Zentangle-inspired Sizzix Big Shot Pro Pillow Purse

There is no right side up to a Zentangle pattern which makes it perfect to use as a background for Zentangle-inspired paper crafting projects.

I spent some time last autumn filling an 8x10" piece of Zentangle-inspired art for framing.  I scanned my completed piece with the intention of reproducing it on an iron-on transfer for fabric.

After playing with the Sizzix Big Shot Pro Pillow Purse (here), I wanted to see how my Zentangle-inspired art would look on a die cut project.  First things first, I printed my black and white image onto smooth, white cardstock.

Yikes!!!  My printer, acting wholly on its own, added red and black stripes throughout my Zentangle-inspired work.  If my printer were anything but mechanical, I'm certain the words spewing out of my mouth then would have at least hurt its feelings.  I could have thrown that paper away and tried again but this is, afterall, a Zentangle-inspired project.  So, in the true spirit of all things Zentangle, I simply moved forward from that moment and continued on with what I had.  Can I turn this blunder into something nice?

I placed my newly printed, now striped, sheet of cardstock over the Sizzix Big Shot Pro Pillow Purse die and ran it through the die cutting machine.  Hmmm.  This just might work.  I attached the handle using black mini brads to allow the handle to be movable and adhered the sides.

I folded a strip of 5/16" Offray sheer black ribbon to the front flap and added a set of magnets for closure.  Using the scraps remaining from the die cut purse, I used a 1/2" circle punch and added these pieces over the magnets.  Cool.

I still had enough remaining scraps to die cut one large and three small Sizzix 3D flowers and curled them to decorate the front of my Zentangle-inspired pillow purse.  A few McGill punched branches, some with a thin layer of Diamond Stickles, and a touch of ribbon made a nice flower cluster.

This little purse is large enough to hold some Zentangle tiles, a couple of markers, a short pencil and more.  I think it will make a nice gift package that can also be displayed.

As the Zentangle patterns wrap around to the back and bottom, all sides are decorated nicely.  Here's a view of the back . . .

and bottom . . .

I guess I need to go now and find out why my printer added red and black stripes to my print job . . .

Layout Challenge: Basic Grey Pyrus

I enjoyed using Basic Grey Pyrus patterned papers to create many layers of a layout to share part of my Autumn 2010 trip to Vermont .  Here's a photo of the products from the latest Scrappers Cove layout kit.  It contains:  Bazzill cardstock in green and rust, Basic Grey Pyrus Bradford stripe, Regul geometric, Pear Pie, Small Details pop-up tiny tags, Olivia micro mono alphabet stickers, and a 2" wide netted ribbon.

I used the Sizzix Big Shot Pro Ribbon Circle to die cut the Bradford stripe and adhered it to a piece of chipboard for a little extra dimension on my layout.  The Martha Stewart Rings Combo punch makes a pretty border with a strip of the Regul geometric inside.

A few cut outs from the Pear Pie paper, outlined with Cinnamon Stickles, provide some glittery, popped-up coordinated embellishments.

Basic Grey's 1/2" alphabet stickers are just right for layering on cardstock or using directly on the background.  There are plenty of duplicate letters in upper and lower case.

I used the Sizzix Scallop Combo Tags #2 to die cut a tag for a touch of journaling about the Elk delicacies served at this cool steakhouse and lounge in Newport, Vermont.  Here's the complete layout that I'll submit to the Scrappers Cove for their February layout contest.

Copic Creations Challenge: What's New?

The latest challenge over at Copic Creations is to show off something new for the New Year.  It could be products, techniques, tools, etc., anything new will work.  Prairie Fairy Designs is sponsoring this challenge and offering five of their digital images to the random winner.  (Find out more about this challenge and sponsor here.)

I've used products that are new to me from the Scrappers Cove February card contest kit:  Pink Paislee/House of Three's Parisian Anthology beautiful butterfly and architectural arch double-sided resist patterned papers, dimensions corrugated shapes and clear dangle element; Bazzill cardstock in teal and gray; a sheer silver ribbon; and Ranger's Suze Weinberg Glitz Stickles in Mermaid.

I added some Copic color to the surface of the Beautiful Butterfly paper and corrugated shapes by airbrushing sporadically using BG13, V04 and Y13.

I filled my new Magnolia Stamps Prince Edwin from the 2010 Fairy Tale Collection using Copic colors . . .

then added a grounding shadow as well as a light outline shadow . . .

I used Spellbinders Labels 17 to die cut Prince Edward and a mat.  I used Stampin' Up!'s ticket corner punch on a small piece of the Architectural Arch paper and a computer-generated quote from Cinderella's Prince Charming.  A Tim Holtz idea-ology clip and jump ring provided a nice way to dangle a jewel from the number ticket.  A thin line of Stickles outlines both tickets.  I also painted a thin layer of Stickles over the petals of the Petaloo Color Me Crazy floral surfaces.

Here's the completed card that I'm entering into the Copic Creations Challenge as well as submitting to the Scrappers Cove card kit contest.

As a side note, while I generally like the look of my Copic-filled Prince Edwin image, this entry shows my attempts at once again trying to use X-Press It paper.   One of the superb qualities of Copic markers is that Light Pushes Dark, including the Colorless Blender (the lightest of them all), so they have the ability to push darker color out of the way to allow magnificent highlights to be added to colored images.  For me, X-Press It paper blocks that action.  I found that rather than gently moving the color, I had to exert more effort and more often than not, the color just puddled on the surface of the X-Press It.

Copics used:
crown/shoulder cuffs/pillow tassels/shirt:  Y13, Y26, Y28
hair/boots:  E31, E35, E47
skin:  E000, E00, YR00, R20
pillow:  R22, R29, R59
coat:  B91, B95, B97
pants: T0, T6, T9
slipper:  B000, 0
grounding shadow:  W5, W3, W1, 0
outline shadow:  W3, W1

Sizzix Big Shot Pro Album with Lace and My Little Shoebox

The Sizzix Album with Lace die for use with the Big Shot Pro makes finishing a mini album incredibly easy.  It cuts through chipboard like butter and allows matching papers to be lined up and adhered perfectly.  There is a lacy scalloped edge page that I used for my front and back covers.  For my inner pages, I used the slightly smaller rounded corner inserts.  Both pages are included on the same die.

Several months ago, I won a very generous prize package from a My Little Shoebox blog hop (here) and have finally used it to decorate this multi-page mini album.

The front cover shows my use of Scraps of Metal, Petals and Furry Friends . . . I cut out some robots from the back of the Reboot paper.

Scraps of Metal covers the inside of the cover . . . A pocket made from the Sizzix #4 envelope note card allows room for some additional notes, tags and/or photos.

The first page includes Reboot . . .

For page 2, I used Down the Street for the cool notebook paper design on the back . . .

Page 3 shows the robots side of Scraps of Metal . . .

Page 4 shows the stars side of Scraps of Metal . . .

Nice to See You covers page 5 . . .

Page 6 shows Follow the Cloud . . . My Little Shoebox die cut cardstock includes nice designs for further embellishing . . .

You-Hoo is included on page 7 . . .

Page 8 shows Love Birds . . .

while I used Tweet-Hearts on page 9 . . . The little circular owl tab on the right can be lifted to open a flap where more photos and journaling can be included . . .

Page 10 is surrounded by Furry Friends . . . The designs of the My Little Shoebox patterned papers are clear and easy to cut for use in coordinating embellishments.  Glossy Accents and Stickles added to the cut outs allows you to add your own homemade layered stickers.

Sierra coordinates well on page 11 . . .

Page 12 shows Bite Size . . .

The inside of the back cover is lined with the dark blue plaid from the back of Botanical.  The corner pocket is made using the Fresh Air scalloped circle die cut . . .

The other side of the back cover is lined with Happy Trees . . .

The finished project is approximately 10 1/8" x 5 1/2".  This mini album has room for as many as 13 4x6" photos and 3 wallet-size with journaling.  Now to select some photos of my sons and daughter to place inside and remind them of some of their childhood days . . .

Yikes!!!  I still have enough product left from this prize to make at least another mini album or two . . .

Decorated Sizzix Big Shot Pro Pillow Purse

I've seen some beautifully decorated paper craft items in many fun shapes.  The March 2011 issue of Scrap & Stamp magazine showcases Purses Galore and includes some cute purse-shaped cards for inspiration.

After eyeing it up for nearly a year, I finally treated myself to the Sizzix Big Shot Pro and a pillow purse die.  Ahhh . . . it was so easy to get this great purse outline shape.  I love that I can use any patterned paper or cardstock for magnificent effects.  If I ever see any clear cardstock in 12x12" then I have to pick it up!

I used KI Memories Posh Society double-sided patterned paper for these great big circle shapes in such pretty colors.  It makes me think this could make a cute birthday gift package.  I used Cats Eye chalk ink in Prussian Blue to ink all edges.

I attached the handle to each outside flap using Tim Holtz idea-ology washers and long fasteners.  Another washer on the inside allows the handle to be movable.

I found a pretty rhinestone brad in a K&Company Christmas Cheer package and thought it would make a nice closure.

I love the way this 1/2" lace looks across the front flap when pleated on the underside.  Fabri-Tac really worked wonders on this.

Now I'm ready to add some red line tape on the far seam of each outside flap and secure the sides to close this little pillow purse.  Sweet.  The assembled purse is about 6" wide, 5 3/4" tall and the bottom is about 2 1/4" deep (the depth narrows toward the top until the flap folds over for closure).

I added some Basic Grey Magnetic Snaps to secure my top flap closure.  I had a little trouble finding an adhesive to hold the magnet over the brad and finally had success with Tombo Mono Metal Liquid Glue.  I added some cardstock reinforcements to lighten the magnetic hold yet allow it to hold firmly.

Finally I die cut two sets of Magnolia Doohickeys Doily Flowers and painted their surfaces with Diamond Stickles.  I used coordinating smooth aqua cardstock from my scrap stash to punch some McGill pine branches and spread some stickles over them too.  Finally, when dry, I attached the layered flowers with a brad and glued the whole sparkling, lacy bloom to the purse front.

I really enjoyed putting this Sizzix Pillow Purse together and I'm happy with the daintiness of the lace and jewel tones.  It looks like a sweet gift package that will hold an assortment of smaller items like candy, lip gloss and other make up products, tea lights, and of course movie tickets, money and gift cards.  What do you envision being inside?

Card Art with Copics: Magnolia Mini World

Have you seen the Magnolia Stamps Mini World miniatures?  Have you wondered why you would want a Magnolia in such a tiny size?  Well . . . here's a treat to tempt you.

I'm thrilled to have gotten my hands on a couple of these babies.  I've used the Magnolia miniature Edwin on Sled and Winter Forest to create the background of a little snow scene with the Magnolia Tilda with Fir from the 2010 Merry Little Christmas Collection.

This photo shows the three stamped images filled with Copic markers on a 5 1/4 x 4" piece of Bazzill Smooth White.

I attempted to create some shadows and used my Copic Cool Gray markers to add some cold-looking snow.  Things in the distance appear to be smaller and these miniatures are absolutely perfect for adding that effect.  This photo shows my fair attempts at using these miniatures to create depth in my card art . . .

Here's a photo of this snow scene adhered to the front of a Bazzill A2 card (4 1/4 x 5 1/2").  Since Magnolia images are of angels that speak from their hearts, I imagine that Edwin is sledding toward Tilda so they can put that tree on the sled for the rest of the trip home.  I had to remind myself that Magnolias are sweet because my first thought was "Men!  Go Figure."  LOL!!!  He's playing around while she's doing all the work!  . . . Remember . . . They're angels that speak from their hearts, Rose . . .

I added some atyou Spica clear for glimmer over the trees, the fur on Tilda's coat and places in the snow.  I'm not sure that I want to add any embellishments to the card front as they may distract from the snow scene.  Hmmm . . . do you have any suggestions?

Copics used:
trees:  G82, G85, G99
hair/sled (wood):  E31, E35, E47
sled (metal): C1, C3, C5
gloves/stockings/hairbows:  R22, R29, R59
jeans:  B91, B95, B97
Edwin coat/Tilda boots:  W1, W3, W5
Edwin boots:  T0, T6, T9
Tilda coat/hat:  V04, V06, V09 (fur E40,0)
skin:  E000, E00, YR00, R20
shadows/snow:  C5, C3, C1, C0
atyou Spica clear