Teacher Thank You Notes

I needed to make 3 thank you notes to give to my children's teachers. I don't really like to make multiples of the same card over and over (short attention span I guess).


But I really wanted to use this cat image from Pink Cat Studio. Somehow the cat reminds me of a teacher. Maybe its the glasses, or maybe the calm, unruffled look (so unlike me when I hang out with my kids for too long). So I decided to play around with variations on a theme. I decided to alter the color scheme and the technique on the cat's clothes, but keep the card layout the same for all of them. I also kept the same blue panel on all of them to add to the challenge.


Here is the trio.....



For this first one, I used alcohol based Prismacolor markers to color the entire image. The patterned paper is the DCWV Pocket Full of Poises Pack.

For this card, I colored the cat and glasses with the Prismacolor Markers. Then I used a very fine stylus to doodle a design on the sweater and scarf. I colored the sweater and scarf with Prsimacolor pencils. The doodled design appears white.

For the last card, I again colored the cat and the glasses with the Prismacolor Markers. Then I paper pieced the scarf and the sweater using the background paper. By stamping and cutting out the scarf and sweater on different parts of the patterned paper, I got the different colors. The patterned paper is the DCWV Pocket Full of Poises Pack.

It was kind of fun to see how changing the color and technique changed the card. I might try something like this again sometime. It might make a very nice gift set of coordinated thank you notes.

Butterfly Kisses

Happy Friday to you all!!! We've been having beautiful Spring weather here on the East Coast, so I decided to pull out my Butterfly Kisses stamp set and put them to use! I stamped the butterflies on vellum paper and embossed them with a glittery white EP. I then watercolored the back of the image with a waterbrush and my Wild Plum and Sunshine Yellow Adirondack Ink Pads. IRL it almost looks like stained glass, so pretty and elegant. The background behind the butterflies is a Cuttlebugged piece of cardstock and I went over the embossed areas with my Clear Stardust Gelly Roll pens (these are soooo cool!) to give it some extra sparkle. I used various images from the same set to stamp a background onto the green base with a Versamark pad.

The sentiment is also embossed with the glittery white EP, I then used a smidge of sheer ribbon and a bit of silver cording to finish it off!! I hope you enjoy and have a Fabulous weekend!!

Tumbled Tile Coaster

I love working with these tumbled tiles to make coasters. I like how they feel so substantial and alcohol inks work beautifully on them.


These coasters could be a pretty quick and easy Father's Day gift - and if they are careful, the kids could even help create the colored background (but remember, alcohol inks are permanent inks).


How I made this tile:


You can find tumbled tiles in most home improvement stores. The tumbled tiles are better than glazed tiles for coasters since the can hold moisture better. It is a good idea to look through the tiles and choose ones that are smooth and have few holes so any stamped images will stamp cleanly.

Other supplies you will need are:

• A selection of Ranger Alcohol Inks in the colors you desire. Include one of the Metallic Mixatives if you wish,
• An alcohol ink applicator
• Alcohol ink blender solution
• Ranger Archival ink for stamping your image
• Stamp
  

Before beginning, put a small amount of Blender Solution on a paper towel and clean off the tile to make sure there is no dust or oil.


I wanted my coaster to have an aged stone look. I chose Carmel, Ginger and a small amount of Denim for my colors. I also wanted a little glitz, so I also used a small amount of Copper Metallic Mixative. Different people have different methods of applying the inks - here is what works for me.


I choose a primary color (Carmel) and apply the most of this color to a clean felt pad. Then I choose a secondary color (Ginger) and apply less of that. Then I choose a third color and apply a small amount of that to the pad. I add a small amount of blender solution (the more solution you add, the less intense the colors will be).


I "pounce" my applicator on the tile surface, turning it as I go to keep the colors random. I just keep pouncing until I'm happy with the coverage (don't forget to color the sides of the tile as well). If the colors are not intense enough, you can add more alcohol ink to the felt. If you really don't like what you are creating and want to start over, you can clean off the tile with blender solution. It will still be somewhat stained, but lightly enough so you can try again.


If I want to add some Metallic Mixative (in this case copper), I add a SMALL amount to the same felt pad I've been using and add a little squirt of blender solution. Then I pounce on the metallic in the same fashion. A little metallic goes a long way.


Let the alcohol inks dry completely. Then ink up your stamp with the Archival Ink and stamp it onto the tile. Keep in mind that the tile surface may not be perfectly smooth, so you may need more pressure than usual to get a good image.


I put the tile in a 300 degree oven for about 15 minutes to heat set everything. This step may not be necessary, but it makes me feel more secure.


The last step is to put something on the back of the tile to prevent the tile from scratching furniture. I like to use the cork shelf liner available at home improvement stores - but you could also use felt.


This tile uses the Ship Collage stamp by River City Rubber Works. The stamp and all the alcohol ink supplies are available from Rubber Inspirations.

Tres Chic!

Bonjour mes amis! Comment allez-vous? :)

I recently was lucky enough to win some great Ranger products. Naturally, I just had to try them out! Two things that I received were Memory Glass and Memory Foil Tape (Brass). These are two products that I had never used so I was ready for it to be a challenge, however it was much easier to use than I thought. I decided to make a glass pin using Adirondack Alcohol Inks (Lettuce, Wild Plum and Stream) and the Ooh-La-La stamp set.


First, I applied lines of each color of ink on to the applicator. I added some drops of Blending Solution to blend the colors. I gently tapped the inked up applicator on to the glass, being careful not to over mix the colors and set it aside to dry. The alcohol inks dry very quickly so this only took a few minutes. I stamped the perfume bottle and Tres Chic on a 2x2 inch piece of white cardstock using Archival Ink (Jet Black). I took the inked glass piece, the stamped cardstock and then another glass piece and sandwiched them together. I went around the edges with the foil tape and then burnished it with a paper creaser to make sure it had a good seal. I added an adhesive pin back to the other side and Voila! A Tres Chic pin! :)

Magnetic, Acrylic Post-It Holder

A couple of weeks ago I was at Target and I saw a 2 pack of Acrylic Photo Frames with magnets on the back. They were something like $2.50 for the pack of 2. I snatched them right up and brought them home waiting for just the "right project". So the other day when I sat down to stamp, that "right project" popped into my head. I proceeded to pull out my new pack of Great Expectations Paper and cut it to 4x6 since that was the size of my photo frame. I then took out my new Ooh La La Stamp Set stamped the perfume bottles onto white cardstock using black ink, then I colored it with colored pencils. I mounted that onto some light greenish cardstock and put it onto my paper I had previously cut. Then I chose my sentiment. I decided that the Just A Note from Everyday Greetings was just the right one to use. So I stamped that, also in black on white cardstock, mounted it onto the same green cardstock I had used before and then mounted that. Then I slipped that into my frame. Now for the last step. I applied my post-it notes to the frame by using Tacky Tape. I love that stuff! It's good for everything! I sat back to admire my work. But it was missing something. So I got out my package of RSVP Pens and cut a strip of my printed paper to fit, rolled it up and stuck it inside the pen. Now I had to figure out how to attach it to the frame. I decided to get out that trusty Tacky Tape again and use it to attach a piece of Light Pink Grosgrain Ribbon to the inside of the frame so that I could just tie the pen on. And there you have it! A Magnetic, Acrylic Post-It Holder with matching pen.

A Paisley Flower

When I first saw the Paisley set on the Rubber Inspirations website, I knew I would have some fun with it!

I immediately was inspired to use the single paisleys as flower petals.

I knew I wanted this to be bold and bright. So I used bright colored markers to color in the paisleys, and then cut them out.

Using the stem of the paisley flower from that same set stamped on white cardstock, I played with the cut out paisleys and arranged them until I had them how I wanted them to look. I layered each paisley petal in its place, and glued it down.

I added Crystal Stickles to the smallest petals to give them some *bling* and dimension, then added the white button.

Before gluing the layers down, I added a bit of black ink to the card using the DTP (Direct To Paper) technique.

Oh, about that awesome swirly polka dot flourish stamp......

Stay tuned to Rubber Inspirations for their exclusive line of stamps!

Peony card

The Peony is my favorite flower. I have fond memories of my Grandmother's peony bushes - enormous clouds of beautiful light and dark pink flowers. I have quite a few (like um... 30 or so...) peony plants in my garden. But somehow mine just can't compare to my memories of my grandma's (she was a plant wizard).

Anyway - when I saw the Stamping Sensations Plate called Destination Orient, I fell in love with all the peony images (and the fish... but that is another story). So here is my first peony card. Of course - after I finished the whole thing, I realized by the leaf shape that this is probably a mum, not a peony. But humor me - its still a peony in my mind!

How I made this card:

For the background, I used my new Ranger colorwash sprays from RI!! These are so fun to use. For this background, I randomly stamped the small peony (could be a waterlily - but go with me on the peony theme) in Versamark ink and embossed in clear on watercolor paper. I wanted a lighter tone so I spritzed the embossed paper with water and then sprayed the background lightly with Cranberry color spray (do this in a box to contain over spray). I also added a slight amount of Stream color spray to the top and bottom. Since I did not want an intense blue color, I aimed my spray as if I was spraying above and below the paper - so only some of the over spray went on to the paper. then I spritzed with a little more water to blend. After a couple minutes I blotted the excess ink with a paper towel and allowed the piece to dry.

I embossed the flower image in Ranger Queens Gold on lightweight watercolor paper. I also embossed the "Thinking of You" form the Stamping Sensations set Small Sentiments angled with the flower stems. I colored the image using my water brush and Meadow and Cranberry inks. (I just squeeze the lid of the ink pad against felt while the case is closed. When I open it, I have a nice little splotch of color on the inside lid that I can pick up with the waterbrush.)

I trimmed the paper around the image and created the corners using a half inch circle punch. I mounted the image on a green matte and added white mini brads. Then I just assembled my image and background on a green matte and mounted it on an A2 size card.

Monoprinting with Alcohol Inks

Today I have a fun background technique for you to try. It's so easy to do, and creates stunning background effects! The technique is called Monoprinting, and it can also be done with re-inkers, or Inkabilities inks, but the effects that the Alcohol Inks create with this technique are truly spectacular!

So the first thing you need to do is gather your supplies together. You'll need non-stick work surface to work on. I'm using a silicone craft mat, but if you don't have one of these handy tools you can also use a glass cutting mat, or even a disposable aluminum baking tray. Please don't use anything that food will come in contact with after you've tried this technique. For example, that Pyrex backing dish might look like a perfect surface, but you won't want to eat the brownies you make in it afterwards!

You'll also need some glossy paper, Blending Solution, and Alcohol Inks. I recommend purchasing them in every color available, advice which I've followed closely as you can see above! You might also want to pick out the stamp that you'll be using to finish off your creation. I chose the Sailboat Collage stamp, which influenced my ink color selection.

Pick out one to three ink colors to use for your background. For this sample I wanted to create a look that was reminiscent of the ocean, so I chose Stonewashed, Meadow, and Slate. You don't have to use three colors, and in fact, if this is the first time you're trying this technique I'd recommend starting with only one. I'll show you how to make just a few drops of ink last forever and create some beautiful backgrounds in just a bit!

The first thing you're going to do is take one of your bottles of Alcohol Ink and scribble the color across your craft mat. Put the tip directly on the mat, and squirt out a stream of ink. Do the same with a second color, but don't overlap the colors or they will blend too much and get muddy, place them next to each other instead. If using a third accent color, just place a few drops randomly in between the ink lines like I've done in the picture above with the Slate ink.

Now the fun starts! Randomly drip Blender Fluid across your lines of ink. Take a piece of glossy paper, and lay it down on top of the ink (glossy side down). Press and smoosh (technical term) the paper a bit to blend the ink and spread it to the edges.

Carefully peel your paper up and take a look at the background you've created!

Now if you're satisfied with your background, you can stop here and skip this next step. I like to add a little additional texture though, and this is a fun way to do it!

Take your bottle of blender fluid, and shake it all over your background while it's still wet. The object is to get drops of fluid on your paper. The blender fluid will separate the inks and push them around on the paper, creating drip marks.

Let dry, then finish off your Masterpiece, and you're done!

Ok, so I showed you the more advanced project first, which is a little backwards, but look how cool it is! Now I'm going to show you the simplified version, but with a little twist!

When you use multiple colors you can only get one or two good prints from the inks you scribble on your craft mat, any more than that and the colors blend too much and don't look so pretty. When you use just one color, you can get multiple prints just by adding more blending fluid!

So go ahead and blob a line or a scribble of your favorite color Alcohol Ink on your craft sheet (I used Wild Plum in this sample)and add some blender fluid.

Smoosh (there's that technical term again) your paper into the ink and peel it up. This will be your darkest print. Add some blending fluid to the ink left on your craft sheet, and press another piece of paper into the ink. Peel up and repeat until you no longer like your results.

If desired you can shake some dots of blender fluid onto your backgrounds while they're still wet to add some drippy looking texture. Let dry and use on a card!


I have one more background to show you using this technique. In the card shown below I did a two step process to create the two separate tones of color. First I laid down a line of Lettuce Alcohol ink and pressed my paper into it. I peeled it up, and cleaned the ink off my craft sheet. Then I put down a line of Stonewashed ink, and pressed the other side of my paper into it. Added a few drips of blender fluid, and let dry.

Have fun with this technique, experiment, and if you make something cool, upload it to A Shade of Blue, and share the link!

Enjoy,
Anne

Getting Creative with Paper

Hi All!! This is my first contribution to the Rubber Inspirations blog!! Since I'm still waiting for some of my stamps to arrive from RI, I decided to get a little creative with the paper packs I already have from them!! These are really quick and easy to put together.

This view is from above. I used the Pockets Full of Posies paper pack to cover the tin and the lid. The container used to house tea bags but can be filled with anything......perhaps some chocolate.....sorry, back to the post :) I stacked 3 silk like flowers that I picked up somewhere and placed a large brad through the center and glued it down to the lid. It looked kinda plain to me so I decided to add some seed beads around the edge. This Glue works great with the beads and has many other uses too! To adhere the paper around the tin I used my favorite adhesive for projects like this Tacky Tape. I then just tied some ribbon around the tin, added a flower and brad to the knot and voila!! Finis!!! Here's a view from the front.

Now on to the Jumbo Paper clips...These can be purchased just about anywhere, like the office supply store etc. I used my cuttlebug to die cut the flowers from chipboard coasters and also The Glitter Stack patterned paper. I glued the paper to the chipboard, then used a hot glue gun to sandwich the paperclip in between the flowers. I had some little buttons laying around, so I tied some cording through the holes then glued them to the centers, added a little ribbon and that was it!! Quick and easy gifts in no time!

I hope you enjoy these projects!