Pop-Up Valentine Card

I have the privilege of being part of the Anna Griffin Design Team and working with her new products before launch - always striving to come up with new and different ideas to beautify our lives.  Part of the "after launch" fun begins for me in combining new products, pulling a bit from my "card kits" and paper collections stash and presenting you with a new way to wow your family and friends.  Order Anna's beautiful products directly from HSN and don't forget to watch her upcoming show on February 18th.  I also have a direct connection to her blog annagriffin.com - thanks so much and enjoy!     K

Pretty Pop-Up Valentine Card

Supplies - all Anna Griffin:

Pretty Pop-Up Card Making kit - card, inside pop-up base, oval mat and sentiment

Glitter Paper - Pink

Metallic Card Layers - Dark Pink

Collectors Dies

Sentiment - Juliet Paper Collection

Roses - from my "card kit" stash

General supplies - scoring board + tool, adhesive, scissors, foam squares, paper glue

From the pop-up card kit, use the pink frame card front and inside "pink lace" pop-up base pictured below:

Two of the Collectors dies were used in this project, the first to cut Pink Glitter Paper for the front then secure with foam squares.  Add sentiment of choice to center of glitter die with paper or hot glue -TIP - my experience has been that the double-face adhesives do not hold well on a glitter paper base.

                                      
Secure the pop-up base to the inside of the card - TIP - I use adhesive on the "fold" of each 3D strip as well as around the edges - this holds the pop-up strips firmly in place to the card to decorate.

The second Collectors Die is used to diecut Dark Pink Metallic Card Layers for the inside - SAVE the largest inside scrap pieces - they are the "floating hearts" on the top and bottom of the card. Trim away the bottom section of the inside die cut - as shown below - so it can fit nicely onto the back pop-up card section.  REMEMBER to place (with a bit of adhesive) your pop-up elements onto the base, close the card to be sure they fit inside, then open and secure them permanently in place. 

  SAVE the trimmed diecut part to place on the inside front section of the pop-up:

When you have positioned your 3D roses, you can gently score any areas that need to float to the bottom of the card, then secure in place:

Add your mat and sentiment to the middle pop-up base strip and the small "scrap hearts" from the inside diecut to the top back with foam squares and adhere flat to the bottom front of the card - voila - you are done and have a place to write, sign, seal and deliver to your favorite Valentine.

Thanks so much for coming by, please leave comments and subscribe (on right side) to be sure you don't miss my future Anna Griffin projects.  I hope you enjoy this Valentine card and will share it with your friends.    K

12 Tags of 2015 - January

I decided this year to make the time to participate in the Tim Holtz 12 Tags challenges because I am busily attempting to finish or complete many project surfaces I have "collected" over the years.   For the January edition I have chosen to adapt a small sketchbook with his techniques, to use as a yearly journal.  Please visit his blog (link above) for any additional directions to these steps & join us each month for a wonderful learning adventure!

"Twenty 15" Journal

My little black journal was an "odd" size of 5 3/4" x 8 1/4" so I measured to have a 1/2" border around the featured collage.  For starters, I cut a 5" x 7 1/2" piece of manila file folder (same weight as a tag), then used Matte Glue n' Seal to apply a piece of Tim's Melange tissue wrap, adding wrinkles, then set aside to dry. After a gentle sand & scuff of the edges and wrinkles, I applied Distress Paints - Broken China and Rusty Hinge along with Adirondack Dauber Acrylics - Aqua and Willow, misting with water to blend - dry.  Next I used Distress Spray Stain - Spiced Marmalade, Broken China and Dylusions Lemon Zest - the messier the better - blend, blot and dry.

TIP - when the background dried, I fed it through a large Xyron sticker machine (note paper backing above) - used to adhere to the journal front when finished - you have to do this while the piece is still flat before adding any embellishments.

While the background drys, prepare the Alpha Parts - the words "twenty" and "Seen & Noted" were painted with Broken China and Rusty Hinge Distress Paints, partially dried, wiped off , completely dried, then coated with Glossy Accents & dried to finish. The number 15 was painted with Broken China Distress Paint - dry - coated with Broken China Distress Stickles - dry - a tiny bit of Crystal Stickles "patted" on with your finger (for a little extra sparkle) - dry - then coat with Glossy Accents to dry and finish:

Choose and position Chit Chat stickers around placement of Alpha Parts:

use bit of Glossy Accents on the back to hold them in place, then coat entire background with Glue n' Seal - dry:

"Brush" on a thin line of Black Soot Distress Marker around the Chit Chat stickers and smear into the background.  Color a piece of crinkle ribbon with same spray stains used on background - crumple up and set aside to dry.  When ribbon is dry, cut in half and thread each end through the side of the Alpha Part and secure with Tiny Attacher, then wrap ribbon ends to the back of the cover piece & tape down.  Remember to add a bit of Glossy Accent to the backs of all the Alpha Parts to secure when putting them down on your background:

I added three of the small Mirrored Stars then spritzed all with Picket Fence Distress Marker and Krylon Gold paint pen - dry.  

To finish, I Distress Inked and heat set the edges with Black Soot, peeled off the Xyron backing paper and placed on the journal.  What a fun start to a Happy New Year!
Thanks for coming by, please leave comments and subscribe, stay warm & safe and I'll see 'ya next month - K

Supplies:
Surface: Ranger manila tag OR piece of manila file folder; Tim Holtz idea-ology Melange tissue wrap
Paints: Distress Paint - Broken China, Rusty Hinge; Adirondack Acrylic  Daubers - Aqua, Willow; Krylon Gold paint pen
Stain: Distress Spray Stain - Spiced Marmalade; Ranger Dylusions - Lemon Zest
Mediums: Ranger Matte Glue n' Seal, Glossy Accents
Distress Ink: Black Soot
Distress Ink Markers: Black Soot, Picket Fence
Stickles: Distress - Broken China; Ranger - Crystal
Embellishments: Tim Holtz idea-ology Alpha Parts, Chit Chat stickers, Mirrored Stars, Crinkle Ribbon 

Tools: Tim Holtz Spritzer, Tiny Attacher, Sanding Block; Xyron machine

CC3C Challenge 20 - Watercoloring

Hello again, I am pleased to be back with one of my favorite techniques using Distress Markers - Watercoloring - from Tim Holtz's Compendium of Curiosities Volume III, page 40.  What a great way to start the New Year with special thanks to Tim Holtz, Linda Ledbetter & Team and challenge sponsors Funkie Junkie Boutique and Inspiration Emporium for their continued support and encouragement.  I hope you enjoy this project, please leave me comments and share our links and enthusiasm with like minded friends.

Tag Pocket Card

                                                     

I used a 9" x 12" watercolor paper sheet - cut down to a 10 1/2" x 7 1/2" size.  Watercolor papers traditionally have two distinct sides - one rough (the front) and one smooth (the back) although you could use either.  In the illustration below, you see the paper from the back, score the cut paper from the left hand side at 1/2" - to fold and secure pocket side - and again at 5 1/2" for your center line to create the back of the pocket.  Score the bottom at 1/2" and trim at corner and side as shown to fold and secure pocket bottom.  Using a 1" circle punch, create the thumb hole at center top of the left hand side - remember this "center" does not include the 1/2" side to be folded under:

Turn the paper over to the front (rough side) leaving flat not folded, then using Archival black permanent ink, stamp two large "Fabulous Flourishes" images as shown - going off the paper:

I also like to use a "signature motif" on the back of my projects, and selected one from the Wallflower collection, adding name and info with a fine tip permanent marker.  Allow stamped images to dry or set with a heat tool.

Using a craft knife, ruler and/or scissors, cut a window frame "into" the stamped flourishes, leaving a bit of edge detail as shown:

The inner "tag" card is the same watercolor paper cut to a 6 3/4" x 4 3/4" size, corner rounded and center hole punched at top. I added a paper reinforcement on the back to avoid tears.  Stamp images with Archival black permanent ink - I used several of Tim's designs to build a scene & saying.  TIP - to finish the inside edge of the cut out "frame", I use the brush end of Black Soot Distress Marker to gently "outline" and match stamp edge instead of having the white edge show.

Now the fun begins - following Tim's book techniques, color all images using the following Distress Markers:
Sky & background - Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Weathered Wood
Branches - Gathered Twigs, Frayed Burlap, Vintage Photo
Bird - Gathered Twigs, Antique Linen, Bard Door
Greenery - "splotches" of Shabby Shutters, Forest Moss, Mowed Lawn
Flowers - "splotches" of Worn Lipstick and Barn Door
Flourishes - Mustard Seed, Frayed Burlap
Drop Shadows - Pumice Stone, Frayed Burlap - heat set between "layers" of color or when finished.
This is also a good time to use watered down markers or Distress Spray Stain to colorize a 10" piece of crinkle ribbon for the top - wrinkle it up and set aside to dry on your mat.
                                                           

I used Antique Linen to create a blended edge on the pocket front, then spritzed both with Antique Linen and Vintage Photo markers - heat set.  To create a "window", use a 4" x 6" piece of clear Transparent Presentation Cover NOT a printable transparency which has a blurry film.  Flip your pocket to the back, add double stick adhesive/tape around the cut out frame edge, then smooth down the clear film - you can also add regular transparent tape over the film edges to secure and keep the card from snagging when removing.

The 1/2" scored side and bottom edges are now folded to the inside and flattened, add a strip of double-stick adhesive to both then fold over the back to secure to the edges - thus closing and forming the pocket.

When the pocket is assembled and the tag is done, spritzed and dry, Distress Ink the edges in Antique Linen then a bit of Vintage Photo to finish.  Add your dry crinkle ribbon to the top of the card and insert into the pocket - voila!

You might also want to ink and spritz a matching envelope - this pocket with card will fit into a A7 size (5 1/4" x 7 1/4").  This project could easily be adapted into a Easter, Mothers Day, Birthday or whatever kind of card you might want - hope you enjoy!

Supplies:
Surfaces: 140 lb. Watercolor paper; transparent presentation/booklet cover
Stamps: Stamper's Anonymous Tim Holtz: Fabulous Flourishes, Wallflower, sayings
Distress Ink Markers: Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Weathered Wood, Gathered Twigs, Frayed Burlap, Vintage Photo, Barn Door, Shabby Shutters, Forest Moss, Mowed Lawn, Worn Lipstick, Antique Linen, Mustard Seed, Black Soot
Ink: Ranger Archival Ink - black
Distress Inks: Antique Linen, Vintage Photo
Embellishments: Tim Holtz idea-ology Crinkle Ribbon
Tools: Tim Holtz idea-ology Spritzer; 12" scoring board + scoring tool

Special Announcement

We have been trying to determine how to make a very special announcement since October, however, we are all soooooooooo busy getting January samples ready for new product releases on HSN and for the upcoming CHA show and that we simply forgot to tell you that I have become a part of the Anna Griffin Design Team - yes it is wonderful!  To celebrate with you, here are a few of my Christmas samples previously released.  Please go to both HSN for products and to Anna's blog for sneak peeks of the January 21st show and chances to win beautiful new products!

I look forward to sharing MANY samples and ideas with you in the New Year, updated graphics, bells & whistles on this blog, and wish you the very merriest of holidays!  Best always - K

Noel Vignette Box

Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season - it is my pleasure to share with you detailed finished photographs and instructions for a piece featured in this years Somerset Holidays and Celebrations, one of my favorites:

For many years I have been a miniature enthusiast so the concept of combining small "left over" boxes from Tim Holtz Configurations (thank you Paula Cheney!) appealed to me and could be used in any themed project, filled with whatever your hearts desire, even saved memorabilia pieces from past celebrations, then displayed as home decoration, framed as a art piece or given as a wonderful memories gift to family and friends.

This vignette uses a diecut frame on the top along with the Noel diecut greeting, filled with a handmade cabin, trees, gifts and diecut village in the background.  I chose blue as my holiday color since I live in Florida, but pick your pleasure, let your imagination soar and enjoy!

To secure the small boxes, I use Ranger Multi Medium Matte brushed onto the box sides, hold them together with small binder clips, then wrap a large rubber band around to keep them straight as they dry. There are many combinations - remember these can be art framed in shadow boxes if desired rather than chipboard framed as shown.  This example is not the one I used but shows you the process.  Set aside to dry before decorating.

After assembled boxes are dried together, measure and cut papers to cover the sides and back, adhere with Multi Medium.  I used coordinating papers from Tim Holtz "Seasonal" paper stash.

In this project, a heavy chipboard frame is cut to fit over the boxes, the one used is a book cover with trimmed ends (shown in photo below).  You could easily create your own by measuring the outside of the boxes and adding however many inches you want the top width to be then depending on the size, hand trim a decorative top with craft knife OR diecut using a Sizzix On The Edge pattern. Measure to cut the inside of the frame with at least a 1/8" overlap onto the top edge of the boxes - the frame has to have something to sit on and be glued to.  When the frame is completely cut inside and out, cover with a medium to heavy coat of Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint - Clear Rock Candy and set aside to dry.  After completely dry, use Broken China and Tumbled Glass Distress Paints to colorize crackle. Please refer to instructions in CC3C Challenge 14 (below in this blog) and Tim's Compendium of Curiosities Volume III on how to paint and complete the crackle finish frame.

Now you want to cover the inside of the boxes - measure and cut papers to fit - glue in with Multi Medium - cover edges with tissue tape.  I do not like to reinvent the wheel and there are multiple instructions and measurements available on these boxes - use either Tim Holtz or Paula Cheney blogs for details, YouTube also has videos.  TIP - if tissue tape is not stuck down after drying, brush on more Multi Medium under and over to secure - dry.  Broken China Distress Ink was used to color over all tissue tape edges.

All boxes have a "piece" of the Sizzix On The Edge - Townscape diecut in the background - cut out of chipboard - Distress Paint with Broken China - dry - ink edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink - glue a small piece of yellow paper to the back to give appearance of lighted windows - create a shadow in the windows using Frayed Burlap Distress Marker - set aside to add snow later with other pieces then "elevate" with foam dots and glue into back of box before adding other elements.

The left side box has a small idea-ology Woodlands tree, colored with Evergreen Bough Distress Stain - again, please see Tim Holtz blog or YouTube video for this process - dry - add snow (instructions below) then glue on bead ornaments and top with a small Mirrored Stars.  Small gift packages can be made or found in store miniatures departments or online.

The center box has a handmade chipboard cabin - draw and cut to size for fit.  I used Brushed Corduroy Distress Paint on cabin, roof and chimney, woodgrain detail and stone chimney with Walnut Stain paint, wreath and garland with Peeled Paint - highlights in Antique Linen paint.   Add a painted wood look frame around a square yellow piece of paper for front window.  Cut the top off another Woodlands tree (it is smaller) then spray stain and decorate for the side.  NOTE - after snow has been added and cabin glued into place, add a bit of "smoke" coming out of the chimney with fibers from a cotton ball - pinch a small amount of fiber from a cotton ball and glue into the chimney - dry - add a tiny bit of glossy accent to the inside top of the box and pull the fibers to the top to glue - dry.

The right side box has several branches of Tim's NEW Pine Twine Garland inserted into the box side by punching a small hole with a Tonic craft pick or awe - add a drop of glossy accents - insert branch wire into the box side - dry.  The wire will allow you to shape after dry. Ornaments were cut from a matching small paper print, then coordinating Stickle glitter was used and finally glossy accents used to secure ornaments to branches.  Gifts are from same package as on left side box.

IMPORTANT ASSEMBLY NOTE - the following directions are for two types of snow - your choice - which HAS TO BE ADDED to houses & trees before they are glued permanently into place AND before the "groundwork" snow is added.

SNOW - two types were used on the original box - Spackle snow from a jar was applied with a palette knife (you could use a disposable craft stick) to the roofs on the background Townscape, the cabin roof, smokestack and patted on the dry stained trees - dry. NOTE - do not add snowy "groundwork" to boxes until houses and trees are glued securely in place and completely dry.  The original "groundwork" snow in each box was made using a piece of crumpled white tissue paper - patted and glued into and around the bottom, then more glue was added on top of tissue and dry snow flakes were patted into the tissue to clump and stick.

NEW METHOD of making SNOW - using Tim Holtz/Ranger Distress Stickles Dry Glitter - Clear Rock Candy and glossy accents in an approximate ratio of  3 glitter to 1 glossy - mix together in a small plastic cup with a wood craft stick - if it is too liquefied, ADD more glitter, it should be a fluffy consistency - if it is not sticking together at all, add more glossy accents - after mixing use the craft stick to pat into place in and around areas to be snow covered - dry thoroughly.  After dry - boxes were gently tapped from the back over a trash can to remove any loose flakes, spackle or glitter.

Cut TWO "Noel" diecuts and paint with Adirondack Silver metallic paint - dry - cover ONE with Distress Silver glitter - dry.  Position and glue the glittered diecut to the top of frame - dry.  The second diecut is optional, however, it will hopefully keep the Noel piece from breaking off since it has many openings and details.  Position the second diecut from the back and pencil mark and cut to match the top of the frame, then glue to the back of the first diecut (photo below, this reinforces the glitter diecut and thickens it to the width of the frame - touch-up paint in silver if needed.

To create the window, use either Bazzill "Plastic Paper" OR heavy laminate sheet OR a piece of packaging, measure box top size to include 1/4" overlap on edges - in other words, you want the plastic to be larger than the hole you cut out of the chipboard frame or it will fall through.  I used Glossy Accents to glue plastic top to boxes - dry flat - then glue the frame on top of the plastic - dry flat.

Since this box was made, Tim Holtz released rub-on snowflakes to use and finish!

Thanks for stopping by, please leave comments and come back soon - K

Christmas Necklace

I am pleased to share a detailed photo and the updated version of a necklace recently featured in Somerset's Holidays and Celebrations, adding the NEW Tim Holtz idea-ology Adornments - Tidings Tokens, Numbers filled with Stickle colors and the Snowflake with a bit of red Stickle.  Please enjoy and start your own yearly edition to a holiday wearable.  Happy Holidays always!    K

  

Wallflower Jewelry

I am pleased to share two of my jewelry pieces featuring Tim Holtz Wallflower papers in the latest edition of Belle Armoire Jewelry released on December 1st by Stampington & Company:

                

I have always been intrigued by shadowboxes, especially really small ones that would be appropriate for jewelry pieces - thus - a Tim Holtz idea-ology watch body or the Spellbinders "A Gilded Life" series that was introduced this past year is perfect for using small prints and those in back of a paper stash pack.  I was inspired by a sample in his 2014 CHA booth and look forward to working with the new 2015 papers as well.

Begin with the watch body, remove the metal backing plate to use only as a pattern, then lay the open part of watch on a sheet of plain paper and draw a pattern around the outside edge - remove pattern and save to use in later step.   With open side of watch down, center, stack and glue (as shown in photo below) three gear parts to glass and metal watch frame using Ranger glossy accents or a good jewelry glue to secure - dry flat.  TIP - when gluing jewelry parts together, use only a LITTLE BIT of adhesive as too much will run out from the edges and look messy - if this happens, use your finger nail & soft cloth (old T-shirt) to clean up immediately as later chipping off dry adhesive from glass & metal is risky.

Using the metal watch back as a pattern, select and cut a paper circle to fit inside the watch body, sign and date the back before placing against the glass, you may also wish to distress ink the edges. Secure the background paper circle with tiny dots of glossy accents around the inside of the watch - it is best not to glue paper against the glass backing as it will create a mess - trust me on that one! Select two or three of the same small paper print to cut apart for your scene inside the watch. Fussy cut apart and separate the paper print - in this case the flowers and leaves - shape the paper using rounded cuticle stick or simply your fingers - glue only center or end parts of the back of the shaped prints into the watch body on top of the background print with glossy accents OR a heavy bodied paper glue - dry flat.  TIP - before gluing in the paper parts, use Tim Holtz Distress ink markers to colorize the edges, creating illusion of reality and "covering" the white edges of the paper - it really does make a difference in the appearance of the project - try it on a scrap piece.

Tiny rhinestones were added to the flower centers - you can find the small ones on "blinged" alphabet sheets, pick them off the backing and color with alcohol inks to match paper prints then glue into the flower centers with Ranger glossy accents - dry flat.  When interior is dry, reshape paper pieces as desired.

To enclose, cover and protect the contents of the shadowbox, use your paper pattern to cut a piece of heavy plastic (Bazzill plastic paper) to cover the open area - use glossy accents around the top edge of the watch body frame to secure - dry.  The scalloped framed accent covering top edge is made using Ranger Sticky Back Foil sheets, cut to width of 1/2" then trimmed on one edge with small scallop decorative scissors - remove paper backing and gently work around the frame edge - 1/2 of the foil covers the plastic edge and the other half goes onto the watch body.  After secure, use a bit of Black Soot Distress paint on your finger, smear over the foil to dull and grey to match watch color - wipe off excess - dry.

Colorize metal adornments or charms with alcohol inks - dry - attach to the gear parts with jump rings.  NOTE - the  heart and type charms have been "filled" with a piece of the same small print paper in the Wallflower paper pad.  The small metal piece of a flower adornment actually broke off a larger piece I had already colored, so I glued it on top of the heart charm.  I used two link chains for the necklace with stations of colored crystals, add your closure and you are done:

The Wallflower bird necklace also uses small paper prints in the back of the pad, match size to the piece you are working on. The beauty of using the Spellbinders frames is having their exact matching dies to cut the background papers AND included clear top to drop on and finish the enclosure.

Instructions for this piece are basically identical to those above, however, I added real bird feathers under the layers of the wings to enhance and a dot of glossy accents to their eyes.  The butterfly has been glued in the center to the very top and alcohol ink colored rhinestones have been added to the outside frame.   

I do hope you have enjoyed these selections and will comment on the blog and share this site. 

Thanks so much for stopping by - see you soon with some new holiday goodies!     K