October Card Sketch - Megan's Papercraft Treasures

 Hi friends!  Today, I am sharing my Design Team Project for Megan's Papercraft Treasures.  

Here is the October Card Sketch Image

I started by coloring Vampire Owen from Paper Nest Dolls with Copic Markers and fussy cut him. 

I picked four coordinating papers from Echo Park and trimmed them down.  I die-cut the label from the Tasteful Labels Dies from Stanpin' Up and heat embossed the sentiment from the Tomb Town stamp set from Scrappy Boy Stamps and die-cut the banner using the Sentiment Strips Dies from Kindred Stamps. 

I layered my papers and when I was happy with the placement, I adhered them using liquid glue. I felt like the card was lacking, so I wound some black metallic thread and attached it with a mini glue dot.  I added another strand and frayed the ends.  Lastly, I popped Owen ans my sentiment banner up on the front of the card with foam tape. 

I don't often work with patterned paper, but I love how quickly and easily it can pull a card together!  

Thank you so much for stopping in!  

September Layout Sketch - Megan's Papercraft Treasures

 Hello crafty peeps!  Today, I am sharing a DT Project for Megan's Papercraft Treasures.  I created this using the September Scrapbook Layout Sketch. 

I have to be honest... I am not a scrapbooker, so this was a huge challenge for me.  We have just returned from the beautiful state of Montana and I had some photos that I thought would be fun to use, so I decided to give it a try. 

Forgive the glare in the photo.  My favorite part of the trip was visiting the National Bison Range and seeing all of the wildlife, even though the sky was incredibly hazy from the wildfires.  

Here is the sketch image. 

Products Used: 

Recollections 12 x 12 Paper:  Neutrals

Recollections 12 x 12 Paper:  The Farmhouse Collection

Recollections 110# Card Stock:  White, Black, Ivory

Reverse Confetti Celebr8 Tag Die

Stampin' Up Brilliant Wings Dies

Baker's Twine (Amazon)

Spectrum Noir Sparkle Brush Pen

Thanks for stopping in!  Please make sure to join us for the September Sketch Challenges!  You can find us here! 

Have a crafty day!  

September Card Sketch Challenge - Megan's Papercraft Treasures

 Hi friends!  I am so excited to be sharing my second Design Team Post for Megan's Papercraft Treasures! 

Each month, Megan posts two sketch challenges - a card and a scrapbook layout.  For September, the sketch is a slimline sketch.  I don't do a ton of slimline cards, but I have to say that I do love them!  

For my card, I went a little bit rogue, and allowed my inner geek to come out.  I recently participated in a virtual retreat with Paper Nest Dolls and made a Filmstrip Shaker Card inspired by Tina Day Goodwin that I just loved, so I wanted to recreate it with a twist.  

Here is the sketch:

Before I cut my card base, I had to do a few calculations, as I knew my card would be thick, and I wanted to be sure it would fit in my envelope, so I started with my envelope size and worked backwards.  My slimline envelopes are 4 1/8" x 9 1/2", so I cut my cardstock to 7 1/2" x 9 1/8", and scored in half.  This gave me a card base of 3 3/4" x 9 1/8".

I die-cut two filmstrips from black card stock, and I added a coat of Glossy Accents to one of the die-cuts and set it aside to let it dry. 

I measured the width and length of the inside of the filmstrip windows and cut a strip of Neenah Solar White card stock 1/4" larger.  Using my Distress Oxide Inks, I created a galaxy background, starting with the lightest color and progressively moving to the darkest colors.  If you have never made a galaxy background, it is surprisingly easy, not to mention a ton of fun! 

To create a galaxy background: 

1.  Use your preferred card stock for ink blending.  I like Neenah Solar White, as it has a very smooth surface and takes the ink beautifully. 

2.  Start with your lightest color (for me, this was yellow) and blend ink randomly onto your panel.  NOTE:  Your ink blending does not have to be particularly careful, as you will be building up multiple layers of ink. 

3.  Move on to your next color (mine was coral) and add some more random blending.  Don't be afraid to blend the color over your other layers in some areas. 

4.  Continue moving through your colors until you have covered most of your panel, if not all.  (The remaining colors that I used were green, lavendar, and aqua.)

5.  Using a darker blue ink, begin blending color around the edges of your panel, and in towards the center.  The goal of this ink coverage is to have patches of color showing through.  Have fun with this step. Add multiple layers of the darker color to create lots of depth. 

6.  Using black ink, blend around the edges of your card stock.  If you need to, again, build up the layers. 

7.  Because I used Distress Oxide Ink, which is water reactive, I splattered water onto my panel with a wet paint brush, let it sit for a moment to allow the ink to react, then pressed (not wiped) a paper towel over it and lifted carefully.

8.  Lastly, I added metallic ink splatters with a paint brush to give the appearance of stars. 

9.  Allow to dry completely. 

While my background was drying, I stamped up these fun Space Explorers from Kindred Stamps and set about coloring them with my Copics.  When I was finished coloring them, I used my Brother Scan 'n Cut to cut them out, as I really dislike fussy cutting, and I am terrible at it. 

Next I began to build my shaker.  I have to admit that I made this part MUCH harder on myself than I needed to.  I only had white foam tape, and I didn't want it to show through, so I cut two strips of black card stock to lay down over the holes of the film strip.  I cut a strip of acetate slightly smaller than the film strip, and using liquid adhesive, I adhered it to the back of my glossy film strip.  

I then added a double layer of foam tape around the entire film strip, and in between each of the windows, making sure that there were no open spaces that my shaker mix could slide through.  

I adhered my extra film strip (not glossy) to the front of my card base to use as a guide for placement.  I then adhered my galaxy background to the base.  I added my shaker mix to the center of each film strip window (because I covered up the lines of my guide, I just guessed on my placement.  I lined up my glossy film strip over the base and laid it down.  Shaker complete! 

I die-cut three banners using The Greetery's Crimped Slimline Dies - large black, small blue and small silver.  I embossed my sentiment in silver on the large black banner and adhered them to my card front with liquid adhesive.  Lastly, I popped my colored images on to the card front using foam tape.  

Products Used:

Recollections 110# Card Stock:  Black

Recollections 65# Card Stock: Silver

Stampin' Up Card Stock:  Pacific Point

Acetate

Film Strip Die (Amazon)

The Greetery Crimped Slimline Dies

Kindred Stamps Space Explorers

Stampin' Up Embossing Powder:  Detail Silver

Altenew Ink Spray:  Antique Silver (Metallic), Iridescent (Shimmery)

Stampin' Up Shimmer Paint:  Frost White

Glossy Accents

Sequins (Amazon)

Foam Tape

Distress Oxide Ink:  Squeezed Lemonade, Twisted Citron, Abandoned Coral, Mermaid Lagoon, Chipped Sapphire, Black Soot

Alcohol Ink Markers:

Skin:   (Copic) E04, E11, E21, E00, E000

Black Hair: (Copic) 100, C8, C6, C4, C2, C0

Brown Hair: (Copic) E11, E13, E15, E18

Blonde Hair: (Copic) YR21, YR23, E15, E18

Pants/Shoes: (Copic) C8, C6 C4, C2

Red Shirt: (Copic) R29, R27, R24

Green Shirt: (Spectum Noir) LG4, LG3, LG2

Blue Shirt:  (Copic) B06, B04, B02

Space Ship:  (Copic) Y17, Y08, Y11, Y00, R29, R27, R24, C6, C4, C2, C0

As always, thank you so much for stopping by!  I hope you found something that inspires you to get crafty!  

As always, thank you for spending a few minutes with me!  I hope you found something that inspires you to get crafty!  Please be sure to hop over to the Megan's Papercraft Treasures Facebook Group and join us in the September Sketch Challenge!  

Product Spotlight: Simple Coloring Stencils - Megan's Papercraft Treasures

 Hi friends!  

The Design Team has been asked to spotlight a favorite product each month. For the month of August, I chose simple coloring stencils, as they seem to be my new obsession!  I absolutely love the versatility of them, and how simple they make it to create something incredible!  

All three of these cards were made using the same stencil(s) and color scheme (with the exception of changing the tulip color) and I love how they look completely different.  

I decided that rather than just telling you why I love this project, I would show you in a photo tutorial.  I created two mini slimline cards from one stenciled image, and the entire process to make the two cards took me less than 20 minutes.  

For these cards, I used the Altenew Craft Your Life Project Kit:  Seasonal Blooms.  This AMAZING kit comes with a 6 x 8 stamp set, coordinating dies, coordinating 3D embossing folder, and the simple coloring stencils. 

To start, I wanted to share a few products that I find extremely helpful when working with stencils.  

The first supply that I make sure I have on hand when using stencils, or doing any ink blending, for that matter, is a hack I found somewhere and it was a total game changer.  I bought a light adhesive Cricut mat on Amazon and I cut it into 6 x 6 pieces.  This is perfect for placing my card stock down as the light adhesive holds it in place, but doesn't tear it when I lift it.  

I also keep a supply of Post-It Notes handy, as they are perfect for covering areas that you don't want to accidentally blend ink over.  

I tend to use a combination of finger daubers and makeup blending brushes (also purchased on Amazon). 

Ok, let's get started!  Cut two card bases from heavyweight card stock.  I cut my bases to 6 1/4" x 6 1/2", scoring the 6 1/2" side at 3 1/4".  The card base will be 3 1/4" x 6 1/4".

1.  Adhere a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" panel of smooth white card stock to a cricut mat (if you don't have a spare Cricut mat, put some painter's tape under your card stock panel to hold it in place) and line the 1st layering stencils up on the bottom and left edges.  Use painter's tape to hold the stencil in place so that it doesn't shift while applying ink. 

2.  Using the lightest color of the sunflower (Sunray), apply to the sunflower petals, starting at the base of the petals with the heaviest color, and lighter at the tips. 

3.  Using the lightest color for the small flowers (Dew Drops), apply using a fairly light hand to the appropriate areas. 

4.  Using the lightest of the pink shades (Baby Pink), apply color to the Tulips, again, darker at the base, lighter at the tips. 

5.  Remove the first stencil gently, clean it,  and set it aside.   

6.  If your card stock shifted, line it back up.  Line up the second stencil along the bottom and left side and tape it down, as in the first step. 

7.  Using the darker of the sunflower colors (Snapdragon), again apply color darkest at the base of the petals, lightest at the tips. 

8.  Using the darker of the blues (Aqualicious), apply to the small flowers. 

9.  Using the darkest pink (Fuschia), apply to the tulips, again darkest at the base of the petals, lightest at the tips.

10.  Carefully remove the stencil, clean and set aside. 

11.  As in the first step, line up the third stencil on the bottom and left edges of the card stock.  

12 - 14.  Using a brown (Hazelnut), apply a light layer to the centers of the sunflowers and add an additional layer to the edges to add some depth.  Using the lightest green (Lime), apply to the leaves and stems, darker at the base and lightest at the tips.  With the darker green (Fresh Leaf), add a layer at the base of the leaves.   Using a different (or the same) shade of yellow (Chamomile), apply to the centers of the small flowers.

15.  Gently remove the stencil, clean and set aside.  

16.  Using the coordinating die, die-cut the image and remove the cut away areas.

17.  Trim the edges of the stenciled image and cut it in half.  (This part was painful, but I promise it is worth it!) 

18.  Cut two panels of smooth white card stock to 3" x 6".  Pick your favorite shade of Distress Oxide Ink (Kitsch Flamingo) for a background.  

19.  Ink blend your background on the white panels to create some soft dimension behind your stenciled images.

20.  Adhere the stenciled images to the ink-blended panels.   (This will make it easier to determine where to place your sentiment.)

21.  Stamp your sentiment on the panel in black ink.  

 22.  Adhere the card panels to your card bases. 

I know this looks like a long process, but it truly is very quick and easy! 

This is another card that I made, using the same stencil and the same colors (except the tulips).  The main difference in this card is that I used the coordinating 3D embossing folder prior to using the stencils.  I LOVE how this card has an entirely different look.

Products Used:

• Recollections 110# Card Stock:  White
• Neenah Crest Card Stock:  Solar White
• Altenew Craft Your Life Kit:  Seasonal Blooms 
• Altenew Crisp Dye Ink:  Chamomile, Sunray, Snapdragon, Hazelnut, Dew Drops, Aqualicious, Baby Pink, Fuschia, Lime, Fresh Leaf
• Memento Ink:  Tuxedo Black
• Distress Oxide Ink:  Kitsch Flamingo
• Finger Daubers
• Blending Brush

As always, thank you for dropping in!  If you are not familiar with simple coloring stencils, I hope you have learned something new.  If you are familiar with them, I hope that you may have picked up some new tricks!  Please make sure to leave a comment letting me know what you think!  

Xoxo, 

Kim

August Sketch Challenge - Megan's Papercraft Treasures

 Good morning, lovelies!  Today, I am excited to share my Design Team card for the August Sketch Challenge at Megan's Papercraft Treasures.

Megan's provided two sketches: a scrapbook layout and a card layout.  I'm not much of a scrapbooker, so I was excited to play with the card sketch!  

I started with a 5 1/2" x 11" card base of 110# white card stock and scored at 5 1/2".  I cut an additional panel of Pool Party to 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" and adhered it to my card. 

Because I don't have any good stitched dies (and let's be real... I am too lazy to bring out the sewing machine), I wrapped linen thread around the center of a 5 1/4" x 5 1/4" panel of patterned paper and adhered it to my card base.  

I die-cut two hearts from Roccocco Rose and Pool Party card stock and set about to arranging my elements.  Once I had attached the hearts to the card front, I added the chipboard bird house using wet glue and added the little bird to the front.  I tied a loopy bow from the linen thread and also glued it down, and added the flower clusters.  

For my sentiment, I die-cut a strip of Roccocco Rose and embossed the sentiment in Antique Rose Gold.  I popped the sentiment up using a double layer of foam tape so that it would fit over the bird house stake.  

I really loved working with this sketch!  It forced me to think outside the box a bit, and I had a lot of fun!  This is not a color combination that I would have thought to use, but against the patterned paper, I think it turned out quite lovely! 

I hope you will join us and play along with the sketch challenge.  You can find the sketches in our Facebook group.

Products Used:

• Recollections 110# Card Stock:  White
• Stampin' Up Card Stock:  Pool Party, Roccoco Rose (Retired)
• Stamperia 12x12 Scrapbook Paper:  House of Rose
• Stamperia Die-Cuts:  House of Rose
• The Greetery Shapely Hearts Dies
• Kindred Stamps:  Sentiment Strip Dies
• Altenew Sentiment Strips Stamps
• Altenew Embossing Powder:  Antique Rose Gold
• Stampin' Up Linen Thread
• Flowers (purchased on Amazon)
• Beauty Art Liquid Glue
• Foam Tape

As always, thank you for stopping by!  Make sure to head over to the group and check out the other Design Team projects!  

Mixed Media Wall Art

 Hiya crafty friends!  I am so excited to share my first DT project for the fabulous Megan's Papercraft Treasures!  Each month, we will be focusing on a different technique or type of project to showcase for you. 

For August, we are focusing on chipboard.  I had never actually worked with chipboard before, but thought this would be a great opportunity to try a mixed media canvas.  I honestly had NO clue what I was getting myself into.  This took me days to complete, but really that was just because I wanted to make sure the layers were completely dry before moving on to the next step.  I really had a fun time learning to use products that I had never used or hadn't used in a long time!  

I started with a blank 8x8 canvas that I prepped with Heavy White Gesso prior to painting with acrylic paint.  The key to mixed media projects is layers, layers, layers.  I think what I love most is the mess that I get to make and watching it turn in to something incredible.  

I randomly stamped partial background stamps on the canvas in pigment ink and allowed to dry.  I followed that up by adding embossing paste over a stencil and then using several ink sprays to add color and sparkle.  I also used Distress Oxide on the edges of the canvas to give it a shabby, vintage look.  

I distressed some patterned paper with my scissors and Distress Oxide Ink. To adhere them, I painted a layer of clear gesso where I wanted them, added the clear gesso to the back of my papers and laid them down.  I then painted the clear gesso over the top of the papers.  

Once dry, I adhered my painted chipboard sentiment and the remainder of my embellishments using Multi Medium Matte.  Sorry, for the super speedy tutorial, it is a lot of information to add to a blog post.   You can find a pdf tutorial here.

I am so incredibly happy with how this canvas turned out!  I have two more coordinating canvases in the works.  Stay tuned! 

Products Used:

• 8” x 8” Canvas
• Prima Marketing Heavy Gesso - White
• Prima Marketing Clear Gesso
• Ranger Multi Medium: Matte
• Craft Smart Acrylic Paints:  Robin’s Egg Blue, Ocean Breeze
• Distress Oxide Ink:  Vintage Photo
• Versafine Pigment Ink: Onyx Black
• Lindy’s Stamp Gang Starburst Spray: Time Travel Teal, Shabby Turbine Teal, Tibetan Poppy Teal
• Altenew Ink Spray:  Metallic Antique Silver, Iridescent
• Ranger Texture Paste Antique Crackle
• Stampin’ Up Basic Patterns Decorative Masks
• Stampers Anonymous Wendy Vecchi Script Background Stamp
• Joyful Home Crackle Background Stamp
• Celebr8 Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow Laser Cut Chipboard
• Recollections Butterfly Embellishments
• Recollections Paper Flowers
• Paper house 3D Stickers:  Paris, London
• Stamperia 12” x 12” Patterned Paper: Around the World
• Assortment of paint brushes
• Scissors

As always, thank you so much for taking time out of your day to read through my ramblings!  If you are in Australia, please make sure to pop in to Megan's Papercraft Treasures!  

Check out her store where you will find all sorts of goodness!  Also, come and join our Creative Friends Facebook Group.   Here, you will find monthly challenges, inspiration, and maybe a special offer or two! 

Much love!