Carbon Motifs/ Beaded Pen

So once again the card I had started took on a mind of it's own. In the long run I like the way it turned out. Hopefully I can figure out how to make what I had intended to do work and post that card next week sometime. I went a little crazy with the 1/8" circle punch :) The scallops are done with the corner rounder. An easy way to do the ribbon ends the way I have them is to fold the ribbon in half and then cut in. The sentiment is popped up on a glue dot (I love those things!). I do not use the Soft Subtle family much in the winter so I thought the Perfect Plum went well with the Basic Gray.

Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Tagger's Dozen

Paper: Basic Gray, Perfrect Plum, Very Vanilla, Carbon DSP

Ink: Perfect Plum, Basic Gray

Accessories: 1/8" circle punch, Corner Rounder, 1" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Tool Kit for Piercing, Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon

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So today I am going to show you how I make my beaded pens. These are a fun, easy and inexpensive gift. Here is what you need.

I use:
Xyron machine
An RSVP Pen
Sticky Tape
Designer Paper (stamped paper would work too)
Micro Beads

Before I got my Xyron I would open the tube and put the paper inside. If you put the paper on the inside you will need to remove the words. A Mr. Clean Magic Eraser does a great job removing the words.

So either wrap the paper with adhesive around the pen or slip it into the barrel of the pen.

Make sure to press it firmly. Do not let it overwrap. The edge must stay down.

Next I take the sticky strip and run it up and down the pen. I always put the first piece over the seam of the designer paper. Be careful not to touch the sticky side of the tape. If I have any hang over I just use my hobby knife to cut the excess off.

I then peel off the backing of the tape and place it carefully in my container of Microbeads. Again make sure you do not touch the tape or the beads will not stick to it.

Carefully roll the pen around in the beads pressing as you turn it.

After it is covered I pick it up and press the beads on the pen by squeezing it all the way around.

I heat the pen slightly with my heat gun after the beads are pressed on. It makes the sticky strip grab the beads just a little bit more. I did this for a workshop once and one of the ladies forgot to heat hers and her beads did not stay as well. I used mine for over 2 years and the only beads that came loose were the onces my daughter chewed off.

While it is still warm I press it one more time.

Then your pen is finished and ready to be added to a gift or thrown in your own purse :).

Fall Flowers/Boxed Set

I love this Fall Flowers Designer Paper. The colors are my favorite colors! This was made for today's Limited Supplies Challenge. This card was also made for my daughter -in-law who was in a car accident last night. She is banged up pretty bad but is ok. Their car was totaled. Please keep her in your prayers! I also tried to use the colors and paper I used for today's extra project below. This is what we were allowed to use for the challenge:
A) Use 2-3 stamps - one should be a heart image or sentiment.

B) Choose one designer paper pattern OR one embellishment.

C) Choose one specialty tool. (Optional)

D) Limit the layers.

E) Use any coloring tools.

Stamps: Double Line Doodles

Paper: River Rock, Really Rust, Fall Flowers DSP, Groovy Guava

Ink: Groovy Guava, Really Rust, Black Stazon, River Rock

Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, Large and Small Oval Punch

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I got an e-mail from a friend yesterday asking if I had a pattern for a box to put sets of cards with envelopes in to give as gifts. The only one I had was for a tote. I knew I could make one with a lid to give as a gift box from that pattern. Last weekend I had made the cards below with the one-sheet-wonder pattern. So I decided I needed to make a box to match the set of cards.

Stamps: Sanded Background

Paper: Really Rust, Old Olive, Fall Flowers DSP, Groovy Guava

Ink: Really Rust

Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch

These cards are made with a one-sheet-wonder template. I made them all in under 1 hour. The idea is to make a set of matching cards. For these 11 cards I used one sheet of 12 x 12 Designer Paper, 4 colors of card stock including the Very Vanilla, 1 ink pad and 1 stamp set.

Stamps: It's Your Birthday

Paper: Fall Flowers DSP, Groovy Guava, Old Olive, Really Rust, Very Vanilla

Ink: Old Olive

Accessories: Scallop Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch

Stamps: It's Your Birthday

Paper: Fall Flowers DSP, Groovy Guava, Old Olive, Really Rust, Very Vanilla

Ink: Old Olive

Accessories: Large Tag Punch, Small Tag Punch, 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain, 1 3/8" & 1 1/4" Square Punches

Stamps: It's Your Birthday

Paper: Fall Flowers DSP, Groovy Guava, Old Olive, Really Rust, Very Vanilla

Ink: Old Olive

Accessories: 1 3/8" & 1 1/4" Square Punches

Stamps: It's Your Birthday

Paper: Fall Flowers DSP, Groovy Guava, Old Olive, Really Rust, Very Vanilla

Ink: Old Olive

Accessories: 1 3/8" & 1 1/4" Circle Punches, Scallop Circle Punch, Designer Label Punch, Groovy Guava Double Stitched Ribbon

Stamps: It's Your Birthday

Paper: Fall Flowers DSP, Old Olive, Really Rust, Very Vanilla

Ink: Old Olive

Stamps: It's Your Birthday

Paper: Fall Flowers DSP, Groovy Guava, Old Olive, Very Vanilla. White Envelopes

Ink: Old Olive /Envelopes- Old Olive, Groovy Guava, Really Rust

Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, 1/8" circle punch

Cracked Ship, Scallop Ornament

This was done for the Ways to Use it Challenge. I loved this paper when I saw it. I thought this would make a great sympathy card. The challenge was to use a unique brad. Since I have not yet bought the build-a-brads and I promised to use the designer paper as much as I could this month I decided to make my own. I cut out the circles from the designer paper and mounted them in the corners where I would put the brads. I then covered them in crystal effects and set aside to dry. The cracked glass is done by rubbing the image on my Versamark pad and pouring Glassy Glaze over it. I heat it from the back so the powder does not blow off as easy. I do two good coats and stick it in the freezer. A short time later I take it out and crack it right away. Then I take a sponge and rub ink across the cracks.

Stamps: Winds of Grace

Paper: Basic Gray, Very Vanilla, Carbon DSP

Ink: Basic Gray, Versamark

Accessories: Glassy Glaze Enamel Embossing Powder, Crystal Effects, Ticket corner punch

Techniques: Cracked Glass

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My ornament for the day is really pretty easy to do. I punched 6 scallops (3 of each side). I've read that some are doing it with 8, but I am happy with 6. Fold them all in half put adhesive on one side and adhere as I go around lining up the scallops. Right before I adhere the last one I insert the cord with the embellishments. I seal the top and bottom with Crystal Effects. I also use CE to hold the beads in place.

Paper: Dash DSP

Accessories: Silver Elastic Cord, Beads from the Pretties Kit, Scallop Punch

Sketch Challenge 150/ Paper Roll Ornament

This was made for today's sketch challenge . I love the designer paper and since it on special this month I am trying to use it on every project I do this month. The wind was blowing and overcast today so my picture turned out kind of dark, but it did not blow away. ;)

I embossed the words and popped the punched circle section up on a pop up glue dot.

Stamps: Dotted BG, Wishing You Cheer, Circle of Friendship

Paper: Ruby Red, River Rock, Dashing DSP

Ink: Ruby Red, Old Olive, Black Stazon, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Ruby Red Craft ink

Accessories: Gold Zig Pen, White Gel Pen, 1", 1 1/4" 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Clear Embossing Powder, Gold Elastic Cord

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This is a very fun and inexpensive ornament I made with the Designer paper. All I did was take different size paper scraps and roll them up. I adhered the edge with some glue and dropped them in the glass ball. It can be as full as you like it to be. I tied a piece of twine to the top and a piece of ribbon around the base.

Paper: Dashing DSP

Accessories:Glass ornament ball, Moss Gingham Ribbon, Red Hemp Twine

Kind Flower / Recipe Tin

So this is for today's Color Challenge. The colors were Purely Pomeganate, Kraft and Whisper White. The dots in the center of the flower are white. I decided to add a little glam to the card so I wiped the center of the flower in versamark and embossed with Iridescent Ice.

I really wanted a stem on the flower and could not use green so I decided to make a stem with piercing.

I tend to hoard my hardware so I had to force myself to use them today. Sorry to keep it short, off to another doctor appointment for our son.

Stamps: En Francais, Baroque Motifs

Paper: Purely Pomegranate, Kraft, DSP

Ink: Purely Pomegranate, Versamark

Accessories: Scallop Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, 1/8" Circle Punch, Small Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Hodge Podge hardware, Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder

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So I ordered a large amount of these tins. I've done quite a few, but decided to get some cleaning of my craft closet done and finish a few more. This one will be going to my daughter-in-law to hold her recipes (or whatever she wants to put in it...) :) I have a dozen of these all put together just ready for their last seal of Mod Podge. This is a great use of the Designer Paper on sale this month!

The flower is done with the 1" circle punch, the 1 1/4" circle punch, the scallop circle punch and the 1/8" circle punch. The DSP is adhered with Mod Podge and the whole thing sealed with Mod Podge.

Paper: Fall Flowers DSP, Soft Sky, Old Olive

Accessories: 1" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, 1/8" circle punch, Double Stitched Soft Sky Ribbon, Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon

Japanese Binding/ Paper Bow

So the Technique Challenge today was to do a Japanese Binding on 0n the edge. I decided to do a masculine card. I just recently got this set. My 8 yr old picked it out when the catalog came out. Every time I put an order in he has asked me if I was going to get it. I surprised him one day. I was in dire need of more sets for masculine cards. I scored and adhered the edge together with sticky strip. I then measured and punched holes with my 1/8" circle punch.

Stamps: Winds of Grace, Party Punch

Paper: River Rock, Chocolate Chip, Brocade Background DSP

Ink: Basic Brown

Accessories: Designer Label Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1/8" Circle Punch, Natural Hemp Twine

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Since I got my order of Designer paper in I cannot stop making paper projects. All of the Stampin' Up! designer paper is on special this month, buy 3 get 1 free. This is one of the fun things I made today. I will try to post something new everyday this week along with the daily challenges. This is made from 1/2, 6" x 12" piece of paper. Directions can be found here.

Paper: Dashing DSP

Accessories: Pop Up Glue Dots, Gold Brads

Monkey Bunches

So today was the Limited Supplies Challenge. Here was what we were allowed to use:
Stamps
animals or critters
sentiment
background

Paper
2-4 layers
any solid or patterned paper

Tools
coloring tools
punches
any other quick tool
No embellishments

So with no other images but the critter or animal I could not put a bunch of bananas on so I decided to put a bunch of monkeys instead. I could not use any embellishments, but I could use punches. So I made faux brads from the double circle punch. The hardest part about them is figuring out what adhesive to use. I choose to use the glue stick. I stick them with my finger and rub them across the stick. Then I dab them where I want them.

Stamps: Monkey Business

Paper: Summer Sun, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla

Ink: Creamy Carmel, Chocolate Chip, Summer Sun

Accessories: Ticket Corner Punch, Word Window Punch, Double Circle Punch

Cherish

Today I needed to make an anniversary card or a wedding card. I tried to keep it simple so it is easy to CASE. This card happened by accident. When I cut the strip of designer paper and mounted it I saw the dragonfly in the center. I had intended to put another layer, a square with an image, over top of it. I just could not bring myself to cover that dragonfly so I made it my main image. I traced over it with my Versamarker and embossed with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder.

Stamps: Baroque Motifs, All in a Row

Paper: Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, River Rock, Soft Sky DSP

Ink: Blue Bayou , Versamarker

Accessories: Double Stitched River Rcck Ribbon, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder

Sleigh Sketch

Sorry, yesterday we were off to another Doctor appointment. By the time we got home I had a major headache and went straight to bed. So I thought I would combine yesterday's Color Challenge with today's Sketch Challenge. As you can tell I just got this set so it is being used a lot lately. I have yet to color in the whole picture so I decided that was what I was going to do today. I started with the colors from the color challenge and used them as much as possible. I used the aquapens and re-inkers to color. I used Ruby Red on the bricks. I just diluted it to begin with and then went full strength for the accent brick. I did the same for the blankets. I had meant to put some crystal effects on the pond but forgot before I took the picture. I am too pressed for time to re-take so use your imagination! ;)

Stamps: Aida Cloth BG, Sleigh Bells Ring

Paper: Soft Sky, Ruby Red, Wild Wasabi, Soft Sky DSP,Whisper White

Ink: Soft Sky, Ruby Red, Wild Wasabi, Creamy Caramel, Basic Gray, Black Stazon

Accessories: 1 3/8" Square Punch, Green Rhinestone Brads, Soft Sky Double Stitched Ribbon

Thank You Holly

I've been requested to plan a class on making Thank You cards for Christmas. So I used today's Technique challenge on SCS. The challenge was to make a horizontal pocket card. The image on the card that can be pulled out is stamped in stazon and colored with re-inkers and an aquapen. I used Crystal Effects on the berries.

Stamps: Sleigh Bells Ring, Short & Sweet

Paper: Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla

Ink: Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Black Stazon

Accessories: Scallop Punch, 1" circle punch, double Circle Punch, Corner Rounder, Crystal Effects, Sticky Strip tape

Sleigh Bells

I just got this set in the mail yesterday. It was great that today's challenge was to do a limited Holiday card. We had to do a card that could be easily reproduced. This definitely is compared to the cards I have done in years past.... It also had to be flat. I love this image but to color the whole thing would put it out of the "easily reproduce" category. I saw this done with this set a little while ago and thought it would be the perfect answer. I stamped the image twice and colored just the section I wanted colored. I then punched it out, any shape would work. I stamped the holly leaves randomly on the background in Garden Green and with Black Stazon on the ribbon. I colored with Aquapens and re-inkers.

Stamps: Sleigh Bells Ring

Paper: Garden Green, Bravo Burgundy, Whisper White

Ink: Garden Green, Black Stazon

Accessories: Tool Kit for Piercing, Bravo Burgundy 5/8" Ribbon 1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, Key Tag Punch, Corner Rounder Punch

Etched Glass Brick

Sorry, I had an appointment out of town this morning so I was a little late with today's post. Thankfully, while I was in town I had the opportunity to stop at a store and pick up some glass bricks. I've been wanting to make one of these for a very long time. It is not yet complete as my dear husband still needs to drill a hole in the back so I can put a string of lights inside. I will edit the picture with the finished product when I can. I will be teaching these in a class in December. If you are interested, contact me or see my Newsletter page for more information.

Stamps: Sleigh Bells Ring

Paper: Designer paper around edged covered with Mod Podge

Ink: Versmark

Accessories: Glass Brick, Wide Organdy Ribbon, Etching Cream, Mod Podge,