PaperFections

M-Bossed Inchie Birthday

You may have noticed me using Spellbinders new M-Bossabilities embossing folders on some of my recent projects . . . that's because today's Splitcoaststampers Product Focus is on the embossing folders and I had the pleasure of working with them for that! You can find the entire M-Bossabilities Product Focus review at Splitcoaststampers and here's another project I made with the sweet Paisley M-Bossabilities folder -- a birthday card: This time, I tried the embossing folder on three Inchie Arts Inchie+ matboard squares, by taping them in place on the embossing folder, then running them through the Grand Calibur: Look how wonderfully the Inchie+ matboard squares embossed! Next, I colored the raised embossing with these Copic markers: The Lockhart Rosebud Cupcake was stamped with Adirondack Slate dye ink onto Copic X-Press It Blending Card and also colored with the Copic markers: The cupcake was die cut and placed on a small white doily. And that's one of my very favorite Lockhart sentiments, stamped onto a cardstock flag that was machine stitched in place. I hope you enjoy this rare Leap Day! I'll be back tomorrow with a wonderful Copic announcement and you know the Copic team usually likes to give... Read more →

March Calendar Copic Technique

I can't believe it's almost March and Spring is almost here . . . I'm certainly ready, how about you?!! For this month's calendar, I used Karen Lockhart's sweet Kate's Garden Flowers, stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Copic X-Press It white cardstock. (Please forgive the photos -- all the white in this project was throwing my camera a little out of balance and the Copic coloring is looking a little faded here). The flowers were colored with these Copic markers and Lemon Atyou Spica Glitter Pen: The image was die cut with Spellbinders Blossom die and attached to the calendar with foam tape. The background at the top of the calendar was embossed with Spellbinders new Paisley M-Bossabilities folder. Here's how I did an ink transfer technique with the embossing folder: Using Copic BG53 and G43, I colored directly on the raised side of the embossing folder (this is one of the reasons I like Spellbinders folders that are white -- they are easier to see than a transparent folder). Then I misted white cardstock with Copic Colorless Blender Solution (put into a Mini Mister) and very quickly embossed the image. The cardstock saturated with Blender Solution will... Read more →

Just Another Birthday!

Today's new JustRite Friday Challenge has been posted and since I get to dream up the challenges, this one is all about me -- because today is my birthday, LOL! Seriously, it's a birthday challenge! :) So here's my birthday card sample, using JustRite's pretty Spring Words clear stamp set: The Happy Birthday sentiment was stamped with Memento Rhubarb Stalk ink and then die cut with Spellbinders Classic Paisley die. The red card base was embossed with Spellbinders’ new Paisley M-Bossabilities folder and accented with a white felt die cut flower, for a quick and easy birthday card! I hope you'll join me this week with the challenge . . . you can find all the details about the challenge and PRIZES here. Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Stamps: JustRite Clear Spring Words, Dies: Spellbinders Classic & Scalloped Paisley, Blossoms 3, Peony, Classic Scallop Edgeabilities, Paisley M-Bossabilities; Grand Calibur die cutting machine Paper: Essentials by Ellen White Letterpress 110 lb cardstock (sentiment); Echo Park Yours Truly 6x6 patterned paper; GinaK Lipstick Red Heavy Base Weight cardstock Ink: Memento Rhubarb Stalk, Accessories: white satin ribbon, white felt, red buttons, red twine, Copic foam tape, Read more →

Happy Birthday to a Dear Friend!

Today is a very special birthday for a dear friend -- Ellen Hutson! So naturally, my project today over in her CLASSroom had to be all about her . . . well, and some of my very favorite products from her store, LOL! I hope you'll join me there to find out how I made this letterpress card with Copic markers and an embossing folder! Read more →

Copic Coloring Guide: Level 2!

Hello and happy Monday! I wanted to let you all know that Colleen Schaan and Marianne Walker have a second Copic Coloring Guide out now, Copic Coloring Guide Level 2: Nature. It's published by Annie's Attic and can be purchased at the link above. There will be a blog hop later in which I can share one of my pieces from the book AND give one book away, but for today I just wanted to tell you briefly what I really like about this book: There are step-by-step, photo tutorials on how to color some of the most commonly asked-for objects. They have stepped-out how to color things white, black, foliage, flowers, fur (and other things commonly found in nature) . . . how to ground your images with a base and background. They cover alternative coloring and blending combinations (not just the how, but also the why), and a whole lot more! All the assembly instructions of the cards have been included on a separately included bonus CD, allowing more room for samples in the book itself. How cool is that? And, you’ll also get the line art instructional pieces on the CD, so you can print out the... Read more →

For My Love ...

I totally missed this 8-inch scrapbook page of mine making an appearance over on the Copic blog this week (on Valentine's Day)! It's a love page of my oldest daughter. I hope you'll join me there, to see how I used Copic products on almost every single piece of this page! I forgot to mention in the post about the paint chip being the inspiration for the page -- I loved all the shades of pink (her favorite color!) and the paint color names associated with them: pink chintz, springtime bloom, fuchsia kiss & hot pink . . . all very girly, springy and reminded me of love and her! A very happy (belated!) "Day of Love" to you all! Read more →

At The Beach ...

I sure wish I were at the beach right about now ... how about you -- a little warm up in frigid February?!! I decided to take myself back to this beach we visited on vacation in 2010 . . . the gorgeous Baths in Virgin Gorda! Those little people in the top photo are my girls and those giant rocks are huge granite bolders! Here's an 8-inch scrap page to commemorate our family trip: JustRite's new cling set At the Beach Oval Medallion Labels stamp set is being formally introduced today, after making its debut at the Craft & Hobby show last month: I used Myriad Pro 50-pt. font for my page title, stamped in Hero Arts' Snow Hero Hues chalk ink. All of JustRite's font sets are on clearance -- just $5 or $10 for a full set! You'll need the Clear Horizontal Stamper or Clear Mini Sentiment Stamper blocks to use them, as they are the tonge and groove JustRite Original stamps that require a special block to use them. This wonderful sentiment in the set was a perfect accent. It reads: "I have always loved the beach. The smell of the salty water, the wind in... Read more →

Oceanside Lighthouse

JustRite Stampers has been introducing their second round of new stamps that were released at the Craft & Hobby Association show last month and today's is a beachy favorite of mine -- Oceanside Oval Medallion Labels: I thought the lighthouse would make a great masculine card: The card base measures 5.50" and was cut with Spellbinders Grand Scalloped Square Nestabilities. The lighthouse was stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa ink onto Neenah Natural White cardstock and colored with Copic markers (colors listed below). The stars in the corners of the navy Fleur de Lis Square die cut are from this set and were stamped with Versamark Dazzle Frost ink. Here is a list of the other JustRite designers that have projects to share today: JustRite Inspiration Debbie Olson Sharon Harnist Michele Kovack Linda Duke Kellie Fortin Kazan Clark Barb Schram I'll be back tomorrow with another new JustRite beachy release stamp set! Stamps: JustRite Stampers Cling-Oceanside Oval Medallion Labels, Dies: JustRite Custom Nested Oval Medallion Label dies; Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Squares & Grand Scalloped Squares dies, Grand Calibur die cutting machine Paper: Gina K Designs Pure Luxury Kraft & In The Navy Heavy Base Weight cardstock; My Mind's Eye Lost... Read more →

Memory Box Valentine & Doily Flower Tutorial

Today over in Ellen Hutson's the CLASSroom, I have the instructions on how to make this lovely embossed letterpress Valentine, including a doily flower tutorial . . . I hope you'll join me! Hope you are having a wonderful weekend! Read more →

JustRite Friday Challenge Time!

It's time for another JustRite Friday Challenge, using this sketch: You can find all the challenge details, along with my card details and prize info at the JustRite blog today! ~ Sharon Read more →

Gina K Designs January 2012 Release Inspiration Hop 3!

Welcome back to day 3 of Gina K Designs’ January stamp set release inspiration blog hops! Remember, all of the new January release stamp sets are now available in Gina’s store! Our stamp set being featured today is the new one free with 3 set, Fresh Start: What a darling Springy set this is . . . and it's FREE with your purchase of any three stamp sets! I couldn’t help but combine it with one of Gina’s new custom patterned paper packs, Wisteria Lane: I loved how Melanie used the cover from the paper pack on this card yesterday, so I had to borrow her idea for my card today (thanks, Melanie)! They are all such pretty patterns and coordinating colors, I couldn’t decide which ONE to use, so I chose a sampling of a few of them! (The dark one is actually deep chocolate brown -- my camera is just making it look darker!). And best of all these papers are all printed IN HOUSE at StampTV/Gina’s store -- in Wisconsin, the good old USA! There are THREE new patterned paper packs this month -- you can find them all HERE. And new this month, Gina has put... Read more →

Gina K Designs January 2012 Release Inspiration Hop 2!

Welcome back to Gina K Designs’ January stamp set release inspiration blog hops! Remember, all of the new January release stamp sets are now available in Gina’s store! Our first stamp set being featured today is: Whimsical Spring by Theresa Momber: What a perfect set for Spring, with beautiful sentiments! I couldn’t help but make a background paper with this pretty branch of blooms! I started with a card base of Gina’s Vibrant Violet Pure Luxury cardstock and some of the new 2012 Copic colors matched with it perfectly! After stamping with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Gina’s White Heavy Base Weight Pure Luxury cardstock, the blooms were colored with the new V22 and V28, combined with V25 (and accented with Lavender Atyou Spica Glitter Pen). The leaves were colored with the new G43 and G46. The branches were colored with E23. Then I airbrushed the white background with E41, to give it a little warmth. Clear rhinestones, colored with V28 accent the centers of the flowers. I cut apart the sentiment so it would fit into one of my favorite Spellbinders Grommet Tag dies! It was stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa ink and then airbrushed with the lightest V22... Read more →

Gina K Designs January 2012 Release Inspiration Hop 1!

Welcome to the first of Gina K Designs’ January stamp set release inspiration blog hops! We hope you enjoyed the Release Party last night -- Remember, all of the new January release stamp sets are now available in Gina’s store! Our first stamp set being featured today is Stately Flowers 3 by Melanie Muenchinger: Be still, my heart -- being from the south, I ADORE all the magnolia trees we have down here! They are so large and well, stately(!) with gorgeous huge white blooms . . . I knew I had to use this beautiful flower for my project today! I decided to raid my stash of notecards and notebooks and found this set that needed some spiffing up . . . I loved the soft yellow stripes and thought they were a nice compliment to the white blooms. Don’t let coloring white flowers intimidate you -- just a little gray shading in a few spots is all you need to accentuate them: I stamped the magnolia blossoms with Memento London Fog (for a softer look than black) onto Gina’s Pure Luxury Heave Base Weight white cardstock and then used Copic T0, T1 and T2 on the blooms, E55... Read more →