Distinctive Touches

Sizzix Fresh Vintage Blog Hop: ScoreBoard Butterfly!

Welcome... to the second week of the Sizzix Fresh Vintage Blog Hop!

Every Tuesday and Thursday between September 27-November 3, 2011 there will be a new Sizzix Fresh Vintage die featured on 6-10 of the 75 participating designers' blogs.

I'm participating this week and I'm super excited to share my project because it uses a super cute (and very versatile) die - the Score Board Butterfly by Eileen Hull!

I knew right away what I wanted to try with these adorable little butterflies... so I got right to work on this pretty little wall hanging.

Here's what I did:

Step 1 -Apply fusible webbing onto the bottom half of a 6x8 inch and a 4x6 inch canvas and prime with gesso. (let dry completely)

Step 2 - Mask off squared areas and airbrush a variety of different colors onto the surface.  Make sure to use darker shades and apply a nice thick layer of color. 

Step 3 - Drip colorless blender solution (or a light color ink) from the refill bottle onto the surface. 

Step 4 - Quickly blow the pooling and blending ink around with compressed air (using the ABS with my compressor here...)

Step 5 - Repeat steps 3 and 4 as necessary.  Let dry completely.  Each canvas will be unique.

Step 6 - Cut out 3 or 4 butterflies from ScoreBoard.  Apply a thin coat of glass gel bead medium over each cut out. 

Step 7 - Airbrush the butterflies while medium is still wet. 

Step 8 - Heat with a heat tool.  This will "boil" the acrylic medium creating bubbles of texture and will consolidate the color.  It also will "warp" the ScoreBoard a bit giving nice dimension to the cut outs. 

Step 9 - Paint or stamp a sentiment or quote on the dried canvas.

Step 10 - Adhere smaller canvas to larger canvas and attach butterfly shapes.   Paint dotted trail.

 

 I was so excited about how these butterflies were turning out I started thinking about other projects I could do with them...  I just loved the glittery, bubbly, colorful dimension I was able to create with them... so I'm thinking... magnets, pins, hair clips, neckalaces, gift tags with bows... the possibilities are endless!

Thank you SO much for stopping by... you can check out what the other designers did with the ScoreBoard Butterfly Die by clicking the Hop Forward or Hop Backward links in the button below. 

 
Sizzix Fresh Vintage
[ Hop back ][ Hop forward ]

 

FAQ about the Fresh Vintage Blog Hop:
How do I hop around to see ideas using the current featured die?

Every Tuesday and Thursday between September 27-November 3, 2011 there will be a new Sizzix Fresh Vintage die featured on 6-10 of the 75 participating designers' blogs. The navigation buttons for "Hop Back" and "Hop Forward" will allow you to easily hop around and see projects featuring whatever the current die is, since those buttons are programmed to navigate only to the blogs that are participating for that die. On the next Tuesday/Thursday, the buttons will automatically reprogram themselves to navigate to the blogs that are signed up for the next featured die.

What if I start at a designer's blog that isn't one of the 6-10 signed up for that die?

No problem! Simply hit either the "Hop Forward" or "Hop Back" button on the Fresh Vintage navigation widget from any blog's sidebar and you'll automatically advance to one of the participating blogs.

Can I go back and view the ideas for a previously featured die?

Of course! Go to the "Blog Hops" link at the top of the page. It will bring up all of the blog posts where you'll find direct links to each participating blog along with a thumbnail image of the project.

Where can I buy the Sizzix Fresh Vintage dies, by Eileen Hull?

You can visit Sizzix.com to find a local and online retailers for Sizzix products. Also be sure to visit Oh My Crafts, one of this blog hop's sponsors, (between the dates of September 27-November 3, 2011) and enter for a chance to win a Flower Layers #9 die!

The Blog Hop has ended and the navigation widget is no longer in the sidebar. How can I see the ideas?

Go to the "Blog Hops" link at the top of the page. It will bring up blog posts where you'll find direct links to each participating blog along with a thumbnail image of the project.

Sizzix Triple Play Blog Hop Week 7: Valentine Tag Topper

I can't believe that this is the last week of our Triple Play Hop! The past 7 weeks have been a blast... encouraging me to be creative and put together projects that are a bit "outside" my own crafty box... I've loved every minute of it!

 
This week we worked with the XL Die - Treat Bag Toppers by Eileen Hull.  There are three separate "toppers" along with a variety of other shapes to work with.  Of course, each one makes a GREAT little topper for a treat bag... but I saw something different for this die! 

Tag Toppers!!!  LOL

I used the smallest "topper" to create the topper for this Valentine's Day tag.  (It's hard to see under that bow... but it's there!) 

I also used some of the shapes that were included and paired them up with Verve's new set Text Objects and a light pink tag. Using Ranger's Adirondack Red Pepper ink, I stamped some words across the bottom of the tag and then stamped a large sentiment on the fancy die cut shape.  I also stamped various words on the two heart cut outs.  I lined around the edges of each die cut piece with a Copic R32 marker.  I lined the edge of the tag with self-adhesive pearl strips by Kaiser Craft and then assembled the tag using X-Press It Doubled Sided tape to adhere the elements.  I finished it up with a silver satin bow.  I can't wait to wrap up some love this Valentine's Day!

Supply List
656774 Treat Bag Toppers by Eileen Hull
Bazzill Basics Paper -Tutu Pink
Ranger Adirondack Red Peper Ink
Verve Stamps - Text Objects
Copic marker R32
X-Press It Double Sided Tape
Kaiser Craft pearls
Silver satin ribbon

You can check out more "Treat Bag Topper" inspiration by going directly to the Sizzix Blog or pop over to the next blog on our hop by clicking on the Triple Play Navigation Button below.

[ back ] [ Sizzix ] [ forward ]

 

Thank you so much for following along and checking out the Triple Play Blog Hop as we shared 7 weeks of inspiration! Please visit www.tripleplay.typepad.com for more fun ideas from Brenda Pinnick, Karen Burniston, Eileen Hull and friends. If you have enjoyed seeing all of the inspiring ideas on the blog hop, please "like" Triple Play on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Triple-Play/125068950891362.

Happy Holidays!"

Sizzix Triple Play Blog Hop Week 4: Flower Frame

To my readers in the United States, I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!  Enjoy your family, friends and turkey!  LOL

And welcome to Week 4 of our Sizzix Triple Play Blog Hop!  Have you been following along and hopping around to see the amazing projects?  It's so cool to see all of the neat artwork by the participating designers. 

This week we are showcasing Eileen Hull's Frame and Frame Back with Stand die.  There are SO many ways of using this die... I can't wait to see what everyone did with all of the pieces! 

 

Me... I went traditional.  I stamped silhouetted flowers onto a piece of white card and added a sentiment.  I layered the back of the frame in bright pink patterned paper which I then distressed a bit with purple paint.  For the frame and flowers, I wanted a bit of texture, so I slathered them with texture paste.  Once that dried, I painted them up with acrylic paints.  I attached everything to the frame with E600 for a nice hold.  My frame doesn't flip up, I actually used the hinge as a design element instead since I wanted a stationary piece.  The stand on the back holds it all up at just the right angle. 

 

Supply List

656835Sizzix® ScoreBoardsTM ProDie-Frame&FrameBackw/StandbyEileenHull
Hero Arts Sillhoute flowers stamp
Gina K. Designs sentiment stamp
Memento Tuxedo Black Dye Ink
Bo Bunny Press Love Shack patterned paper
Golden texture paste
Golden acrylic paint
E6000

 

You can check out more "framed" inspiration by going directly to the Sizzix Blog or pop over to the next blog on our hop by clicking on the Triple Play Navigation Button below.

[ back ] [ Sizzix ] [ forward ]

 

Sizzix Triple Play Blog Hop Week 3: Live in the Sunshine!

The sun...  I love it, I cherish it, I adore it!   I'm one of those human beings who NEEDS the sun. 

It makes me happy... it fills me with energy... it gives me joy. 

I wanted to re-create that need and that feeling in a piece of art... and here's what happened. 

Joy....

Energy....

Warmth...

I used Brenda Pinnick's die Beauty Bloom to create this fiery flower.  I WISH you could see it in real life... it's totally 3-D and the petals curl out... just like they were reaching for the sun. 

I started with a blank stretched canvas, attached some fusible webbing to the bottom for texture, coated parts of it with gel medium for gloss, and then got out my Copic ink refills!  I started by dripping some Y02 and Y08 on the canvas.  As that dried, I spritzed it with rubbing alcohol and then dripped some RV14 onto it.  I sponged the colors together a bit too.  I attached the vellum statement "Live in the Sunshine" and then doodled some stems and leaves with the YG17 marker. 

I made the flower by spraying white cardstock (cut with the die) with rubbing alcohol to saturate.  I then dripped and drizzled R81/R83 and R85 onto the paper.  As it dried, I curled each petal around a pencil.  I traced the edges with R29 and layered each piece together.  The button was colored with Y08 and tied with twine.

As small way to bring the sunshine into my craft room during the dark winter hours. 

 

Supply list:

Flower, Beauty Bloom, Originals Die #655455 by Brenda Felt –
Stretched canvas
Copic Inks and Markers, Imagination International Inc.
Button, American Crafts
Vellum Quote, DCWV

 

You can check out more Beauty Bloom inspiration by going directly to the Sizzix Blog or pop over to the next blog on our hop by clicking on the Triple Play Navigation Button below.

[ back ] [ Sizzix ] [ forward ]

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Sizzix Triple Play Blog Hop Week 2: Portable Zen Garden

 
Fall seems to be extra busy this year with deadlines, meetings, projects, and traveling.  I was finding it hard to find the time to just relax and do something creative... just for fun. 

This week's project was the perfect opportunity! 

I recently got interested in Zentangles... a form of doodling that is supposed to be calming and centering and I decided that this week's die - the pop up 3-D twist cube by Karen Burniston was the perfect project to Zentangle.

Not only did I get to spend some time "in the zone" doodling away to create the cube, but since it is collapsible, I also get the added bonus of being able to fold it up and take it with me... making it the perfect portable Zen garden! 

Supply list:

656739 Sizzix Bigz XL Die - Cube, Twist 3-D (Pop Up) by Karen Burniston
Multiliner Pigment Pen - Imagination International Inc. (Copic)
White Cardstock - X-Press It Blending Card
Black Cardstock – Die Cuts with a View

 

You can check out more Twist Cube inpsiration by going directly to the Sizzix Blog or pop over to the next blog on our hop by clicking on the Triple Play Navigation Button below.

[ back ] [ Sizzix ] [ forward ]

Sizzix Triple Play Blog Hop Week 1: Vacation Home

Welcome to the first week of the Sizzix Triple Play Blog Hop!  Each Thursday for the next 7 weeks over 60 designers will be sharing their crafty creations.  I'm honored to have been asked to join this amazing group.  We've got it all... paper crafters, scrapbookers, fabric artists, painters, decorators... all joining in to inspire you!

I know you've got a lot of hopping to do, so I'll keep my dialogue short. 

We were challenged to use the 3D House this week and while the winter holidays are fast approaching, I decided to create my very own tropical vacation home.  Complete with palm trees and sunshine!

Front of The House

 

Side #1

 

Fence with Tree

 

Front Door

 

Roofing

 

Bricks

 

Product and Supply List:

#65279; Sizzix Scoreboards Pro Die - House, 3D, by Eileen Hull

Sizzix 12x12 matboard, white

Sizzix Big Shot Pro die cutting machine

Sizzix eclips electronic cutting machine

Starter and Rockin' Jane eclips cartridge (sun)

Seasonal eclips cartridge (trees)

Copic Markers:

    house - E08/E15 airbrushed, Colorless Blender chisel tip for bricks

    roof/fence - W3/W5 airbrushed

    trees/bushes - E13/E18/YG21/YG23/G40

    sun - Y13/Y35

SEI patterned paper (Happy Day)

X-Press It Double Sided Tape

Small brad

 ____________________________________________________

You can check out more 3D House inpsiration by going directly to the Sizzix Blog HERE or pop over to the next blog on our hop by clicking on the Triple Play Navigation Button at the top of my right-hand sidebar.

Thanks for stopping in! 

My Crafty Canvas!

A quick THANK YOU to all of the wonderful participants of my Copic Certification class yesterday in Morrow, GA.  I had a BLAST and it was thrilling to see you all get as excited about Copic Markers as I get!

If you are interested in attending one of my upcoming certification classes, you can check out my schedule HERE.  

Today I want to share a special project with you.  (If you were in my class yesterday, you were lucky enough to get to see it in person!)

I will be teaching a Copic Canvas Memory class at an upcoming trade show in September.  (If you are a manufacturer or a store owner and are interested in taking the class... check out the details HERE.) 

This is the project that we will be creating... 

I am so totally in "love" with it!!! 

I'm typically not a scrapper, but I have been playing around a lot with some new products and tools and I'm having a blast doing more altered/decor work. 

This project shows how to use Copic products in conjunction to some other amazing products on the market.  The base is actually a 10x10 stretched canvas from Canvas Corp.  They have a ton of different sizes to work with and they offer other fun surfaces too!  

I wanted to "make" as many of my embellishments as possible, so I turned to my new eclips by Sizzix and printed out "LOVE" (from the Starter and Rockin' Jane cartridge).  I have to tell you... it's the coolest tool I own!  It's super easy to use (trust me... I'm electronically challenged and even I can work it with ease LOL).  Just plug it in, turn it on, insert the cartridge, pick which image (check the screen or the handy-dandy booklet), set the size and number, add it to the que, and press the button... away it goes!  I'm just beginning to see all of the amazing possibilities for projects! 

I also used some dies with my Big Shot Pro to create the canvas label (Tim Holtz Styled Labels) and the felt flowers (Bigz 3-D Flowers). 

Can you see where I'm going with this?  ...by creating my own "neutral or white" embellishments, I can then use any of my 334 Copic markers to decorate them to match my project!!!  How cool is that?

I hope you LOVE the project as much as I do... it really was fun to create and I can't wait to teach the class in Orlando!

Thanks for stopping by!

It's Preview Time - Fanciful Tags!

Welcome to the first day of previews for GinaK Designs new stamp sets! 

There are three BEAUTIFUL sets being shown tonight... so get ready for some major inspiration from the participating designers. 

I picked Nina's Fanciful Tags set because it was very different from most of the stamp sets I currently have.  It also has the most stunning sentiments... and I am always in need of those! 

I decided to create two "styles" for the set... both fairly simple... but one masculine and one feminine. 

For the "guy" card, I used ivory and black onyx card stock along with some striped patterned paper.  The sentiment is stamped inside of the sublet frame and two snap brads are the only embellishment.  Simple and stylish.

For my second card I wanted to go girlie all the way...  with a touch of elegance.  I ran white card stock through my Big Shot with a Sizzix texture plate (a super simple way to add dimension to a card).  I then cut out an ornate label and stamped the sentiment in black. 

I created two flowers with the hot new 3-D flowers die from Sizzix (I'll do a tutorial on how to make them soon)... and added a pretty pearl for the center.  A touch of black ribbon creates stark contrast to the all-white card.  I LOVE the way this one turned out!

For more samples with the stamp sets being previewed tonight, please check out these participating designer's links:

• Gina
• Jessica
• Melanie - *Illustrator of Wild at Heart*
• Nina - *Illustrator of Grand Damask and Fanciful Tags*
• Theresa
• Cathy
• Lee
• Lynn
• Kurtis
• Carolyn
• Colleen
• Miesje - *our CenterStage Guest Designer!*

You are invited to join us for our Release party this Thursday night, August 26 from 7-10 central time for contest questions, challenges, and chatter along with tons more samples!  The party leads up to the new products featured this week on our blogs being available for purchase online through GinaK Designs at 10 pm.  We hope you'll make plans now to be able to join us in all the fun!

Thanks for stopping in!

Spooky Treats!

Here's another sneaky peek at Kraftin' Kimmie's new Halloween Release!

Adorable little "Tommy Treats" looks like he has enough candy to last him a loooooong time!  LOL.

I had so much fun coloring the little guy... I gave him a "super hero" costume complete with the red gloves.  I colored him with my Copics (E000/E01/YR12/YR14/E97/B21/B29/G12/G17/R22/R29/YR02/YR07/C3/C5/C7/C9) mostly using the tip-to-tip method since it's a smaller image.  Some bright Bazzill Basics Tangerine Blast card stock matched up perfectly with the Basic Grey Ambrosia patterned paper.

 

I also want to share this fun card...  made with the smaller "bat" images from the release.  I wanted to make a quick and easy holiday card that could be used for party invites or general holiday greetings.  I used my new eclips and the Seasons cartridge from Sizzix to cut out the word "Spooky" from some left over Ambrosia BG paper...  OMG.. super easy!  (I'll share a tutorial for the eclips in the next few weeks.) I colored the bats and cut them out... and then just glued it all together over a red and orange background.  Easy Peasy...  and super cute!!! (See... don't forget to use those "extra" smaller images that Kimmie includes in her sets - they are so much fun!)

Make sure to visit the Kraftin' Kimmie's Stamp Blog for more sneak peeks!

Thanks for stopping in...