Sparkly Valentine with Lori

Today I have a bit of a non-traditional Valentine to share with you.  I'm using non-Valentine paper and a non-Valentine image, but by focusing on the red and adding some sparkle and some little added bits, it would make a fun Valentine for a special someone (who might be just a little bit grumpy, lol).

I started with the Miss Caroline Dilly Dally 6"x6" pad from My Mind's Eye, a Gorjuss Girl stamp from my stash (sorry, she's discontinued), and my Copic Markers and Spicas.  This is how it turned out:

 I can honestly say that I am in love with this little grouch!  I stamped my image in Memento Cocoa Brown on Xpress Blending Card, then chose the papers I wanted to use with her.  I wanted the red & white polka dots for a mat to put the focus on the red. Then I decided that the ticket pattern would make a great background and I could treat it like a kissing booth.  I cut a ticket shape from a Cricut Cartridge (I think I used Art Philosophy, but there are tickets on a number of cartridges), and stamped the sentiment with an alphabet set in my stash.  I didn't worry about making it straight, letting it be fun & child-like.  

I colored my image with Copic Markers to match the papers I chose (see list below).  Then I used Copic Spicas in Red and Lipstick to trace the letters on the tickets and go over all of the hearts on the girl's dress and her barrettes.  Finally, I trimmed all of my papers to size and added borders using a Chocolate Copic Spica.  I sponged the edges of the papers and the card base with coordinating inks and adhered everything, adding ribbon from my stash to the ticket paper. After assembly, I added my ticket using foam adhesive squares, and added some Kaisercraft adhesive pearls in Lemon.

 Here's an angle that shows how glittery the Spica Pens make everything!:

Products available from Cutters Creek:

• My Mind's Eye 6"x6" paper pad, Miss Caroline Dilly Dally
• Copic Sketch Markers
• Copic Spica Pens
• ATG Adhesive
• Scotch Foam Squares
• Kaisercraft Adhesive Pearls
• Xpress Blending Card
• Tim Holtz Design Ruler (to draw pen borders)

Here's a closeup of the colored image, followed by a list of the colors I used:

Skin: E00, E02, E11, E13, YR000, R20
Hair: YR21, YR23, YR24
Shoes: E15, E37, E59
Clothes: BG11, BG15, BG18, R24, R27, R29
Shadow: W1, W3, W5

Now it's your turn!  Grab some papers  an image that may not say "Valentine's Day", but includes one color you can focus on to bring your theme through.

Elegant Edges Christmas Cards

One of my favorite things to do with my Cricut for cards is to make nice mats or frames for images.  So, I thought I would show you one of each on some Christmas cards I made.  Just a quick note: I use my Gypsy for this purpose, but if you have Design Studio or Cricut Craft Room, you can use them in the same manner.

First up, an elegantly simple card using papers from Graphic 45's Christmas Emporium paper pad.

5x7 card base

I started with a kraft card base.  I chose my design from the "Santa Express" sheet of images, cut it out, and measured its height & width.  Using my Cricut Gypsy, I chose a frame I liked from the Elegant Edges cartridge that had a similar height/width ratio. (Remember, Kim can special order just about any cartridge you want!)  I then "unlocked" the height and width fields so they wouldn't adjust together.  I then adjusted the height and width independently until the inner opening of the frame was approximately the same size as my cutout design.  (Slightly larger is great!)  I then cut the frame using some coordinating cardstock.

I then cut a 4.5"x6.5" mat from the green side of the "Merry and Bright" sheet.  I distressed the edges of all of my papers and my card bases using a sponge tool.  I adhered the green paper to the card, then layered on the frame using the ASI Kool Tak clear foam squares.  Next, I adhered the cutout design within the frame.  Finally, I added a touch of Polar White Flower Soft to my holly for added dimension.  VERY easy!

My second card takes a bit more time, but totally worth the effort for its beauty!

5x7 card base

I began with my vintage Santa stamp.  Mine is from my stash, but you can find a similar feel using the Crafty Secrets Vintage Christmas clear art stamp set.  Using the transparent ruler in my Cricut Tool Kit, I measured the approximate size of my stamp image.  I then chose a doily mat I liked from the Elegant Edges Cricut cartridge, and used my Gypsy to resize it until it was an appropriate size for my image, and cut it out.

I stamped my Santa image with Memento Tuxedo Black, colored it with Copic markers, then added his hat band and pom pom using white Liquid Applique sprinkled with clear glitter.  Note: to get this effect, sprinkle the glitter while the Liquid Applique is wet, then let it dry for a couple of hours before you heat it with your embossing gun.  I then distressed the entire image by sponging on some distress ink.  I also used the ink on my Doodle Bug twine so it would match better.  I stamped a small holly image on scrap as well, and colored & cut it out to use as an accent.

I used papers from Echo Park Paper's Season's Greetings 6x6 paper pad to create my background.  I used a brick Texture Fades embossing folder to create my accent piece on coordinating cardstock, then added additional dimension by distressing with multiple colors of ink.  I edged all of my paper pieces in black ink, since my image was stamped in black - it helps tie everything together.  I assembled the card, and popped up the image using the Kool Tak clear foam squares.

If you're interested, here's a list of specific Copic colors used in the Santa image:
E000, E00, E11, R20, R24, C2, Y17, YR04, YG63, G99, R29, R35, R39, and 0 colorless blender

A White Christmas with Lori

Welcome to Christmas in July!  This week, I'm sharing my White Christmas card with you.  I've based my card on a challenge blog I follow, and will have a total of 5 cards over on my blog over the next 5 business days if you'd like to see more ideas.  (I'm also having a giveaway during the same timeframe!)

 

Ooh, shiny!  I loved that this challenge included bling as one of the requirements & I went to town with this one.  Here's a detail shot of a little more bling you can't see in the main picture:

I had a lot of fun with layering on this card, and adding a few special touches.  I made my "gift bow" using ribbon from my stash and a sparkly brad.  Also, to define the edges of all that white, I sponged on a little ink all the way around.  My sentiment is embossed on its own little panel and popped up with foam adhesive dots.  I also added a few i-rock gems to my embossed snowflake centers.

Supplies I used:

• American Crafts glitter cardstock, Silver
• Scor-Tape
• Cardstock
• Cuttlebug embossing folder, Snowflakes
• Stamping Ink
• Glimmer Mist, Pearl
• Sentiment Stamp, Inkadinkadoo
• Silver Embossing Powder
• Heat Tool
• i-Rock tool
• i-Rock gems, silver
• ATG adhesive
• Ribbon
• pop-up foam adhesive

 Note - that heat tool does double duty!  I use it to speed dry my Glimmer Mist as well as heat emboss my stamped sentiment.  Well worth the investment!  I also used my Glimmer Mist to spray my paper first before embossing.  Damp cardstock embosses SO much easier than dry.

Thanks for stopping by today!  I'd love if you'd hop over to my blog and check out my giveaway, and the next several days of White Christmas.

Lori's Top 5 "Underrated" Products

This month the Design Team is sharing our favorite products, and I thought I would do things just a little differently.  So today I'm sharing with you 5 awesome products that don't usually get a lot of attention.  After all, how can the basics compare with all the shiny blingy goodness of things like Glimmer Mist and Stickles?  Well, let me show you!  Here are 5 products I could not craft without:

• Clear embossing ink and clear embossing powder
• Heat tool
• Glossy Accents
• Stamping Ink
• Pigma Micron Pens in black 

And here's what makes them so special:

Clear embossing ink & powder is an indispensible combo.  You can use them alone on colored cardstock for a great tone-on-tone effect.  Or, try this idea: stamp a background stamp with clear embossing ink on white (or light colored) cardstock and coat with clear embossing powder, then heat with a heat tool.  (By the way, that heat tool also comes in very handy when you need to dry things quickly - Glimmer Mist, even some kinds of Stickles.)

Next, use your stamping ink to color the background.  You can use your choice of applicator tools, or even direct-to-paper.  I used a brayer on this piece; I also chose to use textured cardstock here for a fabric-like appearance.  Wipe off excess ink using a tissue, then trim the panel to your chosen size.

That stamping ink comes in handy for all kinds of things, and many of them don't involve a stamp at all.  I used mine to color part of some Petaloo Color Me Crazy flowers, as well as edging a ribbon slide sentiment label for added definition.  Ink also adds some awesome dimension to your die cuts when you sponge all the edges with coordinating ink.

Glossy Accents serves two functions on my craft table.  It makes an awesome adhesive when you're adhering something odd shaped, or with uneven texture, or something you need to be able to move around a little before it's permanent.  And the most fun use is to make your own epoxy stickers.  For this project, I fussy-punched a circle from some fairy paper, outlined it with Glossy Accents, then filled it in.  Any air bubbles can be popped with a pin before it dries, if you choose.  This technique does involve drying time (sorry, the heat tool won't work here), and the thicker the gloss the longer it will take to dry.

The wet Glossy Accents will look milky.

Dry Glossy Accents will be shiny and dimensional.

Finally, the Pigma Micron pens are perfect for adding all kinds of details.  I love the set of three, since the different line widths can give a different feeling on your projects.  They dry quickly and won't smudge,  so I love to use them when I need to hand write all or part of my sentiment.  Another alternative is decorative pen work, such as doodling some flourishes.  Or, as I did, adding drawn stitching.  To make it more realistic looking I punched holes first, using a paper piercer and my Tim Holtz ruler.

With these few basic supplies, you can create all kinds of different designs.  Simply change your stamps, paper color, and/or ink color for a completely different look in a short period of time!

Tutorial Tuesday: Custom Stamped Embellishments wihth Lori

Welcome to another installment of Tutorial Tuesday!  This month features stamping, and I thought that this week I would share an unexpected combination of products used to make some cute custom dimensional embellishments.  So, we'll be using stamps (of course) and the new to Cutters Creek iBond cordless glue gun with colored glue sticks!

Have you ever looked at colored glue sticks for glue guns and wondered what on earth you would want to use colored glue for?  Today I have just one splendid little answer for you.  Let's make dimensional embellishments!  But first, I have to say that I LOVE the iBond glue gun - the cordless feature makes it so easy to get things done without wondering how the heck to get that cord out of the way.  In fact, I have several other projects I can already think of that I''ll be using this for this year.

Now, rather than ruin the surprise, I'm going to make you wait until after the tutorial steps to see what I've made.  Just check out these steps:

First, you will need a non-stick surface (the Bazzil splat mat is a good choice) and your iBond loaded with the glue sticks of your choice.  Turn on your iBond and let it rest on the mat.  (Another great feature of the iBond - there's a light at the tip so you ALWAYS know when it's turned on!)

While that's warming up, you will want a few additional items.  Choose a small stamp image, stamping block if acrylic, and ink for your stamp.  You need to ink up your stamp for this process, but most ink will not stay on our stamping surface.  You can just use a clear ink for no color, or Staz On if you want your image colored.  I chose to use a red Staz On for my image, just so it would show up better in the photos.

First step: coil a circle of hot glue slightly larger than your stamp image, making sure your coiled glue lines are touching.  You may want to experiment with the thickness for some different effects.  (I apologize for the odd picture here - it's hard to glue left-handed and take a picture right-handed!)  I tried to keep mine about the thickness of the stream that comes out of the tip.  Colored glue tends to be stiffer than clear, but you should still have plenty of time before it hardens up.

Once your circle is made, quickly ink up your stamp and press it into the hot glue.  Leave the stamp in place for a minute while the glue cools, then you can pull the stamp out of the glue and peel the glue off of the non-stick surface.

You now have two options with your stamped piece: leave it in a circle, as I chose for my card, or trim it down around the image.  A nice thing about using glue is that it trims super easily with a pair of fine-tip scissors.  At left is an example of a trimmed image.  This would look cute at the center of a ribbon bow, or perhaps three in a row on a card front, mounted on circles or squares.  When left whole, these embellishments give the appearance of wax seals, with a lot less fuss.

Now, on to my end product!  I created a card and used my embellishment as an accent piece in my design.

Using a card sketch and some papers from my stash, I got to work!  The cute girl stamp image is Cheeky Howdy from The Greeting Farm and the cherries stamp image is from the Kitchen Classic stamp set from Crafty Secrets.  Cheeky Howdy's outfit is paper pieced (see last week's Tutorial Tuesday!), and the scalloped mat/frame is from the Elegant Edges Cricut cartridge.  I adhered the stamped glue embellishment to my rosette using Glossy Accents to ensure it stays put.  As a finishing touch, I added stickles to the cherries in my girl's hair and the circle cut-outs in the frame.

Items available at Cutters Creek:

• Bazzil Splat Mat non-stick sheet
• iBond cordless glue gun from Imaginisce
• iBond mini glue sticks - solid color
• Tim Holtz clear Distress Ink Pad
• Kitchen Classics stamp set, Crafty Secrets
• Cheeky Howdy cling stamp, The Greeting Farm
• Elegant Edges Cricut cartridge  (not in stock, but Kim can order almost any cartridge you want!)
• Glossy Accents
• Stickles in Xmas Red

Tutorial Twofer Tuesday with Lori

Stamping Your Own Patterned Paper AND Masking

Happy Tuesday everyone, and welcome to our first installment of Tutorial Tuesday for April!  This month we're focusing on stamping, and since I am the self-proclaimed Simple Stamping Guru, I'm jumping right in with two easy techniques today.  Initially, I was just going to focus on making your own custom patterned paper, but I needed to mask an image for my card anyway, and since it's an easy yet oh-so-useful technique, I just added it right in.  Trust me, I don't like doing things that are "hard", require a lot of products, or take a lot of time.  So, make yourself comfortable and see for yourself how easy stamping can be!

Let's start with a technique called "random stamping" to make your own patterned paper.  It's really a misnomer, as it's not random at all, but when you're done it certainly looks that way.  This is such a useful technique, for times when you don't want to search for the "right" paper for a project, or just don't have something in the right colors.  I have been known to be slightly obsessive (OK, maybe not slightly) about my papers matching my pictures in my scrapbook pages; to the extent of making my own patterned papers that match the clothes my kids are wearing in the pictures.  But that's a story for another day...

I'm making a card, because the smaller size makes it easier to learn the technique.  (If any of the pictures are too small for you, just click on them to see them larger.)  To begin, stamp a single image near the center of your paper.  I stamped right on my 5 x 7 card base, choosing to make my entire background patterned.  For this project, I am using a single stamp for my pattern, but as you practice, you can add more stamps, and/or rotate the stamp(s) for more variety.

Next, stamp the image twice more, forming a triangle shape with the three images.  I chose to keep my images all facing the same general direction, but you can rotate for a different effect.

Continue stamping images, creating more and more triangles on your paper.  Make sure that when you approach the edges that you allow the images to go off the edges of the paper where they would naturally fall.  (Ever notice that patterned paper you buy doesn't usually contain only whole images, that shapes run off the edges of the paper?)

Since I used a line drawn stamp, I chose to color my images with Copic markers.  I colored using a very informal style, freely going outside the lines, as it was easy to color each petal and leaf by simply laying the brush tip against the paper for each one.

Don't worry about making your image spacing or your coloring perfect.  Trust me, no one will notice when you're done!  Now, on to masking:

This technique allows you to group images together, making them look like one is in front of another.  There is no limit to the number of images you can combine into a scene, but I most commonly use only two images together.  It looks so much more "advanced" when you mask than if you just stamp the images next to each other.  The only additional supply needed is a Post-It note (or if you don't have any, use a piece of printer paper and adhesive tape.

First, stamp the image you want to appear in the front of your scene on your cardstock.  Then stamp it again on your Post-It note.

Cut out the image you stamped on your Post-It, and stick it directly on the image you stamped on cardstock.

Next, stamp the other image right next to the first, slightly overlapping where you want it to appear behind the first image.

Peel off the Post-It note, and voila! You have a masked scene.  For my purposes, I cut out my masked images, added some extra detail and colored them.

To assemble my card, I also stamped and colored a border and cut it out.  I trimmed 1/4" off the right edge and adhered my border image and some ribbon.  Then I popped up my stamped image on a matted panel, added a custom sentiment, and DONE!

I thought this would make a great card for a  couples shower, casual wedding, or a fun anniversary card.  Just add the additional sentiment to the inside of the card and you're ready to roll.

Products available at Cutters Creek:

• Clear Art Stamps from Crafty Secrets, Kitchen Classics
• Acrylic Block starter set
• Memento Ink, black
• Copic Markers, in R20 Blush and YG07 Acid Green
• Cardstock

A Card for All Seasons - by Lori B.

Let me preface this post by saying that I am a Copic newbie.  I've only used them a couple of times & still have trouble with shading.  However, I LOVE how forgiving they are.  I totally thought I had ruined one of my cards by getting color WAY outside a line, but that colorless blender saved the day and allowed me to push it all right back in (it took about three times of pushing it back then letting it dry).

So, since I'm new to Copics, I only have a few colors so I wanted to see if I could use the same markers for more than one thing.  Flower Soft to the rescue!  I used the same Flower Soft stamp and Copic markers for all three cards (oh, 2 different greens), and just changed the Flower Soft colors I used with it.

I used the Wishing Well stamp from Flower Soft for these cards.  My first card, a Spring/Summer option, uses the sentiment that comes with it.  Because of a stamping mishap, I decided to cut out the stamped image for this one, and I decided I like that the best!

I stamped my image using a Memento Black stamp pad.  I colored all of the flowers on the stamped image with a YG07 Acid Green marker prior to gluing down my Flower Soft.  That way, any places that show through look like foliage instead of seeing white.  I used Fuschia Flower Soft for this card, which I think would be great for a Spring or Summer Wedding.

For my Fall card, I grabbed a sentiment stamp from my stash, but I stick with the "wish" theme.  I can add a Happy Birthday to the inside and be all set.

For this card, I switched to a G99 Olive marker to color my foliage, and Autumn Flower Soft.  After it was partially dry, I rubbed some of it off, and added in some Nut Brown to darken up the colors a bit.

Finally, I HAD to make a Christmas card.  Another stamp from my stash, and it says Wishing You Happy Holidays.  I again used my G99 Olive marker for my foliage.  I used Vintage Christmas Flower Soft, then added on some Polar White Diamond Range Flower Soft for a little Christmas snow.

This technique would look great with any of the  Flower Soft outdoor "accessory" stamps, or similar stamps you may have in your stash.  I love that these neutral Copic markers are made so much more versatile by using them like this!

Supplies Available at Cutters Creek:

• Wishing Well stamp
• Fuschia Flower Soft
• Autumn Flower Soft
• Nut Brown Flower Soft
• Vintage Christmas Flower Soft
• Polar White Flower Soft
• Flower Soft Glue
• Copic Markers: E11 Barely Beige, E59 Walnut, C2 Cool Gray #2, C6 Cool Gray #6, YG07 Acid Green, G99 Olive, and 0 Colorless Blender.

Wet and Wild by Lori B.

Summer may be over, but most of us still have plenty of pictures to scrap. (Mine are from 2006!) So here's a little Summer flashback to help you out!

I used a few tricks to get as many pictures as possible all in one place, but if you have fewer, this main layout is easy to replicate. I used some paper from my stash, but I think this would look stellar using just cardstock.

My Cricut cuts are made with Everyday Paper Dolls, Paper Doll Dress Up and Life Is A Beach, and I inked the edges of all the cardstock pieces with matching ink to add depth. I created the title using the alphabet on Life Is A Beach and my Gypsy to weld it all together. The elephant is from p. 75 of EPD, and his water spray is multiple cuts of the raindrops on p. 42. The sun is from p.40 of EPD, and the water and grass are both from p. 77.

Summer may be over, but most of us still have plenty of pictures to scrap. (Mine are from 2006!)  So here's a little Summer flashback to help you out!

I used a few tricks to get as many pictures as possible all in one place, but if you have fewer, this main layout is easy to replicate.  I used some paper from my stash, but I think this would look stellar using just cardstock.

My Cricut cuts are made with Everyday Paper Dolls, Paper Doll Dress Up and Life Is A Beach, and I inked the edges of all the cardstock pieces with matching ink to add depth.  I created the title using the alphabet on Life Is A Beach and my Gypsy to weld it all together.  The elephant is from p. 75 of EPD, and his water spray is multiple cuts of the raindrops on p. 42.  The sun is from p.40 of EPD, and the water and grass are both from p. 77.

But wait, there's more!  Here's a simple way to get a few more pictures on your page:

An accordion fold mini album is a great way to add a few more pictures.  I simply cut a strip of CS the width of my photos, and scored it the same size.  There are several ways to keep your album closed on your page, the easiest of which is just using a photo turn or large brad to slide an edge under.  I chose to use a D-ring type closure, like we all had on our belts in the 70's.  Be sure to cut away the sheet protector around the mini-album so it can be opened.

But wait, there's even more!  I had a LOT of pictures, so I added some smaller sheet protectors to my layout:

 Note: I haven't added my journaling yet (it sometimes takes a while for me!), so that's what the blank places are for.  The palm trees are cut from p. 42 of PDDU.  As an alternative, there are a couple more on LIAB, I just liked this one best for this LO.  The octopus border is from p.54 of LIAB.


Supplies available from Cutters Creek:

• cardstock
• Cricut Expression
• Everyday Paper Dolls cartridge
• Life Is A Beach cartridge
• Paper Doll Dress Up cartridge
• Memento ink pads

Merry Christ"Mouse" in July by Laura C.

This sweet little mouse is coming to wish you a Merry Christ"mouse" in July!!  Made with a standard 5 1/5x4 1/4 base of red cardstock, inked with black chalk ink.   Next is white bazzill prisma cardstock a 5 1/4x 4" piece, embossed with the A2 swiss dot cuttlebug folder and then the corners rounded. I colored the Stampabilities "Dear Santa I Ate Your Cookies" stamp with copics, added some flower soft to the little hat for some extra texture, and a bit of diamond stickles to the flame.  I layered this with some paper from my stash, and added a border with a 1 1/4" piece of patterned paper, a ribbon, and another piece of the red cardstock cut using the Spellbinders scalloped rectangle die (I just trimmed off one long edge to use as the accent).  If you type up a cute sentiment like "Hope you have a Merry Christ"mouse" for the inside, you'll
have a card ready to give a special someone!

Available at Cutter's Creek:

Bazzill Prisma Cardstock (white)
Copic Markers
Stickles (Diamond)
Stampabilities House Mouse ("Dear Santa I Ate Your Cookies")
Flower Soft (Polar White & Red)
A2 Cuttlebug Folder (Swiss Dot)
Spellbinders Die (Scalloped Rectangle)

Beach Babe by Laura C.

I love summer, don't you?? This card is a sunny way to say hi, happy birthday, just about anything!

The base is chocolate brown in standard 5 1/2" x 4 1/4". I layered on a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of Core'dnations from the Vintage "Flower Power" collection. The sweet little girl is from the "Lily at the Beach" Pink Cat Studio collection. She's colored with Copics, and I added some Inkssentials Glossy Accents to her goggles.

And guess what?? Flower Soft isn't just for flowers!!

Polar White Flower Soft is the "white caps" on the waves with a touch of Ice Stickles in "Arctic Ice" to add a bit of bling! Last, a bit of ribbon from my stash, and the sentiment (from the Lily collection, too!) stamped in black Memento ink on a tag made with the "Fancy Tags" Spellbinder die.

Hope you enjoy this fun summer card!

Be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Available at Cutters Creek:

Core'dnations cardstock (Vintage Flower Power)
Pink Cat Studio stamps (Lily at the Beach)
Copic markers
Inkssentials Glossy Accents
Flower Soft (Polar White)
Ice Stickles (Arctic Ice)
Memento Ink
Spellbinders dies (Fancy Tags)

Emboss Plus Cuttlebug by Cutters Creek

Check out Kim's Video on the new Cuttlebug Emboss Plus Folders!  These are so cool!  You can emboss, ink, and cut using the same folder.  I can just imagine so many possibilities for this product. 

Use some Core'dinations cardstock to emboss and cut the image, sand it, and then place it back in the folder to ink it.  Wouldn't that look so cool?

Check the Cutters Creek store site for all the folders available.

Two More Father's Day Cards

Father's Day is this Sunday, and I had a couple more cards I needed to get done. It seems masculine cards are always the hardest for me to do. Here is what I came up with:

This card was made with left over papers from other projects. I started with a standard kraft side-fold card. The background was a left over from some map paper I had from a travel project. I had a scrap of red card stock, and I stamped my compass image. I cut it out close using my Cutter Bee Scissors. They are the best for intricate work. I threaded my button and attached it using Glue Dots. The blue patterned paper was cut at 2.5" and I distressed the edges for a more aged look. I inked my edges as well for the well worn look.

I added my scrap piece of ribbon using my 1/4" Scor Tape. I used my 1/2" ScorTape put the cardstock pieces together, and then to attach the finished piece to my card front. Lastly I added my compass using a Glue Pop Dot.




For this card I got a bit fancier. I used all Basic Grey papers for my patterned papers, and they are available in the Cutter's Creek Store. These are from Green at Heart, Kioshi, and Indian Summer. I started with a kraft paper gate-fold card. I used my ScorPal to get the perfect folds. I cut my cardstock and distressed all of the edges on the patterned papers. I attached them using my Scor Tape.

I cut a 3.75" x 4" Kraft paper square, and I distressed those edges as well. I used a scrap piece of blue cardstock at 3" x 3.5" for the ocean/sky background, and drew curly circles on the bottom 3/4" of the blue piece using my Inkssentials White Gel pen. I cut out my stamped sailboat using my Cutter Bee Scissors. Lastly I adhered the piece together and then to the card using my Scor Tape.

I stamped my images and sentiment using the Tsukineko Cocoa Brown Ink on both cards.


All of the basic supplies I used to make these cards and the Basic Grey papers are available in the Cutters Creek Store.

Be sure to check out the full line of Basic Grey papers and kits. They have such amazing papers! I love the texture and weight of their line. There are even some Christmas papers available .

Remember Kim will always do special orders. If you are looking for special items, be sure to ask her about them. I am super excited about the new PINK ATG gun! Pink just rocks!

Copic Mondays-More Copic Basics by Laura Burleson

Did you know that some inks can ruin your Copic Markers?

Are some papers better than others for coloring your images?

Did you know that you can actually ruin your markers coloring on some surfaces?

If you are like me, I had no idea that some basic items I use for crafting could be damaging to my Copic markers. Granted, you can replace the nibs, so damage wouldn't be permanent. Still, I would rather do all I can to prolong my marker's life.

Copic markers have a shelf life of three year when kept properly capped. I know I would never let mine sit that long without use, but it is nice to know that they are made to last.

Okay, back to inks. Copic officially endorses using Tsukineko Memento or Brilliance Inks, Tim Holtz (Ranger) Distress Inks, A Muse Ink, and Stewart Superior Palette Noir Ink. Cutters Creek carries both Tsukineko Inks and Ranger Inks. You can add clear embossing powders or heat set the inks for your best results. Embossing inhibits the "running" or "bleeding" of your inks when coloring. Never use colored embossing powders. Colored powders react with the markers. Never use solvent based inks with your Copic Markers. These products are intended for use with water-based media, and they don't work well with Copics. Staz-On inks will stain will run and make a messy image, but worse yet, it ruins the nib on your markers. Stampin' Up, Close to My Heart, and other water based inks will run and discolor the nibs on your markers.

There is only one time you would use Staz-On inks with your Copics. If you wanted to color a vellum image, you would stamp the image on the front (glossy) side of your vellum. You then color the image from the back (rough) side of the paper using your Copics.

Now as for paper. Choosing a good paper is very important. You need one that allows the ink to soak into the paper, but also allows you to move it around while you are coloring. When a paper is super glossy, the ink will just float on the paper. It doesn't stick or soak into the paper. If a paper is too soft, then you aren't able to control the ink. It will bleed outside your image lines too quickly. You want to test your paper for saturation and bleeding before using it to color a project.

Copic International recommends two main papers for coloring with your Copic Markers, Bazzill (Prism) Simply Smooth Cardstock in Ivory or Neenah Classic Crest Solor White or Ivory 80# Cardstock. Bazzill papers are available from Cutter's Creek in both white and ivory. These papers absorb your inks beautifully without feathering too quickly. They allow you to work well with wet inks and blend your colors so nicely. You won't believe the difference!

Lastly, let's visit things that can ruin your Copic Markers. Never color over any glitter pens except your Atyou Spica pens. The Spica pens are made with special glass glitters that will not clog or gum up your marker's nib. Never color over Opaque White, White Out, Acrylic Paints or gel pens. These will ruin the marker ends, and once clogged, the inks will not flow properly onto your projects. White out has actual paper fibers in the liquid that will glob up in the marker tip. Color your projects first, and then add any gel pen accents. If you have colored over these products, don't worry. Your marker nibs are replaceable.

Copics are amazing markers. All of the basics to get you started are available at the Cutters Creek Store. If you need help selecting markers, papers, or inks, please ask. Kim or I will be happy to assist you!

Cutters Creek always stocks:

Copic Markers
Copic Spica Pens
Replacement Nibs and Nib Tweezers
Tsukineko Memento or Brilliance Inks
Tim Holtz (Ranger) Distress Inks
Bazzill Cardstock

Resources: Copic Markers/Imagination International Inc., Marianne Walker, and Jennie Lin Black, Regional Certification Instructors

Copic Q & A: Refilling your markers ~By Laura Burleson

The first question I received before going to my certification class revolved around refilling your markers. Almost all of the Copic markers can be refilled. The exceptions are the Atyou Spicas and the black barrel liner pens. The silver barrel liner pens are refillable.

There are three basic refill methods:

Method One:

Add drops of refill ink slowly to your chisel end of the marker. Allow the marker to absorb the inks. It will drink and drink until it is "full".

Method Two:

Remove the chisel nib, and add drops of ink into your marker. Use the Copic Tweezers to remove the nib to prevent damage. Never refill your marker by removing your brush nib. The brush nib is much more delicate than the chisel end.

Method Three:

Copic makes a needle attachment that screws into the refill bottle. You can inject ink into the chisel end of the marker using the needle. The needle can be re-used, but it must be cleaned completely after each use to avoid cross contamination of your inks and markers.

A completely empty Copic Sketch marker will take 2 c.c.'s of ink. If you over-fill your marker, you can absorb some of the ink out of the tips by using an old towel or paper towel. Overfilled markers will blob when you color with them. If you know your marker is not overfilled, but it is still "blobbing", you may have a pressure problem. Remove the caps from both sides of the marker to allow the marker to equalize its pressure. This usually happens due to changes in temperature, climate, or altitude.

How do you know your marker needs to be refilled? When your nibs are white, and ink isn't flowing to the tips.

Do you have more questions about Copic Markers? Please post them! I will be happy to answer any and all questions!

Laura B. - Copic Certified Designer


Items available at Cutters Creek:

Copic Ciao and Sketch markers
Refillable Copic Liner Pens
Copic Ink Refills
Copic Replacement Nibs
Copic Nib Tweezers

Father's Day Card by Laura B.

This card is definitely Tim Holtz inspired! I love his products and stamps. This card was inspired by a challenge to use masks by my friend Mel LaFavers for an Everyday Card Challenge. I have had my masks for a while now, but I haven't ventured out to use them.

For this project, I started with a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of kraft cardstock. I placed my masks randomly on my paper. I put my project inside a large paper bag before spraying them with my Tattered Angels spray in Creme de Chocolat. The paper bag was great to catch the over spray, and I had no real mess when I was done.


If you don't have masks, you can make your own using your Cricut cutting machine and cartridges. Use your imagination. Butterflies, flowers, or any image can be cut to be a mask. Attach them using repositionable adhesive. You can save them on spare acetate sheets to re-use. The sky is the limit!

Next I used my various stamps and Memento Black ink to stamp random images on my card. Next I used sentiment stamp with Versamark ink and black embossing powder. I heat set it with my heat tool to allow the wording to stand out on my card. For my sentiment, I used my Inkadinkado Happy Days stamp sent to stamp "Happy Father's Day" on the card using Versamark ink and black embossing powder. Again, I heat set it with my heat tool.

I distressed the edges of my cardstock and mounted the card face black cardstock using my ScorTape. I added ribbon and a buckle for additional interest. I used ScorTape and a 3/8" Glue Dot to secure the ribbon and buckle. I mounted the finished piece on my card using Glue Dots Pop Up dots for dimension and shadow.

I love how this card turned out. It is rare that I make masculine cards, but I always seem to need them. I love how this technique turned out so rustic. I can see so many other uses for it as well. What a great option for some shabby chic feminine cards. I would love to see what you come up with using these techniques.

Products available at Cutters Creek:

Inkadinkado Stamps - Happy Days
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Creme de Chocolat
Memento Ink - Tuxedo Black
Heat Tool
Super Fine Embossing Powder - Black
Versamark Ink Pad
Scor Tape
Glue Dots

Optional ideas using Cricut and Cricut Cartridges

Mother's Day Card by Laura B.

For my Mother-in-Law I wanted to create a card in hubby's favorite color, purple. I gathered up all of my stray purple scraps and odds and ends that I could find. The individual pieces of cardstock needed are nice and small, so my favorite purple scrap papers worked great.

To begin this card, you need to cut your base card 5.25 inches x 12 inches. Score at 2", 4", 8" and 10 inches. I recommend the ScorPal for this task. Measure down from the top of the card 1.5 inches and make a mark on the 2" and 10" score lines. Measure up from the bottome of the card, and mark on the 2" and 10" score lines. Use your ruler to draw a light line between the 2" - 10" score marks for your cut line. Use a straight edge and a craft knife to cut your card on your lines. Erase your marks.


Beginning at the front your first fold will be a mountain fold on the 2" score line. Your fold on the 10" line will be a valley fold. For the center of the card you will fold the top and bottom strips the same way, and then the middle strip will be folded the opposite way. Fold the top and bottom strip on the 4" score line using a valley fold. Fold the middle strip on the 4" score line as a mountain fold. Fold the 8" score line on the top and bottom strip as a mountain fold. Fold the 8" score line in the middle as a valley fold. Use your bone folder to make nice crisp folds.

I cut two matching strips for my front and back flaps using a 1.75" x 5.25" strip. I adhered it using my Glue Glider Pro I cut a 4 x 6 inch piece of cardstock and embossed it using my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder. I cut four strips total from this piece. Two pieces measuring 1.75" x 2.25", and two pieces measuring 1.25" x 3.75". I also cut four pieces of cardstock at 1.25" x 1.75". I adhered all of them using my Glue Glider Pro.

For the butterflies, I used different punches and I embossed scraps of paper using my heat tool.



I added my fibers using Beacon's 3 in 1 adhesive. The lavendar pearls are from Kaisercraft.



For my sentiments, I stamped them using my Inkadinkado stamps on a strip of Bazzill Ivory cardstock cut at 3.5" x 2".



I arranged various embellishments from my "leftovers" drawer to pull the card together.



I hope my mother-in-law enjoys her card. It looks very difficult to make, but it took less than an hour start to finish.



Products available from Cutters Creek Store:



ScorPal

Bazzill Cardstock

Cuttlebug & Cuttlebug Folders

Beacon 3 in 1 Adhesive

Kaisercraft Pearls

Glue Glider Pro

Inks and Embossing powders

Ranger Heat Tool

Fiskars Craft Knife

Tim Holtz Design Ruler