PaperFections

JustRite July Calendar: New Set Preview!

Happy Independance Day to all my fellow Americans!  Yes, I'm just a tad bit late posting my July calendar -- sorry about that!  But I was waiting on something new and very special (keep on reading!)

If you are a regular reader here, you know how much I love making (and using!) my desk calendars each month.  They are 6-inches square and hang on THIS wooden display stand on my desk (available from Taylored Expressions -- I stained it to match my desk).  You can find a Photo Album of all my calendars over in my right sidebar.

I decided upon this 6-inch format because my intent is to then use these monthly calendar pages in a photo album, along with a coordinating 6-inch scrapbook page of a favorite photo of my girls or our family for the month ... a nice, commemorative album for the entire year!

So if you may not be interested in calendars, keep in mind that the calendar portion of my pages can always be substituted for a photo and used as a scrapbook page.  JustRite's new Calendar Stamp Set (pictured above) is great for either calendars OR scrapbooking, I think, and I've been highly anticipating the release of this set!  Isn't the script font beautiful?  It will be available for purchase at the JustRite online store on July 7!  I also have some ideas for cool birthday cards with this set, too!

This set fits into a new 1-3/4" x 2-5/16" Oval Wood Stamper that's also being released on July 7, which perfectly fits the shape of Spellbinders Classic Oval Nestabilities dies!

I stamped the border and center separately onto patterned paper and then die cut and stacked them together on dimensional foam tape.  The calendar is one I computer-generated and printed myself.  The glittery butterfly border is a pre-printed and adhesive one that I adhered to chocolate cardstock and then machine stitched the edges.  It's also popped up on foam tape.

I hope you'll enjoy this stamp set as much as I know I will!

Blog Candy Alert:  You have the opportunity to win this new Calendar Set today over at the JustRite Blog, so I hope you'll check that out.  You'll also find links there to a lot more projects using the new stamp sets being released at the JustRite online store on July 7!

Supplies:

• Stamps: JustRite Stampers Calendar Set + 1-3/4" x 2-5/16" Oval Wood Stamper
• Paper: Carolyn Gavin 8.5" Greenhouse designer paper pad & adhesive borders by K&Company (Michael's), Papertrey Ink Aqua Mist & Dark Chocolate cardstock, Neenah Classic Natural White cardstock
• Ink: Ranger Adirondack Espresso

• Accessories: Spellbinders Classic Oval Nestabilities dies (small & large sets), Foof-A-La buttons, corner rounder, dimensional foam tape, Tonic Tim Holtz Paper Distresser, sewing machine

WSC87: Summer Girl's Birthday

Today's Weekend Sketch Challenge is provided by Charmaine.  You can find the sketch and her sample on her blog this morning.  I needed a young girl's birthday card, so I hope these pinks & greens combined with chocolate will do the trick!

I stamped a few of Karen Lockhart's Itty Bitty summer-type images (Baby Bee, Lady Bug, and Escargot) with Adirondack Espresso ink onto patterned paper.  I chose this ink due to its very deep brown color. 

Then I used Martha Stewart's 1" scalloped square punch to punch out the images and adhered them to Inchie Arts White Inchie Squares that I prepped by inking the sides and edges with the same Espresso ink.

 

I used Melon & new Chocolate Spica Glitter Pens to accent the images just a bit.  The center striped panel is machine stitched around the edges and popped up on dimensional foam tape.

I hope you'll take a look at the samples these ladies created for you with this sketch and then try it for yourself over this long holiday weekend:  Cambria, Charmaine, and Lori.  I'll be back tomorrow with a new JustRite stamp set preview to share with you, so I hope you'll check back!

In the meantime, I hope you are checking the JustRite Blog each day, for previews and giveaways of the upcoming summer releases!  You'll also find links there to a LOT of great JustRite projects.  And . . .

Blog Candy Alert: Nicole Anderson is giving away one of her gorgeous hand-crafted genuine Swarovski crystal and ALL sterling silver bracelets custom made for you in your preference of size and colors.  This is a $50.00 value!  Please be sure to visit her blog over the long holiday weekend.  You have until next Wednesday, July 8th to enter for the chance to win!

Supplies:

• Stamps: Lockhart Itty Bitty Baby Bee, Lady Bug, Escargot.  PTI Paper Tray
• Ink: Ranger Adirondack Espresso, Copic markers & Spica Glitter Pens
• Paper: Carolyn Gavin 8.50" Greenhouse designer pad by K&Company (Michael's), PTI Hibiscus Burst, Prism Intense Kiwi
• Accessories: Inchie Arts White Inchie Squares, sponge dauber, PTI Ripe Avacado twill, Martha Stewart 1" scalloped square punch, sewing machine, dimensional foam tape

Copic Storage

After seeing the photo in my blog post about the new lighter Copic colors below, several of you asked what my Copic storage unit is, so here's a full photo (click for a larger view):

 

These are Quickutz Magpie Nesting Storage System (I'm using three of them).  They are wooden and originally meant to store Quickutz dies in the metal tins you see in the last two columns to the far right (I use the tins to store my Memento Dew Drops and color coded the fronts of the tins with colored buttons). 

They come in either white or black and Overstock.com usually has them in stock at a good price ($21-23).  These are lined up along the back edge of my crafting desk, so they are right in front of me within easy reach (I took the photo from where I sit to stamp).  I use a different cubby for each Copic color group.

As you can see to the far left, the cubbies are also a good size to store Ranger Distress Ink pads, Memento full-sized ink pads & Palette ink pads.  I took the drawer out of the bottom of the left unit and it sits on top of the unit, to hold odds & ends.  I also have a friend who turned her units upside down, so the drawer is on the top (just take the drawer out and flip it over).

I love these because clean up is quick & easy -- just throw the markers back into their respective cubbies!  I use my COLOR CHART to select which colors I want to use, then I can easily find them in their cubbies. 

New Copic Colors!

Look what arrived at my doorstep yesterday ... those brand new light Copic colors!  I'm trying to find out when they will be available to the public, then I'll update this post.  (EDITED: I've been told retailers will probably begin receiving shipments around July 15th or so.)

In the meantime, if you'd like to download a new color chart to have ready for the arrival of YOUR new colors, I've updated all of my downloadable charts (Excel, Word & PDF) on my COPIC PAGE.  They also include a new column for all the 23 colors + clear of Spica Glitter Pens.  Enjoy!

I did a little comparison for you of the these new lighter colors.  I'm pleased to report that the new BG0000 is just a shade lighter than my custom lighter BG000 I made by combining 2 parts Clear Blender Solution to 1 part BG000 Various refill ink:

Here's a comparison of the new YR0000 and Y0000:

 

And the new BV0000 and G0000:

  

I know I'll enjoy these lighter colors ... they are perfect for helping to blend shading.  I always prefer a lighter shade of the colors I'm working with to blend, as opposed to the Colorless Blender.  The lighter shades will leave behind a slight highlight of that color as opposed to possibly taking away too much color, like the Blender can sometimes (at least for me!).

Like I said, I'll update this post as to when these new colors will be arriving at retailers, or you can always keep an eye on Marianne's blog -- I'm sure she'll keep everyone updated!

EDITED: Several of you asked about my Copic storage units.  I have full details on THIS post.  Thanks!

Tooth Fairy Box

 

My youngest daughter (almost 7) has been asking me for a tooth fairy box for about a year ... even though she doesn't have a loose tooth in sight!  I hope you'll join me over at the CLASSroom today, to see how I transformed Karen Lockhart's Noel Angel into the Tooth Fairy!