Tuesday 27 February 2018

Experimenting with Versamagic as an Oxides alternative, with video

I pulled out my few Versamagic mini inkpads today to see how they would compare to the Distress Oxides ink.
I don't have the Oxides and so I can't say if they're the same, better, worse but I like how the Versamagic looked.
At first I tried it on my normal cardstock, the Canon DCP paper and nothing happened except the paper blistered as usual as it really doesn't like water, much like my cats haha.

But the blend beautifully on this card, through a stencil as well.
So I took out some Waterart paper and Bristol Smooth and I used a mix of water and bleach, but on this card just water also works. the bleach I have in that bottle always, and it was handy ;-)

I used Versamagic, Eggplant and pink petunia and Sea breeze and Turquoise gem.

Since shooting this video I also got a few greens and yellows and look forward to experimenting more and probably make my inkblending recipes for this ink too, as soon as I have all the colors I want.
The Versamgic have 36 colors in the range and I have 17 now, so almost halfway :-D

I've also done some layered inksmooshing in the video and that also looked very similar to what I've seen fromthe Oxides, but again I do not have those and so I can;t say for sure, only that I love how these worked out .



Thursday 22 February 2018

Diy rainbow with circle dies and Stamping Bella unicorns, with video

I don't have a special rainbow die , so I was experimenting with circle dies, and you can use any you have, stitched, plain, dotted etc.
You can either use colored cardstock or white and color your own strips with markers or Distress inks or alike.
Remember one circle gives you two rainbows or more if you cut it up smaller. I ahve to make 14 cards now....If you're very particular about the order of the colors, I would suggest to use white card and either diecut each ring by itself or do like I did and stick them all together and make one pass through your diecutting machine.
But if you're making loads and loads of cards, this is the best solution I think.

I stuck my circles together with the best placing I could, but as my painter's tape is for sensitive surfaces, it's not as sticky and some circles moved, I'm OK with that as most will be covered up and again it saves me buying another die.

I stuck all the colors together on the back with some sticky tape, then added tape runner and placed it on my cardbase. Also used taperunner for the Stamping Bella set of unicorns and foamtape for the clouds (memory box puffy clouds).

The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp (believe) and I used Versafine onyx black ink, Then added some generic enamel heart/dots to help your eye travel across the card. Upor down you will just follow those hearts...try it ;-)

Tuesday 20 February 2018

Using up scraps: quilted cards and a small haul with video

Today's card is a bit fiddly and in hindsight I should have done it differently I think.
I taped all these little squares together, but glue-ing them on a thin panel of printer paper might be easier, I just didn't think if it quickly enough and once started you persevere, at least I do ;-)

I cut tons of little squares 2cm each, that's a bit under one inch. and then took a standard square cardbase for the Netherlands , but you can make these cards any size you want. In the video I also show different solution if you don't have nesting dies. Look around in your stash.

After deciding on
the colors and pattern and glueing it all together I diecute two heart of od the panel (Aver Elle Hearts frame) and the same hearts from more scraps.
I also diecut the Simon Says Stamp Painted Hello from black card with stick it on the back for the sentiment.
The to hide a few gaps I added enamel dots from Create a Smile (enamel treats), but again any shape, size, brand you have will work.

Mounted the panel with foamtape and adhered it to the cardbase.

I hope you like this idea and will give it a try. I'm not a quilter or patchworker, so I'm sorry if some of the terminology isn't correct .

I used the other bits how I suggested in the video, on a scrap piece of paper, the liquid glue made it warp a little, but it looks better and is less fiddly, somehow I think my dies are not completely square if that's at all possible ;-)

Sunday 18 February 2018

AAA cards Challenge #109: diecuts only

The rules for this challenge: 
We're looking for CAS cards that feature die cuts as their main and focal point. We will accept the addition of a stamped sentiment, but not stamped images that have been die cut. 
As always our definition of CAS means that white space should not be patterned, embossed or textured.

Our sponsor this fortnight is Stamplorations

For my card I used two sets of dies one is from Avery Elle  (Hearts frame) and the sentiment is from Lawn Fawn (xoxo).

The set from Avery Elle comprises of the wreath like frame and then smaller stand alone hearts I used them as
embellishments.

I cut the dies from pink and red card and adhered it to the cardbase with liquid glue as I forgot to use something useful like Stick it ;-)
One red heart shaped enamel dots for some shine.


For more information or to play along the AAA cards Challenge, see this.
Don't miss out on the other fabulous makes from the DT.

Saturday 17 February 2018

Dry embossing with dies

This time the challenge over at Less is More is Dry embossing CAS style.
I only have 4 or 5 embossing folders and so I decided to use My Favorite Things layered leaves dies for the embossing on the cardbase.
I use a piece of silicone baking mat, but one or more layers of fun foam (craftfoam) will also work. I thought leaves would fit a wild animal, especially if I kept him as a zebra...too much white

I stamped my donkey from Marianne Design (EC0170) onto Crafter's Companion Neenah Paper with Simon Says Stamp intense black ink. Connected a few open lines so my Scan N cut could cut it out, then colored it with Spectrum Noir markers.
It's actually meant to be a zebra, there's stripes included in the set, but I ignored that as I thought a donkey or horse would be fun
for a baby card.
The sentiment is also from Marianne Design (EC0171) and I stamped it with Versafine onyx black ink. Added a few enamel dots for color.

For more information on the Less is More Challenge, see this.

Friday 16 February 2018

Delicate florals

The Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, is to use a diecut and to showcase Penny Black products.

For my card I used a die from Simon Says Stamp (small hello) and the Penny Black stampset delicate florals.

I used the direct to stamp method with watercoloring markers. I first did two tones of green, dried the stamp and did the red and orange flowers, or buds.I used watercolor paper and a stamp positioner.
Added some washi tape at the edge of the cardbase, mounted the panel with foam tape and adhered it onto the cardbase.
For the sentiment I added Stick it on the back of black card and diecut it, adhered it on top.
The added some glittery enamel dots as if they were buds.

For more information on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, see this.

Thursday 15 February 2018

Get well soon card with embroidery and with video

I meant this to be a Valentine card, then I realized today was the 15th,. not the 14th lol.
So I made it into a get well card, but it could be one for next year's Valentine?

I picked a piece of patterned paper from the Craft Sensations endless love block.

Then diecut a heart, mine is the scalloped from the basic shapes by Marianne design, but any will do.
I drew a heart line on it with pencil and poked holes in each point/valley and then threaded red embroidery string through it. It's a little weird this hear beat, but that's why "get well"is fitting...at least I though so.

Diecut two more, smaller hearts fromt he same set, one in red, like the string. and the other to stamp the sentiment on. It's from Clearly besotted ( brushed greetings II) and I used Versafine Onyx black ink. Adhered the smaller hearts with tape runner and the big on with foamtape.
To finish the card I added one gold glitter heart enamel as it picks up the detail fromt he background.


Tuesday 13 February 2018

I'm really Viking you and happy mail

Today I'm making a Valentine's card, so I printed this C.C. Designs Viking kid and added the cheesiest of sentiment I could think of "I;m really Viking you" haha...makes me giggle, sorry.

I printed him on the Crafter's Companion Neenah paper and colored him with Spectrum Noir and Spectrum Illustrator markers.

You can find the stamps as digis or as rubberstamps here (no affiliate).

Then I embellished him with rhinestones. In the video I explain why ;-)
Happy Valentine's day, or should that be Viking day? lol

Monday 12 February 2018

Justine Hovey's Video hop, Camo embossing with video

Today I have the honor to participate in the biggest Youtube hop ever.
As I did last week with a small number of ladies, Justine  also set out to save the smaller Youtube Channels and a lot of well known or bigger channels are helping along the way.

I was allotted 6 minutes or less for my video. So off screen I already diecut and stamped the panels and mounted the first one with foamtape.

A few years ago I made a Christmas card with this technique, I call Camo embossing, as it looks like camouflage clothing to me, maybe not in pink and purples tough...
I made two cards, the first one with the heart uses the most Wow embossing powders:
Heart throb
Shrinking violet
Velvet
Magenta Twinkle
Taffeta pink
Purple glitz.
Simon Says Stamp Die heart of flowers and It's your birthday stampset.
Versafine Onyx black ink and Versamark ink.

I have a big collection of embossing powders, but three would be enough, or two like I used on the feathers. Any colors you have and any combo will work, esp through a detailed diecut like the Heart of Flowers.

I traced the opening and masked it off with Post-it tape, you don;t have to do this, but as the panel is raised, you can peek under and I like it to the crisp and white.
Then I covered the area with embossing ink, I used the Ranger dauber, the mini cube perfect medium and the Versamark inkpad, just to show you can use any. just grab the one you have.
Then I used the Joy! Crafts craft scoops to sprinkle on dots of embossing powders. You don;t need a 100% coverage as when you tilt the card the embossing will stick
anywhere there's still exposed sticky ink. Then tap off the extra. I keep mine in a little craft pots. Wow sells empty embossing pots. They will mix in the pot and create a whole new exciting color.
Heat set the embossing powder and remove masking tape to reveal the cameo effect. Then cover with the diecut panel.

I love how you can see gradients and all the petals are different, but the same.
Then I added a few glittery enamel dots, but this is optional.



For the second card I used the diecut itself, the positive if you like. and just dabbed on the sticky ink with the Ranger emboss it dauber, and then sprinkled on Wow  Vintage Peacock and Sensational Sage, heat set them and repeated the process to cover and bold spots I made with my fingers. Also mounted the feathers with foamtape and the sentiment is also from Simon Says Stamp (Birthday Balloons) and I also stamped it with Versafine Onyx black ink and the MISTI for precision Stamping.

And remember the left overs I poured back into one of those little pots? I made these pink/purple ones after wards.

Next stop on your hop is: Janelle B

The prizes all the wonderful sponsers have put up are amazing and from my video comments you can win a $25 dollars giftcard to Simon Says Stamp and 2 Catherine Poolers inks if you're inside the USA only, so please mention your location in the comments on Youtube. Justine Hovey will pick all the winners on February 26th. Then you will have until March 10th to claim your prize, so don't forget to check back.

Sunday 11 February 2018

I believe in you

The Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is: love is int he air and the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is: it must be love, showcasing SSS exclusives.

For my card I used the SSS set you matter and initially I wanted to use I love you, then I saw the I believe in you and switched, as I thought that would go well with my little fairy from My Favorite things. I thought this card would be more suited as an encouragement card, but also as a Valentine with the trail of hearts the fairy is sprinkling as she flies past, that  is made with the SSS heart breeze die.

I diecut it into a panel and then inkblended Distress inks behind it in rainbow order (candied apple, carved pumpkin, mustard seed, twisted lemon, mowed lawn, mermaid lagoon and wilted violet) 
I stamped the sentiment with Versafine onyx black ink and adhered the panel to the cardbase.
I colored my fairy with the Spectrum Noir markers and mounted her with foam.
Added some Nuvo shimmer pen to the wings for shimmer.

For more information on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, see this.
For more information on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, see this.

Faux watercoloring with the direct to stamp method


I was playing with my waterbased markers and a clear stamp, to see if it works and it did.
My clearstamp is from Craft Sensations and from 2016, so you won't find it in the shops now, in fact I was lucky to find in the shops in 2016 ;-)... Any you have, even rubber will work.

All you need is waterbased markers, I used my generic brand ones, but any you have, even your kids' markers that are water soluble will work, I'm sure, like Distress markers or Tom Bow markers but I don't have those.

I colored the leaves and flowers with two tints of markers, then lightly spritzed them with water and stamped on Water art paper from Kippers Hobby, this is a Dutch whole sale supplier for art supplies and I got these precut panels to test things out. I loved how they turned out and not using a lot of water has resulted in no warping.

I have experimented with more or less water, stamping once or twice, it's all good fun. Only thing I didn't realize is as I spray the whole stamp the parts I heat setted get reactivated anyway as my stamp is wet ;-)
I was making sure no bits were touching, but that was superfluous in the end lol.

The sentiments were stamped with Versafine onyx black ink (one is birthday balloons from Simon Says Stamp and the other in Dutch is from Craft-Emotions)
Added a few rhinestones after filming to add a bit of shine.
They are the same ones I used on my viking video/card,  nail art flat backed diamonds of all sorts.

Thursday 8 February 2018

Metric card (a6) keepsake box, with video and pattern and all


Tuesday I posted the Imperial card version, today I made a metric box, but converted back to inches for the Scoringtools.
So there's a little discrepancy, but I don't mind that.
Also I scored it wrong in the video, so I had to remedy, but if you follow the sizes below and pattern, your box should be 2 inches wide.

So again you need to pieces of 12x12" cardstock. Again you can use solid colors and embellish with (scraps) patterned paper.

For the lid your cardstock should be: 10" 3/4 x 6".
For the bottom your cardstock should be 10"1/2 x 11"1/4.

To score the bottom score on short side (10"1/2) at: 2 inches, then turn paper 180degrees and score at 2" again, so 2" from either edge Or 2"and 8"1/2)
Then turn the card and score on the long side at: 4"5/8 and 6" 5/8.

For the lid score on the long side at 2" from either side (or 2"and 8"3.4) and on the short side score at 2 and 4 inches.

Burnish the score lines and notch as indicated on pattern.
To glue it together follow the steps in video, to you get a nice and flush inside.

Again I messed up the scoring so I had to improvise , you can ignore all that ;-)


Tuesday 6 February 2018

Singing cats

Usually not a good thing, if you ever heard Amorous cats in the night...but I thought these would go very well with the music theme over at Less is More this fortnight and, well I  meant the emboss resist on the Monday Challenge, but I got confused, that was last week's challenge lol. So I'll enter it in the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge anything goes as well.

For my card I masked the top and bottom thirds and Stamped the music notes with Versamark ink, the stamps is from Woodware (sheet music) and I heat embossed it with Wow opaque bright white. As the stamp is a little over 3x3inch, it doesn't cover the whole width, so I decided to stamp it on an angle as it would be easier to line up. I did wipe off some embossing
powder from the edges to give it the distressed look.
Then I inkblended Distress inks with the mini inkblending tools.
I used: Ripe Persimmon, Spiced Marmalade, Worn Lipstick and Picked Raspberry, from left to right.

I stamped my cats from Katzelkraft with Simon Says Stamp intense black ink onto the Crafter's Companion Neenah paper and colored them with my Spectrum Noir markers. I did the two cats, but I ended up only using the singing cat on my card for the Less is More Challenge is a CAS challenge.

I don't have any Carabelle Studio things for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, but I thought these were very
similar in style, both from France and well they use the same size  ruler thing, so I wonder if their friends ;-)

Anyway...

I stamped the sentiment from Simon Says Stamp (it's your birthday) with Versafine Onyx black ink.

I mounted the singing cat with foamtape and adhered him on the colored panel, to ground
him.
The music note is a little punch I got once and I used black card with Stick it on the back..thought it was easier until I had to peel up the backing...

I did add the sleeping cat, but peeled him off later, I liked the way he was looking up at the commotion, hehe.

Congrats to Less is More for their 7th birthday.



2000 subscribers winners announced video

Remember  you have now 48 hours as we all live in different timezones, this is the easiest for everyone.


US A2 cards keepsake box, with video and pattern and all that


I had to look up the measurements for envelopes, so you can make a card pack gift.
I did allow about a 16th of an inch of wiggle room. If you make please let me know if it all fits.

I'm also doing a metric version on Thursday.

For this lidded box you need two pieces of paper.
Lid: 10"1/4 wide and 6" tall
Bottom: 11"1/4 wide and 10" tall.
See flowers on pattern for direction of how to cut paper, if your pattern is directional.

For the bottom score on the 11"1/4 (long side) side at: 2"and 8" and on the short side at: 4"5/8 and 6"5/8

For the lid score on the long side at: 2"and 8"1/4 and on the short side at 2"and 4"

Burnish all your scoreline and notch as indicated.

To glue it with a flush inside please see video, it's hard to explain.

I've used patterned paper, but you could use solid/plain paper and decorate with strips of (scraps) patterned paper, I just prefer this clean look.
You can also add flowers and other embellishments, I just added ribbon.
Again it's all up to your taste and imagination, the video is there for the box, not how to embellish it.



Sunday 4 February 2018

AAA cards challenge #108 all you need is love


Hello and welcome back, our challenge this fortnight is: all you need is love.

Our sponsor is Uniko stamps and I have used the All occasion sentiments #5 for my "be mine". I stamped it with Versafine onyx black ink. onto a cardpanel, slightly smaller than my cardbase. Let it dry.

Meanwhile I diecut the Simon Says Stamp hearts alive die from red, and two tones of pink glitter paper. And then also from the cardpanel.

I traced the window onto the cardbase, and applied Elizabeth Crafts double sided tape on the spot. I happen to have the 2" wide one and that fits perfectly.
I added taperunner to the cardpanel cardbase. then inlaid all the glitter bits back into the window.
and
adhered in on the
I chose to keep all the hearts red and the pink as a backdrop, but you can , of course, mix and match as you have three sets of these pieces now, you could make three cards.
I didn't ;-)

I didn't add any more gems, rhinestones, enamel dots or alike as I thought the glitter paper is pretty much the performing diva here ;-)

For more information on the AAA cards challenge, or to play along and see what the other DT members made, see this

Saturday 3 February 2018

Gerda Steiner February Challenge

This month we got this cute bunny couple, at least I made it a couple, of friends as the sentiment indicates, you never know what might blossom, But because the man bunny is holding a flower I thought it went nicely ;-)
I prepared the image and sentiment in Photoshop and then printed it both on normal printer paper and the Crafter's Companion Neenah paper.

I cut out the printer paper one to create a mask. In hindsight I should probably have made two masks, one for each bunny or cut out in the middle more, but frankly I was afraid it would compromise the integrity of the mask, so I chose not to, I will regret that later ;-)
I've put Tombow mono multi glue on the back and let it dry overnight. I did quite a thick layer, so it needs time. I also covered it as cats are shedding their coats and it's crazy how much hair I find everywhere, even dusting and vacuuming won't help.

Anyway after I woke up I continued with the card, masking the printed image and also masking a sky and grass border. To color those I used  painter's brushes and Distress Inks (mowed lawn and Mermaid lagoon).
This is where your careful cut out mask poses a problem to ink in between, I tried my best, but in the end I ended using a marker.

Then I colored the bunnies with a
combination of alcohol markers (Decotime, Spectrum Noir and Spectrum Illustrator).

Added gel glitter pen dots to the tulip and an enamel heart as a bow on the white bunny as well as lashes, to reinforce the feeling of a female bunny.
Mounted the panel with foamtape and adhered it to the cardbase.


It could well have been a Valentine card, but  as I film my Youtubes ahead, it wouldn't have made sense on February 25th when the video will go live, so please come check back then.
As I want to enter it into the Gerda Steiner monthly challenge, I felt I shouldn't wait that long, as I might forget.


I'm also entering it into the Simon Says Stamp "send a card to a friend" challenge.


2000 subscribers on Youtube video/blog hop

I've teamed up with some brilliantly creative ladies to celebrate this milestone.
We're all smaller channels on YouTube and I invited them to help promote them and myself of course.
At first I wanted to do  this at 2500, seeing 1000 celebration has just passed, but due to changes in the YouTube policy there was a sense of urgency.
YouTube has decided if you don't enough views in a set amount of time, you can;t make any  money with your videos anymore.
Now I will be brutally honest and say in the last 3 years I had 3 payments of 70 euro or dollar, I'm not sure, peanuts, but still greatly appreciated as I use this money for these giveaways.
To make a video takes hours to film, edit, upload, and that's without coming up with the ideas, working it out in your head or on try out sessions, without an hourly salary.
I put out 3 videos a week and it does take a lot of commitment and frankly I do it for my faithful viewers.
I don;t get endorsed by companies, not do I get paid otherwise, so if this money were to disappear, so will my and lots of other channels and I don;t really want to quit, but I feel we're not given other options.

So please go and hop along and support these super nice and fabulously creative ladies, like, comment, share to help us get our minimum quota.
I feel bad I have to beg almost, but it's so important I feel I must.

On to the hop and the giveaway.
I have a few prizes up for grabs, you can see them in the video.
If you're a subscriber and you comment on the video, you will have a chance to win one of said prizes, I will draw these at random, so this time you can't choose.

The giveaway is open for 48 hours. We ladies will all choose our winner(s) on Monday.
Once I have received all winners from the other blogs, I will post a video on Tuesday (February 6th). the winners will then have another 48 hours to claim their prize, otherwise others will be chosen, they will then also have 48 hours, so make sure you're available/reachable.


Maaike UIjthoven    
Karen Hasheck

Mary Polanco
Charlotte Ehrukainen 

Jasmine Burgess              
Gerry’s craft room 
Maikreations

Uniquepaper 15




Thursday 1 February 2018

embossing with dies and coloring you're purrfect, with video

I got a lot of requests to show how I made the embossed background on my bunny card.
It's really simple actually, I use a set of nesting dies, in this case Marianne design basic shapes cr1351 and stick them together with painters tape, so they don't move in the Big Shot.

I also us 140lbs card and it might wrinkle, usually it helps to spray it with a bit of water, but my cardstock also doesn't like water and or sticky tape , it's so spoiled ;-)

First I stamped the whiskers my Scan N cut chopped off the image onto the background, as it might be hard after embossing the cardbase.
I made sure all the open bits in the tail were closed with pencil so the Scan N cut wouldn't get "confused" by the open lines..but then it chops off the whiskers lol....

To emboss the heart shapes into the cardbase I use my embossing machine on the embossing folder settting, for my Big shot that's tab 1. I then put down one cutting plate and my silicone baking sheet, the cardstock and the dies on top, with the cutting side towards the cardstock.
Pass it through the machine, once would be enough, but I have to go backwards due to space, that might also increase the wrinkles more.


I thought the words on the stamp were enough and I didn't add a sentiment. There's one in the Penny Black stampset.

I colored the image with Spectrum Noir and Spectrum Illustrator markers. Nuvo shimmer pen on the chocolate boxes.
Mounted the kitty with foamtape and adhered it to the cardbase.

I'm entering this card into the Work It Wednesday January 2018 challenge, at Simon Says Stamp.
I'm also entering it into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, anything goes