Q & A - Part II

This one is not a reader question, since no one actually asked, but I wanted to address it anyway ... Where was I during Verve's October release?

My dear blog friends, were you too polite to ask or did you not notice my absence {sniff, sniff}? Earlier this Fall, I actually resigned from my spot on the Verve design team. I know, WHAT was I thinking??!! Fortunately, my loss of all reason was temporary ;) I soon emailed Julee asking to "un-quit." She graciously said welcome back (thank you, Julee!), and now I'm thrilled to be participating in the current "Home for the Holidays" Project Parade (my day to post is tomorrow) as well as getting samples ready for Friday's release! I {heart} Verve!!

By the way, details on Verve's Friday release festivities are posted on the righthand sidebar of the Verve blog. Hope you can join us for a day of challenges, giveaways and a blog hop nightcap! If you're a Black Friday shopper, no problem, just remember to carry your iPhone or other Internet-friendly phone of choice and a few stamping supplies with you. You should have plenty of time to whip up a few challenge cards while circling the parking lots (always take a designated driver along with you) and waiting in checkout lines. Just kidding ... you can still participate because challenge entries are not due until Monday. Unless, of course, you're still standing in the checkout line come Monday.... I can't help you with that ;)

(Can you tell you won't find me anywhere near a retail establishment on Friday?)


Thanks for popping in!

Q & A - Part I

I've been sooooo bad lately about answering questions, so I thought I'd attempt some catch-up today. Hopefully there'll be something useful here!

Regarding THIS CARD ... HOW do you get such nice fluffy bow with the tails going one up and one down?!

I'd been thinking perhaps a tutorial was in order and then I saw Joanne's awesome buttony bow tutorial. That is almost exactly how I do my bows. I mean it's so nearly identical it was almost freaky to watch -lol! Just like Joanne, I basically tie a shoe bow, then manipulate the loops and tails until they look good. Please, please, please check out her video - it's incredible! I love the casual, informal look of this style of bow ... in addition to Joanne, some of my favorite sources of inspiration for this style of bow are Betsy Veldman, Melissa Phillips, and Beatriz Jennings. For super formal, drop-dead gorgeous tailored bows, I love seeing what Becca Feeken, Sharon Johnson, and Jerri Jimenez are up to.



Regarding THIS CARD ... Can you advise us how you embossed with the Spellbinders without cutting through the paper?

To emboss only, lay the Spellbinders die cut side up on the plate of whatever machine you're using. Lay the paper on top, followed by the Spellbinders tan embossing mat. Create whatever sandwich needed for your particular machine. I can tell you the Cuttlebug sandwich, since that's what I use: A plate, B plate, die (again, cut side up), paper, tan embossing mat, 3-4 scrap sheets of 60-pound card stock, second B plate.


Your cuts are so precise. I would love to know what paper cutter you use.

I use an older version of THIS rotary Fiskars, which I bought for around $30 at Costco a few years ago. It's a full 12x12. I don't love it, but it's adequate. Replacement blades are around $5, I think. And there's also a four-sided replaceable black strip that the blade cuts into. I'm really bad for letting my blades get too dull before replacing, so when I get frayed edges, I will sometimes take a sanding block and quickly sand the edges. Either that or I'll distress the edges even more with a distressing tool. (I know, wouldn't it be quicker to just replace the blade? LOL) If I start doing a bunch of distressed cards all in a row, now you'll know the ugly truth - my blade is dull {grin}.



I just recently got those spellbinders tags [Fancy Tags] and I have a heck of a time getting them out of the die with out them ripping...any tips?

Yes, tricky little things, aren't they?? I've had a little trouble, too. I use a paper piercing tool (but something a little more dull would be better) to gently work the more intricate parts out of the die. From the non-cutting side of the die, I gently push the piercer point in between the die and the cardstock and then work it loose. I've found that the heavier the cardstock, the easier it is to get it out without tearing, wrinkling, or scratching up the paper. Good luck, and if anyone has any other suggestions, do share :)

[ETA: From Beth Pingry (Spellbinders DT member) ... to get the intricate Spellbinders die cuts out of the dies, you can cut/emboss with wax paper between the paper and the die. Makes it easy peasy to remove. Then you can make wax resists with the wax paper die cuts! Check out the Spellbinders blog for details. Thank you so much, Beth! Can't wait to try that!]



Regarding the new I-TOP tool by Imaginisce ... I am not sure about buying all the tools in order to make it work - seems pricey. Do you need all of them? Do you need the punch, templates and setter tool?

Some quick background for those new to the tool, here's basically how it works: You cut a notched circle of paper, wrap it around a domed brad top, tuck the ends up into the underside of the domed top and then secure a brad bottom (i.e., the part with the two prongs), which holds the wrapped paper in place. To make the process as quick and easy as possible, Imaginisce has punches for cutting the notched circles, tracing templates for the notched circles if you want to cut instead of punch, the squeeze tool for putting everything together, and of course the brad kits, which include the domed tops and the corresponding bottoms.

So, do you need ALL those tools and components? Well, You can definitely make your own notched circles without using either the templates or the punches. I like having the tracing templates so I know how big to make my paper covers, and I do have to say the punches would be nice and fast, but yes, you can do without either of those. You definitely DO need the brad pieces, of course. As for the squeeze tool, I tried making the brads without it, and got mixed results. The medium-size brads that I made manually were passable, but the small ones were just too small for me to manipulate successfully. I couldn't get the notched circle wrapped around the brad top tightly enough to be able to push the brad bottom up in there. If you're on the fence about the tool, try picking up some brad kits only and give it a shot. If you have trouble getting the paper wrapped tightly, you can get the squeeze tool. And, of course, if you end up making a lot of custom brads, chances are you'll want the squeeze tool and the other "convenience" tools, like the tracing templates or punches.



Would you share your secrets for taking such beautiful photos of your artwork? In all of my photos, the artwork looks so flat. Even if it has layers.

Over the summer, I posted a tutorial in the My Favorite Things forum on how to photograph your artwork using natural light and no fancy equipment and how to edit your photograph using basic photo editing software. It's in the "How'd They Do That" section. Here's a direct link:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=448961


Tammy left a comment on last year's anniversary card, which I just posted this year ... What did you come up with for hubby this year ;-)?

Betcha wondered if I got around to his card at all? As luck would have it, I was looking through my stash of cards for a different occasion and ran across this card [link fixed] that I made over the summer and forgot about. Perfect!


Thanks for tuning in ... part II coming in a bit!

Snowflakes

I had a chance earlier this week to break out my favorite set from Verve's October release - Christmas in the Air. This is such a great set with a variety of images and some fantastic sentiments! Check out these snowflakes - each point is a mini tree - how cool is that?

For my layout, I worked with Jen's new Sketch For You To Try for ths week. It's a fun one, with lots of possibilities - hope you'll give it a try! For inspiration, check out the SFYTT crew:

Jen del Muro, with guest designer Amy White
Amy Rohl
Kelly Lunceford
Leigh O'Brien
Susan Liles

To play, link up your project to Jen's blog and remember to use keyword SFYTT in the online galleries so we can find each other more easily.

In other Verve news, have you been following along with the current Home for the Holidays Project Parade on the Verve blog? Some amazing ideas have been shared so far, and there are still a few more days left. Then, on Friday, there's a new release! Since it's the day after Thanksgiving, we'll be doing things differently. Stay tuned to the blog and forum as details unfold.




Stamps: Christmas in the Air (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Papertrey Kraft, Black, and Vintage Cream, Melissa Frances dp
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copic markers (B91, B93, B95), Sakura quickie glue pen, clear glitter, Spellbinders classic circle nestabilities and fancy scalloped border piercabilities, paper piercer, Offray ribbon, Kaiser black pearls, Scor-Pal

Noel Faith

Happy Friday! Today I have a Sarah Kay image to share with you - Noel Faith. Isn't she a sweet one? The Sarah Kay stamps are always so much fun to color. Don't let the detail on the artwork intimidate you - it actually makes the coloring easier because a lot of the shadowing and highlighting are already there for you. I used Copics for most of my coloring, then then went back in and touched up with Prismacolor pencils. I first envisioned this image in soft pinks, so I don't know for sure how I got from there to here {grin}, except that these gorgeous papers from Graphic 45 were calling my name. Love the vintage look, and they seemed to fit the image so perfectly. I did a lot of sponging with my Ranger Distress inks and added in a lot of stitching to enhance the old-fashioned charm of the image. The lace trim mimics the ruffle along the bottom of the skirt, and buttons are placed at each scallop point for added interest.



Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful weekend! I'll see you tomorrow with my sample for a brand-new Sketch For You To Try. Until then, toodle-oo!



Stamps: Noel Faith (Sarah Kay from Stampavie)
Paper: Prismatics Brown Suede Dark card stock, Prismatics Simply Smooth Ivory, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Graphic 45 dp
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Antique Linen Distress, Ranger Vintage Photo Distress
Accessories: Copic markers, Prismacolor pencils, Gamsol, and blending stumps, petite oval Nesties, foam adhesive, lace trim, PTI buttons, May Arts ivory burlap string, sewing machine, paper piercer, Offray ivory satin ribbon
Size: 5 1/2 x 6 (a very odd size, indeed)

Honey Do Corkboard

Welcome to the My Favorite Things "Who's That Girl" Hop & Shop. If you've arrived here from Kim's blog, you're in the right place. If not, then jump right in! To catch up, you only have to go back one space, to Kim.

We're excited to announce the return of the popular VIP Bundle! Once again, MFT fans have the chance to get the newest "Who's That Girl" stamp set, plus an assortment of other new products, before they are released. And not just a week early like it used to be. Now it's a whole two weeks early! But remember, the VIP Bundle is available for ONE DAY ONLY (November 18) and quantities are limited.

What are we playing with this month? Maid For WTG? Such a fun set - and perfect for a honey do list project.



Do you have a honey do list for a guy in your life? I sure do! I love this Urban Dictionary example: "Nah, dude. I can't. I've got a honey do list long enough to keep me home for the whole summer and into deer hunting season." I guess mine isn't long enough, because it's all about deer season around here right now!

I started out with an 8x10-inch framed corkboard from my stash of alterables. It looks like something that might have come from the Target $1 spot, but I don't remember for sure. I did the honey do title in chipboard letters, then added a fun twist by surrounding the word "do" with the sentiment "Real men do housework." (By the way, the sentiments in this set are the BEST!) Along the bottom, I added the stamped image and a designer paper and ribbon border. For the image, I paper pieced the chair, popping up the arm for dimension, and the rest is colored with Prismacolor pencils and Copic markers.



That's it for me! I now have the pleasure of sending you over to the mega-talented Barbara Anders! While you're working your way through the hop, I think I'll add some more things to my honey do list and then give this corkboard a special place of prominence somewhere in my home. For after deer season ... of course ;)

Thanks for visiting!

Birthday Girl

Shame on me! My darling little {new} 6-year-old ever so sweetly and gently reminded me that I hadn't yet made her birthday card, as I had promised way back at the beginning of the month. It's just like the cobbler's kids having no shoes :)

My Balloon from the new Pure Innocence line by My Favorite Things was perfect for her card. (No surprise, those darling Pure Innocence images have sold like hotcakes. Two are still in stock, including this one, and those that are out of stock will be back soon!) I stamped in Versafine Onyx Black, clear embossed, and colored with Copic markers. I stamped the image a second time, and popped up part of it to add some dimension. Okay, who am I kidding? I stamped the second image because I needed a do-over on her face, but I didn't want to color the whole thing again and sponge the background again :) While I was attaching the popped up layer, I thought it would be cute to add a little hand-drawn ruffle at the bottom. The layout is this week's Sketch For You To Try.




Stamps: Pure Innocence - My Balloon (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Papertrey Vintage Cream, Stampin' Up Dusty Durango, My Mind's Eye Be-Loved dp
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, SU Sage Shadow
Accessories: Copic markers, clear glitter, SU ribbon, Papertrey button, May Arts ivory burlap string, dimensionals, EK Success border punch

SFYTT - Your Next Stamp!

I'm quite late with my sample for this week's Sketch For You To Try, but here it is finally! This week, some of the SFYTT sisters have showcased images from a new stamp company called Your Next Stamp. How clever is that name?? Learn more about how the company got started HERE, and check out all their cute images HERE. It's hard to find a snowman I don't love, but even so, some sure are cuter than others, and this one definitely goes in the cuter category :)




The snowman is just one of several images and sentiments in YNS's Christmas Digital Package. I printed him onto Papertrey's white card stock with my HP inkjet printer and colored with Copic markers. I thought the sketch lent itself well to a more clean look, so I kept the extras to a minimum: Polar White Flower Soft for the ground and the top of the hat, clear glitter along the outer edges of the snowman's face and body, and some clear crystals in the centers of the snowflakes. I included the sentiment (also from the Christmas Digital Package) on the inside. It's hard to see in the photo, but there are two scored lines along the bottom, just above the punched wavy border.



If you haven't already, I hope you'll take a moment to check out everyone else's creations:

Jen del Muro (with the sketch, her sample and guest designer Amy's sample)
Amy Rohl
Kelly Lunceford
Leigh O'Brien
Susan Liles

... and then play along. Just upload to Jen's post and remember to use keyword: SFYTT in online galleries.

Thanks for popping in today!



Stamps: Christmas Digital Package (Your Next Stamp)
Paper: Papertrey White and Hibiscus Burst card stock, Cosmo Cricket Jolly By Golly dp
Ink: printer ink, SU Soft Sky (sponged around image)
Accessories: Copic markers, clear crystals, Polar White Flower Soft, Sakura quickie glue pen, clear glitter, button from stash, Martha Stewart snowflake punch, Frosted Lace Stickles, SU Crushed Curry ribbon, EK Success dotted wavy border punch, dimensionals, Spellbinders rectangle Nestabilities