Fresh Color Challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments HSS116 {how-to}

Pin It Now! This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments, we are challenged to use one of the prettiest color combos I've seen in a while...Pool Party, Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose, Basic Grey.  I can never envision what to do with a color combo until I sit down and start playing.

So, I grabbed a few supplies, a Dollar Tree pack of mini composition books, and got to work.  This ended up being my last project for my Stampin' Buffet at my house yesterday...



I for one, can't wait to tuck this in my purse and whip it out to jot down groceries or cardmaking brainstorms :D I was inspired by a larger spiral bound notebook done by Wendy Cunningham.

These are super easy and cost about 50 cents each to make...below are some basic instructions.  I didn't list measurements, as your notepads might not be the same size as these, mine are about 41/2" x 3-1/2". Just lay the notebook open flat on your cardstock and mark where the top and bottom are, go a little large, and cut and trim...just don't go too small.

BUTTERFLY NOTE PAD

INSTRUCTIONS:

11)      Rub Regal Rose cardstock against edge of table to bend in a curve.

22)      Fold in half to find center.

33)      Stamp randomly with Artistic Etchings stamps and Versamark Ink.

44)      Adhere Basic Grey ribbon down spine and trim excess.

55)      Adhere Regal Rose cardstock to notebook with Tombo Multi glue, and corner round edges.

66)      Adhere patterned paper strip, trim if necessary.

77)      Punch newsprint oval, sponge and adhere.

88)      Tie ribbon around bottom of Pink Pirouette rectangle.

99)      Ticket Corner Punch top to corners, adhere with dimensionals to notepad.

110)  Apply pearls to butterfly, and adhere with dimensionals.

As it so happens, my notepad fits well with the Friday Mashup challenge this week too...to use text or print in a project.  

Hope you decide to play along with the gorgeous springy challenge colors at Hand Stamped Sentiments!

SUPPLY LIST:
STAMPS:  Artistic Etchings
INK: Pink Pirouette, Versamark
PAPER:  Attic Boutique DSP, First Edition DSP, Regal Rose CS, Pink Pirouette CS
ACCESSORIES: Basic Grey 5/8" satin ribbon, Decorative Frames embossing folder, Beautiful Wings embosslits, Basic Pearls, Ticket Corner Punch, Corner Round punch, Sponge
OTHER:




Have a blessed & creative day! Erika.

Spring Chevron Layout HSS115 {how to make Chevron}

Pin It Now!

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments, it's all about SPRING!  Anything goes, with all the wonders of Spring as your springboard.  

When I think Spring, I think Love...and when I think Love, I think hubby...and Chevron....do you see where I'm going with this?!

This 12 x 12 layout features a handmade and zigzag stitched chevron background made from Attic Boutique DSP, and is embellished with Attic Boutique Side Notes.

Here's the Hand Stamped Sentiments #115 challenge inspiration...please play along!  Who couldn't use a little Spring in their day this week?

 Here are some of the details and tips....

 The little rosette was made with a scrap of White Waffle Paper spritzed with Blushing Bride Smooch Spritz that was laying on my desk.  Add a little second rosette of Pool Party Seam Binding Ribbon and an Antique Brad.  Then a bunch of ribbon strips at the bottom to finish it off.

 The Chevron background is wrapped three times in Linen Thread, then I added a bow under my bouquet and a Trinket Heart lock to give it a 3D effect.

I matted the photo on Pool Party DSP and then onto ivory muslin, and frayed the edges.

 Want to make some Chevron??  Here are the basics!

Cut a bunch of strips like so, in different but complementary patterns.





Hold 2 pieces together at a 90 degree angle corner to corner, and snip them on the diagonal.  This will ensure a clean cut look, instead of simply overlapping them, but either is o.k.  Lay them out in rows on a scrap piece of cardstock.




When you like the way it looks, adhere them down. Cut your cardstock backing to size, and you will only see the chevron strips at this point.

Stitch them together, if desired.  I used a zigzag stitch, I like the quilted look it gives.





I created a spattered look by pouring some Frost White Shimmer Paint on a stiff paintbrush and flicking it onto my cardstock.  I have to mess it up just a little!





SUPPLY LIST:STAMPS:  NoneINK: Soft suede, Pool PartyDSP: Attic BoutiqueCARDSTOCK: Sahara SandACCESSORIES: Attic Boutique Side Notes, Basic Pearls, Waffle paper, Blushing Bride Smooch Spritz, Frost White Shimmer Paint, Pool Party and Very Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon, Crochet trim, Antique Brad, Heart Trinket, Linen Thread, Muslin (from craft store)
Have a blessed & creative day! Erika. www.erikaclark.stampinup.net

Layered Butterfly {Thanks for Your Kindness}

Pin It Now!

Hi crafty friends!  

Today I should be painting. My soon-to-be craft room.  But Oh, Lord, I hate to paint walls.

So I thought about it, and felt properly guilty, and dodged my husband who IS working hard, and made a card.

Kindness Matters!  The butterfly is die cut layers of patterned paper and punched cardstock.  I placed a Hat Pin down the center of the butterfly, and looped Organdy ribbon onto it...I think it looks like ribbon candy!  Rhinestones are doubled up along the top and bottom, back to back.

Here's a closer look at the ribbon candy body with the bling.

 ...And the inside, a simple thanks with the technique taught in the latest issue of Stampin' Success, called Tap Dancing.  You tap-tap-tap with Stampin' Write markers onto the stamp, giving it a pretty mottled look.

My color combo was from Colour Q, truly a challenge, as I had to pick from three packs of DSP and make my own Pumpkin Pie paper with a punch, a Stampin' Write Marker and a sponge!  I am all over the place with this supply list!

And the sketch is from Freshly Made.  It was a great choice, as the colors are bright and busy, and this sketch helped me to keep it simple.

 SUPPLY LIST:
STAMPS:  Kindness Matters
INK:   Poppy Parade, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black
CARDSTOCK:  Whisper White, Lucky Limeade
DSP:  Attic Boutique (Poppy Parade pattern), Mocha Morninig (Basic Black flocked pattern), Summer Smooches (Lucky Limeade pattern)
ACCESSORIES: Beautiful Butterfly Bigz Die, Stripes embossing folder, Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Scallop Edge Border punch, Hat Pin, Basic Rhinestones, 1/8" Lucky Limeade Organdy ribbon.

Heaven Knows You're Special!

Pin It Now! It's spring already, and lots of flowers are blooming.  Ever since my baby boy could walk, he has brought me flowers that he picks.  Mostly dandelions, and I've had them tucked everywhere!  He's 8 now, and still brings little blossoms every chance he gets.  I am so blessed :)

I made this little layout highlighting my little gentleman using a watercolor technique I picked up from Splitcoast Stampers, misting with markers.  The ink is applied to a stamp with Stampin' Write Markers, then water is spritzed directly onto the stamp (instead of breathing on it, as is often done to remoisten).  The result is a rich, deep color that bleeds out a little around the edges.  I like the coverage it gave to the image.

I also made an ink "cocktail" of Wild Wasabi reinker, Smooch Spritz, and rubbing alcohol, and sprayed the borders of the layout liberally.  It warmed up the layout and I think it draws the eye to the photo.

This stamp set is a hostess offer, Precious Butterflies.  

I converted the photo to black and white, and recolored just the dandelions.

I was inspired to try a new technique by Hand Stamped Sentiments.  The challenge over there this week is Water Coloring!  I have done plenty of watercoloring, but I really wanted to learn something new.  I'll definitely try this again!  Want to play along? Click here....





I love my sweet baby!

Have a blessed & creative day! Erika.

Heaven Blessed Butterfly Card

Pin It Now! Today is my local card swap. Can you guess when I started my cards?  8:00 this morning.  Yes.

A year or two ago, this would've been a problem...frustration, rushing, late to the meet.  But I'm so glad to say that practice has worked in my favor!  I turned out a dozen of these in 2 hours flat!  Unbelievable for me.  And I managed to get dishes done, a one-on-one meet with an SU customer, and actual real-job work too.  Well, I'm getting ready to start the real job work, anyway.



This is simply a few layers, hardly any inking.
Card base is Crumb Cake, with Framed Tulips embossing folder.
Second layer is Attic Boutique DSP 3-1/8" x 4-3/8".
Then a 1-1/2" strip of off-white muslin that I had in my dollar store box, attached from behind with Snail.
Three die cuts from Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die, (2) DSP and (1) Watercolor paper
Tie a 6" piece of Pool Party Seam Binding Ribbon around center butterfly.
Add banner-cut Easter sentiment from Heaven Blessed.




Easy, pretty, and done!  The muslin softens the whole card, with the frayed edges. It's very cheap, $1.99/yard, so I always keep it in my craft room.


Here's the inside...from Heaven Blessed.


And here's my finished stack.  Can't wait to see what the other ladies have made!

Have a blessed & creative day! Erika.

Color Block Challenge

Pin It Now! After a nice, uplifting Ash Wednesday service, I'm already looking forward to Easter!  I do believe we're having an early Spring too, don't you think?

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments, the challenge is Color Blocking. Well, I started thinking and several possibilities started brewing.  So I tried a bunch of them...

This one is a trio of die cut butterflies, on Attic Boutique DSP and Watercolor Paper, layered with the middle butterfly popped up.  Clean and simple, just a teeny bit of ribbon and linen thread trim and a little banner sentiment from Heaven Blessed.  The textured Sahara Sand CS gives it enough interest that it didn't really need more embellishment.


Inside is a little layering with DSP and Pool Party, with the sentiment and a bunny stamp.


The second card is masking butterflies with the same die, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz.  Die cut a piece of copy paper, scotch tape the unwanted cuts back onto the paper, leaving only the desired butterfly cut out.  Sponge them across Very Vanilla in Regal Rose, Daffodil Delight, Pool Party.  A little punch trim, layered DSP, on Soft Suede. More clean and simple!




Here they are together...


The third one I like the concept of, and I probably could do more with this.  It's simply 1-1/4" strips of CS and DSP, cut into squares and rectangles.  Arrange onto scrap paper and stamp a little scene of images from Heaven Blessed.  I like the detail on these stamps, and will watercolor them really soon.  But not today ;)

Once the images are stamped, move them onto the card base arrange, and adhere.  Add a little brad as a focal point.


The shape of the squares is carried through to the inside of the card here...


Here's the color block challenge from Hand Stamped Sentiments.  I love their samples this week.  Not sure I'm done with this challenge yet, I have a layout to work out still and this technique offers so many possibilities!


SUPPLIES:
STAMPS: Heaven Blessed (Spring Mini 2012)
DSP: Attic Boutique (Spring Mini 2012)
CARDSTOCK: Watercolor paper, Sahara Sand, Pink Pirouette, Pool Party, Soft Suede,
INK: Soft Suede
ACCESSORIES:  Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies Bigs Die, Corner Rounder Punch, Pool Party Seam Binding Ribbon, Linen Thread, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Punch, Basic Rhinestones, Sponge

Have a blessed & creative day! Erika.

Perfectly Penned...with Pens!

Pin It Now! Today was a snowy day, really cold here in the Appalachian Mountains. This card, with it's bright & cheery color pallette, really warmed my spirits!



The patterned paper is a new set available TOMORROW from SU's Spring Mini, called Attic Boutique. The patterns are vintage, shabby chic, and some are a bold retro, and they are wonderfully layerable! I'll be using this DSP a lot.

I matted & layered a few patterns. I like that the base pattern is fountain pens, and the stamp is from Perfectly Penned ;). Well played.

I hand made a little flower from a scrap of crochet trim, gathered with thread, and finished with a large pearl.

The paper that the stamped image is on is also from the DSP, a light floral yellow pattern.



The card sketch is Mojo Monday's latest:



The color combo is a Cupcake Creations challenge, CR84FN45. Truly challenging for me, but I enjoyed the outcome!

SUPPLIES:
CARDSTOCK: Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Soft Suede
DSP: Attic Boutique (Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral, Poppy Parade, Pool Party, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla)
STAMPS: Perfectly Penned
INK: Soft Suede
ACCESSORIES: Calypso Coral Organdy ribbon, Crochet Trim ribbon, large & basic pearls, sponge, Bird punch (leaf).

Have a blessed & creative day! Erika. www.erikaclark.stampinup.net