Belle Papier {pretty paper}

Classic pearls. They’re beautiful and elegant and always in style. The other day while going through my stash I came across some Pearl Ex. Now there’s something I haven’t used in a LONG time. It got me thinking about a Ways to Use it Challenge and how many Pearl products there are on the market. Think of it. Pearl Ex, Perfect Pearls, Liquid Pearls, Pearl embellishments such as stickers and brads. There’s even a great mother of pearl stamping technique. I’m sure there are others as well. Can you think of any? Today, I’d love to see what you can come up with as my challenge to you is to find Ways to Use Pearls. Here’s the link to the challenge. Hope you can play along!

Forever Begins Now

I’ve been wanting to try out this new backgrounder (to be released tomorrow from Cornish Heritage Farms) and now seemed like the perfect time. It’s so elegant and perfect for so many things but I thought it would be wonderful  with Pearl Ex for a wedding card design. To create the shine, I simply stamped my Backgrounder in Versamark on my black cardstock. Then I brushed it lightly with Bronze Pearl Ex. I love the shimmer and it was so easy to do. If you’re wondering why the colors of the pearl ex look so differently in each picture…well…I’m not quite sure why. I guess the way the light was hitting. The top photo is actually the best representation of the pearl ex color IRL.

Quick Tip: Brush away excess pearl ex lightly with a brush and then a tissue. Do not smear ink! You can “fix” the Pearl Ex with a matte spray fixative.

Have fun with the challenge and happy stamping!

Julia

Supply List:

Stamps: Flowers and Lace Backgrounder by Cornish Heritage Farms, Wedding Centers (Mona Lisa Moments line) by Cornish Heritage Farms

Ink: Versamark by Tsukineko, Willow Adirondack by Ranger, Vintage Photo Distress ink by Ranger

Paper: Black, Spring Willow Light, Simply Smooth white cardstock by Prism

Other: pearl sticker by Making Memories, pearl Ex, Labels die by Spellbinders, lace by Making Memories, flower by Prima

A classic stamp set of snowflakes is always a must-have for those Christmas and Winter designs. I have two cards to share with you today featuring the Joyeux Noel Stamp set. Both designs feature super simple clear embossing for a couple different looks. One set + one product= two different looks. I LOVE that about stamping! I think I mentioned the other day that this set is the CHF product spotlight for the next two weeks. I hope you don’t mind another couple designs as I just can’t seem to put it down right now.

Christmas Magic

This design was super easy to do. Just stamp the notecard with the snowflakes in Versamark ink and emboss with Clear Embossing Powder. This will form a resist on the card front. To add color, simply brush with ink. I highlighted the two words Believe and Christmas in the ink colors as well.

Supply List:
Stamps: Joyeux Noel (Classic Collection) by Cornish Heritage Farms

Ink:
-Black Stazon ink by Tsukineko
-Aqua and Periwinkle Adirondack ink by Ranger

Other:
-Fabriano Mediovalis Notecard
-clear embossing powder by Ranger
-felt snowflake by Creative Impression
-rhinestone by MAMBI
-snowflake sequin by Queen and Co.

Joyeux Noel

This design uses the same snowflakes stamped in Versamark ink on the cardstock. The embossed snowflakes are subtle in a tone on tone look and make a really pretty “clean” look.

Supply List:

Stamps:
-Joyeux Noel (Classic Collection) by Cornish Heritage Farms

paper:
-Simply Smooth white & Frosted Teal cardstock by Prism

Ink:
-Aqua Adirondack ink by Ranger
-Tuxedo Black Memento ink by Tsukineko
-Versamark ink by Tsukineko

Other:
-ribbon lace by Prima
-dies by Spellbinders
-rhinestones by MAMBI
-Copic airbrush system
-Clear Embossing powder by Ranger

Take care and have a great day!

I have a quick and unique card to share with you today. Do you ever find embellishments in your stash that you’ve been hoarding? I’m trying to make a very conscientious effort to STOP hoarding! The item I really decided to stop hoarding in this project was the clear Making Memories adhesive frame. As you know… I LOVE clear so if one is good, wouldn’t two clear items be better???!! That being the case, I adhered my clear frame on the front of my Clear Card Sheet card base. I stamped the sentiment in Stazon right on top of the frame and wouldn’t you know it…if you turn an Inchie 45°, it is a perfect fit in the frame. Now that is one way to give that darling little butterfly some BIG presence.

The butterfly and sentiment are actually from a brand new unmounted Saturday Evening Post set called Vintage Butterflies. They are all gorgeous butterfly images that have been published in the Saturday Evening Post at some point or other. One of the things I really love about this set is how classic it is. Good art is timeless and there are a great variety of sizes to this set as well as sentiments making it so flexible!

A Delightful Day

Quick Tip: Stamp on top of pre-made embellishments to customize them. Think outside the box and off the paper.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Stamps:
Vintage Butterflies (Saturday Evening Post line) by Cornish Heritage Farms

Ink:
-Black Stazon by Tsukineko
-Tuxedo Black Memento Ink by Tsukineko
-Lettuce Adirondack ink by Ranger

Paper:
-Clear Card Sheet by Cornish Heritage Farms
-Eva 6×6 paper pad by Basic Grey
-flowers by Prima
-rhinestones by MAMBI
-markers by Copic
-inchie
-acrylic frame by Making Memories

Today’s design is a quick tree ornament I created over the weekend. It feels good to be starting to papercraft again. I’ve been limiting it to rather quick projects as the headaches continue but I’m hoping I’ll be back to my normal self by the end of the week. This design uses some Clear Card Sheets, my Thomas Kinkade Christmas Series paper and my Sakura Glue Pen to add some glitter. You may be wondering where the challenge is in all this as Mondays around here always bring a challenge. This week the challenge it to use Sakura Glue pens, Glitter Pens or Glaze pens in your design. I love how easy these Sakura pens are to work with!

We’d love to have you play along with our challenge! Details will be posted shortly in the CHF Forum. The CHF DT always has some great samples to share with you. For inspiration visit… Dawn, Carole, Kim & Michele

TK Simply Clear Ornament

This project is so easy to do. To create my ornament, I ran a piece of Clear Card Sheet through my Cuttlebug with a Spellbinders die. These Clear Sheets are MUCH stiffer than normal transparencies and will hold up well hung on the tree. To add some definition to the layer, I stamped it with my Aged Sheet Music Scrapblock™ in Black Stazon. Each Thomas Kinkade Christmas pack comes with smaller focal images and these are perfect for this project, I die cut them with the smallest die in the package…two for each ornament. Adhere one on each side of the ornament to finish it nicely and keep it looking great it if spins.

I love using my Sakura Glue Pen to add bits of glitter to highlight projects. It also works well for adding flocking or adhering small items…especially paper piecing. A little red velvet ribbon finishes off the design.

Quick Tip: Make cute gift tags with this project to hang on your packages.

Wishing you a great start to your week! Happy holiday crafting!

Supply List:
Stamps: Aged Sheet Music Scrapblock™ by Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink: Black Stazon by Tsukineko
Paper: Clear Card Sheet by Cornish Heritage FArms, Thomas Kinkade Christmas Series paper pack by Cornish Heritage Farms
Other:
-ribbon by May Arts
-Spellbinders dies
-glitter from Art Institute
-Sakura glue pen

I thought it would be a good time to finish up some Christmas cards before the real rush begins! I think my favorite holiday product this year has not been a stamp but instead…a paper pack. I keep coming back to this Thomas Kinkade Christmas Series paper pack time and time again. There are SO many images (along with coordinating paper) that  it really makes my holiday cards and projects a breeze. What I really love it that I keep coming up with new ideas and layouts and projects to use them on. For this design, I simply paired them up with my new Spellbinders die and I’m loving the look!

While we’re on the topic of Christmas, I also have a the winner of my  Spreading some Holiday Spirit Giveaway! Thanks so much to everyone who left comments! Your wonderful ideas are a great jumping off place for getting in the Christmas spirit! I’m definitely more in the Christmas mood today as we had a beautiful snowfall last night and my oldest son brought home some poinsettias from the store for me I used an on-line random number integer generator to pick #62  as my winner. Congratulations Janine! E-mail me with your address and I’ll get the package in the mail!

Peaceful Winter

Quick Tip: For a “negative mat” by simply cutting your larger patterned paper with a die that is two sizes larger than your image one.

Wishing you a peaceful Sunday!

Supply List:

Stamps:
Christmas Expressions (Mona Lisa Moments line) by Cornish Heritage Farms

Paper:
Thomas Kinkade Christmas Series paper pack by Cornish Heritage Farms
Kraft Cardstock by Prism

Ink:
Tuxedo Black Memento ink by Tsukineko
Brushed Corduroy Distress ink by Ranger

Other:
-Nestablilitiy dies by Spellbinders
-snowflake by Creative Impressions
-brad by Making Memories
-pin by Fancy Pants Designs
-sewing machine

How often do you try stamping on something other than paper? Now and then I like to break out of the mold and try something different. A while ago I was throwing out a pair of my son’s jeans and had a bit of inspiration. With very little sewing the wide-legged jean leg would make a super easy pillow cover for the holidays. Because of the prefinished sides and bottoms…I only had to sew ONE seam! I know it’s a far cry from the days when I did heirloom sewing but…life is busier now!!!

Thanks so much for all your well wishes regarding my surgery. It went well and yesterday I started feeling more like myself. I imagine it will take a couple weeks for the inside swelling to go down and see how successful it was at minimizing my sinus headaches.

To create this stamped holiday throw pillow, I inked up my snowflakes from the Joyeux Noel stamp set with White Colorbox Pigment ink from Clearsnap. The Joyeux Noel set is the Cornish Heritage Farms product spotlight for the next two weeks. That means a SALE! Actually this is one of my favorite sets for this season. The sentiments are gorgeous and thesnowflakes are perfect for all winter season long.

Quick Tip: Pigment or craft inks are the best inks for stamping on fabric. Heat set with an iron to ensure longevity.

Hope your Saturday is simply wonderful!

Supply List:

Stamps: Joyeux Noel (Classic Collection) by Cornish Heritage Farms

Ink: White Colorbox Pigment  ink by Clearsnap

Other: old jeans, buttons by Autumn Leaves, thread, sewing machine

If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, you’ll know I’d rather make a card with scraps than throw anything out. Seriously…I have issues!!! This is one of those cleaning up the floor designs. Actually I like this kind of designing as sometimes you think of things you normally wouldn’t! This design was worked around this scrap of Webster’s Pages paper I had…yes…on the floor. What you can’t tell is that while this paper was pretty…it was a little boring with just a line-art image on the reverse side of the paper.. To liven it up, I colored the entire image in with my copic markers.

Quick Tip: Try altering patterned paper using Copic Markers, glitter, glaze, flocking, fussy cutting…whatever you can think of!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Supply List:

Stamps:

Silhouette Blooms 1 by Cornish Heritage Farms (sentiment)

Spanish Script Backgrounder by Cornish Heritage Farms

Ink:

Antique Linen & Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink by Ranger

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink by Tsukineko

Paper
kraft cardstock by Prism Papers

Robin’s Nest Patterned paper by Webster’s pages

Other:

Flower, lace and velvet die cut by Prima Marketing

Ribbon and safety pin by Creative Impressions

Markers by Copic

Well…it’s really not that long until Christmas! Just six weeks to go and I thought it would be a great time to start getting into the holiday spirit. One of my favorite gifts to receive is some paper crafting goodies, especially red rubber! I thought you might enjoy some of the same. Here’s what’s in my goodie bag…

• one issue of Dec 2008 Paper Crafts magazine (full of lots of great holiday project ideas)
• TWO fun Christmas stamps: Suisse Tree & Suisse Wreath
•  THREE Cornish Heritage Farms Backgrounders: Reverse Dots, Fine Finials, End Block (perfect for stamping all year round)
• one package of 24 Shimmer Brads (to bling up your holidays)

So….how to win? Just comment on this blog post telling me what you do to get into the Christmas spirit! You have from now until Saturday 15th at midnight….. to comment for a chance to win. One comment per person please! I’ll be posting my winner on Sunday the 16th. Good luck!

If seems in my mind that Fall is all about harvest and cooking as well as enjoying cooler days. If you live near me…MUCH cooler! I’m actually thinking its now winter even though the calendar doesn’t say so until Dec 21st. This harvest table ensemble was designed for the latest special edition of Paper Crafts magazine…PC Gourmet. It’s full of great recipes and paper crafting projects and I was delighted to be asked to design four projects to go along with some of them. I thought I’d share this one as its perfect for this time of year. I know my American friends are still to celebrate their Thanksgiving and this project just may give you a few ideas. The little mini basket is tied with a tag and would be filled with garden bounty.

This project features a couple of Cornish Heritage Farms stamps… Kim Hughes’ Fall Silhouettes and the Burlap Backgrounder.

You can find copies of this magazine in your local craft or bookstore or on-line at CK Media.

Have a beautiful day!

I recently got my new Spellbinders dies and wow…I’m having fun with these new shapes. I love how I can use these Spellbinders dies in my Cuttlebug so that I didn’t have to purchase an entire new die-cutting system. I went for a warm and homey look for this design. Don’t you think pie always brings thoughts of warm cozy kitchens? Some stitching, homey lace, buttons and a vintage-style flower completes the look.

Just in case anyone is trying to get hold of me…I’m off for minor surgery this morning….a Septoplasty on my nose to hopefully cure the dreadful sinus headaches I constantly get. Depending on how I’m feeling…it may be a few days before I respond to any e-mails. I do have blog posts pre-published for the next few days though, so you’ll have lots to see if you visit.

Sweetie-Pie

To emboss Spellbinders dies,  you need the embossing mat.  Inside the packaging there are great “recipes” for”sandwiches” of plates to make these dies work in your machine. If you don’t have the mat, you can still emboss by hand using a stylus. My pie was super quick and simple to stamp and then color in with my Copic markers.

Quick Tip: To match the kraft color of the patterned paper to stamp my sentiment, I simply flipped over the kraft printed paper and used the plain reverse side.

Have a warm and wonderful day!

Supply List:

Stamps: The Birds and the Bees

Ink:
Antique Linen Distress ink by Ranger
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink by Tsukineko

Paper:
simply smooth white by Prism
patterned paper by Making Memories

Other:
markers by Copic
dies by Spellbinders
lace by Melissa Frances
flower by Prima
stapler
sewing machine
button by AUtumn leaves