Does anyone else have a lot of glitter in their workspace? It seems like as soon as I get the glitter out, I find it on me, the kids, my wife Monica and the dogs for about 3 weeks afterwards!
Well, since it was already a little bit glittery in the studio - I thought up another glitter card! This project showcases the Cupid Heart Die (98281) and the matching Classic Heart stamp (G1856) - I designed these two to work together for easy cutting (the die has a clear grid for easy positioning). Enjoy the video!
The shimmer of the Martha Stewart Sterling Silver Glitter against the Currant cardstock is really noticeable - and using the packing tape idea in the video you can see the glitter sticks right where it's supposed to!
Besides the Cupid Heart die, I also used the Heart Delights die (98280) to make the border...
I've been anxious to use a bunch of glitter on one of the Valentine projects and came up with a fun (and quick!) card project here in the studio! I am using the La Rue Heart die, packing tape and some Martha Stewart Glitter to create a beautiful ombre effect. Watch the video to see how! (Bonus - my kids, Emma and Cooper, created a new opening soundtrack for my videos this week! Look what can happen when school is cancelled for a week in Seattle because of a snowstorm!):
I mention in the video that you could use double stick adhesive sheets instead of packing tape (they are more sticky and the glitter will adhere a little better) - but as you can see the tape will work! I used the popular 98255 La Rue Heart die:
...all of the swirls and loops create a delicate pattern, and surrounding it with some beautiful glitter...
...will create an amazing look. I used a deep pink Tourmaline color with a Sterling Silver - I love how they look with each other!
By slightly overlapping the Tourmaline and Sterling Silver colors, you can create an ombre effect - it's so eyecatching! I used two colors - but try 3 or more colors!
Here's a close up of the overlap - all of the glitter crystals run together beautifully. And the sparkle is amazing!
Last week, I was working in my studio on a project for embossing, and had a happy accident! I was trying to color an embossed background with alcohol inks and decided to add some copic blender solution to the paper, to help the ink mix a little - and came across a really amazing way of distressing a background! I decided to create a video about it, and combined the technique with instructions for making a valentine card with a special fold. And, my creative daughter Emma has created a little piece of music for the beginning and ending of the video! I hope she'll do a new piece of music for the videos every now and then - I love it!
The card below shows the alcohol embossed background - I've "opened up" an area on the heart so I can add an embellishment (in this case, it's the 819 Attic Key die from poppystamps). I really like how the ink lands and dries around the embossed areas - and when some of the embossing is removed, it creates a beautiful effect.
I am featuring the 98254 Grand Heart, the 98107 Pastry Labels and the 98280 Heart Delights dies for this project...
...and the G1855 Damask Heart stamp matches perfectly with the Grand Heart die,as you can see in the video.
The measurements for the Tuckaway fold are below - I used them to make a Valentine card, but as I point out in the video, you can use any large die to create a flap and fold, as long as you position the die correctly when cutting! Just click on either image below to get a better look at the exact dimensions.
Then, after you run the die through your machine, in the correct position, you'll get...
I have been glued (sometimes literally) to the desk in the studio, playing with the new January dies and stamps - and thought that I should put together a little video of some of the samples I've been creating. The video has no audio, so you'll have to play some music or hum a little tune while you watch...
...you can also watch it on Youtube if you prefer by clicking here.
In case you missed it, I did a video of a Paper Rose Collage this week - you can check it out here.
It's time to kick off 2012 with a new launch of products and some new ideas. By now, there are shipments arriving (or on their way) to stores around the globe, with dozens of new craft dies (and some new Valentine's stamps!). I've been hard at work in the studio putting together some projects for this year - and I've decided to begin with a video of a project I made using 8 (yes 8!) new craft dies - and the new Chrysanthemum frame stamp.
This project is really fun to do - switch up the colors and composition to make it your own - but no matter how you create it, you'll enjoy putting together all of the elements to create something beautiful. Enjoy the video below to learn how I did mine!
I've been wanting to make some dies that used a quilling tool for awhile now - and thought that they would fit in perfectly with our Valentine's program. I haven't picked up a quilling tool since I worked at a stamp store in the 1990's, but it's just as easy as ever - and so much fun to do!
I used the Pinwheel Posie (98270), the Small Pinwheel Posie (98271) and the Scalloped Posie (98269) to create the flowers on the project - the dies cut out spirals of paper, which you twist into roses with the quilling tool to make your "paper roses". I included photos of what the flowers will look like right on the packaging - just a simple twist of paper and you get a terrific effect!
I also created some more of my popular matching dies - in this case the Vivienne Butterfly (98265) and the coordinating Darla Butterfly (98264). These layer together (as you can see in the photo above) and give the butterfly a gentle layered effect.
The project even includes the Fringe Circle die (98268) - it makes a great layer to put the "paper roses" on top of - as you can see in the video.
I used one of my older dies - the Blank Ticket die (98213) to cut out one of my newest stamp images - the G1857 Chrysanthemum frame.
The Blank Ticket die positions perfectly over the stamped image (watch the video to learn about positioning) to cut it out in seconds!
I think I've been missing the warm weather a little - we've been harvesting kale and arugula from our winter garden for salads at dinner, and I've been thinking about flowers and butterflies every time I go out there to get some. This project gave me the opportunity to make my own paper flower garden - and now you can too!
