It's a busy day for me here in New Hampshire. Outside it feels like Old Man Winter is gearing up for a little snow. This inspired me to create a winter landscape gift bag.
I used paper from the Core'dinations Chocolate box collection to create the trees and sky. The trees are cut at 3" and 3.5" using the Christmas Cheer Cartridge for Cricut. The snow landscape is embossed using the Swiss Dots folder for the Cuttlebug.
The ribbon is from Michael's.
I found the snowflake jewels at JoAnn's last year.
So Core'dinations, one of my favorite paper crafting lines, is preparing challenges for a second Hard Core Online Crop! This time it's holiday themed. I'm so excited! I have been organizing my Core'dinations paper and gathering all my holiday embellishments together. Starting this coming Saturday the designers are going to be posting the challenges.
Here is the link to the Holiday Hard Core Crop Facebook page (Click the image below);
I hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Plus, I hope to see you online during the Holiday Hard Core Crop.
3 tier stamping is a fun and easy way to create a layered card or background for a scrapbook page. This technique uses three layers of paper that gradually shrink in size. When stamped this layering creates a cascading effect with the stamped image. When practicing this technique, it is easier to use a stamp that has a flourish image.
You can find a printable version of these directions here.
Materials-
-(1) 8 1/2x11" piece of white cardstock
-(1) 8 1/2x11" piece of colored cardstock
-(1) stamp with a flourish
-(1) card base of 8x5 1/2" folded in half
-ink in your choice of color (chose an ink that won't run when using the distressing ink like Memento)
-distressing ink a coordinating color to the ink used to stamp the flourish-this should be lighter than the stamping ink
-distress ink applicator
-ashesieve
-1/8' pop dots
-fibers or ribbon for embellishment
Directions-
-Cut the colored cardstock into three pieces measuring (1) 3 3/4x5 1/4, (2) 2 3/4x4 1/4, and (3) 1 3/4x 3 1/4"
-Cut the white cardstock into three pieces measuring (1) 4x5 1/2", (2) 3x4 1/2", and (3) 2x3 1/2"
-Using
a small piece of adhesive, layer the three white pieces of cardstock so
that the smallest piece is on top (You may have to dull the hold of the
adhesive by pressing and lifting your finger off of it)
-Ink up the stamp using selected color
-Stamp randomly across the three layers of white cardstock making sure the flourish overlaps the layers of paper.
-Continue inking and stamping (for this size card about 3-4 times)
- Peel the three layers apart and apply distress ink using applicator tool.
-Adhere the stamped pieces to their coordinating sized background paper.
IMPORTANT- Check your stamped images to make sure they are going the right way and mimic the stamp image across the layers.
-Adhere the top and middle layer together by centering the top layer over the middle.
-Wrap ribbon or fibers to embellish around the top and middle layer.
-Use pop dots to adhere top two layers to bottom layer.
-Adhere bottom layer to card base and enjoy.
It's sunny and hot here in New Hampshire USA. Laundry is drying in the sun and I have finished another Steampunk themed project. I bought the coffin at Michael's and the paper from Stamping Memories in Belmont NH.
The pattern paper is from the Graphic 45 Steampunk Debutante collection. I used some of Tim Holtz's Wild Honey distress ink around the edges of the paper.
I used denominational foam under the flowers in the left side of the coffin and the corset on the right side.
The charms are jewelry pieces in my collection of embellishments. The loop opens to add more charms or to change the assortment. I spray painted the gears using Krylon paints.
Here is a quick card I made using straps and hand cutting the pieces to make a coffee cup. I also embossed the Whitewash red paper using the Candy Cane Cuttlebug folder.
Only one day left to the Core'dination Online Crop. I have a lot of work ahead of me. So far I have completed seven of the thirteen original challenges. I'm felling really good about them as this goes along. Now I am working on Debbie's card stock only challenge. My plan is to have that one posted tonight before I go to bed.
Here is my layout:
I used a sheet of paper from the Moulin Rouge Collection by Prima Marketing. I used three sheets of Core'dination Essentials in Celery, Burgundy and Pea Pod for the strips and the photo mount. I folded the strips and antiqued the photo mounts before sanding them.
I stitched the stripes into place using my sewing machine.
I used lacy green ribbon around the photo mount and embossed the word "Hope" using bronze embossing powder and my VersaMarker.
Lately I've been so into the Steampunk Culture. I love the Victorian dress mixed with Sci-fi mechanics. So I challenged myself to create a series of cards using a Steampunk theme. And what better way to do this than with Graphic 45's Steampunk Debutante Collection.
The card below is my first in a series of Steampunk Cards. I Used a variety of techniques to create this card. This card measures 4x5.5 inches. I used Bazzill Cardstock to mount the Graphic 45 papers.
1st- I embossed the stamped image of the roses using VersaMark and Judi Kins' Metallic Bronze embossing powder
2nd- I used metal closures to accent the top left corner of the matted stamped image.
3rd- I used Copper thread to tie an antiqued metal bead to the base of the card.
Here are someways to save money while being able to create stunning paper crafts.
1. Clearance-Every season stores change their inventory to meet the themes of the season. This is the perfect time to find and purchase clearance items that you need, like, or want to try using without breaking the bank.
2. Remodels-Every five years Wal-mart remodels their stores. This is the perfect time to find items marked down. Recently Wal-mart decided to cut back their Fabric and Craft department. Many items are being clearanced out because there is no shelf space for them.
3. Clubs and Groups- Join online groups and clubs that offer discounts on items you are interested in. Borders, Michaels, Jo-Ann's, and A.C. Moores all offer e-mail clubs that are free.
4. Coupons-Check out your Sunday paper for coupons. Sunday papers are the thickest with coupons and information because that is the day most people buy and read the paper.
5. Swap Shops-That's right "dump pickin.'" Many town dumps now have a "Swap Shop" where you can place items you don't need or want for others to have free. Often these are items that did not sell during yard/garage sales. I have found unfinished furniture in my local swap shop.
6. Yard and Garage Sales-Everyone has things they don't want any more or the item just needs a little fixing up (i.e. fresh paint). Yard and Garage Sales are a great place to find items like furniture, glasswares, yard, fabric, stamps, and more.
7. Gifts-Someone in the family just had a birthday and gifts came in bags with tissue paper. Save the tissue paper and use it instead of Mulberry paper to give your paper crafts texture.
8. Crops-Arrange crops with fellow scrappers and card makers. have each person RSVP with a different tool (i.e. Sally brings her Cricut and cartridges, Ruth brings her punches, Jane brings her Making Memories Tool-kit, etc.) and share them. One sugestion if you plan on using Sally's Cricut bring your own mats and save them for next time you all get together. Rotate who brings what or have Croppers sign-up like a pot-luck.
9. Buying online-Websites often give discounts if your purchase over a set dollar amount or even free shipping. Try Amazon, E-Bay, and other sites for these types of discounts.
10. "Slitly Used"-I love the slitly used aspect of Amazon's website. I have been able to purchase books and materials for fractions of the "New" price. For example, a college textbook that costs $150 was $35 "slitly used" and the book was like brand new.
11. Saving-Saving wrapping paper that you liked from a gift recieved or clasp envelopes from the mail can also be used for other projects and organization
