Friday, January 27, 2012

Chocolate Bar Easel Card


This card was made with the StampingDragon Designs "Chocolate Bar" image. I used my E30, E31, E33 and E25 Copic markers to color all that chocolaty goodness. The edges of the image and the paper were inked with Tim Holtz "Gathered Twigs" Distress Ink.

I used brown, ivory and red Core Color Core'dinations cardstock along with American Crafts Valentine's Day pattern paper from the Color of Memories line. The heart and the circle are both cut from the same paper. For the heart border on the inside of the card, I used my Silhouette to intentionally cut half way through the cardstock, peeled up the top layer and then inked over the exposed paper to define the heart pattern.

I finished the card off with a key from Tim Holtz and some brown embroidery floss, ribbon, red mesh and brads from my stock of supplies.

Don’t forget to stop by the Stampingwith Dragon challenge blog and enter your project into our contest. The theme is “Anything Goes” so you can show off your favorite projects.
I am sharing this card with the following challenge sites:
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/
http://madformarkerschallenges.blogspot.com/
http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/challenge-46-and-winner-of-45.html
http://alotarubberstamps.blogspot.com/2012/01/heart-challenge.html
http://thepoodlesparlour.blogspot.com/2012/01/valentine-love-challenge.html
http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/2012/01/full-of-love-with-stamp-fairy.html
http://wagsnwhiskersrubberstamps.blogspot.com/2012/01/challenge-71-valentineslove-card.html
http://corrosivechallengesbyjanet.blogspot.com/2012/01/challenge-141-i-heart-you.html
http://sparklesforumchallenges.blogspot.com/2012/01/c28-new-crafty-goodies.html
http://pollycraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/challenge-124-warm-it-up-mary-j.html
http://tsgclearstamps.blogspot.com/2012/01/tsg140-love-is-in-air.html
http://inkyimpressionschallenges.blogspot.com/2012/01/inky-impressions-challenge-heart-you.html
http://www.thepixiecottage.blogspot.com/2012/01/pixie-cottage-challenge-105-love-and.html
http://trulyscrumptiouschallenge.blogspot.com/2012/01/challenge-72-something-forgotten.html

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Blogger Fix for New Blank Screen Error

Google Blogger has recently altered their “threading” causing most people to experience problems with loading the blog or leaving comments. To fix this, simply change your blog option from embedded comments to pop up comments. Here is how to do it:

1. Log in to the dashboard of your own blog.

2. Click on “Settings” and then click on “Comments.”

3.Under the “Comment Form Placement” choose “Pop-Up Window.”

This will allow users to see your blog properly and to add comments. It won’t change others blogs and what you can see or comment on, until they make the same fix. Pass the message around so that everybody can make the changes for themselves.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Green and Purple Jiggy

This week’s challenge on Stamping with Dragon is “Anything Goes.” Two people will have a chance to win:
-One random winner will receive a free $10 gift Certificate from our sponsor Di’s Digi Downloads.
-A second winner will receive a free Stamping Dragon image as well as a guest place on the Stamping with Dragon DT. Simply use a Stamping Dragon image on your entry to qualify for this second prize. You’ll find all the images at our store here.

This Green and Purple card was made with two images from Dragon’s lair Designs, the classic Jiggy image and the green pattern paper from the Gentle Waves Cardmaking Pack. I colored Jiggy with Copic colors V01, V91, V93, V95, YG03, YG61, YG63 and G40. He is sitting on a puddle with C3, C1 and Coo. After coloring him I painted his wings with a green mica powder and added a few details to his back with my grey Copic Multiliner pen.

To make the card I used velvet purple cardstock from Bazzill, a purple pattern from my personal stash, green brads from My Mind’s Eye and white square eyelets from We Are Memory Keepers. I used my Big Shot to cut the circles with the Nestabilities Dies and emboss with my Sizix swirl envelope. The square brads where colored by hand with my green YG63 Copic marker. I pinched the back with a pair of tweezers and just played around until I liked the look. You can use this technique to color most metal and plastic embellishments so that they match your project perfectly.  

I will be sharing this card with...
http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/
http://cupcakecraftroom.blogspot.com/2012/01/january-2012-challenge.html
http://hookedoncraftchallenges.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Quiz Katie Challenge - All About Glimmer Mist

This Month’s Quiz Katie Question is from…
 Brenda in Leavenworth Kansas

She asked…
What do I do with this bottle of Glimmer Mist I got for Christmas?

 
Glimmer Mist

Glimmer Mists are one of the easiest ways to add sparkle and color to a project. It’s also great for making any paper project coordinate and come together, especially if your colors don’t match perfectly. Remember, do NOT fear the spray. Just try it. It’s so much fun to use!

What to use it on:
*I always use the stuff for collage type projects to give them a completed look.
*Use on paper or fabric flowers. This is my favorite use for them.
*Use it to distress or alter paper before adding it to any project.
*Works great on wood items. Paint them first and then spray to add sparkle.
*Use the spray on craft projects with canvas, glass, plastics and metals.
*Tape down a stencil and spray to add color in the shape.


Tips When Using Glimmer Mist:
Tip #1
Don’t forget to shake up the bottle before spraying, but be careful, it will jam up if you shake it incorrectly. I always roll it around in my hands like you would do if you were rolling play dough into a long snake. That way the glitter isn’t forced up into the pipe. This keeps them from clogging as much.

Tip #2
The spray top is designed to be depressed fully. If you get really timid and only press it half way, the liquid will leak and come out in a splatter instead of a mist. If you’re worried, test out the spray on a scratch piece of paper. If you only want a small amount, move further away from the paper. Don’t spray slower.

Tip #3
Some mist colors are dark and can be used almost like spray paint to change the color of your surface while others are a glint of sparkle that is very subtle.

Tip #4
The glitter is water soluble. I just set my image in the bottom of a dry sink with a paper towel and go at it. Once done, I just rinse the extra ink and glitter down the drain. If you do get ink on a surface, just use a little bit of Windex to clean it up.

Tip #5
Because it is water soluble, it can also cause many inks and images to run and blur. I recommend testing the spray on any ink you might want to use. The glimmer mist is fine over Copic markers once completely dry, but will make most stamp and printer inks run. Big bummer if you spent a lot of time coloring up a cute image.

Tip #6
Don’t touch the ink surface while it is wet or you will get a little glimmer mist finger print on your project that won’t wipe away.

Tip #7
The project will become slightly wet when you spray it. If it is not fully dry, or if you have any edges that are not completely glued down, the edges of the paper will curl up. Whatever you use to paste stuff down with, make sure it goes all the way to the edge and give it a chance to dry. The glimmer mist usually works best on paper or elements before you add them to a project.

Tip #8
If you want to use the paper right away, use a heat gun to help the ink dry more quickly.

Tip #9
Sometimes the glitter will get stuck in the pump when you shake the bottle and dry there. This causes the pump to stick and stop working. Nasty trick. If this happens, you can submerge the whole spray top into really hot water with a few drops of white vinegar and dish detergent and leave it over night to soak. This will break up the adhesive and fix the clog. If it doesn’t work, just toss the spray and get a new one. You can buy the spray tops by themselves if you really need to replace them.

Tip #10
If the mist you choose doesn’t have enough color or it is the wrong color, try adding a few drops of alcohol based ink to the bottle. Keep in mind that once you do you can never go back. It doesn’t work to add extra water. 

Tip #11
Sometimes the spray will splatter instead of mist. This is good for some projects, but if you don’t want splatters, keep a Q-Tip nearby so you can soak up the extra moisture. Simply tap the Q-tip gently to any large drips while the ink is still wet. This doesn’t always work on darker colors but helps a lot with the lighter ones. It also helps to use thicker paper as it will soak up more moisture and show fewer splatter after it is dry.

Tip #12
If you are feeling really crafty, try making your own glimmer mist in any empty mist spray bottle by adding water, paint and mica powder or pearlizing medium. You can use any color of water based paint. When doing this, start by adding a few drops of each and then testing. You can always add more paint or water to adjust the mixture. I also like to add a tsp or so of a liquid adhesive like zip dry. Shake it all up and you’re ready to go.

Techniques with Glimmer Mist:
The glimmer mist doesn't show up very well in the photos, but it will still give you an idea.

Technique #1 – Light Mist
Start spraying from about 1 foot away from your project and wave your arm across the project surface. Mist half a dozen sprays to give a light glisten without a lot of color.

Technique #2 – Multi Color
Mix things up by spraying two or three different colors on your paper. Try spraying some close up and some from far back. I like using a dark mist color to cover the paper and then a lighter mist color to accent it. This process makes a really dynamic glitter paper.

Technique #3 – Brush Effect
Glimmer Mists do not mix with blending solution like an alcohol ink does, but you can brush it around while it is still wet using a sponge or felt pad.

Technique #4 – Marbled Effect
Spray one or more glimmer mist color onto a resistant surface until it pools up into little droplets. While it’s wet, scrunch up a paper towel, dip a few times into the ink and then dab onto the paper.

Technique #5 – Multi Medium
Combine the glimmer mist liquid with distress inks, alcohol inks, chalks or paints to fully transform your paper.

Other Great Articles on Glimmer Mist:

 

Monday, January 16, 2012

New Design Team Call

Unique Crafters Challenge Blog is a brand new challenge site.
Their link is here.


They are currently taking applications for new Design Team members until February 7th. Just click on the link to the site to read all about the qualifications ad deadlines. Their first challenge will post on March 1st to be sure to stop by, follow the challenge and link up your latest project.
Don't forget to "follow" the site while you are visiting.
Bookmark the site once you get there, because the first prize is going to be HUGE!
You won't want to miss out on this ground breaking challenge.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Sparkling Fairy Queen

This lovely image is the “Fairy Queen” from Dragons Lair Designs. She was so much fun to color. For her dress, shoes, socks and wings I used BV000, BV01, BV02 and BV04 with a few underlying brushes of B60 to give the purple a bluish tone. I used B60, BV0000, BV000, R000 and B0000 to add all the radiant shading behind her. Instead of blending this area, I used long strokes to give the illusion that the light was shining from her. She is the queen after all.
The card was made with American Craft cardstock and pattern paper is from the Once Upon a Time Mat Stack by DCWV. I used chipboard flourished cut on my Silhouette Cameo that I colored with the BV04 and lots of paper flowers from Kaiser Craft. The little butterflies are from a DCWV die cut pack I got a long time ago.

To finish it off I added a couple pink bows from ribbon scraps, lots of Star Dust Stickle glitter and several pink gems and pink pearls. I got a little bit carried away with all the embellishments but I love her anyhow.

Just a reminder that the current theme for Stamping with Dragon is projects with frames. Don't forget to click here and enter the challenge.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Soft and New and Baby Blue Elephant


This little elephant from Tiddly Inks is a perfect image to celebrate the birth of a new little baby boy.
To make the card I used dark grey, light grey and powder blue cardstock from Bazzill. I also included a strip of “Let’s Pretend” paper from Imaginisce. The pattern paper and a small piece of light grey paper have both been dry embossed with the Sizzix Alligator Skin envelope. The three nesting shapes where all cut with Nestabilities on my Bog Shop. The sentiment was printed by me on my ink jet printer. I pop doted the image off the page and added a small knot of blue ribbon from my collection. I added a few doodles with me Copic multiliner and sprayed the card with Pearl Glimmer Mist. Most of the edges have been shaded with my black Tim Holtz Distressing Pad.

The elephant was first colored with B21 and B000 to give a blue shade to his skin, then I used C5, C3, C1 and C00 to do all his shading and coloring. I love the bluish grey tone that the elephant has from the extra step. I’m going to do the same this with a little background pink next time and make a card for a little baby girl. I've never used two colors on top of eachother before so that was fun.

I will be sharing this card with the following sites:

http://madformarkerschallenges.blogspot.com/
http://cupcakecraftroom.blogspot.com/
http://bizzybecsstore.blogspot.com/
http://joannasheenchallenge.blogspot.com/2012/01/happy-new-year-and-new-challenge.html
http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/
http://blog.icopic.com/2012/01/icopic-weekly-challenge-64.html
http://stampingscrappingchallengecentral.blogspot.com/
http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/
http://www.tiddlyinkschallenge.blogspot.com/2012/01/happy-new-year-welcome-to-new-challenge.html
http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/
http://hookedoncraftchallenges.blogspot.com/
http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/
My Little Card Was A Featured Spotlight at Joanna Sheen Challenge
http://joannasheenchallenge.blogspot.com/2012/01/daily-talent-spot_19.html

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Framed Rupert "Thinking of You" Card






I'm so excited to tell you all that I'm now a new Design Team member for Stamping With the Dragon. This little guy is the framed Rupert image I made as an example for the first challenge of the new 2012 year that features card ideas with frames.

To make the card I used brown and teal American Craft cardstock along with pattern paper and buttons from the Stella Rose Hattie Papers by My Mind’s Eye. The little circle sentiment is a cling stamp from PSA Essentials with a scallop circle cut with my Nestabilities Die from Spellbinders. I used pop dots to lift the buttons and caption off the card base to give it dimension. Rupert was colored with several Copic markers. I used B29, B26, B23, B21, BG11, BG10 and BG0000. The frame and background are colored with E29, E25, E35 and E30. I also shaded in several areas with W0 and W1 to add a deeper shadow. The whole card is inked with Tim Holtz Distress Ink.

Come and Join us at the Stamping With The Dragon Challenge Blog. This week’s challenge is to use a frame on your project. The winner gets 4 free images from the store and if you use one of the Stamping Dragon images, you will be entered into a second drawing for 1 free image and a spot to be a guest design team member. Please stop by all the Design Team blogs to check out our ideas for this challenge. You can find all their links on the left side of my blog.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Mushroom Fairy


This card features a prominent image called mushroom Fairy from a sketch by Meredith Dillman. She is an amazing artist who usually draws fairytale and mythical themes that she paints with watercolors. I used my Copics to do this little darling. She also has a lot of white gel pin accents and I’ve brushed bits of Mica Powder on different elements to give them a metallic shimmer. I couldn’t even come close to listing all the Copic colors I used, it was upwards of 30 different markers.

I particularly like the way the mushroom caps came out. I used multiple browns to brush long wispy strokes from the bottom up and then I ran my blender in strokes along the same path to merge the colors together. I used simple brown Bazzill cardstock and went back through with my grey Copic Multiliner to add details in several locations. The green background paper is white cardstock that made into matching green metallic paper with my Mica Powders to match the accents in the image. To do that, I simply brushed the powder onto the paper with a wet paintbrush and then set the powder with my heat embossing gun. The paper took about 3 coats with this same process before it was covered to my liking.