Preview of Eileen Hull new Sizzix Wrapped Journal coming in May

Eileen Hull's Inspiration Team is sharing sneak peeks of Eileen's new Book Club Chapter 2 dies over on her blog.  These will be available May-June 2018.

Here is a journal I made to put my Zentangle designs in using the wonderful Wrapped Journal die.

The flowers are cut with another new movers and shapers die Floral Cut Outs

The fun new wrapped journal is approximagely 5 1/4" x 4 1/4" when folded up.

We will all be having full tutorial posts when the dies are released in May-June 2018

Birthday Birds

Today I'm sharing a card I made for the Inspiration Challenge over on Splitcoaststampers.  Brenda asked us to look at Needlepoint.com for inspiration.   

I was inspired by this cute Baby Mockingbirds piece.

I had just received my latest Papertrey Ink purchases in the mail - and it included the Brushed Birds Stamp set as well as the Never Enough Birthday sentiments set and I was happy to get them out and use them so soon after purchase!  The dies that go with the set were already sold out - so I had to fussy cut them. (I'm on the wait list for the dies!)

I used this weeks Sketch Challenge over at Splitcoaststampers for my design.  I couldn't remember if I had a branch die anywhere in my craft room -  so instead of taking hours to look (!) I came upon this leafed stem die from Tim Holtz Flower Garden die set and just turned it on it's side!

For the background stamping, I die cut a big circle and used the negative piece as a mask over the panel and then stamped this lovely Ornate Background stamp from Wendy Vecchi (I love this stamp!).

I'm linking my card to:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Anything Goes

 Seize the Birthday

The House that Stamps Built - Anything Goes

Stamps: Brushed Birds, Never Enough Birthday - PTI, Ornate Dots Background Stamp - Wendy Vecchi/Studio 490
Paper: white, Spring Rain - PTI, brown - Core Color Coordinations
Ink: Harvest Gold, Smokey Shadow, True Black - PTI, Wendy Vecchi Archival Cornflower
Accessories: Flower Garden and Mini Bouquet die - Tim Holtz/Sizzix, foam dots, Vanilla Flower Sequins - Simon Says Stamp, Tombow Glue

Papertrey Ink - January Blog Hop

I thought I wasn't going to participate in the PTI blog hop this month - 

but then my order from the January release arrived in my mailbox today - and it had balloons in it and this happened!  Inspired by the dots in the ice cream, confetti and over all party theme!

 I used the new Birthday Balloons stamp set along with the Balloon Die.  All supplies are from PTI.

I'm off to check out all the other 'party' inspired cards!  You'll find the hop over at the PTI blog.

Also linking my card to:

Seize the Birthday

Stamps:  Birthday Balloons - PTI
Paper:  White, Orange Zest, Hawaiian Shores, DP Hooray Patterned Paper Collection - PTI
Ink:  True Black, Hawaiian Shores, Orange Zest, Pale Peony - PTI
Accessories:  Balloon Die - PTI, foam dots

Eileen Hull Book Binding Die - Things to Do Notebook

Today I have a great little 'Things to Do' notebook that I created using Eileen Hull's new Book Binding Die from Sizzix along with her Book Plate Hinges and Label thinlit dies - these dies are part of her Book Club - Chapter 1 die collection.

I found a pack of index cards at Staples that were vertically oriented that worked perfectly in my notebook.

Another thing I found among the journaling aisles at Staples was this cool piece that you can slip on the rings to hold pens!  I put it onto the back of my journal but if I'm putting this in my pocketbook for notes - I probably will take it off since the pen sticks out on the sides,  but if you are leaving this around the house to write in - it would be good to have the pen attached!

Here are a few photos of how I put this together.

The piece on the right is the Book Binding Movers and Shapers Die - you need to have a magnetic cutting tray to use Movers and Shapers dies - I added a spacer of foam to the left to keep my paper level while it was being cut.

Here is how I lined up my pages over the die.  I laid the piece just below the outside edge of the cutting piece.  Also, these index cards were only wide enough to have 3 cuts - so the 4th one is uncovered at the bottom here.

You need to clean out the pieces that stay inside the die each time you cut using a pick of some kind. Be careful not to pull out the rubber piece that is inside the die - if it comes out a little, just push it back in!

I cut the covers out of matboard - cutting them just a little wider and longer than my index card pages.  I die cut the slots in these and then used my corner rounder on the corners.

I die cut the label and one of the hinges from Book Plate Hinges and Label thinlit set to decorate my cover. I wanted it to look interesting but not thick so it would slide easily into my pocketbook. 

I used a something from my scraps pile for the large label.  I made the panel using Bristol Smooth Surface paper that I shook Sleight Blue Infusions over and spritzed with water.  Then I quickly laid a piece of Cling Wrap over the panel and squished it up and let dry.   I removed the cling wrap and had this lovely marbelized panel!

I die cut the hinge/label out of black cardstock and embossed the sentiment in white.

I wanted the covers to be a little protected, so I brushed over them with Gel Medium.

I got out the Mini Discs to bind my covers and pages.  The smaller the disc the less pages you can have in your book -  the discs come in several sizes and many colors.  You can find them at Staples, Walmart and Joann.   If they don't have them in the stores - look on their web sites.  

You just push the discs into the slots, a few pages at a time depending on thickness.

I felt my cover needed something else - and decided to outline the labels with Gold Leaf Finish that I had in my craft room - I've had it for years and don't think I ever used it before!  It is a liquid like watery paint and you need to use it in a well ventilated space.   I think it was just the right touch!

My Things to Do notebook measures 5 1/4" x 3 1/4".

The Inspiration Team is posting projects using Eileen's Book Club dies all month - please check it out over on Eileen's blog!

I'm linking my little notebook to:

January Mini Album Makers Challenge

Stamps:  Take Note - Papertrey Ink
Paper:  Black Little Sizzles Mat Board - Sizzix, Bristol Smooth Surface Paper, black cardstock - PTI
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories:  Book Binding Movers and Shapers Die, Book Plate hinges and Label Thinlit Dies - Eileen Hull/Sizzix, Oxford Ruled Index Cards - Staples, Zutter Corner Rounder, Mini Discs - The Happy Planner/Me and My Big Ideas, white embossing powder, heat tool, Sleight Blue Infusions - PaperArtsy, cling wrap, water mister, Dina Wakley Gel Medium, pen holder tab - Staples, Gold Leaf Finish.

January Mid Month Reminder - CAS Mix Up Challenge - Cling Wrap

Hi everyone!  It's the middle of January and I'm here today to remind you there's still time to join in on the CAS Mix Up Challenge!  The challenge is open through Jan 24th!

Nancy's challenge this month is to use Cling Wrap

I used cling wrap with Infusions, stamping, die cuts and enamel dots on my card(s) today. 

(I ended up making 3!)

I started with a sheet of Bristol Smooth Surface Paper, sprinkled it with Sleight Blue Infusions by PaperArtsy, spritzed with water, laid a piece of cling wrap over it and squished up the wrap.  I left it to dry for a few hours, removed the cling wrap and this is what I got!

A close up view of one section - see all the wrinkles the cling wrap creates?

and a darker section

I used Tim Holtz Mini Detailed Butterfly Thinlits to cut my butterfly - they come with a solid shape and a cut out shape for 2 different butterflies.  On this card I cut both layers out of my cling wrap Infusions panel to show off the colors/design of the paper. Sentiment is from Signature Greetings by PTI.

Close up

Then I cut the butterfly base out of white and layered the detailed cut over it - you can appreciate the lovely lacy look to the butterfly - but you see less of the colors.

And then on my third card I used a whole panel of the colored panel as well as on the shaker balloon.  Sentiment is from Birthday Basics - PTI

I used Noted: Scalloped A2 Die from Papertrey Ink for all of the white die cut panels.  The shaker balloon die is from Stamplorations.

There are several links to techniques using Cling Wrap on the CAS Mix Up Blog -  check it out and try one and link up your card!  We can't wait to see!   Challenge is open through Jan 24th!

I'm linking my balloon card to:

Happy Little Stampers

I'm linking my butterfly card to:

CAS Watercolour Challenge

Stamps:  Birthday Basics and Signature Greetings - Papertrey Ink.
Paper:  White, True Black - PTI, Bristol Smooth Surface.
Ink:  True Black - PTI
Accessories:  Infusions Sleight Blue - PaperArtsy, Balloon Shaker Die set - Stamplotations,  Noted: Scalloped Die set - PTI. Detailed Butterflies Thinlits - Tim Holtz/Sizzix, St. Tropez Crystals - Prisma, gold beads - gift from Loll, Star Sequins - PTI, Cling Wrap - local supermarket, water mister, double sided stick foam sheet.

The New Twofer Challenge - Feathers

Today I'm joining in on the fun new challenge on the block or should I say blog?!?!  The ever talented, creative and 'oh so funny' Darnell has started a fun monthly challenge that runs for just two weeks.  It's called Twofer Card Challenge:

You make two cards using the same stamps and/or dies but for two different occasions.  And this month's prompt is feathers.

For my feathers I used arrows (I know they probably don't make the ends of arrows with feathers anymore - but they used to!)  I made an Anniversary Card and a Valentine's Day card - just changing the colors and sentiments.

I die cut the background using Hugs and Kisses Coverplate die from MFT.  I die cut the center panels using Noted: Scalloped A2 die from PTI and I used the Sentiment Strip die from MFT for the sentiments.  The arrow stamp is from Cupids Arrow by PTI (Retired).

The Valentine

My card base and panel are white - the background is red as well as the sentiment strip and I embossed the arrows using Cranberry Embossing Powder.  I used a clear heart rhinestone.

The Anniversary Card

I used Vintage Cream Linen cardstock for the card base and the sentiment strip.  I used Foiled Gold card for the background and white card for the panel.  I embossed the arrows and sentiment in gold and added a red rhinestone heart

The Twofer - Feathers

 

So come along and play with the Twofer!

You'll find all the challenge details as well as meet the design team AND be inspired by their feathers Twofer's at the challenge blog here.

Also linking my Anniversary card to:

Addicted to Stamps

Linking my Valentine to:

Happy Little Stamper

CASology

Stamps:  Cupids Arrow - PTI, Happy Valentines Day - unknown red bubber stamp, Happy Anniversary - Hero Arts.

Paper:  Vintage Cream Linen, White - PTI, Foiled Cardstock Stash - DCWV.

Ink:  Versamark, Archival Jet Black

Accessories:  Noted: Scalloped A2 dies - PTI, Hugs and Kisses Cover Plate , Sentiment Strips - MFT (retired), heart rhinestones, foam dots, Gold Embossing Powder - Ranger, Cranberry Embossing Powder - Adirondack.

Silent, Soft and Slow

I didn't think I was going to make any Christmas cards yet, 

(although I do make them throughout the year so I'm ready when December rolls around!)

but I was inspired by some cards I've seen out there with the snowfall embossing 

(such as Christine's beautiful card here) 

and remembered I had this lovely embossing folder from Tim Holtz 

I cut a panel of watercolor paper slightly smaller than my white card base.  I embossed the snowfall on the panel.  I die cut the trees using Tim's Tree Line Thinlit dies out of a piece I had in my scraps box. 

 I made the panel using the Cling Wrap Technique - sprinkling Sleight Blue Infusions onto a piece of Bristol Smooth Surface paper, spritzing with water, then quickly laying a piece of cling wrap over the wet panel and squishing it up to create wrinkles in the cling wrap.  Then you let it dry and remove the cling - and you get lovely "marbleized" looking color.

The sentiment is one from Alison Bombers set EAB05 from PaperArtsy.  

 I stamped Merry Christmas on the inside of my card.

I'm linking my card to:

CAS Mix Up

You'll find links on the Cling Wrap Technique here too!

Addicted to Stamps and More

Happy Little Stampers

Stamps:  Alison Bomber set EAB05 - PaperArtsy
Paper:  White - PTI, Canson Water Color Paper, Bristol Smooth Surface Paper
Ink:  Archival Jet Black
Accessories:  Cling Wrap from supermarket, water mister, Sleight Blue Infusions - PaperArtsy, foam tape, Snowfall Embossing Folder - Tim Holtz/Sizzix, Tree Line Thinlit die - Tim Holtz/Sizzix.