Studio J: September Love Your Layout - Using Photos For a Background

Studio J is CTMH's digital scrapbooking solution.  There are so many fun techniques that can be used with it.  Every month the corporate office is sharing ideas for using Studio J to it's fullest potential.  By incorporating some of these tips into your own layouts, they become even more uniquely yours!

If you would like more information about using Studio J please visit here.
Thank you for stopping by today.
Beverly

Art Journal - Forgive Yourself

I bought this book a few years ago to begin my art journaling venture and finally made my first entry yesterday!  Apparently, I am a slow starter!  Up until yesterday, the journal that I have been working in - off and on - is a cloth one that I made out of denim.  The bigger bulkier stuff that I seem to be drawn to fits in the cloth book a bit better.  But this paper based one is easier for me to work in.

I wonder if it is easier to add stuff to a book that has so many pages because I don't feel the same pressure to get it 'right' as I am working.  If I hate it, I guess I could rip it out, right?  A fabric book seems more permanent.

Fastenator Staple on Right-Hand Side

There are a lot of things on this page that were recently found as I was reorganizing my craft area.  I completely forgot about the Fastenator that I "had to have" a few years ago... and woohoo, it finally got to staple something!

Modeling Paste Dragon Fly With Crafter's Workshop Stencil

If you are working on projects that open you up to a new vulnerability, please be kind to yourself.  This can be a difficult thing to do.  And maybe I said that because I am struggling with this a bit myself. ;-)

Thank you for visiting!
Beverly
Supplies:
Manila shipping tag, CTMH Dotty paper, Bo Bunny packaging, Rub-ons from CTMH and SU!, Chipboard letters from K & Company, transparency, Golden Acrylics paints, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Studio Calico Mister Huey's, JoAnn's acrylic craft paint, CTMH metallic markers, CTMH stamps and inks, PITT pens, ribbon

Pirouette Clean and Simple Card

CAS Black and White Standard Sized Card

 I love this stamp! In July I used this image on a shabby chic card and another somewhat rustic card.  Those posts are here and here.  The card posted today is almost on the opposite end of the card making spectrum! It is clean, simple and elegant.  It was also very, very easy to make.

CTMH Archival Ink on White Daisy Cardstock

Thank you for stopping by today!  I love visitors. :-)
Beverly

CTMH Supplies:
Pirouette Stamp
White Daisy and Black Cardstock
Archival Black Ink
Sparkles Black & Grey Assortment

Embossed Two- Step Stamping

Happy Monday!  Thank you for visiting.  Today I have a short video about two-step stamping. In it I explain what two step stamping is and how to do it using the So Grateful (B1395) stamp set from CTMH.  This technique can be used with many different stamps.  Take a look at your collection and see what you can create from your stash.

The other supplies used in the video and on the card are all from CTMH.
Exclusive Inks: Sunset, Autumn Terracotta, Olive, Desert Sand
Exclusive Ink Mini-Pigment: Black
Versamark Ink
Clear Embossing Powder
Cardstock: Colonial White, Olive, Autumn Terracotta
Sunset Baker's Twine
Foam Tape

Have a super day!
Beverly

Art Journal Entry - Working Through "Stuff"

White Denim Base With Gesso

 Last weekend, my family went to California to pay our last respects to my 56 year old cousin and share in her family's grief. Eight years ago she found out that she had cancer. During that time she celebrated many wonderful things.  She re-married, became a grandmother, witnessed one of her children graduating college and one graduating high school. She laughed and told jokes as she always had.

Tulle Wings and Ribbon Scarf

 I am not sure that her faith deepened so much as it was cemented even more firmly in her soul.  Her church family continued to grow.  The lives that she touched continued to feel her generosity.

Faber Castell Pitt Pen and HP Printed Text

 When I came home, I knew that I needed to process some of what I was feeling about this remarkable woman.  The part that kept coming back to me, more strongly than any other, was her indomitable faith.  Debbi was a very happy person who brought good humor and positive energy to any occasion. It was odd to be at a memorial service for someone who was so Full of Life.  It seemed surreal.

The Last Line From the Lord's Prayer

 This page is of a woman facing away from us.  Maybe looking into the light of what is to come.  She is wearing a scarf, with no hair underneath.  She sort of has wings.   Her denim skirt is simple and worn. The crocheted "belt" was made by my 7-year old daughter.  As was her paper shirt under the tulle wings.

Homemade Fabric Art Journal - Work In Progress

I was unable to work on anything else this week until I completed this page.  At least completed to this point.  Possibly more things will be added later, but it feels finished to me now.  The book is a work in progress and  I do not really know what direction it will take.

Thank you for visiting today.  Wishing you all the best!
Beverly

CTMH Alcohol-Based Markers

Ribbon and Background Mat Colored With CTMH Ruby Set of  Markers

Recently, Close to My Heart changed their marker formula from dye-based to alcohol-based inks.  The new markers are sold in sets of twos, with one lighter and one darker. For this card, I used the new Ruby color. 

Self-Adhesive Pearls Colored With Markers

With the new markers, I colored the glossy cardstock background mat, the Opaque pearl adhesive gems, and the seam binding ribbon.  It was a very fast coloring/drying time and I love how well coordinated everything looks.

Thank you for visiting!
Beverly

Frosted Designs Office Supplies Challenge

Reminder Board For Child

Office supply stores are one of my favorite places to visit; on the list just under bookstores.  Back-to-School-Time is also one of my favorites because all of the school supplies are on sale.  I think a lot of paper-crafters share similar feelings.  Which brings me to the challenge from Frosted Designs this week: Office Supplies. Whoo hoo!  I love it!

Three Pieces of Cardboard Packaging To Be Glued Together For Base

For the challenge, I knew I wanted to use shipping tags and binder clips.  I also knew that I was becoming weary of reminding my dd every single day to do some simple things.  It seemed a Reminder Chart was in order.  

The greatest thing about this project is that I used things on hand and things that would normally have been thrown into the recycling bin.

Cricut Art Philosophy Negative Cut Sheet 

After painting the cardboard base with acrylic paint, I adhered a piece of cardstock that was a leftover from a Cricut heart-cutting project that had been misted with pearl paint and water.

Binder Clips To Be Covered With Washi and Tissue Tape

On each side of the chart there are cute tape covered binder clips to hold the decorated shipping tags with the various reminders printed on them.  

Painted Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Shipping Tag

The tags are regular manilla painted with Tattered Angels Tutti Fruiti Glimmer Mist.  After they dried I ran them through the printer and added washi/tissue tape to both ends.

Close-Up of Painted Chipboard Letters With Liquid Pearls

My seven year old is the princess of re-purposing. She noticed that the double-sided tape dispenser was empty and that some of the washi tape was the same size as the used-up tape.  She suggested that I re-use the dispenser.  What a great idea! See it pictured below.

Reusing Tape Dispenser For Washi Tape

The last addition to the board was ribbon.  The one used for hanging came from a gift and the other little ones are from my stash.

Bow Tucked Through Binder Clip

She has had this in her room for a couple of days and it has helped a little bit.  Now instead of asking her if she did each of the individual things, I ask her if she did the things on the board.  It is progress!  Once these items are habits, we can change the tags to new things.

Hanging In DD's Room

This is my last Frosted Designs Challenge as a Design Team member.  When the card challenges ceased, I opted to remain for my term as a Friday team member.  I love the women who are part of Frosted Designs.  They are talented, kind and very sharing.  I will miss being a part of this amazing group, but am excited to continue working on other projects.  Speaking of which, if you get a chance, please visit Faithbooking For All for this week's Faithbooking Friday post.

Thank you for visiting! Have an amazing weekend!
Beverly

Background Techniques - Washi and Tissue Tape

Washi Tape on Shipping Tag

Washi tape is so much fun to use.  It is somewhat transparent and re-stickable.  On the tag above you can see the manila color of the shipping tag.  Below is a picture of the two different colors of cardstock that the Tim Holtz Tissue Tape was placed on for the card background (which is pictured at the bottom of the post.)

 

Cardstock Colors Before Tissue Tape Was Adhered

The tissue tape is 1/2" wide.  This was the perfect size for a standard size card.  When it was done, I decided that it would be nice to see the light pink of the card base, so I cut the tissue tape background to a 4" x 5 1/4" rectangle.

Tissue Tape Strips On Alternating Colors of Cardstock

Tissue Tape Background for Standard Sized Card

The CTMH stamped images were stamped with CTMH Black Archival ink.

Thank you for stopping by!

Beverly

Background Technique - Crimp or Corrugate

Crimped Shipping Tag

There are hundreds of background techniques for papercrafters to choose from when working on any given project.  I am revisiting a bunch of them over the next couple of weeks. Also, I am starting a new page on my blog that is specifically for background techniques.  This way the techniques will be listed with commonly used names. I hope it is easy to locate the one for which someone may be looking. And maybe it will help those who are looking for something new or different to try. It should be ready by the end of the week.

 This card was made by using a Fiskars crimper horizontally on a piece of kraft cardstock and a piece of Ruby cardstock running diagonally.  The base is also CTMH kraft cardstock.

CTMH Cashmere Pigment Ink and Clear Embossing Powder

I layered the embossed sentiment over a piece of burlap ribbon and Ruby cs.  The edges of all pieces were either edge or ink distressed.

Thank you so much for visiting today.  Please stop back tomorrow when the background technique is all about using washi and tissue tape.

Beverly

Polished Stone Technique - CTMH Inks

CTMH Thanks Stamped with CTMH Black Archival Ink

 Background Technique Week continues with a third variation of the Polished Stone Technique.  Here is a video recap of the different materials and a quick demonstration of the technique using cotton balls and CTMH reinkers:

The reason why glossy paper works well for this technique is that the liquid needs to stay on top of the paper for as long as possible so that it can be moved around.  Some applicators work better than others for dispersing the ink and blending solutions. One of my favorites is cotton balls because they hold the liquid well and are inexpensive.  You can also try sponges, rags, q-tips and see what works best for you.  With the other applicators you may get a different look than polished stone, but it can still be pretty spectacular in appearance.

Polished Stone Technique with CTMH Juniper, Sky and Lagoon Reinkers

I tried using the silver metallic marker from CTMH on the piece above and discovered that the ink would not blend.  Good to know that it is a great medium for a permanent application.

Hambly Studios Washi Tape Toned Down the Intensity of the Pink Cardstock

The last picture is to show that the washi tape really changed the tone of the front.  The pink of the cardstock  is very bright.  Depending on the recipient, it may need a neutral mat added to the inside for the message and signature.