foam Tips, smoothing ink into the impressed designs and also around the edges of the pendant. Let side about 10 minutes, then gently buff with a paper towel.

8) Add bail to pendant, then string onto lacing.

9) Add a protective coat if desired.

This was the LAST of my Halloween projects, but fall and Thanksgiving themed projects are on the way! Please come back to visit and see what's new!

Also please check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products!

a spell-cial halloween card...

What colors come to mind when I say "Halloween"?

Orange, Black, possibly Yellow? Maybe Lime Green or Purple?

How about Pink?

No, pink isn't a color I usually associate with Halloween either, that's why I thought it might be a fun color to try incorporating in a Halloween card.

I started with a pink card as the base, then added some touches of more "traditional" Halloween colors...

 

I stamped and embossed the cute little witch and her magical "wake" using Top Boss Tinted Embossing Pad and Black Embossing Powder. The images are nice and crisp so the designs are easy to fill in with Smooch Accent Inks. Top Boss Embossing Powders are very fine, so when you heat set them, even the tiniest details remain SHARP!

And thanks to the fabulous built in precision tip that Smooch Accent Inks have, you can "smooch" even the itsy-bitsy-est portions of your stamped and embossed designs...

  

The background paper for the "wake" is white cardstock that has been sprayed with Silver Foil Smooch Spritz, to add some shimmer...

 

The "moon" background that the witch is stamped on is just a circle that was punched from plain, white cardstock. Then ColorBox Pigment Ink in Canary was used to color it in. ColorBox Pigment Inks blend beautifully, even on plain cardstock, so by blending the color from the outside in, the outer edge stayed darker, easily creating a shaded affect.

The same technique was used to create the background for the sentiment, which was stamped and embossed...

 
 

If you'd like to make this card for a spell-cial friend or maybe a daughter, granddaughter or neice, here's what you need to know...

“witchie-poo” card

Skill Level: moderate

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Top Boss: Tinted Embossing Pad and Embossing Powder: Black, Smooch Accent Ink: Carrot, Sundance, Kiwi, Molasses, Grape Soda and Sassy Pink, Smooch Spritz: Silver Foil, ColorBox Pigment Ink: Canary, Stylus Handle and White Foam Blender Tip and Color Catcher

Hero Arts: Month - October ClearDesign stamp

Hampton Art: Mini Flip Flops: Witches Brew

Memory Box: Jewel Spiders

Bazzill: Card: Fussy from Cards & Envelope Set, Black Dashed Ribbon and Blackberry Swirl, Coconut Swirl and Intense Orange cardstocks

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive, fine black pen, foam dimensional dots, 1 3/4 scalloped square punch, 2 1/2 circle punch and a heat gun

DIRECTIONS:

1) Trim 5 X 7 pink card to 4 X 6.

2) Cut a 3 1/2 X 4 piece of black cardstock and adhere to upper portion of card front.

3) Punch 2 scalloped squares from orange cardstock, add stitching lines with black pen and adhere to upper left and lower right corners of black cardstock.

4) Punch a circle from white cardstock and use ColorBox Pigment Ink in Canary, blended with the Stylus and White Foam Blender Tip, to apply ink from outside edge of circle in towards the center. Set aside to dry.

5) Cut a 2 1/4 X 1 1/8 piece of white cardstock and use same technique as in step {4} to color in cardstock. Set aside to dry.

6) Stamp witch in center of circle using Top Boss Tinted Embossing Pad and then emboss with Black Embossing Powder. Stamp sentiment in center of rectangle using same technique.

7) Place a 1 X 5 piece of white cardstock in the Color Catcher and spray with Silver Foil Smooch Spritz; set aside to dry.

8) Fill in witch design using Smooch Accent Inks.

9) Stamp and emboss border design on "smooched" cardstock. Cut out "wake" and fill in "bubbles" using Smooch Accent Inks.

10) To assemble, adhere ribbon about 3/4 from bottom of card, then adhere sentiment about 1/2 from right side of card; adding spider stickers. Adhere moon to center of black background, then use dimensional foam dots to adhere "wake" at bottom of moon.

MORE Halloween projects are on the way, so please stop back by to see what's new!

Also please check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products!

vintage botanicals...

Today's blog post will introduce a new theme --- Vintage. For the next few weeks, the projects will all focus on vintage elements or a vintage look; distressed, shabby, tattered, torn and aged.

First up is a pair of ATC cards. ATC stands for Artist Trading Card; a small card - a mini work of art - meant to be traded and collected. ATC's can be simple or elaborate. The art form can be a little intimidating as some ATC's are VERY artisitic. But, you don't have to be an artist to participate in the wonderful world of ATC's.

These two ATC's, inspired by pictures of botanicals found in a vintage book, are easy to make...

 
The cards were first stamped with a background stamp using Ancient Page Ink - which is a light, sheer ink that works beautifully for that purpose.

Next, the designs were stamped one at a time so that they could be embossed using different colors of embossing powders...

 
 

Then, the embossed designs were "labeled" much in the same way as they are in reference books with "fig. {#}" using a fine tip black pen.

 

You can find friends and "artists" to swap cards with by checking with your local stamp stores or searching online forums. ATC cards are a great way to experiment with new techniques and because of their small size, they can be completed quickly too. So give them a try, and begin acquiring your own collection of miniature works of art! Or if you are already a veteran ATC'r, then try making these cards for your next swap.

Here are the directions and supplies you'll need to make them...

“botanicals” ATC cards

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap:  Watermark Ink, Top Boss Embossing Powder: Verdigris, Deep Green, Asparagus, Ballet Pink, Red, Lullabye Blue and Mac n' Cheese, Ancient Page Ink: Sandalwood and Sunburst {full or mini size}, ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink: Chestnut Roan {full or mini size} and Stylus and White Foam Blender Tips

Hero Arts: Old Letter Clings Stamp, Real Flowers and Watercolor Petals PolyClear Stamps

Bazzill: Kraft cardstock

Tools: Paper trimmer, fine tipped black pen and heat gun.

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut 2 - 2 1/2 X 3 1/2 pieces of kraft cardstock to make ATC card.

2) Ink Old Letter stamp using Sandalwood ink, use a foam tip dipped into Sunburst ink to apply ink to the postmarks on the stamp, then stamp ATC card. Repeat with other card.

Leaves Botanical ATC:

1) Ink fern stamp with Watermark Ink and stamp diagonally on one of the stamped ATC card. Sprinkle and emboss with Verdigris Embossing Powder.

2) Stamp the "roundish" leaf in the upper right corner and emboss with Deep Green.

3) Stamp the small leaf in the lower left corner and emboss with Asparagus

Floral Botanical ATC:

1) Ink large flower stamp with Watermark Ink and stamp diagonally on the other stamped ATC card. Sprinkle and emboss with stem ONLY with Verdigris Embossing Powder.

2) Sprinkle and emboss the flower portion with Mac n' Cheese Embossing Powder.

3) Stamp the small 5 petal flower in the upper right corner, sprinkle Ballet Pink Embossing Powder at the center of the flower ONLY and and emboss.

4) Sprinkle remaining portion of flower with Red Embossing Powder and emboss.

5) Stamp the small profile flower in the lower left corner, sprinkle Deep Green Embossing Powder on stem ONLY and emboss.

6) Sprinkle flower with Lullabye Blue Embossing Powder and emboss.

Finishing:

1) Use ink applied using foam blender tip to distress edges of card, use touches of Sunburst Ancient Page Ink first, then go over entire edge using Sandalwood. Finally, go over card again just at the edges using Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink. Repeat with other card.

2) Use black pen to add "fig.{#}" to each stamped and embossed image.

I hope you'll try making this pair of ATC cards, or experimenting with these techniques on ATC cards of your own.

Please check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products.

aloha summer...

Oops! I was a bit too hasty in bidding summer goodbye! I forgot I had one last {really this time} summer project to share. American Art Stamps has an adorable little hula gal on one of their sets, and I wanted to make a card using her to wave aloha to summer...

 

 

Smooch Accent Ink was my medium of choice to color her and the border of flowers in with. The colors are so bright and so shimmery and I can't say enough about how wonderfully accurate that built in applicator is. Usually, I emboss my design to make it easier to stay within the lines when I plan on "smooching" my project. But this time, I decided to REALLY put the accuracy of those fab little applicators {as well as the steadiness of my hand} to the test. I just stamped the images using chalk ink - no little "rails" to hold the inks in and keep me inside the lines. I was able to get into the tiniest of places and really keep the inks where I wanted them.

 

To make the bamboo background, several colors of chalk inks were applied to the stamp using the Stylus fitted with the Foam Blender Tip. This gave the background some color variations.

 

Here are the list of supplies and directions you'll need if you'd like to make this card yourself...

"hula gal" card

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Smooch Accent Ink: Kiwi, Sundance, Carrot, Sassy Pink, Taffy, Snickerdoodle and Molasses ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink: Toffee, Butterscotch and Chestnut Roan and Stylus with White Foam Blender Tips

American Art Stamps: Hula Set

Bazzill: Coconut Swirl and Kraft cardstocks

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive, dimensional foam dots

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut a 4 X 12 piece of kraft cardstock and fold in half to make card.

2) Stamp 4 flowers down side of card using Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink.

3) Stamp hula gal and 3 "aloha"'s on white cardstock using Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink.

4) Ink stamp with Butterscotch Chalk Ink, then ink Blender Tip of Stylus using Toffee ink and apply randomly over stamp. Clean tip, then dip into Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink, apply ink sparingly and lightly in a few places on stamp. Stamp image on white cardstock and cut out.

5) Use Smooch Accent Ink ink Sundance, Carrot and Sassy Pink to color in flowers down side of card and Kiwi to fill in the leaves.

6) Use Snickerdoodle to fill in hula gal's skin, Molasses for her hair and coconut shell bikini top and Kiwi for her skirt. Then use Sassy Pink, Carrot and Sundance to fill in flowers in leis.

7) Adhere bamboo background to front of card, slightly off center towards the left. Then adhere hula gal using dimensional foam dots. Finally, cut out sentiments and adhere to front of card.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out this LAST summer project. Next up are vintage inspired projects, so please come back by soon. Also please check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products!

---tami

 

end of summer...

School is starting soon and summer is fading fast, so here's the last project in the "Summer Series", a card with a simple sentiment that would work for a variety of occasions...

The colors came from one of the spectacular summer sunsets we are treated to here in Texas, this one in particular was a mix of golden yellow with touches of lavender. I thought the colors would be perfect for this summer project.

To create both the sentiment and the flowers, a resist method was used by embossing the images and then applying the inks over the them.

First, the flowers were stamped on white cardstock using Watermark Ink and embossed using Top Boss Embossing Powder in Pearl. Then, the Plum Berry Pigment Ink was applied in and around the outer petals using a Stylus and White Foam Tip...

The pigment ink is smooth and fluid and takes a little while to dry, so it is very easy to apply and blend. Once applied, the excess ink was removed using a clean white paper towel...

Next, the Sunflower Pigment Ink was applied in the same way to the center of the flower...

The same process was repeated to create the sentiment. The stamp set does come with an exclamation point, but I liked the small starburst that also comes with the set, so I paired it with the "l" to create my own exclamation mark...

You can use this resist technique with any of your stamps, and with any combination of embossing powders and inks you choose. For more contrast and a VIVID design, try it using black embossing powder and bright ink colors. If you'd like to try the technique out by making this card, here's what you need to know...

“enjoy!” card

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap:  Watermark Ink, ColorBox Pigment Ink: Plum Berry and Sunflower {full or mini size}, Top Boss Embossing Powder: Pearl and Stylus and White Foam Blender Tips

Hero Arts: Real Flowers 4 X 6 PolyClear Stampsand Curly Alphabet ClearDesign Stamps

Bazzill: Coconut Swirl cardstock

Petersen Arne: Paper Accents: mustard cardstock

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive, pinking scissors, dimensional foam dots, heat gun and white paper towels.

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut a 6 X 12 piece of white cardstock and fold in half to make card.

2) Cut a 5 1/4 X 5 1/4 piece of mustard cardstock and trim edges using pinking scissors. Adhere to center front of card.

3) Stamp 3 flowers on white cardstock using Watermark Ink, then emboss using Top Boss Pearl Embossing Powder.

4) Using Stylus and White Foam Blender Tip, dip tip into Plum Berry Pigment Ink and apply ink to and around outer petal of flowers using a circular motion. When done, wipe gently in a circular motion to remove excess ink. Set aside to dry.

5) Stamp "enjoy!" on a piece of white cardstock using Watermark Ink. Then emboss using Top Boss Embossing Powder in Pearl. Using Stylus and White Foam Blender Tip, dip tip into Plum Berry Pigment Ink and apply ink to and around the sentiment in a rough rectangle {about 3 1/2 X 1 3/4} Use a paper towel to remove excess ink as before, and set aside to dry.

6) Change or clean White Foam Blender tip on Stylus.Then use it to apply Sunflower Pigment ink to center of flowers. Use paper towel to remove excess ink and set aside to dry.

7) When inks have set, cut out flowers about 1/8 outside of design, and tear around edges of sentiment.

8) Adhere pieces as shown, using dimensional foam dots to adhere the flower at the center.

I hope you enjoyed this project and will give this technique a try. Also please check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products!

---tami

 

a little inspiration...

You just never know when and where inspiration is going to strike. I was looking around for a color scheme for another “manly” card and spied some tile samples I had picked up – we are in the middle of some remodeling. I liked the tile, but the colors just weren’t right for my bath project, BUT – they looked perfect for my card project. Grey, charcoal, alabaster, malted brown, and blue-grey all combined to make an eye-pleasing composition. So I gathered up some papers and inks in those colors and got started.

 

I scanned the card using the tile for the background so you could see the color inspiration. Here’s the finished card…

 

 

and here's a closeup of the stamped and embossed background design...

 

The tile had lots of texture and depth as well, so I tried to achieve that through embossing and touches of metallic ink...

 

Here’s what you need to know if you’d like to make this card yourself…

“time flies” card

 

Skill Level: moderate

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

Clearsnap:  ColorBox: MetaleXtra Pigment Ink: Platinum, ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink: Blackbird {full or mini size} and Chestnut Roan {cats eye}, ColorBox Catseye Queue: Luxe Metallics: Silk Green and Sapphire Silk, Top Boss: Clear Embossing Powder, Smooch Accent Ink: Silver Fox and Gold Lame and Stylus and Blender Tip

 

Hero Arts: Circle Pattern cling stamp

Hampton Art: Clock and Word Collage Borders clear stamps

My Sentiments Exactly: Parfait Multi clear stamps

Bazzill: Kraft, Blackberry Swirl, Oslo and Butter Cream cardstocks

Tools: adhesive, scissors, paper trimmer and heat gun

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut a 11 X 4 ¼ piece of kraft cardstock and fold in half to make card.

 

2) Ink Circle Background stamp using Silk Green and Sapphire Silk inks applied using the Stylus and Blender Tip. Place the colors randomly on the stamp having them overlap and blend in places. Stamp front of card and emboss using clear embossing powder.

 

3) Ink “time flies” border with Platinum MetaleXtra Ink and stamp on dark blue cardstock. Emboss with clear embossing powder; trim to 5 ¾ X 1 ¼.

 

4) Stamp clock on cream cardstock using Blackbird Chalk Ink; adhere hands to block at approx 11:20, ink with Blackbird Chalk Ink and stamp at center of clock; cut out.

 

5) Ink wings with Platinum MetaleXtra Ink and stamp on cream cardstock, emboss with clear embossing powder and cut out when cooled.

 

6) Use Parfait Multi alpha letters to spell out “miss you”, ink using Blackbird Chalk Ink and stamp on cream cardstock. Handcut, leaving about a ¼ border; ink edges using Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink.

 

7) Fill in inner feathers on wings using Silver Fox Smooch and hands on clock using Gold Lame Smooch.

 

8) To assemble, adhere “time flies” border at a slant across lower part of card. Then adhere “miss you” sentiment at lower right corner; fit wings around clock and adhere at upper left of card.

 

Keep your eyes open for the “inspiration” for your next project, it may be something unexpected!

 

---tami

 

"smooched" graduation box...

As promised, here is another project for the graduate; an altered paper mache’ box that’s the perfect size to hold a gift card now, and a tassel later.

 

I used Smooch Spritz to give the box the look of old metal that has aged over time. Smooch Spritz is a shimmery ink that you can spray; it goes on opaque and covers well in just one coat. And although it looks like it took hours to achieve the finish, it was accomplished in about 15 minutes using just 2 colors of Smooch Spritz. And since Smooch Spritz covers so well, there is no need to paint or prime the box first.

 

 

Here’s a closer look at the lid…

 

 

And here are some more close-ups of the details on the box…

 

 

 

 

If you don’t need a graduation gift, you can still make the basic box and just change the lid embellishments to whatever theme you like. Father’s Day is less than a month away and this box would be terrific for any dad as well. Maybe add a few vintage keys tied with twine to the top, and stamp with an appropriate Father’s Day sentiment. {More Father’s Day projects coming up next week!}

 

Here are the supplies and directions you need to make your own altered box…

 

“vintage metal” altered paper mache’ box

 

Skill Level: easy

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

Clearsnap: Smooch Spritz: Silver Foil and Vanilla Shimmer, Smooch Accent Ink: Illuminate and Moonlight, Crafter’s Ink: High Top Pad – Black, Stylus with Blender Tip and Color Catcher

 

Indus Trading Company: DIY Bangles:Time Together Collection: wood cut out - Graduation

 

Hampton Art: Graduation Time clear value set

 

Hero Arts: Curly Alphabet cleardesign stamps

 

Memory Box: Antique Damask wood mount stamp

 

Darice: paper mache box

 

Tools: adhesive, white paper towels and heat gun {optional}

 

DIRECTIONS: 

 

Designer Notes:

•  use Smooch Spritz as you would spray paint, spritzing while moving your hand across the piece to create an even coat. 

• depending on the type of paper mache’ box you use, it may or may not absorb the Smooch Spritz quickly. If ink pools, you can gently blot with paper towels.  

• you can use a heat gun to speed up drying time, just be sure to keep heat gun moving and don’t overheat to avoid warping your box.

 

1) Remove lid and place it along with the box bottom in the Color Catcher. Begin spritzing the top and sides of the lid and the sides of the bottom using Silver Foil Smooch Spritz. Allow pieces to set a few minutes before turning them to another side. Continue until all sides are done. Let dry a few minutes.

 

2) Spritz pieces again as before, this time using Vanilla Shimmer Smooch, and blotting gently with a clean paper towel a minute or so after ink is applied. {The blotting will help develop the aged appearance of the box}

 

3) Ink wood cut out cap using Black Crafter’s Ink applied with Stylus and Blended Tip; let dry.

 

4) Apply Smooch Illuminate to top of cap; let dry.

 

5) Outline cap using Moonlight Smooch, then smudge lightly with your finger to blend.

 

6) Let all pieces dry completely before proceeding.

 

7) Ink tip {about 1”} of Antique Damask stamp with Black Crafter’s Ink and stamp design around sides of lid; set aside to dry.

 

8) Use Black Crafter’s Ink applied using Stylus and Blender Tip to “antique” edges and corners of box lid and bottom.

 

9) Stamp “2010” using Curly Alphabet and Black Crafter’s Ink at lower right of box.

 

10) Stamp “class of” using stamp from Graduation Time set, above and to the left of “2010” using Black Crafter’s Ink; let dry.

 

11) Fill in “class of” letters using Moonlight Smooch.

 

12) Adhere cap to box at upper left.

 

Fill box with paper shred in silver, white or black and add gift card…

 

---tami

 

school's out!

SCHOOL’S OUT! {or will be soon!} and we are entering graduation season so my posts this week will both feature projects for the graduate.

 

First up is a card for that special student that has worked hard and finally reached the end of the road…

 

 

I used the “traditional” colors associated with graduation, black and white, but you could personalize this card by using the school colors of the graduate instead.

 

I inked a wood cut out graduation cap with Crafter’s Ink, then stamped and embossed “hat’s off to you” with Top Boss Embossing Powder in white. I used black and white embossing powders to do all the sentiments as well.

 

Here’s a close-up of some of the details…

 

 

A diecut strip and a bit of ribbon added a little pizzazz, and helped highlight the “Graduation Time” message.

 

Here are the supplies and directions you need to make this card for your scholar…

 

“Hat’s Off” card

 

Skill Level: easy to moderate

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

Clearsnap: Crafter’s Ink: High Top Pad - Black, Top Boss: Embossing Pad {tinted or regular}, Embossing Powder: White and Black and Stylus with Blender Tip

 

Indus Trading Company: Diy Bangles: Time Together Collection: wood cut out - Graduation

 

Hampton Art: Footlong Big & Little Apha’s clear stamps and Graduation Time clear value set

 

Bazzill: Coconut Swirl, Blackberry Swirl and Glass Slipper cardstocks, Half the Edge Cardstock Strips – black and Black and White Stripe ribbon

 

Tools: heat gun, paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive and foam dimensional dots

 

 

DIRECTIONS: 

 

1) Cut a 4 ¼” X 11” piece of white cardstock and fold in half to make card.

 

2) Use Stylus with Blender Tip to apply Crafter’s Ink to wood cap; set aside to dry.

 

3) Stamp “School’s … OVER!” on a piece of black cardstock using embossing pad, emboss with white embossing powder; cut out when cool.

 

4)  Stamp “Finally Done!” on a piece of black cardstock using embossing pad, emboss with white embossing powder; cut out when cool.

 

5) Stamp “Graduation Time” on a piece of white cardstock using embossing pad, emboss with black embossing powder; cut out when cool.

 

6) Stamp “congrats”, with letters from the Big and Little Alpha’s set, on a piece of white cardstock using embossing pad, emboss with black embossing powder; cut out when cool.

 

7) Stamp “hat’s off to you” on center of inked cap using embossing pad. Then emboss with white embossing powder.

 

8) Cut a 2 ½” X 4” piece of silver cardstock and mat on a 2 ¾” X 4 ¼” piece of black cardstock.

 

9) To assemble card:

• adhere black cardstock strip about ¼” from left side of card, trimming excess.
• adhere silver on black cardstock piece about ¼” from top of card and cardstock strip.
• adhere a piece of ribbon horizontally about 3 ½” from top of card.
• adhere hat at an angle at top of card.
• adhere sentiments, using foam dimensional dots to adhere “Graduation Time” on ribbon.   

---tami

 

bling me up...

I received some wood bangles from DIY Bangles that I have been anxious to bling up. Creating your own unique jewelry pieces can accent a new outfit, or help update one from last season. It only took an hour or so to transform these 3 bangles…

 

 

Crafter’s Ink works well on wood; it covers well and dries quickly. You can also use pigment inks, but they will take longer to dry and you have to be careful not to smear them until they do. I used both on the bangles I made.

 

Here’s a closer look at each of the bracelets…

 

 

I inked a damask background stamp with several colors of inks, then rolled the bangle across the stamp …

 

 

for this one, I first stamped on the script design, then went back and stamped tiny flowers in different colors along it...

 

 

 

Rhinestones added the finishing touch…

 

 

This bangle has large flat panels on each side that are perfect for stamping on, I inked the panels a different color than the rest of the bracelet and stamped flowers on the panels…

 

 

 

I used a beauty swab to color in the flowers centers, and used the stylus and blender tip to “antique” the edges of the panels…

 

 

The BIG jewelry trend right now is just that – BIG! Stacks of bangles in different sizes and colors are showing up everywhere, so make your bangles in colors that coordinate and you can mix and match and STACK!

 

 

Here’s what you need in order to make your own fashion statement…

 

“Damasked” bangle bracelet

 

Skill Level: easy

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

Clearsnap: Crafter’s Ink: Sunflower, Pink and Lime, ColorBox Pigment Ink: Turquoise and Stylus with Blender Tip

 

Indus Trading Company: DIY Bangles.com: ¼” flat wood bangle

 

Hero Arts: Antique Brocade Cling stamp

 

DIRECTIONS: 

 

1) Use Sunflower Ink, applied with Stylus and Blender Tip, to ink outside edges of bangle; let dry.

 

2) Apply Turquoise ink to stamp, then use Stylus and Blender Tip to apply touches of Lime and Pink inks to stamp {make sure you clean off tip between inks to prevent contaminating your pads}

 

3) Carefully roll bangle across stamp using even pressure. When you get to the end of the stamp; start rolling again where you left off on the bangle along a new place on the stamp. Let dry.

-----------------

 

“Flower Script” bangle bracelet

 

Skill Level: easy

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

Clearsnap: Crafter’s Ink: Sunflower, Pink and Lime, Frost White and Dune, ColorBox Pigment Ink: Marigold and Stylus with Blender Tip

 

Indus Trading Company: DIY Bangles.com: 5/8” flat wood bangle

 

Hampton Art: Friends clear stamp

 

Memory Box: Script Block wood stamp and Jewel Stickers: Diamond

 

DIRECTIONS: 

 

1) Use Frost White ink, applied with Stylus and Blender Tip, to ink outside edges of bangle; let dry.

 

2) Ink Script Block stamp using Dune ink, and then roll bangle across stamp using even pressure. When you get to the end of the stamp; start rolling again where you left off on the bangle along a new place on the stamp. Let dry.

 

3) Stamp flowers using Pink, Lime, Sunflower and Marigold Inks and let dry.

 

4) Apply rhinestones to centers of flowers.

-----------------

 

“BIG flowers” bangle bracelet

 

Skill Level: easy

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

Clearsnap: Crafter’s Ink: Sunflower, Pink, Lime and Dune, ColorBox Pigment Ink: Marigold and Stylus with blender tip

 

Indus Trading Company: DIY Bangles.com: 1 ½” pentagon

 

Memory Box: Big Flower wood stamp

 

Tools: Beauty Swabs

 

DIRECTIONS: 

 

1) Use Lime ink, applied with Stylus and Blender Tip, to ink outside edges of bangle except for the panels; let dry.

 

2) Use Sunflower ink, applied with Stylus and Blender Tip, to ink the panels; let dry.

 

3) Stamp flowers using Pink ink and let dry.

 

4) Use a beauty swab to ink the center of the flowers using Marigold ink.

 

5) Use Dune ink applied with Stylus and Blender Tip to ink the edges of the panels to distress them.

 

Wear and enjoy!

---tami

 

"smooched" butterfly atc...

The next two projects will continue the butterfly theme of the clay pendant and will both feature similar color schemes; brown, orange, yellow and a touch of black. Butterflies are symbolic of spring, but I wanted the colors to be soft and subtle, not the bright pastel colors usually associated with spring. So, like the pendant, these projects could work equally well for fall.

 

Both projects will use the same technique to stamp the butterfly, so I want to share that with you first today. We’ll be applying different colors of Smooch Accent Ink to the stamp; then blending them together so that when you stamp the image, you get a soft, shimmery watercolor effect.

 

First, you’ll need to ink your stamp with Top Boss Embossing Ink – clear or tinted, it doesn’t matter. This will create a layer between the stamp and the Smooch so that the Smooch won’t dry on your stamp and will blend and release easier as well…

 

 

Then you need to dab different colors of Smooch onto the stamp, being careful not to get the tip in other colors {clean off before putting applicator back in bottle if you do}. Place colors as you would if you were painting in the image, but don’t blend yet and you don’t have to cover the entire surface of the stamp...

 

 

 

Here is a closeup of the “smooched” stamp…

 

 

Then gently use your finger to dab – not wipe – the colors to blend them on the stamp…

 

 

 

Then stamp as you would with a regular inked stamp, only be careful not to apply to much pressure or your stamp could slide…

 

 

Practice the technique on some scrap paper until you are happy with how the colors blend and you get the hang of it.

 

Today’s project is an ATC card, which I’m sure most of you are familiar with. ATC stands for Artist Trading Card and they are a fun way to share miniature works of art…

 

 

Here’s what you need to make your own ATC:

 

“Remember ” ATC

 

Skill Level: advanced

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

Clearsnap: Stylus Molding Mat: Moorish Tiles, Smooch Accent Ink: Silver Fox, Pumpkin, Gold Lame, Luscious Lime, Molasses and Tuxedo, Ancient Page Inkpad: Sandalwood, Sienna, Coal Black, Chocolate and Light Brown {full size or mini}, Top Boss: Tinted or Clear Embossing Pad, Asparagus and Dazzling Copper Embossing Powders, Design Adhesives: Sentiments and ColorBox Stylus Handle with white blender tip

 

Memory Box: Solid Butterfly wood mounted stamp

 

Hampton Art: Artsy Edges and Circle Birds clear stamps

 

Bazzill: Peanut cardstock

 

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, black pen – fine, foam dimensional dots, adhesive and heat gun.

 

DIRECTIONS: 

 

1) Use “smooch” technique described above, with Silver Fox, Luscious Lime, Pumpkin, Tuxedo and Molasses applied to circle stamp with scroll design on a piece of peanut cardstock. Set aside to dry, then cut out, leaving a thin border around the edge. Ink edges with Coal Black ink applied using ColorBox Stylus and white blender tip.

 

2) Use same “smooch” technique to ink butterfly stamp, using Silver Fox, Tuxedo, Pumpkin, Gold Lame and Molasses. Stamp on a piece of peanut cardstock and set aside to dry. Cut out, leaving a thin border around the image.

 

3) Ink hexagon section of molding mat using Sienna, Sandalwood, Coal Black and Light Brown applied and blended slightly using stylus with blender tip. Stamp on a piece of peanut cardstock. Ink the diamond section of the molding mat in the same way, using the same colors and stamp on a piece of peanut cardstock. Handcut stamped squares from cardstock; then cut each square into quarters measuring about 1”. You will only need 3 squares of each design.

 

4) Cut a 2 ½ X 3 ½ piece of peanut cardstock. Stamp the left and bottom edges using the narrow edge stamp from the Artsy Edges set and Coal Black ink. Use Chocolate and Coal Black ink, applied using stylus and bender tip, to ink the edges of card.

 

5) Use Coal Black and Chocolate ink, applied using stylus and blender tip to ink the edges of the 6 - 1” squares. Adhere the squares, in 2 vertical rows, beginning about 1/16” from the top right corner, and spacing the squares about 1/16” from each other.

 

6) Cut “memories” word and pronunciation from Design Adhesives sheet and adhere to a piece of peanut cardstock. Emboss using Asparagus embossing powder. Cut out design, leaving about 1/8” border around edges. Ink edges using Sandalwood and Chocolate inks.

 

7) Lay “memories” strip down left side of ATC just past top of border stamp. Cut “remember” from Design Adhesives sheet, and before you remove the backing, make sure it will fit along the bottom of the last row of squares. Adjust position of “memories” strip if needed, then adhere.

 

8) Apply “remember” Design Adhesive along the bottom row of squares, having the bottom of the letters right along the bottom edge of the squares. Emboss using Dazzling Copper embossing powder. When cool, outline the letters using black pen.

 

9) Adhere stamped circle from step 1) to the right side of card, about 1/8” up from the top of “remember”, having about ½ of the circle hang off the right side. Trim overhang and ink the edge using Chocolate and Coal Black ink applied with stylus and blender tip.

 

10) Adhere butterfly at the upper left of the circle using foam dimensional dots.

 

Now you are ready to trade!

 

---tami